I am trying really hard to get motivated to get back to the gym after being gone for a month for being hurt and/or sick. I know once I start going again I will feel better, but it is just getting myself worked up to do it. Honestly, if I just did not have to change clothes in the dressing room there it would not bother me nearly so much. Of course, that same reason I hate changing there is the same reason I am on this diet to begin with.

That and by the time I get off work I just want to go home and relax...but there is no way for me to get up early enough to work out before work. I need more time in my day! Or less duties.

I must be on a plateau, because one day I'm up .4lbs, the next day I'm down that same amount. I think I'll be trying some of Jen's plateau busting tips right about now...

Galadreal -
Hey. I think we've all dreaded the return to working out. It will stink big time until you get used to it. A trick that works for me is the 10 minute rule - (sometimes 5, depending upon my mood). I try something for 10 minutes (i.e. elliptical, treadmill, Zumba, whatever) and allow myself the thought that, if I don't like it one iota after 10 minutes, I leave. 99% of the time I stay the allotted 30 minutes or an hour and feel so much better afterwards.

Also, consider the gym not a chore but your "me" time. My Zumba classes and morning workouts are just for me. I take my kids to Zumba, but when I'm on the elliptical, the door is closed and I watch what I want, listen to what I want, and get my workout done. Feels so much better.

COChick - Try the plateau busting tips. Have patience... Water and sleep always seem to help me. If I don't drink at least half of my body weight in water, I stall or gain... Maybe try a new workout or food???

I'm still alive. I'm left with an upset stomach still. Having to force myself to eat something or I'm getting rather lightheaded. Can't wait to be back to normal.

Rachels77, thank you for the tips...we are going to be starting zumba next week when classes pick up, ad well as "awesome arms and lethal legs" which is a 1 hour class on thursday.

But I just can't think of the gym as relaxing. I don't like being around people, so being surrounded by them it is hard for me to zone out and just enjoy the workout. When I am at home I can do that, but in a crowded place I am constantly self concious: "Wait, that's not supposed to jiggle", "Do these shorts really make my butt look that big?" "I think I need a better sports bra." "Oh please god, if you get me through this last 5 minutes, I will get in better shape, I promise" "Please, please don't let me have a wardrobe malfunction in a crowded room".

The whole red faced and puffing along like a train engine does not help. If I am at home on the bike I can get a book or listen to music and zone out, but I can't just bike, I need to change up my workout. Hence the gym.

I had my WI today for Day 11. Even with my daughter's birthday party this weekend and going OP for a day, I am down another 1.5 lbs! That makes 7.5 lbs in 11 days! I am totally pumped! :carrot:

Galadreal - I hear you... I thought you said you were returning to the gym. I don't go to the gym (haven't in years - ours was notorious for a meat market and self-obsessed gym rats oogling each other... my favorite was the teeny boppers checking themselves out in the mirrors while doing the stair machine... blech.) Your descriptions of your thoughts crack me up, though...

I schedule morning workouts at my house... in the privacy of my own bedroom. My hubby bought me an elliptical three years ago and we set it up in front of the wall-mounted TV. When I get on there (usually mornings I can't do Zumba or if I need a little "umph" for the day) it's my time. Just for me. I think sometimes, as women, we tend to be overly self-giving. The extra time of exercise is a break from all that. Time to focus, meditate, or in my case, catch up on DVR'd episodes of Biggest Loser or Smash or whatever...

Another thing I like is the Walk at Home DVDs (Leslie Sansone)... she has a few sculpting ones that I like. Also the Jillian Michaels ones are nice... just a thought.

Hope you like Zumba! It's been a lifesaver for me. I just love the positive energy from people in all fitness levels and ages getting together to sweat it out and dance. Too fun. The Arms and Lethal Legs sounds fun too! Best wishes for you as your start back! I admire your wanting to change things up... I'm trying to do more weight training but it's kicking my booty... I don't know why but it seems like I can find oodles of time for Zumba but the toning thing just evades me... hmmmm....

