Lowenna

I cancelled my membership to my old gym because I was very very broke and it was really quite expensive. The plan was not to have a gym at all and just run outside and do bw exercises at home however... after nearly a year of being horrifically broke I have got a job and the student loans company have decided that they actually should have been giving me money for this year *sigh* so after May 2nd (the day the SLC will give me monies) I'm not only going to be solvent but quite well off (by my standards) So I've decided that I'm going to join a gym again. I won't be going back to my previous gym b/c 1) very expensive 2) focused on cardio and 3) poor selection of free weights. The plan is to still run outside but I'm hoping do some weights in the gym, maybe scaled down versions of Crossfit WOD. The question when choosing a gym which equipment is needed? I'm thinking barbell + weights, heavy dumbbells, pull ups bar, kettlebell (if possible). I know that crossfit asks for gymnastic rings and rope for climbing but nowhere near me has those and crossfit usually have an alternative is you don't have access.

My BMI is 24.8 so in the healthy range (just), but I can tell you I'm not healthy. I have sod all muscle and am carrying all my weight as fat, I have very little cardio fitness and am very weak. Being falsely told that they're healthy might make someone less aware of health issues complacent, they might think that this is okay. Couldn't agree more that BMI completely fails to take into account individual circumstances, it is far too much of a blunt instrument. Body fat % is better, but not that much better. An athlete who works out well most days, eats lots of healthy foods and has 9% body fat is more than likely healthy. Someone who under eats, but only eats junk foods, doesn't do any exercise and has 9% body fat isn't.

A solution for being skint: If you're anything like most students (and by most students I mean me 6 months ago) swap your food and alcohol budgets round. You'll have loads to spend on food, it'll be awesome.

I have a few inspiration pictures atm, they are: 1930s burlesque dancer Sherry Britton MMA fighter Sarah Ponce And Xena warrior princess What I'm aiming for is curvy skinny (it's not a contradiction, small but still going in and out works) with a bit of muscle definition. But really feeling right is more important than looking right. I figure if I'm healthy I'll look alright, if I get obsessed with how I look I'll never be happy with it.

I have collapsed arches and get plantar fasciitis, unfortunately the only cure is rest and stretching, so pre-work running would make them worse . Lots of downward facing dog is the best thing I can do. They are easing off a little, so hopefully in a week or so they'll have got used to their new routine and will be happy again. I've also chosen the insanely comfy shoes I'm going to buy as soon as I get paid (15th of the month). These http://www.hottershoes.com/en/Womens-Shoes/Spring-Trends/Spring-Trends-Shoes/42044_charleston#ReviewHeader My mum always wears hotter shoes, she swears by them and we have the exact same foot problem so hopefully they will help. Although I'd never wear them outside work, outside work it's big boots all the way .

I've tried lots of times to give blood but they never let me. My iron levels are always too low, the only time they weren't I was waiting to have a weird mole removed (turned out to be nothing) so they wouldn't let me. Now I'm back on the meat my iron is probably better so I'm planning to try again next time the come to uni, thanks for the reminder.

Hi all, sorry I've not dropped in for ages. I'm being a bit rubbish because I've just started a new job and I'm failing to adjust to my new routine even slightly (it's what I do, give it a few weeks it'll sort itself out). My feet have swollen up and got sore b/c all the walking I'm having to do with work (I'm a waitress), so I'm not running atm, which is kind of annoying but they should get better once they get used to their new work load. Also considering getting some better shoes for work, but not really sure what the best option would be.

Progress up to Day 18 24/3/11 Well, work has completely taken over my life. I'm on my feet walking pretty much all day at work and my feet have flared up again. Particularly in my left foot, which is very sore, so I'm not running at all atm, but I am cycling about 5 miles nearly everyday (it's my commute) and walking all the time I'm at work (we're very busy and I never really have a moment to stand still). I've been skiving my callisthenics, so bugger all progress on that front. This is my adjusting-to-new-routine-fail in full force. The diet, however, is on track though. I'm still sans wheat and dairy. They do amazing griddled tiger prawns at work which I love. yummy.

Today I got my first "you look good, have you lost some weight?"!!!!!!!! But I responded "these jeans are really flattering." Why couldn't I have said "yes, thank you for noticing". I really need to learn how to take a compliment. Despite my compliment receiving fail happiness ensued.

Okay, 30 miles is crazy. Don't cycle that. Even my mental uncle who does iron man events left right and centre refuses to commute more than 15miles on his bike. As for tediousness of food. I go through fazes of that, hopefully it will disappear before and you'll be back to basking in the joys of salmon (mmm... salmon).

Progress Day 11 17/3/11 Did my callisthenics. Except press ups were just press up not rotational press ups. Cycled to work, spent 5 hours walking about doing stuff, cycled to town, danced a little, cycled home. Today I calorie counted. I made 1995, I made a conscious effort to eat more than yesterday. I ate when I wasn't hungry several times. Felt better for it though. Wasn't so tired after work. Breakfast: Banana, bag of chips, chocolate bar (dark chocolate filled with fondant, a recent dairy free discovery). Lunch: Fried bacon Dinner: Sweet and sour chicken (the chicken and veggies in a sauce type, not the battered type) Additional late night meal: Hash browns from a takeaway Drinks: Water and one can of coke According to daily burn I only had 886 calories yesterday. I think it must have been more b/c that's scarily little. Surely I'd have felt hungry at some point eating that little. I don't really know what my calorie target is. I've never really done calorie counting, so don't really know what's appropriate. Although I do know that 886 is not enough.

