Hellobee Boards

I'm a runner, so I've downloaded the Nike+Run Club app. I'm training for a 15k right now, and there's coaches on there that will develop a plan for the distance you're aiming to achieve. There are days that I just can't do the mileage that they're telling me to do (like today...6.5 miles? Noooooo!), but the OCD in me needs to see that green check mark next to each workout.

There are days that are rest days where they recommend a Nike+Training workout. It's a separate app with downloadable workouts depending on your fitness level. I like those for rest days as it keeps me doing something when it's too cold out to run and I don't want to go downstairs on our dreadmill.

Ramping up slowly in exercise is key. I also have a FitBit that tracks my steps with my own goals. I love the hourly reminder to get up and take at least 250 steps. It keeps you from being sedentary and continues to move your muscles.

If you're pressed for time, Johnson & Johnson's 7-minute workout is a good one to start with that doesn't require you to have any equipment. Oh, and DH and I will end every night before we go to bed with a 1-minute plank. We never skip it...even if one of us is exhausted. It's 1 minute of your time, and it builds a healthy core. If we have more time, there's a 5-minute plank workout that I pinned on Pinterest that I love. It's the following:

1-minute full plank
30-second elbow plank
30-second raised-leg plank for each side
30-second side plank for each side
30-second full plank
1-minute elbow plank

It seems like a lot, and as you start, take breaks in between, but it really kicks your abs in gear and strengthens your core.

I second the Nike Training Club app! So customizable to what you want to accomplish, what type of workout and how long you want it to be.

I’ve been doing weight watchers and have lost about a pound a week. So it’s slow but pretty steady progress. I’ve also begun using our bow flex machine. My goal is to do 15 minutes at least 4 times a week and work up to the 21 minute interval 4 times a week. I’m not a wake up early and work out kind of person so I do it in the evening. So of course, I haven’t been doing it consistently.

I follow a low-carb/high-fat diet, track my calories on My Fitness Pal, and made a goal of working out 3x a week at the beginning of the year. Since making my exercise resolution, I've finished the Couch to 5K program and I typically run on the treadmill 3-4x a week. My workouts are about 30-40 minutes each. I am trying at this point to incorporate strength training or body weight workouts on my rest days, just using a kettlebell or using beginner strength workout videos on YouTube. I abhor feeling sore, so this is an area I'm working very slowly and gradually on.

My meals generally consist of simple meals of meat/eggs and green vegetables. I also eat some dairy, nuts/nut butters, and some convenience items that fit my macros like protein bars and shakes when I want something sweet. I just don't eat grains/pasta/bread/sugar/carby foods. I typically cook 1-2 different proteins (like steak and chicken) and 1-2 green veggies once a week and just mix and match them into different things. Stir-fry, plain, with different sauces or toppings, on salad, etc. I pre-measure the meat and veg into portions and then it makes entering it into My Fitness Pal a breeze.

@josina: Doing this with DH is really what's kept me motivated. If there's a night that I don't really want to do the plank, he holds me accountable and vice versa. Because of that, the only night we missed is the first night I had the flu. DH still did his, but I was too weak to do mine.

And the awesome thing about working on your core is that you don't have to be a runner to do it. It helps runners a ton, but having a strong core will help you have better posture, and you'll find that some other exercises become easier with a stronger core. If you can't hold the 1-minute full plank at first, do an elbow plank for a minute or cut it to 30 seconds to start, then add 5 seconds every night.

Another thing to watch is "low-fat" items. The fat is taken out and replaced by sugar to improve taste. Keeping your eye on your sugar intake is also an easy way to keep calories down. Go full fat if low-fat or fat free options have more sugar than protein. Sugar is in everything, so it's super tough to keep it low, but it helps!

For exercise - I workout 5-6 days a week from home using Beachbody on Demand after DD goes to bed. I'm currently doing 80 day obsession which is 6 days/week.

For nutrition - I eat 95% clean and try to keep protein high. The only dairy I eat is greek yogurt for breakfast and I don't eat added sugar. I try to eat lots of meat and veggies! I let myself drink a glass or two of wine two nights/week. I do eat plenty of carbs (usually three servings of brown rice/sweet potatoes) and fruit because it gives me the best workout results and energy.

I'm big time committed to my diet and workouts this year. I am really really struggling to get the scale to move - but sticking with my plan.

Food - I generally eat "whole" foods. I eat very little processed foods. Among my processed items is Siggis yogurt, endangered species chocolate, wine occaisionally and rice cakes/marys gone crackers. My goals are high protein, higher than normal fat, low carb.

