Now that I'm settled back into the home routine ...
jacklyn, HELLO!! Welcome back!! You know I missed you! congrats on your loss, and stay here and kick it up some more! good to have you back!
Christine, big congrats to your husband on the job! Nice to feel that security of some steady income, know that. Yes, I know that you can apply yourself (as you did before!) and lose a pound a week. Yes, you can!
debbie, congrats to you on your total loss so far! WAY TO GO!
and hello to everyone else! I hope the new ladies like it here!
Here's a link to some pics from our trip. For those who don't know me, I'm the one with the shorter brown hair, and the lady with the longer reddish hair is whom we met up with in Chesapeake, and she continued on with us.
The pic of the ambulance is not us, thank goodness! An accident occured SECONDS before we came upon it; the vapor from the air bag was just dissipating as we approached. An elderly man fell asleep and went off the road. The airbag saved his life; however, the impact really hurt him; older folks have so much less elasticity in the skin, and it might have bruised his aorta. Anyway, my husband is a volunteer EMT, and if he comes upon an accident, he just goes and helps. He's a good guy
I'll also have to find the pic of me riding the mechanical bull
We met lots of friendly people on the road; the first night, when i was drying out my socks and boots in a restroom at a rest stop along Interstate 87 in NY (thank goodness for those warm air hand dryers!) I met a lady....ALSO from Vermont, ALSO going to Myrtle Beach, who ALSO rides a Honda Shadow! coincidence, or what! But she and her husband were trailering, which at that moment seemed like a stupendously wonderful idea, lol! She gave me her husband's business card, and said for us to call them if we ran into any trouble in Myrtle Beach. That was very nice of her.
Oh! I stayed at 145 when I got back! I didn't deny myself any treats, but didn't pig out either. I actually know that I can't eat too heavy when I'm on the road, 'cause I get that logey, sleepy feeling, and I can't have that when I'm riding. But anyway, even without exercising for a week, I now realize that motorcycling for up to 500 miles a day will burn more calories! woo-hoo
ttyl!!
Last edited by VermontMom; 05-19-2004 at 04:06 PM.
I've missed this site so much over the past 3 months...we've been going through a lot of changes...good ones.
As you may remember, we were having a terrible time in our neighborhood due to some extremely unruly neighbors. After calling the police so many times, we realized that the quiet neighborhood we had called home for so many years was changing and not for the better. We decided to put our house on the market and try to find a better part of town to live in.
So here we are in our new home....7 year old brick on 2 acres in the county with LOTS of restrictions. Nice neighbors, quiet and lots of horses nearby. We sold our other home to a divorced fella with a teenage son (they should enjoy the nightlife!!) and we have moved on to our quiet neighborhood.
I'm still unpacking and trying to sort things out...I'm back up to 164 lbs. but I'm starting to pay attention again to what I'm eating.
My son graduates from high school next week...he's going to college locally thank goodness. He was in the Senior play and has just gotten a role in "Oliver" here at our local playhouse.
We're getting settled once again and I realize that we're going to live through this.
Sure have missed all of you and am looking forward to posting again....and getting the rest of this weight off!!
Hello everyone! Holly, those pictures are great! You look fantastic in that tank top! I would love to have my arms that toned! Oh well, I'll keep trying, right? I went to Myrtle Beach some years ago with about 7 of my girl friends during Bike Week and we had a blast! It was amazing to look at all the different types of bikes and people...and the noise was deafening out on the main strip. So much fun!
I've been doing pretty well this week. We have our house up for sale and are showing it tonight, so I spent a couple of hours doing some pretty deep cleaning on the carpet last night. You know the hands and knees drill with a scrub brush in hand. It's amazing how that can work up quite a sweat! Right now I just need to lose one more pound by Monday to meet my two pounds a week goal. That's completely do-able. Hope everyone has a good one!
HELLO KC!!! the flock is returning to the fold! That must have been a tremendously stressful time for you. Congratulations on being in your new home, and wishing you a PEACEFUL time there
jacklyn, thank you! and you know what's funny, when I look at my arms in person, I still think "yuk!" But I have now seen two pics of me in tank or bikini at MB, and I am happy with how they look in the pics...weird
I had BAD eating day - not in that I had too much, but the small amounts of what I had were sugar/carbs/junky. No good excuse either, but I will do better tomorrow.
