Who is ready for some change?
 

No, I don't mean trading one corrupt political party for another... that is already a done deal. I mean personal change. We have had several photo/video threads lately which i have found quite enjoyable. i think quite a while back we had a weight loss challenge thread, but i can't remember when. i think it is time to merge the two ideas.

is anyone interested in participating in a personal changes thread? no contest or challenge - just you vs you. you set your own goal, whether that be weight loss, weight gain, hair growth/removal, peircing additions, tattoos, building the world's largest foil ball, home remodel... anything really. the point is to establish a goal and provide photo documentation along the way. i figure half the cellarites have shared their nipplege *shudder* (MrNoodle... seriously, why?) so what do we have to be shy about?

i have lost all muscle tone while nursing my leg back to health over the last couple of months and am having a hard time finding motivation in getting my workout routine going again - so I will document my return to some semblance of being in shape - IF others are willing to participate.

So whatta ya think?

*chirp* *chirp* *chirp*....

:D

ok, jackass - you started chirping like 30 seconds after i posted the thread. give 'em some time to reject the idea first.:D

*chirp*

Nahh I think it's a good idea, but the penalty for failure is just so harsh.

I'm currently trying to shed my post-exam fat suit, but with Thanksgiving just around the corner I might start posting pictures after that.

My fitness routine is a smoldering ruin. I had a great one going but the TKD school I was going to (Karate is just another way to stay in shape) shut its doors unexpectedly (2 months before I was supposed to test for black *groan*).

I was working with Kettlebells for a while but my stupid job has just taken over - I'm going at a 75 hr/wk clip and am getting really sick of it.

So, I have resolved that on Jan 1 - make it Jan 4 - I start working out again so if you can wait that long to start then I'm in. Not sure how we make it work, tho. Unless we post some goals and then see who makes it or something. I like the idea so pencil me in.

STAY THE COURSE.

Oh. Even the president doesn't say that any more. Consider getting a bicycle. IOW I will use the bike whenever possible for errands - even to just get a paper or mail a letter. Even if it is just a cup of coffee, I ride the bike. IOW I make an excuse to take that ride.

I have a benchmark - a hill. I must get to top of that hill in second from low gear. Sometimes it hurts in the lungs - especially in winter. But it is my benchmark - doing exercise without reserving time for a special program.

Stairs can also be a benchmark. At least once a day, I must get to the top of those stairs, two treads per step, and feel something in my chest. Otherwise I was too slow. Those little 'compulsions' can provide significant exercise without special scheduling.

In order to reduce a) weight and b) blood pressure on medical advice I have recently resolved to leave for work half-an-hour early and stop en route to take a walk - there is a great path along the edge of a pine forest and then the side of a hill heading towards the sea. I've done the past two days and really enjoyed it - not today as I'm not at work. I'll try to remember to take my camera so's you can see how lovely it is ... (I have wet weather gear in the car for the mornings when it'll be raining ...).

I need to lose 20 lbs still hanging around from my last pregnancy. I was SO good, ate right and only gained 32 lbs, but I just can't seem to lose it. As a stay at home mom of a toddler, there aren't a lot of opportunities for exercise (unless I buy expensive equipment, which I can't afford). Gym membership is out due to $$ and no babysitter, my 12 speed bike is out of commission and needs a total refurb, and it is impossible to go running or jogging because I'd have to leave the baby alone (nope). So I'm left with floor exercises on my lovely hardwood floor (did you know that is very noisy?).

Any ideas that don't involve money, purchases or leaving the baby alone? I do have a yard which is fenced, so the baby could run around while I do something...jumping jacks? jump rope? run laps?

I gotta put down the ice cream too, my only dietary weakness. :sniff:

Stormie

The jump rope thing is probably your best bet. That and going for walks carrying the kid ...

Pilates is really good for trimming down at home and on a budget.

http://www.deniseaustin.com/

I'd definately be willing to help Lookout practice his squat thrusts...visual documentation optional. :angel:

geez LR, makes me wish i'd stayed in the quad cities for a little cellar GTG.:hugnkiss:

for those that aren't quite ready to start - begin when you can. i have already taken my first photo, but won't post it until i have a couple weeks change documented. i don't think i've got the guts to just post this one pick without something right behind it to show i'm coming along.

i guess the point in this thread was to see some sort of progression, whether that be Happy Monkey taking along the way photos of a tape creation, one of our musicians learning or writing a song, labrat shedding clothing, er i mean, a woodworker showing a project. i don't have a creative talent so i'm going to do the getting in shape bit.

