New Program

My husband and I have started a new program at our gym that focuses on both diet and exercise. We are starting our 4th week and I can finally say I'm getting results! The first 3 weeks I stayed the same weight or went up. I lost 2 lbs in the past week and probably 3 lbs overall so I have now reached the weight where I was when I started to loosely follow "You on a Diet". I have a target weight in mind, but my goal is to lose a couple inches in the waist.

Meeting with a trainer has helped me stay consistent with strength training. Its helping strengthen and stretch the muscles I need to improve my poor posture (which is another goal). For cardio, we are doing target heart rate exercises; they definitely have made me bump my cardio up a notch (or 2). I really feel like I was slacking during my workouts for the past few years!

Its the first time I've tracked calories and I'm surprised of how many calories are in things when paying attention to the number of servings and the portion size. Or when comparing the calories in one food to its "healthier" counterpart. I don't mind fruits and veggies, but now I make a point to eat the 5-9 everyday. Since I'm keeping a food log, the dietitian has helped me understand why I may have been really tired or starving on certain days and avoid it in the future (too many carbs, not enough protein, etc). We've only been changing one thing each week in our diets so I hope that it will make it maintainable after the program is over.

So far it has helped me go to the gym A LOT; I feel like I've made a commitment to 4 people during the program so it helps make me go. Its especially challenging now because this time of year when it is dark after work, I just want to go home and stay there but I fight the urge and go anyways. Or I go in the morning.

OK, I'm really doing it

As I mentioned before I've been reading You on a Diet and doing a few things it recommends. It was especially motivating to hear that Jossie followed it for the past 3 months and hasn't hated it. So here I am! Last Saturday I've started following "the diet" with my husband. The biggest thing it is doing for me is eating more vegetables, not eating after 8:30, and think about how hungry I am before I eat. I do well while I'm at work, but when night comes around, I love my snacks. They're not even that bad, its just the volume. Another good thing is when I don't have enough time for a workout, I make a point to get a walk in. Usually I'd skip it altogether.

I really need to work on my arm strength. I recently started going to a weight-lifting class that I haven't done in about 5 years. Its a lot harder than it used to be. When we work on arms, I use the smallest weight possible and it is still way too much. Meanwhile all around me, young and old, are easily using 4x the weight I'm using. Sigh.

Me and the Skinny Bitch(es)

Last weekend, while waiting for my parents to get to Maple Grove with my offspring, I purchased the book Skinny Bitch. So far, I'm almost done reading it. It's had a couple of surprising side effects.

1. Me. Vegan? Maybe. I'm out surfing VeganPeace.com. I swear the parts of the book talking about animal cruelty made me nauseous yesterday.

2. I'm realizing that maybe I just need to eat more of good things! Less or no meat. Less or no dairy. It's so sad!!! :)

3. Yes, I can do this.

4. I like books with the f-bomb sprinkled throught! :)

I'll update y'all later on what I end up doing.

That being said - I'm back at 208 after a long week of being fatter than I should. I started eating more yesterday and I guess that worked!

I give up.

Seriously. I'm back up to 209.5.

I've been in the gym just about every day - at LEAST 5 times a week - 2 hours/day for the last 4 weeks.

I've lost precicely 5.5 lbs.

I don't get it. I'm eating under 1200 calories a day. I'm working out all the mother f'ing time. I'm doing everything that the books tell you. Drinking 2-4 liters of water a day. Lifting weights to build up strength. Running to burn off fat the quickest.

My body is just not cooperating.

I cried myself to sleep last night. While I was at the gym, a girl came in looking like I used to. She was tall and thin - about a size 8. Just like I was at her age - probably 17. She ran and she ran. I watched her and wondered what made me think I was fat at the time.

I then went home after my 2 hour workout, took 1 look at my naked self in the mirror and sobbed. I can't even look at myself anymore. I want to quit and eat bowls and bowls of ice cream. I want to just lay in a vat of lard and absorb it thru my skin.

I can't seem to lose weight. I don't know what's wrong. I was doing so well. 2 lbs/week blah blah blah.

I fell asleep crying last night. The bf held me while I sobbed.

I ache today from the workout last night, but I think my heart hurts more than anything...

blech...going into week 3 update...

Well - so far, so good on this diet.

I'm stuck at 7 lbs down in 3 weeks. I suppose that's one better than the 2 lbs/week average, but still, it's frustrating when I'm working out 5 - 6 times a week for 1.5-2 hours a day that that's all I've lost!

Everything is going quite well. I'm still sticking under 1200 calories a day and eating a lot of chicken, though steak is still my favorite. I'm trying to stay away from too much red meat - so maybe once or twice a week - tops.

This is going to be a short update, it's just an ucky day here today! :)

Congrats on the momentum ladies. I think we're all doing quite well down our chosen paths!

Time to tackle a diet

Yeah, I'm a couple of weeks behind the new year momentum but my foot is mostly better now so I'm ready to get started.

I had mentioned it in a couple of post comments, but I am also starting You on a Diet like Jossie. It had been sitting on our shelf since it came out and while I was off at the end of the year and bored, I dug it out and started reading.

I know I can break bad habits and make good ones: I'm taking my multi-vitamins and other supplements without thinking about it. I've always have loved drinking water, but I hardly drink soda anymore. I limit myself to 1 coffee in the morning.

