15 pounds to go

130.6!!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Lena) — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 11:06:00 +0000

So I stepped on the scale on Sunday, and guess what I saw 130.6!! I haven't seen 130 in quite a while. So exciting! Of course today it was at 132-something, but that's still holding below 135.

A friend told me recently that weight is just space, and sometimes you just need to move that space around, or let it go. Just stop holding on to it. I've decided that I ought to grow my hair out this winter, so I'm allocating another five pounds to my hair. God speed little hairs.

Shiny apples

noreply@blogger.com (Lena) — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 14:50:00 +0000

I can't wait for fall! Bulky sweaters, boots, and shiny apples. I love apples - the big crisp ones - and fall is apple time. I think I could eat four a day. Fuiji is my preferred variety, though that's tantamount to hearsay to my upbringing where Macs ruled. Macintoshes are too mealy though.

Ah well, here's to all the fiber and other goodies in apples. And this says they're only 65 calories, too!

Inspiration?

noreply@blogger.com (Lena) — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 01:16:00 +0000

You've probably seen this pic before, but if not...

Bummer.

noreply@blogger.com (Lena) — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 00:32:00 +0000

So I can't blog 'cause there's been no progress. I'm afraid of my own blog!!

Let's see, what helped me lose weight in the past.....

loss of boyfriend
new boyfriend

ok, what's up with men controlling my weight?!?

also salads and lots of running seem to do the trick.

Another week passes

noreply@blogger.com (Lena) — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 02:32:00 +0000

Damnit...still haven't lost the 5lbs of my first goal mark. See why I'm frustrated!! Aaaaahhhh.

Ok, so back to it. I went to yoga last night, and then the gym today. About 40 minutes cardio, then hand weights for the arms, plus ab work.

I'm starting to get seriously bored at the gym, though. I need a new challenge. Running is good because you can give yourself goals as you go, and frankly, it's always tough. I'll take that back up when it's about 20 degrees lower. Still jogging, but nothing too strenuous ...can't do it in 80/90 degree weather. Ok, ok - I could get up at 5am every morning and do it.

Maybe boxing? I've always wanted to try that.

i am a blob

noreply@blogger.com (Lena) — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 02:57:00 +0000

It's turning out to be one of those weeks - the kind where I get no exercise, drink a lot and have no time to cook. I blame work. I really have no social life this week, so it's all work. Lots of meetings of the drinking variety after work. Most are in the early part of the week, though friends in the latter half.

This is where being a morning exerciser would really help. I do go jogging in the morning, but only in spurts. For a couple weeks, I'll do it every other morning, then I revert back to the gym after work when I'm too tired to get up in the Am. Maybe tomorrow?

Oh, and last week was a 4x exercise week. I'm hoping I even hit 3 this week!

Friday workout?

noreply@blogger.com (Lena) — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 02:16:00 +0000

Exercise tally so far this week (and some excuses):

Sunday - 1 1/2hr yoga (the tough kind, not a meditative class)

Monday - none (felt sick, called out of work, slept a lot and drank lots of liquids)

Tuesday - 55 minutes (aha!) cardio, which included some time on Precor, Elliptical, and the rower; also some ab work in AM

Wednesday - none (long day at work)

Thursday - 45 minutes on Elliptical xtrainer, plus 2 sets of squats, lunges, and a variety of arm free weights

So, the question is, will I get 4 or 5 days of workouts in this week? Five means I need to work out tomorrow, Friday, which is tough. I'm drinking a glass of wine now, so it's unlikely that I'll get up in time to go for a run (which i've been neglecting of late), but after work, co-workers will want me to go to happy hour. .... Stay tuned.

55 minutes of exercise - 5 days a week

noreply@blogger.com (Lena) — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 02:30:00 +0000

A new study came out recently that says you need 55 minutes of daily activity five times a week in order to sustain weight loss.

Reality check: How many of you get 55 minutes (not counting the walk from the car to the office) every day? yeah, me neither. I try, and some weeks I hit that, but lately it's been more like four.

"A new study has found that for overweight and obese women seeking to lose weight, fifty-five minutes of exercise a day, five days a week is needed to lose 10 per cent of overall body weight over two years," a CBC news report says.

The study was done by researchers at the University of Pittsburgh. Read more here.

