Wednesday, April 30, 2008

S&M - Not what you think

Calories eaten yesterday: 1221
Fat: 24g (18%)
Carbs: 100g (33%)
Protein: 140g (47%)
Weight this morning: 130.4 (One week ago: 130.4)
Calories burned in exercise today: 482

S&M - stress and money.

Looks like I'll be moving again. :( I am not happy about it. I found a letter stuck in my door last night informing me that my rent will be going up again. "Stress" would be a major understatement. They want nearly $800 for my studio apartment and they will have to find it from someone else because I can't afford it. They have finally priced me out. The current owners care more about money than keeping a good tenant.

I dug the cage out of the closet and opened the bottom door to acclimate the cats. Xena jumped right in. It was her home when she was a kitten and she's totally relaxed there. I actually had to pull her out at bedtime to get her on my bed! Abby is wary and she's the one I need to trap. I've trapped her there twice before for moves and she is not falling for it this time. I can't pick her up so getting her in the cage is my only hope of moving her. This is a large cage. Here's an old photo of Abby in the cage with her kittens.

I called my old counselor today because she works at Teen Challenge and they have helped me move twice before. She gave me the number to call and I left a message for the person who coordinates that sort of thing.

Another major stresser in my life - bus fares will be raised again. A monthly pass will go from $70 to $80 and the base fare will go from $1.75 to $2.

As if all this wasn't bad enough Lisa left a melted ice cream drink in the small freezer here at work. It was in a plastic cup with a flimsy lid, laying on its side because the freezer is so small. It was melted because the freezer doesn't freeze well.

I had to pull it out to get to my Boca burgers. While trying to put it back in the lid came off and the sticky drink spilled everywhere. Brad helped me clean it up but I was just beside myself at this point. I took a couple mouthfuls out of what was left before trashing it, and candy chunks were all over the refrigerator and counter and I ate several of those. Then I went to the gas station across the street to get a large Diet Coke to calm my nerves. I counted the mouthfuls I took and the candy chunks I ate as my two bites of chocolate that I would normal eat to calm me.

I'm a major stress case worrying about the move and worrying about Abby. :(

Money issues are dogging me as well, and not just regarding the move. My grocery bill has been way up since the beginning of the year and I am barely scraping by. I don't know how I will afford to move, but I certainly can't afford to stay. So money is a major issue right now.

Anyway, pretty standard gym day. Felt pretty good - strong and good energy level. I did an hour of upper body - arms, shoulders, and back. Then I ran on the treadmill for 30 minutes. I started slow but was able to maintain 6 mph and above for a good while and managed to average a 10 minute mile. Yay me!

On the downside of that, my pedometer only counted 24 of the 30 minutes. Grrr..... I wonder how many steps I lost. On the plus side, my size medium bicycle shorts were practically falling off of me as I ran and might be part of the problem with the step counting.

I walked to work from the train station, stopping for the basics I need - cottage cheese, veggies, and salad. I paid with what little cash I had in my wallet since my bank account is empty. *sigh*

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Tuesday, April 29, 2008

Week 59, Day 3

Calories eaten yesterday: 1368
Fat: 30g (21%)
Carbs: 91g (27%)
Protein: 167g (50%)
Weight this morning: 132.6 (One week ago: 131.4)
Calories burned in exercise today: 100

It's finally warming up a bit. I think winter might finally be over. It's been warm enough to wear my bicycle shorts to the gym instead of having to wear leggings. It can still be chilly, but the winter hats have been set aside and I no longer feel like I'm constantly freezing.

I slept in today. My only exercise was walking from the train station to work. I'm broke, but needed to stop at WalMart to pick up one small item (cost of $1.05).

Today I am back into my Old Navy 6s so I feel good about that, even though my weight is still above where I was last week at this time. I have been pounding the water the last two days and it's paying off.

I have a plan for the fellowship/Passover dinner this weekend (the only Passover item will be lamb for the main course). I'll eat whatever is allowed but stay away from the fruit salad and baked potatoes and anything drowned in sugary sauce. In case there's little to nothing that I can eat I will bring a tuna and cheese sandwich on low-carb bread. I also have a can of chunked chicken breast and a can of green beans. I'll mix that with some fat-free mayonnaise and eat it with a fork. I'll probably take a South Beach meal bar with me to keep me out of the desserts. I'll weigh the chicken and green beans and mayo out so that if I don't eat it I can split it and use it for lunch and dinner at work one night.

Brad and I have been doing grits on Saturday morning (which I love!). I told him we are NOT doing a carby breakfast this Saturday - no grits, Cream of Wheat, or oatmeal. I need to get this weight off! We'll cook up some spinach and egg whites, a recipe I saw in Muscle & Fitness Hers that I've been wanting to try. I'll have Special K Protein Plus cereal and I'll give him the soy cereal I can't eat. I have some fat free milk left over from last Saturday.

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Monday, April 28, 2008

Week 59, Day 2

Calories eaten yesterday: 1379
Fat: 29g (20%)
Carbs: 98g (30%)
Protein: 161g (49%)
Weight this morning: 136.6 (One week ago: 131.4)
Calories burned in exercise today: 463

Did my standard gym workout - one hour of weight training. Today was lower body day. I haven't done any serious ab work in a while so I did a bunch of those exercises, too. I did three "sets" of walking lunges up and back on the ramp holding 8 lb. dumbbells. :) I know my butt will be sore tomorrow. Lower body days quite literally kick ass!

Then I ran on the treadmill for 30 minutes, covering 2.85 miles.

I felt tired today, not sure if it's because I got a little less sleep last night or because of going lower carb and trying to keep my carbs around 100 net grams a day. I have some apples I need to use up so I am trying to work them in.

I walked from the BART station to work. I stopped at Pac N Save for veggies and salad. I have no money in my checking account, so I got the bare essentials and paid cash.

I hope to sleep in tomorrow. Since I can't do oatmeal or Cream of Wheat for breakfast, I'll make low carb wheat gluten pancakes and try the Walden Farms pancake syrup I bought.

