On The Right Track!

So, last Thursday I had my consultation with the nutrition department at the gym.  They do a body analysis and then give you menus, shopping lists, and substitution lists for the week.  I'm super excited about this.

Here is my True Comp body analysis :

So, what does it mean?  Well, if I were in a coma, I would burn 1350 calories/day.  So, that's how much I burn just breathing....not even thinking.  If we add sitting and thinking, it's 1673 calories/day.  Also, it breaks down what my body composition is.  Right now, I'm 54.1% lean mass (this includes muscle, water, bone, organs....basically everything except fat).  Not bad!  Unfortunately, it also says that I'm 45.9% fat.  This puts my BMI above 40 which we all know is absolutely horrible.  The only good news I've found on this paper are the fact that I'm more lean mass than fat (barely) and that I'm down to 187.9 lbs.  That's another 2.7 pounds down!

The other awesome thing, is that I'll be getting one of these once a month during the program so that I can see where I'm at.

Now, on to the menu.  Basically, you eat the same thing all week (however, once you get more menus you can definitely switch it up).  This week I've got :

Breakfast - whole wheat banana pancakes with greek yogurt and sliced strawberries and almonds
Morning Snack - half a pear and some almonds
Lunch - Lime Fiesta Chicken Bowl
Afternoon Snack - smoked salmon, crackers, and Swiss cheese
Dinner - Italian turkey bake
Night Snack - Dessert bar

All in all, I'll be getting an intake of 1496 calories leaving me with a deficit (which, if everything works out the way it should, will leave me burning fat).  They also have you eat every 2-3 hours during the day so that your metabolism keeps ramped up.

All in all, I'm super excited to start this program.  I made everything ahead of time so now all I have to do is toss it in my handy dandy lunch bag that they provided and go for the day.  I'm definitely going to also have to ramp up my water drinking (96 oz./day?!).

Here are my wheat banana pancakes in the making!

190.6!

Yay!  I actually don't mind stepping on the scale these days.  Granted, it's nowhere near where I'd like it to be, but it's at least going down. Right?

I've been contemplating signing up for the nutrition program at the gym I go to.  They have what seems like a great program and it would fit with everything I do quite nicely.  I wouldn't even have to think, so that rocks.  Given the post from yesterday, this seems like the perfect time to set it up.  I've heard nothing but good things about it so I set up a meeting for next Wednesday for a consultation.

One of the nice things about the program is that they do a body mass test before you start to figure out how much lean mass you have vs. fat.  This will tell them how many calories you burn just being.  Then they tailor a menu to what your body needs for its intake.  And by menu, I mean they tell you what to eat.  This is perfect for me!  I'm looking forward to the meeting.

The Foods We Eat

OK, so I think I've pretty much got the exercise thing down.  It's motivating. a great stress reliever, and I truly enjoy the way I feel after doing it.  Now, I definitely need to focus on nutrition.  It doesn't matter how many classes I do or how long I stay on the elliptical...if I'm putting crap in, I'm not going to get the good results I'm looking for.

As one of my co-workers says, it's affordable to be fat in this day and age.  And it's so true.  Eating unhealthy food is way less expensive and time consuming that eating healthy food.  So, my biggest issue at this point is going to be getting the healthy food in as much as possible.

But, let's face it.  Cupcakes and freakin' big fat juicy hamburgers with bacon taste good...and who doesn't want a cookie or a cupcake or a giant bag of chips from time to time.  I think it's also going to be a matter of retraining my brain to want to eat the good stuff.  Don't get me wrong, I LOVE a good salad, and I need to make that type of healthy eating a priority.  Portion sizes are also going to be a good starting point. 

*sigh*  I seriously feel a little depressed at the thought, but that's where my thinking has to change.

Another 5.4 Pounds!

So, I stepped on the scale again today after I got done with the Cardio30 class completely expecting not much to have happened.  But....ta-da!!!  Down another 5.4 pounds to 191.0.  HELL YEAH!  I was even able to do the standing portions on the bike today for almost all of them.  DOUBLE hell yeah!

The last couple have weeks have been stressful with "life" stuff.  But, I'm making it work.  I can't tell you how much the gym helps with all of that.  I feel much more energized and ready to face what's thrown at me after I'm there and have worked my ass off.  It's crazy working a 12 hour shift on Saturdays for clinicals, going to school, and then working full time.  I'm pretty sure I'd strangle a kitten if I didn't have some sort of outlet.  Just sayin'.

