Gotta lose some LB's

[Sheryl]

Quote:

Some of us might see this as long-overdue vengeance

Yeah. I find that there is very little sympathy in the world for a size 4 who's suddenly a 6 or 8. Sigh.

I hope you are right about the muscle mass. I have absurdly huge calves - I guess from biking a lot years ago. They were pretty flabby, but are now feeling a little better... Now to keep up the jogging in the dark wind and rain...that will be the challenge.

[FinanceDude]

I have lost 16 pounds since October 1st of this year. Wakeup call was my GP, who said she wants me to lose 50 POUNDS!!

I have gotten a little more exercise, but mostly I did it by THINKING about what I ate and why.........and I dsicovered I was snacking all day for no reason........

Bottom line? Non-fat pretzels don't mean you can eat a whole bag, etc.........

But, the test will be from now untio New Years Eve..........this time of a year is a TEST to all dieters............I'll let you know how Thanksgiving goes...........

[haha]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sheryl Now to keep up the jogging in the dark wind and rain...that will be the challenge.

Also potentially dangerous, from traffic or predators. Try a health club. The are well lit, full of energy, after a few visits people greet you with friendliness- it costs a few bucks but IMO it is worth it.

Ha

[Donzo]

Since retiring 7/1 this year - I have lost 12 lbs and I'm back in my 32s. I always knew the company paid lunches and dinners were gettin me!

Also have been working out - best part - w/ my 12 yos- great time together.

[flipstress]

I have lost 5 lbs in the last two weeks. I have gone on the South Beach diet. I thought it would be very hard to give up rice and salty chips, but it's not so bad. The meal plans allow for eating six times a day.

The hardest part is having to plan meals instead of just eating what I want. I deviated somewhat from the meal plans so did not lose the 8 to 10 pounds estimated for the first two weeks. I am now in Phase 2 where I can reintroduce more foods like oatmeal, fruits, etc.

I've started to run but only on the weekends; I walk almost everyday to catch the bus--not very long walks, maybe 4 to 5 blocks, but they help. I want to get back to lifting light weights but I'll just wait until after the holidays.

Good luck, Bobot!

[Sheryl]

Quote:

Originally Posted by HaHa Also potentially dangerous, from traffic or predators. Try a health club. The are well lit, full of energy, after a few visits people greet you with friendliness- it costs a few bucks but IMO it is worth it. Ha

Yeah, I'm thinking about it. But I've joined 2-3 times before, and end up not going and being annoyed at myself for wasting money.

We run on the high school track so traffic is not a problem, and SO at least, and usually several other joggers and soccer players and ultimate frisbeers and such are around. But a nice dry health club is sounding better and better.

[Khan]

Quote:

Originally Posted by FinanceDude I have lost 16 pounds since October 1st of this year. Wakeup call was my GP, who said she wants me to lose 50 POUNDS!! I have gotten a little more exercise, but mostly I did it by THINKING about what I ate and why.........and I dsicovered I was snacking all day for no reason........ Bottom line? Non-fat pretzels don't mean you can eat a whole bag, etc......... But, the test will be from now untio New Years Eve..........this time of a year is a TEST to all dieters............I'll let you know how Thanksgiving goes...........

One thing I have found very helpful is to always serve your food. Even if it's a snack, put a portion on a (not so big) plate.

That mindless eating will get you.

[Nords]

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Originally Posted by Sheryl Now to keep up the jogging in the dark wind and rain...that will be the challenge.

People think that Navy SEALS are crazy for working under those conditions, too! I wonder if those endorphins kick in quicker when the conditions are worse?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sheryl Yeah, I'm thinking about it. But I've joined 2-3 times before, and end up not going and being annoyed at myself for wasting money. But a nice dry health club is sounding better and better.

We've done all of the above-- outdoor tracks, fitness centers, and home gyms.

The only truly effective option for us (unless you're next door to the fitness center) has been the home gym. When our kid says that she's going to run 3x/week it only takes a minute for us to call her bluff her to get going on the treadmill. Even with a nearby fitness center there's the hours, the traffic, forgetting your water bottle, the crowds, and so on. The big advantage of the fitness center is that you can try a bunch of different machines, pick out the ones you like, and then wait for Craigslist to sell them at 75% off retail. In our case it was talking with the staff in the cruise ship's fitness center.

If your calves are bulked up from bicycling then you must've had one heckuvan Olympic-class ankle turn. The good news is that if you're not cycling as much then in three or four years they'll gradually assume more normal dimensions.

[Sheryl]

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Originally Posted by Nords People think that Navy SEALS are crazy for working under those conditions, too! I wonder if those endorphins kick in quicker when the conditions are worse?

I think that they do. If you have the personality for it. I like to imagine myself persevering through insurmountable odds. That's hard on the treadmill. I would have done something like being a SEAL if I'd been male, I think. I've always had a weird fascination for the extreme - I don't want to just backpack for a week, I want to hike the whole PCT. I don't want to just climb Mt. Baker, I want to climb Everest. I know that's nuts, and I never will, but it fascinates me.

Quote:

We've done all of the above-- outdoor tracks, fitness centers, and home gyms. The only truly effective option for us (unless you're next door to the fitness center) has been the home gym. The big advantage of the fitness center is that you can try a bunch of different machines, pick out the ones you like, and then wait for Craigslist to sell them at 75% off retail.

I agree. But this house is too small. No garage, no basement. One spare room filled with desks and computers. Not even room for SO's weight bench, though I encouraged him to wedge it between the computers and the futon.

