I am proud to write that after two weeks of diet and exercise I lost 3.5 pounds and .5 inch off my waist, thigh, and hips. That was enough to fit into a pair of jeans I bought last year! I am not so proud to write that this third week was off the charts. Girl Scout cookies beckoned. And much as I tried to resist, I just couldn't. So, I gained about a 1 to 1.5 pounds. Ugh. Especially since I can actually see results. I'm so afraid I'll keep backtracking!
It's exhilarating to lose weight and get thinner (when one is so big). But at the same time, it's scary. I'm so used to wearing a certain size and having my clothes fit a certain way. And now, those clothes are baggy, and they're not fitting very well. So, while I like that they're bigger, I don't like that they emphasize my size by making me look sloppy. And I don't want to buy more clothes because I don't intend on wearing them long as I want to lose more weight.
It's like a catch-22. Ugh!
So, next week - let's try again. What derailed me this week was Girl Scout cookies and bread. So, next week it's veggies and fruit and as little processed grain as possible. And lots of water. I need to cut back on the diet cokes too, but they help suppress my appetite. I drink between 3 and 7 a day. Even just the 3 a day is too much, but I sure do like them.
What also derailed me this week was an increasing metabolism. At least I think that what it was. The last few days I would eat and just 1.5 hours later I'd be hungry again. I'm like hungry all the time. I try to eat right, but it goes straight through me. It helps some when I drink water, but that lasts only a few minutes.
I so want to get in shape! I go to the gym at least 3 days a week, and I try to get a brisk 2 mile walk at least 1 or 2 days a week. And I don't mind any of that. I actually look forward to it, which is something I've never looked forward to in my entire life. It's the eating and presence of any type of food that is keeping my progress down. I've started a diet log where I write (almost) everything that I've had and tabulate the calorie counts. My goal is a maximum of 1500 calories a day. This is based on feedback from a personal trainer I used for 6 months. (It's more expensive than I can afford at this time. Otherwise, I'd still be using her.) It's very difficult for me to keep below 1700 calories, so I'm still working on this. I'd say this is my biggest challenge. That and the "I am due" mentality that hits me every weekend.
One of my new year's resolutions is to lose 25 lbs. So far I've lost 4 pounds. I've got 21 lbs and 10 months to go. So, I've got to improve my will power and self control! Help!
Showing posts with label exercise. Show all posts
Showing posts with label exercise. Show all posts
25 February 2007
13 February 2007
Turbulent Tuesday
Well, at least Monday was good. Today was a bit more exciting. I still didn't figure out why my test has a difference. But I do have a suspicion. That is first on my agenda tomorrow. That and mentoring a newbie, a not so newbie, and an up-and-comer. (The picture is of my husband's nephew (on the left) and his crew - Iraq. He is SUCH a sweetie! Check out his MySpace - he's known as Carface.)
I woke up this morning, as usual, each time my alarms (yes, alarms) when off. I just didn't get up until 45 minutes later. So, I got to work at 7:30 - my almost usual time. Then, at 11:00, the first of two wonderful phone calls. This one from my son's middle school. He was involved in an altercation at the beginning of second period, and as a result, he is suspended for one day - Valentine's Day. Lovely.
At 1:00, the second of the two phone calls. This one from my daughter's high school. She got a second school bus referral - blocking the aisle with her legs. And now she's suspended from the school bus for a day - Valentine's Day. Double lovely.
The good thing, if it can be called good, is that my son didn't initiate the altercation. He was being harassed, and he retaliated in kind. The other boy admitted as such, so both were punished. There isn't anything good about being suspended from the bus. It means I have to leave work early to pick her up. Fortunately, my boss understands. And since I can work from home, I can make up my time tomorrow. I have plenty of work!
Gabe was such a chatterbox today. I took him to the gym with me. He enjoys the daycare. And once again, he was playing pretend - pretending to prepare and eat food. I had a good workout - 8 minutes on the ARC, 15 minutes on the Elliptical, and workout the legs and butt. The burn feels good!
Well, hopefully tomorrow will be better. Chris is going with me to work. No Gameboy, all homework and reading. Nice and boring. Tomorrow is Valentine's Day. We're going to a Japanese buffet restaurant called Wasabi's. I'm still debating whether to take the kids or let them have pizza at home. Remember, they're serving suspensions tomorrow. Other than that, it'll be another day. Valentine's Day is well and good; it just comes at an inconvenient time.
Happy Heart Day!
23 January 2007
Day 1 of the "new diet".
Breakfast: 1 scoop of scrambled eggs
Mid-morning: 1 1/2 cup fruit, 1/8 c almonds
Lunch: salad - lettuce, 2 tbsp sliced black olives, 1/4 cup turkey, 2 tbsp shredded cheddar, 1/4 cup carrots, 1 tbsp chopped onion, 1 tbsp chopped bell pepper, 3 tbsp lowfat Ranch
Mid-afternoon: 1 1/2 cup fruit, 1/8 c almonds
Dinner: 2 breakfast burritos - southwestern eggbeaters w/ chorizo and 1/2 c potatoes on 2 whole grain wraps
Water: 9 glasses
Diet Coke: 3 20 oz bottles
Gym: yes
Stairs: 2 flights
Actually, the food part wasn't so bad. The mid AM/PM snacks came along right when I was getting hungry, and amazingly, they filled me up. I was a bit hungry before going to the gym. And after working out, I wasn't hungry for a while. Kinda nice. Other than the wraps, no wheat products.
