Well, how did October go? Have you had a chance to reflect and contemplate? What went well? What do you need to work on?

I need to tidy up my percentages. Too many of my calories come from fats, so I should cut my fats and increase my proteins.

I don't lift weights near as often as I should, so that's another goal. Two to three times a week would be great.

I have been including running up town for errands in my exercise ticker. I'm not going to do that any more, just dedicated exercise.

I'll do a little math and make a new ticker now. I kinda like new beginnings ... like the beginning of a new month

This last week was very difficult for me. My older daughter and hubby had H1N1 and it very much tied me to the house and therefore, the food! I have had too many carbs.

The indoor rock climbing facility where I live closed. I loved it so much there. I had started taking tennis lessons but I just flat DON'T like it. I would if there weren't any rules and all I had to do was hit the ball. I went to tennis this morning but decided it will be my last class. I dislike tennis for the same reason I despise step aerobics--I don't like to do much "thinking" when I am working out. So, I am dedicating myself to finding another activity I will like. Tomorrow morning a friend has invited me to try "hot yoga" with her.

We have a vacation planned for the end of the month. I am kind of stressing about the food portion of it. We will out of the country--so much of my normal methods will not be easily employable.

I actually don't have any plans for next month. I kind of winged it this month and although my running was spotty, I still lost 5-6 pounds which is a lot for me. I can feel my asthma coming back so that worries me, plus it's dark so early now that running after work is out. I guess my plan for this month should be to join the gym.

Today is beautiful here. The rain and gloom of the past week or so is gone and it's a warm, sunny day. I mowed the grass for the last time this year and tonight the trick-or-treaters will come, so that'll be fun.

I was gaining a little bit, and now I've lost a few of those pounds. The problem is I haven't been cooking or exercising. I know, shocking I just feel tired and put things off - and of course I know the only way to get more energy is to start eating better and exercising, no mystery there. But overall, I'm doing OK. Always room to improve

I'm so happy to read your post, SusanB, because it says what I need to hear right now.
I'm at the point where fatigue has set in. I'm unmotivated and unenthusiastic about food right now. I'm hungry. Nothing looks appealing. So I'll eat crap because it is there and fast and easy. This stops right now.
I have to find an exercise I really like. I've belonged to my local gym for years and have good intentions but really crap followthrough. Maybe I'm not a gym goer at heart. Is this even possible? Every show on weight loss and every program shows people at the gym. What if I hate the gym? Maybe I should acknowedge my non=gym nature and try something different. I'm open to ideas people!
Recommitting to diet and exercise -- could it really be just that simple?
Thanks for listening.

DH and I tried the gym. It was fun for a while. But I prefer my home.

I can be very wishy washy and discourage easily. If I decide to exercise ... there can't be too much time for me to change my mind

I've followed the wonderful advice I get from Krista here

http://www.stumptuous.com/

... and have collected up quite a bit of equipment. It's what works for me.

Let's see what the others have to say.

Hello MissKimothy - I don't belong to a gym. I run 3x/wk at a local park with trails then I work out 5-6x/wk in my living room - usually doing exercise videos from ExerciseTV On Demand - which is free from my cable company. ExerciseTV.tv also has free full length videos of their branded workouts online that you can do right from your computer, which I've done a few of them too. Other than that, I have a yoga mat and a set of 3# and 5# weights so I'll sometimes do some high-rep, low-weight weight training on my upper body while I'm watching TV. Hope that helps.

Thank you very very much, SusanB and ShrinkingAmy. I think there is an industry around weight loss and personal trainers and gyms are part of it. Sometimes it is easy to think "I hate the gym" and then not give any effort at all to the diet and other types of exercise. I have to fight this, so I think I might start walking. I know there are a few yoga centers around here and JulieJ08 has a yoga avatar on her signature -- hopefully if she reads this she'll tell me what kind of yoga she does and if she likes it!

misskimothy, I totally agree the gym is totally unnecessary. It can certainly be exactly what some people love, but if it's not for you, don't waste any time worrying about that. There's so many things you can do outside of the gym. I know TBG believes in weight loss and maintenance without the gym too!

I live by my yoga (even if I was weirdly delinquent about any exercise this summer ). So many benefits, both mental and physical.

Me, I'm the type to research the heck out of things and do them on my own. So I read a lot of books about yoga, bought a few, and did it at home from the beginning. I've actually never been to a class - it's certainly a lot safer to start with a class, and I really want to attend some because I know I have my blind spots. You can get videos too, although I can't recommend any as I haven't used any.

An excellent book is Yoga Mind, Body & Spirit, by Donna Farhi.

