Arghlita July Most Improved

Arghlita · 07-11-2006, 02:38 AM

It's a little frustrating to post these pics because I can see a lot more progress in the mirror than I'm seeing on camera. Time to start practicing posing! No "weight" loss per se, but definite fat loss this month. I started doing fasted cardio but it only goes so far and I know what I need to do is clean up the diet.

**Fitnfirm** · 07-11-2006, 03:15 AM

Hey girl!!!!! You know you can do it ! Look were Dawn came from!!!! You can also do it!!! Its all in the diet!!!!! Id be lost without EME's plan, I would be scared to be on my own, I already learned I dont know what the heck im doing with food!

Results dont always show on camera, I have that too

Keep at it!!!!! Work harder!!!!! You are a very dedicated person, I know you read alot and have the tools to be the girl you imagine in your dreams!

Now come one and kick some booty for August!!!!!!

Arghlita · 07-11-2006, 03:25 AM

It kills me that last April, DM and I were exactly the same weight (258). If I had half her dedication, I'd be at least halfway to my goal instead of hovering at 1/3 done for the fourth month in a row. Today I weigh 218.

Now, I didn't do anything about it until July 2005 and then I tried Weight Watchers for a few months before having surgery on my tonsils. Still, I've spent the last year working on losing weight and as of today, my grand total is 40 pounds down. I really, really, really don't want to spend 2 more years at this to make my goal of losing 120 pounds total.

And there's no reason I should. It's all diet. I'm pretty sure I have a good enough idea what I should be doing in order to get results. I've toyed with hiring a trainer but I'm not very good with following instructions about my food intake specifically since I've been fighting with my weight since I was 10 years old. Unless they come in my house and force feed me, it just comes down to *doing it*

Gah! It seems like everyone looks so much better except me! But that's more mental stuff. I better go cook this weeks chicken boobs so I can put my mouth where my money already went.

JJ_Sungirl · 07-11-2006, 03:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arghlita

And there's no reason I should. It's all diet. I'm pretty sure I have a good enough idea what I should be doing in order to get results. I've toyed with hiring a trainer but I'm not very good with following instructions about my food intake specifically since I've been fighting with my weight since I was 10 years old. Unless they come in my house and force feed me, it just comes down to *doing it*.

hey A,

Don't be so hard on yourself...clean diet and lifestyle is really challenging to master. Think about it...if eating clean, working out 5 days a week and drinking a gallon of water a day was easy to do, trainers wouldn't have jobs, obesity would not be a world wide epidemic and everyone would be fit. It takes TIME to master these things...day by day, minute by minute, meal by meal.

You have read Tom Venuto's book, as have I. You have the tools you need to make good choices and workout efficiently. Just put into practice what you have already learned. You WILL accomplish your goals, with hard work and dedication. Above all don't give up. I understand your struggles, trust me, I do...I have been battling eating issues my entire life. Its only strength training that has saved me and allowed me to get to where I am today. Keep going on this path, girl. You have my support! I'll be getting to your log more often, I want to see you succeed.

Arghlita · 07-11-2006, 06:43 AM

Tom's book is awesome. Did you read the "self image" file? I really had a breakthrough there - I keep assuming that there "must be something wrong with me" for me to have gotten so heavy. The problem is that I spent so much time reinforcing that idea, which is false, that whenever I lose weight my self image is threatened.

Seriously though, I keep thinking that it can't be so hard with so many people succeeding. Thank you for reminding me that my standard of comparison is being warped by all you super-people on IronMass!

miezimau · 07-11-2006, 04:33 PM

You are looking great. Just don't forget it will take some time to get the weight back down. You didn't put it on overnight either.
Hang in there and you will see great results!

**Viperspit** · 07-11-2006, 10:43 PM

Arlighta, good work, fat loss is more important than weight loss. You've heard it a million times, the scale is not as important as the mirror (EME's voice ringing in my head)

Keep at it, you're on a roll now!

Arghlita · 07-12-2006, 01:35 AM

I was hoping to see some results by my 26th Birthday, which happens to fall on the same day as contest end. What I want is to lose at least 40 pounds between now and then because I made some goals about what I wanted to be/do/have by that date (I've lost 6.5 since the beginning of the contest, although I basically took one month off completely). Now I have to consider if I'm better served by continuing to do what I've been doing and lose 1-3 pounds per month or if I'm ready and able to try something more aggressive?

