The Let's Help Each other Get Healthier Thread!!!

[EmpressFi]

doing well. Getting back into the routine of going to the gym every other day.. and sometimes we go both Saturday and Sunday (like this weekend)..

My weight is hovering between 259 and 265.. mostly water weight gain. I try and be careful about the saltiness of things I eat. While still doing atkins, I'm also just trying to teach myself to be smarter in the choices I do make. As my metabolism is picking up from all the working out, I've been able to add in more carbs, but only simple carbs.. fruits..yogurt, cottage cheese, veggies, etc.. my body still responds poorly to complex carbs. But in learning that, I'm also trying to keep my intake in between 1000 - 1200 calories a day and I burn at least 2200 calories a week.

I feel good. My legs, though still swollen if I'm standing on them for long periods of time, are becoming less swollen as some of the circulation improves. So that helps, I dont feel like I'm trudging along with weights on my feet.

What I need to work on is my inner mirror... that thing that says, "You're still 370lbs" when I look in a mirror. Last week, Malin took a picture of me at the Breast Cancer walk and when looking at it later I was floored by the changes. I just dont see them. I used to see "me", the thinner me, in my head, dying to get out.. now I cant seem to get past the vision of what I used to look like.

 

[Homburg]

Be careful of metabolic crash if you're going to stay hypocaloric for any serious length of time. It happened to me. Didn't matter how much I cut cals, nothing happened after that point, and I just felt progressively worse. I bumped up cals bigtime, felt better, and gained a pile of muscle. Can't complain there But balancing metabolic rate and caloric intake is admittedly a chore. I'm thinking about going hypocaloric again to cut some fat that I picked up over my recent layoff, I just hate how I feel when I do that. Blech.

And I hope you are lifting! And I don't mean pink dumbbells, I mean serious weight. Nothing burns fat better than new muscle. Metabolically active tissue (ie not fat) burns calories even when you're asleep. More muscle means more metabolically active tissue. And you WILL look better with more muscle.

 

[EmpressFi]

I spend 40 minutes on the elliptical trainer for my aerobic workout..and then I spend another 30-40 minutes on weight training for my arms, chest, abs, legs and back.. basically, I go head to toe until I'm done...

 

[Betticus]

I spend 40 minutes on the elliptical trainer for my aerobic workout..and then I spend another 30-40 minutes on weight training for my arms, chest, abs, legs and back.. basically, I go head to toe until I'm done...

Do me next!

 

[HottieMama]

I would look SO weird at 205#. I got down to 230# and looked funny. Big head, scrawny arms. Didn't like it. I'm happiest at around 240-250#. My body is just not built to be be any smaller.

And the govt height/weight charts think I should be 185#? Who are they kidding?

UGH...i hate height/weight charts. At 5'7", they say i should be 114lbs...Ummm...no. Not gonna happen.

 

[NALA CAYENNE]

UGH...i hate height/weight charts. At 5'7", they say i should be 114lbs...Ummm...no. Not gonna happen.

And I'm told I should be 130. The last time I weighed 130 I looked like a character out of Nightmare Before Christmas

 

[Homburg]

I spend 40 minutes on the elliptical trainer for my aerobic workout..and then I spend another 30-40 minutes on weight training for my arms, chest, abs, legs and back.. basically, I go head to toe until I'm done...

I knew I liked you for a reason, Fi. Though personally I'd hit the weights first. I'm an Iron Junky though, so it's just my personal preference. I would make a crack about hating cardio, but I love hitting the trails, and various other forms of fun cardio.

 

[EmpressFi]

I knew I liked you for a reason, Fi. Though personally I'd hit the weights first. I'm an Iron Junky though, so it's just my personal preference. I would make a crack about hating cardio, but I love hitting the trails, and various other forms of fun cardio.

I like the weights too..so they're my rewards for doing the elliptical for 40 minutes *grins*. Funny.. a year ago I would have NEVER said that working out with weights was a reward for anything...

anyway.. I was terrified of the ellipticals when we joined the gym.. because well to be honest with myself.. I didnt feel I was coordinated enough to use them..so I stuck to the treadmills/recumbant bike. Then I decided I wouldnt let my fear keep me from a better workout.. so I started out with 5 minutes.. then 10.. then I jumped to 20.. then 40... I still get "tired" at about 20 minutes..and really have to push myself the last 10..ask Malin..more than once..he's asked me what I said to him..when really what I was saying was telling myself that I only had 5 more minutes and to STFU and do them...

It's almost like getting into subspace for me. The day melts away as I focus on keeping my feet moving, keeping my arms moving... keep breathing deeply so I'm not sore... etc.. it really helps me gain control of my mind, get me in touch with all the nuances my body gives me.. and then after all the tension of the day is gone.... I go down and start workin the weights... before I know it.. they're all done and I feel at peace..

 

[Homburg]

Yup, I need to hit them more often. Time is really an issue right now because of work though, ugh.

Yeah, I know, make time for me, ya ya.

 

[bholderman]

Ive always felt the most comfortable flaoting around 200 even thought, like you, the govt charts say 185.

