The getting back in shape thread

[Reyneth]

I'm hoping doing this increases my sex drive too. Since becoming flabbier (and I know I'm not fat, but I'm short and curvy and the weight gain is pretty obvious on me. My bum now has it's own gravitational field) it's dropped massively.

It's worked for me, it should work for you!

Now if only I had a guy!

[GingerBiscuit]

It's worked for me, it should work for you!

Now if only I had a guy!

Well, I have some pills that have guarana and horny goat weed- so more energy and *ahem* increased blood flow, so along with my new regime I should see results quick

[wchristopher]

I've lost 200 pounds in the last year. I'm trying to lose about another 100 but have ht a wall.
I need to regulate my diet better but the people that buy the food are morons

[Kiwi]

but the people that buy the food are morons

Who buys your food?

Is there a way you can have more say over what these people buy?

Maybe write them a list of foods you would like to have?

[HorrorFrogPrincess]

I adjusted the weight on the assisted pull up machine. Now it carries 100lbs and I lift 50 of my own weight.

I also saw the trainer that showed me around and told me about the running program. He mentioned that he saw me around a lot "training hard" as he said. ^w^

It does take some motivation to actually GO to the gym, but once I get there it's fun.

[Kiwi]

Today I changed it up a bit, I did 600 calories more slowly than usual.

it takes about 3500 calories burnt to loose a pound of weight.

my goal in getting fit is to loose 1lb a week until I have lost 40lbs total. At that weight I am an NZ size 12 (I don't know what that is in other places) but it puts me at a healthy BMI and I don't struggle with everyday things walking up stairs, etc

currently I am working up towards 700 calories a day (I'm averaging 525 a day right now so I have a little bit to go) and that will give me a pound a week just through exercise. I also have worked our my BMR (basal metabolic rate to work out that I need about 1700 calories a day to exist). I can post the calculations if anyone wants it.

If I work off 700 calories per day over a 5 days workout week (I refuse to workout on the weekend!) I can eat whatever I like up to that 1700 calories and still loose about a pound a week. It also means that if I have a slip up, I can slightly decrease my calories for the rest of the week and still be fine. I wont diet, I can't diet because it simply doesn't work for me so cutting my calories to anything under 1500 is unworkable for me. I do not however increase my calories just because I workout. Its 1700 a day workout or not.

Usually to work off my calories, I do 2 X 20 minute workouts and 1X 10 minute workout (I'm also working towards increasing that last workout to 20 minutes) but today I'm changing things up.

Im going much slower on the elliptical than normal but giving myself a goal of 600 calories. From now until I reach my 700 calorie a day goal I'm going to alternate, one day going as HARD and as FAST as I can and the next day going slower but making myself reach my caloric burn goal.

I'm doing this for two reasons, number one some days Im busy and need my workout over quickly so I can get other stuff done, so I do a fast workout. The number two problem is because I'm pushing so hard through these workouts my muscles are sore the next day (even with stretching between and after each set).

by incorporating a slower more gentle day, I'm still burning the calories I need to burn but I'm giving my muscles a chance to recover somewhat from the grueling fast workout. After all a calorie burnt is a calorie burnt no matter quickly its done. Sure I might miss out on a nominal amount of residual burning but my goal is long term health and improved fitness. I don't want or need to loose more than a pound a week because if you loose weight to fast you are more likely to gain it back. I have given myself a year to loose the 40 lbs (its about 40 weeks now until I go home for Christmas) although at the rate my fitness is increasing and by the way that is the BEST feeling! I should reach the 40lbs goal in about 6 months.

My goal is to keep that 40lbs off forever! It took me a few years to pack it on, I would be silly to try and get it off in a month or two.

I'm also keeping track of a lot of things, I keep a food diary, I keep a workout log, I also keep track of my weight, body fat percentage and my lean body mass (the last two are the most important to me).
I feel that I'm doing a great job, I can see the benefits of my fitness program starting to show. My clothes are fitting really well, muffin top is disappearing! Even my bras are more comfortable!

The best thing though, is feeling fitter, our apartment is up the stairs and I used to huff and puff up a single flight.Now I can almost jog up them and not puff one bit, I can even talk while walking up the stairs.

Today is a very good day

Your fitter by the day KIWI!

[Rapscallion]

Hit the hill three times today - watch reckons 743 calories burned. Heart rate used to go up to just over 190 maximum, but this time 174 maximum. Showing quite a few signs of improvement. Recovery time much better as well.

Nearly 1800 calories in two days. Just wish my joints were somewhat better

Oh, and the scales reckon I've ignored that pizza and fondue, and have lost another pound.

Rapscallion

[iradney]

I am proud to report I have lost 20 pounds!
Bumped into a personal trainer at the gym yesterday that I am on friendly terms with, and he was VERY impressed at the progress I'm making So I'm feeling very amped at the moment!!

[wchristopher]

Who buys your food?

Is there a way you can have more say over what these people buy?

