Nikky33’s BodyBlog

First of all, Happy Thanksgiving to all my Fellow Canadians on the site.

Yes its Thanksgiving in Canada and this is my first major holiday meal since I started my new lifestyle in January. I’m cooking dinner today, so I do have some control over the amounts of butter, creams and sugars used in cooking a turkey dinner. But I’m still a sucker for veggies, potatoes and gravy (not so big on turkey). But I know I should probably have more turkey than the other stuff *sigh* the dilemma.

So I’m two weeks into my new plan and still on a plateau. I can see my goal, but I have no idea how to get down to the next level of this mountain. The plateau tells me I’m consuming the proper amount of calories for the amount of activity I’m doing. I lost some water weight on my modified velocity, but as soon as I added some starches in, it came back so I’m still hovering around 250lbs.

What can I do differently??? Up the activity? Lower the intake? Opt for surgery? lol. I’m sure I’ll figure this out. I really would like to be down at least 20lbs by year end.

Wow, time sure flies when you’re super busy!

Today I realized its been at least a month since I’ve visited the site or even recorded progress. For the last two months I have been taking a a break from the body obsessing and focusing on other things. The odd thing is I haven’t gained any weight and have not attended the gym *ahem* regularly. I think that by building habits and using sites like this one, we get to a point where we keep active and make healthy food choices without even thinking about it.

So tomorrow (because I start everything on Mondays) I am going to focus again and see if I can’t get this last 80lbs to melt off. It took me 4 months to lose the first 40, but somehow I don’t think the next 40 will be as easy - especially since I’ve been in a plateau for the last 4 months!!!

I’m going to kick start my program with what I call the modified Velocity diet. Basically boiled eggs, protien shakes, Omega 3-6-9 supplements and large green salads for 2 weeks. This time though I will need to add at least 50 grams of carbs per day. Carbs are brain food and I have mid-terms coming up. The last time I did this with practically no carb grams, I was pretty darn stupid by the end of 2 weeks.

I’m also adding swimming and aqua aerobics to my workout routine. I did a lot of swimming this summer and really liked the way I felt afterward. I could almost feel the calorie burn.

So, this is the plan and I’m back and re-focused. Wish me luck!

I love it when I can record a change on my progress page! Down two more pounds and one inch off my hips - YAY!!

A friend has asked me to help him shed some poundage and I am thrilled to help. I’ve decided that I’ll do it with him, which means diet wise, I’m going back to the basics. I’ve created a really low GI diet for us to follow using what I know works and some of the great advice I’ve recieved here. I’m going to try and convince him to sign up and create a body space because I know that this site has certainly helped me! I’m really excited to get started with him

I’m a little disappointed that I haven’t met my first benchmark, but I’m equally happy that I have made such noticable progress. One of the weddings I am trying to trim down for is on Saturday. Weight wise, I’m not where I’d hoped I be, but I am really happy to be able to wear a dress I bought over 10 years ago! The second wedding is in two weeks. I know that I won’t have substantial losses in that time, but it would be nice to lose another inch or so off my waist and hips so I could buy a new dress in a size lower

I can’t wait note my progress in two weeks to see how the diet paired with my increased activity works for me… and him :)

Another busy week has flown by…

The sessions with my PT are going good. Its a fairly simple routine that works mostly my upper body but consists of compound movements. I have a lot of strength in my back and legs, so we engage these muscles while working my arms and abs. I like it a lot and the whole thing takes about 30 - 40 minutes (not including cardio).

Kendo is coming along great. This week there was no soreness - except callouses that are developing on my left hand and foot. I love the fact it is a left side dominated art. It really helps to balance me out and I can feel my left side getting stronger. I find my posture has improved and so has my outlook and confidence.

I’ve decided to change my diet again - kind of. I had stopped tracking my intake and while I know I am not going over my calories (because there are no gains) I am not sure what is causing this new plateau (because there are no losses) in pounds or inches. I’m still going to cycle my carbs, but I’m going to start limiting doing it daily. I’m also going to try and change my protien sources. I’ll get my protien from fish and whey the majority of the week and limit my egg, chicken and red meats to once a week.

