New Here! Wanting to get fit.

dawnkyung

dawnkyung

New member
Hi everyone!

My name is Dawn and I started working out about 2 1/2 months ago (maybe 3 months now...It was sometime toward the middle of April!)

I woke up one day and decided to join a gym. Since then, I have been reeeally good about going - I go at least 5 days a week for a least a 1/2 hour a day. I realized that the reason I didn't want to go to a gym or work out before is that my fiance is home when I get home and I want to spend time with him - since he wasn't interested in gyming it up with me, I made the decision to go before work. Every day I am up at 5:10 am and at the gym by 5:20. I fell in love with the elliptical and did that for about 2 months, gradually increasing my resistance.

I have now rediscovered the treadmill (i never used to like it) and will go about 2 miles in the morning (hopefully more soon!). I am also finally brave enough to use the weight machines - I take about 10 minutes to do one area of my body a day. I don't diet persay, but i try to watch what i eat for 5 days a week and be mindful of portion control always.

I weighed 131 when I started and while the scale only says 128, I feel worlds better and can definitely see the beginnings of my efforts in the way my clothes fit. I'm 5'2 and 25 years old.

Hopefully i can keep it up!!
 
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Today I started out with a bowl of special K and 1 whole grain waffle - for lunch I had a turkey & roast beef sandwich on whole wheat bread, an apple and a serving of baked lays potato chips. A fiber one bar was dessert!

I must say that I am so inspired by how hard everyone works here to achieve their goals. You are all an inspiration!
 
I was disappointed this morning because i got up and went to the gym as usual..but quickly realized that my stomach was upset about something I had eaten yesterday. My fiance's mother cooked chicken with a new sauce, and I think it didn't agree with me.

I had bad stomach cramps but I still made myself walk a mile on the treadmill at 4.0. I couldn't do anything more than that! :(

On a good note, last night the fiance and I went to publix and he weighed himself...he is a little insecure about his weight (I think he looks fine) and we talked about it and decided that we are going to play tennis together 3 nights a week for at least 45 minutes! I am really pleased because exercise is so much nicer when someone is with you!

Today I did alright with food. I had a bowl of special K redberries with a banana for breakfast, then a healthy choice steak and noodle soup, some grapes, an apple and a serving of bbq baked lays - washed down with a huge wonderful water!

Hopefully dinner tonight will be healthy and tomorrow morning I will be able to run with no stomach cramps!
 
Last night worked out great! My fiance and I went and played tennis for 35 minutes (it was so hot out, really worked up a good sweat), which I think made up for the lousy 1 mile i walked in the morning. Dinner was a Lean Pocket and various snacks (a piece of roast beef on a few pretzel crackers with a slice of low fat swiss cheese, a peach, water).

This morning I dragged myself out of bed and went 2 miles in 28 minutes again. Hopefully i'll be able to cut that down to 24, eventually! I can feel my breathing getting easier though, which is nice.

Breakfast today was peach instant oatmeal and a whole grain waffle, Lunch was a 6 inch veggie sub on wheat with 1 piece of cheese from subway, + 1 serving of baked chips, grapes, and a 100 calorie pack of chocolate pretzels.

Going to try to have a good dinner again tonight!
 
Congrats on what you've accomplished so far and good for your fiancee for joining along. It is much better all around when your partner participates... especially when it comes to diet matters.

Have you created a account to track your calories? Might be helpful.

As well I see a lot of processed food in your diet -- lean pockets, subway, chips, etc. Not that they can't be eaten but they should be kept to a minimum. I would suggest adding more fruits and nuts for snacking on for starters.

And keep hitting those weights! Good luck!
 
Thanks for your reply Darwinfish! I know, i'm a victim of premade/processed food - I am an awful cook and I find it difficult to make food often...usually I try to eat an apple a day and an orange, but I really should make a sandwich or something for lunch at work. Tonight I had another lean pocket (before I read your reply!) with more baked chips...haha, thats awful.

I think I might make it to the grocery store later and try to pick up some more oranges/apples and maybe some veggies to snack on. I did open a fitday account but I honestly try to not count calories as it is the downward spiral into mental instability when it comes to my health!

Are nuts good for you? I never thought about them before, but i sure do love them!
 
I'm an awful cook, too. I know your pain. If it weren't for my wife I don't know what I'd do. She rocks a kitchen.