Quote:

If your calves are bulked up from bicycling then you must've had one heckuvan Olympic-class ankle turn. The good news is that if you're not cycling as much then in three or four years they'll gradually assume more normal dimensions.

I don't know much about muscles, obviously. I always assumed it was the biking because that was my main activity from about age 10-18. I ran cross-country some too, but it's been almost 30 years since then, and they're still there here. Maybe I just have freakishly huge calves naturally. Makes it hard to wear those cute high boots, or pencil thin jeans.

So what would be a good sport for a person with freakishly large calf muscles to take up?

[Outtahere]

I have a really small house too, I bought a fold up treadmill, takes up very little space.

[Sheryl]

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Originally Posted by Outtahere I have a really small house too, I bought a fold up treadmill, takes up very little space.

What brand is it?

[Patrick]

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Originally Posted by Sheryl So what would be a good sport for a person with freakishly large calf muscles to take up?

Volleyball.

[Outtahere]

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Originally Posted by Sheryl What brand is it?

It's a Keys but there are several companies that make them.

[Nords]

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Originally Posted by Sheryl So what would be a good sport for a person with freakishly large calf muscles to take up?

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Originally Posted by Patrick Volleyball.

Basketball. Tae kwon do (or any leg-heavy martial art). Surfing. Snowboarding. Skiing. Skateboarding. And, of course, dancing...

[Sheryl]

Thanks guys.

I'm way too uncoordinated for volleyball or basketball, not to mention dancing. Too cold for surfing around here, but I do love skiing (maybe THAT'S where the freakish calves evolved).

Maybe I'll look into Tae kwon do... when I E.R.

[sailor]

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Originally Posted by Sheryl I'm way too uncoordinated for volleyball or basketball, not to mention dancing.

Don't give up - do you like dancing? Good instructor, good partner and some practice can do a lot.
But only if you like it. I'll never be any good but I still like to do it.
sailor,
who met Mrs. Sailor while ballroom dancing.

[haha]

Quote:

Originally Posted by sailor sailor, who met Mrs. Sailor while ballroom dancing.

It's for this reason that I think dancing can be tricky for a couple to take up. Dancing isn't quite like other active pastimes, in that it was designed to stimulate sexual desire.

Maybe you take up jogging together. One loves it, the other not so much. Well, not perfect but not too bad. All the one who doesn't like it loses is some companionship.

Take up dancing, one gets hooked, or has quite a bit of talent or whatever, but the other is neutral to negative.

Now what? When your SO starts coming home at 2 AM smelling of perfume/cologne are you happy that she/he is happy? Or if you insist on going, you feel inadequate and maybe at least somewhat jealous of all those who seem so eager to dance with your gal/guy. It may be "only dancing", but realistically, 1/2 the single attendees at any dance function are looking for hookups.

OTOH, it really is fun!



Ha

[sailor]

Quote:

Originally Posted by HaHa Now what? When your SO starts coming home at 2 AM smelling of perfume/cologne are you happy that she/he is happy? Or if you insist on going, you feel inadequate and maybe at least somewhat jealous of all those who seem so eager to dance with your gal/guy. It may be "only dancing", but realistically, 1/2 the single attendees at any dance function are looking for hookups. OTOH, it really is fun!

Ha,
good insight to dancing dynamics, fortunately for us we both really like to dance. Mrs. Sailor has definitely more talent than I do, but I'm doing my best having a lot of fun at it.
And in the past I've sent her alone dancing and she did the same to me (well, somebody needed to stay with little sailor at home) and we were both happy that another got some fun and practice/exercise at the same time.
Both of us actually like to try to dance with other people to improve our skills anyway - one a typical dance night out we probably dance with each other about half time , the rest of it is with different partners.

[Sheryl]

Quote:

Originally Posted by sailor Don't give up - do you like dancing? Good instructor, good partner and some practice can do a lot. But only if you like it. I'll never be any good but I still like to do it. sailor,who met Mrs. Sailor while ballroom dancing.

I've always wished I could dance...especially swing. But my attempts have been pathetic. The few times I've tried, my partners have said things like, "Why do you keep trying to lead, just follow..." I don't know what I'm doing that's leading, and I guess I don't know how to follow. Must be a personality problem.

There is a great club here called U Me Dance, that teaches swing and ballroom.

Mr. Sheryl has no interest right now, in his limited free time...but maybe after ER I can convince him... Ah, ER that valhalla world where there is time for everything.

Sigh.

Ha- I wouldn't take it up without him entirely - I'd rather find something else we enjoy together. But we are not the jealous types - so I think if we were at the same event but dancing with different partners, as Sailor mentioned, it would work out fine.

OTOH, Tae kwon do might be a better fit for us - he enjoyed and was good at karate when he was younger.

[J-Lu]

So, I just had a 9lb 9oz baby the other day (Sunday). I stepped on the scale this morning to find that I only lost 11 lbs!! I gained 30 lbs total, so you can see my disappointment. Fortunately, I think about 1/2 of the remaining weight is water weight that will drop off fairly quickly in the next couple of weeks. Then I will be on a mission to find a good double jogger on craigslist. Running/weight training is really what works for me. I found a few years ago that a good motivation for running is to train for a race - a 5k or 10k is a good starting point if you are not a runner. A 1/2 marathon or even a marathon is great if you are an over-acheiver. I also agree with what others have said about weight training boosting your metabolism. Replacing muscle weight with fat does wonders. I've kept a pair of "skinny jeans" as an indicator of when I've arrived at my ideal weight.