HLSG - Week of 9/18/00

[Kelly]

Hi Everyone. Well, we are one week into our support group & boy do I need some support!

I exercised like crazy (aerobics 4 times, toning 2 times, weights 2 times) and watched what I ate all week - I even drank at least 8 glasses of water a day. I spent the whole week thinking how much better I felt and that my clothes seemed looser. Then I got on the scale at the gym only to find out that I didn't loose any weight at all - not even an ounce!!! I was so sure that I had lost at least 2 lbs - as I stood there with my mouth open I realized I was wrong. I didn't let it stop me though - I went right into aerobics class & worked my buns off. I am rationalizing that muscle weighs more than fat, however, and that all that exercise was not a waste. I'm trying to keep my head up this week although it is tough after such a disappointment. I will take any encouragement that anyone has to offer.

How did everyone else do?

[lindrusso]

Glad you got this started Kelly - I was just about to post!

Kelly - don't be discouraged! As long as you can FEEL it, it's probably happening - even if your scale doesn't say so. Are you weighing yourself with the same clothes and at the same time of day?? Also, muscle weighs more than fat, so even though you may well be getting in shape, the scale may not follow along as quickly as you'd expect. So keep up the good work and use your clothes and mirror as your guide!!

As for myself, I'd say I fared okay, but not great. I did a good job with the water and I did increase my activity, but I did not achieve the exercise or calorie goals. But, a little at a time.

However, the scale did show that I supposedly lost 2 pounds, but who knows. I can tell that I did lose a bit - I think it was mostly due to the fact that school has started and we are in a more active routine now. The lack of schedule all summer let me get very lazy and sedentary - one of the dangers of being a SAHM!!! Here's to achieving more goals this week!

[iqueen]

Well, I guess I better "weigh" in with my comments. I had a bad weekend for weight loss. Friday night was Mexican food and too many beers and margaritas. Saturday morning I did walk 6 miles and then Saturday night went to a dinner party where I ate and drank too much. Sunday was little better but not much. However!!!!!!! I am back on track today...lifted this a.m. and am off to a decent food start. WW meeting on Thursday will tell the tale though.

Drinking the water everyday for me is a given. I don't have to try to make sure I get enough...I am addicted to the stuff.

Glad to see we got a thread going for the week. Good luck everyone!

[BeckyM]

I did really well at the beginning of the week, but the weekend was a challenge. We had unexpected out-of-town guests for the weekend, and we went out to a really fancy restaurant. I didn't really watch my intake as much as I should have, though I didn't have any appetizers or dessert. I wasn't as disciplined with the bread though! I also made some CL breakfast rolls for our guests and definitely ate more than one serving's worth -- two mornings in a row!

I have been fairly good about exercise, though I won't make it to the gym today. I'm feeling like I'm coming down with something (maybe it was just lack of sleep from the weekend), so I'm going to "pamper" myself tonight and get to bed early. I'll weigh myself in the morning (I forgot to this morning) to see what impact all this has had. I'm expecting to be the same weight -- I'll be overjoyed if I lost any this past week.

I'm expecting this week to be challenging as well, because I'll be out of town some (eating in restaurants), plus I have meetings and things in the evening, which doesn't help when I'm trying to have healthy meals. I find it easier to eat right when I have more time to make something healthy that also is exciting to eat.

I'm glad we have this support group -- it does help to hear that others have the same struggles I do. Thanks to everyone for sharing!

[Natasha]

Hi guys!

Not a stellar week by any stretch of the imagination. Things got busy starting on Monday night and every night after that it seemed to be something or other. Normally I don t let much get in the way of my training, but this week I was surprisingly (actually, stunningly) unmotivated. And just as I m supposed to be heading into top gear. Oh, well...all I can do is hope that this week is better. Yesterday was successful, and today is looking pretty good so far.

On the plus side, I did eat well, sleep well (though not enough), and have some fun (lots of dancing!) http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif. I hope you all had a good week and that this coming week is even better!

