Healthy Weight Loss

[Medusa]

I'm feeling pissy because my ass is so bruised that I can't stand to get on my stationary bike.

I did 10 minutes this morning just as a warm-up and I had wanted to do another 25 minutes tonight but even sitting there is pretty painful. I've been riding it steadily for about a week now and was hoping this pain would go away dammit!

Anyone else tried to wad up a huge beach towel to sit on that tiny bike seat while you ride? Well, it did NOT work for me!

I want to ride my bike dammit! WAHHHHHHHHH!!!!!

[Rockinonahigh]

Originally Posted by Medusa

I'm feeling pissy because my ass is so bruised that I can't stand to get on my stationary bike.

I did 10 minutes this morning just as a warm-up and I had wanted to do another 25 minutes tonight but even sitting there is pretty painful. I've been riding it steadily for about a week now and was hoping this pain would go away dammit!

Anyone else tried to wad up a huge beach towel to sit on that tiny bike seat while you ride? Well, it did NOT work for me!

I want to ride my bike dammit! WAHHHHHHHHH!!!!!

Try a sheep skin seat pad,it worked for me,or get a more comfy seat for the bike.

[Sunny]

Originally Posted by Medusa

I'm feeling pissy because my ass is so bruised that I can't stand to get on my stationary bike.

I did 10 minutes this morning just as a warm-up and I had wanted to do another 25 minutes tonight but even sitting there is pretty painful. I've been riding it steadily for about a week now and was hoping this pain would go away dammit!

Anyone else tried to wad up a huge beach towel to sit on that tiny bike seat while you ride? Well, it did NOT work for me!

I want to ride my bike dammit! WAHHHHHHHHH!!!!!

You can buy a gel seat cover. Very comfortable....

[nycfem]

Angie, is your bike a recumbent bike, meaning, does it have a back for you to lean against? I hope so, because I find that really helpful.

Since stationary biking is my THANG (in a big way), here are my suggestions based on my own experience:

1) If you have the ability to move the seat a little more forward (so that your legs are more bent), do so, because it takes pressure off your ass.

2) When you bike, focus your mind on putting the pressure on your feet and legs and AWAY from your stomach, ass, and back. Bare forward not back, so that all the tension is in your legs, as if you are walking, not sitting.

3) Take 5-10 minute breaks of getting off the bike when your ass hurts. It rejuvenates itself a good amount during these breaks.

4) Does your bike have levels? The higher the level, the more your ass will hurt. Also, the faster you go, the more your ass will hurt. Try biking at the lowest level (or a lower level) if your bike has settings for levels, and try biking slower. To keep your heart rate up, get yourself some 1 pound (and you can keep going up in pounds as you train) weights to lift while you bike. You can always use soup cans or other similar objects if you don't have weights. If that feels like too much, try just doing arm exercises, as if you are holding weights. For instance, I will put my arms out like Jesus on the Cross (just describing the style) and rotate them in small circles for as long as I can stand. Then I will take a break and do the same thing again. There are so many simple exercises to do with hands and arms, and it's very surprising how, even without any weight, they keep the heart rate up! If you like the style, I'll show you 30 or so of them at the Reunion! Me = nerd.

5) Start doing some butt exercises each time after you bike. One that I like is to lay on my back with my knees up and lift my pelvis, tighten my cheeks, and hold for as long as I can. Repeat.

6) Keep up with the bike in smaller time frames so as not to wear out your ass. Gradually increase over days/ months, never going to a point where your ass gets a real beating.

7) Have your partner or personal masseuse give you a nice relaxing butt massage with healing lotions every night after you have used the bike. Alright, I admit that I just made that one up, but it does sound lovely, doesn't it?

Originally Posted by Medusa

I'm feeling pissy because my ass is so bruised that I can't stand to get on my stationary bike.

I did 10 minutes this morning just as a warm-up and I had wanted to do another 25 minutes tonight but even sitting there is pretty painful. I've been riding it steadily for about a week now and was hoping this pain would go away dammit!

Anyone else tried to wad up a huge beach towel to sit on that tiny bike seat while you ride? Well, it did NOT work for me!

I want to ride my bike dammit! WAHHHHHHHHH!!!!!

