P'Nuts 9 Weeks With a Personal Trainer

[PhotoNut]

I thought I would go ahead and document the next nine weeks, as I have always wondered what I could accomplish if I stuck to a program for 9 weeks. Beginning today, my mom and I are working with a personal trainer for nine weeks - three days per week with the trainer, and two days on our own at the gym. I have taken some before pictures, but am too embarrassed to put them up. Perhaps when I have some better pictures to show my progress, I won't mind showing where I am now.

So here we go...

Day 1 - Went to the gym too meet with trainer and develop an nutrition plan before our first workout session. Walked out the door without my 3-day food journal he had requested AND arrived 30 mins late due to miscommunication about our appointment time. We will be returning at noon to try again. *rolls eyes* In the meantime, I had to go shopping for some workout pants. I went to the fitness section of ShopKo (similar to KMart or Target) and started grabbing size XL and L pants. Some stretchy, some in the nylon material that goes swoosh when you walk (far less forgiving that stretch pants). We get in the dressing room and the XLs are falling off of me. Hm.. ok, how about these larges? Mom hands me the swooshy nylon pants and I see that we have mistakenly picked up Mediums. Mom bets me ten dollars that I can wear them. I quickly took that bet. No way can I wear a medium. I owe mom ten dollars. And I cried, and we hugged. Mediums. My god. When we were at the gym last week, I bought a size XL tshirt, which swallowed me whole. I took it back today and just for fun grabbed a Medium... you know, a goal shirt. It fits too. So I'm wearing my new workout clothes and we are headed back to the gym. This afternoon, I will update and tell everyone what we did and what the overall plan is.

Recorded weight loss during 9 weeks:

Home Scales/Nekkid/Before eating or drinking
(8-10-09: 174 pounds)
(8-17-2009: 173 lbs)
(8-24-2009: 171 lbs)
(8-31-2009: 169 lbs)
(9-7-2009: 168 lbs)
(9-14-2009: 168 lbs)
(9-21-2009: 168 lbs)
(9-28-2009: 166lbs)

[bookgirlcc]

congrats on the accomplishments. I am anxious to hear how the next 9 weeks go.

[LL83706]

Good job P'Nut. I will be cheering you on. And how nice - size medium workout clothes? You go girl!

[MoOrLess]

well yeah - is what I would say to you...you can't weigh a measly 174 lbs! and need an x-large! I'm glad you took a picture - now put on those dang MEDIUMS and take a picture and post it HERE....geez girl - I'm gonna slap ya! (nicely of course lol).....it's all about that "body image" in our brain...

[celticsfan]

Good for you, P'Nut! What a great opportunity...thanks for sharing, I have been considering a trainer myself, so I will be following your progress. Go for it, girl!

[Nick N Ava's Grammy]

Waiting patiently to see those pictures. I know you and your Mom are gonna do well with this trainer. I see a commercial coming up with you and Mom as stars :)

[Mloukas143]

p'nut how are you embarrassed to show your before pictures?!??! you have already reached so many goals that we all truly look up too..and for goodness sakes you weigh 174lbs woman! lol take those darn pictures and be proud of all of the accomplishments that you have made! don't make this get ugly susan! lol just kidding..but seriously, i for one look up to you, so for you to say that you are embarrassed makes me very upset...no more nonsense!

[WildAlaskaG'ma]

Awesome NSV's, my good friend. And, as far as posting your "now" pictures go, quit being a FnR & do it !!! :pound: :pound:

[KristiR]

which gym you going to?

[PhotoNut]

Thanks everyone! I have to laugh about how nervous I was about this personal trainer thing. It wasn't bad at all. In fact, I had a lot of fun!

Fitness - Today the PT taught us a pre-workout routine that consisted of a series of muscle lengthening techniques and some warm up stretches. We began by using Styrofoam “noodles” under the targeted muscle and then rolling over them until we “hit the spot.” We knew when we had hit the spot because the words, “Oh sh*t” involuntarily flew from our lips. Rolling on these noodles provides a deep tissue massage where muscles are particularly tight. The PT assured us that after a couple of weeks of daily “noodling” it wouldn’t hurt anymore. I’m looking forward to that!

Next we did warm up stretches, followed by a few squats against a wall with a large ball behind us. Now it was time to test our core strength. Down on our hands and knees we went, and oh how we laughed when he told us to extend our right arm straight out in front of us and the left leg straight out behind us. We were then directed to touch the elbow of our extended arm to the knee of the extended leg – ten times. Mom and I both did very well. We then did planks. I had heard of planks but had never had the pleasure of attempting such a feat. I managed ten of them, with hold times of up to 20 seconds. Fabulous! My core was stronger than expected, but my upper arms and chest were very weak – we’ll work on those in the days to come.

Then it was off to the treadmills to check out our heart rates. Over a period of several minutes, our PT gradually increased the speed and incline on our treadmills until we hit our target heart rates. Mine was 120. It took some time to get mine up there, which pleased me. I finally reached my target with a speed of 3.5 and an incline of.. hm, I don’t remember now. I think it was 5 or so. I was huffing and puffing and started to sweat. Yep, it was definitely working. We only walked at our target heart rates for ten minutes today, but since one of my primary goals during these nine weeks is weight loss I will be walking for 20 minutes per day.

Nutrition – Since our daily food intake of calories, proteins, and carbs has been fairly consistent for the past 6 months or more, our bodies have become quite complacent as our metabolisms have adjusted to our routines. So, the PT is going to shake things up a bit by upping our calories and carbs. After two weeks, he will then switch it up again by reducing carbs and increasing protein, and then I will be eating about 1,500 calories per day (35% protein 45% carbs and 20% fat). Mom’s of course is different because of age and health considerations.

Pictures – I have an appt with my stylist to have my hair trimmed and the color touched up, so I’ll take some pics of us working out at the gym on Wednesday.

[PhotoNut]

Hey Kristi, we are going to Idaho Athletic Club in Meridian.

LOL! I just saw Melissa and Judy's comments about the pictures. You guys are too funny!

[MoOrLess]

oh sure ignore my insistence that you put up a picture lol j/k girlie - but NOT kidding about that picture! lol

[PhotoNut]

I always ignore you, Mo. Oops.. 'cept for just then. Dang. :neener:

(You and Donna were the ones I was responding to in the long post ya dork)

[MoOrLess]

ROFL.........dork back at ya! lol

[Nick N Ava's Grammy]

I always ignore you, Mo. Oops.. 'cept for just then. Dang. :neener:

(You and Donna were the ones I was responding to in the long post ya dork)


ROFL.........dork back at ya! lol
I think this is the new dork, dorkier, and dorkest mutual admiration society :pound:Sounds like a great plan you have worked out there. I've just been copying down the 5 day pouch test... I got on the scales tonight, buess I should have paid more attention to things these past few weeks.. not a good sign :sad:

[KristiR]

I am going to the one on Eagle in Meridian. My trainer just moved to this one as the new manager. I really like working with my trainer. She has helped a lot.
Good luck!

[PhotoNut]

That's great Kristi!

[Mloukas143]

Speaking of I need a major touch up with my hair...yuk
Sounds like the plan is going to be great! Just a question, is there a pool at the gym, and will you be doing any swimming exercises since it is summer? I heard the word noodle and thought about the pool and how i haven't been in one all summer long! =(
You are going to do great with this program, your band is going to need to keep up with you!

[Texasgal]

Grats on the trainer! I wish my mom and I did stuff together. We never have. It is always nice to hear moms and daughters getting together to do things. It sounds fun and will be so healthy for you too!

You girls are just too funny! Love reading your sassy talkin!

[PhotoNut]

This morning's session went great. We are starting to feel those muscles now. We did our muscle lengthening routine on our own. The trainer stopped by to check on us and said we were doing great. Then we spent 30 minutes on the treadmills - 10 mins of warm up and cool down, and 20 minutes at our target heartrates.

Melissa - No pool is planned. We will be doing cardio on the treadmill, resistance training with weights, and core training will the balance balls and stuff like that.

Ok, I'm off to get my hair done. I took the camera with us this morning but I had forgotten the memory card! Tomorrow for sure.

Have a kick butt day everyone!

[MoOrLess]

oh sure...forget the memory card! lol j/k

Sounds like you and mom are right on track! kudos girl!

[PhotoNut]

Omg you guys. My legs are SO sore! Tomorrow we begin true workouts.. and I'm sore from stretching?! Oh dear.. LOL!!

[MoOrLess]

I was thinking about stretching and how much it hurts! ouchie! But good for you - hanging in there! as if you have a choice lol

[chrispygal]

P'nut I can't wait to hear and see the difference these sessions will make! I know the pain of a trainer, but oh does it hurt so good. As long as it's not the pain that makes it tough to sit down. That one's tricky. lol

[PhotoNut]

Today's schedule:
6 minutes warm up on treadmill
1 hour work out
20 minutes treadmill (at target heart rate - 25mins total)
30 minutes noodling and stretching

I do believe we worked every muscle we have! Lifting hand weights while balanced on a ball is a super way to work your core muscles, your bum, and strengthen your knees and ankles, while working on your arms. We also walked in a squat across the gym with a band around our ankles, taking small steps at a time in order to keep the band stretched at all times. Great fun - sore bum!

As requested, here are some pictures. I'm sorry some of them are so blurry. It was kind of dark in the gym and I was trying to be less conspicuous by not using the flash. Our trainer took the ones of both mom and me together. (This camera died a couple of weeks after these pictures were taken. The blur was camera defect. RIP camera, you were a good friend.)

Day 3
Me wearing my size medium shirt and pants.
8165


Me with mom standing in the background.
8166


Again, from the side. Arms, neck, and boobs - sigh.. so much saggy skin.
8167


Our trainer, Chad, with mom and me. Shame it's so blurry. We'll have to do this one over again.
8168


After stepping up onto the platform, we lifted the hand weight straight up and then lowered it when stepping down. 2 sets of 12 each.
8169

[PhotoNut]

Squeeze those butt cheeks and lift those hips! We did 2 sets of 15.
8170

Keep those hips up high as you lift that dumbell 12 times.
We did 2 sets of these.
8171

This was NOT easy! We gripped the ball and lifted it off the ground as our knees came to our chest.
Two sets of 5.
8172

Straight arm extensions while balancing on that half ball.
It took a while to get our balance on those things before we could begin using the weights.
Great for my knees and ankles!
8173

Workout buddies. Mom: 143 pounds Me: 174
8174

[PhotoNut]

By the way, we did a lot more than what's shown in the pictures. My least favorite? Lay on your side, propped up on your forearm. Draw knees up, and then lift your hips from the floor and hold for 10 seconds. My core seems strong but my shoulders and arms are so weak its hard to support myself for these types of exercises. I gues we are working on that though, huh? It was a workout! Looking forward to more.

[MoOrLess]

Honestly - you are dang skinny girl - I can see how toned you are already! And yes - the strain in your faces shows how hard these workouts are! There is no way you look like you weigh 174 -- you might have saggy skin here and there that you don't like but I say you look terrific!!!

Thanks for sharing the pictures - they help me to know that one day I will hit the gym too - bar my disabilities - I can do some of this stuff!

[Rini]

Did i read in an earlier post that you were embarrased to show your pics? Are you out of your mind????? You look fantastic!!!!!!! I can't even tell the difference between you and your mother and she is 30 pounds lighter???? You look amazing girl and you should be proud of it! Your tummy looks great and your legs fabulous what more can you ask for??? Have you seen your post surgery pictures lately? maybe you shoudl go back for a refresher and that would put things into perspective for you! Go ahead girl keep rocking that band of yours!

[Mloukas143]

Did i read in an earlier post that you were embarrased to show your pics? Are you out of your mind????? You look fantastic!!!!!!! I can't even tell the difference between you and your mother and she is 30 pounds lighter???? You look amazing girl and you should be proud of it! Your tummy looks great and your legs fabulous what more can you ask for??? Have you seen your post surgery pictures lately? maybe you shoudl go back for a refresher and that would put things into perspective for you! Go ahead girl keep rocking that band of yours!

Yeah, Susan is out of her mind...she doesn't realize how absolutely NORMAL she looks...you look like an average skinny person!! when I was 170lbs I remember having a lot more rolls here and there than you do missy! and I am only 22 yrs old! ah! Yes, you are getting lectured by a 22yr old because one, you look fantastic..2 you have incredible genes...your mom looks fantastic as well! both of you are going to look even more incredible by the time this training is done..don't worry about the saggy stuff here and there, we all have them..it's called gravity! and u will tone those suckers up in no time...man i am jealous!!! you guys are awesome, so inspirational =)

[PhotoNut]

Hahaha! Well thanks everyone. Remember that picture of five pounds of fat? I have about 8 of those hanging on me and I can tell you exactly where! Thighs, arms, boobs, and belly. I am by no means tones. Pictures can be deceiving! You should see the ones I have of my legs and arms. OMG they are buffugly! LOL! But, under the cloak of cotton blends, I'm starting to look "normal" I guess. You'd think after three years of working to get to this point I would be mentally adjusted and be able to see myself as I really am, but I don't. This head work stuff is really incredible. I wonder if I'll ever shake that mental image of me at 300 pounds.

Oh and Rini, I'm going to do a side by side. Thanks for that reminder! :)

[PhotoNut]

Gads. I remember the night I had Dawg take my "before" picture. I know it looks bad. No makeup. Hair pulled back in a tight ponytail. Rotten expression. I told him that night, "Well this has to make any "after" picture look great!" LOL!

I haven't just lost weight. I re-gained life. I hope this picture (and my embarassment) is inspirational to someone out there who feels just like I did that night. I love my lapband!

I have a long way to go, and I'll never be "hot" but this sure feels better than 307 pounds did! Yipee!!

8175 8176
(pictures have not been retouched, only cropped and resized for display)

[MoOrLess]

lol Susan -- pictures have not been retouched - of course they haven't! And dang woman - you ARE ALREADY HOT HOT HOT!!!!!!!!!!!! I don't care what's under the clothes - and others don't either -- it's what you look like on the outside that is what catches a person's eye - don't we know!!! KUDOS and great job girl!

[AnnDe]

You are AMAZING!!!

[PhotoNut]

Ok, first of all, I am NOT amazing! LOL! I'm just your average, run-of-the-mill overweight person who has struggled all her life with a food addiction. People who are amazing are people who get banded, tuck their heads down, and charge on to their goal without letting anything get in their way. It's taken me 3 1/2 years and I STILL have 40 pounds to lose. I have been fat for so long that I've ruined the elasticity in my skin. I have stumbled so many times since being banded that I have bruised knees! I've lost 127 pounds only to regain 40. I went to the conference last year in total anguish over how I looked and felt. I often feel like a lousy role model, and am convinced that I must seem rather foolish to those who have long since reached their goals. But ya know what? I figure there are a lot more like me out there who will have their ups and downs, and will take some time to get their heads on straight enough to put their fabulous tool to work. So, I keep trying. I feel accountable.. to all of you, so I keep trying.

