May Exercise Thread--Keep on moving toward summer!

[WannaBinPictures]

450/1900

54 min at the gym this morning, weights and cardio

 

[jillbur]

226/900

Adding 54 minutes of walking.
Thanks!

 

[mainemooncat]

20 minute short run today.

281/1250

 

[hmack]

roll out of bed run at 5 a.m. and then the first bike ride of the season.


63 minutes


309/1000

 

[QVCshopper]

Got some walking and running in despite my toddler being sick for a few days. She's much better now though!

360/1440

 

[QVCshopper]

**Updated through 105. More pink and lots of blue! I'll update again over the weekend. In the meantime, keep exercising!!! **

 

[swissfamilyrobinson]

Just got through walking for 50 minutes -

250/900

 

[vikdeco]

New total - 195/1000

5/7 - 40 min run/walk

 

[bangzoom6877]

Sorry but I need to vent a little bit. I don't understand what's going on with me and my weight...I'm at the high end of my healthy weight range, but for the past two years or so I've been 10 pounds more than I used to be, and I can't seem to get back down (this was after indulging for holidays and vacation, so I know how it came on to begin with). Since then, I've also indulged on vacation but the weight comes back off, but will only go down as far as the weight I currently am. My health is excellent and I go for annual physicals. I follow Weight Watchers to a "t". I'm a lifetime member for years now. The foods I eat are very healthy...I eat plenty of vegetables, fruits, I weigh and measure everything so I know my serving sizes are accurate, I drink tons of water like I'm supposed to do, I consume a very little amount of white flour and sugar and only do this on weekends, I have a glass or two of wine a week, I exercise regularly. I just don't know what else I could be doing and this is very frustrating.

I'm only turning 37 next month but is there a possibility this is hormonal and I'm in perimenopause? I know perimenopause could last for a good number of years and I also know sometimes it hits some women earlier than what is considered average. My mom was finished completely at age 51. I know also there are other symptoms of perimenopause, and one thing that's been happening to me since the middle of last summer, is that I occasionally get a sudden hot flash (especially around that time of the month). My mother and my husband both think this is hormonal and that I should go to my doctor for a blood test to see if it is perimenopause. On the one hand, it would explain a lot if that's what it is, but on the other hand if they tell me that's not the cause, I feel like I would be even more frustrated than I am right now.

I'm not about to give up on all this and stop eating healthy or stop exercising. I enjoy my lifestyle and I'm proud of the hard work I do every day for it. But I am very frustrated that I'm not able to get back down to where I was just two years ago. Any advice on how to handle this?

 

[2TxAgs]

365/1200

Was NOT thrilled to get on the dreadmill last night, but what started out as "fine, I'll do a mile but i really dislike this machine" became "might as well do another lap" and that became "well, kid will be home in a few minutes, I'll stay on til she gets home" and I did 2.5 miles in the end. Whined to myself the whole time.... In the end, was I glad to have done it? Of course....


bangzoom...I don't have any answers. In my 40s, I put on 10 lbs that hasn't come back off, even with my running and half marathons. I think at some point you just reach a new plateau and don't budge much. Do you feel good and feel like you look good? If so, maybe don't worry too much about the scale and just enjoy your healthy lifestyle. Best wishes

 

[QVCshopper]

Bangzoom, I agree about the plateau. I've been the same weight since having my toddler two years ago. Only recently with lots of running/watching my food intake have I been able to go down. But, I'm still 20lbs over my WW top goal weight... I made lifetime member before having my three kids.

I want to lose another 15lbs or so, but I don't think I'll ever reach my WW goal weight again. It was just too hard to maintain that weight for me. So, I'm picking a new number that makes me happy. It's still a lot less than what I started at!

I'm 37 too. When I was younger, before kids, I had a lot more time to just focus on me. Things change. But, as long as your blood work is healthy and you're able to run half marathons, I think you're doing awesome!

 

[Rose&Mike]

Bonnie--I went through peri menopause in my late 30s. Full menopause at 46 (last fall). I was shocked it was so early. I was able to lose weight during this time, but I found I had to be vigilant with my calorie intake (portion size) and I worked out hard a lot. We are talking 2 a days with 90+ min on the elliptical at a time. At 44 I was at my lowest weight as an adult--137 pounds (5'7").

Enter in a huge amount of stress, going gluten free for health reasons and I am back up in the 160s. It is really hard to take the pounds off now, I think especially knowing it will take a huge, dedicated effort.

But I do believe it is doable.

I have found if I completely cut out the white carbs and artificial sweeteners (sugar, hfcs, processed grains--in my case rice flour, and potatoes) the pounds drop off. This is not low carb, because I still eat fruit, honey, healthy flours (almond, coconut). But it is a lot of work, and if I am stressed I have trouble sticking to it. If I cheat I put multiple pounds back on over night.

My suggestion--look at a South Beach or Paleo style eating plan, at least short term, to see if you can kick things into gear. And really look at your exercise. Your body just might need to kick things up a bit.

