I feel like why should I bother!?

[FolderWife]

I've been exercising every other day, and eating better for a week and a half.

 

But now, I'M BLOATED. My period isn't for weeks. At first, the eating less and exercising made me feel skinnier...but now that I've ballooned up, I look bigger than when I started! So now, I feel like why coninue? Why deny myself sweets, and make myself exercise, when I look worse than I did before I started doing this

 

When do I start to actually see the results? If I saw them immediately, I might be motivated...but how long must I wait!?

[ConfusedInOC]

Originally posted by FolderWife

I've been exercising every other day, and eating better for a week and a half.

 

But now, I'M BLOATED. My period isn't for weeks. At first, the eating less and exercising made me feel skinnier...but now that I've ballooned up, I look bigger than when I started! So now, I feel like why coninue? Why deny myself sweets, and make myself exercise, when I look worse than I did before I started doing this

 

When do I start to actually see the results? If I saw them immediately, I might be motivated...but how long must I wait!?

 

Slow and steady wins the race. You will not see results quickly. You must stick to your regimin and do not deviate.

 

If your goal is to lose weight and tone up, do 1 hour of cardio work and 1/2 hour of light weight work at least 3x a week.

 

I've been doing it for 16 months and am FINALLY starting to see some good results. Heck, even the six pack abs are starting to show. Another 6 months of this and I'm going to be looking pretty d*mn good for 36. Heck, I'm in better physical shape now than I was at 22.

 

The point is, you can't give up so easily. You have to have the discipline to stick to it. Patience is rewarded.

[tanbark813]

Well a week and a half is nothing. You should give it a little more time before concluding whether or not the change in lifestyle is for you. Your body is just getting used to it right now. Also, be sure to get plenty of water (a gallon a day is good). You might not be getting enough so your body is clinging to what little you do have.

[FolderWife]

Originally posted by ConfusedInOC

Slow and steady wins the race. You will not see results quickly. You must stick to your regimin and do not deviate.

 

If your goal is to lose weight and tone up, do 1 hour of cardio work and 1/2 hour of light weight work at least 3x a week.

 

I've been doing it for 16 months and am FINALLY starting to see some good results. Heck, even the six pack abs are starting to show. Another 6 months of this and I'm going to be looking pretty d*mn good for 36. Heck, I'm in better physical shape now than I was at 22.

 

The point is, you can't give up so easily. You have to have the discipline to stick to it. Patience is rewarded.

 

AN HOUR AND A HALF OF EXERCISE!?!?!

 

I was only doing 20 minutes

 

this sucks

[laRubiaBonita]

your gut is probably not used to all this new stuff you are doing....like fruits and veggies....exercise.

 

give it a month.

[ConfusedInOC]

Originally posted by FolderWife

AN HOUR AND A HALF OF EXERCISE!?!?!

 

I was only doing 20 minutes

 

this sucks

 

20 minutes is not nearly enough. Sorry.

 

The less you exercise the longer it will take. 20 minutes is not enough to burn off the excess calories you are eating and then burn off fat as well.

 

The only way to do that is start lowering your caloric intake and do at least 45 minutes of cardio, preferably every day.

 

But, you can split it up like this:

 

Mon: 30 mins cardio, 30 mins weights

Tue: 30 mins cardio, 30 mins weights

Weds: 30 mins cardio

Thur: 30 mins cardio, 30 mins weights

Fri: 30 mins cardio, 30 mins weights

 

Now I will tell you something many people will disagree with. IT DOES NOT MATTER WHAT YOU EAT! All that matters is how many calories you are taking is vs how many you are burning off each day.

 

To lose weight it's a simple matter of mathematics.

 

Calories burned each day - calories taken in each day = fat or slim

 

It's that simple. Start counting calories. Get your caloric intake to be less than what you're burning up in a day and in 3 months you'll be so excited about the results you'll keep doing it. Exercise is addictive. Once you start to see results and feel good about yourself, you will keep doing it.

 

One other thing: Stop drinking any sugary stuff like sodas. Drink more water, at least 1/2 gallon or more per day.

 

Good luck.

[FolderWife]

So...I don't have to count fat grams...just calories?

 

hmmm...

 

I'm not sure that I understand...if I eat 1000 calories a day, I have to burn off 1000 calories a day? Is that what you're saying?

[FolderWife]

So...if all I count is calories...I can eat Skittles if I want to?

[laRubiaBonita]

Originally posted by FolderWife

So...if all I count is calories...I can eat Skittles if I want to?

 

 

well, you want to get as many nutrients for as few calories....so skittles may not the BEST choice .....although the rainbow of flavors is sooo tempting!

[tanbark813]

Originally posted by FolderWife

So...I don't have to count fat grams...just calories?

 

hmmm...

