40+ Club - Fall Fitness Fanatics

18911131417

Replies

  • singfree
    singfree Posts: 1,591 Member
    Alf, I'm glad that you're doing well...too bad it's not vacation!!! :laugh: This is it!! I just know you are going to do great as a teacher!!! :drinker:
  • mkwood10
    mkwood10 Posts: 428
    Hello everyone!!!:smile::smile:
    Been a busy week at work; and I rarely get on the computer at home during the week - sit in front of one all day at work, so don't even want to look at it at night!:laugh:

    Yesterday was weigh/measure day Weight went UP since last time I got measured (Aug), one pound, no big deal, but lost 1" on my belly, 1/2" on thighs and dropped a little body fat (.8%). The only way I can tell that things are changing is fitting into winter clothes that were tight last spring - yeah!!! :bigsmile:

    I've been working out 3 times a week pretty regularly for awhile, haven't broke the 500 calorie barrier again :frown: (big surprise - the computer changed my fitness level, :huh: which made resistance on the machines change:grumble: The next 2 times I worked out after that 500 calorie workout the computer increased my performance index expectation by 17 and 19 points!! Not fun:grumble: :grumble:

    Back up to 466 calories burned and progressed on 11 machines, so that's good.

    Motivation sucks these days.:embarassed: :embarassed: ..........don't know what to do to get re-motivated.....obviously NOT gonna make my birthday weight goal :noway: :noway: .......any suggestions???

    Sooooooooooooo frustrated!!!!
  • singfree
    singfree Posts: 1,591 Member
    MK, the only suggestion that I would make is to add some variety to your workouts as well as your food. Sometimes we get in a rut as our bodies get used to the same routines. When we are forced out of our comfort zone, the body will probably respond in a positive way. For example, when I started doing Insanity, which is cardio based, I could see a difference in the first week. Of course, my diet is not always stellar, but that's another story.

    For your diet, assuming your total cals are under control, try upping your protein a bit. Nothing drastic, just monitor it for a few days to see how your weight and shape responds. When you start seeing an improvement, you will be plenty motivated!!!

    I hope this helps!
  • StiringWendel
    StiringWendel Posts: 3,924 Member
    Hey all! Hope everybody is having a good day. :flowerforyou:

    singfree, enjoy your day with your mother. While I understand not wanting to burn vacation time to go shopping, I think it is wonderful that you get to spend that time with her. My mother is turning 80 in January, and, more and more, I wish I were geographically closer to her. Of course, I'm moving about as far away as I can get, so maybe this is just something on my mind right now. :tongue:

    alf, good to see you!! Are you still keeping up with P90X with everything else going on? And, yes, I'm excited about the move. It's just that this part of the move....preparing, dealing the Air Force bureaucracy, constantly changing targets, etc....is not my favorite part of moving. But each day I find at least 10 minutes to sit down and read a little about Korea, and that gets me so very excited about this opportunity. It helps me keep my perspective when dealing with the less-than-pleasant things....like all of the shots I need to get tomorrow. :frown:

    mk, I so hear you on motivation right now. What I do to keep myself going is remember what it was that got me doing what I'm doing right now in the first place. For me, there were two things. The first was putting on so much weight last fall that when my husband and I were going to a Christmas party last December, I was struggling trying to find something in my closet that fit. And I HATE that. There are few things that I find more discouraging than staring at a closet full of clothes--clothes that were purchased as 'fat' clothes in the first place--and not having anything fit because they are too small. I get so frustrated, mad, upset, disappointed, embarrassed...you name it. So when I get to thinking that the workouts are too hard, or the eating clean is too hard, I remember the feeling I have had (and I've had it many times) of trying on pieces of clothing just hoping I can find something that is big enough so I can leave the house. And that works as great motivation for me. My second motivator was seeing my father-in-law, who visited over Christmas this year, and his struggles with Type II Diabetes. I don't want to lose my vision in my 70s. I don't want my husband to lose his vision in his 70s. Not for Type II Diabetes, that's for sure. I think about that often. That's just a road I don't want to go down if I can prevent going down it.

    So I'm sure there is something that motivated you to take the course you are taking right now, so maybe just take a couple of days to really sit back and think about what that was, and, maybe, that will help you with your motivation a little bit. While I understand you had a goal in mind (your birthday), I would wager there was a bigger motivation behind setting that goal.

