Sarah's got her groove back!

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I think of the military regulations whenever I jog for some reason. Keep comparing the pace I can currently keep to the military requirements for running and it's not a pretty comparison.


These little things are useful when coming up with future goals to work towards.


Impressive time on the treadmill. Must have felt good when it was done.
 
Even when I was a college football player and very fit, I did not do well on those height and weight charts. I dont think they take weight lifting into account. I would have done well on the bodyfat thing. I was a lifeguard in the summers in those days and I sank like a stone when I would jump in. Now days I would probably bob like a cork because fat floats.


new goal...to sink again!
 
Wow, I didn't know they had weight regulations. I just thought you had to keep up on the PT tests and such. I'm very much trying to get into a militaristic mindframe for my training for becoming a police officer. The PT requirements are similar. I'm not going to let these requirements get in the way of my dream. Once I get there, I plan to keep up on them and not slack. I WILL NOT be one of those heavy cops that people see eating a donut and make fun of. I plan on staying fit once I get fit.


Keep up your good work scbibhouse, I know you'll meet those regulations soon enough and you'll feel great! :)
 
Thanks Kate, Feelinggooder, Kate, Brawny and Munch,

Yesterday, I was just too exhausted from work to post anything...sorry for that! Yes, those height/weight charts have never been my friend..and right now, neither are the % body fat things...even though I've lost alot of weight (weigh-in is coming up on the 1st of March!) I had so much to lose...and it's hard for me to believe that I still have 30 pounds to lose before I would be in the Army weight standards. But, like you said Munch, I'll get there...and I'm not quitting until I do!...so, take that AR600-9! (That's the Army regulation number!)


Yesterday, I did my normal 60 minutes on the elliptical and had my normal breakfast and lunch with hot tea for dinner...can't remember much more than that. Got home late and couldn't sleep last night...tried to calm my brain, but it wouldn't stop thinking of things I had to get done...blah, blah, blah...


This morning, I got up (red eyes et al) and did my 60 minutes on the elliptical and cranked out 900 cal...I really had to force myself...I played the trick one of you told me...and told my brain (ok..you can stop at 30 min this morning...then at 30 minutes, I was in a pretty good groove so I stuck it out until 45..then had to play the same trick...finally I got to 60). Sometimes when I have a tough day, like yesterday and then don't eat in the evening I'm drained already when I get up and really have to force myself through it...but I did it..that's the important part!


Today, I have a little bit of time in the morning...we have to go to the immigration office to get our visas renewed, and that office doesn't open until 9:00am...so I will take a few minutes to catch up here...this is rare!


Breakfast: 2 fried eggs, 5 slices bacon, boiled baby chinese cabbage, leafy green vegetable and black fungus, sauteed green beans, walnuts, cheese and cranberry mix.


Not sure what hubby has fixed for lunch today...but I imagine it will be something like fried rice, sweet n sour pork and chinese veggies and some sort of fruit. Then dinner will be Hot green tea.


Tomorrow, I have to host another late night dinner for all of these visitors here this week...can 't wait for that!

Thanks for all your encouragement guys..needing it right now!


Sarah
 
I find it comforting to know that we can always count on everyone here for encouragement, obscure references to 80's pop culture and the occasional mind trick to play on ourselves...


Can't wait for Thursday to hear how your monthly weigh in goes. Planning another trip to the tailors yet?
 
Wow, I can't believe it's almost weigh in day for you, so exciting! And yay for old clothes that were made new again. I know that must feel great. Your talk about the army weight standards makes me wonder if I would even qualify. I think I might have to look that up.


You keep talking about that scrumpcious chinese food and even though I know it's waaaay different than what we have here in America, it really makes me want some! I'm going to resist until at least next week though. We went out multiple times over the weekend, I'll be going to Panera bread with a friend on Thursday and Long John Silvers on Friday for lent so I'll leave the damage of chinese buffet for next week! lol


Great job!
 
Thanks feelinggooder and Munch!

