Measurement Monday: August 26th, 2014

Due to being sick, I haven't really watched what I was eating. Let's consider this my intuitive eating practice run?

Abdomen: 44.75 (-1.05)
Waist: 34.25 (-1.25)
Bust: 44.25 (.25)
Chest: 37 (-1)
Hip: 46.5 (0)
Left Arm: 14.37 (0)
Left Forearm: 10.75 (-.05)
Left Calf: 16.25 (0)
Left Thigh: 27.5 (-.25)
Right Arm: 15 (.5)
Right Forearm: 10.75 (-.05)
Right Calf: 16 (-.25)
Right Thigh: 28 (-.25)
Neck: 14..37 (0)
Current Weight: 202.8 pounds (-1)
Inches lost: -3.4
Running total: -.47 inches, +6.8 pounds

Those inches are a pleasant surprise! I'm really excited to see this. It gives me hope that intuitive eating could work.

First Night with a Trainer

We did legs.

Ow. It hurts to sit. Not to sit down, but to sit. Just sitting in my chair typing hurts my quads.

Anyway, this was my first time with a trainer (it was free). I really enjoyed it. He was smart, polite, and knowledgeable. He said my form wasn't bad, but needed a bit of work. He showed me how to get lower in my squat, and some cool new exercises. It was wonderful. Would I pay for a trainer every week? No way. Not on my limited income. But, I can see how some individuals would benefit from regularly going to a good trainer. He really pushed me a bit more than I would have on my own, and having a spotter definitely gave me more confidence to go heavier. He was great, and I will definitely be going back to him in a few months for a form check and progress.

Also, my new gym? I'm pumped! It's really nice. I'm going to have to start going on the way to work instead of on the way home though, because it's pretty busy at 4:30. That's okay though. I don't work until 10, so I've got quite a bit of time in the morning.

Also, I'm now set up to go play racquetball with my dad after class on Monday nights. I'm so excited! I love racquetball and it's pretty much the only cardio I'll do for an extended period of time. I can't wait! We used to play a few years ago once or twice a week. It was great spending time with him and good exercise. I don't recall losing weight, but I think I would have if I'd been watching my diet. Hopefully John will be willing to start playing too, and we can start going once a week too.

 

Baby Steps vs. One Big Leap

Nerd Fitness wrote a great article about Muscle Memory. Now, the article basically talks about repetition to the point of something becoming second nature, i.e. muscle memory. It's the habitual aspect of healthy eating that lets people fall back on it in times of stress, when one can not exert any extra energy on it due to stress. Everyone has stress and at times that just becomes so encompassing that we can't put thought into anything other than our stressful situation.

A big part of muscle memory is a matter of slowly introducing things and building up on top of it, like learning a complicated dance move, you have to build up one on top of the other.

Now the point Nerd Fitness made was that just like learning a dance move, you have to build up the healthy habits one after another. I think there are two types of people in life, those that build up, and those that cannonball.

Cannonball-ers are a bit less graceful.

I'm a cannonball-er. When I decided to get healthy I dropped all shit food over night and went paleo, I joined a gym and started Olympic weightlifting, I read nothing but nutrition and exercise books for three months, and I cleaned out my wardrobe, painted my house, and basically remade my life. I'm an all or nothing person, 100%. Getting back in to the routine of going to the gym has really helped me stick with my diet. It's so refreshing.

New App Recommendation: Fitocracy

It's been a while since I made a recommendation. A friend turned me on to Fitocracy. It's a social network for healthy people!

So, Fitocracy is not just an app, it's a true social network available both online and through the app. The reason this post is an app recommendation is because the app is awesome. Now, I'm also on Bodybuilding.com, but I find their app is clunky, lags horribly on my cheap smart phone, and crashes with an unfortunate frequency. It might really be my phone's fault, given that the Buzzfeed app also crashes, but I digress.

