Egull1's Journal, 23 May 2017

As I tell my wife, all a scale does it tell you the effect on gravity on you in any given point and place. Never figured out how a scale can give you one weight in one room, the the same scale, on the same surface, in a different room give you a completely different reading. Good luck with your new workout program. Are you coming up with this on your own or working with a trainer? I have been shooting in the dark myself, modifying personal training sessions I had back in the 1990s (back then I could afford that luxury). Only problem is my 20 something body and my 40 something body aren't anywhere near the same. 

Aside from unconditional love, that is the best input you can give your wife, poof! I started to lose my delusions around the scale weight the week I gained 4.8 lbs of water weight in one night, and they was able to lose it in 3 days. A good example is today. My new stated low is 195.2, right? But, last week my stated low was 195.8 even though it was not on an official weigh in day. But, then on official weigh in day (yesterday), I was 196 (water weight). And then went down to the new low this a.m. So technically, I'm down .6 lbs from last week. But, is my weight chart going to reflect that? Don't get me wrong, I love "new lows", but even trying to determine what the loss is on a week to week basis can be mind boggling! LOL Regarding the workout program. It's a little bit of everything. My mother is a bit like my trainer as she had to learn a lot of upper & lower body exercises after rehab for both a hip and shoulder joint replacement. Since I have similar issues with my hip, she basically taught me all the exercises and strength training she learned from rehab and her time in the gym afterward. Some of it's based on my own research in terms of when to increase weights. And, the other part is working with what we have regarding exercise equipment (like the recumbent bike). However, I am the one that decides when to increase my reps and sets for any of these. I've learned it is VERY important to increase in small increments and to use myself as the benchmark for doing a little bit more each time, not anyone else. I'm 43, and remind myself often, if I get to crazy about trying to do to much, I can injure myself and then I won't be able to work out at all. So, starting and going at your own pace is critical. But, I love the progress I'm seeing! 

Egull you are seeing progress on every scale and level. Think metaphysically...... I absolutely believe that if I hadn't watched my diet from an early age I would be 100lb heavier today. Yes I'm still overweight as I see it, but it's manageable and shop clothes fit. I admit I don't exercise a great deal, only because I'm on my feet and busy most days. I walk into town which is a 4 mile round trip without feeling tired. 🚶 So you are making progress but you cannot see the long term benefits . Your mind set is the progression in your thinking and attitude. 🙋 

Thank you Mrs. Maths! {{BIG BIG HUGS}} Lately, I've been doing a lot of contemplating about when I first felt my weight was an issue for me. It goes all the way back to 6th grade if you can believe it! And, really when I look back at that person, I was just a chubby girl that had a couple more inches in height to go. I was about 145 in 8th grade, but if society and culture had put emphasis on maintaining instead of constant yo yo dieting and promoting the idea that I was never enough, I very likely might have done just fine and grown up and out of it. And, I commend you on your 4 miles/day. That's amazing!! Walking used to be my default exercise, but I kinda had no choice but to choose strength when this hip started going bad. But, I think walking is the best form of movement, meditation, and cardio out there! As for your diet, I think it's okay to just try and maintain for a while and see how it feels at this weight. If this weight is allowing you to continue enjoying a healthy lifestyle, and most importantly you feel good, then it's okay just to put your efforts at maintenance. You can always change your mind later if you want. You're already beautiful inside and out! :-) 

I am sadly to say I am in no shape to be seen at a gym. I am 5' 6" and 197 at the moment. What exercizes can I do without putting too much stress on my heart? 

Jazytone - if you have heart conditions, then you need to discuss exercises you can do that won't stress your heart with your doctor and perhaps ask for a referral to a nutritionist that may be able to recommend exercises that won't compromise that condition. As for going to the gym. I don't work out in a gym. My mom and I converted the larger part of the master suite in our house into a little gym and exercise area. We both split the cost of a recumbent stationary bike, and we use weights my mother kept during rehab from a previous joint replacement. In addition to talking to your doctor about what exercises are appropriate for you to do, you can also do a google search on exercises that don't compromise your heart. That's the best advice I feel qualified to give.  

Thanks for the update on halfsizeme, I'll have to check it out. I normally dislike podcasts, but if she makes that much sense I'll have to give it a listen. 🤷🏻‍♀️ I can relate to the setting of goals and defining and identifying a "healthy lifestyle," at this point in our lives. I think our generation of women, like our mother's generation before us to an extent because they started the mass of working outside the home and the becoming of "superwomen," 🙆🏻I think we all went from being defined as girls living under what our parents told us, to maybe career adults or student adults, to mom and working mom and then at empty nest we realize that the years that are for us finally aren't our bodies any more. That vibrant, young woman is now old, unhealthy and all those things we put off until we had the "time" for ourselves to do them can't necessarily be done in this body! 🙅🏻I think men have always gone through it with their "middle aged" madness striking thing where they buy fast cars, or get new wives or leave careers. Women, I think felt less economically able to just throw off whatever they were currently doing and so didn't react quite as dramatically, externally. We are all seeing what we're experiencing as new, as every generation does. I'm thinking the newest thing about what were all dealing with is maybe that we can talk to other women all over the world about what we're going through and feeling. 🤷🏻‍♀️ I know that before I had kids living healthy was pretty much a non-issue, after just getting them raised healthy and with me being disabled and sick all the time getting through the day, but I don't think most people were too much less overwhelmed, kids come with that sticker. Should be a warning label. 🙇🏻‍♀️"Emotional turmoil and burnout that will tear at your heartstrings, jump up and down on your last nerve, consume vast quantities of attention and income, and be the best experience you ever have!" And when they are on their own and you pretty much have your life back and can reassess it, suddenly the priority shift is HUGE! And the concerns of other times in our lives aren't the same concerns we face now, or at least not for me. 💁🏻 My long winded way of saying that I feel as if I'm slowly waking from a 25 year hibernation and the world and my body are much different than when I was put into cryo. LOL 🤦🏻‍♀️😁