Welcome to your 30's and lets talk

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.

Wendy, Thanks! It's hard to do a photoshoot with that man. This isn't right. Do this no-no lets do that... If I hear give me.. Some good stuff one more time.. I am going to hurt him. Its like my mother telling me.. Don't let the clothes wear you.. You wear the clothes.

Shyran, You are going to do just fine with the learn and run program. I wish you nothing but the best. When you go for your vacation, make sure you stay in a place with a gym. As long as they have a treadmill.. You will be fine. When we go on are mini vacations, this is the 3rd thing I look for in a place to stay.
1. good tubs/hot tub, 2. No room service. 3. A gym.

Just make sure you get a lot of walking in, and you will be fine. That's how we do are little vatcations. Where ever it is we go. We try to find a room near all the places we want to go and shop, and walk their.. Not only that. This is a great way for me to watch what I buy, because my boyfriend is only going to carry 3 of my bags, and the rest is up to me.

You are right. Men are funny that way. My boyfriend loves my shape. He's been with me with every weight loss and gain for the past 5 years. Not only that. He's been very supportive this time around, because normally in 6 months I gain it all back.... Not this time..... I have to keep that in my thoughts. Not this time... Its been working so far.

Hi cegdoodles, nice to meet you.  Congratulations on your engagement.  I would definitely enjoy emailing to talk food, exercise or whatever.  One cannot have too many supporters, especially when you're losing weight.

njmattes,  thank you for the suggestions.  I've been running at a steady pace for some time, and you're right, I really need to start incorporating intervals.  I really thought that if I added running into my workouts, the weight would just start melting off.  I did lose 9 lbs. after I initially started running.  But, as with anything, your body becomes acclimated and will not be as efficient even with a workout like running.  So, yes, tomorrow I will start doing some intervals.  I've just got to get my favorite treadmill at the gym.  I really feel like I can run forever on that thing!

Have a great evening everyone.

Yep as njmattes said.... speed training is the only way I have improved my speed (intervals, fartleks, hills).  I have significantly imrproved my speed over the last couple of months by adding in one speed training session a week. I also do one tempo run a week (I run 5 times a week).  With the tempo runs, I am running close to race pace - in other words as fast as I can go without totally burning myself out for the entire 5 mile run.  I then do 2 recovery runs and one long run.  All three of these are run at a pace 1-2minutes/mile slower than my race pace.  I have improved my speed from about a 10:30min/mile to a 9 min/mile in two months by doing this.  I have even on occassion gone faster than a 9 min/mile (but not much, just looks great to say I can run an 8something min/mile). 

Welcome cegdoodles and congrats on your engagement!

Hi everyone,  been at least a week since I've been on reading posts.  My youngest sister graduated from high school last Saturday and we now have kids baseball games M-Th @ 6pm.  Barely have time to get home from work to get to games.  Hoping I can get meals planned this weekend to take with us to games so we are not eating out a lot.  So if anyone has any ideas, it would be greatly appreciated.  I'm also very excited!!! I have one more pound to lose to get to 155, which will make 20 lbs since December.  Then I only have 15 to go.  Hoping I can lose that pound next week.

Welcome everyone since then.

Shyran, you and I sound very much a like.  I aslo have small hips and carry all my weight around my mid-section.  I also have a desk job (Accountant) and have had difficulties getting motivated to work-out (I have 3 boys!).  I also think I can do everything on my own and hesitated joining a group, but you guys are great!!  I love all the encouragement and support.  I have recently decided that exercise is going to be part of my life for the rest of my life if I want to lose weight and maintain it.  Once I made that decision, it was easier for me to get up at 5am every morning to fit my work out in.  It's really hard to start, but gets easier.

Lynn, you look great!!  I'm not brave enough to get my picture taken let alone post online.  Can't even remember the last time I had my picture taken.

Welcome all new comer's to the 30's and lets talk. WELCOME!

Now it's time for me to catch up since my last post. Not that long ago. I have lost another pounds if I have not told anyone. I am now... 158, and I am loving the lost of the pound. Now, I have to kick butt to make sure it stay LOST!

Mjthomas96, Thank You!   I've love taking pictures now, and I really don't mind posting them online. It really puts a face, and shape behind the little success I've made.

