So I have seen teen, 20's, 40's, 50's and beyond, but no 30's group.  So would anybody like to get something started?  Not sure where to begin hmmmm

I guess being in our thirties our metabolism has not hit a wall just yet, but it certainly isn't what it was in the 20's.  Don't you miss those days?  Anything you want and as long as you did maybe one sport in high school, then no worries.  Ohwell on to real life where nothing seems to be on schedule.

Let hear your thoughts.

Hi!

Can I join in too??

I just turned 38 - ack! That puts me toward the end of the spectrum in here, too, but like tracyaudette wrote, I have loved my 30s too! What a ride!

Let's see - I'm a shade under 5'5", have lost 22 pounds and 27.8 inches in the last year. Have another 30 pounds to go to reach my initial goal weight. I get frustrated with the scale, so I only weigh in once a week and I take measurements monthly. It's great to see the excess slip away under the tape measure like that!

Um, been on CC faithfully for about a year and a half, found it ~ two years ago when looking for the calorie count in some random food item, but didn't realize the goldmine that it is! LOL

No kids (can't have them due to ovarian tumors) but one awesome hubby and a furbaby.

I work out six days a week; a combo of weight training, jogging, turbo jamming and I'm now training for my first amateur race-walk (half marathon!) for this fall.

So glad to find you all!

Original Post by wendyb27:

Stevis78 the only man in the house! Hope you dont feel too intimidated by all the estrogen here What are your stats, goals, etc? married? kids?  

That seems to be a common thing around here, but it's cool! 

I am 30 years old, started off at 286 pounds, currently at 269 pounds, and a target weight of 175 pounds.  My height is 6'2" and I started on April 19th.  My method of exercise is hockey and bicycling and my daily food goal is 2,450 calories.  I am not married and have no kids.  I usually work six days a week, so I have to make an effort to find time to get exercise but I've been managing by riding at night, Sunday mornings, and some Saturday afternoons. 

I have started keeping my bicycle riding on my journal with miles ridden, time on bike, stuff like that.  Feel free to read it as I continue to add entries and add any input. 

--Steve

For exercise, I've always done martial arts and a bit of dancing.  In the last year, I've switched from aikido twice a week to Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and sometimes Judo up to 6 times a week (it varies, right now I'm sick so I might get one or two workouts in).  This has really redistributed my weight.  I lost about 10 pounds from doing the BJJ and have gained a lot of muscles.  I also dance (ballroom, salsa, argentine tango), at least twice a week and in some weeks up to daily.

Stats, single, no kids.

Hi, Can I join too?

My name is Claire, and have been trying to lose weight it seems for the past 12 years, but have only managed to do it in the last 18 months.  I have gone from 115kg to 90kg or I am now 198lb and have lost 55lb.  Gosh I am getting good with these conversions! I still think it is nicer to say that I am 90, rather than 198! Anyway.

I have been on this site for a week or so, and I am impressed at the level of knowledge that can be found here. Put in any topic, and there are a few posts on it.  Its weird, I have actually been feeling lonely since starting, every time I look at my profile and still see that I have no friends (*sigh*).

I am 33, married, and have 2 cats.  No children, I seem doomed to always deliver them, and never to have them. But you never know.  Daizymae, its good to see another person who sees the importance of our 'furry babies', lol.

My Beloved has FINALLY started his diet.  He was supposed to have started in January, but was never really into it.  In the first month of his diet, he gained 5kg. Not a good start.  Now he is improving and sticking to what I make for him.

Oh well, that's me. Looking for fun, friendship, help, support, encouragement, and want to give that all back. 

Have a great day everyone.

xox

I'm in. I am turning 32 in July. I had a baby in April, plus I have a four year old and twins who are about to turn 3. I am 185, and 5 foot 2, or 1 depending on the day.  My goal is to lose 60 pounds. I am trying to acheive that by eating healthy choices, and healthy portion sizes. Some day I hope to find the time to work out. (Even though I hate doing it).

I want to be thin in my 30's! I want to feel like I am pretty and sexy for once in my life. I was a healthy weight in high school, although never skinny. I always felt fat and ugly. Now I know better. I wish I had appreciated how I looked back then and felt better about myself. 

I want to look good while I am still young enough to go out.  I want to feel like going out!  I know life does not end after thirty, but I kind of feel like I am living life for my kids and not for me. I think I feel like that because I don't have much self confidence. I almost feel like I don't deserve to go out, or go to a party, or a group function because I am fat. Funny, I don't feel that way about other overweight people at all, why should I feel that way about myself? 

