As promised...
-8.4 pounds
-34.25 total inches lost
-2.6% body fat
Inches broken down:
Neck - .5
Upper Arm -2 ea.
Middle Arm -1/2 ea.
Lower Arm -.375 ea.
Bust -4.75
Chest @ Armpits -4.25
Under Bust -3
Waist @ Belly Button -2.5 (I forgot to take my natural waist measurement last month)
Hips -4.75
Butt -2
Upper Thighs -1.5 ea.
Middle Legs -1.375 ea.
Upper Calves -1.5 ea.
Middle Calves -0
I'm pretty darn impressed with the inches lost! I'm so glad I took them because 8.4 lbs (while good) doesn't seem like that much considering how much I have to lose, but the inches are VERY motivating!
Monday, April 30, 2012
Saturday, April 28, 2012
Newer Goals
As the end of April nears I'm excited to post all of my losses (I will do so 4/30). I weigh myself all the time so I know how much weight I've lost this month (there's still 2 days left), but I've snuck a couple early measurements and I'm thrilled with what I've seen. Actually getting to the end of this month and having been consistent (not perfect, but consistent) is a huge motivator for me; I've inspired myself, and in doing so I'm more awesome. I do feel like part of my motivation is that I've put all of this out there to all the millions who read my blog (and by millions I mean all 3 of you, HA!), so the accountability is higher. I've put together some goals and would like to post them as to remain accountable throughout the months ahead. My high weight happened at 9 months pregnant this past December, and all of the numbers will be based off of that weight. And while I know it really doesn't matter in the end, I'm just not quite ready to share exact weights yet. So here are my goals.
1. By my 30th birthday (August 29, 2012) my goal is to have lost a total of 66 pounds or more (remember that's from my high weight, not from today, I've already put a 30+ pounds dent in that sucker).
2. By Halloween my goal is to have lost a total of 82 pounds or more.
3. Run the Mud Factor 5k November 17th, 2012.
4. By March 22nd, 2013 (the year anniversary from when I started this journey), my goal is to have lost a total of 100 pounds or more. And in case you are wondering it will put me at a perfectly normal and reasonable weight for my height (5'6" tall).
All of the weight goals are based off of a 2 lb a week average loss, so it's totally reasonable. Don't freak out! Calm down! I'm doing this in a healthy way, not counting on 5 lbs a week or anything crazy. I'm working hard for this and have recently revised my ultimate weight loss goal. Why? Because I have a certain weight in my head that I think I can achieve because I've been that weight before, and I looked good. But I know that I could've gotten in better shape than that, so even though I haven't been at that weight before, I know I CAN if I work my ass off (literally) for it.
I hope to add more goals that aren't weight related. I want to run a marathon eventually, but I think I might put that for like January 2014, but I'll see where I'm at as months go by.
1. By my 30th birthday (August 29, 2012) my goal is to have lost a total of 66 pounds or more (remember that's from my high weight, not from today, I've already put a 30+ pounds dent in that sucker).
2. By Halloween my goal is to have lost a total of 82 pounds or more.
3. Run the Mud Factor 5k November 17th, 2012.
4. By March 22nd, 2013 (the year anniversary from when I started this journey), my goal is to have lost a total of 100 pounds or more. And in case you are wondering it will put me at a perfectly normal and reasonable weight for my height (5'6" tall).
All of the weight goals are based off of a 2 lb a week average loss, so it's totally reasonable. Don't freak out! Calm down! I'm doing this in a healthy way, not counting on 5 lbs a week or anything crazy. I'm working hard for this and have recently revised my ultimate weight loss goal. Why? Because I have a certain weight in my head that I think I can achieve because I've been that weight before, and I looked good. But I know that I could've gotten in better shape than that, so even though I haven't been at that weight before, I know I CAN if I work my ass off (literally) for it.
I hope to add more goals that aren't weight related. I want to run a marathon eventually, but I think I might put that for like January 2014, but I'll see where I'm at as months go by.
