Goals:
1) Plan food -yes, yes (went off plan on dinner tho)
2) < 1600 calories, 1180, 1663
3) 6 glasses H2O min - no , 6
4) stretch- yes, no
5) some form of exercise, even at home 2x min -home execise and walk, no
6) pull self up by bootstraps - talked to therapist, "retail therapy" and saw friend,

Will catch up later or tomorrow. Yay Meachan for no caffeine or aspartame!!!

Plan:
Breakfast:
Ezkiel English muffin tih raisins and Tofutti cream cheese
Lunch:
DH baked orange chicken (my downfall last night: I ate 4 pieces)
baked squash
Snacks:
almonds
apple
Dinner is a crap shoot because we are eating out but I am thinking Gyro and maybe some fries (I know, I know....)

Push ... Up
 

Arg! I wrote a long post on this and it disappeared when I hit preview! Take 2:

My problem with push-ups is that I'm:

• Lacking upper body strength
• A perfectionist
• OCD (aka AR)
• Over 50

I've been trying to do 20 Perfect Push-ups for at least 6 months, unofficially a year. My Honey can (still) do plenty of push-ups, even though he's a bit out of shape. The kind where you plank, touch nose to floor, and lift back up. But I haven't been able to do one, ever. Until last week. I did one! I was so proud of myself!

I can (now) hold a rail straight plank for minutes (where n mins depends on the day, time of day, etc...) I can now do pushups that get kinda close to the floor. I can even hold a plank within mms of the floor. But can't seem to do that and push back up. No arms. I've been trying all kinds of tricks, but the tricky part is just to keep trying. On the plus side, I'm (*) Very Stubborn.

Okay! I just tried again, and I did another one! I'm so excited! I can't do two though... Maybe by next year... :rolleyes:

boji, enjoy your special dinner. You can always be a little more restrictive on calories tomorrow or spread out over the next few days, right? If he's making it, he must care and that's something special.

meachan...good job on your success so far!

Tuesdays Results
 

GOALS:
Calories: Less than 1700/day: 1596,1795
Workouts: 3 workouts this week. MON,TUES
Went over on calories by a little, still under 1700 for the average. Hadn't planned on the gym for Tuesday so made it gray. Planning on a gym night tonight.

gwheelocks;
Good to have another guy on board.

Walking Wednesday is out the question. I just left the office, been super busy all day and now it is COOOLLLLLDDDDDDDDD. I'll try to catch up in a bit, now I need to find something to eat.

I never touch my nose when I do push ups. I do my exercises until I hit 90*. This is easier on your joints. So I go down until the top part and bottom part of my arms are at 90* (the top part is parallel to the floor). IMO, going lower than that is putting unnecessary strain on your shoulders and elbows. To be honest, I do them so fast, if I were to touch my nose, one day I'd end up breaking it or knocking out my teeth.

This is going to sound sexist to some but don't try to compare yourself to your honey. Men usually have more upper body strength. That's not to say that you won't ever be able to do as many as him, or more, just don't get discouraged because it's easier for him.

Here's my suggestion... quit doing them how you are doing them. That was easy, huh? :) No, seriously, the only what you are going to get better at them is to get stronger. The only way to get stronger is to work the muscles. You probably aren't working the muscle much doing one every now and then. I would either go back to your knees and crank them out until you can't do one more, or elevate your upper body, maybe on stairs and start busting them out. Trust me, you crank them suckers out, even on your knees and you'll feel it. The next day your chest, arms and shoulders will probably scream at you. I would also not do them every day, assuming you are cranking them out and wearing the muscle down. Give yourself a day between to let the muscle recover. Then the next day 20 (or however many) more. It's okay to do multiple sets on the days you do them, but give them a day to heal. So lets say you start off on your knees and you can do 8, take a little break and try it again. After a few times, you'll start off a day and do 10. Once you can do 10, pretty easily on your knees, do 10 then take a 10 second breather and get back to it. For every push up you do, that's how many seconds of a break you get. So once you get to 10, it'll probably look like this.
10....... 10 second break
7......... 7 second break
4.......... 4 second break (WTF I ONLY GET A FOUR SECOND BREAK!!!!, yep)
1.......... done

Take off the next day, then try again on the following. I would bet that once you get to the first 10, within a few weeks you'll be able to do 20 on your knees. At that point, you'll probably be able to do a few on your toes. Work at in until you can do 10, then follow the same procedure.

