Better Body Goals-Accountability Thread

[Mermaid Dottie]

Oh, right!
Here's my daily update:
32 minutes of Tracey Mallett cardio
and I once again did push-ups, and sit-ups when I couldn't keep up with exactly what she was doing.
I did 3 reps of 15 push-ups (and one of 10) and three reps of ten sit-ups.


For breakfast I had 1 cup of with 3/4 skim milk, and after my workout I was feeling peckish, so I had an 8 oz. and then 6 oz. of

And only three bites of the carrot cake I was gifted with yesterday by my neighbor's daughter.

[Mermaid Varshana]

There's a YouTube video for everything. Also, I've been lifting weights since Jesus was riding velociraptors. If you have questions about the hows, just PM me.

[Mermaid Dottie]

Kakarotte, you are just awesome.

Does anybody track their progress with photos? I've started doing a daily photo log, taking pictures of my gross belly fat. I kind of want to watch it disappear visually, because I won't know if I'm making progress any other way. (except, I might measure my waist once a week, y'know, just for flips and bubbles?)
I'm going to put my photos in my grid every day, to keep myself motivated.

[SeaGlass Siren]

I realized that mint tea helps reduce bloating. I look significantly thinner now

[deepblue]

I've started doing a daily photo log, taking pictures of my gross belly fat. I kind of want to watch it disappear visually, because I won't know if I'm making progress any other way. (except, I might measure my waist once a week, y'know, just for flips and bubbles?)

That's a great idea. I really need to borrow a camera or something. What a great way to watch your own progress.

One way I can tell I'm having progress is that my jeans are looser on me. I look forward to the day I have to take them in.

[Mermaid Arianna]

Well what do you know, it's Thursday and I completely forgot.. *sigh* summer brain guys, anyways, last night I borrowed my dads 8 pound dumbbells and he showed me an arm workout thing he did when he hurt his arm, and now my arms are sooooo sore it's not even funny, it was a ten minute workout for arms and about 10-15 minutes of ab workouts, I'm actually starting to notice a difference in my stomach, but yeah.... I found the greatest website a few weeks ago http://www.blogilates.com/ she posts recipes and workouts that only take a few minutes but really hurt! so hopefully the picture works but yeah...

[SeaGlass Siren]

Just did 155. DAT burning.

[Mermaid Oshun]

Yeah, I do carry the baby around a lot, and his weight gradually increases naturally. (he's a bit over 20 pounds now, I think.)
Water jugs is a really good idea.
What about cans of food? Or is that too light?
Like I said, I have never, ever tried weight lifting before. I don't think I know how. 0.o

Also, Rat-Soup,
Have you introduced yourself on the forum yet?
I'd like to know more about you and your interest in merfolk.

I used to have a horse so I frequently carried 60 and 80 pound bales of hay. Everyday I carried a 5 gallon bucket of water and a bucket of grain across the field, lugged 40 pound saddles. Had to walk back and forward across the field regularly. So my arms started looking like Madonna's and I did not like it at all. Now I have a more appropriate median with regard to my exercise and my body looks more attractive to me. My mother did her own roof at 60 years old and she framed rooms herself in her spare space in her house at 70. She still looks muscular/lean with big hips at 70! Her arms and legs are lean like a barbie doll but she had huge hips and round posterior. When she was a little girl she broke her horse bareback by just grabbing its mane, jumping on and holding on over and over until it was broke. She frequently rode her horse bareback. Lately though she got sick and lost a lot of weight. The doctor told her to gain at least 10 pounds. She still mows her own lawn and does yard work in her 70s. She never needed a gym or exercises because she did it the natural way.

[Mermaid Varshana]

It depends on your genes, really, GP. I work out at a gym and lift weights because my genes cause me to deposit fat in a way that makes me look chubby/become chubby if I don't work my ass off with free weights. Luckily, my fat genes made it possible for me to still have an ass and some boobs I used to only use my own body weight and bike and rollerblade, but I still was quite rotund in a way I didn't like. I do have friends who can just do cardio - or nothing - and look like they belong in magazines. I encourage people to try different things to see where that gets them.

[Mermaid Varshana]

Btw, check out my avatar. DEM'S MY CHILDBEARING HIPS. Those hourglass curves belong to a woman who religiously lifts weights like the boys do 3 times a week

[Mermaid Arianna]

http://youngnhealthy.com/programs I've been following Brooke from Young N' Healthy on instagram for a while now. They just redid their site and the 30 program is free! look at the success stories page as well, they are very inspiring! So yeah...

[deepblue]

Btw, check out my avatar. DEM'S MY CHILDBEARING HIPS. Those hourglass curves belong to a woman who religiously lifts weights like the boys do 3 times a week

I've got the same thing. No matter what I do, I've got the hips - but I'm really glad, because I like them.

