Engaged!!

DBF (now DF) proposed to me yesterday in Budapest! I of course said yes! Not much more time to write right now, but here are some pictures :)

Vacation Blogging: Budapest

I'm out of the country for the next two weeks, traveling in Europe (Budapest, some other parts of Hungary, Vienna, and Cyprus). I won't be tracking but I will be exercising (we already have running, tennis, biking and horseback riding all planned out). I plan to eat what I want but in moderation and only when hungry or to taste new things, but I won't worry about calories or fat content while here. Last time I did this I lost 4 pounds over 3 weeks.

The picture on the right is the view from one of the three (tiny!) balconies in our hotel room in Budapest. We just arrived. The river is the Danube and I cannot wait to go running around it!!

In Defense of Measuring and Weight Training

Sometime in November 2006 when I started this journey, someone on the Weight Watchers boards told me to measure myself regularly. I had actually done that as far back as 2000, but very sporadically. Still I had the spreadsheet and continued to use it.

I've actually added to the measurements I take now (lower stomach and bust band), but I started with these, at 189 pounds:

• Hips: 42.5"
• Waist: 38"
• Bust: 44"
• Right/left arm: 13.5" (sometimes they are different)
  
• Thigh: 26.75"
• Calf: 15.8"
  
• Neck: 15"
• Wrist: 6.2"
  

It's amazing what kind of information these (more or less) monthly measurements give you. Back in April, I weighed 139.6 and measured myself (that was before all the summer associate nonsense this summer). What's interesting is that my measurements in April are still smaller than the measurements I took just this morning at 139. All by about 1/2 an inch. That is significant stuff. The only difference between my 139 of April and 139 of now is that I was doing a lot more weight training then. So here's an incentive to weight train

So today I weighed in at 139, and got the following measurements (the difference between the measurements I took today and my starting ones is in parentheses):

• Hips: 37.5" (5")
  
• Waist: 29" (9")
  
• Bust: 38.5" (5.5")
  
• Right/left arm: 11.5" (2")
• Thigh: 22.25" (4.5")
  
• Calf: 13.25" (2.5")
  
• Neck: 12.5" (2.5")
  
• Wrist: 5.6" (0.6")
  

I am so glad I heeded that suggestion to measure. I've now put it in my online calendar to remind me to do it on the 15th of every month. It is so awesome to see the difference (9 INCHES on my stomach!) in such hard numbers. Plus it's always interesting to see where I'm losing from the most, and how long it takes to lose from that part (in the past, it seems it takes 1 1/2 months of fully on program to lose 1" off my waist, not bad!).

So if you haven't measured yourself: do it! Write it down somewhere you can go back to and compare. Then start your weight training program, or kick it up a notch if you're doing it already. You'll be glad you did.

That maddening scale: weighing yourself everyday

I think it's important not to let the scale dictate your mood--especially if you're a daily weigher like me. I usually weigh in twice: in the morning before I've had anything to drink/eat, and in the evening before going to bed, both in the buff. It's interesting to compare the numbers (usually different by 2-3 pounds). I generally don't let it affect me, it's just information in this journey.

There was a period of time when I started freaking out about my gains every morning, but then I started to get back on program and started to see losses. Again -- just feedback, information. Sometimes a little delayed, sometimes wrong (like during TOM or after really salty food, etc.).

This morning the scale was at 138.6. I can't help but be happy. I haven't been that low since the summer program started, and while my body fat is much higher than it used to be at that weight (that's what two months of almost no weight training will get you), I'm still happy.

Now it's Tuesday--that number may not remain there on Saturday when it counts. But, I know it gives me a renewed inspiration to remain on program this week, so that I do see that number or one like it on Saturday. So even though it's pouring outside, and I have a ton of work to do inside, I'm trying to figure out how I'm going to work out today, how I'm going to continue on this path of losing ... Again, it's just information, but it can be very nice information to have :)

Update: I kept the inspiration of the morning with me today. Went for a 3.5 mile run to earn 4 APs and dipped into just .5 of my flexies. Four days left and I've got 22.5 WPA left and I've already earned 13 APs. And I'm tracking again! :)

Weight Loss Projections

I don't like to set "goals" that are focused on how much weight I'll lose by X date (in fact, I already wrote a post about this). I think it's unrealistic because people usually start with a significant date (like their anniversary, wedding, birthday, etc.) and decide they need to be a certain weight by then.

