I was supposed to get my foot surgery today and they looked at it and said that it would be optional for me to have. I could either have it wait and see, but she wasn't concerned about it, which was awesome. I was so happy that I wasn't going to be gimping around for the next two weeks, that I took a day off of work
I went and got my eyes checked and new contacts, got a pedicure and took it easy
I should have done my AMRAP B today but I decided just to let it go and relax today. I'll definitely do it tomorrow and then I'm totally taking my rest week. My knees and mental state totally need it. Plus, to do the HIIT in Stage 2, I'm going to have go into work with him in the morning. I've managed to do it before, but it kicks my butt. I'm so not a morning person! But I can force it out if I need to...and my butt says I need to. So I need to take some time to find the focus to be ready for Stage 2 and get a better rhythm. I need to get my food making on Sunday and my lifting three times a week back together. So that's my goal for my rest week. That and to not get lazy Of course, that's always my goal!
Here's my last workout from Stage 1. I did this on Friday night, but things have been too crazy for me to post. I don't think I was home for more than a couple of hours yesterday!
AMRAP
w/o B
Deadlift 25x20lbs
Shoulder Press 20x16
Pullover 32x20
Lunges 20x20
Long Arm Crunches 22x8
I feel like I did a lot better gaging my weight requirements in this workout. I guess these exercises were a lot harder for me, so the lighter weight worked out in the end. I feel like I've lost a lot of muscle endurance, though. 15 reps was hard enough to get to on a lot of these workouts, let alone going above it. The one that really surprised me, though, was the deadlift. My back gave out way before my hammies did. Not to say that it hurt, but that it was tired first. I'm really hoping to stay away from these sort of deadlifts for awhile - I definitely prefer romanians to these. Of course, that might have something to do with my form on the regular deadlifts.
I had my rest week this past week and dove back in today with Stage 2, and it kicked my butt!
Stage 2
W/O A1
Front squat push press 2x10x28
Step Up 2x10x10
One point Row 2x10x48
Static Lunge 1x10x28 and 1x10x22
Push Up 2x10xBW
Plank 2x 60 seconds on my toes on the floor
Woodchop (on a swiss ball) 1x10x10 and 1x10x15
Holy crap those static lunges kicked me hard. I know that I'm going to seriously sore tomorrow. What have we learned here? Be careful what you wish for. I had been wanting for the program to be tough and to be sore again, and boy did I get it! Yikes.
So, I'm hoping with the difficulty of this series and a clean diet, I can actually pull off some pounds. I really need to get back on it with the food, because I have really gone down the "cheat meal" road a few (ready alot) too many times. I think I am ready to get myself back together - having gone to the grocery store this weekend and thoroughly pissing off my stomach by eating out too much this weekend as well. All of this leads to an intense desire to eat healthy. Let's hope it sticks!
Holy cow! I was sooo freaking sore from Stage 2 A. I realize that I was doing the lunge wrong, so that might have something to do with it. I was literally jumping back and forth doing a one legged lunge. Not too sharp, but let me tell you, if you want a workout, you should try it. It hurts!
Anyhow
Stage 2
Workout B1
Deadlift off a box (my weights are so small that I don't need the box)
2x10x58
Split Squat
2x10x24
Pullover
1x10x38 and 1x10x28
(lowered the weights to improve form)
Lunge off a box
2x10x16
Cuban Snatch
2x10x10 - wow were these hard!
Long arm crunch
2x10x29
Reverse Crunch
2x10x30 degree incline
Flexion - side crunch on a ball
2x10
Cobras
2x90 seconds
The last 4 exercises are a little too easy for me. I know I can increase the weights on the long arm, so it's not a big deal. But the reverse crunches and the flexion, I'm not sure. I'm thinking of getting some ankle weights for the reverses and maybe try holding a plate on the flexions? Advice is welcome. Also not sure what to do with the cobras. I don't know how to make that harder.
I've done Pilates for over a year and I'm entering the advanced class, so I have a really strong core, which is great, but it makes these exercises a little easy. Maybe I should go back to pikes for the reverse crunches. Doing those pikes was definitely difficult.