But Im shooting for skinny anyway.

I would look SO weird at 205#. I got down to 230# and looked funny. Big head, scrawny arms. Didn't like it. I'm happiest at around 240-250#. My body is just not built to be be any smaller.

And the govt height/weight charts think I should be 185#? Who are they kidding?

 

[Homburg]

Ive always felt the most comfortable flaoting around 200 even thought, like you, the govt charts say 185.

But Im shooting for skinny anyway.

I start to look like a bobblehead doll. I have a seriously big dome

 

[boundpussycat]

I know this subject!

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[Homburg]

Chicken breasts cooked with extra virgin olive oil, a little garlic and sliced vine tomatoes is a super heart healthy meal, the combo will give you energy and make your heart strong. This was told to me by my mother's doctor, and it tastes damn good too!

You could easily add in some spinach to this. Insofar as greens go, spinach is a 'power food' and it goes remarkably well with tomato and chicken (and garlic and olive oil).

 

[boundpussycat]

You could easily add in some spinach to this. Insofar as greens go, spinach is a 'power food' and it goes remarkably well with tomato and chicken (and garlic and olive oil).

Oh absolutely! Spinach is about as good as it gets whe it comes to your greens

 

[Homburg]

Oh absolutely! Spinach is about as good as it gets whe it comes to your greens

Yep yep, and, frankly, reading about chicken, olive oil, garlic, fresh tomatoes, and spinach is enough to make my mouth water and my stomach rumble =)

 

[the captians wench]

UGH...i hate height/weight charts. At 5'7", they say i should be 114lbs...Ummm...no. Not gonna happen.

What chart are you looking at?

the ones I've seen said at 5'3 I should be between 115-125

I'd hate to see what your's says I should be at!

 

[Hisbabydoll26]

UGH...i hate height/weight charts. At 5'7", they say i should be 114lbs...Ummm...no. Not gonna happen.

HM that doesn't sound even close to correct. Hmm...maybe they have "updated" the chart?

 

[HottieMama]

Just looked it up again. The chart i looked at this time said 123.

That said, i did my bi-weekly weigh in this morning.


175!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Hisbabydoll26]

Just looked it up again. The chart i looked at this time said 123.

That said, i did my bi-weekly weigh in this morning.


175!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Congrats HM! So basically if we keep looking at the chart it will increase each time. Got it!

 

[myinnerslut]

im doing pretty well. all i ate was crap when i visited A this past weekend. i swear i eat ten times worse with him then without.

i ran on the treadmill today while i was at the gym. i normally dont do that, but i was feeling a bit down on myself and needed the energy rush of running.

currently im about 122 pounds, gaining muscle, and eating healthy.

 

[boundpussycat]

This may not be an appropriate question for here ...

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[pinklypop]

How many pounds are in a stone?
i'm 5'8" and feeling pants
Think i'm hovering up at around 10 stone now

 

[Homburg]

This may not be the appropriate place to ask this question but I was just wondering if anyone else struggled with this side effect of weight loss. I hear it is common, but I've never run into anyone who felt the same.

Well, I'm more comfortable, but I still feel weird about things. I'm more self-conscious in some ways.

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How many pounds are in a stone?
i'm 5'8" and feeling pants
Think i'm hovering up at around 10 stone now

14lb in a stone, I think.

I somehow doubt that you look like a cow at 5'8" and 10 stone, pinklypop.

 

[pinklypop]

Maybe not but i still feel pants, saw a picture of me today and i looked like an elephant
So anyone got any tips on losing about a stone rather quickly (say a month?)

 

[HottieMama]

I was just wondering, to anyone here who has lost a lot of weight so far, do you feel weird about your bodies now? I guess what I am saying is I feel less comfortable now then I did 70 pounds ago. I felt totally comfortable at my larger size, I had no problem getting naked in front of someone, but now I feel more self conscious about it.

This may not be the appropriate place to ask this question but I was just wondering if anyone else struggled with this side effect of weight loss. I hear it is common, but I've never run into anyone who felt the same.

i think it's a GREAT place to ask this question. i certainly think it is an issue that affects emotional health, and that is the entire purpose on this thread...to address all health and health related issues.

Since i had my son last Nov 3rd, i am down over 100lbs. 5 more lbs till i reach my first goal of 170. In a way i feel much more comfortable with my size, and in a way i don't. When i was close to 300lbs, 9 months preg, etc...i wasn't looking for anyone else's praise or compliments. Now, i absolutely crave them. i like being complimented on my body, and on various parts of it. (Call it objectification if you want...i call it "Damn that makes me feel good.") The looking for approval concept is a bit new to me...and anything a bit new makes me feel a bit squirrely. i do feel much more comfortable with how i present myself to the world, the clothes i choose to wear etc... Let me tell you, the biggest thrill (non-sexual) that i have ever gotten in my life was being able to NOT shop in the plus-size section anymore. And another big difference that makes me feel "emotionally comfortable" when someone tells me i am beautiful, or sexy, or whatever...i BELIEVE them.