Round 4 : Week 1 : Day 1

Yep, definitely up to 162 again.  I'm bummed, but I knew it was coming.  Partly, I blame it on the fact that I was still up eating at 3 am and had to wake up early to get my taxes done.  It's likely I hadn't finished digesting by 9:30 when I stepped on the scale.

It's just more fuel to kick Round 4 into gear!  Here are the updated rules:

• calories at 1760 (updated past 160#)
• macros at 45/30/25%
• focus on perfecting lifting form
• low hr cardio = not logged, no calories eaten back
• high hr cardio = logged, calories eaten back
• weight lifting = not logged, drink protein shake (not logged)
• keep a schedule

This is probably going to be my toughest change so far.  I just do not live my life by a schedule.  I sleep and eat when I can and waste hours of my day avoiding doing both of these things.   So I'm going to try to loosely follow this schedule:

06:30 a.m. wake
06:45 a.m. breakfast
10:30 a.m. snack
12:30 p.m. lunch
03:45 p.m. snack
05:30 p.m. nap
06:30 p.m. wake
* 06:30 p.m. snack
* 07:00 p.m. exercise
09:00 p.m. dinner
11:30 p.m. sleep

* on workout days only

Yes, even on weekends.  We'll see how well I do or whether this even helps me at all over the next four weeks.  Wish me luck!  I'm so going to regret this...

Round 3 : Week 4 : Day 7

Today was the last day of Round 3.  I feel like I learned a lot, but I still have a lot to work out before I hit my stride.  I doubt I'll have lost anything come tomorrow morning.  In fact, I'll be surprised if I even stay at 161, but I'm damn proud of what I've started these past four weeks and I'm excited to see what happens next! 

Round 3 : Week 4 : Day 6

So Sunday was a total bust, I kicked Tuesday's ass, and today was 'eh.'  For reasons I'm too embarrassed to explain*, I had a killer headache since this morning that wouldn't quit.  I don't like taking Advil anyway, but I was actually concerned it might mess up my ability to work out and read my body's signals during weight lifting, so I opted out thinking that the exercise itself might take care of the headache.  Hell.  No.  What I didn't do, however, was give up even though I really wanted to.  I got through two compound exercises each for upper and lower body.

In other news, I really do think I'm eating at maintenance, or almost maintenance.  I'm hoping with the small changes in Round 4, I'll start seeing some weight loss again.  Regardless, I definitely have some great muscle development.  I could swear my legs and arms are stronger, but you can actually see it in my back!  Super cool :)

Round 3 : Week 4 : Day 5

A distinct rise in weight since yesterday.  I still have to get used to the idea that a solid strength training session will inevitably lead to weight gain.  On the surface it seems so counter-intuitive, but I know – logically – that it means I did a good job yesterday.  Time will tell if I can finally knock that 10th pound on Saturday.

Also, I did some math.

Thus I currently have about 112# of lean body mass.  The goal is to retain all that muscle while losing fat with a goal bf between 20 and 25%.

Which leads to a new goal weight of about 135# rather than 130# like I was previously aiming for.  Good thing, too, because it seems like each pound is a real bitch to take off! 

Round 3 : Week 4 : Day 4

I'm still feeling a little lazy on my week off, but I rocked today's workout.  I ate nutritious, light foods that fueled my lifts well.  I pushed myself as hard as I could until I pretty much couldn't do any more!  I also noticed that my body felt very good today, overall.  Even before I exercised, I felt strong, and lean, and trimmer than I have in a long while.  Whatever my setbacks, I have to remember to feel proud of what I'm accomplishing, because I'm finally treating myself right. 

Round 3 : Week 4 : Day 3

It's funny; I thought that being on Spring Break this week would mean I'd do a better job with my food and exercise.  I'd have constant access to all our lovely, fresh fruits and vegetables and refrigerated meats, etc, and I could work out whenever instead of having to fit it around my insane work schedule.  Instead, my inclination has been to be a bit lazier with my food choices, I move less in general, and keep putting off exercising.  It's weird!  I'm not doing so well with all the freedom. 

Round 3 : Week 4 : Day 2

Today was generally an epic failure.  I thought after two rest days, I'd have today in the bag, but no.  For some reason I kept waiting and waiting and waiting to actually start my workout until hours after I'd eaten a measly 700 calories for breakfast and lunch.  As a result, I quickly came to understand that exercising on an empty stomach is all but worthless.  So here I am at 1 am eating dinner finally and feeling defeated.  Today was such a waste.  I keep telling myself that it was a learning opportunity, but mostly it feels like an opportunity missed.  I've had too many of those lately.