Currently, wonderful daughter (one of the twins) is having a doozie of a tantrum while the boys have escaped outside. They appear to have lost all of their clothes, underpants and diaper included. I think I have lost control of this situation..............but I won't eat the smore's stuff I found stashed in my cupboard..I won't, I won't, I won't!  Once the baby wakes up, I have to pack everyone up in the van to head out to Target to get formula. Trust me, I am not looking forward to it. Usually they are really good but not today. Look out Target, here we come! 

Original Post by wendyb27:

Ceclark77, are you eating enough dairy? skim milk, lowfat or fatfree yogurt, lowfat cottage cheese.. those are some of my favs.. good protein and calcium too! Also, you dont want to cut out fat completely! You still do need it .. maybe try nuts, soy products?

I have gotten a bit away from the yogurt lately, guess I need to bring that back in.  I have seen some posts for a high protien yogurt, anyone else seen that?  Any other suggestions for protein

Original Post by wendyb27:

 lynnhaslost,wow! you have a great plan/ routine! Did/do you have a trainer at your gym? Do you do machines or free weights? and your cardio and yoga/pilates- do you take a class, or just do it on your own? There is a YMCA being built a few blocks away from my house - I dont think it opens until October, but I really want to get a family membership when its ready.

 I do have a trainer. I use her 3 days a week, with an extra fee.  The gym I'm with has a trainer's package, and I have it, but we only get a trainer 1 day a week. So I started to pay the fee of 35$ per month to have the trainer 2 more days out of the week. My trainer came up with the program, and I've been doing this now for over 8 weeks.. The 30/30/30 program, and it's been working great. Before the 30/30/30 program she was working me out on the treadmill,ellipitcals, Bike, Resistance band/cord class, and signing me up for all these classes.. I wanted to start lifting heavier weights.. SO I went to her and asked her to do something better, before I drop you like a hot potato.

 So she came up with this program after Paul and a few other trainer's notice I had a builder's frame. (WHATEVER THAT MEANS) I press over 150- 200 pounds with my legs.. Just only 5x3 equal to a set of 15, and I do the same weight with legs curls.. I am heavy into weights. I bench press now over 100 pounds, and I have pressed a lot more, but my boyfriend told me if I was to start losing my boobs.. He will dress me like a man and call me Harry. I do a lot of free weights. I love curling 20- 50 pound dumbbells, and you can't stop me from doing that. I really do care about the jiggle in my arms. My cardio for the past few weeks has been working hard and fast. Getting my heart rate to 190-220 beats, and dropping it down.. It does a lot of great work for me. Then I take a class in fitness. The class is just a way of learning more about my body, and muscle fiber. It's really deeper than that, and I've been in this class for 2 weeks now, and I am learning more about my body, and I've always known.. What works for them, just may not work for me.  I had to find my own "FIT"

This is my weight training list that I do using machines. 3 days a week
Machine Chest 2x10 (30lbs)
Back Lat Pull Down 2x10 (30lbs)
Seated  Cable Row 2x10 (30lbs)
Seated Over head Dumbbell Press 2x10  (25lbs)
Barbell Curl 2x10 (15lbs)
Dumbbell KickBacks 2x10 (15lbs)
Leg Press 5x3 (150-200 lbs)
Leg Curls (Hams) 5x3 (150-200lbs)

I want to keep the frame of a lady, do I try not to so much heavy stuff with my back. I want a woman's smooth back... So I try to keep this at a very low, and not so hard weight lifting level. Not only that. My boyfriend has a very wide back, and I don't need my back to match up with his.

Elliptical Trainer. (I have one at home)  At the gym.. I do 5 mins medium resistance, and Then Off to the treadmill. 10 mins of running 5 slow, and then 5 mins wide open. Then off to the bike. I hate the bike. Really I do! 5 mins of level 5 it's kinda hard.. Like I'm trying to paddle up a hill, and then 5 mins of a cool down, right into yoga or pilates, with 9 other ladies in the class.  That's how my program goes, and then I do light cardio or dance on the days I don't go to the gym.

With weight lifting, you have to give your muscle 48 hours to repair and recover. The YMCA here don't have a great gym so I use the gym that is 20 mins away from my house. I love it... It's been the best gift ever. Just sign a nother contract with them back in March.. I love it. There are some gyms that does month to month. I think that's 19$. We have it at our gym, and I had with Month to month, and when I did that.. I had lost my trainer's package.  So I re joined and signed another year contract.

I think I said too much..  But this is what I do. You can do it too, but I really love to dance.. That's my best cardio.

