Daily Points:32/30
Daily Calories: 1,338/1500
Weight: 215.7lbs
Age: 36.66 years
Starting with Weight Watchers again. Last time I was not as committed to losing weight so, even though I've had my greatest success with WW, I did not achieve my goals. I have to remember the 50 pounds I lost when I first joined and how I was so motivated to get to my goal. I was 28 and didn't want to be overweight at 30. I did so well keeping it off until I went back to school and the job got more stressful. Now, I want to be in a healthy place when I'm ready to have a kid and I don't want to be overweight at 40. So I need to hold onto that motivation - or at the very least, I need to track everyday regardless of whether it's good or bad.
I need to consider that I might be attempting to do too much this month with starting weight watchers right before the holidays AND National Novel Writing Month. But so far, I'm feeling positive about the experience. Estimated my dinner points and discovered I have more than half to use at lunch time. I've scheduled a work out time with a co-worker for tomorrow and we're committing to going at least twice a week. Last time I only focused on changing eating habits and not on working out. So that is also another item on my plate that could prove to be overwhelming.
Overall, I am pleased with my first day even though I dipped into my weekly points a little bit. When I compare it with calories, I am definitely below the goal I'd set My Fitness Pal. I'm curious to see how points compare to calories but have the feeling I'll find tracking in two apps tedious.
Showing posts with label exercise. Show all posts
Showing posts with label exercise. Show all posts
Wednesday, November 1, 2017
Friday, February 5, 2016
Weight Watchers - Week#6
Official Weigh-in: 203.7 lbs.
Starting Weight: 207.2
Change since last week: +0.5 lbs.
Overall change:-3.6 lbs.
Goal Weight: 145-155 range
Last Week's Weekly Goal: Track more carefully
This Week's Weekly Goal: Track more carefully
I'm keeping the same goal again for this week. I started off strong this week, but then slacked off again towards the end. There's a gain of .5 to show for it, though it's actually down from the official Weight Watchers weigh in I did at a meeting on Saturday. So there's improvement, but I can definitely do better.
I've been dealing with a lot of negative head space lately. I know we all deal with it from time to time and especially when we're working on something as personal as weight loss/healthy lifestyle changes. This journey is not like any other goal in our lives. Because everyone has an opinion on it and will offer it unsolicited.
Even if people don't know that you're dealing with it, you still hear their opinions. At work the other day, there was a conversation about how easy it is to lose weight and don't people realize that it's just a simple matter of calories in and calories out. But it's not that simple. It's not like smoking or drinking or biting your nails where it's something you struggle to abstain from completely. Food is something you need to survive. Yes we should abstain from the things that aren't healthy for us, but it's not always that easy and it can feel like all food is your enemy when we reduce it to calories in. Just as exercise can feel like a punishment when we look at it as simply calories out.
Many of us struggle with the journey because of our relationships with food. Advertising is constantly telling us about our cravings and how their product is the only one that will satisfy said craving. Time out with friends is usually around drinking or a restaurant meal. Free lunches at work meetings where Pizza is always the quickest and easiest option to feed a crowd. In our society, food is a reward, a stress reliever, a social outing, and a comfort. It's easier to stop at a fast food joint on the way to this appointment or between obligations than to cook something at home.
I love the new Oprah commercial where she talks about bread. Because I share her love of bread and completely relate to what she says. But I've learned this week that, unlike Oprah, I can't manage it yet. If I'm presented with rolls I'm not going to eat just one and then I don't have points for real food. So maybe I will focus on that while I'm tracking this week.
I'm going to try and budget points not just for a single day but for each meal within that day. So 10 points per meal and if I consume fewer points for breakfast the remaining points will be evenly distributed to the remaining meals. Meaning, instead of seeing 30 points for the day (12 of which are taken up by garlic knots) I will see 14 points for lunch after my yogurt breakfast. Maybe this will help me to weigh my options more carefully. Because 12 out of 14 sounds a lot more wasteful than 12 out of 30. Hopefully, this way I won't trash the whole day with free garlic knots at work.
Good luck this week!
Starting Weight: 207.2
Change since last week: +0.5 lbs.
Overall change:-3.6 lbs.