I'll document progress but not with flabby photos - sorry (not). My starting weight is 14 stone 7 lbs. Will try to ask the nurse for the poor blood pressure reading when I next see her. Will post the occasional pic from The Walk ...

Ok I'm in. But my exercise will have to be the one's my chiro gave me to strengthen my back.
1) No soda, limit anything but water.
2)Ice cream only once a week
3)Chiro exercises

I'm at about 140lbs and my goal will be 120-125lbs
Is that sufficient?

I have no goal, but I'm starting at 231lbs :worried: :3_eyes: :( :o :yelgreedy :eyebrow: :eek: :neutral: :redface:

stormie: I don't know if you're child is too old for this but there is stroller exercises/fitness groups.
http://www.strollerstrides.com/
Might be worth lookin into.
Limey: I know it helped my mother to set short term goals in order to lose weight. IE: after one month she wanted to be down 5lbs, after 2 months 15, ect ect. Unfortunatly chips and salsa has done her in. (plus she was on the atkins...can be dangerous diet). Since the weight i need to lose is not very much I don't feel the need for the short term goals.

I want to get balance and bendy enough to do the Hot Prod :blush:

I am happy to provide documentation, I dont think you *need* the visual though

awesome. remember - this isn't a contest, you are only working towards a goal you set for yourself. have fun with it. i'll post my first two photos one week from tomorrow.

Yes, please, I'll have it in quarters if'n ya dont mind.

Thanks for the suggestion Morethan :). I'm pretty sure that would involve the purchase of one of those fancy jogger-strollers which rules me out. I did get out yesterday and take the baby for a walk in the neighborhood. It's been SO hot here in Florida this summer (she doesn't deal with the heat well), but right now its perfect for outdoor exercises.

I have a 1/2 gallon of Moose Tracks ice cream in the freezer, going to finish it up this weekend and start my fitness plan early next week. Start what? I'm not sure, but I'll figure something out.

Stormie

I'd love to participate. I'm trying to take off the last 25 pounds or so on my weight loss, and am going to have to start (cringe) working out to do it.

Further, I need to finish getting things unpacked around our house. So, maybe documenting it would help motivate me a little more. So, (excuse the ignorace) but where do you plan to post the pictures?

I lost 28lbs on my walk this morning! I finally did the math(s) right in my head and remembered that there are only 14 pounds in a stone (it's ounces there are 16 of in a pound ... :smack: ) so I'm only starting from 203lbs. Not so bad, eh? :right:

unless there is a good reason not to do so, why don't we just post the photos in this thread? if that isn't kosher our glorious mods will no doubt kindly inform us.

I'm officially joining, but may resurrect this thread in about 2 years time when I really start doing something about it. I think it's a great idea to have progress photos, but know even the shame of posting the "Then" won't get me working towards the "Now" just yet.

Good luck to those who are committed.

I have decided that I need to make some MAJOR changes in my life. I am sick of feeling uncomfortable in my own skin and I think if I have to report back to people, I will do better (although the last time I tried this, I just quit posting when it all went bad). I am with limey, though, not a big fan of the photos if you don't mind. Maybe that will change if I stick to it and lose some weight.

Here's what I want to do:
-Quit smoking (I actually haven't had one since Saturday at about 7:30 pm!!)
-Start working out
-Stop with the pop and chips already
-Watch what I eat
-and hopefully lose 10-15 pounds by Dec 22nd (next trip home)....ok, ok, I have to tell you. I am starting at about 180 right now. being 170 by the time I went home would be good, 165 would be awesome, but 160 would be fan-fucking-tastic. The reason I haven't said 20 pounds is because that would be really hard to do.

bbro, a pound/two pounds a week is the best goal to aim for, anything more is quickly lost and just as quickly gained again (at least that's what I tell myself!).

I think 2 pounds is the norm, but with such a drastic change (ok I cheated a little bit today) I am hoping for a bigger drop. There are times I gain and drop 5 pounds in a day or two just because of the amount of water I might drink. (the more the better)

That's just it - in a day your weight can fluctuate by quite a lot (relatively speaking). All the advice I've received says you should weigh yourself no more often than once a week to assess your weight loss ...

