Post diet exercise

[Mei Mei]

Well friends, We lose the weight, then the next challenge is firming up. Here is my plan. So far I've only played tennis once a week, and finally went to the club last week. It felt good, but I wandered around a bit. I knew I wasn't up to a 60 min spin class or many of the other classes that I was doing before I lost weight, so I am searching for a way back.
I meet with a trainer for a reassessment (we get one every 12 weeks at my club.) When I signed up for a session the guy at the desk turned his compter screen around to me and said, "but this isn't you is it?" He couldn't believe it!
My challenges: I'm busier than I've ever been with kids and other obligations. I don't want to ever gain back, so I know keeping close to Cohen and exercising are the keys to success.
I will let you know what they say on thrsday. I'm very crios abot body fat. I'm guessing 20%--which would make me very happy. See you soon!
Mary

[LiLNightShift]

I can't wait to hear what your BFP is at! I'm sure it will be fantastic!

[UnspeakableJoy]

MeiMei, I'm so thrilled for you!!! I simply can't wait to get where you're at :)

I'm dying to get back to the gym! I'm finding I have so much more energy, and am walking faster (without really noticing that I am). I'm also sprinting/running with the kids (literally) and it's amazing that I can keep up, and am not even out of breath!

I have decided to start adding yoga and pilates into my routine once Sunday rolls around and the time changes. I'm going to use the "extra" hour each morning to do yoga/pilates. I won't do it every day, will use some days just to meditate or have a little undisturbed "me" time.

Can't wait til tomorrow to hear your results!

[Mei Mei]

Joy,
Awesome idea and way to use that hour time! What I need more than anything is sleep, so at least for the first week, I will sleep through it!

Well, the appointment at the gym went well. since I had been assessed a year ago, I went from 28 % body fat to 20.7 %. My wieght went from 136 to 120. My body age went down three years! The traineer gave me a routine to do that combines exercises.
I learned, which I already kind of knew, that my core is very weak. She has me doing plank with barbells. Get in push up position holding a barbell in each hand. Your arms should be under your shoulders. Lift one arm up so that your elbow is bent.The barbells should come to your the side of your chest. Do not let your hips rotate. Try to keep your body stable. put the barbell back down and do the other side. Do 13 reps. and 3 sets. It is very hard! I have no strength in my core. The other exercises weren't hard, squats and lunges with arms. I will let you know how it goes, energy level, strength increasing etc. I'm going to do a strength training class on Tesday, let yo know if I can walk afterwards to get to the computer!
Mary

[lfingers11]

Mary,
I am so excited you started the exercise thread. I can't wait to start working out but since I am so close I do not want to slow down my results.
My HUGE question is: after we are at goal weight and have finished refeed we are suppose to stay at that weight. What happens when we exercise because muscle weighs more than fat? Are we allowed to go up on the scale a little bit. I can't wait to tone everything up. I LOVE my new body and I am not even done yet!!!
Pam

[LiLNightShift]

Mary, your BFP is WONDERFUL! It's like all around great news! Core strengthening can be tough, but you -- are amazing and will conquer this completely. CONGRATULATIONS!

[UnspeakableJoy]

Wow Mei Mei - 20% body fat! WOOOHOOOOO!!! I can't wait to hit the gym when I'm at goal. I'm such a gym rat!

Keep up the fantastic work!

[Mei Mei]

Having a hard time keeping up with this. I'm so busy in my life, rarely time to exercise. I keep tennis faithfully, but today, I should have gone to the club and needed to catch up on all my housework. Excuses, excuses. Luckily, Still losing and maintaining between 117 and 120. If I go over 120, which I haven't, I will get my butt right back on. I will start fresh next week with the exercise. Life is too crazy!
Peace to all!
Mary

[LiLNightShift]

I love the new picture, you look stunning! The housework thing I understand, if it piles up then I have to dedicate a full day to getting everything straightened out!

[Sharon]

Hi Mary,
Will be interested to see how you go getting it all sorted out, I want to get back into running and some core work, I am wrapped with my weight loss but feel a bit like a saggy baggy elephant. I'm hoping i will tone up and also balance my food and energy expenditure long term. Its all an exciting learning curve. Your BFP has made an excellent reduction, well done. Is it the same as BMI?