 

I'm not sure that I understand...if I eat 1000 calories a day, I have to burn off 1000 calories a day? Is that what you're saying?

 

Well you actually burn a certain number of calories just keeping yourself alive. I want to say it's around 1500, but that's just a rough guess. So it's more like:

 

calories consumed - (calories to sustain your body + calories burned in activity) = calorie surplus or deficit

[ConfusedInOC]

Originally posted by FolderWife

So...if all I count is calories...I can eat Skittles if I want to?

 

Yeah but eventually you'll get sick

 

You want to eat healthy, no doubt. Fresh fruits, vegetables, chicken/fish, etc. Avoid salt. Try not to eat red meat (bad bad bad). Bread is OK just don't eat a lot of it.

 

If you're eating well and taking in less calories than you are burning and drinking water, the weight will come off almost as fast as you put it on....if you have the discipline to stick to it.

 

It's not easy but very rewarding. When I first started seeing the six pack come in, all that did was make me want to work even harder. In 16 months I have never missed a workout.

[FolderWife]

Originally posted by ConfusedInOC

Mon: 30 mins cardio, 30 mins weights

Tue: 30 mins cardio, 30 mins weights

Weds: 30 mins cardio

Thur: 30 mins cardio, 30 mins weights

Fri: 30 mins cardio, 30 mins weights

 

 

This is the part that I hate I can get up an hour early every day and exercise...but my husband says that's bad for you..he said it's not healthy to crawl out of bed and start exercising right away. However, that's the only time that I can find to do it An hour in the morning would be no big deal at all. But he insists it's better to work out in the evening, after your body is all stretched out.

 

Now, I get home at 6. My husband tries to be in bed around 8:30 because he has to get up pretty early for work. We both like to go to bed at the same time...so we can cuddle and stuff before we go to sleep. So if I get home at 6, and work out for an hour, and if I make the time to lay in my tanning bed for 20 minutes, and then take a shower...I'll have just enough time to stuff some food in my mouth and go to bed

 

No me time at all

[tanbark813]

Originally posted by FolderWife

he said it's not healthy to crawl out of bed and start exercising right away.

 

There's nothing unhealthy about it. It's fine to workout in the morning.

[Horse]

You didn't get out of shape in two weeks, so why should you expect to get back in shape in two weeks? It takes time to make any lasting changes in your body.

 

 

re: It's not what you eat, it's the calories. That's true, but if you buy into the whole south beach thing, what you eat can create cravings and make you more likely to cheat and eat more. Food with more refined sugar (skittles) raise your blood sugar unnaturally. Your body over-reacts then you feel like you need more sugar and you get hungry.

 

You can also eat a lot more low density food. You can eat five stalks of celery or half a dozen skittles.

[laRubiaBonita]

Originally posted by FolderWife

 

No me time at all

 

aren't you doing all this for yourself?

 

make your exercise time your me time.

 

I think you need to redefine your definitions. You still have unhealthy definitions of "me time"....... like soaking up TV rays? or playing online?

[FolderWife]

Originally posted by laRubiaBonita

. You still have unhealthy definitions of "me time"....... like soaking up TV rays? or playing online?

 

Um...duh!

 

I want to rest and relax...not work out hee hee..I'm lazy

 

I didn't expect to see results in two weeks...but I certain didn't want to feel like this either.

 

Now I'm more defeated I need to exercise at least 4 TIMES as much as I am now And it was hard for me to do 20

[FolderWife]

I wanted someone to tell me this was easy

[ConfusedInOC]

Originally posted by FolderWife

I wanted someone to tell me this was easy

 

It isn't. If it was, nobody would complain about having to do it. It requires dedication, discippline and hard work. There is no way around it.

[laRubiaBonita]

Originally posted by FolderWife

I wanted someone to tell me this was easy

 

if it were everyone would be fit!

 

But it does get easier, actually you get healthier and it just seems easier too. and you even start enjoying it after a little while.

 

now the bloating is prob. all this "old bad stuff" getting ready to come out.

 

Like everyone has said. It is not a quick fix, but it the best way to loose the weight/ inches and look really good, as well as making yourself healthier in the process.

[Horse]

Originally posted by FolderWife

I wanted someone to tell me this was easy

 

The easy way is to find something that you enjoy doing.

 

If going to the gym is boring, then try something like martial arts, dancing, yoga, pilates, bike riding, etc. You will be a lot more sucessful if you find something that you like doing too.

 

 

The gym is my therapist. I sit and think (sorta meditate) between sets and I get to work out my agression. If I'm not feeling motivated, I think about someone who annoys me.

[sophia34]

I've followed almost exactly the same regimen as ConfusedInOC. I've counted calories ONLY -- no special diets. I eat what KIND of food I want (although I emphasize fruits and veggies--more filling, less calories!), but I monitor exactly how many calories I'm eating. 1,500 calories a day or under is what I need to lose weight.

