Hee, hee, hee

Wednesday, June 20, 2012

Yeah, sorry about not posting very often here -- too many social media sites, and I get confused.

 That being said, I'm very happy to announce that I've lost 20 pounds and 5.75 inches off my neck, waist and hips since the beginning of the year. That's 38 pounds in total lost from my highest weight, and the scales currently sit at 286.6.

I'm sure other people would look at that in horror and say, "How can you ADMIT to that weight?" I can admit to it gleefully because I haven't SEEN it since 2005. I'm HAPPY about weight 286.6, because it's an improvement on 290, and 300, and 324 (I may well have to get that number tattooed on me somewhere when this is all over). And my measurements have also gone down accordingly, so I'm down to two pairs of "skinny" jeans that I can't fit into (yes, I have "skinny" clothes that I've kept in the hopes that I would eventually be able to fit into them again, and it is a righteous boost every time I put on a piece and it fits). When I get to 275, my big reward will be a minor clothes shopping extravaganza, because I really need shorts and there are some freaking gorgeous t-shirts out there these days.

Do other people do that? Reward themselves when they hit a weight loss goal? I've been going big things for every 50 pound mark (got a professional and MAGNIFICENT massage for 300. Clothes shopping is scheduled for 275, another massage for 250, more clothes at 225, and I want to take motorcycle riding lessons for 200).

Anyway, that's the state of Melanie. How have y'all been doing?

Weightlifting: or, "Oh, my God, I'm HUNGRY"

Sunday, February 12, 2012

As you know (Bob), I'm 3/4 Eastern European. My people bred women who could pull a plow in case the Cossacks burnt the crops and they had to eat the ox that winter. Genetically, I'm designed to be muscular as all hell, and when I stop slinging the iron around is when I start packing on weight.

But weightlifting requires thought and discipline, and too often in the past I've said, "Screw it -- I'm tired/sad/stressed/what have you, I don't want to do squats, I'm just going to get on the stationary bike." Which is faboo for some people, but for me I can do cardio every day until the cows come home and not lose an ounce. Well, except for all the muscle that my body catabolizes.

So, come this year and I join MFP, and it really does make a difference being able to track what I eat and how I exercise. And by gum, I did lose 8 pounds that first month, but there were a couple of plateaus along the way that prompted me to take a look at what I was doing for exercise.

Yup -- cardio, mainly. Not good. So at the beginning of this month I started getting serious about the weights again. Hit the gym three times a week purely for weight work, bought NEW RULES OF LIFTING FOR WOMEN (awesome book, by the way), lifted heavy, ate a lot of protein.

Consequently, the scales have not budged an inch. Which I knew would happen, and is okay because I've been seeing visible changes in my arms, legs, and stomach. My clothes are slightly looser, and the tape measure (I'm only supposed to do it every two weeks, but I cheated yesterday) showed an eighth of an inch lost off my neck and hips. There might have been a corollating loss on my waist, but I'd just had breakfast so that kinda put paid to that. And I've been staying under my calorie limit -- been eating crap every so often, too, but then I eat something light and healthy for the next meal. I figure by the end of the month the scales should start moving down again.

That being said, I have noticed a rather major change in my metabolism this week. Before now, I would sometimes have to check the time to see if I should have a meal or a snack -- I didn't always get hungry, especially if I was wrapped up in a project (to the point where, 10 hours after I'd eaten something, I'd look up and wonder why the room was spinning, then think, "Oh, yeah...food would probably be a good idea").

11 days into the weights, however, and hoo boy, I get ferociously hungry every 3-4 hours. And I mean FEROCIOUS -- my gut rumbles like an express train, so much so that the cats have started to look at me funny. Maybe I'm saying something rude to them in Cat, who knows. Hunger stops me in the middle of my tracks, it wakes me up in the morning, it lets me know that my body needs fuel now, dude, and something with lots of protein, please.

