Weight Loss Support- 7-31-09 - YouLookFab Forum

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Weight Loss Support- 7-31-09

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

It's been a while since we checked in. How is everyone doing? I'm down another pound this week (49 total at this point), but it just seems really slow going. One thing or another is preventing me from working out and eating right, so I'm strugling to get back into where it's just habitual. Next week we are back to dd's dance classes, so that should get us back into a regular schedule (of course, I'm also expecting my monthly "friend", so it may not!)
One good thing that I've been doing is trying to do some simple exercises while I am watching TV or reading. I keep little hand weight next to my chair in the living room and use them while I am watching TV. I do leg and ab work while I am reading. I'm trying to reread the Harry Potter books before we go see the new movie, so I am spending a lot of time reading right now.

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35 replies

Latest reply was from Sihaya

Anonymous

Good for you! Congratulations on losing 49 lbs. That is quite an accomplishment. You look beautiful.
Also good for you for picking up those weights while you are watching TV or reading. That shows great commitment to being strong and healthy.

Debbie

chewy that is great!

I have put on a lot of weight lately so I recently joined WW and love having a "plan". I found in one week on the program that I had some pretty bad eating patterns.

In the one week since joining I lost 6 pounds. My first weigh-in was a happy one.

Keep up the good work.

headed to vacation this week so I will do my best to watch portions and choose healthy stuff.

I am amazed at how full I can get from veggies which are zero points on the WW program!

Jaime

Great job! Sticking to a workout plan can be really hard. If I don't workout first thing in the AM I find it so hard to squeeze it in the rest of the day. Have you tried resistence bands? I got some a couple of weeks ago and they are really great for a quick workout. You can work out your whole body with them while watching TV. There are a ton of great exercises on Youtube if you need examples.

One more thing that I have been doing that has REALLY worked for me is to get a TV series from Netflix. I am currently doing "24" and OMG that is the best show ever! I find myself working out (on my treadmill) for the whole 45 minutes just to find out what happens. It has made all the difference for me in my motivation.

Good luck!

Ariadne

Veteran

I'm not making any progress right now. I have lots of excuses but really it just comes down to lacking focus and self-discipline. DH is away for a week and I am experimenting with some diet changes while he's away. I hope it helps.

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

Thanks San!

happylife- congrats on your first weigh in! That's great progress

Jaime- I do have resistance bands, and also one of the big balls they use for exercise and that has resistance bands that hook onto it. It's more of a pain to get those out and use them, though. http://www.sparkpeople.com (which is where I log my food) also has videso of how to do exercises with different types of equiptment. I love Netflix! We don't have cable TV, so we always watch series on DVD. I guess I could pull my elliptical up in front of the computer and watch something while I work out- I hadn't though of that and it's a good idea.

Briana- don't be too hard on yourself- you have a tiny baby! You're still dealing with a lot of adjustment, and that just takes time. Gosh, I was lucky to go to the bathroom without one or both of us ending up in tears when my first one was that little. Actually- he still bothers me in the bathroom all the time LOL

marianna

Veteran

I am planning to join Weight Watchers when I get back to Chicago next week. Hopefully I'll be able to chime in with some good news soon. I've been batting my weight my whole entire life. At one point I had lost 60+ pounds but I have probably gained 40 of that back. I haven't weighed myself in over a year because it makes me so sad. In a weird way reading YLF and wanting to dress better has motivated me to start trying again. I think WW might be a good starting place because I *need* those weigh-ins and I need to be accountable.

I love food.

Kristen

(website)

Veteran

I have been having a rough go of it the last few weeks myself; I was in an exercise routine, but then this week of getting ready for our trip swallowed up any of my free time. My eating has been tragic!

I'm hoping this week on vacation with my sister will get me a little back on track; we'll be buying most of the food we're eating so we'll get the good stuff. And with swimming, hiking, rowing, and running together, I suspect I will get plenty of exercise!

