Today was the day. I have spent hours making the Vegetarian Meal Plan. I have run it past the hubby and it was agreed on. I ordered my things. I previewed the PiYo video. I geared up and thought today was the day. Monday. Day #1.
But as the day progressed, I realized this was not the Day 1 I thought it was going to be. My expectations were changed.
So, today WAS NOT Day #1 of my 21 Day Fix instead it WAS the Day #1 of my cleaned out Fridge and Freezer. Out with my foods which I love but are WAAAAYYYY over processed or have HFCS or other things which were in need of rehoming.
I am anxiously awaiting my shipment of shake and containers (see this post for info).
In the mean time we are going to eat up the foods which are in our house but which we won't have on our 3 week change. Blocks upon blocks of cheese, fake chicken strips and such will be consumed this week.
I will continue the purge in our cupboards and pantry shelves.
The new plan is to start NEXT Monday if all my orders have arrived.
Monday, June 15, 2015
Day #1 of 21 Day Fix - Veggie Version
Well today came. Day #1.
Just a quick post sharing that I need to find a few answers as i continue on this.
FIRST - Coffee. Is it allowed? Can i have anything in it? What is allowed and in which measurements?
SECOND - in the oatmeal - can i add ANYTHING???? honey? Molasses? Maple Syrup???
I dont have my containers yet, so i Pinterested the measurements and went with those.
Inspite of no coffee and no sweetner in my oatmeal, the morning has gone quite well.
Measured my fav water cup so i know it is 16 oz. So i need 16 oz TIMES two before 9 am then again at noon, again at 3 and again at 6. More if/when there is exercise.
Saturday, June 13, 2015
21-Day Fix??? Ish??? Vegetarian Running with Piyo does that count???
So, something has gotta give and end of July begins Fall Half Marathon Training. 2 Half Marathons & a 4 miler are on schedule for the fall and I think 2 HMs are already booked for the first few months of 2016. Time to get a wiggle on.
In the weeks since RnR Nashville (my first half) I have realized I need much more flexibility and strength, so I purchased PiYo from Liz, my girlfriend who kicked off my running journey. In my free time, I have been watching the DVDs to see if it was what I needed and I think I guessed correctly.
I then turned my attention to nutrition. I need to lose weight. This isn't a vanity need this is a health and life need. I am on Metformin for Insulin Resistance and PCOS. I am a born and raised Lacto-Ovo Vegetarian. I am married to a Chemical Engineer in the food processing industry.
Yeah - I have complications in the Nutrition World.
So, I determined that I will follow a PiYo PLUS Half Marathon Plan I found at Weigh to Maintain. I start this on Monday and plan to continue it until my Fleet Feet training begins at the end of July.
I then decided that going it alone and attempting to figure out a Vegetarian Meal Plan for exercising and losing weight was just not working for me. I have attempted for at least 20 years and am still trying. I think it is time for a change, don't you???
So, I looked at the 21 Day Fix plan through my girlfriend, Kristine. As I read and messaged Kristine, I realized that while I eat healthy foods and I weigh them and log them in MFP, it just isn't working for me. Color coding and sizes are my next attempt.
I figure I never transitioned to being a digital planner gal, so maybe attempting another way of learning healthy limits (besides counting and weighting) might be for me.
BUT - I really didn't want to do Shakeology. There are a few reasons: 1. the price. I just can't sustain that long term. 2. the carbs - due to the Insulin Resistance I have I need to keep my carbs in certain ranges per my Endocrinologist. I don't want to use 17+ carbs per shake wasn't where I wanted to spend my carbs.
So, this first 21 days I am going to use shakes from 310 Shakes. I haven't tasted them but the low carbs and the price were why I went with them. I was introduced to the 310 Shakes from The Diet Shake Reviews website.
I already use plain whey protein isolate for a shake each morning so I am excited for flavors (I ordered Chocolate and Vanilla) and for the chance to taste something different.
After settling on a shake plan and knowing I wanted to use the format for 21 Day Fix, I googled a calculator for calories on the 21 Day Fix and used this one to determine I am Level 4 or 2100-2300 calories. This is important so you can plan everything needed for eating each day. Here is a screenshot for my calculation. I am allocated more calories than 2300 but for the purposes of 21 Day Fix, you round down to 2300.
This means we get 6 Green, 4 Purple, 6 Red, 4 Yellow, 1 Blue, 1 Orange and 6 teaspoons. I headed over to Amazon and picked up these Beach Body Containers.
