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

Self-Challenge Begins. Stats.

I've deleted all my old stats so I can't look at them and think, "Oh how far I've fallen." Because I'm definitely thinking it. I just don't want the constant reminder.

Starting anew.

Weight: 311.4 -------------> Goal: 250 (-61.4)
Waist: 47" ------------------>Goal: 41"
Hips: 63" ------------------->Goal: 58"

First Month Photos...

I'm on Day Two of 150oz of water.

Yesterday, I made it to 116oz. Today to ensure my success, I've started off with 48oz. I've also bleached out my nalgene bottle for the week.

I did 15 min of yoga this morning. I am going to do another 15 min before bed. Working at a desk for 8+ hours a day and then having built different muscles from all the NYC-style walking... I've developed some serious stiffness.

When I was in swim class, for our final we had to do reports on the weekly health articles the teacher assigned for us to read. One of them was the importance of spinal flexibility with aging. It then quoted some study about seated forward bends. You know, the ones where you sit with your legs straight in front of you and you reach for your toes...   something about that is supposed to be indicative of how well your spine will age. (I'm screwed, I've never been able to do that). I like the standing forward bends. I need gravity to help push me around.

Having sorta lost a lot of the flexibility I worked on gaining this last year, I can definitely say I feel 10 years older. Time to get it back.

When I am fatter... I feel OLDER.

This week I'm concentrating on HYDRATION and FLEXIBILITY.

Big Fat Floaty and Floppy Love,
Nanette

Hosting a Challenge For Myself...

Okay, so I've done my fair share of whining. I had a day off to do some planning and shopping. It's time to make changes. Thank you for the suggestions. I've ordered my new running shoes. I've got a smart phone on the way (will help with calorie tracking).

I like weekly challenges. It keeps things from being too overwhelming and keeps me focused on one area that needs improvement. I loved Mir's challenges. The accountability of posting weight and measurements really appeals to me and my need for proof.

Weekly Check-In will be on Sundays before midnight, come hell or high water. Lord knows I spend enough time on the internet, I can bang out a blog and really take a look at my week of eating. Weekly Check-In will include: Weight, Measurements, Reflection/Learning, Plan for the next week. 

Here are the goals by week.
12/31 - 150 oz of water per day. Post Photo
1/7 - No sugar.
1/14 - No breads.
1/21 - No ordering out/in.
1/28 - 7 hours of walking this week. Post Photo
2/4 - 150 oz of water per day.
2/11 - Track calories again - myfitnesspal.com - no calorie goal.
2/18 - Track calories (2000) 7 hours of walking
2/23 - Track calories (1900) 8 hours of walking  Post Photo
3/4 - Track calories (1800) 150 oz of water per day.
3/11 - Track Calories (1800)Yoga 3x 
3/18 - Track Calories (1700) No ordering out or in. 
3/25 - Track Calories (1700) Yoga 3x Post Photo
4/1 - Track Calories (1700) C25K Week One
4/8 - Track Calories (1600) C25K Week Two + yoga session
4/15 - Track Calories (1600) C25K Week Three
4/22 - Track Calories (1600) C25K Week Four + yoga session
4/29 - Track Calories (1700) C25K Week Five Post Photo
5/6 - 150 oz of water per day, C25k Week Six + yoga session
5/13 - Track Calories (1600) C25k Week Seven
5/20 - Track Calories (1700) C25k Week Eight + yoga session
5/27 - Track Calories (1600) C25k Week Nine - Last week  Post Photo + all photos.

I reserve the right to change goals, though I will not allow myself to make them easier. That is 22 weeks and honestly, my scope of 22 weeks is probably off and I will waiver. But this way, I've created a plan that I don't have to think super hard about. No decisions to be made. Just follow the decisions I've made already.

SSSD Update and This week's goal

Weight: 297 (-1) Which I didn't deserve.

Measurements: 

Waist - 45.25 (-.25")

Under waist - 54 (-1.5")

Hips - 61 (+.5")

Exercise: NONE. Aside from walking around.

Water: 5/7 over 100 oz. 

Food: Ate out so much. Also, had a little night out with friends, so adult beverages in addition. Saketinis. 

I didn't post a recipe this week. I just don't do that. My food usually doesn't require recipes. It's just like... this is a tomato. eat the tomato. Aren't tomatoes delicious?! Recipe! 

So these last two weeks, I've sorta taken a dating hiatus. When I date, I lose focus on all other things that are important in life. Which is stupid. Because along with that my sense of self sorta gets fuzzy too. What's so amazing is that last week, when I told myself no dating... No dating until you have a job. I got a job. So this week. I'm telling myself no dating until you lose 2 lbs. Don't get me wrong. I have gone on dates. But I'm not actively seeking them or trying to meet new people. I need simplicity and order and peace in my life in order to focus on changes. Look at all this learning! 