That should get you were you want to be before the next year passes you by!


BTW, If I had to do 10 for every cuss word today, I'd be dead! I think Tori was getting a kick out of it. I dropped a few F-bombs and another choice word or 2, then she wanted to see how many I could use in a sentence. I must say, I think I impressed her. :eek:

Just popping in to say that I royally suck lately. I'll do a full update tomorrow. Annnndddd....carryon.

1. Target <1600 calories/day.
no. / no 1700. / yes 1571.
2. Walk the park or big block 4x with Sara this week.
Yes! / no. / no.
3. Take meds 2x/day.
forgot p.m. / forgot p.m. again. / yes.
4. Log everything.
yes. / yes. / yes.
5. Plan ahead this week a few healthier (or at least less bad) items to have next week during Thanksgiving.
working on it. / in progress. / done i think.
6. Start reading labels and learning more about cleaner food choices.
tried, but felt a little lost. / did some reading. / a little.

Feeling blah today. I think I will be challenged.

Goals for the week:
Finish sewing my friends birthday present.DONE!
Keep the kitchen table cleared off. M, T,W
Iron the mountain of ironing. Pants are all done...
Go to water class this week!!W
No pistachios! T,W!
Log food. T,W

Mike- thanks for your tips on the push-ups. I am not great at them either but your advice is good and I will try to apply it. When I reach my weight loss goal (2 more stubborn pounds) I am going to throw some actual weight training into my workout routine. (I am currently doing cardio for weight loss and Strength yoga 3 x a week)

Goals:
1) Plan food -yes, yes, yes (went off plan on dinner tho)
2) < 1600 calories, 1180, 1663 1362
3) 6 glasses H2O min - no , 6 ?
4) stretch- yes, no yes
5) some form of exercise, even at home 2x min -home execise and walk, no yes at home
6) pull self up by bootstraps - talked to therapist, "retail therapy" and saw friend, went to a concert with DH and had fun

Plan:
Breakfast:
Ezkiel English muffin with low fat swiss
Lunch:
left over chicken and lamb kebab with Greek salad
Dinner (a crap shoot because I am working a fancy dinner/tribute to a famous author)
6 or 7 hors doeuvres
glass of wine
Fish
veg
salad
Snacks:
apple
sugar free chocolate (to help me avoid dessert; I'd rather have the hors douevres. They were yummy last year)

Have been planning meals but even when I go off, I have guidelines.And last night I ate shish kebab and salad rather than a gyro which saved calories. Woo hoo.
Will try to catch up with posts; busy week; class Tuesday, concert last night, banquet tonight, fancy dinner Friday, poker Sat, plus a work deadline. Yikes!

For yesterday:

1.) Under 1400 calories/day - M: 1179, T: 1511, W: no idea, but a lot
2.) Go to the gym x2 - T: Y
3.) Walk to car after work M-F (unless it's majorly raining or something) - M: Y, T: Y, W: Y
4.) 64 oz/day of water - M: Y, T: Y, W: N
5.) Start (and finish! Oh god...) ASTRO 550 proposal - M: started writing, but found a fundamental flaw in my idea and may have to go back to the drawing board, T: still floundering, although thought awfully hard about it, W: Reeeeaally need some inspiration

Calories were over and water was under yesterday, but it's alright. I had a really good time last night at dinner. Sadly, he left the cheesecake... I'm going to try to get my roommate to eat some.

Theme for today: Temptation Thursday. I worked this literary banquet last year and the food (especially the hors d'oeuvres) was fabulous. Gonna try to have will power...

Joanna, so glad your dinner went well but sorry about the calories... hey I might be singing the over calorie song tomorrow myself... plus it IS great he wanted to cook for you...

Paint? Are you sure that was me?

Belated response: It's true. :)

Why wait? Throw in the weight training to HELP you lose the last 2 pounds.

I wanted to check in to see how everyone was doing...
 

And I keep getting ads for $5 off a crave case at white castle. Oh the irony!

