Below 200

For the first time in... years, I'm below 200 pounds. I weighed in this morning at the gym, and was 197. That's a loss of 21.8 pounds since I started five weeks ago.

Eating healthy is getting easier, as is exercising frequently.

In some really really good news, I have a line on a rent house that is five blocks from work, which means I can walk or ride it, and the home is also close enough to downtown that I could bike / walk to restaurants, stores, etc. Not only for health benefits, but for carbon production / fuel use.

I'm looking forward to getting a vegetable garden going. :)

Here, you can see me before (left), and today (right).

-- Dustin

202 pounds

I'm really happy when my weight is a palindrome. So when I got on the scale at Anytime Fitness today, and it read 202.0, I was ecstatic. Such a nice, even, symmetrical number. But still not where I want to be.

When I started in the end of May, I was 218.8. So that means I've lost nearly 17 pounds so far. I needed to lose 50 total, so that means I've got about 33 to go, putting me around 170. I think for my height that's about right. Perhaps 165 or so, but I am not going to sweat that.

We figured out my stumbling block, why I held or gained for most of this week -- I wasn't getting enough fat. So I added real cheese and 2 percent milk, and things started shedding.

Eating is good. Lunches are kind of boring, but they always were -- turkey sandwich, cheese, fruit of some kind.

Dinner last night was great. I sauteed some portobello mushrooms, grilled some bread, threw on some mozerella, and had a really delicious sandwich. No idea what I"m going to get tonight, except it better be at home because I'm out of cash and left my ATM card there. :p
(Diets are good for finances too. Not eating out = saving a ton of money).

--Dustin

PLUS 2 pounds!

Can I have a do over?

So, basically, I drank too many beers and ate way toooooooooo much last week and the scale scolded me for it. Up 2lbs to 145lbs.

Back on the wagon for a new week. I'm cutting back on my portions and NO alcohol! I'm also going to try to ramp up my work outs.

Tonight I ran 3 miles outside with very little pain in my knee. It took me 36 minutes so I'm right around 12 minute mile on a really hilly course which I made me pretty happy. I could feel some pain in the knee on the last few downhills so I'm not sure I should be pushing it past 3 miles for another 2 weeks. Kind of bummed about that.

I'm going to try to burn at least 450 calories per cardio work-out. And in addition to my abs & arms class, I'm going to try to make a bigger effort to do at least 20 minutes of weights at lunch.

I am determined to get down to 140lbs by the end of the July!

-Katie

Not much new to report

Remember that "Blow it Day?" Of course you do. It's right below this post. Well, I paid for it today... I gained some weight back. Only about two ounces, but still....

On the plus side, I ran on the treadmill longer than before. About 15 minutes. Doesn't sound like much, but I'd never run before. Except for grade school and some sports.

Burned 430 calories also, so I think I made up somewhat for the weekend.

--Dustin

"Blow it Day"

I guess once a month or so you need a "blow it day." I had that tonight. I come home to find my sister has barbecued ribs, baked beer bread, and had green beans. She asked me to pick up some beer, so I got some Chocs. I gladly obliged.

All told I only had one rib, one slice of beer bread, and a bunch of green beans. Did have to beers though, and am feeling it. Used to be I could pound 'em back, but I'm out of practice lately. ;)

Ah well, back on the wagon tomorrow.

--Dustin

I lost 15 pounds! Where'd it go? I don't know...

... not that I'm going to go looking too hard for it.

I had some really good news (as foreshadowed by Katie below). When I weighed in, the scale read 203.8. 203.8. That's down from my start toward the end of May (three weeks ago) of 218.8.

I lost 15 pounds. Fifteen pounds gone. I feel great. I actually feel lighter, and the clothes fit better. That's part of the good news. The better news is that I can feel it in the energy I have.

For example, on the machines today, I was ready to progress by five pounds. What was hard at first was easy, so now time to add weight. (I added 10 to the calf press, because that comes easier than the rest). I still suck at shoulder press, but oh well.

This is the best part. I went on the treadmill today, and ran for the first time. Granted it was only for 10 minutes, but I jogged along steadily at 5.2 mph for that time without dying. I can do this! I hadn't ran since I was a kid, and that's because a dog was chasing me.

Katie likes to run, and now I see why. I want to run with her. I'm aiming for a 5k this fall, and in a year and a half, to run the Route 66 marathon with her. Yep... I think I can do it. Give me a lever big enough and I'll move the world... or at least run 26.2 miles.

And also I don't know how to find my BMI. When I do I'll let you know.

3 Pounds and 3 More Miles :)

FINALLY! I lost 3 lbs this week. After 3 weeks of nothing, I finally dropped a handful.

Please don't misunderstand my focusing on the scale so much. I know I'm not "fat". I am on the higher end of my BMI (23.8 currently with 24.9 being the highest I can be to fall under normal) which is not an awful thing. It is just that I've been really working hard to watch my diet and exercising and not seeing the results on the scale was kind of frustrating.