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Sunday, April 27, 2008

Week 58 Weigh-In

Start: 154
Week 1: 150 (-4) - Week 2: 148.6 (-1.4)
Week 3: 146 (-2.6) - Week 4: 147.2 (+1.2)
Week 5: 145.6 (-1.6) - Week 6: 144 (-1.6)
Week 7: 143 (-1) - Week 8: 142.8 (-0.2)
Week 9: 143.6 (+0.8) - Week 10: 141.2 (-2.4)
Week 11: 143.8 (+2.6) - Week 12: 142.4 (-1.4)
Week 13: 142.4 (-0) - Week 14: 141.6 (-0.8)
Week 15: 139.4 (-2.2) - Week 16: 140 (+0.6)
Week 17: 139.2 (-0.8) - Week 18: 139 (-0.2)
Week 19: 138 (-1) - Week 20: 135.4 (-2.6)
Week 21: 137.2 (+1.8) - Week 22: 139.6 (+2.4)
Week 23: 143.2 (+3.6) - Week 24: 143.6 (+0.4)
Week 25: 137.6 (-6) - Week 26: 139.6 (+2)
Week 27: 142 (+2.4) - Week 28: 137.2 (-4.8)
Week 29: 137 (-0.2) - Week 30: 136.8 (-0.2)
Week 31: 142.2 (+5.4) - Week 32: 136.8 (-5.4)
Week 33: 137.8 (+1) - Week 34: 135.8 (-2)
Week 35: 137.6 (+1.8) - Week 36: 143.8 (+6.2)
Week 37: 142.8 (-1) - Week 38: 140 (-2.8)
Week 39: 142.4 (+2.4) - Week 40: 140.4 (-2)
Week 41: 139.6 (-0.8) - Week 42: 142 (+2.4)
Week 43: N/A - Week 44: 141 (-1)
Week 45: 138.8 (-2.2) - Week 46: 139.6 (+0.8)
Week 47: 133.6 (-6) - Week 48: 132.4 (-1.2)
Week 49: 138.6 (+6.2) - Week 50: 138.4 (-0.2)
Week 51: 138.8 (+0.4) - Week 52: 139.4 (+0.6)
Week 53: 137.8 (-1.6) - Week 54: 139.4 (+1.6)
Week 55: 137.6 (-1.8) - Week 56: 136.4 (-1.2)
Week 57: 136.6 (+0.2) - Week 58:: 139.4 (+2.8)
Total loss: -14.6

Ok, now to catch up on other numbers.

Calories eaten Friday: 1576
Fat: 21g (12%)
Carbs: 126g (32%)
Protein: 149g (38%)
Weight Friday morning: 128.2 (One week ago: 129)
Calories burned in exercise Friday: 296

Weight Saturday morning: 130.8 (One week ago: 131.2)
Calories burned in exercise Saturday: 142

Calories burned in exercise today: 458

I am so fucking depressed. I have no idea how I gained 2.8 pounds this week. I am up 9 pounds from yesterday and more than 10 for the whole weekend! I never gain 9 pounds on a cheat day and I didn't binge out on a ton of bad food yesterday. Yesterday was more or less just a normal cheat day so I have no idea how I gained that much. I'm drinking a lot today to get any water weight off.

My stomach is sticking out like some starving Ethiopian child, and my ring is so tight it took a good amount of hand lotion to get off. All I can think is I had several meatballs and a few fish sticks yesterday. There were cake and cookies sitting out but I kept myself to about 3 bites of each. There was sourdough bread (my fave), but I had just one piece with butter. Other than that I had salad. I hope it's just water retention. I actually woke up thirsty this morning because it's been so hot. And I even drank a ton of Crystal Light before bed.

So my dream of hitting goal is out of sight once again. Obviously, eating higher carb is not working so it's time to go lower carb again. I tweaked the hell out of today's menu and got my net carbs from about 150g to around 100g. I could have gotten it lower, but I am not giving up my high-GI carb snack after my workouts. The insulin is needed to help the protein into the muscle cells from what I have read. I'm trying to find fattier things to eat so I can get my carbs down without pushing my protein too high.

Friday I got in about 4.5 miles of walking (BART to work and once around the lake), and Saturday Brad and I went around the lake once, 3 miles.

Today was a fairly normal workout - 1 hour of weights, upper body - mostly arms and back. 30 minutes running on the treadmill, 2.9 miles covered. I got a ride to the gym from my friend and a ride to work, but I asked him to drop me off a ways away so I could get some exercise walking in.

I stopped at WalMart and bought a pair of jeans shorts and a pair of sunglasses.

Next Saturday dinner will be at a church member's house. She told me what's on the menu and there are only one or two things I can eat (broccoli and possibly the lamb if she doesn't drown it in sugar sauce). I will bring my own food and just pack tuna sandwiches on low-carb bread or something and probably a South Beach meal bar for "dessert." Few people at my church eat the least bit healthy - they eat mostly sugar and starches.

Tomorrow I plan to hit the gym again and do lower body. I'll try to remember to take my journal so I can write down a typical workout.

Edited to add: I made my monthly step goal today! :)

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Friday, April 25, 2008

Book review: Seductive Poison

I recently read the book Seductive Poison: A Jonestown Survivor's Story of Life and Death in the People's Temple by Deborah Layton. It's an insider's view of the rise and fall of the Peoples Temple. Ms. Layton was one of Jim's most trusted aides and as such knows more about what went on in the temple than the average member. She describes how she got sucked into the cult, her activities after being sucked in, what life was like in Jonestown, and how she came to see the truth and escape. At the end of the book she gives updates on many of the people who were significant to her, whether they survived or died, and, if they survived, how.

I give it 4 out of 5 stars only because I read the book Escape (my review) right before this book and it was a more riveting read.

The book is autobiographical in nature. Ms. Layton talks about all the things she was involved with in the Peoples Temple - the illegal bank accounts, her first time being raped by Jim Jones, how and when Jonestown went from a paradise to hell on earth (when Jones came, it completely changed), and the continuous brainwashing from when she first came to the temple to when she finally escaped. The escape itself completely absorbed me and it was hard to put the book down. Ms. Layton also gives insights into Jim Jones, his charisma, and his character.

I was only 7 1/2 years old when Jonestown occurred and the book helped fill in so many details that I had never known. I recommend this book for anyone who wants to know more about Jim Jones and the Peoples Temple.

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Overtime

Calories eaten Thursday: 1381
Fat: 18g (12%)
Carbs: 131g (38%)
Protein: 138g (40%)
Weight Thursday morning: 130.2 (One week ago: 129.6)
Calories burned in exercise Thursday: 79

Weight this (Friday) morning: 128.2 (One week ago: 129)

I walked to work from BART. It turned into a LOT more walking than I expected. Brad is broke and neglected to tell me that he couldn't buy the stuff I asked him to until I was already on my way to work, so I had to stop at the grocery store again to pick up the stuff he couldn't. And I didn't have my backpack with me, just a large bag that goes over my shoulder, and the stuff was heavy.

I came to work, dropped the groceries, then walked back to WalMart (the only stop I had planned to make today), bought what I needed there, and came back to work. Brad will load it all in his van and we'll take it home after our walk.

At any rate, I had nearly an hour of walking racked up before I ever clocked in. It's my day off, but I am working four hours. I get off at 7 and he'll pick me up and we'll take a spin around the lake, which will take about an hour. So I should have a good step count today. :)

Brad totally stressed me out with his surprise about not buying the food he said he would, so when I got to work I consoled myself a mini chocolate bar (those kind that are 1-2 bites) and a large Diet Coke from Subway. This is my standard way of dealing with a lot of stress without blowing my diet.

