the trick to cardio is getting your mind on something else

I sit on the recumbant and read, either internet from my evo, a magazine, a light novel.

this takes a few times getting used to but once you do you look forward to the cardio because you’re accomplishing more in the same time

not sticking around, tons of apperntments, see all manarrow

Good morning KarenM.

After my tumble down the stairs this winter & consequent inability to get outside until the weather improved, I’m in worse condition than I’ve been in my life.

Now I’m getting back in shape very slowly bc I get so tired whenever I do anything slightly strenuous, like yesterday I planted my herb seedlings & had to sleep 10 hours last night & today might be a “lost day.”

But it is what it is, and I just have to do what I can. No rushing it.

I lost about 80 pounds by walking and hula hooping. I also did regular calisthenics daily. It took a long time to build stamina and to get to a point at which I could work out without fear of a stroke or heart attack. Let’s face it, none of us are as young as we once were. These days I ride my bike and try to do between 25 and 30 miles in an hour, though with my new job, I don’t get to work out as often as I used to. I never joined a gym though. Too much expense to justify.

Good morning.

I dropped two notches on my belt by reducing my portion size. Instead of 2 packets of oatmeal, I now eat one at a time. Instead of a full can of soup, I only eat half at a time, with tofu mixed in. I reduced the portion size of every item I eat, added celery to most evening meals, and I didn’t give up one thing that I enjoyed eating. And I also didn’t add any additional exercise.

I sit on the recumbant and read, either internet from my evo, a magazine, a light novel.

I do that too.

Good Saturday Morning, KarenM
What? We’re supposed to get rid of our fat? Wait, no that’s got to be wrong. I love my belly.
I’ve gotten to a Whatever place with my body. But, I am looking forward to it being warm enough to go swimming. That’s a nice and relaxing work out.
I do have to say that it’s only been a couple of weeks of working upstairs in admin at a desk instead of running around the food warehouse, and already I can feel the difference. Bad. I ran up and down the stairs yesterday and I could feel the strain. Not good.

You can ride a bicycle 25-30 mph? Wow. That’s amazing. At my peak, I could only do 10. It’s pretty hilly around my house, but even on the flats, 15mph is the fastest I can go. Congrats to you.

I had to google recumbant. You have one? Aren’t they expensive?
Some people like to go to the gym for the companionship while working out.

Morning, Everyone! I hope some of you have some tips for getting rid of belly fat.

think long term and be good to yourself…kinda like average Americans taking back the country; the weight didn’t come on over night and you will not lose it over night; the corruption didn’t happen over night and taking back the country will not happen over night..

Good luck and you will be fine!

Planet Fitness is really cheap. $20 to join and only $10 a month.

Maybe I should try a hula-hoop, too.

I don’t have one but the work our room at the apartments where I live does. I use that one. And eCAHN.: It took a good couple of years before I could get to that point but I won’t deceive you. It’s pretty flat locally and I just ride around a large block in circles. I ride much slower when I’m riding for pleasure. The trick is to get your heart rate up and keep it up for a bit.

That’s not much but it’s an unjustifiable expense for somebody on unemployment, or rather for me on unemployment.

The only time I get up to anywhere near the speed you mention is screaming downhill.

But, you have a job now, right? And, besides, if you have access to a work out room, it’s like having your own gym, isn’t it?
Speaking of jobs, I had an intersting experience yesterday. I had seen an ad on craigslist for Extra casting and got an appointment. It was in Hollywood and wow, what an eclectic group was there. There was a tall Russian woman, young, wild outfit, the make up, the hair. The casting agent came out as was asking her if she spoke English. Head shake. She said if you can’t understand what I saying, how will you understand the director. They said to dress casual, so I wore slacks, low heels, nice little top with a sweater. I was the most dressed up person there, other than the staff. A couple girls showed up in raggy short shorts, teeny tank tops. Well. I guess casual can be relative. Funny, though, the other people who were auditioning kept asking me questions, like I worked there. Ha.

Well I’m not Lance Armstrong and I’m not much of an endurance rider and again, it took a long time to work up to that kind of speed.

