YouLookFab Forum » Topic: Exercising

YouLookFab Forum » Topic: Exercising https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/exercising Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Mon, 04 May 2026 03:14:44 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 <![CDATA[Search]]> q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php Inge on "Exercising" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/exercising/page/2#post-12132 Sat, 21 Jun 2008 21:14:33 +0000 Inge 12132@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ LauraElizabeth said: 'There are some good quality, free podcasts of yoga sequences (just like a class!) online, let me know if you (or anyone else!) are interested!' A bit late in responding to this, but I'd love a link to the podcasts you mentioned LauraElizabeth. Thanks! marianne on "Exercising" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/exercising/page/2#post-11950 Thu, 19 Jun 2008 22:43:51 +0000 marianne 11950@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Thanks for your thoughts, Inge, I appreciate your detailed response (wish I had time for one). I know it's hard to generalize about things like that, since it also depends on your social group. For example, everyone at my work has a membership - regardless of their shape and habits. The cost varies a lot, depending on facilities and location. Nicole, I think you're right about driving - gym is probably the only way to get regular exercise for many people. Inge on "Exercising" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/exercising/page/2#post-11945 Thu, 19 Jun 2008 21:14:49 +0000 Inge 11945@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ After rereading my last two posts, I realise that it might seem as if I'm contradicting myself: Europeans are eating less healthy and more fatty and refined foods vs Europeans have jumped on the 'healthy eating wagon'. Both are true though, they coexist peacefully;-) Inge on "Exercising" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/exercising/page/2#post-11944 Thu, 19 Jun 2008 21:11:12 +0000 Inge 11944@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Partly yes Nicole (I was going to say that, but forgot). Distances are smaller here, so we often bike or walk to wherever we have to be. And partly it's just a culture difference I guess. But still, obesity rates are getting higher here as well, we are eating much more refined and fatty foods in Europe too and more and more children and young adults* are overweight because of lack of exercise (computers & videogames are often mentioned as a big culprit). That and the fact that families often don't make/have time anymore to eat together and choose ready-made dishes over cooking things from scratch, develop unhealthy snacking habits etc. It all adds up, doesn't it? (Djeez I suddenly feel so 'preachy' now;-) * then again, there are lots of teenage girls (and older) that are scarily thin and underweight too, that are constantly obsessing about their weight and often resort to heavy smoking to suppress their appetite. But that's not 'typically' European I guess. Nicole on "Exercising" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/exercising/page/2#post-11941 Thu, 19 Jun 2008 20:55:52 +0000 Nicole 11941@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Inge (and you others familiar with European habits)...do you think the need for formal exercise is less because your day to day routines involve more built in exercise? (if you live in a suburb in America, you don't do much walking to run errands, get to work, go to school--everything is by car). Also, I think American diets are so saturated with high fructose corn syrup, fats, white flour etc...that the need to exercise formally is far greater. It's like taht book...'why french women don't get fat"....when she stopped living like a french woman, she gained weight. Inge on "Exercising" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/exercising/page/2#post-11937 Thu, 19 Jun 2008 20:38:18 +0000 Inge 11937@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I just saw your question Marianne. I don't want to generalise and I really only know the situation in Belgium, but I have a hunch the other European countries aren't that different: yes I think gym memberships and working out regularly for say 3, 4 times a week still is less common over here. (When I joined YLF I was amazed at how much exercise you all seemed to get and felt more unsporty than ever;-) Things have changed quite a bit over the last ten years (a decade ago a lot of people attended an aerobics or step class once a week, went for a swim, played some tennis etc. but nothing more), but now gyms are popping up everywhere. And more people are getting a membership too, but especially the 'younger' generation (under 35/40). I don't know what it's like in the States, but here memberships are quite expensive (and there was an article in the paper just this week that the general conditions are often a bit dodgy and very unfavourable for their members) and a lot of people start enthusiastically, go regularly for a few months (or weeks) and then stop going but keep paying for months after (because they all think 'oh I'll definitely start again next week'...). And I do have the impression that we're less 'fanatical' about exercise and working out here. Most people I know (men and women) don't get any exercise at all, some do something 'sporty' once a week and even those who were more active when 'younger' just 'drop out' once they get a fulltime job, have kids etc. (not enough time anymore, and it can be hard can't it, to fit into your schedule - I absolutely admire each and everyone of you who gets up early to get some exercise in!). But we are all indeed much more aware