As for nuts, they're awesome for you. Lots of good fat, protein and carbs. Almonds and walnuts are among the best. You should get unsalted, though as the sodium would be through the roof. Google 'healthy nuts' if you want more info.

As for fruit, strawberries are amazing. They taste awesome, good fiber and they're less than 10 calories per ounce. I can't get enough strawberries and blueberries.
 
Congrats on getting to the gym as much as you do. That is feat within itself. Your doing great, and Darwin had some excellent advice for you. Keeping a journal on here is a great idea, this forum is full of people who are here to help and motivate so you can perhaps get that extra ummph to reach your goals. Great news about your fiance wanting to play tennis with you a few nights a week. Its a good step in the right direction. Keep up the good work and if you read around on here you'll learn lots more as you go :)

Take Care,
Sam
 
This place has been awesome so far as far as people setting goals and meeting them, and all the support here is amazing too. I can't believe it took me so long to find this forum! And having a weight loss diary is awesome, what a great way to chronicle everything you do and remember your hard work.

Tomorrow before work (i'm usually a little early anyway) I'm going to stop by the grocery store and pick up some strawberries, blueberries, and nuts! I did google healthy nuts and I loooove walnuts and almonds, so I'm going to go for those. Sounds like a perfect snack to hide around the office in small amounts!

I'm assuming that plain nuts are best, not roasted and of course not salted ones.

Tomorrow morning I drag my butt back to the gym. Going to see if i can't improve my 2 mile time!
 
I almost went back to bed this morning, but i managed to drag myself up at the usual 5:10 am and make it to the gym.

I raised my incline to 4.5 from 3.5 (anyone know what those numbers actually mean? I'm really clueless) and managed to beat my time for 2 miles by about 50 seconds. So not perfect by any means, but at least it was an improvement!

Special K redberries and skim milk for breakfast with a multivitamin. On my way to the grocery store to pick up my new snacks!

I'm out of things to bring with me for lunch, so I'm not sure what I'll end up eating for lunch today :X.
 
Nicely done improving your 2 mile time... by 50 seconds no less! That's crushing your old time.

I, too, have to get up at 5am to get to the gym. It's not easy. I just started a serious planned program this week so it's still new to me. Perhaps it gets easier after a while. Only one way to find out.
 
Special K redberries and skim milk for breakfast with a multivitamin. On my way to the grocery store to pick up my new snacks!
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Special K has an absolutely brilliant advertising campaign making the consumer believe that the cereal is oh so healthy for them - when in reality -it's not one of your better cereal choices... you might want to look at cereals that have more fiber in the... and bit less sugar... fiber does a body good :)
 
As far as cereal goes, I'm a fan of the Kashi brands or Fiber One. The original Fiber One cereal is a little hard to choke down, imo... If you add some splenda or something though, it makes it a little more palatable... Lately I've been eating bagels for breakfast, these whole grain ones I get at the grocery store... Congrats on getting to the gym at that time... I love the morning hours when I'm up but getting up before I have to is something I have a very very hard time doing...

-Sam
 
Next time I'm at the store I will definitely pick up some fiber one or kashii. I've had Fiber one before, but i think it was a different version...oat clusters or something like that? I didn't think it tasted badly at all.

For lunch I am ashamed to say I ate a healthy choice meal (i rushed at the grocery store and panicked when I couldn't find anything, i was hoping for a premade sandwich on wheat bread or something but couldn't find one). Along with my healthy choice thing I had a bowl of blueberries and strawberries, and a 1/2 cup of that darn special K. And a big cup of water.

Every thursday night my dad takes me out for sushi, which i LOVE so much (if there was one thing that i have no restraint over, it's eating sushi). I'm going to try not to go too crazy tonight! I know that white rice is bad. I don't know if the place we go to has brown rice...

Tomorrow I think i'll take the day off from the gym. Usually I take Fridays and Sundays off - on Saturdays I try to go a long haul and walk/jog at least 4 miles.
 
while you're getting use to some of those cereals - the all bran or fiber one especially -it sometimes helps to cut it with a cereal that you do like - like do a 50/50 mix of the special k and fiber one - fiber one has some new flavors out now that are better than the twiggy tasting cereal they used to have...
 
I realized that gum keeps me happy and orally fixated and makes me want to snack less. I also just realized that Stride gum lasts a ridiculously long time.

Anyway! Thanks for the tips about the cereal. I am a hopeless victim of advertising and Special K had me convinced that it is AWESOME!

