Getting Fit!

[vavavictoria]

I am very unhappy that chocolate and Oreos aren't part of a balanced diet.

My goal for 2017 is to eat more Whole Foods and less processed things. I have a tendency to get obsessive and do a drastic diet for a while and then rebound and live off of cold stone. I'm trying to be more reasonable this time around.

After my initial drop in weight postpartum I have managed to put back on about 5lbs by making bad dietary choices. I do think it will help me to go back to work but I still have three more weeks at home.

So I want to eat more Whole Foods (I like how auto correct is branded and automatically capitalizes it when I type that phrase in) and I want to try to lift weights a few times a week and run a few times a week. I'm going to try to come up with an exercise plan that will work when I go back to working four 10 hour days. I have the plague at the moment though so I'm going to be a reasonable person and not start working out until I can breath through my nose again.

[hikingmama222]

I've managed to drop to .5 lbs below pp weight without trying. (Thanks BF'ing). I've now started limiting dairy, carbs, and sugar. Not going to count calories at this time unless the scale stops moving. Started working out again,did the elliptical yesterday, a 21 day fix workout this morning. Going to start running when it warms up. Hoping this gets me to where I feel more comfortable in my body.

[Deleted]

I'm pissed. DH and I tried looking into gym memberships the other day. None of the gyms in the area have childcare and none of them allow babies to chill in their carseats or strollers beside the machines....so in other words I can't go to the gym ever because I have children. Eff them.

[britta]

I go here. But first, bemoaning that I can't have all the carbs and beer I want. 😐😐😐

Since about 4 weeks PP I've been walking about 5 days a week, 1.5 miles at a time. I've been aiming for at least 10,000 steps a day and have been pretty successful. I need to do more, though, since I'm still 10+lbs above my PP weight and very....not toned.

So, in the last week I've been upping the distance on my walks. I'm doing 3 miles most days now. I wanted to join the BBM group on Parenting, but I think I'm going to have to back out. My internet connection way out here just won't support playing the videos. All the sadz because I really think I'd enjoy them. Instead, I'm thinking about pulling the trigger on the PiYo DVDs on Amazon. DH and I have a $1000 Amazon gift card coming to us which we're going to use to buy an elliptical. My plan would be to use the elliptical for some cardio and the videos for strength and toning. I'll try to continue walking, if time allows, because that's more for my mental health than anything.

I'm being more conscious about what I eat as well. We had been doing really well eating semi-clean, but pregnancy sabotaged that. For everyone in this house. So, back on track with that. And less mindless snacking on carbs.

[becole]

Well I'm still the same weight I was the first week after I gave birth. Which is 20ish pounds above where I need to be. Probably 30. It's the most I've ever needed to lose and I think it's paralyzing.

[sanibel21]

I bought, washed, and cut up a bunch of fresh veggies to eat with veggie dip this week. I ate so many today. But then I followed them up with 3 cookies and 5 random chocolate type candies...
So I'm trying to add healthy but can't quite seem to shake unhealthy yet.
I'm at my prepregnancy weight but not toned at all. And my prepregnancy weight is still a little on the heavy end of normal.
I probably won't start exercising until March.

[iwantbacon]

Jan 3, 2017 19:41:57 GMT -5 becole said:

Well I'm still the same weight I was the first week after I gave birth. Which is 20ish pounds above where I need to be. Probably 30. It's the most I've ever needed to lose and I think it's paralyzing.

This is basically where Im at.

[ksyknelvr73]

Jan 3, 2017 19:41:57 GMT -5 becole said:

Well I'm still the same weight I was the first week after I gave birth. Which is 20ish pounds above where I need to be. Probably 30. It's the most I've ever needed to lose and I think it's paralyzing.

Ditto. I am so annoyed with myself.

[ksyknelvr73]

Well, I am going to aim for 3 meals around 400 calories (give or take a few) with a snack and/or protein shake for my food.

Aiming to run 3 days a week minimum, and strength training 3 days a week minimum.

I have a good plan for the food and what I am going to eat. Tonight I went on a 1.8 mile run then did a booty workout (leg raises, donkey kicks, fire hydrants...all with ankle weights).

I need to drop about 30 lbs. Considering I booked our tropical 10th anniversary trip for mid July, I need to lose all of this by then.


Oh...I also booked boudoir pictures for a gift for DH for our anniversary. They will be in September. So yeah. Lots of pressure to get in shape.