I'll be back Sunday with my weigh-in. Hopefully I can hit goal. I am so close!

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Thursday, April 24, 2008

Week 58, Day 5

Calories eaten yesterday: 1388
Fat: 19g (13%)
Carbs: 149g (44%)
Protein: 143g (43%)
Weight this morning: 130.2 (One week ago: 129.6)
Calories burned in exercise today: 79

Nothing much today. Slept in until I was wakened by a phone call. Grrr. Did some housework and took my rollie cart with me to work. I walked to work from BART and stopped at the store for massive groceries since it's payday. Brad is hitting Costco today with the money I gave him to get me stuff.

Tomorrow is my day off but I will be working 4-7 pm, then walk around the lake once with Brad. We'll likely do the same on Saturday to make up for Friday. This is probably my last overtime. A new person has been hired and if she's not in place by next week it will be Lisa's turn for overtime.

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Wednesday, April 23, 2008

Week 58, Day 4

Calories eaten yesterday: 1295
Fat: 22g (16%)
Carbs: 137g (42%)
Protein: 132g (41%)
Weight this morning: 130.4 (One week ago: 131.6)
Calories burned in exercise today: 447

Woot! Did 3 miles on the treadmill again. I went for distance and not time. Finished in 31 minutes, mostly at 5.8-5.9 mph.

Anyway, pretty normal workout. One hour of weight training, mostly upper body. I also did three sets of walking lunges with 8 lb. dumbbells since I missed my leg day. Then I did the treadmill and finally walked to work from the train station.

Assessment: I didn't have as much energy either strength-wise or energy-wise for running. I had to push myself harder than usual.

Here's the photo of my in the size 6 jeans, taken in the dressing room at Old Navy yesterday. Click it to see a larger size.

Day 155/366 - OMG! I fit in a size 6!

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Tuesday, April 22, 2008

Size 6?!

Calories eaten yesterday: 1297
Fat: 20g (14%)
Carbs: 134g (42%)
Protein: 137g (42%)
Weight this morning: 131.4 (One week ago: 132.8)
Calories burned in exercise today: 80

I had a great NSV (non-scale victory) today!

Did my bi-monthly mail run in the City and deposited my federal tax refund in savings (minus $20 for spending cash). I decided to stop by Old Navy and try on a pair of size 6 jeans, just to see if I could squeeze into them. So I grabbed a pair and headed to the dressing room and OMG...they fit! Actually fit. I was stunned and amazed. I figured they'd be tight. Even though I am broke and they were not on sale I had to buy the jeans. I can't believe I can fit into a 6!

I took a photo in the dressing room and will post it up when I can.

No exercise except the walk from the train station.

Oh...I figured out how to order more than once when Walden Farms has a promotion. (The current discount code, by the way, is DFQ208- (dash) and then 01 through 05 depending on how many items you are ordering. So to order 10 items with buy one get one free you'd put in DFQ208-05.) Anyway, the way to get around the "one order per household" rule is to simply sign up a new account with a different e-mail address. They go by e-mail, not shipping address or credit card number. So I bought more stuff today so I'll be well stocked. :)

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Monday, April 21, 2008

My faith, & more on meds

Calories eaten yesterday: 1379
Fat: 22g (15%)
Carbs: 146g (43%)
Protein: 140g (41%)
Weight this morning: 133.4 (One week ago: 133.8)
Calories burned in exercise today: 86

I'm working overtime today (12 hours - 11 a.m.-11 p.m.) so my only exercise was the mile and a half from the BART station to work.

CelexaFirst, about meds. Why do SSRI (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor) meds promote weight gain?

As many of you know, I take Celexa and it keeps me pretty stable. Before that I was on Wellbutrin and before that Zoloft. Like most people on SSRIs I gained weight and have been working to get that off for quite a while now. It is possible to lose weight while on SSRIs, but it is harder and you have to be prepared for a certain level of hunger.

Anyway, it's well known that SSRIs make you hungry and make you crave fast digesting carbs and I think I may have found the reason while reading "You: On A Diet."

When the levels of serotonin in your brain falls, your body senses starvation, and to protect itself, starts craving carbs...Serotonin levels plummet after you go to long without eating, and that prompts your bodily machine to fill itself with foods (pg. 157).

SSRIs work by keeping more serotonin in the synapses between brain cells which alleviates depression. But could a lower level of serotonin in the brain cells themselves (because of the SSRI med) be responsible for the constant hunger and carb cravings that many people report? The brain senses a lower level, thinks you're starving, sends a hunger message to your stomach, and craves carbs.

Why carbs? Because they are easy and fast, which also explains why people on SSRIs crave the "bad" carbs - they are digested fastest. This leads to a blood sugar spike followed by a drop, making you even hungrier, and the vicious cycle goes on and the pounds pile on.

I'm just thinking through, but I have always wondered why SSRIs make me hungry in general, and make me hungry for carbs in particular and this is my latest theory.

absintheNow, I have a true confession to make regarding the absinthe incident a while back. We got to talking about this on Saturday night after the movie. What I remember from that night is getting very drunk. The absinthe hit me way harder than I thought it would. Brad drove me home, I got into my nightshirt, and I went to bed. I didn't remember if we had brought the stuff up from the car that we meant to, but when I checked the refrigerator it was there so I realized we had.

Brad's recollection of that night includes a lot of stuff I don't remember. He told me about all sorts of sexual things that I said and did - things that I would never say or do. And yet I have no doubt that he is telling me the truth. In horror I realized what had happened - I had blacked out.

I don't know if that seems like a big thing to you or not, but it is HUGE to me. This is the third time in my life that I have blacked out, but it is my first time as a Christian. I have been a Christian for nearly 12 years now. The other two times I blacked out were in college - a long time ago.

At first when I told him I didn't remember any of what he told me, he thought I was joking. It took some time to convince him that I really didn't remember any of it.

I feel awful about it. I have failed God and failed myself. I put Brad in a situation where he would be tempted to take advantage of me. He says he didn't, and I believe him. Not only is he an honorable man, but I'm a virgin and if he tried to have sex with me I would have known.

At any rate, that's my confession. I failed God and failed myself.

