The getting back in shape thread

[Cat]

I'm looking to lose about 10-15 pounds and tone up a bit.....my buddies and I are hiking of Mt Washington again in May, and I really let myself go since last summit.

I've been trying to hit the gym at least 3x a week, about and hour each time, and I should throw in some Wii time when I cannot hit the gym.

Unfortunately, dinners with the fam ad going out with friends tend to take interfere with my training, hahhaa.

[BookstoreEscapee]

Let's see, I did really well the first week of January - four days at the gym for an hour each (except 1/2 one day). Then the following week...it snowed on Monday, I hurt my back (clearing off my car on Monday? I dunno) and was in too much pain on Tuesday, Wednesday I had to meet my dad at the body shop to drop off my car to be fixed, and was still in some pain, anyway...Thursday and Friday, well...I just felt like I should still rest (still stiff but the exercise probably would have done me good). Then last week I did an hour on Monday, 1/2 hour on Tuesday, and then ended up at the animal hospital holding Pablo while he was put to sleep and the rest of the week I was sad and just didn't feel like it. Last night I got my gym bag all together and ready to go, and this morning I walked out of the apartment without it. Just totally forgot to grab it.

So. Tomorrow. We begin again.

Oh, and here's an article about getting yourself motivated...which I..um..have not gotten around to reading yet.

[HorrorFrogPrincess]

make sure you get very good shoes if your going to run outside

I got shin splints twice in my life, both times were caused by my own stupidity

Ive been talking to K about working towards a half triathlon, Im always good if I have a goal to work towards.
short term goal - pass medical by losing 15 lbs
medium term goal - wear bikini at christmas and not look like a beached whale
long term goal - half triathlon (hopefully I can get my fear of water undercontrol before then)
long long term goal - actual triathlon

Why would you want to wear a swimsuit during winter?

And I'm open to recommendations on shoes. I just ran for a few minutes (like, 5 with running and walking a little). I'm EXHAUSTED! So out of shape. >< Might've been better just to walk for 10 minutes.

[Kiwi]

Why would you want to wear a swimsuit during winter?
And I'm open to recommendations on shoes.

Because Christmas doesn't automatically mean winter everywhere in the world I'm from NZ, (even though I live in Canada) which is in the southern hemisphere and I'm going back there for Christmas this year.

I use asics for running and saucony for everything else. Dont worry about feeling out of shape, you'll be surprised how fast you improve!

[HorrorFrogPrincess]

Thanks. I'll check those out.

Yeah, I think I'll take a walk during my break at work, since I dont smoke, and run before dinner.

I actually had more of an appitite, though I didn't eat a lot since I figured it was from the running. I feel pretty good, though. Had a rough day at work, but I feel better.

And now is shower time. ^^

[Reyneth]

I need to lose 40 pounds, would like to lose 50 (high school graduation weight). Several years of depression + comfort eating plus less activity at my job has really added up. I lost this weight once about 10 years ago, I can do it again! My mom wants to go to the beach again this summer, and I want to like myself in those photos.

Last week, I went to this little gym in the basement of one of my company's buildings (I've been before here and there) twice, working out about 30-45 min each time. Tonight, I did 40 min on the elliptical and 20 on the treadmill (fast walking, my knee isn't up to running at this point). I'm so proud of myself! I'm going to go twice more this week, too (Tues and Fri are out b/c of 2nd job and going out w/friends).

I'm being more aware of what I eat and how much I eat. Unfortunately, my downfall is pop - a lot for the caffeine, some for the sugary flavor. I can't stand diet in any incarnation. So I'm doing my best to limit my intake. We'll see how it works! I haven't lost any in the first week, but that's just details at this point. We'll see about next week.

[ArcticChicken]

I got a Wii Fit today, and already I can tell it's going to be more successful than any other exercise method I've tried. I did 34 minutes, and I had a lot of fun, which I never have when I'm exercising.

[Kiwi]

thats GREAT to hear AChicken!

im putting a big chart of my measurements up in the kitchen so I can look at them before I grab a snack

I have to be careful that I dont weigh myself to much, when I was a teenager I would simply stop eating until the numbers went down enough for my liking. Right now K is weighing me once a week and I hop on the scale backwards he gives me a thumbs up or thumbs down and thats what I gage my progress off.

