Advice on what way to lose weight/get fit/healthy - thanks

Ellechim

Hi there,

I have nearly 3 stone to lose and have grappled with various things very unsuccessfully - WW, etc.

Am now considering whether signing up to something that focuses more on building health/fitness as opposed to just controlling food. I know the big thing I have to change is my own mindset - I just enjoy food so much that not eating the things I want to seems like such a hardship....

So, in doing some digging have come across Educogym. I do like the idea of building on a fitness regime with a trainer who is also a coach.

however, I'm aware that Educogym has some kind of link with Tony Quinn and there has been various reports of not too nice activity with him in the past.

Can anyone illuminate me? Any tips on good alternatives? I've read the thread on the Motivation clinics - again I like the idea of the coaching but from what I know about the food they recommend it doesn't sound too healthy to me (but hey I'm three stone too heavy who am I to talk about health).

Also, I work full time and have two small children (and a husband) so have very very limited time in which to exercise - going to a gym or seeing a 'coach' would have to be after kids bedtime (after 8.30pm). With my job I can't guarantee that I'll be able to do something in my lunchtimes as I'm frequently away.

My other idea is to do this: www.bodyforlife.com -which would mean getting up off my arse at 6 each morning before getting into breakfast mayhem with the kids. Has anyone tried this?

Has anyone any advice....I am now in my early forties. We normally do a family photo for our christmas card I and was looking through photos and realised there isn't a decent one of me taken this year - I strategically place the baby in front of me to hide my belly. Not good. I reckon if I start now I could lose 10lbs by Xmas, now wouldn't that be great. But this year I have started three different diets to fall by the wayside within days....any tips on how not to give up?

God, this sounds desparate..........

Transform

very simple - go to a good trainer in your area.

Where do you live?

sunnyjim

Ellechim wrote: »

God, this sounds desparate..........

I dunno about that! Most people come in here and start asking questions, only to dismiss 99% of what people suggest to them! Usually the same type person who comes asking about goji berrys / acacia something / vibraplates / hypnosis. You've at least contemplated that there's gonna be some work involved, and that you'll need to find someone who knows whats best for you!

foxymm

I'm a 26 year old male and some years back when I was about 18-21, I weighed 15 and a half stone (99 kg or 219lbs). Progressively I lost weight, got fit, built muscle and toned up. Today, I weigh between 11 and 11 and a half stone (73kg or 160lbs) with a small amount of body fat.

Regularly I do 10KM runs, circuit training, Boxing circuits and weight lifting (my favourite). Some years back I could hardly walk a couple of miles without being breathless!! Certainly joining a fitness class is an excellent confidence boaster and you're not on your own.

It isn't just about quick dieting and going to the gym for a few months and ending it there. In my personal experience, there had to be a culture and mind-set change so as to develop a "habit". It was my GP who told me I was seriously overweight for my height/age. I'm around 5ft7". That's were my mindset-change began!

The first thing I did was start with was the treadmill and cut out starchy foods and certainly the obvious ones: fast foods, fried foods.

I was only at between 8-9.5 on the speed indicators on the treadmill. Today, i set it at around 13.5 and regularly do speed work, setting the speed at 17-20!!

If you're having a glass of wine now and again it certainly adds to your caloric intake.

The cross-trainer is also an excellent machine for weight loss and it had very low impact. Today, I would nearly confess to eating the same amount of food when I was heavier, only It's healthy foods: low in fat, high protein content, high fibre content.

Try and avoid cheese also and alot of other dairy products. go easy on the butter your toast! Replace fizzy drinks with water.

Don't "diet" just change your dietary and fitness regime!

Best of luck with it all

Ellechim

Thanks guys.

Foxymm, thanks for that. Well done on losing all that weight and getting so fit - that is wonderful and I'm sure you look great too! You are right, it's the mindset I have to change - I do know all the theory (or a lot of it) but can't seem to get my heart and soul into it to make the changes that is why I'm interested in having some kind of a coach and that's why motivation or educogym are attractive. (but they are not without their drawbacks).

