Week 4 Results for Slimmer This Summer

My Goals:

-Journal my meals

-Be under 165g of Carbohydrates/day

-Exercise 5 times a week for 45-60 minutes

-10 glasses of water a day

-Run/walk a 5K in under 40 minutes GOAL MET!

-Build a support network

-lose an average of 2 lbs/week, 24lbs total

Beginning Weight: 201.3

Week 1: 198.6 (-2.7)

Week 2: 198.6 (0) No change

Week 3: 196.9 (-1.7) Total loss 4.4 lbs

Week 4: 193.9 (-3) Total loss 7.4

(16.1 loss since I began my journey in January)

Daily Carb Count

(out of 165g carbs and adjusted for fiber intake)

Monday: 161 (4 under)

Tuesday: 204 adjused after fiber 174 (9 over)

Wednesday: 157 (8 under)

Thursday: 183-56 fiber bonus 127 adjusted (38 under)

Friday: 156 (9 under)

Saturday:172-39 fiber points 133 adjusted (32 under)

Sunday: 108 (57 under)

To view my food diary, visit myfitnesspal.com.  Profile name: ambreee

Measurements:

No big changes on my measurements. I lost a ½ inch off my chest and gained an inch on my waist.  I am sure I am retaining water due to my period. So hopefully I will see a greater change next week!

Here are the weekly goals I was working on:

-Get in two 40 minute runs

Accomplished!  I even reached my 5k in under 40 minutes!!  I ran 3.05 miles on Monday in 40 minutes and on Saturday I did a whole 5k (3.2 miles) in 39.17 minutes.  I will continue to work on improving my time.  I may sign up for a 5k in September.  I am looking for someone to join me.

-quit thinking about caloric intake, and focus on carb intake instead.  Counting calories is messing me up and I end up eating more.  I know backwards, but I am going to try it this week and see where it gets me.

It helped for me to focus on my carbs instead of calories.  I actually was much better about my eating overall, because I was able to keep my blood sugar under control.  I ate more fiber this week too, which is also helpful on my blood sugar.  And Heck, I lost 3lbs, so I am happy!!

-Start taking my vitamins and minerals again.  Many of these I quit taking when I was pregnant (as I was advised to), and it is time to get back into the swing of things for the sake of my mood, energy and blood sugar.

Big oops!  I still have not been doing this.  I always think about it at the wrong time.  I have to take them when my daughter is not around, because she thinks she can take what ever I am having.  I am going to shoot for this one again this week.

Yeah for Week Five!  Happy Fourth of July!

Week 3 results for Slimmer This Summer

My goals:

-Journal my meals

-Be under 165g of Carbohydrates/day

-Exercise 5 times a week for 45-60 minutes

-10 glasses of water a day

-Run/walk a 5K in under 40 minutes

-Build a support network

-lose an average of 2 lbs/week, 24lbs total

Beginning Weight: 201.3

Week 1: 198.6 (-2.7)

Week 2: 198.6 (0) No change

Week 3: 196.9 (-1.7) Total loss -4.4 lbs

Daily Carb Count (out of 165g carbs)

Monday: 138 (27 under)

Tuesday: 203 (38 over)

Wednesday: 162 (3 under)

Thursday: 189 (24 over)

Friday: 184 (19 over)

Saturday: didn’t track, but wasn’t bad day

Sunday: (28 under)

Measurements: Loss a ½ inch off my ribs. Other measurements remained the same.

What a week!  It is true, as the summer is coming in full swing, it is getting harder to stay on top of my goals and to keep motivated.  It is like I start out the week alright and by the time the weekend hits I am struggling.

I am getting in my exercise and I am drinking enough water, so I am accomplishing some of my goals.  But changing my eating habits is hard.  This truly is a challenge for me.

I am trying not to get down on myself about not reaching my food goals, because I am not giving up.  My focus really has been on working out and getting a burn.  The past couple of weeks I have worked hard and have gotten a good burn.

I got another run in this week.  I have improved my 40 minute run by a tenth of a mile, technically I hit 3 miles before I hit 41 minutes, so I am getting closer to my goal of running a 5k in under 40 minutes.  I am going to try to get in two runs next week. 

**Update: I ran this morning and I have even greater improvement.  In 40 minutes I made it 3.05 miles**

When I run I get a lot of pain in my shoulders and neck.  I have been working with a chiropractor for a month and a half to “fix” an old problem.  It is helping, but the pain is still is great when I run.  There are many exercises I can do that don’t hurt my neck and shoulders as much.  I just don’t feel like I burn the same amount of calories.  I may have to resort to those other things to keep from popping the Tylenol.

