40lbs lost.....and then a few gained back!

I reached my goal!!!!! I did it I did it! Merry Christmas to me!

Christmas Eve morning I hit my goal!

why then does my ticker NOT reflect that. Well because Christmas eve morning i started eating christmas foods. So back on it came! LOL

But I know i can do it now. Almost there

Hmph

Last month, I managed to work out 26 of 30 days. Thats pretty awesome for me if I do say so myself. This month.....hmmm.....so far 6 times. UGGGG. NOT GOOD.

Thanks to the stomach flu I lost another 2 lbs (initially I lost 5, but 3 of that came back when I got dehydrated).

I have been behaving on the diet though and that helps at least, but I'm running out of time to GET FIT for Jamaica.

I have 2 training sessions left with the trainer. Lets hope I make the most of them! They kick my butt and I love it!

From Skeptic to Believer

So, I've always been a skeptic of trainers.

They cost a fortune and really, if I can get the "workout" plan from someone isn't that good enough. Womens health offers GREAT workout plans, and they vary. Ideally, this should be enough. For some people it might be.

But recently I obtained 5 sessions for almost free. I've had my first two and I am a true believer that they are worth thier weight in gold. I could have done the first workout alone (if someone gave me the instructions) but there is NO way I would have pushed myself to do it in the time she did, nor would my last rep (till failure) have lasted until actual failure. I cheat myself. I can't cheat someone else.

My second workout was something I could never do alone. It was a medicine ball work out that involved catching and such. And it was great.

I was at a plateau for a very long time and since my first session 3 days ago, I am down 3 lbs already....and I FEEL stronger. AMAZING.

Now if I could just find the money to keep going when these 5 are over.....

8 for 8

As of yesterday my streak was 8 for 8.

Today I'm running out of time, if I can find something to constitute a work out while I watch Biggest Loser it will be 9 for 9.

If not, I broke my streak and I'm blaming it on the husband.

Metabolism Mayhem!

I LOVE using formula's and logic to lose weight, cause thats me. A pound is 3500 calories, so if I cut 3500 calories a week from what my body needs to maintain, then I lose that much. LOGIC. LOVE IT. But sometimes people do that and lose even MORE, why....because of their metabolism. So I'm BIG into reading on metabolisms. I know that my yo-yo dieting during college probably really messed it up big time....so I like learning how to fix it.

These are things I KNOW can fix your metabolism:

• Frequent small meals
• ALWAYS eat breakfast
• Work out in the morning
• add a second smaller workout or walk mid day to re-rev it
• Intervals when working out are HUGE (confusing your body)
• Get 8 hours of sleep

Along with loving my logic and my math, I'm a reader, and I know you shouldn't believe everything you read, but I overheard a trainer telling one of his clients to read the new posting on the wall. So of course I did. And I believed it!

It listed some of the above ways to boost your metabolism. BUT it had a number one I had not read before:

When we drop our calories to a certain number and eat that each day, our body gets used to that, and SLOWS its metabolic burn rate (adjusted on what we are eating). To prevent this from happening you should find your "maintain" number of calories (which I've done with my formula) On 3 days a week, eat that amount of calories, and on the OTHER days, drop your calories by 20-30% of that number. The thing is you can't do it every other day, or anything your body can get "used" to, predict or adjust to. It needs to be random. (They suggested flipping a coin in the morning and heads is maintain, tails is lower)

That made a TON of sense to me. I am definitely going to try this.

Back on the wagon

Well, I'm officially 4 for 4 since getting back on the wagon. That includes eating under 1500 calories and working out daily. If I dont lose weight I'll drop to 1200 calories. But for now, I'm getting fit.

I have not run, and I have less then 3 weeks until the 5k. That said, I'm not putting pressure on myself, its also a "walk" so I'm not going to worry about my time, but instead worry about feeling fit, and walking or running for a great cause :-)

http://www.irisremembers.com/events/TurkeyTrot2009/

Its been a while

Well once I hit 138lbs I kinda gave up. I've been in maintain mode. I fluctuate 5lbs up and down amongst the days. But I still consider it the same.

I do NOT look like I thought I'd look at this weight, and therefore am getting BACK on the wagon to shape up for my cruise.

But sooner then that, I have a 5k in 3 weeks! And I have not ran since September, that doesnt fair well for me. SOOOOOOO back to the grind.

