Harder than I thought

[Chupa Cabras]

Re: Harder than I thought

You guys are awesome

Desertthorn, I'm glad to hear from you guys who know how tough it is. It really does help.

Penniedo, we're going to Western Caribbean for 7 days...Grand Cayman (snorkeling) Roatan (scuba diving) Belize (cave tubing) and Costa Maya (Mayan ruins and swimming) so I'll be almost living in a swimsuit *yikes*

Austlyn, I really do appreciate your input. Everything is relative and I need to stop comparing myself and my progress with others.

Pictures to come when I reach my goal!

[sunflowergrl]

Re: Harder than I thought

I am so happy to hear you in a better frame of mind!! Great decission to move on to OWL, I am sure you will love the food choices! I can't wait to see those pics on your vacation, and you will look HOT in that suit!!! Keep up the good work!

[Below 30]

Re: Harder than I thought

and don't think of it as "I can't have" this or that......train your brain to say "I can have" ...... that is what keeps me going

[Pineapple]

Re: Harder than I thought

"I can have butter" really helped me

[Brook]

Re: Harder than I thought

I'm really curious to know where you got the 30% body fat number from, Chupa? At 5'5" and 135lbs, unless you're pretty out of shape, I find that number hard to swallow!

I'm 5'5.5" and 152lbs today and I'm at 21% right now (gained some when I slacked for about a month+ and had surgery).

Forget the numbers. Get busy with the strength training and aerobics, up your veggie intake (EAT THAT DUMB SALAD!!) and start learning to focus on the things you CAN have! You can have real cheese, real dressings, real cream, red meat. You want to see someone with a look of lust/jealousy in their eyes? Talk to a low-fat dieter and tell them you had a sirloin with mushrooms sauteed in real butter or your chicken with provolone and bacon I promise you, most of them would trade their sandwhich bread or baked potato for a bite

Congrats on your success so far!!
~Brook

[Chupa Cabras]

I CAN have!

Very true, guys. I need to stop negative thoughts. I think this week is what would be my TOM (hysterectomy) cuz I'm in a funk and feeling crampy and acting grouchy. I'm probably retaining water since I feel fatter than usual.

Brook, FitToGether.net is one of the places where I've put in numbers. I also have one of those scales that are supposed to measure body fat. They both say 30% now. Everytime I've done the measurements to determine body fat % I come up with high numbers. Maybe they're wrong *fingers crossed*

I've been lifting weights for 8 weeks now, faithfully 3 times a week (and I lift heavy...chest press up to 75#, row/lat pull down 115#, etc.) and I do cardio 5-6 times a week for 30 min when I lift, and 60 minutes when I'm not.

Someone else posted that knowing yourself is one of the best tools you can have. It takes a while, but I'm starting to figure it out. I stay at a weight for several weeks, then drop 1 or 2 pounds in a few days, then stay steady for two more weeks, then lose 1 or 2 again. This has become the pattern for my weight loss, but damn, it took 6 weeks to figure it out!!

[Angelasherell]

Measuring Body fat

Hydrostatic weighing (underwater weighing) is the most accurate way to calculate body fat - that is, if you can find a hydrostatic weighing tank. By using Archimedes Principle. Your examiner first calculates your body density by measuring the amount of water you displace when you immerse yourself in water. Then a formula is used to calculate body fat based on your body density. The problem is finding a facility (University, major gym or fitness center) which has a hydrostatic weighing tank!!
Body fat scales claim to measure body fat quickly and conveniently. These body fat scales use the Bioelectrical Impedance method to measure your body fat percentage. A low-level electrical current is passed through your body and the "impedance", or opposition to the flow of current, is measured. The result is used in conjunction with your weight and other factors to determine your body fat percentage. Unfortunately, your body's "impedance level" can be altered by many factors besides body fat. For instance, the amount of water in your body, your skin temperature and recent physical activity can all adversely affect the results.So only by following strict rules can you hope to get an accurate measurement of your body fat using these scales.

Some studies have shown variances as high as 8 percent when using the bioelectrical impedance method even if the rules are precisely followed.

Measuring body fat with a set of body fat calipers is the most cost effective way to determine fat levels. But it's important to use them correctly. For instance, either have a professional take the measurements for you or buy a set of Accumeasure calipers (callipers) and follow the measuring instructions. Accumeasure are the only calipers than allow you to test yourself and most studies have shown that they are very accurate.

[sadie147]

Re: Harder than I thought

My stats are almost identical to yours, hw was 151, starting weight 146, I reached my goal weight in december 2004 (it was 120...i go up and down from 120 to 125 in maintenance), 10 months after starting. the first 12 lbs came off fairly quickly in the first couple of months, the remaining lbs were slow. I did a regula weight routine and jogging. Why I didn't give up: After the first 6 or 8 weeks of this WOE I had the 'ah-ha' moment, where I realized this is not a diet, but a Way of Life. I didn't rush it, followed the rules (moving to OWL broke a stall for me by the way) and was patient. The weight came off, slowly...but it came off. 1 + yrs later, I'm still maintaining with the odd struggle with 5 or so lbs, but I've kept the weight off and stayed with it as a way of life, rather than a diet.

Though it isn't always easy, even in maintainence (staying there is almost as hard/harder than getting there believe it or not), but it's become my way of life and pretty much second nature to me now.

Try to be patient and not think of this as a crash diet, or give yourself a deadline for losing the weight, I believe doing this you just set yourself up for failure. Thinking of it as a new way of eating...that has the added bonus of weight loss ...is what worked for me.

[Chupa Cabras]

Re: Harder than I thought

Thanks Sadie, I'm realizing more and more that this is a WOE. I know that if I stick with it, I'll get there, but patience has never been one of my virtues

I really need the goal, it's what motivates me. Last year I tried posting pictures of myself in undies on my favorite message board, hoping that public humiliation would drive me to succeed...but it didn't.

Angela, I think I'm going to find a gym that does the fat calipers, like maybe a Bali's or Gold's Gym. If I can find someone who actually knows how to use them, I should be able to get a good reading. Or I could ask my OBGYN for a referral for a body scan and say I think I may be at risk for osteoporosis.

Okay, extra time in the gym, measure everything I eat, drink more water, and stop being negative!!! *rah rah rah*