Baby steps

My first exercise was water aerobics. I did it because I loved it and
it felt so good to get into the pool at the end of the day. I don't do
water aerobics in the winter. Even though the gym and the pool are
heated, going swimming when the temps outside are frigid just doesn't
compute in my brain. As the weather warms, I'll probably add this back
into my week.

Prairie Roots
On Sun, 22 Feb 2004 09:53:15 -0600, "skiur"
wrote:

Good idea. I have thoughts of doing laps at the pool in the back of my
head, but only because it's fun and relaxing. I enjoy weight lifting, but I
can only do 3-4 squats at a time w/o hurting myself-that's a 45 pound bar!

Julie

"Prairie Roots" wrote in message
.. .
Don't worry about the exercise right now. Several of us here, myself
included, were several months into losing weight before we added
exercise to our program. Others don't exercise at all and still lose
weight consistently and steadily. I still haven't made it into a
habit. Don't give yourself something else to beat yourself up about.

On Sun, 22 Feb 2004 03:23:49 -0600, "skiur"
wrote:

I've had a hard time motivating myself to exercise. I keep giving
excuses
like it's too cold, I don't want to have to shower again that day, If I
go
to the gym now I'll be up too late and will never get up for work, etc.
I've tried telling myself that it's ok if I don't go to the gym more than
once a week because any effort is progress. Yet I still can't get myself
to
go. I'm not a fan of working out at home either.

Julie


"Prairie Roots" wrote in message
.. .
All these will serve you well over the long haul. Some you may have to
return to time and time again. At least for me, some lessons come
easy, some don't stick even after weeks of repetition.

Self-recrimination and guilt are biggies. I know I'm not alone in my
struggle to overcome these tendencies. What I've discovered is that I
can lose weight even while dealing with these feelings. Posting about
those feelings here helps a lot. I'm also discovering that exercise
quiets the noise of the internal critics. Maybe they get tired.

Good for you for taking these important initial steps. Keep coming
back.

Prairie Roots

On Sat, 21 Feb 2004 09:04:24 -0600, "skiur"
wrote:

It's been about a week since I've made a concious effort to
re-evaluate
my
woe.

These are the steps I've take so far:
1) Journal foods with portion size and calories when available. This
has
already helped me put the brakes to some habits that I picked up when
I
wasn't paying attention. I redirected the need to be perfect with the
woe
to journaling and it's helped a lot. I don't feel as guilty as I have
in
the past.

2) Repeating to myself that a certain food is allowed, I'm not being
bad,
and I can have it. This one is going to take a while. I have this
conversation with myself when I portion out things like salad
dressing.

3) Eating smaller portions and stop when I'm not hungry any more-this
works
better some days more than others.

4) Making substitutions for foods. I really like potato chips so I
switched
to WOW chips (no fat, 70 calories per serving). I really like chips
and
I
don't feel like it's a diet when I can have them. It'll keep me from
going
AWOL and I need to ease myself off the chips every time I have a
sandwich
for lunch.

My weight keeps fluctuating and I'm trying to figure out where my
starting
weight is although I do have a pretty good idea. I stopped taking
ephedra
free Xenadrine which plays a part in weight normalization.

The most important thing is that I feel better for starting this
journey.

Julie




Prairie Roots
232/161/WW goal 145
joined WW Online 22-Feb-2003

see below

"Laura" wrote in message
...

"skiur" wrote in message
...
Well I was using it sparingly when I decided the heck with it. I used
to
use the ephedra product religiously (4 pills a day) and bought the
ephedra-free version when I moved to IL (ephedra products were illegal
in
this state when I picked it up). I wasn't being consistant in its use
so
I
was in the ramping up stages when I started using the ephedra free
version.

From my point of view, it was working the same way (fluid reduction,
hunger
reduction, warm flashes, jitters) however I wasn't losing much because I
was
still eating the same way but I wasn't snacking-which helped. I was
successful with the ephedra version because at the time, I had the
luxury
of
going to the gym when I wanted to for however long I wanted to.


Not picking on you but your last sentence may have said it all. You lost
weight because you were going to the gym not because of the pills.

I don't think you're picking on me at all. Thanks for the consideration
though..another day it would be needed. I suspect that the pill had some
effect...meaning that I had myself convinced that it was working *grin*.


