This is Hard!!

I'm struggling here. I keep falling off the wagon on Day 3. Can't tell if my hormones are working against me here. Resumed the gym after a two-week break today and the experience was a millimeter away from hell. I don't remember the last time I felt like I was gonna die. Finished my session feeling like I was going to puke on my personal trainer.

Anyhoo, I began visiting the dietitian just to keep me on track, since everything else seems to be backfiring on me.

I'm going to try again from tomorrow and this time I'm not going to stop till I get the prize.

So Far So Good.

It's been three days since I rebooted and I think my body is resetting its internal clock. Been doing well to take the right foods. I'm currently re-inventing my relationship with smoothies. Been enjoying them in different combos that include, spinach, beetroot, pineapple, oatmeal and low fat yogurt.

Spinach, pineapple, oatmeal and yoghurt smoothie

Beetroot, pineapple, oatmeal and yogurt smoothie

I've decided that breakfast will be mostly smoothies, oatmeal, muesli and oat flakes, as these usually keep me full till about 2pm in the afternoon. I'm yet to move onto brown rice :(, I can't stand the taste but we will get there.

Things are going well on the workout front too. Been burning 1000+ calories during my morning walks. I prefer going alone as this helps me move faster and there are usually no distractions. I pray God sees me through this and it yields in some positive results at the end of the day.

Today's burn

Yesterday's stats

I will keep doing this as I believe that God will help in the healing process that my body so desperately needs.

Reboot Begins.

So, I finally got serious and started my new regime yesterday. I even weighed in to make sure that the weekly weigh-ins happen.

My weight as at yesterday morning :(

Yesterday was quite a busy day. I went for a walk and burnt some calories. Luckily I was able to get another Garmin FR70 at a good price and that help me monitor how much I had burnt. Removed my HRM chest strap before remembering to take a picture.

I also did some meal prepping for the week. Made enough vegetable (cabbage, carrot and green pepper) and chicken luncheon meat stew to last for four days.

Paired portions with a cup of rice and a cup of wok noodles for lunch on Monday and Tuesday. Will also be making sandwiches with the cold cut turkey bacon and pita bread I bought. I also grilled some chicken breasts and chopped them up for my salads.

I intend to ensure that every meal I eat this week comes from my kitchen. Today I will complete my meal prepping exercise by getting some avocado, pineapples, mangoes and lettuce. Will share pictures with you as I go.

Let the week begin.

Starting on a Good Note....

So, I woke up at 4:30am this morning determined to continue my exercise challenge for the year. I'm proud to say that I was able to do 60 minutes on the elliptical. Yayy!

Now, TOM has been very bad to me so I took a pineapple/yoghurt smoothie with a very spicy pastry :(. I know I shouldn't be taking pastry but I promised to burn that extra 300 calories tonight; through exercise or skipping dinner.

Will post pictures of lunch later...

Cheerio!

Reboot.

I keep posting that I am going back to healthy eating and fail to do so. I'm not proud of it but I guess so much was going on in my life that I kind of put my weight loss endeavors at the end of my priority list. After looking deep within and reminding myself why I decided to lose weight in the first place, I decided to start over.

So I finally rebooted my system last week. By reboot I mean resumed healthy eating patterns. And after a few days I began to feel better about myself. I also started eating breakfast at home. I take Lipton tea with skimmed milk and, an omelet with loads of veggies plus two slices of wheat bread for breakfast. Not only does this keep me full, it also helps me avoid junk food such as the pastries that are sold a few blocks away from my workplace.

I sometimes take some fruit as a mid-morning snack. It is usually some pineapple or mango. This keeps me going till about 2-3pm when I take lunch; my heavy meal of the day. Now I hardly take much for supper. It is either some cereal or a glass of juice with a slice of wheat bread.

I have also started weighing my foods for accurate figures. I read somewhere that it helps with weight loss because you get to know exactly how many calories you are consuming, as compared to just measuring and eyeballing quantities. Though I use Myfitnesspal to log in my daily intake I may consider actually writing down what I eat with pen and paper soon. Oh well, let's wait and see.

So, this morning I weighed and realized that I was at 101.8kg. I weighed 103.2kg last Sunday, meaning that I have lost 1.4kg. Under normal circumstances I would rejoice, but I've been here before. All I want to do now is continue watching my food intake and see if I can get to at least 95kg by the end of the month.

I intend to start exercising regularly again. It's the rainy season here so I will have to work out indoors more often.

September Squat Challenge...

I started the squat challenge yesterday with 50 squats and I must say that my heart was beating like crazy after I was done. I try as much as possible to do these workouts in the mornings because knowing the kind of person I am, the probability of me not working out later in the day is quite on the high side.

