Yay! I'm under 180....179 it was, on the scale today :) Love the little celebrations, it definitely encourages me to go on. I am quite a head case to be honest. I have to trick myself or be my own "mental coach" constantly on this journey. If I am wanting to have a big candy bar I have to say to myself "do I want that candy bar more than I want to fit into my "skinny" jeans?" Answer is almost always, NO! If the answer isn't no than I eat the candy bar guilt free and just tell myself, I've delayed reaching my goal by a day or two. I also look at food and exercise as an equation...if I eat that piece of pizza then the 30 minutes I busted my bum on the treadmill were all for that....a piece of pizza, uh, pizza's not THAT good. My mental tricks go on to the treadmill as well. If I feel like quitting early (almost always) I just say to myself "you have 3 minutes left, what is 3 minutes really? In the grand scheme of things 3 minutes is nothing but it may make the difference between going down a pant size now or a week from now". By the time I'm done with all that reconciling in my head the three minutes is usually up...lol. I also push myself farther by using similar tactics; "just run until the display shows an even number on the mileage" "now your only a minute, 20 seconds away from being at an even 20 minutes, just run until then" I can successfully play these games with myself and often get an extra mile or more sometimes because I talk myself right on by my threshold into the "runners high" (although not yet :)). Now you have a glimpse into what's going on in that crazy brain of mine.
Sorry to say I still haven't gotten a tape measure thus no measurements either but I will....eventually. Pushing on, must get workout in today.
Friday, September 25, 2009
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Oh Boy, is it Thursday already?!
Ugh, so really...it's Thursday? Well, my report for the last few days is about 50% with no measurements taken yet :( I worked out on Tuesday which was good since I also drove up to Everett and back that evening. Wednesday was sooooo busy! I had to take Luke to get his hair cut, and a new shirt since it was picture day at Preschool. We went from the mall to school, I went straight to Costco (imperitive on my quest to eat right) with the baby then had to feed the baby and since it was 2pm, I decided to get Luke since he needs to be picked up by 3pm. When we got home from school we unloaded the car (also had a gal moving in our home) and "settled" back into home until I started an impromptu dinner (never a good idea but worked out last night). So needless to say that by the time that was all over with I was pooped. It was Stu's day off and since I had hardley seen him all the kids and I helped him work in the garage. And then it was way too late to work out, I would have never fallen asleep. SO...that's why I always purpose to workout EVERY day. It's not realistic but what if something comes up or my day is just too crazy then I miss a day and go onto the next day as opposed to if I had 4 days scheduled and I missed one of them for any reason...I'm down to 3 days. This way I definately get 4-5 days in a week.
Monday, September 21, 2009
How the first couple days went
So I know I was going to post stats a couple of days ago but of course, I've been really busy and not had time to blog, or measure, or find my measuring tape. I have however found the time to get on my treadmill two days in a row (today will be the third). I did weigh myself on Saturday morning and every morning since then. I know that there are a lot of schools of thought on using the scale excessively, most of them saying don't use it but occasionally, but I use it several times a day. Here's why; If I am not constantly thinking about my food choices and how they affect my goal I easily slip into "oh, it's just a cookie, it won't make a big difference". Since I am following a formula I KNOW works, I like to watch my progress and get encouraged daily. I also use it as a check when I do decide to eat what I want one day (ie- a celebration may be cause to scrap the diet completely and just have fun completely no worrying about carbs and protein etc...although I will still try to set of my carbs with protein, more on that later). I usually see that I will gain a 1/2 lb (or more) back, I'm sure somewhat from retaining water but none the less, that's all it takes for me to snap back into my routine, with out a lot damage done. Now, not everyone can have a healthy relationship with the scale so if you know yourself, follow your own advice and throw it out. As with everything in dieting I think you need to do what works for you.
