hi LWL,

Tiki, good to hear your back is over and I'm sure you'll come out a winner in the mind games

Mel- good luck with cramming.

I'm back at the cardio: jogged 1 hour this morning, 3: 1 minute intervals.

rabbit

Just a check in. Week 3 Day 3 of Couch-to-5K yesterday. Now to deal with the intimidation factor of Week 4.

This morning was my first lower body in over 9 months. Wibbledy legs. Been a long time since I've walked fighting my legs' attempt to lock the knees at every step. Really remedial routine. Sad.

I think part of my problem with learning online is that writing things helps me learn. So whether it's from a book or a screen, I still find myself writing things over and over so I can really learn it.

Happy hump day...

Hi All!

Quote:
Originally Posted by tikanique
I guess I know what life is like heavier but maybe am afraid of what life would be like if I succeeded and got to goal.

I felt bitter when I lost a lot of weight some years ago, because only then I realised what a terrible emphasis is laid on the way we look. I even treated compliments with suspicion, like "sure, NOW you like me". Part of it is insecurity, of course, but what astounded me was once I reached my goal weight, I got demotivated in spite of compliments on how I looked! It was as if I subconsciously resented being accepted beause I was thin and better looking than before and tried to react to this negative feeling by eating more in stead of keeping status quo. Doesn't that sound strange? Although I guess from comments that it is a bit like this for some of us. As I get older, I find it is easier to keep it under control, though.

Tiki, it takes me 4 hours to mow the lawn with an electrical mower, and afterwards I look like I have been dipped in green feathers and leave marks all over the floor in my house. This IS a huge workout, and needless to say, I don't feel like going to the gym on those days.

Mel, I have never been able to learn from screen. Highlighting is better for me also because you can shorten the text so much easier. Good Luck! Oh, what course is this? could you give me the site? It's difficult to find anything useful in French!

had a great workout yesterday, arms/shoulders and old-fashioned aerobic to let off steam. Today is legs, bike and Body Balance (kind of Yoga-Pilates thing).

I feel good!

Lieke

Morning. Another day and night of chest congestion and coughing. I finally took something stronger in the hopes that I can get to the gym tonight. I slept on the couch last night so I could be in a semi-reclining position and at least I didn't wake up all night with a stuffy nose. Enough about my poor sick body.

I don't think that many people can learn from reading on the computer. It's fine for interactive stuff, but straight reading - yuck. Notice that E-books never caught on. Now audiobooks, they're great. I've been listening in my car for ages, and I finally bit the bullet and signed up with Audible.com and download them to my MP3 player. Saves me in the middle of the night when I can't sleep, or doing the dreaded when I'm tired of the music I have loaded (note to self: load some new music!)

Mowing the lawn (about 2/3 acre) used to take me 2 sessions of 2-3 hours. Summer before last I broke down and got me a riding mower! Still takes a few hours, but much easier.

Hi LWL -

I had a great doctor's appointment. He told me it is OK to train for the marathon and if I still enjoy it as the distances get greater to "go for it". The only caveat he gave me is not to run on cement if at all possible, as it is hard on the joints. Medically my A1C came back "normal" which now makes me a "lifestyle-controlled diabetic". I need to go back in Oct and if I am still in the normal range I will be reclassified as a "non-diabetic". Who knew diabetes was reversable? My blood pressure was 100/64 so I am off that medication, too. He is pleased with my last body fat measurement at the gym (30% from 42%) and told me that body fat is a much better indicator of health than BMI. He also prefers the calipers to the electrical impedence for measuring the body fat. Wow. What a great appointment. So I stopped and treated myself to a present - the new Green Day CD - what a great CD for cardio - I rocked thorugh 30 hard minutes on the elliptical. Then I had a great training session. Spoke with both my PT and yoga instructor and told them how thankful I am to have them in my life. I could not have gotten this far without them. I feel the same way about you all, LWL. Thank you for all your support and encouragement and knowledge. This has been an amazing time for me.

Tiki - I have a lot of thoughts on body image and dealing with the changes we are going through. I know that most of these issues in me come from fear of change and I have tried to acknowledge that I am scared but excited to see what else I can do. Somehow admiting to myself I am scared helps. Remember, when I started this I had also just quit my job and career after 22 years. I was very identifed with "what I do" rather than "who I am" and that was a hard transition for me. I also try not to focus on the "look" or "number on the scale", but the health impacts of what I am doing as well as how I feel. For me, the fear is somewhat less when I concentrate on the "now" - how I feel in this moment, and not so much on the future and what other people think. I know I cannot control their reactions, but I can control putting on my sneaks each morning. I have also "shed" some friends along this journey, and that was sad, but I realize I need to surround myself with those who feel good about themselves and their relationships rather than living each day in drama where I have a pre-defined role and once I step out of character they are disappointed in me. I no longer fit the "fat friend" role and it is threatening to them, but not to me. I am happy and excited about where I am and look forward to my next discovery. They know where to find me when they are ready, too. (sorry, guess I have a lot to say on this...)

I do hope your back is feeling better.

Pat, welcome home to a honking cold - yuck. Here you are back from a wonderful vacation and flat out feeling miserable. I know it isn't pretty and I hope you are back to yourself soon. Are you over your jetlag yet?

Raventoy - keep at it with the 5K training. I will be the first to tell you it is worth it. Just take your time and realize this is what training is all about. You will get there at your own pace.

I also vote "no" on on-line classes unless they have been developed as such with a focus on adult learning patterns and interaction. I have taken good ones and bad ones. You can tell which ones just typed teaching notes vs those that truly understand technology and want to get the most from it.

