Who is getting fit - how are you doing and what are you doing?

janfromflorida

janfromflorida

Member
Location
Forida
For some of us this is a lifelong effort. I think I've lost enough weight in my lifetime to make a dozen of me! Well, last year I read some books by Dr. Neal Barnard and suddenly became a Vegan. That lasted about six months. A couple of months ago I moderated to vegetarian. I've been that on and off all my life. It is what I feel is right for me.
The good news is that on my yearly visit to my Endocrinologist she announced that my weigh-in showed I'd lost 32 pounds in the last year.

The bad news was that my blood test showed some kind of problem with my liver, so she took me off one of my diabetes meds. She also said not to use anything with Tylenol in it. So now my sugar control is sketchy. But I had the follow up blood test yesterday, so hopefully the results will be better. I believe the problem was caused by my use of over the counter meds which I used in April when I'd caught the bad respiratory bug that made the rounds.

Exercise-wise, I had good intentions. After losing my husband in January my friends urged me not to become a hermit. So I began classes at the Y, doing Tai Chi and also going to yoga at a friend's daughter's studio. Well, one enthusiastic yoga stretch tore my achilles tendon! So after six weeks in a boot and now in a 3 month brace, my exercise of choice is physical therapy!

Anyhow I am trying to eat right and keep on a-movin' like you should. Looking forward to seeing others' programs.


 

Milk Thistle is the best herb for liver support, so you may want to consider using a quality liquid tincture daily. Bitter Melon and Chromium Picolinate are also good for type 2 diabetics to regulate blood sugar. I am not even pre-diabetic yet, but getting there if I don't watch it. I take a CPic daily, and a bitter melon supplement every other day...I'm not yet giving up any sweets, so that helps a bit.

I gained some this past winter, so I'm doing some extra brisk walking daily, besides the usual morning walk with hubby and the dog. I also do some exercise videos now and then, like Turbojam and Step Aerobics. Did a Tai Chi class when I was younger, and like that very much.

I loved the Zumba class I was taking for awhile, but the gym moved and that was the end of it for me. But I have to say I did make my knee a bit jiggy, because I tended to overdo with certain movements. I grab an 8 pound weight sometimes when watching TV, and do a series of arm exercises.

We go vegetarian several days a week, but still enjoy our beef, lamb and pork. Sometimes we'll do a vegetarian month, we both have to be on the same page though when it comes to shopping for stuff and meal preparation.
 
I guess I am almost opposite of what you do but it works for me. I eat a high protein low carb diet. I don't follow any diet plan, just try to eat more protein and less carbs. I usually put on several pounds over winter but lose it when the weather warms and I get out to do more chores.
This spring I got to the lowest I've weighed in probably 30 years then gained 10 pounds the week we had company. ( I enjoyed every bite ).

For exercise, in addition to the necessary chores from living on 25 acres, I try to walk for at least 30 minutes once or twice a day. ( I've been very lax at this lately too.)

Though always a meat eater, I do love vegetables too and grow a large variety of them.
 

SeaBreeze said:
I loved the Zumba class I was taking for awhile, but the gym moved and that was the end of it for me. But I have to say I did make my knee a bit jiggy, because I tended to overdo with certain movements. I grab an 8 pound weight sometimes when watching TV, and do a series of arm exercises..
Click to expand...

I ordered the Zumba fitness workout program from a 'As seen on TV' infomerical. It is an unbelieveable workout, even done at home on your own, and does leave you shaky if done too much. I get it out every once in a while.

When going out for a walk, try wearing wrist weights and/or ankle weights to get an extra punch. Ankle weights are hard to get used to. But boy, the leg muscles you develop! And with the weights you burn so many more calories in the same amount of time.
 
TWHRider, I bet a lot of your weight is muscle. I'm around 20lbs over my 'ideal' weight now, and although I have a lot of abdominal fat (apple shape runs in my family), I also am fairly strong for being a woman of my size. I've always been guilty of skipping breakfast. Even when I was working, I left early in the morning, and usually ate a banana on the way...just to have something in my stomach for the vitamins I take.
 
