This Side of Sunny

Weight Loss Challenge- The Results

Tonight we weighed in at my bro's house. Same scale, same time.

After a vigorous workout, a little bit of sauna time to extract that last bit of water weight, I awaited the final number.

147.8!

If you remember from my original post, I had to lose 16 lbs. from 163 lbs., which put me at 147 on the nose. Apparently I needed a bigger nose! I lost the challenge by half a pound. Ugh. Well, at least I look like this:

Instead of this:

If you can't tell by the photos, here it is by the numbers:

Body fat: 38% to 30%

Fat weight: 60 lbs. to 45 lbs.

Muscle weight: 99 lbs. to 105 lbs. (it's good to increase muscle mass)

Body mass index (BMI): 28% to 26%

My brother and sis-in-law were the closest, with only two pounds to go to reach their goals. My dad and Jake got halfway to their goals. So no one won the money.

But it wasn't about the money all along. We rocked the challenge regardless. Although I have to admit, I'm glad my bro didn't win because then we would have been shelling out $400 bucks. I guess that would have hurt a little more, especially losing by just a fraction of a pound. Should have hit the sauna a little more...

Where do we go from here?

Well, my bro, sis-in-law and Jake will probably redo the challenge starting in June (giving ourselves a little break). I am really close to where I my maintence goal is, so I will continue to work out using this aweome book and these great workout logs. I have been using them all throughout my weight loss journey and both have really kept me on track and helped me change up my routine. So far, I have completed Stage 1 and 2, and will start Stage 3 by the end of the week. I want to focus less on weight and more on muscle weight and BMI.

These are my next goals:

Muscle weight: increase to 110 lbs.

BMI: decrease to 24%

If I do these two things, then I should reach my goal of fitting into size 8 jeans *I hope*. I say that only because after having/nursing three kids, I'm just excited to have come this far.

 

Weight Loss Challenge- Final Week

{Since summer I've lost almost what she weighs which is 20 lbs!}

The Weight Loss Challenge is in its final week.

By the Numbers

Then

Waist: 36 inches

Hips: 41 inches

Weight: 163 lbs.

Now

Waist: 34 inches

Hips: 39 inches

Weight: 154 lbs.

Total: 2 inches off my waist, 3 inches off my hips and 9 pounds lost!

As you can see, I haven't reached my goal of 16 pounds, boo!

There are several reasons for that:

• trying to eat within a calorie range, getting too hungry and then over eating
• had two really bad weeks in early March (too many difficult memories to deal with)
• switched workout routines
• workout routines are designed to build muscle, thus making me more hungry
• not getting to bed on time, New Year resolution #3
• stopped nursing Miss Amelia, which was a huge daily calorie burn
• emotional eating due to stress

My body is in the midst of these changes and trying to adjust. I suspect some chocolate had something to do with it, as well as the soda slipping back in- diet and regular. I will reach that goal and more, I think it will just take longer for me to do it.

My style tends to be eat/exercise really good for a while, then usually a family event leads me to an indulgence and then it's a slippery slope from there. Ever been there before? I may slip for a little while but I do get back on track. That's why it's really easy for me to maintain weight, but difficult for me to lose it.

That's why in this final week with 7 pounds (!!!!) to go, I fear that I won't make the weigh-in goal. However, since I'm back on the wagon, I am still trying. I am going to try to make the gym four times this week, finish my cleanse, restrict my calories and lay low on the sodium. As always, I'll be back in this space next week to let you know how it went.

I consider the money I (we) lose a donation to my brother's wedding fund- he's the only other one in a position to win. He's been really working hard and deserves the money but ever the competitor, neither of us are willing to give in just yet!

 

 

Weight Loss Challenge- Week 7

 

{my dad's birthday}

One of the hardest things I've learned on my most serious, labor intensive weight loss endeavor yet... is that my life revolves around food. When we get together as a family, we eat. Holidays, we eat. Football games, we eat. With all of us doing the weight loss challenge, it has been easier to eat healthier when we get togther. Except for birthdays- that's where I draw the line.

To me, celebrations are for enjoying food, not counting the calories. So I made my dad turkey parmesean meatball sub sandwiches with a four-brick-Philadelphia cheesecake for dessert. Just for kicks, I did count the calories afterward- all I've got to say is whoa! My dad and bro who "saved" 1000 calories for the big meal went over (of course the cheesecake was a surprise, or sabatoge depending on how you look at it). But I enjoyed the moment, knowing the next day I would be right back on track.

