Can I....

Can I include my hair loss as part of my weight loss?

3 Month Photos

The latest and greatest! My 3 month Progress photo! I meant to post last week but work has been crazy. I am wearing my size 16 jeans and they are baggy. I didn't even realize until I took this photo.

I am not sure if it is the stress that has made me have a sweet tooth this week but dang I want super sugary treats. I try to hold back but there are times when you just want one bite. As long as you keep "bite" as singular word... right.

I think the working out has really paid off this past month. It has only been a month since we have been going 3x's per week. I do notice a huge difference in my body. I know the scale hasn't gone down as quick as I have wanted it to go. But that is only part of the success. I am just proud of myself that I have kept wanting to go to the gym and I even LIKE IT! (Who would of thought that there would be a day when I would say that) There are a few classes I would like to try at the gym... Spin and the Yoga class. I used to go a lot in college to a Yoga class so I am not to shy about going to that class... it is the spin class that I am most hesitant about. What if I can't finish the class or keep up? I just can't make excuses anymore. So I have tried riding the spin bike when there isn't a class in the room. I can go a half an hour but I know I am sitting on the bike wrong since my arms start to hurt from leaning to far forward. I need to ask the staff the correct way to adjust the bike. I did bring my Yoga mat with me so after work I can go to the class.

I am still keeping up with my Protein drinks and it is really helping me. I just need to remind myself some days that I have to drink all three if not I get to hungry. My fault is on the weekends. I tend to eat more and drink less. Everyday counts!

Goals for this week: Yoga class tonight

Weight for today: 207

Cardio or Weights

Not only am I learning about how to eat correctly for my band, but I am learning a lot about how to work out correctly. I am constantly going back and forth with my boyfriend about how much we each need to do. We each have total opposite body shapes. He is lean and muscular. I am not. I have been working out with him since Christmas time and have noticed a big difference in my body. I am gaining muscle and tightening up in certain areas. Since I don't want to be too muscular and I do want to burn a lot of fat I went to the internet to figure out a good balance between the two.

Knowing how to balance cardio with weight training can be one of the most challenging aspects of putting together your training program. Learn how to do it here. (it's worth the read!)

http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/betteru23.htm

Month Three

Yesterday I passed my 3 month marker and I didn't even realize it until this morning. I guess it is just me realizing that the band is part of my life without even noticing it is there. It is just becoming second nature.

Feeling pretty good about my healthy routines. I think it takes awhile to really get focused on changing your life. It is hard to change habits that you have had for so long. Hopefully at this point we have all rid ourselves of the bad ones. In with the new - out with the old.

I have to take new progress photos! I will be sure to de-shed my outfit for a good photo or two. (damn hair loss!)

Gold Stars

Last week I had changed my diet to be really, really focused on Proteins. It is working. I lost 2 pounds this week. Whoo hooo. So happy the scale moved. It was getting very frustrating having it not move for so long. Some days were harder than others but drinking the protein water really helps fill you up and for long periods of time. The days I drank less water were the harder days.

Still losing my hair. It is most noticeable to me along my temple areas but no one really notices. I hope it doesn't last too long and I start to see the new hairs growing in.

Going to the gym is getting easier! I never thought I would of said that I look forward to it but some days I really do. I know that no matter what kind of day that I had, that within 10 minutes being there nothing else matters but my work out. I feel so much better and proud of myself when I am done. Last week, I ran a whole mile without stopping. I was shocked I could do that. Well each time at the gym since then I have tried to run that same distance. Out of three times, I was only able to do it once. I think since I had been doing weight training harder on those days that my body was just so tired. Cause I truly tried to run as far as I could. I like to go on a tread mill next to someone who is running as a similar pace. It helps to get in sync with that person and run together. I use them for motivation. I focus on their steps and zone out. I just look forward and keep telling myself to run until the end of each song on my ipod. It works so far. I would really like to find a trail or loop to try to run near me. Maybe I could run longer with not being stationary on a treadmill.

My personal trainer who use to weight 240 pounds and now is average size told me that even now after being thin for so many years, she puts Foil Stars on her calendar on days she is proud of herself (eating good, working out). So since the new year I started to put stars on the days I am active (gym or WiiFit). It really helps motivate you when you see that more days have stars on them than not.

