The MakeMeThinner Support Forum

[Karli]

Thanks, ladies !!

Well, I am back from the gym and I actually feel remarkably better than yesterday. My muscles definitely feel worked, though I really tried to take it easy. But, I did find myself working harder than I intended to once in a while, and had to cool the jets a bit.

Anyway, since I am feeling so much better than yesterday, I am making a new plan for today :

Revised plan for the day :

extra bar at workout (already happened)
regular L/G (cutting out the extra protein that I originally planned for the day)
70's shake instead of 55's at regular shake time
optional extra 55 shake if needed (instead of PB snack and extra protein in L/G)

So, in the meantime, tons of liquids it is ! I know I am going to be soar tomorrow, and therefore I will probably be retaining water. But, we'll see, won't we ! I am actually trying to get by on as little plan fluctuation as possible, as long as I can function properly, that's all I care about. So, off to the shower it is, and, like yesterday, I wouldn't be surprised if I find myself on a second walk for the day .

Cheers !
Karli

[ChynnaDoll]

Hi Karli..we'll be waiting with bated breath to see how you make out:+))

Love,
Chynna

[jlaman79]

Hey karli! You're new avatar pic is so CUTE!!!

[Karli]

Thanks, jlaman !

Well, Chynna (nice to meet you, btw), you will be happy to know that it seems to be working !! For me to include in my day a workout that burns 250-400 calories, I now know (I *believe*) what to add to my day and how to add it !

So, time to explain things a little more in detail. Last Saturday I actually threw myself out of ketosis trying to figure out how to do this. We went for a hike that fell into my workout category up above as far as calories burned, and I got really hungry during the day and didn't quite know what to do about it. Well, I ended up adding another whole L/G, among a couple of other things (2 T PB was one of those things, plus my initial L/G was "iffy" since we ate that out). Anyway, I decided to still weigh in last Sunday with my lowest weight of the week because I felt I had earned it and had not purposely done anything to wrong my progress with this. I just didn't have a handle on it yet.

Anyway, going out of ketosis put me up a couple of pounds again (put me up a couple of pounds above what my ticker currently reads). Anyway, I spent Sunday and Monday getting back into ketosis and better figuring out how to workout like I want to, but stay in ketosis and still lose weight. I am currently a pound above ticker, which means I am moving in the right direction, but let's hope it keeps going.

So, again, I don't mind taking until next Monday to better figure this out, but I think I may have found what works for me, and I keep myself as strictly on plan as if I weren't exercising -- it's just my plan has a bit more in it.

To maintain 250-400 calorie workouts, my additions are as follows :

additional bar
70's shake in place of 55's during regular shake/suppy time
additional 55 shake to the day
1 TB PB snack

Some things have helped me with this all and one of them is eating at least part of my L/G, and having it be really high protein like poultry or fish, directly after I workout (I ate the whole one yesterday, but will split my L/G in half today). This seems to calm the hunger jets a bit and immediately replaces what my body wants to be eating from my muscles .

Also, I seem to have a difficult time waiting more than a couple of hours between suppies, and I don't like feeling too full by making one of my regular meal times bigger. So, I add more meal times versus just more food.

Today my meal plan will go as follows :

7 -- MF eggs
*Additional bar at workout time (eating that now -- half an hour before my workout)
10 -- half my L/G (that will be a turkey burger and raw, sliced tomatoes)
11:30 -- 70 Shake (in replacement of a regular 55)
1 -- Tomatoe Soup
3 -- Mint Bar
4:30 -- RTD (my additional 55 shake for the day)
6 -- half my L/G (3.5 oz of chicken breast and small salad)
7:30 -- 1 T PB
9 -- Hot Cocoa

I am almost always only stretching the time for about an hour and a half before I eat something again and that keeps my meals nice and small, but should keep the hungries away, too. Incidentally, my calorie addition is about the same amount that I am burning in my workouts -- so, no, it's not an exact science, but it's not rocket science either . I went with what I felt the minimal additions needed to be for me to continue functioning properly throughout the day, and what the scale has been showing me each morning. We'll see how things progress, but I think this is going to work and I feel "complete" now that I can workout again and it may not slow my weightloss down too much (*crosses fingers*).

My default plan for days that I don't workout more than a normal walk is, of course, a regular 5/1 day. It's SO NICE TO HAVE A PLAN !! Anyway, I just have a couple of plans now in a folder on my computer, so I can plug my eating day in according to whatever my activity is going to be, and I don't have to *worry* about it !


Cheers !
Karli

[FertileMyrtle]

Hi Karli! I was just catching up a bit and boy, are you doing great! I think you are right about eating protein within an hour after your workout-- protein can assist in the recovery of worked muscles and most importantly soothe soreness tremendously (you'll notice the next day.)

A lot of weight lifters drink a protein shake directly afterwards, and some even swear by a shake before bed to keep your body from fasting at night and eating muscle. Muscle, as we know, burns fat.