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Sunday, April 20, 2008

Week 57 Weigh-In

Start: 154
Week 1: 150 (-4) - Week 2: 148.6 (-1.4)
Week 3: 146 (-2.6) - Week 4: 147.2 (+1.2)
Week 5: 145.6 (-1.6) - Week 6: 144 (-1.6)
Week 7: 143 (-1) - Week 8: 142.8 (-0.2)
Week 9: 143.6 (+0.8) - Week 10: 141.2 (-2.4)
Week 11: 143.8 (+2.6) - Week 12: 142.4 (-1.4)
Week 13: 142.4 (-0) - Week 14: 141.6 (-0.8)
Week 15: 139.4 (-2.2) - Week 16: 140 (+0.6)
Week 17: 139.2 (-0.8) - Week 18: 139 (-0.2)
Week 19: 138 (-1) - Week 20: 135.4 (-2.6)
Week 21: 137.2 (+1.8) - Week 22: 139.6 (+2.4)
Week 23: 143.2 (+3.6) - Week 24: 143.6 (+0.4)
Week 25: 137.6 (-6) - Week 26: 139.6 (+2)
Week 27: 142 (+2.4) - Week 28: 137.2 (-4.8)
Week 29: 137 (-0.2) - Week 30: 136.8 (-0.2)
Week 31: 142.2 (+5.4) - Week 32: 136.8 (-5.4)
Week 33: 137.8 (+1) - Week 34: 135.8 (-2)
Week 35: 137.6 (+1.8) - Week 36: 143.8 (+6.2)
Week 37: 142.8 (-1) - Week 38: 140 (-2.8)
Week 39: 142.4 (+2.4) - Week 40: 140.4 (-2)
Week 41: 139.6 (-0.8) - Week 42: 142 (+2.4)
Week 43: N/A - Week 44: 141 (-1)
Week 45: 138.8 (-2.2) - Week 46: 139.6 (+0.8)
Week 47: 133.6 (-6) - Week 48: 132.4 (-1.2)
Week 49: 138.6 (+6.2) - Week 50: 138.4 (-0.2)
Week 51: 138.8 (+0.4) - Week 52: 139.4 (+0.6)
Week 53: 137.8 (-1.6) - Week 54: 139.4 (+1.6)
Week 55: 137.6 (-1.8) - Week 56: 136.4 (-1.2)
Week 57: 136.6 (+0.2)
Total loss: -17.4

Ok, now to catch up on other numbers.

Calories eaten Thursday: 1412
Fat: 19g (12%)
Carbs: 135g (39%)
Protein: 135g (39%)
Weight Thursday morning: 129.6 (One week ago: 131.2)
Calories burned in exercise Thursday: 85

Calories eaten Friday: 1563
Fat: 22g (13%)
Carbs: 133g (34%)
Protein: 137g (35%)
Weight Friday morning: 129 (One week ago: 128.2)
Calories burned in exercise Friday: 226

Weight Saturday morning: 131.2 (One week ago: 132.2)
Calories burned in exercise Saturday: 130

Calories burned in exercise today: 456

Oh well - up 0.2 lbs. I attribute this to the two hot dogs I ate at the potluck yesterday - WITH buns, and cheese, sweet relish, and ketchup. BAD Victoria! I tried to undo the damage as much as possible by drinking a buttload of Crystal Light before bed, but alas, I am still up 0.2 lbs. from last week. Oh well. I'm still just 0.6 above my goal. I'll continue with my higher-carb diet and keep the calories under 1400 on workout days and under 1300 on non-workout days.

The weekend:
I worked overtime on Friday. It's my day off, but I worked a half shift. I walked from the train station to work that day, and after work Brad and I went around the Lake. Total distance - about 4.5 miles.

After church Saturday Brad and I did some shopping (well, I shopped, lol!). Brad needed to stop at a gas station and at the station I saw the Cherry Chocolate Diet Dr. Pepper. It turned out to be on sale so I bought every bottle they had! Across the street from the station was a shopping center with a GNC and a Payless shoes. I bought more whey protein at GNC and another pair of running shoes at Payless (I like to have two pairs at all times). My old shoes are pretty well done for so this new pair brings me up to two new pairs - badly needed.

Brad and I did the Lake again - 3 miles, then Pay-Per-Viewed I Am Legend. Pretty good movie.

Today I hit the gym again. Did one hour of upper body weight training - arms, lats, and back. I never got to abs. Also calf raises which I do every gym session. Then I ran on the treadmill - 3.02 miles in 31 minutes, starting at 5.2 mph and going as high as 6.5. I spent most of my time around 5.8 or 5.9. Great endorphin rush! I felt on top of the world, like I could do anything. :)

I had my protein and carb snack while waiting for the train, then walked to work from the train station. Total calories burned: 456.

I planned to hit the gym tomorrow and do my bi-monthly San Francisco trip on Tuesday, but I was offered overtime tomorrow (12 hour shift). That means I'll get only two gym sessions this week, but I really need the OT money. I'm also getting more overtime this Friday - another half shift on my day off.

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Thursday, April 17, 2008

Week 57, Day 5

Calories eaten yesterday: 1360
Fat: 23g (15%)
Carbs: 144g (43%)
Protein: 141g (42%)
Weight this morning: 129.6 (One week ago: 131.2)
Calories burned in exercise today: 85

This blog has now reached 50,000 hits! Thank you all! If you scroll all the way to the bottom you will see my Site Meter hit counter. :)

I didn't do much of anything today. Two days of heavy workouts left me tired and my butt is still sore from Tuesday.

Did laundry last night, slept in today, did some housework, and took my wheelie cart to work with me. I needed to buy a lot of groceries and I figured the cart was easier than carrying them. I had a co-worker take the groceries home for me and I'll arrange everything when I get home tonight. So my exercise was walking to work from the BART station, pushing my cart, and stopping for groceries along the way.

Tomorrow is my day off but I am working some overtime from 3 pm-7 pm. I'll walk to work from BART. After work Brad and I will take a quick spin around the lake (3 miles). It takes us about 1 hour.

Saturday is church and we'll walk around the lake again to make up for Friday's shorter walk.

Sunday is back to the gym for upper body work, and back to work at my job. It's also my weigh-in day so I'll be back to report.

The Bay To Breakers race is only about a month away! For those who don't know, Bay To Breakers is San Francisco's version of a moving Mardi Gras. It's a 7.5 mile race from the downtown area (near the Bay) out to the ocean. Last year I completed the course in 1:24:30.

I'll be totally off plan for two days - the day before the race and the day of the race. Traditionally I binge on pizza the night before, saving out two slices for breakfast the next morning, then run the race with carb gel packs with me and have one every 2-3 miles. I know I take in more calories before and during the race than I burn, but I'm not doing it to lose weight. I do it to push myself and see what my body can do.

At any rate, I plan to be strict on my diet until then.

Here's to hoping for a good weigh-in on Sunday!

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Wednesday, April 16, 2008

Week 57, Day 4

Calories eaten yesterday: 1385
Fat: 24g (16%)
Carbs: 140g (41%)
Protein: 139g (41%)
Weight this morning: 131.6 (One week ago: 131.4)
Calories burned in exercise today: 442

Today was upper body day. I never got to the weight-assisted pull-up machine because everybody else hogged it. But I did do all the other exercises the trainer told me to and watched my form very carefully. I used pyramids on all the other exercises - bicep curls, lying tricep extension, seated cable row, and lat pulldown.

