Gotta lose some LB's

[Sheryl]

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]

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]

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?

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]

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.

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.

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]

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

What brand is it?

 

[Patrick]

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

Volleyball.

 

[Outtahere]

What brand is it?

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

 

[Nords]

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

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]

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]

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]

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]

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.

 

[bdk]

Dancing: the vertical expression of an horizontal desire...
I forgot who is the author of the phrase above, but s/he sure said it well!

 

[Cut-Throat]

Dancing: the vertical expression of an horizontal desire...
I forgot who is the author of the phrase above, but s/he sure said it well!

This reminds me of one of my favorite Jokes.

Why don't Baptists make love standing up?



Wait for it!










Here it comes!





Because it might lead to Dancing!

 

[haha]

In the many years of our marriage my wife and I have had more strife over dancing than any thing else. Yet we keep on doing it. (Dancing, and staying maried.)

Most but not all the jealousy is on her side. I get fussed at her because she will devote a lot of effort to dance forms that I am not particularly drawn to, but very little to my favorites. I wanted to compete in >50 Lindy Hop, but she kept dragging her feet. I could easily find another steady partner, but then my life with wife would get more complcated.

It sounds absurd, and probably is, but what can I say? I can only play the game I know, and mine (nor hers) doesn't include boredom.

BTW, swing dancing can be very intense making big anerobic demands. It is really good fitnes activity if the partner thing can be solved. Also, lots of the dance groups have events that are over by 11:30 or midnight, unlike Latin which aroungd here at least has taken on the character of its home countries, and is usually just getting started by 11 PM or so.

Ha

 

[Sheryl]

So, I just had a 9lb 9oz baby the other day (Sunday). 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.

Congrats on the baby J Lu! I agree with your philosophy of setting goals. I've been back to running (jogging) for about 4 mos. after an illness. I typically do 3 mi. so I hope to start doing some 5k's as soon as I'm back to about 9 min. miles. It's too depressing bringing up the rear... (unless you're pushing a stroller!)

My secret goal is to do a "tandem marathon" next September. One person runs the first half and the partner runs the other. That way I can go first, fall behind, and my partner can come in and pick up a bunch of places and feel like a he-man.

 

[dmpi]

My secret goal is to do a "tandem marathon" next September. One person runs the first half and the partner runs the other. That way I can go first, fall behind, and my partner can come in and pick up a bunch of places and feel like a he-man.

At first I thought you were going to hold hands for the whole marathon. But I see you mean something different. I once saw a couple holding hands on mile 20. I wanted so much to run right between them!

 

[Nords]

My secret goal is to do a "tandem marathon" next September. One person runs the first half and the partner runs the other.

You go first. Don't wait for me!

 

[Buckeye]

Over the last 15 years I slowly put on 40 pounds. I exercised heavily during a few periods over those years but weight loss never happened until I joined Weight Watchers (simplified calorie counting) in June 2005. It took me 7 months to lose the 40 pounds and I have kept it off for about 11 months. I never exercised once during the weight loss period although I have now started weight-lifting to add additional muscle mass that needs calories.

For years, I used the "no time for exercise" excuse for not trying to lose weight but as several folks have mentioned, if you use more calories than you consume you will lose weight whether you exercise or not. What I did learn during the weight loss is that I have to eat a lot and often. Getting very hungry leads to over-eating so I have to be sure there is always healthy, high-fiber, moderate fat food around. I have taken my lunch to work everyday since June 2005 and it is filled with healthy things for me to eat all day long. They call me the eating machine!

 

[haha]

I joined Weight Watchers (simplified calorie counting) in June 2005. It took me 7 months to lose the 40 pounds and I have kept it off for about 11 months.

Way to go Buckeye! Great achievement.

Ha

 

[Nords]

What I did learn during the weight loss is that I have to eat a lot and often. Getting very hungry leads to over-eating so I have to be sure there is always healthy, high-fiber, moderate fat food around. I have taken my lunch to work everyday since June 2005 and it is filled with healthy things for me to eat all day long. They call me the eating machine!

One of the big problems with working is that it's tough to find the time to eat, let alone to eat healthy or frequent small meals.

Our 9th-grader has been enamored of school lunches since kindergarten. This year she even started catching the early bus to eat a school breakfast as well as a school lunch. Over the years I've offered to share the savings with her if she brownbags but she's always declined. She has a theoretical understanding of good nutrition but a very strong emotional understanding of her tastebuds. She's extremely active and at the high-normal range of her weight with lots of muscle so she's been building the muscle or burning the food as fast as she eats it. She's just not interested in eating any more healthy than she thinks she already does.

Until this week. Their science teacher has them keeping a "Wellness Journal" of what they eat, how much they exercise, and how much they sleep. The food diary is backed up by a database tracking their calories & nutrients. She wants to get an "A" on this project so she's been digging into it and looking for extra ways to kiss up expand the research.

As she analyzed her food consumption she was horrified to realize that the school meals that she loves & trusts so much are actually the junkiest of junk food, just one step short of eating raw sugar atop heaping spoonsful of lard. (Guess what? Mom & Dad have been cooking healthy after all!) The sense of betrayal hit her pretty hard and suddenly she's ready to brown-bag it. The profit-sharing will be an even more pleasant bonus... I wonder if this is how Ralph Nader got started?

Experiential learning has been far more instructive than parental lectures ever could be.

 

[Buckeye]

Haha,

Thanks for the positive feedback. In WW-speak we call postive stuff like that NSV's (non-scale victories). Unless I start running marathons, I will be counting points (calories) forever. Or someday I might actually develop that all important feedback mechanism (that my slender husband has) that says "stop eating when you are full!"