Analysis Paralysis

[anandagirl]

Nice job behaving yourself with all those yummy things around. That salad looks spectacular. I'm huge fan of chevre too and would probably eat it on just about anything. Phyllo dough is the devil to work with but it's amazing when you get it right. 'Mirin' your willpower of steel in not eating it. We have food days at work all the time too. We're having a taco day for Cinco De Mayo this week I get a lot of sh!t from co-workers re: not participating in these things (although I am participating in this one because we are have a homemade salsa contest that I fully expect to win). I don't bring stuff to them because no one wants to eat what I bring besides me because apparently it's not real food if it doesn't come out of a box and have a bunch of unpronounceable ingredients. And I don't usually eat what other people bring because I have no idea what's in it and there's the tendency for all hell to break loose if something goes in my mouth that my body decides not to like. So I eat my veggies, meat, and fruit and listen to people b!tch at me about not eating whatever was brought because I'm "already skinny," and it won't hurt me to "eat real food." And the next day I listen to them moan and complain about how overweight and out of shape they are and how awful they feel about themselves

I wish I could ski or snowboard or something. It might make me hate winter less because then at least I'd have something to look forward to. We don't even get what most people would consider real winter here (although with the way people drive when we get the 2 or 3 inches of snow we get every now and then you'd think we'd just had the blizzard to end all blizzards) and I still hate every cotdaym minute of it. My goal in life is to live somewhere where I can where flip flops and tank tops year round

I kinda like the idea of renting clothes. I don't wear dresses or need to wear dresses often and therefore hate spending money on them when I do need them. It'd be great to just be able to rent something for the one night I'm actually going to wear it. Not to mention the whole size fluctuation thing when bulking and cutting and whatnot... There might actually be a huge market for something like that.

Seriously, people are so judgemental! What's crazy is often it has nothing to do with how fit you are already, some things don't belong in a human body. I try to avoid soy, and won't eat most things with hydrogenated oils. I prefer butter over margarine, etc. whole grains over white bread, etc. Oh and I don't drink diet soda, and try not to drink soda at all. I prefer more natural things and the sooner people realize how effed up packed food is, the better for them!

We're fairly close to cities that *could* wear flip flops and shorts all day, every day, which wreaks havoc when they are here skiing and it snows and they try to drive LOL probably the opposite of what you experience. These people think that 4WD makes them invincible Did you grow up where you are curently?

I know of at least one company that rents evening gowns/wedding dresses, but this is the first clothes rental I have really seen. It's been plastered all over my ******** which is the only reason I saw it. I figured, "why not?" I currently fit into their size guidelines. Maybe they are there for heavier women as they lose weight. Hopefully their business model isn't after the larger woman because they are gaining

I just googled and there are a couple for the normal sized woman! https://www.themscollection.com/ and https://www.letote.com/. That was a quick google and I didn't explore, but this sounds good for after I'm under a 10/bulking/cutting and all that jazz!

Thanks for stopping in

[anandagirl]

Woot! Page 3!

Sunday, May 1
Calories: 1673 (made up my overage from Friday )
Carbs: 81
Protein: 155
Fat: 78
Fiber: 30
Steps: 11,041
Workout: NROL4W Stage 2 Workout A, Dog Walk

Obligatory Puppy photo (He thinks he's a lap dog):


Dinner last night - protein pancake


And egg scramble with black beans and bacon


Breakfast for dinner FTW!

Of course the best determination of actual TDEE is tracking food and weight loss as accurately as possible. However, I was wondering what my actual exercise was in relation to the goal I used for the TDEE calculation. I underestimated strength training by 10 minutes, underestimated cardio by 25 minutes and overestimated my dog walks by 128 minutes. However, if I changed those in the calculator, it only increases my cut calorie goal by 32 calories a day, so I'll stay at 1812. Hahahaha don't you love my over analyzing? I'm just proud that I can keep my head straight and not to try to change every little thing every time I think of something to examine.

Also, I have not wanted to put my current weight and estimated BF% on bb.com. So silly, I know. I should just bite the bullet.

I bought Strong Curves because I had an Amazon gift card. I'll take it with me on the trip and read it on the road. Have no clue when I will start it, feel like I need to finish NROL first.

