Trying again…

Anyone who has been following me for a while knows that I’ve spent the past couple years talking about losing weight.  When I started, I was whining talking about it, I was at around 148 lbs.  My goal was 125. 

Since that time, I’ve lost a total of 9 lbs – and kept it off (mostly).  Which is great.. But, that means I still have 14 lbs to lose.

We shelled out almost $50/each a month for a year and a half for a gym membership that we barely used.  Not completely because I lacked motivation – but mostly a time factor.  With one car, it was hard to make time to get to the gym – and with our different schedules (and sleep needs) going together never seemed to work.

That membership lapsed at the end of last month – and we didn’t renew it.  I considered going back to my women’s only gym which would cost me about $25 a month – but since we still have one car – I don’t see how the time issue is going to change at all. 

So, I decided to buy myself an ellitptical.  I found one on Craiglist (love Craiglist) for about $850 less than I wouild pay in the store – used but in great condition.. After testing it out, I told the lady that I was going to take it and we pick it up tonight!  I’m so excited to be able to do cardio in the comfort of my own home.  I’ve never been so excited about something fitness related. 

I’m hoping we can get it set up tonight, and starting from tomorrow I can put myself on some sort of realistic workout schedule.  That along with a little more tweaking to my eating habits.. maybe I can be down 10 lbs by June – which is an attainable 1 lb a week.  And if not, maybe at least I look more toned before summer gets here — even if I still weigh exactly the same!

Another “new” start

Image via Wikipedia

I stepped on the scale yesterday and almost had a heart attack.  The number that flashed up at me was horrifying.  And, even with the necessary adjustments (considering daily fluctuation as it was 4 p.m. and not first thing in the morning when I usually weigh myself and the fact that I currently have my period), I still was very upset.  I am supposed to be losing weight, not gaining it.

But of course, to lose weight requires motivation and exercising and self-control.  Things I have not had or practiced in the past few months.  I haven’t even updated my Get Fit Challenge page since February.  And I think the last time I stepped foot in the gym was probably in February as well. 

And now, we’re in the second-to-last week of April and I still have lots of weight to lose before the summer.

Yesterday’s scale reading shocked me into my workout gear and to the gym.  I worked out for 30 minutes, which is a good starting point.  I did 20 minutes of cardio and ten minutes of circuit training.  Which I know isn’t enough to do anything.  Especially when I do it once every two months.

My goal for the first of May is to be doing 45 minutes of cardio, three times a week. I’ve also already started increasing my water intake and cutting out carbonated and sugary beverages, and taking fiber. 

Now, I just need to be more ‘selfish’ with my time and say no to things so I can get my butt to the gym.

Uggh..

Not an eloquent title, but that’s how I’m feeling right now.

I’m not going to bother doing measurements and all that for February 1st – because, well, January sucked.

I didn’t lose any weight.

Actually, I managed to gain 2 freaking pounds.

Which is all, is not surprising since I didn’t even make it to the gym once in all of January – nor did I stop eating junk food.

And, I’ve been feeling pretty crappy all month.. I think I’m going to make a doctor’s appointment to get a physical done – because this whole being nauseous all the time, no period, but negative pregnancy tests, can’t really be all normal.

I did manage to make it to the gym yesterday.. And, ate a portion-controlled packed lunch today, so hopefully March’s weigh-in will have better numbers.

Late, as always…

I’m late with this… Eight days late to be exact.

I have to say, so far, I’m doing nothing towards making my goal, except for the vague plan to get to the gym at some point today.  Starting next week I need to get my butt in gear.  But to take note of any progress, or lack of, we’ll have to measure out the starting point… So, here is where I bare myself…

	Goal	Current	Change	Left to goal:
Weight	125 lbs	139 lbs	n/a	14 lbs
Chest	36 in	-	n/a	-
Abs	26 in	-	n/a	-
Hips	36 in	-	n/a	-
Thighs	18 in	-	n/a	-
Calves	14 in	-	n/a	-
Arms	10 in	-	n/a	-
BMI	22.9%	25.4%	n/a	2.5%

I can’t find my measuring tape, so I’ll have to add the other measurements later, and the goal measurements may have to be altered after that, but at least I took a good first step towards accountability. 