Edit to add a line.. Just find your fit, when I started a year ago.. I was just walking only a mile for a whole month, and doing a few days of dancing, and now I am doing all of this.. I feel great when I do this.. It makes me feel so Freaking good.... Just find your fit.. The best DVD on the market for me was Turbo JAM. I love to jam, so that was so prefect for me. If it's not fun, you are not going to do it. I just love having fun with my workouts. People say, if you don't love it.. You are not going to do it. I don't really love it. But! I do love the results from doing it.

ceclark77, have you tried protein supplements?  A high quality powder will give you 30 grams of protein with only about 5 grams of fat (depending on brand).   You'll want a brand that is low in carbs.  Also, if you eat meat, try Canadian bacon.  Depending on the brand, you get 3 to 4 slices at only about 90 calories and very little fat.  Dice some up in an egg substitute omelet in the mornings and you shouldn't be hungry until lunch.  Also great for just snacking on.  I do both of these on weight training days since I need to eat more and I feel very satisfied.

I thought that I was the only one!!!  I am thirty (I will be thirty one in a week) and about a year ago, my body decided that I could not long do a variety of time honors thing I had done for years..it seems that I can no longer

1.  Drink without a hang over

2.  Sleep past 10am

3.  Eat anything I want with out it attaching itself directly to my love handles

4.  Forgo activities for mind numbing movie marathons on the couch.

lulufit, o I remember those days!lol  I think the stores hated my family too! bless you dear! It will get easier, so much better when everyone is potty trained and knows how to buckle themselves in the car! You probably cant find time to exercise right now, but with all the running you do with those babies, you are burning calories!

lynnhaslost, thanks for your detailed routine! awesome..you are so strong! I think I may look into getting a trainer when the YMCA opens too!  lol about your bf saying he'll dress you like a man and call you Harry if you lose your boobs! You have a great humor! - I get such a kick out of reading some of the things you write

smwhipple, where do you find classes for aikido and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu? That sounds really interesting! How did you come to find those things? Do you take dance classes too, or just on your own?

daisymae and spankyraven, great job so far losing weight! I cant wait till my loss is in double digits!

hanesda1, aint that the truth! only alot of those occured to me well before i was 30!

Steve, wow! 17 lbs already, not even 2 whole months! great! my husband likes hockey alot too- just is starting to get back into it.. I'm glad for him that he is doing it and getting some exercise, but dang! hockey equipment is so flippin expensive!!

1aprilfool, Congrats on your weight loss so far and running 30minutes straight! Thats fabulous!

can i join too?! 31 here...5'5"..128lbs. Just feeling the need to monitor fat/salt intake etc..Not looking to lose much, but would love support/new friends?

thanks

I am in.  Just turned 32, Full time working mom of a beautiful 2 year old daughter.  I am 5'4" and weight somewhere around 140lbs (started at 167).  I put on quite a bit of weight when I moved overseas to Australia and then fell pregnant a few months later.  Between the move and the pregnancy, lets just say Cabury's chocolate bars were my best friend throughout the pregnancy (I did not make a very good pregnant woman!).  Anyway, I started CC in Nov of last year and started running in the mornings as well.  I have since lost ~ 27 lbs and am probably about 5 or so pounds from my goal weight (I have stopped counting and weighing for awhile to see how that goes because I when I was in my mid 20's I got a bit obsessive with exercise, weight loss and numbers). 

Fortunately, I have found that my metabolism has not quite hit the wall yet, and losing the weight wasn't too difficult once I set my mind to it (granted, it took me 2 years after having my daughter to find the motivation).

So, now I have my 5 am runs 5 days a week, then off to work, home to my second job of being a mother, and repeat!  I am hoping to set a good example for my little girl so she never has to struggle with her weight like I did growing up.  Fortunately for her, I think she inherited my husbands build and since he is 5'10" and I STILL outweigh him, I guess thats a good thing for her!

