Hi Jim,

I got my heart rate monitor on Monday, and used it while I walked that evening.  I love it!  I was looking forward to using it during my run last night, but I didn't have time to run.  I left work early to go to the farm to help harvest corn, and by the time I got home, cooked dinner, cleaned up, etc., it was nearly 10:00 and I was too tired to run.  Maybe tonight, though.  It's supposed to rain this evening, so I might be home at a decent time.

 Carol

 Welcome Noeline.

Always room for more.

Read the history (read the post from the beginning) to get all the back stories here.

I've been off the pill since 1 September.  Last two days I had a few pills left from before so I finished them.

I started doing strength training 2nd week of September. Since then my weight has been moving back and forth between 197 and 199. This morning I'm at 198.6. (Friday is my weekly check-in)

However, I lost yet another inch since last week. I am proud to announce that I am now an A cup.

:D

Seriously though, since stopping the pills but continuing on my own with EXCELLENT advice that I have tried to follow from Betty,  I have peeled of another 5.5 inches. 

This just goes to show that if you stick with the plan, with or without the pill, it will work.

Best of success to all of you and how's everyone doing?

Jim 

Ok, no action here in a while so I'll post.

After some research and additional effort I have tweaked my caloric intake/output so I have a true 7000 calorie deficit per week. This has helped me break the plateau (at least for this week).

SW: 231

CW: 196.2 (new low for me)

GW: 173 (high end of healthy BMI)

Net pounds lost: 34.8

Net inches lost: 11

On Alli pill for first 2 months, then just following diet/exercise recommendations ever since.

How is everyone else doing? Look forward to hearing from you.

Jim 

Hi Jim,

Congrats on your progress!  I've hit a plateau, but haven't been trying too hard to break it.  I was out of town for a long weekend with my sisters, and sometimes ate well, sometimes not.  This week I have to go to 2 luncheons, and I'm not looking forward to either one.  Especially the presentation that I have to give today!  I really need to get back on track.  While my weight has been stable, I can tell that I haven't been exercising as much, and just don't feel as good as I used to.  If I don't get focused again, the holidays are going to be a disaster.  Not only is there Thanksgiving and Christmas, but my son's first communion is coming up soon, and also my nephew's baptism.  Then my husband and son both have birthdays in early January.  I have nothing planned for tonight, so I will get on the treadmill.

One bright spot - I didn't eat any Haloween candy!  That has never happened before.  This year I bought a bar of really, really good dark chocolate, and I have a little bit of that (about 1/4 ounce) every few days.  I bought a 3 ounce bar 2 weeks ago, and still have some left.

Carol

cschadd:

One bright spot - I didn't eat any Haloween candy!  That has never happened before.  This year I bought a bar of really, really good dark chocolate, and I have a little bit of that (about 1/4 ounce) every few days.  I bought a 3 ounce bar 2 weeks ago, and still have some left.

Wow Carol. Great for you. I can see the lifestyle changes are really kicking in for you.

Plateau is not such a bad thing ... at least you're not adding weight.

I'm sure when you're ready you'll bust that plateau.

I hit a new low this morning at 196.0 lbs., and dropped another inch since last Friday.

Going to BOSU class tonight ... don't know if I mentioned it. They use this new fitness tool called the BOSU which is like a cut off stability ball on a stand. They have 6 stations and do various exercises at each station then cardio in between. It's an hour program and gets my heart rate cranked up to over 170 (anaerobic) at which point I have to take a break. But as they describe it, it's more fun than a barrel of monkeys. If your schedule can fit it in, having a fun class at least once a week is a great way to break the tedium and challenge your body in a new way. Maybe there's something in your area that would work for you.

Keep going on your good progress, and best of success to you.