Thank you all for being so supportive.

spaceclown · 07-12-2006, 02:51 AM

At this point the competition is a mind game. I know you can do it but you must keep the mindset. If you are not satisfied with you progress then maybe you should change things but never ever give up. What I think is key in DM's case is she surrounded herself with people that encourage her no matter what, she asked questions and listened. I wish the best of luck!
BTW I am the president of DM's fan club

DawnMarie · 07-14-2006, 12:05 AM

Arghlita,

I totally understand where you are coming from but you ARE making progress!!

I know how frustrating it can be when you set goals and feel that you are not progressing as fast as you want or it doesn't show the way you want or the scale doesn't say what you want...I know what that is like...but the great news is that frustration you are feeling is only because you HAVE set goals, you ARE determined to meet them and you ARE constantly analyzing your progress and changing things up to keep moving forward. Those are all GREAT things!!!

You HAVE the ability, the motivation and the determination that is required. Now you just need to make a plan and focus on executing it - you can make it happen!! You may want to try to stick with it as close as possible for a certain period of time before considering changing it - I say this because I spent alot of time worrying about what I was doing wrong instead of doing what I knew was right long enough to see results! Take one workout at a time, one meal at a time, one pound at a time and you WILL get there!! You can do it!! You are doing it! We will be cheering you on all the way!! :clapping:

You quoted someone the other day about a great physique not being attained through fear...that is so true! Don't be afraid to ask for or take advice if you need it, or that you will fall back on old habits if you try to change your diet, or that you will sabotage yourself. I know it is easy to say and hard to do but the more you keep trying the easier it will get. As Spaceclown was saying, the mental battle is the toughest of all - don't let yourself stand in your own way - I know this sounds crazy but...don't be afraid to succeed!!!

We know you can do it and we want to see you make all your goals!!

As far as I am concerned, you have just as much if not MORE determination than I do and more knowledge than I had. You WILL meet your goals just like I am trying to do. We can meet them together! Everyone and every body is different, so you can't really compare, but the one thing every person benefits from IMO is a support system. I could not have done what I have done so far without the inspiration, support and knowledge of others. And you have that too - there are people here rooting for you and willing to help you and encourage you!

Ok, sorry to hijack your thread with my crazy ramblings but I hope this helps in some small way and what I was trying to say came across.

Dawn

Arghlita · 07-15-2006, 05:52 AM

Dawn:

My husband and closest (geographical) friend agree that I need to stick with anything for the next 6 weeks. I've been consistently working out for about 3 weeks now on one plan: Fasted cardio for 30 minutes plus a three day split, four times per week. I can see where I'm beginning to make visual progress there.

My diet has been all over - good, awesome, bad. I've decided to cut back to 1800 with the fourth day being 2200 and stick with that for 6 weeks and see what happens. It's just hard enough that it feels right without seeming excessive. Part of my problem is my support system has been mainly other "dieters" I met online and most of them follow very low calorie, high cardio diets. And week by week, I've watched the weight melt off them in pictures. I can tell myself that my way is better or healthier, but then (as you hit the nail on the head) I start to second guess.

I have just enough knowledge to second-guess myself all the time. It seems like there's always something new and shiny in dieting - I know, money is the root of that - but since I haven't met my goals I have to assume maybe I'm "doing it wrong." Or maybe I'm just a slow loser - but I haven't really stuck to any plan including those I've made up.

So, I think I take the thrust of what you were trying to say - that I need to just keep plowing ahead and stick to a plan - and I agree. Thank you again for all your support.

Spaceclown - wasn't it always a mind game? No, I do take your point, I think. It is a mind game. I need to get my mind in gear - it's stronger than the rest of me damnit! And I need to ask the right questions, listen to the answers and accept them. It's just balancing between doing my own thing and ignoring bad advice and accepting good advice - it's like I can either take it all in or block it all out at times.

Are you accepting membership applications at this time?

JJ_Sungirl · 07-15-2006, 05:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DawnMarie

Take one workout at a time, one meal at a time, one pound at a time and you WILL get there!! You can do it!! You are doing it! We will be cheering you on all the way!! :clapping:

Hey girl,

I tend to agree with this philosophy...(good input DM!) It avoids the pitfalls of the "all or nothing" way of thinking. Some people put so much pressure on themselves to be perfect. It is impossible to be perfectly on point every minute of everyday, especially for a person that struggles with food issues, like you (and me). It is better, IMO, to take it meal by meal, trying to plan ahead as much as possible to avoid temptation and bad choices.

