Help! I need some support!

Have been looking around for dishes more suitable for our sized people. Have been looking at Asian dishes on line. Haven't found anything I want yet. Will let you know if I find something.

MS: Oh yeah..... the food tracker is a major eye opener!

I have a problem with portion control as well, some times I go back for seconds which is not a wise choice. The food tracker is helping me to face reality of my bad eating habits.

HAVA ....... I just saw this. I hope everything is going better for you. Be sure to remember that we will gain weight and lose it daily up to 3-5 pounds of water weight.

If you've been on a plateau for a while be sure to change up your routine. I go to a gym, but try to fit in different classes and it helped me a lot. I did pilates, strength training, zumba , but I'd do 2 classes a week. My body never knew what was going on because it never became a routine.

When it comes to eating, keep in mind that you should shake it up too. For example if you are in 1200-1400 range, eat 1200 a couple of days then eat 1400 couple of days. Eat 1100 one day then eat 1500 one day. It keeps your body guessing and it all equals out weekly on calorie deficit.

I am so sick of this plateau. I do not understand how I can gain lose and re-gain and re-lose the same 1 or 2 pounds and not move on???? Any advice/suggestions?

I hab a cold. I sound all fummy. Seriously. I have been battling a cold since Saturday evening. When I'm sick I don't worry about calorie deficit, but feed the cold. I've eaten an entire cantaloupe, a personal sized watermelon. 1/2 lb of grapes. 5 cups of my chicken/chile/tomato soup. 3 cups of my tomato cucumber salad. Plus 2 multi-vitamins per day. 1 egg + 2 egg whites for breakfast.

I'm to the sniffles/ all stuffed up stage, which means my tonsils no longer ache and the end is near. The scale has not gone up thank goodness.

I SUCKED with my plan today. Schedule got really messed up - not an excuse but it is the reason.

I am completely drained of all energy and have a ton of things to do. I am irritable and anxious and still stuck on a weight plateau. Bottom line - yes, this is the day the Lord has made and for that reason I do rejoice in His day and His creation...but frankly, personally, I am NOT having a good day AT ALL!!!

Keep Sparking!!

I have been out of control some more and is about to move.

Lucinda, I know just what you mean. I'm in my 50's too, and it does get harder and harder to lose weight. I need to increase my exercise and then tone down my overeating. I love to eat and not always the most healthiest things. I'm already doing 30-45 min./day on my recumbent bike. I'm only 5'1" also. I've shrunk too! It sure likes to pile on us shorties! ha! I guess it just all boils down to the fact that we have to put out more than we take in. I try to drink lots and lots of water and eat my 5 freggies each day. I just need to watch my portion control more. Good luck to you. One day at a time and little changes too each day turn into big changes!

The food tracker has really helped me with food control that and eating oatmeal early in the day. Also the last 2 days have been grazing and had binges of eating snacks. I had finally lost 1 lb and afraid to weigh myself fear of a gain of more pounds! I'm only at 5'1 was 5'2 1/2 but lose of calcium due to meds I take and bad diet choices. So now in my 50's it is really hard when you have to eat even less calories or you never loose or gain weight. I was doing great but Easter buffet threw everything into a tissy. Trying very hard to get back in control. Lucinda

I have gained 2 pounds and need help getting off of soda and sweets.

I have lately been gaining weight @ first i thought it was water weights and didn't think anything about it but now i've gained 4 lbs and not losing any inches ughh!!
I workout 5 to sometimes 6 times a wk and try to zig zag calories but stay within them ,but i don't know what i am doing wrong . Can somebody please help me. Thanks so very much.

I talked to the dr. and he does not think that I am severe enough to need meds. I am also knowing that I need some help, so I am going through councling on campus and he will refural me. I am also to the point that I have been going through hypnotherapy and it is slowly working.

Hello! New to this thread. A year ago I had lost 40 lbs and since then I've gained 15 back! Not sure what's going on but pretty sure it's in the thought process. Really need to focus on the lifestyle change and not a "diet". I usually workout at 5:00 am but have been struggling with getting up lately. Mid-life and that wonderful insomnia. Then, when I get home is when I snack. Going to try and shake things up and start taking my workout stuff to work and go straight to the gym after work.

Omnicam - I've seen some of your posts on this board and another. You are doing the right thing talking with someone. That is how I started. You may have to take a hard, honest look at some of your thought processes. Not fun, but eye opening. What finally worked for me was a mixture of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and meds. I wish you the best.

