Hi Annette. You are getting fabulous results!! Congrats. I found you when I was searching for information about the GoWear Fit. You have convinced me to order one, which I will do next week. Meanwhile, this site looked so good I have joined and I will be logging my progress regularly.
I am 54, so a bit older than you, but I'm still seeing great improvement in my fitness level with regular workouts and long hikes. The main impediment to realizing the body and fitness level I want to have is osteoarthritis, esp in my right knee and elbow. I have to be careful to not overuse them or they flare up and I know they will eventually wear out.
Oh, I just edited this because the other impediment to reaching my goals is that I eat too much.
I will be checking back on your progress!
Moondust, thank you for such a nice complement. I will be looking for you to start your own log here and keep up with your accomplishments.
You'll love a GoWear Fit, it's such an empowering tool
I'm guess a lot of people go into a diet without thinking about taking the breaks. I don't know of any "traditional" diets that even really talk about it.
I started my diet and withing the first two weeks had done enough research that I learned about the diet break, so I was able to figure out when the first 12 weeks would be over to take a break.
Last night I was lying in bed thinking of the numbers, and I realized that if I lose 25 lbs during the first 12 weeks, hold for the first break (I'm thinking 2 weeks based on Lyle McDonald's article) and then lose another 25 lbs during diet round 2 that I'll actually be done dieting.
Wow, that blows my mind and is a very positive feeling for me and puts me exactly at my goal weight.
Even if I'm not at my goal weight (say off 5-10 lbs) I will be at a really really good place.
I need to do anything and everything I can to keep my mind in a strong place.
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I've felt fat these past few days. Now truly, I am fat, but I was feeling more "fat." My belly feels larger again. Looking at my cals, I have been eating a bit higher, so I'm going to guess it's a bit of that. I'm still drinking loads of water, well over 1.5 gallons a day.
My plan is to try to eat lower for Sat and Sun, just to let my belly feel flatter.
It might be hormones too, who knows.
So though I was feeling fat, knowing I shouldn't step on the scale, I did anyway, and lo and behold I was down 0.4 lbs.
Too weird, and I'm pleased.
Down to 168.6 (started at 182.) A few days ago I was so eager to get below 170 and now I'm getting that same feeling about 165. Mini-goals are great motivators.
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Super duper sore from that darn Jillian Michaels DVD 30 day shred. I'm not going to do it today, in fact, I'm not walking today either.
I'm contemplating going to the gym, which I haven't done in a week. I will get a full body workout in, and maybe 20 min on both the bike and ArcTrainer.
Sounds like a great plan: 2 weeks break & then continue your successful diet.
Don't overdo the exercise too much, that dvd sounds like too intensive. Or if you are lovin' it.. make sure to fuel it in advance as going too low in calories can either lead to nasty overeating episodes or make you feel wiped out far too long and by now we all know how this affects NEAT
Wow, I am so glad that I found you. There are so many things that we are going through at the same time. Hormones going crazy, joint problems (though mine aren't as bad as yours yet), even trying to figure out what we want from our bodies at this stage in life.
I didn't quite understand why you almost fainted. Do you know what is causing it? That is scary. Good thing you recognized what was happening.
But, I have recently had problems with almost fainting. I get real dizzy, everything around me starts to get quiet, and things start getting dark. I am hoping when I get my blood work done (hormones, adrenals, and vitamins) they will find out what is up.
I have been wanting to get a gofit wear. Unfortunately, I have heard that sensor contains nickle, and I am allergic to it. Was so disappointed to find that out. But was glad I found out before ordering.
__________________
Peaches
The journey to health and fitness
Should be taken
Because you love yourself,
Not because you hate your body
Weird you are mentioning this.. hadn't seen you mentioning dizzy spells yet (or forgot) and that's where I am complaining about too in the last few weeks.. a combo of low blood sugar (never used to affect me at higher bf% levels) and a stiff/painful neck.
In your (Annette) case I'm blaming the neck due to your cervical problems.
Wow, I am so glad that I found you. There are so many things that we are going through at the same time. Hormones going crazy, joint problems (though mine aren't as bad as yours yet), even trying to figure out what we want from our bodies at this stage in life.
I didn't quite understand why you almost fainted. Do you know what is causing it? That is scary. Good thing you recognized what was happening.
But, I have recently had problems with almost fainting. I get real dizzy, everything around me starts to get quiet, and things start getting dark. I am hoping when I get my blood work done (hormones, adrenals, and vitamins) they will find out what is up.
I have been wanting to get a gofit wear. Unfortunately, I have heard that sensor contains nickle, and I am allergic to it. Was so disappointed to find that out. But was glad I found out before ordering.
Yea, it's great to find other women to compare issues with, or just to bitch about them.
