Today is the start of yet another month, time to check my measurements and contemplate the experience. My motivation is still high, if not higher than ever. I continue to read different books and online information to encourage me alone the way.
Here's an image of my stats for the month.
What's obvious at this time is where my bodyfat is disappearing from...the upper body. I am losing lots of weight from where it was building up before I started this venture. Now I know why I was feeling so damn fat.
I can feel the fat loss in my hips and thighs also, and was a bit shocked by the drop in my calves, awesome actually. I have those darn big calves and ankles, and it will never be my most attractive body part, but it will be thinner.
The waist...ugh. It is obviously going to be my hardest area to lose in. Nothing to worry about at this time as I'm doing what I need to do, eat in a deficit and exercise. I won't spaz out about it until it stops changing, and hopefully it doesn't do that.
I am setting a goal in my head at this time to get a waist measurement under 30 inches.
I know not to rely on bodyfat measurements, but I'm going to track it monthly based on my tanita scale and omron handheld. I doubt I lost 2 lbs lean in 2 weeks, but it could be just water as I have been eating lo-carb this past week. I'm just interested in the trend.
I did plug data into a few online sites, measurement data, and a couple calculated me at 25% (ha ha ha) and one at about 38% (more like it.) It's the damn belly, and I know it, and nothing can change the fact that it's there at this time.
Goals for the month of August - really it's just to continue what I've been doing. I am working on building up the weight lifting, but that is a slow endeavor based on my body's own feelings of what hurts or doesn't hurt at the time. I'm seriously feeling pretty good right now, but that varies.
As far as cardio goes, I read that it is what's good for that abdominal fat, but I still don't want to over stress my body, so I will continue with my walks, dancing, and ArcTrainer. I will focus on the belly when the issue arises.
note - I'm sure I'll think of more stuff later on.
Mucho congratulations Annette!
I really have to not compare us, but it has been hard. But you have worked hard and it is wonderful that you have gotten such great results for your effort.
Have you thought about adding a measurement of your stomach. I dropped 4" in my stomach, while only 2" each in waist and hips and it was very encouraging.
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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.
Have you thought about adding a measurement of your stomach. I dropped 4" in my stomach, while only 2" each in waist and hips and it was very encouraging.
I second this idea! I have also lost more in my stomach compared to my waist. In fact, the only place where I lost more inches was my bust!
I'm measuring my waist at my bellybutton, as I don't have a waist, and that is my stromach, trust me. I'm shaped like a man with a beerbelly, lots of visceral fat along with the regular fat I'm guessing.
Height is 5'5" and goal is "to worry about it once I'm under 150." Then to get to 140 and reanalyze there. I'll probably be done around 135, unless I chose to go for a slimmer look.
Seriously, it's all based on my double chin, underarms, and just fat in general.
I finally realize that I CAN get rid of my fat, it's just up to me to do it.
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My important news and it for the day.
REFEEDS AND FOOD POISONING DON'T GO TOGETHER
I went for mexican food last night with my daughters. I was violently sick a few hours later, over and over.
Literally dead as a dog today, run over by the mac truck and all.
Ick! Hope you feel better soon, Annette. Food poisoning sucks.
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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.
Thanks guys, it continued to be a rough day. Looking forward to sleeping. I slept a lot, but I also had to help my daughter move. Stomach continued to be cramped. I did eat about 1000 calories, nothing much healthy, even had McDonalds because honestly I knew it would not bother me, a hamburger and fries is easy on my stomach.
Hopefully tomorrow is much better, I have lots to do.
I'm not worrying about exercise of course, or much of anything...just feeling better.
A good solid 2 lbs lost this week, and that's not counting the food poisoning since my low was before that, phew. And even if I go off my "actual" weights, monday to monday, I still have over a 2 lb loss.
The low-carb experiment went fine, I thought I'd do it a full week, but by Friday night when we went out dancing, I knew I had to stop. My legs wouldn't move properly, they felt like I was dancing in sand or deep sludge. Physically though, and mentally, I felt fine. But my body was just lagging a tad. I don't want to lag, not when dancing.
My stomach is still slightly cramped up from the food poisoning, right now I'm drinking coffee on an empty stomach, hoping it will push the last of anything out. I plan on taking today off again as far as exercise goes. Then I can be back on plan by tomorrow, all should be better by then.
Okay, now for some rambles....I've been looking at photos online (no not those kinds of photos ) of different women's transformations when they took up body building. I've been focusing on older women especially. The thought is definitely in my head that I can do it, I just have to choose to. Now, I've always said I'd love to look like that, but I've also always said I would never want to work that hard (most likely true.) But this is the first time that I've said the possibility is there.
What the point of this ramble is all about, is not if I would end up looking like a figure athlete, but that I'm even accepting that I could, and that it's all up to me.
My head is screwed on right and tight for a change.
Still my primary goal is to lose fat. That is what I'm keeping foremost in my head. Any weight work I do is to keep from losing muscle at this time. I'm not in muscle building mode, I'm in fat loss mode.