Goals for this week: Keep on running! Find trails!

Weight for today: 208

My Hair is falling out!

I just thought that a little bit more than normal would fall out at my 3 month marker. Boy, was I wrong.

Granted I do have a fair amount of hair in the first place... but as this week progressed I noticed more and more coming out. (I am trying not to panic) I am just wondering how long it will fall out for???

I can handle the stage it is at now. But if this continues for another month, I might not have any left to fall out. I was curious on why it does fall out. Here is a link that is pretty interesting on the whole process:

http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1071566-overview

Fingers crossed!

Minus One + Plus One

This past month I haven't lost any weight and it was very upsetting. I changed the way I was eating and even though it has only been a few days since that change, I have lost one pound. It has been 3 days. Thank goodness the scale has gone down. I knew I was doing something wrong. I just didn't know what exactly. So now I am going to keep up this Protein Packed Plan and stick with it to see what happens by my next post. Whoo hoo Baby steps. Only 9 more to go till I reach 200. What a day that will be.

So not only one pound gone. There is another ONE in my life. I finally was able to run one mile all at once. I run on the treadmill and usually start out each lap (1/4 mile) by running. I normally can't run the whole lap. But Sunday was a great day because not only did I finish that first lap... I was like Forrest Gump and just kept running! I hit the mile mark and stopped to catch my breath. I was so smiling. I don't even think I was able to run a mile in high school. Now the harder part is.. can I do it again?

Goals for this week: Try to run one mile again

Weight for today: 209

"P" is for Protein!

Since I was really concerned about me not loosing any weight for a certain amount of time I asked my NP at the Surgeons office today... I asked them what I am doing wrong and how to use "my tool" to the best of its ability. I am almost 3 months from surgery and only negative 20. I think it should be more.... greedy, I know.

In a lump sum.... I am not getting 60 grams of protein a day... this is why I am hungry. Ding! My light bulb finally went on! I am eating way too much and eating proteins that have to much fat or carbs attached to them. I should only be eating proteins and veggies.

MY PLAN FOR 1 WEEK:
Breakfast: Protein Shake
Lunch: Nectar Whey Protein Water Drink Mix & a small yogurt or cottage cheese
Dinner: Lean meat and Veggie

I should be drinking 3 servings of the Nectar Mix to get all 60 grams of protein. Per serving it is 25 grams. Which means if I have 3 per day I will be above the minimum 60 grams at 75 grams. This will make me feel full and longer. Any additional food proteins after that are just a bonus.

So if I get it right next week should be a negative number. Fingers crossed! Thank you for those who have commented.

On a side note:
I hooked up the WiiFit last night. I am going to get some Yoga on and test out The Biggest Looser Wii Board Training Game. That will be my activities for non-gym days... 30 minutes and testing! Plus going to the gym is getting competitive with my boyfriend. I can lift more if not the same as him. Wow, I didn't realize how strong I am. (Must be all those years of carrying so much weight on my body)

What am I doing wrong?

I haven't lost any weight this past month. I am feeling pretty down about it. (Plus I think I am loosing some hair)

I haven't splurged to much on foods over the holidays. I have even increased how many times I go to the gym. I feel muscle building in my arms and legs since I have increased my work outs to be almost 2-3 hours long, 3 times a week - with intense weight training and cardio. I am truly trying harder and yet - no results on the scale. It is such a downer when there is at least 1 pound decrease, if not more, for weeks... then nothing.

I make more effort to eat proteins first but since I had my last fill, I just don't feel any restriction. I eat about the same amount. I don't snack. I keep track of my foods online thru fitday.com. I track everything. I don't get it.

I won't have a fill appointment until mid February. I haven't lost one pound since I had my last appointment. It sucks to go this long without a drop in weight. I feel stuck. Not sure what to do. I can't just not loose any weight for the next month! Should I go back onto a complete liquids diet? I mean that is where I saw my significant weight loss.

Goals for this week: Find out what I am doing wrong

Weight for today: 210 (still???)