I've had issues with fainting in the past so I'm very aware of when it's happening. I know for a fact that icey water on an empty stomach can trigger one for me, and I do think when I was biking that day that my HR was much too high, I was over exerted, I took a drink of my ice water (bought an insulated bottle for the bike) and immediately felt my ears buzz out. So I think the cold water was what took me over the edge.
I checked the GoWear Fit sensor and it says it's "304 grade stainless steel"
I was very concerned myself as I'm extremely allergic to cobalt and avoid all metals (allergic to gold too, that sucks.)
I am definitely allergic to the Polar HRM strap, the soft one and have a rash when I wear it. I'm not allergic to the plastic one, but my plastic one isn't coded and I don't want to spend the money on a new one ($45)
Weird you are mentioning this.. hadn't seen you mentioning dizzy spells yet (or forgot) and that's where I am complaining about too in the last few weeks.. a combo of low blood sugar (never used to affect me at higher bf% levels) and a stiff/painful neck.
In your (Annette) case I'm blaming the neck due to your cervical problems.
I do think anyone who has a stiff neck needs to back of on exercises that might worsen the condition.
Working shoulders when you have a "kink in the neck" or the back is useless (my opinion.)
I was reading a book on fibromyalgia awhile back, and one point that really stuck out in my mind was that if you have an active trigger point issue, working out that muscle doesn't help it as the muscle isn't able to properly contract and all that stuff.
I should look that up and find the exact explanation, but it really made sense to me, as my trigger point issues are in my left neck, left bottom skull, left top shoulder and left back right beside the shoulder blade
I actually felt great yesterday, did weights, went a bit heavier and am feeling the tightness through those "lefts" again. Will do some work with the ball on them, and have a massage scheduled for Tuesday.
Massage is the best thing for my body.
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Oh, so yesterday was like a non-hungry sort of day. How cool is that. I ate only 1200 calories and it was only at about 11:30pm when my tummy felt empty.
What did I do differently I was wondering....hmmm...I ate a bowl of oat bran for breakfast, rather than oat meal.
I ate it again today, but I just remembered that I forgot my protein powder that I usually add in.
C'est la vie.
I took a 50 min walk this morning, will probably take another one this evening, that will be it for exercise today as I'm contemplating another 1200 cal day. Got a couple meals out already scheduled this week.
And weight was down to 168 even this morning, super duper awesome!!!
I just emailed the company to find out about the nickle. I had read on one of the review that several people had broken out in a rash and later found out it was due to nickle even though it wasn't listed on the specifications.
Heres hoping with fingers crossed
__________________
Peaches
The journey to health and fitness
Should be taken
Because you love yourself,
Not because you hate your body
I've gotten a spot or two of eczema from it, but it seems more related to sweat. I've gotten my arm dried off, a dab of my prescription cortisone and have then worn it on my other arm for the rest of the day, or shifted it off the sore spot.
I do have eczema on my body though (thankfully under control.)
I just emailed the company to find out about the nickle. I had read on one of the review that several people had broken out in a rash and later found out it was due to nickle even though it wasn't listed on the specifications.
Heres hoping with fingers crossed
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Originally Posted by AnnetteW
I've gotten a spot or two of eczema from it, but it seems more related to sweat. I've gotten my arm dried off, a dab of my prescription cortisone and have then worn it on my other arm for the rest of the day, or shifted it off the sore spot.
I do have eczema on my body though (thankfully under control.)
An actually allergy though is a different matter.
I've also gotten eczema from it, and I also have tendencies toward eczema. It did seem to start getting worse as the heat increased, so I'm probably having issues w/ sweat, too. I'm sensitive to nickle (can't wear it in earrings) but not outright allergic.
Anyway, for the GWF I've been leaving it off at night if the eczema is really bad, then trying to avoid the itchy skin when I wear it, let my arm dry completely of lotion/water from shower before replacing it, ensure I wash and disinfect the armband regularly, that kind of thing. It's tolerable right now, but the eczema may not go away completely for me till after summer.
__________________
They call me Amanda, that being my real name, and "They" being people who know me in person as I don't go around introducing myself in real life as "scribess." 'Cause that would just be strange.
I may have misspoke when I said allergic. I just know that when I wear jewlery with nickle I have skin problems that can vary from large bumps to a rash.
__________________
Peaches
The journey to health and fitness
Should be taken
Because you love yourself,
Not because you hate your body
A lot for me to think about this week. I like just dieting for the week and then contemplating what I did, and what I might want to do for the next week. Plus I get new ideas of things to track.
It's kind of the realization that one can't do everything 100% from the start, and to continue to improve as time goes on.
