20-something Group

by ipmac22 on Feb 13, 2012 at 6:41 pm

Don't get discouraged if you don't lose the weight by then. The less you have to lose, the slower it comes off usually. Especially if you are gaining muscle and toning at the same time. Just keep up with it and you'll like the results even if the scale doesn't respond as fast as you want it to.

by kgear on Feb 13, 2012 at 8:29 am

Great Job Pebbles222! That is a great accomplishment for the month of Jan!
I have lost 7lbs and 3inches from my waist. Not as much as I would of liked (in the waist) but I wasn't feeling too well last week so it kept me from working out like I usually do. But I'm feeling better now. Now it is the beginning of a new week and I"m motivated to get back into my routine!

by kgear on Feb 13, 2012 at 8:29 am

Great Job Pebbles222! That is a great accomplishment for the month of Jan!
I have lost 7lbs and 3inches from my waist. Not as much as I would of liked (in the waist) but I wasn't feeling too well last week so it kept me from working out like I usually do. But I'm feeling better now. Now it is the beginning of a new week and I"m motivated to get back into my routine!

by ipmac22 on Feb 12, 2012 at 3:33 pm

This is a great first step! Just checking in to groups often helps with support and to see different tips to help get you through the obstacles.
 
15 pounds is a very realistic goal for you, and having been through police academy and dealing with Marine Corp and Army drill sergeants, I know the type of PT you've been through.  That being said, I also assume you have a "no quit, do-or-die" attitude. Apply that attitude to getting healthy, and you'll be doing just fine!

by MiAhi on Feb 11, 2012 at 11:55 am

Hi! I'm trying to loose 20 pounds... and I'm , 5'1 and 140. I'm a little younger :) 
2 Pounds a week is probably a good goal for me too.
 
Same here for the stressed out, but I also eat when I'm bored... :/ and it's hard to exersize everyday...
I eat while I'm descracted too, I always read the paper if I'm eating by myself...
 
It would be neat if we could check in through livestong, keeping each other accountable. 
If you know your going to have to report what you did, it might discoruage you from being "bad" earlier, right?
:) 
-miahi
 

by January31 on Feb 11, 2012 at 10:14 pm

Hi Miahi,
Thanks for replying; I think it'd be great to have something like that.
Feel free to send me a message if you are ever in need of some personalized encouragement or if you feel like splurging or don't feel like working out, etc. !!
-Shawna

by froggermario on Feb 10, 2012 at 11:54 am

 Don't get too down on yourself, pebble! Everyone slips up sometimes, it's only human. You already proved that each day is a fresh start by giving the rest away to your office today. You can't take back the past, but you can have a better day today :)  It's not the end of the world.

by ulvkim on Feb 12, 2012 at 12:39 pm

I do not think you should regret doing it, because it is important to have some small snacks of enjoyment now and then. If you have the willpower to only do it maybe once or twice a month, then that is good!
Life is too short to take to seriously, it is important to put some enjoyment in there, and eating brownies with good friends or family sounded like an enjoyment you could give yourself. Just keep up the hard work, and consider the brownies a reward.

by belisama on Feb 9, 2012 at 7:57 pm

Hey there! Congrats for getting started - it's half the battle. If you're truly clueless, start reading! In my opinion the fastest way to lose weight is to understand the basics of nutrition and fitness. One of my favorites is New Rules of Lifting for Women by Lou Schuler. Schuler is a health journalist in addition to being a fitness wizard, so the book is a fun, interesting read complete with meal plans, recipes, and workouts. It talks about why women gain weight, how we lose it, and why some types of exercises work or don't work. It's also got pictures/demonstrations for each weight routine and recommends how to fit in cardio/yoga/insert-favorite-activity here. I felt much more confident in starting my healthy makeover after I read Schuler's book.
I just started reading Cassanda Forsythe's book The Perfect Body Diet. I don't know if I'll be doing the meal plans (probably not), but again it provides good, basic information regarding what your ideal weight should be according to frame, height, etc. It seems like a fun read so far, as well.
My other advice is to keep trying to find exercise you enjoy. I always thought I had to do cardio in the form of running miles. Since I've discovered things I actually like - yoga, zumba, step, and lifting - I actually look forward to going to the gym. You won't be healthy if you don't exercise, and you won't exercise if you don't enjoy what you're doing. Good luck with everything!

by pebble222 on Feb 10, 2012 at 8:17 am

Chalene Johnson's book PUSH is also a good place to start. She talks about having a diet versus being on a diet, and making lifestyle changes that will last.

by care28 on Feb 8, 2012 at 5:26 am

Tough situation.  If you start a workout routine and he sees that you are enjoying it and seeing results, it may inspire him to do the same.  Also the same with eating choices, if you start picking healthy things, maybe he will follow.  It really is fun to train with your significant other...I have for a while and they push you but they also get to see the benefits of the results.  When I lost weight my bf took me shopping and bought me a new outfit...he was so excited, so when he lost weight i bought him a new pair of jeans as a reward.  Hope this helps a little?
Also with the eating out thing...suggest eating at home...as a money saver...not as a diet thing...that may help too!

by ipmac22 on Feb 8, 2012 at 5:28 am

The first significant boyfriend I had was the same way. It drove me nuts that he was self conscious and uncomfortable but unwilling to do anything. So instead of making it about him, I made it about me. I would tell him how much it helps ME to eat in and how much it helps ME to have a gym  buddy or feels good to get a work out in.  Because he felt like I was asking him to help me instead of him, he wasn't offended and was much more willing to comply.
 
