Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Day Fifty-One: Gettin' Skinny!

Current Weight: 195.4 lbs
Goal Weight: 140 lbs
Pounds Lost: 14.0
Pounds til goal: 55.4

Percent Body Fat: 39.3
BMI: 31.4

Looks like this little gain is mostly water weight, thank goodness! I tried on my size 12 jeans today, and they fit! Which means I've lost two sizes since I've started this! Go me!

My left ankle was still hurting me this morning so I took it easy at the gym.

Gym this morning was 20 minutes of strength training, 30 minutes on the ellptical at Level One (half because of my ankle, the other half is that I've realized I burn more calories at Level One because I can go faster), and 24 minutes on the treadmill on Fat Burn Level Two (no running). I burned 559 Calories.

Breakfast was a Power Bar, which I have been doing a lot lately, and I feel better. Go Figure. Lunch was some tomato soup and toast. My afternoon snack was a bowl of lucky charms (I know, I was bad). Dinner was Roasted Tilapa with Orange Parsley salsa and rice (cooking light). I ate 1,343 calories and was under my calories by 426.

I haven't been doing the stuff to help me sleep that I talked about a few posts ago, and I can tell a difference. I need to get back on that.

I also need to try the wall soon... It's getting close to time for them to start hiring again!

Monday, March 21, 2011

Days Thirty-Five through Fifty: Another Blur, or I'm Too Lazy To Post For Five Minutes A Day!

Holy moly! Can't believe it's been fifty days! In this blur, I have been pretty good, except for yesterday. Yesterday morning I weighed 193.8, then I binged on sandwiches and chips during our usual Sunday geekfest, and, well:

Current Weight: 196.2 lbs
Goal Weight: 140 lbs
Pounds Lost: 13.2
Pounds til goal: 56.2

Percent Body Fat: 40.0
BMI: 31.5

So, yeah, I'm a little disappointed in myself over that. but I'm hoping it's mostly just water weight due to the heart stopping amount of sodium I ingested.

Speaking of heart stopping stuff, I went to the doctor last week to for a check up on my thyroid and cholesterol. According to him, I've only lost five pounds. I must have gained and then started losing after I saw him last. Anyway, he was astonished at how much my bad cholesterol dropped. Apparently, it dropped by 35% which is unheard of for someone who is not on cholesterol medication. YAY!

Also, I decided to do my first 5K last week! A friend (fellow blogger Alayna)  and I did it together, and it was so much fun! It was on St Patty's Day, so it had a prize for the best green outfits. We didn't win. APPARENTLY, you had to be wearing a HAT to win that contest. We decided that we are so getting hats next year.

We got a few pictures of our walk/run:
Before- I love our nervous smiles.. "Do we REALLY wanna do this?"

At the water point. Alayna has the best cheesy faces! I'm so jealous!
After- Now THOSE are real smiles!

That's me- clowning around as usual.


Saturday, I decided that I had so much fun on the 5K, that a 10K should be twice the fun! But I knew there was no way I could run the whole thing, so I entered the hiker's challenge instead of the runner's challenge. I then discovered that in order to do the hiker's challenge, I needed to have a pack that was at least 20 pounds. Being the crazy person I am, I decided I would go balls to the wall or not at all! So I loaded up my camel pack (I think that's what they're called... the backpacks with the water bladders in them?) with water and hand weights and did it. I surprised myself. I took first place in the woman's division (I got a plaque and everything) and third overall.

I have a couple of pictures to share.... I will update with more when they post theirs to their website.



Me before- there's that nervous smile!

My super awesome plaque!
But I have to be honest. I was the ONLY woman. And there were only four hikers. So I guess I can only stretch my bragging rights a little. But you know what? I'm proud as heck! I had a blast and I never took a break during the whole thing. I am still super sore and exhausted, but I am proud!

Saturday, March 5, 2011

Day Thirty-Four: Kate-a-licious

Current Weight: 198.6 lbs
Goal Weight: 140 lbs
Pounds Lost: 10.8
Pounds til goal: 58.6

Percent Body Fat: 41.5
BMI: 31.9

I am still on this high! I feel fantastic, and sexy, too!  I just can't believe how amazing I feel! I don't know what is making me feel this way, but whatever it is, I need to keep it up!

Went to the gym this morning, spent about 20 minutes strength training, 30 minutes on the Treadmill on Fat Burn Level Two, and 30 minutes on  the elliptical at Level Three. After dinner, Strange Little Man, Monster, and myself went out and played tennis for an hour. According to My Fitness Pal, I burned 930 calories in exercise today.

Breakfast was leftover blueberry pancakes and honey. Lunch was leftover Broccoli and Chicken noodle soup. But dinner, ah, sweet dinner, was Pizza. Yes, REAL pizza, from Pizza the Hut. According to My Fitness pal, I consumed 1,422 calories, and was under my calories by 790.

I'm not sure how accurate today's calories burned are, as the tennis was hard to list. I'm sure it wasn't as strenuous as regular tennis, as Strange Little Man and I aren't that athletic. I finally decided to log it as "Wii Tennis." I figured it was a safe bet.

In other news, I'm exhausted. I think I'll call it a night. These sleep changes have really been helping.

Friday, March 4, 2011

Day Thirty-two: I'm on some sort of weird high....