So what did I notice while tracking? I'm still pretty much on track with my GoWear fit. It estimated me at a 2.3 lb loss for the past week, and I lost 2 lbs even. The total for the past 5 weeks is less than a 1 lb difference. So far so good.
I'm feeling okay with the deficit I'm getting.
I decided to start tracking my body fat, even though I know the Tanita scale and Omron handheld aren't considered too accurate. I have the devices though, so I might as well use them.
On the Tanita I measured at 34.5% and the Omron 33.7% so the average was 34.1% (seems close enough to me.)
That gives me a lbm of 110lbs. If that is true, which I think is fairly accurate due to lbm measurements I've done throughout the years, it makes my desired 130lbs too low (if I don't lose lbm.)
147lbs for 25%
138lbs for 20%
Hmmmm....obviously I don't need to worry about it now, but it's something for me to pay attention to.
I do not want to be skinny. If I'm going to do all this work I sure as hell want some muscle to show. I know I'll never have gobs of big muscles, but what's the purpose of not having evidence of all of one's hard work?
I want someone to look at me and say "that girl's got some muscle on her."
I also played with my diet macros for the first time. So far I've just been counting calories, though of course the programs track your macros too. I decided to do an average for the week to see what I can possibly improve.
These are the results for the past 7 days:
Cals - 1619
Carbs - 37%
Fat - 37%
Prot - 101g 25%
Fiber - 21g
I'm happy with the 100 g of protein, and will try to increase it just a smidge. I'm not doing gobs of weights so it's more than enough (I think.)
I obviously like my fat, and will see if I can drop that a bit. I just like to eat my sunflower seeds (almost daily) and they just have lots of fat.
I eat lots of fruits and veggies so am surprised the fiber is as low as it is. I do have IBS and have to be very careful with insoluble fiber. I will start eating OatBran instead of oatmeal, brown rice instead of white rice. I can consider the glucomman (Cassandra Forsyth's book) but I have to be careful as I think it bloats me. I don't think I start low enough though, and always increase too quickly.
I lurk your journal, but I wanted to de-lurk to say that I LOVE seeing your weekly data charts.
I also have a GoWear Fit and was left a *tad* skeptical about its accuracy. You hear so many doubters quoting the 10% error, yadda yadda. And yet, your data and experience with it seems to be dead on. While I'm still admittedly a little cautious about completely trusting the numbers the device shows for my calorie burn, your experiences give me more faith in it.
Sunshinekisses, it's neat to know you've been reading. You were around a year and a half ago when I attempted NROL4W, weren't you? Think we had a few IM's about WW.
Peaches, that totally sucks about the nickel and absolutely pisses me off that they say one thing in their specs and then another in an email to you. Luckily I'm not allergic to nickel, but cobalt, which I'm highly allergic to is often in the same items that nickel is in, so I avoid all crap jewelry and metals as much as possible. I must have lucked out this time.
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My head has been spinning for the last two days and I want to ramble on about it. Some of it won't make any sense, much of it is useless thinking, etc. But they are my rambles.
First of all, dammit, I hate hurting. I always say when I win the lottery, I will have daily massages for a week, then every other day for a few weeks, then hopefully I can get down to 2x a week. I feel like I have DOMS that lasts for days on end. I've been so careful going back to the weights to not mess myself up again, but my body WANTS to lift heavy weight. Heck, most women don't want to and can, I want to and can't, and it gets me very angry and frustrated.
So I decided that I can for my legs (oops, bad idea.) I can't squat as I can't put a bar on my shoulders, and I can front squat in the standard position with the wrists flipped. I do want to try that crossed over arm position, and I guess I can try it with a 20 lb loaded bb.
At least that's what I will try next.
I've been trying to concentrate on the backside more than the quads as my quads build up just fine and yes, I'll admit that I don't want the quads that don't fit into my jeans (at least not till I'm thin.)
On Saturday (yes, I still hurt from Saturday) I started with deadlifts. I'm using the olympic bar and that's more than enough at this time. Totally felt it in the hamstrings, butt and back.
Then I did some glute raises to work on activation and did the glute machine at the gym. Any comments on whether or not this machine is helpful or not? I only do it on the lightest weight for about 10 reps as it's hard.
I tossed in 2 set of leg curls and then leg presses on a machine. I do prefer the regular leg press machne (free weight one) but both were busy and I didn't want to wait.
Sometimes I have no clue if what I do is right or not. Everything these days is big compound moves, but sorry, I can't squat and push at the same time. I'm not feeling strong enough for lunges yet (though I'm doing some in a DVD.) It just feels like it takes so long to build up a decent base these days.
After the legs I did a few sets for back (always my favorite) and only 1 set for chest and shoulders. I really miss working shoulders.
I'm still rambling.
