Under 200?

It’s been a while eh? No, I’ve not been busy putting greasy food babies in my stomach, and no I’m not here to report that I’ve gained weight back like I have in the past.

Current Weight: 295
Down 50 pounds.
Finally, under 200 pounds. First time in years…. and I’ve done it all without pills, yo-yo diets, surgeries, injections or what not. I’ve done it with regular excersice and healthier eating. Yay me.

I’ll admit it, I’ve had a few moments where I’ve simply given into cravings, but it’s normal to do that I think – and as long as I get it under control then I know I’m ok. It’s good practice learning how to give in a little but learning how to recommit and get back on game. I think doing so will help me be truly successful in the long run.

I’m happy. For the first time in a VERY long time I can honestly say that I’M HAPPY. I’m still working out with a trainer, it’s hard somedays to push through the workouts but she keeps me extremely motivated. I still have about 120 to loose, but now it’s closer to 100 rather than closer to 200. I know if I keep at it, I’ll get there. I can’t wait.

Budgeting

Current weight 308 pounds.
Down 37 pounds total.

My trainer placed me on an 1,800 calorie budget. Of those calories…

30% have to come from Protein
45% from carbs
25% from fat

This is how I do this:

I track the amount of grams I consume of protein, carbs and fat. Then I convert those grams into calories. Since carbs and protein contain 4 calories per gram and fat has 9 calories per gram. I simply take the number of grams and multiply by either 4 or 9.

Say I consume the following in one day:

90g of protein
145g of carbs
32g of fat

This would translate to:

90 * 4 = 360 calories of protein
145 * 4 = 580 calories of carbs
32 * 9 = 288 calories of fat

Total calories: 1,228

I order to figure out what percentages of protein, carbs and fat came from those calories I use the following formula:

Portion of calories divided by total of calories times 100.

Protein: 360 / 1228 * 100 = 29.32%
Carbs: 580 / 1228 * 100 = 47.23%
Fat: 288 / 1228 * 100 = 23.45%

Total percentages should add up to 100%

So in this example I consumed 1,228 calories of which 29% came from protein, 47% from carbs and 23% came from fat.

I’d consider that a decent day except for I should have consumed more calories as a whole.

It’s taken a little bit for me to adjust myself to making these calculations, but I write everything down in a food journal and I also keep track of points in Weight Watchers. It’s not enough to simply write things and then not know how to make sense of them, so I study my logs daily, compare to previous days and look for ways to make improvements.

Another thing, it kinda sucks to keep track of calories but after a while you start getting use to it. If I eat something that has a nutritional value label I simply snap a picture of the label with my camera phone and log it when I get a chance, but that way I’m not having to rip labels of packages and stuff them in my pockets like I use to have to! LOL I also bought a calorie counting book that I take everywhere with me so that I can look up nutritional information on fruits, veggies, nuts and all of those other things that dont have labels.

This has to be a way of life for me. I have no option. Keeping track of nutritional values keep me aware of everything I put into my mouth. It makes me accountable to myself and in doing so it gives me a sense of control which I wouldn’t trade for anything. It may be a pain in the ass to count but I’d rather do that than continue to be fat.

“There is no easy way to anywhere worth getting to.”

A page from my food journal

My Gym

Weighed myself this morning:

311 Pounds.  

9 Pounds in 10 days.

I’ve been hitting the gym really hard.  Lots of cardio and weight training.  Lots of it.

My trainer hands me my ass everytime we train but I love the kind of soreness that I feel with each workout.   Silly to say but it makes me more confident each day.  Knowing that I’m doing something wonderful for myself.

At first, I was very intimidated with the gym. If I saw people there I wanted to just keep driving.  I pretty much forced myself to go and held on to the belief that I was just as entitled to be there as anyone else.  Fit or fat.   The way I see it now, if I don’t go – I’m only doing myself a diservice.   Every day, I go -  except for Fridays.  

Danny, the guy that works the front desk – he cheers me on every time he see’s me.  High fives, “way to go”, “keep up the great work” and on one particular day when I almost talked myself out of going, he gave me a hug a soon as I walked into the gym. “You’re doing so wonderful” he said.    It’s amazing how small gestures like that can brighten someones day.  He definitely made mine.

I love Anytime Fitness.  I love how I feel there, I love what I’m doing for myself.  I love the people there. 

It’s my gym

Goals

Weight Today:  320

Lost 5 pounds since last Sunday. Worked out for two hours everyday but Friday.  Both cardio and weight training.

I continue on weight watchers and I love it.

I met with my personal trainer to discuss goals and I set various short term goals.

My first goal is to loose 45 pounds by the end of March.

Second goal:  to be under 250 pounds by my 32 birthday on August 19th.

Third goal:  be 210 or less by the end of  2009

My ultimate weight goal is to weigh 17o or less which my trainer said I could reach by spring/summer 2010.

In total I plan to loose about 150 pounds.  Pretty much a whole person I’ve been carrying around for far toooo long.  Won’t it be nice!