I am with some depressive symptoms right now. I feel like sleeping all day and I am at school. I am going to be with a full day with 2 classes and work.

might sound like a strange idea, but if you have a dog you could walk with it. if you don't, but you like dogs, maybe there is an animal shelter near you that you could volunteer for and walk their dogs. i am SURE the dogs will love you for that, and i bet the shelter will love having calmer dogs. :)
as far as my journey on this site, it will be 3 years in december and i have learn a lot, but i have a long way to go. my hardest lesson to learn is that most of this is in my mind. changing my thinking has proven near impossible. so, i have changed my ways and decided to change one small habit at a time. right now, i am working on increasing my exercising. once i have that down as 2nd nature, then i will start working on food habits. i am hoping to be eating and exercising 2nd nature by my next major bday.

Edited by: ANIMALMA71 at: 9/28/2011 (10:26)

I hope things are going better for you. You need to keep going one step at a time. Make smaller goals that are easily obtainable. If you binge today, please don't give up, just keep trying. YOU CAN SUCCEED!

Edited by: HI-NRG at: 9/26/2011 (16:58)

I am an emotional wreck right now and ready to binge.

I'm crashing! My motivation is really suffering this month. Not sure why; it finally cooled off so I should be doing good as I HATE the heat. But....

Hi everyone! I just joined a new gym and today was day 1...i'm exhausted, but excited to go back tomorrow (if I find the motivation to wake up at 5AM again)!

I'm looking for friends on here for support and motivation, so please add me and I will add you back! Best wishes on your journey's of weight loss!

I feel so bloated, maybe because of gas or water, I dunno. But it so irritate me everytime I burp from above and below channel, haha. Anyone have a tips to reduce this not-so-welcome condition?

Ummm chucking the scale is STILL a great idea.....just saying!

After reading this thread, I have to say that I love it! At not quite 5' I have always been jealous of how much tall people can eat and not gain, while I only get half of what they do & still gain! Being small, I'm also a slow loser & would get so frustrated at WW meetings when everyone had big losses ("I ate so much this week & still lost 2 pounds" - GRRRR) & I would take my measly .2 (after a week of constant hunger & excercise) & grudgingly walk to my seat wondering why I bother & what's wrong with me that I can't lose weight like other people. It's so nice to be on a team with people that are like me! When I get discouraged & am ready to chuck the scale out the window, I can always come to this thread & realize that I AM NOT ALONE in my fight & that it's hard for all of us (& that I am not some reject of nature that can't lose weight & am bound to be fat forever). Thanks to everyone who has reached out for help on this thread - you've all helped me!

Just read a few posts here and finding them helpful. Looks like no one's posted here for a few weeks so just wanted to check in. I am so thankful for the Team Huddles, I reached out for support the other day, and SparkFriends (met and unmet) really came through~

I cannot seem to stop my temptations and I am also with low self-image. I have been with image problem ever since elementary school.

I have been reading some of the post and decided to add my two cents. I have struggled most of my life with my self image. At 5'2" I have always wanted to be taller and skinnier. Last year, I decided that I was NOT going to go into my 40's (I turn 40 in March) with all of this negativity. So, I decided that it was time to get serious about my health (stop dieting and think lifestyle change) and really take on working out as a way of being. So, that is what I have done. I LOVE working out (it is ridiculous, but I DO) and most of all I love how my body is changing. Do I still eat junk sometimes? Absolutely. However, I have learned to not binge on it and to enjoy the occasional treat and then get back to my healthy life. IT isn't easy, but anything worthwhile in our life is worth the effort and the fight. So, with that being said, don't beat yourself up because you don't eat healthy all the time. YOU WON'T! SO WHAT! It is a journey and as with all journeys there are valleys, mountains, peaks, and the summit. Then you climb back down and start it all OVER AGAIN!

This is my problem too. Mindset. I can not eat like I want and stay small. It's a fact! I have to learn to deal with it or gain weight. I can go out to eat, but have to be VERY careful what I eat. To some it may not feel like a diet, but if you love food like I do, it does. It's a fact. I can whine about it all I want, but it doesn't change the fact that the healthiest food is at home not in restaurants. FACT! Yes, you will have to eat more at home and if you are serious about being healthy, you can not sit and eat chips and cookies weekly. I know because of the two pounds I gained by doing this the last two weeks. I have to count everything that goes through my mouth. Some ways it gets easier when you see results, but like an addiction, it is also haunts me about what I want and just can't have and stay healthy. Portion control is a huge problem with me too.

