A new week begins!

Monday, June 09, 2008

So, tomorrow is the first day of Runner's Yoga and thinking about it makes me a little nervous, but I'm also very excited. :) I just don't know what to expect! :D

First a recap of last week's deficit tracking:

6/2: (1950+0) - 1891 = 59
6/3: (1950+438) - 1757 = 531
6/4: (1950+664) - 1577 = 1037
6/5: (1950+338) - 1593 = 695
6/6: (1950+290) - 1708 = 532
6/7: (1950+593) - 1817 = 726
6/8: (1950+0) - 1735 = 215

TOTAL DEFICIT: 3895, Average/Day: 556.43

YEAH! I haven't really gone down though, only back to 171.2 again. I think my scale likes that number. I did see 170.4 for a brief moment on Saturday, though, and this week is TOM so I'm hoping after this week I can expect a drop!

Had a weekend that started out VERY frustrating, but was an enjoyable weekend nonetheless.

I MADE MY FIRST SUCCESSFUL BREAD!!! SO GOOD. The Bread Bible is GENIUS. :) hehehe. The key to my success! I actually made one small error in the recipe and it still turned out good. We had sandwiches from the bread last night. Now I just need to get a real normal sized loaf pan because I had to make two small loaves, which were awesome.... but not like normal sized bread? Actually now that I think about it, the bread was the exact size of the meat and cheese so maybe it's PERFECT sized bread. ;) hehehe. And it wasn't very hard!!!

Also -- The pork chop/slaw recipe tasted SO GOOD after sitting in the fridge as leftovers. I ate the leftovers as lunch on both Saturday and Sunday. Also, the "Fettucine with Creamy Red Pepper Sauce" was very good as well. I'm going to try a "Chicken w/ Mango Barbecue Sauce" Recipe this week, which involves making your own Mango Barbecue Sauce so I'm pretty excited about that. :D

I also tried on some clothes on a whim while I was shopping and I think I MIGHT be a size 10 almost? I tried on a size 10 and a size 12 from the same kind of pants and they fit almost the same...... the crotch was too short. So I think it's just that brand of pants is weird because I seem to remember the same problem when I tried them on before. (George at WalMart?) But I could definitely get into the size 10's! Will have to try some other brands to see how I really am. Oh and I picked up a shirt in a size small and tried it on with the pants and.... it fit. The label read size 4/6!!!

I need to get some clothes that fit! hahahaha. But... need money first. So I'm working hard. Just thought I'd share my fun little moment at the store when I was like, wHAAAT? But I have been feeling extra skinny lately -- I wish my scale would stop giving me error's when trying to get my body fat %. I need to take some measurements as well. Maybe I will be able to find the time tomorrow.

I got a calling at church as well -- I'm going to be the Ward Chorister, which basically means I pick the songs we sing in church each Sunday and conduct them from the stand. :) A good calling for me, I think.

Today was Upper and Lower Body ST and Swimming. Since I was doing both Upper and Lower Body I took advantage and did some combination moves -- W Shoulder Presses w/ Leg Extensions, and Hammer Curls w/ Pendulum Lunges, and then I did some excercises just for lower and then just for upper body. Then swimming. I got called in to work early today so I was a LITTLE pressed for time, but I think I definitely made the most of it.

Today so far:

6/9: (1950+302) - 1195 = 1057

This does also include 2 snacks and lunch, none of which I have eaten yet, but I'll be at work an extra hour so I'm expecting that I will be needing them. :) Dinner tonight will be relatively light so that bodes well for my deficit -- some kind of chicken and a rice pilaf. Not sure yet how I'm going to prepare the chicken. We were going to have this last night but my bread came out and it was like... GOTTA EAT THIS AMAZING BREAD! :D I have another loaf which will be eaten tomorrow night. :D WOOHOO!!! I'm still so jazzed about making bread. HAHAHA. And no bread machine, folks, all by hand.

