Perils of Big Thighs and Bridesmaid Dresses

[mavd]

I figured I'd start a journal instead of just talking to myself in the general female section.

About me
Name: Mallory
Age: 29... for another few months at least
Weight: 147.1 this morning
Height: 5'5" on a good day
Mid thigh circumference (around both legs, important to track for goal below): 37.5"

Goal: I have this crazy expensive custom ordered bridesmaid dress that I can't pull down over my thighs/quads. The stupid thing is cut very narrow in the thigh area (smaller than the hip area, which was where I was told to measure for sizing). The wedding is October 7. I would like to be able to not pay another small fortune to alter it to fit. So for the next three months my focus is to lose as much body fat as possible, hopefully without sacrificing my hard-earned muscle.

Food plan: Right now I'm trying to average 1700 cal/day. I used to lose pretty consistently at this, so hopefully it works. I know I should get around 100-120 grams of protein to minimize muscle loss. I also need to cut back on social drinking, so I'm going to keep track of that here for accountability purposes.

Exercise plan: Full body lift session 3 times/week. I play hockey 1 time/week. I do yoga 1 time/week. I play kickball 1-2 times/week. I try to do steady state cardio at least 2 times/week on top of all that, and am generally an active person (walk errrrrywhere, hike, sail, etc on the weekends).

Other important note: I have Ehler's Danlos Syndrome. In terms of fitness goals, this means a few thing. I have moderate/severe s****osis (S shaped curvature of my spine with a 25/45 upper/lower curve) which impacts form on most lifts. I have generalized hypermobility, which basically means my tendons do zero work, so my PRs are pretty low generally for how much muscle I carry. I have several lingering injuries to work around (right shoulder, left knee, neck).

[mavd]

Yesterday I attended a Drag Show Brunch for San Diego Pride Weekend. It was a blast but it was also bottomless Bloody Mary's so I quickly failed at my "less social drinking" goal.

Nutrition
Calories: ~1,800 (estimated due to eating brunch at the show)
Protein: 85g

Workout
I lifted before the brunch. Went hammy dominant because Friday was all quad. Two supersets of 8x4
Elevated SLDL (for depth) @85# + Incline Bench @50# + Delt Raise(?) @15#/hand
Single leg SLDL @20# + Bentover Row @55# + Single arm Skull Crushers @15#
Tabata-style planks (20sec on/10 off for 4 min) mixing in single leg, side, and knee/elbow touches
Then I hiked around Torrey Pines, about 2 miles
Then I hiked down a cliff to Black's Beach and back up again (think very steep stairs)

I need to work more protein into my diet without supps. I hate protein shakes.

[mavd]

Nutrition
Calories: 1,402
Protein: 90g

Workout
34 min spin class

Weight
145.2#

I was supposed to go to hockey skills clinic yesterday but decided to save $$ and workout at home instead. I don't think I've ever sweat so much in my life. When I figure out how to do so from my phone, I'll upload some starting/progress photos, although I'm not so happy with them. But I guess that's why they're starting photos.

[mavd]

[Fiction2Fitness]

Drag show brunch just sounds awesome! So much envy. Good luck with your goals.

[mavd]

Drag show brunch just sounds awesome! So much envy. Good luck with your goals.

Thanks!

The show was gospel church themed, and hilarious!

[Fiction2Fitness]

Thanks!

The show was gospel church themed, and hilarious!

Cool. I live in LA but haven't been to a drag show yet. Want to go though. Only one I've been to was actually in Ogden Utah. They have a group that does shows to raise money for different charity organizations.

[Isilya]

Thanks!

The show was gospel church themed, and hilarious!

That sounds amazing.

