Silver lining

Yesterday, I stayed within my daily allowance.  I got in my 5 servings of fruit/veg, 2 of dairy, and lots of water.  However, it wasn't the best day nutritionally.  And the beauty of Weight Watchers is that my one bad day isn't really a problem.  I can have my pepperoni and cheese bread for lunch, and go to Denny's for dinner, where I can eat greasy hashbrowns and an omelette (albeit my choice was a veggie omelette made with eggwhites).  I can eat what I like, as long as my portions are reasonable and I track it.  Hooray!

Wait...what is this?  My body isn't happy with me?  After eating all that greasy food?  SHOCKED.  (That would be sarcasm, right there.)

I used to get upset stomachs all the time.  At the time I didn't understand it, but now I know it's due to the fact that my diet consisted primarily of processed and fatty - often fried - food, and virtually no fruit and veg.  These days, stomach cramps are few and far between.  Last night was one of the "few."

The upside to my evening of unpleasantness is I was way down on my scale this morning!*  But I wouldn't recommend indigestion as a weight loss method. 

*Yes, I am a chronic scale-jumper.  I get on it every day, but only once a day, and always around the same time.  I think it helps me recognize why my weight fluctuates from day to day.  It has yet to become a source of frustration...we'll see how I feel about that in the future.

Belated weigh in post

Weigh in:  Saturday, 3/26/11 - 228.2 - 1 lb lost, 22 lbs total

As much as I preach the 'any loss is a good loss' mantra, I was a little disappointed with a 1 pound loss since I set that 35 pounds by June goal.  Need to step up my game a little bit!

I failed to do so this weekend by going out for Japanese (fried rice is 10 PointsPlus per cup?!!!), eating some chicken wings, and having cake at my cousin's baby shower.  Weekends are generally my time to back off and treat myself...I still track and generally stay within my points allowance, but this weekend was worse than most.

A bright spot though:  I did the Biggest Loser Last Chance Workout video again last night.  I didn't work out at all the weekend before, so that's a bit of progress.  The workout did seem a bit tougher than it did on Friday, mainly because I was still sore from the first time - mostly in my chest and shoulders from attempting push-ups and the like.  My upper body strength is nearly nonexistent...I'm working on it!

Sunday, 3/27/11 - exercise video - 30 minutes

Last Chance Workout!

Friday, 3/25/11 - exercise video - 30 min

I didn't work out yesterday - bad me.  I was bruised from sitting on the stationary bike on Tuesday and Wednesday so I used that as an excuse, albeit probably a poor one.

Tonight should have been a running night, but as it's cold outside (where did spring go?!) and the treadmill is spazzing out right now, I decided to check out the selection of exercise videos that on demand on cable.

I settled on Biggest Loser Last Chance Workout with Jillian Michaels. 

Being the weenie that I am, I sat through the whole thing first to make sure it didn't look like it would kill me.  Despite my pre-viewing, it occurs to me that I am a terrible judge of my own fitness level.  I got through the whole thing, but I had to resort to the beginner's modifications after a short while of trying the full-out exercises on almost everything.  Yikes.  At least I tried, and at least I finished. 

I do believe it's time for some new running shoes, my shins and ankles weren't very happy with me during a lot of the higher impact cardio bits.  Current shoes were great when they were new, but they're way over a year old at this point.

Now I'm having a hard time lifting my 32 oz Nalgene water bottle.  Jelly limbs, for sure.  Stupid body, why can't I just wish you buff?!

Got in 4 days of working out in some capacity this week.  Goal for next week is 5.  Treadmill is due to be fixed on Monday.

Weigh in tomorrow!  Crossing my fingers for at least a pound loss!

Bad day

Wednesday, 3/23/11 - stationary bike - 3.9 miles in 20:15

I take care of my grandma on weekdays, and this week she has been almost completely unresponsive, and when she does say anything it's argumentative.  I think she's fed up with her situation and I can't say I blame her.  I wouldn't enjoy life if I had no idea who anyone was or what was going on at any point in the day either!  Anyway, it takes a lot of energy mentally to deal with her right now and I was very tired this evening as a result.

