Weekly Weigh-In TWO

Ready for it?

Kimberly:

189.2

woo-hoo!

Justin:

197.0

Where we were:

                    Kimberly                  Justin

4/1/12         190.2                        200.0

4/8/12         191.2                        199.2

what we're going for:

Our Goals in Numbers

Kimberly:

Optimum BMI - 19-25

Optimum Weight - 135

Justin:

Optimum BMI - 20-25

Optimum Weight - 150

Justin's post

Well I feel great.  I think this has been a great week for me.  I followed my plan for the most part and I'm starting to see some results.  Soon I plan to write all about my weight history, but I don't really want to get into that tonight.  Suffice it to say that I've been a real yo-yo when it comes to my weight.  I know I can lose weight when I'm motivated so I really haven't had any doubts the past couple of weeks that I would be able to do this, but I really need to stay motivated.  Seeing some progress and losing a few pounds really helps.

Tonight I exercised on the elliptical and that went well enough.  As I've mentioned before, I really prefer running outside.  It feels a lot more peaceful and relaxing to me outside, plus I can SEE the progress and the scenery changes.  Another thing is that when I go running outside I end up committed to the run.  For example if I run 4 miles away from my house or car I have no choice but to run or walk back.  I don't have that on an elliptical or treadmill, so I'm constantly tempted to end my workout before I should.  So I usually try to pay as little attention to the display or else I'll end up staring at the ticker the whole time willing time to tick away so I can finish.  Which is probably the worst way to enjoy a workout.  I guess thats just a quirky thing about me.

What I was proud of today

Sticking to my exercise plan and losing almost 2 pounds this week

What I wasn't proud of today

I still need to figure out my eating.  Sometimes I do really well and sometimes I lose all control.  I did not do well at dinner tonight.

Track of the day

Carry On Wayward Son - Kansas

Ok, ok, ok.  I SUCK at this exercise thing.  I do.  Arg!  What I think is so funny about this whole process is learning just how opposite Justin and I are.  I mean, I knew we were.  But I see it in so many other ways now... for instance, he has serious motivation when it comes to exercise AND he actually enjoys it.  But he's got issues with food and self control.  I, on the other hand, feel like weeping at the thought of physical exertion.  BUT, I have been able to do pretty well about curbing my eating.  

I discovered this week that I think I could enjoy walking.  I have long been of the opinion that exercise is AWFUL.  AWFUL!  But I went on a long walk with my kids this week - about three blocks (and they're big blocks out where we live) and I wasn't dying by the end of it.  I got home and I actually had the stamina to make us dinner before Justin arrived home from his run.  I liked looking at all the flowers and the weather was really nice.  I loved pointing things out to my kids and watching them get excited over funny things like sticks.  I didn't even mind pushing the stroller with my daughter in it.  Now, the whining and crying and moaning of my four yr old on his bike?  That I could have done without.  I'm thinking that walking time can be "me" time... take an ipod, do some deep thinking... I might start to like it as much as Justin likes running!

Here's a review of my weekly goals from last week.

eating/food - Stop eating by 7:00. 

I did so well with this!  I was tempted on numerous occasions to go snack at night.  My tummy even grumbled a few times.  But every time I wandered into the kitchen I'd get myself a tall glass of water or a short glass of milk.  That's it.  And it helped!  Bonus?  I drank more water than normal!  Woo-hoo!  I also feel like I was eating more reasonable portions.

exercise/activity - Exercise a bare minimum of 20 minutes every single day. 

Ok, well, I've mentioned already - I sucked at this.  I DID go for a bike ride once.  I jump roped for a while on Wednesday, but it was FRIGID and I wanted inside.  I went for a loooong walk with the kids (whining, fussing, crying and all) on Thursday.  Tonight I ran on the elliptical for half an hour.  I almost died, but I ran on the elliptical for an hour.  So, I did 3 out of 7 days (I'm not really counting the jump rope).  Not awesome.  Better than before, though.