I also got a set of these Divided Food Containers to pack lunches in.
Now for the plan. My plan is Lacto-Ovo Vegetarian and this week relies heavily on recipes from the Potentially Lovely Blog. Here is what we have for our first week:
I say "we" because for the first time since we have been married my hubby has agreed to join me in a meal plan. I offered to pack his lunches since he has new hours at work. Hopefully this will be a plan which will fill him up and not leave him starving.
As I said before, I am a Paper Planner Type, so I have a composition Book I have been cutting and pasting in and writing in with markers and taping up with Washi. I feel very prepared and ready to embark on the first week of the next 3.
And there it is!
Exercise is Piyo/Half Marathon Training
Learned what the plan allows and doesn't allow
Lacto Ovo Meal Plan Week #1 is created
Ordered BeachBody containers and divided containers
Ordered shakes
Tomorrow I finish up grocery shopping and will prep everything.
Since price was something I had concern about in just using the Shakeology 21 Day Fix program, here is a breakdown of my costs so far.
In the weeks since RnR Nashville (my first half) I have realized I need much more flexibility and strength, so I purchased PiYo from Liz, my girlfriend who kicked off my running journey. In my free time, I have been watching the DVDs to see if it was what I needed and I think I guessed correctly.
I then turned my attention to nutrition. I need to lose weight. This isn't a vanity need this is a health and life need. I am on Metformin for Insulin Resistance and PCOS. I am a born and raised Lacto-Ovo Vegetarian. I am married to a Chemical Engineer in the food processing industry.
Yeah - I have complications in the Nutrition World.
So, I determined that I will follow a PiYo PLUS Half Marathon Plan I found at Weigh to Maintain. I start this on Monday and plan to continue it until my Fleet Feet training begins at the end of July.
I then decided that going it alone and attempting to figure out a Vegetarian Meal Plan for exercising and losing weight was just not working for me. I have attempted for at least 20 years and am still trying. I think it is time for a change, don't you???
So, I looked at the 21 Day Fix plan through my girlfriend, Kristine. As I read and messaged Kristine, I realized that while I eat healthy foods and I weigh them and log them in MFP, it just isn't working for me. Color coding and sizes are my next attempt.
BUT - I really didn't want to do Shakeology. There are a few reasons: 1. the price. I just can't sustain that long term. 2. the carbs - due to the Insulin Resistance I have I need to keep my carbs in certain ranges per my Endocrinologist. I don't want to use 17+ carbs per shake wasn't where I wanted to spend my carbs.
So, this first 21 days I am going to use shakes from 310 Shakes. I haven't tasted them but the low carbs and the price were why I went with them. I was introduced to the 310 Shakes from The Diet Shake Reviews website.
I already use plain whey protein isolate for a shake each morning so I am excited for flavors (I ordered Chocolate and Vanilla) and for the chance to taste something different.
After settling on a shake plan and knowing I wanted to use the format for 21 Day Fix, I googled a calculator for calories on the 21 Day Fix and used this one to determine I am Level 4 or 2100-2300 calories. This is important so you can plan everything needed for eating each day. Here is a screenshot for my calculation. I am allocated more calories than 2300 but for the purposes of 21 Day Fix, you round down to 2300.
This means we get 6 Green, 4 Purple, 6 Red, 4 Yellow, 1 Blue, 1 Orange and 6 teaspoons. I headed over to Amazon and picked up these Beach Body Containers.
I also got a set of these Divided Food Containers to pack lunches in.
Now for the plan. My plan is Lacto-Ovo Vegetarian and this week relies heavily on recipes from the Potentially Lovely Blog. Here is what we have for our first week:
I say "we" because for the first time since we have been married my hubby has agreed to join me in a meal plan. I offered to pack his lunches since he has new hours at work. Hopefully this will be a plan which will fill him up and not leave him starving.
As I said before, I am a Paper Planner Type, so I have a composition Book I have been cutting and pasting in and writing in with markers and taping up with Washi. I feel very prepared and ready to embark on the first week of the next 3.
And there it is!
Exercise is Piyo/Half Marathon Training
Learned what the plan allows and doesn't allow
Lacto Ovo Meal Plan Week #1 is created
Ordered BeachBody containers and divided containers
Ordered shakes
Tomorrow I finish up grocery shopping and will prep everything.
