Already fall within a healthy BMI and looking to lose those last few pounds and/or get in shape?

I would like to start a motivation group for those that already fall within a healthy BMI but looking to lose those last few pounds and/or get in shape.

Great idea!  I am 24, 5'4'' and currently 123 lbs...  My goal is around 115 and I seem to be stuck where I am right now.  I guess I would actually rather loose the weight in fat and gain it back in muscle.  I put my stats into a BMI calc and its almost 21, but I'm a little confused because when I put my info into a body fat percentage calculator, it said it was in the obese range... that makes no sense to me.. does anyone know what measurements for 5'4'' should be?? 

toryrose83, that doesn't make any sense to me either. My best guess are that 1. your measurements are off, or 2. you have more of an apple shape and it's one of the calculators that use a waist measurement. 

I wouldn't stress over that too much as almost any way of measuring fat percentage is pretty iffy at best. I put my numbers into an online calculator and it comes up 27.4%. My scale has fat% and it comes up with a whopping 36% and a handheld model I tried recently said 31%. I know being dehydrated makes the reading higher and I usually use my scale first thing in the morning. At any rate, I like the online too number so I guess I'll go with it! lol.  I wish I could try the water boyancy or calipers sometime. Well, maybe I do...it might be pretty depressing!

The best we can probably do accurately is just take body measurements every month or so. If they are coming out well who cares about the %'s?

I just wanted to share that I've done a water bouyancy test before, and it was HORRIBLE!  I participated in a study on exercise and eating habits about 10 years ago, and they had us do a bouyancy test a couple of times during the study.  It was such an awful experience that I had decided I'd quit the study before I'd do another one.  Maybe the technology has improved in the last decade.  I sure hope so.

Enough of that.  I've had to spend the last couple of days at home, and I discovered that I snack more here than anywhere else.  I guess at work there are fewer opportunities and more distractions.  Pair that with the fact that the guys replacing my furnace have been about 5 feet away from my treadmill, and it's been a rough couple of days.

 But tomorrow is another day.  Right?

I am sooo pumped right now....I just need to share this good news!!! A personal trainer just opened a new gym across the street from my house and I went for a fitness test this morning.  I thought I would would bomb the tests as I'm not nearly as in shape as I used to be.  I scored good to excellent on everything (except flexibility...lol).   He also told me that my goal weight of 155 (set by a previous trainer) is too low for the amount of muscle I have and I should be aiming for 160 instead....which means I only have 8 more lbs to go!  I am so excited to find out that I am closer to my goal than I thought...definitely rev's up the motivation again!

Ooh, I want to join.

I'm 18, BMI 23.5, and I weigh 178. I'd like to weigh 160 - giving me a BMI of about 21. 18 lbs to go :)

 -

Edited to fix spelling. 

I wanna join too!! :P

I am happy to say that I went from having a bmi of 28.7 (5'6" and 178 pounds) to 23.3 (144 pounds).

My ultimate goal is to be comfortably between 135 and 140, allowing some wiggle room for off days and such.

Geez, it is HARD to believe I am so close to my goal. I have been losing weight like crazy lately, too, so with any luck I will reach 140 in the next couple of weeks.

As for exercise, I am really into running lately. It is amazing how quickly I see improvement in my speed/endurance. For anyone out there afraid of running (I know I always was), just try it for a few weeks. You will see so much improvement! And what a great way to blast calories and tone up at the same time!! 

Lost another lb, that's 9 so far, but it is def slowing down, which is where my motivation starts to wane. I get such a kick when I see the scales going down but as it starts to slow I find it tough.

BUT I will get to target no matter what, and at the rate I am losing it won't be too much longer, I guess I am just impatient!!

How're the rest of you guys doing???

xx

What a great group!  I'd love to be a member. 

Stats: I have always had a normal body weight but have never been "skinny" in my eyes.  I am 5'4" and weigh between 130-138 on any given day of the week.  This puts me on the high end of the healthy BMI range, so ideally I'd like to get more toward the middle of the range and weigh anywhere from 115-120. 

Reason for Change: I am getting married in August, so I have 6 months to reach my goal weight range.  Really, I don't care how much I weigh, just so long as I look good in my dress and bathing suit (for the honeymoon!).  I don't like having an end-date for my goals ~ my mom is the classic yo-yo dieter who diets & exercises like crazy for a high school reunion or vacation, then goes back to her old habits and gains all the weight back (and then some).  My wedding is the goal date, but I plan on continuing my exercise & diet beyond that date.  I have always suffered from low motivation and boredom, and always burn out really quickly on any regime I start.  I keep telling myself that this time will be different ~ If there is any time in my life that I have the motivation to get toned and look amazing, it should be for my wedding!  Hopefully that will continue to motivate me throughout these next 6 months. 

