Today is a fasting day (until 5PM). I think I'll probably eat Panda Express at 5? And then I'm supposed to go out for a drink with Luisa...but we'll see if that happens. She might have to cancel. If I have a glass of wine tonight, I'll be at 928 for the day. I really go overboard on sweets. 5477 for the week so far, leaving 1523 for Thursday and Friday. Looks like I will have to fast one more time after all. How about Thursday (tomorrow!) after lunch (probably starting at 4 again). I need to get sweets under control. I deem tomorrow a "no sweets day." I'm making a commitment to myself on this.
I did the "Week 2, Day 2" workout at the gym - tried to push myself on the weights - I think it worked, I was actually tired after doing some of the reps, and the minute rest flied by in a way it didn't when I was working out at home. I guess I'll have to go to the gym from now on.
After the weights, I did HIIT, 30 seconds sprinting, 3.5 minutes regular (x6). Kept my heart rate up above 160 for almost the entire time - which is good. Sweating like a pig by the end of it.
I entered the Venus Index competition today, took the pictures and sent them in. The pictures made me feel bad. I've gained about 10 lbs since I finished revelation fitness. Bummer. I can't be sure, but I think it was because of Match.com and OkCupid. I need to explore what makes me so nervous about going on those dating sites. I think it's the judgment by strangers... and the threat of having to get naked in front of someone I don't know. But that's silly, because by the time I'll be getting naked, I'll (arguably) know them much better. Right?! Anyway, I'm done with that for now. I really don't like that experience, even though I met a few people who were very nice. Whatevs, I should take some clothed pictures and post them here.
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Tuesday - Food and Exercise
Today I ate whatever I wanted: 1600 calories. That makes 4549 calories for the week, leaving 2451 calories remaining for 3 days. I'm going to fast tomorrow until 5PM, but then will have a glass of wine and some dinner food.
For exercise, I just walked the dog and will walk the dog this evening.
Tomorrow is the day I start the contest - need to get a newspaper on the morning walk, and take pictures in the morning.
For exercise, I just walked the dog and will walk the dog this evening.
Tomorrow is the day I start the contest - need to get a newspaper on the morning walk, and take pictures in the morning.
Monday, May 9, 2011
Day 3: Exercise and Food
I worked out today just like I was supposed to and ate 1338 calories. This brings my total of calories for the week to: 2949, leaving 4051 for the remainder of the week. I can't fast tomorrow unless I start after noon (actually a possibility). Can't fast Wednesday because I'm going out for drinks with Luisa in the evening. No good on Thursday because I'm going out for coffee with Lawrence (I think) in the morning. Friday might be a good day to fast...after breakfast until Saturday morning?
I'm hungry already. How am I going to last until morning?
Listened to a Venus Index podcast today, it was pretty good. I guess inspiring? Kind of like reading dissertations in preparation for writing a dissertation. While reading them, you say to yourself, "well, I can certainly do *this.*"
I'm hungry already. How am I going to last until morning?
Listened to a Venus Index podcast today, it was pretty good. I guess inspiring? Kind of like reading dissertations in preparation for writing a dissertation. While reading them, you say to yourself, "well, I can certainly do *this.*"
Sunday, May 8, 2011
Ultimate Bootcamp Blog: What is the best fat burning exercise - Running or Sprinting?
This is something that I have been interested in for a few months - I'd always prefer to sprint for shorter periods of time than jogging for an hour...
I think I'll try to sprint on off days. (Tu/Th/Sat) (although I'll also be doing Zumba on at least Thursday, and probably also Saturday...)
Ultimate Bootcamp Blog: What is the best fat burning exercise - Running or Sprinting?
I think I'll try to sprint on off days. (Tu/Th/Sat) (although I'll also be doing Zumba on at least Thursday, and probably also Saturday...)
Ultimate Bootcamp Blog: What is the best fat burning exercise - Running or Sprinting?
