July Diet and Fitness Thread

[Fotia]

Okay, I'll go first because I couldn't wait. Last night I had a real kickass yoga class that made me realize it doesn't take long (2-3 weeks) to start getting out of shape. Plus I looked at myself in a recent photo and wasn't too thrilled with what I saw. So now I am all gung ho in getting into shape before the summer is over. I also started going back to the gym and doing at least 30 minutes of cardio. Tonight I will dance to everything I know for at least the same time slot. Not overdoing it but getting back in the groove.

[Shaharazad]

Girl, I feel your pain! I had knee surgery in March and I have since gained 13 lbs. I was and still eating just about everything in sight (with the "poor me" attittude) and I am not as active as I was before. I have been going to the gym and doing cardio for 30 minutes, but I still don't see a change. I am getting a bit frustrated ,m:: because I am not fitting in my summer clothes from last year and I am resorting to purchase new clothes. It does not take much to fall off the wagon and get into the bad habits. It takes 21 days to get back in the swing of things, but... I am tired of the scale screaming "get off the scale, one at a time, please" when I weigh myself.

[TheGreatKathyLori]

I went thru a spell of sickness with my colon, so I couldn't really eat much of a number of months and dropped about 20 lbs. Then I had surgery. After that, I was able to eat and, at first, it was great because I had lost so much weight and really couldn't eat a whole lot before. So now I became friends with food again. But the weight I lost during sickness has almost come all the way back on. Tonight, I head out to zumba. I can't believe after all that suffering that I'd be back to my earlier weight. At least I'm well now, so I can't complain about that.

[lachaph]

I start my journey to lose weight tomorrow morning. IF its not raining I'm up at 5am to take the dog for a 3km brisk walk. IF it is raining its me and the wii for 45 min.
Goal is to get to at least 15 pounds gone by September.....

[bdaddiction]

Gosh, that fast! I just posted in June. Where I was feeling pretty good about losing all the baby weight + more and some inches. My clothes that I made for myself are way too big. I basically lost two dresses in a matter of months. Jeremiah is 2 months now.

But, after going back to class this Tuesday, I wasn't feeling so hot about myself. Those 4 way mirrors don't help, along with the fact that I am back in beginners class killing myself. My body is still hurting from the other day. The c-section really did a number on me. Really, the only thing I can do is walk. But, it isn't like I can walk up any hills, or I am afraid that would be too much.

We will see what this month will bring...

[suzyq52]

Okay, July is the month when I get serious again. I am down eighteen pounds and still have at least ten more to go and I realize that those are going to be the hardest ones to lose. I am going to try to get to more cardio classes and get my butt back to the gym!!!! Plus, keeping a food journal really helps me as well.

[0Adara0]

I just got back from visiting familly in the Israel. it was soooo hot! The heat completely sucked away my appetite. I barely ate anything at all, and my familly tried to stuff as much food into me as possible. I lost almost 10 lbs in about a week! But as soon as I got back my appetite came with it. I'm trying soo hard not to let them seep back but my bf with aweful eating habits is deffinately not helping. that and we're staying in an efficiency apt where all i have to cook with is a microwave >_<. It doesn't look good -_-;;
I've had the munchies non-stop. I think my body thought i was starving as is trying to put the weight back on.

[Souzan]

Day one of the Two Week Total Body Turnaround plan. Got this through Prevention Magazine. Need to break through the workout/diet plateau and this may help jumpstart me. Did a lot of traveling on weekends during May and June and even trying to pack my own food and watching what I was eating, every weekend away put 2 or 3 pounds back on that it took the whole next week to take off again. So I have zero net weight loss for the past two months. Now I am home for a while and its time to change things up and get the scale moving back down again. 27 lbs lost since early December and I can't let it creep back on.

Souzan

[Azhia]

Day one of the Two Week Total Body Turnaround plan. Got this through Prevention Magazine. Need to break through the workout/diet plateau and this may help jumpstart me. Did a lot of traveling on weekends during May and June and even trying to pack my own food and watching what I was eating, every weekend away put 2 or 3 pounds back on that it took the whole next week to take off again. So I have zero net weight loss for the past two months. Now I am home for a while and its time to change things up and get the scale moving back down again. 27 lbs lost since early December and I can't let it creep back on.

Souzan

How are the blood sugar issues?

