I just love this Chinese maple (I think it is) outside my front door and it's a great way to always get a nice seasonal photograph for my avatar. I post in a forum where we meet up with folks regularly and everyone can always recognize me as I look just like my photo. So I use the same pic in different forums.
Thanks for the nice comments. Funny thing is, I wasn't trying to look younger (though who isn't) I was trying to show off my new shiny gray hair which has finally all grown out, though I still have it short. That took forever as I have the slowest growing hair around.
I dreamt about a food last night, now that's a first for me. I kept refusing to eat some cake but finally took a swipe of frosting and it was light and luscious and I felt so much guilt. I seriously can remember how yummy it was.
I'm sore, really sore, this damn DOMS is painful. My legs aren't functioning from my workout on Monday. I had my massage yesterday and she had a hard workout with me...lol. Today is a day of rest, which includes my long morning walk and dancing tonight. Both will be good to keep the legs moving.
Diet for yesterday:
Weight - 158.6
Burn - 2710
Cals - 1682
Deficit - 1028 (38%)
Protein - 152 (36%)
Fat - 55 (29%)
Carbs - 150 (35%)
Exercise:
Cardio: 25 min ArcTrainer
1 hour evening walk
Weights - Upper Body
Combo 1: Seated Cable Rows
60x12
65x12
70x12
70x12
Pushups against bench
4 sets of 8
Combo 3: side lateral raises
8x10
8x10
front lateral raises
5x10
5x10
db bicep curls
15x10
15x8
Combo 4: Reverse PecDec Flyes
50x10
40x10
Dip Machine
90x12
105x10
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Seems silly to write that all out, I don't know if anyone cares. But I guess it's part of being compliant.
As far as compliance goes, I did reach my 1000 cal deficit yesterday, but I was hungry yesterday. I guess not really hungry, but I was desiring to eat food. I'm feel premenstrual which would be great finally as timewise I feel I'm back on track. I just have that "funky" feeling in my gut, I kind of feel full and bloated.
Two days in a row I've kept my fat grams down, now trust me that is a major accomplishment. To do it though, my carbs and protein are quite a bit higher. I guess that's extra food in the gut too.
I already have forgotten what my goals are, I think I got them covered though.
My body definitely feels muscular when I touch parts of it, I hopes that's the case. I'm literally petrified of losing fat and having no muscles. I guess it's us non-common girls who don't want to be skinny. I keep wondering how I can lift heavy when it makes me hurt so badly, and I hate the thought of wasting my efforts in the gym to not have the muscles show.
Oh, cool thing to report...On September 12 (I think) is the Gold's Natural Classic here in KC (the hosts work at the gym) and though I can't make the evening show (roller derby night) my husband and I hope to make the morning prelims. But they are starting to work hard here in my gym. I've mentioned before that we have quite a few pros here, and I love watching as they start to cut. One lady was working hard yesterday on back, and just watching her routine is a learning process. I need to look her up, but I do think she's pro.
x5 or whatever we're at now! Your new avi looks great.
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They call me Amanda, that being my real name, and "They" being people who know me in person as I don't go around introducing myself in real life as "scribess." 'Cause that would just be strange.
Annette,
Do you eat sunflower seeds in the shell, or shelled? Salted or not?
I used to have the unshelled salted addiction, but broke the addiction, years ago. couldn't afford the calories.... but they're so fun to eat!
Salted in the shell, and it's definitely an addiction, but I'm trying to work it in because it makes me happy. As far as addictions go, it's not a bad one to have.
I'm fighting the munchies today and I'm afraid the munchies might be beating me. I chose to not exercise today as my muscles are sore (dancing tonight) and really hate to overeat.
I caved in earlier and had 1 cup of sunflower seeds (in shell) and my husband said to have a giant taco salad which always fills me up. I'm still looking for food and I'm not one bit hungry though.
I'm trying to stay distracted by sewing and it's not working.
I poured another cup of sunflower seeds, ate a few, then got up to make a soymilk/whey/blueberry shake.
Normally this wouldn't have been a problem, I'd just eat till I was sick or satisfied.
I'm having extreme ovary pains (I think) and I've had ovary pain since this past Friday. I've always had this problem, when I ovulate. I'm so messed up right now.
Sometimes being female really sucks.
