Thread: My weight loss journey!

So how's this going?

Welcome back Locke - new handle 'Snake' !

Hey man, good to have you back.

Good to see you're doing what you can to get fit, I should probs do the same at some point!

Another day and all is well. I woke up and ate a breakfast of oatmeal and a small orange. I had water to drink. Then I went to church with Heather and Mrs. Penny and I have absolutely no idea what we are going to have for lunch. Probably something like a sandwich. I'm trying to make my biggest meal of the day be lunch - and eating a snack like an apple or an orange in the afternoon and then something really light for supper. I'm not having too many problems as of right now.

I know, however, that I am stressing out over this literary analysis paper that I'm supposed to be writing about why in an already violent movie/literature is one act so shockingly violent and what it tells us about the works as a whole. There's some other details, however I have chosen to write about kill bill vol. 2 and Ovid Book 13, Hecuba's revenge. Anyway, so I have that to write. Hopefully I can get it done in a few hours and have the rest of the afternoon to do whatever I please.

Today I also have to go over to the old apartment and get the rest of the stuff that we left there yesterday and turn in our keys. So, that moving project is almost all complete - now I just have to have a garage sale!

As far as exercising is going, I'm not doing it every day, but I am trying to do a little something every day, if you know what I mean. I know I need to get my magnetic biking machine over to Penny's house so I can bike on it for thirty minutes a day, regardless if I have exercised elsewhere or not. I think riding a bike in the morning or a few hours before bed time will not only help me loose weight, but help me sleep better.

I've been sleeping much better at night without caffeine in my system. I had a little sweet tea yesterday for lunch and I could tell because I wasn't able to sleep as easily last night. ugh! So, none for me. I'm still drinking plenty of water and making an honest effort to eat breakfast in the morning.

I haven't taken my weight yet this week, because I don't want to see if I have lost weight or gained it back - I'm kind of nervous! Maybe I will wait until next week to see if I have lost any weight.

Well, I think that's all for now. I got to start working on that stupid English paper! YAY!

Hey Locke/aka Snake!!! Wb man! This is awesome, keep it going!

Finished my English paper just in time! I got to go to class in a few minutes.
I'm freaking out over my English paper. I know I shouldn't, but I'm glad that it's done and all I have to do is turn it in now. I'm glad - at least it's done and that way I can't get a zero for not turning it in. whew.

This morning I went for a one mile jog - I only jogged on the long stretches of track and walked around the short stretches of track. It was liberating! I am not as coordinated as I thought I would be, but that's ok, it can only get better.

After I jogged a bit and got loose, I went to the weight room and did a 30 minute workout. I feel good right now, but tomorrow I might be in pain. I did a ton of chest and tricep exercises. I did a couple of bicep exercises, but not anything too heavy. I bench pressed 75lbs 12 times, 3 reps. So - I mean, I could have probably put on more weight then that, but I just wanted to take it easy and see how sore I would be tomorrow. I'm not so worried about gaining muscle right now as I am losing fat. Exercising in any form will help me lose weight. After I did some weight lifting, I walked around the track a half a mile and started my day. I love exercising in the mornings, it seems like I have so much more energy!

As long as I can make exercising fun, I have more of a chance of making it a habit, and that's what I am going for.

I'm not working today, it was just a figure of speech. I ate some cereal for breakfast. I took a water to school but left it in my first class of the day. I'm in Geology right now. they are discussing the big bang theory in class. I have more education on this subject then what she is teaching in this class. Anyways...

I think I am going to go for a walk after this. It's not too cold outside and I am thinking about walking over to the activity center. I don't have anything to do until 2pm anyways. I mise well walk right now and get it over with for the day. I might, might might work on my biceps today. My chest and triceps aren't hurting as bad as I thought they would be. Tomorrow I'm going to be working on my chest again, doing some more bench presses. I'm going to try to work my way up on the bench press weight so that I can start doing real pushups at home.

I feel better now too... I have been walking and exercising for about two weeks now and I can tell a difference in my health. I compare my health to my ability to climb the stairs in Hanna Hall - well, they are getting better. I went up the stairs and didn't have any problems. I didn't feel my heart beating as hard. I haven't felt bad (aka high blood pressure) for a little while.

My detox is going very well too. I'm still not consuming any caffeine and I am able to sleep better then normal. Since I have been getting more sleep then usual I feel healthier. I feel better throughout my day. I tasted a coke yesterday and it was soo sweet to me. I don't think I want to go back. I find myself craving water when I'm thirsty instead of a sugar laden drink.

I'm glad I've taken these steps to improve my health. I know many people have probably told you in life already - but I'm saying it right now too - take care of your body - it's the only one you will ever have.