On a really high note when I was getting changed to workout tonight I was under a light and I caught myself in the mirror and I saw the shadow of the top of a six pack. It's very hard to see and has to be in the right light, but those muscles are under there and formed - I just need to get the layer of fat off. That was so totally exciting. Talk about incentive to finish cleaning up my diet and to get that fat off! Woohoo.
Wow. I am so damn tired. Freaking PMS and a busy weekend is really killing me. Add to that that it hasn't stopped raining in two days, and you get me. Grumpy, tired and ready to just crawl into bed and call it a day. I'm supposed to do my second A workout for Stage 2 but I don't know if I can find in me or even inside a can of red bull to kick this out tonight. I was planning on going in with Hubby tomorrow to get my HIIT in that I should have done last week, but didn't have time to get to. Now it's looking like I will have to do the HIIT in the morning and do the weights at night. I know that's not ideal, but I go in with hubby because I can use the gym at his work and I use it for the treadmills, not the weights, and it's unlikely I will have enough time for both. Oh where do all the hours in the day go?
Anyhow, I know I posted my original measurements, but I don't think I posted the updates to them. Below are my measurements from March and April. I waited a little bit before this months because the PMS was (is still) bad and I felt like a water balloon with legs. Still do, but I figured I had to get it in. I might wait another week again or try to get it in early in May so I can avoid the bad week. We'll see if I manage to remember that tho.
Oh hehe, I totally forgot to say something about that. I was reading the perfect body diet and Cassandra said something about truly measuring yourself and not going by what you've always said you were, so I did, and it turns out that I'm a full half inch taller than I thought I was. I figure that's about 2.5 lbs more that I can have on my frame and still be a good weight
it turns out that I'm a full half inch taller than I thought I was. I figure that's about 2.5 lbs more that I can have on my frame and still be a good weight
You think exactly the way I would!!
On my bday card last year, a friend wrote something about how I wouldn't have to work as hard at cardio now that my max HR was one point lower LOL
PMS, Party induced exhaustion and a metal splinter
Can't keep me down! I can't believe I found the energy to workout tonight, but it happened. Nothing short of a miracle. I think my body just clicked and suddenly I stopped the can't even keep my eyes open feeling and just felt normal. It's good, because hubby has to be to work at 6 am tomorrow, so there's no going in with him. I could maybe see my way to go in early by myself, but I find that unlikely. I hates mornings
Stage 2
Workout A2
Front Squat/Push Press
2x10x28 - this time I did this right, with real power instead of slow wobbly-ness
Step Up
2x10x13 - my chair is starting to complain about the weight. I might have to start doing it on the weight bench which will require a lowering of weights since it's higher than the chair.
1 pt row
2x10x48
Static Lunge
2x10x28 - did this right this time instead of being a total idiot!
Pushup
2x10xBW
Plank
1x60 secs
1x65 secs - cuz I wanted to give up, but I forced a few more seconds to prove I could
So I've realized that my dumb bell handles that I thought were 4 pounds each are 4 pounds together, so this workout reflects those 4 lbs gone. Of course it's the same weight to my muscles, it's just more right to my brain
Stage 2
Workout B2
Deadlift
2x10x54
Split Squat
2x10x24
Pullover
2x10x24
Lunge off a box
2x10x24
Cuban Snatch
2x10x10 (5s)
Crunch
2x10x32
Pikes - I swapped these for the reverses because they were too easy, but the Pikes still kick my ass
2x10xBW
Flexion
1x10x5lb dumbell held behind my head
1x10x8
Cobra
2x90 secs with arms in front (made it harder for me) and my back is feeling it today!
Woot! Morning workout. I had to get my HIIT in and since I was there, I decided to do my workout. I usually try to avoid lifting on Friday because I have Pilates on Saturday, and my legs can be so sore I can barely get through class - which is frustrating. However, I figured if I workout in the morning, that I should be much better off than I would be if I worked out at night. We'll see if that works out for me!
Stage 2
Workout A3 (I can't believe how fast these workouts fly when you only have 8 total to do)
Squat/Push Press
2x10x30
Step Ups
2x10x15
1 Pt. Row
2x10x50
Static Lunge
1x10x30
1x10x25
Push Up
2x10xBW
Plank
2x 60secs on the floor - these kicked my butt today.