Edited by: VKKESU at: 1/13/2011 (16:42)

Yesterday was the first time since I've started counting calories that I went out to eat not once, but twice. I ended up eating 4047 calories over 2000 calories more than my recommended calorie range. I don't want to stop eating out, because that would feel like I'm on a diet. I'm trying my best to log EVERYTHING I eat. I don't know if I should plan what I'm going to eat when I go to a restaurant or if I should just wait and see what happens.

Weighing quite often does show us how well we are doing. If you feel good about your walk and are eating in the guidelines. The weight will come off.
I have not been losing a lot of weight but, my clothes are fitting better. Sometimes I feel the scale is my enemy.

I have been told that there are teams for sitting chair exercises and stronger seniors.

I am not sure what they are but I was told that SP has some types of cardio where you would be sitting down. I have also been told that a low carb diet would possibly help with the pain.

Edited by: ONICAM at: 11/7/2010 (20:30)

I was hoping to lose more weight this year but instead I gained six pounds. I tried to increase my exercises but I am in so much pain it is difficult to move. Had to use a walker last night to go shopping. Now today, in a lot of pain and trying to recover with heating pads and vibrator. I would like to do something that increases my cardio without injuring my lower back and knees anymore than they are. Any ideas of what I could do? Please don't suggest walking; It is too painful. Nor swimming, as I don't have a pool or the money to join a gym with a pool.

I gained 2 pounds and lost 1.

SO disappointed! I've exercised, drank tons of water, and eaten like I was supposed to and lost only 1/2 pound this week. I FELT like I had lost at least 2 pounds. Oh well, will keep trying.

Did fine the day I wrote, last wk, fine the wkend, fine on Monday.. Today! OMG the worst day yet! a total Blow it! day. i had 2500+ cals today and that was prob being kind. I have been so hungry the last couple days, It's been raining outside and I havent got to wake up and play tennnis, well. I don't know if it's the rain or TV that makes me feel soooo hungry. Today in the afternoon I found a big bag of candy corn hidden in hubs man room and I knabbed it! One handfull at a time, I almost finished the whole thing before I feel into a sugar sleep coma. when i woke up (2am)all I could think of was the rest of it sitting in the cabinet. So.. I got up posted and threw it in the trash at 2am! gross! craving gone! woohoo! Now i can't sleep!

OK, time to get back to work! I did my w/i this week, no change. Grrr. I know exactly why, and that's the grrrr part! I need to clean up the food again. I am just going over 1500 a day and that doesn't work, I need to stay under. tomm is a new week, I have a tennis date in the morn, so I will be working out hard starting my day, my goal is to make the right food choices tomm. I can do it, so can you.

I am still doing great since I started sparks, but need to rev it up alittle more this wk if I want the scale to move next Sunday.

I am getting stuck with my schoolwork.

OMG I think I had the worst eating day yet today, I snacked all day. I have only had 3 including today goof up days since I started sparks, one was 3 days ago, and I have been on track since then,by holding on with clenched fists! Before my mess up on Tues, It was so much easier, today I gave in to all the cravings I had yesterday, that I didn't eat. Tomm I want to do great again! Wish me luck! .

Onicam, I have hit various plateaus during this journey too. I had to change things up to break the plateaus i hit. Maybe if you change up your routines or intensity.. perhaps your food. I know how frustrating not seeing the scale move can be but keep on going and you can break through it!

please remember that you must keep at it . a second on the lips a lifetime on the hips . so that feel good second of yummy is not worth the pain of getting heavier . being shorter makes it so you can not carry weight like the taller gals . fight the wanting to eat what you know you really do not need .

At this time I have plateued.

How do I get encuraged to exersise when I am breaking out with hives more often?

McKimber - walking is great, including the indoor walking workout DVDs (i.e., Leslie Sansone). Another great DVD workout you can do with very little space is called T-Tapp. (google it for more info) Good luck!

Just wanted to check in to see how everyone is doing.
I have been thru quite a bit of changes and great successes. I have been trying to faithfully log in to Sparks almost every day on my weightloss journey (started "again" in Feb '09).
Please visit my site, check out the blogs and if I can help in any way or you are just curious on how I lost (and kept off) almost 40 lbs.....

