Time to shape up!

[Ewe]

Originally Posted by angiebaby

I just started one of those 2 a day shake diets two weeks ago. I'm down 5 pounds. I know this is not the ideal way to lose weight, but I broke my leg the weekend before and I am pretty immobile, except for building my shoulders and triceps! 5 pounds without going to the gym is pretty good. I'm hoping for another 5 before I see my husband in 10 days. He works/lives in Reno while I'm in SoCal waiting for our ranch to sell. So we are going to rendezvous in Moab for Easter Jeep Safari. It would be great to be 10 pounds smaller than last time he saw me

Can't wait to get back on the bike and jogging/hiking in a few weeks. I'm going stir crazy!

Boo for broken bones! I am totally and utterly hoping you heal well, totally and soon. Welcome to the forty-two club! lol

The two-shake-a-day plan DOES work, and I believe you are doing it 'right'. You know it's not a lifestyle change per se, it's just a useful tool while you're where you're at right now. Some folk fall upon the program like it's the ONLY WAY TO LIVE IN THE WORLD and then get sad when their weight rebounds as they start eating the way they used to before the shakes. I'm not seeing that for you. I see you as someone who looks at this as a temporary situation for a temporary situation.

The only thing with the shakes is that you can sometimes feel gross after drinking them after a while. They can also bring on taste fatigue.
We have a tub of powder with a lot of protein in it, but not a lot of fat. I usually can't eat in the morning. We generally drink breakfast instead. We've settled on a cookies-n-creme flavour that we both like, but even so sometimes we go -meh- and eat a muffin and/or piece of fruit instead.

Again, here's hoping that you heal up nicely and soon, because broken bones SUCK. ^^

[mmamom]

I am soon to be 61. I weigh 200 lbs and get winded carrying in the groceries. I have been lurking here, think I may have even posted once, but that is it. I will soon head to work for the 2nd 12hr shift in a series of 6. Just thinking about exercising makes me want to go to bed. But, if the ER is slow tonight, I am going to spend some time on the treadmill. I have to start NOW!!! I will report success or failure in the AM.

[Paravani]

I am 51 years old, 5'11", and I weigh about 260 pounds. I've actually lost about ten pounds in the last month on the Atkins diet plan, but I have about 100 pounds still to go.

I'm not used to being fat. I gained 80 pounds in the last three years after I quit smoking. I inherited weak knees and osteo-arthritis, and being fat kicked those genes into high gear -- so I'm now getting around in a wheelchair most of the time, anytime I leave the house.

So exercising on a treadmill, stationary bike, etc. is completely out. I might try a rowing machine, as soon as the tendons in my right wrist heal from whatever I did carrying in the groceries the other day...

Those people who invented the idea of the "jolly fat" person have obviously never been fat. It's miserable, and more painful than I ever would have imagined. My whole body hurts from having too much fat to move properly...

I used to be so flexible I could sit Indian-style with my forehead resting on my heels! Now I'm lucky if I can reach my feet to put on my socks.

Okay, done griping. I don't usually gripe online -- I try to stay upbeat -- but this seemed like a "true confessions" thread, and my friends here are very supportive even when I bare all.

So if you're 61 and you get "winded" taking in the groceries... be grateful you can still walk and lift the groceries!

And yes, exercise and diet while you still can! It's darned difficult to exercise once you get stuck in a wheelchair like I am.

I did get some great exercise yesterday, chair and all.

To explain -- first thing I did when we got the chair last month was, I took off the foot rests. Just because I can't put weight on my knees is no reason to let anyone push me around everywhere -- I push myself with my own feet whenever and wherever I can, and only ask my husband and brother for help when I really need it.

Anyway, yesterday I went to the big plant nursery out in the country here to buy some primroses, berries, and a tree to replace the one my brother accidentally cut down. The nursery is some 40 acres on a gently-sloping piece of land, so I parked at the top of the slope where the trees and roses are kept, and we started there.

