weekly weigh-in: 2-26-10

February 26, 2010

Friday morning weigh-in: ???

I am on vacation.
I do not have a scale at home.

I will post again soon... but my clothes are fitting differently. That's a good sign.

weekly weigh-in: 2-19-10

February 19, 2010

Friday morning weigh-in: 281 pounds

Weight loss/gain since last weigh-in: -2 pounds
Total net weight loss since beginning my journey: -10 pounds

This week I took a few days off (no riding on Thur/Fri)... but still managed to ride over 22 miles on the bike and burned nearly 2000 calories doing so.

Back on the bike today... and thus starts a change in my daily routine. Usually I work out in the mornings at work... and then head off for my day. However, I'm off of work for several weeks - and will instead be using the bike at home more religiously! Time for a bit of a change...

And, how do I feel?! Like I jumped another hurdle this week... with the build of intensity that occurred last weekend I was able to jump up on the resistance level all week. And so it progresses... build more muscle, melt away more fat...

Bring it on, baby!

weekly weigh-in: 2-12-10

February 12, 2010

Friday morning weigh-in: 283 pounds

Weight loss/gain since last weigh-in: 0 pounds
Total net weight loss since beginning my journey: 8 pounds

So I didn't lose any weight this week... and yet I rode over 40 miles on the bike and burned over 5000 calories while doing so. So, hmm...

In fact, according to www.dailymile.com, yesterday's workout was the "most intense workout" since I've been tracking them. There BETTER be some weight lost by next weekend!


But, how do I feel?! Like I kicked butt this week! I can feel more muscle definition in my thighs and calves (which means two things: fat is melting away and muscle is building! And since muscle weighs more than fat, maybe that's why I didn't drop any pounds this week). Clothes are fitting differently! I have more energy to get me through the days. I'm sleeping all the way through the night (instead of waking up 3-4 times and tossing/turning. I've noticed myself smiling more and feeling more self-confident.

And finally this week, someone asked me if I'm losing weight?! It made my whole week! YES! I'm losing weight!!!

fuel...

fu⋅el  /ˈfyuəl/ Spelled Pronunciation [fyoo-uhl] Show IPA noun, verb, -eled, -el⋅ing or (especially British) -elled, -el⋅ling.

1. combustible matter used to maintain fire, as coal, wood, oil, or gas, in order to create heat or power.
2. something that gives nourishment; food.
3. an energy source for engines, power plants, or reactors: "Kerosene is used as jet engine fuel."
4. something that sustains or encourages; stimulant: "Our discussion provided him with fuel for debate."


My translation:
energy = necessary to life


And lack of fuel stopped me in my tracks today... I was so excited to get out of work early and be productive. My hubby was home from work and we had a lot of "to do" items scheduled.

I had a pretty intense workout this morning... so I probably needed MORE fuel than usual. I was so excited to get a move on that I didn't stop for lunch or afternoon snack. I also didn't keep up with my regular water intake. And I just kept going.

Needless to day, at about 3 pm yesterday I dropped like a helium balloon minus the helium.

I dragged myself around for the next 3 or 4 hours until I just couldn't do it anymore. I barely got dinner made and sat down before I crashed.



Lesson learned...

I cannot ride 10 miles on the bike
Work (even if it's only a half-day)
Watch my husband eat a breakfast burrito without eating something myself
Check out homes with a Realtor
Stop by the shoe store
Make a CostCo run
Review plans for the backyard with a landscaper
Walk around our house for staging tips from Realtor
Juggle 3 loads of laundry
Clean the kitchen
and make dinner for 2 ...

I cannot do all of this without the proper fuel...


It goes without saying, I have to eat more than breakfast to get me through the day. Breakfast today? 3 egg whites, 2 Wheatabix and a grapefruit.


Not enough fuel... apparently I am still learning how to take care of myself.

week's cycling report: week of 2-8-10

I'm moving this weekly journal to www.dailymile.com. And will give a synopsis at the end of the week.

But not today... it's a busy one... stay tuned...

And how about food diet?

It's rather easy for me to stick to a healthy eating plan while at work. With a little time I can plan for eating healthy breakfast, snacks and lunch every day... it just takes a little time to plan it out and package it up at the beginning of the week.


