Cory's Quest for a Healthier Life

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Quercus said:
Jumping is tough on me too. I tried jump rope and it caused too many aches and pains for now. I don't think that there is anything wrong with finding another form of exercise on one night if it causes pain. If it's just tough and uncomfortable then you can power through if you like. Just remember the point is to exercise not make yourself hurt or feel bad about yourself. You should be proud of yourself for making the changes and anyone there that would look down on you for making yourself healthy has bigger problems than being overweight.

Don't feel sad. You're doing great!
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I really appreciate the encouragement. It helps a lot. It is tough and uncomfortable, but not painful. Luckily I'm young enough that my weight hasn't done damage to my joints yet. I'll muscle through. You can't quit something because it is physically and mentally uncomfortable. Pushing through the discomfort makes you a stronger person, I think. I think a month from now, I'll probably enjoy it when I see the improvement.
 
Hey Cory,

I read your post and thought " Gee, I want to help" but I really don't know what to say because (a) I think it may be a little different for a girl than it is for a guy in these social/exercise situations, and (b) I've NEVER taken a class like this in my life. So I did the next best thing... I asked my lovely, fit wife what SHE thought about your predicament. My wife is nearly 6' and is now around 160 lbs. At one time she was over 200 lbs. She HATED classes that made her feel awkward, self conscious and embarrassed. She power-walked and did yoga to better health in a year.

She said in no certain terms: "Do not take a class that makes you feel bad. It's counterproductive." She suggested replacing the Wednesday workout with power walking and (her favorite) Yoga. Now MY thought was that you should not worry about the others in class and just focus on you and how this benefits you, but I defer to my wife in this case. By the way, she LOVES yoga and the transformative power of yoga... as she says, it uses your weight to build muscle, many of the poses are static (no bouncing), and increases your overall flexibility.

This may not be the best answer or the one you're looking for, but I hope it helps.
 
Don Keykong said:
Hey Cory,

I read your post and thought " Gee, I want to help" but I really don't know what to say because (a) I think it may be a little different for a girl than it is for a guy in these social/exercise situations, and (b) I've NEVER taken a class like this in my life. So I did the next best thing... I asked my lovely, fit wife what SHE thought about your predicament. My wife is nearly 6' and is now around 160 lbs. At one time she was over 200 lbs. She HATED classes that made her feel awkward, self conscious and embarrassed. She power-walked and did yoga to better health in a year.

She said in no certain terms: "Do not take a class that makes you feel bad. It's counterproductive." She suggested replacing the Wednesday workout with power walking and (her favorite) Yoga. Now MY thought was that you should not worry about the others in class and just focus on you and how this benefits you, but I defer to my wife in this case. By the way, she LOVES yoga and the transformative power of yoga... as she says, it uses your weight to build muscle, many of the poses are static (no bouncing), and increases your overall flexibility.

This may not be the best answer or the one you're looking for, but I hope it helps.
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Don, please thank your wife for her input. I'm not so much afraid of what my peers are thinking. I don't really care what they think, to be honest. I'm just really hard on myself. I've always been an over achiever and have rarely struggled with anything. I don't like to feel like I might not be able to do something, so I beat myself up over not being able to do it better, faster, or for longer. But perhaps I'm looking at it the wrong way. I made it through the whole class and tried hard the whole time, so perhaps that should count as a success.

I would actually be VERY interested in yoga once a week or so, but the fitness classes I have acces to only teach it during the day when I'm either at work or in class. I'm thinking of making Saturdays my yoga day and just doing it myself through youtube videos, or something.
 
I understand, Cory. I can relate completely to your frustration at not being able to do more or do it better.

My wife started with (and still uses) DVDs on yoga with an instructor named Rodney Yee. She likes him because "he's mellow and easy to follow along". Good luck with whatever you choose!
 
I am sorry that you had a bad night at zumba... Dont feel bad about cutting down the moves and maybe cutting out a lot of the jumping...

I adore zumba.
At my zumba class everyone works really hard. It means that everyone is exhausted (red faced and wet hair from perspiration)... The instructor works harder than anyone and exhausts himself...

If you look critically around the room you may actually find that the slim women are as shattered as you are... That is the case with everyone at my class.

My husband goes along with me and he enjoys it too. His BMI as of today is 48.99 (but it is down from over 62)... Naturally he cuts out quite a lot of the moves. The fact is that heavier people are burning more calories than the thin ones - despite the fact that they may cut out quite a lot of the moves. For instance my husband is 50 years old and has had gout since he was in his 20s and awkward walking has not helped a lot of his leg joints... He doesnt jump... When the rest of us jump - he simply steps with the music... The music is fun and he keeps up - he gets a good workout...

The person that burns the fewest calories in the room is probably the instructor because they are the most fit to start with... They are carrying around less weight and they are so healthy...