Goal Weight: 145-155 range
Last Week's Weekly Goal: Track more carefully
This Week's Weekly Goal: Track more carefully
I'm keeping the same goal again for this week. I started off strong this week, but then slacked off again towards the end. There's a gain of .5 to show for it, though it's actually down from the official Weight Watchers weigh in I did at a meeting on Saturday. So there's improvement, but I can definitely do better.
I've been dealing with a lot of negative head space lately. I know we all deal with it from time to time and especially when we're working on something as personal as weight loss/healthy lifestyle changes. This journey is not like any other goal in our lives. Because everyone has an opinion on it and will offer it unsolicited.
Even if people don't know that you're dealing with it, you still hear their opinions. At work the other day, there was a conversation about how easy it is to lose weight and don't people realize that it's just a simple matter of calories in and calories out. But it's not that simple. It's not like smoking or drinking or biting your nails where it's something you struggle to abstain from completely. Food is something you need to survive. Yes we should abstain from the things that aren't healthy for us, but it's not always that easy and it can feel like all food is your enemy when we reduce it to calories in. Just as exercise can feel like a punishment when we look at it as simply calories out.
Many of us struggle with the journey because of our relationships with food. Advertising is constantly telling us about our cravings and how their product is the only one that will satisfy said craving. Time out with friends is usually around drinking or a restaurant meal. Free lunches at work meetings where Pizza is always the quickest and easiest option to feed a crowd. In our society, food is a reward, a stress reliever, a social outing, and a comfort. It's easier to stop at a fast food joint on the way to this appointment or between obligations than to cook something at home.
I love the new Oprah commercial where she talks about bread. Because I share her love of bread and completely relate to what she says. But I've learned this week that, unlike Oprah, I can't manage it yet. If I'm presented with rolls I'm not going to eat just one and then I don't have points for real food. So maybe I will focus on that while I'm tracking this week.
I'm going to try and budget points not just for a single day but for each meal within that day. So 10 points per meal and if I consume fewer points for breakfast the remaining points will be evenly distributed to the remaining meals. Meaning, instead of seeing 30 points for the day (12 of which are taken up by garlic knots) I will see 14 points for lunch after my yogurt breakfast. Maybe this will help me to weigh my options more carefully. Because 12 out of 14 sounds a lot more wasteful than 12 out of 30. Hopefully, this way I won't trash the whole day with free garlic knots at work.
Good luck this week!
Friday, January 29, 2016
Weight Watchers - Week#5
Official Weigh-in: 203.2 lbs.
Starting Weight: 207.2
Change since last week: +2.8 lbs.
Overall change:-4.1 lbs.
Goal Weight: 145-155 range
Last Week's Weekly Goal: Track more carefully
This Week's Weekly Goal: Track more carefully
As predicted last week, my lax habits have gotten worse and it clearly shows on the scale. But it's okay, I went back to a meeting last night and did an official weigh in. I wanted to stay home and slink under the covers, eating red velvet Oreos and promising myself that I'd do better next week. Which is exactly what I did last week and, hence, no week#4 entry. I faced the music, though, and picked up some helpful tips in the process.
For this week, I'm keeping the same goal. I do need to focus on tracking more than ever.
I purchased the set of two plates from Weight Watchers and I intend to use them to help with portion control at dinner. The wine glasses were not yet available and that's okay. I need to stray away from alcohol for a while. The snow storm this last week as not helpful at all.
I took extra walks...to the bar. While everyone else was watching the snow fall on Saturday, I was walking to the local bar for Irish Coffee. Yes, with whip cream. But it was the first snow storm of the year and these are traditions I absolutely love. I'm willing to indulge as long as I can reign myself back in afterwards.
I also purchased the new starter kit that comes complete with a collapsible salad bowl and a cutting board with built in measuring cups. It also comes with the new tracking journal - a lovely hardbound book, though lacking in some tracking areas - and a recipe book.The cutting board will probably get the most use because it's incredibly functional.
I intend to fully report on these items in the coming weeks. As I previously mentioned, I've noticed the tracking journal is pared down from the older style spiral bound journals. This will be my first week using it, so I'll have more on that in week#6.
Helpful meeting tips:
Good luck this week!
Starting Weight: 207.2
Change since last week: +2.8 lbs.
Overall change:-4.1 lbs.