 

ceclark77: Some people may recoil at the thought of tofu as a source of protein, but tofu hot dogs are wonderul. They taste almost like the real thing, and have: 9 grams of protein, 0.5 grams of fat and (drum roll) only about 45 calories. I slice em up and put em in everything.

lynnhaslost: I just love your stories about your family! Your kids sound hilarious! I wish I had your drive and energy!

lulufit: Hang in there! I think I understand how you feel. Don't hold yourself to a higher standard than everyone else! You deserve to go out and have fun and feel good just like anyone.

spankyraven and daizymae: Yay fur babies! Although my little monster dug up my houseplants so badly I had to plant little cactuses in with them recently...

sweetigem: Hah! Eat more: that's the kind of weight loss advice I really like! It's so cool that your daughter speaks Welsh - I've always been fascinated by the unique sounds in that language. When's your birthday? (I'm the 20th) I'll definitely try your recipe, too. My husband and I have been making smoked salmon quesadillas with fat free cream cheese, capers and fresh dill. Yum yum yum.

wendyb27: You're so sweet to encourage everyone the way you do! My target weight is 125, but secretly I'll be happy to get back to 130. I was once skinny and busty and at one point it was my only source of self-esteem. I'm not too dumpy at 140, but it's been tough losing the one thing about myself I've felt comfortable loving. I get kind of a fuzzy feeling from this site for that reason. Like 1aprilfool said, we're all in the same boat, and it's so nice to have this opportunity to support each other. You all seem so nice.

Hugs for all you moms and everyone else too.

tracyaudette - I carry my weight the same places you did.  Can be really frustrating when that's probably the last place I'll lose it.  Have already noticed the loss on my arms and legs, but middle section is moving very slowly.

lulufit - I know exactly what you mean about feeling fat in high school.  At 5'6" and 130 I felt fat all the time and now I would give anything to get back there.

For exercise I love to just get out and walk - at leat 60 minutes.  When the weather's bad, I have an elliptical machine I use for at least 60 minutes also.  I also do strength exercises with a resistance band, alternating arms and legs each day.  Sunday I cut back to 30 minutes because I always hear it's good to have a day of rest, but I don't want to have to cut my calories back too much.  I usually aim for 1600-1700 for calorie intake.

Steve! Welcome, you are the only man in the room. That would be funny if we only had one man on Earth..  17 lbs GREAT!. My man could use a game of hockey. He is due for some weight loss. But his words are.. You first, and then me later.. Like weight loss is going to kill me. LOL.

Wendyb27! That's my plan, to be strong and to stay FIT. I hope the Y has trainers their. Good luck to ya. But until then.. RUN, and DANCE in a great pair of heels.

Lulufit! Just keep on running after those babies, and that weight will fall of.. In down time if you find 10 mins, do a great 10 min workout. WWW.BEACHBODY.COM Has a 10 min fitness program, and it's looks great. I haven't got it yet. But I do have P90X, and to tell you the truth. I hate it. Those 12 workouts will have your ripped. My boyfriend may take it off my hands and use it. I hope so.. He's getting a tummy of a beer drinker and he don't drink.

Hanesda1! you are not the only 30 something in the room. But I think 30 is the new 20's for me.. I have fun like a 20 year old. I don't even think I am 30 with all the stuff I do.  Sometimes I can go for a Shot of GIN. Extra Dry I will be (21) LOL Yeah right 31 on Aug 29.. Wish me Luck with that new number. I

Ceclark77! I have Whey Protein Power. They have one with 23 grams of protein. Right now I don't know all the other info in it. But I do love them. I have 1 a hour before my workout, and another one after my workout. It really helps my muscles. I love it. I try to get in 85-90 grams of protein per day. I'm not a big red meat eater.. So I go for Turkey, Fish, or chicken. Speical K even have those Protein Drink Mix. You might want to try that to. I think slimfast has a shake with more protein.

Mjthomas96 & Tracyaudett! I lost my GUT first, and then my legs-thighs, and butt started to join in on the fun of weight loss. My arms.. Well, they was bigger, and then I lost the weight, and they did giggle and now! Look at me now.. I have arms like that girl on the fitness mag. I carry to the gym! No more bye bye arms. I see why those people on the biggest loser didn't have very bad bye bye arms. They work the hell out of them bye bye arms.. So have I.  My last measurements on my arms before I went into weight training was 13" around, and now I am pushing 16" without the bye-bye. I love muscle.. ( I always push my chest up to my boyfriend, and say to him.. What you going to be about it.) I love feeling strong. He's right. The weight lifting has gone to my head..

Laurenalicia13! Come on in.. WELCOME!

Manta515, Welcome! We are all going to get to where we want to be.. Come hell or high water..  I'm 5 even so I better get their before one or the other come.. To much water to drink.. That's what my daddy always tell me, and you sure can't drink it all. LOL

It's nice to meet all of you. I have to leave you with this little note. I will not take back this journey- I have gone on for nothing. I feel great, and life is so wonderful now. I look at everything in a bigger and brighter way. That's how we have to look at what we are doing. This isn't a diet. This is a life style change. We must live for the now, and not the never or I can't. Hell! We are all in our 30's and some of us are knocking on the door of 30, and you know what! 30 is so GREAT! To all the Mama's in the group.. God Bless each and everyone of you.. We do so much.

