25 Down... Now the real challenge begins

This is my first picture at goal (during a girls + kids trip to Boston).

I'm currently 25 pounds down now. I lost 3 more pounds since October 15th. 

Now the biggest goal: to keep the weight off for an entire year. 

October 15, 2011. 

Here we go!

Me @ 30: 22 Pounds Down!

Today, I did my usual early morning routine...

Wake up, strip naked, pee, then (and only then) step on the scale.

But, today, my scale said 130. Not 130.2 or 140.7 like it said 2 months ago. That means that I have now lost 22 pounds since I started this blog. I couldn't believe my eyes. It's been over a year now since I saw that number or anything close to it.

Remember me 22 pounds heavier??

In true award-show format... I'd like to thank God... and:
- 100-calorie packs
- Healthy Choice steamers meals (250 calories each!)
- Atkins shakes
- Crystal Light
- Nutrition facts
- My running blog buds who kept me motivated
- My gym, for having childcare, my favorite barbell class and TVs on each treadmill
- Dr. Scholl's for making these really cheap running shoes that have held up through all 150 miles of my running and walking
- All the low-carb products out there in the world

Enter the "get off the stage" music...

Me @ 30: Food!

As I mentioned in my Week 3 recap, I'm trying to eat better.

Earlier in the year, I used a low-carb diet to lose half of the 30 pounds I had gained last fall. It was effective, but then I hit a plateau and couldn't lose any more weight.

In hindsight, I think some of it had to do with my portion control. I would eat as much as I wanted, stuffing myself, so long as it didn't have carbs. But, I'm sure I was taking in 2,000 calories, if not more, with those habits.

So, now, I am interested in counting calories. The other pet peeve I have about a low-carb diet, is I found myself eating a lot of processed, fake sugar foods. Don't get me wrong, I still love and will always love my Splenda, but I was not eating much "living" foods.

Friday I gave my kitchen a makeover. I bought snacks in 100-calorie packs to start teaching myself about portion control. I bought fresh fruits and veggies. I fell in love with Naked's Green Machine -- tons of fruits and veggies in one smoothie-type drink. I'm also keeping a food diary and counting calories throughout the day. It's been rough. I keep eating smaller portions and finding myself ravenous afterwards. My 100 calorie Pringles had like 7 chips in there. Ahh!!!!!

My trick so far? Drinking water or Crystal Light until I feel full. Even still, I've been so hungry this past weekend. When will this get easier??

Calories
Friday: 1,370
Saturday: 1,420
Sunday: 1,355 (got in a 5.5-mile run, which burned 712 calories)
Monday: 1,310 (lifted weights for an hour)

My basic metabolic rate (the amount of calories I'd burn if I stayed in bed all day) based on a few calculators is anywhere between 1,400 and 1,700 depending on the website.

Calculator 1
Calculator 2 - also tells you how many calories will lead to fat loss.
Calculator 3  - pick sedentary to see you how much you can eat if you did NOTHING all day.

Week 14 Tally: 4/5-4/11

I met my exercise goals for this week! I also beat my last 5K time by 2:20. I still haven't hit my weight loss mark yet. My original goal was by the end of March 2010. Hopefully, I'll get there by April 2010.

6.95 miles of running (including a 5K)

90 minutes of strength work

45 minutes of Zumba

2 pounds lost (making 19 lost total, goal: 22-27)

Back to Running

Today was the first run I've had in almost a week -- 6 days to be exact. I can't believe how time flew. I certainly needed to run, especially with eating on-the-go in New Jersey mixed with the carb-rich meals at the wake and funeral to the tune of baked macaroni and cheese, potato salad, sweet rolls... ah, the list could go on. Let's just say I definitely had one or two days of 80+ net grams of carbs in the last week.

But, in great news, I fit into a size 4 black Calvin Klein dress at Marshall's on Sunday (not exactly the dress in the pic but close)!! Sadly, I was buying it for my grandmother's funeral, but I was definitely surprised when I could button it up. I had the 6 on standby because I just didn't believe I could be back to a size 4 so soon, especially when the scale says I'm still 7-12 pounds up.

I still don't think I could fit size 4 pants with this hip and thigh action going on, but when I started this trek I could barely fit into a size 8/10 dress. So, despite the fact that the scale has been falling at what feels like a snail's pace, my body is showing me different.

