Exercise-phobic hits the gym!

lizzie23

lizzie23

New member
Hello everyone, this is my first post, and I'm a little nervous...

I am 5'11, and a girl! (this makes it hard to find boys and shoes, haha), and 180 pounds. I've always been a little overweight, but high school was the hardest part. I weighed 206 pounds in grade 9. I managed to lose 25 pounds in grade 12, and have kept it off since then. I know a lot about nutrition from university, and I try to eat well. I LOVE chocolate, and hate exercise.

I recently joined the YMCA, and have been strength training 2x a week, and doing 30-45 minutes of cardio 4x a week (elliptical and swimming). Based on my height and weight, my BMR is 1668 calories, so I've been aiming on 1800 calories or less for my diet (I CAN"T eat less than this for my sanity, haha). I haven't lost any weight yet, but I just started exercising 2 weeks ago, and can feel changes in my body composition (less fat, more toned?) Here's what I ate today:

Breakfast: (325 cal)

-low-fat bran flakes
-1% milk
-half a banana
-2 tbsp of soy protein
-vitamins (vit C, vit D, calcium, iron, fish oil)

Lunch (386 cal)

-2 eggs with sauteed onions, red peppers, mushrooms
-2 tsps canola oil
-cucumber slices/baby carrots
-1 slice Ezekiel bread with 1 tbsp low-fat cream cheese

Snack (100 cal)

-apple

Supper (520 cal)

-large salad
-chicken soup (homemade, a LOT of chicken)
-steamed broccoli

Snack (560!!!! cal)

-chocolate bar
-chocolate cupcake (it was homemade by a friend, I had to eat it!)

Total Calories: 1891

So the major problem is after dinner, I binge. I don't have any chocolate in the house, but I will go to the store and buy 2 chocolate bars and eat them. Blahhhh. At least I swam for 45 minutes today.

It's been nice reading all of your posts, and I've already found lots of helpful advice, and inspirational stories. Thanks for reading!
 
Still deciding on a goal weight... it's really hard because I've never been below 180 before (I'm 5'11). How did everyone else decide a goal weight? Based on BMI??

Did pretty well with food today, and managed a 1/2 hour walk (off day from the gym).

Breakfast: low-fat bran, 1% milk, 1/2 banana, soy protein (320 cal)
Lunch: can of tuna, no-fat mayo, celery, clementine (225)
Snack: another clementine (60)
Supper: chicken, potatoes, carrots, low-fat ceasar salad (695)
Total: 1360

I got room for a snack, yay! I love pomegranates because they give your hands something to do while watching tv, and take a long time to eat.
 
Hi there,

WELCOME to the forum...you won't regret your path here...there are full of encouraging people and stories for you to get motivated each and every day for sure..

Good luck..

Taz
 
Taz said:
Hi there,

WELCOME to the forum...you won't regret your path here...there are full of encouraging people and stories for you to get motivated each and every day for sure..

Good luck..

Taz
Click to expand...

Hey Taz, thanks for the welcome! Yeah I've already found lots of interesting information and inspirational stories since being here! I especially want to know how to get that ticker on the bottom of my sig...Good luck to you too on your journey!

Today was okay for me... got 45 minutes of bike/elliptical in at the Y... just finished watching The World's Heaviest Man on TLC, oh man that puts your problems in perspective, hahaha. 1200 lbs! That's over 6 of me! But he went on the Zone diet and lost over 300 pounds that way, so that's great. And he had such a good attitude about life and couldn't stop smiling, it's hard not to be inspired. ANYWAY!