Group Core Didn't Kick My Ass!!

So, I went to the Group Core class today expecting to totally get my ass kicked.  Everyone says it'll work you and it'll suck at the end of the day.  It totally didn't suck!  Now, don't get me wrong, it's not like it was all lollipops and cupcakes.  But it was fun.  And my abs and shoulders are definitely feeling it.

On top of that, I won some awesome swag.  For their launch week they're giving away fun things during their group classes.  Yesterday at Cardio30, April won a free coffee and a kick-ass pair of old school sunglasses.  Today, because I was wearing all black and rocking the black headband, I got a Core Towel.  They use it in the class for some of the exercises and stabilizing your arms.

I also promised some of my readers I'd post a picture of "TEH HAWTNESS" sporting the black sweat band.  SO, here you go. :)

Don't hate me because of my black sweat band.  Hate me because I can rock it like that...even if it does make my forehead look gigantic.  But, you know, everyone wants prosthetic foreheads on their real heads (sorry...had to bust out with the They Might Be Giants).

Back in the saddle...

Holy cow!  The last two weeks have been stressful, hectic, and lazy all at the same time.  I haven't hit the gym since the week before last when I went to Club Dance.  I understand that everyone has time issues, but I really have tried to make exercise a priority.

So, I'm back in the saddle...with a vengeance.

This morning, I had every intention of getting up and going to the 0515 group ride class at the gym near the school.  When my alarm went off at 0430, however, my body had other ideas.  I managed to wake up enough to turn off the alarm and reset it.  I know, bad me.  I did make up for it though.

After class was out at 1020, I headed to the gym.  I spent about 30 minutes on the treadmill and took a break.  Then, I headed into the Cardio30 class (basically, a shorter version of the group ride class).  My hips hurt.  I know, I keep complaining about the same things with this stupid bike class.  The good news is that my girl parts don't hurt this time.  The bad news is that my hips and quads hurt.  Like a mo-fo.  That means it's working, right?

I've also been drinking a crap-ton of water today.  I know I should drink more water, but I hate water.  I'm chalking it up to my groovy new cup...with plastic ice cubes.  Oh, and it's purple...even more awesome.

This week is also "Launch Week" at the gym I go to.  They have all sorts of fun prizes and a punch card for when you go to group classes.  Whoever has the most classes/punches in this week and next gets a free month of membership dues plus a three-month membership for a friend.  The instructors get points if you wear all black to their class and extra points if you wear a black headband (they're $1.00 at the counter).  I totally rocked the black headband and black clothes today.  Cuz that's the way I roll.

Club Dance!

Today, since there was no lab or class in the morning, I grabbed Emmy and we headed to the gym.  My main goal was to try out the Club Dance class.  Holy cow, it was fun!!  I've said this more than once, but when I dance I look like a retarded duck. With epilepsy.  But it was still fun.  I felt completely wiped out by the end of the class and my face looked like a tomato.  Additionally, I feel like I need to raid the 80's closet for cooler, neon shoes.

Emmy had so much fun.  Since I've been going before work, she hasn't gotten to go with me lately, and she's even missed it.  She was super excited to go see Tina today (the most awesome lady at the gym...ever) but insisted on wearing her pink piggy pajamas.  I figure we pick our battles, so she wore the jammies.

I have also decided I need a better goal.  Just "get in shape and lose weight" doesn't really qualify as a goal.  Sure, it's big picture stuff, but in order to get to the big picture place, I have to do little goals to keep myself motivated.  So, I have my first goal.  I've had this pair of jeans forever.  They're awesome and I'm sure they would make my butt look amazing.  However, I've never actually worn them.  I bought them thinking they would fit and, um, not so much.  They're junior sizing.  I can get them on and zipped (if I lay down) but they look horrible and I can't sit down in them.  So, they are my first goal.  By April 30th, I will wear these jeans.

Hell. Yes.

I attended group ride class again today.  Definitely worked myself harder than I did on Tuesday, but burned fewer calories.  I'm not sure how that works, but like I said, I'm not even going to look at calories.  I managed 19.0 miles today (in the bottom right corner of the picture).  In 44 minutes.  So I was biking faster and I pushed harder.  My calves are sore and I was actually sweating some today!

