willowraven's Journal

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(My answers will be in Purple.)

Week 3 Challenge Part 1:  *Personal Goals* ~ Strive & Be Happy 

What do you need to do this week?  Just think about this or write it down in your personal records or journal if you want!  

Just like last week!  What are your health, eating and exercise goals for this week?  Can you name 3 things you will try to do daily?  2 you will try to do weekly? 


3 Daily Goals

1.  Keep drinking at least 8 8-oz water.
2.  Keep going to the gym at least every other day (right now this is due to being low on gas and no money til start of next month, so every other day not an option for the next week or so).
3.  Continue making informed choices in regards to my food.

2 Weekly Goals

1.  Try to add in 1 additional (at home) exercise or activity, even if it's just for 10 or 15 mins.
2.  Continue to keep my weight loss/health goals a priority.




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Just got home about 15 minutes ago from the gym.  Talked with the trainer about my goals and how best to go about them, and what I find difficult to do (at my current weight), etc.  He said, for now, just concentrate on the stationery bike - that it should really help me and when I get to my plateau, to "switch it up", so that's what I'm going to do.  For now, just concentrate on the bike.  I did it tonite (wasn't totally prepared for it - didn't wear sneakers  LOL) however I did 7.5 minutes.  I know that doesn't sound like a lot, but for someone who is VERY sedentary and 400+ lbs, for the first time, I thought I did good.  I tried to weigh myself there, however their scale only goes to 350, so I guess I'm back to waiting til next month to purchase a 400+ scale.  I was *really* looking forward to seeing my current weight too.  ::clicks fingers:: At least I know I'm on my way.  And I feel good, even though I also HURT.  Oh - also found out (little too late) that I could have been using it over the weekend, that we didn't need to see the trainer before starting.  My bad.

So right now I'm cooking dinner - something of my own making.  I am using noodles, mixed veggies and some boneless/skinless chicken.  Gonna steam the veggies and cut up the chicken into bite-sized pieces, and put just a little bit of butter and seasoning (or parmesan cheese) on the whole thing.  We were driving home and passed an Italian restaurant and I thought "thats what I want..pasta", even though I'm not really 'in' to Italian food.  At least this way I can have it without all the added calories and such.  Hmmm... maybe I'll do a small side salad with it too.

Gotta get more water in today - have only had 4 8-oz today.

Hope you all had a good day too!!

 
  


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Ok, not sure why, but today I seemed to fighting the "mad munchies".  I think I did ok.  I kept my big cup of ice water next to me, filled (it hold 32 oz of water, so 2 of them per day and I've done my 8 8-oz of water!) and drinking the water helped a lil bit, but not totally.  Might be that I was finishing my TOM this AM (yay, it's done...) I don't get the weird cravings and munchies beforehand - I get them during and towards the end.  Not sure why, always been that way.  And I want the salty and starchy stuff, not the chocolate like some of my friends.  Even with the munchies, I still stayed around 1600 cals for the day and got an A- for the nutritional grade (I did stuff like rice cakes for my snack).

If I can get through 'these' kinds of days, I think I might be ok.

I also decided that I am going to set little 'mini goals', instead of the big goal of 135 pounds.  Maybe shoot for 6 lbs by the end of the month and then when the next month starts, see where I am and set a new 'mini goal'.  Sounds much more manageable to think I need to lose 6 or 8 pounds than 260+ pounds!!!





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(My answers will be in Purple!)

Section 4 (called Part 4 in the main post) ~ Weights & Measurements

Time for a Check~up! It's all about you!  Do part or Do All ~ It all counts towards Personal and Team Points!  

Let's figure out where we are and get it jotted down some place so you can see what has changed when we do this again 6 weeks from now! 

• Take a minute to think about your Exercise Goals.
• Why don't you write them down someplace like in your personal records or your journal.  
• You can share it with your team if you want, but remember the thread will be read by the public!
• Don't hesitate to keep this information personal and private...  Afterall, it's all about {{{u}}}

   
       
        a)  [edit:  Part 1 Weight Questions (enter 1 on line 10, wk1)]

• • *Weight* a Minute!!!
    • How Much Do {{{you}}} Weigh?  408 lbs
    • How often do you Weigh? once or twice a week, when possible
    • Why?  To keep tabs on my progress without getting too hung up on it
    • OR you get the points if you know why you don't weigh yourself.  (If you don't get weighed, that's ok!  Sometimes it's better to put the scales in storage!  The point is to figure out what you do and why!  Then let's keep doing it as long as it works for us in our lives :)  Everyone adjusts what they do when something quits working!  Including Weighing ourselves :)
• b) [edit: Part 2 Weight Log (enter 1 on lines 18 - 20), wk1)]
  •  *Weight Log*
    • Have you considered tracking your weight in the free and cool tool *weight log* here at calorie-count or some other place like your computer at home or in a paper journal?  I do, on this site!
      