I've been feeling the back of my neck and back for the past few days. I'm a constant snap, crackle and pop right now. The bones hurt and the muscles hurt and I'm feeling the trigger points coming back. This afternoon I'm getting a massage. I'm also doing no exercise today. Yes, I "try" to do some recovery work, but why is it harder to do that than to do other stuff?
Cardio has been walking most daily, that's not too hard or stressful. We only danced 1 night last week, that's high energy, but not stressful. I only did one workout on the ArcTrainer last week, and that was normal. I don't feel like I'm over doing any of that.
I just hate when things hurt, and between the DOMS in my hamstrings and the upper body tightness, I'm a bit uncomfortable, but not bad enough to pop some motrin, so I guess that's okay, and I need to stop bitching.
This is when I realize my goal, as far as fitness goes, is to get beyond discomfort in my body. And I feel like I'm working towards that, but I never feel like it gets better.
Is this an age thing? I don't remember hurting days and days after a workout. I don't want to take a week to recover, though that's how it's going lately.
I look at what I'm saying, and my logical explanation is to work less hard. Duh...I'm not physically able to handle it yet, and yes, I'm on a deficit too. The diet part seems like a breeze though, so I don't always related the two together, which is totally stupid, I know.
Rambling is good for the head, just like a walk clears the cobwebs. I think I've answered my own questions. Even though it doesn't seem like a lot of exercise, for my body at this time, it is too much.
I have to make a plan to cut back. I can suck it up and concentrate on pink db workouts to continue my rehabilitation. Lighten up on the lower body, maybe just bodyweight exercises for now. I like my walks and occasional bikeride, dancing stays the same.
I'd really like to add more stretching and recovery, easy yoga too.
But dang, I like seeing the burn on my GoWearFit, and I like eating more when I do.
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Another ramble and I'll keep this one shorter.
I watched back episode of "The Biggest Loser" these past few days online. I've never watched the show before, and I'm shocked. I think that's why some of this stuff has been in my head. How can these people workout so hard, when I can barely get it going? For all the bad that is done, it truly is amazing and inspirational. I look forward to watching it next season.
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On a totally positive note, since I'm taking it easy today, I'm going to go through clothes and put aside all that is too big right now. It's always great to have our own closets to shop in, and I'll be able to go pretty darn low with many items. At least I'll never hit the "I have absolutely nothing to wear" situation.
I've gotten back into my capris and jeans from last summer. Yea for me!!!
Second, you should invest in a foam roller. Self-myofascial release is hugely beneficial for recovery. And cheaper than massages, though massages are great, too.
Last, yes, slow down.
__________________
They call me Amanda, that being my real name, and "They" being people who know me in person as I don't go around introducing myself in real life as "scribess." 'Cause that would just be strange.
First of all, dammit, I hate hurting.
I've been so careful going back to the weights to not mess myself up again, but my body WANTS to lift heavy weight.
It sounds like your body does NOT want to but your mind wants to lift heavy. Don't people here eat 1900+ calories on their lifting days? And you're in deficit.....
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So I decided that I can for my legs (oops, bad idea.) I can't squat as I can't put a bar on my shoulders, and I can front squat in the standard position with the wrists flipped. I do want to try that crossed over arm position, and I guess I can try it with a 20 lb loaded bb.
What about a bodyweight squat or squat with dumbbells
Quote:
I'm not feeling strong enough for lunges yet (though I'm doing some in a DVD.)
What about lunges w/out weights?
Quote:
I've been feeling the back of my neck and back for the past few days. I'm a constant snap, crackle and pop right now. The bones hurt and the muscles hurt and I'm feeling the trigger points coming back. This afternoon I'm getting a massage. I'm also doing no exercise today. Yes, I "try" to do some recovery work, but why is it harder to do that than to do other stuff?
Sounds like you are doing too much. Do you want to last and be flexible another 35 years or have big muscles now and not last?
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Cardio has been walking most daily, that's not too hard or stressful. We only danced 1 night last week, that's high energy, but not stressful.
How do you get so many steps in? How much do you walk? (I need to find your trick to walking so much)
Quote:
I just hate when things hurt, .... I need to stop bitching. This is when I realize my goal, as far as fitness goes, is to get beyond discomfort in my body.
This makes no sense. Why do you want to go beyond your body's messages of discomfort? These do not seem like a 25 year old's complaints about exercising their legs too much last night and feeling it today.
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Is this an age thing? I don't remember hurting days and days after a workout.
I would have said yes 3 months ago, but I feel 10 years younger now. So I think your body is crying and you're not listening and healing.
What's your problem with the Recovery work. Does it hurt, or are you just not making the time for it (like me)? Buy a foam roller. It will hurt the first 6 times and then begin to feel GREAT!
