Day 15: Water is the New Coke

Weighed in this morning and....

GAINED IT ALL BACK!  All but .4 of the 2.2 sweet little pounds I thought I had lost. Somehow, in the midst of bizarre thunderstorms and an innocent little bowl of cereal at 10pm because I was STARVING all my hard work is wiped out.

I was reviewing my frustrations with my friend at work - yet another gorgeous and peppy lady with a heck of a lot of brains, who is also in amazing shape. She shared with me that when she starts to kick it into gear with her workouts, she always gains weight because she drinks more water.

And that's EXACTLY what I did yesterday. I spent 4 hours cleaning the house (and that killed my knees way more than wii fit) and chugged two liters of water in the process. I think water weighs, like, eight pounds per gallon. So that about explains THAT.

Sunchips, take heart. I have a new enemy: WATER.

I suppose that's not entirely fair. My kids also did me in tonight. I didn't make dinner for myself, expecting leftovers. I started on a little chips and salsa but as soon as Gus informed me he wasn't into the hashbrown and sausage scramble with katchup that he requested, I tucked them away and prepared for clean-up duty. I'm sure it only amounted to 2 little bitty links and two hashbrown patties... but if my McDonalds menu memory serves, those are like 6,000 calories each. These were the albertson's frozen variety, and I didn't drown them in oil, so perhaps I only consumed about 2,000. Well, even if that didn't kill me, the desert that Max didn't finish did: angelfood cake with nutella spread and fat free cool whip. He begged me to make this for him, then took about a bite and screamed that it hurt a canker sore in his mouth. Mom to the rescue... of the cake.

On the bright side, I'd hate to think what I would weigh right now if I WERENT trying so hard to eat less and exercise more. I do feel better physically than I did two weeks ago. Seriously. But I'm not used to it being this hard. Another amazing and lovely woman I know at work said she's been reading about weight loss since she was 16, and says that fat cells have memory and THATs why once you got 'em its hard to kill em off for good.

Its time for a nuclear attack. When I figure out exactly how to do that, I'll let you know!

Day 14: Checkpoint Sunchip

Ugh.

Saturday, I was sure I was on the right track. Down three pounds, just needed to get one more off before Sunday and I could claim "2 lbs a week on the junk food diet!"

No such luck. Up a pound and not sure why. Wii fit has a little quiz if you gain weight asking if you partook of various naughty activities. Then, on your chart, the dot for that day is a different color. If you roll over it you get your message to yourself about what you did wrong. I didn't use that tool very well, and have a lot of "I don't know"s. What I wanted to say was "I have no freaking clue how I can feel like I'm starving and not lose weight! AND ITS NOT MUSCLE!!! AARRRGGGG!!!"

ok, I'm better now.

So, Sunday weigh in and I'm only down 2.2 points total for the two weeks since I began this experiment. Technically, that's within the 1-2 pounds a week of healthy weight loss. So, I figure I just need to get a little more intense and make a few adjustments.

1. Do the more intense routine on wii fit. No more stepping while watching netflix. I also need to take a few of the tools more seriously, like the weight-gain-excuse-quiz.

2. Log my food better. Originally I was going to do that here, but as people have told me they enjoy this blog, I've wanted to stay entertaining and not bore you with my menu. Unfortunately for you, dear reader, I need to really look at what I'm eating. I think I'm probably sneaking in larger snack portions.

3. Really, really try not to eat at night. That's one of the tidbits of info my little scale friend told me and its something I know I'm really bad at. Its just so relaxing to chill in front of Eureka or Sanctuary or Top Chef with a nice bag of Sunchips. But they are the enemy, at least after 8pm.

So, I'll start with that and see how the next two weeks go. Of course, this week work is CRAZY and I'm not sure how I'm going to fit in the exercise part. I may have to take a hiatus and then start my clock next Sunday. If I get to bed now, maybe I can sneak in four hours of sleep and have time to get everything done...

I've heard that getting more sleep actually is better for weight loss, but it was related to sleeping less and eating more because you thought you were burning calories. I'll have to check that theory out too...

Day 13: Muscle Mystery Solved

First off, huge drop in weight. Excited to see if it holds steady for Sunday, my official "weigh in day."

Second, I had dinner with a very smart woman - an engineer at Boeing - who is in great shape and health conscious. She let me know that it takes at least 10 days if not a month for fat to turn into 1 pound of muscle.

Drat.

Double drat.

So, my new theory on the fluctuations comes from my aunt Kim, another brilliant, beautiful woman, who also has wii fit experience. She says there are little wii feet that will stabilize it and make weigh ins more consistent.

So, I'm off to Game Stop for some feet...




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Day 12: The Saga Continues

A very wise man once said, "Either do or do not. There is no try."

Ok, he was more of a green puppet, but none the less Yoda had a point.