Thursday, April 26, 2012
Being Awesome
I've been obsessively reading Brad Pilon's website (I love his blogs and his ideas, and he's not bad to look at either), and one post I ran across today was about being awesome. He says that "Being awesome is: The ability to inspire yourself and be inspired by yourself". I LOVE that! He goes on to talk about how owning your own goals and not worrying about what other people think of them, or what other people's goals are, or basically anything to do with other people, increases one's awesomeness. So I'm going to be awesome, all day, everyday, from now on. AWESOME!
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Tuesday, April 24, 2012
In the end, it really is all about love
Today. Today was an experience. I swear I had more breakthroughs in the past 5 weeks than in years and years!
I got a free session with a personal trainer for signing up with Fitness 1. I've been there done that AS a trainer (training new clients for free to try and get them to buy sessions), so I figured whatever I'd go and get a good workout in and get to know some of the staff (I really like to feel like I belong when I'm a member of a gym). So I get there and hop on a treadmill to warm up while I was waiting for him (after filling out a little questionnaire in which I was highly tempted to lie about my weight, but decided that was counterproductive). The first trainer (I think the head one, his name is Kelly) had me come over to talk to him, then I met the trainer that would be training me (Jason, ironically enough), and we talked for a bit. I told him I was up for anything (I would regret that). I, honest to GOD, have never worked out that hard in my life. I've never been very good at being consistent with with weight training and conditioning. Cardio and diet I can do just fine (and by just fine I mean that I feel capable of doing it, not that I find it easy), but that 3rd aspect is what is challenging for me to actually DO because I have a hard time pushing myself. So he puts me through this workout and he sees how much I'm struggling, and I've told him how I was a trainer and have gained all this weight and feel miserable and after a particularly difficult round of hell he says to me "You shouldn't be like this" (meaning struggling and so incredibly out of shape and overweight) . And he said it in a sincere way, not in a mean way at all, but it just struck a nerve because, boy, it's SOOOO true! I'm 29 years old, physically capable, and knowledgeable about health, fitness, nutrition, and working out; there is NO reason for me to be sitting here so overweight. And the pregnancies are no excuse because with each pregnancy I was at the same starting weight, which was still at LEAST 40 pounds overweight. Anyway, after he said that I started to cry, not because it hurt my feelings, but because it's so hard to take a look at yourself and see that you've done this to yourself. It's seriously been a gut wrenching journey so far, and it's not going to get easier. That is another thing that he and I talked about; it's not easy, it's going to be A LOT of work! After my workout I sat down with Kelly and Jason again, of course I know they're trying to sell me personal training sessions, but I've known and met dozens and dozens of trainers and salesmen at gyms over the years I worked in them, and these guys are cool. They were so encouraging, and for some reason it seems to resonate more hearing encouraging words from strangers than from loved ones.
Tonight I sit here with a very big mixture of feelings. I feel strong, but I also feel weak. I feel sad, but I also feel extremely encouraged. I feel like there is no doubt that I CAN do whatever I want to do, with no limitations. I feel grateful for everyday of this journey so far. It's about so much more than weight loss, it's about finding myself again, facing things I haven't before -- like loving myself. In the end, it's all about love, like most things are.
