Friday, July 27, 2012

Fit Fridays- Week 8



This past week was a little more hectic than usual. My husband and I ended up helping my mother-in-law babysit two kiddos overnight Saturday afternoon into Sunday afternoon and my husband had a medical procedure Monday afternoon so I only got to the gym three days this week! That's ok, life happens and I made sure to stay in my calorie range and still walk around a little more on my days off.

Here's what I did this week:
Workout Schedule: Tuesday-Thursday. We'll be in a car all day Saturday so I'm not sure I'll get to do anything active.
Sunday
Rest Day

Monday
Rest Day

Tuesday
40 minutes of cardio via the stationary bike and treadmill.

Wednesday
45 minutes of cardio (Arc Trainer and Treadmill) and an arm workout {strength training}.

Thursday
45 minutes of cardio via the Arc Trainer, treadmill, and stationary bike.

Friday
Rest Day {Packing and running errands}


Diet
I was seriously slacking in the water department. That's my biggest struggle. I still got my 8 cups in per day, but I like to get more. I stayed under my calorie limit every day, but need to incorporate more fruit and veggies in my diet. I'm picking up some today so I can't wait to have more fruit for snacks!

The ResultsStarting Weight: 224
Last Week's Weight: 215.4
Current Weight: 213.6

I'm down 1.8 pounds since last week and 10.4 pounds overall!

Measurements
Starting Waist: 44"
Last Week: 40.5"
Current Waist: 40"

Starting Hips: 54"
Last Week: 49"
Current Hip: 48"

I'm down .5" in my waist and 1" in my hip area! This might sound funny, but I'm also losing weight in my butt, literally. I've noticed that pants and my swimsuit are starting to get looser on me!

This Week's Plan
Try to drink a ton of water each day, eat more fruit, and get in as many workouts as I can while being away from home.























Wednesday, July 25, 2012

So What Wednesday


This week I'm saying So What if...

  • I get really upset when we are out of our routine for a few days. I like knowing what to expect and being gone and coming back home makes that difficult.
  • I set the calorie range on MFP to lose 1 pound a week so that the calorie limit is higher {even though I want to lose more than 1 pound a week}. I stay under the lower ones, but I don't like the stress involved when I get to close to the limit.
  • I'm really excited about our trip to Boston/Connecticut with my husband and his parents. I'm also really nervous about it. Seven days in a travel-trailer all together {and not much privacy} is a long time. Good thing I love them!
  • I haven't put away clean laundry in a couple of weeks. It's clean, just not in the closet or dressers.
  • I always forget to take "before" pictures for the blog. Whether it comes to weight loss, organizing, cooking, how-to's...it just doesn't happen.

Tuesday, July 24, 2012

Sometimes and Always



Sometimes... I freak out when I don't know what I'm going to eat.
Always... it works out at some point and we figure something out.

Sometimes... I worry about having to get skin surgery and how expensive it is when I lose all of the weight {thank you to shows like Extreme Makeover: Weight Loss Edition}
Always... I know that it will be ok as long as I focus on losing weight at a healthy pace and in a healthy way.

Sometimes... I call {or email/text} my husband while he's at work to find out where he put something I need during the day.
Always... he {usually} can't remember and ends up looking for it when he gets home.

Sometimes... I watch super weird movies {Black Swan anyone?}.
Always... I don't understand why they were made in the first place and who enjoys them.

Friday, July 20, 2012

Fit Fridays- Week 7

This week was much less painful than last week. I've been more tired than normal so it was a little hard to get going, but I'm determined to get fit so I sucked it up and worked out out anyways. 

Here's what I did this week:
Workout Schedule: Monday-Thursday. As always, we'll do something active or go to the gym this weekend.

Sunday
Rest day.

Monday
60 minutes on the Arc Trainer! Oh my gosh, that was hard, but so worth it.I even dropped my sweat towel in the first 15 minutes of my workout and didn't stop to pick it up. I was dripping in sweat. Fortunately, a really nice, older man realized it and picked it up for me at 47 minutes into my workout!

