Progress Picture

I'm still following the live fit trainer, I'm enjoying the workouts and am able to follow the diet about 90% of the time. I haven't really lost any weight, but I can definitely see a difference in the mirror. I am still only in the first phase of the trainer so I haven't been doing any cardio or carb restricting. That's coming up soon though and I always have problems with that.

The Bod Pod

The morning of the Bod Pod,
I can see a little progress

I recently found out that my job has its own Bod Pod down at employee health. Now, if you don't know what a Bod Pod is, I didn't either, but I think the name is hilarious and have been using it in conversation as much as possible ever since. A Bod Pod is an egg shaped device that you sit in and it measures your body fat using air displacement. It's supposed to be the most accurate way to find out what your body fat percentage is. I've used other methods and gotten conflicting results. The BF measuring scales tell me about 30%, which I don't like. I went to the rec center and did the calipers method once, I was about 10 pounds heavier back then and the guy said I was 15%. My personal trainer laughed out loud for five straight minutes when I told him that, jackass. So I've always wanted to know what the real number is, and when I found out this was available and it was free, I made an appointment the next week.

On the phone the lady told me to bring either a bathing suit or some gym clothes to wear inside the machine since I wanted to displace as little air as possible. I chose some bikini bottoms and a sports bra top and headed to employee health. They keep the bod pod in an unused office/storage closet, even though when I found out it cost over $30,000 it seemed like it should have a more regal room. The directions are simple, put on your skivvies, add this swim cap for good measure, and get in. Later I was asked by a coworker, "Did it hurt?" My response: Only your dignity.

Reminds me of my swim team days

Anyways, my results were 24%. They weigh you too in order to calculate your lean weight and total fat weight (33lbs of fat). You can then use those numbers to figure your BMR and total daily calories needed. I was told that I was in the "acceptable" range, "lean" starts at 22%. I wasn't happy with that but since I already knew I wanted to lose some fat, it was what I had expected. I'd told the lady doing it that I was expecting 25% so I guess I was right on. Honestly, the experience was a little anti-climatic. For such an expensive machine I felt like it should be able to tell me more, like what is my correct bra size? Am I 32A or 32D? Victoria's Secret has been messing with my head.

I'm planning on going back in 2-3 months after I have (optimistically) lost the weight I want to lose.

The before photos

I decided to do the Jamie Eason livefit trainer from bodybuilding.com. I did this in the fall and quit at week 8. I want to do it all the way this time and do it right. I want to see a big difference. Therefore I'm posting my before photo now. I took this about ten minutes ago in my bathroom. Trying not to over think it I just put on a sports bra and took off my shirt. I now know why people are always scowling in the before shot, it's not fun. But moving on, I'm off to the gym for day two. Very sore from yesterday so I'm taking that as a good sign. Also, to be completely transparent I weighed 137.2 yesterday morning. It's hard to say what's normal for me, but I was at 132 for a while.

I'm also going to post a picture of me that was taken last week, I feel like the before picture alone is too sad looking and don't want to give the impression that I'm just a Debbie downer.

Back from hiatus!

I had let this blog go because I just didn't know what angle I wanted to take with it. I feel like there are a thousand diet and fitness related blogs written by women out there. So I decided to make this a thousand and one.

I now have an iPhone
and love attaching photos to everything

A lot has changed since my last post on here. I started my first job as an RN, moved to a house in Avondale, and Charlie and I are over. I'll probably touch on these topics later, but what has brought me back is something these recent life changes have created: the slow creep upwards of the scale. I have given up almost all the healthy habits that it took me over a year to create. I no longer feel beautiful and strong. After floundering around for months, I decided I wanted the old me back and I'm starting here. I'll write more soon, I had kind of just wanted to write an I'm back post. Goodnight all!

My Current Exercise Regimen

We got the internet back! Officially, Charlie caved before I did, but it's good to be back.

I haven't posted about this yet, but for the past eight weeks or so I have been doing the Jamie Eason Livefit Trainer from bodybuilding.com, here's the link: http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/jamie-easons-livefit-introduction.html

I've always admired Jamie Eason and thought this would be a great way to change up my routine. I really liked it at first, I had been neglecting my weightlifting for a while and it felt good to join a gym. It's a 12 week program that focuses on building muscle and then leaning out. I gained two pounds but lost about a half inch from my hips and butt. However, the routines kept getting harder and harder and I just lost interest. As of today, I am no longer following it.

