I'm thinking that I might not be ready for the Kilauea run... maybe next year. I feel like such a dork going at such a slow pace... I started not going regularly since I've been volunteering in two departments at the hospital. my life is crazy. I'm trying to cut down on the carbs, but I lapse during the weekend with friends. It sucks. I LOVE RICE! but I gave that up months ago and I'm not even sure that really works. I'm separating carb meals from protein meals right now. can't really tell if it works, but it's throwing me off since I'm not even sure what to eat anymore. I'm thinking of not going summer school and just work for money for the summer. I'd like to take care of myself more often during that period and maybe, just maybe, go back to bodysurfing again... It's just the gas that's stopping me from driving to the nearest beach with surf. Laters all.

ahh. about that... I haven't weighed myself for a while for fear I gained from bloat :/... i lapsed with fast food a few days ago... and today :X, but I kept my gym time. I only stay there for about 2 hours... cardio at least one hour then a few floor exercises with the kettleball, for my sorry excuse for abs, dry sauna to sleep for a while (and I guess to alleviate post WO body soreness) and shower (so my truck won't stink)...frequency varies per week on how often I go so it's like between 3-6 times a week. If I don't get to wake up, I go at 9pm and out by 11ish or 12... I'm improving my warm-up to 5.3 for 5 min and I can say it made no difference to how i feel. I'm trying out 5.5 for 5 over the weekend to see if I can change pace a bit without huffing and puffing at the end of 5 minutes. I tried jogging at night outside before, but I think I do better with warm indoor air... so sad. I miss cheese and I miss pizza...

Okay,

So how are we doing?

Hah. I may be from Kentucky but I've never even been to a gunshow. Living in Louisville is a lot different than living in the rural areas of the state. I don't think I've ever even fired a real gun.

OH! I forgot to say that I'm logging my burned calories and poundage in a small datebook. So far, it's working real well. If there are empty boxes, that makes me even feel more guilty for not have gone those dates. I call it my "I have a date with myself" book, which I think is pretty AWESOME!

As for me, Valentines seemed maddening. It doesn't help getting See's candies filled with my favorite truffles even if it's just a half pound box. I ate 1 candy in that box and spent my time in the gym after 10pm on valentine's day working off the damn thing plus some. I really have to get my thyroid checked because my weight is all whakko... In one week, It fluctuates within a 5 pound range. It's weird. I tape measured myself and found out that my waist to hip ratio was .78. Pretty normal, it said. Then why he hell am I overweight? Are my bones overweight? shhit. That pisses me off. On a lighter note, I now can jog for warm-up at 5.1mph for 5 minutes (not max, all nose breathing, just to get the arteries to dilate a bit)... A vast improvement from 3.3 mph for 5 minutes as warm-up jog from the beginning. Maybe I changed my stride... I don't know. I couldn't tell. I am now addicted to the grape flavored G2 drink (new from gatorade) but I half half it with water to stretch it out a bit. I still fall asleep in the dry sauna still. I still have to get over it when guys tend to watch me exorbitantly sweat my ass off. If it grosses or turns them on, it's just I'd rather have them NOT turn and watch me and talk amongst their gym buddy afterward. I have no IDEA what the hell they're talking about and naturally I'm curious, but I'd really rather not see them talk behind my back like that. It's ... annoying. Yes, I do suffer from mild anxiety (I can't even stand being at a mall during weekends). That's another problem I have to overcome. I'm trying to get into the skinny bitch diet. I love green tea soy milk, but there's no place around I could get it at. I'm willing to change from cow milk to soy, but I live with other people and for most times, I'm not buying the grocery... Longer journal entry later...

I am back up and running! I was out of it for about 2 weeks, but I am motivated again and will be posting those pics real soon.

Thanks for the note!