Your aim is drastic change? I'd like to lose 30 lbs - nearly 15% of my body weight. I'd rather do this at 1-2 lb a week, than by Christmas - once again guided by all the advice out there .... JMHO, YMMV etc etc

Oh, that's not my total goal, just for something to shoot for. I eventually want to be like 140-130. Or if I start looking skeletal, stop before that :)

Major changes?
I can trump that - I need to lose over 100lb :(

Still - 2007 will be my year, I can feel it
otherwise it's just another year gone with nothing to show for it

I could do with losing about half a stone.....I seem to have acquired an addiction to fry-ups!

Right.....from now on, Fry-ups only on the days i am in uni too early to grab breakfast at home (twice a week).

French toast and golden syrup at 3am just before going to bed is worse! BTDT

Beer & Dominos Sizzler pizza have been my downfall
That & being too cumbersome to enjoy walking at present

I've laid my depression down in layers of fat like rings on a tree...

I'm definatly ready for a change in the status quo. I'm thinking it should start with me getting laid...

I was lean and mean, then I stopped smoking.... :(

SG - from another thread I glean that for you it's 21 minutes to take the bus to work, and 20 minutes to walk? And the bus fare is how much? Me - I have to get up and out 30 minutes earlier in order to get some walking into to my day. You, You Lucky Gurrrl, can have an Extra Minute in Bed and still get the walk in - and you'll be in pocket at the end of the week. I challenge you ... come on, you can do it!

I better throw my hat in. I hit 165 lb. this weekend, a record for me.

Now, I know many (most? all?) of you are rolling on the floor laughing at this--I know it's a weight many people my height (5'8") would kill to see.

But you've got to understand, I've always been very scrawny. And it wasn't that many years ago that I was 125. So proportionally, 165 represents a massive increase. So I want to nip this in the bud. I'll be content to be around 155; I don't want to go back to 125, I just don't want to continue gaining.

First steps: 1. no more donuts for breakfast. (ARRRGH!!! I have to find SOMETHING to eat for breakfast in the morning that's fast, but that's not total shit from a nutrition standpoint.) 2. No eating after 9:30PM. I don't eat horribly at meals, but I have a nasty habit of making a midnight (or later) snack. Example: I'm writing this at 12:37AM my time. I could easily go for a bag of microwave popcorn right now. 3. Cut back on the soda. Maybe 1 can/day as a realistic initial limit? I have given up soda for Lent, and I've given up booze. There's no contest; the soda was MUCH harder.

I would be all over something like this, buuuuut... I don't have the discipline. Oh well. I am sure you all understand. Maybe if I decide to go for it I will, but things are so crazy (I mean downright running-around-like-a-chicken-with-its-head-cut-off crazy) I don't think I could even if I really, really tried.

I'm all for change, I need another roll of quarters.

All this talk about weight! There ARE other things to change, you know.

At least other things that I am more willing to document. :blush:

My big challenge to myself is to get my house finished. We remodeled last summer and we're still living out of boxes. It got complicated. Hubby lost job, we ran out of money, had further financial woes, hubby got consumed with new job . . . so our goal to paint during the summer has now turned into our goal to paint is this winter . . . Now THAT I can post pics of!

Weight loss: yeah, yeah, yeah, I'm now on my doc's shit list for that.

I've been good, writing down everything that goes into my mouth, calculating the calories, etc., but my body is not cooperating.

According to all the websites, I should be losing something like 4 pounds a month. I've lost 17 since April. The math just doesn't work. Sigh.

They say the best home exercise program is housework! Cheap, easy, convenient. Just start scrubbing, mopping, vacuuming away and keep your heart rate up for your target time. Special added bonus: Your house sparkles!!

Granola bars! Nature Valley "Sweet & Salty Nut" Peanut flavor are really tasty.

I'll check them out--though I have to admit I'm prediposed against something with "salty" in the actual name of the product! ;)

Stop eating the chips and drinking the 'pop' and you will see almost instant results. Guaranteed!

It's *SODA* not pop

Its *Soft Drink* not soda or pop :p

Now my kitty has to be on a diet...
We took him to the vet for a UTI and he has gained 3 lbs since last year and he was full grown then. Ooops. I blame it on my mother who feeds him whenever he asks. Well now he gets one scoop of food a day 1/2 in the morn 1/2 at night. I'm still workin on my diet...I've been pretty good about the no soda thing (Here in good ole Texas all soda is called coke). And I've also cut down on the ice cream...but I've gained 3lbs. Erm maybe I should try and cut out pastries...but I work in a bakery. I'll post a pic as soon as I develop the courage for it (give me a few sleep deprived days).