Saturday and Sunday were about the same as far as my diet went. Mostly good, only one major slip up; waffles on Saturday and Sunday I can't remember, I think it was waffles again? I've started re-training myself that if you mess up on a meal or snack, don't sweat it, just get back on track with the next MEAL not the next DAY (like my default MO :) ) I can definitely tell you that blogging has already made a difference, I don't want to come back and report a complete failure, I've publicized that I'm doing this so I can't put it off another day so I make my choices accordingly. I've already had thoughts that maybe I'm fine for now, I did just have a baby and I can start when I'm done nursing in a few months but then I think do I really want to go and tell people that I'm not doing it after all?
I got some good exercise in. I'm only shooting at doing 20 minutes a day on the treadmill. It keeps it realistic and completely DO-able, it's hard to tell myself that I can't find 20 minutes in a 24 hour period to get on the treadmill. In fact, the first time around all I did was 20 minutes on the treadmill and that's what got me back to my pre-preggo size (granted I didn't have the same shape and muscle tone I did when I added weights and more cardio the second time around). The point is, it doesn't take two hours a day to make a difference. I just add intensity as I get in better shape to make the most out of that same 20 minutes. Consistency is key!
The results
So I promised I would be completely honest so here's the report for the first few days. On Saturday I weighed 181.5 lbs. (down from my high of 200, 2 weeks after the baby!). Today it was 180.0, pretty encouraging start...I'll keep plugging away :) I really want to get a tape measure because it's fun to watch as many numbers as possible go down.
My goal
I was 142lbs and like 22% body fat when I got pregnant this time. I'd like to get there again. My first goal is to get under 180 (pretty soon I'd say :))and then under 170, etc. I like to have as many check points as possible so there are lots of reasons to celebrate and keep going. 10 lbs at a time is reasonable given I have about 40lbs to lose. Once I get to 155 I have lots of cute clothes to wear so I feel much better about myself :) I try not to overwhelm myself with the task at hand and since I am completely mental and have to "trick" myself often times, I have 155 as my "mental" goal. This may sound weired maybe even hard to understand but trust me, once I get to 155 I won't be happy and be rejuvinated to get the rest of the way down to 142 (just an fyi, I was 135 most of high school).
Next time...measurements, progress, and pictures (within a few days :))
Saturday and Sunday were about the same as far as my diet went. Mostly good, only one major slip up; waffles on Saturday and Sunday I can't remember, I think it was waffles again? I've started re-training myself that if you mess up on a meal or snack, don't sweat it, just get back on track with the next MEAL not the next DAY (like my default MO :) ) I can definitely tell you that blogging has already made a difference, I don't want to come back and report a complete failure, I've publicized that I'm doing this so I can't put it off another day so I make my choices accordingly. I've already had thoughts that maybe I'm fine for now, I did just have a baby and I can start when I'm done nursing in a few months but then I think do I really want to go and tell people that I'm not doing it after all?
I got some good exercise in. I'm only shooting at doing 20 minutes a day on the treadmill. It keeps it realistic and completely DO-able, it's hard to tell myself that I can't find 20 minutes in a 24 hour period to get on the treadmill. In fact, the first time around all I did was 20 minutes on the treadmill and that's what got me back to my pre-preggo size (granted I didn't have the same shape and muscle tone I did when I added weights and more cardio the second time around). The point is, it doesn't take two hours a day to make a difference. I just add intensity as I get in better shape to make the most out of that same 20 minutes. Consistency is key!
The results
So I promised I would be completely honest so here's the report for the first few days. On Saturday I weighed 181.5 lbs. (down from my high of 200, 2 weeks after the baby!). Today it was 180.0, pretty encouraging start...I'll keep plugging away :) I really want to get a tape measure because it's fun to watch as many numbers as possible go down.
My goal
I was 142lbs and like 22% body fat when I got pregnant this time. I'd like to get there again. My first goal is to get under 180 (pretty soon I'd say :))and then under 170, etc. I like to have as many check points as possible so there are lots of reasons to celebrate and keep going. 10 lbs at a time is reasonable given I have about 40lbs to lose. Once I get to 155 I have lots of cute clothes to wear so I feel much better about myself :) I try not to overwhelm myself with the task at hand and since I am completely mental and have to "trick" myself often times, I have 155 as my "mental" goal. This may sound weired maybe even hard to understand but trust me, once I get to 155 I won't be happy and be rejuvinated to get the rest of the way down to 142 (just an fyi, I was 135 most of high school).
