Weight loss tips and other thoughts

On my last post I wrote about how I was about to go to the gym and I gotta say I almost flaked out after I turned off my computer. It was just so warm and toasty that it was hard to leave. I am glad that I didn't because I wouldn't have this to share with all of you!

I love to watch the people at the gym and then point out all the funny things they did on my drive home with hubby. He usually says "I was there to work out not to check other people out". At times he will indulge with me though. Anyways last night was no exception... I saw a high school boy in bud light pajama bottoms with the bottoms rolled up, one higher than the other, and tall white socks pulled up high. He was following around another teen and barely working out even though you know he was going to tell all his friends tomorrow at school what a great work out he had. Please, I worked harder than he did when I was stretching. It was closing time and he noticed we were all putting on our coats and leaving when he asked his friend is the gym closing? He then went on to say how upset he was because he wanted to run for the next hour.

See what funny amusing things happen at the gym! Don't believe me, I took a photo!!

Sorry he is somewhat hidden but you get the idea, I couldn't let him see that I was taking a photo.

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I also have to share with you the results of all my hard work at the gym. In the last 10 days I have followed my points 6 days. The other ones haven't worked out but I am still so much farther ahead because I was able to follow for 1/2 the days. I allowed myself those days to eat what I wanted at parties and I don't feel guilty about it. It is a lot better than just giving up everyday because it doesn't work a few days as so many people do. I also made it to the gym 6 times as well, not always the same day as the other. Three of these times I was able to lift. I can tell such a big difference since I have started doing this. I have lost at least half an inch everywhere, even in my arms. I am not saying this because I am conscious about my arms but because I want to share with you how building muscle will take off inches everywhere. I have also noticed that when I didn't follow my points I could tell by looking at my stomach the next morning but now that I am working out I can't tell the next morning.

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I also found pictures of my new earrings online!

I am also trying to track this down from Forever 21. I bought a similar one in red last year and it is so great. It is thin and stretchy and the white is a little see through, I got tons of comments on it as well! I have been to two store so I may just have to break down and buy it online.

This is little Eli! I got to spend my day with her and all day she told me you are my best friend quiet a few times.

While I was gone hubby dropped an ice cube that Ridley decided to pick up. I just don't think she counted on it getting stuck. I guess she was so scared she wouldn't move and didn't know what to do.

Last week I heard the tip once again not to wash your hair but just to condition it, washing it only once a week or so. I was a little freaked out by it but knew I needed to do something different now that my hair is so long. I tried it and I love it! It makes my hair so manageable and smooth.

Thoughts on weight and working out

I have actually been doing really good on my Weight Watchers lately. I am not sure how much I have lost but I am thinking it is 35- 40 lbs now. (I still am not sure about my scale.) I have a few pairs of jeans where I know I have gained if I am muffin topping when I put them on, all 3 are wearable just a little tight in the legs. One of the pairs has never even been worn. (They are $225 jeans that I found for $60! A must buy in my book.) The biggest thing that I have been doing is working out. I even lifted weights one day, upper body. I am planning on lifting lower today after I run for 30 min. I can't tell you the changes I see when I am following my points and working out.

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Are any of you scared of bulking up when you lift weights?

My hubby majored in health and exercise science and knows quite a bit about personal training so I will share what he has taught me. Woman don't have the same hormones that men do, we are missing the ones that will make us bulk up like men do when they lift. (Body builder women who look like men are taking steroids) The more muscle you build the more calories you will burn through out the day. You can't tone your body, you just build muscle or you don't. You also don't burn fat in just one place, you loose fat all over your body, it just is more noticeable in spots where more fat is present. I know that most of these are the opposite of what we have always been told so they may seem a little strange.

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I have learned from the facts that he has taught me is that lifting weights will really help us get to our goals. Going to the gym and lifting very light weights a tons of times will only have the equivalent of a slow walk, lifting heavy weights will really burn the calories that you want and give you results you can see.

Next time you are at the gym notice what the women who you want to look like are doing. Are they just lifting 5 lb weight or are they really pushing themselves by lifting enough that they can't lift the same weight more than 9-10 times? Also notice that the ones who are lifting are not huge but look great, like you strive to. They also can eat more calories a day because muscle burns calories. If you want what you did at the gym to continue working after you leave you have to build muscle.

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When I was lifting on a regular basis my measurement were less than they are now even though I may weigh less now. The more muscle you have the better clothes will look on you and the skinnier you will be. People see skinny not your actual weight.

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Also since I have started Weight Watchers I have realized how terrible fad diets are and how they set you up to fail. I tried a few and they always had terrible results after I quit. I also watch my friends try them and always fail miserably. Whenever you are restricted it will be impossible to stick to it. I watched a friend skip all the food at a Christmas party and eat a stash of nuts, she is cutting out sugar, dairy and caffeine. The problem with that is she most likely ate her entire days calories while she was sitting there. How long can that truly last?

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I hope this all make sense and give you something to think about.