Today is Wednesday, and the most exercise I've got this week is about 20 minutes of walk/jogging that I did on Sunday. I'm not sure why I've not done any exercise, except that I've not 'felt' like. But even at my most dedicated, I never actually 'felt' like it every single day. I'm going today, but expect that my enthusiasm will be higher than my stamina.
I'm also still at 63, despite the lack of exercise, so I may need to find some fresh motivation. Or find another type of exercise, or just go back to walking, so that I don't get horribly tired every day (part of the reason I didn't go in the mornings).
Will keep posting on this, I do not want to backslide!
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Sunday, June 5, 2011
Keeping At It
I'm now hovering at about 63 kilos and so, am almost at my goal. When I started, I wanted to get to 65 kgs (as I was 75) but figure that 65 is still slightly higher than ideal for my height, so I revised this about 2 months ago, to 62-63. When I was a teenager (fully grown in height) I believed 60 kgs was ideal, I'm clear now that aiming for 60 may be too much, so something additional is ok. Will still be in the 'healthy weight' zone. I'd like to get down to 62 by the end of June, but instead of focussing on weight, I'm focussing on food and exercise.
I've become more relaxed about eating, while trying hard to keep the focus on exercise. The relaxation is in eating more carbs and the occasional unhealthy snack, and now that the monsoons are beginning, I'm concerned about the willingness/ability to exercise. I'm trying to move the exercise to the mornings, so I get it done early and have the rest of the day to do other stuff (like work/cook).
I went to Pune some time ago and got out every morning, and got in 30 minutes of good exercise on 2 days. I discovered while there, that I can now extend the length of my stride for short periods, as my butt muscles are now developed to some extent. This morning, I tested this theory. I jogged about 15 minutes, in which I had to go uphill twice, and found that I didn't need to slow down for the uphills, just use the butt muscles. As a result, the muscles are slightly sore, but the effect was good. Will see how it feels tomorrow :)
With the monsoons beginning, it may soon be too cold to swim, but it's great walk/jog weather! Now to ensure that my wake/sleep cycles align enough to get out and at it, early enough to make it to office.
I've become more relaxed about eating, while trying hard to keep the focus on exercise. The relaxation is in eating more carbs and the occasional unhealthy snack, and now that the monsoons are beginning, I'm concerned about the willingness/ability to exercise. I'm trying to move the exercise to the mornings, so I get it done early and have the rest of the day to do other stuff (like work/cook).
I went to Pune some time ago and got out every morning, and got in 30 minutes of good exercise on 2 days. I discovered while there, that I can now extend the length of my stride for short periods, as my butt muscles are now developed to some extent. This morning, I tested this theory. I jogged about 15 minutes, in which I had to go uphill twice, and found that I didn't need to slow down for the uphills, just use the butt muscles. As a result, the muscles are slightly sore, but the effect was good. Will see how it feels tomorrow :)
With the monsoons beginning, it may soon be too cold to swim, but it's great walk/jog weather! Now to ensure that my wake/sleep cycles align enough to get out and at it, early enough to make it to office.
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Almost There!
It's just over a month since I last wrote. This month has been challenging in that my weight stayed at 65-66 for weeks! I did travel a lot in April, so wasn't as regular with exercise as I should have been and was eating more and drinking more alcohol. Still, I wasn't too upset as it didn't cross 66.
Then, in early May (6th) I had to go away on work for a week. Similar issues with exercise, but I managed about 3 days in the week. I also did yoga for 15-20 minutes on 2 days. Came back to 65.
Today, I'm at 64. This is itself a major achievement. Since January 20th 2011, I've lost 11 kgs. I, who was convinced that I was too lazy to stick to an exercise schedule, and too much of a foodie to stop eating food, have successfully lost weight and inches.
Today, I'm wearing trousers, that 4 months ago wouldn't button up. Today, they are loose. I'm wearing a shirt that gaped between buttons, today it fits fine.
Also, I'd like to say that exercise has become a part of my 'normal' life, but I'm afraid I'll jinx it :) What I know though, is that with a few basic things at home (oats, fresh veggies), I'll generally eat better. I also am trying to move to morning exercise, so I'm not having to schedule my evenings around it. Let's see how that goes.