Tomorrow I'll be going to lunch with a coworker. We've already agreed to go to a restaurant where they make great salads. My only problem is they also make great flat bread, which goes great with the salad. And then tomorrow night I have to make muffins for Gabriel's Thursday and Friday lunches. Yum!
All right, enough about food! I have been sedentary all my life. I've had asthma all my life, too. Unfortunately, it wasn't diagnosed until 10 years ago. Growing up, exercise of almost any kind was agony. I remember having to run the mile in 11 minutes in high school. I started running with everyone else but a quarter of a lap later I was gasping for breath. I walked most of my way through that mile, and the PE coach passed me even though it took me 2 minutes longer. Even today I watch any and all athletes and marvel at the ease with which they accomplish their goals.
So, I am finding that I enjoy working out; that I don't have to lean on asthma as a crutch. Oh, I bring my inhaler with me every time, and it's rare that I don't have to use it. But for the first time in my life I'm feeling 'the burn' and I'm enjoying it. I'm seeing muscle definition, and I'm able to get around more easily. I've been plagued with knee problems, and a few years ago I had to have artheroscopic surgery on my left knee. After the surgery, I pretty much became an old lady. It was painful even moving slowly. But now I'm moving and more quickly, too. I'll have to have artheroscopic surgery on my other knee soon, but until then I'm going to continue working out. I actually enjoy sweating!
So, I'm starting to feel more attractive and desirable since I've started working out. Now I need to lose weight. Thus, the diet. Like so many other people, I've started and stopped diets several times. I hope this time is different.
Breakfast: 1 scoop of scrambled eggs
Mid-morning: 1 1/2 cup fruit, 1/8 c almonds
Lunch: salad - lettuce, 2 tbsp sliced black olives, 1/4 cup turkey, 2 tbsp shredded cheddar, 1/4 cup carrots, 1 tbsp chopped onion, 1 tbsp chopped bell pepper, 3 tbsp lowfat Ranch
Mid-afternoon: 1 1/2 cup fruit, 1/8 c almonds
Dinner: 2 breakfast burritos - southwestern eggbeaters w/ chorizo and 1/2 c potatoes on 2 whole grain wraps
Water: 9 glasses
Diet Coke: 3 20 oz bottles
Gym: yes
Stairs: 2 flights
Actually, the food part wasn't so bad. The mid AM/PM snacks came along right when I was getting hungry, and amazingly, they filled me up. I was a bit hungry before going to the gym. And after working out, I wasn't hungry for a while. Kinda nice. Other than the wraps, no wheat products.
Tomorrow I'll be going to lunch with a coworker. We've already agreed to go to a restaurant where they make great salads. My only problem is they also make great flat bread, which goes great with the salad. And then tomorrow night I have to make muffins for Gabriel's Thursday and Friday lunches. Yum!
All right, enough about food! I have been sedentary all my life. I've had asthma all my life, too. Unfortunately, it wasn't diagnosed until 10 years ago. Growing up, exercise of almost any kind was agony. I remember having to run the mile in 11 minutes in high school. I started running with everyone else but a quarter of a lap later I was gasping for breath. I walked most of my way through that mile, and the PE coach passed me even though it took me 2 minutes longer. Even today I watch any and all athletes and marvel at the ease with which they accomplish their goals.
So, I am finding that I enjoy working out; that I don't have to lean on asthma as a crutch. Oh, I bring my inhaler with me every time, and it's rare that I don't have to use it. But for the first time in my life I'm feeling 'the burn' and I'm enjoying it. I'm seeing muscle definition, and I'm able to get around more easily. I've been plagued with knee problems, and a few years ago I had to have artheroscopic surgery on my left knee. After the surgery, I pretty much became an old lady. It was painful even moving slowly. But now I'm moving and more quickly, too. I'll have to have artheroscopic surgery on my other knee soon, but until then I'm going to continue working out. I actually enjoy sweating!
So, I'm starting to feel more attractive and desirable since I've started working out. Now I need to lose weight. Thus, the diet. Like so many other people, I've started and stopped diets several times. I hope this time is different.
22 January 2007
Ugh. I Hate Being Overweight.
Ugh. I'm overweight. I didn't used to be. But from my mid-20's on, the weight trickled on and just didn't go away. Then one day I woke up and saw...a blimp in the mirror. Ok, well not a blimp. Just a rotund woman with a very flabby tummy, inner thighs that rubbed, and a chin and a half. Granted, 4 pregnancies contributed to the tummy - and the saddle bag thighs. But that's no excuse.
The year after my second child was born I went on a health kick. I attended aerobics twice a week, joined a gym, went to Weight Watchers and dropped 45 pounds. A lot! But then a major heavy project got in the way. I worked round the clock for 2 months. That led to a serious case of Bronchitis. An asthma diagnosis and massive allergies then attacked. And you get the picture. Welcome back pounds!