I’ve also adopted more of an asian diet - Japanese, actually - because I like thier whole philosophy on food. Everything is fresh with few sauces and seasonings and presented in a lovely manner. Also, when food is served in small portions and eaten with chopsticks it forces you to slow down and enjoy it, causing you to feel full. Soup is served with most meals, which adds to the full feeling while adding limited cals.

Yesterday was a high carb day

Cals - 1812, Carb = 270, Protien = 70, Fat = 57

Today is low carb

Cals = 1249, Carb = 81, Protien = 143, Fat = 42 —> I know I need more protien, but its hard to up this number without upping the fat too… This is still a work in progress.

It’s Cardio today and a Workout day tomorrow

Wow! What a crazy weekend. It seemed non stop!

Friday I had my assessment with my personal Trainer and it really well. He was really excited about my progress so far and the potential for results going forward. His excitement made me excited. My first session is on Tuesday and we are aiming for 3x per week lifting and 5 days a week cardio - heaven help me!

The Kendo class was freaking amazing! What a workout!!!! The warm up and strength excercises alone are unlike any workout I’ve ever encountered. I know my arms back and shoulders are going to come along nicely. That being said, i was sore in places I’ve didn’t know I had places. Left calf and foot, Right forearm, bicep and shoulder, the little muscles on either side of my groin and quads were killing the next day - but in a good way (if that makes sense) I have never applied so much Tiger Balm to my body in my life!

Yoga doesn’t start until the 24th and I can’t wait. I’ll need to be nice and limber to deal with these workouts!

So today is Cardio (Booooo!) and the plan is a 30 minute HIIT and then some major stretching. I’m really excited to see the plan my PT has come up with for tomorrow. I also can’t wait to post more progress and progress pics!

So its been 6 whole months in my new lifestyle. I’ve lost inches and pounds, my friends have noticed my losses, I’ve gained muscle and strength and I’m feeling pretty great. But I’ve decided its time to up the ante and make some changes.

I’m happy with my diet, so unless I decided to try something different, I’m going to continue with carb cycling and calorie counting - hell, if it ain’t broke….

I’ve enlisted the services of a personal trainer for 10 sessions. I’m really excited because I think this will help me ensure I am lifting to my maximum potential to get the results I want. My assessment is tomorrow - YAY!

I’ve signed up for yoga classes. I really need to learn to de-stress and relax and yoga is great for that. I have been practicing some movements on my own, but I can’t tell if my posture and alignment is correct, so classes it is.

And the thing I am most excited about… I have joined a Kendo club, something I have been wanting to do for years. Kendo is Japanese fencing and like all martial arts, it teaches discipline, focus, integrity and confidence. Plus, it’s one hell of a workout!

I guess my theme for this year is "DO IT". Why think about the things you would like to do, when you can just do them. I’m tired of procrastinating and waiting for the "right" moment to initiate the things I want to do. The right moment never comes, dreaming about things is the lazy person’s privilege. I want to be a person of action, I have become a DOer

Wow, its been almost 4 weeks since I’ve been at the gym. Where does a month go? So much has happened since my surgery on June 3rd and I think that my hectic lifestyle helped me keep losing even though I wasn’t working out.

I’m really proud that I maintained my healthy eating habits during my recovery period. It would have been so easy to eat like I did before and "start again" in July - but the thought didn’t even cross my mind! This tells me that I have created a new diet and healthy lifestyle. I am not on a fad diet, or quick fix. I have made a lifestyle change and that feels great!!!

Even though I couldn’t get to the gym; I did need to pack and clean an entire house and then move said items to a new location. This was quite the cardio and upper body workout!! So is unpacking I won’t be able to hit the gym again until Thursday and I’m really looking forward to it.