Sunnyjim, I guess that's why I came on here, I know I can't do this on my own, I've tried and failed (that said I've tried various other things with people's help and failed at them too).

I know I have to break the emotional dependency on food - it is a total crutch for me - not sure about how to do that.

Transform, I had a quick look at your blog. I'm Dublin, near Deansgrange. I have to admit my experience with personal trainers has not been great - and I've tried four or five at this stage. It wasn't so much down to the trainer but down to my own lack of commitment - I wouldn't fit in the exercise in between the sessions or I'd book a session and the find a reason not to go - even if I pay in advance I'd find a way to wiggle out of it.

I have never had an exercise habit - i grew up in a small rural area where there weren't great sport facilities and wasn't naturally good at sport (I really can't catch a ball) so was excluded from a lot of the games and consequently I associate sport with failure (which it was for me) and I really struggle to enjoy it. I find gyms totally intimidating - I guess it goes back to the same thing as when I was a child (and in my teens) and told by 'friends' that I couldn't join in playing tennis/camogie/basketball....so I feel a sense of rejection around the whole thing. And now I write that down I look at it and go 'for eff's sake, grow up, that was thirty years ago'........

I guess I'm my own worst enemy, so the question is, what is the way of turning that mindset around. I know I'm carrying most of my extra weight around my middle and that is toxic fat and there are huge health issues that go with it - so I have to lose this weight....

God, am tempted to ask for a lobotomy........urg

Assets Model

Don't go to educo. It's well dodgy and totally unsustainable hwen you stop going you'll put the weight back on. Join an ordinary gyma nd get a trainer or maybe try to integrate exercise into your lifestyle like cycling to work. You could take it slowly at the start? As regard diet maybe try zone or paleo as you get to eat normal nice food and don't feel as deprived. Paleo focuses on eating fresh non processed stuff which really reeducates your body and attitude to food it works better as a longer term lifestyle change than something like weight watchers IMO.

I joined a new gym in June (dunno if i'm allowed mention which one?) but I can't believe how much I like it and like yourself I always haaated sport in school and was rubbish at it but now i'm going 3 times a week it's a question of finding something you like doing and believe me I tried tons of different exercise classes before I found my current one.

Ellechim

Thanks Assets.

I haven't heard of Zone or Paleo before- have just googled them so will have a dig around and see what I can come up with.

My DH and I were talking - he is in a similar position to myself (Mr & Mrs Blobby) so we are seriously considering doing Body for Life together - anyone any opinions on this?

Procasinator

Ellechim wrote: »

My DH and I were talking - he is in a similar position to myself (Mr & Mrs Blobby) so we are seriously considering doing Body for Life together - anyone any opinions on this?

I have only heard of this programme in passing, but would not think it was great.

This person had a log, and they were gonna use bodyforlife and the shakes:
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055558283

I thought the shakes alone seemed a little expensive, and the workload a little bit much based of the users postings.

taz70

I've used Body for Life in the past - as have friends - and it's been great. Very easy to follow and actually set me up really well for when I no longer followed the programme to the letter.

The exercises were good - it's best to have a trainer take you around if you're not sure of how to do them as the book I had was not particularly clear with all of the exercises - but the "diet" aspect was very easy. It's not so much a diet as simply making a few changes to your eating patterns - smaller carb/protein balanced meals more regularly than the usual three meals a day. You don't need to buy all the protein powders if you don't want, but they are useful for a meal substitute at morning tea and afternoon tea - and you can use protein in muffins or pancakes (other threads have some good recipes for these) for the snacks.

The interval intensity approach to exercise I found really good and still use this system when doing cardio.

It's important to remember that essentially it's just providing structure to eating and exercise and for some people this really works - I personally like having a plan that takes the guesswork out of it all. If you have to think and plan about what you're doing, then it's easy not to do it! The 12 week challenge is also a good motivator - particularly if you take photos of yourself each week (it's very motivational!!).

But the trick is to learn how to take these elements from the programme and incorporate them into daily life such that they become a lifestyle change not simply a "programme", which in the long term is bound to fail (the psychology of "being on a programme" is that one day you will be "off the programme" which means returning to what you used to do).

