<p>Welcome Wonka:). As EPTR says, some are losing a lot, some are losing a little, and some are maintaining the weight and trying to up their activity level. <em>points finger at self</em></p>
<p>I had an interesting experience recently. I found some old polaroids of me on my honeymoon. I know what I weighed then, about 6 pounds less than I do now. Although I know my current weight is cultural and medically acceptable, some part of me has always felt I should be getting back down. And it’s been too hard.</p>
<p>Guess what I realized? I was SKINNY in those days. Looked good on a 30-year old blonde, would be gaunt for a graying 54-year old. What an incredible relief! I can’t tell you the weight that lifted. </p>
<p>So don’t judge yourself against some weight from your past. Look in the mirror, talk to your doctor, set your own goals. Then realize that some pudge, or wiggly this or that in midlife, may need more exercise and weight lifting than it does dieting. </p>
<p>If you guys see me around, ask me if I’ve had my daily activity yet, OK? Thank you in advance.</p>
<p>I am trying to figure out how I am going to give up racewalking for six weeks. It is such a mainstay of my life. For the present time, until I get my bone scan results, the orthopedic doc would prefer I not bike. He would prefer not to put me in a boot, so I am really going to behave until the scan. </p>
<p>I can always walk in the pool - but seriously - there is no way that is going to happen with the intensity of my usual workout. </p>
<p>So - my main goal will be to not gain weight - MoWC, are you feeling my pain???</p>
<p>Interesting about the triple sec, I rarely drink anything but wine and I don’t think I’ve ever looked up a margarita while I’ve been tracking my food at livestrong. I never have more than one. I guess if I were having reactions to restaurant margaritas I’d just stick to beer.</p>
<p>wnp, can you lift weights? That’s what I did for a few weeks when I had back problems and could not run. I did not gain any weight during that downtime.</p>
<p>Welcome, Wonka! I probably have as much to lose as you do. As Youdon’tsay posted, the weight comes off easily in this situation. I’ve lost 7 lbs in about 5 weeks, easily. My best suggestion is to track what you eat at LiveStrong.com.</p>
<p>Tonight I made the prosciutto-wrapped asparagus and pear from Jan’s Sushi Bar - delicious and easy:</p>
<p>Thanks for the warm welcomes! I look forward to taking this journey with all of you. It’s going to be wonderful to finally have some energy & feel good in my body again. Tonight, I’m having a salad with lemon (for dressing) and whole wheat crackers with solid white albacore tuna. And lots and lots of unsweetened iced tea. Cheers to you all!</p>
<p>I don’t have any pain while running, but I still have pain on the right butt/upper hamstring (the 2nd injury side) in the car sometimes and in certain chairs. My kneeling chair has been amazing at work, though.</p>
<p>You can get your HR up pretty high with the pool walking/running (I use one of the Aquajogger belts) if you really push it, but it gets boring. I use music. I really feel for you having to be off for 6 weeks. Does hot yoga appeal at all? It sure helped me keep the weight off.</p>
<p>BB - I assume I can still do weights. I don’t think that will put any pressure on ankle - no squats of course.</p>
<p>I think it will be the pool. Ugh. I just hate that walking in the pool crap. I could try hot yoga, but I just don’t think it will satisfy that feeling I get walking at my usual pace. </p>
<p>OK - no more complaining. I live with Mr. Defib man and he never complains.</p>
<p>MOWC- I was wondering what you use for music in while walking in the pool? I’ve been trying this form of exercise, as it was recommended by my doctor, but I also find it really boring. I’ve looked up a couple of waterproof MP3 players on Amazon, but the ones I found all got bad reviews. Do you have any product suggestions? Thanks.</p>
<p>I had that Margarita at dinner and made a silent toast to my CC support team! Did ya feel it?</p>
<p>I had broiled scallops, green beans, asparagus and split a lovely dessert with my friend. That’s not bad is it?</p>
<p>So how does this walking in the pool thing go? You literally just walk in the water. Back and forth? And Wonka, you find that boring? What’s wrong with you? lol.</p>
<p>Seriously, though, I want to try it. My generous neighbor gave me an open invitation to her pool so i guess I could walk there on hot days rather than go to the gym.</p>
<p>Wonka, Apple stores and online swim shops carry waterproof iPod/ iPhone cases and waterproof earbuds. This stuff works. When I get a hold of a real computer, I will post some links.</p>
