Motivation

So I have seen teen, 20's, 40's, 50's and beyond, but no 30's group.  So would anybody like to get something started?  Not sure where to begin hmmmm

I guess being in our thirties our metabolism has not hit a wall just yet, but it certainly isn't what it was in the 20's.  Don't you miss those days?  Anything you want and as long as you did maybe one sport in high school, then no worries.  Ohwell on to real life where nothing seems to be on schedule.

Let hear your thoughts.

I'm gonna jump on in here. I'm a fella as well, so Steve won't be lonely. Haha.

I'll be 34 this month, 6'3", trying to get back down to 180 from my current 220-225. During my twenties I was pretty active, running and cycling pretty consistently. So much so that I could eat at greasy spoon diners on a daily basis, and swill down unreasonable amounts of whiskey without seeing anything collect around the waist. Well, that party's over...

I had my last athletic 'hurrah' when I turned 30. Rode my bicycle from Chicago to Boston to see my brother (that'll burn some calories!). And then I got engaged, moved a few times, got out of my athletic routine, then got married (no kids), and then these mysterious 40 pounds materialized. Ugh.

So I'm back on my bike now. And eating a healthy diet again. I was vegetarian for most of my teens and twenties -- vegan when I was 26. Now I'm dairy-free (except for yogurt) and meat-free (except for seafood). Mmmmm, seafood. Maybe I'll even start running again.

I just joined CC the other day, but already everyone here seems to be exceptional, and a darn nice support group. It's nice to meet all you thirtysomethings!

lynnhaslost, wow, that's quite a canine group! Is one of your other dogs the daddy to the pups, or did she have a one night stand somewhere ;) you should put up a few pics of the dogs! You must spend a small fortune on dog food! lol

O, that is just hilarious- your bf! I could just see you short lady walkin down the aisles at the grocery store carrying a big man and pushin a cart..lol!

Welcome njmattes! another man for our group! I'll bet you'll be at your goal in no time- you already sound like you're in pretty good shape!

I'll bet you'll be at your goal in no time-

God, I hope so! Thanks for the encouragement!

you already sound like you're in pretty good shape!

Eh, I used to be. I like to relive the glory days ;-) I'm hoping my body has some memory of my fit 20s that it'll gravitate towards. But I'm afraid it'd rather gravitate back towards my tubby childhood.

Wendy, She went in heat before we could have her fixed. Let's just say. That will not happen again. The daddy.. They are not Lous pups, because she hates Lou. I think they are Mr.T dogs puppies, because his dog would come under the fence a lot. I had to board that up, and before I knew it.. She was getting really fat. The funny thing about the birth it was 3 days after New Year, and she had them in BOBO dog house, and not her's. So when she would leave out to eat.. BOBO would go in and keep them warm, and BOBO weighs around 70 to 80 pounds. The vet said I have to put him on a diet. LOL. But this is a pony size dog. He's very big. I'm going to upload some pics.. I got some taken but I have not loaded them up yet. We go to the co-op store to get the dog food... Loaded in protein, and good things for them. It runs 25 dollar's for a 50 pound bag. I think that's a good buy, and the puppies.. We feed them all twice a day, and my boyfriend helps me take them to the near by pond to play. They love it.

Njmattes, one more man in the room.. I guess if it was 2 men left on earth.. We women may not have to fight as hard. LOL.. I'm a joker.. SO over look that. Anyway.. Welcome, and I hope you have fun here. Not only that.. You are going to lose those few pounds quick.. Men lose weight quicker than women.. I guess that's about right. I've lost a lot to me. 66 in one year.. That was tough. I got a little more to go, and then I will be in tip to shape. Welcome once again.

lynn, that is so cute, big bobo tending to the pups! That is a pretty good buy, the dog food.. dogs are so much fun! 'cheap entertainment' - watching the dogs play and do goofy things! Our Oreo has crooked teeth and an underbite and alot of times her upper lip gets tucked under and she looks so dang funny! She is a sweet little dog, but she wants to be the little boss.. I used to do daycare, and every chance she got with some kid crawling on the floor she would try to mount their back like a boy dog! asserting her dominance i guess- but it was so funny! She still tries to do it to my youngest boys sometimes..lol They say "Look mom, Oreo wants a piggy back ride" O it just cracks me up! Other than doing that, she is so gentle with the kids and everyone- always licking on them and wanting some love..Spike is a very needy little guy- he follows around from room to room and always wants to sit in a lap and get pet on. Sometimes he acts crazy and zips all over the place barking and carrying on..its so funny to watch. They both stay inside most of the time.. I let them out to potty several times a day, and sometimes try to take them on walks, but they still need some learning about walking with the leash.