Wow..I have been missing in action here for a few weeks. I have been amazingly busy...busy with dancing...with the whole "getting ready for summer" stuff going on and all.
We have been heading out to the campground the past couple weekends...getting the camper opened up and cleaned up, and everything there ready for summer. We also have my sister in law's college graduation and open house last weekend...and my little stepsister's high school graduation and open house THIS weekend! We have also been preparing the soil, and planting our garden this week. This year we are planting green peppers, radishes, carrots, strawberries, cantalaupe, watermelon, and some wildflowers for me to cut for bouquets. I hope that it produces well this year...it is nice to do something as a family with the kids...that also will yeild HEALTHY foods later in the year.
We have also been doing spring cleaning and landscaping...put in a new retaining wall and landscaping rock around the tree in our front yard...planting grass seed in a couple bare spots...all sorts of things like that.
Not to mention the spring season for dance performances has been really strong.
I am holding at 172.2 right now...I am SOOO close to my 40 pound loss mark, which I will hit at 171-hopefully over the next week or two. I have kicked up my exercise pretty intensely...and I think that will do the trick.
Yesterday was a nice day...and I took the kids out for a walk on our local park walkway/bike path. Raiden was in the stroller, and Jasmine walked with me. I was so proud of her...she is only 5...and she walked 3 MILES! I was so proud of her...she really enjoyed it. I asked her at every 1/4 mile point if she wanted to stop...and she did really great. At the 1 1/2 mile point we turned around...because I didn't want to go too far out and her not be able to make it back...but she did wonderful. I was impressed that she could go that far with me! I plan on taking them to the walkway for a 3 mile walk once a week for the rest of the season while it is nice-in addition to my other exercise. It is good for me, good for them...and it is nice quality time for us to just talk with each other as well.
Tonight I am going to a beginners belly dance class to vend my costume items and such to the newer students. It should be fun. I usually end up dancing with the class when I am done vending...which is nice as well. You can always use more brushing up on the basics.
HELLO, APHIL!!! You certainly HAVE been busy! and congrats...in advance...of your forty pound mark! I know that along with the fat loss you have been building and shaping muscles; your continued hard work is paying off!
I allowed myself a chocolate doughnut yesterday, as I had it after I donated blood - that's a good, humanitarian excuse, isn't it As always, when the technicians ask to see both my forearms, they just about pass out from excitement when they see my veins - either due to genetics or also maybe from using weights, I've got veins that are hugely visible, and so easy to stick - I always get compliments on them! Hah! Too bad I don't live in a society that idolizes big arm veins, along with long, shapely legs or a terrific rack
It's grey and a little rainy out, but I think I will put on all my rain gear and use the 'cycle for work today anyway...anytime I can beat those gas prices, I feel good.
I haven't quite gotten back into my more "aerobicized" routine that I tried to implement before our trip, when I decided to do more aerobics than strength. I do need to try to get back to that.
good morning ladies - well, it's grey and drippy and been that way for 3 days now - guess the rain is always needed but it sure isn't good for the spirits or for cutting the grass.
I'm venting - ready? I agreed to work 6 days a week to help with the bills...and I guess I'm expected to spend my one day off, doing damned housework that no one else thinks of, or sees. How can so much crap accumulate so quickly? oh yeah, when no one else does it
I think I need to readjust my mood, and come back when I'm a little better
Holly-oh yeah...another thing that has been part of my "busy activities" as of late and your post reminded me...I gave blood at a local blood drive last Saturday morning as well...forgot to add that in. Thank you for reminding me...and for doing it too!
Well everyone, I DID hit my 40 pound loss mark on Friday...40.2 pounds lost now to be exact! This July will be two years since I hit my heighest weight ever at 211 pounds...and with that anniversary coming up...and hitting the 40 pound loss mark...it has made me a little reflective the past few days. I have been at 3FC for a little longer than 2 years now (I yo-yo-ed a bit before things got SERIOUS. ) but my 2 year anniversary of my highest weight...and the SERIOUS beginning of my final weight loss and fitness journey will be this coming July 22. Wow.