Quote:
I have to make a plan to cut back. I can suck it up and concentrate on pink db workouts to continue my rehabilitation. Lighten up on the lower body, maybe just bodyweight exercises for now. I like my walks and occasional bikeride, dancing stays the same.
The pink db jab is a put down for your weak ability, I get that, but it puts your great efforts down. If you go to youtube.com and look at Turbulence Training and Craig Ballentyne, you'll see some fierce hard bodyweight supersets that would challenge anyone, and no talk of pink db's. Have you tried a DB get up lately (with a pink db, it's still very hard to do 3 sets of 12 alternating sides).
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I'd really like to add more stretching and recovery, easy yoga too. But dang, I like seeing the burn on my GoWearFit, and I like eating more when I do.
I think that the burn on the GWF is from your walking, not your weight training... Look at the graphs....
Quote:
I watched back episode of "The Biggest Loser" these past few days online. I've never watched the show before, and I'm shocked. I think that's why some of this stuff has been in my head. How can these people workout so hard, when I can barely get it going? For all the bad that is done, it truly is amazing and inspirational. I look forward to watching it next season.
They are 20 somethings.
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I've gotten back into my capris and jeans from last summer. Yea for me!!!
I do have a foam roller and I use it. I use my balls too
I've had massage done for over 10 years, though not as consistently as needed. I'm back to a weekly schedule. I work regularly on stretching and yet have never been flexible. I once read something about flexibility and that some people just never will loosen up. I try and try and it just doesn't happen with my body. I think that's a big part of it.
Etana, there were a lot of old people on that last season of The Biggest Loser and the winner was a 48 year old woman, and I found that awesome. Trust me, I don't look for inspiration in a 20 year old, though I can admire the physique.
As far as my steps go, I'm at home during the day, not at work in an office and even if I blow off the day on my computer I'm probably up every 10 minutes doing something or other. I can't sit long or my hips get tired. I do have a pedometer and could wear it to compare steps. I could try that tomorrow, but honestly the steps are irrelevant to me, I don't even pay attention to that.
There's a little nagging thought in the back of my head, one I try to squelch, that I do possibly have something like fibromyalgia or rheumatoid arthritis. I definitely had a flare of some sort right before I started my diet the 1st of June and decided I could either hurt and be fat or exercise, lose weight and hurt and be thin (and most likely hurt less.) Trust me, I hurt a zillion times less. I read about conditions like those, and I seriously have a lot of the symptoms. I've been taking 6 g of fishoil a day now for almost 6 weeks, my hands have much less joint pain, but I still do have discomfort.
And even if I do read about those conditions, everything still says to exercise, and I am eating very well. So I might as well keep exercising. And I know a lot of it has to do with disc degeneration, but the same thing, exercise to keep the muscles strong.
I'm sure I'll feel a lot better as the weight comes off. Excess poundage is what causes most woes in people, and I refuse to be fat anymore.
The closet cleaning is going well. I got gobs of clothes that fit me from last summer. I do have a bit of a mind block as they were clothes I bought because I was getting fat. What kind of vicious cycle to we put ourselves through.
I have a nice pile of "5 lbs to go" clothes, like tight jeans and such that will look great dancing.
And a nice pile of shirts I will take in.
And I absolutely have to go bras shopping, my bras are a joke right now, I'm so deflated, it's quite sad
Thanks for the support from all of you. Weightloss definitely can have it's emotional times, and truly, that's okay.
Maybe I'll take some motrin, just to feel a bit better. Hey, at least it's not wine (and trust me, that makes me feel real better...lol.)
Etana, there were a lot of old people on that last season of The Biggest Loser and the winner was a 48 year old woman, and I found that awesome.
And even if I do read about those conditions, everything still says to exercise, and I am eating very well. So I might as well keep exercising. And I know a lot of it has to do with disc degeneration, but the same thing, exercise to keep the muscles strong.
I'm sure I'll feel a lot better as the weight comes off. Excess poundage is what causes most woes in people, and I refuse to be fat anymore.
You know I think you are doing just terrific! And yes, I did get to see that 48 year woman on Biggest Loser: awesome. I did feel a LOT pore hmmm pliable, not as creaky ... at 48 than now at 63.
Just be gentle with yourself... The weigh can come off with light and moderate exercise, that's Leigh's point, not to hurt yourself.
Wow.. Etana got so much covered already on the physical stuff I barely need to add
something.. I will but will not be quoting like she did (too much work which makes my brain hurt )
Saw this:
Quote:
I eat lots of fruits and veggies so am surprised the fiber is as low as it is. I do have IBS and have to be very careful with insoluble fiber. I will start eating OatBran instead of oatmeal, brown rice instead of white rice. I can consider the glucomman (Cassandra Forsyth's book) but I have to be careful as I think it bloats me. I don't think I start low enough though, and always increase too quickly.