I tried 15 lb. dumbbells on the tricep exercise, but I hurt myself doing it once and I can tell I will again if I push it, so I'm confining myself to using the 12s, 10s, and 8s. My left tricep is woefully weak and I don't want to injure it again.

After weights I got on the treadmill and ran for 30 minutes between 5.2 and 6.0 mph. I accidentally reset the stupid thing 6 minutes in so I'm not sure how far I ran, but it was about 2.9 miles total. I always start slow and speed up because it takes my body a while to settle into the exercise.

Had my protein and carb snack on the train, and walked from the train station to work - the standard 1.5 miles and 30 minutes.

Still sticking to less than 1300 on regular days and under 1400 on gym days. That extra 100 makes a huge difference and is needed when I am burning about 450 calories in exercise! I think I'll allow myself a little more than 1300 (pre-wine) calories on Friday since I do so much walking that day, so I'm a little over this Friday and I'm not going to stress.

I have more overtime this Friday and since Lisa got it a few times before I was cycled in, Brad is going to give me next week, too. So two Fridays in a row (my day off) I'll be working 3 pm-7 pm. God knows I need the money!

By the way, for anyone who uses Walden Farms products, here's the current offer. I stocked up today!

I just noticed I hit 7 million steps on Walker Tracker yesterday! Yay me!

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Tuesday, April 15, 2008

Week 57, Day 3, and more about Alli

Calories eaten yesterday: 1285
Fat: 19g (13%)
Carbs: 141g (44%)
Protein: 129g (40%)
Weight this morning: 132.8 (One week ago: 133)
Calories burned in exercise today: 458

I've been really hungry lately. I suspect it's because my carbs have been higher since last week. It totally sucks. I nearly caved last week from the sheer hunger and I don't know how I'll make it through this week.

Today was lower body/leg day. I am wiped out from my 12 hour shift yesterday and my workout was a struggle. My diet energy drink didn't even seem to help.

My first exercise (so I would be freshest) was the walking lunges. When I got to the ramp I noticed 8 lb. dumbbells sitting there. I use 5 lb. dumbbells. I took it as a sign and ended up doing 4 sets - 1 with the 8s, 2 with the 5s, and another with the 8s. The 8s were much harder. That extra 6 lbs. makes a difference!

The rest of my leg day was pretty normal and I did a little ab work (plank with leg raise, ball sit-ups, 1 set of men's push-ups).

Ran on the treadmill for 30 minutes. My bouncy iPod music helped me to overcome my tiredness a bit. I ended up running 2.9 miles with a great endorphin rush toward the end. :)

Had my protein and carb snack on the train, and walked the last 1.5 miles to work. I stopped at WalMart for more 100 Calorie Packs. I'm running low on my two favorites.

The next section is about bathroom issues and Alli, so if this offends you, stop reading now. You have been warned!

As you know, I take Alli, especially on Saturdays when I eat more fat. Other than one embarrassing incident where I farted out some grease in my underwear (messy!), I haven't had any accidents. No accidents this past weekend either, but boy have I been pooping out grease! Sunday and Monday, for two days straight, I pooped out grease every single time I used the bathroom.

This isn't a bad thing. I would rather the fat go in the toilet than on my hips, and as long as I'm not having accidents in my underwear it doesn't bother me. I know how Alli works and that it's safe. I wouldn't put a link to the site if I didn't think it was safe.

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Monday, April 14, 2008

Even more NutriSystem drama

Calories eaten yesterday: 1397
Fat: 22g (15%)
Carbs: 149g (44%)
Protein: 136g (40%)
Weight this morning: 133.8 (One week ago: 134.2)
Calories burned in exercise today: 100

12 hour day at work because Brad wanted the day off. I walked to work from BART, stopping for groceries on the way. That was it for exercise.

Had an NSV today - the guy who lives next door to me in my apartment building asked if I've been losing weight. I've been struggling with these last 5 pounds for so long that I guess it didn't occur to me that losing just a few pounds might show. :)

More drama on the NutriSystem boards (that seems to be a common theme considering what I went through when I first joined). I belong to a group called the TLFC - Tough Love Fitness Club. It was run by a personal trainer named Joe who gave advice, encouragements, and sometimes a kick in the butt. I'd leave a link, but the entire NS board is members only so you'd have to sign up.

Anyway, Joe got banned for questioning the mods on something and then creating a new identity so he could come back. The mods are on a MEGA power trip right now and banning people who peeve them. The real troublemakers never get in any trouble, but thinking people get their posts deleted, threatened with banning, or actually banned for daring to question the mods or say anything bad about them.

The mods there do not like to be questioned and act like God - they cannot be wrong so you can't question them. I have even been threatened with banning and when I tried to post that the the TLFC group to tell them, it was deleted. The way that thread is now watched makes me feel like I live in Nazi Germany.

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Sunday, April 13, 2008

Week 56 Weigh-In

Start: 154
Week 1: 150 (-4) - Week 2: 148.6 (-1.4)
Week 3: 146 (-2.6) - Week 4: 147.2 (+1.2)
Week 5: 145.6 (-1.6) - Week 6: 144 (-1.6)
Week 7: 143 (-1) - Week 8: 142.8 (-0.2)
Week 9: 143.6 (+0.8) - Week 10: 141.2 (-2.4)
Week 11: 143.8 (+2.6) - Week 12: 142.4 (-1.4)
Week 13: 142.4 (-0) - Week 14: 141.6 (-0.8)
Week 15: 139.4 (-2.2) - Week 16: 140 (+0.6)
Week 17: 139.2 (-0.8) - Week 18: 139 (-0.2)
Week 19: 138 (-1) - Week 20: 135.4 (-2.6)
Week 21: 137.2 (+1.8) - Week 22: 139.6 (+2.4)
Week 23: 143.2 (+3.6) - Week 24: 143.6 (+0.4)
Week 25: 137.6 (-6) - Week 26: 139.6 (+2)
Week 27: 142 (+2.4) - Week 28: 137.2 (-4.8)
Week 29: 137 (-0.2) - Week 30: 136.8 (-0.2)
Week 31: 142.2 (+5.4) - Week 32: 136.8 (-5.4)
Week 33: 137.8 (+1) - Week 34: 135.8 (-2)
Week 35: 137.6 (+1.8) - Week 36: 143.8 (+6.2)
Week 37: 142.8 (-1) - Week 38: 140 (-2.8)
Week 39: 142.4 (+2.4) - Week 40: 140.4 (-2)
Week 41: 139.6 (-0.8) - Week 42: 142 (+2.4)
Week 43: N/A - Week 44: 141 (-1)
Week 45: 138.8 (-2.2) - Week 46: 139.6 (+0.8)
Week 47: 133.6 (-6) - Week 48: 132.4 (-1.2)
Week 49: 138.6 (+6.2) - Week 50: 138.4 (-0.2)
Week 51: 138.8 (+0.4) - Week 52: 139.4 (+0.6)
Week 53: 137.8 (-1.6) - Week 54: 139.4 (+1.6)
Week 55: 137.6 (-1.8) - Week 56: 136.4 (-1.2)
Total loss: -17.6

Ok, now to catch up on other numbers.