I kept telling myself I would consider my next steps when I get under 150 lbs. And now I see that 150 isn't all that far away, just around 12 lbs or so, and I've lost 20. It's a cool feeling when where you're going doesn't seem so hard after all.
Under 150 has always been my "realistic goal." If I weigh around 148 or so, I can be happy. No one would look at me and think "fat." I'd wear about a size 10 and be well proportioned. In a swimsuit, I'd not be too hot, but heck, at 46 I'd look better than most. So that's how I've viewed it.
The next goal is under 140. 138 was my WeightWatchers goal and it's a pretty good place for me. I would look really really good there, not totally hot, but really really good (which is pretty close.) I was very happy at that weight, but continued to lose down to 130 last time around to be HOT for my class reunion. I had an awesome backless dress for my reunion (almost 10 years ago) and did look great. I should hunt down a photo.
Alas, I didn't stay there, maintenance wasn't in the picture.
The only times I was less than 130 was after the "death diet" when my husband died, and that kind of doesn't count. Physically not being able to eat does weird things to your body. Nothing weirder though than losing weight due to grief and everyone telling you how awesome and hot you look.
NOTE TO ALL: If you know someone in that situation, don't tell them they look hot, it's just not appropriate.
Goals for Week 9: Get my energy back and exercise when ready, eat at 1000 cal deficit when possible, but I will allow another few days of healing if necessary.
Oh, and another cool note, I've actually started doing a bit (only a bit) of jogging during my walking workouts. I have a lightly hilly walking route and have started to run the downhill portions, it brings my heart rate up and I burn extra calories. I'm going to continue with that, but only 3 times a week, build it up slowly. Maybe eventually I'll actually be able to run somewhat. I have to plans to be a runner though, too hard on my body.
Thank you for posting in my training log! Yes, that's me. Luckily, I take after my mother. She was a goddess. I'm still in training.
Can't wait for you to dig in and start your NROL4W program! You'll never regret that. I can tell you'll be successful because you are consistent, have a goal, and like to work out.
Ended up pretty darn hungry today, guess it's finally caught up with me.
I'm up over 2000 cals, sure won't step on the scale tomorrow.
Took a walk to the library (50 min total trip) in the heat to return my books, and of course, forgot the one book that was overdue.
Went for my massage later this afternoon.
All in all a good day, wish I hadn't had the hungries though.
Oh, and I wanted something sweet so badly, and there are no sweets in the house. Had yet MORE sunflower seeds...don't even quess how many I've had today.
I think I'm going to have to start banning those things.
The scale was kind even after my large intake yesterday. So now I have to be 100% back on track to show a loss for the week. I was 162 last Friday, sick over the weekend, and 162 this morning, so that is super good.
Yesterdays diet:
Cals - 2100
Protein - 25%
Carbs - 34.5%
Fat - 40.5%
That's actually pretty much how things usually look, I'm high on fat.
I'm going to try harder on the diet, as long as I don't find it stressful in anyway. I had my husband hide my sunflower seeds, but I said he can give them to me if I get in the car to go buy more, that it's not "that" important that I don't eat them. I just don't want to see them.
I will concentrate on these diet goals at each meal:
protein (fairly good about it)
fish oil (been good about this one so far)
veggies (not so good)
fruit (not much of a fruit eater)
starchy carbs (usually not a problem, I eat them when I feel drained)
sweets (no problem currently)
I feel my GoWearFit recorded me low yesterday. I'm not sure about that. I did do cardio on the ArcTrainer which is always low, and did a weights workout. Later in the day I took a 50 min walk, but it didn't record as very intense. To be honest, I didn't walk intensely as it was really hot, and I was carrying books in a bag. I wonder if it had to do with that. I let my left arm swing freely.
The first part is all slightly downhill, but then there is a good hill and I was huffing my way up. That doesn't seem to show up at all on my chart. I can see the small dip where I was finally at the library, and then on the way back home.
My steps are high for the day, well over 1400, but I show only 37 min of moderate activity.
Oh well, at least I feel when it records weird that it is erring on the low side, not the high side.
Today's exercise is my walk/run. I'm working on running the downhill portions. I got new running shoes the other day and I'm kind of excited.
My butt is in pain though. I did lunges yesterday and I sure can feel them.
I have read that the GWF is not accurate about uphill walking. You know you are burning more, but it does not. On all my hikes, the uphill part shows less calories burned than the downhill part. Maybe the next model will include a heartrate monitor and fix that problem.
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Moondust The older I get, the older old gets.
You are doing a great job Annette. You really have your act together and I have no doubt you will reach your goals. Glad you are fully recovered from your food poisoning.
I think food poisoning has been rampant the last two weeks, because I know quite a few people who came down with that very recently. Something about the summer makes folks more relaxed about food prep and storage, a very bad thing! But it sounds like you're fully recovered from all that.
Just exercise a bit of caution when running downhill; that's harder on the knees.
Oh, thanks for the running tip, I'll definitely pay attention to it. Luckily my knees are one of the few parts of my body I have no problems with (yet) and I need to keep it that way. I won't ever become much of a runner, and my downhills are really slight, just not the uphills.