My Plan: I have started using CalorieCount as my diet tool to make sure I'm not eating too much throughout the day, and have purchased some new Women's Health workout DVD's, as well as my new elliptical machine.  I have started working out twice a week, but will increase that amount this week.  My goal is to be working out 5 days a week by August.  I am a definite home-worker-outer (I think going to the gym takes up too much time: getting dressed, driving to the gym, working out, driving back...), and I love having all of my exercise options right within my house.  I have also signed up for this "free healthy lifestyle coaching" program at work, where a registered nurse helps me come up with a good diet and exercise plan and also offers motivational resources.  The nurse will call me once every-other week ("accountability checks") to make sure I'm staying on track.  I think this is a GREAT program!

Good luck to everyone on their fitness endeavors!!  I love reading your stories of inspiration & perseverance!

CONGRATS ON FORTHCOMING WEDDING. GOOD LUCK WITH GETTING TO GOAL XX

Hi,,

 I am in my healthy BMI range(barely) after a week of becoming a member of this site. I'm  5'4"  and currently weigh 142 lbs. My goal right now is 132 lbs, which is my prepregnancy weight from my second child. I definitely need toning but I despise exercise and require major motivation(but have none). Would love to join a group for that purpose.

Recently bought a stationary bike as early birthday present to myself(used one time in a week).It's not that I don't have the time, I'm a stay at home mom, just AGAIN -NO MOTIVATION.

On final note, I love this site and would love some friends to share stories with.

 

Michelle

I'm not doing very good but will see if adjusting my calories has helped tomorrow. I'm still working out 3x a week. 

 

1/22/08    1/29    2/05    2/12

CW: 138.6    139.2   139.6

GW: 128.0

Cal:  1385                1485 

I can totally relate to having no motivation.  I'm GETTING MARRIED and still rationalize my laziness in my mind.  I cherish every second of sleep I get (I think I need about 8 hours of sleep to really feel rested; I wish I was someone who needed only 5-6!) ~ sometimes I will set my alarm for 5:45am so I can get up and do a 30 minute workout, but once that alarm goes off I think about how cozy I am in my bed and how I would feel so much better if I slept for those 30 minutes instead of working out.  My "voice of motivation" doesn't wake up until at least 8am, I think.  :)  Therefore, AM workouts rarely happen for me.  However, on those few occasions where I actually HAVE gotten my butt out of bed, I feel so good throughout the day because I don't have to go home and exercise... because I've already gotten that part of my day out of the way!  I wish I could remind myself of this feeling at 5:45am...

Do any morning exercisers have tips for us non-morning exercisers who desire to become morning exercisers but lack the 5:45am motivation??

Anyways, I have just bought an elliptical machine (hasn't even arrived at my house, yet) and my fear is that I won't use it.  I already know that I have a much higher chance of working out if I do it at home ~ I just need to make sure I don't come up with any more excuses for putting off exercising!

What I think might help my motivation is taking a "before" picture of myself.  I'm not terribly disgusted with my current figure, but it is definitely not as amazing as it could be if I could just put my mind to working out & eating right.  I will also cut out some magazine photos of great-looking people (I think anyone with a body like Scarlet Johannsen has the ideal body) to post around my house (probably on my bathroom mirror, on the fridge, next to my elliptical).  Then maybe kick the motivational factor up a notch and make copies of my "before" picture to tape next to the "ideal body" people.  This may be self-depricating, but it will remind me of what I want to look like come August!

What other techniques could I use for motivation?

Thanks for the advice!!

I seem to be about 133 now and that's making me feel more motivated and better. There's just such a difference in how my clothes start to fit when I get above about 135. Now I want to get to where I can feel OK about how I look without the winter layers of clothes!

I'm not real keen on the negative inspiration, myself. I just went back to a forum thread where people have said they have before and after shots. I find the ones that have gotten to a really ideal weight (no matter where they started) so inspiring. If they can do it, why can't I? The only reason is because I don't try hard enough. That really gives me a lot of hope.

I also prefer to see pictures of myself looking good and I try to remember how it FEELS when I'm at a better weight: no worries about bulging out from under my bra in the back; clothes don't dig into my waist; I don't worry about how I look sitting; my legs cross easier; if things don't fit it's usually because they're made funny not because of ME (well, that or because they're made for someone 'bustier'...but I can live with that!)

