I realized I wasn't going to make it to the gym this morning, so I was forced to think outside the box. I stuck the kids (all 70 pounds of them) in the wheelbarrow and jogged my driveway while pushing them. Down and back, the driveway is 1 mile with big hills. It was intense! The kids laughed the whole time!
Week seven of my Body For Life program: June 12-18, 2012.
Weight: 185.4#
-.2 pounds for the week/ -14.6 pounds total
Waist: 37"
-.25" for the week/ -2.75" total
Hips: 42.2"
-no change for the week/ -2.25" total
I am late posting this week. I have been suffering from discouragement about the lack of scale progress for the past 3 weeks. It has been tough to write when there isn't really any progress to report. Less than 1/2 pound in 3 weeks when I hope for 1-2 pounds per week! It is discouraging when you are working so hard and the tangible results aren't there. Sure, I can look at the pictures, remind myself that I am in better shape than I have been in for 6 years and think about the long term. This is a lifestyle change I am making, not a quick fix!
The bottom line is, not seeing the scale move sucks!
Anyway, as promised, I had my body fat percentage measured last week. The results of that were astonishing! Back in week one, on May 1, 2012, my body fat was 44.8% (measured with calipers). On June 15th (week seven) My body fat percentage was down to 36.3%! What does that mean?
May 1: 44.8% body fat
This means that of my 194#, 44.8% (87#/ yes, you are reading that correctly, EIGHTY-SEVEN POUNDS) is fat and 107# is my Lean Body Mass. LBM is the sum of the weight of your bones, muscles and organs (everything in your body other than fat).
June 15: 36.3%
This means that of my 185.4#, 36.3% (67#) is fat and 118# is Lean Body Mass.
In other words, in 7 weeks I have lost 9 pounds on the scale, but that isn't telling the whole story! I have actually, in 7 weeks, lost 20# of pure fat and gained 11# of pure muscle!!
So, I am choosing today, to see this healthy lifestyle thing as a direction, not a destination. I just need to keep moving in the direction of health and fitness and forget the dumb scale!
Week six of my Body For Life program: June 5-11, 2012.
Weight: 185.6#
-.2 pounds for the week/ -14.4 pounds total
Waist: 37.25"
-.25" for the week/ -2.5" total
Hips: 42.2"
-.50" for the week/ -2.25" total
Tomorrow I am going to have my body fat percentage measured again. I'll post that when I can.
I took progress photos today. I am so thrilled with what I see that I am going to post them here. This is so far out of my comfort zone that I may come back and take it down. *hides under a table*
I have given you a bit of insight into the exercise portion of my program, but I haven't said much about how my eating habits have changed.
Honestly, I haven't changed what I am eating that much. What has changed (drastically) is the volume of food I am eating. Meal times don't look much different for me except that my portion is smaller and I don't finish the kid's leftovers for them.
Another thing that has had to change is the number of times I eat during the day. The way I am able to cut my portions drastically is by keeping my belly satisfied by snacking all day. It weighs out to be 5 or 6 small meals per day.
Remembering the phrase "If you bite it, write it!" has been helpful, too. I log everything that I eat. Accountability is the biggest help to me. I have online group of friends at My Fitness Pal that can see my food diary and how many calories I ate (and burned through exercise). I log my food on MFP when I am home and when I am out, I use the iPhone app to log food.
Body For Life has a pretty easy to follow food plan if you are someone who cooks a lot or eats a real food diet. Honestly, if you can stay away from the processed stuff it is pretty easy. I am the main food shopper and preparer in our home. My husband isn't really on board and he still has his stash of processed food, but really those things (chips and crackers mostly) hold very little appeal to me. My downfall is ice cream and eating out. I am learning how to eat real food when out and there seem to be good options everywhere I go!
So, here is the approved food list while on Body For Life:
©2009No More Excuses | by TNB