There are some things that I wish I could have done better...times that I wish I wouldn't have had that cookie, or times that I wish I had buckled down just a little bit more...but if I look at all of the things that I have achieved over the past two years...I feel really good. I have lost just over 40 pounds. It has been a very slow loss...losing a few in a short time period...then plateuing for a few months...and so on...but if I think of it positively...none of that 40.2 pounds has COME BACK. It has stayed off. I have also accomplished amazing things as far as fitness is concerned. I have remained steady over the past two years in my regular exercise...and that feels wonderful. I have pretty much religiously done strength training 3 days a week for the past 2 years...and for the last year and a half I have added to that regular cardio exercise a couple days a week...and have went from belly dancing one day a week in a beginning class, to belly dancing professionally with a troupe and practicing 2-4 days a week.
What I find is interesting about exercise, is that when I was a child and teenager in gym class...I always felt like a klutz. I felt unathletic. I hated to run track...couldn't do it without getting side stitches. I was not good at any school team sport, such as softball, vollyball, basketball, or tennis...basically ALL of the team sports that you have in school...and all of the main activities they teach in gym class. That experience caused me to absolutely HATE gym class and exercise.
What I discovered as an adult...is that I LOVE exercise...I just had to find the "right fit" for me. I discovered when I was about 18-19 that I loved walking...and used to walk on a local walkway a few times a week that went about 4.5 miles when you did the whole thing round trip. I also discovered around that time that I loved strength training. These were things that we never did in my high school gym class.
After I had my son Raiden, who just turned 3...I discovered that I also enjoyed yoga and Pilates. It made me feel strong...and over time my flexibility greatly increased. Then 2 years ago...I discovered belly dancing...and not only made it a regular part of my exercise routine...but I fell in love with it and now I dance with the troupe. It has been such an amazing exercise and activity for me to be involved with. I found that it is the perfect combination of cardio, flexibilty, and strength training-depending on what I am doing. I have gained even more flexibility from doing "floorwork"...and balance from dancing with swords. It also provides so much learning...as I have learned about a whole other culture, learned so much about musical rhythms, professional showmanship, choreography...and made wonderful friends as well.
This person who once hated exercise (or so I thought) now considers exercise to be "my time." It is the time every day that I do something to take care of myself. I may mutter under my breath with the last few reps of an exercise now and then...or be sore for a few days after an intense dance workshop...but I love it. I feel strong.
I remember a little over 2 years ago when I was at my heighest weight, and I went with my family to the zoo. I remember being "winded" during all of the walking around. It made me realize exactly how out of shape I really was after having my two kids. Last year I went back to that same zoo and walked around all day just fine. So...there have been many, many benefits besides just weight loss from my exercise. The other day...I decided to try a lower body strength training video that I had not done in a few months. (I have a big collection) It had always been too difficult for me to do. I decided to try it again...and while it was tough, I DID make it through. That felt really good to me...that I have gained so much strength over the past few months.
I have started a little "challenge" for myself today-that will run up until my actual "2 year anniversary" July 22. I am challenging myself to buckle down on my eating, water intake, and exercise from now until then...and see what I can accomplish in that time. I have many daily goals...8+ glasses of water each day, getting 100% of my calcium in, pumping up my exercise with fitness goals, at leat 5 servings of fruits/veggies each day...daily goals to aim for every day-along with staying within my calorie guidelines. Not only do I want to have more weight/body fat/inches lost by July 22...I want to become more healthy in general by then as well. So...that is what I am aiming for right now. I have bought a new "journal" just for this leg of the journy-to log in my diet, exercise, etc.
I am doing not so great. Notice my tendancy to stop posting when I stop doing well... this is not good, I should keep posting to help motivate me to behave! Hmmmm
On another topic entirely, I have a question for you, Aphil...
I was rewatching the 2nd LOTR movie last night, in preparation for the next coming out on video and because we hadn't watched our extended version yet Anyway, my dorky self decided I'd like to own a cloak. Of course, I don't want to spend a few hundred dollars on one so I thought perhaps I could sew one myself. Have you ever made anything like this? Is it complicated? It looks like it'd be simple enough but who knows! Also, any idea what fabric I'd use? I assume some kind of wool? TIA if you have any answers for me!!
