Sophie's Diary--Holding Myself Accountable

[nataliejo]

Breakfast—one cup Ovaltine, one slice whole-grain toast
Snack—Special K bar (90 calories)
Lunch—spiced split peas and brown rice, blackberries lightly sweetened with agave nectar, one mini-muffin with low-fat cream cheese frosting, half an ounce cheese, one ounce dried fruit, one balsamic strawberry chocopod
Snack—apple
Dinner—four ounces corned beef, cabbage
Snack—four crackers thinly spread with peanut butter

Twenty-five minutes on the elliptical. I was pretty tired by the time I got home—tired and hungry. I feel like maybe it's good for me to tailor my workout time to how my body's feeling. For one thing, it makes it easier for me to make myself work out if I say, "Well, all right, you only have to do twenty-five minutes" rather than having to convince myself to push past genuine exhaustion.

Natalie Jo, I hope that forty-five minutes treats you well! I know you can do it—we both can.

Rach, thanks so much for stopping by. I can't see a difference in the mirror yet, but I do see a difference in my ability to move and the energy that I have. So something good is definitely happening for me. And yes, I totally understand what you mean about feeling sexy! I think it has to do with being, as much as possible, just completely in our bodies and not in our heads.

Heather, thanks so much for the encouragement. Being able to reach forty minutes tells me how much my body is changing, too—when I first started, just a month ago, twenty minutes almost knocked me out. Now I can do more.

Your doing awesome Sophie! I dont know how I would do on that elliptical machine. Sounds so hard lol I don't think I could do it ..lmao ..

but kudos to you! you rock!

ttylater hun
love yas
always
your friend
natalie jo

 

[jw372]

Breakfast—one cup coffee with ½% milk and two tsp sugar, turkey sausage, one slice whole-grain toast
Lunch—brown rice with spiced split peas and three ounces ham, one apple
Snack—one cup low-fat hot chocolate, four multi-grain crackers with Laughing Cow light cheese
Dinner—four ounces corned beef, cabbage
Snack—buttery popcorn and two chocolates

Did my strength routine today. I meant to work on the elliptical too, but I stupidly kept putting it off until I was too tired. From now on, working out is first thing after breakfast, on my days off, anyway.

The popcorn and chocolates were a desperate effort to get my calories up where they should be. I've been doing a lot of research lately (my Google box is getting tired of the phrase "how to break a plateau"), and every calculation I can find suggests I really shouldn't be going below 2,000 calories a day at this point, especially if I'm exercising. Problem is, it seems im-freaking-possible to get my calories up there eating healthy foods, unless I keep a bag of vegetables in front of me all day and stuff them in my mouth. And that would get real old, real fast, I'm sure. I know more fruit is definitely indicated, but what else is there that will help me get all the calories I need?

Felici, the progress does indeed feel wonderful—I'm starting to see my motivation drag some, though. I need to work on that. Consistency is the hardest part for me.

Rach, I will totally be eating that corned beef like…forever. It's the one thing I don't like about living alone: the lack of help in leftover eating.

Natalie Jo, you could totally rock the elliptical. It takes some getting used to, but I love it because it's so low-impact (virtually no-impact) so that it doesn't hurt my knees or such.

 

[Invariant]

You know what Soph, a couple months ago I was stalled like you are now. What I started doing, was conserving my calories in the morning/afternoon and eating the majority of them in the evening. I suppose if you're not to hungry in the daytime, you can try this. And it's true, depending on the cals burned through exercise, you shouldn't eat less then 2K a day.

For instance, I burn 700+ cals everytime I run. I need to eat AT LEAST 2,000 to support my metobolic functions because I do this. After the deficit, I intake 1,300 cals a day. I can tell you for certain, the great part about vigorous exercise, is it gives you and excuse to eat the things you thought you couldn't. On St. Paddy's day, I ordered a small shamrock shake from McDonald's which was about 450 cals, and because I burn off so much, I was able to comfortably add it into my daily intake. I wouldn't recommed you go out and drink a milkshake everday, but I think as well, I need to every once and a while, throw my body a curve ball by treating myself. I don't seem to be doing anything wrong because I'm still losing, I know.