My goal right now is to get 6 workouts a week in between now and Thanksgiving (the day of my 5k). I'll see what my weight does without cutting calories. If it doesnt move, then starting after the 5k, I cut those back down to 1200 as well.

Hungry Girl

I LOVE her recipes.

I got her second book (200 recipes under 200 calories) and I can't wait to start making them!

Tonight we are having

h-o-t hot boneless buffalo wings

and


fiber-fried green beans with spicy cucumber-ranch dip

YUMMMMY!

Is it worth it?

There is no good excuse for my constantly rising weight, when I've been behaving in food and exercise. Except that I notice I have not lost a single pound since starting my NuvaRing.

While I enjoy the NuvaRing since I have had no break through bleeding, and I am able to skip periods as wanted, and of course the extra reassurance when it comes to NOT making babies. BUT is it worth this side effect. I am frustrated and depressed. Not to mention the other side effect (NO sex drive---humorous to me that BC decreases sex drive, kinda redundant)

I need to be happy and feel good about myself! This is NOT doing it for me.

So keep it or ditch it?!!??!?!!

Wednesday Weigh In

Still stuck. No inches lost, no pounds lost. Just stuck.

*sigh*

Yesterday I didn't make it to the gym (since my sitter didn't show up in time) but I did get in another 35 minute work out with Active. I could hardly walk by the end of the night last night. The "jump squats" and "jump lunges" are killer!!!

Today there was no sitter lined up, so it was an Active or Shred day. I went with Shred. Level 1. (I think that one works upper body more, cause of the pushups--and i had a sore lower body). Tomorrow is a gym day. This week I'm 3 for 3 on workouts.

And still getting about a 90% effort on the food :-)

Tuesday Schmoozday

Holding myself accountable starting yesterday.

I behaved all day. My calories were at 900 at bed time. But then I felt the need to cheat and eat 3 spoonfulls of cookie dough. I have no idea where that left me with calories, but I'm guessing it was NOT under 1200.

I made Kevin do Active with me on Wii last night. We did a 40 minute work out. I do well when he does it with me. I had like 75% effort to his 25%. But of course that still breaks down to him burning 100 calories more then I did, jerk face! LOL

Today Im' being good and writing down what I eat just like yesterday, I'm headed out to dinner tonight, so that may put me over, but I'm going to try to still write it down and behave. I'm also headed to the gym when my sister gets here to watch Caden.

So yesterday, I give myself about a 90%. I worked my ass off and behaved till evening.
Lets see how I score today.

When is "Good Enough" enough?

Its definitely enough when we are talking about:

~occasionally buying cheap shampoo
~ingredients (I'm a free cook, pinches and dashes are my thing)
~washing my car
~ba-da-da-ing (a quick pick up of the house)
~remembering my sunscreen
~folding my clothes
~painting

Good enough is NOT enough when we are talking about:

~cooking chicken and pork
~brand of my jeans
~my conditioner
~measuring my babies medicine
~my paycheck
~bra support


When we are talking about self confidence, and body image, is good enough enough?
I don't think so.

Yet, I reach a comfortable weight and I stop.
I lose motivation.
I slack.
I promise tomorrow will be better, and its not.

What is it gonna take for me to get that motivation, to know that I CAN reach that "perfect" goal I dream about.....

I don't know but I need to figure it out quick and I need help getting back on track!!!!!

Freaken Plateu!!!

I hate them. Hate hate hate them. They make me lose ALL motivation.

I am stuck at 138. I'm stuck at my inches. I'm stuck all around.

It makes me want to hide in bed, not go to the gym and eat!!!

My plan:
I will ONLY wear my tight jeans to keep me from thinking I have ROOM to eat more. I'm going through my closet and hiding the other stuff. I may have a slight muffin top if I do this, but I will work harder to get rid of it then. Same with my work out clothes, the small ones are it, so when i see myself in the mirror I work that much harder.

Making a menu for the week. GUZZLE THAT WATER.

Daily workouts. I can still only do every other day at the gym, but I'm going to at LEAST do a video or Active on the off days. 7 days a week. Tricky while camping next week, so then I will have to do morning outdoor runs. And nap time ab work in the camper.

GET OVER THIS HUMP!!!!!!!!

Tell me it can be done.

Motivation

"In running, it doesn't matter whether you come in first, in the middle of the pack, or last. You can say, 'I have finished.' There is a lot of satisfaction in that."

