October 1, same as September 1. I’ll be back around later. Working and running a house? Not so condusive to weight loss, but apparently excellent for maintaining.
Big hugs from us here CeeJayTee. Losing a loved one is never easy. We all have our coping mechanisms. I tend to stress eat too. With what you have gone through, that is very understandable.
A big welcome to the newbies. Hopefully we can provide support, information, and advice, if you need it.
A week ago last night: 288#
Last night: 278#
A lot of that has to be water, 'cos no-one burns ten pounds of fat in a week, but it’s a start and it gets me below a significant threshold over here in the UK where we weigh people in 14-pound increments.
Miles to go, but I can feel a little more spring in my step already and some water-retention thing I had going on in my left leg is way better. I’m controlling my food intake obsessively and also disciplining myself to climb up three floors at work for my twice-daily coffees - not much, but it’s a start, and I aim to build on it as well as take a regular lunchtime walk. If it comes to that, I see no reason not to go for one right now.
MeanJoe checking in.
Male, 38, 5’9 and starting weight was 205.0 on 9/4/07. Goal: 190 by 11/04/07.
I’m actually quite proud of myself, in the last 3 weeks I have really gotten myself out of the rut I was in in terms of motivation. I’ve been going to the gym now 3x a week (Tues, Thurs, Sat) consistently for the last 3 weeks. Allah/Buddah/Jebus be praised, the Tues and Thurs gym days involve me getting up at 5:30 AM so I can get there and back in time for work and I haven’t missed one yet! I even woke up 10 minutes early today to get a “jump” on getting to the gym.
Who are you and what have you done with the real MeanJoe?
Additionally, I have been holding pretty steady on my diet goals and I am starting to see some results. This morning I weighed in at 197.8, a loss of 7.2 pounds since 9/4/07. I’m proud of myself for going to the gym consistently and that in turn is keeping me motivated to keep going. Added to the motivation is that now I’m starting to see (very) small gains in muscle definition (man boobs decreasing) and increases in endurance (during cardio) and strength (weight lifting).
So yea. “WOO” for me! 
I guess my goals for October are:
Weight: 193-190 by the end of the month.
Cardio: Treadmill at 6.5 mph for 30 minutes. Currently my endurance is crap. I am doing an interval type approach to build up my endurance. Right now I am walking for 3 minutes then running for 6. I repeat this 3 times = 27 minutes and then the final 3 minutes is walking as a cool-down.
Strength: Continue to increase weight by 5% per week, 3 sets of 12 for each exercise.
Diet: Maintain target of 1700 calories per day average.
Risks: Conference in NYC next week, Tues-Friday. It is going to be difficult to exercise and eat healthy when the conferences starts early and entertaining clients will run into the late-night. I’m taking my gym clothes with me and will try to stay on schedule, if only to help off-set the calorie increase.
In my experience (and I have years of dieting experience) in situations like this, sometimes the best thing to do is to plan to gain a pound or two, so you can strategize how to best get it off afterwards.
Great job on hitting the gym!
Okay, I had my weigh-in today and I’m down to 215. That’s a 1 pound loss from last week, and leave me with 0.8 pound more til I hit the 15 pound loss mark.
Other interesting bits:
Last Friday, we had a free health screening thing at work, and I figured what the heck, and signed up for an appointment.
My results:
158 total cholesterol (they didn’t do HDL/LDL, just the total)
93 non-fasting glucose level
97/67 blood pressure (it took them 4 tries to get a reading, so this may not be accurate)
35.1 BMI
Also, I signed up for the Susan G. Koman Breast Cancer Walk on Saturday, and managed 5K in 72 minutes.
OK, I’m checking in for first time… I am male, 35, weighing in at 213 with a body fat percentage of 26.2%. My strategy is to exercise every day shooting for 45 to 90 minutes of low-medium impact cardio and controlling portions of non-vegetable foods. I hope to be 206 @ 23% by the end of October, once I have reached that weight then I can start running again. Here goes…
Despite my truly crappy eating and lack of exercise this week, I was down a pound this morning (total now of something like 3.5 pounds). At least I’ve been motivated to eat well again, and I’ve been within my points today and I bought a whackload of fruits, vegetables, and low-cal soups at the grocery store tonight. I bought only two real indulgences - a smallish bag of peppermint patties (1 point each) and mint chocolate covered oreos (2 points each). I haven’t eaten any of either yet!
I’m sort of fallen off the wagon, I’m afraid. A combination of sleep deprivation and Octoberness have led me to not only avoid the gym, but most of my calories this week have come from candy. 
Still keeping it under the limit, though, and I’m working on getting my sleeping habits back in order so even just the thought of the gym doesn’t exhaust me. Next week I’ll be back at it.
On the upside, while my scale hasn’t registered any notable difference in weight, I have discovered that my belt’s been tightened up a notch. What makes it more satisfying is that the notch I was on before was the tightest one on my belt, so I had to get a smaller belt. 
Hey everyone,
Glad to see people checking in. I’m finally getting back on the wagon after my 2 week eating fest. I’ve also been to the gym 3 times post calf injury and it’s going okay. I still cannot exercise at full capacity but at least I’m getting some activity in.
It will be a while before I can start running again and I miss it it terribly. I gained about 5 lbs during this time, I’m sure some of it is fluid but some of it is fat as well. I know what to do and I’m back on track.
I’ve gotten four workouts in this week and I’m down a pound. I’ll take it. Tomorrow I have a wedding reception/dance so I’ll be splurging a bit on the food/alcohol. I’ve been really good all week though so I deserve it!
