Happy Valentine's Day everyone!!!!!!! :)

Now is the time to set goals you wish to achieve by Spring.

Here are mine:

1) To eat within point range everyday (no higher than 27 points even when I exercise),

2) To drink at least 75 ounces of water per day, and

3) To measure all portions and journal.

Good luck!!

Sounds like you're really doing great, Swan. Way to go. Thanks for starting the next challenge.

I'm going to stick with my last challenge's goals -- to exercise a minimum of 140 minutes a week. This week I haven't met my goal because I've been sick. But in general, I've done really well and feel great about it. I'm looking forward to continuing to do better in this area.

Onward and downward,

Lauren

I will begin to exercise..... i should say walk. I started last night but walked too long, when I came home and climbed the stairs I pull a muscle in my upper front thigh. Hope it doesnt' hurt for long. Oh well. This challenge I will succeed, its my main focus.

Thanks for starting the challenge.

[This message has been edited by canadian (edited 02-15-2001).]

I'm in. I will stay on program period!

To success!

Sarah

Thanks, Swan, for starting part deux of the challenge.

On part one, I actually exceeded my goal pretty dramatically. I had said I wanted to exercise 210 min/week, with 140 min/week as a minimum. Late in January, I decided I would exercise every day in February and have kept to that so far. Last week, I exercised 335 minutes!

So, I'd like to continue challenging myself by exercising every day during the course of this challenge. I'm pretty sure I can do this, even when it's inconvenient. Last weekend, I spent 2 nites in New York City to take in 2 plays on Broadway (The Lion King and Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe). Each morning at the hotel, I used the treadmill in their fitness center. It was a great way to start the day!

I do have a question to all of you regular exercisers. I have been underwhelmed by my losses since becoming an exercise junkie. I had expected to pick up the weight loss pace, but this hasn't proved out - at least not yet. What have you folks experienced when you really exercise a lot?

Judy in snowy Massachusetts
338/244/175

Oops - posted twice ...

[This message has been edited by joody0756 (edited 02-18-2001).]

Judy - Applause, applause for your EXCEEDING your exercise goal!!!!!!! Keep up the good work.

As for how exercise translates into weight loss, it's my experience that it may not speed up your weight loss. And as you gain muscle, you may gain a little weight initially. But you will lose inches and become a smaller size. Take your measurements, keep exercising and then wait a month or two and see if there's a difference.

(Never take your measurements after exercise in order to insure an accurate reading).

Also, be sure not to allow yourself more food by rationalizing that you've been exercising. This is the voice of experience talking. :(

If you want to speed up weight loss, keep exercising as you have AND eat maybe 2 points less than your maximum.

Good luck to you!

Okay, okay i am in..........my goals this part of the challenge are water and walking everday, no excuses!!!!!! Okay wait i think i better amend that a little for sake of sanity, i will walk 5 out of 7 days a week, and water everyday!!! Lets get going!!!!


Marion

Judy, this is the great mystery in my mind as well. On weeks when I exercise 140 minutes (or more), I tend not to lose weight. On weeks when I exercise less, that's when the weight comes off. I'm not buying that I've built muscle that quickly. I *might* buy that I've built up lactic acid or whatever it is, and that my muscles are holding water because I've stressed them and my body's not yet efficient at releasing that water and bringing down inflammation quickly. This is a theory I've been hearing lately since I started looking into this.

So this week I'm going to do my exercise again (didn't do any last week due to being sick -- and of course I lost weight), and I'm going to try something different -- I'm going to soak in bath salts that claim to pull those acids out of your muscles. I've heard this from a number of sources, too -- that after a workout (or a massage, which can cause the same problems), soak in a tub full of warm water and epsom salts. This is supposed to help your body release the acids that have built up, which is why these baths help soothe aching muscles.

I'll let you know if it helps any.

--Lauren

Lauren and Swan - thanks for your responses about the connections between exercise and weight loss. I'd always been skeptical about how slower weight loss can be explained simply by the increase in muscle you get from exercising. It just seemed to be an excuse. However, the idea of a lactic acid buildup seems far more credible. So, if I continue to exercise each day, then I should see consistent weight losses from here.

Judy
338/244/175

Howdy all,
Thanks for the new challenge, Swan. :D Although my last goal of an additional 1 day of swimming and 2 days of weights has turned into 1 day of weights (in addition to daily walking) it is a step in the right direction.

As to Judy's questions, I always lost alot (2-4 lbs weekly) when I walked a swift hour daily. Now that I've added the weights and am not so vigilant on the walks, there has been a significant decrease. Also, I've let my water consumption drop. So, those are both possible reasons for slower losses.
You just kind of have to play with it. And, if you are feeling good doing this amount of exercise, who really cares what the iron monster says, anyhow? I'm definitely in smaller clothing at this weight due to exercise. And I feel sooooo much better.

All the best, I've got to figure how to get in a swim session this week.

