Concept2 Forum

I have to boast a bit to my fellow rowers - you will understand!! <br /><br />In June, I weighed about 150 lbs. That's been my "hover" weight since I was in high school. I wasn't <i>fat</i>, but I always carried around an extra heft that I couldn't seem to shake (it didn't matter how much I exercised). Women will know it well - it's that fat that doesn't make your doctor give you a stern lecture, but makes you hate trying on clothes.<br /><br />On June 30, I completely cut out sugar and alcohol, and cut way, way back on starches, to about 3-4 servings per week. I've been eating mountains of salad, grilled vegetables, grilled meat & fish, eggs/egg whites, fruit, salsa, skim milk, unsweetened soy milk, and fat-free yogurt & cottage cheese. Plus I drink a low-carb whey isolate protein shake once or twice a day.<br /><br />I'm running about 70 km per week, rowing about 20 km per week, and weight training 3 times per week. I ride my horse for at least an hour five times per week, and I go for a brisk 30-40 min walk every day at lunchtime.<br /><br />I'm running in the Toronto Half Marathon next weekend, and my goal was to step up to the starting line at 125 lbs. This morning the scale said 124.5 lbs!!! <br /><br />The bonus of losing the weight is that I feel fantastic, I don't miss the sweets, I have oodles of energy, and my 21-km run time has decreased by about half an hour. But my pants are all falling down.<br /><br />

<!--QuoteBegin-RowedandRode+Oct 9 2005, 08:24 AM--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(RowedandRode @ Oct 9 2005, 08:24 AM)</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin-->I have to boast a bit to my fellow rowers - you will understand!! <br /><br />In June, I weighed about 150 lbs. That's been my "hover" weight since I was in high school. I wasn't <i>fat</i>, but I always carried around an extra heft that I couldn't seem to shake (it didn't matter how much I exercised). Women will know it well - it's that fat that doesn't make your doctor give you a stern lecture, but makes you hate trying on clothes.<br /><br />On June 30, I completely cut out sugar and alcohol, and cut way, way back on starches, to about 3-4 servings per week. I've been eating mountains of salad, grilled vegetables, grilled meat & fish, eggs/egg whites, fruit, salsa, skim milk, unsweetened soy milk, and fat-free yogurt & cottage cheese. Plus I drink a low-carb whey isolate protein shake once or twice a day.<br /><br />I'm running about 70 km per week, rowing about 20 km per week, and weight training 3 times per week. I ride my horse for at least an hour five times per week, and I go for a brisk 30-40 min walk every day at lunchtime.<br /><br />I'm running in the Toronto Half Marathon next weekend, and my goal was to step up to the starting line at 125 lbs. This morning the scale said 124.5 lbs!!! <br /><br />The bonus of losing the weight is that I feel fantastic, I don't miss the sweets, I have oodles of energy, and my 21-km run time has decreased by about half an hour. But my pants are all falling down. <br /> </td></tr></table><br /><br />Congratulations! I just made my weight target this week too, and I feel as you do -- accomplished and energetic. I also understand the pants problem -- gotta make sure the belt is cinched! <br /><br />Keep up the good work, and good luck with the Half Marathon in TO.<br /><br />BTW, I know P-borough well. My brother-in-law is the recent past President of Sir Sandford Fleming College, and we've been visiting he and his family there for more than a decade.<br /><br />

<!--QuoteBegin-RowedandRode+Oct 9 2005, 07:24 AM--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(RowedandRode @ Oct 9 2005, 07:24 AM)</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin-->I have to boast a bit to my fellow rowers - you will understand!! <br /><br />In June, I weighed about 150 lbs. <br /><br />I'm running in the Toronto Half Marathon next weekend, and my goal was to step up to the starting line at 125 lbs. This morning the scale said 124.5 lbs!!! <br /><br />The bonus of losing the weight is that I feel fantastic, I don't miss the sweets, I have oodles of energy, and my 21-km run time has decreased by about half an hour. But my pants are all falling down. <br /> </td></tr></table><br /><br />RowedandRode, <br /><br />Congratulations! Thanks for sharing it with us. Success stories are always a joy to read. Good luck with the half marathon... <br /><br />Jim S.