Boone

It's been an amazing 2 months. Not so dramatic than I wanted my weight loss to be, but my performance at the gym really is a great comparison from when I "restarted" 2 months ago... at first, I was going 3.3 mph on the treadmill as 5 minute warm-up... now, it's around 4.7 mph (and sometimes increase into a sprint when I'm hyper enough to run) as 5 minute warm up... warm ups to me are usually something that I can speak whole sentences and be fine with so it's not so hard core, but I really do believe in stretching as part of warm-ups... did it in high school sports, why not apply it outside the classroom (so to speak), right? Then I usually stick to some kind of cardio... once I get up to 182 (not 192 like before... that was intense), I calm it down a bit, but I never get myself out of breath (but maybe I should?) I'm actually thinking of going on the marathon in San Fran (around May, I think)... I don't do much of weights because it's funny to me that I'm uncomfortable with doing weights compared to just cardio. I like the leg press, the thingamabob that you use to do a vertical pushup, and the thing for the thighs... I haven't gone out to tahoe this whole season to snowboard because I've been so preoccupied with school and work and couldn't ask for time off. what else is up? hmmm, well, not my weight, that's for sure... I've gotten reacquainted to my favorite cereal again... kashi heart to heart. I wish I had a trainer for a boyfriend... HAH! I'll guess I'll just deal with what I have. I feel lucky that I'm not having too many obstacles. For instance, a friend of mine who is also trying to lose weight can't do the things I can because she always complains that her foot hurts too much... or her knee hurts... I went shoe shopping with her, but she never was athletic so she doesn't have years of experience like I had and didn't know what would work for her. For instance, i experienced a lot of shoes by going through them every 4 months or so... so I know that a flat foot like mine can't wear nike where their toe points toward the inside. the major thing I look out for is the toe area pointing as forward as possible... Amazingly, I set her up with one shoe like it and her foot pain was gone... if only I can fix her knee problem... GRR. I never thought my background in athletics could help for shoe selection. It just amazed me, I had to share that bit in here.

Take care of yourself! Don't stress so much about the working out until you feel better. Sometimes your body needs to put that energy towards other things. Don't get discouraged! ~amy

Glad to see you still you are still out there.

Be positive, it didn't take us over night to gain the
weight. So, we can't expect to shed it off over night.

Don't worry about logging in every day. I only log in the information
when I have a chance. I use it more of a tool to bring my spirits up
when I think it is taking too long. I look at my weight 6 months ago and
say to myself, "I am better today than 6 months ago."

Hope all works out for you.

-Boone-

I haven't been on here for a while. Well, I slowed down a bit on working out... The results isn't as fast as I want it to be. My flu-like symptoms was bronchitis. It got bad enough that the doc got me on Advair as needed for a few days. The rhinocort helped only a little. That was a month and a half ago. My sleep has always been erratic and I know I need to control that. I'm getting into the habit of bringing something to eat around campus so I wouldn't have to vend so much. I want to focus on one thing at a time, but it seems as if it's working better if I focus on all things and distribute my attention equally to all those things. The writer's strike helps... I mean, I can't enjoy the 2 shows I watch anymore. At least the trend is down and not up. So I think I'm content. I just wish it was a fast fix. I gave up on logging. Not because I stopped working out, but having to list what I did takes time, which I have a small reserve of. I'm even at my boyfriend's house to write this waiting for his ass to get changed so we could go shopping for his mom's birthday present. Well, I miss pizza. That's all for now. To all you guys, thanks so much for the concern.

Happy New Year! Fresh start so you can look ahead and set goals for the whole year. You can do this! ~amy

Where've you been?

How are you doing over the holiday season?! ~amy

Hope you are feeling better girl!

Get well and come back and see us!

April

Take care of yourself! ~amy

Feel better: listen to your body, but don't stop cold or else you'll lose momentum.

I'm noting what I'm doing on physical paper then transfer it on here every 5-7 days... I can't always get online a lot. I'm not a 100 percent well. I know since I still got mucus coming out from my lungs and every time I cough, sharp pains get directed to my right temporal lobe. I got rhinocort for my stuffy nose and airborne for supplements. but midterms are over and I'm glad. I missed couple classes this week from being sick. sniffling sounds don't do well in lectures.

Mahalo! You brought back memories for me! I biked down Haleakala years ago, some day I will have to do the hike up. Hiking in the woods of WI is great too, but, it's not Hawaii. That stress is doing a number on your immune system, close your eyes and dream of Maui...

damn that sucks. i hate being sick period. i've been on and off lately. stuffy nose here and there, sore throat here and there, reallllly over tired. idk, i just don't adjust well to the seasons.
i hope you feel better!

sad thing is... as mid-terms are drawing to a close, I've been sick since 3 days ago, but now it's full blown. I don't know why airborne doesn't work for me... and I believe stress has a lot to do with my low-immunity. I hope y'all aren't getting sick like me. I need to get some sleep,but my right nostril is stuffed up. o .. o
%*!

