In a recent post I mentioned that I had rejoined Weight Watchers online. I tried to stick with it, I really did. But I didn't. Two weeks ago tomorrow, I rejoined Weight Watchers meetings. And I've stuck with it. Tomorrow is my two week weigh in and I'm excited!! I missed the first weigh in because I had to work, but I will not miss it tomorrow.
These last two weeks haven't been easy, but they haven't been difficult either, or at least as difficult as it had been prior to that. I have been staying on program, counting points, and actually feeling satisfied.
I truly believe that avoiding sugar plays a key role in my success. In the weeks leading up to November 2nd, I was eating a lot of sugar. Candy bars and Starbucks scones and drinks was where it came from mainly. Since November 2nd I have had very little in the way of sugar. I haven't even been eating my beloved Chobani which has natural fruit sugar only. I have been eating fresh fruit, but my cravings for all things bad for me has decreased significantly. That's not to say I'm going to be cutting out sugar completely forever, but for right now until I get my head back on straight, I think it's best to avoid it. I do believe that eating fruit is okay and other things that have some sugars occuring naturally, but I am avoiding added sugars as much as I can.
So what have I been eating? Well, that's changed too. I have switched from my usual an English muffin with peanut butter and banana to oatmeal with peanut butter and banana, or 2 hard boiled eggs. I have been eating a lot of salad with chicken and sometimes a little cheese. Eggs, string cheese, apples, clementines and healthy soups with lots of veggies: these are what's on the menu.
I have given myself a break on the exercise, a break from worrying about it at the moment. But since things have been going well for a couple weeks, I need to think about adding some activity. I'll get there.
So tomorrow, I will weigh in and will hopefully post an update on the weight loss front. I'm sure that I will becauseI can feel the difference in my clothes. In fact, I had to actually use a binder clip to keep my pants up by connecting them to my tank top when I walked over to the store at lunch! Guess, it's time to bring out the belt. I don't have any idea what the number will be, though, because I've put away my home scale for now. No good comes of weighing each day right now so I'm avoiding that.
Anyway, if you've stuck with me through this journey, I am grateful. I'm here to tell you that right now I'm feeling good. My head feel clearer, the sadness is lifting, and I'm looking forward to the holidays. February and March are very difficult months for me usually so I'm hoping to get into good routines before then so that feeling good physically will help me feel good mentally.
Cheers!
Showing posts with label weigh in. Show all posts
Showing posts with label weigh in. Show all posts
Thursday, November 15, 2012
Tuesday, August 14, 2012
A Last Ditch Effort
Here I sit before you back in Twoterville. 200.8 lbs this morning. Remember this post? I certainly do.
But I can't go back, I can only go forward so here I am laying it all out there AGAIN. I have updated the badge on this blog to show pounds to goal instead of pounds lost. That's the number I need to focus on.
I'm moving forward from today. Is today different? Is today the day that everything comes together for me? I don't know. It feels like a good day, I feel motivated to begin. But I know I have felt this way before. Only time will tell.
I still cannot decide to make the break from Weight Watchers. I don't know why. It's like a crutch or something. And then there's that desire I have to be a featured success story, or at least apply! If I cancel my membership, am I cancelling that dream? It's not as if that dream is giving me a whole lot of motivation these days so cancelling shouldn't make too much of a difference. I guess it's just the idea of it. I seem to have the inability to make a decision on this subject. Ugh!
I have a funeral to go to in the coming days, and my cousin is getting married next month. I, of course, have nothing to wear. Do I buy something that will serve both purposes, or do I buy two things. Do I buy something for the funeral now, and wait until closer to the wedding to buy the outfit for that? Like maybe I'll be thinner then...
In other news, my hair is falling out! Not in clumps, but I'm definitely shedding way more than I used to and I can see my scalp way more than I could before. Even my hairdresser noticed! I went to the doctor to rule out any deficiencies or thyroid issues and all is well. Of course, I want to be healthy, but I want an answer to this hair loss. The only other explanation is stress. My doctor said that hair loss in relation to a stressful even usually occurs 3-6 months after the event. Well, this shedding has been going on for awhile now, probably 3 months. So all timelines point to the fact that it could be related to the stress of my husband returning to work, my returning to the bad place, and also switching up medications that I have taken for years. I have since quit taking one (about 4 weeks ago) that "could" attribute to the issue. Nothing is really concrete in that regard. What is certain is that I'm freaking out!! My hair is the one constant in my life. My weight can go up and down, but my hair has always been my best feature. At my heaviest weight ever, I still received compliments on my hair. And now it's falling out! So that's just something else to stress about! It could also be the major dietary change I've made over the last 9 or so months. Less nutrion, way more junk.
So, today, for the sake of my hair, I'm making another last ditch effort to get back on track. (I don't know if it's "last ditch" if you keep doing it over and over, though.) I know that if I was running and eating better, I would feel better. That would descrease my stress level. We have settled into being a two-working-parent family again, and while I still stress a bit over child care, it's not like it was 6-9 months ago. School is starting soon, but I'm trying to remain calm and worry free about that. I just want to focus on me right now. There are three weeks left of summer! That's hardly any time at all. My son is away at camp this week so these first couple days of cutting out the junk should be easier when I only have to worry about me (my husband doesn't get dinner when my son is gone, LOL.) So that's the plan.
I'm also making a last ditch effort with this blog. My URL renewal is in October so I need to decide if I still want towhine blog about my weight issues for all the public (okay, very few public) to read about. I haven't been very active in reading other blogs even though I know I find lots of inspiration from others. So perhaps if I get back to doing the things I know how to do, and know are good for me, I can get back to inspiring others too. My story can be about someone who was sick of being obese, lost 85 lbs and became a runner, gained 49 lbs and became a couch potato, and then lost 55 lbs all the while becoming a runner again.
I hope it's more than just a story. I hope it's my life. My health matters.
But I can't go back, I can only go forward so here I am laying it all out there AGAIN. I have updated the badge on this blog to show pounds to goal instead of pounds lost. That's the number I need to focus on.
I'm moving forward from today. Is today different? Is today the day that everything comes together for me? I don't know. It feels like a good day, I feel motivated to begin. But I know I have felt this way before. Only time will tell.
I still cannot decide to make the break from Weight Watchers. I don't know why. It's like a crutch or something. And then there's that desire I have to be a featured success story, or at least apply! If I cancel my membership, am I cancelling that dream? It's not as if that dream is giving me a whole lot of motivation these days so cancelling shouldn't make too much of a difference. I guess it's just the idea of it. I seem to have the inability to make a decision on this subject. Ugh!
I have a funeral to go to in the coming days, and my cousin is getting married next month. I, of course, have nothing to wear. Do I buy something that will serve both purposes, or do I buy two things. Do I buy something for the funeral now, and wait until closer to the wedding to buy the outfit for that? Like maybe I'll be thinner then...
In other news, my hair is falling out! Not in clumps, but I'm definitely shedding way more than I used to and I can see my scalp way more than I could before. Even my hairdresser noticed! I went to the doctor to rule out any deficiencies or thyroid issues and all is well. Of course, I want to be healthy, but I want an answer to this hair loss. The only other explanation is stress. My doctor said that hair loss in relation to a stressful even usually occurs 3-6 months after the event. Well, this shedding has been going on for awhile now, probably 3 months. So all timelines point to the fact that it could be related to the stress of my husband returning to work, my returning to the bad place, and also switching up medications that I have taken for years. I have since quit taking one (about 4 weeks ago) that "could" attribute to the issue. Nothing is really concrete in that regard. What is certain is that I'm freaking out!! My hair is the one constant in my life. My weight can go up and down, but my hair has always been my best feature. At my heaviest weight ever, I still received compliments on my hair. And now it's falling out! So that's just something else to stress about! It could also be the major dietary change I've made over the last 9 or so months. Less nutrion, way more junk.
So, today, for the sake of my hair, I'm making another last ditch effort to get back on track. (I don't know if it's "last ditch" if you keep doing it over and over, though.) I know that if I was running and eating better, I would feel better. That would descrease my stress level. We have settled into being a two-working-parent family again, and while I still stress a bit over child care, it's not like it was 6-9 months ago. School is starting soon, but I'm trying to remain calm and worry free about that. I just want to focus on me right now. There are three weeks left of summer! That's hardly any time at all. My son is away at camp this week so these first couple days of cutting out the junk should be easier when I only have to worry about me (my husband doesn't get dinner when my son is gone, LOL.) So that's the plan.
I'm also making a last ditch effort with this blog. My URL renewal is in October so I need to decide if I still want to
I hope it's more than just a story. I hope it's my life. My health matters.
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
And then she quit exercising!
Yesterday's run and today's elliptical workout were not brought to you at all because neither of them took place. For some reason I was not feeling a run yesterday, and when I went to bed last night, I wasn't feeling a trip to the gym today either. I'm not getting too down about it, we all need rest days (Sat/Sun excluded, of course).
Today I weighed 165! And I've finally updated my little blog widget accordingly to face the music. That makes my loss right now at 71.8 pounds. Discouraged much?