Wednesday, January 21, 2015
The Pursuit of Health is Exhausting
It has been a year since I started running. 12 months. For 10 of those months I didn't lose any weight. Not one single ounce. I changed eating habits, drank more water and spent hours running each week.
I gained friends, confidence, ability and endurance. I lost... nothing. Same weight. Each time I weighed in I was 266 lbs. Nothing moved. Nothing changed. My clothes didn't fit better. My tummy wasn't flatter. Nothing.
I was pretty frustrated. Then the Thursday before the first Half Marathon of my life, I was told by the Urgent Care Dr that I wouldn't be running. I thought he was joking but He wasn't. I sat that one out. Cheering from the sidelines.
That was in October. I was sidelined due to breathing/oxygen issues. This continued for a few more months and 3 more visits. He then referred me to an Allergy/Asthma Specialist. I was still not running.
In the meantime I had a free evaluation at a local clinic. They offered BMI and blood pressure and a quick blood sugar test. I just wanted my BMI numbers. I got a bit of a scare. The Blood Sugar numbers were VERY HIGH.
So, I came back in a few days for fasting blood work. That was a bit disappointing as well so I found myself in the office of an Endocrinologist for the first time in my life.
He prescribed a new diet and then warned me that my numbers needed attention so when he saw me in January he fully expects I will be on at least 2 medicines.
Christmas happened. It was so fun. I love spending time with family.
I stuck to a very strict version of the diet he prescribed. I lost 12 lbs. I now weigh in at 254 consistently. Still not running and no exercise as prescribed due to my cortisol numbers.
But the weight moved. It budged. I was so happy! Then it stalled and that is where I am for the past 6 weeks. No idea why it moved for those first few weeks but thankful it did.
Meanwhile I met with the Allergist/Asthma Specialist this past Tuesday. After tests it is shown that I am not allergic to anything but have Infection Induced Asthma. The solution to this is 2 seperate inhalers twice a day each, nose spray twice a day and an acid reducing medicine. This whole handful of medicines is costing me over $300/month. Yes, that is with insurance. I can't afford the stress of thinking about that so I don't. I just take the meds which are in front of me and see where this all leads.
EXCEPT - I need to have a few handfuls of tests this week. One is for Cushing's Syndrome/Disease. No one warned me that one of my inhalers would conflict with this test.
I am guessing there is no way for individual drs to know what they are prescribing/ordering. I found out about this conflict due to doing some Dr. Googling and reading that this particular test is testing for steroid something or another. Knowing that my inhaler was a type of steroid I called Walgreens, then the Endocrinologists office.
The answer is to stop all meds except the acid reducer. Yesterday I couldn't get the answer to "how long to stop before testing." Today I was supposed to begin one of the tests. This morning I get the answer that we need 7 days off the other meds. SEVEN DAYS off the meds which allow me to breathe and which allow my chest to stop burning. SEVEN DAYS *Sigh*
So, now my Endo Appt is in February. I need to reschedule my tests for next week and yesterday was day one without breathing support.
I am exhausted. Not just physically but internally.
Breathing is a MUST.
Knowing if I am Diabetic or have Cushings or whatever is a MUST.
Protecting my Kidneys (which are compromised) is a MUST.
I live in one body. I don't have unlimited financial or childcare or other resources.
I am thankful for what I do have. I am thankful that nothing we are pursuing will kill me in the next few weeks. I am thankful for so many things.
BUT, I am tired and don't have much patience.
I want answers. I want my body to work correctly. I want to be healthy - me and a couple million other people at any given moment.
So, I wait. Maybe a few more pounds will fall off. Maybe the Acid Reducer will keep helping and the lungs won't hurt so much. Maybe I will get rest and energy.
Exhausted = Me
I gained friends, confidence, ability and endurance. I lost... nothing. Same weight. Each time I weighed in I was 266 lbs. Nothing moved. Nothing changed. My clothes didn't fit better. My tummy wasn't flatter. Nothing.
I was pretty frustrated. Then the Thursday before the first Half Marathon of my life, I was told by the Urgent Care Dr that I wouldn't be running. I thought he was joking but He wasn't. I sat that one out. Cheering from the sidelines.
That was in October. I was sidelined due to breathing/oxygen issues. This continued for a few more months and 3 more visits. He then referred me to an Allergy/Asthma Specialist. I was still not running.