Next time...measurements, progress, and pictures (within a few days :))
Friday, September 18, 2009
Day one (kinda)
Here's some of the pertinent info on exactly what I'm planning on doing on a daily basis including food and exercise and a glimpse at day one.
The Plan:
Food: I have used the "Zone" diet by Dr. Sears in the past and have had great results from it so I plan on doing the same thing again this time. What I love about the diet is that the science behind the research was fascinating to me when I first read the book. The diet itself appears to be another "South Beach" meets "Atkins" meets "you fill in the blank" but the diet was designed to be followed very precisely thus using food as a "drug" to control insulin levels and thus avoid storing fat and instead utilizing what has already been stored as fat reserves to burn for energy. It's very scientific and may be really boring to many people so if you're interested but don't want to read the book you can find short cuts online or I will be posting my food intake here.
The best thing about the diet is it does exactly what it promises if you are able to stick to it. I find that it took about two weeks of eating "perfectly" to feel the results of; having more energy, better mental clarity, I needed less sleep and felt great, and lost fat! I really did feel like I had been taking some sort of miracle pill and wondered why I didn't eat like that all the time (yet here I am about to confess I had a huge bowl of ice cream tonight).
The diet worked for me even when I wasn't exercising much and didn't have much weight to lose right before my wedding, my "last five lbs" just fell off. So if it ain't broke don't fix it right?
On to the Exercise:
I already mentioned I will be starting with the treadmill alone. I may add an at home DVD in the near future and definitely be adding the gym and weights when Gage gets to the month mark and can go to the nursery (about 3 1/2 months from now). So in the beginning I will do what I can when I can but really at least 20 minutes of alternating running and walking and gradually increasing intensity and length. I will also spend a day or two a week on endurance alone so running as far as I can without stopping no matter how slow or how long (I usually set my minimum at one mile because I would quit way before I had actually gotten to the "as far as I can point").
And Today:
I started out fairly good, having a piece of whole wheat toast with PB (breakfast is a really good milestone for me, although that's not a zone perfect one) I had a Zone Perfect lunch of a salmon patty (from Costco used for salmon burgers) and green beans (frozen fresh also from Costco).
Dinner went down hill coming up with something for the whole family on the spot and having cheeseburger pie followed by ice cream (I am an all or nothing kinda gal so once I blow it I have a tendency to just say, since I didn't get it right today, I'll try again tomorrow....bad thought process). No workout today, my major obstacle still being sleep deprivation. The baby is sleeping better and I worse because I wake up every little bit wondering when he's gonna wake up and if he's okay. This too shall pass but I've literally been in my workout clothes all day and put my tennis shoes on twice to get on the treadmill to have someone start crying (I have 3 under 5 years so odds are stacked against me) or be hungry, get in a fight, etc. I need to make it happen in the morning when everyone can still be distracted with TV and I lessen my chances of missing it all together and then being too tired much like I am right now :)
Tomorrow is a new day! I will be posting my starting measurements, weight etc, as well as a couple of my meals I have that are Zone Perfect.
Good Night!
The Plan:
Food: I have used the "Zone" diet by Dr. Sears in the past and have had great results from it so I plan on doing the same thing again this time. What I love about the diet is that the science behind the research was fascinating to me when I first read the book. The diet itself appears to be another "South Beach" meets "Atkins" meets "you fill in the blank" but the diet was designed to be followed very precisely thus using food as a "drug" to control insulin levels and thus avoid storing fat and instead utilizing what has already been stored as fat reserves to burn for energy. It's very scientific and may be really boring to many people so if you're interested but don't want to read the book you can find short cuts online or I will be posting my food intake here.
