Slimming Saturday-I Got a New Gadget

I did much much much better than last week.  I lost a pound! Woohooo.  I finally buckled down and started tracking my food.  As much as I hate doing it, it obviously it makes a difference.

Even better, I got a new toy!

 Meet my new Fitbit Flex.  A Fitbit is basically pedometer on steroids. It tracks your steps/movement and calculates that data into miles traveled and total calories burned. It also keeps track of your active minutes so you can see how lazy you’ve been during the day.  It even tracks your sleep patterns! I’m not exactly sure how it works though my guess would be through magic.   It’s not an exact science but I did a lot of research about the various types of activity trackers (Like Jawbone and Nike Fuel Band) and Fitbit was usually one of the most accurate. 

 There are several types of Fitbit trackers and I went with the Flex, which you wear around your wrist.  It’s water resistant so you can wear it in the shower though you can’t take it in the pool or bath. Basically I wear it 24/7. It’s easier than a pedometer or even the Fitbit One, because I can just leave it on my wrist and not think about it. I’m very absent-minded and other than inserting a microchip under my skin, this is about the only way I would remember to keep it on my person.

 The best part about the Fitbit is the Dashboard that syncs wirelessly to your computer or through an app on your smartphone, via Bluetooth. The dashboard shows you everything.- steps taken, calories burned, miles traveled ect. You can even track your food intake or add exercises that the Fitbit might not have picked up (like swimming or stationary biking).  What I really love is that it syncs with many other online food/fitness trackers.  I ‘ve been using My Fitness Pal (off and on) for over a year and many of my favorite meals and recipes are already stored in their database. I can continue to track using MFP and it automatically syncs with Fitbit. If you base your calorie intake around your activity (i.e.-you can eat more if you burn more) there is some disconnect between MFP and Fitbit. I just stick with MFP numbers because it’s worked in the past.

 Finally, I love that you can connect with your friends who also use Fitbit.  Fitbit ranks you against your friends list in terms of number of steps taken. Since I’m inherently competitive, it’s a great motivator, especially since my baby sister also uses the product.  Nice people can cheer on their friends. Assholes like me can taunt their sister.  YOU ARE GOING DOWN EMILY.
 

I’ve only had my Fitbit Flex for three days, so I can’t give a definitive opinion on it.  My initial impression is very positive and since I like visual reinforcement, I really feel it will help me. Like any gadget, it’s ultimately up to me do the work. I have to get up and take the steps. I have to check the dashboard. I have to stop shoving cake down my gullet.  I have to kick my sister’s ass.
 I’ll give an updated review in a month to see if the novelty has warn off.

 Last Weeks Goals
4)   Take measurements. Maybe I’m losing inches but not lbs.-Fail.  I just keep forgetting  about it.

1)   Track ALL FOOD 4 out of 7 days.-Done
2)   Take all vitamins and probiotics 6 of 7 days.-Fail. I keep forgetting my probiotics and    fish oil. I’ve been good with the vitamins…. probably because they are gummy bears
3)   Spend 30 minutes each day on Spark People-Done

 Next Week’s GoalAll of the above and add:
5) Hit 10,000 steps a day 5 out of 7 days.

 Weight ChangeChange from last week: -1.0
Total pounds lost: 1.0

Slimming Saturday: Setting Goals

Sometimes my inner defeatist gets the best of me and I’m convinced I’ll never get to a healthy weight. Right now, my inner defeatist the loudest voice in my head.

The day after I finished the Dr. Oz cleanse, I was down 7 lbs.  The next day, 5 of those were back, and they haven’t budged.  I’ve been staring at the same number on the scale for weeks, minus the loss from the cleanse.

I’ve been working out, hard, daily.  With Max in school I can devote more time to the gym and I’ve been trying to things to knock my body out of it’s rut. I’m getting more than the daily recommended amount of exercise. I’m doing some light weight lifting too to help with toning.

It’s my food.  It’s always my food.  I start the morning with good intentions.  I have a healthy green smoothie and I put it in my tracker. I usually track my lunch.  Then it goes downhill from there.

Now that I stay at home, I’m surrounded by more temptation. There’s always a treat for Max or Brett in the kitchen. Last week it’s been fudge and jerky brought home from our recent Michigan vacation.  Yesterday it was cookies that Max and I made to bring to Chicago.

I know what to do.  Chew gum.  Wait 10 minutes to make sure I really want it.  Find something else to occupy myself.  Do I do it?  No.  I feel like I have a mental block. Like I don’t want to lose band enough.  What is scaring me about this process?  Do I not want to give up the foods I love?  Do I not want my entire life to revolve around my diet plans?  I don’t know.  I’m just rambling in hopes that I can find some breakthrough in journaling.

It’s time to set some small goals to help me get going.  Here is my goal for the first week of September. 

      1)   Track ALL FOOD 4 out of 7 days.

      2)   Take all vitamins and probiotics 6 of 7 days.

      3)   Spend 30 minutes each day on Spark People

      4)   Take measurements. Maybe I’m losing inches but not lbs.

Also, in order to make the possibility of weight loss more tangible, I’m setting up some weight loss rewards

5 lbs- pair of shoes

10 lbs-60 min massage

15 lbs- A new purse

20 lbs- 90 min massage

Weight Change from last week: +1.2

Slimming Saturday: These Damn Pants

It’s these damn pants.  I’m wearing them now.  They are tight. Not squeeze-it-all-in tight, hard-to-button-tight but I’d-rather-be-wearing-yoga-pants tight.   They are simple black dress capri’s bought about 5 years.  When I bought them they fit.  Not too tight, but not too loose.  For a while, they stayed that way.  Then I got pregnant and had a baby.  Post pregnancy, they fit about the same. Then they started to get tight again.  Then un-wearable. 

So I made changes.  Weekly Weight Watchers meetings. Training for a half marathon.  The pounds flew off.  In less than a year those tight pants were literally falling off my hips. 

But it didn’t last long.  The half marathon was run.  Weight Watchers became less exciting.  I resented having to track every damn bite, lick and taste.  I stopped stepping on the scale. I stopped checking in on SparkPeople.com.  I stopped giving a shit.

Now the pants are tight again.  The scale is close to the highest it’s been.  I’m heavier than I was pre-pregnancy.  I want to love myself, but I simply hate the way I look.  I avoid getting my picture taken and avoid full body mirrors.

Most I’m importantly, I feel like crap.  Physically I’m achy and tired all the time. I never want to run around with my son. I never want to do anything. I’m sad. 

Am I depressed because I’m obese or am I obese because I’m depressed?

A little of both.

This has got to change.  Twice in my life I’ve had a major weight loss/lifestyle change.  Both times I was successful because I wrote about my ups and downs. I stayed active in online communities- first LiveJournal and then SparkPeople. So I’m going to do it again.

I’ll be writing about my daily struggles on SparkPeople where it’s locked down and private. If anyone else is on SparkPeople, please email me your username and I’ll send you mind. However, I will also update weekly here. Slimming Saturdays.   Just a brief blip to keep me accountable to the public world.

This is a battle I’ll fight for the rest of my life, but I am hell bent on winning.