and I hope I don't say it again, but my track record so far says otherwise. What, you may wonder, am I talking about? I am starting over. I am getting back into the swing of things and tracking my calories in order to make progress in the right direction on this weight loss journey towards a healthier me. I have to come clean here, I have lost weight since the first of the year but it has not been fat. It has been fluid.
I've been hoping for a miracle, I guess. Hoping that some magic combination of medications from my doctor will shed a significant amount of what I need to lose. Obviously that is not the case. I had dropped almost 50 lbs. by increasing my diuretic to the point that my kidneys had started complaining. We've backed off on that and I gained back almost 20 lbs. in 2 short weeks. Since then we've changed medications again and I seem to be fairly stable in the weight department and my blood pressure is OK.
One thing that has been out of control lately is my caloric intake. I've come to realize that I am a bit of a stress eater and the stress levels have been elevated over the last few moths. That has not helped. Not tracking any calories hasn't helped either. I know what I need to do and starting today I am doing it. I've logged into My Fitness Pal for the first time in almost a month and I adjusted my daily net calories down to 1800 per day. My goal is to stay within this number every day with my net calories. This number is significantly lower than what the guided number per day would be, but I know that their number is a bit on the high side for me.
Along with the tracking of all my calories eaten, I am also planning on increasing the calories burned on my daily bike rides. Currently I'm averaging between 2 and 2.5 miles per day on my bike and I will be increasing that rather shortly to 5+ miles per day and then a steady increase from there. I know I can do it, I just have to get out there and put the time in.
To help increase my mileage I am going to get at least 3 of the bikes I recently purchased in riding shape and I will have some riding partners to keep me motivated and riding. Since they won't be getting up with me in the early mornings, I may go to multiple rides per day in order to help them get ready for the ride as well as increase my fitness.
So, you will see more posts from me with more information on my fitness level as well as increased mileage and a few posts on the work to get the bikes in riding order.
and remember we all need to:
Get on your bikes an ride!!!!!!!!!!
Showing posts with label MFP. Show all posts
Showing posts with label MFP. Show all posts
Monday, August 11, 2014
Thursday, March 20, 2014
Weight loss and dieting
So, since the first of the year I have been mainly trying to count my calories and basically eat healthier than I had been. I've been trying to also increase my weekly step count which means an increase in my daily physical activity. I've been using MyFitnessPal (http://www.myfitnesspal.com/) to track my food intake and my FitBit (http://www.fitbit.com/) to track my daily steps. This combination has been working as I have gone from 470 lbs on January 1st to 429 lbs on 2/28. Now the majority of this loss was the fluids from when I was in the hospital.
Unfortunately as I got into March, I wasn't quite as disciplined as I should be and the Biggest Winner competition, part of the Corporate Challenge 2014 appeared. Because I wanted to do my best in the competition, I was a bit liberal with the food and drink leading up to the initial weigh in on March 4th. My starting weight per the official scale was 440 lbs as detailed here. Since then I've lost some weight, but the results have not been as good as I would like seeing as this is a competition.
With that in mind, I have changed my eating. Instead of simply limiting my caloric intake to 2000 calories per day, I have changed my diet back to a low carb one. I started this only 4 days ago and I am already seeing very nice results. I made this decision because this is a weight loss competition. Am I going to eat like this for the long term, probably not. I enjoy too many fruits and vegetables which are high in carbohydrates.
This is a short term adjustment to push for rapid weight loss. I know this is not a permanent change and once the competition is over, I will go back to a slow and steady, sustainable eating plan, but for now I am doing what I can in order to lose weight quickly.
Saturday is the track and field competition and I hope to do well in the softball throw and shot put but we will have to see.
The other thing I really need to do is to get on my bike and ride!!!!
Unfortunately as I got into March, I wasn't quite as disciplined as I should be and the Biggest Winner competition, part of the Corporate Challenge 2014 appeared. Because I wanted to do my best in the competition, I was a bit liberal with the food and drink leading up to the initial weigh in on March 4th. My starting weight per the official scale was 440 lbs as detailed here. Since then I've lost some weight, but the results have not been as good as I would like seeing as this is a competition.
With that in mind, I have changed my eating. Instead of simply limiting my caloric intake to 2000 calories per day, I have changed my diet back to a low carb one. I started this only 4 days ago and I am already seeing very nice results. I made this decision because this is a weight loss competition. Am I going to eat like this for the long term, probably not. I enjoy too many fruits and vegetables which are high in carbohydrates.
This is a short term adjustment to push for rapid weight loss. I know this is not a permanent change and once the competition is over, I will go back to a slow and steady, sustainable eating plan, but for now I am doing what I can in order to lose weight quickly.
Saturday is the track and field competition and I hope to do well in the softball throw and shot put but we will have to see.
The other thing I really need to do is to get on my bike and ride!!!!
Tuesday, January 21, 2014
Weight update
I've been a bit neglectful of the blog lately simple because there hasn't been much to tell. I've been slowly walking farther each day and getting back to where I was before my trip to the hospital. I've also been taking my medications as I have been instructed and the fluid retention is greatly reduced. This has also affected my weight. On January 1, I got on the scale and weighed in at 470.4 lbs. This morning I got on the scale and it showed 445.4 lbs. That is a loss of 25 lbs. in the last 21 days. That is great, but I acknowledge that the majority of it is water weight. Not all of it, though.
Since my stint int he hospital I have been diligent about watching what I am eating and not over eating. I set a very reasonable daily calorie intake of 2450 calories per day (MyFitnessPal wants to set it at 2735, but I think that's a bit high.) The good news is that with one exception, when I was over by 35 calories, I have been within my calorie limit every day since then. I also have not had a diet Soda (or any soda) since I was in the hospital as well.