Well, the good news is I might have a new show to watch while on the elliptical. The Vampire Diaries. Normally I'd be embarrassed to admit it, but if this keeps me coming back to the elliptical I'm all for watching mindless crap. I've watched 1.5 episodes and I think I could get into it, more than Greek anyway. Too bad my phone screen seems so tiny! Never before I have wanted and iPad, but all of a sudden with these cross training gym options, I'm seeing the need for one more and more! Why oh why do they have to cost so much?!
In other news my husband is still being considered for a job, and I couldn't be more focused on that and only that right now. It's hard to work, it's hard to exercise, it's hard to eat. Honestly, I just want a final answer on the subject so we can move on in the appropriate direction. I am not a patient person. I had been doing fairly well with not thinking about it, but now I'm consumed by it. Consumed, I tell you!
So time will tell whether I get in a workout tonight. I'm honestly not feeling it, but I'm feeling it for tomorrow morning. Why do something today that you can put off until tomorrow morning? Oh wait, that's not quite how that goes...
Today I weighed 165! And I've finally updated my little blog widget accordingly to face the music. That makes my loss right now at 71.8 pounds. Discouraged much?
Well, the good news is I might have a new show to watch while on the elliptical. The Vampire Diaries. Normally I'd be embarrassed to admit it, but if this keeps me coming back to the elliptical I'm all for watching mindless crap. I've watched 1.5 episodes and I think I could get into it, more than Greek anyway. Too bad my phone screen seems so tiny! Never before I have wanted and iPad, but all of a sudden with these cross training gym options, I'm seeing the need for one more and more! Why oh why do they have to cost so much?!
In other news my husband is still being considered for a job, and I couldn't be more focused on that and only that right now. It's hard to work, it's hard to exercise, it's hard to eat. Honestly, I just want a final answer on the subject so we can move on in the appropriate direction. I am not a patient person. I had been doing fairly well with not thinking about it, but now I'm consumed by it. Consumed, I tell you!
So time will tell whether I get in a workout tonight. I'm honestly not feeling it, but I'm feeling it for tomorrow morning. Why do something today that you can put off until tomorrow morning? Oh wait, that's not quite how that goes...
Monday, August 15, 2011
Get it together!
Starting weight: 236.8
Last week's weight: 159.0
Current weight: 162.8
Gain/loss: +3.8
Total gain/loss: -74
Pounds to goal (136.8): 26
Pounds to mini goal (149): 13.8
You might notice the scale moved in the wrong direction again. I'm seriously and completely down about this. Yes, I did indulge some over the weekend, but to gain that much? And I'm not even going to mention the lower numbers I saw on the scale last week. During the week, I was actually rocking a loss for the week. I'm discouraged. It seems like my system is utterly sensitive to salt in which any amount of it causes every cell in my body to suck up all the water I've consumed (yet I still pee ALL THE DAMN TIME!) It's frustrating!
As for my workouts, I reached my 15+ miles as of last night. I crapped out and didn't run Saturday before leaving for the lake so I had to do it last night upon arriving home from the lake. I also went out there again this morning for just under 4 miles. We are heading to the lake again this weekend so I am hoping to get all my miles in by the end of Friday's run so I don't have to haul my running gear with me or plan a run for Sunday evening. With my schedule this week it means I'll have to run Mon-Wed-Thurs-Friday which I don't love (three days in a row). But I can do it if driven. Where the strength training will fit in is unknown at this time.
I had the nicest comment on my blog Saturday which really made me feel good about sharing my journey with all of you. But after such a craptastic week and another stupid gain, I feel guilty. I want to be the person that inspires others, the person who succeeds. After all, this is supposed to be a weight loss blog. I know it's only me who is putting the pressure on me, but I know what it's like to read blogs where the author starts gravitating from what was supposed to be the whole point of the blog. I don't want to be one of those bloggers who loses site of the finish line, who never quite does what they set out to do, and who starts floating along in limboland. And I certainly don't want to waste anyone's time by blogging about limboland, including my own. I need and want to keep moving forward for everyone, especially me!
Sorry, this isn't a pity party; I'm just stating what many are probably thinking: she needs to get it together.
Get it together!
Last week's weight: 159.0
Current weight: 162.8
Gain/loss: +3.8
Total gain/loss: -74
Pounds to goal (136.8): 26
Pounds to mini goal (149): 13.8
You might notice the scale moved in the wrong direction again. I'm seriously and completely down about this. Yes, I did indulge some over the weekend, but to gain that much? And I'm not even going to mention the lower numbers I saw on the scale last week. During the week, I was actually rocking a loss for the week. I'm discouraged. It seems like my system is utterly sensitive to salt in which any amount of it causes every cell in my body to suck up all the water I've consumed (yet I still pee ALL THE DAMN TIME!) It's frustrating!
As for my workouts, I reached my 15+ miles as of last night. I crapped out and didn't run Saturday before leaving for the lake so I had to do it last night upon arriving home from the lake. I also went out there again this morning for just under 4 miles. We are heading to the lake again this weekend so I am hoping to get all my miles in by the end of Friday's run so I don't have to haul my running gear with me or plan a run for Sunday evening. With my schedule this week it means I'll have to run Mon-Wed-Thurs-Friday which I don't love (three days in a row). But I can do it if driven. Where the strength training will fit in is unknown at this time.
I had the nicest comment on my blog Saturday which really made me feel good about sharing my journey with all of you. But after such a craptastic week and another stupid gain, I feel guilty. I want to be the person that inspires others, the person who succeeds. After all, this is supposed to be a weight loss blog. I know it's only me who is putting the pressure on me, but I know what it's like to read blogs where the author starts gravitating from what was supposed to be the whole point of the blog. I don't want to be one of those bloggers who loses site of the finish line, who never quite does what they set out to do, and who starts floating along in limboland. And I certainly don't want to waste anyone's time by blogging about limboland, including my own. I need and want to keep moving forward for everyone, especially me!
Sorry, this isn't a pity party; I'm just stating what many are probably thinking: she needs to get it together.
Get it together!
Monday, August 8, 2011
August: First week in review
Starting weight: 236.8
Last week's weight: 162.6
Current weight: 159.0
Gain/loss: -3.6
Total gain/loss: -77.8
Pounds to goal (136.8): 22.2
Pounds to mini goal (149): 10
I do despise the scale sometimes. Yesterday the scale said 156.6 and today 159! I did eat salty pizza and breadsticks yesterday so I know that's what did it. Pffft! I didn't go over my weekly points, and I didn't use any of my activity points, so I had a successful week. My official weight loss for the week is 3.6 pounds which is GREAT.
My exercise for the week was really good. I logged 15.08 miles of running and 3 miles of walking. I also completed a little weight training, something I hope to do more of and write a separate post about.
Week one of my August is a success and I am really happy about it. I have made peace with evening workouts for now.
Last week's weight: 162.6
Current weight: 159.0
Gain/loss: -3.6
Total gain/loss: -77.8
Pounds to goal (136.8): 22.2
Pounds to mini goal (149): 10
I do despise the scale sometimes. Yesterday the scale said 156.6 and today 159! I did eat salty pizza and breadsticks yesterday so I know that's what did it. Pffft! I didn't go over my weekly points, and I didn't use any of my activity points, so I had a successful week. My official weight loss for the week is 3.6 pounds which is GREAT.
My exercise for the week was really good. I logged 15.08 miles of running and 3 miles of walking. I also completed a little weight training, something I hope to do more of and write a separate post about.
Week one of my August is a success and I am really happy about it. I have made peace with evening workouts for now.
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Buh-Bye July, Welcome August!!
I don't really want to rewind July because other than my half marathon (which was freaking awesome), the rest of the month in terms of my goals was not stellar. And the scale shows it:
Starting weight: 236.8
Last week's weight: 161.0
Current weight: 162.6
Gain/loss: +1.6
Total gain/loss: -74.2
Pounds to goal (136.8): 25.8
Pounds to mini goal (149): 13.6
(In my defense, the scale showed 160 this morning so that's 2.6 down from yesterday! I'm sure it was the salt on Sunday again. Too much salt = my enemy.)
Briefly, in July I ran 54.43 miles and gained 3 pounds.
But August is here and I have some goals. First of all, August is my month!! My birthday is in August and, therefore, I love August! So it seems fitting that I set some big goals for August. Setting goals, achieving goals, that's what I'm doing here. Dur.
So I declare that in August, I want to lost 10 pounds from my August 1st weight. August first I weighed 162.6 and today I weigh 160 so that means I'm already 2.6 pounds to my 10 pound goal. I don't think a goal of 10 pounds for the month is too lofty at all!
My next goal for August is to run 70 miles. That is also not too lofty in that I ran over 70 miles in June. I actually have all my runs planned out for the month and I am really excited about it. I am going back to a Mon-Wed-Fri-Sat running schedule with long runs on Friday. I still have two 10K races on my schedule along with that little treadmill run on 11/11/11. I want to keep running long runs to stay strong. I might throw a tempo or interval run in there sometimes too.
So I think these goals are realistic, and I am excited about this month. So let's get this party started.
Starting weight: 236.8
Last week's weight: 161.0
Current weight: 162.6
Gain/loss: +1.6
Total gain/loss: -74.2
Pounds to goal (136.8): 25.8
Pounds to mini goal (149): 13.6
(In my defense, the scale showed 160 this morning so that's 2.6 down from yesterday! I'm sure it was the salt on Sunday again. Too much salt = my enemy.)
