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Thursday, April 25, 2013

A Monthly Battle & The Snow

So I had a horrible eating week, one of those weeks when NOTHING gets you full.  You crave everything, everything being nothing healthy and everything BAD.  I over ate pretty much all week, there was maybe two days where I didn't completely blow my day.

I'm not sure why... I mean I know part of it is just being a girl and what we go through on a monthly basis. Some months are worse than others, this happen to be an all around bad month for me.  Nothing could get me full and I wanted sweets.  I don't usually crave sweets, I like them... I just don't USUALLY crave them that much... however, if you've read my blog (over the last year) you'd know that it occasionally happens.  Unfortunately this was the week.

I also haven't been to water aerobics in a week and a half.  BTW I will be back to it starting tonight... just a lot of conflicts over the last week and a half.

The other part is the friggin weather... I know I'm making excuses but I live in MN - and we got dumped on 3 times in the last week with snow.  It sucks. We're all tired of it and all I want to do is be outside - much like the rest of the state.  We've actually started to refuse to shovel now.  Shit, it's April.  Snow stops in March!

Anyway I think that also has a lot to do with what I've been eating.  Cold makes you crave hearty (and by hearty I mean hamburgers, fries, beer, etc.) foods.  So with that said, I must tell you my results of course :(  I gained 3.8, yes 3.8 lbs this week.  Like I said, BAAADDD week!  And now I have to hit that 80lb mark AGAIN!  UGHHH.

All I can do now is just move on and not think about it.

I can think about the good things I did this week...  I'm still training for the 5k.  I'm on week 7... I can't believe I've made it this far.  My husband has been running with me now for almost 3 weeks, which is really really nice... oh and by running with me I mean running ahead of me and lapping me about 3-4 times.  He'll slow down every once and awhile to run with me but I seriously run so slow I think it's harder for him to run with me than to just smoke me.  He's trying really hard to do this with me and honestly I don't care if he's next to my side when we run - I'm just glad he's there with me.  It actually helps to have someone push you - especially when you're doing something you don't love to do.

I like all my other exercising but running is not my favorite.  What I do like about it though is it's a quick exercise that burns a lot of calories fast :)  What I don't like is... well the act of running LOL.  No, all kidding aside... I love that it's been pushing me.  BUT my knees are really starting to hurt.  So at this point... I'm hoping I can just get through this 5k without having to quit because they hurt so bad.  FYI - it's been a tough couple of days on them (I may just be out of sorts right now).

At this time in the game, I'm running 25 minutes... now if I haven't mentioned this before I will now.  I've never run 5 minutes at one time until training for this 5k.  I've always said I hate running, I can't run, it hurts (which it does... or is just starting to) and I just can't do it.  I remember in High School having to run the mile... I swear I couldn't even run 5 minutes in a row.  I probably covered more ground each time I actually ran than I do now but I couldn't sustain that speed.  So I'm just super thrilled with my progress and can't wait to see how I do in the 5k.

Well... here's to making this next week WAY better than the last.  I need to get myself back to water aerobics, continue my running and hopefully mix in a video tape or two as well.

I can't wait until I'm Healthfully Ever After!

Friday, April 19, 2013

A gain? Yup!!! But I'll take it and be happy!

So I gained this week... it's hard to be away from your normal routine right?  Vacation = crap food right?  It doesn't have to be, but unfortunately for many of us it does.

I was very bad while away on my scrapbooking retreat.  I had cookies, adult root beer floats,  strawberry angel food cake (probably the best dessert  I had), larger portions, seconds, etc.  I knew it was going to be bad before going into it.  I wanted to be good, I told myself to be good... but then often times its so hard to be good when there's so much good (bad) food there.

The two good things that I did do for myself is I went to water aerobics on Wednesday morning before leaving for the trip AND I went running at the gym on Friday while I was there.  I skipped Thursday night and Friday morning water aerobics, but at least did these two activities.

Running has been interesting.  I've been able to do everything the app is telling me to do, much to my surprise.  However last week (Week 5 of training) was a bit of a cluster-fuck.  The good news about it, is that my husband is actually (finally * see asterisk below) running with me.

We ran Sunday - the framework for that day was:  5 min warm up, run 5 walk 3 repeat twice, 5 min cool down.  He ran the whole thing with me.  In Vibram 5 finger shoes (CRAZY).  I was so happy he was there, but also kind of upset that he was just as winded as I was - and I had been training for 4 weeks!  But quickly got over that when he complimented me on my running.