Anyways, this morning I did the 55 squats that Day 2 requires. I'm feeling really good about this. I hope that I notice some changes in my thighs by the end of this challenge. 

On other matters, I am still journaling at MyFitnessPal (user name ameryati for anyone who wants to add me). I think it's become a habit now :).

18 Days Later.......

It's been 18 days since I rebooted my exercise and diet habits (Clapping and dancing). I must admit that it hasn't been a total breeze. In the last few months I've realized that I'm more committed to a morning workout   rather than an evening one. This therefore means that I have to get up at 3:30am everyday in order to leave for my morning jog at 4am. Thankfully, my body clock has gotten used to it so waking up is not a problem.

So, I try to jog/brisk walk everyday. On days that I don't feel like it I just climb onto the elliptical in my bedroom and pedal away. To anyone who likes to have time alone to themselves, let me suggest this; workout! It really helps you organize your thoughts.

On the food front things have been good. I've been journaling regularly on MyFitnessPal and that has really helped me stay within my calorie limits. I've also changed my dinner habits since I go to bed early to get enough sleep before 3am. Instead of having a heavy supper, I take fruits or cereal (Who knew this would ever happen?). Now, lunch is when I get to eat whatever I want, as long as it is within my limits.

These habits must be working because I weighed in at 216.3lbs on 3rd August and, this morning the scale read 209.8lbs, showing a loss of 6.5lbs in 2 and 1/2 weeks. 

500 Calories....

When I bought my Garmin FR70, the first goal I set was to burn at least 500 calories through exercise daily. There were days that I ended up burning about 1000 calories and more but, the main goal has been to ensure that I get at least 500 calories burnt everyday.

If you are like me who bores easily, then you would definitely be looking for a variety of exercises to achieve your calorie burning goals. Here are a few exercises I do to ensure that I blast those 500.

1. Jump Rope

This was the only tool I had when I started at 242 lbs. I jumped rope twice a day till I lost 20 lbs. It is fun and burns a lot of calories quickly. However, I must warn you that it can be quite merciless to the knees. My advice would be that once you feel any kind of pain you need to take it easy.




2. Elliptical

It is very easy to blast 500 calories on this machine within 30-45 minutes. This is the exact brand I have in my bedroom. It's a Trojan Image 350. What I love about it is that I can workout at any time; be it at three am or ten pm. I don't have to worry about safety outside since it's an indoor machine. Oh! and I sometimes watch episodes of Drop Dead Diva or Teen Wolf when I'm on this baby....

3. Hip Hop Abs

Who knew that I would fall in love with Shaun T? lol! I love to dance and the fact that I don't even notice the minutes as I tilt, tuck and tighten away makes this a great tool for me. As you watch the video for the first time it may seem like a very simple workout but once you begin, the sweat just begins to drip. Try the Fat Burning Cardio and Total Body Burn and see how many calories you would burn.

I actually plan on starting his Rockin Body program once I'm done with this and who knows, maybe when I'm fit enough I will give Insanity a go. :-)

4. Jogging

Like I tell my Mom anytime we go out jogging/walking, "It doesn't matter if you are as slow as a snail, as long as you are not walking it's jogging." It can be a slow jog for beginners and as your endurance and fitness levels increase, so can your pace. Jogging burns a lot of calories too. 

5. Walking

Now, this is something we all do everyday. On days that I am too tired to do anything intense, I walk. It could be a brisk walk around the neighborhood or a 60-minute session on the treadmill. 

SO there you have it. These are the main exercises I do in addition to lifting weights and other strength training exercises. What exercises do you enjoy?

A Good Week!

The previous week was a successful one as far as diet and exercise goes. Between last Sunday and today, I burnt 5,672 calories, according to my Garmin HRM. A good achievement, right? I think so too. I think using the HRM has helped me make careful choices when making food decisions. After burning all those calories, the last thing I want to do is go eating beyond the allotted 1,200 calories a day as prescribed.

Besides, like they say......

I sure as heck don't want to be doing all that hard work and messing it up because I can't seem to be disciplined enough to avoid that extra piece of cake or extra serving of rice. Thankfully, my hard work was rewarded. I saw a loss on the scale. I'm creating my workout plan for the week and will definitely share it with you guys as soon as I'm done.

How was your week? What are your plans for this week?

I Love My Garmin!

It's only been five days and I'm still getting a hang of all the functions but, as far as the basics go, I'm so in love!!! I must confess that having the heart rate monitor has changed the way I look at crappy food. Of course there are days when you just can't resist the cravings but, having this has really sent the "Weight loss is 80% diet" message home. 

