So I weighed myself this morning. Drum roll please...
298.8
Surprisingly enough, this is good. My last weigh in at the doctor was 312. I weighed in on my own scale before Christmas at about 315. 298.8 means something is working. I find that encouraging.
On the other hand, I really don't want to go to the gym today. I'm sick of looking at it. I know I should, but I'm seriously considering doing something here at the house. Maybe I'll get a video off of Hulu or Netflix something and do that for a half hour. It would be pretty much the same thing, right? As long as I do something active today I believe I'll still be on the right track.
Saturday, January 8, 2011
Friday, January 7, 2011
Good Bye Week One
I went to the gym this morning under extreme protest. I'm glad I ended up going because I feel like I've accomplished something by going to the gym for 5 days in a row. I came really really close to just going home to bed this morning but my work friend, Shaleka, told me to keep up the momentum and just keep driving until I got to the gym. It was what I needed to hear. Thanks Shaleka. I can't say I worked very hard, but I went for my 30 minutes and kept my promise to myself. That's what's really important to me in this first week.
The first week in January is coming to a close. I think I did pretty well. I drank all my water. I went to the gym every day(excluding days I was traveling). I stuck to my meal plan, mostly, only slipping up on Sunday, but I replaced that with a vegetarian Tuesday. I only ate out 3 times, and only had 2 sodas. So far so good. I weigh myself for the first time tomorrow. I'm simultaneously nervous and excited about it.
I hate scales, as much for the number I see on them as for my own obsession with the number displayed on them. I could easily get addicted to weighing, which is why I have vowed not to step on my scale but once a week. I've already broken my vow, but like I said Saturday is my reset. Next week I'll try to control myself. But, you say, isn't weighing a good thing? Not when I begin obsessing over how quickly the number is going up or down or not. It isn't healthy when that obsessing begins effecting what I eat or don't in an unhealthy way. I've been down this path before and it gets ugly. Fast. So for my own sanity, once a week is all I'll allow myself, if I can stay that strong. I don't believe for a second that I won't cave about mid-week, but c'est la vie.
The first week in January is coming to a close. I think I did pretty well. I drank all my water. I went to the gym every day(excluding days I was traveling). I stuck to my meal plan, mostly, only slipping up on Sunday, but I replaced that with a vegetarian Tuesday. I only ate out 3 times, and only had 2 sodas. So far so good. I weigh myself for the first time tomorrow. I'm simultaneously nervous and excited about it.
I hate scales, as much for the number I see on them as for my own obsession with the number displayed on them. I could easily get addicted to weighing, which is why I have vowed not to step on my scale but once a week. I've already broken my vow, but like I said Saturday is my reset. Next week I'll try to control myself. But, you say, isn't weighing a good thing? Not when I begin obsessing over how quickly the number is going up or down or not. It isn't healthy when that obsessing begins effecting what I eat or don't in an unhealthy way. I've been down this path before and it gets ugly. Fast. So for my own sanity, once a week is all I'll allow myself, if I can stay that strong. I don't believe for a second that I won't cave about mid-week, but c'est la vie.
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Progress!
So today something happened that marked an increase in my dedication over last year. I went to the gym for the fourth consecutive day in a row. Usually three is my limit. But today I went and actually put some effort into my workout. Unfortunately I had to cut it short at 45 minutes(which is still longer than my minimum goal) due to nausea. As in I was in serious danger of vomiting, nausea. Let me be clear, I hate to vomit. Bulimia will never ever ever be a concern for me. Which I guess in the end is a good thing. So I stopped and went home.
And on top of that I battled down a variety of cravings. First I passed up the Hot Sign twice. I mean, seriously, whoever thought to put a Krispy Kreme across the street from a gym was depraved. And then I had a huge craving for pizza. It was so strong I could almost taste it. But I have already eaten out my three meals this week so I made myself some chicken instead. It was nowhere near as satisfying as cheesy pizza, but it took away the hunger. I finally feel like I'm making changes and sacrifices. I feel like I'm starting to settle into my new routine. I'm kind of excited about it.
And on top of that I battled down a variety of cravings. First I passed up the Hot Sign twice. I mean, seriously, whoever thought to put a Krispy Kreme across the street from a gym was depraved. And then I had a huge craving for pizza. It was so strong I could almost taste it. But I have already eaten out my three meals this week so I made myself some chicken instead. It was nowhere near as satisfying as cheesy pizza, but it took away the hunger. I finally feel like I'm making changes and sacrifices. I feel like I'm starting to settle into my new routine. I'm kind of excited about it.
Thanks for Reading!
