Pictures IV - Week III

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Hm, I was wrong last week. Wow time flies. This is actually the third week - the first photo was week zero, then one, two, and so on. Funny how that works. Go figure. This is three weeks of exercise. Next week is four where we'll do a straight up comparison.

Pictures, Part III

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Only 3 weeks into it, and already some progress. Despite the bumpy start (Noelle got sick, my neck snapped, Lela sleeps too much...) we're back on track. It's amazing how little time it really takes - about one hour a day. One hour less TV - that's all. The real effort isn't the exercise; it's all the eggs, yogurt, and protein shakes. Thank goodness for the free day!

Day 14

weight: 166.9 (-5.9)

body fat %: 26.8 (-0.8)

bust: 36 (-0.5)

waist: 33.3 (-1.7)

hips: 42.4 (-0.6)

arm: 12.9 (-0.35)

thigh: 24.8 (-0.45)

I'm feeling pretty positive about things so far.  Diet is going well... but the exercise is not.  I keep coming up with every reason under the sun to not workout.  That will change this week.  I am going to gym everyday no matter what.  I also need to pump up the weights, pardon the pun.  My endurance is better, so I think it is time to starting building some fat-burning muscle.

Diet Cokeaholics Anoyomous

Hello, my name is Noelle... and I am addicted to Diet Coke... literally.  And I am not alone.

I love Diet Coke.  More than anything.  And I mean anything.  I crave it.  I need it.  It is the only thing that will quench my thirst.  And it I don't have it... watch out.  A major migraine and attitude are on the way.

You may wonder what the harm is in being addicted to Diet Coke is.  I mean, no calories, no sugar, no fat... so who cares.  Well, diet coke (and diet sodas in general) are actually not so great for you.

Caffeine

Caffeine is a stimulant and diuretic.  And it is VERY addictive. Withdrawal causes rebound vasodilation and hence those nasty headaches.  Caffeine causes a net loss of water, so you should stick to the 2 glasses of water for each serving of caffeine rule-of-thumb.  Increased caffeine intake is also a risk factor for osteoporosis.

Aspartame

This artificial sweetener breaks down into methanol and formaldehyde in your body.  Yes, formaldehyde, the stuff they preserve dead bodies with.  Some studies suggest that this may get into your fat cells and make it harder to break them down.  That's totally not cool.  Aspartame may also cause migraines.  It certainly does to my husband.  Artificial sweeteners in general trick your brain into craving sweets. Also not cool.

Acid

The acid is soda increased risk of osteoporosis and in all-around bad for your teeth.  Soda is a major culprit in the increased enamel breakdown of our generation. 

Diet Coke is not helping my weight issues.  All medical science still isn't sure about the effect of diet soda, it certainly isn't good for you.  So, I am giving it up.  I shall rid myself of this dragon on my back.

I went all last week without Diet Coke cold turkey (5 long, hard days).  The first thing I wanted on my free day was a glorious sip of one... and oh my was it glorious.  I felt like what druggies wanting there next hit must feel when they finally get it... it was euphoric.  In the end, I had 4 Diet Cokes that day.  Not too bad.

I've now been Diet Coke free for 5 days.  Free day is tomorrow.  I'll try to limit it to 3.

Free-Day Philosophy

There are many differing opinions on the "Free-Day" in a diet regimen.  The free-day is that glorious day of the week where you can eat whatever you want.  There's the ultimate in free day.  There are those that emphasize the free-day.  There are those that don't allow a single free-day.

As for me... well, in all my dieting experience, one thing has become clear to me.  You must have a free-day!  Free-days are the reward at the end of a long, hard week of dieting.  Free-days are incentive not to cheat.  Every time I have the urge to eat candy, fast food, soda, etc I just tell myself that if I don't, then I can on Saturday.  If you do not have a free-day, in my opinion, you are way more likely to cheat all throughout the week.

So, go ahead, have a free day.  I cannot wait for mine on Saturday.  The first thing I'm going to do is have a Diet Coke... more on that tomorrow.

Video Vixen II

Minna: Emergency Workout

Another of my old favorites, "Minna: Emergency Workout" is a great, simple workout routine. It is composed of two workouts: cardio and toning, each about 30 minutes long.  The cardio segment has a great warm-up and actually is fun.  The moves are a combination of traditional aerobics (grapevines, v-steps, etc) and latin dance (salsa, cha-cha, mambas).  Don't worry though... the choreography is simple and easy to follow.  Perhaps the best part of the cardio is Minna's ability to mix up intervals.  She slows down when needed.  As a result, your heart rate stays up, but you never feel like you're going to die.  The time goes really quickly.  The toning segment is a great all-around strength routine.  You need one set of 3 to 5 pound weights.  Minna combines lunges, squats, etc with upper body weights, leading to a very efficient workout.  There is also floor work and abdominal at the end.