of how important it is for our health and fitness level to 'get moving' and eat healthy (that we have definitely embraced over here too). The intentions are good, now a lot of us just have to put them into practice. (and now I do feel like I'm generalising, but I'm just describing what I see everywhere around me, so if other Euro members think I'm way off, do speak up;-) mirah on "Exercising" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/exercising/page/2#post-11777 Wed, 18 Jun 2008 18:58:51 +0000 mirah 11777@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ all of you are such inspirations..being a working mom and still fitting in exercise in the morning schedule is amazing ! I am not at my optimum weight but exercising has helped me control my health problems and be active. Plus it improves stamina for long working hours. I love working out. I am extremely unsporty so my preferred method is aerobics (treadmill, elliptical) as well as free weights and weight machines and yoga whenever i feel too stressed. I take up the various group classes once in a while if it gets boring. I usually make it to the gym at least 3 times a week if not more and work out for 60-75 minutes... it needs to be way more than that to achieve my health goals but in the past if i 'crash' exercised to lose weight, I gained it back faster than i lost it. So for the past few months I am working towards integrating exercise irreversibly in my routine so taking it slow and steady. I am not a morning person and if I dont sleep well I waste time at work being cranky. So I usually go in the evenings during weekdays and in the mornings on weekends. I am working with a personal trainer once a week which provides a great boost since it helps preventing the 'rut' mentality by keeping the workout varied. Dieting by eating less or restricting to certain foods again has proved dangerous so I have switched to eating smaller portions of food instead of picking up 'fad' diets. And I am glad to learn that all of you fit ladies follow similar routines. I dont necessarily snack but believe that breakfast is the most important meal of the day and always have a small snack in the evening since my dinner time is rather late due to work schedules. I am a vegetarian too, for 9 years now, but not necessarily vegan though I try to buy organic foods which are animal-fat free. I cook almost everyday and have soups, salads, cooked vegetables, rice and whole wheat in my meals. I was also glad to know that I am not a freak since I do not buy fat-free food items either..even milk. I have not been able to find convincing evidence so far to the effect that items labelled fat-free are not chemically treated and advantageous in any way. Most of my cooking tends towards spicy which I like and believe is useful for the body. I am a sweet tooth too and loove desserts.. but thats the only thing I have put a restraining order on..for a while at least. thanks for the thread Nicole. Not only does it help to know how others tackle being healthy but its much simpler to put things in perspective after writing them down aisha1984 on "Exercising" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/exercising/page/2#post-11774 Wed, 18 Jun 2008 18:47:50 +0000 aisha1984 11774@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ What a wonderful thread! Its been so interesting reading everyone's diet/exercise routines! For myself, let's see, I guess I am a total foodie. I love to cook, I love to bake, and I love the pleasure of sitting down for a good meal with people I love. Luckily I live close to my job (I'm within 10 minutes walking distance) so I am lucky enough to avoid the commuters lifestyle. This gives me the time that most people don't have in the evening to prepare a fresh-from-scratch dinner in the evenings, and even come home for lunch in the afternoons most days (in the summer primarily when work slows down). I cook all different types of cuisines, asian, italian, south american, french, greek, pakistani, english...you name it and I've done it. While I used to cook during university, I really tapped into my passion after I got married (it always helps when you have someone who appreciates your cooking!) Throughout my life, I've been on the above average side (but never really overweight) which was partly controlled through exercise. Nothing too severe but I did go for long walks most days, swim quite a bit and hit the gym. My metabolism isn't the greatest and I'm one of those people who will always need to exercise to maintain her weight. I come from a family with weight issues as well so that doesnt' help. I was about a size 8/10 when I got married and to be honest, I was at peace with my size. However it wasn't until a year after we were married that I started Depo-Provera and gained a massive amount of weight. I had heard that Depo does cause weight gain and the day I started it, I made sure I was exercising daily however, I was in the middle of my final and hardest CA exam, went off for vacation shortly after I wrote the exam, and slowly that exercise routine just failed. And the depo juts made me so so hungry. I never even realized how much I was eating...and suddenly one day, I recieved pictures through email from a cousin of mine for her engagement party and was confronted by proof on just how big I had gotten. I think I was close to 190lb when I realized this. (This was last March) Last summer, DH and I decided to eat healthier and start exercising once again, and exercising together which we had never really done before. We started going for long walks, about 8km (5miles) on weeknights and much longer (between 12-20KM) on weekends. Weight started coming off and I felt a lot better about myself. And with someone to go on walks with it became