Health & weight management thread

[jewel25]

Okay my story which some people will say gezzz you don't need to lose weight.

So when I graduated HS I was 95 lbs (very small build). Gained the freshmen 30 when I went to college and stayed around the 125 mark and believe this the healthiest I have ever looked. Stayed around 125 until I get my full time desk job and went up to 135 (still fairly healthy). Then my company started an incentive program to get people moving during the day and I dropped down to 125 again. Then in 2011 I was dealing with stress and health issues and dropped down to 105 (trust me I didn't want to be that small and looked sickly).

Now I am around 145-150 and my small frame doesn't like the extra weight. Some people might say, wow I would love to be in that range. Well the thing is I don't feel well most days and my body aches from the extra weight. My hips, knees, and ankles are screaming everyday. I am sitting right now and my knees are killing me.

I want to get back to point were I feel healthy. So it is not about losing the weight it about maintaining a healthy life style for me. I am getting married in less than a year and would like feel comfortable wearing a swimsuit again. I also want to have children in the coming years and I want to be healthy for them because mommy's wellness important for the child's growth.

It is so hard for me exercise daily (now that is a lame excuse) between going to school, working full time and the Las Vegas heat. I have a fitbit and lately I am finding it hard to get to 3,000 step a day. I don't have the motivation to do anything. I see my mom and sister running half-marathons once a month and involved in a running group and it makes me sad to be 2,000 miles away.

I do run half-marathons myself but another goal of mine is to get my time to 2:30. Right now I come in about the 3 hour mark. I think taking off the extra weight and eating better will help my times.

So here's to stop making excuses and taking control of my wellness.

[Yendor]

I'm sorry you're struggling Ruby, I know the feeling. I know what my issue is and I need to change the one habit that is causing me issues, tracking everything that I eat.

I am currently cycling 2-3 times a week (maybe more) as my wife and I train for a bike tour at the end of June and try to shed some weight. That's 2 rides of 20 miles and a longer 40-50 mile ride on the weekend. We are in the middle of increasing our ride lengths as our tour will be back to back to back 60 mile days rest day then another 60 mile day.

When you say you are mostly good about what your diet, how close are you tracking it? Since I am not tracking my intake right now I am not losing what I should be.

[RubyCamaro]

If you mean counting calories, no. I am doing well to find time to squeeze in my workouts with my current schedule. I am eating very clean & healthy, cooking everything from scratch, watching portion size, eating healthy snacks in-between meals. But I know there is probably room for more improvement & being better about not slipping up & eating that mint chocolate chip ice cream hubby brought home.

[jewel25]

Originally Posted by RubyCamaro

If you mean counting calories, no. I am doing well to find time to squeeze in my workouts with my current schedule. I am eating very clean & healthy, cooking everything from scratch, watching portion size, eating healthy snacks in-between meals. But I know there is probably room for more improvement & being better about not slipping up & eating that mint chocolate chip ice cream hubby brought home.

I feel it is harder for women because our hormones makes us want to eat everything in and out of sight.

I can usually keep to a diet until that time of the month and I am hungry all the time.

[Yendor]

I highly suggest getting a tracking app on your phone, use it for a couple days just to figure out what your intake is. Sure you may be eating "healthy" food, but without truly knowing the intake calories you will never know what you are eating for sure and if there is room for improvement there. There is nothing wrong with some ice cream at the end of a day, as long as your calorie count does not exceed your needs for the day. I need to get back to measuring everything I eat, everything. There should be no guessing in that. We have 3 sets of measuring cups and spoons because we were measuring everything, now we are getting back to that.

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, I know work schedules can get crazy.

[RubyCamaro]

I don't have the "that time of the month" problem any more but I suspect hormone levels are still wreaking havoc on my metabolism. I can have pretty good willpower as long as my favorite bad things are not around. But when someone brings in something I love.......Yeah, it is a problem.

[jewel25]

Originally Posted by RubyCamaro

I don't have the "that time of the month" problem any more but I suspect hormone levels are still wreaking havoc on my metabolism. I can have pretty good willpower as long as my favorite bad things are not around. But when someone brings in something I love.......Yeah, it is a problem.

Well I didn't want to make that assumption but I sure that has something to do with your weight. Still not an excuse.

Like I said I am sick of making excuses for myself. I wish my work was more supportive...like my last company. They match us with a walking partner and we were "required" to walk 30 minutes a day. They encouraged walking meetings. Now I am glued to my seat all day.


Sent from my mobile communication device -Jewels

[jewel25]

Ruby you have a fitbit right? Track your calorie intake on the app. I didn't realize how many calories I was taking in until I started using the food tracker.


I was like damn I don't eat right


Sent from my mobile communication device -Jewels

[Yendor]

Originally Posted by jewel25

Ruby you have a fitbit right? Track your calorie intake on the app. I didn't realize how many calories I was taking in until I started using the food tracker.


I was like damn I don't eat right


Sent from my mobile communication device -Jewels

That is exactly what happened to me. We scratch cook everything we eat, I just eat too much of it.

[jewel25]

Originally Posted by Yendor

That is exactly what happened to me. We scratch cook everything we eat, I just eat too much of it.

It was a wake up call.


Sent from my mobile communication device -Jewels

[Yendor]

jewel25, the wife and I were in Vegas last month and met a local couple that bikes there. They spoke about their early morning rides to beat the heat. No thanks, I am not a morning person. It would be really hard for me to ride in that sort of heat. Then again those folks can't imagine going outside when it is -20°.

[jewel25]

Originally Posted by Yendor

jewel25, the wife and I were in Vegas last month and met a local couple that bikes there. They spoke about their early morning rides to beat the heat. No thanks, I am not a morning person. It would be really hard for me to ride in that sort of heat. Then again those folks can't imagine going outside when it is -20°.

Yeah it is not fun. You have to get up around 4:30 in the summer if you want to do any outdoor exercising. You do get use to the heat....the other day it was 97 degrees and today its in the low 70's and it feels like its freezing.

[69supersport396]

Not sure if this is pertinent or not, but here goes.

I recently hit a wall at 215 lbs and will fluctuate between 215 and 218 lbs. I've done very well coming from 280 lbs, but the wall has frustrated me.

Anyway, my sister is a personal trainer and dietitian. I told her about my recent issue and she said to reduce calories by 500/day until I reach my goal. I never counted calories, only carbs. However, I thought about what I eat daily, read some labels, and found my 500 calories. Still counting carbs, but now I am aware of what has lots of a calories and what does not. I am now trending down again with no additional exercise.

Think about what you are snacking on. Can a substitute be used?

[richard200593]

Originally Posted by 69supersport396

Not sure if this is pertinent or not, but here goes.

I recently hit a wall at 215 lbs and will fluctuate between 215 and 218 lbs. I've done very well coming from 280 lbs, but the wall has frustrated me.

Anyway, my sister is a personal trainer and dietitian. I told her about my recent issue and she said to reduce calories by 500/day until I reach my goal. I never counted calories, only carbs. However, I thought about what I eat daily, read some labels, and found my 500 calories. Still counting carbs, but now I am aware of what has lots of a calories and what does not. I am now trending down again with no additional exercise.

Think about what you are snacking on. Can a substitute be used?

Good advice I have to continuously remind myself to go for a low calorie snack it helps keep me full and have smaller meals, out of curiosity about how many calories are you eating? I'm at 225 now from 280 and am starting to see a very noticeable slow down but still losing 1-2 pounds a week, just trying to gauge about where I need to be calorie wise. Right now I'm averaging 1700-2100 a day moderate activity