Which I was... until I had two sick kids and a baby who is cutting her second tooth. I opted to raid the licorice stash instead of the wine stash. Twenty-one pieces later (three servings!) I was over it and had my "fix". If I had chocolate or ice cream, that would have been my first choice. So yeah, still stress/wind down eating.

However, even with all that, thanks to my strength training (pumping some serious iron) and interval cardio work I've done well.

Weight: 152 lbs, (overall loss of 11 lbs!) now I was still fluctuating a few pounds earlier this week, I hope this is my real number! I'm also within 1 lb. of my pre-preggo weight, with kid #3 it really did take nine months to put it on and nine months to take it off.

Waist: 34 inches (overall loss of 2 inches from beginning)

Hips: 39 inches (overall loss of 2 inches from beginning and the area I'm most excited about!)

Pet Peeve: food shows on the cardio equipment... really? There's no other shows we can get? That's just what I want to do- watch Rachel Ray cook up hambugers and slaw right in front of me while I'm trying to sprint my heart out. It's like a cruel form of torture. Oh and let's not mention that in the parking lot of my gym, there's a Sonic. Do you know how hard it is to go to the gym when I smell all that deep fat fried goodness in the air? Ugh.

 

 

Weight Loss Challenge- Week 6

{Making sushi with a master}

The not-so-skinny: I gained weight. I am 'fluctuating' between 153 and 155, but more on the 155 side. Ugh. I'm trying to blame untimely bloating (something the guys don't need to deal with) but I think it might be more of the Girl Scout Samoas that have finally left the building. Or maybe all the sushi I ate this weekend.

So instead of posting my weight stats, I'll post these numbers (a little bit more impressive, in my opinion):

Squat: 50 lbs.

Deadlift: 40 lbs.

Lunges: 10 lbs.

Seated Row: 50 lbs.

Lat Pulldown: 40 lbs.

Pushups: doing 3 sets of 10 (graduated up to "girlie" style)

Prone Jacknife: 3 sets of 12, think pushup with your feet on a ball while looking at the floor, yeah I know, took me a while to get too

Swiss crunch: 3 sets of 12, crunch on a ball

Pet peeve: When a woman works out in a tank top that allows her um, cups to overfloweth all the while doing bent over rows in front of the mirror. I saw dozens of guys staring with mouths hanging open. Also, let's not get into the long, perfectly coiffed hair women wear while weightlifting (I wonder if it's a hazard? Kind of like earrings?). 

Anyways, I'm there to work out, not go out (although I guess being an old-married is a big part of this).

There's also a part of me that's competitive which is difficult because many of those guys on the weight room floor can bench press my whole body weight. Sometimes it's intimidating, but as I'm doing all the 'guy' lifts and stuff, I think- I can kick their butt.

 

Weight Loss Challenge- Week 5

Oh my.

Oregano's, our favorite college-when-we-had-a-little-bit-of-money-hangout. So delicious and so worth the calories I did not even calculate. We celebrated here for a night out sans kiddos for Valentine's Day.

Then there was this...

I had to use all these ingredients (yes, I did eat some!) to make Jake's present...

Not the best looking sushi rolls but it was a cute way to give him his gift: sushi making lesson!

Restaurant, vino, candy, chocolate- in that order!

Here's the "skinny":

I weighed myself earlier in the week and hit 153- for a total of 10 lbs. lost. Then when I went to weigh myself on Tuesday, my normal weigh in day, I was 155 again. Ah, I thought, Oregano's was catching up with me. However, I still kept up with my workout routine on Monday night. I know it can take a few days either way to make a difference. Today I jumped on the scale and I was 153 again. Now if I weigh the same tomorrow morning, then I know that's my new weight.

My issues I'm still working on:

• Eat more without putting on weight- need to eat more calories to build that muscle I'm building. I did go into myfitnesspal and reset my goals to allow for more.
• Eat more before noon- my mornings are so busy I am not making sure I feed myself a hearty breakfast, sometimes I just grab a yogurt.
• Eat more fat- this will allow me to stay statisfied longer but I just need to make sure the selections are lower calories.

Another thing I'm am feeling is complacency- I have dropped some sizes and shed some old clothes and I like how I look. Some days, I'm like this is good but I know it's because I just don't want to go that extra mile, which is what it's going to take. I didn't get this way overnight (I'm within 2 lbs. of my pre-preggo weight) and I need to keep doing this. It's been a great stress reliever if anything!

