PSA for newly exercisers and dieters.

[nadinbrzezinski]

Yes I know, new year resolutions and all that...

So in the spirit to help you get back to exercising, healthier food choices and chiefly not getting hurt, here are some hints.

1.- As far as food... variety is the spice of life. Yes diets fail if you go onto a very restrictive diet. Learn to listen to your body, eat when hungry, stop when you are full and chiefly... no banned foods on you lists. Variety will make it easier to stick to a diet plan. Of course there are exceptions... if you are diabetic, or have food allergies.

This also means chewing your food, and taking at least 20 minutes to eat, and only eat... no book readying, no tv watching... nothing but enjoy your food... really enjoy it.

2.- Exercise: Easy does it. If you can only do one push up... start there. If you can only do four minutes of aerobics. start there. Warm up and cool down, and stretch. You will build endurance... I promise... as long as you keep up with it.

Oh and chiefly, as crazy as this sounds. enjoy yourselves. It is addictive.

[anamandujano]

1. What means "chew?"

:shrug:

[nadinbrzezinski]

2. Exactly that,. Chew your food about 20 times before you swallow

that will slow you down, and allow you to feel full and stop eating. It takes the brain about 20 minutes to go, I've got enough... STOP. It also allows you to really appreciate the texture of the food. For example, the camembert cheese I am having for dinner has a strong taste, and slightly nutty.

[Ruby the Liberal]

3. Mastigate

Don't swallow food whole or eat in a hurry. Grind your teeth over the food well before swallowing.

It helps with digestion.

[Ptah]

4. I refudiate mastigation

[Pool Hall Ace]

7. Don't go casting asparagus

but do masticate it.

[hlthe2b]

5. So, do Goats MastiGate and Cows MastiCate?

;) I tease, I tease... I know you meant masticate. (shame on the dirty-minded folks who thought of another similar sounding term :spank: )

[Ruby the Liberal]

30. Heh.

Typing on a laptop resting om the arm of the couch while watching TV with a cat in my lap. I am surprised my lack-of-attention-span only screwed up once.

:toast:

[flvegan]

6. To add: to everyone that joined a gym as part of their New Year's Resolution

Please seat yourself amongst a group of other Resolution-ers. Look to your left. Now look to your right. Now look behind you. Now at the person in front of you that was just looking at you. Between you and the four gym newbies you just viewed, in 6 months, only one of you will still be there.

Resolve to still be there.

As part of my annual DU invite, anyone embarking on the sometimes long and lonely road to fitness on the DU that can use an online personal trainer/sports nutritionist to help them out, my PM door is always open. I think that in my best year in 2008 I was helping 11 DUers, and I'd love to break that record (and no, I won't try to pull any vegan mambo-jahambo on you).

Thanks for posting, nadinbrzezinski.

[Phentex]

8. You are too kind. I was about to say...

please wipe the machine off when you are done!

[nadinbrzezinski]

22. If you are at a local gym absolutely

I wipe my at home gear every so often, like once a week. It is only me who uses it though.

[Skittles]

11. I honestly cannot understand, have NEVER understood

why people are so adverse to physical activity - WTF

[nadinbrzezinski]

19. It is the culture

truly.

We do not encourage it. I just did my exercise. Getting back to it after a really bad two months where for Medical Reasons I could not. And I felt without energy... now slowly getting back to it. No I am not back to the 20+ minutes four times a week. I am at 11 minutes, and I started AGAIN at four.

[Skittles]

27. I never had be be encouraged not to want a fat ass

I mean, really - that came very naturally to me

[nadinbrzezinski]

29. Yeah but in the US it is the culture

and we have removed it from schools too.

When I was a kid I was injury prone, so I didn't have to do PT. Ironically it was partly the coaching. When I started training Medics I learned techniques to take people from they are barely breathing, take them for a fast walk they are dying... to the best shape in their lives. I talked with the people at the Sport Mechanics school in college, and literally their help I now benefit from. I have been able to mostly avoid getting hurt which is good.