[lfingers11]

Sharon,
It is so funny that we are going through the same thought process. The last few days I have been looking at the giggily wiggily and it has been driving me a little crazy. I can't wait to start working out so I can tone up. I think I am going to have a little extra skin on the tummy area from having the three boys. I think we are going to be refeed buddies and exercise buddies!! How much fun!!
Pam

[UnspeakableJoy]

Hi Mei Mei,

I agree with Mandy - you are stunning in your profile photo! :) Please keep us updated with your progress!

xo
Joy

[Mei Mei]

Wow, Joy! I just looked at your numbers!!Awesome! Keep it up :) I still haven't found the time for consistent exercise. While on the diet, that time was "eaten up" by other things. I'm struggling to keep up with my life right now! I'm pretty ashamed of myself. I did come to a realization today. Since I am skinny, I'm not as motivated to exercise, or at least don't feel the same urgency. I KNOW what is best for me, but I'm not there. I'm pretty frustrated with myself. I do need toning, and I want to get my strength.
So you say to me, "Quit whining and get your butt to the gym!" Tough love baby!:weights:
Mary

[Suz]

I'm new to all this.. I've only been doing this for 3 weeks. I've lost 17 pounds and feeling lots better. My goal is for another 43 pounds... The hardest time I think is going to be Thanksgiving and Christmas.... Anyone have any ideas for me? You know like what to cook for myself during those times. :party1:

[Mama Lake]

People have suggested, cutting off a portion for yourself, weigh it, and toothpick or string it back together. Like for turkey or roast or something. The veggies, make sure you take a cassorole of veggies that you can have. I found some really nice squash recipes on the web. I am taking a hubbard squash dish to my company dinner. They do not know, but it will be really good.

Take along your scale, and always have a back up plan. Take your own fruit and crackers if you are not sure that where you are going will have these available for you. Beware of the fruit trays, they do have juice and other invisible sweetners on them a lot of times. I would error on the side of too many veggies and not enough protein if you do not have your scale. No gravy, no rolls, no desserts. Make your own in advance and take with you so you do not feel out of place, if you cannot just say no. The apple/peach pie/cobbler dish is really easy and tasty. The baked apple with cinnamon is good too.

Best of luck with the planning. Planning is the key.
Cindy

[Lauren]

Hey Mary,

I am so impressed you're still at your goal weight after a month! I know how important it is for you to tone up, and I'm sure you'll find a balance in your schedule to make time to do that. The key is making exercising a priority so you will really make the time for it. Even 20 minutes a day is better than nothing.

I'm struggling BIG TIME. Just back to my old ways this past week--but like my old ways when I hit rock bottom before the diet! Really, really awful. I'm so determined to not gain the weight back, but it seems there's always an excuse to eat naughty...and I've been REALLY binging to the point I almost make myself sick, I eat so much. It truly is an addiction and I really do have a problem. I've been taking one day at a time. If I let myself eat off-diet for one meal, I figure I might as well just start over tomorrow. I'm in my old Manana Diet pattern! Tomorrow tomorrow tomorrow. Well this is a particularly busy time of the year--we've gone to a couple parties a week, and it's so hard to stay on track that way. Then it becomes, well there's a party Friday night, Saturday night, and Sunday night, so I might as well wait until those are over and then start. But next week there will be events too! And I don't have the courage to go back on the diet 100% where I'm missing out on these events. That was so hard. So here's what I've decided: Take one MEAL at a time. I can confront one meal. If I look at the whole day, it's hard to confront. So I just have to keep my head and think about what I'm doing, and really stay on top of myself. I can't let those demons come in and throw all my rules out the window. Based on how much I've been eating, I'm really lucky I haven't gained more back. As of right now, I've got 8.8 pounds to lose to get back to 127, so I'm going to work really hard to just eat 1PD foods every day and exercise like crazy. I want to get this done, get back to goal weight, and follow my post-diet rules for real this time--with a clear head and being responsible. For me, a lot of it has to do with drinking too. When I drink, I no longer care about any diet rules and I just go nuts--especially with sweets. It's crazy. I can't do this anymore. I didn't want to tell you guys because I don't want to be the "forum loser" who keeps rollercoastering and can't get it together, but I think it helps to come clean and confront my problems.

