@General house,
Hi all,how y'all doing?.

R4R doing great! Where's everybody else?

Hiding

hello people i can say i have spent the better part of the last 2 weeks reading through the posts since the forum began. its been really interesting!

I wander if the momentum is still going? what is the weight loss that each one of you guys have had since you started, Ejademen, mightylove, Modath, Coxty, i would really like to know as i have been a follower until i eventually got the courage to join in.

i am myself struggling to lose weight. i put on about 30kgs since having my first baby and i have since then had a second one which i can say compounded the issue, but they are absolutely worth it!  my stats are as follows: 96kgs; 1.62M ( i am soo overweight actually obese) but this is a general improvement on 106kgs as at October this year. lets say i have seen the Lords goodness his mercies and compassion and i have finally started to see weigth loss.

i have generally been somewhat motivated by you guys and i hope you can give me the feedback above and perhaps continue in the motivation to lose this dreaded disease!

Romeo please where do you reside in Nigeria? ( dont worry i am not a stalker) i have genuine interest in your talent and i would like to pick your brain on a project i am working on.

looking forward to hearing from y'all,

Hi all.

Todays log

B 1 cup of cornflakes + 1.5 tbspns of skimmed milk.

L Nil
Snack 3 handful of cashew nuts + 3 small oranges

D 2 wraps of moi moi + garri + 1 apple

Exercise 33 mins stat cycling.
Water 2L +

@Romeo and modath: i am doing very well. i have discoverd that posting my logs daily is not convenient and so i have decided to be doing that weekly.

@omotoyen: welcome to the thread and to the new lifestyle.
and wow, congrats!you mean you lost 10kg withing the space of 2 months? thats great.if you continue by being active and eating right, you will get to your goal.
Please, lets know what you weight goal is and the gurus in the house will be able to help you out.

Personal, i effectively started dthe weightloss journey on the 8th of November, 2010.In between, i had some distractions and almost halted excercise for a while, exams, issues in the family etc.

In all i have been able to lose 5kg from between 95 and 96kg. i achieved this through eating right (not starving oh, eating less of fried stuff,high calorie food generally) and exercising.

@Omotoyen,
Welcome,bravo on your accomplishments so far,its great that you are already on track so its going to be easy to continue in the same vein.if i may ask what are your goals and objectives?,what type of food do you like/crave?do you love to break a sweat?in short lets know what you are currently doing so we can know what to advise.
I have lost about 25kg but its been over 15 months and counting.i would not lie to you,it hasn't been easy but its all worth it.

@Eja,
How are YOUS?

@Sammie,Aladunni,Mightlove,e.t.c
Keep on keeping on.

@R4R,
I am thinking of doing just my core workouts for the rest of the year,i am not burnout or anything like that but i am hoping taking the time off will help my sciatica/pirimorfis syndrome[don't know which it really is] heal finally,its not completely gone,its just much much better but i seriously doubt if my OCD will allow me,i am an endorphin junkie.LOL.

my logs for last week


13/12/2010

B: 2.5 servings of jollof rice
L: 2 servings of jollof rice
D: 2 servings of beans and yam porridge

snacks: 1 garden egg with peanuts, i slice of bread with 3 spoons of oats
water:over 3 litres

excercise

20 minutes on the cross trainer

strenth and weight training
reverse crunches: 2 sets of 10 reps

dumbell shoulder press: 2 sets of 10 reps
bench/tricep dip: 2 sets of 10 reps
chest press: 3 sets of 10 reps
french press: 3 sets of 10 reps
dumbell curl: 2 sets of 10 reps
dumbell shrugs: 2 sets of 10 reps
reverse crunches: 1 set of 10 reps


14/12/2010

BF: 4 slices of bread with 2 servings of oats and milk
L: 2 servings of beans and yam porridge
D: 2 handfuls of chin, ate plenty ogbono soup with about 3 small balls of semovita.

snacks: a slice of bread with some peanuts
water:>3litres

excercise:
cardio: 51 minutes on the cross trainer


15/12/2010

B: 1.5 servings of oats with milk and 3 slices of bread.
L: 2 servings of beans and yam porridge with kpomo
pre dinner: veeeeeeeeeery little eba with ogbono soup (dat wasnt enough so i had to go for the yam)
D: 2 small pieces of boiled yam with stew

snacks:2 slices of water melon and 1 orange
water: >3 litres

excercise: Nil . rest, rest, rest.



