If you register for free, you will be able to post threads, vote on polls and lots more. If you have problems with the registration or logging in, please contact the administrator.
Even though I am not really losing a lot, it still feels good to keep on trying actually. You know, usually I would have given up by now, but this time I haven't, and even if the weight loss is stalling right now, the way I eat and exercise now is certainly doing my health a world of good in the long run. And every time I manage to resist temptation, I feel kind of proud of myself. Which is a feeling that I haven't really had for a very long time.
I'm not actually too fond of Oldham, but I got married here and this is where my husband's family lives, including his 83 year old mother (yes, she had him rather late), which I take care of. So moving is out of the question right now. I am not really happy here though - we live in a terraced house on an estate, with neighbours left and right. They don't like me because I refuse to stand at the garden fence all day and gossip, but I don't care. If it doesn't concern me or my family, I am not interested.
My school English wasn't too good actually, but since I was about 20, I always watched movies and shows on TV in the English original, rather than the German versions, and most of my friends lived in England or the USA, so I learned a lot from them. I still faced some language barriers....when I first came to visit my friend here in the UK, I couldn't understand a word her husband said to me because his accent was so thick. I learned to understand him with time - which is good, because I've been married to him for nearly three years now.
And just for the record - no, I didn't break up their marriage or anything like that. My friend died of skin cancer in 2005, and she asked me to look after her son and her husband when she was gone. And later I found out that she asked him the same thing, to look after me (I was going through a bit of a rough spot at that time). We stayed in touch, and one thing led to the other....now we're married.
Anyway, yes, it was and still is a challenge. I used to be very independant and just did whatever I wanted to do, with no resonsibilities other than for myself. Now I have a family (a husband and a disabled stepson), a mother-in-law that I have to care for (fortunately we get along okay, she thinks the sun is shining out of my backside, so that makes things easier), and a sister in law that is an alcoholic, and I seem to be the only person she listens to when she's drunk (My stepfather is an alcoholic, guess I'm just used to dealing with drunks, I don't know). So, I'm busy all the time, but I haven't got a single friend around here, my social life happens exclusively online.
I'm babbling, and I'm sure you're sorry you said anything by now.....*lol*....sorry about that.
In any case, it's bright and sunny outside, and I just spent two hours mowing the lawn and pulling weeds out and stuff like that. It's surprising that a garden the size of a shoebox can be so much work! Would have been nice if I could have done it tomorrow, but I can never do things like that on a weekend - at weekends our son is home and he needs to be supervised at all times, so I can't be outside for two hours. And I can't take him with me, because the garden isn't secure for him.
And the laundry is dry as well, but still outside....can't get myself to bring it in. Too lazy after all that gardening! *lol*
To be honest, I am horrible at exercising. I have an eliptical machine, and I use it between 30 and 45 minutes a day, every day. That is pretty much it. I have decided today to add some resistance training again - I started with that before, but stopped doing it because at the time, it was just impossible - sit-ups at 350 lbs? No way, Jose! At least not for me. But I feel that I need to do something more than just my cardio every day. Oh, and I usually go swimming for an hour, twice a week. Had to skip the last 2 weeks because I got myself new tattoos and needed to let them heal. But next week I'll start again. I also wanted to join the gym, but couldn't afford it so far - I should be able to afford it now, so I will probably start that next week as well. Maybe that will help me to get things going again.
Okay, I am done rambling now, promise...! Sorry for the novel!
Oh, and Cabbie, good job on the pound....every pound matters! I agree, thinking of the butter is a good way of visualising it. Look at what you've lost so far - 76 lbs. Over here, a packet of butter is half a pound, so that's 152 packets of butter!!!! Imagine them all in a pile...it would make quite a mountain!
