I am not a slave to the scale. I do not measure my self worth by the numbers staring up at me from that cold piece of metal. So why have I been avoiding that meaningless little tool like the plague this summer?
As much as I like to think my weight is not, at least slightly, important, it kind of is. Its no secret that since June, I have not been the workout beast I was earlier in the year. Yet I continue to eat like I’m training 10 hours a week. And its just a basic truth….more calories in than calories out and your weight increases. Duh!
Last week I felt uncomfortable in my clothes, so I bravely decided its time to assess the damage. I stepped on the scale and I did not like the numbers displayed between my feet…..1.6.2. A full 10 pounds over my comfortable weight.
Because I know how much you love my stick figures. And YES, my hair really does look like this in the morning!
Who knew stick figures weighed so much!
I am not a diet-er, I love to eat and don’t react well to restriction. So I decided a minor modification was in order. I don’t like to drink my calories, but I LOVE beer! I typically enjoy the heavier, more calorie laden brews, and I drink 1-2 beers/night with dinner. Beer = Empty Calories, so I decided to cut it out during the week. That is easily 1200 calories a week eliminated! BOOYAH!!!!!
I also switched from regular skim milk to almond milk several months ago. I did it for no particular reason other than I just like the way it tasted, and my skin did seem to clear up after I cut back on dairy, so I just went with it. But almond milk has 3.5-4.5 grams of fat and 95-120 calories/cup depending on which brand you buy. I could easily cut out 12-16 grams of fat and several hundred calories a week by going back to skim milk. DONE.
I also made more effort to workout more last week. 2 swims, 2 runs, 1 bike, and 1 core/strength workout. According to daily mile I burned nearly 2400 calories. Not to shabby!
So……..I step on the scales this am eager to see the results of my modifications.
161.5
I suppose I should be happy, any weight loss is good weight loss, and I know weight loss takes time, but really?!?!?! Only 1/2 a freakin’ pound! I guess if I want to see real results, I need to put in real effort. Cut out the Oreos at night, the simple carb snacks throughout the day, the 5 slices of pizza when 3 will do.
At nearly 6ft tall, 161.5 is still well within my healthy weight range (143-178), but I feel uncomfortable there. 150-153is my happy place. I feel slow and sluggish carrying around 10 extra pounds, 10 lbs could be more stressful on my joints, and my wardrobe is a little snug. And lets just be honest here, I am after all human, and am vain….I think I look better 10 lbs lighter.
I’m not going to obsess over my weight, I just want to be comfortable again. I’m not a serial weigh-er, I only weight once a week at most. It is mildly frustrating that I’ve already lost “those last 10lbs” once, and now I’m doing it again, and we all know “those last 10lbs” are the hardest to loose!
I hear you on the heavier (higher alcohol) beers.
I’ve gained 3 pounds this summer (in addition to the couple I was already carrying), so all my shorts are a bit uncomfortable right now (I’m only 5’3″). I really need to get more serious about working out and eating right too.
MCM Mama recently posted..CHIPS ARE DOWN Virtual Race
Yikes! Sounds like it’s off the wheels over here.
I agree with this “Cut out the Oreos at night, the simple carb snacks throughout the day, the 5 slices of pizza when 3 will do.”
I’ve definitely been in that unhappy weight area and it’s good you are recognizing what has contributed to the gain. Now just muster the willpower to say “NO.” And patience, it does take time.
Holly @ RUST BELT RUNNER recently posted..Seven Run and Done
i seem to have a harder time with the kids home everyday and am looking forward to them being back at school. When I am on a schedule and not eating 24/7 my weight definitely stays down. Happy Monday!
Note though that if you suddenly up your mileage/ workouts, your muscles will hold some water in. This week, see if you can try focusing on drinking tons of water. I’ve found that after long or hard runs, I gain 4 pounds overnight. It’s just water, and believe it or not drinking more water will flush it out.
That being said, don’t worry about weight! You look great, just focus on how what you’re eating makes you FEEL, which is so much more important (just my .02 from someone who is tired of dieting).
Kim recently posted..Review: The Little Book of Common Sense Investing
aw, thanks! i just want to feel comfortable again, i feel kind of sausage-y right now…retain much water LOL! i will try drinking more water, im sure i dont get enough
It’s tough. I love micro brews as the one in your picture Natty Greene’s from my hometown. My husband has gotten to know a lot of the microbrewers in western part of the state and is always bringing home samples. I try the rule of not having anything on weekdays. Somehow beer and running go hand in hand. Here we have a 5 mile beer run in the spring. When I did the Cooper River Bridge Run in Charleston SC it appeared as all 40,000 racers hit the bars at 9:30 a.m.
