Love that number! 8.8!!! (hey and I just realized you did that on August (the 8th month) 8th! Was that planned?!)
Ran last night in the muggy damp wet evening. Humidity, ugh…
@abasket, you are right!!! That’s AWESOME! I love it!
To answer your question, no it wasn’t planned! I run to a specific place (George Washington Bridge), and then I turn around and run back. I know it’s about 9 miles, but I had Strava measure out the exact distance, so I didn’t know it was going to be 8.8 exactly! And I didn’t even realize it was 8/8 - that’s so cool!!!
Hi. I am busy parent and I am a food-aholic. I have been here before, but dropped out. To refresh, I lost 40 pounds and kept it off for almost a year, but have now regained every last pound. I feel so heavy physically, emotionally and every other way.
I have yo yo’d like this many times. Today is a new day though. Goals are to drop 35 (40 was a bit too much) and restart an exercise program. I am thinking of channeling MOWC and start a streak of walking two miles everyday as a start. Another goal is to eat well and enough because my tendency is to cut back too much in order to lose faster, but then I binge
I have lurked and cheered everyone on vicariously through injuries, successes, cold weather and now hot weather…
Welcome back, busyparent. The streak works well for me, but I understand the point of view that it doesn’t really allow for rest days or recovery. You shouldn’t have that problem with walking, though. I was unable to run this morning and had a really rough run yesterday (actually had to start walking breaks in the 3rd of 5 miles because I just didn’t have it). Some major stressors are just tanking me and, like sabaray, it isn’t going to be a quick fix. I considered ending the streak today and maybe even taking a break from running, but I refuse to pay that price, so I will be running at least a mile after work today. It really helps me mentally.
Yesterday was an easy 14 mile bike ride. Tonight will be a 5 or 6 mile training run.
sabaray-I mostly run by myself. H is also training for the marathon but he isn’t as serious about the training. We joined a running club and run with that group once or twice a week. There are some pretty experienced runners that are fun to talk with. Nobody runs at the pace I do, though, so I generally run by myself. I’m getting a lot of great info from the folks on this thread, though, and I appreciate all the words of wisdom!
BB-the Stockholm marathon sounds fun! Go for it!
acollegestudent-congrats on that long run on Saturday!
busyparent-welcome! I think starting a walking program is a great idea and you are smart to recognize that cutting back too far on eating can only lead to disaster. I wish you success in your wellness journey - this is a great group to hang out with on the way!
Busyparent, no dropouts here, just “occasional breaks” - right? Because you want to kick this! 
One thing we often do here if people want to share is to celebrate “5 pound” parties - and that means losing them,not gaining them! Maybe instead of looking at that 35-40 pounds you can see 5 pounds a little easier! Tell us your successes and woes along the way (we ALL have them) and then get ready for the noise makers when you hit 5 pounds gone!!!
You could always do a modified “streak” - make a promise that is truly realistic for you - maybe 5 or 6 out of 7 days?? Set yourself up for a challenge but also well deserved success.
MOWC, sending good thoughts and hoping for a turn around for your stressors. <3
I’ve been a slacker on the fitness front. Went to hot yoga (on the weekend–Sat and Sun) and walked with friends today (we did a 3.5 mile loop), but the rest of August has been a bust.
@Sabaray: Glad you enjoyed yoga class. I think it’s a good workout. The studio I go to has a website and on it they’ve got an explanation of what they call hot yoga–for them it’s when the room is 85-90 degrees; warm yoga is 80-85 degrees. I once did a Baptiste yoga class with my youngest D–there seem to be so many kinds of yoga practices that it’s hard to know what to expect sometimes. Anyway, the room for that class was over 100 degrees. It wasn’t for me. I spent most of the class in child’s pose because I was sweating so much that I was constantly slipping on my mat!!! I have figured out that I enjoy Vinyasa/flow-type yoga classes.
@Busyparent: Welcome! This is a good place to start your program–lots of support here and great information on exercise/fitness. My training is: walking, hot yoga, TRX, and lots of strength training. All have helped me lose weight–40 pound–and more importantly, keep it off (which is a first for me).