It's glucomannan and I'd recommend it to people that want to lose wt and are getting hungry.. somehow I haven't come around to trying it myself as when I do get hungry I just want to eat ..
But you mentioned having IBS and there's the big fiber thing you have to keep in mind. HUGE difference between soluble & insoluble fiber.. try to load up on the soluble fiber and keep the insoluble fiber a bit sparse(r). Or, if you do eat a lot of veggies, make sure they are either pickled or well-done...
Another good one for satiety is resistant starch , which is present in cooled potatoes (think potato cole slaw) or not too ripe bananas. Inulin is another soluble fiber we have added to our micellar casein protein powders.
As for pain.. it's weird.. in the 'old' very low carb days I'd never ever get DOMS. NEVER! Instead, I'd get DOH. Going low carb will mean that cortisol goes up.. and apparently it's a high cortisol output which is a very effective pain killer.
Since I've been adding carbs back in and allowed them to go higher & higher, DOMS has been literally kicking my ass and at times I wonder how on earth it is possible to have so much soreness after 10 yrs of lifting experience.
My SO just laughs at me.. he's 10 yrs younger yet is only now starting to see DOMS diminish.. he used to be near crippled for days after a workout.
The flipside... I'm also seeing muscle growth for the first time ever... which also happens to coincide with adding leucine & cortisol suppressants (carbs suppress it naturally) to my supplement list. Apparently leucine is the major 'switch' for anabolic muscle growth and cortisol seems to be responsible for putting a very effective break on it. How exactly is beyond me, but that's how it works and .. why I'd rather have DOMS than DOH.
However.. joint pain is different and am agreeing with you it shouldn't happen and this is why I'm trying to be a 'good girl' and do more trigger point massage.. mostly by using my own fingers and a so-called thera-cane.. just never got around to getting a ball and there's not enough space for using a foam roller.
You were right in saying that if you do things the wrong way, trigger points will keep coming back.. maybe in some ways that's hard to avoid (that's why I plod on), but in other ways it may be too dangerous to continue, like with a cervical hernia (you were having that, right?)
Finally, on the biggest loser.. there may be 3 factors here
1 they were truly huge people to start with , which makes it easier to survive on very few calories and yet work out as much
2 money: if the reward is big enough, nearly everyone will be willing to work harder
3 trainer: they are pushed by their trainer.. left to our own devices, most of us won't work as hard
Finally, on the biggest loser.. there may be 3 factors here
1 they were truly huge people to start with , which makes it easier to survive on very few calories and yet work out as much
2 money: if the reward is big enough, nearly everyone will be willing to work harder
3 trainer: they are pushed by their trainer.. left to our own devices, most of us won't work as hard
Add to that that they're in an environment where their only "job" is to work out. I don't really watch the show anymore (got too irritated with all the "product placements" for low-cal packs and all that when I think they should emphasize whole foods) but I do remember some contestants talking about how they'd go running or whatever even when not on official training time.
__________________
They call me Amanda, that being my real name, and "They" being people who know me in person as I don't go around introducing myself in real life as "scribess." 'Cause that would just be strange.
It's glucomannan and I'd recommend it to people that want to lose wt and are getting hungry.. somehow I haven't come around to trying it myself as when I do get hungry I just want to eat ..
But you mentioned having IBS and there's the big fiber thing you have to keep in mind. HUGE difference between soluble & insoluble fiber.. try to load up on the soluble fiber and keep the insoluble fiber a bit sparse(r). Or, if you do eat a lot of veggies, make sure they are either pickled or well-done...
Another good one for satiety is resistant starch , which is present in cooled potatoes (think potato cole slaw) or not too ripe bananas. Inulin is another soluble fiber we have added to our micellar casein protein powders.
Yup, luckily I know all these things and I've already decided NOT to add in the glucomannan as it didn't help in the past (or acacia fiber.) I love cooked nappa cabbage as well as my gut loving it and eat it all the time. I have to be careful of lettuce, though I just had lots of iceberg for lunch (it's safe.)
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As for pain.. it's weird.. in the 'old' very low carb days I'd never ever get DOMS. NEVER! Instead, I'd get DOH. Going low carb will mean that cortisol goes up.. and apparently it's a high cortisol output which is a very effective pain killer.
Since I've been adding carbs back in and allowed them to go higher & higher, DOMS has been literally kicking my ass and at times I wonder how on earth it is possible to have so much soreness after 10 yrs of lifting experience.
My carbs are lowish. I'd have to check my food log to know exactly. Intersting about the low carb making cortisol go up, but obviously we don't want cortisol to go up. I'm still very confused on the whole cortisol issue. I'm not worrying about it at this time though.