I hate to go to the doctor for it, they always say nothing is wrong (I've had it sonogramed a few times and even checked when I had laporospic surgery once. I do have fibroid on that ovary, had a massive one removed once (size of grapefruit) and maybe they're just acting up.
Salted in the shell, and it's definitely an addiction, but I'm trying to work it in because it makes me happy. As far as addictions go, it's not a bad one to have.
I'm fighting the munchies today and I'm afraid the munchies might be beating me. I chose to not exercise today as my muscles are sore (dancing tonight) and really hate to overeat.
Oprah said "hunger is the sound of fat falling off your hips"
amazing that you lose so fast with all that sodium
I think as long as your sodium intake is fairly consistent it's not such a problem. I think most people see issues when they have a fairly normal diet, then eat something particularly high in sodium. I don't track my sodium, although I think nothing of adding it to what I'm cooking. In the winter when I take soups I know I add a fair bit at the table. If I were to go low sodium then maybe high sodium that might be a bigger problem.
Annette, I just saw your photos for the challenge, and man, you are already on the way to looking hot!!! Like the others said, you have the advantage of even fat distribution, so when your body recomp is really hitting it, you will look so spectacular.
Oh, I can relate w/you on the munchies. I'm in the midst of TOM, and I want to devour everything in sight at the moment. The only thing that's holding me back is that I don't want to get stomach cramps during my running session tonight.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Etana
Oprah said "hunger is the sound of fat falling off your hips"
I used to sew (mainly because I had to), but I'm still keeping a couple of drawers of material in case at some point I have the itch to go back to it. I like the top, style and material.
My mom sews as well and tried to pass it off to me, but it didn't take.
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They call me Amanda, that being my real name, and "They" being people who know me in person as I don't go around introducing myself in real life as "scribess." 'Cause that would just be strange.
Turquoise looks really good on you. I can't sew either but can crochet just about anything & embroider. I almost asked my hubby for a sewing machine and lessons last Christmas. Hmmm maybe this year-you are giving me inspiration!
I used to love to sew! I would love to get back to it....I've got so many ideas! I used to go to a sewing "class" once a week. This really talented and eccentric seamstress held the classes in her old victorian home. The whoe first floor was sewing central. We met there once a week and we all worked on whatever we wanted, and she helped us. We called it therapy instead of sewing class because it was there, while sewing, that we figured out all the crap going on in our lives. It was a blast...I miss it!
I wore my new shirt dancing last night and it didn't even fall apart, how cool is that
Wt. this morning: 159.4
Diet for yesterday:
Burn - 2284
Cals - 1816 (20%)
Protein - 153 (33%)
Fat - 83 (40%)
Carbs - 126 (27%)
Exercise: Dancing (had very little energy)
Compliance: Fat was higher than my 60g goal. I ate sunflower seeds. That's the only thing that puts me over. Protein was super high. Cals were a bit too high for my burn. I lose better with a higher deficit percentage.
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Yesterday was one of those days I don't want to repeat anytime soon. I totally suffered with cravings all day long. I did my best to fight it, and I think an 1800 calorie day is pretty good in that case.
By the time we were done dancing, which by the way, I had absolutely NO energy for, and my legs were dying from DOMS, I was in the mood for icecream. I knew there was some in the fridge, but I got home, had water and went to bed.
Like I said, my legs were in so much pain yesterday that dancing actually hurt. I couldn't hit my spins and turns and we left a bit early. I had planned on doing leg workouts on Mondays and Thursday to leave Wed and Fri open for dancing. But I was questioning if I would be able to do weights today (Thursday.) I woke up and it looks like I will be able to. They are a little stiff, but not in pain anymore. Now the upper body is tightening up.
So today is another day, thank goodness.
I stepped on the scale this morning, and it's up again. Whatever.
Reading Leigh's comments on Etana's question has really gotten me thinking again, and what she says always clears my head of misinformation. Like many others, I always want to do more more more, and that's not the right thing to be doing. She puts me back into focus, and focus is what I need to keep forefront.
I need to keep the deficit percentage high, not just the deficit. It's one thing to say I will aim for a 1000 cal deficit a day, but it means a lot more when the deficit percentage is high.
I know that is a weird concept but it holds true.
