Week 17 - No weight change

197.2 now! Lost 2 ounces LOL

I am not going to say I reached a plateau this week. I stayed the same because I didn't work out. At least not really. I walked/ran only 2 times last week. That's really bad for me. That explains why I felt heavy last week and only lost 2 ounces lol. Plus I didn't work out because I went out both for lunch and dinners most nights so I was busy. So not good for me! Luckily my metabolism is still working hard for me but not really working out last couple of weeks is not helping me!


I also noticed that I lose energy when I don't work out. Feels like a catch 22 for me. I don't work out I get sluggish but when I feel sluggish I just want to watch TV and don't want to get up and run lol. What to do right? This week I forced myself up and out of there. Hurt me to get back on track but I'm already feeling better :)


It's going to be hard to get back into complete shape this week because its my birthday week and have lots of events to attend lol. So much to do so little time! Actually what I'm doing (which I should of done last week) is switch over to morning runs instead of evening runs since my nights are busy. I have 2 parties (including my birthday one :) ) this weekend so it's going to be a challenge to keep up my good work lol. Shots, shots, shots! Come on next week!! 

Week 15 - lost 3 pounds!

Wow 196.6!

Wow so did I really lose 3 pounds? Could it be the week I took off from running helped me past the mini-plateau I encountered at 199? Or will it go back up a pound or so when I weigh myself this weekend when I stabilize? I’m still scared that the scale is wrong but I’ll take it LOL. I think it helped that I didn’t eat badly last week at all. Stayed about 1200 – 1400 calories daily. 

It took me a couple days to get back in the swing of things by not running for almost 1 week but I’m back! My body feels stronger now. I think I had pushed myself too hard by running daily but its feeling good now. I was able to run past 3 miles this Saturday! 

I’m still working on diet I’m still trying to find ways to incorporate more veggies into my diet and trying to remember to take my vitamins daily but it’s so hard. It’s not normal for me yet. But I know in time it will be.

I have added an occasional “juice drink” into a meal here and there, an “Orange Bang” or a lemonade but I don’t want to make it into a habit. I got used to drinking water all day and plan on continuing this. And I have been craving coke’s again. I miss the taste of it and it gets hard to ignore sometimes because I want it on a hot sunny day lol. Stay strong right?

Week 11 - Weigh in!

My due diligence is paying off. I lost 2 more pounds this week! My total since I began in January 2012 is 13 pounds lost now :) I was exceptionally good last week though. Every night I ate dinner early, rested and then went out for my nightly run after. I think that helped too. I know I can’t continue that weekly because I have too many commitments but it was very peaceful and easy for me.

As my food habits are improving I do see the negative consequences of eating bad now. I’m not even craving it so much since it does affect me physically to eat greasy foods (ew right?). Except French fries. I can eat a handful here and there so that never harms me LOL. And I don’t feel deprived…well unless we talk about sodas. I do miss my occasional Coca Cola. That is the only thing I miss. My goal was never to eliminate it but to keep it as an occasional treat.

Again, I’m seeing a slimmer me now as I mentioned last week my bf commented on how big my jeans are getting and they had always been tight on me :)  I refuse to buy any new jeans until my “skinny” jeans are too big on me too lol. I am excited to stop being in the 200’s and look forward to the 100’s!! My immediate goal was to get down to 190. It’s tangible and I’m halfway there now! I'm running 3-4 miles nightly now so my first goal is going to happen sooner than I thought :)

Once I meet that goal, my next step will be 175. I’m taking it all as baby steps. Small goals at a time! 

Runner's high!

My running is definitely steady now. I have a really good pace going. Call it a runner's high or something but I'm enjoying it and it really does relax you. I'm sleeping earlier and deeper these days. It might be the weight loss too lol. Joining the Biggest Loser with my friends was the best thing for me. I won't miss when its over in a month but I'm grateful for it because it got me off my butt!

Roasted Nut Crunch bar - Nature's Valley

I'm now starting to work on my diet a little more. Adding a dash of cinnamon to my plain oatmeal in the mornings (gives it a bit of flavor) and eating lighter lunches with a mixture of veggies, brown rice and tuna. Don't know why I love that combination but its so good! 


I'm also working on my snacks. Found these Nature's Valley's bars that are soooooo good and have 6 grams of protein each! Check them out. You'll love them too! I try to always have a banana to snack on every other day at least since they help me not cramp up when I'm running.


I can run 4 miles now! So proud of me!
Here's last nights run stats via my Twitter @chasincaroline feed:
just ran 4.2 mi in 45 mins 29 secs and burned 633 calories. Total burned so far: 11707 calories! on 3/7/12 at 5:11 PM #cardiotrainer

Week 8 - weigh in - Lost 2 pounds!

My jogging has improved! And I can do it pretty much every day now which is awesome. I'm doing more running than walking now but I still have my day when I'm feeling sluggish. I'm just not letting it slow me down...I'll just walk it until I get a burst of energy and run LOL. My progress is showing thought, since this past week I lost 2 pounds!!