Eating: Goal Calorie Counts
According to Venus Index, my goal daily average calorie intake should be right around 1200 (actually it's 1180). I'm doing this by intermittent fasting. I don't quite know how to record my daily calorie counts here on the blog...weekly calories consumed should be 8330, so some days I'll eat very little (fasting days) and other days I'll eat quite a bit more. The week will start on Saturday, although in reality, any 7 days should be able to constitute a week.
Anyway, yesterday I ate 1150 calories, and today I ate 461 calories for breakfast and am then fasting until tomorrow (Monday) until 10AM. That leaves 6655 calories for the remainder of the week (5 days, M-F). If I average out those calories among the 5 days, that's 1331 calories/day, but I'll probably fast at least one more time between today and next Saturday (probably on Wednesday), which will leave 4 days of eating: 1663 calories/day -
I've fasted 3x/week, and that's not fun so I don't think I'll do it.
I'll post daily with calorie counts and remaining calories for the week and daily averages...
Anyway, yesterday I ate 1150 calories, and today I ate 461 calories for breakfast and am then fasting until tomorrow (Monday) until 10AM. That leaves 6655 calories for the remainder of the week (5 days, M-F). If I average out those calories among the 5 days, that's 1331 calories/day, but I'll probably fast at least one more time between today and next Saturday (probably on Wednesday), which will leave 4 days of eating: 1663 calories/day -
I've fasted 3x/week, and that's not fun so I don't think I'll do it.
I'll post daily with calorie counts and remaining calories for the week and daily averages...
Measurements: Beginning and Goal
Okay, for the Venus Index, they give lots of information on how they calculate ideal body measurements. It's all based on what I've always called the "golden mean," but they call the "golden proportion." Whatevs, the measurements are based on ratios between your height and different measurement points on your body (you'll have to buy into the program to get the specifics).
So, for me, my goal measurements are:
Shoulders: 39"
Waist: 24.5"
Hips: 35 - 39"
My current measurements are:
Shoulders: 43" (-4" to goal)
Waist: 33" (-8.5" to goal)
Hips: 43" (-6-8" to goal)
I think I can get the shoulders and hips down pretty easily. Those are places I store fat. However, losing nearly 10 inches off my waist will be pretty dramatic. I wonder if I can do it. Having recently lost 40 lbs., I know that my waist went down only 4 inches there. Well, I'm certainly going to give it the old college try, but I'm dubious. That's a LOT of inches.
So, for me, my goal measurements are:
Shoulders: 39"
Waist: 24.5"
Hips: 35 - 39"
My current measurements are:
Shoulders: 43" (-4" to goal)
Waist: 33" (-8.5" to goal)
Hips: 43" (-6-8" to goal)
I think I can get the shoulders and hips down pretty easily. Those are places I store fat. However, losing nearly 10 inches off my waist will be pretty dramatic. I wonder if I can do it. Having recently lost 40 lbs., I know that my waist went down only 4 inches there. Well, I'm certainly going to give it the old college try, but I'm dubious. That's a LOT of inches.
The Venus Index
The Venus Index has a specific model for working out: instead of talking about getting in better shape, say to run a marathon or something like that, it's more focused on getting your body to look better. It's perfect for me, because I've identified my reason for doing all of this is pure vanity. It's more fun to be pretty than it is to be plain. I want to look better. I look better when my body is smaller, when the curves are more defined; and when when I look better, I generally feel better. More comfortable in my own skin. That's probably a topic for a different post, but ultimately, for me, it's all about looking good.
So instead of worrying about weights lifted or minutes jogged, it's all about measurements and achieving specific measurements. To do that, it seems you have to follow their instructions for working out (resistance training) and eating (intermittent fasting).
As for working out, I'll post the 3x weekly workouts (although maybe I shouldn't do that? the workouts are essentially what they're selling...), the weights I use, and progress I'm making. They don't seem too interested in whether you do cardio, but jogging and ZUMBA! are fun, so I'll continue to do those. Although, truth time, I don't jog so much as jog/walk. I have no desire to be able to jog an entire 5K without stopping to walk.
