40+ Club: Fall Fitness Fanatics

Good Morning!

swissmiss, I love hearing about how good the exercise is making you feel!! That's one of the many reasons I love exercise. It is great for weight control but, more importantly to me, I love how much energy it gives me and the feeling of being strong and fit. Congrats on doing so well getting back to it!

singfree, our days are getting nicer and nicer here, though the humidity the past couple of days has still been high. But that is changing. I remember last autumn here in the DC area being about the prettiest autumns I've experienced, and I'm hoping for more of the same this year. Makes me feel good to be able to open the windows and get some fresh air.

Not much new here. Back to the Insanity/Aslylum rotation for the next three weeks. I'm still enjoying it! My eating is good and I feel good so.....all is well.

Good morning friends!

1st, a happy birthday to Chris! Sorry I'm a few days late in posting but I am positive you are right--things are just going to get better for you as you delve into your forties!

Welcome dandersonjr. We would love to have you here and will definitely help you through the process of getting back on track to good health. You'll fit right in here. I like how determined you were not to use the drugs, and took control over your own health by losing the weight and starting to exercise. You can do it again---just need that constant support and motivation. We all need that!

Swiss/Chris--about different foods--I find over the last 2 years I have gone through the decisions of what is worth it and what isn't. To me? Hot Dog (even grilled...which I know is yummy), nah! Chocolate chip cookies and other treats? Depends....if I made them maybe. If from a bakery or someone of dubious baking ability, usually it's all too sweet for me and I wouldn't touch it. Anyway, I feel strongly that in this lifestyle you don't have to give anything you love up--you just need to know how to balance the good w/the splurges. One of my favorite things about this program is when I do go out to dinner and eat a ton, I can click that "complete" button and it tells me "If every day were like today, you'd gain 7 lbs!" it's really eye-opening. That's probably how a lot of us ate more often than not before we started on this journey, but now we have learned it can't be the "normal" or we will be back where we started, it has to be the exception.

I have just come off a hungry week and I have just gone with it, because I know myself and I'm not typically like that, so probably needed a little extra. I haven't weighed myself but just out of the blue yesterday my husband walked by as he was on his way out the door to work, and just said "you are so thin!". Mind you, I have been maintaining for 15 months. I was kind of shocked, because he's one of those husbands who doesn't really notice slight changes--but it made me think. Even if I have gained a few lbs because I upped my calories for the last week and a half, does it matter? I don't think so at this point. I feel like the exercises I have been doing for the last month have helped so much (No more trouble zones). I consciously feel how much stronger my muscles are, and they are probably leaner too and I'm kind of addicted to it. I know I need to change it up soon but do not want to stop!

Stiring! Great to see you are doing well and are on track w/eating and exercise. Wow, so you have been in DC for almost a year now--time really flies! It really is starting to feel like fall here and they are talking about an amazing VT fall so I'm sure it'll be down there too.

Sing--glad to see you are getting some exercise and outside time too. Are you still on night shift?

Alright, I am off. have a great day! Robin

Hey Everyone,

Just starting using this site yesterday and I happened on this topic. I'm 40+, and I absolutely NEED to be a Fitness Fanatic. A quick post about myself to see if I'm appropriate to the thread.

I started out in 2009 with a really bad doctor's visit. I was 275 pounds with high blood pressure, back pain, knee pain, and chronic chest pain. I was on the verge of diabetes and a host of other obesity related illnesses. My Doctor wanted to put me on a battery of medication and I begged for the chance to lose the weight. She gave me 6 months. I did it in 4.

Since then I've hovered around a healthy 215 to 230, depending on my effort. Earlier this year I suffered a shoulder injury that has kept me out of the gym for almost 6 months. In that time I should kept my diet in check, but sadly I fell into old ways and I find myself at a whopping 247.5. Not the 275 I once was, but not the lean, sexy 215 I liked to be.

Yesterday was my first day and, as I said in my status, all overweight people have a number of great first days. I need to make a commitment to my health and fitness to be consistent.

Can you people help me?

Feel free to friend me, my enthusiasm for this site is growing everyday.

David

Welcome Aboard!

Welcome David. I am glad that you found us. I lost 55 pounds in 4 months years ago. I re-gained some also. I am now about 15 pounds from my goal, so I know it can be done. Do not kick yourself around anymore about it. Stay here, post a lot and get to know the people. I am going to "friend" you now.

I have not heard from alf. Hopefully, she is just very busy dancing her Zumba.:bigsmile:

Robin1117 - Thanks for the kind words. I'm feeling the vibe already, and it's a good one. I'm liking this thread, group, whatever it is I can see it will be a positive in my life. I look forward to getting to know you.

