The Cauldron

Once, in a previous incarnation of this board, we had a losing weight thread.

Well. It crashed for me. I weigh more than ever. I am gaining because I lack self discipline, and "just one chocolate with the workmates" and such. Apart from that I eat fairly healthily and varied, a bit more carbs than I like but I lack the energy to cook anything but pasta. I lack the energy because I weigh more than my muscles can deal with carrying around. My shoulders have started sinking down forwards, because it takes conscious use of energy to keep my former erect carriage. I still walk to and from work, but more often than I used to, I ask my bf to pick me up or drop me off (especially if the weather is bad). I cannot walk as fast as I used to, and my knees are getting strange aches, different from the ones I am used to from my injury.

I hate myself, I fear for my health, and I have started avoiding socialising because I feel uncomfortable around people.

So. To the good part.

There is a group at work that runs around 4.5-5 miles (a bit over 7km) once a week. My workplace has like 150 employees so I don't really know any of them.

Today I sent one of them a mail, asking if she would walk the route they run with me on a non-run day, so I could trot after them in my own speed, walking or alternating walking with jogging. I admitted that I have never been able to run, even when I was MUCH slimmer in my childhood and teens (I have always been chubby but I wasn't fat like now). I explained that I will feel like an idiot even pretending to try, seeing them disappear on the horizon before we have even left the parkinglot. And I said that I hope that by this time next year, perhaps I can run with them at least for some kilometers.

My bf told me it's not much use, I will drop out after two times. I fear he is right. But I really want this. My hope is that there will be other at work that can't keep up either, so we can build a group that goes in a bit slower speed.

And I feel very vulnerable at the moment, opening up and telling "the world" (or at least my workmates) so much.  And the workmate who has been arranging the runs (who works at my department).. well. I am in no way close to her. I find it very hard to talk to her, I find her so prejudiced.

Anyone else that wants to come with a status report?

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avatar drawn by me.

~If the future isn't bright, at least it's colourful~

Running is very good for your health.  If you can get into the habit of running a few miles everyday, you'll feel much better.  I've always been a runner so I feel so out of shape after not running for a few years... >.<  I'm going to start agan soon... I hope... but I too lack the self-discipline to do it consistantly. 

Another thing you can do is swim.  I know your response is that you don't want to worry about how you look in a swimsuit but trust me, I used to work as a lifeguard and I've seen some pretty heavy people swim.. in not so appropriate swimsuits..  Anyway, if you have a park district, they often have water aerobics groups, and if not, you ask them to start one.  They seem pretty effective, and while they're not as effective as swimming on its own, it's easier to do, and you get to talk while doing it.  Plus, all the women I've seen do it seem to push each other to go in to do it.  They all talk like they've known each other for years (when I know that that isn't true).  So that's another way to maybe look into losing weight.

Sil, find a running buddy (maybe even the co-worker you emailed).  Make sure it's someone serious enough that they won't be too eager to bail on plans when the two of you realize that neither one of you feels like running on that particular day.  (Finding someone you respect enough to fear letting them down by not running will help with motivation issues.)

It will suck, at first, but if you can keep with it and can make it into "running shape" (basically the point when you realize that running 3 miles isn't so bad after all) you'll probably find that you even enjoy the activity.  The hardest part is making yourself get there.  (That's why using a buddy is so great.)

I've got faith in you, Silhelmina.  If you want it badly enough, you can make it happen.

Running is excellent exercise but if you've not done it before I'd stick to walking for the first wee bit then introduce running.  I can't do exercise just for the sake of it as I get really bored so when I decided to lose weight I decided to stop getting the bus to work and walk instead.  It takes me half an hour each way and that alone was enough to shift the pounds, I don't run at all as I have weak knees and they really hurt after a while. 

Unfortunately my body is now used to the exercise I do so I've taken up hill walking at weekends now and am going to go back horse riding this year as well.  I also do exercise in front of the television, if my favourite program is on I won't notice the exercise I'm doing and half an hour soon flies by.  I confess to be an absolute chocoholic plus I love my Indian and Chinese take aways and fried pizza suppers which doesn't help but I like my curves so not planning on losing too much more weight.

