Let's Get Fit and Healthy Together!

[messiers31st]

Speak for yourself. It snowed a little yesterday in my parts and was just as cold as it was last January.

Oh boy I could have sworn it said it snowed a little yesterday in my pants.

I think we should all turn our cars into flowerpots and bike everywhere. How's that for exercise?

[Tigerlily]

There was a blizzard today!

[Roxy]

It snowed here this past week too!!

Hi Tina! Good to see you back here! I love that organic herb salad mix too. Earthbound organics stuff is always really nice.

[absentmindedfan]

5.3 mile run today, my furthest ever
Hard work though, but I can work on that

[Smoothie]

wauw absentmindedfan - that's really good. i used to run three times a week, and do yoga three days a week too - with one day for resting.

i think i'm gonna do some situps today, and run a little bit, and then go home and do some yoga. i really need my energy levels to go up. have no energy at all.

any tips for how to make me more energetic?

[absentmindedfan]

Exercise more, get enough sleep, eat well.
It's what I do, and the fitter I am the more I want to do.

[msbliss]

Did my pilates DVD last night for the first time. I could only get through about 2/3 of it. Gave me 3 charlie horses (damn all that toe pointing). but the good news is I found it enjoyable and I'm sore today.

[Yogini]

Can I ask which DVD you have?

[Smoothie]

today i'm gonna bike for 40 mins. it's gonna be great. and i'll probably do some outside yoga, if the weather keeps on being this fab.

[absentmindedfan]

3 mile run and some yoga, both of which were a bit tough because my 5miler yesterday tired me out.

[flying plum]

i went for a run today for the first time in ages. it wasn't far...just around the block, which according to <a href=www.mapmyrun.com>map my run</a> is only 0.57 of a mile.

this time last year i was running 2.5 miles once a day, but i really let it slip when i went away over the summer. i've been trying to get back into it, but i've been getting up at half seven every morning and getting in and the last thing i want to do when i wake up that early or get in that late is go for a run. but today, i'm at home, and i was sitting here and i couldn't concentrate, was so restless, and i just had this impulse to go for a run. wish i'd gone further now. must try to go again tomrrow morn...

amanda

[Smoothie]

today i've biked 16 kilometres - 8 to work, 8 back. and i work as a cleaning lady, was 4 hours at work, which is pretty hard too. it's a good combo: exercise and i'm getting paid $20 an hour for it! but it is kind of boring..

[msbliss]

Can I ask which DVD you have?

It's called Pilates Basics 2. I got it at Fry's for $10. Pros: Uncomplicated moves, almost every move has a modified version for beginners like me. Cons: 55 minutes long, kind of boring.

I was reading about Pilates all day at work and a lot of people like the Denise Austin and Winsor DVDs. I recommend looking for them on eBay.

[Yogini]

I have a Winsor DVD, a few Stott Pilates DVDs (some of which are very strenuous), and two Ana Caban DVDs - I quite like her. I also have a book called The Pilates Body by Brooke Siler. She outlines a full mat program that I've been known to do while watching Law & Order reruns. Which probably has Joe Pilates turning in his grave.

[Smoothie]

HAHA. i used to do some pilates from a dvd - don't recall the name, but it made my body hurt like hell - so stopped doing it. i like yoga a lot better.

[Kevster]

Just been down the gym, feel better for it, been going twice a week for the last couple and maybe this one too. Getting toward a fitness level i was at last Summer.

[Yogini]

i like yoga a lot better.

I like Pilates, too. But if I had had to pick one or the other, I'd pick yoga. Pilates is a fun alternative to weight training, but yoga is so much more. Sorry, Pilates peeps!

Well, I'm facing another end of semester crunch. Every time I swear I'm going to keep up the same fitness and nutrition plan as during the regular semester, but I always let it go to hell. When yesterday's breakfast consisted of tater tots, jelly beans, and cola, I knew something had to change if I was going to make it through with my sanity intact. So the plan for the next two weeks is:

1) Don't track my food intake or exercise at all; eat as much as I want BUT

2) All foods must be whole and

3) I need to exercise at least 30 minutes a day, even if it's just restorative yoga.

