Week 8 and 9: Another Milestone is TOAST!

Week 8: 

I missed posting for Week 8, but I will just tell you, it wasn't pretty.  I gained.  My weigh in weight for Week 8 was 140.4, which was up .8 of a lb from the previous week of 139.6

Week 9: 

I weighed Sunday and here is what it looked like...

Top picture is from 9 weeks ago, and bottom is from Sunday the 22nd.

 Okay, my feet look AWFUL!  I promise to start weighing with socks on.  

That is a loss of 3.2 lbs since the last weigh in, and a total loss of 15.6 lbs!!!  I have reached my 2nd milestone and I couldn't be happier! 

I was having a "skinny day" today so I weighed this morning too and the scale had me 136.4!  I am pretty sure that will fluctuate between now and Sunday, but Still, it's so encouraging to think that I will hopefully never see 140 lbs or higher on the scale again.  

So the big pictures looks like this:

4 (or 3 if you go by weight this morning) more lbs until I am pre-pregnancy Avery.

5 more lbs until I am down 20 lbs.

15 more lbs until I am pre-pregnancy Lindsey weight.

Those numbers are not daunting and if it took me 9 weeks to lose 15 lbs then I should be pre-pregnancy Lindsey by Thanksgiving!  What a tough time of year to maintain weight loss though!  I am going to be putting in extra workouts believe you me, I can't say no to my mom's sweet potato pie... or other pumpkin treats!

So, here is what is going on with me to lose weight.

I am using My Fitness Pal DAILY!  Every meal, I record as best as I can to keep track of calories in and out.  I would be lying if I said that I was eating organic whole foods 24/7... I'm not.  Seriously, weight loss comes down to energy balance.  Calories in vs. Calories out.  

Truth be told, you could lose weight eating junk, you would just have to put in the time at the gym to burn off all of the calories, so it's easier to just watch what you eat.  While I do try to eat the healthiest options possible, sometimes it's not easy to make good eating choices because of time and money constraints. If I know that I am going to have to eat out, I will research my lowest calorie choice while not depriving myself of something that is desirable for me to eat. Example, we ate Taco Bell yesterday (horrible MSG awful, I know, but really, we had no choice).  I had 2 crunchy tacos totaling 340 calories.  When we eat chinese food, I get Hunan Chicken and instead of egg roll, I order 3 wontons.  That is a better calorie choice than Cashew Chicken, fried rice, and an egg roll.

The way of thinking that I have adopted is that if I cannot keep my calories at 1200 or slightly below that, then I make up for it in the gym.  That is the way it has to be.  That is Human Physiology.  There are gimmicks for miles out there for quick weight loss, or weight loss without watching what you eat and without exercise, and I am telling you, they are a temporary fix.  In order to lose weight and keep it off for good, you have to manage your calories and exercise, you have to.  Record everything.  Everything you put in your body is used by your body to FUEL YOUR BODY!  Anything over what your body uses is STORED!  FOOD IS FUEL!  Too much does you no good, and too little will keep you from running properly.  Find that balance.

Last I will say that I do not deprive myself.  If I want a treat, I work for it... I earn it.  Example.  Andy's Frozen Custard is going to be bringing out their pumpkin pie concrete... (the heavens just opened) and I will be budgeting in 923 frivolous calories, so that means I am going to put in 2 hours at the gym and make sure the rest of my meals that day are low calorie.  It's just what I have to do in order to enjoy junk food once in a while.

LONG STORY SHORT: I am working out at least 5 days a week, and try to aim for the full 7 days a week.  I am staying hydrated, and I am FREAKING COUNTING MY CALORIES LIKE A MAD WOMAN! ha.  

Milestones:

140 lbs = Pre-Brendan weight.

137.8 lbs = -15 lb mark

133 lbs = Pre-Avery weight.

132.8 lbs = -20 lbs mark

122.8 = Pre-Lindsey weight and -30 lb mark.

Milestone celebration: I am DOWN 15 LBS!

If you are on your own weight loss journey, High freaking five.  I'm in your corner!

Week 7: Moving Right Along

I am finally getting into a groove with this weight loss thing.  I am slowly figuring out what will mean success as far as exercise and calories.  I am hitting a stride and I feel really great.

