Afrita's Health and Wellness Accountability Thread

[Chy]

Go easy Muse, you shouldn't be raising your blood pressure with stitches in your mouth!

[Muse]

After further investigation, I think we can narrow it down to "stitch". It felt like a lot was taking place in my mouth, but apparently not. No worries, though, I didn't over do it.

[Janeeyre]

I am really impressed by you all. (Afrita, Chy, Muse) You really are committed to working out and improving your health. I admire you

I'm more easily derailed from healthy pursuits, ("it's raining so no need to walk today....I'm 'hormonal' today, so why not eat a pint of Ben & Jerry's...") but it's encouraging to read here. Gives me the "oomph" to keep at it.

Why is VitaSoy shutting down? Bummer.

Take care!
xo
Jane

[afrita]

I can go an hour straight on the elliptical now. I have done it three times this past week. I am really proud of this.

[Fifi]

Woo hooo - WTG girl!!!

So you should be proud - you are doing really well.

I just joined Weight Watchers last night, and am sifting through all the info. I think it will help a lot.

Keep up the good work!

Fifi

[Allie]

Allie

[afrita]

Yay, the Queen of Wicked is here!

I continue on with an hour of the elliptical most days. I'm making progress in training too. Yesterday was hard and I felt like a surly teenager, but I did it!

[Allie]

Hey you surly teenager you!

You've inspired me to put more time on the elliptical (all I have to learn is how to spell it!) I haven't done an hour on it since winter.

Keep on inspiring us with your gains.

Several years ago I trained and entered a figure contest. It wasn't pretty!!! The winner was over 50 and I learned a great lesson. You can get older and still improve. Even I beat some of those 20 somethings

[Chy]

Good for you Afrita that's awesome! I know what an accomplishment an hour on the elliptical is! I love that machine. Been not giving it my best at all, not feeling to hot these days, so no energy, it's the damn sleepless nights I think as I have every intention in the morning but just about fainted on Saturday when I pushed myself for trying so hard after little sleep. Making me mad as I have big goals this summer though I've shed some not near where I want to be yet... I'm just in slug mode and so very blah right now.

That's funny Alli!! Gives me hope then. LOL

[afrita]

I'm continuing to progress in some ways and stagnate in others. Here's where I am good: I am getting more fit. My trainer said he wished today's afrita could speak with afrita a couple of months ago. I'm pleased about this.

Here's where I am not progressing: my weight. I have a problem in the evenings. And then I feel worse about myself. And then I eat so that I don't have to think about that. Hmm, what does that sound like? It's a shame. I have all this motivation earlier in the day, and then it goes out the window.

One thing that MIGHT help is: exercising in the morning instead of the evening. I did this a few times last week (very unusual for me, and I am doing it again tomorrow, because my trainer wants me out of my comfort zone), and I had lots of energy and cheerful calm all day and no bad binge-y eating.

I really want to put all the pieces together. I am better, but not better enough!

yoo-hoo, Leaf! Are you going to come in here? I expect you will tell me to suck it up!! How's life in the land of Leaf?

And Muse? Chy? Anyone else? How are you progressing?

[Fifi]

Hey Frits,

I can relate to progression and stagnation. I also have trouble with evenings at home alone, although in recent times I have something to do almost every evening that takes me out and keeps me busy (I am aware that this could be avoidance, so I try to sit by myself and meditate for 20-30 minutes several times a week).

I recently signed up with Weight Watchers, and of course they recommend an increase in physical activity combined with their food intake “points” tracking system. I have started doing a brisk 30-40 minute walk in the mornings before work, which I find is a very energising way to start the day (at this time of the year in Sydney I have no problem walking fast – trying to get back in out of the cold ). I decided to also do a 30-minute spell on my exercise bike when I get home in the evenings. It isn’t always easy to be motivated for this, but I do it at a time when I would normally be sitting down watching the evening news on TV. Now I watch the news from my bike – it is fast becoming a daily habit and I find my mood is usually pretty good when I’m done.

A difficult habit to break for me is heading for the fridge for comfort. One of the things I discovered in WW is that there are some yummy foods on the “zero points” list. I now keep plenty of fresh veggies on hand if I do feel like a snack (here’s a tip – buy some shares in a beetroot cannery…I am consuming it like it’s going out of style!).

So far, these changes in my lifestyle have made a difference in 3 ways…firstly, my mood is much better; secondly, I am starting to feel much fitter again (I used to be a very active sporty person until a knee injury slowed me down a few years ago); and thirdly, I have lost weight! According to the “stats” I needed to lose about 20 kg (~44 lbs) to be in the healthy weight range for my age/height. In three weeks I have lost 2.4 kg (5.3 lbs) without feeling hungry or that I am missing out or depriving myself.

Here’s an article you might find interesting:

Weight Watchers Zero Point Foods - A Real Bonus For Dieters

Best of luck with changing your routine – I hope it works for you!

Fifi

[afrita]

GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR RRRRRRRRRRRRRR. Just lost long post.

The gist:

Feefo, thank you for posting.

Feef, have you thought of getting a trainer? I cannot believe how much this is changing my life. For the first time in my life, I am learning to live in my body as well as my head. My trainer has also nearly solved my chronic injuries via strengthening alternate muscles and increasing my flexibility.

I looked at the free foods list--thank you! I love asparagus, brussels, and cauliflower beyond, well, most things. Roasted cauliflower steaks--I have literally made myself sick eating these. I have a few concerns about some of the zero point foods, though. Carrots and beets are higher sugar/glycemic index--potential sugar crash. Pumpkin and other winter squash (save spaghetti)--higher carb. Sauerkraut and soy sauce--higher salt. Diet soda--is the chemical spawn of the devil. Gross! Plus those chemical sweeteners are BAD for you! (I don't feel strongly about diet soda, can you tell?)