I'm now 10 pounds from goal (I was 2 away a few weeks ago), so it's time to buckle down and get it done. I'm ready! I hope. *g*

Laura

(website)

Veteran

Well, I lost 2.5 pounds, which is half the weight I wanted to lose ... and then (probably due to monthly hormones), swung back up 1.5 pounds yesterday! So I am down 1 pound but hopefully down even more after a few days. Has anyone ever heard that the last 5 lbs. are the hardest to lose? So true, so true!

But even this measly 2.5-pound loss made me feel so much better. I am petite, and that little amount can mean the difference between muffin top or no muffin top

Khris, thanks for keeping us on track. Kristen, your tragic eating comment made me smile.

anne

Veteran

Well I don't think I have put on weight, and in my normal range (though haven't weighed for a few days as it is too cold in the mornings to strip off)
BUT...
I did have that oh no, the jeans waistband is getting too tight feeling the other day. I haven't dared tried them since as I have been organising the supper at a church event last night and have been cooking big time and eating the leftovers (brownies and sundried tomato/feta tarts). Plus, I haven't really exercised for months.
So feeling rather flabby, and like the voluminous top is the way to go

Khris - congrats on another pound. Your commitment for all this time is phenomenal
Khristen - you said elsewhere that the weight had gone up - you are still looking stunning, but all the best for making your goal

shiny

Veteran

Glad you asked!

I've been sticking diligently to the plan, staying well clear of the chips, eating lots of vegetables, and running a lot - I'd slacked off on the exercise department but I'm back into it in a good way, and it feels great! I love running!

My clothes are fitting better - it's subtle difference you probably can't notice in a photo, but *I* can tell. I can tell things are looser, and I'm firming back up. A few tops are even back into rotation. I'm not so depressed about it. Mentally, I feel slimmer, and that means a lot to me, if you know what I mean. Gives me more confidence, I stand straighter, etc... who cares about a few extra pounds when you feel great. (I wasn't feeling great before - I was feeling squishy and bloaty).

But.... the scale is all over the map!!

While I'm used to fluctuations, I've never seen such wild swings from one day to the next. If I ignore the high numbers and just look at the low numbers, I am losing... very slowly... but losing. If I look at the high numbers.... it's really depressing. I'm fluctuating as much as 4 lbs - day to day - and (most importantly) - regardless of what TTOM it is!! For you taller people, maybe that is nothing. For me, it's huge. Yes, I can get a 4 lb temporary blip at TTOM, but not day to day throughout the entire month. I've never had the scale do this before. I do have to wonder if it's hormonal?

I almost want to go back to ignorance again and stop looking at it, because it is so deflating.

Michelle

(website)

Veteran

When you first started this thread, I was in a really dreadful rut due to excessive drama on the home front. But in mid July, when the body image issues I've struggled with most of my life were making me want to hide indoors again, I decided enough was enough. Since then I've been following the WW point system when planning my meals and going to the gym. My workout machine of choice is the bike, where I do interval workouts to build up my cardio. Also trying to walk more in an effort to enjoy my final days with McClure and build up energy for the new dog (talk about mixed motives)! I haven't brought myself to step on the scale yet, but I'm feeling better and my pants are fitting more comfortably. There's less strain on the bras too, which is always a sure sign that things are going right. I have another month before I go to NJ, so I hope to make considerable progress in that time. I can't decide whether to establish a weight goal or a time goal with which to measure my progress, i.e. lose 10 pounds before I go or manage to do 40 mins of interval workouts, etc.
But thanks for establishing this thread, Khris. YLF is really motivational, and so are all of you.

Kristen

(website)

Veteran

Woooohoo y'all! Heh am already sounding like a true Tennessean.

Laura I will reply more when i get home next week but you go, girl!!

Chris

I haven't changed much per the scale (same issue as Shiny - all over the place. I think it is hormonal issues.) Found out I am not having thyroid issues but hormonal changes causing weight gain and other things in my life. Yuck but hopefully stabilizing.