To get over your plateau, I recommend mixing it up every once and while, but not going overboard. To be honest with you, how I got over mine was by re-vamping my exercise regime with HIIT. I just set my treadmill on a higher setting to increase my heartrate. My body had gotten use to my slower pace and considered it aerobic not cardio I guess. When I finally augmented my heart rate, I seemed to drop the lbs more steadily.

I'm really not educated in this area, but all I can offer you is personal experience. I hope if helps maybe just a little.

Happy middle of the week, honey!

 

[nataliejo]

Breakfast—one cup coffee with ½% milk and two tsp sugar, turkey sausage, one slice whole-grain toast
Lunch—brown rice with spiced split peas and three ounces ham, one apple
Snack—one cup low-fat hot chocolate, four multi-grain crackers with Laughing Cow light cheese
Dinner—four ounces corned beef, cabbage
Snack—buttery popcorn and two chocolates

Did my strength routine today. I meant to work on the elliptical too, but I stupidly kept putting it off until I was too tired. From now on, working out is first thing after breakfast, on my days off, anyway.

The popcorn and chocolates were a desperate effort to get my calories up where they should be. I've been doing a lot of research lately (my Google box is getting tired of the phrase "how to break a plateau"), and every calculation I can find suggests I really shouldn't be going below 2,000 calories a day at this point, especially if I'm exercising. Problem is, it seems im-freaking-possible to get my calories up there eating healthy foods, unless I keep a bag of vegetables in front of me all day and stuff them in my mouth. And that would get real old, real fast, I'm sure. I know more fruit is definitely indicated, but what else is there that will help me get all the calories I need?

Felici, the progress does indeed feel wonderful—I'm starting to see my motivation drag some, though. I need to work on that. Consistency is the hardest part for me.

Rach, I will totally be eating that corned beef like…forever. It's the one thing I don't like about living alone: the lack of help in leftover eating.

Natalie Jo, you could totally rock the elliptical. It takes some getting used to, but I love it because it's so low-impact (virtually no-impact) so that it doesn't hurt my knees or such.

Sophie! I am sorry you having a hard time with your plateau hun. I think I have finally hit my second plateau. After fifteen pounds, it was bound to happen.... oh well ...now I need to walk faster and more. But I have no idea what you could eat to make your caloric intake up, no clue! I don't count calories, well I guess I kind of do, I just make sure I eat less high caloric intake. I generally know how much I should eat and what I should eat during the day, and most of the time I cheat, but I do keep walking for the most part. BUT I have no adive whatsoever. ... but
I want to wish you the best of luck and maybe one of the other gals can help you figure this out...

best wishes hun
you will break this plateau ..we both will!!

best wishes hun
I am at 276.6 and can't seem to get down there, I made my next goal 275 by May lmao ..thats what I had planned in January, with this damn plateau, looks like that is where I will be at!

well ttylater hun
love yas
always
your friend
natalie jo

 

[heathercb04]

Hey Sophie! Sorry to hear about your plateau But I'm totally impressed on all of your research that you're putting in to finding out how to fix it!! I have absolutely no knowledge on how to bust through a plateau because I don't have experience having one yet, and all other times I tried to lose weight it was the unhealthy way! So if you figure out a way, make sure to communicate to the rest of us so we know when we get there!!

You'll bust through though, I'm sure of it. You're doing too much good for yourself and your body to not come right through the other side.

