[ZoeJ]

I'm a 29 yr-old female who gained weight after a miscarriage and the blues that came after. I have a really supportive network of friends and family, but because I'm so freaking Type-A I don't know if I leaned on them enough. The result was going from around 140 to nearly 180. The weight gain was scary because I didn't start eating junk or anything, I think the problem was how much time I spent sleeping.

So I joined the local gym and started working out. I've lost quite a bit of weight and have now upped my workouts and have also started (as of today) eph 200. I'm not sure if it's the greatest idea, but I really want to get back to the 119 I was in college. So, we shall see.

My exercise plan is fairly simple. I walk a little over three miles on Mondays and Fridays, I hike 3.7 on Wednesdays and on Tues, Thurs and either Sat or Sun I go to the gym to either take a class or do the elliptical machine. I also weight train 3-4 days a week.

I also post on a TomLeeHealth eph 200 forum on here, but this is where I'll be keeping details of my plan as far as what I'm eating, my exercise and my ensuing losses, in case other people are looking for a plan that may work for them. For me, it's all about the variety!

Hope people enjoy reading this and feel free to drop any tips you may have.

[ZoeJ]

Exercise:
Walked 5.4 miles
Weight trained (full body)

*Presently I lift 3-4 times a week for biceps, triceps, back, chest, shoulders. I lift 5 lb handweights (up from three) and plan to increase weight next week.

*Presently I do floor exercises for thighs, butt, abs, gluts. I do 20 rep sets and for all but abs and thighs are doing two sets. For abs and thighs I'm still on one. Next week I hope to raise to three sets for those I'm doing 2, and 2 for those I'm doing 1. I do several different exercises to target these areas.

Eating:
Breakfast: pineapple
Lunch: Salad with romaine, small toms, celery, cheese, chicken breast (grilled) and hme-made dressing.
Dinner: Chicken with peppers and onions
Snacks: lo-fat granola w/ raisins and some fat free vanilla yogurt

I'm not much of a breakfast eater but I'm going to try and find something that works because I'm well aware that it's the most important meal of the day. Right now we have no breakfast foods in the house. Hopefully we will make a trip to the grocery store this evening and fix that problem.

Right now the most challenging part for me is not stepping on the scale. I know, it sounds insane considering I am really just starting today (well, with the eph200) but I am neurotic about weighing myself.

[Light]

Hi Zoe,
I really like your attitude so far. It looks like you have the motivation. Going to the gym and eating right will sure pay off.

I truly believe that you can do it.
Good luck and keep us posted.

[ZoeJ]

Thanks for your comments and support, Light!

Well, I woke up this morning and it just won't stop raining. It's hideous. While it's great for doing things like reading (which I wouldn't mind doing!) it's not so great for outdoor exercise, which is what I have really been digging. In addition, I'm waiting for my car (aaaaaagh!) to come in but as of yet I have a few more days. This makes getting to the gym difficult. I usually make Saturday or Sunday my rest day, but may have to switch this week. Or maybe it will stop and I'll walk.

I took my pills this morning and then waited the obligatory hour to eat. I also have not yet stepped on the scale today, but did cheat and step on yesterday. I really need to work on that. I have planned my meals for the day. I find that really helps as far as sticking to it. While I'm not an over eater, I find that if I plan ahead I make the best choices, as opposed to just kind of throwing any old thing together. So for now I'm going to post my meals and just assume that today will be a no-exercise day. I'll still do my thighs and abs, but not any cardio or other lifting. And if, by some chance, the sun decides to make an appearance, I will be sure to log my exercise.

Exercise:
Cardio: walked about 2 mi

Eating:
Breakfast: 1/2 cup lo-fat granola & 1/2 cup no-fat vanilla yogurt
Lunch: Greek salad with grilled chicken and some homemade dressing, bagel chips (to be replaced with pretzels starting tomorrow)
Dinner: Dijon Chicken breasts, asparagus
Snacks: reduced fat triscut and some cottage cheese

So that's it from me for now... going to get some reading done.

[ZoeJ]

The impending rain makes me nervous but I didn't want to get NO cardio excercise (however slight) so I just walked the dog. I'm not sure exactly, but I think I did about 2 miles... I am going to use mapquest to check... okay, 1.44. Oy. Not so great, but better than nothing. I'm pretty sore from lifting yesterday, as well... so I guess I can cut myself a little slack. Maybe I'll take her again later.

So now I just have to do my abs and thighs (going to do that right now).

Have I mentioned how insanely difficult it is to not step on the scale?

Also, it seems like no one else with a weight loss journal posts as much as I do... I wonder if maybe I do it too much.

[Light]

You are not doing it too much. Every piece of information really counts.
Good luck.

[ZoeJ]

Well, it's still shitty out, but whatever, I'll live. Got up this morning and after taking my first dose of eph 200 (which I really don't think is doing anything) I walked my 3 miles, but I did the route in the reverse direction. Just wanted to spice it up a little. I'm having a girls' day with one of my girlfriends so I will probaby not eat as well as I could, but I'm going to be as good as possible. We do this so rarely that it shouldn't be that huge of a deal.

