If you've been apart of any leadership/new job/new class seminar you've probably run into the saying "keep it simple stupid". All told, I always cringe when I hear this saying, but I can't help myself.
Going along with my post yesterday and my determination to finally lose weight, I'm trying to keep everything as simple as possible for myself. For starters, I know that even though I really don't want to (like many other things) I need to keep a food and exercise journal. This is something that I've been doing all week.
I've been researching how many calories I should consume to lose weight, which is pretty vague and doesn't always put everything into account. With that said I followed this calculation: my weigh x 7= calories needed to lose weight. That's 2,030 for me. For every pound lost, I will go down 10 calories. I calculated what my daily points goal would be on Weight Watchers and its pretty much exactly the same: 2,000 calories. I'm not going to aim to eat that much, but I don't want to go lower than 1,500 or higher than 2,000.
I also have food specific goals such as cutting out sugar and refined carbs as much as possible and focusing on a more protein rich, whole grain, fruit and vegetable diet. I also want to include little things like eating less in the evening, stopping food intake by 6pm, and drinking unsweetened green tea, coffee or water only. I'm pretty good about drinking only water at all occasions and staying hydrated so that's merely just a reminder.
I'm working on a new page to update my food and exercise just so I can have an online database of my progress, I'm not going to stress myself about updating it daily especially if I'm keeping a written food journal, but I will update it at least once a week.
Have a I mentioned that I'm getting fitted for my wedding dress in 12 weeks?
This week I've done two strength training sessions, wii fit yoga/aerobics/balance, spend time on the elliptical, the rowing machine and the stair climber. I find that some days I get bored with being the elliptical for so long that I can't stand it so I started doing a little circuit. 15 minutes on the elliptical, 10 on the rowing machine, 5 on the stair master and back around again. The stair master is a bitch, for serious. I was struggling and could only stay on for 3 minutes, but the time after I was able to stay on for 5 minutes.
So far today, I've done wii fit balance and yoga. Its a lot of fun and the time passes really quickly too. Me and Josh are constantly trying to out-do the others score. I'll admit that I'm a little smug about having the highest score on most of the games.
My new daily affirmation is "I'm a fit and healthy person" I've been repeating this pretty consistently for the past couple of days and it really changes my perspective. If I believe I am a fit and healthy person, I will act like one, and then become one.
random: I wish spell check would consider "blog" and "carb" words
I love wii fit! You’re a great writer, I enjoy reading your blogs. Good luck with everything!
Your specific food goals sound great! Take it one day at a time and glad you are having so much fun with wii fit – I haven’t tried it yet, but, am very tempted to buy it.
oxo.
I ran across your blog and I love it. I’m also on my own journey.
Somehow I happened upon an app for my Ipod touch called Livestrong. It runs thru the Lance Armstrong website, which in and of itself has loads of info.
But the Livestrong app is THE BOMB!! It is the perfect food diary. You can input your measurements, etc, and it tells you what you can have based on a few different goal sets that you can choose from.
But ALSO, you can also search their database for whichever foods you have eaten, and input how much you have eaten (ie. 1 serving, 1/14 serving, etc). The database is expansive and has info on everything from McDonalds to obscure foods that I find at the health food store. Which, if you’ve ever tried one of these apps you know that there is usually only the McDonalds info there.
After all of that is said and done, you can input what kind of exercise you have had for the day and how much of it, and it tabulates everything for you and tells you how you did.
In 2 weeks of using this app I lost about 10 or so pounds (I think. I don’t weigh myself, but i know my body). I think most of all it was because I was “eating honestly”, but it kept me in check.
Good luck to you!!
Oh. also:
1. I read recently that research is now showing that it really doesn’t make such a difference if you eat early or late. Your body runs around the clock and will utilize as much energy as it needs throughout any 24hr period, and the rest will just, you know……
2. I also have heard recently about the strong links between the digestive system and the emotional centers in the brain, and how science is now seeing how tightly they are linked. Not only does your digestion affect your mood, but in turn you mood can help/hinder you digestion. Therefore, don’t forget to laugh a lot and treat yourself well!!
A fellow WiiFiter! I am loving my WiiFit and its strange ability to make exercise actually enjoyable rather than ‘something which must be done’.
Your weight loss plan sounds extremely sensible and I wish you all the very best of luck.
Hey lady bug! Keep up the positive work. As someone in your very similar shoes ( I am 5’10 and started this year at 320lbs) I started my lifestyle change with more info like my BMR or Basal Metabolic Rate (equation can be found on google). Which has helped me understand the calories I need more than anything else. Sparkpeople (which I love) wanted me to be between 1500 and 1800 which is waaaayyy too low. Especially since I work out and have a physical job. So in order to maintain my current weight I would need to eat 3093 cal. a day. Whoa…. I couldn’t believe I had been eating about that almost every day! So I am playing with 2000 to 2500 depending on how physically demanding my day is. We will see if it works.
Good luck!
Hi There! I stumbled across your blog as I was looking for fellow inspiration and supposrt. As of January 1st, I weighed in at my heaviest, which was 272 lbs. “Keep it simple stupid” Really defines the answer to weight loss. Eat right & exercise. There is no magic or faster way. Wish I had a Wii! So jealous….But we are getting a treadmill and I will be doing that as well as some tapes I have. Ive lost 6 lbs so far. Sounds like we are both on the right track. I am getting ready for a wedding myself- not my own, but my sister in laws, in VA. So July 25th is my goal to a thinner better version of me. I will not go to another wedding fat! Much support and love being sent your way!
Hey there Lorrie, you are doing fantastically. Good for you. I am also working at being a healthier person. I found a eating program called the eat clean diet. It has great recipes for whole grain, lean protein meals, increased produce meals and menus. fyi if you are looking for ideas.
Just wanted to say I find your blog inspirational! Keep up the good work…
It sounds like you have a great plan to gets started! I’ve heard Wii Fit is awesome, unfortunately I don’t have a Wii and I’m too broke to buy one, so I use workouts on demand instead. It really does get fun after a few weeks! Now I look forward to it.
Hi,
I completely understand where you are coming from… I am the same age and going through the same weight loss hell… as well as getting married in 8 weeks!
Only we can change our bodies, no one else. A good therapist can help you with emotional eating. good luck!
Excellent blog.
Keep up the good work, you can and will reach your target.
Good Luck!
GOOD LUCK WITH ALL YOU ARE DOING. I WAS REALLY HEAVY A FEW YEARS AGO AND LOST IT AND HAVE KEPT MOST OF IT OFF – NOT ALL. 30LBS KEEPS WANTING TO COME BACK SO I AM STRUGGLING WITH THE GYM. FEEL LIKE I’M GETTING NO WHERE RIGHT NOW BUT STILL CHUGGIN ALONG. YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL AND SHOULD STICK TO YOUR GOALS -