Howdy Ya'll. It's been awhile I know. I did more retreating than I should have in the past few months. The stress of my last year of college, of waiting to hear about my Fulbright award, of dealing with my family...it all got to me, and I medicated with food. I used Chinese restaurants like therapy sessions...and as a result I lost the meager progress that I had made.
Well, I can't just give up. I'm making a decision to get back on the wagon. I've tried and failed in the past, but I don't see that as a reason to stop trying. If I had spent all those times that I had tried to lose weight, just eating whatever I wanted...I'd probably weigh 300 pounds right now. I'm going to take what I learned from my last failure and keep on going. Not a lot of people read this blog...so I don't feel like I need to apologize to anyone but myself. I just have to keep on going...keep on working.
What am I going to do this week to start up again?
1. Up my water intake...my fluid consumption up to this point has consisted mostly of diet coke and whiskey
2. Eat only when I'm hungry and stop when I'm no longer hungry...not when I'm stuffed to bursting.
I've changed my environment. I'm out of my boyfriend's apartment (we didn't break up, we just had to leave college now that we've graduated). I'm not living with my father and stepmother like I usually do. I'm living with my mother who I haven't lived with since I was three years old. I'm in a new part of the city and will probably get a job here. Hopefully the new environment will allow me to make new good habits.
Also if you're wondering why I as a college grad am planning to live with my mom... I got the Fulbright fellowship. In August I will be leaving the United States to go to Yakutsk Russia to teach English. Yakutsk is the coldest city on earth. I'm not kidding...seriously...look it up. Holy cow. I'm going to need to save up money...so it wouldn't make much sense to pay for an apartment for 3.5 months before I leave the country for 10 months. Here I go again...hopefully for the last time.
Monday, May 9, 2011
Monday, March 7, 2011
Long Time
Sorry it's been so long folks. I've had a lot going on with school lately, just getting homework done and applying for programs...I suppose I have to do something after graduation. EEEEK!
As far my weight loss goes, its been hovering in about the same spot as its always been. I'm finding that juggling weight loss and college is difficult. It's difficult to bring yourself to work out when you know you have 4 hours worth of Russian newspaper articles to translate. But I digress...all these things are no excuse. I should be kicking more ass on weightloss than I am. I also need to keep up with this blog more. There are things I could be doing to make myself more accountable, that I'm not doing. I also lost my student ID for a week and could not use the gym for cardio purposes. Through all this though I have still maintained. I'm not making excuses but this is one little victory I don't feel awful claiming. I'm still keeping track of my calories for the most part and will continue driving despite this speed bump.
In other news I went camping for two nights with Boyfriend. I had never been before so I was excited. And it turns out that you don't end up eating too much when you have to painstakingly cook it over a poorly built camp fire. Lite hot dogs and potatoes were the order of the day. Good fun. I got to take pictures of all the baby trouts at the hatchery. I'm a big fan of fish. However, it was far too cold and he got sick so we ended up cutting it short and going to home to my parents house, where I am currently located. I'm disappointed that I didn't end up doing my planned seven mile hike. It was going to be proof that I could accomplish such a thing, but I'll just have to prove it in another respect soon.
As far my weight loss goes, its been hovering in about the same spot as its always been. I'm finding that juggling weight loss and college is difficult. It's difficult to bring yourself to work out when you know you have 4 hours worth of Russian newspaper articles to translate. But I digress...all these things are no excuse. I should be kicking more ass on weightloss than I am. I also need to keep up with this blog more. There are things I could be doing to make myself more accountable, that I'm not doing. I also lost my student ID for a week and could not use the gym for cardio purposes. Through all this though I have still maintained. I'm not making excuses but this is one little victory I don't feel awful claiming. I'm still keeping track of my calories for the most part and will continue driving despite this speed bump.
In other news I went camping for two nights with Boyfriend. I had never been before so I was excited. And it turns out that you don't end up eating too much when you have to painstakingly cook it over a poorly built camp fire. Lite hot dogs and potatoes were the order of the day. Good fun. I got to take pictures of all the baby trouts at the hatchery. I'm a big fan of fish. However, it was far too cold and he got sick so we ended up cutting it short and going to home to my parents house, where I am currently located. I'm disappointed that I didn't end up doing my planned seven mile hike. It was going to be proof that I could accomplish such a thing, but I'll just have to prove it in another respect soon.