Rachels77, we bought a gym membership to the university recreation center. Basically it is a center that is free to students, but staff and faculty can use it for about 100 a year. It has a huge pool, tennis courts, walking track, and a couple of "Fitness Centers" that have a few dozen cardio machines and some weigh machines, and stuff like that. They also offer lots of free classes throughout the semester. It is a great place to work out (if you can get in, sometimes it is crazy crowded), but I just hate chaning clothes in the changing rooms. I want my squishies only uncovered in the privacy of my own home, or at least a private room.

Most of the people there are tiny tweenagers who don't look like they have ever even seen a piece of cake. And of course the muscleheads who wander around in tiny tanktops that contain less material than most of my leingeree, flexing at each other and trying to look manly (and usually failing miserably in my huble opinion, sorry, I like my guys more adult, and not heavily oiled, eeekkkk!)

We do work out at home sometimes too, but you can only do the same video so many times before you want to chuck it through a window, I really like the bellytwins arms and abs one, but even that can get old. And the exercise bike requires 2 people (one to ride, one to herd cats away from it so you don't kick them in the head). The eliptical at home sounds nice, but I just don't know where I would put it, our house is not huge and I am a great collector of stuff (plus, so many bookcases, like 8 of them now). The zumba class and the other one are on Tuesday and Thursday, from 5:15 to 6:15, so I can get out of work, run over and change and hopefully not have enough time to fret about how I look jiggling my way through the dressing room. :)

Also, as long as the weight training is kicking your booty in a good way then that is a plus, if it is doing it in a bad way just remember to start slow...and do as I say not as I do, becuase I have never been one to start slow. I Just tend to jump in and flail about until I either learn to swim or someone pulls me out and perform CPR (not literally, fat floats, so I actually swim pretty good, but that is a whole different thing).

LOL! I love your sense of humor!

Luckily, I can change in the restroom before Zumba! But I can relate on the jiggly bits - we have a mirror in one class and she instructs us to pay attention to our arms when toning ... hard to do when my under arm bat wings like to earthquake about! ;) Yikes! But we're improving... moving onward and all that!

HA HA! I never thought of bat-wings...scary but not untrue. I managed about 15 minutes on different machines, most of them arm and chest (because I need something to perk them up, they are too big to do much with, so I have to get the muscles behind them going good to get some lift). Then did another 20 on the elliptical, burned 190 calories and came home to enjoy my vanilla bean torte protein drink. Now he is in the kitchen making turkey burgers and Brussels sprouts.

Now I must go wash my sweaty self so I can flop on the couch for a few hours (or fire up Dragon Age, and not get to bed nearly early enough) with a cat or 3 and rest my achey arms.

Renewal of drivers license
 

Ok so had to get my drivers license renewed today and was like wow I'm finally close to the weight I have on the license. So got the photo taken and when I got home realized they screwed up my weight!! I wrote on the form 155 and on my license is 558 lbs!! And the guy taking the photo said lean against the wall. Then said 1. 2. 3. Smile!! I have this huge grin on my face. It is too funny!!!

WOW! They were way off with your weight! Are you gouing to get it corrected? I was just thinking the other day that I have not weighed less than the number on my license in a very long time. It currently says 175.

Mine was 150 forever even though I was usually at 160 to 180! I put down 155 and somehow they got 558 out of that!! I don't know about your DMV but it is a zoo always! My photo is hilarious. I have this huge fake smile. Look like a checky chipmunk. Haha. I selected I'm a donor also and they didn't put that on there. Guess I need to go back :(

All this drivers license talk made me pull mine out. I don't even have a weight on there at all. Bigdog I would go back for the donor thing for sure.

I think Jen's stomach issue jumped a few states and found me. Luckily it got a little weaker as it jumped. I felt very crampy and ugh last night but never did get sick. I very glad about that. I HATE throwing up! I'm some better today but still not 100%.

Yikes! Sorry!!! I'm at about 90% today (75% yesterday). Hopefully in a day or two this will be all over. What a nightmare this has been!


Speaking of nightmares...weight on a driver's license?! :fr: Thank goodness they don't do that in Florida.