1. Target <1600 calories/day.
no. / no 1700. / yes 1571. / close enough 1612.
2. Walk the park or big block 4x with Sara this week.
Yes! / no. / no. / no. :(
3. Take meds 2x/day.
forgot p.m. / forgot p.m. again. / yes. / I can't remember if I did or not. :confused:
4. Log everything.
yes. / yes. / yes. / yes.
5. Plan ahead this week a few healthier (or at least less bad) items to have next week during Thanksgiving.
working on it. / in progress. / done i think.
6. Start reading labels and learning more about cleaner food choices.
tried, but felt a little lost. / did some reading. / a little. /

I have such a hard time remembering my meds, and since I'm bipolar that is not a good thing for any aspect of my life. Need to get out of this! A couple years ago the state did a ton of cut backs and really slashed mental health care. That's when I lost my therapy. Bad thing. Yesterday I took steps to get a new therapist through my husband's work insurance, even though it will cost a lot...I need it! Hoping I find a good therapist quickly. Finding one you click with is really a challenge sometimes. Also hoping that getting back into therapy will help me keep my moods more even and things will become more consistent. Losing weight when you're feeling in a funk all the time is really hard.

Hope everyone has a great and successful day!

Lisa, maybe you could get a days of the week pill reminder box. I know I have forgotten to take evening meds a couple of times. I take the evening ones with supper so I put them beside my plate.

Good luck with finding a therapist. I agree very hard to find someone you click with.

I have been reading everyone's posts. Have been eating healthy--finally had more energy yesterday.

Jenn

Goals for the week:
Finish sewing my friends birthday present.DONE!
Keep the kitchen table cleared off. M, T,W, TH
Iron the mountain of ironing. Pants are all done...
Go to water class this week!!W
No pistachios! T,W!TH
Log food. T,W, Th

Mike you are right, I might go ahead and start that weight training now. At least some simple stuff here at home, or go to my yoga class a little early and do some stuff there in the room before anyone shows up.

I had trouble sleeping last night for the first time in a long time. I laid awake for two hours from 1:30-3:30. Finally got up and read with my book light on the couch for a chapter or so. My yellow Lab who sleeps at the foot of my bed came out and curled up next to me on the couch and pretty swiftly I laid down with him, my head on his leg/tummy, and we were a couple of snoring puppies before long. I'm not sure if I had a carbohydrate issue, dehydration, or if it was just my mind racing that prohibited me from returning to sleep. I drank all my self-prescribed water and ate a pretty protein-rich/ fiber-rich dinner... I just hope it doesn't happen again tonight.

For yesterday:

1.) Under 1400 calories/day - M: 1179, T: 1511, W: no idea, but a lot, Th: 2365
2.) Go to the gym x2 - Th: Y
3.) Walk to car after work M-F (unless it's majorly raining or something) - M: Y, T: Y, W: Y, Th: Y
4.) 64 oz/day of water - M: Y, T: Y, W: N, Th: Y
5.) Start (and finish! Oh god...) ASTRO 550 proposal - M: started writing, but found a fundamental flaw in my idea and may have to go back to the drawing board, T: still floundering, although thought awfully hard about it, W: Reeeeaally need some inspiration, Th: Okay, think I'm on my way with this

Yesterday was a bust, calorie-wise. I mean, there was the cheesecake... and then there was more cheesecake. And as Cassie would say, after dropping one egg, I went ahead and dropped the other 11! I need to go to the gym today, so hopefully between that and trying to stay within calorie limits, I'll do better today.

I'm sorry you had trouble sleeping, frenchhen, but how cute to sleep with the puppy!

Ugh, it's like a have a food hangover today. I ate all kinds of weird unidentifiable foods last night, which is not a good move for someone with food allergies and sensitivites. But I also have hypoglycemia and was working a banquet to help out my Writing Center and standing on my feet in dress up shoes (as a writer, I rarely dress up, for me, a good clothing day means I haven't dropped toothpaste on my shirt) and as always, hungry. It was like I was in the Island of Lost Foods - such odd stuff, little weird hors d'oeuvres (the tiniest BLT ever with chopped ham, I guess and oddly colored sushi and mini cheeseburgers) and unidenifiable appetizers wrapped in puff pastry. The main course was good. I ate dessert, which I rarely do (at least not this rich chocolately creamy stuff.) So today I have zero motivation. I am only thankful I don't seem to have gained any weight from this. It was a workout just wearing heels on uneven floors and not falling flat on my face. And you know how once you fall off the wagon it's tough to climb back on? First you've got to chase the wagon and yell "Hey wait up!" Then you've got to get a strong foothold to pull yourself up. Then you've go to stay on the darn thing and not fall off again. And I have a shmancy dinner tonight and I have no idea of the menu. None. Plus poker tomorrow which means beer (or chocolate vodka yum!! or port yum yum!!!) and snacks. Heavy sigh. What's a girl to do? "Hey! Wait up, guys!!!!"

