Time to get serious

[Deana]

Yep, it's time for me to get serious about exercise and eating. I have been working out on and off for 12 years now, and in the past three months I have become very consistant with the gym. But now I am stepping it up with food choices (I can't call it a 'diet') and putting my workout up a notch. I have some fitness goals... I have been whining about these extra 5-7 lbs, and now it's time to get rid of it FOR GOOD!

So here's my plan that I want to keep track of here:

Dh and I are focusing on healthy eating, low carbs, portion control and mindful snacking. The snacking part is the hardest for me!!

I had been going to the gym 3 times a week, doing 25 min of cardio and about 20-30 minutes of strength training. As of last week I am bumping that up to 4 times a week, 30 minutes of cardio, same amt of strength training, but adding more weight to the stack every 2nd or 3rd week.

I just bought a new scale that measures weight, body fat and body water. I am a little bit nervous to find out my body fat, but I've got to know what i"m starting with here.

Dh and I are really excited to be doing this!

[heather6773]

sounds like a great plan!!! I finally have a great dr. who is treating my thyroid issue(aren't you the one who also shares this problem?)Well the weight is coming off and I love it. So I think if I kick it up a notch it will be even better.

[Deana]

Heather, that is great that the thyroid meds are helping you! Yes, I am hypothyroid and have been on meds for like 11 years. My dr switched me to synthroid in November and I feel even better on that particular med.

ETA: I measured my bodyfat and I am in the normal range. I'd like to drop a few % points on that though. For weight... I was weighing myself at the gym on a good scale (dr office type). I don't like to compare two different weights from two different scales (not consistant enough for me) BUT... I have lost 2.5 lbs since this time last week (but on two different scales, so I don't feel like I can really count it).

I feel good - very motivated and healthy. The only thing that is bothering me is that I have been getting headaches everyday in the afternoon. I am guessing that it is b/c I used to eat a starchy or sugary snack in the afternoon (without watching portions - I mean, I would eat way too much at that time...) and now I have a cheese stick and a small handfull of triscuits. The headaches are probably a blood sugar thing.

[heather6773]

I have been on synthroid(generic) for 7 weeks now. They said give it about 6-8 weeks and you'll notice a difference. I am finally seeing the change. I am not so cold.Not so tired. My hair stopped falling out. Its great. I go for more blood work next month to check levels.

[Deana]

Just a quick update....
I have only lost 3 or 4 lbs, but I feel fantastic, and my clothes are fitting way different. I just feel toned and I can see muscles starting to wake up. It's great, and I love the way we are eating too. I will say that I am much more tired lately but I think a LOT has to do with the heat (it was 104 here yesterday, hello???!!!). Upping the workouts is definitely fatiguing as well, but I suppose it is a 'good' tired (not 'newborn' tired, lol).
Everything feels better - physically and emotionally!!! Can't go wrong with that!

ETA: I moved my cardio up to 35 min/session (4X/week) and I'm doing intervals, which is hard but really great!!!

[IUgrad02]

Hey Deana,
Just wanted to say great job sticking with your plan! I have a hate/love relationship with working out, and I sometimes have a hard time sticking with it, but since I've found Zumba (I know I've mentioned it at BT), I'm absolutely in love. I just read that you can burn up to 1000 calories in one zumba session, which seems just ridiculously insane, but that's what it said. It's a hardcore workout. I sweat bullets, but I truly LOVE every minute of it and could dance like that for hours and hours. Did you see that I'm going to be instructing the class this fall? I'm so pumped. Just thought I'd plug it again incase you're interested in something new. I bet there has to be a class around you, since you live in such a big area. You'd love it. You just have to give it more than one shot b/c it feels awkward the first time you try.

GL and congrats on the success you're seeing so far! It's wonderful that you feel so good in your clothes. What a great feeling!

[Sexy Strawberry]

Congrats! Good job :dunce:
My mom is also hypothyroid and I know how hard it is for her to be in shape...
If I weren't so lazy for sports I'd do that too, but I just hate the gym... I love swimming though so now in the Summer I go swimming at least 3 times a week. I want to keep it like that after the Summer, when I rent a room in October the first thing I'll do will be investigate where the heated swimming pool is :)

Oh, if you feel so tired sometimes and you think it's sugar maybe fruit can help, grapes, bananas and cherries contain a lot of sugar...

[Deana]

still doing good :)
Dh and I are not as strict about the low carb plan as we were a while back. During the day, I am still trying not to go 'carb crazy', but I am a little bit less strict with myself - I'll have a sandwich on light bread, a bite of chocolate, etc. We have a low carb dinner every night, which I think is keeping us focused. We are still both going to the gym religiously. My weight is stuck - but again, I feel toned so I'm not too worried about the number. It's just weird b/c 10 years ago, if I were to cut back on food intake for a week, and I'd loose 5 lbs. This is just what happens when you get older. Blech.

IU, my sister signed up for Zumba! They have a class at my gym called, 'Latin Spice' - it looks like a BLAST and I want to try it!

Maria, that is awesome that you love to swim so much!! Isn't it great when you find an activity that you look forward to doing?

[Sexy Strawberry]

Definitely! I always hated sports, well, when I was at school I did classic ballet for a few years and loved it, but since then I never found an activity that I liked. Lately I realized I like to swim and that I could actually do it also during winter too... :)

You're very lucky that you can do that together with your husband, it's much easier to get motivated, you know... shared pain, half pain :evil:... but one you get used to it going to the gym can be fun!

[heather6773]

How's it going Deana? I have started a "Eating Clean" lifestyle. I won't say diet because that sounds short term. I want long term.