On a search for a healthier me.

[::Snow_White::]

Care to join me?

I've been reading the W.I.S.H forum lately this summer.
I've lost 14 pounds since January and even if that's not much for months, I figured it was from our gym workouts at school and it really pushed me to go along with it.
Last year I exercised like crazy and it did seem to drop me a couple pounds, though I was too afraid to step on the scale. xD

I decided on Monday that trip to sonic would be my last soda.
I was drinking 2-3 diet soda everday, and then cut it down to one every other day.
I then figured I could do it, and now haven't had one soda for a week and have been drinking around 3 water bottles a day and milk from my cereal and I feel great! I haven't had any headaches yet, and even without the caffine I'm doing good. I have no plans to touch another soda and I don't even crave any.
I've been drinking green tea occasionally and juice along with other less sugary drinks.

Right now I want to lose 10 pounds by the time school starts back up in August or more, and I think it'd be fun if I had friends that were also trying to get healthy and exercise! Like an extra motivation. I know we had a thread like this before I went to disney last summer and I hope this one sticks.
Then I eventually want to lose another 10 by next summer. 20 pounds in a year sounds good to me.
I'm far from fat, but it's more of being at a healthy weight and healthy altogether.
I seem to have more problems with my thighs and my stomach.

I went through my closet yesterday and most of my clothes were way too big, which made me even more eager to start eating better and exercise.
As of right now my main goal is more of getting rid of my junk foods, all the unhealthy stuff I eat and find new healthier foods that I can eat.
I'm working on portion control and not overeating and snacking when I'm bored. It's my main concern more than exercising but I will be getting to that this month.

I plan on dragging out my moms exercise bike and riding it everyday along with pilates or yoga.
I also want to start running everyday in the morning. I hope to start my exercising by the end of this week.
We don't have a gym around here to go to, so I'll be doing whatever I can at home.

Anyways if anybody wants to join me, talk about your progress and goals, whatever you'd like. Or if anyone has advice or tips feel free to share.
You don't have to post your weight, you can just post your goals if you don't feel comfortable with saying.
Have fun, and I hope this helps motivate others!

Goal for the week: Get off my butt and away from this computer so I can exercise.

ETA: Also reminded by Rachel (I believe) if anyone needs to gain pounds you're welcome to join. It's all about being healthy, wether it's gaining or losing.

 

[Pirate Me]

Good luck with your goals!

 

[diva122094]

I would so like to join you. I am not overweight but i could definatly lose some weight.

So do you have any tips...

At my house we have a treadmill,and i never use it,cause i am always on the computer.I also have a pool in my backyard that i never go in.

I would like to lose up 20 pounds as soon as possible so i can wear a bathing suit and not be embarresed by my weight.

 

[3mtn-kate]

I need to start getting a lot healthier

I'm planning on doing two school sports when I go back to school and one of them starts off in the summer so I need to start to be more fit earlier.

I don't just want to do a sport in the fall then be lazy all through the rest of the year so I decided to try to do a spring sport too.
I'm doing tennis in the fall and lacrosse in the spring. I'm really excited for that. I used to be really active and I don't really know what happened, I got caught up in school and my music and everything really just sat on the back burner.
I'm not too sure how to start but I want to cut back on soda, I usually have like 3 a day.

I'll post more plans when I have them.

 

[marypops!]

I have to get healthier... Whenever I say to myself something like "I'll go up to the park and do something" I end up ignoring it... just today, I said "I'll only drink today whenever I feel hungry up until dinner" then about 2 hours later, i've eaten 3 slices of toast with jam on, and a pack of crisps...
I have a skipping rope somewhere in the house, but I don't know where it is now.

So my goal for the week, actually getting up from the computer and do something.

 

[diva122094]

My Goal For The Week,is to not spend a lot of time on the computer,and take multivitamens.Oh,and exericise

 

[Cali_Sparrow]

On Monday I'm adding the Special K Challenge to my regular workouts. I have been basically on vacation from working out and eating well (have been going out a lot due to trips and family) and I'm starting to feel the effects of it.

Basically I alternate cardio and strength training with balance from the stability ball and some really fun dancing videos, the treadmill, etc.

I'm normally in really good shape and it feels excellent when you are, you should if anything aim to be fit so you feel more energetic and confident. At a young age you shouldn't be so concerned about weight because you are still growing and shaping into the adult body you will have.
I can say that because I'm a legal adult now, haha.

But I'd more than love to join and help you!