Briefly, in July I ran 54.43 miles and gained 3 pounds.
But August is here and I have some goals. First of all, August is my month!! My birthday is in August and, therefore, I love August! So it seems fitting that I set some big goals for August. Setting goals, achieving goals, that's what I'm doing here. Dur.
So I declare that in August, I want to lost 10 pounds from my August 1st weight. August first I weighed 162.6 and today I weigh 160 so that means I'm already 2.6 pounds to my 10 pound goal. I don't think a goal of 10 pounds for the month is too lofty at all!
My next goal for August is to run 70 miles. That is also not too lofty in that I ran over 70 miles in June. I actually have all my runs planned out for the month and I am really excited about it. I am going back to a Mon-Wed-Fri-Sat running schedule with long runs on Friday. I still have two 10K races on my schedule along with that little treadmill run on 11/11/11. I want to keep running long runs to stay strong. I might throw a tempo or interval run in there sometimes too.
So I think these goals are realistic, and I am excited about this month. So let's get this party started.
Monday, July 25, 2011
Half marathon last weekend, fat pants today.
Starting weight: 236.8
Last week's weight: 157.0 (actually 2 weeks go)
Current weight: 161.0
Gain/loss: +4.0
Total gain/loss: -75.8
Pounds to goal (136.8): 24.2
Pounds to mini goal (149): 12.0
What's wrong with this picture? I just completed a half marathon 8 days ago. I ran an 8K race this past Saturday (recap to come as soon as I have my official finish time), and yet here I sit in my fat pants.
I have managed to re-enter the 160s over the course of the past couple of weeks and it sucks. Granted, I have not been eating that great. I have been watching it and I have not indulged in crap, but I have gone over my calories or points, whatever it is that I am counting on a particular day. I think I gave myself permission because I was "training". I wanted to train well, and be strong, so I needed to eat, right? Well, apparently I didn't need to eat that much!
So it has come to this day when all must change. I have conquered the half marathon and am no longer officially "in training". It is time to get back to business and refocus on my weight goals. My ultimate weight goal is still listed as 136.8, but my short term goal is 149. Today I weigh in at 161.
I am recommitting to Weight Watchers today. I have been ready to throw in the towel and break up with WW, however, after our long history together, I feel I must make one last ditch effort to become one with the PointsPlus plan. I must remember that "free fruit" doesn't mean I should consume 5 pounds of cherries in two days. It doesn't mean I can eat at least 2 bananas each day. It doesn't even mean that I should eat 2 nectarines for dinner. I know how to eat and "free fruit" doesn't mean it's a "fruit free for all". Do you hear that, Lori, it's not a fruit free for all! One of my very first Weight Watcher's leaders said to me so many years ago, it's not the fruit that brings people to Weight Watchers, it's the fruit pie. Well, I can say that fruit has been a serious problem for me in the basic calories in < calories out equation lately. I must cut back.
I also need to come to terms with my workout schedule and either make peace with the fact that I am not going to be a morning exerciser, or get over myself and just get the fudge out of bed in the morning! Seriously! Every week it's the same ol' thing. I mentally prepare for getting to bed early, getting up early, and getting my workout done first thing. Some days it happens and I feel great, most days it doesn't and I feel like crap. Even if I get the workout done in the evening, I'm so irritated with myself over the missed morning workout that it overshadows the evening workout. Isn't that stupid?! For some reason I have it in my head that I need to workout in the morning to be successful, and I want to workout in the morning so bad. But I hate getting out of bed! I am not a morning person, I'm a night person. Morning workouts cramp my style, yet I can't let go of the idea. Help me! Can anyone recommend some blogs of moms who workout at night? I want to see this plan in action because I can't seem to grasp its worthiness.
One other idea I had was this: run in the mornings, strength train at night. I do not love strength training. I do not even like it, yet I know it's necessary. I have been enjoying Jillian's No More Trouble Zones DVD, well as much as you can enjoy something you don't like, that is, but the thought of getting out of bed and bonding with Jillian before my coffee makes me turn off the alarm and pretend I never heard it. So maybe I should just starting running every morning. Running takes little thought. You get up, put on the gear, leave the house (or get on the treadmill). Not difficult. Then a couple nights a week, as time permits, I can have my sweat sesh with Jillian. How many of you run 5 days a week? Do you cross train?
Anyway, regardless of when I workout, the most important thing is to stop eating so much. So here we are on day 1 of the recommitment plan. So far things are going along well. (Except that I didn't workout this morning.)
What is your typical workout routine?
Last week's weight: 157.0 (actually 2 weeks go)
Current weight: 161.0
Gain/loss: +4.0
Total gain/loss: -75.8
Pounds to goal (136.8): 24.2
Pounds to mini goal (149): 12.0
What's wrong with this picture? I just completed a half marathon 8 days ago. I ran an 8K race this past Saturday (recap to come as soon as I have my official finish time), and yet here I sit in my fat pants.
I have managed to re-enter the 160s over the course of the past couple of weeks and it sucks. Granted, I have not been eating that great. I have been watching it and I have not indulged in crap, but I have gone over my calories or points, whatever it is that I am counting on a particular day. I think I gave myself permission because I was "training". I wanted to train well, and be strong, so I needed to eat, right? Well, apparently I didn't need to eat that much!
So it has come to this day when all must change. I have conquered the half marathon and am no longer officially "in training". It is time to get back to business and refocus on my weight goals. My ultimate weight goal is still listed as 136.8, but my short term goal is 149. Today I weigh in at 161.
I am recommitting to Weight Watchers today. I have been ready to throw in the towel and break up with WW, however, after our long history together, I feel I must make one last ditch effort to become one with the PointsPlus plan. I must remember that "free fruit" doesn't mean I should consume 5 pounds of cherries in two days. It doesn't mean I can eat at least 2 bananas each day. It doesn't even mean that I should eat 2 nectarines for dinner. I know how to eat and "free fruit" doesn't mean it's a "fruit free for all". Do you hear that, Lori, it's not a fruit free for all! One of my very first Weight Watcher's leaders said to me so many years ago, it's not the fruit that brings people to Weight Watchers, it's the fruit pie. Well, I can say that fruit has been a serious problem for me in the basic calories in < calories out equation lately. I must cut back.
I also need to come to terms with my workout schedule and either make peace with the fact that I am not going to be a morning exerciser, or get over myself and just get the fudge out of bed in the morning! Seriously! Every week it's the same ol' thing. I mentally prepare for getting to bed early, getting up early, and getting my workout done first thing. Some days it happens and I feel great, most days it doesn't and I feel like crap. Even if I get the workout done in the evening, I'm so irritated with myself over the missed morning workout that it overshadows the evening workout. Isn't that stupid?! For some reason I have it in my head that I need to workout in the morning to be successful, and I want to workout in the morning so bad. But I hate getting out of bed! I am not a morning person, I'm a night person. Morning workouts cramp my style, yet I can't let go of the idea. Help me! Can anyone recommend some blogs of moms who workout at night? I want to see this plan in action because I can't seem to grasp its worthiness.
One other idea I had was this: run in the mornings, strength train at night. I do not love strength training. I do not even like it, yet I know it's necessary. I have been enjoying Jillian's No More Trouble Zones DVD, well as much as you can enjoy something you don't like, that is, but the thought of getting out of bed and bonding with Jillian before my coffee makes me turn off the alarm and pretend I never heard it. So maybe I should just starting running every morning. Running takes little thought. You get up, put on the gear, leave the house (or get on the treadmill). Not difficult. Then a couple nights a week, as time permits, I can have my sweat sesh with Jillian. How many of you run 5 days a week? Do you cross train?
Anyway, regardless of when I workout, the most important thing is to stop eating so much. So here we are on day 1 of the recommitment plan. So far things are going along well. (Except that I didn't workout this morning.)
What is your typical workout routine?
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Weigh In - 07/12/2011
Starting weight: 236.8
Last week's weight: 159.4
Current weight: 157.0
Gain/loss: -2.4
Total gain/loss: -79.8
Pounds to goal (136.8): 20.6
Pounds to mini goal (149): 8
I had a fairly decent week this week. Aside from my latest frozen yogurt addiction, I stayed pretty much on plan except for a small chip fiasco on Sunday! I only ran on three days (Wednesday, Friday & Saturday), but I completed the No More Trouble Zones workout DVD twice (Tuesday & Friday). That makes two weeks (2x/week) of that work out and I have to say it is awesome! I can already tell a difference in my strength level and how my body feels. I didn't take measurements or anything, but I know my abs feel tighter! Gotta love that! I plan to keep doing it twice a week for awhile.
Last week's weight: 159.4
Current weight: 157.0
Gain/loss: -2.4
Total gain/loss: -79.8
Pounds to goal (136.8): 20.6
Pounds to mini goal (149): 8
I had a fairly decent week this week. Aside from my latest frozen yogurt addiction, I stayed pretty much on plan except for a small chip fiasco on Sunday! I only ran on three days (Wednesday, Friday & Saturday), but I completed the No More Trouble Zones workout DVD twice (Tuesday & Friday). That makes two weeks (2x/week) of that work out and I have to say it is awesome! I can already tell a difference in my strength level and how my body feels. I didn't take measurements or anything, but I know my abs feel tighter! Gotta love that! I plan to keep doing it twice a week for awhile.