My boyfriend on the other hand.. I can do without his comments.. Like.. Give me more. Work with me. I can go without that. I just like taking pictures right now, and the fact that I will never take another "FAT" picture shines in my heart. That's a vision promise I've set for myself.

Hi everyone. Can I join too?

I'm Sarah, 30, 163 and completely stuck! I need all the support I can get. I'm feeling majorly frustrated. I want to lose 11ish lbs more but I've fit a road block. I love to run but I can't get out as often as I'd like. I'm a single mom of 3. My son is 71/2, and my girls are 5(6 in August) and 4. They are great kids.

OK ~ I have to ask manta ~ what the heck is a fartlek? LOL Forgive my ignorance, not a word I've heard before.

I also find adding in intervals helps increase speed. I'm training for a half-marathon right now and it's working for me.

cegdoodles ~ congratulations on your engagement!

Hi immom! Sounds like you have your hands full! Welcome.

Hi all! Daizymae, thanks for asking that question - I was wondering the same thing!

Welcome to the new folks, and congratulations cegdoodles!

Well, I had a terrific weekend. Ate and drank too much on Friday night, but danced a lot and hit it off with a lovely guy I've had my eye on - which was a much-needed boost to my self-confidence, after a long and difficult breakup these past several months.

On Saturday, I played volleyball for the first time in 15 years, and that was a lot of fun. I was laughably terrible for the first two games, but then I really got into it, and was diving into the sand to save points. So now I am SO SORE. But it's the kind of pain I actually almost enjoy (except for the giant bruise on my arm), and...when I stepped on the scale this morning, I was down 3 lbs.! All water weight, certainly, but it put a big(ger) smile on my face. Can hardly wait to play again!

hehe, yeah it wasn't a word I knew until I started running more seriously.  Anyway, it is a swedish word (I think its swedish, but regardless) that means "speed play."  It can actually be a lot of fun to run a fartlek, basically what you do is speed up and slow down at will, similar to intervals but with no set time/distance for the fast/slow parts.  What I usually do is pick a lanmark (fire hydrant, light post, tree, etc. ) and sprint to that, then slow down, recover and do it all over again.  I usually do a 5-10 minute warm up run at a steady pace, then fartlek for a couple of miles, then 5-10 minute cool downat a steady pace.  I like to do them when I just don't feel like having a regimented interval session, but still want to do speed training.  As you can imagine, they can be easy or quite diffcult depending on your mood and how much you feel like pushing yourself.  Like intervals, they really help increase your speed. 

Sounds like you had a fun weekend lidan.  It rained here all weekend and I was absolutely exhausted by the time Sunday evening came around (not sure why, but it could have been the 4:30 am wake-up to go for a 10 mile run!). I am sure being stuck indoors with a 2 year old probably didn't help either. Although we did take her to Sydney Wildlife world (its a nice indoor zoo with all native Australian animals).  Although, she was a bit confused and called the wallabies, bunny rabbits, and was convinced the wombat lost his mommy (not sure why she thought that!).  Its funny because when we were in the states in March we took her to a zoo in FL that had native FL wildlife and she was convinced the deer were kangaroo (and no matter how many times I told her they weren't, she just said "no mommy, kangaroo!").  My poor confused child.  I always thinks its funny that she will grow up with the strange Australian animals as normal.

Hope everyone had a good weekend, enjoy the warm weather in the states for me because its miserable, cold, and rainy here right now. 

hey guys, There are runners in the group right? I just went for my run that I was so looking forward too. I thought I was well hydrated(at least 64oz) since this morning. I guess I was wrong. I started stumbling 10 minutes in and my hands started to swell 20 minutes in. My question for the runners is how do you run when it's hot? I live in Canada's only desert - it's only gonna get hotter.

thanks

cegdoodles, Congratulations on your engagement! I wish you nothing but the best.

immon, another super mom, welcome to the group. Now you asked a question for the runners. How do you run when it's hot? I try to go out early in the morning to take my runs, but if it's not going to happen due to the weather or outside temps.... I hit the tread mill.

But if it's perfect out. I don't over do it. I just do 15 mins of running, and I come back in. I try to drink 32oz, before a good outdoor run, and not drink nothing at all during my run.. "My side always hurts when I drink and run.. LOL"

1 time in the morning, and then again late night like around 7:00, that's what works for me. 15 mins.... Lots of water before your run.

If I missed anyone.. Nice to meet you all.

