What a difference 48 hours can make!!! Today's workout went fantastic! I changed up a few things that I think made all the difference. I gave my legs a day off from working out on Wednesday. So before I even started they felt ten times better than Tuesday! Also, I ended up working out on the treadmill instead of outside. It seems like everyone has a preference between those two, maybe treadmills just work better for me! Also, I was watching a show while I worked out. That way I wasn't completely focused on the workout. Seemed to work better. I was actually shocked out just how fast that 30 minutes went. Felt so great afterwards that I ended up heading in to the gym for an hour of water aerobics.
I can't wait to move on to Week 2 on Sunday!
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Frustrated!
I know that I shouldn't be letting myself get frustrated right now, but sometimes it doesn't matter what you tell yourself, you still feel that way! I started really attempting to lose weight and change my life about 2 1/2 weeks ago. I am counting calories as well as trying to completely stay away from processed foods and artificial ingredients. Also, I am exercising quite a bit. I understand and have looked at the whole math of calories in and calories out and needing to create a deficit in order to lose weight. I get that! I've been doing that!
But here is where I am frustrated. Right off the bat I lost a good amount of weight. 8 days ago I was down a total of 8.5 lbs. No, that doesn't seem like a lot, but first off that was only in a week and a half that I had lost that. Plus, I've maintained my weight for several years. So losing that 8.5 lbs put me at the lowest I've been in 2-3 years. I was thrilled! Then, the very next day I was up two lbs. Since then I've had 8 days of bouncing up and down within that same two lbs. Half a pound here, a pound there, up and down, and up and down. It's driving me crazy!!!
I know that as long as I stick to the plan eventually I will start heading down again. I have more than enough weight to lose that I know it will happen. My body is certainly not happy at it's current weight. I know that as long as I keep eating better foods and in better portions plus keep moving and exercising, the weight WILL come off. It took me about 11 years to put this weight on, it's certainly not going to come off overnight. Mentally I know all of this. But unfortunately I can't convince my emotions that I shouldn't get frustrated.
I've got to figure out a game plan to combat this frustration. People say that if you only weigh in once a week that helps. For me, I don't see that helping. It drives me crazy to not know exactly where I am at every single day. Maybe I'll have to try that though. I don't know. At least at this point I haven't let my frustrations cause me to overeat or give up. But I need to do something because I don't want to get to that level of frustration. Who knows, maybe just writing these thoughts and feelings down will even help. Certainly can't hurt!
But here is where I am frustrated. Right off the bat I lost a good amount of weight. 8 days ago I was down a total of 8.5 lbs. No, that doesn't seem like a lot, but first off that was only in a week and a half that I had lost that. Plus, I've maintained my weight for several years. So losing that 8.5 lbs put me at the lowest I've been in 2-3 years. I was thrilled! Then, the very next day I was up two lbs. Since then I've had 8 days of bouncing up and down within that same two lbs. Half a pound here, a pound there, up and down, and up and down. It's driving me crazy!!!
I know that as long as I stick to the plan eventually I will start heading down again. I have more than enough weight to lose that I know it will happen. My body is certainly not happy at it's current weight. I know that as long as I keep eating better foods and in better portions plus keep moving and exercising, the weight WILL come off. It took me about 11 years to put this weight on, it's certainly not going to come off overnight. Mentally I know all of this. But unfortunately I can't convince my emotions that I shouldn't get frustrated.
I've got to figure out a game plan to combat this frustration. People say that if you only weigh in once a week that helps. For me, I don't see that helping. It drives me crazy to not know exactly where I am at every single day. Maybe I'll have to try that though. I don't know. At least at this point I haven't let my frustrations cause me to overeat or give up. But I need to do something because I don't want to get to that level of frustration. Who knows, maybe just writing these thoughts and feelings down will even help. Certainly can't hurt!
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
c25k Wk 1 Day 2
Got to be honest, today really sucked! I was better prepared today than I was Sunday. I bought a new pair of running shoes, that helped. I didn't forget my sunglasses, which made it nice to not have to squint into the sun. And I took more water which was a very good thing. But otherwise, I MAJORLY struggled.
I was a bit worried to begin with. Yesterday, on my day off from the program, I did a normal workout for me, Kickboxing. I LOVE kickboxing, but it is certainly not an easy workout. And I got up today with my legs stiff and aching from the workout. Not a good start to work on jogging! I was really keeping my fingers crossed that the 5 minute warm-up would help to loosen my legs up. Nope, didn't work the way I had wanted. So, I think that I need to give my legs a day off tomorrow. Maybe I'll do arm weights or something else instead. See if the day off makes a difference to Thursday's jog. If it does, I'll probably need to rethink what days I do this program. I'm not willing to give up kickboxing, so maybe I'll change to Wed, Fri, Sun or something like that.