Don't listen to your boyf, he isn't being supportive if he thinks you'll drop out so quickly!  He'd be more help if he actually went running with you.  Is there not a dieting club or something you can join, it helps to be around other folk aiming for the same goal.

My main problem is finding a darn buddy!! I've asked all kinds of people and no one wants to do it with me. We have a walking/running track a block away from my house. I finally have been pestering my hubby (who has put on a few poulds himself in the last couple of years) to walk with me. Frankly, I worry about my heart a lot. Heart problems and strokes both run in my family. Add to that my stress (or how I handle stress) problem, and I'm a stroke waiting to happen. I'm in counselling for the stress thing, which is helping. I quit smoking two years ago (which some of you may remember), so that's good. Now I need to work on the weight thing. I think I am going to get Hubby to go buy those shoes, that he said he had to get before walking with me, this weekend.

I know how it is, Sil. My hub, love him though I do, always comments to me about how I don't stick with a plan once I start. Honestly, I finally told him to keep quiet if he had nothing supportive to say. And now that he's getting on the, shall we say, plump side, he's been saying not a word.

I agree that you should start out walking, too Sil. If you try to do too much too soon you could either hurt yourself, or get frustrated very quickly and quit altogether. When exercising, you should start our slow and work your way up. The water aerobics is a great idea! If you can find somewhere that offers it, check it out! It gives you a good workout, but you don't leave feeling really sore either. I loved it when I lived in FL. I was in a class with old or pregnant ladies. It is no impact at all, so it is very easy on your joints, which is why older people like it. But you still get a good workout!

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Avie pic by me.
Elwood: It's 106 miles to Chicago, we got a full tank of gas, half a pack of cigarettes, it's dark, and we're wearing sunglasses.
Jake: Hit it. ~ The Blues Brothers (1980)

EVERYBODY hates something about themselves.  Everybody loves something about themselves.  Some people even love everything about themselves---in America, we call those people Republicans.

 

As far as exercising, I always thought that walking twenty minutes a day was good enough.  I use to go surfing A LOT, but not so much nowadays.  I do have a treadmill though, and I just run (or jog / walk / stand / sit-down / lie-down /go to sleep) on while I’m watching a movie, but you eventually run out of those.  So I just exercise on it while I’m watching televison.

In the order of appearance:

resimars417. wrote:

 If you can get into the habit of running a few miles everyday, you'll feel much better.  [...]
Another thing you can do is swim.  I know your response is that you don't want to worry about how you look in a swimsuit but trust me, I used to work as a lifeguard and I've seen some pretty heavy people swim.. in not so appropriate swimsuits..  Anyway, if you have a park district, they often have water aerobics groups, and if not, you ask them to start one.

I doubt I will ever get to the running point - even when I weighed 80 pounds less and was in good shape (ten-twelve years ago) I was unable to run due to the asthma.

And there are several reasons I won't swim:
The main being the cost. I love swimming, but I cannot afford the bus fare and the costs to go to a pool. Another being that I very much doubt how healthy a pool is. I cannot go to one where they use chemicals for sanitary reasons, due to allergic reactions, and I have seen the levels of yucky stuff in saltwater-pools. I am not usually scared of bugs, but there are limits. The third being that yes, I am too fat. Personal trainers working at gyms admit publically that they understand that almost no overweight people will go to a gym in this country, because they will be stared at. It is the same with pools, or even worse.

Ruais. wrote:

Running is excellent exercise but if you've not done it before I'd stick to walking for the first wee bit then introduce running.
[...] I confess to be an absolute chocoholic plus I love my Indian and Chinese take aways and fried pizza suppers which doesn't help but I like my curves so not planning on losing too much more weight.

Don't listen to your boyf, he isn't being supportive if he thinks you'll drop out so quickly!  He'd be more help if he actually went running with you.  Is there not a dieting club or something you can join, it helps to be around other folk aiming for the same goal.

I am, as I think I stated, going to walk the trail, perhaps do it in intervals (running/jogging a little while, then walking until I manage to run some meters again). I think a reasonable goal would be to manage to share the round on fifty/fifty walking and jogging sometime in the autumn. I am already a fast walker with quite some stamina, need to build on that.