Burning 3500 cals and eating 2500 is a 29% deficit
Burning 3000 cals and eating 2000 is a 33% deficit
Burning 2500 cals and eating 1500 is a 40% deficit
Burning 2300 cals and eating 1300 is a 43% deficit
It I want to eat 1800, I have to burn 3000 cals to get a 40% deficit.
And 40% or more seems to be the magic number.
Goals for today:
Long walk this morning
Lower body weights at gym
Cardio at gym (short session only) maybe
Aim for that 40% deficit by keeping cals lower.
Tomorrow I have lunch out with my daughter, Chinese food, so a good deficit today is important.
I also want to look up some information on an "anti-bloating" type of diet. I don't know if there is such a thing, probably. I just feel like the moment I put food into my stomach that it bulges out. I do think it's messed up hormones right now though.
Reading Leigh's comments on Etana's question has really gotten me thinking again, and what she says always clears my head of misinformation. Like many others, I always want to do more more more, and that's not the right thing to be doing. She puts me back into focus, and focus is what I need to keep forefront.
I need to keep the deficit percentage high, not just the deficit. It's one thing to say I will aim for a 1000 cal deficit a day, but it means a lot more when the deficit percentage is high.
I know that is a weird concept but it holds true.
Burning 3500 cals and eating 2500 is a 29% deficit
Burning 3000 cals and eating 2000 is a 33% deficit
Burning 2500 cals and eating 1500 is a 40% deficit
Burning 2300 cals and eating 1300 is a 43% deficit
It I want to eat 1800, I have to burn 3000 cals to get a 40% deficit.
And 40% or more seems to be the magic number.
I noticed Etana's thread over on Leigh's board but haven't yet read through. Just wanted to say I'm finding the same thing as you, that a 40% deficit seems to be best for me, and that more activity doesn't necessarily result in more scale loss. Even if if it results in a higher percentage deficit.
Scale is likely up because you're still DOMSing a bit. But you're good at ignoring the daily hiccups.
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They call me Amanda, that being my real name, and "They" being people who know me in person as I don't go around introducing myself in real life as "scribess." 'Cause that would just be strange.
Like I said, my legs were in so much pain yesterday that dancing actually hurt. I couldn't hit my spins and turns and we left a bit early. I had planned on doing leg workouts on Mondays and Thursday to leave Wed and Fri open for dancing. But I was questioning if I would be able to do weights today (Thursday.) I woke up and it looks like I will be able to. They are a little stiff, but not in pain anymore. Now the upper body is tightening up.
I had to move my strength workout from Thursdays to Tuesdays because with the Thursday workout my legs were too fatigued to hike well on Saturdays. Even if my legs weren't feeling sore, they would not do hills except very slowly and with a lot of suffering. I definitely think older muscles need a lot more time to recover than all the books say. Go by what your body says, not a timetable in a book. I applaud you for going back to your training despite the pain of DOMS. Hopefully things will start hurting less with improved muscle tone and strength.
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Moondust The older I get, the older old gets.
First off, you look fabulous both in avatar and your new top!
Secondly, keep your salt intake up so you won't get the water wt swings.. also, just keep your sunflower seed addiction.. just pre-weigh them & portion them out into little (sandwich) bags. That is what worked for me in the past until I got too lazy (thinking I could just 'wing' it.. nope! )
Third.. errr, what was I going to say.. oh, yes the 40% deficit rather than a # of calories. Not sure if I really believe it, but I sure as hell believe in jacking up & down food intake rather than keep it at the same level. Bodies get used to same intake every day and adjust downwards.
it could be that 40% deficit is truly the 'key' thing.. but then again, I'm thinking : what's the effing hurry? Unless you have a TON of weight to lose or an extremely important date (competition etc.) . In 2008 as well as 2007 I've lost only 3-4 kg for the entire year .. but kept it off & gained strength.
This year isn't as great but I'm not going to starve myself to get there. That just always backfired in getting ill or injured.
I had to move my strength workout from Thursdays to Tuesdays because with the Thursday workout my legs were too fatigued to hike well on Saturdays. Even if my legs weren't feeling sore, they would not do hills except very slowly and with a lot of suffering. I definitely think older muscles need a lot more time to recover than all the books say. Go by what your body says, not a timetable in a book. I applaud you for going back to your training despite the pain of DOMS. Hopefully things will start hurting less with improved muscle tone and strength.
