I have an excercise question for Canadians

[Eeyoreloverforever]

because you know what kind of weather we deal with.

I NEED to lose weight. I was just over at the Wish board and it has inspired me. But I need to talk to Canadians who deal with our crazy weather.

What exercise do you do?
What food plan are you following?

I don't want to spend money on programs because I want that money for spending on clothes, my house and Disney (Disney should be first really).

I need to lose probably about 80 pounds.

Please help me.

 

[MaMudduck]

The weather factor made a HUGE difference to me. When I first joined WISH was in Feb '03- I kept "falling off" the diet, until the warm weather kicked in, May of '03. Then I was really determined to get the weight off- I really needed to lose 30(min)-40lbs. So from May to Oct, I was able to follow my diet (South Beach/Atkins) until I went to WDW. (losing 20lbs)

Knowing what a problem I have in the cold months, I decided not to "worry" about dieting in the winter but I would go easy on the Carbs and TRY and go to the gym and mainly try to just maintain. Then in May again I would resume the South Beach.

Well I never made it to the gym in the winter, was able to maintain the weight-lose until just the last month or so (I’ve regained 8lbs), I'm back on diet for the summer, but I haven't rejoined the gym yet because of holidays coming up.

So the long & the short of it for me is.....if I could get a 6 months gym membership I would exercise from Apr- Oct, diet from May-Oct(WDW) and just maintain over the winter....I need my carbs is the winter.

Even if it takes 2 years to lose the weight, GO FOR IT, you'll still be 80lbs less than if you didn't try at all. South Beach Diet is something I feel I can also live with forever.

 

[Amberle3]

I've been doing WeightWatchers for just over a year. I'm too cheap (ahem) to pay for the actual meetings etc, so I was industrious and found all the information in various places online. I've lost 35 pounds, my mother has lost over 70. It definitely encourages weight loss by lifestyle change, slowly and gradually, so that it's something that can be maintained for life. WW recommends an average loss of 1-2 pounds per week.

For exercise, the best thing I did was buy a recumbent exercise bike. It's very good exercise, and even my mother who has arthritis can use it. It's parked in front of the TV downstairs so that time seems to go a little faster when peddling.

I also have various aerobics and exercise tapes that I do on occasion. And one of those funky balance ball things, which I like a lot more than I thought I would. Depending on the workout tape you get for them they can be really challenging and a really good workout.

The only exercise I do outside is mowing the lawn and gardening, and an evening walk in nice weather. But here in Winnipeg mother nature doesn't cooperate very often. In the winter it's too cold, in the spring it's okay for a while and then you get canker worms hanging in your face, in the summer there are mosquitoes, in the fall it's okay and then boom it's winter again.

If you want the WW info just PM me.

 

[BitsnBearsMom]

I bought myself a treadmill.... the best purchase I've ever made. Now if only I could kick myself in the butt to use it!!!

I also joined a gym and I do enjoy going there..... there's child care so I get time away from the kids...a bout the only time I get to be all alone!!

I really need to smarten up here though b/c I have set a goal to be down 25lbs by October....... not being very successful lately though

 

[bunnyfoo]

I'm doing Weight Watchers and I've already reached my WW goal of 20 lbs but I'm still working towards my own personal goal. During the summer, I try to go out for an hour walk at least 5 times a week. During the winter I use exercise tapes such as WATP and pilates. I tried going to the gym for a while but it was too hard to get motivated since I didn't live close enough.

 

[eleanor]

I do pilates and I eat smaller portions. I stopped eating potatoes and white bread. eat more veggies and less chocolate. I have lost 12 lbs. and gone from size 18 to 14 with the pilates.

 

[Eeyoreloverforever]

On TV it really just looks like stretching. Does it make you sweat, do you feel it the next day, does it make you tired or out of breath?

 

[NancyK]

I follow the Weight Watchers programme without going to the meetings. When I lost weight last year, it was reading the WISH board that kept me inspired. I also used the Walk Away the Pounds tapes 4 or 5 times a week. I usually don't stick to exercise for more than a few weeks, but I really liked those tapes. You don't need any special equipment and I found them easy and fun. They really helped with the weight loss. When I started being less careful about my eating and exercise plan, I started putting some of the weight back on. I just joined Curves and I think it's something I can stick with. I still plan on pulling out those walking tapes a couple of times a week when the weather gets bad.

 

[eleanor]

The exercises are done really slowly so you dont sweat.They are for the deep abdominals and legs etc. I have been doing them since Jan. so I dont feel stiff now but I did at first. Of course I was out of Shape. By the way I will be 70 in Oct.

 

[Mortlives]

I listen to really fast music while walking to work (3km), and I've been doing South Beach. The 2 things seem to be working together.

Ciao,
Mort.

 

[barb45]

Try mall walking - it's free and there are lots of people doing it. I go to the mall 45 minutes before it opens and just walk - it doesn't matter what it is doing outside. Another good idea is to buy Joyce Vedral's book "Bottoms Up" which is an excellent free weight workout (you just need 3 sizes of dumbbells) that will give you muscle tone and definition in 3 months - 20 min. per day. Or if you are pushed for time or motiviation her other book is called the "12 Minute Workout" - it is excellent too and once you get good at it you can do it in 8-10 minutes per day. The results aren't quite as dramatic as the other workout but you will definitely see a difference.