Reflecting on July; Looking Forward into August...

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

With just a couple more days left in July, I am taking some time here to reflect upon the past month and look forward into August!

I recommitted myself to losing weight early in June and by July I really realized I was SERIOUS again. I was sticking to this. It wasn't another one of my 2 weeks of watching it and 4 weeks of the "Old Sarah"
My dedication came to whole new levels in July and I've made a ton of changes for the better. I started July off right with a 2 week vacation from work! Er well a "staycation" as the kids are calling it these days. I may have gone out to eat a few extra times but I also had a lot more time to be fit and active! Vacation was really refreshing. I think it gave me a lot of perspective.

The past couple weeks that I've been back at work I haven't been nearly so stressed. I think a great deal of it has to do with what I'm doing for myself right now in terms of this lifestyle change. I have goals I have hope I have things I look forward to at the end of the day. I wake up excited to get my workout in rather than dreading going into work. I look forward to what kind of healthy meals I'm eating. I just have something else to focus on. I feel good about everything becuase I'm doing good for myself.

So here are some of the positive things I've done in July:

- I joined a gym! They had a special where I bought a year of membership and got 6 months free so I have a long time to feel guilty if I don't use it :)
- I bought a few workout videos! In the past I always just ran or did the elliptical and did my strength training on circuit machines. The videos are also my excuse proof workout. If I just don't feel like going to the gym or exercise outside because it's crappy out... I have no excuse. One of them is pilates too... never done pilates so, something new!
- I started playing tennis again!
- I have been taking long bike rides (15-25 mi) trying to once a week!
- I signed up for 2 5k's and a 10k!
- I bought 40 personal training sessions!
- I started taking measurements and not just relying on the scale!
- I started tracking my nutrition and fitness everyday to make sure I'm really eating the right amount and getting all my nutrients
- I started taking a multivitamin
- I got a physical with bloodwork and found out that I'm doing great ( nice to know for sure! )
- I've started an "active commute" I walk to and from work everyday unless it is pouring rain or disgustingly humid (which has only been a couple days, shockingly)

Wow after writing out that list I'm feeling really good! I just keep adding more and more as I feel I can handle it. I actually have so many options for workout variety I am starting to feel like I don't have enough time in the week to do everything active I want to do! I don't know how I could keep going uphill in August but here are some modest goals I have for myself...

- Get under 200! I'm sooo close now just 3 more pounds. My under 200 reward is a Heart Rate Monitor. I've picked one out and I'm excited!
- Get my fitness level up to being able to run at least 5 miles without stopping. I have a 10k coming up in October and I definitely want to be able to do 7-8 fairly easily by that point.
- Improve my mile time to a 9min mile
- Bike the WHOLE path at once. Go down to the south end and back (about 25 miles) and from there go all the way up north and back (about 13) so 38 total miles from my apartment to the path and down and up and back again.
- Try out a couple fitness classes at my gym. I've been wimping out about trying them. Maybe get up the motivation to do a 5:45am boot camp?
- Pick my workout sessions up to a full hour 1/2 at least 2x a week (not counting the looong time it takes me to bike!)
- ACTUALLY only weigh myself once a week. Hehe we will see. I'm gonna make it Monday mornings too so I don't let myself screw up on the weekends!

I think these are all good goals that all tie in and increase my chances of meeting other goals on that list. I'd like to see myself down to 195 by the end of August... but I figure if I keep tracking and stick to my goals it wont really matter what the scale says because I'm gonna be in awesome shape and I'm gonna be really healthy! If I meet my goals then I'm going to buy myself a new scale at the end of the month.
I accomplished so much in July and I know I can push myself even more in August! Please just don't get TOO hot, Chicago :)

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

ASHWILLDOTHIS 7/31/2009 10:42PM

your goals are amazing! i know you can do this!!! Report Inappropriate Comment

EINAFETSJ 7/29/2009 10:43PM

Wow!!! I love all of your goals. Your July was amazing and your August will be fantastic I'm sure. I am looking forward to being as active as you are! Such an inspiration. Best of luck with August and I can't wait to see what September holds :) Report Inappropriate Comment

