Seeing Goals to the End....

This year my weight loss efforts were great in the beginning. I was losing weight consistently on a weekly basis and then, somewhere in April I did something wrong. I messed up my rhythm. It was so bad that even with my exercise and diet my weight loss became so inconsistent. I would lose and then gain and then lose the same weight over and over again. 

2013 has to be different. I started jogging again this December but had to pause due to a foot injury. My foot healed and then I started again. It helps that I go with my Mom. Today I went alone. Left the house at 4:30am and was back at 5:40am. It's rather unfortunate that I don't have a pedometer or gadget to know the distance I'm covering. Been looking online and I may get a friend to order a Polar FT7 for me.

I believe that knowing the exact amount of calories I burn and the distance I cover may also motivate me to try not to undo all the good that I've done. To be honest, I'm sad that in three years I have not lost a significant amount of weight. I am lighter but still obese. If I don't lose at least 30lbs in 2013 I may just decide to abandon blogging. Why waste people's time if I can't even motivate them? I hate disappointing people who have faith in me. Hopefully that will put me in check.

I will see my goals to the end. I have to.

2012 In Review.

The year has almost come to a close and I decided to review my year to see if I was really able to do any of the things I had set out to do. Did I lose weight? Did I change my eating habits? Well, let's find out.

Weight Loss

I set a goal to lose 50 pounds by this year. Unfortunately, I failed :-(. However, I realized that weight loss was a daily battle and that I would continue striving to be a better, fitter and healthier person.

Clothing

So, I was hoping to wear a UK size 14 by the end of the year. I managed to get to a size 16 for some clothes. I know it's not the same but I believe I have learnt  many lessons that will make me achieve this goal in 2013.

Exercise

I had a couple of exercise goals in 2013. And I was surprised that I was able to achieve some of them.

Complete the C25K program: I got to Week 8 and just froze. I don't even know why. After completing Week 7 I just couldn't motivate myself to continue. Will I try again in 2013? Definitely.

Walk a 10K on the treadmill or outdoors: I'm proud to say that I achieved this goal on the 9th of May 2012. It was a cool evening at the gym and it took me almost two hours to complete but, I did it and was so damn proud of myself.  

Run for 15 minutes straight: Check! Check! Check! Did this for the first time on  April 24, 2012. It felt so good. I, Enyonam, actually ran/jogged for that long without dying. lol!

Do at least one kind of exercise daily: Is there a half mark for this? I mean, I exercised at least three times a week most of the time. We'll be putting this goal up for 2013.

Do at least one type of ab exercise daily: Total fail! I'm not even going to try explaining why. 

Diet

Eat less fast food: I think I did better at this than last year. I can actually count the number of times I ate fast food this year as opposed to last year. I cooked more meals at home. 

Drink more water: Pass! I did drink more water this year. Made sure to consume at least three litres daily. There were days when I drank less because I took in fruits that contained lots of water but on the whole I think I passed this one. 

Eat more fruits and vegetables: Another pass! I took in more smoothies than anyone in my home. And before you attack, I made these smoothies with fresh fruits only. I had lots of salads and vegetable stir fries too. 

Eliminate deep fried foods for 6 months: Not sure about this one. I don't really eat a lot of fried foods but, I did eat chips at some point. I ate less of the fried foods but I can't say i did this for 6 months straight.

Drink more herbal teas and less processed drinks: Fail! I still drank Diet Coke. Reduced my frequency  of intake but still drank it. :-( And funny enough, I drank less herbal teas. 

I still ate white rice and refined carbs but, it was to a lesser extent as compared to 2011.

On the whole I can't say I'm happy with what I achieved but, I must admit that the year wasn't a total failure. There was a time when I would have taken advantage of the holidays and shoved everything in sight down my throat. Now, I actually exercised during the holidays and ate thoughtfully. I may not have lost 50lbs but I'm proud that I didn't gain more than what I weighed at the beginning of the year.

I'm off to set my goals for 2013. Don't be surprised to see a repeat of some of the listed goals since I'm not going to give up that easily.

Boxing Day Walk.

Just got back from a 1hr walk with my Mom. It was fantastic and I really needed it since my foot injury made it impossible for me to work out for almost two weeks. 

Yes I sprained my foot jogging and that taught me not to jog on rough roads. lol! Anyways, I was naughty on Christmas Day. I just had to have some ice cream :-). I'm not sad I did since that would be the only time I'm taking ice cream this holiday season.

Anyways, I'm off to plan my day. Have fun guys.

Merry Christmas folks.

Identifying Culprits....

Mental note to self; Diet Soda does not help my weight loss efforts. After a couple of experiments I realized that I gain anytime I drink Diet Coke. I guess my body identifies it as one of the bad guys. So no more diet coke or pepsi  for me. 

I also noticed that I'm consuming food that is three to four times less than what I used to eat before. It's amazing to find that the body needs very little amounts of the various food groups to thrive. Wow! So where did all the junk use to go in the past? Of course that was a rhetorical question, the mirror in my room shows me the answer every morning. Lol!

Exercise has been pretty good lately. Unfortunately my  foot hurts so there may be no workouts for me today. Guess it's from all the skipping I've been doing lately. Not my fault, I really love skipping :-). Will try the elliptical though to see if I can handle it tonight. I went on a three week gym hiatus but I will be resuming attendance next week. I'm glad that my trainer will get to see a loss on the scale even though he hasn't seen me in three weeks. Though I've been telling him about my workouts, I have a feeling that he has a few doubts. 

Getting Better At This..

By this I mean keeping a journal. I have entered consistently since the 26th of November. Every bite, nibble or sip has been entered into my book. I'm glad I'm doing this because I can look back later and say I did this the right way.