My weight has been at a standstill for longer than I’d like to admit. I’ve been upping my exercise, and I can see more definition in some parts, mostly legs from the elliptical machine. I think I’m probably losing fat as the same rate as I’m gaining muscle because I can lift heavier weights than I could a few weeks ago, but my weight is the same. I’ve been exercising 5 times a week.
I measure my stomach a couple times a week, and after an initial loss a few months ago, it’s at a standstill as well though I think I’m losing fat in other places such as my upper belly but not my lower belly where I am measuring (my problem area).
I recently ran into an old acquaintance who I haven’t seen for several months, and she commented that I looked like I lost some weight so I imagine I must be losing fat. It’s so gradual and subtle that I wonder if I’m imagining it.
Some days I look in the mirror, and I think my face looks thinner. Then I’ll look in a different mirror, and I’ll look different. Then heaven forbid, if I eat some extra salt and get bloated… Even morning when I take a shower, I stare down at my belly to see if it’s gotten smaller. I just wanted to share.
So I do have a question. Are there times when you let yourself be hungry and not eat? I usually eat until I’m full, except sometimes if I get hungry an hour before bed, I won’t eat. I’m just wondering if in the long run, if eating less to the point of sometimes denying your hunger a good strategy if your weight loss is very slow. Is this a bad habit or an inevitable effect of trying to lose weight?
Hi Everyone!
In answer to your question poetwarlord yes, but only when I’m just too busy to eat. My understanding of things is that hunger is there for a reason, telling your body you need fuel so you can continue to exist. Denying your hunger may result in a lower number on the scale in the short term but in the long run you’ll just slow down your metabolism so that you burn fat slower and store fat easier (because your body thinks you’re starving and need to conserve).
You’re better off eating 5-6 small meals a day at regular intervals to keep your metabolism stoked. If you’re tracking calories and eating high quality foods and exercising you’ll lose weight and not feel deprived or hungry.
I’m having a bit of a bad week. Just not watching quantity like I should. I can proudly state that I’m no longer a member of the “Clean Plate Club” of my childhood but, while I usually manage to stop eating when I’m full, I’d like to work on that so that I stop eating just a bit before I’m full. I’d like to learn to eat slower too.
Meanwhile, my averages are creeping up this week due to my quantity control issues and my crazy work schedule. Hoping to regain control over the weekend.
velvetjones, I was thinking about you last night while exercising.
Have you ever thought about changing the type of exercise you do? I wonder if your body has gotten so used to your routine that it needs a little wake-up call.
poetwarlord, that might work for you as well.
Just a thought.
Thanks for thinking of me tdn 
Interesting question. I’ve been walking (and walking and walking and walking) since the beginning of the year more or less consistently. Maybe I do need a physical wake up call. Hmmmmm. What though?
I need an alternate cardio. There’s another GoZone Challenge starting here at work which is based on pedometer steps so I’ll most likely still walk but maybe it’s time to do some interval training. Add a bit o’jogging to my routine. Or maybe I need to get an exercise step and a step aerobics video. Still get the pedometer steps, just a different workout.
Well, now you’ve given me something to ponder. I may have to go shopping. I’ll keep you posted.
My weekly average today is 171.07 up from 170.57 last week. At this rate I’m not going to make my goal of 165 by 10/22 but I’m going to get closer. Of that I am certain.
I did go shopping and found an exercise step at Wal-Mart for about $30 but standing there in front of the thing I just couldn’t envision myself using it so I ended up leaving without purchasing it.
But today I jogged part of my morning walk. Just jog 'til I coudln’t go any further, walk until I recovered, jog again, walk again, nothing specific or measured, just keeping track of what felt do-able.
I’m going to check out the Fit-TV program schedule and see what’s on when I get home from work. I did the Namaste yoga a couple of times, that totally kicked my ass.
Happy losing everyone!
I finally got up and exercised, yesterday and today. My goal is to work out 6 days a week, so I’m already off to a good start. I’m 230 lbs, the most I’ve ever weighed, and I’m having mobility issues, which I find pretty upsetting. My long-term goal now is to get fit by next summer. My husband and I used to go backpacking (before we had kids) and we want to start at least hiking and camping with the small people next year. We’re visiting my husband’s best friend and her family next June or July, and I have to be at least hike-ready by then–they’re big hiking/camping/rock-climbing people (they can climb rock without me; I’m afraid of heights).
So the idea is to exercise 6 days a week and get fit by the summer. I will be watching my food intake, too, and whatever weight comes off will be great, but I’m focusing on fitness right now.
Hidey ho.
After the birth of Whatsit the Youngest, four months ago, I was at my peak weight as an adult. (Well, not counting when I was actually pregnant.) I finally got tired of feeling like a huge blob and waiting for the weight to come off magically by itself, so two weeks ago I joined Weight Watchers. I’m doing the online-only program.
So far, so good. I’m getting in more exercise, although still not every single day – I’m working on that. And I’m eating much, much better. At my first weigh-in last week I’d lost 3 pounds and I’m hopeful that this week’s weigh-in will show more pounds lost. Ideally I’d like to get back down to 175, which is a weight I felt good at, although WW says that the top healthy weight for my height is 152. We’ll see.
Glad to be here!
I’m trying not to stress out over it too much, but I would like to lose 18 pounds. I’m currently 5’11" and 178. I lost 10 pounds last month from exercising, cutting out snacks, and upping my time on cardio per week. I’m a little skeptical I can pull a repeat performance… doesn’t it get harder to lose weight the skinnier you get? Here goes nothing ^^;
I’m at almost exactly the same weight I was the first of September, 170.6. I don’t feel too bad about it though because my IBS has been really acting up. That episode seems to be ending though so I should be able to start dropping again.