techchick68,
Everyone is different, and you have to find what eating and/or exercise plan works for you. I got razzed all the time by my work buddies when I started on the Atkins program over a year and a half ago - they started calling me “No Carb Barb” - I corrected them and told them it’s “Low Carb Barb” 
Once the weight loss was obvious, they shut up.
Good luck!
Jodi, it does sounds like you’re adding on some muscle weight. Seriously. I wouldn’t worry about it.
I’m hardly the epitome of a stellar physique, but I am in much better shape than I was about 5 1/2 years ago when I started exercising. I was a bit of a chunky monkey then. Whatever diet/exercise routine you choose, make sure you can stick with it. You have to think of it as a permanent lifestyle change, not a temporary diet. For example, you want your exercize routine to be something you enjoy, or at least not hate too much. And yes, you do have to ease into it; I didn’t start off running as fast or lifting as much as I do now. Also, you’re not going to get in shape overnight (Lord knows my abs haven’t); be persistent and don’t get discouraged. Also be aware of your physical limitations. If I could run every day I would, but my knees and hips require some recovery time, so I alternate with the elliptical trainer. Also accept the fact that, due to genetic limitations, most of y’all are probably not going to end up posing for the covers of health and beauty magazines, present company included. Once you get in shape, it’s very rewarding. My encouragement goes out to every one of you!
I guess Iampunha is one poster who’s never going to be accused of being Mark Serlin! 
Re all of your efforts–Good luck to you all. I don’t need to lose weight, but I could afford to gain muscle.
Good looks would also help.
Hey, as_u_wish: I walked a marathon! Dublin 1997. I raised money for the Leukemia Society. If you want help in walking a marathon and you want to go to an interesting place (Alaska, Hawaii, London, Dublin, Boston, etc.) check out the Team in Training page (http://www.lsa-teamintraining.org/) and see if they have a chapter near you. (Of course this only works if you’re in the US, but other countries have similar projects). There is also charity marathon training for other diseases like arthritis. Search the net.
They give you an entire walking schedule to build up to 26.2 miles, lots of support, a trainer, cool t-shirts, etc. Walking the marathon was the coolest thing I’ve ever done. I was trying to finish in 6:30 hours, but I got a hamstring cramp, and then a blister on my heel, so I finished in 7:30 hours instead. I was in pain for days, but it was worth it. If you want any more information, drop me a line or I’ll post it here.
I want to be really, really good this month and lose another 3 pounds before the Rochester meeting. And guys, when I am there, don’t let me binge! After I get off this damn computer, I am going to clean house and then do a workout tape.
A slice of turkey with mustard on top.
6 cut up cherry tomatoes with a little Italian dressing.
A slice of chedder jack cheese.
A break from the ordinary for sure, but hey not bad for my first meal of the day I kinda like it!
< note: only water, no coffee >
I’ve had a bit of trouble shaving the last two days. My second chin is starting to recede and so there is a flat spot about 1/3 of an inch long. I can shave that fine, but the junction is rather difficult to shave. I guess that’s the price I’ll have to pay for progress.
Keith
By the way, when I said “present company included,” I meant “myself included.” I’m still trying to get that English thing down. Also, I’ve been exercising for 4 1/2 years, not 5 1/2. Still working on that math thing too.
Strainger,
Guess that means you are an engineer of the choo-choo kind?
< giggle >
:::::runs really fast:::::
Sounds like everyone is starting out well, keep it going!
I got on my treadmill last night, finally. 20 minutes, it’s a start. Slept better than I have in a while, that’s a definite benefit!
Also stocked up the fridge on fresh veggies and some fruit on the weekend. That used to be at least 50% of my diet, and I need to get it back to that.
A couple of people asked about yoga videos, I didn’t see a response. Does anyone have one they can recommend? The yoga class I wanted to sign up for is at the same time as the Acrylic Painting class that I just signed up for, and as that is one of my other self improvement goals, the actual class will have to wait for now.
Silver Fire, that’s not a cookie in your hand, is it? Please say the same back to me about those pieces of chocolate and those darned sunflower seeds!!!
Today’s Lunch:
A loaf of bread,
A container of milk,
And a stick of buttah.
Sheesh Cynical, whatcha trying to do, clog your arteries?
I had a bowl of refried beans (no fat) mixed with salsa. I forgot the whole wheat tortillas at the store the other day! I ate all my tomatoes this morning so there’s no veggies except for the stuff in the salsa. HEHE, I also added two packets of Taco Hell’s mild seasoning – that’s got a little kick to it.
Hey it sounds weird but I enjoy simple foods.
A protein/fat based breakfast, a carb lunch and for dinner? Any ideas? I am heading to the grocery store in a couple of hours. Should be a protein based meal, no carbs at night! I am thinking I will cut out some fat tonight though.
Hm, to me it doesn’t seem that people are doing all that well. Coke and Snickers for breakfast?
I’m also worried that some people aren’t eating enough protein or calories. You need to eat energy to burn energy - please don’t starve yourselves. I like your diet tips, techchick.
