veg weight loss group
Posted by Kalessin on Nov 28, 2006 · Member since Nov 2006 · 4 posts
Hi,
Anyone out there interested in starting a weight loss support group / discussion thread?
I've been vegan for years but haven't managed to loose weight, mainly through the lack of will power. I just joined a gym and plan to work out 3-4 times a week. I could definately use some motivation..
Maybe we could post our goals & keep a running list of personal achievements. Watcha think? Any takers?
I love the idea. I need somebody to keep me honest about exercising; my diet is pretty healthy (and I am loathe to restrict it just before the winter holidays, when I'm testing recipes for family), but I want to get healthier and lose some of the fat and flab.
Have you checked this out, by the way? It seems kind of nifty:
http://diettelevision.com/
Congratulations and good luck!
I'd like to loose five more pounds. I lost 14 pounds beginning Dec. 26th last year (I just couldn't diet prior to that, so I'm not sure I can join you just yet) but gained some back. Being ovo-lacto I find it easy to partake in the goodies of the season, but definately will get on the ball Dec. 26th again.
I am going to the gym today for a workout. Great way to begin the day.
Great idea!
I'm certainly not overweight but I have been carrying around a few extra pounds for a while... especially since entering my 20s and having a broken arm for two months. I was extremely active before that (it was summer... so kayaking, biking the 15km back and forth to work, running, etc.), but ever since my mountain biking accident it's been a bit of a challenge to get back into shape. I was restricted from doing anything for so long it's difficult to get back into the swing of things, especially now that I don't have the strength in my right arm to even do one push-up. It's a little discouraging, but once this semester of school is finished I'd like to focus on my health. The past few months have been some of the most stressful I've ever experienced, so I don't want to rush into anything. Even waiting 'til after Christmas seems like the best thing for me to do. I have been on a vegan diet for over a year, but that hasn't kept me from gaining weight. ;) All veg*ns are not skinny, that's for sure. Who started that anyway? Pfft. (:
Anyway, I think a weight loss discussion thread/support group is a great idea. I'm not sure I'll be on the wagon until after Christmas, but for now I'd love to share ideas. Maybe that's as good a place as any to start?
Ps. Very neat website, Duckalucky! I've already been reading about the "Raw Food Detox Diet." I like the idea of detoxing while shedding a few extra pounds. I really need to do a detox of some sort (would prefer not to buy into the detox-in-a-box gimmick), and this sounds like a good way to flush the system while gaining some much needed energy and losing those few extra pounds. Maybe I'll start with trying a few raw meals a week, or raw lunches... that way I might be ready for the full monty come new years day. I couldn't commit to a raw diet forever... but I could certainly try it out for a few months.
I'm up for an occasional weight loss/fitness check in.
Kalessian, how much would you like to lose? Will you do cardio & strength training? What type of gym did you join?
I've lost 25 pounds since September & am feeling so much better. I'm half way to my weight loss goal & have to tell you that weight training has made a HUGE difference in my daily life. I'm already fitting into clothes that I thought I'd have to be 10 pound less to fit in. I can barely style my hair cuz I can't take my eyes off my triceps, which hardly jiggle anymore. And my thighs are starting to look like when I was in my 20s. Overall, I find being stronger makes everything I do easier.
May I suggest this wonderful site, with a great forum, Vegan Bodybuilding.
http://veganbodybuilding.com/
And here's their forum: http://www.veganbodybuilding.com/phpBB2/
Even though the site name is Vegan Bodybuilding, there are many different forums, including women's fitness, beginners, sports, lifestyle, current events. Robert Cheeke runs the site & is very inspirational & knowledgeable & overall I've found the entire group to be helpful & supportive. Hmmmm, I haven't been there in some time. I should check in.
Also, for anyone into home exercise videos - like me! - here is another great site, Video Fitness:
http://www.videofitness.com/
You will not only find reviews of more exercise videos than anywhere else, they too have a forum where (mostly) women discuss fitness & exercise. I never buy a fitness video without checking out this site first. You will find reviews of individual videos & video instructors.