Jump 10 years, and I actually was so engrossed in my family and life that I lost 10 pounds. That was the Golden Year. Not because I was 10 pounds lighter, but because life was just so good. Rufus and I were closer than ever, Cassie and Chris were doing great, we were way in the black and traveling all over the lower 48. And to top it off, I got pregnant again. Nine months later, and the bottom dropped out. Our third child was stillborn. It was devastating. A lot I won't talk about now.
I got pregnant again three months later, and the Year from Hell ensued. You may wonder why I call it the Year from Hell. Imagine having a perfect pregnancy where nothing could go wrong, but then having your child die at birth. Then imagine the total opposite; a pregnancy in which everything that could go wrong did. Gestational Diabetes, Pre-term Labor, a botched Amnio, 4 months bed rest. It was a wonder I didn't lose my mind. I think that there were days, though, that I did. Gabriel was born at 36 weeks; practically perfect in every way. I had post-partum depression for the first year. Not fun.
And since then, the weight has been creeping up. I often think that part of it is due to undiagnosed depression, slight though it may be. I'm on Prozac. I'm not afraid to admit it. I'm a realist. I know I can't get through the day without some way to level out. I could do alcohol or drugs or even tobacco. But I won't do tobacco - too painful for the lungs. I don't want to do alcohol - regularly. Loss of control. As for drugs - loss of all that is valuable to me; my family. So, Prozac it is. Sure does make me much easier to live with. And trust me, I spiral down the toilet quickly if I miss even a day.
So, here I am; F.A.T. Most of the time I can delude myself into thinking I'm not that fat. But in those unguarded moments, I catch myself in the mirror, and the pooches and pouches are glaringly apparent. So, what do I do about it? Well, last June Rufus and I joined the Lifestyle Gym that opened down the street. I worked out for about 5 months with a trainer, but that got too expensive. I'm working out now on my own. Rufus works out with one of his buddies. I'd much rather work out alone - helps me stay focused.
In 6 months, I've lost 12 pounds. It's some but not enough. And I'm finally starting to realize that working out alone just won't cut it. Yes, I've modified my diet. But obviously not enough. I've been talking to a trainer and a well-educated friend, and I finally realize I've got to bite the bullet. No bread! I have GOT to cut the carbs! I'll starve for 2 weeks getting my body used to the new eating plan. I don't know how I'll make it!
The year after my second child was born I went on a health kick. I attended aerobics twice a week, joined a gym, went to Weight Watchers and dropped 45 pounds. A lot! But then a major heavy project got in the way. I worked round the clock for 2 months. That led to a serious case of Bronchitis. An asthma diagnosis and massive allergies then attacked. And you get the picture. Welcome back pounds!
Jump 10 years, and I actually was so engrossed in my family and life that I lost 10 pounds. That was the Golden Year. Not because I was 10 pounds lighter, but because life was just so good. Rufus and I were closer than ever, Cassie and Chris were doing great, we were way in the black and traveling all over the lower 48. And to top it off, I got pregnant again. Nine months later, and the bottom dropped out. Our third child was stillborn. It was devastating. A lot I won't talk about now.
I got pregnant again three months later, and the Year from Hell ensued. You may wonder why I call it the Year from Hell. Imagine having a perfect pregnancy where nothing could go wrong, but then having your child die at birth. Then imagine the total opposite; a pregnancy in which everything that could go wrong did. Gestational Diabetes, Pre-term Labor, a botched Amnio, 4 months bed rest. It was a wonder I didn't lose my mind. I think that there were days, though, that I did. Gabriel was born at 36 weeks; practically perfect in every way. I had post-partum depression for the first year. Not fun.
And since then, the weight has been creeping up. I often think that part of it is due to undiagnosed depression, slight though it may be. I'm on Prozac. I'm not afraid to admit it. I'm a realist. I know I can't get through the day without some way to level out. I could do alcohol or drugs or even tobacco. But I won't do tobacco - too painful for the lungs. I don't want to do alcohol - regularly. Loss of control. As for drugs - loss of all that is valuable to me; my family. So, Prozac it is. Sure does make me much easier to live with. And trust me, I spiral down the toilet quickly if I miss even a day.
So, here I am; F.A.T. Most of the time I can delude myself into thinking I'm not that fat. But in those unguarded moments, I catch myself in the mirror, and the pooches and pouches are glaringly apparent. So, what do I do about it? Well, last June Rufus and I joined the Lifestyle Gym that opened down the street. I worked out for about 5 months with a trainer, but that got too expensive. I'm working out now on my own. Rufus works out with one of his buddies. I'd much rather work out alone - helps me stay focused.
In 6 months, I've lost 12 pounds. It's some but not enough. And I'm finally starting to realize that working out alone just won't cut it. Yes, I've modified my diet. But obviously not enough. I've been talking to a trainer and a well-educated friend, and I finally realize I've got to bite the bullet. No bread! I have GOT to cut the carbs! I'll starve for 2 weeks getting my body used to the new eating plan. I don't know how I'll make it!
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