I am Aqua's exact weight but only 5'9" -- a women's size 12 or 14 depending on the cut. I want to to be 165 lbs....which I think will put me at an 8 or 10. ( I generally don't disclose my weight, so this is a leap of faith to keep me honest in my weight loss!)

So far I have done nothing but go up by 2 lbs - which makes no sense as I've done 3 straight days at the gym and ate moderately for 2 of the 3. Go figure.

I have found that my weight "lags" my actual performance by about a week. A week of being good will translate into lower weight on day 8 or 9. Anyone else have a similar experience?

/me crosses fingers that next week will be better.

__________________
Life is too short not to love and be loved....preferably multiple times in one night.

I think men talk to women so they can sleep with them and women sleep with men so they can talk to them. ~ Jay McInerney

I did 3 months of kick boxing and gained weight, osuche. They say changes in muscle tone/mass look like weight gain in the beginning.

I am focusing on my stomach area for excercise currently. Worked the ab lounger thingy 2 days so far and will do it tonight when I get home.

It's my first day back and it will be a day where I am running 7am-7pm. I'm going to try to stay chilled and keep the stress to a minimum.

__________________

The practice of putting women on pedestals began to die out when it was discovered that they could give orders better from there.~ Betty Grable

If I wanted your opinion, I'd remove the duct tape and ask you for it.~ Me
<~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~>
One man's dream is another man's nightmare~~~~> §¤ Lilith ¤§
~>My Scribbles<~
==>Gone Shopping<== ~Just a Quickie~ *~A Celebration Vacation~* ~Surprises~ Sleeping With the Window Open
What Did You Do Today? Self Defense Class ~Short Sweet Snippets~ § Summer Spin § Story Challenge Submission Pajamas

I am a few inches shorter and several pounds heavier. I might post my weight here when I've shed a few pounds I have just over 50lbs to lose to rid myself of the past five years' weight gain and, according to my BMI, I will then *just* fall into the top end of the 'healthy' weight range. My current BMI is 33.39

Good luck for next week, osuche. Exercise and muscle tone will definitely have an impact on weight. 1lb of muscle takes up less space than 1lb of fat, so extra pounds might be coupled with smaller measurements.

If anyone hasn't yet taken body measurements, I would definitely recommend doing this and repeating every few weeks or every few pounds lost. It's great to see the difference on paper after a few weeks, and even if the scale hasn't moved much you'll no doubt see a difference in measurements, which is a real boost I've followed the Body Measurement table on FitDay and measured neck, bicep, forearm, chest, waist, hips thigh and calf.

I've also taken photographs of the scale, showing my starting weight and of myself, front, back and sides, wearing only underwear I'll do this every ten pounds or so that I lose. Hopefully after a few weeks I'll see a difference.

My first day went well. It almost didn't. I was very motivated before I started, then awoke in the morning wondering if I should just wait another day before starting. Convinced myself that if I did that, in reality I would actually be throwing away another week (since all diets can only begin on a Monday ). At certain points during the day, I was crawling the walls, wanting to eat all the 'bad' foods I could lay my hands on. I would liken it to craving a cigarette when trying to quit smoking. Not a nice feeling at all, but I pulled my way through it and realised if I do that, get through the other side each time I feel like that, I will feel much better than if I give in and sneak in a whole load of crap food part-way through the afternoon.

In the end, my first day was good. I ate healthily, ate smaller portions and, most importantly, I started my 12 week walking plan. I only needed to walk for 20 mins and I did that. So I think all in all, the first day was a success and I am ready to tackle Tuesday

Is that one of those roller bar thingys to help with sit-ups? If it is, I have one of those I'm going to start that next week, after a week of walking. How many are you doing each night?

How did Monday go for the rest of you?

Monday sucked. I was at workshops all day. I was back at work falling into bad habits. I woke up and started fresh today.

The ab lounger is this http://www.bikudo.com/photo_stock/916749.jpg

It's just a simple way to do sit ups instead of the floor. I have a really bad back so it is the best way for me to be able to focus on my stomach and not my back muscles. I do 50 crunches several times throughout the day. When I had a large tumor removed a couple of years ago I was left with a 13 inch abdominal incision that has to be dealt with as well when it come to sit ups.

__________________

The practice of putting women on pedestals began to die out when it was discovered that they could give orders better from there.~ Betty Grable

If I wanted your opinion, I'd remove the duct tape and ask you for it.~ Me
<~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~>
One man's dream is another man's nightmare~~~~> §¤ Lilith ¤§
~>My Scribbles<~
==>Gone Shopping<== ~Just a Quickie~ *~A Celebration Vacation~* ~Surprises~ Sleeping With the Window Open
What Did You Do Today? Self Defense Class ~Short Sweet Snippets~ § Summer Spin § Story Challenge Submission Pajamas

OK........ First of all... no one has mentioned the fact that you should consult with your doctor before any real diet/fitness program. I hope you do at least pick up the phone and chat with your doctor and/or nutritionist.