Hi Gigi, if you have time to log in and track workouts, etc. or not, I hope you're taking good care of yourself! I'm sure you'll have an exciting future with that degree! Best wishes with all, Amy

i'll write back to y'all once my head has a little wiggle room to correspond to anything other than school-related stuff. I haven't checked my mesages yet, but I'll get to it when ... I can. Thanks for understanding.

sorry bout that you guys... mid terms really are nipping me in the butt. I can't remember the last time I went to bed before 3 am. I have been working out at least every other day, but haven't logged on. I'm studying for a B.S. biology degree with a concentration of clinical lab studies... tedious work. I also work part time during some weekday mornings, and I also attend school 6 days a week (includes a saturday). to kris, yes, my life is always this "intense". I don't see the point with sitting on my ass and not enjoying or progressing with myself. I can't promise anything, but I'll try to log more. let me just say that I can't even sit and be on traineo without having to get up and have to do something or be told to do stuff. lost my track of thought now... but I'm so glad you guys really are taking notice with me gone. my priorities for now is school. I'm a dork. people will just have to tolerate that about me.

Long time no log. Hope you're keeping up the effort.

You haven't logged in awhile.

We fall down, to learn how to get up. You Will NOT succeed every day, however, if you do succeed 5 out of 7 or 4 out of 7 days during the week, over time you will see unbelievable results.

We did not get this way overnight. We will not get to where we want to be overnight. Keep it up! You will see results!!!

Hey girl!

You can do it! It is tough but worth it! All those early mornings and late nights and you will be a college graduate!

I finally finished this past summer after almost 9 years of going! I got to work a full time job and had 4 kids and was a single mom for all but the last 2 years of it. Now that I am done I can focus on my kids and husband and don't have to worry about classes anymore. It was tought to do but I wouldn't have it any other way.

What are you going to school for? Where are you going? Are you working too?

And did you ever find that clock you were talking about? I really need one! I still haven't manage to get up and exercise! I am up now at 5 am but do you think I am exercising?!? Of course not, I am goofing on the computer! I don't have the time I would like to get back with more people on here!

Well hope you have a great weekend! Life is what you make it right! Be strong!

Is your life always this intense? Stressed out over exams and papers, exercising until you want to throw up, then making yourself sick breathing second-hand cigarette smoke at a casino?

I hope you are having some *fun* in there someplace!

I've been told that it helps your overall health to spend 10 minutes a day doing some deep breathing. Of course it helps if you can clear your mind and think peaceful meditative thoughts etc; but just the deep breathing itself does a lot to relieve stress.

how is everything going? i see your training has improved a lot and you've been eating a little less. i had a very 'eventful' weekend. i ran friday and sunday, friday only 25 minutes and 45 minutes sunday. i went to my boyfriends and myyy goodd, food galore! haha. ice cream, pumpkin seeds, apple pie, mmmm. oh well, i'm going to make up for it this week.
what are you talking about with your saturday night guilt thing?

the saturday guilt thing is getting to me... I promise my sunday will comprise of a kick ass do-0ver.

Saturday night... at casino... inhaling awful nicotine in the smoggy confined space... nicotone leeches through my semi-permeable skin and i know a regular shower can't take out everything I've worked hard to abstain from... I'm gonna have to sauna all that **** out of my skin... no amount of mouthwash (applied on the hair and skin) soap, shampoo, and milk can get rid of it in one fell swoop. sauna sauna sauna! I have this great disdain for smoke (cigar, cigarette, or what not) and it isn't just personal preference, a close friend of mine is affected from smoke use... As she vowed herself to stop after college (the stress drove her nuts), she wasn't soon enough... throat cancer is a bitch. I never said I didn't like smokers because some of them are really my good friends, but I highly advise against cigarettes... smoking in confined places like the casino is equivalent to putting all the others in the gas chamber; its just ****in irresponsible.

