Re-Inspired

I'm totally feeling re-inspired. I finished Winter Boot Camp in March. I didn't get the results I was hoping for. Honestly it was due to me not making the 5 required classes every single week. Winter weather was the cause of most it those classes being missed, along with work schedule. My diet was also pretty horrific as well. Weightloss is 70% diet, 30% exercise. Our trainer required us to keep a food journal. Mine was up to date for about 8 days, then I stopped. Even those 8 days I went towards unhealthy foods. I lost 3lbs only, and really didn't change much in my measurements. I'm still rather proud of myself for what I did accomplish. Boot Camp was way outside my comfort zone. The workouts were like nothing I'd ever push myself to do. I didn't quit, I graduated. It inspired me to sign up for Spring Boot Camp! Imagine what I could do if I watch what I ate and made the required classes? I thought my trainer was nuts telling me to set my goal last boot camp at 25lbs to lose. This time around I set the same goal. 

My main focus will be diet this time around. I'm back on the low carb bandwagon. Still utilizing MyFitnessPal to track my food. My macros are set to 5% carbohydrates, 30% protein, and 65% fat. Not adhering to a specific 'diet' as in Atkins or South Beach. I'm simply eating to obtain ketosis. Ketosis is a metabolic process where the body doesn't have enough glucose for energy. Stored fats are broken down, resulting in a build-up of acids called ketones within the body. You are fueling your body by burning fat, simply put. I have been in ketoisis since starting boot camp on April 4th. I feel fantastic. If you have never eaten low carb for an extended period of time you have no idea the great side effects felt. You are never hungry, which leads to you eating fewer calories. I've had to reminded myself to eat most days. I should be eating 6 times a day (3 meals, 3 snacks) but it's been a struggle as I am not hungry most days. I do tend to wake up ravenous, which is not like me. Generally breakfast is my most skipped meal when I am eating carbs. Along with generally hating breakfast, I also hate mornings. At work people know to not really engage in conversation with me until about 12pm. On low carb I wake up bright eye and bushy tailed. The energy lasts all day as well, no mid-day crash. My favorite non-weightloss benefit is the mental clarity. My mind isn't 'foggy'. There is a silly but good thought on why this happens. The brain is over 60% fat by weight, so the more fat you eat the better your brain can work. Lastly my digestion has improved. I've always had issues with digestion. My bloating is gone completely. I also don't run to the bathroom almost immediately after eating. I thought honestly this was due to not having my gallbladder anymore. Low carb, high fat is changing my health for the better. 

Within the next week or so I am going to start vlogging again. It'll help keep me accountable. I also want to share more about living on a low carb, high fat or ketogenic diet on a daily basis. At least weekly posts here on the blog can be expected as well. Looking forward to the next 7 weeks of boot camp and beyond! 

Outside that comfort zone.

Man it's been awhile, again. I'm still on my journey. There have been some bumps in the road. The new year brought a new commitment to success though. 2015 is the year I step outside my comfort zone. I'm 3 weeks into boot camp. It's an 8 week program that incorporates all areas of fitness. It has been kicking my ass! That is putting it lightly! It is totally outside my comfort zone when it comes to the gym. I had never taken a group fitness class. I've done Zumba toning! Guys yes, I said I have done ZUMBA! You know what? I sort of like it.. Alot! It's been a challenge, especially waking up at 4am a few days a week to workout before work. I'm doing it, and already planning to do the next boot camp in spring!

I also started the Advocare 24 Day Challenge this morning. I haven't bee paying much attention to my diet lately. I'm still losing inches and weight. I just know I could be doing so much more if I was really on point with my diet. Any my body just feels, off. After seeing a ton about Advocare online I decided to try the challenge myself. I'll make a post about it once I complete the 24 days. Halfway thru day 1 and I am pretty impressed with it so far. 

That is where things stand right now. I'm pretty excited about where things are going this year.

Haven't Given Up

It's been awhile! I haven't fallen off the wagon, gained weight, and decided to give up. I just have been dealing with life. My gym partner (Mom) has returned to work. So I have been slacking on getting to the gym on every single day off I have. Which makes so sense because the first two months of my journey I was able to make myself get to the gym all by my lonesome. I guess I just got used to having her with me. I'm giving myself this last week of just going every other day. Then IT'S ON!