[Leigh]

Evening everyone,

Before anyone else does it, I'm coming in to tell on Myself ~ I had bought a bag of Doritoes earlier for tonight and ended up telling a few people in chat tonight ...... I got chewed out (in a polite way) and was told that I'd get told on. I put them away, they are out of sight and out of mind and I won't be eating them ~ it was a moment of weakness but I know that I can be strong and resist those temptations when they are not needed. My parents don't eat the ones I bought (Jalapeno and Cheddar) so they can just stay there or I will give them to someone else. I'm instead having one of My Special K 100 calorie fruit crisp snacks and a smal glass of pepsi (its the only one I've been allowing Myself). I'm glad for friends to keep Me on track, kick My a** when its needed and keeping Me on track (and in line) ........... good to know I have people behind Me :-)

[Rockinonahigh]

You are going thrue the same things we all go thrue when we first become health wise,for me it was when I quit smokeing a year ago,I know I did the yoyo thing about quiting.Id buy a pack and swear I could only smoke a fue hear and there then finaly quit.It didnt work that way cause I was always buying the safty pack to have around till one day I was somkeing a ciggy out of no where I went into a stage 4 asthma attack...not fun let med tell u.I gess thats what turned the tables for me cause I havent smoked sence.What I did was totaly change my routine,I stoped buying gas at my fav circke K cause they always ask if I wanted a pack or two wich I would say "yeah gimmie a couple" just out of habit.When I started on my begaining to take charge of my health I had the same prob...I told myself..one little chip wont hurt...but I cant eat just one.Where I didnt change where I shoped I told myself I was stronger than a potato chip or any food that wasnt good for me,its not easy but can be done.Now I just have it in my head that im well worth the work it take to be stronger than my foodie habbit.
Mathew, I have faith in you ablity to take charge of you life one day at the time,one step at the time.One thing I have done is take pictures of when I felt my best and looked like I wanted to look,I put them in the kitchen...on the fridge,on the cabnet doors as well as where I keep my seasonings and such..A visual note to myself to keep on keepin on.

[JustJo]

Originally Posted by Rockinonahigh

One thing I have done is take pictures of when I felt my best and looked like I wanted to look,I put them in the kitchen...on the fridge,on the cabnet doors as well as where I keep my seasonings and such..A visual note to myself to keep on keepin on.

I love this idea Rockin!

What a great way to motivate ourselves with the positive of how we want to look and feel.

I'm keeping up with the eating program....sometimes finding it challenging when I'm rushing between meetings without a lot of time to prepare lunch. Think I need to spend a little more time doing the fruit and veggie preparations right after I buy them, instead of when I have 12 minutes to make and eat a salad between calls.

I got back on the Mobia for the first time in weeks yesterday. Only did 5 minutes because I'm back at square one as far as my endurance goes on it. I've resolved to get on it every day....because if I take one day off it turns into weeks. I'll start with the 5 minutes I can do, and add one minute every few days as my health coach recommended. My goal is 30 minutes, so that system seems silly....but, hey, if I get up to 30 minutes by November...I'll still be up to 30 minutes, right?

[Zimmeh]

Good Morning Everyone,

I have noticed that since I left my old department, I am not having any junk food cravings. Except for the brownies that I made the other night. I bought two bags of salad mix with my favorite organic raspberry olive oil dressing and I've been having that with a sprinkle of low fat shredded cheese for lunch yesterday and dinner, Monday night. I can tell the difference already! I'm not as bloated and I have more energy!! I bought a small bag of m&m's yesterday and I told my mentor, that if the phone rang before I could eat one, that was a sign that I wasn't supposed to have them. The phone rang after I ate the first one and I ended up giving the bag to my supervisor.

Zimmy

[*Anya*]

Originally Posted by Matthew

Evening everyone,

Before anyone else does it, I'm coming in to tell on Myself ~ I had bought a bag of Doritoes earlier for tonight and ended up telling a few people in chat tonight ...... I got chewed out (in a polite way) and was told that I'd get told on. I put them away, they are out of sight and out of mind and I won't be eating them ~ it was a moment of weakness but I know that I can be strong and resist those temptations when they are not needed. My parents don't eat the ones I bought (Jalapeno and Cheddar) so they can just stay there or I will give them to someone else. I'm instead having one of My Special K 100 calorie fruit crisp snacks and a smal glass of pepsi (its the only one I've been allowing Myself). I'm glad for friends to keep Me on track, kick My a** when its needed and keeping Me on track (and in line) ........... good to know I have people behind Me :-)

Matthew- For me, I could delude myself so easily. Buying something and "putting it away", really does not work (at least for me).

It would sit there and gently keep calling my name: "Anya, cookies. Right up here in the corner where you hid us. Come on, just one. You know you want us".

I would then not be able to think about anything but those cookies until I went to get then. One cookie would turn into 10 or the bag.

