Stat Update

Stats have been updated on the sidebar; I lost 1.2 pounds. I've decided to move the weekly weigh ins to Sunday from now on, as I'm not going to have time to do a blog post before I go to work in the morning. Yes, I know today is Monday, but it's a bank holiday and we didn't get home from Oxford until the afternoon.

I'm still trying to adjust to having a job again. And a schedule. Last week knocked me for six. I haven't been paying as much attention to losing weight as I had before, so there have been some slip ups with unhealthy food (though not as many or as bad as before). The only exercise I'm getting at the moment is walking (including a 20 minute walk between the bus stop and work twice a day). But at least it's something. Once I'm able to switch my hours around to between 8 and 4:30 or 8:30 and 5, I think I'll be in a better place. (Right now it's 9:30 to 6 until I'm trained up enough to work on my own, and by the end of the day I'm completely sluggish.)

So that's it for now. I'm at least going to keep up the weekly stat updates for now, and put in some extra posts once I'm back in a routine of sorts.

Stat Update and New Job

Stat update is a couple days late this week. I was a little distracted because I got a job this week and was waiting to hear back about my start date. I completely forgot about posting.

But! Good news. I've lost 1.6 pounds. Not fantastic, but I've been really stressed these past couple of weeks.

I start my new job on Monday. I think it will be a lot easier to control my food intake since I won't be home the majority of the day (with easy access to the kitchen). Not only that, I'll be kept busy so snacking won't even enter my mind. My coffee intake will likely be the same though.

I still haven't started back up with my weight training... I think at this point, I'm going to have to start all over again. I am still keeping up with walking a lot, and I'm going to have to walk part of my journey to and from work every day. I'm hoping within the next month or so I'll be able to afford a membership at the gym down the road. I really miss going to a gym.

Stat Update and Making Excuses

I've lost a little under a pound this week. Considering the only real exercise I got was walking to and from a job interview (granted, it was the same place I had my assessment last week, so I walked just under 5 miles total again), that's actually not too bad.

I've been struggling a lot lately. I've been making excuses, partially because I started taking an SSRI again just a few weeks ago. My mood was all over the map for a while. I didn't exercise as much, though I tried to keep myself moving around a lot.*

My eating habits haven't been great either. I've forgotten to eat breakfast on many days. But (save one take out meal from KFC), I've actually eaten mostly healthy things. I also haven't been eating much in between meals. There have been a few biscuits (cookies) here and there, but only once did I eat more than two. And that was three. Which seems really excessive now! I used to be a person that ate between five and ten cookies in one sitting. There's also been instances of buttered toast, but even those have been kept to a minimum. So it hasn't been a disaster, and hey! It looks like I'm actually learning things!

You know, through all this I have found myself coveting chocolate only a few times, but I haven't had that much of it. And to be honest, I don't feel like I'm missing anything.

I also haven't been drinking enough water, and I have had a bit too much coffee some days. So I'm starting today with a glass of water, which will get refilled whenever it's empty. Only when I finish my current glass will I allow myself some coffee.

In short: I've done okay considering how I used to be, but I had the potential this week to do a lot better. So I'll work on that for next week.


*I remembered hearing about Non-Exercise Activity Thermogenesis (or NEAT, of you like fancy acronyms) on the Two Fit Chicks podcast (Episode 07 Getting STARTed in 2010), and how you could burn up to 400 calories a day just by fidgeting. So I've been working that in. I've been working on a project that involves a lot of sitting at the desk in our office, so I've been keeping my legs moving around and generally not keeping still.

Stat Update, Walking, and a Confession

I lost a kilo this week! YEEEEEAAAAH! Stats on the sidebar have been updated. I'm getting close to a mini goal, which is to lose a stone (14 pounds, for the American folk). The next one after that is to get below 100 kg, and after that? My nemesis, the 200 pound mark.

That seems to be an enemy of many a loser. I've butted up against it several times myself, but have never gone under it after going over it when I was in my late teens. This time, though, I will succeed. I'm older and wiser and have a hell of a lot more support.

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I had an assessment yesterday, which may end up landing me an interview for a media researcher/analyst job. The location was 2.4 miles away, with no direct bus route. It was, however, a nearly straight shot from where I live on one road. So I decided to walk.

I packed my nice shoes in my bag, rocked the skirt and trainers look, and set off. I listened to a couple of podcasts about making comics. Half of the way wasn't paved, so I had to walk over grass areas where the earth was really soft. It took me about an hour.

