Health & Fitness

Thank you Gath for organising our Health and Fitness page to share.
All your work is much appreciated.
We are off to a flying start on our New Year Health, Fitness and Weightloss Program.
Welcome to all those who would like to participate and to all thsoe adding support or ideas to help.
CHEERS
WATER OF COURSE

Jan 9 - While I am not a supporting member, I have been checking all your pages to see your results! I am so thankful to Gath for putting up this page for everyone. To date I have lost 47 pounds. I started almost 3 years ago and lost about 30 pounds in the first 8 months. Then I hit a plateau for about 2 years (not so great) and now I am serious about hitting my goal weight. My total weight loss that I was striving for was 51 pounds. That would put me at what I weighed when I left college. 3 weeks ago, I hit a mini goal and I now weigh less than I did before I started having babies. I find it easier to have one big goal and several mini goals inbetween. Your big goal does not have to be a certain weight...it could be fitting into a certain size jeans or even just getting healthy! My next goal is to hit my goal weight and maintain it for one month. Doesn't sound like a very long term thing, until you hear my next goal....QUITTING SMOKING! I promised myself and my kids that I would quit and I am going to try as hard as I can to make that happen while not gaining any of the weight back. Good luck to everyone in your quest to living healthier. I will be checking back in from time to time to cheer you on!!

Angie
great effort, and I am sure now with all this support here you will meet those goals. The plateaus are the hard part and we need lots of strength to push through them.
you dont have to be an SM to use the site or this page so make sure you join us here often.
the quit smoking effort .... we will be here for you then too ... cos maybe just maybe others may need help to do that too.
thinking,thinking...wonder who??

Thanks Gath for this page and thanks to Rosemary for not only requesting this page but for getting us all off to a healthier 2007 and behond.

After I buy a new set of scales - I will update this Friday on my last week's efforts.

Cheer
(WITH WATER OF COURSE)

Col

Gath you are our hero in many ways. Thank you so much. This is a great way to meet and greet everyone trying so hard to make life a little better. Rosemary, I smell the smoke burning as your mind is turning around to deal with those who may have different goals which will make life better. You will find a way. You are one thoughtful and accommodating lady who not only thinks of others, but goes the extra mile to help organize helpful forums, and then quietly encourages and supports the efforts made by the folks.You too are a hero in many ways...I thank you. To find the other heroes you all must look in the mirror,face high is good, that face looking back at you is really a hero because it takes courage to go public with words and pictures that reveal shortcomings when you could remain quietly in the background. Thanks for your thoughtful support and strength! We can do this because we are together! Peace,strength and loads of water!

Gath, thanks for giving us the opportunity. My advice is simple - For everybody - don't smoke.
For men - have your PSA (Prostate Specific Antigens) checked regularly.
I speak from experience.

Well done Ian
this page is for all sorts of healthy tips and support. wise words indeed.
Mama
you brought tears. thank you for your kind words.
Col
we are all helping each other and hope your new scales are kinder to you than mine were.
cheers
water of course

Well, I'm going backwards! Stepped on the scales today to find a couple of extra kilos got on with me! And though I was no saint over Christmas, nor was I anywhere near as bad as other years!! I'll console myself with - it could have been worse

The ‘Experts’ say for a Healthy Life:
Eat Right: Make sure you get your daily dose of fruits and veggies.
Get plenty of exercise: Walk for at least an hour a day, go for a swim, take the stairs instead of the elevator, etc
Get lots of fresh air: Open doors & windows whenever possible
Try to eliminate as much stress from your life as you can.
Get plenty of rest.

So here's how you do it -

Walk to the liquor store. (exercise)
Put lime in your Corona ..(fruit)
Celery in your Bloody Mary (veggies)
Drink outdoors on the patio..(fresh air)
Tell jokes, laugh....(eliminate stress)
Then pass out. (rest)

Seriously, All the very best to you all on your Healthy Living journey. You have MY support, Well Done!

