Exercise, fitness, weight, calories, and overall health: Christmas Eve 2016-until

Oh--and for those of us who do not "naturally" drink a lot of water, and sort of have to train ourselves to do it--I have two recommendations.

1. Buy some version of a Yeti-type tumbler. Walmart sells their brand for about $10. Bought my wife a RTIC one for about $10-12. I have a Yeti that kids bought me for Father's Day last year, or else I wouldn't have spent the money on it, and they chemically etched my initials in it so I couldn't return it. Darn kids. Anyway, put some amount of ice in it--you can fill it up if you want, but you really don't need to fill it with ice, as it stays cold forever, and you'll always have cold water around.

2. To me, this 2nd one is key. Buy a metal straw. I was not a fan of them, and finally decided to try (somewhere there's a discussion of this). You drink more water because you're not gulping in as much air with each "drink." It's way more efficient. The straws are cheap; you can generally get a set of 4 to 6 for about $10, too.

With those two things, I have a 30oz tumbler that I typically refill at least once a day. And remember, I'm also drinking three 12-oz glasses of water with apple cider vinegar in a separate glass each day. Part of the 30oz is ice, so it's not quite 60 + 72 oz, but it's significant. Helps keep the metabolism up, helps keep you hydrated for general health, helps keep you somewhat full so you don't snack on crap stuff (which I am awful at doing), etc.

If I just had # 1, I wouldn't drink nearly as much. Same if I just had # 2. But having both have helped me.

I'm on the way home from vacation, upon arrival I will officially start all over...

Big Bobs and Dreamland were worth the lbs.


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I have dropped 14 pounds in the last 9 months with no concerted effort at dieting, other than to watch how much I eat. Big breakfast and minimal food at dinner and supper. In the last 4 weeks I have ridden the bike just over 235 miles. I hope to keep that up through June and then take a break for my cross country Amtrak trip.

I attribute the weight loss to appetite suppressant as I lost the weight in the first five months. The bike work has mostly been adding muscle in the arms and legs and hopefully improved cardiadic health.

I do exactly the opposite on when I eat more, which bucks the normal protocol of eating substantively early to get the metabolism going. Just works for me. Breakfast is between 120-210 calories. Always some combination of boiled eggs, instant oatmeal with a teaspoon of peanut butter, instant grits, and a banana. Not many combinations work there, but I don't really require that much variety. Lunch is the same, but usually flip the switch on breakfast and have the opposite. Today I will have oatmeal for lunch because I had 2 boiled eggs for breakfast.

The problem I have is late afternoon. I would like to eat an early dinner, as I am well hungry by 5:30, but dinner at my house is normally closer to 6:30. So I tend to start to eat junk.

What has helped in that vein is having boiled eggs handy, since one is about 60 calories and filling, and I have recently started picking up a snack I love, those beef steak things that are similar to jerky, but not as tough. Flavorful, and for 1 oz., pretty satiating, but only 50 calories.

I have changed my "bad" snack habits, too. I used to be able to sit and eat a "row" of cookies while snacking. Now if I'm bad, it's 3 chips ahoy. Tolerable.

I desperately need to start back exercising, which I haven't done. I am jealous of that terrific bike riding. Fun, get out and see and experience things, and great exercise. Maybe some day, but not soon.

Not as bad as I thought it would be 220.4... I made it to 215 and change then crept back up to 218 before I left for vacation. After two weeks at the beach and feasting on Alabama BBQ and seafood 220 isn't too bad.

I need to get back on track with diet and exercise to start losing again. So as I recuperate from vacation I'll start getting back in exercise shape, followed by calorie counting.


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218.8, going back in the right direction.


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Afraid to step on the scales for awhile.

I am currently down 106 pounds since October 14, 2016. I am 44 pounds from my goal weight - but I am totally thrilled with my current weight loss.

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Originally Posted by uklandrn

I am currently down 106 pounds since October 14, 2016. I am 44 pounds from my goal weight - but I am totally thrilled with my current weight loss.