PAPER_WINGS18 7/29/2009 10:28PM

Wowza, what a fantastic July you've had! C O N G R A T S on ALL your accomplishments, lady! You are such an inspiration; I cannot even fathom doing all the activities you do! yeeesh! You also have set some GREAT goals for August and I KNOW you can achieve 'em this month!! You have a lot to feel proud of and I know it'll keep ya goin' for another strong month! woooo! Congrats again !!! Report Inappropriate Comment

CHIMEL 7/29/2009 5:58PM

Way to go. If you keep with the other goals, the weight will just fall off. Report Inappropriate Comment

LLBEAN75 7/29/2009 3:37PM

Sarah - you can do it! Man you inspire me to work out longer and harder, and definitely to run longer!!!!!!!!!! :) You can do it girl! Report Inappropriate Comment

THENHEATHERSAID 7/29/2009 2:59PM

hOOOOOOOOOOORAY. i am so proud of you. you REALLY HAVE stepped it up this month- and it just proves to me how FABULOUS you are! WOOHOO for you! you are definetely an inspiration for me, sarah! Thank you! I am so excited to keep you accountable for august :) i know you can do it! SO PROUD OF YOU! Report Inappropriate Comment

PINKCOCONUT 7/29/2009 2:06PM

WOW! What an awesome July! What a motivator you are! Report Inappropriate Comment

LYDIASPURPLE 7/29/2009 2:01PM

I like your style! Weigh to Glow! Report Inappropriate Comment

GARDENINGGRAMMA 7/29/2009 2:00PM

You have quite a list there. Best wishes for a successful August. Report Inappropriate Comment

I had a pretty nice weekend!

Monday, July 27, 2009

Low 80's both Saturday and Sunday! Nice and Sunny! Low humidity too. A perfect summer weekend in Chicago. I took a jog along the lake, and a nice long 21 mile bikeride along the lake yesterday. I also laid out on the beach for a couple hours yesterday. Verrry relaxing.

I'm down to 202 now. Sooo close to under 200!! My original goal was to be under 200 by the end of July, but I had such a bad 3 week plateau. I'm just so pleased and amazed by the end of the month that I still lost 7 pounds this month in spite of that.

I also had week 2 of taking measurements. I decided to do these when I wake up on Sundays. I'm really glad I started doing it. I lost a half inch around my neck, 1.25 off my hips and 1 inch around my waist!

I also got my first weightloss compliment yesterday! Obviously I have lost about 70 pounds now so I've had quite a few of those in the past (feels nice) but I've now lost almost 20 pounds since I recommitted. I was at my friends doin a little BBQ, and his friend who I hadn't seen in a while says "hey wow you're looking really thin!" I'm mostly used to people who see me regularly... the boyfriend, all my coworkers so 20 pounds isnt too dramatic when you see it go down gradually. Sooo that felt nice :) Nice to have it confirmed that there is a visible change in my appearance!

Sooo that I suppose was good news first. I did go about 500 calories over yesterday. BUT everything else went so well I'm just not lettin it get me down. I've been totally on spot with my calories everyday for a couple weeks. SO I figure if anything, this will just be making my body think "better not slow that metabolism, this girl just ate a whoooole lotta food today!"

Today is a new day. Off to a great start with a 5k run this morning at the gym, a nice walk to work, and a light healthy breakfast. Softball game and grilled salmon dinner to look forward to tonight! Kicking my week off right!

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

PAPER_WINGS18 7/27/2009 12:57PM

Hey! Glad to hear all the exercise you get in! Sounds so intense and crazy lol, good for you man!! Also, congrats on the huuuuuge compliment! That definitely makes ya wanna push threw right?! Woo you go! :P && you def. have the right attitude bout goin over cals by 500. that's no big deal, especially considering how active you usually are. alsoooo super super congrats on the inches lost AND being down to 202!!! wooo! i loooove it! Report Inappropriate Comment

Going the distance! ha!

