40+ Club: Beating The Winter Bulge

Happy Thursday All!

I'm still enjoying CX today is Burn Intervals day - one of my favorites.

Stiring: I'll have to drag out my book to let you know why he is so pro 3 meals only.

Sing: I'm very interested in your experiment - I'm guessing the way you hold the weights is really engaging your core?

Wingslion - lots of good advice here - knees are tricky things especially for women due to our wider hips. If slowing down your pace doesn't help, you may need to look into some other options. Where exactly is the ache? Inside or Outside of your knee.

Hi singfree! Sorry to hear you are back at work, but it is always nice to know that somebody is 'up' with me....even if it is the middle of the night there.

It is Friday evening here, so time for my Friday check-in. I had a really good week. My eating was very clean (no cheats, no treats, etc). I worked out every day, and I'm feeling increasingly stronger and more fit. I'm back into my 'skinny' clothes, which is nice. So even though the scale read 105 this morning (up 7 pounds from three months ago), I'm very happy with where I'm at right now. My goal is to continue to eat clean until I get rid of some of the outrageous cravings that I started getting after my last bit of not-so-healthy eating. I'm kind of aiming for the end of this first mesocycle in STS for that (which is in two weeks), but we'll see. It is winter, and, as a result, I'm not feeling as strong in avoiding temptation as I usually am. After all, I'm the gal who lived on peanut butter/chocolate and wine for an entire winter in Alaska. :laugh: Sadly, I'm not joking. :noway:

Anyhow, speaking of peanut butter.....singfree, I understand what you are saying about your evening snack of wine and pretzels. But I guess my question is 'Would giving them up be worth it?' The one thing I can't seem to give up is peanut butter. Yes, I know there are some health benefits (like there are in red wine, as a matter of fact), but that doesn't negate the fact that my body fat might be a bit lower if I didn't eat peanut butter every.single.day.of.my.life! But, for me, it is the one thing I won't give up, regardless of the reasons why I should (more bang for my nutritonal buck in 200 calories of other foods and lower body fat possibilities). I have been able to move beyond many things I never thought I could (like cream and sugar in my coffee), but this is one area where I know if I were to give up the peanut butter, I would feel TOO deprived. So I opt not to because, to me, that feeling of deprivation isn't worth the lower body fat percentage I would have because I have a feeling that I would throw in the towel at some point or another and I don't want to do that. So, for me, any healthy eating plan I create for myself is going to allow for one serving of peanut butter per day. I make it as healthy as I can (natural, no salt, etc), but it is still high in fat and calories. But it is here to stay. So what I'm trying to ask is....is it possible that glass of wine and bit of pretzels is your peanut butter?

hisangel, I'm so happy to hear about your daughter. I know for so many people, taking the first step towards weight loss/creating a healthier lifestyle is the hardest step to take. I'm so happy she has you to turn to. I wish her the best of luck! You seem to be quite the role model for an active life!

tamarads, those houses you lived in here at Osan are FINALLY scheduled to be demolished. There are three new apartment towers, and I live in a beautiful new townhome. We have everything you'd ever want (unless you are trying to eat healthy ) on the base....Subway, Krispy Kreme, Popeyes, Chilis, Pizza Hut.....It's a little American city now. Speaking of which, when we were overseas the first time, we were in Europe for 9.5 years straight, and I only returned to the US once during that time. What I noticed the most (in addition to the size of the people) was the number of restaurants. It still amazes me (having only spent 36 months in the lower 48 since '92). I find it a tad...disappointing....to be honest. Anyhow, we've been stationed in England, Germany (twice), Italy, Alaska (I know, not technically overseas but overseas by AF standards!), and now in Korea. And I totally agree with you about the Korean people. I find them to be about the most gracious and generous people I've ever encountered.

