Ok, so now that I got all of my post-weigh-in whining out of the way, I, once again, hit up the interwebs to help plot my next moves and keep me focused.
I found a really good post on weight-loss plateaus and different things to try and beat them.
The first suggestion was investing in a body fat tester, so I went to Amazon and bought the one they suggested right away, since it was so cheap. I figured I'm at a point right now where I should probably be monitoring fat percentage more carefully (or monitoring it period, since I've never checked it before). It seems like a simple way to better pinpoint whether or not I'm actually experiencing a plateau.
I'll also try experimenting with the High-Intensity-Interval-Training (HIIT) they mentioned as well. I must admit, this is something that I've always known I should do, but just don't do it. I used to when I first started working out; I would train on the elliptical and then walk/jog on the treadmill before finishing up with a short session of weight lifting. Once I got distracted with trying to become a runner (and later, taking on incline training), I fell out of that habit completely. For shame.
Changing things up while I'm at the gym could make a world of difference. Even though I try to change up what exercises I do on certain days, I'm still essentially doing the same moves each week and I think my body has adapted to that routine, unfortunately. Instead of incline training for 40-50 solid minutes, I could run for 10/15, incline train for another 10/15, use the stair climber and then maybe do some cross-training on the elliptical. I wouldn't get bored so easily and breaking up the intervals would make the time fly by. Yes, it's kind of a "duh!" thing to try, but I've still managed to resist it for whatever reason. Oh well. Also, when I'm running the trail, I need to make a conscious effort to do some sprints. I always wear my heart rate monitor, so I can obviously use that to see how hard I'm working.
I'll also try calorie cycling too, again. I'm trying not to get ahead of myself though because I'm eager to see what the results from the body fat tester say, but I guess I'm a bit more relieved to know there are some other options out there that I haven't already tried (and/or have been in denial about).
So there's my little blurb. I needed to snap out of my pissy mood fast- it's a 3 day weekend, for crying out loud!
Friday, September 4, 2009
Weigh-in Day.
Today's weight: 163. A gain of 3 pounds. Stupid uterus. And what's more annoying is that I didn't really get a good idea on how eating within my points worked (or didn't work) after doing the Wendie Plan the previous week, where I ate considerably more.
So my plan of action this week? I don't fucking know. More strength training? More points? I'm officially running out of ideas and it's getting to the point where I might seek out the help of an expert who can look at what I've been doing and point out a perfect fix that I'm clearly missing.
I guess I'll just continue to eat more of my activity points again. I'm hesitant to make any real changes this coming week because I don't know if my gain was 100% due to period bloat or if I didn't eat enough. I won't swear off allowance points like I did last week though. We're having a going away party for some friends tomorrow and I want to enjoy myself. I don't want to go overboard, but I want to indulge a bit, within reason.
ARRRRGHHH. I'm ready to just cut off one of my limbs so I can yell "Goal!" and call it a day.
Anywho. One thing I have noticed when I look over my entries at The Daily Plate is that I don't eat a lot of fat. Even on days where I eat more and go over my points, my fat intake stays pretty low. So, I'm going to try and make an effort to work on that this week. I've been taking my fish oil capsule every morning, but that's not enough when I load up on lean protein and low-fat fiber stuff all day. And it's hard to find a balance between eating more healthy fats and still not blowing my points, but I need to at least try.
FOOD:
breakfast:
egg whites w/ diced tomatoes- 1
r.f. pepperjack cheese- 1
onion alternative bagel- 1
1 oz. avocado- 1
snack:
bell pepper strips w/ PB2- 1
9 almonds- 1
cantaloupe- 1
lunch:
lean cuisine chicken parmesan- 6
snack:
dinner (planned):
mozzarella/garlic chicken sausage- 3
diced tomatoes- 0
potato- 3
green beans- 0
parmesan- 1
post-dinner:
cantaloupe- 1
slow churn no sugar added vanilla- 5
light syrup- 1
s.f. pudding- 1
PB2 sandwich- 2
popcorn- 1
total points used: 31/23
activity points: 40 min. incline training- 5
net points: 26
WAPs: 32/35 remaining
EXERCISE:
Went to the gym again this morning for more incline training. One positive note about my morning was that there was hardly anyone there. I guess Fridays are a good day to go. All the incline trainers were open when I got there.
The workout itself though was kinda grueling because I was in crap mood from the weigh-in. That's been one drawback to working out in the mornings, especially Fridays. If I'm not happy with the scale (which I haven't been for a few months now), my motivation to workout takes a dive. I still pushed through it, but I quit after burning 500 calories because I didn't see the point in doing anymore.
================================
So, here I am, another frustrated morning. My confidence has taken a blow the past couple of months. I've had to make compromises and it makes me feel defeated. I've given up on my 100 pound goal. And that's fine. But I can't even make it to 90 pounds. That is my goal again because it will put me at a normal BMI. And that's why this is so frustrating. I'm not trying to get to the lowest weight possible in the weight range for my age/height. I think that's the impression some of my friends/family/coworkers are under. I'm just trying not to be considered overweight. And it's getting more and more difficult each week to face the fact that I am still considered overweight, despite how hard I work. Yes, I know it's only by a few pounds, but killing myself to make it to the bare minimum is just freaking me out right now.
