It’s difficult to workout on the elliptical machine for longer than twenty minutes at a time because it really hurts my knees. I don’t think that is normal … I just think I have weak knees or something. Ironically, if it wasn’t for that (constant) pain, I could go for an hour. My leg muscles have already adjusted to it because I’ve been working out at least four days a week. I try not to skip a day because whenever I do, it ends up turning into two or three days.
Now I just have to get better at the good eating thing. Today I had a key lime (my new favorite flavor) yogurt for breakfast, a Healthy Choice teriyaki chicken tv dinner for lunch, and chicken with cheesy noodles, broccoli and cauliflower for dinner. Not bad, huh? Problem is, I keep hearing that one should cut back on the carbohydrates when attempting to lose weight, and I could eat crackers and bread all day. I loooove bread, especially with butter. Any ideas, suggestions, alternatives I should look into?
Joe wants to try some “diet” pills. I really don’t want to go there. Don’t get me wrong, if there was something out there that was perfectly safe and would curb my appetite, I’d be all over it. Because I love to eat, and nothing sounds better than a big cheeseburger and some french fries. God help me.
you don’t really need to cut back on carbs – they’re an important part of your diet. what you really need to do is eat more fruits and vegies and foods with high fiber content (like whole grains). also, eating smaller meat portions is good (2-3 oz servings, about 2 servings a day).
god, i could go on and on. you can always email me if you want. i’m taking a nutrition course this semester and we’re learning about all this stuff.
I’m with you… bread is a huge weakness for me also. I’m not much of a fast food eater or even junk food and snacks… just give me bread and meat…
I have found it really helpful to drink lots of water. It makes me feel fuller and I just feel cleaner, not to mention it has done great things for my complexion. Water alone won’t make a person lost weight, but I seem to do better when I am drinking lots of water. Fortunately for me I like water.
Good luck!
p.s. The key lime yogurt is wonderful, isn’t it?
I too tend to drink a lot. Though water isn’t my beverage of choice.
I recommend spending several hours every other week strapped in a hot car on a hot track, sweating your ass off and straining muscles you never even knew a person had, until you’re on the verge of screaming “uncle” from the utter stress of it all, and I’m positive you’ll notice the pounds just melting away. No really, it works.
On another note, cheeseburger and fries sound great.
That seems strange that your knees hurt – since the trainer is a no-impact activity.
Incorporating more fruits and veggies is important and is my worst area. The only way I’ve been able to get fruit into my diet in decent quantities is to make fruit/yogurt/soy milk smoothies: so tasty!
To boil it all down – it all comes down to burning more calories than you consume. So when you work out – really work out: sweat, breath hard, make it worth your while. It drives me crazy going to the gym and seeing people do cardio “work outs” where they don’t sweat or breath hard at all.
I use the eliptical trainer regularly as it’s the only thing I can do without causing other pains. I have had two surgeries on my knees and have arthritis (I’m only 25) so I do still hurt some with the trainer. I know it’s supposed to be low-impact, but I think it’s the repetitive motions that get to my knees eventually. Either them or my ankles.
Anyway, just rambling. Wanted to let you know you weren’t the only one who’s knees were sore after using the eliptical.
For me, I have to eat my bread or I’m screwed. I try to eat more fruits, but when we’re broke, it’s usually carbs because they’re cheap and more filling.
I’m gradually working towards a goal myself. I’ve found that when I begin to restrict my foods to where I don’t enjoy what I’m eating, I get the weight back. For me, losing weight is done best by working out…that’s it. It’s all about creating enough energy to burn off the extra.
Good luck!
I’d say carbs per se aren’t the problem; you just have to distinguish between various types of carbs. Sugar is pure carbohydrates,and as you probably know, it’s generally to be avoided when one is trying to eat healthy. Refined white flour is processed the same way as sugar by your body and has the same effects; hence, the low-carb fads and trends. However, whole grains (which are also carbs) are about the best thing you can be eating. Full of nutrition (vitamins, dietary fibre, etc.) and very filling. If you want to munch on crackers, try whole wheat crackers for a really healthy snack. At least that’s my (very rudimentary) understanding of the whole nutrition thing.