No offense taken. I’d proudly set off their “lunk alarm,” if I ever went to a Planet Fitness. I don’t know how else to get my workout done. While I don’t post everyday, my workouts are always ongoing. I’m one of those dedicated exercisers just like many here.
Thanks @sabaray I’m thinking about it. I’m considering the reverse crunch. It’s an easy exercise for a lot of people but it is one I just can’t get. Hip issues and tight hamstrings and weak gluts might not be helping.
First though I have to deal with my knee. My denial isn’t working anymore. Saw the sports orthopedic surgeon last week and ran the results of the MRI by my Physical Therapist. The Dr recommended surgery but I really wanted to avoid it. My PT convinced me that I should have the surgery. One of the reasons I don’t want to do the surgery is I’m in a really good exercise routine and I hate the idea of downtime. My PT reminded me that while I’m doing more I’m not able to do everything I want to do and the risk of waiting is that I do further damage.
I have a very busy next few months as my D is getting married in early June. I have several trips planned up to her house to work on wedding stuff. I’m going to call the Dr and see how much time I need to allow for healing. Or at least how long till I’d be comfortable driving 7 hours.
I’ve been avoiding lifting weights and therefore I gave my shoulder about a month’s rest.
This week, I started up again. I decided to ditch the bench press & replace it with dumbbell presses (on the floor) so I can use a neutral grip.
Let’s see how it goes! I’m not looking to press gobs of weight, so I am hopeful this will be a workable solution.
I also hope I don’t have to rig a neutral grip pull up bar. I like my homemade bar as it is!
Need to vent for a moment. Right before Christmas, DH and I decide to ramp up the exercise and diet routine. Cut red meat, high sodium. Lots of exercise at the Y - peloton and weights. Why 6 weeks later do we both weigh more? So demoralizing.
Aaargh! How frustrating.
I have two suggestions. First, keep a food diary if you don’t already and be brutally honest and careful about what you eat. If you are eating more salad but not logging in the calories in the dressing, that could be a problem. Or if you have moved to healthier snacking, nuts and avocado instead of cookies, you could be consuming more calories than you think. Second, don’t believe the calorie burn values on exercise machines. They are notoriously inaccurate.
Congrats on making some healthy life style changes. That is a great start. If your goal is weight loss, however, you will have to watch your diet more closely.
@momof2atl Muscle weighs more than fat so even though you both weigh more, you have probably increased your cardio fitness and strength so overall you are healthier even if the scale doesn’t reflect that.
@momof2atl , do you feel different in any other way other than what you’re seeing on the scale? Feel stronger? More energy? Clothes fit different? Enjoying your workouts?
Lizardly gives good advice. Food diary of EVERYTHING you put in your mouth. Even keep track of the water you drink. Do this for at least 3 weeks.
Keep your exercise up - realize that the benefits of this are much beyond the # on the scale. Make other goals in addition to weight loss. Like building stamina to be able to do the elliptical longer. Being able to do a more intense Peloton workout. Being able to lift a little more weight or increase repetitions.
Thanks all. Needed a bit of a pick me up. I have been feeling better, and my suggestion to DH is that we need to use the tape measure and not the scale for a bit. Will also focus on that food diary.
Eating healthier is great. Excercise is great. But neither will have much effect on weight in a month or so if you don’t eat fewer calories. Keep a stringent food dairy. My fitness pal is great. I bet in two weeks you will see a marked difference.
I don’t own a scale and don’t weigh myself. Perhaps counter-intuitively, this works well for me and helps keep me on track.
I don’t use a tape measure either because that probably would not be good for my mental health. I hiked 12 tough miles yesterday, and I knew when I slipped my jeans on this morning they would feel tighter due to swelling.
So, find what works for you and what will help you most with your goals.
I agree with @abasket about increasing awareness re: other health markers. It’s easy to miss subtle changes. I have a strength training log so I can keep track of my working weight & sets for each routine. Sometimes I’ll make little scribbles in the margin. Not sleeping well. Right shoulder bothering me. Sciatica bad. It’s interesting to thumb through the pages and notice that when a problem goes away, I stop thinking about it, and often miss improvements.