Secondly, I am not skinny and I am not hot, but I am getting healthy, and that's ok with me. I appreciate the compliments, but let's keep it real. Telly is hot. I'm just P'Nut. And I'll let you in on a little secret. I'm really trying not to get my hopes up too much, but part of my reason for this nine week trainer thing is to see if there's something I can do besides surgery to help my poor arms and legs. I know that I can cover them up with clothes and look ok, but I have to look at those. I feel the wobble of my legs around my knees and the embarrassing flapping of my arms and well, at this very moment I could just break down and sob. I don't want to look hot, but I don't want to look like a freak either.

Compliments worry me. I just know in my heart that there are a lot of folks out there who look at my pics and wonder why on earth anyone would call me skinny or hot. So the compliments embarrass me. Stupid negative self talk stuff...

Gah.. here I go again. Spilling my guts to the entire world. Sorry to whine.

Still love me? *embarrassed smile*

[MoOrLess]

AS IF YOU HAVE TO ASK! Well WE think you are hot so you are stuck with the compliments! :) Give yourself a hug -- I know what you mean about the arms - I HATE mine and yes I have GAINED some weight back also - but we are all trying - and we ALL need compliments -- so take yours and just grin and bear it -- or BARE it lol

[chrispygal]

Oh Susan, you look FANTASTIC! Really, truly, and honestly you look amazing and have worked SO HARD to get where you're at. A true role model if you ask me!

[Nick N Ava's Grammy]

Everyone is right.. including you Susan.. you do look amazing and I totally understand what you're saying about compliments.. they're hard to take when you feel like you don't deserve them. My NP (Sandy) said something to me today.. that kind of stuck in my mind (along with other things too).. she said "Donna, you're very educated on what you're suppose to be doing, this is something you've worked for and educated yourself on... you DESERVE this (and she said this with her finger pointing in my face with a smile on her face)... so Susan.. pretend that I'm Sandy and I'm pointing my finger in your face :) She and I also made a deal that in 2 weeks at the support meeting that we're going to compare exercise times. She said since she's graduated from nurse practitioner classes (and I'm sure I said that wrong), that she has gotten out of the habit of exercising, she said she makes herself get out of bed in the morning, hates herself for the first 15 mins, but after she gets moving she's much better.. so she challenged me to do the same thing. So as I said on my thread.. I got a fill of .5cc and an exercise buddy (at least for 2 weeks). She said.. just 30 mins a day Donna.. just 30 minutes.. we can do this. And I will. :) I'm so happy for you Susan.. you don't look like the same person.. I know you see that in your pictures :) Love ya girl!!

[WildAlaskaG'ma]

Ok, first of all, I am NOT amazing! LOL! I'm just your average, run-of-the-mill overweight person who has struggled all her life with a food addiction. People who are amazing are people who get banded, tuck their heads down, and charge on to their goal without letting anything get in their way. It's taken me 3 1/2 years and I STILL have 40 pounds to lose. I have been fat for so long that I've ruined the elasticity in my skin. I have stumbled so many times since being banded that I have bruised knees! I've lost 127 pounds only to regain 40. I went to the conference last year in total anguish over how I looked and felt. I often feel like a lousy role model, and am convinced that I must seem rather foolish to those who have long since reached their goals. But ya know what? I figure there are a lot more like me out there who will have their ups and downs, and will take some time to get their heads on straight enough to put their fabulous tool to work. So, I keep trying. I feel accountable.. to all of you, so I keep trying.

Secondly, I am not skinny and I am not hot, but I am getting healthy, and that's ok with me. I appreciate the compliments, but let's keep it real. Telly is hot. I'm just P'Nut. And I'll let you in on a little secret. I'm really trying not to get my hopes up too much, but part of my reason for this nine week trainer thing is to see if there's something I can do besides surgery to help my poor arms and legs. I know that I can cover them up with clothes and look ok, but I have to look at those. I feel the wobble of my legs around my knees and the embarrassing flapping of my arms and well, at this very moment I could just break down and sob. I don't want to look hot, but I don't want to look like a freak either.

Compliments worry me. I just know in my heart that there are a lot of folks out there who look at my pics and wonder why on earth anyone would call me skinny or hot. So the compliments embarrass me. Stupid negative self talk stuff...

Gah.. here I go again. Spilling my guts to the entire world. Sorry to whine.

Still love me? *embarrassed smile*

Thanks for posting the great pictures. It's nice to have a visual of where you are. And we are so blessed that you are willing to spill your guts and bare your soul. I'm betting that there isn't one of us who isn't relating to your anguish. But the fact is that you DO LOOK ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE !!! And we love and admire every wobbling and flapping piece of you hidden beneath those size medium duds!! And, I just gotta say that IMHO I dearly love those people who get banded and charge on to their goal without letting anything get in their way ,,, But, and I mean this in the most totally loving way possible, "They ain't normal !!!" I totally believe that the "normal" band journey is fraught with stumbles and falls and backslides, and that's exactly what makes you the best role model there could possibly be. You give us all hope and inspiration that if we keep on keeping on and don't give up that somehow the "stupid" switch in our head is gonna click in the right direction and we're gonna get our shit together like you have.

Now, suck up the compliments and deal with the fact you do look skinny and hot to most of us ,,, and besides that ,,, we love you ,,

[Nick N Ava's Grammy]

Well said JudyLou!!!

[celticsfan]

Wow. You look AMAZING!!!! I'll bet you feel even better...congrats!

[PhotoNut]

Well thanks for the FWAP upside my head, dear friends! I really needed it! Yesterday was a horrible self esteem day for me. (as if you couldn't tell)

I really love you guys.

This morning I'm taking the Dawg to the "vet" to get a tooth pulled. When I drop him off at home to sleep it off, Mom and I will head to the gym. Thirty minutes of stretching and noodling, followed by treadmill.

[WildAlaskaG'ma]

Let me see now ,,, yup ,,, still love you this morning !! Have a great day. Wishing you the best of luck dealing with Dawg after his vet appointment ,,, (That was funny right there.)

[MoOrLess]

you GO girl! lol on Dawg at the vet...poor new folks won't know what the heck you are talking about .....love ya girlie! Go burn it up girl!

[PhotoNut]

The best laid plans of mice and men...

It is now 1pm and I have yet to make it to the gym. The trip to the vet took over two hours. We arrived home to our contractors laying sod around the newly extended patios and saw buzzing as they cut through the wall of the upstairs bathroom (having a window installed). There has been nothing but pounding, sawing, and drilling since we got home. Poor Dawg. I have been turning in circles answering the doorbell, directing workers in and out of the house, approving this or that change in original plans, accepting an apology from the next door neighbor who piled compost all over our side yard and blocked the gate where the workers go in and out (rolling eyes), instructing the lawn guys about not mowing over the new sod, and running out to get drugs for poor Dawg who has gotten lost in the shuffle. I'm exhausted.

Mom and I decided not to go to the gym today since this is our day to work without the trainer. We have our stretching routine down pat, and I have a treadmill, so we will do our 1 hour here at the house. That change of plan was somewhat of a relief.

I will check in tonight to let you guys know that we did indeed do our workouts for today. I'm really looking forward to two hours at the gym in the morning! Its much quieter there! LOL!

[MoOrLess]

wow...I was wondering how you were doing it ALL! It's so smart to know ahead of time that there just aren't enough hours in the day and that you are one person. You and Mom will do fine working at - later - at home. HUGS and hope Dawg is feeling better sooner rather than later. Love you both!

[Rini]

Good for you susan for posting those side by sides. You can really see the difference and hwo far you have come. I don't think that 3 years of losing is shabby at all in fact you are more normal.Think about where you would be today if you didn't have your band..probaly heavier and sadder. Don't worry about the flabby parts i know its must be annoying but seems like you have a loving hubby who cares for you and all yoru parts.:) Don't be so down on yourself you are a wonderful caring person and an inspiration to all of us!

[catmom50]

What an inspiration Susan. Are you sure that's you? LOL! Keep up the good work.

[SheryBery]

Susan, you deserve the compliments so buck up and take 'em! You have always been an inspiration to me and you will continue to be one. I am blessed to know you!

[KristiR]

I know the head doesn't want to agree with how others see you. Some day we will just have to take BODY shots ( no head ) and stick them in with others body shots to see if you can find you. Makes you see you, the real , new , you.

Give Dawg some tomato soup or tomato juice, it will help his healing and draw out the pain.

[PhotoNut]

Dawg is doing very well today. He went to work and is pleased at his quick recovery. His grunt will have to suffice as his thanks for the well wishes both here and on FB.

Now, enough about him. Time for me!

I was bad yesterday. I didn't do my stretches or my treadmill at home like I said I was going to do. It was an extremely hectic day and I fell into bed completely exhausted. Excuses, I know. Mom did her 20 mins on the treadmill. Go mom!

Today we arrived at the gym early so we could get our stretches, noodles, and 6 min warm up on the treadmill out of the way before 9am when we were scheduled to start with the trainer. I swear those noodle things are really working. When we started those on Monday, my muscles were so sore that it was almost too painful to roll on them. Today - not so bad! They have been particularly helpful on my shins. Well, that muscle that runs just beside the shinbone on the outer part of the leg. I wake up at night with the worst cramps in that muscle (both legs) when I don't drink enough water. Anyway, rolling on the noodles has really really helped. I can tell I'm lengthening the muscles and working out the knots that have been so painful.

So we finished up our warm up on the treadmills and went downstairs to look for the PT. Turns out he was out of town and had forgotten to schedule a sub! I talked to him on the phone and he told us to go up and do our time on the treadmill and he would get something worked out for us. He felt really bad! We did our 20 mins cardio and then Sarah, the female trainer from hell, showed up. Actually she was very pretty, very nice, and very good at her job! We only got 20 minutes with her but OMG she really put us thru it. We were in the oddest positions on those big exercise balls as we lifted weights. It was FUN! Tonight I can really feel how fricking sore I'm going to be tomorrow, so I'm going to drink some motor oil before going to bed. Motor Oil - my nickname for the liquid pain reliever I have. It comes in a white plastic bottle just like a motor oil bottle. Even has the little clear strip down the side so you can see how much is in there. Its kind of an orange flavor, but thick like motor oil. Nasty stuff that really helps me!

Today, I spent a couple of hours with my dear friend Linda V. She and I have been thru a lot together and it was good to hang out together at Rembrandt's, a very cool coffee shop in Eagle. We could have laughed and talked the day away but after 2 hours we both had to get back to our responsibilities. I have to say, that was the most relaxing time I've had in weeks. Thank you, my friend. That was a great suggestion you had there. :)

Ok, one last thing then I'll shush. I wore my new jeans today. Size 6. My head is having a very hard time catching up with these changes. Linda reminded me that Jachut had once said that the last 20 pounds made huge changes in her body. I can see why! I've lost 133 pounds and I know I've changed a lot, but this section of the journey seems to be messing with my head the most. Size 6. I just cant grasp that one.

Tomorrow is the weekend. Stretches and cardio only. I can do that!

[PhotoNut]

:pound: THIS is exactly where I'm at emotionally! :pound:

8185

[SheryBery]

Hahahahaha.....EXACTLY!

[Nick N Ava's Grammy]

Congrats to you Susan on your Size 6... I'm smiling here for you with the warmest feeling in my stomach. I'm so happy for you. Even though I don't have a personal trainer, I think of you each time I exercise. Between you, Mo and my NP Sandy.. you all have me moving again. Thank you!!!

[newlifeat57]

Susan, I have not been on much lately, so I haven't kept up on your journey with the trainer. It sounds painful...but it makes me want to start doing something more than what I'm doing.....which isn't much.

I'm very proud of your accomplishments and think your size 6 deserves a big WOOO HOOOO You go girl. congratulations!!!

[Mloukas143]

you go girl..i have been cursed with big hips and even when i was at my lowest weight of 145lbs (ages ago) i still wasn't less than a size 10..so you are a size 6 and are 170lbs...your gonna be a size 0 by the time you reach goal!! you have a skinny mini figure...go flaunt those size 6's for me..i know i will never be wearing a size 6 with my butt and hips! lol

[PhotoNut]

Yeah, so I did no exercising this weekend. That PT needs to punish me for that! LOL!
Someone on FaceBook asked me to put up a pic after I said something about wearing size 6 jeans. So I had Sara take a few of me this morning. Everyone's reactions have been very surprising. Time to run back to the counselor. *laughs*

Here are a couple of those pics. They will be better for comparison at the end of this nine weeks than the blurry pics at the gym. On a side note, my trusty point and shoot camera, on which I have taken so many beloved pictures and videos, has died. May it rest in peace. So, no more pics until just before the conference I guess. You all will have to wait in suspense! heh

8189 8192

[Nick N Ava's Grammy]

Well HOT DANGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG woman!!! You could be a model!!! What am I saying.. YOU ARE OUR model!! :) Great pictures.. love the fresh face and those jeans are rocking lady!! Congrats!!

[newlifeat57]

Susan.... you look absolutely wonderful. Soooo happy for you :)

[Rini]

Yeah, so I did no exercising this weekend. That PT needs to punish me for that! LOL!
Someone on FaceBook asked me to put up a pic after I said something about wearing size 6 jeans. So I had Sara take a few of me this morning. Everyone's reactions have been very surprising. Time to run back to the counselor. *laughs*

Here are a couple of those pics. They will be better for comparison at the end of this nine weeks than the blurry pics at the gym. On a side note, my trusty point and shoot camera, on which I have taken so many beloved pictures and videos, has died. May it rest in peace. So, no more pics until just before the conference I guess. You all will have to wait in suspense! heh

8189 8192
Wow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Look at you hot mama!!!!!!! How dare you say you are not hot if i ever hear you say those workds again i'm gonna........&^%&^%&^$%&^%&^ you up! lol
I can't belive you are a size 6!!!! That is soooo freakin awesome!!!!!!!!!! You go with your bad self!I'm green with envy but sooooo happy for you!

[PhotoNut]

Rini, that made me laugh. :)

Starting week two of nine:

We had Sarah the female trainer from hell again today because our PT was still out of town. She made us do push ups! While my mom was beside me doing her push ups like they were nothing, Sara was assuring me that I would get better at them - in time. LOL! My mom is amazing.

Mom and I started the morning doing the noodle rolling and stretches. Then we did one hour with Sarah, and then finished up with a cardio session on the treadmill. We were both ravenous when we got home, and have been extra hungry all day. I could sure tell that I did a lot of sitting over the weekend.. my muscles were tight.

I did 40 crunches on an exercise ball today. That was impressive.. for me. I also did countless other exercises that I didn't know I had the capability of doing. We will stay focused on core strengthening for several weeks, but we get a full body workout with this program too. I think I can feel every muscle I have tonight.

We have started with 5 pound hand weights and typically do 15-20 repetitions of each exercise.

Oh by the way, it looks like Sarah will be our regular PT now. Chad is the manager of the PTs at the gym and is just too swamped to train. Both mom and I happily agreed to the switch. Sarah rocks. I'll have to get some pics of us working out with her. Guess I need to borrow a camera!

Tomorrow we work on our own. Noodles, stretches, and cardio.

(8-17-2009: 173 lbs - replacing fat with muscle!)

[GirlyGirl]

Good job Susan! And your avatar looks fabulous!

