Need to Lose 100 LBS -Robins Thread !

Alice- I don't know if losing 40 lbs in 6 months is doable since it depends on a variety of factors. What I do know is that if you get yourself moving, log your food, exercise you will have a fighting chance of meeting your goal. In addition, your body shape will change as you lose the weight and people will notice. Believe that you can do it and aim high to reach that goal. Take your measurements as well since you may see those change faster than the scale.

Nicole- Join the gym and work with a trainer for a while. You will be amazed at how helpful they can be. In addition, the support they provide in learning how to use the equipment correctly is valuable. They can also be a great support system for you as well. I have also enjoyed meeting with my trainer (any of them) because it gave me someone to workout with and discuss ideas.

Kinnurse- You must walk miles at work every weekend. Thank you for caring for all your patients especially overnight as that is hard time to deal with sick people. I know my Dad's neuropathy (major feet burning) gets worse at night.

Susan- Welcome home. You did an awesome job on your business trip.

Robin- thanks for posting the link. The story was inspiring.

Elana- I agree with Mowmow- Start slow with a walk and gradually pick up the pace until you are walking quickly almost at a jog. Then jog a little then drop back to a brisk walk. You can slow down your walk as well depending on how you feel. Starting with a 5 second run and gradually increasing it is a good plan. This will also help you pace yourself as you learn to run.

Survived my very busy week including the baby shower for my SIL. Honestly, I ate out to many times this week and did not exercise nearly enough but it will be okay. Tomorrow, I will be biking over 20 miles with a friend so I will make up for some of those rest days this week. Then in the afternoon, I will be helping my brother unload some bags of top soil so I will also get in an upper body workout. I have a feeling that I will be running with my trainer on Monday so it should be an interesting workout. Next week, I am planning to get back on track with a regular workout schedule and start building intensity again. I have missed being at the gym this week.

Luckily- it wasn't a bbq... they had do it yourself tacos, so I didn't go nuts. Still went over on my calories, but not by a ton.

Oh! My Fitbit thing is http://www.fitbit.com/user/27TR4Z if anyone wants to friend me on there. I don't completely understand how it works with MFP, but I will figure it out eventually

Happy Saturday to all!:drinker:

Sorry I didn't make it by here yesterday. Went to the gym for a long workout in the morning, had an impromptu lunch invite then had lots of running around to do. Didn't have much downtime.

@Anna~I agree with what others have said re diet pills. But something to add is that medication contains phentermine, which is a drug known to cause pulmonary hypertension among other side effects. That drug also has habit forming tendencies. I'm not a huge advocate for diet pills; however, if you are really struggling and think it will help you while maintaining healthy choices it may be the right thing for you - short term. Good luck with it, I hope you get the results you're looking for. :happy:

@Elena~Running is one of those things that you start out doing slowly. If you have a smart phone, you could download an app for the C25K running program - it gets you from the couch to running a 5K in just a few months. The program is self-paced so you can repeat days or weeks as long as you need to until you feel comfortable to move onto the next stage of the program. All you can do is start out slow, putting some jogging into a walking routine - run for 15 seconds, a few times and build your way up - same premise at the C25K program. Good luck! I running!

@Nicole~You'll figure out the Fitbit, MFP does work with the Fitbit site - just remember to log all your food/exercise here instead of on the Fitbit site. I sent you a friend request.

@Charlotte~Great NSV with the smaller scubs!

@Robin~Hooray on the volunteer position!

@Susan~You made such healthy choices on your trip, and a 2# loss for the win. Great week!

Need to get the day started and have session with my trainer late morning.

Have a great day!

Thank you! The thread was great and I will try a short run after a walk... I'll let you know how it goes!

Thank you, Kah - I will try it!

@karenleona--great job getting some of that yardwork done!!

@robin--congrats on the volunteer position!! :flowerforyou: Also, thanks for the advice about NROLFW--I already know quite a bit about lifting weights, so maybe it's not what I need. I'm looking for something with actual routines (which exercises to do with how many reps and sets), not the basics of lifting or form. I will check it out of my library to see if it's worth buying for my needs.

@charlotte--Congrats on that looser top--that's a great NSV! Oh, and I think being a nurse has got to be the most selfless job on earth. People sometimes say being a teacher is a calling not a choice, but I think that's even more true about being a nurse. :flowerforyou:

@susan--welcome home and congrats on your success while traveling!

@laurie--I have also missed being at the gym this week--all of the meetings at school and then the social events this weekend put exercise on the back burner. However, I agree with you--it will be okay b/c it was an odd week for both of us. We will get back to our normal routines this week.