The great thing about Fitocracy is how easy it is to use. It even has a cool section where if you don't know how to do an exercise, there are either pictures or a thorough description. Creating a workout is a matter of hitting a little button and you can work off that same workout each time with no need to search for your exercises every time you want to log a workout. On top of all that, there's a points system!

Really, the points allow you to level up. Near as I can tell, there are no perks to leveling up, but it's a great mental reward. I'm a level 6 already. What does that mean? No clue. Am I excited about it? Yes!

First Signs of Progress!

I've been feeling a little better about myself recently (the 10 pound loss is really helping), but I still don't really feel like I'm getting thinner. I was looking at pictures on my phone and found one from about 2 months ago (right before I started paleo).

Left is two months ago, right is yesterday

I can't believe how much better my skin is! I've had awful skin since I was 11. I've has 10 years of acne. It's almost gone! People are even saying my face is thinning out.

Measurement Monday: May 19th, 2014

A slight change has been made to my measurements. I'm no longer measuring my shoulders. I measure anywhere between 41 inches and 46 inches. I can't get a consistent measurement.
Abdomen: 44.5 (.375)
Waist: 34.5 (-.5)
Bust: 42 (-1.25)
Chest: 37 (-.5)
Hip: 46 (-.5)
Left Arm: 14 (-.75)
Left Forearm: 10.75 (-.25)
Left Calf: 16 (-.25)
Left Thigh: 27.5 (0)
Right Arm: 13.75 (-.25)
Right Forearm: 10.75 (0)
Right Calf: 16 (0)
Right Thigh: 27.75 (.25)
Neck: 14.75 (0)
Current Weight: 199 pounds (-2)
Inches lost: -3.595
Running total: -5.715, +3 pounds

This was a very exciting week for me! I can't believe how many inches I've lost! I lost twice as many inches this week as I did last week. I'm so excited. I also met my goal last week of losing more than 2 inches. I think this shows keto is really working for me. This is a substantial change. I'm a little disappointed that I haven't lost more from around my abdomen, but that's okay. I lost a lot of inches this week. This is a big deal for me, and it's definitely going to help motivate me this upcoming week.

As for goals this week, I'd like to lose another 3.5 inches and another 2 pounds. I can do this!

First Week of Keto

I must say, after doing (and sucking at) Paleo for barely a month, the Keto diet is liberating, to say the least. It's also sent my digestive system through one hell of a loop. I've gone from constipated to exploding in the course of a few hours. Sometimes I have more energy than ever before, sometimes the simplest actions leave me exhausted. Its been rough. There's such a thing as the Keto Flu - which is a horrible sneaky bastard. Anyway, the worst of it has passed. I've actually lost quite a bit of weight - more than I ever did with paleo, or with just exercise and counting calories. Plus this way of eating is liberating: sour cream, cheese, heavy whipping cream, oh my! This feeling if being liberated, instead of feeling restricted; it feels sustainable. That all brings me to this point:

I can't wait to get back to the gym! I've got my diet under control and in check. I'm losing weight, while exercising less than ever before. My previous job required pushing 300-900 pounds, lifting up to 80 pounds regularly throughout my shift, and walking up to 25 miles in a day (while pushing the weight). Needless to say, it was physical, but I didn't really lose weight. I put on about 10 pounds over the course of six months. It wasn't all muscle, unfortunately.
The point is, I can't believe I'm losing weight being unemployed and relatively sedentary drinking whipping cream as a snack. Although I've been weighing myself, I'm not really counting it until tomorrow. Tentatively, I've lost up to 6 pounds. Probably water weight, but I'm curious to see the measurements tomorrow!
Tuesday I will be getting a CT scan to check out my hernia. I could be cleared to go to the gym as early as July...or I could end up needing surgery and then who knows when I'll be able to get back.

The Competition has Begun!

If my fiancé has a fault, it's that he's very competitive. He needs to lose some weight...and by some I mean he could easily lose 45 pounds and not look underweight. I too could stand to lose 55 pounds. We're both in about the same boat. Now in light of his competitive nature, we (I) decided to start a competition: whoever loses 19% of their weight by November 18th, my birthday, wins! I won't go into what they win, but trust me when I say he's very motivated.

