GinnyLou Who's Training Log

[GinnyLou]

I was also going to add that I'm a twice a day protein shake person myself. The usual low-fat protein items are out for me (yogurt, cottage cheese) and tuna/fish makes me gag. So I find the whey protein a good way to push up my protein levels as well. I do understand the point Bytsi was making, but sometimes you just want to get that protein in.

Good to know. Thanks for that.

Tuesday, July 1st
a.m. 30 minutes on the step mill
10 minutes on the eliptical
I also did some foam rolling on my glutes, thighs and flexors. It hurt so good.
p.m. 15 minutes on the step mill
20 minutes on the eliptical
I also did some hanging abs 3 sets of 10
My HRM tells me that I have been in my zone for 1 hour 1 minutes and 28 seconds and that I have burnt 3,420 calories and it is 6:36 p.m., meaning I still have laundry to do, dishes and the usual evening NEAT. Granted, I have had this thing on since 5:00 this morning. I am starting to 2nd guess everything and now I don't know what to do. I think I may need to bust through my chores so that I can read some of Leigh's stuff over again. I am literally fighting back tears because I am feeling overwhelmed and frustrated. I know I need to tweak what foods I am eating and deal with my coffee addiction. But, take that away - am I eating enough? Am I eating too much? I don't want to dramatically cut back on my cardio. I have already cut out some of my weight workouts and I feel that the cardio is helping me. Mentally and physically.

[kfisherx]

g-friend I know what you are saying about cutting back on the cardio and the cafeine. I used to do Diet Coke by the gallons. (dooop) I have cut back on both over the past year and it really does much for your health.

You might block out a few weeks and just reset yourself totally.
One of the biggest paradigm shifts I have made in the past 6 months since starting with my trainer is how much the body needs to relax and rest in order to repair and grow. Just keep that in mind over the course of the next weeks while you are troubleshooting. Just relax about it all and focus on getting your eats straight and your reporting straight. Only do light cardio during this time keeping your HR low and for 30 min or so at a time. I have found that I can live with light cardio just fine. Your mindset and paradigms will change over time. Don't try to do it all at once.

With respect to diet, again don't make huge changes all at once. Start with taking away some of those high Gly carbs and replacing them with more complex ones. Don't do them all just what you can handle. Take away one or two foods at every 2 weeks.

Every week or two make these smallish adjustements and challenge yourself to try new foods and recipes and get new paradigms. It simply doesn't happen overnight but it can happen with time and patience. My body is a 2 plus year work in progress and still I find myself near tears as I try to figure stuff out. I had to go at it in stages too just like everybody else and I continue to do so. This is a hard concept for people to get but it is the way it works. Little steps make big progress.

And YES re-read that book and anything else you can get your hands on. It is a troubleshooting process which requires a lot of information.

[GinnyLou]

Originally Posted by kfisherx

g-friend I know what you are saying about cutting back on the cardio and the cafeine. I used to do Diet Coke by the gallons. (dooop) I have cut back on both over the past year and it really does much for your health.

You might block out a few weeks and just reset yourself totally.
One of the biggest paradigm shifts I have made in the past 6 months since starting with my trainer is how much the body needs to relax and rest in order to repair and grow. Just keep that in mind over the course of the next weeks while you are troubleshooting. Just relax about it all and focus on getting your eats straight and your reporting straight. Only do light cardio during this time keeping your HR low and for 30 min or so at a time. I have found that I can live with light cardio just fine. Your mindset and paradigms will change over time. Don't try to do it all at once.

With respect to diet, again don't make huge changes all at once. Start with taking away some of those high Gly carbs and replacing them with more complex ones. Don't do them all just what you can handle. Take away one or two foods at every 2 weeks.

Every week or two make these smallish adjustements and challenge yourself to try new foods and recipes and get new paradigms. It simply doesn't happen overnight but it can happen with time and patience. My body is a 2 plus year work in progress and still I find myself near tears as I try to figure stuff out. I had to go at it in stages too just like everybody else and I continue to do so. This is a hard concept for people to get but it is the way it works. Little steps make big progress.