Live Well - Laugh Often - Love Much

Tonight there was an article on Margarines and Butters on the show 'Today Tonight'. The information and findings can be found at
yahoo7.com.au/todaytonight.

Some interesting findings, although I'm unsure what brands can and can not be found outside Austalia.

The things that happen whilst I sleep.
Thank you Gath for this page, thank you Rosemary for organising it and thank you for supporting me and everyone else. I am receiving such support, from so many on this site and I will try not to let you down.
Did you realise, Gath, just what you had started?
Off for my first walk of today
today, everyone

To all you wonderful ladies and gentlemen on this programme - have strength, courage, faith and above all, a sense of humour - all of us 'watching' from the sidelines are barracking for you with the hugest 'WOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOO's' at every kg/lb you drop. xxx

Angie/Wisc I started smoking in April last yr after NOT smoking for 23 yrs! Yes, I have rocks in my head. However, I have just given up...so good luck sweetheart with your goal.

Billy
that is a big WOOOOOOOOO HOOOOOOOOOOOO to you to ...just need to convince some others that they can give them up.

Billy I'm with you on the smoking- you mean no more little trips to your garden!

Giving up smoking was probably the most difficult thing I have ever done, but ohmigosh it was worth it.
Twenty years ago I was in a high stress job, entertaining and being entertained every day, no exercise and smoking my head off - a heart attack waiting for somewhere to happen. Guess what, I had my heart attack, fortunately not in an aircraft mid-way over the Pacific Ocean, but it finished my flying career - and my air force career. PLEASE learn from my mistakes.

Jan 10 8:30 CST (Jan 11th for most of you)
I started smoking when I was 19 (11 years ago, yeah I'm one of the young pups on this site). I quit when I got pregnant with my first at age 21. Stayed quit until she was over a year old (breastfeeding helped me stay quit during that time), then went back to it. When I got pregnant with my second, I quit again. Managed to stay quit until my third was born. When he was about 8 months old is when my (now ex) husband left us and guess what....yep, I started up again. It was shortly after that that I decided to lose all the baby weight from having my last 2 children only 14 months apart. Now my quitting smoking goal is completely for me. Funny that it was sooo much easier to make myself quit when pregnant.

4 months ago I decided to weigh myself on a daily basis. I find it much easier to lose/maitain if I weigh often instead of once a week. Seems like I was always gaining or staying the same when I weighed in only once a week. Now with the daily reminder, the weight is slowly coming off. I keep a notebook by the scale so that I can chart where I'm at and where I've been. Many, many days I find myself looking at no loss or even a small gain. It's the losses that make it all worth it. I come from a very large family, not just in amount of people (over 70 family members), but in weight too. The heaviest in my family weighs over 600 pounds. Keep at it everyone!! If I can lose weight anyone can! Thanks to everyone for all the kind words and encouragment! If we stick together we can accomplish anything!

And 1 final note. Everyone has something that they like to eat that they shouldn't. My biggest downfall is cookies. I tried to just keep them out of the house, but that didn't work. I just wanted them more than ever and soon began sneaking a whole bag at a time. My solution was easy. I now only buy the already made cookie dough that is pre-cut and only bake 4 at time. One for me and one for each of my kids!

My wife and I started the South Beach Diet at the beginning of December. She is down about 15 pounds and I am down about 18 pounds. I will post our progress once in a while!

This is a fairly easy diet to maintain for us. My cardiologist is the one who insisted that I give it a try and it is really a different way of looking at foods for life. We no longer eat potatoes, sugar, or white flour. Whole grains and lean proteins for us! Complex carbs!

And now for some practical advice
Look up 'Smokenders' on Google. It is a wonderfully helpful program www.smokenders.com (add.au in Oz)
It treats smoking as a complex psychological, physiological and sociological problem - which it is - and HELPS you to break the habit (without gaining weight).
Good luck.
I hope I haven't offended anybody by offering gratuitous advice on what is a fairly personal problem, but I care.
Also, I have no personal or financial involvement in the company. It is just that it helped me out of a hole and I want to share my good fortune.
End of sermon.