[Skittles]

31. the best way to make yourself injury-resistant is to exercise daily

yes INDEED

[nadinbrzezinski]

33. But to be aware what weaknesses, if you have them, and work

around them.

And to use proper technique. A common stretching error is jerking in and out of a stretch instead of a slow pull. That is so common it is not even funny. That was one of the things I had to break kids out off... it is funny, NPR the other day had bootcamp for the US Army... and it sounds like they had a similar conversation for ironically the same reasons. Couch potatoes are hard to bring into a fitness level of any kind. And my kids were 100 times in better shape than today's recruits.

[eShirl]

37. How nice for you.

[Skittles]

38. it's the TRUTH

gaining a bit as I grew older motivated me to MOVE, MOVE, MOVE

[eShirl]

40. Yes. Good for you.

[Skittles]

41. THANK YOU!!!!

[eShirl]

42. No problem.

[w8liftinglady]

46. Nadin-I know exactly what you mean.

I have experienced it from several points of view.
As a mom,I have seen the physical education programs diminish over the years.The area I live in has no sidewalks,no parks,no real unowned place for kids to play-just a parking lot.This is true in a lot of the small towns around here.The schoolyards are fenced in.
As a nurse,I have seen so many patients who worked 60 hours/week,ate whatever they could afford or whatever was available,and had no time or energy for exercise.I also had patients who would have benefitted from a medically-supervised exercise program,but these are non-existant.
As a brain surgery survivor,I went 12 weeks where I could not lift more than 10 pounds.I was a powerlifter with a max benchpress of 265 pounds who can barely do 50 now.
It's a bitch.I can afford a membership now.I feel for those who don't have the resources or guidance.

[Hippo_Tron]

47. Ironically 60-70 hour work weeks made me start running again

I would finish some days just so wound up from all of the caffeine and stress that the only way I could make myself relax was to go for a run. But I was working 60-70 hours a week on my own free will and I'm sure my situation wasn't comparable to those who have to do it to survive financially.

[nadinbrzezinski]

48. There is a reason why three years ago I invested in a new elliptical

but we have the same situation here. It is better than where you live, at least I got a nice bike lane.

It is the culture and we need to fight it. As to the resources, people who regularly exercise, forget that a what is it... 70 dollar membership (My local Y) is a LOT of money for a lot of people.

My nephews are encouraged to play, and do exercise and all that. But they are in a culture where the most exercise encouraged is thumb wrestling... (remote control). To a point the Play Station, WII and rest that now have you as the controller will help, but we really need to get back to it.

Oh and it is frustrating. I used to do 75 push ups on a lazy day, and run fast miles, and do self rescue on a rope system. These days I am so damn happy I am back where I can do some and would not put me in the situation to practice self rescue. NO UPPER BODY strength to speak off.

[flvegan]

36. I've found that it's not that folks are adverse to physical activity.

Okay, granted, some people see exercise as a hassle. My experience has largely shown that too many people don't understand how food is fuel, and how to properly burn that fuel. It's easy to join a gym. It's easy to go to the supermarket and buy lean meat, fish and salad fixings. For far too many, it's like buying a car and filling up the tank without having a clue how to drive. And it's a stick shift. Then, since they have the tools but no guidance, they spend stupid money on some in-house gym trainer. 95% of them are idiots. Salesmen/women.

If I won the Powerball, I'd love to open a big gym. My gym would have well-paid, trained staff that would constantly walk the floor and educate/advise/assist/spot the clientele. Their bonus' would be based on client results and retention. I'd have weekly nutrition classes with online webinars on shopping and cooking for a fitness lifestyle (meat included...no vegan nazi here).

I'm rambling now. Schedule me for an ass-kicking please, Skittles.

[Missy Vixen]

60. Here's a story

And Skittles, you have been one of the biggest advocates for those of us who aren't svelte; I understand our lives may be confusing to others.

