Jen's Journey to Healthy

[f77g4]

I'm sorry you are so discouraged. Keep up the good work though and the numbers are bound to come down. You and I both know it's not an easy and fast road to follow.

[WebLady]

I am sorry you are discouraged Jenny. I would really try not to worry with the numbers on the scale. If you are working out a lot with weights and such, you will gain muscle and even a little can affect your weight. You can still loose inches and reshape your body though, so maybe try taking measurements and charting that every couple of weeks or so instead.

Good luck!

[Nekochanpurr]

Originally Posted by WebLady

I am sorry you are discouraged Jenny. I would really try not to worry with the numbers on the scale. If you are working out a lot with weights and such, you will gain muscle and even a little can affect your weight. You can still loose inches and reshape your body though, so maybe try taking measurements and charting that every couple of weeks or so instead.

Good luck!

I agree with THIS!!! How about measuring yourself too? I bet you are still losing inches.

[jennybaby]

I should definitely start measuring!

It's so hard though because I am SO overweight and I NEED to drop the pounds, you know?

It's just... I KNOW it's the food. Before, it all came down to the food. A week where I only worked out twice, but was eating perfectly in my ranges every day meant a loss, however if I worked out everyday, but was above my ranges 3 or 4 days, I gained. So, this is the wake up call I needed! I CAN stay on track with food, and I NEED to stay on track with food to see the results. SO, onto next week! And I think I'll go out and get one of those tape measures for sewing and what not to take some measurements.

Thanks, Ladies!

[jennybaby]

Okay. So I got this book:

http://www.amazon.com/The-New-Rules-.../dp/1583333398

Loving it! However, because I want to LOSE weight, the nutrition aspect is going to be tough. I am seeking out advice, but I am upping my calories. I usually eat 1200-1500 on rest days, and 1600-1800 on workout days. I think I am going to up it to 1500-1700 on rest days, and 1800-2000 on workout days. I am aiming for 40/30/30... 40% Protein, 30% Carbs and 30% Fat. I dunno quite how to calculate it... but hopefully I come up with a formula and can put my ranges into MFP or something.

I am going to keep away from the scale for a while... until I get a Fat Loss scale. I am going to focus on building muscle and burning fat. My weight is going to stay up for awhile, and I need to be okay with that.

[Nekochanpurr]

Oh good luck!! I have heard some AMAZING things. Check the mfp forums, i think there is a lot of weight talk over there..

I plan in dabbling a little when we move.. Just lifting while i watch TV and stuff but still. lol

[jennybaby]

So I was talking to some serious weight lifters and they suggest I lose weight before trying to do serious body building.

I am obese. I need to lose weight. Once I get down to a decent weight, then I'll focus on weight lifting. I need to cut fat first.

To build muscle, you need to eat a lot of calories. I don't want to do that because I want to lose weight. So rather than damage my body, I am going to focus on the weight loss... then I'll work on weight lifting. I'll keep lifting, but not so seriously.

So starting tomorrow I am going back to my 1300-1800 calories depending on my workouts. Ugh. This has been a struggle finding balance lately!

[Nekochanpurr]

You will get there! You've inspired so many people on these boards and done so much, i know for me personally. I never would have been this dedicated without you! The plus side is light lifting will help you lose weight in the way that your muscles will tighten and make you look smaller even if the scale doesn't say so.

[f77g4]

You've done it once Jenny...you can do it again.

[jennybaby]

So, I put a picture of me, my mom and 2 younger siblings from my SIL's baby shower last year as my "Lock Screen" on my phone. So, now I see myself at my thinnest for a good chunk of the day. Hopefully it motivates me to see what it looks like to be healthy, and know I have PERSONALLY done it before. Plus, I am pretty jealous of how GOOD I looked back then and I want to get back there SO badly. lol

Yesterday went well!

I am reading this book (I ordered it with my weight lifting book):

http://www.amazon.com/Why-We-Get-Fat.../dp/0307272702

It talks a lot about how studies have shown it's NOT about calories in and out. It's about WHAT calories. Apparently, poor people are fatter. Even during the great depression- Americans were fat. Most likely because rations were carb based. Carbs are less expensive than proteins. ESPECIALLY the "bad" carbs like sugar, white bread, etc. And we wonder why Americans are fat! According to the book, the more carbs you eat, the fatter you are. I've never been into the whole "Low Carb" thing, but this book is opening my eyes to a lot of things. I might be changing it up and going low-carb. Not like South Beach or Atkins, but just really watching my intake. Like, I've already been doing better about less snack foods in the past couple weeks. I don't eat white breads or pastas. I don't eat white potatoes. That's been going on for years. Dunno what else to cut back on, but I am only a couple chapters in. They give you helpful hints later on in the book.