Goal Weight: 145-155 range
Last Week's Weekly Goal: Track more carefully
This Week's Weekly Goal: Track more carefully
As predicted last week, my lax habits have gotten worse and it clearly shows on the scale. But it's okay, I went back to a meeting last night and did an official weigh in. I wanted to stay home and slink under the covers, eating red velvet Oreos and promising myself that I'd do better next week. Which is exactly what I did last week and, hence, no week#4 entry. I faced the music, though, and picked up some helpful tips in the process. For this week, I'm keeping the same goal. I do need to focus on tracking more than ever.
I purchased the set of two plates from Weight Watchers and I intend to use them to help with portion control at dinner. The wine glasses were not yet available and that's okay. I need to stray away from alcohol for a while. The snow storm this last week as not helpful at all.I took extra walks...to the bar. While everyone else was watching the snow fall on Saturday, I was walking to the local bar for Irish Coffee. Yes, with whip cream. But it was the first snow storm of the year and these are traditions I absolutely love. I'm willing to indulge as long as I can reign myself back in afterwards.
I also purchased the new starter kit that comes complete with a collapsible salad bowl and a cutting board with built in measuring cups. It also comes with the new tracking journal - a lovely hardbound book, though lacking in some tracking areas - and a recipe book.The cutting board will probably get the most use because it's incredibly functional. I intend to fully report on these items in the coming weeks. As I previously mentioned, I've noticed the tracking journal is pared down from the older style spiral bound journals. This will be my first week using it, so I'll have more on that in week#6.
Helpful meeting tips:
- Try an appetizer or small plate, or see if you can get away with ordering from the kids’ menu instead of a full size entree.
- Once you’ve decided on a restaurant, try to look at an online menu so you can narrow down your options.
- Pre-track if at all possible
- Look back at how the meal went. Were there any unexpected hurdles—that basket of cheese rolls, say, or your boss urging you to try her fried calamari? How did you handle them? If you're not happy with any of your choices, what could you do differently? A post-prandial post-mortem can help set you up for success next time.
- Ask how things are prepared if the menu is unclear
- Ask for a box and put half of the meal into it before you start eating. This will prevent you from overeating and then you have lunch for the next day.
- Using the hand measurements to gauge serving sizes.
Good luck this week!
Friday, January 15, 2016
Weight Watchers - Week#3
Official Weigh-in: 200.4 lbs.
Starting Weight: 207.2
Change since last week: -2.4 lbs.
Overall change:-6.9 lbs.
Goal Weight: 145-155 range
Last Week's Weekly Goal: Drink more water
This Week's Weekly Goal: Track more carefully
Even though I saw a loss this week, I've noticed I'm already getting lax in my not yet habits. I had one or two days where I didn't track at all until evening or the following day. This resulted in a huge surprise when an item I frequently ate under the old plan increased by 8 points under the new plan. I need to treat this as if I am starting as a Weight Watcher's Novice and not assume that I know the points values from the previous years I failed to follow the plan.
I need to get back on track and take this seriously if I'm really going to see progress past the same 10 pounds I've gained and lost over the last year. A great time to remind myself of why I'm doing this in the first place.
I have not yet added in exercise consistently, though I am trying to walk at lunch if at all possible. I think this will be next week's goal.
Check back with me next week!
Starting Weight: 207.2
Change since last week: -2.4 lbs.
Overall change:-6.9 lbs.
Goal Weight: 145-155 range
Last Week's Weekly Goal: Drink more water
This Week's Weekly Goal: Track more carefully
Even though I saw a loss this week, I've noticed I'm already getting lax in my not yet habits. I had one or two days where I didn't track at all until evening or the following day. This resulted in a huge surprise when an item I frequently ate under the old plan increased by 8 points under the new plan. I need to treat this as if I am starting as a Weight Watcher's Novice and not assume that I know the points values from the previous years I failed to follow the plan.
I need to get back on track and take this seriously if I'm really going to see progress past the same 10 pounds I've gained and lost over the last year. A great time to remind myself of why I'm doing this in the first place.
- I want to be healthier this year and twenty years from now
- I want to develop healthy habits that I can teach to my children so they don't have the struggles I have had with weight and health
- I want to look good in Danielle's wedding photos
- I want to look good in all my photos
- I want to lower my bad cholesterol levels
I have not yet added in exercise consistently, though I am trying to walk at lunch if at all possible. I think this will be next week's goal.
