Jelly

So Mike and I did these exercises tonight:

60 situps
75 crunches
40 leg raises
50s plank

28 push ups
50 dips
75 bicep curls
60 punches

And I feel like this...

Operation Zwei - Check in #3

It's been another week of exercising and am happy to report these numbers.

Measurements as of August 27th:

Weight: 133 lbs

Circumference under ribs: 28 in

Circumference at belly button: 33 in

Circumference at hips: 36 in

I realized I was eating about twice as much cereal as I should so I've reduced that serving.  I've also started eating fruits and vegetables for lunch instead of heavy leftovers and bread.

I tried on the dress and it was easier to zip up, but not yet ready to wear comfortably.  I have a month to go before I have to wear it, so I'm hopeful I'll be able to.

Operation Zwei - Check in #2

It's check in time once again and the figures have changed a little.  The area under my ribs has decreased, but everywhere else hasn't.

Measurements as of August 20th:

Weight: 133 lbs

Circumference under ribs: 28.5 in <---- YAY, lost an inch here!

Circumference at belly button: 34 in

Circumference at hips:36.5 in

I came across a site that has about 10 or 11 different exercises that can be done to help shrink those pesky stomach muscles.  I can do most of the exercises - you have to do 25 of each - I'm only doing 10 of each, but it's much more than I was doing before.

I've done about 4 days of this exercise regimen and then had a food packed weekend, so the fact that I did lose an inch makes me glad.  Hopefully I can continue this over the next few weeks and give myself some wiggle room in that dress!

Operation Zwei

Earlier this year, I started "Operation schrumpfen", which I used to track my weight loss.  It went well, I lost 3 lbs and 3 inches total.  I was starting to feel better and starting to look better too.

Since we've been back from Germany, I've not been keeping up with my exercises and it's starting to annoy me, as silly as that sounds.  We have a wedding to attend at the end of September, and while I can fit into the dress, it is a little on the tight side.  If I'm going to be able to eat or drink or sit down at the wedding, I need to start shrinking a bit more.

Not a whole lot more mind you, just to continue shrinking my muffin top a bit more.  In the grand scheme of things, that's the last part to get under control and of course, it's my biggest problem area.

Hence, I have dubbed the second phase as "Operation Zwei", which means "Operation 2" in English.

When I last listed my measurements, it was April... 4 months ago.

Measurements as of April 4th:

Weight: 131 lbs

Circumference under ribs: 28

Circumference at belly button: 31.5

Circumference at hips: 34.5

Circumference of thigh: 21

Measurements as of August 13th:

Weight: 133 lbs

Circumference under ribs: 29.5

Circumference at belly button: 32.5

Circumference at hips: 35.5

Circumference of thigh - taking this out from now on as I don't have a problem with my thighs that needs to be tracked.

Not as bad as I thought, but I do have my work cut out for me.

Operation schrumpfen Check-in #10

I have good news and bad news.

The bad news is my workouts have been sporadic over the last little while.

The good news is that I'm in the same spot - dimensions wise - that I was in my last check in.

We leave for Germany in just over a month, I'm so behind in my German it's not funny, but in terms of clothes, I have a little bit to go before I can feel comfortable - read: not squished like a sausage in various pairs of pants and shorts.

Therefore, every day til we leave, I'm going to work out and study German.  I've said it to the Universe, now to keep my word.

Musings on weight loss

Observations about weight loss

• I dislike exercising.  I really do. It's a mental struggle every day I exercise.  Sometimes I win and hit the TreadClimber, other times I don't and reach for the ice cream.
• As much as I like Pinterest, seeing all the Photoshopped "buff" women does get you down from time to time.
• Watching comedy programs while trying to breathe on the TreadClimber is not advised. Trust me.
• Don't pay attention to the size on the top/skirt/pant etc.  I believe the stores have different sizes to mess with our minds. If it fits, wear it with pride.
• It's always better to exercise with someone.  Like a friend or spouse who can motivate you. Or in my case, a corgi that walks under you when you're trying to hold a plank for more than 5 seconds or a corgi who lies next to your head and proceeds to make you laugh when you are trying to do sit-ups.

Operation schrumpfen Check-in #9

I haven't been able to update lately mainly because I've just gotten back to exercising.  Grr, it's so easy to stop working out especially if you're sick or have weeks where you are run ragged all over the place doing this, that and the other.