 

Weight Loss Challenge- Week 4

The good news: more of my clothes came out of hiding and into wearing mode! I was excited to slip on some size 10's even (ladies, you know how you are never just one size) and a very stretchy size 8 skirt.

The bad news: no weight loss this week. Although I expected it because I've been eating more since I'm doing three strength training workouts a week... not to mention one day of uncalculated calories for Superbowl! So I guess after all that, it's still a positive!

What I need to adjust: my focus on calorie counting- I need to update my activity level to very active to allow more daily calories. On workout days, I will probably go over the calorie limit because I need a post-workout shake to help build muscle/heal/so I'm able to get up in the morning.

Goal: 16 lbs. lost by April 11th

Status: Halfway there!

This is where the rubber hits the road (or my sneakers) and it becomes more of the daily grind than anything else. I probably won't be losing big numbers or big inches from now on. I will be slowly trimming away those fat pounds barbell by barbell, lunge for lunge. Perseverence is the key and maybe some treats along the way for mini-goals being met. We'll see, I'll have to put some thought into those. I would like a pair of workout gloves, or a new pair of shoes. Those might spur me on when the scale is not.

Also, I need to be ready for setbacks. Like when my car alarm system goes haywire and doesn't allow me to drive my own car, then I might have to settle for lunch at KFC rather than a healthier option at home. That's why I'm banking on the weight lifting- because even when I'm sitting, my muscles are burning calories for me. Less time in the gym and more results? I hope so...

Weight Loss Challenge- Week 3

{my workout log}

What's working for me for this week? Having a new focus for my strength training using the book New Rules of Lifting for Women by Lou Schuler. I found these great workout logs at werkit.com that makes it really easy. There are two workouts, A and B version that I will be using over the next few weeks (depends if I am able to do them two or three times a week). With each workout, you try to do a harder variation of the same exercise or increase weight. Do you like my stick figure drawings on the side? Those are supposed to remind me of what I need to do.

To stay within my daily calorie limit, I've had to make some "eat this, not that" substitutions. My biggest one:

Starbucks - White Chocolate Mocha, Grande 450 cals, 20 fat grams

Homemade Iced Coffee- 180 cals, 3 fat grams (if I do 1% milk)

If I do get to go out, then I choose: Skinny Caramel Macchiato- 140 cals, 1 fat gram

New goal reached: fitting a pair of jeans from the hope chest, size 12!

They're still a little tight but at least they came up past the thighs this time! It's like that song, Oh, what a feeling, makes me start singing that song in Flashdance...

My Stats

Weight: 155 lbs! Total weight loss: 8 lbs! Goal: 16 lbs, I'm halfway there! I am also only 4 lbs. away from pre-preggo weight.

Waist: 35

Hips: 40

You can read my original post, but I've trimmed about an inch or more off in those two areas.

I don't expect my weight loss to continue at this pace. I am eating more and will start to build more muscle (if my aching legs are any indication) as my workouts progress. However, if I lose the challenge but fit into my size 8 wardrobe that's waiting for me- who cares! So my ultimate goal is to build a healthy body so I can be a fit, energetic mother and wife.

Tomorrow I take Amelia to her 9 month old check up to see how much weight she's making me lift everyday, all day long!

 

 

 

Weight Loss Challenge- Week 2

  {Inspiration: fitting into my wedding ring}

Things I’ve realized:

• Cutting out soda was not as bad as I thought
• My taste buds have readjusted- fruit is as sweet as candy, my treat of skinny caramel macchiato is super sweet now (140 calories), I couldn’t even imagine drinking my typical iced white mocha now (500-something!)
• Exercising has helped with my insomnia and bedtime anxieties… when I’m physically tired it calms me mentally and sleep comes easy

Some helpful resources:

• The Daniel Plan- Saddleback church is having a year long weight loss challenge and their website is full of great webcasts with three great doctors, one of them is my fav, Dr. Oz
• myfitnesspal.com- a place to log in calories and exercise daily, which I still need to do for today!
• The New Rules of Lifting for Women: Lift like a man, look like a goddess by Lou Schular- this is a book recommended to me by some friends and I checked it out at the library. Who wouldn't want to look like a goddess? Sign me up!