Tuesday
15 minutes on the stationary bike followed by a leg workout on the machines. I ended the workout with a 20 minute walk on the treadmill. Overall...35 minutes of cardio and legs.


Wednesday
I took my mother-in-law to the gym with me! It was so exciting to have her there and to show her what I do and some new things she can try. It was her first time EVER in a gym {she is an avid walker at home}! My husband made me promise not to push her too hard so we did 15 minutes on the Arc Trainer, an ab workout, 10 minutes on the elliptical, and a 5 minute cool down on the treadmill. We had to break up the cardio because she said that she couldn't do any more with her legs after the Arc Trainer! She did a great job keeping up. Overall...30 minutes of cardio and abs.

Thursday
Oh my was I tired on Thursday. I decided to go to the gym anyways and managed to do 17 minutes of walking, 30 minutes on the elliptical, and 15 minutes on the stationary bike. Overall...62 minutes of cardio! I also did a little arm workout, but I was so tired that I didn't do much.

Friday
Rest Day

Saturday
Either the gym or a day trip to DC or somewhere to walk around.

Diet
I did so well this week with my water intake! Most days were 10-12 cups and always the minimum of 8 cups of water per day. I stayed under my calorie limit every day and was only hungry if I forgot to snack!

 
Starting Weight: 224

Last Week's Weight: 218

Today's Weight: 215.4
I'm down 2.6 pounds this week and down 8.6 pounds from the beginning!

 I worked hard, upped my water intake, and stayed under my calorie limit and it payed off!

Measurements:
Starting Waist: 44"

Last Week: 41"
Current Waist: 40.5"
*My natural waist

 
Starting Hip: 54"

Last Week: 49"
Current Hip: 49"
*Right under my belly-button where I was the most round overall.

I lost .5" in my waist and stayed the same at my hip area. My pants are still fitting looser so that's always a good sign!
Next Week's Plan...
Keep my water intake up and continue to work up to 60 minutes of cardio per day (less on days where I do weights).

Wednesday, July 18, 2012

So What Wednesday


This week, I'm saying So What if...
  • I called my mother-in-law late last night to see if she wants to go to the gym with me today. She's coming over to go to the chiropractor and it makes me happy to have her see how hard I work and what I do in the gym.
  • I dropped my gym towel 15 minutes into my 60 minute workout and did not stop to get it. I was a hot, sweaty mess and was so thankful when a man picked it up for me 30 minutes after I dropped it.
  • All I think about lately is going to the gym, what I'm going to eat, and sewing an order for a friend.
  • I wrote an email to the property manager when they closed the pool 15 minutes early yesterday. The lifeguard went around telling everyone that the pool was closing and to get out with no warning or explanation. And, he was throwing tennis balls at people while they were swimming.
  • I spent most of my afternoon yesterday watching Extreme Makeover Weight Loss Edition on the internet. It inspires me and I love to see the transformations.
  • I want to encourage and inspire others to work out and eat right. If I can do it, just about anyone can!
  • I still need to write the follow-up posts for my Tyra Banks show episodes. I'm thinking I'll get the next one done this week and post it Monday.

Tuesday, July 17, 2012

Sometimes and Always



Sometimes... I really don't feel like going to the gym.
Always... I go anyways. When the sweat starts pouring, I feel great!

Sometimes... I like going to the gym with friends.
Always... I get a better workout when I go alone, but I'm happy they're with me to workout and get healthy too.

Sometimes... I get a little hungry now that I'm watching what I eat.
Always... I know that my diet is nutritionally sound and it's just a little hungry and will pass.

Sometimes... People ask me what I'm doing to lose weight.
Always... I tell them diet and exercise. Eating right and working out is a safe, proven way to get healthy.

