Thursday, November 4, 2004

Growing Pains

Tonight we went for our second training session with Abel at the gym.

I have two words: Ow and EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE.

Today we worked out our arms and abs.  My two weakest muscle groups.  So I'm feelin it a little more than I did with the chest and back or even the legs. 

But it's a good sore.  It's a sore that says I'm doing something good for my body.  This is about pushing myself outside of my comfort zone and leaping off of that plateau.

 

Which, btw, I have officially smashed through.  My "official" weight thanks to this fancy shmancy scale he has is 278lbs.  So yayyyy me. 

The other stats aren't so welcoming.  The BMI was high, I can't remember exactly but it was in the 40s.  I need to be 25 or under to be "healthy".  The fat ratio was 52%, which sucked.  Abel looked like he didn't even want to tell me LOL It was actually kind of sweet how nice he was about it.

He also assured me that the results would be much more dramatic, and he expected me to drop below 40% in no time if I kept watching what I ate and exercising faithfully.

 

Speaking of watching what I ate, that scale also told me how many calories I need to take in to maintain my current weight.  It wasn't the very high numbers I found on the web.  It was only 2200.  So I've decided rather than go down 1000 calories to 1200, I'm going to go down to 1800 so that I create a deficit of 400.  That means I have to make up anywhere from 100-600 in exercise to lose 1 to 2 lbs of fat a week.

The great thing also about this scale is it tells you how much non fat body mass you have also, and for me it was about 133.  Abel says I should shoot for somewhere between 140 - 145lbs, so that's what I'm going to do.

It also tells you how much water you are retaining as well, so I never have to wonder if my weight is up or down because of hormonal changes.  These are all great things.

 

So themini goal for me isn't what I'm going to lose.  I'm not aiming for any numbers, I'm aiming for the activity and dietary guidelines I have set for myself.  The weight will be a by-product. 

 

I'm still liking the gym.  Today I was a *wee* bit uncomfortable about the ab roller I used, laying next to a normal weight woman doing the same thing.  I cringe even thinking about it.  But I am not going to let that stop me.  Abel says to do that every single time we go in, and so I shall.  Say goodbye to girth, cuz she's outta here.

 

Tomorrow we take the kids and I'm really looking forward to it.  So are the kids.  They were bummed they couldn't go tonight.  Abel says he's going to coach them as well after he's done with our training because they're more likely to listen to him than us.  I couldn't agree more. 

I'll have the full report on which machines kick my boys' behinds.  Can you say eliptical?  I knew that you could.

 

Tip of the Day: EATING OUT, PART I.  Most people feel like they can't eat out anymore once they make a committment to healthier eating.  Nothing could be further from the truth.  However you will have to modify how you eat out, that way you can still enjoy your food without a side order of guilt.  The best way to start your meal is with a soup or salad.  This will take the edge of your hunger so that when the entree comes you will be less likely to gorge yourself.  A clear, broth based soup with vegetables is particularly good as an appetizer because soups in general tend to decrease your appetite.  A garden salad also can hold you over until your entree arrives.  Ask for the dressing on the side so you can monitor how much dressing actually makes it onto your plate, aim for a tablespoon or so.

 

Stats: 1885
Fat: 30%
Sat. Fat: 11%
Fiber: 32g
Calcium: 3985mg
Water: 48oz
Exercise: 45 mins working on weights, arms and abs

DAILY AFFIRMATION: To enjoy a better path you have to walk a different direction.

 

 

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

I knew you'd like the gym! :-)  Sounds like you have a great trainer too!  The guy (his name was Skip) who got me started was a great guy too...very nonjudgemental and patient.  He still comes up to me once in awhile when I'm working out and asks me how it's going.  I really have become much less conscious of other people around me working out.  Since I go at the same time every day it's usually the same people. Some will say hello to me others just don't even seem to know I exist, which is fine with me!  LOL  I've got a couple of women acquaintances there that I talk to when I go which has been nice.  There are also very few people when I go early in the morning, so that's a plus.  I can't wait to hear the stories of your whole family going to the gym together...what a fantastic and fun time that will be for all of you!
On a side note....I'm so glad you update your journal every day...right now it's really helping me to keep myself from just giving up.  To see your determination and never quit attitude keeps me going...THANK YOU!!!
*HUGS*
Nancy :-)

Anonymous said...

WOW!!!  I want one of THOSE scales!  That is amazing!

Tracy