I don't know how detoxed I'm getting, but tonight I did some preliminary weighing and measuring (Thursday is my official night), and I've lost 2.4 pounds since Monday and also definitely lost an inch or two since last Thursday. I'll find out the official numbers tomorrow.
Also, I rocked it in the pool. Since starting back with the swimming my best time has been 32 in 14:20. Tonight I did 32 in 13:15. What? That's just crazy. I mean, I'm happy, but it's crazy.
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
Good News/Bad News
I have an interview. Yay!
I now HAVE to buy a new suit. Boo!
It's impossible for me to find a suit that fits. Here's hoping and praying that this suit searching expedition goes better than all the others. My suit is old and shoddy and the jacket is slightly lighter than the skirt thanks to having been left in my car (Whoops!). As you can see, I HAVE to get a new suit.
70 laps last night. I think I did 32 in 14:20, but I'm not sure because I couldn't really see the clock and my contacts go a little wonky when I have the goggles on for a long time.
I'm not keeping track of food really because of the detox plan. Just know that so far today I have had a LOT of vegetables, several fruits and a couple of chicken breasts.
I now HAVE to buy a new suit. Boo!
It's impossible for me to find a suit that fits. Here's hoping and praying that this suit searching expedition goes better than all the others. My suit is old and shoddy and the jacket is slightly lighter than the skirt thanks to having been left in my car (Whoops!). As you can see, I HAVE to get a new suit.
70 laps last night. I think I did 32 in 14:20, but I'm not sure because I couldn't really see the clock and my contacts go a little wonky when I have the goggles on for a long time.
I'm not keeping track of food really because of the detox plan. Just know that so far today I have had a LOT of vegetables, several fruits and a couple of chicken breasts.
Tuesday, February 27, 2007
So, So Hungry...
Last night I sort of had two dinners. First I had some salmon with steamed broccoli. Then a couple of hours later I had some chicken and 2 clementines. I was so hungry. Stomach growling and hurting hungry. I am a big fan of fruits and vegetables, but substantively, there's just not a lot there. The salad I just ate for lunch probably had a grand total of 52 calories before I put the chicken on top.
And I didn't go swimming last night because by the time I got home from work I was completely famished. I am bound and determined to go tonight though.
So today I've tried to modify my food a little. I brought more protein to work to eat throughout the day and I brought some more fruit. Plus, C, the co-worker I'm doing this with, thinks she found a smoothie place where we can adjust the smoothies to the point of fitting into the diet. I hope it works out because I'm really looking forward to a smoothie break in another hour or two.
And I didn't go swimming last night because by the time I got home from work I was completely famished. I am bound and determined to go tonight though.
So today I've tried to modify my food a little. I brought more protein to work to eat throughout the day and I brought some more fruit. Plus, C, the co-worker I'm doing this with, thinks she found a smoothie place where we can adjust the smoothies to the point of fitting into the diet. I hope it works out because I'm really looking forward to a smoothie break in another hour or two.
Monday, February 26, 2007
Detoxification
A friend at work and I are doing a Detox Diet together. I think calling it a "diet" is misleading, since the goal really isn't to lose a lot of weight, despite the tabloid-esque statements on the book's cover.
My friend was looking to do a detox and bought this book a few weeks ago. After she read it, she loaned it to me and I thought I might like to try it, so we decided to do it together, for camaraderie and motivation. The program has a 7-day prequel, a 1-day "fast", and a 3-day sequel.
I put "fast" in quotes because the plan has you make a cranberry drink and you alternate 8-12 oz of the cranberry drink with 8 oz of water every hour. In my church we're supposed to fast the first Sunday of every month, for either 2 meals or 24 hours, depending on the individual. And they're not kidding with the word "fast". No water, no food, nothing. After growing up doing that once a month (when I remember), I think I'll be okay with this cranberry drink fast.
The author's blather kind of gets on my nerves. When I looked at her picture, my immediate thought was, "She looks perky." Her picture fits the tone of the book. But if you get past the perkiness and some of her crazy extremeness, I think there are some good things underneath it. Plus, the plan is only for 11 days, and my friend and I already determinined if we feel bad, we'll stop. I managed to condense the entire plan into a 3 page outline that I used for shopping.