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

I signed up for this Chicago Area Runners Association Beginner, 5k and 10k training group. Tonight was week 5. Initially I decided I'd go for the 5k group, because I had just started REALLY getting into the workouts a couple weeks before and the idea of a 10k seemed so far off. I could do a 5k but... quite slow and unimpressively. I figured I'd work on speed.

Well, the groups area all pretty slow and beginner like. Even in the 5k I was among the fastest (and I'm really not so fast) and not too tired afterward. The runs I would do on my own were much more intense than my training runs.

So after the email newsletter came out this afternoon announcing the 5k group was doing 1 mile 2x I thought to myself... man I am a lot more fit than that now. Doing that would hardly be a workout. What's the 10k group doing? A straight 3.5 miles. Yikes... is there not a happy medium? I decide what the hell, the pace is pretty modest I could do 3.5 miles.

So I went for it. and I did it. and at the end the group leader said we averaged out an at 11 minute mile pace! This isn't super fast or anything but 3.5 miles is the most I've run in a row without stopping than I can ever think of in my whole life. I think about this 3.5 mile race I did with my work 2 months ago... I had to do it run/walk style. I did it in 51 minutes... so this would've been 38.5. What an improvement!

I can't believe how far I've come with my fitness and I can't beleive that I have lost 17 pounds since recommitting myself. I'm feeling great. just 33 more to go!

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

NADS1959 7/26/2009 5:20PM

Congrats on the accomplishments----And for your smiling words. (Make sure u don't push it to much to soon or you could get side tracked for a depressing recouperation period). It's great that your in those groups! That must help so much. I would love to join a group like that here. Keep it up!! Comment edited on: 7/26/2009 5:21:27 PM Report Inappropriate Comment

THENHEATHERSAID 7/23/2009 9:23AM

HOOOOOOOOOOORAY FOR YOU. Sarah, you are SUCH an inspiration for me! And so many others!!! Laura and I are BOTH working on preparing for our first 5K right now. And you are EXACTLY the kind of inspiration and motivation we need in our lives! THANK YOU FOR BEING SO AWESOME!!! Report Inappropriate Comment

BACK2HEALTHY 7/23/2009 2:09AM

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PAPER_WINGS18 7/22/2009 11:36PM

PS now I have that CAKE song stuck in my head....THANKS A LOT! :P Report Inappropriate Comment

PAPER_WINGS18 7/22/2009 11:36PM

Oh my goodness, congrats Sarah!!! How awesome! I am so proud of you!!! WOooo! That is a HUGE HUGE HUGE accomplishment and I hope that it helps you keep going on your journey....You are almost there! Wow, I don't think I could even run a mile straight lol, so awesome for you!: ) Keep it up! Report Inappropriate Comment

HARMONYBLUE 7/22/2009 10:19PM

Congratulations! How great to be able to run 3.5 miles without stopping. My jog/walk path is 2.5 and I can only manage to jog short intervals. Really looking forward to being able to do more! Report Inappropriate Comment

From plateau to dropping pounds almost suspiciously fast...

Tuesday, July 21, 2009

I was frustrated because I wasn't losing weight for weeks even though I was doing everything right. I decided it was this new birth control (Loestrin 24) I had started taking... My suspicions were somewhat confirmed after reading online that a lot of people gained a lot of weight from it. Then I decided it was because of my lack of strength training. Then I decided that I maybe wasn't eating enough.

So last week I start eating more, I started back on my old pill (Yaz), and I met with my trainer to do some strength training. Lots of changes!

Who knows who the real culprit was here... I suppose it is likely that all things combined just really gave my body the push it needed. In any event... I finally feel like I'm on track and at the weight I should be for all the effort I've been putting in lately.

I managed to finally lose a pound last week, and I've lost 3 in the last few days. I know this wont last forever... especially since I now have just 34 pounds to go. Soooo I am going to enjoy it. I was down to 198 last fall and I let myself go over the winter back up to 220. I decided that was enough and I couldn't believe I let the weight come back on like that.

I decided to recommit the second week of June and I'm back down to 204 since then!
JUST 5 MORE UNTIL I AM UNDER 200!!!!!!!!

