The Score So Far (Health & Fitness)

[_Jersey Girl]

Thank you so much, Gunnar!

I don't know how much of this thread you've read (I intentionally put it in this forum so it wasn't so obvious) but the 20 pound weight loss was suggested to me by a cardiologist I saw and I had already begun working out again. I'm half way there!

It hasn't been any trouble at all to lose weight. As soon as I added exercise to my already heart healthy eating, the weight came off slowly and that's exactly how I wanted it to be. I didn't go on a diet, over the last 2 years I changed what I eat and did my gym membership Aug/Sep of last year.

I think you can definitely be a normal weight and not be fit. My ideas about exercise for myself are emphasis on cardio and strength. Any weight loss that has come from it wasn't my first priority. It sure has been a nice side benefit though!

There are lots of good ideas that have been shared on this thread, take a look at what we've all contributed! Everything we do isn't just gym type workouts. For example, when we clear our property of forest debris (slash) each summer (I either wrote about that here or in an Off topic/Paradise thread), I consider that a valid work out. Cam recently did lots of landscaping type work, planting nearly 50 bushes/shrubs!

There are all kinds of ideas here!

[_Jersey Girl]

Okay, so here's my story. As I mentioned in several posts, I've been in a slump for I dunno how long now. Exercise stops and starts, and yet I maintained my weight loss.

So a couple of things happened. Last Saturday I slipped on pumpkin mush (don't ask) that was on the floor and fell. I mean hard. I mean like the banana peel joke. I mean like straight up in the air and boom. Like slow motion, "Oh crap, I'm gonna break something" kind of boom.

Most of my weight came down on the heel of my hand. Felt fine at first. That was before my arm started swelling like a @#$%^. Iced it for an hour with broccoli, took what is that--Ibuprofen--didn't touch it. Iced above the elbow where most of the swelling was with a frozen smiley. Wasn't going to the ER because I was snowed in so decided to tough it out. Couldn't sleep, next day still swollen, felt better, took more pain stuff, and I realized...I DIDN'T BREAK ANYTHING!

Little bit of euphoria kicked in there. And then I stepped on the scale. 1.5 pound gain.

So between the survivor euphoria and the 1.5 pound gain, I hauled my tattered self and sore arm back to the gym yesterday!

[_Philo Sofee]

Okay, so here's my story. As I mentioned in several posts, I've been in a slump for I dunno how long now. Exercise stops and starts, and yet I maintained my weight loss.

So a couple of things happened. Last Saturday I slipped on pumpkin mush (don't ask) that was on the floor and fell. I mean hard. I mean like the banana peel joke. I mean like straight up in the air and boom. Like slow motion, "Oh ____, I'm gonna break something" kind of boom.

Most of my weight came down on the heel of my hand. Felt fine at first. That was before my arm started swelling like a @#$%^. Iced it for an hour with broccoli, took what is that--Ibuprofen--didn't touch it. Iced above the elbow where most of the swelling was with a frozen smiley. Wasn't going to the ER because I was snowed in so decided to tough it out. Couldn't sleep, next day still swollen, felt better, took more pain stuff, and I realized...I DIDN'T BREAK ANYTHING!

Little bit of euphoria kicked in there. And then I stepped on the scale. 1.5 pound gain.

So between the survivor euphoria and the 1.5 pound gain, I hauled my tattered self and sore arm back to the gym yesterday!

Damn, and I thought my life was rough...... I hope you heal sweetie! And I hope there isn't too much pain.....

[_Jersey Girl]

I made these today. Sharing a link to the instructions. Two baking pans only made half a pint but, they're really good! Of course you could use your food dehydrator for this.

Dried Strawberries:

https://brokegirlstherapy.wordpress.com ... awberries/

[_Jersey Girl]

Is anyone still on track? My weight is still at the 2 extra pounds I gained back and holding there. Still eating decently. I've been totally sidelined for a total of 3 weeks due to a medical emergency and treatment I had in the process. Hoping to get the green light in another 2 weeks after a doc appointment!

I've been swimming, gardening, working in some yoga and that's really about it for now.

[_Jersey Girl]

[_Black Moclips]

I know I wasn't in your original competition, but thought I'd give some results I've had. Since early February, I've lost 17 pounds of fat and added 2 lbs of muscle (weighed in at 290, now down to 275). That sounds huge but to look at me, you wouldn't think me over 240. I'm made of lead or something like that.

Anyway, what's done it for me is changing my eating (smaller meals more often - good lean proteins or shakes coupled with healthy carbs) and exercise. I joined this cross fit type of gym that literally kicks my ass every day. Its kickboxing, kettle bells, TRX bands, cardio, you name it, something different everyday. I wear one of those MyZone heart rate monitors and it measures your heartrate, effort, calories lost, etc when you work out. In these works, for a guy my size, I'm losing anywhere from 750-900 calories. I literally collapse at the end and just lay in my puddle of sweat. Its funny because people walk by and ask if I'm okay. Starting this was hell, but after a few months, while my body still hurts, its getting stronger and leaner.

I weigh in with a nutrition guy weekly who actually pinches the fat with calipers and everything. Knowing I have to face someone helps with motivation!

Anyway, good luck to everyone else. Its a tough thing to conquer.

[_Jersey Girl]

I know I wasn't in your original competition, but thought I'd give some results I've had. Since early February, I've lost 17 pounds of fat and added 2 lbs of muscle (weighed in at 290, now down to 275). That sounds huge but to look at me, you wouldn't think me over 240. I'm made of lead or something like that.