My current boyfriend actually loves the healthy influence I have on him. (He's a natural athlete and has never had a weight problem, but doesn't maintain the best eating habits). So, he really enjoys staying in with me, and goofing off as we putz around the kitchen making healthy meals. It's a healthy, fun activity for us.
 
Last suggestion, if by going out to eat, you mean just stopping and picking stuff up (say, Subway) instead of a nice restaurant, why not pack a lunch for yourself so if he insists on getting something while you are out, you don't need to pick up something too. Or if you are going to restaurants, check online at the menus. A lot of chain restaurants provide their meals online and a lot of them include nutritional information. Applebees is great for that! Don't forget you can customize orders at most places (veggies instead of fries, or dressing on the side) and you can always cut your meal in half and put half in the box before you get the chance to eat it! I do that a lot.
 
Good luck! Let me know if any of this helps!

by brooksoscarson on Feb 8, 2012 at 8:51 pm

 @cares28 That's a good idea with just kind of "bragging" about how good it feels to work out.. I'll definitely try it!! & such a cute reward idea! I know he'd love that (he loves new jeans) & especially if I made it a "good job you did it" kind of thing, I think it'd mean that much more.
@ipmac22 I like the idea of making it about myself. I mean, money IS tight. And we've talked about doing that, it's just one of those things we talk & talk about but need to just DO. I think cooking together can be such a fun little date, and it would save money and our health. I'll have to see what I can do with eating out, since usually it's on a whim.
 
thank you soooo much, I'll let you know what happens!

by care28 on Feb 9, 2012 at 5:24 am

Keep us posted!!  Good Luck!

by stramel815 on Feb 10, 2012 at 7:43 pm

I know its still technically eating out, but jimmy johns is a good place to go. You can order an unwhich...its a lettuce wrap instead of bread, and they have giant dill pickles instead of chips. The really cool thing is if you go to their websitejimmyjohns.com/menu/nutrition.aspx you can look at thier menu items and cutomize them and it will give you the calorie count with the topping changes. The girls at work like to order from there so I preplanned what I am going to order for next week. #12 unwhich no mayo,  and a dill pickle = lunch for 221.5 calories.. and its tasty too!

by n0dice1 on Feb 7, 2012 at 12:06 pm

all the PB subsitutes I have tried have tasted awful. Anyway if you're doing a paleolithic diet you prob are steering clear from chemicals preservatives etc right? prob best to just have the real thing just less of it :)

by sgc9600 on Feb 10, 2012 at 7:32 pm

 I'm new on here as well - great to see a fellow rower!

by emilyiresa on Feb 11, 2012 at 9:01 am

 tryy "Better than Peanut Butter" - it's the best replacement I've found, only 100 cals, less carbs, fat and sugar

by ipmac22 on Feb 7, 2012 at 8:51 am

You must feel fantastic crossing that mark! Great work!
As far as traveling goes, drink tons of water. It will help to keep you feeling full and hydrated and a little easier to turn away foods you don't really want to sabotage yourself with. Also, I've noticed when I'm away, my sodium intake is always higher even if I keep my calories in check. So just watch that too. Bring some small snacks so you don't feel stuck to eat something big when you don't need to?
 
Livestrong has flaws when it comes to calculating how many calories you should or shouldn't be eating.  It seems like you are doing realllllly well where you are. If you want to lower the calories a little bit, that's ok, just make sure you don't go below 1,200 and if you work out, add more.... especially if you strength train.
 
Over all, you seem to be doing a great job. If you are up a tiny bit this week, that's ok due to traveling and lack of food control. Just do the best you can, and keep yourself accountable, but accept minor fluctuations!
 
Good luck!

by stramel815 on Feb 10, 2012 at 7:50 pm

Congratualtions, it sounds like you have things under control. You can do this, and don't worry this time you will keep it under 200 I have faith in you. Don't be discourged if the you aren't loosing all the weight while working out, you have to remember that muscle weighs more than fat. I am sure with working out  5-6 times a week you are gaining some muscle. 
Also with traveling like ipmac22 said, drink plenty of water. It will keep you full, also try to drink some about 20 mins before you plan on eating and you will not want to eat as much. I hope this helps hang in there, you got this!
 

by new_runner on Feb 7, 2012 at 6:59 am

 You should eat more to make sure you net at least 1,200. Keep in mind that 1,200 is the bare minimum (for women, 1,800 for men), though, and not the optimal.

by ipmac22 on Feb 5, 2012 at 9:58 am

Great job. Sounds like you know exactly what to do to turn things around. This is life, we mess up. You're doing great by maintaining that attitude!
 
I have an inspirational photo that I keep in my bathroom. It's a little kid with boxing gloves wayyyy too short to hit the punching bag, but he's standing there looking up and it says "aim high". I love it. Keeps me motivated in a fitness/health way and also in a personal and professional life way. Visual inspiration is great!
 
Again, keep up the good work!

by pebble222 on Feb 6, 2012 at 7:21 am

I also fell off the bandwagon this weekend while out of town visiting friends, and watching the superbowl. I agree - its ugly. But let's take back our will power and make this week fantastic! It's a beautiful day for change.

by ebk9123 on Feb 6, 2012 at 6:41 pm

I have been off the wagon since Saturday.  It sucks.