    And singfree is right....change things up. Just changing a workout or changing what you eat (even if that means incorporating in a treat where you otherwise wouldn't have one) for a little bit can really help with the motivation. For instance, I'm struggling with a sweet tooth right now, so I've eliminated a couple of healthier things from my diet so I can have a few pieces of chocolate at night. Is this the best choice I can make? Heck no! But it is the choice that is working for me right now, so I'm willing to do it because I am controlling it.

    And make sure that you keep your workouts fun. For instance, today I am tired. I am actually so beyond tired it isn't funny right now. So I knew I needed to get through P90X Back/Biceps to stay on track with that program. And I did. But I also wanted to do some cardio. I, literally, sat and stared at my DVDs and said 'Okay, which one sounds like fun today'....and that's the one I did. I didn't think about what I should have been doing, what would have been the best workout in relation to my other workouts this week, what was going to burn the most calories....I just wanted to do a workout I could have fun with. And it ended up being a great workout--both the P90X one AND the cardio--because I knew at the end of Back/Biceps (a workout I love, btw) that I had chosen a workout that I knew was going to be fun for me.

    So there are my suggestions. Give yourself a little break if you are pushing too hard, change things up, let yourself have some fun both in your workouts and in your diet....and remember why you are doing what you are doing.

    And congrats on the body measurements!

    Hope everybody enjoys the rest of their day!
  • singfree
    singfree Posts: 1,591 Member
    Good morning!

    Not too much to report this week. I'm doing a combination of Insanity and P90X workouts and I feel good getting an aerobic-strength workout each day. I still have a small amount of body fat that I need to shed. The battle goes on!

    We are taking my mother to her Dr. appt today and then shopping & lunch. This should be a riot since she is in a wheelchair and it's supposed to rain all day! We'll manage. She has not been out for a few months since she is in assisted living. Stiring, my mother is 80 also. She is in this condition partly due to not eating well and never exercising. It's a shame, really, because many afflictions can be avoided.

    I'll check in later, have a great day!
  • alf1163
    alf1163 Posts: 3,143 Member
    Good morning!! Well, still at the same weight as last week, 122.4lbs. Not bad. I am still doing P90X, I am on the second recovery week of the program. I might need to extend it because next Wed I am scheduled for an oral biopsy. :frown: And the dentist said I cannot do heavy exercise for a week, actually first three days are critical. Ouch!!! So my plan is to start phase 3 of the X on Sunday 18 or Mon 19.

    Sing, enjoy your day with your mom. Hope you can stay dry. It is pouring here right now. :noway: I hope it stops by the time my son gets on the bus and I have to head out to work.

    MK, congrats on losing inches!!!! :drinker: How much more weight you need to lose? Maybe focus on your diet right now, eating very clean/healthy. Hey and if you dont get to the weight you wanted on your birthday just celebrate anyways, all that you have accomplished so far and what is to come. And losing inches is a big accomplishment!!! My husband's birthday is Oct 21.

    Stiring, lately I've been craving carbs, not so much sweets but carbs in general, dry cereal, bread, etc. I've had episodes of just eating dry cereal out of the box and stuffing my face....crazy!!! I was very surprised when I stepped on the scale this morning and I was still under my goal. I guess my body is telling me what I need right now and it probably needed lots of carbs. :laugh: I did much better last night, I almost grabbed the box but stopped myself.

    My daughter and grandaughter are coming this weekend. We are going to Sea World to the Halloween Fest/Haunted Forest, spooky!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So chocolate ice cream on a waffle cone, here I come :noway: :noway: :laugh: That is my treat when I go to Sea World. :laugh:

    Have a great day!!!! :flowerforyou:
  • zebras
    zebras Posts: 600
    Alf:

    I've been meaning to tell you how cute you look in you new pic with those pigtails! Hard to imagine you are a Grandma!

    Sing:

    I always look forward to seeing your bright and early post when I get into work. We can always count on you to get our day going.

    MK:

    Does your gym have some kind of central computer system, doing things based on your fitness level? I'd be interested to hear more about that.

    I report for myself that I am continuing using the weight machine and doing a little less cardio, and it worked because I dropped a couple of pounds this week. I am trying to eat better, too. I brought in fruit cups to keep me out of the cafeteria sweets after lunch, we'll see how that goes by next week!
  • mkwood10
    mkwood10 Posts: 428

    MK:

    Does your gym have some kind of central computer system, doing things based on your fitness level? I'd be interested to hear more about that.