something to look forward to. Last fall, we went to Hawaii and while I didn't gain any weight on our trip, I did fall off the exercise wagon. The weather was colder, work hours were getting longer and longer and I just wasn't exercising. Finally this January, as a New Years resolution I resolved to get into shape. DH and I found a bootcamp close to our home and committed to going there 3x a week at 6am! It was hell for the first little while but I started to look forward to it and the weight loss was incredibl. Our eating habits became better and better as well. We did the bootcamp for 3 months and since then I normally exercise 5x a week either running with hubby and doing muscle exercises with a resistance band (which was what we used in bootcamp), or swimming (we are fortunate to live in a condo with an indoor and outdoor pool so I'm able to use the indoor pool to do laps) and even just plain old power walks. I find I have more energy, feel better about myself and the weight keeps coming off! Oh, and I recently stopped Depo as well, and I have to say I feel much much better! Its amazing, I'm not eating as much (don't know if this is b/c of depo or b/c of exercise maybe?), I'm losing more weight and generally I just feel more balanced. Quite amazing! I have to switch up my exercise routine though every couple of weeks though or I get bored and stop going. I'm considering adding a yoga/pilates class to my workouts to change it up. I think i'm the same as most people here, I could never do a diet. DH and I are constantly entertaining and socializing and I just couldn't do it all with a restrictive diet. At home, we normally do not eat white flour or potatoes (I find these things make me retain water and bloat) but I will eat these items within moderation if we are outside (at someones place, a restaurant etc). ANd right now, I'm trying to decrease my sugar intake a bit. However, I do love my dark chocolate and sweets and I still manage to squeeze these in every day! Just in smaller and smaller quantities! Maya on "Exercising" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/exercising/page/2#post-11763 Wed, 18 Jun 2008 17:28:19 +0000 Maya 11763@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Oh, and I have been veg for 6 years. I love it. I have tried and tasted so many new things that I would have never bothered with if I still ate meat. I love spicy food too. Maya on "Exercising" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/exercising/page/2#post-11762 Wed, 18 Jun 2008 17:25:16 +0000 Maya 11762@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I'm with you Tanya. At least you have the excuse of being European, but I am just a genuine chocolate snob. I always have 3 jars of Nutella in my pantry at any given time :) Um, I don't know what to say on this topic because it's going to sound silly, but I just eat whenever I feel hungry. I guess that doesn't work for some people who have problems with emotional eating and things like that, but it works for me. I can't afford to be much of a food snob. Sure I would like to eat organic and cook all natural foods from scratch and all that, but I'm a horrible cook and a poor one at that. I have turned into mush since coming home. The city walking did me a lot of good. I'd always look for excuses to go on walks and I would often take the longest, most circuitous route to get where I'm going. The problem of course is that by the time it gets warm enough to do this regularly, I'm back at home, and walking through my neighborhood bores me. Unlike a large city, you end up seeing the same things and going on the same route every day. The experience is just totally different. I took up yoga last year and had mixed feelings about it, but I want to give it another shot. I stopped when I went back to school and took a course load of 18 credits. I was just exhausted all the time. But now I'm only part time so I have no excuses, other than feeling bad that I lost all the flexibility I had built up. I feel like something is wrong though, because I *look* at least 15 pounds heavier than I actually weigh. I'm only about 105 pounds, but I probably look more like 115 or 120. I have always had a lot of trouble gaining muscle mass, so that's probably the culprit. I don't think weight training is something I could bring myself to do regularly though. For me, exercise has to be fun and/or relaxing. If it's strenuous or if it feels like a chore, I can't keep up with it. Anonymous on "Exercising" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/exercising#post-11749 Wed, 18 Jun 2008 16:06:54 +0000 Anonymous 11749@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Tanya and Patience it sounds like you are getting more exercise than you know. Tanya, walking 1.5 miles each way to your lab is GREAT. You look fabulous and that is a good workout for your heart. Patience, as always Mom's are getting as much exercise as the amount of energy their children have, which is usually ALOT. Both of you have hugely important jobs and your exercise is built right in. GREAT! Marianne, I have been a vegetarian for about 10 years also. I have never liked meat very much and so it was not a difficult adjustment for me. However, I tried to go vegan for about 6 months and gave that up because it is important to me to still be able to go for pizza, or breakfast, or Mexican restaraunts, with the family and not have to put a kink in the plans with my 'special diet needs'. So I try not to think to much about the dairy products. If I did I wouldn't eat it. Dani on "Exercising" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/exercising#post-11741 Wed, 18 Jun 2008 15:46:43 +0000 Dani 11741@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Nicole, thanks so much for your words of