This is exactly what I'm trying to do, work my weightlifting sessions in around my dancing session. We usually dance W and F, so legs on M and Th should world as long as I don't have severe DOMS. I just have to not overwork them, which I'm not supposed to do anyway. Upper body isn't so much a problem with dancing, aiming for T and F.
I've also considered a upper/lower split and then 1 day full body. That sounds like a possibility if I feel busy that week. Of course there's always just full body 2x if necessary. I'm going to continue to play with it, but for now I want to try to get a schedule and stick to it, as planning and scheduling of any sort is my downfall.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Espi
First off, you look fabulous both in avatar and your new top!
Secondly, keep your salt intake up so you won't get the water wt swings.. also, just keep your sunflower seed addiction.. just pre-weigh them & portion them out into little (sandwich) bags. That is what worked for me in the past until I got too lazy (thinking I could just 'wing' it.. nope! )
Third.. errr, what was I going to say.. oh, yes the 40% deficit rather than a # of calories. Not sure if I really believe it, but I sure as hell believe in jacking up & down food intake rather than keep it at the same level. Bodies get used to same intake every day and adjust downwards.
it could be that 40% deficit is truly the 'key' thing.. but then again, I'm thinking : what's the effing hurry? Unless you have a TON of weight to lose or an extremely important date (competition etc.) . In 2008 as well as 2007 I've lost only 3-4 kg for the entire year .. but kept it off & gained strength.
This year isn't as great but I'm not going to starve myself to get there. That just always backfired in getting ill or injured.
You're exactly right, there isn't so much of a hurry now. To be honest, just getting down to 160 made me feel so much better that now I'm not feeling stressed about feeling fat. I would really like to be done with the worst of it by the end of the year though, and then spend till my birthday (May 5) "sculpting" the results. I guess I do work well with timelines. I need something to aim for or I amble around.
Goblet squat
15lb - 4 sets of 15 Swiss Ball crunch - 4 sets of 20
Single Leg Press Cybex machine
80lbs - 4 sets of 10 (each leg)
Lunges
nw - 2 sets of 10 Butt lifts
nw - 2 sets of 10
Cardio:
30 min Arc Trainer - hard intensity, up to max HR 90%
70 min morning walk
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I had a tummy ache all day. I almost ate like a normal percentage, minus the junk food. I ate high carbs and adequate protein and low fat and had gas and crampy the entire day.
I'm not doing that again. Maybe there's a reason I prefer lower carbs and more fat.
My weight has been pretty stable for 3 weeks now which kind of sucks, but at least it hasn't gone up (at least not for real.) I've now been on the creatine 1 full week and I think that messes with my tummy a bit, and makes it feel bloated. I've just been using the 1 slightly heaping teaspoon measure, but maybe it's just a little too much and it's bloating my gut. Hell if I know what's up with my hormones, for days I felt like I was getting a period, and then that stopped. I'd rather have one than not, but at the same time it would be nice to be done with. Doctor said based on my tests I should be done with periods though.
I keep trying to get my calories lower and then it just doesn't happen. It's hard to eat a lot of good food on low calories. I feel like I have too much "quantity" in my system and like I should just eat really light small meals for a few days. My body feels heavy-ish. My legs feel like rocks, I can feel my obliques and there is definite division between my shoulders and arms. The tricep pops out regularly.
All that is good and fine and what I want, but I want to feel lighter too.
OMG, I hope that isn't where someone starts feeling "bulky" vs. "light and toned." Too weird.
My muscles are there, just covered in fat. Gotta get that fat off.
So goal today is to eat light and low cals. I've eaten higher cals a few days in a row, I can afford to drop it today, and maybe over the weekend. I'd love to get under 1500 each day, maybe even down to 1400. Work hard on the diet, not over exercise, and see a whoosh come Monday.
I promised Chinese food for my daughter at lunch today, guess I might be eating the steamed chicken and veggie plate after all. It's not the tastiest, but it sure will be conducive to my dieting plans.
Exercise today is a long morning walk and upper body weights. I will do a routine similar to a few days back without trying to increase weights. We also have dancing again tonight. Will be a high burn day.
Now I know what eluded me when I was posting before.