Current Weight: 200.2 lbs
Goal Weight: 140 lbs
Pounds Lost: 9.2
Pounds til goal: 60.2

Percent Body Fat: 41.3
BMI: 32.1

Gym this morning was 30 minutes on the elliptical at Level Three, 20 minutes on the bike, and 35 minutes on the treadmill alternating between walking and running. I don't know why I've been doing the extra on the bike, I just feel like doing it.

Breakfast was blueberry pancakes (cooking light) with honey and an orange. Lunch was homemade broccoli and chicken soup (cooking light) with a piece of bread. My afternoon snack was two slices of provolone cheese. Dinner was maple glazed pork chops with couscous and broccoli. After dinner, I felt like something sweet, so I had an orange. I stayed under my calories by 611.

For those of you that are wondering, the reason it sometimes seems like I'm under my calories by a lot is that My Fitness Pal (the calorie counting program I'm using) figures in exercise, too. It figures that for me to lose 2 pounds per week without exercising, I need to eat 1,280 calories per day. When I log in exercise, it increases my calories I can eat by however many I burned during exercise. Personally, I aim for 1,500 calories on the days that I exercise.

For example, I burned 712 calories during my workout this morning, so My Fitness Pal says I can eat up to 1,992 calories today. My actual calorie intake was 1,381. So for those of you freaking out that I'm not eating enough, I'm not starving, that's for sure!

I read an article in Redbook yesterday about how something like 30% of adults aren't getting enough sleep. Turns out one of the causes is our technology. Computers, cell phones, TV's, and iPads (but not Kindles or Nooks, surprisingly) emit a blue-ish light that stops your body from producing Melatonin (the chemical that your body naturally produces to make you feel sleepy). The article suggests turning off all these devices one hour before bedtime (a good idea, really, considering how easy it is to get lost in Facebook), and spend the time reading or doing a quiet activity. It also suggests not sleeping in on weekends, as that messes up your sleep schedule.

I decided to start trying it last night, and I'll tell you what, it worked! I was asleep within 5-10 minutes of turning out the light, and woke up feeling rested and ready to go! I plan on trying it for a week or so, and see what happens.

Man, just writing about it is making me sleepy! I need a nap!

Thursday, March 3, 2011

Day Thirty-one: The Bitch is back!

Current Weight: 200.4 lbs
Goal Weight: 140 lbs
Pounds Lost: 9.0
Pounds til goal: 60.4

Percent Body Fat: 41.1
BMI: 32.2

WHOOOOO! One more pound and I'll have lost 10 pounds AND be under 200! I am super excited! I still have a stuffy nose, and I didn't get much sleep last night, but I took some dayquil and got my ass to the gym anyway!

At the gym, I did about 20 minutes of strength training, 30 minutes on the elliptical at Level Three, and 24 minutes on the treadmill alternating between walking and running. After my workout this morning, I felt bad ass!

Breakfast, I skipped. Just totally forgot about eating because I felt so awesome! Lunch was a modified loaded baked potato with chicken on top, soooo yummy (shit. there's that damn Rachael Ray again, why does she keep trying to write my blog?!)! For an afternoon snack, I had an orange. Dinner was some spicy honey glazed chicken breast with roasted potato wedges and a glass of milk. I was under my calories by 785. I know that sounds like a lot, but I'm just not that hungry today.

I forgot to take my day thirty pictures yesterday, so I will try to take them tonight or tomorrow. Still not sure if I wanna post them yet. we'll see.

Day Thirty: Already?!

Current Weight: 202.0 lbs
Goal Weight: 140 lbs
Pounds Lost: 7.4
Pounds til goal: 62.0

Percent Body Fat: 41.4
BMI: 32.4

Man, this first thirty days has flown by! I managed to lose seven pounds, which is, a bit disappointing, I must say. I had hoped to do better, but I will try to do better this next thirty days.

I woke up this morning with a runny nose and a stuffy head, but I didn't let it keep me from the gym. However, I did take it easy. In the end, I'm glad I went because I felt bad ass for the rest of the day!

Gym was 30 minutes on the elliptical at Level Two, 20 minutes on the treadmill at fat burn Level Two (no running), and 22 minutes on the stationary bike.

Breakfast was two egg whites, some oatmeal, and a piece of toast with peach preserves. I fell asleep at 11 and didn't wake up until 3 in the afternoon (apparently, I needed it), so I didn't have much time for lunch. Instead I scarfed down a lunchable. Dinner was my Rod and gun club meeting steak, salad, and tortilla (i skipped the beans, they switched to canned, and they are not worth the calories!). I also had some snickerdoodles during the meeting. I stayed under my calories by 166.

Tuesday, March 1, 2011

Day Twenty-Nine: WAAAHHH!

Current Weight: 201.2 lbs
Goal Weight: 140 lbs
Pounds Lost: 8.2
Pounds til goal: 61.2

Percent Body Fat: 40.7
BMI: 32.3

I was feeling very strong this morning, but as the day progressed I became emotional and grumpy.

Gym was 20 minutes of strength training followed by 30 minutes on the elliptical at Level Three and 24 minutes on the treadmill using the fat burn Level two (no running). I wasn't feeling 100%, so i took a break from running today.

Breakfast was 2 egg whites, a piece of toast with peach preserves, and a packet of oatmeal. Lunch was grocery store Chinese food (yes, I cheated, so sue me). Dinner was Stuffed cheese tortellini with sauce and a billion peanut butter cookies. I went over my calories by 303. I know, I expected it to be much worse, too!