[youOme]

Lately I've been seeking a partner to lose weight with. My friends are all very thin, my husband doesn't care nor gains weight in the wrong places. I feel if I had somebody who could experience the hardships of dieting and fitness I could make it through...we could encourage one another. Having somebody to walk with daily would be nice too.

My family are all obese and I see if I continue the way I live health wise I will obese with heart disease and diabetes as well. My main reason for losing weight though, honestly, is to feel better about myself and feel sexier...wear cute clothes. Next summer I'd like to wear shorts. I haven't wore shorts in several years because I'm convinced that my legs are fat and jiggly (which they are).

Is anybody else out there dieting and getting results? Say something encouraging please..

Also, a few quick questions.
1. Does smoking corrupt the weight losing process?
2. Does winter and holidays make losing weight impossible?
3. Is there any effective exercises that can be done in the house if the weathers to horrible outside??

Thanks

[Perna]

Hi, YouOme. I've been working on changing my eating and exercise habits for the last couple years (Since February 2006 and have taken off about 15 pounds and kept it off and am still moving in that direction. Only 15 more years to go and I'll weigh what I "should" LOL.

I started with Kathleen's Daeleman's, Cooking Thin Daybook and recording what I was eating in there. I joined a gym and went religiously for a couple months but then had to quit because my asthma got out of control and my minimum membership came to an end. This last summer I joined my local Curves but then my shoulder/arms had issues :-) so I had to quit there too. I did, however, learn some at-home exercises while I was working with a personal trainer at the gym.

One thing I learned from before is you can use any stairs as "exercise". I read a story in a magazine about a women, talking about her next door neighbor, the neighbor was a large woman in the Fall and a small woman in Spring and it turned out she had been running up and down her stairs all winter and had lost a lot of weight and gotten fit! Occasionally I do that too; climb the stairs for no "good" reason :-) or extra times and/or use the first step as a "step exercise" block and just do stepping exercises for a bit. But hand weights are buyable at the drugstore and one can just sit and stand with the weights in one's hands and do other such exercises and the TV has lots of exercise "channels" that have people exercising that one can join in with. I also bought a "ball" that is not real hard, about kickball size at my dollar store and "squeeze" it between my legs for working on my thighs. That can be done when watching TV or any other activity where you sit.

I don't know about the smoking. I don't think it helps with trying to breath well? :-) If you do exercises to help your heart, the smoking is going to get in the way of breathing well.

Nothing makes losing weight impossible if you have had a physical and taken care of any medical (hormones/thyroid/other meds) problems that may get in the way. I've had my best success with substituting some choices for others and working on regulating my portions. If you "can't live without" some food, don't start with that food! Start with something you find easier. I try to eat more fish when I'm eating out, for example, because I don't dislike fish but my husband isn't keen and I'm not keen on cooking it in the house. So, I order it when we go out. I try to eat less when we eat out and not take home any leftovers and if we order pizza delivered, I throw away what is not eaten right then as I'm the only one who eats leftovers in a timely fashion and I don't "need" pizza :-) I have a few new habits, I eat a banana and an apple a day and try to drink more water (I have Deerpark water delivered to my house).

But what you might do for yourself would depend on what you like and feel you need to do.

[sabby]

</font><blockquote><div id="quote"><font class="small">Quote:</font>
youOme said:

Also, a few quick questions.
1. Does smoking corrupt the weight losing process?
2. Does winter and holidays make losing weight impossible?
3. Is there any effective exercises that can be done in the house if the weathers to horrible outside??

Thanks

</div></font></blockquote><font class="post">

1. Smoking does inhibit weight loss. You loose important oxygen for your muscles which stops you from strengthening them and burning calories.

2.Winter and Holiday does NOT make it impossible. The trick is to eat sensibly at home before going to parties or places where high calorie food will be. That way you are not hungry when you arrive and less likely to overeat. Also, having a game plan going into the situation is best. Give yourself permission to enjoy a taste of things without having to fill your plate high!

3. Walking is probably the easiest best way to drop the pounds and work on your stamina. If you have room for a treadmill, you can set it up in front of the tv to watch your fav program while walking off the pounds Remember, any exercise that gets your heartrate going for 20 minutes will be effective in burning calories.