I just no longer kid myself. I can't buy them, I can't have them in the house. Period.

When I got back on my eating plan, I bought a box "just to have on hand" for the GD. Bullshit. I bought it for me. I was honest with myself and opened the bag, filled it with water, put it in a trashbag and took it out to the garbage.

Matthew, you might want to get rid of those Doritos-just sayin...

Just weighed. Finally lost that damn 1/2 pound. Just weighed. 10 down, next decade to go. I have totally gotten control back and it feels awesome even though I lose at a snail's pace. It is what it is.

Hugs,

[DapperButch]

Originally Posted by Matthew

Evening everyone,

Before anyone else does it, I'm coming in to tell on Myself ~ I had bought a bag of Doritoes earlier for tonight and ended up telling a few people in chat tonight ...... I got chewed out (in a polite way) and was told that I'd get told on. I put them away, they are out of sight and out of mind and I won't be eating them ~ it was a moment of weakness but I know that I can be strong and resist those temptations when they are not needed. My parents don't eat the ones I bought (Jalapeno and Cheddar) so they can just stay there or I will give them to someone else. I'm instead having one of My Special K 100 calorie fruit crisp snacks and a smal glass of pepsi (its the only one I've been allowing Myself). I'm glad for friends to keep Me on track, kick My a** when its needed and keeping Me on track (and in line) ........... good to know I have people behind Me :-)

Ok, well, that is just weird if someone is going to "tell on you"!

If you want help with people keeping you accountable, that is cool, but certainly no one should be "telling" on you! :-(

[Hack]

How to be a frugal foodie

Shopping smart doesn't mean you can't afford healthy eating

Eileen Connelly/ Associated Press

Drink fat-free or low-fat milk, and make sure half of the grains you eat are whole grains.

Do these healthy eating guidelines sound costly?

Researchers at the University of Washington raised eyebrows earlier this month with a study finding that a healthy diet is expensive and difficult for cash-strapped Americans to afford. And with the cost of food rising faster than other products — the Agriculture Department estimates that grocery prices will rise by 3.5 to 4.5 percent this year and another 3 to 4 percent in 2012 — it would seem that problem may only get worse.

But frugal foodies say it's still possible to eat well on a budget. It just takes a bit of organization and some smart strategies.

The path starts with understanding what's healthy and what's not. That's where the federal government comes in. The USDA has updated its recommendations with the aim of helping people make better food choices.

Details of the new "plate" that replaced the "food pyramid" earlier this year can be found on www.choosemyplate.gov. The site explains what types of foods provide which nutrients and which "empty" calories provide little nutrition and provides recipes for a variety of meals.

It's easiest to save if you have some basic cooking skills to rely on. Cooking is almost always going to be less expensive than buying prepared meals or eating out.

Healthy meals don't have to be gourmet concoctions, said Kelly Hancock, the author of the soon-to-be-released book "Saving Savvy" and a blogger at FaithfulProvisions.com. "You don't have to be a master chef to cook dinner every night."

Once armed with the knowledge of what to eat and how to pull it together, getting the most out of every grocery dollar requires a system. But that doesn't mean you have to resort to building up a case full of coupons.
"If you don't have the basic concepts down, coupons are not going to help you," said Hancock.

Instead of focusing on clipping and organizing coupons, put your time into planning, said Steve Economides, who with his wife, Annette, operates the website AmericasCheapestFamily.com, and last fall wrote the book "Cut Your Grocery Bill in Half."

"Everything we talk about really comes down to planning in advance," he said. "The more you plan, the more you save."

Here's a recipe for grocery saving success:

Plan meals and shopping

The Economides family makes one major shopping trip per month, with a second to pick up necessities in between. This helps cut down on impulse purchases.

Although they acknowledge that their shopping strategy relies on plenty of storage space and a large freezer, they advocate minimizing trips as much as possible. "The more times you go into a store, the more you're going to pick up unplanned items," said Annette Economides.

It's also critical to plan meals and develop a good list. Sit down for a few minutes and map out what your family will eat for the week, and you'll be less likely to randomly fill your cart. Check recipes to make sure you've got all the necessary ingredients, and aren't inviting an extra run to the store for that last item — and six others.

Waste less food

The U.S. generates more than 34 million tons of food waste each year, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Much of that comes from homes where uneaten food gets discarded.

Overshopping is a big contributor to waste, so planning will help cut down on that problem. Hancock said one way she avoids tossing out good food is by preparing extra-large batches and freezing a portion of what she's cooked as a convenient second meal. The Economides family also uses a weekly "leftovers night" to create a smorgasbord dinner.