[britta]

Would anyone be interested in doing a couple 30 day challenges? We used to do this on GKU and I thought it was fun. Basically, you're focusing on a certain muscle group, performing 4 targeted exercises for that muscle group per day and increasing the number of reps each day. There's a rest day every couple days. I started an Ab Challenge on the first, so today my day was:
25 sit ups
10 leg raises
10 crunches
15 second plank
It's pretty easy to follow and I did some results with each one I did. I'd be willing to set up if anyone was interested. I'd even start this one over if people wanted to start with an Ab Challenge.

[vavavictoria]

Jan 3, 2017 21:37:39 GMT -5 britta said:

Would anyone be interested in doing a couple 30 day challenges? We used to do this on GKU and I thought it was fun. Basically, you're focusing on a certain muscle group, performing 4 targeted exercises for that muscle group per day and increasing the number of reps each day. There's a rest day every couple days. I started an Ab Challenge on the first, so today my day was:
25 sit ups
10 leg raises
10 crunches
15 second plank
It's pretty easy to follow and I did some results with each one I did. I'd be willing to set up if anyone was interested. I'd even start this one over if people wanted to start with an Ab Challenge.

I would love a challenge

[smallpotato]

I did Weight Watchers before getting pregnant with N, and that, coupled with 4 Zumba classes a week, helped me lose 45 pounds. I'll probably start WW again soon, but I'm going to wait until I shake this cold. I dropped all of the weight I gained with G, plus a few pounds, but I have about 50 to go to get to where I was pre-N. I need to get back to the Y and work out. I just looked at the schedule and saw they have a Barre fitness class on Tuesday nights now. I may check that out. I'll probably start Couch to 5K for the umpteenth time at some point too.

Count me in for the challenges. I need accountability, for sure.

[erien22846]

Hoping to do w1d2 of a c210k workout tonight. It's only 18 minutes which is hardly worth bundling up for (forecasted to be 10 degrees at workout time) but no excuses!

My goals are purely fitness, not weight loss. I hope to eat healthier too, which for me often comes with working out, but I'm not going to worry too much about food right now. Baby steps.

[jcrewgirl]

I'm loving this thread.

I'm at my current weight before getting pregnant (with H), but I have 5-7 lbs to lose to get how I was before any babies. I'm not sure if this is possible. I was doing a great job while on maternity leave - going for 2-3 mile walks with H and the dog. Yesterday was my first day back at work and I'm not sure how I'm going to do this. I know I'm mandated to have time to pump, but then I feel guilty about using my full lunch hour (if I can squeeze lunch in). It's also so easy to just eat carbs. Gah. I really need to meal plan and bring in healthy snacks. Since I don't have a lot of time, I think I need to better use my time. I think instead of walking the dog in the AM (like I have been doing), I'll take him for a run - even if its a short 2 mile run. This way if work gets overwhelming or I'm too exhausted at night, I'll at least have done that.

Other Things:
1. My Gold's Gym membership is on hold. I think I'm going to cut it. I really love the 12pm classes. If I'm not in court, I can squeeze in a quick 45 minute class at noon. If I have court, I can use the treadmill when I want. I don't know why I'm spending $35/month on this when I can use the treadmills in the gym downstairs for free.
2. We have a cycling/rowing machine at home. I could also use this at night.
3. Also considering the Les Mills on demand videos. It's $12/month. I LOVE their classes, but again, it's hard to find a gym schedule that lines up with my available time. This is definitely an option.

I don't know if I'm looking for a certain # on the scale, but I would really like to get into this one dress I own. It's a beautiful yellow sundress (size 2 from Banana) and I'd love to be able to wear it for Mother's Day again this year. So that's my goal.

[penguin129]

Well crap guys... I feel so out of the fitness loop. I have about 12 pounds to lose to get back to the weight I was before HL.

My plan is to walk as a family nightly and drink more water. I would love to fit in yoga or a light work out (very light), but can't even figure out when to put the clean wash away so I have no idea when I'll do that. I need to eat more fruits and veggies for sure.

How do you fit in working out and doing the house stuff??

[britta]

penguin129, I'll second (third?) what kitchen and holachica said as well.

For me, it's about making working out a priority, not an option. When I stop and think about it, there really are multiple times in a day I can squeeze in some activity. The other day I did squats while I was standing in the kitchen making dinner. Yesterday, I did some squats and the Ab Challenge "with" DS1 while DS2 was taking a cat nap. As much as family time is super important to me, so is my health and well being, so I take a nightly walk either after dinner or after DS1 goes to bed, leaving H to handle the boys and house. It's only 30 minutes. When H is on call and doesn't get home until 8:30p, I either get up early and do some kind of workout or I recognize I'm going to be up a little later. It really is about not making excuses for me and, surprisingly, it hasn't taken long to become a habit and something I *need* to do. Like last night, we went out for dinner and it was after 7 before we got home. It was 15* and blowing snow, but I still went on my walk. Because I knew I would feel like crap if I skipped it.

