This is a great thread! I've been trying to get healthier before my wedding in August. I've started doing Super Slow weight training twice a week with a trainer and it's going very well! I am also starting to incorporate cardio into my exercise routine, and have been jumping on the elliptical every few days.

I am trying to stay away from sugar and grains and I have lost about 7 pounds so far. I'd like to lose 15-20 more before August. I definitely have to view this as a lifestyle change because diets do NOT work for me. I'm not being super strict with my food, but I am definitely making a conscious effort to eat better. It's working so far.

i LOVE the idea, Mocchi, of adding/changing instead of taking away. One actually starts doing something..that is just a great way to think of it.

Marianna, congratulations on your weight loss ! And your routine. I completely agree that it has to be a lifestyle change or it won't work. We end up feeling as if we are punishing ourselves. I am working on the sugar piece too ( for the entire family ). I have been shocked to read how many products have sugar in them. I made a banana bread for my family last night ( a "healthy" one ) and if called for FOUR TABLESPOONS of sugar !!!! I added 1/2 of ONE tablespoon ( along with my veggie spike ) and no one seemed to care.

What is "slow weight training" ?

I am bumping for Mariana..what is slow weight training ?

I will re-bump for Mariana.

I also wanted to give a big thank you to Isabel for starting this conversation and Velvetychocolate for the information on gluten and diet. I didn't eat any gluten yesterday and my stomach is almost back to normal this morning (slight protrusion but not the 4" and hard it was on Saturday). I am going to track my food for a week and not eat any gluten and see how it goes but I think I may have found the problem.

Wow dianthus, that is great news! Lots of people are sensitive to gluten, it's not always full-blown celiac or anything. A gluten free diet can feel very strict at first, but just remember that there are tons of naturally gluten-free foods around, diet-friendly or otherwise.

So glad you're feeling better

I'm so glad you're feeling better! Best of all, you know the gluten's responsible for your ills. It took me almost a year to figure out that my digestive problems were due to a diseased gallbladder. I'm fine now, but suffered for months on end with IBS-like symptoms that could have been caused by any number of things.

I really need you ladies to keep me accountable for exercise-- my docs won't be happy when they've heard that I've let it lapse during the height of winter because of stress, uncertainty about where I'd be living, lack of gym (multiple things, from closures and more) and having a chest strap that is important to monitor things walk off on me.

I went on my first harder hike of spring today-- I think about 5 miles total, most of which was on a good incline.

On the plus side, I didn't have issues with the incline/activity.

On the negative side, my heart is giving me troubles and I can't seem to maintain my blood pressure so every flat stretch or pause it was dropping pretty suddenly/rapidly and I almost ate dirt a few times because of it.

It is unseasonably warm and dry here, which is killing me.

That said, I need to order a new chest strap/monitor TOMMOROW! and go sign my behind up for a gym as soon as it arrives and then GO, REGULARLY!

I love to exercise, but I have a feeling find a gym is going to be a little stressful and going back might be a little trying till I get in the swing of it.

I'm also hoping to make a doctor's appt out of state (I'm likely coming to a hospital in Dallas near you this summer) and hoping that goes well, I get in, and things work out insurance-wise so I can get my heart issues a little more under control in hopes of that making employment easier.

I do have good news that there is a possible position with a former employer and hopefully I will be hearing soon-- I'm volunteer and getting free training on a new skill/technique later this week!