We ran Tuesday night - so here's where it goes down hill.  I turned on my app and never looked at it.  We ran and ran and ran and ran... and I was thinking "hmmm... we're sure going far for 5 minutes of running" - with the warm up and the running, we went 1 mile in what I thought was 10 minutes.  I looked at the app then and we had actually run 8 minutes.  I was thinking "shit, I effed up the app and now we're ahead a week" and I wasn't prepared to run 8 minutes... but in 5 more minutes I was going to have to do it again.  FUCK!  Well I did it.  My husband had to stop with about 1:30 left of the 8 minutes... we didn't stretch out beforehand (not sure why... kinda rushed out the door to get it done - STUPID). But regardless I did it and he was proud.  I almost cried (over 8 minutes LOL).

So... fast forward to Friday.  I was running by myself at the gym...  Thinking I had the day wrong, I went back to week 4.  Turned on the app and started my warm up.  Felt a little vibration after awhile (tucked into my bra) and realized what the heck... my app isn't talking to me.  So I looked at it and it said I was to have started running 2:30 ago... CRAP!  So I restart it, tuck it back into my bra - same thing.  CRAP.  So I finally look at the day - and realize that it was the week before and I had already run it.  So I fast forward to week 5 and look at day one (remember... i'm still thinking I had messed up on Tuesday) and realize I did have the right week, but the app must have messed up... oh and I had my phone on vibrate - so that's why the app wasn't talking to me.  So I fix that and move it to day 3, start the warm up again and put the phone back in my bra... within a minute or so it tells me to run (I've done two 5+ minute warm ups by then so I'm thinking the app realizes this)... so I start to run.  Within a few more minutes (3 1/2 -4) it tells me to start running again... I was like WHAT???  and another 2 1/2 minutes later it tells me to walk again.  THEN, I start getting all sorts of pissed off.  I pull out my phone and look at it and it's telling me that I have 17 1/2 minutes left to run.  WHAT THE FUCK!!!  I quickly realize it's now running week 4 day 3 and week 5 day three at the same time and is totes messing me up.  I'm pissed.  I then think I'm on the wrong week again... but I'm not.  I decide I'm just going to run as long as I can and screw this whole friggin' day.  How frustrating.  I ran most of it... but did have to walk for a bit.  I finished my walk and then look at the app... apparently in week 5 the app is doing intervals for days now... weeks 1-4 have the same work out for each day.  I did have it right to begin with and was never off but messed it up so bad it was ridiculous.  And frustrating... and I was pissed.

<<insert eating here>>

Stress makes me eat.  I went back to scrapbooking and proceeded to argue with one of the girls on how frustrated I was and now I had to do week 5 day 3 all over... because I didn't fully do it.  I was so frustrated... she kept arguing with me.  And pissing me off to no end.  She doesn't understand the way I am and kept calling me obsessive compulsive and that I shouldn't let this ruin my day (I do agree... it shouldn't have... but I didn't even want to go in the first place and then to get all fucked up - pissed me off).  I ended up taking a 2 hour nap that day - just to try to get over it.  What a waste :)  Anyway in the end, she apologized and said we're just very different people and that she doesn't understand me (didn't seem like an apology... but whatever - I love her, so I moved on).

Monday - I went to the gym and did week 5 day 3 all over.


Ok... just had to talk about that story.  I gained .4 lbs this week... still down 81 though.  Hoping to have a better week this week!

I can't wait until I'm Healthfully Ever After!

*He's told me all along that he will run with me... while it made me nervous to run with him it also made me happy.  I've wanted him to do this since he said he would 4 weeks ago.  But until last week, he hadn't even tried.  When I would go to the gym, he would sit at home and do nothing.  Not sure if he just wasn't ready yet, but I'm sure glad he is now.


Friday, April 12, 2013

Activity... how important is it really?

Well... I'd say it depends on where you're at in your journey.  To be healthy and stay healthy, I'd say it's #1. Regardless of whether you are losing weight or not, activity is important.  PLUS if you're more active (and not trying to lose weight) you can eat more :)

But what activity do you need to do?  Honestly, it doesn't matter.  They say all kinds of things about getting cardio, strength training, etc.  Which is more important than the other, blah blah blah.  I agree it matters if your goal is to tone up and also depends on where you're at in your journey.  Are you just starting and were you completely sedentary before? Are you in the middle and need a boost?  Are you at the end and trying to lose those last 5-10 lbs?

Something to think about though is that it really does matter what you were doing before to what you'll need to do now.  You should start out slow and work your way towards a more rigorous activity.

For those that have been more sedentary...

Just stretching or walking is great.  Take 10 minutes 3x a day to just stretch out.  I heard something about taking note from your pets... watch how often they stretch themselves.  Pretty much every time they get up after laying down or sitting.  So start your morning, before you get out of bed, just pull your leg up towards you for a few seconds... and switch legs.  Then step out of bed and try touching your toes, your calves and your thighs.

