Okay, don't laugh...(prior to being pregnant and I WILL be going back to using it again!! LOL) I bought and used a DVD off of TV and I swear by it. Yes, I'm one of the dorks that lost weight via infomerrcial! Hahahh!

It's called Slim in 6 by Beach body. I think its www.beachbody.com. You can google it too or find it on Ebay by now I'm sure.

AMAZING...kicks my butt! And uses your body weight as resistance. You work EVERYTHING.

While I didn't concentrate on weight alone, I cared about how I felt about my body and fit in my clothes. I went from a size 22 to a size 8 and have (had..again having twins right now..lol) kept it off for over 2 years! I adore the DVD's.

I will be on this thread once the babies arrive looking for some support girls!!!

Awesome Nawal! That sounds like amazing results! Looking forward to the rotating baby sigs. and hearing your workout progress here!

Will do and sounds fun!!

First my lower body workout made me sore and I couldn't sleep. Now my upper body work out has me sore and feeling like a gorrilla. Wah!

For core, i think one of the most effective exercises is the plank.

http://exercise.about.com/od/abs/ss/abexercises_10.htm

Ah bruttle! Good I can make me core sore next!

i wouldn't be able to get off the floor OMG *cries from laughter* aaaaaaahahahahaha i won't be trying that any time soon....

I take the weekends off from exercise.

And vacations such as this week.

BTW I got some crazy awesome core exercises from a super fit chick on Saturday! I am excited to start practicing them and see the results!

Well, now that I am working overnight, I was thinking to bring more of my food to work with me. I was thinking about homemade hummus and pitas, with some salad of the cucumber/parsley/tomato variety. You know when I first dropped a ton of weight a few year ago in jordan, I was eating mostly this kind of stuff and walking up and down the wadi maybe 2 times-3 times per day, only half-way... carrying about 30lbs. It was only like a 10 minute walk or less each way. i was thinking if i just strapped a field pack onto me on the treadmill... lol.

string a bucket of m&m's just out of arms reach of me and stick me on a treadmill.. i MIGHT make it a mile...

LOL! The real trick is to have someone to talk to. I'm doing treadmill on teh phone now. I jsut warn epople that I'm really not THAT excited to hear from them, i'm just exercising

some real exercise........

I could do treadmill over the phone... mmmhmmm reaching mile 32 (places tato chip in mouth) mmhmm runnin up hill now..this is hard..stamina stamina... (tosses m&m's in air and catches them in mouth). reeeeeally sweating now..... (gets up to grab soda from fridge)....

I swear if thinking about it alone were enough to make me lose, I'd be a pole.

amal..........we miss you!

I really need to buy some clothes as I've been wearing the same three pairs of pants that actually fit me now over and over again.

This week I'm going to lay off the treadmill and use the elliptical. My knees have been a little bit sore. I also need new running shoes...my birthday is coming up, so that's what I'll ask for.

ROFL!!!!


Ever try going to those running shoe stores that have sales associates who specialize in finding the perfect shoe for you? I never knew until about five years ago that they existed. Sorry if you know all this already (maybe someone reading won't!) but they are all trained about each and every type of shoe they sell so when you come in they watch you walk, stand on one foot for balance, measure your feet exactly, and can recommend the exact type of running shoe for you.

I used to have knee pain like you (this was back when I used to work out a LOT) But once I went to the store to get my perfect fit shoe, all the pain went away and the shoes were sooooooo comfy. If they weren't so ugly I would wear them everyday, everywhere. hehe

charles.. welcome to amals poo poo list..

I lost the 5lbs that I gained last week so im back to having lost 25lbs. We'll see how the rest of the week treats me...

Bless me VJ, for I have sinned. It has been over two months since my last VJ confession.

I just had two really thick but really good (had nut morsels in it) peanut butter cookies.

Well if you're gonna rub your peanut butter cookies in my face, then I'm gonna rub it in your face that I just had a nice snack of nectarine that will surely be kind to my ever-shrinking waistline!


(I assume guilt works on you with the whole confessional intro....lol)

Jenn
My knees were getting sore from running - then my trainer taught me how to run properly, shoulders back, arms straight, pointing fingers (to help you maintain straight arms), not pounding feet on the ground etc and it has been much easier on my knees. she also has me taking glucosamine and i bought mizuno running shoes. all of these things seem to be helping, i dont get sore much from running anymore.

also if you do exercises like balancing in a slight squat on one leg on a bosu etc it strengthens around your knee area.

lastly you should ice your knee after running....

hope this helps

I'll see your nectarine and raise you the fruit salad my husband made the other night. (it was just so perty I couldn't NOT take a picture of it!)