- JD :)

I am glad you started this blog, I think we all need a lil support or motivation at times! I have learned a lot on these sites and plan on learning more! Thanks Sparkers!!!!!!!!!!!

The orchard fans were on last night and I was up all night till 6am, by then i was almost shaking and headache and thought i was getting no sleep at all. But around 6 when the fans finally stopped (they are so loud its like sleeping on a airport runway) I feel asleep until 10:30am causing me to miss my gym class.

So while I am grateful i got 4 1/2 hrs sleep I missed my exercise and need it to combat the evening grazing I can't seem to stop doing.

I had to buy bathing suit yesterday for a trip with my daughter in a few weeks and it was very very depressing and I had to pay a bunch of money to get one that fit without looking like a big fat lump. I have been sort of depressed ever since and then up most of the night after....ugh!!!!!!

Hi all!! I am coming up on my in April and wanted to chime in some things I have learned while here. I would be serious and lose weight for 2 months, then slack off and gain. Then it's hard to get back on the wagon when you haven't "Sparked" for a whole month. This last time I fell off the wagon, I had been driving myself into the ground burning 3500 a week to lose a pound, not eating in moderation and really expecting way too much of myself and my weight loss! I took a 4 month break and am now getting back to the basics. I erased all my goals, etc. I started this program all over and let spark choose what is best for me in terms of how many calories I need to eat and burn. I figure that's how I started out and it was working so I am starting over once again. This really is a lifestyle change and I have been fighting it tooth and nail this past year. The light has finally hit me upside the head and I realize that I was going about it the wrong way the whole time. I hate admitting MY WAY is not right....but it isn't. We all just need to keep at it and be sensible, we can do it!

You will succeed you just have to believe and if you feel you have failed try again. And also just to let you know if you allow your beauty come from within your heart it will also show on the outside no matter how much you weigh. Love yourself

It takes some time to find exactly what works for each of us. I've never lost weight in a logical way that makes sense, LOL. I finally accepted that it just takes longer for me to lose. I also learned that if I don't drink water and get enough sleep and some kind of exercise every day, I can just forget it. Stress does a number on my metabolism, too. I've tried to take focus off the weight loss and look more at losing inches and feeling better. It's not easy but I try whenever I get discouraged to look at what I HAVE accomplished. Those small victories matter!

Jae

Edited by: JAEBAEBEE at: 3/10/2010 (20:56)

Even if you lose 5lbs or none at all at any given moment, your trying to live healthy and eat right while losing weight is a reward in itself. You Go We got your back. Dont allow disappointment enter in your mind. whatever you did last week this week just try harder and soon you will accomplish your goal.

I lost less than a pound this week and both gained and lost inch fractions. I'm disappointed, but not surprised. I take it that my body is telling me I need to exercise more, not my favorite thing...! The end result that I desire is worth it, so I need to move. I'm going to set some short term fitness goals. I bought some dumbbells yesterday. Today is a gorgeous day and I am going to take a long walk with my BF.

Are your clothes fitting better? Maybe you haven't lost weight, but you have lost fat during your plateau. Many people experience that sort of thing-they aren't losing pounds, but they're losing inches.

I haven't, myself. When I plateau, it's because I slacked off and decided I'd rather sit on my butt and eat fast food instead of work out and cook dinner.

Thanks Mimi. According to the machine, I am only burning about 500 calories a week, so I am positive I am not exercising too much for for what I am eating. I know that everyone plateaus, but I honestly didn't expect that after the first week! I have about forty -five pounds to lose - I expected the first ten pounds or so would come off pretty easily. I think it is more likely that I am doing something not quite right, I just don't know what that is. I am only five feet tall. From what I have read, I think it is possible that 1200 is too much to lose on, but I don't know that for sure, and I think it is risky to try to do that on my own. I would really need to have a confirmation that was true before I would go there. I think the best answer is probably to add the weight training, and hopefully the added muscle would give me a little leeway in the food department. Tracking everything I eat is such a hassle - I am just afraid of losing my motivation if I don't see any results soon. I feel like it is not possible to lose this weight without being extreme, and I just don't have it in me to be extreme -plus its not any healthier than I am right now. Sigh.

aaawww... it's the dreaded plateau, Debra. Everyone experiences it. Sometimes they are short-lived and sometimes it feels like you'll never bust through it. ggrrr! Definitely DO NOT drop down below 1200... you will be doing nothing good in that. Your body will just think you are starving and stop burning fat and start burning muscle = BAD thing!! Actually that may be the problem for you now... are you exercising too much for the low amount you are eating? If that is the case, more exercise will not help. Strength training might be a good add though. It is a delicate balance. :-)