I'm trying to be patient, but it's been 2.5 years since I started this journey. And although I've come a long way, I'm so full of resentment right now that I can no longer see the finish line. I'm just going through the motions each week and becoming less and less optimistic with each weigh-in.
I know this is turning into a pity-post and for that, I apologize. I'm just being honest. It's getting harder and harder to be happy with myself. And I know that I'm the only one who can change my attitude, but there's nothing to inspire me at the moment. I've read dozens and dozens of articles from health/fitness magazines and websites and continue to do so each week. I have all this knowledge on weight-loss and a healthy lifestyle and for a while, that new knowledge was keeping me motivated. But now, as I search for new things to try, I feel like I'm reading the same things over and over and it just leaves me kinda numb.
I guess before I figure out what food to eat and what workout to do, the first thing I need to work on is getting out of this stupid funk.
So my plan of action this week? I don't fucking know. More strength training? More points? I'm officially running out of ideas and it's getting to the point where I might seek out the help of an expert who can look at what I've been doing and point out a perfect fix that I'm clearly missing.
I guess I'll just continue to eat more of my activity points again. I'm hesitant to make any real changes this coming week because I don't know if my gain was 100% due to period bloat or if I didn't eat enough. I won't swear off allowance points like I did last week though. We're having a going away party for some friends tomorrow and I want to enjoy myself. I don't want to go overboard, but I want to indulge a bit, within reason.
ARRRRGHHH. I'm ready to just cut off one of my limbs so I can yell "Goal!" and call it a day.
Anywho. One thing I have noticed when I look over my entries at The Daily Plate is that I don't eat a lot of fat. Even on days where I eat more and go over my points, my fat intake stays pretty low. So, I'm going to try and make an effort to work on that this week. I've been taking my fish oil capsule every morning, but that's not enough when I load up on lean protein and low-fat fiber stuff all day. And it's hard to find a balance between eating more healthy fats and still not blowing my points, but I need to at least try.
FOOD:
breakfast:
egg whites w/ diced tomatoes- 1
r.f. pepperjack cheese- 1
onion alternative bagel- 1
1 oz. avocado- 1
snack:
bell pepper strips w/ PB2- 1
9 almonds- 1
cantaloupe- 1
lunch:
lean cuisine chicken parmesan- 6
snack:
dinner (planned):
mozzarella/garlic chicken sausage- 3
diced tomatoes- 0
potato- 3
green beans- 0
parmesan- 1
post-dinner:
cantaloupe- 1
slow churn no sugar added vanilla- 5
light syrup- 1
s.f. pudding- 1
PB2 sandwich- 2
popcorn- 1
total points used: 31/23
activity points: 40 min. incline training- 5
net points: 26
WAPs: 32/35 remaining
EXERCISE:
Went to the gym again this morning for more incline training. One positive note about my morning was that there was hardly anyone there. I guess Fridays are a good day to go. All the incline trainers were open when I got there.
The workout itself though was kinda grueling because I was in crap mood from the weigh-in. That's been one drawback to working out in the mornings, especially Fridays. If I'm not happy with the scale (which I haven't been for a few months now), my motivation to workout takes a dive. I still pushed through it, but I quit after burning 500 calories because I didn't see the point in doing anymore.
================================
So, here I am, another frustrated morning. My confidence has taken a blow the past couple of months. I've had to make compromises and it makes me feel defeated. I've given up on my 100 pound goal. And that's fine. But I can't even make it to 90 pounds. That is my goal again because it will put me at a normal BMI. And that's why this is so frustrating. I'm not trying to get to the lowest weight possible in the weight range for my age/height. I think that's the impression some of my friends/family/coworkers are under. I'm just trying not to be considered overweight. And it's getting more and more difficult each week to face the fact that I am still considered overweight, despite how hard I work. Yes, I know it's only by a few pounds, but killing myself to make it to the bare minimum is just freaking me out right now.
I'm trying to be patient, but it's been 2.5 years since I started this journey. And although I've come a long way, I'm so full of resentment right now that I can no longer see the finish line. I'm just going through the motions each week and becoming less and less optimistic with each weigh-in.
I know this is turning into a pity-post and for that, I apologize. I'm just being honest. It's getting harder and harder to be happy with myself. And I know that I'm the only one who can change my attitude, but there's nothing to inspire me at the moment. I've read dozens and dozens of articles from health/fitness magazines and websites and continue to do so each week. I have all this knowledge on weight-loss and a healthy lifestyle and for a while, that new knowledge was keeping me motivated. But now, as I search for new things to try, I feel like I'm reading the same things over and over and it just leaves me kinda numb.
I guess before I figure out what food to eat and what workout to do, the first thing I need to work on is getting out of this stupid funk.
Thursday, September 3, 2009
The beginnings of a self-righteous gym rat.