[UnspeakableJoy]

Lauren :bighug: I'm so sorry that you are struggling!! I think you have an excellent plan in front of you, and believe in you 100%. I agree - when you look at the big picture, things can seem so overwhelming and I'll get the attitude "why bother". But looking at just one situation at time, planning how you will deal with that situation, then meeting your goal, can do wonders for you! Hang in there, I'll be thinking of you!

[jenn]

hang in there lauren! you have gained so much awareness and knowledge into your eating/triggers so that's great at least! although you have indulged it sounds like you have a very determined mindset to find the balance of having a bit of both worlds. keep on going as you are doing great and remember today is a new day with new choices...and as you mentioned, one meal at a time!

[Lauren]

Thank you so much Jenn and Joy! Your help on this forum is so priceless. Yes, today something clicked and I realized part of why it's so easy to go crazy is because my husband is no help. He could stand to lose about 30lbs+ himself, but he can never commit for longer than a week or two to any diet/exercise plan. Well, today I asked him if we could be a TEAM and help each other not binge. That is something we have so much fun doing together--we feel like naughty school children breaking the rules. It's so silly. But we feel so much better physically and mentally when we keep it under control and eat right and exercise. So I've come up with a plan for HIM which makes me liable. I really want him to lose weight, and if I'm eating whatever I want, he's never going to lose the weight. I definitely motivate him to get in shape when I'm working on it, so I just have to keep going to keep him in check. And vice versa. So we're doing this as a team now, which makes it easier and more fun, and I've drawn up charts for each of us to track our progress and we'll get various rewards at the end of each week if we've been good. We'll probably officially start this on Monday (he needs to mentally prepare himself--I'm going to put him through boot camp!), but I've started for myself today. I've been doing great today and feel better already. I just have to look at it differently, and then I'll feel better.

Mary! When I was walking today, I thought of something that might help you. Try not to let more than one day go by without exercising. You can even exercise every other day if you want, but don't let two days go by without exercising or it will be harder and harder for you to start again, and it will be easier for you to come up with excuses not to. That's what I've found to be true with myself and my husband, anyway. Hope that helps!!

[jenn]

that's so great lauren! i feel very lucky to have my husband along for this journey of cohen's as well. he started on monday and is struggling a bit with the hunger part but is a trooper in terms of determination! we also both do so much better when are on the same page in terms of taking care our health - congrats to you & your husband! nice to have a partner in crime...um, health? ;)

[PhyllisRis]

Hang in there Lauren!! I think we all need to come to the realization that food is just food! It's not love or acceptance.....it's just food... We don't need no stinkin' food to make us happy anymore....it's just a source of sustenance for our bodies..NOT PLEASURE!! We don't gussy up dog food or cat food to feed to our pets....they get the basic nutrients they need for the day in their food and that's that!
Keep a level head and don't let those taste buds get the best of ya!!
Love ya....
Phyllis

[Mei Mei]

First of all Phyllis,
I'm dying about gussing up dog food. I just think of the commercials where the cat--Pekinese? is eating out of a crystal pedestal bowl. That always made me laugh because cats/dogw will drink out of the toilet. They really, really don't need anything gussied up!

