Self Challenge Week 1

Weight: 310 (-1.4)
Waist: 46.5" (-0.5) The un-bloat!
Hips: 63.5 (0.5)
Hydration: 150 oz. 2/7...   over 100oz 7/7. Still working on the water consumption.
Workouts: Three 30 min sessions of yoga.

This week's goal: NO SWEETS & STRENGTH BUILDING

The holidays were a huge candyfest. Which has led to a huge cravingfest. The plan... Went shopping last night. The house is clear of sweets. Sweets aren't a big huge battle for me, but I'm expecting that this will help sweep the sugar from the edges of my eating.

I'm going to try again on the hydration thing. Since doing it, my weight has been consistent... it's fluctuating less dramatically. It feels like I can trust the progress on the scale when it's fluctuating less.

Non-Scale Victory has been getting back to yoga. Been feeling it in my shoulders and arms the most. Flexibility is improving slightly. I feel like a sissy from where I was with fitness to where I am today. And those self-defeating thoughts are not how I'm going to get it back. I've unpacked my elastic tubing and I'll be working the arm/shoulder area this week (at least 3 times).

Bicep 3x 15 reps.
Tricep 3x 15 reps
Chest Press 3x 15 reps, 30 sec hold
Lat Lifts 3x 15 reps, 30 sec hold.
Plank 60 seconds

It should make Downward Facing Dog a little easier and more fluid.

Hoping to get my smartphone this week! Soon I'll be able to carry the myfitnesspal app with me and track food more easily for the upcoming weeks.

Big Fat Love,
Nanette

Will do, DID do

Just got home from a gym date. It was supposed to last an hour but it only took 45 min to do my weights and cardio! I'm so determined to lose the 2lbs this week. This morning I weighed in and I was down a pound already. Granted... I'll believe the weigh in on Sunday and not get ahead of myself. 

Routine

3x10 reps

bicep curls

tricep extensions

lat pulls

rows

laying squats

hamstring curls

quad extensions

adductor/abductor

And 20 min on the elliptical. 

I didn't eat breakfast before working out. I should have. But a routine is established slowly. So I'll try that again tomorrow. Also, neglected to get some of the produce on my shopping list as the grocery store (stop and shop) is ridiculously expensive for non-organic produce. There's a cute little Mexican grocery down the street where I can get raspberries for $0.49 a thingy that costs $2.00 at the Stop and Shop. Same brand and everything. 

I'm getting excited about the produce that's starting to come into season. SO EXCITING! Peaches... I can't wait for ripe, delicious peaches! 

Big Fat Love, 

Nanette

SSSD week 3 wrap up.

Weight: 298 (-0)

Measurements:
Waist: 45.5"(-.75")
Under waist: 56.5 (-.5)
Hips: 60.5" (-.5)
I'm back to the measurements two weeks ago! :)

Workouts
Monday - none
Tuesday - Walking around the park for 60 min.
Wednesday - Gym 60 min. (30 cardio, 30 weights).
Thursday - Walking around 30 min.
Friday - Walking 1 hour.
Saturday - Walking 1 hour.
Sunday - Walking 30 min.

Challenge: Try the ab machines at the gym. I did the rotate-y one... and the assisted crunches one. I think I get a better work out without them though. But the rotate-y one popped my back in the best way possible!

Honestly... I can't really say I committed to fitness this week. I deserve a -0 this week. Because I ate. Boy did I eat. Pizza, burger, cannoli, cheesecake, sushi, ostrich, nachos. If anything I'm surprised I was able to maintain.

So I have landed the job. That stress is out of the way. I go into the office today to get my schedule and to begin to build structure in my life. I'm so excited! I will learn about nutrition. I will be able to get myself regularly to the gym. I will be able to afford living here for at least a little while and meagerly, but it will be something.

I have no more excuses. No more moving worries, no more cash flow worries, no more impressing people worries, no more Will I have to move back to Idaho? worries. The good mental place is being prepared. I will be good. I will be fine.

I still need to have a little quiet time with a schedule and some paper to write it all out. Quiet time seems to be in short supply here.

I'm really excited to try and get 100 oz of water in. I've been so dehydrated. This will also give me an excuse to get to a sports store and buy a nalgene or camelbak water bottle!

Big Fat Let's Get Going Love,
Nanette

SSSD Update!

Weight: 298lbs (+4) gaining back the weight from sickness. 

Measurements

Waist: 46.25" (+.75")

Under waist: 57"(+.5")

Out at the park this week. 

Hips: 61" (+1") 

6 hours of exercise!
Tuesday: 1 hour - walking. 

Wednesday: 1 hour - walking

Thursday: 2 hours - walking + trainer. 

Friday: 30 min - walking (LAZY)! 

Saturday: 30 min - walking (girls night... too much food). 

Sunday: 1 hour - 30 min elliptical + 30 min weights Upper body. 

SIX HOURS!  I made it! Granted, I kinda nickle and dimed the walking time because I didn't get the gym pass until Thursday. 

