Wednesday, December 30, 2009
The After Holidays Effect
So Christmas didn't go off as smoothly as I had hoped. But I do have to say that I tried, and I emphasize TRIED to keep a handle on it, but here's how it went, I started off Christmas Eve hungry because the wife and I had to go out and finish up a few last minute things, so we didn't eat a lot during the day, so by the time we went to the festivities that night I was starving, or so I thought. I can probably actually hibernate all winter without eating and not feel the effects. So I ate. A lot. Christmas morning, same thing and then I snacked through out the day. Christmas dinner at the in-laws I didn't eat a lot, because I had snacked through the day. Then the day after Christmas, I snacked all day again. Needless to say, by the time Sunday came around, I really was tired of snacks. So Monday I went to work with the full intention of eating healthy and working out, which I did until that night, when I dug into the popcorn bin that my mom had given to us. And so here it is Wednesday and I have worked out for two day, and I start off the day great, but then when I get home and sit with my wife and I choose to eat. I think next week is a time for purging the home of junk and getting a fresh start. My wife loves candy and I told her that if she wants to have candy she better find a dang good hiding place and just eat it when I am not home because I need to be strict for the next few months otherwise I will not get anywhere. Most of the battle is eating, and I need to be strict for several months in order to change my habits.
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Day 4
If I thought day 3 was bad, compared to day 4 it was a cake walk. It was a long day today. Our little girl kept waking up during the night last night, and we took turns checking in on her. Six o'clock comes early when your running low on sleep. I do have to say though that my diet seem a lot easier to follow today for some reason. A co-worker brought in cookies today that I was able to contain myself to only two. I know that is two to many, but it is the holidays and I figure I need to be moderate in my treats. The rest of the day was great. My mom even took Nichole and I out to dinner to Mimi's Cafe. Instead of ordering the Jambalaya that looked really good, I decided to order the Grilled Veggie Ciabatta...plus! Then I ordered Onion Rings...minus. The thought was there to try! I actually couldn't finish it either. I was rather surprised that I got a to go box. Portioning my meals out has helped me to be wiser in my decisions. My PT gave me a saying to post on my fridge that says, "Nothing Tastes Better Than Thin" granted I don't know what thin tastes like, nor feels like for that matter, but it has to taste better that the feeling you get when you stuff yourself at the local buffet, or when you stop exercising for a couple of weeks and start to feel groggy. I look forward to the taste of "thin".
My exercise on the other hand, not so awesome. I was able to finish it, but it wasn't without the fight of my life today. I have been alternating the eliptical with running and today was running day. Because of my workout yesterday, my legs were pretty tired, so I took it slow to start out. By the end I was feeling pretty good, but there was more punishment on the horizon. It was leg day and I had to do lunges in my routine today. By the time work was over I was done. I had had enough. My legs completely were and still are exhausted. Hopefully they will be some what ok for tomorrow. I don't know what I am going to do, but I'll figure it out when I get there.
My exercise on the other hand, not so awesome. I was able to finish it, but it wasn't without the fight of my life today. I have been alternating the eliptical with running and today was running day. Because of my workout yesterday, my legs were pretty tired, so I took it slow to start out. By the end I was feeling pretty good, but there was more punishment on the horizon. It was leg day and I had to do lunges in my routine today. By the time work was over I was done. I had had enough. My legs completely were and still are exhausted. Hopefully they will be some what ok for tomorrow. I don't know what I am going to do, but I'll figure it out when I get there.
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Day 3...Dejavu
Today is the third day of working out this week. I'm just going to say it was a little rough starting out. I started with 30 minutes on the eliptical and by the time I was finished I was ready to be finished, but I wasn't done. I haven't done any weight lifting yet this week, so I decided to do both my weight lifting routines in one day. I usually split it up, but it felt nice to do it all at once.
I stuck with my diet very well today. Yesterday was another story. I did really well during the day and when I came home and ate dinner. It was after dinner when our friend dropped by with some chocolate covered pretzels. I stepped on them because they were on the stairs and I didn't want them to get broken more, so I decided to eat one or two, and then my wife said she didn't want them so I decided to finish them, and then start in on other Christmas candy. I know, where was my control? It went out the window last night. Tonight wasn't so rough though and I am hoping that it is going to get easier the healthier the choices I make. Well I am going to bed because my workout was seriously intense today and I am really tired.
I stuck with my diet very well today. Yesterday was another story. I did really well during the day and when I came home and ate dinner. It was after dinner when our friend dropped by with some chocolate covered pretzels. I stepped on them because they were on the stairs and I didn't want them to get broken more, so I decided to eat one or two, and then my wife said she didn't want them so I decided to finish them, and then start in on other Christmas candy. I know, where was my control? It went out the window last night. Tonight wasn't so rough though and I am hoping that it is going to get easier the healthier the choices I make. Well I am going to bed because my workout was seriously intense today and I am really tired.
Saturday, December 12, 2009
More Time
Well graduation day has come and gone. Now the question of the day is what to do with all of my new found extra time? No more going straight to school from work until 8:30 and then coming home to do three more hours of homework. No more waking up at 6 in the morning on Saturdays in order to maximize my homework time. No more worrying about the next test. No more drinking a thousand gallons of soda in order to stay awake through the day because I only had four hours of sleep the night before. No more excuses. No more next months. It's now. When I started this blog a little over a year ago, I started it because I wanted to find out why I did what I did, and that was put off exercising and overeat.
While I still haven't quite figured out why I overeat, I have figured out the exercising issue. Although I knew that exercise was the key to having more energy, when I came to the next test, or the mountain of homework that I had to finish for class, exercising takes time; and when I was so tired at night that I just couldn't remain awake a minute longer, or my brain was to tired to think of the next solution there comes a point when you have to call it quits in order to get some sleep to somewhat recharge the battery for the next day. So many times I would skip exercising and work on my homework on my lunch break in order to finish what wasn't done the night before. And soon soda became my best friend. Well to be all honest, soda has ALWAYS been my best friend, but more so when I was tired and needed to make it through the day. It doesn't help that soda is free at work and unfortunately that much soda drinking comes at a price, 1. it made me feel bloated most of the time; 2. I now have my very first, and only, 4 cavities; 3. it makes my body retain water; 4. I gained weight for sure.
