Thursday, December 29, 2011

Resolutions

Ok, a lot of people have been talking about resolutions for the New Year. I don't really have one. Well, I do, but it's nothing weight loss related. If I have one that is related to this blog it is to keep up the workout routine I have and to continue to follow my meal plan. That's not really going to be a challenge. I just don't want to fall off the wagon at this point.

Anyway, I was talking to Kelly (my tall friend I refer to from time to time) and she was thinking of resolutions for herself. I feel like she's coming up with some good ones for herself. Her basic idea is to be healthier. She is not going full boar/cold turkey on anything. She wants to get back into working out and doing Zumba. She is starting slow. She did a class this week and is making her plans for next week and beyond. She is also looking into changing cooking and eating habits. She doesn't really need to lose a lot of weight, like 10-15 pounds at the most, but she still wants to overall be healthier. So she is going to change little things here and there to overall improve her quality of living and life.

So that got me thinking about resolutions in general. People make crazy resolutions for themselves. Honestly, they do. It's like they make the ending goal of something the resolution. For example: Someone says they want to lose weight and sets a goal amount of weight to lose. That's a great goal, but they have no plan to lose the weight. Making the plan is 90% of goal setting. How are you going to get to that goal? What are you going to do? (OMG! The teacher in me is just coming out all over this post! I've been on winter break too long! I'm trying to teach through my blog!)

I feel like (and that means I've stating my opinion, not a fact) a lot of people fail at meeting their resolutions because they fail to plan for that goal. They don't map out the small steps they need to take to get to the overall goal.  I also feel like people get frustrated when they don't immediately reach their goal. Sometimes things can't change 100% on January 1st. I feel like when people don't see the immediate change they give up. They don't continue to try until they get it right.

I did that for years. I would say, "I want to lose weight." After that I would do nothing, because I didn't take the time to see and plan what I needed to do. I would try to eat salad and grilled chicken. I would swear off all fast food and sweets. I would go to the gym hot and heavy for like a week and then it would just become too overwhelming. I would crave fast food and fried food, but felt like I couldn't have anything like that because it's just not healthy. I would be bored at the gym. I didn't know how to workout so I would just give up. I would go get some fast food and skip the gym. Then I would think , "Oh well, I failed. I ate fast food and I hate the gym. I guess I'll try another time."


When I finally got my act together and started working out with Janelle it was just that; working out. It also was not a resolution, more of the one step at a time thing


There is no way I could have started working out and eating on a schedule all at one time. I would have freaked out and quit. I think Janelle realized that too. Honestly, after writing this I feel like Janelle and Zach had this master plan going on all the time. I think they were priming me for a meal plan for almost a year before I started one! Holy crap! I wonder if that's true?


Anyway, just don't forget to make a plan for your resolution, whatever it may be!

Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Christmas eating

Ok, I'm cutting right to the chase.....I think I ate more on Christmas than I did on Thanksgiving.

I know, I know, Thanksgiving is the eating holiday; not Christmas!

I started the day off really well. I had breakfast and waited until I was supposed to eat my snack to get to my mom's house. I think that's where I made my mistake. I underestimated the deliciousness of the cookies I made.

It's not as bad as I make it sound, but it's something I haven't done in a long, long time. I grazed throughout the day. I never really sat down and at plate after plate of food. Hell, my family didn't even make that much food! We really cut back. I didn't make all the varieties of cookies I usually make. We didn't have all the desserts or foods that we would usually make.

I was just snacking here and there all day long. I don't even think I realized what was going on. After a while I just felt so full and uncomfortable! I know it was a bad thing. Hey, at least I didn't have alcohol on top of all those sweets!

I think the difference between Thanksgiving and Christmas is all the cookies. There are cookies that my family only makes one time a year. There are a lot of things we only make one time a year for Christmas or Thanksgiving. This has been true my whole life. That's why so many of those cookies are a real treat. I know that no one will make them for a year.

I eat sweets throughout the year. I don't deprive myself. If I crave something I work it into my meals. Apparently I tasted those delicious, once a year cookies and lost my head!

Ok, I even think I'm making it sound worse than it probably is. I know that I didn't binge or anything, but I have to remember that I can't graze all day! I just keep adding food on top of food....it sounds gross to even think about.

I have to weigh myself this weekend. I hope the damage is more mental than physical!

My family usually does ugly Christmas sweaters.
We were doing that even before it was popular.
This year we decided to mix it up and wear
Forever Lazy's. They are not as awesome
as the commercial makes them sound!