During the 7-day prequel and the 3-day sequel you basically eat fruits, vegetables and protein. No bread or dairy products. There are certain amounts of categories of food that you're supposed to get a minimum of. My favorite category is "liver-loving." Just say it out loud. You're also supposed to drink at least half of your body weight in ounces of water. I've had 80 oz today. Here's what I've eaten so far:
B: 2 eggs cooked in olive oil
L: Spinach salad with celery, mung bean sprouts, cucumbers and a little dressing I invented with olive oil, lemon juice, garlic and oregano. The oregano isn't on the list, but it's just a little shake and she seems okay with herbs. Apple.
S: Pear, carrots and celery, 1 1/2 C. chicken broth and I may tackle the orange on my desk.
Looking at the list of things I've already eaten as my Snack, I guess it's pretty obvious that I'm hungry. I'm kind of worried about swimming tonight and getting a headache. I just don't feel like eating any more vegetables right now. My body is used to carbohydrate fillers.
Another thing I have to get used to not having: my daily Diet Coke with Lime or Diet Dr. Pepper. I was planning on going cold turkey this weekend, but my roommate bought a 2 liter of Diet Dr. Pepper and asked me to help her finish it. So Saturday I had a big glass, Sunday I had a little glass and today I've had none at all. I think I would like a piece of my roommate's oatmeal bread more than a Diet Coke right now, so at least the caffeine craving isn't killing me.
70 laps on Friday, 32 in 14:30
80 laps on Saturday. I didn't do the long set because I was really feeling Thursday and Friday nights' swims. When I was on swim team, we had Wednesday mornings off so they could clean the pool, but I also see the utility of having practice for 2 days, then off for a day, then practice for 2 days. It gives your body the chance to recuperate a little, which right now in the early stages, I need.
My friend was looking to do a detox and bought this book a few weeks ago. After she read it, she loaned it to me and I thought I might like to try it, so we decided to do it together, for camaraderie and motivation. The program has a 7-day prequel, a 1-day "fast", and a 3-day sequel.
I put "fast" in quotes because the plan has you make a cranberry drink and you alternate 8-12 oz of the cranberry drink with 8 oz of water every hour. In my church we're supposed to fast the first Sunday of every month, for either 2 meals or 24 hours, depending on the individual. And they're not kidding with the word "fast". No water, no food, nothing. After growing up doing that once a month (when I remember), I think I'll be okay with this cranberry drink fast.
The author's blather kind of gets on my nerves. When I looked at her picture, my immediate thought was, "She looks perky." Her picture fits the tone of the book. But if you get past the perkiness and some of her crazy extremeness, I think there are some good things underneath it. Plus, the plan is only for 11 days, and my friend and I already determinined if we feel bad, we'll stop. I managed to condense the entire plan into a 3 page outline that I used for shopping.
During the 7-day prequel and the 3-day sequel you basically eat fruits, vegetables and protein. No bread or dairy products. There are certain amounts of categories of food that you're supposed to get a minimum of. My favorite category is "liver-loving." Just say it out loud. You're also supposed to drink at least half of your body weight in ounces of water. I've had 80 oz today. Here's what I've eaten so far:
B: 2 eggs cooked in olive oil
L: Spinach salad with celery, mung bean sprouts, cucumbers and a little dressing I invented with olive oil, lemon juice, garlic and oregano. The oregano isn't on the list, but it's just a little shake and she seems okay with herbs. Apple.
S: Pear, carrots and celery, 1 1/2 C. chicken broth and I may tackle the orange on my desk.
Looking at the list of things I've already eaten as my Snack, I guess it's pretty obvious that I'm hungry. I'm kind of worried about swimming tonight and getting a headache. I just don't feel like eating any more vegetables right now. My body is used to carbohydrate fillers.
Another thing I have to get used to not having: my daily Diet Coke with Lime or Diet Dr. Pepper. I was planning on going cold turkey this weekend, but my roommate bought a 2 liter of Diet Dr. Pepper and asked me to help her finish it. So Saturday I had a big glass, Sunday I had a little glass and today I've had none at all. I think I would like a piece of my roommate's oatmeal bread more than a Diet Coke right now, so at least the caffeine craving isn't killing me.
