This journal needs More Cowbell! ;)

M

morecowbell

Guest
Hey all :blush5:

My name is Nadia, and this is my "Get Healthy Finally!" journal. :)

I thought the first entry should be a basic info/history/current diet etc.

I'm 21, 5'2" 135lbs. I'm glad to say that after 6 years of dieting, I'm finally within the 'healthy' weight range for my height. That being said, I have very small bones and at my current weight I'm covered in fat padding like you wouldn't believe (not to mention I have almost no muscle).
My goal is to lose another 20-30lbs this year, gain lean muscle, and finally be happy with the way my body looks. :)

History:
My entire family (even my extended family) is overweight, and I've been overweight my whole life. My family went through a period of time where we couldn't afford more than beans, rice, and oatmeal when I was younger, and as a result of our 'going hungry', my parents developed a habit of rewarding my siblings and I with 'good' food (ie, fast food).
I stayed at an okay weight until I was about 15, then I got very depressed and gained 30lbs in six months. After I saw a picture of how I looked, I panicked and 'decided' to become anorexic for a few months to lose the extra weight (lol, I was a stupid teenager). It didn't last long because I love food too much to go without it. However, I fear I damaged my metabolism permanently by eating less than 100 calories a day for a month.

I did some research after I started eating again, and settled on a 1250 cal/day diet consisting of 5 small meals a day and lost 15lbs the first year. Since then, it's been a constant struggle just for me to stay at 145 (which seemed to be my body's 'comfortable weight'). I was worried for a few years that I would never be able to lose any more weight, but after joining a gym last June, I've since lost another 10! :D

Diet:
1250-1350 calories a day, eat every three hours no matter what. The food I eat currently isn't the healthiest, and that's one of the things I plan to change through this site. :)

Supplements:
Fish oil
Niacin
Gingko biloba
Daily Multi
Vit E
Vit D
Vit C
Iron
Calcium
Gelatin
Cinnamon
Chromium picolinate
Zinc
Diatomaceous Earth
and Safflower Oil (google "Safflower Oil weight loss", there's some interesting studies)

Exercise:
Currently I only get to the gym about once a week (I quit my job and the gym is pretty far out of the way). I'm looking at some local gyms to join and will be going more often.
I'm making it a goal to walk for at least 45 mins a day, and I'm buying some free weights to help me strengthen my arms and core.

I thought a daily questionnaire would help me keep track of how I'm doing, and this is what it looks like (I'll be answering it every day):

Calories consumed?
Junk food eaten?
If over eating occurred, what kind of emotions/feelings set it off?
Minutes walked?
Any other exercise?
Supplements taken?


Thanks for looking, I'm excited to really start my journey! :)


3-4-2011 Next entry
 
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Morecowbell... I like that

Welcome to the forum!

It can be sooooo difficult to eat healthy when an emotional connection to food has been developed in the past. What I would suggest is to add another question to your questionnaire.... How did I feel/What was I thinking about when I ate? Write down the emotions/thoughts that you were having before (and after) you ate a meal or snack. This can really help you to start thinking about why you eat certain things.

Good luck, I can't wait to hear about your progress!
 
Hello Nadia :)
I totally understand about the small frame thing, my father's side and my sister and I are small framed. She looked fine at like 108 and when she was 125 and a size 5 she looked like she had a little fat to lose. I have been fat most of my life so I'm setting goal to 124 although I'm sure when I get there I'll have to lose more.

I had no idea that diatomaceous earth was a supplement! I am familiar with it as a mechanical pesticide. What health benefits does it have?

All the best with everything! There are tons of reliable information on this site :)
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Wow, thanks everyone for the welcome! :)
PLBFitness, that's a really good idea, considering that I tend to comfort myself with food. I'll add that to the questionnaire. :)

Xenon said:
<snip>

I had no idea that diatomaceous earth was a supplement! I am familiar with it as a mechanical pesticide. What health benefits does it have?
Click to expand...