FOOD:
breakfast:
f.f. cottage cheese w/ blueberries- 2
light english muffin- 1
coffee w/ .25 cup almond milk- 0
snack:
carrot sticks- 0
PB2- 1
lunch:
sandwich thin- 1
chicken slices- 1
r.f. pepperjack- 1
2 cups WW progresso vegetable soup- 2
snack:
9 almonds- 1
soy nut mix- 2
dinner:
salmon- 3
spinach/tomatoes/splash white wine- 1
6 brussel sprouts w/ 1 tsp. olive oil- 1
1 oz. avocado- 1
post-dinner:
9 almonds- 1
3 prunes- 1
fudge bar- 1
almond milk- 1
grapes- 1
cantaloupe- 1
total points used: 24/23
activity points: 45 min. incline training- 6
net points: 23
WAPs: 35/35 remaining
Still not sure what my afternoon snack will be. Either a Lightfull smoothie or a packet of soy nut mix. Dinner will be some salmon sauteed with spinach, diced tomatoes, garlic, Ivar's Seafood Seasoning and a splash of white wine. God, it's so friggin' good.
EXERCISE:
Went to the gym this morning. It was a tough decision because quiz ran late last night and I didn't sleep all that well. But, somehow, between weird dreams and getting overheated, I managed to wake up 6 minutes before 5am. I rolled out of bed and started getting ready.
I was pretty pissed that the incline trainers were taken when I got there. Technically, there was one open, but it wouldn't turn on. So I ran on a regular treadmill for about 10 minutes until an incline trainer opened up. I know I'm not the only one getting up at 5 am to work out before work; I respect every person that I see at the gym for joining me in that decision. But man, I hate it when people hog up the incline trainers and don't turn on the incline! These machines are specially designed to go up to a 30% grade. Yet people use them to walk at 0% at 3.5 mph AND use the handlebars (I'm sorry, but when I see people using the handlebars at that pace, it irritates me. Walking at a moderate pace is one thing, but using the handlebars takes your heart rate down even more).
Anywho, the incline trainers are right in front of the TVs, so they tend to go pretty quick. And when they do, I start getting pissy and judgmental toward the people using them to walk/run at 0% grade when there are a dozen other perfectly good treadmills for the non-incline people. Sigh. I know, I'm being an ass, but if I'm getting up at 5 am to go to the gym, I want my incline trainer without having to wait, dang it! This is why I hope to buy my own someday. Oh, what a happy day that will be.
==============================
In other news, I've been weighing myself the past few days and there's no way in hell I'm showing a loss tomorrow. As soon as my period hit on Monday, I shot up 5 pounds over the next few days, despite having a perfect food/exercise week. So depressing. Not only because of the scale, but physically too. I've been doing sit-ups for the past week and finally noticed my stomach smoothing out. But as soon as the period hit, I looked 6 months pregnant. Nice.
I know I said earlier this week that I wasn't going to pay as much attention to the numbers on the scale, but for crying out loud- when the hell am I gonna see 158? It's September already, man! I thought I would see that number in July, August at the latest and it just seems the world is against me every Friday morning. Buh. Oh well.
I'm actually feeling pretty good this morning, so I'll stop trying to put myself in a bad mood over something I simply had no control over this week. One benefit to getting up early to go to the gym is that when I'm done working out and walking to my car, the sun is just starting to come up and the sky looks so beautiful. It really is a good way to start the morning. Then I come home, shower, get dressed and slowly enjoy my breakfast with warm coffee. I don't know, I just have that lovey-dovey-hippy-optimistic feeling before I go to work, which I certainly never had before when I worked out in the evenings, haha.
breakfast:
f.f. cottage cheese w/ blueberries- 2
light english muffin- 1
coffee w/ .25 cup almond milk- 0
snack:
carrot sticks- 0
PB2- 1
lunch:
sandwich thin- 1
chicken slices- 1
r.f. pepperjack- 1
2 cups WW progresso vegetable soup- 2
snack:
9 almonds- 1
soy nut mix- 2
dinner:
salmon- 3
spinach/tomatoes/splash white wine- 1
6 brussel sprouts w/ 1 tsp. olive oil- 1
1 oz. avocado- 1
post-dinner:
9 almonds- 1
3 prunes- 1
fudge bar- 1
almond milk- 1
grapes- 1
cantaloupe- 1
total points used: 24/23
activity points: 45 min. incline training- 6
net points: 23
WAPs: 35/35 remaining
Still not sure what my afternoon snack will be. Either a Lightfull smoothie or a packet of soy nut mix. Dinner will be some salmon sauteed with spinach, diced tomatoes, garlic, Ivar's Seafood Seasoning and a splash of white wine. God, it's so friggin' good.
EXERCISE:
Went to the gym this morning. It was a tough decision because quiz ran late last night and I didn't sleep all that well. But, somehow, between weird dreams and getting overheated, I managed to wake up 6 minutes before 5am. I rolled out of bed and started getting ready.
