06/16/13

I've had an exercise bike for years and have used it pretty sporadically.  It was just a cheap one without any tension adjustment.  It started dying last week, making a gawd-awful noise, so I ordered a new one off Amazon. Gotta love prime shipping, it's not going to cost me a fortune to have it shipped here.  The new one does have a tension gauge on it, and movable arms on it like the one that I have now.  It should be arriving tomorrow.

Even though the old bike is broken, I've still been using it. I've just been going a little slower, to keep the noise down.  I was able to get in 8 miles today, before the noise got to me.  Three less than I was hoping for, but some is better than none, right?

I will say that I have noticed a difference since I started using it.  My shoulder hasn't been as tight - I pulled a muscle in it back in Feb. I went for a massage today, and even my masseuse said she noticed a difference in muscles/shoulders, yay!  Never mentioned to her that I've been working out, so that was cool.

Today was day 1 of WW as well, and it went so-so.  Mostly because I was waiting for peapod to get here, because I had no food in the house, and they didn't get here until about 30 mins ago.  I hate food shopping and that's something I'm going to have to work on doing on a regular basis. At least now I'm stocked up on lots of yummy healthy foods, and I should be good for the next couple of weeks.  Off to make my lunch for tomorrow in a little bit, no more buying lunches at work!

I made a list of some goals- short-term and long-term ones, as well as some non-weight related ones too:

Goals

Lose 10 lbs (5%)

Lose another 9.5 lbs (10% - 19.5 lbs total)

Lose another 9 lbs (15% - 28.5 lbs total)

170 for Greece in October

Lose another 8.5 lbs (20% - 37 lbs total)

Lose another 8 lbs (25%  - 45 lbs total)

Weigh 150 lbs

Lose another 7.75 lbs (30% - 52.75 lbs total)

Re-evaluate weight loss goal

Non-scale goals

Bike 25 miles

Run 1 mile

Fit into a size 10

Sign up for Zumba

Sign up for gym membership

Buy a pair of expensive non-plus jeans

Buy an expensive pair of knee boots

Keeping it honest

When I was in my late teens - early twenties, I weighed in at 250+ pounds, a size 24. I dropped about 50 pounds in my early twenties, which I've maintained since then. I hover around the 200 pound mark, give or take 10 pounds, around a size 14-16.

I hit 40 this year, back in January, and some health issues are starting to pop up. I don't like taking meds and hate going to the doctor (it's a phobia, actually), so I decided it's time to lose more weight.

My goal is to lose 50 more pounds. That'll put me at the top of the healthy BMI range, at 150 pounds.  Once I hit that goal, I'll re-evaluate, and see if I can lose more.

I started exercising a little under a month ago. Walking when I can, but mostly using the exercise bike that I have, which has those moving arms on it.  I've gotten into the habit of biking 5 days a week, allowing myself two days off. I've been taking Fridays and Saturdays off, but that may change as I get into the habit of it. For now, I bike as soon as I get home from work, first thing. I am up to 11 miles in under thirty minutes, and my goal is to increase another mile each week. The moving arm thing just about kills me, so I end up using that off/on every quarter mile. I hope to increase that over time as well.

Once I drop 20-30 pounds, I'll also think about a gym membership or signing up for Zumba, to give myself some variety.  Right now I'm concentrating on building up some stamina and getting into the habit of exercising.

I took my measurements today, and I'll be tracking those every month. Though I've been exercising for almost a month, I've only lost 3 lbs so far, and I need other ways to track my progress, so as not to get discouraged. Granted, I hadn't really modified what I was eating.  So, I just signed up for Weight Watchers online. I'll start tracking that tomorrow.

I've started this blog for my own motivation. I've been a blogger for years, and writing is nothing new to me. This blog is my way of keeping myself honest, holding myself accountable for this challenge. It definitely will be a challenge, but one I think that I am finally ready to take on.

Wish me luck!
-A