Check back with me next week!
Monday, January 11, 2016
Weight Watchers - Week#2
Official Weigh-in: 202.8 lbs.
Starting Weight: 207.2
Change since last week: -4.5 lbs.
Goal Weight: 145-155 range
Last Week's Weekly Goal: To start eating breakfast
This Week's Weekly Goal: Drink more water
Overall, I'm very pleased with the first week. I stuck to eating breakfast every day and only eating the lunch I brought. I haven't gone back to working out yet, just focusing on my eating habits at the moment.
I did let myself indulge over the weekend with some fresh made pizza at a restaurant that uses locally sourced and organic ingredients. I was incredibly surprised at my body's reaction. I know that I ate too much of the pizza because I felt full in the middle of the second slice and still finished off a third piece. So it's good to know that I'm eating smaller portions during the week and my body is adjusting to this. But then, within an hour after eating, I was so groggy that I took a nap. After I woke up I felt like I had a hangover, even though I didn't consume any alcohol. So lesson learned, listen to my body signals.
This week I'm going to focus on drinking more water. It's not my beverage of choice but I know there are so many benefits.
Starting Weight: 207.2
Change since last week: -4.5 lbs.
Goal Weight: 145-155 range
Last Week's Weekly Goal: To start eating breakfast
This Week's Weekly Goal: Drink more water
Overall, I'm very pleased with the first week. I stuck to eating breakfast every day and only eating the lunch I brought. I haven't gone back to working out yet, just focusing on my eating habits at the moment.
I did let myself indulge over the weekend with some fresh made pizza at a restaurant that uses locally sourced and organic ingredients. I was incredibly surprised at my body's reaction. I know that I ate too much of the pizza because I felt full in the middle of the second slice and still finished off a third piece. So it's good to know that I'm eating smaller portions during the week and my body is adjusting to this. But then, within an hour after eating, I was so groggy that I took a nap. After I woke up I felt like I had a hangover, even though I didn't consume any alcohol. So lesson learned, listen to my body signals.
This week I'm going to focus on drinking more water. It's not my beverage of choice but I know there are so many benefits.
- Aids in Digestion
- Helps Maintain a Healthy Weight
- Assists in the removal of waste
- Thins the Blood
- Improves Kidney Function
- Transports Nutrients in the Body
Just to name a few. I haven't consumed Sodas in many years, but I transitioned to Ice Tea. While this is significantly better than drinking 3 cans of soda a day, water is still the best possible beverage for humans to consume. Our bodies are mostly water after all.
Here's a couple starting pictures to help track my progress. They're not the best pictures of me, but they're ones that made me realize I needed to get back on track.
Here's a couple starting pictures to help track my progress. They're not the best pictures of me, but they're ones that made me realize I needed to get back on track.
Good luck with this week!
Friday, January 1, 2016
Weight Watchers - Week #1
The first time I went through the Weight Watcher's program, I didn't blog about it at all. In fact, I didn't even have a blog at that time in my life. It was only afterwards that I thought it might be a motivating series for someone else who might be struggling with the same issues.
Thankfully, or unfortunately depending on how I feel on a particular day, I have gained all the weight back during my time in Business School. Something about not having any free time for friends, family, or a social life means you're also not focusing on other healthy things as well. My final semester is coming up this Spring and I don't want my graduation pictures to reflect this stressed out version of me.
So I'm starting back and there's a brand new program rolling out at the same time. Sounds like the perfect opportunity to write in my blog - which has been sorely neglected - and capture my progress (and struggles) for anyone who might be experiencing the same thing. It also provides a certain accountability for me.
I'm going to give perfectly honest information and share my beginning weight. As many of you know, this is not an easy thing to divulge even to one's closest friends so please be courteous in any responses you may leave. I have not yet decided if I will share progress photos.
Starting Weight: 207.2
Goal Weight: 145-155 range
Combat Tools:
Thankfully, or unfortunately depending on how I feel on a particular day, I have gained all the weight back during my time in Business School. Something about not having any free time for friends, family, or a social life means you're also not focusing on other healthy things as well. My final semester is coming up this Spring and I don't want my graduation pictures to reflect this stressed out version of me.