Goals:
1) Plan food -yes, yes, yes but went off plan, yes but what good did it do in the Island of Lost Food?
2) < 1600 calories, 1180, 1663 1362 oh who knows? Do you know how many calories are in a mini cheesburger the size of your thumbnail? I think not. Who even knows how many I ate?
3) 6 glasses H2O min - no , 6 ? does wine count?
4) stretch- yes, no yes,yes
5) some form of exercise, even at home 2x min -home execise and walk, no yes at home no
6) pull self up by bootstraps - talked to therapist, "retail therapy" and saw friend, went to a concert with DH and had fun, got personal advice from famous well published writer, went to a banquet with many people there

Frenchhen, awwww....... what a cute picture I have of you and the doggie asleep. I love labs. Never had a dog but would love to have a yellow lab.

OK food plan:
Breakfast
Ezkiel English muffin with low fat cheese
apple
Lunch:
tuna on local peasant bread with lettuce and onion
fruit
Dinner (I am going to a place with fixed menus: appetizer, main course and dessert)
app: umm clams or something not fried, if they have em
dinner: fish and veg
dessert: maybe apple pie or if they have sorbet or fruit
snacks:
popcorn and sugar free chocolate if we go to the movies
or almonds and fruit, if not

Snacks:

Joanna, I love your progression with the ASTRO plan; it shows how much hard work goes into accomplishing something.

Thanks for the great suggestion(s). That really should work. Thing is, I can do three sets of 20 on my knees. I can do them in really good form, too. My wrists give out long before my shoulders or back does. Can't do them on my toes, though. I just don't get it, but it is what it is, I guess. I try to work on upper body w/TRX twice a week, (emphasis on try ... ) I'm sure I'll get there eventually, but it's taking a lot longer than I thought it would.

I'll add that I'm not discouraged that it's easier for my man, rather that I saw this as a challenge. One I'm just not doing too well at. :cool:

- Donna

Sorry Hope, seems I was confused! Again!

Fri.
 

(Actually Thursday)

• Exercise > 40 mins 3 days: 30, 50, 0, 20,
• Calories < 1600 per day: 1572, 1598, 1535, 1506
• Protein > 50 grams / day: 63, 61, 58, 63
• Vegetables > 3 servings: Y, Y, N, Y

No prob!!! Good luck with the push ups and the weights!!!

Wow, if you can already do 20 then you may want to do that routine starting with 20. Then work your way down as the breaks get shorter. As for your wrists, it's best to keep your wrists straight. If you have a set of dumbbells, put them on the floor and grip them. This should keep your wrists straight, or you can do them on your knuckles... or get push up stands which use the same concept as the dumbbells.
Seeing it as a challenge is good. :)


Update:
I'm way behind on my updates, I've been doing decent (the goals are pretty easy) but I have not walked. The easiest goal... riding the motorcycle may not happen, it's been kinda cold but I may suck it up and quit being a wimp and go out for a ride tonight. Right now, I'm at 4 policies for the week and may end up with 1 more.

Hi,

This is my first post to the motivational thread... wow, where to begin... I tend to be a type B, so organizing is like an ill-fitting pair of heels! However, I'll grow from that mentality:

This week's goals;)

1. Go to gym 6x/wk
2. Do pilates at least 1x/wk
3. Do yoga at least 1x/wk
4. Finish off 2 liters of water everyday
5. Eat vegan at least 1 day/wk
6. Surf the Web and find low-fat recipes

Behlor

Weight journey: 11.02.12 = 239 lbs, 11.09.12 = 243 lbs, 11.16.12 = 243.8

Original weight: 239 lbs
Goal: 135 lbs
Mini goal: 225 lbs

Wednesday and Thursday catchup
 

GOALS:
Calories: Less than 1700/day: 1596, 1795, 2055, 1833
Workouts: 3 workouts this week. MON,TUES,WED,THUR

Welcome Behlor!!!