I'm not shocked by the numbers this week, since last week was the midst of the illness stuff. But the good news is, is that I didn't gain it all back. So I still consider it a solid -2lbs. Also, last night was salt salt salt and mojitos. 

Today at the gym was absolutely fantastic. I can do this every day and not worry about it. 

20 min on the elliptical. 

chest fly. 10 reps x 3
Rows. 10 reps x 3
Lat raises. 10 reps x 3
Tricep 3 ways.  10 reps x 3
Crunches. 10 reps x 3

Squat machines. 10 reps x 3

I also found the tiny stretching area. So I have a place I can do my bodyrock/Zuzana Lights stuff too and have a place for it where I won't have to worry about waking the neighbors. I'm really quite pumped. Today I felt like I owned that gym. I got what I needed done! 

This week...  

Try a new work out or machine. 

Easy-peasy! There's a whole gym that I need to explore. I want to venture into the "core machines" which I've never used before. 

Big Fat Feelin' Better Love, 

Nanette

On the Up and Up.

I'm feeling better!

Yesterday I got out of the house and I'm a much happier person already! I made it out to get laundry done. I went to tea/coffee with a guy. I signed up for the gym and got my pass. I had an interview. I went to a concert. There was a lot of living to make up for.

Today I went into the gym to have my free session with a trainer. Let me just say... DEMOTIVATING. This super hot, fit, black guy saying, "your core is so weak." When I'm sweating there thinking, "you try this at my weight and say that it's easy, Mother F*****!" He looked at me like I was crazy when I told him I wanted to lose 145lbs in the next 1.5-2 years. He looked at me like I was even crazier when I told him I've been doing Tabata style body weight exercises and have lost 70 (ish) pounds already. And again, I was met with surprise when I told him I normally work out 5-6 days a week.

We did the fitness assessment and I've lost a little bit of what I can do over the past 4 weeks of no training. I was raining sweat, but I do that at the mere mention of exercise. And he's standing next to me saying, "Quit when you can't do it anymore." So I kept going. My version of can't do it anymore is muscle fatigue and an actual inability. I was slowing down on the stair step thingy. Before time was up he told me to just stop.

Boils down to this. No positive feed back. No vision expressed for where we could be going with this or what kind of things he's looking for. No explanation of what muscle groups are being used. Some form advice and a whole lot of joking around with the other trainers. Including racial and sexist jokes. No thank you, sir. I refuse to pay you for your time.

Game plan. I'm going to do what's been working so far. Some tabata and then additionally...

Friday: 30 min cardio. 30 min upper body weights (8-12 reps, 10 machines).
Saturday: Off - Busiest gym day.
Sunday: 30 min cardio. 30 min core.
Monday: 30 min upper body weights. 30 min cardio.
Tuesday: 30 min lower body weights. 30 min cardio.
Wednesday: 30 min cardio. 30 min core.
Thursday: 30 min cardio. 30 min lower body weights.

That trainer can suck it. I'll continue to find success and he won't be a part of it. That's for damn sure. My workouts are a positive experience and I don't need a freaking rain cloud around reminding me how fat or unfit I am, but rather one noticing that I'm willing to challenge myself and work harder than I ever have to reverse that. Sorry sir, aside from today, there's no room for you in my weight loss story.

Plus imagine how devastating that would have been for me if I went in there 70lbs ago and in a much more fragile state of mind. Gah! Getting mad all over again. Chill out, Nanette

Big Fat Trainer Shopping Love,
Nanette

Baby's First Trail Run...

Okay... I exaggerate. I walked most of it. Trainer... who is under strict guidelines to not get her heart rate above 140 bc of the baby, asked if I'd like to go on a trail run/walk today. "It's only 1.5 miles up to bridge 12. Then we can turn around and come back."

Tell you what.

Walking up a mountain is significantly different from walking on the street. It makes me think of Maren and all the mountains she climbs. It was much more difficult than I thought it would be and I spent half the trail thinking, "How am I such a sissy?! I interval run. I do bodyrock and Insanity. WHY is this hard?"

Well, Nanette... it's a full hour and a half of constant movement. There are no push as hard as you can and then rest for 20 seconds. It is push as hard as you can and then keep walking. On some of the more flat parts I jogged a little to get a feel for it... I also jogged on some of the way down when it wasn't super rocky. I think I can definitely get into this.

Being Dramatic. 

My muscles weren't what protested. It was my ankles and knees that were aching from the uneven ground. Adapt or die!!! I'm going up there again on Thursday. I'll see if I can be less of a whiner this time and maybe even take some pictures.

The plan for the work outs this week has not started off well. Yesterday I stayed at home with the worst case of the cramps I've ever had and slept through most of it... in addition to going to the hot pools later that night to try and get my body to relax. So...   adaptation.

Monday - Off
Tuesday - Trail walk/jog.
Wednesday - interval run.
Thursday - Trail walk/jog.
Friday - Interval run.
Saturday - Stretch like whoa.
Sunday - Interval Run.

Then hell week.

I'm off to get a drug test for the new, short term job today and to put a long day in at the Music Dept filing the string music. Happy Tuesday, guys!