My current problem is when to exercise, I either wake up my mother at 5 am or have to workout at night to avoid sweating so excessively, even with fans. I wish I could go outside to work out but it's not safe where I live.

 

[ears4all!]

I'm with ya......I am not unhealthy, but I'm not in the best shape either. I don't drink much coke (sorry, I call sodas cokes) I can probably excersise more...We installed a pool this spring....and that's great excersise. Unfortunately, I have swimmer's ear right now, so I really can't exercise. But walk nightly and swim....I think that's great for me.

My goal, I guess is to feel better about myself. Not weight or inches, but self-esteem.

 

[::Snow_White::]

Thanks for the support everyone! (Ugh, sorry for the long posts, another one comin'.)

As for the computer, basically that's my problem too.
I have a hard time parting from my music I play on my computer and when I try to exercise with my zune my earbuds always fall out and my zune is a little too big to carry around.
I do have a CD player but I haven't gotton around to putting all my songs on a disc, so I guess I'm just making excuses. xD
I usually just shut my computer (Since I have a laptop) and when I get the urge to open it, think about how I can get on later when I exercise.

I also have a pool, but I'm not really fond of swimming. I hate getting wet (Even though I'm ok after I'm in) and it's a pain having to dry my hair and it being all curly afterwards. I think I'll start going everyday and swimming a lot.

I don't play sports in school really only because I'm not good at sports.
For the soda thing, I'd always wanted to quit drinking it. Maybe one week try and cut down to 2 sodas a day, then the next week go to 1. Then one every other day until you feel like you can completely quit. Warning you will most likely have severe headaches from lack of caffine, but they will go away.
The first time I just stopped drinking my pop and the headaches were horrible, so I'd go get one and get hooked again. After awhile of quitting and coming back, I decided to take it slow and drink 1 a day. Then 1 every other day and now none. I haven't had any headaches since I gave it up.
Good luck! I know it's hard. Make sure to drink lots of water so you don't get dehydrated!

I always had a problem with snacking when I was bored and I'm still working on it. Usually I'll just get a water and drink some of it and I'll feel better and not hungry.

I've always ate Frosted Flakes for breakfast.
After they are gone I'm not putting them on the grocery list anymore, I think I'm going with honey bunches of oats, cheerios, or try Special K.

All we have is an exercise bike and a yoga mat. I wish we had a treadmill, but I guess I'll just have to go walking instead. I wish we had a treadmill so I could see how far I've walked or ran though. We don't have videos or anything so it's sort of hard for me to figure out what I want to do.
My room is pretty small and we don't have any extra room for treadmills anywhere which is why we don't really have anything.

I love getting up early in the mornings, so I think I'm going to start getting up earlier now and working out.
Also I always hear that you shouldn't work out at night? Can anyone clarify why for me?
I read it somewhere but seem to have forgotton and I think I'd like working out during the later evening and early morning more than I would during the day. Those are the times I feel most energized.

Oh it doesn't matter I call it soda, coke, pop, I just call it soda on here though.

 

[PiratePrincess_08]

I would love to join you as well. This past week I have been working on portion controls, not eating when I am bored and what I eat. I have also been doing exercise videos since I don't really have the money or the want to join a gym.

 

[acesupercoolme]

Make a diary or a journal about your eating habits, and your exercise habits every day, if you eat something, or exercise, even walk to school, write it down.


Try and be as active as you can, while you wait for the computer to start, or if there's a commercial on TV, do jumping jacks while you wait. Even cleaning house is good, especially raking leaves, it burns almost 300 calories in an hour.
If you have a dog, walk it, and if you don't but there's an animal shelter near by, volunteer to walk those dogs. If the temperature is over 90, then you should just do a moderate, casual walk and bring a lot of water to keep you hydrated, if you're near water, or are going somewhere near water, go canoing, swimming, kayaking, fishing, or go waterskiing.
If you want to be slimmer, but not muscular, yoga is the best to do. Invest in a good yoga video, it's usually better if it's longer. If you can, go to the library and test out some. The one I have that is my favourite is called Essential Yoga, I bought it the last time I was in Canada, and I don't know where you can buy it other than online here, http://www.cduniverse.com/productinfo.asp?pid=6651342
It's a really good video, it has beginner and advanced poses, and breathing exercises, and it's two hours of different styles, so you have variety.