In the meantime I had a free evaluation at a local clinic. They offered BMI and blood pressure and a quick blood sugar test. I just wanted my BMI numbers. I got a bit of a scare. The Blood Sugar numbers were VERY HIGH.
So, I came back in a few days for fasting blood work. That was a bit disappointing as well so I found myself in the office of an Endocrinologist for the first time in my life.
He prescribed a new diet and then warned me that my numbers needed attention so when he saw me in January he fully expects I will be on at least 2 medicines.
Christmas happened. It was so fun. I love spending time with family.
I stuck to a very strict version of the diet he prescribed. I lost 12 lbs. I now weigh in at 254 consistently. Still not running and no exercise as prescribed due to my cortisol numbers.
But the weight moved. It budged. I was so happy! Then it stalled and that is where I am for the past 6 weeks. No idea why it moved for those first few weeks but thankful it did.
Meanwhile I met with the Allergist/Asthma Specialist this past Tuesday. After tests it is shown that I am not allergic to anything but have Infection Induced Asthma. The solution to this is 2 seperate inhalers twice a day each, nose spray twice a day and an acid reducing medicine. This whole handful of medicines is costing me over $300/month. Yes, that is with insurance. I can't afford the stress of thinking about that so I don't. I just take the meds which are in front of me and see where this all leads.
EXCEPT - I need to have a few handfuls of tests this week. One is for Cushing's Syndrome/Disease. No one warned me that one of my inhalers would conflict with this test.
I am guessing there is no way for individual drs to know what they are prescribing/ordering. I found out about this conflict due to doing some Dr. Googling and reading that this particular test is testing for steroid something or another. Knowing that my inhaler was a type of steroid I called Walgreens, then the Endocrinologists office.
The answer is to stop all meds except the acid reducer. Yesterday I couldn't get the answer to "how long to stop before testing." Today I was supposed to begin one of the tests. This morning I get the answer that we need 7 days off the other meds. SEVEN DAYS off the meds which allow me to breathe and which allow my chest to stop burning. SEVEN DAYS *Sigh*
So, now my Endo Appt is in February. I need to reschedule my tests for next week and yesterday was day one without breathing support.
I am exhausted. Not just physically but internally.
Breathing is a MUST.
Knowing if I am Diabetic or have Cushings or whatever is a MUST.
Protecting my Kidneys (which are compromised) is a MUST.
I live in one body. I don't have unlimited financial or childcare or other resources.
I am thankful for what I do have. I am thankful that nothing we are pursuing will kill me in the next few weeks. I am thankful for so many things.
BUT, I am tired and don't have much patience.
I want answers. I want my body to work correctly. I want to be healthy - me and a couple million other people at any given moment.
So, I wait. Maybe a few more pounds will fall off. Maybe the Acid Reducer will keep helping and the lungs won't hurt so much. Maybe I will get rest and energy.
Exhausted = Me
Friday, October 31, 2014
You can't outrun your genes
It was a very tough Dr visit. I had never been to an Endocrinologist until yesterday morning. I am alternating between thinking about all that he said and ignoring that I ever went.
The statement which made me shake and fight tears was his matter of fact "You do not have diabetes now, but with your family history and your lab numbers you will."
I kept it together in his office but when I called my mom on my way to the van I couldn't even get the words out as I was crying.
I saw him 3 days before he passed away. A frail, sick man who looked nothing like the robust full of energy man I had known 20 years before. That man was my father who died at the age of 61 due to complications of Diabetes/Kidneys/health.
You can't outrun your genes. It just isn't possible and lucky for me I won my Fathers health genes in the genes lottery. :(
I am not ok. I thought I was until this article on Plus Size Runners came across my FB Newsfeed. There I read great statements which I felt this past year of becoming a runner. Then this one:
“No matter how many lifestyle changes you make, they might never be radical enough to overcome your genetic predisposition,” he says. “But that should never be an excuse. You can still make significant improvements through nutrition and exercise, but they might not lead to as dramatic results as you’d hoped.”
It is true - you can't outrun your genes. I have some awesome genes. I am blessed to be a people person, able to bake, do math, grow tall, love animals, read extremely fast with comprehension, enjoy technology, and so very much more.
I will continue to run. In fact the Dr pretty much said if I don't I will be signing my early death certificate. So now I will run and I will run like Death is at my heels. I will run as though seeing my babies graduate rests on each step. I will run.
I will run and I will not look back.
You can't outrun your genes but I have another generation to educate and grow and inform so they will have more options than I do.