Also, they did not know that ephedra was dangerous when they first
introduced it. Since the Ephedra-free pills cause the same jitters, etc
then
one has to wonder if the product is safe. I tried the ephedra version once
and did not like the racing feeling that I experienced. It is speeding up
your heart rate,etc in an attempt to speed up your metabolism. I suspect
the
the new formula might just be dangerous too but they don't know it yet.
You
are better off doing WW than taking these pills.

Who knows. Although it's my body and my science experiment, I've decided
that the pills really aren't going to do me a lot of favors because I don't
want them to be a sustainable part of my wol.

"skiur" wrote in message
...
see below

"Laura" wrote in message
...

"skiur" wrote in message
...
Well I was using it sparingly when I decided the heck with it. I used
to
use the ephedra product religiously (4 pills a day) and bought the
ephedra-free version when I moved to IL (ephedra products were illegal
in
this state when I picked it up). I wasn't being consistant in its use
so
I
was in the ramping up stages when I started using the ephedra free
version.

From my point of view, it was working the same way (fluid reduction,
hunger
reduction, warm flashes, jitters) however I wasn't losing much because
I
was
still eating the same way but I wasn't snacking-which helped. I was
successful with the ephedra version because at the time, I had the
luxury
of
going to the gym when I wanted to for however long I wanted to.


Not picking on you but your last sentence may have said it all. You lost
weight because you were going to the gym not because of the pills.

I don't think you're picking on me at all. Thanks for the consideration
though..another day it would be needed. I suspect that the pill had some
effect...meaning that I had myself convinced that it was working *grin*.

Many pills work that way. Mind over matter.

Also, they did not know that ephedra was dangerous when they first
introduced it. Since the Ephedra-free pills cause the same jitters, etc
then
one has to wonder if the product is safe. I tried the ephedra version
once
and did not like the racing feeling that I experienced. It is speeding
up
your heart rate,etc in an attempt to speed up your metabolism. I suspect
the
the new formula might just be dangerous too but they don't know it yet.
You
are better off doing WW than taking these pills.

Who knows. Although it's my body and my science experiment, I've decided
that the pills really aren't going to do me a lot of favors because I
don't
want them to be a sustainable part of my wol.

Smart move. They also just scare me. I don't think anyone really knows what
the effects of the new formula. I'd hate to be a guinea pig.

Most of us have been there also, Julie. Exercise is good for you and will aid in
getting those pounds to drop off as well as firming up the loose stuff at the same
time. BUT ... you don't have to exercise to lose weight. I dropped the majority
of my weight with little to no exercise. In the summer I did walk in the evening
with hub, but nothing majorly exertive ... other than that, nada. It wasn't until
this fall when I finally pushed myself into getting back to the treadmill, and by
then I was trying valiantly to maintain. I wish I could say exercise has become a
habit, but it still hasn't. Many days I really have to force myself to get down
there, and there are also many days that I don't get around to it. The trick is
to find something you really enjoy doing, then find a time of day that really does
work best for you. Is there anyone at work that may be interested in becoming a
walking buddy with you? It might be a good break from the office routine for a
bit, give you time to chat and catch up with a friend, and also get a little bit
of exercise into your day?

Joyce

On Sun, 22 Feb 2004 03:23:49 -0600, "skiur" wrote:

I've had a hard time motivating myself to exercise. I keep giving excuses
like it's too cold, I don't want to have to shower again that day, If I go
to the gym now I'll be up too late and will never get up for work, etc.
I've tried telling myself that it's ok if I don't go to the gym more than
once a week because any effort is progress. Yet I still can't get myself to
go. I'm not a fan of working out at home either.

Julie


"Prairie Roots" wrote in message
.. .
All these will serve you well over the long haul. Some you may have to
return to time and time again. At least for me, some lessons come
easy, some don't stick even after weeks of repetition.

Self-recrimination and guilt are biggies. I know I'm not alone in my
struggle to overcome these tendencies. What I've discovered is that I
can lose weight even while dealing with these feelings. Posting about
those feelings here helps a lot. I'm also discovering that exercise
quiets the noise of the internal critics. Maybe they get tired.

Good for you for taking these important initial steps. Keep coming
back.

Prairie Roots

On Sat, 21 Feb 2004 09:04:24 -0600, "skiur"
wrote:

It's been about a week since I've made a concious effort to re-evaluate
my
woe.

