We want to lose 10lbs *NEW THREAD*

[loopity]

A nice new thread for us all and for anyone else who wants to join in our 10lb challenge

btw laloop, I quite liked lallop!!

Hi Lorns - In yoga it's in & out through the nose, deep breaths ... Pilates is in through the nose and out through the mouth, quick, puffy breaths... and seemed like breathing style had more importance in yoga.

Can't do the quick breaths & can't do out through the mouth ... in fact I'm rather giving up on Pilates now b/c outside of "The Hundred," which is very good, I can just do with weights on my own.

Question actually concerned weights - would doing more back (lat pull downs) and less chest (chest presses) - cause better posture? (Have heard that vice versa can cause worse posture)

Thanks!

Hi everyone
Have taken the lo's swimming today so keeping active. Need to remind myself to keep drinking loads of water, don't think I manage to get through enough glasses each day.
Skibump, I quite liked the lallop one too

Hey Marls100. Who told you that Pilates was quick puffy breaths??? I teach Pilates to advanced level and haven't been taught this!

Are you going to a pure pilates class as there are some rip-offs such as fitness pilates which is just a weekend course with no certification etc. Actually guess you are if you had chapter and verse about founder etc. BUT WHY give you so much info???????

There are so many levels within an pilates exercise that you should find each exercise challenging once you go to the right level/class (even in a beginners). REMEBER TO DO EVERY PART OF THE EXERCISE SLOWLY - EVEN LIFTING UP ONE LEG! Why not find out what qualification your teacher has and tell them you need more challenging exercises or look for an intermediate or advanced class? Challenge them and see what they're made of!!

Aah now I understand your q re back/chest. If you are predominantly round shoulders then you do need to strengthen your back and stretch out the muscles in your shoulders/chest area. A heavier weight would be needed for the back to strengthen the muscles.

If you are a dancer then dancers have been taught to open out their chest (which can cause back problems). They have over-stretched chest muscles and probably very tight back muscles!! A smaller weight would be needed for the back and larger for the chest.

What you are trying to attain is a neutral alignment for your spine, so it sits like building blocks, one on top of another.

A gym instructor or pilates instructor should be ale to tell you what sort of postural type you lean towards.

Hope this helps!!

Hi skibump. What would you like to know about breathing. When generally exercising, doing Yoga, Tai Chi or Pilates etc....

Hi Lorns - It's a Reebok-certified instructor's class ... they are all Reebok certified at my gym ... hard to convey what I mean in writing but in the hundred for example they are definitely quick and puffy: in-2-3-4-5, then out-2-3-4-5. Doesn't come naturally to me ...would rather breathe a slow breath in through the nose and then a slow breath out, like yoga, which I find relaxing ... I know I'd probably get more out of weight room/yoga/running than including Pilates in the future. Dislike props immensely. I may look up the hundred on the 'net and just do it at home.

Thanks so much for the info!! I'll have to check in the mirror ... see where I am on posture now .

This thread has morphed into a what exercise are we doing rather than what are we eating

I think I may have another little loss this week

Going to see my PT today to change my exercises to something more fitting for a pregnant lady. That is if I have the energy to do anything, have been feeling extremely tired between 1-3pm this last week

... haven't ever had luck with eating one way or another ...my only hope lies the way of exercise ... it's very motivating for me to read the food posts, even if I have a hard time keeping myself under control in that area.

Hi everyone
My eating is very erratic - will be very very healthy one day and then the next I'm saying to myself " if you're going for walk/swim/gym whatever then just have that extra piece of toast/biscuit/glass of wine..." but then I can never stop at just the one

Didn't get for my swim this morning, will go tonight instead.

Think I've put on this week, need to sort myself out. Loving all the exercise tips/motivation from everyone. We just gotta keep going for it

Remember that tiredness only too well mrsfish - being pregnant with a toddler to look after is sooo exhausting so good for you keeping up the exercise.