When I was in elementary school, I was outside from shortly after dawn till my parents forced us to come inside for the night, running and playing. I understand the world was a different place in those days. I get it that kids can't do that anymore. At the same time, I played for the joy of just being outside and using my body. I could ride my bike, I could walk to the local shopping mall (two miles or so away - a big trip for us!). That's just how things were.

When I entered junior high, though, I discovered that according to my gym teacher, there was something wrong with me. Those of us funneled into the "less than" PE class were "losers" who would "never amount to anything". After all, we weren't as athletic or skilled as others in the school, therefore, we were wasting her time. TO THIS DAY, any enjoyment I may have had in physical activity is tempered by the abuse heaped on me and thirty other girls in my eighth grade PE class by one teacher.

Yes, I'm sure this is unbelievable to anyone who didn't live it. We should all just get over it and move on. At the same time, I've had experiences with other people who can't wait to let the fat girl know that her participation isn't welcome - in a gym, on a dance floor, in any other possible example of physical activity or exercise class. I know I'm not alone.

Maybe this is something of an explanation of what it's like from the other side.

[Skittles]

69. I actually can relate to that

oddly enough, with an art teacher. When I was a child I loved to paint and draw. I even won a base-wide (military) art poster contest for fire prevention. Then I had an art teacher when I was about, oh, 11 or 12 - she was a fucking bitch - cold and heartless and critical, and reminded me somewhat of my mother. After that class, I never drew or painted again - it's like she killed my artistic spirit, turned me off to it. I absolutely do get your point. Yes.

[GoCubsGo]

70. I had an 8th grade phys ed teacher like that.

7th grade, too. I was the fat kid. The gym teachers at my school were as horrible to the fat kids as their pupils were. I'll never forget being forced to run, and having my chest hurt so bad from sucking wind. It wasn't the "pain" one gets from pushing it a little more than you did last time. It was outright pain, as if the lungs had burst. They didn't care. It was all entertainment to them. Bitches. It wasn't until I got to grad school that I appreciated regular exercise.

[AndyTiedye]

73. Lots of Aversive Conditioning

I honestly cannot understand, have NEVER understood why people are so adverse to physical activity - WTF

Aversive conditioning (in the behaviorist sense).

It is natural for young kids to want to move. A lot. This seems to bother most adults, and they try to train them to sit still.
It gets a lot worse in school. Good behavior = sitting perfectly still. Sometimes they even drug them so they'll sit still.

Then when we finally get to move, it's "phys ed" class. Movement becomes a thing to be measured and compared against others.
The emphasis on sports in our culture magnifies this greatly.

Parents consider sports to be the one-stop answer to all the problems of youth,
conveying fitness, self-discipline, and social skills all at once.
It may even work for those who have some athletic ability early on.

Those who don't are taught to associate gyms with frustration and humiliation.
Yet our society considers exercise a commodity that should be purchased in a gym. :grr:

I'd rather dance.

It was through dancing that I relearned how to completely indulge my natural desire to MOVE!




Does anybody remember that we didn't have this "obesity epidemic" back in the 90's when there were raves everywhere?

Let the people dance!

[petronius]

26. I had a professor way back who used to greet every new freshman class with

the look left-look right speech - except he left out the inspirational 'resolve to still be there' part. As a freshly minted grad student I thought it was pretty funny...

[Foo Fighter]

35. Six months? At my gym, the newbies last 6 weeks at most.

Happens every year. From now until the end of the month, the place will be packed and it will be almost impossible to find an open treadmill or elliptical. By the end of January, the majority are gone and I never see them again. A few stragglers will stick it out into the first week or two of February but that's it. After that, it will be back to us regulars again until next January.

Granted, maybe some people drop out because the gym is too crowded but other (larger) facilities experience the same general drop-out rate. The club manager said that, according to the stats, only 20% of people with memberships ever use them. (Not sure if that stat was for just clubs in the same chain or all clubs in general.) We have a pretty active club as the usage rate is 25%. Part of the reason for that is probably due to the staff because they are absolutely fantastic.