Measurements as of April 4th:

Weight: 131 lbs

Circumference under ribs: 28

Circumference at belly button: 31.5

Circumference at hips: 34.5

Circumference of thigh: 21

Compared to measurements as of January 9th:

Weight: 133

Circumference under bust: 29 - adjusted to measure under the ribcage, not at the ribcage.

Circumference at belly button: 34

Circumference at hips: 37

Circumference of thigh: 23

I'm pleased to report though that I'm now able to fit into 2 more pairs of jeans!  YAY!  I didn't think I'd be able to wear them this quickly, but I tried them on over the weekend and they fit.  I feel like that lady on the Progresso soup commercial!

My list of pants to wear is now down to 4.  I'm getting there, just slowly. :)

Operation schrumpfen Check-in #8

Here are this week's numbers.  Am not happy about them, but there's not much I can do at this point.

Weight: 131 lbs

Circumference under ribs:28.5

Circumference at belly button:32

Circumference at hips:36

Circumference of thigh: 21

Over the weekend though, I did fit into a pair of pants that I have not been able to wear since October.  So, I think it evens out in the end.

I am starting to see a very faint light at the end of the tunnel and I'm on my way toward my target, which is to fit into about 6 pairs of pants/jeans.

Operation schrumpfen Check-in #7

So now we come to the end of another month.

I'm definitely seeing changes. My legs are stronger, they don't hurt when I run up and down the stairs multiple times or when I use them to help me close the Lazy Boy recliner. My spare tire is almost gone and my waist-to-hips are not as lumpy as before.

I'm starting to like the way I look in sweaters and tops again. My muffin top is slowly shrinking and it feels great! I'm less self conscious about it and I know in just a few months it will be mostly gone. I'm really looking forward to purchasing a new bikini.

Let's compare some numbers shall we?

Measurements as of February 27th:
Weight: 131 lbs

Circumference under ribs: 28.5

Circumference at belly button: 31.5

Circumference at hips: 34

Circumference of thigh: 21.6


Measurements as of February 6th:

Weight: 132

Circumference under ribs: 29

Circumference at belly button: 32

Circumference at hips: 35

Circumference of thigh: 22


Measurements as of January 9th:

Weight: 133

Circumference under bust: 29 - adjusted to measure under the ribcage, not at the ribcage.

Circumference at belly button: 34

Circumference at hips: 37

Circumference of thigh: 23

Goals for March:
- Maintain 30 minutes on the  TreadClimber at least 3 times a week.
- Develop a toning regimen for my arms, back and stomach.  This I will also do 3 times a week.

Operation schrumpfen Check-in #6

My figures for this week.  Not as nice as I'd like them to be, but that's the way it is.  The past few days were just awful and I've been very tired lately due to lack of sleep so my motivation across the board went down to 0.

Weight: 132 lbs

Circumference under bust: 27.5

Circumference at belly button: 32

Circumference at hips: 35

Circumference of thigh: 22

I did achieve one of my goals, I'm now up to 30 minutes on the TreadClimber so I'll be maintaining that time moving forward.  I have sort of decided about my core training and on those days, I'll see how far I can go to stay at 30 minutes on the Treadclimber.

I've also scheduled in 2 days a week where no exercising is done, moreso for those days during the work week where you have errands to do in the evening or you're meeting up with friends etc.  On the weekend, 9 times out of 10, I put in a workout.

In terms of food, nothing much has changed.  I do put a limit on myself in terms of portion control and what I choose if we go to a restaurant.  I am finding that sometimes I'm just full and I don't eat anything else for the evening, whereas before I'd be apt to grab something later in the evening.  That being said, I do still eat "junk" like chocolate or ice cream whenever the urge hits.  I know some purists out there will say nothing of the sort, but I'm much better to be around if I'm allowed some vices every once in a while.

Operation schrumpfen Check-in #5

It's now been roughly a month of working out on the TreadClimber and I can see results.  Nothing major on the actual lbs figure, but I've lost 2 inches off of my belly button and my hips, which translates to a slightly deflated muffin top.  Score!  This is my main problem area and to see it shrinking makes me feel awesome!

My thighs have come down by an inch, which I'm not terribly worried about. At this stage, I don't want to have skeletal thighs, I'd rather have toned/muscular thighs.  Right now, they do rub together and with shorts weather coming up in a few months, I would like them to be less flabby and more shapely.

Measurements as of January 9th:

Weight: 133

Circumference under bust: 29 - adjusted to measure under the ribcage, not at the ribcage.

