Here we go.........Weightloss Thread Part III

[webmistress]

What???

You guys did not maintain? Oh, ho. Now I'm ticked at you guys. When did you fall off the wagon? Don't you know when you see the slightest increase you nip it in the bud right there? I'm going to put you guys through boot camp. (Excluding grandmothers and pregnant women. Mrs. Mitchell would kick my @$$ 9 months and counting.)

That's your rah rah speech. Get moving. GIAGIRL good for you. I don't want to have to see a weight loss thread part 4. I want to see a maintenance thread part ONE.

[Diamondluvr]

WM-you sound just like my mother's mom, she has been within 5lbs of the same weight for as long as I have known her and that is her motto---nip it in the bud as soon as you notice the scale creeping up!

It has been an OK week, I am down 2lbs.  No formal exercise though, just yard and house projects.  This week I begin 3 Months of Jury duty, so who knows when the regular workout routines will come into play again!!!

Good Luck all

[Trinkette]

I'm sorry.  I've been bad. Well, maybe not BAD, but, I certainly have not been good. 

[robin]

Hi!

Well. Here goes.  I have been four pounds or so above goal for several months now.  A few pair of pants are a bit snug.

HOWEVER.  I joined my university's gym in February.  I have been going three times a week for at least two hours each time.  I do yoga and pilates once a week each.  (I LOVE the yoga!)  All three days, I also do some combination of cardio and weights.

I have had arthritis in my knees for about a dozen years, though.  (And I am "only" 38!)  So, not surprisingly, about five weeks ago I had a foot/ankle injury, probably related to compensating for/protecting my knee.  Thus, for the past four weeks, I've been in physical therapy twice a week in addition to the gym three times a week!

I think the PT likes me, because I work like a mule :-).  I so badly want to get better!  He is giving me strategies to get my lower body strong without stressing my knee, and we're also working on balance. (I have developed some proprioreception problems as a result of all this, which makes some balance poses in yoga interesting ;-).)  I'm definitely getting better all 'round. 

I have tested my body fat three times this semester; the last time was today.  Assuming each measurement was accurate, I've decreased from 22.5% to 20.3% body fat.  So THAT'S pretty cool!  My goal is to get below 20%. 

I've been doing upper body weights two or three times a week, and I'm actually getting lil' baby guns <G>, and my shoulders are visibly muscled.  Because I'm tall and small-framed, it takes me a LONG time to develop upper-body muscle mass-- I've NEVER been able to do a pull-up, for instance-- so this is a big deal to me.  (And, DJ!  I did two sets of bicep curls today with 10 lbs., and did the last set with 12.5 lbs.  That's a big sack of sugar!  So there! <G>) 

I've bought a bunch of cute outfits and swimsuits, since that's really motivational to me-- I've discovered that TJ Maxx carries Adidas, Nike, Danskin, etc. outfits, Athleta online has tall workout pants for women, and best of all-- do any of you know a shop called lululemon athletica?  It is the awesomest <G>.  I bought three yoga shorts (on sale!) and a CUTE yoga top there this past weekend.  Wonderful place.

So-- that's my status report :-).

[Mrs Mitchell]

Wow, that's pretty inspirational, Robin! You're doing great, I can tell how pleased you are with progress. I'm a teeny bit envious actually! I'm quite looking forward to getting back to the gym.

Sorry you've had injury problems though - I hope the PT gets you back to normal and lets you protect from that again in future.

Sounds like you're doing really well, and I'm so pleased for you. Also sounds like you're doing a LOT of work, so I'm impressed with your motivation too!

Jen

[titania]

That's fabulous, Robin! You're determined!
In the meantime, I just finished this great motivational book, "French Women Don't Get Fat." Has anyone read it? It's all about a simple philosophy I've forgotten all about --- MODERATION!!!!! In everything!!! (Something I, as an extremist, rarely practice). Essentially, you can eat a lot of food, but in small quantities. No big portions of anything. Plus, French women tend to NOT go to gyms. They exercise as part of their daily lives - walking, using the stairs, more walking, lifting. Lots of it. PLUS, lots of water, every day. Really drinking water, not just carrying around a sipping bottle.
Anyway it's a great read, with delicious recipes thrown in, and a nice mini-course  in living.

[Trinkette]

Titania, I've heard of the book; it sounds like an interesting read. *SIGH* It does, of course, confirm that fact that I am NOT French! 

