Fighting the Flu

I started feeling sick with a sore throat Tuesday night and woke up with what seems to be the flu yesterday morning. I had some, but not much food at home. I had been doing really well tracking all my food intake and calories and am determined not to let being sick stop that progress. This morning I went to the store to get some medicine and stocked up on fruits (blueberries & grapes), lettuce, and baked chicken so that I could still have healthy meals and snacks. Normally I would have just ordered pizza delivery. I just hope I can start working out again soon!

20 Fitness Tips from the Experts

Click here to read a great article with 20 fitness tips.  I think I could follow all of them except the first.  I just can't bring myself to like grapefruit or oatmeal.  lol.  Go check it out and let me know your thoughts.

Tools

When trying to lose weight, there are hundreds of tools that can help in the process.  I'm gonna tell you about two that I use and L.O.V.E.

First is my Body Media LINK arm band.  Click here for more info.  I wear the armband daily, only removing it to shower.  It tracks all my movement and is able to calculate how many calories I'm burning.  It also tells me how much Moderate and Vigorous Activity I do and how many steps I take.  I can set goals in the program so that I can monitor where I am in relation to meeting my individual goals.  The information links to my phone in real time via blue tooth technology and is also stored in an online platform after syncing with a usb cable.  It's a great help for me to be able to see and track what I'm actually doing during the day.  I can tell if I've been sitting too long and need to get up and walk some.  Just knowing how much I do has caused me to increase my activity.  Without it, I didn't realize how sedentary my life really was.

The second tool I use is My Net Diary.  Click here for more info.  While I could input my caloric intake into the bodymedia app, I prefer to use a separate platform for that.  I'm not sure why, maybe I'm weird.  I have this app on my iPhone and iPad and can also input the information online.  All locations I use link together, which is nice.  I input information about myself, my goals, etc and it forms a plan and sets a plan to go by for eating.  It has a large database of foods and allows you to enter foods not already there.  You can add foods to your log by scanning a bar code, searching the database, or looking through your favorites.  It divides it up per meal to show where you are putting your calories but also shows you a break down for the day and what nutrients you consumed, kinda like a food label for your day.

I didn't realize what all I was putting into my body until I started having to write it down.  Both of these tools help with accountability but also with realization of what exactly you are doing to your body.  As you can see below, yesterday I consumed 1649 calories while burning 2863.  This gives me a deficit of  1214 calories toward my weight loss.  Every 3500 calories burned is 1 lb., so I'm well on my way to losing at this rate.



This is my Nutrition Summary for Monday, January 28, 2013 in the MyNetDiary iPhone app.

This is my Daily Summary for Monday, January 28, 2013 in the BodyMedia iPhone app.

I am sore to the core.

I still feel pretty good.  I have to admit, my work out was only 20 minutes long yesterday.  I started Day 5 of Insanity and starting wheezing halfway through it.  Normally I would just take a puff out of the good ole inhaler, but...I COULDN'T FIND IT.  I ended up finding it at about 11:30 pm which was quite a relief because I wouldn't be able to fall asleep easily through the wheezing.  I also considered getting up early this morning to either restart or finish the work out.  I decided that I would just move on to Day 6 tonight.  I'm pretty happy with it all so far.

Something I'm not happy with...I can't fit into all of the cute clothes I bought last year because I had previously lost SOOO much weight.  No need to fret...I'll lose the weight again...and never find it again.

JELLO

My legs feel like jello.  I would use the words "hurts so good" to describe how they feel.  Today will be my 5th day of Insanity.  I'm working on my diet (the first day or two weren't so hot) and today, so far so good.  Endorphin rock.

I can tell I already feel better about myself.  I'm sure I haven't lost weight.  I'm sure I haven't lost inches.  But I thoroughly believe that working out is good for all aspects of life, not just physical.

Protein

One thing I've learned in my weight loss battle is that protein is important.  There are many reasons for this, 1) it keeps you full longer, 2) it helps rebuild muscles, and 3) it helps maintain lean body mass.
I got an email the other day from Kashi with a link to find out how much protein I need every day based on my body.  Click here to go to the page.  I found out that my ideal protein is between 93 and 175 grams per day depending on how active I am that day.  93 would be on days where I am sedentary and up to 175 on days when I am very active.  I would usually try to hover in the middle based on my normal activities, but rest days would go down. 
What is your ideal protein amount?

Goals

My bloggin' buddy is a more consistent blogger than me.  I'll work harder and do better.