Off to make dinner....grilled chicken greek salad (YUM!). I hope everybody has a great Friday and a wonderful weekend. :flowerforyou:

Happy Friday - or at least I'm finally happy to be on the site able to post (I'm guessing MFP is a lot like the gym in Jan - overloaded but give it a bit and things will calm down )

Check in Day - Well I did great all week until yesterday. I don't know what was going on but I was craving sweets like crazy and I'm generally not a sweet person more a salty snack person. The good news is that when I grabbed the brown sugar pop tart from the pantry - it didn't taste right (I'm guessing that is from all the fruit I'm consuming now) Hopefully, that memory will stop me the next time I'm craving junk. But moving on - all in all even with the weak spot last night I ate well probably 70% this week and more importantly I have stayed right on track with ChaLeane Extreme :drinker:

Stiring: Here is what Dr. Fuhrman says about eating 3 meals: In scientific studies, reduced meal frequency increases the lifespan of both rodents and monkeys, even when the calories consumed each week are the same. The body needs time between meals to finish digesting, because when digestion has ended the body can more effectively detoxify and promote cellular repair.

Sing: You must be my brother from another mother because beside the love of red wine - drinking a Winter Ale is on my agenda for the weekend. Although I'll be saving it to have with my bowl of chili while cheering on my Colts to an AFC Championship.:drinker: My husband finished off or Hacker Pschoor Weisse last night so Winter Ale is my #2 favorite right now.

Have A Great Weekend one and all!

Boy, what a great name .......Beating the Winter Bulge! My Winter bulge took over and after seeing pictures taken over the holiday and my brother asking me if I was pregnant again, I knew I had to do something. I started coming back on mfp just after New Year's Day. So far I have lsot 8 pounds and feeling better already. I am 48 years old and marrying my childhood sweetheart in June. I plan on being gorgeous by then!!
Glad I stumbled on to this posting today.

Friday check-in ~ I had a really good week. My eating was very clean (no cheats, no treats, etc). I worked out every day, twice a day except for yesterday just one workout in the evening!
I am happy to report that I think some changes are FINALLY happening. Maybe it is just the endorphins all fired up :laugh: It might be a combo of the food and calories + the additional evening workouts, but whatever it is I am feeling good about it! I won’t be jumping on the scale anytime soon :blushing: but maybe in a few more weeks.

Last night I went to the Strength Class (more of an endurance workout w/ lots of reps and then interval cardio between) w/ my friend from work and then this a.m. I had STS Disc 33 – Shoulders Biceps & Triceps. Eventhough it makes it a little tougher on me in the a.m. to do the evening & then early a.m. workout I am really enjoying it! I actually feel more energized vs. more tired. :noway: Tonight I am going Spinning again; anxious to try this instructors workout. This weekend my goal is to attempt Athletic Step again and some ab work and then on Sunday a good stretch (by Cathe of course) and volleyball.

Hope you all have a great Friday & weekend! :flowerforyou:

Oh, Frank.....I am so sorry. Please know you and your family are in my thoughts and prayers.

Sorry to here about your mom Frank!:sad: Mom s are special to are hearts. God bless. Take care

Thank you for checking in, Frank. I've been thinking about you all day. I can't imagine how difficult this must be. I suppose it does make it more comfortable to know that your mother didn't suffer. Please take care of yourself over the coming days and let us know how you are doing when you get a chance. I'll be thinking about you. :flowerforyou:

While I'm here, I would like to welcome angelwings to our group! Congrats on losing 8 pounds since New Years! That's amazing. And how exciting to hear about your wedding. Congratulations on that as well.

duffy, thanks for the info on the 3 meals a day recommendation from Dr. Fuhrman. I've heard something similar about eating fewer meals vs. more meals, but I've usually heard it in relation to insulin (that your body is continually releasing insulin when you eat many small meals a day) and such. I still think there is no clear answer and whatever suits each individual is best for that individual.

zebras, what size bread machine do you have? I have a couple of good recipes, but one is only for one pound loaves. If your machine is bigger than that, I'll send the one that I have that has all of the breakdowns for the various size loaves. I like that recipe more than the one I'm currently using (the one for one pound loaves), but I can't get all of the ingredients here in Korea (wheat gluten). But, again, let me know what size machine you've got and I'll send you either one or both.

2BLean, happy to hear it feels like you've broken through your plateau. Great job!! :drinker: And before I forget....don't forget to take that week off after STS before going into your next rotation. I didn't last summer when I finished STS....and paid for it. :noway: I, too, feel more energized when I do more workouts (up to a point). It's kind of weird, isn't it?

I actually got my husband to do a weight workout with me this morning. That was fun. Had another good day of eating, so all is well here.

Again, singfree/Frank, I am thinking about you, and thank you for checking in with us.