Anyone else trying to lose weight?

[AjK]

Of course, I have ramped up my jogging now to between 3 & 4 miles, 4 to 6 times a week... which when combined with alternating upper/lower weight sets 4 to 6 times a week and a calorie restricted diet... I am blasting away 1-2 pounds a week and building muscle. This is the most focused I have ever been. Sorry if it sounds like I'm boasting

Not at all, Brother Charn. (At least certainly not to me.) That is awesome and shows what can be accomplished with focus & discipline (two items that must have mysteriously fallen out of my shopping cart during the recent trip to the grocery store...) Actually I have lost over twenty pounds over the last two months or so by taking a similar but slightly lessened approach. Keep up the inspiration via some more progress reports!

[aliantha]

Conga rats to both you guys!

[MsMary]

Different cheeses have different cholesteral. Sharp cheddar is quite low as far as I know.

Well, the cheddar I have in my cheese drawer has the highest cholesterol of any of the cheeses I have in the fridge right now - 30mg per serving.

The part skim mozarella string cheese sticks that I like to snack on (never more than one per day and usually much less than that) have 15 mg per serving.

Since we only buy kosher cheeses, our choices are much more limited. For example, I am pretty sure that there are no lowfat kosher cheeses.

Just for the record, what is considered a "high" cholesterol for a serving of any cholesterol-containing food? I realized that I am not really sure. Does anyone else know?

[Wyldewode]

Yum. . Cheese!

And as far as cholesterol goes, in the past I've had extremely good readings, so I don't really pay attention to it like I should.

[Zarathustra]

After getting in shape for summer, I completely stopped exercising and started eating/drinking like crazy. Put on 10 pounds. Now that the summer is over, I'm going to be back at it.

It was fun while it lasted. I have no regrets. Really. My tight clothes don't bother me one bit. Nor do my sagging (once hard) muscles. Nor does the fact that I get winded after 5 minutes of biking.

Man, I tell myself this every time . . . but this time I'm not going to stop. I don't want to be a walking, talking embodiment of the Myth of Sisyphus

[MsMary]

Yum. . Cheese!

And as far as cholesterol goes, in the past I've had extremely good readings, so I don't really pay attention to it like I should.

I've never ever had a cholesterol problem, either, but I figure it pays to be careful, as things can change when one gets older.

I am really bad when it comes to salt intake, myself. I snack on pickles cause they have so few calories and taste good, but oh that sodium content!

[aliantha]

Personally, I believe that cholesterol trouble is largely inherited. Even with packin' on the pounds, I've *never* had a problem with high cholesterol. Nor has anybody else in my family, to my knowledge. High blood pressure, diabetes, strokes, cancer -- yup, we've had all of those. But not high cholesterol.

I've had elevated triglycerides in the past, but that's due to that fondness of mine for sweet baked goods. (Even as we speak, the nasty, disgusting bear claw pastry -- likely packed with hydrogenated oils and high fructose corn syrup -- in the junk food machine down the hall is calling my name....)

That said, the fact that I avoid processed meats, and red meat in general, probably helps the cholesterol count. But I really do think there's a large genetic component.

[MsMary]

I have been eating South Beach Diet (or SB Living) meal replacement bars for lunch for the past two days. I don't love diet bars in general, but I needed something satisfying to give me a boost to get re-started with the weight loss gig. These are pretty good and keep me feeling full for a while, maybe because they have 19g. of protein per bar. They seem to help me have a slightly lower overall calorie intake during the day.

I usually keep the bars around for breakfast, when I have to run out to work in a hurry in the morning.

I don't expect to use them longterm, though, cause after a while I get tired of having something so sweet for a meal each day.

Wonder why no one makes savory/salty meal replacement bars?

[Wyldewode]

A good idea, Ms Mary! I usually have a sweet tooth, but there are times where I'd like to a savory-type energy bar. Hmm. . . maybe I should work on developing that!

[MsMary]

I have been watching my food intake all week (to the point that I almost never feel full and usually feel a little hungry) and doing exercise and I haven't lost one oz.

[AjK]

I have been watching my food intake all week (to the point that I almost never feel full and usually feel a little hungry) and doing exercise and I haven't lost one oz.

Hang in there, MsMary!!! I am no expert but that can happen. Keep it going and drink lots of water.

[MsMary]

Thanks for the encouragement!

[Wyldewode]

You can do it, Ms Mary!

[CovenantJr]

I have been watching my food intake all week (to the point that I almost never feel full and usually feel a little hungry) and doing exercise and I haven't lost one oz.

I share your frustration.

[magickmaker17]

I have been watching my food intake all week (to the point that I almost never feel full and usually feel a little hungry) and doing exercise and I haven't lost one oz.

you're probably losing fat and gaining muscle. don't feel bad about the fact that the scale says you've made no progress. Hang in there, you can do it!

[Cameraman Jenn]

You can do it! I have faith in you guys!

[Cail]

Well, my move is complete, the divorce is done, and I'm getting settled in.

Last weekend, I set the pain cave up in the basement.

I hurt. I haven't really worked out for about 6 months. I haven't gained any weight, but damn have I lost a lot of tone and strength.

[Cagliostro]

Good luck to you Cail. Now you have less distractions from getting Batman-toned, but I suppose also less reason to want an escape to the wonderful world of exercise. I don't know what your reasoning for exercise was, and hopefully your body will remember it all and get back on track. After my breakup, I found exercise good for taking away the sads. I lost a lot of weight during that time, but it also helped that I wasn't eating much (I had to set out rice cakes so that I wouldn't forget to eat), and was smoking like a chimney.
Sadly, since quitting smoking in January, I've gained back all my weight and then some.

[Cail]

It's funny, I was in phenomenal shape during most of my separation (since I had nothing but time on my hands). Being in a relationship again, I just can't spend 2+ hours a day working out (or take 3 hour bike rides). Oh well.

Other funny thing, I've been off the smokes for over a year now, and haven't gained a single pound.

[Cagliostro]

You were probably smart enough not to replace smokes with food, like I did. Plus, my size is usually in tune with my mood. If I'm happy, I'm fat. If I'm not, I tend to run skinny.