Summer Shake-Up Challenge Chat Thread Post #17 (permalink)
To be honest, I am horrible at exercising. I have an eliptical machine, and I use it between 30 and 45 minutes a day, every day. That is pretty much it. I have decided today to add some resistance training again - I started with that before, but stopped doing it because at the time, it was just impossible - sit-ups at 350 lbs? No way, Jose! At least not for me. But I feel that I need to do something more than just my cardio every day. Oh, and I usually go swimming for an hour, twice a week. Had to skip the last 2 weeks because I got myself new tattoos and needed to let them heal. But next week I'll start again. I also wanted to join the gym, but couldn't afford it so far - I should be able to afford it now, so I will probably start that next week as well. Maybe that will help me to get things going again.
That doesn't sound like someone who is horrible at exercising. That sounds like someone who is great at exercising.
Elliptical every day and swimming twice a week? What's wrong with that? Resistance training is always a good idea, but don't ever think that what you are already doing is horrible.
Not to mention that a gardening/yardwork is often good exercise.
Summer Shake-Up Challenge Chat Thread Post #18 (permalink)
Wow San - I love the story of how you met your husband. It is sad that your friend died - but a really nice story just the same. It is a good job that you had got used to his accent or you might not realised what a good person he was. It sounds like she planned for you to all get together and form a family after her day.
It sounds like you have a great family there. I am sorry that you do not feel that you fit into the neighbourhood too well - but small communities can be set in their ways and it can be difficult for someone from outside to fit in.
It can be difficult dealing with elderly parents and in-laws. I am a fair bit older than you (I am nearly 50!) so I have to deal with the trials and tribulations of having parents in their late 80s and early 90s. Unfortunately my mother-in-law and I do not get along. Thankfully I do not need to have her living with us - as I suspect that one of us would kill the other - not sure which would act first LOL. I do not envy you looking after yours - but it must be so nice to have one that thinks that the sun shines out of your backside!
Guess what - I was just browsing around the forum trying to work out your age for the above paragraph and I notice that we had quite a long conversation in your newcomer thread! It looks like we have a fair bit in common regarding our husbands. Mine is still as big as ever - has there been any progress with yours?
I really am delighted to see how well your project has progressed since last August. The fact or fiction question has become FACT for you too.
I strongly suspect that my husband and I will be moving to Newcastle before too long. In the autumn my father was in hospital and in the spring my mother was there and needed an operation. Each time involved me spending a number of weeks away from home. Generally people live to quite an old age in my family so I can only envisage this happening more and more often if we do not move there as a couple.
It is brilliant that you have got the gardening done. It will be nice that you can enjoy a tidy garden over the weekend. The exercise will have done your project good - even if you didnt earn any points for the challenge. It doesnt sound like you will have any difficulty getting the 5 hours of exercise done for the challenge. Every hour seems to help the project doesnt it.
I agree with Cord - your exercise does NOT sound horrible at all. I would suggest that your success confirms OUR opinion.
I dont go to a gym - but I go to classes at the local adult education centre. My keep fit classes include aerobics which I found that I really enjoy. It also includes various different types of exercises with things like resistance bands and tubes and other external forces plus some mat work. The teacher is also a pilates teacher and she mixes in bits of that too.
It is great if your finances have improved so that you can now go to a gym. When we are doing a big project we need the help and suggestions from as many experts as we can get. Lots of people get great benefit from them. It sounds like you are so busy with your mother in law and stepson that you might have difficulty finding the time to go too often. Too many people join gyms and then do not find the time to go and end up spending a lot of money for a temporary benefit. I suspect that I get as much benefit from my treadmill and wrist weights plus classes as I would get if I was a member of a gym. I have certainly spent a lot of money on gym fees during previous failed attempts at weight loss.
I have been on my treadmill and done 6.5 miles today. Having said that - I do that every day. I am in the process of cutting it down for maintenance. I was doing 7.25 miles per day until a few weeks ago.
I have to say that I like the notion of a pile of ALL the butter lost in the project. If we all put the butter bricks that represent the weight that we have lost together we could build a life-size house. How amazing would that be!
Summer Shake-Up Challenge Chat Thread Post #19 (permalink)
I suppose I should put in my little post on the new chat thread. Kinda got sidetracked with a new friend coming up to visit and train, but I'm back. I'm going to be in a bit of a point deficit to start this challenge, since fruit and vegetables cost more than I have at the moment (stupid two-week pay periods). But that's cool, because I like having to try harder to catch up.
