I've been jonesing to check-in, so here goes:

Weight is still holding steady at 225lbs

Had a -great- workout yesterday at the cycle/sculpt class and got some wonderful suggestions about strengthening my lower-back muscles from the instructor who was a guy this time. I liked his workout better than the lady who did it last time. She didn't have us work our arms in the sculpting portion and my arms need help durnit!

I found out some interesting information this morning about breastfeeding and how many calories it eats up: 650 calories per day are burned by most breastfeeding women. That's a lot of calories. The site I got the number from recommended a 3195 calorie/day intake for me to maintain breastfeeding and lose weight. That's -really- a lotta calories!

So, overall I'm going to stick to my mealplan and not skimp on -healthy- food. I'll still be keeping an eye on the junk, but I'm going to turn to my well-stocked drawer of low-fat snacks whenever I need to: graham crackers, pretzels, saltines and baby carrots with the occasional indulgence in chocolate chip cookies.

I found a very interesting 5-week plan on the 'net at the same site where I found the calorie information: http://www.vhihealthe.com/communities/weight/week1.html

-- Anonymous, August 14, 2002

Answers

I am feeling particularly clever because I just realized just how high in calories fat is -- 100 calories per tablespoon. So that's why everyone makes such a fuss about cutting down on fat! Duh.

I guess if that's the case I can go without butter on my morning toast from now on.

-- Anonymous, August 14, 2002

That must be part of why breastfeeders are purported to have an easier time losing the baby weight, Beth. That is a lot of calories.

I'm doing okay despite a six day food-a-thon with a houseful of visitors. I tried to eat as many salads and small meals as possible, and we did a huge amount of walking, so I am in good shape to pick up the intensity again. Today I've eaten very lightly and had a good long workout.

I've been running on the treadmill for 20-minute stretches, about 2 miles or so. It is getting easier and easier so I guess I'm making good progress. That is the coolest thing about exercise. Quick visible results.

-- Anonymous, August 14, 2002

Hee - Beth, that site you linked to is the website of the state-owned health insurance company here in Ireland. I have found it to be a very useful health site in general. In terms of weigh loss - I weighed in at WW on Tuesday and was supposedly up 1.5 lbs. I have since realised that that was not correct, since according to my own scales I have lost 1.5 since the last weigh in. I am attributing the error to having worn very heavy jeans to weigh in and also to having drunk about 2 litres of water that day.

-- Anonymous, August 15, 2002

I went to the gym this morning for the first time in months because I thought a treadmill would be easier on my shin-splinty leg than asphalt. While I was there, I decided, what the hell, I'll weigh myself. Now, back in March and April when I was weighing myself regularly, I was almost always somewhere between 126 and 128 pounds. I figured with all my running and healthy eating, plus the fact that there's finally room in my jeans, I'd at least be down around 125, right? I weighed in at 130. Goggle. I only wish I had gotten my body- mass index measured back then so I could compare it now, because I'm certain that at least two of those pounds are muscle.

Also, after running outside for a few months, the treadmill is freaking boring.

-- Anonymous, August 15, 2002

I weighed myself last weekend at my boyfriend's house and I've dropped below 140 for the first time in years. This is a slooooow process though. I'm using the Montignac Method (french lowcarb) and it seems to be working plus I'm entertained by the book.

-- Anonymous, August 15, 2002

I'm checking in. My eating has been maintaining at 'eh'. Not great, but not terrible either. I'm doing a lot better with portion control, and that pleases me because it's not an easy thing for me. I'm continuing to run, and I'm up to 3-3.5 miles 5x/week. In 10 days, I'm doing a 5 mile race (goals: 1 - go the whole 5 miles, 2 - actually run the whole way). I don't think that I will have any problems finishing it. So, how does this affect the bottom line (uh, literally, I guess?). Pants are fitting better. My goal pants are buttonable, and while I wouldn't wear them in public yet, I'm beginning to see the day I will be able to.

-- Anonymous, August 15, 2002

I haven't had a good couple of weeks. First it was Mr. Karen's birthday and I celebrated the whole week, then the PMS and cramps fairies came, and then I went on a three-day trip for his family reunion. Exercise? No. Eating? Yes, and lots of it. As of this morning, I'm 161.5, up three pounds from two weeks ago. Bleah.

-- Anonymous, August 16, 2002

Oof. Sorry to hear it, Karen. I choose to believe that those easy-on pounds are also easy-off, so don't despair.

Friday check in: This morning I weighed in at 149, down another pound. This is not too bad, but two days ago I was 147, damn it! This is why I need to stay off the scale except on Fridays.

Two pasta dinners = two pounds evidently. Blah.

Meanwhile, I put on my goal jeans this morning and they were almost loose. So I'm dropping inches more than pounds which is cool, too.

I was poking through my pictures this morning and came across some that were taken in June, right after the Pork-Pie-Fest otherwise known as our recent trip to England. I cannot believe how moon faced I was, and how different I look right now. Yay! Very satisfying.

Moral of this story? Don't eat ten yummy lard-laced pork pies in two days. Just don't do it. That is all.

-- Anonymous, August 16, 2002