My run today was hard. The first 20 minutes, I felt like a pro. But, the last 13 minutes I just ran out of steam and had to drag myself through the run. I finished 3.11 miles in 33:30. When I stopped, I couldn't even do my usual 5-minute cool down. I was so out of breath and lightheaded. I bet it has something to do with me sleeping in today and failing to eat before I went to the gym. I did hydrate, but I don't know what happened. I definitely plan to eat some carbs before the race next Saturday.

Since this is my first day working out this week, I have a lot of ground to make up this weekend. Here's the proposed plan:
Friday: Tempo run, 1 mile at easy pace, 1 mile at tempo pace, 1 mile at easy pace (if I don't sleep in)
Saturday: Kickboxing and Group Power classes
Sunday: 3-4 mile run

Net Carbs: 40 net grams (Boston Market, yum!)
Workout: Run, Group Power class - 1 hour
Days Til 5K: 9

Week 9 Tally: 3/1-3/7

Yet another week of taking it easy in the midst of my running back and forth between CT and NJ (not literally). I have made strides in the weight loss department though.

6.2 miles in Run-walk drills 

15 minutes of Strength work

15 pounds lost total (7-12 more to go)

10 days 'til my first 5K

Shorter And Faster

I didn't do my scheduled run today.

After working until 7 am this morning, I slept most of today. I finally woke up around 5-ish, too late to run before my weight lifting class. I went to Group Power at 6:40pm, so I only had 15 minutes after class to run before the gym's childcare center closed.

I increased my speed to 5.8 mph today (I usually run at 5.6), and ran for only a mile. It was a little more uncomfortable than my usual runs, but I pushed through. It was kinda cool to run shorter and faster. And at least I could withstand that speed for 10:26. Last time I tried to run at 5.8, I stopped at 2 minutes.

Group Power (a barbell class) went well. I went heavier on back, triceps, and chest. I love weight lifting!

I got on the scale today to find myself 2 pounds lighter, bringing my total to 12 pounds lost. That means I only have 10-15 more pounds to go, with 4 weeks to go to achieve my goal.


Net Carbs: 15 grams
Workout: Group Power, Running
Days 'Til 5K: 22

Week 7 Tally: 2/15-2/21

This is my tally for week 7, including today's run of  2.74 miles in 30 minutes. I ran 27 minutes straight (which worked out to be 2.5 miles), walked for 1 minute and finished up with 2 more minutes of running.

Only one more week left of this running program before I'm running 3.1 miles straight!

I didn't get much sleep today before my run, and from minute 10 to 16 I started to fatigue. But, just like previous runs after minute 16, a second wind kicked in and it felt good. 

Time for a hot, Eucalyptus soak before work!

12.4 miles in Run-walk drills 

(131 minutes running, 4 walking)

2 hours of Strength work

10 pounds lost total 

(Of 22-27... none lost this week)

26 days 'til my first 5K

Ten Pounds Gone!

Today was a workout off day, but I stepped on the scale this morning to find that I have beaten that frustrating weight plateau I was on. I am officially 10 pounds down, with 12-17 more to go!

Hubby and I celebrated at our favorite Thai lunch buffet... surprisingly, lots of low-carb options!

Net Carbs: 30 grams
Workout: None today.
Days 'Til 5K: 35

Week 5 Tally: 2/1-2/7

7.5 miles in Run-walk drills (Over 3 days only -- due to ankle injury)

1 hour of Strength work

1 hour of Zumba
6 pounds lost total (of 22-27)
40 days 'til 5K

Week 3 Tally: 1/18-1/24

9.9 miles in Run-walk drills (up to 6 minute intervals)

2 hours of Strength work

1 hour of extra Cardio (Zumba)

4 pounds lost (with some muscle gained)
54 days 'til 5K

Breaking The Habit

Today was a workout off day, especially since I've been at work for almost 16 hours so far. That's a workout of its own.

But, today was also my first day back at our main hospital since I started cutting out carbs, training, and writing this blog. It was tough walking through the cafe and the cafeteria, seeing my usual snack culprits and not grabbing them out of habit.

You know... the White Macadamia Nut cookie that goes with my tea, the pastry that goes with my mid-day water break, the fries that are pre-made so I can grab them if I'm really hungry and not have to wait in line. The list goes on...

I walked past all of it today, got my tea and diet Pepsi and snacked on my Atkins Endulge bar. But, I'm not gonna lie -- I definitely looked twice.

The Okey Doke

After my day at the dentist and only 3.5 hours of sleep, I had no interest in running whatsoever.