Plus, dating comes with spending money, eating out and generally other fat-activities. fativities? Though I did have a really good and enlightening date this last friday. The guy is a chef and we made stuff together (aka he made, I watched)... 

1st coursegazpacho with crouton, basil leaves and 3 basil gelatin noodles. 

2nd course

salmon three ways (sake, lemon, mint soaked sashimi, oven seared and salted and fried salmon skins) with roasted peppers and a pine nut/sunflower seed, lemon, mint and olive oil dressing.  

3rd course

thinly sliced apple with real maple and cinnamon glaze. 

I guess that's the closest you're gonna get to a recipe from me. heh! It felt like I was on the food network. It was all so fancy and not simple. not simple whatsoever. 

This week I also started the new job. Chiropractor/nutritionist's office admin person. It's been really great. I have an excellent coworker. I'm surrounded by positive, health-minded people and I can get supplements at wholesale cost which is great! I plan on trying Uber Greens (a drink mix) and a Whey Protein Powder at some point and I'll let you know how it goes. 

In the office they talk a lot about energies and amplifying the energies and stuff like that... which I don't buy 100% into. And it sometimes seems a little woo-woo, fictional science... that kind of thing. However, I was looking at his diet plans (he's got a big book of them, one for everything, stress, diabetes, weight loss, better sleep, arthritis, ulcerative colitis) and they make so much sense. He's of the abandon sugar, keep a steady blood sugar, don't be afraid of fats, school of thought. Which I am too... and that meat isn't the enemy, but vegan and vegetarianism are great too if you choose that route. 

I'm hugely skeptical of the homeopathy stuff sometimes. But I know that with proper nutrition you can prevent diseases and being heavily medicated...What the doc does, is essentially he builds each client a personalized multi-vitamin... sometimes to treat ailments, sometimes to prevent ailments. He will always yield to the medications that they're already on, and cooperate with other doc orders that clients have received. No harm, no foul. While I may not buy entirely into taking 15 supplements a day, I do think that good nutrition is essential to good health and I can stand behind that. There's a lot to learn in his office. I'm excited to take it all in and help my own little weight loss journey. 

Anyway... 

Goals

- drink 100oz every day. 

- work out 3x this week. 

- stick to the menu. 

- lose 2lbs! 

- Take progress photos... progress? I'm not sure they'll be much different than the last ones, but I'll take 'em anyway. 

Big Fat Workin' Girl Love, 

Nanette

Best Intentions...

So... here we are on Tuesday and I STILL HAVEN'T BEEN TO THE GYM.

Monday was a lot of running around. (grocery shopping, job interview, meeting an Idaho friend and stuff).

Tuesday was a lot of running around. (two interviews, a long walk through central park, a long walk through astoria to find the groupon restaurant laura and I were going to had closed permanently, then a long walk to find a different restaurant and then getting home late late).

Tomorrow... 90 degree weather, 89% humidity. I'm staying in for the most part. No interviews. I'll be researching temp agencies... and hoping for a call from the chiropractor/nutritionist guy that I interviewed with today (p.s. It seems like the perfect fit. Health and nutrition on top of getting paid, perfect).

I'm also extending a personal challenge to myself. I've already paid for groceries for at least a week. I have an unlimited metro card. I have a gym pass.

Aside from $10 for laundry in the next two weeks. I'm going to see how many days I can go without spending a dime in the city. Boys buying things for me doesn't count. NO PERSONAL SPENDING.

Tuesday: Check - Laura got dinner and I packed lunch.

I'm slowly putting weight back on from the food poisoning. So this is also a health thing. I have a ton of produce in my apt. I just need to eat it... and veer from things like ordering pizza or ostrich burgers or fried things.

Tomorrow, I may be staying in, but I can sit down and have some time to myself to think about my schedule and get my mind in the game. Scheduling a sacred workout time and a menu from the stuff I just bought (ummm... $.75 for a thingy of raspberries, awesome). It'll be nice to have some non-fevered quiet time. Also, I commit to working out tomorrow. Hold me to it, folks.

Think. Center. No dates. No interviews. Just getting my brain and body in sync.

Me + Central Park + a tunnel. 

Fake Rock Climbing. 

The courtyard of the place I Interviewed today. Everyone looks so posh. I need a makeover. 

I love random graffiti... and they have such good taste. 

Big Fat Get It Together 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

Late Late Late! RFSC update

Weight: 305 (+3lbs) Uhhhh... yeah. I deserve that.

Waist: 45.5" (-1") But I'm squishy so measurements aren't super true... or all my fat is feeling some gravity.  heh.

Water: Not even tracked. Needs to be better. I'm just trying to hold on for dear life at the mo.

Food: TERRIBLE. Out to eat 4x this week and THEN a going away party where they served everything cheese related and a cocktail or two happened.

NSV: I made nearly $500 on Saturday with the yard sale. Got my first sunburn (I can calm down about that now).

