The MakeMeThinner Support Forum

[Lauren]

Hey, Rob -

Yep, back from my business trip, actually for a couple days now, just didn't get a chance to log in. Although, considering how quiet it's been on the forum, I should really make a bigger effort to log on more frequently. It's just been a crazy time at work, and while maintaining is totally a priority, taking the time to write sometimes gets sent to the back burner...

Congrats on your success story at Sweet Tomatoes! So funny about the universe comment you made, because I play that game with myself frequently. Like, if I am craving my Tasti-d-lite treat (it's that uber-low-calorie, low carb, no-fat, frozen "dessert" like froyo that I think only exists in Manhattan) but I can't decide if I really need it, I'll let the street lights make the decision. I'll start walking, and if the street lights conspire against my going in that direction, then I'll take it as a sign! :-) Wow, I am sick in the head!

Mazel tov on the back muscle too - I am always intrigued by new muscle identification! You've been doing such a good job with your PUSH routines, that it makes perfect sense you'd be developing new muscles! That's awesome.

Cheers,

Lauren

[DogMa]

Thanks, Lauren. And yeah, I try not to use the universe as an excuse - although there HAVE been times when I just gave up on the treadmill after getting interrupted three or four times and deciding it just wasn't my day - but I WILL sometimes let "fate" or whatever make the decision for me on stuff like that. And heck, it kept me away from the muffins AND the ice cream, so whatever works.

I'm HATING Bob the trainer right now, though. This workout is SO hard. We're done with just the core stuff and now working on the things I said I wanted to work on (which I think was upper body and abs, figuring my legs get plenty of work on the treadmill every day), plus I told them to increase it to 40 minutes from 30. So I had to do a bunch of stuff with resistance bands and weights, till my arms were pretty darn worn out. And THEN I had to do one-armed push-ups, and then regular push-ups, and then some girly push-ups. And then side planks, which I had a lot of trouble with because I was completely worn out by then. And then I had to move on to ab exercise after ab exercise after yet another ab exercise (the good news is there was one I couldn't really do at all last week, and this time I did much better). It's LOTS of pilates stuff, plus some yoga and regular exercises. So today pretty much everything is still tired and a little sore, and I'm guessing tomorrow will be even worse. Darn you, Bob Harper!!!

[ChynnaDoll]

just LOVE your determination Rob!..and my PT i believe is trying to KILL me...lol!

Chynna

[Lauren]

You're too funny! I always make the mistake of getting to my pushups way too far into my workout, when I'm already exhausted and energy is depleted. I do it every freakin' time, and I always wonder (either aloud or to myself) whether I'd be able to kick so much more butt on them if I did them at the start of my work out! Perhaps one day I'll be smart enough to remember that! :-)

A bit of a love/hate Bob affair, eh? Haha It sounds like he is doing the exact right thing - keeping it totally challenging, but not so much that you feel defeated...he's just dangling the little carrot in front of you. It sounds perfect. And if I thought I'd get into the at home workouts to the extent that you do, I'd definitely get on the PUSH thing. I just don't know if I'll utilize them and it will be money thrown away...

And come on, Rob, admit that you feel good when you have new sore muscles after all this time. I do. I am always happily surprised when I've accomplished some work out routine that found new areas to make sore! It's like I've found the hidden key...again, I'm sick in the head. Admitting it is the first step...

Lauren

[DogMa]

Oh, I LOVE the soreness. Even last week when my abs were screaming every time I sat down or stood up. But I swear, last night I was YELLING at the TV. Mojo kept getting all nervous (I have to keep the dogs gated out of the room or she'll crawl all over me when I'm trying to work) because of all the noise I was making. But it was SO hard. The man definitely has a mean streak.

And yeah, I assume he WANTS my arms to be tired by the time I do push-ups. And then makes them progressively easier because he knows they're gonna be worn out by the end.

The home thing definitely isn't for everyone. But I just will NOT go to the gym during the week, especially after getting home so late and leaving the poor dogs alone so long. My only other alternative is to join the gym on campus, which I might do at some point if the PUSH thing gets old (or I don't like that next trainer; I only have three more workouts, or six more weeks, with Bob after this one).

[Diana]

Hey, Robin!!

I read back a bit. . . don't know if someone else has brought this up, but I'm wondering if your weight is up because you're building muscle. That would also fit with your fat percentage going down, etc.

I'm working on the exercise thing. . .I've got to get over all the old excuses and JUST DO IT!! I can only imagine the transformation since we met in person 2 summers ago. A lean, healthy, transformed you!!

[DogMa]

Hi, Diana! It's been mentioned, and I know muscle is more dense. But I also know it's pretty impossible for a woman to pack on 5 pounds of muscle in such a short time. So I really don't think that's it.

But my tantrum is mostly over, and I'm just back to doing what I know I should, and having faith that it'll start t work again at some point. If not, I'll talk to my doc and look at seeing some of the experts here on campus. It's encouraging to see some new muscles emerging, though.

And I dunno, with everything I've done in the past two years, I guess there are SOME changes. Personally, though, I think I look pretty much the same as I did when we met in Utah. I was almost at goal then - and with the few pounds I recently gained, I weigh the same as I did then (although I'm still a tiny bit smaller, because I can wear jeans I couldn't wear back then, and I'm definitely a lot stronger and fitter, whether or not it shows).