I also realized just how mental this program is! I had a couple of my jogs that I cut short a bit, but I was so determined not to cut that last jog short. I was only 30 seconds in and my legs were screaming at me to stop. But I ignored it, pushed through, and finished that last jog. Hopefully I'll be able to increase my mental toughness so that I can push through more often.
I really hope that I can complete Thursday's workout without stopping. I MAJORLY don't want to have to repeat Week #1! I know that the chances are I will have to repeat some weeks, but I want to at least make it through the first one!
I was a bit worried to begin with. Yesterday, on my day off from the program, I did a normal workout for me, Kickboxing. I LOVE kickboxing, but it is certainly not an easy workout. And I got up today with my legs stiff and aching from the workout. Not a good start to work on jogging! I was really keeping my fingers crossed that the 5 minute warm-up would help to loosen my legs up. Nope, didn't work the way I had wanted. So, I think that I need to give my legs a day off tomorrow. Maybe I'll do arm weights or something else instead. See if the day off makes a difference to Thursday's jog. If it does, I'll probably need to rethink what days I do this program. I'm not willing to give up kickboxing, so maybe I'll change to Wed, Fri, Sun or something like that.
I also realized just how mental this program is! I had a couple of my jogs that I cut short a bit, but I was so determined not to cut that last jog short. I was only 30 seconds in and my legs were screaming at me to stop. But I ignored it, pushed through, and finished that last jog. Hopefully I'll be able to increase my mental toughness so that I can push through more often.
I really hope that I can complete Thursday's workout without stopping. I MAJORLY don't want to have to repeat Week #1! I know that the chances are I will have to repeat some weeks, but I want to at least make it through the first one!
Sunday, September 25, 2011
c25k Wk 1 Day 1
I did it! Just completed Week 1 Day 1 of the c25k program! For those of you not familiar with it, the first week you warm up for 5 minutes, then jog for 1 minutes, walk for 90 seconds, and repeat the jog/walk combo for 20 minutes and then end it with another 5 minute cool down. Sounds easy, right? Nope! I have to admit that two of the jog intervals I cut short by about 10 seconds, but I am still happy with what I did do! Here were some of my thoughts during this 30 minutes:
Current Weight Loss: 7.5 lbs
- Where are my sunglasses at?
- This isn't too bad (or course it'll probably get harder when I finish my 5 minute warm up!)
- Hmmmm.....maybe this isn't going to be as easy as I thought!
- Endurance in kickboxing, Zumba and cycling does not equate to endurance while jogging!
- People really think that this is fun?
- I definitely won't consider it a failure if I have to repeat some of the weeks of this program!
- Why did I forget my heart rate monitor watch!!!
- Bekka was right! The best reason for jogging outside is that you have to keep going if only so that you can get home!
- Laying down on the ground on the side of the road probably wouldn't be a good idea.
- Just how long can 60 seconds really be?
- (#1 thought) I DESPERATELY NEED BETTER SHOES!!!
Current Weight Loss: 7.5 lbs
Couch-to-5K
Today I am officially starting the Couch-to-5K Running Program (C25K). For those of you that have never heard of it, this is a 9 week program to help you get ready to run a 5K. You start out with short times of running with longer intervals of walking. Each week the running intervals are increased while the walking is decreased. It's basically a program for beginners to finally get into running.
I am a complete novice at running. I've been worried about even trying to do it, so I've just steered clear. But I have a number of friends that love to run, as well as some people in my life that told me that they used to hate running and now they are practically addicted to it. They crave a good long run. So, I'm giving it a shot! I'm not sure if I will become one of those people that love to run or not, but at the very least this is a great workout and a great way to increase my health. So Week 1, Day 1, here I come!
I am a complete novice at running. I've been worried about even trying to do it, so I've just steered clear. But I have a number of friends that love to run, as well as some people in my life that told me that they used to hate running and now they are practically addicted to it. They crave a good long run. So, I'm giving it a shot! I'm not sure if I will become one of those people that love to run or not, but at the very least this is a great workout and a great way to increase my health. So Week 1, Day 1, here I come!