@kaye--sounds like a fun shopping trip!

@nicole--sounds like you did a great job at the birthday party. :drinker:

@elena--I agree with what others have said about building up gradually, but I think you were asking more about whether people can start running when they are still really heavy or above a certain weight/BMI. I was about 235 lbs when I started running and I'm 5'7", so I was well into the obese range for BMI. I also know of several women (my height or shorter) who've started running at higher weights--some close to 300 lbs. I guess my answer is there's probably no magic number that determines if you're "ready" to start running--as others have said, if you build up gradually, you'll run less risk of injury regardless of your weight.

@alice--whether you can lose 40 lbs by Feb. depends on a lot of factors--how much you weight no is a big one. You say you have 80 lbs to lose, but we don't know if that's 80 lbs from the lower or higher end of your healthy weight range. If an 80 lb loss will put you at the high end of your healthy weight range, then that first 40 lbs will likely be easier to lose than if you are only 80 lbs from the lowest healthy weight for your height. Also, as others have said, it also depends upon your accuracy and discipline calculating and tracking your calories in and calories out. If you use tools like a food scale and a heart rate monitor, your numbers will be more precise and you're likely to have more success. Those big events are great motivators, but ultimately won't you be happier to be healthier regardless of the actual # on the scale? I mean if you are 38 lbs lighter in Feb. rather than 40 won't that still be a success? And even if you're only 20 lbs lighter, as long as you are achieving that weight loss through good nutrition and exercise, you'll still be healthier than you are today.

@mel--I remember when the scale scared me and I obsessed--often weighing myself several times a day. I also know from that experience that nothing I say will free you from that fear--only you can do that for yourself. I will tell you that I overcame my scale fears and obsession by weighing myself EVERY morning (but NOT any other time of day). I then would ignore the number unless it was lower than my previous lowest recorded weight--and would only check in on MFP when that happened. After doing that for awhile, I could see that the scale would bounce up and down from day to day, but as long as I was eating right and exercising, the general trend was downward. I honestly don't remember how long it took to overcome the fear, but it was more than a week or two--probably something like 2 months of daily weighing. Now, I try to weigh myself daily b/c I've read countless studies that say it's better for losing or maintaining a healthy weight. However, I don't really think about the scale much (I often forget to weigh in the morning) and I'm no longer "afraid" of the number--I sometimes get frustrated with it :grumble: , but I don't fear it.

@kaye--as you get closer to goal weight it's important to start increasing your calorie intake to get closer to what you will be eating to maintain. Thus, eating back your exercise calories may not be a bad idea. Yes, your weight loss will slow down, but once you reach your goal weight, it will be a smoother transition to what you will be eating for the rest of your life to maintain.

@tracy--Go Bears!!! :devil:

Saturday Success:
Had a fabulous weekend in Chicago! Lunch at Frontera Grill yesterday was SOOOO yummy!! I'm sure it wasn't low calorie, but the portions were appropriate (not the ridiculously monstrous portions you get at typical restaurants). I also opted for a "champagne margarita" which was much lighter (and based on the ingredients) lower calorie than your traditional 600+ calorie margarita.

At the reception, the hors devours never even made it to the section of the room where I was socializing. In fact, I had no idea they were even serving them, until a tray came near us and a friend tried to snag the last chicken satay but missed out to a faster guest. I am glad they never got to us b/c I didn't starve without them, but if I had the opportunity I'm sure I would have eaten them. Dinner was delicious--I had salmon with garlic mashed potatoes and asparagus. There was also a yummy salad and some pasta with vodka sauce served family style before we got our entrees. I cleaned my plate, ate my piece of wedding cake, and then ate the frosting off of my husband's cake :blushing: . It was a satisfying meal, but I wasn't uncomfortably stuffed. We then danced for hours to help burn off some of the damage. I didn't even try to log it--although I'm a strong proponent of logging every bite (even if you have to estimate), I would have no way of even guesstimating the ingredients or calorie count of my lunch. Also, I lost track of how many drinks I had at the wedding. I didn't get drunk by any means, but every time we got up to dance the cater-waiters would take our half full drinks away. It was very annoying and made it impossible to track how many Captain and diets I actually drank. :grumble:

After the reception, we went back to the hotel, changed, and headed up to the grooms' Presidential Suite for the after-party. The room was 2200 square feet!! That's twice the size of my home. It had a grand piano in the foyer, a full wet bar, and a pool table. It was almost 3 am when we said good-bye and walked back to our hotel room to get some sleep. :noway: This morning we dined at the hotel restaurant's Sunday Brunch which was pricey for breakfast, but really yummy. They had some very yummy chicken sausage and I got to finally try steel-cut oatmeal.