These are the steps I've take so far:
1) Journal foods with portion size and calories when available. This has
already helped me put the brakes to some habits that I picked up when I
wasn't paying attention. I redirected the need to be perfect with the
woe
to journaling and it's helped a lot. I don't feel as guilty as I have in
the past.

2) Repeating to myself that a certain food is allowed, I'm not being bad,
and I can have it. This one is going to take a while. I have this
conversation with myself when I portion out things like salad dressing.

3) Eating smaller portions and stop when I'm not hungry any more-this
works
better some days more than others.

4) Making substitutions for foods. I really like potato chips so I
switched
to WOW chips (no fat, 70 calories per serving). I really like chips and
I
don't feel like it's a diet when I can have them. It'll keep me from
going
AWOL and I need to ease myself off the chips every time I have a sandwich
for lunch.

My weight keeps fluctuating and I'm trying to figure out where my
starting
weight is although I do have a pretty good idea. I stopped taking
ephedra
free Xenadrine which plays a part in weight normalization.

The most important thing is that I feel better for starting this journey.

Julie

skiur wrote:

I've had a hard time motivating myself to exercise. I keep giving excuses
like it's too cold, I don't want to have to shower again that day, If I go
to the gym now I'll be up too late and will never get up for work, etc.
I've tried telling myself that it's ok if I don't go to the gym more than
once a week because any effort is progress. Yet I still can't get myself to
go. I'm not a fan of working out at home either.

I'm not a natural exerciser either, but I make a virtue of necessity: I
have to collect my son from school every day during term time, and as i
do not drive, come rain, hail, snow, high winds and brilliant sunshine,
I walk both directions! It's a mile each way. All the other parents
have strict instructions only to offer me a lift if the weather is truly
vile and you wouldn't send an orc out into it! James occasionally
complains, but agrees that it's good for both of us!

I'd love to be able to get my act together and go swimming twice a week
too, but the times I and the pool are both kid free do not coincide
during normal waking hours...
--
Kate XXXXXX
Lady Catherine, Wardrobe Mistress of the Chocolate Buttons
http://www.diceyhome.free-online.co.uk
Click on Kate's Pages and explore!

Julie:

Congrats on these steps!!


--

Cheers,

Connie Walsh

241.5/202/155
RAFL 210.5/202/198.5


skiur wrote:
It's been about a week since I've made a concious effort to re-evaluate my
woe.

These are the steps I've take so far:
1) Journal foods with portion size and calories when available. This has
already helped me put the brakes to some habits that I picked up when I
wasn't paying attention. I redirected the need to be perfect with the woe
to journaling and it's helped a lot. I don't feel as guilty as I have in
the past.

2) Repeating to myself that a certain food is allowed, I'm not being bad,
and I can have it. This one is going to take a while. I have this
conversation with myself when I portion out things like salad dressing.

3) Eating smaller portions and stop when I'm not hungry any more-this works
better some days more than others.

4) Making substitutions for foods. I really like potato chips so I switched
to WOW chips (no fat, 70 calories per serving). I really like chips and I
don't feel like it's a diet when I can have them. It'll keep me from going
AWOL and I need to ease myself off the chips every time I have a sandwich
for lunch.

My weight keeps fluctuating and I'm trying to figure out where my starting
weight is although I do have a pretty good idea. I stopped taking ephedra
free Xenadrine which plays a part in weight normalization.

The most important thing is that I feel better for starting this journey.

Julie

I have been doing WW for 70 weeks and losing for about 75. I still do not
exercise in a formal way. I can't find anything I enjoy and I refuse to do
anything to lose weight that I can't commit to for life. The up side to
this is that the changes I have made are forever and they will not stop when
losing is done, thereby helping me to maintain. The down side is that I am
not as toned as I would like and I am sure I would be further along if I had
exercised. In the end it is up to you and what you want. Good luck, Lee
Laura wrote in message
...
I am one of those that has always shunned away from exercise. I joined WW
at
the end of April 2003. My first real exercise did not start until August.
I
did make an effort to walk a mile with my husband each night during the
summer (weather permitting). Exercise does not have to be anything formal.
Just going for a walk, parking at the other end of the parking lot,
walking
the malls, using the stairs, etc count too. The object of the game is to
get
any type of physical activity to help burn calories. It also helps tone
your
body as you lose the weight. I now do Curves 4 times a week. I still have
problems getting there some days. It is on the way home from work so I
really don't have an excuse to not go. On days that I work from home I
never
seem to make it there on my own unless I take my daughter to school and
then
stop on my way home. Give yourself time. Lose some weight and you'll find
that you have more energy than you know what to do with. Then you'll want
to
go to the gym or for walks.