<!--QuoteBegin-mpukita+Oct 9 2005, 06:17 AM--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(mpukita @ Oct 9 2005, 06:17 AM)</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin--><!--QuoteBegin-RowedandRode+Oct 9 2005, 08:24 AM--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(RowedandRode @ Oct 9 2005, 08:24 AM)</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin-->I have to boast a bit to my fellow rowers - you will understand!! <br /><br />In June, I weighed about 150 lbs. That's been my "hover" weight since I was in high school. I wasn't <i>fat</i>, but I always carried around an extra heft that I couldn't seem to shake (it didn't matter how much I exercised). Women will know it well - it's that fat that doesn't make your doctor give you a stern lecture, but makes you hate trying on clothes.<br /><br />On June 30, I completely cut out sugar and alcohol, and cut way, way back on starches, to about 3-4 servings per week. I've been eating mountains of salad, grilled vegetables, grilled meat & fish, eggs/egg whites, fruit, salsa, skim milk, unsweetened soy milk, and fat-free yogurt & cottage cheese. Plus I drink a low-carb whey isolate protein shake once or twice a day.<br /><br />I'm running about 70 km per week, rowing about 20 km per week, and weight training 3 times per week. I ride my horse for at least an hour five times per week, and I go for a brisk 30-40 min walk every day at lunchtime.<br /><br />I'm running in the Toronto Half Marathon next weekend, and my goal was to step up to the starting line at 125 lbs. This morning the scale said 124.5 lbs!!! <br /><br />The bonus of losing the weight is that I feel fantastic, I don't miss the sweets, I have oodles of energy, and my 21-km run time has decreased by about half an hour. But my pants are all falling down. <br /> </td></tr></table><br /><br />Congratulations! I just made my weight target this week too, and I feel as you do -- accomplished and energetic. I also understand the pants problem -- gotta make sure the belt is cinched! <br /><br />Keep up the good work, and good luck with the Half Marathon in TO.<br /><br />BTW, I know P-borough well. My brother-in-law is the recent past President of Sir Sandford Fleming College, and we've been visiting he and his family there for more than a decade. <br /> </td></tr></table><br /><br />Excellent work! I only have to lose 40 more pounds and I'll hit my goal.<br /><br />Mike<br />

<!--QuoteBegin-RowedandRode+Oct 9 2005, 07:24 AM--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(RowedandRode @ Oct 9 2005, 07:24 AM)</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin-->I have to boast a bit to my fellow rowers - you will understand!! <br /><br />In June, I weighed about 150 lbs. That's been my "hover" weight since I was in high school. I wasn't <i>fat</i>, but I always carried around an extra heft that I couldn't seem to shake (it didn't matter how much I exercised). Women will know it well - it's that fat that doesn't make your doctor give you a stern lecture, but makes you hate trying on clothes.<br /><br />On June 30, I completely cut out sugar and alcohol, and cut way, way back on starches, to about 3-4 servings per week. I've been eating mountains of salad, grilled vegetables, grilled meat & fish, eggs/egg whites, fruit, salsa, skim milk, unsweetened soy milk, and fat-free yogurt & cottage cheese. Plus I drink a low-carb whey isolate protein shake once or twice a day.<br /><br />I'm running about 70 km per week, rowing about 20 km per week, and weight training 3 times per week. I ride my horse for at least an hour five times per week, and I go for a brisk 30-40 min walk every day at lunchtime.<br /><br />I'm running in the Toronto Half Marathon next weekend, and my goal was to step up to the starting line at 125 lbs. This morning the scale said 124.5 lbs!!! <br /><br />The bonus of losing the weight is that I feel fantastic, I don't miss the sweets, I have oodles of energy, and my 21-km run time has decreased by about half an hour. But my pants are all falling down. <br /> </td></tr></table><br />Wow! Thanks for sharing the diet tips as well as the good news. I seem to crave the carbs, but knowing I may not miss them too much is good news. Congratulations!<br />Meri