Stock up with sales

Smart-shopping advocates say it's easy to get fooled by advertising if you don't know what food typically costs. Grocery chains often include items in their fliers that are not really on sale — or sale prices that are not their lowest. To know when an item is really a bargain, keep notes on the prices charged in various stores, and the price of items when they're put on sale. The stock up for your freezer or pantry.

Be sure to put whatever storage space you have available to work. Building a stockpile of staples is an important step in stretching a budget — but that doesn't mean you have to fill a room with surplus. Avoid going overboard by keeping an inventory of the items in the pantry and freezer to help you decide whether it's time to take advantage of a sale.

Shop by the season

The height of summer is prime time for many fruits and vegetables, and prices drop as the various crops hit their peak. Choosing what's in season can keep costs down, while picking out-of-season produce or items shipped a long distance will require an extra bounty.

"There's no excuse for saying, 'I can't eat fruits and vegetables because they cost too much,'" said Annette Economides.

Recipe website Epicurious.com offers an interactive seasonal ingredient map that can tutor you on what to watch for at http://epi.us/Oi8yx.

Find a local farmers market for really fresh bargains. If you shop at the end of the market hours, you'll typically find vendors offering steep discounts.

Contact a local Chamber of Commerce or visit www.localharvest.org to find a market near you. Freezing or canning any extras can extend the life of those deals through the off-season.

Hancock said seasonal items like marinades for grilling will be on sale in the spring, while baking products are discounted before the holiday season. Stocking up on items with long shelf lives during seasonal sales can help cut costs.

[sylvie]

evening all ~

it's been a bad week for me, and i have been offline building myself back to a healthier frame of mind.. hated that i gained that 4 lbs, and it sorta went downhill from there..

but, today i went for that 1 hour 10 min brisk walk which felt great..
the last couple of days ive been eating decent (not great)
i have NOT been eating junkfood nor drinking sodapop, and been sticking to that just fine.. its more the portions ive been having a hard time controlling, as well as the white flours, dang starches!

So, getting back on track, haven't weighed myself since the gain, i know ive dropped a lb or two, i can tell by the clothes fitting again, but being good and waiting til next week to weigh in.. i need to get on track and stay there first..

You're all doing wonderful, keep it up!

[PinkieLee]

GOOD MORNING!

Look at all these healthy choices folks are making. I like seeing what y'all are eating for breakfast/lunch. I'm such a creature of habit and get stuck eating the same stuff. Y'all are giving me ideas for more healthy choices.

((((sylvie)))))) don't be so hard on yourself honey... we've all had those rough weeks. This journey is hard. Luckily, everyday is a new day to start fresh! We have all the faith in the world in you honey!

Sometimes I think that our scales & bodies like to play tricks on us. On Monday, I weighed in and it said that I had gained 5 pounds after my birthday weekend. I just couldn't grasp how in the world I could have gained that much weight, that quickly. Today was my scheduled weekly weigh in, and I almost didn't do it... I guess I just didn't want to see the scale taunting me. But, I got on and I lost another 3 pounds! Technically, if I went by what the scale said Monday, I've lost 8 pounds. Good thing I totally disregarded that number... 'cause my heart was telling me it was full of crap!

So, 3 more pounds gone forever! I've only got 10 more pounds till I reach my first personal goal!

Meals planned for the day:

Breakfast:
egg whites & a spoonful of diced potato and salsa on a wheat tortilla
a plum

Lunch:
some Lean Cuisine or WW meal
garden salad with a sprinkle of WW cheese and raspberry vinagerette dressing

Dinner (working the 2nd job):
SUBWAY it is... ham & turkey on wheat
apple slices

Snacks:
94% fat free kettle popcorn
a big ol' orange

[DapperButch]

Originally Posted by Medusa

I'm feeling pissy because my ass is so bruised that I can't stand to get on my stationary bike.

I did 10 minutes this morning just as a warm-up and I had wanted to do another 25 minutes tonight but even sitting there is pretty painful. I've been riding it steadily for about a week now and was hoping this pain would go away dammit!

Anyone else tried to wad up a huge beach towel to sit on that tiny bike seat while you ride? Well, it did NOT work for me!

I want to ride my bike dammit! WAHHHHHHHHH!!!!!

Medusa,
Thinker is right. There really isn't any way past it. You have to build up the scar tissue. It won't hurt if you take a day off, though.

Also, I would look into a quality seat that takes pressure off the area. To be honest with you, the best place to ask these questions are the bike thread.