From alpha testing to the QUERCUS 200

I figured since you poked into mine, I'd poke into yours. Wait...no...no, that doesn't sound right. YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN!!! Anyway...

Quercus said:
The 2014 game plan:

1. Actually lose weight.
Click to expand...

Best...game plan...EVER

Anyway, I skimmed through your journal and saw that you've had your ups and downs (everybody does). It is good to see you trying hard and staying on track though. Results don't always come as quick as we'd hope, but that's what makes weight loss so hard. We can pack on the pounds in a few weeks, but it takes much longer to strip the weight away. I think the whole exercise challenge thing is a really, really good thing. When I had first lost a bunch of weight a few years back (when I was first here on the forum), I started a challenge of my own and it ended up propelling me into losing nearly 70 lbs total in just a few months. I was doing ok on my own, but it wasn't until I had competition - friendly, yet supportive competition from friends here on the forum - that I really started to shed the pounds.

You already seem to have the motivation and the supportive friends, which is huge. So, maybe it's just putting those two things together in the form of your exercise challenge that will be the kick in the ass your weight loss needs.

Good luck, man. I think we're all rooting for you.
 
Thanks Jen!

326.0 this morning, but the food over the last couple of days has been really salty. I'm hoping a lot of water today will give me a better number tomorrow. Not that I shouldn't be happy to be down. I've let go of the notion of rapid loss. I'm going to have a low rate of loss, but that's just how it will be. As long as I keep going it will keep going away. My lower legs have the bulk and cuts that they used to from lifting just from the running that's happened this month.

I'm considering adding a marker on the length of road that I'm running so I can have 528 feet (.1 mile) per length. That will make it easier to add/track distance while I work my way down to 195 and get that GPS watch. I think I will add a tenth of a mile to each workout for a while and try to keep the time down too. 31 tenth mile lengths equals a 5K. Last night I did 20 slightly shorter length (500' not 528') in 31 min 44 secs for 1.9 miles.

I'm thinking I my measure a 200 meter length to stay on the relatively flat road and expand to a 500 meter length for more elevation changes and easier 5K tracking. I'm pleased that these are the things occupying my thoughts these days. I felt like my back problems had broken me in a way that was beyond my physical injury. I have hope and energy again. Some much needed positive attitude. What positivity I've mustered in the last long while was at least through focused effort if not downright forced. This morning I woke up feeling good and work hasn't managed to quash that.

:hurray: HAPPY FRIDAY! :hurray:
 
Thanks a lot Chef! Very solid advice. I am currently in an exercise challenge and I am waiting for another weight loss competition to begin that includes exercise and weightloss points as well as diet challenges. I've had success with them in the past and I'm happy to be healthy enough to participate again. You should join us!

More involved Weightloss/Exercise/Diet Challenge:

http://weight-loss.fitness.com/threads/61324-Sign-up-here-for-a-new-party-games-style-challenge

Simple/Flexible Exercise Challenge:

http://weight-loss.fitness.com/threads/61257-Icy-s-Workout-Challenge-2

The exercise is 2 weeks in, but Icy has welcomed late joiners and the other challenge hasn't started and is being done by Omega with whom I've done contests before and she will be very thorough and prompt.
 
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Quercus said:
Thanks a lot Chef! Very solid advice. I am currently in an exercise challenge and I am waiting for another weight loss competition to begin that includes exercise and weightloss points as well as diet challenges. I've had success with them in the past and I'm happy to be healthy enough to participate again. You should join us!

More involved Weightloss/Exercise/Diet Challenge:

http://weight-loss.fitness.com/threads/61324-Sign-up-here-for-a-new-party-games-style-challenge

Simple/Flexible Exercise Challenge:

http://weight-loss.fitness.com/threads/61257-Icy-s-Workout-Challenge-2

The exercise is 2 weeks in, but Icy has welcomed late joiners and the other challenge hasn't started and is being done by Omega with whom I've done contests before and she will be very thorough and prompt.
Click to expand...

Ahh, looks like I just missed the deadline for Omega's challenge. Oh well, I'll join up on the next one. Jen and I have been working out here at home, so I'll just keep doing that and wait for the next challenge to start up. Friendly competition is always good.
 
No worries Athala. Chef if what you are doing is working don't feel pressured to join, but you still can if you want. Maybe Jen too?
 
Absolutely - there is plenty of room in the challenge and you would be more than welcome. The choice is absolutely yours.
 
324.8 this morning which will be my starting contest weight.

I did 35 minutes of light cardio last night with running in place with 5 pound dumbells for a while then pedaling a little stationary thing that you use from a chair that I got for when my back was bad.

It was below freezing and my asthma was already bothering me so running was out. I'll be running midday today and it's nice out.
 
The challenge with Jen:
We are in a race to our respective century marks. Her's to the 100s and mine to the 200s.