I am sure that you will be burning more calories than a lot of the people that you are looking at. Dont worry about them maybe getting moves better than you... Ignore the jumps until you feel able to... The slim people are not doing their moves to as much effect. Any form of dance takes practice anyway - the more often you go the more you will know what to expect next - and will automatically go into your version.

If you enjoy the music but feel too self conscious about cutting things back you could check out zumba gold... It is a version of zumba tailored towards less fit people.
 
Omega, it's nice to find another zumba-fan here. :D In thinking about it, you are correct. I did look around a couple times and there were a few skinny girls having a lot of trouble with the moves. I think I might take your advice next time and cut down on the jumping some, mostly because I suspect I've strained a tendon in my foot due to overuse. I know the jumping is what has been pushing it. It could just be muscular, but I'm still going to take it easy for a couple days. Better that than potentially injure myself and be out of commission for a few weeks.
 
Hey I saw you might want to try yoga but it not possible right now.
You might want to get a DVD from your library and just see how you like it?
I have been doing it lately - getting exercise DVDs from the library for a week and see whether it's for me or not.
 
That's a great idea, Justina. I could try a lot of things with that. :D

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Update time! I did pretty good today. I stayed within my 2000 calorie limit. Breakfast was half a grapefruit, lunch was a sandwich made with some leftover steak, and dinner is chicken curry (homemade so I can control what goes in it). Unfortunately, I'm just now getting to dinner. It's about 10:15 and way later than I like to eat, but that's just how things worked out today. I went to pilates today. It seemed ok with my sore foot, which I am trying to take it easy on right now. Why let a small problem become a large one, right? It was my first time going and I am so glad I went. It taught me that I really need to work on my core strength. :p I will probably try to go to pilates twice a week, if I can.

Weigh in tomorrow! I'm really excited and I think I've made progress. It will be my first real weigh in of this journey I'm on.
 
5.5 lbs! I know at least some of it is water weight, but still. I'd say half of it is legitimate weight loss, so a bit over 2.5 lbs this week. Really happy!

I really wish I could go do some exercise today, but I'm going to take it REALLY easy for a couple days to try and get my foot alright again. Oh well. I'd rather take a couple days off to let it get better rather than a few weeks if I really mess myself up.
 
Woot Woot!! Cory's lost it!! Good job girl! You are right to take it easy until your foot heals...sucks but true! Keep at it and you will continue to see good results..and it's so worth it...looks, health, positive self image (I'm describing my benefits...I'm not "done" yet, but I've already seen many of these for myself, and you will see them for yourself too...you are in controle!!)
Good job!! I wish you more good choices!
Sarah
 
Congrats on the 5.5lbs! That's a great achievement.

In terms of those Zumba classes just do what you feel you can! Don't push yourself to hurting just because someone else can do something you can't! I'm sure that if you continue those classes you'll be bouncing around like an easter bunny when you feel you're happy to do so, and that's what matters at the end of the day!

Steve
 
Thanks for the support everyone!

Had a bad day, food-wise. My family and I went to this Mexican restaurant and they have the best chips I have ever had. They’re just thing and crispy and…….yum. I fully admit I ate waaaaayyyyy too many and had a coke to boot. However, I don’t go there very often at all (they tend to be expensive) and don’t eat like this every day. There will also be cake later because it’s my brother’s girlfriend’s birthday. I’ll probably make up for all that by eating a piece of fruit for dinner tonight or something.

On a different note, I’m getting really frustrated with the lack of exercise. I’d take a walk, but I’m hesitant to do anything with my foot until I’m sure it isn’t a tendon. I think it’s feeling better today, but I can’t decide if that’s wishful thinking on my part or not. I figure I’ll give it until Tuesday and if it doesn’t feel any better I’ll have a doctor look at it. *sigh*
 
You could take the opportunity to do some strength training of your arms. Some crunches too. Anything that doesn't require you to put too much weight on your foot.

Or you could even do some stretching in front of the TV or while listening to music or whatever. Every little bit helps and it will keep you engaged.

Or you could tell me to mind my own business and go screw myself. That would work too. :)
 
I took your advice and did some arms. Didn't do crunches though. My abs are still really sore from pilates. :p

I am struggling sooooo badly right now with some cravings. I've already had so much junk today and still have a piece of cake waiting in the wings, but I want a coke. I've already had one today and really don't need another one, but I am jonesing something awful. Must. Stay. STRONG.
 
Cory,
I hear you about cravings...I'm guessing it might have something to do with all those chips you ate...one good carb requests another! You might try listening to a podcast called dishing up nutrition. It's out on by a company out of MN called nutritional weight and wellness, and even though they do advertisements for their own products and classes, they do put put a lot of good info on their free podcasts, and several podcasts in their library address cravings. They are in iTunes. I listen to it while I'm on the treadmill or elliptical...maybe this will help.
SarAh
 
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