It's been a crazy crappy week and I want to blame that (and my own reactions to crazy crappy stuff) on the weight gain. I have been pretty terrified as of late that I'm going to regress into Not Caring Land. Too often this week have I indulged the old version of me. I can't give up. I've worked so hard! I have another two years of this kind of thinking....  

So I pulled out my notebook and started making lists. Lists about why I don't want to be fat anymore. Lists of Dad's health problems. Lists of things that I can do better when thin. Lists of how my day can go. Lists of work outs I'd like to do. Lists of food ideas and how to make healthy food so much easier and cheaper than the expensive crap.

So here's the goal for this next week. 

Weight: Return to 302 and get lower than it.

Workouts: New job is starting. I will be walking at least 4 miles a day. 4.5 on MWF. I will do my interval runs on the way home from work AND I have hikes with trainer on Tues Thurs.

Food: I have menu'd and shopped. There is only food in my house that is healthy and I am hardly spending any time here anyway. So I should experience a little success this week. GOT TO.

NSV: Make some stinkin' Money and continue the moving process without continuing this upward trend.


Big Fat Promise-Making Love,
Nanette

RFSC + Life Update + Faith & Trust

Check In

Weight: 302 (-4lbs!) 

Waist: 46.5" (+.5")

Water: Better this week. 100oz everyday but yesterday. 

Workouts: 1 HIIT session (found out trainer is preggers on tuesday and unable to do it anymore) 

4 interval runs. 

Nutrition: I've been logging some stuff in MFP... Forcing myself to at least log in every day. This deserves no congratulations. But I've done okay, I mean... I'm losing weight. Just eating when I'm hungry. 

NSV: Losing weight despite not tracking calories! Graduation is official! Acquired 3 jobs. Secured my sublet. I will be a brooklynite in 4 weeks! 

Goals 

Weight: GET UNDER THREE HUNDRED!!!!   

NSV: Let go of some of the too big clothing. Pack up some of the going home for storage stuff. Take care of skin/massage cellulite places try to help circulation. 

Nutrition: Keep it under control. Eat more veggies every day. 

Water: 100 oz every day. 

Workouts

Sunday: Leg HIIT

Monday: Interval Run + Arms HIIT. 

Tuesday: Core HIIT. 

Wednesday: Insanity. 

Thursday: Interval Run. Arms HIIT. 

Friday: off. 

Saturday: Interval Run. + Arms HIIT. 

Sunday: Mini HIIT with Wendy. 

Thoughts... 

Today, I got into size 22 pants! Zipped... too tight to be seen in public. But zipped! I traded some books and movies for some smaller clothing. I took photos today and I'll be posting them in a tab or something since there are so many of them. They are going to be my "start" clothing for a challenge I'm holding for myself or the next one Mir does. 

I have a going away party this weekend. There will be lots of food. I'm going to eat some of it. Truth. So I have to be really diligent this week with eating well if I want to see under 300 by next sunday. 

The Job Situation... 

I'm so excited to feel focused again. I got past the early termination, you can't stay with me for more than a week - so find a sublet, savings not big enough for the move in three weeks PANIC/STRESS. 

This week is my summer break. It is one week of freedom before school starts. It is one week to get rid of the stuff in my house. Box up anything that can just be put away. Put in a few hours with the music dept.

On the 14th, I'll be starting 3 jobs...

• Monday - Friday: 3:15- midnight (I assume I have this job. I have my second interview monday. It's a high turnover call center and I'm smarter than a brick. I should get in). 
• Mon, Wed, Fri: 8am - noon. (through the dept that just forced me out of my job early)
• Saturday: 8-5 music dept...   (flexible, work whenever hours). 

So I'm thinking this week... this very dead week... I'm going to clock 30 hours at the music dept cataloguing string music. Then submit my 10 hour a week time card and be able to keep my weekends open. 

I have time to be fit. I have time to come up with a game plan for this upcoming scary terrible week. I have time to do the mountain of laundry. I have time to menu and shop prior to the week starting.

Cons 

- no time with three jobs. 

- compromised sleep patterns. 

- less time to make food. 

Pros

- 2 miles from call center, I can do my interval runs! 

- No dress code (workout gear!)

- MONEY!!!! (less stress!)

- Challenge to see how quickly I can adapt. 

- Remind myself what it's like to not be boss. 

- Remember how to learn a new job.

The Moving Situation... 

I have a sublet!!! I'm moving out to Brooklyn. I have a place to stay the DAY I arrive. No needing to crash on a friend's couch. No need to put people out. I've been able to figure out how to get there from the airport. The girl who is subletting is a friend of a friend. She's going to still be there for a week or so, staying with a friend in a different apt. She will show me around and help me get my bearings. 

I'm moving with a friend from Idaho, Shasta... she's actually going to share the room with me. Our costs are HALVED. Even if the job stuff goes all to hell, I will have enough to get me through! 