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Plateau Bustin'!
This morning the scale said 176.8. Woohoo! That's my lowest weight yet. Well lowest since I started this thing in November. I am really happy about this, but I know that other people might not be as happy for me.
I can think of mean things that people might say. " Wow...you lost 7 pounds in 3 months...you suck." Or "Well you still weigh a ton Fatty McFatterson, that's still obese you short round person."
Well to that I say, "It's better than gaining 7 pounds and I learned a lot along the way which will lead to more weight loss." I totally get that I could have been doing better, and doing more faster. But I didn't, I don't have those three months back. I do however have the next three months to make better, with fewer setbacks. This is my weightloss, that I'm learning how to fit into my life the best I can. Maybe I'd do better on nutrisystem or weightwatchers. But I don't have the money. I could probably use a personal trainer...again...don't have the money.
I'm not using the lack of funds as an excuse. I'm doing this the DIY Kari way. I know I don't want to rely on prepackaged meals or a program the rest of my life. I want to discover a healthy means of life that works for me. I know the term "lifestyle change" has been used to death, but that's what I'm trying to do. I'm trying to put a life together than encourages healthiness and weightloss, and still have it be a life that I enjoy and can stick to for a very long time. I know that some people make a weightloss commitment and shoot right out of the gate, dropping pounds left and right. I just wasn't that way. I didn't know how much effort it was going to take...so I faltered, I sputtered, I screwed up and ate Chinese Buffet, I missed workouts. But guess what...I didn't give up. I crawled out of the Chinese Buffet and made a commitment to go running first thing the next morning. Which I did! So if you think I'm not serious...that's fine. Just know that I haven't given up and I'm not going to despite my slow progress. I just had to take stock of how much butt bustin' real weight loss was going to take. I'm not afraid and I am ready.
I can think of mean things that people might say. " Wow...you lost 7 pounds in 3 months...you suck." Or "Well you still weigh a ton Fatty McFatterson, that's still obese you short round person."
Well to that I say, "It's better than gaining 7 pounds and I learned a lot along the way which will lead to more weight loss." I totally get that I could have been doing better, and doing more faster. But I didn't, I don't have those three months back. I do however have the next three months to make better, with fewer setbacks. This is my weightloss, that I'm learning how to fit into my life the best I can. Maybe I'd do better on nutrisystem or weightwatchers. But I don't have the money. I could probably use a personal trainer...again...don't have the money.
I'm not using the lack of funds as an excuse. I'm doing this the DIY Kari way. I know I don't want to rely on prepackaged meals or a program the rest of my life. I want to discover a healthy means of life that works for me. I know the term "lifestyle change" has been used to death, but that's what I'm trying to do. I'm trying to put a life together than encourages healthiness and weightloss, and still have it be a life that I enjoy and can stick to for a very long time. I know that some people make a weightloss commitment and shoot right out of the gate, dropping pounds left and right. I just wasn't that way. I didn't know how much effort it was going to take...so I faltered, I sputtered, I screwed up and ate Chinese Buffet, I missed workouts. But guess what...I didn't give up. I crawled out of the Chinese Buffet and made a commitment to go running first thing the next morning. Which I did! So if you think I'm not serious...that's fine. Just know that I haven't given up and I'm not going to despite my slow progress. I just had to take stock of how much butt bustin' real weight loss was going to take. I'm not afraid and I am ready.
Monday, February 21, 2011
New Picture!
Just dropped by real quick to say that I posted a picture of myself finally on my profile. I hope you all like it! You can't tell because of the small frame but in the pic I am standing in front of the Gates of Death in The Peter and Paul Fortress in St. Petersburg. Pretty rad huh? I found the silhouetted head thing that they give by default to be too creepy. I don't want my fellow bloggers to look at my comments on their posts and think that I'm all creepy. See you later!
