Posts by feydruss

I don't think I'm being too hard on myself, but I do think of my body as a "failure" right now. And maybe getting some fitness back would make me feel some level of control over my "defective" body.

But you're right--it's a balance between self-love and self-improvement.

Right now I'm waiting on tests to find out if I have cervical cancer before I can try IVF again, so I was hoping to fill some time (mentally and physically) with working out. But although the mind is willing, the body and soul are still trying to catch up. :)

Original Post by raven21:

Awesome! I have a hell of a time trying to keep track of calories and to be honest I hate doing it so this is something I'd like to try. Can you explain the 3 bite rule when eating out a bit more? You don't mean you only have 3 bites of food when you eat out obviously....

And the eating chocolate before bed, what do you have because I LOVE chocolate but have thought I need to give it up cold turkey.

 

The three-bite rule is for each kind of food on the plate, essentially. So if I have a burger and fries, I might actually cut three bites off the burger with a fork and knife (weird, but easier to see how much I'm putting in my mouth!), and then three fries. The bottom line is just being mindful.

But like fitmom said, it also depends on what you order. If I order a salad with no dressing and poached salmon on top, I might eat the whole plate! :)

But when in doubt, I'm using my mindful 3-bite rule, and noticing that after three bites, I don't really need/want any more.

As for chocolate, I usually have one or two dark Lindt truffle balls or something like that. I suck them slowly and enjoy them while reading or something before lights out. And that's pretty much the only time I eat chocolate now.

I have notoriously wobbly ankles that used to pop and crackle and hurt. One thing that REALLY helped me strengthen them was swimming with flippers on. No kidding! Most pools will have some on deck to use for free. Try it! Not only is it kind of empowering because it makes you go faster, feeling like you're superhuman, but it really makes your ankles stronger and more flexible.

When I had an ED and was at the point of being hospitalized, I only got down to a size 8. I have an hourglass shape, and no matter how thin I get, I still have hipbones! According to everyone who knew me, I looked TERRIBLE at a size 8. My goal is to get back to a 10, which I think is the lowest I should be as an adult and still be healthy and happy. I'm between 12-14 right now.

It drives me crazy to read posts about girls/women along the lines of "OMG, my size 2 jeans don't fit anymore!" For some people, it's just not possible.

I was reading an interesting book lately called "The Rules of Normal Eating". In it, I was reminded that only true HUNGER can be satiated by FOOD. If you eat, and you're still "hungry", then you're looking for something else. It was kind of a revelation for me to understand that difference. I think a lot of the time my "appetite" is not for food, but that's what I turn to in the complete lack of knowledge of what I really want.

Original Post by trueg:

The downside unfortunetly is the added hormones and antibiotics.  I can't find organic skim milk in my area, just 1% & 2%.  When I was in Florida, I was able to buy 4L (1G) organic skim milk for not much more than regular which was awesome.  We don't have that here in Victoria, BC, Canada.  I'm hesitant on drinking more until I do.  Right now I drink 250 ml (1 cup) every morning.  I use 1 to 1.5 cups of almond milk in my protein shakes.  I add glutamine-L to my shakes to aid recovery.

Actually, it's illegal to put hormones and antibiotics in milk in Canada. So you if you live in Canada, you don't need to get organic milk. Any milk (Lucerne, Dairyland, anything) is pure.

In the US, it's another matter.

I'd love to invite you all to join our group. It's small, and we could use more members! go to Groups, Losing Weight, then "Monday Weigh In - Support and Inspiration." It's a private group, but anyone can join. And then we're not always looking for the thread every week...

You also might be one of those outliers who have an abnormally high HR/VO2 max. My HR on the elliptical or while running (using different monitors to test this) is about 165-170, and I'm working hard, but not crazy crazy hard. If I'm sprinting or really going intensely, my HR gets up to 190. And I'm not dead yet!

I'm 5'2". The fitter I get the more I can do, it seems. I used to "walk" at 3.0 and "run" at 4.5, now I walk at 3.5-4.0 and run at about 6.0.

What I like to do is pyramid intervals:

Warm up for five minutes at 3.0

1min @ 4.0 then 1min @3.5

Then 5.0, 6.0, 7.0, 8.0 (beyond that I'm flying off the TM)

Then cool down again.

It's only 20 minutes, but it's intense!

Yeah, a few weeks ago I thought I would solve the cravings by buying Toll House breakaparts and keep them in the freezer and only bake one or two at a time. One or two soon turned to 6 or 8... So much for good intentions!

I'm getting better at stopping myself. The other day I was with a friend at a bakery, and she bought a brownie for later. I almost bought one as well, then put it back. Same with some Lindt balls at the store the other day.

I'm trying to reprogram my brain to tell me that it's NOT okay to eat whatever I feel like. I spent years recovering from an ED by giving myself freedom to eat as I choose. And it backfired big time.

I'm now realizing that this control issue over food is much deeper than I thought! And sometimes, control isn't always a bad thing.

Can I join? I'm 35, 5'2.5" (that half-inch is SO important), and my CW is 170. I'm getting ready to do IVF in September, and I want to be down at least 30lbs by then.

I've been at my current weight (or thereabouts) for about 4-5 years, and I'm finding it hard to shift! Part of my problem is that I have a history of EDs, and I'm scared of wigging out in my process to get down to an "ideal" weight (which for me realistically is about 135-140--any less than that and I look weird).

I "can" eat clean and I actually like working out, but I just lose focus. I need accountability! Hopefully you guys can keep me motivated and in check. :)

This is my favourite, most effective routine for one hour

5 minutes brisk walk/jog on TM to warm up

40 minutes heavy lifting (ideally pyramid, but probably 3x12 supersets):

-squats with overhead press on upside down bosu

-deadlifts alternating with bent-over rows

-chest press with pelvic bridge hold

-as many pullups as I can do (hahahaha, this shouldn't take long)

-tricep pullover into crunch with medicine ball, on stability ball

10 minutes IT on TM: 30s each at 4mph, 5, back to 4, 6, back to 4, etc. up to 8mph and back down again (I have short legs, running for me is 5mph)

5 minutes stretch (if I haven't thrown up yet)

Home for a blender with 1c. skim milk, scoop of my fave chocolate protein powder, and a couple of ice cubes

I do the same thing, amber1975. I just don't know why. Do I really not think I'm worth the effort or something? I'm thinking about seeing a counsellor to address some of these issues...

FWIW, I was in Italy in February. I ate sensibly, but there was certainly wine with lunch and dinner, and gelato pretty frequently. I loaded up on grilled vegetables for every meal, and only had pasta once a day. Only walked around for about an hour a day (my companion was paralyzed, so we didn't do too much sightseeing, more just cafe-hopping and people watching).

And I lost two pounds.

I think the key for me was that there was no snacking. Three meals a day, and I made good choices without obsessing about counting calories. I relaxed and ate sensibly.

That's the ONLY way I run. I hate hate hate road running. There's a nature reserve behind my house, connected to 100 miles of trails that run throughout the city's river valley and ravine systems and beyond. So that's where I go. But this is why I only run in the summer/fall--you can't really get down there easily six months of the year in the snow. :(