<p>After a 3 week hiatus (and totally not paying attention to what/how much I’m eating), I went back to Weight Watchers last night. I wasn’t surprised, but not at all happy, that I had gained just over 3 pounds in that time! Back in the saddle and paying attention to making good choices. Also back to walking more regularly - something I had been doing but not as much lately.</p>
<p>wonka- funny you should ask! My method is as follows: put iPod in ziploc bag sealing tightly except for where earpiece wire comes out. Tuck whole contraption under baseball hat on head. Look incredibly stupid and have no ability to change music! Look even more stupid singing along to songs. My sister was in hysterics one day a few summers ago when I was in the middle of the lake at the Poconos house singing along to YMCA with no idea that my voice carried all the way to shore. I do NOT have a good singing voice.</p>
<p>Well, the Greek restaurant was wonderful and I think I did not too bad! We shared - ordered a few different plates and all enjoyed sampling. I had hummus w/veggies to dip (passed on the pita), taboulleh (again, passed on the pita served with it), 1/3 of a spinach pie, some beef gyro - maybe 2-3 inches of the gyro cut off - passed on the fries (ok, I tried one - they were stellar fries, but not hard to pass up). They also had a white bread on the table when we arrived (was all the pita not enough?!) I had just a small piece tore off dipped in an olive oil mix they had. NOT BAD! They did not have ice cream last night for the baklava dessert so we just decided to pass on it. It was kind of an “all or nothing” thing for us!</p>
<p>Heart rate- I wear a Garmin GPS watch (310SX I think it is) with a HR monitor. For water stuff I used to have a Timex with HR monitor. Polar makes good ones, too, at all levels of complexity.</p>
<p>Friday report - as noted weight has started moving down again - officially down 1.4 lbs since last Friday and 6 total since I started. That’s about a pound a week average which is fine by me!</p>
<p>And my temperature dress can now be forced all the way down over my hips. It’s too tight to move and forget zipping it, but bit by bit! My goal is to wear it for my (gulp) 60th birthday :eek: in mid-September. It’s not so much that I mind being 60 (although this is the first decade change that has bothered me) as that I’ve been wanting to relocate for the last 5 years and DH theoretically agrees but always has a reason to stretch it out. That’s not really part of Weight Loss for Dummies but has probably contributed to my overeating at home. The idea of being 60 and still living where and how I don’t want to live is a tough one.</p>
<p>I sympathize with the foot issue - last July I broke the little metatarsal and was in a boot for six weeks. I already have enough foot issues with bunions and a hammer toe - sometimes I think it’s a wonder I can walk at all! Sure limits the shoes I can wear but I found an espadrille at DSW that felt like no shoe at all - so I bought two pairs in different colors. Not for long distance walking but wow it feels great!</p>
<p>Can I join? I finally owned up to the fact that the pounds have been creeping on and my clothes don’t fit. I even went up a size (which killed me, since I haven’t been that size since I graduated from college) so that I could have something to wear, but of course I blamed it on my changing body. Bulls**t!! I’m just getting fat. I have had a lot of stress in my life over the past year (dad had a major stroke, mom is going to kill herself taking care of him, kids need jobs etc. etc. etc., typical life for a mid-50’s sandwich generation mom) and I have just had no tolerance for denying myself things I enjoy . . .which in this case is food. I exercise diligently for awhile, then I either injure something, or life gets in the way. I know what to do, it’s doing it that creates the problem. I’ve done WW, and Livestrong tracking, but can’t seem to stay with it. You guys seem to have a great support network going, so I thought I’d try here. CC has been so great for admissions support, I figure it’s the community of people that works, not the topic. </p>
<p>Right now I’m dealing with a shoulder problem that I have to deal with. I fell on the ice in February and things just seem to be getting worse. I can’t sleep (every time I move the pain wakes me up), so I’m exhausted, so I eat what’s easy, not necessarily what’s healthy. Anyway, I’d like to start with a trainer, or yoga, but since I have very little range of motion in my shoulder/arm I guess its back to walking. So today I begin! Civilized breakfast, oat bran flakes and skim milk, lunch - fruit and almonds, dinner - TBD. </p>
<p>I think the hardest thing for me is starting, and accountability, so I’m hoping that joining this supportive group will serve the latter purpose. Thanks for listening!</p>