I will run and I will declare my love with each footstep.
The statement which made me shake and fight tears was his matter of fact "You do not have diabetes now, but with your family history and your lab numbers you will."
I kept it together in his office but when I called my mom on my way to the van I couldn't even get the words out as I was crying.
I saw him 3 days before he passed away. A frail, sick man who looked nothing like the robust full of energy man I had known 20 years before. That man was my father who died at the age of 61 due to complications of Diabetes/Kidneys/health.
You can't outrun your genes. It just isn't possible and lucky for me I won my Fathers health genes in the genes lottery. :(
I am not ok. I thought I was until this article on Plus Size Runners came across my FB Newsfeed. There I read great statements which I felt this past year of becoming a runner. Then this one:
“No matter how many lifestyle changes you make, they might never be radical enough to overcome your genetic predisposition,” he says. “But that should never be an excuse. You can still make significant improvements through nutrition and exercise, but they might not lead to as dramatic results as you’d hoped.”
It is true - you can't outrun your genes. I have some awesome genes. I am blessed to be a people person, able to bake, do math, grow tall, love animals, read extremely fast with comprehension, enjoy technology, and so very much more.
I will continue to run. In fact the Dr pretty much said if I don't I will be signing my early death certificate. So now I will run and I will run like Death is at my heels. I will run as though seeing my babies graduate rests on each step. I will run.
I will run and I will not look back.
You can't outrun your genes but I have another generation to educate and grow and inform so they will have more options than I do.
I will run and I will declare my love with each footstep.
Sunday, October 26, 2014
Successes - Focus Christi-San
Today was my second week to weigh in at Weight Watchers. I joined last week online and showed up to weigh in on Saturday morning. I wasn't sure how things would go and didn't have much hope of anything being different this time.
I have become a runner in the last 10 months. Started in a running group in January and even through injuries and sickness I am a runner! But I am not a loser of weight. Nope, not one teeny tiny ounce. So, I decided I needed to try something else.
Today I weighed in and the scale says my first week is a 4.8 lb loss! TIME TO CELEBRATE!!!
Then our leader started talking and she didn't dwell on what we did wrong or how we lost track or anything about our failures.
She stood in front of us and asked "what were your successes?" I was ready to confess my failures. I was all set to hang my head in shame as I recall all the times this week I forgot I was on WW and ate things I had no clue how to turn into points. I walked in knowing how I had not been perfect.
What were your successes?
it was like the pinprick of light which grows. I started thinking of all the successes I had.
I completed a full week of WW and didn't starve, die or quit.
I shopped for healthy food
I chopped said food for hours on Sunday evening
I made freezer oats
I made Mason Jar Salads
I ate fruit at each meal
I didn't snack at night
I ate the kids scoop of ice cream instead of a double
I drank more than 8 glasses of water each day
I tracked my WW points
I ran one night
I got more sleep
I tried a few new recipes
The list is long of my successes, yet I only saw my failures. Why?
I went to WW to lose physical weight but I get the feeling there will be other weights lifted as I continue along this path.
I have become a runner in the last 10 months. Started in a running group in January and even through injuries and sickness I am a runner! But I am not a loser of weight. Nope, not one teeny tiny ounce. So, I decided I needed to try something else.
Today I weighed in and the scale says my first week is a 4.8 lb loss! TIME TO CELEBRATE!!!
Then our leader started talking and she didn't dwell on what we did wrong or how we lost track or anything about our failures.
She stood in front of us and asked "what were your successes?" I was ready to confess my failures. I was all set to hang my head in shame as I recall all the times this week I forgot I was on WW and ate things I had no clue how to turn into points. I walked in knowing how I had not been perfect.
What were your successes?
it was like the pinprick of light which grows. I started thinking of all the successes I had.
I completed a full week of WW and didn't starve, die or quit.
I shopped for healthy food
I chopped said food for hours on Sunday evening
I made freezer oats
I made Mason Jar Salads
I ate fruit at each meal
I didn't snack at night
I ate the kids scoop of ice cream instead of a double
I drank more than 8 glasses of water each day
I tracked my WW points
I ran one night
I got more sleep
I tried a few new recipes
The list is long of my successes, yet I only saw my failures. Why?
I went to WW to lose physical weight but I get the feeling there will be other weights lifted as I continue along this path.