Angie, you know my smoking story,but for others, I will briefly state that I smoked for over 30 years, ending up with COPD, which is a combination of my asthma and emphysema. It became so bad, I couln't walk from couch to chair in my livingroom without being out of breath, wheezing, etc. Fortunantely , I had a great pulmonary specialist who recommended I have an experimental surgery, which in my case was successful and today I am able to lead a fairly normal life. I was lucky, others aren't. I second Ian's wish to see others not go through what we did. Before I stoped, I tried everything available including hypnosis to no avail...I stopped only when I really made up my mind to do so. Today much help is available and when any one is ready to stop and is looking for support, please call me, and I'll be there for you! Peace

Gath: Smooches to you, this is great! I have been able to increase my steps everyday and that is my goal right now, have also been good with the smaller portions and drinking the water (but then that was never a problem for me as that is all I drink at work)

My short term goal is to increase my steps everyday, even if only by 5, and eat healthier. Hopefully in the long run that will mean weight loss and a better life, cheers, water of course

10,981 steps today meaning I have walked abour 51/2 miles. Dog is exhausted, so am I and I am playing golf tomorrow.
Another glass of water and I'm off to bed
Hope everyone else is doing well

Good Morning All ... evening for some
this is fantastic and I hope everyone is getting something out of this special page for us to share.
we can support each other through anything on this page or site in general. the power of positive thinking and weight 'no pun intended' of numbers to succeed.
If you are struggling just mention it here and the words of support will help lift you through your dark times or maybe suggest the course of action you need to pursue. Or if you prefer just go to one of the personal pages for an individual exchange or chat.
cheers to you all
water of course

ganniemo
way to go, what a great day you have had, enjoy your rest and golf tomorrow.
does the dog get a rest tomorrow?

Thank you Rosemary I have a new motto actually a play on your words
'Weight U Go'
Shall we form a Weight U Go Group? What do you think?

Ian - I'm sure no-one would be offended by your comment. I had convinced myself that 'social' smoking was ok, however, that theory is apparently flawed, ANY smoking from 1 a day to 40 is a no no...

The most successful weight loss programme I embarked on 2 years ago was when I left my husband. I would not recommend this method as it has severe drawbacks...starting up smoking, refusal to have anything to do with cooking (actually this could be seen as a plus), looking haggard and smelling pretty awful.... the latter two were more than likely linked to the ciggies...

Fantastic day GannieMo! LK, I like your thinking about a little dab will do ya at a time, Keep it up. Today was a body rest from the gym for me but I stuck with the water and food portions too. I won't get to the gym tomorrow either, so I'll be hanging out in the gym Fri and Sat. Only good thing about that is that a lot of hunks workout then, so my eyes will also be working out.lol

Keep on chugging, folks! But I do have one concern ... while you are dropping the pounds and building the muscle, some of you are KILLING your dogs!!! ROTFL

My pedometer only says 3667, but I know that I walked 2 miles today.
Hang in there with quitting smoking, guys. My Mom quit in 1993 after about 50 years. Too little, too late. She passed in 2000. My Aunt quit at the same time, and she is a hale and hearty 75 yo now. Dances, does yard work, golfs, has fun with her grands.
Billy, I know tht your solution would help me, too, but I feel an obligation to my son to stay until he graduates...long story, but trust me, for the best.

Sarah Beth, I know exactly how you feel, I lost my mom in 2002 from the effects of smoking. The only positive effect it has had is that my kids watched her deteriorate and will not touch a cigarette.

I am getting very frustrated with my pedometer, it has fallen off a lot today, and then it resets itself. It was a freebie with the scale I bought, may have to invest in a good one, but I did take the dog for a walk when I got home and will just estimate my steps, I do know that I did more today than yesterday, so I am on the right track.