16/12/2010

B: 2 slices of bread with 1.5 servings of oats
L: 2 small pieces of yam and 3 oranges
D: 2 servings of rice and stew with one fish and 1 medium size raw plantain

snacks: 3 oranges, very little quantity of peanuts and about 5 small pieces of chin chin
water: over 3 litres



exercise:

cardio: 60 minutes on the elliptical cross trainer



17/12/2010

BF: 1.5 servings of golden morn and 1 slize of bread.

snack: 2 medium size oranges (ate everything except the peels)

L: 3 servings of rice and stew with a piece of fish and kpomo.

snacks: 1 big slice of water melon.

D: 1 medium size moi moi with a piece of fish

water: over 3 litres

excercise:
cardio: 60 minutes on the elliptical cross trainer.

strength training:i didnt keep log of it but it was on for about 30 mins(full body work out)


18/12/2010

didnt keep full track of all i ate but i ate wisely.
excercise:
cardio: 30 minutes


19/12/2010
didnt keep track of all i ate today too.i cheated hear and there.
cardio: 52 minutes

current weight: yippee!!!!!!!!, i am now 90kg (as at 19/12/2010)

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!

merry------------ christmas everybody in the house. i wish u all more of this,nana nana

@modath
i have check my height is 1.60m but i didn't know the conversation in feet may u will do dat for me and my weight is 80w i did that on monday in the hospital

Happy holidays people.
May the joy of christmas remain with you now and for ever.
May you have the discipline to eat right and exercise this season.
God bless you.

Todays logs. 24/12/2010

B 1.5 pkts of indomie + a piece of chiken

L 1 can of malt + 1 gala + 1 pckt of chips

D 2 servings of rice + 2 piece of chicken + 1 apple

Water 1.5 +
Exercise 45 mins stat cycling

Gosh! i wasnt even sure if anyone noticed i had joined in the forum, so glad you guys responded!

@mightlove- its not just been 2 months o! ( i wish) my weight loss journey began in July 2009. i have always been an active person, so i focused on exercise for a year and some, but i didn't really see significant weight loss then i discovered calorie counting in October 2010.  weighing in then at 106kgs as of today i am 96.2kgs. my current goal is to get to 76.6kgs by may 2011. and then set a new goal for 65kgs once i achieve the initial goal.

i am an original sweet tooth, and my challenge now is to work out calories for 200, 300, 400, 500, 600  calorie meals in Nigeria. to support my calorie counting efforts as i have put my self on a 1,440 calorie per day and burning 200 calories in exercise daily ( whenever i can). oh and well done on the 5kg loss,  it aight easy.

@ Modath- 25kgs! fantastic, how long did that take you please? from what size and what size are you now? i do love to break a sweat, but still to heavy to run as much as i would love to, so i mainly walk on thread mills, and do elliptical for 35-45mins or my taebo work outs at home. my typical meals is this:

mm- cereal or bread and eggs
lunch- broccoli and titus fish with either potatoes, rice or plantain
dinner- soup and bread rolls or pasta and stirfry or tea and toast with peanut butter ( 2 slices)

about 6 cups of water daily. first glass first thing in the morning and then Vit b, c, Calcium and Vitamin d tablets.

snack- i have a pack of celebrations chocolates in my fridge at any point in time, so i generally have one or two whenever i need to snack and depending on how many calories i have had in the day.

Merry Christmas all

@Omotoyen,
Gosh,you think you'd join the ranks and we wouldn't notice,not at all.Please don't set a DATE for weight loss,it could derail you,have a look you are walking towards,measurements is important and make sure your diet is on point.
I am not so sure of my starting weight,but i remember that i was able to comfortably fit into my maternity size 18-20 top[doesn't help that i have an apple shape,with a tummy that protrudes forward]but after two months of,healthy eating and daily brisk[60-90min] walking,and a change in the fit of clothes, i weighed 98kg in October of '09,cant say it was the high point of my life.
I now weigh between 75-77kg,wear a size 12-14[on top but a solid 12 down] and received the greatest compliment in the world yesterday from an acquittance of my mum,she asked me what i did with the "pregnancy" i was carrying,that she's been wondering for about three months but couldn't summon up the courage to ask me,but she said she could no longer help herself,so she straight up asked me.i was super thrilled,and felt like Santa Claus came and delivered all my wish list in one fell swoop.
I am now super motivated for ever and you know the most beautiful thing of all,i have fallen deeply in love with my healthy lifestyle.

