pic

Taken today.

Weight: 262.8 lbs

*sigh*

I'm feeling demotivated.

Hell, my entire ass doesn't even fit in the shot.

And my back looks like it has a weird curve or all this weight really screwed up my spine.

:(

Something else I may need to reference

from: http://www.weightlossforall.com/calculate-actual-fat-loss.htm

How much stored body fat have I lost during a weight loss program?



How to calculate total fat loss from actual weight loss

If you’re losing weight on any weight loss program it’s nice to know exactly how much of the total weight loss is composed of actual body fat from storage fat cells. There is a way to calculate this total fat loss easily however, you will need a device which can work out your body fat percentage. I recommend using some type of body fat analyzer or Bio-Electrical Impedance scales. Once you have the ability to measure your body fat percentage you can use the following method.

Calculating total stored fat loss from actual weight loss.

Let’s work through an example:

Here we will use an overweight male of 30 years for this example. He has a starting weight of 200 pounds. Before starting his weight loss program he uses the Body fat scales which show he has a body fat percentage of 25%. This means that before losing any weight he has 150 pounds of lean weight and 50 pounds of stored body fat (200 x 0.25 (25%) = 50).

Let’s imagine he loses 20 pounds of weight within 4 weeks. This would mean he had an average weight loss of 5 pounds per week. Now, we know that it’s virtually impossible to lose 5 pounds of pure stored body fat in a week, so some of the weight loss must comprise of lean tissue loss, but how much?


Calculate total body fat loss.

After losing 20 pounds his body weight is now 180 pounds and the body fat scales reveal he has 23% body fat. Multiply the two figures: 180 x 0.23 (23%) = 41.4 pounds of stored fat remain.

He has lost just over 8 and half pounds of body fat (50 – 41.4). This means that he must have lost about 11 and half pounds of lean body weight (20 – 8.6).

Why so much lean weight loss?

Weight loss book cover

Burn the Fat, Feed the Muscle contains all the information you'll ever need to help you melt away body fat permanently. Click Here!

This amount of lean weight loss must be expected if weight lost is more than the recommended 2 pounds per week. However, in this example, the fact that he has a lower fat percentage is a GOOD SIGN. If he was still 25% then he would really NOT have progressed much, in fact, he would be just as fat as before, but just a slightly smaller person.

IMPORTANT POINT – it’s the body fat percentage you should be aiming to reduce from your weight loss more than anything else!!

Slower weight loss is always more desirable

The recommendation of losing about 2 pounds per week is set for a reason. The reason is because there will be more chance that the majority of weight loss will come from body fat stores rather than lean weight loss, thus, there is a greater chance it will become permanent weight loss.

It’s a fact that the faster you lose body weight, the more our body catabolizes (muscles break down). It’s actually possible for some people to lose up to 90% of their weight loss as lean tissue loss. This is BAD NEWS and can be seen in those who lose weight very quickly such as 10 pounds in 10 -15 days!

It’s so important to lose body fat more than just weight. Holding on to as much lean weight as possible will benefit hugely during the future months as the metabolism will remain sufficiently high enough for you to continue burning excess fat without the need to drop calorie intake down to a severely low level. Feeding the muscle at the early stage in a weight loss program is the best way to go about losing body fat. Burn the Fat, Feed the Muscle for success!

goals

Goal 1: lose 10 lbs by Aug 23, 2010 - CHECK
Goal 2: get to 265 lbs - CHECK
Goal 3: get to 258 lbs by Sept 11, 2010 <-- CHECK as of Sept 18th
Goal 4: total weight loss at least 23 lbs by Sept 23, 2010 - CHECK
Goal 5: get to 249 lbs by Oct 11, 2010
Goal 6: total weight loss at least 33 lbs by Oct 23, 2010 (with Thanskgiving this could be tricky)
Goal 7: get to 239 lbs by Nov 11, 2010
Goal 8: total weight loss at least 43 lbs by Nov 23, 2010
Goal 9: get to 229 lbs by Dec 11, 2010
Goal 10: total weight loss at least 53 lbs by Dec 24, 2010

I hope these are realistic.

Dec 24th will be 22 wks from when I decided I was fat as hell and not going to take it anymore.
Losing 2 lbs a wk would have me at a 44 lb loss by Dec 24th so I may be aiming a bit high.
I need to lose an average of 2.4 per wk to get to a 53 lbs total loss by Dec 24th and that means I need to survive Thanksgiving and Halloween and continue to lose.

