Adjusted Reality

“Reality can be beaten with enough imagination.” – Mark Twain

Spare Some Change?

I can’t lie, I’m a little frustrated.  I figured there was NO WAY the scale could be telling the truth.  This was bloat weight.  It would be gone in a week, no problem.  I always drop a bunch of weight the first week back.  It would be good.  It would be encouraging.  I was good all week, I worked out appropriately, stayed within my calories all but Saturday (and I averaged less than 1500), and…

…the scale read the same as last week.  And it was over 170. 😛  Thankfully as the week went on I’ve finally started to drop weight but it was a frustrating Monday.

I know all the reasonable, rational explanations.  I am weight training way more seriously and that adds muscle.  Building muscle doesn’t inherently lead to weight loss at the same time.  And I am building it, fo sho.  For the first time in a long, long time, my jeans are tight around my quads.  I usually have trouble finding anything that fits both my waist and legs at the same time.  Bike sprints and hours of group power (yay for repeated squats and lunges with 20+ lbs on my back) are definitely making for stronger legs… and arms.  And speaking of arms, I did not have the power 6 months ago to swim 1.7 miles in 60 mins.

And I don’t mean  to make much about the number on the scale, but this is unacceptable.  This is 20 lbs over what I’d like to be, and 20 lbs over the upper end of the normal BMI for my weight range.  Again, not that I put all that much weight (pardon the pun) in it, but truly?  I can do better.  My skinny clothes from Spring and Summer 09 don’t fit.  I am definitely bigger than I used to be.  Of course, smaller than I used to used to be, but bigger than my smallest.  If this makes any sense.

So while I have crazy thoughts in my head of dietitians, metabolic testing, getting my thyroid checked again (even though it’s only been a year and it was normal), going back to 3×20 mins of cardio a week and sticking to 1200 cal per day, trying some crazy fad cleanse diet, pills, lotions, potions… but I’m just going to stick with it through the end of Feb (minus the cruise).  I mean, I might someday soon spring for the dietician for a consultation or two and/or testing my metabolism because it would be nice to know, and I will definitely let my doctor know I want my thyroid tested again if I don’t have luck before I’m up for my physical, but I need to accept that it’s going to be harder now.

Let’s hope not that much harder.  For my sanity.  However, things seem to be moving in the right direction now so I’m gonna let it ride and keep betting on what I’m doing.

Here’s last week’s workouts.

Monday: 60 min swim workout (760 yd warmup, 240 yd cooldown – using all strokes.  My butterfly is hilarious!  Then – 2000yd of 400yd repeats in 8 mins or less, then 1-2 min break… a total of … 1.7 miles in 60 mins!!!  Add a little to that and I did the swim portion of a full ironman.  I wish the run and bike portions were that easy… :P)
Tuesday: group power (60 mins of buttkicking continuous weights class)
Wednesday: run workout (15 mins warmup, 5 min at 3.0 incline x 4 – was supposed to do 6 but NO FREAKING WAY.  Found out I’m more comfortable doing 8 min miles flat than 10 min miles uphill)
Thursday: off (too many days in a row)
Friday: off (wasn’t in the mood – looooong week)
Saturday: group power (60 mins)
Sunday: 45 mins bike sprints (3 mins warmup, 1 min @ 100-110 rpm, then 1 min @ 80-90 rpm, repeat… increase gear every 10 mins and attempt last 10 mins @ 110 – 120)

There are all very different workouts that I was doing last year.  Maybe my body is in shock, mmm?  Here’s next week’s torture…

Monday: off (Yelp event and then early to bed after some good Mediterranean food)
Tuesday: 30 mins swim (5 mins warmup, 20 all out, 5 mins cooldown) + abs and legs
Wednesday: bike workout # 8 Steady as she goes – 10 mins warmup, 45 mins 75-80% heart rate (around 90-100 rpm), 5 mins cooldown (15 miles total)
Thursday: group power
Friday: run workout # 13 Out and Backs – 10  mins warmup, 11 mins “out”, 9 mins “back” x2, 10 mins cooldown
Saturday: off
Sunday: cycle strength class (not sure exactly what this is but I’m intrigued!)

Food Stuffs:

Last week’s food intake: 1486 + 100 for error = 1586
Last week’s exercise output: 311 (2179 cals total)
Last week’s net calories: 1175
Last week’s deficit: 637 per day (translating to about 1.5 lbs)
Starting weight: 170
Last week’s lowest weight: 168.8

I’m already a little lower so…um…let’s hope it continues this way!

I’m aiming to have a little bit more calorie burn this week (last week ended up with 3 days off instead of 2 but whatevs).  My body has started to get used to a little bit less (especially at night) so that’s peachy keen.  Still good on no sugar, I have honestly not been tempted much.  I’m thinking I’ll continue ’til we take off for the cruise, for the most part.  Going to a work lunch on the 26th to a place with AWESOME deserts, so I’m considering making an exception that ONE meal.  But maybe not.  Spumoni ice cream and cannolis will still be around later.

So, how’s your January going?  Good progress on your goals?  Holiday weight all a memory?  To have desert or not have desert?

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1 Comment

  1. Ah, don’t loose hope… you can still make it! You’re doing great already!In no time at all you will look slimmer than those meerkats. Nice edit! lol… 🙂

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