So just some encouragement now that you're working out-- the ticker might freak a bit as you gain muscle pounds and then transition down as the muscle burns fat.
Keep eating those small meals to keep the metabolism up and the hungries down!
I'm about 7lbs away from you now and I think when I hit 165 I will begin a harder workout plan. Currently, I have no plan I just wanna see the scale move before I have to come up with a plan.

Anywho, you're looking great!!

[Karli]

Thanks so much, Andrea !! Yeah, I woke up in the middle of the night needing another RTD and water, which I normally don't like to do because that affects my weigh-in in the morning, but worse things have happened at sea and I just feel IN HEAVEN being able to exercise again !! Honestly, not knowing how to get some nice workouts in while on plan has been one of the major problems for me while on plan, and I have to say that I utterly can't fathom why I let fear take over and make me wait to figure this out ! Oh well, it's all behind me now, and I am happy for what I have done. I guess I have mixed feelings.

Anyway, today was one of my strictly cardio days and I went on one of my favorite local hikes with doggy. OMG, I LOVED IT !!! Now THIS is LIVING for me. I powered up the hill this time, didn't take it quite as easy, and then I ran down. Soon I would like to be able to run the entire thing . I already feel myself just wanting to push my limits, which would mean I have to adjust eating-wise some more. But, right now my plan is to add a shake for every 100 calories that I burn beyond 400 (when I get to that point). Eventually my workouts will be burning between 1500-2000+ calories a day, which I am obviously not doing right now. And, also obviously, that will need to wait until I am in maintenance-land and eating more food. I am hoping it all kinda just happens together .

But, I plan to stay within the workouts that I am doing now for the next couple of weeks and really build a foundation for myself. I am weightlifting, but I am taking that very easy so far. I went in yesterday and basically cut my lifting weight amounts in half from where I left off. Sometimes even more than in half. And, I just can't stay in my britches about returning to the gym tomorrow. Also, depending on how guilty I feel about doggy (who LOVES exercise, too), I might go for a great swim as my cardio on Friday. LIFE IS AWESOME !

Today I felt so good toward the end of my run/hike that I fantasized about getting home, dropping doggy off, hopping on my bike and going for another 400-500 calorie workout ... but, I think I will not push it at this point. That urge may only be the endorphin-high-pipe-dream talking for now ... LOL.

My honest fitness goal is to beat my husband and anybody else we athleticise with -- at anything and everything, and everytime :mrgreen: ... and, really, I am not joking .

So, in related news, my butt might be changing a bit. It had been looking like some sort of "shelf" just hanging from my back ... LOL. But, maybe some buns are starting to develop with my recent journeys into workout land. That is definitely something I am wanting to have solved by working out .

Also, I am convinced that my working out and getting the actual shape that I am looking for will further help me know when it's time to stop losing weight. I am pretty sure I want to reach 155, but we'll see as I continue to creep down there.

Cheers !
Karli

[Karli]

Oh, yeah ! And, just because it's cool and I forgot to say in my post up above ... I saw fresh bear tracks on my hike today .

Okay, I have seen bears on my hikes before and loads of bear scat, and it's a little scary, but pretty cool at the same time. Here is a little confession :

Several years ago, after I graduated from Uni, I wrote out a list of things that I want to do in my life. Well, I just went for it. I wrote out all of the things I could imagine, and, one of the things on it is to tame a mountain lion with my will . Well, I have mixed feelings about this one. I mean, the truth is that the possibility of running into one while I am hiking is always there. And, if I DID run into one, I would certainly hope that I could tame it, so-to-speak ! But, I don't think I will necessarily seek that situation out, but am slightly concerned that it actually will happen .

BUT, I did tame a pack of dogs who were, I am pretty certain, going to eat me, when I was about 12 or so . hee hee...

*waves magic wand around*

[DonicaB]

Dang Karli~ All this talk about working out has completely wore me out. I feel like I need a nap just reading about all the working out you plan to do.

I have never really enjoyed cardio activities (except walking), but about 12 years ago (when I was thin) I did lift weights quite frequently and really loved the way it helped my body look. I'm thinking about going back to that when I get to goal weight. For some reason......I'm a little leary of starting that now.

I'm glad you're enjoying your workouts and LIFE!!!!

DonicaB

[nickieluv]

Karli, I too have a hard time imagining that you WANT to work out like this - but, I have never had a body that was fine-tuned enough to be able to enjoy moving it. I hope to be there someday - not at your level, but at least at a place where I want to move!

As for the mountain lion - start with a housecat. They're just as hard to tame!

[katieb920]

Karli,
I hope I have as much energy as you do. Wow only 7# to goal Just freaking awesome.......

[Karli]

Thanks, ladies !! Yeah, I have to admit that I feel a little tired and groggy at the moment, because I am a little sore and I haven't been sleeping great. But, I felt the same way yesterday, too, before I went on my hike, and as I did the hike I began shifting to feeling just amazing ... and I felt amazing after my hike, too. And, yesterday, I felt like I knew why I am alive, and, well, that's just plain invigorating !!