Today, I felt like throwing up after getting off the stairclimber (rolling stairs are hard to stop on, i swear one of these days, I'm going to fall flat on my ass trying to climb back up to the consoles turning the rolling stairs off). i could taste the coffee, chocolate whey protein shake and the banana all marinated in my stomach... These aren't itsy bitsy stairs around campus; they are high! even guys have to go slow on 'em. Sure ain't the bleachers. bleachers are easier compared to them damn rolling staircase! It feels good conditioning again, but I think my body's getting real tired now. There's days where I have to roll off the bed because my abs hurt so bad. then I can't stand truly upright without hurting. and then I'm not losing as fast anymore since I've lost the water weight already. from now on, its going to get tough. I miss starbucks though. grrr. loading the ipod is getting expensive... well, I'm feeling a little guilty getting free music from radiohead . I don' think people will truly appreciate their music until 15 years later. anyway, i digress...

I'm so drained...stayed up all tuesday night and slept about a hour on wednesday morning to finish a stupid paper... next week is the same thing... :( Wednesday, I was sooo drained, just walked the dogs around to a rec park then back... my diet has been really crappy... ramen ramen... I'm surprised I'm not ****ting out blocks of sodium. :( I can't live without my perisimmons and asian pears during mid terms... I wish I had a houseboy to cut my fruit for me (hhehehe) I swear I'm getting crazy... I caught myself talking to myself (about how stressed I am and how badly I just wanted to go home) as I walked to my truck in the parking lot. I had my gym bag all set to go on wednesday, but I just couldn't do it. I was sooo tired. I just decided to take the dogs out instead. AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

I'm trying to wake up every weekday and run (I did it a few times so far) but I always stay up late watching tv and end up hitting the snooze at 6 am. One of these days I'll commit to it...

Heyo, just checking in. You look good so far, keep it up!

GiGi... have you tried doing push-ups?
When I wasn't at the gym and need a little extra workout, I would do push-ups between commercials. If you are doing a paper, maybe you can set an egg-timer or something to go off every 10 minutes. Take a break and try to do about 20 push-ups. Exercise helps your mind think better.

GRRRRR! Draft on a paper due on Wednesday. (grumbling) I'd rather do statistics than english!!

I'm glad you are active on this site. It gets me excited to use all the great stuff that I forgot about here. You seem like you are on the right track. For me, joining martial arts was the best way to stay in shape, I wish you luck with that. One thing that helped me avoid temptation is to realize that in a few weeks I won't remember the junk food, but I will remember the weight loss / increased fitness.

Keep serious.

Didn't go to the gym today. Had an exam late morning. then it's a special occasion after all--had to watch a Boxing event on tv (wish I had watched it in mandalay bay)... and not that the next thing I did would have stopped me from going to the gym, but on a side note, I donated blood today. I also pride myself on my pulse rate at 62 beats per minute resting heart rate and as always low with the blood pressure at 106/52 today... It freaks a lot of people out because that's the kind of vitals people expect skinny girls to have, and not someone with pudge to lose. Yeah, the phlebotomists took my vitals again... confirmed by a second person. EHK. Me and my vitals are a paradox. I know I'm not going to be blessed with good health all my life; I am using exercise as a prophylactic so I would never hit the point of no return or dig myself out of a bigger hole concerning my health. To sum up my week, it's been pretty successful except for the times I had to hit the vends for food when on campus. I'm trying to, but I'm not putting that much stress on food intake just yet. I still need to concentrate on getting a regime started and sticking to it. I do miss the discipline. Looking forward to getting fit again... I am thinking of taking up eskrima (discipline studied by Matt Damon in preparation for his "Bourne" movies), but I'll see if I can take up fencing at a local community college first (to study the basic kinesthesiology) because I doubt that there's any facilities for eskrima nearby. I might have to look into sacramento ...Me thinking way far ahead... And so I divert back into training... Logging what I do seems to give me a visual that keeps me motivated. I'm depending on you guys to scold me when I'm slacking or starting not to care again. Your tips are helpful so keep 'em coming! I just wish I had the patience to wait for results. I am like an overeager kid. Well, that sums things up for now. Til next time :P --g

Thanks for the compliments on my weight loss so far! You should know that took *months* to accomplish, at 1 lb a week or slower.