Hi everyone! and welcome new arrivals!

I fell off the wagon last night and had 3 pieces of yummy pizza!

My calorie count for the day ended up at 1800!!!!  Man I feel gross.

I had to fess up.

Not to mention I have a horrid cold.

sorry for the gripe.  Move along, nothing to see here!

Hey y'all.   Room for one more in her dirty thirties?

I'm 33, soon to be 34...5'4", no kids (unless you count furchildren) and not married and (I think--my scale is crapola) 170 pounds.  I'm blessed to not LOOK like I weigh 170, but over the last two years my body has rebelled against me.  I went from looking pretty hot when I turned 30 for a couple of years (probably didn't weigh less than 155, mind you) to repulsive now.  The once only small part of me, my stomach, has become flab city.   At the end of April, I started to take charge of my diet--and May 2nd I began back at the gym in earnest.

Full disclosure, I was bulimic for 15 years, in recovery 4.  I fear the damage to my metabolism is irreparable at this point, as I'm in the gym 5 days a week, eating 1300-1500 calories a day and also walking 4 miles roundtrip to work....and nothing.  Zilch.  Zippo.  The scale goes down a bit, then up a bit.  Clothing is NOT fitting much better.   I'm logging every effing thing I put in my mouth.  I've got a very healthy (if not boring at times) diet, sometimes not enough fat, but plenty of protein, healthy carbs, fiber, etc. 

My frustration level is epic.  I've never done this right before.  I used to lose weight by throwing up...(not that it worked, mind you.  I was NEVER thin.  Just addicted.)  and am flustered enough to have been brought to tears by the 8 million mirrors at the gym yesterday.   I am genetically pre-disposed to be a big gal, and I will never be skinny.  I don't WANT to be skinny.  Hell, my GOAL weight is 145, which is probably a starting weight for many women my height.  That said, my athletic hourglass build would look emaciated at my recommended weight.  No bueno.  I just want to feel confident for the first time in my life before it's too late.

Anyhoo.  Sorry to ramble.  Nice to e-meet you all.  Happy Tuesday.

Mollie

Original Post by shyran:

Hi everyone! and welcome new arrivals!

I fell off the wagon last night and had 3 pieces of yummy pizza!

My calorie count for the day ended up at 1800!!!!  Man I feel gross.

I had to fess up.

Not to mention I have a horrid cold.

sorry for the gripe.  Move along, nothing to see here!

 LOL.. I like that..^ Move along, nothing to see here!^ That's  funny....
Anyway, don't feel bad about the 3 little pizza slices, just dust off, and keep it moving. You didn't hit the 2000 mark, and that's what you need to be happy about.. Just don't stress. I have pizza every 2 weeks a chicken thin crust pizza loaded in bell peppers,mushroom, olive's low fat cheese, tomatoes, and onions... That's my pizza... You know the pizza place is going to not give you a lot of meat anyway.. SO don't ever say extra- on the meat. I extra all my veggies.. That's the only thing I extra. People have to understand right now... Eat some of your old foods, and understand how to balance them in your life.
You can't suffer like that. Have the pizza, learn how to love veggie burger's and real burger's.. Take the bun top off, and eat it like a pizza or with a fork if you have too... Just don't give up all the foods you use to eat. Learn how to enjoy them with balance, portion size, and don't cut them out. That's how we somehow binge on the old foods from the past when they come around.. We know we can't have them.. But then we go.... Oh hell one won't hurt, and then before we know it...... We ate almost the whole thing.. So enjoy a pizza from time to time, and find that balance and portion- so you can have it. My balance with my plate and pizza. 3 squares of the thin crust pizza. I always order a small just enough for me, and some for one of the family pet's.... BOBO get's it... I have salad on the side a very large salad, and I only end up eating 2 slices of the pizza and all the salad, because the salad is so good. Learn how to trade out some of the things you want with a salad.. Burger and salad, and not burger and fries... Just a tip.....Don't feel back about having the pizza okay.

welcome musicismydestiny (mollie)

I struggled with anorexia when I was 13-17.  and now I am on thyroid meds.  I am not sure if it is related, my doctor has not said yes or no, but I feel for you.  I tend to hit plateaus and it feels like nothing works.  My only consolation is this:  even when I fall off the calorie counting wagon and feel crappy about myself, I look at it this way, at least I am trying.  At least I am out of denial and ready to change.  The average American woman is 5'5" and 165 lbs and a size 14.  I think if I am at least working on changing my body, that is what counts.  I am happy with what I have, I just want it to be a little better.  Also, now that I am in my late 30's, this time I am doing it for myself. 