wisdom... I find I tend to be too hard on myself for not exercising and being tired, but my kids are both under 5. It really helps so much to have perspective! I keep telling myself these days will go by too quickly! Tanya, I love the sound of the PiYo. I'll have to look into that and see if I have anything close to me! Patience, my kids are total fruitaholics! I can't complain because at least they're not eating fast food, but I would love to get a little more substance down them sometimes Picky eaters are tough!!! Thanks to everyone for contributing, it is always nice to know how others struggle and succeed! It's such an inspiration! Patience on "Exercising" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/exercising#post-11738 Wed, 18 Jun 2008 15:38:12 +0000 Patience 11738@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ It never ceases to amaze me how well aligned everyone on this forum is. I'm not a vegetarian but I could see myself being one. My daughter is for the most part vegetarian but my husband likes his chicken (not so much red meat). I do love to cook although since having kids I've switched to quick prep options and my husband actually does a good portion of the cooking. We cook everything from scratch, never eat McDonalds (my kids don't know what it is) and usually have fruit for dessert and avoid things like high fructose corn syrup and trans fats. I generally only drink water or herbal tea. My exercise of choice is yoga twice a week. In cooler weather I like to walk as well. Now that it's hot, I'm taking my kids to the pool and was thinking of trying to come up with some aerobics to do in the pool while still supervising and holding onto my kids. I also have a sweet tooth and find that a couple of pieces of chocolate after lunch does the trick nicely. Things I would like to improve on are snacking-- I do need to have an afternoon snack or else I'm miserable by dinner. Also I eat way too fast. With a toddler it's hard not to be in the mode of eat quickly because somebody is going to be screaming or want to sit in your lap. I agree it is much better for your health to sit, enjoy and savor your meal but I need to work on this. My daughter is a very picky eater and unfortunately eats a lot of macaroni and cheese, peanut butter, milk and eggs. I guess it could be worse and she loves fruit. Tanya on "Exercising" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/exercising#post-11725 Wed, 18 Jun 2008 14:04:18 +0000 Tanya 11725@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I am joining in here, though I don't have anything valuable to add. I am a very unsporty person, I am horrible at any sports, any physical activity really and pretty clumsy, so I never really got into any of these things. For about 4 years (until two years ago) when I did competitive ballroom dancing I was in the best shape of my life. It was fun, did not feel like exercise, and I've enjoyed it a lot. And I was spending ~14 hours a week doing it so I could see the difference on my body. Sadly I had to stop due to sprained ankle and grad school time demands. But I intend to go back as soon as I graduate. Sometimes I actually feel that my whole life is on hold till I graduate, everything I'd like to do is "after I graduate". I have noticed that I becoming more and more mushy after stopping to dance so I tried to do something else. I tried the gym, everything bored me and was bad for me: my knees & ankles took quite a bitting from the dancing so I can not run, do the treadmill etc. The only thing the worked for me was the elliptical machine, I liked it somewhat,i but sadly fitting the gym in my schedule was not possible. This spring I signed up for a group exercise class -PiYo ( it's a mixture of Yoga and Pillates) and really loved it, but had to quit after three weeks ( even tough I had paid for the whole 3 months) because the 4pm class was horrible for my research schedule, I basically got nothing done on the days I had the exercise class. So I basically quit trying anything for now. I work 12-or more hours a day, at least one weekend day, am constantly very stressed, tired and overworked, And I just can not fit the exercise in: every bit of sleep is precious on the morning, during the day it messes up my work, and at night I can hardly move. I am ware that it would give me more energy and all that, but I just can not find time for it. So the only thing I do now is the daily walk to the lab and back- about 1.5 miles each way. Once I'm done with my degree, I'll probably go back to ballroom and yoga. Foodwise, I am all over the place. I need a lot of small meals, I can never eat a lot at once. I eat pretty much everything, tough I hate spicy and fatty stuff. At home chicken and fish are the most common, or veggie pizza. Red meat is only on the menu sometimes when eating out, but that's pretty rare. And I am bad cook too, BF does most of the cooking ( I do the dishes and the laundry). And I have a very bad sweet tooth, I love chocolate, cookies, deserts you name it, and I eat a lot of it. And please don't think I am a snob, but I like mostly European stuff, a lot of American sweets just don't taste as good ( maybe it's the corn syrup or something). I am a good baker tough, and will occasionally make some treats, especially for Christmas when I make like 10 different types of cookies. My BF jokes that all of my recipes start with 1/2 lb of butter and 1 lb of sugar... I love fruit too, especially bananas, and I eat tons of them. Nicole on "Exercising" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/exercising#post-11723 Wed, 18 Jun 2008 13:35:48 +0000 Nicole 11723@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ For all you moms of young kids and trying to figure out how to fit exercise into your day....