I am looking for a third protein source. Soy and gluten are great, but I want to be able to cycle them as I know people who have developed intolerances/allergies from overusing them. I'm hoping hemp will work--it looks like the nutritional profile for seeds is pretty good. I'm going to go get some today, and some new trainers if I can . . . and also I am going to see BRUNO!

Now quickpostquick before it disappears! Go!

[Chy]

Good for you! You're doing so great! Haven't been to the gym in a week now my back is messed up, along with my ankle. I am painting my house sweating like a sow so am moving, moving moving 10 hours a day. Hope to be back in the gym next week if my back holds out. Keep up the good work Afrita!!

[Chy]

Hey was just thinking of you and saw a program and they were talking about vegetarians looking for protein sources and thought I'd suggest what they did as a good source of protein, chickpeas... here we call them garbonzo beans but they have lots of protein! Hope that helps!

<table class="nutrition" summary="This table summarize nutritional information"><tbody><tr><th colspan="3">Nutrition Facts </th> </tr> <tr class="servings tr4"> <td colspan="3"> Calculated for 1 cup </td> </tr> <tr class="tr0 pt3"> <td colspan="2" class="str"> Calories 285 </td> <td>
</td> </tr> <tr class="tr2 pb3"> <td colspan="2"> Calories from Fat 24 </td> <td class="dv"> (8%) </td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" class="str"> Amount Per Serving </td> <td class="dv str"> %DV </td> </tr> <tr> <td class="sub">
</td> <td> Total Fat 2.7g </td> <td class="dv"> 4% </td> </tr> <tr> <td class="sub">
</td> <td> Saturated Fat 0.3g </td> <td class="dv"> 1% </td> </tr> <tr> <td class="sub">
</td> <td> Monounsaturated Fat 0.0g </td> <td class="dv">
</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="sub">
</td> <td> Polyunsaturated Fat 1.2g </td> <td class="dv">
</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="sub">
</td> <td> Trans Fat 0.0g </td> <td>
</td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" class="str"> Cholesterol 0mg </td> <td class="dv str"> 0% </td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" class="str"> Sodium 717mg </td> <td class="dv str"> 29% </td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" class="str"> Potassium 412mg </td> <td class="dv str"> 11% </td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" class="str"> Total Carbohydrate 54.3g </td> <td class="dv str"> 18% </td> </tr> <tr> <td class="sub">
</td> <td> Dietary Fiber 10.6g </td> <td> 42% </td> </tr> <tr> <td class="sub">
</td> <td> Sugars 10.6g </td> <td>
</td> </tr> <tr class="tr2"> <td colspan="2" class="str"> Protein 11.9g 23%</td></tr></tbody></table>

[afrita]

Thanks, Chy! I love chickpeas! Felafel!!! Humus!!! My trainer is iffy about beans for me because they are very high carb in addition to having a moderate amount of protein. Soy is the exception, and actually fava beans are not TOO far behind. You should see all the hemp I have in my house now. Hemp nuts, hemp powder.

I'm not all good, though. I have Laughing Cow waiting to be eaten for dinner. Bad vegan. Not vegan.

Oww! Please take care of your back! Have you been to the doctor about it? What happened to your ankle? There is a great ankle article in the NYT this week about ankle injury. Apparently your ligaments contain neural receptors, and when you damage them, you lose the receptors. This is partly why old sprains resprain more easily. Here is the link: fixbadankles .

[afrita]

Chy, read the article if you find time--it is SO interesting.

My gym is closing. I'll keep training with my same trainer--things worked out so that he has a room in another (not a gym) in town. So that's good anyway. However, I'm trying to decide what to do. Should I invest in my own elliptical? I did some research and it looks like the Sole E35 is a good machine, but it's expensive. The other possibility is to join a gym in the next town up. It would take me about forty minutes to get there and public transport runs once an hour. It's pretty inexpensive, plus 1.50 per day for transport. But even if I time it perfectly: forty minutes there, work out for an hour, wait for half an hour, forty minutes home. So it would be time-consuming, but doable. Anyone have input for me?

[Done-With-It!]

They are opening up a lot of smaller crossfit gyms and flirty girl fitness gyms.
Those are both really great workout options.

Otherwise I'd say do the commute and go for it. You can't put a price/time on your health. Well we can and do but we shouldn't is what I mean.

[afrita]

My trainer is a Crossfit certified trainer! I am learning so much from him! So you would do the commute rather than buy the elliptical?

[Done-With-It!]

Oh yea totally, I'm much rather get out and be with people than couped up at home!
It also hold you more accountable, and for me it would make me want to exercise more.
I spend enough time at home, I like to be out as much as possible for stuff like that.
I have a home gym, and I go to my big gym a lot more when my membership is active.
But that's just me. Whatever you feel most comfortable with. I like the loud crazy stuff to, it gets me pumped at the gym.

Yea, crossfit is great hu. Works you HARD!!!!!! Oyy vey!!! LOL

[afrita]

I get a bit freaky working out at a gym. It took me some time to realize everyone wasn't staring at me. I finally got comfortabe at my gym, and it was almost never crowded because the town is tiny. However . . . I think, Miss Done, that you are right. It is probably better to join the other gym. It's not expensive and when I am in better shape they have LOADS of classes, aerobic, yoga, etc. I will be able to change it up more for far less money. Plus being on the bus gives me lots of time to read! And they will pick me up and drop me off right at my house.