Robin I'm SO proud of your success! (And, I must admit, I'm a bit jealous as I galumph around these days).  It sounds like you are coping with your injury, and I'm sure you'll be "better than new" when you've completed your initial PT (I say "initial" because I've had several knee surgeries... the work to keep in shape, especially knees, never ends...).  Yes, I did the "mule workout" when I was about your age... I got so I could do wall squats for about 45 minutes at a time... the people in the gym thought I was nuts.  My PT LOVED me. 

I'm afraid my status report is pathetic.  I HAVE started working daily in the barn again, and it has helped get my heart rate up (and, in the begininng I did shed some inches... my DH says I work in the barn like I'm "killing snakes;" I do everything as fast as I can).  BUT, I injured my ankle last week, so my mile walk has been out. And, we've been faced with a unexpected financial calamities around here lately, and the stress is taking it's toll.  Instead of exercising, I've been eating poorly – not eating enough in the mornings, binging on peanut butter filled crackers  and string cheese during late afternoons, then eating BIG portions for dinner.

Anyway, starting today, I'm going to do better.  I'll walk later today (albeit carefully on the ankle).  I've had a little breakfast, I'm carrying a water bottle with me, and I WILL bring out my inner French woman and practice PORTION CONTROL! Also, I have a couple of dance exercise videos that I'll try next week.

[Pip]

Hi!

Well. Here goes.  I have been four pounds or so above goal for several months now.  A few pair of pants are a bit snug.

HOWEVER.  I joined my university's gym in February.  I have been going three times a week for at least two hours each time.  I do yoga and pilates once a week each.  (I LOVE the yoga!)  All three days, I also do some combination of cardio and weights.

I have had arthritis in my knees for about a dozen years, though.  (And I am "only" 38!)  So, not surprisingly, about five weeks ago I had a foot/ankle injury, probably related to compensating for/protecting my knee.  Thus, for the past four weeks, I've been in physical therapy twice a week in addition to the gym three times a week!

I think the PT likes me, because I work like a mule :-).  I so badly want to get better!  He is giving me strategies to get my lower body strong without stressing my knee, and we're also working on balance. (I have developed some proprioreception problems as a result of all this, which makes some balance poses in yoga interesting ;-).)  I'm definitely getting better all 'round. 

I have tested my body fat three times this semester; the last time was today.  Assuming each measurement was accurate, I've decreased from 22.5% to 20.3% body fat.  So THAT'S pretty cool!  My goal is to get below 20%. 

I've been doing upper body weights two or three times a week, and I'm actually getting lil' baby guns <G>, and my shoulders are visibly muscled.  Because I'm tall and small-framed, it takes me a LONG time to develop upper-body muscle mass-- I've NEVER been able to do a pull-up, for instance-- so this is a big deal to me.  (And, DJ!  I did two sets of bicep curls today with 10 lbs., and did the last set with 12.5 lbs.  That's a big sack of sugar!  So there! <G>) 

I've bought a bunch of cute outfits and swimsuits, since that's really motivational to me-- I've discovered that TJ Maxx carries Adidas, Nike, Danskin, etc. outfits, Athleta online has tall workout pants for women, and best of all-- do any of you know a shop called lululemon athletica?  It is the awesomest <G>.  I bought three yoga shorts (on sale!) and a CUTE yoga top there this past weekend.  Wonderful place.

So-- that's my status report :-).

20% and lower for a female is good going Robin

Losing bodyfat and gaining lean bodymass isnt rocket science btw.

[elizabeth]

  Way to go Robin - I will post more later but I too am in PT for an ankle "over use" injury!!!!  Very difficult to rest so it will heal    !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[robin]

Well, Elizabeth, when I said a long while back I thought we were cut from the same cloth, I meant in terms of taste and likes and so on-- I didn't mean that you needed to go out and hurt yourself just because I did!  (Or was it vice versa??  )

I hope you are doing well-- are you on *complete* rest, or has your PT given you stuff to do?

[GIAGirl]

   Go ROBIN!   I am happy for you!  I have some arthritis as well...so I feel your pain.  Buying some cute outfits is good motivation.  It might could work where you buy a ring in a size 6 rather than a 7...or something like that...that might get me off my duff. 

[robin]

Well, I'm bumping this thread a bit  .

I got discharged from PT this week, meaning that my strength and balance are near-normal, and I can continue to improve on my own.

Soooo... I decided to take the Intro to Indoor Climbing class at my gym.  Since it's at a university, they have a really big indoor climbing gym... very cool.  I walk past it every time I go to work out, I've always thought it looked super cool, and I finally thought I was strong enough to try it.  The class is a two hour intro to belaying and safety, then I was allowed to try climbing shoes (ow!) and try the bouldering wall.  I was able to do the easiest bouldering run, but couldn't quite do the second-easiest.  (So now I'm hooked, because I don't deal well with failure!)