Yeah! It's a great buy. I love the co-op store.  All are babies are outside pets, but when the winter months come they have to go into the barn, and they hate that barn. This winter in Bama was nothing. I was looking for cold weather. We got a little snow, and then..We got temps of 60 and 70 in some of these winter months, and I was like. This is crazy. The babies like the weather a little better than I did.. That mean they didn't have to go into the barn as much.

The things your dogs due are so cute. One zipping all over the house, and the other wants mount the little girls back like a boy dog.. That's funny.

Dogs are a lot of fun. When we lose one to old age.. I just cry my eyes out. I had one her name was Sam, and we had her for 10 years. She died. Bay reminds me of her a lot. I can't leave the yard without her wanting to go for a walk or a ride.

I love them so much.

lynn, 60's and 70's in the winter? Thats just about summertime weather! You want cold you need to move up north! We had snow from November through April this year! This past winter was one of the coldest we had in years.. many weeks of below zero, wind chills up to 40-50 below a few times, and lots of snow! Do you usually get much snow in AL? I wouldnt think so.. my sister lives in Missouri and they get snow now and then, but usually gone again the next day or 2.. not like here in Minnesota! This spring has been quite cool for us too.. we had snow the last week in April even, and still most days lately have barely made 70 degrees. Usually by now into June we have 70-80 temps.

Ahhh... the drawback of being on the other side of the world, by the time I get back to the thread I have 2 pages of posts to read through.  Oh well, its saturday afternoon here and I need to put my daughter down for a nap she probably won't end up taking anyway. 

Wendy, congrats on the weightloss so far.  Yes I am an American, grew up in Sunny Florida, but moved over to the land of Oz in Jan 2005 (and sometimes it does seem like I am living in Oz, although I have mostly adjusted to life here and the little oddities of the Aussie Culture).  My daughter was born here, abd now that she is starting to talk has a bit of an Aussie accent, its quite funny.  Not sure how long we will stay here, I have a feeling we will be heading back to the states in a couple more years just because the cost of living here in ridiculous, but who knows. 

Yep, done a lot of traveling, lived in Thailand for 6 months, and now Australia.  I haven't added any recent pics of me since the weight loss, but I will soon enough! 

Well, it IS winter here and we get highs in the upper 60's low 70's most days and lows in the 50's and OCCASSIONALLY the 40's.  And that is TOO cold for me still. 

Ok, nap time, wish me luck!

Lynn: Congrats on the 66 pounds! I grew up in the southeast (KY, VA, NC, TN) -- and I can't imagine losing weight in the midst of all that good southern cooking. My wife and I went to visit distilleries in Kentucky on our honeymoon, and I think I gained 15 pounds in one weekend. Country ham, fried chicken livers, cornbread (they even fry that!)... on and on....

I agree manta515 - I can't keep up!!!  So, I just apologize if I haven't responded to something posted to me -- SORRY!

As I said, I am 38 and have reached my weight loss goal.  I am 5' 7" and, in maintenance, range from 122-125 lbs.  My highest weight was 151 which brought me to CC.  The weight was more of a symptom of other things going with me.  Food had become things to me that it isn't intended to be - like comfort and companionship- so when I rejected those ideas and found a better source (for me personally, because I am a Christian, it was my relationship with God) the scale moved.  I am fortunate to have a husband who lost 40 pounds 11 years ago and has maintained it.  He helped me with food choices and planning ahead and got me moving.   

I still work through a lot of the negative messages about food - and I suspect I may always.  The first one that shows up is "I deserve this (ice cream, pizza, whatever).  Food, for me, can not be a reward or prize.  I know some people "reward" themselves with a cheat day which works for them.  I have days when I go over my calories but I try to think of it as an intentional choice I've made rather than setting it up as this special experience.  Make sense? 

Anyone else's mind like to play tricks on them this way?   

Wow, Australia. Those temps are the winter there? Sounds wonderful. Cost of living seems to be high everywhere lately.

Does that make it difficult for anyone else to eat healthy? Buying fresh healthy produce and meat is just killing me at the grocery budget. Any suggestions?

Original Post by wendyb27:

Steve, dek hockey sounds like quite a workout! My husband has to do ice hockey though -we are Minnesotan, afterall ;) .. My hubby could stand to drop 20- 30 lbs, i dont think it will be too hard for him, his big thing will be eating better. He really needs to start making better choices and get a better routine, especially because he is diabetic, but it is really hard because he works nights right now.

You Minnesotans have ice in your blood, so dek would probably be a major disappointment to most who play hockey, although most northern and Canadian cities have dek leagues. 

I had to do a little of each.  I had to quit getting second, third, and fourth helpings and then saying, "Ahh, I'll exercise tomorrow."  Instead I'm telling myself, "That big piece of cake, I'll eat that tomorrow."  Procrastination can work both ways.

Work is a big obstacle to exercise, especially for me.  I try to walk around as much as I can, though.  I always try to go to the mailbox and get the mail, stuff like that.