Color me stoked, and this is why.

While I've had one pair of jeans for a few months, and I wash and wear and repeat, and they got looser, they're a man's size 30x30, they rest on my hips. I haven't been able to try anything new on, no money for it until next month.

But, last time I went to try on women's jeans, about two months ago, size 8 were snug, but too big around the waist. 6 was too tight on the thighs and hips, and a little tight on the belly. Today, a friend gave me two pairs of jeans because she hasn't fit into them in ages. They're size 8. And they are WAY TOO BIG. YAY! Two brands, both size 8, too big. I could probably yank them down past my hips while zipped and buttoned.

My size when I'm fit is 6, so this makes me really happy. All I want out of this is to be my best size and shape, which for me is a 6 and with toned muscles. I'm going to a store to try on size 6 asap, even if I can't but them yet. I want to know if I've really reached that part of my goal.

And then to sustain it! No point in getting there if one doesn't keep going.

[Mermaid Varshana]

I've got the same thing. No matter what I do, I've got the hips - but I'm really glad, because I like them.

Color me stoked, and this is why.

While I've had one pair of jeans for a few months, and I wash and wear and repeat, and they got looser, they're a man's size 30x30, they rest on my hips. I haven't been able to try anything new on, no money for it until next month.

But, last time I went to try on women's jeans, about two months ago, size 8 were snug, but too big around the waist. 6 was too tight on the thighs and hips, and a little tight on the belly. Today, a friend gave me two pairs of jeans because she hasn't fit into them in ages. They're size 8. And they are WAY TOO BIG. YAY! Two brands, both size 8, too big. I could probably yank them down past my hips while zipped and buttoned.

My size when I'm fit is 6, so this makes me really happy. All I want out of this is to be my best size and shape, which for me is a 6 and with toned muscles. I'm going to a store to try on size 6 asap, even if I can't but them yet. I want to know if I've really reached that part of my goal.

We're body sisters!!! CONGRATS and HUZZAH! Gives me hope that I can keep my body after I have a kiddo.

[deepblue]

I don't think it needs to take as long as it did for me, either! I got started on this late because of numerous health issues that kept me from starting earlier. Heck yeah you can get your body back in shape after baby. And what a good example we set for the little ones who see us taking care of ourselves.

[Mermaid Dottie]

Thank you DeepBlue! I needed that! My son is almost a year old now, I'm still 185 pounds. I gained 20 when I got married and 30 while preggers. I was 210 in the hospital last August. The only thing that's made me feel a little better is that I heard it can take up to three years for some people. Sorry! Off on a tangent! Anyway, I was 160 lbs when I got married, with some muscle. I felt fantastic back then. I want to get back to that. I know that's a healthy weight/size for me. I also think I look sexy back in those pictures. Anywhere from 150 -165 pounds is good for me.
And... Here's yesterday and today's photos on my grid.

[SeaGlass Siren]

Bought my wedding dress today. Mama said I looked like a model because of my figure.



I guess that mean I reached my desirable size!

[SeaSister]

This is a great idea for a thread!

Like deepblue, I'm not too keen on weighing myself, at least not often. What I look like matters more to me than how many pounds I have, especially considering there's muscle weight and fat weight. At the moment, I'm not overweight or anything; 145 - 150 lbs and 5'7". But it's 145 lbs of fat, which is what really bothers me. I'm ridiculously out of shape, and I really want to get fit. I currently attend Aquafit and yoga classes about once or twice a week, as well as go on walks/hikes, but it really isn't enough to get me to where I want. What I need is muscle. And for that, I guess I need to pick up some dumb-bells. -gulps-

I'll probably post some "before" pictures in the near future but, er, I'm generally pretty reluctant when it comes to taking pictures of myself. I don't like "selfies" (at least, not ones with ridiculous pouty lips and sexy poses), and unless I actually look good in a picture (which is rare), I won't upload it online. So, yeah. Forcing myself to get someone to take pictures of my BODY, then upload them... that's an idea that'll take a fair bit of warming up to.

Btw, taking pictures of yourself to mark progress is a really good idea! I'm glad that it keeps you motivated.
Personally, I don't think I would be able to, at least not every day. Losing weight/getting a nice figure is a process that takes a LONG time, and I think that I, personally, would just feel demotivated by taking a picture every single day and not seeing much progress. Maybe once a week would work for me, but definitely not every day.

PS, CONGRATS Andrea! I'm so happy for you.

[Coradion]

I'll post up my progress, I changed up my diet a lot and have been going out every day and doing something different.

[Usagi]

Why do my bones grind against each other when I work out? D:< ugh I hate it. It hurts and sounds creepy hhaha

I've been snacking on sweets a lot. :C

[SeaGlass Siren]

Thankyou sea sister