Instead of eating three large meals every day, eat 5 or 6 smaller ones.
Have cereal, toast, or something smaller to eat for breakfast, then sometime between that and lunch, have a snack like a handful of cereal, trail mix, nuts, air popped popcorn(if you look inside a bag of microwave popcorn, you'll realize why you should use air popped), yogurt, fresh fruit or vegetables(green pepper is AMAZING, it's got a ton of Vitamin C). then for lunch, have smaller portions, then in between lunch and dinner, have another snack. When you choose fruit and vegetables, choose brighter coloured ones because they have more nutrients.
And for desert if you want, make a fruit smoothie. I have smoothies for a full meal sometimes. You don't need a recipe, just throw whatever fruit you have in your house in it, blend it, and drink it.
Don't forget about your dairy and grains, switch to whole wheat foods,drink a lot of milk and eat a lot of cheese and yogurt. Snacks should be around 100-200 calories, try not to eat any snacks over 300.
For protein, you don't have to always eat meat, tofu, nuts, and eggs are amazing. Eat leaner meats like chicken and fish more often than steak and hamburgers.
Plan your bigger meals about three hours apart, with a snack between each one, it's better for your energy.

Ideas for great snacks are...
tuna or cheese and crackers
vegetables and hummus or another dip
fruit
nuts, or trail mix
seeds
peanut butter, or any other nut butter and fruit
a slice of whole grain break, and peanut butter or a fruity jam
a muffin
multigrain tortilla chips and vegetable salsa
a handful of pretzels(less salty is better)
switch to frozen yogurt instead of ice cream,
dried fruit instead of candy,
green tea instead of any coffee drink, actually... just drink green tea, it's really healthy,
granola bars instead of chocolate bars.
And don't forget to drink a ton of water!


Sorry my post is so big, but it should be really helpful.


If you don't want headphones, there are small portable speakers that you can get to plug into the headphone thing, they're usually less that $30.
Eat either cheerios or special K(the regular kind has less calories), the original ones are 100 for Cheerios and 110 for Special K, well I'm pretty sure.
If you can't get a yoga video, go on youtube and search for yoga videos. Sun salutations are easy, and there's a ton of videos on them, there's only a few steps so it's easy to remember too.


And the times you work out are up to you, I work out best at night, but you have to test it out yourself and see what your body loves best. If you work out at night, make sure you get plenty of rest earlier in the day so that you aren't tired when you do. And working out in the heat is worse for your body, so try and keep the place you work out to a cooler temperature.
I have these bandana-type things that have something inside that expands when wet, you soak it in cool water, and it stays cool for almost 5 hours, you just put it around your neck and you stay really cool in hot temperatures.


I do Billy Blanks tae bo too.
http://www.billyblanks.com/
He's really motivational, and it's something that actually works as long as you continue using it, that's the problem with a lot of people, they start using it, then as soon as they get to where they want, they stop doing it, so once you get to your goal, set new ones and just keep on working.

 

[crazytp93]

I'm not overweight by any stretch of the imagination, and I really don't need to lose weight--but I want to eat healthier. I have a major risk of diabetes because my family and I dont want it.

 

[Cali_Sparrow]

We don't have videos or anything so it's sort of hard for me to figure out what I want to do.
My room is pretty small and we don't have any extra room for treadmills anywhere which is why we don't really have anything.

I have that same problem.
We transform our guest room into a home gym (bowflex, treadmill, equipment, etc) when no one is staying in it. But I can suggest a couple of DVDs you can get that will not require a whole lot of room or equipment.

Most of my videos are from theFIRM and they are excellent videos, though a bit fast paced. I was a dancer for several years so I catch on fast, but if you watch them enough you can get everything down pat and it's a lot more fun. You might even be a better dancer by the end of it. My favorite is Cardio Party which doesn't require any equipment, but it's a bonus DVD you get with a set so I don't know if you'll be able to find it by itself.

Basically if you buy a set of 2 or 3 pairs of light dumbbells and a stability ball, you can find a lot of videos to work with, that's the majority of what I do. But also there are Walk Away the Pounds DVDs that you can get and basically you march in place and it really does give you a workout! Haha.
Swimming is my favorite for summertime but I can't always do it.

Find stuff that is fun and you can mix up your routine with so you won't give up! I always type too much, lol.

 

[Tinkerbell424]

I'm going to join.
I really want to lose some weight and tone up my thighs and stomach.
It'd be nice to lose a couple of pounds too.

My goal for this week is to not stay on the computer for longing then two hours and cutting out soda's.

 

[Sparx]

i too am trying to get healthier.

i've cut way down on my calorie intake, and i am exercising more. i've already slimmed down a good bit, but i'm far from my goal. i don't have a weight goal, because i don't wanna get caught up in the numbers. i just wanna be happy with the overall appearance of my body, which, day by day, i am closer to. i love my legs and my arms, so only a little farther to go until i'm at a place i want to be.

i think i've lost about 20lbs since i started.