Big Fat Mountain Woman Love,
Nanette

Trying out Insanity + Another Cool Find

Hey guys!

I just got back from my work out with trainer today. Literally. I'm still in my damp work out clothes (raining sweat, yeah)! On wednesdays we try new things. We try different work out videos. We try harder work outs. Wednesday is the big push day. Today we did Insanity. I don't remember which video. Explosive cardio? Something like that.

There was a bit of jumping. I modified to squats (squat down then raise to toes when you come up so you hit the calves too). I got a little behind in spots. I had to take breaks. I had to modify. But the absolute best thing? I didn't stop or give up. I didn't feel like a fat lump (like I did with R.I.P.P.E.D). The guy on the video is encouraging and smart. He's tough, but reminds you that form is more important than speed and to keep going.

I guess what I really look for in a work out video is that the person instructing is struggling their way through it too. I hate it when I'm watching a pilates video and it seems like gravity doesn't affect the instructor. Or doing some plyometrics (jumping all over the place) and the instructor seems to be doing it on a trampoline or doesn't even get winded. Oh, even worse, when they try to kick up some jokes and witty banter with the other people in the "class" behind them. Form suggestions and "notice how" stuff is great. But don't make me feel like this work out should be so easy that I have the wind, let alone the excess focus to tell jokes and get distracted. ... meanwhile I've collapsed into a sweaty, lardy lump on the floor - THAT makes me feel like a failure.

I like to see the video personality BE A PERSON. I like to see them sweat. I like to hear them breathe hard. I like to know that my muscles quaking are NORMAL and it's not that I'm fat. It's that this work out is so hard it makes Mr. Beefcake quiver. And yeah, I can modify and it doesn't make me a sissy. It means I'm being safe. I like the person to encourage and show modifications because it makes it accessible. I can come up with my own, but it's nice to know that they've thought of those just starting out.

Insanity doesn't show modifications. So I had to make up my own. But it never talks down to you. It doesn't act like a cheerleader. It's more like a coach. They give you imagery as you're going along to help with form. They give you reminders about form constantly. Reminders to hydrate. During the breaks they SHOW you some of the more complicated movements that are coming up. It's really awesome.

I left feeling really pumped and that I want to do it again. That I want to improve. That I want to do better than I did this time. THAT IS AN EFFECTIVE WORK OUT DVD.

34 oz of goodness. Perfect size. 

Internal Screen. 

Shifting gears, the cool find. I found this water bottle last night when I was grocery shopping. It's called a "water tracker" water bottle. It's got this nice little screen inside the top so you don't get poked in the face with ice. It also has this neat feature on the top. It's a knob. The knob has three options: 1, 2, 3. I thought it would control water flow or something... No. It's just there so you can track how many water bottles you've consumed for the day instead of trying to remember. I LOVE STUFF LIKE THAT! Plus it was only like... $6 and BPA free.

Drink counter... on top of the lid. 

So despite all my good intentions to not buy things I don't NEED. I went ahead. I don't think I'll regret it. I lost my nalgene bottle last week and I've had some hydration issues since. In a way I could still call it a NEED. But I'm very pleased with my purchase.

Today...
Menu
B: 1/4 c cottage cheese
S: Baby carrots.
L: tuna salad w/ avocado & sunflower seeds.
S: String cheese.
D: Chicken strips on salad.
S: sliced turkey.

Work out
Insanity - 45 min.
INTERVAL RUN?!?!  

I'm needing some serious motivation to do the interval run today. I've got a meeting (nonformal) with an old department I worked with to transfer over some of my files at 1:30p.m. And I've got to get the piano practice in before I go to work... And I just finished a tough work out. I need a little down time. Maybe after my shift. Maybe a 10pm run. There's no swim class tomorrow morning. Just HIIT and piano. So yeah... I think a 10pm run would be in order.

Here guys. Making you a promise. I will run after work today. I will go right after I finish my shift. I have to keep running so I don't lose my progress.

The Allan Challenge is tightening down. We're supposed to do 1200 calories from today until Sunday and up our water intake by 24oz. Gotta do it! Gotta do it!

Big Fat Insanity Love,
Nanette

Find of the Week!

I'm kind of in love with Ben Greenfield Fitness right now. It is a wealth of information about all things fitness and nutrition. There are podcasts you can subscribe to. You can read transcripts instead. You can submit questions. He talks about things like how to start running, or how to deal with excess skin after a rapid weight loss or what to eat before/after/during workouts. He's a tri-athlete and trainer and really knowledgeable.

My brain has calmed down. I am feeling a lot less frenetic. Yesterday I hit the practice room and it was okay. The scales aren't coming together like I would like them to. AKA, quickly enough. But I still feel like progress is being made. I need a miracle to get them down by Thursday. 

I didn't do my work out yesterday. I'm kinda only half-bummed since I was still pretty sore from the running. But I got both of my work outs in today. AND!!!   I was able to do the bunny hop without modifying. AND!!! My push up form has gotten better since I took a little break from them. I feel like a champion. 

Food is going pretty well. No big slip-ups. 

Today... 