On other matters, I am beginning to understand why so many people insist on a low carb diet for weight loss. Just eating right this past month has made it possible for me to drop a few pounds. It hasn't been easy but the journal has helped keep me accountable.When I overdo it, I make up for it in the next meal. I feel lighter this days. 

Exercise has been really good. I've been alternating between skipping and the elliptical so that my body doesn't get too familiar with one exercise. I'm even considering going back to my twice a day challenge where I exercise in the mornings and evenings. Maybe intense in the morning and then light in the evening. What do you guys think? 

This morning, I had to use a scarf to tighten my workout shorts and prevent them from falling as I skipped. I must be doing something right, right? I really want to hit Onederland so I can get myself this.

Yes, I'm a  huge fan of Armani Code. It's a bit high-priced in Ghana so I plan on spoiling myself once I hit Onederland. Perhaps a picture will help me work harder and be more disciplined. I'm ashamed to say that I have been so close to seeing 199 on the scale more than once. I don't know if it is a psychological thing that makes me self-sabotage. No more! I will get there this time.

December is Here.

November has come and gone. It was a great month for me. I joined a weight loss forum and logged in all my meals and exercises. I failed to journal for only two days but on the whole I believe I did great. Logging my food intake really made me watch what I was eating. I think it also motivated me to exercise regularly too. Seeing people journal Taebo, Leslie Sansone videos, Body Pump, Insanity etc. made me realize that if people are working harder to achieve their goals, so must I.

Anyways, I gave my tickers a reboot. I said I was not going to disclose my weight earlier till i reached 200lbs but, where is the accountability to you guys if you can't witness my losses and gains? So I've decided to continue the weekly weigh-ins even though I'm not 200lbs. :-) 

How many of you guys have heard about the Warrior Diet? The folks at the weight loss forum seem to be into it because most of them have lost crazy amounts of lbs by following the program. Apparently, you eat  little during the day and then eat (not overeat) your main meal for dinner. I tried it during the week and I must say it's not a bad regime. You get to eat fruits and vegetables in the day and then adequate amounts of carbs and proteins at night. I must confess that it does take a bit of discipline to ensure that you don't binge :-)

I'm hoping that if I follow my diet and exercise plans to the letter I would be able to reach Onederland by Christmas. I'm also thinking of getting a camera so that I can post more pictures here.

Here's to a great month. Cheers.

Journal Update...

So, I've actually been able to keep a journal since Monday. I entered everything I ate, my exercise and my thoughts. I also wrote down my impression of how the day went and the things that could be looked at. Below is my journal and the James Patterson book I'm currently reading.

Funny enough, the book I picked for this purpose has a picture of the Kung-Fu Panda on it. lol! I'm glad i'm chronicling my efforts. it would be good to sit back later and identify my habits that promote or prevent weight loss.

Finally Started The Journal....

So, after logging my daily food, water and exercise intake at the weight loss forum consistently for two weeks, I finally started my personal journal today. I got an exercise book over the weekend that would serve the purpose. It's funny how easy it is to unconsciously pop calorie-laden sweets into your mouth without realizing it. 

Anyways, I still have not reached Onderland yet but, I'm working on it. Hopefully I'll get there by Christmas. My exercise has been really good these past few weeks, and my eating is getting better despite a few fails every now and then. 

Hope you all had a good weekend. Here's to a great week. 

Cheers.

Joining A Weight Loss Forum...

I have been inconsistent with blogging due to the stress at work and home. Despite this, I've been able to continue with my exercise and clean eating; thanks to the weight loss forum I joined not too long ago.

This forum equips me with all the information on the African foods I consume. It also has a section where we get to log in our daily food and water intake as well as, our exercise for the day. Personally, I believe this forum is heaven sent and I intend to make the most use of it.

Cheers.

Elliptical Fixed & Back on Track!

After calling the store where I bought my elliptical on several occasions and threatening to return the machine and create a scene, they finally sent someone to fix it. Turns out it was a minor problem. Thank God! There was no way I was going to let $450 dollars go up in smoke.

Anyways, so I'm back on track. I exercised for 30 minutes yesterday and plan on doing an hour this evening on the elliptical. I really need to hit my goal and I'm running out of time as it is.

I was thinking of restarting a journal. I've never been able to cultivate and maintain this particular habit. Guess it's time to try again. :-)

Getting Back On The Wagon & Jogging Outdoors.

It's interesting how we bloggers find ourselves in the occasional rut every year. I started this year on a great note and them BAM! Everything just went haywire after my birthday in April. I haven't gained more than I weighed at the beginning of the year but, I feel like all my good work just went up in smoke almost instantly. My eating was terrible; inadequate portions of the wrong stuff, less exercise etc. I still feel fit and the clothes still fit comfortably (Thank God!) but seeing numbers that you don't want to see on the scale is still a constant reminder that I'm doing something wrong.

I was so close to Onederland in April but now I'm 10lbs away from that destination. My exercise routines suffered after my gym membership expired. The fees were getting more ridiculous by the day so I decided to get an elliptical at home. Worst idea ever! I used the thing for only two months and the damn thing is already giving me problems. I seriously contemplated going to another gym after this. After all, I know for a fact that I do well when I work out in that environment. I even went to the gym yesterday to make enquiries on the the cost of a year's subscription. The guy at the gym said it would cost me $620. This includes access to the pool, aerobic classes and use of the gym. I'm still thinking about whether I want to put that much money into it.

My mom believes that it would be better for me to save that money, invest in good running shoes and start jogging outdoors. I've therefore decided to give that a try for now and see how things go. In fact, we went out for a 60min power walk this morning and I felt really great afterwards. We'll take it one day at a time, right?

I sincerely apologize to those who feel let down. I know how it feels when someone who is supposed to motivate you starts to disappoint. I do promise, to try harder.