At some point maybe I'll do a tank-top or sundress photo (maybe my friend's wedding in July - or the race we're doing that morning). See if anyone else can see a difference.

[Diana]

Girl, I can see the transformation in your AVATAR!! lol

But I understand. I've been known to pick up pictures of when I weighed 300 lbs and ask, "Are you sure you can see a difference?" People look at me like I'm stoned.

[DogMa]

Yeah, I DO consider that it's partly just my misperception. I mean, I see a huge difference from where I started. But from where I finished? Not so much, except with some very slight muscle definition (but I'm NOT taking any pictures showing my abs; probably EVER).

[cydj21]

I've been known to pick up pictures of when I weighed 300 lbs and ask, "Are you sure you can see a difference?" People look at me like I'm stoned.

I do this all of the time! I think people think I am just fishing for compliments, but it is truly hard sometimes for the brain to catch up with reality.

Robin, I think you're doing amazingly well. I think with all of the working out you're doing, if you don't lose those few pounds that seemingly made their way back, don't worry too much so long as you don't gain a few more. With your level of dedication, I don't see this as being a slippery slope for you. I admire your dedication and cannot wait to get as fit as you are!

[summergirl]

WOW!!! you are motivating! I just read back about 5 pages and it's super fun to read through your journals. I want to exercise someday, too...on a regular basis..

I have to ask... Since I'm not currently on MF...Can you share the Cooking Light "pretend fried chicken" recipe you mentioned. IT sounds great, and I think my family would like it a lot!

I will continue to follow your progress!

[DogMa]

Happy to (everyone on program, close your eyes!):

Ingredients
1/3 cup low-fat buttermilk
1 tablespoon salt-free Cajun seasoning (such as Spice Hunter)
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup panko (Japanese breadcrumbs)
2 chicken breast halves (about 1 pound), skinned
2 chicken drumsticks (about1/2 pound), skinned
2 chicken thighs (about 1/2 pound), skinned
Cooking spray


Preparation
Preheat oven to 400°.
Combine first 3 ingredients in a shallow dish. Place panko in a shallow dish. Dip chicken, one piece at a time, into buttermilk mixture; dredge in panko.

Place chicken on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Lightly coat chicken with cooking spray. Bake at 400° for 40 minutes or until done, turning after 20 minutes.

Yield
4 servings (serving size: 1 breast half or 1 thigh and 1 drumstick)

Nutritional Information
CALORIES 206(16% from fat); FAT 3.7g (sat 1g,mono 1g,poly 0.8g); PROTEIN 31.7g; CHOLESTEROL 95mg; CALCIUM 39mg; SODIUM 439mg; FIBER 0.3g; IRON 1.2mg; CARBOHYDRATE 9g



Cooking Light, OCTOBER 2002

[DogMa]

And thanks for the votes of confidence, guys. I started dropping slowly again this week, so hopefully I'm on the right track again. I think I just need to be hypervigilant about calories at my size - and keep my fats low, because 30 percent just doesn't seem to work for me.

Meanwhile, today was a walking day and I walked the full hour even though I'm really, really sore. I'm going to start popping Advil this morning and hope that I'll be recovered enough to get through the workout again tonight. I'd really like to get in three this week before I go to Austin on Friday night.

My plan for Austin is to bring my workout gear. Saturday would be a walking day, so I figure if I don't feel like hitting the gym that morning (because we'll be getting in pretty late Friday night), we'll be doing plenty of walking that day to make up for it. Sunday, I'm going to run before we go anywhere. Monday will be my normal day off, so we can just hit the road whenever we get up without worrying about my workout schedule. As for food, I plan to mix some good, healthy meals with some not-so-healthy meals (but I'm going to try to at least keep my portions small when I'm eating the bad stuff). And as soon as I get back Monday, I'm back to my normal foods.

[aquarianskye]

Hey lady! I hope you're having an awesome day. That chicken dish sounds yummy! I think it's awesome that even when you're going to be away from home you have a plan in place to get some exercise. We're planning a two week vacation to IN this summer and I'm trying to figure out how I'm going to get all my water in when we travel. I now that all my walking will get done cause we're planning trips to zoo's and museums and such. But I'm already worried.

So, you know I'm reading way back in your journal (couple of years ago) anyway, I'm wondering if the body for life workout that you talk about is the body for life stuff that I find when I google it? I'm going to Half Price Books tomorrow to get some other books and i thought I'd look for that one too. Just curious!

Thanks Robin! Hope you have a great day!

[DogMa]

Hey, Skye!! Yeah, should be the same program. Bill ... Phillips, I think his name is? Funny that I'm kind of back to that way of eating, after trying to increase my fats and decrease my carbs. I don't do his workouts anymore, though. And at least for now, I'm not doing the once-a-week free day.

I pretty much only stay at hotels with gyms these days (except when I stayed with my cousin in Montana, of course, or with my aunt and uncle - both times I was taking care of ill relatives, though, and didn't have a choice). And on most trips, I've been VERY good about sticking to at least my cardio (on longer trips I'll also try to at least approximate my strength workouts). I just feel so much more energetic and sleep better and everything if I work out, so the last thing I want to do on vacation is skip the workouts and feel sluggish.

It's funny. My friend is bringing her workout clothes because I am, but she said she's going to skip cardio (which she doesn't do regularly, anyway) because she'll be walking during the day and doesn't want to get tired. I'm just the opposite - I want to do my cardio so I'll have more energy to walk around.