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That's incredible! Great work. Soon you will have to focus on transferring to maintenance eating. I call this dieting phase II. It is just as hard as dieting at first, because you are so used to losing that it is hard to find that balance. Good luck to you.

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Originally Posted by uklandrn

I am currently down 106 pounds since October 14, 2016. I am 44 pounds from my goal weight - but I am totally thrilled with my current weight loss.

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Holy moly!! Great job!!! I am embarrassed to post my paltry weight loss numbers.

What is your secret? What does your diet consist of?

You are an inspiration...


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Originally Posted by uklandrn

I am currently down 106 pounds since October 14, 2016. I am 44 pounds from my goal weight - but I am totally thrilled with my current weight loss.

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Great work!

I rewarded myself last week and bought a new bike. I am totally thrilled with it and wish I had done so sooner. My old bike I bought about 7 years ago was after a stroke and wanted something with wider tires and lower center of gravity. But, after getting my rides up over 50 miles a week I decided to get a hybrid/urban type cycle. And, Cannondale had a bike with which I fell in love. My top speeds are up to about 18 miles an hour and average 11 in the city. That includes waiting at the traffic signals. I am anxious to take to the Chief Lidiga trail next week to see what I can do on a trail with minimal road crossings.

I upped the protein and cut the portions and basically stopped eating sweets. Of course I had gastric sleeve in October - so I cannot eat very much at a time. I try to get some sort of exercise everyday - but being a nurse I do a lot of working everyday. Thank you for the acknowlegement - I am so much closer to my goal weight than I ever thought I'd be.

207.2 this morning. I bounced back up awhile, with plays, family in, graduation, etc. but settling back into the routine. I keep breakfast and lunch at 200 calories or less (low is 120, high is 208), and mostly eat what I want for dinner. I have adopted these beef jerky type snacks that are pretty satiating at 50-80 calories each that I will eat for a snack, and back to 3x per day of the apple cider vinegar water.

I'd like to get under 200 before the summer is over, and preferably by July, but that probably won't happen.

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Originally Posted by uklandrn

I upped the protein and cut the portions and basically stopped eating sweets. Of course I had gastric sleeve in October - so I cannot eat very much at a time. I try to get some sort of exercise everyday - but being a nurse I do a lot of working everyday. Thank you for the acknowlegement - I am so much closer to my goal weight than I ever thought I'd be.

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You are doing fantastic, Niki....very inspirational. Despite your hard work, I also know that lifestyle is tough, and easy to eat the wrong kind of foods, etc.

If it makes you feel better D, your current weight is pretty much my goal weight.

I had a good stretch of weight loss, but that's gone now. Too much stress, too many carbs, not enough exercise. When I cut out the carbs that weight goes away.

218.... trying to get back to 215.


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Originally Posted by CitizenBBN

If it makes you feel better D, your current weight is pretty much my goal weight.

I had a good stretch of weight loss, but that's gone now. Too much stress, too many carbs, not enough exercise. When I cut out the carbs that weight goes away.

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It's just tough. You're not as old as I am, but you hit a certain age anywhere near our age, and it just takes more (or I should say, a lot less). Used to be I could skip lunch and go run and lose 5 pounds (and not water loss), I used to joke only half kiddingly. Now the exercise means little to my weight loss, and deviating from an established calorie intake plan means the weight not only doesn't go down, it freakin goes up. Just very difficult.

217.4


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Down 111 pounds now. 39 pounds to my goal!! I am really excited about it even though I am still classified overweight - I am no longer in the Obese category!! I actually have to go sometime and get some clothes that fit me because right now I am wearing a bunch of things that are much too large - but that is perfectly ok with me. I am just happy to not be embarrassed to leave my house anymore.

Fantastic, Niki. Way to go!

216.7 slow going.


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211.0. Knew I was going up. Need that to stop.

208.8. Headed back down. Don't I look great? https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...f710d97f01.jpg

217.2 not bad for literally not moving for four days last week...unless coughing, sneezing and blowing my nose counts for moving.

Still not going in the direction I'd like. Might have to find 300 calories to eliminate. I had hoped to be at 215 by months end.