Cheers.

The Elliptical Couldn't Take It.

After just two months the elliptical began to act funny. Even if I have been working out for an average of 90 minutes per day, does that mean the damn thing should start making creaky noises.

Called the shop where I purchased it and it seems I'm going to have to return it since they always seem to give me excuses. Sigh! So much for cutting back on gym costs. Here we go..

Low Carbs & Insanity!!!

 

I woke up feeling sore all over. At first I couldn't figure out the cause till I remembered, Insanity!!! Shaun T is one crazy trainer. My shoulders and back hurt so bad. I plan on doing the elliptical this evening for at least 30 minutes.

 

Breakfast consisted of beans and a little plantain. Will have fruit for lunch and probably a protein shake for supper. Low carbs have always worked for me so I'm going to try that this month. This means minimal amounts of rice, pasta, noodles and white bread for me. There will however, be lots of vegetables, fruits and chicken breast. :-)

 

I will do this!!

September, Month of Action!

 

 

 

So, my plan to lose 10 pounds by November 16 was set in motion this morning. Anybody done Insanity before? The Fit Test was crazy! Anyways, I plan on alternating between the Insanity Videos, my elliptical trainer and my favorite piece of equipment: the jumprope this month.

I will also document my daily food intake and activity on my blog for accountability's sake. I'm ready for this!

 

Happy Monday Folks.

My Obsession with the Number 199.

In one of my previous posts I said I was not going to post any weigh ins until I saw the number 200lbs on the scale. However, due to so many frustrating weigh ins I've decided to break the rule. This morning I stood on the scale and saw 209lbs so, my goal for the next two months is to hit 199lbs by November 16. Thankfully, now that I have an elliptical in my bedroom I can workout at 12 midnight, 3am or any other time I feel like it.

What do you think? Is 10lbs in two and a half months workable?

My New Baby!

I got this on Saturday.....

My gym's membership fees was just getting ridiculous. There was no way I could keep it up so I decided to make a long term investment. We already have a treadmill, resistance bands, dumbbells and an exercise ball at home. I think with this addition I don't have to go the gym though I must admit I'm going to miss my personal trainer. Guess I'll just stick to Billy Blanks and Insanity videos.

Anyways, I clocked in 30 minutes on this baby and burnt 350 calories this morning. I plan on doing another 30 minutes this evening.

Hope you are all doing okay.

Cheers folks.

I Love My Trainer...

Lol! I scream "I hate you" when he is putting me through grueling workouts but smile when we are done for the day and I'm hurting all over. The reason? Simple! feeling sore means I'm doing something right.

This week has been a good one for me. I've exercised for four out of five days and I've been eating right. After all, weight loss is 30% exercise and 70% diet. Doesn't it hurt when after sweating and struggling to burn 500 calories in the gym, you then go on to binge on a 3000 calorie meal? I'm tired of negating my hard work with food. I don't want to sound like a broken record so I will say this... It's getting better everyday.

When Food Becomes The Enemy....

I was talking with a friend after our workouts at the gym this morning. The discussion centered on how our food intake was affecting our weight loss. See, when I exercise it's an intense affair. I've always talked about how my food choices seem to negate my exercise efforts.

Anyway, my friend then starts to talk about how I should say no to food after 6pm. It was at that point that I made a crazy statement that startled both of us. "Maybe I should try saying no to food after 2pm". 

"What?" Are you crazy? You are acting as if food is the enemy, she said. You see, there are times when even the sane ones like us who have read lots of literature and know that unsustainable eating practices like this do more harm than good get impatient. Lol! The bottom line is I'm not going to do that. It's not a race. I will patiently do the right things.

This morning's workout was a cool 5km walk/run on the treadmill. Let's see what tomorrow brings.

181 Days Left......

Yes. I have 181 days left to prove that I didn't just waste 181 opportunities to lose weight. My year started well and then things went haywire in April. I found it difficult to balance my late hours at the office with exercise. Heck! I was usually too tired to prepare a meal let alone exercise. I felt so ashamed when I realized that I haven't hit any of my weight loss goals for the year.

However, I'm not just going to sit down and feel sorry for myself. I fell and now I'm getting back up. The goals remain the same. If it means I have to workout out twice a day to ensure that I have had my 60minutes of daily exercise, then that's what I'm going to do. I'm tired of being fat dammit!

C25K W7D2

Oh yes! I finished Day 2 today. Hopefully Day 3 will be dealt with on Thursday. :-) I love the way my day has started.

C25K W7D1....

I finally sucked it up and did Week 7 Day 1 yesterday. It wasn't easy but I still managed to finish the damn thing. Thank God for that.

Hopefully I will be doing Day 2 tomorrow. :-)

Vegetables Really Do The Trick!

Who knew? Just kidding. We all know the importance of veggies in our diet. However, it's the fact that they fill you up with less calories is what has got me excited. It's already a week and I'm down by a kilo (2.2lbs)! And I didn't even exercise on all seven days (I managed to squeeze 4 days though).

I've been loading up on green beans, cabbage, carrots, green peppers, strawberries and oatmeal. I cut down my intake of rice and I haven't taken Diet coke in a week! One week down, three more to go. 

The First Few Days of June....

In my previous post I mentioned that I had gained a couple of pounds and was working to lose them this June.I also decided to tackle weekly goals. And looking at my habits so far I realized that the cliche "No pain, No Gain" is a fundamental truth. When we experience physical pain in the gym, we gain muscles and stamina as well as lose weight. When we painfully set aside the extra serving of ice cream or that croissant, we reduce calorie intake and lose weight. Are you seeing the connection?

