Sunday, February 9, 2014
AHHHHHHHHH
Giving up the scale is proving to be difficult. It has been 3 days since I have stepped on and I KNOW that the number doesn't define me and that I really want to focus on lifting and health and how my body feels...but DAMN. Why does a stupid number cause so much angst. I keep reminding myself that I was able to maintain for 6 months by just eating intuitively and not even exercising regularly so eating intuitively (while making a few conscious cutbacks) should yield the results that I want. I think being heavier and gaining while trying to count calories has freaked me out I and really need to see the lower numbers to set my mind at ease. I fear that not paying attention to my weigh will have me back at the near 200 lbs point...but then does it matter if I weigh 200 lbs if I look the way I want too???? AHHHHHHHHHHHHH I will not weigh myself, the scale can tell me nothing!!!!!!!!!!!
Updating is not my strong point...
...as evidenced by my lack of posting here. But I do think that this is the best place to chronicle my experiments.
So has been 2 years since I started this whole thing and in that time I have lost a little weight and gained a valuable exercise habit. I have tried several things and because I haven't really been documenting the journey I have no real clue what works and what doesn't work.
I did discover that I am pretty good at maintaining my weight. From July 2013 to December 2013 I was between 180-182 lbs without counting calories or being consistent with my exercise. I was only exercising 2 times/week on average. I got a Fitbit for Christmas and based on the FitBit and MFP I tend to eat at my maintenance calories almost intuitively. However...I have gained 4-5 lbs since Christmas. There are a few things that could be the cause - I kind of went crazy with the cookies, cookie dough, and pound cake around Christmas. I have been very consistent with heavy weightlifting since January 8th and with that comes a bit of water weight as evidenced by my previous freak out.. I stopped taking the iodine/selenium/vitamin C combination a couple of weeks ago for fear that it was causing me to hold onto weight...I am up 2 lbs since then. My Fit Bit may not be accurate and using those numbers as the basis of my caloric intake is causing weight gain or no weight loss.
Ultimately I would love to not be concerned about the number on the scale, but I definitely don't want to see it go up. It took me 1.5 years to get to the 180 lb point. I think it is best for me to let the scale go completely because I know that when I see the 170's I tend to lose my mind and eat everything in sight then end up back in the 180s just maintaining. I know that I really need to experiment with what works. and I need to document those experiments!!! For the next 6 months I will work on changing 1-2 things at a time and see how they affect my weight, my measurements and my photos. I will document here at least every 2 weeks.
Not taking the iodine does not appear to help (gained since I stopped) so for the next 2 weeks I will resume taking it everyday. I will also work on having one low carb meal per day. I need to figure out if I am going to track in MFP...I know that tracking is not something I want to do long term and I know that I can maintain without tracking so I think I will try not tracking for a while but keep up with the consistent exercising (4-5 times/week).
So has been 2 years since I started this whole thing and in that time I have lost a little weight and gained a valuable exercise habit. I have tried several things and because I haven't really been documenting the journey I have no real clue what works and what doesn't work.
I did discover that I am pretty good at maintaining my weight. From July 2013 to December 2013 I was between 180-182 lbs without counting calories or being consistent with my exercise. I was only exercising 2 times/week on average. I got a Fitbit for Christmas and based on the FitBit and MFP I tend to eat at my maintenance calories almost intuitively. However...I have gained 4-5 lbs since Christmas. There are a few things that could be the cause - I kind of went crazy with the cookies, cookie dough, and pound cake around Christmas. I have been very consistent with heavy weightlifting since January 8th and with that comes a bit of water weight as evidenced by my previous freak out.. I stopped taking the iodine/selenium/vitamin C combination a couple of weeks ago for fear that it was causing me to hold onto weight...I am up 2 lbs since then. My Fit Bit may not be accurate and using those numbers as the basis of my caloric intake is causing weight gain or no weight loss.
Ultimately I would love to not be concerned about the number on the scale, but I definitely don't want to see it go up. It took me 1.5 years to get to the 180 lb point. I think it is best for me to let the scale go completely because I know that when I see the 170's I tend to lose my mind and eat everything in sight then end up back in the 180s just maintaining. I know that I really need to experiment with what works. and I need to document those experiments!!! For the next 6 months I will work on changing 1-2 things at a time and see how they affect my weight, my measurements and my photos. I will document here at least every 2 weeks.
Not taking the iodine does not appear to help (gained since I stopped) so for the next 2 weeks I will resume taking it everyday. I will also work on having one low carb meal per day. I need to figure out if I am going to track in MFP...I know that tracking is not something I want to do long term and I know that I can maintain without tracking so I think I will try not tracking for a while but keep up with the consistent exercising (4-5 times/week).