Best part... are you ready for this?! New apartment is within one mile of the following... 

• Organic food Co-Op. 
• Prospect Park (for running!) 
• Target and Old Navy so I can cheaply keep up with my dropping sizes! And buy affordable tampons. 
• Laundromat. 

After doing all the math... I will actually be making more this way than when I would if I had been able to keep the original job. Breathe easy. Leave off in good shape. I can take a deep breath... funny how the stress lets up and I drop 4lbs in a week. I can do anything good!!!    

Wendy over at eatsleepmove and I had a great conversation yesterday. Talking about faith. I'm not religious which sometimes makes me feel like an outsider in the fat blogging arena since weight loss can be such a spiritually related experience as well. 

But I do have faith that if I do everything in my power to set a plan in motion and then let go... things will work out. I can't prove that it will. I'm not owed anything... I am not entitled. I have to do my part. I must trust that what happens is for the best. Whether it be a "learning experience" (see: crappy, but an opportunity to grow) or whether it goes smoothly... I am a person. People are highly adaptable. We survive. We cope. We grow and learn and strive. 

I have done what I can. I have set my job stuff in motion. I have worked for the past 7 years in preparation for this. I have gotten a sublet. I will trust that I can find a job when I relocate. I trust that someone out there is looking for an employee just like me. (hopefully in the personal assistant/administrative assistant realm). 

Big Fat Faithful, Trusting, Successful Love, 

Nanette

 

RFSC (late!)

In Review... 

Weight: 306 (-1) Not quite the goal of -3 but not a gain either!

Waist:

Water: Honestly, I haven't really been tracking. I'm floating around 128oz a day.

Workouts: 100%, no 110%! I did every work out that I planned to and I loved it!

Calories: I have been absolutely terrible at tracking this week. I just haven't been focused.

NSV: I finished my degree! I also did the daily NSV posts.

GOALS

Weight: I WANT TO LOSE THREE POUNDS THIS WEEK!

NSV: I bought a dress this week and I'd love to see it fit just a little bit better. Also, my apartment is gross, I'd love to see more of this stuff sold and my dishes done.

Food: Get back on the tracking wagon. I don't know why this is such a struggle lately (maybe, because you've been going out and snacking to the point that you don't even know what you've eaten). Have you guys had issues with this? I want to eat no more than 1500 calories a day.

Workouts: As follow.

Monday - Mini HIIT at home.
Tuesday - Trainer time in the AM.
Wednesday - Trainer + interval run.
Thursday - Trainer
Friday - Interval run
Saturday - REST
Sunday - Interval run.

Big Fat Goal Makin' Love,
Nanette

Weakness and Procrastination.

Do you have those weeks where everything sort of plays on your current weakness? This past week it seems like pizza was everywhere I looked; mentioned in the fat blogs, advertised in the sidebars of monetized blogs/videos, free at work, in every conversation around me...   well. I gave in. I had 3 slices last night and threw the rest away.

It wasn't some amazing pizza. It was disappointing. It was greasy, carb-y and salty. And I'm over it. I make better homemade pizza than what I had at the local pizzeria (which I thought was amazing, to die for pizza about 8 months ago). 

Since my Lent challenge of not going out, I've had a harder time staying on my plan. So I think I'm going back to it - modification: I can go out with my trainer every once in a while. We go to restaurants and assess the healthiness of each other's dinners and it works out quite well to keep me eating healthy while out on the town. 

When I eat homemade food I lose weight. 

Well, I felt so bad about my pizza indulgence yesterday... more correctly, I felt bad about my weakness and lack of willpower. My friend and I went to the grocery store and bought $10 worth of veggies. Because I have decided that today is a raw foods day. 

Also... Today is a run day. Now was it last week??? I ranted and raved about not wanting to be judged and then went running on the busiest road in town... Today I was running alley ways again. As empowering as it was to say "Go ahead world, JUDGE ME," it's easier to concentrate on the running, breathing and consistency when I don't run into anyone. 

I felt really great about today's run. I'm on week 3 of c25k. 

2 rounds

1.5 min run

1.5 min walk

3 min run

3 min walk

It was my second time running this. I didn't have to stop for a second to catch my breath on the 3 minute runs like I did last time. It was easier to distract myself since it was daylight out and I could see all the stuff around me. I found that when my feet started aching or my knees complained a little, if I concentrate on swinging my arms, I can't hear the other body parts.

I ran across a couple of people while I was out. A fellow runner slowed down and ran with me for a block... It was a lovely show of support. There were also a couple cars driving by that gave me a friendly wave and a thumbs up.