As a result, there have been a few changes in my eating schedule. I've started doing egg white scrambles for breakfast (with a little bit of taco cheese, guacamole, sour cream and lots of salsa), drinking homemade protein shakes with cottage cheese, and I'm about the hit the store and go a little nuts in the dairy, meat and produce aisles. It still feels a little weird to be eating this much and this often, but the gut demands its tributes of protein and essential fats, and I must feed it before my husband wonders if its thundering outside.

This is okay

Friday, September 9, 2011

I knew this was going to happen. I was up two pounds this morning. But that's okay, because I'm in the middle of my fertile cycle and for some reason I retain water now as well as during my period. And I can TELL this is water weight -- I can see the puffiness in my wrists and ankles. My diet hasn't changed, my exercise hasn't changed. My body is just pulling its usual complaint about being female.

So that's all right. It'll drain off in a day or two -- in the meantime, I'll keep on doing what I've been doing and everything will be okay.

OORAH!

Okay, granted, I'm not a Marine, but I'm the daughter of one so I'm claiming familial rights. Anyhoo, things at the gym are continuing rather nicely -- I did a half hour on the bike at a level 7 on hills and then lifted weights until my hands were trembling from the strain. I feel achy but absolutely freaking righteous.

The wheat-free regimen continues, and I'm starting to think that William Davis M.D. has a big ol' horking point. I haven't lost scads of weight, but I've also only been doing this since, what, Saturday? What I HAVE noticed is that I feel a heck of a lot better -- my knees aren't aching nearly as much as usual, and I'm getting that same sensation I felt when I was doing Atkins, like I had a little furnace burning away inside my abdomen. Unlike Atkins, however, I'm not hungry at all this time, and what I'm eating (oatmeal and fruit as well as veggies) is providing me with scads of fiber so there will be no repeat of the Unfortunate Incident that abruptly ended my experience with Atkins.

Also, my tummy is visibly smaller. WOOHOO! Dear sweet Flying Spaghetti Monster, if I can get rid of this duck silhouette I will be the happiest camper in creation.

May I just say

Wednesday, September 7, 2011

That Oogie's Organic Cheese Popcorn (also gluten-free, not that I can figure out how gluten comes into the picture with popcorn but whatever) is to die for. For one thing, it actually tastes like cheese instead of salt, and a cup of it makes a lovely crispy cheesy side to a peanut butter and spelt sandwich.

No change in those numbers yet, but I didn't think there would be today. This will definitely be a case of baby steps. And now, off to the gym for a half hour on the bike and weights, tra la!

Just charming

Tuesday, September 6, 2011

Last week, we got notices from our credit union that we could apply for term life insurance through them. Since our life insurance ended with my contract, and since if (God forbid) anything happens to Lyndon I'm sort of screwed, I signed us both up for the insurance.

Got two letters and a packet today. The packet contains details about the insurance policy -- for Lyndon. Apparently I'm too fat to be eligible for term life insurance, despite the fact that I exercise regularly, have normal BP, heart rate, A1C numbers and cholesterol, and in general am pretty damned healthy.

I have never been turned down for term life insurance before in my life, so fuck you, CUNA. I'm going with AAA for life insurance, and you can kiss my fat white ass.

You remember that good number?

Monday, September 5, 2011

Yeah, well, I saw one that was lower this morning. I did the *blink*blink* thing just to make sure, but it was still there.

I'm still terrified of screwing up and somehow whopping on 30 pounds, but as part of the distraction procedure I'm trying to keep myself horrendously busy and too involved in writing, cleaning, looking after the furballs, podcasting and crafting to do anything except eat what's in the fridge (this includes baby carrots, Greek yogurt, gluten-free bread, tarragon chicken salad, oatmeal makings, and protein shake makings) and maintain the exercise (walking around the hood last night, stationary bike and weightlifting tonight). I would very, very much like to see a number that is 5 digits lower than what I saw today, and for the first time in a very, very long while this now seems like a possibility.

Oh, and because I'm shallow as a puddle, part of this is also being driven by the fact that there's going to be a NOH8 photography event taking place in Dallas come October, and my friend Fazia and I will be attending and getting NOH8 headshots. I know there are limits to what I can do before October 15th, but I would be a very happy camper if I could at least look a little less puffy around the face.