So what to do now. Well I have been giving it an awful lot of thought, and I am going to start a new lifestyle. Yes, I know I said that last year, but I really can do it now because I can really focus on it now. I have a very hard time spreading my focus over several different things, especially when they are big events like finishing school or taking on the monumental task of losing as much weight as I have to lose. Although 100lbs isn't a ton of weight to lose, when it comes down to it, I look at it and I feel like I am standing at the base of K2. It feels like I am never going to reach the summit. Something that I learned yesterday during my graduation ceremony from one of the speakers, is that even though it may seem ridiculous and overwhelming, I can do it and I can make the change. I am the ONLY one who can make the change. And though it may seem like a monumental challenge, an impossible feat, I can do it because I can do anything I set my mind too. I just graduated from college for crying out loud. That is no easy feat in and of itself.
I have a few goals that I would like to set. By April, I would like to be ready to, or almost ready to run a 5k. I really want to start running, a lot. I know my wife wants to also, and I think we can do it together. Second, I want to start delving into that part of my brain that says, "eat it and don't stop until you are disgustingly sick and you leave nothing there." Yes, my brain does say stuff like that to me. Third, I want to become almost annoyingly healthy. What is almost annoyingly healthy? You know those people that are REALLY healthy and they criticize you for what you eat? I want to be almost to that point, but not quite. I love food, especially meat, breads, fruits, vegetables.....really all of it, except brussel sprouts; so I want to take the things I love and find healthy alternatives to preparing them. Finding ways to cut down on the fat and calories, etc. I know they are out there. Finally, and I guess this is really number one, but I put it here because it really is important to me, is that I want to be an example to my daughter and other future children and also to the rest of my family. I want to prove this to myself. I HAVE to prove this to myself!!
While I still haven't quite figured out why I overeat, I have figured out the exercising issue. Although I knew that exercise was the key to having more energy, when I came to the next test, or the mountain of homework that I had to finish for class, exercising takes time; and when I was so tired at night that I just couldn't remain awake a minute longer, or my brain was to tired to think of the next solution there comes a point when you have to call it quits in order to get some sleep to somewhat recharge the battery for the next day. So many times I would skip exercising and work on my homework on my lunch break in order to finish what wasn't done the night before. And soon soda became my best friend. Well to be all honest, soda has ALWAYS been my best friend, but more so when I was tired and needed to make it through the day. It doesn't help that soda is free at work and unfortunately that much soda drinking comes at a price, 1. it made me feel bloated most of the time; 2. I now have my very first, and only, 4 cavities; 3. it makes my body retain water; 4. I gained weight for sure.
So what to do now. Well I have been giving it an awful lot of thought, and I am going to start a new lifestyle. Yes, I know I said that last year, but I really can do it now because I can really focus on it now. I have a very hard time spreading my focus over several different things, especially when they are big events like finishing school or taking on the monumental task of losing as much weight as I have to lose. Although 100lbs isn't a ton of weight to lose, when it comes down to it, I look at it and I feel like I am standing at the base of K2. It feels like I am never going to reach the summit. Something that I learned yesterday during my graduation ceremony from one of the speakers, is that even though it may seem ridiculous and overwhelming, I can do it and I can make the change. I am the ONLY one who can make the change. And though it may seem like a monumental challenge, an impossible feat, I can do it because I can do anything I set my mind too. I just graduated from college for crying out loud. That is no easy feat in and of itself.
I have a few goals that I would like to set. By April, I would like to be ready to, or almost ready to run a 5k. I really want to start running, a lot. I know my wife wants to also, and I think we can do it together. Second, I want to start delving into that part of my brain that says, "eat it and don't stop until you are disgustingly sick and you leave nothing there." Yes, my brain does say stuff like that to me. Third, I want to become almost annoyingly healthy. What is almost annoyingly healthy? You know those people that are REALLY healthy and they criticize you for what you eat? I want to be almost to that point, but not quite. I love food, especially meat, breads, fruits, vegetables.....really all of it, except brussel sprouts; so I want to take the things I love and find healthy alternatives to preparing them. Finding ways to cut down on the fat and calories, etc. I know they are out there. Finally, and I guess this is really number one, but I put it here because it really is important to me, is that I want to be an example to my daughter and other future children and also to the rest of my family. I want to prove this to myself. I HAVE to prove this to myself!!
Sunday, December 6, 2009
It's Here!
You may have noticed the new background. Though the guitar was good, it wasn't really anything inspirational. I have always loved mountain biking, but have never been all that great at it because of my weight. So I made it my background so I can use it to help me get going. I started this blog over a year ago with the goal of using it to help me figure out who I am and why I do what I do. Well much hasn't changed except I did figure out that when it comes to weight loss, it takes a backseat when it comes to things like having a new baby arrive or going to school. I can't say that losing weight won't help me in getting a job, bit I can say when it comes to school in my mind, it won't help me make more money. But you know what they say, it's all about the first impressions. Having a nice suit and being trim and cut would make a great impression, so it is still my goal to get myself into shape.
Now on to the great part. I am finally graduating from school. I will walk on Friday!! I am really excited and I look forward to the future opportunities that I will have. But it is now time to buckle down and start getting serious about getting in shape. I have giving this a great deal of thought and I would seriously like to run four or five 5k races next year and also maybe one or two 10k, and also train to run a few mini marathons. You might say to yourself, really? Well, yes really. I am going to do this, my wife would like to run a few also. She wasn't able to run this year being pregnant, but next year we will both try to run a few. I don't know if we will try to run together, we both are at different stages in our fitness levels, but it might be fun to try and run one together one day.
Tonight I was able to get my food ready for tomorrow and write down all the food information. I am going to go back on the plan that my PT had me on when I first started with her. I am hoping that it won't take me long to get back to where I was and then surpass it. With school over with, I am excited to see what is going to happen and where I will go.
Now on to the great part. I am finally graduating from school. I will walk on Friday!! I am really excited and I look forward to the future opportunities that I will have. But it is now time to buckle down and start getting serious about getting in shape. I have giving this a great deal of thought and I would seriously like to run four or five 5k races next year and also maybe one or two 10k, and also train to run a few mini marathons. You might say to yourself, really? Well, yes really. I am going to do this, my wife would like to run a few also. She wasn't able to run this year being pregnant, but next year we will both try to run a few. I don't know if we will try to run together, we both are at different stages in our fitness levels, but it might be fun to try and run one together one day.
Tonight I was able to get my food ready for tomorrow and write down all the food information. I am going to go back on the plan that my PT had me on when I first started with her. I am hoping that it won't take me long to get back to where I was and then surpass it. With school over with, I am excited to see what is going to happen and where I will go.
Saturday, October 24, 2009
CRAZY!!
Well, I just looked over my last post, and it was a long time ago. I have a few things to report and update. I am finishing my last semester, my wife and I just had our first child on the first day of this semester, and I am trying to stay on top of my workouts, eating, homework, work, school, church duties, taking care of a new baby, and being sole provider now.