Anyway, what's done it for me is changing my eating (smaller meals more often - good lean proteins or shakes coupled with healthy carbs) and exercise. I joined this cross fit type of gym that literally kicks my ass every day. Its kickboxing, kettle bells, TRX bands, cardio, you name it, something different everyday. I wear one of those MyZone heart rate monitors and it measures your heartrate, effort, calories lost, etc when you work out. In these works, for a guy my size, I'm losing anywhere from 750-900 calories. I literally collapse at the end and just lay in my puddle of sweat. Its funny because people walk by and ask if I'm okay. Starting this was hell, but after a few months, while my body still hurts, its getting stronger and leaner.

I weigh in with a nutrition guy weekly who actually pinches the fat with calipers and everything. Knowing I have to face someone helps with motivation!

Anyway, good luck to everyone else. Its a tough thing to conquer.

Hey Black Mo!

This isn't a competition. It's more like a support group for strugglers trying to help each other keep on track. Congrats on your gains and losses!! Where'd you get your MyZone heart rate monitor?? How does it function? Cost?

Are those protein shakes you're drinking? Whey or what?

I am not allowed to elevate my heartrate possibly until after a doc appointment on Monday. I had a thing happen that involved my first ever ambulance transport. So I have to wait for the green light. I'm still holding at 8 pounds lost. Originally 10, gained back 2. I feel great and can't wait to get back to my regular stuff again!

Thanks for joining in and sharing your success and methods!!

[_Black Moclips]

I know I wasn't in your original competition, but thought I'd give some results I've had. Since early February, I've lost 17 pounds of fat and added 2 lbs of muscle (weighed in at 290, now down to 275). That sounds huge but to look at me, you wouldn't think me over 240. I'm made of lead or something like that.

Anyway, what's done it for me is changing my eating (smaller meals more often - good lean proteins or shakes coupled with healthy carbs) and exercise. I joined this cross fit type of gym that literally kicks my ass every day. Its kickboxing, kettle bells, TRX bands, cardio, you name it, something different everyday. I wear one of those MyZone heart rate monitors and it measures your heartrate, effort, calories lost, etc when you work out. In these works, for a guy my size, I'm losing anywhere from 750-900 calories. I literally collapse at the end and just lay in my puddle of sweat. Its funny because people walk by and ask if I'm okay. Starting this was hell, but after a few months, while my body still hurts, its getting stronger and leaner.

I weigh in with a nutrition guy weekly who actually pinches the fat with calipers and everything. Knowing I have to face someone helps with motivation!

Anyway, good luck to everyone else. Its a tough thing to conquer.

Hey Black Mo!

This isn't a competition. It's more like a support group for strugglers trying to help each other keep on track. Congrats on your gains and losses!! Where'd you get your MyZone heart rate monitor?? How does it function? Cost?

Are those protein shakes you're drinking? Whey or what?

I am not allowed to elevate my heartrate possibly until after a doc appointment on Monday. I had a thing happen that involved my first ever ambulance transport. So I have to wait for the green light. I'm still holding at 8 pounds lost. Originally 10, gained back 2. I feel great and can't wait to get back to my regular stuff again!

Thanks for joining in and sharing your success and methods!!

Congrats on your success so far! I know in general, its seems harder for the women I know (as they get older) to consistently lose. My wife is late 40's, post breast cancer, and its a struggle for her, even though she eats relatively well and exercises. She was always rail thin all her life, but gained as she got older. Something about those hormones! (and I wasn't calling you older either!).

I got the MyZone from the gym I go to, but I think its available in general other places. Its a red strap that is sort of bungy that goes around your chest (like just below your pecks). There is an oval/egg shapped unit that snaps on right to the front. It transmits to TV's in the gym so during the class, where you can see a square with your nickname on it and know how you are doing (Red - supper intense effort, high heart rate, etc. yellow, green, blue, gray on down). Its nice to have some sort of relative measure of effort to push yourself. Plus when you see everyone else in yellow and you are in blue, you are like "I need to kick it up a notch!. It also transfers the data to an app on your phone and emails your results after every work out. You can also start it manually (if not at a gym) and it will track your metrics.

The protein powder i use is a high quality whey protein called MaxPro. One scoop mixed with water is 137 calories, 29g of protein, and only 2 carbs. I was drinking prepackaged shakes from the grocery store (like CorePower) that tasted YUM, but the reason they tasted so good was that they were packed with sugar. The outside of the package of what im using now says:

Advanced Formula Featuing BCAAs, Micellar Casein an cold filtered whey isolate
Promotes muscle growth, strength, and recovery
Amplifies mTOR signaling activation for muscle protein synthesis
Gluten free!

[_Jersey Girl]

Thanks for the information on the protein shake! From the sound of your description of the MyZone, I'd almost bet my gym has that since it has all kinds of other "bells and whistles". When I get the green light to go back to the gym, I'll see about that.

You know what, losing the weight that I already have really wasn't that hard. I basically eat a heart healthy diet (I cheat) and all I really need to do is cardio and the weight comes off. I never even break a sweat. So long as I eat reasonably well and exercise, that does it for me. Exercise is what tips the scales in my favor. Pun intended. ;-)

Doc said 20 pounds so I have about half of that already done. I figure I can whip through the rest over summer and then I maintain. I don't count calories or anything. I try to stick with reasonable portion sizes and like I said, heart healthy choices.

My best advice to anyone (if they can do it) is eat reasonably well, stay away from pasta, bread, sugars--you know the drill, let yourself cheat and get back on the horse.

And keep moving. I press on!

I'm happy you joined in here! I can't tell you how many times just reading about someone else's fitness journey here has inspired me to keep at it.