P.S. -- It's Employee Appreciation Week at my work and I just won a Goody Bag as a Door Prize... A Diet Coke, Cheetos, and candy. HAHAHAHA :D At least the soda is 0 cal? :D

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

RUTHIEBABY1 6/10/2008 4:16PM

lol! i should send you my size 9's. i know they'd fit, but i don't know if they would be long enough. i'm tall, but you are taller. let me know what your inseam is, and i'll measure! when we went to kansas City in may we ate at Lydia's Italy, and they served a divine fettucinni in red pepper sauce. mmmmmmmmmm. thanks, now i'm hungry! :) Comment edited on: 6/10/2008 4:16:13 PM Report Inappropriate Comment

TINKERSPELL 6/10/2008 9:56AM

I love making bread! I whipped up some honey whole wheat this weekend, and the family's almost already cleaned it out. So, I need this recipe for the pork cole slaw. Any chance you'd post the recipe over at Bento Buddies for future reference? Report Inappropriate Comment

JERSEYPRINCESS1 6/10/2008 9:53AM

I totally am going to check out your recipes!!! They sound so yummy!!! And yay on the clothes sizes!!! Its such a great feeling isnt it!!! Report Inappropriate Comment

MARLIE13 6/9/2008 7:14PM

Mmmm...I love reading about the recipes you try. I'm so excited to look at my cookbook tonight....that I of course had to get since you recommend it so highly. The nutrition sizes is what really got me. I think your calling sounds PERFECT for you! Very excited for you. And YAY on your skinny clothes trying out adventure. Isn't it just stupidcrazyfun?! I just wrote your name down in my book of Awesome! Report Inappropriate Comment

SKYFYRE 6/9/2008 5:50PM

Can I call you "Betty" (Betty Crocker)??? You are realy making my mouth water there Dana! I haven't had "creamy fettuchini" is SOOO long! Hahaha! Is that low cal too? I'm glad you tried those clothes on at Wally World, it really makes all the efforts worth it, even though the scale isn't moving right now, you are still shrinking! YaY! Keep up the great work, I might trade in one of my treats & order one of your cookbooks instead! (The Ellie Krieger one... hmmm...!!!) Thanks for the ideas! Report Inappropriate Comment

LANC92 6/9/2008 3:11PM

You're just cracking me up with all your enthusiasm. I have to agree that there is something infinitely satisfying in making your own bread. When I lived in Zambia, Africa, I made every stitch of bread we ate. I had one day a week where I baked bread, rolls, buns, etc. all day long. I miss that sometimes and every once in a while, especially during the winter I go on a bread making kick again. Yummmm, hot bread with butter right out of the oven - nothing like it! Report Inappropriate Comment

BRUIN2 6/9/2008 2:06PM

What a weekend! Look at you fitting in skinny clothes to match you being skinny! Wooohooo!! The bread sounds amazing. Can you please send some my way?! PRETTY PLEASE! Yay for your new job at church!! I always get sooooo happy when they play my favorite songs - now you get to be the person making other people happy!! HOORAY!! Report Inappropriate Comment

CATIATM 6/9/2008 1:54PM

A 10/12? Wow! You super model, you! You know, when I get all done, I hope to be size 10! And I'm almost a foot shorter! And congrats on your calling. It sounds like fun! Report Inappropriate Comment

A bit tired today...

Friday, June 06, 2008

Had to get up "early" (for me early is 8:30AM since I work till 10PM usually) to make sure I could get in my run before it got too hot and whatnot.

I did my fastest time EVER today!!! Only did 2 miles, but came in at 19:59. ;) JUST under a 10min mile. I was SO PSYCHED!!!! Obviously I can't keep that pace up for too long because on my last run I was more like 10:44 min miles, but still. This makes me pretty happy.

My stomach is feeling OOKY today. I felt fine until later about an hour after my run I started feeling weiiirrrddddd.... so I ate some bread extra to what I had already eaten -- it and some chocolate I have planned in to today has my pre-dinner calories a little higher than usual, but not unmanageable.

Last night's dinner was a really good recipe from Ellie Krieger again, but.... it's just not my style. I was eating it and it was good -- but just not my thing. We have leftovers we'll eat, but I don't think I'll make it again. I'm not really a pork chops kind of girl although I kind of want to be, I've tried making them a couple of times, and this is my least favorite unfortunately. I think I don't like sage. Maybe I'm just not an herb-y person!! I wrote yesterday about how I don't like cilantro. :P I think I like basil and oregano... eh whatever. For people who like this stuff though -- it seriously was a really good recipe. Not tough to make, smelled great, tasted good... just not for me.

I STILL GIVE HER BOOK FIVE STARS! ;) hahaha.