Now, I'm not competitive. Not even a little. On the other hand, I exercise more and eat far healthier than my fiancé and I hope that I'll lose a little faster and motivate him.

So what are the terms? He'll have to lose 47 pounds and I'll have to lose 39. It seems like a lot, but it puts him at less than 2 pounds a week. Nice and healthy pace.

Anyway, so this is my current medium goal- though it does seem like almost 40 pounds should be a big goal. Anyway, I'll be doing updates on the 18th of every month.

Measurement Monday: May 11th, 2014

Alright, so this week's Measurement Monday is actually on a Sunday because I don't know if I'll have time to do it tomorrow. I doubt there'd be a huge difference between today or tomorrow.
Here's this week's progress:
Abdomen: 44.125 (-.125)
Waist: 35 (0)
Bust: 43.25 (-.25)
Chest: 37.5 (.25)
Hip: 46.5 (.25)
Left Arm: 14.75 (.5)
Left Forearm: 11 (0)
Left Calf: 16.25 (0)
Left Thigh: 27.5 (0)
Right Arm: 14 (-.25)
Right Forearm: 10.75 (-.25)
Right Calf: 16 (0)
Right Thigh: 27.5 (-.25)
Shoulders: 43 (-1)
Neck: 14.75 (-.25)
Current Weight: 201 pounds (3)
Inches lost: -1.37
Running total: -2.12, + 5 pounds
 Although I've put on more weight this week than last week (bummer), I'm down 1.37 inches, where last week I only had a change of -.75 inches, this week I lost almost an inch and a half. Yay!
I have to say, this weekly analysis of my inches lost really is helpful. I don't feel disappointed that I've gained 5 pounds in two weeks (seriously? Ugh.), I'm more excited that I've lost more than two inches total. This is real progress. It's not much, but it's progress.
My goal for this upcoming week? Commit to trying a Ketogenic diet for a full week, and I still would like to try to lose two inches next week. I'm hoping a keto diet will help with that. This week was a good start, but the extra .63" would mean a lot (mentally, at least). Besides, two inches off my entire body isn't a lot. I measure 15 places for a total of  357.75 inches currently. Two inches is .6% of my current inches. I can manage a .6% loss.
Anyway, I highly recommend measuring weekly. For those of you not doing it, start! It really is motivating, and it only takes 10 minutes (and the first four minutes are spent trying to find the tape measure). So, get measuring and share your progress in the comments!

The Pros and Cons of a Workout Partner

I think it's wonderful to have a gym buddy, but it only works if you and your partner workout the same way. When I left the machines for free weights, I ended up leaving my partner too. It was just too hard to workout together when she did two free weight exercises and I did only two machine exercises. It was frustrating and I was sad to see us part ways.
My fiancé is slowly coming around to the idea of working out with me. Very slowly.
Speaking of workout couples, has anyone seen this video?

Someday I'll be in that kind of shape, and hopefully my fiance will be right there beside me.

Couch to 5k: Throwing in the Towel

Okay, I have to admit it, I'm a quitter.

I am officially giving up on Couch to 5k. Sorry, but it isnt for me. I've been struggling with running. Not only that, but I have been so dismayed that I've been neglecting my healthy eating. That's no good. Eating crap and barely running has made me feel depressed and I'm 90% sure I have gained weight and inches this week. Ugh. I'm normally not so defeatist. It's only Thursday and I think I've already failed. I need a change.

I know the quote is traditionally "Do what you love and you'll never have to work a day in your life", but the above image really got me thinking. When I was lifting free weights, I was psyched to go to the gym. Since hurting myself, I've been totally uninterested in exercising and eating healthy. Since my doctor won't clear me to lift yet, I'll be on the hunt for a new exercise that I love. Up next? Yoga!

Thinspo vs Fitspo: How I Found Motivation

I always thought it wasn't worth wasting my time sweatting it out at the gym and eating healthy because I was never going to be skinny like the girls in magazines.