So my promise to myself is this:

Whether I hit these goals in the time line I've listed or if it takes a little bit longer, I will celebrate the fact that every lb I lose - the healthier and happier I will be getting.

Look -- an update!

weight: 264.4

I was all prepared to log in and have a lot to bitch about because I've been really demotivated and feeling bad about myself when, low and behold, I've dropped a little.

I actually feel excited right now.

Fatsecret says it will take 12 months to get to my goal weight at my current pace - which is OK though sometimes I lose more than anticipated and then it lessens my timeline to goal weight and when I stay the same, it extends it.

I wish it could just average it by my monthly loss.

So - a friend was talking to me about food combining and how that can really help kickstart weight loss.

And I remembered that years ago I had bought a book about it. I dug it up and it is "Somersizing" by Suzanne Sommers but it's funny because she calls carbs "carbos" and frankly, there are some things I like eating together.

I like my fruit smoothies made with yogurt and almond milk - I don't want to make them with water or juice.

Also, she likes using artificial sweeteners - which I don't like.

But there may be some things in her book that I can try to incorporate into our evolving lifestyle.

On the sex front -- I am still not putting out because i still don't really feel sexy and I am afraid I'd get pregnant again. Had a dream the other night that after our youngest that we had twins.

Don't even know if they were boys or girls or one of each but the plan is no more babies in this house so it's kind of good that i feel unsexy because that helps ensure there are no more babies.

I really need to get some protein powder for my smoothies because I do not consume enough protein and it is supposed to help you build muscles and muscles help you burn fat.

Then other things I read say I need to consume less carbs so that I burn the fat I carry as fuel rather than creating more fuel.

But isn't that kind of what the Atkins diet is for?

I am making slow progess with the small changes I am making and I am OK with that. But I still feel like maybe there is one magical way out there that is right for me that will help me lose a little faster.

I read a bit about the Blood Type diet but I am a Type A and that's apparently mostly vegetarian which makes me say a big huge YUCK!

It was suggested that I consider getting up really early to workout but for the elliptical of naughty noises - it's LOUD and I like to have loud music going or if I am walking, I'd be too scared to go for a walk outside when there's not a lot of traffic for safety reasons.

Yep, I worry that some degenerate might want to attack me if I am out there alone.

We did manage to go for a family walk last night. So that's good too!

Still crazy around here

Feeling a little trapped in the house - no walk today or Sunday - though I had a nice one yesterday.

Also, no privacy for the elliptical of naughty noises.

weight: 268.6

Not being at home and eating out makes for bad food choices. Not sure how to combat that.

Though the other day I did have very tasty cream of potato soup with spinach, carrots and a bit of cheese and 1 tsp of bacon pieces.

http://www.scientificpsychic.com/fitness/diet.html

Diet Calculator, Body Fat Calculator

After punching in my stats it says:

Body Mass Index:	43.5 kg/m2
Waist-to-Height ratio:	0.71
Percent Body Fat:	54.9%
Lean Body Mass:	121.3 lb

You are overweight by 52.2 kilograms (114.8 pounds)
You need to exercise at least 30 minutes every day.
Minimum caloric requirements: 1855 Calories per day
Limit your food intake to 1576 calories per day.
to lose 2.0 pounds per month.
Your diet should contain at least 55 grams of protein per day.

However, my body fat scale says my fat % is 48.2 -- ?

How much body fat should a healthy person have?

Hmmn, so since the new scale does my body fat percentage as well as my weight here's what my amazing math skills have figured out.

If I punch my weight into my computer's calculator and then divide it by my body fat percentage and then hit the percent key that gives me the amount of pounds I have in actual fat.

(BTW, if anyone with better math skills than my own, as, I confess, math is not my friend -- feels this calculation is incorrect - please let me know).

Well, using my calculation - my body fat in pounds is 130 lbs.

However, I want to lose (from this point forward) 108 lbs which would leave me with only 22 lbs of fat (Approximately 14% fat).

That doesn't seem like enough body fat unless my breasts and ass completely disappear (which I do not see happening) so does that mean my current goal is unrealistic?

Or unhealthy?

Edited to add: so I googled my question and according to THIS WEBSITE
a woman between the ages of 31 - 40 should have a body fat percentage between 21 and 33 %.