I was pretty pissed that the incline trainers were taken when I got there. Technically, there was one open, but it wouldn't turn on. So I ran on a regular treadmill for about 10 minutes until an incline trainer opened up. I know I'm not the only one getting up at 5 am to work out before work; I respect every person that I see at the gym for joining me in that decision. But man, I hate it when people hog up the incline trainers and don't turn on the incline! These machines are specially designed to go up to a 30% grade. Yet people use them to walk at 0% at 3.5 mph AND use the handlebars (I'm sorry, but when I see people using the handlebars at that pace, it irritates me. Walking at a moderate pace is one thing, but using the handlebars takes your heart rate down even more).
Anywho, the incline trainers are right in front of the TVs, so they tend to go pretty quick. And when they do, I start getting pissy and judgmental toward the people using them to walk/run at 0% grade when there are a dozen other perfectly good treadmills for the non-incline people. Sigh. I know, I'm being an ass, but if I'm getting up at 5 am to go to the gym, I want my incline trainer without having to wait, dang it! This is why I hope to buy my own someday. Oh, what a happy day that will be.
==============================
In other news, I've been weighing myself the past few days and there's no way in hell I'm showing a loss tomorrow. As soon as my period hit on Monday, I shot up 5 pounds over the next few days, despite having a perfect food/exercise week. So depressing. Not only because of the scale, but physically too. I've been doing sit-ups for the past week and finally noticed my stomach smoothing out. But as soon as the period hit, I looked 6 months pregnant. Nice.
I know I said earlier this week that I wasn't going to pay as much attention to the numbers on the scale, but for crying out loud- when the hell am I gonna see 158? It's September already, man! I thought I would see that number in July, August at the latest and it just seems the world is against me every Friday morning. Buh. Oh well.
I'm actually feeling pretty good this morning, so I'll stop trying to put myself in a bad mood over something I simply had no control over this week. One benefit to getting up early to go to the gym is that when I'm done working out and walking to my car, the sun is just starting to come up and the sky looks so beautiful. It really is a good way to start the morning. Then I come home, shower, get dressed and slowly enjoy my breakfast with warm coffee. I don't know, I just have that lovey-dovey-hippy-optimistic feeling before I go to work, which I certainly never had before when I worked out in the evenings, haha.
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Dinner last night was Green Chile Beef Soup, which is basically the same as my Green Chile Chicken Soup, only made with 96/4 ground beef and cream of mushroom soup instead of cream of chicken. Still awesome.
FOOD:
breakfast:
f.f. greek yogurt w/ blueberries- 2
special k cereal- 1
snack:
apple- 1
soynut mix- 2
lunch:
leftover green chile beef soup- 7
corn tortillas- 1
snack:
lightfull smoothie- 1
dinner:
tuna w/ light mayo- 3
baked potato- 2
light sour cream- 1
green beans- 0
post-dinner:
grapes- 1
fudge bar- 1
total points used: 23/23
activity points: day off
WAPs: 35/35 remaining
quiz tonight, so we're just gonna wing it for dinner. I'm thinking tuna salad is in my future.
EXERCISE:
Day off from working out today. Which is probably best since I'm getting back into the swing of things at work (had last two days off). Tomorrow I'm planning on hitting up the gym for some incline training. Still not sure what I want to do Friday morning. We'll see.
FOOD:
breakfast:
f.f. greek yogurt w/ blueberries- 2
special k cereal- 1
snack:
apple- 1
soynut mix- 2
lunch:
leftover green chile beef soup- 7
corn tortillas- 1
snack:
lightfull smoothie- 1
dinner:
tuna w/ light mayo- 3
baked potato- 2
light sour cream- 1
green beans- 0
post-dinner:
grapes- 1
fudge bar- 1
total points used: 23/23
activity points: day off
WAPs: 35/35 remaining
quiz tonight, so we're just gonna wing it for dinner. I'm thinking tuna salad is in my future.
EXERCISE:
Day off from working out today. Which is probably best since I'm getting back into the swing of things at work (had last two days off). Tomorrow I'm planning on hitting up the gym for some incline training. Still not sure what I want to do Friday morning. We'll see.
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Last night's dinner was a bunch of spaghetti squash w/ butter, seasonings, and some sauteed bay scallops with parmesan on top. It was super-filling and not a lot of points. I swear, some days I could eat a whole spaghetti squash by myself. I forget to buy them more often, but since they've been pretty cheap at Sunflower Market lately, I should probably make an effort to keep them on my radar.
FOOD:
breakfast:
egg whites- 1
spinach/salsa/jalapeno- 0
f.f. shredded cheese- 1
boca sausage- 1
low-cal toast- 1
snack:
almond milk- 1
protein powder w/ berries- 1
lunch:
sandwich thin- 1
sliced chicken- 1
s.f. smuckers- 0
carrot sticks- 0
PB2- 1
snack:
popcorn- 1
9 almonds- 1
kashi bar- 2
prune- 1
dinner:
green chile beef soup- 7
corn tortillas- 1
post-dinner:
fudge bar- 1
s.f. pudding cup- 1
PB2- 1
grapes- 2
total points used: 27/23
activity points: 48 min. run- 6
net points: 23
WAPs: 35/35 remaining
The scramble I made for breakfast this morning was kinda meh. I just wanted to finish some things off and ended up throwing them all together. The flavor of the sausage kinda threw off the taste of everything else. Oh well. Lots of protein and fiber, so no real complaints.