I have slacked off. I just did step aerobics again this morning watching Gordon Ramsay on my iPod.

The bright side: my knees haven't clicked since I started this experiment, so I must be strengthening my legs and protecting them.

And, I knew that I just needed to find some way to get motivated. My goal was 30 min, 4 times a week and I've done that.

I may not be happy with the results yet, but I need to respect myself for finally getting off my butt. And I do thank the wii for making that part easy.

But I'm about ready for an intervention. Time to increase time and intensity (some of you Ed folks might get what I mean...)

Its not enough to say I tried. I must DO.

That's what I love about Gordon Ramsay and his latest cooking competition - Best Restaurant. The teams all take their defeat as a learning experience in their quest for excellence. It's always about bouncing back better than before.

And doing whatever it takes to get the job done. Not just trying, but DOing.

I wonder if I could manage 30 minutes of super hula hoop?

Now, THAT'd be Excellent!

Day 11: Monkey Business

I have been betrayed.

By a childhood staple, trusted by toddlers everywhere.

My go to Sweet snack

My beloved animal cookies

Have twice as many calories as I thought! (the horror!)

No wonder they taste so buttery! And that may explain a little of my unhappy fluctuation. (alas, the muscle theory is exposed... That's how the cookie crumbles!)

Nevertheless I am headed back down again. Did free step this morning, minus the hair dye drip, watching a Gordon Ramsay cooking show. If you can't eat it, watch it!

I've decided Sunday is a "progress monitoring" day and I may have to adjust my strategy if my total weight loss and clothes fitting tests are not registering results.




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Day 10: Not to Scale

So I'm up a little again on wii fit, but the real scale is staying put, at the lower weight. So, now I weigh less in the real world than wii-land. Total reversal, no explanation.

Which is more accurate?

Wii fit seems more sensitive to small changes. Scale stays put for long periods of time and then registers a big change.

I'm going to go with my "go to" explanation for everything:

More muscle! :-)

(not that I think I miraculously got buff, mind you... It just sounds good.)


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Day 9: Gotta Be Mii

Back to the regular wii routine. Can knock it out in 35 minutes now that I know what I'm doing. I got a double helping of hula hoop, and can skateboard like a wii pro. Now, that's exercise!

Weight went up again a little today. I'm hoping that getting back to a sweaty workout will help.

And, I must remember my own muscle weight mantra. How's this logic: my legs hurt so the muscles must have got a good workout. Good workout =
more muscle = more muscle weight = less fat weight. :-)

But I can already tell tomorrow's not going to be good. Eric is gone again and I got a little sad...ok, a lot sad. Tried to stay in control with healthy, moderate emotional eating... But that's sort of an oxymoron... Really, it was only about a quarter bag of sunchips...

I need a better strategy for that.

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Day 8: Moms Work Hard So Trainers don't have to.

Took the day off to hang with Eric and the boys. Cranked up the wii fit for a weigh in. Up a smidge, but that was to be expected. Skipped the workout bc little one, affectionately called Thing 2, was anxious to ride his motorcycle.

I'm not worried Bc of a very important lesson I learned from my abandoned body bug (and if you don't know what that particular weight loss fad is, you have no business reading this blog). Taking care of kids burns more calories than a workout with a personal trainer in the same amount of time.

No lie.

A few summers ago I did that whole program - trainer, meal plan, and body bug calorie burning tracker. I learned two (and only two) valuable weight loss lessons. 1. I burned 25 calories an hour when sleeping. 2. I burned more calories from 4-6 picking up the boys from school, getting dinner ready, doing homework and getting cleaned up than I did working with a trainer and hitting the stair stepper from 2-4. The day I saw that data was the day I ripped off the body bugg and decided to take my kids to the park instead - burn the same calories, and enjoy my kids while I can.

Of course, I'm back on an exercise regime, but it's about playing (I Rock at wii skateboarding!) and keeping track at a high level, while relaxing about my detailed food and activity choices.

Hmmm, sounds a lot like accountability for flexibility - the "charter school contract...". Now I'm starting to scare myself! ;-)

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Day 7: Skinny Girls Do it Too

It's officially been a week and I couldn't weigh in at the hotel. I can't tell how much damage I did by eating out twice. Olive Garden bread seems to always set me back a couple pounds. I limited myself to one, but my seafood stew was butter based, and came with very buttery garlic bread.

So, I started today with fruit and half a muffin.

Since I couldn't take comfort in another missing pound I tried to gauge my progress by what other women my age were ordering at the wavepool grill. The hands down winner: chili cheese nachos. And these were fit, bikini clad moms - the kind I used to be!

I started thinking back to the real skinny girls I've known. One always ordered a cheese quesadilla but only ate half. Another, mcdonalds happy meals. Another, cranberry martinis. (Ok, that's a different blog too.)