I got a free session with a personal trainer for signing up with Fitness 1. I've been there done that AS a trainer (training new clients for free to try and get them to buy sessions), so I figured whatever I'd go and get a good workout in and get to know some of the staff (I really like to feel like I belong when I'm a member of a gym). So I get there and hop on a treadmill to warm up while I was waiting for him (after filling out a little questionnaire in which I was highly tempted to lie about my weight, but decided that was counterproductive). The first trainer (I think the head one, his name is Kelly) had me come over to talk to him, then I met the trainer that would be training me (Jason, ironically enough), and we talked for a bit. I told him I was up for anything (I would regret that). I, honest to GOD, have never worked out that hard in my life. I've never been very good at being consistent with with weight training and conditioning. Cardio and diet I can do just fine (and by just fine I mean that I feel capable of doing it, not that I find it easy), but that 3rd aspect is what is challenging for me to actually DO because I have a hard time pushing myself. So he puts me through this workout and he sees how much I'm struggling, and I've told him how I was a trainer and have gained all this weight and feel miserable and after a particularly difficult round of hell he says to me "You shouldn't be like this" (meaning struggling and so incredibly out of shape and overweight) . And he said it in a sincere way, not in a mean way at all, but it just struck a nerve because, boy, it's SOOOO true! I'm 29 years old, physically capable, and knowledgeable about health, fitness, nutrition, and working out; there is NO reason for me to be sitting here so overweight. And the pregnancies are no excuse because with each pregnancy I was at the same starting weight, which was still at LEAST 40 pounds overweight. Anyway, after he said that I started to cry, not because it hurt my feelings, but because it's so hard to take a look at yourself and see that you've done this to yourself. It's seriously been a gut wrenching journey so far, and it's not going to get easier. That is another thing that he and I talked about; it's not easy, it's going to be A LOT of work! After my workout I sat down with Kelly and Jason again, of course I know they're trying to sell me personal training sessions, but I've known and met dozens and dozens of trainers and salesmen at gyms over the years I worked in them, and these guys are cool. They were so encouraging, and for some reason it seems to resonate more hearing encouraging words from strangers than from loved ones.
Tonight I sit here with a very big mixture of feelings. I feel strong, but I also feel weak. I feel sad, but I also feel extremely encouraged. I feel like there is no doubt that I CAN do whatever I want to do, with no limitations. I feel grateful for everyday of this journey so far. It's about so much more than weight loss, it's about finding myself again, facing things I haven't before -- like loving myself. In the end, it's all about love, like most things are.
Sunday, April 22, 2012
If at first you don't succeed...
The last couple days have been rough mentally. I went totally off plan yesterday after it had been leading up to that for 2 days prior. I tend to get very down on myself when I do that. What set me off was the (excuse the language) total bitch at the gym on Thursday. I can take bitchiness, I work at a high school for goodness sake, but I think it was that I was so excited to go back to the gym and she kind of rained on my parade. So I basically spent 3 days sulking about my ruined plans. Wow, what a big huge baby! Not-so-long-story even shorter, I went to a different gym today and Jason and I joined. It's only a few miles away, and it's brand new. The guy was really nice and the rate was better than the other gym anyway (take that stupid gym skank). So I went home and changed and went back and worked out. I need that reason to get out of the house and now I have it. I'm super stoked (do people still say stoked?). I'm planning to get up before Jason goes to work tomorrow and get a workout in. Not to say I would never go at night, but I'm more likely to get it done early when I'm not so exhausted from life all day. I got back on plan today with a mini-fast and sensible dinner, and lots
of water of course. Back on track now.
One thing I have learned over years of diets, weight loss attempt successes and failures, is that you don't have to be perfect 100% of the time, but you do have to keep trying. One slip up doesn't ruin everything (this I have to keep telling myself all the time because I still don't quite believe it), just as one amazing day doesn't get you to your goal. I have all the pieces of the puzzle now, now it's just a matter of putting the puzzle together.
One thing I have learned over years of diets, weight loss attempt successes and failures, is that you don't have to be perfect 100% of the time, but you do have to keep trying. One slip up doesn't ruin everything (this I have to keep telling myself all the time because I still don't quite believe it), just as one amazing day doesn't get you to your goal. I have all the pieces of the puzzle now, now it's just a matter of putting the puzzle together.
Thursday, April 19, 2012
UG!
I had been doing very well this week. Added back some fruit, nuts, dairy, all in allotted portions. I've felt really good. Today just didn't go so well.