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The flipside... I'm also seeing muscle growth for the first time ever... which also happens to coincide with adding leucine & cortisol suppressants (carbs suppress it naturally) to my supplement list. Apparently leucine is the major 'switch' for anabolic muscle growth and cortisol seems to be responsible for putting a very effective break on it. How exactly is beyond me, but that's how it works and .. why I'd rather have DOMS than DOH.
I forgot to ask, what is DOH? This stuff is all beyond me at this time (thankfully....so much else to worry about right now still.)
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However.. joint pain is different and am agreeing with you it shouldn't happen and this is why I'm trying to be a 'good girl' and do more trigger point massage.. mostly by using my own fingers and a so-called thera-cane.. just never got around to getting a ball and there's not enough space for using a foam roller.
You were right in saying that if you do things the wrong way, trigger points will keep coming back.. maybe in some ways that's hard to avoid (that's why I plod on), but in other ways it may be too dangerous to continue, like with a cervical hernia (you were having that, right?)
I still have best success with a massage. I've already decided I'm totally lightening up on the weights again. No shame in in doing 30 lb seated cable rows, is there? I just don't feel the muscle working when the weight is low, and if I use a weight I feel, things mess up. I guess this is where my biggest conflict is at this time. But I can step back, I can, I swear I can.
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I did go shopping and bought two new bras, so that's good. I resisted buying any clothes as they hopefully won't fit in a few weeks, and the bras were more important.
I really hate dressing rooms though.
Oh, I had a nice success to share. So at the store I was getting hungry for lunch, felt my tummy growl and all. I'm seriously having issues with not getting hungry lately, and even with having a low appetite. So I decided this was test time and I would allow myself to eat a kids meal at McDonalds. Now, I don't want it thought that I was thinking of this as a treat, actually not at all. I was thinking of it as a hunger signal that needed feeding. In the past I would have gotten all faint and woozy.
A half hour later I wasn't hungry anymore, so I decided to just go home and make my regular lunch (taco salad.)
I didn't get woozy, I didn't feel yucky, I just felt hungry and it went away. At the same time, I can eat it if necessary.
So, did you or didn't you go to McD .. = the hunger went away on its' own? Being woozy = too low blood sugar.. maybe nowadays it runs a tad higher and you're not fainting because of that anymore.
And yes, no shame in using lower wts if that is what keeps your joints happy. Joints & tendons take much longer to adapt to higher weights than muscles do.. this is the main reason for sticking to 12+ reps for beginners.. and also for advanced gym-goers to either throw in a week of high rep stuff or finish off their workout with higher rep exercises for the same body part/movement pattern / whatever it is called..
Fun story.. when I came back to lifting after a 6 month break, I thought to take it easy by starting at 20 - 30 reps.. that worked fine for machines but I quickly changed my mind when applying it to squats
As for dressing rooms.. just hate shopping for clothes period. Could you be my personal dresser
Espi, I did NOT go to McDonalds, so give me a Gold Star for good behavoir
Okay, so now I'm diagnosing myself. I know, I know, I shouldn't, but I think I know what's wrong with me. I was reading up on fibromyalgia, and though I have many of the symptoms, there are many I don't have. I have no tiredness, sleep problems, anxiety or depression, exhaustion.
I found reference to Chronic Myofascial Pain (CMP) and it's a perfect description of my issues, even things I like for feeling better, like ibuprofen and massage. It's gobs of trigger point issues too, but I know not all my problems are related to trigger points.
So I'm going to read some more on this and see where it goes.
Can you give a link for I'm lazy when others have found good links already
Srsly, when I massage my partner, esp his rhomboids are extremely sensitive.. he claims I can have him commit guilt to bloody murder if I tickle him the right/wrong way there..
For the record his mom had a serious auto-immune disease, called Sjögren's & had Hashimoto's too if not mistaken.
I would also like to know what is DOH. My best guess is Delayed Onset Hungries.
I have some of the same issues, Annette, especially not being able to put a bar across the back of my shoulders for squats. (Still can't). I had a lot of problems with joint pain, all over stiffness, muscle pains, tiredness, etc. Dropping 30 pounds, taking glucosamine religiously and doing as much exercise as I could has gradually made most of the problems a lot better. I am no longer stiff all the time and the joint pain is much less.
I don't know if you will have the same results, but I think you are headed in the right direction! Another thing I remember - some people have reported getting more sensitive to wheat as they got older, and had excellent relief from similar symptoms by cutting out wheat.
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Moondust The older I get, the older old gets.
And now Moondust also wants to know what DOH is. Her guess of delayed onset hungries sounds good to me.
Wow, Moondust, it's good to hear you are feeling better. I haven't taken glucosamine, but I have been doing 6 g of fish oil for almost 6 weeks now. They say to give it 12 weeks before feeling results. And I know losing weight will help a lot.