The other advice I'd give you is that you need to be organised!! It will be very easy to use kids or work as an excuse not to eat at the correct times (every 2.5 - 3 hours) or not to exercise. I used to make large batches of food on a Sunday and then keep them in portions in containers in the fridge and freezer and just take them to college with me each day. It was really easy to do it this way. And the other tip I'd give you is to exercise in the morning if you can - before breakfast - it gives you a lot more energy for the day, helps with fat-burning, and frankly once the alarm goes off there are few obstacles (excuses!) to keep you from going. If you leave it till after the kids go to bed, you'll use "I'm too tired" as an excuse more often than not.

Sorry - one last suggestion. Motivation can be hard - even with the prospect of a Christmas photo coming up. So make yourself a reward chart - like you might already do with your kids! Buy some stick-on gold stars and each time you exercise, give yourself a star. Keep it on the fridge if you can so you need to look at it if you're tempted to snack. Then after you collect 10 stars, think of a nice reward - but NOT food related. We're very used to rewarding ourselves with food in this country (celebration dinners etc) - it could be a new top, a mini-facial, a new lipstick, a special outing with the kids - and then the "rewards" can get progressively more exciting until Christmas. Perhaps if the body transformation is going well, the ultimate treat will be a new outfit for the Christmas photo.

Good luck. It can be hard to shift weight, but it's actually harder to start than to actually do!

ragg

Picking up on your first post,

Am now considering whether signing up to something that focuses more on building health/fitness as opposed to just controlling food.

"you can't outrun your mouth"

nutrition and training go hand in hand.
you need to eat clean and train hard to get to where you want to be.

If you can find a good trainer they will teach you all about nutrition and how to train. You could realistically have 3 stone off in about 4 or 5 months. seeing a trainer about once per month thats about 300 quid. super awesome Educogym or whatever its called is double that. It will require some motivation on your part, you will need to actually do the exercises and eat the right food, no one else can do it for you.

Assets Model

Ellechim wrote: »

Thanks Assets.

I haven't heard of Zone or Paleo before- have just googled them so will have a dig around and see what I can come up with.

My DH and I were talking - he is in a similar position to myself (Mr & Mrs Blobby) so we are seriously considering doing Body for Life together - anyone any opinions on this?

Well you can kinda ease yourself into them both involve eating more protein and cutting out all junk food and starchy carbs they do really work and they're healthy and sustainable. I'd be skeptical of anything that involved meal replacements I doubt anyone who isn't majorly into trianing really needs protein shakes and they're not the kinda thing you're going to keep using forever. You need to make a lifestyle change however gradual so basing it on realistic amounts of exercise and real food would be better IMO.

beegirl

Ellechim wrote: »

Thanks guys.
I have never had an exercise habit - i grew up in a small rural area where there weren't great sport facilities and wasn't naturally good at sport (I really can't catch a ball) so was excluded from a lot of the games and consequently I associate sport with failure (which it was for me) and I really struggle to enjoy it. I find gyms totally intimidating - I guess it goes back to the same thing as when I was a child (and in my teens) and told by 'friends' that I couldn't join in playing tennis/camogie/basketball....so I feel a sense of rejection around the whole thing. And now I write that down I look at it and go 'for eff's sake, grow up, that was thirty years ago'........

I know exactly what you mean, my memories of sports involve everybody SCREAMING at me because I always went the wrong way i.e. towards my own team's goal. I'd finally figure out which way I was meant to go and then they would switch it around on me again at half-time... morto

Maybe you could try to get into running/walking - that is the one sport/activity that I actually enjoy - no teams involved, yay! Plus all you need is a pair of decent runners, no membership fees or other equipment necessary!

Oryx

Ellechim wrote: »

Am now considering whether signing up to something that focuses more on building health/fitness as opposed to just controlling food. I know the big thing I have to change is my own mindset - I just enjoy food so much that not eating the things I want to seems like such a hardship....

