Hi everyone. Feeling alot better. Thanks for the well wishes.

3 mile WATP this morning and 45min on the weight machines at the gym after work.
36.5 miles so far.....

Hope everyone is well!

Good Morning Gang!

I did another 30 minute 2 mile WATP tape w/weights this morning!

that makes 26 miles for June.

next?

Good Morning Cathy!! I'm going to cut out some of my watp cuz I'm going to try the body for life 12 week challenge! Care to join me? Anyone? I got my book at the library and it seems like a pretty neat program.

Everyone Have a great day and Keep up the great work!!

Oh by the way keep an eye out starting next week we'll be having a weekly spotlight "target area" featuring a simple workout targeting some of the spots that we all tend to have trouble with!

Michelle

Hey Michelle - can you tell us a little about the Body for Life 12 week challenge or post a website to check it out?

I'm gonna keep doing the WATP, I love them, but I have started using the hand weights thru out the WHOLE workout in order to keep my heart rate up like it should be. I guess you're making progress when the workout gets easier and easier! Just wish I would make some downward progress on my scales! *sigh*

www.bodyforlife.com

Cathy it pushes you to your limits and although I just started the book let me see if I can kind of sum it up:

well you'll alternate days of aerobics with days of lifting.
Now the aerobics are 20 minute sessions where you will start out at your level 5 intensity and maintain it for 2 minutes then you'll go to a level 6 maintain for a minute, level seven for a minute, level 8 for a minute and level 9 for a minute then you'll go all the way back down to a 6 and work your way up again, but the 18 and 19th minute you are working to get to a level 10 intensity (for you, since everyone is different, their intensity levels will be different)

Now the weights, you'll start out your exercises at a level 5 intensity again and you'll do your set of 12 (i think) and then you'll go up to a level 6 intensity and do 10 rep then level 7 and do 8 reps and then level 8 and do 6 reps.

Thats about as far as I got in the book but I'll fill you in as I learn more :)

Cathy - What eating plan are you following? I know you have hypothyroid too, and I am doing South beach and it has been wonderful!! Lots and lots of good healthy food! Maybe you want to look into something a little different :)

Michelle

Michelle - thanks so much for explaining this!

My eating plan - I am counting calories (remember that I have a low thyroid) - I try to keep my calories around 1200, some days less, some days more, I don't eat bad carbs, only a few good ones, am drinking over 100 oz of water. I would say the plan I follow is very close to Sugar Busters and/or South Beach.

I did Akins a few months ago and gained 4 lbs in 6 weeks (which I am still fighting to get off) even tho I keep the carbs around 20 grams a day, it was just too many calories for me I guess. No matter what I do the calories really matter.

Year before I did Weight Watchers for 6 months. I only lost 3 lbs in those 6 months and like to have drove myself nuts. I love ww and my ww leader did everything to try to help me, but no matter what we did I could not lose weight, and at $11 a week for the meetings, I just could not keep paying to go to the meetings and decided it was just easier to count calories rather then points.

I try to follow Mary Shomon's "Thyroid Diet Success Guide" for people with low thyroid, which is basically:
2 servings of protein
3 servings of veggies (or more)
1 serving of fruit (she wants you to have 3 but I'm beginning to think that I am insulin resistant and that the sugar in the fruit is messing with me)
2 servings of good carb
1 serving good fat
1 serving low fat dairy
64+ oz water (I keep it above 100 oz)

A lot of people think I am eating too few calories, but if I eat 1400 or more I gain weight, and I find that to be the case for a lot of people with low thyroid. I have always had a hard time losing weight, but now I can't seem to lose at all. It is very discouraging but I cannot give up. If nothing else, I have to eat healthy and exercise and drink water to stay healthy. Just wish I could lose some weight along the way.

BTW, I am 5' 3 1/2", 207 lbs today, and 44 years old, so yep, I'm definitely overweight - it is not a figment of my imagination. :(

any ideas?

