Day 59: Surprised by the Inch

Well... this past week had an interesting surprise! Take a look:

Days remaining: 162
Pounds remaining: 142.5
Inches lost/gained: -4.0
Pounds lost/gained: +1.5
Percentage weight lost: +0.99%

Basically, I wasn't able to exercise last week because I became fairly ill on Monday and Tuesday, leading me to make the call and not exercise the rest of the week. It seemed my body was telling me I was doing just a bit too much.

With the gain of 1.5 pounds, I was initially discouraged... that is, until I compared my body measurements with last week's results. Another four inches has fallen away from my frame and I could not be happier (even though I'm still trying to reconcile the fact that inches lost even though pounds are gained is a good thing).

This week, I seem to be struggling more with diet choices and exercise regimen... I sense a re-dedication of effort on the horizon for me!

Day 51: Looking Back with No Regrets

Yea! I'm back!

I haven't been neglecting this blog on purpose, but a couple of issues came up which demanded my full attention - I've been sick the past couple days (thus the lack of my normal Monday post), a certain son has required extra attention (requiring me to be away from the computer more and leaving me more exhausted at the end of the day), and it's tax season (as a bookkeeper, I had a lot of work to do).

But enough of that! Here are my stats from the end of Week Seven:

Days remaining: 172
Pounds remaining: 141.0
Inches lost/gained: -2.0
Pounds lost/gained: -3.5
Percentage weight lost: 1.19%

As you can see, things have picked up a little bit since last week's slow-down and I thought it would be interesting to look some bits of information and morsels of progress from the Ruth Cooper Project. Most of this has happened in the past 24 days... something interesting to keep in mind.

-I have been following the Flat Belly Diet (with the inclusion of one planned-indulgence day per week) for 24 days. The cover of the book proclaims it is possible to lose up to (emphasis on the "up to") 15 pounds in 32 days (!!). Being slightly skeptical of this claim, I have put them to the test... with eight days remaining in the advertised 32 days, I have already lost 12 pounds! We'll see how the next eight days do.

-Inches lost has been an encouraging area. From measurements taken in twelve different areas, I have lost a combined total of 11.75 inches from the first week. Of that number, 66% has happened since going on the Flat Belly Diet. All but three areas (arm, torso, and knee) lost between 0.25 and 2.0 inches, with an average of 0.94 inches lost in each area... all in 24 days!!

-My short-term January goal was to be able to wear my wedding and engagement rings on the proper finger by the end of the month. Although January has ended, my rings still do not sit at the base of my left hand's fourth finger. A bit disappointing? Yes. What is encouraging, however, is that the rings are actually being daily worn on that finger and they do currently fit BELOW the first knuckle (something I could not do initially). My current guess is that it will take losing another ten pounds before the rings will fit at the base of the finger.

-Exercising at the YMCA has become almost a habit... I was right on the cusp when I fell ill on Sunday night. With a goal of working out five days a week, I started with an average of two to four days each week. When I started, I would do my weight training at the level I had left when I stopped going - around 23,000 pounds lifted per session. In the cardio department, it was all I could do to walk for 30 minutes on the treadmill and usually at a speed of 2.5 or 3 mph.

Last week, I worked out all five days (praise God!), my weight training session has been upped to just almost 31,000 pounds lifted per session, and my cardio now includes three 45-minute treadmill jaunts at 3.0-3.5 mph and two fat-blasting 35-minute walks at 3.0-4.0 mph! I wasn't feeling super challenged at the end of last week, so everything will be upped yet again. Again, these stats are for the last 24 days.

Progress is being made and if I hadn't been keeping records, I'd probably be more disappointed in my progress. I didn't realize how much had happened in the last 24 days and had been feeling as if everything was going too slow. Now I realize, it hasn't been all that bad... even though it IS slower then I'd like things to go.

So... now you're updated and I have returned, once again, to blog of my adventures in the Ruth Cooper Project.

Thank you for reading! Your comments do much to cheer me on!

Day 29: Farewell, Jelly Belly

And so it has come, yet once again - that time of week where I publish my updated status.

Some numbers will be a little different as you may guess from yesterday's post. Honesty on the scale has set me back a bit in my ultimate goal and so the numbers are not as "whee-hee" as I had hoped... but they are honest. ::satisfied smile::

Days remaining: 193
Pounds remaining: 153.0
Inches lost/gained: -2.25 inches
Pounds lost/gained: +7.50 pounds

So, it would seem that in spite of the 7.5 pounds the evil little scale has generously added back to my frame (!), my overall size has diminished. I was certainly NOT expecting a loss of 2.25 inches over the past week! Only one area, my neck, increased. The other 11 areas lost inches or remained steady. God is so good!

This week, Jason and I have undertaken a new plan for losing weight. It involves an actual diet plan, working out, and some serious inch/weight loss. But more about that tomorrow.

For now, know that I am feeling more energetic, physically lighter, and clearer in thought. For the first time in the past 29 days, I actually have a scintilla of hope that I will be able to reach my ultimate goal.

Day 15: Slow Progress

Got home in the afternoon on Monday, thereby pushing this status report to today. Come to think of it, it may be better to make my status reports on Tuesday anyway... leaving my Monday open to my weekly article.

I keep having a dread of having to figure out each post what day it is and how many are left, so I downloaded this awesome little piece of software called TimeLeft to give me instant numbers. The blogging shall not be impeded! :D

Today, I took measurements and compared with last week's data

Days remaining: 207
Pounds remaining: 145
Inches lost/gained: -1.50 inches
Pounds lost/gained: -1.00 pounds

In working on this project, I managed to lose a whole pound and one-and-a-half inches during a week wherein I was probably the most out of control with eating than I've been for a while. This culminated by a two day baking spree which necessitated me to make sure all the baked goods created were safe for the people who were about to receive them!

Oh, did I mention there was no exercise involved... unless you count standing for hours mixing and cooking cookies. :P

So far, this week (Week 3) is better. I went to the gym yesterday and hope to go again tomorrow (shooting for three times per week at this point). My eating was considerably more controlled today, assisted in part, I am sure, by the nasty, randomly-flaring face/jaw/ear/tooth/sinus pain which has been a nagging companion for the past two or so months.

Thank you all so much for your comments and encouragement... it really does make a difference and the very thought that I have to post my actual, physical progress each week does check my proclivities toward "hunting the muffins" (slang for anything delicious).

On the positive side, I decided to start drinking more water today and ended up downing 3.5 liters in about five hours. Scary part... none of that liquid registered for hours!! Must have been more dehydrated than I had suspected.

Day 10: 3.5 Liters

The scale was broken yesterday... I didn't sleep yesterday night... Felt as if I would float away because of how bloated I was...

The end result was to wait until today to take measurements, compare with last week, and give a status report.

Days remaining: 213
Pounds remaining: 146
Inches lost/gained: -3.50 inches
Pounds lost/gained: +6.00 pounds

In a phrase, my efforts to work on this project for Week 2 were pathetic; no excuses. Will have to work harder next week... what a dumb time of year to try to lose weight. :P

On the positive side, I decided to start drinking more water today and ended up downing 3.5 liters in about five hours. Scary part... none of that liquid registered for hours!! Must have been more dehydrated than I had suspected.