I woke up from my "nap" with that jittery, nauseated feeling that spoke to my lack of sleep. In addition, my household is fighting some sort of mild sneezy virus or maybe just plain ole' nasal irritation from the dry heat. Needless to say, I felt pretty crappy.

I told myself all I had to do was pick up my son from school and get back home and I could go back to sleep. Screw the gym. But, I made myself put on my gym clothes just in case. I suspected I might feel differently once fresh air hit me...

Well, I didn't. But I drove to the gym anyway.

We got to the gym too late to run before my groove class. There were no parking spaces. And there were no available treadmills when I got inside. The voice in my head kept telling me, "It's okay to just go back home." Instead of listening, I just waited, sitting cross-legged on the gym floor, still uninspired.

Boy, am I glad I did.

I did a long, walking warm-up (10 minutes) to see if I would start circling the drain early. It felt okay.

I increased to 5 minutes running with 1 minute walking. No breaks, no gasping, no cramps, nose cleared up... for a full 30 minutes (2.54 miles). I couldn't believe it (and still can't). How could I run the best and the farthest on the day I felt the worst? I can't explain it.  But, I'm so excited.

Net Carbs: 50 grams

Weight: thinking I'll only weigh once a week at weekly tally.

Workout: 30 minutes on treadmill: 5 minutes running, 1 minute walking. No groove class.

Days 'til first 5K: 59

Sixty Days And Counting...

In exactly 60 days, myself and two friends will run our first 5K.

Today, I increased to 4 minutes running, 1 minute walking. It didn't go that well. From an endurance standpoint, it felt great. I did 4 minutes without even coming close to feeling winded. During the second 4 minutes, my left shin started burning then cramping (yes, again). I tried to walk it out but it didn't really work.

I went to my weight lifting class, and afterwards, finished up the remaining 10 minutes. I felt a lot more out of breath than the first few sets.

From an endurance standpoint, I think my 3-day rest did some good. Regarding my shin cramp, I think it's time for new sneaks.

Net Carbs: 30 grams
Weight: -5 lbs. (We're back to checking again!)
Workout: Run/Walk drills as above; Group Power Class (weight lifting) for 1 hour.
Mileage: 1.57 miles + 0.84 miles = 2.41 miles in 30 minutes

Thanks to Barby for the sports bra suggestion!

Week 2 Tally: 1/11-1/17

7.1 miles in Run-walk drills

2 hours of Strength work

2 hours of extra Cardio (Group Groove)

?? pounds lost (temporarily boycotting the scale)

Taking the Weekend Off

After working out 5 days straight, I didn't schedule work outs for yesterday, today and tomorrow.

Of course the weather has been beautiful so far. Just my luck it'll be frigid again in time for my next scheduled run.


Net Carbs: (1/15/2010): 23 grams
Net Carbs: (1/16/2010): 60 grams
Weight: Not checking until Monday

The Scale Hath Betrayed Me

The scale says I gained a pound today.

I hate this point of working out and losing weight where you're gaining muscle (which weighs more than fat) faster than you're getting rid of fat.

I've done this enough times to know that even though I've stopped losing pounds on the scale, my body is starting to look different (my calves are looking particularly athletic these days). And, if I push through this temporary plateau, the numbers will start dropping again.

But, it still hurts to see the number.

I keep reminding myself that while muscle does weigh more than fat, muscle requires more calories to maintain. So I'm burning more calories in my sleep with muscle than I do during some cardio workouts.

I might avoid the scale for a few days until my body works this all out.

Net Carbs: 23 grams
Weight: -4 lbs. :-(
Workout: Group Groove class (cardio/dance), Group Power class (weight lifting). Today was a non-running day.

Week 1 Tally: 1/4-1/10

7.8 miles in Run-walk drills

2.7 miles walking around NYC

2.5 hours of Strength work

1 hour of extra Cardio (Zumba)

4 pounds lost (18-23 to go)

Walking around NYC

Today was a gym OFF day. But, hubby and I took the train into NYC for the day and I still walked about 3 miles with a 15lb purse on my shoulder. Someone thought it was a good idea to study during the 90 minute commute. Never again.

Net carbs: 40 grams

Weight: -2lbs

Low carb ice-cream and more running

While grocery shopping, I found slow-churned vanilla ice cream with Splenda (6g net carbs) and low-carb taco tortillas (7g net carbs)... Both kept me from cheating today!

Net carbs: 29 grams

Weight: -2 lbs

8-Week 5K Plan: Run-walk drills on the treadmill for 30 minutes (2 miles), plus Zumba class afterwards