My goals for January:
- move 100Km (run, walk and/or hike)
- start practicing tai-chi regularly again (3x a week plus the weekly class)


Walker, weighing & measuring food was the best tool I found on MFP. It alone helped me lose my weight by showing me how much a true portion was. I was amazed at how much I could be overeating when I thought I was doing pretty good. I can't recommend weighing & measuring (weighing is the best) highly enough......but reach your calorie goals; don't go far below them. You need your energy.

I get no star today. After some cleaning, I was completely lazy and lounged around watching movies & reading.

I forgot to mention your gold star, Walker. Sorry! I'd just logged on quickly before turning the computer off and wasn't thinking.

Keep weighing your food. It's an eye-opener. Also, fit in a snack once in awhile. It's good for the soul.

Have you made it to the gym yet? I'm going to go for a run. It looks like a treadmill day. I don't think the rain is going to stop or even abate today.
First I'm going to go get fruits & veggies for the coming week.

Do you have a gym routine that you stick with?

I'm not a great swimmer either but I used to go every second day when I lived closer to a pool. I was working the over-night shift then and would go to the pool before heading home to sleep. It was great because there weren't many people swimming that early. I haven't been in years.
I'm glad you had a good time at the gym! Well done!
I've got a touch of arthritis in my pinky finger. The Dr. recommended Omega-3. He says it helps for osteo-arthritis. I've started taking them a month or so ago. We'll see if it makes a difference.

I had a good run: 70 minutes on the treadmill. I ran 6K in 51:00 and walked 1.75K in 19 minutes. The 6K was run in segments of 3K, 2K and 1K, with 2 minute walks in between.

My challenge started on Jan. 5th and I met my goals (at least 30 minutes of exercise and eat within my calorie limit) for the day. On track for today as well and feeling motivated.

walker306 wrote: »

Let's set some New MONTH's Resolutions and encourage each other along!

Mine will be to weigh my food and to stay under my calculated calories!

I need to lose weight. I am going to the gym just about everyday and getting great exercise in but then I eat too much. I feel like I am exercising for nothing! I don't want to feel that way. I've been making excellent changes in my life but I need to eat better!

Anybody else want to put in ideas? Let's make it official!

I did that for years. Exercised, but didn't change my eating.

I'm trying not to lose my motivation - have stuck to my calorie limit, exercised at least 30 minutes every day and haven't lost a single pound the second week! The first week I seemed to drop a 1/2 pound every day, and I know that's probably just the quick holiday weight gain dropping off, I want/need to see some results. My clothes definitely feel looser but I want the scale to move.

Have planned my meals for the day and will drink lots of water (no meetings, so it's easier to do that!!).

One week isn't something to panic over. Give it time.
1/2 lb per day is too fast and not sustainable. Your body is probably just equalizing and settling out. Drink lots of water (to flush any sodium) and relax. It'll all balance out in the end.
Just keep doing what what you're doing because you're doing really well.

I think you're doing great. With your motivation, those pounds will come off steadily and healthily. Keep doing what you're doing.

I got myself on the treadmill today for a total of 70 minutes. I ran 6K in 50 minutes and walked the other 20 minutes; went for a total of 7.4K.
I'm hoping that it will be dry sometime over the weekend so that I can go for an outdoor run. I also must, must, must practice some tai-chi!

When I first started to run, I set 70 minutes on the treadmill as my "default" work-out time. I picked it because I thought I might one day run 10K, which would be about an hour (wishful thinking, I think now). The other 10 minutes were for the warm-up & cool-down walks on either end. I thought I'd set the time into my schedule right away so that I had no excuses when the time came.
I still keep to the 70 minute schedule, even when I'm outdoors, although I don't think I'll run 10K anytime soon. It's a good workout. I do some warm-up walking, run my 5-7K, walk a kilometer or two at the end and cool down nicely. I try for 3 times a week.

Have a fun ride and tell us all about it. How nice that you have that opportunity. How long have you had your horse?

It's warm here but lots of rain. When on the treadmill, I've got an outside door open and the fan going in front of the door to direct cool air on me, otherwise the room gets too warm.

Walker, have you tried air-popped popcorn (no butter) in the evenings? You can eat a lot of popcorn for very few calories. It used to save me on many an evening.

Nev, ugh! Conferences are hard and have so many snacking opportunities. Hang in there. You can do this. Watch out for those almonds....tasty, good for you and lots of calories.
Have you heard of Hickory Farms Mini Mints? They are tiny, creamy and melt slowly on the tongue. I'd have to look them up again but I think 30 of them is about 100 calories....and it's hard to melt 30 on your tongue before tiring of them. I used to use these as my "sweet" snack.

Here they are:
Hickory Farms - Mini Meltaway Mints 3 calories each.

So far I have not been able to force myself up at 4 am for exercise. I'm truly not lazy, don't know why its so hard but I'm wondering if I should just try to do my 10 minutes of strength training when I get home. In bed at 9:30 pm, sleep for like 4 hours and then up at 4:15 am and not sure I can get up earlier than that. When I get home in the evening I don't feel like it either.

How do you early morning exercisers motivate yourself to get up that much earlier to work out? I guess I'll just keep trying. I can't really go to bed any earlier unless I want to give up the less than 2 hours I get to spend with my husband every evening.