So, come on everyone, check in! How are ya'll doing this week?
Silence-if you are dorky for wanting a cloak...well, then I guess that makes me....(looks through hubby and I's costume closet at all the movie replicas, belly dance costumes, and renaissance medieval stuff) THE QUEEN DORK. ha ha
I have made cloaks before...what I would suggest if you have a little sewing experience, is to check out the costume section of the Simplicity sewing pattern catalogs and look at patterns for cloaks in there. They have different lengths and styles...some with longer hoods, some with smaller...different closures, etc. What fabric you use depends on what looks you want. If you want fancy...velvet is a great choice (not the stretch velvet) with a satin for the lining. It will be expensive...but it would look great. If you want simpler...like a peasant type cloak like the Fellowship wears...wool would be good...but you can also find cottons and linens and other fabrics that have that "look." Basically you just want a strong fabric that isn't stretchy...and you would want one that has nice "texture" to look like wool. The little bumps and stuff in the fabric weave. I made Jason a cloak for the renaissance faire in about the same color as the Fellowship cloaks...the dark greyish-beige. It was with clearance fabric in a cotton blend...and I got it for about $1.50 a yard.
Speaking of all of the costuming...I have so many on my list...I need to block off a few months to do nothing but Star Wars costumes again starting at the end of summer for the big convention in April '05. Gotta keep my reputation amongst the other "nerds" and have the best costumes. ha ha
It is so funny...my kids think having all of these crazy costumes and belly dancing is like "the norm." We have a stormtrooper magnet on the fridge and Raiden says its "Daddy." ha ha
On the exercise front...my exercise this week has been great....I have been very commited to that. I am starting to see a lot more definition in my biceps...and although the definition is not showing in my thighs yet because I still have some weight to lose, I can FEEL the muscle getting harder and firmer under the fat layer. Once I lose another 10 pounds or so...that should start showing through nicely. That is my motivation for the next 10 pounds...because I know the muscle is there in my legs...it is just hidden from view...and if I lose 10 more pounds it will "emerge." ha ha
This weekend is going to be a toughy as far as temptation. We are camping all weekend at the lake with Jason's family...and they will be having food galore. Fattening stuff...so I am bringing watermelon, cantalaupe, salad...things like that to add as sides to the meals...so I know I will at least be able to eat something "with the family" at the cookouts. So...I will just need to stay away from all of the cookies and crap that my MIL brings to these things. If it is in a big Tupperware container...I am going to steer clear and not even look inside!
I hope everyone is doing well! Keep up that exercise everyone!
Aphil
Aphil, CONGRATS!!! on reaching that 40 lb. milestone!!! AND for reaching the state (well, you've been there for a long time) of incorporating exercise as a daily habit. You KNOW how good it makes you feel, and what great things it's doing for your body. WAY TO GO, GIRL!!!
and what good advice regarding Memorial Day cookouts - if it's in a large Tupperware container, don't even look! just back away!
AND way to go on donating the red stuff, also!!! Such a good thing for us to do for mankind.
Hello Christine! and everyone else
back to the exercise - I found this in "Natural Health" magazine, in an article about how to rev one's metabolism. I generally know the following facts, but would'nt have known the exact calorie/pound calculations.
"Put Your Muscle to Work"
A toned body looks good, but it delivers an even greater benefit. "The more lean muscle tissue you have, the more body fat you will shed - even at night, while you sleep", says Jorge Cruise, a San Diego-based weight-loss specialist and author of 8 Minutes in the Morning (Harper/Resource, 2003). For example, adding a pound of lean muscle will allow you to burn 50 additonal calories a day, he says. A pound of fat, on the other hand, burns nothing. So if you build 5 pounds of muscle you will burn 250 extra calories a day. Multiply this by 365 days in a year and divide by 3,500 (the number of calories in a pound of fat). The result indicates that with this added muscle you will lose an extra 26 pounds in just one year.
Building muscle is easier than you think. You'll gain it fastest if you work the major muscle groups (butt, thighs, abs, chest, and arms), which demand the most calories, says Johanna Hoffman, exercise physiologist at the Johns Hopkins Weight Management Center in Lutherville, Md. Just work two of these areas for a few minutes daily, Hoffman says. For a series of simple workouts, try the Quick Fix: Total Body Toning video ($9.95; 800-433-6769; www.collagevideo.com).