Woodchop (real ones with a cable machine - first time for that)
2x10x50 - I really needed to do 60 but the machine was in 15 lb increments and I couldn't find the middle weight add on. Hopefully I can try again next time.
HIIT
21 min including warmup/cool down intervals with rest intervals at 2.6
8.6
8.8
8.8
8.6
8.6
8.6
For a total of 1.5 miles.
I'm really proud of myself for getting it together and hitting the gym this morning. I'm soooo not a morning person, so each morning that I get up and work out is a triumph.
It's been a tough week or so over here. I have been feeling generally yucky and pretty rough over all. I've been dizzy - which then gives me a headache and usually a stomach ache. If you've ever fainted, it's sort of how I feel right before you start seeing black spots. It's like that. All the time. So I have dr. appt next week to get myself checked. I'm thinking anemia, since I've been low my whole life, but it's hard to say.
I did manage to get a workout in this morning, and I'm hoping to do HIIT tomorrow and my last Stage 2 workout tomorrow. We'll see. I have to play it day by day and see how I feel. Fingers crossed.
It's been a tough week or so over here. I have been feeling generally yucky and pretty rough over all. I've been dizzy - which then gives me a headache and usually a stomach ache. If you've ever fainted, it's sort of how I feel right before you start seeing black spots. It's like that. All the time. So I have dr. appt next week to get myself checked. I'm thinking anemia, since I've been low my whole life, but it's hard to say.
Yeah it is a little bit, and I'll let you know what comes of it. I was feeling a little better yesterday and today. I hope it's improving, but it's intermittent in both timing and intensity, so I guess we'll see...
So I packed everything to go into work with my husband and when the alarm went off this morning there was nothing for it. I even tried turning on the light and cuddling with the dog, but I ended up just rolling over and turning out the light again. Thankfully I managed to get my workout in in the evening, which doesn't seem to happen when I skip the mornings, but I wouldn't let myself let it go today. There was some serious motivation seeing as how this was the last workout of this never ending stage. I had no intention for this to take me nearly a month, but with the dizziness, it worked out that way.
Stage 2
Workout B4 (yay! finally made it through)
Deadlift
2x10x64
Split Squat
2x10x27
Pullover
2x10x30
Lunge off a box
2x10x30
Cuban
2x10x10
Long Arm Crunch
2x10x32
Pikes
2x10xBW - these were freaking hard today. Almost couldn't do the last one of the second set.
Flexion
2x10x8
Cobras
2x90 seconds - 1 with arm in front, 1 with arms in back
I spent a lot of time reading Marty and Rix's logs today and it's been a lot to consider. I've downloaded the test for Leah's metabolic fix program (sorry will link later - too freaking tired right now). I would definitely say that I had screwed up my metabolism in the past. Before I started NROL4W I was eating 1500 calories or less and way, way less when I was getting ready for the wedding - which was less than a year ago. I was eating around 1000-1200 calories and working out 6 days a week - including some serious weight training. I did lose a good deal of weight before the wedding and then right afterwards I stopped working out and started eating like a piggy again. Since then nothing has worked to take off the poundage that I gained after the wedding. And so, I have my theories. I have increased my calories to around 1700-1900 calories, but I have been slowly gaining weight since I started the program. I have lost inches, especially off my belly, which makes perfect sense since that's the last place I put pounds, but I have definate poundage to lose, regardless of how I'm reshaping my body. I dunno, we'll see. I took the parts of the test I could and got 6 As, 7 Bs and 7 Cs. I think I got 1 D, so at least I'm not level 4, but I will know more once I do the temps and such. I would guess I'm coming back from a metobolic mess, but that I'm not there yet. I would certainly like any help I can get to fix the situation if that's the case. I should know more by Monday.
How did you doctor visit go with the seeing stars thing? I know all about those stubborn pounds. It's like they're saying, "Hey, we're very comfortable right where we are...thank you very much...and we're NOT letting go." You will find your balance and they will eventually come off. Mine did.