So I'm starting back and there's a brand new program rolling out at the same time. Sounds like the perfect opportunity to write in my blog - which has been sorely neglected - and capture my progress (and struggles) for anyone who might be experiencing the same thing. It also provides a certain accountability for me.
I'm going to give perfectly honest information and share my beginning weight. As many of you know, this is not an easy thing to divulge even to one's closest friends so please be courteous in any responses you may leave. I have not yet decided if I will share progress photos.
Starting Weight: 207.2
Goal Weight: 145-155 range
Combat Tools:
- Weight Watchers Beyond the Scale (New SmartPoints System)
- Samsung Gear Fit Watch
- Gym Membership at Planet Fitness Equivalent
- Journaling/Blogging
- Les Mills Combat DVDs
- T25 Workout DVDs
- Standard size, walk-demanding, Dachshund who saves nothing for the walk back
- FAB Support group on Facebook
- A Romantic Partner equally as concerned about Health and Wellness
I'm going to go a little Bridget Jones in this and start out with my current weight on entries. But I'm also going to try and blog about some of the meeting topics - which should be a great motivator to actually go to my weekly meetings.
Looking forward to completing this journey with all of you!
K
Wednesday, June 10, 2015
Healthy Living - Again
I'm trying to get back on the wagon with taking care of myself. This means, eating properly and exercising regularly. Not to mention getting enough sleep, wearing sunscreen, and using sulfate free shampoos on my hair. It's not easy to do on a regular basis while keeping up with the other demands of life, aka work and school.
6 years ago I lost over 40 pounds on weight watchers, in the last 3 years I've gained it all back. 2 years ago, I didn't lose any weight but I converted the fat into muscle and dropped several inches from my waistline. The problems that led to ending up back where I started haven't gone away. I have one year left of school and work is still a stressful environment. But with only a year left of school and several special events coming up after that, I want to get back into my healthy habits. Life only gets more difficult from here on out and I need to actually nail this down now so I can carry it through.
As you may have read, I lost my grandmother last month. She had diabetes and other health problems that could have been avoided with simple steps in her youth. I want to make sure that I am doing those things now and not taking my health for granted. I'm already noticing parts of me deteriorating and I need to halt as much as I can for as long as I can. This takes discipline and hard work.
I want to create healthy habits that will be passed down to my children, eventually, and I don't want them to struggle with this the way that I have. I want to be a good example for them and show them how life can be lived to the fullest while not indulging in every single impulse that comes along.
I want to create healthy habits that will be passed down to my children, eventually, and I don't want them to struggle with this the way that I have. I want to be a good example for them and show them how life can be lived to the fullest while not indulging in every single impulse that comes along.
Wednesday, January 1, 2014
2014 Goals
Long ago, I decided not to have resolutions at New Year's - I felt that it set up for failure and disappointment. Part I my yearly ritual, after Danielle leaves for home and I start to feel the melancholy that inevitably follows, is to look forward to the new year and set a list of goals I'd like to achieve. Some of them fit in with a larger plan, i.e. Graduate School, and some are purely for the immediate future.
Even though I did not write them down in a formal blog post, there were several things that I mentioned throughout the year. So, to begin, let's take a look back at last year's 2013 goals:
Even though I did not write them down in a formal blog post, there were several things that I mentioned throughout the year. So, to begin, let's take a look back at last year's 2013 goals:
- Buy a House - this was most definitely achieved in 2013!
- Quit Hallmark - an ongoing goal for several years, but finally achieved in July of 2013.
- More creative writing - I have one story I've been working on this year. Mostly when I'm in an airplane and have nothing else I can do for 2 hours.
- Europe Trip with Danielle - we made it to London, Cardiff, and Dublin with Andrea in May/June of 2013.
- Pay off Credit Card Debt - refinanced with some student loan money and then wracked it up again :(
- More contact with friends who live out of state- didn't do so well on this. Because of goal#1 I didn't even make it down for my annual visit with J & H.
All in all, not a bad year for my goals. There were so many things that happened it's difficult to remember it all now. Dad was able to legally wed Stepdaddy M in Maryland. My sister graduated from business school and we took our youngest cousin to the ceremony in Atlanta.