This afternoon I watched my Bears beat tracy's Vikings , and now I'm trying to muster the energy to go to the grocery store.

I will check back later to add my exercise schedule for the week.

I am looking forward to a more settled week without to many meetings. Today, I biked the entire Baltimore and Annapolis trail which is 26 miles. This trail follows the old railroad tracks that would take people to Baltimore and back. It starts outside of Annapolis and goes to the airport. This was a great accomplishment for me and it took about 2.5 hours. This is the most I have ridden in one day. I am tried from the ride but it felt good to exercise today and the weather was perfect today. Then, I helped my brother unload and dump about 10 bags of top soil into his garden beds for next year. That was an upper body workout. I should sleep well tonight.

Workout plans for the week
Sunday- bike 26 miles done:bigsmile:
Monday- Trainer workout ( might be running)
Tuesday- rest or swim Most likely rest since I have plans after work and kids staying after school.
Wednesday- Swim or rest
Thursday- Gym
Friday- climbing
Saturday-swim

@nicole--yes, other than eating the frosting off of my husband's cake, I managed to control myself wit the delicious food. :laugh: I'm glad you are enjoying your fitbit! I've thought of getting one for the sleep info alone.

@laurie--glad the weather cooperated for your bike ride--26 miles is awesome!! :drinker:

@tracy--the Vegas trip sounds like a great motivator! I really enjoyed Vegas both times I visited. My favorite place is a restaurant/bar in Mandelay Bay called Red Square. It's Russian food and drink with a "Soviet" theme. They have an ice bar and the bartenders like to put on a show as they mix your martinis. There's also a separate "Zero Degree" room--you don an old Soviet military overcoat and Cossack hat and go inside to do shots.

Oops, DH is telling me dinner is ready, so I'll come back for Sunday share after I eat.

I wrote my Sunday share but I guess its out in cyberspace somewhere. It didn't post. At age 69, I think that I am the oldest one on Robin's thread. I had my one year anniversary on MFP last week. My formula for success is very simple. Log everything and eat 1200 calories a day. Nothing is off limits. Because I cook for a family, portion control is my best strategy. My exercise of choice is walking. I have spent no money on Fitbit, HRM, or gym memberships. I think that I have successfully debunked the theory that you can't lose weight when you get old. I've had my struggles and plateaus and go through all of the emotions of discouragement and frustration that everyone does, but you just have to plow through. I say this, not to brag, but to encourage others who may be wondering if it is ever going to work. Forty pounds by February? I did it last year, but I don't expect to do it again as weight loss slows down when you get closer to your normal weight. Being fit and healthy is the most important, and any loss is a good loss.
Karen--Thanks for the reminder about changing strategies as I get closer to goal. I have adopted your strategy with the scales. Weighing daily is much like keeping a close eye on my bank account. If I don't, things can get out of hand quickly.
Robin--The volunteer job sounds great. You will probably get to meet a lot of really nice people.
To the rest of you--Thank you for your constant encouragement and inspiration to me. It really helps.
Onward and downward. Kaye

Well this weekend was full of failure... My busy Saturday started with a stationary bike ride followed by some elliptical nursing my sore ankle... Couple football practices all was going well. Then it was time for my Dad's 60th B-day party... we chartered a fishing boat for the afternoon... it was a good day and a good time but my no carbs went out the window with sandwiches... then after the boat it was pizza... then ice cream cake.

Sunday started promising with some a deadlift workout.. coaching two football games where one team won a hard fought game and where the other team came back from 20 down to tie the game. I passed up on all the field goodies... even deep fried oreos! Got home started to watch my Giants... drinking Oktoberfest beers, some bratwurst... then the damn pretzels!

So back to no carb today... planning a cardio session tonight since it is the one night a week I do not have football! I am thinking stairmaster.



skinnyjeanzbo - Good luck with the Zombie obstacle race! That sounds awesome!

naceto - Sounds like your fitbit will do the trick to help add in motivation! Keep pushing it!

Lauriek70 - What a bike ride!!! I bet with this nice weather you will log some serious miles on that bike!

ElenaM4 - My tip for starting to run... is to find the pace at which you can go without losing your breath. It might be slow... it might feel really slow but you should be able to keep that pace for quite a while! Before you know it that pace will quicken...