Okay... here it goes.... I'm going to set a new goal for myself. I know we're getting into the holidays and that's typically a hard time to lose weight, but if I'm going to lose this weight that I've gained I can't wait until after the holidays! I can't keep making excuses, and I can't postpone making changes just because I'm afraid it will be difficult. The truth is... it WILL be difficult! If it were easy to lose the weight, it wouldn't be here!
So I'd really like to see myself back down to 115 by the end of the year. That gives me 6 weeks to lose 9 lbs! It'll be a challenge, but I think I can do it... So, in my typical fashion, here are some numbers to help me think through this goal of mine....
To lose 9 lbs, I need to rid myself of 31,500 calories.
To do it in 6 weeks I need to rid myself of 5,250 calories per week.
That translates to 750 calories per day.
According to this calculator, my basal metabolic rate is 1342 (1350 for easy calculations)
If I eat 1100-1200 calories a day, that means I automatically lose 150-250 calories per day.
So... I need to burn 500-600 calories a day through activity or exercise.
According to the Harris Benedict Equation, calculating for a sedentary lifestyle, I should burn about 1610 (1600 for easy calculations) per day. Through my daily activity, then, I automatically lose 400-500 calories.
So... calculating conservatively (assuming I eat closer to 1200 calories than 1100) I need to burn 350 calories through exercise every day.
I should be able to do that.
Whew! This is going to take some diligence and effort. I am going to have to exercise EVERY DAY. Even weekends. And I am going to have to burn at least 350 calories every time I exercise.
This is going to be a challenge for me.
Saturday, November 15, 2008
Finding the balance
I'm on day 3 of calorie tracking. So far so good, I think. I'm staying in my calorie range and the first two days, which are always the hardest, are over. Thankfully I kept busy with Erika Grinder (scrapping on Thursday and canning yesterday) so I wasn't even tempted to snack. Today I'm home all day, so I will have to be on my guard a little more...
So I'm getting back into the groove of calorie counting. Now I just have to find the balance... the balance of fitting it into my day and not getting sucked into the computer just because I'm entering food into SparkPeople. The balance of getting all the nutrients I need, without too much fat. The balance of feeding my family the food they need while keeping my own dietary goals in mind. So now it's about finding the balance, I guess, and that's what I need to work on.
So I'm getting back into the groove of calorie counting. Now I just have to find the balance... the balance of fitting it into my day and not getting sucked into the computer just because I'm entering food into SparkPeople. The balance of getting all the nutrients I need, without too much fat. The balance of feeding my family the food they need while keeping my own dietary goals in mind. So now it's about finding the balance, I guess, and that's what I need to work on.
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Moderation is not my strong point.
If it's not the 3 glasses of eggnog in an afternoon (at 440 calories per glass!!) it's the other end of the spectrum with a dearth of calories....
I started calorie counting today. I think I might have hit bottom when I got on the scale and saw it up 10 lbs from what I was just a few months ago! So discouraging! But today I did something about it, and it didn't include comfort food!
I started calorie counting today. And I'd forgotten how hard it was to count calories! Not so hard to do the counting, as how hungry I got when I wasn't shoving food into my face every time I felt like it. I was away from home for most of the day, but I limited my beverage consumption to water and coffee (which is calorie free if I drink it black - and I did!) and so I wasn't snacking all the time like I would have been at home. That was a lifesaver! But I got home and entered everything into Spark People and learned that even after calculating my dinner calories (leftover tortilla soup - and I skipped the cheese on it) I was still only at 500 some calories for the day! Sigh... moderation is not my strong point. If I'm not over eating, I'm under eating. Will I ever learn?
The good news is that I'm now up to 850 calories, so maybe I have a little room for a snack later on. I did drink some full sugar pop with dinner, but I limited it to 8 oz, and I don't feel badly about the calories given the rest of my caloric dearth of a day.
So... 300 or so calories to go tonight. That's not too bad, and I will eat them. I also have 32 oz of water to drink still and something else from the fruit and veggie family to consume. I'm making apple butter tonight (because we're canning tomorrow!) so maybe I'll eat an apple.
Anyway, I'm back on the wagon. It's been too long and too many lbs and now I have 20 lbs to lose instead of 10. So... off to change some habits again and see where that gets me.
I started calorie counting today. I think I might have hit bottom when I got on the scale and saw it up 10 lbs from what I was just a few months ago! So discouraging! But today I did something about it, and it didn't include comfort food!
I started calorie counting today. And I'd forgotten how hard it was to count calories! Not so hard to do the counting, as how hungry I got when I wasn't shoving food into my face every time I felt like it. I was away from home for most of the day, but I limited my beverage consumption to water and coffee (which is calorie free if I drink it black - and I did!) and so I wasn't snacking all the time like I would have been at home. That was a lifesaver! But I got home and entered everything into Spark People and learned that even after calculating my dinner calories (leftover tortilla soup - and I skipped the cheese on it) I was still only at 500 some calories for the day! Sigh... moderation is not my strong point. If I'm not over eating, I'm under eating. Will I ever learn?
The good news is that I'm now up to 850 calories, so maybe I have a little room for a snack later on. I did drink some full sugar pop with dinner, but I limited it to 8 oz, and I don't feel badly about the calories given the rest of my caloric dearth of a day.
So... 300 or so calories to go tonight. That's not too bad, and I will eat them. I also have 32 oz of water to drink still and something else from the fruit and veggie family to consume. I'm making apple butter tonight (because we're canning tomorrow!) so maybe I'll eat an apple.