So, as I sat down to analyze my eating habits, it suddenly dawned on me "I was eating two calorie-dense meals on a daily basis". Lunch and supper. So, I copied a 1200 calorie meal plan from the internet and adjusted it to include meals I like to eat. The result was beautiful. And guess what? The pounds have started dropping again. I love the feeling of being in control. So, I'm just going to continue planning my meals and exercise and sticking to the plan. Hopefully, if I'm good I will finally be under 200lbs by the end of July. I've also decided to put weigh-ins on hold till I reach 200lbs. After all, I don't think re-posting weight that I had already lost would make an interesting read for anyone.

So my fellow weight loss bloggers and readers, how has your week been so far? Any NSVs we should know about?

Random & Goals for June.

Show of hands, during a grueling workout at the gym, how many of you out there sometimes find yourselves thinking "gee, I must look pretty funny/silly/ugly/weird etc, right about now"? The last time I was at the gym and I happened to look at the mirrors, I had a good laugh. You should have seen my face. Lol!

Anyways, I have gained about 6lbs. I honestly don't know if it's muscle, fat or water but I do know this, if it's not muscle, it's coming off. On that note I've decided to break my goals for the month of June into weekly goals.

The overall goal for the month of June is to lose 8-10lbs. The goals for the first week in June are to:

• lose at least 2lbs
• exercise for at least 35 minutes, 7 days a week
• eat more fruits and vegetables
• note take any fruit juices and diet coke.

I can do this. I did it before and I will do it again.Sigh

When It's Obvious You Are Failing....

These last two months have been crazy. I think I never fully got back into full gear after my birthday. The exercise has been good but the diet has been really BAD! I finally got the knock I needed when I stood on the scale this morning and saw a number I didn't like. I'm even too embarrassed to share the figure with you :-(.

I guess I know what to do. I always do. Starting from tomorrow, I'm going be embarking on a three day detox to reboot my healthy eating habit. Just fruits and vegetables. I promise to post pictures this time.

Recap in Pictures and Words.

Last week was a great one exercise wise. I attempted my first 10K! It was fantastic and I finished it in 1hr 51mins. As I screamed "yes!" at the gym a few people actually congratulated me for achieving such a feat. :-).

I did it! 1hr 51mins

Then on Saturday I did a 5K in 52minutes; which is an improvement from 54 minutes. It felt really good to be jogging for 20 minutes straight.

Me getting ready to take a shower after my 5k.

The sad part is that I haven't been eating so well. To top it all I had severe diarrhea on Saturday and Sunday :-(
Guess that was my body's way of getting rid of all the bad stuff and sending me a message. This week will be better.

Started the day with a 5K walk/jog and some ab/arm exercises. Happy Monday to you all. Don't forget to exercise today :-)

An Emotional Anniversary Post.

There is no one out there who doesn't feel good about him/herself when his/her weight loss efforts are noticed. It could be when a friend, colleague or family member asks the simple question "Have you been working out?" or, when someone you haven't seen in ages exclaims "You have lost some pounds. Good job!" Yes. I'm sure a lot of you out there have heard these several times. However, are you usually prepared for those who say the demoralizing stuff? Surely, there must have been a few who found it hard to believe that you were capable of losing weight by the conventional method ie. Diet and Exercise. Oh! and then there are those who actually tell you that you would look ugly if you ever lost weight.

Now, if you do not have a strong spirit you may become an emotional wreck from hearing some of these things. I have never really cared about the stretch marks that are becoming more visible by the day or the fact that certain parts of my body may never be the same. It is my body and no one else's. I remember when I weighed 242lbs and my size 20 trousers were so tight that they were actually cutting my skin. I felt like crap but I still kept eating the wrong foods. I cried when I couldn't get clothes in my size but still ate junk food religiously. My new year resolutions to lose weight would vanish as soon as I saw some pastry or tasty drink. And let's not forget the late night eating as well as snacking. I was out of control. The sad part was that deep down I knew that I was doing the wrong thing. People kept commenting "Enyonam, you are putting on too much weight." An aunt actually asked "Do you expect to get a husband looking like that?" However, with all these comments I still didn't make any attempts to exercise because I was worried about how people would stare at me and laugh if I tried to even walk briskly in the neighborhood.

My first wake up call came in 2008 when I graduated and had to do my National Service at the Dietetic Unit of a Teaching Hospital. Looking at all the morbidly obese people who came in tears because their obesity was causing them a lot of pain was scary. The cases of diabetes, high cholesterol levels and joint issues were just overwhelming. I didn't want to get to that point. I just couldn't. So, I started taking herbal teas. I registered at a gym where the quack instructor had me doing 2000jumps with the jump-rope in my first week. That had me at the cardiologist's office by the second week since the pressure was too much on my heart and I was in pain. Wow! This is the longest post I've ever had to type. Please bear with me as I share my story.

So, I put my weight loss efforts on hold and tried to do a few things like exclude refined sugar from my diet and eat more vegetables. After my service I went to graduate school and then,  I started eating more junk food at very very late hours because of the pressure of school work. I fell in love as well. The guy made me feel like a princess. I begun to feel like weight wasn't a problem. Then, he broke my heart by going after a much skinnier girl. I know that he could have liked her for so many other reasons but I managed to convince myself that it was because I was too fat. After weeks of crying and looking at my folds in the mirror I made a decision. Only I can give myself the maximum amount of love I deserve. I was going to lose weight; not for any guy but for me. I was going to lose the weight to feel good and be healthy. I was going to lose weight because.... I loved MYSELF.

That was in 2009. It was on this day three years ago that I made that decision and I've never looked back. Sure, there have been a few falls but I always get back up. Anytime I look at my before and after pictures I realize that I am on a positive and enlightening journey to my goal. I am fitter, hotter and happier. There are those who still say discouraging things but after three years in this, my spirit is tougher than a crocodile's back.

