I've come to really love Specktra... all aspects of it. I've started a journal elsewhere but I don't get the feedback I'm looking for because it's a lot of people I don't know or relate to... and there are literally... hundres of fitness journals... so I post and my post gets stuck on the 10th page where no one sees it almost immeaditely. Also, part of why I started it here is I'm here most often anyway ... I forget to visit the other forum =)

I appreciate all comments and advice... any advice would be beautiful!

Generally speaking... I feel like I'm young and I don't feel my age... I've always been overweight... and I don't want to be super slim or even slim... I want to be curvy and healthy. I've always been the heavier of my friends... and I'm tired of being the "cute one" or the one with the "pretty face". I also think I have a little bit of a financial shopping problem a little directly related to my weight... I've always felt like I compete with my friends by being the better dresser... or spending more time on my makeup. I have a few goals... one is to look good wearing a designer wedding dress... the other is to be able to feel well dressed in jeans and a cute shirt. I don't even wear jeans because I don't feel like I look dressed up enough.

I notice when I eat badly I feel icky. So that's my main goal... I want to eat well a good 90% of the time... and the other 10% for realizing that it's a way of life... and I can't expect to eat grilled chicken and veggies for the rest of my life. I really want this to be more of a life change... and I'm happy to be starting early. I'm in the debate of whether fitness videos are enough or if I should join a gym? Any input would be appreciated =)

I don't plan to post weights... until it's all over.. because it's just a number to me... I can weight 5 lbs more and feel great somedays... and 10 lbs less and feel like crap the other... so I'm going to go on how I feel that day... and how I took care of my body that day. Ever since I lost weight after high school (I was at a happy weight then)... I gained back 25-30 lbs out of depression, lack of time.. and lack of comittment.

Goals- Make healthier decisions everyday. Explore cooking healthy meals, since I love cooking. Do something active everyday, but really work up a sweat 3 times a week in some form of dance (I love dance in almost all forms). Have a little cheat day... and have it be worthwhile... aka it better not be McDonalds!

Here is to a better tomorrow for anyone who has any goals!

Congrats to setting a weightloss and lifestyle goal. Most of in this forum and who are reading these threads know how hard it is to stick with a new fitness and lifestyle plan. You had questioned about joining a gym, and honestly doing so was one of the best decisions I made about 6 years ago when I decided to first get into shape. The "other" best decision I made was actually the purchase of the "Body for Life" book. I followed the workout plan pretty closely with a few minor changes that I liked better than what was in the book. I am planning on starting the Body for Life plan again. After about 3 months on it I was in the best shape of my life and bikini ready for my trip to Mexico. I've gained about 30lbs since then, but I'm determined to get back to where I was before. I'm going to post a few links for you that really helped me out before, and that I am starting to refer back to again this time during my weightloss battle, so I hope that you can find them as helpful as I did.

http://www.bodyforlife.com/ : Has excellent workout tips, and a great and very extensive healthy recipe section.

http://www.fitday.com/ : Free to join, and allows you to track your daily calorie intake, weight loss and goals, etc. I used to be addicted to this site! I've started using it again, and I like that you can add your own food nutrition info to it.

http://www.calorieking.com/ : Allows you to look up the nutritional info on almost everything you eat, even fast food!

http://vegweb.com/ : Lots of healthy recipies. This is a vegetarian recipe website, but I'm sure if you wanted to you could customize them with meat.

Anyways, good luck with your plan, and post your progress in the forum so we can know how your doing!

I agree with you on the support from this site. I never even thought about joining strictly a fitness forum. I'm so glad this section is here b/c it's really helped me. You'll get alot of help and support here. Since you're not looking to be a body builder (aka go to the extreme) then there's no need for some crazy fitness forum.

I am the same as you, just looking to tone up a little and be healthy. If you don't have a gym where you live then I think you should join a gym. Cardio in itself will help you lose weight but you also want to tone and build muscle. There's nothing like seeing a super skinny girl walk by who is all flab!!
Building some muscle also makes you look much slimmer. Even though muscle weighs more then fat you might not drop as much weight as you want but you can still look hot! Know what I mean?
I'll use myself as an example since I just started working out a few months ago.
I was a flabby size twelve. I started doing cardio and weight training and I'm now down to a size ten but I'm much leaner and toned so I look like I'm a size 8. It's awesome!

I think you need to do as much cardio as you can, but do not skimp on the weight training. If you'd rather buy weights and balls and work out at home, that's fine, as long as you really do it and go the extra mile and push yourself. I know when I workout at home I tend to slack off a little. But when I'm in the gym I'm already there so I really push myself to make the time worthwile. But everyone is different. So if you feel you'll push yourself at home, then do it at home. Just make sure you get the proper items for a good at home workout!!!

Good luck, lookin' great in a pair of jeans is an awesome goal! It doesn't matter the size as long as you are healthy!!!

__________________

**For Sale**
http://www.specktra.net/showthread.php?t=43652

Thank you ladies so much! I need to start light probably with cardio... I also need to get out of a small financial bind that will be over in 2 months (yay!) so I can pay for a gym. I really want to go to a gym because I like the idea of having time for myself... if I do it at home I will be distracted with my dogs.... and the door.. and the phone.

Just thought I'd let you know that going to a gym with a women's section made me much more comfortable when I first started going. I'm not sure if that's an issue with you or not, but there are plenty of all women's gyms, and gyms that offer women's only sections.

I don't think that's a huge issue to me... but I wouldn't mind one with a woman's section.... thanks for letting me know!

It's amazing... the past couple of days I had been eating mediocre... asian food... subway... etc... and I kept going to sleep and waking up with a knot in my stomach. Yesterday for lunch I had a whole wheat grilled cheese and for dinner I had baked salmon and grilled spinach in garlic and some whole weat rice in vegetable butter... and I woke up in such a great mood... no stomacache or anything. That alone is worth changing my eating habits. <3

Sounds like you're doing a great job! Keep it up! We're here with you supporting you along the way.

Thank you, islandblossom! <3

I decided to join a gym on May 20th... that's when they are running a decent student discount... it's 40 a month... but the classes there are really awesome. I think I will start with lots of cardio and once I feel up to it... do some strength training. Thanks to anyone who reads my journal... I'm going rather slowly... perhaps because I haven't really set any real goals... I'll start thinking about that tomorrow.

So how about them goals? :P Have you made any yet?

Yeah, I work in a somewhat hedonistic manner when it comes to goals for myself. I bought a really nice rather expensive sundress for my boyfriend's birthday trip to Costa Rica. So my motivation is to look great in it for the trip to Costa Rica for his birthday dinner. I'm going to hang it on my closet door and look at it in the mornings for motivation! I don't want to set a certain pounds lost goal... I just want to feel up to all that hiking and fun in the sun activities in Costa Rica.

I wasn't suppose to care about weights... but I was dying to weigh myself. I lost 10 lbs so far! Yay me! I realize a lot of it is water weight but who cares when you look better in jeans!

Wow! Congrats on the 10 pound loss! I think your plan sounds much like mine, and totally do-able. If you like to cook and try to make fun things, you should try hungrygirl.com. She reviews all kinds of food items and also gives healthy recipes for foods that are usually unhealthy. Sounds like you are doing great so far! Good luck and keep it up!!!!

__________________
**Farra**

10 lbs that's amazing!!!!!