Saturday, December 24, 2011

Some fancy pics!

So, here are some pictures that were taken in the beginning of November. We wanted to do something after I lost 100 pounds. By the time we took these, I had definately lost over 100 pounds!

Anyway, these are a few of the pics. I do want to post more and I will at some point. A lot of them were just silly pics. They were taken by Janelle's younger brother, Brandon. He's one hell of a photographer.


Pants flag? Why not.
These are my biggest pants.
They look bigger than me.
So why not make them into
a flag these day? Recycling
is key these days!

This is my favorite.
I'm holding the belt I was
wearing when I started
my first meal plan. How
it's longer than I am tall!
On a side note about the above picture: I posted these on my FB page yesterday. I said that I really, really, really like the pic that is above. A lot of friends and family were commenting on the pic saying all those nice things that make me smile. Then this one d-bag that I knew when I was a kid posted, "yea, cool pic, but where are your boobs?" Yea, I was pissed. I deleted him and his comments. There isn't even any room for explaining yourself! I mean serisously, my family is on my FB and I don't need them seeing people posting inappropriate crap like that! If anyone is going to be inappropriate on my FB page, it's going to be me!

This is that same belt tied
around my waist.


I do hate posing for pictures. I was about to get up
and walk away!



Friday, December 23, 2011

Thanks for noticing!

Some days I struggle to find things to write about that are weight loss and exercise related. I really want to keep this blog focused on things that I do in my life that deal with losing weight. Today was one of those days until I went to the gym.

My gym is usually a hot bed of strange behavior and strange people. I am typically annoyed at the people who talk to me and want to tell me how to lose weight. There was an older gentleman the other day who told me to stop using weights because I was going to get bulky. He was comparing himself lifting weights to me lifting weights. He probably has about 40 years on me....um and he's a dude. I'm pretty sure that his body reacts differently than mine. I'm a young female....not an old dude. I finally told him that I've lost over 110 pounds doing it my way and I'm going to keep doing it my way. It didn't even phase him....(and that's they first time I've tried to use the "well I've lost an ass load of weight, so I think I kinda know what I'm doing line.")

Anyway....he's not what I wanted to talk about.

I've been working out early this week and I've noticed that the gym around 8 AM is full of teachers I had in elementary school! There are a few that I see from time to time and I always wave. (Of course they know who I am after all these years. Elementary school teachers remember everyone, and they have that way of making you feel like a kid again.)

So between yesterday and today I've seen 3 of them! (I know, I'm talking about them like they are wildlife and I'm observing them in their natural habitat!) Anyway, I ended up talking to one of them. She was also one of my many swimming coaches through the years. We caught up about our families and then she told me that she's noticed how much weight I've lost. She said I look great, which I do, and asked how much I've lost.

After that we talked for a minute about how people perceive me now. I told her that everyone wants to know what I've done because they want to do it. When I tell them I've counted calories and worked out for about 2 years they lose interest. Everyone wants a quick fix.

It was nice to talk to her about all of that because she reinforced to me that I'm really doing it the right way. There are a lot of other people who also agree with what I'm doing and that always makes me feel good too. It's that nice realization that there is no quick fix and the work I'm putting in is working and other people are noticing how hard I'm working.

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

How many calories do you eat?

Everytime I start a new meal plan people will ask me how many calories I eat per day. I tell them how many calories I eat, and then I tell them this:

My meal plans and how many calories are based off of how much I weigh, how much lean mass I have, and how much activity I do in a day. I am never hungry because I eat every 3 hours. I trust the person (Zach) who helps me determine how many calories and grams of protein to have with my meals.

That is my little disclaimer to people because they will typically ask me this:

Can I follow the calorie count that you do? (Please refer to the statement above....I'm not telling anyone what they can and can't do for a weight loss program)

Do you get hungry? (No)

Do you have days where you eat what you want and don't follow your plan? (No, even though I have in the past, the answer is no. I can eat what I want. I just eat a specific times and I have to follow the calorie and protein limits and what not. I can typically find what I want to eat and find a way to make it fit into the plan.)

Do you ever crave junk food, ice cream, sweets, etc? (Um, hell yea, I'm human. I want junk food all the time. I dream about it. I eat it too. Just not a bunch. I will plan a meal around having that cookie, or scoop of ice cream, or whatever. I don't get to have a lot, but just enough to stop that craving. I'm sure that's why I don't flip out and pig out on junk food if I'm having a stressful day.)