Funny how these logs are a bit scattered I'll be doing a separate post on this week's progress....

[anandagirl]

Weekly Update:

Weight lost this week: 0.5 lbs (scale only measures in half pound increments )
Calories eaten last week: 15,593, average 1799 per day
Fitbit calories burned: 19,212
Difference of 6619, which would have been 1.89 pounds if all this were correct

So many things. Maybe I miscalculated the things I ate that I didn't cook/prepare. I gained muscle? Or I'm holding water in my muscles or otherwise. Or last week was 1.5 pounds water weight and my TDEE is closer to 2000-2100 a day.

That being said, my hips and thighs seem to be getting larger, but my belly is shrinking. And at least the scale is moving in the right direction. I must be doing something right. Onward!

[NoCarbsNoSugar]

Sometimes it takes longer to see a real difference. You're doing great.

Cute dog!

[the15thdoctor]

Hey, you are doing great! Enjoying all that delicious food and getting quite a bit of exercise! Nice!
Don't worry too much about the scale..actual weight is so variable throughout the day and it's not worth stressing over every fraction of a pound on a regular basis. Give it a few weeks and then reasses your intake from there.
For tracking food, I found that the food scale is really important..I used to go by the rough estimates on MFP (like "1 medium" something) but when I started weighing it out it was quite far off!

[phoenix4444]

Food looks fantastic. Breakfast for dinner is the best.

[NoCarbsNoSugar]

Food looks fantastic.

Agreed.

[anandagirl]

Sometimes it takes longer to see a real difference. You're doing great.

Cute dog!

You're right, that's the other possibility - it will show up all at once in a week or two. Focus of the journal is to keep on keeping on instead of changing a million things too fast before I even know it's working!

Hey, you are doing great! Enjoying all that delicious food and getting quite a bit of exercise! Nice!
Don't worry too much about the scale..actual weight is so variable throughout the day and it's not worth stressing over every fraction of a pound on a regular basis. Give it a few weeks and then reasses your intake from there.
For tracking food, I found that the food scale is really important..I used to go by the rough estimates on MFP (like "1 medium" something) but when I started weighing it out it was quite far off!

Yes, I weigh everything I can when I'm at home/preparing my own food. Unfortunately I did have at least one meal out this week and husband cooked once... LOL I probably won't really reassess until I've done this for a month.

Food looks fantastic. Breakfast for dinner is the best.

Thanks! I LOVE that protein pancake. I'll be incorporating that into the plan more often

[anandagirl]

I bit the bullet and entered my actual current weight and estimated body fat on Bodyspace. Those MFers want me to add a progress photo too. When will the pressure stop?????

I did take a photo of my ass yesterday, but I have the opposite of the usually body dysmorphic disorder - I think I look better than I actually do Photos are just demoralizing.

[cherrygarcia80]

I bit the bullet and entered my actual current weight and estimated body fat on Bodyspace. Those MFers want me to add a progress photo too. When will the pressure stop?????

I did take a photo of my ass yesterday, but I have the opposite of the usually body dysmorphic disorder - I think I look better than I actually do Photos are just demoralizing.

Lol at the pressure! I know, it took me a year before i put my first progress photo, photos are never easy sigh.

Loving the food pics and awww, cute puppy you got there!

[anandagirl]

Lol at the pressure! I know, it took me a year before i put my first progress photo, photos are never easy sigh.

Loving the food pics and awww, cute puppy you got there!

Thanks lady!

[anandagirl]

Monday, May 2
Calories: 1795
Carbs: 127
Protein: 150
Fat: 52
Fiber: 30
Steps: 12,014
Workout: Hard Corps Cardio 1 & Core 1, dog walk

Today was solid. Tomorrow will be harder. I have a "day off" that is just jammed packed with work and social things. The plan is to get up early, hit the gym, do a bit of grocery shopping, give blood, walk the dogs, and then I have a party for my employees at a BBQ place, followed by a going away party for a couple of departing peers at a Mexican Restaurant, and then I have my knitting group.... Man, I sound like an old lady!

The plan is to avoid all the happy hour party pitfalls. I have too many parties in my life to succumb. I'll hopefully drink mostly soda water and lime. No chips and salsa or full sugar margaritas. Wish me luck!

