Another week, another weigh-in. As always, grab the button and come link-up with me and Alex!
How are you guys faring in the land of bust-my-ass-and-go-hungry-all-for-the-sake-of-bathing-suit-season? Things here are going ok, just ok, let me explain...
I'm eating good and staying under or very close to my 1,200 calorie limit most days. I'm not hungry, for the most part, so it's been fairly easy sticking to my diet. A couple of slip-ups here and there, but nothing to derail my progress at all. I'm drinking a lot of water, which I know is key to this weight-loss thing. I'm running. I actually switched up my running this week and it's going really well. With C25K I was staring at the clock, waiting for the app to countdown and tell me when to walk instead of run. I started to feel like that wasn't enough, like I wasn't pushing myself enough so I decided to do intervals on my own. I run at a decent pace for as long as I can and when I can't run any more, I walk for a bit. I repeat that cycle for 35-45 minutes/night and I feel like I'm making much more progress than I was on C25K. I'm running longer and I'm pushing myself further. I'm going to keep doing my running this way until I feel like I'm not being challenged enough and then I'll switch it up again.
I've noticed a few non-scale victories this week... my pants are getting looser, my face isn't quite as full, and my stomach is feeling so much flatter since I'm drinking water instead of diet coke. Is my face skinny or is my stomach flat? No, not by any means... but I'm noticing a difference and they're on their way. Those are three pretty great things to notice in one week. That? Is a big success.
Now let's talk about the scale. It's not moving very much again. (This is becoming a theme when I know I've had a good week.) This week I had a .6 lbs loss. Why? I have no idea. Well, that's a lie. First of all, I'm beginning to learn that it takes my body a week or so to catch up. A few weeks ago when I did not so great with the eating and exercising? I still lost. Now when I'm doing good? I'm hardly losing. I'm really considering putting my scale away for the month and just concentrating on making good choices and the changes in my body, the way my clothes fit, etc. The battle with the scale is just so frustrating and I know at times it's not a real representation of what's been going on. The second reason why I didn't see a big loss this week? You're totally about to get too much information, not very lady-like information, so you've been warned to look away now. I'm not pooping. Yes, I just posted that on the internet for all the world to see. It's true though, and I have no idea what's going on with all of that, but I do know it certainly doesn't help in the weight loss department. So there you have it. Hopefully next week my body will catch up to all the good choices I've been making and poop and I'll see a good loss.
The other piece of Weigh-In Wednesday that I want to talk about today is clean eating. I'm not going to sit here and tell you that I'm a 100% clean eater, but I will tell you that I've made a lot of changes to my diet and I aim to eat mostly clean whenever I can. Yes, I want to lose weight and be skinny, but more importantly, I want to be healthy. I don't want the chemicals that are in processed foods to be in my body. Plain and simple, I just want to be as healthy as I can for as long as I can and I believe eating clean is a big part of that. I'm still learning and have plenty of areas where I can improve, but if you look at my diet now compared to what it was six months ago, there's a lot of improvements. Here's my food intake from yesterday, just to give you an idea of what my typical day looks like as far as food goes. Some of it is clean, some is not, but there's a lot less chemicals in these meals than in what was in the meals I was eating before...
Water - H20
First and foremost, this is a staple for me. This big 24 ounce cup? Sits next to me all day long at work. My goal is to drink 3 of them by the time I leave work in the afternoon and another one at home throughout the evening. Cost? None. Benefits? Endless. Drink your water, yo! Disclaimer: you do not have to drink it out of a Red Sox cup but I highly recommend it. Getting healthy while concentrating on the fact that baseball season is less than a week away? Even better for your health.
I bought these muffins last week and as it turns out, I don't really like them very much. I'll eat up what I have but will then switch to something else for breakfast, something with less carbs than bread. I top it with peanut butter because it fills and sustains me, and is a better alternative to regular butter.
Lunch - Low-Fat Turkey Chili
Packed with lean protein (99% fat-free ground turkey) and veggies (fresh organic red bell peppers, fresh organic green bell peppers, and onions), this meal has a lot of benefits. I get in at least a couple servings of vegetables, I can have a filling portion for not a lot of calories (< 300), and I'll stay full throughout the afternoon.
Afternoon Snack - Cucumber w/ Hummus
I need to add more snacks into my diet as this is the only snack I had yesterday. Another vegetable in my diet and I absolutely love hummus. Roasted red pepper is my favorite and 1 serving of 2 tbsp is plenty to go along with some sliced veggies.
I've been on a wicked salad kick lately and I'm not mad about it. I love getting in tons of veggies at once and there are endless ways to change up the flavors. I didn't have enough fresh produce to make a big salad for dinner so I improvised a bit last night and cooked a chicken breast (in 1 tbsp olive oil - healthy fat) and made a side salad with what I had left for veggies. I topped it with a light balsamic dressing... tons of flavor for very little dressing which equals minimal fat and calories.
I read a lot of blogs and it boggles my mind when I see people losing weight, working out, trying to get skinny, but they're not getting healthy. Processed foods, chemicals, diet soda... you may not be taking in a lot of fat, but you're taking in a lot of chemicals. Skinny does not equal healthy, and if you eat a lot of processed foods, my challenge to you this week is take stock of what you're putting in your body and make small improvements in order to be more healthy.
31 comments:
I love your non-scale victories this week! I'm had the same victories this week! I am totally starting to see what everyone is talking about when it comes to eating clean. This week I am starting to clean up! I am on a MAJOR salad kick too! I am loving it!