Hi all! Count me in for the spring challenge too. I was very successful during the last challenge, and hope to keep up with the same goals: exercise at least 5 days per week, limit sweets, keep within my point range, and smile at myself everyday. :)

On the exercise topic, I also find that if I exercise more than usual during one week, my loss is not as good. But I ordinarily exercise at least 7 or more hours per week and have been losing at a pretty steady pace of 2 to 2.5 pounds per week. Some things that I think really help me are wearing a heart rate monitor to make sure I'm working within my target heart range during cardio, taking at least one day off per week, and eating at the high end of my range (and eating some (or all) of my exercise points). Unlike Swan, I have better losses if I eat more when I exercise. I'm a large person (5'10", large frame) so maybe that is part of the difference. By virtue of my size alone, I am burning more calories than a petite woman at the same weight. So I guess, as Dora already noted, it's just a matter of trying different things to see what works best for you. There's no doubt in my mind that it's worth it!

Good luck on the challenge everyone!

Marcie
293/179.8/165

Marcie - Interesting to hear about how you eat at the upper end of your range, exercise and loss weight consistently. I'm smaller (around 5'2" and have a medium frame) and I exercise a good amount. A usual week for me includes 3 days of weightlifting, one session of Pilates, one session of Yoga, one session of Funk Aerobics. Sometimes, I also add extra aerobic activity. I'm focusing more on following the program and continuing with exercise to see if I have better results.

I had an idea about why weight loss appears slower even after a good amount of exercise. Say, for instance, that you lose 6 pounds of fat and gain 4.5 pounds of muscle as a result of exercise. The scale would show only that you have lost a net of 1.5 pounds, but you would be so much healthier and have looser fitting clothes. The scale is only one indicator of health and fitness and is frustrating with its continuing fluctuation.

Have any of you ever weighed several times a day to see what happens? Before a shower, I weigh more. I am lighter in the mornings and before meals. I remember an old WW leader who would tell anyone weighing in with a slight gain or maintain to go 'potty.' Invariably, afterwards the scale indicated a loss. It's not like one bathroom trip has propelled you from the land of obesity to the land of fitness. And it's so easy to become discouraged when the scale gives a 'thumbs down.' Can you tell that I have given up on weighing for a while???? :)

Sorry for rambling...

Marcie - Interesting to hear about how you eat at the upper end of your range, exercise and loss weight consistently. I'm smaller (around 5'2" and have a medium frame) and I exercise a good amount. A usual week for me includes 3 days of weightlifting, one session of Pilates, one session of Yoga, and one session of Funk Aerobics. Sometimes, I also add extra aerobic activity. I'm focusing more on following the program and continuing with exercise to see if I have better results.

I had an idea about why weight loss appears slower even after a good amount of exercise. Say, for instance, that you lose 6 pounds of fat and gain 4.5 pounds of muscle as a result of exercise. The scale would show only that you have lost a net of 1.5 pounds, but you would be so much healthier and have looser fitting clothes. The scale is only one indicator of health and fitness and is frustrating with its continuing fluctuation.

Have any of you ever weighed several times a day to see what happens? Before a shower, I weigh more. I am lighter in the mornings and before meals. I remember an old WW leader who would tell anyone weighing in with a slight gain or maintain to go 'potty.' Invariably afterwards, the scale indicated a loss. It's not like one bathroom trip has propelled you from the land of obesity into the land of fitness. And it's so easy to become discouraged when the scale gives a 'thumbs down.' Can you tell that I have given up on weighing for a while???? :)

Sorry for going off on a tangent... :(

By the way, does anyone have a calendar which indicates the first day of Spring? While this challenge ends then, I have been unable to find the exact date. Thanks.

n 2 a swan: I think the first day of spring is March 20.

2oM

Swan, I know exactly what you mean. I used to weigh myself several times during a day and it nearly drove me to the brink of insanity! I would weigh different in the mornings and evenings (as much as 5 pounds!) and I could even manage to come up with different weights weighing as little as 5 minutes apart. Plus, the day after a "good" day, I would often maintain or even gain weight and after a "bad" day, I would often lose weight. There seemed to be no rhyme or reason to the numbers showing up on the scale. My obsession with the scale (and negative reactions when it didn't show what I thought I deserved) led me to pick up the scale one morning and march out to the garage in my bathrobe and chuck the scale (pretty forcefully I might add) into the garbage. One of the best decisions I've ever made.

I think your observation about slower weight loss being the result of gaining muscle and losing fat is also right on the mark. Although the slower weight loss is discouraging, the importance of increase in muscle mass cannot be overstated. With more muscle we are able to burn more calories and we look smaller, even at a higher weight. For instance, at 179 pounds, I'm now wearing a size 12, which is the same size I used to wear at 160, before I gained the weight (and before I exercised consistently). So even though I weigh 20 pounds more, I am about the same size--and I look better now too.

