HLSG: 6 month check anyone??

[BevP]

Ok, I'll start. After six months of starting, stopping, restarting, being tired, getting re-motivated.....I'm still where I was, weight-wise which is not too heavy but a bit more than I'd like. (I say this while indulging in Girl Scout cookies and a coke! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif)

However, Feb 1 was my first day of going to step aerobics class nearly every weekday morning. I have upped my step by one riser and had intended to up it another one by 1 April but am waiting two weeks*. I've tried paying more attention to my eating but obviously refuse to change much**.

Success: The upped riser, better flexability (a big plus) and socializing with a great group of ladies at this class (another big plus as I 'work' at home). I think maybe my jeans aren't as tight.

Failure: The scale hasn't moved except to go back and forth. I've had a steady weight for 8 years whether I "diet" or just watch what I eat.

Plans are to get my body fat and fitness level re-tested when I get back in town. that will tell me how I am compared to the last test in October last year.

* Waiting to up the riser because I was out of town a week, am home a week then back out a week. I'll up it after I get back. China is coming up faster and faster.

** I refuse to start weighing and measuring every thing I put on my plate. Eating should not be a chore IMHO and I refuse to make it so. And I make too many exceptions to eating healthy (like the coke and cookies right now).

[This message has been edited by BevP (edited 04-05-2001).]

[lindrusso]

Okay, got all my yard work done, so...

Well, I'm seeing slow but definite progress. The first 3 months were more about getting through the holidays without gaining than about losing weight. Since Januray or so, I've lost about 6 pounds - not really sure. But, I've also gained muscle and I've gone down almost one dress size.

As you stated BevP, I don't want eating to be a chore, so I'm really trying to stay away from calorie counting and such. I keep saying I'm going to count (mostly because I want to reach my goal faster), but I just plain don't want to! I'm eating better - more fruits, veggies and fiber - so I have made some progress.

As for revising my goals, most of them are staying the same, but now I'm down to needing to lose about 6 or 7 pounds. My weight lifting is right where I want it to be, but my cardio still needs some work. To up my cardio I've been doing - GASP - some run-walk intervals. I don't know if I'll ever really get into running (just taking it a little at a time for now), but even if I don't, it's still a great way to increase the intensity of my workouts. I'm also starting up a health and fitness group within my MOMS Club, so I'm hoping that will help keep me focused.

This summer I will also continue to try to increase my overall activity level - maybe hikes, rollerblading (still haven't gotten to the store to buy those yet!),horseback riding???, etc.

Anyone else out there????

[lindrusso]

Oh, and BevP, keep at it. Don't think of it as a "failure" so much as a "success not yet realized"!!! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif And congrats on your step class - that's great!

[lindrusso]

Okay, there are very few of us original HSLG folks still posting regularly, but I thought maybe we could try.

How have you done since we kicked this off last September? Do you need to set new goals or rethink your original goals? Are you having difficulties? Any success stories? Anything you'd like to write about.

I'll post mine later....it's too nice outside today, but tomorrow it's supposed to rain.

[mandarin2j]

Even though I only began posting to the HLSG in February, I thought I'd post a little check-in.

My goals when I began in January were to become involved in physical activities that I enjoyed well enough to stick with, to drink at least 8 glasses of water a day, and to eat my minimum RDA of fruits and veggies a day. Baby steps, really, but at least it was something.

So far, I'm maintaining my exercise groove of doing something (walking, yoga, whatever…) for at least 30 minutes 5-6 days/week. I've been a superstar at the water drinking thing, so I'm pretty proud of having picked up that habit. I slip every so often on the fruits and veggies, but for the most part I get more than my RDA. My approach this time has been integrating healthy changes to my lifestyle at a do-able pace.

I think the next step for me will be to go back on WW Points. I realized after last weekend's backpacking trip that I was not only carrying 30 or so pounds of gear on my back, but another 60 pounds of extra body weight. While my stamina is definitely improving, I hate the idea of being held back by the extra weight. I've started thinking of myself (in terms of ability, anyway; it's surprising how well I scoot along given my weight) as a serious hiker/snowshoer. And that has me thinking about how much more I could accomplish if I began looking more seriously at my diet.

My goals are to be able to hike Mt. Defiance by the end of this summer and be fit enough to climb Mt. Hood by the end of next spring. To support those goals, I need to begin losing weight. In the back of my head, I'm thinking "60 pounds, I'd be really happy with 60 pounds," but I really don't want to hang it on a specific amount. I want to lose enough so my knees don't kill me after a steep descent hiking. I want to lose enough to feel comfortable and nimble climbing over obstacles on paths, even when I'm wearing a full pack. I want to lose enough so that my belly doesn't get in the way during yoga class.


-Amanda