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Weigh In - 07/05/2011
Starting weight: 236.8
Last week's weight: 159.4
Current weight: 159.8
Gain/loss: +.4
Total gain/loss: -77.0
Pounds to goal: 23.0
I am okay with this small gain. I had a really good week last week. I ran, I made it through Jillian's No More Trouble Zones DVD one and a half times, and I ate pretty much what I wanted over the holiday weekend. I ate an Oreo ice cream dessert and lots of chips and that was fabulous and tasty!
My awesome holiday weekend included me in a swimsuit! I have not worn a suit comfortably for years! Years, I tell you! This year I indulged and bought a Miraclesuit. While I don't think it automatically makes me look 10 pounds slimmer, I do feel pretty darn good in the suit so it was worth every penny! I actually wore it all day yesterday without any cover-up! I guess it's an NSV of sorts! I also wore it in the lake when I went tubing with my son! Me, on the tube! It was truly fabulous and my son loved that I got out there with him. I am so glad I changed my life while he's still young!
Here's my Miraclesuit (available at Eddie Bauer or Amazon):
This is the style of the front of the top (mine isn't this print):
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This is the back of the top in the print I purchased (paisley):
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This is the style of the skirt:
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What were your NSVs over the holiday weekend?
Last week's weight: 159.4
Current weight: 159.8
Gain/loss: +.4
Total gain/loss: -77.0
Pounds to goal: 23.0
I am okay with this small gain. I had a really good week last week. I ran, I made it through Jillian's No More Trouble Zones DVD one and a half times, and I ate pretty much what I wanted over the holiday weekend. I ate an Oreo ice cream dessert and lots of chips and that was fabulous and tasty!
My awesome holiday weekend included me in a swimsuit! I have not worn a suit comfortably for years! Years, I tell you! This year I indulged and bought a Miraclesuit. While I don't think it automatically makes me look 10 pounds slimmer, I do feel pretty darn good in the suit so it was worth every penny! I actually wore it all day yesterday without any cover-up! I guess it's an NSV of sorts! I also wore it in the lake when I went tubing with my son! Me, on the tube! It was truly fabulous and my son loved that I got out there with him. I am so glad I changed my life while he's still young!
Here's my Miraclesuit (available at Eddie Bauer or Amazon):
This is the style of the front of the top (mine isn't this print):
What were your NSVs over the holiday weekend?
Monday, June 27, 2011
Don't think, just do!
I'm back. You didn't know I was gone, did you? Well, I've kind of been laying low and now I'm going to get back online. But what does that mean? Hmmm, I'm here with my stats, first.
Starting weight: 236.8
Last week's weight: 157.4 (actually May 24, last check in)
Current weight: 159.4
Gain/loss: +2.0
Total gain/loss: -77.4
Pounds to goal: 22.6
You may notice that I've gotten even farther (further?) from my goal. Argh! I'm not too concerned only because I've been weighing anywhere from 156 to 159 for the past month. It's just that nothing is clicking with me right now.
As for my training, well I posted about that here, and it hasn't really gotten any better. I'm now wishing I could just get this event over and done with. I'm looking forward to it, but I'm ready for it to be done. July 17th can't get here fast enough, although I hate wishing that because it's like wishing the summer to go faster.
I'm ready to get back to my regularly scheduled running. My best friend visited over the weekend. She has also been running for about a year and she is doing awesome. She really got me to thinking about how much I just miss my fitness runs. An easy 5K a few times per week sounds excellent right now. I have always thought that I want to become a "5 mile runner", but now I think I'm a 5K runner. I like that distance. You have time to warm up, run, cool down, and then still do some good stretching afterwards, and still complete all of it in well under an hour. It feels easier to add in some other activities with that distance as well. For some reason I've had it in my head that if I'm not doing 15-20 miles a week, I'm not doing enough. I don't know where that idea came from, but that's what I've been stuck on. But what if I did some biking or swimming, some strength training, and some running? Maybe only 12 miles a week, or even less? That should be okay, shouldn't it? I'm trying to get to a place where that feels okay.
I really need to add in some other activities. I wouldn't say I'm getting bored with running, but I do need some additional exercises to start shaping this body. Running is not enough. I never thought it was, but I wasn't really ready to add anything else. Now I feel more ready. My friend is doing Zumba and yoga which she loves and I would like to add in something like that too. Whether it's a class or in my basement, I just need to do it! Do it! Do it! Don't think, just do! Right?
As for my weight, I still have my goal weight set at 136.8, but right now, my mini-goal is 149. Once I reach that number, I'm going to evaluate how I feel about where I am at. I have been down to 152 and now I'm back up to 159 and quite possibly the 130s are too low for me. I try not to get too fixated on a number (say 15-20 miles a week, for instance), but in my heart I know I am not happy being in the 150s so I'm not ready to change my goal yet. But I might settle for a 90 pound loss instead of 100. Of even an 86 pound loss. I just want to get out of the 150s, a place I have been since November! It's kind of freeing to think about actually, that I might find a weight that I am happy with that's not just about a number, but also about how I feel. I have never taken the time to think about that part of it, I've always been fixated on a number. I do believe my original goal weight was 145, but then I decided it would be fun to lose 100 pounds and changed it to 136.8. I gotta tell you, though, 145 sounds good right now.
Size is becoming a huge thing to me, as in clothes sizes. I wanted to wear a size 8, but I think I am okay with a size 10. What I'm not okay with is the muffin top midsection!! I bought some capris at American Eagle the other night, size 10. They fit, but they are very snug in the waist! I know some bloggers who outweigh me by 30+ pounds who are still smaller than me! But they are very active in all around fitness activities (running, cross training, strength training) when all I do is run. That is why I feel really ready to add in some other activities. I might firm up and lose inches even if I don't lose 100 pounds. 145 or 149 might feel terrific if I were several inches smaller. The only thing that can make that happen is me, and I need to take the steps and get it done.
I've learned that I can be a solitary runner (except for long runs and that's another post), but I think I need group fitness classes. Whenever I try and start something in my basement, I quickly lose interest because it gets mundane and boring, even after 2 sessions. Currently I don't know anyone I can work out with, but perhaps if I rejoin a gym, or find some community fitness activities, I can meet some people. I just cancelled my gym membership in February because I didn't think it was for me, but I've really been digging deep lately into just what my ultimate goals are and how I can achieve them. Is a gym the way to do it? I'm deciding.
I'm also still working on my workout schedule. Morning? Evening? Both? This morning was my first day back at work after a week of being on pseudo-vacation (i.e., not having to come to the office but keeping up with email and a couple projects). We were out to dinner with friends last night and I had a few things to take care of when I got home so I didn't get to bed until after 11:30. This means a morning run is doomed. This late night stuff happens way too often. That means after work I'll have to run. And of course I'll HAVE to because of this training thing, and having to really makes me cranky. I don't want to HAVE to! Oh, I can't wait until this half marathon is over.
So there you have it. Still here, still trying, still thinking more than doing.
Starting weight: 236.8
Last week's weight: 157.4 (actually May 24, last check in)
Current weight: 159.4
Gain/loss: +2.0
Total gain/loss: -77.4
Pounds to goal: 22.6
You may notice that I've gotten even farther (further?) from my goal. Argh! I'm not too concerned only because I've been weighing anywhere from 156 to 159 for the past month. It's just that nothing is clicking with me right now.
As for my training, well I posted about that here, and it hasn't really gotten any better. I'm now wishing I could just get this event over and done with. I'm looking forward to it, but I'm ready for it to be done. July 17th can't get here fast enough, although I hate wishing that because it's like wishing the summer to go faster.
I'm ready to get back to my regularly scheduled running. My best friend visited over the weekend. She has also been running for about a year and she is doing awesome. She really got me to thinking about how much I just miss my fitness runs. An easy 5K a few times per week sounds excellent right now. I have always thought that I want to become a "5 mile runner", but now I think I'm a 5K runner. I like that distance. You have time to warm up, run, cool down, and then still do some good stretching afterwards, and still complete all of it in well under an hour. It feels easier to add in some other activities with that distance as well. For some reason I've had it in my head that if I'm not doing 15-20 miles a week, I'm not doing enough. I don't know where that idea came from, but that's what I've been stuck on. But what if I did some biking or swimming, some strength training, and some running? Maybe only 12 miles a week, or even less? That should be okay, shouldn't it? I'm trying to get to a place where that feels okay.
I really need to add in some other activities. I wouldn't say I'm getting bored with running, but I do need some additional exercises to start shaping this body. Running is not enough. I never thought it was, but I wasn't really ready to add anything else. Now I feel more ready. My friend is doing Zumba and yoga which she loves and I would like to add in something like that too. Whether it's a class or in my basement, I just need to do it! Do it! Do it! Don't think, just do! Right?
As for my weight, I still have my goal weight set at 136.8, but right now, my mini-goal is 149. Once I reach that number, I'm going to evaluate how I feel about where I am at. I have been down to 152 and now I'm back up to 159 and quite possibly the 130s are too low for me. I try not to get too fixated on a number (say 15-20 miles a week, for instance), but in my heart I know I am not happy being in the 150s so I'm not ready to change my goal yet. But I might settle for a 90 pound loss instead of 100. Of even an 86 pound loss. I just want to get out of the 150s, a place I have been since November! It's kind of freeing to think about actually, that I might find a weight that I am happy with that's not just about a number, but also about how I feel. I have never taken the time to think about that part of it, I've always been fixated on a number. I do believe my original goal weight was 145, but then I decided it would be fun to lose 100 pounds and changed it to 136.8. I gotta tell you, though, 145 sounds good right now.