My point is, they let themselves have the yummy stuff, they just don't overindulge. The psychology is the complete opposite of the traditional diet of deprivation, which I propose leads to more bingeing and overindulgence.

So, even without a scale I think I'm on the right track.

And traipsing up the waterslide stairs for two hours is a heck of a workout.

Day 6: A Scale by Any Other Name

Registered another half pound loss on wii fit. Down about 4 pds since Sunday, but my bathroom scale wasn't registering any change... Until today!!! There is still a two pound difference between the two - bathroom scale is higher.

However, the wii fit asks me how much clothes I'm wearing and i think reduces by two pounds bc I say "light clothes." So maybe they aren't that far off.

Today, we are celebrating my 40th waking up at a hotel/water park called the Arizona Grand Resort. No scale in the bathroom so I can't see the damage I did with the birthday lunch and dinner. There is one at the athletic club... But I think I'll take the day off.

Managed to keep the snack theme going - had yummy tomato soup, sweet potato fries and shoe string onion rings for dinner, and the desert I've waited about five years to repeat - skillet baked chocolate chunk cookie with caramel ice cream. Heaven! We all shared so I don't think I did too much damage...

Eric (aforementioned boyfriend) says he can tell the blog is going to be a success bc I'm blogging instead of eating right now... Guess I'll take the hint and then go burn off a few calories :-)

Day 5: Attack of the Multitasking Mom

I had a choice to make: Get up
At 3am to get everything done, or skip my wii workout. Top of my to do list - refresh my roots (and i don't mean updating my family tree - I'm 40 and proud!)

Solution? 35 minutes of Wii free step while the color set! And to add to this multitasking miracle I watched Glee on my iphone at the same time.

The result? Brown rivers of hair dye trickling down my forehead. Not a pretty sight. But I learned something new - that wii step aerobics may look wimpy, but if you do it long enough it really can make you sweat.

Logged another day of weight loss too :-)


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Day 5: Kids meals Rock!

Back on day 1 I wondered how to deal with eating out. So far my "choose snacks!" philosophy has come through. As I approach the menu board I tell myself, "I get to order snack food!" instead of "I'm Starved, whats for dinner?" and I order two tacos rather than a number six with curly fries. Or, a kids sized burger and fries can shave hundreds of calories off my meal, but I still felt like I was indulging. Seriously, I'm on a diet, losing weight, and I ate a burger and fries!!!

And on the nutrition side of things I ate a baby bell cheese - 100 calories for a chunk of calcium and live cultures. For lunch, a banana dipped in a 100 cal pudding (more calcium, total chocolate indulgence, low cal treat. Total score!) dinner was the tacos, which had lettuce, and carrots and dip for a snack tonight, with some animal crackers. Adding it up now, probably between 1000-1200 calories which is perfect, but I didn't think about that much at all during the day.

So far, the experiment is working... But I have a long way yet to go.

Just did the body test this morning on wii fit - needed a rest. Down again today :-)

Note on wii fit age: if you've never done the activity and your age is ridiculously high, don't worry. Once you understand the instructions you'll end up a 25 year old!

Boyfriend comes to visit tomorrow night. This weekend will likely put this little science project to the test...

Day 4: Not the weight but the inches.... really?

Finally registered a decrease today! For the last few days I was slightly discouraged, but kept my spirits up by remembering 2 things I've learned in the last 20 years of being a (relatively) grown up woman trying to stay fit.

1) Weight watchers says NOT to weigh yourself every day because there are natural fluctuations in a week of up to four pounds that can be discouraging. Their recommendation has always been to weigh in once a week, and look at the trend over a couple of weeks. I've never bought it. I'd rather know on a daily basis what I'm dealing with, and use the "over-under"as a potential mitigating factor to keep my eye on.

In today's world of instant gratification, I need to know right away if last nights fries are sticking to this morning's thighs.

However, after three days of hovering, and mild discouragement, I can see their point.

2) Muscle weighs more than fat. My personal encyclopedia of everything, Kerry, has assured me that this is the case. Given my sore body, the wii fit is definitely doing something - and the assumption is that something is turning flab into fab. Muscle has less bulk than fat, so my clothes should start fitting a little better soon even if the scale stays the same.

For my workout, I did the wii routine for "heath" which includes 9 routines around "overindulgence," "tummy," and "leaner mii". They are a combination of leg strength and aerobics. I like the bike ride where you capture flags because its the most like a real game. I added a "figure" routine for legs and burned 140 calories in 30 minutes.  Definitely more bang for the buck than yoga, but not as much more as I had expected.

I also noticed a trend line that the wii fit makes for you in the charts section. Thanks to today's drop, I'm on the downward trend, right on the  line. If I stick to that line, I'll make my goal. Nifty little tool.

I've also found that by sticking to my "snacks only" mentality I eat less in general by treating a meal like a snack. Also since I'm not starving at a meal I don't chow down as much. I do have to watch that I'm not just shoving pretzels in my mouth out of boredom, but take a handful at a time when I'm hungry at work.