Marls100 - Yes Intermediate/advanced 100 (which is what you're doing) is 5 quick puffy breaths in and same out! Most of the others are slow and controlled!..

You're sooo right to do what you feel comfotable with. GFI!!!!

Lorns, I really appreciate your advice

Yes, Mrs.Fish - Good for you!! Have read that exercising while pg helps baby's IQ, similar to bf ... also have heard helps baby to have less of a chance of being obese in the long run. You should feel great about yourself every time you have the willpower to get to the gym - but should help energy levels, tho seems counterintuitive ...

I weighed in today. Have lost the 3 pounds I gained last week, plus one more, which leaves 4 pounds to go. 4 in a week seemed strange, but personnel there thought I might have retained fat due to my winter illnesses ... then when I was well and got to gym, it sloughed off

But anyway. I needed good news, so v. happy

Morning all
Probably ate far too much yesterday but trying to keep my exercise levels up. Don't think I can make it to gym today so will aim for a good walk instead.
Good for you on the loss, Marls - please nag me to get into the gym more, you always sound as if you really enjoy your workouts
I've been swimming quite a bit recently but neglecting the running (which is probably much more likely to help me shift these last few pounds)
It's so difficult to fit the time in around the 3 lo's and I feel too tired in the evenings to go out once they're in bed. Maybe it will be easier when the evenings are a bit brighter, roll on spring

Lorns, I haven't been able to make it to bodypump yet unfortunately as creche always seems fully booked (popular class!)
Any ideas on a good 30 to 40 minute workout in the gym that will help with the weight loss. I only have about 6 or 7 lbs to lose but they are being very, very stubborn! Will also swim a couple of times per week as well to help with toning.

Maybe I'm just eating far too much

Hi everyone. I like the focus on exercise rather than food - it makes me feel less guilty, but somehow doesn't help me lose the weight I'll post now for tomorrow - think I'm still the same [frustrated emoticon] so that'll be another 9lbs to go then...

I barely got 10 mins with the pt on Wednesday as ds decided the creche isn't for him after all...they came to fetch me, and I'm glad they did, he was in a real state So I went running this pm to compensate - 5km round the park, so feeling pretty tired now

Lorns - just trying to understand what the difference is between yoga and pilates breathing - have done some yoga, but only a couple of pilates classes - and also what difference does it make to the results?

Mrs Fish, good to hear you're keeping up witht he exercise - I'm sure it will help if you can manage it. Also, you're still losing [impressed emoticon!]

Just weighed and 0.5lb off. Going to take weeks to shift a few lbs at this rate

Well I forgot it was friday today so ate my breakfast and had a cup of tea before I realised. Will weigh in tomorrow instead

I think I have two lists now ... the first one should help me: "Fattening food items I never need to eat again" and the second one is an admittance of what I cannot control: "just try to pry it out of my cold dead hands and good luck"
List one: any kind of potatoes, french fries, hash browns, etc. Most kinds of cheese. Biscuits (defined as thick bread, not cookies) and gravy. List two: Cookies. Cookie dough. Chocolate.

Laloop Thanks. I really do find exercise necessary for me - it makes me feel strong, and makes me feel capable. I have needed that more than ever this 2nd pregnancy. There were 2 months at the end when I just couldn't exercise at all, really, due to size, and I was so, so depressed. Then when I could get back it felt like coming home. At first I couldn't do much of anything but felt good for going to the gym; then felt good about my progress, now feeling good that I am actually doing some things I couldn't do before!!! Still have some pounds to lose but they're just going to have to come off via gym visits. I would feel gypped if I were just dieting, b/c I wouldn't be building fat-burning tissue, or burning calories for hours after working out (as well as during), or improving my balance or flexibility while losing calories, or helping my heart - I'd just be losing calories by not eating something that I really really like.

Well it looks like most people have now given up this challenge

Not seen many people for ages

I know I'm not taking part anymore but I like popping in and seeing how everyone else is getting on, helps to keep me on the straight and narrow too.