Congrats to you all, and may your journey to the new you be blessed with nothing but happiness,joy, and great results.

Original Post by wendyb27:

 

Steve, wow! 17 lbs already, not even 2 whole months! great! my husband likes hockey alot too- just is starting to get back into it.. I'm glad for him that he is doing it and getting some exercise, but dang! hockey equipment is so flippin expensive!!

Thanks!  I think I'm starting to realize the difference a little bit. 

Luckily for me I play dek hockey so the only things I really need to buy are sticks, gloves (I use work gloves as do some of the other guys who play), and knee/shin pads.  I own a pair of roller blades, but I haven't used them in 8-9 years.  Once you get into skates it really is expensive.  The thing with dek hockey is that you run everywhere.  There's no coasting.  It's tough to do, but I think I am getting more used to it now.  I had to log a bunch of minutes last week because of absenses, and I actually felt better.  I couldn't have done that much two months ago without being practically dead and my back killing me. 

Original Post by lynnhaslost:

Steve! Welcome, you are the only man in the room. That would be funny if we only had one man on Earth.. 17 lbs GREAT!. My man could use a game of hockey. He is due for some weight loss. But his words are.. You first, and then me later.. Like weight loss is going to kill me. LOL.

Only man on Earth???  That would be funny!  Everyone (well, at least a few) would be fighting over me. 

Hockey can give you a major workout, I can tell you that.  How much weight does your man want you to lose before he tries it??  Heh.  He should try it now since there's probably not as much temptattion to eat around the house and more temptation to exercise.  I find that's very very helpful. 

--Steve

Hi everyone! I weighed 173 this morning! That makes it 13lbs for me since I started CC..just keep pluggin along!

Welcome laurenalicia- have you always been in such good shape? Put up some more pics, I like looking at thin, healthy beautiful people.. keeps me motivated :) !

Welcome manta515, I love your pics! looks like you have really done some travelling! how exciting! Are you American originally? Busy schedule too.. I have trouble getting up before 6am! Good for you, 27 lbs!

catbuckleychan, o thanks dear! *blush*  I dont think you look dumpy at all, in fact you are gorgeous! How long have you played the accordian? My grandparents on my dad's side were friends with Vlasta..oo I cant remeber the last name!... anyway, she's originally from Czechloslovokia, and became kind of famous with her accordian in the 70's and 80's.. She was even on Johnny Carson once and was dubbed 'the Polka Queen of Chicago'.. and if you ever saw the movie "Ferris Buellers Day Off", she was the lady on the back of the float playing the accordian when he sang 'Danka Shane' and "Twist and Shout". She kinda looks like a grown up Shirley Temple! She's a really sweet lady, I got to see her play several times as a child, at family parties and such.. Havent seen her in many years though- her husband passed away some years ago, and I dont think she goes to her cabin anymore (her cabin was near where my grandparents lived, and they passed away some years ago as well)

mjthomas96, omg, i know exactly what you mean.. I was never happy with my body as a young lady, and now I would do anything to have that body back again!! Don't know what you got till its gone!

lynnhaslost, omg, I cant do heels! I would break my neck! My feet are 8.5  to 9's, but are so wide (probably at least a EE) that I cant usually ever find heels that fit anyway! oo, i hate my flat pancake feet!  I am embarrassed to admit this, but when my husband first started his hockey kick, he went to this big hockey store- Hockey Giant- to get all his stuff. All the kids got kind of excited about it , and we decided to all get skates so we could all learn and skate with dad. So I bought these skates, and when I wore them, i could not stand on them for more than 10-15 minutes a time because my feet hurt so much.. so we returned them and my husband brought me to his Hockey Giant store and we tried to get me fitted.. in order to get skates, I would have had to special order mens skates in a size 6 EEE! They were at least $250- $300, so I said forget it.. I'm not going skating that much to pay that kind of money! My husband had a pretty good laugh over it anyway..But seriously, you are such an inspiration! after I start dropping a lot of the extra fat, I want to get me some muscles like you! Post some more pics! and I could read your posts all day long.. I really love your sense of humor and your great attitude and outlook.. God bless you!

Steve, dek hockey sounds like quite a workout! My husband has to do ice hockey though -we are Minnesotan, afterall ;) .. My hubby could stand to drop 20- 30 lbs, i dont think it will be too hard for him, his big thing will be eating better. He really needs to start making better choices and get a better routine, especially because he is diabetic, but it is really hard because he works nights right now.