My drivers licesne said 145 pounds for years. I changed my name last year and when I went to get my new license I told the guy all the info was correct except for the last name.....he said "really? the weight on here is correct?" Talk about embarrassing! that is when i fessed up to 175:o

Mad at me!!
 

When I went to WI yesterday, I was ASTOUNDED to see I was the "Client of the Week". I was initially thrilled of course; but now the guilt sets in. You see my sister who was diagnosed in February of last year with breast cancer, told me on Monday that the cancer is back, and this time in her lung. MAJOR breakdown for me, and I started secretly eating everything in site.

Client of the Week? Who am I kidding?? Loosing weight should be so easy compared to what she's going through, and I can't even stay on plan. She is a brave lady, and so strong. She's my hero.

Forgive me. I just need to SCREAM right now, and I can't.

sots mom - so sorry to read about your sister. Prayers

Hopped on the wii fit this morning, and down 3 more pounds this week (I was up a pound last week, so technically it is only 2, but I will take it!).

I am so glad it is Friday, we have to hit the gym again tonight, and hope it does not hit back. My boobs are still sore from the chest press on Wednesday. But hopefully this will help them perk up some. You ladies who are larger on top know what I mean. Next week, is gonna be nuts, so I am glad I have a few days to recover.

YNapier - Sorry you're sick. No fun. Jen - glad you're better... you're on your way!

Sots Mom- I'm so sorry to hear about your sister. Cancer stinks... big time. And, I think you deserve Client of the Week - we're all human. We make mistakes but we're recognizing the weaknesses and moving on. I would think you're sister would be proud of you, as we are all. And, with you taking control of your health, I think you're more able to be there for her and stuff, you know? You guys are in my prayers... big hugs to you.

Galadreal - Go you! Chestpress and all... I'd never thought about that - but I do need to work on my check muscles... I'm a bigger up top gal. These things are a pain when working out and, now that I've lost the weight, they are a bit sad and... down-turned. heehee

Well, ladies, I weighed in yesterday and... I LOST 75.5 POUNDS! Yippee! Whoot! Whoop-whoop! Whew,... thought that last .5 pounds was going to KILL me to get it off. I'm super excited and happy... I'd like to lose another 5 pounds to get in my cushion area, but we'll see... They have me starting stabilization next week. I'm nervous but ready to see where this goes...

Sots mom, oh that is such tough news. I am so sorry. You are likely going to have a lot of difficult days as you support your sister and your family through this. Several of us on this board have dealt with similar situations and I hope you will reach out frequently.

I got curious about my drivers license weight too, I am only 60 lbs heavier that what it says! Hah .Guess I could set one of my long term goals to make it to my license weight. But in the mean time I must think very short term, so getting under 250 will be my next milestone.....5.5 pound to go to make that.

I have enjoyed reading all the exercise posts, Now I need to decide what direction i will go when i add exercise to my program. Possibly join the local Y. I wish Netflix had exercise videos.

Galadeal- good luck on your work out, you reminded me that daughter has Wii with some dance dance games that would be a fun way to exercise, or may pick up the Wii fit. That may solve part of my decision about adding exercising.

Sots Mom- sorry to read about sister.

Time to drink water, it is not natural for me to drink so much water and have to actively keep reminding myself to get 100ml or so in a day. So girls, go get your water bottles filled up! : )

Just catching up on everyone before I weigh in at the center in a couple hours. My scales are showing good news, but sometimes don't jive with theirs, so I will refrain from any jubilation for now. I'll be asking for bodyfat today- I want to get under 32. I wish there was a formula to know how many pounds that would be. I haven't been so great with water lately, and I don't know whAt that might do either.

Regardless, I feel proud of myself this past week. House guests and many more social meals than usual, but I tried to plan around them. Like, if I knew we were having people for dinner, I had a meal shake for lunch. If I knew I would want wine, I skipped the fruit and carbs earlier in the day. Etc. I doubt that those trade offs were exact, but at least I stayed conscious of what I was eating and tried to make choices. Last night we ate out and 4 people shared one dessert. That seemed safe.

