Life update

[monarchist]

So, I've been neglecting my journals minus posting links to my average works of fiction. I don't really know what the problem is; I used to blog frequently when I was an undergrad and in high school, but I suppose now I just feel that my life is just so damn monotonous that no one would actually give a crap

Comments

[pergamond]

I thought this would be cool:

http://fitdesk.net/

But I suspect the quality of the bike is perhaps pretty low and that would make it hard to use (and maybe tough on your knees too).

I've been trying to lose 20lb (I put on 10lb this year and I was about 10 above where I wanted to be at that stage). I joined a gym and I'm calorie counting like a (clinically OCD) champ. It sucks. It's super hard to go to the gym late evenings (during semester, I work 7/7 so it's the only time I can go) and remembering to organise my lunches for the week at the weekend is a pain and they get dull. But.... it is working. This weekend was the first weekend I didn't strictly adhere to the diet (Sara was visiting and we ate out) and after 1 month, I'm down 6 lb. It's not fast, it's not fun. It's just about wanting it badly enough.

.... though I confess, this will undoubtedly all go to pot when I go home next week! But now I know I can do it, I feel better about gaining a little of that weight back.

(Also if you'd like a good online calorie counter, I've been using myfitnesspal.com. It lets you add in the exercise you do as 'bonus calories' and has a huge database of food, which makes it easier to check how much you're really eating. Plus, you can friend people on it and be encouraging. I have a friend using it who is super determined with exercise and gets up at the crack of dawn to go to the gym several times a week. As a result, I feel kinda lame if I don't manage my 2 or 3 sessions XD)

[monarchist]

I'm already using a calorie counter that's pretty damn awesome. I used My Fitness Pal in the past and it wasn't as comprehensive as I would've liked.

I think I found a low impact machine that'll help. And really, the knee pain will lessen when I lose the weight.

Thank you though.

[pergamond]

I'm not sure I deserve a 'thank you' for basically saying "Yeah, this sucks! Suck it!" XD

One thing I just remembered which might be really worth checking; do you know what your basal metabolic rate is? I found the internet will tell you that a woman needs 2000 kcal/day but I had my daily burn rate measured at the gym and (due to all the serious desk riding I do), mine is only at 1345. So if I want to diet to loose weight, I need to be under that amount daily. Since some restaurant dishes can be over that number alone, I think it's really useful to know where you personally are.

My parents have offered to buy me a heart rate monitor as an extremely early birthday present. Apparently, it awards you cups when you do well at the fitness goals it suggests. I WANT CUPS :| (I feel this easily led strategy could work well for me...)

[monarchist]

Perhaps not, but nonetheless.

Mine is right under 2000. I'm pretty careful when I go out to eat to make sure I don't get anything too high in calories.

Cups of what?

[pergamond]

Ah right, then you got that covered :)

Eating out is super difficult because there's so many hidden calories. A Caesar Salad from the cheesecake factory without chicken, for instance (which you'd think would be pretty healthy) is almost 900 calories, which is pretty ridic for one meal. But, if you have a good calorie counter then I'm sure you know all of that :) I just mention it as ways I found I got caught out, since you mentioned you were struggling to get your weight down.

And cups as in trophies! Like, gold stars. They don't do anything, they just sit on your watch and tell you YOU DID GOOD :D

..... OK, so I think the second point I'm making (you know, after the "THIS SUCKS HAHAHAAHA" one) is that ultimately, the weight loss calculation is simple (even if getting the correct calorie count isn't): the only way to lose (gain) weight is to eat less (more) than your basal rate. So if you're going in the wrong direction (or no direction!) then it's really worth scrutinising your diet and asking what's nuking your efforts. e.g. I also found I was eating too much breakfast cereal, which was surprisingly calorie heavy.

But exercise is also supposed to be super important. How about hockey? :D

Right I'm out of advice (from my 2 years tennis playing experience). It comes down to (1) THIS SUCKS (2) recount your calories and (3) play hockey! Yeah, everyone loves a summary slide in talks...

[monarchist]

I'd do hockey, but since I fucked up my ankle, I can't handle ice skating anymore.

[pergamond]

You don't really want to play hockey; it's as expensive as hell.

But finding a sport you enjoy that doesn't hit on an injury might be fun?

[monarchist]

Definitely. Given my current joint issues, swimming might need to be my go to.

[pergamond]

The only problem with swimming is that you're going to hit the same problems you did with the gym; in that, it's going to rely on you kicking your own arse out of the apartment to go. I've actually found it worse that the gym because of the whole getting wet shenanigans. I've been reasonably good about going to the gym over the last month, but I've yet to use the pool. I bought a swimming cap. That was my only attempt to date!

The advantage of some kind of class or club is that you have more of an incentive to go. Either you've paid for the class or you have team mates who rely on you. I'd have missed way more hockey if I hadn't known my team would be a man short on the ice if I didn't shift my sorry backside.

How about a swim aerobics class or a lesson?

[monarchist]

Man, swim aerobics sound fantastic, minus the fact that my local YMCA offers morning classes (when I'll be working).

I found a low impact bike though that'll get me to a point where I hope I might be able to start jogging/running again like I did when I was younger.