Yesterday’s tweet: “just ran 3.1 mi in 42 mins 15 secs and burned 481 calories. Total burned so far: 4988 calories! on 2/19/12 at 8:36 AM #cardiotrainer”

I’m amazed at how easily the weight is dropping now. I get full faster during meals (shrunk stomach??) but I’m hungry more often. Great news for me! Means I’m metabolizing efficiently now. I’m still not on 100% healthy meal plan but it’s getting there. I eat less bad food so I say that’s a feat in its own right LOL.

I’m scared for this upcoming weekend. Friday we are heading out to Big Bear for a weekend vacation. I’m excited to finally go on vacation but traveling on vacation and traveling for work are different things. Vacation means bad food and lots of alcohol. I’m not going to lie..I’m going to indulge. So I’m thinking my goal this week is to eat healthy every day leading up to Friday. At least I’m able to get one last good run in on Friday before we depart. I may make that a 4 mile run! Saturday and Sunday I’ll aim to do a Tae Bo video or my own kickboxing and running in place since we are going to be snowed in. On Saturday we will be active with snow tubing all morning so at least I will have some activity. I just don’t want to gain anything for Sunday’s weigh in.

Wish me luck. Any suggestions on working out indoors will be greatly appreciated!

Changes I've noticed on my #body...

As I'm easing into week 6 I've noticed changes already happening in my body due to the daily run/walks, increased water intake (from almost 0 - 5-8 bottles of water daily!), and decrease in food. I'm sleeping better and deeper now. I really do feel rested now when I wake up. My face is pretty clear. I've never really had face issues and still get the "teen" flareups here and there but my skin is looking pretty smooth and even these days. Can't describe it but I hold my water increase responsible LOL.

I'm noticing the slow reshaping of my body. I'm still at the beginning of my journey but I can already see my waist again (yay) and I can see my legs smoothing out.

I'm still at the run/walk of my daily routine. I don't punish myself if I can't work out one day but I continue it the next day. I'm still doing 2 miles daily. I will be increasing it to 3 miles as soon as I can get my time down to 20 minutes each mile at least. I'm still at 25-30 minutes per mile. Very slow, although, my heart is racing and I'm sweating (only the parts I run) so I know it's working me out.

I also added ab work to my routine. I make it a habit to stretch, throw in some squats and kickboxing, but mostly I do sit-ups. My stomach is getting flatter and my "love handles" are getting smaller. Can't wait till it's all gone!

I'm very happy with how things are going. I noticed too that with eating less, my appetite has gotten smaller so now I really do get full faster with less food. I'm glad I shrunk my stomach lol. So I'm still eating bad for me foods but less of it or omitting the extra starches lol. It's helping me that's for sure!

I love fries..good for diet??

Our idea of portion control - leave 1 of each behind LOL

   



  Ok, why is it so hard not to eat fries? I've actually done pretty good at limiting my meals these days since you can eat most things with moderation but what about fries? Why are they sooo good? It's the only real fried food my bf likes, its one of the few fried foods my bff likes as well so between them I've eaten fries at least 5 times since last week LOL. I've been good with it though. I only eat enough to satisfy my craving since they ordered but I don't know how this will help with the "NEW ME" lol.

For instance check out today's lunch. We split a garden burger but then had small order of fries (yes small order) but we also added it's cousin, the fried Zucchini! Another evil in itself. A veggie gone wrong LOL.

Anybody else, have a good solution to saying no to fries? I didn't run/walk yesterday but will tonight and in all fairness it's only Tuesday. I worked out and was super active all weekend so I don't feel guilty but today's fries can't be good LOL.

I guess I better eat a healthy dinner and forget about it.

However, I have 5 dinner/drink events starting Wednesday - Sunday. Then I travel all next week. I'm so scared! This is when I go bad! I'm going to have to switch to morning runs for the week to stay on top of it because between all the birthdays, work functions, farewell party and THE SUPERBOWL..I'm going to hurt.

Wish me luck, send me advice or alternatives..I'm going to need them! Ok back to work I go now LOL.

New Year. New me!

Date: 1/1/2012
Weight: 211 (yikes!)


Activity up to this date: none
Activity this week: biking (few minutes), walking, brisk walking and finally I ran! Only for a fraction of a mile but it's a start :)

2012 is going to be my year! I'm planning on becoming as active physically as I used to be. It's been such a struggle to even become motivated to do this but I'm already feeling a better and I've only been working out for 1 week LOL.

Diet has not improved at all this week. Still had a lot of starches and fried foods but I got rid of sodas haha. That is a big deal for me! Let's see how long I can go before I cave. I gave up soda once for 2 years right before I moved away from Boston but a year into LA living (2 years total) I got sucked into "my first one" LOL. They said it's only 1 soda...no big deal....it's big for me!

Ok well, Operation Get Moving has begun. Wish me luck!