Healthy Habits week of Feb. 23

I am at a crossroads. I'm running several times each week but my middle aged middle remains. I started a free 7 day trial at a gym yesterday and hit the weights. It's 1.25 miles away, so about 15 min run both ways to get there and back.
I'm up a few pounds, despite not really eating any worse than usual. I am really going to try shifting my focus from pounds to inches and % (muscle, bodyfat, waist size). Also want to try shifting the mental approach to adding, not denying. Adding fruits and vegetables, adding weight training, etc. After all, the overall goal is to be happy and healthy, not just mold the body into a preconceived notion of what fit looks like.
How is everyone else doing?

11 years ago

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9 replies

Latest reply was from Mo

Angie

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Fashion Stylist

Just chiming in to say that you look killer fantastic.

11 years ago

Kristin L

Veteran

Thanks for starting the thread Mo! I like your new focus - putting more emphasis on inches and percentages.

This week was not one of my better weeks. I didn't do my work-outs like I was suppose to because I had a couple of stress freak-out sort of days. I need to accept the fact that it's ok to have a freak-out moment and that shouldn't ruin my day (or next few days).

My goals for this week are to try the meditations Ceit mentioned on another post and try to remember that exercise can help relieve stress.

11 years ago

MsMaven

Veteran

I'm with Mo on concentrating on inches instead of pounds, but old habits die hard. I had a good week until the weekend, when one evening dinner at friends seemingly undid everything, How can I gain nearly three pounds overnight? Inches aren't so bad though.

Earlier I looked at some photos of 50s glamour stars--Sophia, Rita, Marilyn, and I was struck at how tiny their waists were--true hourglass to an extreme. Then it dawned on me they were probably wearing corsets for the photos--yep, they had corset type things in the 50s. They probably took them right off after the photos.

This next week I'm going to work on flexibility--I am not moving and bending as freely as I used to.

11 years ago

(website)

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Aw, thanks Angie! I am trying to adjust to my adjusting shape he he. I did put my bikinis bought in my 30's into the purge pile yesterday. Time to move on! Work with what I've got now.

K, it's funny, a workout can help with stress but when we are being stressed it seems like the last thing we want to do. Luckily, every day is a new start

MsMaven, even in my mid 40's I'm noting that it's harder to twist sideways in the car to grab something out of the back seat or bend down. Flexibility is very important, as is balance. I remember Dr. Bookspan's blog mentioning putting on and off your shoes and socks while standing as an excellent real life balance exercise we can do every day. I also get up from the floor from exercising, or the tub when taking a bath, without using my hands to keep up with my balance.

11 years ago

anne

Veteran

Mo - I like that little suggestion about trying things without hands. My flexibility and balance are pretty bad. I used to do a class called body balance which had a few tracks on each component, and always thought "wow I should be doing this everyday " (Instead of once every few weeks IRL)

As for me, it seems I haven't really got back on track from 1) moving and 2) the celiac diagnosis.,
I rode to work twice last week, and was pretty happy with it. It is now a 12 km ride, and took me about 52 mins (lots of traffic lights) which shorter than walking/taking the bus (55 mins) though longer when locking the bike/showering/ changing are included.
But I haven't really got back to doing to the gym at lunch or running. I tried last week, but had some leg/hip/foot pain and decided it would be safer to rest. Also needing to leave earlier to get to work since we've moved
In theory I am aiming to do a 10k fun run in a month, so I'd better get to it!

DH is doing a great job of reading label and adjusting our recipes so they are gluten free - mainly by dint of cooking asian style and using GF soy sauce. I do think this is resulting in my eating too much white rice and sugary sauces, so need to have a word with him about that. Working out what to eat for my other meals is still a work in process. I have neither gained or lost weight since soon after the diagnosis - still 1 pound above what I consider my "range"

11 years ago

LACeleste

Veteran

Hi everyone.

Impressed by all your focused efforts!

Mo-You look incredibly fit and amazing in all your WIWs. I like your run to gym plan and focus on health. Very smart!

K-Go easy on yourself. You helped me when I admitted falling off the sugar-free wagon and had a freak out.

MM-I had dinner Sat. at Cafe 50s surrounded by pics of amazing hourglass starlets of yore and had the same thought. Inches not pounds all the way!

Anne-Adjusting to a new diagnosis and lifestyle is a work in progress. I am sure you will figure out the workouts soon.

Eating has been OK but the girl Scout cookies are in. I must be strong.
I still have killer pain in elbows and wrists--I suspect I developed tendonitis rather than soreness from 1 workout. If pain persists I will see orthopedist next week. Continuing with biking, step, and walking. No weights or jump rope until recovery.

11 years ago

Alassë

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More weekend walks (still not daily, though) and some better eating habits (excluding yesterday's chocolate binge!). It feels so much better to eat good food; just takes a little work to pre-plan allowed options.

11 years ago

Carla

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Mo, a year and a half ago I added a weight training routine to my fitness. I did this to gain power for speed (hard to come by when you're over 50 but not impossible). The strength I gained had a big impact on my bike times, and a HUGE impact on my run after the bike. However, performance aside it changed my body composition when I did not think it was possible.

I've been a runner for 40 years, and started biking and swimming about 10 years ago. Also, my weight has been pretty consistent at around 150 lbs. for the past 25 years. About 6 months after I started weight training, my regular weight dropped to 145 and I started needing size 8 clothes instead of size 10. DH commented that he thought I had more waist definition. Nothing else changed. I still eat the same way, and I still enjoy wine with dinner on the weekends, and desert too.

Oh. I HATE doing weights.

11 years ago

(website)

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Carla, I'm the opposite, used to do weights pretty regularly up until about 10 years ago, and only started running more recently than that. So I've never really done a good solid weight routine while running. Hoping to see some faster times, as well. A smaller middle wouldn't be a bad side effect, either
Luckily, I actually like hitting the weights, I just lack the motivation to get started and stick with it. This is where leaving the house to go to a gym to do it comes in. At least for starters.
Ditto the yoga. I'm so much more likely to keep up with it if going to classes, rather than rolling out my mat at home. Happy to say I did do yoga tonight at the house, and have 2 weight sessions in at the gym already, and going in again tomorrow.

11 years ago

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