[mavd]

Nutrition
Calories: 1,450
Protein: 96 g
Weight: 145.2#

Workout:
Didn't get everything in that was planned because my yoga buddy showed up early.
Superset of 4x8: Overhead Squat (45#) + One Arm Cable Row (80#? guessing that's the two-arm weight) + Pec Fly (15# dumbbells)
Superset of 2x8 (+3rd set of legs): Leg Extensions (80#) + OHP (40#) + Inverted Y (10# dumbbells, no idea what the name is for these I learned from from NROL4W ages and ages ago)
60 min of yoga

Happy to see the weight consistently in the 145s. I've been in the 147-154 range since March. Slowly creeping the protein content up, might go back to making overnight proats for breakfast, but they're pretty high in calories. Yoga was amaaaaaaaazing because my legs have been killing me all week. I might do an aerial yoga or Stand UP Paddleboard yoga class this evening instead of cardio.

[mavd]

My usual Thursday night bar trivia is cancelled because of Comic Con, so the group tried a new place this week. It was Comic Con themed, which made us think we'd get destroyed, but we actually won. Turns out I remember a lot of random crap from 90s/00s superhero movies :-D

The bad news is the food at this place was definitely higher cal than what I normally get, and our place does half price bottles of wine so usually I have a few glasses of red and tell myself it's healthy. Here, I had 2 beers. No pretending there, and it definitely threw me over.

Nutrition
Calories: ~2100 (estimated due to bar food)
Protein: ~100 g
Social Drinking: 2 servings of alcohol
Weight this AM: 146.6# (dat beer bloat)

Workout
I ended up going Stand Up Paddle boarding for an hour between work and trivia. Tons of fun, played around with yoga (I'll post some pics), a decent core workout, but definitely not cardio intensity.

[mavd]

[mavd]

Nutrition
Calories: 1,377
Protein: 96g
Weight this AM: 145.8#

Workout
34 min spin class, it felt easier this time, I think I'll risk one of the hour long programs next time

I also had a massage/structural integration therapy session yesterday. We worked on my neck and face, which was good (neck) and weird (face). My traps are super relaxed now, which is abnormal for me. Super proud of myself for making it to the gym at all after, usually I would use that as excuse to just chill all evening. Today will be lifting and cardio. Tomorrow I have kickball practice and am thinking about either hiking to Black's Beach again or biking to Coronado Beach after. I have to go up to LA for work next week for a couple days, here's to hoping the hotel gym is at least passable.

[mavd]

No time for a full update, but this weekend was a bit of a miss.

7/21/2017
I lifted on Friday, then went to a burlesque show (had one drink there). The calorie total for the day was ~1750

7/22/2017
I went to a kickball scrimage for ~80 min. Not a super intense workout but I was moving around. I intended to do a spin class, but I basically got KOed by intense menstrual cramping and nausea so I ended up skipping. Had pizza for dinner and didn't try to track the calories, but I figure it was around 2200.

7/23/2017
Kickball game and several drinks after. Was supposed to lift but I didn't get to it. Didn't track calories again, but probably was around 2500 if I had to guess.

Now I have to lift today at the hotel gym, yay :-(

[Fiction2Fitness]

No time for a full update, but this weekend was a bit of a miss.

7/21/2017
I lifted on Friday, then went to a burlesque show (had one drink there). The calorie total for the day was ~1750

7/22/2017
I went to a kickball scrimage for ~80 min. Not a super intense workout but I was moving around. I intended to do a spin class, but I basically got KOed by intense menstrual cramping and nausea so I ended up skipping. Had pizza for dinner and didn't try to track the calories, but I figure it was around 2200.

7/23/2017
Kickball game and several drinks after. Was supposed to lift but I didn't get to it. Didn't track calories again, but probably was around 2500 if I had to guess.

Now I have to lift today at the hotel gym, yay :-(

Busy weekend. ooo Burlesque. I've been to two shows so far and hope to go to another in the future. Good luck with the hotel gym.

[mavd]

Busy weekend. ooo Burlesque. I've been to two shows so far and hope to go to another in the future. Good luck with the hotel gym.