@Omotoyen,
Please and please,do not run now,the most you should do is 1-2 mins moderate jogging intervals to push up your heart rate,running now will put too much impact on your joints/cause injury which could cause a set back.i didn't start running until i got down to about 85kg and i have some nagging injuries to show for my efforts.
I bow to your calorie counting wisdom, i don't count cause i wouldn't know where to start,i eliminated white flour,deep fried,sugar and empty calories from my day-day diet and i do PORTION CONTROL,no-one is ever likely to go astray with that.
Any thing you need,please am here for you.

Hi all, this is one of the best threads on this site and i keep loving everything i read as i start from the beginning. When am through i will post my data

@ Modath- you should be proud of your weight loss to date . its not an easy task but a worthwhile task when you get it like you have. its really a lifestyle change.

Thanks as much as i love and admire seeing people running in the Gym. i know i am not there yet (except i am looking to slacken my boob muscles and hurt my knees) , so i agree i shall not be running until i am able to carry my self properly.

did your shape change with pregnancy or have you always been apple shaped? i had 2 c-sections in 21 months and i was a bad eater! chocolates, burgers, rice and assorted meat, really terrible, so i grew into an apple shape over the years.

yes o me and my calorie counting , i have success with it for now so in addition to avoiding the empty calories it allows me to enjoy all things in moderation as long as its within my calorie target. actually i shouldn't focus so much on dates, but by budget of losing 2lbs a week, the expectation is by may next year i should be that size, but i have not cast it in stone. i am hopeful though.

through your journey, did you find you were losing inches and not weight? and how did you get past it?

@Omotoyen,
I have always had a slightly disproportionate tummy compared to the rest of my frame since i could remember,but it gets worse every time i put on the slightest amount of weight. like you i have had two c-s too,with a 2yr 4 months interval.i was able to keep my weight well below 90kg with my first pregnancy,but cos i was always poorly in pregnancy especially with my second in 2008,i believed i had earned the right to stuff my face and within six months i had become GROSSLY overweight.
The irony is that what did me in wasn't sugar,burger nor such foods since i have never had a sweet tooth but eating up to between 6-8x in a day cos i was "breastfeeding''.
Sure you would have periods where you'd lose inches but your weight will remain the same,so i go by my clothes and people's reaction and comments.i know we always tell ourselves people's[family and friends] comments don't matter,i believe they see me better and can tell me more than what i see in the mirror.
The woman who asked me what i did with my"pregnancy" told me she used to wonder why i got pregnant immediately after having a baby by C-section considering that i was enlightened and should know better,with the attendant complications and all.

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!!!!

@Omotoyen -
Welcome to the thread, and congrats on your weight loss so far!
Just a point on the calorie counting, i tend not to advise it as it can become the end, rather than a means to the end. It is quite easy to become obsessive with calorie counting. And how can you even begin to fathom how many calories are in a dish of Pounded Yam with the accompanying Efo + Egusi and various assorted meat?
Also, it can be quite misleading; though 1 Calorie = 1 Calorie (as a unit of energy), the source of the calorie is very important, because the way your body handles calories is determined by its origin. 200 calories from a Chocolate fudge cake is NOT the same as 200 calories from a a bowl of potatoes and broccoli - Only because the fudge cake calories are quite easily available (being made mostly up of simple sugars), these enter your bloodstream much faster, resulting in an insulin spike, and thereby promoting weight gain. Also, you do not spend a lot of calories in digesting the cake.
The potatoes calories however enter your bloodstream more slowly, without causing an insulin spike and also requires more calories to digest. Hope that helps!

I stay in Lekki when im in Lag, but in the UK now. I kinda split my time 50/50 btw both locations. Whats the proposal about? Here's my email to discuss privately - gmfree@live.co.uk. Drop me a line, or if you want we can do it via phone. Let me know.