[Nick N Ava's Grammy]

Noodle ON Susan!!! :)

[Mloukas143]

Sarah the female trainer from hell....she rocks huh Susan?? lol Your too funny, keep up the awesome work...you motivate me to work out! Well not right now...but tonight I will!! =P

[gregken77]

Photonut you know your like a "Rocky" movie to me. You really pump me up about getting banded. ha ha

[PhotoNut]

Hey Greg, when are you getting banded? If you want true inspiration, you should come up to the 2009 Band2gether Get2gether! A bunch of us have been talking about doing the Rocky Run up the steps of the Idaho Capitol Building which is about a block from the conference center! LOL!

It would also be a kick butt way to start your journey! Have you looked at the conference site? http://band2gether.net/09g2g

8206
Downtown Boise

[gregken77]

How funny! A Rocky run! Oh I would love to come. I am going to be so broke though during that time. I am to be banded on Oct 1st and I am a self pay. And since I am not rich, its going to wipe out all of my savings. I even borrowed 700 dollars from my father. :( Anyway maybe I can make it to your next get together. I have family in Boise so that would be perfect!

[MoOrLess]

I said it on FB and I'll say it again - well dang woman - you are definitely HOT in those size SIXES!!!!!!!!!! and with all the muscle building you are doing you'll be down another size (or two) before you know it. Toning does amazing things when it comes to clothes!

lol on not working out on the weekend - that is why you have a trainer my dear!

[MoOrLess]

Hey Greg, when are you getting banded? If you want true inspiration, you should come up to the 2009 Band2gether Get2gether! A bunch of us have been talking about doing the Rocky Run up the steps of the Idaho Capitol Building which is about a block from the conference center! LOL!

It would also be a kick butt way to start your journey! Have you looked at the conference site? http://band2gether.net/09g2g

8206
Downtown Boise

I'm IN for the Rocky Run -- what day do you think you'll do it? Saturday during our free time? ........now - hopefully someone will have a camera handy so when my sciatica kicks in and I am laying mid-way between the top and the bottom of the steps at least I'll be able to prove I TRIED :neener:

[PhotoNut]

Ah Greg, I can sure understand about the money. Makes it even scarier when you have so much invested, doesn't it? My mom gave me my inheritance money early so I could be banded. I remember dreading the possibility of failing and wasting that money. Not sure we'll be having the G2G in Boise next year. We like to move around. Still, if you're ever in Boise, let me know. We have a great group of folks here and we'd make you feel welcome!

Mo, you're such a doll. It's going to be a honor to do the Rocky Run with you! I'm guessing it will be Saturday during free time, or perhaps Sunday afternoon after the conference is over. Yeah, Sunday sounds perfect! Wanna organize that gathering? LOL!

[MoOrLess]

SUNDAY is my vote too! That way when we die and have to be carried off they can just put me in my bed until it's time to fly out on Monday lol...........sure I can organize it -- AFTER we get in town lol.........even though I don't know where the heck the steps even ARE ..........and have never been to Boise...........but sure I'm game rofl....no guarantees WHAT steps we'll be running up and down with me in the lead lol

[PhotoNut]

Sunday it is! Someone better be have a boom box with the Rocky theme tune blasting as we run (ha ha ha) up those sets of stairs, which are very much like the ones in the Rocky movie! I think I'm going to call the local news station and tip them off about this event! LOL!

[redgrldj]

so I guess I will sign up for the stair run...

[PhotoNut]

Doing the Rocky Run with Barbie?? :emotions15: Not worthy, not worthy!

[redgrldj]

LOL... you crack me up... Oh I am headed to the bank in the am to get a cashiers check for ya... I still can't find a freaking check book..

[PhotoNut]

Never found mine either, Pattie. Can't even find the box of refill checks! I used to say, "I can't be out of money, I still have checks!" This must mean I'm broke. heh

The last couple of mornings I have woken up at 4:30am and have been unable to go back to sleep. So much on my mind *cough*conference*cough* I just get up, make some coffee, and start working on things. The quiet time is nice, but lordy it's making me tired! I wonder if this is being caused by the huge increase in my physical activity. Has anyone else experienced insomnia when they've started working out regularly?

Today, we went to the gym like good little soldiers and did our 30 mins of noodling and stretches, followed by 30 mins on the treadmill. In the morning, we meet with Sarah TFPTFH. (that makes a great sound when you say it out loud LOL)

I'm off to bed now. I hope to sleep until the clock goes off at 6:30.

G'night my B2G family. ZZzzzzz....

[redgrldj]

OMG we must be twins ( except the boobs).. I have been waking up early too.. I get up and am outside walking around 5 am.. come home and go back to sleep LOL.. I love summer...

[PhotoNut]

Today's workout = Ow, ow, omg OW!... I'm starving!!! (more later... )

[WildAlaskaG'ma]

Just got home & stopping in here to check on your progress ,,, Holy snot you're doing fantastic and looking terrific in those six 6 jeans !!! You blow me away girlfriend. Keep up the fantastic work.

[SheryBery]

I've been MIA for a few days and return to find one hot chickie posting!! Oh Susan...you look wonderful! I volunteer to film you guys doing the steps! I'd die if I tried running them!

<seriously in awe over the way Susan looks>

[MoOrLess]

insomnia - pain - Rocky Stairs with Pattie -- awesome stuff!

sweet dreams Susan -- and YES when I work out (esp if one of them is at night) I can't fall asleep for nothin' -- unlike you sleeping like the dead and waking up way too early....craziness!

[PhotoNut]

Ok, we have completed two full weeks of workouts with the personal trainer. We have fully transfered over to Sarah TFPTFH and today she spent some time with us prior to the workout gathering more detailed information about us so she could better design our programs. Mom has lost 2 pounds since we started, and I had lost 3. This is pretty good considering we are building muscle at the same time. But, as I have said.. body fat percentage is a much better judge of fitness, so.....

Sarah measured our fat with the hand held thingiemahjig, and according to that we each lost 2% of our body fat! Woot! She also measured us with calipers, which are far more accurate. She warned us that the calipers are usually about 4% higher than the hand held thingiemahjig but, to her surprise and ours, it actually measured us a bit lower. So, we are going to use the calipers as our official measure from now on. My official body fat % is therefore 39%. Sarah told us that there are different methods of measuring with the calipers, so you should have the same trainer measure you each time to ensure accuracy. She pinched and measured rolls of fat on our right side only. She did the back of our upper arm (bat wing), just below the shoulder blade, the fat flap on our stomachs just inside the hip (that ugly apron, not the belly), and the underside of the forearm. She added that up and then used a chart (which takes age into account) to find the percentage.

She also measured us with a tape measure. Spots she measured: neck, chest (across nipples), upper arm, forearm, stomach (across belly button), hips (across top of hip bone), thigh, and calf. We measured ourselves a year ago when we started our support group. I only remember my chest, stomach, and belly measurements from today, but I’ve gone down five inches in my chest, five in my stomach, and six in my hips. J Sweet!

We did some core work today, and then we got to move up to the big kid’s playground! We started working on machines! W00t! Sarah moved us through the routine rather quickly today. We did 20 on each machine. Next week we will be decreasing the reps to 12 but we will be doing three sets of 12. First we did squat things, lifting the weight as we went up. While I was doing squats, mom was doing planks. Then we switched. I managed five planks and held each for 10 seconds. We then moved on to do crazy things like reverse crunches where you hook your feet under this inclined bench and lean back and then up again. That was my biggest challenge today. We did some of the typical back machines. And then we did these crazy things where you stand on a platform with bars across the back of your heels. Then, while leaning forward against pads that support your upper thighs, you bend forward at the waist all the way down and then back up again. I had to lightly hold the handle bars to steady myself. My mom can do those with her arms crossed over her chest! My mom is a freak! Lol!

Sarah gave us some handout material that I thought was excellent. I’ll pass it along to you all soon. She has our food journals from the last two weeks and will be assessing our daily food goals over the weekend.

Two percent! *happy giggle*

[redgrldj]

WTG Susan... I miss my trainer... he moved to Vegas.... I can't wait to be able to workout...

[MoOrLess]

Awesome news Susan -- I'm so glad you are sharing all of this with us. I know that I am learning TONS of new things through your experiences. Thanks!!!! WTG on the body fat - I know that is a great way to know your HEALTH status....and yes your Mom is AMAZING...wow - WTG P'nut's mom...please give her a high-5 for me!

[Nick N Ava's Grammy]

I'm a W00t'in right along with ya!! :) Great job ladies!!! I have a vision of you guys doing these exercises .. I must say I envy you. :)

[PhotoNut]

I am loving the whole trainer thing. There is NO WAY I would make myself do those exercises each day on my own. I think I might need a lifetime contract! LOL!

I'm at 170 pounds today! That's four pounds in the last 12 days. I'm right happy with that. I'm going to update the first post of this thread to document my weight. I'll weigh-in each Monday morning.

I'm so excited to see the 160s! It's been 26 years since I last saw the 160s. I got close one time in those 26 years, when I worked hard (with Mom of course) and managed to get to the mid 170s. That was 16 years ago, and a short-lived accomplishment.

I'm happy to be building muscle, cause I've gotta tell you... a woman my age, who has been obese for so long, and then loses so much weight.. is saggy and freakishly bony without the muscles! I lay on my back and my ribs stick out around a sunken upper belly area. It's been puzzling me because I don't remember feeling that sunk-in area when I was young. I lifted my head last night and felt that area rise up even with my ribs and then it hit me. I'm sunk in because I have weak puny muscles! Once my head was lifted, the muscles contracted and I felt normal! I don't want to look wrinkly and bony! No wonder people run off to have plastic surgery so quickly. This is alarming! But my newest "self discovery," along with Jachut's comment about loose fat being mistaken as loose skin, has really given me a focus and drive to build up a nice foundation of muscle prior to any tummy tucks or bewbie lifts. It might take me a year to get my body to a good level of fitness and that's fine. If and when they do remove that loose skin and tighten things up, I want to see lean muscle, not bones!

I was up most of the night last night with a horrendous gall bladder attack. I had eaten some bbq ribs at about 4pm and instantly knew I was in trouble. Much too fatty. I finally woke up the Dawg who wisely instructed me to drink some "motor oil" (liquid ibuprofen) and a to take a lunesta to help me relax and sleep. I wish I would have woken him up earlier because that did the trick. I was able to go to sleep (6am), but woke up at 10am. Betcha I go to bed early tonight! And I'll betcha I don't eat baby back ribs again for a LONG time! LOL! owie!!

[Nick N Ava's Grammy]

I'm seriously grinning here for you girl!!! I'm so happy for you that your goal in closer and closer for you. I can't eat BBQ pork.. at all.. and I had my gallbladder out in '86. I can eat pork, dipped in BBQ sauce, but not cooked in it.. not sure what the difference is.. unless it's the fat in the meat.. at any rate.. BBQ pork is off my list.. lol

Again.. Congrats on your weight loss.. you're doing a fantastic job!!!

[Jachut]

Isnt it weird - pork is advertised as a very lean meat here. Bacon and such, no, but lean cuts of pork, without the skin and crackle (drooooool) - things like butterfly steaks and such, its a great meat. I guess it just depends what it is.

That's great about the 2% fat loss - I always wonder though, how does the extra skin we all have affect that measurement. I mean, I have touches of that freaky bonyness, they always post pics of celebs saying FREAK! ANOREXIC! and when I see what they're talking about, I see things I can recognise about my own body. Yet if you grab my skin, you can certainly pinch an inch, lol, becuase its loose and flabby from weight loss. I cant imagine how a caliper measurement could be that accurate, or whether we will always have higher body fat measures due to the skin.

[wingsfly825]

Im just seeing this thread tonite susan..so im so behind lately. That is awesome you got yourself a trainer. im so proud of all you have accomplished with your band..you are an inspiration to us all...big hugs

[PhotoNut]

Thanks for the encouragement you all. It really means a lot to me.

Jachut - I was wondering that myself! I'm going to ask Sara TFPTFH on Monday! You know, I found out that our local University has the dunk tank thing for measuring body fat percent, which is the only way to truly measure body fat percentages -- still, I wonder if the floating skin would skew the results. I mean seriously.. I've done water aerobics since loosing a lot of weight. My skin floats. It's frightening!

They tauted pork as "the other white meat" here too. However, the fat is so intricately marbled through the meat that you don't see it as you would along the edge of a thick slab of beef. According to caloriecount.about.com, 140 grams of roasted chicken (white, meat only) has 5 grams of fat, but 140 grams of fully cooked baby back pork ribs has 18 grams of fat. That's more than 3 times as much!

At home we grill pork tenderloin steaks which have been marinated in sesame ginger. Very moist and easy for me to eat, even cooked on the bbq, and it has same amount of fat as the chicken. So I guess the cuts make the difference. We have eaten ribs at the same restaurant on several occasions, and I've not had any problems. I haven't had issues with my gall bladder in a little over ten years. Curious that it would flare up now when I'm eating well and exercising. Perhaps it has something to do with the amount of fat and hormones etc that are now being burned?

[Nick N Ava's Grammy]

Maybe your new weight loss has triggered your little buddy and it doesn't like the changes you're making to your body. Plus you've been losing weight steadily so that might be something to consider. In any case.. you've done a great job.. and I'm so happy for you!!

[PhotoNut]

Donna, I think you're probably right. Let's hope it calms down and doesn't become a huge PITA. I do NOT want to have it taken out.

[Mloukas143]

ten more pounds till you reach that 160 mark Susan...you can do it!! and you will!

[KristiR]

Susan, my Primary Doctor warned me to watch out for gall bladder problems as I lose more weight. It is not uncommon to have it flair up and have to be removed. Be careful and watch the triggers!

[MoOrLess]

I'm deleting those! Brats.

Donna, I think you're probably right. Let's hope it calms down and doesn't become a huge PITA. I do NOT want to have it taken out.

aw why not? more weight loss :pound:

[Tricia K.]

You look fab, Susan!

[PhotoNut]

I'm watching those triggers, Kristi!

Melissa and Tricia - Thanks!

Mo - NO! lol

[GirlyGirl]

uuhh...P'nut...a gall bladder attack? I am just wondering why you don't have your Gall Bladder removed. Just curious.

Just throwing my two cents in ... I had mine taken out a few months before my lapband, but it was found to be chronically infected with tons of stones in it... I never, as far as I knew, had any symptoms. They found it by accident when they did an ultrasound in the abdomen area instead of the pelvic area...go figure... oh, well, abdomen, pelvic....what's the difference. Anyway....I put off getting it out, then my uncle's gall bladder burst and the infection got in his system and he was dead in 48 hours...so right after his funeral, I made my appt and got mine out...so, just wondering if you should look into it...

Not to worry you or anything...LOL! But seriously...

[sassy46545]

I can't think of a better thread for this post... lol. I'm alive and well, although dealing with massive weight gain due to being totally unfilled since June. Exercise is the key...and I've lost the keyring.

