lose weight

I committed to running a 5K in May 2007, and have been engaging in a new workout schedule which is also helping me lose weight. I work out 7 days a week (Sunday’s solely for light yoga and a 3 mile walk). M/W/F – 45 minutes of AM yoga and 25 minutes of weights/abs work; PM – 3 mile walk. T/Th/Sat – 45 minutes of AM yoga and 25 minutes of bodywork on something called the Yamuna ball; PM – 45 minutes of a walk/run training combo that will help me get started running. I increase my running time and decrease my walking/recovery time weekly. Hopefully, by the end of January, I’ll be running for 30 minutes straight.

I’ve started working out again more strenously. I am incorporating the Yoga Booty Ballet workouts in with my usual vinyasa practice, on an every other day rotating schedule, followed by a 45-minute brisk walk with the dog. Other changes: I stopped drinking regular sodas, replaced them with lemon water, refined my diet (lean proteins first for snacks, 5 veggie servings, 2 yogurts and 1 lowfat milk serving a day, oatmeal for breakfast), and added weekly measurements and weighins to track my progress. I’m SERIOUS this time, and it feels good. I really feel soberly, dead serious about it, and it smells like success to me!

well, it’s almost two weeks now, and I have to say the improvement has leveled off. I don’t really sense any dramatic improvements, to be honest, over what I experienced the first few days. I am, however, starting to see pounds creep off, slowly. That’s fine – I’d much rather lose them slowly and keep them off forever, than lose quickly, and regain, which often seems the case. I’ve upped my medication on some days, so as to allow for more strenuous workouts – sometimes, you just have to work through the ‘pain’ (of fibro – not from working out too much).

IT seems some of my difficulties in this area may be due to my thyroid condition not being as “under control” as I previously thought. I’ve started a new program (details at http://www.feelingfff.com – and in a new book called Feeling Fat, Frazzled, or Fried?) of supplementation and diet. It’s HARD. But I have high hopes. Day four, and so far so good. No “cheating” and I’ve been religious about taking my pills.

I have a lot more energy, it seems, and am hoping I can start to parlay that into a more strenuous walking/pilates/yoga program.

Just can’t. It thoroughly screws with my digestion, no matter how much fiber and water I take in. And I can’t abide the bloated feeling. So I’m back to low-calorie, low-fat, reduced-sugar. Which – surprise! – leaves whole grains, lean protein, and fruits/veggies.

Huh.

woot! 8 pounds.

Day three on Atkins for me – I should start seeing some results soon. The headaches from yesterday have all dissipated, considerably. I feel pretty damn good today. Feel lighter, too, though the fibro is still acting up. I am nervous about the effect this diet has on my fibromyalgia, and also what the tramadol’s doing in my system. It’s almost like it’s losing effectiveness – the next step in dependence? Or is the pain increasing? It’s so bloody hard to tell. Well, another odd side effect of losing weight, I guess, is that it’ll be like upping my dose as I do.

Well, for the fourth time, I’m trying Atkins. I wonder why I’m doing this, really. The last three times, it didn’t “take.” I couldn’t live without my fruits. Why am I trying it again? Because it’s the only method that showed me results. I hope I cna figure out what went wrong the last three times and fix it this time. But my head hurts, and I’m hungry, yet I don’t want anything I can have. I don’t know if this is just pathetic whining inherent in any newly restricted program, and I’ll get used to it if I give it some time. I know I HAVE to lose weight, and I know this works. Is it worth it, though? We’ll see what happens. I’m not giving up yet.

I want to lose about 55 – 75 pounds. I put it in a range because (a) I’ve always had a weight problem – don’t really know what I’m capable of at this point in my life, and (b) I’m not married to a number. I’m after optimal health, being able to get off the drugs and safely carry another baby, and buying cute clothes. OK, I’m vain, I admit it. I really want to be able to walk into, say, your average Banana Republic and be able to find, let’s say, 75% of what I’m after in my size. I’m not picky. I’m not irrationally needy or unrealistic. I think these are fine goals, and my purposes are strong. Now, if I can just freaking stay away from the damn ice cream.