Menu
B: Banana

S: Cottage cheese (post work out, yay protein!) 

L: Baby carrots + sliced turkey. 

S: Protein bar

D: Salad + chicken breast. 

S: Cottage Cheese (I really like cottage cheese, okay? heh.)

Work out

Swim class - core/leg/cardio intensive. 

ZWOW #13

Stretching. 

Giant Weirdo. Truth.

WOOO!!! It's the weekend! I love my jobs... in that they pay me and that they only happen for four days a week. That leaves three for play and cleaning my house!

This week my weigh-ins have been ALL over... and I've said that before. But here's an idea.
Sunday: 309
Monday: 307
Tuesday: 316
Wednesday: 310
Thursday: 305
Friday: 309

So I'm just going to keep plugging along and hope that I can get one of the good low numbers on Sunday. I don't deserve a huge loss this week (not like... morally). I just haven't worked out a lot. Just my usual.

Monday: Short HIIT
Tuesday: Swim class + Trainer HIIT.
Wednesday: Trainer HIIT
Thursday: NO SWIM CLASS (piano test) + Trainer HIIT.

So today... since Friday is my only piano free day. I am going to shop with Trainer at the butchers for some non-processed, non-chemicaled meat. And then I'm going on an interval run.

I'm still very intimidated by people watching me and thinking "fat girl, you call that running?" So it'll still be in the cemetery. I fight those situations a lot... the ones where my brain tells me other people are judging me and that I need to feel insecure. My 0yr-24yr old self says "wait until tonight and just run in the dark... Then you can run wherever you want.

"INCORRECT!" says 25 year old, finally caring about health, Nanette.

I can run wherever I want no matter the time of day. I can run in a sports bra and undies if I want. I can run in a burka. I can run barefoot, in sandals, in trainers or heels. I can run in a dress. I can run fast (for a short while anyway). I can run slow. I can breathe hard. I can be my own trainer. I can sing along to my ipod. I can do whatever I want and whenever I want... and if someone out there thinks I'm a giant weirdo...

Well... I'm a giant weirdo working on being less giant. I'm a giant weirdo that has goals and reaches for them. I am a giant weirdo that actively takes part in her own weirdo life and destiny. I am a giant weirdo who counts calories, writes a fat blog, jiggles lots when she runs and makes friends with other giant weirdos.

Truth. 

Screw the cemetery. I'm going to run on the busiest street near my house. Get over your insecurities, Nanette. Get over yourself and this stupid sense of needing to look or be regarded a certain way. Just be. (jiggly, heh). Like they say in every acting class... "Move with purpose." 

Big Fat Giant Weirdo Love, 

Nanette

Not Sold...

Trainer needed to learn a work out so she could sub for her fellow teacher. So we did the R.I.P.P.E.D instructor training work out dvd. Ummm.... If you're considering taking a class, or buying the dvds or spending money on that franchise at all. Just don't.

I mean... yeah. I got my heart rate up. I was sweating. I also spent about 75% of the time pissed off. They give the crappiest cues at the fastest pace that it's near impossible for someone of my weight and physical making. It's a whole lot of bouncing and jumping (which if you have a lot of belly fat, uhhhh... no go). I mean, I'm not opposed to doing a set of jumping jacks, interval running, mountain climbers, boxing... but when everything is like a giant high speed game of hopscotch, I honestly can't keep up.

Even better, their modifications.

For example... Holding plank position. If you can't do a regular plank go to your knees. Great. Now bring your knee up to your chest (one at a time). They modified mountain climbers to your knees. DUMB. A modified mountain climber is just done slower... with, you guessed it, LESS BOUNCING. I happen to like my lower back and like to treat it nicely. I also like the modification to work.

Another favorite. Wide feet stance, bend your knees to half squat. Jump forward, Jump backward. Another jumping work out that I need to modify. Their modification is to keep legs closer together and jump forward and backward. Okay...   What about actually targeting and strengthening the muscles being used?!?! I may be completely out of line here. But if you can't do the jumps, do some weighted deep squats. Hit those hamstrings, butt and calves. Come out of the squat and roll up onto the balls of your feet if you feel like it's just not enough.

I guess I should just say that the video was really counter-intuitive. It may be great for someone floating around the overweight/normal area. But there are a whole lot of work outs that are better for us obese folks, and by better I mean more effective, efficient and enjoyable. I'd call it face-paced, cheesy and aimed at those that are already somewhat athletic.

So I suppose I'll be sticking to Bodyrock, Zuzana Light, Couch to 5k, PiYo and Swimming. I don't consider this morning a waste. I got cardio and some weight stuff in. I accomplished being "active." I also learned what I won't do again. I try to be positive. Especially when I'm working out and in a lot of ways that work out just made me feel fatter and incapable. But I refuse to let those feelings defeat me.

Big question, Has anyone out there done the Jillian Michael's Yoga DVD? I'm wondering if I should buy it and try it.

Today I'm scheduled for an interval run with my friend at 2. I'm not sure if I'm going to make it to the running bit. But we may just go on a 30 min walk.

