During the spring, I was working out regularly, and was a better runner than I had ever been. Unfortunately, I got sick, and no one could figure out why, but I was exhausted all the time. The doctor recently DXed me with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, and told me the best treatment was to stay in shape, and get a lot of rest. So, I quit smoking last week (I've cheated a couple of times, but still doing pretty good), and starting tomorrow I'm going to the gym 3 nights a week. I know it's going to take some training to get back into the groove of working out, but I ***really*** want to lose about 15 lbs that I've packed on since the beginning of the year. How do you ladies motivate yourself to stay on track? I'm cutting WAY down on soda (I used to drink a 6 pack of Coke a day, then switched to Sprite so I could wean off caffeine) because I know it's a crazy amount of empty calories. I am a picky eater, I love carbs, and I don't get enough protein in my diet. I need an easy diet I can stick to, and there has to be room for a macchiato a couple days a week. What diet plans really work? I'm going to be doing cardio to burn fat, a combination of running, biking, and elliptical. My iPod is ready to go, and I'm excited. Anyone else working on a new plan, or just starting out? I'm going to post weekly weigh-ins to help motivate myself. (unofficial) Starting weight, 27 Nov 2007 124lbs. (Please don't throw things at me, I'm short and a small build.)

By Crystal915 on Wednesday, November 28, 2007 - 01:07 am:

Also, does anyone know where I can find a Weight Watchers point guide? I don't want to join the program, but I want to use it as a guideline. TIA!!

By Brandy on Wednesday, November 28, 2007 - 05:20 am:

congrats crystal on making a commitment to do something about this ... = ) I am just thinking of getting seriously started again too...actually last night i wrote down my goals and it is to be 65 pounds lighter in 1 year...it's achievable i know i just have to want it bad enough...Awesome job about the smoking too...and the cokes ...i don't know what to tell you exactly on the points system but i do know that when i was doing weight watchers i was thinking about food all the time trying to remember what was what points and all...i just finally decided to eat about 1800 cals a day and it worked for me = ) i ate alot of frozen food meals ...probably not the best things to eat because of the salt content...well let's have an official day to weigh in i'm making mine today = ) and around the same time and the same place...ttyl Brandy p.s. on the working out i'm taking it slow ...real slow lol such as i am going to start running in front of my apt. like down to the trash dumpster as many times as i can and work myself on up each day like push myself further every day...it won't be easy at first i'm sure...and then i will make myself go from say my apt. to the office and then from my apt. to the community center and back and so on and so forth = ) have a great day...

By Crystal915 on Wednesday, November 28, 2007 - 09:08 am:

Starting slow is definitely the way to go, I had realized I was getting winded when climbing 3 flights of stairs to my doctor's office (but hey, at least I was taking the stairs!!) so I knew I was going to be in bad shape at the gym. There are commercials on the radio here that say "You don't have to change everything, just change SOMETHING", and examples like only having a donut on Monday instead of every morning. So I keep reminding myself that each small change is good for me.
As for WW, I found the points system on eBay, gotta love eBay!! Well, have a good day, and let me know how your run goes!!

By Brandy on Wednesday, November 28, 2007 - 01:17 pm:

Well i haven't went on my "run" yet = ) but i did pick up a water bottle and did curls with it lol = ) it's something more than i was doing lol...i will report back in later = )and i'm glad you found what you were looking for on ebay that's great!

By Brandy on Wednesday, November 28, 2007 - 03:58 pm:

Well i didn't run but i went down to the dumpster and back about 4 or 5 times lol..i put trash in from the boys' room...like broken toys and stuff that has been needing taken out forever...actually it was just alex's room i haven't attempted nick's again...i did his room a few months after my sister moved out...alot of his stuff is just clothes really

By Tink on Wednesday, November 28, 2007 - 09:26 pm:

I haven't checked this board out in months but I'm ready to get back on the fitness bandwagon again, like you. Good luck on your new lifestyle, Crystal. Last spring, I lost about 18 lbs in two months but fell off the wagon when the kids got out of school and then started running again in October, two weeks before I tore a ligament in my ankle. I still can't run yet but I've started walking and would love some accountability.