Monday, September 23, 2013
Day one
Sleep
I have not been sleeping well and last night was more of the same. I was having a very vivid dream that left me feeling like I wasn't sleeping at all. Then I had to use the bathroom and could not get back to sleep. I was definitely up before 6am not sure how long.
Supplements
I haven't taken the iodine in about 6 days...I need to get back to that this week. I'm not sure if it is helping but I think tracking while Im taking it will be helpful. I took the magnesium last night. No stomach issues this morning so that is good news. Need to get back to the pro-biotic as well.
Workouts
I have not been very consistent with my workouts recently. For most of the summer I averaged 2 workouts per week. My goal is to get to 3 crossfit workouts and 2 walking/interval sessions per week. Last week I got 2 crossfit workouts and 2 walking workouts in so that's a pretty good start. Today we did the Lurong Challenge WOD 1: 21-18-15-12-9-6-3 of Wall Balls (12#), Deadlifts (75#), Box Jumps (16 in.) with an 18 min time cap. I finished in 14:17, I modified the wall balls towards the end because my started to seize up. We'll do this one again in a few weeks so I can see if I improve.
Food (not calories just kinds of food)
Been eating out quite a bit lately including lots of treats...need to get back to cooking as I am kind of missing the veggies. So weird that I need veggies, I almost crave them sometimes.
Feelings (body & mind)
Today I feel lethargic, like I need to sleep for 2-3 more hours. My tooth hurts and it is causing my head and neck to hurt a bit. My neck is also slightly stiff...I've been trying to find a good pillow but I have not been successful.
Weight (occasionally...don't want to focus on this)
180.0 this morning
Measurements ( more than weight but still only occasionally)
will take these later in the week
I have not been sleeping well and last night was more of the same. I was having a very vivid dream that left me feeling like I wasn't sleeping at all. Then I had to use the bathroom and could not get back to sleep. I was definitely up before 6am not sure how long.
Supplements
I haven't taken the iodine in about 6 days...I need to get back to that this week. I'm not sure if it is helping but I think tracking while Im taking it will be helpful. I took the magnesium last night. No stomach issues this morning so that is good news. Need to get back to the pro-biotic as well.
Workouts
I have not been very consistent with my workouts recently. For most of the summer I averaged 2 workouts per week. My goal is to get to 3 crossfit workouts and 2 walking/interval sessions per week. Last week I got 2 crossfit workouts and 2 walking workouts in so that's a pretty good start. Today we did the Lurong Challenge WOD 1: 21-18-15-12-9-6-3 of Wall Balls (12#), Deadlifts (75#), Box Jumps (16 in.) with an 18 min time cap. I finished in 14:17, I modified the wall balls towards the end because my started to seize up. We'll do this one again in a few weeks so I can see if I improve.
Food (not calories just kinds of food)
Been eating out quite a bit lately including lots of treats...need to get back to cooking as I am kind of missing the veggies. So weird that I need veggies, I almost crave them sometimes.
Feelings (body & mind)
Today I feel lethargic, like I need to sleep for 2-3 more hours. My tooth hurts and it is causing my head and neck to hurt a bit. My neck is also slightly stiff...I've been trying to find a good pillow but I have not been successful.
Weight (occasionally...don't want to focus on this)
180.0 this morning
Measurements ( more than weight but still only occasionally)
will take these later in the week
Keeping track of EVERYTHING
As I get older and my body starts to do little acts of rebellion. There are soooooooo many variables that affect our health and wellness that it is impossible to make sense of the things that are having an effect without keeping track of what I'm doing and how I feel. With that in mind it is my goal to keep track of
Sleep
Supplements
Workouts
Food (not calories just kinds of food)
Feelings (body & mind)
Weight (occasionally...don't want to focus on this)
Measurements ( more than weight but still only occasionally)
I considered doing a paper journal, but considering how much time I spend online, this might be easier to keep up with...
Sleep
Supplements
Workouts
Food (not calories just kinds of food)
Feelings (body & mind)
Weight (occasionally...don't want to focus on this)
Measurements ( more than weight but still only occasionally)
I considered doing a paper journal, but considering how much time I spend online, this might be easier to keep up with...
Wednesday, February 6, 2013
Adventures in Paleo
I have written about my exercise ADD and my avoidance of any restrictive diets here, so when my husband came home 7 months ago completely in love with this "new" workout Crossfit the first thing I said to him is "I'm not doing Paleo". At this time he had no clue what Paleo was, but I had done enough research on diet and exercise to know that most crossfitters eventually try Paleo. Fast forward 7 months and the hubby comes home and says..."I think I'm going to do the 6 week Paleo challenge at the box". My response "ok I guess we can try it"
I know right, I was completely shocked at myself that I was even willing to consider it and even more shocking is the level of research and preparation that I took on (I did eventually get tired of him relying on me for info on a diet he initiated and had to force him to do some research of his own). But a few thigs were different...last year my approach was everything in moderation also known as IIFYM (if it fits your macros) combined with moderate exercise. And while I managed to lose 13 lbs and keep it off, I still have and additional 25-30 lbs to lose. I know that counting calories is not a long term solution to weight maintenance for me. There is only so long that I can deal with the torture of daily food logging before I rebel (even with all of the convenient apps it is still a PAIN!!). So I was starting to look or a way of eating that would allow me the freedom to eat tasty food without the need to strictly count calories.