Calories eaten Thursday: 1376
Fat: 14g (9%)
Carbs: 145g (43%)
Protein: 128g (38%)
Weight Thursday morning: 131.2 (One week ago: 129.2)
Calories burned in exercise Thursday: 100

Calories eaten Friday: 1569
Fat: 24g (14%)
Carbs: 127g (33%)
Protein: 145g (37%)
Weight Friday morning: 128.2 (One week ago: 129.4)
Calories burned in exercise Friday: 237

A new low! Woohoo!

Weight Saturday morning: 132.2 (One week ago: 132)
Calories burned in exercise Saturday: 143

Calories burned in exercise today: 448

I ate slightly higher carb last week so since I lost weight I'll do the same this week. Maybe this is just the shock my body needs to lose again.

Friday:
Went walking with my friend Brad - 1 hour 40 minutes and about 5 miles.

Saturday:
Church in the morning. Brad and I nearly got stranded Friday due to his car having a dead battery, so he went to get a new battery, and I prepped food for this week. He came back and we walked once around the lake - 3 miles and it took us 1 hour.

In the evening he took a co-worker and I out to dinner. I did only so-so. I ate an entire cheese and cracker plate by myself and had three alcoholic drinks - a glass of champagne, an Irish coffee, and a glass of Cabernet. On the plus side I got a lamb burger with cheese (no bun) and subbed the fries for veggies. A small side salad also came with the meal. No dessert, but I did eat cereal and a South Beach meal bar when I got home.

Today:
I went to the gym. Worked on upper body weights for one hour, going lighter on some exercises and closely watching my form, per the personal trainer's instructions. Then I ran on the treadmill for 30 minutes - covered 2.85 miles. I had my protein and carb snack on the train, and then walked from my stop to work - 1.5 miles and 30 minutes. Total calories burned: 448.

I planned on hitting the gym tomorrow, but was offered overtime and I desperately need the money so I'm working 12 hour tomorrow, 11 am-11 pm. Hopefully I can get to the gym on Tuesday if I am not too tired.

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Thursday, April 10, 2008

Week 56, Day 5

Calories eaten yesterday: 1396
Fat: 30g (20%)
Carbs: 147g (43%)
Protein: 132g (38%)
Weight this morning: 131.2 (One week ago: 129.2)
Calories burned in exercise today: 100

The scale has not treated me nice this week. Eating more carbs means retaining more water so it's not headed down as much as usual.

Didn't do much today. I was up late doing laundry and then slept in. (Ah, so heavenly to do that!) I bumped around the house, vacuumed, and made a double serving of Cream of Wheat (cooked in water) for breakfast. I added a couple of flavored Splenda packets, but should have added some cinnamon, too, and ate it on the bus. It was yummy.

I am enjoying my higher carb week. I am a carb addict after all! Next week I hope to do lower carb. I actually bought some pork rinds today so I'll have a zero carb snack on hand. I also bought a bag of raw broccoli and cauliflower since it is lower carb than the mix with the baby carrots.

My only exercise today was the walk from BART. It took 35 minutes since I stopped at the grocery store and they have a HUGE parking lot to walk across.

Tomorrow Brad and I will go walking along the Hayward shoreline. Saturday is church and then probably a walk around the lake. Saturday night he is taking Lisa and I out to dinner. I said we have to go to the New Zealander and introduce Lisa to it. Wine! Irish coffee! Champagne by the glass! I can't wait! :) Don't worry. My meal will be healthy at least. Probably a cheeseburger with no bun and a side of veggies. :) A side salad if I'm really hungry. And definitely share a cheese and cracker plate. Those are SO good! There will be pictures and likely some video. :)

Sunday it's back to the gym to work on those exercises the personal trainer gave me and keep a close eye on my form.

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Wednesday, April 09, 2008

Personal Training

applesCalories eaten yesterday: 1270
Fat: 22g (16%)
Carbs: 129g (42%)
Protein: 126g (41%)
Weight this morning: 131.4 (One week ago: 130.2)
Calories burned in exercise today: 191

Someone made me aware that the above links that say "Calories eaten yesterday" with "yesterday" linking to my FitDay journal have been wrong. I went back and edited all of them on Monday. They have been wrong since the beginning of the year! Yikes! When the year changed from 2007 to 2008 I remembered to change the month in the URL, but not the year. It's all fixed now and the FitDay links will go to the correct day. :) And a big THANK YOU to "Bobby" for mentioning it in an e-mail to me.

Today didn't go at all as planned. Not bad exactly - just not what I planned. I had that free half hour personal training session so I figured I'd have the personal training from 11:30 to noon, and then do my regular workout from noon to 1:30 as usual.

The girl I was supposed to see, "Lauren," wasn't in. The lesbian girl who works there and I see at BART frequently was available, so they put me with her, which is okay. She first spent a half hour getting a history of my health, my usual workout, and my food. She said I need to eat close to 2000 calories a day and eat a lot more carbs. Um...I gain fat at 1600 calories; I'm not going to eat 2000. Yike! She also did my measurements.

Then we started the exercises. She picked up the same posture problem I have that Jason did - my posture is like a brand new vacuum cleaner: it sucks big time. She wants me to work on my back, with the theory being that strong abs pull you forward and a strong back will help keep me from slouching as much. So we only did back exercises.

She showed me correct form on some old exercises that I wasn't doing anymore - the dumbbell row and the weight-assisted chin up. Also correct form on the dual axis row, which I had been doing totally wrong. Heck, I was doing everything totally wrong!

She also showed me some new ball exercises - the rear delt raise and "Diving Into the Pool." I did these without weights. Eventually she wants me to move up to the 2 1/2 pound weights.

She wants me to do 2-3 sets (I forget now!) of 15 reps on everything until I learn the correct form, and to go s...l...o...w. She said she will call me in a couple weeks and recheck my form, so I need to work hard on it. When I get the form down she wants me to do all sets heavy with fewer reps. Still, I need to go lighter than I was going to keep my form.

At this point is was past 1, and by the time I left her it was 1:15. I did a few other upper body things - biceps, triceps (which are feeling better, thank you!), and chest. There was NO time for cardio.