Original Post by lynnhaslost:

Stevis78! He's not going to play any Hockey. What he is planing on doing is going back into weight lifting as well. My boyfriend is 190, and he is thinking about losing just 20lbs. He can do it. He always hops on my back for a piggy back ride.. I was like.. Man... You got to lay off the burger's.. I can't carry you around like I use too.  He's okay. I can still piggy back him, but the extra weight is a killer.

That 20 pounds should be easy as long as he stays close to his recommended daily calories without going over.  One big thing is cutting off burgers and fried food and eating more veggies, more chicken and fish, and the light calorie snack a few times a day.  That's what I'm sticking to. 

hi everyone!

Manta515.. thanks for your congrats.. so how did you end up in Australia? Is that where your husband is from? I've always thought that would be such a neat place to visit!

tracyaudette, I know what you mean about food being comfort and reward.. Some of the sweets and desserts just taste so good its kind of hard not to think of them as a 'reward' of sorts! With quite an effort, that kind of thinking can be changed for most I think though..

lulufit! I couldnt agree with you more about the cost of living! Dang, seems like everything is getting to cost so much these days! As far as helping with the budget, I try to use coupons, buy things on sale, buy in bulk, shop at warehouse-type stores like Sams Club or CostCo, and I buy alot of frozen vegetables instead of fresh all the time too- can be just as healthy! Also, alot of stores  have an area in different departments where you can buy things close to expiration at a reduced price.. works well for bakery items and meat items anyway- if you dont use right away, you can freeze it right away for later. And if you google "free coupons", you'll find alot of sites where you can find and print out extra coupons too- I like 'coupon mom' - it gives you a heads up on sales at stores like walmart, target, and major grocery chains..  Another idea, if you can afford it, is find a farmer/butcher, and buy a whole cow or pig or whatever,.. meat usually ends up being quite a bit cheaper per pound.. but gotta pay all at once, and have the freezer space!

Original Post by stevis78:

Original Post by lynnhaslost:

Stevis78! He's not going to play any Hockey. What he is planing on doing is going back into weight lifting as well. My boyfriend is 190, and he is thinking about losing just 20lbs. He can do it. He always hops on my back for a piggy back ride.. I was like.. Man... You got to lay off the burger's.. I can't carry you around like I use too.  He's okay. I can still piggy back him, but the extra weight is a killer.

That 20 pounds should be easy as long as he stays close to his recommended daily calories without going over.  One big thing is cutting off burgers and fried food and eating more veggies, more chicken and fish, and the light calorie snack a few times a day.  That's what I'm sticking to. 

 He burns a lot of calories during the day. So far he has lost some. Last year at x-mas time.. He was breaking the scales at 205, and I made him get on the scales last week, and he was 190. So, I was happy to see the 190. He was like damn! What happen to my weight.. My boyfriend has always been small.. Pushing 150-160, and when he started to gain the weight.. He was HAPPY! I was like.. WOW! You are happy, and my back isn't right now..LOL I'm sure he will get those last 20 pounds off. He just did a workout with me this morning. We went hiking, and he loves it. As long as I go hiking with him.. I know he will lose the weight. I'm kinda doing this undercover by the way......

He keeps on telling me.. (I'm going to lose the weight. I am going to tone up.) Well, I am pushing him along with undercover workouts. He does workout with me.. But I do all of this undercover just to help him lose the weight. I tell him.. I need a spotter at the gym. Will you come and help me train.. I do things a little work, and he gets mad, and show me the right way.. Not knowing that he's really working out at all. :)  I always go into a... Show me again...... Where is your trainer.. LOL.. You are my trainer today buddy... I have to do these things undercover..

lynn, undercover workouts! omg, that is so funny! I love it!

I am with you Tracy, food can't be a reward for me and I don't do cheat days.  I also can't have a scale in my house.  Last time I lost weight, I used to weigh myself daily, and of course as all of you know, weight fluctuates daily due to what you ate the night before, water retention, time of the month, time of day, the phase of the moon, the alignment of the planets, etc.  Anyway, if the scale went up, I would get so down about it and start to stress about food even more EVEN though I KNEW in my mind WHY it went up and the trend was ALWAYS downward.  I think it took gaining a bit of the weight back, having a baby and hitting my thirties to realize that life shouldn't be dictated by a number on some stupid instrument (funny, because I am a scientist and we thrive on numbers that we get from all kinds of instruments!).  Anyway, as I am close to maintenance now, I just try to make good choices conscious of about how many calories I am eating, and don't beat myself up if I go over.  Nothing is off limits, but if I am going to make an unhealthy choice, I make sure that it is MY choice because I WANT it and not due to some outward influence (emotions, boredom, etc.). 

