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Past Member
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Posted: 13 February 2008 11:42 am |
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Hi everyone,
I'm new here to the forum but have been using a few of the CPH calculators for almost 4 weeks now.
I am 36 years old, and over the years have been a round the block a few times when it comes to dieting and now I have realized that simple portion control and regular exercise (something my husband has been telling me for years, lol) is all I need to be doing, and amazingly, it really does work.
I've always hated the whole counting every calorie, fat gram, carb thing and it really is, for me, one of the reasons I have thrown in the towel after a few weeks or so. My other main reason is that I have never found anything to keep me motivated when it came to exercise. I didn't have any motivation in that particular area.
For the past 3 1/2 weeks, I started my own little plan of sorts. It is the easiest "plan" I have ever done and in all honesty, I don't even consider myself on a diet.
I'm basically using simple portion control and walking to lose weight, and like I mentioned, it is working. I have lost 12lbs since January 20th. I sat down and took a real good look at my food intake before starting. For me, it's not so much the types of foods I eat, but rather the amount of foods that I was eating. We, my family, have always done well at incorporating alot of veggies, lean meats ect into our diets, but for me, my eyes were alway's bigger than my belly (so to speak, lol) and I was the one that would go back for seconds and even thirds. If I ate junky foods like a candy bar, I didn't just eat one, I ate 2 or 3 of them. If I poured me a soda, I would end up drinking the entire 2 liter of soda in that particular day.
So, I figured instead of "eliminating" certain foods (I have tried this in the past, and then a craving would hit and it was all over)...I would simply limit the amount of junk foods to a minimum, and use portion control when it came to my everyday meals.
It has just been one of the best things I could of ever done for myself. I don't feel deprived because the whole thought "I can't have that" doesn't enter into my head. I am a happy camper with my one reg. soda a week and each day, when it come to meal times, I simply put smaller amounts on my plate.
Exercise, in the past..I dreaded it. I was a huge procrastinator and often times just "blew it off". But you can't do this..exercise IS an important step to becoming healthier and I understand this, so I went about finding something that would keep me motivated, somthing that would take the boredom out of my own routine each day.
Walking has always been my first choice, especially in the winter (it get's very hot here in the summer, well over 110 degree's during the day) so, after doing my homework, I went and bought me a Gold's Gym Cross Trainer 600 treadmill at Walmart (this particular model was just what I was looking for and had a 350lb weight capacity so I felt very comfortable knowing it wouldn't colape when I walked on it, lol, oh and it was within my budget). I would caution anyone who is buying a treadmill to always check and see what the weight restrictions for the model you are buying is..not many people know but for many treadmills, it is only 250lbs.
Now, I just needed a goal to work toward..lol..something that would keep me motivated. I was online one day and found this conversation regarding "virtual" walking. It seemed interesting so I continued to read, and after I read this idea, it gave me a motivational boost.....sooo
I am walking to Kodiak Island, Alaska...yeahhhhh! Being that this is my first "mini me" goal, I kinda created my own version of a "virtual" walk, so instead of tracking my miles, I am tracking my minutes walked. It would take roughly 37hrs to "drive" from my place to Alaska (think that's in a straight line lol)...that equal's 2,220 minutes. So that is my first goal, to walk 2,220 minutes on my treadmill and reach Kodiak Island, in Alaska.
As of last sunday, I have walked 318 minutes. Again, this may not seem alot, but I am not going to rush anything (been there, done that too)...I simply started off walking 15 minutes on my treadmill the first week, and now I am up to 30 minutes 5-6 days a week, and it is a BLAST! I'm having alot of fun, and..my hubby has agreed, when that day comes to where I have accomplished my overall weightloss goals, that he will take me to Kodiak Islands for vacation, hopefully for our 20th annivesary which is May 2009.
In the upcoming weeks, I will introduce myself to strength training using resistance bands and dumbells, but for right now, I am happy doing my walking.
I have an aol blog, with more on my weightloss journey and walk to Alaska, that I started about 2 weeks ago, but not sure if it is approriate to put the link on here, so for right now, I won't until I get approval to do so.
Anyways, just wanted to say hi...guess I said a little more than just Hi, lol...sry
Height: 5' 7
SW: 272lbs (01/20/08)
CW: 260lbs (02/10/08)
GW: 165lbs
Look forward to meeting you all!
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personsmom
Distinguished Member
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Posted: 13 February 2008 12:41 pm |
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Good Morning and Welcome  I absolutely  the virtual walking idea  I have called my treadmill walking my "walk to nowhere" and "getting on the Hamster Wheel" Now I will look for a destination. I thought maybe tracking the distance on a map and search the web for info/pictures for the mental images while walking. Thanks for the new view 
Lee
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Past Member
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Posted: 13 February 2008 12:51 pm |
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I believe you can do that using google maps..I have only dial up here so for me, it doesn't work well (downside of living in the boonies) but with high speed connections, it works very well.
Can't wait to see what destination you choose. Have a great time getting there.
p.s I have a picture of a Kodiak Bear and the Kodiak Islands in front of my treadmill...hehehe....and a very good imagination, lol
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Peter
Founder, caloriesperhour.com
| Joined: | 24 May 2005 |
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| Posts: | 4179 |
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Posted: 13 February 2008 04:27 pm |
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Welcome!
Since I created the calorie counters on this website, sometimes people are surprised to hear that I have never counted calories!
I use the calculators to look at different foods and exercises to find what I would enjoy that would also be good for me. Then go with that.
When it's not working, I make adjustments.
Others need the tight control of counting every calorie in and out... at least till they get the hang of it.
Whatever works!
Enjoy your walk. You can give us weekly reports on the effects of global warming on the habitat up there!
Peter
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Past Member
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Posted: 13 February 2008 07:04 pm |
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LOL Peter..I have to admit, I have only used your walking calculator and the BMI calculator. Like you, I am not counting ANYTHING else, lol...but it sure is nice to have a site like this where everything is right there, and ACCURATE!!
I have been to so many sites over the years and they have all given me a different answer...lol
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