[cynnymynn]

In addition to losing weight by watching what/how much I eat, by adding exercise into the mix (walking, light weights, some cardio), since 12/28 (when I measured for the first time) I have lost 2" from my bust, 3 inches from my waist, and 3 inches from my hips!

I'm not talking about killer workouts here, either. I'll be 54 next week, have a sedentary job, and, with a few attempts at exercise which failed because I tried to do too much too soon, have been a confirmed couch potato for years. I now use the weight exercises in Miriam Nelson's "Strong Women Stay Young", which take a half-hour or so twice a week. On other days, I do the abdominal exercises in Dr. Nelson's book, and have dusted off our old stationary bike to do some cardio. (I started small--3 minutes!--and have worked up to 20 minutes twice a week.) I babysit my grandson (age 1-1/2) Saturday afternoon thru Sunday afternoon, and he gives me one heck of a workout as well!

I think what has worked best for me this time is that I started out with small, do-able increments, done on a regular basis, gradually increasing as I went along. I have a lot more energy, and it's just easier to move around!

On that note, it's time for me to do just that!

[teahoney]

Good for you!!!

[lateralus98]

AWESOME! Keep up the good work!

[srmb60]

Fabulous! Good work! And thanks for bringing 'the magic mix' back to our attention.

[josie4]

Congrats!

[AmberM]

Good job doing some exercising! Did you mean 12/28 of 2005 or 2004? YOu've lost 3 inches in 3 days?? That seems pretty amazing to me....

[Losingitin06]

keep up the great work!

[cynnymynn]

Yes, I mean 12/28/2005. On 12/28 a.m., I measured 44-43-54. On 12/30 a.m. , 44-43-53. This morning, it was 42-40-51. Same tape measure, same time of day. I *think* I did the math right!

That's not to say the loss is going to continue at this rate. (Sighhh.) I suspect I'm still losing water weight, which accounts for the rapidity of some the loss. But it's still a loss, and it's tremendously encouraging.

The best part, tho', is the energy boost and increased flexibility from exercising. That's not to say I go skipping happily to the weights, bike, whatever! Because of my schedule, I exercise after work. There are many days that I drag in the front door just wanting to flop down on the couch and bemoan my exhausting life.

The big challenge is just getting started! Sometimes I bribe myself--"if I do the workout, I get an hour of reading/bubblebath/whatever." Something that has worked really well for me is playing the soaps I recorded earlier while I work out. (Yes, I watch soaps. I think the addiction has been passed down through DNA in the female members of my family!) Once I get started, I can always make it through the workout.

Strange as it may sound, once I finish my workout and cool down for a bit, I've got energy to knock out some chores, or even GO OUT. (For years, when I closed the front door behind me when I got home from work, the outside world ceased to exist for me.) Must be the same principle as priming a pump.

Thanks for the kinds words, everyone!

[cynnymynn]

I rounded stuff off in the last post. I found the actual paper I wrote the measurements on, and I think it still comes out the same overall inches.

Dec. 28 Bust: 44 Waist 43 Hips 54
Dec. 30 Bust: 43-1/2 Waist: 42-1/2 Hips: 53
Jan. 1 Bust: 42 Waist: 40 Hips: 51


I'm off to add a few columns to my weightlifting log so I can keep accurate track of the inches. Every bit of encouragement helps!

[Thehopefulcry2]

Awesome! Keep it up... see just a little bit of change can bring results, Fab!
~Heather~

[lucky]

You are doing a great job! Isn't it amazing? I remember seeing my measurements go down being like the first time I'd ever ridden a bike by myself. My dad let go of the back of my banana seat and when I realized I was on my own I just kept screaming, "I"m doing it! I'm doing it!" Then, of course, once I'd gotten the hang of it I wondered why on Earth I'd ever been afraid to take my training wheels off. I've had the EXACT same thoughts as I've lost weight.

[Valerie Joy]

Good job! Seeing your mesurements go down is the best!