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Hi Allie,

I know it can be disappointed when you don't see regular action on the scales but you can't let it get you down. You could be retaining fluid for any number of reasons so just keep moving forward. Check your salt/sodium intake

When these things happen though it's always good to go back to basics. You may have felt as though you've been great with your food, but error in measurement can provide you with many more calories, especially if it's over the course of a week.

Also look at what you're drinking. It's easy for us to overlook that but you can accumulate a few hundred etra calories each day there if you're not careful.

 

Ray 

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My new book: Winners Do What Losers Don't

hey there allie!

try not to let the scales rule you. a great option is to take your measurements & write them down, with your weight and today's date. pop it in an envelope, seal it & stick it to your fridge, and write down a date for in say 3 months time. between now and then, let your trainer take your details but don't you look at them or anything - wait until the big date....

you'll see a more consistent pattern of loss when doing all the right things, and not obsessing each day or week about the numbers. that kind of constant checking, feeling bad and possibly having a blowout in response does nothing for your focus, motivation or state of mind (trust me i've been there - been a serial weigher!!)

i've been training for over 9 years now, and to this day have not been overly pleased with results, and have myself gone down those paths & cycles of self hate, defeatism and sabotage, feeling like a failure or that it's not working... so this past year i've been doing a lot more work on the progressive & psychological side of things in order to achieve more balance, happiness and a sense of success.

by taking a few different strategies on board like the envelope one above, you will save yourself a lot of stress and disappointment. rather than waste energy on those empty feelings, use the space to continue working on your good eating and exercising. shifting focus just slightly can be a long term saviour in that respect.

kaz xx

What'sthe update Allie? Are you still at Vision?

Hope all going well.

Yes I am still at Vision but I am thinking of changing strategys.

I have lost 14kgs - last 3 months has been a plateau of sorts.   I really like my trainer.  I have a couple of problems at the moment.

1.  I woke up with a very sore back in March and my doctor referred me to a Physio.  I have been working with the Physio for 5 months.  It appears my muscles and joints are very tight and too close together.  I also have limited normal flexability in my movement and bad posture.  In the last 6 weeks I have changed Physio and he is excellent.  He has taken a real interest in my weight loss journey as well as my muscle rehab and correcting my normal flexiable movement and posture.  The Physio is concerned that the training I am doing at Vision is not working with my rehab.     I have had a couple of muscles issues from training - pulled a quad muscle and fatigued muscles in my shoulder blade/neck area.

2. Other issue is that when I strictly follow the Vision program I only consume about 900-1000 cals which everyone believes is not enough cals for me.  I weight 150.7 (i did break the 150 barrier but i gained 1 kg whilst i was in the US for a 4 week holiday).  When I asked my trainer he seemed to have limited knowledge on calorie intake and advised me to stick to the Vision program.  The Vision program gives you a limit on your Macronutrients - basically low carb, high protein

 

Anyway Rob ( my Physio) has referred me to an Exercise Physiologist.  He wants to work with the EP to combine my weight loss exercise with my Physio rehab.  He has also set me up with a dietitian.  I just need to make an appointment.

 My new strategy will consist of:

• An Exercise Physiologist and Physio,
• A dietitian,
• Private Boxing classess - one of our Managers at work does boxing with one of the NRL teams and is going to train me and my Manager (she has lost 40 kgs but is starting to put it on)
• Resume my Swimming - Physio wants me to get more into the pool.  I was swimming twice a week but my swim buddy stopped so I have found 2 more swim buddies.
  

Now I am trying to weigh up whether I keep going to Vision for less sessions and access to equip or maybe join a gym that gives me access to equipment and a pool and train with my pool and gym buddies guided by the EP and Physio.  My Physical well being is most important but having said that I also need to consider my financial capacity.  I need to wait until I see the EP before I make any final decisions.

Ray - I have sent you a PM has I have some specific questions relating to the EP and the EPC scheme with Medicare.

Hi Allie

I didn't mention it before, but I trained for a very short time with Vision in Sydney. Although I realise why they do it, it didn't suit me at the time. I'm referring to them making you commit to a minimum of 50 sessions (direct debited, wkly- depending on how many sessions you had). I fell into the trap of signing the contract etc when I really should have been assertive said 'no, I can't afford that' and not gone any further. But they only told me at the initial consult which from memory cost over $100? At the time I found it hard to train on empty stomach and having so few carbs.

Anyway, although you've had some issues, you've made some great progress- congrats. Hope your new strategy works for you. It's hard to find what works for you and your body to get the results you want. At the moment I'm doing tons of cardio- swimming with a squad, and lots of indoor cycling on the spin bikes at the gym. I just went out for my first road ride this morning and it was great. Also just starting to run again. I'm also doing pilates studio classes with my physio to work on my core stability, abdominal endurance/strength and general strength. I have tight hamstrings and hip flexors so my physio is going to work on that with me too. I have to get back into the gym and do weights again.

I have an essay to do today but will pop back in later. Let us know how you go.

When will you finish up your initial pack of PT sessions at Vision?

Jules

Hi Jules,

I have already completed the initial 100 sessions so no problem with me changing and not going to Vision.  How did you get out of the contract?

I don't want to bash Vision because I have enjoyed my time there and I respect my current trainer - in fact the studio I go to has a number of excellent trainers but my needs are quite different given that I am morbidly obese and my muscle/flexiability, posture.   My reason for choosing Vision was the smaller gym with a real personal feeling.  They are getting much busier and I sometimes get the feeling its about filling spots.   I really miss the swimming so I think somewhere with a pool is what I really need.  I do love having the personal training but I will chat to teh EP to discuss all that.

There are times when I don't train because of my back but with my combined EP and Physio I will be able to do something.

 Does your Physio do pilates with you?   I feel so lucky to have my Physio, he is fantastic.  Although some of our sessions are quite painful I look forward to our sessions.

The first Physio I went was okay and he was treating my back but he left and the new one (Rob) started treating the cause which opened up a lot of other things that I didn't realise were wrong.  I also have hip issues but Rob hasn't gotten to those yet.

 

By the way how is the Paramedic training going?

 

Allie

 

 

I phoned and requested to have my sessions suspended as I had no money- which is allowed. He got really angry with me saying I am not committed and dont' want to change and dont want this bad enough. So he just cancelled my contract.

At the moment, my paramedic course is not really happening. I'm so behind with my assignments- might even fail. I've been unwell and had trouble with insomnia for the past 2 months. I'm supposedly doing my final semester now.

No, my physio doesn't do the pilates with me. He supervises the small group session of up to 3 participants. He demonstrates the exercises and checks technique throughout the class. We are all on different programs. It's great. My physio is fantastic too. Amazing! He slogs me now.

Have you seen the EP yet?

Jules

Hi Jules,

 Okay.  Well I have cut back my sessions at Vision to 2 a week.  Need to do something until my Manager gets back and then we will start exercising together.   I will then cancel Vision.

No i haven't seen the EP, I rang to make an appointment yesterday but he wasn't in so I will and try and ring to day.  I did make an appointment for my Doctor as I am hoping to use the EPC scheme for medicare rebates with my EP.

 I think I would be lost without my Physio.  This sounds crazy but he excites me to lose weigh and get healthy.  As far as my back is concerned I was beginning to think I would have to live forever with back pain and we are making vast improvements there also.

I really want to train with a PT and my Physio is a qualified EP and has trained people in the past so i  made a joke yesterday that he could train me but now I think about it more its a perfect idea.  Anyway will wait and see what the EP says.  Gee I hope I get  on with the EP as well as I do teh Physio.

 Sorry to hear about your course.  - A side question are you on facebook?

Allie