You have to stop seeing this as purgatory, and instead see it as a positive thing. Remind yourself of what you are going to gain. Most people I see who hate exercise just hate the sweaty effort involved -the initial pain - and yes it is very hard at first, but you have to stick it out for at least 6 weeks. It absolutely becomes more enjoyable after that point. You will have to force yourself out at first, until your exercise becomes habit. Keep this mantra in your head any time you threaten to not go and do your training.

I know I should
I know I can
And I damn well will.

Also, I work full time and have two small children (and a husband) so have very very limited time in which to exercise - going to a gym or seeing a 'coach' would have to be after kids bedtime (after 8.30pm). With my job I can't guarantee that I'll be able to do something in my lunchtimes as I'm frequently away.

You can make this fit into your life if you want to badly enough. But you will always find reasons you cant as well. I have kids too, I train at all kinds of odd hours.

My other idea is to do this: www.bodyforlife.com -which would mean getting up off my arse at 6 each morning before getting into breakfast mayhem with the kids. Has anyone tried this?

Do you really think you have the will to do this consistently? If so, go for it, but do be realistic about 6 am. You dont want to set yourself up to fail, if you already have problems sticking with something.

There is no quick fix. Rather than looking at x y or z plans as the key, find something you know you like and will stick at. You will only do this if you stop looking on it as sufferance and keep your eyes on your goal.

Ellechim

Gosh, that's great advice, thank you.

Procrastinator - was considering BFL without the shakes - can't bear the idea of them! And yes they are mega expensive. I was thinking of following a low-gl diet like the Holford one.

Taz, that's great to know that you've used and done BFL before - and thanks for the advice, it's brilliant.

Beegirl - the trouble with walking is that at the moment I'd be doing it in the dark (before the kids get up or after they are gone to bed) and to be honest I'm a woos about going out in the dark (got mugged many years ago). Am not at the stage of asking someone to do it with me as I'd be afraid I'd slow them down too mcuh.

So in summary:
a) pick something I'm going to enjoy doing
b) get organised and plan, shop in advance
c) plan some reward for myself
d) use before and after photos to help motivate
e) need to make mind shift change (thanks Oryx for the mantra)
f) getting started is the challenge, once I've started it will be easier
g) exercise in the morning before kids are up

I am going to pass on the recommendation of using a trainer - I have too often sought to make these changes by 'using' someone else - I ened to do this for myself and I am so time constrained. However, I have signed up to two separate pilates classes - one one evening a week (I managed to find a class at 8.30 in the evning which is perfect) and one in a lunchtime. So, it is a start.

Thanks again everyone. I will keep you posted. I am still keen on BFL as the results in the book and the website look so good. Lets see what I can do between now and Xmas.....

Vampireskiss

I managed to stick to BFL for 5 weeks and lost 20lbs, not all fat probably but most of it was.

You dont have to use the shakes but if your going to follow Bodyforlife you should follow the nutrition advice it recommends which is basically

6 small meals a day

a portion of carbs in each meal

a portion of protein in each meal

a portion of veg in at least 2 meals(more is better if you can get them in)

A portion is the size of your fist or palm of your hand

eat a portion of salmon 3 or 4 times a week but if you dont like fish take 1 tablespoon of good fats like udos oil or flax seed oil a day.

I like the shakes because they are convienient and they actually save me money as they seem expensive at 95 euro for a box of 42 but that works out at 2.30 a meal,which is not very expensive if you ask me.You also have to remember the savings you will make with the things you have to give up on this program

I am thinking of starting this again but with christmas coming up I dont want to let myself down, I suppose I should get rid if that all or nothing mentality

Vampireskiss

Considering you are a girl the shakes for you would be myoplex lite or myoplex diet and these are even cheaper then the myoplex original which is for men, a box of the lite version is 35 for 20 which works out at only 1.70 a shake and for an even cheaper option a scoop of whey and an apple or any fruit would be considered a meal on this program and since your female you would need only 1 scoop of protein powder which is about 20g, this is a very cheap option

brainy_neuron

First off, hello to everyone here, congrats to those who have successfully lost weight and kept it off and 'Keep it up' to those of you like me who are in the middle of it!
Apologies if any of this has been repeated by previous posters. This is just my two cents basically, what I have learned about losing weight etc.