29, bitches

noreply@blogger.com (Lena) — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 04:23:00 +0000

My 29th birthday rolled around this week, and I celebrated - a few times, and until 7am last night, er, this morning. The age I'm supposed to be the rest of my life, right? I thought I would hate it, that it would sound old, and just one stop closer to 30. In fact, my entire 28th year I dreaded turning 29. But I actually love it. Of course I'm only on my 3rd day as a 29yo, but I've decided it means that I have a free pass to do what I want and to do it well. If I want to wear these ratty clothes out today, I"m gonna, and if I want to make out on roof tops on 3rd avenue, I'm gonna.

More importantly, though, I'm looking at my 29th year as a sort of year-long New Year's resolution. Any habit, quality about myself, or even insecurity that I dislike, they're going out the window at the end of this year. I plan to enter my thirties without any baggage. Baggage to be discarded includes these 15 pounds, but some other, non-weight related items as well. Smoking is on my hit list. Though I'm not a smoker, I get that puffing urge whenever I get truly trashed. Then I wake up the next morning not only with a hangover but also a scratchy voice, and wheezy lungs that making running an even less distinct possibility never mind the booze oozing from my pores.

So, that's numero uno: no more smoking - at all. I know some of you of thinking, sure, we know you know, as soon as those Marlboro Lights come out at 3am, you'll be all over 'em. I say no ladies. No smokers' lungs allowed in your thirties.

Nothing tastes as good as skinny

noreply@blogger.com (Lena) — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 03:20:00 +0000

So a friend told me about this expression the other day, and I'm trying to put it to good use:

"Nothing tastes as good as skinny."

It's so true, right? When you're fit and sliding into those tiny jeans, you just glide around like you own the world. Such a confidence booster. Of course, it's hard to remember that adage when staring down a double ***late **ip ****kie with PMS-fogged eyes.

I'm sticking to it, though, and the past couple of days, I've really been avoiding extra food. Just sticking to the basics like fruit, protein, and tons of veggies and liquids. Honestly I've felt a lot lighter and even had less stomach problems. There was, however, an incident of loud stomach growling during a meeting with a CEO. He was too polite to point it out, though, and I was too hungry to really care what he thought.

Wedding cake

noreply@blogger.com (Lena) — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 00:44:00 +0000

I went to a wedding this weekend, which, of course, is always an opportunity for eating too much. Then again, sometimes the food sucks and then you starve. It tends to go either way. This wedding was actually pretty healthy. A nice gazpacho to start, then grouper with asparagus, and for dessert - no, it wasn't the ass-padding wedding cake - a chocolate fruit fondue. OK, so all that was pretty healthy, but the amount of drinking was not. Nor were the snacks that were packed for the road trip: chex mix, candy, ice tea.....too much sugar and salt! Those times make me seriously miss Cali where everyone packs fruits and water. Still, it's my fault...so, back on the wagon I go.

Haven't gotten anywhere with my goals, so that's discouraging but for some reason I remain optimistic. I guess because I have definitely been cutting back on snacks and portions. Eventually these pounds are going to come off.

Cholesterol tally

noreply@blogger.com (Lena) — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 03:10:00 +0000

So at that doctor's visit where they weighed and prodded me, they also drew up several vials of blood, checked out white blood cells, cholesterol levels and all that other fancy lab stuff they do. I got a post card with the results from my doc., and guess what? As far as my blood, I'm looking pretty healthy. It had me feeling skinny all day.

HDL (good) cholesterol - 66.....Ideal is greater than 40

LDL (bad) cholesterol - 111.....Ideal is less than 130

Triglycerides (fats) - 70.....Ideal is less than 150

And then just for kicks, she scrawled this in the upper left-hand corner with some recommendations for a GYN that I asked for: "HIV negative." Thanks doc.

The American Heart Association's Web site also offers guidance on those cholest. levels, though they're a little different than the ones my physician wrote down. I guess it varies.

slacker

noreply@blogger.com (Lena) — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 03:35:00 +0000

I have to admit, as far as exercise and diet, this has been an absolute slacker week. Work has been crazy, plus the weather is insane in NYC these days. That's the end of my excuses but basically I've been working 9am-8pm with a 1hr commute tacked on either way. Tonight, got home at 11pm after meeting with a source and drinking all night. Yep, no running in a.m. Hey, we all have off times, right?

I'm not going to post weight loss until I lose 5lbs (i.e. reach 130), and that has yet to happen. Still looking for some good tips.