After I pass a skills test (tomorrow, hopefully), I'll be able to buy a climbing pass ($35 for the whole summer, equipment included) and start climbing.  It's pretty neat-- if you want to climb but there's not another climber to partner you, one of the staff members will belay for you. 

I will say, I am sore (from the bouldering, presumably) all along my upper back.  So it is DEFINITELY a whole-body workout.  I suspect it's rather like yoga, in that at first I'll be sore in muscles I didn't know I possessed  .

Have any of the rest of you climbed, indoors or out?

[Mikla]

What I'd like to know is how to get the cellulite off of thighs and rear . . . 

Always been my biggest problem even after losing weight.

Mikla

[GIAGirl]

I have climbed indoors.  It was pretty hard...although women are supposed to excel in that sport because we have more lower body strength. 

[GIAGirl]

Has anyone seen that weight loss drug commercial where the stick figure talks about the differences between men and women losing weight.  Well, that happened this weekend...my man has literally been puttering around the yard and he lost 7 lbs.  I have been going to step class and dieting and have lost like 3 lbs.  UUUGH!

[Trinkette]

Awww, GIAGirl, don't let it get you down. I'm SURE you're just converting fat into weighter muscle. One of these days you'll notice that you're totally BUFF and your man is just a skinny pile of mush.  HE'S going to have to STEP it up, if he's going to keep up with you!

Robin, I'm terribly impressed with your stick-to-it-iveness and your success. 

[Mikla]

That is just not right.   

[robin]

GIAGirl, yes, sadly, that's the way it goes.  When I lost 25 lbs. (three years ago), DH lost about 15 just by living with me (not having so many goodies in the house, mainly).  He didn't even TRY!    But... I was glad he lost the weight!  His dad is going to have a heart bypass in a few weeks (after he recovers from the brain surgery!! he had yesterday), so with a strong family history of heart disease, DH needs to stay as lean as possible.  So it's all good!

Hey, I passed my climbing skills test today, so tomorrow I get to try actual climbing.  Yay!

[Mikla]

Congratulations, Robin! 

That climbing skills test sounds tough.  What did you have to do?

Mikla

[robin]

Well, climbing skills is sort of a misnomer, as it was actually a belaying (the person on the ground) skills test.  So I belayed two climbers (because my first time I made some mistakes they wanted me to resolve), and the climbers each "fell" three times-- in addition to taking up the slack in the rope and lowering the climber, the belayer uses her body weight to stop the climber's fall.  (If the climber weighs more than the belayer, the belayer can "anchor in" to the concrete foundation, basically, so she won't be lifted off her feet.)

[GIAGirl]

That is cool Robin...I have heard you cannot keep weight on  you if you get into rock climbing. 

Sorry to hear about your Father-in-law. 

We will see about the man weightloss...he is eating like a pig as well... Mikla you are right!!!!!

[Mikla]

Where in the world do you find places where you can do indoor rock climbing?

  Mikla

[elizabeth]

Hi Robin - I too was release from PT last week!  And I copied you!     I was on total rest which meant for me - only working out 6 days a week!  My PT has known me since I was 16 or so- BUT I am 100% now!   
I have done the rock climbing-it is fun!  I love doing anything different "for a change!"  Hey Milka - our local Dicks has an indoor rock wall - LOTS of them in and around larger citys.    I think the 1st indoor rock climbing place I saw was in NYC - a gym there many MANY years ago.
Currently I am hooked on my spinning and Bikram (aka hot yoga!)  I am only about 5lbs from my goal weight! 

Hey GiaGirl-the biggest tip I have and has really worked this time for me is it is NOT a diet!  Just lifestyle.... nothing in a box, only whole grains and ALL the fruits and veggies you want any time you want!!!!!!  I feel like I eat all the time and just have tons of energy and still losing weight! It is easy this time of year - much more difficult in the winter for me!   

[robin]

Mikla, there are specialized indoor climbing gyms, and some sporting goods stores such as Dick's and REI have smaller climbing walls.  I am an English instructor at a large public university, so we have a humongous gym that includes an indoor climbing wall.

That's how I got interested in doing this-- I was walking past this cool-looking wall three times a week on my way to my other workout.  I felt as if it's been taunting me for months  .

GIAGirl, I don't know about losing weight BY climbing, but I can clearly see that it would be helpful if I weighed as little as possible.

[Mikla]

Wow, Robin, that is so cool that you are a college professor!  Plus, I always did best in English. 

Would you mind sharing where it is that you teach?  It must be a bigger city because there's nothing like that around here (Melbourne, FL).

Mikla