As for eating, they don't necessarily talk too much about specific foods you're supposed to eat or avoid eating. They don't have a plan, so much as they say, "here's how tall you are. Given our research, these are the number of calories someone your height needs to eat to lose weight. You don't have to eat this many calories every day, but given a month of eating, your average daily calorie intake should be very close to this. Oh, and by the way, forget about counting exercise calories against calories consumed." The guy who wrote the eating guide for Venus Index is Brad Pilon from Eat Stop Eat, which essentially posits that intermittent fasting is the easiest and most convenient way to lose weight and keep it off. I've done intermittent fasting (specifically, Eat Stop Eat) to keep weight off, but never to lose weight. I'm going to try now. FYI, to keep weight off, it's fantastic. I could literally eat ANYTHING I WANTED, and if I fasted twice a week (2 x 24 hours), I didn't gain a pound. And I felt wonderful. And I never ever counted calories. I kept the 50 lbs. off for 6 months doing eat stop eat. (And for all the haters out there, keep it to yourself. If you don't want to fast, don't do it, but I'm not interested in debating fasting's health benefits or lack thereof).
Finally, I think the way they judge success is by measurements. I'll talk about the measurements in the next post.
So instead of worrying about weights lifted or minutes jogged, it's all about measurements and achieving specific measurements. To do that, it seems you have to follow their instructions for working out (resistance training) and eating (intermittent fasting).
As for working out, I'll post the 3x weekly workouts (although maybe I shouldn't do that? the workouts are essentially what they're selling...), the weights I use, and progress I'm making. They don't seem too interested in whether you do cardio, but jogging and ZUMBA! are fun, so I'll continue to do those. Although, truth time, I don't jog so much as jog/walk. I have no desire to be able to jog an entire 5K without stopping to walk.
As for eating, they don't necessarily talk too much about specific foods you're supposed to eat or avoid eating. They don't have a plan, so much as they say, "here's how tall you are. Given our research, these are the number of calories someone your height needs to eat to lose weight. You don't have to eat this many calories every day, but given a month of eating, your average daily calorie intake should be very close to this. Oh, and by the way, forget about counting exercise calories against calories consumed." The guy who wrote the eating guide for Venus Index is Brad Pilon from Eat Stop Eat, which essentially posits that intermittent fasting is the easiest and most convenient way to lose weight and keep it off. I've done intermittent fasting (specifically, Eat Stop Eat) to keep weight off, but never to lose weight. I'm going to try now. FYI, to keep weight off, it's fantastic. I could literally eat ANYTHING I WANTED, and if I fasted twice a week (2 x 24 hours), I didn't gain a pound. And I felt wonderful. And I never ever counted calories. I kept the 50 lbs. off for 6 months doing eat stop eat. (And for all the haters out there, keep it to yourself. If you don't want to fast, don't do it, but I'm not interested in debating fasting's health benefits or lack thereof).
Finally, I think the way they judge success is by measurements. I'll talk about the measurements in the next post.
Hey! It's been a year!
And I never updated the blog. However, I did lose 50 lbs. So I guess it all turned out all right. Now I still have 20 more to go. I look awesome, but I want to look even more awesome. I'm beginning the Venus Index workout, and will enter that contest on Wednesday. Will I post the before photos here? I don't think so. But I will post my daily workouts, my weekly weigh-ins, and my measurements.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Welcome to my diet blog!
Like Auntie Mame says, "life is a feast, and most poor suckers are starving!" I've recently realized that I'm feasting, but not necessarily on life. In this blog I want to explore what it means to feast on life instead of food. I love some good food and wine, but I'm afraid it's become something of a crutch. So, it's a diet blog: I'm going to lose a significant amount of weight; but more important, I'm also going to talk about some stuff that makes me happy. I'm going to enjoy myself, and I'm no longer going to starve (either figuratively or literally). Allons-y!
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