So.  For this week, I've decided to keep working on these same goals (to really make them stick) and I'm adding another to my eating/food category.  This week's goals look like this:

eating/food: No snacking after 7.  AND, no sweets (except for dessert tomorrow night.  Hey, it's my mom's birthday dinner!)  I have a serious weakness for baked goods of all kinds - but especially donuts, cake and muffins.  After I drop the older kids at preschool, I often take my daughter to the nearby gas station to get two donuts for us.  First of all, what a horrible food example I'm setting!  Second of all, I just have to knock it off.  So that's the catalyst for this goal.

exercise: Gosh darn it - exercise at least 20 minutes every single day.  Yeah.

Weekly Weigh-In ONE

Drum roll...

and today's magic numbers are:

Kimberly:

191.2

Justin:

199.2

A reminder of what we're going for:

Our Goals in Numbers

Kimberly:

Optimum BMI - 19-25

Optimum Weight - 135

Justin:

Optimum BMI - 20-25

Optimum Weight - 150

and where we were:

STARTING  Numbers (4/1/2012)

Kimberly:

BMI - 32.7

Weight - 190.2

Justin:

BMI - 31.4

Weight - 200.0

Well, as is abundantly obvious, I gained one pound this week.  To be honest, I'm shocked I did not gain more, what with the Grand Luxe and all.  (Darn you, you delicious and delectably EVIL French Beignets!)  So I have some work to do.  No, no.  I have A LOT of work to do.  It's enough to make me want to throw in the towel, already.  And it was just a pound.  Justin has done a really good job of setting some attainable mini-goals and giving himself a schedule - something I didn't really do yet and probably wouldn't have stuck to anyway while I was gone.  So here it is.  I think each week I will focus on two different habits to either break or begin - one eating/food related and one exercise/activity related.  If I need more time to perfect the habit and make the change stick, I'll leave it on for another week.  I want to make changes that are permanent, so I won't have to do this again in three years, so I think I really need to concentrate on CHANGE. (Which, if you know anything about me, you will know will NOT be easy).  You'll be seeing a lot of baby steps here.

This weeks goals:

eating/food - Stop eating by 7:00.  Here's yet another confession: I snack at night.  Usually I'll grab something before I head up for the night or munch while I am crafting or sewing in the evening.  And that's got to stop.  This week, no food after dinner.  I'm cutting myself off.

exercise/activity - Exercise (yes, that says EXERCISE) bare minimum of 20 minutes every single day.  That will include walking, elliptical, and biking.  Gosh darn it.

Wish me luck.

As you can see I almost lost a whole pound.  I would be a lot more excited about that except I know I could have done better.  Last night I wrote about how I knew I would be challenged by Easter dinner and sure enough I ate way more than I should have.  At least I stuck to my exercise routine and used the elliptical for 30 minutes tonight.

When we first started talking about having a competition, monetary reward, blog, etc there were two different reward scenarios that we discussed.  One option was to see who lost more weight and the winner alone gets the prize.  The other option was to have a target amount to lose and whoever meets the target gets the prize whether thats both of us or none of us.  We decided to go with the second option and set the target at 5 pounds per month.  At that rate we need to about 1.4 per week on average.  Obviously I didn't hit that amount this week, but I figure this first week is all about building momentum.  Once I'm in the groove I think I'll be able to make some real progress.  Long term the biggest obstacle on the horizon is when I travel for work because the food and exercise options aren't always great.

What I was proud of today

I was really proud of my first week in general.  I laid a decent foundation for the near future with an exercise schedule and I lost some weight in the first week of executing that plan.

What I wasn't proud of today

Easter dinner.  I hate to admit it, but I gave myself a generous first portion, helped myself to seconds, took a bunch of the food my kids wouldn't eat, and then had two desserts.  This is exactly what I need to fix.