I agree with you about the food diary. The little clicker that say, "You will be 225.5 in 5 weeks if you keep this up," is motivational. I look forward to a leaner, fitter, 225 pound version of myself. I was there a year ago, as you can see by my profile picture. I want to be that guy again and even better.

I joined the Costume Changers Challenge, where we've all dedicated ourselves to working toward a hot Halloween costume. I have a Viking / Barbarian outfit in mind that will definitely require a ton of gym time.

LadyPersia - Same, and thanks. I've been really bad, got myself there, and lost it. I'm motivated to find it again.

Swissmiss - I will respond to your friend request immediately, and thank you. I just need to stay motivated. What helped me the first time around was acknowledging the small successes and ignoring the set-backs. Once I look in the mirror and I see the shoulders squaring up again, or when my wife rubs my arm and purrs a little, I'll be gung-ho!

Cardio Day: burned 400 calories doing 27 minutes of "CrossRamp (Precor) Gluteal 2" one minute high intensity then one minute low intensity, and so on.

*Melissa & Dandersonjr32: Welcome!

*Becky: Hope all went well at the specialist! I think you are right about Alf, I just saw her post on facebook about Zumba classes

*Robin: Thanks! Long as you are progressing with your current workout routines, why stop? Time to change it up is if you stall or start losing interest. IMO anyway

*singfree: I think how clothes fit is a great indicator. Better than the scale, that's for sure.

*trixie: Thanks It's not like you are starting completely from the beginning again. This time around you know you can do it and have a better idea of what to do

HELLO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! FOUND YOU GUYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :laugh: So many posts so little time but I am bookmarking the new thread and I'LL BE BACK (TERMINATOR VOICE :laugh: )

Sing- Thank you for the Awesome Thread

Tex- Your raised bed project sounds awesome. The workout it gave you even better. I wish you could have some of our rain from the past few weeks.

SwissMiss- Congrats on winning the challenge...Sorry about the sports drink.LOL;0 Hope you daughters finger gets better.

Betsybee- Climb back on that wagon. If you need a hand. One is extended. Just because we walk off our path to smell the flowers, we can walk back on. Our journey here is to be fit. Mind, body and spirit. Balance is the hardest part butwith friends like these....we'll do just fine.

Trixie5059 Teenage years seem harder than when I was a kid. Im starting to sound like my grandmother. Be well!

StiringWendel- Welcome back. Glad you had fun!!

Happy Birthday Chris

Robin1117- Great comment by Hubby! Congrats. Addiction of exercise is highly contagious.

Welcome to all the Newbies!!!

Started working on the Gears of War Boomer for our yard. My cosplay Halloween party is getting close. My husband wants to put all the decorations out, but with all the rain the grass will ned to be cut again before the party. I have built an automated women out of an old fan, more body parts and my COG gear. Not so happy with my first unform build but I still have time. The boomer is more than 7ft tall and not finished yet. I should have gone to FX school...lol Workouts are going ok after my injury. I started back slow. Haven't ran yet but completed a nine mile hike yesterday. Alittle achy but much better than last week.

Keep up the awesome work everyone

Dandersonjr32, Funny about your wife. Purring.:laugh: Anyway, a lot of us have been where you are. I know that I have. I lost 55 pounds to only gain most if it back. Well, you know this is a new way of life...not just for a period to quickly loss weight. In order to keep the weight off we need to eat differently and exercise more our entire lives.

Yeah, it only takes a moment of weakness to gain it back. I put on more than 20 pounds over the summer being lazy and eating poorly. The eating, however, was spectacular.

My wife and I live at the Jersey Shore (insert joke here) and are about an hour outside Manhattan. Because I'm in a law enforcement job I can retire at 25 years of service regardless of my age so I'm able to retire next year at age 45. The plan is to eventually move to Florida. Part of our discussion was that we live within an hour of the, arguably, the GREATEST city on the planet, so we have made a commitment to go into the city as much as possible.

Well, this past summer we've eaten at two of Mario Batali's restaurants, a world class risotto joint, gourmet cupcake places, world class barbecue and THE BEST beer bar in the world, THE BLIND TIGER.

These trips didn't help, but I wouldn't take them back.

navjhaj, can you ride a bike? I have bad knees and it seems that peddling is easier on them than most exercises. Also, you can exercise in water.

Dandersonjr32, sounds like you had a wonderful summer. I would love to eat at one of Mario Batali's restaurant. I don't live close to any of the FoodNetwork's chef's restaurant. Really I would like to eat at Emerils. And, a trip to New Orleans would be fun.

alright alf, you are back but I haven't seen you. Where are you??? Hope to hear from you later.

Going to my strength class tonight. I always feel so healthy after one of these.