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I've been walking a 5k every day for two weeks and I've been off fast food of any kind for over two weeks. I'm feeling like I'm retaining a lot of water and I'm not sure why. My wedding ring is tight and my clothes are tight. My face is puffy. I've been having some pain in my left kidney area. I figured it was just a stone -- I've had them before -- and that was three weeks ago. It's still a bit twingy, but not fold-me-over painful.
I have a full physical schedule for 9/27.
Roxy
Are you drinking enough water? (and I don't mean diet soda!)
Quote:
Originally Posted by channlluv
Hmmm. If it continues much longer, I would schedule a visit to the doctor now and not wait a month.
What have you been eating in place of fast food?
About the same- 117.4
Juliegoddess, hope the surgery improves everything- you sound very upbeat.
Speaking of kidneys stones, something in cola helps them form. Now I'm trying to really cut back a lot on diet soda (eventually cut them out completely) and I'm down to 3 or 4 times a week instead of daily, but switched to diet Dr. Pepper after I had lithotripsy for a kidney stone 15 years ago.
183.5#
120 ounces a day, including four cups of green tea with stevia, and I never drink soda.Quote:
Originally Posted by tulip
Diet changes lately include switching to sprouted grain breads, but that's about it. DH suggests cutting out bread completely and everything included in the White Death category. I occasionally eat potatoes, like, once a month or so. Almost never white rice. Brown rice sometimes. I do eat a lot of sandwiches, though. Meat, veggie (lettuce, tomatoes, cucumber), whole grain/sprouted grain bread.
Pasta could be a culprit. We eat pasta a couple times a week. Salt, too. I do use salt when I cook.
This morning I had Grape Nuts with strawberries and skim milk. Lunch was at the martial arts studio -- we had a potluck. I had some veggie fried rice, about a third of a cup, and some kalua pork, and about a half cup of potato salad. I got there too late for the salads. All that was left was iceberg lettuce, so I skipped it. I also had a piece of the celebration cake (15 years in business).
Dinner will likely be leftover spaghetti and a salad.
I'm wondering if inflammation has something to do with this. I've been under a lot of stress for years. Or system-wide candida. I do get sugar cravings. Dessert is sometimes a Tofuti Cutie or Trader Joe's chocolate soy equivalent.
I do snack, but I'm not a binger. I quit recording my calorie intake in Lose It, though, and I need to get back to that.
Roxy
If the sandwiches include deli meat, that tends to have a high sodium content.Quote:
Originally Posted by channlluv
Isn't 120 ounces of liquid per day kind of a lot?
I've read you're supposed to drink half your weight in ounces of water. I'm 230-ish, so that's 115 ounces, give or take. I have 24-ounce water bottles, so I fill up five times a day. Slosh, slosh.
Roxy
Is this something you've been doing for a long time, or a fairly recent thing?Quote:
Originally Posted by channlluv
I wonder if cutting salt out of your diet (by cutting out fast food) meant you don't need to drink as much water now. Just a thought.
Off and on for a long time. Most recently, about two weeks, but even before that, I'd get 80-100 ounces pretty easily. I don't drink sodas at all, or juice or milk or coffee, so that leaves tea and water. Sometimes I'll mix in Emergen-C or Gu.
I thought more water was supposed to flush water. Is that not true?
And a friend pointed out that a minute ago I said I rarely eat potatoes or white rice, but had both today. I honestly can't remember the last time I had potato salad or fried rice, and only did today because they were the only edible things left on the buffet by the time I got there (the other choices being fried chicken, cheeseburgers, skin-on roast pork, white bread rolls with some kind of meat and cheese stuffing, and sticky rice that was way over done). So I took small portions and made the best of it. (And I've been nauseous ever since, so I'm paying for even that. Figures. Mayo, probably.)
She suggested next time I go prepared with better food, which is a good idea, but there really are usually better choices. I just got there late today. The salads were gone.
I'm going to get a full physical on the 27th, so I should have some answers. I don't feel sick at all. Just bloated. And some twingy pain in my left kidney area. And a full-blown emotional meltdown this morning, which is why I was late to the potluck. Other than that, I'm good.
Thanks for caring. Really.
Roxy
Here are some rough guidelines for intake of fluids, not limited to water:Quote:
Originally Posted by channlluv
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/water/NU00283
Of course, you can need more or less depending on how much you are exercising and thus how much you are sweating.
Well, I'm walking a 5k every day on the treadmill in a hot garage/gym. I sweat a lot. I go through two full water bottles each workout, so 50 ounces, give or take. And I only go at a moderate pace, so I burn about 400 calories in an hour. That article suggests only 8-9 cups per day. I think that's probably for average-weight people.
Today I'm going to start wearing my heart rate monitor again -- something DH suggested after we talked about this yesterday. I'll have more accurate readings because it's got more accurate programming.
Breakfast was sauteed veggies with two eggs - no salt added - and two Trader Joe's veggie sausage patties. I'm heading out to the garage now.
I'll figure this out. Thanks for all the support and helpful suggestions.