    I report for myself that I am continuing using the weight machine and doing a little less cardio, and it worked because I dropped a couple of pounds this week. I am trying to eat better, too. I brought in fruit cups to keep me out of the cafeteria sweets after lunch, we'll see how that goes by next week!

    Zebras,
    My gym is Curves, and yes they have a central computer system. It's called CurveSmart. There are sensors on each of the 12 machines that measure intensity of workout, range of motion, repititions made on each lap thru the circuit and I don't know what all else. We have a swipe tag that gets put into each machine and then we log into the computer again at the end of the workout. It then tells you how many machines you progressed on that workout, which muscle groups you achieved 100% of potential on and which ones you didn't, to include % of potential you actually did. It also tells you how many calories burned each workout and how different muscle groups were worked. That's a very simplified explanation, but you get the idea............
    I really like Curves for several reasons; it is only women, there's no set class schedule- you just come in, scan in, rotate thru the circuit twice, stretch and then check your results on the computer, and it's always a positive atmosphere there.
  • zebras
    zebras Posts: 600
    The Curves here was very short lived, so I never checked it out. I've always heard good things about it. Does doing the same circuit over and over again get boring?
  • mkwood10
    mkwood10 Posts: 428
    The Curves here was very short lived, so I never checked it out. I've always heard good things about it. Does doing the same circuit over and over again get boring?

    I try to start on a different machine every time, so that helps fight boredom. it gives me a good workout in a very short period of time - I'm in and out in about 45 minutes and usually burn between 450 and 500 calories.
  • tron3002
    tron3002 Posts: 440 Member
    Hello everyone.... I'm sorry I havent been chatting s often. My lap top is old and keeps shutting off. I need a new one but at the moment thats impossible.

    As for check in.... I've gained.... again. :cry: I need to reevaluate whats going on and take care of it.

    I did buy my fitness coach and another wii program golds gym I think. I really like my fitness coach though.

    Here's hoping I have better weight loss news next week and my computer cooperates with me.
  • zebras
    zebras Posts: 600
    Tron:

    I have both, and you will really love Gold's Gym once you work through the basic stuff. Its amazing how the equivalent of shadow boxing can really work you out.. I got a 6" aerobic step when I got My Fitness Coach, which really helped since I couldn't do so much jumping jacks, but had no problem with the step aerobic stuff. I just got the Wii Fit Plus this week, I've been playing around with it. It has a silly program called rythmic Kung Fu. Hardly burns any calories, but I keep at it trying to do better, so it adds up. There is also a marching band game which challenges your ability to keep rythm and do two things at once, you are marching in place on the board, and drumming the remote and nunchuck when designated, and my legs feel really worked out because the movement is different from walking on the treadmill and using the ellipitcal. The reward is if you get enough in rythm in a row, you get more members of your marching band, but if you screw up, they go away.

    Whatever keeps me up and moving is a good thing!

    If you aren't already doing so, when you use My Fitness Coach, hit the mute button on the tv, and put your own favorite music on.
  • singfree
    singfree Posts: 1,591 Member
    Tron, sometimes weight gain is unpredictable. We think that all is well and, voila...weight gain!!! Take heart and change things up a bit with your new workouts. Keep your spirits up and never admit defeat. Sometimes weight gain can be as simple as too much sodium or carbs. Log your food for a few days to see if that is the problem. I can eat once at a Chinese restaurant and I get more sodium there than a week at home preparing my own food. I've pretty much completely cut out fast food. We only go to restaurants that serve food that is prepared without a lot of additives.

    MK, 450-500 cals in only 45 mins is awesome! Are you limited to 45 mins or can you do extend your workout to an hour? The extra cals burned really adds up!
  • alf1163
    alf1163 Posts: 3,143 Member
    Happy Saturday!!! :drinker:

    Good to hear from you Sing on a weekend. How was your day with your mom?

    I did Core Synergistics this morning. I enjoy that workout! I am also planning on working on my Zumba routine today, at least I am hoping. My daughter and grandaughter are here and we are going to Sea World tonight to get spooked at the haunted forest. :laugh: She was so cute last night, she is imitating a lot!!! Every time I see her she is doing something new. I just love to kiss her and hug her. :smooched:

    Zebras, thank you for the compliment. I am trying to achieve the Zumba "look" with the bandanna and all...:laugh: All that talk about the wii fit makes me want to play. I have not used it in months, close to a year :noway: At least my son uses the wii with his attendant but they dont use the wii fit.