And I'm getting really sick of bananas.

Day 3: Good nutrition

Just want to clarify that salsa IS a vegetable. 1/2 cup is equal to one serving of veggies. Yesterday, I ate a full day of veggies in one sitting!

And, though I'm not a banana fan, they are easy, fast, and filling so I'm putting up with them as a healthy snack food. Plus, dip them in a hundred calorie pudding cup, and they almost pass for desert!

Did 30 min of yoga on the wii fit. I picked my own routine for the first time and it worked out pretty well. Burned 85 calories. Short of my goal, but I was sore from two "hard core" (and I use that term loosely) days of wii fitting and needed a stretch out day.

Tomorrow, back to the burn! Ggrrrr!

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Day 2: A Sound Theory

I first heard of the idea of a junk food diet on the radio. Research came out on the "Twinkie diet" where it was healthier to eat junk but stay under a reasonable calorie intake in order to lose weight. The study suggested that the health risks of being overweight were far worse than missing a few nutrients here or there. And, likewise, the health benefits of losing weight far surpassed the detrimental effects of a Twinkie or ten.

I don't think anyone believes it's a long term solution, but I'd rather take cool whip than slimquik. That stuff messes you up.

As for my first full day, I'm already a little sick of pretzels. But they were a good afternoon Munchie. I also had two bananas today, lean cuisine spring Role for lunch and chips and salsa for dinner.

My morning weigh in didn't go so hot, but I'm sore from the wii fit workout, so something is working right.

I unlocked "advanced" on snowball fight! (and I live in the desert, ironic, I know). That sucker seems to burn 25 calories in two minutes. But I may have done the math wrong, in my pjs, at 5am, sweating like my dad.

Well, tomorrow is another day!

Day 1: The Experiment Begins

My theory is simple:

Eat only things I like that feel a little like cheating, but in fact are semi-healthy choices. I'd rather be snacking than eating a meal anyway! So, it takes all the agony out of dieting.

And why get all embarrassed at the gym? I can get sweaty with a very nice wii-trainer in the comfort of my own PJs! (and my kids think its cool that mom plays with Wii, but I do have to give them a turn...)

Why? I turn 40 in two days.

Six months ago I was determined that by my 40th birthday I would have my 20 year old body back. Seriously, "20 by 40" was my mantra and with such a winning catchphrase, how could I go wrong?

Well, that lasted about a week. Life got in the way, as often happens.

Its a wonderful life, but I got a new really fantastic though busy job, a new boyfriend (will, rekindled college friendship, but that's for a different blog!), and my two boys thankfully still want to hang out with mom - got to grab that while it lasts.

After that failed, I took a little inventory, and here's the deal:

I've done the carb-free diet and weight-watchers, and had great success on both, but this time I don't have the time to count carbs or calories.

I did the gallon of water a day and no preservatives diet, but got really sick of peeing all the time.

I got in GREAT shape once running an 8 story mountain three times a week... but now I have a strange click in my knee.

I just need to eat less, without stress, on the go. And I need to exercise without wrecking my knee.

So, I said to heck with what all the experts, books, websites, and apps say. I'm going to snack my way skinny.

Today I bought the following at the grocery store:
Baked Tostitos
salsa
carrotts
onion dip
pretzels
animal cookies
lean cuisine spring rolls (and a few dinners to try to be somewhat responsible)
and, for desert, frozen blueberries and fat free coolwhip
To drink, I got the only bottled water I can stand Fiji (I like Evian too, actually. But feel like such a snob drinking it...) and 5 cal Arizona ice tea Arnold Palmer mix.

When eating out, I normally get salads anyway - its a splurge for me b/c I hate making them at home. So, I'm not stressed about that part. (and I eat out a lot)

And I'm all mii-ed in, weighed in, and BMI'd.

Here are my first stats:
Weight 175.3
BMI 29.2
work out goal: 145 calories (equals a glass of milk so I can splurge on Ovaltine if I'm starving at night!)

Anyway, figured I'd keep track here for all the other ladies who are really really tired of following someone else's plan and getting caught between the "no fake stuff" vs. "diet cheese only" crowds.

Want to do it with me? Make a list of snacks you like that aren't too bad for you, and that you can eat in smallish doses. (I LOVE sun chips, but power through half a bag at a time. They are NOT on my list, unless I think I can control myself.) Think about an easy low cal version of frozen fruit and low cal cool whip. I actually used a 100 calorie pudding cup that my kids left behind tonight. Get a few frozen dinners that you like to pop in when the rest of the fam has dinner. Then fire up your wii fit and log your status! I'd love to see comments from folks who are trying this too. And if you have "eating out healthy" hints, please let me know!

Who knows, we may just snack our way skinny!