Paleo has been that way of eating. Now I am not currently a die hard Paleo fanatic and I'm not sure that I am convinced of the whole ancestral, evolutionary, grains are poisonous aspect of it, but I do think the focus on eating real foods is a good one. From the beginning I gave myself permission to be 75-80% compliant (my husband is doing very strict paleo for the challenge). I didn't want to obsess over the fact that my salad had conventional dressing or whether I shld use cream in my coffee so making room for 20-25% "non-Paleo" insured that I wouldn't drive myself crazy and quit.
We are now entering week 4 of the Paleo challenge and I can say that I can see continuing to eat in this way. I have tried soooooo many foods that would never have crossed my mind and I feel good about the foods we are eating. When I am eatig mostly real food, I don't get that super hungry feeling so many "diets" leave you with and when I feel deprived I take a while to determine what I'm truly hungry for and then I have it. I have become that elusive "healthy" consumer who shops the perimeter of the store. I am easing the kids into it - introducing them to one new food while keeping some of their kids favorites (mac and cheese...chicken nuggets) and they have been fairly receptive so far.
The weight loss aspect has been interesting - TMI warning - the first week I lost 3 lbs. It was mostly water weight as I noticed I was in the restroom a lot more but not drinking extra. The 2nd week I gained those 3 lbs back but that was also my period bloaty week. The 3rd week the period bloaty weight started to subside and I was down 2 lbs. Then finally this week - week 4- I am more bloaty and up almost 4 lbs. Well week four did start with Superbowl Sunday and a pretty epic non Paleo day and of course there were leftovers and that damn delicious maple nut fudge...but not 4 lbs worth. (oh yeah then there was the return to weight lifting...even more water weight) So the rest of this week will be a little more strict with the real foods and see if I can get back to that lovely low weight I saw in week 1.
I know right, I was completely shocked at myself that I was even willing to consider it and even more shocking is the level of research and preparation that I took on (I did eventually get tired of him relying on me for info on a diet he initiated and had to force him to do some research of his own). But a few thigs were different...last year my approach was everything in moderation also known as IIFYM (if it fits your macros) combined with moderate exercise. And while I managed to lose 13 lbs and keep it off, I still have and additional 25-30 lbs to lose. I know that counting calories is not a long term solution to weight maintenance for me. There is only so long that I can deal with the torture of daily food logging before I rebel (even with all of the convenient apps it is still a PAIN!!). So I was starting to look or a way of eating that would allow me the freedom to eat tasty food without the need to strictly count calories.
Paleo has been that way of eating. Now I am not currently a die hard Paleo fanatic and I'm not sure that I am convinced of the whole ancestral, evolutionary, grains are poisonous aspect of it, but I do think the focus on eating real foods is a good one. From the beginning I gave myself permission to be 75-80% compliant (my husband is doing very strict paleo for the challenge). I didn't want to obsess over the fact that my salad had conventional dressing or whether I shld use cream in my coffee so making room for 20-25% "non-Paleo" insured that I wouldn't drive myself crazy and quit.
We are now entering week 4 of the Paleo challenge and I can say that I can see continuing to eat in this way. I have tried soooooo many foods that would never have crossed my mind and I feel good about the foods we are eating. When I am eatig mostly real food, I don't get that super hungry feeling so many "diets" leave you with and when I feel deprived I take a while to determine what I'm truly hungry for and then I have it. I have become that elusive "healthy" consumer who shops the perimeter of the store. I am easing the kids into it - introducing them to one new food while keeping some of their kids favorites (mac and cheese...chicken nuggets) and they have been fairly receptive so far.
The weight loss aspect has been interesting - TMI warning - the first week I lost 3 lbs. It was mostly water weight as I noticed I was in the restroom a lot more but not drinking extra. The 2nd week I gained those 3 lbs back but that was also my period bloaty week. The 3rd week the period bloaty weight started to subside and I was down 2 lbs. Then finally this week - week 4- I am more bloaty and up almost 4 lbs. Well week four did start with Superbowl Sunday and a pretty epic non Paleo day and of course there were leftovers and that damn delicious maple nut fudge...but not 4 lbs worth. (oh yeah then there was the return to weight lifting...even more water weight) So the rest of this week will be a little more strict with the real foods and see if I can get back to that lovely low weight I saw in week 1.
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