[NoCarbsNoSugar]

give blood

???

my knitting group....

O.o

[phoenix4444]

Monday, May 2
Calories: 1795
Carbs: 127
Protein: 150
Fat: 52
Fiber: 30
Steps: 12,014
Workout: Hard Corps Cardio 1 & Core 1, dog walk

Today was solid. Tomorrow will be harder. I have a "day off" that is just jammed packed with work and social things. The plan is to get up early, hit the gym, do a bit of grocery shopping, give blood, walk the dogs, and then I have a party for my employees at a BBQ place, followed by a going away party for a couple of departing peers at a Mexican Restaurant, and then I have my knitting group.... Man, I sound like an old lady!

The plan is to avoid all the happy hour party pitfalls. I have too many parties in my life to succumb. I'll hopefully drink mostly soda water and lime. No chips and salsa or full sugar margaritas. Wish me luck!

On point for the day. Nice.

Damn that's a lot of activity you got going on today. Knitting group huh, probably relaxing. I do have a vision though in my head of a bunch of grey haired woman dinking wine and knitting scarfs. I color and game for my brain off time.

[anandagirl]

???

Yep, gave blood! They told me no lifting weights the rest of the day. The whole reason I hit the gym before! It was also a good excuse to not drink!

On point for the day. Nice.

Damn that's a lot of activity you got going on today. Knitting group huh, probably relaxing. I do have a vision though in my head of a bunch of grey haired woman dinking wine and knitting scarfs. I color and game for my brain off time.

I know, yesterday did not feel like a day off.

The group is actually called "Stitch n B*tch" - it is mainly girl time You can stitch and bitch, you can stitch or you can bitch, but you gotta at least do one! Hahahaha!

Here's a shawlette I made recently:

[anandagirl]

Tuesday, May 3
Calories: 1788
Carbs: 176
Protein: 144
Fat: 40
Fiber: 30
Steps: 12,655
Workout: NROL4W Stage 2 Workout B, which finishes Stage 2, plus dog walk

By the way, I cheated. I was thinking about how I lifted on Sunday when I never lift on Sunday, and I usually hold extra weight for a day after I lift. So I weighed myself Tuesday morning, and I was down another 1.5 pounds, so I'm counting it as 2 pounds in week 2 of super duper tracking.

All in all I did really well yesterday. I am a little pissed at myself that I let peer pressure pushed me into a tequila shot. What a freaking waste of calories. I never do and don't like shots! I would have rather had a third hand roll at the sushi place we had Stitch n Bitch. Live and learn I guess. I did stay away from beer, sugary margaritas, chips and quesadillas, so WIN.

Our plans are changing this weekend... The trip to the coast is not working out, long story. We might still be doing a work related trip, to more mountains and maybe snow :sniff: but I'll be far less tempted because it will be beer related which isn't my favorite, especially for the calorie punch. Although now hubby is talking about brunch on Sunday.

[anandagirl]

Almost forgot to mention I had some cheap PWO (coffee ) before my lifting yesterday am, AND I did some lighter weight box squats to finish my workout. Really trying to get lower in my squat. Baby steps, right?

And some photos to add visual interest:

Proof I gave blood



The view on my walk Monday



My workout partner. I'm trying to do core work and he's helping by beating me in the head with his tail

[IrishLassie78]

I used to have a cat that if you tried to do anything in the floor he'd jump on your head and hang on for dear life. Made practicing my stuff to be a Pilates instructor back in the day interesting...

Stitch n B!tch sounds like fun. I have tried to learn to crochet and knit and I can never get past the first row of stitches so I'd have to just show up to b!tch

[NoCarbsNoSugar]

Scenic walk, eh?!

[anandagirl]

I used to have a cat that if you tried to do anything in the floor he'd jump on your head and hang on for dear life. Made practicing my stuff to be a Pilates instructor back in the day interesting...

Stitch n B!tch sounds like fun. I have tried to learn to crochet and knit and I can never get past the first row of stitches so I'd have to just show up to b!tch

Animals are the best reminder of why I pay for a gym membership. If I lock them out of a room I have to endure their crying LOL

We teach people all the time in our group!