I'm also buying my flight tickets to NYC!!! The move is really approaching! I've got to hurry and finish my piano scales and piece and get my freaking diploma.

Big Fat Don't Buy Ripped Love,
Nanette

Determined... to lose my pants.

This is what I think when I have to modify 

Welcome to day 2 of the death by work out week!!!

Yesterday I got in my warm up in the morning and then ran to my first office job. I stayed on menu 95%!
(Dark chocolate at work). But my second job... I usually work 5-10. I got off at 9:15!!! We get to go home early if the classes we work get done early (distance learning/class broadcasts). I walked home. Dropped by purse by the door. Plugged my ipod into the speakers. Got rid of the jeans and hit my yoga mat. 15 minutes later I was panting and sweaty on the mat and thinking "you know what? I'd STILL be at work right now!"

But the thing is... This morning, I could have done it again. I can push my body to do 2 work outs a day. I'm more sore when I sit at my desk for 5 hours than when I move around.



I AM MORE SORE WHEN I SIT AT MY DESK FOR 5 HOURS THAN WHEN I DO TWO WORK OUTS IN ONE DAY. 

I consider that the non-scale victory for yesterday.

Today is great... I woke up 3 minutes before my alarm. Had a bit of yogurt. Walked up the hill to the University Gym. 50 minutes of aquacise arms... (think resistance bands and swim jogging in the deep end). Trainer and I went to her house and we got a full 32 minutes of HIIT. I modified some of it, but I did NOT GIVE UP or FAKE anything. I will not be like those whiners on "Heavy" (that A&E show I watched earlier this week).

I can tell already that it's going to be really tough for the rest of the week to keep moving and not giving into the soreness. Tomorrow is HIIT again... we're doing a workout from the Ripped program. And I've promised an afternoon interval run to my friend. I can do anything. I will not complain. I will bust my ass. I will lose some FREAKING WEIGHT this week. Or some inches. I'd settle for either, really.

Today's non-scale victory...

We were jogging in place for 50 seconds... Jogging with high knees and before I knew it, my pants were around my thighs. Knees up! Abs in! Asses out? My elastic, stretchy, yoga capris...   the kind that are supposed to hug you... Guess it's time to give them up. Down to the next size!

Big Fat Pants Yourself Love,
Nanette

All Talk

NOT!   So I was watching the A&E channel show "Heavy" on netflix last night. It got me thinking, nothing bad happened to these people by working out every day. There are fat people (same size as me) running. Stop making stupid excuses and DO SOMETHING EVERY DAY THIS WEEK. I have to drop some weight this week in order to satiate my own expectations... I have to end this challenge with a bang. I will be free of this area on the scale.

So I started today. It took me 2 hours to get my ass out of the house (easily distracted). But I got a 5k hike/walk (very hilly, but paved trail). The end of the trail spits you out by a grave yard. I had my ipod with me and I just decided that yeah... I was going to run. So I pulled up the running app thingy and did my first interval run in MONTHS. 5k + 8x(1min run, 1.5 min walk).

I have some post its on the back of my door with times and work outs. This week. I resolve to do the daily warm up every morning, regardless of whether or not I'm going directly into a work out. Just get the body up and moving.  Then off to start the day. If anything it reminds me of all the moving parts. I don't usually think about things like warming up my hip flexors or shoulder rotators... It just seems like a smart thing to start integrating ON MY OWN... (trying to be independent here, can't afford a trainer when I move).

My ideas for this week's fitness keep morphing... so just roll with me here. :)


The post-its look like this...

Monday
9am - Full Body Warm up
9:30 3x through 50/10 w/post stretching.
pushups
squats
bicep curls
plank.

Tuesday
8am - Full Body Warm Up
9am - 50 minute swim class
10am - 30 minute HIIT w/ stretching.

Wednesday
9am - Full Body Warm Up
10pm - Interval Run (1min run, 1.5 min walk)8x
Stretching vid.

Thursday

8am - Full Body Warm Up
9am - Swim Class
10am - 30 minute HIIT w/ stretching

Friday
9am - Full Body Warm up
9:30 3x through 50/10 w/stretching after
Burpees (ugh)
Bridge with leg lifts.
Side lunges + kick
Competition Sit ups
Side abs (right)
Side abs (left)
1pm - Interval Run (1.5 min run, 2 min walk)6x

Saturday
9am - Full Body Warm Up.

Sunday
9am - Full Body Warm Up
Midday - Interval Run (1.5 run, 2 min walk) 6x

Above is my favorite lady, Zuzana Light, doing the daily warm up and the stretch routine. They're kind of long. There are abbreviated ones... but if I'm going to get down on the floor and do something, I may as well get comfortable.

Big Fat FITNESS MINDED Love,
Nanette

Rain, Rain, Go Away...

Active Rest Day.

Took my walk around the block. Drank 4 glasses of water. Threw away some crap around the apartment. Did some deep breathing and stretching. Donned some shorts, a fun spring top and my trainers so I could go take a walk and get you guys some photos of a lovely little trail over by the cemetery. I got about 4 blocks away before DOWN POUR. So I'm back home... I'm hoping that this storm is a short one. I live in a desert so our precipitation doesn't last for very long. I was all amped up for my walk and everything. Just something low key as my lower body is still so sore and angry.