"skiur" wrote in message
...
I've had a hard time motivating myself to exercise. I keep giving
excuses
like it's too cold, I don't want to have to shower again that day, If I
go
to the gym now I'll be up too late and will never get up for work, etc.
I've tried telling myself that it's ok if I don't go to the gym more
than
once a week because any effort is progress. Yet I still can't get
myself
to
go. I'm not a fan of working out at home either.

Julie


"Prairie Roots" wrote in message
...
All these will serve you well over the long haul. Some you may have to
return to time and time again. At least for me, some lessons come
easy, some don't stick even after weeks of repetition.

Self-recrimination and guilt are biggies. I know I'm not alone in my
struggle to overcome these tendencies. What I've discovered is that I
can lose weight even while dealing with these feelings. Posting about
those feelings here helps a lot. I'm also discovering that exercise
quiets the noise of the internal critics. Maybe they get tired.

Good for you for taking these important initial steps. Keep coming
back.

Prairie Roots

On Sat, 21 Feb 2004 09:04:24 -0600, "skiur"
wrote:

It's been about a week since I've made a concious effort to
re-evaluate
my
woe.

These are the steps I've take so far:
1) Journal foods with portion size and calories when available. This
has
already helped me put the brakes to some habits that I picked up when
I
wasn't paying attention. I redirected the need to be perfect with
the
woe
to journaling and it's helped a lot. I don't feel as guilty as I
have
in
the past.

2) Repeating to myself that a certain food is allowed, I'm not being
bad,
and I can have it. This one is going to take a while. I have this
conversation with myself when I portion out things like salad
dressing.

3) Eating smaller portions and stop when I'm not hungry any more-this
works
better some days more than others.

4) Making substitutions for foods. I really like potato chips so I
switched
to WOW chips (no fat, 70 calories per serving). I really like chips
and
I
don't feel like it's a diet when I can have them. It'll keep me from
going
AWOL and I need to ease myself off the chips every time I have a
sandwich
for lunch.

My weight keeps fluctuating and I'm trying to figure out where my
starting
weight is although I do have a pretty good idea. I stopped taking
ephedra
free Xenadrine which plays a part in weight normalization.

The most important thing is that I feel better for starting this
journey.

Julie

I work with people who don't like the cold and it's still "cold" here in
Chicagoland, but I'm taking names and I think there is at least one other
person who might be interested. We'll see.

I went the the library today and it has two floors. I forgot my notebook
upstairs and turned right around to get it-boy was I winded. I don't much
like this feeling. I hope to make some scale progress so that I can move
around better. I'm realizing just how much I don't like this extra weight.

Julie

"Joyce" wrote in message
...
Most of us have been there also, Julie. Exercise is good for you and will
aid in
getting those pounds to drop off as well as firming up the loose stuff at
the same
time. BUT ... you don't have to exercise to lose weight. I dropped the
majority
of my weight with little to no exercise. In the summer I did walk in the
evening
with hub, but nothing majorly exertive ... other than that, nada. It
wasn't until
this fall when I finally pushed myself into getting back to the treadmill,
and by
then I was trying valiantly to maintain. I wish I could say exercise has
become a
habit, but it still hasn't. Many days I really have to force myself to
get down
there, and there are also many days that I don't get around to it. The
trick is
to find something you really enjoy doing, then find a time of day that
really does
work best for you. Is there anyone at work that may be interested in
becoming a
walking buddy with you? It might be a good break from the office routine
for a
bit, give you time to chat and catch up with a friend, and also get a
little bit
of exercise into your day?

Joyce

On Sun, 22 Feb 2004 03:23:49 -0600, "skiur" wrote:

I've had a hard time motivating myself to exercise. I keep giving
excuses
like it's too cold, I don't want to have to shower again that day, If I
go
to the gym now I'll be up too late and will never get up for work, etc.
I've tried telling myself that it's ok if I don't go to the gym more than
once a week because any effort is progress. Yet I still can't get myself
to
go. I'm not a fan of working out at home either.

Julie


"Prairie Roots" wrote in message
.. .
All these will serve you well over the long haul. Some you may have to
return to time and time again. At least for me, some lessons come
easy, some don't stick even after weeks of repetition.