The fact that I am remotely trying to maintain my workouts and eating is remarkable to me. In past semesters, and to the frustration of my wife, I wouldn't have given workouts/eating healthy a second thought. It takes a backseat to all the homework and school and everything else. I told myself this semester that I was going to make an effort at staying up with my new lifestyle, and that is what I intend to do. Now, I don't always get to workout, and somedays my eating slips a bit, but I make an effort to workout 3-4 days a week, a minimum of 2 days of working out; and I still write down everything I eat. This was at the insistence of my wife who knows that even if I am not working out if I am eating healthy I will still lose weight.
I am still meeting with my Personal Trainer also, who is being very understanding of my current situation. In my mind it is important to have her because it helps me keep everything a part of my life and it makes me focus on it. To me it is vital for me to make it through this semester, and then come December I will be able to focus 100% on it and not be worried about school any more. Come December I will kick the soda, workout more and be focused even more on my goals. December can't come soon enough.
The fact that I am remotely trying to maintain my workouts and eating is remarkable to me. In past semesters, and to the frustration of my wife, I wouldn't have given workouts/eating healthy a second thought. It takes a backseat to all the homework and school and everything else. I told myself this semester that I was going to make an effort at staying up with my new lifestyle, and that is what I intend to do. Now, I don't always get to workout, and somedays my eating slips a bit, but I make an effort to workout 3-4 days a week, a minimum of 2 days of working out; and I still write down everything I eat. This was at the insistence of my wife who knows that even if I am not working out if I am eating healthy I will still lose weight.
I am still meeting with my Personal Trainer also, who is being very understanding of my current situation. In my mind it is important to have her because it helps me keep everything a part of my life and it makes me focus on it. To me it is vital for me to make it through this semester, and then come December I will be able to focus 100% on it and not be worried about school any more. Come December I will kick the soda, workout more and be focused even more on my goals. December can't come soon enough.
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Busy
I know it's been a while since my last post, but I've been ridiculously busy. I took my final test for the summer semester last night and now I have week until my final semester starts again, this will be my first semester while trying to maintain my lifestyle regimen. I am a little nervous, but it's only 14 weeks, and then I'm graduated.
My biggest accomplishment last week was running a mile straight without stopping. I was so happy, even though my lungs burned and my legs were cramping, it felt amazing! It was the first time I had ever done it. You know in Jr. High when you are supposed to do it, well I would just walk, EVERY time. But to do it last week was a major thing, so I can see just how much I am improving!
My biggest accomplishment last week was running a mile straight without stopping. I was so happy, even though my lungs burned and my legs were cramping, it felt amazing! It was the first time I had ever done it. You know in Jr. High when you are supposed to do it, well I would just walk, EVERY time. But to do it last week was a major thing, so I can see just how much I am improving!
Friday, August 7, 2009
Running
This week my PT gave me a running program so that I can ease into possible one of the most hated sports by many people I know. It goes over a 15 week period and mixes walking/crosstraining and running. So I started this week and usually I run indoors at my work during my lunch break and it usually isn't to extenuating.
I should probably explain why I am starting a running program....I don't know. Just kidding Liz, I actually don't know though, I have this overwhelming urge to just run. Now I don't mean Forest Gump run, but just run like a 5K or 10K. What I really want to do is run triathlons. This is something that I have really wanted to do in the last year but it was sparked about seven years ago when I start running to lose weight during my two year stint in Arkansas. There was a guy there that was training to run a marathon and he said if you have never run before just ease into it and you will begin to notice that it gets easier and easier after a couple weeks. When I returned home I started subscribing to Runners World magazine and I started reading about running and how people who ran regularly got this "runners high" and I really wanted to feel what it feels like.
Then a year and a half ago my wife got into this weightloss kick and decided that she wanted to start running and biking. She started lossing a lot of weight and has done really well, even being 37 weeks pregnant! I am very proud of her, she still does little exercising at work and we still go on walks. She did all this all the while I kept doing my homework and making my excuses to not get into shape. When I was doing homework one day I thought, "we should start running together. It's cheap, fun and most of the registration fees go to good causes," So now thanks to my personal trainer I am starting a program that I can ease into running and hopefully be ready next Spring to run a 5K. I am excited.
Did I reach the runners high today on my run? No, I was dying, but I actually did ALOT better than I thought I would. My lungs were burning and I thought my legs were going to lock up, but mixing the cross training and running together has really helped my endurance and I am still seeing progress!!
I should probably explain why I am starting a running program....I don't know. Just kidding Liz, I actually don't know though, I have this overwhelming urge to just run. Now I don't mean Forest Gump run, but just run like a 5K or 10K. What I really want to do is run triathlons. This is something that I have really wanted to do in the last year but it was sparked about seven years ago when I start running to lose weight during my two year stint in Arkansas. There was a guy there that was training to run a marathon and he said if you have never run before just ease into it and you will begin to notice that it gets easier and easier after a couple weeks. When I returned home I started subscribing to Runners World magazine and I started reading about running and how people who ran regularly got this "runners high" and I really wanted to feel what it feels like.
Then a year and a half ago my wife got into this weightloss kick and decided that she wanted to start running and biking. She started lossing a lot of weight and has done really well, even being 37 weeks pregnant! I am very proud of her, she still does little exercising at work and we still go on walks. She did all this all the while I kept doing my homework and making my excuses to not get into shape. When I was doing homework one day I thought, "we should start running together. It's cheap, fun and most of the registration fees go to good causes," So now thanks to my personal trainer I am starting a program that I can ease into running and hopefully be ready next Spring to run a 5K. I am excited.
Did I reach the runners high today on my run? No, I was dying, but I actually did ALOT better than I thought I would. My lungs were burning and I thought my legs were going to lock up, but mixing the cross training and running together has really helped my endurance and I am still seeing progress!!
Friday, July 31, 2009
It's Finally Friday
I can't believe that the week is over. Just 3 or 4 more and our little one will be here. We are so excited for her arrival. I am so glad that I am doing this change, I should have started a long time ago, but I just wasn't ready. I had all the excuses in the world to not change, but I grew tired of excuses, so when Nichole came to me and said that she had set up an appointment with a neighbor of ours, I was excited! I was ready. That was at the beginning of this month. Yesterday I went back for our monthly appointment, and walked away with some very positive results!
Thursday, July 30, 2009
What a Week
So this week I worked my butt off because I didn't count my calories over the weekend last weekend. I started off week @ 272 and I stayed there all week. Every morning I would get up and weigh myself and see the same number everyday.