True… but maybe with your new job, it will become a possibility. It’s too warm now to exercise outside.

Jazzercise

now

Yep, I have a job now and yes I have access to the work out room but I didn’t use it until I stopped walking over the winter. That’s when I discovered the recumbent.

You don’t say if you got cast?

I used to take an aerobics dance class, but that school is gone now.

I’d like to know that, too, demi!

Cool. We have a stationary bike, but it’s in the garage now. It was in the livingroom, but it’s so ugly and was taking up too much space. Remember when you and I were talking about being kluzty and walking into stuff? That’s when I got rid of some of the LR stuff. I need space, man.

Good morning everyone from my iPad in Indianapolis! As most of those who read my comments know, I am an avid bicycle rider – I don’t say ‘cyclist’ because that conjures images of those Lance Armstrong types with the spandex and the racing bikes. (I do wear a helmet always, and bike shorts and gloves.) I don’t get anywhere near Margaret’s pace, more like 10 – 12 mph, but I’ve ridden 1,000 miles the last two “summers” (summer loosely defined as late April – early Nov, as weather permits). I took up the bike after knee replacement 5+ years ago, and I am in excellent shape for my ripe old age, but still a bit thick in the middle. Heredity and being 68 years old is partly to blame for the midsection flab.

Morning, msmolly!

Morning Molly.
As I said, I love my belly. Ha.

I may try that… they have recumbent bikes at PF.

Can you knit while you’re on that doohicky? I was thinking that if I get some Extra work, I could take up knitting baby blankets.
And, no one asked me how the audition went. Is that too OT? Oh, I’m cracking myself up.

Yep. That’s why I gave up walking and went to the bike. I realized that without a job and without health coverage, if I blew out a knee, I’d just be screwed. Less impact peddling, as long as you can find a reasonably safe place to do it that is.

I hope you srart feeling better soon, eCAHN!

Can you knit while you’re on that doohicky?

I couldn’t but maybe somebody who does it a lot could.

I have a nearly new stationary bike in my finished basement that I never go near. I really should sell it. I tried everything to make myself want to ride it and I just can’t!

By the way I heartily recommend the South Beach diet. My doc even approves, except for the 2-week first phase, and I figure you can’t do too much damage in two weeks.

Margaret and I both want to know!

I haven’t tried knitting yet, but I probably could on a stationary bike.

My ortho doc was fond of saying, “Your knee is a mechanical part, and it will wear out, so find low impact exercises.”

But it is what it is, and I just have to do what I can. No rushing it.

When I started getting into shape at 239 pounds, one of the first things I realized was that it’s no good getting into shape if you give yourself a stroke or a heart attack while doing it. Another thing I (finally) realized is that getting down to a size 8 again is never going to happen for me so I’m happy keeping my cardiovascular system in good shape and keeping my stamina high.

I asked! @ 21. KarenM did too.

A couple of people asked upthread. Pay attention! LOL!

OOPS. Coupla pups beat me to it!

Yep. That sounds right. Though neither has been giving me trouble, after I injured my shoulder I realized how bad a knee would be!

I couldn’t. I’d fall off or something.

Karen,
My I suggest the book “Potatoes Not Prozac” (2007 version) by Kathleen DesMaisons. That will explain the hungries during the day and how to overcome them. There is a website http://www.radiantrecovery.com/ .

Best of luck to you.

Good Morning, all. K: What are Shake Weights? Where do you get them?;)

He was really talking about my new titanium knee, but I’m sure the principle applies to “real” knees too.

but I’m sure the principle applies to “real” knees too.

Well I’m applying that maxim to my knees!

61 years old now and still wearing the same pant size I did 38 years ago. Not a member of any health club. What is important is to keep active and do a lot of walking. I still do work that many people younger than me wont do because it is too hard for them. Did a job yesterday that supposedly needed 3 people with just one helper. It is all in your mind. My wife of over 38 years is an invalid and she is getting bigger. She still looks damn good to me. If you are active and feel healthy you are in good shape.