I will never be that skinny. I'm just not built for it. To see images like this almost exclusively was always frustrating. My calf is likely larger than her thigh. Now, this may be a healthy weight for this girl, but it isn't for me. I've always known that short of an eating ddisorder I'd never be that thin (and with an eating disorder I'd never look that pretty!)
Not everyone is familiar with the concept of thinspo or thinspiration. It may motivate some women, but it can lead others down a dangerous path. In what seems like a case of rebellion, fitspo (fitsporation) has become increasingly popular.

This is something I can achieve - though I won't ever be so tan! It'll be a ton of work, but it's attainable. She has thick legs and broad shoulders and wide hips just like I do. Those are not things I'll ever be able to change about myself, so I'm pleased to find more and more pictures of women that motivate me to change my body realistically. I know the only way I'll ever have a flat stomach is if I pack on some serious muscle in the process.

Measurement Monday: May 5th, 2014

Today's Measurement Monday is going to be just like last time, only with the change (again, in inches) between this Monday and last Monday will be indicated in parenthesis e.g. (-1) or (1). A negative will indicate a loss, while a positive indicates a gain.
Here's this week's progress:
Abdomen: 44.25 (.75)
Waist: 35 (.5)
Bust: 43.5 (1)
Chest: 37.25 (-.25)
Hip: 46.25 (0)
Left Arm: 14.25 (0)
Left Forearm: 11 (.25)
Left Calf: 16.25 (-.25)
Left Thigh: 27.5 (-.75)
Right Arm: 14.25 (0)
Right Forearm: 11 (0)
Right Calf: 16.25 (-.25)
Right Thigh: 27.75 (-.25)
Shoulders: 44 (-1.5)
Neck: 15 (0)
Current Weight: 198 pounds (2)
Inches lost: .75
This wasn't a great week for me. My fiance has been very sick so I haven't been taking that much time to eat well and cook for myself. It's not a great excuse, but shit happens. On top of not eating great and missing out on one of my runs this week (I hate it so much), yesterday I had chicken nuggets (I regret nothing!) and a Thrist-buster of diet Pepsi. A Thirst-buster, for those who don't have access to a Circle K, is a 44 oz cup of whatever fountain drink you want.  I'm probably a little bloated from drinking so much soda which explains some of the abdominal increase.
You know what I'm thrilled about? My thighs! The phrase "thunder thighs" has been tossed around more than once. A full inch off between my two thigh is a big deal to me.
Last week I said I wanted to lose a pound. Fail. Gained two. Maybe it's bloating, maybe it's legit weight gain, either way, I'm not thrilled. My other goal was to lose a total of two inches. I lost .75 inches. Not great, but hey, at least I'm headed in the right direction.
I realize at some point Measurement Monday will hopefully make a change where I'll be excited to see a gain to my arms, calves, and shoulders - in the form of muscle. You've seen the pictures though, I'm not quite there yet!
Want to follow along? I'd love to hear about your progress. Feel free to post your measurements and changes below!

End Goals, Big Goals, Baby Goals

When it comes to weight loss, so many people have huge goals: to drop 50 pounds, get into a size 3, or have a six pack. Its great to have goals, but a lot of people have lofty goals - attainable, but big. I feel like big goals require huge amounts of willpower and motivation.

I like to have multiple goals running at the same time. You'll notice that every Monday I'll set a goal. I like having little goals, weekly goals. Because I'm only setting up a goal for the week, I like it to be attainable. Eat a new vegetable, only have fast food once, lose an inch or two. Small goals that break up a big goal (like losing 50 pounds) and help work toward the big goal helps guarantee that motivation isn't lost.

In addition to big goals and little weekly goals, I'll be setting medium fitness goals. I've signed up for a color run 5k! It isn't until October or November. For those of you without a calendar nearby, that's 5-6 months out. That's a long time to train for a measly 5k. My goal is to be able to jog the entire thing without stopping.

As someone who vomits after a quarter mile, I'll need every week to train.