Mike;
Are you really using the COLD as an excuse not to walk in New Orleans??? So cold you had to put on long pants and a sweatshirt? :confused: LOL. I'm surprised Tori didn't beat you up for that one.

Need to make it to the gym tonight to hit my workout goal. German Chocolate birthday cake has destroyed my daily calorie goal. The good thing is it is all gone. :)

No, that was my excuse not to ride TPM. I put on my thermal shirt, leather jacket, leather gloves, helmet and backed her out the garage. I said, dammit, I'm gonna go for a ride. It was only 60* but felt like mid 50's for some reason. I know on the bike it would would feel damn cold. It's okay though. This southern boy was gonna man up. [boring guy talk]Cranked it up, pulled in the clutch, put her in 1st and she lurched forward and killed, while the clutch was still in. Did this several times. Pushed her back into the garage.:mad: Came to the conclusion that it was the clutch. Worked on her until I could get it in gear and it would stay running. This has the clutch really tight, so I think my clutch may be going out, with only 3500 miles on the clock. I'll try to play with it some more tomorrow. If it starts to give me fits again, she's going back to the stealership. Maybe I can get them to upgrade me to a nice race clutch that can handle a small shit of nitrous?:D:eek:[/end bring guy talk]

Goals for the week:
Finish sewing my friends birthday present.DONE!
Keep the kitchen table cleared off. M, T,W, TH,F
Iron the mountain of ironing. Pants are all done...
Go to water class this week!!W
No pistachios! T,W!TH,F
Log food. T,W, Th

Hope and Joanna- yeah it is always amazing to me how much free therapy I get from my dogs. Sleep therapy, emotional, food therapy! When my dogs KNOW to drink their water first thing in the morning and after exercise and just sip here and there all day, I hear their slip-slap of their tongues in the water bowl and it triggers me To go grab my water too!

Mike- I know cars and bikes are two totally different animals, but I do notice in my Honda when the temps are below say 50degrees my car literally leaps out of first into second, and I'm an automatic! Scares the begeezes out of me! I hope you dont have to replace your clutch so soon.

) Plan food -yes, yes, yes but went off plan, yes but what good did it do in the Island of Lost Food? went off plan (the restaurant didn't have the fish I wanted) but stayed "good"
2) < 1600 calories, 1180, 1663 1362 oh who knows? Do you know how many calories are in a mini cheesburger the size of your thumbnail? I think not. Who even knows how many I ate? 1360
3) 6 glasses H2O min - no , 6 ? does wine count? IDK
4) stretch- yes, no yes,yes, yes
5) some form of exercise, even at home 2x min -home execise and walk, no yes at home no at home - thanks, Donna, for that idea! Exercising anywhere, who knew? You did!
6) pull self up by bootstraps - talked to therapist, "retail therapy" and saw friend, went to a concert with DH and had fun, got personal advice from famous well published writer, went to a banquet with many people there; went out to fabulous dinner with friends

That's why I don't drink enough water...LOL. See? I told DH I need a dog!

Plan:
Breakfast:
toast with good healthy marg and jelly
Lunch:
leftover chicken marsala (yum)
Dinner:
salmon
veg
Snacks:
nuts
apple
Poker:
one beer (One, you hear me?)
chips
sugar free chocolate

1. Target <1600 calories/day.
no. / no 1700. / yes 1571. / close enough 1612. / really bad...2112. :eek:
2. Walk the park or big block 4x with Sara this week.
Yes! / no. / no. / no. / didn't walk the park or block but did a lot of shopping with Sara.
3. Take meds 2x/day.
forgot p.m. / forgot p.m. again. / yes. / I can't remember if I did or not. / yes.
4. Log everything.
yes. / yes. / yes. / yes. / yes. painful.
5. Plan ahead this week a few healthier (or at least less bad) items to have next week during Thanksgiving.
working on it. / in progress. / done i think.
6. Start reading labels and learning more about cleaner food choices.
tried, but felt a little lost. / did some reading. / a little. /

Pizza night last night killed my calories last night.

Hope, that's a LOT of purple...great job!

Thanks for the acknowledgement, Lisa! I think it's mainly because I wrote a lot. LOL.