Breakfast: bran flakes, milk, 1/2 banana, soy protein, vitamins (315)
Lunch: 2 eggs, sauteed veggies, celery, carrots, clementine (332)
Supper: chicken, potatoes, carrots (685)
Snacks: yogurt, apple, 2 pieces Ezekiel bread w no-fat cream cheese (320)
Total: 1692
 
WE GOT SNOW IN ONTARIO, BABY! I'm always incredibly excited for the first snowfall, even though it didn't last this morning. It means it's eventually going to come, and so's Christmas! I need to find an outdoor activity I like during the winter, because I have the tendency to hibernate and watch movies in my pajamas, and gain 10 pounds. Anyone else hate the cold? Let's move to Australia together! (That's where I spent last winter, it was amazing). But seriously, any tips for winter? How to deal? I might try cross-country skiing, and I do live 10 minutes from a ski hill, even though I don't know how, I might try snowboarding. Ah!

Ahhh it's 10 pm and I'm hungry and I've had all my calories, haha. I love it when my family cooks, but you get no choice in whether to eat it or not, haha. Today was okay, didn't go to the gym because I felt a little run down, did a 30 minute walk instead.

breakfast: bran flakes, 1% milk, 1/2 banana, soy protein, clementine
lunch: stirfry - chicken, peppers, onions, tomatoes, 1 cup of soup
supper: porkchop, noodles, zucchini
snacks: clementine, 2 pieces ezekiel bread w no-fat cream cheese
Total calories: 1709
 
Just finished watching the Biggest Loser, I wish I had Bob as a trainer! He seems to genuinely care for all of his trainees... glad to see Michelle on there, it would be great to see another female winner, Ali was awesome last season!

Today was good, down 2 pounds to 177! I did this happy dance when I got off the scale though, and pulled a weird muscle in my back, kind of embarrassing, hahaha, my mom laughed at me. Don't do your happy dances without warming up first!

Went to the Y, did 30 minutes weights (still on the machines because I was advised to start there, and work up to free weights), 30 minutes on elliptical. Took a 30 minute walk outside too, it's getting cold!

Breakfast: bran flakes, 1% milk, 1/2 banana, soy protein
Lunch: tuna salad, celery, 1/2 pomegranate
Dinner: fish, vegetable soup, and coleslaw (really good light homemade, mmm)
Snacks: clementines, green tea, 2 pieces toast with THIN layer of PB
Total: 1710 calories
 
Congrats on the 2 lb loss. Keep up the good work.

I agree with you about Bob, seems like a great guy and would like to meet him. I bet he is a great motivator.

Matt
 
I love watching the Biggest Loser too, I find it really inspirational. It would be great to have a trainer like that to push you!

Congrats on the weight loss. Your exercise is awesome and your meals seem balanced and healthy, I am sure the weight will continue to come off!
 
matt- thank you for the encouragement! Awesome job on your weight loss journey, I bet I have a lot to learn from you in the gym, haha

msu - thanks! I hope your toe is feeling better soon! (I read that before you posted here, haha, I seem to read more than I post in general).

Today was TERRIBLE before dinner, and AWESOME after it! Funny how that works. I babysat for my two nephews (3 and 5) for 9 hours, and man am I bad with kids. Pullups, car-seats, whining, hitting each other. When you ask for a drink, do you have to CRY when you ask for it! Blahhhh. Got home tired and stressed, to all of you stay-at-home mothers, I APPLAUD YOU. I still love the little buggers though. Aw.

After dinner, decided to try my first class at the Y, and eased myself in with YOGA! It was awesome, and the instructor modified the moves for all levels, so I felt pretty good at being at the intermediate level for a lot of the moves. PLANK IS HARD THOUGH. Also, when we were meditating, and she told us to visualize someone massaging our big toe, I almost laughed/gagged at the same time. EW!

After yoga, went for a bit of a swim, not too long, was too mellowed out. Swim then yoga next time.

Breakfast: bran, 1% milk, banana, soy protein, tea
Lunch: ham on 2 pieces ww, apple
Dinner: lasagna, broccoli
Snacks: banana, chocolate covered granola bar (!!! The kids made me)
Total: 1591
 
Oh man, yesterday I was a total sloth. Did not move from the couch, well except to go to choir practice. No exercise, but I guess I ate well. Today, made up for it by going EARLY to the gym, 30 min weights, 30 min elliptical. I even went before breakfast (is this recommended? I felt less energetic during the workout, but I hear it can boost your metab for the day?)