Today was a rest day for exercise...hadn't planned it that way, but got to bed late the night before and had to go in early today...so just couldn't do it all. Tonight is another late night after a dinner out tonight...and I'll have another one tomorrow night...oh joy! I hosted a dinner tonight with about 50 people...a combination of visitors from France, US, Japan and Chinese...almost the UN! The food was OK, but not great compared to some other places I've eaten here. Too much lamb for my taste!


Breakfast: 2 fried eggs, sauteed chicken and mushrooms, eggplant, walnut, cranberry and cheese mix

Lunch: sweet n sour pork, chinese veggies and fried rice and 1 banana

Dinner: an assortment of chinese food..sauteed cabbage, lamb, some fruit and can't really tell you what all else...always a mystery...tonight for the toasts was pear juice..not too bad.


Tomorrow is weigh in...not sure how that will go...pants felt really good today and clothes from the tailor fit very nicely...feel slim...not sure what the scale will say. I still have an old fashioned scale that I can barely read (getting older and need my glasses...but they are bifocals and looking down through them is not easy to master (simple things in life can sometimes be the hardest!)

I'll post the results...good, bad or ugly tomorrow!


Sarah
 
Well...here it is 1st of March. Weigh in was 193 or 87.5kg. Not as much as I would like, but I'll take it (like I have a choice!). That makes 76 pounds total loss since I started this journey on 1st of June 2011. The pounds are still coming off, but it is really a challenge...and you all wonder why I exercise so much! The most discouraging is the BMI is still over 30...which means obese...hopefully next month, I'll move into "overweight" status...My husband says not to worry about the number on the scale (where have I heard that before Brawny?) ...he can vouch for the fact that even if I havn't seen a reduction in the scale...he has seen a reduction in his wallet from all the trips to the tailor! Good he's got a sense of humor about him!

Here's the chart;




Today after the weigh-in, I worked out for 45 min on the elliptical for 644 cal (a little late getting out of bed after a late night last night!).

Breakfast was 2 fried eggs, sauteed kale and mushrooms and 4 slices bacon then walnuts, cheese and dried cranberries

Lunch: 1 hamburger, chinese veggies and fried rice and 1 banana.

Dinner: another dinner out..so some mustard green, stirfried pork, sweet n sour shrimp and a couple of corn rolls then a small slice of watermellon with orange juice to toast with.


Two more dinners next week...March is going to be tough! Visitors here with dinners, then a business trip to Europe...going to be an exercising fool again just to break even!
 
Congrats on another successful month.

:party:


I know you said the number wasn't as big as you'd have liked but just take a moment to celebrate that you've successfully crossed 75lbs of weight loss which means you're over three quarters of the way towards losing 100 freaking pounds!!!!


Sounds like a bit of a challenging month coming up with the entertaining and travel but I know you'll keep knocking out fantastic workouts and will keep adding new things to the mix like the treadmill to keep your body guessing.


PS you can also remind your hubby that spring is coming. So in addition to all the shrinking you'll be doing, he can also count on his wallet also continuing to shed some excess size. On a positive note, a thinner wallet causes less back aches..
 
I agree with feelinggooder, don't marginalize your weightloss. You've lost 76 lbs!!! Not very many people can do that! Keep up your exercising and I'm sure you'll see a good number next month. You're making a journey to a healthier you, just remember it's not going to happen super quick. The slower the weight comes off, the smaller the chance of it coming back. We can do this! :)
 
Thanks Feelinggooder and Munch,

You always make me feel better. It is amazing how much I've come to relay on this forum to share my thoughts with total strangers who are quickly becoming friends with a common bond!

