Healthy and Fit

Ok, sooo, I'll be the first to admit, I've been a slacker.  I believe my last post on this board was in May, when I had joined a gym in the US.   

Since then, I left my job, packed up my bags, and started university in Notts.  My course has kept me really busy-- I'm in the lab anywhere from 8:00am - 8:00pm, which leaves little time for anything else. I was able to join a gym that's open 24/7, but have only been once since it opened in mid-November.  It's a bare-bones gym though, with just cardio equipment, free weights, and the machines.  No exercise classes. No pool. But it keeps my membership rate low..

I'm in the US for Christmas/New Year, and can proudly say that I've been going to my parents' gym for the past two weeks, doing a variety of things so I don't get bored-- yoga, pilates, treadmill, elliptical, swimming, weight training, etc. I'm worried that when I return to Nottingham, I will get bored with just cardio/strength training.  I do have a yoga mat, but my apartment is itty bitty, without much room to actually do a workout..

How do you all keep yourself from getting bored/losing interest?  Also, as a side note, I just discovered you can search for workout-buddies on SparkPeople's SparkPages...except in creating my own SparkPage, it won't recognize my postcode, as it's alphanumeric rather than the US's numeric zip codes. Have any of you gotten around this? If so, please do tell, as the rep who responded to my email was less than helpful. 

Anyhow, from the sound of things, it seems the holidays have happened to hit everyone back a notch (My mom's constant baking isn't helping me either!), but I've found that the SparkPeople articles are actually quite motivating!

PhatBeetle--Instead of *trying* not to eat anything fried, I've given up soda and chips.  If I eliminate all fried foods, I'm bound to fail (Who doesn't love some fried chicken!?!), so i've limited it to just two things, which to me, seems more manageable. Maybe this could work for you???

Shugga- How were the first two days being back on your diet?

Jewlz-I'm so sick of all the holiday toasts too! 

CheeseBiscuit- I wouldn't consider you a cheater at all.  The surgery was a huge decision for you, and from what I know, it is definitely not a "short cut".  Keep up the good work, and good luck with your continued weight loss!

Hey! Good to see you on here! 

I'm doing great so far this week... I've been tracking calories every day on Spark People since the 1st, and I've never gone over 1300 calories in a day, so that's good (my range is 1200 - 1550). I've also been drinking loads of water. I feel much better, physically, with less food dragging me down, but I have to admit, I am hungry.  Still, I keep hoping each day will get a little easier as my stomach shrinks. Last night, I wasn't too hungry after dinner until I went to bed, then I laid there for a while listening to my stomach growl, haha, but it is getting easier, I think.  I haven't started doing any exercise, yet, though, which I find hard because my job feels so hectic (I know, poor excuse!) and I'm so tired when I come home. But hopefully I can at least start doing an exercise video a few times a week. I'm just trying to get control of my diet first!

I haven't weighed in, won't do until this weekend to see if I've lost anything this week. My ginormous belly looks slightly smaller, though, so I think I'm doing ok. 

I really love reading this thread.

Prior to Christmas I had been going to the gym about 4 days a week and making my workout just a bit longer each week. 

I was horrible of Christmas and New Years.  DF had just gotten here and we went to MD to visit my family.  On top of that my Dad gave everyone a really nasty cold for Christmas and I'm still not breathing well.  I'm full of excuses.

I think that I'm still going to find it very hard to eat well while he's here because we like to go out, but I went to the gym this morning and it felt great!

How do ya'll balance exercise/diet time when the significant other is finally around and your concentrating on spending every minute together?   

How do ya'll balance exercise/diet time when the significant other is finally around and your concentrating on spending every minute together?   

Horizontal exercise? 

Horizontal exercise? 

Is that an option to input on SparkPeople? If so, I'll be getting my 30 mins of cardio when I return next week!  

You made me look and I started usinghttp://caloriecount.about.com/ again
So under activity I put "sex" and it came up:
Search Results in Activities
Calorie Count Results for: sex
Matching Categories: Sexual Activity

   1. Sexual Activity, General - Moderate Effort - 105 calories per hour
   2. Sexual Activity, Active - Vigorous Effort - 121 calories per hour
   3. Sexual Activity, Passive - Light Effort, Kissing, Hugging - 81 calories per hour

Hey, burning calories anyway you can 

You made me look and I started usinghttp://caloriecount.about.com/ again
So under activity I put "sex" and it came up:
Search Results in Activities
Calorie Count Results for: sex
Matching Categories: Sexual Activity

   1. Sexual Activity, General - Moderate Effort - 105 calories per hour
   2. Sexual Activity, Active - Vigorous Effort - 121 calories per hour
   3. Sexual Activity, Passive - Light Effort, Kissing, Hugging - 81 calories per hour