    • On the calorie-count weight log, do you understand the *blue line*?
    • Do you understand the *green line*?
    I just started and have not weighed myself since starting, so I do not have a blue or green line, however I am guessing that one is to represent the starting weight and the other is to represent the current weight.  When I start going to the fitness gym (appointment with trainer is tomorrow PM) then I will be able to log my weight on a more regular basis.
    
    • OR you get the points if you know why you personally don't track your weight
• c)  [edit Part 3 BMI (enter 1 on line 27), wk 1)]
  • *BMI*
    • Do you know yours?  70
    • What is it, how do you find yours and how is it calculated?  I used the BMI tool on this site - BMI stands for Body Mass Index, which is the amount of fat your body is currently carrying
    • Do you prefer the general tables, the *formula* or a calculator like here?  I liked the tool on the site, and have used calculators online
    • OR you get the points if you know why you personally don't track you bmi
• d) [edit Part 4 Measurements (enter 1 on line 43), wk 1)]
  •  *Measurements*
    • take yours, any or all that you prefer!
    • Neck, upper arm, forearm and wrist
    • Chest (all), Breast for Women
    • Waist and hips
    • Thigh, Calf and ankle
    • OR you get the points if you know why you personally don't track measurements

                      Neck:  16 1/2"
                      Upper Arm:  24"
                      Forearm:  13"
                      Wrist:  7 1/4"
                      Chest:  63 3/4"
                      Breast/Cup Size:  DD
                      Waist:  58 3/8"
                      Hips:  72 1/2"
                      Thigh:  36 1/8"
                      Calf:  23 1/2"
                      Ankle:  11 1/2"
                     
                      (all measurements were on left side, as I am left handed)
                     

• e) [edit Part 4 Exercise (100  ponts possible from 3 parts
  • *Exercise*
    • ___ 25 regular points (enter a 1 on line 46, week1) 
      • write down someplace what you normally do each week for an exercise routine.
        • What are your exercise activities?
        • how long
        • how often
        • how intense or level, incline, weight amount, reps, etc...
        • why you don't or can't exercise right now
      • What are your exercise goals that you would like to do or change in the next 6 weeks?  start exercise routine at gym and build up my intensity, how much and how many
        
    • ___ up to 50 Points (enter 5, line 53, week 1)
      • for doing your normal exercise routine this week! you get 10 points for each normal  exercise *session* you do.  Up to 5 exercise sessions count. 
      • OR you get 50 points (enter 5 on line 53) for doing your normal routines if you normally do less than 5 sessions 
      • OR  you get 50 points (enter 5 on line 53) if you work on an exercise plan that is realistic for you because you have not been exercising.
    • ___ 25 points (enter 1 on line 56, week1) for doing 1 something *extra*
      • for adding a *new* exercise, or  **me**
      • adding an extra *workout*
      • doing more, longer or farther, or
      • increasing intensity
      • OR just getting started for the first time  **me**
      • OR just starting to think about why you should start exercising if you don't.

If you have questions ~ need help with *bmi* or something ~ chat it up with your Team! 

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(my answers will be in Purple!)

Something *Old* ~ Something *New* ~ No Longer Blue!

Although we may not recognize that our food preferences *morph* as we count our calories ~ we wondered.... How Have Your Tastes Changed? 

Have you ever used the *food log* ~ a calorie-count way cool tool? Wanna try it?

**I use it everyday!! 

• Oldies we thought were Goodies!
  • Think back to before you came to calorie-count.  Just what was your most favorite meal of all time? 
  • Log it!
  • Check the Nutritional Analysis!
  
