Getting fit & losing weight before our next 2015 Disney trip!

[Cynister]

Welcome, Totebagg! I hope everyone's having a great weekend!

I'm checking in for this week, still holding at 31lbs loss. I started T25 Gamma this week. They are hard! I really like them though.

 

[momtohms]

Welcome, Totebagg! I hope everyone's having a great weekend!

I'm checking in for this week, still holding at 31lbs loss. I started T25 Gamma this week. They are hard! I really like them though.

I start Gamma next week! I'm excited and scared, lol :-D

 

[Cynister]

I start Gamma next week! I'm excited and scared, lol :-D

Oh I was scared too & rightfully so. The whole feel of the videos is more serious than Alpha & Beta. The 1st day is Speed 3.0 which I absolutely hated & won't do again, mainly because about 90% of the entire video is various versions of advanced level burpees. I've got a bum knee & foot so I can't do burpees. For some reason there's no modifier in that video! So I spent too much time trying to figure out a different move to do while they were doing that. Too much of a time waste. Instead I'll substitute for Alpha Total Body Circuit or Beta Dynamic Core, etc. In Gamma I've done Rip't Up, Extreme Circuit, & Pyramid workouts & loved them. All of these are hard...very hard, but I like them leagues better than I liked Beta. All of these 3 you are using weights almost the entire time. In fact in most of these, the only time you put the weights down is when you are getting down to do push-ups. I'd strongly recommend getting multiple sizes of weights & switching between them depending upon the exercise. Get a size or 2 lower than what you normally would use. You'll use the super light ones when you do Supermans & Rocketmans with weights in either Rip't Up or Extreme Circuit, I forget which but trust me, you'll want the lower weights. Let me know how you like it!

 

[momtohms]

Oh I was scared too & rightfully so. The whole feel of the videos is more serious than Alpha & Beta. The 1st day is Speed 3.0 which I absolutely hated & won't do again, mainly because about 90% of the entire video is various versions of advanced level burpees. I've got a bum knee & foot so I can't do burpees. For some reason there's no modifier in that video! So I spent too much time trying to figure out a different move to do while they were doing that. Too much of a time waste. Instead I'll substitute for Alpha Total Body Circuit or Beta Dynamic Core, etc. In Gamma I've done Rip't Up, Extreme Circuit, & Pyramid workouts & loved them. All of these are hard...very hard, but I like them leagues better than I liked Beta. All of these 3 you are using weights almost the entire time. In fact in most of these, the only time you put the weights down is when you are getting down to do push-ups. I'd strongly recommend getting multiple sizes of weights & switching between them depending upon the exercise. Get a size or 2 lower than what you normally would use. You'll use the super light ones when you do Supermans & Rocketmans with weights in either Rip't Up or Extreme Circuit, I forget which but trust me, you'll want the lower weights. Let me know how you like it!

I'd heard Speed 3.0 was Burpee H-E-double hockey sticks ;-) I can do them, but I usually end up modifying as well if there are too many, so we'll see how it goes with so many at such a fast pace. I like the idea of subbing in another workout if needed though, but I'll definitely have to try it first and see if I can make it through. No modifier? Eek! I'm glad the other Gamma workouts use mostly weights though, it's getting to that time of year where I get my cardio in outside with walks and jogs so I like to do more strength based stuff when I workout inside. I'm glad you gave me a heads up about the weights! I'm using 8lb dumbbells in all my Beta workouts, but I have a set of 5s, 3s, and 2s so I'll be sure to keep those all ready. I'm pretty sure I'll need my 2s for the superman and rocketman, haha!

 

[Cynister]

Yep, that's exactly what I'm using too. All of the regular weight moves I typically use 8's, sometimes going to 10's depending upon how many reps. However with the Gamma workouts I rotate through 3's, 5's, & 8's regularly depending upon the type & # of reps in the set. Pyramid you'll go up to 66 reps on some moves before moving to the next.

 

[dreamseeker9]

Hope everyone is doing well! I won my 4-week DietBet, woohoo! I'm 12 pounds down now. I would like to lose another 15 at least before I go to Disneyland in June, which is now less than 2 months away! My long-term goal is to lose another 55 pounds by my 40th birthday WDW trip at the end of September. I think I can do it!

 

[totebagg]

Welcome, Totebagg! I hope everyone's having a great weekend!

I'm checking in for this week, still holding at 31lbs loss. I started T25 Gamma this week. They are hard! I really like them though.

Thanks for the welcome! I really don't have much to report because soon after my original post, I came down with the flu
No fun but I did lose 2 lbs. I am really excited to see everyone's progress and as I said in my original post, my fitness goal was to being a walking routine. It's not that I really hate to exercise but I really don't love it either. I use to have a YMCA membership and did zumba and step class religiously. I really enjoy exercising to music because I doesn't really feel like exercising, but now that I am not a member I need to find something I can do at home. I see that a lot of you are doing the T25 workout. I have never tried anything like this - what are your thoughts one it?