I personally like a daily, very early morning yoga practice for 1 to 1 1/2 hours. I include Sun Salutations (a great warm-up for any activity, and can be aerobically demanding), lots of standing poses (great for strength and further warming up), and core and arm poses (I get compliments on my arm muscles purely from this). Then backbending, twisting and forward bending floor poses, and shoulder- and headstands. I end with Corpse Pose (laying flat on your back), which I have come to adore. Doing all of this with attention to breathing and mental focus is what makes it yoga and not just calisthenics and stretching.

Walking is also excellent, of course. Running can be more accessible than people think. Try Jeff Galloway - he advocates frequent walk breaks for runners as a standard practice (not just for beginners), even / especially for running longer distances.

Other non-gym ideas:

Bicycling, rock-climbing, dance, mini-trampoline, hula hoops, jump ropes, body weight exercises (which overlaps with yoga), weight training at home with resistance bands.

I used to like going to the gym a lot because it motivated me to be around other people exercising, but recently I haven't been going as much, and if I do, it's purely to lift weights, something I can't do at home. Otherwise, I do all my cardio (walking, running, biking) outside and I've been doing an exercise video in my livingroom.

The exercise video gives me the same push and motivation as going to a gym class does, but I get to do it in the privacy of my own home, and make all sorts of weird faces and sounds as I huff and puff my way through it.

I used to not think so, but now I believe you can get a great workout (if not better) without the gym. I waste lot of time going to and from the gym, changing, waiting for machines, etc etc, and sometimes just thinking about the commute discourages me from going.

One good day in. Elliptical, upper body and a nice array of percentages!

Those new to featherweights who are used to celebrations are going to have to get use to this. We celebrate miniscule amounts like 0.2 of a pound!!! That's my lowest since April 2008.

To say I'm excited is an understatement.

I'm glad we figured out the back pain thing and I'm not sorry I had the hysterectomy. I am sorry that it took a whole year (plus) to get my backside back into gear. Am I glad to have that 19 months behind me? Heck yes!

Regainers rejoice! It can be done! This feels good!

Man! I am a bloated mess! between sodium and week before TOM, I have gained 2lbs - adn I know it's all water weight! I'm keeping my weigh-in at 136.6 since it's been consistant for the last three weeks - not going to count my water issue this week! I need to find a way to deflate all this water before I leave for vacation on Wednesday!!! lots of water and zero salt I'm thinking! ugh!

sorry i disappeared for a few days there; things have been a little crazy for me. well, it's been two weeks since i started dieting and exercising and so far i've lost 3.5 lbs. not any crazy amount but good enough that i want to keep going. i'm going on my tropical vacation in about a week. so i'm worried that with an amount like 3.5 lbs i can easily put it back on in the week that i'm away....but i'm trying not to think like that. and i start week 2 of c25k today!i'll see how it goes..during week 1 by the end of each running interval i was dying (but made it through) so i'll see today if i can manage week 2 or if i'll have to do week one again.

misskimothy-i agree with a lot of what's been said. going to the gym is great for some people, but if you have motivation problems (like me) then even the thought of getting there, changing, etc etc can be enough to make you not go. i love working out at home. my only concern is that there's no one to tell me how my form is. but still, i like it and stick to it way more than at the gym. and try c25k! i'm only starting, but it's great so far!

happy november everyone!

Thanks everyone, and thanks to JulieJo8 for her lovely and informative post. I shall do the research and look at the options in my town for yoga classes. We have in indoor rock climbing place too that would be fun to try. Perhaps I can get DH involved in a course there!
Once you open your mind to the possibilities, activities seem much more exciting!
Oh, and I've decided to weigh in only once a week. I have trouble with the scales as in I have a scale addiciton so once a week it is. Here's to celebrating the 0.?s!!!!

Hi all!

It's my first time finding out about the featherweights, and boy am I glad I found you! It's nasty business being so close to goal. I'm in a 5lb challange right now and am struggling!

I am a member of a gym but have to admit I never go. I have started walking during the day at work. I work by a small hill & the distance up & back is 1/2 mile. So at 3x a day, a brisk walk is all the exercise I've been getting.

My plan is to continue to have good intentions of going to the gym and maybe actually making it there a few times this month. I am eating low calorie meals and foods with low point values, although I'm not officially doing weight watchers.

I don't own a scale (there's one at my work they use for boxes and now for me too) but it's not that precise. I will mostly celebrate reduction in waistline measurements since all of my weight is in my gut. I'll have to take that measurement tomorrow. I'm certainly not looking forward to it!

Thanks all and for November!