There are a few articles here on Spark that may help give you some new ideas. Here is a link to one of them:
www.sparkpeople.com/resource/fitness
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rticles.asp?id=516

Edited by: MIMI_B at: 2/3/2010 (15:09)

I am completely frustrated too. I have been sparking since January 1st and I lost five pounds in the first week and nothing since then. I have been keeping to about 1200-1300 calories a day and exercising three times a week. Part of me knows that I need to double the exercise and add weight training, but I am just barely keeping my head above water right now, between work and kids and house and all the stuff that goes along with that. I don't know if it is smart to drop down below 1200 calories, and honestly, I am not sure I could even do that. I hate not knowing exactly what to do to get results and I hate how hard this is!

Yes!!! Why is it so much harder for us shorter ones to lose the weight? Everyone else around me who were doing the same things I was doing were showing a lot more progress than I was. I admit I got disappointed and struggled to keep motivated. So one of my goals is to try to be more active on SP. Maybe get a better support system going for myself...

Just a reminder: Join the January Challenge everyone!!! See the new thread under Team Challenges on our team homepage!!! :-)

Anyone interested in having a book discussion here when The Spark comes out?? I've noticed several of us have pre-ordered it!

What do ya'll think?? :-)

I think walking daily is the key to keeping me on track and motivated. I've been trying to walk for 30-40 minutes each morning as soon as I get up. That walking is hard for me due to physical problems and my weight. I sometimes need to stop at every other mailbox to catch my breath, but I am doing it. I don't go fast or far (maybe some day) but I am doing it.
I tend to give up easily and have finally reached the mind-set that I will not this time, I will be successful!

I hear you Betsy. I will NOT give up. I have to keep reminding myself, this is journey and not a goal to reach. Although reaching my goal is what I'm aiming for, it is something that I will have to keep doing or I'll be back where I started. I use to work out ALL the time, then when I retired to start my own business I quit completely. Oddly enough, the first year (2007) I didn't gain any weight at all. Even last summer (2008) I was wearing my shorts just fine. Even jeans fit in the winter. It wasn't until this summer (2009) that I went to put my shorts on and I could not even get them buttoned. That's when I knew I was in trouble.

Not losing weight all that time, I'm sure I started eating more and I hadn't found SparkPeople, so I wasn't keep track of my nutrition at all. I know it will come off as I've been here before but when it does I certainly don't want to come back again. But at least when it DOES come off, maybe I won't have to workout so hard every day.

I feel like that also. I have been doing this for 2 months mostly good and havent lost anything in fact i am a pound heavier than when i started. I had an awesome week last week ands was so sure it would show on the scale abd sure enough thi morning i was UOP a ound!? what gives? try ing to keep motivated cuz usually in this situation i get pissed off and eat

I'm just wondering why it so hard for us shorter people to lose weight. I went for my yearly checkup and weigh 10 pounds more than I did this time last year. Granted I've lost 1.5 pounds, but that's been three weeks ago. I've been tracking my food, and my cardio, and since Nov. 1 it shows that I'm burning off about 25% of what I'm taking in. One would think that I'd lose at least .5 a week, but so far I'm not. In fact, last time I weighed it went up a pound.

I am doing strength training, but not tons of it. I realize the fat is changing into muscle, but still it doesn't make sense to me. SO, I've decided to try doing SlimFast for breakfast/lunch, have a snack like fruit or cheese, and then small dinner portions. I'm already cutting down on my dinner, and have been having what I have left over for lunch the next day.

I'm not totally discouraged, and will keep working out because my endurance has increased so much since I've gotten into a rhythm, but I'm still at a bit of a loss as to why. I guess if it took a year to gain 10 pounds, it might take a year to get it off.

Probably, my body is hanging onto it as long as it can and then one day I'll get on the scale and it will have moved down. I also think I'll go to only weighing myself at the first of each month, rather than every week. But mostly I can tell when I put clothes on that didn't fit to see if they do now.

Thanks for adding this forum topic.