Tracy


A WOMAN'S WEEK AT THE GYM

If you read this without laughing out loud, there is something wrong with you. This is dedicated to everyone who ever attempted to get into a regular workout routine


Dear Diary,
For my birthday this year, I purchased a week of personal training at the local health club.
Although I am still in great shape since being a high school football cheerleader 43 years ago, I decided it would be a good idea to go ahead and give it a try.
I called the club and made my reservations with a personal trainer named Christo, who identified himself as a 26-year-old aerobics instructor and model for athletic clothing and swim wear.
Friends seemed pleased with my enthusiasm to get started! The club encouraged me to keep a diary to chart my progress.
________________________________
MONDAY:
Started my day at 6:00 a.m. Tough to get out of bed, but found it was well worth it when I arrived at the health club to find Christo waiting for me. He is something of a Greek god-- with blond hair, dancing eyes, and a dazzling white smile. Woo Hoo!!
Christo gave me a tour and showed me the machines.. I enjoyed watching the skillful way in which he conducted his aerobics class after my workout today. Very inspiring!
Christo was encouraging as I did my sit-ups, although my gut was already aching from holding it in the whole time he was around. This is going to be a FANTASTIC week!!
________________________________
TUESDAY:
I drank a whole pot of coffee, but I finally made it out the door. Christo made me lie on my back and push a heavy iron bar into the air then he put weights on it! My legs were a little wobbly on the treadmill, but I made the full mile. His rewarding smile made it all worthwhile. I feel GREAT! It's a whole new life for me.
_______ ________________________
WEDNESDAY:
The only way I can brush my teeth is by laying the toothbrush on the counter and moving my mouth back and forth over it. I believe I have a hernia in both pectorals. Driving was OK as long as I didn't try to steer or stop. I parked on top of a GEO in the club parking lot.
Christo was impatient with me, insisting that my screams bothered other club members. His voice is a little too perky for that early in the morning and when he scolds, he gets this nasally whine that is VERY annoying.
My chest hurt when I got on the treadmill, so Christo put me on the stair monster. Why the hell would anyone invent a machine to simulate an activity rendered obsolete by elevators? Christo told me it would help me get in shape and enjoy life. He said some other shit too.
_______________________________
THURSDAY:
Asshole was waiting for me with his vampire-like teeth exposed as his thin, cruel lips were pulled back in a full snarl. I couldn't help being a half an hour late-- it took me that long to tie my shoes.
He took me to work out with dumbbells. When he was not looking, I ran and hid in the restroom. He sent some skinny bitch to find me.
Then, as punishment, he put me on the rowing machine-- which I sank.
_________________________________
FRIDAY:
I hate that bastard Christo more than any human being has ever hated any other human being in the history of the world. Stupid, skinny, anemic, anorexic, little aerobic instructor. If there was a part of my body I could move without unbearable pain, I would beat him with it.
Christo wanted me to work on my triceps. I don't have any triceps! And if you don't want dents in the floor, don't hand me the damn barbells or anything that weighs more than a sandwich.
The treadmill flung me off and I landed on a health and nutrition teacher. Why couldn't it have been someone softer, like the drama coach or the choir director?
________________________________
SATURDAY:
Satan left a message on my answering machine in his grating, shrilly voice wondering why I did not show up today. Just hearing his voice made me want to smash the machine with my planner; however, I lacked the strength to even use the TV remote and ended up catching eleven straight hours of the Weather Channel..
________________________________
SUNDAY:
I'm having the Church van pick me up for services today so I can go and thank GOD that this week is over. I will also pray that next year my husband will choose a gift for me that is fun-- like a root canal or a hysterectomy. I still say if God had wanted me to bend over, he would have sprinkled the floor with diamonds!!!

Send this to a friend who needs to laugh. We all need a good laugh

[Mloukas143]

LMAO, loved it

[PhotoNut]

Well hello stranger! (Tracy) That was VERY funny! I needed a good laugh too! I think I'm going to print it out and take it to the gym with me in the morning! I hope that Sara TFPTFH has a good sense of humor. *snicker*

Here's my update:


WEIGHT
So.... what do I always tell people about the scales? Yeah, well I need to take my own advice. I weighed yesterday morning and was so bummed to see 171! I knew better than to let it bother me. (warning TMI approaching) I hadn't been poo since Friday. That's now been resolved with Fiber One cereal (1/2 cup a day keeps constipation away!) but dang that was a bummer to see a gain. Still, it is what it is and I'm going to record it on Monday's weigh-in. I am also aware that I'm gaining muscle - and I can feel ever one of those muscles! LOL! I must remember to focus on how I look and feel and NOT on those stupid scales. (addition: I went to record the 171 and had to laugh at myself for being bummed. That was still a 2 pound loss from the prior week. Ah, the head.. it still contrives against me!)

FOOD
Sara TFPTFH went to a training seminar last weekend and learned some facts about weight loss, health, nutrition, etc for her furthering education and certification. Based on what she learned in the seminar, she has decided that we have to stay on the original food plan which set my daily goals at Calories: 1400-1500 Protein: 120 Carbs: 192 Fat: 28 I'm freaking a bit. That's really high carbs. But here's the thing. Over the weekend, I dropped my carbs and calories.. partly because I'm stubborn and partly because I was having a bad weekend and found I had no desire to eat (WOW that was a HUGE deal but for discussion on another thread).

EXERCISE
To offset the amount of carbs we will be incorporating 15 mins of cardio intervals at the end of each session. Yesterday, after some SERIOUS lower body work (we did at least 100 squats while working arms with hand weights), we got on the elliptical for 6 mins, staring out moderately, then increasing the RPM to the point of heart pounding sweating fear LOL! then back down to moderate. Then we got on recumbent bikes and did the same type of variance in intensity.

I had to hold the railing going down the stairs when we left. My legs felt like wobbly rubber. As I backed the car out of the parking lot, I wondered if I'd be able to properly apply the brakes. When I read Tracy's funny post last night, I really related!

[MoOrLess]

ROFL Susan....are you sure your trainer's name isn't Jillian? It sure sounds like grueling workouts that the people do on Biggest Loser!!!! Kudos to you - I'm sure having your mom at your side keeps you going back for more lol -- but seriously - a high 5 to you for sticking to this! Now quit avoiding the carbs!!! Eat them - your body is working out seriously and you NEED them. I know - the carbs go against everything you have done to lose the weight - but that's not the MAIN goal here - it is to tone up and get strong. You can't do that without the carbs! and EAT - yeesh who would think someone would have to tell a banded person to eat! lol Love ya girl!

[Jachut]

Sounds like me when I went to step aerobics back in the early 90's when it was Step Reebok - I put 3 risers under my platform. On the way home I had a car accident, I ran up the back of someone coz I couldnt work the clutch properly and the get the car into lower gear to slow down. My legs were like they belonged to someone else, I had no control over them at all.

Thank god nobody drives manual anymore, lol.

And carbs are a part of a balanced diet!

[PhotoNut]

LOL @ Jachut! I hear ya girls... eat more carbs. What a DRAG! :pound: :thumb:

[PhotoNut]

I'm sure having your mom at your side keeps you going back for more lol

Absolutely no question in my mind! LOL!

Today was upper body. Back, chest, arms. Oh My God. Arms. Mine nearly fell off! At one point the entire length of my arms were in flames! That's only a minor exaggeration!

We have been doing these great crunches on the exercise ball. Sarah TFPTFH stands between us and holding her hands at different positions over us as we come up into a crunch, one hand on top of the other, and reach for her hands. It's great! We get thru 25-30 of those easily. The brain is so busy following the target (her hand) that you don't have time to think about the strain or to get bored with the repetitions. We did three sets of those, alternating with three sets of dumbbell raises-15 reps (straight out to sides, then straight out in front, was one rep). THEN we moved to machines and did killer bicep and tricep exercises. Oh, and some planks. We finished up with 20 minutes of cardio intervals on the treadmill. *pant*pant*wheeze*pant*pant* DIE LOL!

I had a very important appointment this morning so our workout was from 1pm-2pm. I prefer mornings for my schedule, but I did seem to have more energy today. I'm really not a morning person.

Anyway.. It was a great workout. :thumb:

[Mloukas143]

Your weigh in was just a gentle reminder of how evil scales are Susan! I was so excited this morning to find out that i broke my plateau of 207 and was down to 206 for the first time in a month....but i also have to remind myself that scales fluctuate so much so i can't get excited just yet, as you know! It's a bummer, but so many things as we know can contribute to that fluctuation...who knows you could have retained more water than last week...it could have been anything, really!

[MyGenesis]

Way to go Susan...I am living vicarioulsy through your workouts... I keep testing how my ankles and knees will hold my weight through a vigirous workout. I am not there yet. Talked to the murse practitioner about it at my visit today...gonna stick with lower impact for a while... I think another 20 lbs and I will be able to handle more than I can right now.
Keep up the good work...we are all here rooting for you and total success!!!

[PhotoNut]

Boy, Melissa, isn't that the truth?! I am getting smaller by the day. I can see it in the mirror, and I can feel it in my clothes. However, this morning I weighed 172 pounds. That is a two pound gain from the (unofficial) weigh-in last Sunday. I really am ok with this. I find it very interesting actually. heh

I have been faithful about going to the gym for our trainer sessions for the last three weeks, but I am slipping badly on the days we are not with the trainer. The original plan was for me to do a minimum of 20 minutes on the treadmill on the four days I'm not with the trainer. The first couple of weeks, we went to the gym even on our “off days” to be certain that we did our noodling and cardio. Yeah, we have had some great excuses to stay home and do our time on the treadmill. Ok, so mom does that faithfully, but I don’t. I get wrapped up in the conference planning and phone calls, and before I know it it’s late and I’m too worn out to get on the stupid thing. I feel certain that this is slowing down the progress I could be making.

I do believe that many of us have gotten to this point in our resolute plans to "lose weight" and have fallen victim to discouragement because of the scales. In the past it would have been easy to tell myself, "The weekend is here and I've worked so hard the past few weeks for what? A measly two pounds? What's the point in working so hard? If I'm going to lose that slowly then I might as well have some treats this weekend. It's not like I'm going to spoil a super streak of weight loss or anything." And that would have been the end of me for at least a month. I would have turned to the carbs, started enjoying a few drinks on the weekends, and then a month later I would have been disappointed in my inability to lose weight when in truth I had just stopped making good food choices, journaling my food, drinking water, etc.

Now I have to be honest and tell you that I have been hearing those very words in my head. That’s how I knew what to write! Haha! The thing is, even though I can still hear them, I do not believe them. They are being noisy passengers on “my bus” but I refuse to let them take the driver’s seat! So, next week we will be at the gym every morning. No excuses. I’m only robbing myself by not going.

Notice that in paragraph two I said “this is slowing down the progress I could be making.” I didn't say slowing down my weight loss. I am firmly grounded in the knowledge that it is impossible to lose more than 1-2 pounds of fat per week. Since my goal is to lose fat and not muscle tissue, I'm quite content with my current rate of weight loss. I feel confident that, at the end of the nine weeks, the oddities of the scale will average out and we will see a significant loss of both inches and in pounds.

By the way.. today? Was a good day at the gym! J

[PhotoNut]

Bonnie, you hang in there girl. I remember the days when I could hardly walk after standing up. My feet, ankles, knees, and hips hurt so badly I had to limp and waddle. I'm still feeling the consequences of the damage I've done to myself by being so sedentary and obese. Today, our focus was on lower back, stomach, butt, and hips. It was painful to use those hip muscles, and I was reminded of just how far I have come.

When you do start advancing your exercises, be sure to start with core strengthening. It is the foundation of every movement we make, and it will give you much better stability and agility. Thanks for living vicariously through me! I love knowing that something I'm doing in my own life is actually desirable by others!

[MoOrLess]

Heavens YES we all live vicariously through you Susan - that's why you MUST work out every day - if you don't we won't lol - nice pressure eh? j/k -- in all seriousness -- you need to start taking time for YOU girl - seriously, 20 minutes on the treadmill? Do it when you wake up in the morning - refuse to answer the phone or anything else...even if it means you wake up a little earlier - I know, I know...but if you don't do it in the early hours of the day I know just how easy it is to let it slip by....

keep at it girl - you're doing awesome!

[GirlyGirl]

Susan I have to hand it to you. I have given up hope that I will ever become interested in working out. I just hate it. I am not good at doing things just because it is good for me. Although I am acutely aware of the tremendous benefit working out your muscles and your joints are as we grow older, I still just can't get into it!

Keep up the good work and if ever you think you've found the secret to getting started and sticking to it, please do share...

Congrats on your progress!

[PhotoNut]

Mo, I'm giving everyone the weekend off. But be prepared for a kick ass week starting tomorrow! :)

Jer, I have never been a fan of exercising. I think that's obvious by the fact that I have been obese most of my life. Trust me, I'm not doing it because I enjoy it. I think it's more out of desperation. The more weight I lost, the uglier my body was getting. Everything was sagging and sunk-in. It was horrible.

Like I was saying earlier in this thread, while lying on my back my rib cage stuck out like a skeleton. I don't want to look like some starvation victim.
I wish I had been doing this all along. It's depressing to spend years focused on weight loss only to find you've uncovered such ugliness. Had I been exercising just three times a week for the past few years, I would have found a healthy, lean, strong body beneath all of that fat, which is what we all dream of when we fantasize about goal weight. A sagging, wrinkled skinny body was never my vision of goal weight.

I am encouraged by the rapid changes that have taken place. Only three weeks of working with the trainer and I'm astonished at the change in my abdomen. It no longer sinks in when I am lying on my back. My midsection is almost level with my ribs. I feel NORMAL! I have also noticed a marked decrease in skin movement on my arms and legs. I hated that feeling of flesh wobbling around after I had stopped moving. I have found myself envying heavier people because they are "filled in", if that makes sense.

My goal was to be healthy and strong. To have good balance and endurance. I'm now learning that muscle has to be there to achieve complete fitness. Not to be an athlete, but just so I could enjoy living. That's why I'm doing this now. :)

PS - 169 today (did you hear the excited squeal this morning?!)

[MoOrLess]

WOO HOO on the 169 Susan!!! That's awesome --- you are definitely "Mo"-tivating!!!!

I'm NOT taking the weekend off lol - only because I want to hit Platinum on the exercise challenge and I don't think I'll quite make it lol....

I totally understand what you mean about sagging skin/thin body -- I'm headed there and I "have" been exercising fairly religiously for the past two years....for me - the most obnoxious thing is that my legs are the skinniest part of me - and the apron (oh gosh for a free tummy tuck!) keeps me from wearing a smaller size (or two!) in pants. My legs fit size 18's and they are even big, but my stomach/waist/apron will NOT get me into them. Very frustrating....by the time I CAN wear the size 18 jeans I have waiting for me, when I do put them on everyone will tell me they sag too much in the legs and butt lol -- a no-win situation.

[redgrldj]

I just bought a new DVD, that some people on another board were talking about.. I will do it than give reviews.. It is supposed to help tighten the lower body.. Can't remember the name, LOL I bought it on ebay so will check later..

[PhotoNut]

Uhg. Tired. Sleepy. Stupid scales. Off to the gym....

[GirlyGirl]

Yes, I heard the squeal from here! Congrats! Great to see your progress...I'm inspired..I'm off to take a walk!

[PhotoNut]

Woohoo! Another kick butt workout this morning. We worked on legs, starting with step ups onto a step aerobic bench with 4 risers (2 sets of 15 each leg). When we started training three weeks ago, I had a hard time stepping onto that thing with 2 risers under it. Today I was bouncing up there like a pro, and I even threw in some arm work!

