I Didn't Lose Weight

But I didn't gain either. I stayed exactly the same, 179.8 pounds. I'm hoping my explanations (water retention, etc) are accurate and that next week I might see some movement on the scale. It's always a challenge to work your butt off and not see any immediate outcome. But it's also a chance for me to walk the walk and not look to the numbers for positive reinforcement.

I feel so much better than I did a week ago and I know it's the exercise - my energy level is improved, despite getting marginal amounts of sleep, it feels easier to move around, I'm just feel stronger all the way around.

When I started back to Weight Watchers I would have guessed that I'd change my eating habits first and then resume working out sometime down the road. I guess I assumed so because that's how I did it when I started WW the first time in February 2007. But no, I'm into the exercising but not feeling very motivated to tackle food. That's not to say I haven't made changes, I have. I'm eating more veggies, cutting back on the sweets and generally trying to make better choices. But tracking is non-existent (though I have tracked so far today!) and, more importantly, I'm not that motivated to follow the WW Points plan. Without motivation, everything is harder.

I think this is a good thing because I'm seeing the results of exercise already. With food changes I think the outcomes are slower. Of course, I'm not seeing the results on the scale yet, but I know that will come. This is a reminder that this is a lifestyle change, not a diet. If it were a diet I'd be down in the dumps, and though I'm not happy about it, I'm not upset either.

So I used the disappointment at the scale to propel me to head to the gym. I got in 45 minutes of cardio and lifted a few weights before childcare ended at 1pm. After some sweat and endorphins I cared even less about the scale.

Well, I'm off to Trader Joe's to find some healthy snacks. I need some whole grain snacks now that I've run out of Cheetos :)

Let Me Explain...

So I realized yesterday's post was sort of depressing. Kristy was so concerned she called to see what she could do to help. Thank you :) And the comments were so encouraging. Thank you all! But what I failed to say in that post was that the list was meant to motivate me, not meant as a list of how I'm feeling now. Fortunately, I'm not feeling that way now, but I want to avoid feeling all those things. Does that make sense? So thank you for the encouragement and everything, though I'm doing pretty good it's always nice to be reminded.

And why am I doing so good? Well, I've been a busy bee! I already told you I went to the gym on Sunday and Monday. Well, I carried right on and went Tuesday and Wednesday (yesterday) too!

A little gym log action:

Tuesday:
15 minutes elliptical, Level 6
15 minutes treadmill @ 3.5mph walking with four 5.0mph minute intervals jogging
300 calories burned!
No weight training. I needed to let my body rest after Monday's training session.

Wednesday:
15 minutes elliptical, Level 6
15 minutes treadmill @ 3.5mph walking with four 5.0mph minute jogging intervals
15 minutes on the upright bike, Level 6
450 calories burned!!
Weight Training...

Back & Biceps
Seated Row
Inverted Back Extension
Bicep Curl
Straight Arm Lat Pulldown
Lat Pulldown
30 crunches!.

What I discovered about my abs is that it's my lower abs that are weak, my upper abs seem fine. So crunches were fine, I did 30 without too much difficulty. But I could barely lift my legs off the ground when I tried to do bicycle crunches. So those were out. I will take it very slowly, I don't want to create any lasting problems. Oh, and my heartrate monitor said I burned 150 calories while weight training. I wanted to swim a few laps, like 10, and hit the jacuzzi but called home and was told to get home STAT, baby was hungry!

So that was the Back & Biceps routine. The other two routines in the plan are:

Legs & Shoulders:
Squats!
Lunges!
Upright Rows
Calf Machine
Leg Extension

Chest & Triceps
Pushups (modified)
Tricep Extensions or Kickbacks
Dumbell Flies
Close Grip Chest Press

Seem doable in a half-hour? That's what we're aiming for. I felt pretty darned good after completing the back and biceps routine.

And what about today, you ask? Well, as you may have heard there is a pandemic going on. It's made me a little nervous to drop Marek off in childwatch as there was a sick person there the other day and I just don't want to take unnecessary chances. Plus, I figure my body might need a break from the gym. So I went for a walk! We walked from home to the closest coffee shop and back. Can you say 4.33 miles?! And 715 calories burned! It took me about 45 minutes each way, with a break at the coffee shop for some fuel for both of us (I'm getting pretty good at breastfeeding in public with the hooter hider). That's a picture from our walk. Walking in the stroller is like a sleeping pill to Marek, he conks right out!

It felt so good to be outside. It was perfect outside weather, a slight chill in the air, cloudy, but not cold and not windy. Oh, here's the route in case you are as curious as I am compulsive:



And there was another new family out enjoying the day :)



Finally...a picture from this morning.



Honestly, I didn't know my heart could hold this much love.

Ok, tomorrow is weigh-in Friday. I am trying to prepare myself for the possibility of not losing. A: My eating has been less than stellar and I tracked for less than one day. B: I started a workout routine this week and I'm probably retaining water as a result. C: I started weight training again. Is it possible I gained some muscle already? In any event, three reasons why I might not see a loss, and might even see a gain on the scale tomorrow. I've been very good and resisted the urge to weigh myself so I don't know what to expect. I am reminding myself over and over that I don't have any expectations of myself to lose so any outcome is just fine. But, well, you know how it is.