I'm gonna try to weigh myself weekly instead of multiple times a day and be sure to keep up with the measurements!

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

NIKKIB91 7/22/2009 1:07PM

Yay! I know you can do it! Such an inspiration! Report Inappropriate Comment

THENHEATHERSAID 7/22/2009 12:46PM

YES YES YES SARAH! only weekly! (im going to keep you accountable to this!) more than that and it causes STRESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS. I am proud of you for doing what needed to be done to get moving! WAY TO GO! also- just think- not only will you be under 200 in 5 pouds. You will be under your low weight of last year in just 7 pouds!!! WOOOOOOO HOOOOOOOOOOO Report Inappropriate Comment

So I just needed to eat MORE FOOD? Sweet.

Monday, July 20, 2009

So if you've read previous blogs of mine you will know I've been really frustrated with my plateau lately. Well I think after weighing in yesterday I am on a pound a week track again... which is awesome considering I really only need to lose about 25 more pounds to get in the "healthy" range, according to my doctor. I think I'm just too used to my old really heavy self who was used to seeing something awesome happen for me on the scale every couple days. I had a lot to lose back then.

So lately I have been exercising like crazy! I started really tracking my workouts a couple weeks ago to see how many calories I've been burning and I was just floored "NO WAY" Okay so I adjust my calories burned a week on sparkpeople up to 4,000. I'm going on the low side since I know some of that cardio is probably grossly overestimated. So sparkpeople before was telling me to eat somewhere between 1300-1700 some calories a day. When I adjusted it, it told me 1710-2060 now. Sooo turns out my problem is just stemming from me not giving my body enough fuel for all the extra fitness! Soon as I started doing this I lost a pound within just a few days. I lost a pound by EATING MORE!

Anyhow this is AWESOME because I love food and the hardest part about this is restricting the calories so much. Turns out it's all good because I ALSO like being active so if I just keep being active enough, I can keep on eating! It's also great with the increased interest in fitness because I'm really starting to see food more as fuel and really think about what kind of foods are going to benefit my workouts. I've been choosing carefully and I've been getting a good balance of all my fat, carbs and protein. I'm actually finding I have to remind myself to eat a little more instead of the other way around. I find that I don't want to eat the foods that are bad for me because they just slow me down.

Now to just give up all that artificially sweetened stuff (no more diet soda... sad face) and cut back on other various processed items and I will be good to go... baby steps!

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

JESSICAVZ1 7/22/2009 6:28AM

Congrats! Right now I'm having a hard time figuring out how much I should be eating with the stuff that I do to burn calories. I'm hardly losing at all. I wonder if it's my problem too. But, again, CONGRATS! Report Inappropriate Comment

NADS1959 7/21/2009 4:35PM

did u read the recent Spark mail about sweeteners that arrived in the last few days? Says it's safe to drink 20 diet pops a day and this level is set at one one hundreth of the actual unsafe amount. It describes all the different sweeteners as well-- very informative. I drink way more flavored or vitiman wates these days than diet pop but I'll never cut them out completely until science gives me a reason to and not the chicken little group. Report Inappropriate Comment

NIKKIB91 7/21/2009 2:14PM

That's always nice when you can eat more to lose pounds! Sounds like you are making great choices in your life and it is paying off for you! I know about that whole diet pop thing, it was almost the death of me to cut back too severely, but it has been a step in the right direction and I know it will be for you too! Congrats on getting past that nasty plateau, gotta hate those, but you conquered it! Makes me think I should recheck my calories in and out. Think I'll go do that now. Report Inappropriate Comment

MOMMAROLEMODEL 7/21/2009 7:53AM

Way to go! I am working on cutting diet coke out of my life completely so I feel you on that one! Keep up your hard work--your doing great! Timberlee Report Inappropriate Comment

CHRISTAL9 7/21/2009 12:43AM

WOW CONGRATS! you are truly motivating ♥christal Report Inappropriate Comment

HARMONYBLUE 7/20/2009 11:51PM

Congrats on conquering your plateau! Report Inappropriate Comment