I have seen changes in body though - pants loosening, etc. and my calves are looking quite nice lol.

Joined the YMCA this weekend since I know where i will be working (very close commute) and that will accelerate things!

yublocka

(website)

Veteran

I think I need to join this thread too. I have no idea what my current weight is, but the muffin-top/squishing into jeans test is telling me that months worth of bad eating and minimal exercise is catching up with me!!!!

In summer I love going out for jogs/walks, but really struggle in winter once its dark so early and cold outside. I joined the gym over a month ago and have only gone a handful of times. Still, once was last Thursday, so it's not all bad!

I'm going to have a killer week at work this week, so I am aiming to go just once and I will be pretty happy. I have just ordered a delivery of fresh veggies/fruit to arrive tomorrow, so hopefully some healthy-ish eating will happen this week!!

Sihaya

Veteran

Thanks for this Khris - very timely. I was on a roll going running and doing weights at least 3 times a week. Then I went to Portugal and had completely stopped for about 5 weeks. I just started back again. I have lost 1 pound but am still grateful for it. My motivator this time was when I realized that I was wider around than across near the belly area. I have a sort of workout partner and we are working on setting some goals to work towards for the rest of the calendar year.

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

Marianna- good luck with your decision!

Kristen- have a great vacation!

Congrats Laura!

Anne I know that for me the exercise makes me feel so much better- regardless of the weight loss.

shiny- you're doing great! Maybe you need a new scale?

Michelle you're doing awesome!

Chris that's greta that you found a gym close to work.

Sihaya- how nice to have a workout buddy!

Dawn

(website)

Congrats Chris on your overall weight loss. It's absolutely amazing. Hopefully you'll get back into a routine with exercise.

This week, I decided to enter a 10km mini-marathon as a way to motivate myself to up the exercise levels and reduce my stress levels before heading back to university. Unfortunately I get horrible stress migraines and the best way to prevent these is by being healthy and fit so hopefully I'll be a lean mean running machine by the end of August/ middle of September.

RoseandJoan

Veteran

I'm new to the forum, but have found this thread really inspiring. 49 pounds is such an achievment. I have recently lost 20 pounds after having my second daughter but have found that it is taking a little time for my head to adjust to my new weight. I find that I am always buying clothes in my old size and having to take tham back. Plus I look in the mirror and don't really notice the change. Is anyone else having this problem?

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

RoseandJoan- we had a thread about that very thing not too long ago. It was spurred by an interesting article that found that many women have that problem. Here's the thread with a link to the article:
http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....replies=17

I don't buy my old size, but I have a hard time figuring out what my current size is many times. I feel like a "faker" somehow when I pick up something that is a smaller size (and the size that I need), because when I look in the mirror I still just see all of the fat that I want to loose. I'm only about halfway to my goal, so I do still have a ways to go. It's funny that I didn't have these sorts of body image issues when I was much larger.

Vani

Veteran

Getting back into track and reporting Khris Over the last few stressful weeks I have managed to lose about 4 lbs and I am just happy I was able to sustain it despite the crappy airline food and mom's deelish homemade food (which I tend to OD on )

I'm still a little woozy from a sinus flare up on the trip back so off to the gym it is from tomorrow.

RoseandJoan

Veteran

Thanks for the link Chewyspaghetti, it's good to know I am not alone in my insanity. I am now at my goal weight and trying to keep the weight off. Hopefully my eye will adjust soon to my new body.

Good luck to everyone who is trying to lose weight.

p.s. Anyone with a weekness for cheeseburgers. If you substitute the burger for a meaty mushroom such as the portobello variety you will only have added 19 caleries to your bun. You can then add as much cheese as you like.

shiny

Veteran

Yesterday I broke a new barrier on the scale - FINALLY!