I went to bed at 9:40 last night, which is actually really early for me. My wife and I slept in until about 7:10 this morning, even though I had set the alarm for 6:01. (There's a 9 minute snooze.) So, plenty of sleep, I think. I was going to wake up early enough for Heather to go on a walk with me, but we didn't. I'm still trying to think of ways that I can exercise with my wife, but I haven't found any time slots just yet.

I went to the activity center this morning and walked one mile to warm up. Then I bench pressed 100lbs 10x for 3 reps. I know it's not impressive or anything - that's not the point. I'm just starting and I'm doing what I can. I did some other exercises in there, that I observed other people doing and did it myself. Mainly chest and tricep exercises today. Tomorrow is my bicep exercises. After I got done lifting weights I got on a tredmill and went for a one mile walk at 3mph. It kept my heart rate right between 130 to 138.

I noticed something very weird about my heart rate when I walked. If I held my breath, my heart rate increased. If I breathed normally it came down to 133-134. If I took long, deep breaths and relaxed my body as I walked, I could get my heart rate down to 128-129. What gives?

I'm going to try to get the tredmill working at home. See if I can start walking and doing pushups and situps at home, I won't have to go to the activity center every time I want to exercise. Even though they have some really nice equipment.

I noticed something else - I got on the Wii scale again, and it said that I had gained .02lbs back since the last time I measured it. That was in the evening, after I had eaten. I don't know if that affects it or now - but working hard and cutting calories and then seeing that I am gaining weight is very discouraging. Though, right now, I'm having to tighten my belt one more notch then usual. I haven't seen any major physical difference in my body since I have started.

Anyway, that's all for now. Class is fixing to start. Offer any advice if you can!

Originally Posted by Snake

I noticed something very weird about my heart rate when I walked. If I held my breath, my heart rate increased. If I breathed normally it came down to 133-134. If I took long, deep breaths and relaxed my body as I walked, I could get my heart rate down to 128-129. What gives?

i'm no biologist but presumably if your heart is pumping blood around your body to get oxygen to muscles, etc it'll have to work harder if there's less oxygen available

That makes sense... Thanks. I just never knew it was such a big difference.

I ate a little too much for lunch, I think. I'm not overly full feeling either. I'm going to make it up with a light supper of a tuna sandwich.

In the beginning of weight loss, you can have a bit of fluctuation. .02 pounds is honesty nothing, it's small enough to be chalked up to slightly faulty scales, even. It's within the margin of error. Plus, you're doing weight lifting and muscle weighs more than fat-- don't forget that. You could be losing 5 pounds of fat and gaining 5 pounds of muscle and end up weighing the same but being healthier overall.

The type of things you're doing, eating well and exercising without going overboard or driving yourself too hard, leads to slow and steady weight loss, not "I lost 100 pounds in a month!!!" weight loss. Which is a good thing. Also, larger people often have to lose more weight before it becomes 'noticeable.' Like, if a skinny person loses or gains ten pounds, it's immediately obvious because there wasn't much there to begin with. For a heavier person to notice the same effect, it'd have to be more like 30-40 pounds because ten pounds in comparison isn't much. And of course, no matter how much extra weight you have, 30-40 pounds is going to take longer to lose than 10. So just stay patient and wait to compare yourself until a few more months have gone by, maybe a year, and then the results will be obvious. =] Tightening the belt one notch is great.

Hello Everyone,

It's another beautiful day today. I didn't want to wake up this morning at all! The alarm went off at 6 and my wife and I kept hitting it until 7:18! we had 12 minutes to get ready and out the door and for the 30 minute drive to school or we were going to be late. On top of that, parts of the interstate are being worked on right now, so it's slowing down traffic. Anyways ... to the good news...

I seem to have a confidence boost in myself. My self esteem has increased since I feel better. I feel like I am doing something good about my health, and my life right now. I am becoming more sociable towards people, having more conversations and little quips with people. I seem to be more friendly as well. I like this change in myself, so I'm going to keep it going, hopefully.

As far as my diet goes, yesterday we got off of school and my wife and I didn't have to work and there was nothing to cook at home, so the room mates ordered pizza. I didn't have sides (cheese, breadsticks, extra sauce etc.) like normal - and I ate til I was full. But, that might have ruined yesterdays total caloric intake, but it will be ok.

Today I'm going to help a friend move their furniture, so that's kind of a workout in itself. I'm taking the day off exercising and letting my legs and arms heal up a bit before I start walking and weight lifting again.

Your right about not seeing results of weight loss until 30 to 40lbs is gone. To me, one pound of loss is a big difference for me, because I've never seen results from a diet before. I'm not so much concentrating on weight loss as I am getting healthier. Dr. Oz certainly scared the crap out of me. lol!