[SorryIsGoodEnough]

My mom added me to her gym membership today.

She lost 60 pounds two years ago by going to the gym on a very rigorous schedule and she maintained by keeping her healthy habits.

So that's what we're gonna do.

I'm ready to be comfortable with myself again.

[ArcticChicken]

I have to be careful that I dont weigh myself to much,

My mom has trouble when she weighs herself too frequently, and she's recently stopped weighing herself altogether. She said that's helped a lot.

Right now I'm just working on getting this 'exercise' thing together. When I've got a routine worked out I'll start working on my diet. Every time I've tried to do it all at once I've wound up crashing and burning, so we'll see how this goes.

My current weight loss goal is just over 22 pounds. If that doesn't work I'll scale it back a bit, but it's hard for me to set small goals when I have such a long way to go. I need to loose more than 100 pounds according to my BMI.

[Kiwi]

Just finished my second 40 minute workout in 2 days

Im doing 4, ten minute slots on the elliptical going as HARD as I can, when I hop off Im just about dead.

last night I also did 30 sit ups, 30 press up (against the wall ones), 10 plies and 30 plank rows

Ive cut my junk food down to two meals a week.
During lost I can have some potato chips and a fun sized mars bar.
I freeze the mars bar because they are SOOOO good when ice cold!

the other junk food time is a meal out a week, some times breakfast or maybe maccas for dinner. That way I have something to look forward to every few days.

[ArcticChicken]

Did another half hour on the Wii Fit today. I am having way too much fun with the hula-hoop game.

Then we got some great snow and I went sledding for about an hour. I'm gonna have a nasty bruise on my upper thigh because the sled caught some air and I came down hard on the raised lip, but it was so worth it.

[BookstoreEscapee]

So. Tomorrow. We begin again.

Or tomorrow...it snowed all day and the roads were not fun. I didn't want to risk staying any later at work than necessary. (Left my gym bag under my desk though so it's all ready to go.)

I did have to go out into the warehouse this afternoon and I took a long way back to the office which included walking up 3 flights of stairs, across the upper floor, down 3 flights on the other end, and then up another flight to the office. I also did a couple strength exercises when I got home. Not much but I guess it's better than nothing. Right?

OK, I've never shared how much I actually weigh (and I still won't) but I will say ultimately I would like to lose about 40 pounds. I was always a small kid, never had a weight problem, and I don't weigh myself very often, so it was a little surprising to see how much I've actually gained. Plus when I saw pictures from my cousin's wedding last month I was a bit shocked. So. I need to get going.

I have gotten myself a few toys. I got a resistance band (got at BN with my extra discount at Christmas), a wobble board (with one of my gift cards at Target), and the Pushup Pro (bought at Bed, Bath & Beyond). Except when I tried to do pushups, even on my knees, my arms felt really weak. So I'll have to work on that. I also have a step that can work as a makeshift weight bench for some exercises. I do the treadmill at the gym, but when it gets warm enough (and stays light later) I'll go to the park again.

Oh, and HorrorFrog, look for a specialty running store in your area; they are usually staffed with people who know their stuff and can help you find the right shoe for your foot. If you don't have one nearby, Runner's World has a running shoe finder on their website, plus tons of other info.

[gunsage]

I've been thinking about doing Wii Fit. How involved is it? Do I need a lot of space? I have a small ass living room, so up until recently I did the DDR emulator on my computer, had a bench in the baby's room (which stopped after she was born obviously), etc., and just using the workout center at work. Still, if I could use Wii Fit before I went to work, I could get some good cardio and stretches in before large workouts at work.

[BookstoreEscapee]

Who's up for a Challenge?

OK, so I did 62 minutes on the treadmill after work today. Woohoo!

I have also decided to start posting my progress in my user profile.

Now for the challenge. I have a subscription to Self magazine. Every year, starting in March, they do a program called the Self Challenge. It's a three month program that includes workouts (cardio, strength and flexibility routines) and an eating plan. Each month has a new set of workouts, a different focus on food, and tools to track your progress. They also give out prizes and stuff. I signed up for it once or twice a while back but I never followed through. I was reading the February issue today which has an article on getting ready for the Challenge.

You can start it as early as February 9th...So who's with me? When they put it on the website I'll post the link in the Get In Shape social group, if anyone's interested.