Of course after eating this we both had some Cherry Garcia iced cream (to go with the whole fruit theme) but that's neither here nor there.

This might be off topic but has anyone tried taking parsley for stomachaches? It really works. I've tried sucking on a lemon, sprite, alkaselzer nothing worked until I took parsley. It's good for bloating or feeling weak also. It's a good pick me up herb. You can get em powdered into pills too, I'd of course recommend organic. It was seriously within 5-7 mins the stomach pain went away.

I would not be surprised; foods have some wonderful things to heal your tummy. I am on my fruit detox regime, I only eat fruit till around noon, and then I try to snack on fruit as much as possible. I also love brown rice, so I live on that, throw some sautéed mushrooms on that rice, some fresh vegs, and I am eating well. I am trying to get healthy in my diet habits, trying to get back to more natural foods, instead of chemicals.

mushrooms are the epitomy of all evil and must therefore be destroyed

I ate taco bell 2nite coz I felt like poo and didn't wanna cook. at least there was lettuce and tomatos, right?
i gotta make sure i lose at least 1 pound by next week, I don't wanna start plateauing where I'm at. Something must be in the air coz I just wanna snack snack snack.

I have said it more than once and will continue to say it. There is something about eating an apple for breakfast that gets ur energy going. I didn't hav emy apple most of last week and maaaaaaaaaaaan did I notice a difference. I'm stocked up and ready to finish this week out. TRY IT

I've always heard that an apple does more to boost your energy than a cup of coffee. Of course, I've never tested this.

I think going to one of those stores where they tell you what show you should be wearing would be a good start. I have 3-year-old New Balances, and I don't think they're doing the trick. Especially because I have a tendency to wear out the inner soles of my shoes.

Icing would be a good idea. But what a pain at work, you know? But it is important...

OMG ^^^ I want to buy shoes for you now why do you do that wearing the soles out!! aWWWW that's what my grandpa used to do!!


Also those small fennal seeds if you chew on them they help with stomach pain. Once I find something natural and healing I gotta tell the whole world .

if you are using your running shoes regularly... you should be getting a new pair every six months! i hope you do check out a store and get a new pair, jenn! i hope your knee gets better!

Ok, I know I said I was going to lay off the running until I get my new shoes, but...

I did 3 miles again today and shaved a minute off my time from last week. Yay!

i've walked 2500 steps today! woot

When I was up in McCall this week Mom, Uncle Tom, and I all ate McDougall. It's vegitarian w/no oils and immediatly I started feeling better! I had better energy then I've had in a long time and I felt thinner after the first day. I came back and weighed myself and I lost 3.5 lbs in one week on this diet without exercising! After one week the program really worked! Maybe I really can lose 15lbs. a month like the book says? I am so excited and I love having this energy and the food is actually tasty!

The best part is I don't have to count calories. I can eat as much as I want and I don't get hungry and I still lose weight!

I'm going to doing my walking in the morning with my cousin, Abby, again and I'm going to workout at the gym M-F with my gf, Erin, who has the same membership as I do! I am so excited I found a diet that actually works for me and I'm really going to be able to achieve me weight loss goals!

Oh and Jenn you should replace your running shoes every six months & go to a shoe store for runners. I've been many times and they really are a blessing to my knees! Keep up the good work on the running! I know how wonderful it feels to achieve this. I prefer New Balance as well.

I wonder how much I set myself back after all of the excess over this past weekend.

I was at a friend's wedding. And I wanted to enjoy myself and didn't give a second thought to what I was eating! But you know, I really DID enjoy myself, and especially the food.

Now back to the gym and back to watching my diet. And you know, I don't even feel guilty for being so bad!

Jenn! As you told me about the Mexican food sometimes you have to allow yourself things! You deserve to have a good time at the wedding party!
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I weighed myself and I lost 5 lbs! This comes after being on vacation for a week and not exercising and only eatting healthy!

I went on my regular morning walk with my cousin Abby but I skipped the gym today because I was so tired. I barely got any rest the past two days.

Sleep is also an important part of health and well being. Everything affects everything.

Mom and I are on strict veggie diets for the month of June. I'll keep you all posted on progress.

Congrats on your weight loss so far, Olivia! Keep it up!

