Weight Loss/Exercise Updates? Post Yours Here!

[christa]

Don't get me wrong about my "guns" I still have Opera Arms on the back side. I'm a good candidate for excess skin removal surgery.

That's a funny new way to put it . . . never heard that before. I just call mine granny flab but that may not be fair to grannies!

[christa]

I'm another one whos been loosing weight.. I was somewhere over 180p back in March & now I'm about 150p... I'm only guessing as I STILL don't have a scale lol, but I'm about the same size & build as my friend here at work & she is 160p & I'm quite a bit smaller then her, so I'm guessing 150p.

There is a new gym that opened up right by my place. Shawn & I are thinking of joining it, if its opened late (atleast 10pm) as Shawn doesn't get to my house until about 7-8pm. I need to loose fat & build some muscle (don't care how much I weight, its the giggly fat thats gotta go) & Shawn needs to put on weight & build muscle.

Sounds like some great results!!! A lot of gyms do stay open late, especially during the summers so I'm sure that you'll be able to spend some time there.

[My Peanuts]

Great job that you are hitting the gym! So many people tend to be "scared" of going to gyms . . . I'm not sure why but it really is the best place to get a good workout. Anyway, about your arms, women don't genetically get big like men, if that's what you're afraid of. Maybe you're overworking your arms. How many times a week were you doing arms? I only do arms 1 day a week. I am using heavy weight right now, but I am trying to build muscle. You might want to consider using light weight, high reps for muscle strength instead of mass.

When I used to workout about 4-5 years ago my arms would get more muscle than I liked. I'm only doing my arms about once a week.

[king2005]

Sounds like some great results!!! A lot of gyms do stay open late, especially during the summers so I'm sure that you'll be able to spend some time there.

I hope so, I really do miss the gym & I know this will also boost up my energy level & will help Shawn wind down before bed. Hes so hyper & full of energy that he stays up until 2-3am everyday!

Next summer we plan to do a BIG camping trip & with both of us getting into great shape, we can go on large hikes & long swims. I'd also love to go canoeing (sp) again, but the last time I went I was so tired & then I was really sore (darn fat arse of mine lol)

[Ally Cat's Mommy]

RobiLee,

I know how hard it is. I have been really unhappy with my appearance for a couple of years now - I used to be REALLY tiny, and due to my PCOS my weight has just kept on creeping up.

One thing that gives ME a huge fright and wake-up call is the following:

Stand in front of a mirror and have a GOOD look at yourself. Tell yourself...
"If I don't make changes in my lifestyle, THIS is as good as I am ever going to look"

I know it's not very inspirational or poetic, but it worked for me!!

I bought myself new walking sneakers (I only do 2 miles a day), and spoil myself on really nice exotic fruits and veggies. I also freeze small cartons of red grape juice, and eat it like a sorbet with a spoon when I crave a sweet treat!

For easy exercise with NO equipment, check out Leslie Sansones Walk Away The Pounds DVD's - especially the 1 and 2 miles - they are great and you can do them in front of the TV at home!

[christa]

How about some before & after pics??? You don't HAVE to post any, but I think it's neat to see the TRANSFORMATION!!!

Check this out!!! Hubby & I have both transformed!!!

Before:
Probably taken in the spring of 2004 (around the time I started getting smart about my health):


Right after we got married . . . and got Josie . . . around November of 03.



After:
Here's me by myself . . . back in March of this year - 50lbs lighter!




And this was taken yesterday:

[jackie]

7 pounds and counting.


I did pilates and spinning back to back today!

But then I ate pizza and chocolate cake.

[christa]

7 pounds and counting.


I did pilates and spinning back to back today!

But then I ate pizza and chocolate cake.

Oh boy, pilates and spinning? You must have been worn out!!! Those are both tough classes!!! Congrats on the 7 lbs but you might want to lighten up your meal plan, LOL . . . sounds like a cheat day meal to me! I have those about once a week myself! Usually on the weekends though when hubby & I go to the Texas Roadhouse!!! I eat my weight in their bread! YUM!

Okay, back to reality . . . LOL . . .

[jazzcat]

Wow Christa you look awesome!!!!! Quite the inspiration!

Here's my before and after. I avoid cameras so I don't have very good ones to use.

Christmas 2004


March 2006


I don't have anything more recent but I don't look much different right now except I just cut off about 3 inches of my hair.

Gosh I can't believe I'm posting the before pic.

[catlover4ever]

I'm back on the weigh loss wagon. Things have been so very busy in the last 6 months with moving into the new house and now as summer nears I have been working in the yard. I'm trying to go from looking like someone dropped a bomb in the yard to something that looks like an actual yard.

Also, as motivation Mark and I booked a 10 night stay with Sandles in Antigua for next May. We want to be there for our 14th wedding anniversary...so I really have to work on my beach body.

Since the beginning of March I have managed to take off 11 pounds.....and I have a lot more to go.

Thanks for the motivation everyone!!!

[king2005]

I don't have any befores as my ex wouldn't take my picture.. but I do have afters.. I'll have to post them later as I'm not home & I'll have to dig up my old "lost weight" type thread.