It took rotating through all my excuses this morning to get me out and running. Ipod isn't charged. Check my email. Check my facebook. Go to the bathroom twice. Eat a little something. Brush my teeth. Drink some water. Put more music on my playlist. My excuses took longer than the actual run. I recognize that.... the excuses probably aren't going to disappear entirely. But with time, I hope to lessen the time I spend procrastinating exercise. I can't afford that. Life is short. There's so much to get done. Why waste your time puttering around? I know my goals. Time to GET TO THEM!

Saw this quote in a running magazine this week... love it. I AM A RUNNER. 

Menu
B: celery + carrots
S: fresh ground peanut butter + celery
L: celery + carrots + tomato + spinach + asparagus.
S: Steamed broccoli + cucumber + balsamic vinaigrette
D: Asparagus + tomato + garlic sauteed.

Workout
Interval Run.

Big Fat Get Your Head In The Game Love,
Nanette

RFSC Week 4

In Review... 

Weight: 307 (-0) Okay... so I'm looking at a pattern in my right hand bar -----> over there.

It shows two week losses, a gain, a maintain, a two week losses. So I'm glad this wasn't a gain. I suspect that this has to do with lady business... willpower, cravings, emotional responses and water stuff affiliated with that.


Waist: 46" (-1")

NSV: Passed my piano scales. One more test! ONE MORE!


Nutrition: I didn't track nearly as closely as I normally do. I went above my caloric limit twice for absolutely sure.


Workouts: 4/6... I need to do better. I'm close to being done with the piano stress. So close to having one less time demanding thing off my plate.


Mini Challenge: I visited all the challengers. Some blogs don't allow comments or wouldn't let me read them. Someone on wordpress has everyone blocked.

I didn't write the pay it forward post... because I felt really weird about it. I tried writing it like three times and it came out preachy and self aggrandizing. So here's the thing. I'm going to keep giving my motivational speeches to myself here. Posting about struggles and successes and hoping that helps someone.

This week... 

Weight: LOSE THREE FREAKING POUNDS.

NSV: Finish piano. Completely.

Nutrition: LOG CALORIES RELIGIOUSLY IN MFP.

Workouts: as follows

Monday: mini Hiit.
Tuesday: Swim class + trainer
Wednesday: with trainer. Interval run.
Thursday: PIANO TEST + trainer
Friday: Interval Run <------ actually do it this time.
Saturday: Rest.
Sunday: Interval Run.

Mini Challenge: not posted yet. But personally, I'm going to find a NSV every day and write about it to remind myself why I do this. Keep my brain thinking health and fitness.

Big Fat Check In Love,
Nanette

All aboard the thought train!!!

So this split focus thing is killing me. This weekend alone, I have spent $60 going out... consuming food that isn't healthy, booze and even a dessert. I still managed to lose weight - luckily. I really think that was a fluke.

I have this pattern. I can usually concentrate on 3-4 things in my life and do them all well. Right now I'm so overwhelmed with all the stuff I've been trying to fit in and stress out about that I haven't been doing ANYTHING well. Here goes the thought train... All aboard!

A) New potentially romantic interest - this always makes things sort of go to crap and occupies way more of my thoughts than it should. And let's face it... obsession is ugly. I don't want to be ugly.

B) Finding a Job in NYC - I'm jumping the gun here. I'm not in the city yet. I can put this on the back burner for a couple weeks. But it does come with all the "I need a professional interview outfit!" Which contradicts G. Even that is jumping the gun. I don't know what size I will be when I get there!

C) Piano Tests = Graduation - Last week I found out that the pressure is still on high. With lessons this week it's even higher. For some reason this "easier" set of scales is harder than ever and I've got an entire piece to learn. But without the degree... I'm going to have a hell of a time with B) getting a job in NYC and no one wants to date a jobless bum. So it helps with A) New potentially romantic interest as well.

D) Eating right - This takes focus. This takes planning. This takes NOT giving in to the easiest way out because you were all stupid and twitterpated over some BOY or stuck in a practice room.

E) Working out - Planning work outs that don't tax the same part of the body each time. Finding work outs that keep me engaged. Working up to the 30 minutes of running that you want to do with Mr. Option A... A positive way to obsess, if you going to.

F) Moving - There is so much to be done around my house. Sell stuff. Ebay my formal gowns (seriously folks, if you've got some fat friends (26/28/30), I'm selling off a few really beautiful items). Sell off my vintage purse collection. Selling off my fancy shoes. Selling off my vintage jewelry. *sigh*

G) Saving/Making Money - This is REALLY the only thing I can productively do for myself in this move to NYC. Getting a job is going to take me BEING there to interview. People doing sublets don't want to talk to someone who wants one all the way in JUNE. What I can do is save money...  it buys me more time to get a job. It will also enable me to eat healthy instead of cheaply while I'm out there. It's also making me assess every purchase... well... how much toilet paper do you need in about 1month and a half. Shampoo? Tampons? Don't be wasteful. Save your pennies.

