My healthy friends@!

[kenobi]

Okay, I need to shape up.

I need you, yes YOU to give me some tips on losing weight and tone-ing up. What works for you, what didn't, what I should look into what I should avoid.

The reason? It involves three words star wars geek boys love and its happening for comic con.

What is that you ask? Slave Dancer Leia.
Thats right. My friend is lending me the costume. So one day I'm going to be Padme in her lavender gown, Padme in her white outfit from the second movie, and now leia. So I need to get in shape.

This should be damn fun.

Comments

[sideofzen.livejournal.com]

MEOW!

Uh. I have no helpful tips.

[crazeddrscott.livejournal.com]

First off, that is awesome!

Second off, I think any tips I would have would be more of the "Don't eat at Jack in the Box every day" variety :-)

[entranced-shift.livejournal.com]

This may be a little awkward coming from me, but what areas are you looking to lose weight in? As slave dancer Leia, I assume hips and torso?

If it's just those, a really simple one to do would be just get a hula hoop or sit-ups/crunches at least 20 a night.

[redefining-self.livejournal.com]

I'll stay away from the more obvious diet recommendations (besides - Veggiebelle could give you some very good tips on this - I understand she trimmed and slimmed quite a bit in the last several months).

In terms of exercise I'll give you a small amount of somewhat counter-intuitive advice - running and high-intensity cardio vascular workouts won't burn as many fat calories (by ratio) as a good, brisk walk.

You see, the harder your heart is working (thus indicating that you're getting closer to maximum performance) the more sugars and 'quick access' energy your body is trying to burn. Sugars in the blood burn first and fast this way providing short but intense ability. A good fast walk will not force your body to rely on those quick access energy sources and can instead burn fat. Although the total number of calories burned over the same amount of time is lower (reflecting a lower intensity workout) the percentage of those calories burned being fat is much, much higher.

It revolves primarily around your heart rate and targeting certain ranges of heart rate to maximize the fat burning. I've been using this in triathlon training (along with smaller portions) has yielded a 30 pound drop since early January.

I've got more information and some good links if you'd like - just let me know where to send 'em. ^_^

[http://users.livejournal.com/_jealousy_/]

Stop living off of fast food, microwave dinners, mac & cheese, and cola for starters. ;)

[steinba.livejournal.com]

I wholeheartedly agree and would like to subscribe to your newsletter. Cola especially, and sadly cheese (although the real stuff is marginally better than american "cheese"...)

[eletyl.livejournal.com]

I love love LOVE step aerobics! take a class and get hooked! it's the ONLY cardio that I have ever looked forward to in my life! like, it's not a chore. it's fun! and I get sad when I miss it!

(I lost 30 lbs in this last year, on it. but then I gained 20 lbs back. cause I eat too much. so don't do that, either.)

:)

[shamafrog.livejournal.com]

well, if a gym is your style, i *just* got a postcard from the Y - they're having a $25 sign-up fee day on 03/25. monthly fees are 30-something.

and the eating non-fast-food and smaller portions is supposed to help. so i hear.
/goes back to sitting on her ass and eating her take-out

[thebarefootrose.livejournal.com]

I will be joining the Y again on Tuesday! Yay! I was going to the other day but the membership chick told me about the special on Tuesday.

[wrathofhon.livejournal.com]

Sweet - I have a membership if you want a workout buddy and don't mind working out later in the evening :)

[kittycat22.livejournal.com]

Unless you have drastically changed since last I saw you, and judging from your pics you haven't, a balanced diet (particularly what _jealousy_ mentioned should do fine for food stuffs.

Also, I'm guessing you mostly want to be toned. Again, for someone already your size who does not actually need to lose much if any weight, I'd recommend light cardio mixed with pilates. Pilates is GREAT for toning and core strength and balance. By light cardio, you might consider bike riding around SD or speeding up your walking around town/jogging some.

Check out www.sparkpeople.com for some extra advice and tips for exercise. I know that's what helped veggiebelle, and it certainly helped me over the summer.

Commencing lj stalking . . .

[thebarefootrose.livejournal.com]

. . . now.

We are playing Wii! Wii!!!!!

[timjr.livejournal.com]

...suddenly I really wish I was going to Comic Con.

[veggiebelle.livejournal.com]

HI!!

Being as active as you can is key for this. Go for walks, use my bike, do simple strength-training exercises at home... it doesn't take long each day, but the key is to be consistent. And keep going out dancing! It's GREAT exercise!

Sparkpeople was the best for me in my 20-pound-loss-of-joy, and as I could use a bit of toning (I haven't regained the weight, but I've lost some tone-y-ness), I'd be happy to do it with you and start exercising again. It helps you learn easy ways to tone up and change your unhealthy habits. I leaned SO much on that site!!!

Breakfast kick-starts your metabolism in the morning. I recommend it! Also, eat food that's full of nutrition instead of "empty calories" that don't feed your body and keep you hungry. That will also help you tone as you're feeding your whole body good stuff, which gives you energy!

I recommend cutting down on fast food or soda. I was shocked when I found out how bad some of that is. You don't have to cut them out completely, but you can make them a "treat" rather than a regular thing.

We can make more healthy stuff at home! I'll help! Much of what I make is fairly healthy, even with the cheese.

[steinba.livejournal.com]

Tell me how to be healthy and still have cheese!

[veggiebelle.livejournal.com]

I lost 23 pounds and never gave up my cheese! It's TOTALLY doable. As long as you...

- Eat the good stuff (which is better for you and the flavor packs more punch so you don't have to use as much)
- Eat healthy foods and generally watch your portions most of the time, which leaves room for Cheesy Treats!
- Eat in moderation (again, most of the time... because, believe you me, I still treated myself to cheese and crackers sometimes)

It can be done! Giving up cheese would be like a punishment to me, but if your habits are generally healthy, treating yourself to cheese isn't the End Of Health As We Know It! :)

!

[aching-eros.livejournal.com]

thats a brilliant plan, first of all. you must post pictures.

secondly, for working out. you know im one of the laziest mofos around. but. my roommates boyfriend showed me this workout thats super easy. its called planks (i dont know why, just go with it ha).

basically, you get into a push up position, elbows and forearms on a pillow, then keep your body elevated for 30 seconds. do that, then move to the right side, one arm in the air, your chest perpendicular to the ground, 30 seconds. repeat the push up one, then do the opposite arm. then 20 crunches, then 20 push ups. last, you do this thing where you sit and hold your legs up, then grab something heavy, and dip it to each side of you, while trying to keep your legs up and torso off the floor.

its a crazy good workout. ive been doin it for a week now lol.