Hello, everyone. I’ve been listening to the podcast for a couple of weeks. I’m no stranger to podcasts, but I sampled a few regarding fitness and I do enjoy this one. I’m just about a year into my journey as far as getting regular, ‘serious’ exercise for the first time in my adult life, and I started counting calories to lose weight about Labor Day of 2006. It’s been a slow process of change. I’m close to 70 pounds lost now, with about another 25 to go to my goal. And I feel I have more muscle than I’ve ever had before.

One thing I’ve noticed about my exercise classes. There are women of all shapes and sizes there, and a pretty wide age range. After about 11 months of going, I see trends. Most women don’t seem to be changing their size. Either they’re in great shape and maintaining, or they’re bigger and staying roughly the same size despite the workouts. I’m one of the few who has achieved pretty dramatic improvement.

Scott’s podcasts are reinforcing what I’ve already come to realize—there’s just no room to rest on one’s laurels and give in to the “but you look great now” feedback from friends.  I’m still not within the recommended weight range for my short height, and that’s what I’m shooting for.  I am at the point where I have to really step it up to continue my progress. Heavier hand-weights, a heart rate monitor, extra treadmill time. I was on a long plateau and am finally moving forward again.  I believe I’ll get where I’m headed. Just wanted to write that part down.

Peace and joy,

Ann in Jacksonville, FL

Welcome, Ann! You’ve had amazing success, and have a great attitude! Love the observations at the gym. I look forward to following your progress.

Bree

Congratulations on your success, Ann!

I hope you will join us in the 100 Days Of Exercise challenge here on the MTM forum. It’s a phenomenal community, I hope you stick around!

Hi Ann,

Welcome to the forum.

kilroyscarnival - 10 December 2007 11:54 PM

One thing I’ve noticed about my exercise classes. There are women of all shapes and sizes there, and a pretty wide age range. After about 11 months of going, I see trends. Most women don’t seem to be changing their size. Either they’re in great shape and maintaining, or they’re bigger and staying roughly the same size despite the workouts. I’m one of the few who has achieved pretty dramatic improvement.

Scott’s podcasts are reinforcing what I’ve already come to realize—there’s just no room to rest on one’s laurels and give in to the “but you look great now” feedback from friends.  I’m still not within the recommended weight range for my short height, and that’s what I’m shooting for.  I am at the point where I have to really step it up to continue my progress. Heavier hand-weights, a heart rate monitor, extra treadmill time. I was on a long plateau and am finally moving forward again.  I believe I’ll get where I’m headed. Just wanted to write that part down.

Peace and joy,

Ann in Jacksonville, FL

Hi Ann! Welcome to MTM! Congrats on your weight loss so far! I have to say that I’ve seen the same pattern at my gym. I see the same faces daily and yet the only one that has improved greatly (appearance-wise) is me. It makes me wonder if they’re hitting the drive-thu when they leave the gym. It just doesn’t make any sense. How can you work out every single day and not look better after 11 months? It’s easy. Be more badder than gooder when you leave the gym. It’s not hard to cancel out all the hard work with poor portion control. You are doing great. I’m sure you’ll shed the last 25 pounds before you know it. I look forward to reading more about you. See you in the forums!

Thanks to all of you for the welcome.

I hope I didn’t come off as judging anyone else, with regard to the people I work out with. In the beginning I was just relieved when I wasn’t the biggest, least-coordinated, or least limber person in the class. But I noticed that at Jazzercise, much like at work, people comment about how much I’ve changed. I notice that I attend more regularly than a lot of people, I’ve upped my hand weights gradually, and so forth. I also take into consideration that I’m not married and I don’t have children. I can only imagine how much harder it is to manage food intake when feeding a husband and children who might expect heavier meals. Mind you, I’d rather have a social life, but eating alone does make things simpler.

I’ve checked out some of the 100 Days of Exercise threads. I am working out what I want my new exercise schedule to be, so maybe I’ll participate. Thanks!

Hi Ann
Its just a fact of life that exercise as a weight-loss strategy is pretty weak on its own..But exercise on its own has been proven time and time again to be effective as fitness is the key health indicator, not weight., professor steve blair from the university of South Carolina did a huge well controlled study of the effect of exercise in heavy to very heavy post menopausal women.

http://www.abc.net.au/rn/healthreport/stories/2007/2085642.htm

I had this as a podcast and it really changed my world view.  Health and vitality really does come in all shapes and sizes.  If you want to reduce body fat exercise will not work.  Increase your general activity level, reduce portion sizes, aadd exercise if you want the health benefit.  Thats a huge benefit by the way.
The ladies in your groups might be big but they may also be far healthier than a skinny 40 something lady in their street who smokes a pack a day and lives on coffee and dry crackers.

Other interesting podcasts from The Health Report
Self esteem can make the hill you are about to climb seem steeper

http://www.abc.net.au/rn/healthreport/stories/2007/2092841.htm

and The obesity epidemic and the problem with Fructose.  Food manufacturing has a lot to answer for..
http://www.abc.net.au/rn/healthreport/stories/2007/2104024.htm#transcript

Ann, you are already well on your way!  Hope you have a great day!  Hope you are feeling great!
Jane

Cool links, thanks Jane!

Ann, judgmental never entered my mind. I really like the observation, it shows that some people do put in effort, but get no results, and then I’m sure they wonder why. You’re proof that upping the difficulty and managing your diet makes all that time and energy pay off! Simple, but not easy.

Bree

Sounds like you’ve done a great job!  I think I’d have been one of the people who didnt’ change, because of a lack of commitment.  Inconsistent effort and sabotaging success with a poor diet makes real change hard.  And I found it easy to do just enough to make the guilt go away, but not enough to improve my condition.  I’m guessing the same is true for many in your class.