what's in shape for you?

[Trek420]

ok, this chubby gal is going to chime in now, I wasn't going to post because you're all waaaaay fitter than I am, or maybe I'm not overweight...just underheight. ;-)

I'm 5'1" and hover around 155-59. The most I've weighed was 180 and the least as an adult was 105 but I felt weak at that weight.

My PCP (whose specialty is heart conditions) says the charts say I should weight 105 but I'd be too weak at that weight to cycle or do martial arts. He'd like to see me at 120 but says if I feel weak/loss of muscle stop because fitness is more important. I've lost inches in the last few months, went down a pants size and now those are hanging off me and I feel strong so maybe I've added muscle, it could happen. I go by clothes and how I feel generaly, don't look at the scale.

[ChainsOflove]

WOW Veronica, 150 with 21% body fat, you must be solid muscle!
That's my goal, I guess close to what I used to be...have 30+ at 5/5 too. Am miserable with it.

Can't stay on a diet. I see the bike as my my only hope. Thank God its the only exercise I enjoy.

[kpc]

Like COL, I'm unable to stay on any diet for more than a few days. But for Lent I usually try to do something that requires a little will power. This year I'm going to attempt not eating snacks from 3P til dinnertime. That's my real wild snacking time. This is the first day... MANY people at work are doing Atkins or South Beach diets, I just don't understand how they manage the disclipline. But then they think I'm amazing for doing anything physical, when to me it's a treat.
Isn't 18 to 21 % really low body fat? What is considered normal?

[Veronica]

Thanks for the compliment.

I use to weigh 180 - it just sort of crept up on me. Everyone has their breaking point - for me it was the realization I'd have to buy clothes in a bigger size. A size that to me said, "You're no longer just a little plump - you're fat!"

I lost the weight by really looking at how much I was eating. I measured everything. Ate what I felt was reasonable amount and usually got up from the table wanting more. But I'd set a timer for 30 minutes before I would eat again. Usually that gave me enough time to realize, that I really wasn't still hungry. I also thought about when I ate, a lot of the time I ate out of stress, particularly at work, at home it was often from boredom.

I'd always been kind of active, but I went into overdrive, working out 8 times a week was my goal, split between cardio classes (usually spin) and swimming. I'd been a distance swimmer in college so swimming was my easy, relaxing workout for the day. I always work out with a heart rate monitor and my goal is to keep my heart rate in the 80% range when I'm doing a class. Swimming and outside riding are a different story. I didn't get serious about riding until after I'd lost the weight. If you're not working out with a monitor and weight loss/fitness is a goal, I'd really encourage it. It doesn't lie.

And it worked. I've kept the weight off for two years now. I'm convinced that different things work for different people. I could never do Atkins or any of its manifestions (South Beach etc.) The thought of cutting out entirely something I like to eat just wouldn't work for me. Cutting back I can do. Increasing my activity level I can do. But friends of mine have had great initial success with other methods.

It's something you have to do yourself though. As I'm fond of telling my fifth graders - Change comes from within. It's not always easy or pleasant, sometimes you fail, but if you want something bad enough, you have to stick with it. If you keep doing things the way you always have, you'll keep getting the same results. It works on some kids. Some just look at me and think, "Yeah, whatever."

I no longer measure my food and I now think of riding as a pleasure, not a workout. I spin and swim so I can have more fun riding outside.

So, reach for the stars and keep reaching until you get them, Chains!

V.

[Irulan]

Originally posted by kpc
Like COL, I'm unable to stay on any diet for more than a few days. But for Lent I usually try to do something that requires a little will power. This year I'm going to attempt not eating snacks from 3P til dinnertime. That's my real wild snacking time. This is the first day... MANY people at work are doing Atkins or South Beach diets, I just don't understand how they manage the disclipline. But then they think I'm amazing for doing anything physical, when to me it's a treat.
Isn't 18 to 21 % really low body fat? What is considered normal?

22-25 is "normal" according to my gym. 12% is something you'd see on a lean athelete.

What I have in common with veroninca is how I think about food. I don't ever diet. I think about quality in, WHY I'm eating, portion size. I think about substituting good foods for bad.

examples... instead of heading for carbs for snacks, I may grab a handful of nuts, some protien ( ususally slicee turkey or fruit and cheese); if i must have ice cream I serve myself 1/4 cup portion and eat it slow.

The afternoons snacking is a killer... I wait dinner until hubby gets home which can be as late as 7. So I really try to come up with filling, good for me snacks... like the above mentioned sliced turky with some cheese slices, or another protien.