Exercise
Exercise is definitely an important part of changing my life. The funny thing is that exercise isn't really the issue for me. It's the whole package. Eating better, stop drinking caffeinated drinks stuffed full of sugar, sleeping a healthy amount of time, etc. About 10 months ago my doctor told me that for 6 months she was putting me on a medicine that one of the main side effects was weight gain. Something clicked in my head when she said that. I REFUSED to let myself gain any more weight. So for the next 6 months I worked out like crazy. Even though it terrified me, I started going to group classes at the gym by my house. I knew that I wasn't going to be able to do half of the things that the rest of the class could do. And I was pretty worried that I'd be getting condescending looks from the rest of the class. I mean, I had watched them walk in, they were all skinny and looked in shape. What in the world was I thinking to try to join them? It ended up being nothing like I feared! Everyone was so extremely encouraging to me. Some of them had even been where I am now. One of the most important things that I've learned about exercise is to do what you can, and just push yourself a bit. Don't feel like you have to be able to keep up with those people that have been exercising for years! Modify, modify, modify! Pretty soon you'll be able to do more than you ever thought possible.
But, even though I was working out, I didn't lose any weight. I didn't gain any either, which was a blessing, but I got myself pretty frustrated. The problem was that even though I was exercising, I didn't change anything else in my life. I was still eating all the wrong foods and in the wrong amounts. I was still drinking all of those unhealthy drinks. I was still sleeping only a few hours a day. After the 6 months was up, I've somewhat kept up the exercise, but not as regularly as before. I think that's because I was upset that I hadn't lost any weight. I finally have come to the realization that they only way for me to get healthier is if I make a complete change in my life, not just one change. So along with other changes, it's time to recommit to exercise.
But, even though I was working out, I didn't lose any weight. I didn't gain any either, which was a blessing, but I got myself pretty frustrated. The problem was that even though I was exercising, I didn't change anything else in my life. I was still eating all the wrong foods and in the wrong amounts. I was still drinking all of those unhealthy drinks. I was still sleeping only a few hours a day. After the 6 months was up, I've somewhat kept up the exercise, but not as regularly as before. I think that's because I was upset that I hadn't lost any weight. I finally have come to the realization that they only way for me to get healthier is if I make a complete change in my life, not just one change. So along with other changes, it's time to recommit to exercise.
About Me
I am 29 years old. I have struggled with my weight since not long after graduating high school. I went from being very active in high school to a fairly sedentary life afterwards, and didn't change my eating habits. Not a good combo! I have tried many fad diets but nothing ever stuck long term. I've watched my weight yo-yo up and down (more up than down) and now I would kill to be the weight I was when I first tried to lose it! I've finally come to the realization for myself that fad diets aren't what I need. I need to make some true life changes if I ever want to lose the weight and keep it off for good. And this isn't just about being skinnier. It's about being healthier and feeling better.
I'm a bit nervous blogging about something so personal. Plus there is constantly that voice in the back of my head saying "What if I fail?" But I am more determined now than I have ever been in my life to make this work. I am sick and tired of being fat! I am tired of looking in the mirror and not liking what I see. I am terrified that if I don't lose the weight soon, I'll end up with many of the health challenges that overweight people have. So far I've been lucky with that, but I don't want to keep pressing my luck. I decided to blog about this for a few reasons. It's easier to let yourself fail if nobody knows that you failed! It's a lot harder when you are doing it basically in front of an audience. In other words, if other people know that I am doing this, I'll be even more determined not to fail. Also, I would love it if by sharing my own struggles and challenges, I might inspire someone else to get onto the road to health. The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again expecting a different result. If you want to make a change, you need to do something different. So, this is me doing something different!
I actually started trying to eat better about 2 weeks ago, and my weight loss to date is 7.5 lbs. I would love any suggestions, encouragement, etc as I go on this journey. Thanks!
I'm a bit nervous blogging about something so personal. Plus there is constantly that voice in the back of my head saying "What if I fail?" But I am more determined now than I have ever been in my life to make this work. I am sick and tired of being fat! I am tired of looking in the mirror and not liking what I see. I am terrified that if I don't lose the weight soon, I'll end up with many of the health challenges that overweight people have. So far I've been lucky with that, but I don't want to keep pressing my luck. I decided to blog about this for a few reasons. It's easier to let yourself fail if nobody knows that you failed! It's a lot harder when you are doing it basically in front of an audience. In other words, if other people know that I am doing this, I'll be even more determined not to fail. Also, I would love it if by sharing my own struggles and challenges, I might inspire someone else to get onto the road to health. The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again expecting a different result. If you want to make a change, you need to do something different. So, this is me doing something different!
I actually started trying to eat better about 2 weeks ago, and my weight loss to date is 7.5 lbs. I would love any suggestions, encouragement, etc as I go on this journey. Thanks!
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