Lulu, I live in  Sydney, so if you head South or west (to the mountains and then the outback) it does get colder in the winter.  Tassie is pretty cool year round.  If you head North to Queensland then you get subtropical and tropical weather.  Sydney is pretty nice and mild. 

Wendy, I moved to Australia for my job.  I have my PhD in Biomedical Engineering so I took a Post doctoral position here in Oz.  Was supposed to be for three years and my hubby (he is American too) moved here with me (we got married here about 3 months after moving here), and we planned to do a lot fo traveling while we were here and then go back to the states after the 3 years.  BUT.... surprise surprise, I got pregnant right after moving here and well, we really like the lifestyle here for our daughter.  Its just a lot more laid back and I feel a safer place than the states to raise a child. 

Australia is a lot like the US maybe 30 or so years ago, with still a lot of small businesses and a lot fewer big chains.  Unfortunately, that means everything closes at like 5 pm here (except thursday night, when they are opne to 8 or 9 pm).  Its really annoying, but I have adjusted I guess.  Everything here is just smaller scale than the US, which in some ways I guess is good, but I will say I do miss Super Target and Super Walmart, one stop shopping at its best!.  One of the nice things is that there are tons of Bakeries, Butchers, and Fruit and Veg markets in every town so I try to shop there.  But still, it is considerably more expensive than the states (at least the places I have lived in the states) even with the increases in prices there lately.  We are paying about  $5.50-5.60 a gallon for gas and it just keeps going up, and I would say meats are usually quite a bit more pricey here.  Fruit and veg are about the same as long as you buy in season.

Lulu, if you have a fruit and veg market near you I suggest try shopping there more often for your fresh stuff.  There was a BIG market close to where I lived in Cleveland, OH and I used to be able to get really great deals on fruit and vegs.  Try to buy sale items and whats in season.  The other thing I have foind is that the crock pot is my friend.  I have started making a lot of soups and stews lately.  They are usually fairly cheap to make, and quite easy to keep healthy, plus you don't have to add any fat to cook things and they always turn out delicious.  Also, the other thing I have found is to try to plan my meals for the week.  That way, I don't buy any extras when I go to the store.  This is all quite a new development (last couple of months) and I it has really helped with the grocery bill!

Well, just thought I would add that I ran 10 miles this morning!  Going to start looking for a half marathon to sign up for because now I KNOW I can do it!  I only have to increase by 3 more miles and I am there!  Amaxing what 6 months of dedication can do, I have gone from sitting on my arse being miserable because I was out of shape and carrying extra lbs from having my daughter to getting up at 4:30 am to go run 10 miles on a Sunday morning.... so I have gone from being lazy to being crazy, but hey, at least I am a lot healthier now!

Original Post by njmattes:

I'm gonna jump on in here. I'm a fella as well, so Steve won't be lonely. Haha.

I'll be 34 this month, 6'3", trying to get back down to 180 from my current 220-225. During my twenties I was pretty active, running and cycling pretty consistently. So much so that I could eat at greasy spoon diners on a daily basis, and swill down unreasonable amounts of whiskey without seeing anything collect around the waist. Well, that party's over...

I had my last athletic 'hurrah' when I turned 30. Rode my bicycle from Chicago to Boston to see my brother (that'll burn some calories!). And then I got engaged, moved a few times, got out of my athletic routine, then got married (no kids), and then these mysterious 40 pounds materialized. Ugh.

So I'm back on my bike now. And eating a healthy diet again. I was vegetarian for most of my teens and twenties -- vegan when I was 26. Now I'm dairy-free (except for yogurt) and meat-free (except for seafood). Mmmmm, seafood. Maybe I'll even start running again.

I just joined CC the other day, but already everyone here seems to be exceptional, and a darn nice support group. It's nice to meet all you thirtysomethings!

Thanks, and welcome!

MANTA515, Are you talking about the Westside Market? I have never been there even though I live only about 30-40 minutes from Cleveland. I will have to check it out.

10 miles! Congrads! That sounds like only a dream to me. Good job.

Wendy, I have to be a little sneak with him.. If he ever catch on to what I am doing. I'm in big trouble. LOL.. WHO cares, it's for his own good. He was telling me just today. I can't wear a Large anymore, so you are going to have to get me an extra large.. Oh! Now you tell me.. Push ups are really working his back muscles.. He thinks it's his weight gain. LOL

Manta515, My aunt is from Thailand, and I went there for a few weeks when I was a kid.. Would love to go back..

Njmattes.. Southern Cooking. I think that's why my boyfriend loves me to much.. He all ways tells me.. You love me the most when you feed my tummy yummy, now rub it.. I'm full.. LOL.. Little do he know.. I cut half the fat.. LOL

Tracy, Congrats to you on your success. I think having faith in God and what you are doing is the best.. CONGRATS TO YOU AGAIN.