Ughhhhh...

Wednesday, May 06, 2009

Ok, so I am extremely depressed today (well not really...I just need to vent!) I have been really positive and excited about my "adventure" towards toning up and getting in better shape. I have joined a gym and I have been enjoying exercise for the first time in a long time. I find that the more I work out the better I feel...but I have been gaining weight rather than losing. I have gotten to the point where I am afraid to step on the scale to check on my progress. I have been told that I need to boost my caloric intake throughout the day and stay away from the carbs in the evening. I was and I am skeptical, but I am doing what I am told. It is difficult for me to eat more at more times in the day! My regular pattern is wake up at around 5:30 am, leave for work at about 6:30, arrive at work at 7:45 am, have breakfast with my morning coffee, force a small healthy snack around 10:00, eat lunch at 12:00-12:30, force an afternoon healthy snack (very difficult) at around 3:00, leave work to go to gym at 5:00, arrive at gym between 6:15 and 6:30, work out for 30 min or 60 minutes, come home and prepare dinner, eat by 8:00, have a small snack (maybe), and go to bed by 10:00. I am most hungry in the morning and when I get home from the gym. I do not eat much junk food, nor do I drink soda. I am frustrated because this is the heaviest I have ever been and I being that I am so self-conscious lately, it really takes a lot out of me. I have gained back what I lost since I started SP and then some. Obviously, what I have been doing is not working...

I apologize for my ranting, but I really needed to voice my frustration to others who have gone through this similar plight...

Otherwise, it is a beautiful day, the sun is shining...(I just wish I could wear the cute sheath dress in my closet!)

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

MDTWEETY 5/7/2009 9:40AM

Don't be discouraged. Sounds like your body is still adjusting. I'm sure if you keep exercising and eating healthy the scale will move in the right direction soon. Are you tracking your food? I wouldn't worry to much about when to eat what and how much to eat at what time. That can make you crazy. Just focus on eating healthy foods and staying in your calorie range. That's my 2 cents anyway. Best of luck!! Hang in there!! You can do this. Report Inappropriate Comment

HONEYBEE56 5/7/2009 5:08AM

Don't forget that muscle weighs more than fat, so in actuality, you are probably losing fat and gaining muscle. Measure yourself. The following is a quote taken from Dr Barnard's book, TURN OFF THE FAT GENES. "To be effective, exercise must be used WITH changes in your diet, not in place of them. Alone, it is not particularly useful. A single pound of body fat stores, believe it or not, more than 4, 000 calories, and it would take hours of exercise to burn it off. A study of weight-loss programs showed that those using exercise alone led to an average weight loss of only 6 pounds in 16 weeks, while those using diet alone caused an average weight loss of about 24 pounds in the same amount of time. Using diet and exercise together helps you maximize your results and makes it easier to keep the weight off over the longer term. Most important, don’t count on exercise to counteract the effects of a diet high in fats. Your body needs good nutrition, not only to power your extra activity but also to repair and rebuild after your workout. Endurance depends on your muscles having plenty of glycogen, which is built from the natural sugars released from carbohydrates. Numerous studies have shown that high-carb diets really do improve endurance and high-carb, low-fat meal eaten about three to four hour before a a workout improves performance. You will need more protein and beans, peas, and lentils supply a significant amount of protein and are more nutrient dense. Most varieties yield about 15 grams of protein per cup." Take heart, and remember to keep on keeping on regardless of what the scales say! Hugs~Dusty Report Inappropriate Comment

KYANN402 5/6/2009 8:22PM

Are you tracking your calorie intake and calories burned? As you up the calories burned, you can up your caloric intake. But you've got to be burning more than you are consuming. You also want to pay attention to other ways of measuring progress -- like inches lost, how your clothes fit. Report Inappropriate Comment

Joining a gym today!

Monday, April 20, 2009

I decided that today I must join a gym. This evening after work I am going to meet with a personal trainer and see if she can assist me with the strength training portion of my goals.
Enough is enough!

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

HONEYBEE56 4/21/2009 1:37AM

That's wonderful! Please keep me posted on your progress! Hugs as always~Dusty Report Inappropriate Comment

EARTHSEAME 4/20/2009 10:03PM

Great! Let us know how it goes. Report Inappropriate Comment

STEPPINSTAMPER 4/20/2009 11:16AM

Sounds GREAT! I love mine....I have joined the step aerobic classes...If your gym offers them I'd highly recommend them since they can be modified to suit anyone, as step is optional all exercises can be done on the floor minus the step. Also, being with other people can be very motivating! Love the picture by the way...where did you find that GREAT image? Best wishes for your gym experience...ENJOY! Report Inappropriate Comment

MDTWEETY 4/20/2009 9:03AM

Congratulations! Enjoy it. :-) Report Inappropriate Comment

Still maintaining!