I am SO excited for sushi. I love edamame, I hope it's not bad for you!
 
I love edamame as well. I don't think it's bad for you at all. Low calorie and a good source of protein... I love sushi lately too. When I go out to a restaurant I am finding myself more and more drawn to sushi bars. Sushi is definitely more healthy than burgers or pizza anyday. One problem, I do like me some sake too... I gotta watch that, hehe.

-Sam
 
What is your current height and weight?

5'2" stw: 131 ctw:126

If you were at an ideal weight now, what would that weight be?

120 pounds!

At what weight would you like to be at four months from now?

120

Why do you want to lose weight?

So I can get started on being healthy sooner rather than later!

Do you want to lose weight for a specific life event such as wedding or reunion?

Not really, but now that you mention it I am eloping in September and it wouldn't be terrible to look hot on the cruise!

What obstacles could get between you and your weight loss goals?

Food! Lack of self control!

Why do you think that you now have a weight problem?

I don't think I have a serious problem...yet. I can see it becoming a MAJOR problem as I get older, though!

What lifestyle changes do you think would help you lose weight?

Stop eating when I am hungry, and regular EXERCISE!

Have you lost weight in the past? If so, what has worked in the past to help you lose weight?

I've lost weight in the past, but never healthily. Only through warped eating disorders.

Why do you believe that you did not lose weight or you gained the weight back?

Because I did nothing the right way. I was unhealthier than when I started!

What, if anything, has not worked for you in the past in helping you to lose weight? Why do you think it did not work?

Eating disorders, half assed attempts at exercise, half assed attempts at dieting.

Would you try writing down all food and drink consumed for a given period of time?

I try to write down what I eat, but I don't write down the calories. That's a little too close to when I was mentally ill.

Do you cook at home often? If so, what do you cook?

No. I should though, lean cuisines and healthy choices are not THAT great!

How often do you go out to eat? Where do you go?

Once, maybe twice a week. Usually to a sushi place once a week and then perhaps to a friday's-type of place.

What are your three favorite foods?

Sushi, sushi, and sushi.

What are your three favorite restaurants?

Ichiban Hibachi grill, Ruth Chris's (mmm so expensive and good) and Sumo Japanese restaurant.

What are three things you can do differently when it comes to food?

Portion control! Stop eating late at night! More fresh food/fruits/veggies!

If you woke up tomorrow and your body was exactly the way you want it, what would be different?

I would be toned. And I would be driven to stay healthy and active.

Do you eat when you are not hungry?

I really try not to!

Do you binge eat (large amounts at a time)?

Not anymore.

Do you hide your food or eat in secret?

I used to, but never again.

Do you eat when you are sad, nervous, or depressed?

Yes.

Do you eat as a reward?

Yes!

Do you eat while watching TV or using the computer?

Always.

What do you normally eat for a meal?

Lean Pockets, Heathly Choices, etc.

What type of snacks do you eat?

Fruit.

In terms of exercise, what, if anything, are you currently doing?

5-6 days of gym time, at least 30 minutes of cardio + 10 minutes of weight machines.

Where do you go for exercise? A local public gym? School/work gym? Home?

Local gym

What, if anything, are your three favorite types of exercise?

Treadmill, elliptical, and horseback riding.

What is your daily/weekly/monthly/yearly motivation to move towards your goals?

I want to live a long time and I love the feeling I get when I step off of a treadmill and feel like I'm going to puke.

Do you have rewards for certain goals?

I should make some!
 
Last night I had a sapporo roll (which has shrimp tempura and cream cheese in it, oh my), a spicy tuna hand roll, and some edamame...Mmmm.

Later on the fiance and one of his friends wanted to go to Friday's, I went with them but only had half a mozzarella stick and one sweet potato fry (yay me).

This morning I didn't go to the gym - I was sore and I want to go 4 miles tomorrow, so I thought I'd take the day off. I have a hard time when I take days off - I feel very guilty!

This morning's breakfast was instant oatmeal (peach) and some blueberries and strawberries. Lunch will be healthy choice Minestrone soup, some baked lays (i'm just using them up!) and more fruit.

We might go out to eat tonight. I usually watch what I eat 5 days of the week and the other 2 I eat what I want (but remain conscious of portion sizes). I got a bonus at work that I am just thrilled about, so a celebratory dinner may be in order!
 
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