[penguin129]

Thanks ladies. I'm thinking of joining a group of mom's that walk in my town or starting a walking group in my neighborhood. I used to take AG for walks everyday but stopped when we moved here.

britta do you put your 3 year old stroller when you walk And just wear the baby?

[penguin129]

If I want to use a pedometer app and track steps what is a good goal to start with?

[jcrewgirl]

penguin129, I think 10,000 steps is realistic.

[penguin129]

Jan 5, 2017 9:27:54 GMT -5 jcrewgirl said:

penguin129 , I think 10,000 steps is realistic.

If I use an app on my phone can I just put it in my pocket until I get an armband or ankle thing?

[jcrewgirl]

Jan 5, 2017 9:41:18 GMT -5 penguin129 said:

Jan 5, 2017 9:27:54 GMT -5 jcrewgirl said:

penguin129 , I think 10,000 steps is realistic.

If I use an app on my phone can I just put it in my pocket until I get an armband or ankle thing?

I think so - I know the iPhone has an app already installed on it that tracks your steps. 

[jillian]

I have been at my pre-pregnancy weight since I came home. Its ridiculously odd that my body looks exactly like it did before I got pregnant. That said, I am still 20 pounds over my ideal weight. Because I'm tall I need to make sure I don't lose too much weight or I look sick. Ha! Like I will ever lose too much weight. I LOVE BOOZE.

I have a treadmill and weights in the basement, but I need to clean up down there before I can work out. I will be facing the mess and it will drive me insane. I need to eat better too. All bets are off now that I am just about done breastfeeding. It just didn't work out for me, even after 3 months of serious work put in to increase m supply. Now that I am back at work, spending 40 minute a day pumping to only get, maybe and oz total, all day, isn't worth it for me.

How do you ladies that live in colder climate walk or run outside with kids? DH doesn't get home until 7, which is dinner time so I would have to go after that in the dark to go without the baby. Would it be ridiculous to take the baby with me? I was thinking, I could put her in her carseat that has a super lined cover, connected to the stroller, wrapped in a blanket, hat, mittens, and have the stroller wind/sun cover thingys pulled up. Does that seem reasonable?

[vavavictoria]

Jan 5, 2017 12:32:03 GMT -5 jillian said:

I have been at my pre-pregnancy weight since I came home. Its ridiculously odd that my body looks exactly like it did before I got pregnant. That said, I am still 20 pounds over my ideal weight. Because I'm tall I need to make sure I don't lose too much weight or I look sick. Ha! Like I will ever lose too much weight. I LOVE BOOZE.

I have a treadmill and weights in the basement, but I need to clean up down there before I can work out. I will be facing the mess and it will drive me insane.

How do you ladies that live in colder climate walk or run outside with kids? DH doesn't get home until 7, which is dinner time so I would have to go after that in the dark to go without the baby. Would it be ridiculous to take the baby with me? I was thinking, I could put her in her carseat that has a super lined cover, connected to the stroller, wrapped in a blanket, hat, mittens, and have the stroller wind/sun cover thingys pulled up. Does that seem reasonable?

I can't weigh in on temperature given that I live in a warmer part of the country but I can on the car seat attached to the stroller part.

You can totally do it this way but I have been told to keep in mind that most strollers are meant for walking when you have the car seat attached. It screws with the balance a little bit. I think you can still run but you just need to be conscious of bumps or going from street to sidewalk etc. I've been intermittently running with C in my bob jogging stroller and I usethis thing:

Summer Infant Snuzzler Infant Support for Car Seats and Strollers, Ivory www.amazon.com/dp/B0045VA3SO/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_QrOBybA4F9K4V

It keeps her snug and her head doesn't move about at all. I also have the seat reclined all the way back and don't run on any uneven surfaces. I'm also super out of shape so it's more walking than running at this point as well I also used it with #1.

[britta]

Jan 5, 2017 8:55:03 GMT -5 penguin129 said:

Thanks ladies. I'm thinking of joining a group of mom's that walk in my town or starting a walking group in my neighborhood. I used to take AG for walks everyday but stopped when we moved here.

britta do you put your 3 year old stroller when you walk And just wear the baby?

My nightly walks are just me and the dog, no baby and no toddler. It's heaven. But, when it's not so bitterly cold and the road isn't snow covered, I have taken one or both of them. If I take both, I put baby in the stroller and let DS1 walk alongside me. It's not really a workout because I have to walk slower, but I'm moving. If I take just one of them, they go in the stroller.

