Demo: During the week, I usually get to bed between 10:30-11:00 p.m. Sometimes I’m up a little later. The first few days I really had to tell myself to get myself up and get moving, but this morning I really wasn’t tired at all once I was in the car and on the way. I didn’t even nod off on the Metro on the way to work.
KimKatt: I’m there with you–motivation is the hardest part. I just got sick of having to buy new pants (I’ve gone from a 34" waist to a 38" in just a couple years) all the time, and seeing my flabby figure in the mirror.
Since everyone else is posting their vital stats, I’ll do so as well:
Name: Tymp
Age: 23
Height: 1.91 m
Weight: 75 kg
Target: 85 kg
I’ve been spending way too much time sitting here in the office. My body is softening and I don’t eat enough. Time to take action. Not sure what, exactly, I’ll do yet, but I will post my actions here.
Since I was laid off from my long time job in March, I put on thirty pounds. Some of it I needed to gain because I had lost weight previously due to other stressors, but I would like to lose some of it again.
Starting stats:
Age: 46
Height: 5’ 7.25"
Weight: 140
Target Weight: 125
I have been walking to and from my office tech class as often as possible, and that is about three miles one way. So far I haven’t come up with any other strategies.
I’m in, too, but waaaaay ahead of you all. Just kidding, I feel I need some support as well - it’s an uphill battle.
I started going to the gym (I walk there - it’s one mile away) at 6 am every morning about a month ago - 20 minutes on the Precor machine and 20 minutes of fast lap swimming.
I’ve lost only about 10 pounds, but 2 whole inches of flab. I don’t look skinny, but I look “toned”.
So, my current stats:
Height: 5’8 1/2"
Weight: 173
Goal Height: 6’0 (kidding)
Goal Weight: 150
Will we be able to post before and after pictures, too?
Wow. That would serve as serious motivation. Imagine having pictures of our out-of-shape, undisciplined butts all over the net until we can post pictures of ourselves that we like. Not a bad idea at all.
Hell yes I am in. Demo already announced, but I just had to chime in. I’ve been going through my closet the past few days to check out my work-suits, there is not a single one in there that fits! I refuse to buy a whole new wardrobe, I will fit into those clothes again. I’m not gonna post my weight, but I will say that I am at least 40 lbs overweight, that is unbelievable. So, let’s do this thing!!
Hon, we’re going for a walk this evening, be prepared!
I’ve been working on my weight, as well. Last year, I finally reached my target of 185 after dropping 40 pounds in 14 months. Got divorced, and reverted back to all my slobbish ways. So now I’m at 205. I’m 6’1", 34 years old, and I can carry this weight, but I don’t like the little bicycle tire that has formed around my waist. I’m gonna get back down to 190 again, regardless. My main exercise is jogging. I hate it, but it’s cheap. Two miles every morning that I can make myself get up in time.
tatertot wrote: Does anybody have any suggestions on weight training?
Buy or borrow the book Strong Women Stay Slim by Miriam Nelson. Her first book, Strong Women Stay Young deals with the research she did on reversing the effects of osteoperosis in elderly patients. She found that the regular use of light weights could actually increase bone mass. A side effect was that the increased muscle mass and decreased fat percentage caused these women to lose, in many cases, several dress sizes. The second book focuses more on getting back in shape.
By the way, tatertot, I have almost exactly the same stats as you, except that I am 38 and I have 4 kids. Don’t be discouraged. It can be done. I was in better shape (and in a smaller dress size) in between my first 2 kids. I intend to get back there.
I’ll be joining you shortly if this thread stays current. Right now, though, I’m nursing tendonitis in my foot. A word of advice: if your treadmill stalls, causing you to stop abruptly, do not continue for another mile and a half, even though nothing actually hurts at the time. Following a doctor visit yesterday, I am treating my injury “more agressively”-600mg ibuprofen 4 times daily, regular icing, and more rest.
Well, I have started a similar thread over on the FFF, 'sposed I should revive it.
Anyhow, for me, I am changing my eating habits and have yet to get off my ass and walk. I think I have a good route that should be about 4 miles but I am going to look into some places where my dog can be off the leash.
My goal is to fit back into my size 4 jeans again.
Age: 32
Hieght: 5’3"
Wieght: over 130 lbs
Target: Under 115 lbs
I am not looking for weight so much as I am looking for inches as if I start any form of exercise (which I wont to weight training) I bulk out with a lot of muscle which in turn increases your weight.
I’ll join the support group. My agency has a fitness center in which I’ve been working out for about a year. I had made very good gains for the first 5 months, but then a lot of travel for business, and the death of my father, put me off my routine. So I’m pretty much back to where I started. My stats right now are exactly the same as phil’s, except that I’m an inch taller.
YOU MUST READ THE FOLLOWING TO KEEP MOTIVATED. For most people, your metabolic set point is very stubborn and difficult to overcome. Many, many people see a trend like this (this actually happened to me during basic training, another time where I needed to lose a good amount of weight):
First month–aerobic exercise every day; running, calisthenics, muscle work, etc… Net weight loss = 5 pounds.
Next month–same exercises. Net weight loss of 35 pounds.
Of course the actual amount will depend on starting size and other factors, but the point is, your body will fight you for longer than most people are motivated to continue. They give up when the make-or-break point is just around the corner.
DON’T GIVE UP!!!