Official weigh in at the gym shows a loss of 6 pounds over the last three weeks! First weigh in was fully dressed with tennis shoes, protein shake and a bottle of water already in my tummy - 178. Today, under the same circumstances I was 172.

Sarah TFPTFH decided to switch things up a bit in the nutrition area, so the body doesn't become complacent. Here's the plan (remember this is specifically designed for me based on my weight, my body fat %, my age, and my health):

1200 calorie diet. No white flour or white sugar, no trans fats. Eat 6 small meals throughout the day. Plan one day ahead of time. Keep a log of your calories, protein, fat, and carbs

Three days in a row:
40% protein (120g / 480 calories)
40% carbs (120g / 480 calories)
20% fats (27g / 240 calories)

Remaining four days:
28% protein (84g / 336 calories)
55% carbs (165g / 660 calories)
17% fat (23g / 204 calories)

Sarah is also going to write up a plan for us to follow on our "off days" when we are not working with her. Having a specific plan for those days will really help us.

Thanks for cheering us on, you guys. It really means a lot. *hugs*

(Go Jeralin Go!)

[PhotoNut]

I just bought a new DVD, that some people on another board were talking about.. I will do it than give reviews.. It is supposed to help tighten the lower body.. Can't remember the name, LOL I bought it on ebay so will check later..

That's sounds great, Pattie! Start a new thread about it in the Exercise forum so everyone will see it! :thumb:

[MoOrLess]

wow girl -- 2 lbs a week - exactly what you wanted to accomplish - the workouts sound like killers but they are doing the job! Reflecting on your "personal" info of 1200 calories with kick-butt workouts 3 days a week makes the 'other' surgeon's comment about me needing only 1000 calories sound pretty on target. That's what I've been doing - and working out 5 days a week and it is working well! I'm focusing on less carbs - but also add some every third day and yep it keeps the body guessing and not becoming complacent.

I think when we get near goal ALL of us should seek out a trainer - for at least a few weeks and to get our eating where it needs to be to MAINTAIN. You rock Susan -- thanks for sharing all of this with the rest of us.

[PhotoNut]

Sorry, Mo, I have to disagree about eating 1,000 calories per day. I respect surgeons' wisdom and skill about surgery, but tend to disagree with them about nutritional guidelines. Their area of expertise is not in nutrition, so I tend to follow the guidance of a registered dietitian or nutritionist.

About a year after I was banded, I had my BMR (also being referred to as RMR) calculated by my nutritionist. She said it was extremely low - most likely due to inactivity and low caloric intake. In order to give me a caloric deficit that would achieve a 1-2 pound fat loss per week, she would have had to prescribe that I eat less than 1200 calories. She refused because most women need a minimum of 1200 calories to simply exist. She said I should eat no less than 1200 calories per day and work to increase my metabolism so my BMR would be higher thereby creating a healthy deficit that would bring about fat loss.

Please take a few moments to read this article posted by Shape Up America, a non-profit organization that educates and challenges people to get in shape. Here is an excerpt that targets what I really hope people will begin to understand and take to heart. The entire article is very informative though, so be sure to read it (everyone).

What happens if you cut your food intake BELOW your RMR? Your body fights back. It actually DECREASES its metabolic rate. If you are eating an insufficient amount of food to meet your RMR, you will not be eating enough to maintain your body's functions properly. You can do this for a day or even two days without consequences. But chronic restriction of calories below the RMR is not unusual among dieters. This type of severe restriction can go on for an extended period of time (weeks or months), but NOT WITHOUT PAYING A PRICE. That price may be your health.

When you restrict calories too severely, your body is forced to make tradeoffs. Your body will struggle to preserve the highest priority bodily functions. Brain and heart function will be a very high priority whereas reproductive function and bone will be sacrificed.


You think you are restricting calories but if your restriction is too severe, your body will do everything it can to conserve calories. A familiar example of restricting calories too severely is the athlete or ballerina or model that is always trying to cut weight. But many people practice severe calorie restriction, not just models or athletes. Here is what happens to a female who restricts calories too severely for an extended period:

She experiences fatigue and becomes listless
She may sleep more
She finds it more difficult to exercise or work
She damages her immune system which means she gets sick more often and for longer
She skips her menstrual periods for months or even years because her endocrine system is thrown into disarray
She loses her reproductive capacity (she will be unable to conceive or carry a baby)
If she is dieting while pregnant, she may damage her baby's development
She loses muscle tissue as her body breaks down muscle in its desperate search for calories
She loses heart muscle in addition to skeletal muscle
Her bones become thinner and she may experience broken bones if she falls
Her hair becomes brittle and may start to fall out
Her eyes become dull
She develops skin problems
She has bad breath because she is burning ketones
She starts to experience mood changes
She develops psychological changes that can develop into dementia, anorexia or bulimia
She can eventually starve to death
Shape Up and Drop 10 - Step 7
Do you have a slow metabolism? (http://www.shapeup.org/atmstd/sud10v3/sud10s7.php) (click to view article)

[MoOrLess]

I'm not saying I agree - quite the opposite (with the below 1000 calorie mentality) - but for the moment it is working to get me back on track and lose weight. I doubt I could even maintain that low amount of calories beyond a few weeks honestly - it just isn't enough if I am eating dense protein - and now I AM. I agree completely that surgeons are NOT nutritionists....my "own" surgeon NEVER tells me to eat below 1000 calories - this guy just ticked me off and I guess I didn't want to walk in to my own doctor in 8 weeks when I go for a check-up at the same weight. I got a small unfill and I think it is just going to take my body a couple of weeks to come back from being too tight/PBing due to allergies? or whatever caused it. I'll definitely be "upping" my calories to 1200 soon. Thanks for the reminder that "I" am not nuts for thinking this surgeon was nuts! lol

So...exactly HOW do you "work to increase my metabolism so my BMR would be higher thereby creating a healthy deficit that would bring about fat loss"???

I read the article - this is what it says, in answer to my question:
To increase your metabolism:
Exercise daily
Build your muscles through strength training
Build bone by doing "weight bearing" exercise like walking or dancing (or any other exercise or sport that you perform while up on your feet)

[PhotoNut]

Ah ok, well keep in mind that when you do go back up to 1200 you will most likely gain some back when your body begins replacing the much needed water and muscle tissue that is lost. I'm not fussing at ya girlie, just sayin' cause I've done the same thing. Eat too low, drop a few pounds real quick like, and then gain it right back. I think it's the real cause for yo-yo'ing over the same couple of pounds that so many people do. When it's healthy fat loss, it's not going to come back with a vengeance the moment we eat a couple of hundred extra calories.

[MoOrLess]

Ah ok, well keep in mind that when you do go back up to 1200 you will most likely gain some back when your body begins replacing the much needed water and muscle tissue that is lost. I'm not fussing at ya girlie, just sayin' cause I've done the same thing. Eat too low, drop a few pounds real quick like, and then gain it right back. I think it's the real cause for yo-yo'ing over the same couple of pounds that so many people do. When it's healthy fat loss, it's not going to come back with a vengeance the moment we eat a couple of hundred extra calories.

ok...so, where is the RMR calculator that is mentioned in this article??? I even went to the website and can't find it :(

[PhotoNut]

It's there, Mo. I overlooked it at first too.

8317

[MoOrLess]

It's there, Mo. I overlooked it at first too.

8317

thanks! going to do the figuring....lol

[PhotoNut]

The calculator estimates 1355 for me. That's a bit higher than my actual RMR that was calculated by the nutritionist. Hopefully, I'll get my body and my metabolism in shape with all of this exercising so I will be requiring that much per day. Wouldn't it be nice to be able to eat that many calories and maintain a healthy weight?

I swear, all these crash / fad / miracle diets have ruined our metabolisms and given us the impression that we have to achieve starvation to lose weight. No wonder we are nation of frustrated, overweight people who continue to grow even more obese in spite of the billions of dollars spent on "weight loss" tactics.

Moderation has always been, and will always, be the key. We didn't get fat eating 1300-1500 calories per day! And we don't have to eat 500-1000 per day in order to achieve our weight loss goals.

I'm really afraid that far too many people think the band is supposed to enable them to eat such tiny amounts because they truly believe that is what it takes. Like I said on the thread with the full article on it (at Mo's request) the band is not supposed to prevent us from eating... its supposed to prevent us from eating OBESE portions.

[Jachut]

I often feel thankful that I was such a bad dieter, lol. I've honestly never in my life stuck to 1200 calories or below for any length of time at all, never lost any significant weight (oh, maybe 15lb) before being banded. I was a "gunna". Always gunna start a diet, start exercising. But its had its benefits because i just dont think I've damaged my body composition and metabolism like some more "successful" dieters have with losing 100lb and regaining etc.

I think if you need 1000 or less to lose, then that's what you have to do to a degree, but you also need to focus on improving your body composition and repairing that metabolism. For many of us, just eating less, moving more works well but some have to get more scientific, particularly as we get older. I dont personally need to focus on the protein, etc because obviously I eat enough overall to get a good balance. But when you have to eat less then you have to focus more on WHAT it is you're eating and WHAT type of exercise you're doing etc.

But I agree, and I just said it in another thread, surgeons really dont know a lot about nutrition.

[MoOrLess]

The calculator estimates 1355 for me. That's a bit higher than my actual RMR that was calculated by the nutritionist. Hopefully, I'll get my body and my metabolism in shape with all of this exercising so I will be requiring that much per day. Wouldn't it be nice to be able to eat that many calories and maintain a healthy weight?

I swear, all these crash / fad / miracle diets have ruined our metabolisms and given us the impression that we have to achieve starvation to lose weight. No wonder we are nation of frustrated, overweight people who continue to grow even more obese in spite of the billions of dollars spent on "weight loss" tactics.

Moderation has always been, and will always, be the key. We didn't get fat eating 1300-1500 calories per day! And we don't have to eat 500-1000 per day in order to achieve our weight loss goals.

I'm really afraid that far too many people think the band is supposed to enable them to eat such tiny amounts because they truly believe that is what it takes. Like I said on the thread with the full article on it (at Mo's request) the band is not supposed to prevent us from eating... its supposed to prevent us from eating OBESE portions.

AMEN!!! and that is EXACTLY what I said to my family when I made the decision to go and get a slight unfill! I said hold up - my band is supposed to help me eat LESS -- not stop me from eating regular food!!!! And I am proof of that - I AM losing weight once again now that I can eat dense protein -- so I agree 100% with what you are saying Jachut.....it IS about "WHAT" we eat - not as much about "HOW MUCH" although that matters too, obviously - as far as caloric intake is concerned.

[tammy sharp]

Sassy that was so hilarious.I was laughing and almost peeing in my pants.My husband thought I truly lost it.When I get my printer up and going that is definitely going to be copied lol.You hang in there and be careful with the trainers in you life.

[PhotoNut]

]Wednesday report: We worked on chest and back today. Keep in mind that Sarah TFPTFH has us working on core strength thru most of these types of exercises. She also had us do some rotor cuff exercises today. Mom and I learned some very cool ways that two people can work together using a band!

Some really cool news.. its looking like our girl Sarah TFPTFH is going to be at the B2G G2G, so y'all will get to meet her. Isn't that cool?

Another VERY cool thing I learned from Sarah today is that the gym where we train does group training training sessions! They will work with groups of up to four people, like Sarah works with mom and me. The fees per session are far less per person this way. For an individual personal trainer package, it is $55 per session. However, for a group of two it is $70 per session which means only $35 per person. With a group of three the price per session is $30 per person. I'm not certain of the cost for a group of four, but Sarah is checking on that for me. You all might check with your local gym to see if they offer group training like this, and then get your buddies together to save some money! Anyone in the Boise area that's reading this... I would HIGHLY recommend Sarah at the Meridian Idaho Athletic Club. I joke about her being The Female Personal Trainer From Hell, but in all truth she is a very knowledgeable trainer who is dedicated to her clients.

Ok, enough about Sarah TFPTFH and back to me. I think I told you all about an exercise that we did with Sarah way back in week two I think.. where we sat on a bosu ball and attempted to lift our outstretched legs while leaning back on our hands. The next goal was to move our hands from the floor to the sides of the bosu ball, and then to stretch our arms out to the side. I was so humiliated when we did these.. my mom was there looking like a gymnast, feet held high, legs straight, arms out to the sides, perfect form. Me? I was grunting and struggling to get my feet off the floor even tho I was leaning way back and fully supporting myself with my hands on the floor. Well.. *smiles* today we did that exercise again and my feet lifted with ease. I looked at them in shock, certain they weren't my own feet. Once it sunk in that they were indeed mine, I decided to try to move my hands to the ball. Sure enough, I could do it. But when my arms went out to the sides and my feet were still up in the air, with straight legs mind you, I began to laugh as I exclaimed "I'm doing it!" The strength in my stomach muscles has improved an unbelievable amount in just three weeks. I'm LOVING this! :)

A bosu ball:
8326 8328

[MoOrLess]

so THAT'S what those crazy balls are called! you go girl - dang Susan you are working hard and it is definitely paying off! and go Susan's Mom -- I am extremely impressed by her agility and strength!

You were chatting away about "group" training and here I thought we were going to get to hire her for the weekend but had to find buddies - ROFL.............I'm tired - can you tell? and that's only after one week at school, 14 more to go......

[Charity]

Vanity, thy name is woman! :)

[christie]

Yikes, my RMR is 1755. What does that mean for me?

By the way, you're doing great!

[PhotoNut]

About that RMR stuff, I think those estimates based on such a broad generality is pretty pointless. If you all really want to know your RMR (aka BMR) ask your doctor or nutritionist for a test. To say that all people who are 5'5" tall and 32 years old have the same metabolisms is foolishness. (in my opinion)

Mo, maybe I'll edit that post for clarity. I was pretty tired when I wrote it!

Charity, I'm not sure what you meant.. s'plain please! :)

[christie]

Honestly, I don't think its that far off the mark for me. I was maintaining between 260-270 lbs. for about 10 years and I'm fairly certain that I was getting 2200-3000 kk per day, because I tried to eat healthy...I just always ate way too much. I'll bet 1755 RMR for me is just about right. I could keep my kks around that number if I don't want to lose anything. So NOW it makes sense to keep my kks around 1200 - 1500/day to consistently lose about a pound a week.

I've lost 6 1/2 pounds in 6 days because I'm too tight and haven't been able to eat. BUT I know that those are not good pounds...those are lean muscle and water and low-energy pounds. Those are slow my metabolism down pounds. I haven't felt good enough to get on the treadmill. And that's not right.

[PhotoNut]

Ah ha! I see what you're saying Christie. Toss in some cardio and strength training and I'll bet you've come up with a perfect plan for healthy weight loss that is reasonable and sustainable.

Remember, feeding yourself the RMR amount and then adding exercise into the mix is the key!

[Want_2_B_Free]

Remember, feeding yourself the RMR amount and then adding exercise into the mix is the key!