Lauren,
My friend, NO One would EVER think you are a loser!!!! You are a beautiful wonderful person, and it is hard to lose weight and keep it off. I'm not saying you should go crazy, just don't be mean to yourself. That never works for me. For me, maintenance has been one meal at a time. I gues we should see ourselves as recovering foodaholics. And I am not using that term in jest. We are as at risk with food as alcholoics are with drink. The other day when I was in a tizzy about my teenager, I wanted food so bad to help with the frustration. I stopped myself. I had already had my Cohen breakfast (side bar--I really like the breakfast and don't feel hungry, so I have decided to keep on my diet breakfast to keep myself in check for the start of the day). Before I reached for the junk to soothe the pain/frustration/anger--my son is failing English--I told myself that I had to go on my Cohen all day. I knew exactly what I could have and what I couldn't. I helped me stay in control. Believe me, it is very hard to stay 100% once you have gone off. Lauren you are right about that.
The next day I was good for most of the day, Cohen foods, just not weighed, but had 2 pieces of pizza with my kids for dinner. My belly bloated like a balloon. It makde me feel bad too. It is one meal at a time. Eventually we will be able to have a bit more freedom, but right now, we have to be careful.
Stay on the forum for support and accountability (Plus, I love talking toyou!). Today I had Cohen breakfast, lunch out, and cohen dinner. My wight is 117.5. I wieghed 116 on Monday and 119 after pizza. I am watching it very carefully.
It really does help to have hubby or friend or forum. My dh is on 100%, and that keeps me on it too.
find what works for you. If you are going to go to a party for theree nights in a row--you are so popular! Then be good all day long. Drink a ton of water. drink water in between every drink. The system works, don't sabotage yourself.
And of course, most importantly for me, I pray. i will be praying for all to have the strenght to overcome the chains of food...
Headed for the hot tub, it has finally gotten cool here. I'm turning 46 tomorrow, so I'm starting the mini celebration with hubby tonight :)
Mary

[lfingers11]

Mary,
Happy Birthday before I forget. What a great time for you to be skinny on your birthday. Sorry to hear your son is failing English. As a former teacher, go in and have a chat with his teacher. Request that everyday he write down his assignments in an assignment log and he/she has to sign it. Then you can see what needs to be done daily and you can help him at nights. He probably will hate this at first but it will get his grades up and you will be able to spend time with him everyday. Also, have a punishment set up if he forgets, no video games for a week, ect and if he says he left it at school take him and have a punishment set up. I know this might sound harsh to some but with the parents that were involved it does work!!

Lauren,
Ditto on what people have said. Remember that you need to make this decision to not let yourself do it. I know easier said than done. I wish I had three parties to go to in a month!! :party1: Not very exciting here in Ohio.

Pam

[Mei Mei]

this is getting ridiculous. Will someone please kick my butt to the gym? What is my problem? I need tough love. (My garage and house are really clean right now though...)
I'm ashamed of myself. Love you guys though...
Mary

[CohenInAz]

Get your Butt in the gym right now!

[Mei Mei]

Thanks! Right now I am in my polka dot jammies, so I think I'll wiat till after breakfast!
You are funny!
Mary

[LiLNightShift]

What is this breakfast nonsense?! Go to the gym before you eat~! USE THE MAXIMUM POTENTIAL.

Ok? xoxo Mary!

[Big Pun]

Well did you go to the Gym????? :weights2:

BP

[CohenInAz]

Yeah.. did you??? Did you??

I did... Did you??

See now instead of tough love... you might just get annoying love...

[Mei Mei]

No. Rats. And things keep happening. I have been doing squats. This week is crazy again. I always manage to keep tennis in on Wednesday though. I really miss the gym. tomorrow I have to do a little thing at church first thing in the am, have a cold right now and have to get the family ready for trip to Florida on Friday. Basically, I am throwing away 60 bcks a month by not going, and, I'm losing all the muscle I've bilt over the past few years. for loads of laundry staring at me right now, nfolded, pls packing, pls havne't even started dinner? Where does my time go? I need to start praying for strength and time to get to the gym.
Keep annnoying me with your love though...
Mary

[CohenInAz]

Did you go to the gym yet??? Did you go to the gym yet??? Did you go to the gym yet??? Did you go to the gym yet???
:weights:
Did you go to the gym yet??? Did you go to the gym yet??? Did you go to the gym yet??? Did you go to the gym yet???
:weights:
Did you go to the gym yet??? Did you go to the gym yet??? Did you go to the gym yet??? Did you go to the gym yet???
:weights:
Did you go to the gym yet??? Did you go to the gym yet??? Did you go to the gym yet??? Did you go to the gym yet???