It also turned into one of those days when I'm just frustrated with my life in general...I feel like I'm stuck in a rut.  This doesn't have anything to do with weight loss at this point, that's going great.  Everything else - meh.

I was prepared to do my running workout but it seems the treadmill is busted again.  We had a repair man come a couple weeks ago and he did a temporary fix on it so we could use it until the new parts we need come in.  Temporary was accurate; I think I used it twice before the belt started jerking again.

By the time I discovered this I was pretty frustrated, so I just did 20 minutes on the exercise bike.  A short workout, but I did work hard...I'm definitely not a lady that 'glows' during a workout.  No euphemisms apply for the amount of sweat I produce.  (Yeah, gross...)

And I absolutely had a small brownie and a full cup of light peanut butter chocolate ice cream.  About 11 PointsPlus but I had it to spend, so though I was somewhat comforting myself with food once again, it wasn't cheating.  The important part is that I recognize it...right?  RIGHT? 

Due to my bummed-outed-ness, which is a totally valid hypenation I'm sure, I've decided a goal with a time limit may be a good thing to have right now.  So I'm going to do it:  My short term goal is to lose a total of 35 lbs by June 1.  There it is, un-take-back-able (another completely acceptable hyphenation).  Wish me luck!

Drive by post

Monday, 3/21/11 - walk/jog (treadmill) - 2.71 miles in 45:00 (16:36 pace)
Tuesday, 3/22/11 - stationary bike - 8.3 miles in 45:00

Clearly I need to bump up my speed when I'm using the treadmill.  I'm not pushing myself hard enough, because I'm faster outside.  I did, however, do my Week 4 C25K intervals for distance rather than time, so 1.5 miles of Monday's workout was jogging.  Not all at once mind you, but my long jogging intervals were 7.5 minutes at a time!

I came out of my bike ride today 0.8 miles farther than I did in the same time last week.  I'll call that a win!

Must go to bed, have to take my car to the shop in the morning.  Evil beast isn't even 3 years old and I've already had suspension issues and now power steering problems.  *grumble*

Work in progress

I figured I would treat myself to a couple new clothing and jewelry items since my birthday is coming up.  Birthdays and holidays aren't really big gift-giving occassions anymore in my family (since I grew up and pretty much the whole world is broke), so I just buy my own presents!

My current favorite place for shopping is pinupgirlclothing.com - I was barely able to fit into their largest size (2x) in the stretchy items last year, but the order that I placed contained items in XL!  Very stretchy items, granted, but I was still pretty excited.

Anyway, my mom and I went to the casino yesterday for a bit and she wanted me to wear my snazzy new cherry necklace (cherries are a common sight on slot machines and I guess she thought it would be lucky), so I paired it with my new bright red wrap top.  I took a picture of myself so I could show off my fun new clothes.

This morning I got the notion to put that picture beside one from the end of last year, just a couple weeks before I started Weight Watchers.  Side note:  My digital camera is taking bright reds and making them look orange-y, dunno what's up with that.  Side note, part deux:  The pirate shirt in the 'before' is from the same website - super cute clothes, I'm telling you!

I was pretty amazed.  In the grand scheme of my obesity, 20 pounds is not a whole lot.  I still have at least 65 pounds to lose to get in my healthy weight range.  But look at my face and neck!   Look at my waistline!  When I look in the mirror I don't see many changes, but comparing pictures like this is very encouraging!

Weigh in day *cue ominous music*

Weigh in:  Saturday, 3/19/11 - 229.2 - 2 lbs lost

That's a loss of 21 pounds in the past 9 weeks!  Fairly big loss this week in spite of mother nature...take that, hormones!  And one of the ladies at the meeting came up to me afterward and told me she could really tell I'd been losing, so that was a nice confidence boost.