-Fred Lebow, New York City Marathon co-founder




"The miracle isn't that I finished. The miracle is that I had the courage to start."
-John Bingham, running speaker and writer

Proud of me!!!! Make that proud of WE!!!!

I set out today with three goals. But told myself only #1 mattered!!!

1. Finish the 5k
2. Don't finish last
3. Aim to beat my treadmill time of 40 minutes
(that was at zero incline, indoors)

I finished!!!!

I wasn't last!!!!!!!

I took 40:39 and considering I didn't trip anyone, and I added tons of elements (including 60 degree weather, wind, stanky fish smelling rivers, hills, and a man that said "THE END" riding my ass), I think thats pretty good time!!!!!!!

SO I'm proud. I'm happy.

I'm even prouder of Deanna, who did what I shoulda done and started out at a better pace, instead of pushing. I did a lot of walk/jog, she did a very slow jog. She finished at 38:19!!! This is only training ONCE!!! Awesome job D. YOU ROCKED IT!!! And she was kind enough to come back and jog the last 20 seconds with me. She said "if you hurry you can beat 41" to which I replied "FUCK 41" LOL, but I did it! We did it!!!!!!!!


Looking back, at my running upload from my Garmin. My average pace was about 5mph. Which makes sense, because I made it to mile marker one in 12 minutes, and thats also my "best timed mile". They say to find out what your 5k speed will be add 45 seconds to your mile and multiply by 3. I didn't quite make that (38:15), but I'm blaming it on running tooooo hard at the start, my heart rate hit over 200 quickly and it was HARD to get it back down. I'm hoping if I learn to stay in my target HR zone instead of going over, I'll be able to keep pace better. So my goal is to average 5mph for now!

Yeah me!

Okay....time for a 5k

Well, I know I have one in September, but then one just fell in my lap today, and its this Saturday. I'm gonna go for it. It will be a good "trial" for me, and I'll have a realistic measurment to go by the next time.

I'm super nervouse, super pumped, and can not WAIT till Sunday.

My goal: DONT finish last and FINISH!!!!!

(Ideally I'd like to beat my 40 minute time on the treadmill, but really I'm keeping it simple and sticking to only the one goal).

That's all I've got!

How I roll.....

People often ask me what I'm doing. I feel like I'm always talking about it, but looking back I guess I'm not. Anyways, here are my key habits that help me the most:

Diet

• Write down everything I eat, no cheating, and I leave this on the counter, so anyoen in my house could see it, and that keeps me accountable (both from eating shit and from not eating enough)
  
• Eat within an hour of waking up (I hate this--and am known to eat super foods, as I hate bfast ones!)
• Eat about every 4 hours
• Keep my calories around 1200, for an exact number I use this, currently I need to eat 1690 calories to maintain my weight (I use sedentary, that way I can subtract my calories burned in a workout) 3500 calories are a pound, to lose a pound a week, you cut 500 a day, i had been cutting 750 from food and burning 250 in work outs each day for 2lbs a week, but now I can not do that, my calorie intake would be TOO low
  
• Do not eat after 7pm
• Water water water (I'm bad at this lately, but when I'm good it makes a HUGE difference) Ice cold is best, body works harder with that

Fitness

• No less then 3 days a week at the gym--these are mandatory, anything else is extra--on these days at least 15 minutes, preferably 30 of cardio (usually my runs) and weights
• Another mandatory is this ab work out by WH (plus some lying flat leg raises-3 sets of 15 and some bycicle crunches-3 sets of 30-15 each side) at least 3 times a week
  
• Optional: Extra days at the gym (cardio, weight at times too), a video (30 day shred kicks arse and I also like Leslie Sansone Walk/Jog), a walk with my family (Strollers and hills kick arse!)
  

Weekly Weigh in

I'm early, because I've been gone, and needed to check on myself!

I'm PUMPED.

I hit 30lbs lost today!!!!!

Funny timing, because I also hit 30 inches lost!!!!!

