<p>NMINN: Imagine if you were to create a line graph showing your weight. It would fluctuate up and down slightly – a pound or two or even three from day to day – but as long as the general slope is downward, you’re doing fine!</p>
<p>And as mathmom pointed out, muscle does weigh more than fat. Are your clothes getting looser? Are you less winded? You’re now able to do 105 miles on the bike in a week! That’s real progress!!</p>
<p>Missypie, you’re right. It’s not about being on the cover of Sports Illustrated; it’s about being able to do things – like climbing stairs – that otherwise could be a problem.</p>
<p>Thanks all! Consolation…I needed that laugh! I was just so determined to look noticeably better for graduation this weekend! I just got back from shopping and I am wearing a smaller size top! That does help a little. My legs are so tired from the bike marathon I have been trying to do and I really am hungry all of the time since I am watching what I eat. Guess I just needed to whine. So for lunch I had some low fat cheese(I need the calcium since I don’t like milk or yogurt) and berries and am feeling better about this journey. I’ll keep working the slow but steady routine!</p>
<p>So, over the last 2 days I’ve finally had enough time to catch up on this thread – I had about 20 pages to read! Kudos to everyone making good progress on their “getting fit and healthy” efforts. </p>
<p>Since Mother’s Day I’ve lost 11 pounds (16 lbs total since Feb.), but NOT via a recommended method. I had gallbladder surgery, so not eating + no appetite for over a week means lower numbers on the scale. Now that I’m feeling 100% again, I’ll admit I’m pleased with the weight loss; my goal is to maintain it. I find I’m better with a very low fat diet, so that will help. Since recovery, my main exercise has been heavy-duty house & yard work at both our CT home and our beach house in RI. Reading all the posts about biking has inspired me to haul my bike out of the garage here at the beach for cleaning and lubricating.</p>
<p>My former hip pain has now migrated down to the thigh, and sometimes radiates into the shin. It is fairly excruciating. Last night it started when I was lying propped up on the couch. I had thought that since it comes on when lying down perhaps that would be a solution that would enable me to sleep. No dice. I took 2 ibuprofen and went to bed, woke up about 3 hours later in a lot of pain, took 2 more and went back to bed. Fruitlessly searched for any position that would reduce pain. I gave up and got up at 5:50 AM, which for this “not a morning person” is unusual, to say the least! 
</p>
<p>I tried switching from the treadmill to the elliptical: no difference. I tried taking a day off from the gym yesterday: even worse at night. My usual thing with pain situations is to wait and see if it goes away after self-care steps, and it always has, even if it took months. But this is really getting to me. I think I am going to have to break down and call the doctor’s office.</p>
<p>Consolation - ouch! Can you stop all exercises involving your legs and see what this does to your pain? I suffered from a terrible hip pain last summer and even ran a 5K with it because I did not want to let the team down. After that 5K, I quit all running and brisk walking and just did weights for my exercise. I was mentally preparing myself to go to the doctor, but in a month my pain had gradually gone down and then it was completely gone! If I had not felt any reduction in pain, I would have gone to my clinic.</p>
<p>Last night I ran 3.5 miles on my dreadmill and was pleasantly surprised that I can chat with H without running out of breath while running 8:40 min miles. Nice! I really should be running longer distances :)</p>
<p>consolation… so sorry you’ve had this setback. As someone who had sciatica when I was pregnant with D2, I know how debilitating it can be. Luckily my case was cured after D2’s delivery. Have you ever considered a chiropractor, or are you open to it? Aside from a history of sciatica, I also had bursitis in my hip, many years ago, and have actually been on crutches before because of it. I found the chiropractor had more scheduling flexibility and basically used the same physical therapy techniques that I would have gotten, had I gone to my doctor, gotten the PT prescription, then waited several days to get in. But my chiropractor is very much into the rehab aspect of injuries.</p>
<p>Are you icing the hip? (that would be the first thing both my chiro and massage therapist would ask me!)</p>
<p>CBBBlinker - sorry to hear about your surgery. It led me to wonder how many people on this board know that big weight losses can often trigger gall bladder attacks. Almost everyone that I’ve ever heard of that has had to have their gall bladder out, was currently in the process of trying to lose some serious weight.</p>
<p>As for me… still no call from the docs office, which is unusual because test results are often turned around in a day… ugh; guess I will have to wait until Tuesday now.</p>
