I am now entering week two of my WLJ and its going pretty good. I've already dropped 7 pounds and I can feel that my shirts are a bit looser around the waist. Yay! I've been drinking water like its going out of style, at least 10 glasses a day, usually more. Been pretty good about the diet as well; choosing healthy, nutritious foods low in calories and watching my portions. I have a food/exercise journal where I keep track of everything religiously, from calories consumed and burned, to water intake; even writing down moments where I want to want to binge, what I'm craving, and why I'm feeling that way (boredom, stress, etc).
When I started this WLJ I was just planning on doing it all casual-like. Do my workout and eat less. But I realized after the first few days that in order for me to really see results and stick with the program, I'm going to have to fully immerse myself in this new lifestyle. I'm not the type of person who can just eat whatever, as long as its healthy, day to day and just be content with that. I mean, yes, I have done that in the past and maybe lost ten pounds, but then I get bored and start eating 'normal' again and back comes the weight. So I need to be a little obsessive about it I guess, plan out what I'm going to eat, how many calories that will be. If I can see on paper what I'm doing, it helps keep me committed to the WLJ.
Also, when you know exactly how many calories you've already consumed and how many you have left for the day, and you know exactly how many calories were burned during the workout, you are FAR less likely to let yourself cheat a bit with a cookie here or bit of ice cream there. I understand now how my BFF Christine was able to refuse gravy, pie and all that yummy stuff over the holidays.
I did cheat though, the other night. Ty had been called to work earlier that day, sent up north to Slave Lake for two days, so I was all alone that night. The kids were all in bed, I was at the computer killing time, and I had the thought, There are Reese peanut butter cups in the cupboard. Of course, for the next ten minutes that's all I could think about, obsess about. Finally I caved to the craving and in what seemed like seconds, had SIX cups wolfed down. Well, once the binge is started its hard to stop so down went a tapioca pudding as well. I'd been so good that day for eating, so really all that binge-food still kept me within my day's calorie allowance, but STILL. Chocolate, sugar and fat.
I immediately felt nauseous, as much from the food as the feelings of guilt and shame. But I wasn't about to do the old finger-down-the-throat thing, so I just went straight to bed. When I woke up in the morning and weighed myself, I was up two pounds. And it was such a miserable feeling, knowing that there went two days of hard work just because of a binge brought on by boredom and loneliness. But you know what? I think in the end it was a good thing because it just made me that much more dedicated, that much more confident that I can power through the next craving and binge impulse. No way in hell am I setting myself back two days just because I'm feeling snacky! That's like two more sessions of hour-long workouts!
So talking about workouts-- I'm still doing the Wii Cardio, at least until my Turbo Jam DVDs get here (should be one more week!). I really like it because it shows how many calories are burned for each workout routine. I am seeing great results in my arms and upper back. And I really think I could kick someone's ass if I had to. I know all the different punches (jab, cross, hook, upper, body shots, etc) and how to execute them properly. I've been waking up an hour earlier than usual so I can do the workout before anyone else wakes up. Its just too hard to fit in the time during the day; Ryder is a maniac and requires constant supervision (right Mom?) and I have too many other things to get done during his nap time. And the morning just works for me. Its quiet, there's noone about watching me, when I'm done I wake up the boys and go about the morning routine. You're riding the exercise-adrenaline high for a good hour afterwards, you feel so good about yourself. Plus, you are more likely to stick with the diet and water routine throughout the day if you know you've already done the hardest part of the WLJ in the morning.
I actually just read in a fitness magazine that the best way to lose weight around your middle is not through stomach crunches or sit-ups, but through a cardio routine. Sure, crunches and sit-ups will strengthen your abs but they won't do anything about all the fat surrounding them. That's where cardio comes in. Active fat burning. So that made me happy to hear. I hate crunches! Haha. I also read that to see a loss of 1-2 pounds a week, you need to decrease your caloric intake by 250 a day. That can be done by eating 250 calories less; exercising 125 calories off and eating 125 less; or exercising 250 calories off. I have restricted my diet from god-knows-how-many-calories before, to 1000-or-less now, per day; and burning between 200-300 calories per day. That's why I'm seeing such great results. And just wait till I start Turbo Jammin'! The website said one hour of TJ burns a thousand calories! Holy cow. I am going to be ripped.
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