Luckily the food isn't my biggest problem; I don't eat fastfood, restaurant food, take aways or even premade meals (at least not very often, perhaps once a month). However I have a candy-problem at work. Strangely enough I never have the urge for candies at home.

And I literally kicked my bf's ass when he started his litany again (and he was even laughing at me). I made him stop drinking regular Coke end of last summer, but I never managed to make him exercise with me. Even walking with him to the shop annoys me because he starts wheezing and stuff. Perhaps bad conscience is why he is discouraging me?

Valecynos. wrote:

My main problem is finding a darn buddy!! I've asked all kinds of people and no one wants to do it with me. [...] I think I am going to get Hubby to go buy those shoes, that he said he had to get before walking with me, this weekend.

Aaand the good news:
I let slip I needed to buy shoes, and that I am waiting for my friend to visit me from my uni-town next weekend, so she can help me enter the sports shops that fat people aren't seen in and demand they help me find the right shoes for me. I have wasted so much money lately on shoes that just gives me blisters on both my heel and the little toe due to bad fit.
Anyway, I let this slip to a new workmate that looks like a train-o-holic. Then I explained why I needed the shoes. Result, she looks at me like this: and says: Are you serious? I am in real bad shape and thought it seemed a good idea too, but I didn't dare because I'd have to walk almost all the way and it would be so embarrassing to come back half an hour after those sporty guys that are currently running.

Seems I have my buddy! We did agree though, that if it is raining or something, we will just leave our clothes at work and go next day with good enough weather. There has to be limits to masochism

This made me think that maybe there are more people with the same thoughts, so we should probably let it slip more often that we are going to start our own group for the people that aren't already in superb shape.

Sam I am. wrote:

EVERYBODY hates something about themselves.  Everybody loves something about themselves.  Some people even love everything about themselves---in America, we call those people Republicans.

Heyheyhey!  No stereotyping now!  And no political comments, it could get ugly. 
[now back to the previously scheduled program]
I like to ride my bike better than running.  Is running better than bike riding physically?

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"All that we see or seem is but a dream within a dream."
~Edgar Allan Poe
"Darest thou now O Soul, Walk out with me toward the unknown region, Where neither ground is for feet Nor any path to follow."
~Walt Whitman
~Avatar made by Me, madhatter.

I believe that bike riding has long been considered an excellent form of exercise, so I would say no, running isn't better than bike riding. It is all a matter of what appeals to you. Walking; biking; running; jogging; swimming; dancing; basketball; tennis; ice skating; rollerblading (or skating); football(American or the International version); anything that gets you up off the sofa and gets your body moving is a good form of exercise. What one person sees as too routine or boring, another may fall into nicely. One is not really better than another.

Some obviously are higher impact than other too, which can lead to joint pain in certain people. However, ever article and book I have read on the subject, and every doctor I have either personally seen or seen on TV says that the kind of exercise is far less important than the fact that you DO exercise. Start small and build up as your body gets used to the torture...er I mean work you are doing. So I am guilty of not liking exercise...what can I tell you? I'm not fond of housework either, but it has to be done. No matter what, in order for our bodies to work properly, and be healthy, we have got to exercise. So we may as well find something we like to do.

I have looked up a few articles on the amount of exercise needed to make a difference. Hope you find them informative.

This one is on walking. 

This is an actual medical study it seems, but the results are interesting.

This is about using exercise to lower cholesterol. It is only about women though. This one is about men. 

This is an "Ask the Dietitian" site. It came up on the search. I almost didn't include it because the very first section talks about decreasing this person's fat intake to 8%. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS!!! I cannot stress this enough. Our bodies need some fat. Luckily, that was a question sent in from someone, and the dietitian answers it. Note the response about it at the end the answer.

This article talks about the two different kinds of exercise: aerobic, meaning "with oxygen" and anaerobic (or nonaerobic), meaning "without oxygen".

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Avie pic by me.
Elwood: It's 106 miles to Chicago, we got a full tank of gas, half a pack of cigarettes, it's dark, and we're wearing sunglasses.
Jake: Hit it. ~ The Blues Brothers (1980)

Yeah, I think I started that old thread...gained it all back, but am focusing more on what goes in my mouth...aside from GS cookies...The weather has finally turned and we will be walking/jogging again.  I just bought a pet stroller that you can jog with so my pups can come with me...yes, I'm nuts.

