Let's get motivated!

Hey everyone.  I see us Illinoisans are slacking on keeping this group active so I am stepping up to try to help.

I propose that since it is the beginning of the new year that we try to keep each other motivated with our weight goals and exercising.  We are all trying to battle very similar culprits and lets face it, there is strength in numbers.  We'll need strength to get through these battles.  I'll start...

I've had some success with my weight loss but with the holidays behind us and my brave self - I stepped on that scale for the first time in weeks and I was met again with reality.  I have gained some weight over the holidays.  I hadn't even met my overall goal yet and here I am gaining back already.  Go figure.  Why dwell on it when I can change it?  I'm back on my bandwagon and will be logging in my CC food journal religiously.  I will be logging my exercises/cals burned and I will be drinking my water.

Whoever wants to help keep yourself accountable please join me.  My hope with this thread is for everyone who joins to come on here at least once a day and tell us of your accomplishment for the day.  Remember, an accomplishment is something you did today to help you toward your goals.  All it takes is one accomplishment at a time!!!

Yeah CPlatt - Don't brutalize yourself over a couple days.  Jamie is right -- you can't always do everything you want or need to do.  If "desire" was everything, I'd be a golf-pro by now; but life and reality get in the way, and this work stuff keeps my handicap sky-high.  I think it's all about priorities, and planning the time to do what you want and need to do.

Jaimie - I think floating up to the sky sounds like it could be fun -- I never tried 'that' yoga vid.  Landing might be tough.

Val - yep, I got impatient.  Went to gym and was feelinig pretty energetic, so I figured I just go for 30.  Yep -- I did 30 minutes on the  treadmill tonight.  Then I cooked my legs with about an hour of strength and rehab work.  Felt great -- when I finished that is.  I've got a busy week, so I thought I'd better take my shots at up-ing my time while I can.  Gonna try to plateau around there for a while before I start pushing up speed.

Jaimie - you go on those push-ups.  For sure, six push-ups is good stuff.  I can't do any right now with my screwed-up shoulder.  Can't wait for it to get unscrewed so I can do some upper-body workouts again.  If you just keep trying to do a little more each time, you'll be doing more before you know it.   I feel you on your injuries too -- I used to have some back issues myself.  I think that perhaps my enthusiasm gets me in trouble too.  When I set my mind to do something I tend to dive-in-head-first.  This time I'm trying to take it slow with my rehabs.

Enjoy the ride everyone!

Hey everyone!!  Enjoying our new snow?  NOT!!!

On Monday I did 3 miles on the tmill and then did my D.Austin vid.  Because I only have 2 sets of dumbells I put on my wrist weights to give myself some added weight for the upper body stuff and ankle weights for the lower body stuff.  It felt good.  I was tender sore yesterday.  Not to the point where I couldn't move but sore enough not to be an incentive to do tmill time again last night.  I tried.  I got on but after 10 minutes I had had it.

Great job Dream...I can't believe you already got up to 30!!!  You surpassed your goal.  That's a good idea to plateau your workout for a little while.  I should probably take your cue with mine and continue what and how I did it on Monday.

How's everyone else's week coming along?

Hey guys.

Well yesterday I upped the anty. I did 20 minutes for strength training circuits and than another 20 of boot camp. I did the Biggest loser DVD. With everything else I did, arm bands and some other cardio it added up to about an hour yesterday. So, I was more than thrilled with myself. Last night however I started to feel the burn. I also increase my free weights from 5 to 8 lbs. which I felt immediately. It's crazy how I can feel my abs getting stronger and my legs, arms everything really. Yesterday it was kind of funny because I came back from the store with the hubby and got caught talking our neighbor, meanwhile I was holding a gallon of water in each hand  amongst a grocery on the shoulder for a good few minutes. I would so not have been able to do that a month or so ago...I would of had to put them down.  It's those little things that I have noticed. Today I plan on getting in some short cardio and weight loss yoga and some push ups. I will try to make it to 7 today. Hope everyone is doing well. Keep up the hard work!

I was NOT happy with the snow. Who knew?! The world was calm when I went to bed, well all but my growling tummy.