 

[jw372]

Breakfast—Special K bar, oatmeal cooked in ½% milk with mango sauce, coffee with milk and two tsp sugar
Snack—Clif Nectar bar
Lunch—Turkey, cheddar and tomato sandwich with mayo (forgot my packed lunch at home and had to make shift on campus—sigh)
Snack—one half bagel thinly spread with cream cheese, two cups coffee with one tsp sugar and fat-free half-and-half
Snack—soy protein bar
Dinner—90 calories cracker sticks, three ounces ham, baked sweet potato with two tsp butter, brussel sprouts in mustard sauce
Snack—low-fat hot chocolate with half a marshmallow

Did half an hour on the elliptical first thing this morning. It made sure I got my cardio into the day, but it also gave me a headache and sense of malaise all morning long. I think next time I need to save workouts for after breakfast and coffee. I also danced for about fifteen minutes after dinner—it was enough to break a sweat and be panting, so I think it counts as exercise.

My plan is to try mixing up my calories some, in an attempt to jumpstart my body. So today was a quite high calorie day, but tomorrow I'm going to go very light and also do a good long workout. Cross your fingers that this works!

Rach, thanks for the suggestions! I'll try to increase my high-intensity intervals tomorrow and see if maybe that helps. My body, with the size it is, burns a LOT of calories just by existing, and my workouts, when I'm serious, use between 500 and 700 calories, so I know I need to be more aware of that.

Natalie Jo, I don't usually do calories either, but at the same time I try to be aware of roughly the range I'm in, and I did some counting when I began to suspect that I might be too low. Sigh. Plateau sucks. Hope is a lot easier to come by when the numbers keep going down.

Heather, I'll definitely keep track of what I'm doing. That's one of the awesome things about this community is how we can all learn from each other's successes and failures. Still, I'd like to get back to success soon!

 

[nataliejo]

Breakfast—Special K bar, oatmeal cooked in ½% milk with mango sauce, coffee with milk and two tsp sugar
Snack—Clif Nectar bar
Lunch—Turkey, cheddar and tomato sandwich with mayo (forgot my packed lunch at home and had to make shift on campus—sigh)
Snack—one half bagel thinly spread with cream cheese, two cups coffee with one tsp sugar and fat-free half-and-half
Snack—soy protein bar
Dinner—90 calories cracker sticks, three ounces ham, baked sweet potato with two tsp butter, brussel sprouts in mustard sauce
Snack—low-fat hot chocolate with half a marshmallow

Did half an hour on the elliptical first thing this morning. It made sure I got my cardio into the day, but it also gave me a headache and sense of malaise all morning long. I think next time I need to save workouts for after breakfast and coffee. I also danced for about fifteen minutes after dinner—it was enough to break a sweat and be panting, so I think it counts as exercise.

My plan is to try mixing up my calories some, in an attempt to jumpstart my body. So today was a quite high calorie day, but tomorrow I'm going to go very light and also do a good long workout. Cross your fingers that this works!

Rach, thanks for the suggestions! I'll try to increase my high-intensity intervals tomorrow and see if maybe that helps. My body, with the size it is, burns a LOT of calories just by existing, and my workouts, when I'm serious, use between 500 and 700 calories, so I know I need to be more aware of that.

Natalie Jo, I don't usually do calories either, but at the same time I try to be aware of roughly the range I'm in, and I did some counting when I began to suspect that I might be too low. Sigh. Plateau sucks. Hope is a lot easier to come by when the numbers keep going down.

Heather, I'll definitely keep track of what I'm doing. That's one of the awesome things about this community is how we can all learn from each other's successes and failures. Still, I'd like to get back to success soon!

Yes Shophie! Fifteen minutes of dancing does count. I do it myself and on fitday where they count all the exercise.. they actually have dancing down there... I sometimes use fit day to check how many calories I burned with my walks ..dancing ..aerobics ..whatever it may be ..

ttylater hun!
love yas
always
your friend
natalie jo

 

[jw372]

Okay, so thanks to all this talk of water retention, I've been taking a prescribed water pill for the last couple of days. I didn't want to say anything because if it didn't work, I would have lost my last excuse. Well...I got up from my nap today, weighed myself, and it put me at 274.4!!!!! I'm not going to change my ticker yet, but I am going to go ahead and order those DVDs that are my reward. Just wanted to let all of you, who've been so magnificently supportive, know that the weight is still shifting! And that, as of Saturday, I will probably update my ticker with a new mini-goal!