I thought you should eat 1200 calories per day? You must be eating too many calories, Sarah! (My PERSONAL OPINION is that 1200 caloies is not enough. When I started, I was eating over 2000 a day. I was losing 2 pounds a week from the calories and workouts. I think 1200 calories a day is setting you up for failure, because you are not getting enough fuel to get you through the day and I've known people who try to eat 1200 a day and they BINGE whenever they get the opportunity. Again, this is my opinion.)

How long have you been doing this? Why didn't you have surgery? (Ok, it's been almost 2 years. I've lost all this weight on my own, well, with the help of workout buddies, family, and Zach and Janelle pushing me along and keeping me focused. Surgery is not for everyone. It was not for me. I'm insanely proud that I was able to do this the way that I did. Also, truth be told, I never tried to lose weight before this. I just didn't care. This was my first attempt to lose weight and changing my eating habits, drinking habits, and workout habits worked for me. Most people that have surgery have tried so many different plans, options, and whatever before going for surgery. Maybe if I had been spinning my wheels for years I would have had a different approach. Overall, I'm very glad I did what I did without surgery.)

So, these are the questions that I am most often asked when people talk about meal plans and my meal plans and what I'm doing. I repeat these things probably 10 times a week to people. Pretty soon I'm just going to print this out and hand it to people when I see them!

Monday, December 19, 2011

New Meal Plan!

I've been on the same meal plan for about 5 months. Today I started a new one. I was getting bored with what I was doing, only because it wasn't a challenge anymore to find food to fit the calories, protein, and fat.

I will be going to the store on Wednesday or Thursday. It's so much fun to go food shopping right after starting a new meal plan.

Anyway, it hasn't changed that much. A few less calories per meal, but the protein per meal is just about the same. I will post the details of it under my meal plans.

I also think I'm out of my slump. I was struggling through the beginning of November because of so many birthdays and family obligations. Thanksgiving didn't help either, but yesterday was a good day for the scale and I. I managed to drop 3 pounds. I should be doing that every 2 weeks and I will get my butt back to doing that. These holidays are killing me! At least I haven't gained!

I've still been very busy with work and trying to find a new balance with working out, having a life, eating, and working....it's getting easier. I've been reading a lot of blogs, but not having much time to comment.

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Some people have no clue what they are talking about!

So, this happened to someone I work with....not me, but if it had I would have had a few things to say to this guy!

Ok, basically, someone I work with asked me if I do oblique exercises. I tell her that I do as much ab work as I can, including obliques. Then she wants to know if I use weights on some of my oblique exercises. I tell her that I do use weight on a lot of my ab work, including obliques.

Then she tells me this: She was at the gym doing some oblique exercises with weight. She said it was no more than 10 pounds and it was a workout she has been doing for over a year. The owner (male) of the gym comes out of his office and tells her to stop the exercise that she is doing. He then tells her that she is wasting her time doing that exercise because it won't make her waist smaller. Instead if will make her "bulky". She told him that she had been doing it for over a year. His response was something about how she shouldn't even use weights to workout because she will just get big and she doesn't want to get bulky. Doesn't she just want to slim down??

What a friggin' jerk!!

I told her that he might be the owner of the gym, but he clearly doesn't know anything about working out. There is NO WAY that she or anyone will get "bulky" from using weights. For that to happen you would have to take steroids. I've been lifting and lifting heavy for over 2 years and I have yet to get "bulky". Actually, I've done the opposite of getting bulky. I've lost an entire person from lifting heavy!

I also told her that if working out with weights made you "bulky" then Janelle should look like the Incredible Hulk! I just don't think that Janelle is anywhere near Incredible Hulk status.
Are Ashely and I posing with Janelle or Hulk?
It's just so confusing! All that weight
made us all so bulky!
From Google Images.
The Incredible Hulk or Janelle??
I just can't tell!!

   



Monday, December 12, 2011

Too busy for my own good!

I prefer to be busy. It keeps me more focused. However, lately I've been so busy that getting to the gym has been more of chore than usual! Don't get me wrong; I'm still going to the gym 5-6 days a week, but it's really been difficult.

Overall, this is a bad time of year to be so busy that the gym may have to take a back seat. I've been doing a lot of baking for the Holidays and there have been a lot of people coming to town to visit. I've also been working my butt off and picking up extra hours and jobs whenever I can. All of this leads to a lot of tempataion and the desire to take short cuts. I feel like my self control could crash at any minute. I need to make sure that I'm still getting to the gym on my regular scheduled days.

