Healthy Habits, week of June 22 - YouLookFab Forum

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Healthy Habits, week of June 22

shedev

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I got stuck at work one day and missed one of my workouts, boo. If I gotta miss a workout, I at least want to be somewhere fun.

I went off refined white sugar last week, except for a little in greek yogurt. I don't do any artificial sweeteners. I resisted the call of icecream. My goal for this week is to skip sugar again.

Over to you, how was your week?

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23 replies

Latest reply was from gardenchick

Mo

(website)

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Good job on the refined sugar! Diet continues to be the hardest part for me.
I also missed a workout. Lap swim was cancelled on Thursday night. So only one swim for me instead of 2. Got all the others in, though, and an extra run in place of the missing swim. 5 weeks until the race.
I'm thinking once it's over I will switch my focus to weights and cut the cardio in half. See if that doesn't get the extra few lbs off.
This week is more of the same, training. Could stand to improve the diet some. As usual.

anne

Veteran

I have had 3 weeks of utter slump with no exercise. Sore hips, then sore back and tiredness. Yesterday went for a very gentle short run and then had an ache from varicose veins, though probably related to hormonal stuff rather than the run. Food intake has been pretty uncontrolled too

However I am going to turn over a new leaf! I plan to join the gym at my new work (not free this time, but not too spendy, and more classes). I am going to run home a couple of times a week on the days that aren't rainy (starting tomorrow!) I am really looking forward to RPM and pump classes after a year off them.

Well done on the sugar Shedev and Mo - i loved your feeling in the last thread of last week's topic about having to exercise!

Suja

Veteran

Thanks for starting this thread! I have been doing a good job of doing at least 10,000 steps a day as measured by my fitbit. Yesterday I even did 20,000 steps. It helps that my new workplace has many fitbit users and there is some friendly competition between us.

The eating hasn't been as good. I get the munchies around 3pm at work and the new workplace has so many snacks, things like nachos and donuts. I am going to resist this week and have nuts when I get snack cravings and try to limit my visits to the kitchen. I am also going to finish my dinner before 8pm and then brush my teeth immediately after to encourage me to stop the evening snacking.

Will check in during the week with my progress.

shedev

Veteran

Mo, Most of us can do better on the diet. But it is so hard. I did eat a small quantity of chips but not much. I'm ok with the number on the scale for myself. Right now I'm a couple pounds over normal weight for my height. I'm trying to reduce the percentage of body fat and gain lean mass. I did lose a couple pounds by cutting out the sugar.

Anne, I hope you are feeling less achy soon. I wish my work had a gym.

Suja, A little competition is a great motivator. Great job on the steps. I found myself surrounded by ice cream all week. I was able to resist by eating frozen grapes.

MsMaven

Veteran

Gradually beginning exercise again as I feel much better this weekend. Weight is stable--but I'd like to lose a few more pounds from my middle. Tomorrow I go off wine (or any alcohol) but tonight we're trying a new restaurant.

I haven't had the energy to go to the grocery store, so I've been more creative in meals by relying on what is at home. I need more fruit and fresh veggies!

Also, I've cut down on caffeine. I realized I'd been drinking more and more diet Pepsi--I'm okay with a little, but I reached the point where it was too much.

shedev

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Ms Maven, glad you are feeling better. Most of us can cut back on caffeine a bit.

annagybe

(website)

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Well, the ten pounds I gained over the winter really hit home today. I was going on hike and couldn't fit into my hiking shorts. So I wore a stretchy running skort.
I did do a hot dusty 6.5 mile hike today. Also yesterday I went to the gym and did two separate walks on top of that.

shedev

Veteran

Anna, I gain a little insulation each winter and lose it in the summer, so I feel your pain. I tried to wear a pair of pants that fit last year. Maybe I'll get to wear them in August. Good thing you had a back up plan. Bet you looked really cute in your skort.

Alassë

Veteran

Great job, shedev! I'm still hitting pretty low weights, so only 2-3 lb. left to go. I'm doing a good job eating a smaller supper (seems to be the easiest way for me to lose weight), doing a few strength training exercises, and taking daily walks.

shedev

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Alasse, sounds like you have a plan that works for you. Awesome.

texstyle

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Giving up sugar (esp. refined sugar) is an excellent plan shedev. I also agree that a small supper can be really key for weight loss.

Not eating after 7pm and waiting until at least 8 am for breakfast is usually a good routine for me. If I want to lose weight I have to additionally give up wine as it adds about 400 (empty?) calories every day. Ten days and off goes a pound. lol. I've done it before but don't seem willing to commit.

I've done pretty good with exercise, got two weight sessions in and three 40-min hikes. Also spent a few hours doing "squats" as I was custom painting/glazing a piece of furniture this weekend. My legs are sore today.

I really think that good old fashioned calorie counting can still be very useful for those who want to lose weight. Exercise is so important but honestly, it can increase your appetite if you work out quite a lot - so then you really have to watch what you're putting back in even more carefully.

shedev

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Diet is usually more a factor in weight loss, but exercise can change can change the composition of the body even if there is no weight loss. Your intake just has to match your goals. The empty calories, whether they are from can be really hard to kick. Why does all the bad stuff taste so good?