Trainer has been having us do a lot of bum work outs... she's found a bit of cottage cheese around that lovely little bit where thigh turns into cheek. I'm loving it because I've got white girl paddle butt. Flat. I can feel things reshaping... which is lovely as I'm not seeing a lower number on the scale.

Okay... so game plan. IF the rain does not subside by 5pm tonight, I will do the ab bonus workout. Even though I would love a nice, long, mellow walk. 

I'm going to see The Hunger Games with my friend Holly tonight. Maybe I'll invite her on my walk. I'd much rather have company. Plus then I could make some better photos. 

Last night I watched about 30 work out videos and put them all into a notebook... since I don't do the workout with the video. There are so many great work out sites. 

bodyrock.tv

my new year's promise

Six pack shortcut (hate the name). 

Zuzana Light

fit2fat2fit

I've got a thing for sites that have body weight exercises. I can do them at home. I don't need to buy any products (for the most part). And I don't feel like they're trying to sell me products as much as using products that they've found effective, but you don't need to buy them to succeed. I have wound up buying some of the fingerless gloves for pushups so my hands stay nice....   and a jumprope, a yoga mat, a stability ball, a resistance band... Nothing crazy. I may have spent around $50. So much cheaper than my gym membership would cost. Downside... I don't have free weights or an elliptical. 

Menu

Breakfast: Access Bar

Snack: banana + plum

Lunch: Chicken breast w/edamame. 

Snack: cucumber + plum. 

Dinner: Steak w/ steamed broccoli

Snack: Plum... 

(my plums are on the verge of dying). 

Big Fat Rest Day Love, 

Nanette

Fits.

I've been fighting the scale all week. I've been fluctuating between 313 (great!) and 316 (booo!). I can't gain weight. I have been sucking at the Allan Challenge. I mean... I'm staying under the caloric goals and I'm near the water intake every day (within 16oz usually). Plus getting in the 3x a week interval training. (minus the swimming class this week because of spring break). But I got an additional 3 mile walk in yesterday. WHY AM I NOT SEEING SMALLER NUMBERS? I'm not being cheaty on MFP or anything.

So here we go... Yesterday I got all overwhelmed about how long it's going to take me to get out of the "obese" BMI range. And about how I've only come so far and it's been like... 7 months. (In addition to not feeling like I've had a solid loss pattern for 4 weeks). I got a comment on the Numbers blog from a fellow number nerd. She laid it out pretty clearly.

  3500 calories per pound
   170 pounds to lose
595,000 calories to burn
   365 days to burn it
   1630.2 calories to burn per day.
   2302 Basic Metabolic Rate (BMR)
   1400 caloric intake (average)
   902 additional calories to burn per day!!!


Now we're working with productive numbers. This I can handle. Yes... It will probably take me more than 365 days. But it seemed like a good place to start. I'm going to have to up the ante with my personal fitness.

I worry about running at my weight because 315lbs on my knees, hips and ankles just doesn't seem like a great idea. I miss the elliptical. However, I can do interval training at home. I can do yoga. I can put two more SCHEDULED AND COMMITTED WORK OUTS INTO MY LIFE. And on my rest days... I still need to do what they call "active rest" aka... leave the house. Though sometimes it's hard because I can be such a homebody and I hate sunshine. I'm also going to try and take some photos for you guys because it makes me feel like I have a purpose on the walk.

Here's the plan. 

Mondays: active rest (WALK DAMMIT!)
Tuesday: Aquacise + HIIT
Wednesday: HIIT
Thursday: Aquacise + HIIT
Friday: active rest
Saturday: PiYo class + jog/walk (at night of course, when they can't see me a-jiggling).
Sunday: HIIT at home or go on a hike with Tawnie.

I'm also implementing a new eating plan. Because I'm kind of a muncher... and I want to have better accountability for how many times I eat in a day. I have created some fun rules.

Before I eat I will... 

- drink 24oz of water. 

- take a walk around the block. 

- take 5 deep sighing breaths

- throw away or choose to donate 5 things. 

I've decided I will change these rules when I get sick of them but I have to follow them for a week. Let's see how long all of this lasts. I hope it's enough to kick me out of the stupid slump I'm in... I need to GET OUT OF THE 300's! I only have two months left before the NY move and I want there to be significantly less of me to take on that plane, to find an apartment for, to get someone to hire!

Big Fat ReCommit Love,
Nanette

Spring Break...

So yeah! Second work out of spring break!

grumblegrumbledamncheesegrumble. 

work out
25 burpees
25 pushups
25 mountain climbers
25 plank walk outs (start standing, walk hands to plank).
25 one leg touch abs (right)
25 one leg touch abs (left)
25 weighted squats (15lb)
25 back lunge + kick (right)
25 back lunge + kick (left)
25 side v-abs (right)
25 side v-abs (left).

and I forgot one exercise...   But we got it all done in 19 minutes. 300 rep work out! YEAH!!!