2014 has some big shoes to fill, but I think it will be just as fantastic as this year. New Goals:
- Focus more on experiences and less on things
- Writing more during breaks from school.
- Plan one additional monthly event for the Scotch Sippers meetup.
- Go to the gym 3 times a week during breaks and at least 1 time a week during the semester.
- Paint the living room and/or master bedroom before the start of the fall semester.
- Have a housewarming party/birthday party.
- Listen more and complain less
- Apply to jobs in the accounting field
- Budget more effectively
- Plan a big trip for end of 2014, possibly early 2015.
Some of these are very practical and some are pie in the sky. Really curious to see where the new year leads and what I will be able to accomplish for myself.
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Memorial Day
After I recovered from my Couch to 5K run on the Trolley Trail, my friend, M, and I decided to continue the day with a visit to Patapsco Valley State Park. I had never been there, even though I've driven by it a hundred times, and it satisfied my desire to soak up the nice weather. Despite the heat, it was probably the best decision I made the entire day.
We started out at the playground, just swinging like a couple of kids, and then moved to the trails. I'm not sure which one we took exactly as it's not featured on the Patapsco River Map, but it started at the Valley Overlook and ended up crossing the CSX Railroad tracks. As we were sitting there, contemplating how often the train actually ran the along those tracks, we felt the rails start to vibrate and a hissing sound rolled down the metal. We stepped to the side and let the train pass. I was fascinated by how the weight of the train depressed the Railroad Ties (Wooden Slats) into the Track Ballast (Crushed Stone). The Ties moved up and down in the Ballast as each car passed over them. Even after the rain has disappeared around the bend the rails were still hissing with the sound.
The Patapsco River was a welcome sight. There were about 20-30 people wading into the water. In the middle it was probably only waist deep, but the current was pretty fast and parents were warning their kids to stay close to the banks. We sat down on some rocks and dipped our feet into the river. It was a nearly perfect day for this and I couldn't believe I hadn't taken advantage of the state park before. I lived within 5 minutes of it for about 10 years and never knew there was a place to swim and sun bathe so close to home.
Sitting there, underneath the old Route 40 bridge, it easily could have been any point in time in the last century. The only reminders of modern day life were the cell phones hidden in shoes and the McDonald's lunch one couple brought with them.
We started out at the playground, just swinging like a couple of kids, and then moved to the trails. I'm not sure which one we took exactly as it's not featured on the Patapsco River Map, but it started at the Valley Overlook and ended up crossing the CSX Railroad tracks. As we were sitting there, contemplating how often the train actually ran the along those tracks, we felt the rails start to vibrate and a hissing sound rolled down the metal. We stepped to the side and let the train pass. I was fascinated by how the weight of the train depressed the Railroad Ties (Wooden Slats) into the Track Ballast (Crushed Stone). The Ties moved up and down in the Ballast as each car passed over them. Even after the rain has disappeared around the bend the rails were still hissing with the sound.
The Patapsco River was a welcome sight. There were about 20-30 people wading into the water. In the middle it was probably only waist deep, but the current was pretty fast and parents were warning their kids to stay close to the banks. We sat down on some rocks and dipped our feet into the river. It was a nearly perfect day for this and I couldn't believe I hadn't taken advantage of the state park before. I lived within 5 minutes of it for about 10 years and never knew there was a place to swim and sun bathe so close to home.
Sitting there, underneath the old Route 40 bridge, it easily could have been any point in time in the last century. The only reminders of modern day life were the cell phones hidden in shoes and the McDonald's lunch one couple brought with them.
Monday, May 30, 2011
Couch to 5K - Week 1
I started the Couch to 5K program this week. The first two days were not bad at all as I made use of the treadmills at my gym. My third day was absolutely the toughest as the gym closed early for Memorial Day and I decided to use the Trolley Trail to Ellicott City. I invited my friend, M, to join me even though he's the athletic type and I am not. (He recently injured his hamstring and is trying to get it back in shape without stressing it, so it worked out really well for both of us.) Mostly I figured that I would need someone to drag my unconscious body back to the car should I pass out from the heat.
We walked up the trail from Ellicott City to Catonsville, so that I was fighting the incline as I was running, and then started the program on the way back. We did have to turn around and run uphill at the very end and I was very sorry for it. I have to say that it is more difficult to run outside than on a treadmill for obvious reasons, but I also know that I had more of a workout, too.
