WHoO HOOOO! 20 kilos and counting! any more diet tips?

[alexia]

Ok, so i just need to get this out... I've lost over 20 in a few months, i'm happy about my body for the first time in nearly 2 years (or 1 1/2):D, and i fit into my cute, nice clothes and my cute bathers etc! Now i just need to maintain it and get fit...

now my question is- what do you do to try and speed up your metabloism besides regular small snax/meals? lemon juice, arcia berries? how much exercise do you guys do if trying to continue or maintain weight loss as opposed to increasing muscles? ladies? do you jog, walk, swim, stomach crunches general toning exercises? Just looking for some more ideas for things to do outside before i get a new gym membership....

thanx to anyone who replies...

 

[mealltach]

Congratulations, alexia! That's a lot of weight you've lost. What did you do/change to get to this point, out of curiosity? How are you maintaining your weight loss? I could really stand to lose about 5 kilos (around 12 lbs), but I just find it sticks to me no matter what I do.

I go to the gym, so I'm probably not a good one to answer your questions. Outside of the gym, I do some P90X workouts with a co-worker who does P90X all the time and is in phenomenal shape, so that definitely works for her!

I'm also going to be taking a dance class sometime soon once I decide which style I want to learn. I'm having difficulty choosing. I'm definitely interested in belly dancing. A friend of mine is trying to get me to go to pole classes with her...we'll see, although I think that would be a great way to get into amazing shape, since it's so bloody hard. I tried salsa, but that just wasn't for me. I want something that I can do individually.

Maybe you should try swimming, as you mentioned! It's such a great low-impact workout.

To speed up my metabolism, I drink green tea. I got hooked on it in Asia.

 

[An Iz]

Congratulations, I'm impressed. I have mega respect for anyone who can change their habits and improve themselves like that. I bet you're awesome.

 

[alexia]

hey there, thanx for replying. i'm pretty stoked about it as i'm sure is obvious. i've just made more life style changes than anything else, no drinking generally, i detoxed off benzo's, less car more walks and i've gone back to my healthier foods (actually unintentially usually, those are just the foods i want now). I've been vegitarian for 11 yrs but most of what i eat is fresh fruit and veg. my metabolismis really slow so if i eat a lot of heavy or bready food i feel sluggish and gross. to maintain it i just try and get a daily walk and am wanting to increase my proper exercise again if that makes sense... but it's more i just want to be healthy than stay 'this size'... (tho i do feel nice)

oh, i'de love to hear what dance class you decide to do, i've been wanting to do one myself but am intimidated by the level of skill the girls seem to have at the dance studio near me, maybe i'll go back to aerobics...

 

[jackie jones]

Yeah, do not eat, drink lots of 'crystal light', and take your multi-vitamins.

(not entirely healthy, but it works. I just lost ten pounds in six days. Feels good.)

 

[alexia]

^
I could never do this, i like food too much most of the time, this was all about just being healthier and trying to increase things like energy by changing my diet over time, i didn't actively seek t0 loose X amount of weight, i would have been happy, scratch that exstatic with 15kg and i thought i'de have to be a lot more active (why i was moaning about my metablism). that's why i was so happy, before i posted this i was going through my clothes trying to find something nice that fitted and i found a australian size 10 dress and it was loose and i was like OMG! the only person i could tell at that time was my best mate, and she's anorexic and i didn't want to go there, or family who would then proceed to congradulate me and then lecture about various other health things/life things, so i turned.... to bl...

 

[underground_troll]

cycling! riding my bike is the healthiest thing i always do every day. congrats, by the way!! that sure takes some self discipline.

 

[mealltach]

mrjackjones, you're not exactly advocating healthy living there.

Lose weight slowly and effectively with a balanced diet and a great exercise routine that challenges and excites you, rather than bores you: that's the key, in my opinion.

Also, I was reading the other day about how a lot of multivitamins aren't really effective since a lot of the content of one isn't absorbed into the body. You can't replace nutrients in their natural form, i.e. in healthy foods. That's how your body was designed - to absorb nutrients such as minerals and vitamins through food - not to be starved into thinness.

alexia, don't be intimidated by the girls you see in dance classes! There are always beginner classes; those are the ones you should take! I still haven't decided which class I'm going to take, and it'll probably be in the new year because that's when new classes will be starting. I still can't decide. It depends on a co-worker that might join me, but I think she's into the idea of hula hoop classes. I have a friend who lost a TON of weight by discovering a love and talent for hula hooping. I'm just not good at it, though...we shall see.

Aerobics are sooooo great and fun. I'm really getting into the classes at my gym - joining a gym means you have a variety of classes to choose from and you can do strength training, too!

 

[Perpetual Indulgence]

what do you do to try and speed up your metabloism besides regular small snax/meals?

EXERCISE.

I don't count calories nor exert portion control. I eat a balanced diet. High protein, complex carbs, organic fruits and veggies, and good fats. I am a dairy whore. Tons of water. Very few processed foods. No diet foods. No high fructose corn syrup nor partially hydrogenated oils. No artifical colours or flavours.

I train 5 days a week. I take classes so I don't have to plan my routine out. I get a vigorous amount of cardio and weight training in each class. I follow that class up with pilates and/or yoga.

I wish I would have started working out sooner. I would not have not been so insanely severe with my diet and my eating habits in the past.

Keep up the good work. Make lifestyle changes that you will keep.

mealltach, have you tried Zumba?

 

[mealltach]

^shiiiiiet! I just went and watched some vids of zumba - that is EXACTLY what I need/want. Unfortunately there aren't any classes that I can find nearby - I might download the video try it to see if I like it! Will keep looking for a class - you can't beat the energy of a room full of people doing a crazy dance cardio workout, I can see from some of the videos I watched. COOL!

 

[alexia]

mmmn, i'm about to have a look at this zumba thing... i'm also thinking of doing a less hardcore boot camp course, i've found some info about one day a week for six week courses, instead of just joining a gym, but then it is getting to summer, so i'm not sure...

Just wondering, does anyone have any tips on stratergies to increase energy beyond healthy sleep, no alcohole and exercise. What supplements do i take? I've had bad depression as well, so I'm wondering, magnesium, b12? iron? And what brands are the best? I'm vegitarian if that helps... thanks guys...

 

[ranunky]

What supplements do i take? I've had bad depression as well, so I'm wondering, magnesium, b12? iron? And what brands are the best? I'm vegitarian if that helps... thanks guys...

A complete multivitamin would be a cover most most stuff. Ginseng is surprisingly (imo) good for energy. Vegitarians are usually deficient in creatine so it'd be a good idea to take some of that too, it is essential for good brain functioning.