Week 3 Weigh In

I lost weight this week! So relieved!!!!! I am down 4lbs since last week's weigh in which is a total loss over three weeks of 7lbs. Not a huge loss but definitely on the right track! I know that the slower it comes off, too, the more sustainable the loss will be in the long run.

But I drifted off from the intermittent fasting diet, much to the relief of a lot of my friends. After speaking with someone who really knows what they are talking about last week I realised that this fasting diet wasn't really all that healthy. So instead I aimed to just cut back on the bad things through out the week rather than just avoiding them completely on the fasting days. I found in weeks 2 and 3 that the fasting days were just not achievable. I was hungry and I mean HUNGRY! So instead I just made sure I made good choices when it comes to what I eat.

Now I have a pretty busy life this time of year. My weekends are full of colourguard practices and then I also have rehearsal two or three nights a week. Couple that with the fact I am in the middle of a moving fiasco right now, and you will understand how it is often difficult for me to eat right. I just don't have time to shop for and prepare the healthiest of meals. But instead I try to buy the healthier snacks so that when I do have to grab food on the go there are better options for me to chose from. And if I am just absolutely stuck and have no option but to eat out or risk starvation (slightly dramatic I know) I always opt for one of the healthier on the go options like Chipotle or Panera. Also I find that unlike the usual fast food chains, a meal from either of these actually fills me up and leaves me content.

As for the exercise portion of this plan, I have a little set back in that my moving date has been pushed back. I am going to be staying with a friend for a couple of weeks. So the Insanity is going to have to wait until I get moved. I know, I know, I sound like a complete cop out on that front, but I am actually kind of upset that I am going to have to wait. Putting off getting started just pushes back how long its going to be until I am in the physical condition that I so desperately what to be. I am happy with my body, don't get me wrong. I love the way I look. I have curves in all the right places, and I don't aim to lose those. I just want to tone up and be physically fitter so that I can do the more adventurous activities that I enjoy doing. And slowly but surely, I will :)

Here's to an awesome week of eating right and being healthier.

Week 2 Weigh In

Epic Fail!!!

Ok so not a complete disaster but I gained a little bit of weight this week, only 2lbs, but it was a little dissapointing. But I had a pretty bad week as far as sticking to the plan though, so it didn't come as a huge surprise really, in fact I pretty much expected it.

Last week I finished out the week really well until Friday night. I was supposed to go to a football game at the high school but when I got home I felt terrible, light headed and a little dizzy. I layed on my bed for a little bit and my tummy was growling like crazy! Friday was, of course, a fasting day so I hadn't really eaten a lot. After feeling bad for a little while I gave in an went and got something for dinner that was not within my 500 calorie in-take for the day. I felt like I was a failure at this point, enduring the hunger all day just to destroy it with lack of will-power when I probably should have just gone to sleep. So the weekend did not start off well.

Saturday my original plans were to make some good choices during the day. As a non-fasting day I could have gone wild, but I decided to keep it sensible. That was, of course, until the roomie and I went into Boston to meet her brother and sister and some friends and we gorged ourselves on punkin beer, chilli cheese fries and nachos! But oh my goodness were they good haha. And as it was a non-fasting day I didn't need to feel too bad about it all. I don't think I really ate a lot, but I did have a few beers which all count towards my lack of weight loss this week. Sunday was SAC spin day. I didn't really eat much of anything during the day besides some fruit and a lunchable. And considering the amount of exercise going on I thought I would feel pretty good by the end of the day. I drank gallons of water and really worked my butt off, but when I got home, I felt achey and heavy. I don't think I was any heavier, but I was just so tired that my body felt like it weighed a ton! Sunday night I went out to dinner with the rest of the staff from Acton-Boxborough for a winterguard meeting and had some yummy calamari and then the meatloaf, which was AMAZING after such a long hard day. Couple that with the Sam Adam's Octoberfest and I was all set!

Monday I did well all day but I was in so much pain from the weekend. I realised I am definitely not a spring chicken anymore. My body was ANGRY at me haha. NO MORE COLOURGUARD!!!! Of course, I chose not to pay attention to my inner screaming voices but I did, however, have to pay attention to the aches. I stuck to my fasting right up until dinner when my roommate suggested a trip to the mall and Chipotle. Well, I am powerless against that place! I opted for the bowl rather than burrito, but I'm pretty sure it's still loaded with calories, and definitely pushed me over my limite for the day. Then yesteday was a write off, finished up nicely with apple pie and ice cream at 9pm last night :) ooooops!!!

So I guess after a week like that I can't be too disappointed that I didn't lose any weight. It was just the motivation I need to make sure I do things right this week! Fasting day today followed by rehearsal tonight. Then at some point this week a trip to see Jay to get the rest of the Insanity work out, ready to get started when I move.