I thought it went well. I was surprised that they gave us “sheets” with dialogue to Read, since extras are just background. The casting lady was very nice to me, said they were looking for Fresh Faces. She seemed pleased and gave me a card and asked me to call the number today at 10:45. Better than being told, we’ll call you if we need you.
So…tapping my fingers between now and then. The waiting is the hardest part, I’ve heard sung.

You use them to exercise your arms… for women those flabby undersides get unflabby. I bought mine at Bed Bath and Beyond with a 20% off coupon.

On the first I moved from a tiny (19′) motorhome where I didn’t walk two paces from kitchen, toilet, bed, to a house on sticks 17 steps up. Feel better already.

Fat around the middle is statistically related to type 2 diabetes.
Regular exam blood tests often miss type 2 because you fast and many type 2′s have normal morning glucose levels.

Walmart has a blood glucose test kit for $10, (I know, I know don’t patronize Wallys but but) Prick your finger on arising and again an hour or so after eating. Then give it to your friends with the tummies.

Woohoo! Hope you get the gig. John Wayne was discovered while he was moving props around.

Same here, demi!

Step aerobics for me. I just cannot stay interested in equipment, or jogging – hooked on the music I guess, in a roomful of people reaching and stretching and stepping up and down and around together. That does pretty much require a club, though, and everyone’s got to set their own budget priorities. Besides, many think step too wild and crazy. So try different things, find what gets your interest enough to make a habit of. Then remember calories consumed versus calories burned. Work over time to reduce the fat, the sugar, the between meals, the late night, the overall volume of food. Calories you don’t consume is calories you don’t need to burn.

Sorry, ladies. I missed that. I saw KarenM at 23 and wondered what she wanted to know. I’ll try harder. Promise.

I don’t have that much fat around my middle. It’s a pretty tiny belly, but I’d like to get rid of it. I’ll be 60 in a couple of years and I don’t want to be older and weak, too.

LMAO! No prob for me. Pay as much or as little attention as you like. It’s all good. :)

My mom stayed pretty skinny right up until the day she died at 63. That’s far too young to die but she killed herself smoking. I think she was afraid she would put on weight if she quit. Irony.

Can you imagine if PUAC had embedded responses? That would be really had to follow.

Ditto!

Mine died at 54… also way too young to die. Heart disease. Inherited.

Some of my high school cohort who played all the sports can barely walk now do to injuries suffered back then. Dangerous games, politically hard to change.

Be right back… have to charge my phone for later.

Man! I wouldn’t try.

Mine made it to 98…she never smoked, and she worked very hard for years…house and yard. Also a very gentle spirit that got her thru a lot
of pretty difficult times.

Yep. Especially high school football. Sorry, it should be touch football only, if they must play it at all. If they want to knock the crap out of each other then there’s always college or the pros.

Yep….I think one day the pros will = the Gladiators….that stupid.

Morning Firepups of Fire:

If you like the elliptical, try to train yourself not to hold on – sorta like climbing stairs without holding onto the bannister. The balancing act will definitely strengthen the core. And while you never want to overdo anything, you do want to push yourself. Sort of a mental toughness thing. Is it boring? Yup. I recommend earphones with some tunes going through them.

Further, the incorporation of weight training (especially of the large muscle groups) builds muscle mass, which burns calories much more efficiently, even at rest.

Throw away the scale. It’s not about weight so much as it is about how your clothes fit. If you have to tighten your belt, it means you’ve lost…and vice versa.

And practice push-aways, of course.

Molly, you still here? I was waiting for you to tell Peggy about the dressing down we got the other morning by the newbie, for being too chatty and making it hard to follow the thread.

Had to swap my laundry loads, too, and get something to eat.

Sweet! You’ve got good genes, then, too.

I had a great grandmother who lived to be 103 and she was also very active all of her life. Humans evolved being active and we’re designed for it. Especially our cardiovascular systems. Use it or lose it. Fair warning to people like me who weren’t paying attention.

Oh…and three pounds of bacon at each meal.

What?

Thank You, Sugar is My Problem.