I am doing great with the diet, the exercise...welll....no comment. I know I need to get a move on, but, but, but, it's cold out, I'm tired, my pinky hurts, and I'm pretty sure I need to organize my sock drawer. The dog ate my hom....wait, that doesn't work.

Ok, enough excuses. After reading some of the posts (especially luv4designhomes) I feel pressured into burning a calorie.

Thanks for the motivation. I'll let you know how I do. Maybe I should work on my excuses some more.

Hello Kristy!  Thanks for joining us.  You're funny...the dog ate...  Do you have in mind any particular exercise or exercise schedule/goal you want to aim for? 

Luv!!  Boot camp sounds fun.  I keep hearing about it but haven't tried it myself.  Isn't it great when you can see little changes in your capabilities as you get stronger?  Were you able to get in the yoga last night?

I was better/not as tired last night.  I was still a bit tired but I fought through it.  I did my 3 mile thing and the video again.  This time I upped the leg weights to 8 pounds per leg.  I kept my arms the same weight since I reached failure on a couple of the exercises Monday.  I'm not sore this morning but I think that's just a delayed reaction.  LOL!!!  I bet come this afternoon I'll be dragging.  AND I feel skinnier this morning!!!  YAY!!!   I'm going to do a body sculpt video tonight off of cable.  I wouldn't mind doing a yoga thing too so I can stretch myself a little...we'll see though.  I might be too sore to get too ambitious tonight.  Hopefully I am, that'll mean I did good last night.

Hey Kristy!

Welcome. I don't mean to "pressure" you... just here to share with ya! Anyhow...I'm sure you will definitely find renewed inspiration in this group. It's the best!I know it can seem so daunting at first...been there...just start out small...5-10 minutes if you have to...I started out with a small go and every couple of weeks I push myself a bit further...it becomes addicting after a while and than you feel like you owe yourself a work out if you missed one...at least for me anyhow.

Good job Val! I think I will try a relaxing session of yoga later. However I did get my cardio in this morning, another hour practically! Woohoo! I am happy to announce I am up to 9 push ups too. Yesterday was a bust...it spent my day doing homework. One day off was actually a good thing...I was able to push myself much further. I did the Cardio Max, Level 1, Half of Level 2 & 3....I think I shocked myself. I felt like I got past that point of exhaustion and than it was like...alright...let's go! That doesn't happen often lol!

Hey Dreams...haven't heard from ya yet. You must be busy! How's that body treating you today?

Well ladies and gents,

Here's to marching onward!

Oh yes by the way...my scale seems to be possessed which is really getting on my last nerve, it's a Taylor lithium battery digital. I can gain lbs. in matters of seconds. So, I'm not sure what I really weigh from week to week. I try not to focus on it but it would be nice to be able to chart my progress at least every couple of weeks min. I plan on taking measurements today to see where we are at. Hopefully we will see some progress there. Anybody have any reliable scale suggestions. Thanks.

- J

I did my short Body Sculpt video last night.  I could've gone longer but didn't.  After weighing in this morning I'm regretting it a little but nuttin' I can do now but keep going.  Tonight I'm aiming to do my tmill & DAustin video again.  I want to try to get both those in at least 3 times a week from now on and see where it takes me....at least through the end of March.  If I'm seeing good stuff I'll up the anty.  There, I said it...now I have to make good! 

Luv, I can't really help with the scale thing.  Mine broke a couple weeks ago and I picked up a scale that sounds pretty much like yours and I do not like it at all.  It feels so delicate and just isn't what I was expecting.  I'm secretly hoping it breaks right away so it gives me an excuse to get another.  Shhhh.....

Dream....we're missing you!!!

I have a full weekend planned.  I'm taking my little girl to a musical tomorrow and on Sunday I'm going to Chinatown for their New Year parade.  I'm loving it's finally supposed to be fairly nice out...considering we're in Jan/Feb.  Anybody going to a super bowl party?

YAY, I got my run and video done again last night.  That's 3 times this week for that combo.  One week down!!!  I can already feel a slight difference in my running muscles.  At least I hope I can feel it and it's not in my head!  Lol

Alright, short entry for me...I gotta get ready to go to the musical.  Have a great weekend all!!!

