Posts by meghan_cameron

I swear by P90X... a lot of their workouts include back work, including lower back, which helps strengthen your overall core.  The Ab Ripper X is also very effective.  Yoga helps with overall core strength as well.  I have noticed a HUGE difference in the tone of my stomach muscles since starting the program.  It targets your entire core, which whittles the waist.

unsweetened soy milk

instant skim milk powder for my coffee

stevia or splenda

low-fat cheese (i LOVE babybel light and string cheese)

Dry cottage cheese - it has less sodium and sugar than regular cottage cheese

apples or pears

celery

spinach

onions

natural whole almonds

avocado

bananas

whole wheat tortillas (Body Wise by Dempster's)

egg whites and whole eggs

red, green, and yellow peppers

chocolate whey powder

sugar-free jello powder

canned tomatoes - no salt added

jalepenos

cilantro

myoplex lite nutrition bars

quaker weight control oatmeal

Kashi GOLEAN cereal

salmon and tuna

pork tenderloin

sirloin steak

boneless chicken and turkey breasts

frozen vegetables - brussel sprouts, cauliflower, broccoli

wheat germ, hemp nut seed, flax seeds

sweet potatos

canned or dried beans (black, garbanzo, kidney, lentils)

kashi chewy granola bars

What my list says about me?  I am really conscious about keeping sugar and sodium levels fairly low.  Also, I need a lot of protein - because it helps build muscle, which gets rid of fat.  I eat a lot of vegetables and whole grains to increase my fiber intake which makes me feel full longer as well.  A lot of my food is 'snackable' - so I can eat small meals throughout the day.

Yeah, it does depend upon your body type, but the more lower-body cardio you do, the better.  The best thing for trimming fat off your hips is running... doing intervals of jogging and sprinting and then some endurance work.  I started running in november and noticed a dramatic reduction of fat from my hips and waist... it's because it's so high intensity and burns a lot of calories.

Ok, ladies.  Haven't heard from anyone in a while.  Is everyone still on track?  How was your week so far?  We measure in tomorrow and I'm a little nervous... lots of fluctuations this week.  But, I feel like I'm back on track ... have found some new exercises and my knee is feeling stronger. 

Hope everyone is doing well and staying strong.  Just 1.5 months left ... and then spring break. 

It's been one month since I've lost any significant weight... I fear I've hit the dreaded "Plateau"... and I really notice a change in weight loss when I don't run ... so I'm swimming and doing recumbent bike.  Hardly the same fat-burning calorie zapper that is running, but it will have to do for the next week or so.

SW... 230

CW ... 174

GW ... 150

1-14 ... 175.8

1-21 ... 171.4

1-28 ... 174

THis weekend was a bit of a blow-out... I did lots of running after my little episode the other day.  But, on Saturday night, I went to a staff party and had a bit to drink... but I got lots of exercise before I went out ... running, squash, and a P90X workout.  So, yesterday I woke up and couldn't bend my knee... it was swollen and I was 'couch-ridden' for the entire day.  It feels a little better now, but I'm thinking I'm going to have to take it easy for the next week or so, or else I'll be out of commission for longer than that.  Thus, I'm thinking I may not finish my goal with you gals... but I'll still be doing some strength activities and will keep posted as to how the rest of you are doing.

As far as calories go, I put it all in as calisthenics (pull-ups, push-ups), or depending on the workouts (except for yoga and stretching), I may separate it into vigorous weights and calisthenics.  Either way, I've seen on a couple of other blogs that the workouts are between 400-600 cals.  I just did core synergistics.  It kicked my butt.  Now on week 4

Olivia!!!  Remember this number and NEVER forget it.... 230.  Look at what you've accomplished.  You've come so far, and have NO reason to hate yourself.  You spend so much time pumping everyone else up and being an amazing motivator.... now it's your turn.  Carlynj21 is absolutely right.... chin up, chest out, shoulders back. 

Sure we all get into self-loathing ruts... but it's getting out of those ruts that keep us all from getting back into those bad habits, which result in the weight gain we've all been keeping back. 

The difference is you are keeping it off.  Be patient, listen to your body.... go for a run and do what feels good. 

That trip sounds like wicked fun... but peeing blood?!!!  Wow... you are hard-core.  Maybe you should go to the doctor... just in case?  Nothing worse than being laid up after aggravating an injury you didn't know you had.  Ok, girls... you all did great this weekend.  I mixed up my cardio today... some jogging, level 12 on the elliptical and then cool-down on the ergometer/rowing machine.  Feels good... now I'm going to have my one beer for the weekend.  Ciao!!!