Quinoa aka Keen-wah

noreply@blogger.com (Lena) — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 01:43:00 +0000

Do you all know about this amazing grain, Quinoa? Rice-like but lighter and full of nutrients, it's become my go-to grain. Gluten and wheat-free, it's easy on the tummy, and get this, it has 5 grams of protein per serving, plus fiber, iron, folate, magnesium, and other good stuff.

I admit I'm still working on how to sex it up. It can be a bit dull. Usually I just put a stir-fry over it, preferably a spicy one. I'd like to come up with some ways to eat it plain, though. Maybe just broccoli and a little garlic salt? hmm....here are some other recipe ideas.

Savvy Vegetarian

Quinoa Recipes

Allrecipes

The Doctor's scale doesn't lie

noreply@blogger.com (Lena) — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 03:00:00 +0000

Sometimes I try to avoid the scale. Particularly if I'm bloated, just stuffed my face with pizza or dessert, or have otherwise been lazing about. Of course the waistband of my pants tells me the truth, but still there is something about seeing those numbers blinking at you from between your feet on your digital scale that just tells you in no uncertain terms - you're fat. Luckily, I can bypass my scale in the morning.

Unfortunately for me, I recently paid a visit to the doctor's office, which, no matter what you're there for - strep throat, a bum knee, itchy eyes .... they want to weigh you! And of course the doctor doesn't let you take your shoes off all the time. They'll often weigh you before you've even stripped down to that wonderfully comfortable paper gown. To further add insult to the whole process, they'll call the number out loud just in case you're not sure what it is, and if you're half a pound over, those fuckers round it up.

So when I stepped onto that scale this week, I just kind of shut my eyes. And good lord, she told me I was a pound lighter than I thought.

day off

noreply@blogger.com (Lena) — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 02:57:00 +0000

Everyone needs a day off....From the exercise/diet machine. Of course it's supposed to be a lifestyle change, decision, blah, blah, blah, but hey, you need a day to eat those waffle fries or to space out with Project Runway.

Wednesday is hell day at work: mad deadlines, eat lunch over my keyboard, eyes sting at end of day kind of pace. This day, I usually don't exercise. Still, I've come up with a quickie morning routine that helps at least with some toning.

After shower, I do some ab work (bicycle crunches, regular ones, lower abs); some minor leg work (circles, maybe squats), and then some push-ups, maybe some bicep curls. The point is, I do some quick strength training in the morning that maybe takes 10 minutes. It's a hodge-podge of stuff I've lifted from those endless women's magazines, various fitness DVDs, classes, and friends.

The fat trail

noreply@blogger.com (Lena) — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 03:57:00 +0000

So I was talking with a friend of mine the other day, and she mentioned how she can stay in her size 6s even as the pounds creep up. The thing is, her weight goes to her hips, butt, face, and arms. Mine, on the other hand, heads straight for the stomach. Then the boobs. When I see it in my face, I KNOW I'm in trouble. By the time it hits my hips and thighs, I'm in big trouble.

My friend's weight loss plan then includes taking her measurements while I'll wait to see what size Levi's I can fit in come falltime. Right now, forget it. Squeezing into any pair of jeans in this 90-degree New York weather is a nightmare even if you're of the toothpick variety.

I've been eating really well lately, by the way. Lots of fresh fruit, salads, etc. Today, though.....I caved. It was the All Stars' game, and I went to a pub. Turkey burger with waffle fries followed. Only 1 beer, though. Phew.

Gym tally

noreply@blogger.com (Lena) — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 10:41:00 +0000

Ok, so the weekend was pretty good as far as diet and exercise.

Exercise tally, though was the tops.

Saturday - gym session with 40 minutes cardio (stepper and xtrainer), plus ab work and weights in all major muscle groups

Sunday - 3.25 run in AM and then yoga at night

Add in the New Yorker's daily walking, and that's a lot of calories burned!

Also, I went all day Saturday without any bread. I even ate the turkey out of a deli sandwich a friend shared with me!! Ok, so one day without bread isn't going to do anything, but the willpower success was what mattered to me. Sunday I avoided carbs all day until dinner when I gaved to tortilla chips at a mexican joint, where I also had the most amazing grilled shrimp with coconut rice. Any tips for avoiding that ubiquitous bowl of chips and salsa?