For me, I remember five years ago when I was running 4 miles every day (under 28 minutes). I weighed 160; 33" waist; and could eat anything and everything I wanted. Now, at 205, I realize how much work I have ahead of me to get down to 34" pants.
The Girl Next Door is looking more like the Blob Next Door, and that just isn’t okay. My plan is self-designed, and is called the WXYZ plan:
**W: Water **(64 oz. or more a day) X: eXercise (20 minutes or more of aerobic activity 4x week, and two weight lifting sessions per week)
**Y: Yoga **(keeps me toned and is great for alleviating depression) Z: the Zone 'Cause I am all about processed sugar and white flour and that has simply got to stop.
So, we’ll see how it goes. I can usually do two of the four things at a time, I’m having trouble doing all four at once.
Well, I’m kind of particular about the tapes I choose to use. If you asked PLD, he’d probably say I use the most annoying. “Sure, she’s got a perfectly good, unused Daisy Fuentes video, but does she use it? No. Now. And do you know why?” (Because its too frickin’ hard!)
I use some Richard Simmons tapes and a Susan Powder tape. Now, some of Richard’s stuff is still difficult (to follow) and I tend to avoid those. I figure that its hard enough being motivated, why add the handicap of a tape you dread doing.
Getting back to your question, Susan’s tape is extremely repetitive and she really stresses working at YOUR fitness level and modifying the exercise so you can to do it until you’ve built up the strength and cardio endurance (and coordination) to follow it exactly. I also don’t currently use the step part of it right now (I did some last year, but I’m just not to that level yet), which makes following it a little easier–no fear or falling off or misstepping.
I also really like Richard’s video Tone-n-Sweat with the toning cord. It really does work well to build stronger, leaner muscles (or it did once). The other video of his that I have and use is my excuse buster kinda deal–its only 20 minutes long, and I try to tell myself “What’s 20 minutes? No biggy–I can blink 20 minutes away!”
As far as getting up in the morning, one nice thing I’ve already noticed is it gets easier (for me) every morning and I’m less drowsy at work today than I was on Tuesday when we started. (I am usually up until 11:00 or midnight.)
Guess I’ll 'fess up though I hate admitting it (these are the last figures – haven’t weighed myself in a couple months).
Age: 30
Height: 5’3"
Current Weight: 221 lbs (size 20)
Goal: +/-5 lbs a month
Long-term Goal: 135 lbs (size 10) / January 19, 2002
Short-term Goal: 195 lbs / January 19, 2001
And that dreaded winter (cold weather) weight gain…
PLD and I were discussing this morning, and I find my copy of a Vegetarian Times article that discusses causes behind this phenomena and since its sort of relevant to the thread (especially given the time of year we’re all taking up this challenged), I thought I’d share it.
I just wanted to let those of you starting out what I did to start the cycle of fitness. I actually enjoy going to the gym every morning now!
For breakfast I eat:
2 bananas or a fruit shake (aka smoothie sans yogurt) or a low fat muffin
For lunch I eat:
A salad - without bacon bits or cheese or creamy dressing
For dinner I eat:
A baked potato with butter or a couple Garden Burgers (no bun) or tofu lasagna (really delicious and only 200 calories) or salmon and soup
Now that I have gotten my lazy ass out of bed at 5:45 every morning, my internal alarm clock is set up so I wake up at that time every day. It took about two weeks and I no longer need to force myself to go - I look forward to it.
The biggest help I’ve had so far is my walkman. I bought a few dance music CD’s and they have very motivational songs - one even made me cry (yes, I’m thoroughly embarassed). My favorite songs are the ones that talk about “energy”, “you can do it”, “your dreams will come true”, “keep moving”, “don’t stop”, “deeper love”, etc.
Hey, I just thought of something! If anyone of you is interested, I have a CD burner and would be more than happy to make a “Teeming Millions Workout CD”. It’ll feature funky James Brown selections, grooving disco bass line songs, Top 40 dance hits, and inspirational fitness lyric tunes.
Who has a webpage where we can put up monthly status photos? Motivational, indeed!
Count me in. I am already on my way, though, having dropped 60 lbs so far. I am about the size I want to be now, but I still want to lose some fat and gain some muscle. To that end, I started lifting weights about two months ago. I really like weight lifting, and I really hate cardio. I am currently on a break since my herniated disk in my lower back is acting up and I am stuck at home (I am going to get a fun epidural steriod injection in about a half hour) - I can’t sit for longer than about 15 minutes w/out being in intense pain.
I just started hitting the gym again this month, but my past pattern has been to follow it up for 2 or three weeks and then find other distractions. Motivation to keep to it would be very much welcome. I need to improve my muscle tone more than I need to lose pounds, but if I could drop 15-20 pounds as well, I would be very happy.
Current plan: 60-minute step class Monday and Wednesday evenings (includes some arms and abs work), Fitness and circuit machines Friday evenings, and trying to eat in a more healthy manner.
Target dates: 1. Company Holiday Party; 2. High School reunion next summer.
One general question, though: I see that most of you are planning to exercise every day. Am I setting myself up for failure by only working out three days a week?
A Beef Tenderloin sandwich, with mushrooms, lettuce, and tomatoes.
An Orange.
A bunch of grapes.
A Caesar salad.
A slice of cake.
A glass of Iced Tea.
An Andes Mint.
thirty 
