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!!

Comment Troubles.......

Anyone else out there having troubles commenting on blogs.  I know Blogger was having issues last week too.  I am able to comment with my other blog account, but for the life of me, I am not able to comment with this account.  I could a couple days ago and now it is not letting me from this account.  I am not sure what it up.

Kelly @ Confessions of a Compulsive Dieter and Emotional Eater. This post is dedicated to you, since I am not able to comment of other blogs at this time.  If I was able to reply to your comment, this is what I would have said….

 

Hi Kelly—

Thanks for commenting on my blog.  You asked what I have been eating.  I really focus on protein rich foods at my meals and when I snack. Examples: cheese, cottage cheese, hamburger, tuna fish, eggs, nuts, peanut butter, etc.  Many of these things are not low calorie, but it is what I need to do to survive.  I have not been hitting the 1200 calorie range.  I was around 1600 yesterday.  If you are getting in a good work out, the calorie count isn’t as crucial.  I am aiming to work out 5 days a week for 40-60 minutes.  In hopes that it will balance my “extra calories” for eating protein rich foods.  I recently worked with a trainer who said my caloric intake should be between 1500-1700, for the work outs we have been engaging in.

I am also trying to really limit my complex carbohydrates.  I am moderating my fruit intake 1-2 servings a day (eating a ½ serving at a time). When I do have carb rich foods I try to make sure it is fiber rich as well.  Examples: whole grain bread/tortilla/crackers, beans, brown rice, etc.

I try to eat as many low calorie veggies I can handle, but try to steer clear of the high carb ones.

I have had a lot of friends use weight watcher and have success, awesome.

I will eventually get around to posting more details of what I am eating.  Hope that is helpful.  If you have any other questions feel free to email.

Overcomingmysugaraddiction @ gmail .com

Numbers Girl: Three years!

I hated math growing up.  I despised it.  In fact, in college all of my schooling was delayed because I held off taking any math classes as long as possible.  I decided enough was enough and I needed to learn to overcome my fear of algebra, functions and all things numbers. 

As I rode my bike to school one day I started running numbers in my head: If I go this fast, so many miles to school I will get there in this time.  It became my own game and I would try to out beat myself each day.

Until I got pregnant with #1 I was an avid bike rider.  I loved the wind in my face and challenging myself to go faster or further.  So many years ago, on my 13 mile rides to the University I learned to like math and gain a greater appreciation for numbers and number patterns.  It took a few years and seven math classes later, and one very faithful, patient tutor (some of those repeated classes) before I got the groove down.  I learned to love math!  I am still amazed by the fact.

Last night as I was logging in my foods and watching the numbers add up and appear like all wonderful math problems, that little spark started coming back.  If I make this caloric/carbohydrate counting number game work for me, I can have some fun with it. 

As I read many of the other challenger’s blog posts with their caloric intake (sorry for not commenting, Blogger is really out for me today and I am not able to comment for what ever reason) I was impressed and amazed with all the awesomeness in everyone and how you are all doing.  I am so grateful to have stumbled across this challenge and all of you blogs, to keep me going!

So in celebration of numbers!  On 06-07-08, three year ago I was married to my sweet husband, the Chocolate Lover.  Happy anniversary Chocolate Lover, may our union by uncountable.

Todays Intake and Exercise

I have been using MyFitnessPal.com to track my carbs and calories.  Carb count is most important to me.  I am allowing myself 165 grams/carbs max per day.

Today my carb count was 122 grams (43 grams under my allotted 165, yay!). Calories I was at: 1324, which to me seems good considering I am eating more protein to keep my blood sugar balanced.

I got in my 80 oz off water, which is a lot more than I usually drink.  I have visited the bathroom many times today!

I went to the gym this morning and did 30 minutes on the elliptical and 15 on the exercise bike.

Off to a good start!

Post Script:   Oops, I missed an entry in my food journal.  I actually consumed 144 grams of Carb (which still falls within my goal range!) and a total of 1514 calories. 

Day One: Weigh In and Measurements

Here we are the first day of the challenge.  As I promised here are my stats.  I am excited for the new transformation in my life!

                                   

Weight

Neck

Chest

Ribs

Waist

Belly

Hips

Calf

Arm

201.3
13.5
43.5
39
41
46
45.5
16
15

I also took some before pictures.  I haven’t decided yet if I will be posting measurements and pictures each week.  I may do it on a monthly basis.

I started my weight loss journey in January.  I started at 210 lbs.  Since I have began I have lost ½ inch from my chest, ½ inch from my rib cage, 3 inches from my waist, 3 inches from my belly at it’s widest point, 1 ½ from my hips, and ½ inch from my arms.  A total weight loss of 8.7 lbs. 

Slow progress, but it is progress. 

Happy Day, here we go!

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!!

Slimmer This Summer

In my plea to be healthier I have stumbled across some weight loss blogs and I came across this challenge from Debbi Does Dieting.  It couldn’t have come at a better time for me! 

I am looking forward to being healthier and in the works of it all, losing some weight.  I miss my old self: energetic, happy, optimistic and strong.  I look forward to regaining my lost self.

My goals for this 12 week challenge:

-I want to lose an average of 2 lbs a week (so 24 lbs over all).  Committing by writing this down, scares me to death.  I don’t want to fail!

-I will drink 80 oz of water a day.

-I am going to work out 5 times a week for 45-60 minutes each session: including strength training and cardio. By the end of the 12 weeks I would like to be able to jog/walk a 5k again under 40 minutes. I am working with a chiropractor to overcome some neck and back issues that have kept me from running.  I am hoping to be able to pick it back up.  40 minutes seems like an appropriate goal at this time.

-I will keep a food journal and log what I am eating.  I will follow the diet I was given when I was diagnosed with hypoglycemia.  It is a restricted carb diet, that I hate to call low-carb because you can have carbs, you just have to count them.  It worked for me 12 years ago, let’s see if I can get it to work for me again.

It is a point system diet. 

For every 15 grams of carbohydrates= 1point. 

Every 8 grams of fiber= -1point. 

Each meal or snack has its allotment as follows:

Breakfast: 2 points

Snack: 1 point

Lunch: 2-3 points

Snack: 1 point

Dinner: 3 points

Snack: 1point

I lose weight when I count calories, but I walk around like a zombie, because I can’t keep my blood sugar level.  When I count my carbs and focus on eating protein several times a day I live a more balanced life and actually can lose weight in the process.  I really want to focus on laying off the sugar and white starches and getting enough protein to keep my blood sugar from plummeting.

-My last goal is to build an on-line support network.  I have blogged for the past several years, but not about my weight issues.  I feel vulnerable getting on the internet asking for support from others.  At the moment I am anonymous with my blog, just to dip my toes in the water.  I am hoping I can grow and learn from others out there who have been successful in their weight loss by blogging and sharing on the web.

The Challenge begins Monday!!! 
Here we go! 
I can do it!