Don’t wait, SalveMater - reward yourself for every five pounds you lose with some new workout gear! We have five pound parties on the thread for everyone who reports weight loss, so you might want to report in and find yourself the recipient of an awesome light-up accessory (virtual only).
In addition to the Speed tights I got (in an awesome herringbone pattern that I wish I could show you but it’s not on the website any more) I got a pair of the Fresh Tracks tights in black with the contrast print waistband and another of the Rest Less pullovers in a heathered slate. And some gloves - the Run Fast - which I have not needed yet. I had to laugh - we go to the store and I pick the items I like and then Mr. Sabaray is supposed to choose from them for my gift so it’s still a surprise. He buys all of it! I think I need to pick more next time. And probably some colorful items while I’m at it.
Agreed, clothes make a world of difference in your fitness journey! If you have lost 18 pounds @SalveMater you need something to show off those 18 less pounds! Doesn’t need to be expensive - Target , TJ Maxx or even your Goodwill store will get you some inexpensive pair of leggings or a sweet top to tide you over till the next weight loss goal.
I ordered a couple of things for myself from Athleta. And I have a couple more things in my cart there…need to review that again today!!!
It’s wonderful to read all the encouraging and welcoming comments! WhIle I said I need to cut back on sugar consumption, my real problem is chocolate. Seems like if I take one bite then all I think about is another and another and another…it isn’t pretty. Not having it in the house is going to have to be the solution though my husband likes to have a chocolate now and then. Somehow he has no problem eating just one.
Exercise wise, I like walking, I love to play tennis. I just joined the YMCA and am hoping to find someone to play raquetball with or pickleball (which I was introduced to this fall). Decided to try some of the different fitness classes they offer at the Y. Went to one this morning called “Active Older Adults” and described as for anyone over 55. I’m 57 so I figured ok. Lol, I was the youngest by about 15 years. I did get to talk with one of my kid’s teachers from elementary school who is retired. Not quite the workout I anticipated so I’ll try others. Cycling is out- I can never get comfortable on those seats. And I do like the stretching in yoga.
Way back longer ago than I care to admit, I liked to run. Now am 50 lbs overweight and really do not know how to start…any suggestions?
Thanks for any and all advice! I’m hoping that posting on here will give me the accountability I need to keep making positive changes.
Fitness clothes? DH gave me the Patagonia merino air hoody, which is warm, light, incredibly comfortable. And it’s nice to be able to pull up the hood or push it down to make it a slouchy-necked thing.
@hoosiermom – I was 60 pounds heavier than I am now four-and-a-half years ago. I started with walking my dogs twenty minutes every day and trying to eliminate added sugar from my diet and eat “just a little less” every day (meaning that I stopped eating when I was still hungry). After I’d done that for a while, I walked the dogs twice a day. After twenty-five pounds lost, my daughter suggested starting the Couch-to-5K program and now I’m running again. And cycling. And swimming. (I’m 61.) I’ve lost weight very slowly–in fact, I’ve weighed the same for the last year–but that’s fine, as long as I’m not gaining, not too hungry, and am getting fitter. (You might enjoy cycling; there are lots of options for bicycle seats that can be very comfortable. You don’t have to use those hard narrow things that are designed for twenty-five-year-old men.) As for chocolate, I keep bars on a very high shelf that requires getting the stepladder from the garage (I’m short); I put the stepladder away after I get one square. I’m too lazy to get a second square.
I order things for myself (especially as OIselle gives us special offers/discounts) for about 6 weeks leading up to Christmas and turn them over to my husband. Sometimes I forget about them and it actually IS a surprise.
I got the Oiselle Quill jacket http://www.oiselle.com/shop/outerwear/quill-jacket in blue. I haven’t worn it yet for running, since it’s been warm and rainy, but I think I’ll like it as a little less beefy alternative to the Lulu puffs that I love so much. Got a few other Oiselle things, and some sports bras. Got the Hoka Bondi 5 and some Brooks Ghost 9s in the Galaxy pattern.
Sabaray- sounds like you did well! So did you, Deb!
Abasket I still have my moth eaten garb from my thinner days. Maybe in another 15 lbs I’ll reward myself, too bummed out about status right now to face the non-Forgivingness of a fitting room mirror. Before starting, I was pre-diabetic and having lost two family members to diabetes, it was always on my mind. I do suffer from several injuries/pain, ie post traumatic arthritis in knee, fractured tailbone seven fractured, now healed ribs and sciatic priformis-howling-around-the- block pain from car/skiing/cycling accidents. Guess I am uncoordinated/unlucky. So, I’m motivated by all your stories.
Well even more kudos to you for the success you have had then!!
I’m sticking to the suggestion though. Moth eaten garb will motivate no one internally or externally! We have appropriate clothing for work, church, weddings - even cleaning the house! Working on your health is so, so important - you absolutely should have “right” clothing to exercise. The right clothing can truly make the exercise experience easier - that clothing is made to stretch, absorb sweat, etc. for a reason!
3rd run in 3 days. Back to work tomorrow. Dreary but done !
TRX. 3 miles treadmill. Last mile 6:00 pace. Headed to a CAVS game tonight. Still a little battered and bruised from the Buckeye loss. I have a hard time watching sports anymore. I get too anxious.
Ohiopublic- I hear you! Sorry Ohio State didn’t give them a game. I have a friend who is older than me and a rabid Ohio State fan. He recently told me that he had to ask himself if his priorities were right since he got more upset about a loss than he was happy about a win! I think about that a lot. Social media doesn’t help. One loss and the fan base is ready to fire the coach!