Also ignore my current "goal"! I make my goals small and manageable -- lose 5 lbs -- and then move my goal weight lower when I've met my latest goal. It makes it less scary for me :)

good luck! i had a 5 credit exam today, it was awful.

what was logged on oct 5 was done oct 4... I got home late. oh well, I was going to take a break from working out on friday to study for sat. exam. 5 credit class. must concentrate, but I hope this doesn't happen too often.

haha i know. my goal lately has been to run 3 miles and then go to the gym later at night and get another 30 minutes of cardio in to make it an hour.
plus the usual weight lifting.

my biggest issue= food(natural peanutbutter is my downfall) i snack too much at night. oh well. haha

Don't work out on an empty stomach.
Make one of the smoothies (1/4 milk, 1/4 cup raw oatmeal (not instant), frozen blueberries, whey, flaxseed, and a yogurt cup).
As a poor college student, you probably can get everything except the flaxseed, frozen berries and why from your cafeteria. Depends on your cafeteria setup. Mine was a buffet style, so containers to take cereal and milk back to the room were helpful. Anyway, if you can't afford too large a bag of blueberries, then use some ice. Oh, and I guess you need a blender that is rated at over 400w. The benefit, it will make about two tall glasses, one for before and one for after. If you work out at night, then you don't need to worry about dinner.

lost an alarming 4 lbs now... I know its just water weight. I've been drinking water a lot; no kidney failure here.

If you can keep up the daily morning routine that will do wonders. There are probably studies that point out the benefit of starting of the morning with exercise. Something about pumping up the metabolism for the day.

If you have trouble with eating too much, change your snacks. Still eat three meals a day (breakfast is very important for weight loss), but much on celery and carrots throughout the day. Also, eat a handful of almonds every now and then. You should be less hungry for meal time.

And, if you do get around to doing weight lifting at night, you can create a protein smoothie to have before you work out and after you are done. It pretty much replaces dinner and you won't be hungry. Ask me for the ingredients.

Good luck!!

great job on the training! i am a little envious! i went running today for 25 minutes (approx. 3 miles), but i didn't have time to go to the gym later to do my other 35 minutes of cardio and weights. i have an exam tomorrow i had to study for... sooo i resorted to studying with a friend who forced chocolate milk and animal crackers down my throat haha. but i already have my workouts planned for tomorrow. 30 minutes of running (outside.. personally i HATE the treadmill), and then gym later that night after dinner.
good luck tomorrow, and once you get into a good exercising regime, you wont feel so tired. promise.

This site is amazing! Everyone is soo willing to help! You can do it!!

Just always remember, it isn't a temporary thing, even after you get to your desired level of health you will still be maintaining for the rest of your life so take it slow and easy and change your life for good instead of for just 6 months!

I can't exercise, well I can, I just haven't had the energy to get up and do it! And I am lazy! Lol I keep trying but there just isn't anything that is getting me out of bed right now. I have to do it in the mornings or it won't happen.

So if you can think of something that will get me out of bed in the mornings let me know!

Thanks and good luck GiGi!

wow... I'm so surprised how many people actually accepted to be my motivators... I thought 1 out of a dozen people would accept my request. I would have been happy with 2. BUT! having a lot of people who will ride on my ass if I get lazy will work 20 times more effective. Thanks sooooooo much! I'll do my best. --G

Hey GiGi, First, that's perfect that you see yourself as an athlete, love that way of thinking. Lay out those clothes, shoes, ipod, etc, the night before, so you're all set to go. You'll get over that "what others think of you" feeling, been there, don't let that feeling(and those people)win! When that workout is a habit, you'll be trimming down and feeling good. Good luck with all, I need a little kick in the butt sometimes, too! Amy

Hey, i'll definitely be your motivator. i'm in the same boat as you with the focus and drive. i went to the movies tonight and splurged by having a LOT of popcorn, even though i already had to make up today for last night (grents took me out to eat haha)
i have an anxiety problem as well. i can't go to sleep at night because of it. plus i over exercise a lot and don't usually feed myself enough so i haven't been losing any weight.
but all that is going to change. i hope you find this site helpful (i personally love to read the forums) and if you need anything or have any questions just message or comment me.

pax

HI there,

I accepted your request, but you should know this is not my primary site (I tend to hover on Spark People more often. ) I'll try to remember to check in more often.

Good luck!