I'm having one of those days too.... I had been doing so well with working out and eating up until August. Then I moved cross country and was "homeless" for a bit traveling around and I fell off the bandwagon. I finally took a picture of myself tonight and boy was I disappointed with what I saw. The truth hurts sometimes. I was so disappointed, that I put my gym clothes on and went straight to the gym. I am worth it...worth it to take 45 minutes of my day to be a healthier and happier me.

thank you :) small steps would seem to be the best choice...jumping is way too scary at this point ^_^ thank you for your comment

My suggestion is just pick one, small thing to do at a time. Start IS very overwhelming, and trying to do it all at once, even if you were doing it before, makes it hard. Take babysteps and you can get back to where you were.

Help!! omg...I've pretty much avoided this site for the last hmm 3 months? I don't know what happened. at the beginning of the summer I was pumped about going to the gym and all that...and then I lost it and I haven't gotten it back..not even sure I tried to which really saddens me about myself :( But I want to try again. right now. I'm moving on Thursday to live with my bf in a big city and he's a really healthy eater and goes to the gym 6 days a week, he's an inspiration...losing over 200 pounds in the last 2 years and my world of eating all the bad things and being lazy is no longer going to be a possibility, not when I'm seeing him everyday and living in the same home, eating the same things in our fridge so today I've decided I need to get back to the excited to be healthy me I was a few months ago. It's not simply that I'm doing this because of him either, not long ago I was getting headaches every time i simply walked around and it really scared me. I'm always tired...I want energy, I have so many dreams and being the person I am right now I'm not going to do any of them.

But the point! is that I'm totally and completely scared. To start. I have all these 'goals' i set months ago sitting here on SP and so many 0's beside them it's just really hard for me to jump into it...I'm scared of coming back but I need it and I just don't know what to do.

Losing 22 lbs in 2 months is not a healthy weight loss. 1 - 2 lbs a week is a goal to shoot for. Slow and steady wins the race.

Mary

REVIVED, I totally believe you can lose the weight in that time frame! Just be strong and believe in yourself and your strengths.
It really depends on what you are putting in to the crock pot. Vegetables are ok to just look and see the amount, but if you're adding meats, rice, potatoes, or sauce, then you might have to measure it out.
That sounds really yummy though! You just gave me a delicious idea for dinner tonight :)

well someone else said they did. thats what got my all jealous. haha.

Oh thats not going to happen. Sorry to tell you that. Don't mean to be the bearer of bad news but we lose reaaaalllllyyyyyy slow.

Mary

What are people eating for dinner? I do great tracking during the day but then at dinner I get all confused. We dont have a stove where we live so i do a lot of stir-frys and stuff in the crockpot so its a lot of combining ingredients. Do you really measure every single little thing? Even though I dont know my calories down to the exact one, I'm not like way off with my tracking. I'm staying in range. But the weight is coming off sooooooooooooooooo slow. whats the deal??? I wanna lose 22 lbs in 2 months too!!!

Im wondering about that too, i get back on track for 2 days max and then im off for weeks.. Its never been this bad! Yesterday was my birthday and ive been binge eating all week.. What the... I KNOW very well its bad for me, i even got heartburn now!! Am i trying to destroy myself on purpose? Arrrrggh... Devastated.. Feels like im heading into a depression! 23 and never been more miserable! (Wow this has to be the most depressing post ever)

EVVY -- I TOTALLY know how you're feeling. I've been seriously 'sparking' for almost two months...until three days ago. I really just felt like I'm never going to be allowed to eat anything 'good' (aka JUNK) ever again. I like food (that's what got me here in the first place)! Seriously, am I ever going to be allowed a creamy pasta dish or cheese pizza or garlic bread or anything again? I've had three off days -- no idea what I'm eating, I haven't been tracking, I haven't exercised in almost two weeks. Grrrr. I was doing so well with my eating, and now I feel completely lost. Bleh. How do I get back on track??

Evvy... I know exactly what you are feeling! I do absolutely get tired of being good all the time... which is why I don't. hahaha!

Honestly, I often eat what I want to... the ice cream on a hot day, the cold beer while sitting on the front porch. You gotta do that!! Life is meant to be enjoyed and food is a part of that. The thing is that I STILL track it on Spark and stay honest with it. When I see the number of calories... that is enough to keep me on the path most of the time, but not 100%.

Nobody can do this 100%... But, if you give it 90%, you will still be successful. For me, the key really is moderation... I know some people hate that word, but it is true. Ice cream, yes... but only one scoop. cold beer, yes... but only one.

Hope this gives you some encouragement! Congrats on your success btw... 22 lbs in 2 1/2 months is GREAT!!!