I haven't gained but I also haven't been as strict as I had been with tracking every morsel of food I slap into my face. My water intake? It has suffered since the weather has started to cool down. I just filled my Bubba Mug up, and am hoping to get my gallon in today. All of these things I know happen at points in the journey. Important thing is to realize that and make the changes needed. Most of my other attempts I would have given up completely. Nope, not this time.

So I have maintained my weight. And I am ok with that. It'll start going down next week mark my words!

I've also attempted to start running. I got fitted with running sneakers and a specialty store and am able to do intervals with much more ease than I was able to prior. It's helped that I'm pretty fit cardio wise. I still have aches and my feet still hurt a bit. But I've been told running hurts. I'm also still rather overweight and it stressed my body.

I just had a nice salad for lunch. Making pasta tonight so I wanted to make sure to have the calories set aside for that.

So yeah... I am here, still doing what I do.

Much needed encouragement.

Just woke up, got naked, and got on the scale. So glad to see a downward motion! I had hit a small plateau and it was starting to bother me mentally. I was still looking in the mirror, unhappy with what I saw. Living in a body its hard to see the changes. I know I am losing weight as the scale has gone down, and my jeans are so baggy it was bordering on ridiculous. Last week right before Labor Day I told my mom that I wanted to go buy new jeans. This is something that I haven't wanted to do in 2 years. Last time I purchased jeans I had to go into Lane Bryant. I was completely mortified. Sure I fit into their smallest size but it was a low point for me. Those jeans were now falling off of me, and it was time to see what I could fit into. So we headed down to Nyack (mostly because I wanted sushi for lunch) to do a little shopping. Old Navy was having a Labor Day sale. I grabbed 2 pairs of jeans size 18, and 16. In the dressing room I slipped into the 18's too easy, buttoned them. OH MY GAHD! They are LOOSE! Moved on to the 16's they fit PERFECTLY. At that moment I almost cried! Instead? I took some mirror selfies! Which in itself is a milestone as I haven't taken a picture of myself in years. At the start of my journey I had mom take a few before pictures and boy am I glad I did (even if I look like total crap). 

That was what I needed at the exact moment. That little push to keep me going. So I now own two new pairs of jeans. One of which only cost me $6.99! Later that night I went out with Don because I had to wear my new jeans. And tried on a fuzzy North Face jacket I had been lusting over. The last time I tried them on an XL didn't fit. This time? The L fit! I'll be investing in one before the weather gets colder. Gosh it was a good week last week.

Last night after work I was so super hungry. I ate a little over my calories but I still lost weight! 

Starting Weight: 245.8

Current Weight: 227

Total Lost: 18.8

Get Away

Provincetown Harbor

Well I've been hanging in there ladies and gents. Not many posts, but not because I have fallen off the healthy lifestyle express. Nope, I just needed to take some time to myself. A few weekends ago my mother & myself went away for 3 glorious days. Went to Plymouth, Massachusetts and it was splendid. We toured the Mayflower, Plimoth Plantation, visited Plymouth Rock, went whale watching, and spent a day in Provincetown. While away I ate what I wanted, but still tracked and stayed within my calorie goal. Our hotel had a nice, but small gym so I was able to get a good workout in. I came home, weighed in and found that I maintained my weight. If only I had worked out another night I am convinced I would have lost a pound or two. This little getaway not only was a reward for my handwork so far, but also a chance for me to clear my head and de-stress. There has been some family drama that I have been dealing with because I am the helpful nurse, and loyal to my flesh and blood. So it was really nice to just get away, and enjoy something that didn't involve any of it. As soon as we got back I asked my mother "Where to next?"

Yes I am still on track. Yesterday I cut my calories intake down by 200 to see if I will see more of a downward trend in my weight. I'm so close to being down 20 lb. it hurts. I'm cutting back on my workouts because I don't think I wasn't giving my body enough time to recover. Some nights I will go to the gym at 10 or 11pm and then go back the next day at 11am. I'm going to try a 3 or 4 day a week schedule. Like I said in my first post I am re-evaluating as I go.

Now my weigh in!

Starting Weight: 245.8
Current Weights: 228.4

That is 17.4 lb that are completely and totally gone!

It isn't always about the scale victories.