I didn't end up doing abs and thighs yesterday, but will do them in a few minutes before hopping in the shower. I will post later as far as my exercise and eating... I may walk again later just because I'm feeling a little anxious... good way to burn nervous energy. Don't worry, it's not the eph 200, it's just normal life stuff!

[ZoeJ]

Yesterday was NOT a good day. I skipped breakfast. For lunch I went out with a girlfriend but didn't eat that poorly -- a sandwich. Later in the day we went out for a snack. Okay, this is where my collapse happened. No, not because I ate icecream: the collapse of my stomach. I have some serious issues with certain things and I think I ate something that was not right because later that night I was having all kinds of gastric distress. It was pretty rotten. I have always had a funky stomach but for months it's been really good. I could go into it, but I'm sure no one is interested. So I will spare you the psychodrama of my tummy!

Anyway, My eating wasn't that great, but it wasn't nearly as poor as it could have been. I also got in some exercise but not nearly enough. I'm going to head to the gym after a post and get dressed.

So for yesterday:

Exercise:
Cardio: walked 3 mi
Abs: 20 reps of four different types (upper, lower, obliques(each side))

Eating:
Breakfast: none
Lunch: small salad, bread, turkey cheese, tomatoes
Dinner: pizza/garlic bread
Snacks: no-fat/sugar free and reduced sugar icecream

So today I'm trying to get back on the wagon, so to speak. It won't be hard since I've been really good about the whole shopping thing. I'm also going to walk this morning and then go to the gym to lift. Feeling disgruntled

[ZoeJ]

So far, so good, except that I have once again skipped breakfast. Maybe someone can help me with this. I take my eph200 when I get up (around 7:30 -- I know, I'm lazy!). Then I usually check my mail, and then I take the dog out. You're supposed to wait an hour to eat, but you also have to wait an hour after you exercise to eat, which makes me just skip breakfast.

Any thoughts? I should probably just get up earlier, but it's a luxury to sleep in since I can't during the school year nor will I be able to in a few weeks.

Today I walked about 4 mi, and lifted at the gym. I skipped breakfast and am about to take my second dose of pills before waiting an hour to eat. Of course I am STARVING at the moment, but the ridiculous amount of water I drink when I take my pills should help. I'll edit this post later on with what I end up eating today.

Exercise:
Cardio: walked 4 mi
Weightlifting: full body. Ready to add a set to each exercise starting Monday and maybe add some weight to some.

Eating:
Breafast: none
Lunch: Whole wheat wrap with lettuce, tom, reduced fat cheese, grilled chicken and homemade dressing
Dinner: black bean quesadilla and 1/2 chicken sandwich
Snacks: lite string cheese & reduced fat wheat crackers

[Light]

Zoe,
Breakfast should be the first thing you do. A good breakfast will give you energy for the day and will start your engines.
Here is a thing you can do, prepare a plate of fruits before you go to sleep. When you wake up eat the fruits, do your stuff and one hour later eat the breakfast. I recommend to everybody to start the day with lots of fruits.

[ZoeJ]

Light... sounds like a good idea. Eph200 puts all over their info that you shouldn't eat before you work out because if you do, that is what you burn... is there some validity to that? Because as is, I'm not eating three meals a day and I have heard that if you don't eat enough cals during the day you actually have a more difficult time losing weight because your body goes into starvation mode. So I could have some fruit in the morning, get in my exercise and then eat breakfast when I get home?

[Light]

Yes you can do that.
The reason they recommend not to eat before taking EPH is because the absorption is much faster on an empty stomach.

[ZoeJ]

cool.

I have to say that I really don't feel any differently on the pills. The first day I thought I had more pep (I have enough to begin with) but part of me thinks this may just have been the anxiety of trying something new. Who knows... for now I need to get to work.

[ZoeJ]

I probably won't post on the wknds because it's tough with my schedule. I ate well, though, and got some exercise in.

Today has been good... I walked, lifted and have eaten well, although I've given up on breakfast. Who knows, maybe at some point I'll get the hang of it, but not anytime soon I'm sure.

I haven't weighed myself. I feel like I've lost, but who knows!

[ZoeJ]

Eating right... exercising... and yet I still weigh exactly the same. The odd thing is that I FEEL like I weigh less. Don't ask me... I can't figure it out.

But I am definitely annoyed.

I have also stopped taking the eph200 because I developed this slight sore throat. No other symptoms and the sore throat wasn't even that bad, just kind of there. And nothing would get rid of it. So I said, "Let's experiment" and stopped taking it. And guess what... the sore throat went away.

It doesn't seem to be working so I don't think I'm going to take it at all anymore.

And I'm feeling wicked discouraged but I'm still going to keep trying. As a matter of fact, I think I may even attempt a jog this morning (which may very quickly turn into a walk to the gym, but we'll try).