 

[momtohms]

Yep, that's exactly what I'm using too. All of the regular weight moves I typically use 8's, sometimes going to 10's depending upon how many reps. However with the Gamma workouts I rotate through 3's, 5's, & 8's regularly depending upon the type & # of reps in the set. Pyramid you'll go up to 66 reps on some moves before moving to the next.

I need a set of 10s, I haven't gotten around to ordering or buying a set - but it sounds like I might not even use them in Gamma so maybe I'll wait until I see them at a good price

 

[momtohms]

Thanks for the welcome! I really don't have much to report because soon after my original post, I came down with the flu
No fun but I did lose 2 lbs. I am really excited to see everyone's progress and as I said in my original post, my fitness goal was to being a walking routine. It's not that I really hate to exercise but I really don't love it either. I use to have a YMCA membership and did zumba and step class religiously. I really enjoy exercising to music because I doesn't really feel like exercising, but now that I am not a member I need to find something I can do at home. I see that a lot of you are doing the T25 workout. I have never tried anything like this - what are your thoughts one it?

Boo to the flu, but glad you are feeling better! I also enjoy exercising to music so I'm with you there. Have you tried any of the Leslie Sansone walk at home videos? I do those to get my walking in during the winter (which is about half of our year!) and they are fun. A bit cheesy, but fun I'm one of the T25 people too, I'm going through it for the 2nd time right now. Last year I did it on its own, and this year I did it again combined with another workout called PiYo (a pilates/yoga mix). T25 is definitely one of the more intense workouts I've done, the main program is two levels that each run for 5 weeks. Alpha is the first level and it's to build a good foundation of fitness - there's a couple of cardio based workouts, a lower body focused workout, an ab focused workout and a total body workout. No equipment except a yoga mat. Beta is the next level and incorporates weights in a few of the workouts and also has a couple cardio intense workouts too. All the workouts are 25 minutes with a 2-3 minute cooldown and keep you sweating and working hard the whole time. There's a modifier to follow in both Alpha & Beta so that is definitely helpful. You'll do a lot of moves that are variations on classics like lunges, squats, jumping jacks, planks, push ups, burpees, etc. There's an optional 3rd level, Gamma, that follows Beta for another 4 weeks. I didn't do it my first time through last year but I'm doing it this time and will start that next week but Cynnister is already doing it and it is mostly strength based with one super intense cardio workout.

I'd done a bunch of workout programs before - almost every Jillian Michaels program, several by Denise Austin, and for awhile was doing a mix of kettlebell & barre inspired workouts on YouTube (FitnessBlender & JessicaSmithTV) and enjoyed them but didn't have much desire to repeat them again once I finished. I also found it hard to do anything for more than a month, I get bored easily ;-) With T25 not only did I stick with it all 10 weeks, I knew when I was finished that I HAD to do it again someday. I did mix it up with another workout for some change but I love it just as much the 2nd time around.

 

[Cynister]

Totebagg, congrats on the lbs loss, even if it was accompanied by misery (trying to find a bright side) . I love T25. Momtohms gave a great summary. Personally, when I started Alpha it was hard. This was mainly because I wasn't used to the 5 days a week of cardio. By week 5 of T25 the workouts were noticeably easier. I'd have to really concentrate on exact form, sucking my abs in the whole time, & keeping up the pace with Shaun to make sure I 'felt' it. Beta was a bit of a disappointment to me. Not because they weren't hard, they were, but they were hard from a coordination factor not from exertion. I didn't lose anything almost the whole time in Beta & it was frustrating. That's my issue though because I know I'm not naturally a dance-with-the-beat-at-a-fast-pace kinda person. I had a hard time moving my arms in various ways while moving my legs in other various ways & switching moves every few seconds. That's me. However I'll say that I LOVE Gamma. It is all weights minus 1 impossible cardio workout due to burpees which I can't do with my knee, never mind quickly. So instead I've been swapping out other workouts. The last one I swapped for P90X3 Triometrics. That was a weird one. I've never done a Tony H. Workout before. He's an interesting character. I'm anxiously awaiting my next series to come in. I ordered 21Day Fix Extreme. If I get it in time I should start on 5/4. I'd love to hear more about everyone's workouts!

 

[Cynister]

Checking in while I have a few minutes. I'm excited to say I've lost another few lbs making the total loss 35lbs of my 40lbs total loss goal. I'm a little frustrated that this isn't the 1st time I've had lbs loss & I can't tie it to anything. Meaning, I'm doing nothing different. No change in exercise or eating. Don't get me wrong, I'm happy it is happening, I just wish I could figure out the formula that makes it happen for those weeks upon weeks where NOTHING happens! Ah well, I'm shopping for new clothes that fit & that's awesome. I need to get them quickly because I'm 1 day away from my 30 day count down! I have so much to do! Happy Sunday everyone!