I agree. If your RMR is 1755 and you eat 1200 a day you will have a 550 cal. daily deficit. Now if you add in 1 hr. of cardio daily, and keep the hr in the fat burning zone and burn say 700 cal. in that hr. then you will actually have a 1250 cal. deficit. Multiply that 1250 x 7 = 8750 cal deficit for the week. Then -3500 cal. for each lb. and you have the recipe for a 2.5 lb weekly loss. That's 10 lbs. a month. Or so say the scientists. :)

Keep up the hard work Susan.

If Vanity is a women, then what am I? Insanity? LMAO.

[PhotoNut]

If Vanity is a women, then what am I? Insanity? LMAO. YES, yes you ARE!!!! :pound:

I feel GREAT! I'm proud of me too. I got my lazy tush on the treadmill and spent 45 minutes walking, jogging, dancing and sweating! I only went a little over 2 miles. I am not a fast walker/jogger. I jogged at 4mph, or walked at 3.3 on a 3% incline. By increasing the challenge, rather than just the speed, I gave my old ticker a good workout! I've showered and feel GREAT! Oh, I said that already didn't I? :wink2:

[wingsfly825]

so very proud of you susan..you go girl..i havent really figured out how to find my rmr maybe when i have more time i reread what you wrote..me ive been leaning toward mushy foods which im trying to get away from and im craving carbs these dayz....help : (

[christie]

I agree. If your RMR is 1755 and you eat 1200 a day you will have a 550 cal. daily deficit. Now if you add in 1 hr. of cardio daily, and keep the hr in the fat burning zone and burn say 700 cal. in that hr. then you will actually have a 1250 cal. deficit. Multiply that 1250 x 7 = 8750 cal deficit for the week. Then -3500 cal. for each lb. and you have the recipe for a 2.5 lb weekly loss. That's 10 lbs. a month. Or so say the scientists. :)

Keep up the hard work Susan.

If Vanity is a women, then what am I? Insanity? LMAO.

Monte, thanks for the math!!! (But there's no way I can sustain an hour of cardio and burn 700 kk!) I'm not that tough. I go about 1/2 hour - 45 minutes and burn 300-400kk. That's still fine with me. My next goal is to add some weight training to my workouts!

[christie]

Susan, do you count calories?

[PhotoNut]

Yep, Christie, I sure do! Every day. I don't obsess over it. It's just become part of the daily routine for me. I eat the same type of food nearly every day. I'm not one that requires a lot of variety. So, for the most part, I have a fairly good idea how I'm doing thru the day. I'm at the computer a lot during the day, so it's not a big deal for me to switch over to my home-made food journal and enter my meals. When I stop counting calories, I lose. I lose focus. I lose accountability. I lose track of what I have eaten. I lose my momentum. I have an excel spreadsheet that has my daily food logs (and weights) recorded from as far back as March 2006. There are several spans of blank weeks and months in that log, and some entries that say things like, "I don't know and I don't care!" I never give up on it tho, because I can clearly see the recorded weight loss when I was counting calories and I can see the weight gains and stalls in the times I "didn't care". Journaling - it's what's for dinner! ;)

[MoOrLess]

Yep, Christie, I sure do! Every day. I don't obsess over it. It's just become part of the daily routine for me. I eat the same type of food nearly every day. I'm not one that requires a lot of variety. So, for the most part, I have a fairly good idea how I'm doing thru the day. I'm at the computer a lot during the day, so it's not a big deal for me to switch over to my home-made food journal and enter my meals. When I stop counting calories, I lose. I lose focus. I lose accountability. I lose track of what I have eaten. I lose my momentum. I have an excel spreadsheet that has my daily food logs (and weights) recorded from as far back as March 2006. There are several spans of blank weeks and months in that log, and some entries that say things like, "I don't know and I don't care!" I never give up on it tho, because I can clearly see the recorded weight loss when I was counting calories and I can see the weight gains and stalls in the times I "didn't care". Journaling - it's what's for dinner! ;)

Donna and I started (I keep an excel sheet for both of us right now) and it makes a huge difference - in weight loss - in motivation - in healthy eating!!! I totally agree with you Susan - we may be banded but that doesn't mean we aren't accountable (or need to be) regarding our food intake!!!

boy do I know what u mean -- I have a gap of about 4 months - there is NOTHING - nowhere - no stats - no food - no weight -- gee I wonder why I stopped losing weight and fell OFF the band wagon....never again.

[PhotoNut]

It's been an extremely busy weekend for me. It's around 7am on this Labor Day Monday. The coffee is brewing. Most of the house is sleeping. And I thought I'd take a few quiet moments to update this thread before heading out to the gym.

Last Friday's was both depressing and humorous. At the gym, we worked on triceps and biceps. Sarah TFPTFH sat down at a new (to us) machine and demonstrated the movements we were to imitate, blowing out when appropriate, and repeating her mantra "shoulders back.. belly button to the spine". No problem! I can do that. I sat down and Sarah walked mom to a different machine as I began the repetitive movements. Much to my horror, I found that I was sitting about 3 feet from a full wall of mirror. My instinct was to turn away, but I was pleasantly surprised to see the the form in the mirror wasn't repulsive, as it has been most of my life. I was wearing a long sleeve t-shirt with the sleeves rolled to just below the elbow with the batwings safely camouflaged beneath the black material. I repeated the reps, quietly praising myself for working so hard to achieve such big changes when I saw it. It was awful. How could I have not known? Horrible flaps of skin hung and swung from my forearms! Mini batwings! So much for the self praise and smiles of appreciation for my accomplishments. That was only the first deflater of the day.

After the gym, I took mom to the doctor for a flu shot. The doctor was behind so I waited by myself as mom sat alone in the exam room. A very sweet woman in her mid 70s sat beside me and began to talk about the joys of being a great-grandmother. I commented that I had only one grandson - no great grandkids yet! To which she replied, "Oh well sure honey. You're still young! You're what.. in your 50s?" I managed a nod and a polite "yes" but inside I was yelling, "Yes I am! But MOST people say I don't look a day over 40!"

Before I could recover from that minor blow, my mom walked out and giggled at her rebellion of leaving the exam room because "she was bored" and then turned on her heel and disappeared back down the hall. I turned back to the smiling woman who asked, "Was that your daughter?" Oh how she stammered and backtracked when I dryly stated "No, that was my mother." After a few moments of awkward silence, she put the icing on the cake with the words... "She sure has held her weight well."

Looking back on it, I can fully understand why I didn't run to the computer on Friday with updates about my progress at the gym. :ohwell:

On a more pleasant note. My weigh in today was 168. Slowly, slowly, the number falls. However, my clothes are giving the true report of my progress. The size medium Adidas gym pants are getting quite baggy. So are the size 6 jeans. I purchased a couple of button up cotton blouses several weeks ago, as goal clothes for the conference. They now fit.

According to the scale, I have lost 6 pounds since we started 5 weeks ago. Physically, I look like I've lost a lot more. Ah yes, that old trade off of fat for muscle. The stupid scale causes bad head games. I'm really having to do a lot of self talk about it. Trying to take my own advice accepting that the scale is not a true reflector of accurate changes in the body. I will continue to weigh though, just so I can show in this "experiment" how much a person can be changing when the scale is not.

Perhaps it's time for a body fat percentage measurement update.

[KristiR]

Awe Susan, HUG, HUG, HUG!!!! That old woman was just a tormenter sent from the wicked one! You really don't look like you are in your 50's!!!! I bet that woman just says the wrong things all the time! Honestly, the things she said and commented on! I don't know of anyone who would have said anything like that!

You are doing a great job! It is not easy to change our bodies to be healthy, and it makes it harder when people make unthinking comments. You are sticking to a goal, you are sticking to a plan. Now you can tell your mind to stop sticking to the old records! You are doing what is right for you! You are seeing the changes! YAY SUSAN!!!!

[Nick N Ava's Grammy]

Ohhh Susan.. I had a whole different post typed out, then thought better of posting it.. it wasn't a very nice post... mostly I was typing it to that "sweet 70 yr old" woman. I still feel the sting of strangers making remarks to my face YEARS ago, and I'm afraid that as I get older, I don't usually let those feelings happen again.

I'm trying to talk to myself about the scales ruling my life too. It's hard isn't it?

Here's hoping your days go better, and I know without a doubt that you look fantastic.. I mean.. think about it.. SIZE 6 is getting too big!!! I remember when I lost 82 lbs from 1984-86, I was 140 lbs and just got in to a size 8.. I was 37 yrs old, and thought I was on top of the world.. if I'd only been thinking where I'd be today when I was that age..... live and learn I guess.

Anyway.. you're doing a great job.. don't ever forget that.. k?

[christie]

It's been an extremely busy weekend for me. It's around 7am on this Labor Day Monday. The coffee is brewing. Most of the house is sleeping. And I thought I'd take a few quiet moments to update this thread before heading out to the gym.

Last Friday's was both depressing and humorous. At the gym, we worked on triceps and biceps. Sarah TFPTFH sat down at a new (to us) machine and demonstrated the movements we were to imitate, blowing out when appropriate, and repeating her mantra "shoulders back.. belly button to the spine". No problem! I can do that. I sat down and Sarah walked mom to a different machine as I began the repetitive movements. Much to my horror, I found that I was sitting about 3 feet from a full wall of mirror. My instinct was to turn away, but I was pleasantly surprised to see the the form in the mirror wasn't repulsive, as it has been most of my life. I was wearing a long sleeve t-shirt with the sleeves rolled to just below the elbow with the batwings safely camouflaged beneath the black material. I repeated the reps, quietly praising myself for working so hard to achieve such big changes when I saw it. It was awful. How could I have not known? Horrible flaps of skin hung and swung from my forearms! Mini batwings! So much for the self praise and smiles of appreciation for my accomplishments. That was only the first deflater of the day.

After the gym, I took mom to the doctor for a flu shot. The doctor was behind so I waited by myself as mom sat alone in the exam room. A very sweet woman in her mid 70s sat beside me and began to talk about the joys of being a great-grandmother. I commented that I had only one grandson - no great grandkids yet! To which she replied, "Oh well sure honey. You're still young! You're what.. in your 50s?" I managed a nod and a polite "yes" but inside I was yelling, "Yes I am! But MOST people say I don't look a day over 40!"

Before I could recover from that minor blow, my mom walked out and giggled at her rebellion of leaving the exam room because "she was bored" and then turned on her heel and disappeared back down the hall. I turned back to the smiling woman who asked, "Was that your daughter?" Oh how she stammered and backtracked when I dryly stated "No, that was my mother." After a few moments of awkward silence, she put the icing on the cake with the words... "She sure has held her weight well."

Looking back on it, I can fully understand why I didn't run to the computer on Friday with updates about my progress at the gym. :ohwell:

On a more pleasant note. My weigh in today was 168. Slowly, slowly, the number falls. However, my clothes are giving the true report of my progress. The size medium Adidas gym pants are getting quite baggy. So are the size 6 jeans. I purchased a couple of button up cotton blouses several weeks ago, as goal clothes for the conference. They now fit.

According to the scale, I have lost 6 pounds since we started 5 weeks ago. Physically, I look like I've lost a lot more. Ah yes, that old trade off of fat for muscle. The stupid scale causes bad head games. I'm really having to do a lot of self talk about it. Trying to take my own advice accepting that the scale is not a true reflector of accurate changes in the body. I will continue to weigh though, just so I can show in this "experiment" how much a person can be changing when the scale is not.

Perhaps it's time for a body fat percentage measurement update.


HOLY CRAP....that woman needs to get herself some new glasses! I sure hope you were at the optomitrist's office! THE NERVE. No one can judge your situation and where you are because they don't have any clue where you've been. You have made great improvements in your life. ( My mother has always been slender and beautiful and at age 67 looks way more like my slightly older sister! Its very annoying. ;-p)

BY THE WAY, LEST YE BE TOO HARD ON YOURSELF.....YOUR BAGGY SIZE 6 JEANS WOULD NOT FIT ON MY LEFT LEG!!!

[BrendaC]

You are doing so good Susan. When I have my back injections completed I hope to get a personal trainer and who knows maybe I can get one or two to join me and bring the price down. I look so forward to seeing you next month!!

[PhotoNut]

Kristi, Donna, Christie, and Brenda - Thank you all for your words of support and encouragement. It felt great to have you all in my corner! The woman really was nice. She talked incessantly for a good 45 mins - I know every detail of her husband's death two years ago, all about her kids, grandkids, great grandkids, and even about the ex's of those family members and their new spouses! I think she was just so focused on herself and what she was rattling on about that she just wasn't paying attention to what she was really saying. I actually think I took it as yet another compliment to my mom rather than as a personal insult. Still, it did add to the day which wasn't all that great! LOL!

Christie, I bet we can relate on a lot of things concerning our pretty, slender moms! Heck, in my early 20s the guys would meet my mom and ask HER out! Was great for the ego - NOT. LOL!

I went to the gym feeling a bit low on Friday, as you probably figured out by my early morning post. We did our stretches, noodle rolling, and 15 min warm up on the treadmill before Sarah TFPTFH arrived. I told her I was feeling under pressure to lose more weight. We weighed - I had lost one pound. I asked for the body fat percentage measurement. There was only a very small change. We talked about not getting discouraged. She explained that things would slow down now that we were beginning the fifth week. She offered to change my workout plan from its current focus on strengthening the core and lengthening and strengthening my overall body structure. She said we could drop the carbs and focus on cardio which would increase the rate of loss. I declined.

I had made my commitment to a program that would help me achieve long term weight loss, strength, balance, agility, and good health. That's what I would stick with. It was at that moment that I felt encouraged again. I worked harder, increasing the weights and focusing on proper motions. The discouragement was soon replaced by that great feeling of accomplishment as we finished up with cardio intervals on the treadmill.

Last night, Dawg threatened to take hide the scale battery. After much talking, I convinced him that it really is important for me to go thru these mental struggles. I want to break that emotional hold the scale has on me. Even more important is the fact that I have a hard time believing that these changes in my body will be permanent. I'm working on making lifestyles changes that involve a number of emotional pitfalls that I need to learn to defeat or at least control. Impatience leads to frustration, and frustration leads to resignation. This has been the pattern of failure throughout my lifelong battle with obesity. Standing on that scale every day is forcing me to work thru the head issues. With each small victory, like yesterday's, I gain more control over my behavior. And that is where the difference lies between yet another failure and permanent change.

This has gotten long but, at some point in this overwhelmingly busy day I have planned, I want to share with you all a very compelling conversation that I had with Sarah TFPTFH. I left the gym repeating "wow".... "wow"....

[PhotoNut]

Oh! I forgot a very important point that Dawg wanted me to make. I stated that I had lost only 6 pounds in the last five weeks. That was a mistake. We have just begun our 5th week of training, so I have lost 6 pounds over the last four weeks which makes my weekly average 1.5 pounds. What the hell have I been complaining about? That's PERFECT! LOL! I'm sucha dork... but y'all love me so that's ok. *HUGS*

[christie]

I had made my commitment to a program that would help me achieve long term weight loss, strength, balance, agility, and good health. That's what I would stick with. It was at that moment that I felt encouraged again. I worked harder, increasing the weights and focusing on proper motions. The discouragement was soon replaced by that great feeling of accomplishment as we finished up with cardio intervals on the treadmill.

....