I woke up around 5:40 a.m. to get ready for work (Thursdays I work 7 to 11). My eyes, which just got permanent eyeliner yesterday, were extremely swollen. I showered, got dressed, ate breakfast (a small apple with a serving of almond butter, and 2 hard boiled eggs), packed a little snack (carrots and snow peas). I felt a little self conscious of my eyes which right now look like a cross between horrible allergies, a rough night of drinking, and like I've been punched. Anyway, work was fine and I got off a half hour early. So I decided to stop by the gym right by our house as I had a "30 days free" pass. So I walk in and have to wait at the front desk because no one is there. The girl (probably mid 20s, and fairly chunky) comes up and I can already tell she has an attitude by the way she asks how she can help me. I explain I got this 30 days free pass, and she explains back that it's 30 days free if you sign a year contract. I wasn't really put off by that because I know there's always a catch, no biggie, but the way she said it was so snotty and rude! So I ask if I can get like a week long pass to see if I want to join (I've been a member there before, but it's under new ownership now and I wanted to make sure I liked the atmosphere before I joined). She gives me a dirty look and explains there is no week long pass. So (and may I add I've been extremely NICE and friendly throughout this ordeal even though she's acting like a total beeotch) I say "So there's no way to find out if I like it here before I'm expected to sign up for an entire year?", and seriously I say it nicely, sincerely asking. She says "Well, we have a 1 day pass if that's what you mean". I turned around and walked out. I seriously wanted to cry! I was so excited to start going to the gym again. So I came home and I was starving so I had lunch about an hour later (I tried to eat right away but sometimes the kids make that impossible). Not that long later I had a snack. Then Jason called to tell me that he got hired on permanent (he's been temp to hire since he started about 2 months ago). That was super great news!!! Such a relief, such a weight off. I don't know what exactly set me off today, if it was the good news, or the confrontation at the gym, or if I got too hungry, or if it's my eyes hurting so much, or if I was actually truly hungry, but I ate too much! I didn't eat anything "bad", I just had too many things. I finally feel full, but I don't know if I was physically hungry or if it was something else.
That's the another piece of this puzzle for me, trying to decipher between actual hunger and whatever that other feeling is that makes me want to eat. It's not something that happens everyday or even once a week. If that's not something you have ever struggled with, it's not something you can probably understand. Those little "tricks" like drinking water, or waiting a half hour, or chewing gum, don't work when this switch in my head gets flipped. It's not about gaining self control, it's about figuring out what triggers this in me.
For accountability's sake this is what I ate today:
Breakfast: 1 small apple, 2 tbsp almond butter, 2 hard boiled eggs.
Snack: snow peas, carrots, probably a half cup each (I typically don't worry about portions of veggies)
Lunch: 1 string cheese, 1/4 cup of nuts (macadamia, and hazelnuts), 1/2 serving dark chocolate, 2 tbsp dried cranberries, cucumbers, carrots, snow peas, red yellow orange and green bell pepper (again, I don't really worry about the serving size of veggies like these).
Snack: 2 hard boiled eggs and more carrots and snow peas.
(and here comes where the problem happened)
1 ounce turkey and 1 slice Havarti cheese
1/2 serving dark chocolate
1 or 2 ounces of Monterrey Jack cheese (I didn't weigh it)
1/4 cup macadamia nuts with 1/4 cup dried cranberries
1 large banana with 2 tbsp peanut butter
1/2 cup strawberries
If it wasn't for the total of 4 servings of nuts, and 3 or 4 servings of cheese, it wouldn't be that bad, but that's a hell of a lot of calories! I am, however, proud of myself for not eating those cookies sitting on the counter that Emma picked out over the weekend, or any of the other junk foods in the house including the McDonald's fries that my Mother in Law got for Emma that she didn't touch that were calling my name. I do give myself some credit for that.
I've been feeling pretty smug about "figuring out" that I need to cut out processed sugars and flours and basically grains (for myself, not saying everyone needs to). This definitely put me in check today that I need to be mindful of this still, and that I certainly don't have it all figured out at all.