Work's been getting me down, because I absolutely hate retail, and I'm not set up to teach in this state, but I'm trying not to use that as an excuse for laziness. We'll see how well that works out. I'll try to be a bit more active on here; it's not like I don't have a lot of time, either. I mean, I get home, and after about an hour of reading, I'll lament that I'm bored. Haha. Well, good luck; tomorrow (today, I suppose, now that it's past midnight) is the official start of the challenge. I'm sure we'll all do some wonderful things!
Summer Shake-Up Challenge Chat Thread Post #20 (permalink)
The challenge has started over here in England as it is 9.33am.
I'm sorry that the fruit and veg is a bit expensive for you at the minute. Have you thought of raiding kitchen cupboards to see if you can find the odd tin or bag of frozen veg in the freezer?
One thing that I have noticed when I did a lot of my walking outside is that a lot of shops that sell fresh fruit / veggies often have a box of them that are just going out of date. They sell them for pennies. I used to regularly pick up a ton of food for just a few coins.
If anyone were to plant a few seeds they would be seeing veggies grow all summer long. I havent got anything producing veg at the minute and only a few tomato and one courgette plant maturing. My worst veggie growing situation for years.
I do know that I should really get onto that. I could plant a few salad leaf seeds and be getting some of those in a couple of weeks. I know from previous years that spinach and runner beans grow really easily and give a great crop too.
As I have already said in the challenge rules - I will give bonus points on following weeks for reinforcing this week's bonus task. That is a lot of weeks where I will be giving some points for getting those 5-a-day eaten.
Lots of challenges give points only for losing weight. I give everyone points for eating something. I know which I find easiest.....
I am sorry to hear that work has been getting down. Getting down never helps us make the wisest food and exercise choices. The concept of sitting feeling sorry for ourselves and eating comfort food is familiar to all too many of us - it is all too easy and the worst thing for people who need to work to control their weight. I do hope that this hasnt been a problem for you.
Have you looked into what needs to happen for you to be able to teach where you live? Would it be practical for you to move to a state where you can - at least while getting other things sorted out if that is a time consuming process?
If you really cannot pick up the fruit and veggie points (and maybe you could manage a few days - since I give them on a day by day basis - so you do not need to do it all week to get any points) then remember you can get points for exercise and posting an idea for something yummy to eat in hot weather. Plus losing weight will bring points when I add those at the end.
Summer Shake-Up Challenge Chat Thread Post #21 (permalink)
This is a glorious morning here in my area, which will be followed by yet another week of horrible weather, so it is my intention to make the most of it by doing some cycling. I'll pop back in later.
Summer Shake-Up Challenge Chat Thread Post #22 (permalink)
Happy "official start of challenge" day to you Karl.
Great idea you going cycling in nice weather. I know how you like your cycling!
It is beautiful weather here in the South East of England - but I have done my exercise walking indoors on the treadmill. Rod is off (it being Saturday) and he used to feel like I had abandoned him when I went off walking when he was here.
I did 6.55 miles on the treadmill varying the speed between 4.0 and 4.3 mph in 95 minutes.
It is my normal practice to get weighed after my morning walk and before eating. I weighed in at 8st13.8 which is 125.8 pounds. That is a fifth of a pound under my goal weight and pretty damned near perfect.
I have edited my scoresheet
I am just tucking into my first frozen fat free yoghurt of the day.
Summer Shake-Up Challenge Chat Thread Post #23 (permalink)
Looking forward to having time later this week to chat.
My main goal right now is not so much to lose weight but to get my self back into the right mindset for eating properly.
I know, I know eat properly and the weight loss will come along on its own.
I just think for now I need to get back to having my brain be in charge of this party.
I have loads of ideas for a tasty snack. When I get a free moment I will try to post it over in the food section.
Catch ya'll later!
I got a Graduation Party to whip together!!!
Summer Shake-Up Challenge Chat Thread Post #24 (permalink)
says the lady who I have seen looking very very proud in the photos of TWO graduations this month.