70 laps on Friday, 32 in 14:30
80 laps on Saturday. I didn't do the long set because I was really feeling Thursday and Friday nights' swims. When I was on swim team, we had Wednesday mornings off so they could clean the pool, but I also see the utility of having practice for 2 days, then off for a day, then practice for 2 days. It gives your body the chance to recuperate a little, which right now in the early stages, I need.
Friday, February 23, 2007
How Many Calories Can I Eat?
Today I found a Nutrition Guide where you enter in your height, you weight and your goal weight and it tells you how many calories you need to maintain or lose based on whether or not you're exercising. So I entered in 5'6", 200 and 155. I don't know if I agree with this.
You need 2023.2 calories per day to reach your goal weight slowly and maintain that weight without exercise.
If you reduce your current caloric intake to 1727.4 calories per day you will lose one pound per week without exercise.
If you exercise for 30 minutes each day, you will be able to reach your goal weight with 2248.4 calories per day.
If you exercise for 60 minutes each day, you will be able to reach your goal weight with 2529.9 calories per day.
The calorie counts seem kind of high. Or maybe it's just that my metabolism is so slow, I need a lot less calories to see weight loss.
You need 2023.2 calories per day to reach your goal weight slowly and maintain that weight without exercise.
If you reduce your current caloric intake to 1727.4 calories per day you will lose one pound per week without exercise.
If you exercise for 30 minutes each day, you will be able to reach your goal weight with 2248.4 calories per day.
If you exercise for 60 minutes each day, you will be able to reach your goal weight with 2529.9 calories per day.
The calorie counts seem kind of high. Or maybe it's just that my metabolism is so slow, I need a lot less calories to see weight loss.
Thursday, February 22, 2007
Let's Hear It for Accountability
I did walk to Harvard Square last night, so that was somewhere between 3.7 and 4 miles. Plus, my frozen world decided to melt a bunch, and then freeze over again just as I was starting my walk home. And my sneakers really don't have a lot of traction. So it was kind of like Extreme Walking as I climbed the ice hills and skated along the sidewalks. My legs were actually kind of sore when I went to bed last night.
Tonight I'm going swimming, which I'm trying to psyche myself up for. This week I'm having a hard time believing in this process, despite seeing some movement on the scale and in my inches a couple of weeks ago. I find myself thinking about buying the over the counter version of Orlistat, despite the yucky side effects*. Since I've been bobbing around my same weight by about 10 pounds or so for a couple of years, I've been feeling like if I could just get down to a decent weight, I could maintain it, give or take 10 pounds. Easier said than done.
So in the interest of full disclosure, and to have a record for myself so I can look at it and say, "Yep, you only have yourself to blame" I'm going to record my food.
B: 8 oz of Strawberry Stonyfield Farms FF yogurt and 1/6 C. Grape Nuts
L: Campbell's chunky chicken noodle soup and 10 Club crackers. (probably about 400 calories total)
S: Half a can of pineapple chunks in pineapple juice, 135 calories Half a Zone bar pre-workout at 110 calories.
D: Last three ounces of steak from dinner out a couple of nights ago, sweet potato, steamed broccoli.
S: 8 SF wafer cookies and 1 C. skim milk.
I think one of the bonuses of my food tastes, is I actually like the healthy stuff. The other day I opened the fridge, famished, and honestly thought, "Ooo, cottage cheese! Yummy!" Not that I don't like the unhealthy foods, but if I'm in the right mindset I will always go with the healthy choice. In fact after I indulge in unhealthy foods, I crave fruits and vegetables, feeling a need to cleanse my system somehow.
80 laps tonight, 32 in 14:20 (not a stellar time, obviously, but 20 seconds faster than last Tuesday so I'm excited about that).
On the weighing and measuring front, I've lost 2 more inches, which brings the grand total to 2 1/2 inches, but I haven't lost any weight. When does the weight losing actually start?
*I don't really want to write about them, so I'll just say, look them up. Gross.
Tonight I'm going swimming, which I'm trying to psyche myself up for. This week I'm having a hard time believing in this process, despite seeing some movement on the scale and in my inches a couple of weeks ago. I find myself thinking about buying the over the counter version of Orlistat, despite the yucky side effects*. Since I've been bobbing around my same weight by about 10 pounds or so for a couple of years, I've been feeling like if I could just get down to a decent weight, I could maintain it, give or take 10 pounds. Easier said than done.
So in the interest of full disclosure, and to have a record for myself so I can look at it and say, "Yep, you only have yourself to blame" I'm going to record my food.
B: 8 oz of Strawberry Stonyfield Farms FF yogurt and 1/6 C. Grape Nuts
L: Campbell's chunky chicken noodle soup and 10 Club crackers. (probably about 400 calories total)
S: Half a can of pineapple chunks in pineapple juice, 135 calories Half a Zone bar pre-workout at 110 calories.
D: Last three ounces of steak from dinner out a couple of nights ago, sweet potato, steamed broccoli.
S: 8 SF wafer cookies and 1 C. skim milk.
I think one of the bonuses of my food tastes, is I actually like the healthy stuff. The other day I opened the fridge, famished, and honestly thought, "Ooo, cottage cheese! Yummy!" Not that I don't like the unhealthy foods, but if I'm in the right mindset I will always go with the healthy choice. In fact after I indulge in unhealthy foods, I crave fruits and vegetables, feeling a need to cleanse my system somehow.
80 laps tonight, 32 in 14:20 (not a stellar time, obviously, but 20 seconds faster than last Tuesday so I'm excited about that).
On the weighing and measuring front, I've lost 2 more inches, which brings the grand total to 2 1/2 inches, but I haven't lost any weight. When does the weight losing actually start?
*I don't really want to write about them, so I'll just say, look them up. Gross.
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
Eating For All the Wrong Reasons
Last Tuesday night I did my 70 laps and was all psyched to go Wednesday and Thursday too when that big nasty Nor'easter blew into town. The pool closed on Wednesday and then Thursday we found out our building was having some major plumbling problems completely unrelated to the storm and I wound up going down to Providence for the next few days.
Tonight I have plans scheduled for 15 minutes after the pool opens, so I'm going to walk home. Actually, I'm going to walk to Harvard Square so I think tonight's walk will be a little closer to 4 miles than my previous walks. Tomorrow I'll hit the pool.
I'm coming to realize that having a boyfriend and a social life is not conducive to my no sugar plan, so at this point I'm allowing myself some treats. Yes, you can call me a failure. I kind of think I am. But my boyfriend gave me a big heart-shaped box of chocolates for V Day so I'm just supposed to say, No thanks? OK, maybe I am. He ate half of the chocolates though, so that's good.
Anyway, I hope that as long as I keep moving, a little treat now and then won't catch up with me too much. I am not buying any sugary products for myself. I kind of think of myself as a social sugar eater. It's my vice. I don't drink, I don't smoke, a Hershey Kiss with the truffle center isn't going to be the end of me (Speaking of which, have you tried those? I'm a dark chocolate girl usually, but those Truffle Kisses are divine).
Does anyone else think I'm trying too hard to rationalize? I know the way to really do this right is to not even indulge socially, but right now, when I'm feeling kind of down about a lot of things, a little chocolate now and then makes me happy.
You don't have to write me some long comment telling me how eating for emotional reasons is wrong, wrong, wrong. I know. It's just where I'm at right now.
Tonight I have plans scheduled for 15 minutes after the pool opens, so I'm going to walk home. Actually, I'm going to walk to Harvard Square so I think tonight's walk will be a little closer to 4 miles than my previous walks. Tomorrow I'll hit the pool.
I'm coming to realize that having a boyfriend and a social life is not conducive to my no sugar plan, so at this point I'm allowing myself some treats. Yes, you can call me a failure. I kind of think I am. But my boyfriend gave me a big heart-shaped box of chocolates for V Day so I'm just supposed to say, No thanks? OK, maybe I am. He ate half of the chocolates though, so that's good.
Anyway, I hope that as long as I keep moving, a little treat now and then won't catch up with me too much. I am not buying any sugary products for myself. I kind of think of myself as a social sugar eater. It's my vice. I don't drink, I don't smoke, a Hershey Kiss with the truffle center isn't going to be the end of me (Speaking of which, have you tried those? I'm a dark chocolate girl usually, but those Truffle Kisses are divine).
Does anyone else think I'm trying too hard to rationalize? I know the way to really do this right is to not even indulge socially, but right now, when I'm feeling kind of down about a lot of things, a little chocolate now and then makes me happy.
You don't have to write me some long comment telling me how eating for emotional reasons is wrong, wrong, wrong. I know. It's just where I'm at right now.
Tuesday, February 13, 2007
Report for Monday
70 laps last night and I'm going again tonight. My afternoon snack before heading to the pool: an apple and a Zone bar. I really felt like my speed was up last night, although I can't be completely sure since I couldn't really see the tiny little clock hanging on the wall on the other side of the pool. I wonder if the swim team would leave the giant stopwatch out by the pool if I asked nicely.
I'm almost thinking it might be worth it to walk home from work on Monday nights rather than brave the pool. Monday is the good intentions night, when everyone decides that they will start out this week right and get to the pool or the gym or what have you. I speak from experience since I have been part of the good intentions group myself and actually like front loading my week with exercise in case something comes up by the end of the week. The gym was always packed on Mondays too.
The good intentions falter some by Tuesday, and by Thursday I usually get a lane to myself for the entire 45 minutes or so that I'm there. On Mondays I never get one of the lanes that I like and find myself getting annoyed with the 3 girls who came to swim, but actually spend most of their time standing at one end of the pool chatting and taking up one and a half prime lanes.
I'm almost thinking it might be worth it to walk home from work on Monday nights rather than brave the pool. Monday is the good intentions night, when everyone decides that they will start out this week right and get to the pool or the gym or what have you. I speak from experience since I have been part of the good intentions group myself and actually like front loading my week with exercise in case something comes up by the end of the week. The gym was always packed on Mondays too.
The good intentions falter some by Tuesday, and by Thursday I usually get a lane to myself for the entire 45 minutes or so that I'm there. On Mondays I never get one of the lanes that I like and find myself getting annoyed with the 3 girls who came to swim, but actually spend most of their time standing at one end of the pool chatting and taking up one and a half prime lanes.
Thursday, February 08, 2007
Progress is Being Made
I swam 70 laps both last night and tonight. I think what I choose to have for an afternoon snack really affects my workout. Yesterday I had some carrots, which didn't fill me up so I had some chicken boullion (not broth) and then ate a small piece of bread right before I went over to the pool. It was a hard workout. I didn't feel coordinated and after 16 laps straight my head would be pounding.
However, today I had some pineapple for my snack and then half a Kashi Go Lean bar (which has soy protein in it) right before I went to the pool. I totally rocked it tonight and swam 32 laps in a row for the first time since the New Year. It's amazing how much food impacts my workout capacity.
Tonight I weighed and measured myself. In this past week, I have only lost 1.2 pounds, however, I've lost .5 inches and 1.5% in body fat! I'm excited about the body fat number since it means the swimming is really starting to tone me up. The .5 inches is cumulative so I actually lost in some places (most notably a whole half an inch off my hips) and gained in a couple of places (which I'm attributing to some muscle starting to bulk up under the fat I haven't lost yet. Yes, I have theories galore). I'm happy that things are actually improving.
However, today I had some pineapple for my snack and then half a Kashi Go Lean bar (which has soy protein in it) right before I went to the pool. I totally rocked it tonight and swam 32 laps in a row for the first time since the New Year. It's amazing how much food impacts my workout capacity.
Tonight I weighed and measured myself. In this past week, I have only lost 1.2 pounds, however, I've lost .5 inches and 1.5% in body fat! I'm excited about the body fat number since it means the swimming is really starting to tone me up. The .5 inches is cumulative so I actually lost in some places (most notably a whole half an inch off my hips) and gained in a couple of places (which I'm attributing to some muscle starting to bulk up under the fat I haven't lost yet. Yes, I have theories galore). I'm happy that things are actually improving.
Wednesday, February 07, 2007
What's That About?
A friend of mine was telling me about this new book she just bought about a de-tox diet she's going to do. Basically you only eat lots of fruits and veggies for 7 days, fast for a day, and then do a couple more days of fruits and veggies. No gluten, sugar, caffeine, etc.
I would worry that I would never be full during my detox. A lot of times I bring a ziploc bag of carrots to work and munch on them in the afternoon. While they definitely satiate that whole bored eating thing without being too high in calories, they never touch my hunger. In fact sometimes I feel more hungry after I eat the carrots. Are carrots one of those things where you expend more energy eating them than they actually contain?
I would worry that I would never be full during my detox. A lot of times I bring a ziploc bag of carrots to work and munch on them in the afternoon. While they definitely satiate that whole bored eating thing without being too high in calories, they never touch my hunger. In fact sometimes I feel more hungry after I eat the carrots. Are carrots one of those things where you expend more energy eating them than they actually contain?
Tuesday, February 06, 2007
Oh Yeah...
Just to keep things accurate, I swam 70 laps last Wednesday. I also did the grand measuring and weighing, which I'm going to do every week to see if there is any progress of any sort.
I swear my jeans are a tad less tight, but that may be wishful thinking on my part. Or wearing the same jeans too many days in a row. Whatever.
So I'm trying to keep everything in perspective, all in moderation and such, and I unexpectedly splurged both Sunday and Monday nights. Well, see, usually I have one splurge day, but I figured having dessert with dinner 2 nights in a row could sort of be compressed into being thought of as one day. Ah, the sweet, sweet tones of rationalization. However, I would just like to point out that Jason, my boyfriend, is constantly eating candy leftovers from the 75% off post-Halloween candy extravaganza and offering me some each time because he forgets I'm not eating the sugar. In fact, one time he literally tried to force part of a Kit-Kat between my tightly closed lips (in a playful, non-abusive boyfriend type manner). And there is currently a bowl of Hershey's Kisses and Hugs in our living room (courtesy of my teeny-tiny roommate). I have abstained from all of that.
So Sunday night I had 3 chocolate chip peanut butter cookies that Jason's sister-in-law made. And last night we went out to dinner with Jason's parents and because of some dinner issues got dessert for free. Appropriately I got the Big Fat Chocolate Cake. Oh, it was divine! Dark and rich, just like I like my chocolate (not to mention my men. Hee!).
Other than those little tidbits, I've been eating pretty well.
I can't go swimming tonight because I have to stay late at work. Well, not late really, just later than the pool is open for lap swimming. However, I plan to walk at least part of the way home from work. We'll see how far I get given that it's obscenely cold and windy in Boston. Charles/MGH? Kendall? Or all the way home?
I swear my jeans are a tad less tight, but that may be wishful thinking on my part. Or wearing the same jeans too many days in a row. Whatever.
So I'm trying to keep everything in perspective, all in moderation and such, and I unexpectedly splurged both Sunday and Monday nights. Well, see, usually I have one splurge day, but I figured having dessert with dinner 2 nights in a row could sort of be compressed into being thought of as one day. Ah, the sweet, sweet tones of rationalization. However, I would just like to point out that Jason, my boyfriend, is constantly eating candy leftovers from the 75% off post-Halloween candy extravaganza and offering me some each time because he forgets I'm not eating the sugar. In fact, one time he literally tried to force part of a Kit-Kat between my tightly closed lips (in a playful, non-abusive boyfriend type manner). And there is currently a bowl of Hershey's Kisses and Hugs in our living room (courtesy of my teeny-tiny roommate). I have abstained from all of that.
So Sunday night I had 3 chocolate chip peanut butter cookies that Jason's sister-in-law made. And last night we went out to dinner with Jason's parents and because of some dinner issues got dessert for free. Appropriately I got the Big Fat Chocolate Cake. Oh, it was divine! Dark and rich, just like I like my chocolate (not to mention my men. Hee!).
Other than those little tidbits, I've been eating pretty well.
I can't go swimming tonight because I have to stay late at work. Well, not late really, just later than the pool is open for lap swimming. However, I plan to walk at least part of the way home from work. We'll see how far I get given that it's obscenely cold and windy in Boston. Charles/MGH? Kendall? Or all the way home?
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