In case you're searching for something else to get addicted to, that has less calories.. try olives. It's weird how these things that use to gross me out in the distant past, now are my new addiction. First I only went for the mildest tasting ones , which are called 'hoji blanca' & over time could not get enough of them.. eat about 10 of them every time I have a salad. Then ... suddenly the 'plainer' green olives got my attention, esp. the ones that are marinated in garlic oil. Unbelievable!
Somehow bitter tasting foods also work wonders in satiation. Another satiety tool is vinegar! Some people even just take vinegar shots.. helps with carb loads too!
You're exactly right, there isn't so much of a hurry now. To be honest, just getting down to 160 made me feel so much better that now I'm not feeling stressed about feeling fat. I would really like to be done with the worst of it by the end of the year though, and then spend till my birthday (May 5) "sculpting" the results. I guess I do work well with timelines. I need something to aim for or I amble around.
Me, too.
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They call me Amanda, that being my real name, and "They" being people who know me in person as I don't go around introducing myself in real life as "scribess." 'Cause that would just be strange.
So Annette, maybe the creatine isn't right for you at this stage. Isn't getting smaller your ultimate goal right now, not getting more muscles? You can still get stronger without adding more muscle mass. If I were you, I'd drop the creatine and keep going with the weight loss until you NEED to change something. You were still doing fine without any changes.
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Moondust The older I get, the older old gets.
So Annette, maybe the creatine isn't right for you at this stage. Isn't getting smaller your ultimate goal right now, not getting more muscles? You can still get stronger without adding more muscle mass. If I were you, I'd drop the creatine and keep going with the weight loss until you NEED to change something. You were still doing fine without any changes.
That's what I was thinking. If it ain't broke don't fix it. Does the creatine give you an energy boost? I was curious about this for when I drop some more fat.
The reasoning in the article is very weird though they are technically right. Of course you will put on some 'swole' with CM. CEE (creatine ethyl ester) won't do it as much but the susceptible people who put on a TON of swole will still get a bit swoler on it.. which is NOT a bad thing.
The thing which makes me wary of using creatine is that somehow it tends to make me crave (and abuse) carbs more.. it will shift energy balance towards the anaerobic side of the energy supply as creatine is vital for replenishing ATP in the fastest possible way.
I've been called out as a fool before on this reasoning, yet every time I've supplemented with either CM or CEE (the one I prefer as it makes you retain less water), I'd crave carbs like crazy. It does make me stronger though.. But frankly, I'm feeling more effects from beta-alanine , which can be dubbed as 'creatine for endurance' . Beta-alanine allows you to do more volume = do more sets w/o fatigueing.
I am taking the creatine as it's supposed to help in muscle recovery when one has fibro, and the doc and I think I have a "mild" case of it.
Yes, I want muscles, and yes I want to be leaner. The bloat feeling was in my gut. Problem is, too many variables were changed at one time. I added the creatine, but ate more carbs and less fat. Too much grain messes up my gut and makes me gassy. I know my female hormones are whacked too (having ovary pains for 7 days now..that's not normal.)
Logically I know it can be any one variable, or all three together.
Even if one gains/holds a few pounds of water weight, eventually that should stabilize and one should drop fat weight. I'm not going to fret over my plateau just yet. I saw a low of 157 over a week ago, I'd like to see one of those again, just to know it's for real.
My cals have been higher as well as my burn. It's feeling good to exercise as my body wants to exercise right now. Trust me, when you experience pain you don't want to move. Take that pain away and it's hard to hold you back.
More than anything, weight or muscles, I want to have a "happy" body that doesn't hurt.
I've already changed my plans for the day. No weights so I don't have to worry about working my schedule around them. I'll do them tomorrow instead (what an easy solution.) And I'm eating 2 full cups of my salted sunflower seeds and I'm in heaven.
When I go out for Chinese food I will have the spring rolls and peanut sauce and be happy.
With Fibro I found being adaptable is the best plan. Somedays I'm simply just too fatigued or sore so I rest another day. Your lunch sounds good-haven't had Chinese in awhile.
I don't think I have fibro, just old-o, but what I found was that once a week lifting got real results (despite what most trainers say) and allowed for ample recovery. Now I'm doing a little more, but my other sessions are short and only work on muscles that are feeling great. Would more frequent lifting get faster results? Probably, but at what cost to my joints and mental well-being?
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Moondust The older I get, the older old gets.
Linear Mode