I wanted to take a second to say thanks for reading. My friend casually mentioned my blog in a Facebook post and it made me smile. It makes me feel like someone other than myself is invested in this thing, even if you're not really. I really love getting comments to so knock yourselves out! I get almost giddy when I see comments. Anyway, knowing people read makes me feel loved and not so alone. It helps this blog go a long way in motivating me to know that people ARE keeping tabs on my progress. Thanks for that.
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Comparatively Thinking
Working out is supposed to be a personal experience. It isn't supposed to be about anyone else at the gym. It's supposed to be about doing what is right for you in a way that is right for you. It's about testing your own boundaries and pushing your own limits and growing into the best person you can be. Or so I hear.
I, personally, can't help but compare myself to the people around me. For example, some of the people in the gym get on, say, the elliptical, and just go go go as fast as their little legs can carry them. Then they have the audacity to look a little flushed and a whole lot satisfied when they get off the machine and hour later. I can't do that. I physically am unable to push my elliptical into hyperspeed. I know because I've tried and all I end up doing is falling off the machine and seeing spots after about ten minutes. Or how about those people who are practically sweating out a kiddie pool? Now I don't want to be someone who sweats, I hate sweating, but it's kind of like a workout badge of honor. I mean are you really working out if you can't accumulate a good rolling pour? I can never manage more than a glisten with the occasional bead that rolls to freedom. It makes me feel like I'm not really working at my workout, no matter how high my heart rate goes or how many calories I've burned. And let's not even talk about the showoffs who's heart rates never seem to go quite as high as mine, even if all outward appearances make it seem like they are working harder. Yes, I peek at my neighbors heart rates. There I am, running half their speed with twice their heart rate, red in the face and huffing and puffing, feeling like a hopeless case. It's a little disheartening. I keep myself going by telling myself that I can get there by sticking to it, but I'm all about instant results. Telling myself "one day" doesn't really do it for me.
Speaking of instant results, I'm having doubts, yes already, as to the efficacy of this plan. I just don't feel like anything has really changed and I wonder if my plan is enough. Of course it has only been 4 days. And I have been sticking to my guns. I'm doing good with my substitute veggie day, not having had meat all day. For me this is big because I have meat with just about every meal. And for the first time I left my home to go to the gym like I told myself I would. I skipped the gym this morning because I was exhausted. My coordination suffers when I'm tired and falling on my booty in front of an entire gym full of New Year's resolutioners is not positive reinforcement. I told myself I'd go in the afternoon instead, which I've said before and completely failed to follow through on. But today I did it. I went home, went to sleep, and as soon as I woke and was certain I wasn't immediately going back to sleep I went to the gym. Go me! I even did a little research into how many burned calories translate into a pound lost. I now have a minimum calorie burn goal of 500 a day, twice that if I can get to it. Currently I average around 800-850. I'll have to work to push myself over the 1000 calorie mark if I want to lose 2.5 pounds in a week. I tried today, but it took more oomph than I really had. My energy lately has been really low which makes my workouts a little less than enthusiastic.
I'll try again tomorrow. And I guess I'll stick to "one day"... for now.
I, personally, can't help but compare myself to the people around me. For example, some of the people in the gym get on, say, the elliptical, and just go go go as fast as their little legs can carry them. Then they have the audacity to look a little flushed and a whole lot satisfied when they get off the machine and hour later. I can't do that. I physically am unable to push my elliptical into hyperspeed. I know because I've tried and all I end up doing is falling off the machine and seeing spots after about ten minutes. Or how about those people who are practically sweating out a kiddie pool? Now I don't want to be someone who sweats, I hate sweating, but it's kind of like a workout badge of honor. I mean are you really working out if you can't accumulate a good rolling pour? I can never manage more than a glisten with the occasional bead that rolls to freedom. It makes me feel like I'm not really working at my workout, no matter how high my heart rate goes or how many calories I've burned. And let's not even talk about the showoffs who's heart rates never seem to go quite as high as mine, even if all outward appearances make it seem like they are working harder. Yes, I peek at my neighbors heart rates. There I am, running half their speed with twice their heart rate, red in the face and huffing and puffing, feeling like a hopeless case. It's a little disheartening. I keep myself going by telling myself that I can get there by sticking to it, but I'm all about instant results. Telling myself "one day" doesn't really do it for me.