I don't mean to marginalize my loss for the month...and it does seem surealistic to say I've lost 76 pounds...I've never lost that much weight before...ever and it's hard to imagine all in one time. I think I'm down to the steadfast fat that has been with me for years...and my body's setpoint is continuously getting reset...and it's resisting! Kind of like a monopoly board...I've sold off all the low end properties (early weight loss..like low hanging fruit) , but I'm hanging onto the high rent stuff (old established fat that just won't go away!) It will eventually go away, I know...there is no real choice, but like you said Feelinggooder, I'm going to have to keep my body guessing to keep upping the metabolism. On top of all the work, entertaining and visitors these past 2 weeks, I've managed to get an ear infection...I'm not sure why...I had them all the time as a kid, then didn't have one again for years...then I've been here in China for 2 years and boom...I've had 3 now, since I've been here....I think it's the dry air..it's the only thing I can think of. It makes it hard to really go at it exercising when you have a dull ear ache.


This morning, I got up and exercised and did 60 minutes on the elliptical for 860 cal.


Breakfast: 2 fried eggs, sauteed chicken chunks, leafy green vegetable, walnuts, cheese and dried cranberries

Lunch: 1 hamburger (no bread), chinese vegetables (that means stirfried celery, carrots, brocholi and an occasional cashew), fried rice, 1 banana

Dinner: Hot green tea (feels so good with this ear ache)


Plan for the weekend...rest and relax (and that includes exercise assuming I'm up to it!)
 
Hey almost skinny person!

Wow those 200s are well behind you!

Persistance is really paying off for you.


Dont forget you also had a vacation in there and you still lost.

And all those toasts and banquets and chinese festivals

And you still lost!


Bask in the warm glow of success girl!
 
Sarah, it's crazy, but I really feel the same way! The other day I was thinking about my guest list for my wedding and thought about you. I know we hardly know eachother, but I look forward to checking in with you and getting your support. This site and you are a big part of my life. I will most definitely be posting pictures of the wedding for you to see.


I'm sorry to hear about the ear infection. Those are not fun. :( I hope you enjoy your weeked. Rest and relax and get ready to hit it again on Monday! :)
 
Brawny...you need new glasses dear...or at least you take the word "almost" to extremes when combined with skinny! Thank you for your kind thoughts and words of encouragement!

Munch, that's so sweet you thought of me for your wedding...I would love to see pictures and especially see you happy and totally rocking that dress!! It's going to be awesome...and don't sweat the test...a 3.99/4.00 is pretty darn great you know! When I was doing my MBA I had it figured out to the last test how "bad" I could do and still get a passing grade to maintain my GPA...sad but true...I was so ready for it to be over...that was back in 1996...such a long time ago now!


Today, I slept in and went straight to breakfast and had 2 fried eggs, sauteed chicken, cabbage and tofu and leafy green veggie, 1 banana and the walnuts, cranberries and cheese mix


Then , after relaxing a bit, went to exercise and did the 60 min on the eliptical (forgot to look at the end for the cal count...was absorbed in the music with my eyes closed...totaly zoomed out), then 35 min on the treadmill (forgot to look at cal.'s there too...) Really drained this morning, so I came back up to the apartment and took another shower, then plopped in the chair where I am now. ahh! A nice relaxing weekend...just my style and just what the doctor ordered!


Have a great one ya'll!
 
You're so persistent, always! Which I'm really lacking right now...so I really admire how you're persistent no matter what. Superhero! :) Doing great Sarah....you are one person that I know for sure is going to reach their goal. You can do it!!!!!


Can I ask how you managed to keep losing weight? for me I stalled after about 15 pounds. Did you continue to eat the same amount of calories? or did you work out less or more?
 
Thanks success! You can get to where I am dear (and certanly farther!)...it just takes, as you say, persistence. No magic, no tricks...just plain ole stick-to-it-ness...I've been doing this for 9 months...9 months of a life changing and health improving habit. As you probably know, by reading my diary, I don't count calories, so I can't tell you about amounts of calories. And I didn't weigh on the scale for the 1st 3 months, so I'm not sure what happened at the 15 pound mark. What I started out doing, is what I continue to do the best I can:

1) No eating after 6:00pm (there are times I break that self-imposed rule now, but not often...and I didn't break it at all in the beginning...even if that meant I didn't eat after working a long day)

2) Low carbs (stay away from break, potatoes, pasta)...all the yummy foods that helped me pack on the weight!

