Its been 6 months and ...

Looking at that title I just can't believe its been 6 months since I began my weightloss journey. I mean wow! I began my journey on Tuesday, November 22, 2011 just 2 days before Thanksgiving. Most thought I would be crazy to start right before the holidays. I wanted to prove that you could still eat healthy and in moderation even during the holiday. So on Thanksgiving and subsequently Christmas I was there in my kitchen with measuring cups and the food scale weighing out portions, putting portions into containers and freezing, etc. Since that date I have lost 48 lbs and said goodbye to the 300's.

As of today I am at 299.4 lbs. Sadly though I've hit another plateau which has really caused me some issues throughout this journey thus far. My goal was 10 lbs a month but I will not argue with 8 lbs a month at all I'll take that everyday! But it would be nice to get my 2 lbs a week consistently. Right now the pattern is I'll plateau for a week or a week and a half then all of a sudden nail 4-5 lbs lost in a week. Its like my body is catching up or something. I don't know I just know the body is an interesting device.

Speaking of which I've been learning about my body's physiology. Since I began this journey and was using www.myfitnesspal.com to track my food/exercise I have NOT replenished burned calories. However, through trial and error I found that my plateaus happen more frequently so I have to replenish about 30-50% of burned calories in order to attempt to combat the plateau.

So what have I been up to and doing? Well I've, in celebration, have been participating in a 5k every month and have done 4 so far! Each time my time is improving. My last 5k the miles have been about 14.5 minutes.

My exercises have been kind of all over the board. I still have my "gauntlet" that I do and try to do about 2-3 times a week. I've been doing a lot of walking I try to do a 5k walk 2 days a week. Today I am going back to my Tae Bo. I took a hiatus from Tae-Bo because during the workout Billy would say "2 more sets" and like 5 sets later would say "Walk it out" I realize now that wasn't him per se it was the editors/producers. Also Billy would do like 1 set then walk around the room and motivate/talk to the camera. I got irritated and instead of using that irritation to push harder I walked away. Now that I understand a little more about what it takes to make a workout video and that its not a 1 shot production its usually 3-4 workouts spliced into 1. Also that the motivation/walking around talking is an important part to keep the person watching/using the video to keep going. So now tomorrow I'll reintegrate Tae Bo back into my workout regimen because its something I love to do and if I get irritated I'll use it to push forward and if all else fails I'll concentrate on the other people working out in the video because they are pushing through with those of us using it.

So that's about it for now. Just wanted to post a blog about my 6 months especially considering some of the "followers" of this blog aren't on my Facebook.

Until next time! Here is the latest profile pic I took on the 6 month anniversary.

Owning it...

So I downloaded the blogger app so I could post more. Today I wanna talk about owning the shortcomings. I was staying pretty consistent with my workouts but I've faltered here and there.
Now I could, and have in the past beat myself up, get depressed over it but ultimately what does that accomplish? Being depressed, beating myself up, or starving myself as punishment does nothing. So I've had to learn the hard way is I gotta own it, accept it, and move on. Once I adopted that mentality I've been able to forgive myself those shortcomings and start over.

So moving on. Since my last post somethings have changed. I've inspired a few more people to change their lifestyle which is awesome. Also my friend has started working out with me a few days a week and we're trying to go on a hike at Lagoon Valley Park, aka Pena Adobe Vacaville. That hike by the way is a gruling 6.5 miles around the lagoon and up hill.

Also I have been trying to do my "gauntlet" 3 days a week, 5k on the treadmill 1 day, the hike 1 day, then I have an insane 4 hour cardio workout that burns 3200 calories. This consists of 2 hours treadmill, 1 hour stairs, 30 min elliptical, 20 min bike, and finish 10 min rowing. This require a 30 min replenish break and have a little something to eat (I.e. banana, protein bar, 1/2 blueberry bagel). Without the calories to burn that 4 hours is rough!

Well just keeping y'all posted now that I have the app on my phone hopefully I post more!

So its a long process complete with injuries

Wow I find it so stunning that I haven't been here in a month to post a blog! Shame on me!

So I'm making a few changes on this blog. I realize I've been going at this for about 2 years now and my weigh ins have shown the ups and downs. However, I didn't get serious until November 22. So I removed all old posts and updated with starting and my check in as of today.

Well as of today I have lost 28 lbs! I started at 347 and brought myself down to 319. I'm telling you I couldn't be happier!

I wanna talk briefly about a reward program for weight loss. You have to have a reward for small goals. My goal is 25 lbs at a time. When I lost the 25 lbs as metro sexual as it sounds I got a manicure, pedicure, and massage. The reason I went that route is lets face it if you use food as a reward you'll never succeed at weight loss! So for 50 lbs its time for some new clothes! I'm at a point where I might have to order new work uniforms sooner than planned!

