Weight Loss...Advice

sweetwalks

Ok, all you ladies who have had amazing weight loss journeys..chime in!

DH & I are joining the gym this week. I started a while back and got about a quarter into my goal and then I let life get in the way.

I tried WW, I had the myfitnesspal app but never really used it, etc. I lost weight by working out and eating better. I just feel like it's easier for me to put it off if I'm at home, not the gym.

I'm thinking of starting a blog to document my journey & as a way to hold me accountable for losing the weight. For me, it's about being healthier not just skinnier.

I don't want suggestions for diet pills, shakes, etc. but mainly exercise routines you did, meal plans, etc.

Thanks!

CFjo2010

I started doing Crossfit back in April and LOVE it.  It's an amazing cross-training program that focuses heavily on strength training.  I have become addicted, and go 4-5 days a week now  

If you're interested in a DVD to do at home, try the Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred.  I was doing that before I started Crossfit.  The only reason I didn't stick with it is because I need people to hold me accountable for working out.  I don't do well just working out at home.

Good luck!

sweetwalks

jobalchak said:

I started doing Crossfit back in April and LOVE it.  It's an amazing cross-training program that focuses heavily on strength training.  I have become addicted, and go 4-5 days a week now  

If you're interested in a DVD to do at home, try the Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred.  I was doing that before I started Crossfit.  The only reason I didn't stick with it is because I need people to hold me accountable for working out.  I don't do well just working out at home.

Good luck!

Thanks! We have the Insanity DVDs, TaeBo, some dance DVD's, Zumba, and I'm the same I just don't do well doing it at home.

I'm excited to see what classes the gym offers because I love Yoga. I could do it twice a day!

I've heard a lot about Crossfit, I'll have to look and see if anywhere local offers it.

fellesferie

I did weight watchers for several months, and I exercise 5-6 days a week. I mostly use an exercise bike while I watch TV or read. I need to start working on a strength training routine, but I am procrastinating. =/

With meals, it's easy as long as we eat at home! For example, this week's meal plan: chicken & snow peas stir fry, turkey meatloaf with mashed potatoes, lime cilantro shrimp, spaghetti. I use brown rice rather than white rice, wraps instead of bread, whole wheat/high fiber pasta, ground turkey instead of ground beef. When I bake, I use apple sauce instead of oil, white whole wheat flour instead of ap flour, etc. Yesterday morning I made blueberry pancakes with white whole wheat flour, greek yogurt, eggs, and a bit of sugar. They were great and only 1 WW point each. 

There are certain things that are non-negotiable for me. I drink 2 cups of coffee (with Splenda), and I drink 1 diet coke a day. I have 'healthy' ice cream a couple times a week (but will only eat 1/4 cup or so). When we go out to eat, I order whatever I want.

I motivate myself through deadlines. I started losing weight last Aug, and promised myself that I'd lose 40 lbs and then eat whatever I wanted on our Italy trip in Feb. And I did--wine, bread, pasta, gelato... it was magnificent! Right now I'm trying to lose 15 lbs for our Disney trip in October.

This website is great for meals: https://www.skinnytaste.com/ She gives nutritional info and everything of hers I've made is delicious.

CFjo2010

fellesferie said:

With meals, it's easy as long as we eat at home! For example, this week's meal plan: chicken & snow peas stir fry, turkey meatloaf with mashed potatoes, lime cilantro shrimp, spaghetti. I use brown rice rather than white rice, wraps instead of bread, whole wheat/high fiber pasta, ground turkey instead of ground beef. When I bake, I use apple sauce instead of oil, white whole wheat flour instead of ap flour, etc. Yesterday morning I made blueberry pancakes with white whole wheat flour, greek yogurt, eggs, and a bit of sugar. They were great and only 1 WW point each. 

Have you tried using almond flour when baking?  Less carbs and it still tastes yummy

sweetwalks

Thanks felles! Great advice. We've made major changes to our eating & I'm cooking at home every night. I wanted to do things that DH and kids would still eat, and all of those are great suggestions.

I do better with deadlines too so I'll be setting those!

fellesferie

@jobalchak I haven't, but now I will! I was looking for a reason to go to Whole Foods.