I have also been much more motivated regarding exercise lately. I have written this before, I know, but I have been reading about how important it is to not lose muscle. I want muscles!

Speaking of, it is time to go off to the center then work out. Will post my progress later.

Back on board
 

Good morning everyone - I did MRC a couple of years ago and did quite well. I let life get in the way and gained most of my loss back.

Istarted back on the program a few weeks ago and have been struggling. Then I remembered this board. I've been reading through the posts and it is so motivating to see how we all have similar challenges - from spouses who lose by getting up in the morning to the dreaded cancer.

Well - I'm back and plan on visiting with you all on a regular basis. I hope that I will be able to add an occasional bit of wisdom as I know I will learn from each and everyone of you!

I have 40 pounds to lose and look forward to sharing this journey with all of you fabulous losers! :hug:

Welcome FetchLizzie!

YAY! I am down 1.5# this week, bodyfat down 1% this month. Counselor said 30% bodyfat goal would be about 145 pounds. I just can't imagine being 145.

Rowdy - Netflix has exercise videos! You can just Google "best workout videos on Netflix" and a bunch of other people's lists come up. I don't know if you are looking for yoga, pilates, weightlifting, cardio, etc. so I can't recommend any, but they have a great assortment!

FETCHLIZZIE: welcome back. Yes, there is a lot of good advice here. I have had many struggles along the way and always find something positive here.

CAMASWA: good job on making good choices. I think that is what it is all about - keeping it under control. Please share your weigh in and body fat results. I am right there with you on this issue.

RACHELS77: AWESOME JOB ON LOSING 75.5 POUNDS! I am sure you are very proud of yourself as well you should be :cp:

GALADREAL: great job on your loss this week. I hear ya on building the up chest muscles. I just wonder if my boobs are a lost cause due to my ages and nursing 4 kids!

Good news for me today........I have been feeling light headed and lethargic so I called my doc about my blood pressure readings. They have been low for the past couple of days (104/54 which is really low for me) so my doc told me to stop taking my BP pill and diuretic. I just need to continue monitoring my BP to make sure it stays in check. This makes me very happy to be of the BP meds! Another reason to eat healthy and exercise:cool:

sots mom... I am so sorry to hear about your sister. My dad was just diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and the first several days it was like FOOD... I need comfort food. I ate an entire bag of bliss chocolates, had pizza and bruschetta. Yea, I felt sick to my stomach and I still nibble on snacks, but I am much better at it now that it's been a week. Hopefully you will snap out of it too. We need to be strong for ouR loved ones and for me at least I can't be my strongest when I'm down and out because of the stupid stuff I shove in my mouth.

If you need to vent I am here, just hit me up in a pm or vent out in the open. Either way, know you have support from me if you need it. I thank God for my husband and his strength to help me help my dad through this. We can stay strong for them, we have to. Again, I'm so sorry for you and your family. {{{{HUGS}}}}

I told my husband last night that when my dad starts loosing his hair mine is going again too, this time razored down, and he told me his was getting shaved again too. My husband rocks!!

So, any of you lovley ladies know of any good jobs in Northwest Arkansas? My job is driving me to eat. If I get one more duty that has been farmed out becuase the person who is supposed to do it is too stupid I am going to scream and throw a printer at her. Seriously I can't get me own work done and it is stressing me the **** out. All I want right now is to go over to the union, eat a big calzone and cry on my husband...maybe not in that order. I am so frustrated I want to scream.

I have decided that as soon as we get back from vacation next month I am looking for something else. I cannot stay here becuase the stress is killing me, litterally, my blood pressure has been nuts for the last 2 weeks.

OMG! I cannot imagine 145 pounds either. That is what I weighed before having my first child 26 years ago.......... make that 27 years ago!

Congrat's on the 1.5 pound loss:cp:

Faery chic, I KNOW, 145 sounds insane. So to add to this,I then asked my trainer about those Tanitia scales. She said to use them as a baseline for progress only, that they are not a true measure of bodyfat. She said the only true measure is the underwater method, and even calipers are better than impedance. She said that even eyeballing she would put me well below the 30% range. I'm going to stop obsessing so much. I told myself I would give this my best till the end of May and then reassess. I'm doing fine.