Circumference at belly button: 34

Circumference at hips: 37

Circumference of thigh: 23

Measurements as of February 6th:

Weight: 132

Circumference under bust: 29

Circumference at belly button: 32

Circumference at hips: 35

Circumference of thigh: 22

Goals for this month:
- Reach 30 mins on the TreadClimber.  I'm pretty sure this will happen this week, I'm at 28 mins now.
- Start including exercises for my core.  I found a neat set on Pinterest, (yes, I'm addicted!), and I intend to start using them.

- I'm thinking of alternating days for the TreadClimber and the core exercises.  Bowflex says to use the machine 3 times a week for 30 mins, but because I'll be cutting down on the days, something needs to take it's place.  I don't know, I'm waffling on this portion, but we'll see what I decide.  I might just do less TreadClimber on the days I work out my core.

Operation schrumpfen Check-in #4

I'm up to 25 minutes on the Tread Climber and it's working.

I am far too doubting when it comes to me, but Mike says he can feel a difference in my thighs, at first on top, but now it's starting to show on the back.

I put on a pair of track pants that I haven't worn since December and it feels different - not as tight around the hip area and I don't have any marks on my skin, YAY!

A caveat, I think I'm going to have to measure myself from now on.  The areas where we are measuring are changing and that's why I'm thinking there's no way I lost 4 inches on my hips in the span of a week.

Other than that, I'm happy with the progression and I can't wait to see what I can fit into next month!

Weight: 131.5 lbs
Circumference under ribcage: 27.5 in.
Circumference at belly button: 31 in.
Circumference at hips: 33.5 in
Circumference of thigh: 22 in

Operation schrumpfen Check-in #3

This week started off great, but it ended poorly.  I didn't exercise as much as I should have and it shows in this week's numbers, though I'm glad they have stayed constant.

In addition, I'm sick AGAIN... grrr.  This time with a cold and I just feel crappy.  This is not helping.

On the good side though, I tried on a pair of pants that I haven't worn in a very long time, years months, and it fits a little better.  Not to the level where I feel I look good, still pudgy in some areas and it is not pretty when I sit down, but it's progress!  I plan to try it on again this time next month and see.

Weight: 132 lbs
Circumference under ribcage: 29 in.
Circumference at belly button:33 in.
Circumference at hips: 37.25 in
Circumference of thigh: 22.5 in

Operation schrumpfen Check-in #2

It's been a week of exercising and I'm up to 20 minutes a day on the TreadClimber.  Yesterday I did the plank exercise for about 30 seconds and I nearly died in the process, well not really but I'm a weakling.  I also did 20 repetitions of the "jack-knife" where you do a sit up and lift your legs at the same time.

Suffice it to say today I am sore to the point of the inability to laugh. This is difficult with a corgi as silly as Gimli who loves to make me laugh!

Now to the important stuff, the figures:

Weight: 132
Circumference under ribcage: 29
Circumference at belly button: 32.5
Circumference at hips: 37.5
Circumference of thigh: 23.5

A caveat:

• The circumference under the ribcage increased to 29 because I am chubby right under my ribcage.  Since there's nothing I can do about my rib expansion and I need to be less chubby under my ribs, there was a need to change the value and the measurement location.

Overall, I'm happy with the figures:

• I don't know how I gained .5 of an inch in the hip area, but we'll see how the weeks progress.  It could be Mike measuring in a slightly different spot.
• My thigh is up by .5 of an inch too, but since I've been doing a great deal of walking/climbing/stepping, I'm not too worried about this figure.
• I really like the new figure at the belly button!
• I also like the new weight figure, so long as it stays steady or decreases, I'm happy.

Little by little I'll get there.

Operation schrumpfen Check-in #1

And now we come to the post where I post my measurements for the Universe to see...

One of my major goals this year is to lose about 10 lbs to start and start wearing that closet full of clothes again.  It's winter now so I can sort of get away with wearing big bulky sweaters and big coats, but pretty soon it will be Spring and I cannot fit into my Spring coat... well I cannot button it so there's a need to start slimming down.

I will call it "Operation shrumpfen", which is probably a poor German translation of the word, "shrink".

The figures here will be my baseline and moving forward I expect to see them either decrease or stay the same.

Note, these figures are taken in the evening after dinner.

Weight: 133
Circumference under bust: 27.5
Circumference at belly button: 34
Circumference at hips: 37
Circumference of thigh: 23