I mentioned what I mentioned about P90X and your niece b/c I understand where she is coming from (OCD/going overboard with the program). ..c::

[theothershimmytwin]

I have been running my butt off...literally! I don't often take measurments, but I did last week and I was down 3 inches in my booty/lower hips! I couldnt believe it! All my pants are loose on me and baggy, which unfortuantely isn't flattering...

does anyone use resistance bands for strength training? they're super cheap and I hear just as good as free weights. I LOVE lifting, haven't done it in about 2 months though...it really did wonders for me. I'm thinking about getting some bands so I don't have to go to the gym and can do at home exercises...

[Azhia]

does anyone use resistance bands for strength training? they're super cheap and I hear just as good as free weights. I LOVE lifting, haven't done it in about 2 months though...it really did wonders for me. I'm thinking about getting some bands so I don't have to go to the gym and can do at home exercises...

I use resistance bands for my back exercises, since I don't have a pull up bar. You can target different areas depending on your stance (sitting, kneeling, leaning back, leaning forward, in the door jam, standing on them) and hand/arm positions (wide, overhand, pull up, etc.) when working with the bands.

I use free weights for my arms and other parts of my back but you can use a band for pretty much anything for which you would use a free weight (or even a machine).

The key resistance areas are also different as opposed to weights, you feel more of the resistance towards the "top" or "end" of a movement, rather than all through the movement like when using free weights.

There are also different levels of resistances in the bands, depending on the color (red, green, black, etc.).

It's all good and good to change up your resistance routines in this way.

[Souzan]

How are the blood sugar issues?

I mentioned what I mentioned about P90X and your niece b/c I understand where she is coming from (OCD/going overboard with the program). ..c::

Thanks for asking. I am getting a better handle on it. Eating a little more protein and fat in the morning helps as does a reminder on my computer at work to eat a snack even if I am not hungry. If I don't I'm so sick to my stomach by lunch that I don't want anything at all even though it is when I need some food the most. Also being careful to make sure I eat something before dance class or working out.

[IMussa]

What I found really help me a lot, is Pilates, body sculpting, stretches alot of them by myself and eating in moderation..If I like to eat a whole kitkat then I eat half of the 2/4 pieces. so you look at your normal diet and you eat half of what you normally eat and if you hate gym dance for 4 hours every day within 1-2 weeks big change.I dance for more than that but I guess you go with what makes you happy.

[Fotia]

I find resistance bands to work just as well as free weights. I keep mine by my bed in case I want to get a round in before I go to sleep.

I've been watching the calories and have started doing more pilates mixed with yoga, and of course, more dancing. I am noticing that things are moving back up "north" again so I am encouraged to keep on keepin' on.

[gypsydanse]

I'm doing step aerobics 3x a week, yoga 2x a week, and cardio kickboxing 1x a week. I'm hoping to add Pilates in the fall.

[theothershimmytwin]

I had an epic fail in the exercise front today..... I'm too bored of running, so I got out my bike, rode it 1/2 a mile to go pump air in the front tire because it was low, but I am unintelligent and ended up deflating my tire even MORE and so I rode it home...with an almost flat tire. I need help figuring that one out...

[maranajla]

I had an epic fail in the exercise front today..... I'm too bored of running, so I got out my bike, rode it 1/2 a mile to go pump air in the front tire because it was low, but I am unintelligent and ended up deflating my tire even MORE and so I rode it home...with an almost flat tire. I need help figuring that one out...

I bet it was a superduper workout though!

I have not exercised at all this month...and I seem to have gotten myself into a thrice weekly Wendy's French fry habit...I'm not beating myself up about it but I am wondering when exactly I'll feel like physical activity. I am blaming it on all the rain~ hard to be inspired to move when really it's all about the couch cuddle time inside bc outside is so miserable.

[shahla]

I'm doing well on the exercise front, but my diet could use improvement. In a moment of weekness today, I went through the McDonald's drivethru. I don't know what they put in their french fries, but they're like crack. I couldn't stop until the whole medium sized box was gone.

[SaNoorah]

I've been on "day 1" for about 2 months now. I'm good for maybe 2 days and then I fall off. and this is coming from...I guess now a former work-out-aholic. I need motivation. we can all do it!! Let's ban together!

[suzyq52]

I haven't been very faithful about getting to the local gym but I am trying to watch my food portions and what I eat. Yesterday was not a good day for me - got into the white chocolate and almonds - oops, hope you don't get craving a piece of that now that I've mentioned it!! lol I have been trying to walk on the golf course whenever I can - wow, sometimes eighteen holes can sure be long!!!!!

[kazoogrrl]

After months of ignoring it I logged back onto my Sparkpeople account and started tracking my food.