 

[heathercb04]

Wheeeeee!!! Early congrats!!! That's unfortunate about the water retention though and the fact that you had to go on meds because of it. :-/ Hopefully it will be resolved with time!! Order that DVD though and ENJOY IT! You have worked so hard to get here, you deserve a reward.

 

[jw372]

Wheeeeee!!! Early congrats!!! That's unfortunate about the water retention though and the fact that you had to go on meds because of it. :-/ Hopefully it will be resolved with time!! Order that DVD though and ENJOY IT! You have worked so hard to get here, you deserve a reward.

Well, the meds were a choice I made. I have PCOS, and one of the treatments for that is a water pill that helps "flush" the testosterone out. Now, I don't like to be on daily medication for something that doesn't really "fix" anything but only levels my not-too-noticeable hormone imbalances. So I have the prescription, but usually don't take the pills. But being frustrated with not seeing any progress in the scales and wanting to see if I was really plateaued or just bloated, I went ahead and took my prescription. So it's not really a big medical deal, but I was very happy to have those pills handy and approved for me!

 

[jw372]

Breakfast—coffee with two tsp sugar and fat-free half-and-half, oatmeal cooked with skim milk, fresh blueberries
Snack—apple
Lunch—quesadilla with one ounce low-fat cheddar; black beans; corn; salsa; and low-fat, low-carb tortilla
Dinner—salmon with two tbsp ginger marinade; multi-grain pasta with one tsp butter, two tbsp grated parmesan, and garlic; spinach salad with grapefruit, dried cranberries, and a drizzle of olive oil
Snack—hot ginger milk with one tsp sugar, three chocolate cat cookies (about 22 calories)

45 minutes on the elliptical today!!!!!!!! It's funny—about halfway through, I felt exhausted and had a headache (like yesterday). But then two-thirds of the way through, I got a burst of energy, my headache receded, and I was able to finish up in grand style.

One great thing about being on track and losing weight is that I'm not wasting lots of money on new clothes anymore. I don't want to buy clothes that won't fit me in six months, so I'm making do with the (perfectly adequate) wardrobe that I have now.

Natalie Jo, I totally want to try incorporating dancing into my routine more often—I really enjoy it.

 

[jw372]

Breakfast—one cup coffee with skim milk and two tsp sugar, oatmeal cooked with milk, fresh blueberries
Lunch—1.5 ounces corned beef, collard greens with tomatoes, half an ounce cheese, one oat bran mini-muffin, four dried apricots, one square chocolate with wild strawberry filling
Snack—soy protein bar
Snack—100-calorie bag of popcorn
Dinner—fresh herb kuku (a kind of omelette), baked cod, green rice
Snack—100-calorie ice cream sandwich

Today was a day of rest (exercise-wise), since I spent all day watching Macbeth, preparing to teach Macbeth, leading a class discussion on Macbeth, reading Lacan, and writing a paper on Lacan. Needless to say, I am mighty glad that tomorrow is Saturday.

 

[nataliejo]

Breakfast—one cup coffee with skim milk and two tsp sugar, oatmeal cooked with milk, fresh blueberries
Lunch—1.5 ounces corned beef, collard greens with tomatoes, half an ounce cheese, one oat bran mini-muffin, four dried apricots, one square chocolate with wild strawberry filling
Snack—soy protein bar
Snack—100-calorie bag of popcorn
Dinner—fresh herb kuku (a kind of omelette), baked cod, green rice
Snack—100-calorie ice cream sandwich

Today was a day of rest (exercise-wise), since I spent all day watching Macbeth, preparing to teach Macbeth, leading a class discussion on Macbeth, reading Lacan, and writing a paper on Lacan. Needless to say, I am mighty glad that tomorrow is Saturday.