Week 7: - 0.8 lb and -13.2 lbs total.

I know you have to all be tired of my disgusting feet.  I really should put socks on when I weigh.  Maybe I will invest in some cute fancy socks to weigh in. :)

Alright.  So here is how it is going for me.

- I am doing pretty much everything the same.  I keep a tight record of any calories that go in my body, so much so that I think the error would only be 50 calories at the most.  I HIGHLY recommend My Fitness Pal app for this.  This app is used EVERYDAY to keep track of my calories in and calories out.  I have used 3 different apps and this one is my favorite.

- I am exercising almost daily.  Last week I came down with an infection so I missed two days, so I was really happy to see a loss of any kind on the scale.

- When I exercise I do 1 hour on the elliptical switching the incline and resistance between 10/1 and 5/6.  I burn anywhere from 500 - 550 calories.  I'm sure that number is off in some way since it is the machine's numbers.  I need to get me one of those really accurate doo dads to get a better idea.  I do think the machine has to be mostly accurate since I enter in my weight and age at every work out. 

-When I know that I am going to eat out I make up for it in exercise, for example, yesterday for lunch we went to Nasty Villa (Mexican Villa), I had 2 tacos and about a serving and a half of chips.  So I busted my butt on the elliptical for 2 hours and burnt 1,081 calories.

-I drink a LOT of water.

Success in weight loss is a psychological tug of war.  The following mindsets have helped me battle a few of them.

- I have let go of any inclination that weight loss is something that can happen quickly for lasting results.  It has to be a life commitment.  I am taking this one week at a time.

- I only weigh once a week.  Sunday is my weigh-in day and I do not even look at the scale until then.  The thing is if you are weighing multiple times a day and week, you are going to see the normal fluctuations in your weight that come from eating, drinking, and water balance in your body.  That can be so discouraging, so if I could give advice to anyone attempting to lose a substantial amount of weight... pick a weigh-in day and ban yourself from setting foot on the scale until that day.

- If I don't lose as much as I was hoping, I have learned to not stress about it.  I just pick up with the new week and keep my eye on the ultimate prize.

- Think of food as fuel in your car.  Just as you wouldn't gas up a car if it already has a full tank, you shouldn't pump your body full of calories that it doesn't need.  Food is singularly and only to power our cells.  We have to make the emotional disconnnect and see food for what it is.  Does that mean we shouldn't eat things that taste good? No, but too many of us see food as recreational.  Just as too much fuel doesn't do a car any good, Too much food doesn't do our body any good.  It may satisfy our tastbuds for a few seconds, but after that, it's off to storage and then we are left feeling bloated, sluggish, and useless.  Give your body what it needs, and if you put more into it, then use it through exercise. :)

Well, that's all for me.  Onto another week.  My hope is that I will reach my next milestone by next Sunday.  That will be my -15 lb marker. :)

Happy week you all, see ya at my next weigh in.

Week 6: Slowly but Surely

Another good week.
Week 6: -1.4 lbs for the week -12.4 lbs total.

I've detailed in the past what all I am doing, so if you are curious, just read last week's post.
In Summary:
Using My Fitness Pal to keep track of calories in and out.
Working out for 1 hour daily
Drinking plenty of water

Milestones:

140 lbs = Pre-Brendan weight.

137.8 lbs = -15 lb mark

133 lbs = Pre-Avery weight.

132.8 lbs = -20 lbs mark

122.8 = Pre-Lindsey weight and -30 lb mark.

Milestone celebration: I am officially pre-Brendan weight. WOO HOO!

See you next week for my next weigh-in.

Week 5: Losing Weight

     First, I feel I need to explain something.  I am not writing these blogs for judgement.  I write these for encouragement and advice, because I believe that those things help me keep at it.  This is a very personal mission I am on, to cut my weight and get to a weight that I will be happy maintaining.  I think everyone of us girls can identify with low self image.  I think every girl can also say that they have felt ugly and fat at times.  Some women have always been heavy and love their body.  Some of us get comfortable with weight put on for this reason or the next.  Some women can learn to love a heavier version of themselves, and to that I say AWESOME!  There is a lot of importance to being comfortable with who you are on the outside, because that has a direct effect on who you are on the inside.  However, there are a lot of women who can never get happy in their own skin with added weight on.  That's me.  I am not happy with my outer self.  That is why I am changing things.  Weight-loss has just as much to do with my mental health as my physical health.