You are an awesome speaker, cheerleader and leader by example....now if you would only listen to yourself like I hear you!

[Nick N Ava's Grammy]

I ditto what Christie just said. AND.. I was told a longggggggg time ago at a WW meeting.. that the ONLY time you say ONLY is when you GAIN... NEVER with a loss :) Soooo c'mere.. I wanna smack ya ;) :D

[chrispygal]

You should be VERY proud of yourself P'nut! You are kicking butt!

[KristiR]

Susan, don't ever feel that you can't share your feelings, what ever they may be. Don't ever feel that you can't voice what you need to to work it out. That is actually what we all need to be able to do. As you said, you are working the head stuff out and taking the power from the scale away from your mind. As you do that, you are helping us to see the beam in our eyes. We all need to work the head stuff too.

I love ya lady! Keep on keeping on!

[redgrldj]

ya big dork... 1.5 pounds a week is awesome.. Get over the scale already...

[PhotoNut]

LOL! Nothing like getting a pat on the back, a smack upside the head, another pat on the back and then being called a dork. I feel loved!

And I'm also so STOKED you guys! Remember this?


And then we did these crazy things where you stand on a platform with bars across the back of your heels. Then, while leaning forward against pads that support your upper thighs, you bend forward at the waist all the way down and then back up again. I had to lightly hold the handle bars to steady myself. My mom can do those with her arms crossed over her chest! My mom is a freak! Lol!

That was three weeks ago. Today, I did three sets of twelve with no problem! I was amazed! I tell ya.. the body is an incredible thing. If this old girl can develop core muscles in three weeks... ANYBODY can!

This isnt the exact machine we use, but its very close. And that's not me on there, but.. yea.. no. That's not me.

8350

Ya lean down until the top of your head is pointing at the floor and then you pull back up using your lower back muscles. I had my arms crossed over my chest.

Oh and as a small sidenote... I weigh 166 today. w00t!

[redgrldj]

I love that.. You can use weights with it later and do twists and stuff to make it more challenging..

[redgrldj]

oops missed the 166 the first time WTG.. You rock

[Nick N Ava's Grammy]

166!!!! YOU GO GIRL!!! :D (yep.. love ya!!)

[MoOrLess]

woot for sure on the 166!!!! and TONED no less -- keep it up girlie! You'll definitely be beating me up those stairs rofl......

[Lori Lynn]

Way to go!!!! When you have a trainer you can't cheat & you have a appt. to go. Can't wait to see pictures
Lori

[remmi]

166...WOW...you rock!

[Firefly]

Stopping in briefly to say:

I am so proud of you. I see the changes in you physically and also mentally. Your surprise and wonder as you advance through the training is a wonderful thing to watch. It gives me hope for my own future. Thanks for letting me use you for inspiration, and occasionally winner winner garlic chicken dinner, which I totally think you should invite me over for more often. Just putting that out there. In case you read this. You might not. I'm rambling now. Sort of like someone I know...

[Mloukas143]

i'm gone for a few and i come back and you weigh 166!! holy crap susan!!!!!! seriously, you are working your a#$ off and you deserve every pound, your working so hard for this, huge motivation for all of us!!

[wingsfly825]

you freakn go girl...166 holy sh%t. Its true wat they say the effect we put in is in the results..im so very proud of you..cant wait to see the pics also...you must be beaming..

[PhotoNut]

Awww, thanks everyone! It is getting exciting. As Sara said, I'm just marveling at the new things I can do. I remember the NSVs back in the early days of banding. The biggest for me was when I could tie my shoes and have the bow on the top of my foot rather than off to the side because I couldn't lean over my own lap. The NSVs I'm having these days are equally "shocking" to me when they happen.

Last Friday, mom and I were walking on the treadmills at the gym. I was holding onto the hand rails and got the urge to lift myself up - and did! There I was, holding myself up on my stiff arms while my feet dangled over the moving treadmill belt! That may not seem like a very big deal to some but, to me, being able to lift my own weight was incredible.

One of my "inner child" goals is to be able sit on the kitchen counter by placing my hands behind me and hopping up. I think I'm getting close to being able to do that. I'm sure my family will get tired of telling me to move so they can fix their food!

Tomorrow is the beginning of week six, and suddenly I have lost the desire to know what I weigh. I just want to like what I see when I look at myself. Yes, I am within 13 pounds of being half the person I used to be. I know that I look dramatically different. I feel dramatically different. I give myself credit for that accomplishment (usually). The thing is, I don't want to get complacent by thinking that being 30 pounds overweight is.. I dunno, acceptable? attractive? I'm not sure what word would best describe what I'm trying to get at here. I don't feel I'm being too critical of myself. I think I am being a realist. My body fat is still around 40%. This means that my body is not in good physical shape, nor can it "look" healthy with that much fat hanging off of it. LOL! I'm glad I'm finally getting closer to no longer being fat, but realistically.. I'm still fat and I'm ok with accepting that.

It is what it is... but I'm working on changing that, and I sincerely appreciate everyone's continued encouragement and support. You're just THE BEST bunch of losers EVER!

[Mloukas143]

have you tried lifting yourself onto the counter? with all of the things that you are doing at the gym....which i can barely do just thinking of, i don't think you would have a problem at all lifting yourself on the counter, i lift myself up on the washing machine to close the window behind it when it is raining all of the time and i am 200lbs! you can do it susan, i know you can...those arm muscles are getting stronger and stronger every day!

[BrendaC]

congrats, congrats! I want to be able to lift myself out of the water to get inside my boat! Man if these back injections work I plan on getting a personal trainer and kick some b---! Right now my back kicks my b---! Keep up the good work!

[KristiR]

Brenda, I had injections in my back, only the first one worked for me. It is only after getting my own personal trainer and working on my core strength that I have found any improvement in my back. Get a good trainer, let them know what is going on with your back, and tell them how you are feeling while working out. That is what I have done with my trainer, she listens to me and we make it so I don't hurt myself. I am in so much less pain now!

Susan, I know how high those counters are in your house, wear high heals when you try! LOL

[MoOrLess]

hop on up to that counter Susan -- can't wait to SEE you do that in October :)

[Jachut]

Lol, I had to get around this place on Sunday - not a step in sight, all slippery sloped surfaces

http://www.rampfest.com.au/

- we were there for Ewan's birthday and of course, six year old Eliza was right into it but needed help with everything. The pic doesnt do it justice, it was STEEP - like that main bowl was a good 10 feet deep.

I'm actually sore today. They also have a deep foam pit which once you're in, burns at a rough estimate 7 million calories to get out of, its like trying to get out of quicksand. I was sweating!

The should let us all loose in there for an hour a day. Now that's functional fitness!

something to suggest to TFPTFH?

[redgrldj]

WSe have Vans skate park, which is the same thing.. LOl I have been there a few times..

[PhotoNut]

Has anyone notice that it's been a week and a half since I posted on this thread? I've noticed. Want to know what happened? Give you one guess. If you guessed the scale got me down, then you're 100% correct!

The day after I posted that I was down to 166, I went right back up to 168 and there I have stayed. In spite of the fact that I had to buy underwear two sizes smaller -- in spite of the fact that I ran upstairs, skipping steps, and didn't even get out of breath -- in spite of the fact that I jumped rope 25 times in a row yesterday (both feet at the same time!) -- in spite of the fact that most of my smaller clothes are too big -- I LET THE DAMN SCALE GET ME DOWN!

Dawg gave me a good talking to the other night. He said that I needed to get in here and share all of this with you because that was the intent of the thread - to give you a true insight into the reality of exercising and losing weight. He's right, of course.

I’ve always recommended that when you’re not getting the results you want, go over your Back to Basics check list. So that’s what I’ve been doing. It was quite revealing!

Eating
Making good food choices – check
Journaling my food – check
Eating an average of 1200-1400 calories per day – check
Maintaining the 40% protein-40%carbs-20% fat – hm, carbs have been higher
Drinking a minimum of 6 bottles per water a day – er, no

Exercising
Working out with trainer every Mon-Wed-Fri morning – check
30 minutes of stretching and noodling before trainer sessions – check
20 minutes of interval cardio on treadmill after each workout session – er, nope
Stretching, noodling, and interval cardio on days not at the gym - sadly, no

Reality Check
Seeing weight loss on the scale – no (grr)
Seeing difference in body size – yes, clothes are getting very baggy
Seeing a difference in physical fitness – yes!

Getting Back on Track
Cardio - It has become easier and easier to leave the gym directly after our training sessions, rather than staying an additional 20-30 minutes for cardio work. It is true that I had meetings on both Monday and Wednesday which made me pressed for time, but I could have returned to the treadmill at home later in the day, and I had no excuses for Tues and Thurs! When I started the 9-week personal trainer sessions, the plan was to back up the strength training with cardio workouts (on our own) on both Tues and Thurs. I will return to, and stick to, that plan!

Water – I know I’ve been drinking too much coffee and iced tea. I am going to add water to my food journal to be sure I’m getting enough.

Stress and Carbs – As time draws closer to the B2G conference I am growing more and more stressed. As expected, I reach for the carbs to help relax and comfort me. As I don’t keep anything in the house that can completely sabotage me, the comfort carbs I have been reaching for are in cereal (Fiber One Flakes), protein bars (Kashi), frozen meals (Lean Cuisine), coffee creamer (Nestlé’s Sugar Free Hazelnut), etc. I am going to remember to stop and think about why I am reaching for these foods before I mindlessly put them in my mouth. I am also going to give myself permission to eat a comfort carb based on my performance that day. If I have not done my 30 mins cardio, I cannot have it! heh

Conclusion
It is clear that the efforts I am making are paying off. I do go to the gym faithfully and give it my all during each training session. However, even though my muscles are developing and my abilities are increasing, I am still unhappy with the flabby fat that wobbles around those newly developing muscles. I am proud of myself for what I am accomplishing. I am giving myself credit for accomplishing these things in the middle of a hugely stressful time. I will keep focused and keep moving forward.

Today – I will be shopping for some new clothes to wear to the conference. On my list of things to buy is a navy blue wool blend blazer to wear with a white blouse and faded jeans. For some reason this outfit has been my vision of a goal outfit for the better part of my adult life. Today, I will own it. Buying it for the conference makes the achievement all the more special. J

[chrispygal]

Dawg is a smart man P'nut! I loved reading this post because you know what, it's real. I can't imgaine keeping such a stringent schedule consistently over 9 weeks, and you're able to pinpoint where you've fallen short and what you want to continue to improve. But most importantly you are also showing us what a difference this journey has made in your body and are even getting your goal outfit. Congratulations Susan! That is fantastic!

[PhotoNut]

I now remember why I hate shopping. Nuff said.

[SheryBery]

I know remember why I hate shopping. Nuff said.

Hmmm....I was just gonna ask for pics of the new outfits....guess I better not??

[wingsfly825]

thanks for sharing your inner feeling with us susan. just shows us even when we are doing gr8 with a personal trainer and all , we are human and we are our worst enemies..The outfit is funny cause i want a black blazer with black turtleneck real faded black jeans and these awesome boots. I better get my ass in gear before its next summer and i look real foolish in 90 degree weather with a blazer on ...your doing awesome girl , look in the mirror and tell yourself that .do it 3 times a day..big hugs

[Mloukas143]

i think we all need to look back and analyze why we may be at a stand still when the scale doesn't budge...let's face it...we may feel great in our clothes and our physical activity may be soaring through the roof...but we as the most critical creatures on this planet are never fully satisfied until there is real hard evidence of weight loss, and honestly the only way i see that is through the scale. sometimes when i wear clothes that are fitting me better, like my capris that i haven't worn in over 2 years, i say to myself "yeah they fit me, BUT WHY ISN'T THE SCALE SHOWING ANY WEIGHT LOSS? i still find a way to let myself down when the scale doesn't budge...and the scale has been fluctuating on and off for over 2 weeks now for me..not giving me a consistent loss. Susan, i know, we all know exactly how you feel...and it isn't wrong for feeling that way...you know, that the scale let you down..because sadly that is the only true evidence we can base our weight loss off of....it is all about those darn numbers! when clothes fit right, i can make up any excuse for myself: they are stretched out, its the mirror, i am not bloated, etc. we are so hard on ourselves!
i know for me too, the carbs have been too high..so thanks for pointing that out on your part, having made me realize that i have been eating too many carbs lately.
your the best p'nut..don't give up!

[PhotoNut]

Ah, but my point here Melissa is to show everyone that the scale, however emotionally controlling it may be, is not a true indicator of weight loss at all! Let me rephrase that to be more accurate and clear.. the scale is not a true indicator of FAT loss! While it is true that it measures your overall body weight, it does not have the ability to tell you if those two pounds you just lost were two pounds of fat, or two pounds of water you were retaining, or two pounds of muscle tissue. That makes all the difference in the world!

I weigh 168, and I'm flabby and chubby. A female personal trainer at our gym is about my height and weighs 160. Not an ounce of flab on her! I think her body fat percent is around 10! I would be thrilled if I could lose 8 more pounds and looked like her, but that isn't going to happen. She is 160 pounds of muscle, and about 40% of my body weight is fat. We could both step on the scale and see 160 pounds, but the true measure of our fitness is going to be in the body shape and size.

So you see, my friend, the scale is not a true measure. It lies to us. Our clothes get lose when we get smaller. There is no way of misleading us with that measure!

My point in posting about my struggles with the scale is to show everyone how emotionally damaging it can be when we rely on it to be the judge of our progress. My size six jeans are so baggy, but the scale says I haven't "lost any weight". What I have done is burn off fat and build muscle. Every time I burn off one pound of fat, and then replace with one pound of muscle, the scale says "You aren't progressing!" but in fact I am! And here's why...

Below is a picture of one pound of fat sitting beside one pound of muscle. See? :thumb:

8383

[PhotoNut]

By the way, the average person's weight can fluctuate up to 5 pounds in one day from water alone! The amount of carbs you eat per day has a huge affect on water weight. However, be careful about thinking that cutting WAY back on carbs is the secret to faster weight loss!

Check out this article I found online:

Are You Losing Body Fat or Water? (http://www.linkroll.com/Health-and-Fitness--138552-Are-You-Losing-Body-Fat-or-Water.html)

by Jamy (http://www.linkroll.com/by--Jamy-0.html)

posted in Health and Fitness (http://www.linkroll.com/Health-and-Fitness-14_0.html)


“I tried that diet and lost 8 pounds in the first week!”

“I’ve gained three pounds in one day! It must have been the cookie I ate or maybe the mashed potatoes!”

These are comments I hear so often that I decided it would be a good topic for an article to help people have a better understanding of the fluctuating numbers on their scale. It is important to understand, when we step on a scale, it is measuring every part of our physical being at that moment in time, which means it measures our fat, muscles, organs, tissue and water weight.

Water weight can affect your total weight anywhere from 1-10 pounds and sometimes even more. It is important to understand what kinds of dietary factors can make these fluid shifts happen. To start, many of the high protein, low carbohydrate diets such as Atkins, or the beginning of South Beach can cause a dramatic shift in your water weight. This is because as you significantly cut back carbohydrate intake your body starts breaking down the stored carbohydrates (glycogen) to use as energy, and this breakdown causes the body to excrete large amounts of water. Once the body begins to use stored fat for energy, weight loss slows. This is why most people lose a significant amount of weight right away on a low carb, high protein diet. Extreme low carb, high protein diets can often lead the body to a state of dehydration because of the significant fluid loss.