I've also decided that the exercise bike is my nemesis.  OK, so not the entire bike.  Just the seat.  I mean, for frick's sake.  My butt is way bigger than that seat.  It's an exercise class.  I'm convinced they should get the cushy gel seats for those of us who still need to shrink our asses a bit.  It's evil.  It even has creepy eyes, horns, and a mustache.

On the bright side, I stepped on the scale today.  I'm down almost four pounds!!!!!  Can I get a whoop whoop!?

Another Group Ride Day

So, I've decided that looking at the amount of calories burned is ridiculous.  Granted, it doesn't take into account your fitness level, weight, etc but the bike said I burned 200 calories.

Wait, what!?

ONLY 200 calories?  I was on that damn thing for 45 minutes.  And the trip thingy said 17.3 miles.  Further more, my ass hurts.  So really? Only 200 calories?  WTF?

I've decided I won't look at the calories burned.  It's WAY more impressive to say I biked 17.3 miles today.

More Couch To 5K

Well, I went to the store today and got a set of good headphones (my other pair have apparently gone to where the second sock of a pair goes after I put them in the dryer) and an armband to hold my phone for my music.  I'm going running tonight after work.  My plan is to go home, park in the driveway, and then go running. I refuse to go into the house.  If I go in, the black hole vortex that is my bed/pillow will suck me in and I won't get any running done.

I'm trying to decide if I want to do the free Spartan training at the gym tomorrow, but I really think I'm more interested in sleeping in, so we'll see.  Will still do my daily running tomorrow, so that should make up for it if I don't go.  This is the first weekend I've had off in months, so I can't really beat myself up too badly if I decide to chill at home.

I got my schedule for the next term and it looks like I'm going to have clinicals on Saturdays for 12 hours. That's going to suck.  Plus, I already signed up and paid for the Iris Festival run (which is Saturday, May 18) so I'm going to have to figure out how to go about doing a partial clinical day that day.  I really want to run my 5K since I'm actually training for one. :)

Things I Learned at Group Ride

So, I did it.  Today I went to the group ride session with the lady from work.  It was fun!  These are the things I learned today :

1. Perhaps next time I should get a bike at the back of the room so that I'm not constantly worried about all the other people having to stare at my giant ass.

2. If I'm worried about other people staring at my butt, I could probably stand to push myself a little bit harder.

3. My legs felt like noodles and I was moving very slowly afterwards.

4. I forgot how much time it takes to get accustomed to riding a bike again.  My crotch hurts.

5. Standing up while pedaling a bike may have worked when I was 12.  However, these days I'm the type that runs into walls and standing up on a bike now involves great coordination.  I'll have to work up to it.

So, all of that being said, I really did enjoy the class.  It will take some getting used to, but it definitely is a good workout.  I'm going to have to throw some stuff in there to help with the arms, but my legs are going to be freaking fantastic. And no. You can't touch them.

Group Ride Update and Salad

So, last Thursday I totally got stood up.  :)  I went to the gym, but was too chicken to go in myself.  We're going to try again on Tuesday!

Yesterday I started the Couch to 5K program.  I found an awesome app for my phone that even plays my music playlist as I go.  It's fun.  Unfortunately, it was pouring down rain.  But it was still fun.  Turns out I can run a lot more than I thought I could!

The kids had fun walking too.  Orion was soaked, cold, and done about half way through.  So was Emmy, but she was determined that she did NOT want to go home.  She even threw a fit when we got there.  I think I have a new walking buddy. ;)

After we all got dried off and warm, we decided to have salad for dinner.  It was fantastic.  I put everything in it that I remember my grandmother putting in her salads (which were an every night event, practically).  I may have forgotten something, but it was still amazing nonetheless.  I brought the leftovers for lunch today.

12

12.  That is the number of complete sit-ups I did last night.  I'm feeling pretty damn proud of myself considering I couldn't even do one when I started.  I'm still following the rest of the amount up with the crunches, but I'm getting better and better at it.

Tonight for dinner I've got smoked salmon and reduced fat Triscuits.  Yum!

