Thanks for the encouragement, guys, which I need right now because of rather sluggish progress, at least according to the devilish little scale.
I used to absolutely love working out and had astring of several years of step aerobics with some weight training going. After a tragic divorce in 1995, I'd say that turning to fitness probably saved my sanity. Unfortunately, someone I became involved with didn't like how I looked and thought I looked like a boy. For that and for other despairing reasons, in a couple of words, emotional pain, I quit doing what had served me so well. Instead, I ate to "not hurt", in spite of the effects of slowly - or not so slowly - changing into someone I didn't like looking like. But, I kept eating too much. After a while, I knew that nobody even knew much better I could look.
On and off, I'd exercise for a few weeks (crosstrainer) at a time, then stop again when I seemed unable to see substantial improvements. Usually, I was still eating way too much while I was doing that. I usually exercised "more" if I had a particular goal, such as plans to see people for Christmas, or if I was going skiing, usually Feb or Mar. I'd gone from someone who exercised "whenever" to someone who just wanted a quick fix -- which usually turned out to be a fix to get myself into the 150s.
In mid April, I started Medifast for the first time, and I did it to suit myself rather than following the rules. I'd not eat for three days and then eat a lean green on the fourth day, but it wasn't the TRUE lean green. It was something like hotwings and a monstrous salad from a salad bar, with dressing and whatever I wanted. Then it turned to not eating for three days and eating fajitas, and then to not eating for three day s and eating Thai food or "whatever" I wanted. It actually failed miserably, because I was never in ketosis and it was pure
starting the not-eating over all the time. After a month, I started exercising daily again, and THEN I was all the more hungry, and so I started eating every day!!! I gained back about 8 pounds that way, plus lost a couple of months doing the repeat. This probably sounds familiar.
So, now I'm just trying more to get it done. After I posted my pictures yesterday, little wonder that I also wanted to go to the gym again -- so I went and did 30 min on the crosstrainer and just a couple of arms sets on the weight machines. I've decided NOT to go everyday like I would usually try to do - but to go about three times a week and see what happens. I DID see some improvements in my legs - the side crease is there and the knees are thinner. It was encouraging, visually. Strength and endurance-wise, I was less strong at 140 than at 160 -- could do only level 6 whereas I often did level 9 before. But, I don't want huge thighs, anyway, so maybe this will be better.
Thanks for the kind words! Nancy, the abs get little workout -- not sure how they have managed to be visible, at all. I will probably start doing some work there. Yes, I DO feel much better. That's another post, altogether, and no doubt a lengthy one. Hawaiiwhatnot, I'm looking forward to your monthly weigh-in -- coming soon. We should be pretty much in the same zone now. Simmshe, I'd really like to lose more than the usual, but I'll wait and see, I guess. Have not weighed 120 or 125 for years -- like over 30 for 120, but only 8 for 128 -- which was short-lived, though. You're right that the years -- any recent years -- of effort tends to stay with one, albeit definitely hidden by overriding fats & fluids. I'm glad I put in that time in my late 30's and early 40's because I DO have an activity base that's beneficial and I've been able to recover. I wish I would do more to treat it like a good friend rather than turn my back on it so frequently. Tamil, I know exactly what you speak of if you know what it's like to have a good thing and then give it up. I think it feels worse, probably, than being constantly overweight. It certainly seems to give oneself a particularly severe head-thrashing when one wishes it weren't all so. I envy you your relative youth (33-ish). You can certainly take charge again and pursue what you want. Being strong and fit is helplful for lots of things. On the other hand, it usually collides with my personality, which is quite passive, shy, quite cool -- and so it gives me more challenges in those departments.
Let's be good to ourselves!
!!
I've taken so many bad photos in the past few years that I can hardly stand it... and I always think back upon this gym picture and feel it's gold, like a memory of a so much happier and successful time. Something I can be proud of, etc. Now, YOU, I, and this whole place are going to lift the roofs with our ever-increasing glee over MF and MF success, and find ourselves looking good again.
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