(I've been down that road). When I first started exercising my daughter was in school half days and my son was home full time. I joind a gym with a built in babysitter. As my kids got older, I had to adjust my schedule. I've learned that nothing in life stays the same forever--and it would be boring if it did. You have to go with the flow, and change your routine to fit your life. When I went back to work, going to the gym at 9 am wasn't going to work for me. So I tried going at night--too tired. So I tried going in the early morning when everyone was still asleep. Bingo! That worked for me and is still my preferred time to exercise. It is very tough to get up at 530, and still be a loving mother and wife at night--but you do what you can. My house may not be as spotless as it once was, but it's also not as important to me as it once was. (I love my Roomba though!) Also, you don't need to have a full hour to exercise--you can do 15 minutes here, 15 minutes there throughout your day. It adds up the same way snacking here and there adds up. Its very motivational and inspiring to hear everyone's take on exercise and diet. Maybe it will help me get over this weight loss plateau. Anonymous on "Exercising" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/exercising#post-11693 Wed, 18 Jun 2008 04:26:31 +0000 Anonymous 11693@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ LOL! Shiny, you made me smile about the correlation between your pants length and the need to do yoga! I am the same way with my hips and shoulders. If my collarbones start to "V" instead of lay flat, I know I'm in need of a good stretch! I'm mostly self-taught too, although I've been to a few classes. There are some good quality, free podcasts of yoga sequences (just like a class!) online, let me know if you (or anyone else!) are interested! It keeps me going when I only have twenty minutes to spare in the day during busier times. And of course, the video podcasts tell you afterwards what brand of clothes the models were wearing (gotta look good during down dog!). Anonymous on "Exercising" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/exercising#post-11692 Wed, 18 Jun 2008 04:13:35 +0000 Anonymous 11692@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I'm another vegetarian! I love how many there are here. When I go out to dinner with my boyfriend, my family, or anyone, I usually get bickering from people about why I don't eat meat, or why I won't try a piece of their steak. So as for food, I eat lots and lots of veggies and fruits, soups, tofu, beans (kidney, white, and garbanzo are my faves), nuts (really only almonds and soy nuts) and occasionally scrambled egg whites. I'm pretty picky about my food and I really try to keep to organic, natural foods. As for exercise, I don't do it as much as I should. I go to the gym about 3 times a week and do the pretty standard cardio workout with some ab work thrown in. My boyfriend is a personal trainer so he gives me a kick butt workout when I want one. However, I think the BEST workout for me is one I really enjoy. People always say that blah blah blah, and for a while I just ignored it because I have a hard time finding working out fun, and then finally I found something. Dancing! I love love love to dance. I go out to clubs with my girlfriends and dance for hours like nobody's business. I really don't care what I look like or if I'm being sexy or whatever. I love music and dancing so much, I'll wake up the next morning really sore. Clubs aren't really ideal, I know, so sometimes I just like to turn up the music and dance in my house when no one is home. I even dance while I'm cleaning. Maybe my workout regime seems a bit silly, but I guarentee it works. I'm as fit as when I played varsity sports in highschool, and I have a lot of energy during the day. By the way, I love hearing about everyone's workout plans. You are all such active, beautiful women! Nicole - you're morning walks sound wonderful. I wish I could wake up that early. And I love how enthusiastic everyone is about food. I am a chocoholic, but I always try to keep it in moderation. marianne on "Exercising" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/exercising#post-11691 Wed, 18 Jun 2008 03:55:42 +0000 marianne 11691@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ San, how long have you been a vegetarian? It's been 10 years for me, but I think it has become more mainstream and now there is more variety and restaurants are more accomodating. Just curious if it was harder for you. There were periods in my life when I did very little exercise and when I had a very intense exercise program. It definitely helps with the level of energy and I would like to settle somewhere in between. Right now it's hard for me to establish a regular routine because of the kids, but I am glad to hear that other moms are doing it successfully and I hope to get it figured out soon. The best kinds of exercise for me are yoga and running, everything else seems to get boring quickly. I also walk a lot. Inge, I was wondering if gym membership is as common in Europe as here. For some reason it seems an American thing to me - maybe because it would never occurred to me until I moved here. shiny on "Exercising" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/exercising#post-11689 Wed, 18 Jun 2008 03:46:06 +0000 shiny 11689@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Where to start... I'm a total foodie, as is my DH and my eldest DD. We eat out a lot and enjoy trying new restaurants. We never go to chain restaurants. We're too particular. Youngest DD is a bit pickier, but moving towards more healthy eating (if still picky). I was 100% vegetarian for about 5 years, during pregnancy with youngest DD and both