Another weekly update by Elise. And for all you in on the challenge, don't forget to report!
Week 5
by guestblogger Elise
For me, this was a pretty great week! My results are not as spectacular, but I think that may be backlash from last week in addition to other reasons I'll talk about later.
Today I want to discuss exercise. If you're not involved in an exercise program, I strongly encourage you to be! It is crucial to any healthy living plan. My husband has recognized how critical it is in the past couple of weeks. His school schedule has prevented him from being able to find some good times to exercise. And his results have reflected that.
Not every exercise program will be right for everyone. I know that Janae, for example, enjoys Pilates. My husband likes to run. I do not enjoy either of these things. At all. I am not flexible enough for Pilades, and running feels like mind-numbing torture. I have friends who really like step aerobics. I unfortunately, do not. I am the least coordinated person possibly ever. I could go to this class every day for two weeks and still have no idea how to do the steps.
I do like classes, though. I am naturally a competitive person. So when I want to quit, I look at the people around me who are still going strong and I think, "If they can do it, I can do it." My favorite class is a Power class (weight lifting). I also take Spin and Kick-Boxing.
Also, I've learned that when I exercise in the morning, I eat better the rest of the day. Maybe this is just me, but I find that after I exercise, I have no desire to eat junk. I just worked hard to get that stuff out of me, man!
I have recognized amazing results from exercise--particularly from my Power class. If weight-lifting is not currently part of your exercise routine, I encourage you to make an effort to include it. Weight lifting encourages quick weight loss, the build up of lean muscle mass, and loss of fat. I have lost weight in places I didn't know I needed to lose: in my legs and my arms. It looks like my tummy weight might be the last to go. Which I guess makes sense. It was the first to go on. I just wish I had taken measurements of my legs and arms before I started.
This week I'd love it if you could share with me some of your exercise routines. What works for you?
Here are this week's stats:
Elise:
Starting weight: 146
Goal weight: 125
Last week's weight: 135
Today's weight: 135
Goal w/h ratio: .84
Starting w/h ratio: .94
Last week's waist measurement: 31 in. (at thinnest point)
This week's waist measurement: 30.5 in. (at thinnest point)
Brad:
Starting weight: 291
Goal weight: 200
Last week's weight: 245
Today's weight: 250
This week didn't end so well for me. I really wish I had measured myself in the beginning as suggested(I have done it now!), I think there was improvement there, but near the end of the week I hadn't lost any weight and I had been exercising more and eating well. I felt so discouraged. That paired with some other things and I didn't keep up eating as well. I did stay vegan and with unrefined foods, but ate too much and higher fat/sugar things and didn't drink as much water. I ended up gaining 1 lb:( Why does it go on SO much easier? This week started out rough, but I think I'm over the hump, feeling better and made a new plan that should work better.
ReplyDeleteTummy fat is the first and last for me too, that can be frustrating.
I've been doing interval training on my small elliptical for 2 years now and really like it! (This is the program that really helped me: www.breakthroughhealthandfitness.com) I also do the strength training program through them. My husband and I walk/hike. What has really helped me challenge myself with my intervals is to watch The Biggest Loser at the same time! (On Hulu.com). I also like variety, so sometimes I do some Irish dance or Tae Bo. And have recently been doing some Yoga, I really like the way it strengthens and relaxes!
During the middle of this last week, I was just about ready to throw in the towel. I was exercising, eating vegan (although probably too many bagels and tortillas) and I wasn't seeing any improvement, in fact I was seeing some regression. It was frustrating. Couple that with some terrible sleep due to young and / or sick children and by the weekend, my resolve was broken down some. I cheated a little here and there :( If I am tired, I have a really hard time reaching for the right kind of food, and unfortunately, when you have small children, sometimes you don't have the choice to get more sleep, even when you want to.
ReplyDeleteIt's funny, Elise, that your focus this week would be on exercise though because I did realize that part of the reason I was stagnating was because I needed to step up my exercise routine. I run 3 times a week 2-3 miles. This last week, I upped my mileage to 3.5 miles per time and one time I did 4.5 miles. I am signed up for a 7.4 mile canyon race in April and plan on running a marathon in July, so my exercise routine mostly revolves around training for those events now. I also go to the gym twice a week to ride the bike for cross training or do some lifting. I would also like to incorporate some yoga or pilates in once or twice a week because I enjoy both, but I have only done that once in the last month, so we'll see what time permits.
Anyway, after all that, I thought I would have to report a weight gain, but it turns out, the last time I jumped on the scale I was the same, so for me, that was good enough. I'd like to see some loss, so hopefully this next week will yield better results. I am hoping the sleep situation improves around here too because I think that will help me out immensely as well.
On a slightly unrelated note, I watched Food, Inc. yesterday and that further strengthened my resolve to see these lifestyle changes through.
good reminder about exercise!
ReplyDeleteway to hang in there--sometimes you have to ignore the stubborness of the scale :)
i was in a spiral of junk so i did a 24hr water fast and dropped a couple pounds-reset my hunger (when's the last time i had even felt hunger) and my taste buds.
doing better now
i think :)
I lost two pounds.
ReplyDeleteMy big problem was the Superbowl party we hosted :) I made some excellent vegan nacho dips, which everyone enjoyed. But even those calories add up :P
I got all my exercise classes in (two Tae Kwon Do classes, one HIIT, and one weight training class). I've also been going on several hour+ walks with the baby. Keeps me from getting too sore from the other stuff.
Hi all:
ReplyDeleteI have been doing CrossFit since July for exercise and can't tell you how much I love it. I have been faithfully going 4 days a week and my goal is to go 5 days a week plus more dog walk. I can confirm that the weights and cardo combination can really make an impact on your body composition. I did get my body fat measured via the Bod Pod and was disappointed (normal range but higher than when I had it done several years ago). With all the hard work at CrossFit I thought it would be lower, but maybe that is just getting older. But it also motivates me to stick to the MWL and no oil plan. Oil is my problem, not staying vegan.
I had an ok week-no weight gain or loss but did eat make some vegan cookies I made "for the kids" but who ate a half dozen-me :) and more pasta/bread than I wanted. Still trying to work in more water and doing better. I am pretty close to my goal weight so I know it will be harder to lose if I am not active and eating MWL. Checking in here really helps too!