<p>Am dealing with sick 15-year old dog issues right now (vestibular syndrome) and have found that the stress is increasing my desire for my most missed food - chocolate ice cream. Today, we have to administer fluids under her skin and I am soooo stressed out about it. I could not do it at the vet’s office yesterday, but told them they did such a good job teaching it, that I think I can teach it to my H. However, since she is having nausea issues, they have relaxed her prescription food only diet and are allowing me to give her chicken and rice… watching her eat it reminds me of how much I love my own special treats! </p>
<p>I did purchase some Skinny Cow bars, so hopefully they will fulfill my cravings, and they’re better for you than Dairy Queen.</p>
<p>Oh, and H took my bike in today for a tune-up. Will be getting it back on Thursday. Our neighbor has been riding with H a lot, and his wife is now riding, but would prefer if I’m riding with them in case the guys get too competitive with each other and leave her in the dust.</p>
<p>I hope your doggie is OK! That sounds terrible.</p>
<p>Well, not running didn’t prevent me from doing a typical over-my-head event. I went to the organized bike event with my husband and decided to try the 62 mile ride instead of the 35 that would have been more my level right now. I made it- ave. 15.9 mph and never faded. I did make a gigantic mistake and missed a turn (I was following another rider) and after about 7 miles discovered that I was on the 100 mile course. He said, “Oh, you can do it. You’re doing fine.” I said, “Uh, no. Actually I can’t. This is my 3rd bike ride and the last one was 34 miles.” I got to the rest stop and someone drove me back to the right course! Leave it to me. It got up to 87 degrees, but the course was very flat for this area (actually was mostly in Kentucky) and very pretty. Lots of cornfields and country roads. I’m sore and tired, but like the feeling of having pushed myself and accomplished a goal. I’ve missed that feeling. The rest stops were awesome. I wanted to just hang out there and eat all the great food (which I won’t elaborate since we are trying to not eat junk). My husband rode 20mph and I think was pleasantly surprised that I rolled in under my expected time.</p>
<p>MOWC: Awesome!! How is your hamstring coming?</p>
<p>Hamstring may be a little better, but still not runable. Frustrating.</p>
<p>Can anyone on here remind me of the optimal form of calcium? I know one is good and one is bad. Have been taking Viactiv for years and frankly like the chocolate taste but it’s calcium carbonate and I have a feeling that’s not the good kind.</p>
<p>Citrate is the one you are supposed to take. The Viactiv makes me queasy for some reason, so I’m glad it’s not the “good” kind.</p>
<p>Well, I got through two sets of this new iPod nazi exercise circuit this afternoon, but I had to take my sweet time doing it. The only “easy” one in the bunch is 45 seconds of crunches on the stability ball. All of the others are just brutal. I can’t even believe I can do a couple of them.</p>
<p>If I keep this up, I’m not only going to have abs of steel (even though you can’t actually see them) and massive guns (even though you can’t actually see them!).</p>
<p>I went to the gym yesterday, lifted heavy things over my head, and decided not to do my cardio. I had already walked the doggies for about two miles, and I knew I was going to do my annual clean-the-porch-and-the-deck-from-stem-to-stern. So I did that – used the blower, the vacuum, scrubbed down every surface, vacuumed the cushions, yada yada yada. Took about four hours. Now I’m so sore I don’t want to do anything ever again!!!</p>
<p>But we’re ready for our guests later today.</p>
<p>I sat in the back seat of the car last night and spied myself in the rearview mirror. Ah . . . the cruelty of natural light! My neck looked old. All the the cycling and weight training in the world isn’t going to change that. Pooh.</p>
<p>It so funny how the mirror is psychological. I now look in the mirror and think, “lookin’ good” even though I look a year older than last year. My frame of reference is last February when I started the crazy idea to eat less, move more.</p>
<p>I hit a milestone today. The big three-o! I’ve now lost 30.5 pounds and have reset my graph five pounds lower for my next goal.</p>
<p>I just did my hilly river walk yesterday, but pushed a quick steady pace the entire time, including marching up the hills. Took almost a minute off my fastest previous time… Probably a little bike ride today.</p>
<p>Congrats on the 30 pound mark! That is really, really impressive and SO great for your health.</p>
<p>interesteddad, I thought initially that you meant it was your birthday and you are now 30 years old. And then I thought, What is HE doing in this forum with us old f*rts?? Glad instead that it’s a weight loss milestone.</p>