girls' first few years of life (made their baby food and the whole nine yards). I gave up vegetarian because eldest DD likes any and every food - including animal meats. She's eaten octopus and all kinds of wierd stuff. Nothing is off limits for her. She says maybe someday she'll be a chef - or better yet - a food critic. (you get to eat fabulous food without the bother of cooking it). ;-) I am not a snacker at all. I'd rather eat one wonderful meal and then nothing again for hours and hours. This can be a problem. I definetly do better eating smaller meals more often. Maintaining my weight is a matter of moderation and portion control, plus exercise. I've mentioned already that I am prediabetic and have been for a long time, controlling it with exercise and diet. I eat mostly vegetarian, with lots and lots of fish. Nearly every time we eat out, I order fish because I don't like to cook it at home. I'm not really into chicken, but I will eat red meat a few times a month. Exercise: I've been an on-and-off-again exerciser since my 20s. My teens - no exercise at all. A total slug-rat. But I was always scrawny as a teen. However, at one point after college, I spent some time in the near-obese range of the weight scale - lack of exercise and too much good eating. Then I learned to love step aerobics and weight training (about the same time I was vegetarian). I got really into weight training at one point - heavy weights, 5x's a week. Never bulked up - just got really strong and fit! About that time I also got into running. I'm a very slow (pathetically slow) runner but I can go for a long time. Longest distance to date is 13 miles. I used to fantasize about running a marathon, but I've mostly given up that dream. I am happy at my age just to run - any amount. I love to run - or just walk fast - but recently I've gotten out of the groove - due to family situation going on - just has dropped off the priority plate with other things I'm juggling. I do have to get back into it. It's hard when you have to juggle everyone's needs. I do believe it's important not to forget to take care of our own selves. Right now YLF'ing is the thing I do for myself. If I start gaining weight again and can't fit in my fab clothes, then my priority will be exercise for awhile. Hee hee. Yoga! I am self-taught (have never been to a class) and while I haven't done it in awhile, I was just telling my dad tonight how it makes me taller. He didn't believe me. But it's true. I know I need to do yoga when my left pant leg drags too much on the ground - it means my hip has gotten out of alignment again!!! Angie on "Exercising" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/exercising#post-11684 Wed, 18 Jun 2008 02:02:49 +0000 Angie 11684@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Hello Euro twin! My goodness: "Sitting down every time you eat something and really taste and enjoy what you are eating is important too in my opinion. That way you realize much quicker when you are full, and besides, food is delicious and should be savoured" - truer words were never spoken!! Sounds like your exercise regime is on track my dear, Inge. Perfect. (My osteoporosis is under control and thanks for asking). Nicole, I love to walk and clear my head too. The world is always a better place after I’ve walked. I hope you get to your walks and garden, Dani. You’ll cover more ground with those lovely long gams! Welcome Laura Elizabeth! You’ll find a few more yogi’s on this forum. Hope they respond to this thread so that you meet them. Anonymous on "Exercising" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/exercising#post-11670 Tue, 17 Jun 2008 21:09:58 +0000 Anonymous 11670@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Hello! I'm new to this forum, but this thread was right on top of the list, and right up my alley! I love being active, and I feel friendlier and more energetic when I exercise regularly. I have worked very hard to be where I am today in regard to my health and habits. Because I am finishing up my first year in a new state(stress!) at a new job (stress!) that involves lots of close interaction with university students (more stress!), I find I have to take extra measures to relax and take care of my mental and physical health. I wake up three hours before I leave for work and fix a cup of tea while I read the news or check my email. Then I practice yoga and complete some strength training with weights or a big rubber exercise ball for the next hour or so and listen to some music. I'll fix a breakfast with fresh fruit, protein, or whole grain to start my day. After I get home in the evening, I'll complete a design project around the house, tidy up, or read a book (doing something you enjoy is just as important as exercise, in my opinion: satisfaction with my completed tasks boosts my mood!) I'll practice some light yoga or stretching before bed to relieve any tension. I pay attention to my stress levels and take care of myself. I sleep eight hours a night, I eat a lot of fruits and veggies because I enjoy eating them, and my husband and I don't eat much meat. I agree with san, if you don't eat the meat your caloric (and fat) intake is lessened significantly! My family has poor health history, and it is important to me that I stay in good physical condition! Inge on "Exercising" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/exercising#post-11667 Tue, 17 Jun 2008 21:03:46 +0000 Inge 11667@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Christie: that stood out to me immediately yes, the fact that you don't snack at all. Thank you for explaining it further. I'm not sure if I could do that: I'm not a 'big eater' and eat small quantities with every meal, which inevitably leads to me being hungry again a few hours