My daughter sent me the link to www.mapmyrun.com and that is a cool site. My little loop is 3.4 miles so I will continue working on that loop and maybe I'll be able to run the whole thing some day.
So that was my exercise yesterday and I went dancing last night for a couple hours. I had about an 800 cal deficit but that might be totally off. We went out for lunch at an Indian buffet, but I had only one plate of food, avoided anything deep fried, and didn't overfill my plate. I used 1000 cals as my "guestimate."
My weight showed a drop, yipee, down to 161.4. It will be so awesome to be in the 150's.
I scoured the house for my old WeightWatchers tracker, the one that had my weights in it when I lost 30 some pounds. I know I started at around 164, so I thought it would be fun to overlap the losses and see how things compare.
Can't find it anywhere though, and I'm sure I would have kept it, I had it last time I looked at least.
That's one of the reasons I really want out of the 160's as it's a place my body was happily settled for many years, just get me outta here.
My butt muscles are still killing me so I think I'll blow off weights a couple more days (maybe Saturday) as I want to be 100% recuperated each time I do a weight workout. It looks like 2x/week is what my body is aiming for, even though I want 3x. Since I did my walk/run yesterday, looks like I'm up for just a walk today. And then I have to keep my calories low, bummer.
Two workouts a week is fine. Just remember to BRING YOUR INTENSITY!
Yes, I'm realizing that from lots of reading. I guess that 3x thing is a bit ingrained in my head. My doctor and I think I have fibromyalgia (definitely mild case) and recovery is so hard these days. But when I'm 100% recovered I can give so much more of myself without hurting as badly. Sadly though, I can't give 100%, but I'm working on building my intensity, to see what my body can handle without throwing myself into a downward cycle.
I decided to blow off the walking today, my butt muscles are still really tired (guess they're well activated )
But I'm sweatin' bullets as I do some heavy cleaning around the house. I have 4 cats and they shed loads in the summertime, so lots of dust bunnies around here.
Reason I'm don't want to take any meds is that we aren't 100% sure that's what's wrong with me. If it is the case, and it does lean that direction, it is mild, and I can cope. We are working on my sleeping as that makes a big difference in the following day.
Everything I read about fibro is always the extremes, and that is why I kept saying "no it can't possibly be that, look at how those other people feel." But yet everything continues to add up.
I have always been active, started with weights at age 20, and now I'm 46 (heck, too bad I never kept it up steadily.) Kept thinking it's age. But just comparing myself to 5 years ago, and how I would recuperate, and now it can take up to 6 days for muscle soreness to go away, and I'm obviously not working out at that extreme.
So I'll just trudge along, lift my moderate weights, get some cardio, lose some weight, and let life be.
And dance
cause my goal is to look HOT in my tight jeans and cowboy boots!!!
My butt muscles were still killing me and I just didn't want to do exercise, so I made sure to keep my diet low to compensate. I'm kinda happy to see that I was able to do that.
Today I have a busy day ahead of me as I want to go visit my daughter and we're going to the movie (sit on ass some more.) Here in a bit I'll go for a walk to get some calories burned, and tonight we have dancing, so there's a good chunk too. It will probably be a 2500-2600 day.
Tomorrow I'll hit the gym again for weights, and I will be super well recovered by then.
I did my walk/run in the morning and it was too hot outside, 50 min. Came home, sucked down a quart of water, took a shower, ate breakfast, and still my face was beet red.
Had to leave to go visit my daughter, we did a couple errands and went for lunch.
While eating, I started feeling "weird." Almost fainted in the bathroom. Drank some sugared soda, but I was really dizzy...more vertigo than dizzy though. I've had dizzy spells and I get the weird ear thing first and tunnel vision. None of that happened, just a bit of spinning like I was intoxicated.
Daughter ended up driving, we went to the movies and I just sat in the dark for two hours.
After I dropped her off I bought a sports drink (wasn't bad) and some salted sunflower seeds for the drive home.
We didn't go dancing as I didn't think spinning and twirling was a good thing, so I just took the evening off and we watched a movie.
I'm guessing I had an electrolyte imbalance because I don't think I was dehydrated as I've been drinking lots. I'm going to buy some electrolyte packets I guess and try them for a few days.
I really don't know much about that.
I felt like my blood pressure was low, but I checked it when I got home and it was okay, it might have been spiking though.
I ate a big dinner too to help compensate.
I'll keep my eye on things and check in with the doctor if necessary, but I am sensitive to dizziness already.
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Goals for today (Saturday)
Weights - full body moderate weights Cardio - dancing tonight Diet - stay low (under 1500) if possible
Weight is down to a solid 161 this morning
I'm going to take pics when it's at 160, guess it's time to have something to compare.
) of different women's transformations when they took up body building. I've been focusing on older women especially. The thought is definitely in my head that I can do it, I just have to choose to. Now, I've always said I'd love to look like that, but I've also always said I would never want to work that hard (most likely true.) But this is the first time that I've said the possibility is there.
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