Day 38

Well, I've lost 11# in the last 38 days since I started working out. Now, to be fair, I have missed/skipped quite a few workouts since taking Dude to swimming lessons and finishing up the end of school. I plan to fix that this week.

What am I doing differently? I'm NOT counting calories, just eating clean 90-95% of the time. I suspect the calorie counter I used to determine how many calories I need each day is not very accurate. That would also explain why I wasn't losing weight much at the farm in Oregon. Because...

(and listen up)

Regardless of the calories in-calories out theory, there is a point at which your body will think you're about to enter a period of starvation and it will stubbornly hang on to every last scrap of flab it can.

REALLY. Our bodies are designed that way since the dawn of time, to preserve life as long as possible.

Haven't you ever watched The Biggest Loser and wondered why someone didn't lose weight this week, despite their protestations that they did everything right? This is probably the reason behind that lack of loss (unless they were purposely throwing the weigh in by consuming salt water beforehand).

Your body needs fuel in order to burn calories. Doesn't make a whole lot of sense, but it is what it is. No matter how much Jillian may scream in your face.

Bodybuilders already know this. When they're dieting and training up for a physique class, they do not cut their calories by more than about 500 per day from what their basal metabolic need is. In order to make up the rest of the calorie deficit, they workout.

Your basal metabolic rate is the amount of calories you need to consume per day to keep your body functioning at the weight it is and maintain the status quo. You can find a BMR calculator here.

But wait! Losing pounds is all well and good. But you want to lose fat, right? Then you really, really need to build muscle. Muscle is the powerhouse of the metabolism. It won't make you, as a woman, look bulky. Well, not the average woman. Now, if you're a competitive figure model, that's different.

Building muscle boosts your metabolism. The more muscle you have, the more calories you'll burn and the less you'll store. Plus, it keeps your metabolic fires stoked while you sleep. You need muscle in order to diminish your fat cells. If you're not building and using your muscles regularly while losing weight, your body may very well break down your muscle proteins first. Then, you can be a skinny "fat" person. You won't get the sleek definition we all want at heart. You are likely to still be soft and mushy in all the wrong places.

So, what is it that I did differently to lose 8 pounds recently? I ate clean. It was pretty simple. I cut out a lot of the white flour, white sugar and processed foods (including diet foods) I'd been eating. No sugar substitute, no crappy cereal. No "dairy dessert" masquerading around as ice cream. Just plain and simple food. Ok, maybe not so "plain". :-)

I'm also cleaning stalls, moving hay and doing all those normal horse chores again. So, I AM still getting a workout! I'm eating 5-6 "mini" meals a day, balanced in carb and protein ratios. I'm eating lots and lots of fruits and veg. But mostly, I'm consuming them every 2.5-3 hours so that my metabolism doesn't slow down. And I'm measuring out my serving sizes by eyeballing them, which individualizes the serving to me and my needs, not some industry standard set by the FDA.

Here's how:

- A serving of protein equals the size of my palm (if nuts, then a scant handful).

- A serving of starchy carbs equals a single cupped hand (bread, rice, potato, whole grain pasta).

- A serving of vegetables and fruits equals both of my hands cupped together.

- A serving of healthy fats is one to two tablespoons (or a scant handful of unsalted nuts).

It's working. I feel better. My mood is improved (as long as I have some red meat weekly!). And my skin is clearer than it has been in the past 4-5 years. Let's not forget the weight loss too!

Next week, back to Power 90.

How about you? How are you doing? Do you have any questions?

P.S. Did anyone notice that I've lost 8 of those pounds in the past 2 weeks or so?

Another Progress Check!

Yesterday I had a doctor's appointment and I got to face th scale once more. I've been stressed at work and my eating habits have *ahem* been less than stellar this week so I was kinda worried about what would happen.

Well, looks like the gym is working it's magic and getting my metabolism the jump start it needed cause I dropped 6 more pounds!!!!

That makes 8 so far, I'm super thrilled!

My Curves announced that they would be closing (Pout!) but I've located another just 15 minutes away so I am going to transfer there at the end of the month. I will stick with this, I will !

I was feeling so good about my body that last week my Mom and I went on a shopping spree and I bought some DRESSES. Anyone who knows me personally knows that me and dresses aren't usually a good mix. But I was feeling so good about myself that I just went and did it and I couldn't be more happy!

Here's to making progress!

The Wagon

I didn't just fall off the dang thing, it circled back and ran right over me.

A year ago I was doing pretty good... eating not bad (not great just not horrible), working out 4-6 days a week on the treadmill, going to Curves regularly.
Then we moved, don't get me wrong it was exactly what I wanted and I wouldn't change things and go back to the city!  However the move threw me off completely. 
Our move was VERY disorganized.  I packed some boxes, some friends packed some boxes, the movers packed some boxes.  Only the ones I packed were labelled.  Add that my husband had a major shopping problem and was borderline hoarder and yeah it was a frickin mess... I had no idea what was in a box, the movers just put stuff wherever (I won't even START on the movers, omg what a joke).  To be truthful I still have a basement FULL of boxes.  However Pie is doing much better with his shopping problem, I think moving made him realize just how much stuff he had.
So that had me stressed, there went my eating.  Can't get to the treadmill because of all the dang boxes, going to the city for a gym or Curves isn't feasible, there goes most of my exercise.
Bottom line, I need to start eating better... which would be much easier if my husband would stop bringing so much junk into the house (and with his being diabetic he should for himself anyway!)
I need to get my crap together and get moving outside (hey it is summer now!) :) and hopefully get my boxes/unpacking situation sorted out so that when that darn cold weather comes I'll be able to get to my treadmill. 
SO if you guys don't hear from me posting over here nag me!  Remind me that I need to make myself a priority!
Thanks in advance :)

Things I've Learned

-or-

Diet Rage and The B*tch Unleashed!

In the last 5 weeks I've learned that I get grumpy if I don't have red meat once a week. I simply become a not-nice person come Week 2 (not that I've ever claimed to be nice). And downright homicidal come Week 3 sans red meat.

It is apparently just how I'm made. Some people do fine without red meat EVER. Some people are fine as Vegetarians. Me? Not so much. I used to be a Vegetarian until I was pregnant with Dude. He changed all that. After his birth, I still ate meat, but usually poultry and only on occasion.

Something has radically changed with me in the past 9 years, 10 months and 16 days. Must have red meat OR ELSE!

No, no, definitely not hormone related. I pay pretty close attention to that.

Anyways, diet rage is very real. Some people become very angry when they're on a diet. Sometimes, it's as simple as lacking something in their diet. Other times, it's the simple act of dieting alone.

Perhaps the problem is simply the word "diet". For me, I'm not dieting. I've made a lifestyle change and am Eating Clean. But, once in a while I get crazy ideas that I don't really want or need red meat in my diet. And if it goes on too long, the B*tch is unleashed and she makes the TOM Wench look like a pussy cat!

How about you? Do you or have you ever suffered from diet rage? Is there something you simply cannot do without as part of your everyday diet?