I really enjoy Minna Lessig, the former Ms. Fitness America.  She is gorgeous and bubbly... yet she doesn't annoy me.  I find her inspiring and genuine.  I own several of her videos and enjoy them all.  Overall, this video lives up to its name.  "Minna: Emergency Workout" is the perfect video to do in a time crunch for an all-encompassing total body workout.  I highly recommend.

Picture Show II

Noelle, after 1 week:

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Eric, after 1 week:


Not a huge difference for Noelle or I chubby-wise, however, a huge difference for me muscle-wise. To be more specific, neck-muscle-wise. To be more specific, I sprained my neck. Note to all: when straining to hold 50 lbs of weight over your head - don't cock your head left (or anywhere).

Carbohydrate: Friend and Foe

Every Tuesday, I am going to attempt to post on a dietary subject. This week:

The Glycemic Index

Carbohydrates are the mainstay of our diets. They are inexpensive, filling, low calorie, and go with everything. Carbohydrates are also the main fuel for our bodies. In our digestive system, they breakdown to glucose, which our body uses for all cellular functions. The level of blood glucose is balanced by insulin release. Insulin keeps glucose levels in check and stores excess energy as fat. That's right... insulin is what stores our fat... damn insulin.

Different carbohydrates impact blood glucose levels differently. Carbohydrates that are slowly digested produce a low, steady glucose release, which is good for us. Carbohydrates that are rapidly digested produce a high glucose spike, triggering insulin, and thus the fat. That's where the Glycemic Index (GI) comes in. The GI measures the impact a certain food has on blood glucose levels on a scale on 0 to 100.

Low GI (<55):small impact on blood glucose (good)

High GI (>55): large impact on blood glucose (bad)

It is impossible to list here are of the good and bad carbs. But in general, good carbs (low GI) are whole wheats, fruits, and vegetables... bad carbs (high GI) are refined/ white sugars and starches (ie potatoes). The Glycemic Index website has an excellent database where you can search for just about any food item.

Avoiding carbohydrates is NOT the way to go. You need to eat the right ones... in the right amount. In my opinion, this is the only effective way of eating to lose weight. This is also a lifestyle change that can result in significant benefits in diabetes and heart disease. This eating plan has worked for me in the past, and it is what I will do this time... and for good.

If you are interested in learning more, I highly recommend the "The Glucose Revolution." They frequently update and the latest version came out last year. This book does an excellent job explaining the science behind GI and gives great eating tips and plans. I swear by this book.

Day 7

weight: 168.8 (-4)

body fat %: 28.4 (+0.8)

bust: 36 (-0.5)

waist: 34.5 (+0.5)

hips: 43 (n/c)

arm: 12.9 (-0.35)

thigh: 25 (-0.25)

The First Fatality (kinda)

It has been quite the weekend.  Eric got home from the gym Friday night and informed that he thought he pulled his right neck muscle.  I loaded him up on ibuprofen and we went to bed.  He then woke me up from a deep, medication induced sleep at 2am. He couldn't move his neck at all and was in excruciating pain.  Off to the ER we went.  Turns out he severely strained the muscle... so much so that it took 3 pushes of 4 of morphine to get the pain under control.  We left at 5am with a neck brace (it's hot) and Rx's for vicodin, naproxen, and flexeril.  Eric passed out at 6am.  

The good news: he's doing better, and our free day got to start with a 5am visit to McDonald's.

The bad news: no gym for 1 week, no heavy upper body work for 3 weeks.

Pictures to follow...

Video Vixen I

Every Wednesday I plan to review a workout video.  To start things off, I've chosen one of my old favorites: The Firm 5-Day Abs.  This is composed of 5 short abdominal routines taken from other Firm videos strung together by an 1980's hottie (quite Zach Morris-esque).  The routine lengths are as follows: 6 minutes-7 minutes-6 minutes-9 minutes-7 minutes.  

I swore by this video when I lost weight in the past.  It is just so incredibly easy to pop the tape in before bed or in the morning.  Everyone can spare 6 or 7 minutes.  The routines are difficult, but not impossible.  And you'll feel abdominal muscles you never knew you had.  Each routine is a good mix of upper, lower, and side work.  No props are necessary.  They do use a "fanny lifter" in some segments, but as long as you have something to prop your feet on, you should be fine.  I own this on VHS and just leave it in the VCR so that I can start on the next routine the next day.  It is now out on DVD, but apparently you cannot skip to different routines, so I recommend getting this on VHS if you can.

All-n-all, this is a MUST have in your workout video collection.

The Ugly Naked Truth

What horrifying secrets most of us hide beneath our clothes. I heard somewhere once that winter was a better season than summer for people-watching - for every one person who looks good in a bathing suit, there are ten who look better in a big fluffy coat. These photos are of the latter species.

First up, Noelle:


I've decided to name these first pics. In particular order:

1. Care-Bear Stare


2. Glad to be Alive


3. Muffins are for Eating, Not Being

Now, on to me...

