February's "Getting Healthy" thread...

[gwyncara]

Well, I did it... I committed myself to running a 5K in May. Yikes!!! Any runners out there in bhuz land?? My goal is to finish around 35-40 minutes. Any training tips would be greatly appreciated!

[Michelle75]

WOW!!!!! That's a commitment.
I would set a goal for myself each week. The first week I would try to run a15-17 minute mile, than each week try to beat the time. I would also start out my training with a walk jog at first and than work my way up to a full out jog or run if you can.
My husband and his running partner having been running 5k's for almost a year now and their best time together is 29 minutes. They try to beat it everytime but they are stuck in their running groove speed and can't get past it.
Whatever time you finish is fine b/c you can always try to break it the next time.

[ssipes]

I am still losing weight slowly. I've spent the last two weekends adjusting all my costumes to my new measurements (still not done).

I hate to complain about weight loss, but damn, I wish I could control where this is coming off of. I'm inherently apple shaped, and I still have some upper tummy fat that I want to get rid of for health reasons. However, if I lose any more inches off my ass or hips, I'm going to have to wear sequined suspenders with all my bedlah because nothing is going to stay up. My waist is high on my torso, my ass is flat, and I have little lumbar curve in my back, so there is no inward slope to hold up my belts.

I'm thinking of starting a serious bulking up weight-program to build myself a booty. If I can't have the fat where I want it, perhaps I can make myself some huge squat-built glutes. The toning stuff sure ain't doing it.

[ozma]

Well, I did it... I committed myself to running a 5K in May. Yikes!!! Any runners out there in bhuz land?? My goal is to finish around 35-40 minutes. Any training tips would be greatly appreciated!

I don't have any tips but good luck! Keep us updated!

[joanneraks]

When you find out how to build a booty, Sedonia, let me know. I've always wanted a round luscious one. Something I could rest a cup of tea on.

[jenlindseys]

for those of you who want to "build a booty"...
Have you tried the stair climber? Every time I do that I swear my bum multiplies...and I on the other hand don't need to build it...I need to lose it! running/elliptical/walking is good for slimming and toning the thighs & booty...but the stair climber will put it back on for you ( I promise!)

[jenlindseys]

Well, I did it... I committed myself to running a 5K in May. Yikes!!! Any runners out there in bhuz land?? My goal is to finish around 35-40 minutes. Any training tips would be greatly appreciated!

good luck! I've been trying to convince my boyfriend to train with me. Training is always easier when you have someone to talk about it with....It makes getting excited about your goals more fun.
I think I'm going to shoot for walking a marathon soon! As soon as the weather here in Ohio gets more bearable I want to walk outside a lot.

Good Luck!

[Suzana]

Another booty builder, and maybe a surprising one: ballet. We think of ballerinas as being so tiny and delicate, but they all have little powerhouses tucked away under their tutus enabling them to do what they do. All those pliés, arabesques to the back, clenching your butt along with your abs to stabilize yourself in relevé -- it adds up to some serious muscle back there! So that's something else to try.

[Lauren_]

I've heard of stairmaster butts -- there was a rash of articles a few years ago about how people who used the stairmaster a lot were getting BIG booties, which was making some of them very unhappy.

I've never noticed ballerina butts, but the male dancers certainly have some major glutiage!! That sounds like good advice.

I'm still struggling with my resistance to logging everything. I don't know why I'm finding it so hard, I did it for 8 solid months and never missed a day, now I can 't seem to get through three days in a row. *sigh* Still trying though...I know it's the only way for me.

[jenlindseys]

Lauren...I'm sure you included this somewhere...but what do you log? workouts, food intake? everything? just curious. might be a good method for me.

I have a hard time because my commute to work is at least 45 minutes...but on days like today (snow snow snow!) it took 2 hrs 15mins.

So...that's a big chunk of my day gone. I planned on working out at the rec before work, but by the time I got here today i just went to the restroom and changed for work. I can't stay at work until 8pm!

[nasila]

When you find out how to build a booty, Sedonia, let me know. I've always wanted a round luscious one. Something I could rest a cup of tea on.

Try doing Suhaila glute squeezes the WHOLE TIME you're Bhuzzing. ..l;, .w.:

[Lauren_]

Lauren...I'm sure you included this somewhere...but what do you log? workouts, food intake? everything? just curious. might be a good method for me.