Joining a club can be somewhat intimidating and perhaps the reason some people drop out is that they try it for a month and don't feel they're really seeing results. If that's the case and you're new to working out, please don't hesitate to ask a staff member for advice. They're more than happy to help (at least, they are at my club) and they have a wealth of education, training and experience behind them. Their advice can be invaluable and it might be just what you need to get you past a stumbling block and help you reach your goals. And please, take flvegan's advice and stick it out. You have nothing to lose (except maybe a few pounds) and everything to gain (fitness, conditioning, and better overall general health).

And flvegan, your offer to coach people and give them advice is truly admirable. A HUGE kudos to you for that! I really hope you break your record.

[nadinbrzezinski]

39. I admit I FINALLY cancelled my membership

but I have a machine at home which I use regularly. Mostly for me it works best to use my gear at home.

Your manager is correct. Usually in so cal, the newbies last all the way to the end of February, for the truly hard core. I cannot guess the stats, I am sure (I am guessing) that a few out of a hundred that start, will be there after the drop off point.

Part of the problem is that people try to do too much too damn fast... and of course will injure themselves... or it will hurt...

[flvegan]

43. It takes around 6 months to hit that 20%.

Dropoff happens gradually, but like I said, you get there in around 6 months.

I want to add something that you suggested, and did so correctly. Don't hesitate to ask staff. Also, and I'm not kidding here. You can be the most out-of-shape bloke walking into the place. No idea how to use any machine, just sticking to the treadmill for a walk. Hesitant to try any of the crazy new stuff you're looking at. (you know who you are) Spend a week on the bike, the treadmill. Take in the regulars. Who is there every day you are? Who is obviously a regular, dedicated, committed gym rat? Once you've scoped him or her out, take the time to head over to them. Wait until they're between sets. Ask them, hey what are you doing and how do I do it? Likely, you just found a mentor.

I have never known nor seen, from the biggest roided out freak to the cleanest natural fitness model, that won't take someone under their wing. Don't be fooled...once the big dogs cross through that gym door, they're all egomaniacs, and your success becomes their success.

And most of us? Yeah, we were either fat, or too skinny or otherwise un-gym-like and got to where we are. We understand.

Thanks, Foo Fighter. I've been doing this for years here on DU and although I'm a jerk from time to time, I'd like to help as many folks here as I can.

[Foo Fighter]

58. Actually, the stats the manager was referring to were overall stats.

We weren't talking about the "January influx" at the time but rather, just general stats. I think it came up because we were chatting about how I see him walking new members through the club, either a few a week or sometimes, a few a day. I was curious as I saw that happen a lot and I saw the people signing up but after that, I rarely, if ever, saw them again. Granted, there's a whole bunch of people that work out at different times of the day that I will never see but I was curious about the general stats and that's how the conversation came about.

Flvegan, you touched on another thing I was going to bring up. If you're new to the club, keep in mind that everyone else there was also new at one point. Look around for the "regulars." They know where you're coming from and they're usually more than willing to help out. Wait for them to take a break in their routine and ask away. You might just end up making a new friend and/or workout buddy in the process.

That said, one of the things that can turn new members off is the environment of the club and/or the members there. For example, I've belonged to clubs where women were most definitely NOT welcome in the free weight area because that was "guy territory." Granted, you can say "F that. I'm working out anyway." but the hostile attitudes you have to deal with (not to mention the hogging of weights in order to 'chase you away') can really detract from your ability to get in a good workout. I've been in clubs like that before and it's NOT fun. In stark contrast to that, the guys in my current club are unbelievably supportive. They're truly and genuinely happy to see a woman working out with free weights and encourage every one of us every step of the way. In short, the environment of the club can mean all the difference and it's really important to find a club where the staff AND members fit the bill of what you're looking for.

BTW, at my club, no one cares if you're short or tall or large or small or what color your skin is or whatever. The only thing that matters is that you're there working out because that's all it takes to make you "one of us." I can only hope that all clubs are like that.

[nadinbrzezinski]

59. The local Y, I gave up on it

It is the nature of the place.

[virgogal]

9. No reading while you eat will be tough for me. I always do when I'm

eating alone,and have done so for years.