Size is becoming a huge thing to me, as in clothes sizes. I wanted to wear a size 8, but I think I am okay with a size 10. What I'm not okay with is the muffin top midsection!! I bought some capris at American Eagle the other night, size 10. They fit, but they are very snug in the waist! I know some bloggers who outweigh me by 30+ pounds who are still smaller than me! But they are very active in all around fitness activities (running, cross training, strength training) when all I do is run. That is why I feel really ready to add in some other activities. I might firm up and lose inches even if I don't lose 100 pounds. 145 or 149 might feel terrific if I were several inches smaller. The only thing that can make that happen is me, and I need to take the steps and get it done.
I've learned that I can be a solitary runner (except for long runs and that's another post), but I think I need group fitness classes. Whenever I try and start something in my basement, I quickly lose interest because it gets mundane and boring, even after 2 sessions. Currently I don't know anyone I can work out with, but perhaps if I rejoin a gym, or find some community fitness activities, I can meet some people. I just cancelled my gym membership in February because I didn't think it was for me, but I've really been digging deep lately into just what my ultimate goals are and how I can achieve them. Is a gym the way to do it? I'm deciding.
I'm also still working on my workout schedule. Morning? Evening? Both? This morning was my first day back at work after a week of being on pseudo-vacation (i.e., not having to come to the office but keeping up with email and a couple projects). We were out to dinner with friends last night and I had a few things to take care of when I got home so I didn't get to bed until after 11:30. This means a morning run is doomed. This late night stuff happens way too often. That means after work I'll have to run. And of course I'll HAVE to because of this training thing, and having to really makes me cranky. I don't want to HAVE to! Oh, I can't wait until this half marathon is over.
So there you have it. Still here, still trying, still thinking more than doing.
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
It is What it Is
I'm going to start posting my stats each week as follows:
Starting weight: 236.8
Last week's weight: 156.6
Current weight: 157.4
Gain/loss: +.8
Total gain/loss: -79.4
Pounds to goal: 20.6
I honestly think the scale should be lower, but it is what it is.
Starting weight: 236.8
Last week's weight: 156.6
Current weight: 157.4
Gain/loss: +.8
Total gain/loss: -79.4
Pounds to goal: 20.6
I honestly think the scale should be lower, but it is what it is.
Monday, May 23, 2011
Hi there!
First of all, thank you for the kind, kind comments regarding my picture on Thursday. They all made me feel wonderful! It makes me think I should update my blog header even more (thanks for the suggestion, Paula!). I am wearing another white shirt today, but I'll spare you the details because it's a boring polo shirt with my company's logo on the front. I call it "sporting my school spirit".
Anyway, I weighed in this morning and wouldn't you know it I weighed over 5 pounds more than I did yesterday! And yesterday was significantly lower than last Monday's weight. I'm assuming it was the popcorn (salt) I ate before bed, but instead of focusing on it too much, I'm going to let it go and not record my weight today. I absolutely cannot stand the effects that salt has on my weight loss (or gain, as the case actually is!)
I wanted to update you on my caffeine/fluid reduction project. It has now been two weeks since I started this plan and while the reduction part is going fine, the results of it are disappointing. I cut down to 2 cups of coffee the first three days and then cut down to one. I am still at one, but this down from 5-7 a day is a huge change. I also try and only drink 64 ounces of water each day unless I'm super thirsty, and I cut off the liquids around 7pm. So all that is good.
I'm not keeping a log or anything, but I'm sure that I am in the bathroom just as much, and I am now resigned to the fact that I'll probably log too much time in the porta-potties during my half marathon. Last Saturday I went for my scheduled 55 minute run and had to come home at the halfway mark to pee! And it's not like I have to go so bad that I'm dying, it's more that I know if I have to go the stress of running with anything in my bladder will lead to problems, especially if I run any downhills! It's truly and completely irritating!
I also don't know if I see a difference in how I feel without the caffeine. Yesterday I would have said no difference at all, however, this morning made me think I do wake up a little more alert. Last night I could not get to sleep. For one, I just wasn't comfortable, and for two, I had to pee too many times (drank too much water after dinner). When I finally did get to sleep I was awakened a few times in the night, again, to pee. Arrrgh! So when my alarm went off at 5:40 I hit snooze. Then again at 5:49. Then I turned it off at 5:58 resolved to sleep for another two hours. But as I laid there I realized that I wasn't all that tired despite my late night and interrupted sleep. So after about 5 more minutes I got up and headed out for my 35 minute run. I guess I thought I would be tired so when my alarm when off I told myself I was, but as I thought about it longer I realized I could get up. A fluke? I don't know. Of course reminding myself how I'd have to be running at 9pm if I didn't get up then might have motivated me a little too.
Anyway, I'm not quitting my project and will continue. One advantage to limiting caffeine is that I don't have to worry about a caffeine headache. One thing about morning runs and morning races is that I don't want to drink coffee beforehand to avoid as much liquid as possible, but then I usually end up with a headache if I go too long without. Not having to worry about such things is definitely a positive side effect of this project. Although I still miss my coffee. Coffee in the morning, coffee in the evening, coffee all day long.
One other quick note, I changed my training schedule just a bit to allow for a rest day this Saturday instead of a long run. I realized that since I'm running a 5K event on Sunday, I'd rather rest the day before so I switched around my running days this week. I want to run strong in the 5K race because this particular event was my first one last year so it's kind of a milestone of sorts. It's been a fun year since that first event and I can't wait to run it again!
Anyway, I weighed in this morning and wouldn't you know it I weighed over 5 pounds more than I did yesterday! And yesterday was significantly lower than last Monday's weight. I'm assuming it was the popcorn (salt) I ate before bed, but instead of focusing on it too much, I'm going to let it go and not record my weight today. I absolutely cannot stand the effects that salt has on my weight loss (or gain, as the case actually is!)
I wanted to update you on my caffeine/fluid reduction project. It has now been two weeks since I started this plan and while the reduction part is going fine, the results of it are disappointing. I cut down to 2 cups of coffee the first three days and then cut down to one. I am still at one, but this down from 5-7 a day is a huge change. I also try and only drink 64 ounces of water each day unless I'm super thirsty, and I cut off the liquids around 7pm. So all that is good.
I'm not keeping a log or anything, but I'm sure that I am in the bathroom just as much, and I am now resigned to the fact that I'll probably log too much time in the porta-potties during my half marathon. Last Saturday I went for my scheduled 55 minute run and had to come home at the halfway mark to pee! And it's not like I have to go so bad that I'm dying, it's more that I know if I have to go the stress of running with anything in my bladder will lead to problems, especially if I run any downhills! It's truly and completely irritating!
I also don't know if I see a difference in how I feel without the caffeine. Yesterday I would have said no difference at all, however, this morning made me think I do wake up a little more alert. Last night I could not get to sleep. For one, I just wasn't comfortable, and for two, I had to pee too many times (drank too much water after dinner). When I finally did get to sleep I was awakened a few times in the night, again, to pee. Arrrgh! So when my alarm went off at 5:40 I hit snooze. Then again at 5:49. Then I turned it off at 5:58 resolved to sleep for another two hours. But as I laid there I realized that I wasn't all that tired despite my late night and interrupted sleep. So after about 5 more minutes I got up and headed out for my 35 minute run. I guess I thought I would be tired so when my alarm when off I told myself I was, but as I thought about it longer I realized I could get up. A fluke? I don't know. Of course reminding myself how I'd have to be running at 9pm if I didn't get up then might have motivated me a little too.
Anyway, I'm not quitting my project and will continue. One advantage to limiting caffeine is that I don't have to worry about a caffeine headache. One thing about morning runs and morning races is that I don't want to drink coffee beforehand to avoid as much liquid as possible, but then I usually end up with a headache if I go too long without. Not having to worry about such things is definitely a positive side effect of this project. Although I still miss my coffee. Coffee in the morning, coffee in the evening, coffee all day long.
One other quick note, I changed my training schedule just a bit to allow for a rest day this Saturday instead of a long run. I realized that since I'm running a 5K event on Sunday, I'd rather rest the day before so I switched around my running days this week. I want to run strong in the 5K race because this particular event was my first one last year so it's kind of a milestone of sorts. It's been a fun year since that first event and I can't wait to run it again!
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Quickie Check-In
Last Monday's weight: 156.6
Today's weight: 153.8
Loss: 2.8 pounds (9 days)
At this weight, my BMI is considered normal if I say I'm 5'6". It is still overweight at 5'5". Regardless, I want to get below 150! Then there is no borderline. I wll be in the 140s and I will have a healthy BMI! I have not been logging my food, but aside from Sunday's splurge, I have been eating fairly well. For some reason logging anything seems too tedious. I'm trying to keep things in check on the eating front. I'm hoping to get below 150 before my half marathon on July 17.
