Working it out!

[lovelyivy84]

Wow!

Go Sistermadly! That's AMAZING! So Body For Life's food restrictions (such as they are) are working for you then?

Originally posted by Sistermadly
I don't work out as much as I used to because of school responsibilities, but I still try to get 3-4 days in. My week goes from Sun - Sat.

Sunday - 50-60 mins cardio (30 mins on the crosstrainer, 20-30 on the treadmill doing a brisk walk/run on the "hill" or "random" setting)

Mon - Weigh in day - no exercise.

Tue - Depending on my Body for Life rotation, either upper or lower body workouts, plus 20 mins interval training (cardio) - about 60 mins total

Wed - BodyTONE - a "FIRM" style workout at my gym - 75 mins

Thur - no workouts

Fri - BfL rotation day + interval training

Sat - Cardio or rest, depending on how I feel.

On top of all that, I walk everywhere, and usually do about 30-40 minutes of leisurely walking every day.

I've lost about 145 lbs to date, and I'm in the best shape of my entire life!

[Sistermadly]

Originally posted by Honeykiss1974
Sistermadly, you might as well spill the beans regarding the how, what, and why of how you did it because inquiring minds want to know.

Aw, shucks.

It's no real secret. I eat less and I move more. I joined Weight Watchers in the summer of 2002 and I'm still on it (though I'm SO BORED with the program now).

My weight losses have slowed down as I get closer to goal (and as the school year drones on - I'm still not fully in charge of my emotional eating), but I'm still plugging along. I hope to make to goal sometime in the summer - only 35 pounds to go!

Lovelyivy: BfL's food restrictions were too strict for me, but I did change things up a little bit. I don't eat breakfast before working out, and I'm a little more conscious of "eating clean". And I do have one or two days where I eat what I want as much as I want.

[Sistermadly]

Originally posted by librasoul22
LI, my new area of vanity is my quads. I sit and flex them all the time, lol. My roomie is like .

LOL! I feel you on this one. Mine are my shoulders. I took every opportunity this summer to wear lots of sleeveless shirts. I never thought I'd say this but I hate fall/winter now, cause I can't see my muscles unless I'm nekkid.

[Steeltrap]

I'm strictly about toning and maintaining. I love food and my daily cocktail, and I'm not going to give those things up.


That said, I go two to three times a week. Start with about 20 minutes on the low exercise bike. Then, either to the elliptical trainer (10 minutes) or the serious weight machine workout:

Thighsolator.
Seated calf machine.
Seated leg curl.
Leg extension.
Back extension.
Seated row.
Chest press.
Lat pulldown.
Hip abductor.
Hip adductor.
Abdominal.
Overhead press.
Arm extension.
Arm curl.

On these, I do two rotations of 10. I'm trying to build up to three rotations of 10.

[Sistermadly]

Originally posted by BetaRose
Congratulations!

Just out of curiosity, what was your workout like at the beginning of your weight loss? Did you start out doing all the things you listed, or did you add on to it as you lost?

When I started, I could barely walk around the block! I started by walking around the block, then two, then gradually working my way up to half a mile by the end of the first month. After two months, I could comfortably walk a mile in about 45 minutes. That's really slow - but that was progress.

Now I do a mile in about 12-14 minutes, depending on if I'm walking or walking/running. I can do it in 10 if I do it on the elliptical trainer.

I've been doing weight training all along. It's the one exercise that almost ANYONE can do, no matter their size. I started by lifting 16 ounce cans of soup/vegetables, and then I bought a set of weights. I did shoulder presses, bicep curls, flyes, tricep work - just basic stuff. I absolutely LOVE weight training - girl muscles are mad sexy!

I also took a few water aerobics classes when I first started and they were great - really intense workouts! The best part was that there wasn't any strain on my joints because of my natural buoyancy.

[whitechocolate]

Hello, normally I dont do to much posting but...I just had to let everyone know how Atikins changed my life. This is not just a diet but a way of life. I say a way of life because you find your carb level and never go over that and you will never gain weight. Simple as that. True you have to let some carbs go but in the long run its worth it. Like, would you rather look good or eat and feel good for a matter of moments?I chose to feel good and look great! I lost a total of45 pounds and now Im 140 pounds. My daily plan is...

Mon. 3 mile walk/run 100 sit ups/ leg lifts
Tues. 3 mile walk/run
Wed. 3 mile walk/run 100 sit ups/leg lifts upper body weight lifting
Thurs. 3 mile walk/run
Fri. 3 mile walk/ run 100 sit ups/leg lifts
Sat. 3 mile walk/run lower body weight lifting
Sun. rest

My eating plan is whatever high protien food I can get my hands on.