Roxy
Is it taking you an hour to walk three miles on the treadmill?Quote:
Originally Posted by channlluv
Your breakfast was about 400 calories.
Pre-made salads are not always the best choice at a buffet - lots of hidden calories in those.
Veronica
Yes, about 55 minutes to walk 3.155 miles. I know, it's slow. But I feel like I'm working pretty hard. Please keep in mind I'm just shy of 47 and 100 pounds overweight and my knees are what keep getting injured when I overdo it. I'm trying to be prudent here, but I know I need to go faster.
I think 400 calories for breakfast is good, isn't it?
Roxy
Roxy,
Have you considered walking less and spending a few of those walking days lifting heavy things or swinging around a kettlebell, or something else related to building strength?
It seems like you don't have much of a plan. You have a stated goal of losing weight, but not a working plan to get you to that goal. And seemingly, the things you've been doing aren't working.
Maybe it's time to do some reading, find or make a plan that you think is workable for your life, and put it into action. Things (like potlucks with limited choices) are always going to come up, but without a plan or framework--knowing how to eat, for example--we often just start making decisions willy-nilly and end up much worse off in the end.
My intention isn't to sound harsh. It just seems like you've been spinning your wheels with this since the beginning of the year. And you often seem to find yourself in situations where you make food choices that you question (or worse, berate) yourself about after the fact. That's just not helpful or productive.
Hey, I'll be 45 in December, so you can't really use age as an excuse. :pQuote:
Originally Posted by channlluv
It's a fine number for breakfast. Mostly I was pointing out that your walk burns your breakfast and that's it. Those veggie sausages are a little higher in fat than I would like on a daily basis for breakfast. Yes, they only have 4.5 grams each, but as a percentage of the calories in the item, that's high.
Veronica
400 calories is not enough for me for any meal, especially breakfast. I would get hungry before lunchtime.
Whatever your total caloric goal is, it's best to have more of the calories at breakfast and lunch and less at dinner, so you don't wind up so hungry late in the day that you overeat.
I generally walk at a pace of 3 mph when I walk for exercise. On the treadmill, I do intervals by increasing and decreasing the incline. Outside, I walk routes that include hills.
I have genetic abnormalities in my knees and feet - thank you paternal grandmother!- that have plagued me since I was a kid. Losing 35 pounds was the BEST thing I could have done to preserve my knees. I still have to be very careful - can't ever push a very big gear on my bike, can't sit on my knees when I'm on the floor with my class, some days I have to change my weight workout because my knees can't handle it that day...Quote:
Originally Posted by channlluv
This too can be overcome.
Veronica
Thanks, ladies.
Ultra, you're right. I don't have a real plan. I do need to mix it up with weights. I'm back on my bike tomorrow, though. My 37-lb steel-frame MTB. The last time I lost 20 lbs, it was on this bike.
Veronica, I have to pause my walks because my feet hurt so much sometimes. Like a neuroma in the balls of my feet.
Roxy
If the plan is to lose weight you just about have to reduce your calories. In fact, lots of exercise can make it harder to lose weight as it increases your appetite and people tend to overestimate the calories out when they are looking at how much to eat. There is some evidence that people who keep a food diary do better at losing weight. I have to count calories and keep the diary--I use the Livestrong site. If I don't count I know that I will not estimate correctly.Quote:
Originally Posted by channlluv
FWIW, I lost 10 lbs a few years ago by reducing portion sizes. I saw some dude on tv talking about how to lose weight, and he mostly he just said "I"ll tell you an important secret after this commercial," but I did manage to hear secret #1 which was eat when you fell physically hungry and stop eating as soon as you start to feel full.
It made sense, since so many people eat for other reasons, like boredom and emotions, and many were probably taught (like me) to always eat everything on their plates when they were growing up.
So instead of eating a whole sandwich for lunch, even though I was full before I finished it, I would eat half and put the other half in the fridge. Then instead of a late afternoon snack, I would eat the other half of the sandwich.
For dinner, I started making smaller portions for the same reason -- I was always full before I finished eating, so I figured I didn't need to eat so much.
Anyway, even doing this it helps to focus on healthier foods and stuff like that, but I did find it helpful.
I really like this guy's blog. He has lots of good advice.
Veronica
I lost 50 pounds in a little over a year. This was from a very high protein, moderate carb, lower fat diet, and LOTS of exercise that featured pretty heavy strength training and lots of cycling/spinning. I was under medical advice regarding all of the above as my successful attempt to reverse the onset of type 2 diabetes.
Since then I've pulled back on the protein percentage (though it is still high), and also moderated the exercise a bit to prevent a repeat of the overuse injuries of last year. I haven't changed the type of exercise, just pulled back a bit on the strength training (only twice a week for the riding season), and no spinning unless it rains. My weight has stabilized and just bounces around in a 4 pound range, though I would love to lose another 10 pounds. I do suspect, however, that if I DO lose those 10 pounds, that I would decide that I needed to go down further...