I had my protein and carb snack at BART and then walked the last 1.5 miles to work, stopping at WalMart for more Special K Protein Plus, South Beach meal bars, gum, and bread.

I'm feeling kind of depressed that she criticized my diet so much. :( It also hurt that she critiqued my form, but I know that was necessary so I can handle it. The diet thing stings, though. I am carb sensitive so I need to be careful of them.

So I'm kinda down after all this and didn't get any endorphin rush because I didn't get to do my cardio. *sigh*

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Tuesday, April 08, 2008

Week 56, Day 3, & Xena's birthday

Calories eaten yesterday: 1386
Fat: 24g (16%)
Carbs: 136g (41%)
Protein: 141g (43%)
Weight this morning: 133 (One week ago: 131.6)
Calories burned in exercise today: 100

Today I ran errands in San Francisco so my only exercise was walking from the BART station to work. It took about 35 minutes since I stopped for a few groceries. Tomorrow I have a 1/2 hour personal training session at the gym. I think I'll just have the person check my form on some of the stuff I do and make sure I'm doing the moves right. Then I'll do upper body and cardio.

I got the money from the property, the money my Dad gives me, and my state tax refund checks today so I deposited them, paid some bills (yay!), and bought some much needed groceries. I'll do more grocery shopping with Brad on Friday when he can drive me in his van and get enough salad, dairy, veggies, etc. to get through next week.

I'm going to try a bit of higher carb for a short while and see if I can shock my body to lose some weight, so I bought some Dannon fat free yogurt to make "cold oatmeal" and a few apples. I used to shoot for less than 120 net grams a day; now I'll shoot for over 120g.

My protein is lower than I'd like, but I am trying to keep it as high as possible. because of this my fat grams are horribly low (as you can see from yesterday's stats above), but this is just for the short term so I should be okay. I get plenty of fat on Saturdays anyway.

While I'm at it, here's some pictures of Xena and Abby from Xena's birthday on April 6. I don't know the exact day she was born, but when I adopted her as a kitten I knew approximately how old she was and then counted back in time and arrived at April 6. She's 6 years old. Click any of the photos to enlarge.

birthday girl
Abby & Xena get tuna for Xena's birthday
Day 139/366 - the birthday girl with her tuna

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Monday, April 07, 2008

Week 56, Day 2

Calories eaten yesterday: 1233
Fat: 33g (25%)
Carbs: 101g (34%)
Protein: 123g (41%)
Weight this morning: 134.2 (One week ago: 134.2)
Calories burned in exercise today: 445

Today was lower body day. I was going to take my workout journal to the gym but forgot. Next week I'll write everything down and post a "typical" lower body day workout just like I've already posted a typical upper body day.

I spent one hour on lower body and abs. Since there are fewer leg exercises I know than arm exercises, I have more time for abs on these days. I started with the walking lunges, 3 rounds up and back down the ramp with 5 lb. dumbbells and I kept my balance the whole time. I'm getting better! :) I used to hate the walking lunges but now I like them. :) When I did the wall sit with the ball I could see a little definition in my thighs. :)

After this I got on the treadmill and ran for 30 minutes. I did a slightly lower speed today because I'm a bit tired. I covered 2.88 miles. Then I took the train to my stop and walked the last 1.5 miles to work (30 minutes).

Tomorrow I am doing my bi-monthly trip into the City so no gym but I plan to do that 1.5 mile walk from the train.

Small victory - the guy who winked at my last week did the same today when I saw him. :)

I have an appointment with a personal trainer on Wednesday. I was part of a class action lawsuit and I got a free half hour session out of it. Right now I am thinking that I will have the trainer check my form on some of my exercises and make sure that I am doing them most effectively. I think I am seeing a girl this time.

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Sunday, April 06, 2008

Week 55 Weigh-In

Start: 154
Week 1: 150 (-4) - Week 2: 148.6 (-1.4)
Week 3: 146 (-2.6) - Week 4: 147.2 (+1.2)
Week 5: 145.6 (-1.6) - Week 6: 144 (-1.6)
Week 7: 143 (-1) - Week 8: 142.8 (-0.2)
Week 9: 143.6 (+0.8) - Week 10: 141.2 (-2.4)
Week 11: 143.8 (+2.6) - Week 12: 142.4 (-1.4)
Week 13: 142.4 (-0) - Week 14: 141.6 (-0.8)
Week 15: 139.4 (-2.2) - Week 16: 140 (+0.6)
Week 17: 139.2 (-0.8) - Week 18: 139 (-0.2)
Week 19: 138 (-1) - Week 20: 135.4 (-2.6)
Week 21: 137.2 (+1.8) - Week 22: 139.6 (+2.4)
Week 23: 143.2 (+3.6) - Week 24: 143.6 (+0.4)
Week 25: 137.6 (-6) - Week 26: 139.6 (+2)
Week 27: 142 (+2.4) - Week 28: 137.2 (-4.8)
Week 29: 137 (-0.2) - Week 30: 136.8 (-0.2)
Week 31: 142.2 (+5.4) - Week 32: 136.8 (-5.4)
Week 33: 137.8 (+1) - Week 34: 135.8 (-2)
Week 35: 137.6 (+1.8) - Week 36: 143.8 (+6.2)
Week 37: 142.8 (-1) - Week 38: 140 (-2.8)
Week 39: 142.4 (+2.4) - Week 40: 140.4 (-2)
Week 41: 139.6 (-0.8) - Week 42: 142 (+2.4)
Week 43: N/A - Week 44: 141 (-1)
Week 45: 138.8 (-2.2) - Week 46: 139.6 (+0.8)
Week 47: 133.6 (-6) - Week 48: 132.4 (-1.2)
Week 49: 138.6 (+6.2) - Week 50: 138.4 (-0.2)
Week 51: 138.8 (+0.4) - Week 52: 139.4 (+0.6)
Week 53: 137.8 (-1.6) - Week 54: 139.4 (+1.6)
Week 55: 137.6 (-1.8)
Total loss: -16.4

Body fat on Tanita scale:
Year start: 26.6%
Last month: 25.2%%
This month: 26%

Ok, now to catch up on other numbers.

Calories eaten Thursday: 1512 (I was really hungry) :(
Fat: 27g (16%)
Carbs: 127g (34%)
Protein: 151g (41%)
Weight Thursday morning: 129.2 (One week ago: n/a)
Calories burned in exercise Thursday: 0

Calories eaten Friday: 1617
Fat: 28g (16%)
Carbs: 125g (31%)
Protein: 150g (37%)
Weight Friday morning: 129.4 (One week ago: 140)
Calories burned in exercise Friday: 266

Weight Saturday morning: 132 (One week ago: 136.8)
Calories burned in exercise Saturday: 138

Calories burned in exercise today: 458

Friday is normally my day off work, but I went in for 4 hours (3 pm-7 pm). I walked to work from BART, 30 minutes. Then I took a quick jaunt down the street and back, about 20 more minutes. I was behind on my steps for April and needed to catch up.