I must say, having to put in every thing I make from scratch is kind of annoying and really makes me want to simplify all of my recipes. And putting in food I eat out (though usually I have to guess because only chain restaurants seem to be on there) and seeing the calories/carbs/fats totals? Yikes!

Right now I have troupe practice 2 hours once a week and my water ballet practice 1 1/2 hours twice a week. I need to add in some strength training and some more activity (probably walking, I hate running and I'm too poor for the gym).

[bdaddiction]

Still doing the same thing eating wise.

After class on Tuesday night, my right side hurt, but not as much as it did the first time. Same with walking, I think my body is finally getting use to the fact that I am moving around post c-section. I just starting walking further and walking up little hills in the neighborhood. When my body starts acting right, I will begin my weight training.

I have lost 3 more pounds this week! Yay! I have been stuck with the whole weight thing for awhile, but losing inches. Not measuring till later this month, so it can be on a monthly basis.

[tigerb]

I've been doing Weight Watchers for two months now and have only lost about seven pounds. That's kind of a bummer... especially since my husband has lost 16 pounds. ARG! The guys lose weight so fast! Very frustrating.

I was trying to do my 90 minute bellydance class Mondays, an hour of "bellyfitness" class on Tuesdays, and an hour of Zumba on Thursdays, but I'm finding it to be too much. Between my plantar fasciitis and my lower back issues, I need at least a day to recover between classes. It's very depressing.

[theothershimmytwin]

tigerb, don't worry, you've still lost 7 pounds! that's something to be proud of, even if you were hoping for more! Men do lose weight faster than women. women are genetically predisposed to have about 10% more body fat than they have. Which sucks.

If you find that you need a day to recover between classes, maybe you should work up to doing all that? Have you seen a chiropractor? with a little adjustment here and there you might be able to do all those classes pain free !

(idk why i came to this thread today, I haven't worked out today, nor yesterday, nor the day before, etc. .....)

[auraevans]

I am joining in on this thread.

I had a major back injury several months ago. Result, drop out of dancing, and no physical activity and a 20 lb weight gain.

I am ready to get RID of it NOW.

Started running again yesterday. Started P90X today. Taking photos too, to track progress.

[Azhia]

Whadaya think, Audra?

I [heart] Tony... ..l;,

I'm a little bummed because my 2nd time around doing P90X and I will be going to a 10-day meditation course so it's a bit of an interruption. My partner and I decided that he would do his own workouts while I'm away and we'll resume when I get back.

The food at these meditation courses is so darn good, I'm happy for the break to eat nothing but clean clean super clean food (only 2 meals a day and no snacking at night which is my biggest demon) for 10 days.

[auraevans]

Whadaya think, Audra?

I [heart] Tony... ..l;,

I'm a little bummed because my 2nd time around doing P90X and I will be going to a 10-day meditation course so it's a bit of an interruption. My partner and I decided that he would do his own workouts while I'm away and we'll resume when I get back.

The food at these meditation courses is so darn good, I'm happy for the break to eat nothing but clean clean super clean food (only 2 meals a day and no snacking at night which is my biggest demon) for 10 days.

Tony does have a sparkling personality, among other things.

I think it is super challenging. I pretty much feel like I got hit by a truck today. I am getting ready to go run around the lake with K for some cardio.

The meditation course sounds pretty awesome.

[Bellydancefanatic]

I just posted a thread talking about this. I could have just asked here. I'm so frustrated with my body right now it's making me sick. I'm going to the gym now, but the gym is a bit farther from my home than I'd like. I love it, but the distance sucks. So I'm thinking of pushing myself to do workout DVDs or a local Yoga class, and then the gym 3 times a week. It's so hard to find the time and motivation to workout with a busy schedule!

And, just curious, has anyone tried those fairly new SlimShots (I think they're at CVS now)? I'm a bit wary of it, but wanted to try them.

[tigerb]

It's so hard to find the time and motivation to workout with a busy schedule!

Yeah, what you said. If the classes I found weren't literally 5 min from my house I don't know I'd ever make it.

(But in good news I lost another 1.5 lbs this week! Woo!)

[shahla]

I think I finally have to admit I need some help. What I've been doing isn't working, which was using my elliptical trainer 5 - 6 times a week and track calories on The Daily Plate. Tomorrow, I'm calling my doc to get a referral to a nutritionist. I think it might help me figure out what's not working anymore. I'm almost 45 now and my body doesn't respond the way it used to when I wanted to lose a few pounds. I need to lose about 10 pounds and just can't seem to do it. Anyone else out there working with a nutritionist? A couple of my non BD friends have done it with success.