I remember looking surprised when after a 6km walk I realised I had burnt 493 calories, Lol! I was actually expecting more. Then it suddenly dawned on me that I did not want to spend all this time working out only to be negating my progress by going beyond my 1200 calorie a day limit. So, I'm revisiting Myfitnesspal and logging in my food intake. Also, I'm going to try writing in a food diary too; tried so many times and failed :-(.

Wish me luck. I'm  hoping to hit Onederland and stay there by the end of this year.

I Got A Heart Rate Monitor......

Hurray! I've been trying to get one for ages. I even asked a good friend to get me a Polar FT7 way back in December 2012 but she's not been able to send it to me due to a number of issues.

Anyways, I was window shopping at the Game Stores yesterday afternoon and for some reason, as I was leaving the place I felt this sudden urge to visit the watches section. Lo ad behold, not only was the Garmin FR70 available, it was reduced to clear! It cost way less than the original price of $129; I got it for $50. I was so eager to use the thing that I got it set and working when I got home.

My new heart rate monitor.

ANT* stick, watch, chest strap and transmitter plus foot pod in the box (messy huh?)

                                     
I like that I get more accurate readings with this since it takes your age, height and weight into consideration when calculating calorie burn. Hopefully this would help me monitor my fitness progress. Also, I would know the distance covered when I go jogging. Yay! I'm so excited!

Let the games begin. I'm attacking August with brutality.

Early Bird....

It's 4:55am and I just finished working out. Finished my schedule and decided to do an additional 10mins of Shaun T's Total Body Burn which is in the Hip Hop Abs program. Gosh! I'm dripping in sweat. I wish I had a big mirror in my room so I could see what I was doing. Even with the confidence I exude when doing the workout, I'm sure I look way different from those on the screen. Lol! 

I wasn't able to workout yesterday because my right eye hurt so bad and the last thing I could think of was exercise so, there goes my rest day. I'm going to have to exercise on Sunday.

Stepped on the scale this morning and let's just say, I've got tons of work to do if I want to hit my goal for the year. Really need to eat clean. Saw this on Pinterest and it really got to me. Why eat certain foods and punish yourself later?

 Guess my problem has always been dinner options. Any tips guys? Would love to read your suggestions.

Motivating Myself & Ab Sculpt....

I got home yesterday evening feeling tired, sore and in no mood to workout. Then, I remembered this picture I saw on Pinterest and that was enough to push me onto the elliptical.

I did the whole 60 minutes as planned and felt really good afterwards.

The machine says I burned 676 calories and I covered 15.6 kilometers. I must admit that it always feels great when I'm able to achieve my daily workout goals. Planning really helps because I don't have to waste time deciding on what workout to do when I wake up at 3:30am or get back from work at 6pm. 

This morning I did Shaun T's Ab Sculpt workout from Hip Hop Abs and my.... it was difficult. I was struggling at some points and my soreness didn't help. Guess the elliptical workout from the previous night played a role in this since, I love to do all sorts of stuff like posing in a squat and pedaling backwards to work my thighs and glutes.

Anyways, I'm taking things one day at a time.

How was your workout today? Do anything fun? 

Hip Hop Abs....

Hey people, after trying to figure out a workout schedule I decided that I will revisit the twice a day workout. I will be alternating between Hip Hop Abs and my elliptical for now. Perhaps when I get back into my regime I will add Insanity to the mix. Did I forget to mention that Shaun T is a total definition of HOTNESS? Wow! I wish I had the female version of his body. 

So, I have drawn up a plan to guide me and prevent unnecessary guesswork when I wake up in the mornings.

Day	Morning	Evening
Monday	Elliptical workout	Hip Hop Abs Fat Burning Cardio
Tuesday	Hip Hop Abs Fat Burning Cardio	Elliptical workout
Wednesday	Hip Hop Abs Ab Sculpt	Elliptical workout
Thursday	Hip Hop Abs Fat Burning Cardio	Elliptical workout
Friday	Hip Hop Abs Fat Burning Cardio	Elliptical workout
Saturday	Hip Hop Abs Fat Burning Cardio	Elliptical workout
Sunday	Rest	Rest

So, let's see how this week goes. Enjoy your week.

Getting My Act Together….

As I said in my previous post, things have not been so good in the eating and working out departments. I however have found a way to solve both problems (hopefully). Planning!

Yes, I’m sure some of you are rolling your eyes and saying “Didn’t she already know that?” Well, maybe I did, but I haven’t been consistent with that as far as my healthy regime is concerned.  Thank God for the numerous opportunities to try till I succeed. Anyways, I have decided to go back to the food journal since it does help me check on my junk intake.