Great loss girl! Even if its not as BIG as you'd like, it's still something and closer to your goal! Hope you can go to the potty soon! ;)
PS-I'm gunna finally link up with y'all today and weigh in!
Great job girl! I'm so glad your seeing progress and loving your positive attitude! I know how crummy it is when your doing everything right but not seeing any results. So proud of you!
Good word girl! Being healthy is so much better than being "skinny"!
I think people are focused so much on losing eight and the low fat, no fat is so easy these days. But you're right, the healthy version with no chemicals and other things added is better.
There is an app called RunDouble for C25k that you can actually skip parts! I was getting bored too and knew I didn't need to walk as much and the app allows you to skip it!
I totally agree with your theory of your body needs a week to catch up. It always leads me to think I can be lax and maintain just fine, and then frustrates me when I've been good all week and see no changes. That was so last week for me. Here's to being healthy (not skinny)!
That cucumber with hummus looks amazing!
I have a 32 ouncer on my desk but it certainly isnt the red sox *shudder* :-)
That english muffin is what I eat EVERY morning. LOL
I need to eat cleaner and leave the lean cuisines and smart ones alone. It's so quick and easy sometimes. lol I'm not a planner and so I tend to go for the quick and easy during the work week. If I would start planning on Sunday for the whole week I think I could do better! Thanks for this post! It gives me some starting off ideas :)
Good job! You're getting there!
I think eating clean is so important. When I lost 50lbs years ago for my wedding, I was filling my body with processed foods! I didn't feel great, despite being "skinny". Thankfully I know better now :)
Your food looks delish! I really need to get away from processed food especially Diet Coke - thanks for the kick in the ass! I think I'm gonna say here that I'm going to stay away from it for 1 week & see what I think!! Wish me luck chic! :)
I think clean eating is the way to go! YOu just feel better about yourself and it really is a lifesytle change. THe scale really is a whore sometimes! It doesn't reflect nearly as much as it should. Thats why I try to focus more on measurements and how my clothes fit. That's what makes me happy and I don't think one number should define how we feel about ourselves.
You are a rockstar with water. I NEED To drink water like you that is one of my goals this week. However, I CANNOT give up diet coke. I don't drink as much as I used to but it will be in my life forever haha
I'm tossing my scale in the bathroom closet for awhile - she's a lying hoe.
OMG. We are either twins or the whole "I don't poop and the scale takes like forever to catch up with my progress" thing is pretty common. I am a firm believer of the whole JUST KEEP GOING concept. I figure if you do the right thing as much as you possibly can, it will eventually show up in NSV or on the scale. Just know there will be victory in other ways...I think we both know of what I am speaking.
Have you tried changing up how many calories you eat a day? Sometimes eating too few calories derails success. One trainer I worked with said to alternate calories every day. 1st day - 1300 calories. 2nd day -1400 calories. 3rd day - 1200 calories. 4th day - 1500 or 1600 calories. That sort of thing. It helped to jumpstart my weight loss when I stalled from eating too little.
And remember - progress is still progress. Which is better than slipping back!
That chicken and salad has me drooling-looks delish! I think I need to concentrate on the non scale victories more and less on what the scale is telling me
I think your meals look absolutely delicious! And I totally hear you on the scale frustration, I had to take a month off and step away. It was just too stressful.
Those NSV's are something to be proud of, though. Your body knows you're doing something right even if it doesn't show on the scale.
I hate the lag time! My body has been reacting badly to the crap I've been eating too (not pooping). It sucks! I really can't believe that drinking over 100oz of water a day has me backed up!
Way to go on your eating. It all looks so yummy!
MamaB
mamas-losing-it.com
We have been doing tons of clean eating at our house. I can totally relate! Scale has stayed between 163-161 the entire month of January:(
I keep telling myself that my body is adapting to ALL the GOOD food:)
Hear hear on the eating clean! You just feel so much better when you do it! Thanks for reminding me about hummus--I haven't had any in a hog's age and I have a can of chickpeas sitting at home just WAITING for the food processor!
You're doing great! Love those non-scale victories too! Go girl :)
You could NOT have said it better- people are often too focused on 'getting skinny' and they aren't thinking about the health aspect of it! Jared and I are definitely on the right track of eating much cleaner than we used to. I still have a weakness for Mexican food ;) BUT we are buying lots more produce, organic when we can etc!
Good for you woman!! Keep it up :)
New follower here! I wanted to follow you so I could link-up on Weigh-In Wednesday! Thank you for posting this! That food looks YUMMY!
Way to go Erin! I am so proud of you! I didn't link up again, because I am a loser.....
I need to either shit or get off the pot (like my dad would say), so I think I am about ready to shit...
A loss is a loss! NSV are the best! You food choices look yummy and healthy.
The whole not pooping thing should it's own weight loss theme! I have had that happen a lot, but I find if I continue my water intake for awhile, that it helps! I hope that the scale catches up with your effort soon!
New follower. :). I just started the weight loss journey this week!! :). I found you through Leslie!! :) can't wait. :)
This was such an awesome post, and I love the food pics girl!! I go through those phases where I have bathroom problems too...I hope you get that fixed soon because I know it's no fun. And it can get serious!
Oh and I started doing the same thing instead of c25k. Sometimes I just get tired of that structure and I just want to not need to look at my phone or hope I hear the reminder---I just wanna run and stop thinking!! So I do the same intervals. I hope it's working out for you!! Keep us updated!!
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