If you would like, you can see my weekly food log on the Depression Boards. I am not always perfect, but I am honest about what I eat and post it there.

thanks for talking with me Michelle!

hugs,
cathy

Cathy - Girl I wish you lived close to me we could work together on this as we both seem to have the same problems. The south beach has helped me so much in my eating habits and to lose some weight along the way. I have fewer sluggish feeling days too. Also I'm the same as you that if I eat more than 1200 calories a day I gain weight and often I eat about 900-1000 and stay under 30 grams of fat, I don't really worry about carbs because I eat only good carbs from fruit and veggies and whole grains, I do however limit my grains. I also drink a gallon of water a day AT LEAST (128 oz) it helps alot. You very well could be insulin resistant, have you asked your doctor to check you for it? Another thing I'm going to mention, but keep in mind its a very personal decision, some people are very against it, but have you looked into weight loss meds? As you may know I'm on Meridia and it helps give me that little extra boost that I need. As with any medicine I suggest you talk to your doctor first :) It is expensive but some insurance companies will cover it. You also already know, that us people with metabolic resistance definately need to keep exercising to boost our metabolism! You may want to look into going to a sports consignment shop and seeing if you can get a good deal on a decent home weight system I bet you will see some changes really quick :)

Cathy you know that anytime you need to talk I'm here for you! And don't put yourself down hun, none of us are perfect, but you know what? At least you are working on it and I applaud you for that! Keep up the good work! I'm here for you!
Michelle

Michelle, again thanks for talking to me about this jazz!

I am not against diet pills at all. Good or bad, I have been on and off of them for years. Having low thyroid I find they help speed up my metabolism a little, give me the extra energy I need to get thru the day, and help me eat as few calories as possible. I have never tried Meridia bec of the expense - we have no insurance - but I usually take Phentermine. I also took those last year for 6 months and lost nothing while taking them (ain't I the strangest thing you have ever head of) so I just could not see continueing the expense without any weightloss. I am proud to say that I have not taken any diet pills since before Christmas tho, so I have been off of them a long time. Believe me it constantly stays in the back of my mind that I would probably "do better" on diet pills, but I just figure by this age, I probably need to try to do this without them.

I know that a lot of people with low thyroid take them for the same reasons - to increase their metabolism, eat few calories and increase their energy.

I see my doc again in July so I will take to him at that time about insulin resistance, etc.

I will continue to press on! :dizzy:

thanks again,
cathy

Cathy and Michelle - it's great to see such wonderful support on this thread. Drinking over 100 oz. of water is great - i thought i was doing ok with my minimum of 64 oz. a day. lol I am loving my Leslie Pilates video. I did 2 miles this morning and added the 15 minute pilates challenge at the end. I really need to get these "thunder thighs" in shape. lol I would like to start bumping up my workout to at least 3 miles and the 15 min. pilates workout. Does anyone have any suggestions for a good arm exercise?? Hope you all have a great night!!

Julie

4 mi. today.

18 mi. for the month. At this rate I'll never make my goal this month. :(

I was losing weight just about every week then hit a plateau and have only been able to lose maybe 5 lbs. since then. I wonder if I need to find a new exercise program -- add something to the walking and biking that I do. On the watp tapes, Leslie says that the body can get too efficient and no longer burn calories. I think that's my problem -- or at least it was before I got discouraged and started eating stuff I shouldn't be.

Cathy -- I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and put on Metformin and it has really helped me to have more energy and it's acted as an appetite suppressant. It may help you if you have insulin resistance --- just a thought.

Have a goodnight all! :) Vickie

You girls are all so great!!

Jules - I'm glad to hear that you are enjoying your pilates videos. I picked up a video at the library called fat burning workout for dummies! I am ordering my cross bow on friday so I'm going to try the fat burning workout for a little bit.

Vickie - Yep that is exactly why I am switching my workout routine around :) I read that you really should vary your workouts and switch it up every 6 weeks. So I'm going to try the high intensity aerobics along with resistance bands and dumb bells while waiting for my crossbow to arrive!

Cathy - Hang in there girl!! I know that us people who are metabolically challenged have such a hard time with the weight thing but you are already getting healthier just by doing the walk aerobics!! Keep it up girly you could have just stalled out :)

Keep it up guys!!
Michelle

Hi all.

This morning 3ml WATP video. months total 39.5 Nothing this afternoon though. Just didn't have the energy. The high humidity is zapping me.

Good luck tomorrow.

Good Morning Gang!

I did another 30 minute 2 mile WATP tape w/weights this morning!
I used 3 lb weights thru the whole workout, start to finish, to bump up my heart rate.

that makes 28 miles for June.

next?

Woohoo keep it up Cathy!! You are such an inspiration!!

Michelle

I was in a rush this morning so I did 1 mile and the 15 min. pilates challenge. Keep up the great work ladies!!