Sometimes... I can't believe I let myself get so heavy.
Always... I know that I'm doing what it takes to do the right thing now and that's all that matters!

Friday, July 13, 2012

Fit Fridays- Week 6

Weight loss is definitely a journey filled with highs and lows. This week was more difficult than last week. I got in four workouts (Sunday-Wednesday), but I had such a hard time with some of them. My allergies were crazy, I had pain in my left arch with walking, and my calves have been so tight. I still managed to work out, but some modifications were definitely needed.

Here's what I did this week:

Workout Schedule: Sunday-Wednesday...still planning a Friday and possibly Saturday workout!

Sunday 
10 minutes on the treadmill followed by weights. It was an arm day so we got that done. I wanted to do more cardio, but it was so hot and humid that my husband started to feel dizzy so we decided it was best to get him home. 

Monday
30 minutes on the elliptical followed by 20 minutes on the stationary bike.

Tuesday
30 minutes on the treadmill and 15 minutes on the bike. I also went back and did the 30 minute circuit class!

Wednesday 
This was the tough day for me. I tried to walk on my in-laws' treadmill since we're house-sitting and it sucked. The belt is looser than the ones I'm used to and my calves were on fire. I did 10 minutes and felt like I was going to die. I managed to go to the gym later that day and did 10 more minutes on the treadmill and 10 minutes on the stationary bike. It sucked and I was so disappointed in myself.

Thursday
I woke up and my calves were so tight and sore. It was horrible. I ended up using this as my rest day, stretching a lot, and having my husband use a rolling pin on my calves to attempt to loosen them up.

Friday
Ugh, I need to make up for this week somehow. I really enjoy working out, but this week has been awful. At least 30 minutes of cardio somehow, but trying to avoid the treadmill since it makes my calves hurt more. 

 Saturday
Something active. Either the gym or maybe hiking? If you knew me at all, you would know that me wanting to go hiking is a miracle.

Diet
I need to drink more water. I made sure to get in the 8 cup minimum per day, but I really like to stay around 12 cups per day. We have been at my in-laws a good part of this week and took Gram to dinner last Friday, but I managed to check out the calorie and fat content and did well with that. I'm eating out too much being here so I'm looking forward to my routine at home.

Starting Weight: 224
Last Week's Weight: 218.8

Today's Weight: 218
I'm down 0.8 pounds! I worked hard, but you can tell it was a hard week.

Measurements:

Starting Waist: 44"
Current Waist: 41"

*My natural waist

Starting Hip: 54"
Current Hip: 49"

*Right under my belly-button where I was the most round overall

I managed to stay the same in my measurements, but I've noticed my yoga pants are looser in the front so that's good!
Next Week's Plan...
Drink more water! I also want to get in more cardio and work up to 60 minutes per day. I also want to eat more fruit this week. I like having fruit as a snack and since we weren't home this week, I slacked in the fruit department.

Tuesday, July 10, 2012

Getting Healthy is a Full-Time Job

Over the past 6 weeks I have worked my butt off. I started off slowly, only working out 3 times a week for 20-30 minutes each time. I remember dying on the elliptical my first workout. Sure, I felt great, but my heart rate was high and it was a constant battle to keep it in the 180's. Yes, I was that out of shape.

Now, I'm working out 4-5 times a week and doing anywhere from 20-60 minute workouts! On the days where I don't have much time, I make sure to really push myself so that I get as much out of it as I can.

I have also been counting calories and really watching what I eat. I've been on My Fitness Pal for almost two weeks and it's been so helpful. I started off by just eating less and changing what I ate for the first 4 weeks. I didn't want to get too overwhelmed by all of the change happening at once.

With all that being said, I feel that working out and eating right to lose weight is a full-time job. I'm at the gym most days of the week and counting calories which means measuring everything and reading lots of labels. It's definitely not terrible, but I'm constantly thinking about the next thing whether it's a workout or something to eat.