My First Week Notes:
Day1: Treadmill - 30 min.,1.6 miles, 150 calories
Day2: Treadmill - 30 min., 1.77 miles, 158 calories
Day3: Trolley Trail - 30 min, 1.25 miles (95 degree heat)
I am anxious to start the second week and see how I can improve these times, distances, etc.
We walked up the trail from Ellicott City to Catonsville, so that I was fighting the incline as I was running, and then started the program on the way back. We did have to turn around and run uphill at the very end and I was very sorry for it. I have to say that it is more difficult to run outside than on a treadmill for obvious reasons, but I also know that I had more of a workout, too.
My First Week Notes:
Day1: Treadmill - 30 min.,1.6 miles, 150 calories
Day2: Treadmill - 30 min., 1.77 miles, 158 calories
Day3: Trolley Trail - 30 min, 1.25 miles (95 degree heat)
I am anxious to start the second week and see how I can improve these times, distances, etc.
Thursday, April 14, 2011
The Benefits of Exercise
So far, I haven't seen a lot of physical benefits from exercise. (Save the slight muscle tone the other day.) I noticed I was another pound heavier on the scale this morning, but that might have been the three hot dogs I had for dinner - no bun, I swear. I am getting concerned about meeting my 40 pound total weight loss goal before my trip in exactly ONE WEEK. But apparently this happens with exercise, there's a slight weight gain at first as you build muscle and then it starts to even out. Or so I have been told.
The real benefits of exercise have been showcased in different arenas of my life. I'm tired when I lay my head down to sleep at night, thus ensuring that my mind doesn't wander into unhappy territory and keep me awake. I know that for at least one hour out of my day I don't have to focus on anything by my heart rate and my breathing. In fact, aside from the songs on my ipod during my workout time, I don't really think about anything else. This is kind of a new concept for me. I usually have too much time to think and over think just about everything.
But for the time on the elliptical, and most of the drive home, my brain is blissfully silent. I don't even calculate the points I've earned or the calories I've burned. For that short period of time, I just am. I exist in a specific time and space, not looking ahead or thinking backwards, just there in that moment.
The real benefits of exercise have been showcased in different arenas of my life. I'm tired when I lay my head down to sleep at night, thus ensuring that my mind doesn't wander into unhappy territory and keep me awake. I know that for at least one hour out of my day I don't have to focus on anything by my heart rate and my breathing. In fact, aside from the songs on my ipod during my workout time, I don't really think about anything else. This is kind of a new concept for me. I usually have too much time to think and over think just about everything.
But for the time on the elliptical, and most of the drive home, my brain is blissfully silent. I don't even calculate the points I've earned or the calories I've burned. For that short period of time, I just am. I exist in a specific time and space, not looking ahead or thinking backwards, just there in that moment.
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Minnie Muscles
I had a disappointing day at the Weight Watcher's Scale this afternoon. It wasn't a huge gain, just .4 pounds, but I want to get to a total loss of 40 pounds before I leave for Ireland next week. That's just 2.4 pounds, so it's absolutely doable. Of course, going out for burgers (even if they're made of turkey) slathered in a crab imperial and aptly named "The 2131," are not the way to accomplish this. Still they were half-price burgers and I was able to hang out with a friend.
I've been going to the gym regularly on my free nights since I joined on the 31st, so I was a little disappointed at the gain. However, I reminded myself that building muscle can mean a gain at the scale even though the waistline is shrinking. (come to think of it, I should probably measure myself to make sure.) But it was while crawling into bed tonight that I realized I really am building muscle. I could see a slight definition in my thighs and could definitely feel a tighter bum. So, I should definitely continue what I'm doing and be more careful about writing things down in my Weight Watcher's Tracker.
I've been going to the gym regularly on my free nights since I joined on the 31st, so I was a little disappointed at the gain. However, I reminded myself that building muscle can mean a gain at the scale even though the waistline is shrinking. (come to think of it, I should probably measure myself to make sure.) But it was while crawling into bed tonight that I realized I really am building muscle. I could see a slight definition in my thighs and could definitely feel a tighter bum. So, I should definitely continue what I'm doing and be more careful about writing things down in my Weight Watcher's Tracker.
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