The other thing I like about the log is always making progress. If I did a plank for “only” 30 seconds last time, it’s going to be 35 seconds this time. 6 reps last week? Go for 7 reps this week. You can set yourself up so you see your progress on paper, even if it’s teeny tiny steps forward. I find that motivating.
Agreeing with @Lizardly about tracking calories. I use the MyFitnessPal app on my phone. When I first started using it, I was astonished at how quickly calories added up. It seemed totally unfair! But it was key to me getting better educated, making better decisions and feeling less afraid of food & putting on weight.
I think most people will suggest checking daily calorie counts when there is a stall in weight loss.
Congrats on the lifestyle changes! I’m sorry you are feeling discouraged! You’ve already done so much! Give yourself credit!
Here’s another thing I’m going to say. And I say this knowing I really need to lose 5 pounds!
When I am looking at another person who looks “great” to me. I am NOT thinking “I wonder how much he/she weighs”. I’m thinking “wow, she looks great in her clothes!” “her face looks healthy and rosy!” “she really seems to enjoy working to get fit!” I never think about a number.
Do you look at someone thinking about “hmmm…she seems to have lost some weight. I wonder if she weighs 125 or 130 now?” Probably not!
^ I hear ya. As another person who could lose five pounds. I admire a person’s fitness and ability to perform more than worry abut her weight.
And I’ll add that I love exercising and hate dieting, which is why I have that five pounds. I get a lot of joy out running further and faster, not so much out of not eating that cookie.
Both adding exercise and dieting is tough.
The comments on exercise and dieting remind me of the Oatmeal. Below is a link to his comic on the topic of why he runs. It’s hilarious, but also true for many who vigorously exercise, but are not so keen on dieting. He sums it up with - “They say you should treat your body like a temple. I treat mine like a fast-moving dumpster”.
https://theoatmeal.com/comics/running
If you enjoyed that and like running events, here is another great one…
https://theoatmeal.com/comics/marathon_do
I recently came across a product that has become part of my weekly routine. It’s used for “odd object conditioning.” I thought maybe someone may be interested enough to want to incorporate it into their routine. Of course, you have to learn how to lift properly, just like lifting any weight, but it makes an excellent substitute for those who don’t want to purchase a barbell or dumbbells. Comes in many weights. The website’s video pretty much covers the uses of it.
I have no connection to the company, just passing along a new product that I have purchased.
I have a small update.
So far so good for my right shoulder with ditching the bench press and substituting it with the floor dumbbell press.
I found some inexpensive fractional weights on eBay — essentially large metal washers weighing 1/6 pound each, so I ordered a set.
Also, I bought a trap bar (with raised handles). I’ll give that a spin tomorrow and see how it feels compared to the barbell for deadlifts.
I stopped by Home Depot & picked up some landscape pavers to elevate the bar to the right height. Less expensive than bumper plates. The rigged platform I was using before was beginning to give.
I had my humble weight lifting area in a corner of the basement and last week I moved it out “in the open” where the kids used to play when they were wee.
It was unused real estate since the kids are now 20 & 22 and no longer living at home.
It’s much nicer now. Roomier. Welcoming.
I’ve read that Peleton calorie count is highly inaccurate. Especially if you don’t wear a HRM.
Wonderful hike in the snowy woods yesterday. So thankful I bought spikes for my hiking boots last year because the trails were all ice under that blanket of snow. The one person who did not have spikes fell multiple times and eventually took advantage of a bail-out point.
My right shoulder continues to have opinions about something. I really do not know if it’s from lifting. I had thought the neutral grip was helping. It seems to be extra aggravated after a long day at my desk – maybe from tensing up my arm-shoulder as I move the mouse around & type.
Note to self: make an appointment to see the damn doctor already.
I’m so excited! :-bd
“19.1” is almost here! The first workout of the 2019 CF Open is upon “us.”
I wonder if @sabaray is still reading here? Light workout tonight, followed by a rest day Thursday and then it’s onto “19.1.”
For anyone who’s interested, the 1st workout, 19.1, will be announced and performed live tonight at 5:00 PM PST. The live announcement and workout(s) will be broadcast simultaneously from France, Brazil and the UK.
The workout(s) is not known until it’s announced. I hope it involves burpees, because we love burpees. 8-|
I didn’t recognize you with the new avatar! 