[britta]

Jan 5, 2017 12:32:03 GMT -5 jillian said:

I have been at my pre-pregnancy weight since I came home. Its ridiculously odd that my body looks exactly like it did before I got pregnant. That said, I am still 20 pounds over my ideal weight. Because I'm tall I need to make sure I don't lose too much weight or I look sick. Ha! Like I will ever lose too much weight. I LOVE BOOZE.

I have a treadmill and weights in the basement, but I need to clean up down there before I can work out. I will be facing the mess and it will drive me insane. I need to eat better too. All bets are off now that I am just about done breastfeeding. It just didn't work out for me, even after 3 months of serious work put in to increase m supply. Now that I am back at work, spending 40 minute a day pumping to only get, maybe and oz total, all day, isn't worth it for me.

How do you ladies that live in colder climate walk or run outside with kids? DH doesn't get home until 7, which is dinner time so I would have to go after that in the dark to go without the baby. Would it be ridiculous to take the baby with me? I was thinking, I could put her in her carseat that has a super lined cover, connected to the stroller, wrapped in a blanket, hat, mittens, and have the stroller wind/sun cover thingys pulled up. Does that seem reasonable?

So, my nightly walks are often in the dark, after 7pm, and without the baby. It's my ME time and I love it. I actually just got back from my walk tonight (it's 8:45pm). I will say, we live in a small development (< 15 houses) in a rural area, so I feel pretty safe walking in the dark. I carry my phone and pepper spray with me, just in case.

I also live in a cold climate (MI), so I'll weigh in on that. I've never taken the baby with me at night, but I have taken him out this winter on random daytime walks. I took him out last week; he was dressed normally (pants, long sleeved onesie) and I put him in a snow suit and a knit hat, and then just set him (couldn't buckle him in, not that he needed to be anyway) in his car seat with the fleece lined car seat cover on. The temp was high 20s/low 30s (F) and when we got back inside about a half hour later he felt plenty warm to the touch, if not sweaty. I generally don't take him out if it's very windy, just because there's no really good way to keep him out of the wind, depdending on the wknd direction.

I go out on my nightly walk, regardless of the temp, and wear a coat/hat/scarf/gloves and jeans or lined pants. Once I get going it's not that bad. Tonight was the worst so far this winter (snowing, 9* with a -2* windchill), but still doable.

[penguin129]

britta I love the idea of nightly walks as me time. I'm not sure I could convince Mr. P to let me walk the neighborhood in the dark plus mosquitos. I might try for right before sunset though. Or at least on the weekends a morning walk. I love this thread!

[britta]

Jan 5, 2017 21:35:18 GMT -5 penguin129 said:

britta I love the idea of nightly walks as me time. I'm not sure I could convince Mr. P to let me walk the neighborhood in the dark plus mosquitos. I might try for right before sunset though. Or at least on the weekends a morning walk. I love this thread!

Mr. Britta was not impressed at first either. But he's since released because I'm very "I do what I want!" Probably to a fault though. But yeah, if we lived anywhere else I'd probably not be doing it in the dark. At least not in the dark and later at night. But when it gets dark at 5pm....the options are really limited.

[ksyknelvr73]

Jan 5, 2017 22:08:40 GMT -5 britta said:

Jan 5, 2017 21:35:18 GMT -5 penguin129 said:

britta I love the idea of nightly walks as me time. I'm not sure I could convince Mr. P to let me walk the neighborhood in the dark plus mosquitos. I might try for right before sunset though. Or at least on the weekends a morning walk. I love this thread!

Mr. Britta was not impressed at first either. But he's since released because I'm very "I do what I want!" Probably to a fault though. But yeah, if we lived anywhere else I'd probably not be doing it in the dark. At least not in the dark and later at night. But when it gets dark at 5pm....the options are really limited.

We have this issue as well. DH gets all worried and pissy about me going for my run in the dark, but it's 6:30pm!!!!! Seriously, people are still getting home from work or are sitting down to eat dinner. It gets dark too early for me to run at another time.

[penguin129]

What pedometer app do you ladies recommend? I used map my walk yesterday but it doesn't track steps.

[ksyknelvr73]

Jan 6, 2017 9:02:02 GMT -5 penguin129 said:

What pedometer app do you ladies recommend? I used map my walk yesterday but it doesn't track steps.

I wish I knew of one...maybe Runkeeper or My Fitness Pal? Not sure if either of those track steps. I have a Fitbit.

penguin129 I just ordered a new Fitbit, would you like my old one? It's about a year old. It's a Charge HR. It works perfectly fine, I ordered the Charge 2 b/c it tracks all kinds of activity and not just walking/running.