Wish I could comment on the lawn thing, but I live in a co-op exactly so I don't Have a great evening ladies

Ellen, that was a great appt! No wonder you're feeling great. I was amazed the last time I was at the doc to find that they had changed what they consider to be a "good" blood pressure. Means that mine - which I've always been told is normal - is now borderline. Grrrr.

As for the jetlag - I'm still waking up before 5 am! I've been keeping my MP3 by the bed and listening to an audiobook when that happens. I figure at least my body is still resting. The cold is on its way out - feel much better today. I'm off to the gym after work.

Ellen -- Wow Congrats on those numbers... and you know congrats on your journey, you've come a long way baby ... That was a really good post...

Pat -- Sorry to hear of your cold, get well soon!! Have you taken out your mower already?

Lawn and Garden -- I suck period ... and I don't like it I'd rather be biking or running...

Ellen,

That was an EXCELLENT POST!!! I am so glad that your doctor's appointment went so well. I know your doc was pleased as is all of us, your family and most importantly YOU!

I will give what you said about image, fear, and focus quite a bit of thought. I do so want to succeed not just for appearance but moreso because high blood pressure, diabetes and heart disease all run in my family. To hear that your doc said the diabetes could be reversed is truly amazing.

WaterRat, glad that you are shaking that cold. I also hope you had a great afterwork workout.

Hi all the rest, I had a healthy dinner - extra lean ground turkey over broccoli with sugar free pasta sauce. Now its off to the gym for chest workout.

TTFN!

Tiki.

Ellen- What a wonderful post and fantastic news from the doctor's appointment. I have a lot of thoughts on these issues, too, but not enough time right now to really formulate them and post. Another time. My journey very much mirrored your, though it was the fear of diabetes that started me rather than the actuality. Congratulations Believe me, this is a never ending journey that you have embarked on...not just because the lifestyle changes really have to be lifestyle changes, but you'll constantly be learning new things about yourself in the process.

I just got back from my son's school. All the French I classes put on a presentation of skits, readings, concertos, etc. Unintentionally, it was the funniest evening I've ever spent in a public school I'm sure there were som $10,000 bloopers there if anyone got them on video!

Off to bed,
Mel

Yay! I actually got to the gym after work and had an awesome upper body workout. Basically I had to reduce the weights on only one exercise even after 3+ weeks away. Skipped the since I'm still getting short of breath and coughing with exertion. Definitely better though, and all symptoms should be gone in a day or two.

And no, Ilene, haven't mowed yet, though I will this weekend. Phone company came today and buried the line that's been on top of our grass all winter, so no excuses now.

Ellen - congratulations on the diabetes stuff at the doctor. That's flippin' awesome!

Did lower body weights yesterday, and feel less sore than last week. Persistence pays off, eventually....

Hi LWL!

Ellenuw, congratulations at the great results. I also never knew that diabetes was in fact reversible!!!. I also recognized some of your starting conditions.. I was forced by a burnout situation to abandon my career of 20 years and figured that the best way to get out of the depression by natural means was excercise and spend some time on myself. Presently i am still on sick leve, still unable to work but my endurance is lightyears better and my moods also.

Workout for today was 1 hr jogging interval 3min run, 1 min slow run.

Hi to all the other LWL

have a great day,
rabbit

Thanks you all for your congrats. I have had a great week - still flying on the news. Yesterday I did 20 min 4:1 intervals and increased my speed to 4.5 mph. Then I did a yoga session. When I got out I ran into my trainer and he told me I looked "radiant". Wow, that was pretty cool. It seems to be a combination of running followed by yoga is a very powerful relaxation regime for me. Yesterday afternoon was blissful even though the agenda consisted of slicing 4 pounds of strawberries, 6 red peppers and 3 English cucumbers (Costco run results) and laundry. But all my socks matched and no "dryer dragons", so a great day. Then I went out with an old collegue who was in town on business and found out she is also a runner and may come to Las Vegas if I do it, too. Boy, all these runners in my life I never knew about. This is all very exciting.

Today I have 30 min on elliptical followed by weights. Then this afternoon I am going to a "restorative yoga" session with some girlfriends and meeting up with the guys for dinner. Oh yeah, and a "fix up" I have instigated for one of the trainers at my gym and a guy I used to work with Promises to be a fun evening, but EARLY as I need to be up a 6am for my marathon training. Sat is a 5 mile that starts at the Pentagon and then goes around the Jefferson Memorial and Washington Monument and back to base. I feel so lucky to live here!

Sounds like we are all "getting back to normal" and our workouts and eating are in good places. I know that menstrual cycles of women who live together start to coincide after a while. As we are all on this "upswing" could it be possible that women who meet regularly on-line get their bio-rhythmns or something in synch after a certain time together? Hmm - I'm sure someone must have grant money availabe to study this ....

Ellen - Your posts made me smile. What a great bunch of victories for you! And thank you for the encouragement.

Today there was no way those legs were going to do any running. So I did my shoulders/arms instead. Upped the weight by 5 pounds. I have to shake my head because it seems so puny when I think about what I used to do. Yes, I need to build back up to it, but geez. *sigh* I'll do my Couch-to-5K tomorrow. At least I can walk almost normally today.

Hi everyone!

Busy at work today, we had the big shots over so had to look our best. Had a good workout the day before yesterday but was screaming the morning after so I decided to take it easy and go today, I only realised that I had somewhere to go this evening a few minutes ago when my colleague reminded me. Tomorrow I work again so it's going to be Sunday before my next gym session, although I am planning a walk on saturday evening, or maybe even a session lawn mowing. I figure if I do it in parts it'll be easier

Ellen, a bit belated maybe, but congratulations on your results!

Have a good day everyone

Lieke