Welcome back, busyparent - abasket has given you some great advice! Be sure and let us know when to have the first five pound party!
After running Saturday, I was feeling a few aches and pains so went to hot yoga Sunday and again today. I sweat like crazy - I thought I was in pretty good shape but those big mirrors in the studio definitely highlight my stomach which is not a good thing! It’s about 104 degrees in the studio, so it’s hot and I do a fair amount of slipping too, even with my super wicking towel on the mat.
I am happy that I’ve added Pilates and yoga to my workout routine, but I still really enjoy running. It might be stupid but it’s also therapeutic. Hang in there, MOWC. We’re tough.
This is what I use for hot yoga. http://www.amazon.com/Breathe%C2%AE-Original-Bikram-Yoga-Rabbit/dp/B00WALJBEI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1439251529&sr=8-1&keywords=breathe+yoga+mat
It’s not cheap (and now it is on my hardwood floor so my elderly dog can walk without slipping and the cats can throw up on it), but it is fantastic. It’s a towel and mat all in one (soft backing).
Managed 2.8 on the basement dreadmill after work, so the streak continues! I have to go on a quick business trip to Atlanta and back tomorrow-Wednesday. I’m sure I’ll be able to run Wed morning near Emory- not sure where exactly, though.
Busyparent, welcome back and good luck with your journey. I think you are on the right track re: food. Analyze what you eat and separate the foods and their ingredients into the “good” and “bad” categories. Some super bad ones should be eliminated completely - just go cold turkey on them, like anything that has sugar as the first ingredient must go. Make a balanced menu of the mostly good stuff with some bad mixed in - and by balanced I mean not something that restricts calories dramatically, but something you can stick with long term. See what you can get rid of easily… For instance, we completely eliminated all pasta. We were not big on eating pasta anyway, so dropping pasta dishes was not a huge deal. They were replaced by veggie-based side dishes. Re-evaluate what you are eating now and see how it can be tweaked to the healthier, less junk calorie-laden side.
I lucked out with the hotel treadmills. They are familiar Life Fitness contraptions, and two out of the three work! 5 miles, or should I rather say 8 kilometers… done! My legs are mush… I hate early morning flights!!!
The Toronto half I ran in October was in kilometers. The good part was that they go by quicker than miles. The bad part is there are more of them.
blankmind: I haven’t changed diet or supplements in the last two years, but did make some changes four years ago. I changed my calcium supplements to these – www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002BSH3HC?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o08_s02 – because they are plant-based calcium. I would prefer to get calcium from food products, and these supplements seem like the next best thing. I also take strontium, and I increased my vitamin D supplement.
busyparent, welcome. I can only imagine the frustration of losing weight to only gaining it back. We are a very supportive group here, and we’ll help you all the way. Do you chart your food intake, through one of the websites or phone apps like MyFitnessPal?
I haven’t made a pasta-based dinner in ages. That was such a standby in my 20s and 30s – little time for dinner and no time to shop? Just throw some pasta in a pot. (heck, that almost rhymes). Last week friends had us over for dinner and served a very carb-heavy meal. Pasta in clam sauce – very very light on the clams – bread and a small side salad. Needless to say, both of them are overweight. When I mentioned that we never eat pasta (or potatoes or rice), they looked at my husband and expressed their sympathies. It was a tough meal to get through.
Thanks everyone. This will help me stay motivated. Over the weekend I actually started reading from the beginning, but only got about 25 pages in. I find it so amazing that many of you are still here after 6 years. Well done.
Ate oatmeal with raisins ( not very many) and walnuts, home made split pea and ham soup, apple and sautéed vege. Full disclosure: also had about 4 oz of Pepsi that was left from the day before. I have tracked food before and know I need to do it again, but find it a bit of a pain.
