Posts by restlesssoul

Definitely incorporate weights into your routine!  You can shape and tone the body nicely without looking like the hulk.  Buiding more muscle will also help to shed weight because muscle naturally burns more calories than fat, even at rest! 

I'd recommend that you go to the exercise section of CC and click on "beginer workout" - they have week by week routines for begineers.  They even have tutorials on how to lift properly. 

Of course you will lose weight if you start walking.  You really don't need a gym membership to adopt a healthy lifestyle.  I too was paying for an expensive gym membership that I just didnt' use.  Like you, I enjoy when I go. My problem is that the gym is a good 20 minute drive from home, so just to go I waste 40 minutes in the car.  When I work, I work 12 hour shifts with a one hour commute each way (= 14 hours a day on a good day).  I don't have time for the gym when I work.  My solution - walk the dog!!  And I plan to buy a treadmill for my house this winter.   In my opinion, the gym is great if you can make it there, if you can't - save your money and buy a good pair of shoes.  Walking is free!!

What an awesome idea!  I would've never even thought of something like that, I'll definitely have to get a ball and try it!

Thanks for the suggestion, I'm off in a few minutes.  I have an hour drive home so I won't be in bed for at least another hour and a half or so. 

Nighty night!

Hi,

Well I work a rotating day/night schedule, so I certainly can relate to switching my clock around on a regular basis.  My hubbs also doesn't understand fully and I also get grief over "sleeping in" when really  I get waaaaayyy less sleep then him on regular basis and I work longer hours. 

 Anyways... I am at work right now.   On nights my job is quite sedentary. I work in OHS in a pulp mill, so unless there is an emergency or safety issue my 12 hour shifts are pretty much spent in an office.  So thats my biggest challenge - how to get some exercise in. I work by myself and we have a gym on site, but I am responsible for the emergency line and I am an EMT so I have to pack a phone / radio everywhere I go and be prepared to respond if needed.  There are no "scheduled" breaks, so cannot even take 1/2 hour to work out without the phone or radio nearby.  I do try some nights to go ride the bike or walk the treadmill, but murphy's law always happens and I end up getting an emerg call right in the middle of my workout.  It never fails..... and it definitely is a "workout at work" deterrent.   I'd love to use our gym before or after work but I work 12 hour shifts with a 1 hour commute each way - it just makes for too long of a day.  I do have to figure something out though because I want to get back into shape in a bad way.

As for the eating part - I actually find that the easy part. I am good at packing a good healthy lunch and satisfying snacks which get me through the night.  I just implemented "no big food" after midnight and that seems to be keeping my stomach happy.  After midnight I'll allow myself a low-fat protein shake, herb tea, or hot air popcorn and thats it.

My goal is to lose about 50lbs - the weight I've gained in the 7 years I've worked this job!

I would love to join - this might give me the kick in the butt that I've been needing for a long time!!    I've gained over 50 lbs over the course of the last 7 years, and done lots of yo-yo dieting in between.  I tried WW but counting points just doesn't do it for me anymore. I'm happy to have found CC where I actually get to see a nutritional breakdown.  Here's a bit about me:

Age: 34

Height: 5'7"

Weight: 200lb

I just returned to working shift work (nasty 12 hour shifts), which I thought would be bad for my dieting but actually I find it easier to control what I eat because I pack "healthy" lunches. The work cafeteria isn't open on nights so I have to eat what I bring - LOL!    I do need to get exercising though -thats something I've really let slide. I'm thinking about buying a treadmill for at home,  which I think will help.    I look forward to being part of the new group!

I bought the eat clean diet book as well, and it was definitely a good read. I learned a lot from her story, it is definitely inspiring.  However, I haven't followed her plan at all - my hubbs is also a meat and potatoes guy and that sort of eating would be just too extreme for him.  I may try a few recipies though, especially now that I'm following CC.    I didn't know there was a cookbook out as well??

Hello Irishrose!  

Well, I can say that I am also brand new to this site, and I have the EXACT same stats as you - same height / same weight.  I set my goal for 145 lbs, but I think if I make it even to 160 lbs and I am fit and muscular I will be happy. 

I know how hard it is.  I used to weigh 157lbs, lean fit & muscular, but in 7 years of doing shift work (rotating 12 hour shifts) I managed to pack on 43 lbs of fat.  What a number that has done to my self esteem.  My very skinny husband also says that it doesn't matter - but it matters to me! I dont' want to be slobby and unhealthy, hardly able to walk up a flight of stairs. I hate having to wear baggy clothes all the time.  I also  hate that I can't just go clothes shopping at regular stores anymore - I either have to buy men's sizes or go to stores for plus sizes.  I have also really noticed that people - especially stores clerks - treat us overweight people much differently.  I have to "demand" service rather than be asked, I really don' t like that. 

I do think that we can do this, and we can do it together.  I have had success with weightwatchers online in the past and this is similar.  I became tired of counting points all the time.  I think this site is better in a way because we can actually see the nutritional breakdown of what we are eating. I am very surprised already today at how many calories I've eaten, and I still have to have supper..............eeeee............

Good luck in your journey.  Add me as a friend as well if you like, maybe we can compare stats and encourage eachother to eat better and get some exercise?

Restlessoul