How did you doctor visit go with the seeing stars thing? I know all about those stubborn pounds. It's like they're saying, "Hey, we're very comfortable right where we are...thank you very much...and we're NOT letting go." You will find your balance and they will eventually come off. Mine did.
Great job on the workouts!!
Thanks.
I haven't gone to the Dr. yet. My appt. is this coming Tuesday. I have been feeling better these past few days, so maybe it's passed, but I am still going to get the physical. Just to figure out what was going on - in the hopes that it doesn't return!
I spent a lot of time reading Marty and Rix's logs today and it's been a lot to consider. I've downloaded the test for Leah's metabolic fix program (sorry will link later - too freaking tired right now). I would definitely say that I had screwed up my metabolism in the past. Before I started NROL4W I was eating 1500 calories or less and way, way less when I was getting ready for the wedding - which was less than a year ago. I was eating around 1000-1200 calories and working out 6 days a week - including some serious weight training. I did lose a good deal of weight before the wedding and then right afterwards I stopped working out and started eating like a piggy again. Since then nothing has worked to take off the poundage that I gained after the wedding. And so, I have my theories. I have increased my calories to around 1700-1900 calories, but I have been slowly gaining weight since I started the program. I have lost inches, especially off my belly, which makes perfect sense since that's the last place I put pounds, but I have definate poundage to lose, regardless of how I'm reshaping my body. I dunno, we'll see. I took the parts of the test I could and got 6 As, 7 Bs and 7 Cs. I think I got 1 D, so at least I'm not level 4, but I will know more once I do the temps and such. I would guess I'm coming back from a metobolic mess, but that I'm not there yet. I would certainly like any help I can get to fix the situation if that's the case. I should know more by Monday.
Just wanted to stop in and say hi here too! I'm glad that you're taking the test. From the 7 B's and 7 C's, it sounds like you could benefit from the program. The hardest part for me was committing to the idea of not working out for weeks. Honestly If it hadn't been for the amenorrhea I don't think I would've been able to make the leap of faith, but I'm really glad I did. Anyway, good luck with finishing the test and making your choice!
Just wanted to stop in and say hi here too! I'm glad that you're taking the test. From the 7 B's and 7 C's, it sounds like you could benefit from the program. The hardest part for me was committing to the idea of not working out for weeks. Honestly If it hadn't been for the amenorrhea I don't think I would've been able to make the leap of faith, but I'm really glad I did. Anyway, good luck with finishing the test and making your choice!
Thanks for stopping in. I think the not working out scares the crap out of me! I keep thinking about it and I can't imagine what I would do. Not working out usually leads to being achy and lazy, for me, so I'm not sure how I would handle it. I'm definitely not over doing it like I have done in the past - mostly because my schedule is insane and I'm exhausted from work and life most of the time. I think if I decided to do it I would have to do some pilates or something just to keep my back good. I get a very stiff back and shoulder when I remain inactive - and all the walking I do for work isn't enough.
Hell, I couldn't even take a break the day that I got foot surgery. I came home and did my stage A workout - step ups and all - on a numb foot. I am that crazy.
Also, I'm going to PM you, cuz I have the dumbest question about the test. I think I answered some questions wrong, which would mean more Bs and Cs for me!
So this week has been really tough. I had to work late Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. I also went to the Dr. on Tuesday afternoon, which turned out to be useless. They took my blood, but I won't know for another week or so what the results were. I think the dr. was convinced - whether I agree or not - that it was allergies. She gave me something called anti-vert. She gave me this med to help with the dizziness, and yet the pharmacist hands it to me and says the side effects are dizziness and nausea Excuse me? Even the pharmacist said she doesn't know why they give this stuff out.
Amazing.
So, like a good patient, I give it a try. I'm supposed to take this junk 4x a day - which is ridiculous. But I took one at 4 and one at 10pm. The results? Couldn't get out of bed on Wednesday. It was painful to open my eyes I was so tired. I got to work and had lunch with the guys. I had so much caffeine, and yet it wasn't helping. I slept on the sofa at work for a couple of hours because i had to conver a Senators call that evening and no one else was free to do it. Terrible. I won't be taking that crap again. I think if I had taken another I would have been in the ER for it messing me up so bad. Unbelievable! So now I'm just waiting for my blood work to come back. I imagine it will be inconclusive as usual. This always seems to happen to me. Random, unexplained symptoms that no one can deal with. Whatever.
