Vegetarian in the City NROL4W log - JP Fitness Forums

Morondava · 04-28-2008, 07:20 PM

About me: I've been doing NROL4W for a month now, and I'm starting a log to keep me motivated and accountable. I weigh 140 lbs (5'4") and my goal is to lose about 10 lbs of fat with the program. I've been on the heavy side most of my life, pushing 200 at one point. I lost a large chunk of weight by improving my diet and sticking to a cardio routine.
Around a year and a half ago, I discovered lifting. At first I didn't enjoy it, but I liked what it did to my body. It has grown on me. I don't love it, but I do enjoy being the only person, male of female, using the squat rack in my gym.
My biggest challenge is food. I enjoy cooking and bring healthy snacks to work, but find it hard to resist the stacks of gourmet cookies at work, creamy pasta in restaurants, deep fried carb deliciousness at family gatherings, and lonesome visits to cold stone. I also have no tolerance for hunger, and most of my previous attempts at calorie restriction have ended in frustrated overeating. So I'm going for slow and steady here.

Morondava · 04-28-2008, 07:30 PM

Today's WO:
Squat,8X30#, 8X20#, 8X25#
Push-up,3 X 8 (feet slightly raised)
Seated row,3 X 8X70# (struggling with last reps)
Step up,3 X 8X35#, 60sec rest
reverse crunch, 3 X 8X10#, 60sec rest

Today's Food:

meal	cal	protein	fat
1/2 cup oatmeal w/ 1/2 banana	200	5	1
scoop pp	100	24
2 TBSP PB in oatmeal	200	5	20
carrots	100
pecans	400	6	40
cc	200	32	2
cc	200	32	2
lunch (homemade Indian food)	400	16	2
dinner (green salad with walnuts)	300	?	?
	2100	120	67

I tend to estimate calories up, to make up for the times that I don't count enough. The salad was a restaurant meal, so I don't know the exact macros. I have so say - I'm pretty proud of that choice - bad choices at restaurants are my downfall. I'm teaching myself to eat out socially and yet stay with this plan.

foodfromafar · 04-28-2008, 09:53 PM

Welcome! I'm new, too, and just finishing up NROLFW Stage 1.

Morondava · 04-29-2008, 06:27 PM

Today's WO:
I'm doing a couch to 5k along with NROL4W. Today's workout was:
* Walk 1/4 mile
* Jog 1/2 mile
* Walk 1/4 mile
* Jog 1/2 mile
* Walk 1/4 mile
* Jog 1/2 mile

Today's food:

meal	cal	protein	fat
1/2 cup oatmeal	150	5	1
scoop pp	100	24
2 TBSP PB in oatmeal	200	5	20
carrots	100
almonds	300	2	30
cc	300	40	3
lunch (homemade Indian)	400	16	2
Candy	50
handful pecans	200	3	20
dinner (2 veggie burgers)	200	36	6
	2000	131	82

Thanks for the welcome, foodfromafar.
Food and workout went well today. I resisted donuts at a meeting by positioning my laptop to block the box. Every little strategy helps. I'm finding it easier to get in the fat than the protein, and I think I should get in a bit more protein than fat, but overall I think I'm ok. I just also find a bit nuts goes farther in keeping me satisfied at night. I should probably figure out which is better in the evening, healthy fats or protein.

Morondava · 04-30-2008, 06:31 PM

Today's Food:

meal	cal	protein	fat
1/2 cup oatmeal	150	5
scoop pp	100	24
4 TBSP PB in oatmeal	400	6	40
cakes (estimate)	300
carrots	100
2 small veggie burgers	150	20
cc	150	20	1
lunch (Indian)	400	16	2
Wild rice veggie chili	175	13	3
Total	1925	104	46

Today's Workout:
Deadlift,3 X 8X70#, 60sec rest
Dumbell Press,2 X 6X20, 1X4X20 60sec rest
Wide-grip lat pulldown,3 X 8X50,60sec rest
Lunge,2 X 8X35#, 1X4X35, 60sec rest
Reverse Crunch, 3X10X10#, 60sec rest

I can't physically hold the 35# dumbells for lunges. My legs could do a heavier weight, but my arms can't hold them. Maybe I'll try to put the dumbells on my shoulders next time.

Morondava · 05-01-2008, 06:28 PM

Today's Food:

meal	cal	protein	fat
1/2 cup oatmeal	150	5	1
1/2 banana, some milk	50	24
4 veggie burgers	300	32	1
carrots	100
almonds	725	21	54
2 veggie burgers	150	26	1
Wild rice veggie chili	350	27	7
cough drops	25
	1850	135	64

Today's Workout:
walk .25 mile
run .75 mile
walk .25 mile
run .75 mile

Funny thing, I measured out .75 cups of almonds yesterday... calorieking told me that would come to 625 cals. Then I obsesively counted them out one by one, and at 7 cals per almond, I counted that I consumed 725 cal. Still, I'm below my maintenance calories of 2000 which is a good thing. I'm really in this to cut fat. I tried to drop calories a week ago, and that ended up in a hungry disaster. I absolutely can't be hungry. I cut 200 calories and then end up bingeing on a tub a ice cream. I was in pretty good shape about a year ago, on a pretty strict diet (for me), but allowed myself cheat meals. The cheat meals were ridiculous, like a tub of ice cream and a box of cookies. I figure that if I just eat a bit below maintenance, I'll lose slowly in the long run. Just below maintenance will probably average out to same same as calorie restriction+binge. That's what I tell myself, but it's May 1, and I want to look cute now. Slow and steady wins the race I tell myself.

Morondava · 05-01-2008, 06:31 PM

I'm trying to add a hyperlink to this log in my siggy... wonder if it's working...