I would work out everyday, killing myself to just see a different number the next morning. I went all week and woke up on friday morning, my legs stiff and my chest aching from the previous days workout and stepped on the scale. What did I see? The number 272 staring right back at me. I stepped off the scale and got back on thinking to myself that my $40 was broken. Still 272. Dangit. Off to work and a my workout.
When I woke up on Saturday and stepped on the scale to my surprise the scale read 268.8. All the hard work paid off and I had seen some progress, but it's the weekend again and this is where I faulter :( I need to be strick on the weekends, but like every other overweight person my excuse will be next weekend.
I would work out everyday, killing myself to just see a different number the next morning. I went all week and woke up on friday morning, my legs stiff and my chest aching from the previous days workout and stepped on the scale. What did I see? The number 272 staring right back at me. I stepped off the scale and got back on thinking to myself that my $40 was broken. Still 272. Dangit. Off to work and a my workout.
When I woke up on Saturday and stepped on the scale to my surprise the scale read 268.8. All the hard work paid off and I had seen some progress, but it's the weekend again and this is where I faulter :( I need to be strick on the weekends, but like every other overweight person my excuse will be next weekend.
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Test post
I just found that I can post on my blog from my text messages. This is awesome because I thought that I had to be signed up on my phone provider for the data plan, but oh contrare!!
So I am halfway through my third week here with my lifechange pickup. Did I ever give up hope with my life change that I started in Nov. of last year? No not really, but I just made my excuses. Is it going to be hard for me to not make excuses again this semester? You bet!! But I HAVE to make this an obsession, this has to be my new life! No it's not how the general population lives, I realize that and it's like I am pushing against an immovable rock according to societies frame of mind, but it HAS to be done, I can't keep living like this anymore.
So I am halfway through my third week here with my lifechange pickup. Did I ever give up hope with my life change that I started in Nov. of last year? No not really, but I just made my excuses. Is it going to be hard for me to not make excuses again this semester? You bet!! But I HAVE to make this an obsession, this has to be my new life! No it's not how the general population lives, I realize that and it's like I am pushing against an immovable rock according to societies frame of mind, but it HAS to be done, I can't keep living like this anymore.
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Back in the Saddle
Well I am back at it again. I enlisted the help of a Personal Trainer to help me get through the last two semesters of school and to help me stay focused to reach my goal. My wife and I are excitedly awaiting the arrival of our first child, so I am trying to stay focused on that also.
I have had some major problems with my weight loss since the beginning of the year, I haven't gained more weight than I started with, but I have fluctuated up and down and now I am working to just keep going down.
I sat down with my PT and we came up with some goals:
1. Drink water before soda (this is super tough for me)
2. Eat 1700 cal everyday
3. Cardio 5x a week
4. split weight routine 4x a week
I started last week on the 3rd and I weighed myself today and I have lost 13.6 pounds. Granted the first week I lost 10 in water, but 3.4 in the last 5 days isn't bad.
Next week I up the workout. So far so good though!
I have had some major problems with my weight loss since the beginning of the year, I haven't gained more weight than I started with, but I have fluctuated up and down and now I am working to just keep going down.
I sat down with my PT and we came up with some goals:
1. Drink water before soda (this is super tough for me)
2. Eat 1700 cal everyday
3. Cardio 5x a week
4. split weight routine 4x a week
I started last week on the 3rd and I weighed myself today and I have lost 13.6 pounds. Granted the first week I lost 10 in water, but 3.4 in the last 5 days isn't bad.
Next week I up the workout. So far so good though!
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Derailed
So I know that it has been a long time since I have posted, almost two months, but I figured that with my schedule the way it was is school I needed the time I was using to exercise, to devote to homework. I feel like I am going to get decent grades this semester so now it is time to get back on track.
I have decided to ease back into it, I have wanted to run a mini triathlon for quite some time, so I went to Runnersworld.com and downloaded an eight week running program that is supposed to take me from couch potato to being able to run 30 minutes at a time in this eight weeks. I have never been a runner so this is going to be an accomplishment. The program is set up so if I feel like I need some more practice on a week I can draw it out another week, but I am hoping that I can stick to the program. If anything the best thing that can come from this is I will drop some weight and start running 30 minutes at a time. They say it takes 21 days to make a habit, but in my case eight weeks isn't bad either.
For those of you who have followed my blog and though, "I knew he wasn't going to keep up with it" well your wrong, I will and I am. I have my priorities and right now getting passing grades is my priority. It will pay the bills in the future. I still have the desire to lose weight, and right now my goal is to shoot for a loss of 50 pounds by December, provided that my final semester in school isn't too overwhelming. That means that I have to lose 1.5 pounds a week until the third week in December. I would like it to be more, hopefully I can lose 2 pounds a week and lose 68 - 70 pounds in these 34 weeks, but I am going to make a realistic goal and go for it. One and a half pounds a week isn't terribly hard to do.
I have decided to ease back into it, I have wanted to run a mini triathlon for quite some time, so I went to Runnersworld.com and downloaded an eight week running program that is supposed to take me from couch potato to being able to run 30 minutes at a time in this eight weeks. I have never been a runner so this is going to be an accomplishment. The program is set up so if I feel like I need some more practice on a week I can draw it out another week, but I am hoping that I can stick to the program. If anything the best thing that can come from this is I will drop some weight and start running 30 minutes at a time. They say it takes 21 days to make a habit, but in my case eight weeks isn't bad either.
For those of you who have followed my blog and though, "I knew he wasn't going to keep up with it" well your wrong, I will and I am. I have my priorities and right now getting passing grades is my priority. It will pay the bills in the future. I still have the desire to lose weight, and right now my goal is to shoot for a loss of 50 pounds by December, provided that my final semester in school isn't too overwhelming. That means that I have to lose 1.5 pounds a week until the third week in December. I would like it to be more, hopefully I can lose 2 pounds a week and lose 68 - 70 pounds in these 34 weeks, but I am going to make a realistic goal and go for it. One and a half pounds a week isn't terribly hard to do.
Thursday, March 5, 2009
No soda, day 4
Well today I am feeling like crap. I have the worst headache that is turning to a migraine. I have been trying to cut out soda from my daily regimen I have made it to day four and I am now starting to pay for it. I was used to drinking soda all day long because it is free here at work, and I would drink water at night. The whole reason this came about was because of something I heard on t.v. on Saturday. They had this "health minute" segment with a R.D. and she said that most Americans that consume diet soda tend to intake more calories because the artificial sweetener makes you crave more sweet food. I kind of did an evaluation over the rest of the weekend and realized that that is probably true and decided to quit cold turkey. My problem is if I have some soda I crave it and consume it the rest of the day and don't stop. I have been really busy at work and also at school so I haven't been working out, but I have been watching my eating very closely and am trying to balance it, I am just hoping somethings change at work then I will have more time to work out.