I’ve always heard that about most competitors. They think more about the losses than the wins. I know I think that way. Even when I win. I remember when I was a HS sophomore and I won a 2 mile in 10:03 and was distraught that I didn’t break 10.
SalveMater – wow, that is a lot of injuries. Have you tried swimming?
TJ Maxx and Marshall’s carry a lot of discounted fitness/active clothing. I’ve found that wearing clothing designed for activity makes a difference. It wicks the sweat away from your body, dries faster, etc.
Another strategy that has worked very well for many of us is tracking everything you eat using an online application. It really keeps you honest. When I look at the number of calories I’ve eaten at the end of the day, sometimes that’s the only thing that prevents me from eating chocolate. (Or I go out for a walk so I can eat that chocolate!)
@fireandrain Yup i’m already in myfitnesspal app on 1k cals a day and low impact fitness. I am not a strong swimmer, it’s right up there with running, I’m highly allergic. Yes, many injuries from car/ski/cycling accidents my back and knees are a mess, knee accumulates liquid frequently and I suffer from feet neuropathy so running is way too miserable. I think I’m doing ok with isometrics, mostly crunchies and leg lifts. If i get stronger maybe I’ll add weights.
I think logging exercise helps, too. I know I’m obsessive- with 40 years of running and having logged about 39 years of it! However, it shows trends, improvements, shoes, what happened before some injuries etc. In my 40 years I’ve had years where I could barely run and did other things- cycle, spin, swimming, yoga (especially hot yoga), but, basically, I’m a runner. For the new folks, I’ve had some good competitive success in the past, but have slowed dramatically with age. I run every day and have a streak approaching 550 days of running. It will end if I am too injured or sick to run, but that wasn’t today! I do race and plan to get back to the marathon distance this year if I can accept the tedious long training runs and my own mental issues with regard to race nervousness!
@SalveMater - speaking of weights, a few years ago, my GYN doc gave me a printout of some simple free weights exercises. After 35, women rapidly lose lean muscle mass if they do not do any strength exercises, and it is not good for us. I bought some free weights and adapted 3 of the arm exercises for my free weights routine. I do not go to the gym or do anything super-human when it comes to weights, but I do my little 15-20 min routine religiously. It made a huge difference for me. Bet you can do something like this, too!
Here are some that could be adapted for a daily routine:
For all those renewing their prior lapsed commitment to exercise or starting a fitness program for the first time, please remember to include some type of strength/resistance training in your routine. Cardio is a great calorie burner and is essential to your health but maintaining lean muscle tissue, keeping your muscles strong, having the ability to move in functional movement patterns under load is critical to your ability to engage in activities of daily living injury free and enjoying recreational activities. In addition, your body is very indiscriminate when it comes to weight loss. Cut back calories, increase calorie burn from cardio and your body doesn’t care whether it loses the weight from stored fat or lean muscle tissue. Combine this with your body looking for additional energy sources when reducing calories and you are at risk of catabolic break down of lean muscle tissue if you do not engage in regular strength training as part of your fitness routine. Have a balanced program that includes both.
And strength training doesn’t mean you must become a weight lifting metal head diehard throwing steel around in a gym. Body weight training, TRX suspension training, compound functional movement training with dumbbells are just some of the options out there. There are multiple ways to put together an effective strength routine using as little or as much equipment as meets your tastes, interests and training goals.
Also, be very careful about reducing calories too low in your zest to lose weight. If you go so, your body will dhft into “starvation” mode and reduce your metabolism in an effort to preserve itself. When test happens, you plateau or can even gain weight from the reduced metabolism. In response, you are then tempted to reduce your caloric intake even more but all test does is set up a vicious cycle of cutting calories, slowing metabolism, plateauing and then redrafting the cycle. Absent some diagnosed medical issues, if you are eating below 1200 calories/day and are having trouble losing weight, you may have smacked headfirst into this syndrome. You need to reset, reconfigure your nutrition plan and make sure you have a well designed program of exercise in place.
Start with some simple biceps curls while sitting on a bench and see which weights will let you do 8-10 reps before you feel fatigued a bit. Rest 5-10 seconds and do another set. If you can do three such sets in a row, that is the right weight for you to begin with. Weights that are too light do nothing, and weights that are too heavy can lead to frustration and injuries.
This thread appeared in my dream last night - it must be a sign.
My goal is to get back to making it to the gym 3 times a week (or to do something else similar - if I ride my bike a couple of hours or walk 4 miles or so, that counts). There, I “said it out loud.”
I hoped to kick start myself by spending a fair amount of time in the gym/exercising after the Christmas rush, but I’ve been sick for the last several days.
Hopefully tomorrow I will make it.
Fortunately I’m fairly active by nature, I’m not overweight, and I have very few health problems, but exercising regularly has helped keep me that way. I do “silly” things like use Dumbbells while I’m watching tv, to try and keep old lady arms away, and I don’t park at the closest entrance where I work, so I walk a fair amount.
Every little bit helps.
My “time” for working out has unfortunately become around 5:45am, just after H leaves for work. I fell into that time slot when I started running regularly about a year and a half ago. It’s hard to get out of bed but so liberating to have done it. During the spring and summer it’s great to get outside first thing, but harder when it’s dark and cold. We inherited a pretty decent treadmill from MIL a month or so ago, so that’s been getting more use than it’s probably ever seen!! Also we have a functional trainer which is excellent for weight work.
So my goal for 2017 is to keep plugging away at it, hopefully daily (at least daily during the work week). Lost about 15 lbs last year…So want to keep those off. Hoping this thread will keep me honest and accountable. I’ve always been a group ex junkie, I was actually an instructor for about 10 years. Gave it up last fall and now my workouts are just for me. Which is good - but sometimes I need that external motivation!!