Finally, here is another site that sells fitness videos, even hard to find ones:
http://www.collagevideo.com/
I turn 50 next year & I am not going to be fat & 50, I am going to be fit & 50!
Nice link Duckalucky. I probably won't do much in the way of a diet until after the 1st of the year. However, I do have a couple weeks' worth of meal replacer shakes that I could do for breakfast & lunch.
I'm up for an occasional weight loss/fitness check in.
Kalessian, how much would you like to lose? Will you do cardio & strength training? What type of gym did you join?
I've lost 25 pounds since September & am feeling so much better. I'm half way to my weight loss goal & have to tell you that weight training has made a HUGE difference in my daily life. I'm already fitting into clothes that I thought I'd have to be 10 pound less to fit in. I can barely style my hair cuz I can't take my eyes off my triceps, which hardly jiggle anymore. And my thighs are starting to look like when I was in my 20s. Overall, I find being stronger makes everything I do easier.
Congrats Lezly!
I weigh about 220 lbs now, so I have a long way to go! :) I've only ever used treadmill-type equipment, the kind that is like a glider of sorts. I joined Lifetime Fitness. It sounds like I should do weight training, too.
I like the chart!
Yes, congrats, Lezly and Kalessin! You'll get me off this chair yet. :)
I'm 37, with very poor muscle tone, and as of today, I weigh... 330! I want to lose about a hundred pounds (for starters). Chronic health issues (asthma, a collagen disorder, my hubby's requirement for frequent high-carb meals--which I unnecessarily share), the sedentary nose-in-book grad-student lifestyle, and family tendency got me here. I eat too much, but I eat healthy things.
What I need is exercise! Exercise, and portion control. And to cut way down on caffeine (my addiction).
I would like to lose 2 pounds a week. If I could maintain that kind of weight loss, I could lose the whole shebang in a year. If not, I'll at least be well on my way!
Edit: hey, you DID motivate me-- I did 10 minutes on the Gazelle cross-country-skiing-sim thingy! It's not a lot, but every bit counts.
Dukalucky, that is a start! Kudos to you! Keep it up!!!
I share your cafeinne addiction. In fact, I was going out shopping, but needed a caffeine fix first. Sheesh.
I ate poorly today, Nates "taco's and toquitos". I feel bloated.
I did 25 minutes on the treadmill, and 15 minutes on the bike at the gym, and some ab work and some other weights.
Again, I'll probably start the diet in earnest Dec. 26th, but getting a jumpstart with the motivation and healthier eating is a very good idea.
I am so pleased with this. Let's be honest: I'm not dieting til after New Year's Day. However, that's no reason I can't exercise and emphasize healthy eating in the meantime.
Not only did I exercise a wee bit, but I did EVERYTHING on my to-do list before 11 a.m. today! Tomorrow, a bigger to-do list! Big walk later today, a couple miles-- and lugging the cat for the first part (she needs a blood test before our cold snap snaps.)
Hi everyone! I read your responses all the time and feel like I know most of you. What a wonderful, kind bunch of people, too bad everyone lives all over the place or we could start a vegan super club!
I do not have too much weight to loose (around 10 pounds) but I am a heath and nutrition advocate. I started eating vegan for compassion issues but I knew that the health aspects were so very beneficial. Being vegan is half the battle with losing weight. The down side is the market is flooded with vegan junk food and what is not on our grocery stores shelf we find out a vegan way to make it. This is not all bad, food is the flavor of life but learning to set a side the yummy chocolate cake and mac and no-cheese for a special occasion is the key. Our diets need to be vegetables (especially the green leafy kind), fruits, nuts, beans and grains. The problem is we eat too much processed food or food too far away from its natural form. I have no control with vegan cookies and potato chips. However, the good news is that because we eat vegan we have healthier body’s and minds, so reaching our weight loss goals will come easier to us then omnivores.
Congratulation Lezly on you weight loss and thank you for the wonderful sites, I love home exercise videos too! I turned 30 this year and am committed to feeling better in my 30s than I did in my 20s!
You all have motivated me to run with my dog Bandit tonight, even though we are having a very bad cold front!