Because I need to, here are my weekly goals in addition to my challenge goals above.

-Get in two 40 minute runs

-quit thinking about caloric intake, and focus on carb intake instead.  Counting calories is messing me up and I end up eating more.  I know backwards, but I am going to try it this week and see where it gets me.

-Start taking my vitamins and minerals again.  Many of these I quit taking when I was pregnant (as I was advised to), and it is time to get back into the swing of things for the sake of my mood, energy and blood sugar.

Cheers and here is to a great Week four!  My oh my where has the time gone.

6/23/11 40 minutes 2.98 miles

6/27/11 40 minutes 3.05 miles

STS Mid-Week Report

Re-cap of the week thus far.  Things are going good.  Not perfect, but good.  My goal is to be under 165g of Carbohydrates/day, exercise 5 times a week for 45-60 minutes, and to have 10 glasses of water a day. Oh yes.... and to run/walk a 5K in under 40 minutes.  I do not have a caloric goal, but I am keeping track anyhow.

When I am able to work out on the treadmill I am going for 40 minutes and seeing how far I can go.  My goal is to increase my distance each time.  Saturday I went 2.6 miles and Tuesday I went 2.88 miles.  I know I will accomplish my goal of a 5K I under 40 minutes before the challenge is over.  In that case, I will set a new time goal.

Monday: Carbs:144 (21 under) Calories: 1514 Water: 10 glasses

Exercise: 45 minutes Elliptical and Bike

Tuesday: Carbs:157 (8 carbs under)Calories: 1840 Water: 8 glasses

Exercise: 40 minutes walk/jog 2.88 miles 20 minutes strength training

Wednesday: Carbs:176 (11 carbs over) Calories: 1974 Water: 9 glasses

Exercise: 50 minutes elliptical and bike

70 minutes ice skating

Wednesday my husband: The Chocolate Lover and I celebrated our wedding anniversary so I splurged on a super rich Magnum ice cream bar, and a late night trip to Taco Bell following our Ice Skating date.  I did go over on my carbs, but not ridiculously high.  Had I not splurged I would have been wayyy under.

Getting the water in is challenging for me.  I have to remind myself to keep drinking.  I imagine as the weather warms up I will be drinking more.  Today it is a balmy 57 degrees here in Boise, Idaho.  I also should bring two water bottles when I am working out.  I could easily drink another bottle when I am working out.  I always run out of water and I am beet-red in the face for an hour or two after running.  Maybe if I get in more water my body will learn to cool itself down more efficiently.

I haven’t been posting my food journal on my blog, but if you are curious or interested in seeing what I am eating here is the link to my food journal@ Myfitnesspal.com

Have a great day!  It is fast approaching the weekend. Yeah!!

Work Out update and Sunday Rest Report

I am getting excited for the Summer Slim Down!! I am going to do a weigh in, in the morning and do my monthly measurements.

Yesterday I took a solo trip to the gym.  I have been working out with a neighbor and it has been fun.  Usually we do the elliptical or the bikes.  I am working on improving my running so I prefer the treadmill when I go solo.

So one of my goals is to run a 5k in 40 minutes.  I have run several 5K’s pre-pregnancy and marriage.  My pregnancies are rough on my body and I have a difficult time even getting by.  I suppose that is one reason I have gained so much weight post-partum.  When you spend 9 months sick as a dog sitting still and then the baby comes out and you feel wonderful again, it is hard not to eat.

Anyhow…. Back to the 5K.  I get off track way to easily!  Usually when I do a treadmill workout.  I walk at an incline for the first 30 minutes, then spend the last 30 minutes doing walk/jog intervals. I usually do around 3.5miles.  I am changing it up to get back into running more.

My new plan is to spend 40 minutes on the treadmill and see how far I can make it in the 40 minutes.  Yesterdays distance: 2.6 miles.  I am pleased with it.  I think my goal is very reachable.  If I end up reaching it sooner than 12 weeks, I will work on decreasing my time.

Sunday Rest Day Report:  Today was a wonderful day at church.  It was fast and testimony meeting.  I always love hearing how others hearts are touched by living the gospel.  In Sunday school we talked about fasting.  A scripture from the Old Testament gave me an ‘aha” moment.  I wish I could remember the reference!!  It basically talks of fasting with a purpose.  In the footnote, it goes into a little more detail expounding that if you don’t fast with a purpose, you are basically just starving yourself and will be cranky for doing so.  If I find the reference I will re-post it!

I have always known we should be fasting with a purpose, but it is nice to see the background teachings on that.  I am grateful for Sunday’s and taking the day off to rest!

I will be back tomorrow to begin posting about my new journey!!