Do you ever get tired of doing the right thing? I hae been sparking "seriously" for 2 1/2 months. I have only exceeded my calories/fat/cholesterol one time during this period. I have lost 22 lbs. so I know it is working but yesterday and today I feel like I just want to eat like I used to. Know counting or planning, and anything I choose to eat I can. But I know if I do, it could be the end of spark for me. I have a terrible time getting back on track. If you know how to work thru this other than the miserable feelings I am having please let me know.

How about a jumprope? You can burn about 100 calories in 8 minutes and it will definitely get your heart rate up! Hula hoops are fun too. It may take a little practice to get going, but it's a great workout and can be done in a small space. Just put on some tunes and hula, hula, hula!

I went to school upstate NY (you know... 7 month winters) and I used the indoor track for interval/circuit training while it wasn't in use by the school teams. I even used the basketball court in the middle of the indoor track for pickup games with my equally short, hockey player roommate.
Also, use the trip to the gym as a workout... walk/run there, race someone there on foot or bike or use the bike to go a bit out of the way to the supermarket or something.

I found another article on here that might help... sorry, I'm the "article queen" :-) Seems like the exercise suggestions might work for small spaces. I liked the running up and down the stairs option... I lived on the 6th floor when I was in college with no elevator!!
www.sparkpeople.com/resource/fitness
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rticles.asp?id=629

Edited by: MIMI_B at: 7/8/2009 (08:28)

No internet access in my "living quarters" unfortunately. Also, space is the issue there too - SERIOUSLY! I can find out about a pool - though it would need to be indoors. I'm in northern WI here and it's not all that hot. No mall for walking.

Walking buddies sounds like a good idea. I will say running, if you start out right and have a buddy it isn't boring, I actually find it puts me in a better mood and I am able to work things out in my head on a run. Not only that, it's by far the fastest, largest calorie burn I get. As for the knees, I'm doing this on a fully reconstructed knee and the other is missing some cartilige. I have had operations on both.

Workout videos online is another good thing.

Here is an article... The Benefits of Circuit Training. (there are probably others as well!)
www.sparkpeople.com/resource/fitness
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rticles.asp?id=267

I was also just thinking... if you have an internet connection, have you tried any of Coach Nicole's workouts on here? I did the New You set of videos every day in January... only about 10 minutes each, and added some cardio like walking and that was great!
Here is the link for the Spark video page... www.sparkpeople.com/resource/videos.
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Edited by: MIMI_B at: 7/7/2009 (07:50)

Hi McKimber.... i do all my exercise at home and haven't belonged to a gym is a very long time. I'm a fan of just plain old walking... don't know how fit you are already if that would be an easy option for you. When I first started on here, I wasn't fit at all so walking was great to just get me started. Now that I'm more fit, unfortunately, walking hardly gets my heart-rate up. I do still typically walking on my lunchbreaks at work b/c I figure something is better than nothing! I have some simple equipment that I use... a resistance band, 5lb and 10lb dumbbells and some yoga blocks. These help me do some circuit training... Have you ever tried that? I can really get my heart-rate up doing circuits. And you actually could do them without any equipment... just using your body weight. I'll find an article to add b/c I know Spark has one about doing circuit training.

Edited by: MIMI_B at: 7/7/2009 (07:44)

the group idea is a great one, or is there a swimming pool near by?

Are there any parks or shopping malls that you can walk in? Maybe post something in TV area. You might get a group going.

Mary

Okay, I could use some help/suggestions. I'm doing a 3 month clinical rotation for my master's program. I'm currently living in student housing, which is very space limited. There is a gym available, but it's limited to a few machines, and I'm not much of a gym rat anyway. I'd sign up for classes, but there don't seem to be any, and when I went to check the gym out, it was completely empty. Not very motivating for me.

There's a public tv/lounge area, but it's shared space and there's no room even if I wanted to do some exercise videos.

I have my bicycle with me, and I plan to use it, but I need more variety than that for the long haul. (Don't suggest running - my knees aren't great and I've always found it excruciatingly boring. Walking is possible though.

Sorry to sound so negative - I really want to get back to some kind of routine and need some help.

Hi all,

I thought a thread devoted just to "HELP!" would be a great thing to have under the Motivation and Encouragement board.


Please feel free to use this thread to post the difficulties you are experiencing with your fitness or healthy-lifestyle goals, and come back other times to offer help to others!

Visit often so we can all support each other!