Jaimie - I have a Tanita digital scale -- got it from Sports Authority about 3 yrs ago I think for about $30.  Does weight and body-fat%.  Although I've read that there is virtually no truly accurate way to measure body-fat -- it seems like using relative, consistent measurements tracks pretty well with my mirror.

Great excuses Kristy!  My personal favorite is -- I'm too hungry to workout; but if I eat then I'll be too full.  Or my mp3 player batteries are low.  What to do??? Life is tough.  No pressure though -- Just try some ice on your sore pinky. ;}

I had a couple doctor appointments this week.  Got cortisone in my shoulder yesterday -- kinda sore for a couple days, so I just did lower-body and cardio.  Gonna try to do some light upper-body today.  I'm still at 30 mins on the treadmill, and starting to up the speed a little at a time. Got my blood-pressure down to a normal range so doc is happy about that -- thanks in-part to getting my cardio going again I think. Yay!!

Doc says my calf is healed, but have to continue phys-therapy on my shoulder.  Something I've realized from doing therapy is how quickly muscles respond to the slightest provocations.  Some of the calf-rehab exercises were like standing on tip-toes and walking on my heels.  Seems wimpy, but like Luv said, I was like "holy crap, I've got calf muscles" again.  It's not to say that lifting-light or tippy-toe-stands are going to give me schwartzeneger muscles - but it sure doesn't take much to get momentum going in those muscles.

Jaimie way to go - 9 pushups is fantastic progress!!!  I really liked what you said about "..it becomes addicting after a while and then you feel like you owe yourself a work out if you missed one."  It's so true -- that a little momentum can get me "scheming" ways to sneak in a little workout even when I'm busy.

Hey Kristie - I read in your profile that you've got some money on the line.  I can tell you that it's a lot easier to keep a calorie deficit when you burn calories through exercise.  I know that it's hard to get going at first, but once you get some base muscles established, the benefits in terms of feeling stronger and more confident about progress come pretty quickly.  That's the way I feel anyway.  But I know when things get really busy it can get very frustrating when you know you "should" but just "can't".  Sometimes you have to recognize that you're doing as much as you can; sometimes you just need to let your body rest; but when cash is involved you just gotta kick-some-butt! [how's that for a pep-talk?] ;o

Val - sounds like you're on a roll! 

Keep it going everyone.  Spring is right around the corner!!!

Have a great weekend!!!

-Bill

Hey everyone!

Dreams, thanks for the info. Glad to hear from you again. Wow, if anybody has any exuses it is you but you just keep pushing through - impressive. Keep at it. hopefully your body will start cooperating and heal up quickly.

Val keep it up! The little changes are sometimes the best!

Kristy! Hang in there girl! Sometimes we just have to mentally prepare ourselves by teaching our mind we are control of the decision making.

Well, the morning was ruff, but I got my act together. After I logged in and read the posts, it motivated me. I started the week off right with a work out, not too intense but sufficient - taebo for 23 minutes and 10 min. fat burn yoga. I will get more intense tomorrow and Thur. I feel good. It's definitely good having this hear rate monitor. I think my assumptions are right...my body is burning less than what it is suppose to be. I'm suppose to be at 2400 and I think I'm about 500 under that. So, I guess I'm going to have to adjust my workouts and calorie intake accordingly to make sure there's enough of a deficit. I am burning an adequate amount of calories during my workouts it seems though. That's encouraging. My metabolism is just way so. I just weighed in again...a 2lb  loss so even though it's a slow loss, I earned every ounce of it.  So glad to have you guys. Hope you all have a great evening! :)

Hi Jaimie.

2lbs lost is not really slow -- most recommendations put healthy loss at about 2lbs per week.  You're smart in understanding your metabolism by tracking and adjusting your intake and burn.  That's something that I think I need to do since I've been swinging back-and-forth around my maintenance weight.

Thanks for the compliment.  I'm blessed/cursed with an inability to sit-still and accept negative circumstances, so I tend to keep moving (sometimes when I shouldn't).  I'm very grateful that Val started-up this thread, and that I found it when I did.  It really means a lot to "put-it-out-there" and hold myself accountable for where I want to be.  I've learned that "choices" become easier  when there is clarity in purpose.