So lets talk a little. Since my last post on January 29th I've been keeping a rigorous workout schedule which consisted of:

Sunday, Tue, Thur - 90 min circuit training

Monday, Wed - 60 min of cardio

Fri - 30-60 min of Yoga or meditation

Sat - Off

To see my circuits check out my previous post please!

I've been sticking with MyFitnessPal as my means of tracking calories and have been very honest. I allow myself 1 cheat day a week where I'll consume 1000-1500 calories extra just to let my body know I'm not starving. I usually do this on my rest day.

So why the "injury" part of the title. Well this past Saturday during my rest day I was feeling pain in my lower back. I couldn't help but think I overdid the day before which was my birthday. I added an extra circuit day to my week in lieu of Yoga/Meditation because I knew my birthday would be a indulge above the 1,000-1,500 calories. As a result I suffered a pulled muscle in my lower back.

If it was anywhere else I could have modified my workout however given its in the "core" area there's no modification just rest. So I reduced my caloric intake by 250 calories to compensate for the lost exercising for this week and will resume on Sunday coming up my workouts. The massage was a God send for my back!

So that's about all I have for ... oh wait lets talk inspiring and motivating! I have taken 2-3 people under my wing and its so cool to have people to share your tools and tips with! =) These people have inspired me by picking up their own gauntlet and running with it. Remember success is best shared and if you can get a group to motivate and work with success is all the more sweeter!

Until next time be well.

A new year a new attitude

Current weight 322 lbs, BMI: 43.7

Wow I can't believe I haven't posted a blog for this year! So where do I begin with a month and a half past my last post. Well what the heck let's take it from a week ago because it was more of a defining moment for me!

I've been staying on track with the MyFitnessPal logging absolutely everything. Now when I say on track I do not necessarily mean keeping my calories below the daily intake. I've had my landslides where I've taken in way too much. I am happy to report I haven't gone over 3,000 though like I was before MyFitnessPal.

My heart rate monitor (Polar FT4) has been an integral part of the workout process. As I mentioned before MyFitnessPal has every exercise in it but its calorie burn calculation is a bit off! I have also added a new device called FitBit its a small device almost looks like a flash drive that you hook onto your belt, pant pocket, (or if your of the female persuasion your bra). I was looking for a device that could be worn 24 hours a day 7 days a week (excluding water activities such as swimming or showering). It tracks your steps taken, stairs climbed, distance traveled, calories burned (its NOT a heart rate monitor it uses your height/weight to calculate), and lastly you can wear it during sleep and it evaluates your sleep pattern for efficiency. It integrates nicely into MyFitnessPal so having that added bonus is great.

Anyway the downside of logging exercises. MyFitnessPal gives you "credit" for exercises in your calorie intake. If you burn 300 calories they give you 300 more you could potentially eat. Yeah as long as you don't go over its all good but I prefer to stay under and have that bigger deficit.

So my pivotal moment. As I mentioned in the other post we all wait for "Sunday" or "Monday". Well I guess despite my "making today my Monday" promise I fell short. My workout Billy Blanks PT 24/7 has a rotation calendar. The first week is a 6 day workout with 1 day off. Because I kept skipping or ignoring days each Sunday was my new start and had to start over. Sunday the 22nd of January I made more of a committment.

I have an insane weekly workout that I do on Sundays now that consists of:

- Billy Blanks PT 24/7 video (34 min)

- Circuit Training Round 1: 15 min on treadmill @ 3.5mph, 1 set of 10 on all upper body machines

- Circuit Training Round 2: 15 min on treadmill @ 3.5mph, 1 set of 10 on all core body machines

- Circuit Training Round 3: 15 min on treadmill @ 3.5mph, 1 set of 10 on all lower body machines

- Circuit Training Round 4: 15 min on treadmill @ 3.5mph

- Billy Blanks PT 24/7 video (34 min)

*add 1 set ever week on machines until maxed out at 5*

By doing this on Sundays it takes about 2.5 hours and I usually burn about 1500 calories. I call it "The Gauntlet" or taking a term from The Biggest Loser "The Last Chance Workout".

Then on the other days I follow the PT24/7 rotation calendar working out 4-5 times a week with the video and afterwords walking 1 mile around the neighborhood.

So have I seen progress? Well take a look at my weight from last time til now! Since I started using MyFitnessPal on 11/22 I have lost 25 lbs! Its possible to do this without an official diet folks! Its possible to do this without medicine or a medical procedure. Just gotta believe in yourself and have a good support system.

I have my mom on board using MyFitnessPal and has lost 8 lbs! I have a support system of 3 amazing people. A friend who I knew in high school keeps me motivated and gives me tips. My friends who I met shortly after the Billy Blanks Boot Camp series came out on the Tae Bo message boards.

I do have numerous friends I can mention here who have kept me motivated and I'm thankful to each one. To those of you who are these people you know! =) ... love you all!!

Keep fighting the good fight!