Huh?
Quick - before you go any futher - take a guess at what you think my % of body fat is. I'm 5' 8". My weight yesterday morning was 209.5 - at the gym last night, fully clothed and after a day of eating was 214 (yeah, I almost cried when I saw that number again). K - go record that number down in the comments and THEN read on...
Well, I joined the Biggest Loser competition at the gym. I think I'm the thinnest woman there, but alas... It was $30 and you get a $20 card to go to classes that I was planning on buying anyway, so I'm only out $10. Plus it's good motivation for me to get my ass in the gym for the next 4 months - did I mention that it goes thru April? They are going to have competitions every other week and weigh-ins every week.
As part of that, I had to weigh-in (of course), get my measurements taken (oh God, I couldn't look. My hips alone are 47.5"!!!) and get a body fat test with a fancy little computer gun. I love the fancy little computer gun. What % of my body is fat, you ask? You're going to have to wait a little longer.... ;)
We all know that the CDC goes by your BMI. Well, my BMI is 32.5. Obese. Yep. Did anyone question that? I certainly didn't. Though, I have none of the health problems that occur in obese people. My BP is low. It usually runs about 103/60ish - though when they take it at the doctor when I'm all stressed out or sick, it puts me right at 'normal' 120/70ish. Even when I was 9 months pregnant with Logan, my 10 lb gigantor baby, I topped out at 140/87 or something of that sort. My blood sugar, which gets checked EVERY appointment when you have a parent with Diabeties mind you, is perfectly normal. I was borderline GD with Logan, but let me restate - HE WAS A 10 LB BABY! :)
BMI is tough for a person like me who does have a lot of muscle - albeit hiding under a candy coating. I work out - a lot - when I'm going to the gym. Monday night alone I was there for an hour and a half and I STILL felt like I didn't get everything done! I was a figure skater who, in season, with high school 6 hours a day, still spent 6 hours on the ice. In the off season (summer) I was on the ice 8-9 hours a day. In the summer when I wasn't on the ice, I was taking dance classes for 3 hours or so! I didn't even have time to eat (yeah, I got a little too thin that summer - I was about 146 and a size 6 - 7) ! :)
Imagine my surprise when the readout said that my body fat was at 27%. Completely within the 'healthy' range. Albeit on the high end - but that will change. According to fancy little computer gun, even with almost 0% body fat, my lowest weight without losing muscle - drum roll please - 156.2. So, needless to say, my 160 that's listed as my goal, might have to change. Lord - I can't get to 0% body fat, can I? I'd be too hot to handle!!! LOL
Needless to say, today is a good day and the start of a new outlook.
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Sunday, January 13, 2008
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.
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.
Saturday, January 12, 2008
Older post responses
There's been a few posts on foods that I hadn't gotten a chance to respond and since they are not on the main page I'll respond here.
I tried Karen's recipe from October, but adjusted it a "tiny" bit - I replaced the tofu with chicken. It was delicious.
Kathryn, regarding lunch ideas...we usually bring our lunch. We had been doing sandwiches for a while but whenever we have leftovers we try to bring those in. We were getting tired of sandwiches as well, but started changing it by using pitas instead of bread or put everything in a bake potato. There are other great recipes on the Food For Life book I often use, I highly recommend this book.
I tried Karen's recipe from October, but adjusted it a "tiny" bit - I replaced the tofu with chicken. It was delicious.
Kathryn, regarding lunch ideas...we usually bring our lunch. We had been doing sandwiches for a while but whenever we have leftovers we try to bring those in. We were getting tired of sandwiches as well, but started changing it by using pitas instead of bread or put everything in a bake potato. There are other great recipes on the Food For Life book I often use, I highly recommend this book.
