Welcome to the Group

Welcome! We would love get to know you, so please tell us a little bit about yourself. You can choose any format you'd like, but most of us here share some or all of the following details:

1. History with weight loss:
2. History with Calorie Count:
3. Reason for joining this group:
4. Some interesting details about yourself, such as your job, your family, your pets and your interests:

And now just go ahead and make that first post!

Hi ericalc57! 

I would recommend you get some weights that are adjustable.  That way you can start with low wiehgt, and increase it as you get stronger. 

Also, I recommend you have a plan to follow.  Melkor has a lor of suggestions for good workout programs in the stickies at the top of the fitness forum and amethystgirl has a good workout routine in her profile. 

Or, if you are interested, there is another group called NROLFW which some of us girls started that is based around an awesome book.  Not that I'm trying to pull you out of this forum, but this one has been pretty quiet.... :) 

My name is Cody & I am a 39 year old woman.  In January 2008, I was weighing in at 305 pounds (I'm 5'10"). This was the heaviest I had ever been and I decided right then and there that enough was enough and took control of my life. 

I have been overweight most of my life and have been on a diet most of my life. In fact, several years ago, I joined Jenny Craig and got down to 175 pounds. Unfortunately, my mindset and life had not changed and within a few years I had gained my loss of 100 pounds back and even managed to add an additional 30 pounds to my frame. 

I am not new to CC but never really used it's tool to help me.  I only began coming on here frequently and really using all the tools within the last month.

The reason I am joining this group is because when deciding that my entire life had to change in January of 2008, I also decided that weightlifting/body building would become part of my life.  I began slow, with circuit training. Moved up to some dumbell work with my circuit. Now, I am with a trainer at Powerhouse Gym.  Have been working with him since March of this year and have seen incredible changes in my body.  The first thing I said to him was I know I'm a woman but I am here to train and put on as much muscle as I can naturally.  He has held me to that and works me, pushes me and keeps me pushing myself.  I have a workout partner (which helps) and we workout with trainer twice a week and do third day on our own.  We make sure we hit every major & minor muscle group each week, and we do two days of cardio in between. Will be with trainer until January (prepaid a bunch of sessions for a great savings).  After we are done with all our sessions we are going to create a four day split routine continuing doing cardio at least three days a week.  I'm here to learn from all of you, to read, observe and add when I can. I'm obviously still learning, and have a feeling that I will never stop learning.

I think the area I lack in is nutrition...not because I do not understand it but because I eat out too often.  Also, I was recently sick (viral meningitis), got out of my routine and began slipping back into old habits. But pulled back the reins very quickly, unfortunately I feel that my mindset is not quite there with eating.  That being said, have made great strides. I do protein shakes 2-4 times a day, depending on workout routine.  Have my supplements pretty much in hand. But just feel myself being stubborn about the bland diet I see most bodybuilders eating (and no, I have no intention of competing. This is all for me.)

A pretty typical day when we don't eat out & when we don't lift...

Breakfast: Protein Shake with Banana, 1/2 cup of Fat Free Milk, cup of Coffee

Snack: Almonds

Lunch: Turkey sandwich on Ezekial Bread. Carrots. Pickle. Some form of Whole Grain Carb (brown rice or wheatberry salad)

Snack: Apple

Dinner: Chicken breast (baked), salad with walnuts and Low Fat/Low Carb Dressing.

Snack Before Bed: Protein Shake.

Note: On days I lift, before working out I do another protein shake and some form of complex carb (either eat oatmeal or do Ultra Fuel Drink).  Also, do gatorade (from powder no HFCS) right after lifting & another protein shake within 20 minutes of completion.

Would love input, thoughts, or ideas.

About me...I love dogs and especially bulldogs.  I have three (2 bulldogs and one french bulldog.) I work behind a desk all day, but try to get up and walk as often as I can.  Since beginning my lifestyle change almost two years ago, I have lost 70 pounds and I feel healthier.  I enjoy working out and particulary love the Expresso Bike Systems. Cardio is not my favorite thing, but the bike makes it much more fun.  I'm currently training to be able to run my first 5k (September of 2010). I have never ran and have a program on my iPhone that is helping me prepare.

I look forward to being partp of this forum and participating in any way I can.