Saturday, May 1, 2010

May is for Me.

OK, this is it. May is "The Month". This is the month I am testing my body to see if it just needs "more" from me or if something is wrong here...

Since January I have been pretty dang faithful exercising an hour on an average of 3 days a week for (which is 3 more than I was prior to that) and eating fairly well, with the occasional splurge. By eating well, I mean my typical diet was:
Breakfast, one of the following:
- egg white omelette with spinach and fat-free feta cheese
- oatmeal
- whole grain, low-fat waffles with fruit
- yogurt
- low-fat cold cereal
- scrambled egg with low-fat turkey sausage
Lunch, one of the following:
- baked potato with fat-free sour cream
- sweet potato (no sugar or butter)
- cooked spinach
- salad (spring mix, apple or orange, fat-free dressing, about 1/8 c. walnuts)
Dinner
I cook the typical meals but I use low-fat or fat-free ingredients as much as possible and I typically avoid the "naughty-naughty" foods.

I've even been good when we eat out to choose some healthier options, such as salads or steamed vegetables over french fries; marinara sauce instead of creamy alfredo, etc.

Could I work myself harder? Yes. Could I deprive myself of more foods? Sure. And yet I feel I'm overall eating healthier than I have in a very long time and definitely exercising more than I EVER have. And yet I am not only "not losing", I am actually GAINING! And don't bother telling me it's "muscle"...it's not. I'm on the verge of being too fat for my FAT PANTS (ugh, it's so depressing saying that). I admit I have not had this huge desire to lose all this weight, but simply wanted to live a healthier lifestyle and be happy where that put me. However, packing on more weight was NOT IN THE PLAN. And we all know how much I like to make a plan. This is so aggravating. I'm seriously starting to wonder if something is up with my body.

So May is IT. For the next 31 days, I'm depriving myself of more things (nothing extreme, just stuff I enjoy that I feel could be hampering my succes like my morning glass of orange juice, eating bread, rice, and pasta, etc.) and stepping up the exercising. I have a goal to exercise AT LEAST 4 days a week, but shooting for 6. I want to push myself harder. In my opinion, I should see results by the end of the month. If I don't, then I really think I need to consider seeing a medical professional, because seriously, I don't understand the weight-gain. I can see maybe only maintaining my weight because yes, I could work harder, but the mere fact that I'm working at it at all tells me my weight should in the very least be steady if not going lower.

So wish me luck--we shall see!

Here's my starting weight and measurements:
WEIGHT: 171.4
BICEPS (or lack thereof): 13"
WAIST/STOMACH: 39.50"
BUTT (I like to affectionally call it my 'THUTT' as there's no real definition to where my thighs end and my butt begins): 44.75"
THIGHS: 27.75"

P.S. Could I have picked a worse month than my birth month? I guess November and December are decidedly worse months to resist goodies, but I have to disclose that on my birthday I will be allowing myself a little treat. I am turning 30, you know...that in itself deserves a sweet acknowledgment.

Hope Sig1

5 comments:

Wonderland Girl said...

thutt! i love it.

i hope you don't have.. like the opposite of a tape worm..?
In my professional opinion, I think the opposite of a tapeworm is called 30!! I've gained a ton of weight since the few months before the big 30 hit!

In all seriousness, though, good luck!! And I really should do it too, but...

Stacy said...

I love th thutt! You are so funny. One thing that really helped me lose weight was the Special K products. I would eat a bowl of Special K cereal in the morning, have one of the protein bars as a snack sometime during the day, have a healthy sandwich (on wheat bread) for lunch, and making healthy dinners. I cut out most all sugars (including natural ones with certain fruits) and some carbs. The big thing was uping my protein intake. It made a huge difference. Special K also has powder you can mix with water. It is protein water. It tastes good too. I lost the weight just changing to this way of eating, without exercising.

Good luck! I hope May brings good things!

Annie said...

I had a friend with similar issues and she had thyroid problems. Hopefully this does the trick and there is nothing medically wrong. Good luck!

Tif said...

Good luck Hope. You have worked hard and deserve a break. I hope May is it for you and that you find the answers you are looking for. You are brave for being so honest and open. Let me know if I can help with your kids to give you more time to go to the gym. We'd love to have them over.

Heather said...

I can't believe you posted all your stats, you rock! I strongly recommend keeping a food diary. Whether it's one online or physical paper it doesn't really matter. Even if you are eating all the right things, the caloric deficit may not be enough. Also, I totally agree with Stacy, up the protein. I found working with all the people that I did that increasing protein really makes a difference. Good luck!

"The democracy will cease to exist when you TAKE AWAY from those who are willing to work AND GIVE to those who would not."



Thomas Jefferson