Diet secrets: share one, pass one

noreply@blogger.com (Lena) — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 13:24:00 +0000

Ok, so if you haven't heard of this drink, you're missing out: Kombucha. It's a fermented tea that tastes something like a gingerale. There's no caffeine, though. It's also a probiotic, which makes it a good beverage for those of us with sensitive tummies, IBS, and all that other annoying GI stuff. Even better, it has only 70 calories in the full bottle of 16oz. Drink it on an empty stomach, and it kills your appetite a bit, too. I like the Grape, Trinity, and Gingerade flavors but there are a bunch more, mango, greens...One downside: it cost almost $5 at some health food stores/delis. Whole Foods, though, occasionally puts it on sale, selling two for $5.

helicopter squat

noreply@blogger.com (Lena) — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 04:27:00 +0000

Ok, this is a great one - tummy and ass! I never thought I had to worry about my butt. Unfortunately, those days are over and I think I see the cellulite creeping in.

Helicopter

Stats

noreply@blogger.com (Lena) — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 02:46:00 +0000

How the hell did I go up a pound?? I mean WTF? The scale said 136 this morning, but I'm counting it as a fluke given my healthy day yesterday. So here's where I'm at:

HW: 140
CW: 135
GW: 120

Those not familiar with these...high weight, current weight, goal weight. Often a "LW" for low weight is also listed, but I just don't know what that would be. What's the cut off? 20yo? 21? teenage years count?

I should add: 5'4".

Oh, and I know 135 isn't horrible, but I want size 4 back....heck even size 6 again.

Today was a good day

noreply@blogger.com (Lena) — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 03:33:00 +0000

Hey, today I did pretty OK. Here's the rundown of my healthy day.

Breakfast
PB on kamut bread
green tea

Snack
banana

Lunch
mixed greens, grilled chicken, roasted red peppers, beets, black olives with oil and vinegar

Went to gym...did more weights than cardio today. I recently brushed a friend off that said I needed more weight training, but I think she's right. I used to lift weights at least 2x a week, but when the pounds started piling on, I switched over to long cardio sessions since they tend to burn off fat faster. Still, long-term, I know I need the benefit of weight lifting and the extra burn muscles provide!

Snack on train after gym
trail mix with peanuts, m&m's, raisins....Probably had too much of this, but that train sucks! Plus I had all these yummy groceries sitting at my feet after a trip to Whole Foods post-workout.

Dinner
steamed kale, cocktail shrimp, 1 slice of bread with non-dairy margarine

The ups and downs

noreply@blogger.com (Lena) — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 00:22:00 +0000

Everyone fighting the pudge fights the urges, too: can't I skip exercising today? it won't kill me to have french fries today, right? Check out this post from One Healthy Blogger.

There are up days, down days, and then the really down days. Holiday weekends usually fall into that latter category. I think I fared OK this July 4th. Here's the breakdown...

Good
Lots of seafood! lobster, steamers, baked fish....
Lots of veggies! raw carrots, lots of salad, asparagus with eggs, etc. Everywhere I can sneak them in I try to.
Lots of fruit! Ok, this means sugar but it fills me up instead of chips, etc. (blueberries, watermelon, strawberries)

Bad
Too much beer (I couldn't resist the local brews when visiting my New England hometown this holiday)
Too much sugar (homemade choc. chip cookies, flag cake - aka pound cake with cool whip, salt water taffy)

Sigh. Well it's back to the grind. Breakfast tomorrow I think will be a banana and coffee. Maybe a touch of peanut butter. Oh, and more running. Even if my rolls are bouncing all over the place, at least I know I'm fit (somewhere under it all).

Onesie?

noreply@blogger.com (Lena) — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 13:41:00 +0000

Ok, so with this big ol'stomach, I'm thinking it's time to trade in the two-piece for a one-piece. Keep in mind I haven't worn one of these since I was 12. Serious blow to self-esteem. I bought a couple of pricey suits from J. Crew. Very nicely done, well-constructed but I just can't do it. Plus they seem to make my paunch all the more visible. It's going back.

I'm sticking to the two-piece and humiliation. Maybe it will motivate me looking down at that solid roll and jiggling all the way to the water.

On the good side: Went for a 4-mile run this morning and had salad, fish, sm bit of rice for dinner last night (plus 1 1/2 glasses red wine ;).

Drink 'em up

noreply@blogger.com (Lena) — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 11:16:00 +0000

So after that last post, I'm thinking a LOT of my calories come in the liquid form. Last night:

1 glass of red wine with boss

2 margaritas on the rocks over dinner

1 Amstel light for after dinner drinks with a friend