thanks IAKG - target zone you say, how would one find that? I'm betting there's a website and I certainly will google, but if you have one that does an excellent job - I'm willing to take a look.

Actually, the trainer at the gym calculated mine for me. It's based on your age and weight, I believe. Most gyms have charts, but, as you say, Google probably has more than a ton. My target rate, for example, to burn fat is 121-128. I have to watch the speed on the treadmill because, logically, my heart rate has a tendency to go up the higher the speed I choose. I just convince myself that, while I may not have the mileage I want at the end of the workout, I'm doing something better for my body.

I found many on google - some that only use age - others that use age and resting heart rate. Of course I also received a myriad of answers. None of them that I peeked at quickly had age and weight. I also suck at finding my pulse, good thing the treadmill has a pulse rate hand grip. I will keep an eye on it for the next couple of nights and see if I've been going out of my range.

Hmmmmmm...I guess I assumed it had to do with weight, since the trainer had asked me about mine right before discussing heart rate, but you could be right. I frequently use the pulse rate hand grip, too. My new pedometer is pretty cool, though, and has a function for providing heart rate--you simply press a button, then rest your finger on it. Good luck!

Just sayin. :D

oh my WildIrish.... how would I get myself into that?

I just got off the treadmill and took IAKG's advice.... I walked at a much slower pace and tried to keep my heartrate in check... for anyone that is interested here's what I found for the magic formula: 220 less your age. take that number times 60% and 80% that makes up your range. Some more sophisiticated formulas take resting heartrate into account too.

I SUCK at portion control. That's all I'm sayin

<sigh>

LOL osuche .... I do too, which is exactly why everything I eat these days is prepackaged as a single serving ... don't have any faith in my ability to keep to a single serving any other way!!!

maddy and IAKG ... we are all learning new stuff as we go through this process, now I know that when I get to the point where I'm doing something that will elevate my heartrate to a certain level, then I'll figure out my zone as well. :) For now I'm just doing the things to build up a bit of muscle and a lot of stamina until I can get so my back and knees can make it through more of a workout. I do know that it's only after 20 minutes of exercise that the body starts to burn fat (in most cases).

I made it through another day and tomorrow I think should go well enough as well.... my work schedule has been very hectic lately!

WI ... thanks for the laughs

maddy, just remember that staying at the low end of the target heart rate range will result in more fat burn-off than the higher-intensity zone. One other thing I'd suggest (and Lil mentioned it once here) is getting a pedometer. It's recommended that everyone take 10,000 steps a day for good health, more if you're trying to lose weight. I keep mine on daily, and it helps keep me motivated to be more active as well as showing me exactly how *inactive* I am some days. If I notice my total's not jumping up much during the day, I'll make a point to try to get up and move around a bit. I would, however, recommend you go with a "nicer" pedometer--I just bought one at Target with a pulse meter for around $30--as they seem to be both more accurate and durable.


osuche~I understand. Oftentimes I wonder if I'm givng myself too few or too many points for the things I eat, especially when eating out. For instance, yesterday I had lunch with my friends from work, and we went to our favorite Italian place. That's a bad, bad place to go for someone on WW, let me tell you. But I ordered a mini cheese pizza, 7", about the best thing under the circumstances. I went back to the office and logged on to put in my points. I did a search under "cheese pizza" and got 23508295820395 hits with varying points levels. Because the place we went isn't a national chain, I kind of had to guess on an appropriate point value.

As fzzy states, the prepackaged dinners, etc. are excellent when you need to know *exactly* what you're consuming, even though they unfortunately can't cover every situation.

Whew! Just when I think I'm insane and about to give up on myself the reason behind this current lack of self control rears it's ugly head. I'm in the hut :D My God I thought I was just sucking!!!!!I was afraid I was going to have to watch you guys succeed knowing I had failed. But NO!!!!! I am not giving in. I was just majorly PMSing and so now I know I can get back on track. I also am learning to have more faith in myself and to maybe slow the fuck down and listen to my body.

Seems for once the Hut is good news....

I walked about 1.75 miles tonight and am finding it much easier to stick to when I slow down following IAKG's advice. I think my heartrate is still a little too high but I'm trying.

Eating has a bit of a challenge lately as I seem to be getting an increased appetite during the day. Evenings are the same as usual but I'm finding myself more hungry during the day. I need to find more good filling snacks to keep at work.

maddy I have been on a granola bar kick. The dry kind. One with a big glass of water is pretty filling and they usually have pretty good for you carbs if you fins ones without too much added sugar.

I'm glad the treadmill is a tool you have found to not only use but enjoy. I enjoy hearing your successes using it. I always have had a problem with shin splints using them and so am taking notes.

Glad to hear that things are going well with the heartrate thing, maddy. Don't pressure yourself TOO much--things will get to where they're supposed to be just based on the effort you're expending alone. I, too, am having trouble with hunger, but mine tends to come in the evenings. I eat breakfast before work, of course, and during the day I'm pretty occupied so my mind doesn't wander too much towards food. I have a set lunchtime, and I keep a supply of Yoplait fat-free strawberry yogurt in case I'm at the point where I really CAN'T wait. But in the evenings, when things are a little less structured, I'm finding that I want to eat--dinner, plus a snack or two. And while I mainly stick to foods that are "okay," I know I'm still eating more than I should.

Lil, that's a relief to hear on the hut, I'm sure. I wish that were my issue this week. :D

I have half my breakfast at home and the other half at the office. I found I really like the Kashi chewy granola bars - either peanut butter peanut or the trail mix. I'm not sure about their content really (oops) other than they are high in fiber (5g).

Someone stopped me in the office kitchen yesterday and recommended Thomas light wheat english muffins (8g of fiber). I will be looking for them at the grocery this weekend. Toasted with a bit of jelly or cream cheese or peanut butter would be a good snack and hopefully with the high fiber would be filling.