When I was heavy *****}, I thought I was active. I was a part time paramedic and volunteer firefighter. And I learned to pack away the food - eat fast in case a call came in. The activity was high levels of activity in very short spurts at not very frequent intervals. Healthy appetite - a misnomer. I'd decided that putting on weight was okay because women get older and become matronly. I'd just resign to be matronly. Well, that didn't work out. It appeared that one had to grow up to be matronly.
Did you exercise from the beginning of your weight loss or did you incorporate it into your plan later?
I started the weight loss in October 2000 on a lark with a buddy at work when we joined the WeightWatchers at Work together. I was fine. She was a bit chubby. My assessment, you realize. At the same time, again no reason, I joined the gym that was ON SITE at work (!!!!!!!!) and started working with a personal trainer who really challenged me. I forgot I was matronly. I lost my first 15 pounds in 16 weeks. That was the fastest I've ever lost weight. We moved to a new state and the new leader was a total disaster and I gained 9 pounds in 10 weeks. After that, I joined a gym and shifted to essentially fish/chicken with veggies, fruit, whole grains. AND PORTION CONTROL. Oh, that. Yes.
What kind of exercise did you do while you were losing the weight?
Walking. Two - three days a week for 25-30 minutes to start. And the gym. The Elliptical Torture Machine is my very favorite. Love/hate. I can't stay away from ETM.
If you've reached your goal weight, has your exercise program changed at all?
Is it okay if I answer this? I walk every day for 60 minutes. I go to the gym once a week for 30 minutes of ETM, 30 minutes of the treadmill and then TEN MINUTES ahhhh of the hot whirlpool. I was running 3-4 times a week.
Legs Last year I decided I wanted to run. I dreamed about running. I dreamed I was RUNNING. So, run. Right? The complexity is that I have polyneuropathy. Fancy word for legs that Don't Get The Message. I have balance problems, weakness, and pain. And I fall down with no warning - balance, again. Annoying. The physical therapist said I Don't Get Balance. duh. Actually, she included "Like Normal People."
Back to legs. Soooo, my dearest Spousal Unit and I started running in December in training for 5K races and ran our first 5K in January. We've run a total of 4 5K races - I walked the last one and STILL came in third in my age group and have the trophy to show for it. And yes, there was at least a fourth! I'm glad I ran the 5K races, because my legs seem to be getting weaker and it is nice to have the memories.
Do you think exercise was/is important to your weight loss and maintenance?
I think exercise is important to my self esteem.
Tell us what you typically do in a day or a week?
I'm 58 years old - did I tell you that? and I have a desk job. My activity at work is walking to the next meeting. What I typically do is walk in my neighborhood for about 60 minutes every morning. Before dawn, preferably, since I'm not a morning person and if I get it over with before I fully wake up, all the better. My walk is 3.6 miles. Sometimes I run for 30 minutes in the neighborhood - adding the warm up and cool down walks it is a total of 38 minutes and 3.1 miles. If I miss my walk, I go to the gym after work. On the weekends, I walk 5 miles and it takes about 85 minutes. I track my miles and time every day. And once or so a week I go to the gym for 30 minutes on the ETM and 30 minutes running on the treadmill. No falling allowed.
And I'm still not grown up.