And YES re-read that book and anything else you can get your hands on. It is a troubleshooting process which requires a lot of information.

Thanks, Karla. I am feeling a little better, especially after reading this. Baby (big) steps will get me there. Thanks again. Wasn't trying to whine, just voicing some frustration and I appreciate your 2 cents, it helps.
Off to read...........

[jesca]

I am sorry this is so tough. I've been there a couple of times just getting through Repair. The mental side is tough since no one thing works for everyone, so we just have to keep working through it. You'll get there. I agree, though, that you shouldn't make a ton of changes at once. That is even more frustrating and taxing and will only cause to stress you out, making it harder to lose weight. Just tweak. Your pics have been improving every week, so you are definitely going places, even if the scale isn't budging. Don't lose hope, you can totally do this!

[realcdn]

Getting everything just right is tough sometimes. I know from personal experience that upping the exercise while lowering the calories isn't always the best response. It's hard to not want to do that. I mean everything you've been told is 'eat less, move more'. I do kind of question your HR monitor data, it seems high, even for a more than 12-hour period. This is a monitor that allows you to put in your age, weight, and resting heart rate? And they are correct? I ask because I changed mine over so my mother could wear it Sunday and I made a point to check it on Monday before I started using it. If you are truly burning that number of calories I'd be surprised, but if you are there is no way your calorie intake will support that.

What I've done in the past when wearing it for a while is to stop the recording every couple of hours or so and try and note what I was doing. It gave me a feel for what I burn when working at the desk, or outside doing chores, etc. I'm assuming that when you put it on that you did sit for a while and checked your resting rate. Oops, and that you know what it normally is. I'm asking because a jump in the usual resting rate (to a much higher one) can indicate stress and/or illness.

[SpacecityPaula]

Ginger, The Skinny Cow Cheese, is it the laughing cow stuff that come in a round container and has 8 wedges in it? If so, your calorie count for that is WAY off. Those are only are only 35 calories for 1 wedge of the light and 70 calories for the full fat version. When I import foods on Spark, I always double check against the packaging if I can to make sure I've got the right thing. You can also go in and edit the things you import so it's based on grams per serving (I'm slowly starting to like Spark People more, and figuring out the tricks).

I think you are short on calories. If you throw in 200 calories for your two coffee day habit and a minimum of 70 calories if not another 105 calories for your laughing cow cheeses (skinny cow only makes desserts by the way). that's right between 270 and 305 calories a day you are missing.

[SpacecityPaula]

And I see that Anne posted almost the exact same thing about the missing calories from coffee.

[GinnyLou]

Originally Posted by jesca

I am sorry this is so tough. I've been there a couple of times just getting through Repair. The mental side is tough since no one thing works for everyone, so we just have to keep working through it. You'll get there. I agree, though, that you shouldn't make a ton of changes at once. That is even more frustrating and taxing and will only cause to stress you out, making it harder to lose weight. Just tweak. Your pics have been improving every week, so you are definitely going places, even if the scale isn't budging. Don't lose hope, you can totally do this!

Thanks for the kind words. It definitely helps being around here with others that have and are going through the same thing.

Originally Posted by realcdn

Getting everything just right is tough sometimes. I know from personal experience that upping the exercise while lowering the calories isn't always the best response. It's hard to not want to do that. I mean everything you've been told is 'eat less, move more'. I do kind of question your HR monitor data, it seems high, even for a more than 12-hour period. This is a monitor that allows you to put in your age, weight, and resting heart rate? And they are correct? I ask because I changed mine over so my mother could wear it Sunday and I made a point to check it on Monday before I started using it. If you are truly burning that number of calories I'd be surprised, but if you are there is no way your calorie intake will support that.