Sunday, January 11, 2009

Ok! Now I can attest to the fact that diet alone will probably not work for my personal weight loss goals.
Everybody is different, but after a few weeks of tracking my caloric intake, staying below the low end of the range and drinking 9+ glasses of water, with minimal (very minimal exercise), I have noticed I feel better, but I have not lost any notable weight. So the moral of this story is... I just have to get into the groove of exercise!

I have to admit that I feel great after exercise of any type, but most often I lack the motivation of actually starting the work out. I also despise any type of pain or discomfort, so when I get to point of "burning" I want to stop. I know I have to just push harder, and I will, but that's my story. I refuse to give up!

Hope everyone is doing well in the New year!

Cheers,
Bella

  

Getting better!

Friday, December 12, 2008

Ok after an exacerbating week of dealing with fevers and headaches. I am finally starting to feel better! After my lumbar puncture I was suffering from spinal headaches, so the ER had to do a "blood patch" and the headaches are gone! I have been very weak from spending so much time lying down, but I am feeling a lot better and I think I am ready to slowly start my exercise routine again.

I have decided to add more items to my foods to avoid list:

Cookies (any kind)
Ferrero Roche Hazelnut Chocolates
Haagen Daas Ice Cream (any flavor)

I think I need to spend more time cooking as well. I love to cook! I am a huge fan of Rachael Ray
and I enjoy watching Top Chef (my current favorites are Jamie and Stefan (although Fabio is really cute in an endearing type of way!) I also love Cooking Light magazine!

While lying in bed feeling quite useless, I had the unfortunate opportunity to "enjoy" some infomercials. I saw one for the "Cardio Twister." I want this device! It really looks like fun, but I'm not sure it is all that it meant to be. I may try it to lose a little around the middle.

So I am taking baby steps, but I anticipate some results soon, because I am so ready to look like I did 8 years ago!



Ciao!
Bella

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

MDTWEETY 12/14/2008 10:01AM

I'm glad you're feeling better! I love The Food Network too, and Rachael Ray. I haven't seen Top Chef though. Hope you've had a nice weekend!! Report Inappropriate Comment

SEEHOLZ 12/12/2008 4:10PM

Babysteps will get you there! I really thought a lot about cooking myself. The thing is - I hate to cook. I used to cook all the time and it took practice, discipline and work! Now, being on the go all the time- I just don't plan for shopping. It seems like such a huge chore and so not worth putting effort into! But, I sure think it would actually help my weight loss! It's strange, but I have this hunch that starting to cook might actually help me! We'll see! Report Inappropriate Comment

INSPIREDTOBEFIT 12/12/2008 2:01PM

Good to hear you are starting to feel better! Take it slow and easy. You'll be back up to full speed in no time! Whoo hoo! Report Inappropriate Comment

Winter is finally here!

Monday, December 08, 2008

Well finally a good amount of snow has fallen and I am so excited to go do some hiking!
Unfortunately, I have been bedridden with a virus for the past week, aside from a number of visits to
the doctors office and ER, I have been laying in bed and since I had to have a spinal tap to rule out Meningitis, I have had limited movement. I am excited to get back to the office and get out there and work hard to work off any Thanksgiving calories that may still be lingering.

I am finding it tremendously difficult to lose weight, although just prior to Thanksgiving I was noticing results in the way my body felt and the way my clothes were fitting.

One idea that helps my self-esteem, but is almost a subconscious complacent mechanism that is detrimental to my progress is that I tell myself I look fine the way I am. I do not need to lose weight, the weight is just to be expected due to getting older and my metabolism changing. I am 5'9" and fluctuating between 179 and 170 lbs not so bad. I think what I would like to do is initially work on toning the difficult areas and how I look then. The lowest I have ever been was 115 and I was emaciatingly thin at my height. I didn't look healthy. I want to feel healthy and it would be an added bonus to wear the things I like to wear like pencil skirts (with no sign of thighs) and fitted 3/4 sleeve shirts without the buttons bulging at the bust!

I will admit that the reason I do not like to jog or run is because I am a bit "top heavy" and I do not like it. If there is one place I would like to lose weight most it would be in my chest area (I do not believe in cosmetic surgery either).

So anyways, enough of my ranting. I have been very bored this week and now I think I will listen to another audiobook (A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini) drink some tea and maybe take a nap and dream about my treadmill or a nice, brisk walk in the semi frozen tundra that is right outside my door.

Hope all is well for everyone! Happy belated Thanksgiving!

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

HONEYBEE56 12/10/2008 1:47AM

I sure hope you start feeling better soon, Nicole, being sick and laying in bed is just no kind of fun that's for sure! Here's to hoping you will be well soon and be sure to drink pleanty of liquids! Hugs~Dusty Report Inappropriate Comment

DEFINITELYDEB 12/8/2008 3:56PM

I love Hosseini's books! I'm sorry that you've been sick, but listening to that story will certainly help pass the time. I'm not very top-heavy, but I do find that a really good sportsbra makes a huge difference when I jog .. I got a Saucony and it is great! Feel better soon! Deb Report Inappropriate Comment