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Ugh. Hideous. And to think I used to be cute. I dub thee:

1. Suicidal Accountant


2. Grandpa at 29


3. Shape of... Nuclear Blast?

Keep track of this first post... this is for posterity. I'm saving this as training device for my fat little grandchildren of 2043: keep in shape - this is your future, kid.

Beyond that, we will take new pictures every week, each month reposting this set for comparison. It keeps us honest.

The Magnificent Mile

I have never been able to run a complete mile.... ever.  Every year in gym class, track week was my most dreaded of weeks.  I always finished last... dead last.  And I always had to walk at least half of it.  The P.E. teacher would always try to make me feel good by emphasizing that at least I tried.  But still, come on, its a mile.  I need to be able to run a freaking mile.  Therefore, I present to you my first exercise goal:

TO RUN A COMPLETE MILE

Some people train for 5K's, others a marathon.  Me... I'll train to run a mile.... and then go from there.  We'll see how it goes.

Back in the Game

Just back from the gym.  Thus, I am *officially* back in the exercise game.  It is incredibly sad how horribly out of shape I am, but you have to start somewhere.  I did 20 minutes on the treadmill as follows:

• 2 minutes 3.0 mph
• 2 minutes 5.0 mph
• 2 minutes 3.5 mph
• 2 minutes 5.5 mph
• 3 minutes 3.0 mph
• 2 minutes 5.0 mph
• 2 minutes 3.5 mph
• 1 minute 6.0 mph
• 2 minutes 4.0 mph
• 2 minutes 3.0 mph

My legs feel like jelly, so I know I will be in loads of pain later, especially given that I  stand all day at work.  I feel good though.  I definitely look forward to keeping this up.  

The First Hurdle

Day 1 didn't really go as planned thanks to my best friend known as Mr. Migraine.  I made the mistake of stopping Diet Coke cold turkey (more on my Diet Coke addiction later).  As a result, no gym for me.  I feel incredibly guilty about that, but I will rectify it tomorrow.

I did, however, do great on the diet:

• breakfast: muscle milk protein shake
• snack: 1/2 PBJ
• lunch: protein bar
• snack: apple
• dinner: Nutrisystem mac and cheese and 1/2 turkey sandwich

I felt fairly good hunger-wise all day.  I, as usual, didn't get a lunch break, so have easily edible things with me was great.  All-n-all, 1400 calories and 80g protein.  I love using Nutrisystem as a supplement to a diet rather than an entire diet.  I'm sure I'll post all about Nutrisystem at some point.  Until tomorrow...

The Beginning of the End

Day 1

height: 5'10"

weight: 172.8

body fat %: 27.6

dress size: 12

bust: 36.5

waist: 34

hips: 43

arm: 13.25

thigh: 25.25

Today is the day.  I've been dreading and looking forward to this day for weeks.  Eric and I are hitting the gym this morning.  The plan is to increase endurance before the mega-workouts begin next week... treadmill and light upper body work.  A drastic diet change is also in store... low calorie, high protein, low GI.  I fear my ability to get through the work day.  Mondays are always the worst in the retail pharmacy world.  But I can do this, and I will do this.

History of a Weight-Loss Junkie

Diets I have tried (in no particular order):

• Nutrisystem
• Low GI
• Weight Watchers
• eDiets
• South Beach
• Atkins
• Lean Cuisine
• Hollywood

Workouts I have tried (in no particular order):

• The Firm
• Pilates
• Step Aerobics
• Tae-Bo
• Running
• Crunch
• Minna

Bottom-line:  There isn't a magic diet or workout that will do the trick.  I have liked aspects of many of these methods.  I plan to combine the best and most effective parts in my new lifestyle.  Look for reviews of these in future posts.

Chronically Chubby

Hi, my name is Noelle, and I am a weight-loss junkie. I cannot remember a time that I wasn't trying to lose weight.... ever. I'm not obese. I'm not diabetic. I don't have high blood pressure or cholesterol. But I am on my way there... and I'm not alone. That stops today.

My whole life, I have been up and down on the scale. Never terribly overweight, but heavy enough to get the fat-kid treatment throughout most of my school years. I call myself "chronically chubby." I was a fairly normal size as a toddler, but once school started, so did the pounds.

My first major "balls to the wall" weight loss attempt was the summer before my Senior Year of high school. I lost the weight, but it required exercising 3 hours a day and virtually starving myself. This obviously was not sustainable, and the pounds started creeping back on througout college. I went for a major weight loss again before my wedding in 2006 (as most brides do) and succeded. Again, I didn't sustain it... and so the weight is back on.

This is time is going to be different. This is not a New Year's Resolution or a passing interest. I am going to get fit, and I am going to get healthy... in a sustainable way. This is a New Life Resolution. I don't have 3 hours a day to commit to a trainer and a gym. I don't have a personal chef. I don't want to live on prepackaged diet food for the rest of my life. I don't need my stomach to be surgically shrunk. This will be a complete lifestyle turn-around. And so it begins....