@sweetwalks Making stuff the kids will eat is BIG for me. I only want to make one meal. There's a garlic mashed potato recipe on that website that DH & the kids LOVE. It was a huge relief to me to find it since potatoes were becoming an endangered species in my house. 

bebe11

After I turned 40 *gasp* my body started changing and not in a good way, I put on 15 pounds.

What has been helping me is writing down what I eat and working out.  I used to work out with a trainer, and did bootcamps and crossfit. When I moved over to doing crossfit, it was at my trainer's gym and he was really hard on me and expected way too much since I used to be a client with his personal training.  So I eventually stopped going, and I wish I hadn't. 

Now, I meet up with one of my friends once a week and we walk a sloppy trail and do stairs by the beach, and then I jog and do the stair machine at the gym.  But I find that I really like being outside, and usually opt to go jogging.

karatechrissy

I workout at home when I'm not at karate.

go to thedailyhiit.com

All free videos. All body resistance training. They use a few things but if you are just starting out you can do it without weights and stuff. When they use weights I literally just fill gallons of milk with water and sand and have them on stand by.

sweetwalks

Thanks ladies! All great advice! I'm getting busy tonight with plans and preps and hitting the gym tomorrow!

2chatter

If I work out I eat more.  I get shaky if I do not.  And I tend to eat things that are pre-packaged in those scenarios.   bulk up quickly; both fat and muscle.  I played rugby in college, and weigh far less/went down two sizes since I stopped playing rugby (my legs were like tree trunks).  So long way of saying - if what you are doing ends up not working for you - figure out why and try something different.  I thought for years I needed to hit the gym, and it was actually part of the problem.  When I shift gears and eat fresh foods 90% of the time I stay at what I think is my natural weight.  I walk, I play outside with the kids, etc.  But I don't hit the gym.  I did WW after my third child just to get a jump start and lost 25 pounds with very little effort. 

sweetwalks

2chatter, that's kind of where I am. I was working out at home, small exercise routine every morning took 20 mins, and eating healthier as well as taking vitamins and drinking lots of water. Dropped 20 lbs in about 2 months. I was beginning to be happy with it and then I slacked off.

DH wants to lose weight & bulk up so gym is necessary for him & I'm taking advantage of all of the organized classes like Yoga, Bodyvive, etc that will help keep me focused. Once I lose weight I'll do some weights to tone up certain parts of my body.

@jobalchak I looked into crossfit in my county & while I'd love to do it it's an extra $200/month on top of the gym membership. 3 day per week classes isn't quite as bad if only I do it, not sure if its even something DH would enjoy or want to do. In order to spend that kind of money I want it to be something I enjoy. They have a free class, I may check it out!

sweetwalks

@andrea99 our gym offers those classes & I was definitely going to check them out! Glad to hear someone else has tried them.

I may give the classes @ gym a few months before I look into crossfit.

sweetwalks

Awesome! Thanks a ton. Our gym offers 3 free PT sessions, 1 hour each & we have a smart card that keeps track of our fitness routines, how much weight, how many reps, time of breaks, etc. they really make it super easy to stick to it, so I'm excited.

I'll check out the website tonight while I'm making my plan for classes.

sweetwalks

I tried doing low carb once, it was just a matter of discipline something I didn't really have then. DH needs a high calorie intake to achieve his goals and I just need to maintain a lower one & eat more healthy items.

I'm with you on needing to somewhere to work out, I did great for 2 months and then just kind of gradually slacked off. I think starting my blog and doing classes at the gym will help hold me accountable and make it harder for me to slack.

CFjo2010

@sweetwalks - Look on Groupon and Living Social.  A lot fo the Crossfit boxes run deals on those sites and it's much cheaper.  I started with a Groupon that gave me 20 classes for $49.  20 classes is basically a month.  So instead of paying the regular $189 for the month, I paid $49.  Plus, some of the Groupons say that you can purchase 2 or 3.  So essentially you could get a few months of membership for the price of one month...

sweetwalks

Thanks! I love groupon and need to start paying attention to the fitness deals too.