Thanks for the good advice----I needed it.

[hlthe2b]

13. Anyone who has ever had to eat alone in a restaurant...

knows how impossible it is not to read while eating. If there were a "death penalty" for doing so, I'd be incredibly thin--maybe even anorexic! LOL

[virgogal]

20. The first time I ate alone in a real restaurant I swore everyone was

looking at me and considered me a loser. My paperback was like a "blankie".

This was many years ago and it doesn't bother me at all now.

[hlthe2b]

23. Yes.. but I find sitting there eating alone exceedingly boring...

Even though I'm well past the stage where I would worry about anyone staring at me.. It is just not at all enjoyable. So, I stick my nose in a book or newspaper. Oh well.

[nadinbrzezinski]

25. It was a hard habit for me to break

for the same reasons actually. And at this time I really don't care what other people think.

[nadinbrzezinski]

14. Was a tough one to break for me

[madinmaryland]

71. Oh shit! I can't read DU while I eat. I'm SCREWN!

[Taverner]

10. It's all about the calories!

Sure, you can have ribs every night, just order the kids meal and drink lots of water!

[safeinOhio]

12. Calories don't matter.

I can eat 5000 calories of exlax a day and not gain any weight. ;-)

[hlthe2b]

15. I'm afraid that you would gain...

the weight of the coffin.... :shrug: Sorry, but, 5000 calories of exlax would surely do you in!

[nadinbrzezinski]

17. Ex Lax don't have calories, btw

and I'd hate the possible medical crisis.

(Yes the medic in me)

[nadinbrzezinski]

16. When you eat slowly and listen to your body

you will cut down on the calories.

Today we went out for lunch... I did not even tough the rice, and had a little of the tamale to cleanse the palate. I was full.

There is more, as you start to do this, you pay far more attention and believe it or not people start making better choices, since your body will ask for things like yes vegies.

[Taverner]

32. True true

Also constantly drinking water helps

[nadinbrzezinski]

34. and if you are a diabetic

and exercise, make sure to eat something AFTER to avoid a crash.

Easy techniques.... as long as you remember. For me right now, nuts and a red plum like fruit I bought at the market. Tasty, low in sugar, and will make sure I don't get any crash.

:-)

And of course water.

[AndyTiedye]

18. Dancing is Very Good Exercise, and WAY More Fun Than Anything the Gym Has to Offer

Ride the Music

[nadinbrzezinski]

21. It goes without saying, find what you will stick to

I stick to an Elliptical, AT HOME, which I use when watching TV. For others it will be running, a few like the gym, and of course dancing is always a good choice. Hell, believe it or not doing a good household cleanup, aka running the vacuum and doing the floor snd the bathrooms can be part of your routine too. Especially if you are so out of shape that the vacuum gets you winded.

I also have included some resistance training and yes the pesky push ups. I used to do 70+ when I was a medic. I am back to ten... I am happy.

[Habibi]

68. Yes, and an added bonus:

when you start dancing, you might decide that you'd like to be able to fit into those great ballroom or other dance costumes, or improve your stamina and flexibility on the dance floor, and start working out to achieve those ends.

Happened with me and bellydancing. I like being reasonably fit; taking up bellydancing encouraged me to pursue fitness with a bit more gusto.

[Cleita]

24. I go to the gym three times a week, one of the days

being Sunday afternoon because there are only a few people there. I like it that way. Today, I went at my regular time, and the place was jammed. I had to cut my workout short because there wasn't enough space. It seems everyone has started on their New Year's resolutions.

:-)

[nadinbrzezinski]

28. Oh they will be gone by February

You also know that they will stop as they get injuries, since damn it I was a firefighter and should be able to do an 8 mile mile... never mind beet at the couch for five years...

Yes I have heard that... ten minutes they are whizzing forgetting that when they were 20 or so somebody took them by the hand and slowly built that endurance up.

I use the same techniques to get myself in shape I used with my kids... and my injury rate for eight cadet schools, over four hundred kids, was two sprained ankles... I think I was doing something right.