So, whatever I've decided to do is finish the Metabolic Repair Manual as fast as I can, get ready to do it this weekend and just go. The symptoms that I have are getting worse - and I can't take it. The last few nights I've been so cold I've been wearing a short sleeved shirt, a long sleeved shirt, pants, socks and four blankets so I can get warm and go to sleep. How messed up is that? Plus I've been having anxiety attacks a lot too. I really didn't want to tell the dr. that because I have no interest in going on any of those meds. I think I've established that I'm sensitive to meds, and I don't want any of that crap in my system. I've been fine before, I can be fine again.
So that's all I have to report. I haven't done a NROL4W workout since I finished stage 2 last week. My body is starting to kind of ache from not working out. My shoulder pain is back and I've been sore. Again, I think this is related to my metabolism. Even now when I know things are messed up and I want to fix them, I find myself considering going lower in calories. I know I need to go up, but it's an obsession since I've gained some weight and not worked out. I stop myself, but it's amazing how sucked in you can get.
I just need to get back to healthy. (off to read the rest of my book!)
So this week has been really tough. I had to work late Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. I also went to the Dr. on Tuesday afternoon, which turned out to be useless. They took my blood, but I won't know for another week or so what the results were. I think the dr. was convinced - whether I agree or not - that it was allergies. She gave me something called anti-vert. She gave me this med to help with the dizziness, and yet the pharmacist hands it to me and says the side effects are dizziness and nausea Excuse me? Even the pharmacist said she doesn't know why they give this stuff out.
Amazing.
So, like a good patient, I give it a try. I'm supposed to take this junk 4x a day - which is ridiculous. But I took one at 4 and one at 10pm. The results? Couldn't get out of bed on Wednesday. It was painful to open my eyes I was so tired. I got to work and had lunch with the guys. I had so much caffeine, and yet it wasn't helping. I slept on the sofa at work for a couple of hours because i had to conver a Senators call that evening and no one else was free to do it. Terrible. I won't be taking that crap again. I think if I had taken another I would have been in the ER for it messing me up so bad. Unbelievable! So now I'm just waiting for my blood work to come back. I imagine it will be inconclusive as usual. This always seems to happen to me. Random, unexplained symptoms that no one can deal with. Whatever.
So, whatever I've decided to do is finish the Metabolic Repair Manual as fast as I can, get ready to do it this weekend and just go. The symptoms that I have are getting worse - and I can't take it. The last few nights I've been so cold I've been wearing a short sleeved shirt, a long sleeved shirt, pants, socks and four blankets so I can get warm and go to sleep. How messed up is that? Plus I've been having anxiety attacks a lot too. I really didn't want to tell the dr. that because I have no interest in going on any of those meds. I think I've established that I'm sensitive to meds, and I don't want any of that crap in my system. I've been fine before, I can be fine again.
So that's all I have to report. I haven't done a NROL4W workout since I finished stage 2 last week. My body is starting to kind of ache from not working out. My shoulder pain is back and I've been sore. Again, I think this is related to my metabolism. Even now when I know things are messed up and I want to fix them, I find myself considering going lower in calories. I know I need to go up, but it's an obsession since I've gained some weight and not worked out. I stop myself, but it's amazing how sucked in you can get.
I just need to get back to healthy. (off to read the rest of my book!)
Jes, I am really happy you are going to give it a go.
In the beginning, one thing that helped me when I got anxious about "is this going to work/maybe I should go to the gym" is re-reading the section on page 90 titled "A Reminder". I figured, if it DOESN'T work and I followed the program to the letter, well, what's the worst that could happen? It's 8 weeks later and I can go back to killing myself in gym? At least I would have gotten a break.
For the aches and soreness, maybe you could take some of those epsom salt baths? Or get a massage? The baths would help warm you up, too.
Hang in there on the anxiety attacks. I hate those.