<!--QuoteBegin-RowedandRode+Oct 9 2005, 07:24 AM--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(RowedandRode @ Oct 9 2005, 07:24 AM)</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin--><br />On June 30, I completely cut out sugar and alcohol, and cut way, way back on starches, to about 3-4 servings per week. I've been eating mountains of salad, grilled vegetables, grilled meat & fish, eggs/egg whites, fruit, salsa, skim milk, unsweetened soy milk, and fat-free yogurt & cottage cheese. Plus I drink a low-carb whey isolate protein shake once or twice a day.<br /> <br /> </td></tr></table><br /><br />Congrats RowedandRode! Great going. I've adopted basically the same diet since April 2004. I lost 27 pounds in 5 months and have successfully kept it off since September 2004, despite relaxing a little bit around alcohol and occasional desserts. Keeping fried foods, white starches, juice, soda, and junk completely out of my diet have also resulted in much better cholesterol levels as well as my trimmer figure. <br /><br />I regularly row 40-50K a week. During the summer it was less but I was climbing mountains and riding bicycles instead. I second what you've said about more energy and better self-esteem. The psychological benefits to taking control over my eating and weight have been as important as the health benefits. <br /><br />Keep up the good work. Maintenance is what it's all about now. <br />

<!--QuoteBegin-Meri Goehring+Oct 12 2005, 09:16 AM--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(Meri Goehring @ Oct 12 2005, 09:16 AM)</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin-->Wow! Thanks for sharing the diet tips as well as the good news. I seem to crave the carbs, but knowing I may not miss them too much is good news. Congratulations!<br />Meri <br /> </td></tr></table><br /><br />Meri,<br /><br />You'll find (as did LindaM - see the previous post) that if you fill your diet with good, high-quality foods, you won't miss the carbs. When you see your six-pack emerging, you'll find it much easier to turn down junk, sweets, potatoes, bread etc. Just say to yourself, "I'd rather be slim, fit and fast than eat that junk". Very soon, you'll find that you actually want to eat <i>more of the good food </i>rather than "save room for dessert". <br /><br />And once you give up sugar, you will be amazed at how easily some fresh fruit and sugar-free yogurt satisfies your desire for something sweet. But to get to this point, you must give up sugar <i>completely</i> (this includes honey, jam, maple syrup, juice, etc.). And don't eat anything containing white flour, which (metabolically speaking) is only one step removed from sugar. Once you take the simple, crappy carbohydrates out, the taste of the quality stuff is enhanced hugely.<br /><br />But it's not the same as "dieting" (a.k.a. starving). It's a lifetime way of eating. You need to make sure that you get enough calories for your activity level, and enough protein for recovery, repair and rebuilding. The latter is the key for any athlete. Get at least 1 g of lean protein per lb of body weight, per day (don't compromise on this), and eat 5-6 meals each day, roughly every 3 hours.<br /><br />I used to hate my body and I would berate myself for a lack of self-control whenever I ate a meal. I would pinch my midriff in disgust and dream of being slim. The guilt I felt was crushing me. And here's my dirty secret - now I <i>look for mirrors </i>so that I can check out my abs and triceps!! I <i>want</i> to go try on a swimsuit!! <br /><br />Seriously, I feel proud of eating less, and completely satisfied by my diet. I can sustain this diet because I love it - I don't feel that I'm "missing out" on anything, except a larger pants size!! <br /><br />Best of luck to everyone who wants to lose weight - please keep posting your success stories here.