[christa]

Lori . . . you look about 10 years YOUNGER in that after pic!!! I can't believe how different you look!!! You're such a cutie now, you really should STOP AVOIDING THE CAMERA!

catlover4ever . . . there's nothing more stressful than moving, I know that feeling! And it's so hard to keep in a healthy frame of mind when you're so busy. Congrats on the 11 pounds that you have lost! That is great!

[jazzcat]

Thanks Christa! I feel younger too. Maybe the weight loss will help this high speed train to 40 not be so painful.

Meg - congrats on the 11 pounds! A vacation in Antigua would be great motivation for me too!!!!! If you need some cheerleaders we are here for you!

[buckner]

First off, CONGRATS to everyone who's posted their losses! After I make this post, I'm going to go through individually and reply to different comments. But, I thought I'd update on how I've been.


I first started my "lifestyle change" in August of 2005. I continued to lose weight until March of 2006, and since then, I've just maintained. Through the 7-8 months of weight loss, I managed to take off 91 pounds!! Yes, that's the equivalent of a child. I feel better about myself in more ways than one, and it's been an amazing accomplishment. And honestly, the weight loss itself was not difficult. It went on quickly, and it came off quickly. But, because of how fast it came off, my body couldn't keep up and it resulted in another health problems. They were bound to arrise, just not so fast.

Since March, I've been trying to eat "healthy". Don't get me wrong, I ate good when I was losing weight, but I'm no longer trying to lose weight. I want to maintain a good weight by appropriate amount of calories, fat, protein, carbohydrates, and all of my vitamins that I need. I have weird diet restrictions, such as being a vegetarian who will eat fish and also being allergic to dairy. With those things, it's hard to get in the right amounts of protein and vitamins, and I'm still struggling with that.

I no longer obsess about my calories. I used to count every single calorie, right down to the fourth of one. No joke. But now, I've learned that I can eat what I want (with limitations, I guess.. but I won't deprive myself if I absolutely have to have something, which is not often at all) as long as I stop eating when I'm full. Granted, I don't eat a lot of fat with any meal, so it's hard to determine when I'm truly full. I can eat veggies galore, and then much later feel sick because I ate too much. So I have to eat small meals quite often, which is what everyone should do.

I've emailed Christa and have annoyed her to no ends about all of this, but she's really knowledgeable in healthy eating and exercise, more than just "eat fewer calories than you burn" and stuff. So, I'm sorry Christa. :P

When I reached my all time high, I weighed 231 pounds. I cannot believe I just told you all that, but I did. For a girl who is 5'7", that's a LOT of weight. And it was just dragging me down, and I didn't used to be that way. A lot of things happened quickly that caused my weight gain, and I just didn't care anymore. But, once I finally became aware of it, I whipped into shape. I went from a size 18 (my biggest pants were a size 18.. I almost died when going through my clothes a month ago) to a size 6/8! I have some pants that are size 6 and some that are size 8. I went from an XL shirt being too small and tight, to a size small being just right!!! Unless it's a tshirt, and then it's still too big. :P I went from 231 pounds to 140 pounds!

I was hoping to lose 5 more in pure exercise, but my mom threatened me when she heard my plans. Apparently, if I lose one more ounce, she's going to have my head.

Okay, so onto pictures!!!

These were taken in San Diego last summer. This was ONE week before I started my weight loss diet.




This was from junior prom - April of 2005.



Okay, so those are the YUCKY before pictures. I'll post the after pictures in the next post.

[carole]

Robilee i understand completely how you feel right now, i have been there many times on and off in my life, and i am at a stalemate myself right now, i lost 9 kgs last year and wanted to loose another 10 this year, my usual pattern is loose summer, gain it all back over winter and then some, this year i have gained a couple of kilos only and for me that is a real plus, but summer will be here before i know it and again i will be stuck at this weight, i so want to shed it too, and feel just like you at the moment.

I am a binge eater , and that can last anything from one day to one month, depending on my frame of mind and what is going on in my life,i am waiting for that click in my head right now as well, i have started doing my WW programme today and i hope to get on track with it at last and just start loosing again, instead of lasting until afternoon and then blowing it again.

Robilee DON'T give up on yourself, it can be done believe me, and i know how much you want this, try thinking positive thoughts from now on and remember that food might taste nice for the moment but that is it really, think of how wonderful you will feel when you do loose and much healthier too,honestly that extra piece of cake or whatever is not worth it, we are just denying ourselves happiness, that is how i see it for myself anyhow,and why oh why do we do that, for me loosing the weight would simply turn my whole life around , i know that so well, but yet i struggle continually as you do, i believe it is a food addiction and one has to learn different strategies to cope with it, as food is always in our life and has to be, so it is much harder to deal with than a lot of other addictions for that simple fact alone.

I hope you can join me to success in weight loss, i have achieved it many times, but want it to be permanent for the rest of my life,no more yoe-yoe dieting,i dare you Robilee join me .i know your despair and feel it to, but together we can beat this we really can, here for you anytime.