This caught my eye about a week or two ago on Instagram. At that point it was something I needed to see. The weight wasn't melting off me despite my hard work. I was starting to get discouraged. Then I saw this. At that point I could honestly say I accomplished every single one of those things listed. Sometimes it's the non-scale victories that really do the most for your moral.

My hard work has made my mother want to get back into the gym. She's been coming with me for about two weeks. She runs, I don't. Last week we were on our way to the gym and passed my old high school. "Hey why don't we go to the track?" I suggested. I wasn't thinking, it just seemed like a great idea as I saw that nice turf come into view. Mom was all for it since she loves running. Let me tell you something. I am not in any way, shape, or form a runner. I never have been. I have horrible wide feet that never seem to fit in any sneaker correctly. I get blisters, and have horrible foot pain. But do you know what? I ran. No I didn't run a mile, or even a half. I ran the straight stretches, which equaled out to 1/4 mile. My calorie burn was 550 for 45 minutes of work. I was sore for 3 days after. I also gained 5lb. those days following. Did you know that sore muscles retain an obscene amount of water and cause weight gain? Well they do, and they did. I'm still fighting sore muscles because I decided that trying the treadmill last night was a great idea (it was not). I'm determined to be able to run a 5K within the next year. After I lose a significant amount of weight and don't notice my feet improving I will get fitted for running shoes, and inserts if needed. I will be a runner, mark my words. It is nice to try different things. In a few weeks I'm going to try a Body Pump class with a co-worker. I have Les Mills Pump at home, but always find and excuse to not do it. I am not a home workout person.

And now to my most recent weigh in!

Starting Weight: 245.8
Current Weight: 233.6

That's 12.2lb. lost! I've also tracked on MyFitnessPal for 45 days in a row!

Euphoria

Working out can sometimes be a magical experience. Today I had one of those workouts that was pure magic. I've worked the last two days, and it was a busy two days. I needed a workout, a good one. I took my pre-workout because I haven't the past few workouts and I could see a difference in my performance. Strictly doing cardio at the moment still. I think this week is the week I add weights to my routine. But anyways back to today. I did my usual interval workout, but pushed myself harder than usual. Halfway through I had this rush of feelings, I felt like I was going to cry. It might sound crazy to someone it's never happened to. From that feeling came a feeling of total euphoria. All the stress was gone, all the worries disappear. It was such a release, and made me want to push even harder the last 20 minutes. And push I did, I almost puked in the last 10 minutes! Total calories I burned were 403. Not a bad workout to fit in between two more work days.

This morning I even treated myself to french toast. I had mentioned to my mother I had a craving for french toast. This led to her give me a dirty look, then question my diet commitment. This morning she made me 1 glorious slice of french toast. I used a scant amount of syrup and butter, and it was the most fantastic thing I have had in awhile. Hit that craving spot on without ruining my daily calorie intake. I've been saving myself $14 a day when I work by not buying food in our cafeteria. So that is about $140 a month in savings. I'm bringing leftovers portioned out in my bento box, along with plenty of snacks to graze on throughout the day. As a nurse we may not get ample time to eat regularly, but we can grab something and eat on the run. The hardest thing about trying to be healthy at work is drinking water. I bring my Bubba mug with me, and try to get at least 2 refills in. Yesterday I only filled it once. Somedays I just won't be able to get my fluid intake in. Ideally I'd fill up twice at work, and twice at home. Which I could count my fill in the morning for my ride into work as one of my two home fill ups. It still has to be improved on.

I've finally made a doctors appointment to get blood work, and a physical. It took me a long time to do this because I'm a nurse, and never seek help. Its been 7+ years since my last physical (pre-nursing program). Last time I saw a real doctor about an issue was 2011 for my gallbladder. That appointment consisted of me requesting an ultrasound, and blood work because they were taking that sucker out. It took me forever to decide who I wanted my primary physician to be. One of my favorite hospitalists left us to work at my favorite medical group. So it was a no brainer when I found out a few weeks ago. I made an appointment in August. Just to get a baseline, and see where I stand. I'm sure I am healthy, but I like to see it in writing. And god forbid I drop at work, I am associated with that medical group and won't be touched by anyone else. Nurses have trust issues when it comes to doctors.

Tomorrow is my weigh in. And the start of another two days a work. May the force be with me.