 

I exercise an hour a day on most days, alternating between cardio and strength training, with one day of yoga a week. Don't neglect weights--the more muscle you have, the more calories you burn throughout the day when you're not exercising.

 

As I've mentioned on another thread, I've lost 17 pounds in 8 months. I'm 35 and also look better than I did when I was 22! But this ain't for those who don't want it bad enough. You have to want to look slim more than you want to avoid exercise and overeat. Use that desire as motivation to get out of bed an hour earlier!

[FolderWife]

Jimany Christmas, do I want it today!

 

I usually will walk/run on the treadmill every other day....well, as of last week any way. I was TOTALLY motivated.

 

Then I found out that I need to do an hour a day. So I didn't do my treadmill yesterday (the day I was supposed to) and resolved to get up and do it this morning, and do weights. Well, this morning rolled around, and I was totally sleepy...so I reset the alarm clock, and decided to just do the treadmill this morning.

 

I was still too sleepy, so I hit snooze too many times

 

I woke up SO BLOATED! I am so full of gas (drinking fiber, and not pooping gives me horrible bloating and gas).

 

I did a radio interview recently, and looked fantastic that day. Today I look horrible. I just called the radio to request a song, and the DJ recognized my voice, and said, "Are you still hot!?" I said, "I'm very hot!"

 

And then I realized that I look AWEFUL!

 

So yeah...Tomorrow is Saturday...it's time to knuckle down and get hot!

 

Maybe I'll build to it gradually. I'll keep training myself to run, and then once I get to the three mile mark (my goal is to run three miles without walking) then I should be used to working out, and I'll add weights.

 

That way, I won't go from sleeping in, to getting up and hour early for an intense workout...I'll only have to get up twenty to thirty minutes early. And once I'm used to that, I'll work my way up to an hour, and keep it there.

 

I don't drink pop. I like it, but I can easily live without it, so the water thing isn't going to be a problem at all.

 

Sweets are my weakness. It's like I can hardly get through a day without something sugary (candy bar, or cookies, or a donut... )

 

I just have a sweet tooth. Maybe if I fill it with fruites... WHAT AN IDEA!

 

I'm feeling motivated today! I'm thinking a salad and tuna for lunch

[sophia34]

Sounds like we have the same weakness ... I LOVE sweets, and I can never pass up desserts. Here are some of the coping mechanisms I've come up with to satisfy my sweet tooth and keep the calories down:

 

--Sugar free jello with sugar-free jello pudding. Yes, there are artificial sweeteners in it (which I'd rather avoid), but I have to survive! This is tastes really good and a serving of the jello is only 10 calories, and a serving of the pudding, 70. Add in some banana or strawberry as well for an extra punch.

--Ghiardelli dark chocolate. 50 calories a square. Melt one and put it on banana. It's wonderful.

--1 tsp peanut butter and 1 tsp all-fruit jelly (no sugars) on a HALF piece of bread. About 100 calories total.

--Microwave apple slices with cinnamon and all-fruit jelly on top.

--Put 1 tsp of peanut butter in a tortilla with apple slices and honey, and roll it up for a quick, sweet snack.

--2 tbsp Low-fat Cool Whip on the fruit of your choice

--Edy's frozen fruit bars

 

I also make my own cakes (carrot cake, apple cinnamon cake, etc.) using healthy recipes that replace applesauce for oil or shortening. They do use sugar, but they tend to stay around 200 calories a serving, frosting and all.

 

And when you go out to dinner, plan ahead. Eat a little lighter during the day, then eat a salad with low-fat dressing or a half of a regular entree (staying away from cream and butter sauces!) and then splurge on dessert! The lemon cake at Olive Garden is to die for. Plan splurges into your diet plan so you never feel deprived. You'll always know that your favorites are there for you--you just can't eat them every day.

 

Those are my coping strategies anyway--hope they help!

[sophia34]

Also, I forgot to mention that I've found that drinking LOTS of iced green or white tea (not store-bought--brew it yourself) cuts my appetite immensely. On days when I don't drink it (because I'm too lazy to brew a new pitcher), I'm always wanting to munch on something and I can't control my eating.

 

On the other hand, on the days I drink green tea with every meal, as well as a couple glasses between meals, I get full much more quickly and I don't feel ravenous at all. I'm not sure that would work for everybody, but it has certainly worked for me. I give green tea at least 50 percent credit for my weight loss. Without it, I eat and eat and eat.

 

I'm sure black tea would work the same--I just can't take the extra caffeine in black tea. Makes me too jittery.

[FolderWife]

brew? I have green tea bags, and I'll drink them once in a while.

 

How do you brew tea? Are tea bags good enough?