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Avi is my family crest.

Oh Gosh! I just saw one of those! Someone was walking downtown with a dog in one and then another dog on a leash. I thought it was sooo adorable, and I thought about you!

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Avie pic by me.
Elwood: It's 106 miles to Chicago, we got a full tank of gas, half a pack of cigarettes, it's dark, and we're wearing sunglasses.
Jake: Hit it. ~ The Blues Brothers (1980)

Hey Sil, hope you're feeling better by now, only saw this thread today!
Would you ever think of starting up your own exercise "thing" in work, like a football team or yoga class. I started football and it's a great way to bond with the work mates, fantastic exercise (I went from size 10 to 8 in 3 sessions and I don't lose weight ever!), and it's an excuse to go for a few pints afterwards! ;)

I also do loads of horseriding - it's brilliant for toning the legs, upper arms, butt and tummy, as is Yoga!

Anyway, I still hope you took up the running, and stuck to it just to show yourself you can do it! You come across as such a lovely person so hope it all goes well!

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Maireann croí éadrom i bhfad - a light heart lives longest

When I was younger and still competing in tournaments (for TKD...back in high school) I put myself on this diet:  I could eat whatever I wanted as long as I worked it off.  So if I ate McDonald's one day, then I would work out extra-hard that night (training for the tournaments)

Of course, that was back in the day when (from January until July) I would train 5-6 days a week, minimum of 4 hours per day (on school days...on Saturdays, sometimes it would be 5-6 hours...I rested on Sunday, though)

But now I'm old and don't compete anymore; just take.  And living here in the Emerald Isle, I walk SO much more than I ever did in the good ol' US of A.  Well, and I don't have a car here, so.....*shrug*

I have actually lost weight since moving overseas...but I think that's more due to the fact that I don't eat, I don't sleep, and I'm stressed out.  (Okay, exaggerations, but I usually eat once or twice a day...and on average, I sleep about 4 hours per day.  Not per night, because I stay up all night and then pass out around 8am and get up at noon.  Yeah, still having trouble sleeping)

The stress thing is nothing new, though.  Silver lining:  the jeans I bought at the beginning of the summer now fit and are even loose on me!  (I tried one pair on and then bought about 4 of those pairs, but only the ones I tried on actually fit!  It was weird...but moot point now!)

IloveGwydion wrote:

Hey Sil, hope you're feeling better by now, only saw this thread today!
Would you ever think of starting up your own exercise "thing" in work, like a football team or yoga class. I started football and it's a great way to bond with the work mates, fantastic exercise (I went from size 10 to 8 in 3 sessions and I don't lose weight ever!), and it's an excuse to go for a few pints afterwards! ;)

I also do loads of horseriding - it's brilliant for toning the legs, upper arms, butt and tummy, as is Yoga!

Anyway, I still hope you took up the running, and stuck to it just to show yourself you can do it! You come across as such a lovely person so hope it all goes well!

Well, you aren't late, it has only been a few days since we restarted the thread!

As mentioned in my post yesterday, it seems I did start my own group.

Too bad there is a limit on what I can afford to do though, yoga for instance is waaay too expensive (around 550 Euro/term). But walking in the nature preservation area (walking/jogging whatever we can take) is free (apart from me needing new shoes, of course).


Wb; glad to hear it isn't only me regaining, but sorry to hear you didn't manage to keep at it. (Strange paradoxial feeling there, happy not to be alone but sorry for a friend!)

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avatar drawn by me.

~If the future isn't bright, at least it's colourful~

Silhelmina wrote:

Too bad there is a limit on what I can afford to do though, yoga for instance is waaay too expensive (around 550 Euro/term).

I didn’t know Yoga was considered exercise, I thought It was mainly for just relieving stress---like meditation.  Plus, I always thought that all you needed was a ten-dollar yoga mat, a yoga VHS tape, and you were all set.  But you might be right about the yoga classes; those might be expensive (don’t know how much 550 euro is).