For those of you that can't be bothered to roll off your Lazy Boy or overstuffed sofa's to walk to your doctor, I've brought the doctor to you! Remember his words when you need to relieve some of your daily stress and feel like slipping back your old EASY mode of stuffing your face! OK... read on and enjoy!

I love this Doctor


Q: Doctor, I've heard that cardiovascular exercise can prolong life; is this true?
A: Your heart is only good for so many beats, and that's it... don't waste them on exercise. Everything wears out eventually. Speeding up your heart will not make you live longer; that's like saying you can extend the life of your car by driving it faster. Want to live longer? Take a nap.

Q: Should I cut down on meat and eat more fruits and vegetables?
A: You must grasp logistical efficiencies. What does a cow eat? Hay and corn. And what are these? Vegetables. So a steak is nothing more than an efficient mechanism of delivering vegetables to your system. Need grain? Eat chicken. Beef is also a good source of field grass (green leafy vegetable). And a pork chop can give you 100% of your recommended daily allowance of vegetable products.

Q: Should I reduce my alcohol intake?
A: No, not at all. Wine is made from fruit. Brandy is distilled wine, that means they take the water out of the fruity bit so you get even more of the goodness that way. Beer is also made out of grain. Bottoms up!
Q: How can I calculate my body/fat ratio?
A: Well, if you have a body and you have fat, your ratio is one to one. If you have two bodies, your ratio is two to one, etc.

Q: What are some of the advantages of participating in a regular exercise program?
A: Can't think of a single one, sorry. My philosophy is: No Pain...Good!

Q: Aren't fried foods bad for you?
A: YOU'RE NOT LISTENING!!! .... Foods are fried these days in vegetable oil. In fact, they're permeated in it. How could getting more vegetables be bad for you?

Q: Will sit-ups help prevent me from getting a little soft around the middle?
A: Definitely not! When you exercise a muscle, it gets bigger. You should only be doing sit-ups if you want a bigger stomach.

Q: Is chocolate bad for me?
A: Are you crazy? HELLO Cocoa beans! Another vegetable!!! It's the best feel-good food around!

Q: Is swimming good for your figure?
A: If swimming is good for your figure, explain whales to me.

Q: Is getting in-shape important for my lifestyle?
A: Hey! 'Round' is a shape!

Well, I hope this has cleared up any misconceptions you may have had about food and diets.

And remember:

'Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways - Chardonnay in one hand - chocolate in the other - body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming 'WOO HOO, What a Ride'
AND.....

For those of you who watch what you eat, here's the final word on nutrition and health. It's a relief to know the truth after all those conflicting nutritional studies.

1. The Japanese eat very little fat
and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.

2. The Mexicans eat a lot of fat
and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.

3. The Chinese drink very little red wine
and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.

4. The Italians drink a lot of red wine
and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.

5. The Germans drink a lot of beers and eat lots of sausages and fats and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.

CONCLUSION

Eat and drink what you like.
Speaking English is apparently what kills you.

__________________
My Only Two Stories Anywhere!

Afternoon Delight

Delightful Rendezvous!

Is the love I gave her in the past, gonna be enough to last, if tomorrow never comes........

Had a much better day. Got a cuppa coffee around lunch time for a nice change and that helped keep me going. I also had my favorite smoothie for an afternoon snack. People are noticing the changes in me. They can see I feel better and that I am much more positive.

__________________

The practice of putting women on pedestals began to die out when it was discovered that they could give orders better from there.~ Betty Grable

If I wanted your opinion, I'd remove the duct tape and ask you for it.~ Me
<~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~>
One man's dream is another man's nightmare~~~~> §¤ Lilith ¤§
~>My Scribbles<~
==>Gone Shopping<== ~Just a Quickie~ *~A Celebration Vacation~* ~Surprises~ Sleeping With the Window Open
What Did You Do Today? Self Defense Class ~Short Sweet Snippets~ § Summer Spin § Story Challenge Submission Pajamas

Coaster, thanks for the tips and the laugh, I needed it

Lilith that ab lounger looks great! Mine is a more simple model, one that goes on the floor but the same kind of idea, helping to keep the right position when doing sit-ups. Glad you've had a better day today

Today was easier for me, much more so than yesterday. Food I've eaten today has been healthy, I've not craved sweet things so much, and I walked further in the same amount of time. I am a little concerned about my ankles and achilles tendon as I tend to hold my left ankle a little stiffly on the treadmill, and I've had problems with my achilles tendon my right leg in the past. I got a twinge today before I walked but it settled and didn't hurt whilst I was walking. Hopefully if I stretch then it shouldn't cause me to have to stop.

I feel like I've past the hurdle of the first couple of days, and now I'm looking forward to weighing myself on Monday to see how I'm doing

1nutworld, good to see you

Well, just thought I would give an update.

It has been a bit slow starting to get the walking plan going. We have been fighting some kind of stomach bug here. My daughter had it first, then me, and now her again. Thank goodness my son has not had it. But our appetite is not that great so maybe we are loosing some weight not in a good way though. I our health is a bit more important than the scale or inches at this point.