The challenge will be this weekend. I'm going to T.O. for a Sam Roberts concert, staying overnight at a friends, shopping, going to a housewarming party the next night (um, drinks) and staying over again. This in all likelihood means takeout!! Maybe I'll take a big bag of fruit and healthy food with me, haha.

Yesterday:

Breakfast: bran, 1% milk, soy, banana, clementine, tea
Lunch: 2 eggs, sauteed veggies, celery, carrots
Dinner: Lasagna, salad
Snacks: yogurt, clementine, 2 pieces Ezekiel bread with low fat cream cheese
Total: 1534
 
We need those days when we do nothing. Just dont make a habit of it. You certainly made up for it with that great workout. I will sometimes go to the gym before breakfast. I will try to grab a quick coffee on the way there, just a quick boost. Might not be the best thing but my thought is, it will be better going than not going at all. Sometimes you cant sweet the small stuff.

Looks like a great menu from yesterday. I bet the ezekial with cream cheese is great.

Keep it up!!

Matt
 
Thanks Matt, I'm getting to like the exercise (slowly) so hopefully the sloth days won't happen quite as much.

As for the weekend, debauchery! I ate and drank what everyone else was eating and drinking, which included beer, cookies, ham, scalloped potatoes, and a burger. BUT, I did not pig out, and didn't eat after I was full. And I had a great time with friends. Back to being good today! Ate pretty well, did 35 minutes on the elliptical, and 1 hour yoga.

AND I bought my first pair of ass-pants. If you are unfamiliar with this term, ass-pants are the skin-tight black stretchy pants women wear when working out, doing yoga, lounging, etc. I was too self-conscious to wear them before, but now I don't mind my ass! And they are super comfy.

Breakfast: bran, milk, 1/2 banana, strawberries, soy protein
Lunch: 1/2 can salmon, tomato, 1 cup soup
Dinner: light caesar salad, stew
Snacks: apple w pb, yogurt
Total: 1507
 
your doing great with your food and exercise. Its great your beginning to feel mor comfortable with working out and how you look :)
 
Trusylver said:
your doing great with your food and exercise. Its great your beginning to feel mor comfortable with working out and how you look :)
Click to expand...

Thank you trusylver! It's been good so far, but I haven't been super busy lately. I'm dreading the holiday season, and making the time to go to the gym...

Oh, and for anyone from Ontario.... SNOW! It hasn't stopped since Sunday, we went from 0 to 2 feet of snow in 2 days! Hope everyone has their electricity!

HOly Schmoly the abs are sore from yoga, you don't think it's a workout until the next day! Today I did 30 min weights, 35 minute elliptical (high bpm)

Breakfast: bran, milk, 1/2 banana, strawberries, soy protein, vitamins
Lunch: salmon, pickles, coleslaw
Dinner: salad, fish, brown rice, brussel sprouts
Snacks: 2 clementines, 1/2 pomegranate, 10 almonds, yogurt
Total: 1607 calories

Flipped through my food diary, I weighed 185 exactly 2 months ago, and weight 177 today. Slow and steady!
 
Diary Keeping

Keeping notes or diaries on our progress and our downfalls is so important to success! You are doing great! Keep up the great work!
 
burnsrunner said:
Keeping notes or diaries on our progress and our downfalls is so important to success! You are doing great! Keep up the great work!
Click to expand...

Thanks burnsrunner! I find I eat way better when I started posting my food diary on here... I don't want to write anything down that's bad! I guess that's motivation...

Today was good for exercise, I swam 35 minutes this morning (A LANE TO MYSELF!) I hate sharing lanes, I always kick other people or hit the lane-dividing-thingies.

Went to the Y again tonight, did 35 minutes elliptical, and 1 hour yoga.