I am seeing the difference in the way my clothes fit so, that's my consolation prize for not seeing results on the scale.

Tonight I also ran another 3 miles on the treadmill without pain :) I tested my knee by doing 10 minute miles. Well, that and I didn't really feel like running so I was just sprinting so I could get it over with :) I'm all about being honest on that one.

Tomorrow night is a Blue Rocks game......I have a 2 beer limit and am down grading from a jumbo dog to a normal sized hot dog (Susan is going to be SO mad). I'll just work really hard on the eliptical on Friday to make up for it.

I know Dustin has some REALLY good news so I'm hoping he posts tonight too!

-Katie

3 Miles...NO Pain :)

So, after giving my knee a full 2 weeks to heal, rest, and strengthen, today was the day for it's first big exam.....3 flat miles on the treadmill.

AND IT PASSED!!!!!

Three pain free miles at a 5.1mph pace on the treadmill :) It was such a relief.

I'm going to continue to take it easy with 2 days on the eliptical, 2-3 days of road running, and a day on the bike. Plus, continuing with the strength training.

I'm really holding out hope that I can do the Philly Distance in September......fingers and toes crossed (and if you have ever seen my toes, you know they cross really easy).

Dinner tonight was fabulous BTW.......one half a pork chop cooked up with black beans & tri-colored peppers. It was fabulous :)

-Katie

206.6

I've lost a little more than 12 pounds since I started at this gym. Not much new to report except I went faster and farther on the treadmill than I have yet. Felt pretty good.

I also started on a new phase of their nutrition program. It encourages morningstar veggie burgers, which I heartily enjoy. :)

-- Dustin

My menu for the week

Breakfast: Wheat toast, thin spread of grape jelly. Hard boiled egg or single egg fried with PAM, fruit.

Lunch: Turkey sandwiches on wheat toast. Fruit. Some kind of veggies.

Dinner: Morningstar veggie burgers. Also bought portabello mushrooms for grilling, and there's plenty of green pepper around here. I forgot rice but really don't feel like going back to the store.

I would definitely like some beer.

-- Dustin

I Kicked the Habit FINALLY!!!!

It has been a month since I bought a processed frozen dinner :) No Lean Cuisine. No Smart Ones. No Healthy Choice.

My grocery bill has actually gone by buying whole wheat pasta or brown rice & frozen veggies or beans. That was a pleasant surprise.

So on the menu from this week's shopping trip.....
For dinners: black beans w/ brown rice & tri-colored peppers or garbanza beans w/ brown rice & carrots/brocolli/cauliflower mix.
For lunches: hummus, feta & spinach on whole wheat english muffin and low sodium roasted red peppers & tomato soup for lunches.
Snacks:Whole grain pretzels or no-sugar added apple sauce
Breakfasts: oat cluster cereal w/ a sprinkle of almonds mixed in w/ 1% milk & a banana

Hoping to be back running at least twice this week. Gonna try 2 three miles trots to see if the knee is back to normal.

Also dropped the bike off at the shop for a rehab assignment. I'll be using that for local errands & grocery shopping. And if the knee doesn't hold up, it'll be my favorite exercise toy.

I'll check in with my weight in a couple of days.....I think I'm due on Tuesday :)

-- Katie

9 pounds gone

I went to the gym today to weigh -- and was at 209 pounds!

That's still a far way from my goal, but I've lost 9 pounds in two and a half weeks. I'm feeling better, and enjoying activities more.

Also, less stuff fills me up faster.

Not a lot new to report, but the whole community's getting into this "Mayor fitness challenge" thing. A bank contacted us, saying they're forming a walking club for lunch, librarians are in on it, and we're finding success stories everywhere.

It's a good thing to see. :)

-- Dustin

146

Yup.....nada....not ONE pound.

OK...... No one made me drink the beers on Friday night. No one made me eat the eggplant parm on Saturday. And no one made me eat the roast beef sandwich at the Phillie's game :(

But, let's focus on the positive......

I went to Matt's (our personal trainer at work) arms class on Friday & went for a 3 mile walk when I got home. On Monday I went to Matt's abs class (I'm pretty sure he was trying to make us throw up but I don't have concrete proof) and took a 3 mile walk. Today I beat up on the eliptical for 30 minutes.

And no, that's not a glass of wine you see on my nightstand......it's the cat's.

I have 5 more days before I can try running again, not that I'm counting or anything but I can feel my legs twitching every time they see the sun.

BIG CONGRATS to my hubby to be! Keep up the great work. By the time the honeymoon comes around you are going to be looking good and I'll be looking like I had wine on my nightstand :)

-- Katie

211.2

On the scale today, I hit 211.2 pounds. Which is down from my start a couple of weeks ago, 218.8 pounds. Feeling pretty good so far.

When I hit the gym today, I went at a later time than usual. A little bit later, an it was mroe crowded. This was also when the big muscleheads came out. I've never seen so many people working out while staring at their fabulous bodies in the mirror before.

They also talked more about protein and different kinds of protein than anybody since Watson and Crick.

-- Dustin