July/August Weight Loss Challenge

[goldfinch]

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

Here are some rough guidelines for intake of fluids, not limited to water:
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.

[channlluv]

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

[Veronica]

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.



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.


Roxy

Is it taking you an hour to walk three miles on the treadmill?

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

[channlluv]

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

[ultraviolet]

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.

[Veronica]

Please keep in mind I'm just shy of 47...

I think 400 calories for breakfast is good, isn't it?

Roxy

Hey, I'll be 45 in December, so you can't really use age as an excuse.

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

[ny biker]

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.

[Veronica]

... my knees are what keep getting injured when I overdo it.
Roxy

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...

This too can be overcome.

Veronica

[channlluv]

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

[goldfinch]

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.