I have heard that advice but hunger is a funny thing. I often feel really hungry and also rarely feel full. This was true when I wasn't dieting and continues to be true now. Maybe it was years of overeating but my gauge for hungry and satiety is unreliable. :( The gauge does work a little better if I watch the carbs and lean towards a higher protein, higher fat diet.Quote:
Originally Posted by ny biker
Thank you all for the support. I really do appreciate it. What I really need is something simple to stick to, and then the willpower to do it.
I renewed my Y membership today. I'm working from my Food to Live By and Master Your Metabolism cookbooks. I'm recording what I eat in Lose It. I haven't yet, but I'm going to be adding weights soon. I have tons of support. There's no reason this shouldn't work.
Roxy
It seems like a lot of the people here who have had successful weight loss have worked out with a personal trainer. How much do you think that has helped, and why?
I honestly hadn't thought about how much sugar and unnecessary carbs I was eating. Prior to working with a trainer, I had been doing and training to ride double centuries - really how fat could I be? :rolleyes:
I kept a diary of my foods and we pored over it and that really helped me drop the last ten pounds.
Additionally the added muscle - I've gained 5 pounds of muscle in three years - burns more calories. And I haven't added to my calorie count.
I really don't know how many calories I'm eating a day now. But here is a typical day:
B: 3/4 cup Great Grains cereal on top of 3/4 cup non fat Greek yogurt mixed with a serving of Brown Cow yogurt.
S: an apple with 4 (?) TBS peanut butter. I don't measure it, so I'm guessing
L: a bunch of fresh spinach with about 6 oz grilled chicken, some cherry tomatoes, some almonds, 5 croutons (I count!) and 2 TBS balsamic vinaigrette - always measured.
S: nuts, or a protein bar, or trail mix
D: basically a plate of meat, chicken or fish
I should eat more veggies, but I really don't like them.
Days I'm doing two cardio sessions I do eat more carbs - cinnamon toast and some pasta usually.
Veronica
A lot of Ys offer a free session or two with a Wellness specialist and/or personal trainer. Plus, their personal trainer opportunities are often fairly reasonable. You might look into that.Quote:
Originally Posted by channlluv
Personal training is expensive, but very well worth it. I've done it for two years, though will likely have to drop it in December :(
For me it provides personal accountability, motivation, and his knowledge on how to best meet my goals. He also knows how to work around my physical limitations and to keep me from hurting myself.
I've gotten all kinds of benefits from working with my trainer, but we focus on exercise, not weight loss. He did recommend Nancy Clark's book to me.
There is much variety in quality of personal trainers out there. I see some who don't pay attention to what their clients are doing and either don't know or don't see that their form is wrong while doing certain exercises. My trainer has a degree in exercise physiology in addition to personal experience with marathons and triathlons. (However I can still beat the pants off him in Words with Friends.)
Isn't this the last weigh in? Up a little to 147.8 :(
Count me in for the next one :)
135.4....sigh
Last weigh in and I am 119, exactly where I was last week. Averaged 1360 calories a day. I think I had some bad count days because we were on the road and ate out a lot. Hard to figure calories in food you do not prepare yourself. So, I bet my average was higher.
I am happy, I am less than my goal.
154.6 today. Hope I can maintain over the holiday weekend! We'll be eating lots of hot dogs and hamburgers and I'm sure some beers and s'mores fireside.
No weigh-in for me; I'm on vacation. I was 143 before I got my period the other day, when I went up to 145. Last month I hit 147 during TTOM so hopefully I've really lost a couple of pounds. Still, I didn't reach my goal.
Friday updates!
https://spreadsheets.google.com/spre...ItcFE&hl=en_US
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mako
Yep this is the last one for this challenge.
I'll start a new thread this weekend and in that thread folks can let me know if they want to play again for the next two months. :)
Thanks Posse for keeping this up.Quote:
Originally Posted by Possegal
117.0 today. Still in the same ball park but not going up anymore.
I lost 38 pounds in about 16 months. I'm currently about 33 pounds below my start weight. I used Weightwatchers on line and the bike. No trainer. I'm sure a trainer would help me get stronger in my upper body, but not necessarily helped my weight loss.
I stayed at goal for about 6 months, than inched up a little at a time for the next 6 months. Now is it is coming down again but very, very slowly.
228.6
I'm just ending my period. I've cut back on the walking from 5k to 1 mile - one intense mile, upping the intervals speed to 3.5 and the level up to 4, per advice from you all. And I went for a short swim yesterday. Just 20 minutes, and then a hot sauna for about 20 minutes.
It's been let's see...a month since I had any fast food, although I will occasionally go to a restaurant. I actually slipped up yesterday and not thinking, I ate white bread. I got a turkey sandwich and salad at a local organic marketplace, and I just didn't think to ask for whole grain bread. It came on one of those flat bread things that look like a pita. And it knocked me out for about an hour. Now, granted, I've been sleep deprived all week, too, but there's something about white flour and white rice that makes my body shut down, especially if I'm already tired. I would have thought the protein from the turkey and the salad would have balanced out the white bread, though.
So, headed in the right direction. 90 pounds to go.
Roxy