Well today is Saturday and hope your day is going well!!
Macbeth huh, havent read that in a while. I always loved that play. IT was oh so cool ...

Lacan? who is that? I am still mid degree... so the harder lit classes are on their way come next year and its just gets harder after that, but I love literature. I could never go with out a good book, u know

Well I was in the book store in the other day and came across Bradbury.. have you ever read

"that tattooed man" or "The martian Chronicles" by Ray Bradbury. I think they are brilliant. There some of my favorite books..

What are some of your favorite books? I know its hard to tell, but can you think of one lol

well ttylater hun
and keep trecking
sounds like your doing awesome! Keep it up!!

love yas
your friend
natalie jo

 

[jw372]

Weigh-in morning--YAY NEW TICKER NUMBERS! I can't believe I'm below 275. It's such a small difference, and yet I am lighter than I've been in at least three years. I sat in one of those one-piece desks at school yesterday, and I fit in it without having to be angled slightly sideways! Oh, God, I can't believe this is really happening for me!

I made the start number for the ticker 275 so I'd have a tiny bit of a jump on my next mini-challenge! I am here and now vowing that I will be at 260 by August 1! I will not fail. I will not flag. I will not lose interest or stop caring about my body and taking good care of it.

And seriously, thank you so much to all of you. I never would have gotten here without you--I know that because of all the times I've tried to get here before and not managed it. You guys are awesome.

 

[heathercb04]

Sophie, new ticker numbers are the BEST!!! CONGRATULATIONS!! I hope you bought that DVD (Forgive me if you did and mentioned it, I just read the last three entries). The support of the forum really is awesome, isn't it? The boy keeps commenting on how much time I spend on here, and I'm just telling him "but it's so fun and everyone is so nice!!"

 

[jw372]

Breakfast—one cup coffee with skim milk and two tsp sugar, oatmeal cooked in milk with mango sauce
Lunch—corned beef sandwich with sugar-free, whole grain bread, three Hershey's kisses
Snack—seven jelly beans
Dinner—rice krispies and milk with one tsp sugar
Snack—apple
Snack—90 calories of wheat crackers
Snack—one cup hot ginger milk with one tsp sugar, one oatmeal cranberry cookie

Did forty-five minutes on the elliptical today—it's still a miracle to me that I can go so long now. And when I time things right, it feels really good, more like an exercise of strength than a difficult toil.

Don't know why I couldn't get around to eating a proper dinner tonight—I just didn't feel like it, I suppose. The cereal was to give me energy to exercise, but after that, even though I was hungry, I just didn't want to do anything but graze.

Natalie Jo, I haven't read those books, though I have liked all the Bradbury I've read. My favorite books are mostly a hundred and fifty years old, but there are a few modern novels that I like. Dreamhouse by Alison Habens is a favorite, and so is Temples of Delight by Barbara Trapido. It's hard for me to find time to read for pleasure right now, though, so most of my reading is either Victorian novels, literary criticism, or theory (at present psychoanalytic theory).

Heather, I did indeed order my DVDs! They should arrive within a week, and then I'll let you know how the ballet workout is.

Also, happy Easter to all those who celebrate it!

 

[Invariant]

Steph, I can familiarize with your new-found stamina completely. It's crazy how in such a short period of training our bodies, we can feel more energized than physically exerted. I'm still surprised I can run for so long given, in the beginning, I felt like passing out after just three quarters of a mile.

It's nice how do something good for your body no longer feels like a toil, you're absolutely right. I never seem to feel drained, or exhausted or as though I can't complete my mileage goal. The word that comes to my mind is 'paced'. My breathing now never feels rushed or erratic or hurts my chest instead, it feels as though my lungs are getting a gentle workout, kinda like an internal massage. My chest never burns when I workout anymore, and I'm assuming, this is the point where you are at. Sure, my legs can feel as though they're on fire momentarily if I push myself, but the fact that I can respirate at an even pace while elevating my heart rate is truly amazing to me.