Morondava · 05-01-2008, 06:32 PM

Think this looks better

Morondava · 05-03-2008, 08:22 AM

Bad day yesterday. I was exhausted. I actually went to the gym and gave up on my last exercise (step-ups). My order got all messed up because someone was using the cables for seated rows, so grouchyness was added to my exhaustion. I stood there and stared at the dumbells for about 3 minutes, and then gave up. I got sleep tonight, and I feel a bit better. Hopefully the weekend will do me good.

I usually run on Saturdays, but I'm too lazy this morning. I'll go tomorrow, throw in my last stage 1 B workout, and do the 2 mile run. I usually workout mon-fri before work, but I want to get the workout out of the way so that I don't have to drag my gym bag on Friday. I hate the gym bag. I've really started to resent needing to lug all this stuff around. Yesterday I went and did groceries after work, then went back to the office to get the gym bag, then took the train home. Grr... it's all worth it. Maybe I'll look for another gym bag that's not a cheesy backpack.

Morondava · 05-04-2008, 09:58 AM

So I went to a friend for a family dinner last night. It was delicious. I don't get a lot of delicious home cooked dinners, just have to deal with the side dishes they throw at the vegetarian. But this was wonderful... and I stuffed myself, and I drank a large amount of wine. So today I'm nursing my hangover. No mega session at the gym. I think I might move my training schedule over by a couple of days. I don't feel guilty. This is something I need to work on (stuffing myself at family functions). But I'm back on track as of the next meal I'm eating. Life happens.

Morondava · 05-05-2008, 07:35 PM

Today's Food:

meal	cal	protein
oatmeal	150	5
2.5 prunes	50
bread	70	4
cheese	80	8
veggie burger	100	18
carrots	100
veggie chili	350	27
pecans and almonds	500	10
Sushi (california roll, veggie roll)	600

	2000	72

Today's Workout:
Deadlift,3 X 8X70#, 60sec rest
Dumbell Press,2 X 6X20#, 1X5X20# ,60sec rest
Wide-grip lat pulldown,3 X 8X50,60sec rest
Lunge,3X8X35#, 60sec rest
Reverse Crunch, 2X10X10#, 60sec rest

Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then:
* walk 1/4 mile
* Jog 1/2 mile (or 5 minutes)
* Walk 1/4 mile (or 3 minutes)
* Jog 3/4 mile (or 8 minutes)
* Walk 1/4 mile (or 3 minutes)
* Jog 1/2 mile (or 5 minutes)
* walk 1/4 mile

Stretched (mainly hams and quads) for 10min.

Did the NROL4W and couch25k on the same day. Had me in the gym for over an hour, but that's fine. I'm planning on going tomorrow for intervals, probably on the stair master. HIIT would be a good idea, but I'm a bit afraid of it. Pushed myself to the I want to die point on the bike too many times.

I posted my daily menus in the forums, and its a bit intimidating. Posting is out there makes me realize that even on good days it's not perfect. On one hand, I really want to get rid of all the extra fat, on the the other hand, I don't want to completely socially isolate myself. And the family food and restaurants are part of my social life. A big part. And I don't want to go back to that place where I have anxiety about social events because I'm stressed about the food. On the other hand, if I did a good month, I could make a lot of progress. Maybe I'll really buckle down in the summer - avoid people - tote around every morsel of food that goes into my mouth - and diet for July and August. Bikini season should be a great motivator. We'll see. I'm afraid my menu's will be torn apart.

Deadlift,3 X 8X70#, 60sec rest
Dumbell Press,2 X 6X20#, 1X5X20# ,60sec rest
Wide-grip lat pulldown,3 X 8X50,60sec rest
Lunge,3X8X35#, 60sec rest
Reverse Crunch, 2X10X10#, 60sec rest

Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then:
* walk 1/4 mile
* Jog 1/2 mile (or 5 minutes)
* Walk 1/4 mile (or 3 minutes)
* Jog 3/4 mile (or 8 minutes)
* Walk 1/4 mile (or 3 minutes)
* Jog 1/2 mile (or 5 minutes)
* walk 1/4 mile

Stretched (mainly hams and quads) for 10min.

Morondava · 05-06-2008, 06:24 PM

Today's Food:

meal	cal	protein
oatmeal	150	5
2.5 prunes	50
bread	70	4
cheese	80	8
veggie burger	100	18
veggie chili	350	27
cottage cheese	400	64
pecans and almonds	500	10
un-chicken stir fry	250	20
cough drops, mints	50
	2000	156

Today's Workout:
45 minutes on the stairmaster.
Almost 15 minutes of stretching (go me!)

Did my own intervals this morning based on how I was feeling and felt spent by the end. My tank top was drenched. Thinking of doing HIIT on bike on Thursday.

I actually cooked a nice dinner tonight, got in lots of protein, but I'm uncomfortably hungry. I'm telling myself that it's the feeling of fat melting away. I'm not going into the kitchen to prep for tomorrow, because I might lose my mind if I do.

I'm going to need the extra cals tomorrow. So glad they're coming.

foodfromafar · 05-06-2008, 06:29 PM

Are you drinking enough water? I know when I'm feeling really hungry it is often thirst in disguise.

Morondava · 05-07-2008, 05:31 PM

Pauline, I could do better on the water... yesterday was kind of funny though, it's like my dinner didn't hit my stomach until 8... at which point I felt fine.

I've decided to cut calories for 15 days starting today. I've calculated that between the workout days and non-workout day I should be averaging 2050 daily. I'm decreasing that by 250, averaging 1800 a day over the next two weeks. So, according to my calculations, I should lose a solid pound. I hope that I'm off, or that I'll be able to eat less, and that I'll lose more, like 1.5. Then I'll go back to maintenance level, and repeat the cut after a while. I figure 15 days is doable. It's not as daunti