  

My favorite food - or one of them - was a Taco Salad (no beans, extra cheese & sour cream), Taco Supreme (2) and Nachos BellGrande..all from Taco Bell (and yes, for 1 meal~!!).  I would usually have extra sour cream on the tacos and nachos too.  So I looked up the info on these lovely gems and discovered this:

Taco Salad:  790 cals
extra sour cream:  44 cals per tbsp.. so times that by about 4 for all of the items
Taco Supreme:  260 each (so 520 for the 2)
Nacho BellGrande:  760 cals

Thats not including the little packets of sauce (usually hot or fire), and my drink, which was the VERY large regular Pepsi, which probably ran about 350 cals, easily... Lets see, added all up comes to just  under 2600 calories - for ONE MEAL.  OUCH.  And all the fat content in that stuff too.... another ouch.
 

• My New *Gotta Rave About It* Favorite!
  • Do you have a new favorite meal you really enjoy?
  • Log it!
  • Check the Nutritional Analysis!

I haven't really found a "new" favorite meal - still in the trying-out-new-things stage.  I have some older favorites that have been fairly decent (calorie and fat-wise) that I had used in diets in days gone by.  I have been bringing more fish into my diet, and I love catfish and salmon.  I made catfish fillet (even breaded and cooked in a little oil, only came to about 200 cals) and had a little bit of rice and veggie (no butter) and my water - and I was good to go!!  I had it last Saturday, which had a total of 1508 cals intake and a B- for the Nutritional Grade:

  Dinner B-  Catfish, Channel - Cooked, Breaded And Fried 87 199 A   Peas, Green - Canned, Regular Pack, Drained Solids 85 59 C+  Lipton Herb & Butter Rice 64 250

• Surprised at all?  Realize Anything?  Have a Happy Making *epiphany*?????
  • Take a minute and write down your epiphany with your *Hopes & Dreams*
  • Share it with your team ~ if you dare ;)

That overall I think I'm doing much better and making better choices about my food.  I am much more aware of what I'm eating and allowing into my body.  My Hope and Dream is to continue this trend and keep making good choices.


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*Nutrition 101* ~ *Google Me This* Sir Links~a~Lot! 

Hmmm....  Wonders...  Just what is *Nutrition* all about?

Btw, what is your Favorite Fruit or Veggie?

I like fruit a lot more than I like veggies, so it's going to be more difficult to narrow the fruit down to one.  As for veggies, I would have to say celery.  I like it "stuffed" with either lowfat cream cheese or a little bit of peanut butter, or diced up in a bowl with some lowfat dressing, as a snack.  So, curiously, I google'd celery and found this:

Celery
(found this interesting since I am into herbal medicine!)

Hmm... on to the fruits!  I love watermelon!  It's my favorite summer fruit!  I also love peaches, especially when they are juicy.  Pineapple is another favorite of mine, and granny smith apples.  I could probably get the 5-a-day of fruits and veggies on just veggies, but probably wouldn't be too balanced, now would it?  Well, out of curiosity, I google'd watermelon and found:

Watermelon
(Ok, who'd a thunk they'd have their own organization??  Recipes there too!!)

Kinda interesting, huh??


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Week 2 Challenge Part 1:  *Personal Goals* ~ Strive & Be Happy 

What are your health, eating and exercise goals?  Can you name 3 things you try to do daily?  2 you try to do weekly?

For my daily goals, I can name them pretty easily.  First one, get up and face the day.  Even if I know ahead of time it's going to be a *killer*, try to keep a positive outlook.  My second goal for the day is to keep on my diet, and that includes getting in all the water I should get for the day.  My 3rd goal is to get in *some* kind of activity.  Since I have been following a fairly sedentary lifestyle for the last several years, even housecleaning and such for 30 minutes is *some* kind of activity. 

As for weekly... hmmm... gotta think about that.  Well, I know this might sound strange, but stay organized.  My bedroom tends to look like a hurricane (tornado?) ripped through it and my desk looks like the paper monster has taken over, so I guess getting organized is a weekly goal of mine.  As for the 2nd weekly goal, it would be to weigh myself NO MORE than twice a week.  However right now that is going to be a bit difficult since I am without a home scale.  Once I am able to afford one, though, this will be a goal of mine.  I don't want to get fixated on that number on the scale because I know that I am eating healthy and following a better lifestyle for me and I don't want to get discouraged that I'm not seeing the numbers go down quick enough, and I'm afraid if I weigh myself daily I'll start getting all hung up on those numbers.  Keeping track of it is one thing - worrying about it is another.


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