    Tron, glad to hear from you. Hang in there girl. It is tough once you get close to your goal. The body fights it. Tweak your plan here and there, exercise and nutrition. We usually think that we need to exercise more in order to lose weight when we really have to do is focus on nutrition more. I started seeing better results when I started eating more nutritious, less processed foods. I know it is easier said than done, I still struggle to eat better but it is getting easier the more I practice. :laugh:

    MK, I agree with Sing, about 500 cals in 45 mins, Holy Cow!!! You have been doing Curves for a while and I know you enjoy it but can you do something different for a while or do extra exercises on days you dont go to Curves? That might shock your body into burning more and get out of your plateau. Also as I suggested above, focus on your nutrition, make sure you are eating clean foods and the amount you need.

    Have a great day!!! :flowerforyou:
  • singfree
    singfree Posts: 1,591 Member
    Twice on Saturday!!! You're right Alf, I'm usually AWOL on the weekend. We had a nice day with my Mom yesterday. She had a good report from the Dr., and we did some shopping and lunch before she went back to assisted living. At least the place is only 5 min. from my house, so I can pop in anytime. The facility is run by the local Catholic Diocese. The staff is very kind and compassionate. I'm glad you are getting some quality time with your Granddaughter, too. I get withdrawal when I can't see my Grandson as much as I'd like.
  • singfree
    singfree Posts: 1,591 Member
    Good morning!

    I hope that everyone had a great weekend. It is starting to get COLD here in the Northeast. I had a bit of frost on the roof of my car this morning. They are forecasting snow showers in the higher elevations of PA on Thursday...YIKES!!! I don't like cold weather.

    I think our remodeling will finally get done this week. The last phase is to finish a custom fireplace-entertainment center in the corner of our living room. It's almost finished, just some glass tiles and trim to go...and some staining. Our carpenter had to design & build a surround for out new TV and sound system so it all looks "built-in".

    Back to the grind after being off on Friday for my mother's Dr. appointment. Now I have twice the work to catch up on. Mondays are my busiest day anyway, because I have a rehearsal with the Susquehanna Chorale this evening and won't get home until after 10:30 tonight. I'm getting too old for this stuff!

    Not much exercise this weekend, I was a bit lazy. My eating was ok but not great. For me, weekdays are easier to maintain a good eating-exercise schedule. I'm really going to TRY to eat more protein and less carb, especially junk carbs. This is where we need to stick together. The holidays are a-comin' and we need to start preparing for them right now!

    Are you with me, gals?? Have a great day!
  • zebras
    zebras Posts: 600
    Good morning Sing and everyone.

    Sing you are making me nostalgic for Pennsylvania. I went 5 years in a row to a summercamp in the mountains, and one year to Lebanon Valley College in Annville. I did go back to the camp several times one year when I was't working and volunteered a little, and they offered me a job. But I realized that it was so far from anything (nearest neighbor was about a mile from the entrance to the camp, and most of the buildings in the camp were a further mile in, that my social life would have been non-existant. At the time, I was hoping to find my 2nd Mr. Right, and I did find "Mr. Zebras" within a year of that time. So, it was a good decision.

    Hope everyone else is having a good monday!
  • singfree
    singfree Posts: 1,591 Member
    Zebras, I travel very near to Annville on my way to Hershey every Monday evening. It's funny, Lebanon Valley College are the "Dutchmen" !!! Appropriate mascot, eh? :laugh:
  • StiringWendel
    StiringWendel Posts: 3,924 Member
    Morning everybody! :flowerforyou:

    singfree, you are right that now is the time to stick together. I was at the grocery store yesterday, and I couldn't believe all of the Halloween AND Thanksgiving AND Christmas foods on display. Everytime I turned a corner, there was another food item that I wanted to throw in my cart and savor because they are seemingly offered only 'once a year' (for three months....but still just 'once a year' :laugh: ).

    I didn't throw anything extra into my cart yesterday, but I haven't had the best food weekend either. Part of that is trying to eat up what we have in the house (like the whole wheat pancake mix I ended up finishing yesterday morning :bigsmile: ). And part of it is because I'm baking for my husband's co-workers (a request on their part because I have baked for them quite a bit, and they enjoy it), and I can't seem to stop myself from 'testing' what I'm baking.....over and over again. :embarassed: And part of it because I am losing my willpower! :frown: So I definitely need some encouragement right now.