I forgot to write down the nutrition details from the book, but I remember one serving (porkchop+slaw) was 330 calories. So I entered the calories in to my tracker to get my DEFICIT TRACKING ON!

6/5: (1950+338) - 1593 = 695

YAY!

6/2-6/5 = 2422 (1078 remaining to 3500 goal), Average/Day = 605.5

So, I have 3 more days to reach my goal and one of them is tomorrow's super duper workout day. Gotta average a deficit of 359.33 for each of the next 3 days (including today) in order to reach my goal. I think I will achieve that.

Today so far -

6/6: (1950+290) - 1200 = 1040

I know dinner tonight will be a pasta dish from the Food You Crave -- Fettucine with Creamy Red Pepper Sauce. :) I'm excited. I think it'll be really good.

Tomorrow's Workout: Swim+Bike, Full Body ST

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

LOBO1978_2000 6/9/2008 5:18PM

Keep up the great work on increasing your speed in running. Your doing so good. Report Inappropriate Comment

RUTHIEBABY1 6/9/2008 10:53AM

your dedication inspires me as well as your success! you are awesome! best team leader ever! Report Inappropriate Comment

MYLIFE4LIFE 6/7/2008 5:10PM

Congrats Lady with your running! That is fantastic. I still can remember when you first started talking about running and now look at you! I am happy for you. :) Report Inappropriate Comment

WOLFKITTY 6/6/2008 5:24PM

Congrats on your running time! WOOHOO! Report Inappropriate Comment

Feeling good. :)

Thursday, June 05, 2008

I think I've used that title many times before, but it also applies today so DANGIT THERE IT IS.

I would first like to talk about the AMAZING meal I made last night. ;) Consider my own horn tooted. But really, all credit goes back to Ellie Krieger and her amazing cookbook. It is SO on my amazon.com wishlists. The recipe was Steak Tacos w/ Cucumber Avocado Salsa. I am a HUGE avocado fiend, and I love cucumbers, and well.. MEAT. Her recipes are simple, but delicious... I'm such a fan! This was some top sirloin (pricey, but delicious), rubbed with what was SUPPOSED to be cinnamon, cayenne pepper, garlic, and CHILI POWDER, but we didn't have any chili powder (oops we're out), so instead I used cumin and Mrs. Dash Chipotle. :D haha. But anyway, cooked that on the stovetop in a nonstick skillet. let rest, then slice thin. Warm little 6" corn tortillas. The salsa is made from avocado, cucumber, red onion, jalapenos, and lime juice. Also supposed to contain chopped cilantro but to be honest, I'm not that big a fan of cilantro and didn't feel like buying any, so I left that out. Salt to taste.

SO FREAKING GOOD EVERYONE!

And my DH does not like avocados so while he did TRY some of the salsa, he didn't enjoy it and so I get to eat leftovers today. HURRAH! :D

Two of the tacos with a serving of the salsa comes to about 414 calories, the salsa alone is roughly 117 cal per serving according to my calculations. I think her calculations say 410 for two tacos and 111 for 1/3 cup salsa, but close enough.

END FOOD DISCUSSION!

So, my workout this morning was good. It was a bit short, but I got done what I intended to. Lower Body ST -- about 18min, 15min of actual action. Swimming -- 20min, I'm counting about 15 of that as swimming.

NOW! :D I finished all but 2-3 lengths of the pool without any midway stops! WOOHOO!!! :D Still stopping at the end, but tried to wait less. I kind of alternated between a short rest and a longer rest depending on how I was feeling as well. The few times I stopped short of one length I was at least 75% down. I am very pleased with this progress! :D

Also, my arms are SO SORE from the combination of yesterday's upper body training and today's swimming. YOWZA! :D It feels GREAT. I can't wait to start seeing some results in my arms.

Tomorrow's workout plan is for a run ONLY. I am definitely looking forward to this as a lighter day for this week. :) Then Saturday is SWIM+BIKE+FULLBODY ST! KICK! BUTT!!! :D

Deficit Tracking:

6/4: (1950+664) - 1557 = 1037

WAHOO!