It was the Suicide Girls with a Comic Con theme, so basically an 90 minute nerdgasm *blush*

[mavd]

Let's just call the whole trip a fail. The gym had zero free weights (one of those multi-use cable things and a few treadmills). I tried to do a full body but I don't think I hit a good enough intensity for it to count on Monday. Didn't bother on Tuesday. Wednesday I should have lifted once I got home but I got in a huge fight with my ex and it took all I had not to eat or drink my feelings away to be honest.

I did eat kind of crappy while I was in LA, Chinese takeout, Mexican, and conference food (aka more sugar than I generally consume in a week). My weight was 147.9 today. Trying not to be too discouraged.

[Fiction2Fitness]

Let's just call the whole trip a fail. The gym had zero free weights (one of those multi-use cable things and a few treadmills). I tried to do a full body but I don't think I hit a good enough intensity for it to count on Monday. Didn't bother on Tuesday. Wednesday I should have lifted once I got home but I got in a huge fight with my ex and it took all I had not to eat or drink my feelings away to be honest.

I did eat kind of crappy while I was in LA, Chinese takeout, Mexican, and conference food (aka more sugar than I generally consume in a week). My weight was 147.9 today. Trying not to be too discouraged.

Yeesh. Yeah, I haven't seen much weight wise in "hotel" gyms. Hoping the place I'm visiting in under 2 weeks has a location with my gym though we have a house rented so no hotel option if there isn't.

Oh wait, LA. Yeah, lots of terrible and delicious food options. We have the "healthy" and all that too but vacation and all that, so many options and temptations.

Burlesque can be hit or miss. One we went too was a good idea but bad venue. Too many people pushed together in a small room but the bird cage style spots for them to dance was neat. Other one was a little bar but less people so easier to enjoy and see plus a little more up close. Some pick crazy things. Saw a titanic themed one that included Di Caprio pasties.

Hopefully you can get back to a regular schedule after the fun vacation.

[mavd]

Yeesh. Yeah, I haven't seen much weight wise in "hotel" gyms. Hoping the place I'm visiting in under 2 weeks has a location with my gym though we have a house rented so no hotel option if there isn't.

Oh wait, LA. Yeah, lots of terrible and delicious food options. We have the "healthy" and all that too but vacation and all that, so many options and temptations.

Burlesque can be hit or miss. One we went too was a good idea but bad venue. Too many people pushed together in a small room but the bird cage style spots for them to dance was neat. Other one was a little bar but less people so easier to enjoy and see plus a little more up close. Some pick crazy things. Saw a titanic themed one that included Di Caprio pasties.

Hopefully you can get back to a regular schedule after the fun vacation.

Sadly the trip was work and neither fun, nor a vacation. But LA does have way better food options than San Diego!!

This was only my second burlesque but it was very good. There was Star Wars, Donnie Darko, Stranger Things, and Sailor Moon themed dances to name a few. It was crowded but we got there early and nabbed a table with an unobscured view!

[mavd]

7/27/2017

Did a full body plyometric circuit, kettle bell swings tabata style, 20 min of stairmaster, 13 min of row machine.

Calories:1752
Protein: 125g

Still dealing with some emotional ****. Some guy was using the only barbell, the only bench, and all the free floor space when I went to work out at 9pm so I used the yoga room instead. I know it's not as good as lifting, but I really didn't want to be there so I'm glad I stuck it out. Switched from eggs to proats to get my daily protein up. Doesn't give me much wiggle room inn my calories though.

Weight this morning was 146.2

I wanted to work out today, really lift, but instead I'm changing the oil and installing a new chain on my bike. I work 2-11 tonight and am going on am adventurous ride at 9am tomorrow so it needs to get done.

[mavd]

7/29/2017
I let a friend talk me into doing P90X Insanity instead of a real workout. It was stupid. A bunch of jumping around for 20 minutes. Decent cardio but not remotely close to a lift session and not even as intense for cardio as a spin class. Calories on Saturday were ~1700 and I went out with friends and had 3 drinks (but hey, switched from whiskey gingers to jack and diets.... so that's something??)

