Healthy and Fit

I'm doing much  better food wise (cut out the sweets and cutting down portions), but I've gotten the worst cold ever, so exercise is out for at least a week, I think. Arghh.

I did the Shred videos all the time last year, but now we're on the second floor with wooden floors..so I don't know when I can do it!  That said, I'm in the gym a bunch, so I don't feel too bad. 

Well, I actually increased my calorie intake a bit to compensate for the exercise - from about 1300 calories per day and no exercise, to about 1400-1500 calories per day with exercise (I think I burned about 1000 calories last week during my walks and by doing the Shred dvd 3 times) so I'm still trying to figure out my balance. I lost just over a pound this last week. I want to make sure I have enough energy for my workouts and can increase my metabolism now that I have added the exercise in. Basically, I have just added in two or three snacks per day along with my regular meals to see how that works out. So far, I'm feeling pretty good, though I didn't do anything at all yesterday (I had a very poor night's sleep on Saturday night and was up at 5:30am with my stepson, so I was drained) and I skipped my walk this morning because I figured I needed the extra sleep. I'm going to do the 30-Day Shred and walk for 20-30 minutes afterwards when I get home tonight.

I've got my WI at WW in a couple of hours, not sure exactly how it will go.  I worked out a ton this week, but don't know how careful I was with counting points.  I was pretty good til Saturday.  And didn't go off the rails yesterday, but hmm, dunno. 

But!  Just more motivation to regroup and do well this week, no matter the outcome.

Can I just say I am immensely frustrated with having been ill for ages and I can't wait to get back to a gym routine next week when things settle down for me.

I feel so freaking sluggish and grumpy. The gym is the thing that seems to regulate my stress levels and my mood and being asleep for a month is just annoying. At least I am better, but I didn't know where else to moan. 

Can I just say I am immensely frustrated with having been ill for ages and I can't wait to get back to a gym routine next week when things settle down for me.

I feel so freaking sluggish and grumpy. The gym is the thing that seems to regulate my stress levels and my mood and being asleep for a month is just annoying. At least I am better, but I didn't know where else to moan. 

Awww... glad you are feeling better and hope you can get back in the gym next week! 

Awww... glad you are feeling better and hope you can get back in the gym next week! 

Thanks! I am going to sweat any last sicky-ness outta me. 

I've got my WI at WW in a couple of hours, not sure exactly how it will go.  I worked out a ton this week, but don't know how careful I was with counting points.  I was pretty good til Saturday.  And didn't go off the rails yesterday, but hmm, dunno. 

But!  Just more motivation to regroup and do well this week, no matter the outcome.

Good luck with your weigh-in! 

I actually just decided to stop trying to lose weight from here. I think 125 pounds is great, and I would be happy to maintain this weight, as I am feeling really good about myself lately. It was kind of a tough decision, I guess, in thinking about how much I have weighed in the past and getting down to the size I was way back when, but I am older now, and I feel much more comfortable with myself in general. I had my goal set to 120 pounds, but decided it didn't really matter so much. I would still like to tone up a lot more and be more fit in general, though, whether that means gaining a few pounds of muscle or losing a few more pounds of fat or whatever. So I set my Spark People nutrition thing to a maintenance phase and it increased my calories from 1200-1550 per day to 1480-1800 per day, which seems reasonable for my size and activity level. I am going to stay at the lower end of that range for a few weeks and continue the exercise and see how that works out for me. 

I actually just decided to stop trying to lose weight from here. I think 125 pounds is great, and I would be happy to maintain this weight, as I am feeling really good about myself lately. It was kind of a tough decision, I guess, in thinking about how much I have weighed in the past and getting down to the size I was way back when, but I am older now, and I feel much more comfortable with myself in general. I had my goal set to 120 pounds, but decided it didn't really matter so much. I would still like to tone up a lot more and be more fit in general, though, whether that means gaining a few pounds of muscle or losing a few more pounds of fat or whatever.

Jewlz, I think that's a really healthy decision, both physically and emotionally. 

Jewlz, I think that's a really healthy decision, both physically and emotionally. 

Thanks! I feel really good about it. I can look back on times when I was thinner, but I certainly can't say I was healthier, either physically OR emotionally. I'm very happy about the changes I have made in my life and my diet and the way my body reflects those healthy changes. Plus, I love food, and maintaining 115 pounds would just be too hard for me. I have to be realistic and show the cupcakes some love.  I am planning to also quit smoking soon, so maintaining my weight while doing that will be challenging enough!

I am planning to also quit smoking soon, so maintaining my weight while doing that will be challenging enough!

Health wise, I think it is better to be a non smoker with extra weight than a smoker and thinner. And congrats about quitting smoking as a goal. Anyway, do what you need to, but don't beat yourself up about the rest. It took me seven serious tries of about 4 months to a year of quitting each time before I stopped permanently. So any effort to quit is better than none. Kinda like exercise itself. Always better to do what you can and don't sweat the other stuff! 

Good luck! 

Well, I gainedtle this a lit this week.  Not a ton, but I know exactly where I came from (hello, wine and thai food) so I'm just going to go guns blazing into this week.

I have decided, though - that for this week, since there's nothing really that social (parties, pubs) on the horizon that I'll cut out the booze for the week, since it's the easiest way for me to trim calories and makes me less inclined to like..eat crisps/chips.  

But on the other hand, my clothing is fitting a lot better (less flab) so I know my workouts are working, even if the number hasn't shifted much on the scale.

Wow, good luck! 

I went from smoking 2 packs a day to having the occasional cigarette when I'm out (but it has to be like, out out, special occasion). 

Good luck! 

Thanks! I quit once for 9 months and was doing great, but the extra weight I gained made me so depressed that I went back to smoking. I guess that is my concern over trying to maintain my weight (or at least not gain too much). But I do realise that quitting smoking really is the most important thing I can do for my health. I think exercising really helps me want to quit, so I definitely plan to keep that up. Reminding myself that if I wasn't a smoker I would have more endurance to go further really pushes me toward making that step.  

Thanks! I quit once for 9 months and was doing great, but the extra weight I gained made me so depressed that I went back to smoking. I guess that is my concern over trying to maintain my weight (or at least not gain too much). But I do realise that quitting smoking really is the most important thing I can do for my health. I think exercising really helps me want to quit, so I definitely plan to keep that up. Reminding myself that if I wasn't a smoker I would have more endurance to go further really pushes me toward making that step. 

I think just keep trying to maintain a routine of exercise as best you can. The best advice I ever got from a fitness instructor was 'Something is better than nothing.' I gained loads of weight when I finally quit smoking permanently. It took me a long time to get back into a physical, emotional and lifestyle place where I was living the same quality of life I had before I left Canada and was smoking. I am healthier overall as a result because I do what I did in Canada and I am a non smoker.

The key things is to try and do things as consistently as you can. I swear to you, my lung capacity is amazing from quitting smoking and it has had a seriously positive effect on my health and stamina. No matter what the scales say, it is a healthy decision to quit smoking. And if it doesn't work or if you wobble, don't beat yourself up over it.

We're all human and imperfect and life is messy.