I think what I do is a bit different. I like to do projections of how much weight I'm likely to lose if I stay on program for a given amount of time. I'm usually very conservative in these projections, expecting to lose 0.8-1 pound on average per week (reasonable I think since when I was on program I was losing 1.2 lbs. on average and because healthy weight loss is between 0.5-2 lbs.).

Projections are different because I am projecting a healthy weight loss and I am starting with what's realistic, not what I would like (I would like to be 120 by Labor Day, but that's not going to happen).

I just did some projections from my current weight of 140 (as of Saturday). I have 5 pounds to make my WW goal and stop paying (which I really want to do, for economic reasons). Assuming I stay on program, I know I can lose an average of 0.8 lbs. per week, which would make it possible to reach goal around September 27 or October 4. There's our European vacation in there, which may derail things. So there's a reason to work really hard during vacation.

The next goal is to be 125, which I think will be approximately 20-25% body fat. Assuming I stay on program all that time, at an average loss of 0.8, the earliest I could reach that goal is Dec. 20, though probably more likely the next week's weigh in: Dec. 27. Now these projections aren't going to be as good because it's even further in the future. But it gives me a kick in the butt--if and only if--I stay on program from now until the end of the year, I could be at my personal goal.

November 11, 2008 will be my 2-year anniversary on Weight Watchers. It would be wonderful to at least be at my WW goal by then. I know I can do that.

Part of me can't believe I'm not there yet, in fact, since I was/am at 139/140 in the second picture at right back in December 2007. So I have basically maintained, all things considered, since then. I want to say: "What a waste of time!" But it hasn't been. I've been learning how to maintain, even without trying too hard. But now, the time to learn to maintain is over--at least for a bit--I am back in losing mode, which means a bit more deprivation, but also getting back to fit into my clothes without being uncomfortable again. So here we go!

Back to 140

Well that was short-lived! I weighed at 140 today. No matter. It was my time of the month (TOM) and I did drink a lot at the end of the summer celebration (see pictures below).

DBF is visiting NYC for a bachelor party so I'm alone this weekend. I have a ton of work to do (which I haven't started yet and it's almost 7pm on Saturday -- oops! :)

I did go running for 4.7 miles today. It felt glorious. A bit hot outside (78F or so) but it was sunny only some of the time which made it easier. I had to take a break and sit by the Esplanade to admire the view of Cambridge and the sail boats. My brother's visiting this week, I think we might have to take a boat/canoe/kayak out!

Two days left!

I have two days left in my summer job. All this ridiculous eating and drinking will soon stop! :) I updated my earlier post about all the restaurants I went to this summer. Crazy number of places. Twelve weeks of work and I never paid for my own lunch! The nonsense stops this weekend--I have to get back to exercising more often and eating better.

I accepted the firm's offer to come work full time after I finish school and/or after a clerkship (if I get one). I could start as early as September 2009 or perhaps (if I do a clerkship) September 2010. Crazy how this all works--so far in advance! But I feel really lucky to have an offer from a big firm, with the crazy loan payments I'll have as soon as school starts, it'll be important.

I have lunch with a partner today and then our end-of-the-summer event which will of course involve lots of drinking and eating. Tomorrow (last day) it's "paycheck breakfast" and then lunch. I think we pretty much finish early and then go home.

DBF will be gone this weekend unfortunately to our friend's bachelor party in NY so I'll have the weekend to myself to (hopefully) work on all the clerkship applications.

I'm in the middle of TOM so I'm just trying to stay sane at this point. I was at 140.0 in the scale this morning. TOM always makes me gain a bit during the week. I'm just hoping to maintain on Saturday.

Mental game

I haven't had a full night's sleep in over a month. I've been so stressed and haven't decompressed at all. I know it's affecting me. I also haven't made it to the gym. Which is a vicious cycle I know.

Tomorrow I have a massage. It's not exercise but I'm hoping it will help me relax a little so I can sleep better. I think if I just cut out drinking altogether I would really be able to. Honestly I can't wait till the summer temptations are over so that all of this is easier!

Back in the 130s!

I weighed in at home today at 139.2, yipee! I totally went over my points for the week (by about 20) but I did go running a few times with my new cute Nike clothes! I also tracked--which I hadn't done in forever! I am a little ways away from my lowest of 136.4, but at least I'm heading in the right direction.

The picture is from today :)