In Weight Watchers meetings, we receive a star sticker to put in our pocket guidebook for every 5 pounds we lose, so I have 4 of them now.  The first three came every 2 weeks, but this last one took me 3, so I'll estimate another 3 until I lose 25 total and reach 10% of my body weight lost.  My next goal is in sight!

And beyond the 10%, I'll have another 12.5 lbs to lose before I get down to the lowest I've been in my previous bouts of yo-yo-ing.  After that I'll be losing all new weight, weight that has been on me for the past 4-5 years and it's time to say BUH-BYE!

After my successful weigh in, I came home to find my mom had made a breakfast of scrambled eggs w/ cheese and peppers, bacon, and cinnamon rolls.  Somewhat of a splurge, but protein is good, so I had the eggs and bacon with one of my 2 point English muffins.  I really should have checked the points on the cinnamon roll before I ate it, though.  8 PointsPlus!  8!  Yeesh.  I knew it was nutritionally worthless, but wow.

Then we went to Fazoli's for dinner, and I got a salad, but ate 2 breadsticks with it, which was another whopping 8 points for the bread alone.  I usually let myself off the hook a little bit on the weekends; my choices aren't as good but I try to stay within my daily point allowance.  That didn't quite happen today.  If I have a snack this evening it will be some fruit, because fruit is 0 points!  Hooray fruit!

And a small victory - the enablers at Fazoli's put 5 breadsticks on our tray.  There were still 2 sitting there when we were finished eating, and it took great force of will, but I threw them in the trash.  *cheer*  Bread is definitely a weakness of mine; usually when we go out to eat at any of the various places that give you a loaf of bread as a free starter, I just avoid it altogether.

Soreness means I'm doing something right...right?

Thursday, 3/17/11 - stationary bike - 7.5 miles in 45 min
Friday, 3/18/11 - walk/jog (outdoor) - 3.27 miles in 51:51 (15:51 pace)

I planned on hopping on the exercise bike last night and watching Big Bang Theory, but I didn't realize it would be ousted from the schedule due to NCAA March Madness.  I know it's a really big deal to everyone but me...I'm just not into college sports.  Really the only sport I follow at all is pro football, and with that lockout business going on now, who knows if we'll get a season this year!  It would be really unfortunate if nothing is settled since the Super Bowl is supposed to be here in Indy! 

But I digress, this post was supposed to be about workouts.

My outside run on Wednesday beat me up in the ankle and groin regions.  Ankles I understand, but why the very upper inner thighs and no other part of my legs?  Weird.

I was going to use the fact that it had been raining all afternoon today to forego running on the hard pavement again.  The clouds had disappeared by the time I got home this evening, though, so I sucked it up and went out.  I *did* manage to finish all my Week 4 jogging intervals this time - hooray!  I was leading with my heels on the last interval because my calves were so tired, and I'll probably be sorry I did that tomorrow, but I least I got through it!

So we'll add calves to my list of sore parts.  I've been chugging water today to try and combat the sore muscle water retention phenomenon, because it's weigh in day tomorrow!  No idea what's going to happen this week...I'm sore and it's my 'lady time', so a gain is not completely unexpected, but entirely unwelcome!

First outdoor workout of the year!

Wednesday, 3/16/11 - 2.12 miles in ~34 min (~16:02 pace) - walk/jog

I attempted a Week 4 C25K workout outside in my neighborhood yesterday.  It was way too nice out not to - about 60 degrees and sunny!  I *really* tried to convince myself that jogging outside on pavement wasn't nearly as hard as I remembered. 

But you'll notice I used the word "attempted" in that first sentence there - couldn't quite get through that last 5 minute run interval.  On the treadmill it's not a problem. 

Must get used to jogging outside on the hard ground!  It's also more difficult to pace myself; on the nice cushion-y treadmill I can just set it at 4.0 and go at the right pace automatically...outside I end up going faster than that without realizing, and I get out of breath.