EXERCISE:
Went for a morning run. It was hard getting going since it's that time of the month this week, but I pushed through it. My speed was a little slower today, but that's alright. I just kept reminding myself that tomorrow (Wednesday) is my day off from working out, so my body can rest then.
FOOD:
breakfast:
egg whites- 1
spinach/salsa/jalapeno- 0
f.f. shredded cheese- 1
boca sausage- 1
low-cal toast- 1
snack:
almond milk- 1
protein powder w/ berries- 1
lunch:
sandwich thin- 1
sliced chicken- 1
s.f. smuckers- 0
carrot sticks- 0
PB2- 1
snack:
popcorn- 1
9 almonds- 1
kashi bar- 2
prune- 1
dinner:
green chile beef soup- 7
corn tortillas- 1
post-dinner:
fudge bar- 1
s.f. pudding cup- 1
PB2- 1
grapes- 2
total points used: 27/23
activity points: 48 min. run- 6
net points: 23
WAPs: 35/35 remaining
The scramble I made for breakfast this morning was kinda meh. I just wanted to finish some things off and ended up throwing them all together. The flavor of the sausage kinda threw off the taste of everything else. Oh well. Lots of protein and fiber, so no real complaints.
EXERCISE:
Went for a morning run. It was hard getting going since it's that time of the month this week, but I pushed through it. My speed was a little slower today, but that's alright. I just kept reminding myself that tomorrow (Wednesday) is my day off from working out, so my body can rest then.
Monday, August 31, 2009
Another weekend survived.
FOOD:
breakfast:
smart wrap tortilla- 1
black beans- 2
f.f. cheese- 1
salsa- 0
light sour cream- 1
snack:
grapes- 1
carrot sticks- 0
lunch:
PB2 sandwich- 2
apple- 1
snack:
kashi bar- 2
almond milk- 1
dinner:
scallops- 2
spaghetti squash w/ parmesan- 2
light butter- 1
post-dinner:
popcorn- 1
fudge bar- 1
s.f. pudding- 1
ice cream- 3
total points used: 23/23
activity points: Biggest Loser Boot Camp (all levels)- 3
WAPs: 35/35 remaining
Made it to Monday with all of my allowance points! I woke up hungry this morning, so I opted for a black bean burrito as my breakfast, post-workout.
EXERCISE:
Did the Biggest Loser Boot Camp DVD again this morning. I actually burned more calories this time, probably because I was more familiar with the moves and was able to put forth better effort. I can't wait to start seeing the results in my arms!
Not much else to report today. I'm off today and tomorrow from work. Just wanted to take a couple of personal days since the semester already started and things are starting to slow down again. I have a few errands to run today and that's about it.
breakfast:
smart wrap tortilla- 1
black beans- 2
f.f. cheese- 1
salsa- 0
light sour cream- 1
snack:
grapes- 1
carrot sticks- 0
lunch:
PB2 sandwich- 2
apple- 1
snack:
kashi bar- 2
almond milk- 1
dinner:
scallops- 2
spaghetti squash w/ parmesan- 2
light butter- 1
post-dinner:
popcorn- 1
fudge bar- 1
s.f. pudding- 1
ice cream- 3
total points used: 23/23
activity points: Biggest Loser Boot Camp (all levels)- 3
WAPs: 35/35 remaining
Made it to Monday with all of my allowance points! I woke up hungry this morning, so I opted for a black bean burrito as my breakfast, post-workout.
EXERCISE:
Did the Biggest Loser Boot Camp DVD again this morning. I actually burned more calories this time, probably because I was more familiar with the moves and was able to put forth better effort. I can't wait to start seeing the results in my arms!
Not much else to report today. I'm off today and tomorrow from work. Just wanted to take a couple of personal days since the semester already started and things are starting to slow down again. I have a few errands to run today and that's about it.
Sunday, August 30, 2009
FOOD:
breakfast:
light english muffin- 1
egg white/3 slices ham- 1
f.f. shredded cheese- 1
green onion- 0
snack:
ww giant ice cream bar- 2
lunch:
smart wrap tortilla- 1
black beans- 2
f.f. shredded cheese- 1
salsa- 0
dinner:
corn tortillas- 1
2 f.f. hot dogs- 2
turkey chili- 2
cheese slice- 1
potato- 2
olive oil- 1
post-dinner:
fudge bar- 1
apple- 1
PB2- 1
s.f. pudding cup- 1
strawberries w/ light syrup- 1
total points used: 23/23
activity points: P90X (Kenpo)- 3
WAPs: 35/35
I've made it to Sunday morning and I still have all of my allowance points! Haven't accomplished that in a while. Now, if I can make it to tomorrow with all of them, that would be sweet.
Breakfast stemmed from an idea from Doug. The only thing I changed was making it into a sandwich with the english muffin. The green onion and ham really added a nice flavor. I mixed my cheese in and cooked everything until the cheese got a little crusty on the outside. So friggin' good.
