CONFUSED AND FRUSTATED

Well I keep getting the same reply from just about eveyone -- not enough protein; so I am going to add more protein to my diet and try dropping some of the carbs.  I don't weight lift at all and don't belong to a gym.   I have 5# weights at home -- any suggestions on what I can do with them -- all adivce, help is welcome.  Unforutnately, I do like my soda, but I am going to use that as a treat and drink only one 12oz can a day on saturdays and sundays only as a treat....see if that helps.

I don't know the technical terms for these motions but I'll describe as best I can.

Basic arm curls
Punching motion at shoulder hight
Strait arm lifts in front of you, and on side of you
Arm strait up, bend elbow so hand/barbel behind your head
Power walking with them held shoulder/breast hight

You'll end up with fantastic arm/shoulder/collar bone definition!

I am a confesed Diet Pepsi Max-aholic.  What I do is not allow myself any soda until I have had at least 6 glasses of water.  it works pretty good.  As long as I start the day with water I can get it all in but if I start my day with soda look out...it is a 2 L bottle by the afternoon.

You may not be eating enough calories.  Once I got within 15lbs of my goal I really had to increase my calories to keep my body going.  Good luck and keep us posted!!

Hey Jen, I can relate with you on that however I am not that bad...  I do mange to get in all my water (between 60 and 80 oz. per day).  Keep filling my water bottle all day long while I am at work and before I know it, I have it in....my soda is after work, at home, at night.  I can drink at least two cans so I have been trying not to do that so much and doing the Diet Lipton Green Tea with Citrus (another one of my favorites).  In the past couple days I have been trying to eat more protein so of couse my calorie intake has increased so we will see what happens.

Hi Cheryl,

As everyone else has said WELCOME, WELCOME, WELCOME 

We try to identify what basics we are not doing any longer that can be holding us back from getting back on track.  As everyone said, log your food, you may be surprised at how much you are eating.  Remember this one?  Protein first, don't drink with meals, and it's also very important to journal.

By doing this you may find a pattern to when you reach for that cookie or snack.  Maybe it's around 3 in the afternoon and if you increase the amount of protein at lunch and have a protein snack you won't feel hungry at 3.

Stay away from Diet Soda, it just doesn't work for us.  Have  you had your blood work done lately?  Perhaps there is something medically contributing to your recent weight gain.

Lastly, MOVE, MOVE, MOVE....change it up and do add resistance to your workouts.  We women loose bone mass big time and by working with resistance training we help slow and sometimes stop the bone loss.  Go to Wal-Mart and buy resistance bands and start there.

Here is a link to a website that shows  you proper form for working out with bands:

http://www.shapefit.com/elastic-exercise-bands-squats.html

Good luck and we are all here to help you in any way we can and we cheer really loud too 

Take care,
Kathy