6/2-6/4 = 1727 (1773 remaining to 3500 goal), Average/Day = 575.67

Today so far:

6/5: (1950+338) - 1062 = 1226

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

BOTZZZ 6/6/2008 9:34AM

I very much wish I had a pool to swim in daily, my MIL lives on a lake and as soon as the water temp goes up a bit I am going to attempt to swim out to a small island that is in the center of the lake, My wife who was a competitive swimmer throughout her entire childhood and into her late teens thinks I can't make it! she swam this many times as growing up on the lake gave her that chance, so its sort of a challenge for me to make it to that island :P, anyways enough about that lol, I am envious because you get to swim! sounds like you have a good game plan and are executing it as you need to. keep it up. As Ever Me Report Inappropriate Comment

JAYMATTER 6/6/2008 2:43AM

I'm sore just from reading this! Report Inappropriate Comment

MARLIE13 6/5/2008 6:02PM

You're SO making me want that cookbook! I feel bad though because I have two newer ones that I really haven't done much with. Hmmm....maybe I should set a "this many recipes tried" before I can get a new one. PS My honey doesn't like avacado either. Breaks my heart. loL! Yay on your soreness! Report Inappropriate Comment

Sore feels GOOD. :D

Wednesday, June 04, 2008

WOW, it's been a while since I had that nice sore feeling and it is HERE in FULL FORCE, ladies and gents!!! HAHAHA.

My lower body is quite sore.

This morning's workout was AWESOME. I think I am going to aim for what a couple of sites I've read today have mentioned and do ST before cardio if I can. It may not be feasible for the running because I have to run so early to avoid the heat, but I'm going to attempt this strategy. It also seems that about 5-6 moves per muscle group is a good number. Although I did only 4 core moves today, I'm feeling pretty pleased.

Did 25min bike, 36:44 run (3.42 miles), and then my ST! WOOHOO!!

This was a new route for me today, relatively flat but with some long slight inclines and then a more aggressive incline right at the end. It was pretty though, took me around campus. I should run around people that are walking more often -- makes me feel fast. HAHAHA ;)

I ate something new this morning -- an instant oatmeal packet from Quaker Simple Harvest style, mixed uncooked with an Activia Light. It was very good! I think I will be trying this again.

Deficit Tracking!!! :D

6/3: (1950+438) - 1757 = 631

YAY!

Today so far:

6/4: (1950+664) - 962 = 1652

WOW! Well, I tried to end up a little lower after lunch and dinner than I have been recently since I've been on the high side of my range, this way I have a bit more freedom when it comes to dinner. So I do plan on EATING at least probably 550-700 calories tonight.


OH!!! SOMETHING ELSE!!!!!!!!!!! Someone actually said I "need to gain some weight" today. Granted, it was obviously kind of a joke, and I'm like 99% sure it was because my pants were almost falling off.... but still!!! ??? It's kind of weird. I was like, no I just need to buy some new pants. And he was like, just do what I do and gain some weight! It's easier! :P (One of my bosses.) Can you imagine? Someone telling MEEEEEEEEEEE to GAIN weight????? Ok, maybe you folks out there who didn't know me my entire overweight life might be able to imagine it but for me it was very weird! HAHAHA :D

Tomorrow's Workout Plan: Lower Body ST+Swim

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

MISS_BETH12 6/5/2008 11:46AM

I LOVE that sore feeling! I recently added swimming to my routine and it's the only cardio that gives me that nice sore feeling- and all day at that! LOL You are doing great with all your exercise, keep up the great work!!! CONGRATS!!! on the compliment! I hope someone says that to me someday too! He he!!! How awesome is that? I bet your on cloud nine for a week. I know I would be!!!! I hope your having a wonderful day! *Bethie* Report Inappropriate Comment

BOTZZZ 6/5/2008 8:24AM

I agree that kind of sore feels not only good but I would venture to say GREAT! I am working up to running a 5k myself (I use to run a lot and thats when I was 300 lbs!) it appears that you get a lot of cardio in, thats awesome. I have been working through some of your posts lately and thought it was time to leave ya some love :) the gain weight comment? awesome! even if it was joking :P You look great from what I can see so ya have earned it, keep it up. As Ever Me Report Inappropriate Comment

WOLFKITTY 6/5/2008 1:31AM

New route, new routine, you set such a great example! Congrats on the compliment, even if it was disguised as a joke. :D Jocelyn Report Inappropriate Comment

DIVINEMADNESS 6/4/2008 11:22PM

well donnne congrats. my pants are loose too and im sooo excited. lol!!! love running!!! how are u estimating your deficit? is it weekly or daily??? Report Inappropriate Comment

SHINYSILVRVOLVO 6/4/2008 9:48PM

Well done on the workout! And what an awesome compliment! It's always nice to have people acknowledge what you've done. Good job! Report Inappropriate Comment

MARLIE13 6/4/2008 7:43PM

Woohoo on the workout and what an awesome compliment. I totally know what you mean. I still kind of like the "You're wasting away to nothing." comments. But I know I'm not literally. Yay you!!!! Report Inappropriate Comment

CATIATM 6/4/2008 7:40PM

What a huge compliment! Savor it - you earned it! Report Inappropriate Comment

Kicking off June!