@Modath -

Its always good to take time off. I regularly cycle my training; with heavy/ light weeks, then a week off. It allows you to recuperate properly - not just physically, but also mentally and psychologically. Give it a try. You can do a 4 week on, 1 week off routine - however, this means you must keep to the normal training schedule for the whole 4 weeks, and keep to your normal eating habits for the 1 week off.

Is there a Chiropractor around you? Or a good Physio? (not those small boys in gyms), You may wanna try them regarding the Sciatica. Have you been trying those exercises i mentioned?

And please, continue to show them!! Go Modath, Go! Im ur biggest cheerleader!!!!

@Coxty -

Your height is 5'2, and your weight of 80kg = 176lbs/ 12.5St. This gives u a BMI of 32.2, which is quite high. Though only a guideline, a high BMI predisposes you to a lot of health issues - Hypertension, Diabetes, Stroke, Heart Disease, Arthritis, etc

You need to start on a sustained exercise and diet plan asap. If you do not do this, this issue will get much much worse. You will need to exercise for a min of 3 days/week for at least 45mins each time. Do you have an exercise plan yet? What about your diet plan? Do let me know!

Am through with the thread and its an understatement that am impressed and motivated to start something no matter how little it may be, I know I will also get there.
I will keep it short:

I am female and an endomorph body type (I just read through Superskinnyme.com).

I am in my early 30s

Bust - 42"
Waist - 37"
Under Belly Button - 38"
Below Bust - 33"
Forearm - 13.5"
Hips - 42"
Thighs - 26"
Calf - 15"
Height - 164cm/1.64m/64.6"/5.4ft
Weight - 83kg/183lbs/13 st

I wish to bring my BMI to below 24 meaning that weight must come anything below 66kg/145lbs. I dont want to time myself, so that i wont fall short and be discouraged as I have read advices from the thread. I have some questions though (Romeo (nice name), Modath, Ejadamen, Mightlove, Sammiejo, Aladunni) for you all

1. What do I do with some foods I cannot promise myself to stop, e.g. fried plantain and scrambled eggs, can I take them in lesser portions?

2. Someone said wheat bread is for 'sick people', do I have to eat it or I can continue with my white bread in lesser portions (I normally take 4 slices max).

Those are the questions for now, I will post more as time goes on.

Log for today

Breakfast - Nil (Hurrying for church service)

Lunch 1.45pm - White Bread (Bromate-full, that is what i call it, the agege-type, as in local bakery) with Blue Band Spread (not the original one)

Dinner - Its going to be a fist sized pounded yam with egusi soup and a piece of fish

Water intake - already taken 2 75cl bottles today, still counting

Exercise - Danced vigorously for 1hr 20mins today in church (its exercise isinit ) I broke a sweat

I await responses from Gurus, how do i start?

@R4R,
Thank you for your input, i "FELL" this morning cos there is something about regular exercise that is addictive, i tried not to do anything jarring but ended up running for 15 mins and skipping for another 15 mins,will definitely heed your advice and not do anything for the next week,but can i do squats,lunges,and planks[lightly].
@Hourglass,welcome to the thread.never say never,try it and see if you can work it.

@ Romeo- why do i feel like a student all of a sudden! i am getting such a slagging off on my calorie counting, and i am really enjoying it oh! its the only method that has made me understand the calories i consume as i have a small diet scale ( yes you are right i am obsessed) that i measure and weight all my food till i get to a point were i can confidently measure my portions by sight. lets just say i am accountable at the moment for everything i put in my mouth. i want to know something though, outside of the obsessiveness and unmeasurable calories in Naija food. would it work? or is it just the recording that does not make sense? i shall email you proper though and take it from there.

where are Trim and trendy, Ejadamen and mightlove?

Christmas day and today have been dreadful food wise

25/12/10

BF- peppered snail and a glass of water

Noonish- fist full pounded yam ( weighed my yam!) + Egusi Ijebu and a piece of fish

4ish- steamed spinach and a piece of fish + 3 small pieces of meat

7ish- 1 mosa

9.30ish- apple pie and 2 scoops of icecream ( i did say it was dreadful)

26/12/10

BF- bowl of pineapple and strawberries

Lunch - packet of Mccoy crisps and Cheetos! ( i did say it was dreadful)

Dinner- beans and 4 small meat pieces

then- Apple pie and 2 scoops of ice-cream + 3 irish truffles ( DREADFUL!!)

then again its Christmas now,  and i weighed EVERYTHING,  so i know exactly why i wont lose any weight this week.