Kelly - I agree with what the others have said. You are making progress...keep it up!

Pat - congratulations!! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

[This message has been edited by Natasha (edited 09-18-2000).]

[cookgirl]

I don't want this to come across in the form of criticism, but you (esp. Kelly) need to stop relying on the scale so much. At this point, it is really not going to do you much good, particularly if you've only been going for one week. It's good to drop an average of two pounds per week if you need to lose weight, but that's after about a month of your body becoming used to it's new routine. I think it's more important that you build the motivation and self esteem parts of your workout..the physical stuff will soon follow.
Kelly, I sense that overzealous, almost compulsive attitude in you that I see in myself. That usually makes me OVERwork myself and then I cheat, because I haven't allowed myself any luxury of rest, or time without worry, or good food. Then I'm in the donward spiral: on my couch and eating bags of chips in no time.
I think we've got to keep exercise fun. I also think we need to allow ourselves to enjoy food, so we don't end up bingeing.
I find that, when I vary my workout and I do it for enjoyment, that it has a longer lasting affect on me. That's why I don't sprint or do aerobic classes...because they're not fun to me (or at least, not on a regular basis). Instead, I run long distance or ride my bike. I take different routes when I walk to keep my interest and to enjoy the scenery. I also started taking Salsa dance lessons and they are sooooo fun! Let me also tell you that I can barely move today because I am so sore! Next time I'll stretch more. But I tell you I'm gonna keep going, because the places I hurt are the places I want to fix, which means I'm doing the right thing. This is not to say that I don't do the stair master or lift weights, but those are things that I can do without feeling miserable, or forced in the name of smaller thighs.
As for food, today I ate potato chips...Naughty naughty! But I had them with healthy Lentil Soup. I figure its a fair trade. Like, if I want fast food (which I honestly, usually don't) I can get the burger and a salad. Or maybe the fries and a salad. That satifies both my craving for good ol' fattening food and my desire to be healthy. The only thing I have to be careful about is to not over-rationalize (e.g. a carrot does not cancel out two servings of Chocolate death pie)!

[This message has been edited by cookgirl (edited 09-18-2000).]

[Pat58]

Kelly, please don't get discouraged! I've been down the same path. I work out a lot along with watching what I eat, and sometimes the scale wouldn't budge or even went up - but my clothes were hanging off of me and I was getting compliments while I was on a so-called "plateau." Go by how you feel, don't let the scale dictate your life and make you give up. You're better off this week than last!

My week was rough, my boss was on trial and I had to skip two a.m. aerobics classes to go in early. Also came home exhausted and had vodka and grapefruit before dinner - bad, bad, bad! I did get in one Thurs. a.m. weight training session and had great workouts on Saturday and Sunday. On the food front, I kept true to my journal and did my best, and maintained my goal at Weight Watchers Saturday. I'm three weeks from LifeTime membership, and they asked me if I wanted to work for WW. Pretty cool compliment! Have a great week everyone, hang in there and be good to yourselves!

[sage]

Okay -

Time to report in. Last week wasn't bad - but only because I have this EXTREMELY rigid routine I follow. If I'm not really strict about it - I have a tendency to go hog-wild. Emphasis on the the word hog (read that pig-out). Did make it to the gym every day. Was pretty good about what I ate, calorie-wise, although very very boring meals.

Weekend was harder, as I am usually just puttering around the house, I have a tendency to meander over to the pantry. In my rigid routine, I'm not allowed to keep anything "bad" in the house because I just don't have will-power when it comes to snacking. But one of my housemates made BROWNIES for her company - had leftovers- and offered me some. I kept slicing off these really skinny slices - but by the time I'd done that about 20 times - I'd probably consumed about 3 brownies - which was more than I needed (zero) or really wanted (one). But I checked this morning and the brownies are all gone now. I have mixed feelings about this.

As for working out and not seeing results on the scale, I am a firm believer that your clothes and the mirror work alot better. I know I have lost inches (and am continuing to do so) but don't see this reflected in the scale as much as I think I should. I think it's partly because I have gained some muscle from exercising. So don't give up - the scale will eventually catch up.