The best thing about the diet is it does exactly what it promises if you are able to stick to it. I find that it took about two weeks of eating "perfectly" to feel the results of; having more energy, better mental clarity, I needed less sleep and felt great, and lost fat! I really did feel like I had been taking some sort of miracle pill and wondered why I didn't eat like that all the time (yet here I am about to confess I had a huge bowl of ice cream tonight).
The diet worked for me even when I wasn't exercising much and didn't have much weight to lose right before my wedding, my "last five lbs" just fell off. So if it ain't broke don't fix it right?
On to the Exercise:
I already mentioned I will be starting with the treadmill alone. I may add an at home DVD in the near future and definitely be adding the gym and weights when Gage gets to the month mark and can go to the nursery (about 3 1/2 months from now). So in the beginning I will do what I can when I can but really at least 20 minutes of alternating running and walking and gradually increasing intensity and length. I will also spend a day or two a week on endurance alone so running as far as I can without stopping no matter how slow or how long (I usually set my minimum at one mile because I would quit way before I had actually gotten to the "as far as I can point").
And Today:
I started out fairly good, having a piece of whole wheat toast with PB (breakfast is a really good milestone for me, although that's not a zone perfect one) I had a Zone Perfect lunch of a salmon patty (from Costco used for salmon burgers) and green beans (frozen fresh also from Costco).
Dinner went down hill coming up with something for the whole family on the spot and having cheeseburger pie followed by ice cream (I am an all or nothing kinda gal so once I blow it I have a tendency to just say, since I didn't get it right today, I'll try again tomorrow....bad thought process). No workout today, my major obstacle still being sleep deprivation. The baby is sleeping better and I worse because I wake up every little bit wondering when he's gonna wake up and if he's okay. This too shall pass but I've literally been in my workout clothes all day and put my tennis shoes on twice to get on the treadmill to have someone start crying (I have 3 under 5 years so odds are stacked against me) or be hungry, get in a fight, etc. I need to make it happen in the morning when everyone can still be distracted with TV and I lessen my chances of missing it all together and then being too tired much like I am right now :)
Tomorrow is a new day! I will be posting my starting measurements, weight etc, as well as a couple of my meals I have that are Zone Perfect.
Good Night!
Thursday, September 17, 2009
The facts please
So here's the what, when, where, why and how of it.
What?
I am blogging on my third journey from another wonderful blessing along with MANY unwanted pounds.
When?
NOW!
Where?
Mostly my home.
Why?
Many reasons really. I have a certain identity I attach being thin to, I have many cute clothes and cannot afford to replace my once stylish wardrobe, I have more energy and strength to play with my boys, and I want to avoid what I'm being told is inevitable and getting type II diabetes (since I had gestational and my parents both have type II).
How?
Simply by eating "right" and exercising. I have no plans to take any "miracle drug" or supplement. Although in the past I have taken certain energy boosters before workouts.
My main mode of exercise will initially be my treadmill. I love to run, I mean I hate to run...let me explain: I hate running, have never liked it, I have to drag myself on my treadmill to "just do it" every time. I LOVE how it makes me feel when I'm done and the results I get from my efforts.
My thoughts as I start my journey....
I have an advantage, I've done this before....twice. Exactly the same journey. I weighed the same at the start and at the end each time reaching my goal. The first time four and a half years ago, my first son was one (I actually think it was his birthday) when I reached my goal weight, then two weeks later (I kid not) I was pregnant again and started the cycle of gaining an incredible amount of pregnancy weight again, despite my determination not to "this time". Well the second time I took the same journey I'm about to embark on, it took me two years before I lost all my baby weight. I was much less motivated for some reason but once I did find the motivation there was no stopping me, I actually got in better shape the second time. Even though my scale said the same thing I was much more toned and even smaller than before. I would actually say I was in the best shape of my life when I got pregnant for a third time. It didn't matter, I ended up right where I had found myself the previous two times....gaining 70lbs +/- (you really loose track at a certain point, it's too depressing). Now not all of that I have left, I'm down 30lbs just from baby, fluid, nursing, whatever but do have my standard 40lbs to get rid of in the wake of a gestational diabetic pregnancy (insulin dependant almost the entire time). My motivation comes earlier in the process than ever this time, I waited 6 months to start the journey the first time and over a year to start the second time. My disadvantage comes from having 3 very active small boys to look after and keep off my treadmill while I try to run and find the time to eat well in the midst of keeping them cared for (fed, dressed, engaged, taught, loved, played with, clean, rested, etc) the house cared for (ya know; laundry, dishes, cooking cleaning, etc) and the husband happy (ya know, well... ya know).