Anyway, I'm back on the wagon. It's been too long and too many lbs and now I have 20 lbs to lose instead of 10. So... off to change some habits again and see where that gets me.
Monday, November 10, 2008
Struggling...
... both with weight AND motivation. I stink at losing weight this time of year. I am all about comfort food. And I'm up another lb today. Grrr.
It probably won't help, either, that I've had both ice cream AND a few oreos today. I guess the good news is that the oreos are gone, so I won't be eating may more of them. There were only about 5 there anyway, but I'm grumpy at myself for eating them.
We're having chicken tortilla soup for dinner tonight, so at least that's not terrible for me. But it's a rainy, dreary day, and that always makes me less motivated to exercise.
On the plus side, I did play DDR with my mom a couple nights last week, so that has given me a taste for it again. Hopefully that will encourage me to get down there and do it some by myself! I'd forgotten how fun it was!
It probably won't help, either, that I've had both ice cream AND a few oreos today. I guess the good news is that the oreos are gone, so I won't be eating may more of them. There were only about 5 there anyway, but I'm grumpy at myself for eating them.
We're having chicken tortilla soup for dinner tonight, so at least that's not terrible for me. But it's a rainy, dreary day, and that always makes me less motivated to exercise.
On the plus side, I did play DDR with my mom a couple nights last week, so that has given me a taste for it again. Hopefully that will encourage me to get down there and do it some by myself! I'd forgotten how fun it was!
Friday, November 7, 2008
yeek!
Maybe I shouldn't have gotten on the scale.... I'm up to 122! Perhaps I should give up my hot chocolate laced with heavy whipping cream with breakfast in the mornings....
.... or maybe I should just get off my booty and do some exercise!
.... or maybe I should just get off my booty and do some exercise!
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
From SparkPeople
I just got this email in my inbox and it's got some things I need to remember, so I figured I'd share...
Squeezing in Exercise
Do you feel more like a chauffeur than a parent? We all know that exercise is important for us to stay healthy, but between cooking, cleaning up, budgeting, homework help, and--oh, yeah--sleep, who has the time?
Next time you feel too busy to exercise, try squeezing it in to your schedule with these tips:
During Drive Time
Try some isometric exercises: Squeeze your glutes, contract your abs, and work your calves by raising your legs up on your toes at red lights. Park far from your destination so you have to walk farther. Arrive early to your event, if possible, to allow time for a brisk walk.
At Programs, Practices, and Games
Walk around the facility before or after the event; look for chances to combine a class or activity with those of your children. For example, take aerobics while your daughter has basketball practice at the YMCA.
While Keeping House
Shop at big stores where there'll be lots of walking; do meal prep and cleanup with a little music and dancing. Clean to music, and shun some of your labor saving devices (like remotes). When doing yard work, keep moving! Use your leg and glute muscles (instead of your back) to shovel, rake, move dirt, etc.
When doing laundry, do squats to pick up unfolded laundry from the basket, and take fitness breaks during homework time, such as stretching or jumping rope for a few minutes. (Your kids will love it too!) Become your dog's best friend--most dogs are always ready to boogie!
For Play Dates
Keep in mind the old adage that children live what they learn. If you don't want your kids to be couch potatoes, be a good example. Walk to the library for story hour; plan regular play times at the park or pool; when snow keeps you home, go play in it. By making physical activity fun, you'll lay the foundation for your kids to have healthy, active lives. What's more, you'll rediscover that activity can be fun--not just another item to check off your grown-up list!
I know that I already know this stuff, but sometimes it is just so hard to remember! I feel like I need to schedule it in, but sometimes I just need to squeeze it in even if my schedule doesn't "allow" for it. Exercise is important, and I need to make it a priority.
Squeezing in Exercise
Do you feel more like a chauffeur than a parent? We all know that exercise is important for us to stay healthy, but between cooking, cleaning up, budgeting, homework help, and--oh, yeah--sleep, who has the time?
Next time you feel too busy to exercise, try squeezing it in to your schedule with these tips:
During Drive Time
Try some isometric exercises: Squeeze your glutes, contract your abs, and work your calves by raising your legs up on your toes at red lights. Park far from your destination so you have to walk farther. Arrive early to your event, if possible, to allow time for a brisk walk.
At Programs, Practices, and Games
Walk around the facility before or after the event; look for chances to combine a class or activity with those of your children. For example, take aerobics while your daughter has basketball practice at the YMCA.
While Keeping House
Shop at big stores where there'll be lots of walking; do meal prep and cleanup with a little music and dancing. Clean to music, and shun some of your labor saving devices (like remotes). When doing yard work, keep moving! Use your leg and glute muscles (instead of your back) to shovel, rake, move dirt, etc.
When doing laundry, do squats to pick up unfolded laundry from the basket, and take fitness breaks during homework time, such as stretching or jumping rope for a few minutes. (Your kids will love it too!) Become your dog's best friend--most dogs are always ready to boogie!
For Play Dates
Keep in mind the old adage that children live what they learn. If you don't want your kids to be couch potatoes, be a good example. Walk to the library for story hour; plan regular play times at the park or pool; when snow keeps you home, go play in it. By making physical activity fun, you'll lay the foundation for your kids to have healthy, active lives. What's more, you'll rediscover that activity can be fun--not just another item to check off your grown-up list!
I know that I already know this stuff, but sometimes it is just so hard to remember! I feel like I need to schedule it in, but sometimes I just need to squeeze it in even if my schedule doesn't "allow" for it. Exercise is important, and I need to make it a priority.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