Workouts - since Feb I have been focusing on getting my workouts in. Most week I get in 3-4 gym sessions (either cardio + strength or just cardio) and 2-3 yoga sessions at home. I have notice such a huge improvement in my core strength. Yesterday in my strength circuit I did 60 second planks and it was def challenging but I was able to do the full 60 seconds all 3 cycles. Yay!

As it begins to warm up here I am going to transition to more outdoor runs. My office building has a gym...so I plan to focus my at work gym time on strength training, cut it to 2-3 times a week and up the time from 30-35 mins to 45-50 mins. Then add 3 runs a week and 3 yoga sessions.

I highly highly recommend Yoga with Adriene on youtube. Lots of free classes. I was very intimidated by Yoga at the beginning of the year -but I wanted to get into it. Firstly for the core workout and secondly for the relaxation angle - I am SO in to it now. I have a crazy stressful job and I find myself craving yoga after bad days at work...it totally helps me! Plus, the added benefits of core strength!

@avivoca: I've followed Kaya/BBG since the PDF days! I kept saying that when I'm ready to really commit to working out, I'm gonna subscribe to the sweat app since it has workouts and nutrition plans!

Something not mentioned above: using dietbet to keep me accountable.

Removing all chocolate from the house since that is my main weakness.

Measuring my food portions.

Drinking a ton of water.

Finding an exercise class that I like.

@josina: Definitely look it up. She's very good, and not tooooo yoga-y/annoying. Very normal/real. I am super intimidated to go to a class, so home yoga is whats right for me right now. I really love how I feel afterwards...I usually do it after I put DD1 to bed (about 815), the classes (I'm doing the 30 True program) are somewhere between 20-35 mins...I really find I sleep better the days I do it!

My diet is crap but I try to stick to water (and coffee of course) so I'm not drinking extra calories. I've been taking my 5 month old with me to barre, yoga and pilates classes 2-3x/week and we try to get out for walks every day when the weather cooperates. So ready for the snow to melt away!

@2PeasinaPod: can you post the link to the plank workout?

I do 50 min on the elliptical 3 times a week at a decent intensity. I’m considering adding a session. I probably should do some strength training but I am already spending so much time on cardio that I haven’t looked into it.

As for diet, I think I eat fairly well most of then time. I cleaned up my snacking earlier this year, which has made me feel better in general. Overall, I try to eat whole foods and cook at home as much as possible.

Out of curiousity, for those of you who eat a lot of fat, are you not worried about cholesterol? I have high cholesterol and actually brought it down by more than 30 points through excercise and diet changes, but I still want to bring it down another 20 points. I try to eat good fats as much as possible, but I’m also much more careful than I used to be.

@2PeasinaPod: Thats a similar plank workout to the one I did yesterday...it kicked my butt...in a great way!

I was released from physical therapy in January, and I've recently started back at the gym. I do simple weight workouts, bike, and yoga. Because of diastasis recti, my PT said it would be best if I avoided any direct core exercises (planks and anything resembling a crunch), for the rest of my life. Damn, it's harder than I thought. In classes, there's a surprising amount of direct core work, and I feel like I run out of modification ideas.

@josina: that's it! It really does kick your butt! Because I don't do much with my arms or shoulders, that's usually what gets the most sore for me after this workout.

@Truth Bombs: Can you share where you had your macros calculated?

@lamariniere: I admittedly do not have cholesterol problems, but eating a higher fat, lower carb diet is supposed to increase your HDL levels while bringing down your LDL levels slightly. Of course, this is dependent on eating good sources of fat and eating healthfully even within the constraints of a low carb, high fat diet, but yeah, it hasn't been an issue for me. My husband is not on the same diet as me at the moment, but when he was eating more closely to my high-fat diet, his cholesterol went down and his doctor told him to stick with whatever he was doing because his numbers looked great.

I’m actually doing a diabetes prevention program that my insurance covered. It’s called retrofitme. I am about 9 months in and I have lost 32 lbs just due to dietary changes. I’m halfway to my major goal of getting back to wear I was at my healthiest weight ever

@gingerbebe: my DH and I eat the same things (except lunch), and his cholesterol is totally normal. I think mine is more genetic than lifestyle since I have none of the risk factors for high cholesterol and eat relatively well.

@josina: I did this for the first time yesterday and the raised leg plank nearly killed me! I'm going to incorporate it in my routine.