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Losing.
I think I am back on track after this week. I have pretty much lost all that I had gained over the weekend in Vegas and the past week of not working out. I still haven't done much exercising mainly because work has picked up and is so busy. We had a meeting yesterday and the boss encouraged us to get away from our desks for an hour for lunch so we can have a fresh outlook, so I am going to start exercising again. I actually exercised once and it felt really good to get back into it, so this week I am going to hit it every day. Well I have to get going, lots of homework to do.
Monday, February 23, 2009
I fell off the horse...a bit
Last week was mine and Nichole's anniversary. Five years and running. A lot has happened in the last five years, so we went to Vegas to celebrate. We didn't eat to bad, and we walked A LOT!!! I am now oh so ready to be back in the saddle again. I haven't been super bad lately, I just haven't been working out, mainly because I have been taking my lunches to study for tests. I already lined out my school load this semester in a past post, but it has been a little overwhelming. Even today I have to take my lunch break to study for a test that I have after work.
Lately I have been loosing the steam and ambition that I had when I first started this venture. With my schooling I have been feeling like....like, well if you have ever seen the cartoon with the guy riding the horse through the desert and they are in search of water, that's how I have been feeling. I just feel like I have slowed down and then started dragging with my mission to lose weight and get healthy. Mainly because I have been putting in exercise and trying to eat healthy and everything, but I am still not loosing anything and have hit an early plateau. I still have a goal of losing 20 pounds by my wife's birthday, but this means that I have to step it up and lose three pounds a week. I guess my solution is strict dieting exercise everyday. I have started the strict diet today, but I will start exercising tomorrow again and get back in the saddle. I have at least picked myself up off the desert floor. Here's to tomorrow.
Lately I have been loosing the steam and ambition that I had when I first started this venture. With my schooling I have been feeling like....like, well if you have ever seen the cartoon with the guy riding the horse through the desert and they are in search of water, that's how I have been feeling. I just feel like I have slowed down and then started dragging with my mission to lose weight and get healthy. Mainly because I have been putting in exercise and trying to eat healthy and everything, but I am still not loosing anything and have hit an early plateau. I still have a goal of losing 20 pounds by my wife's birthday, but this means that I have to step it up and lose three pounds a week. I guess my solution is strict dieting exercise everyday. I have started the strict diet today, but I will start exercising tomorrow again and get back in the saddle. I have at least picked myself up off the desert floor. Here's to tomorrow.
Saturday, February 14, 2009
School Sucks
I'm sorry for the delay in posts. These last two weeks have been very stressful. My school has been overloaded and we also had a death in the extended family so needless to say I have been slacking on my exercising and been a little down with the unfortunate death. I really haven't done much, or lost anything. I am ready to jump back on the bandwagon this week as I have a new focus on things now. Nichole and I went to our 2nd doctors appointment for our first baby and it made me realize everything that I am trying to do and how important it is.
Lately I just really have been amiss and out of balance. I am taking five classes so I can be finished by December with my Bachelors and this semester is the hardest by far. I have two online classes that are just a bunch of busy work, and then a business calculus class (not real sure why I need this class), a web programming class, and finally an internet security class. I can't wait until the first week of May and this will all be over. I am just trying to keep my head above the water with all the homework business. The reason I am going through this is more for my sanity to put things into perspective. I have the hardest time staying focused when I feel unbalanced.
I would really like to be fifty pounds lighter when the baby gets here. When it does I will have three classes left and will have to focus on that and the new baby so I need to get it together. I will try and make another post this week, Nichole and I are going to Vegas for our 5th wedding anniversary and we are staying at a new hotel there so I am sure that they have a new gym and I can continue with my routine. I'll have to, to beat off the effects of eating and everything else we are going to do. Homework time!
Lately I just really have been amiss and out of balance. I am taking five classes so I can be finished by December with my Bachelors and this semester is the hardest by far. I have two online classes that are just a bunch of busy work, and then a business calculus class (not real sure why I need this class), a web programming class, and finally an internet security class. I can't wait until the first week of May and this will all be over. I am just trying to keep my head above the water with all the homework business. The reason I am going through this is more for my sanity to put things into perspective. I have the hardest time staying focused when I feel unbalanced.
I would really like to be fifty pounds lighter when the baby gets here. When it does I will have three classes left and will have to focus on that and the new baby so I need to get it together. I will try and make another post this week, Nichole and I are going to Vegas for our 5th wedding anniversary and we are staying at a new hotel there so I am sure that they have a new gym and I can continue with my routine. I'll have to, to beat off the effects of eating and everything else we are going to do. Homework time!
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Another 2...
I know, I know it has been over a week since I have updated my blog. I am still around and I am still working out. It has been a rough and stressful week. I was so inundated with homework last week that I just didn't have time to post. Good news is though, when I weighed in on Sunday I had lost another two pounds. Sometimes I wish it was like 12 or 13, but I will take the two. I subscribe to an email called Losing It With Jullien M. and she had a great post she sent out this week titled, "Be Proud of Any Success!" She made a good point in her "blog" she said,
"There's no such thing as mindless weight loss. You can't sleep off the pounds or take a miracle pill that burns fat. Losing weight is about making the right choices, every single day, in a variety of different situations. But even if you see the pounds coming off slowly, that doesn't mean you should throw in the towel. As one teammate explains, this journey may be slow going sometimes, but every milestone counts! "Many of us are losing between one and two pounds, and we all sound the same... just one pound but its okay since I'm heading in the right direction, wish it were more, only 2, etc. What I want to say is that the one and two pound losses are AWESOME!!! They are not something to just 'accept' or 'wish that it were better... Slow and steady wins this race people! And we need to be HAPPY with those 1 and 2 pound losses... no not just happy, but HAPPY!!
One of my other goals this week is to cut down on my soda intake. I try hard to limit it everyday, but I ultimately want to cut it down to one or two a week instead of two a day. I just have a very hard time drinking water. It has to be very cold because if it is warm it always tastes funny, but when it is cold I have real sensitive teeth and it hurts my teeth, so I have to use a straw. Not my favorite thing to do, but I need to make the sacrifice and use the straw.
Here at work they are starting a weight loss challenge and I am going to enter it. It is only $15 dollars and the winner takes the pot. I don't know if I am going to win, but I can sure as heck try and give it my best. Something more to give me some motivation and spur me to keep working. There are supposed to be 10-15 people entering it, so 15x15=$225 which would be awesome to pad my wallet with.