I use FitDay - Free Weight Loss and Diet Journal to log mostly my food intake. I log my exercise as well, but it's really the food I have to hold myself accountable for. Fitday is free, but it's missing a lot of brand-name and restaurant foods from its database, so I also use Weight Loss Programs - Nutrition Facts - Fast Foods and Restaurants - DietFacts.com to enter those -- dietfacts will actually log me into fitday and record foods for me.

So far it's the only method that's been effective for me - I lost 25 pounds last year. Took a lot of tweaking though to find the right calorie balance & so forth.

[songofincense]

Aaargh!!! We have individual & troupe shots on Friday. Meanwhile, I'm having a food crisis. Last night I had class and didn't have a chance to cook so I ordered pizza for hubby & kids; it arrived before I left -- one slice Hawaiian & one slice pepperoni later I left... Then I get home to discover they didn't eat all of it (I have 5 kids so we rarely end up with leftovers, I overshot it by half a medium) so another slice of each before my evening strength training type workout and bed... So today I'm dealing with the too-many-simple-carbs energy drain/too many calories/way too much fat intake/water-retention from all the sodium... My tummy looks like I gained 2 or 3 pounds and all right there!!! I just got a new costume from Dahlal and today I have a muffin-top thing happening when I put it on... What am I going to do? Photo shoot is in 2 days!!! Geesh!!! ..cr.:

[joanneraks]

songofincense - no nutrition expert here, but lots of water is my first instinct??

I'm happy to report that I've worked out so well the last two days that I can hardly move today. My poor body is so confused by what I do to it. :)

[joanneraks]

Try doing Suhaila glute squeezes the WHOLE TIME you're Bhuzzing. ..l;, .w.:

that's a cute idea.. and heaven knows I'm on here long enough, that'd be a good way to measure any effort!

but seriously, do you think squeezes are gonna build size? I've always thought I'd have to weight train my tushy or something.

[ozma]

I've been good about packing my lunch for over a month now, how are you guys doing?

[gwyncara]

I'm doing good. But I've noticed a tendency to eat a snack before bed. I really need to stop that!! It's usually not too bad, something small like a sugar free 100 calorie ice cream bar, some walnuts, or a Lindt's (sp?) Chocolate Truffle. (Thankfully, they are all gone now.) But I know if I get into the habit, it could get worse. Also, I've decided to stop stressing about my weight so much. I'm in very good health and as long as I don't start seriously backsliding, I'm gonna let it ride for a while. I will not stop exercising, eating healthier, or drinking more water... but worrying about the number on a scale is annoying the he!! out of me. I'm gonna just be happy being me and doing my thing.
..g.:

[starglow]

I have gone from a size 10 to a 12 over the past few months and blew the no wine thingy on Valentines day, it was down hill after that. I can't wait till the cooler months arrive so I can get active again.

[acmcgraw]

I am doing well with the no HFCS, but terribly on exercising, and am starting to back slide because of it.

Resetting the alarm tonight to start getting up earlier and *use* the exercise room, now that the furniture shuffling is over. Let's see if I actually get *up* when it goes off! ;)

[Souzan]

I am still losing weight slowly. I've spent the last two weekends adjusting all my costumes to my new measurements (still not done).

I hate to complain about weight loss, but damn, I wish I could control where this is coming off of. I'm inherently apple shaped, and I still have some upper tummy fat that I want to get rid of for health reasons. However, if I lose any more inches off my ass or hips, I'm going to have to wear sequined suspenders with all my bedlah because nothing is going to stay up. My waist is high on my torso, my ass is flat, and I have little lumbar curve in my back, so there is no inward slope to hold up my belts.

I'm thinking of starting a serious bulking up weight-program to build myself a booty. If I can't have the fat where I want it, perhaps I can make myself some huge squat-built glutes. The toning stuff sure ain't doing it.

The first place I lose is the hips and but. Since I am pretty much a waist-less wonder those are the LAST places I need to lose weight in. So I have the falling down hip belt thing too. What solved it for me was wearing padded underpants--hip and butt padding. It rounds out a flat rear nicely and adds a little curve to the side of the hips. My belts stay put. And the butt pads shimmy nicely too!