Today is even more special because I got up and went for a walk/jog. I wasn't dying to, but I did. I did as much as I thought appropriate, I'm still alive, and I'm 64kgs!
Then, in early May (6th) I had to go away on work for a week. Similar issues with exercise, but I managed about 3 days in the week. I also did yoga for 15-20 minutes on 2 days. Came back to 65.
Today, I'm at 64. This is itself a major achievement. Since January 20th 2011, I've lost 11 kgs. I, who was convinced that I was too lazy to stick to an exercise schedule, and too much of a foodie to stop eating food, have successfully lost weight and inches.
Today, I'm wearing trousers, that 4 months ago wouldn't button up. Today, they are loose. I'm wearing a shirt that gaped between buttons, today it fits fine.
Also, I'd like to say that exercise has become a part of my 'normal' life, but I'm afraid I'll jinx it :) What I know though, is that with a few basic things at home (oats, fresh veggies), I'll generally eat better. I also am trying to move to morning exercise, so I'm not having to schedule my evenings around it. Let's see how that goes.
Today is even more special because I got up and went for a walk/jog. I wasn't dying to, but I did. I did as much as I thought appropriate, I'm still alive, and I'm 64kgs!
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Photo time?
I wasn't very comfortable being photographed at my wedding (3.5 years ago) because I was fatter than I wanted to be. When I saw the pictures, I realised that I was even fatter than I thought I was. Since then, I've appeared in photographs, but pretty unwillingly. Last December was another such period in my life. I had a reunion to attend and I was fatter than I thought I was. This showed up very clearly in the photographs from the event and was part of my motivation for losing weight as well.
20th April 2011 will be 3 months since I started down this path and today I'm wearing clothes that are a smaller size than I've worn in the past few years. I'm also wearing 3 layers, and still don't look like the clothes are painted on. In short, the weight loss is obvious and apparently healthy as I'm able to lead an otherwise full life. Now, I want to be photographed, preferably wearing the clothes I was last photographed in, so I can see the difference for myself :)
I met a couple of friends last weekend. Friends who've seen me in January and December and apart from the weight loss, they noticed that my skin is glowing. I've always had a fairly good complexion, but for the past few weeks, I've noticed myself that it seems clearer and more elastic. In short, the body can really tell when the living is healthy. And given that I have the time and the means, why not indulge the body for a few years (as it has indulged me thus far).
20th April 2011 will be 3 months since I started down this path and today I'm wearing clothes that are a smaller size than I've worn in the past few years. I'm also wearing 3 layers, and still don't look like the clothes are painted on. In short, the weight loss is obvious and apparently healthy as I'm able to lead an otherwise full life. Now, I want to be photographed, preferably wearing the clothes I was last photographed in, so I can see the difference for myself :)
I met a couple of friends last weekend. Friends who've seen me in January and December and apart from the weight loss, they noticed that my skin is glowing. I've always had a fairly good complexion, but for the past few weeks, I've noticed myself that it seems clearer and more elastic. In short, the body can really tell when the living is healthy. And given that I have the time and the means, why not indulge the body for a few years (as it has indulged me thus far).
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Specific Updates
For one, I went shopping last weekend, and as I expected, I now fit into clothes that are size L, which is excellent! The weighing scale seems like it'll agree to 67 kgs this week, and though I'm travelling for the next 2 weekends, I've a feeling that I'll be able to keep it at 67. While this is still 7 kgs higher than my proper 'normal' weight, I'm no longer overweight, and most importantly - since January 20th 2011, I've lost 8 kgs!
The other specific updates are that I can now jog about 25 minutes. The pace isn't great, I expect it takes me 10 minutes per kilometer, and I can occasionally walk faster, but I'm certainly burning more calories and the muscles are getting a good work out! I'm also swimming 16 laps of the complex pool, which should be about 20 meters, so about 300m. Up from 12-14 laps 2 weeks ago. In mid-April, I may up this to 18 laps.
I'm swimming about twice a week, which is not amazing, but is good enough for me to notice a change in muscle tone of arms and shoulders. I'm certainly on my way to fitness!
April is a crazy month, I'm travelling 3 out of 5 weekends and all for fun. The main 'trauma travels' are the weekend of 2nd (2nd to 4th) as I'll be staying with relatives who do not understand fitness and portion control, so will probably insist that I eat more, and that I don't exercise at all, but let's see. I hope to walk at least one 1 of those days, and to eat as sensibly as I can.