"There's no such thing as mindless weight loss. You can't sleep off the pounds or take a miracle pill that burns fat. Losing weight is about making the right choices, every single day, in a variety of different situations. But even if you see the pounds coming off slowly, that doesn't mean you should throw in the towel. As one teammate explains, this journey may be slow going sometimes, but every milestone counts! "Many of us are losing between one and two pounds, and we all sound the same... just one pound but its okay since I'm heading in the right direction, wish it were more, only 2, etc. What I want to say is that the one and two pound losses are AWESOME!!! They are not something to just 'accept' or 'wish that it were better... Slow and steady wins this race people! And we need to be HAPPY with those 1 and 2 pound losses... no not just happy, but HAPPY!!
I think when we see those HUGE losses on The Biggest Loser, we think that we should be pulling bigger numbers ourselves, but NONE of us are able to work out, sleep, eat, work out, eat, sleep, and work out some more. We are living in the real world with families, jobs, and activities. It is not an excuse! But getting one really good workout in per day, eating healthy, and working at obtaining a doable calorie deficit that you can be happy with and make a new healthy habit, is something to be proud of... remember, a 1,000 calorie deficit each day for one week equals 2 pounds and the end of the week. So those 1 and 2 pounders have to be celebrated. I am guilty of it myself... 'just 1 lb, but I at least it is in the right direction'... instead it should be 'YIPPY!! I lost ANOTHER pound this week!!'
A half pound, 1 lb, 2 lbs are success, and so anyone who achieves these smaller losses in a weeks time are successful too! I just want us to celebrate being a success — no matter how small the loss may be.
So CONGRATULATIONS to everyone who lost pounds this week... keep up the good work and pat yourself on the back — yes, even if it were a pound, do it! Pat yourself on the back and tell yourself that YOU are a success!!" –fit4deb"
When it comes down to it, it really does take an active effort to reach a goal of losing weight. One pound equals 3500 calories. Some people eat more than that a day. If I ate like that everyday I would be so out of shape and 10 pounds heavier. For me to lose 2 pounds that means that I have cut my intake and burned 7000 calories. That is a lot of calories. So when I lose 2 pounds I need to remember that fact and be happy. My new goal is to lose 2-3 pounds a week until our baby is born in August, so if I can keep this up I will be able to reach my goal and then some.One of my other goals this week is to cut down on my soda intake. I try hard to limit it everyday, but I ultimately want to cut it down to one or two a week instead of two a day. I just have a very hard time drinking water. It has to be very cold because if it is warm it always tastes funny, but when it is cold I have real sensitive teeth and it hurts my teeth, so I have to use a straw. Not my favorite thing to do, but I need to make the sacrifice and use the straw.
Here at work they are starting a weight loss challenge and I am going to enter it. It is only $15 dollars and the winner takes the pot. I don't know if I am going to win, but I can sure as heck try and give it my best. Something more to give me some motivation and spur me to keep working. There are supposed to be 10-15 people entering it, so 15x15=$225 which would be awesome to pad my wallet with.
Monday, January 26, 2009
A Better Outlook
Last week was a joke. It started out great, in fact I was enjoying my workouts and I was so excited to get into it and hit it hard. Then on Wednesday I got into an accident, rear-ended someone and it totally threw my week into a tailspin. I didn't exercise on Thursday and I think I did Friday, but it was half-heartedly. This weekend my wife and I got sick and I really didn't want to go to work today. I have been having such a hard time getting back into the grove it isn't even funny. Today I just decided that I needed to force myself to do it. It was a challenge but I did it and I feel better tonight.
Lately it has been so hard for me to get into it because I haven't been losing much weight, maybe inches, but I have been working out hard with little to no results. I don't know exactly what the problem is, but I am going to get back to basics again. I am trying to make it to complicated. I need to make sure that I am watching my portions and no cheating on the weekends. I also need to make sure that I am making the most of my workouts. I also need to remember what I am doing this for. It seems to slip my mind more often than not. This is for my future children and my wonderful wife.
Lately it has been so hard for me to get into it because I haven't been losing much weight, maybe inches, but I have been working out hard with little to no results. I don't know exactly what the problem is, but I am going to get back to basics again. I am trying to make it to complicated. I need to make sure that I am watching my portions and no cheating on the weekends. I also need to make sure that I am making the most of my workouts. I also need to remember what I am doing this for. It seems to slip my mind more often than not. This is for my future children and my wonderful wife.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Funny moments
It's been a few day, but there has been a few things going on. Today I got in an accident, my fault, and school is pretty hectic. I just wanted to take a minute and say how cute my wife is. She is always so proud of me when I lose any weight and is so supportive of my goal. The other night, I guess it was Monday, when she read my post about losing 12 lbs she asked me, "good job on losing 12 lbs honey, do you feel lighter?" and I said, "like a feather, if I fell down the stairs I would probably float to the bottom." We both started laughing. I started at 288 and am down to 276, it's great, but when you weigh that much 12 lbs isn't all that much. Ask again when I've lost 50 honey!!
Monday, January 19, 2009
12 lbs so far....
So hopefully I am on the downward slide. Two weeks ago I set a goal to be 270 when I was 282. Then last week when I hit 280 I decided 270 was way to ambitious. So instead last week I set a goal of 4 lbs which would bring me to 276 which I hit this week. My goal today was 273. Not a whole lot, but if I happen to have another week like last then that will be great. I felt so much better when I started on my old routine and was pleasantly surprised that going back to it worked so well. Though I never got in my leg routine, I am going to do it twice this week to make up for it.
My weekend was good. I really don't like to exercise on Saturdays unless it is early in the morning, which I should have done on Saturday instead of getting up and watching a little TV before starting my homework. I worked on my Management homework and continued to push it later into the day. Then my dad called and we went and bought my Christmas present, a new handgun, and then went to lunch together. It isn't everyday that I get to spend time like that with my father, so I was excited to do it. By that time working out was a figment of my imagination and I went along my day without doing any exercising. My new goal this Saturday is to get up and workout before my wife and I head off to Logan for the day. I will have homework to do the rest of the day while we are up there, so I need to make sure that I get that workout in.