I just feel like I'm only supposed to write about doing well, not doing poorly...and I've done poorly.  Really though, I should write about it all...I want this to be um...raw.  I want to remember my failures to push me to do better and so I can see how I've improved.

I love Beachbody products...I've spent a lot of money on them and I actually don't regret it.  I really believe in the products...but I also believe I actually have to USE them!  In the videos or whatever they always say "push play"...And...I'm happy to report that I've pushed play for the last 3 days.  Small successes right?

Obviously my long term goal  = weight loss, maintained weight loss, a healthier life, and a happier life.

1 year goal = Run a half marathon

6 month goal = 50 lbs by August 1st.

Immediate goals (for this week) = Posting pictures and measurements...maybe meal planning?  (I REALLY believe that preparation is one of the keys to success)

Rewards and motivations = NEW CLOTHES...MEN?! (not really but we can pretend?)...Looking smokin' hot on a trip with awesome people to Cancun!

I LOVE YOU ALL!

Fattism: discrimination on the basis of weight, esp prejudice against those considered to be overweight

I had some pretty horrible things happen to me in the last week.  Here is a synopsis:
1. a girl, we'll call her Jamie, said "I would rather die then to be fat. Vain sure but it's not worth the pain and suffering that comes with obesity."
2.  I said, " I'm sad for you that you'd rather die than be fat. If I thought that way I would have died in high school. I have suffered from obesity most of my life. The only way it hinders my life is in dating. I can do everything else. Even workout. Which I do. I got 2nd degree burns on my foot in high school & the sudden stop in activity caused weight gain. I've had a difficult time since then. It'd be selfish of me to choose death over facing this trial, dealing with it, & continuing to fight it. I know I am beautiful just the way I am. But I am always working for more."
3. Jamie said, " I sure hope one day you experience the liberating feeling it is to she'd the fat person trapping you in life!"
4. Then she said, "You have an amazing intellect but you are so blinded by the culture [your] church. You have a beautiful face but sorry few men will look past that if you indeed are seeking to marry."

So basically, I need to "shed my fat" suit in order to find a husband?  I don't understand how a person like this can be so cruel to a person, especially a person on an online forum that they've never met.  A person who is a member of the same church, a Christian church.  Where in the words she said was she behaving in a Christlike manner?  When did it become ok to be an online bully?  The things she said were very cruel.  More was said, that I left out, but those were the important parts.  

The questions this makes me ask are 1) why are people like that? 2) what can I do so that when people do say those things they won't effect me in a negative manner?  3) what can I do for that person so that they won't unleash their bitterness on others like they did on me?

That night I was pretty upset.  So upset I went an got pizza for dinner.  That's not what I need to help me get healthy, but sadly that's what happens.  In the days since these things were said, I have done pretty well keeping motivated.  Today I walked 2 miles around my town and also did a 30 video with weights.  I'm so ready to get this week off on a positive note and leave behind all the fattists. 

Tracking

After watching the 2nd episode of the Biggest Loser and seeing them do a fitness assessment, I decided that I should do one.  There were a few reasons for this, 1) so that I can track my improvement as I work toward my goal, 2) so I can compare myself to where other people my age are, and 3) as another tool to help keep me accountable and to see results (especially when I hit a plateau).  In searching for them, I found adultfitnesstest.org, which is a website supported by the President in his efforts to fight against obesity.  On this site there are directions for doing all the different sections of the test, a form to fill in your results, and once you input your data, it will tell you where you are compared to others your age.  Click here for the instructions and click here to submit your results.

I wasn't really surprised by my results.  I know I am very far off from where I should be, but I also know I am extremely flexible and weight has no bearing on flexibility.  Here are my results:

I plan on doing this assessment every 2 months to track my results.

It's my BIRTHDAY!