Hey, burning calories anyway you can 

lol ! I love that !!!!!!
I have to be honest, I've been watching what I"ve been eating lately, no crisps, pop, ice cream, and if i do need somethign sweet i let myself have one christmas cookie we have leftover. I've been snacking on fruits and veggies all day whenever i get hungry, and drink as much water as possible. I have been feeling a lot better about myself and I really just started the 1st of the year. I've already gone down 15 pounds since september, but there was a week where I was ill and didnt eat anything as I didnt have any appetite whatsoever. My goal is when daniel comes to visit that I'm looking healthy, and better than i was the last time i saw him. I'm almost there, 5 pounds to go ! also i've been working out as much as i can during the week, doing mostly cardio and then an arm workout as well on the machines, even if it is just a 45 minute workout, at least it's something i say.

Is that an option to input on SparkPeople? If so, I'll be getting my 30 mins of cardio when I return next week!  

There's definitely plenty of that!  I wish that he would come to the gym with me, but he's not a morning person and I am. 

As of 2 days ago I'm back on the wagon so to speak...watching what I eat...I just HATE feeling hungry but I know it's only until my stomach shrinks again...but that combined with Aunt Flow...I'm not exactly the most plesant person to be around, and that's with coffee...I can't do without my coffee and I allow myself unlimited brewed coffee when I'm dieting...grrrr  I've lost about 1.5lbs so it works...I just feel like breaking things 

As of 2 days ago I'm back on the wagon so to speak...watching what I eat...I just HATE feeling hungry but I know it's only until my stomach shrinks again...but that combined with Aunt Flow...I'm not exactly the most plesant person to be around, and that's with coffee...I can't do without my coffee and I allow myself unlimited brewed coffee when I'm dieting...grrrr  I've lost about 1.5lbs so it works...I just feel like breaking things 

Sugar free jello-jelly always used to help me with the hunger and SF popsicles, I get the toy story ones The SF jelly just fills that gap, especially if you want something sweet and a portion is <10cals (i get the Hartleys pots)

Also, if you're missing fancy coffees or want a treat you can get some really great sugar free coffee syrups, I have the sugar free dulce de leche, caramel, French Vanilla and gingerbread, they're really good! I don't do cream but make great at home skinny flavoured lattes

If you like yoghurt, the Fage 0% greek yoghurt is really great, it has like 7g of protein per 100g so keeps you feeling full much longer, it makes a great snack as its less than 70 calories, and you can tart it up with fruit and splenda

I'm back down to my pre-US, pre-Thanksgiving, pre-Christmas weight and I'm very happy about that. I also managed to do it even though I've only been to the gym once since getting back from the US on the 20th. I tried to go this week, but I had a slight cold and working out turned it into a full blown chest cold/cough. I'm finally starting to feel better, but I think I'm out of commission until next week

Also, I'm thinking about getting rid of my Weight Watcher's stuff I bought last year. I bought it for 60 euro, but I would be willing to give someone a great deal on it, and mail it to them, if they're interested! I have the introductory binder, points finder, points calculator for exercise, points booklet for shops, and points booklet for eating out. It's UK- based, so it's definitely not going to work for someone in the US.

Errr...I don't recommend the puking your guts out diet - it works, but it makes you feel horrible!!! 5 lbs in 2 days, oh yeah, dehydration!

Why oh why do I get sick every time I come to my parents house?

Feeling better though now, so it will be back in no time.

Then I'll really need to get on the healthy living train again when I get back home to Scotland. 

Sugar free jello-jelly always used to help me with the hunger and SF popsicles, I get the toy story ones The SF jelly just fills that gap, especially if you want something sweet and a portion is <10cals (i get the Hartleys pots)

for some reason i never thought of that.  Most nights I LOVE to have a bit of icecream, but well, that's not my healthiest option..  I will try sugar free Jello   I've also looked around for Frozen Yogurt at my local tesco, but they don't seem to have it.  Have you ever made your own? Can I just stick a little pot of greek yogurt in the freezer for a few hours?

for some reason i never thought of that.  Most nights I LOVE to have a bit of icecream, but well, that's not my healthiest option..  I will try sugar free Jello   I've also looked around for Frozen Yogurt at my local tesco, but they don't seem to have it.  Have you ever made your own? Can I just stick a little pot of greek yogurt in the freezer for a few hours?

You can! But I think it's a nicer texture if you whip or blend the yoghurt first, so like blend it either with a tiny bit of honey, splenda or fruits - blueberries work really well (don't get the honey flavoured greek as it's SO high in sugar) before you freeze it

Well, I've been doing well this week, but I've had a tough week, so tonight I had two glasses of wine and a couple of leftover chocolates from the Quality Street box.  I guess that's not so bad, though. I didn't splurge on dinner, so my calories aren't astronomically high, but I definitely need to stay on track, just really needed to wind down tonight.