I can't recommend that particular video that was mentioned above, but you know I do say that collagevideo.com is a great source for reviewing and selecting exercise tapes.
Anyone have 3-day weekend coming up? I don't, but will have fun anyway. There is an organized motorcycle ride on Sunday, Vermont Thunder. The Thunder ride is in memory of veterans, and especially those still MIA. It takes place in many states. Ours goes on Interstate 89, which is fitting, as it is the Vietnam Veteran's Memorial Highway. Then the ride goes through some nice Vermont villages, then ends for a memorial service, then a lunch. My husband and I will do the ride, then I have to skedaddle back to the Club for a dishwashing stint beginning at 5:00 pm
Then, I usually have Monday off anyway, so if it's nice, we will take a long ride together, then probably have cook-out food in evening with kids.
Hello to everyone, and hope you're well, and doing good!!
Last edited by VermontMom; 05-28-2004 at 03:45 PM.
I will probably be repeating myself several times as I give all my favorites the reason for my absence. I am sorry about that and am trying to get caught up on many things from my own little pity party. WEll here I am back from the dead. I weigh in at 161.5, but need someone to use a Tazar on me for not exercising for the past 1.5 weeks. My last posting had me going on a trip to visit relatives and get caught up and then meeting dh at my brothers about 5 hours away. Well to make a long story short. Dh stuck his nose in a big issue that had nothing to do with him, and made a very ugly scene. Hurt some of my family with his attempted actions and I am still po'd at him. I have stuck to my diet, but not exercised as I should. Thank god for some good habit forming and determinations that it did not totally throw me for a loop. Today is my offical measure day and also I am trying to get caught up with 3fatchicks. I could boo hoo all day over this but won't bore everyone, but will say this. I felt like giving him the big "D" word and going my own way! That is some what of an explaintation of how hard this all hit me! I really think my loss of the 25 pounds has given me confidence to stand up to him and not let him bully me! I think he has been very shocked that I took a tough love attitude with him over this and will not pudge off of my position. Normally, I am the peace maker between us. He is still in the dog house and he knows it "big time".
Hello everyone. Congrats to all those with losses and still maintaining! I have been at a stand-still this past couple of weeks. Although I acknowledge it is completely my fault. I slacked on both eating and exercising, so I am attempting to get back on track one day at a time. I am hoping to go to the gym after work to get some cardio in. I believe I am going to start doing a bit more lifting. I really enjoy seeing the difference when the muscles start becoming more defined, its just that I prefer doing cardio. Weird, huh?!
Getting ready to do my strength training today. On the exercise front-this weekend at the family gatherings...my uncle-in law was asking me about my dancing and exercising and all that I do. He was impressed when I told him about my sword dancing and floorwork and all. (Noone in my husband's family has seen me perform except for my husband btw) and he was asking if I had become more flexible doing it...and in front of everyone I plopped down on the ground into a belly dance backbend...which is essentially...you get on the floor on your knees...and then tilt your head back...and with the strength of your thighs and back alone...lower your body back onto the ground with your head leading....no hands. When it is completed...you are still on your knees with your calves and tops of your feet against the floor. Jason (dh) piped in to his family that he needs to start working out, because I have more muscles than he does.
Hi everyone. First timer here. I'm not sure if I'm doing this right or if i'm even on the right "thread" (not really sure what that is either)....LOL. I do know that I'm tired of being tired. I'm tired of looking in the mirror and not liking what I see. I'm ready to do something about it. I don't own a scale but I know I weigh about 190. I'm 5'10. I would love to weigh 140. I'm the kind of person who likes instant results (which I know is not possible). I think I just need someone to say every once in a while "you can do it" or "get off your butt"...LOL. Any advise for me?
...
That experience caused me to absolutely HATE gym class and exercise. 
Anyway, my dorky self decided I'd like to own a cloak. Of course, I don't want to spend a few hundred dollars on one so I thought perhaps I could sew one myself. Have you ever made anything like this? Is it complicated? It looks like it'd be simple enough but who knows! Also, any idea what fabric I'd use? I assume some kind of wool? TIA if you have any answers for me!!
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