Kudos to both of you for running outside.  Currently, in "Arctic Canada" we are suffering from very serious, bone chilling cold, so I am relegated to the treadmill.  3 miles is an amazing feat.  I did it the other day on the treadmill, which I know is nothing near the real thing, but everyone has to start somewhere.  Chin up girls, be good and think of those gorgeous new jeans instead of that next beer, jelly-bean or .... milk chocolate YUMMMMM.  Ok, I've tortured myself enough, I'm off to do some P90X Yoga... hardcore.

I've stopped obssessing over the number on the scale and vow to only weigh and measure myself once per week.  I'm going by how my clothes feel and how I feel.   I feel great.  If you haven't tried it and are looking for a really versatile, fun workout... I highly recommend circuit training or boot camp training.  WOW!!!

For the second time in one week I was able to run 5k in under 30 mins.  Just goes to show you that a determined attitude really does do the trick!!!

How's everyone else doing?

I would continue to do a combination of the two: weights and cardio.  Make sure your cardio is high intensity and gets your heart rate up for at least 25 minutes (even if you do intervals of low and high intensity).  But, don't stop with the weights... they will build muscle which will increase your metabolism.  weight loss will be slower if you don't do weights.  The muscle will grow and build and this will increase your ability to burn calories.  TAKE MEASUREMENTS!!!!  I usually measure myself once per week.  This gives you the most accurate guage of whether or not you are losing fat.  Hope this helps.

I'm 31, female, and just starting my 3rd week of P90X this week.  I worked out quite a bit before attempting the program.  I finally got the hang of using the resistance bands instead of the bar... so that I could actually feel it and make it simulate pull-ups/chin-ups.  I've noticed my flexibility has really improved because of all the stretching in all the warm-ups and cool-downs.  I'm losing weight and inches... especially off my waist.  It is a tough work-out program, but definitely worth the time, effort and money.

Question:  I'm doing 3 days of running on the same days as the weight training.  I'm doing this to train for a 5k run in April.  Do you think I could switch up kenpo or plyo for a run or should I just stick with the program as it is?

Real milk, nut milk, or soymilk? REAL milk. (skim)

Swiss or cheddar? SHARP CHEDDAR.

Frozen yogurt or ice cream? PEANUT BUTTER N' CHOCOLATE ICE CREAM

Milk or dark chocolate? MILK CHOCOLATE

Mustard or ketchup? DIJON MUSTARD

Banana or apple? HONEYCRISP APPLE

Pepper strips or celery? RED PEPPER STRIPS

Hummus or ranch dressing? ROASTED RED PEPPER HUMMUS

Cake or pie? CHEESECAKE!!

Blueberry or chocolate muffins? BLUEBERRY BRAN MUFFINS

Spicy, mild, or medium? SPICY

White or whole wheat bread? WHOLE WHEAT

Hot or cold cereal? HOT

Almonds or peanuts? ALMONDS

Chocolate chip or chocolate kiss cookies? CHOCOLATE CHIP

Sweet, sour, or salty? SALTY

Shrimp or crab? SHRIMP

Brown or white rice? BROWN

French fries or onion rings? ONION RINGS... A&W ONION RINGS

Peppermint or cinnamon? CINNAMON

Flavored or plain water? PLAIN WATER

Pear or Orange? CRUNCHY PEAR

Glaze or icing? CREAM CHEESE ICING

Tofu or chicken? CHICKEN

Fruit or vegetable salad? MIXED BERRIES AND MANGO!!!

 

Okay..that's all I can think or.
Have fun! =^^=

Well, I'm proud to say I hit 173 today.  This means, according to the BMI, I am finally a NORMAL weight.  Interestingly enough, my fitness consultant at my gym told me that using BMI to measure healthy weight was really going out of fashion in the fitness industry, but I still consider it a milestone.  So, I did a psychotic amount of physical exercise yesterday: ran 5k, played 40 mins squash, did my P90X ABS, BACK and LEGS workout and biked across town in the slush and snow uphill on my new bike.  My boyfriend thinks that I'm addicted to exercise like he's addicted to World of Warcraft!!!  I think that's probably the case, except my addiction is actually healthy. 

But today, I am a sloth.  I ate chinese food.... yummy, greasy chinese food.  AND, I had two helpings of dessert and my favorite Baskin Robbins' Ice Cream.  I feel soooo fulllll...... ugh.  But, I think ONE day of eating whatever the heck I want during the week is not so bad.  Anyone else try this strategy?  I don't feel like I hate myself YET!!