Scenic walk, eh?!

I'm very very lucky in that all my walks are scenic. It's a perk of where I live

[mtnliones5]

My cat will not stop rubbing against my barbell and plates. He only does it when I am under it ready to do glute bridges. He comes over and rubs his face all over it. If I'm not using it and it's just sitting there he goes no where near it.

[viccles007]

My cat does the same thing. LOL

[NoCarbsNoSugar]

speaking of dogs and cats, and working out...

My dog walked by my feet, as I was doing some weighted floor-leg-lifts the other day, and got smacked in the back of his head. Thought I did it on purpose and hid under a chair, tryin' to figure out what he's done to deserve such punishment - not that I would ever punish him in that way...

pets, I tell ya'

(at least my goldfish are safe)
I think

[phoenix4444]

The group is actually called "Stitch n B*tch" - it is mainly girl time You can stitch and bitch, you can stitch or you can bitch, but you gotta at least do one! Hahahaha!

Here's a shawlette I made recently:

Thats some nice work on that knitting. We have a monthly group of women who meet in my bq room hat call themselves the sew heads. They bring their sewing machines and all kinds material in and sew their little hearts out from 9-5. They have blast too.

My workout partner. I'm trying to do core work and he's helping by beating me in the head with his tail

My cat will not stop rubbing against my barbell and plates. He only does it when I am under it ready to do glute bridges. He comes over and rubs his face all over it. If I'm not using it and it's just sitting there he goes no where near it.

My cat does the same thing. LOL

Cats are such a holes. When I use my rumble roller always getting in the way. Rolled over a tail more times than once.

[anandagirl]

I've definitely stepped on a dog once or twice and kicked one a few times as well Clingy little effers

[the15thdoctor]

Hehehe I like the string of pet anecdotes going on here

Impressive knitting work you've got there! Sounds like a fun (and productive!) hobby.

Good luck with all the parties. The abundance of food can be tough to avoid! But you are doing great so far

[anandagirl]

Wednesday, May 4
Calories: 1812
Carbs: 130
Protein: 145
Fat: 56
Fiber: 27
Steps: 9864
Workout: 20 Minute Hard Corps (ha, worked out before work and had to cut it short lest I be late), dog walk which I also had to cut short because it started to pour

Hahaha does anyone notice the missing macros caused by booze? I've had a number of those days this week!

So as of yesterday, my weekend plans went kaput. Which means I have to work, but I guess I won't be tempted to be inactive or eat poorly. Since I was supposed to have tomorrow off as my second day of the workweek, I tried to take today off, but an unexpected day off seems to not be as productive so I worked a half day and will take off half day Sunday.

I got Strong Curves in the mail yesterday, so I started looking at it! Need to still do the activation test/exercises. I'll do that tonight. Some of the exercises look so easy, so I was wondering if I could double up on the easier ones during NROL but that might be crazy, Maybe at least I do the activation exercises daily as prescribed my butt will work even harder. I actually think I have good glute activation since I learned a long time how to squeeze them on lunges and squats, etc. and have been squeezing them recently because I feel progress in my muscles

I'm lucky too, have always had a butt. Not sure from what except maybe horseback riding? or I just have good genetics. Time to cash in

[viccles007]

I'm glad I don't like the taste of alcohol as it saves on calories. I like putting them towards something I can chew on

Could be a combo of horseback riding/genetics! I have zero butt

[terar21]

You're gonna love strong curves!

I've had those alcohol days lately as well. I typically don't drink often but the past month has had too many social gatherings. Alcohol is lovely and all but it'd be great if it had some kind of nutritional value lol.

[anandagirl]

I'm glad I don't like the taste of alcohol as it saves on calories. I like putting them towards something I can chew on

Could be a combo of horseback riding/genetics! I have zero butt

It's been easier to to stick to wine, at least I enjoy it!

You're gonna love strong curves!

I've had those alcohol days lately as well. I typically don't drink often but the past month has had too many social gatherings. Alcohol is lovely and all but it'd be great if it had some kind of nutritional value lol.

I'm excited about a new workout! and feeling sore in my ass. Wait, that came out wrong....

If only they made wine with some protein. That would be awesome!