What is misleading is when a person following a low carb plan eats a carbohydrate-rich food they can easily gain 1-3 pounds. However, this weight gain is just your body replenishing the fluid it lost and is not gained fat. I have had numerous clients struggle with this and they end up yo-yoing back in forth with fluid weight thinking that it must be the half cup of rice they had the night before that caused them to gain that 2 pounds when in fact eating the rice just allowed them to regain some of the fluid they had lost from following a strict low carb plan. The fact is carbohydrates do not affect your weight quite that simply. Excess refined carbohydrates can strongly stimulate insulin production, which promotes fat deposition and increases appetite. This kind of weight gain will happen gradually, not dramatically overnight.

Sodium is another dietary component that can lead to fluid gain. Sodium can cause the body to retain fluid, which can lead to these frustrating daily weight fluctuations. Some people are more sensitive to sodium than others. Watch your diet and see if your weight gain corresponds with a high sodium meal the day before. For example, eating out in restaurants can often increase your sodium intake significantly.

The best way to tell if you are retaining fluid is to pay attention to your body. If you get indentations on your ankles and lower legs from your socks then you are retaining fluid. If you wear rings and they become tight and leave an imprint in your fingers when you take them off then you also likely retaining fluid. Any kind of puffiness in your skin is a good indication of water weight.

The bottom line is that it takes 3500 calories to gain or lose 1 pound of body fat. This equates to an extra 500 calories a day over 7 days to gain a pound. This means if you gained 3 pounds in one day you can chalk it up to fluid weight otherwise you would have had to consume 10,500 extra calories that day which is not likely! True weight gain happens gradually and likewise we lose it gradually. Check your weight weekly instead of daily and look for overall trends. If you are seeing dramatic daily changes in your weight, it is likely the ever-changing shifts of our bodies’ water weight.

[PhotoNut]

There I go being all preachy and long winded again. :wink2:

I did want to add that yesterday's shopping experience was, hmm.. not disheartening.. I guess a bit scary. I did try on some blazers and I decided that my top heaviness is still such that the blazer just makes me look bigger. Scratch that idea.. for now.

I also shopped for a new bra, as mine is hardly doing its job anymore due to it being so LOOSE, even though I haven't lost a pound in a couple of weeks! :wink2:

I wont go into details, but I will say that it was very hard to look in the mirror at the disaster I have made of my body. Being stretched out for the better part of 50 years has left much of me looking like a sad, deflated balloon. No amount of lift, shape, or separate helped. I'm not sure what to do. The gal at Dillard's measured me again. I went from a 38 to a 34, but cup size is still large due to skin I guess. That makes me hard to fit.

I said it was scary.. it is. I often look at myself and think.. yeah, you have worked for four years to achieve THAT?! I have no difficulty with understanding that a healthy body with a wrinkly cover is far more valuable than having smooth skin stretched over a super obese body. What is difficult is having to stare at all of that wrinkled mess while some nice young girl helps you stuff it inside a piece of material called a bra.

:neener:

[KristiR]

Maybe they should consider hiring older, matronly, grandmotherly women to be bra fitters or helpers. I think it is hard enough to find a bra, I don't need someone with a skinny body and perky breasts that has no problems finding a bra, trying to help me.

Go figure.

[Bandedmomof7]

Sweet Susan--
I can totally relate to the 'breath-taking' experience it is each time I disrobe and look in the mirror--SIGH!! But there is a price to pay for past decisions and life styles. What I try to do is focus on my body FULLY CLOTHED!! When I get discouraged, I bring out the 'before' picture and think, "WOW, I would rather be saggy and have floppy arms, than look like THAT again!"
When I was at the information seminar a couple of weeks ago, there was a young girl there--probably needed to lose 200 pounds. She was obsessing over the possibility of having lose skin. It really hit me hard!! I told her, with my heartfelt conviction, "Look, dearie. You may have some lose skin. You may have very floppy arms, like mine. BUT, I would MUCH rather give up a life of tank tops and spaghetti straps than EVER take back the 150 pounds that I have lost."
Susan...you are amazing! Not just in your weight loss success, but in your willingness to share and build up those around you. Our bodies are NEVER going to "perfect"...or even CLOSE to perfect. But aren't we all a MILLION times closer to that "better body" thanks to our bands.
See you next week at the conference! I can't wait to hug that shrinking, well fit body!!
SMILES--
E.

[Jachut]

When I feel like this, I try to remind myself that part of that sag is due to simply my age and having had 3 babies. I would have it anyway, had I gotten fat or not. Its not totally something I have "done" to my body and am being punished for. Some of it is sitting right here in the room with me now and is worth every wobble.

And I know how lucky I was in regard to loose skin, but everyone feels this. None of us will ever be quite normal in regard to body image I dont think. I drive myself nuts every time I get in a dressing room - I *ALWAYS* exit planning extensive cosmetic surgery.

I must confess to dissecting other people around me and noticing how none of them are perfect either. I mean, how many women do you really know that look like models? And would you want to be 20 again anyway? I sure wouldnt.

[PhotoNut]

Erika! The conference isn't next week, its the week after! LOL! Don't stop my heart like that again. LOL!

Thank you both for sharing the positive outlook on the sagging skin. I really needed to hear that! I just posted on the "Is it worth it" thread and was reminded, yet again, of all the reasons why sagging skin is a far better than weighing 300 pounds! I'll be fine.. once I get these girls a good supportive home. *snicker*

[MoOrLess]

Erika! The conference isn't next week, its the week after! LOL! Don't stop my heart like that again. LOL!

Thank you both for sharing the positive outlook on the sagging skin. I really needed to hear that! I just posted on the "Is it worth it" thread and was reminded, yet again, of all the reasons why sagging skin is a far better than weighing 300 pounds! I'll be fine.. once I get these girls a good supportive home. *snicker*

You ARE fine Susan! Just too critical of yourself, just like the rest of us. And I completely agree -- the scale is NOT the only measure of our success.

Keep posting here -- we want to know the good, the bad, and the ugly of working your behind off (for when we do it - of course lol)...truly doing a magnificent job Susan - keep up the good work!

[redgrldj]

Susan.. Just rejoice in it.. Be happy that you are getting healthy and fit.. Don't focus on the skin and stuff, it will drive you nuts..

[PhotoNut]

Tomorrow is the last day of week 7!

The home scale has shown no change, but the scale at the gym showed a 2 pound drop from two weeks ago, and that was AFTER we had worked out, and I had an 8oz protein shake, a cup of coffee, and two bottles of water in me! Go figure.

The past few weeks have been hard, as you have seen by my posts. This must be that "dark zone" when people tend to lose heart and give up because they just can't see the physical changes or improvements. I can definitely see how that can happen!

I'm feeling weird in my own skin, which is not a new experience. There have been several times throughout my journey that I have felt this way. My skin feels too big. I feel loose and wobbly all over at a time when I would have expected to feel more solid and muscular. Eventually my body will catch up to the changes and begin to feel right again. Either that or my head just adjusts to the "new me" and stops feeling so different.

Anyway, just documenting these thoughts and feelings so I can look back some day and use them to encourage others. I know in my heart that if I just keep doing the right things, I will be happy with the results. I'll tell you this though.. paying for a trainer in advance, and going with a partner has made all the difference in my ability to remain committed to the 9 weeks. There have been days that I did NOT want to go, but I did go because of mom's investment in me and because without me she could not go and I can't deprive her of good health.

Have I mentioned yet that she wants to do another 9 weeks after this one is completed? Yep, she does. Because of the group rates, it only costs $15 more for me to go with her, so I will go.

Week eight signifies the final week before the conference. I sincerely doubt I will be able to go the week of the conference as there will be so many things happening. But you can rest assured that we will be back at the gym on the morning of the 12th, with sweat dripping from our smiling faces!

Oh, a bit of bummer news... no Rocky stair run while everyone is here. The capitol building is fenced off while they do renovations and we can't even get within a block of the place! Bummer!!! (thank god! lol!)

[redgrldj]

Dang and I was sooo looking forward to running up steps.. umm Not....

Congrats on sticking in with personal trainer and going for another 9 weeks..

[Nick N Ava's Grammy]

Gota say it.. you're my hero Susan for doing the trainer stuff. I look at this like this too.. just look at the quality time you get to spend with your Mom. I miss that time I could of had with mine, although her health wasn't such that I could join a gym with her, just spending the time with her is what I miss.

Each time I go for my walk to the highway..(I've been walking at least 40 mins the past few days) .. I think of you and it makes me smile.

[Firefly]

Don't worry guys, we're already plotting other steps in the area, I've so got the theme song stuck in my head.

Na-na naaaaaa, na-na naaaaaa... na-na naaaaaa, na na-na na naaaaaa... bum bum... doodle doo do do dooo... doodle do do-do do do-do... do DOOOOOOOOOO.

Everyone do the B2G wave!

[Dustbunny]

Those escalators at the mall look good to me. There are also some good steps at the hotel if i am remembering the correct hotel. i love the flat people movers that you walk on in the airport, you walk fast enough but they make you feel like you're flying along. Workouts should be like that, they should make you feel like superman.

[redgrldj]

I am up for almost anything.. So bring it on Sara..

[PhotoNut]

We are officially on a PT break! We will resume training on October 12th, the day after the conference. I just have too much going on to continue right now. I hope to be diligent enough to do 30-45 at home each day.. whether that be walking, running, crunches, or some arm work. I am having mixed feelings about this break.. fear that I will get out of the habit of working out, and pure elation! LOL!

Final weigh in is back to 166. I need to swing by the gym and have Sarah TFPTFH do my measurements! I know I dropped two inches in bra size, and some in the cup too. My sixes are baggy no matter how long I dry them on high heat. And I bought underwear two sizes smaller than I was wearing when I started. I think that can be called success!

This past 7 weeks has been amazing. I'm expecting the next round to bring even greater improvements and advancements.

....and now... onward to the 2009 Band2gether Get2gether!! Wahooo! I can hardly contain my excitement! It's going to be so awesome to see everybody!!!!!! I'm so stoked!!

*plays the Rocky theme song while jumping around the room with arms raised, yelling "YAY!!!" and ducking the swinging bat wings*

[redgrldj]

LOL Susan... I am wayyyyyyyyyyyyy excited too...

[Nick N Ava's Grammy]

Meeeeeeeeeeeeeeee too!!! (excited I mean) :) I talked to Mel last night, and just hung up from talking with Mo.. and we've all decided we can NOT wait until next Thursday!! Even though I have to leave home about 2 am to be there 2 hours before my flight leaves.. I'm soooooooooooo excited!! I'm thinking I might be napping on the plane .. lol

[Kate]

What an accomplishment, Susan! Look at what you have done in such a short time. 2 sizes smaller in underwear??? Are you kidding me??? That is HUGE!!! Panties don't lie! :wink2:

[PhotoNut]

LOL I'm gonna be bouncing off the walls soon!

[PhotoNut]

Kate! That was funneeee! :pound:

I love that Special K commercial. Jeans don't lie. But ours is better! Panties don't lie! Thanks!!

[Kate]

Is there anyone here that has the talent for song writing? I think there is a song in there somewhere...really. I do. Really.

[MoOrLess]

dang I'm gone for a few weeks and Susan drops TWO undie sizes? good lord what would happen if....well we won't go there lol.......bravo - kudos for kickin' your own butt - you stuck with it - and your size SIXES are baggy? geez and I was excited to go down a size in tops when I went shopping yesterday lol....I can't wait to hug that skinny bod! Just 5 more days :)

[PhotoNut]

Well folks, after being away from the gym for over a month (due to time off for the conference and a month-long bout with the flu) I am returning to the gym this morning with mixed feelings. I'm glad that I am going to be taking the necessary steps to get myself back on track, but I am so not looking forward seeing how much agility, strength, endurance, and balance I have lost.

Mom and I have decided to do another nine weeks with the trainer. During this past month, I have gained about 6 pounds. Its amazing how awful a month of inactivity and six pounds can make you feel.

At the time of this writing, we are preparing to go and I have to confess - I don't wanna! I've grown lazy and unmotivated. I know in my head that this part right here is the hardest. Once I get going again, I'm sure I'll love it as I did before. But right now? Everything inside of me is kicking and screaming and pitching a 3 year old fit. I'm grumpy. Ok, time to go. *grumble*

[Neal R.]

Good luck Susan and go get 'em :)

I know I hate to excercise, I do it, but reluctantly. Glad your feeling well enough to get back on the horse, so to speak!

[redgrldj]

I am so with you on the inactivity part.. When you are fvorced to slow down it sucks.. I will be exercising today too.. So am with you in the grumpy this sucks type of mood...

[PhotoNut]

Back on the horse - I liked that! And Pattie, you go do your exercise because, as I knew it would, the exercise lifted my spirits and put me in a great mood! And I didn't do as poorly as I expected I would. I'll be back up to speed in no time at all.

After working out, and drinking 1 1/2 bottles of water, I weighed 171 on the gym scales... blah. Sarah TFPTFH said she thinks we should take our measurements on Wednesday and start from there since I was away for so long. So, that's the plan. We signed our contract for another 9 weeks, which felt great because I know its my safety net. Without this, I'd be on the road to disaster.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I have some things in my cupboards that need to be put in the garbage can!

[LilMissDiva]

Susan awesome! It’s so nice to see you’ve got that never give up attitude! You can do it! I’ve fallen bad for a long time, but I know if I can jump back up on that wagon, anyone can.

Hugs!!!

[MoOrLess]

Well folks, after being away from the gym for over a month (due to time off for the conference and a month-long bout with the flu) I am returning to the gym this morning with mixed feelings. I'm glad that I am going to be taking the necessary steps to get myself back on track, but I am so not looking forward seeing how much agility, strength, endurance, and balance I have lost.

Mom and I have decided to do another nine weeks with the trainer. During this past month, I have gained about 6 pounds. Its amazing how awful a month of inactivity and six pounds can make you feel.

At the time of this writing, we are preparing to go and I have to confess - I don't wanna! I've grown lazy and unmotivated. I know in my head that this part right here is the hardest. Once I get going again, I'm sure I'll love it as I did before. But right now? Everything inside of me is kicking and screaming and pitching a 3 year old fit. I'm grumpy. Ok, time to go. *grumble*

see...this is why you are successful! You complain - are grumpy - but you GO! Good for you girl!!!! Susan, be sure to post your measurements from Wednesday and your weight - and let us cheer you on once again for the next 9 weeks! yep we're selfish - you are extremely motivating and it helps all of us too!!!!

[bearboots4u]

Well...seeing you several times a week, at the gym, that you are looking terrific! I'm so happy we can spend a few minutes each time sort of catching up, etc. Hope you will join me soon in one of the spin classes. And I especially hope you and I venture into having a lot of laughs and sweat in one of the step classes too. Keep up the good work! See you soon...

[wingsfly825]

hey susan...how are you ? sara is one lucky girl to have you in her corner she is going to be one helluva success story...sending you big hugs