S. Sage.

[Laura]

Well here's to making you all feel better. I didn't do a darn thing last week. Seriously, I didn't run, didn't lift, nothing. Yes, I had some valid excuses (health, work and love life all decided to collide at once) but it would have done me to good to get my feeling sorry for myself butt off the couch (or at my desk)and at least go out for a walk. I have made a realistic goal to start Wednesday. I will report on Thursday. I am definitely missing my old routine. I need to CHANGE soon as I am already starting to see a loss in definition and endurance (of course the cold/strep throat thing isn't helping there) Anyway congratulations to all of those who met goals (or at least got farther along than me!) My best advice is measure your success in something other than the scale; base it on how strong you are getting, or how much more energy you have in your aerobic endeavor or how those size (fill in the blank) pants fit as compared to last week. They really are better measures of overall fitness. Good job everyone!

[andi]

I've had a great start-I've gone to the gym like I promised myself plus threw in an early morning bike ride with my daughter over the weekend.

I was frustrated last week as well Kelly-Felt like I was more toned but little weight loss. I think we have to go by that feeling and how those clothes are fitting. I was able to get into a pair of shorts today that I haven't been able to get into in a year! I also am noticing my legs are starting to look not too shabby! Maybe it's that 11% grade on the treadmill (I could only do a 3% three weeks ago!)...
I did pig out tonight (girls night with my daughters since dad was gone) and ate lots of fritos and cheetos because we hadn't had dinner yet and I was starving...Back to the gym on Weds!

Congrats Pat!!!

[Kelly]

Thanks for all the encouragement everyone. I'm keeping with the routine and will try to rely more on my clothes than the scale.

I appreciate your comments Cookgirl. However, I'm truly not overzealous and certainly not compulsive. I have faithfully worked out for years (at least 10). I am in pretty good shape, but when I get on the scale I see an extra 20 lbs that I know shouldn't be there. I actually like aerobics - I haven't taken organized classes in a few years and missed it so that's why I started going again. I'm not the kind that goes to the gym for a 2 hour workout and then overindulges when I get I home. To me, just getting to the gym for workout time is a treat - I don't dread it at all. I have spent the last 9 years putting my kids' (and husband's)needs before my own and I am finally putting my well-being at the same priority as theirs.

My goal for this time period is to loose the weight once and for all. I want to go to the doctor's and not have him mention '...you could really stand to loose some weight you know..."

Oh well, good luck to all this week! Keep the water going!

[BevP]

Well, I can make everyone feel better also, because I didn't improve on my goals either. I worked out and ate about normal. Didn't pick up weights at all darn it. And my motivation for this week is not looking good. I'm in a stressful situation that I hope will resolve itself tomorrow. I've been using that as an excuse.

However, despite all that, it felt like the jeans were less tight last week. Good thing, cause it's too cool here for shorts this week! And the scale said I was down about 2-3 pounds from weeks ago.

Sage, I know how you feel about that lack of control. I'd try to keep all "bad" foods away until I realzed I was literally obsessed with them. Now I compromise with desserts that are at least less damaging or go to the bakery and get 2-3 cookies or 1 doughnut. Luckily, I don't have housemates to work against me. Sometimes I end up at the bakery almost daily but...

[cookgirl]

Kelly, in retrospect, I'm thinking that compulsive was a bad choice of word. I tried to replace it when I was writing the post, but I couldn't and still can't come up with the appropriate word.
Judging by your second post, it does sound like you were just in a slump. I hope your out of it now.
It's good to hear that you have been so dedicated for the past ten years. Based on that comment,though, I would guess that the twenty pounds you insist need to be removed aren't as obvious to others as they are to yourself?
I still say ditch the scale. If you look good and feel good...that's what matters.

[Missi]

Well, I did okay for the week, but nothing really spectacular. I am excited though, because the classes at the community college just started back up again, so my workouts can be more structured. I can't say enough about community college classes for those on a budget and can't afford a gym.