Demon Bras
I will preface this post by saying that I'm a pretty busty girl. I got me some knockers. I wear a D but I may be bordering on DDs...I never can really tell given that bra makers have seen no reason to make sure that their sizings conform to a concrete standard.
I have recently begun running. Running means bouncing. Bouncing means pain. So there was only one thing to do. I usually put one of those stretchy sports bras, you know the type, no real support , but three for $8, over my regular bra. Thus, my boobies are held in tight to prevent bouncing and I also have the support that underwire supplies. Well apparently that is no longer going to work. It seems that this set up causes my bra to rub my skin off when I actually run. It was fine for the elliptical, fine for the stair stepper, not so fine for the treadmill.
A Walmart visit was in order to purchase a real sports bra, with shape and form. I tried on a bunch of sports bras...well...the "bunch" that they had for a 38 D. I suppose they assume that someone with boobs that big is too fat to exercise anyway. I found one that I liked. It was a blue front close number. And the front clasp is a zipper. Crazy huh? Well I sort of had to put all my eggs in one basket because this was the only one of the bras that was even remotely a possibility. I probably spent a whole half hour in the dressing room, thankfully Boyfriend was on a mission to find ten pound weights. I ended up finding him in the computer games.
I test drove the bra today when I did a light run walk at the school's rec center. It worked really well and I got to keep all my skin! Yay! I do wish that they made more cheaper good bras for us chesty ladies though.
Has anyone else had boob related workout problems?
I have recently begun running. Running means bouncing. Bouncing means pain. So there was only one thing to do. I usually put one of those stretchy sports bras, you know the type, no real support , but three for $8, over my regular bra. Thus, my boobies are held in tight to prevent bouncing and I also have the support that underwire supplies. Well apparently that is no longer going to work. It seems that this set up causes my bra to rub my skin off when I actually run. It was fine for the elliptical, fine for the stair stepper, not so fine for the treadmill.
A Walmart visit was in order to purchase a real sports bra, with shape and form. I tried on a bunch of sports bras...well...the "bunch" that they had for a 38 D. I suppose they assume that someone with boobs that big is too fat to exercise anyway. I found one that I liked. It was a blue front close number. And the front clasp is a zipper. Crazy huh? Well I sort of had to put all my eggs in one basket because this was the only one of the bras that was even remotely a possibility. I probably spent a whole half hour in the dressing room, thankfully Boyfriend was on a mission to find ten pound weights. I ended up finding him in the computer games.
I test drove the bra today when I did a light run walk at the school's rec center. It worked really well and I got to keep all my skin! Yay! I do wish that they made more cheaper good bras for us chesty ladies though.
Has anyone else had boob related workout problems?
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Stability Ball!!
Well I didn't get to 176...my lowest weight this week was 177.0 So close! I was one decimal point away. Despite my perceived failure I made some major strides this week. I managed to lose weight this week. I won some major battles with bowls of cereal, chips in restaurants, even happy bagels and happy cheese (my term for bagel thins and laughing cow lite cheeses). It wasn't super easy, but I'm starting to learn how to win these battles with food before they even start. It all happens within the space of one second. For example, I was at the residence hall cafeteria and I finished my lunch. I started thinking about the cereal wall. I was doing my habitual reading of the New York Times and I thought to myself, "Well maybe I'll get something to munch on until I finish the editorial page. I don't want to be sitting here in the cafeteria, taking up space not eating..." But I stopped myself. I realized how ridiculous it was to think that I had to eat in order to reading a newspaper. Paul Krugman's latest take on the economic crisis does not require frosted flakes to understand. I sped through the rest of the page and fled the cafeteria. Though there was that moment of panic "I HAVE TO GET AWAY FROM ALL THIS DAMN FOOD" Once I got outside into the air, I was so proud of myself. I knew that I had made the right choice. I knew that I didn't like I had missed out for not having a bowl of cereal.