Helpful tips from the personal trainer (I don't have one, just had to meet with one as a part of the gym membership):

• To maximize time and weight loss, do a combination of strength training and cardio, even 15 minutes of each will get you more benefits than just doing cardio alone
• When doing cardio, you have to get your heart rate up enough- you can't just been chillin' on the bike, texting and having a convo with your neighbor- that's not going to lose you weight and you are wasting your time
• Dieting might lose a lot of weight in the beginning but your body is in shock that you are actually doing something. To lose weight over the long haul, you need to do strength training so you can build/tone muscle which will also help you burn more calories while sitting! Imagine that!

My Stats

• Weight: LOST 3 lbs! I now weigh 158! I haven't seen this side of 160 in a loooong time
• Goal: 16 lbs, 11 more to go!
• Ultimate goal: 130 lbs., 28 more to go!

Weight Loss Challenge- Week 1 Review

{relearning portion control}

I started the weight loss challenge on a week that I had two lunch dates with girlfriends but I did good- I drank water, order lighter options on the menu and said no to anything fried or creamy.

Then Jake and I took all three kids to the Wildflower Bread Company for lunch on the holiday.  The only bummer was that their nutritional information was not available onsite or on their website (they have free wi-fi, we checked) so we had to go with the same rules: nothing fried, creamy or anything smothered in cheese for that matter. By ordering four waters and splitting a kid's dish between the two boys, not only were we able to watch our calories but our budget as well.

Things that really helped this week:

• Water/nonsweetened tea drink of choice
• Track calories daily on myfitnesspal.com (thanks Amanda for the tip!)
• Feeling better and having more energy
• Going to bed early when I wanted an unneeded snack

The one thing that I have been missing was the exercise though. I fixed that today by joining a gym five minutes away from our house. We are on the family plan, so Jake and I can take all three kids whenever we want and it's the same price each month. 

This will be a gamechanger, everyone. I stepped on my favorite machine, the elliptical, and it was like I was home. This was the very same gym we went to before we left for the Philippines, so it's familiar.

What can I say? Being able to have an hour to myself to stretch, relax, work out hard without interruptions or little ones underfoot? I love my kids, but this time to myself is healing and makes me a better mother. When I worked full time I felt guilty about taking them to another daycare but now they are so excited- everyone needs a break from each other now and then. Of course, it helps that the daycare has a bouncy house inside it...

The Stats:

• Weight: 161- yes, I LOST two pounds! I don't want to be this drastic every week, but it's a motivating start.
• Waist: no change
• Hips: no change

Now it's off to bed because that half hour on the elliptical kicked my butt, literally, I think I'll be feeling it in the morning...

 

Weight Loss Challenge- Week 1

For one reason or another (or many), my family has gained some weight over the past year or so (years for some).  We decided to try to lose weight together in a friendly competition.

Here's the deal:

You have to lose 10% of your body weight in three months or pay $200.  If you lose the weight, you pay nothing. If someone doesn't lose the weight, their money is split between the winners.  So if your serious about losing the weight, it's a win-win.  You shed the pounds and maybe gain some green in your wallet too.

Tonight was the weigh-in, along with a healthy dinner of grilled pork chops and veggie skewers.

This will be a regular feature on my blog since I need some accountability.  With each kid I gained a lot of weight and the last pregnancy was no different.  One thing that has been different though is I am home now, so I have access to food more frequently- although some of my former students might argue that fact.

It's funny to hear each person talk about their strategy- my brother is watching his fat grams, my dad is exercising and eating healthy, and Jake, well he has no idea yet.  As for myself this is what I'm going to focus on at first:

• Cut out soda cold turkey- yeah, I know, bring on the headaches!
• Keep track of my calories- this should be easier since I'm at home and can jot them down as I eat them, all while probably holding a 20 lb. baby in the other arm

And to keep it real, to keep my motivation up, I am going to be documenting my weight and measurements as well, not to mention that dreaded picture.  Hey with $200 on the line, I have to get serious!

Weight: 163 lbs.

Waist: 36 in.

Hips: 41 in.

Goal: 16 lbs. by April 11th

I put the inches as well as the weight because for women, it's more difficult to lose weight and inches will encourage me when weight does not.

This goal will not get me to my ultimate goal, which is to fit into my pre-preggo wardrobe that's just waiting for me in my closet but it will get me on the right track.

I will post a picture probably once a month which will give me visual feedback as well. 

Here's to making good choices, eating better and getting healthy!  Good luck to all my competitors!