madaboutmoose's Journal, 11 June 2010

I think the biggest hurdle to overcome when dieting is the idea that less food is always better. It simply is not true especially if you are exercising. I find reducing calories for a week when I hit a plateau works, but then I bring them back up and keep losing. I lose weight much more steadily around 1500 calories than I did around 1200. 

MOOSE!!! You can do it!!! :) 

Go Moose! Go Moose! Go Moose! :)) 

Of course you can get below the blue line! It sounds like you're ready to do it now, too. 1.....2......3......GO! 

I've always been 'ready' just didn't believe it was possible!! LOL I've just been feeling so ... I don't know ... blah? lately. I was beginning to feel 'fat' too which is ridiculous because I am NOT. I'm excited though to up my calories and get back into exercising regularly again as we get our power up and running. Going to go back to alternating Pilates and intervals on the elliptical AND eating MORE!!!!! Thanks for the encouragement. You might have to remind me several times!! LOL!! 

Hey, good research! I heard at graduation last night: focus on your successes, re-play your successes, and you will continue to succeed - that we are more successful reproducing successful behavior than reviewing failures, actually, so Good Job, and Good Luck! 

I think you are "ready" when you believe you can actually do it. :) I don't know what sort of pilates routine you are doing but you might want to consider working in a simple strength training routine too to build your fabulous muscles up.  

WOW...terrific weigh in...!!! I read all of the posts from your previous entry too...I have no experience with hot flashes...I understand they can be horrid tho...so good luck with those...Couple ladies at work include a lot of soy in their diets to help combat them...As for the scales...we both know it's simply a number...If we are doing the right things for us by eating well and exercising - the numbers will fall into line where your body is the most comfy...I'm like you too Moose, tall for a woman, broad shoulders, big wrist bones...I'll be very comfortable in the 180 range...Perhaps the 170 - 175 range might be good for you...let your body decide...Keep up the excellent eforts tho...!!! hugggs 

Erika, the Pilates routine is a DVD I have and some of the positions I still can't do all the repetitions yet!! And push-ups? You are kidding right? You are probably right about adding some strength training. When the Pilates gets 'easy' then I'll add some more or switch something out. The Pilates has squats, lunges, push-ups, lots of ab strengthening moves. Is that strength training? k8yk posted a bunch of links to articles on her journal entry yesterday I think that I bookmarked so I can review. Suddenly I feel rejuvenated. Go figure!  

Well that was your first mistake, you didn't believe. Now fly Peter, FLY!! Yes, you do have to eat more, and having low days help too! I think simply staying aware, focused and wanting it badly makes it happen. Def switch up your routine, ie like you have the eliptical lately. See a diff, of course you do! Adding some dumbells will help you swap your fat up for some more tone. I would swap elliptical time for more stregnth training. If you get your heart rate up during a good circuit train, it will also make your heart healthy as does cardio! This, to me, is way more fun! :) 

Thanks Cynthia!! I hope I keep this feeling ... I like it! At the same time though I'm gonna quit stressing about the damn scale (maybe?) ... I'm still gonna use it because it helps keep me on track but I'm gonna TRY to not expect a change everyday or stress when it doesn't move! 

Good! Well, we can down talk the scale so much but truth is it gives us a measurement. We have to abide by it, just like we did when we 'finally' decided to much was too much. The important thing is -you can't let the scale decide your mood for the day, that's what we need just to stop stressing. You have learned that it will always give you a diff number (whether we like it or not -good or bad) and only you can decide what action to take to correct it or ignore it or =eeeek, let it get worse! Which you prob never will agian. :) 

Nope. Never again Cynthia. Enough is enough!! At least you learned it earlier than I did!! Ha! 

GO MOOSE GO!!! you CAN do it;) 

Have been reading your journal for the past two days. Talking about stress, etc, there are several ways in which stress can contribute to weight gain. One has to do with cortisol, a stress hormone. When we’re under stress, the fight or flight response is triggered in our bodies, leading to the release of various hormones. Whether we're stressed because of constant, crazy demands at work, stressed as you were for so long about FIL and fake MIL, or we're really in danger, our bodies respond like we're about to be harmed and need to fight for our lives (or run like heck). To answer this need, we experience a burst of energy, shifts in metabolism and blood flow, and other changes. If you remain in this state for a prolonged amount of time due to chronic stress, your health becomes at risk. Aside from a host of other dangers, chronic stress can also cause weight gain. Saying we are not going to stress out, is probably never going to happen. Life is life and there is going to be stresses. Maybe if we stay drunk we won't stress - LOL - KIDDING! Maybe we "stress" over weight and THAT causes the gains. Maybe we all focus too much on the numbers and should just try for the healthy eating instead and weight loss will come. Who knows. I am sure, once you get your mind frame into this, anything can happen Moose. Go girl!! 

Yep, those are bodyweight exercises, which build strength too. Maybe add some dumbbells like Cindy suggested or some resistance bands. Although planks, lunges and pushups will kick your ass by themselves. :) Glad to hear you getting excited about the next phase! 

I am feeling it!!!! 

Hmm. Yes, good research. Love all the comments. VEry positive and full of good advice. I agree with Erika that you might want to do some resistance. You can use resistance bands with your regular pilates exercises to give a little kick. But you can also get a thorough workout just with bodyweights. The thing is, our bodies are VERY good at adapting to what we do. We are efficient machines. That means you need to add new stuff to your routine to keep the body working and keep those muscles on their toes. You are sounding FULL of forward momentum! You are NOT fat where you are, no. But it sounds like you really do want to push yourself a little. Whether that means adding a few calories or mixing up the exercise routine--use that momentum, lady!  

The positive FORCE in this journal and all the comments just convinced me NOT to have another junky eat-whatever-I-want day. I'm going to get back on a healthy track tODAY.  

Don't know how I missed this interesting journal. I must have been out listening to my body telling me to have awesome cocktails. lol Moose I know you can do this. You are so dedicated and so in tune to how you are feeling and your attitude is amazing. Hope you have a great day!!!