First steps toward better diet:
Stop eating toasted bagel/cream cheese every day for breakfast
Stop the Friday morning ritual of breakfast burritos
Stop making extra dinner to bring in for lunch the next day
Stop pigging out on potato chips and other salty/savory items for snack


Instead
Breakfast: Eat egg whites, wheatabix cereal and grapefruit
Lunch: Turkey sandwich on whole grain toast with good fixings (no mayo/dressing), and cut veggies for crunch (I need my crunchy stuff)
Snacks: grapefruit, cheese slices, hummus/veggies, granola, etc

Dinner: Since my husband isn't ready to do this diet thing... I can't make too many changes at dinner time. So, I'm making small changes with some of the ingredients. Less butter, more olive oil. Salad as appetizer. Whole grain pasta instead of regular pasta. And for me: smaller portions across the board. And MAYBE - 1 glass of wine, for dessert (instead of one while cooking and another with dinner). (The wine usually happens 3-4 nights a week.)

"Free" Day
I will be allowing myself a "free day" (this will most likely be Saturday or Sunday).
I know over time my "free day" will become healthier, naturally my tates will chand and I won't be able to eat as much salt. But yesterday? It was the Super Bowl. And I add lots of Fritos and onion dip and cheesy/saucy things and meatballs and olives/pickles and sweet stuff.


My weaknesses: anything cooked in butter, Lay's classic potato chips, bread, pasta, rice.


Plus, I love to cook and bake. So this journey will be "interesting". And I mean LOVE to cook and bake... to the point that I've considered going to culinary school. So, we'll see how this goes.

In the meantime I just borrowed a book from a friend called "200 Under 200". Off I go to find some more good stuff to gnosh on...


It's worth it. I'm not too far away from dropping down a size of pants! Yeah baby!!!

Keeping an exercise journal...

Is it a good thing or a bad thing? I know, I know - it's a good thing.

But this journal I've been keeping just reminds me of how many times I've started exercising - only to quit at some point. Several years ago I got serious about losing weight (I thought). At that time in my life, where I was at, I think it was genuinely more "serious" than I've ever been before. So I won't "knock it" too much. But it didn't last long.

Let's flip through the pages and see what we find:

Sept '07
Weight 288 pounds
I quit at the end of January '08
Weight loss in this time: 15 pounds
Quit because of a sprained neck, shoulder contusion and physical therapy appts
(Injury not related to workout - an elevator door slammed into me at full speed, I didn't see it coming)

May '09
Not sure of my weight (somewhere between 280 and 290 pounds)
Did the "monthly measurement" - once
Logged exercise? A plan to use the dumbbells, and a list of reps to do
Not real sure how long that lasted
Quit because of elevated pain in ongoing knee injury from high school days

Jan '10
Turning over a new leaf...


I cannot think about what might make me want to quit
I cannot think about excuses to not exercise today

I will focus on my goal
I will focus on feeling healthy


Do I tear out the pages from '07 and '08 - so I don't have another reason to feel bad about myself?!

Or do I keep them in there as a reminder that I'm not going to quit again?!

weekly weigh-in: 2-5-10

February 5, 2010

Friday morning weigh-in: 283 pounds

Weight loss/gain since last weigh-in: -4 pounds
Total net weight loss since beginning my journey: 8 pounds




How do I feel?! Happy to be losing again

week's cycling report: week of 2-1-10

Monday
Bike: 20 minutes. Weight loss setting, level 1
Distance: 6 miles
How did I feel? Slightly injured - knee is tender today.

Tuesday
Bike: 20 minutes. Weight loss setting, level 1
Distance: 7 miles
How did I feel? Better than yesterday

Wednesday
Bike: 30 minutes. Weight loss setting, level 1
Distance: 10 miles
How did I feel? Good!

Thursday
Bike: 35 minutes. Weight loss setting, level 1
Distance: 12 miles
How did I feel? Really good - going fast is fun! (Who knew this body could move that fast?!)

Friday
Bike: 20 minutes. Weight loss setting, level 1
Distance: 7 miles
How did I feel? It's been a great week of daily exercise. I'm so proud of myself!!!

February measurements

It's a new month. Which means it is time for a weigh-in and measurement report.



Weight: 283 pounds

Chest - 45.5 inches
Bra - 41.25 inches (measured just below bra strap, at the lungs)

Upper belly - 47.5 inches (this is the odd shaped bulge just above the belly button)
Waist - 44.75 inches
Lower belly/hips - 57.5 inches (lower abdomen - my thickest spot)
Butt - 52.25 inches

Right thigh - 32.75 inches
Left thigh - 32.5 inches

Right upper arm - 16 inches
Left upper arm - 16.25 inches


Inch loss: 8.5 inches lost in the last month!


Way to go, girl!!!