I did buy 3 books on Myofascial Pain today so I look forward to reading through those tonight, and I will start my online research too.
Ah...my massage was great, I feel so much better. I came home and decided to eat a dinner that I really would enjoy. So I made spaghetti for myself, and spaghetti for the family. Yes, it sucks to do two separate ones, but I can at least count my calories and have much less fat in it.
And I had a fresca with vodka (pretty darn yummy) and will now have another, go sit out on the front porch, and read through my new books, as the mosquitos munch away. Guess I'll use bug spray as a shower will feel good tonight anyway.
Moondust guessed right.. it's my own invention as this was a constant : 48hrs after very strenuous exercise that totally KILLED appetite and with NO zero zilch nada for DOMS (soreness) my appetite would just go through the roof and I'd eat & eat & eat & eat more = Delayed Onset of Hunger (hungries is OK).
Excess stress can both trigger the hungries or totally kill it..fasting can do similar things and is stress on its' own. In April I tried a 24hr (semi-)fast again and noted how I hit my all-time high for calorie intake since starting to record them mid-2004. Yep.. that's how I got/stayed fat in the past..
Meant a link to the website you found re "Chronic Myofascial Pain (CMP)" or was it not on the internet?
It is hard to give advice here as I know others (like SO) who just enjoy their DOMS in a weird way and feel they haven't had a good WO when they aren't crippled.. me, I find it annoying. Athletes that train daily rarely if ever get DOMS and it truly goes away if you've done an exercise frequently enough. Maybe for us older girls, take a longer & easier road to building up for strength.. our tendons/joints are older too
BTW, am pleased to see you very well (or even better) informed re fiber.. yet, you seemed puzzled over why you ate that many veggies/fruit and still don't hit a high number. Maybe use the search tool in www.nutritiondata.com and search for foods with low calories & high fiber content.. not sure if you can distinguish between soluble & insoluble fiber (afraid not).
Espi, lots of info online about CMP. Here is a list of symptoms and then a link to just this page:
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Signs and Symptoms of Myofascial Pain Syndrome
The most common sign of myofascial pain is the presence of palpable trigger points in your muscles. Trigger points are areas of extreme tenderness and sensitivity, and usually form in bands of muscle underneath your skin. They are similar to the tender points caused by fibromyalgia, only trigger points can be felt beneath the skin. When touched, trigger points will produce pain and twitching in the muscles. Often, pain is felt in an area distinct from the trigger point that is actually affected – this is called referred pain.
The pain of myofascial syndrome is typically a dull ache, but can also produce a throbbing, stabbing, or burning sensation. Pain is often located in the jaw area, though any part of the body can be affected. One-third of myofascial pain sufferers report localized pain, while two-thirds report having pain all over their bodies.
Myofascial pain can also produce a variety of other symptoms, many of which may appear unrelated. These include:
Fibromyalgia and myofascial pain are often together as the pain is part of the fibro, but the fibro is not necessarily part of the pain.
I'm going to continue researching this, especially anything to do with exercise.
Like I said before, no, I'm not going to diagnose myself. I'm not silly, but I think I might try treating my body as if this is what is going on. Then I either feel better and learn to accept things as is, or I pursue something new with the doctor.
But seriously, for the past few years everytime I'd get it in my head to exercise, I'd hurt so bad, and I've done so much exercise in my past that I know it's not the same kind of hurt.
My hamstrings still hurt from weights on Saturday, and today is Wed. For the amount of weight I do, I shouldn't have had any DOMS at all, or just a tiny tiny bit.
The trigger point stuff started about a year after my husband died. Talk about stress, and extreme stress/grief is considered a trigger. I went back to college full time, had three young children to raise, was at my most fit weight and exercise wise, and started to get my first massages and trigger point therapy.
That's gone on over 12 year now and it's gotten progressively worse. Then I had a very bad fall a couple years back and have had problems ever since. Never NEVER get attacked by an owl when you are on the street on a hill, in high heels, and slightly intoxicated. It wasn't a pretty site. I hit my head very badly and one whole side of my body was messed up. That was the start of all the neck/shoulder issues I now have, extreme whiplash.
As far as the fiber goes, when one's had IBS as long as she can remember, you kind of research and learn what works. I've also had allergy testing done and elimination diets. Except for dairy products (high lactose ones of course) I'm fine with most food. I've been tested for celiac disease and everything is fine. In fact, wheat is a comfortable food for me, as long as it's not too "healthy and fibrous."
The best book I've found on IBS is "Eating for IBS" by Heather Van Vorous. I recommend it to anyone who even contemplates that he/she might have an IBS symptom or two.
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