Have a nice week ahead guys.

@ Romeo- whats your best alternative in the absence of my calorie counting? please advise. 

Modath has kinda touched on portion control and avoiding empty calories, but for my person i kinda need a structure  around my meals.  so please just give me a detailed approach to follow as an alternative to calorie counting.

Thanks

@HG -

Welcome to the thread Hour_Glass!
Like u, i absolutely adore fried plantain with scrambled eggs. In fact, that my breakfast 3 days of the week without fail! 2 things - Its fried using a deep fryer, which drains the oil before serving, then its placed on a plate underpaid with thick tissue paper, then dab with more tissue paper. This absorbs some more oil. Though one can never remove all the oil, it makes it a bit better.
The scrambled eggs are made with water, or milk (not tinned) - and only egg whites are used; no yolk. This reduces the fat/cholesterol content

Also, nothing wrong with bread; its a complex carbohydrate. Problem only occurs if your not exercising enough to create a calorie deficit in order to lose weight. Wholemeal bread is indeed better than white bread, as it contains more fiber, but it can also cause gastric discomfort.
Its a myth that Bread is an enemy of weight loss. Using the same logic, all starchy carbs are enemies of weight loss.

Question is - what is in the bread? Blue Band is a no no. If you must use it, spread it as light as possible. Because you are trying to lose weight, the more fat/sugar/salt you can cut out from your diet, the better.

Sorry to disappoint, but dancing in church does not really count!!

Food Log

Breakfast 9.45am - A cup of ogi + fried wateryam balls (I dint count, was so hungry)

Lunch 1.15pm - A handful of soaked garri and 2 wateryam balls

Snack 4.00pm - Little whitebread and spread

Dinner 8.12pm - 3 medium slices of boiled yam and scrambled eggs

Water intake - Dint count and may not be counting because i drink a lot of water daily, the least is always 2ltrs.

Exercise 7.45am - 35 leg raises and 30 bicycle crunches (3 sets of 10 reps)

No cardio yet, i need sports bra cos of these trailers on me.

modath:


@Hourglass,welcome to the thread.never say never,try it and see if you can work it.

Thank you modath, i will remember that always.

Welcome to the thread Hour_Glass!
Like u, i absolutely adore fried plantain with scrambled eggs. In fact, that my breakfast 3 days of the week without fail! 2 things - Its fried using a deep fryer, which drains the oil before serving, then its placed on a plate underpaid with thick tissue paper, then dab with more tissue paper. This absorbs some more oil. Though one can never remove all the oil, it makes it a bit better.
The scrambled eggs are made with water, or milk (not tinned) - and only egg whites are used; no yolk. This reduces the fat/cholesterol content

Thank you Romeo, it is noted

Also, nothing wrong with bread; its a complex carbohydrate. Problem only occurs if your not exercising enough to create a calorie deficit in order to lose weight. Wholemeal bread is indeed better than white bread, as it contains more fiber, but it can also cause gastric discomfort.
Its a myth that Bread is an enemy of weight loss. Using the same logic, all starchy carbs are enemies of weight loss.

Question is - what is in the bread? Blue Band is a no no. If you must use it, spread it as light as possible. Because you are trying to lose weight, the more fat/sugar/salt you can cut out from your diet, the better.

Sorry to disappoint, but dancing in church does not really count!!

I think I will really create a calorie deficit than "cheat". Thanks for the highlight, I will sure take note of all these and please anytime i derail try and help me out.

Ok o, i thot i was exercising by dancing o, but ave seen that somewhere on this thread now. Anyways dancing doesn't count shikena. Thanks so much

Exercise 7.45am - 35 leg raises and 30 bicycle crunches (3 sets of 10 reps)

I forgot to add 3 sets of bird dog too

Welcome Omotoyen and Hourglass. Glad to see people are trying to lose weight. I am fine but I've had to become a silent follower of the thread for now. I'll resume in a few months.

Merry Christmas everyone.

Hi every one.
Welcome omotoyen and hourglass. just keep keeping on. We will all get to our desired weight.

As for me, this whole christmas thingy has got me eating left and right, the only thing that I am proud of now is I have been faithful in exercises
30-45 mins of stat cycling + 20 x 3 sets of abs on some days.