Tuesday, June 03, 2008

So, I headed to the gym today for my first gym based, decided what to do on my own, split training strength workout.

I did alternating lunges, squats w/ dumbells, wide leg wall sits with calf raises, Leg extensions and glute presses.

Not sure how much to do when I'm focusing on one muscle group, will research more.

Then I did 25 minutes in the pool, counting 20 of that as swimming. :) Did probaby half of the lengths without stopping, and most of the others were like at least 75% without stopping. So WOOHOO on that!

I'm going to estimate a calorie burn for ST using Gripiron.com -- need to start tracking the duration of time spent doing the various excercises because this alters the calorie burn in that tracker.

Yesterday I ate extra food last night without tracking, just mentally guess where I was and where it would get me and of course it got me... OVER. For the first time in quite a while I went over without knowing it and not on a cheat meal. :P I was about 70 cal over my ranges, but still have a tiny deficit.

6/2: (1950+0) -1891 = 59

HAH!

Today so far...

6/3: (1950+438) - 1180 = 1208

Want to keep it lighter tonight since I ate so much last night.

Last night's recipe was another from "The Food You Crave" and it was SO GOOD.

It was a pasta salad type dish made with whole wheat rotini, chopped baby spinach, chopped red onions, chopped walnuts (toasted in a skillet), feta cheese, and a vinaigrette dressing made with red wine vinegar, olive oil, dijon mustard, and salt+pepper.

I was in heaven! HAHAHA :D Will definitely need to make this again! My DH even liked it. :) And it was SUPER simple to make.

Tomorrow's workout is going to be KICK BUTT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Gonna get up early so I can run before it gets hot, right after I do some biking and then it's super strength training time -- tomorrow is scheduled to be core and upper body.

Probably could have done core today to keep tomorrow lighter, but I'll be alright. ;) I'm actually kinda looking forward to having a more intense day after a break and all this EATING. :P

I've also already breached my protein minimum for the day (including my lunch).

MAN! My arms were not feeling it from swimming earlier but they are feeling it now! WOOHOO! :D

EDITED TO ADD: I FORGOT!!! Updated my weight loss ticker, but most importantly -- Body fat % is DOWN since last measured -- 22.6%! :D WOOHOO!!

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

MARLIE13 6/4/2008 5:38PM

Do you know about this website? I LOVE it! I used it to figure out my plan for the gym. I do the four day split, push pull routine. http://www.exrx.net /Exercise.html Oh and I'm envious of your BF%!! I'm going to take mine on Friday and see how close I can get to yours....it won't be close, but I feel some competitive motivation coming on. PS that salad sounds divine! Report Inappropriate Comment

GRACEFULTURTLES 6/4/2008 11:22AM

WOWOWOWOWOWOOW! 22.6%!! I dream of this day! Here is a website I got from one of the sparkers on Iron Maidens (excellent group for weight lifting info BTW!). Lots of info on weight lifting. A lot is for competition, but they have other good articles (like for hypermetabolic workouts as well as the red carpet body!) www.figureathlete.com GOOD JOB! Report Inappropriate Comment

BLAZEGRRL 6/3/2008 7:40PM

Monster day tomorrow! I like your really regimented approach to deficit tracking as well as researching strength training. Plus that cookbook sounds awesome - I added it to my Amazon wishlist. Have a fab workout... when you're done I bet you'll feel amazing! Report Inappropriate Comment

WOLFKITTY 6/3/2008 5:08PM

Wow that's AWESOME!! What' your body fat goal? Do you have a set # you're striving for? Report Inappropriate Comment

CATIATM 6/3/2008 4:29PM

22.6% body fat - that's wonderful! You are one hot mama, Dana! Report Inappropriate Comment