Dinner plans aren't set in stone, but I'm thinking chili dogs (healthy version of course) and baked fries. Mmm. I got paid earlier than I thought I would (Friday versus tomorrow), so we busted out some serious grocery shopping yesterday. I still want to stop by Sunflower Market today and pick up some produce though. The produce selection at Wal-mart is never really worth much to begin with and the prices at Sunflower are way better. They have cheap apples and I need to stock up!
EXERCISE:
Did the P90X Kenpo disc today. It was ok. I didn't find it particularly hard and I only burned 300 calories after an hour. But it still got me sweating and made me focus on form, so I can't really complain too much.
breakfast:
light english muffin- 1
egg white/3 slices ham- 1
f.f. shredded cheese- 1
green onion- 0
snack:
ww giant ice cream bar- 2
lunch:
smart wrap tortilla- 1
black beans- 2
f.f. shredded cheese- 1
salsa- 0
dinner:
corn tortillas- 1
2 f.f. hot dogs- 2
turkey chili- 2
cheese slice- 1
potato- 2
olive oil- 1
post-dinner:
fudge bar- 1
apple- 1
PB2- 1
s.f. pudding cup- 1
strawberries w/ light syrup- 1
total points used: 23/23
activity points: P90X (Kenpo)- 3
WAPs: 35/35
I've made it to Sunday morning and I still have all of my allowance points! Haven't accomplished that in a while. Now, if I can make it to tomorrow with all of them, that would be sweet.
Breakfast stemmed from an idea from Doug. The only thing I changed was making it into a sandwich with the english muffin. The green onion and ham really added a nice flavor. I mixed my cheese in and cooked everything until the cheese got a little crusty on the outside. So friggin' good.
Dinner plans aren't set in stone, but I'm thinking chili dogs (healthy version of course) and baked fries. Mmm. I got paid earlier than I thought I would (Friday versus tomorrow), so we busted out some serious grocery shopping yesterday. I still want to stop by Sunflower Market today and pick up some produce though. The produce selection at Wal-mart is never really worth much to begin with and the prices at Sunflower are way better. They have cheap apples and I need to stock up!
EXERCISE:
Did the P90X Kenpo disc today. It was ok. I didn't find it particularly hard and I only burned 300 calories after an hour. But it still got me sweating and made me focus on form, so I can't really complain too much.
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Weekend!
So lunch at the retreat yesterday was fine. The main course was beef or chicken enchilada casserole, loaded with cheese and god knows what else, but luckily there was also salad and steamed mixed veggies, so I loaded up on those instead. Granted, I was starving by the time I got home since it was all veggies and no real protein, but no complaints otherwise.
FOOD:
breakfast:
oatmeal w/ peaches & protein powder- 3
lunch:
english muffin- 1
turkey- 1
cheese slice- 1
s.f. smuckers- 0
snack:
grapes- 1
carrot sticks- 0
PB2- 1
popcorn- 1
string cheese- 1
dinner:
chicken breast- 3
potato- 2
light butter/sour cream- 2
zucchini w/ olive oil- 1
post-dinner:
fudge bar- 1
s.f. pudding w/ light syrup- 2
kashi bar- 2
chips- 1
salsa- 0
total points used: 24/23
activity points: 48 min. run- 6
net points: 23
WAPs: 35/35 remaining
I went over my points a bit last night with treats, but had just enough activity points to cover it all. My goal this week is to not dip into my allowance points, but that said, I'll probably be more willing to eat some activity points here and there. I need to work on finding a good balance in regards to how many APs I earn throughout the week and how many of them I'll actually eat. I'm always afraid of eating too many or too little, so it's something I'm gonna try playing around with the next few weeks. I get the feeling that most weeks, I'm working my body too hard and not giving it quite enough fuel because I'm paranoid of gaining (which ends up happening anyway if my body goes into starvation mode). So key theme for this week is balance.
EXERCISE:
It was hard getting going this morning, but I finally left the house around 9 am to go for a run. Tomorrow I'm thinking of trying another P90X workout and then Monday I'll do Biggest Loser Boot Camp to work on more strength training. The muscles in my arms are still sore from when I did it on Wednesday, so that just goes to show that if I keep up with it more often, my arms will finally start toning up!
I had some time to reflect on my weigh-in yesterday and talked some sense into myself. I just need to let go of what the scale says for a while and focus on toning these last few areas that I'm still not happy with. It's very easy for me to get obsessed with numbers and when they stop going in the direction I want, I let it get to me and am usually in a pissy mood the rest of the week. I'm tired of having a bad attitude, especially when I just bring it upon myself. I'm sure if I just focus on keeping up with a variety of workouts and feel good about my progress, the scale will catch up with me eventually.
I guess what I'm trying to say here is that losing as much as I have already should be a happy thing; this whole process, as hard as it is some days, should be an overall uplifting experience. There's no reason I should be making myself miserable while getting healthy and living a better lifestyle. It just dawned on me this morning as I was making breakfast that I've already added years to my life and have significantly reduced my risk for soooo many diseases- not every person can say that. I'm rambling now, I know, but I guess morning runs just make me a little more optimistic than usual, heh.