In Exercise news. I did some running this week. I ran a mile and then ran walked a second mile on Monday. Then on Thursday I did a couple sprints on my three mile walk to and from Hy Vee. On Tuesday and Friday I did my Biggest Loser circuit routine with Coach Boyfriend. My muscles are getting more defined everyday and I love it! On Saturday Boyfriend and I went to Walmart to pick up some ten pound weights because the five pounders are no longer cutting it. Well, while there I impulse bought a stability ball because it was so cheap. It's all emerald green and sooo pretty. I did the workout included in the box that the ball came in. It was interesting, I kept almost falling off, but this should really do wonders for my sense of balance. I love it so far. I'll let you know how it goes!
In Exercise news. I did some running this week. I ran a mile and then ran walked a second mile on Monday. Then on Thursday I did a couple sprints on my three mile walk to and from Hy Vee. On Tuesday and Friday I did my Biggest Loser circuit routine with Coach Boyfriend. My muscles are getting more defined everyday and I love it! On Saturday Boyfriend and I went to Walmart to pick up some ten pound weights because the five pounders are no longer cutting it. Well, while there I impulse bought a stability ball because it was so cheap. It's all emerald green and sooo pretty. I did the workout included in the box that the ball came in. It was interesting, I kept almost falling off, but this should really do wonders for my sense of balance. I love it so far. I'll let you know how it goes!
Monday, February 14, 2011
How I'm Doing
I'm doing pretty good. Overall it's a been a decent week. I didn't reach all of my goals though. I didn't manage to get the food journaling in. I know I know...its so important for weight loss It just wasn't in the cards for me last week. However, I made it to the gym twice. It wasn't the three times I was hoping for. But there was something special about my time at the gym. When I was there I ran. I ran! On the treadmill boxed in by hard bodied attractive co-eds that belong on an mtv show. My short little chubby legs ran. They ran for a whole mile, not stopping to walk. I always feel so powerful after I run, I feel like I'm doing something that I wasn't meant to and succeeding at it. It's a great feeling.
Even though I've been bouncing in-between 177 and 180 pretty much since the start of the new year I know that my body is changing. I was shaving my legs the other day in the shower and I couldn't help but notice how much harder my legs are than they used to be. There are bumps of hard muscle poking out where there used to be just softness. Its the same with my arms, there is a bump of bicep showing through. I feel like my tummy is just a tiny bit flatter and my face is a little thinner. I think I have wonderful Boyfriend to thank for being my strength training coach and pushing me when I least want to be pushed. I love these Non Scale Victories as they are called in the Weight Loss Blogging World.
Now I know that I still need to get a handle on my eating. There was definitely some restaurant action this weekend that didn't really need to happen. I realize that I'm working out enough to burn enough fat to cancel out the muscle gain and even it out at a steady weight. And that's great. There is nothing wrong with replacing fat with muscle, but the fact remains that I'm still too heavy for my height and I should be losing regardless of strength training. My main goal this week is to buckle and bust through my plateau of 177 this week. I want to see 176 so bad I can taste it. I think I can do it. Rather than wishing me luck I would like whoever is out to wish me the strength to kick some butt!
Even though I've been bouncing in-between 177 and 180 pretty much since the start of the new year I know that my body is changing. I was shaving my legs the other day in the shower and I couldn't help but notice how much harder my legs are than they used to be. There are bumps of hard muscle poking out where there used to be just softness. Its the same with my arms, there is a bump of bicep showing through. I feel like my tummy is just a tiny bit flatter and my face is a little thinner. I think I have wonderful Boyfriend to thank for being my strength training coach and pushing me when I least want to be pushed. I love these Non Scale Victories as they are called in the Weight Loss Blogging World.
Now I know that I still need to get a handle on my eating. There was definitely some restaurant action this weekend that didn't really need to happen. I realize that I'm working out enough to burn enough fat to cancel out the muscle gain and even it out at a steady weight. And that's great. There is nothing wrong with replacing fat with muscle, but the fact remains that I'm still too heavy for my height and I should be losing regardless of strength training. My main goal this week is to buckle and bust through my plateau of 177 this week. I want to see 176 so bad I can taste it. I think I can do it. Rather than wishing me luck I would like whoever is out to wish me the strength to kick some butt!
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