<!--QuoteBegin-RowedandRode+Oct 14 2005, 06:45 AM--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(RowedandRode @ Oct 14 2005, 06:45 AM)</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin--><!--QuoteBegin-Meri Goehring+Oct 12 2005, 09:16 AM--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(Meri Goehring @ Oct 12 2005, 09:16 AM)</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin-->Wow! Thanks for sharing the diet tips as well as the good news. I seem to crave the carbs, but knowing I may not miss them too much is good news. Congratulations!<br />Meri <br /> </td></tr></table><br /><br />Meri,<br /><br />You'll find (as did LindaM - see the previous post) that if you fill your diet with good, high-quality foods, you won't miss the carbs. When you see your six-pack emerging, you'll find it much easier to turn down junk, sweets, potatoes, bread etc. Just say to yourself, "I'd rather be slim, fit and fast than eat that junk". Very soon, you'll find that you actually want to eat <i>more of the good food </i>rather than "save room for dessert". <br /><br />And once you give up sugar, you will be amazed at how easily some fresh fruit and sugar-free yogurt satisfies your desire for something sweet. But to get to this point, you must give up sugar <i>completely</i> (this includes honey, jam, maple syrup, juice, etc.). And don't eat anything containing white flour, which (metabolically speaking) is only one step removed from sugar. Once you take the simple, crappy carbohydrates out, the taste of the quality stuff is enhanced hugely.<br /><br />But it's not the same as "dieting" (a.k.a. starving). It's a lifetime way of eating. You need to make sure that you get enough calories for your activity level, and enough protein for recovery, repair and rebuilding. The latter is the key for any athlete. Get at least 1 g of lean protein per lb of body weight, per day (don't compromise on this), and eat 5-6 meals each day, roughly every 3 hours.<br /><br />I used to hate my body and I would berate myself for a lack of self-control whenever I ate a meal. I would pinch my midriff in disgust and dream of being slim. The guilt I felt was crushing me. And here's my dirty secret - now I <i>look for mirrors </i>so that I can check out my abs and triceps!! I <i>want</i> to go try on a swimsuit!! <br /><br />Seriously, I feel proud of eating less, and completely satisfied by my diet. I can sustain this diet because I love it - I don't feel that I'm "missing out" on anything, except a larger pants size!! <br /><br />Best of luck to everyone who wants to lose weight - please keep posting your success stories here. <br /> </td></tr></table><br /><br />Right. Whole grains, fruits, vegetables, legumes, seeds, nuts -- we know the drill. But eating correctly does work.<br /><br />I just have to point out however that for an athlete you need carbohydrates for energy. Lance Armstrong makes this point. Anecdotally, for several days I was eating more protein than carbohydrates and I hit the wall: no energy. After eating some complex carbohydrates, my energy came back the next day. So while protein is important (and most of us get plenty of it in our normal diets), complex carbohydrates are as important if not more. The idea is to expend more calories than we consume -- it's axiomatic. <br /><br />Myth: Carbohydrates (or sugars) cause weight gain.<br /><br />Fact: Carbohydrates do not cause weight gain unless they contribute to excess calorie intake. The same holds true for protein and fat. Findings from the National Weight Control Registry show that people who successfully maintain weight loss tend to eat diets that are higher in carbohydrates and lower in fat, in addition to watching their total calorie intake. However, some people who eat a diet that is extremely high in carbohydrates and low in protein and fat get hungry sooner, which may trigger overeating.<br /><br />So everyone is correct that we have to pay attention to the amount of carbohydrates we eat -- enough to meet our energy needs for erging but not too much that will be stored as fat or make us hungry. Just don't go on an all protein diet and think you are engaging in an healthy approach to eating.<br /><br />Anyway, I obviously eat too much even though I put in the long meters. It's only been since I cut my diet that I have started to lose weight. After going on the WW flex plan, in three weeks I lost 10 pounds.<br /><br />Mike

<!--QuoteBegin-RowedandRode+Oct 14 2005, 08:45 AM--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(RowedandRode @ Oct 14 2005, 08:45 AM)</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin--><!--QuoteBegin-Meri Goehring+Oct 12 2005, 09:16 AM--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(Meri Goehring @ Oct 12 2005, 09:16 AM)</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin-->Wow! Thanks for sharing the diet tips as well as the good news. I seem to crave the carbs, but knowing I may not miss them too much is good news. Congratulations!<br />Meri <br /> </td></tr></table><br /><br />Meri,<br /><br />You'll find (as did LindaM - see the previous post) that if you fill your diet with good, high-quality foods, you won't miss the carbs. When you see your six-pack emerging, you'll find it much easier to turn down junk, sweets, potatoes, bread etc. Just say to yourself, "I'd rather be slim, fit and fast than eat that junk". Very soon, you'll find that you actually want to eat <i>more of the good food </i>rather than "save room for dessert". <br /><br />And once you give up sugar, you will be amazed at how easily some fresh fruit and sugar-free yogurt satisfies your desire for something sweet. But to get to this point, you must give up sugar <i>completely</i> (this includes honey, jam, maple syrup, juice, etc.). And don't eat anything containing white flour, which (metabolically speaking) is only one step removed from sugar. Once you take the simple, crappy carbohydrates out, the taste of the quality stuff is enhanced hugely.<br /><br />But it's not the same as "dieting" (a.k.a. starving). It's a lifetime way of eating. You need to make sure that you get enough calories for your activity level, and enough protein for recovery, repair and rebuilding. The latter is the key for any athlete. Get at least 1 g of lean protein per lb of body weight, per day (don't compromise on this), and eat 5-6 meals each day, roughly every 3 hours.<br /><br />I used to hate my body and I would berate myself for a lack of self-control whenever I ate a meal. I would pinch my midriff in disgust and dream of being slim. The guilt I felt was crushing me. And here's my dirty secret - now I <i>look for mirrors </i>so that I can check out my abs and triceps!! I <i>want</i> to go try on a swimsuit!! <br /><br />Seriously, I feel proud of eating less, and completely satisfied by my diet. I can sustain this diet because I love it - I don't feel that I'm "missing out" on anything, except a larger pants size!! <br /><br />Best of luck to everyone who wants to lose weight - please keep posting your success stories here. <br /> </td></tr></table><br /> <br />What about caffeine? Do you drink coffee or tea? Just curious. <br /><br />Also, will you occassionaly treat yourself to something if say you are at a very nice restaurant and the desserts are extraordinary? Does moderation work, in your opinion, or must sugar be cut out completely?<br /><br />And finally, now you need to post a picture of YOU on your horse! I shouldn't talk, I don't even know how to post pictures on a computer.