Self-recrimination and guilt are biggies. I know I'm not alone in my
struggle to overcome these tendencies. What I've discovered is that I
can lose weight even while dealing with these feelings. Posting about
those feelings here helps a lot. I'm also discovering that exercise
quiets the noise of the internal critics. Maybe they get tired.

Good for you for taking these important initial steps. Keep coming
back.

Prairie Roots

On Sat, 21 Feb 2004 09:04:24 -0600, "skiur"
wrote:

It's been about a week since I've made a concious effort to
re-evaluate
my
woe.

These are the steps I've take so far:
1) Journal foods with portion size and calories when available. This
has
already helped me put the brakes to some habits that I picked up when
I
wasn't paying attention. I redirected the need to be perfect with the
woe
to journaling and it's helped a lot. I don't feel as guilty as I have
in
the past.

2) Repeating to myself that a certain food is allowed, I'm not being
bad,
and I can have it. This one is going to take a while. I have this
conversation with myself when I portion out things like salad
dressing.

3) Eating smaller portions and stop when I'm not hungry any more-this
works
better some days more than others.

4) Making substitutions for foods. I really like potato chips so I
switched
to WOW chips (no fat, 70 calories per serving). I really like chips
and
I
don't feel like it's a diet when I can have them. It'll keep me from
going
AWOL and I need to ease myself off the chips every time I have a
sandwich
for lunch.

My weight keeps fluctuating and I'm trying to figure out where my
starting
weight is although I do have a pretty good idea. I stopped taking
ephedra
free Xenadrine which plays a part in weight normalization.

The most important thing is that I feel better for starting this
journey.

Julie

Thanks Connie.

Julie
"Connie" wrote in message
...
Julie:

Congrats on these steps!!


--

Cheers,

Connie Walsh

241.5/202/155
RAFL 210.5/202/198.5


skiur wrote:
It's been about a week since I've made a concious effort to re-evaluate
my
woe.

These are the steps I've take so far:
1) Journal foods with portion size and calories when available. This
has
already helped me put the brakes to some habits that I picked up when I
wasn't paying attention. I redirected the need to be perfect with the
woe
to journaling and it's helped a lot. I don't feel as guilty as I have
in
the past.

2) Repeating to myself that a certain food is allowed, I'm not being
bad,
and I can have it. This one is going to take a while. I have this
conversation with myself when I portion out things like salad dressing.

3) Eating smaller portions and stop when I'm not hungry any more-this
works
better some days more than others.

4) Making substitutions for foods. I really like potato chips so I
switched
to WOW chips (no fat, 70 calories per serving). I really like chips
and I
don't feel like it's a diet when I can have them. It'll keep me from
going
AWOL and I need to ease myself off the chips every time I have a
sandwich
for lunch.

My weight keeps fluctuating and I'm trying to figure out where my
starting
weight is although I do have a pretty good idea. I stopped taking
ephedra
free Xenadrine which plays a part in weight normalization.

The most important thing is that I feel better for starting this
journey.

Julie

That's the way to do it. Unfortunately, I need a car to get anywhere here,
but the bar. I just keep reminding myself that it took me years to put on
this weight so it will take time to work on good habits.

Julie

"Kate Dicey" wrote in message
...
skiur wrote:

I've had a hard time motivating myself to exercise. I keep giving
excuses
like it's too cold, I don't want to have to shower again that day, If I
go
to the gym now I'll be up too late and will never get up for work, etc.
I've tried telling myself that it's ok if I don't go to the gym more
than
once a week because any effort is progress. Yet I still can't get
myself to
go. I'm not a fan of working out at home either.

I'm not a natural exerciser either, but I make a virtue of necessity: I
have to collect my son from school every day during term time, and as i
do not drive, come rain, hail, snow, high winds and brilliant sunshine,
I walk both directions! It's a mile each way. All the other parents
have strict instructions only to offer me a lift if the weather is truly
vile and you wouldn't send an orc out into it! James occasionally
complains, but agrees that it's good for both of us!

I'd love to be able to get my act together and go swimming twice a week
too, but the times I and the pool are both kid free do not coincide
during normal waking hours...
--
Kate XXXXXX
Lady Catherine, Wardrobe Mistress of the Chocolate Buttons
http://www.diceyhome.free-online.co.uk
Click on Kate's Pages and explore!