Weight Loss/Exercise Updates? Post Yours Here!

[christa]

Well, I am disappointed to see that NO ONE posted yesterday! I go out of town for one day and this thread gets lost on PAGE TWO???



Megan: I'm so glad that you've joined us!!! Please stick with us & keep us updated! I really think that a motivational support group mentality is what a lot of people need! And like Sara said, there are plenty on here that have been in your shoes, not long ago . . . you stick with us and you never know what could happen to your body, your health, your LIFE!

You mentioned you rarely eat BREAKFAST . . . this is something I don't think we've discussed on here. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. It boosts your energy and kickstarts your metabolism. You go without breakfast and your body slows down, you're going to store energy instead of burn energy.

I would never recommend that you skip a meal. Actually I would recommend that you eat smaller meals more frequently (as Sara suggested) . . . but if you're going to eat less calories - do that later in the evening, like at dinner.



Sara: you're such an awesome cheerleader!!! Your story & your experiences could bring so much to so many! Which is exactly what I want from this thread.

Let's not let it get lost again!!! How's it going, everyone??? How about some updates??? Working out? Cooking??? Let me have some feedback!

[mruffruff]

Ok, OK! I didn't have anything to report! Actually, I've been too busy counting calories and exercising

My math is improving even if my waistline doesn't seem to be. Kinda early for results.

I love breakfast, but not when I'm off to work. So I count my 3 cups of coffee during the morning and 3 cheese peanut butter cracker as breakfast every day. 200 calories, including creamer & sugar.

Frozen Healthy Choice dinner for lunch, (microwaveable, eat-at-your-desk) for around 350 calories.

Dinner is harder. Example: 2C. cooked noodles, 1-1/2C. mixed vegetables, 1/2C. bottled Alfredo sauce, 1/4C. onion mixed together and an 8 oz. glass of milk. Daily total around 1400 calories.

Even went to Red Lobster Friday. Grilled Shrimp, baked potato, sour cream, brocolli, and one cheddar biscuit. Lunch was a salad with mostly lettuce so the days count was 1463 calories.

I'm not aiming for 1200; If I stay under 1500 I will lose. I was eating an average of 2500-3000 a day by my calculations. I didn't realize it until I started cutting back.

I even went for an hour's walk with Samson last night. Not a speedy walk, but I got off my blubber for a change. And I've discovered flavored waters. Walmart brand at 50 cents tastes pretty good. I can't handle diet drinks, but these actually taste like real fruit without a single calorie.

The hunger pangs are less severe. But it ain't no PHUN!

[My Peanuts]

I went to the gym last night and worked my legs a lot. I don't get it though, I'm not sore. Not sure if I can make it there tonight. I have other stuff to do, but I'm going to try. I figure if 45 minutes is all the time I have to get to the gym then it's better than nothing.

Today for lunch I brought a turkey sandwich (no cheese) and apple sauce. I'm saving so much money and calories by not eating out at lunch everyday. My coworkers commented that I have good will power when I walked in work and turned down what they were getting. Yeah right! Will power! My boyfriend's birthday was this past weekend and I really pigged out, but now I'm back on track and feeling good!

[My Peanuts]

Christa, I was going to ask you since you seem like you know a lot about this stuff (but anyone can chime in) As far as cardio goes I'm a champ. I can go for a long time, but when I walk on the treadmill I get a lot of pain in the shin area. Sometimes I use the incline, sometimes I walk faster or slower, but it seems to always happen. I stretch and I drink water. I can't tell if it's cramping up or what. Is there anything I'm doing wrong? Or should I work through the pain and eventually it will get better?

[MomToThree]

I guess it is my turn to come in here and join the party. I am 24 years old, I thought I was at my biggest when I got married. I swore to never get that big again. Well 3 years later I was that big again plus some.

I have been trying to battle my depression with medication. It has worked wonders on me. My doctor told me that I will probably gain a few pounds with the pill I am on, but once I get use to them I will shed it off. I weighed 209 at that appointment.

So I started taking my pills. I have so much more energy, I found that I wasn't making time to eat anymore. Which really isn't good for a diabetic. So after a co worker of mine shoved gloucose tablets down my mouth I told her I would make time to eat. So every morning I go into work (I work at BK) we open up the kitchen, then I make a sandwhich. I eat maybe half, and drink a bottle of water. For lunch I eat a salad with a small cup of coke. I know that is the wrong thing to do, but it has worked for me. I figured it was something to keep my sugar up, and to keep it stable since I was eating a salad. Trust me I know how stupid that sounds. I have been yelled at by my mom for doing this already. I would go home and start doing house work. Laundry, sweeping, mopping, you name it I was doing it. I figured it was something light and easy and always needed to be done. My husband would get home and get the grill going. We would have chicken, and potatoes baked mashed or what ever.

Now I go to work eat 1/2 my sandwhich in the morning with a bottle of water, for lunch, I eat a salad and something small more like a snack. For dinner we are still having chicken most night.

So far I have lost almost 30 pounds.

I am one of those people that refuse to give up the good stuff. I was raised with all the full fat foods and I was still between 115 and 134 until I was 16. So I know I can lose the weight doing what I was raised doing. It will just take me a lot longer to do it.