The next weekend I'm with friends, who understand both. Though I'm going for a wedding, I'm sure I can find ways of walking/jogging for some time (8th to 10th). The third trip is to Singapore, staying with another friend who understands both and I should be able to swim on one or two, if not all 3 days (22nd to 24th).
I'll confess, I never thought this would happen to me, but my thinking about food has changed. I still love the same tastes/flavours but the amount I want to eat them has been affected by the exercise. I occasionally want to eat potato chips but I eat less than I would earlier, because I know that I'll have to exercise more, etc. Similarly with rice/wheat. It's an interesting shift, let's see how it works.
The other specific updates are that I can now jog about 25 minutes. The pace isn't great, I expect it takes me 10 minutes per kilometer, and I can occasionally walk faster, but I'm certainly burning more calories and the muscles are getting a good work out! I'm also swimming 16 laps of the complex pool, which should be about 20 meters, so about 300m. Up from 12-14 laps 2 weeks ago. In mid-April, I may up this to 18 laps.
I'm swimming about twice a week, which is not amazing, but is good enough for me to notice a change in muscle tone of arms and shoulders. I'm certainly on my way to fitness!
April is a crazy month, I'm travelling 3 out of 5 weekends and all for fun. The main 'trauma travels' are the weekend of 2nd (2nd to 4th) as I'll be staying with relatives who do not understand fitness and portion control, so will probably insist that I eat more, and that I don't exercise at all, but let's see. I hope to walk at least one 1 of those days, and to eat as sensibly as I can.
The next weekend I'm with friends, who understand both. Though I'm going for a wedding, I'm sure I can find ways of walking/jogging for some time (8th to 10th). The third trip is to Singapore, staying with another friend who understands both and I should be able to swim on one or two, if not all 3 days (22nd to 24th).
I'll confess, I never thought this would happen to me, but my thinking about food has changed. I still love the same tastes/flavours but the amount I want to eat them has been affected by the exercise. I occasionally want to eat potato chips but I eat less than I would earlier, because I know that I'll have to exercise more, etc. Similarly with rice/wheat. It's an interesting shift, let's see how it works.
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Two Months Update
We're just past 2 months and on a weight situation, I'm at 68 kgs. I have also lost some inches, though I'm not sure how much and from where. I do feel better and am continuing with about 6 days of exercise a week.
I'm actually posting now, because it's been 2 or 3 weeks since I've had a meal replacement shake, which has led to some confusion around dinner. I figured I should post a revised food path on here, to remind myself to eat enough, and eat well. Primarily because over the past week, I've made some bad choices every day. The main reason for the bad choices is because I didn't have healthy snacks at home, and we had unhealthy snacks :)
The new rules:
1. Breakfast - within 30-45 minutes of waking up. Preferably something like oats, if not 2 slices of bread with some veggies, or fruit, and milk.
2. Mid-morning snack/Lunch - sandwich/salad/cooked meal with simple carbs if required.
3. Mid-afternoon snack - sandwich/fruit smoothie. Fruit bowls may not be a great idea because of high sugar fruits.
4. Dinner - ideally only veggies, if it must involve a simple carb, it should be chappatis, brown rice or some such 'healthy' carb.
General Snacks - raisins, fruit, walnuts, almonds, carrots, fruit yoghurt. Buy each week!
The exercise part is still going well. The times I don't feel like exercising are when I'm hungry or tired, so a small snack before the exercise usually works well. I find that with the walk/jog, I have an inertia issue. If I jog and stop, I rarely feel like starting again. So I'm going to try jogging for extended periods of time (like 15-20 minutes) instead of breaking up the jog with walking. This week (on Monday 21st) I jogged for 2 five minute intervals in 30 minutes of walking and must confess that I couldn't start the 3rd interval. On the flip side, I had no knee pain at all after!