Yo Margaret: How’s the gig? Haven’t been able to talk to you since you started.

Thanks for the suggestion… I’ll try not holding on and see if I build up more stamina that way.

…the dressing down we got the other morning by the newbie, for being too chatty and making it hard to follow the thread.

Really?!? Oh I’ll bet that was a spectacle. I miss too much these days but I’d rather be working. Got my first full check yesterday.

One of my grandmothers lived to 93, too. She was my favorite relative.

I guess so…I think her mother was way up there also, but I can’t recall specifics…..these were hard working women, for sure.

Throw away the scale. It’s not about weight so much…

Spot on. A lesson I learned the hard way.

Wonderful…It was certainly time, right?

Don’t be too hard on yourself. Keep your hands close to the rails. If you feel yourself getting wobbly, they’re right there. Don’t hold on for dear life. Finger-touch. Eventually, you’ll be climbing with arms swinging.

Oh…and more bacon. ;-)

My mother died at 66 after having at least TB, weird lung funguses (crptycocosis, histoplasmosis), emphysema, chronic bronchitis, and more. One time they thought she had lung cancer but that turned out to be the cryptycocosis and she smoked up until the last year when she had to go on oxygen full time. Her younger sister died at 68 of a stoke.

My grandmother and great aunt died at 92 and 88 respectively.

the only differences in life style, diet, etc of these four women was Mom and Aunt Pat smoked and drank and Gran and Edie did neither

Where did that happen? Was it here at PUAC?

It’s going okay I think. I’ve made some errors but they haven’t been enormous ones or all my fault. I haven’t been yelled at.

(singing) She’s in the money, she’s in the money, she’s got a lot of what it takes to get along.

I’m guessing that was some comedy. Sorry I missed it.

Dunno. It happened to demi apparently and Molly as well and I think it must have happened on morning swim. That’s my assumption anyway.

I’m hoping I have more of my grandmother’s genes and not so many of my mother’s.

Well, I’m not going to get wealthy but it’s much more than unemployment compensation which means I’ll be able to afford to do things and save a little bit too.

That’s great, Margaret… eventually, you’ll get the hang of things at your new job.

No, it was at morning swim. But, we get chatty after we comment on the topic, and the topic was Rachel’s coverage of the 2nd anniversary of Dr. Tiller’s death. A tough topic for so early in the day, and we were actually chatting about the webinar that afternoon and how to register, etc. and we were wondering about eCAHN, so we were mosting talking about FDL business. The newbie asked if it was an Open Thread and if so it should be made clear at the top of the post.
I held my tongue, wanting to say Oh, bite me.

Good for you, demi! Self-editing mostly pays off in the long run.

I, too, have gained lots of weight. I am taking different meds for pain and all of them, side effects weight gain!
I am trying hard to lose weight but back pain prevents me from using the elliptical.
I have been eating breakfast, lots of water and walking. I also garden which I love but have to do slowly.
I’m at home and the temptation for food is never ending.
One thing I have found is yogurt, granola and craisins. Satisfies the sweet tooth and tastes good too!
And lots of salads. My lettuce is ready, it tastes great and I planted 35 tomato plants!

I read that post, but I didn’t see where the thread got chatty.

While I managed to increase my energy levels on the recumbant bike – reading or thinking something through for 30 min. – the elip is the key. In the beginning I managed maybe a minute, lowest resistance. At about 6 weeks, exercise seemed to be habitual: I began to look forward to it and plan my day around it.

Three years and 30 lbs later, I’m up to 30-45 min at a time, 5-7 times a week. Which requires having something to read. Or a problem to think through. To read, I need big enough print for my eyes to focus. Weight loss began to pick up when I increased resistance to 6-9, but now that my body is used to it…I seem to need to do more.

You’re a better woman than I. I don;t know that I could have held my tongue but alas! I registered for the webinar and then missed it due to work and after work errands. Oh well, it was going to be close anyway…

And didn’t somebody come along to PUAC recently and bitch because we weren’t talking about how awful (insert person/group here) was?

I love craisins. They’re great on salads too.