 

[dreamseeker9]

Checking in while I have a few minutes. I'm excited to say I've lost another few lbs making the total loss 35lbs of my 40lbs total loss goal. I'm a little frustrated that this isn't the 1st time I've had lbs loss & I can't tie it to anything. Meaning, I'm doing nothing different. No change in exercise or eating. Don't get me wrong, I'm happy it is happening, I just wish I could figure out the formula that makes it happen for those weeks upon weeks where NOTHING happens! Ah well, I'm shopping for new clothes that fit & that's awesome. I need to get them quickly because I'm 1 day away from my 30 day count down! I have so much to do! Happy Sunday everyone!

Congrats on losing more and being so close to your goal, and on being 1 day away from your 30-day countdown - so fun!!!

I didn't have a great 2 weeks, so now it's time to get back with the program! I have less than 7 weeks now until my trip to Disneyland, wow! I have a certain goal in mind for that trip, and then my bigger goal for my September trip to WDW.

DL Goal - Lose 16 pounds (from today's starting point) by June 4th!
Original WDW Goal - Lose 65 pounds (I've lost 9/65) by September 25th!

Lofty goals, but I am determined!!!

 

[Cynister]

You can do it! If you did T25 I think it would take you pretty darn close to your June goal. I've lost 16 in 12 weeks on it.

 

[momtohms]

Started Gamma today with Speed 3.0. You weren't kidding about those Burpees! I made it through pretty well but I was definitely walking in my pike ups and taking some breathers at the end. I think I shall re-name it T25 Speed Death by Burpees

5 weeks from today we'll be in Anaheim so I'm motivated to make this last stretch really count!

 

[Cynister]

Checking in. I've officially hit my 90% mark today. I'm at 37lbs/40lbs. 3 weeks left before my trip! I've had a heck of a time finding tank tops that fit!

 

[momtohms]

Woohoo! Yay for the 90% mark and 3 weeks to go!

We just passed the 4 week mark here I've been enjoying Gamma so far, I've done everything but Rip'T Up (though that's on the schedule for tomorrow!) I've also been squeezing in a bit more cardio with dance tutorial videos on YouTube. My eating hasn't been as great lately and I'm really trying to get that back on track for this last month. I couldn't resist snacking on the post Easter clearance candy that I swore I was going to hide and save for our plane trip. Lol!

Here's to a great last few weeks (yay!) before your trip!

 

[Cynister]

Thanks! Gamma seems to be making a difference for me. I hope it does the same for you. This is my last week of Gamma. I start 21 Day Fix Extreme on Monday. Hoping I can get to my goal & secretly hoping maybe I'll lose a bit more to give me a cushion for the trip. I don't plan on counting my calories while I'm there, I really can't anyway because they don't post their nutritional information anywhere. hoping I don't come back & have gained.

I started doing YouTube videos too. I created a walking challenge group for some Facebook friends & post a new video every week as a mini challenge for people to do. It keeps it interesting & some have been really fun. I also found low cal brownies & other desserts, that's been helping with the chocolate cravings. Good luck this week!

 

[wdw4lif]

I hope we can join in anytime! Just booked a trip to Florida with a 3 night stay at WDW. I was doing great...and then I got into my old snacking habits again. We're doing better at getting the fruits & veggies instead for chips & candy for snacks but still have our weak moments. I'm not sure why other than life happened it got hectic for a good month or so. That's when we turned to convenience again and were just "too busy" to walk. My hubby is in the process of his 100 lb goal by October (with 35 down already). 50 lbs would be less than 10 lbs per month. It's not going to be easy but I'm going to give it all I've got. Here's to hoping & some hard work!

-Amy
-November 2015 (beginning)
-I just want to be healthy, get off my blood pressure meds, and feel confident in pictures!
-I plan on walking 3 miles at least 3 times per week
-4/50 pounds lost towards goal

 

[Cynister]

Welcome wdw4lif! Congratulations on your loss so far, that's awesome! You can do this!

 

[dreamseeker9]

Hi all!

I am trying a new approach - I am going to stop the battle with my body and focus on self-acceptance and self-love. I'm so tired from the constant focus on food and weight. I'm tired of feeling self-hatred when I shop for clothes. I've been discussing this a lot with my therapist, and I found a podcast that is really helping me connect the dots, Win the Diet War (it's on iTunes if anyone is interested).

I don't want this new approach to mean that I'm giving up on becoming healthier and losing weight, I just don't want to constantly be looking forward and not be present now, enjoying and living my life to the max.
I'll still be around these boards, and I wish you all the best! And have the most wonderful Disney vacations, no matter what size you are!