Speaking of instant results, I'm having doubts, yes already, as to the efficacy of this plan. I just don't feel like anything has really changed and I wonder if my plan is enough. Of course it has only been 4 days. And I have been sticking to my guns. I'm doing good with my substitute veggie day, not having had meat all day. For me this is big because I have meat with just about every meal. And for the first time I left my home to go to the gym like I told myself I would. I skipped the gym this morning because I was exhausted. My coordination suffers when I'm tired and falling on my booty in front of an entire gym full of New Year's resolutioners is not positive reinforcement. I told myself I'd go in the afternoon instead, which I've said before and completely failed to follow through on. But today I did it. I went home, went to sleep, and as soon as I woke and was certain I wasn't immediately going back to sleep I went to the gym. Go me! I even did a little research into how many burned calories translate into a pound lost. I now have a minimum calorie burn goal of 500 a day, twice that if I can get to it. Currently I average around 800-850. I'll have to work to push myself over the 1000 calorie mark if I want to lose 2.5 pounds in a week. I tried today, but it took more oomph than I really had. My energy lately has been really low which makes my workouts a little less than enthusiastic.
I'll try again tomorrow. And I guess I'll stick to "one day"... for now.
Monday, January 3, 2011
Resolute...or something.
So there were a lot of new faces in the gym this morning. Apparently there's basis for the joke about January gym attendance. I don't think I've seen so many shiny new workout outfits in one place before. It will be interesting to see who sticks to it, and how long it takes the ones who don't to quit. I have to admit to feeling a small amount of satisfaction that I wasn't a part of the resolution crowd...even if in a way I am.
As to the plan, today I did good. I went to the gym, although I was tired and didn't really work very hard. I barely got my heart rate up, but something is better than nothing I suppose. I drank my water...two liters actually so I'm really ahead. I stuck to my fish diet as planned. I had tilapia and grouper. I had to go to the seafood market and squeeze some cash out of my budget in order to stick to my goals, but the very attractive man that was there last time was there today as well, making it all worth it. I've decided to try something new each time I go, since I really don't know many fish outside of catfish, tilapia, and whitefish. Today I got 7 fillets: 3 catfish, 3 tilapia, and 1 grouper. The grouper was expensive at about 11 bucks for just the one fillet, so I wanted to do something special with it as it was my first time eating grouper and I wanted it to be good. Usually I make all fish pretty much the same way: pan seared with a little seasoning salt. But no, not for my grouper, although now that I've eaten it I know it would be very tasty that way as well. I decided to crust and bake it, and it turned out very yummy so I decided to share.
The crust was made of oatmeal, a little cornmeal, garlic, pepper, salt, paprika, a dash of cumin, a spray of allspice, a smattering of oregano, a little lemon juice, and some softened butter. It all went into a food processor and was mixed until it was slightly crumbly. Sorry I don't have exact measurements so you might duplicate it exactly. I don't cook that way. Anyway, after the crust was crumbly I pressed it onto the grouper fillet. Then the whole thing went into the oven to cook at 375 for about 35 to 40 minutes. It's possible it cooks faster than that. The oatmeal doesn't really brown(as it's already brown) so it was hard to tell if it was done or not. I went by the way it smelled. And it smelled delicious. It was delicious, although in hindsight I'd go a little easier on the salt and pepper. Also, if you left out the butter you could probably lightly "bread" the fillet and have a much thinner coating. As I cooked it the crust was pretty thick. But there you go! This crusting would probably work with a variety of fishes, and possibly even chicken. I'll definitely be using it again.
As to the plan, today I did good. I went to the gym, although I was tired and didn't really work very hard. I barely got my heart rate up, but something is better than nothing I suppose. I drank my water...two liters actually so I'm really ahead. I stuck to my fish diet as planned. I had tilapia and grouper. I had to go to the seafood market and squeeze some cash out of my budget in order to stick to my goals, but the very attractive man that was there last time was there today as well, making it all worth it. I've decided to try something new each time I go, since I really don't know many fish outside of catfish, tilapia, and whitefish. Today I got 7 fillets: 3 catfish, 3 tilapia, and 1 grouper. The grouper was expensive at about 11 bucks for just the one fillet, so I wanted to do something special with it as it was my first time eating grouper and I wanted it to be good. Usually I make all fish pretty much the same way: pan seared with a little seasoning salt. But no, not for my grouper, although now that I've eaten it I know it would be very tasty that way as well. I decided to crust and bake it, and it turned out very yummy so I decided to share.
The crust was made of oatmeal, a little cornmeal, garlic, pepper, salt, paprika, a dash of cumin, a spray of allspice, a smattering of oregano, a little lemon juice, and some softened butter. It all went into a food processor and was mixed until it was slightly crumbly. Sorry I don't have exact measurements so you might duplicate it exactly. I don't cook that way. Anyway, after the crust was crumbly I pressed it onto the grouper fillet. Then the whole thing went into the oven to cook at 375 for about 35 to 40 minutes. It's possible it cooks faster than that. The oatmeal doesn't really brown(as it's already brown) so it was hard to tell if it was done or not. I went by the way it smelled. And it smelled delicious. It was delicious, although in hindsight I'd go a little easier on the salt and pepper. Also, if you left out the butter you could probably lightly "bread" the fillet and have a much thinner coating. As I cooked it the crust was pretty thick. But there you go! This crusting would probably work with a variety of fishes, and possibly even chicken. I'll definitely be using it again.