Yesterday we went to my parents for dinner and we had Hawaiian Haystacks for dinner. Love em, Love THEM. It's the greatest thing for two reasons a) you can make it healthy with brown rice, fruit, vegetables etc.. which might not sound so great together, but then b) you cover it all with a chicken gravy and cheese which then makes all the flavors blend together and combine for the greatest flavor (in my opinion). I totally went overboard with my proportions, which I really should have measured out, and was most of the night. It was really good, but I should have measured it out. Which goes to show that even though I am trying to make this life changed it isn't something that happens over night. It is something that I have to continually work on and remember to make a priority. It's like they say, "Old habits die hard," and that is exactly the case in my situation. Although I am doing a lot better with the exercising, the eating is what kills everything if it isn't reigned in. It's a good thing that today was a new day!!
My weekend was good. I really don't like to exercise on Saturdays unless it is early in the morning, which I should have done on Saturday instead of getting up and watching a little TV before starting my homework. I worked on my Management homework and continued to push it later into the day. Then my dad called and we went and bought my Christmas present, a new handgun, and then went to lunch together. It isn't everyday that I get to spend time like that with my father, so I was excited to do it. By that time working out was a figment of my imagination and I went along my day without doing any exercising. My new goal this Saturday is to get up and workout before my wife and I head off to Logan for the day. I will have homework to do the rest of the day while we are up there, so I need to make sure that I get that workout in.
Yesterday we went to my parents for dinner and we had Hawaiian Haystacks for dinner. Love em, Love THEM. It's the greatest thing for two reasons a) you can make it healthy with brown rice, fruit, vegetables etc.. which might not sound so great together, but then b) you cover it all with a chicken gravy and cheese which then makes all the flavors blend together and combine for the greatest flavor (in my opinion). I totally went overboard with my proportions, which I really should have measured out, and was most of the night. It was really good, but I should have measured it out. Which goes to show that even though I am trying to make this life changed it isn't something that happens over night. It is something that I have to continually work on and remember to make a priority. It's like they say, "Old habits die hard," and that is exactly the case in my situation. Although I am doing a lot better with the exercising, the eating is what kills everything if it isn't reigned in. It's a good thing that today was a new day!!
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Cutting Carbs
Cutting Carbs is TOUGH!!!! So the first day that I tried it I was doing really good until I got home and then decided I wanted some Ice Cream. I love Breyers Fat Free ice cream. It is super creamy and smooth. When I had calculated it up I had eaten about 100 carbs. I had a lot of it, 2 Cups. I had done really good, if I wouldn't have eaten the ice cream I would have only eaten 70 grams of carbs, my goal. I realized that having those little temptations can send our goals spiraling out of control. Oh well, Tuesday was a new day. I didn't do as bad yesterday. I ate over 100, but not much over that. Today, I'm not sure, I had to substitute because it is time to go grocery shopping.
My workout have been really good this week. I got back to basics this week and haven't felt so pumped about my workouts since the week before last. I guess I needed that one week of part time exercise to realize that sometimes change is not always good. I am doing lots better this week. Well I have to cut it short tonight, lots more homework to do until I turn in tonight.
My workout have been really good this week. I got back to basics this week and haven't felt so pumped about my workouts since the week before last. I guess I needed that one week of part time exercise to realize that sometimes change is not always good. I am doing lots better this week. Well I have to cut it short tonight, lots more homework to do until I turn in tonight.
Monday, January 12, 2009
I'm Out
So my whole ambitious move to do P90X is going to be put on hold. I realized that I can't switch what I am doing and do something else because it makes me unmotivated. Last week I was having a hard time wanting to exercise and eat healthy because I was straying away from what I had already set in my mind. Plus P90X is REALLY hard. I am just going to go back to what I was doing and get my motivation back and work it that way. I'm usually a quitter, but it's for other reasons. I don't feel like quitting this routine is a failure because I am going to go back to what I was doing before and jump back on my train. It's not moving as fast, but it is moving. And I feel like it is a safer bet for me.
I have also decided to cut out most of my carbs. I think I eat WAY to many carbs, especially when I get home at night because after school, I don't want to go home and eat something heavy so I grab a bowl of cereal, so now I am going to try keeping a salad on hand with some broiled chicken and make it healthy that way. Then I am getting more protein and less carbs, but still eating healthy. I am not going to cut out all carbs because I want a balanced diet. I am trying to keep my Carbs at around 60 to 70 carbs a day. Not as extreme as others, but still I think a decent goal. I probably eat 200 carbs everyday as it is right now. I think this will be much better.
With the price of food lately it is really hard to eat extremely healthy. For the first time in a long time when my wife and I went to buy lettuce, iceburg was more expensive than romain and regular green leaf lettuce. It is getting so hard to eat extremely healthy. In conversation, my wife and I have decided that if we eat the right proportions anddo our exercises everyday, then we can be healthy. Now I don't think that means that we can eat mac and cheese every day, but it will help keep some money in my wallet her purse. We haven't quite made that transition yet, but the time will come here shortly where we are going to have to make that sacrifice.
Well it's a new week and time to get back on track.
I have also decided to cut out most of my carbs. I think I eat WAY to many carbs, especially when I get home at night because after school, I don't want to go home and eat something heavy so I grab a bowl of cereal, so now I am going to try keeping a salad on hand with some broiled chicken and make it healthy that way. Then I am getting more protein and less carbs, but still eating healthy. I am not going to cut out all carbs because I want a balanced diet. I am trying to keep my Carbs at around 60 to 70 carbs a day. Not as extreme as others, but still I think a decent goal. I probably eat 200 carbs everyday as it is right now. I think this will be much better.
With the price of food lately it is really hard to eat extremely healthy. For the first time in a long time when my wife and I went to buy lettuce, iceburg was more expensive than romain and regular green leaf lettuce. It is getting so hard to eat extremely healthy. In conversation, my wife and I have decided that if we eat the right proportions anddo our exercises everyday, then we can be healthy. Now I don't think that means that we can eat mac and cheese every day, but it will help keep some money in my wallet her purse. We haven't quite made that transition yet, but the time will come here shortly where we are going to have to make that sacrifice.
Well it's a new week and time to get back on track.
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Change Up
I know I haven't written in the past few days. Ok, almost a week. I actually started school this past Monday, so I have been trying to get into the grove of that and also I am changing up my workout routine. I know I shouldn't shift gears in the middle of what I have been doing, but I forgot that I promised my friend that I would do P90X with him at the start of the new year. So he calls me up on Friday and asked if I was still going to do it with him and I said yes, I had completely spaced it off that I had told him I would do it with him. So Monday rolls around and what did I do? I spaced it again, so he texts me and asks if I had started the routine yet and said, "I just got done with the first disc "Chest and Back" and my arms are like Jello." SoI tell him that I am going to start it Tuesday and I will tell him how I do. So last night @ 9:30 I pop in the DVD and I jump into it. I just about died. I was so tired and sore when I was done after the 53 minutes that I could barely wash my hair when I was in the shower. So today I did the second disc called "Plyometrics" I have no idea what plyometrics is, but halfway through the workout I had to stop because my leg muscles and knees were just about to give out on me if I did one more jump. So after 25 minutes I finished and went back to my desk and finished out my day. Oh my chest and back? Yeah, they are sore! We'll see how the next 87 days goes.