FOOD:
breakfast:
oatmeal w/ peaches & protein powder- 3
lunch:
english muffin- 1
turkey- 1
cheese slice- 1
s.f. smuckers- 0
snack:
grapes- 1
carrot sticks- 0
PB2- 1
popcorn- 1
string cheese- 1
dinner:
chicken breast- 3
potato- 2
light butter/sour cream- 2
zucchini w/ olive oil- 1
post-dinner:
fudge bar- 1
s.f. pudding w/ light syrup- 2
kashi bar- 2
chips- 1
salsa- 0
total points used: 24/23
activity points: 48 min. run- 6
net points: 23
WAPs: 35/35 remaining
I went over my points a bit last night with treats, but had just enough activity points to cover it all. My goal this week is to not dip into my allowance points, but that said, I'll probably be more willing to eat some activity points here and there. I need to work on finding a good balance in regards to how many APs I earn throughout the week and how many of them I'll actually eat. I'm always afraid of eating too many or too little, so it's something I'm gonna try playing around with the next few weeks. I get the feeling that most weeks, I'm working my body too hard and not giving it quite enough fuel because I'm paranoid of gaining (which ends up happening anyway if my body goes into starvation mode). So key theme for this week is balance.
EXERCISE:
It was hard getting going this morning, but I finally left the house around 9 am to go for a run. Tomorrow I'm thinking of trying another P90X workout and then Monday I'll do Biggest Loser Boot Camp to work on more strength training. The muscles in my arms are still sore from when I did it on Wednesday, so that just goes to show that if I keep up with it more often, my arms will finally start toning up!
I had some time to reflect on my weigh-in yesterday and talked some sense into myself. I just need to let go of what the scale says for a while and focus on toning these last few areas that I'm still not happy with. It's very easy for me to get obsessed with numbers and when they stop going in the direction I want, I let it get to me and am usually in a pissy mood the rest of the week. I'm tired of having a bad attitude, especially when I just bring it upon myself. I'm sure if I just focus on keeping up with a variety of workouts and feel good about my progress, the scale will catch up with me eventually.
I guess what I'm trying to say here is that losing as much as I have already should be a happy thing; this whole process, as hard as it is some days, should be an overall uplifting experience. There's no reason I should be making myself miserable while getting healthy and living a better lifestyle. It just dawned on me this morning as I was making breakfast that I've already added years to my life and have significantly reduced my risk for soooo many diseases- not every person can say that. I'm rambling now, I know, but I guess morning runs just make me a little more optimistic than usual, heh.
Friday, August 28, 2009
Weigh-In.
I have another off-campus employee retreat today, so I won't be at a computer. Post today is gonna be short & sweet.
Today's weight: 160.2. A loss of 1.8 pounds. Cool? I guess between my unexplained gain last week and the Wendie Plan this week, I was hoping to be down at least another pound. Whatever. Back to the normal plan this week.
FOOD:
breakfast:
f.f. cottage cheese w/ peaches & s.f. smuckers- 2
light english muffin- 1
snack:
mixed fruit- 1
kashi bar- 2
lunch:
salad- 0
dressing- 2
steamed veggies (w/ oil?)- 3
snack:
smart wrap tortilla- 1
light pepperjack- 1
dinner:
schwan's beef tips & veggie meal- 6
post-dinner:
pretzel stick/2 prunes- 1
PB2 sandwich- 2
vitatop- 1
frozen peaches/strawberries- 1
ice cream- 3
popcorn- 2
total points used: 29/23
activity points: 50 min. incline training- 6
net points: 23
WAPs: 35/35 remaining
since lunch is being catered at the retreat, no clue what's on the menu yet. come on, salad!
EXERCISE:
Another morning workout at the gym with some good incline training. Heart rate monitor didn't crap out, but did freak out a couple of times and said I was working at 117% of my maximum heart rate. Ugh. Stupid technology.
That's all for now. I gotta get goin'!
Today's weight: 160.2. A loss of 1.8 pounds. Cool? I guess between my unexplained gain last week and the Wendie Plan this week, I was hoping to be down at least another pound. Whatever. Back to the normal plan this week.
FOOD:
breakfast:
f.f. cottage cheese w/ peaches & s.f. smuckers- 2
light english muffin- 1
snack:
mixed fruit- 1
kashi bar- 2
lunch:
salad- 0
dressing- 2
steamed veggies (w/ oil?)- 3
snack:
smart wrap tortilla- 1
light pepperjack- 1
dinner:
schwan's beef tips & veggie meal- 6
post-dinner:
pretzel stick/2 prunes- 1
PB2 sandwich- 2
vitatop- 1
frozen peaches/strawberries- 1
ice cream- 3
popcorn- 2
total points used: 29/23
activity points: 50 min. incline training- 6
net points: 23
WAPs: 35/35 remaining
since lunch is being catered at the retreat, no clue what's on the menu yet. come on, salad!
EXERCISE:
Another morning workout at the gym with some good incline training. Heart rate monitor didn't crap out, but did freak out a couple of times and said I was working at 117% of my maximum heart rate. Ugh. Stupid technology.