Julie

Not a good day. Alarm didn't go off, no time to exercise this morning. Got stuck in traffic(a road buckled) and could make it to afternoon exercise. On top of that, work was absolutely horrendous today. I'm going to cook, clean up and call it a day.

Hey Donna - some days are just like that huh! sorry! sometimes it's best to just call it a day like you said! tomorrow is another day.

I have to wait up late tonight on teenagers so I probably won't be able to get up early and exercise but we will see.

Sometimes all you can do is all you can do.

hugs,
cathy

Thanks you guys :grouphug:

I did another 1 mile and 15 min. pilates workout. Hang in there Donna!!

Julie

Hi everyone. Another rough day today. Managed to do the 3ml WATP this morning, but I've been having problems with my back the last week or so and this morning I felt it during the workout. My left side and down my left leg.
Going to see the chiropracter tomorrow afternoon. I can't afford to miss too much exercise. Too easy to break a good habit. Total so far this month 42.5

Hope everyone is well. ttyl :D

Good Morning Gang!

Wow Donna if you can do 3 miles on a "rough day" well then girlie you are just ALL RIGHT! :cp:

I had another late night with teenagers so I did not get up this morning *sigh* but I will make up for it tomorrow.

Well, wasn't able to do the WATP at all today. The pain in my lower back shot right down my leg. I finally went to the chiropractor and he said if the WATP is causing pain, I should lay off a couple of days. I'm going to try the :tread: ugh! Hopefully it won't hurt and I can do that while I try to work out this problem.

So I'm still at 42.5

But down another 2lbs. That's 4lbs this week. woo hoo!

Have a great weekend !!!

Keep up all the hard work you guys!!

Michelle

Donna, so sorry about your back but so glad about the weightloss! that is awesome! :cheer:

I did a 60 minute 4 mile WATP express tape this morning.

That makes 32 miles for June!

Michelle, can you tell us about your new workouts? what you are doing? and how you like them?

Hi everyone,

Well, I did 1.5mls on the dreaded :tread: and it took me 30 mins sweating like a pig. It didn't seem to bother my back or leg so it looks as if I don't have an excuse to not exercise. Here's a question for you experienced? I do WATP for 45 mins, it's 3mls and I do think my heart rate is up and I work up a sweat. On the treadmill, I go for 30 mins and only go 1.5 miles and the sweat literally pours off of me and I can barely go the 30 mins. Can WATP be acurate in it's claim of a 15 min mile? I wonder sometimes.

Well, my new total is 44mls.

Hope everyone is enjoying their weekend. ttyl :D

3 mi. this morning.

21 mi. for the month. Kinda depressed because there's no way I will make my goal for the month --- unfortunately life has managed to get in the way. :(


Donna -- I was wondering the same thing about the watp tapes the last time I did my walking on the treadmill. It seemed sooooo much harder on the treadmill and took forever. I tried to wear my pedometer while doing watp but it's too much movement and the pedometer wasn't able to keep up with it (which the instructions said would happen when power walking).

Oh well, I think I will try doing a little of both the rest of the month and see if it helps move the scale. I would like to lose 5 more pounds before my dr. appt. in a month.

Hope you all are having a great weekend! :D

Well I'm anxious to hear what everyone has to say about the difference from walking on a treadmill, or walking around a track or walking with WATP.

All I know is, the few times I have tried walking on a treadmill it seemed so much harder (and longer and more boring which might be why it felt harder) on the treadmill then it did compared to regular walking. I always heard that a mile was harder on a treadmill then just plain walking, but I don't know why that is.

interesting topic!

Hey ms beasley! I'm sorry you're not gonna make your walking goal this month! I had to go back to the first page to see what you goal was. dang girlie - 100 miles in a month - that's a lot of miles! you are right - life gets in the way - I mean seems like you wouldn't be able to do much else if you were to walk 100 miles in a month.

I would like to suggest that you not focus on missing that goal this month, but maybe focus on the number of POUNDS you have already LOST - which I see is 43 - WOW! and the number of miles that you HAVE walked - 21 miles! that is still great!

Let's all just keep on truckin - I mean walkin! ;)

hugs,
cathy

Hi all, I asked my son who worked at a gym for yrs and also was a certified personal trainer(with absolutely no interest in training his mother) and he said he doesn't know whether or not WATP is accurate in stating it's 3mls or not, but he said the reason the treadmill is more strenuous then walking on the ground is that it is a constant steady pace and when walking on the ground your pace varies slightly even though you may not realize it. I noticed when I walk alone on a track,even though it's flat, I get a better work out then when we are on the trails talking as we walk. Maybe because its flat you keep a steadier pace like the treadmill. I don't know, just a thought. What I do know is that dreaded :tread: kicks my butt.