I’m still eating at least 2000 calories a day - they just happen to be from fish, vegetables, fruits and bread. If/when I eat less, I get sleepy, cranky and lethargic.
Also, I think we have to remember to get our target heart-rates up to the cardiovascular zone at least 3 times a week. Walking a mile probably won’t do that for most of us.
I have to do 30 minutes of intense, back-breaking, sweat dripping exercise to get into the zone. And in one month, I’ve only lost 10 lbs. But my doc says it’s the healthy way to do it - the way to keep the weight off.
The best news is that I’ve gone from a D cup (bra size) to a C cup. Ahhh, I can see my feet again!
Thanks for the info about doing different muscle groups on alternate days, Jodi and porcupine. But what about swimming? I swim for an hour each morning - should I be doing some machine work some days instead?
It’s 2:40, and all I’ve had all day is a Coke (just opened it.)
I’m not hungry! I hate this! I love food. I love all kinds of food. I even like to cook. But what’s the point if I don’t feel hungry? Honestly, in my kitchen, I have a salmon, chicken breasts, lean pork and hamburger “at least 95% lean”. I have carrots, lettuce, peppers, tomatoes, and a cucumber, and nice selection of salad dressings. I have wheat bread. Yogurt. Apples, oranges and grapes. And etc. My kitchen is pretty well-stocked with good-for-you things, because I LOVE good-for-you things. That Snicker bar I had yesterday was the first candy bar I’ve had in I-can’t-even-remember.
Re: Exercise. I’m actually pretty satisfied with the level of exercise I do…for the moment anyway. When I lived in Des Moines, I lived ground floor and drove everywhere. Now I live here, I have a second floor walk-up (no A/C, btw) and I drive my car maybe two times a week. This, as far as I’m concerned, is exercise, because until school started three weeks ago, I’d been sitting on my ass being the poster girl for Sedentary Living.
Ok, so I should up my level of exercise even more, right? Try to do something in the morning after I get up. Will that make me hungry, d’ya think?
Gawd, my body sucks.
Okay, I’m starting in earnest. As soon as I finish this delightful Dr. Pepper, I begin the Mr. Cynical Freedom Diet. Watch the pounds melt away, suckers!!!
Martial arts and riding has kept me thus far pretty slim. Too slim, so I need to put on muscle. I am planning to up the regimen that I already do. In 3 weeks I hope to be a little bit better
Name: Red_dragon60
Age:15
Weight: 124 lbs
Intended Weight: 130 in muscle
I know it’s not gonna happen overnight, or even in a month, but I’ll work on it.
Chris,
This is a radical idea, but worth a try. Since you are having a hard time eating throughout the day, why not skip dinner tonight (of course make dinner for Bowen) then start eating in the morning? I am not sure how healthy that is but people do fast so I assume one night wont harm you. A small bowl of Grape Nuts and no-fat milk might do the trick for you. (that’s what I am having for breakfast tomorrow – just thought we could work together on this!)
Also, I started to eat a little something about lunch time last weekend, my dinners are less food and now I wake up and my stomach is telling me it’s hungry.
No, you don’t have to have a seven course meal breakfast, lunch and dinner, but if you start to train your body to need that food your body will respond in kind. Essentially you have been doing what I had been doing, starving your body for 24 hours. By doing that, your body holds on to that weight because you are starving it. During lunch have a non-fat yogurt. I started with whole grain bagels with no-fat cream cheese, and found that the next morning, after a light meal of proteins the night before, my body decided it needed breakfast. Three days in a row I have had breakfast and dinner, two of those days I had lunch. Today, I had to have lunch as my hunger was snarling at me.
My husband never used to eat breakfast or lunch. He would then start eating when he got home, and snack all the way up till bedtime.
I convinced him to try eating breakfast in the morning. He said the same, that he wasn’t hungry mornings, but tried it anyway. When he eats breakfast in the morning, he is hungry again to eat lunch, doesn’t eat until dinnertime when he gets home, and snacks far less at night. He lost 10-15 pounds without even thinking about it.
Now that he is trying to quit smoking, I can’t get him to stop eating but he is working on it.
This is probably the lack of sleep speaking, but what did I say the other day that made your day?
I can surely believe something you think. That doesn’t make it fact:) As for what it is, I think it’s that I was raised to think I wasn’t anything to look at, and I’m guessing you’ve heard things from people in that same sense. Not that either party was correct, just that this is what it seems to have been.
pldennison, don’t worry about the amount of weights you lift. Better to go light and not risk hurting yourself . . . besides, you’re not trying to gain muscle but burn fat.
For those of you who are walkers/joggers/treadmillers . . . consider walking with 1-lb weights. Not around your ankles, as that will give you shin splints. Carry them in your hands. They’ll tone your arms and burn more fat.
As a personal trainer I want to say congratualtions to ANYONE who realizes they deserve the time it takes to be healthy and accomplish what you want. It is not easy, especially if you are fighting a life long history of obesity or poor habits. I say you are truely an amazing group of people and i have the utmost respect for you all.