What I've done in the past when wearing it for a while is to stop the recording every couple of hours or so and try and note what I was doing. It gave me a feel for what I burn when working at the desk, or outside doing chores, etc. I'm assuming that when you put it on that you did sit for a while and checked your resting rate. Oops, and that you know what it normally is. I'm asking because a jump in the usual resting rate (to a much higher one) can indicate stress and/or illness.

Yes, this is the Polar that I purchased at the same place that I had all the testing done. I had the testing done May 23rd.
One thing that was clear with my metabolic testing is that my body burns a lot of calories. I am strung high, according to the data and that is how it was explained to me. It was actually a little depressing because here all the numbers were showing that I should be shedding the fat, but I was always working way above where I should have been and my food wasn't spot on.
They programmed it for me with my data that came out of the testing, my resting, my different zones,my VO2, etc. One thing I haven't changed in the data is my weight and that is now 6 lbs less, so I'll bet that could change my numbers a bit, huh? I have the charts and if I can figure out how to scan them, maybe I'll try that this weekend, for some feedback.
I've had it on since 5:30 this morning and have burnt 1003 calories, according to my numbers?!?

Originally Posted by SpacecityPaula

Ginger, The Skinny Cow Cheese, is it the laughing cow stuff that come in a round container and has 8 wedges in it? If so, your calorie count for that is WAY off. Those are only are only 35 calories for 1 wedge of the light and 70 calories for the full fat version. When I import foods on Spark, I always double check against the packaging if I can to make sure I've got the right thing. You can also go in and edit the things you import so it's based on grams per serving (I'm slowly starting to like Spark People more, and figuring out the tricks).

I think you are short on calories. If you throw in 200 calories for your two coffee day habit and a minimum of 70 calories if not another 105 calories for your laughing cow cheeses (skinny cow only makes desserts by the way). that's right between 270 and 305 calories a day you are missing.

Yes, that is the cheese! I think it is the light swiss in the triangles. WTF? I guess I need to pay some attention when I enter things in and make sure I am looking at the right thing and apparentyl, entering the right name of the food. Nice catch. I actually thought something about it, when I saw it but let it go. Time to regroup. Thanks for your input. I appreciate it.

New day, with new ideas. Not doing anything extremely drastic, but for starters I am having real oatmeal with a couple of strawberries.
My lunch is chicken breast that I made with canned tomatoes and some cous cous and I will work on what dinner should be.
I did go the gym this morning and climbed on the step mill for 34:00 minutes. I also did some more stretching. I was in my zone for 32:56, so far today.

[LWilson212]

Hey Ginger-

I'm sorry you are feeling frustrated. I totally hear you on the price of food and having other people in the house to try to please. I just don't have the energy to cook two dinners every night. And I love coffee. I drink about a pot a day and I would splash in half and half without measuring. When I started measuring it, I didn't want to use those calories for that, so I started drinking it black. It's okay, but not the creamy way I love.
Do they have Aldi's where you live? They don't always have everything there, but you can get a lot of good food for pretty cheap. Also, don't be too hard on yourself about your choices. Leigh told me at my bf level I don't really need to worry about manipulating macros or being overly strict in my choices, just get the calories down and keep it simple. I find that the more whole foods and all that comes in to play just to keep my from being hungry so I can get more volume.

[stingo]

I've no idea if you and yours would like Indian food, but I think this recipe for Aloo Rajma (Potatoes and Kidney Beans) is pretty straightforward and tasty. The only spice you really need is curry powder (not sure if you have it on hand), and the rest is basically a couple of potatoes, a couple of cans of beans and 2-3 cans of tomatoes/chilies, and a couple of onions. Makes about 6-8 generous servings, and is very tasty and filling.