H) Online dating... I know I've already mentioned Mr. Option A. Which seems to have run a little cold lately... probably due to slight obsession backed up by not having MET in real person. But I have this constant niggling want for attention from the opposite sex. I don't know if it's a "validate me" thing. I really don't think it is... I think it's my new distraction technique for the stress I'm feeling. (I do that. A LOT).

Okay... So now you know what's buzzing around up there...   I WILL FOCUS. I will prioritize.

1) Piano/Graduation - Duh. I've been working on this degree for 7 years. It would be RIDICULOUS not to finish it this close to getting out of here. Plus it prepares me for success in so many ways after the fact.

2) Saving/Making Money - Concentrate on SAVING. Concentrate on not buying in excess. Concentrate on using the food you have and supplementing with grocery purchases. You don't need any new clothing right now (though I DID just buy new running shoes). You don't need to go out to eat a $10 salad you could make at home for $3.

3) Eating Right - Making menus and buying smart go hand in hand. I can eat healthily. I will pay closer attention to the cost of certain items to see how I will be able to eat on $15-20 a week when I get to NY.

4) Working out - I'm handing the reigns over to trainer when it comes to work out planning. I'm going to keep up with the interval running so I can feel like I'm doing something about Potential Guy and so I can drop some more weight. I don't want to scare him away with my size (though I've been very up front about my weight).

Everything else, moving, online dating, applying for jobs, finding a sublet, new potential romantic interest...   You can all take a back seat. I have two more weeks until I am done with piano. Then I can pick one to put back in on top and take more control over my working out.

I will not lose my laser like focus and determination. I'm tired of feeling like refracted light. I need to feel productive. I need motion. I need progress. I can do anything good!!!!

Accountability...

Menu
Breakfast: banana w/1tbsp peanut butter.
S: Fruit leather.
L: tuna salad on spelt bread.
S: baby carrots.
D: Spinach, celery, tomato, avocado, black berry, sunflower seed + balsamic salad.
S: cottage cheese.

Workout
25 pushups
25 squats
25 side lunges right
25 side lunges left.
50 bicep curls
25 tricep dips
25 vertical jumps.
5 downward facing dog pushups.

Big Fat FOCUSED Love,
Nanette

Review of week 3 and NEW GOALS!

Weight: 307 (-1)

Waist: 47" (+.5)

Last week... 

Weight: -3lbs. Aiming high and trying to get a repeat of last week.
Check In: -1lb....   Well... it's something. 

NSV: Fancy up the resume. Continue to take good care of my skin. 

Check In: Yes! Resume submitted. Interview Scheduled. Lotion applied! 

Nutrition: Eat a vegetable at every meal - including breakfast!

Check In: 75% on this. My veggies went bad these last couple of days. 

Fitness: 575 bicep curls with resistance band (75 a day)... in addition to this week's workout routine. 

Check In: I forgot about this mini challenge to myself COMPLETELY. 

Mini Challenge: yet to be given... Read everyone's blogs and comment. 

FAIL.   Sorry guys... there are so many of you! I needed this challenge on Monday. 

This week... 

Weight: -3lbs. I WANT TO LOSE THIS! (That would put me down to 304... feasibly a mere 2 weeks away from out of the 300s!)

NSV: Pass the piano exam this week! 

Nutrition: Cook enough chicken for every night of the week so you don't make a last minute bad decision.

Fitness: Two goals. 50 bicep curls a day & 3 interval runs in addition to my regular schedule as follows.
Monday - Mini HIIT.
Tuesday - Swim class + HIIT.
Wednesday - HIIT + Interval Run. 

Thursday - PIANO TEST! + HIIT. 

Friday - Interval Run! + Mini HIIT

Saturday - STRETCH!
Sunday - Interval Run + DEEEEEEEP Stretch. 

Mini Challenge: yeah... I think I'll try that support everyone thing again. Sorry so much if I don't get to you... we happen to have 1000000000 challengers! :) 

Big Fat Goal Makin' Love! 

Nanette

RFSC Week 2 Review and Goals.

Goals In Review

Weight: 308 (-5) Thus exceeding the -3 goal AND making up for last week's -0!

NSV: Lose .5 inch on the waist. From 47" to 46.5"! Also paid close attention to my skin with lotion and massage. I didn't notice a huge difference. But I figure it's not a detriment. Also, secured my sublet for the move in June... and booked my ONE WAY TICKET... and finished brushing up my resume.

Nutrition: Take multivitamin every day. I made it 4/7. My vitamins have been making me queasy. But I can adjust by taking them at night instead of during the day... No excuses!

Fitness: 90% I dropped one work out because trainer cancelled and we both were to sore to function. It's important to give the body time to recoup. I hope to repeat it this week!

Mini Challenge: I did 3 interval runs this week. I've moved up a level for tonight's run. I'm kind of worried about it. But I know it's a silly worry... what? It's going to be hard? I wont' do anything but benefit from it. So after my piano lesson, I'll be doing an alleyway run tonight.