Hi Marls and Mrsfish, how are you doing
Had almost given up on our thread managing to keep going as so few of us about recently, and then was wondering if we would be better starting or joining a more exercise-focused thread if this one is going to disappear
What do you think, any ideas?

It seems like people have veered more towards the exercise rather than what eating, so it may be worth starting a new thread about exercise, with a link on this thread so any of the original posters will find where we have gone

Hi all - sorry I've not been around recently. Took me ages to find the thread again as I hadn't been on for days and had got booted off!!

Laloop - sorry you've not been able to get to a Bodypump class yet. Does your gym do any other Body Training Systems e.g. Body Attack, Body Step,Body Combat, RMP etc??? If so let me know and I'll gladly tell you more about them!

I know your time is precious - what with the creche and all that (very you have a creche facility!!)

As to a short workout in the gym. I would suggest keeping to one CV machine and working as hard as you can within a time frame. Look to work longer and harder - maybe at a harder level 1st within a certain time frame. You should feel like you're really working for your time on the machine (see response to Lornaloo wed 17 Jan). On a scale of 1-10 (1 being at rest) aim to work at a 7-8 (10 being working to exhaustion!)

Skimbump - Here's your answer to Yoga and Pilates breathing!

Yoga - There are many types of breathing in yoga depending on what you are doing.
Generally yoga is in and out through the nose. The lower belly expands outwards and downwards towards the pelvic floor whilst inhaling.
Locational - helps to create length in the spine. Sitting - place one palm on your upper chest, just below the collarbones and the other palm on the lower abdomen. On your next inhalation focus on lifting the collarbones. On the next exhalation focus on drawing the navel to the spine.

Centring beathing is for relaxation and should be practiced lying down.
Take a long slow inhalation through the nose, follow this with along slow exhalation thorugh nose. Now take several normal cycles of breath until you feel refreshed. repeat all for 10 rounds.
Pilates - Thoacic breathing. Wrap your hands around your lower ribcage and begin to experience your breath by breathing in and out. Feel the breath flow laterally (like the opening and closing of an umbrella) - wide and full as you Inhale and close together again as you exhale. Breath in through your nose and out through your mouth. There is little movemetn in the chest as the breath is in the lower rib area.

The difference - results? Both promote good posture. The different types of breathing help you to get into different postures. With yoga you are holing the poses for alot longer. With pilates you are more "centred" and ground based. Both discplines pratice the plank but with different breathing technqiues. You could say that they go their separate ways to reach a similar goal. Pilates however, is renound to promote a strong and healthy core, back etc.
Hope this helps!

Re new thread - I could start one re exercise/fitness/nutrition if you wanted to get more mumsnetters involved??

Thanks Lorns for your advice, think I'll up the incline on the random treadmill programme that I do and force myself up to a faster speed for short bursts. Will also start timing my swimming sessions so that I'm pushing myself a bit more in the pool.
I'd love you to start a new exercise/fitness/nutrition thread - go for it and we can put a link on here to bring everyone over

Hi everyone .
Sorry haven't posted for ages. How are you all?
How are you feeling Mrs Fish? Any morning sickness?
I have been sticking to our challenge just havent been around enough to post.
I'll try to check in every night with food diary.
Anyway hope your all well .

I am suffering with mild nausea at odd moments during the day, worst is now until about 12 noon. Just hope I feel up to the gym this afternooon, I skipped it last thursday as I felt so crap.

Morning Mrs fish, I remember that nauseous feeling ughh, poor you. Hopefully it will only last for the first few weeks. It's great that you are still doing exercise and healthy eating

Hi lornaloo, great to hear from you. I think Lorns is going to start a new thread for us all so keep posting with us if you can
I have not been as good recently but starting over again today. It was ds2's birthday yesterday and I had some choccy cake and a few glasses of red wine so sensible eating for the rest of week now.