Got my stretching in... My IT band is still really tight from last Thursday. I like to think it's pulling everything in to where it needs to be. Correcting posture and the musculature of fat compensation.

It's only day two of no dairy and I'm already making excuses. This is ridiculous.

Internal Dialogue
Nanette, you need protein, just go buy some cottage cheese.
No, Dairy free week.
But you just read that article that said cottage cheese is really good for you after a work out.
No. Dairy free week.
But don't you eat more veggies when you eat them with cheese?
WTF, Nanette!?! You don't put cheese on your veggies, just buck up and eat something different. Stop making excuses. DAIRY. FREE. WEEK.

What's kinda stupid is that I'm having a hard time selling myself on any other food items... So I've had a freaking fruit leather because it's too early to bust into the chicken breasts I made and that's IT. So here we go with the menu planning so I can force myself to have SOMETHING even if it's not cheese.

Breakfast: fruit leather.
Snack: plum
Lunch: tuna salad + steamed broccoli
Snack: orange.
Dinner: Chicken breast + steamed edamame
Snack: NOT CHEESE... something...   don't know what yet though.

And I do hereby swear to put in an hour at a piano at some point today.

Big Fat Stick To It Love,
Nanette

Back on the Wagon #6

I went out walking today. I took my camera so I could try and capture the feel of Preston and Idaho before I leave. Something to get all gushy about when I think Manhattan sucks.

I had three miles. Three quiet miles to think about how I'm leaving these people and this area behind. The people who know what branding a cow smells like and practice things like irrigation, well-digging and crop-rotation. The culture that keeps families close (suffocatingly so), goes to church every Sunday and talks about the ONE mugging that happened in our town last month. I'm KIND of getting why my parents would like this place... no cars. no traffic. fewer worries about your kids running around with the 'wrong' crowds (in pleasantville they don't exist).

Preston is in Cache Valley near the tip of the Rocky Mountains. We can usually tell East or West depending on which mountains we see... North and South are Open sky. 

With Traffic like this it's amazing people get anywhere. heh. I saw a grand total of 28 cars over the course of three miles. 

Local Color. 

The view from the field behind our house. Idaho is SO BROWN. 

Today's menu
Breakfast: pear+raspberries+ 2 squares of dark chocolate
Snack: Orange + plum
Lunch: Chicken breast w/pesto and goat cheese.
Snack: carrots+cucumber slices.
Dinner: Tomato, steamed brussel sprouts + smoked salmon (3oz)
Snack: Honey greek yogurt w/ raspberries.

Work out
3 mile walk.

3 rounds of... 
20 low abs.
10 side plank dips: right.
10 side plank dips: left.
60 second plank

10 minute lap swim.

I'm heading out to the pools with mom tonight. I went last night as well. I will miss the hot pools for sure. I spent a good hour talking to my Aunt Loenza today. She was a potty pit stop on the way home from the walk. Small town. Big families. Always a bathroom nearby. Ha!

Big Fat Small Town Love,
Nanette

Back On The Wagon #4

Lately, I've been feeling like I'm really trapped with the whole family reading everything I do and having become a person that my mother wouldn't really be super proud of (sweary, booze sometimes, sex, agnostic)...  And this blog has been so liberating. It's been created through an email address that's not really affiliated with my name or that people could find by googling me.

The next giant realization... I have the ability to create a whole new youtube account and everything. So I may be taking a page out of Mir's book and doing some vlogs. But they'll probably be less about weight loss. My mind has been reeling with possibilities. 

Anyway...   

Here's the health bit for today. 

Menu

Breakfast: access bar + banana

Snack: steak + steamed asparagus. 

Lunch: orange + almonds

Snack: tuna salad

Dinner: orange, tomato, cucumber, protein bar

Snack: cottage cheese and a square of dark chocolate. 

Exercise

50 min swim class. 

I can't wait for PiYo on Saturday... gotta get bendy! 

50sec on/ 10 sec off - ABS!!! (3 rounds) 12 min

- leg lifts

- side sit ups. 

- reverse crunch

- super man

50/10 - BUM!!! (3 rounds)  12 min

- bridge leg lifts right. 

- bridge leg lifts  left. 

- bridge leg circle r/l

- bridge leg lift + circle r/l 

50/10 - ALL!!! (3 rounds) 12 min. 

- Plank

- Plank+ leg lift alternating

- 25lb kettle bell squat rows. 

- Squat jacks. 

In other words... I want to die and I'm afraid that my butt is going to fall off today. But we were aiming for a big push!!!  I may give myself a little leeway on diet today... Only in the way of high protein though... like a chicken breast or baked tuna or something. Yesterday I did so well sticking to the menu. 

I also started my water early today and I've had 8 of 20 glasses of water. I have such a hard time getting in the 160oz. I HAVE to start earlier in the day. Drinking 80oz over the course of a 4 hour shift doesn't give me the same benefit as staying hydrated all day (at least I think). 

Big Fat Midweek Love, 

Nanette

Back on the Wagon #3

So....  we meet again.