Being healthy without thinking about it
I'm trying a new thing, might not work but I'm trying it. I've read enough books about exercising and eating healthy in the past that I know what's good for me and what's not, I'm also learning a whole new set of information about the human body and food from the current book I'm reading - You On A Diet. In the past, I have written goals nightly for the next day and recorded all the foods I've had for the day and will have the next day. I've weighed myself when I was supposed to and wrote down recipes that are healthy. All these things, for some reason, make me feel that my world is revolving around dieting. I'm so hard on myself when I mess up once because I've put so much work into it...they (the pros) say not to worry if you mess up, just keep going, but that doesn't work for me. Also, when all I think about is eating healthy and working out, the temptation to avoid it grows immensely for me.
So my new thing is that I'm not going to keep track of my health, (just like I don't keep track of how many times a day I brush my teeth) this includes any goals, workouts, foods, etc. The reason I'm trying this approach is because I want to be healthy without thinking about it. I'm working out everyday, but I'm not patting myself in the back for it, because it's just part of my life...I don't pat myself on the back when I shower or brush my teeth. I've also been drinking lots of water and green tea everyday, not using salt at all, and eating lots of fruits and veggies, but I don't record it. I'm not going to weigh myself for at least 3 months - I know how I'm doing depending on how my clothes fit.
This might seem odd to you, and it's odd to me too, but I don't want to think about being healthy anymore because I have let myself down a lot in the past, I'm just going to make it second nature to me. This method goes against everything I've read, so I'm not saying it's going to work, I'm just saying that I'm going to try it.
So my new thing is that I'm not going to keep track of my health, (just like I don't keep track of how many times a day I brush my teeth) this includes any goals, workouts, foods, etc. The reason I'm trying this approach is because I want to be healthy without thinking about it. I'm working out everyday, but I'm not patting myself in the back for it, because it's just part of my life...I don't pat myself on the back when I shower or brush my teeth. I've also been drinking lots of water and green tea everyday, not using salt at all, and eating lots of fruits and veggies, but I don't record it. I'm not going to weigh myself for at least 3 months - I know how I'm doing depending on how my clothes fit.
This might seem odd to you, and it's odd to me too, but I don't want to think about being healthy anymore because I have let myself down a lot in the past, I'm just going to make it second nature to me. This method goes against everything I've read, so I'm not saying it's going to work, I'm just saying that I'm going to try it.
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Small Tips for Weight Loss
Small Tips for Weight Loss
Even before I read this I have been using #1, wait 2 min when it comes to my afternoon pop or snack. Sometimes its drink a glass of water and wait 2 minutes.
I think the reason this works for me is that I am not in tune with my body enough to tell the subtle differences between hungry, thirsty, tired and bored. Sometimes they all feel the same!
Even before I read this I have been using #1, wait 2 min when it comes to my afternoon pop or snack. Sometimes its drink a glass of water and wait 2 minutes.
I think the reason this works for me is that I am not in tune with my body enough to tell the subtle differences between hungry, thirsty, tired and bored. Sometimes they all feel the same!
Goals Check In
January is a good time to check in with the goals we have set. I just changed mine to reflect the 6 week program I am starting to jump start a healthier lifestyle.
How is everyone else doing? Do we need to update any goals? Any you have found too difficult to maintain and need to back off on?
How is everyone else doing? Do we need to update any goals? Any you have found too difficult to maintain and need to back off on?
Tuesday, January 08, 2008
Danielle Week 1
This is week 1 for me too! I am doing BeachBody.com's Slim in 6 program with a few others on the beachbody message boards. Its a DVD workout with some online tools and support you can use if you want to. Working with others towards a common goal is always easier than going it alone!
The best thing about it is that the workouts start out at 25 min, and gradually get harder and longer. So for now I'm doing good but then I'm only 1 day in! Even on the easy workout I could not do everything the instructor did. Shows how out of shape I have become!
Not making any life altering changes to my diet yet, one thing at a time. As they say on BeachBody.... Just Press Play!
-Danielle
The best thing about it is that the workouts start out at 25 min, and gradually get harder and longer. So for now I'm doing good but then I'm only 1 day in! Even on the easy workout I could not do everything the instructor did. Shows how out of shape I have become!
Not making any life altering changes to my diet yet, one thing at a time. As they say on BeachBody.... Just Press Play!
-Danielle
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