THANK YOU! From a beginner :)

[lexah]

First off I would like to just say that this forum is excellent. There is soooo much useful information here and the discussions are extremely valuable.

While I've never really been fat or overweight, in the past couple of years I've put on a few extra kilos that really don't need to be there.... being a somewhat lazy person who has a unreasonable fear of exercise I tried many different things, from those supposed fat burning supplements to various diets (including the famous cabbage diet) to try and get rid of the extra kilos without having to exert myself too much

Then, I tried Yoga since there was a studio near my house. I found I enjoyed it! Then, I joined a gym since it was within walking distance and extremely cheap membership for a year.

So all of a sudden I went from doing no exercise, to Yoga 3-4X a week and the gym 3X a week in the mornings... since I have no time to talk myself out of it.

Just recently I've switched to Ashtanga Yoga (boy thats a helluva workout!!) and have added cardio to my weights training at the gym.

I wasn't losing any weight because I wasn't really eating a proper diet, so a quick search on Google and I found this site.

Let me say that your sticky post marcus was the biggest factor in all of this. I signed up to fitday.com and started tracking my meals, worked out the caloric intake I required to start losing weight, and off I went.

I could never have imagined that the simple act of tracking my diet and sticking with my caloric intake would have such an effect (who figured huh? healthy diet and exercise!!! ). And the best part? I love to eat, and I am eating well! I never feel like I am on a diet, I eat the foods I love - and now I find when I do the shopping I shop accordingly. I realised that when I had breakfast with full cream milk, I was using up valuable calories that I could be enjoying other stuff - so there was a change quick smart to skim milk. I am learning to eat the low fat/calorie alternatives to foods that I don't LOVE so that I can eat more of the stuff that I do enjoy and still remain in my daily intake.

So far since August I have lost 3 of the 5 kilos that I am aiming to drop, and I am amazed and excited! I set what I thought was an attainable goal, a mere 5kg, but really a couple more will make me happy and now I know its achievable.

I'm enjoying this "lifestyle change" and just wanted to thank you guys for all the excellent quality information. I know I will be back once I reach my goal and set new goals for my fitness

[Chameleon]

Originally Posted by lexah

First off I would like to just say that this forum is excellent. There is soooo much useful information here and the discussions are extremely valuable.

While I've never really been fat or overweight, in the past couple of years I've put on a few extra kilos that really don't need to be there.... being a somewhat lazy person who has a unreasonable fear of exercise I tried many different things, from those supposed fat burning supplements to various diets (including the famous cabbage diet) to try and get rid of the extra kilos without having to exert myself too much

Then, I tried Yoga since there was a studio near my house. I found I enjoyed it! Then, I joined a gym since it was within walking distance and extremely cheap membership for a year.

So all of a sudden I went from doing no exercise, to Yoga 3-4X a week and the gym 3X a week in the mornings... since I have no time to talk myself out of it.

Just recently I've switched to Ashtanga Yoga (boy thats a helluva workout!!) and have added cardio to my weights training at the gym.

I wasn't losing any weight because I wasn't really eating a proper diet, so a quick search on Google and I found this site.

Let me say that your sticky post marcus was the biggest factor in all of this. I signed up to fitday.com and started tracking my meals, worked out the caloric intake I required to start losing weight, and off I went.

I could never have imagined that the simple act of tracking my diet and sticking with my caloric intake would have such an effect (who figured huh? healthy diet and exercise!!! ). And the best part? I love to eat, and I am eating well! I never feel like I am on a diet, I eat the foods I love - and now I find when I do the shopping I shop accordingly. I realised that when I had breakfast with full cream milk, I was using up valuable calories that I could be enjoying other stuff - so there was a change quick smart to skim milk. I am learning to eat the low fat/calorie alternatives to foods that I don't LOVE so that I can eat more of the stuff that I do enjoy and still remain in my daily intake.

So far since August I have lost 3 of the 5 kilos that I am aiming to drop, and I am amazed and excited! I set what I thought was an attainable goal, a mere 5kg, but really a couple more will make me happy and now I know its achievable.

I'm enjoying this "lifestyle change" and just wanted to thank you guys for all the excellent quality information. I know I will be back once I reach my goal and set new goals for my fitness

welcome to JSF!!! it's GREAT to see a noobie with such enthusiasm... I hope you keep posting and let us know how you're doing

do you have any before & after pictures?? just curious since you're already more than half way to your current goal

[mspencer]

Woot another Yoga lover! I am currently doing Viniyoga but am looking to try the others. A studio just opened nearby so I plan to check them out soon.

Welcome!

[lexah]

Originally Posted by Chameleon

do you have any before & after pictures?? just curious since you're already more than half way to your current goal

Thanks for the replies

You know, its sods law really. I've taken before pictures of all my other 'attempts' at losing weight, and none of them worked. This time around I was going to do so, I asked my bf to take pics... and he's like "what like all the other times you've taken before pictures" and I was thinking true, true. So of course, I didn't take a picture and this time (with the PROPER way to lose weight) I am actually losing kilos

Still I will have to try and hunt down my old photos coz its the same then as it was when I started a few months ago.

mspencer - Its just amazing how much effort is actually required in a Yoga class. Some days I can get through it easily, other days its a challenge but every single class is different which is why I love including it in my routine. I am the kind of person who needs LOTS of variety in my exercise else I just get bored and stop...

[marcus]

Originally Posted by lexah

Let me say that your sticky post marcus was the biggest factor in all of this. I signed up to fitday.com and started tracking my meals, worked out the caloric intake I required to start losing weight, and off I went.

You're welcome Lexah, I'm glad it helped. And as you're probably finding out, it gets much easier as time goes on and before you know it its imbedded in you're lifestyle.

Also with regard to Yoga, you're right, it is an awesome workout. Especially the so called power forms of Yoga like Ashtanga and Iyengar. I used to go to Iyengar classes three times a week and I've never felt better. I cant go to the classes these days, I try to do it at home, but I sure do miss it.

Regards,

Marcus