C25K Week 6 Complete!

image via google 

As I got to the 20th minute of running I asked myself "am i really doing this?" Unfortunately, it was at this same time that I began to feel some pain in my right knee. I still pushed through and decided to give my knee a break before I commence Week 7. 

These past few weeks have been irregular for me. I just keep travelling between 200lbs and 204lbs. Perhaps it's because even though I exercise regularly my eating has been all over the place. Rice has been the culprit so far. I measure a cup and then it becomes two. :-( My vegetable and fruit consumption has decreased at an alarming rate. I need a slap on the wrist. It is based on these that I have decided to undergo a three day detox where I would be forced to consume mostly fruits and vegetables. 

Have any of you done detox programs? What was your plan like? Did it help improve your eating patterns? 

C25K W6D2.

I completed Day 2 of Week 6 this morning. It was a good workout. After completing the second 10 minute jog I felt so good that I actually jogged for an additional 7 minutes. :-)

So, Week 6, Day 3 get ready for Enyonam cos she is going to kick your butt!

C25K W6D1.

I did it! I completed Day 1 of the program. Can't wait to do Day 2 of Week 6. Oh my lord! Very soon I will be running for 30 minutes straight. (gasping) I can't even believe it folks.

Here's to day of kicking butt exercise-wise. :-)

C25K Week 5 Complete & Weigh In.

So, yesterday evening I completed Week 5. Who knew that I would be jogging for a straight 20 minutes. Woohoo! This is definitely a Non Scale Victory.

On the weight side I weighed in at 202.4lbs yesterday. I exercised well last week but made a few wrong choices diet-wise. I plan on doing better this week.

SO, I plan on starting Week 6 either today or tomorrow. Wish me luck. :-)

C25K W5D2.

It was a fantastic morning for me. Did the C25K W5D2 which consists of two 8minute runs. Surprisingly, I was able to get through and continued walking/jogging on the treadmill till I had done 69minutes. Woo hoo! Now that's what I call a great workout. I plan on going to the gym again tonight. I'm so full of energy and can't wait to burn some major calories (that is if   I don't get tired by nightfall. lol!)

On the weight front I decided not to weigh in yesterday because I knew that after my birthday and Easter weekend I was bound to gain a pound or two. Will weigh in on Monday. Hope you are having a great week.

13 Down.... 39 to Go!

So, I was reviewing my weight loss for the year and I realized that though I have not achieved most of my goals set for the year, I seem to have made a bit of progress. I have lost 11.8lbs since January meaning, an average of 3.8lbs a month. 

Some of the habits that I have been able to maintain are:

• I drink a lot of water
• I eat more fruits and vegetables on a daily basis

I am still trying to avoid the refined carbs... not easy but, I try to take such foods at most ONCE a week. I have drastically reduced my intake of diet sodas - I only take those when out with friends or at the movies. My clothes are also loose. Yesterday, I wore a dress I haven't worn in 3 years to church. Oh yeah baby! That's a total NSV there. :-) 

So, I guess I have 39 weeks left to lose 38.2lbs if I'm going to meet my goal of losing 50lbs by December. I can do this. Oh yes! I can!

Weigh In - Week 13

Last week's weight : 201.2lbs

This week's weight : 201.2lbs

After exercising only once last week I guess I should be grateful that the scale didn't move upwards. Let's see what this week will bring.

Weigh In - Week 12

Last week's weight - 202.6lbs

This week's weight - 201.2lbs

Whew! Thank God! I was beginning to wonder if the scale would go down. Onederland has been playing cat and mouse games with me for a while and I'm getting tired of it.

MIA...

Sorry for being MIA for a while. Last week was a busy one because of my graduation and work. I graduated with a Masters Degree on Saturday :-), and of course, I celebrated with lots of bad food and drinks. I did weigh in on Monday but was unable to post due to my busy schedule. I weighed in at 202.6lbs on Monday which meant a 0.8lb gain. 

I haven't been able to work out as much as I would like to because I have been experiencing a bit of pain in my chest. My doctor dad suggested that I lay off exercise for three days so they can find out the cause of my pain :-(.

I honestly hope that I do not gain any extra pounds because of this. Guess i just have to watch what goes into my mouth.

Weigh In - Week 9

Previous  weight - 202.6lbs

This week's weight - 201.8lbs

A loss of 0.8lbs these last two weeks? Perhaps I gained weight last week without knowing it. Or, did I maintain? Anyways, enough of the questions. I lost weight and that is what is important. Besides, I had a non scale victory yesterday. I was able to zip up and button a pair of jeans that could not go past my thighs last year. I still need to lose a couple of pounds so that it fits perfectly as it is tight but, it fits!!!

I can't believe I am two pounds away from Onederland. I hope to see at least a 199 point something when I check the scales next week. Realistic goal right? Hope your weigh ins are better than mine.

:-)

February Wrap Up

So, the month has come to an end and I decided to reflect on my doings this month.

• I exercised at least 5 times every week. 
• I started exercising during lunch break. Intense 45 minute workouts baby

The bad things

• I only did the twice a day workout 4 times. I'm so disappointed. However, there were days that I was just too exhausted to go in the evenings.
• I didn't watch my food intake. With the stress of my mini car crash on Valentines Day came more personal issues that had me drinking more juices and eating out more. Hopefully that would change in March.

I'm sure many people are wondering why I didn't post a weigh in on Monday. Thing is, I only remembered to weigh in after I had worked out at the gym. Now, that wouldn't be an accurate reading since the number would definitely go down after the kind of cardio session I had. I therefore decided that I would weigh in next Monday.

Oh! and after a long hiatus I've decided to continue with the C25K program. I stopped at Week 4 and I plan on continuing from where I left off. 

