Post by ema2two on Jul 25, 2006 5:34:39 GMT -5
Hi!
I've been MIA for some months, but was a regular on the challenge board and actually a moderator for Mind over Platter.
Just had to post here about my recent exercise experiences.
I lost my weight nearly 4 years ago, with my primary exercise being walking to work. A little "strong women stay young" strength training thrown in at the end.
Got pregnant just as I got to goal, and continued to walk through much of the pregnancy, until I got put on bedrest. I'm sure the activity helped me have a healthy weight gain during the pregnancy--not too much, not too little.
All but 10 lbs came off within a month of giving birth and I sat at a plateau for almost a year. Couldn't quite figure out how to get exercise back in my life. We'd moved, and walking to work was no longer an option, and with a new baby who was nursing and me back at work, time was quite tight.
Started going to Curves as my baby turned 1. I enjoyed it and lost inches, but didn't start to finally lose the 10 lbs until I switched to core. Over 4 months I finally got back to within 0.4 lbs of goal. Continued to go to Curves regularly, but gained back those 10 lbs. I didn't care (too much) as I was really toning up and still wearing the same clothes.
Then I got depressed (not because of the 10 lbs, mind you). I stopped exercising. I stopped eating well. I stopped caring if I was healthy or not. It was pretty bad. I gained weight and started antidepressents and gained more weight. From February to June I gained 20 lbs. I was miserable with my body as my mood started to finally improve. My closet was full of great clothes that didn't fit. Stuff I bought on sale last fall for this summer (when I was feeling confident that after 3.5 years and a pregnancy I really was going to keep the weight off for good) didn't fit. I didn't have anything to wear to work. Not even uncomfortably tight and unattractive. NOTHING! I bought clothes to get me through the summer. Venturing back in the women's department for a few things, for the first time in 4 years. I couldn't motivate myself to go back to Curves, and even walking I used to do as part of errands wasn't happening. I was asking the kids to bring me something from across the room instead of getting up to get it myself.
In the midst of this, my 7.5 year old son is showing me signs that he needs more 1:1 attention from me. He's the second child fo 4, and the oldest is on the autism spectrum and consumes huge amounts of time and energy in our family. My 7.5 year old is very athletic and loves to ride bikes, roller blade and ride his scooter. I bought a bike last year to be able to ride with him, but DH had ttaken over my bike, which is his means of commuting to work, so I couldn't complain too much.
I'd taken roller blading lessons when I first moved to NY 13 years ago and my sister was also living in NY. It was a great excuse for us to spend an evening together. I never got particularly good and hadn't touched skates in over 10 years. I passed a skating store near my therapists office where there was a huge mmoving sale. They had great skates in my size for a discount store price. I wasn't as wobbly on them in the store as I expected to be. Yes, I bought protective gear as well.
I spoke to my doctor and changed my medications, as I was increasingly suspicious that one was really contributing to my unrelenting weight gain.
I went out once, very tentatively, with my son. Found a certified instructor and arranged a series of 3 lessons. Have had two so far. I'm skating comfortably now on the walking/riding/skating track at the park near my house. My 5.5 year old asked for skates, and I got him some. My 7.5 year old and my 5.5 year old have had a few lessons, too. They ask to go skating almost every day. When they are playing little league, I watch part of the game and skate for about 30 minutes (4 AP's!)
I've lost 5 lbs since July started.
I've been MIA for some months, but was a regular on the challenge board and actually a moderator for Mind over Platter.
Just had to post here about my recent exercise experiences.
I lost my weight nearly 4 years ago, with my primary exercise being walking to work. A little "strong women stay young" strength training thrown in at the end.
Got pregnant just as I got to goal, and continued to walk through much of the pregnancy, until I got put on bedrest. I'm sure the activity helped me have a healthy weight gain during the pregnancy--not too much, not too little.
All but 10 lbs came off within a month of giving birth and I sat at a plateau for almost a year. Couldn't quite figure out how to get exercise back in my life. We'd moved, and walking to work was no longer an option, and with a new baby who was nursing and me back at work, time was quite tight.
Started going to Curves as my baby turned 1. I enjoyed it and lost inches, but didn't start to finally lose the 10 lbs until I switched to core. Over 4 months I finally got back to within 0.4 lbs of goal. Continued to go to Curves regularly, but gained back those 10 lbs. I didn't care (too much) as I was really toning up and still wearing the same clothes.
Then I got depressed (not because of the 10 lbs, mind you). I stopped exercising. I stopped eating well. I stopped caring if I was healthy or not. It was pretty bad. I gained weight and started antidepressents and gained more weight. From February to June I gained 20 lbs. I was miserable with my body as my mood started to finally improve. My closet was full of great clothes that didn't fit. Stuff I bought on sale last fall for this summer (when I was feeling confident that after 3.5 years and a pregnancy I really was going to keep the weight off for good) didn't fit. I didn't have anything to wear to work. Not even uncomfortably tight and unattractive. NOTHING! I bought clothes to get me through the summer. Venturing back in the women's department for a few things, for the first time in 4 years. I couldn't motivate myself to go back to Curves, and even walking I used to do as part of errands wasn't happening. I was asking the kids to bring me something from across the room instead of getting up to get it myself.
In the midst of this, my 7.5 year old son is showing me signs that he needs more 1:1 attention from me. He's the second child fo 4, and the oldest is on the autism spectrum and consumes huge amounts of time and energy in our family. My 7.5 year old is very athletic and loves to ride bikes, roller blade and ride his scooter. I bought a bike last year to be able to ride with him, but DH had ttaken over my bike, which is his means of commuting to work, so I couldn't complain too much.
I'd taken roller blading lessons when I first moved to NY 13 years ago and my sister was also living in NY. It was a great excuse for us to spend an evening together. I never got particularly good and hadn't touched skates in over 10 years. I passed a skating store near my therapists office where there was a huge mmoving sale. They had great skates in my size for a discount store price. I wasn't as wobbly on them in the store as I expected to be. Yes, I bought protective gear as well.
I spoke to my doctor and changed my medications, as I was increasingly suspicious that one was really contributing to my unrelenting weight gain.
I went out once, very tentatively, with my son. Found a certified instructor and arranged a series of 3 lessons. Have had two so far. I'm skating comfortably now on the walking/riding/skating track at the park near my house. My 5.5 year old asked for skates, and I got him some. My 7.5 year old and my 5.5 year old have had a few lessons, too. They ask to go skating almost every day. When they are playing little league, I watch part of the game and skate for about 30 minutes (4 AP's!)
I've lost 5 lbs since July started.