These 2 changes have had a very favorable impact on my overall health and well being. I feel better. I'm not usually as munchie as I had been before when I ate more, and the weight is coming down. The next move for me is to add in more exercise in the form of riding my bike as well as weight training when the gym opens next week.
I look forward to getting back on the bike and racking up the miles in 2014.
Get on your bikes and ride!!!
Since my stint int he hospital I have been diligent about watching what I am eating and not over eating. I set a very reasonable daily calorie intake of 2450 calories per day (MyFitnessPal wants to set it at 2735, but I think that's a bit high.) The good news is that with one exception, when I was over by 35 calories, I have been within my calorie limit every day since then. I also have not had a diet Soda (or any soda) since I was in the hospital as well.
These 2 changes have had a very favorable impact on my overall health and well being. I feel better. I'm not usually as munchie as I had been before when I ate more, and the weight is coming down. The next move for me is to add in more exercise in the form of riding my bike as well as weight training when the gym opens next week.
I look forward to getting back on the bike and racking up the miles in 2014.
Get on your bikes and ride!!!
Monday, January 13, 2014
A visit to the doctor
OK, I have to come clean. I don't like going to the doctor. Pretty much I figure if it ain't broke, don't fix it, but that attitude only works so far. There are things that could be broke and you won't know about it until its too late. So with this in mind, I am now working with a doctor to get and stay healthy.
One of my main concerns that I knew needed to be addressed is my blood pressure. I have very high blood pressure, it seems based upon the readings at the doctors on Friday. I have also been retaining fluids in my legs and so we are starting with 2 medications at this time. One is to address the blood pressure and the other is to address the fluid retention.
As I mentioned in my previous post, I started the year at an almost all time high weight of 470.4. I knew a portion of that was retained fluids from the trip to the hospital and so I am happy to report that after 4 days on the medication I am down to 457.6. That's not an unheard of amount of loss considering the vast majority of it has been fluids.
My goal is to keep up this loss and steadily reduce my weight through the rest of the year. I have been eating healthier and less and know I can do this. I think a reasonable number of pounds to lose in the year would be 100. That means that on January 1, 2015 my goal is to weigh 370 lbs. Will this be easy? No, it won't it will take focus and dedication, but I know I can do it. I have to do it as my health requires it.
With this thought in mind, I am adding a ticker to the right side indicating my current weight and I will be updating it about once a week so I can monitor my progress towards my goal.
One of my main concerns that I knew needed to be addressed is my blood pressure. I have very high blood pressure, it seems based upon the readings at the doctors on Friday. I have also been retaining fluids in my legs and so we are starting with 2 medications at this time. One is to address the blood pressure and the other is to address the fluid retention.
As I mentioned in my previous post, I started the year at an almost all time high weight of 470.4. I knew a portion of that was retained fluids from the trip to the hospital and so I am happy to report that after 4 days on the medication I am down to 457.6. That's not an unheard of amount of loss considering the vast majority of it has been fluids.
My goal is to keep up this loss and steadily reduce my weight through the rest of the year. I have been eating healthier and less and know I can do this. I think a reasonable number of pounds to lose in the year would be 100. That means that on January 1, 2015 my goal is to weigh 370 lbs. Will this be easy? No, it won't it will take focus and dedication, but I know I can do it. I have to do it as my health requires it.
With this thought in mind, I am adding a ticker to the right side indicating my current weight and I will be updating it about once a week so I can monitor my progress towards my goal.
Tuesday, October 8, 2013
It takes balance
Most everything in life takes balance. Whether its riding a bike, work, family, walking - everything is more enjoyable and works out much better if its in balance.
Weight loss and getting healthy takes balance as well. I'm guilty of trying to make a single change and hoping that it will balance things out, but I know it won't.
For the last few months I've quit focusing on what I've been eating and focused almost exclusively on riding my bike. While this is certainly enjoyable, and it has led to increased fitness on the bike, it has not led to any significant weight loss. Eating just as many (if not more calories) than one burns in a day will at best maintain your current weight and at worst allow you to gain weight.
Fortunately for me I haven't gained any more weight over the last few months, but I certainly haven't lost either. I know I have to work on the other side of the equation and reduce my caloric intake in order to see my weight reduced. Its time to do just that again.
I'm starting to log my food into MyFitnessPal again. I'm still using my FitBit to track my daily activity as well. With the longer rides I've been doing in the mornings its easier for me to hit basic goals of 8,000 to 10,000 steps per day. now I just need to limit my calories to 2,200 or so and I should start to see a loss of 2 to 3 lbs per week.
Balance. Life is so much better with it than without it.
Eat Better.
Get on your bikes and ride!
Weight loss and getting healthy takes balance as well. I'm guilty of trying to make a single change and hoping that it will balance things out, but I know it won't.
For the last few months I've quit focusing on what I've been eating and focused almost exclusively on riding my bike. While this is certainly enjoyable, and it has led to increased fitness on the bike, it has not led to any significant weight loss. Eating just as many (if not more calories) than one burns in a day will at best maintain your current weight and at worst allow you to gain weight.
Fortunately for me I haven't gained any more weight over the last few months, but I certainly haven't lost either. I know I have to work on the other side of the equation and reduce my caloric intake in order to see my weight reduced. Its time to do just that again.
I'm starting to log my food into MyFitnessPal again. I'm still using my FitBit to track my daily activity as well. With the longer rides I've been doing in the mornings its easier for me to hit basic goals of 8,000 to 10,000 steps per day. now I just need to limit my calories to 2,200 or so and I should start to see a loss of 2 to 3 lbs per week.
Balance. Life is so much better with it than without it.
Eat Better.
Get on your bikes and ride!
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