Menu

Breakfast: access bar

Snack: banana

Lunch: Salmon baked + steamed asparagus
Snack: Broccoli steamed + little bit o' feta

Dinner: Protein bar + pear + orange

Snack: cottage cheese (1 cup)

Workout

6 rounds: my time -15:28

10 - squat jumps forward/back. 

10 - Deep curtsies (right)

10 - Deep curtsies (left)

10 - Competition sit ups 

10 - Side plank leg lifts (right)

10 - Side plank leg lifts (left)

My shoulder is still pinchy... So more ibuprofen today and some massage. 

Next week is spring break, so I won't be working as much. Trainer and I are still meeting 3x that week. But I won't have aquacise... we are going to be doing some MEAN workouts. I'm stoked.

Diet - I'm totally addicted to cheese. So after the next E2E update I'm going to do a dairy free week and see if I can quiet the cravings and eat it in moderation like a normal person afterward.

Also, I'm trying to eat more on work out days (mainly protein) so I can build muscle - I'm totally not afraid of "bulking up" as far as muscle is concerned. But the eating more on workout days is tough... usually I have to convince myself to eat something for lunch and by late night my appetite returns. Which is probably a good thing... the not being super hungry, I hope that it's my body feasting on the massive amounts of fat storage I've created for it. 

I post these menus for the day and partially stick to them. I am making a commitment to STICK TO THE MENU today. 

Yesterday I said this...                                                        I DID this... 

Menu                                                                                  Menu

Breakfast: access bar, banana                                             Breakfast: access bar, banana

Snack: 3 eggs w/mozz + salsa                                             Snack: 3 eggs w/mozz + salsa

Lunch: Steamed broccoli and a tomato                                   Lunch: Steak

Snack: Tuna salad + pear + orange.                                      Snack: Orange, tomato, pear, peanut butter

Dinner: Steak. mmm.                                                        Dinner: protein bar

Pre-bed Snack: peanut butter and apple slices.                           Pre-bed: cottage cheese 1.5 cup. 

So it wasn't terribly off goal... or terrible as far as calories go, but I think it's so silly that I can make a menu for ONE DAY and still veer from it. I want to get back to consistent Nanette... the one where she bakes chicken breasts and has them ready for the entire week and knows that's dinner every day. As you can see I'm pretty good until Lunch. It's more a control thing than a health thing. I want to be able to control my eating and say "NO. That's not what you'd planned today." and listen to myself. 

Big Fat Stick to the Menu Love, 

Nanette 

Back On The Wagon #2

I'm titling the rest of the week "back on the wagon" to remind myself of the commitment it's going to take. I just maintained last week. But with fewer work outs and carb indulgences, I'm feeling like I'm mentally 20lbs heavier.

Menu

Breakfast: access bar, banana

Snack: 3 eggs w/mozz + salsa

Lunch: Steamed broccoli and a tomato

Snack: Tuna salad + pear + orange. 

Dinner: Steak. mmm. 

Pre-bed Snack: peanut butter and apple slices. 

Work out

50 min swim class (arms). 

10 min round of 

     - 10 pushups

     - 25 crab cross over toe touches. 

     - 15 pulse squats (3 pulses and then go down all the way). 

     - 20 squat jumping jacks. 

Made it through 3x in 10 min. 

50sec on/ 10 sec off; 3 rounds. (12 min). 

     - plank. 

     - bicep curls (10lb weights). 

     - Triceps (10lb weights). 

     - love handle bends (25lb kettlebell). 

Best part! We did it all barefoot. It helped with my squats so much... I was able to put my weight on my heels and keep my toes free (the key to avoiding knee injury). 

My right shoulder is giving me some pinching pain today so I modified some of the work outs... Like pushups. I did those from the knees until I just couldn't anymore and then held plank until Trainer finished her set. 

I'm happy to be moving again. It feels good despite the shoulder. I'm going to take some ibuprofen and ice it a little. I probably pushed too hard today. We may be skipping push ups this week. Plank was good though, I can keep doing that. Gotta tighten up this belly of mine. 

Also, seeing a smaller number on the scale today. 314! :) 

Big Fat MOVE IT Love, 

Nanette

Giddy up!

Okay... so here's me getting back on the horse. This week might contain some boring posts as I get my rear in gear.

Menu
Breakfast - 3 eggs, salsa, onion + steamed asparagus.
Snack - missed it.
Lunch - Tuna salad (no bread!)
Snack - Orange, tomato, steamed broccoli, protein bar
Dinner - Baked salmon+olive oil mayo+almond slivers.
Snack - tea + fruit.

Work out
50 competition sit ups.
25 pushups
25 deep squats
25 push ups
25 deep squats
50 competition sit ups.

1 min plank*

I'm getting my better attitude back at the music job... which is very good. Gotta keep that in check or it's too easy to slip back into the negative whirlwind of the my feelings about the music dept.

Trying to focus on things going well. Trying to focus on things that need to be done in order to move. Trying to keep one step ahead of the changes. But not stressing out... just doing the normal day-to-day tasks.

Big Fat Giddy Up Love,
Nanette