My half marathon training officially starts next week. I'm following a 10 week program which calls for 4 runs a week and I will also continue with 2 yoga workouts. I am still working out my run schedule. I have been running M,Tu,W,F with yoga on Tu,Th, but I might need to break up the rest days with the increase in mileage. I'm considering a running schedule M,T,Th,Sa with yoga on W,F. I'm just not sure if planning my long runs on Saturday is a smart idea.
This week I am running and resting. I will still post the Bloomsday race recap, but for now I'll say that I was riding the high from my results through a rest day on Monday until 1 mile into a run yesterday. And oh boy, my legs were tight and somewhat rebellious. I finished all 3.1 miles, but it was fairly slow and I stopped to stretch a couple times. This morning, just 12 hours later, I headed out for another 3.1. There is something that's certain--my muscles do not like cold temps. This morning it was about 35 degrees and it was a very hard run. The sun was shining so I wanted to get outside, but I think when it's below 40 degrees, I'm just better off to hit the mill. Tomorrow I recoup with some yoga, and then I'll run another 3-5 on Friday. I will rest Saturday and Sunday and then start my official training on Monday 5/9!! Yay!!
Today's weight: 153.8
Loss: 2.8 pounds (9 days)
At this weight, my BMI is considered normal if I say I'm 5'6". It is still overweight at 5'5". Regardless, I want to get below 150! Then there is no borderline. I wll be in the 140s and I will have a healthy BMI! I have not been logging my food, but aside from Sunday's splurge, I have been eating fairly well. For some reason logging anything seems too tedious. I'm trying to keep things in check on the eating front. I'm hoping to get below 150 before my half marathon on July 17.
My half marathon training officially starts next week. I'm following a 10 week program which calls for 4 runs a week and I will also continue with 2 yoga workouts. I am still working out my run schedule. I have been running M,Tu,W,F with yoga on Tu,Th, but I might need to break up the rest days with the increase in mileage. I'm considering a running schedule M,T,Th,Sa with yoga on W,F. I'm just not sure if planning my long runs on Saturday is a smart idea.
This week I am running and resting. I will still post the Bloomsday race recap, but for now I'll say that I was riding the high from my results through a rest day on Monday until 1 mile into a run yesterday. And oh boy, my legs were tight and somewhat rebellious. I finished all 3.1 miles, but it was fairly slow and I stopped to stretch a couple times. This morning, just 12 hours later, I headed out for another 3.1. There is something that's certain--my muscles do not like cold temps. This morning it was about 35 degrees and it was a very hard run. The sun was shining so I wanted to get outside, but I think when it's below 40 degrees, I'm just better off to hit the mill. Tomorrow I recoup with some yoga, and then I'll run another 3-5 on Friday. I will rest Saturday and Sunday and then start my official training on Monday 5/9!! Yay!!
Monday, May 2, 2011
The weekly weigh in that wasn't.
I plumb forgot to weigh in this morning, how do you like them apples? Oh well.
I will say that I completed negated all physical activity yesterday by consuming many, many calories after the run.
And lookie what I saw at Costco on Friday. Too bad I don't need a copy. Maybe I should have picked one up for a giveway, ha ha. Ladies Choice Collection...you don't say...
I will say that I completed negated all physical activity yesterday by consuming many, many calories after the run.
And lookie what I saw at Costco on Friday. Too bad I don't need a copy. Maybe I should have picked one up for a giveway, ha ha. Ladies Choice Collection...you don't say...
Monday, April 25, 2011
Weekly Weigh-In
I have so many ideas for blog posts, yet whenever I start to write something, my mind seems to get all jumbled. So for today, I just bring you my weigh in results and a couple observations.
I lost .8 lbs this week. It's a loss, but it's still the scale going up and down over the week without any real reason and that is annoying!
I feel like I have lost some inches (an inch?) around my waist over the past couple of weeks despite not really seeing a change in the scale. I think I can attribute this to twice weekly yoga workouts and a couple other ab exercises in between. I haven't been really consistent with taking my measurements, but I do have some prior reference points so I should measure soon. It just seems like over the last couple weeks I've been using the last hole on my belt no matter what jeans I wear, whereas before I was using the 2nd to last with some jeans (low rise vs. mid rise). This change makes me happy even if the scale doesn't really show much change.
I have not eaten any Easter candy!! I don't really even have the desire which is good. I'm still on more of a salt kick right now and would rather eat chips than chocolate, but I didn't have any of those either.
My 12K is in less than 1 week! I'm skeerd!
I lost .8 lbs this week. It's a loss, but it's still the scale going up and down over the week without any real reason and that is annoying!
I feel like I have lost some inches (an inch?) around my waist over the past couple of weeks despite not really seeing a change in the scale. I think I can attribute this to twice weekly yoga workouts and a couple other ab exercises in between. I haven't been really consistent with taking my measurements, but I do have some prior reference points so I should measure soon. It just seems like over the last couple weeks I've been using the last hole on my belt no matter what jeans I wear, whereas before I was using the 2nd to last with some jeans (low rise vs. mid rise). This change makes me happy even if the scale doesn't really show much change.
I have not eaten any Easter candy!! I don't really even have the desire which is good. I'm still on more of a salt kick right now and would rather eat chips than chocolate, but I didn't have any of those either.
My 12K is in less than 1 week! I'm skeerd!
Monday, April 18, 2011
Weekly Weigh in and PointsPlus Update
First of all, our friend finished the Boston Marathon this morning in 2:55:56!! Woohoo! That is just amazing to me. Wow! This was his first ever marathon, too.
So I didn't lose any weight this week, but I also didn't gain any so it could be worse. The problem is I'm getting discouraged. It is apparent that I'm at a plateau or in a slump of some kind. Everyday for months I weigh between 155 and 157 (with a few weights higher or lower) and I'm getting tired of it. Last week, I had 5 great workouts including just under 14 miles of running. I thought the added workouts would help me bust through, but that was not to be.
After several months following the new WW PointsPlus plan, I've come to a few conclusions. As I posted before, I was not very good about tracking my points from the plan's start date until January/February. Since then I have been tracking fairly well. While I have had a few weeks that I've gone over my points by like 5, I haven't had any major overeating weeks. What I have been doing, though, is using all the daily, weekly and activity points and it's become clear that I cannot consume that much food and still lose. I don't want to blame the plan, but I have become a little bit annoyed that I have no choice but to follow the PointsPlus plan. I know, I know, it's not just the plan. I know how to eat and how much because I was doing that and successfully lost over 75 pounds. The problem is, I know the old WW plan like the back of my hand, but I've been trying to forget all that and learn the new points values. But something just isn't adding up for me. The points values for most things are higher and so is my daily and weekly points allowance. Activity points earned are also higher. But if I use all those points, I'm not losing. On the old plain, I could use all my points and still lose. And that's what I loved about it! I might not lose big, but I would still lose and I certainly would not gain! I haven't taken the time to calculate the points based on the new and old plans to see the difference because I just don't want to. That would take time and effort and what was always so nice about counting points is that it was so easy and effortless. I also didn't have to play and trial and error games to see how many points I could actually consume while still losing weight, however, that seems not to be the case anymore. Ugh!
This week I'll be experimenting a little by trying to cut points out of my days. My goal for this week is to not use any weekly points and very little activity points, if any. I feel like I need to shock my system and kick start the losing process again. That first week of any diet plan always shows large losses and if I cut down from 42 points or so each day to 29, that should be a pretty big shocker for the ol' system, right? It might sound drastic, but it's really not. 29 points is my daily allowance and according to the experts at WW, that should be how many points I consume for maximum (healthy) weight loss. What I don't understand is how 29 is the lowest number of daily points while I still have 20 pounds to lose. Under the old system, I usually lost a daily point or two every 10 pounds or so, but on the PointsPlus plan I'm at the bottom already. How can that be?
I feel like I've given myself ample time to embrace this new program and I just haven't. I think the changes are awesome for people who are just starting out and have no idea how to eat healthy. By putting more emphasis on eating whole foods including fruits and veggies, they have really added to the overall plan and made it less appealing to fill your day with processed low cal/low fat junk. Brand new members of this plan will learn way more healthy habits than under the old plan.
But for this old dog, I'm not loving these new tricks. I want my old plan back and I'm feeling a bit resentful that I have to switch from something that was working to something brand new. I still think there is a caloric component to weight loss and although it might be old school, I want calories to be part of my equation. PointsPlus takes away this component and adds a more complicated points calculation. I can't look at a food label and automatically calculate points. Now it's 4 nutritional components instead of 3 and calories isn't one of them. I cannot change my mindset on this as I know weight loss to be calories in vs. calories out. Period. I don't apologize for thinking this way; it is the facts.
I am seriously considering switching to a straight calorie counting plan, but I'm willing to give WW one more chance. I just don't want to have to think so much about calculations. When I first started WW when they introduced points, it's was new and fun. Then point calculating became old hat. The new calculations seem like work and effort. I'm too lazy for that! I always felt like WW was a tool that would help me reach my goals. Now it sort of feels like an obstacle. And it also sort of feels like a gimmick, a diet corporation like any other. They do not stand out to me like before. I used to find inspiration in the success stories, now every one of them begins with "this person lost weight using a prior Weight Watcher plan". I'll be honest, I did have a dream of being a WW success story, but not so much any more. It has lost it's allure.