After yesterday's horrible start, I went on to eat two bowls of chilled, pureed veggie soup (cucumber, spinach, avocado, lemon juice, garlic, water, seasonings), a bowl of brown rice with smashed avocado and nutrional yeast, water, and tea. I also did a 60 minute power yoga video. Right now I'm cooking wheat-free pancakes and have a big batch of chickpeas soaking. They will be cooked and made into hummus, then eaten with chopped veggies. I'm also planning 30 minutes on the elliptical trainer and/or 20-30 minutes of Pilates.

Must complete thesis. Wish me luck. If all goes well, this will be my last end-of-semester crunch ever.

[absentmindedfan]

3mile run again this morning, easy

[absentmindedfan]

5.3mile run today. 6.30am, it was lovely. The sun was pinky-orange, the birds were singing...bliss
And a short walk with the dog too.

[Tigerlily]

Yesterday I went for a walk, yay!

[Yogini]

Yesterday I did do my 30 minutes on the elliptical plus 20 mins. Pilates. In addition to my pancakes and veggies with hummus (that I added oil to; I never do that) I also made a dozen thumbprint cookies with only whole ingredients. And I ate most of them.

I stepped on the scale this morning to find it about three pounds lower than yesterday. I hope this keeps up, because I could make real habit of this "eat whatever so long as it's whole and I keep exercising." It was so refreshing yesterday to be able to lick spoons and bowls without mentally estimating how much of the food I was consuming so that I could log it Fitday. And to just put tahini in my hummus without measuring out exactly 1/2 tablespoon.

[absentmindedfan]

Rest day today so just a little yoga this morning to stretch my legs and back after yesterday.

[Tigerlily]

Yesterday I went for a walk but I made a mistake of walking near some stores. I entered a clothing store and spent 30 minutes trying on outfits. Oops!

[RachelJune]

Yesterday I went for a walk but I made a mistake of walking near some stores. I entered a clothing store and spent 30 minutes trying on outfits. Oops!

Now that's my idea of enjoyable exercise, Tigerlily. Shopping!

[Tigerlily]

lol

[Yogini]

Saturday I took a leisurely walk in the sun and did some yoga twists, bends, and shoulderstand vinyasa before I went to bed. Sunday I did 30 minutes of power yoga. I had a cola yesterday, but other than that have been sticking to my "eat whatever, so long as it's whole" plan. I've lost four pounds.

[absentmindedfan]

5.75 miles. (That's the furthest I've run in my whole life )

Feeling very pleased and relaxed after my 'therapy' session. I'm going to do some yoga too.

[Robert]

Walking is my only form of exercise at the moment. Fortunately I do a heck of a lot of it.

I am changing from an office based job to home based in two weeks and will then have the time to go to the gym and also go swimming - am looking forward to that.

[Tigerlily]

I'm gaining weight but I'm not even eating more than usual AND I started exercising again. Stupid anti-depressants.

[Roxy]

Do you think it might be worth talking to your doctor about trying a different brand?

[Tigerlily]

I think they all make you gain weight. My psychiatrist thinks these are working well for me (and I agree) and he doesn't want me to switch my medications.

[Gorilla]

i put on a lot of weight when i took anti-depressants, and i didn't lose it all again until i stopped taking them. i did manage to shift some of the weight while on them by following a very strict diet. but if they're making you feel better in general, isn't it worth it?

[Tigerlily]

I don't know. I'd rather be happy and not fat.

[Gorilla]

well yes, i understand that, but as with many medications you have to decide whether or not the benefits outweigh the side-effects. it's a totally personal decision.

[Frank]

Okay - was 13 stone 11 pounds today for my monthly weigh in

But I know what caused the relapse this month so hope to see a loss again for next month

Weighed in at 13 stone 10lbs this morning.

Was 14 stone at start of March.

I will not get carried away though as I gave up chips and pasties for lent - and also no drinking beer at home!

[Christina]

Is using an abdominal roller as good as doing sit ups without it. I can hardly do any when not using the machine. When I do use the machine I can do over 200. This makes me wonder if its doing me as much good as doing them without?

[RachelJune]

Is using an abdominal roller as good as doing sit ups without it. I can hardly do any when not using the machine. When I do use the machine I can do over 200. This makes me wonder if its doing me as much good as doing them without?

Same here, Christina! I can barely manage 10 without one, and I'm sure I must be hurting my back I can do loads this way but, after doing about 100 a day for a few weeks, I can't see any difference to my tummy Maybe I just need to persevere and perhaps do more...