One of those kids, he really wanted to be a medic... he was morbidly obese. We had him working with PT, dietitian and all that. He dropped 75 pounds and just made it by graduation. Again, no injuries to report. His health status went from god it's scary, to acceptable.

[JanMichael]

44. The best advise might be to STAND at your desk/computer.

Better yet get a treadmill and set it on 1 or 2mpg while you work! People can burn hundreds of more calories per day (add that by years and you can bet it will help - it generally took years to have sitting make us fatter it will take a few to undo that) both ways. Also get up and walk down the hall instead of picking up the phone. That'll help too.

Sitting for 6-8 hours a day is one of the main reasons, plus crappy diet, that most Americans are now 20% or so heavier than 30 years ago. Sitting is the lousiest position for your back and metabolism.

Sure there are some jobs that keep you on your feet but the mass numbers of those that migrated from the farms and factories to the cubes is enormous.

[nadinbrzezinski]

50. And that is precisely the reason why you need to start

these people slowly. Yes, you might be able to do that (assuming your boss let's you) but there are safety reasons why not, including the stress on bodies that are so out of shape you really need to start them on literally parking further away from their usual spot and walking 20 more paces.

Now having any cubicle resident get a pedometer and try to reach 10K steps a day, but work their way up there is very doable. But like I used to tell my couch potatoes... who wanted to be medics... easy does it... and avoid injuries. Or you will be back at zero this fast.

[aikoaiko]

45. Thank you for the support. But I have to admit that dieting and exercise is misery for me.

Eating is really my Achilles heel. There have been only two times in my life when I lost weight -- when I took up smoking again and when I tried the Atkins diet.

Every other time when I've tried to decrease calories and step up the exercise has been a miserable experience and a failure.

A while back I started riding my bike to school and back home (about 4 miles each way). All it did was make me hungrier.

Between the knees and back, aerobic exercise is painful now.

Limiting caloric intake makes me angry.

Its sad but I'm almost ready to say its better to be fat, somewhat unhappy, and dead by 60 than make myself miserable battling the bulge for a couple of extra years.

[nadinbrzezinski]

49. Try this... no, it is not a diet

http://www.google.com/products/catalog?q=i+can+make+you+thin&um=1&ie=UTF-8&cid=7081013137002124474&ei=skghTfihHYKssAOXhLTiCg&sa=X&oi=product_catalog_result&ct=result&resnum=3&ved=0CCgQ8wIwAg#

I tried everything, and that worked like a charm... and you know the best part. I am not limited in what I eat, well except for the gluten allergy and the diabetes.

I am a firm believer now that the best diet is the no diet.

Sorry had to correct the link

[aikoaiko]

51. I'm glad it worked for you.

But eating when hungry and until full is basically what I do and I'm hungry all the time.

Sorry for being a downer; it just seems hopeless.

[flvegan]

52. Post #6.

You and I have had our little differences here. Let me know if I can help.

And eating when hungry and until satisfied is sort of how it works. So I'd not try to talk you out of that.

[aikoaiko]

56. Thanks. I'm seeing a doctor later this month. I'll start there

and ask for your advice when I get closer to being ready to actually do something. I'm seriously in stuck mode.

[flvegan]

57. My offer is genuine.

A doctor is a good start. I look forward to talking to you.

[nadinbrzezinski]

53. Do you have a good doctor?

There are a few syndromes where that is the case.

No you are not a downer, but you should have a doctor take a good luck at what is going on. If possible try to see a specialist, such as an endocrinologist.

[aikoaiko]

54. As it turns out I have my first appointment in 6 years later this month

My wife has been begging me to go for years but work and a young child really kept me busy. Plus I'm going to hear bad news.



I guess I'm ready to hear the bad news. Not sure if I'm ready for the misery will come with the solutions, but I really need to start with a doctor as you say.

[nadinbrzezinski]

55. Good luck on that

I know how frustrating it can be.

For me it was Avandia, a side effect, and a dead thyroid.