Pretty soon my goal is going to have to be to catch-up to you in push-ups!  So keep going and make it tough on me - okay???

Enjoy!

Hey guys!!  Woa there, I was busy as all heck yesterday!  I couldn't find time to get in here to post.  Sorry.  I did make time to get my Monday workout done though.  Whew!  Speaking of push ups....there are push ups in the workout video I've been doing and Jaime, I agree with Dream...keep up those push ups and make us work to catch up to you girlie!!!  All our arms and backs are going to look awesome before we know it.

Congrats on your 2 pounds down Jaime!!!  That is a great and definitely a well earned loss!!  It only takes a little bit of a loss at a time to add up to some significant numbers.  BTW, I love love love my HRM.  I'm sure I've said that before.  Lol 

So, who's ready for nice temps this coming weekend??  I hope their predictions are right!!!

Okay, tonight I want to work out on the WiiFit.  It's not an intense workout (usually) but it does get my little girl involved so it is undeniably one of my favorites.

Thanks everyone for the warm welcome, with this weather I need all the warmth I can get.  GREAT excuses Dreamsy, I'll be 'borrowing them' if you don't mind.

I think yoga might interest me. I have a friend looking into it for us. I know I need to do something. We hung some wallpaper over the weekend and I can't believe how sore my legs are...ugh, I had no idea I was this lazy. Everyone makes it sound so easy. When I was younger I was so into exercise and being fit. I did aerobics, nautilus, you name it, I was obsessed with staying fit. Now that I really need it, I just can't seem to get there.

About that money thingy, I am determined to kick some butt and lose some too. Thanks for the pep talk. So far I'm in the lead for the % of body weight lost. 9.6 pounds.

Seriously, Dreamsy said something that really made me think....which is also painful at times....you said "you have to recognize that you're doing as much as you can"....I realized I"m not doing as much as I can, I'm not doing my best, which is eyeopening for me the over achiever. Thanks for the wake up call, I think I'll see how many push ups I can do (after I warm up of course)

Thanks so much everyone for your words of encouragement, it means a lot.

Kristy - You're definitely doing something right to have dropped over 9 lbs!  Way to go!!!

About exercise... it is tough to get going at first, and takes some resolve to work through the initial aches and frustrations, but it only takes a few weeks to notice progress if you pay attention to the little things -- then the little things start to become bigger things, and feeling stronger starts to snowball...

[Then spring comes, the snowball melts and I start golfing again - another excuse of mine - lol!!!]

I stumbled on an interesting link last night:

http://zenhabits.net/2009/01/two-simple-ways- to-form-new-habits-without-really-trying/

This article talks about "half-habits", or changing things a little at a time.  "Paco a paco" (little by little) is another term someone used in the comments.  I think it is kind of cool how small consistent actions can turn into good stuff pretty quickly.

Ok -- I haven't done a pushup since sometime in October, so you guys have a huge head-start on me.  Gonna ask my therapist today when I can start upper-body work again.  Right now I can do zero (that's -0-) pushups.  Last-night I did an hour of core and leg-work and a little cardio (only about 15 mins - I was kind of pressed for time).  Back for more tonight.  I'm gonna try logging my calories in/out this week to see where I'm at.  Haven't done that in a while.

bfn - bill.

Hey Everyone - I am back after a mental vacation from the lose weight world.  I am very grateful for luf4designhomes - kicking my butt in a journal entry no less.  So I am back headed to the gym tonight for my run - then tomorrow back for more NROLFW fun.  The first workout in that plan is BRUTAL - but I must admit I love feeling sore - it is much better than feeling guilt for NOT WORKING OUT.

Glad to see you all doing so well, and sticking it out.  I haven't read through all the posts I missed, but I will be sure to do so.  I did read a few and noted some significant losses - so KUDOS TO YOU ALL!  I plan to post a loss on Friday - it is my goal!

Diva...

Waaa!!!  I caught a cold!!!  Darn germs.  It put me out of commission Tuesday night and all yesterday.  I'm still struggling today.  If I do get any exercise in it'll have to be light stuff.

Hey Diva!  Nice to see you poppin' in again!!

Kristy, congrats on the 9.6 pound loss so far!!!  That is awesome!  Imagine what you'll be accomplishing once you get into a routine with exercises.  WOW!!

