Ankebuzz

I've also just started learning shimmies driven from the abs... used my knees too much... I can definitely feel the burn, good to hear I'll see the results too!

I went a bit off track with a flu, but am now healthy and ready for exercise and clean, healthy eating again. I am feeling great running again! (First time in over a week this morning.)

For interest's sake, I'm going to start doing the 100 pushup challenge... one hundred push ups mainly because I can not do one single push up and I am determined to!

I also need to start "zilling" more maybe incorporating it with some exercise at home could work... (hehe, like how about dancing :p)

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Ankebuzzzzzzzzzz

Sakinah_Matsu

Losing weight...oh boy! I've been dancing around this subject (no pun intended for the last three or four years. But FINALLY this summer I did something that WORKED! A friend of mine gave me this book called the "Idiot Proof Diet" (I know, demeaning) but I tried it, stuck with it, and as of today I am TEN pounds down...after only a month and a half!

The jist is I don't eat starches like bread, pasta, cookies, potatoes, etc. And I can't eat sugar, including fruit. But thats for the first two weeks. Like Atkins, it's that introductory period. You just eat masses of protein like mean and vegetables and dairy. After that, you start re-incorporating the foods you love and you still keep the weight off.

Not trying to sound like a commercial but it did wonders for me! Oh, and I got more active too. With gas prices these days, I've been riding my bike to work more often and so on But I hope this helps! Remember, losing weight is a marriage between a healthy diet and getting exercise. Good luck!

Shanazel

I did a single perfect push-up about 1975 and decided to quit while I was ahead .

Since I have turned into a lovely marshmellow-like blob of a girl over the last year, I suppose I should start paying attention to this thread. I was ill last spring and summer, lost all my previous conditioning as well as all of my energy and went from being fully prepared (seriously) to climb mountains to thinking about selling my house because it has five staircases. I know Weight Watchers works beautifully for me, know that a combination of walking and dancing is a good exercise program for me, know that I should be motivated by a family history of diabetes- but it is so hard to start all over again. Whine, whimper. I am an expert on losing weight, but not so good at keeping it off.

Ankebuzz

Unfortunately the key to keeping it off is to continue to do the things you did to lose the weight, on a slightly smaller scale. It's all about consistency...

And that can be a tough one!

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Ankebuzzzzzzzzzz

Shanazel

Well no one ever accused my mind of harboring the hobgoblin of consistency.

maylynn

Speaking of motivation and consistency, in case anyone is thinking of trying running for weight loss, I found a website that has some great training programmes - including a couch-to-5k training schedule. Seems to me to be a good way to get started with a schedule all set out for you, and the gradual approach will minimize injury. Here's the link:
Cool Running :: The Couch-to-5K Running Plan

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Ankebuzz

I will second that! I have used this program before, and though I was a tad lacking in consistency :p the program was well-paced.

I stopped at about week 2 or 3 and want to start again... anyone else gonna join me?

Oh, here's a link if you want to use kilometres instead of miles!

Week

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Ankebuzzzzzzzzzz

Mya

Spin Spin Spin! For those of you ladies that like to cycle, spin has always been the best body conditioning for me. It gives me that wonderful combination of cardio workout and muscle toning. I spin for 45 minutes 6 days a week and it's great - plus it helps with dancing - builds the endurance so you can keep that shimmy going without breaking a sweat!

It's also somehow very motivating to be synchronised with a whole room of people - keeps you going just a bit longer than you might be inclined to go alone.

Phoebedances

Ugh, I just really hate running. Always did. I never enjoyed running unless it was incorporated into some other activity. I adore dancing, so that's my 'aerobics' then I do some strength training and pilates/yoga.

I think the key for me is to do things I enjoy doing, because I'll stick with that. My workouts have been not as consistant lately - as I have some relatives visiting and some doctor's stuff right now. I'm having some medical stuff done early next week and that will keep me from anything vigorous for a few days, but happy to say at least the eating is still consistant.

I weighed at my doctor's yesterday and even though I'm like having PMS and stuff, I hadn't gained from the week before, so I guess that means I was probably really down a pound or two considering the water retention.

Shan, I know it's hard, but with the family diabetes situation it really pays to eat a bit healthier and exercise a bit more. One reason I am doing this is because when I was pregnant with my daughter I had gestational diabetes, which also puts me at higher risk for developing Type 2 later in life. I really don't want to go through that if I don't have to.

Shanazel

Ah, sweetie, you offer a simplistic solution for a complex problem. I have been fighting my weight for over forty years- sometimes I am slim, sometimes I am not, and if it was really as simple as eating a bit healthier and exercising a bit more, most of us would have no problem. When you stop to consider that the vast majority of people who lose weight cannot keep it off for five years, something other than lack of will power is going on. Mind you, many of us are people who have the will power to lose weight to begin with, not to mention the self discipline to complete multi levels of higher education, maintain decades of marriage, raise good kids, volunteer in communities, write books, teach dance, represent people in court, etc. etc.
Medical science is finally beginning to do some research into the problems of weight control, and I hope in a few more years they'll have a clue as to what is going on other than lack of self discipline in maintaining a healthy weight.