Hiatus

I know it's been a while since I've posted...6 months! Whoops. Adjusting to my new job and being post-college has been time consuming to say the least. Good news is that I've been staying steady at 185-187 pounds, even through Halloween and Thanksgiving. Still working on getting a more steady exercise habit. I found I like the rowing machine, very fun way to get my cardio.

Post Graduation

I've been out of school for three weeks now although it seem slike longer. I am officially graduated from USI with a Bachelor's of Science in Food & Nutrition with a concentration in Foodservice Management!

I've been doing fairly well eating. I have been eating much more fruits, vegetables, homemade yogurt, and meats. I have really cut back on grains and legumes. I'm following a Primal diet about 75% of the time and am working on building it back up to 85-90%. I haven't lost any more weight but since I started eating Primal about 5 weeks ago I have dropped from 197 to 188 and stayed there even through eating all sorts of stuff at graduation parties. Even when I ate too many starchy carbohydrates at a meal, I kept eating well at other meals to help compensate and I think this has helped me not to gain weight back. Now I am getting back on track to keep losing weight.

I also bought a Wii and WiiFit for super cheap used...$100! It came with the controller, nun-chuck, the WiiFit board and game, and of course the console. The store also threw in Resident Evil IV for free! So, WiiFit games are fun and actually challenging, so that is a fun new form of fitness I can do at home.

I have been truly slacking on the gym...I haven't gone in a month but thankfully I have been staying fairly active at home. I'm going to go Friday morning and Monday morning to help re-establish a schedule.

That's all for now; I hope everybody has a wonderful day!

Primal

I tried eating Primal back in July or August and had a really hard time with it and gave up after a day and a half because I felt so sick. I did research on marksdailyapple.com and found that I was probably eating so many calories from carbohydrates and very little from fat and protein, that going cold turkey on legumes and grains gave me the "low carb flu".

This time, I gradually decreased the grains and legumes over the course of two weeks then went cold turkey the rest of the way. I have been feeling great and am eating well. I have been pretty full due to eating mostly fat (nuts, olive oil, avocado, etc), then protein (mostly fish and pork so far), then fruits/vegetables to round out the day. I'm already losing weight and having no side effects. I will update with my weight later this week.

Goals

I've been going to personal training sessions 3 times a week for 5 weeks now. I am definitely stronger than I was. I can lift heavier weights and some of my clothing is fitting better, laying flatter across the back or looser at the waist.

I have a few goals to work on through March and April.

1. Every week, on Sunday morning, weigh myself and record it. Once a month, on a Sunday morning, take the following measurements. I can't know if I am doing the right thing for exercise and diet if I am not tracking measurements.

2. Start completing cardio each week. I have been slacking in this area. The initial goal is to complete 30 minutes at least 3 times a week. For better fat loss I intend on increasing to 5 days a week and to do higher intensity cardio workouts. Part of the issue is that I get bored with cardio machines, so I just don't do it. I do better when I remember some music or a book. I'm not swimming in the winter - my skin and hair get dry enough without adding chlorine. I still can't do high impact, but I can bike, walk, or use the elliptical. I'm planning on starting up using a heavy bag again for some of my cardio.

3. Keep better track of what I am eating. Reduce my stress eating - I need to stay away from Sonic, White Castle, and Rally's! For Lent, I gave up meat and poultry, so that will help me be more mindful of what I'm eating. Not eating burgers or chicken strips for 40 days can't hurt! I need more veggies. I have been trying to work them in, but honestly, who wants a salad when they are stressed? Not me!


Measurements:
Ankle 9
Calf 16
Thigh 25
Hips 44
Waist 38
Bust 44
Neck 14.5
Bicep 12.5
Wrist 6.5
Weight - 192 lbs

New Year!

It's several weeks into the new year and things have been going well. I am in my last semester of college - stressful but the good kind. I found out my college offers *FREE* personal training so I have signed up for 8AM on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday for the next two weeks (that's as far as you can sign in advance). A personal trainer has designed three days of weight training for me (push, pull, and legs) as well as assigning ab exercises and cardio to do on my own. Today I did push exercises like bench press and dips and was taught how to do all of the ab exercises properly. I also did 30 minutes on the elliptical at a level three which was pretty hard for me. I received a juice extractor for Christmas and have been happily making fruit and vegetable juices with it. My favorite blend is about 50/50 carrot and celery juice. I have had the goal of having a fruit or vegetable with every meal and have been mostly successful.

Almost Christmas!

I have been doing fairly well. I didn't eat like crazy at Thanksgiving. I actually managed to eat at only one house this year. A lot of times I have to go to several houses to please family. Finals have been stressful but are almost over. Exercise has been a bust however. This is due to a combination of school, work, being sick, and being lazy when otherwise occupied. I'm still trying to build a successful exercise habit. What I want is to do various cardio workouts 4-6 days a week and weight train 2 days a week, with abdominal exercise on the non weight lifting days.

Monday - Cardio and upper body
Tuesday - Cardio and abs
Wednesday - Cardio
Thursday Cardio and abs
Friday - Cardio and lower body
Saturday - Cardio and abs
Sunday - rest

I'm also slowly but surely re-building the habit of writing what I eat/drink down in a small book in my purse.

Wish me luck!

Midterms Month

I think college has midterms month, not midterms week. I have been so busy since the 10th working on papers and projects and getting ready for exams that I haven't made it to the gym since then. Terrible, I know:-(

Also it has been crazy because my boyfriend is moving about 1000 miles away for work on November 1. It's independent contracting, so who know's how long he will be gone. I know he will be back for Christmas but that's all I know for sure.

Since I will mostly be eating alone, I foresee a lot of Lean Cuisines, soup, pasta dishes, and breakfast for supper in my future.