<!--QuoteBegin-tditmar+Oct 14 2005, 08:51 AM--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(tditmar @ Oct 14 2005, 08:51 AM)</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin-->Does moderation work, in your opinion, or must sugar be cut out completely?<br /><br /> </td></tr></table><br />Myth: Carbohydrates (or sugars) cause weight gain.<br /><br />Fact: Carbohydrates do not cause weight gain unless they contribute to excess calorie intake. The same holds true for protein and fat. Findings from the National Weight Control Registry show that people who successfully maintain weight loss tend to eat diets that are higher in carbohydrates and lower in fat, in addition to watching their total calorie intake. However, some people who eat a diet that is extremely high in carbohydrates and low in protein and fat get hungry sooner, which may trigger overeating.<br /><br />When I have just burned off 1,000 calories on the erg, I think I can have a little sugar. <br /><br />Mike

Nothing wrong with carbohydrates - I eat loads of fruit and vegetables. These are carb energy sources as well. No one would advocate eating "only" protein - after all, you'd be bored silly and never be able to go to the bathroom.<br /><br />Seriously, I gave up sugar, not <i>quality carbohydrates</i>. I still eat some grains, whole wheat pasta, etc. I just keep it to a very dull roar now, whereas I practically used to live on pasta, rice and bread.<br /><br />The way I see it, the fact that the desserts are "extraordinary" is not an excuse to eat them. You will find that 5 minutes after the temptation is removed, you won't think about it anymore. Remember, I managed to defeat a terrible sweet tooth, where I always justified eating dessert as "well, it looks too good to resist". It's all a matter of control. "Cravings" are an excuse, and if you "give in" to them, well, you've made a choice. Why should food control you? A recovering alcoholic isn't asked, "what if the drinks at this place are really extraordinary???"<br /><br />It's just what works for me. And boy oh boy, did it ever work! <br /><br />Yes, I drink coffee and tea - always black. <br />

Well done RowedandRode!<br /><br />The diet tips as well are fantastic - I've been trying to shift a lot of weight ever since I started rowing a year and a half ago. I'm a scarily heavy girl, and I think I carry it well, but being 73kg when you're only 5'3" is no fun.<br /><br />The thing is, I don't look fat. I'm a curvy girl but the weight is in the right places. I'm also quite stockily built. But there's certain things I'll never be able to do at my height, like trial for my uni club (Cambridge) unless I become a lightweight.<br /><br />Dieting in the past while keeping up a hectic training scedule always made me feel really drained, and like there was no power in my legs at all, but I've taken on board your advice and am trying to shed a few of the excess pounds. Thanks, and I'll let you know how it goes!<br /><br />And congrats again,<br /><br />Jodie

Congratulations

<b>Why dont you post a picture before and after for us - love to see the ......<br /><br />Good luck further.</b>

<!--QuoteBegin-Thomas+Oct 28 2005, 04:22 AM--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(Thomas @ Oct 28 2005, 04:22 AM)</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin-->Congratulations  <br /> </td></tr></table><br /><br />That is the funniest Avatar I have ever seen. I'm crying. Where did you find that?<br />