A general update would be? That it's going well with some slips here and there. I'm waiting for a while before I try on clothes, but I'm sure that it's going to be a fun experience soon! Maybe on or around 20th April :)
I'm actually posting now, because it's been 2 or 3 weeks since I've had a meal replacement shake, which has led to some confusion around dinner. I figured I should post a revised food path on here, to remind myself to eat enough, and eat well. Primarily because over the past week, I've made some bad choices every day. The main reason for the bad choices is because I didn't have healthy snacks at home, and we had unhealthy snacks :)
The new rules:
1. Breakfast - within 30-45 minutes of waking up. Preferably something like oats, if not 2 slices of bread with some veggies, or fruit, and milk.
2. Mid-morning snack/Lunch - sandwich/salad/cooked meal with simple carbs if required.
3. Mid-afternoon snack - sandwich/fruit smoothie. Fruit bowls may not be a great idea because of high sugar fruits.
4. Dinner - ideally only veggies, if it must involve a simple carb, it should be chappatis, brown rice or some such 'healthy' carb.
General Snacks - raisins, fruit, walnuts, almonds, carrots, fruit yoghurt. Buy each week!
The exercise part is still going well. The times I don't feel like exercising are when I'm hungry or tired, so a small snack before the exercise usually works well. I find that with the walk/jog, I have an inertia issue. If I jog and stop, I rarely feel like starting again. So I'm going to try jogging for extended periods of time (like 15-20 minutes) instead of breaking up the jog with walking. This week (on Monday 21st) I jogged for 2 five minute intervals in 30 minutes of walking and must confess that I couldn't start the 3rd interval. On the flip side, I had no knee pain at all after!
A general update would be? That it's going well with some slips here and there. I'm waiting for a while before I try on clothes, but I'm sure that it's going to be a fun experience soon! Maybe on or around 20th April :)
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Remember!
I sent a mail to myself at www.futureme.org, to remember some things about weight. I'm also putting some of it up here and on my other blog, so I'll have access to these reminders when I need them.
I've been eating healthier and exercising for nearly 8 weeks now. Exercise is some form of activity for at least 20 minutes a day, averaging about 30 minutes. I started with walking and then upped to walking/jogging. I alternated this with squash and have now (for about 2 weeks) added swimming since it's getting warm enough to swim. All if this has been possible due to the new home.
This morning, I got up and got dressed in a kurta that I've not worn in a while. I can see changes in the way I now look from the way I looked in it when I bought it, and all through the times I wore it. I know now that I'll have much more fun shopping as I'll get clothes in my size. I still have some way to go with the weight loss, but I'm now 69 kilos, and I've not been under 70 for aages!
In addition, I can now jog on the treadmill for 13-15 minutes at a stretch. I'm pretty certain I can swim 200-300 m unaided without dying or hanging on to a wall. In short, my stamina has improved and the muscles I would use to jog/run are more developed. The strain on the knee has reduced (though I forget to use muscles rather than joints sometimes).
The 'remember' part of this post, is to remind myself of what it's like to be overweight. In the past few years, I would start working out, lose a little weight, then stop and start gaining weight again. In these years, I usually bought clothes because I 'had' to. I was running out of clothes, they were old/torn/faded something and I would push myself to go buy something. I remember the depression each time I had to buy a size larger. Larger in undergarments, larger in clothes. The inability to buy western formals because I was size 2XL in most Indian brands and they didn't even carry that size! It was only size 14 UK I would tell myself, and try shopping at Marks and Spencers instead. Then I went up to a size 16 in M&S. They carry sizes 16, 18, 20 etc., but I couldn't face it. I couldn't find any clothes that I liked, that fitted me and looked nice! The size 16 upwards all started looking like sacks. I know that there will be times that I cannot keep this up, that I have to ease up on the food or exercise, but I'm writing all this, to remember it. So when I do take a break, I'm motivated to resume.
The reason that this is motivation, is that even at 75 kilos, I was not obese. I didn't have any health risks, though I was probably at a higher risk of diabetes, high blood pressure etc. in my 40s. But right now, the only health effect was PCOS, and given certain other issues, PCOS was not necessarily a problem. So I can see myself gaining weight again without thinking too much of it, from a medical 'health' point of view. From an emotional health point of view though, it's a huge difference. Which is what my motivation is all about.