 

[::Snow_White::]

Ally,
THANK YOU!
That was all very helpful.
I definately will start writing down everything I eat, starting tomorrow morning.
I need to start walking home from school everyday instead of having my mom pick me up. She comes by my school everyday to pick up my brother so she gets me too, but I should just walk for exercise because my house isn't that far away.

I never thought about the speaker idea, I'll have to look into it!
We did tae bo in gym this year. It was hard work, but you could definately feel that your muscles were working.
I'm pretty sure we have some of those tapes around here I'll have to dig up.

I have that same problem.
We transform our guest room into a home gym (bowflex, treadmill, equipment, etc) when no one is staying in it. But I can suggest a couple of DVDs you can get that will not require a whole lot of room or equipment.

Most of my videos are from theFIRM and they are excellent videos, though a bit fast paced. I was a dancer for several years so I catch on fast, but if you watch them enough you can get everything down pat and it's a lot more fun. You might even be a better dancer by the end of it. My favorite is Cardio Party which doesn't require any equipment, but it's a bonus DVD you get with a set so I don't know if you'll be able to find it by itself.

Basically if you buy a set of 2 or 3 pairs of light dumbbells and a stability ball, you can find a lot of videos to work with, that's the majority of what I do. But also there are Walk Away the Pounds DVDs that you can get and basically you march in place and it really does give you a workout! Haha.
Swimming is my favorite for summertime but I can't always do it.

Find stuff that is fun and you can mix up your routine with so you won't give up! I always type too much, lol.

Thanks! I'll try and look for some.

And that's great Shelby!
Congratulations!

I'm not going to weigh myself often at all as I hate it. I feel it's more how I look at myself in the mirror that what the scale says that I care about.
I'm fine with my body now, but I know I'm not near as healthy as I could be.

 

[acesupercoolme]

Ally,
THANK YOU!
That was all very helpful.
I definately will start writing down everything I eat, starting tomorrow morning.
I need to start walking home from school everyday instead of having my mom pick me up. She comes by my school everyday to pick up my brother so she gets me too, but I should just walk for exercise because my house isn't that far away.

I never thought about the speaker idea, I'll have to look into it!
We did tae bo in gym this year. It was hard work, but you could definately feel that your muscles were working.
I'm pretty sure we have some of those tapes around here I'll have to dig up.



Thanks! I'll try and look for some.

And that's great Shelby!
Congratulations!

I'm not going to weigh myself often at all as I hate it. I feel it's more how I look at myself in the mirror that what the scale says that I care about.
I'm fine with my body now, but I know I'm not near as healthy as I could be.

Walking is great for the environment and yourself, and with the gas prices it's the best way to travel right now.You should be able to find speakers at any electronics store, or anywhere with an electronics section. If you do tae bo, try and get exercise bands too, even though you can do the workout with out them, it's better to use them.

 

[CrazyChik]

I'll join you too.
I need to lose a few pounds before i become a stump and i need to be waaaay healthier.
I'm trying to stop constantly eating and control my portion sizes whilst making them more balanced and healthy. I also need to excercise more.

 

[Sparx]

Ally,
THANK YOU!
That was all very helpful.
I definately will start writing down everything I eat, starting tomorrow morning.
I need to start walking home from school everyday instead of having my mom pick me up. She comes by my school everyday to pick up my brother so she gets me too, but I should just walk for exercise because my house isn't that far away.

I never thought about the speaker idea, I'll have to look into it!
We did tae bo in gym this year. It was hard work, but you could definately feel that your muscles were working.
I'm pretty sure we have some of those tapes around here I'll have to dig up.



Thanks! I'll try and look for some.

And that's great Shelby!
Congratulations!

I'm not going to weigh myself often at all as I hate it. I feel it's more how I look at myself in the mirror that what the scale says that I care about.
I'm fine with my body now, but I know I'm not near as healthy as I could be.

thanks.

and congrats to everyone who is already doing well on their plans. =)

 

[meeshheartsdisney217]

i technically am not "overweight" because i'm so into sports that I have so much muscle. I do, however, want to slim down a little.
only about ten pounds or so.

i'm not really built to be the like 5'7 130 lb girl.
so i'm just trying to get healthier.
i'm not that out of shape since i do bball/tennis but i do need to get into better shape.

over the past couple years i've gotten a lot better on my food intake but i still need to work on it.

good to know there are others with the same goals!