Since that I've grabbed some almonds to munch on.

Progress Report Day 9 15/3/11 Yeah, Tuesday didn't go well. Ate okay though Progress Reports Day 10 16/3/11 Better! Starting my new job has totally thrown me off b/c I have to readjust all my schedules and I'm not exactly good at that. But today I went running after work. Although it did strike me half way through the (unlit) allotments that running on my own alone along almost deserted paths at 10 to midnight might not be the wisest thing ever. Whoops! A small improvement to my running compared with last time. I'm trying to make sure I get a little further on the first running interval than I did last time, even if it's just the next tree (most of the path I go is tree lined). Today I got to the lamp post on the corner after the bench (yeah, you have no idea where that is, I'm just writing it to make sure I don't forget it) Did some press ups, but not full callisthenics workout. Better than nothing, but less that ideal. I'm having horrific bread cravings. I haven't had any, but ignoring them has been hard. I'm wondering if it might be because I'm under-eating. It's weird b/c I'm not really hungry I just can't stop thinking about toast with butter. I've seen what some some of you guys eat posted in your threads and I don't eat anywhere that much. Today looked like this: Breakfast: 2 bananas Late lunch/early dinner: gammon steak with one pineapple ring, two fried eggs (I only ate the yolks, I don't like egg white), peas and some fries. All I drank today was water, so I haven't got any calories there either. Eating this sort of amount isn't unusual for me atm. Do you think it is insufficient?

Congratulations on you sub 34mins 5k, that awesome! Also, training for a zombie apocalypse = best reason to start working out EVER

Looks like your month is mostly on track and super well done on the food thing, food cravings for foods you should eat ftw. I don't know what sort of distances your dealing with between work/home/gym but if they're not too epic I'd say get a bike. You wouldn't have to deal with the SIL so much and you'd have a workout and a commute wrapped up in one handy little bundle. Depends a bit on your back too, some people find cycling plays theirs up. But I don't think I could live without my bike, she takes me everywhere. I had a little look through your fb pics and I feel the need to say: CONGRATULATIONS!!!! You've come such a long way on your weight loss journey! Really inspirational!

Thankies everyone. Progress Report Days 6-8 12-14/3/11 Pretty much a fail on all counts but diet. Here are the promised measurements for 14/3/11 Chest 38 1/2 Waist 30 1/2 Hips 41 Lost half and inch from chest and waist, but nothing from hips. The right general direction I guess but I really want to be losing it from my hips.

Progress Report Day 5 11/3/11 first, and most importantly, j'aime Banane Metalik secondly, urgh, urgh, uuuurrrrggghhhh, yucky day. Had a horrible sinus headache all day, followed by light-headedness and vague nausea as the day progressed. In addition ridiculously busy. Went out tonight and flaked out at 11:30 and I never make it home before 3am. So yeah, not grand. Fitness: Didn't do any of my scheduled stuff, it feels like a terrible excuse, but I felt horrible and couldn't face it. I did, however, cycle just over 10 miles today, not for exercise purposes just b/c I had a million and one things to do all over town. I guess it all helps. Diet: Still pretty much on track, no fails. Life: Very busy, very ill, very fail-y

Also, and how did I forget this earlier?, but this morning I fitted into a pair of jeans that haven't fitted for 6 months, they're still a little tight but they are on and do not look horrible. WIN!

^This is the solution! Or just tell the SIL that her bagels are poison and get all superior on her arse. Actually, I'd never have the guts to do that...

Ham and bacon are entirely different and a gammon joint is another thing as well. IMO ham is that skinny cheap stuff you get in supermarkets and gammon is the awesome stuff which you make yourself. ham<bacon<gammon But all are awesome. My love of pork products is bizarre given my ambivalence toward pork chops. Lamb? Duck? Now you're talking. I have never seen Guanciale before, I think that I must investigate. The word awesome cannot be overused, particularly in the context of awesome food stuffs.

These massive amounts of energy your experiencing are making paleo even more appealing. Congrats on stick with it this, can't be easy despite awesome results.

Gdgd, glad there is another newbie here.

Might I venture that quality Gammon is a little better than bacon, or will I be smote down for that? Thank you for all the congratulations, my lovelies, I am very proud (and surprised) about how well I'm doing on the poison avoidance. Elizabeth, I should be graduating from my BA in a year and a bit, but the plan is to do an MA after that, so I will be at uni for quite a long time (at least that's the general idea) Progress Report Day 4 10/3/11 Fitness: 2. (2/3) In the beginning there was Polish Death Metal, then Lowenna said "let there be push ups" and there were girly push ups! And so it was until the forth set whereupon Death Metal was replaced by Power Metal. 4. (3/4) Yoga to Power Metal, why the hell not? It was awesome. Diet: 1. I had lunch at a patisserie (I'm not making this easy for myself am I?), but I had smoked salmon salad which was quite yummy. I'm just about to make dinner, which (shockingly enough) involves bacon. Life: 1. I'm shit at life.

ditto :D

I have not got the twitter. but this is my fb http://www.facebook.com/VerityLowennaHill feel free to add me, but include a note telling me who you are.