Deb, see the attachment for the good luck that’s wished for you.

It was cooler today here too and it feels like fall. I don’t want it to come too fast because I have so much yard work left to do--but it is invigorating. I was listening to Scott as I weeded.

Deb - it is a great thing that we can be so open and honest here. I think we should organize a group hug.

I was listening to Scott tonight after my swim practice on the way home in the car and he mentioned how hard it is to be overweight - we are constantly being knocked down - sometimes by others but constantly by ourselves. I can identify with that. I still am not happy with my body, and I have a long way to go still. So much of my success has to do with my support network - here in MTM but also people I know in person. I think this summer has been a bit tougher for me since I do not have regular contact with my best cheerleaders at school.

If you remember from some of my initial posts on my thread I really struggled emotionally when my mom was making great progress while I had gained several more pounds the year I was in school. I was so aweful to her - I felt so bad about myself I told her to stop telling her how many pounds she lost each week. But it did help encourage me to start moving. And now the tables have turned. My mom’s progress has slowed (I think she regained some back over the winter). I have been encouraging her to get walking again and she is doing better, but she has remained positive toward my progress the whole time. I love her for that. We have different ideas about diet, but we agree that exercise is a must. (Mine is just more involved than hers so I am seeing more changes in body shape rather than mostly changes in the legs.)

Do you have some people who are good cheerleaders for you? How is you husband doing?

It seems to me you are working out mostly independently at home. Sometimes I’ll do a yoga or stretching session at home alone and my gym workouts are done independently, but occasionally I like to join group class for some external motivation. That is why I joined the swim team for the summer and I’ve done a few of the classes at my gym. I also benefit tremendously from working with my trainer - but I can only afford to do that once in a while too. He is good about not pressuring me to come more often. With him monitoring my progress I feel really guilty when I slack off (like I did this week - but I had another important priority).

Would you consider looking for a workout partner? Not for all your workouts but maybe just once a week or something. It would mean not having the convenience of staying home but getting out of the house could be a very good thing. I have seen people advertise for workout partners on Craigs list (do you have that where you are?).

Ok that turned out to be a bit longer than I had planned. I just want to encourage you to find something that works for you. Cooler weather is coming so hopefully it will get a bit easier to get a sweat on!!

Thanks for the good luck clover Joan!

And Thanks for your input Catherine! I have no real cheerleaders, just MTM. Randy isn’t doing anything, and I think he’s happy I’ve been eating more like I used to. Tonight for supper he made pancakes...sigh...I’ve been trying to wean myself off wheat again, so I can feel better for Monday, and that’s not helping. I’m sure a workout partner isn’t for me - it sounds way too stressful...and getting out of the house is not something I feel any real need to do, especially with winter coming on!

From your post it sounds like a work out partner is something you really could use. There’s a line somewhere about “Thou does protest too much.” The problem is that I don’t know where you’d find one. Yesterday I planned on being on the treadmill for 15 to 20 minutes. I ended up being there for 30 minutes because I ended up talking to the woman on the treadmill next to me. She’s 81! Having someone pleasant to talk to wasn’t stressful at all. She distracted me from the boredom of the treadmill.

Although winter is coming, that’s not what’s coming next. Autumn is coming. This is a great time of the year to get outside!

I wish I were there to cook wheat-free food for you. . . . Can you cook a separate meal for yourself?? I like pancakes but I eat them rarely because I don’t feel good after I eat them. Too many carbs and sugar. . . .

Woman .. if I lived anywhere near you I drive over myself and have you teach me how to do those kettlebells!!  I was thinking of making a trip to Montreal earlier this year that fell though so I don’t get to meet up with Shawn for him to show me.  I’ve never been to Superior WI.. maybe I should plan a trip there in the near future.  (Actually I dont’ really have a good idea of where that even is in the States.. time to got out my atlas)

Deb just keep moving.  Go at a pace that is comfortable and maybe hold back on the intensity so that your body has time to heal… but just keep moving.

Hugs
Catherine

Deb, use the winter to your advantage and take that adorable grandson of yours out to make snowmen! Talk about a workout partner!!!

Bree

A perfect example Joan! Shakespeare said that in Hamlet (gotta love google!). IF, and that is a big if, I was at the gym, on the treadmill, and a sweet lady got on the next treadmill, I would smile and say hi, no problem. If she threatened to say more than that, I would be out of there so fast, you wouldn’t know what happened! I think it’s hard for a social person to understand that kind of terror - and stress.  Can’t really cook a separate meal, that gets into the realm of hurt feelings that tend to linger.

Don’t really know that I could show you how to do kettlebells, Catherine. I just learned them from you tube!  Superior is the very western tip of Lake Superior. I’m going to try very hard to get moving again, and stay that way. After two and a half years, you’d think it would be a habit by now…

Snowmen don’t sound too bad Bree, at least I’d get to stay in my own yard! 