I hope you continue to have such amazing success with your elliptical routine! Wait and see, in no time at all, you'll be able to go a whole hour and then some!

Happy Easter to you, honey! I hope you're having a good one!

 

[jw372]

Breakfast—two cups coffee with one tsp sugar and fat-free half-and-half, CANDY (two squares of dark chocolate, one Cadbury egg), fresh cantaloupe, small handful pecans
Lunch—hot cross buns, coffee with skim milk and three tsp sugar
Snack—two squares dark chocolate
Dinner—peas, small portion brown rice, roast lamb, one small row of Lindt chocolate

Did my strength training routine today.

And, as you can see, I had a definite Easter splurge. It's done with now, though. I put the candy away in the pantry, and it'll be doled out over the next couple of months.

Rach, it's Sophie, not Steph. I know what you mean about the endurance, though. I occasionally feel my leg muscles tremble towards the end, but beyond that, I don't feel bad during my workouts (as long as I time them correctly in my day). I can't wait till I can go longer at full intensity, though. I think that's going to feel really good.

 

[nataliejo]

Breakfast—one cup coffee with skim milk and two tsp sugar, oatmeal cooked in milk with mango sauce
Lunch—corned beef sandwich with sugar-free, whole grain bread, three Hershey's kisses
Snack—seven jelly beans
Dinner—rice krispies and milk with one tsp sugar
Snack—apple
Snack—90 calories of wheat crackers
Snack—one cup hot ginger milk with one tsp sugar, one oatmeal cranberry cookie

Did forty-five minutes on the elliptical today—it's still a miracle to me that I can go so long now. And when I time things right, it feels really good, more like an exercise of strength than a difficult toil.

Don't know why I couldn't get around to eating a proper dinner tonight—I just didn't feel like it, I suppose. The cereal was to give me energy to exercise, but after that, even though I was hungry, I just didn't want to do anything but graze.

Natalie Jo, I haven't read those books, though I have liked all the Bradbury I've read. My favorite books are mostly a hundred and fifty years old, but there are a few modern novels that I like. Dreamhouse by Alison Habens is a favorite, and so is Temples of Delight by Barbara Trapido. It's hard for me to find time to read for pleasure right now, though, so most of my reading is either Victorian novels, literary criticism, or theory (at present psychoanalytic theory).

Heather, I did indeed order my DVDs! They should arrive within a week, and then I'll let you know how the ballet workout is.

Also, happy Easter to all those who celebrate it!

Sounds like what I read during the year in school ... they do have one class I have been tempted to take .. Pop Fiction lol
it would be different ..but its only a 200 course ..and I need 300 and 400 courses now .. you know ..
harder courses for the next two years lol

Your doing well on the machine ..holy meow! You go girl!
I can't wait till I have built myself back up to a forty five minutes walk

did a twenty two minutes today ..half way lol

ttylater hun
love yas
your friend
natalie jo

 

[nataliejo]

Breakfast—two cups coffee with one tsp sugar and fat-free half-and-half, CANDY (two squares of dark chocolate, one Cadbury egg), fresh cantaloupe, small handful pecans
Lunch—hot cross buns, coffee with skim milk and three tsp sugar
Snack—two squares dark chocolate
Dinner—peas, small portion brown rice, roast lamb, one small row of Lindt chocolate

Did my strength training routine today.

And, as you can see, I had a definite Easter splurge. It's done with now, though. I put the candy away in the pantry, and it'll be doled out over the next couple of months.

Rach, it's Sophie, not Steph. I know what you mean about the endurance, though. I occasionally feel my leg muscles tremble towards the end, but beyond that, I don't feel bad during my workouts (as long as I time them correctly in my day). I can't wait till I can go longer at full intensity, though. I think that's going to feel really good.

There is nothing bad in my house now, but I am craving it ... I dont know what to do lol

I should have never had any of that stuff on Easter lol ... I have been so horrid ...

You sound so good Sophie!! Keep trecking!

love yas
always
your friend
nataliej o