******
This morning's run:
5K in 34 minutes
I wasn't feeling it today and almost didn't get out of bed. I had trouble sleeping last night and I was awake several times in the night. When my alarm went off at 5:00, I turned it off and crawled back in bed. But 5 minutes later the guilt won over, I thought about all those running Boston today, and I trudged downstairs. It was a slow run, but I did it. And now my workout is done for the day! That is a wonderful feeling!
So I didn't lose any weight this week, but I also didn't gain any so it could be worse. The problem is I'm getting discouraged. It is apparent that I'm at a plateau or in a slump of some kind. Everyday for months I weigh between 155 and 157 (with a few weights higher or lower) and I'm getting tired of it. Last week, I had 5 great workouts including just under 14 miles of running. I thought the added workouts would help me bust through, but that was not to be.
After several months following the new WW PointsPlus plan, I've come to a few conclusions. As I posted before, I was not very good about tracking my points from the plan's start date until January/February. Since then I have been tracking fairly well. While I have had a few weeks that I've gone over my points by like 5, I haven't had any major overeating weeks. What I have been doing, though, is using all the daily, weekly and activity points and it's become clear that I cannot consume that much food and still lose. I don't want to blame the plan, but I have become a little bit annoyed that I have no choice but to follow the PointsPlus plan. I know, I know, it's not just the plan. I know how to eat and how much because I was doing that and successfully lost over 75 pounds. The problem is, I know the old WW plan like the back of my hand, but I've been trying to forget all that and learn the new points values. But something just isn't adding up for me. The points values for most things are higher and so is my daily and weekly points allowance. Activity points earned are also higher. But if I use all those points, I'm not losing. On the old plain, I could use all my points and still lose. And that's what I loved about it! I might not lose big, but I would still lose and I certainly would not gain! I haven't taken the time to calculate the points based on the new and old plans to see the difference because I just don't want to. That would take time and effort and what was always so nice about counting points is that it was so easy and effortless. I also didn't have to play and trial and error games to see how many points I could actually consume while still losing weight, however, that seems not to be the case anymore. Ugh!
This week I'll be experimenting a little by trying to cut points out of my days. My goal for this week is to not use any weekly points and very little activity points, if any. I feel like I need to shock my system and kick start the losing process again. That first week of any diet plan always shows large losses and if I cut down from 42 points or so each day to 29, that should be a pretty big shocker for the ol' system, right? It might sound drastic, but it's really not. 29 points is my daily allowance and according to the experts at WW, that should be how many points I consume for maximum (healthy) weight loss. What I don't understand is how 29 is the lowest number of daily points while I still have 20 pounds to lose. Under the old system, I usually lost a daily point or two every 10 pounds or so, but on the PointsPlus plan I'm at the bottom already. How can that be?
I feel like I've given myself ample time to embrace this new program and I just haven't. I think the changes are awesome for people who are just starting out and have no idea how to eat healthy. By putting more emphasis on eating whole foods including fruits and veggies, they have really added to the overall plan and made it less appealing to fill your day with processed low cal/low fat junk. Brand new members of this plan will learn way more healthy habits than under the old plan.
But for this old dog, I'm not loving these new tricks. I want my old plan back and I'm feeling a bit resentful that I have to switch from something that was working to something brand new. I still think there is a caloric component to weight loss and although it might be old school, I want calories to be part of my equation. PointsPlus takes away this component and adds a more complicated points calculation. I can't look at a food label and automatically calculate points. Now it's 4 nutritional components instead of 3 and calories isn't one of them. I cannot change my mindset on this as I know weight loss to be calories in vs. calories out. Period. I don't apologize for thinking this way; it is the facts.
I am seriously considering switching to a straight calorie counting plan, but I'm willing to give WW one more chance. I just don't want to have to think so much about calculations. When I first started WW when they introduced points, it's was new and fun. Then point calculating became old hat. The new calculations seem like work and effort. I'm too lazy for that! I always felt like WW was a tool that would help me reach my goals. Now it sort of feels like an obstacle. And it also sort of feels like a gimmick, a diet corporation like any other. They do not stand out to me like before. I used to find inspiration in the success stories, now every one of them begins with "this person lost weight using a prior Weight Watcher plan". I'll be honest, I did have a dream of being a WW success story, but not so much any more. It has lost it's allure.
******
This morning's run:
5K in 34 minutes
I wasn't feeling it today and almost didn't get out of bed. I had trouble sleeping last night and I was awake several times in the night. When my alarm went off at 5:00, I turned it off and crawled back in bed. But 5 minutes later the guilt won over, I thought about all those running Boston today, and I trudged downstairs. It was a slow run, but I did it. And now my workout is done for the day! That is a wonderful feeling!
Monday, April 11, 2011
This Week's "Training" Plan
First things first, I gained 2 pounds this week. I know why so I'm not upset with anything except myself, but I'm moving onward and hopefully downward this week.
I am trying something new this week. I am planning on 4 runs, but over the course of 5 days instead of 6 which means I'll be running three days in a row. I prefer this plan because I really don't like having a run on the weekend schedule as sometimes it falls by the wayside with other things going on, or just plain weekend sloth-i-tude. So my planned workout schedule for the week looks like this:
Monday: Run 4 miles, stretching and abs (check!)
Tuesday: Run 2 miles (fast), light strength exercises, yoga for around 20-30 minutes
Wednesday: Run 3 miles, stretching and abs
Thursday: Long yoga routine
Friday: Run 5 miles, stretching and abs
With this plan, I'll be running 14 miles and getting in some strength and core work. The added stretching from yoga will also be beneficial. I haven't actually found the long yoga routine that I'll be doing on Thursday, but hopefully Exercise TV will have something to offer. I'm leaning towards the Body by Bethenny video that's just over 50 minutes in length. I previewed it the other day and read the reviews on Amazon which are mostly positive. I figure since it's free to watch, I might as well give it a shot.
The other part of my plan is to get up and workout/run before work on work days (Monday through Thursday). Of course this is still one of my goals in progress, and I'm still determined to make it work, now more than ever. This week starts our sports season of craziness where we have sports games or practice 6 days a week, with only Friday nights free. Luckily soccer is only until May 7th when we'll cut back to just baseball until June 1st. It will be increasingly difficult to get in a workout in the evenings for the next few months. What better time to focus 110% of my efforts to getting it done before work, right? This morning I got it done and I feel great! I keep repeating, "Remember this feeling, remember this feeling."
The other thing that's going to be harder over the next couple of months is eating well balanced meals. With all the coming and going it will test my battle of wills over whether to eat something easy or eat something healthy. Yes, these can be the same thing, but you know what I mean. I'm up for the challenge for myself and for my son who will want to eat some kind of fast food way too often on our way home in the evenings. But no! We must think about our health, our fitness, and our overall well being and choose the healthy options. We'll also plan ahead by packing (healthy) snacks.
So I'm back to day 1 of my 100 days challenge. Here we go!
I am trying something new this week. I am planning on 4 runs, but over the course of 5 days instead of 6 which means I'll be running three days in a row. I prefer this plan because I really don't like having a run on the weekend schedule as sometimes it falls by the wayside with other things going on, or just plain weekend sloth-i-tude. So my planned workout schedule for the week looks like this:
Monday: Run 4 miles, stretching and abs (check!)
Tuesday: Run 2 miles (fast), light strength exercises, yoga for around 20-30 minutes
Wednesday: Run 3 miles, stretching and abs
Thursday: Long yoga routine
Friday: Run 5 miles, stretching and abs
With this plan, I'll be running 14 miles and getting in some strength and core work. The added stretching from yoga will also be beneficial. I haven't actually found the long yoga routine that I'll be doing on Thursday, but hopefully Exercise TV will have something to offer. I'm leaning towards the Body by Bethenny video that's just over 50 minutes in length. I previewed it the other day and read the reviews on Amazon which are mostly positive. I figure since it's free to watch, I might as well give it a shot.
The other part of my plan is to get up and workout/run before work on work days (Monday through Thursday). Of course this is still one of my goals in progress, and I'm still determined to make it work, now more than ever. This week starts our sports season of craziness where we have sports games or practice 6 days a week, with only Friday nights free. Luckily soccer is only until May 7th when we'll cut back to just baseball until June 1st. It will be increasingly difficult to get in a workout in the evenings for the next few months. What better time to focus 110% of my efforts to getting it done before work, right? This morning I got it done and I feel great! I keep repeating, "Remember this feeling, remember this feeling."
The other thing that's going to be harder over the next couple of months is eating well balanced meals. With all the coming and going it will test my battle of wills over whether to eat something easy or eat something healthy. Yes, these can be the same thing, but you know what I mean. I'm up for the challenge for myself and for my son who will want to eat some kind of fast food way too often on our way home in the evenings. But no! We must think about our health, our fitness, and our overall well being and choose the healthy options. We'll also plan ahead by packing (healthy) snacks.
So I'm back to day 1 of my 100 days challenge. Here we go!
Monday, April 4, 2011
Is this a plateau?
In the interest of full disclosure, I must confess that I went over my points this week by 5! That means I have to start my 100 days over again! Day 1 = April 4.
This week's weigh in is 155.4! That is a 1 pound gain. That is frustrating to me! I weighed 153.4 yesterday, and 152.4 on Saturday. And there is nothing in the last two days that's out of the ordinary.