Group Ride Class

Since I've got a couple of hours handy on Tuesdays and Thursdays at this point, I'm going to try doing a Group Ride class at the gym that I belong to.  This is going to be both challenging and exciting.  There's a lady at work who is an amazing inspiration that does this class and she's given me passes to go with her at the Keizer location of our gym to try it out.  I'm super excited.  She is both encouraging and tough...two things that I know I'll need.  :)  I'll let you all know if I'm still alive after noon on Thursday. heh

It's Tuesday!

I'm not quite sure why that title has an exclamation point after it. It should be a sad face and perhaps a foot stomp considering I had to get up super early because the powers that be think 0730 is a good time to take an exam.  Only they know why, but I'm sure it involves legal torture as opposed to water boarding and sticking bamboo in someone's fingernails.

This weekend was pretty hectic.  Worked all weekend and studied for my test, but I did manage to throw exercise in there.  :)  I'm really trying to keep up with it even when I feel like I want to fall over in exhaustion.

And I've been eating healthier food.  For lunch, even though I was in the cafeteria at school and REALLY wanted the sweet and sour chicken (or perhaps some french fries and chicken strips) I got a salad.  It was tasty!  I wasn't at all disappointed that I didn't get the sweet and sour chicken.  OK, maybe a little.  But in the way that you find out that they only have vanilla pudding when you wanted chocolate.  It's a little thing.  Unfortunately, I'm either coming down with a stomach bug or there's an alien trying to claw it's way out of my intestines.  As much as I hate puking, I'd so much rather do that then have a giant gaping hole where my stomach used to be and an alien on the loose trying to take over the planet.


Today's lunch :

I've been a total slacker.

I have totally been a slacker the last couple of days.  I went out to lunch yesterday and tried Baja Fresh...pretty tasty and I guess somewhat healthy.  Ate half of the burrito then and ate half today for lunch.  It was so not as good the second day.

I'm trying to find my measuring tape still.  May just need to bite the bullet and go spend the $1.00 on a new one.  I really want to get the measurements so I have a better gauge of how I'm doing with the exercising (which I think is more indicative than weight, honestly).  Perhaps that's what I'll have to do on the way home from work today.

Stress!!!

So, many of my readers know that I keep a very hectic schedule.  I go to school full time and I work full time.  Well, mostly more than full time.  Since I've started this exercise journey, I find myself less stressed.  Great side-effect, right?

I threw in jumping jacks (50 of them) the night before last and will continue on doing that.  I'm headed into the bathroom here to weigh myself.  I hadn't done it before so I guess we'll get an actual real baseline on weight now.  I still need to find the measuring tape.  If the number isn't what I think I'd like, I'm going to blame at least five pounds on "that time of the month".

......

And the verdict is...200.0 lbs.

So, not awesome, but certainly not as bad as I thought it might be.  I totally didn't cringe or feel like throwing the scale, so that's good.  Especially since I'm at work and they might have me committed.

More plank/sit-ups/push-ups tonight.  And I might jump rope instead of doing jumping jacks.  It could be fun.

Sit ups!!

I did it!  Well, four "its".  I managed four actual sit ups and three actual push ups last night!  WOOHOO!!  Followed this with a 30 second plank, and am adding five seconds every day.  I feel like I just won a marathon or something.  Hopefully this feeling sticks around for a bit!  I know I'll be reinforcing it every day.  I've also managed to avoid buying any of the Boy Scout chocolate present at work, so I feel extra proud of myself!

Today is the last day this term I have to wear this stupid, non-shaped uniform.  I wish our scrubs were more flattering, but no.  I look like a giant box. A giant white box, no less.  It's not pretty and I feel like a refrigerator.

Holy Avocado, Batman!!!

So, in an effort to eat and snack healthier, I've taken to eating bell peppers and the like.  Dinner tonight was a turkey sandwich (on wheat), 1/2 an orange bell pepper, and some strawberry Greek yogurt.  Then, a coworker (who shall be known as Oh Evil One) gave me an avocado.  Now, don't get me wrong. I love avocados and I know they're healthy, so that's a good thing.  However, this avocado must totally be the worst avocado ever for you...because it tastes SO awesome.  It's called a "bacon avocado" and while it doesn't actually taste like pig, it oozes amazing.  I only ate half.  By protest, because I wanted to eat the whole dang thing...but it's HUGE (that's what she said).