I was eating 1100 Kcals a day... and still gaining....

SO been there, and it is not fun.

:hi:

The thyroid is a simple blood test. But it could be a slew of other things... so have a heart to heart with the doctor.

[NMDemDist2]

61. excellent list! may I add a few?

Since in the last 10 years I had put on 5 pounds a year, you do the math. Being 5'3" and weighing 170# was NOT acceptable, so March 1st I started working out @ home. Cardio consisted of 15 SECONDS of jumping jacks, circling, panting, cursing the Trainer on the DVD, rinse repeat.

I now weigh 138# (15-20 still to go) went from tight size 18s to size 12s comfortably and getting ready to do one more 90 day round of P90X

here's my experience:

Only weigh in at most once a week. Daily weigh in will just frustrate you.

If you're a woman especially, but true for anyone, make an effort to add protein to your diet. More protein, less carbs will take you a long way.

Plan in some 'cheat calories' I knew I wouldn't be able to quit my chocolate habit cold turkey, so I just planned those calories into my diet. But I've now cut my chocolate habit by 90% without feeling deprived.

Drink LOTS of water. It does a couple things, helps keep you feeling full and you need it to flush the fat out of your system.

If it's at all possible, find a workout buddy to keep you both motivated. Hubby and I did it together, so when one of us was feeling lazy, the other kept us moving (we took turns being lazy believe me LOL)


Whatever it takes, do it. At 55 I'm feeling so much stronger and no longer thinking of myself as "an old lady" I'm a foxy grandma now in my skinny jeans and slouch boots. You can do it!

[nadinbrzezinski]

62. Ah the famous weighing

I do it more often, and no it does not frustrate me. Heck I know the normal up and down over the month.

So on that one do what works for you.

I don't count calories, but I have also added quite a bit of fiber. Right now on the tail end of gastro enteritis so... I am also doing fiber gummy bears...can't stand other forms and physically eating it would be hard.

And as to the chocolate, I have it too, within reason.

:-)

P90x you are far more dedicated I think. Kudos...

[NMDemDist2]

63. believe me, we didn't start with P90x

no way. it woulda killed both of us

we started with P90 Bootcamp (he shoulda called it "FatCamp LOL) for 90 days

then P90 Masters for 90

only then P90X and it still kicked my butt most days. but it's working so we're onto round Two starting Sunday. we hope to be done with 6 days a week after this round, and down to 3-4 times a week in April.

what a journey tho......

[nadinbrzezinski]

64. I got some tai Bo. Should add it

For the moment I am happy that some upper body strength is coming back.

[NMDemDist2]

65. my Doc diagnosed Osteoporosis in the first 30 days of starting

My lumbar hurt EVERYDAY to start. I stopped all the jumping and only did steps for months but my strength has increased so much that I can now do some pretty high bounces in those steps

you know the deal, just keep plugging away, you'll be better in no time :pals:

[nadinbrzezinski]

66. Oh absolutely. I use the same techniques I used to train pretty out of shape

Medics to be.

[Mike 03]

67. Thanks, and I am doing everything wrong.

I have an obsessive, restrictive diet.

I excersise way more than makes sense.

Thank you for the reminder for common sense.

ON EDIT:

My therapist today reinfornced the notion of balance. "Balance" is her motto.

[GoCubsGo]

72. Oh, please don't do the restrictive diet thing.

You'll wind up like me--with a metabolism that is so slow, eating more than a thousand calories makes you gain weight. I don't wish that on anyone. Just remember that when you cut back on caloric intake, your body thinks it is starving, and starts hanging onto the fat stores as if they'll never see food again. It's an evolutionary thing from back in our hunter-gatherer days. It sounds counterintuitive, but grazing in small amounts all day actually works way better than restricting what you eat. It's the insulin thing.

Restrictive diets made me really cranky, too. It wasn't just the low blood sugar causing it. I always wound up resenting that I "couldn't" eat the things I liked. It often lead to binging, because at some point, I just couldn't take it any more...