I've decided to increase my goal a bit. I'm only 2 pounds away now from my original goal and I don't feel like it's really where I want to be.

well... i have hit a plateau but thats ok. I'm enjoying my diet so thats good. I usually go once or twice a week and eat whatever I want (within reason) so I'm thinking its either AF is gettin ready to visit or it will start coming off again very soon.

I think the plateaus are the toughest part about trying to lose weight. Don't give up, Amal. You'll start to lose again.

I was so happy to find cherries at the grocery store yesterday. I love cherries! So I bought a big bag of them and brought them to work. A great afternoon snack!

I've been eating cherries and peaches like crazy!!! Hubby goes every Friday now to Haymarket and gets all of our fruits/veggies.

Okay, I have been guiltily ignoring this thread for quite some time but I really need to start a diet plan.

Both my mother and husband ganged up on my this weekend at my sister's wedding - and after looking at the pictures, I am reluctantly agreeing All of their reasons are based on health, and I have been diagnosed with a chronic disease.... I'm kinda running out of reasons for being happy at the weight I am - well, and I have gained weight this month due to stress ::sigh:: no hope for it....

So, I need to figure out some kinda diet for people that don't get lunch breaks at work and don't get home until after dinner

Any suggestions?

Even though you don't get a lunch break, are you able to eat/snack at work?

I"m not currently dieting BUT, when I had a hectic job the key to success was preparation. You must get at least one day a week off from work, right? On that day prepare as much as possible so that when you get home it will only take 10 minutes or so to heat something up that is healthy. Also, keep healthy snacks available at all times, like baby carrots, baked chips, grapes, cheese, etc. that you can munch on. Always keep a healthy snack in the car so that you're not tempted to go to a fast food place. Also park far away from your building so you're forced to walk. (unless you take the shuttle like me while everyone else is walking )

this is exactly what I was going to suggest. good luck!

If you're not able to eat at work at all though, that's going to make it all the more challenging to lose weight. Lots of small meals, they always say.

Not sure what is recommended if that's not possible...

I agree with making up a weeks worth of meals and having them ready for after work. It really helps to have it all planned out.

I wish fruits and veggies weren't so expensive. I could literally go thru a whole bag of grapes in an hour and a whole bag of baby carrots in 30 minutes (if left alone) I don't think I could afford to have those things as snacks. My 100 calorie packs are suiting me just fine. Man I DO love me some carrots and grapes though..*drool*

I agree PB preperation is the key!

I love grapes and stawberries and I've been waiting for the cherries as well. Apples are really great for on the go healthy munchers. But for really healthy 15 mins lunch that can be prepared at home in a very short amount of time try pita veggie sandwiches. Get a stack of whole wheat pitas to bring home and stuff them with sliced cucumber, sprouts, grated carrot, lettuce mix, and pour a little bit your favorite non-fat & non-oil salad dressing. If ur not into salad dressing get a healthy humus spread instead, or a non-fat & non-oil refried beans to spread lightly in there. You can make a few of these and eat them just one day and feel slimmer already and not go hungry!
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I went on my morning walk with Abby again which was lovely. This afternoon Erin called with a headache so we skipped the gym for the second day in a row. Yikes!

about how many calories would be in those sandwiches? they sound just fabulous! Now I want veggies!!!!

Thanks! those are all good suggestions. I wonder how much snacking I can get away with at work

The pita bread is a good idea, I need to ask my hubby to try and find whole wheat ones next time he gets them. I can probably get fruit to snack on at work easily, but will have to bring my own baby carrots (I do love those ). I work in the office for large banquet kitchen, so food is easily available but it's not always very healthy

I'm going to do my best the next few days and see how much healthy food I can prep this weekend. I think I'm lucky that I love quickly sauted veggies - just cut out the oil, use a non-stick pan, and I have freshly cooked veggies I love

Anyone try weelkly menu planning? I never can seem to stick to it....

The awesome thing about the McDougall program is there is no calorie counting! You can eat as much as you want and not go hungry and still lose weight. I've already seen the results in the first two weeks losing 5lbs! One week I exercised and the next I was on vacation but it all still worked well for me!



I agree with the non-stick pan, cut the oil, and sautee the veggies. It really does our bodies wonders to eat like this! Tonight Mom and I went to the grocery store and stocked up on tons of healthy produce. Our goal is to cut the oil and eat the fresh produce before it all rots! We picked up cherries also!