3) No processed sugars (the occasional fruit is OK)

4) No sodas (and yes, this includes diet soda) and drinking lots of water, plain and sparkling

5) Exercise every day. At first, it was 30 minutes walking on flat treadmill..this has evolved to 60 minutes on the elliptical and when I have time, running or walking on incline treadmill. I knew that diet alone wasn't going to work for me.


I'm not perfect and I do not follow my rules to the letter each and every day (especially when my work requires me to entertain in the evening)...but I really don't do any sweets and high carbs (other than rice) ...those are my downfall, so I stay away from them completely. I certainly had a long way to come...and I've still got a long way to go...but I just keep going following the simple (not easy) plan above and I'm getting results...not as much as I would like some times, but progress.

Hope this helps.
 
That's an awesome set of 5 rules Sarah!


Pretty close to how I roll with a few exceptions and I definitely break a few of those rules more than I should.


Nice to see that long treadmill session in on the weekend workout Sarah, you seem to be nearly on autopilot with your workouts these days so if you figure out how to work out without waking up, please don't patent the invention and share that secret with us all. :biggrin:
 
Hey size32someday and feelinggooder, and anyone else reading my diary...Thanks for stopping by!


Thanks size32someday...my ear is better. I did a trick an ear-nose-throat doc taught me when I was little..hold your nose and blow air through your ear...yes, it's possible, and yes, it does hurt a bit, but I know that when fluid gets behind my eardrum it gets infected and pounds against my ear drum...so if I can force the fluid out by blowing air, the ache will stop. And sure enough it did! Almost all healed up today (I think...I never really know with those things!). Thanks for your concern!


Thanks Feelinggooder. Sometimes I do feel like I'm on autopilot...just going through the motions...unfortunately, I havn't figured out how to do it in my sleep yet...can't really say I'm working on that one either!


Yesterday afternoon late I went out to eat with my hubby and we went to a buffet (always dangerous), and I did eat a subtantial amount...not bad stuff..just alot of western style meats and vegetables. We were all finished by 6:00pm, but I was stuffed all night...not used to that and didn't sleep great...but I'll survive that!


Today, got up a little later and went to breakfast: 2 fried eggs, sauteed cabbage & mushrooms, sauteed chicken, fried greenbeans, walnuts, dried cranberries and cheese and a couple of bites of banana. (Couldn't tell I ate so much the night before could you?!)

Lunch combo: Fried rice and steak

Dinner: Not sure yet..going upstairs in a few minutes to see what hors d'oeuvres I can grab on the club floor (yes, Hotel living does have it's advantages!)


Today was US tax preparation for us...I'm grateful the company provides a tax accountant service...but we still have to do all the prep work...and living outside of the US, i have to account for where I was each day..not difficult, but tedious.


Exercise: Today I waited until later in the day (after all that tax stuff...I needed a good break!).

75 min on the elliptica: 1161 cal

30 min on the treadmill (of which 7 was running!) for 344 cal

5 min on the rowing machine for 47 cal

And knocked out 60 crunches on the incline board...


All of that for some insurance against the upcoming travel!



Came back up, showered up and now going to the club floor with my dearest husband...sigh...Sunday is almost over...back to it tomorrow!


Sarah
 
So, Monday has come and gone...well almost!

This morning got up at 5;00am and did my 50 minutes on the elliptical and did a few free weights...got down there a little late, so wasn't able to go the full 60. I can't remember the cal count.

Breakfast: 2 fried eggs, sauteed baby cabbage, cubed pork, leafy green vegetable with mushrooms, walnuts, cranberries and cheese

Lunch: ground beef, chinese veggies and fried rice

Dinner: Hot green tea.


One of the visitors planned for this week has cancelled out, so thankfully, I didn't have to go out to dinner tonight! Still another one planned for Thursday night...but I take small gifts when I get them!

Looking forward to another great week here in China!
 
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