Weight loss encouragement thread

[ktimephoenix]

I just thought it might be an idea to have a thread on here acting as a kind of support group for those of us that are actively trying to lose weight. another forum i was a part of a while ago ran one, and it was great, with many people posting tips, or just weighing in weekly.

Mrs P and I are trying to at the moment. a few different things sparked our current goals, one of which being a wedding, the other being our health.

We found a good site that you record your eating habits in, and it keeps track of calories, exercise, and all that. i won't post a link in case it's not allowed, but i will after i make sure it's ok.

So My first weigh in,

Mr P - 5'10''
Starting weight - 325lb.
most recent weigh in - 303lb.

Changes made- started measuring food portions, stuck to a rough, 2000calorie a day intake limit (except saturdays), walk the dogs more often, treadmil for 30 minutes - twice a week. aqua aerobics for 45 minutes twice a week.

[socolais]

It's a noble goal and I wish you all the success you could ever want. I've found when making life altering decisions, they only last when the "want to" was genuine. Think healthy!!

[ktimephoenix]

Originally Posted by socolais

It's a noble goal and I wish you all the success you could ever want. I've found when making life altering decisions, they only last when the "want to" was genuine. Think healthy!!

i know i am genuine. Mrs P? time will tell (i'm not a mind reader).

over the last few years, the good life, and a lack of surf has seen me put on about 60 pounds. it crept up on me.

[rpu3]

Congrats on what you've accomplished so far!

I lost around 80 lbs doing Atkins and have maintained that loss for . I'm not gaining, but I've really lost a lot of motivation to exercise, etc., especially lately.

So, Monday was my first day of tracking food and I've started with a personal trainer (3x per week). The goal is to simply tone up and get back into a routine and find a bit of enthusiasm for working out, playing tennis, running and skating. Hopefully, I develop a stronger core to be ready for figure skating season and lessons in September.

If I lose 10 lbs in the process, that would be nice. I have a goal to lose 7 lbs by September 12 and cut my dietary fat back by moving from a more Atkins-friendly diet to a South Beach-like diet.

Monday's workout was good, actually. The hour flew by. That never happens. Every minute feels like eternity in the gym usually.

Keep us posted - I agree that it helps some of us.

[JustAskJulie]

The problem with losing weight and/or getting in shape is motivation... you really have to want to. This is probably the 4th thread of its kind to be started here and they always seem to go well for a little while... then die off as people lose motivation or forget about the thread.

I am feeling more motivated lately, not as much to lose weight as to get in shape. I'm finding that I'm having a lot of issues that I'm pretty sure could be pretty well cured if I was just in better physical shape. (lower back, neck pain, recurring tennis elbow). So timely is this thread. I actually just sent out a few emails today to potential personal trainers. I really need to get my butt in the gym and actually use my gym membership and get in shape. But that is one area where I have a really hard time motivating myself, I really need someone to tell me what to do. I also need to get back on track with weight watchers. I did it pretty well for a while then for various reasons slacked off. The latest was just dealing with braces (spacers, etc) and just trying to actually eat at all was hard enough without trying to worry about how healthy it was. Eating is getting easier, so I need to focus on eating healthy again. I also need to find a good fiber supplement. I was taking a pill form but the dr told me to try the powder stuff. I picked up Benefiber because it could be mixed into anything and found that it (like Fiber One bars) just gives me gas

[ktimephoenix]

Julie, part of the reason i'm losing weight is because for the first time in 6 years, my old knee injury has flared up. that was the kick in the pants to do something about it. snowboarding season in Aus is coming around fast, and there is no way i can hit the slopes when i have enough trouble standing for more than 30 minutes.

Have you tried Pears instead of a fibre suppliment? i don't know your medical background, or how hard things are to eat, so it may be a useless suggestion. they're almost as good as prunes for fibre, but have a rare form of it, which is supposedly good for the heart as well. i know it's my "unblocker" of choice.

Controlling the food that goes in has always been my biggest problem. usually i'm active enough to burn most of it off tho. i found a website called Calorie king (feel free to remove it if mentioning names is against the board rules. I'm not an owner, just a happy user) has done wonders for me. you set up a profile, including height, weight, goal weight etc, and it works out a calorie plan for you. you can use it to generate a meal plan for the week, or you can use your own (has a searchable database for most commercially available foods). so if you have a favorite meal, you can add that in, and make adjustments to the rest of the day to cater for it.

i found that unlike weight watchers, where i usually ran out of points with a meal still to go, because your planning it ahead, your much more likely to stick to it.

[olycouple]

Add me to the list of unmotivated who sorely need to find the motivation before it gets the best of me! I recently had a baby and am now having body issues I've never had to deal with before. Even before baby, though, I had put on the pounds many of us tend to when we are happy, in love, safe, and having way too much fun wining and dining through the beginning years of a relationship/marriage. Unfortunately, even though I've gotten back to pre-pregnancy weight, it's now all flabby and saggy in places it never used to be. I eat pretty healthily, so that really isn't the problem (except I could reign in my carb intake a bit). Mostly, I just need to get up off my butt and exercise. The problem? I hate exercise with a passion. I don't like playing sports. And I can't afford to take classes or join an expensive gym. Those excuses aside...I feel your pain and am all for a thread if it's capable of supporting anyone achieve weight loss goals. After all, we all want to be healthy, happy, and sexy!