[jesca]

Tom brings up a good point. While I find it hard to feed my husband and myself different foods, I have found some middle ground, but it wasn't easy. Anything you can make in big batches, like your lasagna, is brilliant. I have found that I can make turkey chilli, and turkey tacos, that are pretty healthy and low in calories. I've also found that things where you can make the same type of thing but somehow different for you are great. Like the turkey tacos, my DH gets tacos, I have taco salad. I'll make fish for me and chicken for him, but in the same style, except he gets a side of pasta or something too, but I just put marinara over my fish. Something like that. It took some work, but if you can think of a general food that the family loves, and think of how to tweak it for you, it's a lot easier, than making two dinners - which I have also done and makes me nuts!

[GinnyLou]

Originally Posted by LWilson212

Hey Ginger-

I'm sorry you are feeling frustrated. I totally hear you on the price of food and having other people in the house to try to please. I just don't have the energy to cook two dinners every night. And I love coffee. I drink about a pot a day and I would splash in half and half without measuring. When I started measuring it, I didn't want to use those calories for that, so I started drinking it black. It's okay, but not the creamy way I love.
Do they have Aldi's where you live? They don't always have everything there, but you can get a lot of good food for pretty cheap. Also, don't be too hard on yourself about your choices. Leigh told me at my bf level I don't really need to worry about manipulating macros or being overly strict in my choices, just get the calories down and keep it simple. I find that the more whole foods and all that comes in to play just to keep my from being hungry so I can get more volume.

Good advice, Leah. Thanks for that. We do have an Aldi's and I used to shop there long ago, whwn I was doing the single Mom gig. I may head there this weekend. I plan on getting some better choices in the house and things I can throw together pretty easily, on my busy nights.

Originally Posted by stingo

I've no idea if you and yours would like Indian food, but I think this recipe for Aloo Rajma (Potatoes and Kidney Beans) is pretty straightforward and tasty. The only spice you really need is curry powder (not sure if you have it on hand), and the rest is basically a couple of potatoes, a couple of cans of beans and 2-3 cans of tomatoes/chilies, and a couple of onions. Makes about 6-8 generous servings, and is very tasty and filling.

I do have curry. I love it. I may just whip that up this weekend, to eat next week. If I can cook on the weekend for the upcoming week, I am much better off. I really do try to do that, but I think I was veering off that path and going for easier.

Originally Posted by jesca

Tom brings up a good point. While I find it hard to feed my husband and myself different foods, I have found some middle ground, but it wasn't easy. Anything you can make in big batches, like your lasagna, is brilliant. I have found that I can make turkey chilli, and turkey tacos, that are pretty healthy and low in calories. I've also found that things where you can make the same type of thing but somehow different for you are great. Like the turkey tacos, my DH gets tacos, I have taco salad. I'll make fish for me and chicken for him, but in the same style, except he gets a side of pasta or something too, but I just put marinara over my fish. Something like that. It took some work, but if you can think of a general food that the family loves, and think of how to tweak it for you, it's a lot easier, than making two dinners - which I have also done and makes me nuts!

Great ideas, Jes! Thank you. I have switched the family to either ground turkey or chicken, with some resistance. I figure if they are hungry enough, they will eat it.

So, I have been playing around with SparkPeople and I was (Thank you, Anne and Paula) definitely off on some things and on the low side. 2 months ago, I wouldn't have been able to honestly say that.
So, I am going to work on upping my calories to around 1500 and see if that creates any more losses. My body weight X9 = 1458 and still, this is lower than my RMR with no exercise. I will try that for a week or 2 and see what happens and go from there.

[stingo]

Originally Posted by GinnyLou

I do have curry. I love it. I may just whip that up this weekend, to eat next week. If I can cook on the weekend for the upcoming week, I am much better off. I really do try to do that, but I think I was veering off that path and going for easier.

I agree - weekend cooking is what I do and I enjoy it a lot, as that way I can just freeze what I don't use in the upcoming few days and have stuff ready to eat when I get home from work. With a little more work you could have something that's a lot tastier, healthier and more measurable than pre-packaged/processed foods.