[christa]

My Peanuts: You don't have to always be *sore* to be making a difference. Once you get used to doing something, you won't get sore, or as sore. How long have you been doing the same routine? You should have a set routine. Lift for one muscle group on a set day . . . anyway, if that's the case, change it up. If you don't have a set routine, make one! If you're noticing that you are at a standstill though, you may need to change. Your body does become resistant when it gets used to what you're doing. I change my routine every few months and I always notice a BIG difference right away!

Secondly, you ask about the shin thing . . . you're experiencing shin splints & it could simply be your shoes. Do you only get them on the treadmill? I get them when I run in a certain pair of shoes. You have to have REALLY supportive shoes when you run - and to be honest, some people just can't run! Hubby & I went to a "walk/run shop" and they actually looked at our feet, how we walked & took steps and put us in the best shoes for us. That might be your problem. Another thing I wonder is if you're getting enough protein? I know you lift and do legs a lot . . . you need to replenish the protein in your body after such a heavy workout, especially a heavy leg workout . . . it rebuilds the cells that have been torn in your muscles!

mruffruff: Breakfast . . . how about some nice whole grain cereal? LOL Or oatmeal??? I have been guilty of having peanut butter crackers for breakfast, but it's ones I make with natural PB on whole wheat crackers . . .

MomtoThree: So glad you joined us!!!

[buckner]

I didn't post yesterday because I thought I was getting on people's nerves.

But anywho, still not on a regular schedule. I don't have a "time" to exercise, so blegh. I've got shin splints (so does My Peanuts!) due to always being on my feet, and they won't go away. I've done the Ibuprofen like mad, along with ice, and blah. They won't heal because I won't get off my feet. So shall I blame my lack of exercise on that? Sure will! :P

I haven't done a ton of "cooking".. I just don't have the time. Unless you count popping things in the toaster or in the microwave. But, I do have a ton of recipes for people who DO have time! A lot of good for you, low-calorie recipes, too. Though, most are vegetarian, or use seafood, but I'm sure you could sub in chicken for most. So if anyone wants them, let me know, and I'll dig 'em up!

Glad to see everyone else is doing so good! Especially those who are working out.. *cough cough* LOL

Megan, how've you been doing? Switching to eating several times a day, yet? If you need meal ideas, just ask! We're all here for ya!

[My Peanuts]

Do you only get them on the treadmill?

Yes, only on the treadmill. I wear regular sketcher gym shoes. Nothing fancy. Any suggestions for shoes? What's good? Thanks for the help-Diana.

[jazzcat]

I can go for a long time, but when I walk on the treadmill I get a lot of pain in the shin area. Sometimes I use the incline, sometimes I walk faster or slower, but it seems to always happen.

I'm a little late getting in on this but you sound like me except the pain starts in my knee and goes down my shin. It would only happen on the treadmill, when I'd walk the hills in my neighborhood or when I stood or walked on concrete too long. I was in so much pain about 2 months ago I went to the dr. and he said it was tendonitis. He gave me anti-inflammatory meds and told me to rest my leg for a couple of weeks, wrap it and when I did start back to avoid incline and the hard impact of the treadmill. I stuck with elliptical only and it got better but a week ago Monday I re-injured it and I'm back to a lot of pain and limping. This is so frustrating!

I agree with the others, the right kind of shoes are very important.

[mruffruff]

Christa, I appreciate the suggestion of cereal for breakfast. However, I added the 100 calories for oatmeal with the sugar and milk and came up to 190 calories. I'll try a Quaker Chewy Wholesome Favorite bar today (110 calories) and a hard boiled egg (70 calories) tomorrow. And I don't have to worry about spilling the milk on my desk.

If I had my way, I'd have a bigger breakfast and less for dinner. But work dictates when I have time to cook or eat.

Walked for 45 minutes last night. I took my 10 year old grandaughter with me for some one-on-one time. She's getting a little chunky too so we plan on continuing as long as the weather permits.

[christa]

Christa, I appreciate the suggestion of cereal for breakfast. However, I added the 100 calories for oatmeal with the sugar and milk and came up to 190 calories. I'll try a Quaker Chewy Wholesome Favorite bar today (110 calories) and a hard boiled egg (70 calories) tomorrow. And I don't have to worry about spilling the milk on my desk.

Well, I have to say that I've never put sugar in my oatmeal . . . try adding some fruit instead (my fav is bananas). Or HONEY . . . yummy! Cinammon is also yummy in oatmeal.

What kind of milk are you drinking? If you're not drinking skim, you should be. I always drank full fat 2% . . . we drank 1% for a few months and eventually dropped down to skim. I love skim now . . . actually I was at my parents the other day and ate a bowl of Kashi with 2% milk and thought I was going to vomit, because it was so thick tasting! I couldn't believe it!

BTW, you're not going a healthier route by eating a breakfast bar. You can't look at JUST calories alone. You have to look at the whole picture, everything on the label.

I can understand not having time to eat breakfast in the morning . . . I just *wish* that peeps had more time for it . . . it IS the most important meal of the day . . . LOL, okay, my lecture is over.