later and then I do need something to tie me over until the next meal. Of course there's a big difference between snacking on junk food (and strangely enough I seem to be able to eat larger quantities of that grrrr;-) and eating a healthy snack and I know very well that I should opt more often for some yoghurt, a piece of fruit or a handful of nuts. Sitting down every time you eat something and really taste and enjoy what you are eating is important too in my opinion. That way you realise much quicker when you are full, and besides, food is delicious and should be savoured. Angie: we're low fat milk unsporty Euro twins then, I can't stand whole milk either;-) And I think I'll make you my unsporty inspiration. I've been having a good think and realise that exercising and being active doesn't have to mean forcing myself to go to the gym 4 times a week, I can incorporate being more active into my lifestyle (for me walking, biking and swimming seem the obvious choices). P.S. 'codswallup', you crack me up! (and I hope your osteoporosis is under control) Anonymous on "Exercising" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/exercising#post-11666 Tue, 17 Jun 2008 18:58:54 +0000 Anonymous 11666@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Ahh Haa! Yes the gear for working out is fab and fun, and you earn the right to wear it proudly when you are stopping off to pick something up at the grocery store, after a work out. I also am a vegetarian. My family members ask why I am slim when it does not run in the family. The only answer I have is that when you don't eat meat you cut out half the meal right there. Angie on "Exercising" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/exercising#post-11663 Tue, 17 Jun 2008 18:41:11 +0000 Angie 11663@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ You lot sound more fab every day! I love hearing about your healthy lifestyles and thank you Nicole for starting another great thread. Your 6am walking efforts are commendable and your sofa snoozing mate had me chuckling this morning. A big congrats to Sarabear. You are inspirational. Becky, Shannon, Inge, Antje and Nicoleb, good job! Christie, it’s as if you wrote what’s in my head. It’s uncanny how similar this aspect of our lifestyle is. That book is fab, quote: “ eat food, not a lot and mostly plants” means a lot in our home. I am a completely un-sporty person but a very active one. I walk my doggies every day and power walk with Greg as much as I can. I run around town shopping and scouting all day too. I seldom sit still. I am very much against going to gym for several reasons. I was prepared to go to spinning class 2-3 times a week and did that for years and years. But I have stopped doing that because the classes close by are codswallup. We are foodies and come from a family of foodies. I use to run a catering business which makes cooking, eating and entertaining a great passion. I never diet and do not exercise (in the traditional sense). Everything in this house is made from scratch and nothing is fake or low fat except the milk because whole milk makes me feel ill. We eat REAL food in small quantities. But the best of everything and we have never denied ourselves sugar. In true Euro style, we eat dessert, biscuits and chocolate everyday. We eat vegetarian about 3 times a week and fish and chicken the other days. I make a lot of South East Asian cuisine and because of my inherited osteoporosis, we eat at least 4 different vegetables a day and loads of calcium rich food. No coffee, no mammals and no alcohol. Greg and I are slim and in good shape. I take our healthy yet un-obsessed style of living seriously. We eat out about twice a week and regard meals a social ritual. And you’ve got to work out in a fab outfit. Wearing great gear makes exercise a joy! Dani on "Exercising" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/exercising#post-11662 Tue, 17 Jun 2008 18:37:14 +0000 Dani 11662@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I don't really exercise, but I have the body to prove it, too (being tall allows you to hide things a little better I think). I am trying to get into an exercise routine but I have some health issues that have prevented me from doing that at the moment. I love your idea of morning walks, Nicole. My problem is I'm not a morning person, but I'm working on changing my attitude. I love the idea of walking alone with my thoughts and my Ipod. Until then, I've picked up a few books and am going to try to start off with a stretching program and then gradually add some weight training to that. I'd love to do some pilates and eventually hope to be able to do that. Right now, the only thing that keeps me active is chasing two pre-schoolers, but some days, I feel as though I've gotten quite a workout :) I don't diet, but like everyone else, I try to eat healthy and make good choices. Some days are better than others, but on the whole I think I do a good job overall. I'm trying to grow some of my own food as well. We'll see, I usually have grand ambitions and then real life gets in the way. Hopefully, I'll be able to achieve some of my goals with my garden this year! christie on "Exercising" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/exercising#post-11661 Tue, 17 Jun 2008 18:20:39 +0000 christie 11661@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I suppose just as Shannon is passionate about exercise, I am passionate about food. Few things in life make me as happy, and I eat anything and everything (with some limits, but if it's smothered in olive oil or chocolate, I'm there). But this is especially directed toward your comment about snacking, Inge. I think snacking makes people heavier. I don't buy any of that "5 meals a day" nonsense. You don't