Breakfast: bran, milk, 1/2 banana, strawberries, soy protein
Lunch: 2 hb eggs, spinach, red peppers, cucumber, 1/2 cup brown rice
Dinner: noodles, pork, zucchini, onions, peppers
Snacks: clementine, apple, yogurt, 10 almonds, 1 ezekiel bread w ff cream cheese
Total: 1508

I decided to get a ticker thingie, but was hesitant to choose a goal weight. What if I don't get there? I haven't been this weight EVER in my adult life. Or, what if I get there and I still could lose more? Hmmm, it just seems so final.
 
My probably-unoriginal weight loss theory #1: SLEEPING IN IS KEY TO WEIGHT LOSS. You wake up later, eat your meals later, and go to bed the same time as everyone else, thus eating less. Get 9 hours a night, people! This is what I usually do, but got up early today, eating more.... alas.

Managed to get to a 1 hour class of Zumba (latin dance) but the instructor was TERRIBLE and didn't dance on the beat. Plus she is an ironman athlete, and was going way too fast and hard for me plus the old ladies there! I guess it burned calories... Definitely need to take a day off tomorrow from exercise, feel on the verge of burning out.

Breakfast: bran, milk, 1/2 banana, strawberries, soy protein, 1 egg
Lunch: tuna, ff mayo, celery
Supper: PASTA, sauce, CHEESE, broccoli
Snacks: 14 almonds, 2 clementines, apple, 1 peice bread
Total: 1842 cal

Higher than normal cals, but still within a losing range, non? Bon nuit!
 
Hey!! I know, can you believe this snow we're getting! GOD it's so goddamn cold!! I liked that heat wave we got in November...

So you're looking for winter activities eh? This might sound a little crazy to you, but on a night when it's CRISPLY cold but there' no wind, bundling up huge an going for a run feels WICKED! I'm talkin 3 sweaters, scarf over mouth, thick socks, ear muffs, you'll sweat like a beast and enjoy an incredible winter morning/evening (i prefer evening ;)). I dunno, just something to think about :)
 
Sara! ME? A runner? Ha! Maybe a brisk walk in the winter will do... Awesome for you for doing it though, I'm always so impressed by winter runners! If I ever see a tiny bundled up gal running down Stone Rd, I'll yell your name!

I've always had an extreme hatred of running since kindergarten, and a fear of it. I never was good at it, and my knees aren't great. I feel too tall and too big-boned to be a runner, but maybe I'm making excuses. Maybe as I continue exercising, and becoming more fit, I could try the couch to 5k program, but I'm not going to sweat it if it doesn't happen. I LOVE swimming and biking, and in the long run they will love my knees, non??

Today was surprising. I decided to have an off day from the Y, and I had to FORCE myself not to go! Maybe I'm starting to like it a little, hahaha. It worked out well, as most of the roads were closed due to snow anyway!

Breakfast: bran, milk, 1/2 banana, strawberries, soy protein
Lunch: 1 cup soup, 1/2 bagel w cream cheese and smoked salmon (MMMMM)
Dinner: big salad, shepherd's pie
Snacks: 1/2 a big bar of Cadbury's chocolate... oh my
Total: 1679
 
Oh man, spent about 6 hours reading Pastaqueen.com.... she started out at 378 pounds, and is sitting pretty at around 180 now. But she's hilarious! And makes obscure references about She-Ra and X-men and Linux... And it just goes to show you don't need to count calories or join a gym, although that's what works for me. She didn't join a gym until she was within 20 pounds of her goal weight. I'm addicted. MUST STOP READING. My eyes hurt!

I did a 1 hour pilates DVD today, pretty basic stuff, but I bet the abs will be angry tomorrow! Also went to the Y, did 1/2 h of strength training, and 35 minutes on the elliptical.

Breakfast: bran, milk, 1/2 banana, strawberries, soy protein
Lunch: 1 cup soup, salad, 1 hardboiled egg, ff dressing
Dinner: chicken, potatoes, carrots
Snacks: 14 almonds, 1 clementine, 1 apple, yogurt, grapes
Total: 1798
 
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