<p>Hello, my name is Eileen, and I am a sugar addict…</p>
<p>Been buying those coco pop things at Wegmans. Only 16 calories. Good with hummus or peanut butter or anything spread really. I like them! And they just can’t be bad for you…right?</p>
<p>Cardinal:</p>
<p>I haven’t played around with the calories on the g-map pedometer, but I saw some discussion of it on their forums. I think it’s based on running and doesn’t change when you switch to cycling. So, it’s really, really inaccurate for cycling.</p>
<p>Thanks toneranger for the peptalk on weight fluctuations. </p>
<p>Folks, I am happy to announce that after three months I have lost 30 pounds. I hope never to find them again.</p>
<p>^^^Congratulations, that is great! </p>
<p>Just keep in mind how great you feel right now whenever you are tempted to stray from good habits, and probably they will stay lost.</p>
<p>I lost a bit over 25 pounds a few years ago, and as far as I am concerned, they will never be back.</p>
<p>30 pounds sabaray? That is terrific!!!</p>
<p>Zowie sabaray, Congratulations!!</p>
<p>That’s fantastic, Sabaray.</p>
<p>On weight fluctuations: after my hardest exercise week yet and a week where I avoided the snack feedbag entirely, I had huge fluctuations at the end of the week. Big one day drop followed by a one day gain without explanation. I think the fluctuations are mosly water. The big one day drop was weighing myself first thing in the morning after I exercised at night, the night before.</p>
<p>Melsmom,
If you are sugar addict, did you try honey and chocolate? Work for me, have plenty every day, do not affect weight.</p>
<p>Sabaray - WOW!</p>
<p>I am so happy for you. I really think we can all help each other meet our goals, maintain our goals, and get back on track if we need encouragement!</p>
<p>Thanks for the encouragement, everyone. This thread has been a real motivator. </p>
<p>The positive thing about this is that I have indeed had some slip-ups and some indulgences along the way. But i have noticed that my “taste” has changed. So the foods I am over-indulging in are far better for me than the entire dozen donuts I have been known to consume in the past. </p>
<p>I started off as a gym rat when I had my D home to partner with. Now I am mostly taking vigorous walks with the dog, which we both enjoy. Trying to do some alternate jogging/walking activity as well. </p>
<p>Nothing too radical, nothing too extreme. Seems to be working.</p>
<p>Great job, sabaray. I haven’t posted lately, but this thread has been an enormous motivator for me, too. I’ve lost 7 pounds in 3 months. Only a few more to go. I know it doesn’t sound like much, but a few pounds make a difference on a small frame. Anyway, way back in January, someone (abasket, I believe) recommended thedailyplate. Thank you, thank you. It has been the key for me; lets me know “the cost” of what I’m eating, keeps me honest, and shows just how valuable exercise is in the whole process. A friend and I also decided to be “exercise buddies.” If you can find someone who wants to work as hard as you do and with whom you’re compatible, I highly recommend it. The workouts fly by (half our conversation is about recipes!) and you cheer each other on. Plus if you say you’ll be there, you have to. As Woody Allen said (I think it was him) showing up is half the battle.</p>
<p>The iPod nazi beat me like a rented mule today. I knew it was coming. All the exercises kicked up a notch. </p>
<p>Lunges > lunge walking
Step up with press > step up with curl and press
Stability ball crunches > cruches with twist
Ball squats with curl > ball squat with lateral raises</p>
<p>The plank and the pushups stayed the same, except all six exercises went from 30 seconds to 45 seconds.</p>
<p>I hung in there pretty well on the first circuit, but was panting like dog on the second set. Had to throw in lots of recovery minutes. But, the good news is that I got thru them. I had real doubts about being able to do 45 seconds of plank, but I did it twice. </p>
<p>The ball squats with lateral raises on the way up burn the thighs like there’s no tomorrow. I was thinking about Toneranger and her leg presses. This is a very cool exercise, because you are “exploding” the arms up to the sides with the dumbbells as you come up out of the squat with the thighs. It’s a real full-body exercise.</p>
<p>At the end of the circuits, eight minutes of hard intervals on the bike. 10 seconds fast, 30 seconds recovery, repeat 12 times, then cool down for five minutes on the bike. I did three miles in those 13 minutes after the circuits.</p>
<p>I saw my highest heart rate yet: 94% of max. I also saw the highest 60 second recovery in my heart rate dropping, which is a very good sign of improving fitness.</p>
<p>All in all, I’m happy to have gotten through this workout, which ended up being one hour with an average heart rate of 80% of max (inc. the extra rests). I think I’ll be repeating this week a few times, which is OK. I’m not in any hurry. As the extra weight comes off, all of this will get easier.</p>
<p>Sabaray - You go, girl! That is so great!</p>
<p>Thanks eddie! I have to say you have been a big part of my motivation. You should think about a career as a personal motivator. I think you’d be tremendously successful!</p>
<p>Awesome news sabaray. Sounds like you’re taking a long-term approach vs. going on a diet and exercise jag. Very cool.</p>
<p>eddie and sabaray - wow! Keep going!</p>
<p>We are such are dedicated bunch! I love this thread. It helps me me push myself (my IRL partner DH is my other motivator).</p>
<p>I just ran 5 freaking K on my treadmill in under 24 minutes - yipee!!! I fess up, I cheated a bit because I ran it on a very flat course. But still :D! And I was not dead when I finished it.</p>
<p>iDad – I feel so puny in my efforts compared to you. Keep going. Amazing.</p>
<p>Yes, I feel like a slug too after IDads account. I have my PT session tomorrow so I don’t want to kill myself today. Would love a walk but we have a drenching rain out there. Might go anyway :)</p>
<p>On another topic. I’m wondering if any of you have any suggestions for getting more fiber in my diet without adding much in the way of calories. As it is, I eat lots of fruit and veggies. A high fiber small muffin in the morning. Whole grains like brown rice and quinoa at dinner. A few almonds for snacks. But it’s not enough and I’m not sure where to turn. Help!</p>
<p>High fiber content and few calories in blackberries, raspberries, and dried beans (black, kidney, pinto, garbanzo – easy to throw a few handfuls into a salad). Sweet potatoes have decent fiber content, too.</p>