I got a LOT of exercise! I still had to push myself a little bit uphill to the roses and berries... across the slope looking for the tree... and then I had to push against the downhill slope to stop myself from going too fast. The exact type of tree we needed was across from the greenhouses, in the wooded area with paths that went up, and down, and up... and then back to the greenhouses for the primroses, which were at the very lowest point in the nursery. By then my legs were getting pretty tired! -- but I still had to go up, up, up the hill to the potted tulips, the gladiolus corms, and finally to my car (which as you recall was parked nearest the highest point). My brother couldn't help me because he had to pull the cart with all our purchases... and my knees were so tired afterwards that I was afraid they'd be stiff as concrete this morning.

I'm happy to report that they were fine when I woke up. If anything, they feel better after all that exercise... so I'm determined to work them some more today, even if all I do is wheel myself up and down the sloped streets in our neighborhood.

-- Paravani

[CCmama]

Good for you on making the best of your wheelchair situation. Hopefully you will be able to lose enough weight to regain your feet.
I am all in on this thread as well. I need to lose 100 pounds. I am 5'9" and 286 pounds. Yikes! Gained weight like a crazy person after three back surgeries and having to learn to walk again. Not good for my back and have just started WW using the point system. I am blessed to still be able to do most everything I need to do while still on my feet but I can't imagine the strain it must put on my heart to be carrying all this extra weight. I am 56 years old and am glad we are living in our BOL. Moved here one year ago and still have some important things to do to be more comfortable with replenishing food supplies for TSHTF. The gardening is going to be the hardest for me to start this summer as I usually get hit with severe leg spasms from nerve damage when I get down on my knees. I look forward to the support and supporting others. If anyone else is dealing with nerve damage and exercise ideas I am very open to input. Thanks ladies. Keep up the great work!

[angiebaby]

Originally Posted by Paravani

I am 51 years old, 5'11", and I weigh about 260 pounds. I've actually lost about ten pounds in the last month on the Atkins diet plan, but I have about 100 pounds still to go.

I'm not used to being fat. I gained 80 pounds in the last three years after I quit smoking. I inherited weak knees and osteo-arthritis, and being fat kicked those genes into high gear -- so I'm now getting around in a wheelchair most of the time, anytime I leave the house.

So exercising on a treadmill, stationary bike, etc. is completely out. I might try a rowing machine, as soon as the tendons in my right wrist heal from whatever I did carrying in the groceries the other day...

Those people who invented the idea of the "jolly fat" person have obviously never been fat. It's miserable, and more painful than I ever would have imagined. My whole body hurts from having too much fat to move properly...

I used to be so flexible I could sit Indian-style with my forehead resting on my heels! Now I'm lucky if I can reach my feet to put on my socks.

Okay, done griping. I don't usually gripe online -- I try to stay upbeat -- but this seemed like a "true confessions" thread, and my friends here are very supportive even when I bare all.

So if you're 61 and you get "winded" taking in the groceries... be grateful you can still walk and lift the groceries!

And yes, exercise and diet while you still can! It's darned difficult to exercise once you get stuck in a wheelchair like I am.

I did get some great exercise yesterday, chair and all.

To explain -- first thing I did when we got the chair last month was, I took off the foot rests. Just because I can't put weight on my knees is no reason to let anyone push me around everywhere -- I push myself with my own feet whenever and wherever I can, and only ask my husband and brother for help when I really need it.

Anyway, yesterday I went to the big plant nursery out in the country here to buy some primroses, berries, and a tree to replace the one my brother accidentally cut down. The nursery is some 40 acres on a gently-sloping piece of land, so I parked at the top of the slope where the trees and roses are kept, and we started there.