This week... 

Weight: -3lbs. Aiming high and trying to get a repeat of last week. 

NSV: Fancy up the resume. Continue to take good care of my skin. 

Nutrition: Eat a vegetable at every meal - including breakfast!

Fitness: 575 bicep curls with resistance band (75 a day)... in addition to this week's workout routine. 

Mini Challenge: yet to be given... 

E2E Final Post

Sept 14

April 7

Progress

Weight:
Goal: 299
Began at 325
Down to 308 (-5 this week) and -17 total. Almost met the goal!

Waist:
Goal: 49"
Began at 51"
Down to 46.5" (-.5")


Hips:
Goal: 60"
Began at 65"
Down to 62"... ambitious... I was close? heh.

Sept 14

April 7

I might not have hit the goal weight. But I feel great about what I have accomplished. Doubling up the work outs was hard. I was more careful with my eating this past week. My freaking period stopped finally (not that it was abnormal, I'm just impatient). Yesterday my weight was even LOWER! But I take the "official" weigh in of Saturday morning.

My progress photo shorts are very near retirement. I can now pull them up and down with out unzipping or unbuttoning them. The cami... You can see it gaps around my armpits because I'm getting narrower... but my belly still stretches it. Though not nearly as much.

I believe I have changed every single method that I was planning on using to lose weight.
I've cut calories down to about 1300-1700.
I've stopped spending HOURS at the gym and doing 12-30 minute HIIT work outs.
I've started cooking different things, but I've cut out wheat this time around.

There are no intentions of quitting here. I'm probably going to have to do this for another 1-2 years before I can really hit my goal weight. So I'll continue blogging and following those of you who are still going.

Mir has been awesome for hosting this challenge, particularly through her own hard times. I've loved the small challenge. It's been so much more manageable to get to know each one of you. You guys have all taught me things whether it be through observation or example. It's been great. I'm doing the next challenge (Ready for Summer Challenge) which is much larger and a little less intense, but I like the standard of E2E... the waist measurements, the weigh in, water and calorie goals, plus the mini challenges of RFSC... Another accountability tool! I will still be reading blogs from all those that post and choose to continue.

However, Come hell or high water, I WILL BE MOVING TO NYC Under 300lbs.

Big Fat Losing It Love,
Nanette

Ready For Summer Challenge Update

Goals in review... 

Weight: 313 (-0) Though the goal was to lose -2.

Non-scale victory: Tried on all my clothing and tossed/donated the stuff that doesn't fit. I stretched every day but two. But I still can't touch my toes while sitting with my legs stretched out in front of me. Gotta keep trying.


Work out: I did very well! I did all my exercises as planned and even got a run in yesterday. I posted about it here and on facebook. And I found a couple Friday running buddies... which will totally make me accountable for the rest of the semester! :) I'm kind of excited.

Nutrition: Dairy free week... I made it about 4 days. And it was 4 days of steady weight gain.

Weekly Mini-Challenge: I made an omelette with tomatillos. They look like tomatoes but they are green and are protected by a papery husk. The skin is kinda tacky/sticky so they need to be washed. I cut it open expecting the same texture as a tomato... but it's less gooey and slimy. It has tiny seeds (edible) and after it was sauteed in a touch of oil along with onions, tomatoes and broccoli, it added a bit of zing. Tart, citrus tasting almost. Like lemon or lime, but a different flavor. I ate some raw and I didn't like it at all, but cooking it a bit sweetened things up.

This week...

Weight: -3! Gotta catch up! 

NSV: See a .5" waist measurement difference. Massage highly cottage cheese areas to increase circulation and reduce cellulite and stretch marks. 

Fitness: Follow your weekly plan... You can see it HERE for this week. 

Nutrition: I will take my multi every day... in addition to vitamin E (for my skin). I will follow my weekly menu. I will also use my vitamin E stick on some stretch marks to see if it helps. (If you can't tell my skin is bothering me a little as of late). 

Mini Challenge: Do a work out you don't normally do! PERFECT TIMING!!!   I'm starting interval running this week. I've got a two new Friday running buddies! 

Let's DO THIS! 

Big Fat Run For Your Life 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

E2E

This week...    dum-da-da-dum!

Weight:  313 (-0) 

Waist: 47" (same) 

Water: 4/7 

Workout: 4/5 (It'd be 5/5 but yesterday was more of an active rest day than a work out). 

Monday - HIIT

Tuesday - HIIT

Wednesday - Rest

Thursday - HIIT

Friday - Hike with Holly. 

Saturday - Small rep work out at home

                      bicep curls, resistance band arm work outs, squats, competition situps. 

Book: I'm reading Life is Hard, Food is Easy (same lady who did 100 days of dieting). It's where I got the rules before eating idea from earlier in the week. 