I got off at 7 on Friday and Brad picked me up and we took a quick spin around the Lake - 3 miles, about an hour - half of what we usually do. That burned a few more calories. Then we went back to my apartment for dinner and wine. I had the Chicken Santa Fe Weight Watchers dinner poured over veggies and Cabernet.

Saturday we did another short walk. Brad wanted to do a long walk, but I reminded him that I'm doing a full workout at the gym on Sunday and don't want to tire myself out too much, especially on my only day off this week.

Weighed in this morning. I'm at 137.6 is a loss of 1.8 from last week. That put me 0.2 below where I was before my binge last week. I could have lost more but yesterday was my cheat day and I had two granola bars at church and pigged out on protein cereal before bed (Special K Protein Plus and a soy protein isolate cereal I ordered online).

Evidently I hurt my tricep on my left arm during last Wednesday's upper body workout - probably tore it a bit. When my friend massaged my arm it hurt and he said to lay off the tricep stuff for a week or two. I tend to agree with him, so today I did everything except triceps - biceps, lats, shoulders, back, and some ab work. Also calves - I do the standing calf raise every day I am at the gym.

So one hour of upper body work minus triceps. Then I ran on the treadmill - 31 minutes and I covered 3.03 miles. The time flew by because the last half hour of "The Fellowship of the Ring" was on the TV and I was busy watching it. :) There's no sound, but they had the hearing impaired subtitles on.

I got dressed and ate my post-workout protein and carb snack on the train. Then I walked to work from my stop - another 30 minutes and 1.5 miles.

Assessment: I was tired and a bit sluggish during my weight workout (even my diet energy drink didn't help), but the treadmill run woke me up.

Calorie goal today is under 1400 because I worked out. Same for tomorrow since I am planning on hitting the gym again and doing lower body.

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Thursday, April 03, 2008

Week 55, Day 5

Calories eaten yesterday: 1399
Fat: 33g (21%)
Carbs: 116g (33%)
Protein: 160g (46%)
Weight this morning: 129.2 (One week ago: n/a)
Calories burned in exercise today: 0

I did nothing today. Absolutely nothing. Not even my 1.5 mile walk from BART since I came to work via a different way. My bank account is overdrawn. My rent is going to go up any day forcing me to move AGAIN. Why can't I just stay in one place? :( So I'm a bit stressed.

Weekend plans are a bit different. I won't get my two hour Friday walk with Brad. A chance for overtime came up and with money so tight I begged for any overtime I could get.

I'll be working 3 pm to 7 pm, so I'll still be off before sunset. Brad said he could pick me up and we'd take a quick spin around the lake.

To make up for the shorter walk Friday we'll do another hour on Saturday after church.

Sunday is back to the gym for a full workout.

Yesterday's calorie goal was under 1400. I was really hungry so I pushed it as high as I could. I've been really hungry all week, moreso than my meds already make me.

Calories: 1399
Fat: 33g (21%)
Net Carbs: 116g (33%)
Protein: 160g (46%)

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Wednesday, April 02, 2008

Upper body day at the gym

Calories eaten yesterday: 1220
Fat: 30g (23%)
Carbs: 100g (34%)
Protein: 128g (43%)
Weight this morning: 130.2 (One week ago: 130.2)
Calories burned in exercise today: 447

I decided to track all my exercise today since I haven't actually written it down in a while. I'm doing reverse pyramids starting at high weight and few reps and moving to lower weight and higher reps.

Strength:
Exercise: weight/reps, weight/reps, weight/reps

One-armed dumbbell bicep curl: 20/6, 15/10, 12/12
Arnold Press: 25/6, 20/8, 15/12 (lbs. per dumbbell, double for total weight)
Laying dumbbell tricep extension: 15/8, 12/10, 10/12 (lbs. per dumbbell)
Dumbbell lateral raise: 5/15, 5/10, 8/5 (not quite ready for the 8s yet) (lbs. per dumbbell)
Seated back row: 80/8, 70/10, 60/12
Lateral pulldown: 90/7, 80/10, 70/12
Dual axis row: 75/8, 70/10, 65/12
Men's push-ups: 3 sets of 10
Ball sit-ups with 5 lb. weight held above head: 3 sets of 12-15 crunches
High row: 60/7, 55/10, 50/12 (lbs. per side - double for total weight)
Standing calf raise: 495/8, 480/10, 465/12

This took about 1 hour.

Cardio:
31 minutes running on treadmill, mostly between 5.7 and 6.0 mph. Tried to stay in the 90% range of my MHR. I covered 3.05 miles.

I got dressed and had my protein snack on the train: 1 scoop whey protein (130 calories) mixed with a 1/2 cup cottage cheese (90 calories), and a 100 Calorie Pack for my high-GI carb.

I walked from where I got off the train to work, stopping at McDonald's to treat myself to a Diet Coke. 1.5 miles and about 30 minutes. 447 calories burned.

Assessment:
I could barely eek out 6 reps on the 25 lbs. dumbbells on the Arnold Press. I really do want to go up to the 25s because 20/15/12 lbs. is just too easy.

On the laying tricep extension my left arm is noticeably weaker and on the bicep curl my right arm is weaker.

Oh, I almost forgot - I got a compliment today. A guy I see at the gym a lot walked past me as I was leaving and said, "Hey there, Slimmy." :D I love to hear that.

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Tuesday, April 01, 2008

Week 55, Day 3

Calories eaten yesterday: 1398
Fat: 32g (21%)
Carbs: 107g (31%)
Protein: 163g (48%)
Weight this morning: 131.6 (One week ago: 132)
Calories burned in exercise today: 85

I got sort of a compliment at the gym yesterday. As I passed through the weight room to the cardio room I saw a guy I see at the gym a lot and he winked at me two or three times. :) No one ever flirted with me when I was heavy, but now that I'm a normal weight and the guys see me working out so hard with the weights, they flirt with me. :)

My butt is sore from yesterday's lower body workout. Didn't do anything today. I tried to sleep in until the jackhammer started downstairs. :-p I walked from the train station to work, stopping at WalMart on the way - 30 minutes. I'm ready for an awesome April now that I have the binge out of my system. I've been burning off the excess carbs and pounding the water.

Tomorrow I hope to go back to the gym and do upper body.

I wanted to share a "before and after" photo with you. The first photo was taken May of 2004. I'd been on Atkins about 2 months at that time. The second was taken last Saturday wearing the same dress. You can really see the difference in how I fill out the dress in the first photo, but not in the second. Click the photo to see the full size.

before and after
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