I woke up around 5:40 a.m. to get ready for work (Thursdays I work 7 to 11). My eyes, which just got permanent eyeliner yesterday, were extremely swollen. I showered, got dressed, ate breakfast (a small apple with a serving of almond butter, and 2 hard boiled eggs), packed a little snack (carrots and snow peas). I felt a little self conscious of my eyes which right now look like a cross between horrible allergies, a rough night of drinking, and like I've been punched. Anyway, work was fine and I got off a half hour early. So I decided to stop by the gym right by our house as I had a "30 days free" pass. So I walk in and have to wait at the front desk because no one is there. The girl (probably mid 20s, and fairly chunky) comes up and I can already tell she has an attitude by the way she asks how she can help me. I explain I got this 30 days free pass, and she explains back that it's 30 days free if you sign a year contract. I wasn't really put off by that because I know there's always a catch, no biggie, but the way she said it was so snotty and rude! So I ask if I can get like a week long pass to see if I want to join (I've been a member there before, but it's under new ownership now and I wanted to make sure I liked the atmosphere before I joined). She gives me a dirty look and explains there is no week long pass. So (and may I add I've been extremely NICE and friendly throughout this ordeal even though she's acting like a total beeotch) I say "So there's no way to find out if I like it here before I'm expected to sign up for an entire year?", and seriously I say it nicely, sincerely asking. She says "Well, we have a 1 day pass if that's what you mean". I turned around and walked out. I seriously wanted to cry! I was so excited to start going to the gym again. So I came home and I was starving so I had lunch about an hour later (I tried to eat right away but sometimes the kids make that impossible). Not that long later I had a snack. Then Jason called to tell me that he got hired on permanent (he's been temp to hire since he started about 2 months ago). That was super great news!!! Such a relief, such a weight off. I don't know what exactly set me off today, if it was the good news, or the confrontation at the gym, or if I got too hungry, or if it's my eyes hurting so much, or if I was actually truly hungry, but I ate too much! I didn't eat anything "bad", I just had too many things. I finally feel full, but I don't know if I was physically hungry or if it was something else.
That's the another piece of this puzzle for me, trying to decipher between actual hunger and whatever that other feeling is that makes me want to eat. It's not something that happens everyday or even once a week. If that's not something you have ever struggled with, it's not something you can probably understand. Those little "tricks" like drinking water, or waiting a half hour, or chewing gum, don't work when this switch in my head gets flipped. It's not about gaining self control, it's about figuring out what triggers this in me.
For accountability's sake this is what I ate today:
Breakfast: 1 small apple, 2 tbsp almond butter, 2 hard boiled eggs.
Snack: snow peas, carrots, probably a half cup each (I typically don't worry about portions of veggies)
Lunch: 1 string cheese, 1/4 cup of nuts (macadamia, and hazelnuts), 1/2 serving dark chocolate, 2 tbsp dried cranberries, cucumbers, carrots, snow peas, red yellow orange and green bell pepper (again, I don't really worry about the serving size of veggies like these).
Snack: 2 hard boiled eggs and more carrots and snow peas.
(and here comes where the problem happened)
1 ounce turkey and 1 slice Havarti cheese
1/2 serving dark chocolate
1 or 2 ounces of Monterrey Jack cheese (I didn't weigh it)
1/4 cup macadamia nuts with 1/4 cup dried cranberries
1 large banana with 2 tbsp peanut butter
1/2 cup strawberries
If it wasn't for the total of 4 servings of nuts, and 3 or 4 servings of cheese, it wouldn't be that bad, but that's a hell of a lot of calories! I am, however, proud of myself for not eating those cookies sitting on the counter that Emma picked out over the weekend, or any of the other junk foods in the house including the McDonald's fries that my Mother in Law got for Emma that she didn't touch that were calling my name. I do give myself some credit for that.
I've been feeling pretty smug about "figuring out" that I need to cut out processed sugars and flours and basically grains (for myself, not saying everyone needs to). This definitely put me in check today that I need to be mindful of this still, and that I certainly don't have it all figured out at all.
Monday, April 16, 2012
7 Day Challenge Summary
So for the past 7 days I have been doing a challenge. It went like this:
Day 1: All vegetables, mostly raw, a serving or 2 of extra virgin olive oil or coconut oil allowed, vinegars allowed for dressings. Green tea allowed, 1 cup of black coffee allowed (I didn't drink any coffee myself).
Days 2-4: Same as day 1 but 20-25 grams of protein added twice.
Days 5-7: Same as day 1 but 20-25 grams of protein added four times.
Day 7: I cheated and took a bite of fruit. (I felt obligated to add this.)
Weight lost: 6.6 pounds from Monday morning 4/9 to Monday morning 4/16. Which really gave me a 4.4 pound loss, as I had gained 2.2 over Easter weekend. That's a HUGE loss for me.