    I did finish up week 2 of phase 3 of P90X on Saturday, and will start the third week today with Chest/Back and ARX. I'm also planning on doing an Insanity workout after I finish that. So I'm doing all right on the exercise part as long as I have time. I just need to keep the eating under control right now.

    tron, that being said, don't be too upset about your weight gain. I think it is pretty clear that all of us have had cycles in our lives where we've done better with weight loss/eating healthy than other times. What I admire most about you is that you haven't just thrown in the towel. In other words, you are still here!! You've had some tough stuff going on, so give yourself credit for what you HAVE been doing (like I give myself credit for continuing to workout even though my diet is becoming a disaster). Eventually, you'll experience another wave of motivation, and you'll be fine. Accept the cycle, and I believe that as long as you stay aware (like being on MFP), you won't get too far off course. So take care of yourself, and don't beat yourself up!! These things happen in life, and we're here to support you. :flowerforyou:

    I hope everybody has a good day. I have more baking to do today....and a dinner party to plan for tomorrow night. I suppose it is little wonder that I can't stop thinking about food right now. :grumble:
  • zebras
    zebras Posts: 600
    Sing:

    Would you beleive that the entire year I was there, I never actually went into Hershey Park? Even years later, when my mother and I stayed at Hershey Lodge to tour the area, we did do the fake factory tour, but still didn't do Hershey Park. I do have my crystal Hershey's Kiss from that visit though.

    When I was at LVC, the football team was so bad, that we gave them a standing ovatio for a tie.
  • sunnysmile
    sunnysmile Posts: 1,192
    Hi Everyone ... I just caught up on some of the postings, very inspirational to see your successes. I have been off the site for about 5 days and it's amazing how much I missed it. Was much harder eating right and staying motivated without it.

    While I was off PMSing big time I was doing some exercise, and today I did the pool for 40 minutes. Last week when I weighed myself I was up on the scale and was discouraged. I need to make a record of my measurements, I know sometimes it's possible to make some changes in body and still gain weight. I think I gained weight though from overeating, and perhaps some water weight gain from monthly cycle. Thankfully it finally began last night, so maybe there will be some relief from my aching breasts this week.

    On a non-exercise topic, I saw my family Sunday and did my best to eat the way I wanted to, and today my Mom commented I should reduce my carbs. This is so frustrating as I ate very little carbs when she saw me, it so happens. Anyway, I had called her on my way to the pool today to wish her a good day and it was the usual unsolicited bashing of my weight, my eating carbs. "You should reduce your carbs, it's the only thing that will work". I told her to stop the unsolicited comments and that I was getting of the phone, and I did. WHY DO I CALL MY MOM? WHY WHY WHY. Probably because my Dad died a year ago and she is lonely and needs support .... but she has always commented on my weight, my food, my hair, my EVERYTHING. And then she says these comments are not criticism.

    Anyway, sorry for the diabtribe, just venting I guess. But I'm 48 years old and I wish she'd get off my back. My Dad always said I had to learn not to let what she does upset me, but it just doesn't work that way. And still, I keep contact with her. She is not a bad mother, loves me a lot, but in this area she causes me grief. Okay, I'm fat, yes, I may die early, but leave me alone.

    Okay, that is not all that positive sounding, but it is so frustrating.

    Okay, I'm going to go log my food and exercise now. Should I wait until after my period to take my measurements? I talked myself out of eating bad food to reduce the frustration I felt with my Mom, I don't want to punish myself. That at least is a good thing.

    Everyone have a great great day.
  • singfree
    singfree Posts: 1,591 Member
    Stiring, I'm here for you kid!!! BACK AWAY FROM THE CANDY>>DO IT >>>NOW!!!! :laugh: How's that? I see those candy aisles in the store and begin salivating like Pavlov's dog. I'm salivating even now!!! Now that you are almost finished P90X, what do you think of it as a stand-alone workout series (I think I know the answer)... My take on it is that while it is good by itself, I don't always feel "drained" the way i would like. Therefore, I feel that it needs a bit more cardio. What I'm trying to do is on the strength training days, do P90X and a short Insanity workout. Then the following day do a long Insanity workout and maybe abs, but no other P90X. I know what my body needs and can handle, so i will tailor my workouts according to my own particular needs. Does this make sense to you?