I have some really awesome new regarding my measurements. When I first started this journey my Bro-in-law took all my measurements on my arms, thighs, calves, waist, chest, neck, and hips and the verdict is in:
Start Month 1
Arms 14" 15"
Calf's 18" 18"
Thigh's 36" 24"
Hips 50.5" 48.5"
Waist 57.5" 54"
Chest 54" 50"
Neck 17" 16"
Weight 288 278
Yeah I was excited. It may not be much, but it is something and it proves to me that my efforts are paying off. When he told me my measurements my thought was, just like it always has been when I lose some weight, "YEAH I can reward myself, I don't have to eat as strict as I was because it is working!!" Wrong. I need to make sure that I stick with it and that I keep giving it my all because I am not going to hit 180 ever if I don't. It's just like I put in my last post, I have to cut out the junk if I want to reach the potential that I have in my mind. So I have to tighten up the eating and be 100% STRICT. Ok so I probably won't be 100%, I don't think anyone ever is 100%, but I need to at least be in the 95% area. I can do that for sure. Well, it's back to homework for me. Until next time!
I have some really awesome new regarding my measurements. When I first started this journey my Bro-in-law took all my measurements on my arms, thighs, calves, waist, chest, neck, and hips and the verdict is in:
Start Month 1
Arms 14" 15"
Calf's 18" 18"
Thigh's 36" 24"
Hips 50.5" 48.5"
Waist 57.5" 54"
Chest 54" 50"
Neck 17" 16"
Weight 288 278
Yeah I was excited. It may not be much, but it is something and it proves to me that my efforts are paying off. When he told me my measurements my thought was, just like it always has been when I lose some weight, "YEAH I can reward myself, I don't have to eat as strict as I was because it is working!!" Wrong. I need to make sure that I stick with it and that I keep giving it my all because I am not going to hit 180 ever if I don't. It's just like I put in my last post, I have to cut out the junk if I want to reach the potential that I have in my mind. So I have to tighten up the eating and be 100% STRICT. Ok so I probably won't be 100%, I don't think anyone ever is 100%, but I need to at least be in the 95% area. I can do that for sure. Well, it's back to homework for me. Until next time!
Friday, January 2, 2009
New Year, New Me
Well the new year is here. New Year's Eve I read an article in a magazine about getting rid of love handles. Actually it was a question that someone wrote in for the Question and Answer part of the magazine. The response that was give was eye opening to me, not because I didn't think of it before, I had it in the back of my mind, but because it was just a reinforcement of my goal, but now it is becoming a more prolonged goal.
This is what he said, "Love handles are often the last to disappear when you're trying to get ripped. Overall training is a must, not just sidebends. Make sure you hit every muscle group twice a week. Getting rid of the last areas of flab is always tricky, but it comes down to diet. You need to eat clean all the time. Eating well most of the time doesn't cut it. Cut out the junk. You can do it, but it requires stricter attention to both your training and eating programs. And please note that once you get rid of the love handles, you'll have to keep to a clean eating regimen. Otherwise they'll return in double-quick time."
It just made me remember that this is a life change, not just "reach my goal and then quit". I have to make sure that I continue what I am doing for the rest of my life. Does that mean that I have to write down my food everyday? Probably. I'm horrible @ making wise decisions when it comes to eating. I am swayed too easily to eat the WRONG thing instead of choosing the healthy choice. Even when I am trying to eat healthy, and I forget to write down my food for a few days, I find that I don't quite lose as much weight as I did when I was strict about writing it down. So I better get used to it.
On Wednesday I did my leg workout. My bro-in-law told me that if I mixed my lifting with cardio it would help me build up my endurance. I started with a 5 minute warm up on the elliptical trainer and then I moved to my first set of squats, then I went back to the elliptical and did that for one minute then went to my second set of squats then back to the elliptical and I continued on with this through my whole workout for each exercise. I felt really good after words, but today is Friday and my legs are still sore. I felt like I got so much more out of my exercise routine that day, oh yeah, I did it on Tuesday also with my upper body workout, and it worked well with that one also. I figure I probably didn't burn twice the calories, but I maybe 1.5 times more than usual because I was keeping my heart rate up the whole way through the workout.
I am going to my in-laws this weekend so it is time to update the measurements and see where I stand for the month. Hopefully we have some good news. If not, then I need to work harder and be more strick in my eating habits.
This is what he said, "Love handles are often the last to disappear when you're trying to get ripped. Overall training is a must, not just sidebends. Make sure you hit every muscle group twice a week. Getting rid of the last areas of flab is always tricky, but it comes down to diet. You need to eat clean all the time. Eating well most of the time doesn't cut it. Cut out the junk. You can do it, but it requires stricter attention to both your training and eating programs. And please note that once you get rid of the love handles, you'll have to keep to a clean eating regimen. Otherwise they'll return in double-quick time."
It just made me remember that this is a life change, not just "reach my goal and then quit". I have to make sure that I continue what I am doing for the rest of my life. Does that mean that I have to write down my food everyday? Probably. I'm horrible @ making wise decisions when it comes to eating. I am swayed too easily to eat the WRONG thing instead of choosing the healthy choice. Even when I am trying to eat healthy, and I forget to write down my food for a few days, I find that I don't quite lose as much weight as I did when I was strict about writing it down. So I better get used to it.
On Wednesday I did my leg workout. My bro-in-law told me that if I mixed my lifting with cardio it would help me build up my endurance. I started with a 5 minute warm up on the elliptical trainer and then I moved to my first set of squats, then I went back to the elliptical and did that for one minute then went to my second set of squats then back to the elliptical and I continued on with this through my whole workout for each exercise. I felt really good after words, but today is Friday and my legs are still sore. I felt like I got so much more out of my exercise routine that day, oh yeah, I did it on Tuesday also with my upper body workout, and it worked well with that one also. I figure I probably didn't burn twice the calories, but I maybe 1.5 times more than usual because I was keeping my heart rate up the whole way through the workout.
I am going to my in-laws this weekend so it is time to update the measurements and see where I stand for the month. Hopefully we have some good news. If not, then I need to work harder and be more strick in my eating habits.
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