Begining 1/5/2014
Jen 214
Quercus 330

End of week 1 1/11/2014
Jen 210 -4 of 14.1 to goal 28% complete
Quercus 328.8 -1.2 pounds of 30.1 to goal 4% complete

End of week 2 1/11/2014
Jen 207.6 -6.4 of 14.1 to goal 45% complete
Quercus 324.8 -5.2 pounds of 30.1 to goal 17% complete
 
0.301 pound per % complete for me
0.141 pound per % complete for Jen

That means if she were to lose the same amount this coming week (2.4 pounds) and I lost 18.7 pounds we'd be tied at 62% complete. Considering this week was 0 screw ups with diet or exercise and I lost 4 pounds it seems less than likely. I will continue to try to close the gap and fight to the end.

I've maintained my daily exercise for 16 days in a row and today will be 17.

The new contest starts today and should help keep my motivation going. Right now I'm in the January Challenge, the Icy exercise challenge, and the Omega challenge. It looks like both the Icy and Omega Challenges end in March. I may devise something new late Feb. to keep things going. It's going to be a lot to keep up with as work seems to be picking up.
 
run
30 min 2 sec
avg HR 149
peak HR 157

My HR seemed rapid today or maybe I just felt slower running in the daylight. No light where I run so you don't see things as they pass by you when you run at night. I may have just pushed it a bit more. Either way 149 is the top of my aerobic zone which means I was likely above the aerobic zone for half of the workout. It didn't seem any more difficult than usual, but it will likely negatively impact my recover and consequently my frequency of runs if I'm not more careful.

I lengthed my laps without measuring so i will have to get new measurements from aerials to estimate my distance to see whether I was running farther in my half hour or if my HR was just a bit higher to day. It made he run feel shorter to make 12 lengths back and forth rather than 20 lengths like last time on the shorter "laps".

I stretched the quads and hamstrings a bit first and I'm feeling good now.
 
Excellent progress so far Q! Over five pounds in two weeks is a nice clip.

A half hour at an average of 149 is quite a workout. I'm guessing you burned over 500 and netted (calories burned minus what you would have burned watching TV instead) right about 500. Basketball has been the only exercise I've done that's consistently achieved those sorts of heart rate levels for extended times.
 
Thank you Cory! I'm definitely trying not to overdo it.

Vee, I imagine Bball has some near max or max hr peaks to it whereas running is not to far from te average unless I work in sprints.

I weighed in at 324 even so -.8 pounds despite salty not healthy food last night. More than the weight I am super excited to be throwing out all of my size 42 pants. I fit into way more smaller pants than I own size 42s and I'm not done trying pants on. This means that I have been shedding fat faster than pounds which in turns means more muscle and a faster base metabolism. None of the pants that fit today would fit @ 332.2. I also have a big pile that are close enough that I will try then again once I'm into the 3teens a bit.

So size 40 is my new ceiling and I imagine that I will hold on to some of those even after they are too big because they are nearly brand new now. No problem with baggy field pants though. The 42s have been that way for a bit, but they are completely trashed, so they aren't even worth going to charity.

So never again will I wear size 42 pants. That's a promise that I'm keeping to myself. I'm about to go run, then a shower and back to trying on pants and housework (I've done 5 hrs already).
 
Run
32 min 19 seconds 2 miles
avg HR 155
peak 174
I decided to run down the road instead of doing my laps back and forth. That means more or less constant hills. I finally just turned the high alarm for the aerobic zone off. I never stopped running or felt the need to, but there was no way to stay in the aerobic zone on those hills. Even on the downhill sides running as slow as possible wasn't enough to get below the high end of the aerobic zone. I had 10 minutes 26 seconds in the aerobic zone and most of that was at the begining. Being able to run the 2 miles with hills was a nice milestone, but doing so in the aerobic zone will be even nicer. I'm 6 BPM above the high end of the aerobic zone. Maybe I'll start doing this once a week on the weekends while there is daylight and see how it goes.

I am pleased to say that I now have 8 pairs of jeans/pants that I can wear that I could not at the 1st of this month. I will be tossing 3 pairs of jeans and donating 1 pair of suit slacks that were worn once and are now too big. I bought the pants for my nephews wedding (I don't dress up much).
 
That's awesome on the 8 pairs of pants!! I wish I had a large pile of smaller jeans waiting for me... lol. I'll have to buy new ones again. Not that I mind shopping and getting new stuff... especially in a smaller size. :D
 
I got down to 275 a few years ago and had bought goal pants before I regained, so I will have new pants for a while. Some still have the tags on them. I'm wearing 38-40s right now down from 40-42s and I have 36s and even 1 pair of 34s. 34 may be the diameter of my skeleton. I got down there starving myself and so I rebounded quickly. Tossing the big pants and hating to shop is good insurance against rebounding.
 
Congrats on having all those pants that fit! Great promise to yourself too. I'm really digging your determination. You're doing great. :D
 
Thanks Mandy!

run
30 min 36 secs
avg hr 148
1.9 miles
Most of this was on a dirt road that was uneven so not the best surface. I enjoyed the run.
 
Hey Quercus,

I have read quite a bit of your diary and I have to say your determination and openness is to be applauded! I've never posted on a fitness forum before but after reading some of the diary's here, I did. It's an awesome feeling and a nice reward to fit into smaller size clothes. It's also nice when what was once snug becomes loose! Nice job!
 
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