My highest weight was 14 stone 11 and at 5 foot 5 I was classed as obese according to my BMI, that really scared me! I began to eat healthily and exercise (see below) back in November of last year and am now 11 stone 13 (nearly have 3 stone lost woohoo!) Have had a couple of hiccups along the way but getting through the hiccups is part of the process. If losing weight was easy there would be not fat people in the world! At the moment I'm discovering I have ribs, which have been hidden in the fat for quite a while!!

For me anyway, I had to tell myself this was NOT a diet and was a healthy eating and exercise regime which would be something I would be doing for the rest of my life. 'Eat to live don't live to eat' was my mantra for a while! Also you have to give yourself time to get into a routine, say a week or two, don't put pressure on yourself to change overnight. Maybe add a ten minute walk the first day or add an extra glass of water etc

DON'T count calories or write down everything you've eaten during the day, this only reinforces the Diet mantra in your head, as long as you're eating 3 healthy meals + a few snacks, and drinking plenty of water you'll be doing great! After the first month or two when you get into a routine, allow for treats maybe once in a while, but do not go overboard either!

The way I get my exercise is going for a walk before breakfast. This may not be possible for everyone due to work etc but I'm lucky in that I have a part time job in retail and usually work late-ish hours (afternoon/evening) so my mornings are free! I have been a member of a gym and went once a week for a few weeks but way prefer walking. For me anyway its a real motivator and is way more effective in my weight loss than the gym. Its great to get some fresh air in the morning and it allows me some thinking time.

I always have porridge in the morning, some people really don't like porridge but I find that it keeps me going for a lot longer than most cereals do. Recently I've got a bit adventurous and now add a small bit of cinnamon, and a mixture of seeds (sesame, sunflower, pumpkin and linseed) and mixed berries (blueberries, cranberries, raisins and sultanas). It means I get some of my fruit quota for the day which is good!
My blood sugar has always been a bit screwy so if I go without brekkie I would be close to fainting a couple of hours later, and if I go without food for a long time (more than 4 hrs) I get cranky and weak. Because of this I make sure to eat around every 2 hours. The recommended length of time is around 2-4, and if u go any more than 4 hours without food, your body goes into starvation mode (apparently!)

This is what I would eat on a normal day:
8am Wake up-Walk (Half hour to hour), Shower
9am Breakfast-Porridge, green tea
11am Snack-Usually a piece of fruit or a granola/cereal bar (Nature Valley or Carman's (Low GI))
1pm Dinner-I usually have dinner at lunch time if I can as it suits my body to have it earlier (I'm a farmer at heart lol!) and it gives my body time to digest it.
Dinner would either be:
-->chicken/turkey stirfry with noodles or
-->potatoes, veg and meat (chicken, turkey, fish, pork/lamb chops)

3pm Snack-Usually a yoghurt (soya cos I'm lactose Intolerant!) I usually add a bit of oats and mixed seed to it as soya yogurts can be a bit tasteless!
5pm Soup or salad with rye crackers (Lunch/Supper)
7pm Fruit
9pm If i'm feeling hungry I have a rye cracker with jam

Drink plenty of water during the day too. I buy 1.5L bottles and make sure I have it nearly finished by the end of the day (I leave some by my bed for during the night in case I'm thirsty). I live in the cryptospiridium capital of Ireland, hence the reason for the bottled water! The bottles make it way easier to track how much I'm drinking. I'm a fan of green tea and would drink between 2 and 3 cups a day, they don't dehydrate you like normal tea and coffee and are really good for you too (packed with antioxidants!) Have recently changed over to Organic food too but thats another story!

My advice to the original poster and to any others reading this would be-go easy on yourself, allow time to change, you didn't get where you are overnight so don't put pressure on yourself to change overnight either. Also, don't hop on the scales every day, maybe stick to once a week and always the same time each week (I hop on first thing in the morning on a Tuesday, after I use the bathroom!). Don't lose faith in yourself after a bad week, or even if you had a good week and it doesn't show up on the scales. Check with a measuring tape the inches you're losing aswell.
Best of luck!!