	5/15/2009	7/1/2009	7/13/2009
	Start	Previous	Current
1. Bust: Don't squish yourself -- measure all the way around your bust and back right at your nipple line, and make sure the tape measure is not lower.
	35	32	32
2. Chest: Measure under your breasts but as high up as you can go, keeping the tape measure parallel to this line when you reach it around your back.
	29	28	28
3. Waist: Measure wherever it is the smallest (if you have "no waist" go around yourself right at the navel line).
	30	28	28
4. Hips: Measure at the very biggest part -- even if that is so low that you are almost on the top of your thighs.
	43	39	38
5. Midway: Measure midway between the very biggest part of your hips and your waist.
	39	36	34
6. Thighs: Measure wherever they are the biggest.
	26	21.5	21
7. Knees: Measure right above the knee.
	18	15	15
8. Calves: Measure wherever they are the biggest.
	15	13	13
9. Upper arm: Measure wherever they are biggest above your elbows.
	13	11	11
10. Forearms: Measure wherever they are biggest below your elbows.
	11	9	9
Weekly Loss		1.5	3.5
Total loss		26.5 inches	30 inches

*patting self on back*

I told myself that I only had to do 15 minutes of running today if I wanted. But as you all know, you have those dialoges with yourself on the treadmill. The ones you want to quit early, but talk yourself into an extra minute. I talked myself up to 30 minutes, at which point I then talked myself into GOING for it, and finishing 5k!

Needless to say, I did it, and I feel great about myself.

A 3 minute warm up walk (got 1/4 mile) and then I managed a 40 minute 5k!! Not a number I want when I actually do a 5k, but a start!!! After a 4 minute cool down that was a total of 3.6 miles on the treadmill today!

yeah for my first 5k!!!!

Back to diligence

Need to get my ass back on track!!!!

Its amazing how quickly one can loose motivation. How quickly a (good) habit is forgotten. This never happens with the bad ones!

My routine was messed up by a vacation and now by being a single parent.

In the last month my weight has fluctuated between 141-144lbs, up then down then back up. I need to be diligent about my recording whats coming in my body and what I'm burning off. While I've been OK with keeping up work outs, I have NOT been keeping track of whats going in.

So back at it. If it touches my lips it goes on the paper.

I can do this right!?!?

Heart Rates

Well I am back at my gym today. I havent been there in two weeks. I wanted to run 3k but was sadly dissapointed with myself. I dont understand, I've ran 30 minutes straight (at 4.5) a few times now. Today though I couldnt go more then 3 minutes (at 4.5) and I'd have to take a minute walk (3.5) to catch my breath and control my heart rate. This happend last time.

I hate it because I dont know when to STOP pushing myself. My heart rate was hitting 202 and I know thats SUPER high for me (my recommended range is like 120-170). I dont understand this. I know the most effective work outs are at 50-80% of your max heart rate....

so does that mean that when my heart rate is up that high, I'm not being as effective?

Should I be slowing down? If so, how will I ever increase my ability. If not, how do I keep going without collapsing.

So confused.

I'm home and the results are in....

WOOT!!!!
25 inches lost.

Over the last 18 days, I've managed to lose an additional 5.75, not bad for how badly I behaved on vacation!

	5/15/09	6/3/09	6/21/09
	Start	Previous	Current
1. Bust: Don't squish yourself -- measure all the way around your bust and back right at your nipple line, and make sure the tape measure is not lower.
	35	33.75	32
2. Chest: Measure under your breasts but as high up as you can go, keeping the tape measure parallel to this line when you reach it around your back.
	29	28.5	28
3. Waist: Measure wherever it is the smallest (if you have "no waist" go around yourself right at the navel line).
	30	28.5	28
4. Hips: Measure at the very biggest part -- even if that is so low that you are almost on the top of your thighs.
	43	40.5	39
5. Midway: Measure midway between the very biggest part of your hips and your waist.
	39	37	36.5
6. Thighs: Measure wherever they are the biggest.
	26	22.5	22
7. Knees: Measure right above the knee.
	18	16	15.5
8. Calves: Measure wherever they are the biggest.
	15	13	13
9. Upper arm: Measure wherever they are biggest above your elbows.
	13	11	11
10. Forearms: Measure wherever they are biggest below your elbows.
	11	9	9
Weekly Loss		3.25 loss	5.75
Total loss		19.25 inches	25 inches

Weighing in....

Well well well. I'm excited, what I've learned this week is that I can maintain well! I'm eating shat, but doing so while thinking about my choices! I havent worked out in a week (until today!). That said, I found a scale. While I usually do my weigh ins in the am and naked, this one was done in the evening and dressed (shoes included). Hey, I didnt think the women there would appreciate me stripping down!

So here we have it.....its been 2 weeks since my last weigh in and I was 143.

Today I pulled out a 141!!!!!! Woooooooooooooot!

I'm happy. Thats great for vacation if you ask me!