Mo

(website)

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Yes, I'm convinced if I gave up wine, those pesky 3 lbs would disappear. But I'm pretty sure I'm happier a few pounds heavier still enjoying my wine. For each of us, this tipping point may be different.

shedev

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I totally agree, Mo.

citygirldc

(website)

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Shedev - I totally agree about diet and weight loss vs. exercise and body composition. Now if I can only control my eating habits since I'm such a foodie.
I had a friend visiting this past weekend so did not get much exercise in except for walking around the city. Yesterday (Monday) was bad because I got busy with work and too tired after work, so I vowed I'd make up for it the rest of the week. Here is my schedule which I hope to keep up with (also depending on possible rainy days this week:

Tues: weight training (arms) 1 hour, run 45 minutes, bike to and from work
Wed: weight training (legs) 1 hour, bike to and from work
Thurs: weight training (chest)1 hour, run 45 minutes, bike to and from work
Fri: weight training (legs + abs), bike to and from work.

shedev

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City girl, it's a pretty ambitious plan, don't beat yourself up if you don't get it all in. I'd love to be able to bike to work.

cheryle (Dianthus)

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I haven't joined in on this thread in ages. I did a 6 week weight challenge and ended up gaining a pound. The upside is it made me realize I have been letting sugar have too much control. This week I am going low carb - lots of lean protein and veggies but no sugar or white stuff. So far, so good. Well except for the few ounces of wine I had last night. Catching up with a BFF involves wine. Its mandatory. LOL

I hurt my back a few months ago and am finally going to go to the doctor to get a referral for physio. I went for a long walk the other night and ran maybe half a mile and the next morning my lower back wasn't happy.

I also empathize with those who are having fit issues, or age issues, or any other issues.

Here's to a good week!!

Janet

(website)

Veteran

My activity level has been great -- daily run, walk, swim or bike -- and Sunday I upped my cycling mileage to 55 miles, which I rode in less time than I did 47 miles a few weeks ago (probably mostly thanks to a new bike, but I am getting stronger/faster too). I feel great.

I need to be more careful with my eating habits. Sugar is a downfall, but I'm not interested in cutting it out of my life completely -- after all, why do all this hard work if you can never treat yourself to a cookie? I'm not into self-punishment, and I believe in indulging cravings, although in small amounts.

I'm not a fan of getting caught up in numbers, but I would like to slim down a bit more. A few things i have in my closet from a year snd a half ago are just a smidge snug. I think running slims me down more, while cycling tones me more. And I would love to find some activity that I enjoy that would work my arms more -- I really don't like lifting weights at the gym.

Mo

(website)

Veteran

Janet, maybe just good old fashioned push ups? Or, alternately, tennis or volleyball?
I do watch numbers, but not to judge myself, just because I like numbers lol. In the end, the one that matters is 27. My waist measurement. My clothes will fit - I'm happy.

Janet

(website)

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Mo, I do much better sticking with an activity if it's something I enjoy, so pushups...well, I'll do them for a day, and then I "forget."

Volleyball sounds like so much fun in theory... but it would require joining a team and probably embarrassing myself terribly. I have a fear of letting down a team with my lack of athletic prowess. Last time I tried playing at a friend's picnic (probably 8 years ago?), I gave up after a short while because I was mortified at my inability to serve. Ugh. I wasn't that bad at it when I was young. There is a cool social sports group in Baltimore, but I'm afraid it will be full of 20- and 30-somethings, and I'd stick out like a middle-aged sore thumb. I suppose I could go check out one of their events to at least get an idea.

I do enjoy whacking a tennis ball around, but again, the problem is that it requires a partner to be any fun, and I don't know anyone near me who plays, much less at times when I could join them. Years ago, Jamie and I played raquetball a few times, and I wasn't bad at that -- in fact, it was really fun. But again, I need a partner! With him in TX so much, we can never get a routine down.

I'd be curious to try rock-climbing, but there's nowhere near me that has drop-in climbing walls. They're all at gyms that require monthly memberships, and I'm really not interested in that. I already have one infrequently-used gym membership! I did find one that's about 40 minutes away, and not in an area I tend to visit often.

I enjoyed kayaking, but now that we don't live on the water anymore, it's a lot of work to get in the water. Maybe I should just get a rowing machine. Then I could row at home while I binge watch Fargo or Downton Abbey.

Mo

(website)

Veteran

I hear you on the team participation. My BF is an awesome tennis player (who knew??) but he hates the heat so we play only in sub 80 weather lol.
I was lucky that I had a built in volleyball team in my family when we'd go to the beach in LA. I was the sore thumb. I come from a family of giants. My mom is the short one at 5' 10" and her sister and mother were both over 6'. My brothers were 6' 2" and 6' 3" respectively. Then little ol' 5' 4" me trying to keep up.
How about something as silly as jump rope? It's not nearly as easy as we remember from grade school. There's a reason boxers do it

shedev

Veteran

Janet, could you wear weighted gloves or wristbands for running?

gardenchick

Veteran

Okay, I'm dropping in here although this thread started on Sunday.

My routine is going well. Consistently running 3x a week, about 12-15 miles total.

I have been doing workouts with Fitness Blender videos. I watch them on my ipad at the gym or do them at home. I bought their 8 week program for busy people--every day there is a link to a 30 minute or less workout routine. Good stuff! I can feel my upper body and core getting stronger...and maybe a bit more toned? Jury is still out on that. My aim to to lose a few pounds..it feels like things are moving in the right direction.