Why do I keep gaining back these 3 or 4 pounds?! I know I should be looking at the long term - how I look and feel, as well as what I am doing to better myself - rather than just numbers on a scale... but I do want to see at least half a pound lost a week... an ounce? Anything?
So I upped the ante a little today. A found some "Fit For Duty" military exercise videos and started doing the "Basic Training" one. Then realized that "Basic Training" was actually probably the toughest of the four then. I did make it through 10 minutes (which is about the same as 10 minutes running, which is way more than I have been able to so... little pat on the back). For the rest of the day I plan on marching in place with arms pumping for another 50 minutes. Probably while watching TV. I would also like to try to make it all the way through a regular cardio video today. I also plan on using exercise bands to do weightlifting exercises. My biggest problem with those is doing the second and third set. So I've decided to make myself do them, even if I do them with no weight/exercise bands.
I just know that I need to step up the strength training, stretching, and cardio workouts if I want to see any real results. I am eating pretty healthy, my biggest problem with that is the new job and the required "coffee and pastry tastings". I need to not bring home expired pastries, because that is just asking for trouble.
So my first day at my new job was wonderful, except for calorie wise. I did avoid the high calorie drinks most of the day, but succumbed to a small one in the afternoon. Why did I succumb do you ask? Because the very cute nerdy guy I was training with suggested it. Anyone who knows me knows I am a sucker for cute nerdy guys. Not that I want to date him per se, but more of I had a moment of weakness.
The rest of the week will also not be that great calorie-wise, since I have to sample all the drinks that I am supposed to learn to make. Hopefully the running around will counteract the calories.
My biggest problem right now is exercise. I have been pulling more activity into my daily life with more dog walks, bicycle rides, and dancing. But I can't seem to make myself do the daily walking and running training I want to do. I also am having a hard time convincing myself to do weightlifting, mostly because I am so out of shape that it hurts. I am also frustrated because in high school I could bench about 200 lbs on a good day and leg press 450. I used to be able to do 50 modified or 30 regular pushups no problem every morning, now I can barely do 2 modified... sigh...
So, one of my goals is to bring back my muscle strength. I think I will use the exercise bands that I have in my bedroom. I am hoping that they will be mild enough that I won't injure anything, but help me strengthen major and supporting muscles so I can move back up to freeweights and machines.
I know that a large part of this is due to the accident I had where I broke my back. I have a hard time sometimes with muscle control. I just feel like I should be "back to normal" and maybe I just never will be.
At least one beneficial thing is my new job. As long as I can avoid drinking high calorie drinks all day, I should be fine. I decided that every two hours of work counts as one hour of "slow walking" on EP's activity log. I will be running back and forth a lot. This will be really great on days when I am working 8 hours, because it will mean an extra 1000 calories burned a day. I am thinking that I will not force myself to follow my walking/running program during the first week I work so that I have time to adjust, unless I am not working on that particular day.
Anyway, just trying to stay motivated and overcome this dreaded "boomerang".
Well, I seem to have made a little victoryl. Always when I attempt to lose weight, I get the dreaded "boomerang" after a few weeks. This time, even though I went from 236 to 240 in two days for no reason, I seemed to have at least stopped it. I went back down to 239 this morning. I probably shouldn't weigh myself every day, it might make me a little crazy, but I know that I will wonder all day if I don't.
I surpassed my aerobics goals for yesterday. I walked 35 minutes and ran 2. I hope to do the same today. I also did a few pushups, situps, and "superman" flys (for my lower back), but no where near the 20 minutes I wanted to do. I also really miss my weight set that I left back in Pennsylvania. Here, my aunt only has 5lb weights and I have a few exercise bands I brought in my suitcase.
I'm supposed to start my new job in the next couple of days, so I hope I don't fall off the wagon and start drinking coffee all day. One thing I am looking forward to is getting a free box of tea every week. I love tea, and if you don't load it up with sugar it can help you lose weight and heart health and blah blah blah. I usually use honey, but I'm going to try spices like nutmeg and cinnamon and less honey to try to cut down on the calories per cup.
I am also happy because I lost 3 inches off my waist since I moved here in June. Yay!
Well, it finally arrived. The "boomerang" that often happens when I try to lose weight. The last two days I have gained consistently... ugh. So, I think I've reached the end of the weight I'm going to lose because of less stress and am now in the "hard work" part.
So, here's the plan:
Diet:
Weight x 10 -1000 calories per day (no less than 1200)
50 grams protein perday
10 grams fiber per day
3 servings raw vegetables a day
64-80 oz of water a day
Exercise:
F: Walking 33 min, Running 2 min
Weightlifting or Bodyweight exercise 20 min
S: Walking 33 min, Running 2 min
U: Off
M: Walking 31 min, Running 4 min
Weightlifting or Bodyweight exercise 20 min
T: Walking 31 min, Running 4 min
W: Walking 31 min, Running 4 min
WL or BW exercise 20 min
R: Walking 31 min, Running 4 min
F: Walking 31 min, Running 4 min
WL or BW exercise 20 min
S: Walking 31 min, Running 4 min
U: Off
So that is the plan. Should result in a 2-3 lb loss per week for now, hopefully more once I start running more.
I stepped on the scale this morning to find that I lost another 2.5 lbs since yesterday. My first reaction was to be excited of course, but now I'm not so sure. This means that I've lost about 7lbs this week alone. That's much to fast a pace to be healthy... I intentionally ate 2000 calories yesterday instead of my usual weight multiplied by 10 minus 1000 formula.
What I am hoping is that since I was already losing about 3.5lbs a week before I started this diet and exercise plan and since moving to California, that this is me losing "stress weight". My aunt, who is a very healthy thin weight, pointed out that I eat lots of veggies and fruits and naturally take small portions of everything else. I also walk or bicycle to work and stand on my feet at whatever job I am at.
Wow, I feel like the biggest jerk. I am losing weight without even trying. I am figuring that any day now the "stress release" part of the weightloss will be done and then I'll be plateaued at the "you need to eat right and exercise" part.
I am already almost halfway to my goal of being 200 lbs or under by Halloween. Yay!
The unfortunate part is, this job is in food service once again. I get all the free coffee I want while I am there. This means that I have a new challenge: to avoid the "Freshman 15" at this new job. I know how easy this could sabotage my fantastic new weight loss success.
So? My plan is to plan ahead. Plan my calories for the day, and read the nutritional facts pamphlet that I brought home. It will allow me to know what I can have without greatly inhibiting my ability to lose weight. Not having a plan is the most dangerous thing I could do.
I can't wait for this cold to go away so I could start exercising more intensely.
Its a story that everyone has heard a million times: I've tried so many times to lose weight, and failed. Usually I actually end up gaining weight. I've tried many different programs, and they all work for about 10lbs or so, then I boomerang back up.
But something IS different this time. I moved from a high stress life in Pennsylvania with almost no hope of any kind of happiness to a new life here in Los Angeles. Without me knowing it, except that my pants were starting to fall off, I dropped 20lbs in 5 weeks. Now I am actually beginning to keep track of that loss and to help it along with healthier eating habits and more exercise. As usual, I've already developed a cold in the first serious week of my program. Fortunately, I have been feeling well enough to at least walk every other day.
So, no high and mighty attitude from me, but hopefully a little more self confidence each day.
I'll try to keep track of as much as I can, and maybe post some youtube videos as well.
Jay
Edit: And I forgot, my reward for reaching 200lbs by Halloween will be to put a Wii on my credit card (or pay for it outright if I have a good enough job by then) with no guilt. Especially since it will help me lose more weight.