need to snack to indulge. Eat whatever you like, but do it only during your three sit-down meals. Then you don't deprive yourself, but you do eat less. That's my rule. I can eat what I want, but I have to be sitting down at a table at meal time to do it. And so-called "junk" food just makes you want to eat more junk food. I'd rather eat one small, extremely rich pastry loaded with real butter, than anything "low fat" or "low cal". I should just say that when I stopped racing competitively, I gained a large amount of weight. Throughout my youth I had been active (and young), and I stopped being active right around the time that my metabolism changed at 20. From my top weight until my current weight (about 110), I lost a total of 40 pounds. And I seriously did it by bringing back the culture of eating. Three meals a day (generally--I'm not a dictator with myself!). There used to be a time when little hands were slapped for snacking. Now it is just part of our lives: eat standing up in front of the fridge, eat in the car, a smoothie while walking around shopping. These things add up. Anonymous on "Exercising" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/exercising#post-11658 Tue, 17 Jun 2008 17:43:01 +0000 Anonymous 11658@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Excellent post sarbear! Thanks for sharing, you have a great story. I spent 20 years working in heavy construction and after I retired my muscles went to flab very quickly. I couldn't stand myself and felt so old. I looked in the mirror and said, "OMG I have my mother's thighs". Not to sound mean but my mother does not believe in exercise. I found a personal trainer and my thighs have improved greatly. It is rather expensive so I am planning to move on to the WII Fitness program and also check out the new WMCA in our area. I am leary of the change because having the personal trainer is working for me. I have an appt with her 3 times a week and I go just like to any other appt and next thing you know I'm working out. Love it! Like for most people the dread of getting started is the worst part. The actual work out feels great. I think I have learned from the personal trainer that lesson. Also you don't have to knock yourself out to get fit. Start slow, just keep it up! Sarah on "Exercising" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/exercising#post-11652 Tue, 17 Jun 2008 17:11:38 +0000 Sarah 11652@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I recently lost over 40 pounds, and am on my way to losing the last 20. I have been overweight for as long as I can remember. I joke that I went from a child's size 16 to a women's 10. Last year I was 2 ounces shy of 200 pounds, pushing size 16, and was always feeling sick and tired. I was only 24. After surgery to remove my pickled gall bladder, I decided I was going to take control of my life. I want to be around for a long time, and know that the decisions I make today will affect my aging and last few years. I started running about a year ago, and participate in local 5 and 10Ks to keep me motivated. I weight train (I use Jari Love's Ripped program [www.jarilove.com]) three or four times a week. This program has changed my life. I love it and hate it at the same time. I have recently added kickboxing to my routine. I try to do 30 minutes a day after I get home from work. I always feel more energized after I work out, and this afternoon workout helps me stay on track with keeping up with the house and making dinner. I work out for an hour and a half every day, but will drop this down to just one hour after I finish losing those 20 pounds. I eat very healthy. Jillian Michaels says "Eat to live, don't live to eat." Food is amazing, and I'm enjoying learning about how to create the ideal healthy meal plan. I am vegetarian - partly for health reasons. I never wanted to live like this in the past because I wanted to love life. But now I have a quality of life worth loving, and I wouldn't go back for the world. shannon on "Exercising" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/exercising#post-11651 Tue, 17 Jun 2008 17:08:23 +0000 shannon 11651@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ My vice is Doritos or Lays. I eat a few put the bag away, but end up pulling it back out again for a couple of more handfuls. I just did that while fixing lunch. :) Yes, I have not gotten to the gym yet. I decided to feed the kids lunch first. I am all dressed and ready to go any second now. Thanks to Nicole and everybody's comments I am feeling really motivated. Inge on "Exercising" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/exercising#post-11647 Tue, 17 Jun 2008 16:46:02 +0000 Inge 11647@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Thanks for all the info Nicole (I will look into that book), and yes I know that I would need to walk faster than just 'window shopping pace';-) But I actually enjoy that and think that power walking might just be the thing for me. You've really motivated me here! Have you ever tried indoor walking with the Leslie Sansone exercise tapes or something similar? (I prefer the outdoors, but maybe for some variation?) That's correct Shannon, as soon as I'm up and moving I really enjoy it. And I agree with all your comments: I'm not a fan of dieting either, for most of us eating healthy and moderate exercise should do the trick to stay reasonably fit. And there's where I need to change a few things: more exercise (I sit in front of a computer most of the day), limiting late-night snacking (not cutting out snacking completely, I know that when I deprive myself of something, I can't stop thinking about it;-) and trying to control my chocolate intake (I have absolutely no restraint around a chocolate bar, and that's an understament!!).