One Determined Diva

[sidonia]

So, ok…here goes!

I am 30 yrs old, currently weigh 329 lbs, at 5’9” (thank you daddy for what little height your big Irish self gave me!!!) and have been overweight since the 6^th grade. No huge health issues except Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis. I have bad knees due to my big behind grinding on them for years and years, and they are now arthritic. They cause me pain on pretty much a daily basis, (I am a suck it up type of person) and I am happy that as the weight loss progresses, they feel better and better!

I am basically done…I am done being fat, I am done being made fun of, I am done being afraid, and I am done being unhealthy. I only wish I had gotten to this point a long time ago! When my mother passed away going on 5 yrs ago of a stroke it was a HUGE wake up call. I have vowed to myself and her that this is stopping now.

I have made this vow several times over the past few years, I was down to 285 in 2004, and then back up to over 350. The roller coaster of emotional eating needed to stop. I needed to stop making excuses…and hold myself accountable for the things I was putting in my mouth. I have changed the way I look at food. If I want comfort, I hug my hubby…if I want to be angry, I go to the gym and punch something or lift something heavy.


This log is an attempt to keep me honest, and to commiserate with others who are on a similar journey. My goal is to be happy in the skin I’m in…oh and also to fit comfortably in most theater seats…that would be a plus!

I train 3x a week with a trainer:

Monday cardio or my own weight training for an hour and a half
Tuesdays weight training with the trainer followed by 60 mins cardio
Wednesdays cardio or my own weight training for an hour and a half
Thursdays weight training with the trainer then 60 mins cardio
Friday boxing with trainer and 60 mins cardio
Weekends - If I miss a day during the week I will occasionally go one day during the weekend!!!

Today was a usual Tuesday workout forgive me if this is all jacked up…I’ll get better I promise:
Warmups/First Sets?

5 lbs Superset Alternating 5 Reps each Hammer Curls & Lateral raises x 3 sets
8 lbs Superset Alternating 10 Reps each Hammer Curls & Lateral raises x 3 sets
8 lbs Superset Alternating 10 Reps each Hammer Curls & Lateral raises x 3 sets

Reverse Curls 30 x 25 reps x 3 sets

Superset
Seated Row 70 x 25 x 3 sets
Body Weight Squats 25 x 3 sets

Superset
Triceps Push Downs Slow Tempo 40 x 15 x 3 sets
Triceps Push Downs Fast Tempo 60 x 15 x 3 sets

Then:

Elliptical for 60 mins on Random setting level 12.

Thats all for now I guess...

[L'ilJ]

Hi Sidonia. You plan looks like a good one. I wish you the best of luck. It sounds like you are determined to do it this time and that's what really matters.

What kind of diet plan are you going to follow?

[Cynic]

Sidonia, if I understand thyroid disorders, they affect your metabolism. Hypothyroidism slows the metabolism. Is yours doing the same?

If so, if I'm right, a serious metabolism boosting workout would be in your best interest. I know the fat loss workouts of NROL are such. However, I also know that you'll need to keep the impact down until your knees are muscles are stronger.

Just a thought.

[SpacecityPaula]

Morning Sidonia and welcome to JPs!

[sidonia]

Originally Posted by L'ilJ

What kind of diet plan are you going to follow?

I’m sorry this is so long…but I guess since this is the beginning I have to explain a lot...I promise they won't all be like this!!!


My diet plan is to eat healthy...lol...and I've drastically changed the foods I eat. I've been on so many "diets" that I gave up on them finally. Low carb failed miserably because I couldn't stick to it and I've been on all of the other fad diets only to lose and then gain again. So my plan of attack was to log what I am eating and figure out how much is enough but not too much! Sounds kinda of rudimentary and it is...but if I keep it simple, I find I stick to is much better! I don't eat sweets, the closest thing I have would be a Luna Bar if I am desperate, it satisfies the craving and it's a low glycemic index bar. Here's what a normal day would be for me, I usually eat 5 smaller meals a day:

Breakfast: egg whites on whole grain english muffin with a sprinkling of weight watchers cheese, coffee (i do use sugar in it usually 2-3 since it's early I give myself this one!)

Snack#1: either a Luna Bar, nuts, rice cakes from stew leonards (they're awesome, crunchy and only 17 cals!), or cottage cheese with some kind of fruit.

Lunch: 1/2 of a Whole wheat wrap, grilled chicken, lettuce, tomatoes and sometimes mozzarella cheese (i usually pick out some of the cheese since it's whole milk), OR the same sandwich with grilled chicken and avocado.

Snack #2: The other half of the above wrap, or some nuts, a fuji apple, cottage cheese, fruit etc.

Dinner: Here are the usual meals: turkey burger on multigrain bread with Portobello mushrooms and low fat sour cream with some kind of veggie, bay scallops over asparagus (my favorite!!!), egg white omelettes with avocado, cheddar or asparagus and ground turkey meat…etc.., when we can find them Laura’s Lean burgers (they are awesome!) with some kind of veggie or salad, sometimes I just want a grilled chickedn salad with olive oil and vinegar and a sprinkling of parmesan cheese, in the winter we make turkey meatloaf and veggies too…this was a favorite this year!

If I am out for dinner, I try to stick to proteins and veggies.