Prepper of the weekly type
I have been training to run a half marathon since January of this year (2014). I started with a running group learning to run a 5k. I learned so much about weather, what I can accomplish in a group, what I can accomplish alone, the power of the mind, how to make friends and so very much more.
This is 10 months later and I have been so frustrated that I have been able to run:walk 12+ miles in one session but have not lost one single ounce of weight. I am an interval gal of the Jeff Galloway Variety.
I started running in January at 266 lbs and I started October 2014 at the EXACT SAME WEIGHT.
In the meantime I have done a few tests to help me understand how my body works and to find reasons why the increase in activity didn't equate to a decrease in body mass.
The Caloric Expenditure test I took told me that my metabolism is 30% FASTER than other women my age, weight and whatever else they compare. WOOHOO!!! My body is a MACHINE!
The Mobile Hydrostatic Body Fat Test told me how much of my weight was muscle (currently 165 lbs) and what was fat and what a realistic healthy body weight would be for me. I had thought I needed to be close to 155 lbs but as you can see without bones or skin my muscle is weighing in at 165 lbs. So that was eye opening and my expectation is now set to 199 lbs.
Armed with this knowledge about me and my body and how it functions and with a running coach and team I was certain that I would be rocking cute skirts, knee high boots and fun sweaters on a much less fluffy frame this fall.
It wasn't meant to be.
STILL 266 lbs. I have ROCKIN blood pressure and cholesterol. I can run! I can run FAR! But it is still 266 lbs being propelled forward.
Well, it was until this week! I joined Weight Watchers a week ago out of desperation. I had a virus attack my lungs last month which is taking FOREVER to heal from. During which time I am not running and I can feel it. I decided that my body needs something and it can't be just the calories in vs calories out fallacy.
So off to Weight Watchers I went. Desperate and disbelieving. As a Lacto-Ovo Vegetarian I wasn't expecting that there would be much for me to change and therefore I really wasn't expecting much change or maybe if I was lucky I could experience the SLOWEST weight loss ever.
SURPRISE! Week one was a loss of 4.8 lbs. WOOT! Now to have a repeat of loss and not a gain just because I mislead myself into believing "I got this."
There are a few things I feel have helped those numbers to budge.
#1 - I was going days without a vegetable or fruit. As a LOV (Lacto-Ovo Vegetarian) this would seem impossible, but a few days of burritos without veggies or pasta bakes with only tomato or alfredo sauce and other such meals I could conceivably not consume a veggie or fruit for 2 days. NO BUENO!
#2. Not enough water. Just as I need more calories than the average woman (did I mention I am approx 5' 10" ) I also need more water. So my water goals are closer to 120 oz than the recommended 8 oz 8 times a day.
#3. Eating whenever I wanted. Eating whatever I wanted. Eating while doing other things. All three of these go together and they influence mood, grocery lists and satisfaction. I could chow through chips and dip and never even notice that I was eating.
#4. Not being aware of portions. For anything. My idea of what a portion of M&Ms is WAY SMALLER than what is considered a portion (WIN!!) but my idea of what a portion of pizza is is WAY LARGER than what is considered a portion.
So, this week I made Mason Jar Salads to eat each day in order to up my veggie intake. As Matt Frazier of No Meat Athlete suggests, I have determined to eat one salad a day. Some days it is my lunch meal and some days it was my afternoon snack but for the last week I have stuck to that.
Matt also suggests starting your day with a smoothie so you are able to get your fruits in for your day. I love using recipes from the blog www.organizeyourselfskinny.com and she also suggests smoothies so this week I am going to make a few of her freezer smoothie kits up and attempt that as my new habit.
I have had a long time frustration with breakfast and with kids in school for the first time this year, I needed HELP!. Enter Organize Yourself Skinny's Freezer Steel Cut Oats. I quadrupled this recipe and am still swimming in frozen oat disks. :) I pop 3 of these in the microwave for 3 minutes and then add honey and cinnamon. Stir it up, scoop some out for my 3 year old and then enjoy!!!
Finally I tracked my points for WW and my water intake this week. That kind of focus helped me know when I could eat the chocolate drizzled popcorn and when I just needed to suck it up and drink water.
So, here I am today at the beginning of a new week. I start run:walking this week with a goal race of 15k in December. This afternoon I chopped and cut and cleaned (not in that order) and I made 8 jar salads - hubby asked for some to take to work. Later tonight I will create 3-4 smoothie kits with whatever I have here in the house.