Wishing you all the best!


sabby

[Perna]

I'm decided I want to get a treadmill. I used one at a gym I was a member of and liked it and it ended up being the "only" equipment I used regularly. Buying one would be cheaper at this point than another gym membership and I'd be able to walk in all sorts of weather, etc. However, convincing my husband it isn't just another "fad"/thing I want and will abandon (like the exercise bike, real bike, the rowing machine, etc.) is another thing :-)

He said we'd talk about it "later" when I approached him awhile ago. I guess I have to shut up and start walking everyday for awhile to show him I'm serious :-)

Hey, youOme, you got a walking "route" where you're at? I once took my car and measured off various distances; 1/4 mile, 1/2 mile, 3/4 and shopping center, etc. to see what I should to and how I could work up to it, etc. I live on a circle and I could just walk around and around and around :-) and have my neighbors laughing at me? I also have a pedometer it might behoove me to find and put on and wander out with now.

Do you prefer the 10,000 steps thing http://www.shapeup.org/shape/steps.php or regular "mileage" recording? I got a good pedometer and it will do either as well as other stuff.

[(JD)]

I think one of those swing things that Tony sells is better... gazelle? But really the ultimate thing is to get something one will use.

I recently asked my PT if we could schedule me for the treadmill, just at level and very slow walking. I can't go out and walk around the block; if my back or hip goes out, I have no way to get home. Plus, I feel guilty (I know, I know) about not taking Caleb with me, and that's so much more energy and issues right now.

Well, the PT didn't say, "No." Not in one word. He looked at me and said, just movement is what you can do..just move slowly. So it's beyond me to do that.

Do it while you can. I think the gazelle, or speed walking is the best, as it doesn't ruin your knees or jar your spine.

[Perna]

I don't think I have room for a Gazelle (maybe that's psychological too, with it "swinging"), though it looks less expensive, hadn't thought of that though. I was just looking at the cheapest Nordic Track. I did well with the treadmill at the gym, actually did the 3x a week for half hour thing driving half an hour up there and half an hour back (so 1-1/2 hours 3x a week). I think mentally I want to stay close to "walking" so in the warmer months I can take that up in some fashion.

[(JD)]

Well the gazelle is much lighter and moveable, a treadmill is not, unless you do get a light one, and they can tip over with you (cheaper is not better with them.)

The speed walking is easier on the body, the gazelle type also simulates walking without any impact. Hope you find something that works!

[haunted]

Perna, a treadmill is a great idea! I have one. I also have a bowflex, the excersise ball, hand weights, bands but I like my treadmill the best especially when the weather is cold. I go in my room, shut the door and put on some loud music and just walk. I don't time myself or worry about speed. Sometimes I find that I've walked through 2 cd's before I stop. I let my mind wander wherever it wants to. Not only is it good for the waistline but raising the endorphins is the best natural way to fight depression.

You can do it!

[Perna]

I live in a tiny townhouse. The only place I could put a treadmill probably is the "porch" we just 3-seasoned. Guess what season it isn't seasoned against, LOL. I can "cheat" and heat the outdoors; my husband works out there now and we open the door to the house so the heat gets out there, it will just be a bit chillier but that is probably good for exercising so I don't overheat :-)

[youOme]

Thanks all for your replies. So far I've began with a little work. Yesterday my husband got lazy on me and decided to get some quick McDonalds instead of cooking dinner or the kids while I was in class. He had worked all day. Anyway, he offered me some and I went ahead and said "no thanks". He obviously was shocked by this and went ahead and ordered some extra dollar menu sandwiches...just in case I change my mind I suppose. Well, I never did eat them, he did. Me turning down some beloved Micky D's was a good step for me, shows I had control over my hunger and the situation.

My biggest problem though is night binging. I'll not a thing all day then at night I'll be starved and eat like a cow. Then I'll sleep on that a few hours later. I think this behavior itself has contributed to me not being able to lose the weight, not necessarily gain it.

I fear if I quit smoking I will gain weight...so, would quit smoking, fitness, and dieting (complete health makeover basically) seem reasonable for a busy girl like myself?

My goal is a whopping 50 pounds...back to my pre pregnancy weight. I'm 190 now and hope to be 140. I think it's reasonable, naturally I'm stalkie and tall. Everybody says I don't look 190 at all, but then again I'm the one carrying the 190 around and I can tell.

I have a pair of short shorts I used to wear back in the day day, best shorts I ever had, they make my booty look cute..haha, anyway...there my inspiration.

I'm hoping changing my health behaviors now will influence my children to make good choices when they are adults too.

I know walking is the key to losing weight...really, the answer. My fear about that is walking the neighborhood by myself. I can't afford any equipment right now, nor do I have an inch of space to donate to it either. It won't stop me from doing it the old fashion way though. I'm going to start asking people around my complex if they ever want to go for walks with me. Maybe someone out there is willing.

Thanks for the advice.