If I stick to my cardio and strength training combination, not only will I be able to reach my ideal weigh in 17 months but I can also have a flat stomach and definition in my arms, shoulders, legs and back.  Meaning I won’t be just a blubbery mess of skin.  LOL

The nice thing about the week was that I didn’t feel like I was on a diet.  I’m not on a diet.  I eat healthier, smaller quantities and to the point where I’m satisfied not so full that I can’t breath. ha.   I feel so energized and above all, I feel so happy.  I love this feeling.

My sister, niece and nephew continue to attend the gym with me and are a huge source of motivation.

PS:  I haven’t drank soda or carbonation of any kind since the beginning of the year.    I’m especially proud of that.

Picture Journal

I’ve decided to keep a daily picture journal of my evolution.

For the next year I will be taking a daily picture of myself. Same pose every time.  At the end of the year I will compile all of my images into a time lapsed video.

I think this is something that will help keep me motivated.  I just think it would be cool and interesting to watch myself shrink! To have a visual of the weight loss journey!  I started taking a picture a day on January 1st.  So far I’ve only missed one day.  Totally spaced it but soon it will become a habit   In a year, I’ll post the video – regardless of how I look.

Again….

I have good news…I canceled by gym membership to Lifetime Fitness.  I never went.  EVER.  I had it for two years and probably went a total of 5 times.  I know, what a waste.   I felt like if I canceled it was giving up but my “someday I’ll go” never came.

The good news?

I’ve joined Anytime Fitness and not only is it 2 minutes away from my house but my sister, 17 year old niece and 14 year old nephew all joined right along with me.  I LOVE this gym and I find myself addicted to going. I start 5 weeks with a personal trainer next week and cannot wait to see the results.  My best friend actually worked as a trainer for Anytime Fitness in Layton and she said that the program will give me guaranteed results.

With the support of my family and my new found motivation I’m at it again.   I am going to strongly believe that this time will be the charmer.

I gave up soda. I weigh 325 pounds but not for long.

I ‘ve been sticking to one helping of food for a few weeks now.

I didn’t gain weight throughout the holidays.  Didn’t loose any either but I’m ok with that. 

Today, I worked out for nearly 2 hours.

50 minutes cardio, 50 minutes strength training.

I went grocery shopping.

Now, I’m enjoying a delicious smoothie.

We’ll call it the….

SMOOTHERMANIA

1/2 C Plain Low Fat Yogurt

1/2  Banana

1/4 C Soy Milk

5 black rasperries

1 Handful of blueberries

1/4 small apple

1 scoop VP2 Whey protein Soy Protein

1/4 C. BoltHouse Farm C-Boost Juice

Blend until smooth.  (I use a magic bullet blender)  Yummy AND Satisfying.

Weigh in next Sunday.

Helpings

So I didn’t grocery shop.  I failed at that. 

The good new is that I sincerely made a concious effort to help myself.  I did it my controlling my helpings.

I eliminated 2nd helpings from my diet this weekend. I dare say that I actually eliminated 2nd AND 3rd helpings.  I find that my problem isn’t so much what I eat but rather HOW much I eat.  I eat entirely wayyyyyyyyy too much food.  My first step will be to eat one serving of food per sitting instead of 2-3 servings per sitting.   I accomplished that goal all throughout this past weekend and felt great about it.  I was difficult considering my taste buds were crying out for more!

Next goal:  Go from 4 Diet Cokes to 1 or 2 per day then eventually reducing that to a couple per week.

PS:  I didn’t eat any fast food this past weekend   Way to go me!

I will weigh myself tomorrow moring. *gasp!*

umm, what happened?

I’ll tell you what happened.  My lazy, uninspired fat ass is what happened.  I THINK I weight about 320 now.  Ugh.  What happened?!?!?  I gave up.  I’ll admit it.   I GAVE UP.   Now I don’t even know how much I weigh, I’m afraid of standing on the scale to confirm what I already know to be the truth. My shirts are snugger, my pants tighter, I can’t keep greasy foods out of my mouth and I haven’t excercised in months.  I know what’s up.  I’m fatter. ha.

So what now?   I wish I could tell you that I’m here for a revival. For a new found motivation, but truth of the matter is that as I type this I have two soda’s, a bag of sunflower seed on my desk and what must be like a pound of chineese food in my gut.  It’s as if I know that my hand is in the fire but I can’t quite get myself to yank it out.   How does that make any sense? 

I’m tired of being fat. Apparently not tired enough.

I need to plot. Reevalute and I need to take a look in the mirror.  A real close look.  This post makes the post down there look ridiculous.  Embarrassing! haha

I’ll start with grocery shopping.  There, lets see if I can do that much….

On board

Current weight:  306 lbs.

I’m doing it and I’m doing it the right way.

It gets tought sometimes, especially when I crave greasy burgers and pizza.  But every once in a while I let myself indulge and I find that it helps me stay on track by giving in a little sometimes.  I’ve learned that it’s all about getting back on board.

Still no pictures up.  Call me camera shy.

I took some before pictures so as soon I start seeing some dramatic results perhaps I’ll get brave enough to put some comparison pictures up.  Until then, I’m eating to live – not living to eat

Oh Yes!

A quick post to tell of my love for Weight Watchers.  It works so great for me.

Current Weight:  312

Down 3 pounds this week and I even had pizza and Coldstone Ice Cream.

The things about WW is that you can eat WHATEVER you want as long as you budget your points.

Oh Yes!!