7/30/2017
Had a kickball game, got to play first base instead of my normal outfielder spot. Rolled my ankle though and decided to take it easy the rest of the day. Calories were 2,059 and I had a bloody mary (*shameface*)

7/31/2017
Still on second shift today plus I had to come in early for a meeting (which was canceled... jerks) meaning that I'm working 11-11 today. Still, I managed a quick lift session this morning. Calories are planned for the day at 1,590 and 131g of protein, just need to stay away from vending and/or anyone who brings in snacks for us second shifters. Weight was 146.4 this morning. My weekend cheats are robbing me of my progress and need to stop. Also I think I have to accept my TDEE is not as high as it used to be and consider dropping my calorie intake below 1700.

Lift session: Two supersets of 4x8
Overhead Squat (40#) + 3 point Row (25#) + lat raises (12.5# dumbbells)
Curtsy lunges w/ added torso twist (8# medicine ball) + single arm press (25#) + lat pulldown (70#)

I took it a bit light on the legs because of concern for the ankle, but I'm pretty sure its fine. It was sore yesterday but mostly just stiff today. I wish I got cardio work in but was rushed because of the non-existent 11am meeting.

[Fiction2Fitness]

I tried p90x myself, back when I weighed 200. It was very tough then but very much cardio focused with bodyweight stuff. I can see how it can help drop a few but pretty sure to get those guy results would need to already have a good muscular foundation. Nice work on the lifting when you get it in. I've tried overhead squats once and those are tough. Feels so awkward but kind of fun once get used to it. My shoulders aren't big fans but might have to do them again some day.

[mavd]

I tried p90x myself, back when I weighed 200. It was very tough then but very much cardio focused with bodyweight stuff. I can see how it can help drop a few but pretty sure to get those guy results would need to already have a good muscular foundation. Nice work on the lifting when you get it in. I've tried overhead squats once and those are tough. Feels so awkward but kind of fun once get used to it. My shoulders aren't big fans but might have to do them again some day.

Yeah it gets you moving, but it didn't feel intense. Probably means I wasn't trying hard enough :-)

I have a love/hate relationship with squats, and overhead is a compromise. My s****osis makes it nearly impossible for me to keep good form on heavy squats (right hip squirrels big time). OH squats really work my core and keep the squat motion in play while both doing as much weight as I can handle and not going so heavy I push my hip out. I do them veeeeery slow with a big squeeze at top. Hopefully that's enough to keep the muscle I have, which is my goal now since I'm cutting not building. If I was building, I'd probably go back to splits and add several more glute and quad exercises.

[mavd]

I ended yesterday at 1750 calories (I caved and had 2 Oreos and milk before bed lol)

Working second shift again today, but I did a 30 min spin class before work. I actually kind of like this shift, but I'll be back to normal tomorrow or Thursday depending how today goes. I feel way more motivated to workout before work instead of after a long day, but I just can't bring myself to get up at 5am on my normal schedule.

This morning I weighed in at 144.4#! Lowest weight I've seen on the scale in possibly a year. I was super excited and decided to try my bridesmaid dress on (last time I did was about 7 weeks ago). It definitely was a lot closer to being able to fit. I got it over my quads this time, but now it sticks a bit on the widest part of my hips/butt. That measurement is currently at 40 inches. I also can zip it up all the way but it is very, very tight at the top, so hopefully I can slim down there too. I have pretty wide lats, but I can definitely pinch a bit of fat there at the moment so if I lose another few pounds that should help in that area. Anyway I'm feeling confident for the first time that if I behave myself I will be able to wear the dress as is and not fork over another few hundred dollars for major alterations.

[mavd]

Back to first shift. Couldn't sleep last night. Uggggghhh......