Pretty stiff today...need to stretch more!  One day in the future this stuff will be a piece of cake!

Fast food for breakfast

...sort of.

Yesterday I made myself this breakfast sandwich:

Healthy Life light multigrain English muffin - 2 PointsPlus
Oscar Mayer fully cooked canadian bacon, 3 slices - 1 PP
Eggbeaters (used store brand), 1/2 cup - 1 PP
The Laughing Cow light garlic & herb cheese, 1 wedge - 1 PP

It was gigantic!  Twice (or more) the size of your standard Egg McMuffin, and 3 PP less than the fast food version to boot.  Tastes a lot better, too!

Plod on

I'm in the middle of Couch-to-5k.  It's a running plan for beginners, intended to take you from couch potato to 5k runner in 9 weeks. 

I got through most of the program last year, and "ran" (jogged/walked) the Run Through the Jungle 5k to benefit the Exotic Feline Rescue Center, a really awesome place, check it out - it's about a 1.5 hour drive from Indy).  I finished in 39:29, but the course was a little short...keeping on the same pace with 3.1 miles I would have come in at 42-43 minutes. 

Fairly soon after the race I stopped running altogether, but I've started from the beginning now and am determined to become a (slow, plodding) runner.  Long term goal:  to participate in a half marathon at Disney.

I decided, since I'm a bit heavier now than I was when I did this program last year, that I would take 2 weeks for every 1 on the plan.  So it's taking me twice as long, but I still feel like I'm getting a good workout for someone who was sedentary 8 weeks ago!  I might give up the 2-week idea a little farther on in the program, but for now it's working well.

Last night I started Week 4 - intervals with a total of 16 minutes running.  I use the term running loosely, of course...I set the treadmill at 4 mph and jog.  I'm not worried so much about speed at this point, just stamina.

I plan on signing up for the same race this year.  Maybe if I'm dedicated I can finish in better time!  I should start keeping track of my miles so I have an idea of my pace.

Weight Watchers - because it works.

This weight - it's weight I've lost before.  That's the saddest part about it for me.  I know perfectly well how to lose it, but keeping it off?  That's a different story.

I've always been a bit overweight, even as a kid.  But a few years ago it got really out of control - I gained about 75 lbs in the space of 2 years.  INSANE.  How did this happen?!  When I finally got up the nerve to step on a scale, I was shocked.  I had no idea how bad it was.  I couldn't see it in the mirror.  Somehow, without even realizing it, I'd gone from a size 14 to a size 20/22.  In hindsight, of course I know how it happened - terrible eating habits, sedentary lifestyle, bad relationship, depression.  It all added up and put me on the fast track for obesity.

I lost 20...gained it back.  I lost 40...gained it back.  Lost 25...yeah, you see where this is going.  I tried to do every one of these sorry attempts on my own.  Obviously that wasn't working for me.

At the end of last year, the commercials came on the air.  You know the ones I'm talking about.  Yeah - the Jennifer Hudson commercials.  Holy amazing transformations, Batman!  I knew a bit of how Weight Watchers worked already; years ago my mom joined to get the books and then never went to another meeting.  JHud just looked so amazing, I got to thinking maybe I should get on the WW wagon.

But how could I justify spending money for a company to tell me how to lose weight - something I know how to do?

Easily.  ACCOUNTABILITY.  Knowing I am already paying to go to that meeting every week.  Knowing I'm going to be seeing the same people once a week, and they have similar goals.  Knowing I have to get on the scale in front of another human being, rather than hiding alone in the bathroom to see what damage I've done to myself.  It all helps me stay on track.

And those star stickers I get for every 5 pounds I lose?  Those don't hurt either.


I've been on the plan for a little over 8 weeks.  Here's where I started, and where I am as of last week's weigh in.

1/15/11 - Weight: 250.2, BMI: 38.0
3/12/11 - Weight: 231.2, BMI: 35.1

19 pounds in 8 weeks is not too shabby, methinks.