Thanks Val and Dreamsy. I keep thinking about the whole exercise thing. So far haven't done much about it. By the time I get home from work, make dinner, clean up dinner, throw a load of laundry in and straighten up a little, there doesn't seem to be time for exercise. It's around 10pm now and this is the time I have to sit and relax. And SIT is about all I want to do. How do you fit exercise into your lives? I can't get up any earlier than I do and I'm just not up to it at 10pm. Help!! The contest goes till Feb 19th. I'm doing great with the diet, it's the moving I can't seem to get a handle on. Not to mention spring is coming fast and that means I'll be hitting the hiking trails and riding my bike (I have the coolest bike ever). At the rate I'm going I'll be too out of shape to do either. This has been one tuff winter, which is why I'm here I guess lol.

Keep talking guys, it's doing me more good than you know. Thank you for your support (say that like bartles and jaymes ;)

Hello Everyone!-

Well, Friday is finally here! It's been a tough week for me with exercise...I have been trying to get little activities in but it's painful...I pulled some muscles in my back. Frustrating because I hate not being able to work out. Today is a little better. I am praying I will be better to start back up on Monday. I am thinking about getting a walking video - sounds lame probably but that's about what I can do right now...oh and I can do push ups still suprisingly lol! Excited about the supposed heat wave coming our way...50 degrees...woohoo! Well, I hope everyone is hanging in there.

Kristy girl...sounds like you have quite the busy life. Where's time for you in there? Hey you could try just starting off with a squat or two holding your laundry basket?... Take the stares and not the elevator type stuff. Baby steps. Good job on doing well with the eating part - that's a large portion of the success too. Start small. A couple of jumping jacks, squats, whatever.

Hey Dreams, I read that Zen link you posted...totally agree. Insightful.

Val hope you are feeling better and your cold has left you alone! :)

Diva, glad I could be there to cheer ya on! I hope you are feeling more focused again! It's challenging to beat those funks at times! You can do it girl!

Well, everybody, hang in there. Looks like it's a rough week across the board. We'll get there. Have a great weekend.

Val - Luvs: What's up with you guys???  Gotta get well soon okay?

Glad you liked the link Jaimie.  I'm not a zen-guy, but found it pretty insightful as well.

Hey Kristy.  Luv's right.  You have to find some time for you.   You are doing very well to lose weight without workouts - I've never been able.

I hear ya on the time thing.  I'm not sure what happened to January, but I know I did a lot, but not everything I thought I would.  I think everybody feels the same time- pressures from conflicting needs. 

I try to block-out times to workout.  I go right after work MWF and sometime during the day on Saturday.  Doing it after work keeps most distractions from getting in the way.  I've also adjusted the household chores to once-a-week amap (eg- laundry, etc), and do what I can on weekends to try to keep weeknight evenings simple.  I'm not a morning guy either so that's out for me too.   Most of all, be flexible and don't get frustrated -- it took time to change what I was doing to make it work ok.  Keep the questions coming too -- seems like we're all willing to share.  Like Luv said, it doesn't have to be 4 times or 3; or 2 hours or 1 -- whatever you can do will certainly help.

I didn't go to the gym last night, uh, 'cause I ran out of excuses and needed the time to think up some new ones...

Just kidding -- made it Tues/Weds.  I'm still hanging on the dreadmill for 30 minutes - starting to crank-up the speed a little at a time and still doing whatever strength-work I can do.  Going 2nite and 2mro.

BTW - Does anyone know how to get straight-A's on the food log???  I never got an A for a day (no gold-stars for Willy).  But at least I'm not getting F's.  Seems like the calorie meters should be more encouraging. 

Enjoy the warmth while it lasts!  Have fun!

Hey Klan,

Hope everybody had a chance to enjoy the heatwave that came through for today. I ended up getting in a lowcardio/fastpaced walk/aerobic type video thing yesterday 30 min. and a another 30 min. brisk walk today with the Simba (the puppy).

Thanks for the get well wishes Dreams! I took Diva's advice to rest easy. My back is starting to come around so I 'm hoping to be up and running as planned on Monday. Woohoo! thank goodness. Catch ya later soon!