Also, if you are exercising more during the week than you are used to, your muscles and joints tend to retain more water to heal.

Hope everyone is having a good week so far!

Marcie

Swan, I expect that being shorter has something to do with losing weight less quickly, though I have no idea why that would be. (I'm 5'4".) I also wonder if you've got to do a lot of cardio to lose weight. Pilates and yoga and strength training are all good for you, but I'm beginning to think I've got to do more aerobic activity to move the scales. I'm going to try to do aerobics three times a week and strength training twice. That's what I'll work toward, anyway.

--Lauren

Lauren: You tower over me. I'm 4'11". So, what you're saying is that I'm not fat. I'm just too short!! LOL

2oM

Hello everyone

Well I haven't started walking yet, but does dancing count. Last Friday and Saturday I went dancing probably got in a good 1-3 hours of dancing over the weekend. I lost 1.5 pounds on Tuesday and I had really gone over board on the pizza on Sunday afternoon. That just proves it to me, excerise will speed up that weight loss. I have very heavy calfs and it really feels to me that i lost an inch off each in the last couple weeks. Yes!

Take care everyone

Way to go, Canadian!

Yes, 2oM, you're not overweight, you're undertall! :D I get such a kick out of your posts.

Today I worked out with real weights for the first time. Yowsa, what a workout! I am going to try to incorporate more aerobics, though, maybe keep the weight training to a couple times a week.

--Lauren

Yes, Canadian! Dancing counts. That can be as much a workout as traditional exercise. Good for you.

2oM

Greetings, fellow challengers!

I appreciate all the discussion around the impact increased exercise (or the introduction of regular exercise) has on weight losses and gains. It really helps to get the additional perspectives. I know I had expected to see my losses increase, presuming that 1) I'd be using more calories, 2) I'd create more muscle mass, which uses more energy than fat to maintain and 3) I'd speed up my metabolism. Well, all these are presumably happening, but that doesn't necessarily translate into losses, especially at first.

It's lucky that I'm enjoying the exercise for other reasons than just speeding up my weight loss. Otherwise, I might have stopped doing it. I decided to really get into it (I may have mentioned this before) because research indicates that those who exercise have a higher probability of maintaining losses, something I'm highly motivated to do.

So, I've maintained my exercising habits for all of February so far. I've exercised between 30 and 60 minutes every day this month.

Didn't WI last week due to work conflicts. Am hopeful a loss will register next week due to a drop I've observed on the home scale.

Happy challenging!

Judy in freezing rain Massachusetts
338/244/175

Judy, WOW! You're doing great on your goals!

I'm doing OK -- didn't get in the whole 140 minutes last week, but I feel good about this week so far. I've decided to incorporate more aerobics into my plan, maybe just do the weight training a couple times a week. The aerobics really do seem to have a better impact on my weight loss.

How's everyone else doing? Hey, March is almost here!

--Lauren

Hi

Well down another 1.5, and it was the dancing again.... I plan to go out and walk at least a couple times this week.

Judy: WOW, you're so close to that 100 pound magic number, keep it up. You're helping yourself and motivating all of us.

Happy challenges everyone.

Brenda
430/150.5/180 in 2002

Hi challengers. My losing streak has finally come to an end. I was up 1.2 this week. I went to Las Vegas last weekend and thought that I did ok by doubling up on the exercise and making what I thought were reasonable food choices. The scale did not agree. Oh well, I had fun and I was able to stay completely OP as soon as I returned (it was challenging though).

I just noticed today that spring is just a little more than two weeks away, let's make them good ones! :)

Marcie

Greetings, fellow challengers!

Managed to successfully finish up February by exercising every day, including a few mornings at a hotel in West Palm Beach, FL. Took the first two days of March off (exercise-wise), then got back to stepping (that's what I do, though I'd prefer a treadmill).

Was really happy to register a 5 lb loss at my last WI. Looking back over my WI results, I realized to my great chagrin that, prior to that loss, I'd only managed 5 lbs in the last 5 months! I am really hoping that regular exercise will now kick the weight loss speed back into gear.

Marcia - Where did you stay in Las Vegas? LV is my favorite city! And speaking of spring, we're due in the Northeast to have a huge storm - easily over 1', maybe as many as 2'. I am so ready for spring.

Canadian - I am also so ready to hit that 100 lb mark! Only 1 to go now.

Lauren - Good luck fine tuning your exercise plans.

Judy in soon-to-be-snowy Massachetts
338/239/175

Woo-hoo, Judy!! Way to go on that marvelous loss! And only one more pound to go to hit the 100 mark -- WOW. Boy, that's impressive. You've been doing great with your exercise goals, too.

I'm doing much better with my exercise goals as well; got my workouts in last week and have gotten 2 in this week already. And -- amazingly -- I'm starting to enjoy it. I'm seeing real progress in my stamina. Hopefully weight loss will follow at some point.

Swan, how are you doing?

--Lauren