I"ve learned to really enjoy things like plain steamed vegetables, no need to slather them in suaces.

When "they" talke about "lifestyle changes" this is the kind of stuff that's meant.

Sorry if I'm rambling, I was in the ER all night. Thought I had appendicitis, but it's a kidney stone waiting to be "birthed". BEtter living though painkillers.

Irulan

[kpc]

Whoa, sorry about a kidney stone! I always thought kidney stones were men's payback for never giving birth. But lucky you, as a woman you get to have kids and a kidney stone! Hope the "birth" is over soon.

[Veronica]

Irulan - I hope things get better REAL soon. Ouch!

V.

[spokes]

I lost the weight by really looking at how much I was eating. I measured everything.

damn those lifestyle changes, eh? i've been slooowly losing weight since christmas, only after making a conscious decision NOT to eat everything in sight. portion is a huuuuge part of it. i've started putting my dinner on side plates so my brain thinks i'm eating more than i am. (seriously, it works!) 'emotional' eating is also a gigantic obstacle for me. i eat when i'm bored, and i eat too much at work (my job is not very challenging, so food is a distraction for me). of course, biking helps everything!

My PCP (whose specialty is heart conditions) says the charts say I should weight 105 but I'd be too weak at that weight to cycle or do martial arts.

oh. my. god. i'm also 5'1". i haven't weighed 105 since i was 12, when my boobs were much smaller and i had no hips. i would look like i was starving to death if i weighed that little-- i inherited my mom's german 'rubanesque' figure. i think 'should' weights are misleading, but i generally think doctors are full of crap for the most part. (any doctors here? )

Thought I had appendicitis, but it's a kidney stone waiting to be "birthed". BEtter living though painkillers.

well, good luck, irulan. they say there is good and bad to every situation, but i think this one leans toward bad!

[grannydea]

Irulan

One word "OUCH"
Hope you are better quickly.
If its anything like gall stones I don't envy you. Been there done that.
Sending prayers for a fast recovery.
Dea

[pedalfaster]

Originally posted by spokes
portion is a huuuuge part of it. i've started putting my dinner on side plates so my brain thinks i'm eating more than i am. (seriously, it works!)

Here's a fascinating tidbit for those interested in portion control. I collect old plates and dishes. My "vintage" (1930s-1950s) dinner plates measure 9" across. My "modern" stoneware from Target? 10.5". No wonder we are all getting fat!



p.s. good healing thoughts to Irulan too!

[annie]

Oh, Irulan! Yikes! Never had a kidney stone myself but have watched my husband suffer through them more than once. I am hoping by the time you read this, you've passed the stone and are done with it!
Have you had them before? What type of stone is it? Miserable things no matter what.

annie

[Irulan]

Originally posted by annie
Oh, Irulan! Yikes! Never had a kidney stone myself but have watched my husband suffer through them more than once. I am hoping by the time you read this, you've passed the stone and are done with it!
Have you had them before? What type of stone is it? Miserable things no matter what.

annie

all I know about it is that the radiologist measuered it off the cat scan at 3mm which I guess is huge. I don't think its out yet ( have to strain the pee) but I just want to be doen..now I"m so nauseus I can't drink and that's not going to help things at all.

sorrry for being so graphic, it's either lay in bed, TV or internet...

i,

[sno4rent]

Get better soon Irulan!!!

~ Wendi

[kelrunran]

I'm 4 11 1/2 (yes the 1/2 matters ) and weigh 106ish. This is the time of year when I start to get back "in shape". I am a runner that became a triathlete last year. However, during the winter I'm primarily a runner. By February I start to work cycling and swimming back into the routine. This winter I changed my "usual" game plan of running a marathon and decided to focus on lifting weights. After my first cycling season last year I found that my legs need a lot of help. Now, I'm actually kind of hooked on lifting - there is actually some muscle that I can see.

After going on my first road ride outstide on Sunday - I chased three men around for about 30 miles. Wow, "out of shape"! It got me thinking about the things I try to accomplish in a week; swimming, biking, running, lifting, two kids, working - was it all worth it? I'm happy to report with a resounding "yes" that I truly enjoy everything I do. So I don't get to one of my activities in the week - who cares! But I do love all this fitness stuff and some day hope to throw mountain biking into he mix.

Sorry to ramble....I'm getting in shape

[jobob]

Originally posted by Irulan
sorrry for being so graphic, it's either lay in bed, TV or internet...

No worries, that's what we're here for
{hug}