Hmmm

Well, time has gotten away from me. The work outs are harder to come by since this hotel does not have 24 hour access to the fitness center. My DVD has a scratch in it. So my work outs consist of 4 hours of recreational swimming (I try to tread water for at least 20 minutes twice a day).

My diet has stuck the the three smaller meals a day, but still not counting calories.

The good news is, my clothes are my 'scale" and a pair of size 10 shorts that fit well before are now very loose! So yeah for that!!!!

And my swimsuit bottom is sagging :-)

So far so....

.....Good with the workouts.

I worked out at the gym before I left on Sunday. Sunday night we drove all night, I got 2 hours of sleep, and I still was a good girl and went to the fitness room at the hotel on Monday! YEAH for me. I did day one of week 8. I also did some free weights and crunches!

Today...Tuesday....I did the 30 Day Shred. So I'm two for two on my work outs on vacation. Which is better then I often do at home.

...bad with the diet! I've never had Chic Fil A or Jack In the Box. So I had to try those. That said, I've watched portions NOT skipped breakfast and kept snacking to a minimum. Again much better then I usually do on vacation.

I say its a wash! And as far as vacations go.....a success.

The test

So I'm leaving today for a road trip. I will not be back until Monday the 15th. That means no weekly weigh in to keep me on track. I plan to work out in the hotel gyms whenever I have a chance. I will try to stay within my maintain number of calories (vs. my lose number).

This is gonna be tricky. So please keep your thoughts with me! I'm SCARED.

See ya on the flip side!

Nice Surprise

I do not like running outside. When you add elements like wind, hills, heat, uneven ground......my endurance goes down, my clumsiness increases and I just plain STINK. That said, not many 5ks are performed on a treadmill.

I got my new toy today. And after much to do trying to get the phucin thing to work. I took it out for a test run! I seriously had NO endurance, and was dying after 7 minutes (even though my past two runs have been 25 minutes straight on the treadmill). Well low and behold, I find out that outdoors I am running at a much faster "natural pace". While on the treadmill, I stick to 4.5 as my high speed for a long run (13:20 minute Mile). Out doors I was running at a pace for a 9:30 minute mile!

If I hadn't calibrated my foot pod, I wouldnt have believed it. Heck, I didnt. So I "mapmyrun"ed it, and sure as heck, thats about right! Due to that though, I did have to slow it down and pace myself better. But I'm happy to know that my natrual pace isnt QUITE as slow as I thought it was!

Wednesday Weigh In

Sigh. My weight is the same. Thats frustrating, since at one point this weekend I was down to 141, yesterday 142. But thank god I started measuring inches, because they DID drop.

Weight 143 (25lb loss)

	5/15/09	5/20/09	5/27/09	6/3/09
1. Bust: Don't squish yourself -- measure all the way around your bust and back right at your nipple line, and make sure the tape measure is not lower.
	35	34	34	33.75
2. Chest: Measure under your breasts but as high up as you can go, keeping the tape measure parallel to this line when you reach it around your back.
	29	29	28.5	28.5
3. Waist: Measure wherever it is the smallest (if you have "no waist" go around yourself right at the navel line).
	30	30	29	28.5
4. Hips: Measure at the very biggest part -- even if that is so low that you are almost on the top of your thighs.
	43	42	41.5	40.5
5. Midway: Measure midway between the very biggest part of your hips and your waist.
	39	39	38	37
6. Thighs: Measure wherever they are the biggest.
	26	23	22.5	22.5
7. Knees: Measure right above the knee.
	18	16	16	16
8. Calves: Measure wherever they are the biggest.
	15	13	13	13
9. Upper arm: Measure wherever they are biggest above your elbows.
	13	11	11	11
10. Forearms: Measure wherever they are biggest below your elbows.
	11	10	9.5	9

Total loss 3.25 inches!!!!

12 week progress

Gross, I shouldnt be doing this. I'm not happy where I am yet, but I figure if I start doing my 4 week updates where the world can see, maybe it will help me push. Okay, thats not true, I always FEEL better then i look in pictures. LOL.

First of all, here I was 5 months pregnant. A year ago this past weekend (i think its better then now! minus the horrid frizzy hair!)


Here I am at my starting weight 168 (3 months ago).



Here I am now 142. (bonus back shot and new suit!)

Timed Mile

Ran my third timed mile today. I am NOT good at running for time. But I did improve, so thats something.

April 20th: 13:45
May 13th: 12:34
May 31st: 12:02