[absentmindedfan]

I would advise doing proper sit-ups, concentrating on doing them right, and doing less of them until you're comfortable. 3 properly executed sit-ups will do more good than 30 sub-par ones.

I ran 10k this morning!
Very pleased with myself, a slow start as usual then a big tough hill half way then the last mile I picked up the pace and the last half a mile I was running at my fast pace

Did some yoga too

[treehugga]

Don't do full sit ups - do crunches, much more affective.

Lie with your spine flat against the floor.
Arms resting lightly behind your head, elbows outward.
Slowly crunch forward while sucking in your gut as hard as you can and crunch it slightly at the top then move slowly back down.
Do your crunches slowly and pricisely otherwise they will be ineffective and hurt your lower back.
Aim for 20 then increase by 10 every week.
Vary this exercise to include reverse crunches, side crunches and pulses etc to shock your abs so they don't adapt to the exercise.

I find ab machines ineffective compared to doing the exercise yourself, which is why my gym got rid of them.

Stablisers are great for abs. Lie full length on your tummy and raise yourself up on your toes and elbows while sucking your gut in as hard as you can. Try and do a full minute at a time.

Today I did 1 hour of Body pump.

Have exercised for an hour every day this week and feel great.

[absentmindedfan]

7 miles (very hilly) on Wednesday, rest yesterday and 3 miles of fartleks this morning.

Edit: Just checked the hills

max: 344ft min: 171ft ascent: 267ft descent: 283ft
Good training for Parliament Hill!

[treehugga]

Starting weight 74kilos - current weight 70kilos - goal weight 65kilo's
so far lost 4 kilos in 5 weeks through healthy eating and reducing portions.

Today

DIET
1 slice thick raisin toast & tea
soy cappachino
vegemite sandwich & chai tea
homous dip and rice crackers
veg koftas and rice
naan bread
water

EXERCISE
1 hour body combat

SUPPLIMENTS
multi
B Complex
B12
Kelp
zinc

[Frank]

Weighed in at 14 stone 4 pounds yesterday!

Okay - more to do than I expected but still going for my goal of 12 stone by May next year.

Okay - was 13 stone 11 pounds today for my monthly weigh in

But I know what caused the relapse this month so hope to see a loss again for next month

Originally Posted by Frank
Weighed in at 13 stone 10lbs this morning.

Was 14 stone at start of March.

I will not get carried away though as I gave up chips and pasties for lent - and also no drinking beer at home!

[treehugga]

TODAY

DIET
2 spelt pancakes with maple syrup
hash brown in bread
veg soup with sourdough
1 apple
4 rice crackers
chai tea & water

EXERCISE
1 hour Body combat
1 hour yoga

SUPPLIMENTS
multi
kelp
B12

[Bic]

Thought I'd do a random update:
Weight this time last year: 163
Now: 137
According to my last doctor's visit I'm about 5'5 (not 5'3 as I thought), so that means my BMI is 22.8, down from 27.2.
I aim to lose 12 more pounds (BMI: 20.8), so I'll be around the middle of my healthy weight range.

And I am much more energetic now than I have in quite some time. It's a good feeling.

[absentmindedfan]

4.3mile run this morning before going to work. Nice sunny morning too

[thecatspajamas1]

Exercise today:

walked 1 hour
ran 1/2 hour
did a yoga video

[absentmindedfan]

Tuesday 4.2 mile run, medium pace
Thursday 3 miles of fartleks
Today 4 mile run, easy pace

[treehugga]

Today

DIET
2 spelt pancakes & maple syrup
1 risotto stuffed mushroom with salad
some rice crackers
fruit
vegies and eggplant burgers.
water and chai tea

EXERCISE
5km walk
yesterday - body combat 1 hr and 10 minute run.

weigh in tomorrow

[absentmindedfan]

6.9 mile run today, flattish course and a slightly faster pace than usual. My fartleks must be working

[treehugga]

weigh in weight - 70.6 kilo's- goal 65 kilo's -starting weight 74 kilos'

DIET
2 spelt pancakes with maple syrup
assorted roast veg and gravey
rice crackers & pumpkin dip
2 spelt flat breads with salad and tofu
chai tea, apricot juice and water

EXERCISE
5 KM walk/run
1 hour body pump (weights to music)

SUPPLIMENTS
Astragalus (to avoid the colds everyone around me seems to have).
zinc
B12