New Meal Plan

I've been stressin' about my lack of blogging. I know I keep saying it, but I'm so busy. I don't think I expected to be this busy!


I'm still working out. I'm still following meal plans. I did just get a new meal plan last week. I need to make sure I update on that. My new meal plan is more calories and it is more like a maintenance plan. I'm still following protein and saturated fat. I'm still eating every three hours. I'm still heading in the right direction. 


My new plan looks like this:


Breakfast: 325 calories, 15 grams protein


Snack: 325 calories, 15 grams of protein


Lunch: 325 calories, 15 grams of protein


Snack: 350 calories, 20 grams of protein


Dinner: 350 calories, 20 grams of protein


I will follow this plan for about 3 months. After that time, I will get another bodpod to check my body fat. Then I will get another meal plan. 


I've already started thinking about what will happen when I get to my goal and I am just working to maintain. I'm ready to be at my goal. 


I'm hoping to have some extra personal time this summer to do some extra workouts. So far that has not happened! I'm pretty sure that I will find more time in July and August. 


I'm trying to read as many blogs as I can. I'm not always commenting, but I'm trying to read them. If you are new or newish to my blog leave a comment! If you have a blog, I will check it out!

Random emails

Ok, this blog was spurred from a Facebook status that basically said I reached a healthy body fat percentage and had lost 133 pounds. Over 65 people liked that status and I was overly thrilled to have so many people be so supportive of what I’ve been doing. I was even more thrilled when I received a Facebook email from an old friend about my progress. It said a lot of nice things about me and my progress, but it also had a lot of other insightful information in it.

I’ve decided to post her email, because there were so many good things in there. She really has some good insight into weight loss and healthy living, much of it coming from her own experiences. I just thought it would be nice to share on a larger scale. Obviously, I left her name out and any other personal details about her. So, read and enjoy.

Hey Sarah! Remember me? (I guess we wouldn't "know" each other on facebook if you didn't..)

So, I just read your blog. I know from facebook updates that you have been losing weight for the past while, but tonight I took the blog-reading plunge. In part it is spurred from the fact that I am living in a new city and have less to keep me busy than usual (I'm not a regular blog reader). But, whatever the reason, I feel so glad that I clicked the link and had a look. Of course, I first want to congratulate you on how amazing you look. I mean, really. It's astounding. I cannot believe you have done this on your own. (Imagine sounds of excited applause, giant smiles, etc. all in your honor beamed across the wide world from me to you.)

I felt compelled to write because I wanted to comment on the idea that "It's not a diet!" (Note: I am about to fall into an "about-me-and-how-I-share-a-similar-experience" monologue. But, I want to clarify that I in no way care to suggest that my changes are in any way as awesome as your **super stellar** achievement.) Okay, compulsion to share moving forward:

So about two years ago I was floundering about in a moderately shit-tastic time in my life (complete with icky depression, sleeping ~12-18 hours a day, you name it). On top of that I had gained a lot of weight. I was the heaviest I had ever been, I had notably lower self esteem than usual, and I felt HORRIBLE all the time. And I decided to make a change. You see, for me the changes were only in part about weight loss; more so they were about combating negative feelings, lack of motivation, and a stellar depression.

I began to try different tools to fight the battle that I was (or felt like I was), at that time, losing. First, I tried jogging. But in the beginning that was actually quite difficult, especially because I felt bad and very tired most of the time. When the depression began to get really bad and affected my work, I started seeing a therapist. It's crazy -- my whole life I had thought that was a bunch of rubbish. But in retrospect I think it helped a lot. I also got a book about "detoxing" and began being more diligent about eating healthy foods, juicing, etc. I tried yoga, acupuncture, eventually went back to jogging a bit, swimming, and biking. Admittedly, I even went on a mild antidepressant before things got better (but, got off of it as quickly as I could).

Anyway, it's now almost two years later. My diet has changed permanently and in my mind it has made all the difference. I also love to jog, I enjoy yoga and even have a regular "at-home" practice, and I am motivated...I don't sit on the couch all the time and sleep, I don't go out and get trashed and feel like crap because of a wicked hangover (okay, it has happened once or twice..), and I don't eat an entire pizza by myself in one sitting. And, honestly, for the first time in my life I feel certain that I can have a healthy future and not just wonder how my body may/may not age as if I have no control over my physical (and emotional) well being. I've discovered that I actually do have a "say." And that it isn't just hypothetical people in a hypothetical world that are able to make permanent changes in their lives. Actual real people, like me (or like you) can do this too. It's beyond empowering.

Anyway, I hope it isn't rude of me to just jump in share. But I was inspired to. Your blog is awesome. And your personality is definitely in full force -- with a sense of sarcasm and humor just like I remember from high school. You rock, dude.