I'm a carb-addict too and I didn't find any diet plan that really fit my lifestyle but I made some important changes that seemed to be getting the weight off. I try to sub out all of my regulars with something similar. I switched to almost all whole-grain carbs (whole wheat bread, brown rice, whole wheat pasta) and any white carbs I wanted could only be half of what I used to eat. I'm subbing ground turkey for most ground beef in dinners and make sure I eat breakfast, even if it's just a piece of toast with peanut butter. Nonfat sugar free mochas don't taste that different to me and I really just want the caffeine rush so the difference in taste doesn't bother me too much.

I also set a goal for myself that only has to be "for today" so that I don't get bogged down in the idea of never having something again. In example, for today, I'll get three servings of dairy and will walk one mile with the kids after school or for today, I'll cut out all sugar and do my weight training circuit. Journaling my food is a huge wakeup call so I do that all day with my goals written across the top.

Anyway, I don't know if any of that was helpful but that's what I'm doing and I've seen results with it before so my hopes are up.

By Brandy on Wednesday, November 28, 2007 - 10:04 pm:

I have did leg lifts 20 on each side ,20 jumping jacks ,20 legs lifts laying on my stomache and back and i went side to side a few times with my knees bent = ) better than my usual lol...have a great day everyone...Crystal how did you do ? = )

By Crystal915 on Wednesday, November 28, 2007 - 10:04 pm:

Thanks for the suggestions, Cori!! I have already switched to whole grains instead of white, and actually prefer them now! I've also switched to non-fat macchiatos when I get one, and using splenda instead of sugar whenever possible. I like your idea of setting goals for today. Today, I took my friend out to lunch, so I ended up eating more calories than I would have liked, but it was a special lunch (she just had a baby) so I forgave myself that indulgence.
So, for my workout today, 6 miles of random hills on the stationary bike, 0.75 miles jogged, and 3 minutes of elliptical. I'm hoping to run a mile on Friday when I go back to the gym. I've never lost weight the healthy way, it's always been crash diets, pills, etc, so this should be a great experience.

By Enchens on Wednesday, November 28, 2007 - 11:03 pm:

Wow! So glad to see you ladies motivated. I've been gaining weight slowly. Just kinda creeps up on me, literally. lol

Anyway, it was helpful for me to put down my daily goals, which is something I haven't been doing. My class is postponed until the start of the year, so I haven't had my day of intense exercise.

What I did find, though, was that one jumping jack burns two calories. It takes 3500 calories to lose one pound. Divided by 7 days per week, that's 500 calories a day. So, what I am going to propose to myself is to work my way up to 250 jumping jacks a day, seven days a week, and see if this can help me lose some weight. Of course, this is if daily caloric intake remains the same.

So we'll see what happens.

Debbie, how are you doing?

Tracy, are you settling in okay?

Anyone else?

By Tink on Wednesday, November 28, 2007 - 11:26 pm:

That's a great idea, Nancy. You can even break that 250 up like 80 before each meal or 125 morning and night. I'll join you in that, if my ankle can handle it.

By Brandy on Thursday, November 29, 2007 - 12:46 pm:

wow i didn't know that Nancy count me in as well = ) woohoo lol = ) ...how is everyone doing today?

By Crystal915 on Thursday, November 29, 2007 - 04:31 pm:

That's a great suggestion, Nancy! I'll probably do that with the kids on the days I don't go to the gym, and make it a fun activity for everyone!!

By Debbie on Thursday, November 29, 2007 - 08:36 pm:

Welcome Crystal!!!

Good for you on cutting back on the Coke. It is so much sugar and calories, you should loose weight from just that alone!

I lost a lot of weight several years ago, and maintained it for about 7 yrs. Then a few years ago, when we moved, I gained back about 15-20 lbs. I yo-yo'd for several years, before I finally lost it for good. I followed Bob Greene's diet book. It isn't really a "diet" though. He suggests first to just get how often you eat under control first, he has you eat 3 meals and 1 snack a day. He doesn't ask you to change anything that you eat, except that you eat a healthy breakfast. After, you get when you eat under control, he has you just start making little changes. I think this is the easiest way to do it, just change one thing every couple of weeks. Also, I think consistant exercise is key to loosing weight.

It's great to see everyone posting!!