Hehe, awesome image addition! :D Diatomaceous Earth is mostly silica, which is something our bodies need as a building material (especially for hair and nails). I started taking it to help my hair and nails grow faster and stronger (it definitely works for that), but I've experienced nothing but good benefits from it. Just to name a few;
Less fluid retention
(TMI WARNING) Easier and more frequent BMs
clearer skin
Easing and regulation of menstrual cycle

You can buy it online and in some garden centers (just be sure to get pure DE and DO NOT get the kind for pool filters, it's very toxic)
I would link you to a thread on another forum, but I know that's not allowed, so I'll PM you.

Just a disclaimer, I'm not a doctor, and would recommend hours of research before starting any new supplement. :)

Thanks again, peeps :D
 
Thanks :) I know it's a silicate but had no idea how our bodies use silica! I also heard that gelatin is good for nails. Looking forward to the PM :)
 
More cowbell.. nice... ROFL....
however, it has evolved into MOAR COWBELL via the internet!
moar > more

keep going with the cowbell! you'll be wearing those gold plated diapers in no time!
 
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:smilielol5: Thank you everyone for the awesome references! :D

Xenon: I'm still too new to send PMs but I can send you on a google hunt, lol... If you search "LHC diatomaceous earth" it's the thread with the topic "1/2" growth per month to 1/2" in days". It's super long, but there is a wealth of reviews and experiences by real people taking it as a supplement. (My username on that forum is also 'morecowbell', so you'll be able to see my experiences more in depth) HTH! :)
 
Welp, day one has passed and I think I did really well. :) I put on five layers and went on an hour long power-walk, when I got home sweat had soaked through the first THREE layers! (I judge my exercise by how much I sweat, because I don't sweat very easily)

Question time!
Calories consumed? around 1300
Junk food eaten? Jelly beans... mmmm ;) (managed to keep it to a nice minimum)
If over eating occurred, what kind of emotions/feelings set it off? I was good yestreday, even though I had some major cravings for ice cream thanks to watching the Colbert Report (Is it just me or does Jimmy Fallon's flavor sound really good?)
Minutes walked? 1 hour (3.2 miles)
Any other exercise? not today :leaving:
Supplements taken? all but my nighttime pills (fish oil, calcium, vit e) and DE. That was me just being too lazy.

All in all, a good first day. :)
On a weird side note, I realized today that I should have started my 'lifestyle change' two weeks ago when the moon was waning! (when the moon is waning, according to the Farmer's Almanac, it's a great time to start trying to lose weight) The moon is waxing now, but that just means I'll have to work a little harder. :biggrinjester:
 
Excellent job today! You know what that deserves...MORE COWBELL:D:D:D I never heard about the weight loss with the waxing and waning thing, thanks for sharing that, now I have something fun to research. Good job on keeping the jelly beans to a min--I love those little things, and EXCELLENT work with the one hour walk! :party: Your lifestyle change is well under way!
 
Xenon, thank you for all the support! :cheers2: The supportive nature of most of the members here is astoundingly awesome! :D

Yesterday was a good/bad day, haha... It was good because I went to the gym and did more than just the elliptical, and bad because even though I stayed within my alloted calories for the day, I had a little 'binge' last night.

At the gym I did 20 mins of cardio, and 25 mins of working on the machines (my faves are the hip abductors) and working with freeweights.

I had a feeling my boyfriend was going to want pizza last night (Saturday nights twice a month is pizza night), so I 'saved up' some calories during my first three meals (by eating a bit less than I would normally). I only had two small pieces (310 cals), but afterwards, while I was sleepy (the WORST time to eat) I had dessert in the form of 300 cals worth of candy! :svengo: ;)
I had the munchies REALLY bad last night, so I'm proud of myself for doling out how much I was allowed to have, and sticking to that. BUT, eating healthier is my main goal this year, so it's a double edged sword.

Calories consumed? around 1300
Junk food eaten? pizza and chocolate!
If over eating occurred, what kind of emotions/feelings set it off? Even though it wasn't technically overeating, I did get bored and eat a bunch of candy... boredom is my main enemy in overeating.
Minutes walked? 20 (1.72 miles)
Any other exercise? 25 mins of various machines
Supplements taken? Yep! :)
 
Mannnn, pizza is my biggest downfall. Well done on only having 2 pieces, I can easily polish off a whole large pizza to myself. It sucks! Your exercise is looking good--Keep it up! xxx
 
Sunflower said:
Mannnn, pizza is my biggest downfall. Well done on only having 2 pieces, I can easily polish off a whole large pizza to myself. It sucks! Your exercise is looking good--Keep it up! xxx
Click to expand...

