Hi ladies, great to hear you are all doing so well.

As part of my cardio rehab, we have 10 - 15 mins of weights/toning. Here are a few you could do in the house if its too cold/icy to get out...

besides bi-cep curls, we do these exercizes where we stand with legs a little apart, bring the weight above your head ( holding on with both hands) (only 1 weight) and then slowly lower it like you are about to pat yourself on the back with it.. hold it 10 seconds... bring it back in front of you and squat as low as you can holding it. We do reps of about 15.

Another almost anyone can do *even me and I have a bad back*.. stand in front of a solid wall, put your arms straight out ( no bending them ) on the wall at shoulder level or lower... stand back as far as you can keeping those arms on the wall straight.. then do 1 minute of "push ups" on the wall.

Another you can do if you have stairs or a small platform that can work as a stair, and step up with both feet ( quickly ) and back down. Do that as fast as you can for 1 minute.

Finally, sit on a chair. A hard chair like a dining room chair etc.. with your butt on the very edge.. and for 30 seconds, pedal like you would a bike, and the other 30 seconds, just hold legs up off the ground straight.

Now the wall, and the steps and combined with the chair. So you would do 1 min of wall, then the chair. One min of steps and the chair until you have done it for 10 minutes ( and eventually build up longer)

The other alternative for the winter and it may be cheaper than a gym , at least it is here.. is to check your community colleges and even some reg colleges and universities. The one by me, for 16 weeks, was $88 and that includes an instructor who not only sets up a program that works for you personally, but once the 1st 3 classes are over *where you learn all the equipment etc* you can go any time that works for you 6 days a week. Mine is a huge gym with all kinds of machines and weights etc and also has a pool. So maybe your schools also have something similar. Look at the regular class schedules and adult education but also the continuing education programs. What isnt listed under one section could be listed elsewhere.

I would suggest the Y but they are outrageously priced. And heres another tip.. if any of you have medical problems.. like heart issues or back problems etc.. and if you have insurance... ask your doctor about cardiac rehab or physical therapy. Both of those use things like treadmill, and other cardio equipment. And that might get you through the winter.

Brilliant Pam! Some great winter/indoor exercises there.

I'll add a few too as I like to work out at home sometimes too.

Deadlifts; stand straight with your arms by your sides holding a hand-weight in each hand. Then lower into a squat, keeping your arms still. Bring yourself back into a standing position and repeat.

Squat and lift; As deadlift but this time as you squat lift your arms infront of you to about chest height. Lower as you stand, and repeat.

Do these both slowly and at your own pace. Try hold the squat for a few seconds before standing.

Dips; Sit on the edge of a dining chair or low wall, and lower yourself toward to floor and up by bending your arms.

Again do exercise slowly and at your own pace.
With all of these keep your stomach muscles pulled in tight and watch your posture carefully! Don't lock out your knees and if pain feels abnormal stop and rest.

Bum lifts; Lay on your back with your knees bent and feet flat on the floor. (As if you were doing a sit-up) Then slowly lift your bottom a few inches from the floor, hold for a second and lower.

I won't lie, all these are tough exercises. But are great for your body, even if you only manage a few of each. I'd advise those with back and knee problems to seek advice before attempting them. But I've no doubt everyone else could!

Yesterday I was under 1400 calories and today around 1550. I am stuffed right now... I overate. I could have (should have!) stopped around 1300 again. I have increased my water (today it wasn't really intentional, I was just thirsty). I STILL feel like 1300 calories is low for someone my weight and I worry about causing my body to freak out... should I just go with it and if I stop losing weight, then I can up it? Right now I am uncomfortably full.

Hi all, I have been reading here for a few days and started FD then. I have been slowly losing on and off for about the last 6 months to a year and had 100 lbs to lose exactly when I started. I have since lost about 30lbs and have gotten more serious in the last 6 weeks or so.

I wondered if it's too late to jump in here with this group?

Kim

Welcome Kim! Not to late. Jump right in with both feet - I did, about 3 weeks ago. Great bunch on this thread, encouraging and lots of helpful ideas and kicks in the butts (when needed). Glad to have you aboard. Carren

Hiya Kim, and good morning all you "DOERS"!
We don't just talk -- we take action!

So, today is measurement day. Here are my results so far, since Aug. 1st:

Neck: -.5"
Bicep: -1"
Forearm: -.5"
Chest: -1.5"
Waist: -2"
Hips: -2"
Thigh: +1"
Calf: +.5"

I assume my thigh & calf measurements went up slightly since I'm doing more walking, squats, etc. Either that, or my measurements are off due to clothing variations at the time. I'm very happy with the results so far, and encourage everyone to track their measurements if possible. I do mine weekly on Mondays.

Hope your week gets off to a great start! MOVE IT AND LOSE IT!

hi! i was wondering if i can join you all. i really need help to stick to this and i don't think i can do it alone. i am new to any forums but i have been reading them for awhile. i need to lose 40lbs and have set my goal date as 31 dec.2010. am going to start atkins again (lost 20lbs a few years ago) but today i have to finish my beautiful blueberries i bought. so tomorrow is my start date.

just wondering how you post the goals, current weight, etc on the bottom of your posts? just type in or is there somewhere i should be going that puts it in for me?

Go to the top of the page, the dark blue line.. click on User Cp and then on signature and there you are!

Thanks girls! I am so happy to have found a supportive thread to be accountable to.

I will go after this post and post my stats in my signature.

I don't have a big problem right now staying on the wagon so to speak as I do with my eating and sleeping habits. When I do fall off the wagon I tend to fall hard though, and can't seem to catch back up to it for a very long time.

I have a wonderful hubby that has terrible food habits and loves his really bad dinners full of mostly creamy, buttery starches and a meat. Most times there isn't even a veggie on the table and if there is it's a canned thing that no one touches. Right now he is out of the country with the Air force and I always do better when he isn't here because I just don't cook like that when he isn't here.

He has been gone for 5 months and is getting ready to come home in 2 weeks and I am scared to death of what will happen when he gets here. He is also quite small at 163 lbs! So those meals are much more detrimental to me than they are him. When he is here, I have to cook 2 dinners, one for me and one for my family which is hard and it almost in the end beats me down and I just give in and eat with them, which just makes me say, oh well, maybe tomorrow... I have tried altering his favorite foods to make them more healthy and he always hates it and never lasts long.

So that is my first downfall. My next problem that I have found a real issue while he's been gone and I have been working hard to get this weight off is my sleep habits. When he's here he works nights and my kids are home schooled so we don't have a normal schedule. Going to bed late and getting up late. In turn I am finding it hard get in enough calories. I don't know if I can show you my food log but I have not gotten in one day probably in the last 2 months of even close to 1000 calories. I usually manage an average of about 700-800. I have tried harder the last couple of days and have made it to just close to 900. My weight is of course going super slow.

I have been exercising more these past couple of months more than I ever have in my life. Going to the gym with my son. I usually do the treadmill for as long as I can tolerate (sometimes 15 minutes sometimes 40) and then the elliptical or my recent favorite the cross ramp for usually 40 minutes and then about every other day I use the weight machines but have not had any real guidance so just do what I think seems right. lol We usually only end up going 4-5 days though since it's a 30 minute drive and it closes early 3 days a week. We usually go late, from 10:00pm-12:00am.

LOL I could go on and on but I think that's enough of a book for now! I look forward to getting to know you all and hopefully hearing your thoughts on how to correct some of my issues.

Kim