Last month my doctor ordered me to lose 20 lbs by January. Progress so far? Zilch!!!!!!! The biggest issue is lack of exercise. I added a second job last April so I'm working every day, 70+ hrs a week. I sit all day at my primary job and stand on my feet at my part-time job (cashier). There is a good bit of walking at the cashier job as well. I'm bored with walking in the park at lunch on weekdays. I'm exhausted when I get home at 11:15-11:30 pm. I just want to fall into bed so I can get up at 7 am to do it all over again. Forget the dvd workouts!!! Besides, I just don't stay motivated to keep doing them. I'm thinking about using my lunch hour to go to Curves or to workout at the gym. Both are within a 5 minute drive of my workplace. Which do you think would be more beneficial?

quote:

Originally posted by cbarks:
I have lost 12 lbs. since Jan 2008!!

The loss is great! The fact that it happened slowly and you are maintaining it are super, super great.

Way to go!

That is great news!

I totally agree with the timer cover up-ers. When I do the stair mill or elliptical or bike, etc. indoors, I do not watch the time or I'd completely go nuts.

For the most part, this phenomenon of time dragging by is what keeps me outside. The constant change in scenery, even if it's the snow covered sidewalk two blocks of concrete at a time is still better than being trapped inside. I would have never guessed that my 5 mile run on Saturday took me 30 min. longer than normal.

that is really awesome!

UPDATE: I didn't get fussed at by the dr last Thursday!! I was disappointed to learn that I had lost only 1 lb since August. BUT I was pleasantly surprised to learn that I have lost 12 lbs. since Jan 2008!! That's why he didn't fuss. Thyroid is still doing crazy things so maybe when we get that under control the weight will come off easier. The rest of the lab tests were very good and the blood pressure is in good shape. Progress!!!!! I've also managed to increase my time on the elliptical to 11 minutes!! Now, if this sciatica would just calm down so I can enjoy the gym more......

I currently work out at curves. They have a new program called curves smart that they are trying at some of the places. (I don't know if at all of them or not.) It is like a computerized coach. It makes it more difficult or less depending on how you are doing based on the information put in the computer about you. The computer learns how you do the exercises and puts you in a level appropriate for you. I have had better results at curves since this program started at my curves.
I just thought I would put that out there. It is worth checking out both before making any decision.
Mnm

I also love intervals. it does make the time go by quickly.

quote:

Originally posted by jillybean:
I always had a towel with me at the gym. I used it to wipe the benches after i used them, but also to cover the timer on any cardio equipment, LOL! I could not stand to watch those minutes painfully tick by. On the recumbent bike, I always read a book. And the treadmills at our gym each had a tv attached so I'd pop in some headphones and watch a show, went much faster when I stopped watching that time!

Ditto all of that for me!

I used to play this game with myself when I was trying to get used to the elliptical to try to distract myself and be able to go longer. I would pick a spot or an object in the gym and I would just focus in on it--STARE at it--and it would help me be able to stop thinking about how much time was passing.

In my gym, the ellipticals were near the basketball court. The court was separated from the gym by a heavy hanging curtain that you could see through. So I might focus on a basketball laying on the floor, or on the hoop, or on a spot on the wall/floor, etc. It helped.

quote:

Originally posted by cbarks:
I HATE, HATE, HATE the treadmill!!!

Me too. And stair master. I refuse to do them. If those were my only two options in life, I'd choose to weigh 10 or 15 lbs more. I'm really not kidding. I hate them both so much. I don't do things I hate. Life is too short to spend on a treadmill hating every single nanosecond.

This is very weird... but I go for a... walk!!! Outside!!! OMG. How sick is that?

I like the timer. I warm up for 4 minutes. I'll use it to do intervals. I'll push myself really hard for 30 seconds. Then do 3 min "normal". Then really push for 45 seconds. Then do 30 seconds at less then "normal". Then go backwards for 30 seconds. Stop and take a glug of water at 10, 20, and 30 minutes.

I find the time goes by really fast and 1 minute of this and then 30 seconds of that and then 2 minutes of the other… soon, I’ve done my 25 or 30 or 35 mins. And I’m done.

I think of the timer the same way I think of the scale. It is a tool. It isn’t my enemy. It doesn’t measure how “good” I am or how “bad” or “lazy” I am. Doesn’t measure my worth as a person. If I go a longer time, I’m not a “better” person. Timer measures time. That’s all. Scale measures the Earth’s gravitational pull. That all.

I'm in the cover up the timer camp with Jill. I can't stand watching the minutes tick by.