Giant congratulations and a **virtual** hug,

The second to last paragraph is really powerful. I like how she said we all have a “say” in our lifestyles and that real people are making positive changes on their own. Real people can do these things and that her and I are proof. I know a lot of people that are proof of healthy life choices and hard work.

Honestly, I just liked hearing from someone that I consider to be an average/normal person that healthy living is achievable for anyone as long as they take charge of their life.

Ok, that’s enough babbling from me. You can take from her letter whatever you want. I just thought it was too good not to share. 

Welp.....that was a good bod pod!

This will be a very fast post, but I need it to be longer! I have so much to say. I just don't have the time to do it right now! I currently have a classroom full of teenagers and about 5 minutes until class starts!


Ok, got a bod pod. I thought it was going to be awful, but I was sooooooo wrong!


I will just cut right to the chase now.....


Percent fat 27.7%


Percent lean 72.3%


At 27% fat, I am officially in the "moderately lean" catagory. That is where they suggest a female to be to be considered a healthy weight.

Here's part of my bod pod.
It's the first time I've ever
posted anything with my weight. 

Again, sorry I've been so scattered. I'm trying to read blogs when I can. I've just been insanely busy! My sister is getting married on Saturday and I've been picking up extra hours at one of  my other jobs! 

New Lunch Bag!

Well, I got a new lunch bag. I went ahead and ordered one from 31. I didn't there was anything to replace my old lunch bag, but I managed to find something that I'm equally as happy with. 


If you missed the other post, you can read about it here. That lunch bag was also from 31 and I got it shortly after I started my first meal plan. That bag went everywhere with me! I was packing food for snacks and meals every time I left the house. 


So.....here is my new bag. I think it's appropriate for what I'm doing now!

Not the best picture, but the banana behind it is really
a game, called Banana Grams. That game is awesome!
It's not expensive and I suggest you go buy one
and play it tonight!

Yup, that's right. I'm proof that my
Not a Diet Meal Plans really work.....

Update

I'm turning into the worst blogger ever. I have no time to post these days. I guess I'm too busy for my own good. I've been reading blogs when I can, but I don't have a lot of time to comment. 


Anyway....May was difficult. I'm not even gonna lie. It was getting warm, and I was very busy. I don't have any problem working out. I work out 6 days a week. It's the meal plan that is starting to get tricky. My days have been so crazy and they are different every day. I'm also getting Spring/Summer fever. My focus starts to lag this time of year. 


So, I only lost 1 pound last month. Oh hell, I could have lost more, but I haven't even weighed myself in a week. I do the every other week weigh ins and this was not a week to weigh. So, I'm going with the 1 pound loss. It' s shameful, really. I should be on better behavior. I have no one to blame but myself. So I've lost a total of 128 pounds. 


I am still not measuring. The last few times I've measured, my measurements have been really crazy. I can only think it's because of shifting skin. Janelle seems to think so too. It's gross to think about. I know my measurements are changing though because my clothes fit differently each time I wear them. 


Now that it's getting warmer, I've been really pushing the water. I know I am drinking a gallon or more of water a day. I'm trying to cut back on my coffee. I just drink too much. I need to have 2 cups in the morning and call it a day with the coffee. I really drink about a pot in the morning and I sip on coffee throughout the day. Don't worry though, I drink black coffee, so no added calories. 


Also, I need to get a BodPod soon. I've called the lady to make an appointment, but she has yet to call me back. I'm hoping to do that in the next week or so.


My sister is getting married in about 2 weeks, so I will continue to be busy!!

I feel like he finally figured it out!

In the past, I have mentioned an older gentleman at the gym who gives bad advice, and when I say gives bad advice, I really mean he’s rude. For about 3 months, every time he saw me, he would tell me to stop lifting so much heavy weight. Then he would say something about how girls should be working out. Each time I would tell him why I do what I do and how it has worked for me.

I would literally say, “Well, I’ve lost 100 pounds…..110 pounds…..120 pounds….” This old guy would not even bat an eye at that. He would just keep rambling about what he does and I should be listening to him. I finally got to the point that I would look at the floor when I passed him in the gym or just ignore him.

On Monday he got me. He walked up while I was in the middle of a set. There was no where I could go to get away at that point. I took out my ear bud and waited for him to tell me that I was lifting too much weight, blah, blah, blah…..

Well, I was wrong. He busts out with, “So how much have you lost now? You look great.”

I let him know that I’m pushing 130 pounds of weight gone forever. He gets a surprised look on his face and says that I’m doing a great job and that lifting is a great way to cut down the fat. I said thanks and got back to work.

I was very confused though. This is the same dude that has demanded that I lift light weight and do like a million reps, this is the guy that told me I would get bulky, this is the old dude that thinks he’s a body builder, and this is the guy that I’ve been avoiding for the better part of 6 months now! What was going on here? Why the sudden change in his attitude about me lifting weights? I think I know what has happened. He doesn’t recognize me each time he sees me. He thinks I’m someone new because I constantly lose weight.