Thank you! :) Before I started consciously dieting (and once in awhile after), I could bake and eat a whole pizza by myself too! In fact, when my parents would get pizza for the family, they'd get a pizza for each person! How crazy is that? :nopity:
 
Ugh... hungover lol :ack2:
Weekends are difficult for me to stay on track because my lovely boyfriend is home all day, and we usually just sit around and veg and eat, but this weekend I can't believe how good I've been! I think a lot of it has to do with knowing that I'll have to confess to any transgressions here! :)

I only drink once or twice a month, and usually I end up overeating because my stomach gets unsettled by the cheap a$$ vodka I buy, but yesterday I stayed well within my alloted calories, and only ate a little bit of junk food with my drink! :hurray:

I didn't walk yesterday, because it was too cold and my legs needed a break after the gym, but I did get some 'other' exercise... :Angel_anim: :p

Today I'm getting my lazy BF to go on an hour long walk with me while we do laundry, and I'm really glad he wants to help me stay motivated. :)

Calories consumed? around 1250
Junk food eaten? Cheese curls from Aldi (mmm, I'm a sucker for them)
If over eating occurred, what kind of emotions/feelings set it off? No overeating yesterday, but I did indulge in alcohol :)
Minutes walked? did a 10minute walk to the library, don't think it counts haha
Any other exercise? Yes. ;)
Supplements taken? Yup! :D

I'm going to weigh myself next Sunday (I only weigh once or twice a month, due to discouragement from not seeing it move much), and I'm also going to take some 'before' pics Tuesday or Wednesday. :)

Have a great Monday, peeps! :waving:
 
morecowbell said:
Ugh... hungover lol :ack2:
Weekends are difficult for me to stay on track because my lovely boyfriend is home all day, and we usually just sit around and veg and eat, but this weekend I can't believe how good I've been! I think a lot of it has to do with knowing that I'll have to confess to any transgressions here! :)
Click to expand...

That's so true! That's why this is a great place to keep a weight loss diary! Looks like you're off to a great start! Keep it up!
 
morecowbell said:
Thank you! :) Before I started consciously dieting (and once in awhile after), I could bake and eat a whole pizza by myself too! In fact, when my parents would get pizza for the family, they'd get a pizza for each person! How crazy is that? :nopity:
Click to expand...

I wish I grew up in your family :p dam next of kin always eating all the pizza lol
 
Xenon said:
I wish I grew up in your family :p dam next of kin always eating all the pizza lol
Click to expand...

Hehe, I won't deny it was decadent to get a plate with 7-8 slices of pizza on it and just sit on the couch with my family and gorge... (although the aftermath of a too full stomach was almost as bad as the food was good). Most of them still eat that way, but I've been very slowly getting them to come around that you don't have to eat all of your take out in one enormous meal lol :lurk5: I still get green (with envy) when I watch my little brother finish off a burrito the size of my head! :smilielol5:
 
Ahhh... I feel really really good today! :D :D :D
Yesterday I was active almost all day! BF and I did laundry, cleaned the kitchen really well, and went on an hour long walk together (after which he was impressed that I was planning to do that every day lol).
And despite the fact that when I do a lot of 'work' I usually give myself that as an excuse to overeat (I have hypoglycemia/low blood sugar, so if I get too hungry, I feel an insatiable need to eat a LOT), yesterday I stayed on track!

This past month I've been feeling bloated a lot, and like I was retaining too much water, so I cut back on the salty snacks, and I'm finally feeling better! :) It was especially discouraging because I'd been feeling really good about how my body is starting to look, so it's motivating to see it again.

On another little happy note, BF told me yesterday that since we started living together, his refrigerator has never looked so healthy! :sifone:

Calories consumed? around 1300
Junk food eaten? Homemade oreo blizzards... :drool5:
If over eating occurred, what kind of emotions/feelings set it off? None yesterday :)
Minutes walked? 1 hour (3.2 miles)
Any other exercise? Does folding and putting away six large loads of laundry count? ;)
Supplements taken? Yep. :)

Again, thank you all for giving feedback and support! It's more motivating than the diary itself! :D
 
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