    Sunny, parents (Mothers in particular) can be pretty rough on their adult kids. I don't really know why this is, but I see it time after time. They think that by being demeaning, it will motivate you into action. Quite often, the opposite happens. Don't let this get to you. You know your body. You know what to do to improve your situation. Just let all that negativity pass you by. Accept only the good, encouraging words from people. You can do it!!! We are here to help and encourage. Best wishes to you on this journey!
  • StiringWendel
    StiringWendel Posts: 3,924 Member
    sing, thanks for the encouragement! I think it has worked....for now. I have two batches of cookies and loaf of bread cooling in the kitchen, and I'm munching on an apple. That's a good sign. Hopefully, I won't be munching on anything else after the apple. :laugh:

    My thoughts on P90X....I totally agree that there isn't enough cardio. In fact, I would say my overall impression of P90X is that it is a great program for creating a show-off body, but that it is an incomplete program when it comes to overall fitness, including some aspects of strength training. Okay, maybe 'incomplete' isn't the best word to use regarding the strength training aspect of the program and 'imbalanced' would be a better word. For instance, I happen to think there is way too much focus on creating the back muscles (for that show-off V look), and not enough focus (as an example) on working the legs. And when the legs are worked, again, I find it primarily focused on the quad portion of the legs (the show-off muscle) and not enough work on the hamstrings and glutes.

    That being said, I think it is an excellent program and I will definitely do it again, but I will do it again like I did it this time...by adding additional leg work focusing on hamstrings/glutes, by adding additional cardio (nearly every day) and, during phase 1 and 2, adding an additional upper body workout at the end of the week. Doing the program this way has definitely made me as fit--and LOOK as fit--as I've ever been. But I don't think I would have had the same results if I hadn't balanced out the program a bit. Like you, I know what my body needs, and I had to tailor this program to fit those needs. But the good thing about this program is that is easily possible to tailor it.

    sunnysmile, I'm so with you on the mother situation! My mother visited this summer, and I'm as thin as I've ever been. In fact, the first few days she was here, she kept commenting on how my body had changed. But, alas, by the end of the week, she was commenting on everything I ate, making me feel guilty for eating anything. I mean, during our last dinner together, she made me feel bad about eating a salad. It takes talent to make a woman who weighs 100 pounds (which is what I weighed when she was here) feel like she is overeating when she is eating a salad, but my mother has that unique talent. :laugh: Lucky me. :ohwell:

    Like singfree said, just let it go. Don't let it get to you. I've come to the conclusion that my mother makes comments like the ones she makes because she knows her comments get to me, so it makes her feel superior. I'm not even sure she is totally aware that she is doing it, but she is and I have no doubt that is why. So I just brush the comments off as being more about her than they are about me. But it never ceases to amaze me how I can go from being a 44 year old confident and accomplished woman to a 12 year old chubby girl who wants to hide in the corner after talking to my mother for three minutes some days. But I'm the one who gives her that power, and as long as I don't give it to her, I will always be the 44 year old confident and accomplished woman that I am. Does that make sense?

    So continue to walk your own path. You are doing wonderful things to your body right now, and that is all that matters. :flowerforyou:

    Okay, so I did Chest/Back this morning and since it was the last time for me to do this workout during this 90 day period, I really pushed it. I upped everything....and ended up doing 333 pushups, all on my toes. :drinker: But silly me decided to do Insanity Cardio Power after that. Ummmm.....there were alot of pushups in that workout. :noway: That will teach me not to do a workout before previewing it again. Anyhow, I did the best I could on my spaghetti arms, and really focused on the cardio work....and loved it! I'm going to love these Insanity workouts. But, yowza, I don't recommend doing these two workouts back-to-back without being mentally and physically prepared.
  • tron3002
    tron3002 Posts: 440 Member
    I just wanted to thank everyone for the words of encouragement.... And apologize for making this short. I just never know when the computer will just shut off.

    I have had the flu sense Friday. Sleeping a lot. I hope I kick it soon because there is a weight loss competition that I may want to try that lasts for 3 months. What the heck. I may not win but at least it gives me something to shoot for. But I am so drained right now and my head just plain hurts that I havent even tried to get involved yet.

    Hope everyone has a wonderful day. :smile:
  • zebras
    zebras Posts: 600
    tron, I hope you feel better soon. I'm so sorry you got the flu!
  • Hi all! Sunnysmiles: your talk about swimming made me get in gear make it to deep water aerobics TWICE last week! Meant I had to leave work at 4:00 but I don't need to be tied to the office. Not sure I can do it this week. I have late meetings several days.