Jack, where are you? You could probably shed some light on this.

Hey girls!!!

I just had my weigh in today, and I was down 2 more lbs!! I hit my 30 lb mark today!! Yayyyy!!

I'm still doing weights and more dance cardio, its fun, and I get my kids involved They absolutely love it!!

You are all doing wonderfully!!

I've also wondered about whether the watp were accurate in counting the miles I'm going to try and figure it out and see what I can find.
Have a good night girls!!
Michelle

:cheer: You go Michelle. 30lbs! That's wonderful!

You've sure worked for it. You must feel great :cp:

I look at your minutes and miles and I am so impressed. I don't know how you find the time. Congrats!!!

Wow Michelle - 30 lbs gone is AWESOME! :cp: :cheer: :dance:
YOU GO GIRL!

It was hard to get up early this Monday morning, but I did it anyway :cp: and did another 30 minute 2 mile WATP w/handweights from start to finish so that I can keep that heartrate up.

June = 34 miles

next?

I'm late! Well, there's still a few days to go to the month, so I'll jump on the bandwagon and say I'm going to do 10 pounds in the rest of June!

It feels so good to get motivated again.... I started here in April, did a WATP challenge that month, and disappeared! :o Now I'm back and it's time to give it another shot.

Hope to check in tomorrow with some good news!

2 mi. this morning.

23 mi. for the month.

Cathy --- thanks for the encouragement! :)

It's good to see so many people motivated to exercise and do good things for themselves. Keep up all the hard work everyone!!! :dizzy:

Hi everyone,

Still sticking with the tread for now. It seriously affects my miles total as the dreaded thing kicks my butt. So another 1.5mls. total 45.5

Leg and back are a little better, but still afraid to put it to any type of aerobic activity.

Good Morning Gang!

I did another 2 mile WATP this morning.

So that makes 36 miles for June.

Yesterday I bought a 2 box set of dvds by Kathy Smith called "Lift Weights to Lose Weight" or something like that. They were less than $20 at Walmart. I think I will like them. The first one is a 20 minute upper body workout, and then a 20 minute lower body workout, so you can do those on alternating days or you can do the whole 40 minutes in one day if you have the time (and energy) LOL I'm gonna try to do either 20 or 40 minutes tonight and see how it goes.

Hope everybody has a "walkin" day today!

hugs,
cathy

Hi- I would love to join ya'll! I gained 54 pounds during pregnancy (over two years ago!) and have not lost much of it at all. I am at 207....Now it is time to get moving :)! I would love to weigh somewhere around 150. I am wanting to get healthy and lose weight in order to be able to play and be active with my son, Cale ...and to have another little one. I just became a stay at home mom. Before that I was a Preschool Special Ed. Teacher. I am so excited to find such a great support! My goal for the rest of the month will be 12 miles. Hope you all have a great day!

Got my mile in today, and it totally kicked my butt. Maybe I shouldn't have done the hand weights my first time out in a month and a half. :dizzy:

Yay for me!

Ok I just did my first Kathy Smith "Lift Weights to Lose Weight" tonight and boy am I gonna be sore tomorrow because I'm already sore. WOW!

It was 47 minutes - 20 minutes upper body with weights, 20 minutes lower body (I didn't use any weights because my lower body already weighs a ton LOL) and 7 minutes abs.

Thank the Good Lord I can't do that tape again til day after tomorrow!

I did pretty good keeping up with the upper body routine. There is one move I have never been able to do many of, where you back up to a chair and sit down and then put your arms behind you and you push your body away from the chair and then you lower and lift your body. know what I'm talking about? I'm sure it is working your triceps but I can only do a few of those bec dang I'm lifting 205 lbs with my little bitty non existent tricep muscles. WAH those suckers are hard!

Now, I had trouble keeping up with the lower body routine. I have never done so many squats and lunges in my life. Have I ever told ya'll that I hate squats and lunges. yikes! I just did what I could. Now I gotta take another shower! LOL maybe I better soak in a hot tub instead.

I'll be up late tonight waiting on my youngest son to get home so I doubt I'll get up and get in 2 miles, but I think I have done plenty today.

hope everybody has a good nite.

hugs,
cathy