I did my assessment with six others (some from crazy far away: Wigan and Liverpool). And then I started the trek back. I'd packed half a pita with some peanut butter in it, as I knew I'd need the protein and I didn't get lunch (I'd eaten a large snack before I left at 11:30). I got home, exhausted and in pain, but proud of myself.

I walked nearly five miles yesterday! Granted, it was split up into two sections, but still. That was the most walking I'd done in one day in a long time. And now I know for sure that I'll be able to walk the 5k just fine... but hopefully I'll lose enough weight by then that my knee will be able to take the impact of jogging. I know I used to do some jogging/running in short bursts when I was about 210 pounds or so.

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I have a confession to make. I haven't lifted weights in a week. I made excuses, because I'd gotten my period (after it decided to skip a month back in February) and it was the worst one I've had in a long time. Since the doctor made me stop taking it, I'm no longer on birth control that makes the experience milder. In short (and without gross detail), I felt AWFUL.

I didn't lift weights, but I did make myself get outside and walk as much as I could. So at least I did SOMETHING. Now it's all over, though, and I'm eyeing my weights. I think I'll pick up where I left off today.

Stat Update

Upping my cardio (and possibly drinking loads more water) has worked! 2 pounds down this week!

Plan for the coming week: continue with the added cardio and water, decrease food consumption.

I am going to invest in some sugarfree gum, for those times I just feel like grazing. I don't eat nearly as much as I used to, but it's still more than I need. I tweeted this yesterday: "Man, I wish jelly belly made sugar free gum... I'd be all over buttered toast, espresso, and toasted marshmallow," followed by: "P.S. I know they make a range of sugar free jelly beans. But you can't chew those for ages." I also wish they existed here (there's just no sugar added ones in the UK).

Seriously though, buttered toast sugar free gum (if they got the flavor right)? That would be killer.

Stat Update

It really shows that I haven't been doing enough (any) cardio (save last night), and at the beginning of the week did nothing for three days. Plus there were a couple of indulgences on my birthday... considering all that I guess, the fact that I gained 1.6 pounds back isn't that terrible. It's not great, but it could have been worse.

This week: stepping up the cardio. We'll see how that goes. :)

Feeling a bit 'meh.'

Yesterday was my birthday, and the end of the chocolate ban. I enjoyed a couple of small pieces of chocolate, as well as Cake-in-five-minutes*, because birthdays need cake. I didn't go hog wild and down several bars of chocolate on my own. So in that sense, it was a bit of a triumph. I did happen to drink a little over half of a bottle of wine on my own during the course of the evening, though. Oops!

Today, though, was my weigh in at the medical centre. It was less than inspiring. According to that scale, I'm just a half a kilo down from two weeks ago. Granted, this is in the afternoon, with clothes on, but it's still discouraging. I suppose, though, that it should be.

I'm doing really well with my weight lifting program, but I'm not getting in near enough cardio. And though I am eating generally healthy things, I'm still eating too much. I really should switch to Splenda in my coffee, or at least cut down on the sugar I use. I need to up my water intake. I used to be really good about drinking loads of water every day, but lately I'm lucky if I manage to get two or three pint glasses down.

What it all comes down to is that I need to step up my game. I'm trying not to beat myself up over this, because it's not worth it. "Trying" being the operative word. I'll still have my official stat update weigh in on Friday morning, so we'll see how I do then. If I have a gain (which I'm pretty much expecting), then so be it. I'll work harder.

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On the good side of things, I have a job interview tomorrow for a part time manager position at a nearby charity shop. I have good feelings about it. If I get it, I'll be able to afford to join the gym down the road. That would completely solve my lack of cardio problem... I'm one of those weird people that LOVES zoning out on an elliptical machine (or a stationary bike) with a good audio book (David Sedaris books have been some of the best gym companions I've ever had) and really pushing myself with the interval training programs. Not to mention the fact that because ellipticals are low impact, I can go on for ages without my arthritic left knee flaring up (unlike with running).

That job will also get me out of the house more, and I'll meet a hell of a lot more people, which I could really use for my sanity. Cross your fingers for me!

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In the meantime though, I need to get some more exercise video goodness happening. I have the New York City Ballet Workout (volumes one and two) and that should be okay once a week or so, but I'd like some others for some variety. Maybe I can take up Tae Bo again. I've tried Pump It Up from Ministry of Sound, but it's a bit advanced for me at the moment and the movements are a bit too quick. Does anyone else have recommendations?