I only had about 5 lbs to lose, but when you're that close, it's really slow going. You mark your progress in 0.2 increments, instead of 1 lb increments. The last few months (since we started this) I watched the scale creep from 113.8 to 113.6 to 113.4... with those wild fluctuations thrown in. To mark my progress I am trying to pay attention only to the low numbers I see, and I did not see anything lower than a 113 since I started this. So frustrating!

Until yesterday!

I saw 112.2!!!! I went from 116 the day before, to 112.2! And this was after a rich french restaurant meal the night before!! And the 112.2 stuck all day long! (Yep I kept jumping back on the scale to see if it was really working, LOL).

Happy dance!!!

That's not even 112.8, which I might've expected, the way things have been going. That's close to 111! Goal is within sight! My goal is to get under 110. 108 has always been my "happy" weight. Anything over 110 is my trigger weight, when I know I need to tweak my diet/exercise.

I am now convinced getting back to running was critical - not just skipping the chips. Walking doesn't help so much - I need to run. If I'm running regularly, my body forgives me for the chips, and I don't have to obsess over every little calorie (which I hate). So my deal with myself now is that I cannot go longer than two days without a run. I'm only running about 30 minutes, and slow, but about 3-4X's per week. It makes all the difference in how I feel and how my clothes fit.

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

Shiny that's fantastic- congrats!

Welcome back Niva- we missed you!

Laura

(website)

Veteran

Congrats Shiny!! This is a big breakthrough. Good thing you kept working the plan and didn't give up. Five pounds is indeed hard to shed -- and you're well on your way!

hanna

(website)

i've got to say -- you guys are totally inspirational. my goal isn't so much to lose weight, but to get fit, and your stories have given me the motivation to do just that. i'm completing my second week of the couch-to-5k program tomorrow, and my goal is to be ready to run my first 5k in october. and it's down to you guys -- so thank you, and please keep posting your stories so i can keep finding the drive to do this!

Laura

(website)

Veteran

Hanna, which 5K are you doing? So many fun races in Chicago ... I have a friend who's doing the half marathon this month. I love the Turkey Trot -- such a great way to start out T-giving Day (and not feel guilty about stuffing yourself later!!)

BTW, my scale dropped back down (whew!) so I am down a total of 2.5 lbs. 2.5 more to go ... hopefully by the end of Aug.

Sarah

(website)

Veteran

I'd love to join you all if I may! I'm *so close* to my goal, but I've been here before. These last pounds are the most difficult, I've found.
Shiny, I'm the same way. The only way I lose pounds is if I combine healthy eating with some serious running. I love other forms of excercise, but it's running that does it. And I usually have to run at least 4 miles three times a week to notice the biggest change. I can even have a cheat day and still lose if I keep up with my runs.
I'm tired of being *so close* and I want to push through and finish. I know I can maintain, I've done it many times in the past two years.
Recently I've started the Eat Clean "method" by Tosca Reno. I love it because it's real food that I can find at the store, and there are no pills, no subistitutes, or anything. I feel leaner when I eat this way, and my husband likes it too, which is a huge plus.
So big hugs all around, and let's do this!
PS: I have a half marathon coming up in October, so I'll include my progress with my weight posts.

hanna

(website)

laura, i'm signing up for the fall color 5k at the morton arboretum in october -- i needed a reasonably-within-sight goal that i wouldn't be able to ignore, and i've heard the run is beautiful. odds are i won't be here for the turkey trot - bummer, since i've heard it's super fun. i know 5k isn't much, but i'm hoping it will be a springboard to bigger and better things :P.

my main concern now is that ramadan (the muslim fasting month) starts on august 21st, and i am not sure how i will work in my running program yet. i don't want to stop because i don't want to lose momentum, but i am guessing the first couple of weeks i will have to take it slowly.

bella

(website)

Veteran

Can I also jump on the wagon? I am definitely within my healthy BMI range, but a few pounds away from my happy weight, as Shiny put it. I also have a really nice summer suit that I need fit comfortably in by September 1st.

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