I got a LOT of exercise! I still had to push myself a little bit uphill to the roses and berries... across the slope looking for the tree... and then I had to push against the downhill slope to stop myself from going too fast. The exact type of tree we needed was across from the greenhouses, in the wooded area with paths that went up, and down, and up... and then back to the greenhouses for the primroses, which were at the very lowest point in the nursery. By then my legs were getting pretty tired! -- but I still had to go up, up, up the hill to the potted tulips, the gladiolus corms, and finally to my car (which as you recall was parked nearest the highest point). My brother couldn't help me because he had to pull the cart with all our purchases... and my knees were so tired afterwards that I was afraid they'd be stiff as concrete this morning.

I'm happy to report that they were fine when I woke up. If anything, they feel better after all that exercise... so I'm determined to work them some more today, even if all I do is wheel myself up and down the sloped streets in our neighborhood.

-- Paravani

Do you live near a gym with a pool? Many of them have exercise classes. Also, the recumbant bikes put a lot less stress on your knees. You might want to look into one of those. Good luck

Congratulations on quitting smoking!!!

[Paravani]

Originally Posted by CCmama

Good for you on making the best of your wheelchair situation. Hopefully you will be able to lose enough weight to regain your feet.
I am all in on this thread as well. I need to lose 100 pounds. I am 5'9" and 286 pounds. Yikes! Gained weight like a crazy person after three back surgeries and having to learn to walk again. Not good for my back and have just started WW using the point system. I am blessed to still be able to do most everything I need to do while still on my feet but I can't imagine the strain it must put on my heart to be carrying all this extra weight. I am 56 years old and am glad we are living in our BOL. Moved here one year ago and still have some important things to do to be more comfortable with replenishing food supplies for TSHTF. The gardening is going to be the hardest for me to start this summer as I usually get hit with severe leg spasms from nerve damage when I get down on my knees. I look forward to the support and supporting others. If anyone else is dealing with nerve damage and exercise ideas I am very open to input. Thanks ladies. Keep up the great work!

Do NOT kneel to garden if you can help it, and buy a couple of cheap yoga mats at Walmart for those cases when you do need to kneel. Also, wear knee pads -- they help enormously to prevent knee damage. If I'd used them all my life, I might not be suffering as I am now. I'm an avid gardener who spent far too much time on her knees when younger, and I'm paying for it now that I'm older.

Originally Posted by angiebaby

Do you live near a gym with a pool? Many of them have exercise classes. Also, the recumbant bikes put a lot less stress on your knees. You might want to look into one of those. Good luck

Congratulations on quitting smoking!!!

Yeah, congratulations me... I didn't die quickly of smoking-related pneumonia, so now I ge to die slowly of heart attack due to overweight!

Sorry, please forgive me. I have a bad attitude tonight.

Yes, pools are lovely, but the pool is so far away from the door at the local YMCA! We're members, but I just dread swimming in cold weather -- it hurts my ears, and if I get an ear infection I'm in trouble because I don't have health insurance. (I know, Obamacare is supposed to cover everybody; but no one has told any of us exactly how it works, have they?)

I should probably re-apply for Medicare disability. I'm definitely disabled. I don't need the income payment, but I have to figure out how to cover basic health expenses, and without insurance any health care at all is unbelievably expensive.

Tomorrow I'm going to plant some of the things I bought at the nursery, though, and that will be good exercise even if I have to do it from my wheelchair.

-- Paravani

[CCmama]

Thanks for the knee advice. I will go and get some knee pads. Haven't yet figured out how to pick weeds without crawling with the nerve damage I have in my legs.
Okay...exercise for yesterday. Walked around in two huge stores for about three hours then carried in several loads of firewood. It takes me far more trips then DH because I can't lift as much weight as he can in one load.
Did stick to my new way of eating and felt empowered. Lets see how today goes.

[Paravani]

Originally Posted by CCmama

Thanks for the knee advice. I will go and get some knee pads. Haven't yet figured out how to pick weeds without crawling with the nerve damage I have in my legs.
Okay...exercise for yesterday. Walked around in two huge stores for about three hours then carried in several loads of firewood. It takes me far more trips then DH because I can't lift as much weight as he can in one load.
Did stick to my new way of eating and felt empowered. Lets see how today goes.