Weigh In - Week 7

Last week's weight - 204.4lbs

This week's weight - 202.6lbs

Huge sigh of relief! Thank God! I lost 1.8lbs this week. After a stressful week which had me in a mini car crash and losing a lot of money to repair damages, I was so sure that my bad eating habits would leave me with another gain. Thankfully, I exercised like crazy.

Hope you all had a great week.

Weigh In - Week 6

Last week's weight - 203.8lbs

This week's weight - 204.4lbs

I gained 0.6lbs this week. Hmm.... recap time... I exercised well. Was only able to do the twice a day challenge on Wednesday because of my foot pain. I still exercised 5 times last week. Aha! I think I made the wrong food choices. The extra serving of white rice and the salted plantain chips and, the late night dinner.

Surprisingly, I'm not so upset. Guess it's because I know that this weight loss thing will take some time and, i'm bound to stumble a few times along the way. Next week's weigh in will be better. I promise... :-)

Twice A Day Update

So, I started the twice a day exercise challenge last week. The goal was to exercise twice a day at least three times a week. I did that for the first time yesterday. Here are my stats.

Morning Session

Cardio: on treadmill

Distance: 5.5km

Time: 63 minutes

Calories Burnt: 713 calories.

Evening Session

Warm Up: 15 minutes on elliptical

6 sets of 12 reps of hip abduction

3 sets of 12 reps for bicep curls

3 sets of 12 reps of shoulder press

3 sets of 10 reps for lateral pull downs

3 sets of 10 reps for seated extensions

Wow! I didn't think I had it in me.

I even had enough energy to go for a morning session today and, I plan on going this evening. Will fill you in on the details later. How is your week going with regards to exercise?

I'll Look In My Gym Bag Twice!!!

That was the mental note I made when I forgot to pack underwear on Monday. So, after finishing my workout and taking a refreshing shower I realized that I didn't pack panties. WTF! I actually cursed so loudly that I'm sure people were wondering what was going on with me. Thank God I drive.

I quietly put on my dress and, with no panties on, I walked out of the gym feeling that all eyes were on me and people could see what I had done. Embarrassing eh? Anyways, I drove as home as fast as I could.

Guess I will remember to look in my gym bag before heading off to the gym. Wonder what would happen if I left my bra. I shudder to even think of it, considering how stubborn the "twins' are. Lol!

Weigh In - Week 5

Last week's weight - 205.4lbs

This week's weight - 203.8lbs

A loss of 1.6lbs this week. I'll take it! I'm so glad that my weight loss has been consistent. When the number on the scale changes in the right direction, I get the motivation I need to work harder towards my goal. Onederland feels soo close and I can't wait to get there. :-) My exercise routine is going to be tougher this week.

Twice A Day Challenge - Day 1

So I started the challenge today because I renewed my gym membership yesterday. The day started with 20 minutes on the elliptical and 44 minutes on the treadmill. I felt sooo good afterwards. 

I went back this evening and spent 30 minutes at kickcardio, 7 minutes on the treadmill and 11 minutes on the elliptical. So, I guess Day 1 was okay. Right?

Weigh In - Week 4

Last week's weight - 208.2lbs

This week's weight - 205.4lbs

Okay! I lost 2.8lbs this week! Damn the 0.2lbs that would have made it three. lol! I'm glad to say that the month of January has been a successful one in terms of exercising and eating right. I've tried as much as possible to create a balance a I think very little food fills me up. I also load up on more fruits and vegetables when I feel like snacking or heading for the sabotaging delights. :-) How was your January?

I previously told you guys about my expensive gym membership and my plan of going twice a day at least thrice a week to maximize its use as much as I can. It would be great if someone joins me in this venture. Not only would our metabolisms be elevated twice but, the rewards on the scale would be so worth it ;-). 

February, here we come. 

What are your plans for February?

Twice A Day Challenge.

I've been good with my food and exercise this week. Except yesterday's workout was mainly low intensity due to the nagging headache and body aches. I just needed at least 30 minutes of exercise to feel that I had put in some extra activity in my day. :-)

Anyways, my membership at the gym expires at the end of the month and I was thinking of paying for a 6month membership which costs about $585. Unfortunately, since I don't have that much I tried convincing my Dad to help me with some of the money so I can focus on my health. He agreed on one condition; I workout twice a day! I was almost tempted to say no but then I realized, "maybe I can do this". I could do cardio in the morning and resistance exercises in the evening or the other way around. Besides, I've gotten to far to let money be a setback, especially when the condition has to do with weight loss.

So, I've decided that in the month of February, I'm going to challenge myself to workout twice a day at least three times a week and then do my once a day routine twice. That totals to five days a week. What do you  folks think? Your opinions really matter.

Weigh In - Week 3

Last week's weight - 210.2lbs

This week's weight - 208.2lbs

I lost 2lbs this week! It feels really good too. This is just the motivation I need to keep exercising and eating right. 

Y'all have a great day. ;-)

Remembering the Past.

Last April, I put up a post on Facebook and my other blog about the love lives of the plus sized (or fat, whatever). It was an emotional post for me since I used myself as an example. Here is what I had to say.

THE PLUS SIZED GIRL + ROMANCE = A STRANGE MIX?

"I have, on numerous occasions seen the end of what seemed like, healthy growing relationships for one single reason... Wait for it... My weight! I’m sure many of you would begin to shake your heads in disagreement or even, try to find other reasons why those relationships never lasted.

I’ve never been a skinny girl. I’ve always had what the typical Ghanaian would call BODY. So, it saddens me to realise that guys that get involved with me actually envision a slimmer version of me and try to force me into being that “ideal” woman they fantasise about. The last guy I “fell” in love with would sometimes look at me and make snide remarks about how fat I was and how I needed to lose the extra flesh. And that was after I had lost some weight!