Track of the day

Long Road to Ruin - Foo Fighters

Running

Justin's Post
Today was the first day of the challenge, and I am realizing that I have a lot of work to do to change my bad eating habits.  But I don't feel like delving into those quite yet, and focus on something a little more positive today: running.  Running is my favorite exercise because its peaceful, I'm alone with my thoughts (or music), and I can easily see progress as the scenery changes.


I ran 5 miles today and I feel pretty good, a little tired, but good overall.  I have a nice route mostly through quiet neighborhoods and parks which I really enjoy.  I definitely recommend finding a nice route from your house or a short drive from your house where you can put yourself on autopilot and recharge your mental batteries and exercise at the same time.


A short term goal of mine is to run a 1/2 marathon in about 3 weeks.  I know thats a pretty short time to prepare, but I think I can do it because I do run somewhat frequently.  And there is no pressure since the local 1/2 marathon accepts registrations up to the night before the race.  If I'm not ready I don't lose any money.  But I'll be ready.


What I was proud of today
A good run, sensibly sized breakfast and lunch.


What I wasn't proud of today
Dinner.  Our kid's pre-school was having a fundraiser and Buffalo Wild Wings tonight, which is not a diet friendly restaurant.


Track for the day
After Midnight - Blink-182




I have a feeling this week is probably the worst possible time for me to start a challenge like this.  I left tonight to visit my bff in Chicago.  Seeing that Chicago has lots of awesome food I assume I'll fall off the bandwagon a bit, but maybe I should be more optimistic than that.  Aside from a "walk" with the kids (which wasn't really around the block, more like down the street and back because I wanted to strangle them) there wasn't any added activity either.  
I need some short term goals.  I mean, other than "drop a pound this week."


Confession:  I despise running.  Sure there are actual reasons for that - like my horrible knees in which I experience subluxation of an excruciating kind at any given moment, and the awful tightening of my chest which hurts with every breath I try to wheeze out - but truthfully, I'm kind of sad about it since I used to be a runner - and by used to be a mean like a lifetime ago - like before high school.  Before I jacked up my knee.

And so we begin...

Here we are.  Day one of our experiment.  Our goal?  Well, ultimately it will be to obtain our optimum BMI and weight.  Other related goals include: eating healthier, being more fit, having more stamina to keep up with the kiddos and just plain feeling better.  Our mini-goal is, in a nutshell, to lose 5 pounds a month each.  We want to be healthy about it, and keep our expectations for weight lose realistic.

Our Goals in Numbers
Kimberly:
Optimum BMI - 19-25
Optimum Weight - 135

Justin:
Optimum BMI - 20-25
Optimum Weight - 150

Tonight we had our first weigh in and took our before pictures.  They aren't pretty (though I suppose no before pictures are... that's why they're before photos, right?) but seriously, I'd advice anyone who has a weak stomach or is prone to queasiness to look away now.  Just skip this post and move on to the next one.

Today's Numbers
Kimberly:
BMI - 32.7
Weight - 190.2

Justin:
BMI: 31.4
Weight - 200.0


I've known this wouldn't be easy from the start but there were a few things that really got to me.  Firstly, the fact that I am, apparently, considered "Obesity Class I" with the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (who are those guys, anyway?  I want to see their credentials).  I would consider myself plump.  Chubby, even.  But I would never have referred to myself as obese.  And I guess I am.  So, let's end the disillusionment now, I suppose.  Secondly is just the enormity of the task at hand.  I need to lose 55.2 pounds in order to reach my goal of 135.  That's a lot of pounds.  With our "5 pounds a month" mini-goal, it will take me just over 11 months to achieve this.  It seems nearly impossible.  Good thing I've got support.


I am not proud of myself.  I know I eat too much and exercise inconsistently, but I am going to re-commit to living a healthy lifestyle.  Obviously I'm 50 pounds above my ideal weight and just like Kim that puts me in the Obesity Class I camp.  If I meet my goal each month of losing 5 pounds it would only take 10 months to reach that weight, so here goes!




BEFORE: