This is the part of starting exercising that is kind of frustrating. I weighed and measured myself on Saturday only to find I haven't lost an ounce. I weigh exactly what I did last Saturday morning. So while I'm glad I wasn't weighing myself every day this week and feeling frustrated every day, it's still a little disheartening to feel like I've done all this good work, but to not have the scale move.
However, then I measured. All told, I've lost a little more than 2 inches all over my body this week. That means I've lost 3 and 3/4 inches in the past two weeks. Nice, right? This week alone, I lost a half inch off my waist and a quarter inch off my hips. So even though I didn't lose any weight, I lost fat this week, and in my mind, that's better. There are so many reasons it's better. For one, muscle burns calories faster than fat. So no wonder I've been so hungry.
I have always thought the fact that there was no measurement aspect to The Biggest Loser was one of its failings. On those weeks when someone has a lower number in the pounds lost, or even gains, I think there should be some way to say, "But wait! Let's see what the measuring tape has to say." Because chances are, that person didn't screw up that week, he or she just added some muscle. Maybe they should measure weight and body fat percentage. That seems a bit more fair.
Saturday morning I swam for 75 minutes and did 130 lengths. That's the most I've done at once since...well, I can't remember really. It's been a long time. I wanted to do 140 and get a full 2 miles, but lap swimming ended. I only needed 5 more minutes!
Saturday I caught a true second wind and it felt great! I warmed up, did 8 50's on 1:00 and then did the following set:
100 R :25
200 R :30
300 R :35
400 R :40
300 R :35
200 R :30
100
For one, I did that last 100 in 1:35. Those were lengths 104-108 so I'm pretty happy that I shaved 3 seconds off of Thursday's time. For two, I got a total burst of energy right in the middle of that 400. During the first 300, I kind of thought I was going to die. I've been working on breathing on both sides so as not to strain my right shoulder too much and injure myself like I have done before when I've started swimming again too quickly. However, when I start getting tired, breathing on my left gets more difficult and I feel like I'm a short inhale away from drowning. It's not quite that bad, but I definitely feel like I'm floundering.
After I caught my second wind, not only did I feel like I could keep swimming forever, but breathing on my left suddenly got a lot easier. Then after my workout, I had a total endorphin buzz. Instead of feeling exhausted after pushing myself, I felt great. Let's hear it for endorphins.
3 comments:
Wow, you are doing well - I only breathe on one side, will have to try the other side as well now!
Keep on doing what you are doing!
I am so glad you weigh and measure. I have been so frustrated by the non-moving scale too many times!
As far as The Biggest Loser goes, I'm thinking the exact same thing every week!
FFM, for YEARS I've only breathed on the right side. But then my shoulder started bugging me and I realized if I breathed more on the left, it helped. I'm trying to undo 26 years of swimming style and it's hard. I can do it easily when I'm just pulling and there's a buoy between my legs, but once I add kicking, it's much harder.
Andrea, I totally think body fat should be a measure! Especially after last night's episode.
Post a Comment