The getting back in shape thread

[Kiwi]

Went for a 4k walk this afternoon
feeling good!

[crazylegs]

Does tea count, since technically there aren't any calories in tea? .

In a word -

Yes

*Any* liquid, be it a drink or part of your food counts as part of your liquid consumption for the day.

Right, so far this week I've run 15K, and will hit the gym today and tomorrow (but not Sunday). Other than Monday I've also done resistance training every day. Strane thing is that since I've started going to the gym I've been ridiculously hungry all the damn time, I've never been subtle with what I eat but this is getting beyond a joke!

[lupo pazzesco]

My first weigh in

Well, I started this healthy lifestyle change kick on April 1st 2009. Today, I had my first weigh in since starting, so it's been about a week. All told, I've lost 1.6 lbs, and half an inch from my waist. Not stellar numbers, but promising start, given that I only worked out 4days total. And, while I was watching my calories, I know I wasn't completely honest with myself. I indulged in some serious sugar therapy.

I suppose that's my next step. Go through my diet and find out why I'm always eating sugary snacks, and try to correct that. I know that change isn't going to happen overnight, much as I want it to. But then nothing that's truly worth it is easy, now is it?

With that said, I'm off to change and get in a workout before I go to school for the day. Something simple, like maybe an hour of yoga. Maybe some circuit training when I get home. We shall see.

wish me luck, because while I plan on sticking with this, it hasn't proven easy thus far, and I know it's going to get tougher as the weeks go on. But the fact that I did lose weight, AND half an inch makes me hopeful that I'm doing the right thing, and that I'm on the right track.

[crazylegs]

Well, I started this healthy lifestyle change kick on April 1st 2009. Today, I had my first weigh in since starting, so it's been about a week. All told, I've lost 1.6 lbs, and half an inch from my waist.

Congratulations on your weight loss!

Now, don't weigh in weekly. I'm pretty sure your female, and your monthly hormone cycle causes you to retain/dispose of water, so some weeks you may feel as if you're not getting anywhere, when infact you are. I would suggest that you weight yourself at the same point within your cycle so you can keep an accurate log of your weight loss.

[Rapscallion]

Hit the hill thrice, but cut down some of the flat bits where I normally cool off. 50 minutes, 663 calories, max pulse 175 - heart rate better, but as expected above what it should be as I didn't have as much of the flatter stuff. A bit more intense and all that.

Rapscallion

[crazylegs]

I don't think my heart rate monitor is working properly, halfway through my run today (3.2K 16:33min) it said my BPM was 59, then 20sec later it said I was at 185BPM.

It's most certainly on the fritz.

[Rapscallion]

If it's one of those chest band ones, they do need some lubrication to make sure it's getting impulses from your skin. Suggest a finger liberally wetted in your mouth.

Rapscallion

[crazylegs]

The amount I was sweating at that point my mouth would probably have been drier!

[One-Fang]

I've had mine do that too. Had to move where the chest band was. Might want to look into that.

Lupo - not stellar numbers???!?!??!

1.6lbs in a week is FANTASTIC!!!

If you genuinely believe any different, you HAVE to change that thinking NOW. Along with the whole "lifestyle" approach thing, comes an approach of "slow is good". You do not want to lose more than 2lb a week.

Now, considering that most people gain water weight when they start working out (normal, but scary), that probably means you lost more than 1.6lbs. To show an actuall LOSS at all in the first week is GREAT.

Seriously. That's some really good progress. Celebrate! (With a bath or massage or something, not food! LOL)

[lupo pazzesco]

Congratulations on your weight loss!

Now, don't weigh in weekly. I'm pretty sure your female, and your monthly hormone cycle causes you to retain/dispose of water, so some weeks you may feel as if you're not getting anywhere, when infact you are. I would suggest that you weight yourself at the same point within your cycle so you can keep an accurate log of your weight loss.

Honestly didn't think of that, actually. Thanks for the feedback because I happen to be in an...er...bloaty part of the cycle. At least I know where each point is. (Gods bless birth control!!) I'll have to time the weigh ins at the right points now...

And now I realize why I'm all "GrrneedsugarNOW" Gyaaah....

Lupo - not stellar numbers???!?!??!

1.6lbs in a week is FANTASTIC!!!

If you genuinely believe any different, you HAVE to change that thinking NOW. Along with the whole "lifestyle" approach thing, comes an approach of "slow is good". You do not want to lose more than 2lb a week.

Now, considering that most people gain water weight when they start working out (normal, but scary), that probably means you lost more than 1.6lbs. To show an actuall LOSS at all in the first week is GREAT.

Seriously. That's some really good progress. Celebrate! (With a bath or massage or something, not food! LOL)

I do know that, intellectually, but talking to my doctor and nutritionist, (They have free consults at my campus, so I took advantage)

They said given the drastic change I'm undergoing (food intake wise, and increased physical activity), I'd probably lose more than that for the first few weeks before it leveled out and my body got used to it.

Either way, I'm still very pleased with myself. Especially the fact that I've actually been exercising more instead of finding excuses not to move. Still need some work on portion control and food, and I'm really hoping the motivation stays with me. but overall, a nice feeling.

As for treating myself. Yes, I'm planning on a nice hot soak tonight. It'll feel good. And I'm sleeping in tomorrow before I start running errands and cleaning. A bit of laziness.


Thanks for the kind words and support guys! It really helps.

[Kiwi]

6k walk today, really starting to feel fit. We are aiming for a 10 k practice run tomorrow.

[One-Fang]

Well Lups, they're right too.

As I said, it's perfectly normal to gain weight initially. It's also perfectly normal, if one is originally quite well gifted with enormous fat cells, to lose a lot of weight quickly to start.

Both are normal. Both are common.

Guessing which way any particular individual will go? Pass. The sad and silly fact of weight loss is that all kinds of reactions to changing your lifestyle are "normal", and you can't really predict what will happen *initially*.

Long-term, if you maintain the lifestyle, you lose weight and get fitter. But initially? A bit of a crap-draw, really.

[lupo pazzesco]

One-Fang, I just went along with the "probably" as in, "this might happen, but dont' get your hopes up."

Given my body and family history? Abnormal IS normal for me. The last diet I went on, I dropped 8 lbs in a week. Freaked my doctor out, she was thinking I was going into an eating disorder on her. I just shrugged it off. Then she read my chart and notes from previous visits, and my history, and my family history.

Without going into too many graphic and disgusting details, her response was "well. You kinda lost the genetic lottery, there, didn't you?"

so, now that I've told her about the lifestyle change, she's very encouraging, but said she's going to keep her mind open. And if I started shrinking while gaining weight, she was writing me up in a medical journal...

I'm glad I've kept visiting her for so long, she has a sense of humor and she actually CARES. It's also helpful because she'll be able to explain to the nutritionist about me. when I say abnormal is normal for me, the last nutritionist I went to thought I was just using it as an excuse for not trying hard enough to get into shape.

[lupo pazzesco]

Housecleaning counts as exercise, doesn't it...?

I just spent the last 2.5 hours or so scrubbing, sweeping, mopping, dusting, vacuuming, hauling laundry,, taking out trash, etc, etc...

I'm very very very tempted to not do my workout and just curl up with dinner and watch the amazing race. But I know if I start finding excuses now, I'm going to keep on doing so...but I'm already tired from cleaning. Still..TV and food. Mighty tempting...

After I shower. I smell like lemons and windex... Blech...

[Kiwi]

after a couple of weeks of only loosing 1/4 lb each week I lost 3.3lbs this week.

I have averaged out of the last two months at losing 1.5lbs per week which is just slight above my goal of 4 lbs a month.

YAY!!!