Did two miles in 30 minutes on treadmill. Also took measurements. I look forward to losing the belly
When I lose everyone says " oh you’ve lost weight and look great" but no one comments to you when it comes back. I told one co worker after she said that " check back in ten years and if its still gone then maybe it’s lost but for now it’s just on hold.". Sadly I let it come back
@busyparent don’t feel bad - others like me have done the same. I worked very hard and lost 30 lb to my goal weight over 26 months (9 years ago), jogging every morning and being very careful what I put in my mouth the rest of the day. None of my immediate family H or two kids gave me any positive feedback (DDs were only 7 and 9 and in their own world). So I stopped exercising and the weight came back on.
Now I am at a much higher weight point, due to inactivity and steroids and chemo and other drugs etc and eating while battling stage III cancer. Now I am ‘healthier’ so I can work off the weight. However I realized I needed a dietitian’s help, because have to control what goes in as I cannot over-exercise. There are a lot of little tricks. buying products like no sugar added pickle relish.
I start every morning with either 1/2 c oatmeal or grits (usually oatmeal) and a serving of berries, banana, grapes. The measured uncooked makes about a cup cooked.
The key is to eat small but balanced foods during the day to not get overly hungry. I am on 1400 calorie/day diet and should be losing 1 lb a week. It is coming off.
Right now my snack is sliced tomatoes.After typing this I am going to bed with the book I need to finish for book club.
There is a category of veggies that are ‘unlimited’ but one does get tired of them.
One trick I use is sugar free candy (my weakness is often after dinner). Drink plenty of water. Sometimes I am making a bowl of veggies.
This time, the weight will get lost and not come back on!
I regret I didn’t see the dietitian sooner - last Aug I swam 20X that month (20 miles) and was 9 lb less than I am now. Backslid with health issues - even w/o exercise I could have cut back on what I was eating to not gain any weight back.
Doing this for vanity of course, and for health.
I ran 6 miles last night and it was really tough. Very hot and sunny and I felt like I was being cooked alive. Got it done, though.
I can see that I am not nearly as good as the rest of you on the eating front. We eat pasta and I enjoy it. I know I should cut back on carbs and increase the veggies. I have gotten complacent since I’ve been below my goal weight for over a year now.
I think the thing with things like pasta is
- some just have to go “all or nothing” - there is no inbetween in eating it!
- portion size. I find it just fine to have a small portion of pasta (but a nice portion of topping - be it sauce, meat, veggies) once a week or so. It’s when you fill the plate with pasta three inches high that there is a problem!
- If it IS pasta day, then I really watch carbs the rest of the day.
- Try some of the whole wheat/whole grain pasta alternatives. Once I load up the sauce/protein/veggies, I don’t notice the difference!
We still eat pasta from time to time, but now the pasta is truly a side and not the star of the plate. We’re eating quite a bit more quinoa, farro and brown rice than we did previously. Less meat, more veggies. Big dinner salads last night - that never would have happened in the past.
We eat pasta about once a week. I am going to try to switch to whole wheat though. I’ve tried it before & met with lots of resistance. However, I have (I think) finally completed the switch over to brown rice, so maybe it’s the right time for pasta too. After seeing “That Sugar Film” DH has stuck with his new program & perhaps finally understands why I’ve been pushing the brown rice & pasta for years.
Another change we’ve made since seeing the film is to add some fat back into our dairy. I bought 2% Fage yogurt this week instead of non-fat. Wow, what a treat. And 1% milk tastes like melted ice cream after 20 years of skim!
I buy full-fat Fage, Gertrude. I find I can eat a much smaller quantity and feel very satisfied. Anytime a product has reduced fat, it’s going to have some form of sweetener added to make it palatable. I highly recommend the book Salt, Sugar, Fat by Michael Moss - it’s not an easy read, but it shows all the effort that’s gone into making us crave sugary, sweet foods.
Thanks sabaray - I will check out that book. Both DD’s and I watched “Fed Up” this weekend (on Netflix right now) & found the message pretty similar to That Sugar Film. I’m happy to see that both D’s are interested & asking questions about how to improve their diets. This week, I did not buy any cookies or ice cream at the grocery store & no one has complained (yet). I’ve been buying high percentage cacao bars & having one square after dinner. That seems to do the trick.