You're really brave for trying this! I know how scary it is. PM me if I can help with anything.
My DH had a prescription for that stuff (anti-vert) and ONLY used it when he was feeling dizzy... when I told him you were told to take it 4x/day, he said "WHAT??!?!!?"
My DH had a prescription for that stuff (anti-vert) and ONLY used it when he was feeling dizzy... when I told him you were told to take it 4x/day, he said "WHAT??!?!!?"
Yeah it's pretty retarded! Never again - you know unless I have a trans atlantic flight that I need to sleep through! Then it's the top of the list.
So I guess I decided to start my metabolic repair today. I started off with a big breakfast, but then I wasn't really hungry for most of the day and I generally sat on my bum, so I figured that was a good time to start. I'm going to take a page out of Marty's book and track how my days are going here.
I think that I'm going to consider that I started this little diet on Thursday. I say that because I didn't work out once this week, but Mon-Wed. were incredibly stressful and miserable, and by Thursday I was over it and just relaxed and happy to be done all my late nights. Also, Friday was generally pretty good as well.
I'm not so worried about calories and such because the goal of the program is to not gain weight while improving your metabolism, so if I'm not too stressed about that, it shouldn't be a big deal that I was probably over those two days. I did try to adhere today, and I'm still a little over. Still not stressed.
But here we go....
I am a level 3 which means that I'm supposed to start at 35% off my maintenance which turns out to be 1412 calories, which is scary, but I will do my best. Probably if I hadn't had such a big breakfast, I wouldn't have had a problem, but I did. I did pretty good today, but I know there are some incidental calories in here that I missed, but I am not getting worked up about it. I've been eating more than that and not gaining weight, so I think I'll be ok. So, a la Marty...
Rest: I have been the master of rest today! The most stressful thing I did was pick my own strawberries! Which are a big part of the "incidental" calories.
Food numbers:
1654 calories
43g fat
117g protein
Sleep: 10 hours.
Water/sodium: Water - very good, too busy playing video games, and based on daily plate my sodium was nice and low, but I did add a good amount of salt to things, but still, I'm usually not over.
Emotionally: Pretty chilled and content
Weight: 171.0 (ugh that number is awful for someone who has been dieting for so long!)
Waist: didn't check - will try to remember this!
Good luck with the Repair - I'll be following with great interest!
Thanks! I think the rest is helping already, since I didn't do any extra exercise last week and have been really doing much of anything these last few days. I haven't taken my basal temp, but I have been able to get to sleep warm with out a hundred blankets, and my feet have been warmer, so I hope it's because of this sitting on my duff all day!
I did, however feel really, really awful last night. I had a shake, but I'm not sure if it was too late, but I got a massive headache and got very dizzy (could be a lot of things - considering my issues of late), but it took awhile to go away. I inhaled a string cheese in an effort to get my blood sugar up, but I don't think it helped. I dunno, we'll see how today goes, but I think 1412 calories is gonna' be rough!
Sorry that you felt so badly last night! How many calories were you on before you started Repair? I've adjusted mine down to 1500/1700 and I'm not liking it... I may go back to 1600/1800 since I've taken the incidentals out, but I need to go at least a week at this level and stick to it before I change it again! 1412 isn't much, but without working out hopefully it won't be too bad.
So I really sucked air today! I started off the day well and I thought I was going to get close to making it, but dinner blew it I didn't realize that the kabob meat that I bought was going to have quite so many calories in such a small amount as it did. Either way, I think I only went over about 200 calories for what I think I can handle - -which is still not the 1412 I'm supposed to have. I can't say I'm not extremely worried about how I would manage doing this at work where I run around downtown like an idiot most of the day is beyond me. I am going to try one more day at this level and if I don't make it, I think I will move to level 2 which is 25% of my calories - which is 1629 - a number that I've been living at lately. Now I will admit that I've been over that normally - without realizing it, but now that I have gotten a better idea about what everything weighs and how much of everything I can have. I think the most distressing thing is that the scoop that true protein sent to me levels out to be 20 grams and I've been thinking it was 30 grams. So I've been getting less calories than I thought, but also less protein Nothing like getting less protein that you were thinking in your pwo shake! Argh! Take me as your lesson to break out your scale and use it! You might get more than you were thinking a portion was.