Now to get to myself to the gym!

Scrap That! Let’s Start Again

Image by Mason Masteka via Flickr

In May of this year, I decided that my brother’s wedding in October would be the impetus for me to lose the ‘last 10 pounds’ so to speak.  Except it really was 19 pounds.  And, I failed.  I did manage to lose about 6 pounds – but that’s it.  I stopped paying attention to what I was eating; I was no longer drinking 8 glasses or more a day, and my exercise regime/dreams went out the window.  The only bright side is that I’ve managed in the past few months to keep those 6 pounds off, which I should probably view as a success of sorts.

Now, if AMP and I do decide to have a baby – I want to be at my healthiest and fittest at the time of conception, in hopes of a healthy pregnancy and maybe, easy weight loss after the baby.  Now, while our baby plans are more than a year away, I might as well get started now, and enjoy an awesome summer of prancing around in a bikini without being completely self-conscious. 

So, we’re going to start the “Get-Fit Challenge” once again.

I am going to give myself 6 months to shed the remaining 13 pounds.  Just in time for bikini season.

So, here we go again… On January 1^st, I will re-commence weigh-ins. 

I will start going to the gym 3 times a week (at least), with at least 45 minutes of cardio each time. 
I will drink 8 to 10 cups of water per day.
I will pack my own lunches and not buy fast food.
I will cook healthy, nutritional meals.
I will take my vitamins daily.

And, in 6 months (or maybe less), I will weigh 125 lbs. 

So, ready, set, GO!

Missing body, circa 2005

I miss the 20-year-old me… To be incredibly specific, I miss my 20-year-old body.  Though I didn’t appreciate it at the time, I actually was pretty hot, if I say so myself, haha.  Huge boobs, tiny waist, actually in shape… All things I didn’t see back then.  I don’t know what my problem was, complaining about my size 0-2 body that required basically very little effort to maintain because I had the most amazing metabolism.  I swear I could actually lose weight just by thinking about it, while still hitting McDonalds or Dairy Queen.

 

But, five years later, I weigh almost 20 lbs more, and I’m lucky if my hips will squeeze into a size 7.  My stomach is definitely not flat, my thighs touch… the only thing I still have going for me is the boobs. 

And, I don’t have a pregnancy to blame for it.  Just a stupid case of mono when I was 21, that basically murdered my metabolism… And, well, it took me a little while to notice that I couldn’t eat fast food and still look great anymore. 

I want to get in shape… I really do.  And I feel like I’m trying, but not hard enough.  The Get-Fit Challenge has been a bust.  I haven’t lost any more weight since the second month.  My only success is that I’ve maintained that 6 to 7 lbs weight loss, which I mean, is still something. 

But, my October deadline is days away, and I’m still 12 lbs and 8.5 inches away… Just like I was in July… So absolutely no progress in the past 2 months (and a bit).

Getting to the gym has been difficult.  The mornings are getting darker, and getting up at 6 a.m. is not my thing.  But, I need to put more of an effort, or I’m never going to get anywhere with it. 

So, I have a new goal… Well, same goal and new deadline.

I will give myself to the spring… Just before bathing suit season. 

And I will up my determination…

Hopefully this time it works.

Plateau-ing

Since losing the first 7 lbs, I seem to have completely plateau-ed, and have not lost a single pound or inch since.  The past few months have been pretty busy, which makes getting to the gym harder, and more grabbing food on the go, which is not conducive to losing weight, or being healthier.

I would love to lose a few more pounds, or, eleven.  I would like to weigh 125, which seems to be an ideal weight given my 5’2” frame.  AMP says I’ll be too skinny then, but that was the same weight I was when we first started dating, so I’m sure he’ll like how I look just fine at that weight.  Although, I’m trying not to focus too much on the number – I’d be okay with being even 130 lbs, if my thighs didn’t touch, my stomach was flat and I was toned all over.   