Maybe write them a list of foods you would like to have?

My future mother-in-law does. As long as I live here I have no say in what is bought. If I buy things for me other people eat them cause we have a shared fridge. We aren't allowed to label things as ours.

[Kiwi]

My future mother-in-law does. As long as I live here I have no say in what is bought. If I buy things for me other people eat them cause we have a shared fridge. We aren't allowed to label things as ours.

I would be looking at moving out pronto, failing that how about you keep get a cheapo mini fridge from wal-mart and keep your healthy foods in your room. Failing THAT your just going to have to eat smaller portions of whatever is going on. There are healthy foods you can buy on your own and keep in your room, cans of soups and veges, pre-made meals watch the sodium in those though. If you have to buy your lunch on the way to work or your break everyday at a supermarket, a couple of piece of fruit, a pottle of yogurt, etc.

Have you tried talking to your mil or your future husband about wanting to eat in a healthier way, including more vege or fruit in your diet? If they love you, they will want you fit and healthy!
Also if they refuse (and why would any sane loving family member refuse helping someone get healthy!!!) you will simply have to reduce your portions of the fattier food and spend more time exercising. Scrape the fatty sauce off anything, cook a cup of frozen vegies to go with your dinner, offer to cook a few nights a week and cook a healthier style meal that night etc If your serious about your health you must find a way!

I did another 600 calorie workout today, feeling very good. Tonight is treat night! I'm having home made fish and chips... fish is grilled with LOTS of lemon juice YUM and fries are from scratch and baked not fried.

I am however having a banana split for dessert! I didn't have any snacks today so that saved 300 calories for it which ... doesn't quite cover it, but its close enough by my book. Im going to an hour long walk tomorrow with a friend with coffee at the end. I will workout tomorrow as well so that will cover the last few calories.

I do have great news, the temps have been well over zero the last few days and most of the snow and ice is gone! The friend im going walking with wants to take a 3 days kayaking trip down one of the rivers with me!!!!
Theres a group that teach kayaking classes in town and they do 1-2 or 3 days tours! Were going to sign up and that will really give me a great arms workout!

[Kiwi]

I am proud to report I have lost 20 pounds!

Hit the hill three times today - watch reckons ~and have lost another pound.

Rapscallion

Well done Iradney and Raps!!!!!
Im very impressed by both of you!
Raps what kind of watch do you have! I want one

we need a CS workout clothing line, I can think of nothing better than people jogging around town with "CUSTOMER SUCK.COM" plastered across their junk!

[Reyneth]

The workouts have been shorter lately, I need to change that. I've learned how important it is to not weigh yourself too often - "gained" 1.5 pounds since Monday. But I think it's all water weight, had some saltier foods Monday night and last night and drank less water today.

So things are still going well, not perfect, but no loss of motivation so slow and steady!

Oh, and I won the 2nd week of the Biggest Loser group I'm in (Mon-Mon) for the highest % of weight loss for that week.

But - the scale in the basement of my work building isn't matching the one at the gym. For example, if my friend and I were 10lbs (example only!) on the one at our building, at the gym I was 11 pounds and my friend was 9.5! Wearing the exact same clothes, three minutes or so between weighing, no bathroom stops, anything. LOL

[Setsunaela]

Have you tried talking to your mil or your future husband ...

I'm a man now!

We've talked to my mom. She started buying healthy foods for her, in portions enough for her, and having blue bloody hissy fits when anyone else touched them
We're probably going to end up buying a mini-fridge once the budget affords it..

Also, on a more on-topic note, I'd say I've lost 4 pant sizes in the past year, slowly but surely, and 2 of those have been in the past 4 months or so! ^_^

[Kiwi]

I'm a man now!

omgosh I'm so sorry!!!! *runs and hides!*

that sucks about your mum, so SHES allowed her own food, but no one else is... riiiightt because that's fair!

I8DaCookie your doing awesome! You might want to try working out every two days then having a day for your knees to rest then go again for two days. Now that summers on its way you might also want to try swimming, its really low impact! Ill see if I can find some exercises for you to strengthen your knees if you want.

Reyneth it sounds like your making steady progress! I find we have to use the same spot for the scale, we also weigh ourselves (K and I) on a Sunday morning before we have anything to eat because as soon as you drink something... that's pure weight. Not bad weight of course because we need to keep hydrated but drink a liter of water you've put on a kilo. That's no fair way to weigh yourself... when your a kilo heavier of pure water!

everyone seems to be very motivated, summer is just around the corner so do the hard work when its cold and by summer you'll be hot

[HorrorFrogPrincess]

*sigh* I forgot to clean my gym clothes last night, so they're in the dryer right now. *glances at clock*

Eh, I can still make it to the gym.

Haven't lost any weight yet, but it's easier to run on the treadmill for longer periods, and my arms were hurting today from pull ups. ^^

I really need to find something to protect my hands, though, or I'm gonna get blisters.