I took my weight and measurements today for the first time in almost a month and was amazed that I am still making progress!! Down in weight, chest, waist and thighs and up slightly in forearm. I feel good about the gain in the forearm though because I can see it is muscle growth and toning. I used to hate my forearms and upper arm, but now I am learning to liek them and can’t wait to see the results when I reach my goal.

Alright! Tomorrow I start my new diet plan and exercise routine.

Diet: I am going start Carb Cycling. So far I have found three different approaches to this and I am going to try all three (I like to change things up frequently). First, for 4 weeks I am going to do the three day cycle; alternating between low, med and high. I am interested to also see which approach is easiest to follow (mentally and physically) and which has the best results.
Low (1933 calories)- mostly protein shakes with peanut butter, lean protein sources and leafy greens. I am aiming for 260g protein (1040calories), 60g fat (540 calories) and 89g carbs (356 calories).

Med (2015 calories)- add more fibrous and starch veggies, plus fruit. Aiming for 260g protien (1040), 55g fat (495) and 120g carbs (480).
High (2215 calories) - Add rice, oatmeal, pizza , etc. Aiming for 260g protien (1040), 55g fat (495), 170g carbs (680)

Of course I may have to adjust my caloric intake after two weeks if there are significant losses.

In the second 4 weeks, I am going to try 3 low carb days and a refeed day on the 4th.

I have been eating normally this week and I feel a bit bloated and yucky. I am really looking forward to Monday!!

Workout: Cardio, cardio, cardio. Either 20 minute HIIT or 45 minutes med intensity. I’m also going to start my new lifting program which i will profile later. I love lifting - especially upper body work, but unfortunately that won’t give me the results I am seeking.

So I have a plan for the next 12 weeks! Wow, talk about planning.

Just to bring everything up to date between my blog and my weight-loss journal…

Since January 2008 I have lost a total 37.6lbs. I was in a plateau for 2 months where all my efforts seemed to have stalled. Since then I’ve tried the Lean mass Diet and the Velocity Diet. The lean mass thing wasn’t quite working for me, however the Velocity Diet (for the whole 10 days I did it) managed to help me get over the plateau.

Now I think it may be time to reset before I embark on my next venture. On Tuesday I had surgery on my tail bone which has halted any cardio and training routine I have started. I think this is a great time to jump start my weight loss and reset my metabolism. I’ve decided to eat "normally" for the next 5 - 6 days. By this I mean working within my caloric needs, I am not denying myself anything. I will confess that I am still drinking my protein shakes and enjoying my 35 calorie yogurts, but I have also had a burger - with the bun! 2 muffins and lots of rice

I should be able to start light - medium intensity cardio by this weekend. This is also when i am going to start carb cycling. I think I have been doing this to some extent before I even knew what it was, but now I will be taking an informed, structured and educated approach. I am hoping that cycling my carbs is what my body needs to keep it guessing and my metabolism burning. I am also going to up my cardio during my workouts - intensity and time. No matter what I want to believe, I have finally succumbed to the realization that I will never melt the fat around my middle by lifting alone. Once I reach a certain point, then I will reduce my cardio and lift more.

So that’s the plan. Now, let’s see what happens…

I feel good today. I started journaling my progress in the fat loss forum and have recieved some positive feedback and reinforcements - Thanks folks!!!

http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=108024851

So yesturday, I had a moment and ate some pasta with tomato sauce *sigh* the thing that sucks is that there were no negative repercussions. I have inches lost and pounds lost today on weigh in and measurements. I almost wish I could have eaten 100 grams of carbs more than I was supposed to and some type of consequence would have occured. I’m just twisted like that I guess….

I’m loving my shakes though. What a difference a good quality product makes. I bought this whey protien to keep at work and that crap tastes like dishwater. Its so gross and they claim no blender necessary for mixing - yeah right, if you like vanilla flavoured clumps. Blech!!

My main shake comes from a generic store brand (Equate) and it is AWESOME! Smooth, thick, tasty, great mouth feel - satisfying and non-clumpy. Love that stuff.

So I’m off to the gym now. Feeling good about my progress and ready to sweat.