Here's to a much better week 3

Week 1 Weigh In

I have a feeling that this whole mid-week weigh in is going to become a pain in the butt and I will start forgetting, and hence, I will probably end up switching it to the weekend. But anyways drum roll please .................................

Week 1 Weigh In:

 

5LBS LOST!!!!!

 

I was a very happy camper when I realised that this morning. I wasn't feeling like I had lost a whole lot, if anything. Especially as yesterday was a non-fasting day and I had chinese food and Yeh! for dinner, and I didn't skimp on the topping either.

 

Last Wednesday was my first fasting day and I did pretty well right up until dinner time when I met friends and went to Tavern in the Square which has the most amazing food, coupled with a Shipyard Pumpkinhead. Then frozen yogurt afterwards. So yeah my first day didn't go too well. Thursday I tried to make up for it a little bit but made sure I still ate pretty normally. Friday I was good, I stuck to my 500 calories, until after the football game when I had a sneaky Sam Octoberfest. The weekend I was pretty active. I went to Gunstock in New Hampshire for an Aerial Tree Top Adventure. HARD WORK!!! I discovered I have next to zero upper body strength. I followed that up with a beer and a burger. Wow just realising I drink a lot haha, oh well never mind :) Sunday I was pretty lazy and actually ate a bunch of crap consisting mainly of junk food, but enjoyed some British treats in the way of a whole pack of Jaffa Cakes brought over by my dad last week hehe. Then I ate dinner at Chipotle at like 9pm, not good when you are trying to lose weight, although I did go for the bowl rather than the burrito. Monday I behaved completely :) Then yesterday I had a bagel with amazing pumpkin cream cheese for breakfast, then my usual boring lunch, followed by chinese food and Yeh! for dinner. So this morning I was not hoping for much, but I was definitely encoureged to see the weight had still come off.

 

I know the first week of any diet you usually see more of a loss than is typical, goodness knows I've tried enough of them. So this week I am going to make a real effort to stick to the fasting days and on the non-fasting days enjoy my food but try and make smart choices. I have rehearsal on Sunday for the first time this season so that should keep me a little active. I got the beginning of the Insanity work out but I need to go and visit my friend again with a bigger thumb drive to get the rest.

 

So first week down and I feel great. Not really experiencing any severe hunger pangs on fasting days and my clothes feel looser already. Looking forward to the weeks to come and starting to get active with the work outs. Maybe I may have finally found something that works, too early to tell right now but here's hoping :)

Here We Go

So today is the official first day of my new eating regiment. Wednesday was suppost to be the first fasting day but I had already made plans to meet friends for dinner, and although I kept it semi-healthy, I definitely didn't stay below 500 cals. So today I will definitely be sticking to the diet. I need to make a real go at this. Then tomorrow lots of exercise swinging around in a tree like a monkey which is going to be so much fun!

I'll post some weigh in updates next week. Happy weekend everyone :)

Starting Off Ok

So yesterday was my first fasting day, and I hate to say I didn't do too well. I started off ok in the morning but without even thinking about it I got my usual Pumpkin Iced Coffee from Dunkins. I need to watch out for that. I skipped breakfast and then had a light lunch. I knew I was going out to dinner in the evening so I tried to keep it light. And I managed well in the afternoon. The hunger pains stayed away for the most part and when I made it to dinner in the evening I wasn't starving but definitely had a healthy appertite. I stayed healthyish at dinner with no carbs, meat and two vegetables. But then we went for frozen yogurt and I may have had a sneeky beer too.

So not a great start, infact, a bit of a disaster, but tomorrow I have no social plans so I will be able to stick to my Friday fast. I am also going to try and keep it low today to try and make up for yesterday a little. Then this weekend, although I will be eating normally, I will strive to keep it healthy.

Also going to be starting the Insanity work outs sooner than I had thought. Going to get them on Monday. So hopefully I am headed in the right direction. Baby steps!

The Initial Weigh In

The diet starts tomorrow! Had a great weekend with Dad eating and drinking lots of yummy but fattening food. Tomorrow is the first fasting day. Ok so tomorrow I am going out for dinner with friends, but I am going to fast as best I can during the day and eat healthy at the restaurant. So this is really starting!

Here are my starting stats:
Bust - 37.5"
Waist - 32"
Hips - 39"
Biceps - 11.5"
Thighs - 22.5"
Weight - 162lbs

Not terrible but definitely in need of a lot of work!

LET'S DO THIS!

Update and a New Diet

Ok so I know I am a little slow in getting to this. Believe me too, I really need to get started. I have been eating badly recently and with my dad coming to visit this weekend I'm sure I will be eating and drinking all kinds of bad stuff. There has been a lot going on lately which has sort of taken my concentration elsewhere. The biggest upcoming event in the next few weeks is going to be my move as I have found a little apartment to call my own, finally! So the plan to start exercising has been put on hold for a while, at least until I can get around to downloading the workouts. I feel terrible that this has happened and I know I am just being a cop out. But I will start this. Once I am moved I will have no one else to worry about if I decide to wake up at 6am and work out. So the long term plan will be just that.