After my workouts, I usually chill out at home for a while unless I have errands to run. The next thing I know, I need to figure out what's for dinner, cook dinner, and my husband's home. It's a lot to take in, but it's something I really enjoy.

I'm hoping that I can start to get more done around the house, but focusing on getting healthy is definitely a good thing too!

Friday, July 6, 2012

Fit Fridays- Week 5

This week was a fantastic week for me! I was able to push myself and get in more time and hours working out than previous weeks and I felt great after my workouts.

Here's what I did this week:

  • Workout Schedule: Sunday-Thursday...5 days in a row!
  • Sunday- 20 minutes on the elliptical. It was supposed to be my "day off" but I really wanted to get in a workout. We had limited time, but I pushed myself and made sure to make up for it.
  • Monday- 30 minutes on the elliptical + 35 minutes on the treadmill! I also did yoga at the end of the day.
  • Tuesday- 10 minutes on the bike + 20 minutes on the treadmill. We also attempted to do the ab circuit workout, but I'm not a fan. I also did a yoga stretch video that night.
  • Wednesday- 20 minutes on the treadmill. Yes, we were at the gym on the 4th of July. We also did a lot of swimming at Phil's Aunt's house. I did a yoga video again in the evening.
  • Thursday- I tried out a yoga class at a studio here in town. It was definitely interesting and I would do it again, but classes are expensive.
  • Friday- rest day. I might get in some yoga at home.
  • Saturday- I'm hoping to do at least 30 minutes of cardio.
  • Diet- I definitely drank a lot of water (about 10-12 cups a day) and added in a low calorie Gatorade knock-off to get back some electrolytes. I've also been using My Fitness Pal online to help track my calories and exercise and I've been under my goal to lose weight!
Starting Weight: 224
Last Week's Weight: 222
Today's Weight: 218.8
I'm down 3.2 pounds! I worked hard and it definitely shows.
Measurements:
Starting Waist: 44"
Current Waist: 41"
*My natural waist
Starting Hip: 54"
Current Hip: 49"
*Right under my belly-button where I was the most round overall
I lost 1" in both my waist and my roundest part!!!
.
My plan for next week: Continue with the water and try not to eat out at all. I want to try some new recipes and make sure that I'm incorporating more fresh fruits into my diet. I also want to make sure to snack on more protein-rich foods like Greek yogurt after my workouts.

Monday, July 2, 2012

Making the Most out of Weight Loss

Counting calories, dieting, exercise. I don't know about you, but all of these things seem to take a lot of time and effort that I don't always want to put in. At least, that's what I thought for the past two years.

The reality? It might take some time and effort, but it's worth it! Yes, losing weight takes planning and effort, but it pays off in the end with feeling great and seeing the results.


Healthy weight loss takes time. Some things you should keep in mind...
  1. Figure out your BMR (basal metabolic rate). This is how many calories your body burns a day by just living (if you were to stay in bed all day).
  2. Know how many calories is in a pound. The answer...3,500.
  3. In order to lose weight, you need to have a deficit in calories. Example: if you want to loose 1 pound a week, you should average a deficit of 500 calories per day.
  4. Track your calories! Know how many calories you're taking in and if you can, figure out how many calories you are burning each day.
  5. Read labels and measure your portion sizes. This is so important. If you are inaccurate, you will not be seeing the results you were hoping for.
  6. You need to eat to lose weight! It's not good to starve your body and you will end up in starvation mode, making it difficult to lose weight.
  7. Be active! If you can't go to a gym, that's ok. There are so many other ways to burn calories and you need to get moving.
  8. It takes determination. There will be days where you don't want to work out. Make a schedule and stick to it.
  9. Realize that it takes time. Weight doesn't pile on in a day and it won't come off in a day.
  10. Exercise can become addictive! For me, the first three weeks are the hardest. Last week (Week 4) was much easier and this week (Week 5), I have so much energy and really look forward to moving and working out!


 And this is for the tough days...
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