We fed every cat everything they wanted. None got obese. Has something changed even in cat food? Are they also replacing ingredients with sugar in cat food? What food is the cat being fed?

animals are just like people - except furrier. they have personalities and some will eat more than necessary. probably due to depression.

Totally totally right of course. But without wanting to play the depression card too heavily it's an achievement just leaving the flat some mornings. Easier to sit at the bus stop reading than manage a brisk walk across the park. And yet one of my considerations when I left London was the sheer joy of living somewhere I could walk to and from work :neutral:

Anyway - tomorrow I'm supposed to be starting my Brand New Life. Of course it still kinda depends how I feel tomorrow morning, but am trying to make plans and stick to them. I do need to get some tights before I start walking in though... Not an excuse - chubby chafe is a real problem otherwise :thepain:

I promise I will start trying anyway.

My vet has declared that all processed cat food is junk food.

He has told me to feed my cats raw meat (hamburger or any other ground meat) mixed with a little wet cat food. The wet cat food as the flavor and salt that makes food so tasty to the little beasts. The raw burger gives them the nutrients they need and that their body will use, so no junk food waste to pack on around the waist.

I've been counting calories. It is a lot of work at first, but once in the habit, it works.

Then I can say "do I want this slice of cake or this candy bar? I can't have both . . ."

Then, too, I see my trends, when I tend to eat more, etc. So on movie nights, I eat less during the day so I can have guilt free popcorn.

It is all about choices . . . and after keeping track for more than 6 months, I start realizing that some things just aren't worth eating.

This is a great idea for a thread!

The weight loss thing is tough at first, but if you get yourself motivated to start, it gets easier. It's more about changing your relationship with food than it is dieting, for me. I lost something like 45 lbs this year and have barely felt like I am even watching my diet much anymore. I just manage to surround myself with only foods that will make me feel good. I have found that after eliminating some things like pop and candy that when I do have them around, I am thinking more about how I would feel after I consumed them, rather than how it tastes/feels during consumption. My husband is a big help and he has been trying to get me to start doing some more active things with him, which is somewhat more difficult than managing the food part of it.

I went from 174 in January to 128 right now. I still kind of lose a little bit every week or so. It has just been a change in mindset and attitude about food. The cool thing is, we never go out and buy diet foods or pills or anything. We just work with what we find in the grocery store. Tonight we had chicken breasts with apple stuffing and green beans for dinner. It was satisfying and I even had a little pumpkin spice muffin my little boy made. Its all about making it a positive thing for you and your body, IMO.

As for a goal, I don't think I have one quite yet...most of mine are so short term that by the time I get a picture out it will be irrelevant, I guess. Maybe I should make a goal to get going with painting again. hmm...

:notworthy

My goal is to stop drinking so much just because I can. I drink most nights, and I know it's a crutch for me, so I've got to find the willpower to go it alone so to speak.

My other goal is to try and go for the day today without eating chocolate!

I certainly don't want to put you under pressure, SG, and I do totally understand about the "depression card". Perhaps you could weigh up which mornings are "sit and read" and which feel like "brisk walk"? After all, a little change, walking now and again, would be a step in the right direction (pun intended), and may lead to more ...
My morning walks fell by the wayside under the combined onslaught of a heavy cold and constant rain (either one I would have continued walking, but both together seemed foolhardy) and then an unexpected trip away for family reasons. I'll continue the walks tomorrow.

So I have taken a first step - I bought myself some exercise equipment. Something that I can't fail at and I think will be really fun. I have printed off exercises to do with my new equipment that will help tone and strengthen. What is it you ask? None other than a JUMP ROPE!! I am so excited. I can watch TV and jump around a whole bunch. From what I have seen online - you do an exercise 30 secs to 1 minute and start at 10 minutes total. You move up to 20, 30, and I guess however long you want to do it. Probably by that time, you will be able to supplement with walking or running or some other exercising.

Why something so simple you ask? because I seem to always set myself up for disappointment and try and reach a goal too high. Now I am starting nice and low. From here, Pilates, from there, walking\running, from there, who knows maybe even the gym!!

Sounds good bbro! Watch out for the light fittings!

Ha! I was hitting things yesterday. I think I need to shorten the length or I am going to take out my poor old stereo!

YEAH for you bbro!!! Even the great wall of China had a first brick. Before you know it, you'll be posting your ass on the internet...