OK, I think I like your idea better, chris1208 (not putting up my before pictures next to gorgeous people).  I have trouble keeping a positive image of myself, and to reinforce that is not going to do me any good.  I, too, enjoy reading other people's success stories and find them inspiring.  "If they can do it, why can't I?"  I find myself saying that a lot, so maybe that should be my motto to push me through my less-motivated phases.

In other news, I actually got up early today and did a 30 minute workout from a DVD.  I think the tricks to working out early in the morning (at least for me and possibly for other first-time AM exercisers) are to 1) eat something small beforehand so you don't get nauseated when you push yourself (I had a Special K bar ~ about 90 calories), and 2) don't do a super-vigorous workout.  Instead, opt for a moderate-intensity workout that doesn't leave you gasping for air and completely spent.  I don't have the energy for that in the morning!  And you might look forward to the workout if you know you don't have to push yourself to the maximum limit.  Just my two cents (in case anyone is having trouble fitting in workouts!)!

Hey, way to go getting up and getting to it! I think you're right about eating a little before you start --I usually grab a banana (or 1/2 if it's big.) The other thing about not pushing TOO hard is that it puts you in the fat burning range. That's what the trainer at my gym tells me...do it slower and longer to burn fat(Good thing he's not cute...that sounds kinda sexy! lol!)  I guess if you get your heart rate way up you tend to burn off the sugars but burn more calories, at a more mid range your body will burn fat.  Yippee!

The only way I could ever work out in the mornings was if I waited until after 10 am.  Otherwise I just can't push myself through more than about 30 minutes, whereas when I go to the gym later in the day (either 4pm or 830pm) I can sail through 70 minutes.  I've just found that works best for me.  But every body is different, lol. 

On another note, I am feeling a little frustrated with the scale sticking at 133.  Grr.  I recently decided that my goal weight would be 125.  And I am trying to set a realistic date for that.  But the longer it takes to make progress the more discouraged I get.  Trying to still remember how far I've already gotten in order to keep myself motivated.  But it's still hard!

That darn green trend line is starting to tick me off! My last three entries have all been less than the one before but the stupid trend line is STILL going up. I know it's because I had a big drop and then smaller ones but it still bothers me.  I was 132.7 this morning and all happy to have made it under 133. The trend line shows me going from 134.4 to 134.6.  BOOO! No need to give me mathematical and practical explainations, I understand --but this is emotional and I DON'T LIKE IT!   "Don't confuse me with the facts." lol

I feel your pain! I wish there was a way to track measurements in addition to tracking weight on CC. Maybe a combination of the two would result in a more motivating green trend line! :) [I'm new, so if there IS a way to track measurements, please fill me in!]

YAY! I love this thread already. Actually I only read the first page...but yeah...here goes.

I think I'm the youngest here. I'm 5'5 but closer to 5'6, I weigh 140 (aaah!), BMI is 22.6, and I have a veeeeeeery small frame. Well, I think I do. You know those tests where you wrap your middle finger and thumb of one hand around the wrist of your other? And then you check to see if it, 1. overlaps, 2. touches, 3. doesn't touch? Well mine overlap but I dunno if its significant enough to say "overlap." They overlap about 2 cm. 

Anyhoo, I would like to be 120 eventually. But as of now, my goal is to get down to 130 by March 1st.  The last time I weighed myself was Saturday and I think I may have lost weigt since, but I don't dare to look until this Saturday...

 I really don't eat that much, and its not very hard for me to maintain a diet of 500 calories a day. I mean I tried sticking to 700, but...it was kinda hard! So, I'm just wondering--is that healthy? Cuz technically, to lose 1/2 a lb a day, I just have to workout to burn 2000 calories everyday which is like 4 hours of brisk walking...and less dancing/running/etc. Or would I not be able to sustain all that exercise on just 300-500 cal?

Original Post by chris1208:

That darn green trend line is starting to tick me off! My last three entries have all been less than the one before but the stupid trend line is STILL going up. I know it's because I had a big drop and then smaller ones but it still bothers me. I was 132.7 this morning and all happy to have made it under 133. The trend line shows me going from 134.4 to 134.6. BOOO! No need to give me mathematical and practical explainations, I understand --but this is emotional and I DON'T LIKE IT! "Don't confuse me with the facts." lol

 Green line is more soothing if one weighs daily, which I don't, and more meaningful if weight spikes up and down.  For constant loss, it is a distraction/distortion.