That's all for now. I gotta get goin'!
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Sweaty by sunrise.
FOOD:
breakfast:
f.f. cottage cheese w/ strawberries, s.f. smuckers- 2
light english muffin- 1
snack:
9 almonds- 1
baby carrots- 0
PB2- 1
lunch:
sandwich thin- 1
turkey- 1
light pepperjack- 1
cantaloupe- 1
popcorn- 1
snack:
soy nut mix- 2
dinner:
salmon- 3
corn tortillas- 1
salsa- 0
spinach- 0
sour cream- 1
parmesan- 1
post-dinner:
tart honey yogurt- 4
total points used: 22/22 (Wendie Plan)
activity points: 45 min. incline training- 5
WAPs: 8/35 remaining
Trying to keep my menu light today, since tomorrow is the weigh-in. Not in terms of eating less points, but just trying to avoid heavy stuff, extra sodium, etc. I must admit, I've been weighing myself every day this week, and I'm not too thrilled with the results so far. I'm not stressed about it though. I've already started mulling around a plan of action for next week.
I'm pretty close to giving up on my 100 pound goal. If it's taking me this long just to get to 158 (90 pound mark, normal BMI, still haven't made it there yet), I just don't understand how the hell I can break the 140s. I dunno. I guess we'll see where I'm at in a month and go from there. I know it's less about a number on the scale and more about how I feel (and let's be honest, how I look too), but I'm still not satisfied yet. Close, but still seeing areas for improvement.
EXERCISE:
Woke up about 10 minutes before my alarm went off and headed to the gym. It was actually a really good experience, except for the part where my heart rate monitor crapped out for about 15 minutes. So aggravating because I really depend on that thing to measure my calories burned. I think it was partially my fault though. I don't think I wet the strap enough before I put it on. After my chest was soaked with sweat, it started working again just fine. My goal was to burn 500 calories, but between the monitor going out and me trying to overcompensate to make up the difference, I think I might have been closer to 600 calories. Anywho.
I'm feeling pretty good right now. I still had plenty of time to get ready when I got home and even had time to brew a cup of coffee. I've never been a real big coffee drinker, but that's definitely changing with the addition of morning workouts.
I think I might go there again tomorrow for more incline training and save my running session for Saturday morning, so I can go a little later after the sun is out.
Overall, I'm just really digging the feeling of not having to exercise after work. As much as I hate being up when it's still dark outside, having my evenings free and not having to give myself a pep talk every afternoon is so much more satisfying. Now, that's how I feel about it today. My feelings may change after a couple of weeks, haha.
breakfast:
f.f. cottage cheese w/ strawberries, s.f. smuckers- 2
light english muffin- 1
snack:
9 almonds- 1
baby carrots- 0
PB2- 1
lunch:
sandwich thin- 1
turkey- 1
light pepperjack- 1
cantaloupe- 1
popcorn- 1
snack:
soy nut mix- 2
dinner:
salmon- 3
corn tortillas- 1
salsa- 0
spinach- 0
sour cream- 1
parmesan- 1
post-dinner:
tart honey yogurt- 4
total points used: 22/22 (Wendie Plan)
activity points: 45 min. incline training- 5
WAPs: 8/35 remaining
Trying to keep my menu light today, since tomorrow is the weigh-in. Not in terms of eating less points, but just trying to avoid heavy stuff, extra sodium, etc. I must admit, I've been weighing myself every day this week, and I'm not too thrilled with the results so far. I'm not stressed about it though. I've already started mulling around a plan of action for next week.
I'm pretty close to giving up on my 100 pound goal. If it's taking me this long just to get to 158 (90 pound mark, normal BMI, still haven't made it there yet), I just don't understand how the hell I can break the 140s. I dunno. I guess we'll see where I'm at in a month and go from there. I know it's less about a number on the scale and more about how I feel (and let's be honest, how I look too), but I'm still not satisfied yet. Close, but still seeing areas for improvement.
EXERCISE:
Woke up about 10 minutes before my alarm went off and headed to the gym. It was actually a really good experience, except for the part where my heart rate monitor crapped out for about 15 minutes. So aggravating because I really depend on that thing to measure my calories burned. I think it was partially my fault though. I don't think I wet the strap enough before I put it on. After my chest was soaked with sweat, it started working again just fine. My goal was to burn 500 calories, but between the monitor going out and me trying to overcompensate to make up the difference, I think I might have been closer to 600 calories. Anywho.
I'm feeling pretty good right now. I still had plenty of time to get ready when I got home and even had time to brew a cup of coffee. I've never been a real big coffee drinker, but that's definitely changing with the addition of morning workouts.
I think I might go there again tomorrow for more incline training and save my running session for Saturday morning, so I can go a little later after the sun is out.
Overall, I'm just really digging the feeling of not having to exercise after work. As much as I hate being up when it's still dark outside, having my evenings free and not having to give myself a pep talk every afternoon is so much more satisfying. Now, that's how I feel about it today. My feelings may change after a couple of weeks, haha.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)