What's with the name?

What's with the name? In my mid-twenties, I had essentially gone through one kind of life and am starting to enter another. The people that are probably going to read this blog know exactly what I'm talking about - but for those who don't know, here's a brief rundown . Cheers to Chapter 2! A journey in health in many ways, and to be the best version of myself I can possibly be. I am also a blogger for GreenMommas.com. This is my blog.

Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Month 8 Recap : Waging war on a plateau

October [Month 8] Progress
-4lbs/-52 total
(Updated pics at the bottom of the post)

Hey, over 1000 page views! Thanks guys :)

The first half of this month was frustrating. I watched the scale pretty much do nothing. I was weighing myself nearly everyday (which I probably shouldn't have been doing in the first place) and would watch it go down a few pounds then come up a few pounds so I was pretty much breaking even for the first two weeks of October. This was a battleground, a real fight my body was giving me. It was taunting me perhaps saying 'you need to do something different or we're going to get comfy right here'. I had liked see that neat little graph on MyFitnessPal app go down and to the right nicely for so long, I was not about to watch it flat line. This, my friends, was war...

It was around mid-month when I really decided to start changing my diet and try two words I had sort of been dreading since I started this journey months ago : gluten-free. While I am pretty educated on how to make my diet gluten-free I didn't really think it was all the necessary for me, until now. Nothing was happening so I needed to do something [I am a sucker for ongoing progress!] The third week of October I started to cut out the gluten completely and any calorie extras I could. I gave up my morning [yummy] caramel latte which was pretty sad. I replaced it with black coffee with just a splash of raw [yup, unpasteurized] milk. Doing the math this change alone was cutting 500 calories for me a week, or 2150 a month. By the third day of no gluten while I found I had plenty of filling options, the time frame after dinner until I went to bed it became a struggle to convince myself I wasn't hungry. Not to say I was really hungry, but I didn't get that 'full' feeling. In the first two days I dropped three pounds, which, needless to say, really encouraged me to keep going.

Here's what I ate today, so you can see how delicious life can be without the wheat & barley
Breakfast : 2 hard boiled eggs, a banana, coffee with raw milk
Lunch : Pulled pork confit, potato gnocchi with peas & a nice helping of broccoli
Snack (sort of): 10oz coconut milk (delish!)
Dinner : White fish fillets with herb butter, rice & kale

Sounds like a gourmet lunch, huh? Well it is - from our incredible cafe, all organic and everything labeled with a nice gluten-free magnet which makes it easy for me. But damn, why do they have to have that gluten-free chocolate raspberry cake that looks so tasty?!? [I didn't need the extra calories even though it was wheat-less].

The gluten-free initiative proved hard to stick to last weekend when we took our trip to Boston - had a few bread products at dinner, and on Sunday - but the scale reminded me Monday morning when that three pounds appeared again. Cutting the gluten out again that day it disappeared the next morning - weird. I guess I should stick to gluten-free huh?

Workout last week :

Monday : Spin & Sculpt = 512 calories

Tuesday : Bodypump = 480 calories

Wednesday : Spin & Sculpt = 501 calories

Thursday = 2.5 mile walk [320] + 3 mile run [410] = 730 calories burned

Workout this week:

Monday : Spin & Sculpt [510], 3 mile bike ride [150] = 660 calories

Tuesday : Bodypump = 475 calories

Wednesday : Spin & Sculpt = 527 calories

Thursday : CrossFit = 450 calories

Friday : 5 mile walk around Boston = 620 calories (estimate)

The last two weeks of October, I lost 4lbs, so 4lbs total for the month which is a little hard for me to swallow. I took my measurements again too - another inch gone off my waist and an inch off my hips. I have to remember that I increased my weights in bodypump this month and started CrossFit [I was sore for four days after last week's class]. I know I'm stronger this month than I was last month which means more muscle mass.  It is a constant battle, but one I'm not willing to lose. So I'll keep trying, keep giving it my all and hope for results.

Side note: I'm really starting not to recognize myself in mirrors, I do [finally] notice the physical difference. When we were walking in to the hotel in Boston I recall thinking how all the mirrors looked like 'skinny mirrors'. You know, those mirrors that make you look thinner than you are [you know what I'm talking about Old Navy!]. Then I thought how all the mirrors couldn't possibly be 'skinny mirrors' - I was just thinner than I was used to seeing myself. Cool. And I guess my thoughts are kind of validated; here's a pic showing the start, at 5 months (-40lbs) and 8 months (-52lbs). Sorry I need to stop taking crappy cell pics...