 

There is this local anime store that I go to weekly to see if there is anything I can buy with all the money I saved for having not bought the TAK hardcover yet and very near it is a yoga studio.  Most of the time I pass by it is right in between sessions and both the current class and the next awaiting class are ALWAYS crowded.  And it is the most diverse collection of people you will ever see, (and in each class there is always at least one guy in attendance---wearing really tight clothes).  I can’t see inside the studio, so I don’t know what goes on in there, but whatever they are doing, it is VERY popular.

I started running with some friends last week and I had no idea how out of shape I was >.< Ugh... The two mile route we ran everyday last week (except for Wednesday because it was really raining) was killer on me.  >.<  I don't even know how long it took me to run it all, but I know I'm very disappointed with myself....  I used to be able to run a 2-mile in under 12 minutes no problem.  ;.;  Where did my stamina go? 

Oh well.. I guess this week I gotta get that time back down.

Sam I am. wrote:

I didn’t know Yoga was considered exercise, I thought It was mainly for just relieving stress---like meditation.  Plus, I always thought that all you needed was a ten-dollar yoga mat, a yoga VHS tape, and you were all set.  But you might be right about the yoga classes; those might be expensive (don’t know how much 550 euro is).

 

I don't approve of videos because without a teacher you don't really know what you are doing wrong - and if you do something very wrong repeatedly it can really damage you. Crunch the wrong muscles, lock up joints, pinch nerves and whatnot - not to mention simple strain damage.

Anyhow - there are very many styles of yoga. Some are more meditationlike. Most that are being taught here at least are muscle and stamina building - you don't reach that agility combined with the strength to hold a challenging posititon by meditating You should go to an introduction once, or something. Just be sure you find the right type of yoga - not the spiritual one, but rather a physical one.

And the tight clothes I don't get. I have always followed the example of the eastern yogis and worn loosefitting clothes that won't hinder my movement in any direction.

It is a form of training I like - no sudden movements, but decidedly tough enough to make a difference.

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avatar drawn by me.

~If the future isn't bright, at least it's colourful~

Sam I am. wrote:

those might be expensive (don’t know how much 550 euro is).

The exchange rate right now is roughly $1.30 to every one euro, which makes 550 euro into about $715.  Yeah, expensive for sure!

I get my exercise by having the TV upstairs and the bathroom downstairs.  (Plus, I'm a channel flipper, so I have a VERY powerful thumb!  )  Wait, what do you mean "that doesn't count"?

AL, I know what you mean about eating whatever as long as I burn it off. I, too, go to karate 5 days a week, and that's my eating policy.

I was never really a very good runner, but that may because my PE teacher was the spawn of Satan, and I went to a Christian school! She had prayers that would take half of the class period, and she'd make us do wall-sits during that time. I've been wanting to start up running again, though, because I know it's good, I've gained a little weight on my thighs, and I know there's running on the black belt test, which is looming awfully close now. I haven't been able to, though, since last summer I broke my toe at a place where there shoulda been a joint but it had been fused. The consequences of that were getting a joint that was essentially arthritic, and it interfered with everything. Today is the 14th day since my surgery getting that little bit worked on. I'm certainly giving myself time to heal, but I'm gonna start working myself back up to jogging again as soon as I can.

I almost went on our treadmill about a month ago, but it's in a shed apart from our main house. My brother kept his dog there for a while, and the whole shed reeked. I could also ... smell (beyond simply seeing) evidence of the dog relieving himself, on the treadmill. That kinda did in my gumption to read one of my texts while at least walking fast.

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Silhelmina wrote:

Too bad there is a limit on what I can afford to do though, yoga for instance is waaay too expensive (around 550 Euro/term). But walking in the nature preservation area (walking/jogging whatever we can take) is free (apart from me needing new shoes, of course).

I did yoga through adult education and it only cost me 80 euro for a 12-week course.


Started soccer two weeks ago and man is it tough... but what a difference! I don't need to lose weight  (I don't think so anyway) but I've toned up so much so fast, it's great! My tummy is so flat - flatter than it's ever been before! and it's so much fun... God I love sport!

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Maireann croí éadrom i bhfad - a light heart lives longest