Rest: Again, a lot of sitting on my arse. Ran to the market and the nursery. Tomorrow will be a little more strenuous but it won't add up to more than what I do at work! Thank goodness for long weekends.
Food numbers:
1861 calories
68g fat
137g protein
Sleep: 8.5 hours
Water/sodium: Water - probably a little low, today, actually. I will try to be better about that tomorrow. Sodium - around 2g. I hope it's ok that I'm below the 3g.
Emotionally: Very happy most of the day. A little upset about the calories, but trying to not to freak
Weight: 171.0
Waist: 36 - this number is a difficult for me to track. I'm taking right around my belly button, but it seems I can go from 35 to 37 from one measure to the next. I'm getting a myotape soon, so hopefully that will clear up some of the issue.
Sorry that you felt so badly last night! How many calories were you on before you started Repair? I've adjusted mine down to 1500/1700 and I'm not liking it... I may go back to 1600/1800 since I've taken the incidentals out, but I need to go at least a week at this level and stick to it before I change it again! 1412 isn't much, but without working out hopefully it won't be too bad.
Well, I'd like to say that I've been at around 1700 calories, lately, but I think that would be wrong. I've been kidding myself about a lot of what I eat, and we eat lunch out every day at work (obviously need to prepare foods for the coming weeks). I think what keeps me over is the fact that I've kicked my metabolism around sooo much in the last year and then I've been dieting and binging off and on. My body also didn't seem to react to the heavy lifting well. To be honest, I'm just not sure any more. I'm trying to put some practices of each of the books into play. The thing is that I've done most of what it usually takes to lose weight over the last couple of months and it worked before I started the program (for about 8 lbs) and then I got to lifting and eating better (I was about 1500 calories before I started NROL4W) and I started gaining weight. So, then I cut back and freaked out and started feeling miserable. I think I needed rest, since I've been feeling progressively better of the last week, but I'm just not sure about the food. I'm hoping to find a jive with my body where I can not starve, and lose weight - and then work in the exercise. That's really part of what this program is about to me. I want to know what maintenance really is for me. What does it take for me to make it through a day with my slightly physical job (ton of walking) and eat healthy (which I do, but just too much I guess?) and not gain or lose weight. That's why I'm sad I can't get myself to the right calories. It's hard because I went on NROL and boosted my calories - to probably too much, when I had been at the right level (maybe) and managed to gain weight. I am buffer than I was, so hopefully I can figure out my middle ground, not lose too much muscle, and be all the better for it.
As you can see I'm really, really struggling with a lot of issues. I'm constantly questioning if this is good or not. Too many calories, not enough, do I feel like crap because my allergies suck, or that I need food. How much fitness will I lose? I need to have faith, but when you've been on every diet out there, and none of them work (probably because I didn't really commit), how do you trust another? The only thing that ever worked for me was weight watchers, and that was eons ago. Also, I was slightly heavier, living alone, and it wasn't easy, either. I remember being this hungry all the time. I can be sure that those calories were low low low too. I always shot for the lowest I could eat and no extras, but it worked. The thing is that that was points and I don't know what they translated to. I'm not sure I want to know. I doubt it was healthy and it might only encourage me to be stupid again.
The other thing that worked was being stressed out for my wedding, which is where I believe all this mess started. I can't even discuss how few calories I was eating in the month or so before the wedding, and then I binged afterwards and gained about 20 lbs between august and december. Now I can't get it off, and I've been going up and down, left and right, trying to figure out what to do, and I just need to start over fresh. So, with much fighting and inner turmoil, that's what I'm doing. I hope it works.
Super Day!
But I can force it out if I need to...and my butt says I need to. So I need to take some time to find the focus to be ready for Stage 2 and get a better rhythm. I need to get my food making on Sunday and my lifting three times a week back together. So that's my goal for my rest week. That and to not get lazy 
Of course, that's always my goal!
Goodbye Stage 1
Owwwwww!
What a week!
Whatever. 
Linear Mode