Calories yesterday were low.... 1100... 107 g protein. Didn't have dinner. Didn't have breakfast this morning, my appetite is gone. I think that and lack of sleep might be from stress? Relationship drama and car problems. Idk. The upside (hah) is that I weighed 143.4# this morning.... but I know it was artificial due to the lack of food in my system.

Planning to lift tonight if I have any energy by the time I get off work.

[mavd]

Calories yesterday: 1702
Protein: 92g
Weight this AM: 144.4#

No workout. I decided to take my pain-in-the-@$$ second car to CarMax and try to off it on some other sucker, and the process took about 3 hours start to finish. But, now I am down to one car and up several grand, so I'm pretty damn happy about it. No workout today either, going to a bike night (trying to make more friends with common interests in the area) then trivia. I solemnly swear that I will only consume 2 glasses of wine at trivia.

[mavd]

8/3/2017
Calories - 1,715
Protein - 95g
3 glasses of red wine at trivia
Weight this morning: 144.0#

Bike night got canceled. So I actually got a decent workout in, and I tried to go really heavy since I've been babying myself lately:
Superset 1 (4 round of 8-12 reps): Platform SLDL (105#) + Dumbbell Mil Press (20# each) + Plate Chest Press Thingy (actual name?? learned form 30 Days Out routine a while back, 5# plates)
Superset 2 (4 round of 6-10 reps, the 6 was cuz I kept failing miserably at the rows): SLDL (20# dumbbell) + Bentover rows (85#) + Incline Press (25# dumbbells)
4 min tabata style of mixed plank variations
I also walked to/from trivia, which equals almost 4 miles roundtrip.

Chest doms like a mofo today. I didn't do math very well when I picked my row weight, that was almost my working weight from when I was training regularly a year ago, so it's no surprise I couldn't handle it. Planning on doing a spin class sometime tonight.

[mavd]

I got a little geeky and plotted my weigh-ins on excel and did some calculations.

It actually appears that I'm losing 0.7#/week and that my TDEE is around 2250 (based on estimating the 5 days I didn't track calories to be at 2500, giving an average intake over the course of 3 weeks of 1880). So all my whining about not making progress is moot. I should listen to my own forum advice more.

Also for grins and jollies, my goal of 18%BF/134# would be achieved on November 11 at the current rate. I will be 138# and 20%BF at the wedding if current rate continues. I'm pretty sure that would be enough to comfortably fit in the dress. Now, there's the bachelorette party, my 30th birthday, and a fancy dress gala between now and then, so there will definitely be a few calorie spikes to work around.

These numbers assume 24%BF currently (25% at start) which is a pretty decent guesstimate based on previous lean body mass and mirror scrutiny. These numbers will get shored up with more data points and better calorie tracking. And in case you made it this far into the post and wondering wtf I am smoking to have done all this, I'm a scientist and engineer and I like to play with numbers.

[mavd]

8/4/2017
Calories: 1745
Protein: 95g
Workout: 35 min of spin and a mile walk around the city
Weight this morning: 144.6#

[mavd]

8/5/2017
Calories: 1677
Protein: 91g
Exercise: rooftop Dhurva Yoga
Weight this morning: 144.7

[mavd]

8/6/2017
Calories: 2875 (pizza, fried things, alcohol....)
Protein: 115g
Exercise: Kickball
Alcohol: 3.5 drinks
Weight: 148.6#

Another big weekend fail. Obvs didn't gain 4 pounds of fat but I did wipe out most of my deficit for the week. The kickball team got destroyed (30-1) and we commiserated as a team. It sounds like we're breaking up next season, and I'm not sure I'll get an invite to play again with a different team (I'm the token straight girl on the gay league.....). Pro: Frees up 1-2 days a week and less alcohol intake. Could use the time to join a hockey team (better workout, but also likely less social). Cons: It's really fun and I love playing and I think I'm actually getting better. Hockey season is approximately 6x as expensive as kickball.