And I agree with Iz- you are doing GREAT!

you are doing awesome. i just hope you know that.

i read magazines while on the elliptical. not the ones that showcase size zero women (like i need to feel bad while on the elliptical--NOT!) i read Oprah, or cooking magazines to get recipe ideas. or if you can find a way to clip open the pages of a book, i do see other people reading books. most of the time, i listen to my music and close my eyes and pray. 30 minutes go by really fast that way. sometimes, I people-watch which i find more entertaining than TV.

you remind me that I should plug the ole slowcooker in the wall and do some practical cooking this weekend.

quote:

Originally posted by cbarks:
Maybe I won't watch the clock so much today during cardio.

I always had a towel with me at the gym. I used it to wipe the benches after i used them, but also to cover the timer on any cardio equipment, LOL! I could not stand to watch those minutes painfully tick by. On the recumbent bike, I always read a book. And the treadmills at our gym each had a tv attached so I'd pop in some headphones and watch a show, went much faster when I stopped watching that time!

Jill

I'm up to 5 min on the elliptical, 15 min on the recumbent bike, and 10 min on treadmill. I HATE, HATE, HATE the treadmill!!! My goal is to up the minutes on the other two and eliminate the treadmill for awhile. I ordered some leggings like the ones they use on Biggest Loser and some upbeat workout music for my MP3 player. Maybe I won't watch the clock so much today during cardio. I almost gave up on the bike yesterday after the trainer put me thru 30 min of resistance training. I know I was pooped but I didn't have time to go back later in the day for the cardio. I had the 1st grade choir at church last night because the director was in the hospital with pancreatitis and adult choir practice right after. I barely had time to eat dinner. Oh, I also bought a new crockpot and cooked all my chicken for the week on Sunday afternoon. Steamed veggies and chicken are what's for dinner this week. Hurray for the microwave!! My oven has been on the blink; the stove needs a new electronic control thingy. The pricey one! Found a new part on e-bay for half the $$ and my son, the computer guru, is replacing it for me.

Yea, the elliptical just about did me in my first time too. I got as far as being able to do 30 minutes...working up to it over a period of time...but I didn't stick with it after that. It was always a big challenge...never enjoyable. Perhaps because I am so much shorter than the average person...I dunno. Stairsteppers about kill me, too, and probably for the same reason...I have to raise my leg a lot higher than most folks to keep up.

good fo ryou!
this is a good time to join the gym because once Jan 1st hits, gyms offer no deals because people are dying to lose their holiday weight and gyms do not have to beg anybody to join.

the first time i did the elliptical, i only lasted 4 minutes. i thought i had vertigo or something, and i was out of breath. then i tried 10 minutes. and each day, i tried to add one more minute. now, I do an hour each time. baby steps! you can do it!

I opted for the gym. The enrollment fee was $1 plus monthly dues. I purchased a Jump Start program so in addition to the 2 free orientation sessions I get 4 sessions with a personal trainer. They measured me and my fat percentage (bummer!!) and weighed me. I do it again in 3 months for a progress report. I liked the trainer they set me up with for orientation. She and I talk the same language. She believes in baby steps!! I also like the trainer I have for the 4 sessions. He calls me 'sweetie'. Their hours are better for my schedule as well. Oh and the elliptical machine just about did me in!! That was my first time on one! This gym has the STRIVE equipment which combines cardio and strength training. So, here I come January 8.

Ditto to all the comments below.

I go to Curves and the Y. Curves is paid for by my medicare insurance company. It is cheaper than a Y membership but my Y membership is a "senior family" plan and I split the cost with my daughter so my half of the Y membership is cheaper than Curves would be.

I like using both of them. I like doing the machines at Curves (it is not as intimanating as the machines at the Y) and I use the indoor walking track and swimming pool at the Y. Plus, the Y has additional classes and programs that I can go to. Coming up in about a week they are having free health screening in conjunction with a local hospital.

Curves usually takes me a little longer than 30 minutes because there are three machines there that I double up on and don't move to the next station until the recording says it a second time. Of course, I can't do that if there is someone coming along right behind me.

quote:

Originally posted by GoingSkiing:

quote:

Originally posted by jillybean:
Is there a particular reason he picked January?

I also know a couple of doctors, personally... and doctors, being average Americans, who struggle with their weight as much as anybody... may not quite realize the commitment and dedication it takes to lose 10 lbs a month.

I had a very rotund doctor (he was as wide as he was tall) tell me that the only way I'd lose any weight was to eat 1200 calories or less per day. This coming from a guy who probably ate 1200 calories just for breakfast. It would be like taking financial advice from someone who is broke.

2 lbs/wk-easier said then done.

I agree w/Denise that if you go back for a re-check and the dr. sees progress, he should be pretty satisfied.

Jill