Crooked Eyebrow

Today was my second day of the couch to 5k program. I was pumped and ready to hit the treadmill right after work. The first week of the is simple and thankfully isn’t too hard for me yet. Right now my max on running is about 2 minutes, so it works. When the one minute run is up, I feel good but I am thankful to get to walk and catch my breath for 2 minutes! Overall I am really, really excited about completing the program. When I am running I picture my self skinny in a bikinifor motivation. Seriously folks. Mental imagery is totally working for me. I want my bikini back!

Remember when I posted my goal to drink the right amount of water for my weight? Guess what? I did it. Every single day I have been averaging about 90-100 oz of water. Yes, I even drink more. Fortunately I have started a routine.  First I found the largest plastic glass I have (it’s about 22ounces with ice) and I use a straw. Yes, there has to be a straw. I drink so much more and not to mention faster with one. Here is the breakdown:

*22ounces driving to work

*16 ounces by 9am

*16 ounces by 11am

*16ounces by 2 pm

*8 ounces on the drive home

*about 30 ounces at night

This has been about 108 ounces of water a day. You know what? I feel great. My skin feels and looks better as well. Of course each day varies but this pretty much has been my routine and if fits for now.  The number of trips to the bathroom are countless…How are all my sisters doing on drinking water?

I totally gave in for my craving and ate pizza hut’s new “natural” pizza for dinner. Whole grain crust and all. You know what? It was good.

that is all, carry on…

Straight off the treadmill and I just had to share the fact that I ran even though I wasn’t being chased. In the past I figured why run if I didn’t have to? Well times are a changing. Yesterday Melissa posted the couch to 5k program for our Fitness Fridays and it was just the push I needed.

Our reader Elaine actually emailed me the program awhile ago(thanks hun!) when I was so inspired by her running. There it sat on the fridge since just waiting for me to start, but today was a new day. I did it. I

Finally after saying I was going to clean off the treadmill, I did just that. After the first minute of running I was feeling good. With running my problem has always been breathing right. I tend to find myself holding my breath and then struggling to catch up. Thankfully with the week #1 in the program I was able to try and learn how to breath. It should come natural shouldn’t it? But it just doesn’t for me yet. Yet. I one day will be a lean, mean running machine.

So here I sit cooling off  feeling amazing that I started something completely awesome. Just another step(or run) in the right direction. Which direction are you headed in?

Ok, so yesterday I weighed 203# after eating Mexican the night before. The Great thing is that I was soo very proud of myself for only gaining 1# back after being sick.  So I got off the scale yesterday motivated for more loss.

Then this morning I stepped on the scale and it was 201.5#! I could not believe it. I made my husband look too. Just so you all know, I have been drinking my 84 ounces of water each day like I wrote about earlier in the week.

Funny thing is that I was going to “splurge” on my pizza craving today, but once I saw 201.5 on my scale I just knew it was going to be a salad instead. That was all the motivation I needed to get rid of my craving.

Instead I tossed 3 slices of pepperoni on my salad that was full of cucumbers and tomatoes. I gotta tell you, it was darn good and I just know it was the right choice. I am totally going to kiss the 200’s goodbye and for now, my pizza craving too.

Finally after 2 weeks I signed onto the wii fit and I was pleasantly surprised. Down 5.5 pounds!! Although it keeps telling me I’m obese and all, I still really like it.

It didn’t hurt that it called me a yoga master either. I think the wii fit is my new best friend. My goal now is to drop enough weight that I see myself skinny on there. Yup. I want a skinny mii.

This week I really sat and tried to figure out the right “balanced diet”. I have figured just how much water I should be drinking but I also want to be sure that important things like carbs and proteins are balanced as well. With be being a steak and potato kind of gal, I wanted to make sure that my body is getting just the right amount of proteins.