Yup, eating right feels good! I still get cravings for starches and sugars, but I've learned to satisfy the sugar craving with a can of sweet corn -- not every day -- and the starches will just have to wait.

Last night we feasted on roast beef, mushrooms, and asparagus. The menfolk needed mashed potatoes, too; but I was more than happy with my starch-free plate.

That's one thing I'll say for the Atkins plan -- it's much easier to adapt to family-style eating than other diets I tried in the past.

Eating out is a special challenge, because restaurants load their meals with cheap carbs to fill their diners, and few have high-vegetable meals except for salads -- and I'm just not that big a salad-eater. However, usually all it takes to fix the problem is confessing to my server, "I'm on the Atkins diet, and I can't have any starches at all -- no bread or potatoes of any kind -- can you help me with any recommendations?"

I end up "special ordering" or "substituting" everything. For instance, last Sunday we went out for breakfast and I ordered --

Veggie Eggs "Benedict" minus the English muffin -- on a bed of spinach, instead
Comes with layer of tomatoes, onions, mushrooms
Add ham and swiss cheese
Substitute warmed salsa for the hollandaise sauce

It sounds funny -- but it was really fabulous! It was tasty and filling, with low cals and lots and lots of flavor and veggie bulk to satisfy.

Our waitress that morning was actually the owner of our favorite little breakfast place, and she has a couple of extra pounds on her, too. She was more than happy to help me stick to my diet... and I wouldn't be surprised to find that she'd tried out my breakfast for herself later on!

I've had similar experiences at every other restaurant where I've eaten since starting my diet. I was worried at first that it would be too much trouble for a restaurant to adapt to special dietary needs, but apparently the economy is so sucky that they are happy to have you come through the front door, and the wheelchair is a big hint that I really do need to cut down on the weight.

So, here's a sampling of "adjusted" meals eaten out, just to give y'all an idea of how to stay on a diet when out to dinner with other folks. At our small town's little Mexican restaurant, they served me spicy roasted prawns on a bed of veggies with avocados and a huge mound of guacamole. At the local Burgermaster, the special of the day was beef ribs, which I ordered with double cole slaw, hold the fries. And at the swank seafood restaurant on my honey's birthday, I ate raw oysters (yummy if you're into them, carb-free, and luxurious!), sauteed scallops, asparagus, and salad. I did break my diet just that night, with a chocolate mousse because it was DH's birthday! -- but I've been such a good girl otherwise that I didn't even feel guilty about it.

The biggest secret to eating right is simply this: if it's not on your diet, don't buy it. I mean, sure, we still need to buy bread and potatoes for the menfolk, but my own menfolk don't eat a lot of sweets, cookies, pastries, etc. Those were my downfall -- that, and chocolate! -- so I've learned not to buy them, at all, because the only one who will eat them is me, and I don't need them.

Between that and being willing to ask restaurant servers to help me stay on my diet, I've been pretty good with it. I'm not losing weight as fast as I'd like, but I do seem to be shedding a couple of pounds per week. If I can keep that up for a year, I'll be down to where I want to be... and I expect that as I weigh less, I'll be able to be more active, which will help it come off.

Here's hoping, anyway!

-- Paravani

[CCmama]

Excellent Pravani....those things sound good. It has been good here as DH is not complaining about being on a new eating plan. He can afford to lose at least 60 pounds and it seems to be starting to come off. Stuck to my guns again today even after being offered some chocolate fudge. OMG! Normally would have wolfed that down and gone for more. Will power...oh yes...will power to all of us trying to lose weight and get into shape. Snow blowed the driveway twice so far today. Its big enough to need a plow truck but we are sticking to the snow blower. Carried in a little more wood and ran up and down the basement stairs doing laundry and some food packing in mylar. I pray for my thighs to stop jiggling when I walk and my butt to fit properly into my next size down pants real soon.

[Dlw2x2]

Has anyone done this or have any experience with it? It sounds similar to paleo/whole food eating. I am just curious about any thoughts.