Prepping. Hoping. Feeling better!!! I have less than a pound before I am in the 250s! Wish me luck!!!
This is 10 months later and I have been so frustrated that I have been able to run:walk 12+ miles in one session but have not lost one single ounce of weight. I am an interval gal of the Jeff Galloway Variety.
I started running in January at 266 lbs and I started October 2014 at the EXACT SAME WEIGHT.
In the meantime I have done a few tests to help me understand how my body works and to find reasons why the increase in activity didn't equate to a decrease in body mass.
The Caloric Expenditure test I took told me that my metabolism is 30% FASTER than other women my age, weight and whatever else they compare. WOOHOO!!! My body is a MACHINE!
The Mobile Hydrostatic Body Fat Test told me how much of my weight was muscle (currently 165 lbs) and what was fat and what a realistic healthy body weight would be for me. I had thought I needed to be close to 155 lbs but as you can see without bones or skin my muscle is weighing in at 165 lbs. So that was eye opening and my expectation is now set to 199 lbs.
Armed with this knowledge about me and my body and how it functions and with a running coach and team I was certain that I would be rocking cute skirts, knee high boots and fun sweaters on a much less fluffy frame this fall.
It wasn't meant to be.
STILL 266 lbs. I have ROCKIN blood pressure and cholesterol. I can run! I can run FAR! But it is still 266 lbs being propelled forward.
Well, it was until this week! I joined Weight Watchers a week ago out of desperation. I had a virus attack my lungs last month which is taking FOREVER to heal from. During which time I am not running and I can feel it. I decided that my body needs something and it can't be just the calories in vs calories out fallacy.
So off to Weight Watchers I went. Desperate and disbelieving. As a Lacto-Ovo Vegetarian I wasn't expecting that there would be much for me to change and therefore I really wasn't expecting much change or maybe if I was lucky I could experience the SLOWEST weight loss ever.
SURPRISE! Week one was a loss of 4.8 lbs. WOOT! Now to have a repeat of loss and not a gain just because I mislead myself into believing "I got this."
There are a few things I feel have helped those numbers to budge.
#1 - I was going days without a vegetable or fruit. As a LOV (Lacto-Ovo Vegetarian) this would seem impossible, but a few days of burritos without veggies or pasta bakes with only tomato or alfredo sauce and other such meals I could conceivably not consume a veggie or fruit for 2 days. NO BUENO!
#2. Not enough water. Just as I need more calories than the average woman (did I mention I am approx 5' 10" ) I also need more water. So my water goals are closer to 120 oz than the recommended 8 oz 8 times a day.
#3. Eating whenever I wanted. Eating whatever I wanted. Eating while doing other things. All three of these go together and they influence mood, grocery lists and satisfaction. I could chow through chips and dip and never even notice that I was eating.
#4. Not being aware of portions. For anything. My idea of what a portion of M&Ms is WAY SMALLER than what is considered a portion (WIN!!) but my idea of what a portion of pizza is is WAY LARGER than what is considered a portion.
So, this week I made Mason Jar Salads to eat each day in order to up my veggie intake. As Matt Frazier of No Meat Athlete suggests, I have determined to eat one salad a day. Some days it is my lunch meal and some days it was my afternoon snack but for the last week I have stuck to that.
Matt also suggests starting your day with a smoothie so you are able to get your fruits in for your day. I love using recipes from the blog www.organizeyourselfskinny.com and she also suggests smoothies so this week I am going to make a few of her freezer smoothie kits up and attempt that as my new habit.
I have had a long time frustration with breakfast and with kids in school for the first time this year, I needed HELP!. Enter Organize Yourself Skinny's Freezer Steel Cut Oats. I quadrupled this recipe and am still swimming in frozen oat disks. :) I pop 3 of these in the microwave for 3 minutes and then add honey and cinnamon. Stir it up, scoop some out for my 3 year old and then enjoy!!!
Finally I tracked my points for WW and my water intake this week. That kind of focus helped me know when I could eat the chocolate drizzled popcorn and when I just needed to suck it up and drink water.
So, here I am today at the beginning of a new week. I start run:walking this week with a goal race of 15k in December. This afternoon I chopped and cut and cleaned (not in that order) and I made 8 jar salads - hubby asked for some to take to work. Later tonight I will create 3-4 smoothie kits with whatever I have here in the house.
Prepping. Hoping. Feeling better!!! I have less than a pound before I am in the 250s! Wish me luck!!!
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