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well, hello fellow NC resident! im about 1 1/2 hours away. love CRBR, and LOVE stopping in the bars after the race!!!
looks like you are making some good adjustments, I love dark beer, but luckily my husband does not so I never buy it. It is good that you are working on those extra pounds before it gets too far, I always go by how I feel and try not to worry about the scale too much.
I can relate exactly! My clothes were feeling a little tight, so I finally got around to weighing myself. Holy crap, how did I not notice before I put on 10lbs! And it is the hardest to lose. For me, it is cutting WAY back on sweets. Vacations=cookies, cake, etc. and I have no willpower whatsoever. Back to couting calories. Yuck.
how does 10lbs sneak up on us like that?!? summer is almost as hard as christmas…cookouts, vaca, birthdays, its soooo hard! i lack the willpower also!
LB @ My Reason to Tri recently posted..Re-Loosing the “Last 10 Pounds”
Sorry about that … but I have to chuckle a little because that sounded exactly what I hear Michael deal with on a weekly basis. It was like she wrote the post. You girls need to throw that thing out!!!
i wish we could, but its part of being a girl i suppose! i bet youre like my husband…can eat 1/2 gallon of ice cream, a bag of popcorn, and wash it down with 6 beers at 11 o’clock at night and wake up 5 lbs lighter in the am.
This was a very entertaining post! I love the stick drawings!
I drink plain almond milk and it’s only 60 calories a cup – I believe that’s less than skim milk but it’s been so long I don’t remember! It is probably the vanilla and other flavors of almond milk that get kind of high? I get the Silk Pure Almond brand.
i need to look into whether the plain almond milk is lower in fat, i drink the vanilla just because its yummy, but i suppose i could go with the plain. i would like to be able to cut back on dairy some!
totally get what you are saying. i thought you made good changes. ever think of going to a nutritionist? i don’t think you have to cut out the cookies or pizza. i think u just need to know what your needs are intake wise and adjust accordingly based on your activity level etc. you will get there
Stephanie recently posted..Goodness Gracious Magacious – The Car that Could
yep, its all about smart choices….NOT depriving yourself. i know first hand that if i restrict myself i will eventually BINGE eat on the very thing that i restricted. is all about balance!
LB @ My Reason to Tri recently posted..Happy Birthday Rhett Butler!
I remember when you were determine to become a biker, you worked your rear off to be a biker.
I remember when you tackled the fear of OWS and you worked your rear off to OWS
I remember when you wanted to be a triathlete, you worked your rear off to become a triathlete.
Knowing how hard you work when your determined to do something, you will lose those 9.5 pounds.
BDD recently posted..Chrissie Wellington’s Top 50 Race Tips
thanks for reminding me that i really am a DETERMINED person. i forget this from time to time. I am on a mission!!!
LB @ My Reason to Tri recently posted..Happy Birthday Rhett Butler!
Almond Breeze unsweetened almond milk (both vanilla and chocolate) has half the calories of skim milk. My weight issues are exactly the same as yours–except that you are a few inches taller than me. Ha. Luckily my clothes fit fine, I just want to lose a few pounds to improve my running, and I never have lost those LAST 5-10 pounds!
i must be getting skim milk calories confused with the almond milk calories. i need to look into this again LOL!
LB @ My Reason to Tri recently posted..Happy Birthday Rhett Butler!
This sounds a lot like me. I threw away my last scale actually. Then decided to go get another one. I’m scared to step on it. I’m thinking maybe AFTER my September streak of races. I can’t see a number and not like it, and then do my best. I let it get to me way too much.
I’m thinking of reducing my french fry consumption. Sssh, don’t tell the french fries that. They’ll miss me.
Fruit Fly recently posted..Funny Meeting You Here!
i agree, i dont think its a good idea to worry about weight when youre in the middle of a big race season….thats the last thing you need to worry about right now! dont worry, i wont tell the fries
LB @ My Reason to Tri recently posted..Happy Birthday Rhett Butler!
Hey, are we friends on dailymile? If not, let’s! As for the weight…it will come off. Slowly, but it will. The little changes (less beer, less oreos, more workouts) will help. And I love that you’re not a slave to the numbers.
sugarmagnolia70 recently posted..I Can Because I Did
haha, yeah…i got your comment on DM too
im always jealous of your swim workouts, i need to step up my game in the pool if i want to do an OLY in october. im scared to death of that swim!!!!
LB @ My Reason to Tri recently posted..Happy Birthday Rhett Butler!
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Ha. Here we have a 5 mile beer run in the spring. love CRBR, and LOVE stopping in the bars after the race!!!
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Yuck. Yikes!
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