Oh! And there was this guy I had adored since secondary school who told me he had feelings for me via phone. The problem: He hadn’t seen me for years. And when we finally met? He just vanished into thin air after calling me to say that he was “still” interested me. Still? Was my look so repulsive that he had to use the word “still”? Geez... These among many other experiences got me asking myself, “is there a law of nature that forbids plus sized women to find real love”? I know you guys are going to reply by saying that there are men who find plus sized women attractive but, do you think women want a man who likes them because of their size or, one who likes them in spite of their size?

There were times in the past when I would cry myself to sleep and, not eat till my Dad practically begged me to stop the stupidity. You are beautiful, he said. All you need to do is exercise and eat right and you’d be a knockout. Then I would go out for a walk and the guys in the area would start calling me names like “Obolo”, “Obiggie” et al. I’m sure you know how that ended. The worst state of depression ever known to man... having a low self-esteem.

Today, people see me as the flirtatious and sexy plus size woman who has an overdose of confidence. If only they knew how much work it took to get there. A friend once said to me “Enyo, if you can love your flaws, people will follow suit”. That was my moment. I decided to fix what I could. First line of action, lose weight. And I did lose, 35 pounds to be exact. I still have more to lose but, I also love to look at myself in the mirror every morning and say “Damn girl, you’re one hot mama”.

I did digress a little but, I had to so my questions would make sense... So, like I asked, do you guys find the thought of dating a plus sized woman repulsive? Are u dating a plus sized woman? Would you put pressure on your woman to lose weight? Are you embarrassed to be seen with a plus sized lady in public?"

Looking back, I realize that it took a lot of hard work to build my self-esteem. I hated the fact that I was fat and hearing someone else say it made me feel even worse. I thank God that I was able to get up and do something about my weight. I may not be at my goal weight now but I weigh less than I did two years ago and I'm grateful for that. Here's to a year of more pounds falling off.

Weigh In - Week 2

So after 6 days of exercising and eating healthy, let's see what's in store for me on the scale.

Last week's weight - 211.8lbs

This week's weight - 210.2lbs

I lost 1.6lbs this week! Yayy! This means I'm on the right track. I'm gonna work harder this week and eat healthier to ensure another loss like this. I just can't wait to leave the 200s and enter Onederland (again!). 

I hope everyone sees a loss this week. I can't wait to read about it. :-)

Is Smiling During Exercise A Must?

Yesterday evening, after an hour of brisk walking on the treadmill, I proceeded to the stairclimber for a quick five minute workout. Guess I wanted something extra before heading for the weights.

Anyways, as I was working out, this guy kept signaling at me with his palms; as if to ask why. I ignored him till I was done and then I went to him and this was the conversation.

Me: I didn't get what you were trying to say on the machine.

Guy: Why did you have a pained look on your face?

Me: Seriously? Isn't it obvious?

Guy: Well, you don't have to put on that look.

Geez! Perhaps I should put up a mirror on every machine I use so I can see my facial expressions. Is this what we have to put up with? Is smiling a must? I'm trying to amp the intensity of my workouts and this imbecile (forgive me) is interested in my facial expression.

On another note, I've been good so far. I have exercised thrice this week and my eating has been good too. I now take a good lunch and have either cereal ( the good kind) or salads for dinner. How has your week been so far?

Feeling Good Pain...

Yes. I meant the stairclimber. In my last two previous posts I mentioned that I was going to try to spend 20 minutes on that mean machine. The first time I tried I lasted for seven minutes. Well, yesterday evening I tried again and managed to stay on for 10 minutes. Isn't that a positive progression? :-)

Anyways, yesterday was a good one at the gym. I spent 10 minutes on the stairclimber, 30 minutes on the bike and 25 minutes on the treadmill and it was time for kick-cardio class. I wasn't sure I wanted to do another hour but decided to go anyways. Boy! am I glad I did. The class kicked butt but I ended up exercising various parts of my body and felt so tired afterwards. That's what I call feeling good pain. :-)

The diet was okay. I ate well and didn't even have time for snacks. I also drank a lot of water and ended up going to the bathroom several times at work. I didn't seeing that my urine was as clear as water. That's always a great sign that you are giving your body enough water.

Hopefully, today will be even better. Hope you all had a great day yesterday.

Weigh In - Week 1

I was so scared to get on the scale today. Even though I had been working out, my dinner choices and eating times weren't the best. I finally mustered the courage to step on the scale.

Last week's weight - 213lbs

This week's weight - 211.8lbs.

OMG! I lost 1.2lbs! To me that's a great loss and I'm going to make all the right choices this week to ensure another loss. I plan on trying the stairclimber this evening at the gym. Hopefully, I'll spend more than 7minutes on it. ;-).





I Was Tagged!!! :-)

Yayy! I was delighted when Kate from Losing for Good tagged me. Thanks. Now, apparently there are some rules I must follow so, let's get down to business.

Here are the rules:
1. Post these rules.
2. You must post 11 random things yourself.
3. Answer the questions the tag­ger set for you in their post.
4. Create 11 new ques­tions for the peo­ple you tag to answer.
5. Go to their blog and tell them that you've tagged them.
6. No stuff in the tag­ging sec­tion about ‘you are tagged if you are read­ing this.’ blah blah blah, you actually have to tag 11 peeps!

So, let's start with 11 random things about myself.

1. I love to sing. I've been told I sound goood too. Thank God!
2. I love to cook and experiment with food
3. I am an excellent listener
4. I have a limited amount of patience when it comes to unnecessary stupidity.
5. I love movies and serials.
6. My first job was at a video store. I just loveeeed it!
7. The ability to forgive is my weakness and strength.
8. I have a thing for David Baldacci and Jackie Collins. Their books are absolute page-turners.
9.I can't stand people who waste unnecessary time at ATMs. It drives me nuts.
10. I had my first kiss at the age of 24, and I'm dating the guy I kissed.
11. The treadmill is my favorite exercise equipment to use in the gym. I use it almost everyday.

