Anyone Interested in a FReeper Weight Loss and Exercise Thread? (Vanity)

3/10/6 | me

[retrokitten]

That's what we are here for! To motivate each other.

I walk every day for 20 minutes but I like candy too much.

I hear that. I'm a candy-holic, too. Some things I just have to completely avoid. Like Twizzlers.

[Fury]

Count me in...

On 12/27, I weighed ~225 pounds and am 6' tall. I did not look fat, but I felt fat. I gained that weight after I got married - regular meals and all.

Since then, I've lost 14 pounds (weighed myself last on 02/28). My short-term goal is ~205 by 03/21 = my next doctor's appointment. Long term, I want to get down to 190-195.

The main thing has been stop the snacking, eat small meals during the day and what I do eat is sensible portions. I've done very little exercise, but the weather is supposed to break this week, so I'll start walking, then running again.

[SuziQ]

As Freepers we spend a whole bunch of time in front of our computers and more then a few of us could do with some exercise and probably a little weight loss.

I'm in!! Put me on whatever ping list. I know what I need to do, I just have to get up off my big fanny and DO IT! I'm on FR all day from time to time, so knowing I can chat with folks and be accountable to someone else who is doing the same thing will be nice. I've got over 100 pounds to lose, and I'm sliding into the change of life, so I'm expecting it will take me at least a couple of years to lose it.

Can we do a 'weigh-in day' once a week, and, if we want, we can say how much we've lost? That will help us encourage each other.

[Steve_Seattle]

My diet was not so much to lose weight, but to control high blood sugar, high blood pressure, high cholesterol; it worked for those purposes, and the weight loss was a by-product. My doctor's main point was that, whatever you come up with, it has to be sustainable, something you can live with indefinitely.

[demkicker]

Yep, I exercised Mon-Fri when on Atkins both times and again, it worked wonders the first go around.

Exercise will be a key component in my next venture. I do need to make a decision soon. I just got the Winsor Pilates circle and a workout disc, but my darn DVD player isn't hooked up. Will need to get some help moving things around to get it connected so I can start working out with it. Have a new bicycle that I enjoy riding & a stationary bike type for when the weather is too yucky. Also have some dumbell weights. I'm about all set to go, just hate giving up my daily happy hour but must do so for several weeks if I want results!

[retrokitten]

You're added!

[Steve_Seattle]

"I've got over 100 pounds to lose"

I don't believe in those one-size-fits-all weight charts; some people are naturally more heavy than others of the same height. I am naturally slender, and am 6'1, so my ideal weight is about 170-175. But other men who are 6'1 might have a different frame, and 190-200 might be just fine for them, whereas for me it would be overweight. So, if you think you need to lose 100 pounds, make sure that's realistic for your basic body type.

[retrokitten]

Can we do a 'weigh-in day' once a week, and, if we want, we can say how much we've lost? That will help us encourage each other.

That sounds great! I am open to suggestions. I was thinking of putting up the thread Wednesday or Thursday to help keep us motivated through the weekend.

[SuziQ]

Is there a place near you that offers Hydrobics (water aerobics). Since you're in the water, even with jumping, there is negligible impact, but if you get a good instructor, you WILL get a good workout! If there is a 'Y' near you, check that out. Some colleges also offer classes to the community.

[mysterio]

Can you be more specific? What about carbs, sugars & alcohol?

Yes, but take it with the disclaimer that this diet might be unsafe for some people. I was 30 and about 100 pounds overweight when I started my first diet, and I was down to about 60 pounds overweight when I started the drastic one.

I decided to keep calories between 800-900 per day. I started with a two day fast. I drank some water and diet soda those two days. On the third day, I probably had around 600 calories. I didn't care much where the calories came from, since that was the only thing I was eating that day. I think I had a fish sandwich and some fries.