Jim 

Hi Jim,

Wow!  Another new low and another inch gone!  Good for you!  I ran 2.5 miles last night, and felt much better.  There's a local 5K on Saturday that I was going to run, and then I changed my mind because it is going to be cold (low 30's) that morning.  Yesterday I happened to see a good friend out running, and I stopped to help her catch her dog who slipped out of his collar.  She's running on Saturday, too, and has talked me into running.  I couldn't argue when she said that I could walk if my asthma starts to get bad.  I can walk, cross-country ski, etc, in the cold without problems.  I think I'll buy one of those neoprene masks that cover the mouth and nose.  That should help warm the air I'm breathing and make it easier for me to breathe.  If I'm lucky, there won't be many people in my age class and I'll win something!  First in each age class wins a turkey, second a pumpkin pie, and third gets a gallon of apple cider. 

I wish there were fun classes that I could take around here.  It's such a rural area that there isn't much offered (aerobics, but I've done that and would rather run or bike).  I was taking yoga once a week, but the instructor moved.  I might be taking up a new sport next winter - hockey.  I have heard that a charitable foundation is donating money to build a hockey facility, and it should be ready next winter.  We have an outdoor rink, and there is a building at the fairgrounds that is used for a rink for the winter, but they aren't going to do that after this year because of the costs of maintaining their aging equipment.  A friend wants to organize a women's league, and has talked me into trying.  I haven't skated since I was a kid, but we have a pair of hockey skates somewhere that my son has outgrown, and I think they are my size.  I also have a hockey stick somewhere left from playing street hockey in college.

How was your BOSU class?

 Carol

Hi Jim,

 How have you been doing?  I'm back on track now, and feeling much better.  I ran a 5K last weekend, and had my best time ever!  I placed 3rd in my age class and won a gallon of apple cider.  It was a lot of fun.  A friend ran also, and this was her first race.  She is FAST.  We're both thinking of running a 10K in Traverse City, MI next spring.  It's beautiful up there when the cherry trees are in blossom.

Have a good Thanksgiving!

Carol

 Hey Carol,

Glad to hear you've found such a rewarding way to channel your cardio efforts. The 5K sounds like fun and congrats on placing 3d. What an accomplishment!

Well, I'm adding a few more classes now, in addition to doing BOSU which is still kicking my butt, I've adding a few spinning classes (instructor-directed stationary cycling group classes).

Since I have to work out at the classes pace, it's a lot more rigorous and is giving me a good solid workout.

I am taking advantage of a special from 24 hour fitness where I get 5 25-min training sessions for a total of $49. The trainer is showing me specific exercises using free weights and equipment I'm not experienced with, so that will improve my strength training. After one session boy am I feeling it though.

A few weeks ago I got determined to bust this plateau, and created a spreadsheet showing everything ... calories in, calories out (daily life) and calories burned (exercise) = caloric deficit.

I've been getting pretty close to a daily caloric deficit of 1800 calories, and I'm convinced that's what is helping me to bust out of the plateau I've been on for the longest time. I went for my body fat test (dunk tank) and found that I had dropped almost 3% of my body fat (during the plateau) and increased 4 lbs. of lean body mass (muscle).

I hit a new low on the scale this morning of 194.1, and am now at a net weight loss of 36.9 and a net inch loss of 12.0 inches. I am now only 2.5 inches away from my inch goal for December 14 check-in of 14.5 inches lost, and am well on track to hit that benchmark.

So needless to say, I'm thrilled that the scale is headed back in the direction I want it to go and that I'm back to seeing pounds coming off the scale, but even more important from the body fat test I got confirmation that everything I'm doing (exercise, diet) is leading my body composition in a much more positive direction.

Hope all is well with you and the other folks on this thread. I haven't heard from the others in a long time. Cheers,

Jim 

Hi Jim,

It sounds like you've been making great progress!  I've been maintaining, and that is all.  But we were traveling over Thanksgiving, and then I had to go visit my sister on the other side of the state so I could see my new nephew.  I was sick most of last week, but now I'm feeling better.  I've been running a little bit, but not outside.  Yesterday it was in the 20's with 20-30 mph winds and 45 mph gusts.  I am taking a new class, but it's not an exercise one.  I am taking a photography class, and as soon as it is done a different one starts that I will probably take also.  The class I'm taking now covers the basics, but the next one will be black and white photography, which is what I'm most interested in.

This is going to have to be a short post - I've got to head out for a meeting.  I'll let you know how things are going.  I really want to break this plateau before Christmas!

Carol