Deb, thanks for finding the quote for me. After all the Shakespeare I’ve read and seen, I can’t pinpoint where much of anything comes.

I think we humans are all much more of a mixed bag than any of us usually thinks about. When I was a little child, I worried my mother because I would talk to anyone. As an adult, I will still talk to anyone. If I were on a treadmill next to you and you said to me “Hi, how are you doing?” you could be relieved of the responsibility of saying anything else for the next ten minutes! No one has ever accused me of not finding something to talk about! Now whether they want to listen or not is another story.

On the other hand, I can remember going to a fraternity dinner with the person who ended up being my husband and when I found out we had to sit at a head table, I was extremely nervous. So nervous (I don’t mean to be offensive) that my dinner went right through me and I had to run to the bathroom. Even now many social situations have my stomach in knots.

So “social” depends on the circumstances. (And I realize that I’m not walking in your shoes.) But on the treadmill no one is looking at you. You’re all basically looking forward.

I guess part of what I’m trying to say is that when exercising the attention is on the exercising and not on the conversation. No one is expected to say anything brilliant.

And I know you’re not in a gym so you don’t have company! So it’s a moot point.

Good luck again

Deb - 29 August 2008 02:25 PM

Can’t really cook a separate meal, that gets into the realm of hurt feelings that tend to linger.

What about the hurt feelings of not supporting you? Frankly, he’ll get over it. And it may even lead to healthier eating on Randy’s part. You’ve come too far to go back just because your husband wants pancakes for supper. Keep a few lean cuisines on hand for those unhealthy meals, focus on the togetherness and the conversation, not on the different food choices. He will understand.

Bree

Month 9 Day 1 SMSM Day 1

30 minutes treadmill
30 minutes kettlebells

That’s it for today. I did my first snatch today; 5 on each side, not pretty, but done. Overall: mission accomplished.

Good Job Deb.  We all know you can do this.  We are here for the long haul!

Month 9 Day 2 SMSM Day 2

35 minutes treadmill

30 minutes yoga

Thanks for the vote of confidence Catherine; it’s much appreciated.

I was going to start back on the Bowflex today. I think kettlebells work my arms and shoulders pretty good, and my legs are sore from both kettlebells and walking, but I’m not sure about my chest and back. So I was thinking about doing that on the Bowflex a couple days a week. But, whew, I’m sore all over from getting back at it, and quite stiff at my yoga today. So I think maybe I’ll wait until next week to add back the Bowflex. It’s sad how quickly you can lose 2 years of strength training and flexibility results.

I’m interested in this kettlebell workout - anyone have recommendations as for where a noob would start something like that?

I can only tell you where I got my start - probably not typical… I watched tons of You Tube videos, there are lots with basic instructions. I also was inspired by Tracy Reifkind, she lost 100 pounds with kettlebells. You can go here: http://giryastrength.com/pdf/Vitalics.pdf to read about her story and her workout. And you can go here: http://tracyrif.blogspot.com/ to read her blog. Her husband’s blog is also very inspiring, here: http://rifsblog.blogspot.com/ DragonDoor also has lots of instuctional articles here: http://www.dragondoor.com/ Google is your friend!  That’s how I did it. But, I’m sure most people would tell you to take a class or hire a trainer to learn. Depends on what kind of learner you are I guess…

Deb, it’s great to read that you can say “mission accomplished.” That reminds me of Paula who has used that phrase too. I bet you will regain strength and flexibility a lot faster than it took you to get them to begin with!

Sorry if I scared you the other day. . . . I didn’t mean to.

Day of Rest

I didn’t really plan on resting on Wednesdays, but my body definitely needs a rest today. Tomorrow will be key; it has been hard to keep going all week lately…

No worries Joan

Hey Deb....I just wanted to say hi. I can’t believe the time is going by so fast. I’ve had a busy and enjoyable summer, hope yours has been the same, enjoying that grandson of yours. He must be getting big. The winter will be upon us before we know it. Yours sooner than mine. Have a great day and keep on moving girl, you are a success in no uncertain terms.

((HUGS)) Denise

Good luck tomorrow, Deb.

OK, really, it wasn’t my fault this time… I woke up ready and willing to hop on the treadmill, then I moved my head and wondered why the room was spinning...so dizzy this morning. I’m a bit better now, if I don’t move my eyes or head that is…

Thanks for the good thoughts Joan and Denise, and thanks for Betty! Very cool pic, all glittery!

ohh - Dizzy on waking up - not fun.  Take it easy for a bit, drink some water and see how you feel later in the day.  If you feel up to it go for a walk then.