Thanx Guys, It is nice to know where you are, too. Yes, Seasbreeze, I started the Milk Thistle as soon as the doc mentioned liver. However, being poor, I made do with the bottle of capsules that was already in my drawer. I been taking the Chromium faithfully for many months now. (Is CPic the same thing or something different?) Bitter Melon is a new one on me, but I will keep my eyes open for it.

I had to go to my foot doc yesterday for an unscheduled appointment because the bottom of my heel had become red and painful and swelled up like a ping-pong ball. It turned out to be the bursa, although I had suspected the Plantar Fasciitis which was the first thing that had gotten me acquainted with this doc about a year and a half ago. I've really had it out for my left foot since then. After that initial I had also broken two toes (one at a time about a week apart) and then the partial tear to my achilles tendon. So yesterday I got a cortisone shot into the heel and they taped it up for a three day stint. Of course the brace went back on for completion of my three months (mid-June to mid-Sept). The doc says it stays on for the duration. So for now I remain a one-legged wonder doing Pt twice a week, and foot/ankle exercises in my chair. I suppose I could hobble to the Y and ride the recumbent bike, but haven't worked up the enthusiasm to do that quite yet. For now, the treadmill remains a distant memory.

Went out for dinner with a group last night and indulged in New Orlean's gumbo - yum! Ate and enjoyed the saffron rice and mussels, but left the chicken and sausage that came along with it. That was my treat for this month!
 
Boo's Mom said:


I ordered the Zumba fitness workout program from a 'As seen on TV' infomerical. It is an unbelieveable workout, even done at home on your own, and does leave you shaky if done too much. I get it out every once in a while.

When going out for a walk, try wearing wrist weights and/or ankle weights to get an extra punch. Ankle weights are hard to get used to. But boy, the leg muscles you develop! And with the weights you burn so many more calories in the same amount of time.
Click to expand...

Just be advised that wrist and ankles weights are notorious for aggravating pre-existing joint problems. As with all exercise you should do your research beforehand to ensure a safe workout.

This Public Service Message brought to you by the letter "A".

I vote for eliminating the word "diet" from the English language; all too often it leads to wild swings of binging and starving and of becoming a slave to the latest trend.
 
SifuPhil said:
Just be advised that wrist and ankles weights are notorious for aggravating pre-existing joint problems. As with all exercise you should do your research beforehand to ensure a safe workout.

This Public Service Message brought to you by the letter "A".
Click to expand...

Advice noted.:) I don't use them often. The wrist weights don't seem troublesome, but the ankle weights can be felt in the lower back area. Like everything, go slow and easy. I practiced with them around the house first to get the feel of it before I took them to the street.
My biggest problem were my shoes ..Skechers Shape-Ups. And now I've ceased wearing them, as I've heard terrible stories of leg and hip problems from wearing them. It's a shame because they feel like you are walking on a cloud.

All this strength building was for one purpose, so that I could walk my yellow lab. I'm tired of him walking me!
 
Boo's Mom said:
Advice noted.:) I don't use them often. The wrist weights don't seem troublesome, but the ankle weights can be felt in the lower back area. Like everything, go slow and easy. I practiced with them around the house first to get the feel of it before I took them to the street.
My biggest problem were my shoes ..Skechers Shape-Ups. And now I've ceased wearing them, as I've heard terrible stories of leg and hip problems from wearing them. It's a shame because they feel like you are walking on a cloud.

All this strength building was for one purpose, so that I could walk my yellow lab. I'm tired of him walking me!
Click to expand...

That's it exactly - the wrist weights, unless you're power-walking and swinging your arms, are rarely a problem, but the ankle weights have caused umpteen problems with the legs, hips and back. You did the smart thing - you tried them out and got used to them before you used them "full strength".

The Skechers ... I've heard the bad stories about them. It's a shame since they're evidently so comfortable, but you're probably better off with New Balance ( my favorite) or Avia or one of those brands. The courts also finally signed-off in May on a year-long $40 million Federal Trade Commission lawsuit for false advertising about the health benefits of the Shape-Ups, so to me that's a pretty strong indictment against their usefulness.
 
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