     No matter what I decide to strive toward, if I begin working toward a goal, I obsess over it.  That is a personality trait/flaw whatever you want to call it, but you know what?  It gets the job done.  So what if I calorie count down to the last calorie, so what if I get upset over a small loss week or a no loss week, and so what if I have frustrations trying to figure out the whole mathematical complication of trying to lose a lb of fat, yet keeping my body out of starvation.  At least I am striving toward a goal and doing it in a healthy way.  At least I am proactive.  At least I am keeping at it.  At least I am determined.  Why would ANYONE want to crap on someone's efforts toward something good.  Why do people on the internet seem to love to kick someone while they are down?

     Let it be known from here on out:  If you do not like what you read... Move along!   If you think I am obsessing over weight-loss, you are dang right, and I will not be made to feel guilty about it.  If you do not read my entire post then you should keep your thoughts to yourself. Finally, if I read any comments crapping on me and my efforts, it will get deleted.  Losing weight is difficult enough without black souled people trying to crap on my efforts.  - Amy Martin

With that out of the way, I'd like to say that I had a great week of weight-loss, and I am optimistic that I am figuring this thing out.  

Week 4: Top picture is weight from 4 weeks ago -11 lbs total (-3 lbs since last Sunday)

Here is what I am doing:

Using My Fitness Pal app to track calories in from food and calories out for exercise.

Eating as many whole foods as possible.  

Trying to limit eating out and when I do eat out I will work at staying within my calories.

I am sticking to a 1200 calorie intake as best as I can. 

I work out everyday and burn approximately 500 calories.

Drinking anywhere from 64-72 oz. water a day.

I have dropped 1 pant size and my clothes are feeling a lot looser :) YAY!  My first milestone is coming up.  

Milestones:

140 lbs = Pre-Brendan weight.

137.8 lbs = -15 lb mark

133 lbs = Pre-Avery weight.

132.8 lbs = -20 lbs mark

122.8 = Pre-Lindsey weight and -30 lb mark.

When looking at my numbers, keep in mind that I am a medium framed, short girl.  I stand 60.75 inches tall.

I am going to mark off my milestones as they happen.  I am really excited about this.  I can visualize them all happening.  If you have some weight-loss goals, go for them; it is never too late to start and there is no weight loss goal that can't be accomplished.  Determination and a little obsession is all it takes ;)

Love, Amy  

See ya next week with my weigh-in.

Week 4: Struggling... This Weight Loss Thing Sucks.

Maybe I put my body into starvation by adhering to the Lose It app's calorie allowance of 880 base calories for 3 weeks, and maybe my body needs to kick back into gear, but I weighed for the first time in 6 days since switching to the My Fitness Pal app with a 1200 base calorie allowance and I only lost .4 lbs.  I guess that is better than nothing, but I would like to see 1 - 2 lbs of loss rather than a measley .4.

Everyone has scolded me for not having my calorie base at 1200, but seriously guys, it is HARD to consume those 1200 calories plus what I burn in exercise.  I guess I could decrease my exercise, but I don't want to.  I really enjoy my 1 hour workout everyday.  I feel like I am forcing myself to eat when I am not really hungry at times.  Grant it, some days I have no problem consuming the allotted calories and actually struggle to keep under... like yesterday was a good example, but most days I am struggling to be within 300 calories of achieving my calorie intake goal.

Here is a daily scenario for me since starting the My Fitness Pal App:

I wake up, eat a 250-400 calorie breakfast that can include anything from grits, cheese, banana, yogurt, kashi bar, pancakes with peanut butter, or oatmeal... not all of those at once, but not one of those things at a time either... confusing I bet.  All of those things are all natural or organic, I am not using mixes or anything artificial.  I also drink 1 cup of coffee with a tbsp of half and half and 1 tsp sugar.