I had a breakfast this morning much like I have been with a few tweaks. I had 2 hard boiled eggs, butternut squash, carrots, and some banana and strawberry yonanas (basically frozen banana and strawberries).
This week the only changes I am making is adding in sweet potatoes, some fruit, some dairy (mainly in the form of plain Greek yogurt), some nuts, and probably some legumes. I'm going to wait on adding any grains back for a little while. The goal is to just have whole foods, nothing processed. I really really really don't want to count calories anymore and I am hoping that this way of eating will allow for me to not have to do that.
Whole foods and portion control are my new eating plan. Unlimited veggies, up to 2-3 servings of fruit per day, 1-2 serving dairy, protein 3-4 times per day (at around 20-25 grams of protein per serving), legumes a couple times a week, nuts once a day preferably (2 max) including natural peanut butter if wanted. Doing a rough caloric estimate that should put me between 1200-1700/day, which is perfect. If at any point I show a gain over the period of a week or 2 (water weight happens due to change in diet or exercise, so you can't freak if the scale shows a gain over the course of a couple days), I will reevaluate. For now, I am thrilled to not have to count calories, and really hope the whole foods will not only help with my weight loss, but will just make me healthy over all. Also I need to start exercising again, I missed an entire week!
I would recommend this challenge to anyone trying to change their lifestyle as a segue into healthy eating, or to someone already leading a healthy lifestyle who wants to do a cleanse or renewal of their current way of eating. Obviously if you do this for 7 days then go back to crappy eating it doesn't really hold much benefit in the long run. It's not meant to be a crash diet (at least from my perspective), it's meant to restore you, cleanse you, and detox you. It's not easy (at least it wasn't for me), but it was definitely worth it.
Day 1: All vegetables, mostly raw, a serving or 2 of extra virgin olive oil or coconut oil allowed, vinegars allowed for dressings. Green tea allowed, 1 cup of black coffee allowed (I didn't drink any coffee myself).
Days 2-4: Same as day 1 but 20-25 grams of protein added twice.
Days 5-7: Same as day 1 but 20-25 grams of protein added four times.
Day 7: I cheated and took a bite of fruit. (I felt obligated to add this.)
Weight lost: 6.6 pounds from Monday morning 4/9 to Monday morning 4/16. Which really gave me a 4.4 pound loss, as I had gained 2.2 over Easter weekend. That's a HUGE loss for me.
I had a breakfast this morning much like I have been with a few tweaks. I had 2 hard boiled eggs, butternut squash, carrots, and some banana and strawberry yonanas (basically frozen banana and strawberries).
This week the only changes I am making is adding in sweet potatoes, some fruit, some dairy (mainly in the form of plain Greek yogurt), some nuts, and probably some legumes. I'm going to wait on adding any grains back for a little while. The goal is to just have whole foods, nothing processed. I really really really don't want to count calories anymore and I am hoping that this way of eating will allow for me to not have to do that.
Whole foods and portion control are my new eating plan. Unlimited veggies, up to 2-3 servings of fruit per day, 1-2 serving dairy, protein 3-4 times per day (at around 20-25 grams of protein per serving), legumes a couple times a week, nuts once a day preferably (2 max) including natural peanut butter if wanted. Doing a rough caloric estimate that should put me between 1200-1700/day, which is perfect. If at any point I show a gain over the period of a week or 2 (water weight happens due to change in diet or exercise, so you can't freak if the scale shows a gain over the course of a couple days), I will reevaluate. For now, I am thrilled to not have to count calories, and really hope the whole foods will not only help with my weight loss, but will just make me healthy over all. Also I need to start exercising again, I missed an entire week!
I would recommend this challenge to anyone trying to change their lifestyle as a segue into healthy eating, or to someone already leading a healthy lifestyle who wants to do a cleanse or renewal of their current way of eating. Obviously if you do this for 7 days then go back to crappy eating it doesn't really hold much benefit in the long run. It's not meant to be a crash diet (at least from my perspective), it's meant to restore you, cleanse you, and detox you. It's not easy (at least it wasn't for me), but it was definitely worth it.
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