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Down 115 pounds and 35 to goal weight. https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...969879a2dd.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...2682b14fd4.jpg


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Wow! Just wow!!


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Niki, why are you posting your high school graduation pictures?

;)

Great work. You look terrific.

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Originally Posted by blueboss

Wow! Just wow!!


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My thoughts exactly, just stunning!

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Originally Posted by uklandrn

Down 115 pounds and 35 to goal weight. https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...969879a2dd.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...2682b14fd4.jpg


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Keep it up and you're going to have to run around in the shower to get wet!!


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207.0. It's funny how the weight sometimes comes off more easily. Recently, I have had occasion to have doughnuts, muffin tops from a local bakery, and other goodies around the house due to various circumstances including birthdays and the like.

I have indulged, but I have taken extraordinary steps to to make sure that my calorie intake for the day stays under my goal. For example, I am making the "cardinal" sin after having two large doughnuts at breakfast of skipping lunch.

I drink a lot of water, have some coffee, and go running in 90 degree weather and it saps my appetite for lunch anyway. I'm sure I'm violating all of the rules related to your metabolism and all that, but it is working for me just focusing on the calories, rather than the type of calories or the timing of the calorie intake.

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Originally Posted by Darrell KSR

Niki, why are you posting your high school graduation pictures?

;)

Great work. You look terrific.

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Thanks for the sweet compliment. Truthfully I don't think I looked this good in high school - but in my defense it was the 80's and aqua net was very important then!
I am now 30 pounds from goal - just wish I could make certain places tone up at will.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...0618f482f0.jpg27 pounds til goal weight!!


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https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...97f65befe9.jpgm

Closer to my goal everyday!


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Keep it going, Niki. This last part will be tough, but you have already come so far... Great job.

Smoke'n !!!!


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Jeez, now I've gone backwards from 216 to 219 again... it's gotta be the sodium and holding fluids.

I'm still trying to stay in the 1500-2000 calories/ per day range with very little sweets.

The one thing I haven't been doing is regular exercise. That may need to change to get going in the right direction again.


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Originally Posted by blueboss

Jeez, now I've gone backwards from 216 to 219 again... it's gotta be the sodium and holding fluids.

I'm still trying to stay in the 1500-2000 calories/ per day range with very little sweets.

The one thing I haven't been doing is regular exercise. That may need to change to get going in the right direction again.


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If you've been sub-2000 calories a number of days in a row (1-2+ weeks), you might try ramping up one day to 2600 or so, and exercise that day for possible metabolism boosts. Then return for 7-10 days of sub-2k calorie intake.

I'm just sorta stuck in this 207-208 range. But the reason is I'm doing well 3 or 4 days and not doing well the other days. Not awful, but not good. I'm going to try to get a little more consistent and see if I can get under 200.

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Originally Posted by Darrell KSR

If you've been sub-2000 calories a number of days in a row (1-2+ weeks), you might try ramping up one day to 2600 or so, and exercise that day for possible metabolism boosts. Then return for 7-10 days of sub-2k calorie intake.

I'm just sorta stuck in this 207-208 range. But the reason is I'm doing well 3 or 4 days and not doing well the other days. Not awful, but not good. I'm going to try to get a little more consistent and see if I can get under 200.

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Thanks for the tip. Should be easy to ramp up the calories for a day, it's the exercise that's the hard part. It's just so hot, when I hit the door I get real lazy. I'm only working outside doing yard work maybe two days a week. I'd like to get down to 210 and kind of hanging there going into the eating season Oct-Dec.


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Originally Posted by blueboss

Thanks for the tip. Should be easy to ramp up the calories for a day, it's the exercise that's the hard part. It's just so hot, when I hit the door I get real lazy. I'm only working outside doing yard work maybe two days a week. I'd like to get down to 210 and kind of hanging there going into the eating season Oct-Dec.

My meager weight loss pales to Nikki's achievements...

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https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...42f8943794.jpg

My first time wearing shorts in 8 years. I'm down another 2 pounds and these finally fit and I wore them OUTSIDE!! I know it's not a big deal for you but it's huge for me!!! Only 39 pounds to hit my new target.


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