Protein  intake is not just for body builders or strength training, your body needs it. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not talking about high protein dieting either. A diet needs to have a perfect balance of carbs, protein and fat. (Personally, I would never suggest the Atkins diet)

A quick run down on protein balance (lets put the years of anatomy and physiology to good use here)

If you are eating too little of protein, you are not helping to keeping your body running properly. Basically you are taking it from other sources such as your muscle tissue. Not sure about you but I’m trying to get rid of fat, not muscle.

If you are eating too much of protein, it’s getting sent to your liver to be stored as fat. Lovely isn’t it? This process creates ammonia , which in turn is made into urea. Urea then needs lots of water to flush out your kidneys. If you aren’t drinking enough, your body then takes water from it’s own storage to dilute urea.(yes you will have weight loss but not in a good way) This not even mentioning the damage you can do to your kidneys as well. (see why i don’t like high protein/low carb diets?)

Now if a piece of meat or chicken doesn’t freak you right out now, let’s figure out how much protein we do need! There are different factors such as gender, pregnancy and breastfeeding. (serious weight lifters too) Currently, they recommended amount of protein for most adults is around 0.6-0.8 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight per day. Remember…One kilogram equals 2.2 pounds.

your weight divided by 2.2 =your weight in kilograms

your weight in kilograms x 0.8 =grams of protein per day

Here is mine:

205#/2.2 =93.1818kg

93.18 x 0.8 = 74.5 grams of protein a day

Now I know that on average, I need to be eating 70-74 grams of protein a day. Should be easy seeing how a tuna sandwich alone can give around 34 grams. Once I have my protein attack plan all set, I’ll be sure to share good protein foods!

**We do have to remind you that you should always consult your doctor regarding any diets. The sisterhood of shrinking jeans are not doctors and we do encourage you to ask your doctor about what type of diet is right for you.

After not working for a week, going back today was miserable. My head is still swimming and there is no way I’m cooking tonight. Nope. So instead I’ll order Mexican and swell up like crazy, just enough to retain a heck of a lot of water for tomorrow’s weigh in.

See? I’m totally having one of those emotional eating moments.  I do want to explain that the only other thing I have eaten today has been a protein bar and a salad. Point and calorie wise, I think 2 steak tacos and a coke can be fit in, right?

Totally.

Gulp indeed, I’ve been drinking plenty of water since I was ill all last week. Today even more so. I have been reading a book about natural diet solutions for PCOS and Infertility and came across a formula for just how much water you should drink and some interesting facts. (more that I’ll share in the future too)

The suggestion is to drink 40@ of your body weight in water each day. Seriously as I type that all I hear are toilet flushes…

Your weight x 40% =ounces to drink

For example:(using my weight)

205 # x 40% = 82 oz of water

So basically I have to drink 2.5 quarts of water daily. Now I have been increasing the water, but not that much yet. In fact, that is going to be my goal for this week! If you need me I’m sure you can find me in the little girls’ room.

After being ill all week I awoke today feeling, get this, hungry! Yes. After almost a full week of not eating or drinking I was starving. Who knew toast and orange jell-o could taste so good? While I am long ways away from eating heavy, healthy meals I am just happy for now for feeling hungry once again.

So now that I can handle solid foods I am hoping that I regain my strength this coming week and start  exercising like I had planned for this past week. Slowly I am hoping to get reacquainted with my treadmill and start learning how to run. That is my long term goal. To build the stamina to be able to go out and run. Normally I would never run unless I was being chased. Now I want to run for things I desire, like a healthy body.

Until then, here is to hoping my starving self continues to make wise food choices. I hope everyone has an awesome weekend!

I am simply amazed at all these fabulous people sharing their  weight loss journey with us here at the sisterhood of shrinking jeans. Simply amazed.

I applaud each and everyone of you!

It’s encouraging to know that with help and a sense of “sisterhood” that we all can lose weight together. Each time I read today how people started to exercise (and were excited about it)it made feel like I need to get up and get moving too.

After all, that is what the sisterhood of shrinking jeans was meant to be. Encouragment. Today I feel it, did you?