Things will calm down in January, but until them I'm going to be super busy. On top of everything I'm running out of time to shop for Christmas! I have passed up shopping to go to the gym, but I'm getting to the point where I'm going to have to finish shopping for gifts!

I've never looked so forward to a holiday in my life and only because it will be a day that I can't work! I will also have to workout at home that day because the gym will obviously be closed for Christmas. I'm really looking forward to it too because I will get to sit on my butt for a little bit in the morning. I won't have to wake up to the alarm, and that is pretty exciting for me these days!

Here's to hoping I make it through the Holidays without losing my mind or my will power!

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Binging?

I've been reading a few posts lately about people binging. I don't really have this problem. I have planned days that I knew there were going to be rough days with a lot of food and temptations. I have tried to plan for these days to avoid binging. Typically those days involve a lot of booze more than anything.

I think there is one big reason that I don't binge after a bad day or stressful day; my true laziness. I am very focused and scheduled in my days, but I don't really do a whole lot outside of that.

Every now and then I will have a really bad day and think about stuffing my face with all my favorite foods. I will then think about how I have none of that food at my house. Then I realize I will have to make an extra trip to the store (which I hate) or go through a drive-thru (which I also hate). Then I realize I would just rather go home and not hassle with it. It seems like too much work for me to do. Don't get me wrong, I'm still thinking about stuffing my face, but I'm literally too lazy to make an extra trip after a long day.

Sometimes I'll be watching tv and food commercials come on and I realize how delicious the food looks, even if it's food I wouldn't ordinarily eat. I will really, really want that food. Then I realize I'll have to make a phone call to order the food or drive to the store to get it, and then my laziness kicks in. I realize I'm going to have to put in extra effort that I hadn't planned on for the day.

Just the other day, while watching football, I was wanting everything I saw on tv; pizza, Arby's, ice cream, and I even think there was a Long John Silver's commercial and I would never eat that, but it just looked soooooo good. Then I realized that I would have to drive to get all of these things and my laziness took over. I just sat back and  watched the rest of the game.

I've never been super proud of my excessive laziness, but it's really working for me in the binging catagory. I'm going to have to spread the word to everyone around me. I'll tell them all to tap into their inner laziness to help them get over their issues with binging.

Sunday, December 4, 2011

Getting out of the routine

So the other day Janelle and I were talking on the phone about the gym and working out and whatnot. We were both talking about how once we are in our routines that it is so easy to just go to the gym and workout. That's why we both try to go at the same time every time we go to the gym. It's like a routine....


Then somehow we started talking about how it is harder to skip the gym than it is to just go. I don't know about her, but I know that it takes more energy and mental anguish to skip a workout than it does to just go and do what I need to do. I swear, it is harder for me to lay on the couch and be lazy than anything else. I don't know if that is true for anyone else. 


I also find that I feel gross if I miss workouts. I feel like a blob. I know Janelle feels the same. It takes more effort and energy making a workout plan than it does to just go workout. Hell, it takes more energy to talk about working out than it does to just workout. 


Basically, the whole conversation was revolving around having a routine and sticking to a routine. It is harder to get out of the routine once I'm into it. I mean really, I have to rearrange my whole day to NOT go to the gym. I have gym time scheduled like work or hang out time with friends. It is an appointment in my day. I don't make plans during that time and I get my crap done. I feel so much better after my workout too. I either get to start my day off awesome, or relieve stress after work. 


I don't want to mess with this routine. I am not a happy person if my gym routine is in shambles. 

Thursday, December 1, 2011

Update time!

I had all this done the other day and I never posted about it!

Anyway, weight and inches lost for the month.

I only lost 2 pounds. I've been bitching for a while now about how tough November is for me since there are tons of birthdays and Thanksgiving and whatnot. I'm not even going to make excuses. AND....I've apparently forgotten how to add and subtract. I've been off in my math. I think last month I said I lost 110 pounds. I think that should have been 108....I don't know. I know what I weighed when I started and I know what I weigh now and that's only 110 pounds lost. I'm not even going to take the time to go back and find out. I'm just going to fix it here.

So, I also lost 2 inches this month from my regular measurements. I lost from my chest and my legs. Any loss from my chest is a victory; that's for damn sure. That makes 80.5 inches lost.

I have about 45 pounds to go, or so I've been told by Zach. I should be there by summer. Now that I'm seeing an end point and a point where I will be maintaining it's givig me more motivation.