But you see the difference, right? This month I notice my hips are much smaller and my arms are trimmer for sure - must be all that bodypump. Although I may complain that this is slow-going sometimes, there is something to be said for enjoying the progression & the journey. It gives me more time to reflect on why I'm doing this, and remember the hard work, time and effort it took for me to get to each milestone. 

4 comments:

  1. Jess, I just saw your post on FB and just read through all of your blog postings. First off, you are AMAZING. Reading through your journey is so inspiring. You have done such an incredible job over the past 8 months. And YES!! I can def see the difference!!! :)

    A few things I learned during my weigh-loss journey, which you have actually said yourself in these posts, but I want you to know that other people go through.

    1. The Plateu. God.it.sucks. I've been fighting it for going on 5 years now. When I met Bandy I had gone from 170 down to 135. Then I went up to 147. I was 142 for the wedding, but for the past 5 years have stayed steady at 147. No matter what I do, that's where I am. Like you said, you are getting stronger, more muscle mass, losing inches around your waist, just all around, your body is changing. So while you may not be losing pounds certain weeks, continue to focus on those glorious muscles forming! Like Landon said, your big strong arms! :)

    2. Treat yourself. I love that you are LIVING your life, while still being healthy. If there is one thing that having a healthy lifestyle has taught me is that you CAN treat yourself sometimes!!! So if you miss that latte, give yourself one once in a while! It's not worth being cranky all the time!

    3. When you get to the point where you want to sign up for that 5K, I would LOVE to do it with you. Running (as you know) has become a huge part of my life (completed my first marathon this weekend, woot woot!) and I love to talk/help/encourage anyone who wants to start running. 5K's are so much fun!

    Again, thanks so much for sharing. I look forward to hearing more about your journey!! :)
    -Tara

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    1. Wow, Tara - thanks! Oh yes, the plateau I am all tool familiar with but I try not to focus so much on the number because there are surely other results that matter :). I definitely treat myself in moderation (had a latte today!) but instead of a latte everyday, maybe once or twice a week is better.

      I always love hearing about people going through a weight loss journey, it's been a battle my whole life as I'm sure it has been with many other people. My weight has gone up and down so much since high school I felt it was time to get somewhere good and stay there, so that's what I'm aiming to do!

      I'm signing up for Santa 5k! I made commitment to do one by the end of the year and hoping for under 35 minutes which is reasonable. They only have child-size Santa suits left, and the lady assures me that will fit (ya, ok). I may be running around in a tiny size suit but oh, well, I'll be running at least! My mom is going to do it with me I think, let me know if you're planning to do that one. It should be fun I don't feel like I have to train for it as I've been running a few times a week already - pretty exited about it!

      Thanks for the insight, encouragement helps and seeing that you've just run a marathon is crazy inspiring, maybe I'll do one someday ;)

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  2. I'm SO GLAD you are going gluten free! Brad and I have been for 3 weeks, and I've lost 12 lbs and Brad has lost 20. You don't realize how bloated you feel (that overfull feeling) until you're off the gluten. You're looking awesome. Another week and we'll be measuring, so I'll let you know. I can see a big difference with Brad's weight, you can definitely see he's lost it around his tummy, and I... can't see it. ;) LOL but I'm told I look it. And when you start looking - there are a ton of gluten free options out there.

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    1. Yes definitely! Oh man, I realized these last two weeks that going gluten-free was going to be hard to 'quit cold turkey'. Let's just say I've definitely had significantly less gluten in the last two weeks but it's HARD. I'm getting there - damn my Italian bread-loving, pasta-eating heritage (I had pretty much given up pasta anyway but there are some times when good bread is well, good). But I'll carry on with it for sure because it's working!

      Great job to you two. I hear the best thing about gluten-free diets is the weight just tends to disappear around your belly, as the gluten has caused it in the first place, and that's good news! Keep it up! I'll look forward to seeing how awesome you look at Christmastime ;). Just registered myself today for my first 5k as I had promised I'd do by year's end.

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