Partner: I haven't seen a post from Eaba this week. But I did shoot her an email and asked if she'd be posting her update. If she doesn't by 2pm, I'll be posting a place holder for her. 

Calories: 

Monday - 1400

Tuesday - 1418

Wednesday - 1667

Thursday - 1480

Friday - 1380

Saturday - 1393

Goals 

- Work out with Trainer 3x
- Work out on my own 2x. - DRINK MY FREAKING WATER! 
- Box up the book shelf. 
- Return library books and borrowed books. 
- NOT SPEND MONEY. - Work out days = 1700 calories (not under, but AT 1700). 
- Non work out days = 1300 calories (not under, but AT). - Post one new video.

This week started out so rough with the food stuff because I tried to do the no dairy for a week mini challenge for myself. I made it up until Wednesday... Here's what I noticed about myself. I am a cheese addict. When I can't eat the cheese that I want to, I try to fill up with carbs. If I could replace cheese with veg, I would be more successful. But that's not how it happened. 

My body doesn't like high carb. I puffed up until Thursday when I went back off grains and starches. I tried to drink my water and stuff earlier in the week, but it's hard to convince myself to drink when I'm feeling like a Macy's Day Parade balloon. However, It improved as the week went on (the drink 3 8oz glasses of water before eating thing helped out a LOT). When I stopped eating the carbs (and gave in to some cheese cravings) I saw the scale go down!!! Now, I know better than to say it's cheese that CAUSED it... but if cheese is my mini crutch for now. I'm okay with that. It's high in protein. And I don't think there's anything wrong with eating fats as it's an efficient body fuel source. I keep a close eye on the sodium. And it's not like I sit down and eat a BLOCK of cheese in one sitting. It's more like I eat a couple things of string cheese, or a cup of cottage cheese after a work out (SO MUCH PROTEIN). That protein is so filling. 

I'm glad I could get back down to the 313. But I feel like I'm constantly fighting the same numbers on the scale. 

So here's the game plan for this week... 

• I have planned a menu. 
• I have grocery shopped. 
• There are many different types of fresh veg in my house! 
• I have washed all the dishes in my house including all of my waterbottles so there is no reason to not have one with me. 
• I have borrowed an idea from a fellow blogger to make a work out schedule for an entire month. 
• I will be working out six days this week, sometimes twice a day with one rest day midweek. 
• I will switch up my work outs by getting 2 more cardio sessions in a week (walk/jogs) in addition to the HIIT. 
• Trainer and I have talked about upping the ante this week. We are switching up the types of HIIT we're doing. 

I WILL END THIS CHALLENGE WITH A GOOD LOSS! I WILL END IN STYLE. 

Big Fat Last Week Love, 

Nanette

P.s. And I will pass one off one more piano test (black key harmonic minors). 

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

Numbers.

With the new challenge starting I've been blog exploring for over a week and I feel like it's still just the tip of the iceburg. I haven't been commenting much. I'm overwhelmed by stuff to read!! There are so many people to get to know better and read about.

However, I did see a lovely page that I can't find again... One lady had a page set up with her health stats. More than just her weigh in or her waist measurement. So I'm yoinking the idea and have been looking up all sorts of calculators today. 

March 28

BMI: 45.9 {30+ = obese, 29.9 - 25 = overweight, 24.9-18.5 normal). 

Hip to Waist Ratio: .73 (healthy)

Body Fat Calculator: 28.82% (HA! but the calculators are fun). 

Base Metabolic Rate: 2302. 

Then I started futzing around with the numbers. I will need to be 170lbs before I'm considered "normal." I need to lose 160lbs before I can reach that... are you looking at those numbers... HALF MY BODY WEIGHT. That blows my mind. Also, I figured out that each pound I lose takes me down .014 on the BMI scale. 

My list looks something like this... 

320lb = 45.9

310lb = 44.5 

300lb = 43.0

290lb = 41.6

280lb = 40.2<-------Super obese/not Morbidly obese

270lb = 38.7

260lb = 37.3

250lb = 35.9

240lb = 34.4

230lb = 33

220lb = 31.6

210lb = 30.1 <-------- Overweight/Not Obese. 

I have to lose over 100lbs in order to be considered merely, OVERWEIGHT. Crazy. My feelings of accomplishment have diminished. I'm having a bit of a hard time with that... I need to concentrate on the smaller accomplishments. Like going down by levels. 10lb increments. 

My workouts are less motivating as of late. I don't know why. Body is adjusting? Need to switch it up? Need to recommit? Need to pull my head out, that's for sure. 

This no cheese/dairy thing has sucked. I eat more carbs without it. It would have been great if I would replace cheese with veggies... But knowing myself, that's not going to happen. At least not yet. I can't wait for cottage cheese again on Sunday. My protein intake was higher with dairy in my diet and I'm about 60% less likely to punch someone in the face. heh. 

Big Fat NUMBER Love, 

Nanette