Hang in there Mollie, you are still a knock out! Take a look around next time you are out on the town,  take a look around, I am sure you will notice that you look just as good or probably better than most of the women in their 30's.

Hi musicismydestiney.  Shyrancouldn't have said it better.  Don't let yourself get down.  I've been stuck for almost four months now, waffling between five stinkin pounds.  At 5'6, I don't look too bad because I, too, have an hourglass, muscular build.  Like you, I am predisposed to be a big girl.  I'm okay with that.  I embrace my strong, muscular legs.  I'm glad I have junk in the trunk!  I've revised my goal to be 15 lbs. higher, and, because of my build, I think I will look fabulous.  It's okay to not weigh 120 lbs.  It's okay to be bigger.  You have your health and with that, you can accomplish anything.

I'm trying to focus on the positives I have achieved from exercise and good nutrition.  I haven't lost any scale weight since March, nor inches since last year.  I have, however, noticed my shoulders and arms are really leaning out and I can see the muscle definition.  I'm getting guns!  My chest is solid, I am unable to pinch any fat.  My backside is higher and firmer (yeah!!!).  My calves are solid muscle and my quads are getting that cut look.  If I never lost another pound, I would much rather look the way I do now.  I am proud of what I have accomplished.  

I don't believe there is a perfect shape.  If you set realistic goals for yourself, you won't be disappointed.  You suffered from an illness for many years and have really only begun recovering.  Don't rush anything.  I wish you the best.

Thanks ladies!

I know it takes time.  I'm a wicked impatient person and I recognize that.  But after 6 weeks of hard work, I guess I was hoping for more.  I DO need to continue to remind myself that the self-image meter in my head has been broken for many, many years....and perhaps I look better than I think.  Of course, I've heard hips don't lie...or at least the pants AROUND the hips don't ;).

I'm baffled by the whole BMR thing as well.  I eat x amount and burn y amount...and then figure in the daily non-effort burn?  OW.  I think I ruptured my brain.  I wonder if I'm not eating ENOUGH, but it seems impossible.

You guys are wonderful.  I look forward to your support and trying to be support for you too!

immom,  I have to run in both hot, humid and hot dry weather in the summers here (unfortunately, while y'all are enjoying the warm spring weather there in the states, I am freezing my arse off here in Sydney).  I run EARLY in the mornings (usually start at 5/5:30 am) so I am out and back before the sun has totally risen.  Early morning runs are the best for hot weather.   Evening runs will work too, but you don't get the maximum cool down effect that you will in the morning.  Otherwise, just drink A LOT of water and take it slow.  You may end up having to slow down when its really hot and thats ok. Granted, I love the heat and hate the cold, so I don't have toomany problems with running in th heat.  ANother thing I read (which doesn't do you much help now that its already warm) was to keep wearing yout warm wintery clothes as the weather STARTS to get warmer to prepare your body for the heat.  Your body will adjust to the heat, you just need to give it time and keep up the running, just take it a little easier than normal.

musicismydestiney, are you sure that you are eating enough? I am also 5'4" and started at 167 lbs (this time around), I am now somewhere around 140, but stopped weighing myself when I hit 143 because me and scales don't get along.  Anyway, you are quite active and because of your history, your body may be a bit more stubborn when it thinks you are eating too little.  What is your exercise regime like when you are at the gym?  If you aren't doing them already, I would highly suggest you start doing some strength training.  I eat probably around 1600+ calories a day (also stopped counting religiously awhile back).  I run 5 days a week (been trying to save some $ to get myself a weight set as well, so I will start lifting soon too), so eat mroe on the days I run for longer distances.  Anyway, I tried to stick to 1300 for awhile and found it quite difficult and I wasn't losing as fast I I probably should have been, but as soon as I upped it to 1500-1600 the weight started falling off.  I now just try to roughly stay at maintenance or a few hundred calories below to get rid of the last 5 or so pounds (my orginal goal was 135, but now its more about being happy with my body and my fitness level).  Anyway, I am like you, I can't imagine being in the 120's or 110's like a lot of 5'4" girls.  At my best I was 129/130 and that was with a lot of exercise and hard work and I found it impossible to maintain.  I am pretty happy with what I look like now at 140 and find it quite easy to maintain, so am just going with the flow now.  Try upping your calories a bit, maybe to aroun 1600 or even some days a bit higher just to kick start your metabolism.

