Surprisingly Fit

[seela]

Well, I have my handy notebook that I carry around at the gym, but thought I'd start a log here anyway. At least this one is almost guaranteed not to get drenched by a leaky water bottle in my gym bag

A bit about me. I'm 37yo, stay at home mom to 2 beautiful funny girls aged 5 and 2. I have struggled with my weight for as long as I can remember, although I've only periodically actually been overweight. I first lost a significant amount of weight (40lbs) about 10 years ago and then promptly proceeded to gain it all back. When I became pregnant with my first child, I was at my highest-ever weight. Then I gained 45 pounds, cause I thought that would be a fun thing to do - not.

Anyway, 5 1/2 years ago I was at an all-time high (non-pregnant) weight of 204 lbs.. I lost about 40 pounds on weight watchers before I got pregnant for the second time. Six weeks after my second daughter was born, in April 2007, I weighed in at 192 pounds. I tried WW for a while and managed to lose about 15 pounds by the end of 2007, but I was disenchanted by a lot of the WW stuff, which IMO emphasizes processed and pre-packaged and "fake" foods, which I was trying to avoid. I spent 2008 working on "intuitive eating" and focusing on healthy foods and consistency with exercise, as well as trying to conquer a longtime problem with binge eating. In the process, I lost another 20 pounds, bringing me down to 157 by the beginning of 2009. I also can't remember the last time I binged or was even tempted to, so that's huge.

At the beginning of 2009 I started weight training again after a few years off. I found NROLW while looking for a new program and then I found Leigh Peele and the food measuring video that seriously changed my life. I started weighing and measuring EVERYTHING and have lost 18.5 pounds since the beginning of March.

So currently: I weigh myself daily and for the last four days have weighed in at 138.5. (i'm 5'4") Right now I am on day 3 of a diet break and after 4 months of deficit it is a beautiful thing, let me tell you. I am also doing stage 1 of NROLW, workout A5 tomorrow.

Right now, I'm trying to decide what to do next. My WW goal weight was 132, but given my current body comp, I think it would be realistic to shoot for something a bit lower. I recently purchsed the Fat Loss Troubleshoot package, so I'm considering whether I want to do OPT for fat loss instead of moving on to Stage 2 NROLW. I have to see how I would work the diet and workouts around my current travel schedule.

Anyway, I'm calling this log "Surprisingly Fit" after a chapter in Victoria Moran's book "Living a Charmed Life." I feel like it really fits with my mindset right now. In the past, I would have considered my current weigh/body as "good enough" and just coasted, but lately I'm feeling the need for more challenge and to push myself to be my best. I'm not sure what my ultimate goal will look like in terms of weight or body composition in the near term, but as I get older, what's most important to me is to be healthy, strong and surprisingly fit at every age.

[chaddukes]

Originally Posted by seela

In the past, I would have considered my current weigh/body as "good enough" and just coasted, but lately I'm feeling the need for more challenge and to push myself to be my best. I'm not sure what my ultimate goal will look like in terms of weight or body composition in the near term, but as I get older, what's most important to me is to be healthy, strong and surprisingly fit at every age.

Yep, this fits me to a tee! By my previous standards I've achieved something I never thought I would. But, who wants to live by those standards.

Welcome!

[kimikaw]

seela,

Like you I travel quite a bit, and sometimes struggle with fitting a program around that schedule. I've just started OPT (as in today), but from looking at Leigh's workouts and what is available in most hotel fitness centers, I suspect her program will work for me on the road most fitness centers have at least a few dumbbells- I may have to juggle days of strength vs. cardio as a last option, if that's not the case.

Hitting the calories/macros might be a bit trickier....but doable with planning. We'll see.

Anyway, glad to see your log, and wanted to say hi.

[clubchub]

You're doing a great job. I have Leigh's stuff too which I plan to start in the fall. So I'll be following along with interest.

[seela]

Thanks for the welcome everyone. ok, so today was NROLW stage 1, workout A5

A. Squat 3x10/ 75 lbs

B1. pushups 3 x 10
B2. seated row 3 x10/ 60 lbs.

C1. stepups 3 x 10/ body weight
C2. prone jackknife 1 x 10/ 2 x12

Thoughts: I'm still working on form for squats, but it's coming along. On the seated row, I think I have the weight right, but my gym has a "dual pulley" seated row, so the plate was labeled 27.5, but the machine says that's the weight on each pulley. I added a five pound plate and then used a single handle that was attached to both pulleys, so that's how I get to 60. I did pretty well on the first set of step ups, not as well on the second and rallied on the third. I do them on a bench and it's REALLY hard not to cheat, but using a step doesn't seem to work anything. The first set of prone jackknifes I only did ten b/c I wasn't paying attention and had just gotten into a rhythm of ten of everything. The good news is that I can now pretty much do them without falling off the ball!

Food: another diet break day. Yay! I'm still obviously trying to eat healthy but I did have some ginger almond granola with my fruit and yogurt this morning. Also pizza (and broccoli) for lunch, a post workout shake and then halibut and swiss chard for dinner. I just read Lyle McDonald's new article on full diet breaks. My original plan was to just do a one week break, but after reading that article, it sounds like I ought to do two.

Still trying to figure out workouts in the weeks to come. I'll finish Stage 1 of NROLW in then be on vacation for a week at the end of July.

from looking at Leigh's workouts and what is available in most hotel fitness centers, I suspect her program will work for me on the road most fitness centers have at least a few dumbbells- I may have to juggle days of strength vs. cardio as a last option, if that's not the case.

Hitting the calories/macros might be a bit trickier....but doable with planning. We'll see.

Anyway, glad to see your log, and wanted to say hi.

Hi! I think you're right about doing the workouts on the road. I don't travel that much anymore, but I used to travel quite a bit for my job and I know how hard it can be to stay on track with diet and exercise. You have my admiration and wishes for success.

To me, hitting the macros will be difficult under any circumstances. I've been trying to do a 40/30/30 balance, but usually I just end up trying to hit the protein and let the rest fall out wherever. I agree that planning will be key.
In terms of my upcoming travel I just have this vacation coming up and then a family wedding over labor day. The vacation week, I'll probably just use as a break. But if I were to start OPT at the beginning of August, I would only get through week 4 before my Labor Day trip. That trip we will be staying with family, with no real control over meals. I might be able to get to a gym, but usually when I visit I get my workouts through long walks and Jazzercize. So if I decide to start OPT, I may have to just take a break between weeks 4 and 5. Hopefully, that won't mess up results too much.

By my previous standards I've achieved something I never thought I would. But, who wants to live by those standards.

That's it exactly! Thanks for the thought.