Right now, I like looking in the mirror, and like the fact that my body listens to me, mainly because I'm listening to it :) And I enjoy listening to my body! There were times before when I would try to diet, and I'd fail because I was starving myself. So I'd feel hungry or not be able to function, or something. These past 2 months, I started with a meal replacement shake, but eat as many vegetables (raw or cooked) as I feel like, and in whatever quantity I feel like. So I'm able to avoid rice, wheat, potatoes etc., and still not starve myself. I also eat all the meat I want - which turns out to be not that much. Where I need to watch myself is snacking at home. We don't have many healthy snack options at home so I'd eat biscuits or something else. I'm now trying to keep walnuts and almonds at home, so I can eat those while preparing something better.
Today specifically, I feel very happy. I know I still have some way to go, but it's only been 2 months and I've made progress to a point where I'm happy. And I specifically want to remind myself that I'm doing this for me. In a few more months, when I'm even fitter, I don't want to suddenly buy fitting or revealing clothes by the truckload. I won't change the way I dress to work. I may have more sexy clothes to wear out, but professionally I'll look the same. I'll know, though, how hot I am :)
I've been eating healthier and exercising for nearly 8 weeks now. Exercise is some form of activity for at least 20 minutes a day, averaging about 30 minutes. I started with walking and then upped to walking/jogging. I alternated this with squash and have now (for about 2 weeks) added swimming since it's getting warm enough to swim. All if this has been possible due to the new home.
This morning, I got up and got dressed in a kurta that I've not worn in a while. I can see changes in the way I now look from the way I looked in it when I bought it, and all through the times I wore it. I know now that I'll have much more fun shopping as I'll get clothes in my size. I still have some way to go with the weight loss, but I'm now 69 kilos, and I've not been under 70 for aages!
In addition, I can now jog on the treadmill for 13-15 minutes at a stretch. I'm pretty certain I can swim 200-300 m unaided without dying or hanging on to a wall. In short, my stamina has improved and the muscles I would use to jog/run are more developed. The strain on the knee has reduced (though I forget to use muscles rather than joints sometimes).
The 'remember' part of this post, is to remind myself of what it's like to be overweight. In the past few years, I would start working out, lose a little weight, then stop and start gaining weight again. In these years, I usually bought clothes because I 'had' to. I was running out of clothes, they were old/torn/faded something and I would push myself to go buy something. I remember the depression each time I had to buy a size larger. Larger in undergarments, larger in clothes. The inability to buy western formals because I was size 2XL in most Indian brands and they didn't even carry that size! It was only size 14 UK I would tell myself, and try shopping at Marks and Spencers instead. Then I went up to a size 16 in M&S. They carry sizes 16, 18, 20 etc., but I couldn't face it. I couldn't find any clothes that I liked, that fitted me and looked nice! The size 16 upwards all started looking like sacks. I know that there will be times that I cannot keep this up, that I have to ease up on the food or exercise, but I'm writing all this, to remember it. So when I do take a break, I'm motivated to resume.
The reason that this is motivation, is that even at 75 kilos, I was not obese. I didn't have any health risks, though I was probably at a higher risk of diabetes, high blood pressure etc. in my 40s. But right now, the only health effect was PCOS, and given certain other issues, PCOS was not necessarily a problem. So I can see myself gaining weight again without thinking too much of it, from a medical 'health' point of view. From an emotional health point of view though, it's a huge difference. Which is what my motivation is all about.
Right now, I like looking in the mirror, and like the fact that my body listens to me, mainly because I'm listening to it :) And I enjoy listening to my body! There were times before when I would try to diet, and I'd fail because I was starving myself. So I'd feel hungry or not be able to function, or something. These past 2 months, I started with a meal replacement shake, but eat as many vegetables (raw or cooked) as I feel like, and in whatever quantity I feel like. So I'm able to avoid rice, wheat, potatoes etc., and still not starve myself. I also eat all the meat I want - which turns out to be not that much. Where I need to watch myself is snacking at home. We don't have many healthy snack options at home so I'd eat biscuits or something else. I'm now trying to keep walnuts and almonds at home, so I can eat those while preparing something better.
Today specifically, I feel very happy. I know I still have some way to go, but it's only been 2 months and I've made progress to a point where I'm happy. And I specifically want to remind myself that I'm doing this for me. In a few more months, when I'm even fitter, I don't want to suddenly buy fitting or revealing clothes by the truckload. I won't change the way I dress to work. I may have more sexy clothes to wear out, but professionally I'll look the same. I'll know, though, how hot I am :)
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