Now that I've told you 11 not-so-interesting things about myself, let's answer Kate's questions for me.

1) If you had a million dollars, what would you do with it?

I would buy a house and a car. Then, I would invest the rest of the money to make more. It is after this that I would start thinking of more things I could do such as give to charity, etc.

2) If you had a sensory disability,would you rather be blind or deaf? Why?

I wouldn't chose any my dear. It's even depressing to think of having a sensory disability.

3) What's your favorite vegetable?

That would definitely be cabbage. I can eat it with everything.

4) How do you de-stress from your day?

A glass of wine and a good movie.

5) Do you believe in God(s)?

Absolutely! I believe in the Almighty God.

 6) If there was a fire and you had time to grab one thing from your life, what would it be?

My photo album. Too many precious memories that can't be recreated are in there.

7) What is one thing you love about yourself?

I love the fact that I am a forgiving person. I can't imagine holding grudges for a long time.

8) Who is your favorite musical artist and why?

That's hard! I have so many but for now I'll choose Joss Stone. She's got soul! Her music really helps me relax.

9) What is the most scared you've ever been?

When my thesis supervisor refused to look at my work because my department had switched him as my supervisor and only changed their minds when the other professor showed disinterest in my work. I thought I wasn't going to get a Master's Degree and started wailing like someone had died. It was horrifying. Thank God he changed his mind.

10) If you were a color of nail polish, what color would you be and why?

Cool Blue. It's such a calm colour that gives a serene atmosphere.

11) What is your ideal weather?

A cool day with no sun or rain.

Turns out that all the people I could have tagged have already been tagged :-(. Maybe next time.

Have a great Sunday.

The Stairclimber Workout Is Crazyyyy!!!

Whoa! I can feel my abs being worked out already? After three minutes? I think I have found a new friend at the gym; the stairclimber. After 5 minutes I was already sweating and I was beginning to feel the muscles in my thighs, calves and butt being worked on. Wow! I'm in love ;-). Why didn't I use this machine earlier?

Anyways, I lasted on the machine for only 7mins (lol!) and I was off to do thirty minutes on the exercise bike where I rode a 7k. Then it was off to kettlebell exercises and bicep curls as well as shoulder extensions. But seriously, I'm gonna try doing at least 20minutes on the stairclimber twice a week.

Yesterday's workout was cool. I feel a bit sore in my arms though (the stairclimber has handles that work out the arms too). However I'm still working on better dinner choices. Some of you guys suggested that I try a salad for dinner and I think that's what I'm gonna do.

As  I sign off, I would like to thank all my new followers for joining me on my journey for good health. I hope I'm able to share experiences and thoughts that you'd find insightful.

Have a great weekend.

Does The Number Matter?

Seriously? Like, am I really asking that question? Doesn't it get frustrating when you are doing all the right things and the number doesn't change for the better? We all get the same lines:

"You must be gaining muscle"

"Increase workout time or intensity"

They think it's that easy. The skinny ones who eat all the pizzas and still manage to lose a pound (My big sister). If only they knew....

It's strange that even though I have lost inches, it does bother me when the number on the scale does not move in the right direction. Are you with me on this?

Anyways, on the workout front I did another 5k walk last nite. Then I did some back extensions and ab crunches. As far as the food goes, everything is usually great till dinnertime. The quantity of food I consume is alright. It's the timing that bothers me. I get home from the gym at 8pm and eat between then and 8:30pm. That's so wrong, but not for long though.

I've decided to start packing dinner as a late lunch to work. That way I can just sip a hot mug of green tea when I get home and not feel so bad afterwards. And don't worry, I don't have trouble with sleeping after drinking green tea :-).

Not Messing Around

There was no way I was going to miss tonight's gym session! Just no way! I have a slight cold so my appetite's been crazy all day. Had three cups of green tea in the morning and some apples for lunch and off I was to the gym at 5pm.

Did a 5k walk on the treadmill in 58 minutes and burnt 600+ calories (can't remember the exact figure). It felt good to see my sweat-drenched T-shirt afterwards :-).

Anyways, dinner was a noodle and vegetable stir-fry. Needed to  make up for lost calories and, I don't want to wake up in the middle of the night as a result of hunger.

Day 4 down, 362 to go.

Bulge Patrol!

I was just looking at some pictures that I took with friends yesterday. Everything was looking great till I came across a particular picture that horrified me. I could see my muffin top in the photo. Aarrrghhh! I always hide those very well. Anyways, seeing that made me realise that I've got a lot of work to do so I'm adding a few more goals to my goal list.

1. Do at least one type of ab exercise daily. I hate these eh.... :-)

2. Drink more herbal teas and less processed drinks. Yes, that includes diet coke.

3. Avoid highly refined carbs (pastries, polished white rice, white bread etc.)

Any other goals you want to share? What did you change in your diet and exercise patterns to ensure that you lose weight?

A Great Start!

After a nasty case of stomach flu yesterday, I was so sure that all the waste in my digestive system had been dealt with. I therefore decided to use the little energy I had to work out. So, my morning started with 30 minutes on the treadmill and 500 jumps with my skipping rope.

I think I will concentrate on my diet since exercising has never really been the problem for me. Let's see how my eating goes today.

It's A New Dawn...

Let me start off by wishing every single one of you a Happy New Year. I'm sure we all have a list of things we want to do this year. In my previous post I stated my goals for the year.

I've also given my blog a new look. Hope you like it. :-)

Here's to a year of great achievements.