But for right now, starting after this weekend, I am trying a new diet that I read about online today. It's a diet that is similar to my eating habits so I feel I would be able to keep up with it. It's a little controversial but I am going to give it a go anyways. Even if I only do it for a short time at least I will have some kind of plan to follow.

So here it is:
The intermitant fasting diet
You can eat whatever you want on feed days and on fast days you eat less than 500 calories. So in order to deal with colourguard on the weekends and allowing myself some nights during the week where I can socialise, this will be my diet plan:

Monday - 500 Calorie Day

Tuesday - Eat Normally

Wednesday - 500 Calorie Day

Thursday - Eat Normally

Friday - 500 Calorie Day

Saturday - Eat Normally

Sunday - Eat Normally

 

I know that the fasting days are going to be tough but at least I can get by knowing that if I want to go to Chipotle for dinner the next day I can and not have to feel bad about it. Hopefully knowing that whatever I am craving at that specific moment is never more that 24 hours away should make this diet do-able. And people have lost weight on this diet. Now of course, if you go crazy on the days you are allowed to eat whatever you want then you won't lose weight. But if you just eat normally, and enjoy the things a normal person would, then supposedly, you should lose weight. So we will see.

 

Anyone else who is interested in this diet can read more about it in this Daily Mail article:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2195408/Starve-day-pig-Is-perfect-diet.html

 

So the short term plan. After my dad leaves this weekend I am going to weigh in and take a before pic, then the diet will begin. My plan is to try this for a month and then see if it is worth continuing while I do the Insanity work out. It may not be physically possible to do a work out like that on the fast days, but we will see how I feel.

 

Have a nice Labor Day weekend everyone and I'll check in next week to get started.



Here We Go

I want to be fit. I have always wanted to be but I have just never had the motivation. Actually I think the motivation is there to start with, but I have never found a plan that I can stick with. When I was a kid I was BIG!!! Around the age of about 9 I would say is when it started. I gained a lot of weight, and I just didn't care at first, until it was too late. And even when I did care I never did anything about it. All through high school I was big. I wore a UK size 16/18 which would be a 12/14 over here. Not huge but definitely considered one of the fat kids in school. When I was 16 I joined weight watchers and although it was tough I ended up losing about 28lbs. I did feel better, but I was still around 180lbs and I got stuck at that weight for a couple of years.

However, everything changed when I was 19. Someone told me that I looked like I was losing weight. This made me so happy and finally gave me the incentive to take control and do something about my weight. But I didn't know how to do it sensibly, and that summer, the summer of 2002, I got into a habit of eating only once a day. I would allow myself one meal, but that meal could consist of anything. Due to my schedule of work and hobbies, that usually consisted of fast food or a sandwich, but it worked and I lost weight. For the first time in my life I felt happier with my appearance.

During 2003 and 2004 my body went through some extremes. I spent 3 months on the road in the summer of 03 and got really fit. Then I moved to Boston MA for 6 months through the winter, and the bordom coupled with the lure of American food contributed to me gaining some serious weight. Then in the summer of 04 I lost it all again on tour.

After I got home in 04 I tried really hard to eat healthy and maintain my tour body. I figured it's easier to maintain than it is to lose it again. And I did pretty well, until I fell off the wagon a bit when I started dating someone new. It was a brief romance and he ended up going back to his ex who was incredibly thin. This sparked my obsession with my weight, and the summer of 2005 resulted in me becoming addicted to illegal diet pills and surviving on a bowl of cereal, an apple and a bowl of soup a day. I coupled this with an hour a day of exercise and soon had my friends worried that I was developing an eating disorder. They were right to be worried.

At the end of 2005 I met my husband. We married just 6 months later and I began to gain some weight again. I was happy and felt comfortable eating again. But due to my husband's obsession with me remaining skinny my weight yo-yo'ed again and during our three year marriage I went went up and down from a size 12 to a 4 and everything in between. After my divorce, this continued up until today where I am now a size 8. Definitely a very healthy size, but my eating habits are still erratic and I don't exercise.

So my aim is to be in shape by Christmas. I want to march winterguard this year, and as I am pushing 30, this is no small task to undertake. It's going to be tough and in my current physical shape I know I could do it, but I would feel terrible after practice. For this reason, and because I am tired of just feeling "meh" about my body, I am vowing to get in shape. I plan to purchase the P90X DVDs and actually stick to the plan. I know there are going to be days when I hate it! But I am detirmind to get through it!!!

So watch this space. I will post before pictures when I start and plan to keep a running blog on my progress, complete with photo's. Wish me luck. It's going to be a long few months.