This past weekend, AMP and I signed up for a gym membership.  I already had one, but it was a women’s-only gym, so I decided to cancel it so that AMP and I could work out together.  I’m not sure what I was thinking, because that means getting up for 6 a.m. workouts three times a week.  We were supposed to start that yesterday, but neither one of us set an alarm for the morning, and we ended up sleeping in – but we did go work out together last night. 

It was great to get to spend some time alone with AMP.  He’s wanted to get in shape again for a long time, but while he was in school there was no room in his schedule for exercise.  So now that he’s finally done school, he can work out again, and hopefully that’ll give him more energy and decrease his stress levels.

And, maybe this will finally make me into a morning person?!  I’m one of those people who need 9-10 hours of sleep, otherwise I resemble a zombie (not the people eating kind though), but AMP can survive on 6-7 hours sleep, and is almost always raring to go in the mornings.  I know he wishes I’d get up earlier with him so we could have breakfast together, so maybe if I get into the habit of getting up for the gym, it’ll spill into everyday life.

 I wouldn’t hold my breath on that though.

A letter to my bathroom scale

Dear Bathroom Scale,

I know we’ve had a rocky relationship in the past few years.  I know that my behavior towards you hasn’t been fair.  And I deeply apologize for all the inappropriate words I hurled at you, or the time I literally chucked you across the room.  I was frustrated, but that is no excuse. 

It is not your fault that you cannot lie to me.  You’re integrity and honesty are an excellent example for everyone to follow.  I just wish you had thrown in a white lie here or there.  Or shaved a couple pounds off.  Or even rounding down would have been nice. But alas, your honesty, while noteworthy, has affected our relationship, and I’m here to change that.

I would like to start over with you.  I would like to build a new relationship, where I accept your honesty unflinchingly.  Where I rejoice with you over reaching goals.  Where we are friends, not enemies. 

We are making progress.  Today was a great day.  You cheered me with your little display marking 140.0 lbs.  That means that yes, I have lost 4 lbs in the past few months. 

I want you to know that I won’t be visiting you again till the 1^st of April.  I know that it is weeks away, but please understand, it will be better for us. 

In the meantime, I will listen to your silent advice.  I know you think I didn’t hear you, but I did.  Unfortunately, I chose to ignore it, to my detriment and the detriment of our relationship.  But, now, I am listening!

I hope this is the start of a healthy, rewarding relationship.

Sincerely your friend,

 The Undomestic Housewife

Success, of sorts…

This morning, I stepped onto the evil scale and weighed myself.  Two days before I leave for our anniversary weekend getaway, and I’m down to 139 lbs.  :)  At least we’re making progress now!

I’m still 5 pounds away from what was my goal weight for the end of February – but maybe I need to readjust my goal.. SO, here goes the new plan:

March 1st – 139 lbs
April 1st – 136 lbs
May 1st – 133 lbs
June 1st – 130 lbs
July 1st – 127 lbs
August 1st – 125 lbs

Let’s see if this works…

mrs. failure

Two months ago, I had made a goal. It wasn’t vague. It was specific and clear, as you can see here. 

According to that, I should now be 137 lbs. 

That means I have lost 0 lbs in the past 2 months.  I guess I should be happy that I haven’t gained any weight, but couldn’t I have at least gotten under 140 lbs?  It’s depressing.  I’ve been attempting the gym, but it’s impossible.  Now, with the latest disaster of my grandfather being in an hospital an hour away, it’s slipping further and further away.  I wanted to be down to 134 by the end of this month, before our anniversary weekend.

I weighed myself this morning and I am 142 lbs.

Instead, I’ll still be the same weight.  Maybe if I eliminate all junk food, I can make it down to 140 by the end of this month.  And I can push myself to go to the gym 5x a week for the next 4 weeks.  Maybe!  I’ll have to give up my sleeping in till 8 to make it work, but I can sleep once I’ve reached my goal! 

Hopefully…

the undomestic housewife