I find that if I go to a really stringent “diet” I lose control and can’t stick to it. I have been sticking to this for the last 2 months, losing weight and I am happy…which is important for me. When I am unhappy, I fail…miserably!!! If there are any suggestions I am happy to hear them…my food has been the last and hardest part of this for me…but I am ready to deal with it now!

As for the thyroid, I am being treated, but it’s still annoying. My thyroid is slowly getting worse, and they keep upping my dosage or changing it. I had nodules last year and a biopsy…everything was fine but they throw off the levels so I was all over the place! I was actually kind of concerned that the regiment my trainer has me on right now may not be enough…or may not be what I need?? The workouts usually consist of lower weights and a LOT of reps…we do move quickly but in a half hour I seem to barely be burning 300 calories. Maybe it’s time to try something else!

Thanks for the welcome!

[Lost Dog]

Good to see you logging.

I don't know anything about thyroid disorders, but there's a good book for non-thyroid-disorder-afflicted people called Metabolism Advantage. It's an inexpensive book, and talks about how foods and exercise can help boost metabolism. It's by John Berardi. How much applies to you? Who knows.

[L'ilJ]

Sidonia, I think your diet plan is a good one. No use depriving yourself of things that you like to eat. All in moderation is a good way to approach. Personally, I think eating "clean" is overrated and can often create a situation where you are either succeeding or failing at your plan. I think the trick will be to eat at a deficit, but not TOO much of a deficit, so that you'll achieve consistant and lasting weight loss. Have you considered getting a bodybugg? They are a bit expensive, but I think they are a good tool to use if you are really struggling with achieving a constant deficit in calories vs. expenditure.

I've used one and what it taught me was that getting up and just getting active (not necessarily working out), really makes progress more tangible. I would think it would be a great investment for someone who wants to lose a significant amount of weight. Check it out.

[Aoife]

Welcome to the log section.

[sidonia]

Yeah, the whole food thing used to make me crazy...can't eat this, can't eat that...it was torture. I need to be able to live a normal life, and enjoy myself. I just needed to understand what was too much...once I educated myself about calories and carbs and proteins etc. I understood where I was going wrong. It's amazing to me now how much some of us know about how our cars work...but we have no clue about our own bodies!

Other than calories I also try to keep tabs on my saturated fats and sodium since I'm paranoid about my health. I lost one parent to a stroke and one had 6 bypass at 42 I guess that'll do it.

I just looked up the Bodybugg...how cool is that??? Right now I use a heart rate monitor, but this looks so interesting...plus it's lighter and less annoying than the band around your waist...mine sometimes rides up and malfunctions anyway. Thanks so much Lil'J! I am definitely doing to look into it, I like that it takes other things into consideration like your body temp etc. Very cool!!!

Thanks Aoife...it took me awhile!! I was reading through other logs, and I was really inspired to get mine going....I think it'll be a really good thing for me!

[sidonia]

Elliptical Trainer today 60 mins, Random Setting level 12!

So today was one of my cardio only days...I have been upping my cardio to get my endurance up to at least an hour. I recently changed from doing the hill setting at 55 mins to random for 60 mins...it's been more of a challenge staying moving for the whole hour but it's good stuff!

I am thinking of figuring out some way to fit in another 20 mins to a half hour in the mornings...I wish I could fit one of those ellipticals in my bedroom, but our apartment may be too small for that right now...I'll have to find another way! Any good videos that anyone knows of? I'm into boxing...do they make boxing videos?

I used to do a morning cardio session and it felt so good and woke me up...but it was brutal trying to actually GET UP...since I am a night owl...and NOT a morning person.

Anywhoooo...off to figure out dinner!

[beach_plums]

Welcome to the logs. It sounds like you've got a great plan here. Not depriving yourself on foods really is the way to go (although for me, it still means eating mostly clean, for other health reasons).
I'm right with you on the morning thing. The longer I can sleep in the mornings, the better. Unfortunately, I don't get to sleep in very often anymore.

[sidonia]

Thanks Beach_plums! Yeah, I get to sleep in a little on the weekends...but I am sure after we have kids...it'll be a different story!

Compared to the way I used to eat *shudder* I guess this is much cleaner...it could be wayyy cleaner still...but...baby steps for me!!!

My breakfast used to be: (forgive me, I didn't know...I was a food-fool)

A venti mocha frappichino from starbucks
an everything bagel with scallion cream cheese

and then....as if this was not bad enough....

A CHOCOLATE CHIP OR COFFEE CAKE MUFFIN!!!! Yes....a muffin...!

Mea culpa...Mea maxima culpa...

[GinnyLou]

Welcome, Sidonia!
You have found a great place to be. It sounds like you have a great plan in place. I agree a lot with your food philosophy. A lot.

[beach_plums]

That sounds like a delicious sugar high followed by a major crash (and blackout if you're anything like me)! Baby steps. Definately the smart way to go.

I used to be able to sleep in on weekends too, until I got a puppy. She'll entertain herself until 8 most mornings, but anything past that and she gets a little out of control. During the week I'm up by 6 to make sure she gets her spaz/walk/run before I have to run off to work. I wouldn't trade her in for anything, but I miss sleeping.

[UConnJulie]

Welcome Sidonia!

[pjb923]

Originally Posted by beach_plums

I used to be able to sleep in on weekends too, until I got a puppy.

Luckily, she has me to wake up and feed our cats when they start meowing and scratching at our door at 6:30am. The things we do for our pets.

Mmmmm.... chocolate chip muffins.