Hey, email me that link to the place that records all your calories, etc. That sounds helpful.

Mrs. O
I started working on this about 2 weeks ago. Started at 170...am currently at 167. I'm 5"4'.

[JustAskJulie]

Originally Posted by ktimephoenix

i found that unlike weight watchers, where i usually ran out of points with a meal still to go, because your planning it ahead, your much more likely to stick to it.

the way that I use WW, I actually do plan my meals ahead (at least to some extent). When I'm actually using it I plan all our dinners for the next week (at least on the nights I know we will eat at home). This helps in so many ways, not just in tracking, but also in just knowing what we are going to eat each day rather than trying to figure it out at 5pm and then wondering "do we have what I need to make.....".

I'm good about breakfast, I typically do an instant breakfast shake or some form of smoothie (with the instant breakfast as a base).

The hard part is the eating out. Over the course of working with the plan I have learned what things and places to avoid and what good choices to make. I still screw up occasionally thinking that something can't be that bad only to find out it's way worse. But, as with anything it's a learning process.

Actually, the last time I was using WW regularly I was as likely to have points left at the end of the week as I was to go over (which I pretty much only did when we went out of town).

The main thing with any diet is to make it a lifestyle change and not just a short term plan to lose weight. And to find what works for you. Every person has different body types and different things that work for them. For Pet, he does best to avoid starches altogether. I need a decent balance and find it best to just try to moderate my choices.

I just talked to one of the personal trainers that I emailed yesterday and I have an appt to meet with him Monday. I don't know how well this is going to work, considering he's hot and I end up staring at him half the time I do see him in the gym. But, on the upside he prefers to work the way I prefer to work (focus on core and overall strengthening rather than machines and weights). I know that if I can get back into the gym and start eating right again I can lose the 15-25lbs I want to lose (and get back in decent shape) within 2-3 months and be feeling much better for it.

[shywife]

Due to thryroid and adrenal gland difficiencies, I experienced sudden and rapid weight gain. I am now taking medication, but still have weight to lose. I joined an exercise "boot camp" for women in an effort to jump start a regular exercise program. The particular program I joined is self-paced, therefore accomodates all fitness levels. The atmosphere is very positive and we truly have fun as we work to improve our health and bodies. Oh, and the instructor is HOT!!! So that's pretty motivating, lol! Seriously though, I just feel better exercising. My results have been slow in coming due to the hormone issues, but I am seeing some changes in my body, so that also helps me keep my daily commitment. Callanetics are terrific toning exercises - they also help relieve stress and tension. Oh, and they work fast....

[celtic239]

I recently broke my ankle in two places (about two months ago). I use to hit the treadmill at least three times a week but since then I haven't been able to do any real jogging, the kind that get the heat rate going and a sweat breaking out. I gained about 8 pounds since then and have not been eating a lot of junk food. I have tried one of those ski type of machines as a substitute but it's not as effective as the treadmill.
I have started walking on the treadmill with the removable half cast on but I can only go for 25 minutes at the slow pace of 3.5 before the leg get fatigued.
Does anyone know of an aerobic excercise that doesn't pound the ankle but gets a good work out? (Yes I know having sex does fit the bill).

[olycouple]

Originally Posted by celtic239

Does anyone know of an aerobic excercise that doesn't pound the ankle but gets a good work out? (Yes I know having sex does fit the bill).

Bicycling (not stationary) or swimming

Mr. Oly

[BiloxiCouple]

Maybe some kind of rowing type machine? We have one at our gym that can be alot less stressfull to the ankle and still give a good workout. So far I have only seen one at the gym but the have a couple of hundred machines, there is a whole section of them I haven't seen.

Also, Thursday we did chair aerobics. With recent major surgery this was a good alternative exercise. No stress on the ankle.

[crazycouple425]

Congradulations to a fantastic start!

I got sick in March and lost quite a bit of weight. Then we went on a cruise and did not gain a single pound back. From that point on I've really been trying to watch what I eat, and finally gotten myself back to the gym.

Well needless to say the results are finally showing. Since March I've lost 30 lbs. and 5 inches off my waist.

Lets keep it going together.

[rpu3]

How are you guys doing on your plans?

At the two week mark, I am down two pounds, a half inch off the hips and .75 off my waist. My cholesterol and blood sugar were all good numbers during a health screening at work.

I still log every bite I put in my mouth at the website I use, which has probably been the most motivating part. I lift weights 3 times a week and some form of cardio for 30 minutes 4 to 5 times a week. I am slowly cutting the Diet Coke out of my diet, and by default, I'm drinking at least two quarts of water a day now. I stayed on plan for calories, protein and fat five days in a row. Saturdays are harder for some reason, food-wise.

[ktimephoenix]

This weekend we suffered a small setback. as we were away in the country meeting up with another couple, we ate out a fair amount, and slightly over indulged, calorie wise in alcohol too. but we have stuck to it every other day so far.

at last measurement, i'd lost another 8 pounds, but that was over a week ago, as i broke the scales the other day *doh*