Exercise Update

Under a lot of stress. Went for a walk around the neighborhood last night.

Distance: 3.29 miles
Time: 1hr 5min
Average speed: 3.04 mph
Calories burned: 246

I haven't been going to the gym (no time!) but this helped a bit, I think.

Weekly Weigh-in

Weight change this week: -4
Weight change so far in 2011: -24

I weighed myself this morning, before breakfast. I know I will have miraculously gained like five pounds between now and just before dinner, which is when I usually weigh myself, but I think I'm going to allow myself the fantasy for today.

Weigh-in and Confessions

I neither lost nor gained this past week, which is actually pretty impressive considering it was my birthday weekend and we went out to eat three times.

This morning, when stopping at Dunkin' Donuts for some coffee, I purchased an apple fritter. I don't know why I did it. I wasn't hungry, and it's not like I'd been craving apple fritters. But I bought it, and I ate it, and I'm terrified I'm falling back into my old habits. Sigh.

Gym Recap

I wanted to run, but my iPod seized up and I couldn't remember the key sequence to unfreeze it (for future reference: toggle the hold switch, then hold the center button and menu button at the same time until the screen turns off). Then I was going to do a half hour on the recumbent stationary bike, but there weren't any foot straps to be found. Without the straps, my feet flap around all over the place. It's just a mess. So I ended up on the regular stationary bike, which was kind of uncomfortable. I don't know what it is, but I always feel like I'm sliding off those things, no matter how much I lower the seat. Obnoxious.

Anyway, here's the summary:

Stationary bike (non-recumbent)
35 minutes
12.6 miles
206 calories

I haven't been to the gym in ages. I just haven't been able to drag myself there lately for some reason. Guh.

Impatience

My weekly weigh-in was last night. I'm down another two pounds, for a total of 20 since the beginning of the year (12 or so of which are since starting Nutrisystem). Yes, you read that right: I have lost twenty pounds over the last 11 weeks. I don't feel like I look all that much different, which is frustrating, but my husband assures me that my tummy is shrinking. Quantitatively, I'm solidly back into the clothing size I've worn for many years (rather than hovering between that and the next size up), and I'm wearing my belt one notch tighter with no trouble. So there's that.

I know I should be more pleased with my progress. I guess I'm just impatient. I've always worn my weight well, meaning that I'm actually far heavier than I look. This is a wonderful trait when gaining weight, but a little frustrating when losing, because it takes just as long to look noticeably thinner as to look noticeably fatter.

Then there's the disheartening fact that 20 pounds is only a quarter of the total weight I need to lose. Sure, if I can sustain this rate I'll be at my goal weight by my next anniversary, but I'm not optimistic about that: as I lose more weight, it will come off more slowly.

Well, I guess all I can do is keep doing what I'm doing. And maybe learn a little patience. :)

Belated weigh-in

Man, not being part of the current Shrinking Jeans challenge sure has made me lazy in terms of updating this thing.

In short: I lost another 3 pounds over the last week, bringing my 2011 total to 18 pounds lost. That's pretty awesome, and my husband says he can see a difference in my body - specifically that my tummy is getting smaller, which is gratifying because I was really starting to hate my tummy.

I didn't go to the gym yesterday because my period started with a vengeance. I don't like to go to the gym during my period. It's a Thing.

Gym Recap - Yesterday and Today

Yeah, I'm really behind. Let's start with the gym recap.

Yesterday: First Day to 5k intervals, week 2, day 1
Distance: 2.17 miles
Time: 30 minutes
Calories: 200

Today: weights

Format: exercise - reps x sets - weight - notes (if applicable)

• bicep curls - 12x3 - 10lbs/arm
  
• lawnmowers - 20x2 - 12.5lbs/arm
  
• tricep kickbacks - 12x3 - 10lbs/arm - really felt this one.
  
• squat machine - 12x3 - 90lbs - difficult
  
• pull-ups - 5x3 - 112lb counterweight - arms out, felt in my back muscles (in an awesome way)
  
• dips - 12x3 - 112lb counterweight - tiring
  
• hip adduction - 15x3 - 90lbs - MUCH harder than it's ever been
  
• hip abduction - 15x3 - 90lbs - MUCH harder than it's ever been
  
• plank position - 30 seconds, twice
  
• shoulder press (above the head) - 12x3 - 7.5lbs/arm
  
• front 2-dumbbell raise - 12x3 - 7.5lbs/arm
  
• lateral raise - 12x3 - 7.5lbs/arm
  
• sit-ups - 15x3 - lowest incline, but not horizontal
  
• decline dumbell flyes - 12x3 - 12.5lbs/arm