This is probably a good thing.  I did go out to lunch with some of the girls from school.  It was a blast!  Alas, Buffalo Wild Wings is not exactly "healthy friendly".  I ate a hamburger. With bleu cheese and bacon.  Of course, I figure that eating it once in a while is not necessarily a bad thing and if I just don't eat anything I love period, I'll probably end up killing small babies or kicking kittens.

Tonight when I get home, I'm going to continue my push-up, sit-up, plank routine and I might toss in some jumping jacks.  Now, while I'm worried about the black eye I may be sporting tomorrow, it'll get the heart going for some aerobic exercise!

To tempt you all, here is a picture of the most awesome avocado. Ever.

Eyebeam Lasers and Waxing

Today was a good day!  I've already done my 15 sit-ups (well, crunches), 7 push ups and 20 second plank.  Will probably do it again when I get home.  Also went for a walk today with one of the munchkins.  Have been eating fairly healthy today (oatmeal, veggies, turkey sandwich, more veggies...and a couple of pieces of dark chocolate).  I've decided not to count coffee.  If I don't have my coffee, people might spontaneously combust from the lasers that shoot out of my eyes.  So, in order to not be angry at myself and save all of humanity, I've decided the 2 tbsp of creamer I put in my coffee just doesn't need to be added in.

I can't help but wonder what the hell I'm doing and if it's going to make any difference.  I look at those stupid calorie burning charts and I think "what's the point"?  Seriously?  I could kill myself for a half an hour and still only burn a couple hundred calories.  Did you know that you have to burn 3500 calories to lose ONE pound?  Granted, we all burn calories just being alive, so it may not be as unreasonable to think we could burn that much off.  Oh, and your fat cells don't multiply.  By the time you're a young adult, you have all the fat cells that you'll ever have.  Of course, each fat cell can grow to be as big as it wants. 

I have this visual of those water bead things growing and growing.

Oh, and whoever dreamed up burpees is a misogynistic bastard.  I'm pretty sure he is also responsible for high heels, waxing, and root canals.

Ugh.

So, I got the pictures taken last night.  You know how everyone starts exercising and they take before and after pictures in swimming suits or sports bras? Yeah, SOOOOOOOO not happening.  Honestly, I'd rather just be naked and be all loose and hangy than look like a German sausage.  And really, you may need to poke out your mind's eye after seeing this post, but honestly, you'll just have to freakin' deal with it. ;)

Day 1 Continued

Well, I didn't get my pictures or measurements done today. I did exercise though.

Who knew I couldn't even do one sit up and had to do push ups on my knees? Holy crap, I'm way out of shape.

Today's Workout :
10 second plank
10 crunches (was supposed to be sit ups, but alas...)
5 knee push ups (apparently regular is not to be either)
15 second plank
10 more crunches
5 more knee push ups

Today's Dinner :
Homemade butternut squash chili
Parmesan asparagus

 I suppose at least I have a baseline to work from as far as the exercise goes. And I'm going to try starting the "Couch to 5k" program. We'll see how that goes.

On a side note, I wonder if I'd be able to do a full sit-up if someone was dangling a brownie in front of my face that only had pan edges.

Day 1

So, here is where it begins. At 33, I've realized that in order to see my children's children, I'm going to need to make a lot of changes. Now, there's nothing saying that I won't be one of those lucky people who has no issues and lives to be 100 even without making changes, but why chance it? In an effort to be more healthy and happier with myself, I'm starting on a journey to be a better me.

So, let's start with where I am, and then end with where I want to be.
03.01.2013 - 5'3", roughly 198 lbs (will need to weigh myself tomorrow for sure), BMI 35.1
Blood pressure medication
Cholesterol medication
1/2 pack a day smoker

Finish Line - 5'3", 135 lbs, BMI 23.9

Pounds to lose : 63 lbs

Now, some of you may be asking "what changed"?  Well, have you ever had that moment where you look at someone else and realize that you really don't want to be them?  I have a few of those people in my life as well as getting slapped up side the head with it as a nursing student.  I don't want to be that lady that weighs almost 400 pounds, can't walk, with yeast growing in every fold of skin.  I don't want to be that diabetic lady who has half of her foot amputated.  And I really don't want to be the chick that has a heart attack at 45, has COPD, and can't walk to the bathroom without stopping to breathe.