I am in the process of weaning myself off the bad carbs (too much stress eating over the last couple of months) and it is hard, but hoping to see results once I get back to a healthier place.

It is doable, it just might take shaking things up a bit.

 

[Rose&Mike]

431/2014.

Thanks so much!!

 

[mainemooncat]

59 minute long run this morning.

340/1250

 

[bangzoom6877]

365/1200 Was NOT thrilled to get on the dreadmill last night, but what started out as "fine, I'll do a mile but i really dislike this machine" became "might as well do another lap" and that became "well, kid will be home in a few minutes, I'll stay on til she gets home" and I did 2.5 miles in the end. Whined to myself the whole time.... In the end, was I glad to have done it? Of course.... bangzoom...I don't have any answers. In my 40s, I put on 10 lbs that hasn't come back off, even with my running and half marathons. I think at some point you just reach a new plateau and don't budge much. Do you feel good and feel like you look good? If so, maybe don't worry too much about the scale and just enjoy your healthy lifestyle. Best wishes

I'm wondering if my body is just comfortable at this weight. People always tell me I look good but I'm very hard on myself with that. I feel well though.

Bangzoom, I agree about the plateau. I've been the same weight since having my toddler two years ago. Only recently with lots of running/watching my food intake have I been able to go down. But, I'm still 20lbs over my WW top goal weight... I made lifetime member before having my three kids. I want to lose another 15lbs or so, but I don't think I'll ever reach my WW goal weight again. It was just too hard to maintain that weight for me. So, I'm picking a new number that makes me happy. It's still a lot less than what I started at! I'm 37 too. When I was younger, before kids, I had a lot more time to just focus on me. Things change. But, as long as your blood work is healthy and you're able to run half marathons, I think you're doing awesome!

Thank you for the encouragement! It's just so difficult to process all of this.

Bonnie--I went through peri menopause in my late 30s. Full menopause at 46 (last fall). I was shocked it was so early. I was able to lose weight during this time, but I found I had to be vigilant with my calorie intake (portion size) and I worked out hard a lot. We are talking 2 a days with 90+ min on the elliptical at a time. At 44 I was at my lowest weight as an adult--137 pounds (5'7"). Enter in a huge amount of stress, going gluten free for health reasons and I am back up in the 160s. It is really hard to take the pounds off now, I think especially knowing it will take a huge, dedicated effort. But I do believe it is doable. I have found if I completely cut out the white carbs and artificial sweeteners (sugar, hfcs, processed grains--in my case rice flour, and potatoes) the pounds drop off. This is not low carb, because I still eat fruit, honey, healthy flours (almond, coconut). But it is a lot of work, and if I am stressed I have trouble sticking to it. If I cheat I put multiple pounds back on over night. My suggestion--look at a South Beach or Paleo style eating plan, at least short term, to see if you can kick things into gear. And really look at your exercise. Your body just might need to kick things up a bit. I am in the process of weaning myself off the bad carbs (too much stress eating over the last couple of months) and it is hard, but hoping to see results once I get back to a healthier place. It is doable, it just might take shaking things up a bit.

I wish I could do more intense exercise, but in 2011 I had surgery on my neck for a herniated disk and I'm not allowed to do kickboxing anymore (or go on a test Track or Big Thunder lol), but I do a lot of modifications, make sure my heart rate is as high as it is supposed to be during cardio and during high intensity intervals (I always monitor my heart rate), and I'm doing my weight training as well. Fortunately for me, cardio and resistance are necessary to keep the muscles that support my neck very strong, so that works for me. But I have to also be careful what I do, and I also have a bad back so bending is sometime tough. I am able to do a lot though, which I incorporate into my routine...biceps curls, tricep kick backs, tricep push downs, squats, lunges, overhead press with free weights, leg lifts with and without a resistance band, lateral raises, front raises, rear delt while sitting on a stability ball, standing rows, push-ups on my knees, chest presses and chest fly, lots of core exercises, etc. I can't do more advanced moves though, like mountain climbers, or burpees.

I do change things up as much as I can every few weeks though...I will always do my resistance every other day along with cardio, and on days in between I do just cardio. I will do moderate cardio for a month, then change it up and do high intensity intervals as my cardio, then change it up again the following month.

I don't think I could stick to Paleo...South Beach perhaps would be an option. But I could go back to the old Core program on WW...it was where you eat from a list of foods, balanced, not not counting points for everything. Just counting points for the foods not on the list, and a certain allotment of those per week. Maybe I need to go back to that but I'm just not sure. Most of the foods I eat come from that list anyway.

 

[MaggieMouse]

T25 Thurs & Friday 27 & 28 respectively

478/1500

 

[rebeccam31]

370/1800

 

[MRS AR]

30 min run Thursday 45 min elliptical 30 min run this morning
430/1200
Thanks for hosting.

 

[2TxAgs]

405/1200

Walking with the pup....

 

[snels]

385/1000

Walking on the treadmill.
Our snow piles are just about gone, so I can finally get outside and work in the yard.