I am still relatively new to this site but visit it every day. I have gotten so much good advice and recipes its unreal. I think the best part is reading the responses from people who feel the same way I do. It makes me feel like I am not alone. Thank you all!
The site below is geared to weight training for women & especially, overweight women & (cough, cough) older women. This is the page that got me off my bum & pumping iron.
http://www.stumptuous.com/cms/displayarticle.php?aid=37
The book, "Strong Women Stay Young" has great inspirational stories of women who took up strength training, many over 40 or 50. The exercise routine she outlines in the book uses light dumbbells & some ankle weights. I think the best thing about it, though, is that all the exercises are either done standing or sitting in a chair. There are no floor exercises in her original routine, as she recognizes that many overweight people have difficulty getting on & off the floor.
http://www.amazon.com/Strong-Women-Stay-Young-Revised/dp/055338077X/sr=8-1/qid=1164830345/ref=pd_bbs_1/104-3159725-6152769?ie=UTF8&s=books
There is another great book called "Growing Old is Not for Sissies." It is mostly a photo essay of senior athletes, but I wanted to share a photo of Marie Wilcox Little at 73 years of age!
Harr! I haven't looked this good in a bathing suit in about 15 years!
I never have!
Great links, Lezly! ;D
I am interested in fitness tracking. Thanks for all the great links everyone! :)
Weight Watchers online has a bunch of discussion boards. One of them is for veg*ns. It is quite an active board.
yay! i was just thinking about this today.
i've gained like 8 pounds lin the last 2 months, and no clue why! i work out sooo much,
i run close to 14 miles a day and do weights for at least 30 minutes too, but the weight keeps piling on! i want to cry! i have a stable and healthy daily diet--about 1600 calories, and very low refined sugars, but, i'm at my wits end!
please help!
it just doesnt make sense, nor do i have time to run more than i already do! what do i do?!
--carmen
:'(
yay! i was just thinking about this today.
i've gained like 8 pounds lin the last 2 months, and no clue why! i work out sooo much,
i run close to 14 miles a day and do weights for at least 30 minutes too, but the weight keeps piling on! i want to cry! i have a stable and healthy daily diet--about 1600 calories, and very low refined sugars, but, i'm at my wits end!
please help!
it just doesnt make sense, nor do i have time to run more than i already do! what do i do?!
--carmen
:'(
If you are doing work with weights, keep in mind that muscle weighs more than fat. Some of that weight you have put on may in fact be muscle weight. My husband, a very skinny person, always gains a few pounds when he begins to work out with weights--this is a good thing, not a bad thing. Extra muscle mass that you build raises your basal metabolic rate. Instead of looking at the scale, look at other measures of success: are your clothes fitting you better? Do you feel stronger in every day activities?
Elizabeth
I went to the gym! yeah! I did a little of everything, including weight lifting. :) But I don't think I'm going to be able to get that chart going.. between work, kids and the gym, there's not much time left.
I went to the gym! yeah! I did a little of everything, including weight lifting. :) But I don't think I'm going to be able to get that chart going.. between work, kids and the gym, there's not much time left.
I highly recommend getting a few exercise videos. That will save you what ever time it takes you to go to & return from the gym. Keep your gym membership, but use the videos on days when you absolutely cannot fit in time to go to the gym. Even a 20 minute session of a so-so workout is better than nothing.
Lezly: That's a great suggestion! For those of you who are frugal (like me), you may be able to score some exercise videos from your local library. I know mine has a few, and you can take them out for a week free of charge. (:
Does anyone have any tips for controlling cravings---namely those involving sugar? Yeah, will-power is the best solution in theory, but I don't always have such a thing in abundance---take away school, work, stress and time constraints, and you might see some. However, seeing as that's not going to happen anytime soon, I would love to hear from anybody who has some alternative methods to controlling such things. My sweet tooth is savage.
The only one I know is the one my mom taught me-- keep bowls of fruit around, looking clean and appealing, and you might reach for it first.
I don't have much of a sweet tooth-- I have a "fat tooth," hehe. Wish I did-- it'd help me eat more fruit, which isn't really my thing in life, despite my conviction that it ought to be.
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