Lunch can vary between 300 - 400 calories... occasionally I get about 500 calories in at lunch, but those are the days that I have no problem getting my calorie allowance met.  I sometimes eat lunch before my workout which will be a piece of fruit and half a peanut butter sandwich, a salad, or something along those lines.

My workout is 1 hour where I burn 500+ calories on the elliptical.  On the weekends I do my workout around noon or a little after; on weekdays I do my workout at 6am.  I change the intensity throughout the workout at 10 minute intervals.

I sometimes eat a piece of fruit as a snack.

Dinner will be a lot of my calories.  I can consume anywhere from 400 - 700 calories at dinner.  I choose meals that are high in protein and usually incorporate a good amount of produce.

And that's it... OH! And throughout all of that I am making sure I take in 64 - 72 oz. of water a day.

Today is not typically my weigh in day, so I will weigh again tomorrow and hopefully not have a gain.  I will be sad for sure.  I wonder... I am also due to have my monthly womanly punishment any day now... I think that has an effect on weight.

The thing is, I have noticed that my big belly roll when I sit down has shrunk considerably.  My jammie pants that used to be snug are very roomy and more comfortable now.  Those are good encouraging changes that keep me going even when the scale spits in my face, so to speak.

I am going to keep at it for sure, but I needed to get my frustrations out.  Official weigh in post is tomorrow.  I also start classes tomorrow!  YIKES.   I am really nervous because I have 2 online courses as well as 2 seated courses.  I have never done an online course and I am concerned that I won't be self disciplined enough to keep up with it.

STRESS STRESS STRESS STRESS STRESS STRESS.
That's not good for weight loss either.

Oh well, I will just keep at it. One day at a time for school and one week at a time for weight loss.

First Day of 1st and 4th Grade

Today was the first day of school for my kiddos.  Lindsey is in 4th grade, and Brendan is in 1st.  "Time freaking flies" doesn't even begin to cover how I feel about this.

She just keeps getting prettier and prettier... and oh yeah, she is only 2 inches shorter than me!  No fair.

He's so cute!

And for comparison's sake... This was last year.

Dear Lindsey and Brendan,

     I hope you have such a fantastic school year.  I will miss having your giggles and your activity around the house during the day.  I won't miss the mess you make, though :).  This year, Brendan, I hope you learn to love school, and that you find it easy to behave as well.  I hope you love your teacher as much as Lindsey loved her, and that you make a lot of really kind friends that will appreciate your silly nature and your desire to have the best fun possible.  This year, Lindsey, I hope you continue to love school the way you do.  I hope that you will make some great girl friends... or guy friends... that can appreciate your obsession with My Little Pony and Minecraft.  I hope that you will still enjoy your school year even though your BFF Emily isn't in your class.  I know you two don't understand how much I love you, and while that is unfortunate that it works that way, it's just how it is... but I love you big time.  I love you as big as this whole entire universe.  You are growing up and that makes me so happy and sad at the same time.  Shoot for the stars and do your best!  I'm so proud of you both.

Love, Mom

New Direction: Update

I am taking a new direction with my weight loss/health journey after some input from friends on facebook and instagram.

Here is the plan:

I am switching from the Lose It app to My Fitness Pal.  Lose It had my base calorie intake at 880 calories and when I exercised the calories would be added to that amount.  A reliable source told me to never let my base calories go below 1200 and then any exercise I do would go on top of that 1200.  It makes sense that there would be a point where your body figures it's starving so it starts to store and conserve instead of burn.  MFP will not start you out any lower than 1200 as a calorie base, so even though my natural instinct is to believe that more calories will equal weight gain, I am going to trust my sources and do this 1200 calorie thing.

My next change is going to be how I work out. Currently I am simply doing cardio for 1 hour a day.  I think that was good for a start, but several people suggested I add weights.  My problem is I don't even know where to start with weights.  I am not a great multi-tasker so I don't want to use them while I do my cardio... that can get dangerous, but I would like to get a routine to start using them.  If anyone has any suggestions please leave them in a comment... Links to websites that have a weight workout routine will be most helpful.

Hopefully this plan will show me results.  If not, I am going to keep tweaking things until I start getting results.  I want to take a supplement to boost my metabolism as well. Losing weight the right way takes a lot of research and trial and error I'm finding.