Souzan

[damiena]

I have been very good about going to gym 3-4 times a week and watching what I eat. I have started counting my calories again because I want to drop 6 more pounds. I am down to 136 currently - I maintained a steady 138 all through Thanksgiving, Christmas and January and decided to start the calorie count two weeks ago so I can drop the last few pounds. When I was not counting calories, I was careful about what I ate, but if I wanted a piece of chocolate, I ate a small amount.

[ozma]

I'm doing good. But I've noticed a tendency to eat a snack before bed. I really need to stop that!! It's usually not too bad, something small like a sugar free 100 calorie ice cream bar, some walnuts, or a Lindt's (sp?) Chocolate Truffle. (Thankfully, they are all gone now.) But I know if I get into the habit, it could get worse. Also, I've decided to stop stressing about my weight so much. I'm in very good health and as long as I don't start seriously backsliding, I'm gonna let it ride for a while. I will not stop exercising, eating healthier, or drinking more water... but worrying about the number on a scale is annoying the he!! out of me. I'm gonna just be happy being me and doing my thing.
..g.:

It's pretty stressful to scale watch AND try to eat better and exercising.

I keep me scale in a box up high so I really have to go through an ordeal to check instead of checking every day/whenever I pass it.

[jenlindseys]

Thanks for the log info Lauren. I'll have to check it out. Though I think I would slack off with keeping it updated when I'm busy...as I do my budget, haha.

Okay, so I'm pretty good about watching what I eat and working out somewhat frequently, but here's the worst thing now...
I keep forgetting to eat. I know it seems like a good thing, but the less I eat, the more weight I gain and crappy-er I feel. I assume it's my metabolism getting back at me, but I have skipped at least 4 meals in the last 4 days and I'm scared to get on the scale!

[starglow]

has anyone used the body mass index calculators and what are you thoughts on these types of calcualors?

I just did a quick check and my height/weight ratio is within the healthy range for my age, just slightly above the middle range of healthy and I had exactly the same result with the body mass index caculator. good news but then I saw a hip/waist ratio calculator and i am now very concerned. the results were 0.82 which is way above the recommended ≤ 0.8.
thats a massive difference.
now I know I've stacked on a little weight around my middle (gone from 28" to 30") not huge but I feel chunky and at my biggest. I have never had a great hour glass cause i'm narrow hipped but they suggest I;m at risk of heart disease and diabetes etc.. diseases that relate to obesity.

[Linnyg]

When you find out how to build a booty, Sedonia, let me know. I've always wanted a round luscious one. Something I could rest a cup of tea on.

I would be willing to let either of you have half of mine then everyone will be happy!

[Linnyg]

Thanks for the log info Lauren. I'll have to check it out. Though I think I would slack off with keeping it updated when I'm busy...as I do my budget, haha.

Okay, so I'm pretty good about watching what I eat and working out somewhat frequently, but here's the worst thing now...
I keep forgetting to eat. I know it seems like a good thing, but the less I eat, the more weight I gain and crappy-er I feel. I assume it's my metabolism getting back at me, but I have skipped at least 4 meals in the last 4 days and I'm scared to get on the scale!

I have this same problem. I am a non-eater and it as caused me to go above the 2** range. I have been fighting to get about 70 pounds off forever now. Everytime I lose a little, I gain a little back. If I charted it it would look like a heart beat. I wish I knew how to make myself hungry so that I would remember to eat. My co-workers think it is funny that I have to set an alarm to remember to eat.

[Taj]

One thing I've read that made an impression on me is that you actually have to eat to keep your metabolism working well. So yeah, going without food for too long will screw that up.

I've skipped my usual gym workout routine the last couple of months because it's just been too cold and dark in the morning and I can't drag my a$$ out of bed for it--this is a typical issue for me at this time of year. I do spend time on my home recumbent bike but it just doesn't burn the same number of cals as the elliptical and weights at the gym. Hopefully with the increasing daylight and moderating temps I'll get back into the swing of things, but I'm afraid I'm going to have to do a week or two of serious low-carb dieting to kick-start the pudge-loss. Ugh.

This time last year I was recovering from a couple of serious illnesses and lost about 10 pounds that just stayed off for several months. I thought my body had reached a new "set point", weight-wise, but then summer came along with all it's seductive sitting around in the sun drinking wine and eating crap, and I've been struggling ever since.

Damn middle-age metabolism.