Maybe you could post some photos of your garden on flickr or picasa and share the link with us. I just love looking at other people’s gardens.

In my oatmeal, I love dried cherries. They are sooooo good in oatmeal. I need to buy some more.

Different eyes, I guess. And, yes, I now keep a muzzle on my desk for special moments. :)

I seem to recall that… but this is supposed to be a community-building post, not a community-tearing-down post.

What’s a craisin?

I remember. Talk about a concern troll. Sheesh.

To some people I guess “chatty” means off the given topic at all. I don’t think many guys are able to follow multiple conversations like women can, (though there are exceptions and I’m clueless about the gender of the person demi is talking about).

…but this is supposed to be a community-building post, not a community-tearing-down post.

And I remember that response from you. Well, we didn’t both dream it! :)

Paul had a gig last night, so we didn’t get to do our usual Friday night errands. I have to do them today…

Must pick up our produce order, go to two banks, and stop in a my local health food store for some yogurt and other odds and ends. And I might get an inexpensive manicure, too. Just $17, plus a tip.

He has another gig this morning and another one tomorrow morning. I might go to that one with him, since a friend of mine will be selling her jewelry.

K: Maybe we should do a thread on self-care….you seem to do a good job at that. I used to be better, but I think I am pretty neglectful at this point.

My morning ritual is a diced apple (but any fruit will do) added to the oatmeal (never that instant crap), and some flaxseed. I use non-fat milk instead of water (protein). Keeps my mind (such as it is) focused for around four hours.

That would be a great topic for next week, RevBev… and I have some really useful tips for taking care of one’s self. I’ll write that one up early this week.

I might take a shot at writing up something in that vein, although the last (and only, actually) diary that I wrote got precisely zero hits. Or maybe I just dreamed it.

Karen..First of all, you talk a lot about what you can’t or aren’t doing. Be more positive about what you are doing….which is SOMETHING! Yoga is your friend. Walking, eating right, and being positive will have enormous impact on your body. Do yoga and your life will change. Good luck.

Flax is really difficult for me. I have tried eating it, but I have digestive issues and I do better with soluble fibers than with insoluble fibers. No wheat, dairy or soy for me, either.

Dried cranberry, I’m pretty sure.

And K: If you dreamed it, maybe you need a replay…I bet we could collect some good ideas….

We have yoga classes at work, once a week, but that gaps between sessions really do me in. When the next session starts, I get dehydrated and a bit dizzy.

Yoga is your friend.

While Yoda, your friend he is. On that note, it’s time to get going. I’ll be back and forth for a little while. Take care of yourselves and your loved ones koinu.

Shoto… if you’d like to write up a post for PUAC, I’ll let the powers that be know when I’ll be unavailable. We have a great group here and you will get some comments. I promise.

Oh, keep writing Shoto. And, don’t take it personally, there are plenty of front page threads that only get a few comments.
I, for one, like your Voice.

I’ll see what I can throw together in the coming days.

More bacon and increased use of the remote control. That’s the key. ;-)

Thank you.

The truth is I have a great immune system, but my constitution is not a good as I would like it to be. My daughter, however, has a great constitution.

I love the way you think….Thanks;)

I like bacon, but I eat less of it as time goes by.

Let me throw something together before you raise the flag. Much appreciated.

Thanks Rev…

I started using the elliptical last winter. My knees couldn’t handle the treadmill any longer. My first time my calves and thighs were KILLING me after only 6 minutes. When I got off my legs were so wobbly I almost fell to the floor. After that, I simply added 1 minute to my time each time i used it. I just figured you can always do one more minute without dying. Eventually I worked my way up to about 42 minutes and a three mile workout. Once I got to that point, I started to adjust the resistance level. After bumping the resistance up a notch I would stay at that level until I could get back to 3 miles in 42 minutes consistently then move the resistance up again and start the process over.

I have a bacon sandwich every Saturday morning. It’s my indulgence. And look what day it is today…..

Yup I’m here. “We”collectively were chided for being too chatty and not sticking to all of the political strum und drang at the end of Swim. The scold was promptly dealt with. Heh.