One other thought to all the ladies out there, it has been VERY liberating to stop worrying about the number on a scale and just go with how I think I look and how my clothes fit.  I have come to terms with the fact that I have a major pear shape (used to think I was hourglass until I realized when I lose weight it comes off the top first!) and that I will always have a lot of "junk in my trunk"  (yes yes, i have a big arse!).  While I think the scale is a one tool to measure progress, I don't think we should really worry about WHAT the number says, just what direction it is heading.  ANd even if it stops, if the clothes are fitting better and you are happy with what you see, then again who cares what the number says.  Probably why I don't have a scale because I am horrible about taking my own advice sometimes and I let that stupid number dictate my mood even when I know its just water retention gain.  Keep up the good work all!

You runners are my heroes.  I don't run unless I'm being chased, and even then I assess the danger first (if I don't run, could I kick his ass?  Great, I'll just skip then.)  Or if there's a soccer ball in front of me.  I also used to row in high school and college (and will be again soon WOOT WOOT!) and we had to run 5 miles to the boathouse, on the water for 2 hours, run back to school.  I assumed my coach was actually the devil in disguise.  Luckily, I can blame my cartilage free knee for my immense loathing of any running that isn't a sprint.

Shyran, don't worry about an 1800 calorie day, lady!  Nothing wrong with an excess here and there---I'm beginning to think it stirs the body up a little.  And you do NOT look late 30s!! Nice to see another group of 30 year old ladies who probably still get carded like I do!  It's nice, but it's also a little silly.  Seriously?  I have to dig through my black hole of a purse so you can flirt with me?  Junior, I don't have the time for this.  Just gimme a bourbon already.

Manta, I dunno.  I'm adding about 100-200 calories to my day this week to see what happens.  My BMR is 1500 (ish), I burn on average 650 at the gym, another 150-300 or so for the 50 minute walk to and from work (the 150 is if I get a ride one way)---and I eat 1300-1500 a day.  One cheat day a week which likely ends up at 2200 or so.  I've been carless for two weeks (grrrrrrrrrr) so my gym days have been down to 3 a week, but those 3 days I walk one way home, the other 2 work days I walk both ways.  Weekends I get at least a couple of miles walking in as well, just not at the high pace (4mph) I get when I walk to work (I must look like a freak with how fast I move).   Gym days=45 minutes cardio (cross trainer and treadmill), 20-25 strength training...and the first 15 on the cross trainer I do HIIT.  *Side note: HIIT is kicking my ass.  I usually do 15 cross trainer, run to the treadmill and do 15 interval hills at 4.5, run back to the cross trainer for another 15...but that HIIT for the first 15 holy MOO does that make the last 15 hard!!  I was SHOCKED at the difference.

Don't get me wrong, I'm FEELING better.  I had to giggle to myself today when I was plowing through my last 5 of 45 minutes today and the skinny girl next to me was already holding on to the rails after 3 minutes, short of breath (mwah ha ha.  Evil?  I know).  But the lack of progress, well...yeah.  Something's got to give.  I don't plan on giving up no way no how...but I need a little reward for my work, dangit.

 

Musicismydestiny, Nice to meet you, and welcome to the group.  I eat 1400-1700 caloires per day.. Give or take 1800 :) It's gone up over the past few weeks. My calories kinda zigzag more than the normal. I try to make sure I don't zigzag in 1900-2200 calories.  I kinda don't understand the BMR half the time either. My trainer gave up on explaining it to me.. She said, why worry when you are working out all the time anyway.. Don't worry about that number or  you'll get stress... I mean who get's it... 1800 calories you eat perday.. YOu just may burn over 2500 calories perday.. You need to deficit 500 calories perday.. I don't get it myself, but okay.. I toss most of that out the window when I started to lose weight. I understand just as much as I can... I'm going to wish you all the luck, and tell you to load up on foods that are loaded in good nutritions, and not to get all carried away in the BMR, because its a roller coaster your brain will never stop spinning from.. LOL... Welcome again...
~Lynn