Weight loss/Keeping fit update: 3 weeks

[gategrrl]

It's been five days since I last weighed myself at the Y scale, and since then, it seems I've lost one pound.

I did start using the weight room (almost the entire circuit of 16 machines) and the recumbent bicycle for half an hour on Tuesday. Today I went back, did the elliptical, which busted my ass for 17.5 minutes and made my heart beat too hard and fast, and then went on to the weight room again. After I finished and changed, I watched a class of very intense looking women and their teacher do weight training with a stair stepper and 5 pound weights, and whoa, Nellie, they were working *hard*. I might have to try that out, once I get my fitness/heart level back up to where it should be.  I used to be able to use the elliptical for about an hour at 140-150 heart beats per minute without it killing me...it scared me a little bit how I could feel my heart wildly thrashing around in my chest at 130-140 bpm. So, yeah. I think I'll be sticking with the recumbent bike for a week or two, build up, and then move back to the elliptical.

I've slacked off a little bit with the food diary, but I have to stick with it. I did indulge a bit this week, but I've read that sticking strictly to the same calorie count regime does NOT help--it's better to vary the intake a fair amount and to keep exercising while you do it!

I started April 16, 2009 at 174 (a nighttime weigh)
It's May 6, and I'm down to 170 lbs (morning weigh, after exercise) after three weeks!

Four pounds so far, and I can feel the weight training that's targeting my back helping there already. My slouch WILL go away if I keep it up. I do not want a Granny hump before I'm 60.  Oh, and you know what? I can already feel a little difference in how my pants are fitting. They aren't *quite* so tight now--but still snug.

Comments

[mlevins.livejournal.com]

Great going! I had a bit of a set-back from eating out while at my conference in St. Louis and essentially I'm starting again. Without distractions I do hope to get back on track, but for now I'll just be satisfied that I didn't gain *more* weight than before I started, so I'm just at square one rather than even further back

[gategrrl.livejournal.com]

Ouch. That's discouraging-at least it would be for me. Usually, if I don't start seeing results soon, I give up.

It's amazing how little it takes, though, to regain what you managed to lose. Last year, in September, I was at 166 pounds, and it had been a struggle to get that far. My problem was, because I was exercising, I was always hungry, and I wasn't keeping track of what I ate, so, although my heart was getting fitter, I wasn't losing much (even though I'm sure some of that was muscle-but not much).

Remember those portion sizes! That's most important here in the US/Canada.

[mlevins.livejournal.com]

Losing ground didn't hurt so much since I'd just started, so it was only 3 pounds. It is just so hard to be moderate with portions and stuff at restaurants. Really, I'm convinced that portion control alone can do wonders, and paired with exercise and some calorie control is the foundation of what I'm doing. Hopefully with success. My target date is mid July when I have my annual physical and I think I should be able to get things down by then

[superbadgirl]

Yay!

I'm measuring my own successes or failures by a pair of pants that fit but have always pulled really terribly at the hip. And give me a slight muffin top. I know you're not really supposed to do it that way, but it's not like they're a size seven. I tossed the size sevens two years ago, knowing it ws never gonna happen.

Anyway, if I can get to where those reasonably-sized trousers actually look good on me, I'll be pleased. It should be doable. I'm gradually integrating different things into my workouts, etc.

It's the little things, yo.

I had my first backslide yesterday, though - I ate a mini Mr. Goodbar and a mini Krackel. At least they weren't full-size bars. Hehe.

[gategrrl.livejournal.com]

It's important to get clothing that fits you. I hate pants that give me a muffin top--so I threw them out (or donated them to Goodwill if they were in okay shape). There's another pair of pants that I bought when I was with my mother, but I hate them. They fit up on top, but they're a little too short. And I dislike the color anyhow. Yech.