Craisins are dried cranberries. Ocean Spray makes them. CVS also sells their own brand of them for less.

Laterz, Peggy.

Gotta bail. Catch up later.

That’s a great idea, Tim. So far, I can get in about three tenths of a mile, but if I just keep adding a minute each time I use the elliptical, I may make better progress. Thanks for the suggestion!!!

I just have to take a shower before doing any errands. I’ll be right back. Promise.

Have a great day, Peg!

Have a great day, Shoto!

I especially liked Southern Dragon’s come back. He said something like, It’s not like it hasn’t been this way for 5 or 6 years. Ha. He’s grand, ain’t he?

That check must seem mighty sweet,Peg. But we miss you in the morning.

OTOH I “waste”an enormous amount of the mornings online. The motivator to get on with the day is often the weather. If it’s gonna be 90 I need to get my bike ride in early. Didn’t get out last week until after 10 and by the time I slogged up the last small hill to my house it had gotten up to 87!0

I simply added 1 minute to my time each time i used it. I just figured you can always do one more minute without dying.

Solid advice. And you’re right: the elliptical is a helluva lot easier on the knees.

Looks like while I was getting some brekkie and tidying up my daughter’s kitchen, everyone has gone. OK, me too. Gotta do a bit of flowerpots planting and then get cleaned up for my granddaughter’d dance recital. Have a good ‘un, everyone.

SD is a master of the pithy riposte!

Enjoy the recital, Molly.
Guess I’d better get on with my day too. I just made an omellet with the left overs from last night’s mexican dinner. Yummmmm.
And, as always, great job, KarenM, and all.
Ladies and gentlemen, start your engines.

Wow, and look at you as well. ;)

I was just thinking the exact same thing. Great minds, huh?

XD. SouthernDragon has a wonderful way of summing things up.

There is a simple and inexpensive DVD….http://www.amazon.com/M-P-M-Yoga-Rodney-Yee/dp/B00007JME6/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1307196351&sr=8-3 You might find this very helpful. Good luck….

Thanks, Kelly! I’ll add that to my Amazon wish list and next time I order something for my grandson, I’ll tack that on, too. I like to get that free shipping for orders over $25.00.

Southern Dragon most definitely has an interesting mind.

Thanks, demi!

Many thanks to everyone who dropped by today… see you all next week, when the topic will be self- care. I have some very inexpensive ways for you to keep yourself healthy.

Thanks, RevBev, for the suggestion! I just love getting suggestions for weekly topics.

the three things that matter are pleasure, pain and perserverance. find something that you actually enjoy doing or at least can tolerate, exert yourself but don’t hurt yourself, and then just keep doing it.

Of the three, not quitting, and making time to exercise at least three days a week is much more important than whatever you decide to do.

I suffered a serious back injury when I was around thirty, and had a high stress, long-hour job, and for too many years did no exercise except a moderate amount of walking. Several years ago I decided to try running again. The first day I walked a mile and jogged a quarter mile at a pace actually slower than the walk.

I did it on and off for three years and learned that when I ran three days a week I maintained my current fitness, when I did less than three days a week I went backwards, and if I did four or more days a week, I made progress. There’s been a lot of backwards since that first, awful quarter mile plod, because of injuries and job travel, but I ran three and a half miles yesterday, and am on my way out for another run this morning.

So find something you enjoy or at least can tolerate, push yourelf to exertion but don’t hurt yourself, and above all else when you’ve blocked out time to exercise but just don’t feel like going, do it anyway. Most exercise programs stop at 6-8 weeks, so don’t get discouraged if you don’t feel like you’re suddenly rounding into Olympic form. Just keep going.

Have fun.

I do not think the chatting on Morning Swim is a problem. Rather, I think it is a good thing.

What is disconcerting is that so few people participate on the early morning threads. The number of particpants seems to be considerably less than several years ago.

Water. It’s not the fat in your diet, it’s the sugar and especially the HFCS (high fructose corn syrup) that is now leading our nation into an epidemic of diabetes.