I seem to be yo-yo-ing around within 2-3 pounds and this has gone on for weeks. I know there has been some days that have included an indulgence in salty snacks, but overall there is nothing significant to pinpoint as the reason I cannot bust through the 150s (especially this week and last), except that maybe my body doesn't want to. Perhaps it's used to the level of eating and activity now so I need to kick things up a notch. This probably means eating less and exercising more. Hmmm, what a concept, right?! Moving on...
This weekend we watched the film "127 Hours". I highly recommend this film and think you should watch it if you haven't seen it. Two thumps up!
This week's weigh in is 155.4! That is a 1 pound gain. That is frustrating to me! I weighed 153.4 yesterday, and 152.4 on Saturday. And there is nothing in the last two days that's out of the ordinary.
I seem to be yo-yo-ing around within 2-3 pounds and this has gone on for weeks. I know there has been some days that have included an indulgence in salty snacks, but overall there is nothing significant to pinpoint as the reason I cannot bust through the 150s (especially this week and last), except that maybe my body doesn't want to. Perhaps it's used to the level of eating and activity now so I need to kick things up a notch. This probably means eating less and exercising more. Hmmm, what a concept, right?! Moving on...
This weekend we watched the film "127 Hours". I highly recommend this film and think you should watch it if you haven't seen it. Two thumps up!
Monday, March 28, 2011
Food: Fitness: Fun
Okay, first, did anyone notice how freakishly small my arm looked in that last picture? Trust me, it is not that small. It was the digital zoom on Forrest which made my arm look like a toon arm.
Anyways, I'm happy to report a loss of 2.2 pounds for the week bringing me (back) down to 154.4. I had an amazing week last week so I'm hoping to keep the forward momentum!! Here's the deets on my food, fitness and fun!
Food: All seven days I stuck to plan and did not indulge in any junk, even by counting the points. All good, healthy, whole foods.
Fitness: I logged 4 runs which was 14.66 miles. I'm still having a bit of an issue with my Garmin Foot Pod, however, so that could be overstated by about 1.5 miles. Whatever, I know I had the minutes in anyway. I tried calibrating it Saturday morning on the treadmill, but I got the lovely message "Calibration failed". I'm about ready to give up, but I'm not sure I can return it at this point so I guess I have to keep working on it.
Fun: I completed my 2006 scrapbook! Woot woot! I also have photos for 2007 through 2009 on pages so all that's left is journaling, titles, and putting those suckers into albums. In my vein to simplify (and get caught up), I have gone back to the basics with regard to scrapbooking. Lots of photos with lots of journalling. Isn't that really all you need? I also completed a couple other outstanding To Dos on the home list.
As you can see, with regard to food, fitness and fun, my week went really, really well!!
In other news, I am possibly embarking on the half marathon train soon. My friend and I might sign up to participate the Seattle RnR together!! If so, this would be a planned run/walk event because neither of us is ready to run the entire thing, although adrenaline could kick in and surge us forward. I think it would be awesome to stick together regardless of whether we run or walk. The Seattle RnR is at 85% capacity right now so there is still a bit of time to decide. It's the money, friends. I just don't know about spending the money and all that jazz. We're supposed to be connecting about it soon to hammer out details.
*****
Don't forget to enter my Chobani giveway.
Anyways, I'm happy to report a loss of 2.2 pounds for the week bringing me (back) down to 154.4. I had an amazing week last week so I'm hoping to keep the forward momentum!! Here's the deets on my food, fitness and fun!
Food: All seven days I stuck to plan and did not indulge in any junk, even by counting the points. All good, healthy, whole foods.
Fitness: I logged 4 runs which was 14.66 miles. I'm still having a bit of an issue with my Garmin Foot Pod, however, so that could be overstated by about 1.5 miles. Whatever, I know I had the minutes in anyway. I tried calibrating it Saturday morning on the treadmill, but I got the lovely message "Calibration failed". I'm about ready to give up, but I'm not sure I can return it at this point so I guess I have to keep working on it.
Fun: I completed my 2006 scrapbook! Woot woot! I also have photos for 2007 through 2009 on pages so all that's left is journaling, titles, and putting those suckers into albums. In my vein to simplify (and get caught up), I have gone back to the basics with regard to scrapbooking. Lots of photos with lots of journalling. Isn't that really all you need? I also completed a couple other outstanding To Dos on the home list.
As you can see, with regard to food, fitness and fun, my week went really, really well!!
In other news, I am possibly embarking on the half marathon train soon. My friend and I might sign up to participate the Seattle RnR together!! If so, this would be a planned run/walk event because neither of us is ready to run the entire thing, although adrenaline could kick in and surge us forward. I think it would be awesome to stick together regardless of whether we run or walk. The Seattle RnR is at 85% capacity right now so there is still a bit of time to decide. It's the money, friends. I just don't know about spending the money and all that jazz. We're supposed to be connecting about it soon to hammer out details.
*****
Don't forget to enter my Chobani giveway.
Monday, March 21, 2011
Happy Monday
Happy Monday, everyone! Today was fairly uneventful for me and I don't have a lot to report.
First, my weigh in had me at 156.6 today. That is a 2.2 lb loss for the week. But last week was a 6 pound gain so I was really hoping to lose more.
But I shall be grateful I was down at all considering that by Thursday night I went totally crazy with my eating!! All was fine until I decided to try some new potato chips that my husband bought. Mistake! Who can eat just one? Then we had a large dinner on Friday night which included too much pasta and bread. Ugh! This weekend included a quick trip to Seattle because my niece had her first birthday party. While I thought I would do okay with this, I ended up doing terribly. It was like the see-food diet all day on Saturday and when I went to bed that night I felt absolutely miserable. Truly, it was the volume of food that did it, because nothing by itself was really that bad.
Sunday morning I woke up feeling terrible and my stomach was rebelling. I ate a little breakfast, but I was nauseous the whole day, but also hungry which was weird. I had the new oatmeal from McDonald's for lunch which settled my stomach a bit, but then the afternoon brought Arby's and that was a mistake. Needless to say, today's scale number is better than it could be and hopefully as worse as it will get since I'm back to business now.
While I didn't get up before work to run today because my stomach had lingering twinges of nausea, I will definitely run tomorrow. Hopefully this week will bring about 4 runs, at least 12 miles. I'm still trying to get back on a good running schedule since last month's running debacle.
And that is about all there is today. I'm trying to chalk up the slip as just that, a slip. But there have been too many lately! I have to keep in check! I need to stay motivated and keep focused.
I am considering signing up for a half marathon. I think the training would do me good, would be a great motivator, but that's also why I'm not sure I'm ready. I keep watching the registration for the Seattle Rock n' Roll Half on June 25th. It hasn't filled up yet, but I know it will soon. I want to register, but something is holding me back. Part of it is fear and part of it is money, and still another part of it is something else I can't quite name. It's $115 for this event and that is a lot of money right now. I have to be sure I will do it before taking the jump. I keep hoping it will sell out and then I won't have to think about it anymore. What a lovely attitude, huh? There are other events in the world, but if it's meant to be with the R&R in Seattle, it will be.
So, for those that have done one (or more) of the R&R series half or full marathons, would you recommend one for my first (and possibly only) half?
First, my weigh in had me at 156.6 today. That is a 2.2 lb loss for the week. But last week was a 6 pound gain so I was really hoping to lose more.
But I shall be grateful I was down at all considering that by Thursday night I went totally crazy with my eating!! All was fine until I decided to try some new potato chips that my husband bought. Mistake! Who can eat just one? Then we had a large dinner on Friday night which included too much pasta and bread. Ugh! This weekend included a quick trip to Seattle because my niece had her first birthday party. While I thought I would do okay with this, I ended up doing terribly. It was like the see-food diet all day on Saturday and when I went to bed that night I felt absolutely miserable. Truly, it was the volume of food that did it, because nothing by itself was really that bad.
Sunday morning I woke up feeling terrible and my stomach was rebelling. I ate a little breakfast, but I was nauseous the whole day, but also hungry which was weird. I had the new oatmeal from McDonald's for lunch which settled my stomach a bit, but then the afternoon brought Arby's and that was a mistake. Needless to say, today's scale number is better than it could be and hopefully as worse as it will get since I'm back to business now.
While I didn't get up before work to run today because my stomach had lingering twinges of nausea, I will definitely run tomorrow. Hopefully this week will bring about 4 runs, at least 12 miles. I'm still trying to get back on a good running schedule since last month's running debacle.
And that is about all there is today. I'm trying to chalk up the slip as just that, a slip. But there have been too many lately! I have to keep in check! I need to stay motivated and keep focused.
I am considering signing up for a half marathon. I think the training would do me good, would be a great motivator, but that's also why I'm not sure I'm ready. I keep watching the registration for the Seattle Rock n' Roll Half on June 25th. It hasn't filled up yet, but I know it will soon. I want to register, but something is holding me back. Part of it is fear and part of it is money, and still another part of it is something else I can't quite name. It's $115 for this event and that is a lot of money right now. I have to be sure I will do it before taking the jump. I keep hoping it will sell out and then I won't have to think about it anymore. What a lovely attitude, huh? There are other events in the world, but if it's meant to be with the R&R in Seattle, it will be.
So, for those that have done one (or more) of the R&R series half or full marathons, would you recommend one for my first (and possibly only) half?
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