*I'll post the modified recipe I use, as well as a link back to the original, at some point in the next couple of days.

Stat Update, Tofu, and Memories of Good Food Back Home

I  lost nearly two pounds this week! WOO!

Stats have been updated on the sidebar.

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I'm waiting for my groceries to be delivered. They're supposed to arrive between 11 and 12. I'm really looking forward to eating some tofu, as it's been ages since I've cooked some up. I've had the weirdest craving for it lately! Maybe we'll have a tofu stir fry for dinner. I really need to look up how to get the outside of it nice and crispy though. I also want to try cooking it in beer, like a lovely roommate of mine used to do.

I miss the rad vegetarian restaurant I used to go to in San Diego, Jyote Bihanga. It's on Adams Avenue, my favorite street, just across the way from Lestats, my favorite 24 hour coffee shop... which is a far cry from the Costa in Newport Pagnell that closes at 5:30 or 6. But then, coffee culture isn't that big here. ANYWAY. Jyote Bihanga. They have awesome fake meatloaf (neatloaf), mock bacon BLTs, messy and delicious barbecue tofu sandwiches, and delish lentil soup. They also do a lot of vegan dishes as well. So if you're in San Diego for any reason and you're vegetarian, vegan, or if you just enjoy good veggie fair (like me!), check them out. And then get a latte at Lestats and gawk at the goths and scenesters.

Stat Update

Weighed in just a few minutes ago, and lo and behold! I DID lose weight! HUZZAH!

Only about a pound, but hey, I'll take it.

That's all for now, but I'll post another entry later today, after I've run some errands.

No longer living in the dark ages

And by dark ages, I mean only being able to access the internet from my fancy touchscreen phone. Heh. At any rate, BT has finally sorted out our broadband connection! Hooray! Now I can get some serious posting done.

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I did get weighed yesterday. Sadly, it looked as though I gained back the kilo I lost two weeks ago. I was a bit upset, as I've been eating well and doing plenty of exercise, but it didn't immediately make me want to run into the shop across the street and buy half of their chocolate supply. That's a plus.

I know weight fluctuations are normal. However, this has prompted me to finally go out and get a scale for home because I realized that I was being weighed in the afternoon, and that (pardon the TMI here) I hadn't had a poo that day. So I'm going to grab a scale tonight when we're in town, and report back tomorrow morning and update my stats on the sidebar. If I really did gain the kilo back, so be it. But then I'll know for sure.

My blood pressure was fantastic though. WOO!

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After just over two weeks of the Chocolate Ban, its still going strong. The only instances of cocoa that have passed my lips were a few mugs of Ovaltine, some cocoa powder on a couple cappuccinos, and some itty bitty flakes in little pots of nonfat yogurt. No chocolate bars, no chocolate biscuits or muffins, no chocolate cereals, no Cadbury cream eggs or Terry's chocolate oranges. There has been some whining and longing looks in the shops, but that's where it would always end. Overall, I'm very pleased!

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Since I've already mentioned poo in this post, I think it's safe to mention farting. My goodness, the farting. Since I've started including a ton more veggies in my diet, I have had the Worst Gas Ever [TM]. Noxious, vile stuff. It seems to have calmed down a bit, and I've read it eventually goes away after your digestive system gets used to it. Here's hoping that happens soon!

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That's all for now. I do have a handful of other posts (with photos and everything! ooh!) lined up, so check back in the next few days!

"Lifestyle" appointment

Today I headed down to the medical centre for a lifestyle appointment. Which is an appropriate name, I suppose. I got a few pamphlets, had a good chat, got my blood pressure taken, and weighed in.

My blood pressure has been high for a while. I don't think I had a problem with it before, but to be honest I hadn't really given it that much thought. My mother had been severely overweight at one point (over 400 pounds), and doctors were always baffled that her blood pressure wasn't that high. Now I think of it, they may have meant in relation to her weight.

Bottom line is that it's something else I need to keep an eye on. My love affair with salt must become a platonic friendship.

Good news though: I lost a kilogram! That's 2.2 pounds! I didn't eat as well as I could have, so I'm quite pleased with that. I updated the sidebar (save for the bmi, as I'm having to update via my phone and can't have two windows open at once... no net connection yet at the new house).

I'm headed back in two weeks to check my blood pressure again and for another weigh in (and I can keep coming in to stand on the scale for as long as I want, even after my blood pressure gets better). This is one if those times when NHS is really awesome.

That's all for now! Hopefully we'll get the internet connection sorted next week.