When I quit drinking any kind of sweet drinks, fruit juice, soft drinks, whatever, I dropped 15 lb. immediately. I drink water, and my coffee is black. No gain AND no pain.

I also lead a very active lifestyle for 65 years old. I have been a cyclist for 40 years, and my day job, which I have no intention of retiring from, is moving pianos.

Since I was a very fat kid I have counted calories to lose weight. Combining food awareness,keeping an eye on fat intake, making sure bowel movements are regular, and moving around a lot with toning weight-lifting works for me. Oh, and reduce sugar intake. I used to keep bottles of Passover Coke (made with real sugar) because that stuff is terrific…but now it’s diet drinks and lots of water. Good luck. It’s a freaking battle. Riding a bike in any city is one huge temptation to eat passing bakeries and steak restaurants etc.

It is frustrating, because the diet advice is so askew when one is insulin sensitive. PnP does the best job when explaining how to use food to control ones urges.

Funny you should post this. I’m at day 22 of my getting exercise daily and getting back in shape kick. That means I’ve gone three weeks – yay.

There’s a very big hill right behind my home with several sets of concrete steps that take you up to the top. Big hill – maybe 500feet difference in elevation. That hill is my free gym membership. Yesterday was the first day I made it to the top without having to stop to rest. I just got back from today’s trip to the top (had to rest this time)

Just starting to feel healthier from this. I figure another couple of weeks of this and it becomes part of my life.

I’m almost 70, live in a town on the coast of southern Cal, so the weather most of the time is conducive to outside exercise. There are two sets of stairs in the harbor area, one of about 90 steps, the other about 118 steps. I’ve been climbing these for years, doing up to seven sets of the smaller, then seven of the larger, two steps at a time each exercise day. I do these several times a week, plus walking about four miles and fast walk climbing a very steep road each day. As a result I do not restrict my intake of any food or drink. I recently sprained my ankle walking a golf course (I carry my clubs), the result is now after a month of inactivity I’m starting over, which becomes more and more difficult as I get older. My doctors are ok with this regimen, telling me to never stop. I guess the point is if you take the time to build up your conditioning (don’t hurry) you can get to a point with extensive exercise that balances your food intake, and you’ll be able to eat and drink what you want. Just remember it won’t be easy until you reach that point. My exercise jaunt takes about two hours.

Haven’t read all the thread, but I commend the flat belly diet to you because of the special foods that attack belly fat and the great recipes and variety of exercises in the book. You can buy the book in paper back.

I participated in my medical groups Healthy Choices, Healthy Lives program for two months and lost almost 30 pounds, which I’m keeping off. The goal was 1200 cal/day, or less when you hit a plateau, you need to eat a lot of protein – lean meats or beans and high protein grains, egg white omelets, mozarella string cheese, etc. plus lots of veggies and some fruits; very low fat, but do use olive oil, some nuts, avocado, black olives, etc. – the good fats that help reduce the belly. I lost about four inches and dropped from 28 to 20-22 wide; very much want to drop another 20-30 pounds for my next weight loss goal. I’m struggling to get back onto the calorie counting regimen, shooting for 1300 cal/day. I’ve not eaten fried foods or typical desserts etc. for years. Fresh fruit or sugar free puddings are our usual desserts.

Important to “eat the rainbow” in produce variety, eat as much produce with anti-oxidants as possible. Important to get to know the integrated medicine approach to foods.

Blessings to all

We also had a free weights regimen which I didn’t do as I have serious shoulder problems – arthritis and rotator cuff tears, but now my flabby arms are worse. I did the assigned exercises in the warm pool and/or hot tub as often as I could get there. 30-40 minutes a visit and I’d pay for it for a couple of days. I’ve begun to walk, up to 12 blocks a session and then pay for it with a lot of pain and distress. Occasionally I got up to five miles in 15 minutes on a recombinant (sp?) bike. I tried to use the tread mill and it produced lots of pain in process, and not just afterwards.