I personally felt I had to fully adapt to the gluten-free diet before I could add anything else to complicate the food equation. This is the year! I have gluten-free routine down at home -- mostly I'm used to eating at home or bringing something so I don't feel the need to eat out as often or grab a snack at work. It took a while, but I also don't feel the need to overeat like I had to before in order to feel full, and since I was used to not gaining weight like a normal person would I didn't see the negative side affects until a year ago when all of my pants didn't fit. I can really see that just comparing the size of my lunch I take with me a year and a half ago to the ones I take now.

More good habits I'm working on: make workouts a routine and eating more fruits and vegetables.

Diet 2008 - Week 1.

There's more details on my blog over here - but just thought I'd let everyone know that I'm down 2 lbs this week.

Only 8.6 million more to go. :)

My fitday journal is up to date - so check it out; workouts and all (or lack thereof.... ).

I'm aiming for 160 by 8/1. That means I have to lose about 1.77 lbs/week. Should be a sinch if I can stick with it.

I made some killer sweet-n-sour chicken last night. I'll have to post the recipe later this week - it was really great. Even the kids ate it - with a SALAD! YAY!

Oh - goal for this blog - post once a week from me. Daily posts on my personal page - hopefully!

Happy 2008 girls!

So far, so good... :)

Ok, well, mostly good on my 1 hour of cardio.

Let's rewind, shall we?

Monday: Ran 30 minutes (2 miles) in the morning. Completely meant to get my other 30 minutes in after work. Instead, I fell asleep on the couch at 8:30 -- in the middle of the Twins season opener! Oh my! I have no idea what is wrong with me! I did get in the 30 minutes of weight lifting that I meant to do. I'm up to 3 sets of 10 reps at 15 lbs for my biceps. I'm going to have nice arms come August, damnit. Just wait until you see my tricep definition!

Tuesday: Was up at 4 to do regular workout of 2 miles. I woke up feeling exhausted. My eyes were puffy in a way that the good Lord never intended. I finally forced myself onto the treadmill, got .5 miles into my run and almost collapsed (ok, so I exaggerate a little). Needless to say, I decided to give up for the morning. I sat on the couch and went to watch some TV. I almost fell asleep! I was inexplicably exhausted. I just don't get it! I called into work to tell them I wasn't coming. Then, like a really good mom, took the kids to daycare and proceeded to sleep until after 11! That is SO not like me! :) I have a hunch that my poor body is fighting something, but I'm not sure what it might be. I did get in my hour of cardio though - from 4 - 5 right before I had to get the kids. I think I did a total of just over 4 miles (it would have been more if I'd actually run the whole time.)

Today: Plan is to get my hour in today at the gym. I think I'll mix it up with some eliptical (is that how you spell it?).

To win the final weigh-in over my co-worker (who has lost 50 lbs since January 1!), I'd have to lose at LEAST 25 lbs this month. Did I mention that he couldn't lose another lb for me to win? ;). Even to win the last weekly weigh-in, I'd have to lose 4 lbs by Monday. That's most likely not going to happen since there's ham involved this weekend.

Meanwhile, Ms. Bride-to-Be, any idea what size ended up getting ordered for me for the maid-o-honor dress? I'd love to hear you say that if you take me down a size that I'm a 12. ;) I'm still aiming to be a size 8, but ya know... we'll see.

And lastly, have we mentioned that I'm planning on doing a 5K in May?

A Challenge...

My boyfriend's very, very good friend is a personal trainer. He has extended a challenge to us: 60 minutes of cardio every day in April. Holy crap. I suppose if I'm going to do the 5k in May, an hour of cardio won't kill me, right? :)

Think thin. Think thin.

I challenge every one of you, dear readers (are there any? ;)) to do the same. 60 minutes of cardio. 30 days. Good luck and may the force be with you.

Because I can can can...

That's one of the songs on my workout list. :)

Anyway, I dropped this to the 'bride to be' in an email, but figured I'd post it here too because I'm so fricking excited. :)

Here's my measurements as of yesterday in the fitting room at Talbot's shortly before I purchased a size 14 dress for the summer!

Bust: 40.5"
Waist: 35"
Hips: 45.25"
Height: 68"

Mom retook them yesterday. I'm glad she did. My waist measurement was off by a good 2.5 inches. :)

I'm pretty much a standard size 14 now. I tried on some Calvin Klein pants last night -- they are notoriously small -- and the 14 fit. Talk about exciting! :) Ralph Lauren 14 fits too! WOO HOO! I bought myself a new suit in a 14 yesterday too! A $200 suit for $50. WHO is the shopping goddess? :)

Woo Hoo

This is pretty!

I'm glad you changed it now.

I think you've got me correct. But, according to my fitday page - my goal is 161 by 4/27. That's just for my 'Biggest Loser' competition at work. Though, I'm aiming for it.

My official weigh-in start was on 1/2 and I was 215.8.

Weigh in on 1/8 - 208.8.

7 pounds in 6 days. Not too shabby if you ask me.

My other goal is to workout 6 times a week. Last week, yes. This week... well - I skipped today, so we shall see. :) I'm just so tired today!

I'm not really doing the Thin & Healthy diet right now. I'm just trying to stay between 1200 & 1400 calories a day and keeping it balanced. I'm also not eating 1 hour before bedtime and drinking a TON of water/Crystal Light/Caffiene free diet soda.

I want to be super hot for your wedding (and mine, eventually, hopefully - who knows!).

Rah Rah Sis Boom Bah! :)