I know there will be days, especially in the winter, when I get out of bed at the crack of dawn and it's cold and dark and I won't feel like going into the gym to workout. But, it's kind of like church (:-P), sometimes I don't feel like going before I go, but I never regret it once I have gone.

I was so athletic in highschool and growing up, and I just took it all for granted. And then all through my twenties I felt lethargic, fat, and stiffled and I couldn't enjoy the physical activities my husband and I tried to do on our dates (I would always end up just getting angry -- not that much fun for either of us). I couldn't do the physical activities I wanted to do, and honestly, I didn't completely understand why. I had felt athletic for most of my life, and then in my twenties, I just felt like a fatty.

So, I don't know, it's just this amazing feeling to really be getting back into shape again. Plus, I am a different person this time around. I don't have eating disorders plagueing me, nor half the things I used to be so preoccupied with when I was a teen. I am nearing my thirty-first B-day and I am getting into the best shape of my life ! I weigh less than I ever did in my twenties, I am living a life that I LOVE, and the list just goes on ! What's not to be excited about ? .

Eventually this will all not be new for me, and I am aware that a bunch of the excitement that I currently feel has to do with it all feeling very fresh. But, these things are all very good, and they will only get better, I am choosing to believe. And though there will be difficult times, the good that is in my life has the substance and will have the occasion to remind me of why I can be happy. I guess I feel ready to see what's next, finally, too. You know ? It's just time.

So, I weighed in at my lowest yet this morning, 161.5 ! I am getting really, really close now. I am further convinced that 155 is definitely my stopping point, if even that low. Off to the gym for now ! Hopefully I will be able to catch up on other people's journals before too many hours go by, but until then, Best Wishes !!

Cheers,
Karli

[Tawanda]

Karli, your enthusiasm and posts are like a wonderful day lifter for me. I get enthused and a bit of your energy from what you write. I hope you'll have a wonderful day and that you'll keep posting long after you've reached goal.

[katieb920]

Karli,

Like I said earlier in your post. I hope I have as much energy <img src="http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/7/7_5_133.gif" alt="SmileyCentral.com" border="0"><img border="0" src="http://plugin.smileycentral.com/http%253A%252F%252Fimgfarm%252Ecom%252Fimages%252Fnocache%252Ftr%252Ffw%252Fsmiley%252Fsocial%252Egif%253Fi%253D7%252F7_5_133/image.gif"> as you do. Your post are wonderful to read. Coming and reading your journal really helps me to get through the day.
Katie

[bikipatra]

Congrats on that weigh-in Karli! Just awesome!

[Karli]

Thanks very much, ladies ! I appreciate the support and it helps me keep going .

Today was a bit strange in that I don't think I got hungry even once, yet. I still have at least one supplement to go, and may even be adding yet another since the past two wee-hours-of-the-morning have been requiring me to eat another suppy anyway. So, I am going to try to keep myself from waking up with hunger (and not being able to go back to sleep) in the middle of the night, and drink another shake right before bed. I hope it works because I need more sleep !

And, I will be interested to see what the scale reads tomorrow. I will absolutely flip if it shows a loss, or even if it stays the same since the thought of eating today often turned my stomach a bit. For some reason it seems it just has to go up (not that I want it to, though...) I kept wanting to prolong the space between my meals, and I actually did with a couple of them, but decided to just stick with what I had been doing (and what has been working for me) for the past several days instead of freaking out and changing something.

Anyway, today I broke my stomach in the gym. On Tuesday I tried this ab machine called "The Hammer" something or other and it kicked my stomach's butt. And, today I thought I could possibly get on and get over my stomach's soreness after the first couple of reps, but no such luck here. It absolutely was unbearable ... LOL. Between 2 very feable attempts, and one not as feable, I managed to get about 7 reps in for a total of one set -- the third attempt was not as feable as the first two ONLY because when I sat down on the machine, a man was standing right there. I didn't want to look right at him, but I felt like he was watching me and I was about to look up and ask what his problem was and if he was just going to watch me do this exercise ... but instead, I just tried to do it and not look as stupid as I felt (since I was pretty certain I couldn't make the thing budge), did about 4 reps without being able to go full motion (because of the pain) and got off, fully defeated, for the last time today... argh. Hopefully I will have recovered by Saturday !

Tomorrow is my cardio day and I am craving my hike with doggy. That feels insanely wonderful to me and I feel like I want to try to get better and faster at it tomorrow. So, no swimming for me tomorrow ... just me, doggy, and the trail in the forrest . Then the gym for the third time this week, on Saturday morning, and Sunday will be "off" ... thus wrapping up my first week of working out as I want to be. And, oh, what a week it's been ! I feel like a completely different person again, now, doing all of this working out and eating every 1.5-2 hours. It's how I was meant to do this program, I think. A big learning experience it has been !

Anyway, cheers to All and thank you so much .
Karli