    About the mom thing, I talk to mine everyday too since my dad died last year. (I am actually down from two times a day or more right after he died.) My mom gets rattled when something happens that she cannot control (which has been a lot this past year.) I try to redirect her to something that she can control like how much she is exercising or what she is eating. My mother-in-law lived with us the last two years of her life. She knew all my husband's buttons and was constantly pushing them. I used to kick him under the table at dinner when he would get into an argument with her about something stupid like was there was an oak tree in the front yard or the back yard at the house where they lived.
    We worked out a code. (This was during the Gulf war.) She would say something that I could tell would get my husband going. I would quickly say: "I hear they launched another scud missle, I wonder if it will land." Scud missle was the code for his mom's button pushing. I was going to school at night (crazy time with full time job, two little kids, etc.) When I would get home, Bill would give a "war report" for the day: several scuds, but none landed or a Patriot missle (his ability to redirect her) intercepted or one landed (he got suckered into the button push.) Work out your own internal code. Or tell her exactly what you ate (along with calories, sodium content, etc. from your MFP food log...) We are all very proud of you and support your efforts. Hang in there. Your mom has had 48 years to perfect her button pushing. Also, understand the psychology of putting a behavior on extinction (not reacting to it as you did in the past.) Initially, the behavior you are no longer reacting to will increase. If you respond to the increased behavior, you have taught the other person to that increasing behavior is better so ithe behavior gets worse instead of better. Think of trying to get a coke out of a coke machine (ok bottle of water). If you push the button and nothing comes out, what do you do? Start pushing the button mutiple times. If the drink comes out after pushing mutiple times, then next time you go to that machine you will immediately start pushing the button mutiple times. Think about that next time you try not react to your mom. You have to REALLY not react as she escalates otherwise next time she will start with the escalated behavior. Don't mean to dis your mom. This is human behavior 101. (Can you tell I am married to a psychologist? He is going to get busted tonight with trainer... He has not logged his food in MFP for three weeks now and was going to try to recreate everything he ate to turn in to her tonight.!)
    Tron: hope you get well from the flu.
    Sing: I agree about the holiday game plan which must begin now.
    Alf; You look great in your pigtails. Go zumba! I don't think I am coordinated enough. Did take belly dancing classes twice!
    Stiring: That candy is escalating its desirability as you try to put it on extinction.

    Hope everyone has a great week.
  • alf1163
    alf1163 Posts: 3,143 Member
    Hello everyone!!!! About being "bad" this weekend, do NOT get me started on that!!! :grumble: :explode: :laugh: I am glad it is in the past, HAKUNA MATATA!! :laugh: Not that today was any better, but it was much better than Sat and Sun. But I did have a nice weekend spending time with my daughter and grandbaby. I did make time to workout so that was good. Yesterday morning my husband and I head out for our long run and towards the middle of our run it started pouring and it was in the 50's :noway: I was soaking wet and so cold!!! :noway: I did yogaX today, hard work but so relaxing at the same time.

    Tron, I hope you feel better soon!! :flowerforyou: :heart:

    Stiring, I hear you with the temptations. They are all over the place. Yes, Sing, we really need to stick together starting NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I went to my brother's yesterday because we were welcoming my sister in law back from DEA Academy. I ate all sorts of snacks, then ate dinner and when it came time for dessert what do I get? A piece of carrot cake AND pumpkin pie, yes, one each!!!!!!!!! Did I need to do that????? NO Why did I do it? Cuz everyone else was doing it...BAD EXCUSE!!! :grumble: I have no social willpower whatsoever!!

    On the subject about moms, not much to say about my mother, not that she has not pushed my buttons but it does not happen very often. My concern is my daughter. Everytime I see her (once or twice a month) she seems to have gotten bigger. It is very hard for me not to say anything to her and I think I have been pretty good at trying to be supportive or just ignore it. I think the best thing I can do is to continue to lead by example and hopefully the time will come that she will want my help and I will definitely try to help her as much as I can. She told me she is disgusted by her weight gain. I have encouraged her to eat healthier, stop eating out so much, etc. I not only worry about her but I also worry about my grandbaby. She is feeding her the same junk she eats.

    On a more positive subject. Are you dressing up on Halloween? My husband and I will be pirates this year. We got our costumes today. Last year we had the 70's look. Let me see if I add a pic to my profile. We started this last year, we had never really got into it before except with the kids taking them trick or treating.

