Self-consious in a wetsuit...

[Ber Rabbit]

I worked crazy hours for a lot of years and found that eating small meals was ideal. I would pack sandwich baggies and small ziploc containers with snacks instead of packing a meal. Cut up different kinds of fruit and put them in baggies, take a couple different kinds every day. Same thing with veggies, I too am a picky veggie eater (carrots/celery/tomato/corn/iceburg lettuce/onions & potatoes only please) a couple baggies of a couple different kinds went in the lunch box along with the fruit. The snack size baggies are great, not as large as a regular sandwich bag and you get the mental "I ate the whole thing" without the calories Small containers of some of the other foods you enjoy go in with the veggies. I like a lot of variety, I eat a little bit of one thing then switch to another and I like things I can eat on the run. When I started working normal hours and eating "normal" meals I put on 15 pounds. I'm now trying to get my old grazing habits to fit into my new work schedule.

Good luck on your quest!
Ber :lilbunny:

 

[diver_sam_851027]

Check your Private Messages, I sent you one!

 

[erparamedic]

Awesome ideas. You are all so kind and helpful. I'm determined to lose a decent amount by our December trip. I would like to lose 45-50 lbs by then, and I think I could do so safely. Also, (I'm being very brave saying this) I have about 120 lbs total to lose. (EEEEEK!! There, I said it!)

I love all the ideas, and kind words. Anyone else with suggestions, motivation, etc. Please post!

 

[Web Monkey]

Is anyone out there really self conscious about how they look in a wetsuit? I have doubled my weight since I started diving, ten years ago, and have failed at every diet out there (luckily, I have an awesome husband who loves me anyway!). I will be diving WPB in December and I'm curious if anyone has any "great ideas" for a diet, short of starving ones self. I'm not privy to starvation!! I am limited to excercises I can do right now, just had both knees operated on (at the same time= HELL!!). I am typically an active person, just can't seem to drop the extra pounds. I really DON'T want to resemble a whale or a manatee in the wetsuit!! Argh...what to do?!?!? :huh: Does anyone else feel the same way about being in a wetsuit? Any ideas? I have 7 months till my trip.

What you look like is nobody's business but yours, and if anybody says anything feel free to direct a solid stream of my new patented miracle-in-a-spray-can called "Kiss my ***" at the offending butt-head.

Almost nobody looks like they did 10 years ago, and they look better now than they will in another 10 years.

Unless you look like Jabba the Hut or exceed the weight limit of the boat ladder, just relax and enjoy the dive. You'll never see those people again anyway, so who cares what they think.

Terry

 

[erparamedic]

Web Monkey.....

Love your post!!!

 

[Ber Rabbit]

If you do a lot of walking on your job do it as quickly as you can without messing up your knees, take short quick steps and pump those arms, get moving don't just mosey along. You can burn a lot of calories by simply speeding up your walking pace.
Ber :lilbunny:

 

[elcameroon]

Having worked for several years outside of the USA I have found that Americans are pretty unique in their concept of what is beautiful and that is especially true for women.

If you are limited in your ability to exercise right now then just work on controlling your food intake. You definitely don't want to start exercising too early and then re-injure your knees. Then you might not be able to dive in December. It bothers me how much the media influences our concepts of healthy body image in America. Also every other week there seems to be a new fad in weight loss or exercise. I would have to agree that there seems to be inherent health risks associated with being too overweight. The problem is that everyone is different and what might be unhealthy for one isn't so much so for another indivdual.

I will catch a lot of flack for my last few statements. And that is okay. I am not the healthiest person on the planet - so who am I to offer advice. I sometimes wonder how often weight loss/dieting/exercise gets talked about instead of (IMHO) the underlying problem; self-image.

I bet you won't look bad in a wetsuit and besides, like you said earlier, your husband loves you in spite of what you think. Good luck with what ever you decide.

 

[erparamedic]

Well, I went to the pool. I think probably swam about 30 laps, only stopping to tread water in the deep end. I probably treaded water for a good 17-18 minutes total. I kept moving at a decent pace for about 45-50 minutes. I felt like a cow when I went out to the pool in my swim suit, but didn't feel so bad once I was in the water. I will try out the water aerobics tomorrow.

I won't be able to go swimming this weekend, as I work 12 hours Saturday and 12 hours Sunday.

I just can't express how much all the great advice, words of wisdom, and motivation means. Thanks everyone!!

 

[ScubaMike05]

think about this, you got no one to impress, right? Your husband loves you no matter what.

 

[abamick]

I haven't read through all 5 pages of posts, so I apologize if this has already been mentioned.

My husband and I started Weight Watcher's online on January 1st. It wasn't really a New Year's Resolution. We just felt terrible!!

We knew that we would never go to meetings, hence the online version of Weight Watcher's. We have loved it!! Loads of information on the site and a very active message board. So, there are always people to talk to.

So far, I have lost 16 pounds and my hsband has lost 30.