Well, that's it from me. I can't believe I wrote this all in one sitting!

10 Things I Hate About Being Out of Shape

10. Waiting for elevators because stairs are too challenging. Then being stuck in said elevator with heavy perfume woman or coughing man.
9. I feel more self conscious in my bathing suit.
8. My back and knees hurt.
7. I'm not as excited about life.
6. My skin gets pale from too much indoor time.
5. I don't have the benefit of momentum. An object at rest tends to stay at rest.
4. I don't even enjoy the "bad" food I'm eating because it becomes hum-drum.
3. My mood, and outlook, is not as positive.
2. My clothes don't fit right, they are too tight and don't look good on me.
1. I feel like life is passing me by.

Got anything to add?

Addendum: It isn't as bad as it sounds, please see my next post for an explanation.

Time is of the Essence

Before I start can I just say that I'm pretty darned tired? If this post rambles a bit please forgive me. So on Saturday we went out to the Indian Valley area for some recreation. I've been wanting to get my butt on the bike, just to see what it feels like, so Miguel put my mountain bike on the car and off we went. He's been on this trail before but I haven't. He assured me it was easy-peasy and only a little more than a mile long, which was important since it'd been a long while since my legs had done any pedaling. The weather was a little chilly but it was beautiful out.

Miguel had Marek in the Bjorn carrier while I rode the trail round trip a couple times for about a 5 mile ride. It was so SO fun to be riding my bike. I had a big smile on my face the entire time. My legs still know how to pedal, though my butt bones were a bit sore the next day. I'm looking forward to my first time on the road bike. Nothing like the speed of the road.

See that smile?


Isn't it gorgeous?


Miguel and I had a really nice afternoon. And he was right, the trail was easy peasy. Perfect for my first time in the saddle.

On Sunday I hit the gym again. Here's what I did...

Elliptical, level 6, 15 minutes.
Treadmill, mostly walking @3.5mph with two 1-minute jogs @5mph. Whew!
Weight training. I just played around doing a few of the things I used to do.
Swimming: I swam 10 laps. It felt good to be back in the pool.
And finally...Jacuuuuzzzzi !!

I burned about 450 calories plus whatever I burned in the pool. Not bad.

I have now officially engaged in every activity involved in a triathlon. Well, sort of, since I was on the mountain bike not the road bike, but close enough. My mental view of "exercise" has really changed. I believe I've finally shifted it, at least generally, from a dreaded chore to fun. Challenging, sometimes painful, sometimes dreadful too, but generally fun.

I made it to the gym again today (Monday). I had my free initial training session. I had to leave Marek in the childwatch :( It's the first time he's been out of Miguel or my care for any length of time. Anyway, I asked the trainer to help me put together a weight training routine that can be done in a half-hour. I used to think I was sometimes pressed for time when it came to getting my workout in. Ha! I used to have all the time in the world. Now I am pressed for time. Childwatch will only allow a 2 hour stay. When you factor in clothing changes, cardio, weight training, core work, stretching, swimming...2 hours is not a lot of time. And once I go back to work I will be lucky to have even 1 hour at the gym. More on that in a minute.

Before meeting with the trainer I did 30 minutes of cardio, this time with 3 jogging minute episodes. My legs felt heavy and my heart rate soared while jogging but I got through it. For weight training we came up with three routines. I'm too lazy to go upstairs and get the book to share what they are. Next post :) But I think they are doable in a half-hour. The trainer was very encouraging about time limitations. He told me that the modern thinking is that 30 minutes is a great amount of cardio, "just pound it out", followed by weight training. He reminded me that muscle burns more than fat and that if I keep it up I'll burn off the extra fat eventually without hours on the cardio machines. That's what I like to hear. By the time we were done my 2 hours were up so I went to retrieve Marek. They said he was an angel :)

Back to the issue of time. Something occurred to me recently. Once I go back to work time will be gold. I have 6 weeks left of having a lot of time, followed by a few months of having more time. But in less than 5 months I will be back to work full force and have very little time. I have to use the time I have now to build my fitness back up. I remember reading that it takes 1/2 the time and effort to maintain fitness gains as it takes to establish them in the first place. I need to use this time to establish those gains so that once I'm back to work I can be in maintenance mode. I have to take advantage of this time. This realization has stoked the flames of my motivation.

I wish I could say my eating has turned around but it hasn't. I've had some encounters with Costco pizza, cookies, ice cream, Cheetos...the list goes on and on. But I can't fix everything at once so I'm not going to worry about it for right now. Hopefully it won't take another gain to make me ready to make changes in the food area too. I've had some crap around the house that I finished eating today. I've vowed to bring no more crap in the house. Gotta start somewhere.

Can I close with a picture of my little angel?? I got a smile on film :)