Oh well, tommorrow is another day. I will start it then. Still cleaning my house from the illness...and that is a work out in itself.

Talk later....

Nat

__________________
DAMN, YOU ARE A SEXY ONE-skipthisone

I beleive in the sweet spot, soft-core pornography, opening your presents Christmas morning rather than Christmas Eve, and I beleive in long, slow, deep, soft, wet kisses that last three days. Kevin Costner/Bull Duram

"Your body as well as mine has needs. This is juat a little foreplay to highten our desire for each other. If we play out the game of love to it's natural conclusion, you'll experience fulfillment. Give yourself up to me and I'll guide you along the path to pareadise. Together we will be like fire and ice, love and hate, life and death." Virginia Henley

WANTED: a moment when you kiss someone and eveything around you becomes hazy. And the only thing in focus is you and this person and you relize that he is the only person your suppose to kiss for the rest of your life. And for one moment you get this amazing gift. You want to laugh and you want to cry. Cause you feel so lucky that you found it and so scared it will all go away at the same time.

I hope the bug leaves you all soon, Nat. That is one thing I really dread, stomach bugs are no fun at all, especially when they hop back and forth between family members

I have had a good day again today, eating healthy food and completing day 3 of my walking plan. I roasted a chicken today and removed and discarded the skin as soon as it came out of the oven so I wasn't tempted to eat it. Much as I love chicken skin, I can't afford the calories I have some leftover chicken I plan to mix with risoni and some vegetables to make a large salad and eat it over the next couple of days.

So far, so good

Posting quickly now as I'm craving sugar in the form of cakes and chocolate I am about to start today's walk and hope that once I'm finished the craving will be gone. I feel better just writing it down

I hope everyone is doing well, and Nat, I hope you and your family are feeling somewhat better today

I completed Day Four of the walking plan

It's only 20 minutes each day this week so not a lot, but it fixed my craving

Yes we are better...sore but better. We all went back to school and work today. Still havent started the walk plan but we are working on recovery at this point.

I am going to kick start everything this weekend by cleaning the yard...brush and all. Cutting some trees back and just general yard work.

As far as the eating. doing good. we are cutting back, drinking more water, no sodas...except today it was really good too. I only had 1 cup, 3 oz to be exact. for the last two days lived on saltine crackers and sprite. So I thought I one cup wouldn't hurt.

Oh well....sexy here I come.

Nat.

__________________
DAMN, YOU ARE A SEXY ONE-skipthisone

I beleive in the sweet spot, soft-core pornography, opening your presents Christmas morning rather than Christmas Eve, and I beleive in long, slow, deep, soft, wet kisses that last three days. Kevin Costner/Bull Duram

"Your body as well as mine has needs. This is juat a little foreplay to highten our desire for each other. If we play out the game of love to it's natural conclusion, you'll experience fulfillment. Give yourself up to me and I'll guide you along the path to pareadise. Together we will be like fire and ice, love and hate, life and death." Virginia Henley

WANTED: a moment when you kiss someone and eveything around you becomes hazy. And the only thing in focus is you and this person and you relize that he is the only person your suppose to kiss for the rest of your life. And for one moment you get this amazing gift. You want to laugh and you want to cry. Cause you feel so lucky that you found it and so scared it will all go away at the same time.

Glad to hear you're feeling better! Good idea to recover completely before starting the plan Have fun clearing the yard, that's great exercise

Glad everyone is positive and making progress. Very cool! FWM, I like that you actually wrote down a plan and are committing to it (mine is just in my head). Lil, I am thrilled people can see your changes already

I went to the gym 5 of the past 7 days, and walked for an hour each day that I didn't go to the gym. I've also been trying to work in some house cleaning daily to increase the additional calorie burn. Yesterday I scrubbed the bathrooms - today I plan to vacuum.

I've been eating somewhat smaller portions. I got a salad instead of a burger on Wednesday, and today I ordered cole slaw instead of fries. I'm trying to leave at least a little food on my plate for every meal. And I wanted to snack tonight, so I had carrots and hummus. Hummus is still high calorie, but at least it's good for you.

I've been doing "average" cario but LOTS of extra weights...and my muscles have been sore. I think I'll reward myself tonight with a bath.

So far, I am down 1 lb.

__________________
Life is too short not to love and be loved....preferably multiple times in one night.

I think men talk to women so they can sleep with them and women sleep with men so they can talk to them. ~ Jay McInerney

Sounds like you're doing great, osuche

I've found that if I write down my goals here, I feel more accountable, and however tough it is I'm more likely to stick with it than risk if I fail If previous attempts are anything to go by I will likely hit a wall a few weeks in and risk jacking it in completely. If I can get past that by posting here, I should be good for another few weeks.

Hummus, I lurve hummus! I try to make my own so I can use the minimum amount of oil without it being too dry, usually adding sun-dried tomatoes, and leaving out the tahini.

I haven't walked yet today but should get time to do that within the next two hours. I'll post here when I'm done