Enjoy the party!
=====
I cant wait for your yummy food ideas. The thing with our gang is that we certainly appreciate yummy food!
Dawn - I know just how focussed you can be when it comes to picking up points on these challenges. You always loved to win team challenges - just like me. That is why we used to choose to be in the same team for those. I just know that determination for points is going to have your brain in total control - and the rest will follow.
I cant wait to hear of the weight losses that you are going to be notching up.
Summer Shake-Up Challenge Chat Thread Post #25 (permalink)
I hope that everyone is remembering to have their 5-a-day. This is actually really easy for me (dont worry it is healthy too - not just a cheat so I get lots of points)! I eat tons of fruit and vegetables every day - it is the only way that I dont feel like I am too hungry for words.
Today for instance I have had 1 banana, 2 pears, 6 small (3 oz) apples, and a mountain of vegetables in my main meal (carrots, celariac, cauliflower, brocolli and green beans). I reckon that I could probably do 10-a-day without even trying LOL - but that WOULD be cheating because the recommendation is 5-a-day. Having extra does you no harm as long as it all fits into the calories that you want to spend that day.
I am sure that it makes it really easy when I check that my fibre level is where I want it to be - I never seem to come close to needing any extra supplements to get that right.
Summer Shake-Up Challenge Chat Thread Post #26 (permalink)
I'll have to keep a lookout for places selling past-sell-date fruits and veggies. I never really thought of that (stupid, since I worked at a grocery store). But even if I can't, I won't let it bother me. I'll start my 5-a-day on week 2.
As for exercise, I won't have too much problem putting in at least an hour a day. It's not really easy, per se, but with this challenge going I'll be fine.
As for work, and comfort eating; I don't have extra food to eat at the moment, but even if I did, it was just one off day where I had no energy whatsoever. I lived through it and today is a much better day.
As for teaching, I will be moving back to Washington State, where I first started, and take it up again. But that won't be for a few months, and I kinda want to be in good shape before I go back.
As for...haha, just kidding. Well, better focus on what I'm going to do for exercise after work tonight. I'm going to need all the points I can get now.
-Jake
Summer Shake-Up Challenge Chat Thread Post #27 (permalink)
Hey thought I better introduce myself
This challenge has come at a perfect time for me, lately I've really been trying to eat more fruit and veg plus I need to a kick in the but where exercise is concerned!
Wishing everyone good luck, we can all do it!
Summer Shake-Up Challenge Chat Thread Post #28 (permalink)
forgive the newbie question, but I want to make sure I understand. On the worksheets, do we just keep editing them as we workout/eat veggies and fruits? Should we wait until the end of the day to fill it out or just keep updating as the day goes on?
Summer Shake-Up Challenge Chat Thread Post #29 (permalink)
Just a really quick post as it as 1am here and my husband is on his way up to bed so I havent got time to chat. Great to see you chatting together.
Just edit the scoresheet as you go. I update things as I do them. It means that you dont forget something. Of course if you dont get around to it and edit a few days at once that is fine too. Some people leave it to the end of the week in challenges - but I never know how they remember - also they have a problem if the internet goes down!!!
Summer Shake-Up Challenge Chat Thread Post #30 (permalink)
I am fighting an inexplicable depression (which is really strange since I tend to analyse my every mood to the nth degree so I usually know exactly why I do or feel anything) right now. I don't know if it is because of stress due to my weight loss efforts, or what.
Heck, it may well be envy. I know I feel inadequate compared to a lot of people on this forum re diet and exercise.
If that is the case then I have to work on understanding that it is not a competition (well, except for this challenge!), and I need only measure my activity/diet against what I have done before, and not what anyone else is doing.
Still, whatever the reason, I feel lousy. And it doesn't help that I am working a couple of overtime midnights right now on my days off before going back onto day/evening shifts on Monday.
On the up side, the big veggie plate and mound of cherries I ate at work on my midnight already puts me past the 5 servings of fruit and vegetables. And I went swimming today already, so I have got some exercise in.
Linear Mode