For most people the holidays are a time when it's tough to eat healthy and continue to workout.  For me, that extends to the month of January.  I love to get free stuff.  When it's your birthday, you get lots of free stuff.  My birthday is 10 days after Christmas.  Sadly, this year, my Papa passed away on my birthday.  What became a hard time of the year became harder with the time spent with family.  Usually, when my family gets together, we eat.  When we eat, it's usually not healthy.  AT ALL.  I have to focus on trying to find healthy options even in those times when I am with a large group and don't have many choices. 
Tonight I am going to dinner with some friends.  I got a coupon for $30 off a meal at Benihana.  I can't not use it, (well I could, but really?) but I have to option to eat healthier than normal.  Instead of a soda or mixed non-alcoholic drink (they make good ones and I don't drink) I'll drink water.  Instead of getting fried rice (made with yummy butter), I'll get white (or brown if possible).  I will ask them not to use butter on my steak.  These are all going to impact my day and are a way to eat healthier than I normally would.
On a different subject, my family had our first family pictures taken in over 6 years in December.  When we got the proofs back, I was embarrassed.  I shouldn't look like I do.  There was one in particular that I really don't like.  Don't get me wrong, the photographer was amazing, but she can't change what I look like.  She took a picture of the family from behind as we walked down a railroad track thingy.  I was right in the middle of the pic (left to right) and my butt was right in the middle (top to bottom).  That was all I could see when I looked at it.  To be honest, it disgusted me to know that's what people see.  I am going to put that picture on my mirror at home to remind myself what I look like and what I need to fix. 

my WHY?

Why do a blog like this?  For me it's partly about accountability for myself and partly about helping motivate others.  This morning when I got on the scale I weighed in at 253.4.  Yesterday it was 257.4.  I don't believe I really lost 4 lbs in 1 day, but I do think that water contributed to that decrease.  I workout at the fitness center at my college alma mater about a mile and a half from my house.  Last September I decided I'd stay home and workout there, after all, I have a weight bar with 2 10lb and 4 5lb weights, a bosu ball, resistance bands, 3 kettle bells, a wii, and numerous fitness dvds and video games.  Needless to say, that didn't work and 20 lbs later, I'm worse off than I started.   I went and renewed my gym membership yesterday and rock climbed and did the elliptical for 1 mile last night.  I know I can do more, but I didn't want to over do it the first day back after so long.  This is a new beginning for me. 
As a child, I was very active.  I grew up in the country and would play outside almost everyday.  I loved the swing set my dad made, climbing trees and fences, running down the super long driveway, riding my bike, and playing hide-n-seek in my dads shop.  When i was around 12 and hit puberty, I started putting on weight, though I had always been larger than most my age.  As I look back now, I wasn't fat, but I sure thought I was.  I started in gymnastics when I was in 2nd grade and did that for a few years.  When I was in 6th grade a friend asked me to play soccer with her and since my mom only let me do one sport at a time, I quit gymnastics and started soccer.  We quickly became the top team in our age group and won championships for our division.  It was a great time.  I played until my senior year of high school.
When I was a sophomore, I got 2nd degree burns on my foot and could not play for a while.  At the time I had been playing year round for several years, between 2 rec seasons, 2 indoor seasons, and a school season each year.  The sudden stop in play caused me huge weight gain.  After I recovered and was able to play again, my body wasn't the same and I continued to gain.  In the year after the injury I gained 2 clothing sizes and was an 18.  I am still an 18. 

My smallest in recent history front & back

I have been as large as a 20 and as small as a 14 in the 15 years since high school, but for the most part I have been a consistent 18.  My last year of law school I had a personal trainer and was able to lose 60 lbs.  I was under 200 for the first time in recent history.  After moving home and not having a job to pay for a gym, I started gaining.  I held it to about 10-20 lbs at first but over the last 4 years have gained it all back.  I have been successful before and I know I can do it again. 
I have made a plan of what I am going to do and will post that here.  I will also post my accomplishments and pitfalls.  I will post pictures to show my progress.  The goal is to get to a healthy 150 lbs.  Doing this at a rate of 2 lbs per week, it should take right at 1 year to get to my goal.

1-9-13

Please join me on my journey to weight loss.  

All my life

It seems like all my life I've been told that I would be SO pretty if I could just lose weight.  Thanks?

My first body image memory is from a birthday party in third grade.  We were playing in a friend's sprinklers and we all had our bathing suits on.   I wouldn't take my shirt off over my swimsuit because I thought I was fat.  Really?  In third grade? 

Was I bigger than most of the girls?  Yes, taller too...but fat...no.  This body image stayed with me through out my teenage years, and young adult years.  I'm not saying that I have been unhappy but this negative self has definitely had a negative impact on my life when it comes to relationships or even just finding jobs.  I got myself into an unhappy marriage and I gained about 70 lbs (Pregnancies did contribute to it but the depression made it hard to lose the weight).  I have lost that 70 lbs and some but I am not wear I need to be...and I have fluctuated in the weight gain and weight loss.  

For me, this blog is about accountability and hopefully success.  It will also show our trials.  

Here's to 2013...

 

SW Personal Fitness Plan for 2013