However, THIS WEBSITE states:

The American Council on Exercise recommends the following percentages:

Essential fat

• Women 10-12%
• Men 2-4%

Total fat

• Athletes
  
  
  • Men 6-13%
  • Women 14-20%
• Non-athletes classed as fit
  
  
  • Men 14-17%%
  • Women 21-24
• Acceptable
  
  
  • Men 18-25%
  • Women 25-31%
• Overweight
  
  
  • Men 26-37%
  • Women 32-41%
• Obese
  
  
  • Men 38% or more
  • Women 42% or more

So if I still aim for 160, I'd need to retain 33.6 lbs of fat.

How do I do that? Unless I end up losing some muscle?

I am so confused right now.

http://documentaryheaven.com/10-things-you-need-to-know-about-losing-weight/

Understanding portion sizes

http://www.eatrightontario.ca/en/ViewDocument.aspx?id=267&Topic=8&Cat=190

Understanding Portion Sizes

One of the most important decisions we make about food is how much to eat. Many people struggle with portion sizes. Most of the time we eat portions that are too large and this contributes to weight gain. Use this guide for making healthy choices when it comes to portion control.


What’s the difference between a serving size and a portion size?

A serving size is a reference amount of food as defined by Health Canada. The Food Guide lists amounts of foods that are equal to one serving.

Food manufacturers also decide what makes up one serving for their products, and it’s not always the same as the Food Guide. You will see this amount listed on the Nutrition Facts Table on the package label.

A portion size is the amount of food that you actually put on your plate, that you plan to eat in one sitting. Depending on the food, your portion size may be one or more servings according to the Food Guide. For instance, if you eat a whole apple as one portion, that equals one serving of vegetables and fruit. However, if you eat a sandwich with two pieces of bread (one portion), you’re eating two servings of grain products since each slice of bread is one serving according to the Food Guide.

How well do you know the difference between a serving size and a portion size? Take this quiz to find out.


Why is portion size important for healthy eating?

Ever heard of portion distortion? This is when over-sized portions of food start to look normal to you. The result is that people will eat whatever is on their plate without thinking about the number of serving sizes that are actually in front of them. Portion sizes that once would have been considered far too big to eat in one sitting, are now seen as normal. From store-bought muffins, to soft drinks and to pasta entrées at restaurants, portion sizes have increased over the last 20 years. Bigger portions mean more calories, and the result is bigger waistlines.

Tips to watch your portion sizes:

* Find out how much you need each day using Canada’s Food Guide and try to eat about that amount food on most days.
* Try to get good at “eyeballing” food portions, and knowing how much is in a serving size. To help you practice, use measuring cups and spoons or a food scale.
* Find out if your portion sizes are on track. Try EATracker, from Dietitians of Canada.
* Put food on a plate rather than eating out of the container – we often eat more if we can’t judge the portion size.
* Studies have shown that we will eat more when using bigger serving dishes. Use smaller, salad-size plates (and other smaller serving dishes) rather than large dinner plates. You'll likely eat less!
* Pay attention to the label on packaged foods. All nutrition information is related to the amount of food listed in the Nutrition Facts table, which may be less than your portion. Always adjust nutrition information to the portion size that you are eating.

Helpful hints for measuring portions:

When you don’t have measuring cups or scales available, use your hands or common items to figure out reasonable portion sizes. See the chart below.

Item Amount One serving

Palm of hand 2.5 oz (75 g) Meat, Chicken, Fish
or
Cell phone

Computer mouse 1/2 cup (125 ml) Pasta, Rice, Medium Potato

Tennis ball 3/4 cup (175 ml) Yogurt, Hot Cereal, Tofu

Thumb tip 1 tsp (5 ml) Butter, Oil

2 thumb tips 1.5 oz (50 g) Cheese

Both palms open 2 cups (500 ml) Vegetable (2 servings)



Do you have more questions about portion sizes and weight management? Call EatRight Ontario at 1-877-510-5102 to speak for free with a Registered Dietitian or send an email.

Glad I resisted the craving

weight: 268.8

Almost 10 lbs down.

I ended up making a 2 egg spinach, ham & mozzarella cheese omelet last night instead of giving in to my craving (and Hubs craving) for McD's!

I'm feeling proud of myself.


But I am not celebrating too much yet, I want to see if the scale still says I am under 270 tomorrow before I rejoice.

Here's something I should not be shocked at, but I was...

Yes, I saw "Super Size Me" - I think most people did.