In the past, I have had experiences with clients who will have a few good meals in a day, then have a sugary treat and think "I've blown it.....I might as well eat like crap for the rest of the day"... It is unhealthy to think that way. It would be better to get back on track at the next meal and keep going forward. Always look ahead, don't look back. Like DM said, we're all cheering you on!:gogo:

DawnMarie · 07-20-2006, 03:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JJ_Sungirl

Hey girl,

I tend to agree with this philosophy...(good input DM!) It avoids the pitfalls of the "all or nothing" way of thinking. Some people put so much pressure on themselves to be perfect. It is impossible to be perfectly on point every minute of everyday, especially for a person that struggles with food issues, like you (and me). It is better, IMO, to take it meal by meal, trying to plan ahead as much as possible to avoid temptation and bad choices.

In the past, I have had experiences with clients who will have a few good meals in a day, then have a sugary treat and think "I've blown it.....I might as well eat like crap for the rest of the day"... It is unhealthy to think that way. It would be better to get back on track at the next meal and keep going forward. Always look ahead, don't look back. Like DM said, we're all cheering you on!:gogo:

Awesome advice JJ, I am an example of what you just said today..ugh..I blew it..pizza girl struck

So that just proves your point about not being perfect and I am trying to move on as I used to be exactly how you described your clients. It is a hard habit to break.

Keep up the great work Arghlita, your diet and WOs keep getting better and better!!

07-11-2006, 04:33 PM	#6
miezimau IMPC Contestant Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: at home Posts: 473 Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 10	You are looking great. Just don't forget it will take some time to get the weight back down. You didn't put it on overnight either. Hang in there and you will see great results! __________________ Opportunity Some People dream of Success..While others wake up and work hard at it.

07-12-2006, 02:51 AM	#9
spaceclown IMPC Contestant Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: In the gym Posts: 1,728 Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 39	At this point the competition is a mind game. I know you can do it but you must keep the mindset. If you are not satisfied with you progress then maybe you should change things but never ever give up. What I think is key in DM's case is she surrounded herself with people that encourage her no matter what, she asked questions and listened. I wish the best of luck! BTW I am the president of DM's fan club __________________ Spaceclown

07-14-2006, 12:05 AM	#10
DawnMarie IMPC Contestant Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Florida Posts: 880 Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 34	Arghlita, I totally understand where you are coming from but you ARE making progress!! I know how frustrating it can be when you set goals and feel that you are not progressing as fast as you want or it doesn't show the way you want or the scale doesn't say what you want...I know what that is like...but the great news is that frustration you are feeling is only because you HAVE set goals, you ARE determined to meet them and you ARE constantly analyzing your progress and changing things up to keep moving forward. Those are all GREAT things!!! You HAVE the ability, the motivation and the determination that is required. Now you just need to make a plan and focus on executing it - you can make it happen!! You may want to try to stick with it as close as possible for a certain period of time before considering changing it - I say this because I spent alot of time worrying about what I was doing wrong instead of doing what I knew was right long enough to see results! Take one workout at a time, one meal at a time, one pound at a time and you WILL get there!! You can do it!! You are doing it! We will be cheering you on all the way!! :clapping: You quoted someone the other day about a great physique not being attained through fear...that is so true! Don't be afraid to ask for or take advice if you need it, or that you will fall back on old habits if you try to change your diet, or that you will sabotage yourself. I know it is easy to say and hard to do but the more you keep trying the easier it will get. As Spaceclown was saying, the mental battle is the toughest of all - don't let yourself stand in your own way - I know this sounds crazy but...don't be afraid to succeed!!! We know you can do it and we want to see you make all your goals!! As far as I am concerned, you have just as much if not MORE determination than I do and more knowledge than I had. You WILL meet your goals just like I am trying to do. We can meet them together! Everyone and every body is different, so you can't really compare, but the one thing every person benefits from IMO is a support system. I could not have done what I have done so far without the inspiration, support and knowledge of others. And you have that too - there are people here rooting for you and willing to help you and encourage you! Ok, sorry to hijack your thread with my crazy ramblings but I hope this helps in some small way and what I was trying to say came across. Dawn __________________ Nov 2008 - ??? - IMPC '08 is on! Nov 2007 - 158.4 lb - Saw Abs! Nov 2004 - 282.5 lbs My Transformation: Transformation Story My Journal: DawnMarie's Bounce Back Journal @ OSB

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07-11-2006, 03:15 AM	#2
Fitnfirm Spanky Doodle ! Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Muscle Land Posts: 1,821 Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 47	Hey girl!!!!! You know you can do it ! Look were Dawn came from!!!! You can also do it!!! Its all in the diet!!!!! Id be lost without EME's plan, I would be scared to be on my own, I already learned I dont know what the heck im doing with food! Results dont always show on camera, I have that too Keep at it!!!!! Work harder!!!!! You are a very dedicated person, I know you read alot and have the tools to be the girl you imagine in your dreams! Now come one and kick some booty for August!!!!!!