Ok, not really, but it was nice to hear that he is coming around. He is more receptive to what I’ve been doing. I mean, he can’t argue at this point. I didn’t lose almost 130 pounds by lifting 5 pound weights and taking leisurely walks.

I also had another random encounter with someone that I used to hang out with. This happened on Tuesday morning. I was in a rush to get to work, but I had to get gas (or I wasn’t gonna get to work!) I hurried into Speedway and was scrambling to pump gas as quickly as possible. Behind me, I hear someone say, “Excuse me, but isn’t your name Sarah?” I start thinking, great, I don’t have time to talk to anyone, dammit!

I turned around and I recognized the girl, so I say, “Yea, hey, how is you?” She just starts telling me that she was staring at me and she knew it had to be me because she recognized me car. We caught up for just a second and she was trying to get as much info from me as possible. I tell her that I work out like 6 days a week and she’s like, “Yea ya do! Look at the shape of your legs!” It made me smile. Then she turned to a woman at another pump and is like, “I didn’t even recognize her. She’s so small.”

So, I’m loving all the compliments lately. I don’t like to brag to people face to face, so I leave it to my blog. I figure, my blog, I can say what I want and I want to talk about myself!

A couple new pics.

So, I was not even noticing that I need new pics. I did not realize that the last time I posted a progress picture was in November! Whoops....guess I should pay better attention!


I have a few new pictures and I know Janelle has been storing pics on her phone for the past few months. I'm going to have to get those from her and post them too!


So, here is an update. This is May 2012. 

This was actually taken yesterday. Zach has a
freak board where he tracks what his athletes
accomplish....yea, not an athlete, but on the
Freak Board....holla!

Random workin' out. 

Nice compliments

At the gym the other day I had a nice encounter with this really tall, big muscly dude. I thought he was watching me because he was going to tell me that I was working out incorrectly. Then he walked over and started talking. As usual, I was wrong. The guy didn't want to tell me how to work out. He wanted to give me a compliment. I really need to stop being so skeptical of people at the gym.

Anyway, he just flat out asked me how much weight I've lost. I told him I've lost 127 pounds and he is like, "I've noticed. I'm really proud of you. Keep it up; you're doing great." Then he walked away. I almost didn't have time to say thank you. 

Having a nice compliment was a nice way to start my day!

Update....what happened to April?

Thanks for all the comments about my pull ups. I was very excited about it.... Also, I will get some more pictures posted. I don't know why I have been lacking in the photo posting.


Anyway, here are the totals for April. My measurements are not reliable anymore. I know that probably sounds like a cop out, but there is skin shifting and all kinds of crazy things. I had no change in inches this month. I'm still at 92.5 inches lost, forever, from my body. I mean, 92.5 inches is a lot! I'm not gonna complain about that!


As far as weight, I lost 2 more pounds over the month. A lot of my lack of weight loss is my own fault, but I'm on a new meal plan and I'm beginning to lose again. I'm now down 127 pounds from where I started. 


The other day someone left a comment wondering what I weigh and how tall I am. I've never said on this blog how much I weigh. For some reason, I'm not totally ready to admit out loud how much I used to weigh and how much I weigh now. I shouldn't feel embarrassed about it, but I do. I've been thinking a lot about it these days and I think I'm getting closer and closer to actually posting all that info. I will just force myself to take the plunge and post it, embarrassing or not. I mean, most of you that have blogs post how much you weigh. 


Oh, but I am 5'2".....yea, pretty short. 

Holy Crap, I Did An Effing Pullup!

So.....big day yesterday....I did a pull up! A real pull up. Not a pull up with assistance to make it easier, but a real pull up....all me, no help. There is even a video to prove it. 


Here's a quick back story as to why there is a video....


I tried a pull up yesterday. I got about half way up, and that was further than I've ever gotten. Janelle gave me a tip....breath out when you start. Then she grabbed her phone and said she was going to record the next attempt, because she was sure that I was going to do it. We stopped recording right after I drop down, so you don't hear me yell, "The breathing worked!" 


Anyway, it was quite a day for me. I spent all last night telling people about my one pull up. I was able to do one more unassisted, and then I was all tapped out and I had to use the resistance bands to give me a boost again. 


I've had an ongoing struggle with pull ups for the past 3 years now. Sometimes I even write about it. You can read about some of those here and here. 


I've never uploaded a video and this one came from a phone. I hope it uploaded correctly. Also, I don't have the editing software to rotate the video....so I might look like I'm crawling. Just turn your head to the side and I'll look normal.


Oh, and excuse my leg kicking! I swear when I kick my legs around it helps!