My motivation for this blog:
I want to have some sort of accountability and the computer is a good place for me to get lost and relax at the end of the day. So if your following let me know, if I think no one is watching I loose the purpose of accountability :) I also want to give people a really transparent look at my journey since they often ask me when it's over "how did you do it" and I don't have much to say at that point..."eat right and exercise". I'm going to be brutally honest, as hard as it is since I'm not happy about any of my current "measurements" but I'll give all the gory details and even post some pics.
The journey starts tomorrow....keep ya posted :)
What?
I am blogging on my third journey from another wonderful blessing along with MANY unwanted pounds.
When?
NOW!
Where?
Mostly my home.
Why?
Many reasons really. I have a certain identity I attach being thin to, I have many cute clothes and cannot afford to replace my once stylish wardrobe, I have more energy and strength to play with my boys, and I want to avoid what I'm being told is inevitable and getting type II diabetes (since I had gestational and my parents both have type II).
How?
Simply by eating "right" and exercising. I have no plans to take any "miracle drug" or supplement. Although in the past I have taken certain energy boosters before workouts.
My main mode of exercise will initially be my treadmill. I love to run, I mean I hate to run...let me explain: I hate running, have never liked it, I have to drag myself on my treadmill to "just do it" every time. I LOVE how it makes me feel when I'm done and the results I get from my efforts.
My thoughts as I start my journey....
I have an advantage, I've done this before....twice. Exactly the same journey. I weighed the same at the start and at the end each time reaching my goal. The first time four and a half years ago, my first son was one (I actually think it was his birthday) when I reached my goal weight, then two weeks later (I kid not) I was pregnant again and started the cycle of gaining an incredible amount of pregnancy weight again, despite my determination not to "this time". Well the second time I took the same journey I'm about to embark on, it took me two years before I lost all my baby weight. I was much less motivated for some reason but once I did find the motivation there was no stopping me, I actually got in better shape the second time. Even though my scale said the same thing I was much more toned and even smaller than before. I would actually say I was in the best shape of my life when I got pregnant for a third time. It didn't matter, I ended up right where I had found myself the previous two times....gaining 70lbs +/- (you really loose track at a certain point, it's too depressing). Now not all of that I have left, I'm down 30lbs just from baby, fluid, nursing, whatever but do have my standard 40lbs to get rid of in the wake of a gestational diabetic pregnancy (insulin dependant almost the entire time). My motivation comes earlier in the process than ever this time, I waited 6 months to start the journey the first time and over a year to start the second time. My disadvantage comes from having 3 very active small boys to look after and keep off my treadmill while I try to run and find the time to eat well in the midst of keeping them cared for (fed, dressed, engaged, taught, loved, played with, clean, rested, etc) the house cared for (ya know; laundry, dishes, cooking cleaning, etc) and the husband happy (ya know, well... ya know).
My motivation for this blog:
I want to have some sort of accountability and the computer is a good place for me to get lost and relax at the end of the day. So if your following let me know, if I think no one is watching I loose the purpose of accountability :) I also want to give people a really transparent look at my journey since they often ask me when it's over "how did you do it" and I don't have much to say at that point..."eat right and exercise". I'm going to be brutally honest, as hard as it is since I'm not happy about any of my current "measurements" but I'll give all the gory details and even post some pics.
The journey starts tomorrow....keep ya posted :)
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