[lovelyivy84]

Talk about doing things the RIGHT way!!! You're inspirational girl!

Have you done any alternative exercise? the yoga/pilates thing? I have done it but it is far from the core of my workouts. I just think it's more efficient in the long run to hit the weights. dance classes are good though. Whatever gets you moving and enjoying yourself I suppose.

And I'm with you on the girl muscles. I remember when I first started working out and seeing results, I would flex my biceps whenever I could see them, lol. Washing my hands in the bathroom, then BAM, showing off those delts .

Originally posted by Sistermadly
When I started, I could barely walk around the block! I started by walking around the block, then two, then gradually working my way up to half a mile by the end of the first month. After two months, I could comfortably walk a mile in about 45 minutes. That's really slow - but that was progress.

Now I do a mile in about 12-14 minutes, depending on if I'm walking or walking/running. I can do it in 10 if I do it on the elliptical trainer.

I've been doing weight training all along. It's the one exercise that almost ANYONE can do, no matter their size. I started by lifting 16 ounce cans of soup/vegetables, and then I bought a set of weights. I did shoulder presses, bicep curls, flyes, tricep work - just basic stuff. I absolutely LOVE weight training - girl muscles are mad sexy!

I also took a few water aerobics classes when I first started and they were great - really intense workouts! The best part was that there wasn't any strain on my joints because of my natural buoyancy.

[toocute]

Originally posted by lovelyivy84
Washing my hands in the bathroom, then BAM, showing off those delts .

LOL...y'all are crazy but I do the same thing. I'll flex and show my husband my "cuts" in my upper arms. He's like "yeah sweetie you're reallllly ripped. "

These stories are really inspirational. Keep them coming.

Oh...has anyone seen those new SlimFast Pasta meals? Does those look nasty as hayle or what??

[Honeykiss1974]

Originally posted by toocute

Oh...has anyone seen those new SlimFast Pasta meals? Does those look nasty as hayle or what??

YES! They look watered-down or something like that.
Why is there NO SEASONINGS?

[lovelyivy84]

Originally posted by Honeykiss1974
YES! They look watered-down or something like that.
Where is the NO SEASONINGS?

It makes more sense to just buy lo-carb noodles, some Classico sauce (60 calories/serving) and hook it up with your own meat and seasonings! Pasta is one of those things that you just CAN'T make ina microwave and expect to be any good....

[toocute]

Originally posted by lovelyivy84
Pasta is one of those things that you just CAN'T make ina microwave and expect to be any good....

Actually...the Smart Ones pasta meals are YUMMY. I love the spaghetti marinara, ziti and cheese and the cheese filled ravioli. The slimfast ones just look nasty.

[lovelyivy84]

Originally posted by toocute
Actually...the Smart Ones pasta meals are YUMMY. I love the spaghetti marinara, ziti and cheese and the cheese filled ravioli. The slimfast ones just look nasty.

I take it back because you're right! They have a shrimp marinara one that's good.

I draw the line at mac and cheese though. It would be a blasphemy to eat some foods from a frozen box.

[jll79]

Originally posted by lovelyivy84
I take it back because you're right! They have a shrimp marinara one that's good.

I draw the line at mac and cheese though. It would be a blasphemy to eat some foods from a frozen box.

I am a total Weight Watchers SmartOnes fanatic. They were on sale over the weekend for 99 cents. No lie!! You know a sister racked up on some good grub. I have lunch for the next month. LOL

[toocute]

Originally posted by jll79
I am a total Weight Watchers SmartOnes fanatic. They were on sale over the weekend for 99 cents. No lie!! You know a sister racked up on some good grub. I have lunch for the next month. LOL

They were 99 cents in NJ last week.

[Sistermadly]

Originally posted by lovelyivy84

Have you done any alternative exercise? the yoga/pilates thing?

I tried yoga once, and I didn't think it really helped me/relaxed me the way people said it did - until I sat on the couch afterward and promptly fell asleep for the next two and a half hours afterward.

I'm thinking of giving it or pilates a try in the spring. I'm getting a lot stronger, but I could use a bit more flexibility.

Washing my hands in the bathroom, then BAM, showing off those delts .

Or washing my face and holding my arms a certain way so that my delts pop. Or only wearing v-necked or scoop necked shirts so that people can see how defined my collarbones are.

Ooh, don't let me start lovin' myself...