I know that I'm prone to adictions. When I was a young adult, I didn't see the problem. Now that the health issues with various adictions have caught up with me, I'm battling them seriously. My personal experience is that programs and aids weren't effective. I could only be successful when I had 100% commitment. 99% never worked for me. Cutting back never worked for me. I know everyone's different and what works for one doesn't for another. I hope you all find what works for you. Currently, I'm battling the weight. 100% isn't an option (you can't quit eating), that's why it is being so tough. I have high hopes that the support of all you wonderful folks is going to make the difference for me. Thank you all.

Keith, you have a lot of friends out here who understand your problem. Stick with it. I do hope that our support will help you to achieve your aims. Good luck mate.

Well I'm back from the gym, which was sort of airconditioned - best if your machine was directly under a big powerful fan - and I did well at the weights and tummy excercises but wimped out when it came to cardio, only did 2 x 5 mins. The gym has just changed hands and has reopened after a 2 month layoff for renovations, which meant a 2 mth layoff for me too - so you see I'm good at thepath of least resistance! This page will be good for me, so thanks rosemary.

I don;t smoke, never have (except for 2 weeks when I was at uni), I'm addicted to yummy creamy food(or fried stuff like potato cakes) ... and eating too much! Your stories here about smoking leave me very relieved not to have that issue as well!

Angie From Wisconsin~ I hear YA! I quit smoking on July 7th, haven't touched one since. AND~ I agree with Keith/CA, about the ATTEMPTS and 100%, I've foiled other attempts. It isn't until you are committed and in the right place,(in your mind).
Angie, about your plateau that you reached. There are 2 things I thought of in reading your comment, Neither are meant to offend~
FIRST~ my doctor told me that I wasn't serious about getting healthy, if I wasn't serious about quitting smoking. If I didn't stop, I wasn't ready, period. (He's a great doctor, who hasn't just followed generic medicine/study- not that there is nothing in that, either, however it helps that he looks at aspects that most doctors never see, if its not on ''some test''. ANYWAY~
SECOND~ If you do PLATEAU, it's likely your routine could use some MUSCLE building. Weight lifting might be in the course for you coming up, if it isn't already.
I'm excited for you, as others' on here, and I look forward to starting my CHANGE soon.
I'm rooooting you ON!

CP From Canberra~ I have a thought to share, it came to mind as I read your comment.
This comes from my Doctor, again. Basically, he told me, that it is not important to look at your weight OFTEN, DAILY, or if it GOES UP. Because your body is adjusting, and the outcome of better eating, excersising, will eventually lead you to the fitness you desire. Keep in mind, we deal with hormones, body cycles, bloating and such, that can tip the scale here or there, one way or the other~ ON ANY GIVEN DAY
I say this, in hopes that it may encourage you, to not look at a gain in weight as an adverse affect of your CHANGE, infact, it is usually normal, especially if your body IS building muscle. SO, Keep that CHIN UP!!!! You're doing AWESOME!
I'm Rooooooooting for ya!

Gath~ ALONG WITH EVERYONE ELSE, Thanks! I'm grateful as well, for your time/effort and willingness to provide personal means for all of us USERS
KEITH/CA~ I also wanted to say, I hear ya on the addiction thing. If there is a tendency for addiction, it will travel. I'm rooooting for you on the weight loss, and I KNOW you can do it!

Thanks to everyone for the ENCOURAGEMENT

Rosemary, it is awesome the way you kept up on all of us and this page, I'm in total agreement with MAMA!
MAMA~ I'm glad that surgery worked for your benefit, it would be hard to picture you, lifeless and stuck in a wheelchair or worse.
LK~ Also, I'm glad that your kids had that kind of experience, for the reason you stated. It isn't always often that anyone learns through someone elses experience to that extreme, and sometimes even when we do, we still make our choices. Glad to read what you shared.

I'm very excited about this page, and all of the support. This should be it from me tonight, as if it's not enough~ See you all around
I'm rooooooooting for US!