CO chick, how did you end up after a full week of MetaQuick? If you posted that, I somehow missed it.

I agree with your trainer on body fat. Someone posted a website last week to check body fat. So I went to it and there was an 7% difference from what the centers Tanitia showed - website was lower! WI today - week 2 of plateau. Counselor looked at diary and I ate on program 3 days out of 10 - yikes! So want the last 10 gone. I have been slacking on exercise last few weeks since exercise classes ended. Hopefully I'll kick it off again with 4-5 mile run in the morning. Hope everyone has a wonderful, fun weekend.

I'm so frustrated right now. Last week I only lost 1.5 lbs.....this week I only lost 0.5 lb. And I'm sticking to the program like glue....no cheating at all. It would be different if I could tell a big difference in my body and know that I've at least lost some inches, but I can't tell a big difference and my husband doesn't notice a difference at all. Any suggestions to break this not-losing streak? I know this program works, but it's hard to be motivated with the results I've had lately, you know?

Selway- Thank you, I had unsuccessfully searched Netflix before. This is fantastic, Netflix has all kinds of excercise streaming videos! Wow, this really helps. The CRUNCH ones alone have all kinds of videos.

I ended up doing 6 days of it. I lost 2.5lbs total, but at the tail end was right before my TOM, and I always put one some water weight. My conclusion...I would metaquick again, but probably not for a full week. Maybe a few days at a time, just to shake things up a little.

COchick, well 2.5 is 2.5! Good job! I just never had the discipline to stick with it more than two days. I do like to use the shakes occasionally for breakfast and/or lunch to help me refocus when I have been eating off plan too much. It helps stop the madness. Also, they tend to wreak havoc on my lower GI.

Kmc, your loss has been good overall for only having started in April. Just stick with it. I have had plenty of weeks with less than a pound loss. I know it is disappointing, but if you really are following the plan it will start coming off again. Maybe punch up your exercise a bit?

Ok. Birthday is over.....
 

Been celebrating my birthday since Wednesday! (it's today) well I guess yesterday since its 2 am! Started w party at work. Chocolate cake Wednesday ...then out to dinner at new Thai restaurant w DH...the owner wanted us to try out his homemade coffee almond cake. Wow
Friday nite out w my crazy girlfriends!!! And many buckets of beer and appetizers -and the hostess bought out chocolate ice cream sundaes for us -- we did jump on the stage and dance so lots of activity. Then boating all day today (my girlfriends called me skinny miney) :hat::beach: then dinner out and the owner bought out chocolate cake! And sung happy bday! I have not weighed since Wednesday am and was 164.0. Did ok food wise. Ate salads and small portions and did split all those desserts but WOW!!! Will def be chugging water all day tomorrow and eating salads and protein shakes!

More later. Really need some sleep!!!

Happy Birthday Bigdog! :celebrate:

So I was up a pound at weigh in yesterday. Very frustrating since I was 99% on plan (had a couple of tablespoons of salsa). Counselor said there could be a few reasons I was up: 1) extra stress this week at work 2) lack of sleep (I don't sleep well) 3) too much exercise. She suggested I may want to switch back to the meta balance plan due to the exercise. I have been taking a boot camp class and she said they don't suggest anything more than walking for exercise. I haven't decieded yet about the metabalance plan - I think I will wait and see how next weigh in goes.

off topic...
 

thanks! Faerychic...i think my girlfriends wanted to get away from DH's or boyfriends to take me out to party because they were rocking way harder than i was! hahaha Chilled today and am still drinking water, water, water, HNS, HNS, HNS......had salad for lunch and salad for dinner...planning on a few more bottles of water! and one more HNS....should be back to normal at least by Tuesday! :-) very fun week...

hey, i have an off topic question for you gals. we talk about everything on here, right? ok, has anyone ever gotten a boob job because of their weight loss or just because you want an enhancement? just throwing this out to get some feedback :-)