After that, I kept it pegged between 800-900 calories for months. On a typical day, I had nothing for breakfast, a ham sandwich (low calorie bread, one slice of ham, and nonfat cheese) for lunch, and a lean cuisine for dinner with possibly a few slices of bread. I only avoided high fat stuff because it was high calorie. Ever week or two, I would have McDonalds or fast food or something. Usually on those days I would still keep it below 1,000 calories, and I still lost weight. Alcohol : I stuck to vodka. 50 calories per ounce. Yes, I did a bit of drinking.

Excercise? I sing in a band that is fairly high energy about once a week. That was about all of the excercise I got, but it was pretty intense. After I dropped the weight, I started doing a lot of situps to try and tone my shrunken stomach. I do 400 a day several times a week now.

So I started at 267, lost 40 over the course of about 7 or 8 months on a normal diet, and then I started the drastic diet and lost 60 in about 5 months. I'm around 167 now (about 5'11 or 6'0").

The negative aspect is that my metabolism is still kind of screwed up. If I top 1,500 or so calories in a day, I start to gain, so I am still eating really light. I weigh myself every day. I probably don't get enough to eat by anyone's standards right now, but I will never let myself get overweight again.

The diet was a little extreme, I admit. But I tried everything else, and I couldn't stick to it because my body would just adjust and I would stop losing weight. Please don't start a really intense low calorie diet if you think you might experience health problems. I wouldn't want my experience to cause a negative consequence for anyone else.

[SuziQ]

BTW, I love WATP! I got some of the weighted balls, though mine are 2lbs each. It is a good workout; even the one mile walk!

[Dante3]

LOL!

[retrokitten]

I have little hand weights that I use that I think are 4 pounds each. You so are right, it is a really great workout. It gets you in shape fast. I know this sounds stupid, but I like there is no floor work in it. I hate floor work on an exercise video. They are never living room friendly.

[I want to know]

Please add me to the list. This is the perfect time of year to start a diet/exercise program. Spring is just around the corner and summer is quickly approaching. Even at a modest weight loss of 1-2 pounds per week, one could lose 10-25 pounds by June. And you have so many incentives to lose weight - the major one being a swimsuit!

[retrokitten]

You're added!

[Steve_Seattle]

basic weight loss tips I've picked up over the last year:

1. Greatly reduce soda, red meat, french fried potatoes, and sweets. Eliminate margarine and most whole-fat dairy products.

2. 15-25 minutes of aerobic exercise 3-5 times a week. No more than that! (It will be counterproductive.)

3. 3-4 times a week, do resistance (weight) workouts, with modest-sized weights. Muscle mass fights weight gain and lowers blood sugar.

4. Use stairs rather than elevators when possible.

5. Don't skip meals; eat light meals and light snacks.

6. Don't snack before bedtime. If you do, work it off with sex. (Weight loss doesn't have to be all pain.)

[SuziQ]

Oh, I know 100 is not excessive; I'm 5'6 1/2". I could probably stand to lose more like 120, but I'm not gonna push it. I'm not looking to be a Skinny Minnie. I'm generally healthy, no high blood pressure, no heart disease, no diabetes and normal cholesterol. I haven't had any joint or bone problems, yet, either. I just want to stave off any health problems for the future which I KNOW will crop up if I don't get the weight off.

[demkicker]

The negative aspect is that my metabolism is still kind of screwed up.

Thanks, but I'll probably pass on this. It sounds too much like what I experienced on Atkins with my metabolism (see post #202). I really think I'll just eat sensibly, avoid alcohol for several weeks and exercise my gut & butt off (literally, I hope)!

[Steve_Seattle]

800-900 calories a day

Wow, that's pretty strict. I don't know how you've kept that up. That'a about half of what "they" say you can eat and still lose weight, unless you are a tiny person.

[retrokitten]

15-25 minutes of aerobic exercise 3-5 times a week. No more than that! (It will be counterproductive.)

Oh I so agree with you on that! A while ago I hit a plateu, so I went from working out not at all to working out 5x a week. I GAINED 2 pounds! I was furious. I went cut it back to 3x a week and lost 2.5 pounds the next week.