Instead I asked Charlie to help me come up with a new routine. Since he used to personal train back in college, I trust his opinion. He came up with a plane that includes running, yoga and two days of weightlifting per week. I'm glad to be getting back into running and yoga. I haven't gone to a yoga class since I almost fainted during the labor day class and it's time to get back on the horse. We ran two miles today, it took 20:07 and was pretty hard. I'm also back on myfitnesspal (username jane130).

I created a little calendar and diagram of what I'm doing now and taped it to the fridge. I like to use different colored pens to write down what I did each day and it's very satisfying to watch it fill up with accomplishments.

This one was made pretty quick, next month I'll have to do a better, and simpler calendar.

I'll let you all know how this program works out for me.

Tiny Puppy Teeth of Destruction

I really had no idea what I was getting into when we got a puppy, I certainly don't regret it, but there has been a long learning experience. Our sweet puppy, Max, goes through about one chew toy every three days. Since I'm scared that if he gets bored of his toys he may go in search of stuff around the house to chew up for entertainment, I'm buying puppy toys almost every week. I've learned that Petsmart and Petco are way overpriced. And that no matter how much it may have cost, it will eventually be ruined by the force we call puppy destruction. Max doesn't even have his adult teeth yet (No, I didn't know puppies lost their teeth like people do). He's lost one tooth that I've seen so far, it was quite a milestone and of course I was overly sentimental. I wanted to post that I've discovered that the best places to buy dog supplies are Target and Publix. The puppy chow we use is almost half the price at Publix compared to Petco, and they have a modest selection of toys and bones for about $3. Here is a picture of Max with his current favorite toy, it used to squeak but Max silenced the little bugger long ago.

Making it through the work day

So I worked my three 12's this past Thursday, Friday and Saturday and although it overall went great, I had some difficulties adjusting to my new schedule. Twelve hours is a long time for someone who hasn't worked in over a year.

First off, I refuse to get up before 6am. My obsession with getting 8 hours of sleep allows only 15 minutes before I have to head out the door. This means I had to cut out my usual breakfast of egg whites and toast with home-brewed coffee. I have to eat my breakfast in the car and forgo the coffee unless I stop at Dunkin Donuts.

I decided to eat a protein bar in the car and stop at the DD drive in. Unfortunately, I find myself unable to order DD coffee without adding the words cream and sugar. They make a darn good coffee there, but I knew I couldn't keep eating those empty calories. The day I went there and the drive thru was backed up was the last day I went I had DD coffee. I learned that the staff on my unit goes out of their way to make good coffee, so I decided to just drink what's available there. I'm trying to not make myself dependent on caffeine to make it through the day, but it's really easy to start with a big cup of coffee add some diet soda at lunch and a second coffee at 4pm. I've been trying to cut out at least the diet soda, since I feel it also rots my teeth.

The biggest problem with working so long is that I find myself constantly hungry. I'm always looking forward to the next chance to eat. I don't know whether it's fatigue, stress, associating food with a break, or just not eating enough breakfast. Because of this, I throw as much healthy food as possible into my lunchbox. Knowing the hospital there will always be unhealthy food to tempt you, you've got to be prepared with a strong will and a ton of good snacks. I posted a pic of what I put in my lunchbox for tomorrow, it has everything I'll eat that day other than dinner and maybe a before bed snack.

Even with all this food I've still been indulging in the extras at the hospital. A visit to the omelette bar on thursday, a donut on Friday and some leftover Halloween candy on Saturday. Hopefully tomorrow I can make it without any extras, but I'm sure I will at least have some coffee.

In case you're wondering what's in the Tupperware, it's leftovers from tonights dinner, bulgar beef skillet. It's ground beef with bulgar wheat and veggies. I should have taken a picture of it cause it's pretty healthy, bulgar wheat has a great macro breakdown. Maybe next time.

It's so hard to resist food when it's right in front of you and free for the taking, tomorrow is a new day and since I gained 4 lbs this week I want that day to have no sugary extras.

Please comment below if you have any tips on surviving a long work day without giving in to the food in the break room.