I have thrown out the scale, because I really get discouraged. I haven't, however, thrown out the tape measure. I like the fact that I'm losing INCHES and not focusing so much on POUNDS. I measure on the 1st day of the month, and never in between. That way it gives me a whole month to see my results. I work with a woman who is trying to lose weight and sometimes weighs herself several times a day. She needs lots of encouragement and tells us when she has lost 1/2 of a pound. We have tried to explain that the scale doesn't tell the whole story, but she is obsessed.

Keep up the good work everyone, and good luck for this week!

[andreajackson]

Well my last week was okay but nothing special. However this weekend I kinda let it go down the tubes! We were out of town so that meant eating out, and to make it even worse we went to a fondue restaurant, which inculded 4 courses! Ahhh! Also not being able to get any physical excercise while I was away was hard too. I am trying to do better with the food this week but working out is hard when your busy. But I try and think that at least I'm not just sitting on the couch.
As for everyone worrying about the scale, please don't get into that habit, because that is such a hard judgement, and one that becomes overwhemling! Trust me.
I still don't drink enough water but I am trying to cut down on the caff.

Congratulations to everyone who met their goals! Continue to keep going!
WE CAN DO IT!!

[JennyR]

last week was good. Went out of town for the weekend, and I still managed to exercise some. Missed one day, as I slept in. And I did pretty good with the food. Not a lot of healthy choices were available at a BBQ so I just ate smaller portions. I don't usually bother with a scale. I'm not a believer in it. Depresses me more often than not. So I look to the wardrobe. This week has been so much harder though! ugh!

[Carisensei]

Hello everyone. I am brand-spanking new to this bulletin board but not to the challenge of eating healthfully and getting more excercise. I am getting married in a little more than two weeks and I have barely lost 3 pounds! I started a good walking program and I am on Weight Watchers. My results are very similar to the original poster. My body has changed but not the scale. I am beginning to learn that I should measure my success in how I FEEL not what the scale says. I have also started working out with a personal trainer and I told her my goals were to feel stronger, get toned, better posture and feel confident. I think these are better goals than losing so many pounds or to be a certain size. What do you all think?

[LauraEllen]

Well, as the week started I didn't think it was going to be a great week. I've been fighting off a cold all week, so I cancelled my workout with my trainer. I wasn't eating too bad, since my appetite wasn't great. Still, I felt sluggish and unhealthy.

Then today I weighed myself for the first time in a couple of weeks and I was down 4 lbs. from the last time. Now, I understand what everyone is saying about not relying on the scale, but for me, I'll take encouragement where I can find it. The funny thing is, all week long whatever I put on didn't seem to fit well. Then today after I saw the scale, all of a sudden my clothes looked better on me. Power of suggestion????

Best of all - the cold never took hold!

[jd]

Missi, thanks for the great idea of measuring instead of weighing. Although I'm in WW and get weighed every week, I don't own a scale and my goal is around clothing size, not pounds. I'm going to measure myself this weekend and then measure again monthly. Thanks again!

[JennyR]

I,too, like the idea of inches vs pounds. My Dad had lost a LOT of weight and he had a graph on the back of the door with weekly weights until his goal was achieved. That worked for him but as I said earlier, the scale depresses me. I think I've found something a little more motivational for me to try.

[Laura]

Okay. Here is my 2 cents on the scale/inches thing. As I have stated, I have been very sporadic with my exercising ever since I moved 4 weeks ago. I got on a scale for the first time this week and I have lost almost 4 pounds. The down side is that I believe a good portion of that is muscle because when I went to the gym this morning I have lost a lot of strength. So even though I weigh less, I don't believe I am as healthy as I was.

On a separate note, I have been good toward the end of this week. Ran yesterday, ran and lifted this morning and am going on a "leaf collecting" hike this afternoon. I had forgotten how good exercise (and a couple of good nights of sleep) can make you feel. It is scary how easily I can fall out my routine though. Have a great weekend everyone.