07-11-2006, 03:25 AM	#3
Arghlita IMPC Contestant Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Northern VA Posts: 299 Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 6	It kills me that last April, DM and I were exactly the same weight (258). If I had half her dedication, I'd be at least halfway to my goal instead of hovering at 1/3 done for the fourth month in a row. Today I weigh 218. Now, I didn't do anything about it until July 2005 and then I tried Weight Watchers for a few months before having surgery on my tonsils. Still, I've spent the last year working on losing weight and as of today, my grand total is 40 pounds down. I really, really, really don't want to spend 2 more years at this to make my goal of losing 120 pounds total. And there's no reason I should. It's all diet. I'm pretty sure I have a good enough idea what I should be doing in order to get results. I've toyed with hiring a trainer but I'm not very good with following instructions about my food intake specifically since I've been fighting with my weight since I was 10 years old. Unless they come in my house and force feed me, it just comes down to doing it Gah! It seems like everyone looks so much better except me! But that's more mental stuff. I better go cook this weeks chicken boobs so I can put my mouth where my money already went.

07-11-2006, 06:43 AM	#5
Arghlita IMPC Contestant Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Northern VA Posts: 299 Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 6	Tom's book is awesome. Did you read the "self image" file? I really had a breakthrough there - I keep assuming that there "must be something wrong with me" for me to have gotten so heavy. The problem is that I spent so much time reinforcing that idea, which is false, that whenever I lose weight my self image is threatened. Seriously though, I keep thinking that it can't be so hard with so many people succeeding. Thank you for reminding me that my standard of comparison is being warped by all you super-people on IronMass!

07-11-2006, 10:43 PM	#7
Viperspit Incognito Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 680 Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 14	Arlighta, good work, fat loss is more important than weight loss. You've heard it a million times, the scale is not as important as the mirror (EME's voice ringing in my head) Keep at it, you're on a roll now!

07-12-2006, 01:35 AM	#8
Arghlita IMPC Contestant Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Northern VA Posts: 299 Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 6	I was hoping to see some results by my 26th Birthday, which happens to fall on the same day as contest end. What I want is to lose at least 40 pounds between now and then because I made some goals about what I wanted to be/do/have by that date (I've lost 6.5 since the beginning of the contest, although I basically took one month off completely). Now I have to consider if I'm better served by continuing to do what I've been doing and lose 1-3 pounds per month or if I'm ready and able to try something more aggressive? Thank you all for being so supportive.

07-15-2006, 05:52 AM	#11
Arghlita IMPC Contestant Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Northern VA Posts: 299 Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 6	Dawn: My husband and closest (geographical) friend agree that I need to stick with anything for the next 6 weeks. I've been consistently working out for about 3 weeks now on one plan: Fasted cardio for 30 minutes plus a three day split, four times per week. I can see where I'm beginning to make visual progress there. My diet has been all over - good, awesome, bad. I've decided to cut back to 1800 with the fourth day being 2200 and stick with that for 6 weeks and see what happens. It's just hard enough that it feels right without seeming excessive. Part of my problem is my support system has been mainly other "dieters" I met online and most of them follow very low calorie, high cardio diets. And week by week, I've watched the weight melt off them in pictures. I can tell myself that my way is better or healthier, but then (as you hit the nail on the head) I start to second guess. I have just enough knowledge to second-guess myself all the time. It seems like there's always something new and shiny in dieting - I know, money is the root of that - but since I haven't met my goals I have to assume maybe I'm "doing it wrong." Or maybe I'm just a slow loser - but I haven't really stuck to any plan including those I've made up. So, I think I take the thrust of what you were trying to say - that I need to just keep plowing ahead and stick to a plan - and I agree. Thank you again for all your support. Spaceclown - wasn't it always a mind game? No, I do take your point, I think. It is a mind game. I need to get my mind in gear - it's stronger than the rest of me damnit! And I need to ask the right questions, listen to the answers and accept them. It's just balancing between doing my own thing and ignoring bad advice and accepting good advice - it's like I can either take it all in or block it all out at times. Are you accepting membership applications at this time?