    MK, Duffy, Swiss, texasmom, Annaliza, Tex...I miss you!! :flowerforyou:

    Have a great evening!! :flowerforyou:
  • singfree
    singfree Posts: 1,591 Member
    Good morning!

    Tron, I'm very sorry you're under the weather...get well soon !! :flowerforyou:

    Stiring, I agree 100% about P90X being a "show muscles" program. While it is superior to almost all strength programs on CD, it is lacking a few things. The good: Arms, shoulders, back and core. The weak: legs and cardio. Yes, it does take crazies like us to do Insanity and P90X back-to-back. That's a problem for me. When I want to do cardio alone, Insanity seems to incorporate pushups into even a pure cardio workout. I know I should not do strength 2 days in a row (same muscle groups), but if it is part of the workout, I'm doing it. I just can't seem to bring myself to skipping over any part of the workout, although I am tempted to shorten the stretching. No wonder I pull muscles! :grumble:

    I'm going to try my best to get a workout in tonight. I am already tired from last night's rehearsal and getting home after 10:30 pm. I got to bed at 11:30 and was up at 4:45 am. I need to visit my mom after work and then a dentist appt. at 6 pm. Hopefully I can get a short workout done after that.

    Alf, I'm so glad you had a good time with your Granddaughter. I just can't stop thinking about my Grandson. He is a true delight and I adore him more than I can say. Like you, I have ZERO willpower in a social setting. Thank goodness those things don't happen all the time! Our daughter-in-law seems to be like your daughter. A beautiful young woman, a great mom, but she either refuses to take control of her weight or just feel too overwhelmed by it to do anything. When she does WW points system, she does great...until the weekend. They like to go out with friends and have drinks, appetizers, entrees AND dessert. She probably consumes enough in one evening (calories) to cover 2-3 days of normal eating. What worries me is that these bad habits will rub off on her son.

    This halloween I'm dressing up as the Michelin Man!!! :laugh:
  • zebras
    zebras Posts: 600
    Good morning all!

    I am not dressing up for Halloween, I live in a condo, where people have to be buzzed in so no one comes trick or treating to us, and I don't have kids to take trick or treating. We used to go over my friends house and my husband would walk around with them and their girls, and I would man their house for the trick or treaters, but the girls are amost 13, and they don't want extra grownups around on a night like that now!

    I managed to add a little running in my treadmill routine last night. Then I went to do the weight machine, and for some reason I couldn't stop yawning, it was absolutely driving me nuts. This was a new one for me. (Now I'm yawning because I'm talking about it) So I gave up and soon as I left the gym, the yawning stopped. So, I went to weigh myself of my Wii Fit, and it told me its been 500 days since I began Wii Fit. Well the day I stepped on the Wii Fit for the first time, was the official beginning of this journey, so its quite an anniversary. I celebrated by doing a session of Rythm Parade and Rythmic Kung Fu on the new Wii Fit Plus. Both are very short exercises, but they are fun.
  • sunnysmile
    sunnysmile Posts: 1,192
    Congrats Zebra on 500 Wi Fit days, that is an amazing accomplishment.

    Stiring, Texsssipian, and everyone, thanks for the support and comments re: Mom thing. It is a long standing pattern that I sometimes am better dealing with than others. I don't know why my Mom has perfect timing to hit with her comments when I have my period, makes it harder. But I did resist the sugar and though I dreamed about eating a gallon of ice cream I did not do it, or anything food destructive. My Mom always told me she was concerned I would be like my grandmother, who died at an early age of being heavy, has become a self fulfilling proficiecy for me. And when my Mom sees me heavy she says things like, see I was right. I was held on a very tight rein with food very early, and when I was old enough to be on my own (college) I gained a big amount, and then yo yo around.

    Alf ... re: daughter gaining weight and mentioning it to you ... you are right NOT to bring it up to her, the more you may bring it up to her the harder it can be for her to tackle it when she is ready. For me, exercise had to start before I could eat right, perhaps that might be the same with your daughter.
    Perhaps a fun dancing DVD for her to play with with your granddaughter might inspire a lot.

    I am going to start on the new Wi fit Plus today, that is my goal ... I will report back tomorrow to tell you if I did ... but I am promising myself I will begin. If Zebra can make it 500 days, wow, I can make it 1 (at a time).

    Texsssipian ... glad you are enjoying the pool. I just love it and find it a challenging workout, especially if I add resistance to it. I use my water proof MP3 player and enjoy the music while I exercise.

    Everyone have a great day.
This discussion has been closed.