With the exercise bit, I’ve decided to exercise at least four times a week. That would be my major goal till the year ends. I still have five full months to lose some weight and I’m going to try my possible best to do that. In addition, since I’m a serious series viewer, I’ve decided to kill two birds with one stone by watching my favorite programs when I’m working out. And boy, are they many! Here’s a list of what I love to watch at the moment:

• Drop dead diva
• Rizzoli and Isles
• Luther
• True blood
• Teen wolf
• Hit the floor
• Franklin & Bash
• The Haves & Have Nots
• Ray Donovan
• Suits
• Extreme Weight Loss
• Private Practice
• Person of Interest
• 2 Broke Girls

Here are the others that I can’t wait to watch when they resume a new season:

• The Vampire Diaries
• The Originals
• Grey’s Anatomy
• Game of Thrones
• Mike and Molly
• Hart of Dixie
• Nikita
• Arrow
• Beauty and the Beast

Wow! They are so many that I won’t be surprised if I have left out some. It’s a wonder that I even read!

What series do you guys love? Share some of your favorites… Please?

A Deal Worth Taking......

Wow! It's been over a month since I last posted. Life has been crazy busy. I wish I could say that I've been faithful with my eating and exercising but, all I can say is that those two aspects of my life has been experiencing a yoyo journey.

Anyway, someone actually made me a deal last month to spur me on in my weight loss journey. It's a good deal. I will give you the details later this week. 

Gotta go now.

Cheers.

Redeveloping Good Habits...

After the heartwarming discussion I had with my Dad concerning my weight loss efforts things have sort of fallen into place. My exercising has been consistent and I'm really paying attention to my food intake. I measure my food and make entries on Myfitnesspal. It really helps because I at least, have a fair idea of how many calories I'm taking in. 

I also started doing squats. Trust me when I say it's no joke. Doing overhead squats with the exercise ball helps me work my arms, back and thighs at the same time. I love that cos even with exercise I love to multitask ;-). 

My water intake has also increased significantly. It's not even noon and I've almost finished the 1.5L bottle of water sitting on my desk.

My desk is always a crazy mess; no matter how much I tidy it up.

And my veggies intake has increased significantly. In addition to the cabbage, lettuce and peppers, I've discovered these.

They consist of peas, carrots, green beans and sweetcorn. I use these because it is more affordable to buy  as compared to getting the individual components separately. I do plan on trying the oriental mix version too. 

I also decided to take it easy on the scale. I know I said I would post my weekly weigh ins before but, I don't want to discourage myself with a number. Imagine how crazy I would go if after all the hard work the scale doesn't budge. The muscle theory does not really stop me from feeling bad and I would hate to do that to myself. I may weigh in monthly but for now I would like to focus on the good habits I'm redeveloping.

Getting Back In The Game...

These last few weeks have been crazy for me. The power outages have made me lose my running rhythm. I'm too scared to go running in the dark and the elliptical isn't really a fun workout for me anymore. So, over the weekend I decided I was going to have to find alternatives to prevent me from falling totally off the wagon. I've had these Jillian Michaels and Billy Blanks workouts on my laptop waiting to be used. Perhaps it's time. 

This morning everyone at the office seemed to like my appearance. It's amazing how they seem to think I've slimmed when I still think I have a long way to go. This is what I looked like (forgive the photo, not all phone cameras are equal. lol!)

Have a great week folks!

Weigh In No. 5, January Recap.....

January has been a great month. I exercised on 26 out of 31 days. Yayy! I also ate more vegetables than ever. I realized that my love for jogging has increased. There's no stopping me now. Even if the weight loss process is a slow one for me, I will persevere to the end.

Previous Weigh In: 207.5 lbs

Today's Weigh In: 207.9 lbs

Gain: 0.4 lbs

Am I surprised? No. Am I upset? No. I'm not surprised because the previous week was very stressful and I think I overdid the carbs a little bit. I'm glad that I did not gain a pound. That would have pissed me off. Lol! Not to worry though. Next week would be better. Besides, I have lost 5lbs in the month of January. That's an achievement for me. Here's to another 5lbs in February.

February, here we come!!!!!

Have a great week folks.

Weigh In No.4, Butt Pain and Exercise Frequency.....

Yeah, you read correctly. My butt hurts like hell. I don't know if it's because I used the elliptical after such a long period. Could it be the cause? Or perhaps I'm building muscle there. lol!

My week was a great one. I exercised throughout; all 7 days! Yayy! I even went out with dumbbells on Thursday and gave my arms an additional workout. Talk about meaning business! My eating was also very interesting. I realized that I'm needing less and lesser food by the day because I'm eating more vegetables than ever. Once I kept in the mind the servings of carbs I could consume, everything else went fine.

So, I guess it's time to see if all the hard work erased the previous week's gain.

Previous Weigh In: 209.4 lbs
Today's Weigh In: 207.5 lbs
Loss: 1.9 lbs

I'll take what I can get. After all, it's a journey.

Have a lovely week folks.