If all you can do is walk, GREAT - then walk.  What if walking is hard for you?  Then get on that recumbent bike?  They are super cheap, you don't need fancy - unless you want fancy.  You don't need to make your crotch numb for days... so get a comfortable seat and that recumbent bike would totes be the way to go if that's an issue for you.

For those more active, or wanting to be more active...

You don't want to pay for a gym membership?  You don't need to, there's plenty of things you can learn to do on your own!  Here's a link to my "I work out" board on Pinterest... TONS of things to do in your home that only take a little bit of time... and few links to clothes/shoes that are fun too!

Join a community class, community center or a gym and take classes.  Most gyms/community centers have trainers... and will give you one session (or so) free so that you can learn their gym.  Get a weight / strength training routine going and then do it on your own.  Attend a class, DON'T be intimidated!  I used to be, but realized people are really excited to get new people in classes and generally very helpful if they see you struggling.

Me personally... I'm now on the 'kick it up a notch' stage.  Shake up your body... get moving more often stage.  I've been working on training for my 5k, but decided I need to do more than just running 3x a week.  So I've been getting to water aerobics 3-4x per week AND doing The Firm fitness videos.

As you know, if you've been reading my blog, I've been struggling with losing for about 6 weeks.  In the last three weeks, I have actually lost weight... but to me it's been really slow.  However, when you put the numbers together - it actually hasn't.  But felt like it! I lost 1.8 lbs this week - my new total is 81.4 (FINALLY broke through the 80 lb mark).  Super happy about it!

I'm scrapbooking this weekend (since Wednesday) and always struggle with food during this time... I am eating the crap but trying NOT to eat as much or as often.  So I don't get sick and I don't gain a ton back, but probably looking at gaining some of my weight I lost this week back :( this week (booooo!).  But I'm not willing to deprive myself of some of the tasty treats (adult rootbeer floats people!!!).  So tune in next week to see if  I was able to control myself (reasonably :))

Take care, and as always... I can't wait until I'm Healthfully Ever After.


Thursday, April 4, 2013

Busting Through A Plateau

What do we need to do to bust through a plateau?  If you ask... There's tons of suggestions that people will offer.

The Month of March felt like a total wash for me.  I was so excited to be close to losing that 80 lbs, but could not reach it.  In the month of March I lost a total of 1.4 lbs... in February I lost 7.2 - quite a bit of difference.  Very disconcerting because just a month ago (March) I started training for a 5k.  You'd think that shaking it up a bit would work.

So I'm going to share with you some of the tips I received to deal with my plateau:
  • Are you getting enough protein?
  • Eat beef, it fills you up faster and sticks with you.
  • Exercise less (if that's what is making you more hungry)
  • Do you eat enough before working out or do you wait until after?
    • Before Work Out:  Try 150 -200 Calories of Carbs a half hour before
    • After Work Out:  24-26 grams of protein within an hour
  • Spread out meals into smaller but more frequent meals.
  • If working out hard - examples of things to eat
    • Breakfast:  oatmeal and egg whites on the side
    • Snack:  egg whites and spinach with salsa OR PB2 with rice cakes
    • Lunch:  3 oz lean meat, complex carb (brown rice or sweet potato) and a green veggie
    • Protein Powder mixed with water or milk for after work outs and then a piece of fruit too
  • Protein Ideas:  individual packets of tuna, chicken breast, turkey burger, turkey breast (not lunch meat)
  • I found an article here on plateaus and how to deal with them... it's pretty decent and bumps up against some of the suggestions above:  http://www.care2.com/greenliving/6-steps-to-get-over-your-weight-loss-plateau.html
These were all ideas sent to me because I had posted to my Weight Watcher group that I increased my work outs and all i'm getting is more hungry and not losing any weight.  So I did try and incorporate the eating before and after my work out - but not sure I'm getting the right stuff in.  I am eating more often - getting in more healthy snacks such as fruit and yogurt.  Incorporated the chia seeds back into my yogurt - needing that healthy fat additive.

I think I need to increase my healthy fats a bit too.  I also need to be better at meal planning... I did ok this week, but March was iffy.  We did a lot of on the fly eating (where it was fend for yourself)... and although the meals were within my points they were not always the most filling - therefore I was left feeling hungry in the evening and then eating!

I did do better this week (as I said)... I lost 1.6 lbs... which is not enough to hit my 80 lb mark!  Still pretty good for a holiday weekend and a dinner out one night as well.  Also, If you look at my last two weeks combined I've lost 2.4 lbs (more than March's total)... so that's not too shabby.  Glad I did the math because I was truly pissed today that I didn't hit my 80!

If you have any suggestions on how to get over a plateau - please leave comments.  I'm sure we've all been in this boat many 'o times... and I still feel like I'm at the plateau!!!

I can't wait until I'm Healthfully Ever After!