Figuring it Out

I have been trying to exerise each and every day to no avail. I have determined that I just can't make myself go that hard every night - I don't have the energy to workout every morning, go to work and bust my butt doing everything as well as I can and then come home and bust my butt on my exercise equipment. I have instead decided to concentrate my efforts in a couple nights rather than every night. I will end up working out for the same amount of time per week.

With that said, C has nailed down a schedule for us to workout. Tuesdays and Thursdays after she is done work she is going to come over to the house and we will work out for an hour or so. We will do the same on Saturdays, possibly with J joining in - if her work schedule allows for it of course. I am looking forward to the workouts and not having to do them by myself. I am also looking forward to spending more time with C on a regular basis.

November 4, 2008

Weight loss: 3.4 lbs
Mood: thankful
I started using the weight as it appears on my new scale and therefore have basically started over again with my weight loss. I think my initial weight may have been higher than I previously thought, but as that is a pretty painful thought, I am going with starting over with the actual number. I have also just started the latest challenge on my weight loss forum called the Biggest Chooser – modelled after the Biggest Loser television show as I previously mentioned. I am really excited about this challenge and have my plan all set up. I am starting this week with 30 minutes of exercise after work (probably at about 7pm or so) excluding Wednesdays when I have class and then double that on the weekends. Next week I will be starting morning exercise as D stops working then and I will have more time in the mornings. I will start with 10 minutes and then add another 10 every week until I get to 30 minutes. I will also be adding and then increasing weight training as well. I will eventually get to 1 hour 30 minutes of exercise every day (excluding Wednesdays) and then double that on the weekends. Hopefully I will be able to set up a workout session with some friends as C mentioned that she is interested in it this past weekend when I showed you the most recent addition to our home gym (a full weight bench). I have already lost 1.4lbs since starting the challenge and plan to keep going as hard as I can until I reach my next goal of 20lbs lost.

New Beginning

Saturday marks the beginning of a new challenge on my weight loss forum. This one is a little different than others since you had to pay to get into it (well there was the option of not paying, but I decided to opt into the big cash prize). Whoever loses the highest percentage of weight wins the money. The contest is based on the Biggest Loser the tv program that I love so much (though I haven't been watching due to lack of time and energy) but without the eliminations. It is the longest challenge I will have participated in on this forum. Usually I drift out of the challenge as it progresses and I therefore was a little hesistant to pay into this one, but I finished our last challenge with full participation (though very little weight loss). I am not expecting to win this competition or even really come close to it, but I want to do my best and try to hit my 20lbs loss goal by the end of it. Wish me luck!

Purchased

I purchased a WW scale yesterday and am so happy with it thus far. It measures per cent body fat and % water as well as your BMI (which I can calculate anyway) and obviously your weight. It has room for 10 users which is humourous to me since I will probably be the only one to ever really use it. It was 60 bucks, which is much more than I would normally spend on something like this but I read the reviews and it sounds pretty accurate and that is keeps that accuracy for quite some time. The weight is states is 8.6lbs lost from my intially starting weight assuming that my starting weight was correct - it may have been higher who knows at this point. I am going to go with the weight on my new scale and start again - more or less from scratch. The basement is almost ready for the home gym and I am getting really excited about it. I plan on asking some friends if they want to set up some "gym" time and come over for workout sessions with me - keep me motivated and whatnot. I also think it could be a great way to keep connected with them and see them on a regular basis. Anyway - that is what I have done lately and this week will hopefully be my last without proper workout area - though my food has been almost right on target lately and my water intake is increasing steadily.

To purchase or not to purchase...

So I am thinking of getting a new scale and this time a really good one.

I know what you are thinking: Stephanie, you have a million scales and do not need another one.

To that I reply: If I get a good one, then I won't have the excuse that my scale is crappy or fluctuates of its own accord.

I am looking at the weight watchers ones as I hear nothing by good things about them - though they are very pricey. Very different from the $20 I spend on a scale normally. I just don't want to have to calibrate my scale every few months and then not even be able to use my calibration because it makes my scale seem so inadequate. I am at a loss with my scales and feel that if I get a new one (a good one) I can stop using multiple ones and doing funny things with the numbers and just be able to be 100% honest about my current weight and weight loss, etc.

Any comments or suggestions (scale suggestions would be really useful here) would be greatly appreciated...

Monday, October 20, 2008

Weight Loss: 11lbs
Mood: still sick
I did well with my food while I was sick – didn’t overeat for comfort sake too much. I wasn’t able to exercise as my breathing was hindered by my stupid blocked nosed, but that will pass.I am going to work on the basement this week(end) and hopefully it will be mostly up and running sometime next week. The only thing I am missing for it is a TV as my old one has been sent to the landfill (not a big deal really as it was old and broken in several ways). I will have to find other ways to do my DVDs and tapes until I have enough money to get a better TV for the living room or bedroom and therefore one of those can go to the basement. There is always music.

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

Weight loss: 11lbs
Mood: sick and tired
This past weekend was Thanksgiving. I did so-so in terms of control. I was good on Saturday but then on Sunday I overate – mostly snacks and whatnot before the dinner. Monday was good though – I had the big meal but little to nothing before and little afterwards. So I guess it wasn’t a total write-off. In terms of exercise, well Monday I went for a walk in the sandpits behind my house but on Saturday and Sunday I really only walked around the house I was in – I wasn’t sitting for long at any point during those two days but no intense exercise.
I am officially sick. I took the day of work yesterday and almost did the same today too. Hopefully I will still be able to get myself on the elliptical tomorrow night (I have class tonight so no time for things like that). My parents are bringing up the weight bench this weekend so there will be work to do then for sure.
This week I really just want to try and get back on track and not be sick anymore. I am eating properly and have been for a little while now (with the exception of this weekend of course) and my water intake is increasing steadily (more so now that I am sick since it will also help with that). I think I am heading in the right direction, I just wish I was able to do it faster.