I’ve several serious spinal problems that make walking and standing very hard for me, so being in the water helps a lot, but I’m doing better on land. I also usually do two yoga session a week, some seated, some on the floor, a little standing. My 3-4 year yoga teacher is very protective of my pains but also stretches me in some way a little at each session. She is a jewel and dear friend.

I’m having some balance problems, some may be due to my pain meds,

Karen!!! Get some Spanx. That will do the trick.

Way late to the thread but here’s my experiences of being greatly overnourished since 1986.

In two years I went from 180 lbs to 220 lbs. It was at age 32-34 and my metabolism slowed despite working 10-14 hours a day 7 days a week as a chef and still taking a class or two and working a 5am-9am shift M-F on local radio.

I ate too much, exercised not at all and the wine and beer begin to sit instead of getting burned off.

By ’90 I was still at 220, but by ’96 I was 240.

From ’01 to ’09 I went up and up and peaked at 310 around June of ’09.

BP, blood sugars, all went to hell n my doc told me in ’09 what I already knew . . . I needed to change.

Off and on I would work out, but stop. I’d get to 280 and climb back up, 10 lbs in a month added on was easy.

Finally I just had to cut my cals to 1600 a day with or without wine or whiskey. And work out for an hour.

See, since ’88 I’ve had this gym about 70 yards from our front door in the complex where we live. But I failed to use it regularly and despite using it sensibly (I know weight training and conditioning work from the late 70′s n early 80′s) I’d strain something, back off, and fail.

So.

In the past 12 months I maintained 1600 cals for the most part, and worked out more regularly. Down 55 lbs to 255.

Along the way, I still strained either my back or tweaked my knees, both of which are battered from old baseball injuries and blowing my back out in ’86, badly.

However, I’ve even further modified my workout routine to prevent injury.

Instead of 45 min. on treadmill/incline, I do 20 min.

I lowered weights on all the equipment I use (8 machines) and shortened my routines while speeding up my machine pace to keep my cardio up at 140 per minute . . . end result is now about 50-60 minutes with maintained high cardio for 40 minutes, not strains, and an ability to do it every day, regardless.

And, keeping the calorie counts to 1600 daily, ya gotta count every thing that goes into yer mouth, liquid or solid.

I’m 5’10, I’m 58 as of January.

1600 cals a day with exercise means I can lose weight. I’ve proven that to myself.

My wife at 5’3″ and older than I has to keep her cal intake to 1200 daily, she walks at work once a day and hits the gym with me for another half hour of treadmill every day. She’s lost 10 lbs FAST but when she stops the walking/gym for a week can put on 5 lbs fast.

Cals in, cals out . . . . plain and simple. No exercise? Huh, think about 1000 cals daily just to maintain weight if yer over 40.

I anticipate that to lose the next 50 lbs over the next 6 months or so I’ll have to increase something in my workouts, but like everyone else above, first I have to develop stamina, then some muscle building (lightly), and build the endurance I need to do more without strains or injuries.

O

My feet, ankles, knees, hips n back are all feeling it daily, but my key is to lighten up weights, etc. more than I ever dreamt of, and increase cardio level for longer times than I was before.

It’s hell on some days as I just KNOW my body is telling me to take a day off. I just don’t rebound overnight, hardly at all.

I mean, it aches and hurts in my hips and feet . . so, I just start even slower on the treadmill until it all loosens up. Sometimes it takes the whole 20 minutes to loosen up on the treadmill and I only get to about 120 beats per minute. But then the machines get me up to 140 bpm and it’s usually about a half hour of that.

WHen I was young I played baseball, hiked with a 60-75# pack in The Sierra’s for weeks at a time every summer, worked two jobs in kitchens, slept on 4 hours a night when working, schooling, doing radio.

But those days are LONG gone since my early to mid 30′s.

I expect to see 200 lbs before November.

And I’m lovin it!

*G*

N that’s my story.

Now the rest of you Pups do what ya can, but take care of yerselves!

We got a long way to go before out time is done on this rock n there’s lots of adventures n challenges on this planet we need face.

Bless all y’all let’s get to it . . . .

Off and on, up and down

Good for you, Larue. I’m glad you’re sticking with it this time.