Sunday, January 2, 2011
What Had Happened Was
Happy New Year! I'm a day late, I know, but I was in Washington DC and consequently away from my computer. I always expect the new year to feel drastically different than the last. This year, like every other, it seems like today feels pretty much like the day before(or in this case the day before the day before). I expected this year especially to feel different because of the huge challenge I've placed in front of myself. I don't know if I should take it positively or not that I feel like the same old me. This doesn't mean anything really in terms of completing my goals. I guess after I told everyone under the sun about my goals, started this blog, and spent the last month psyching myself up the after midnight moment ended up being a little anticlimactic.
It doesn't help that the first two days haven't gone the way I envisioned. I realize now that I never factored in travel. Sticking to the plan is simple enough when I'm home, on familiar territory, with my kitchen and my pantry and my foodstuffs. It is an entirely different matter when you have no supplies, no kitchen, and no idea when you'll be eating next. That said I'm affording myself a little flexibility for the first and second of January, but from here on out it's on! I began yesterday with a big greasy breakfast from Hardee's...it's a great hangover cure, effective if not healthy. I didn't go to the gym, but I did spend five consecutive hours walking around the DC Zoo and the Smithsonian, so I feel like that is a fair trade. Today I was supposed to be a vegetarian, but that didn't play out either.
I started the day with the best intentions, planning to skip the fast food places in favor of a Chinese place where I could get a yummy vegetarian option that wasn't fried or salad. I pulled over at a likely spot and found a buffet. It really wasn't what I was going for but it was what I had found after about 20 minutes of searching so it would have to do. I planned to ignore the meat options and hit up the noodles and veggies.
And then they charged me $14. Up front.
I couldn't bring myself leave because I was really hungry. And after a first plate of sticking to the plan I couldn't feel good about spending 14 bucks on veggies and noodles either. So I ate some meat. The worst part is that I felt so bad about breaking my promise to myself that I couldn't even enjoy it. It was probably delicious, because that first plate was, but I was so focused on the fact that I wasn't supposed to be eating it it just wasn't good. So I've promised myself that to make up for my slip, Tuesday will be my vegetarian day this week. And I'm cooking a vegetarian dinner as I type, since I'm finally home. And for tomorrow I'll be back on track.
I've decided I need a reset day. That being a day of the week where I start over, the foibles of the previous week forgotten and forgiven. Since the year began on a Saturday, Saturday will be my reset. For now, I'm off to a rocky start, but at least I drank my water. Something is better than nothing, right?
It doesn't help that the first two days haven't gone the way I envisioned. I realize now that I never factored in travel. Sticking to the plan is simple enough when I'm home, on familiar territory, with my kitchen and my pantry and my foodstuffs. It is an entirely different matter when you have no supplies, no kitchen, and no idea when you'll be eating next. That said I'm affording myself a little flexibility for the first and second of January, but from here on out it's on! I began yesterday with a big greasy breakfast from Hardee's...it's a great hangover cure, effective if not healthy. I didn't go to the gym, but I did spend five consecutive hours walking around the DC Zoo and the Smithsonian, so I feel like that is a fair trade. Today I was supposed to be a vegetarian, but that didn't play out either.
I started the day with the best intentions, planning to skip the fast food places in favor of a Chinese place where I could get a yummy vegetarian option that wasn't fried or salad. I pulled over at a likely spot and found a buffet. It really wasn't what I was going for but it was what I had found after about 20 minutes of searching so it would have to do. I planned to ignore the meat options and hit up the noodles and veggies.
And then they charged me $14. Up front.
I couldn't bring myself leave because I was really hungry. And after a first plate of sticking to the plan I couldn't feel good about spending 14 bucks on veggies and noodles either. So I ate some meat. The worst part is that I felt so bad about breaking my promise to myself that I couldn't even enjoy it. It was probably delicious, because that first plate was, but I was so focused on the fact that I wasn't supposed to be eating it it just wasn't good. So I've promised myself that to make up for my slip, Tuesday will be my vegetarian day this week. And I'm cooking a vegetarian dinner as I type, since I'm finally home. And for tomorrow I'll be back on track.
I've decided I need a reset day. That being a day of the week where I start over, the foibles of the previous week forgotten and forgiven. Since the year began on a Saturday, Saturday will be my reset. For now, I'm off to a rocky start, but at least I drank my water. Something is better than nothing, right?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)