But I still really didn't comprehend how my McD's cravings were keeping me fat.

Check out http://www.mcdonalds.ca/en/food/calculator.aspx

from there you can launch the nutrition calculator and see what your meal adds up to.

For example, I usually got a plain double quarter-pounder with cheese, a medium order of fries, an iced tea and an apple pie.

According to the calculator that is 1550 calories!

And 1800 SODIUM content!!!!

Why am I writing about McD's? Because I really, really, REALLY want some fries.

So if I indulge - I need to ensure it's for one item and not a whole freaking meal!!!

Well it's been a crazy few days

no internet access
three kids of varying moods
horny Hubs
muggy, hot weather with occasional showers
still working on healthier meals
and exercise

weight: 270.2 lbs

I bought a new scale.

It does weight, body fat percentage and hydration levels and has a 12 person memory.

My body fat percentage is 48.2 % and my hydration is low at 37.0

Also I borrowed a soft tape measure and did some of my measurements...

hips - 58
bust - 47.5
waist - 47

left upper arm - 15
neck - 15

right thigh - 33
right calf - 21.5

So, despite the fact that I want to drink myself silly so that numbers mean noting to me -- I am drinking water.

Also, Hubs tried to talk me into ordering pizza tonight and I refused so a late supper is still cooking on the stove.

Weight update

weight: 274.6 lbs

I guess sweating my ass off for 11 mins on a bike in the heat and humidty helped?

I really don't know since I was stuck at 274 for awhile.

But I am excited about it!

Also - the nightly family walk seems to be going well.

hmmmn

I'm looking at brainyweightloss.com

According to it I am:

Four Body Shapes - #1. Hourglass

If you have an Hourglass body shape, your bust and hips are about the same circumference, and your waist is narrow, 6-9 inches smaller than your bust & hips.
Your legs are tapered, with smaller ankles and muscular calves.
You have strong bones, a lot of muscle mass, and great flexibility throughout your entire body.

Hourglass shape problem areas:
Your triceps (backs of the upper arms), inner & outer thighs, the saddlebag area (below the hips, outside of the upper thigh), and the lower abdomen.
You tend to put on weight evenly throughout your entire body (sometimes a little more on the lower half), but less at the waist.

Losing fat and toning up:
More than the other types, you need to lose inches vs. pounds, which can’t be done without exercising. The loss of inches doesn’t show on the scale, so forget about it and use a measuring tape instead.
The right workout for your Hourglass body will make you look toned and at least 10-15 pounds slimmer.

Follow the Hourglass female body shape diet & workouts

Looking at another site

I would be an:

Endomorphs: Endomorphs tend to have bigger bones that the other body types. These men and women usually have round faces with larger thighs and hips. Endomorphs have arms and legs that tend to be short and tapering, giving them a stocky appearance. Most endomorphs have comparatively small hands and feet and a high waist. Additionally, endomorphs have higher levels of body fat than the other body types, but they can also build muscle and lean mass easily. Weight loss is most difficult for the endomorph body type.

Also from epigee.org:

If you are an Hourglass'
If you are have an hourglass figure, then you should be focusing on both cardio and resistance exercises. Cardio will assist in keeping your weight in check, while resistance exercises will help to maintain balance between your upper and lower body. Vary your repetitions and keep your resistance weights light so as not to build too much muscle mass. Here are some great exercises that you may want to try:

* slow jogging
* stationary biking (with light resistance)
* jumping jacks
* swimming
* bicep curls, shoulder presses, and squats

What kind of fat person am I?

fictional character John Bender (from The Breakfast Club):

...there are two kinds of fat people: there's fat people that were born to be fat, and there's fat people that were once thin but became fat... so when you look at 'em you can sorta see that thin person inside.

So yesterday I got together with an old friend I haven't seen since elementary school.

Yeah, GRADE 6!

So the last time we saw each other, we were 11 years old.

I have my old "School day Treasures" book in my hand but my Mom didn't record my height and weight for grades 2 through 6. However, in grade 7 I was listed as 74 lbs (not sure of my height but in Grade 8 I was 4 ft 11).

So here we were with me 202 lbs later and almost 27 years older.

She said she would have recognized me because my face is the same.

I agree with that - even looking at a baby pic of me under the age of 1 - my face and expression seem the same, just smaller, but distinctly recognizable.

So am I someone who was meant to be fat or is it that people still see the thin person inside of me?


weight: 276.4 lbs (no change)