I had a lengthy post drafted before I abruptly closed my browser, little realizing that I forgot to save it. So let me summarize the highlights:

Subway=cheap & convenient

Quiznos=tasty

Small portions makes me think I’ve been cheated

Skechers SRR Resistor=comfy, elevated, but makes me walk different 

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Somehow I knew the evening meal wouldn’t end reasonably. I stayed away from the rice which I knew would way me down, but I still ate my share of appetizers and main courses. Which equates to nearly half of the entire dinner. Given the smaller meals I had lately, I could physically feel my gut tighten after all was said and done.

Half portion of Vanilla Prawns

Half portion of Garlic Beef

Half appetizer portion Crab Rangoon

Half appetizer portion Fried Garlic Tofu

Cup of Mandarin Seafood soup 

2 glasses Diet Coke

At one point, I considered dessert. Thoughtfully, I refused. 

Punishment come morning. 

 

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Last time I uttered those words, I referred to some 5″ inch-heeled pumps. This time, I’m referring to a pair of black/silver Skechers Resistance Runners (SRR Resistor). I discovered that my holey Saucony sneakers finally had to go…so I took off to Grapevine Mills Mall on Saturday for an hour-long search for the perfect walking/cardio shoe. Shopping for shoes had becomewas a challenge, since I couldn’t really find something that really grabbed me–and I wasn’t prepared to spend $130 on a pair of Asics gel running shoes that I “kinda” liked. Thankfully, I ended my search at the Skechers store and found not just a perfect-wearing pair of exercise shoes, but also a cute pair of outdoor-active flats. 

Sunday started with a Mediterranean buffet but ended into a productive afternoon spent raking leaves. While I limited myself to one plate heaped with gyro meat, shish tawook and roasted cauliflower, I’m fairly certain that I didn’t work nearly enough to burn off those calories.

Of course, I got stuck doing some late night computer work Sunday night, which only gave me 4 hours of sleep before heading out to the morning kickboxing session. Luckily I wasn’t as tired as I thought as I was, but those undereye dark circles were telling.

Something I plan to work on more this week are those ab twists. While I’ve been focusing on crunches and planks, I haven’t focused on ab flexibility; thus I had some serious side stiches while doing alternating ab bicycle crunches.

I also am looking into getting a heart rate monitor; I’m beginning to think that the MFP presets really aren’t giving me an accurate picture of how many calories I’m burning per activity. I have read that HRMs are an invaluable tool in getting results. So I have narrowed down the field between a Polar FT60 and a Suunto t4d, with the Polar HRM currently winning the vote due to an attractive Amazon price of ~$140. Now to scrape up the funding to afford it…

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Worked up to green bands today! Whoop! Baby steps, of course. I definitely couldn’t do extensions on them but I tried pushing the envelope when my flabby arms would allow. Some of the overhead extensions worked with green bands. And we also got to use band and rod today…though I had assembled mine with a yellow band and didn’t get the benefit of any burning sensation.

Well, I definitely plan on making up for it with some jumping jacks and crunches this evening. Flat belly, flat belly, flat belly…work it! 

The goal is 100 each of jacks and crunches, and maybe I’ll wrestle out that band set that’s been gathering dust. 

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I think I’m fudging my food diary numbers, because I don’t think I’m getting the reward I expected out of 6 days of working out last week. My weight approached 146 last week but hasn’t gotten back there since.

Maybe I’m just too unrealistic with my goals, but gosh darn it, I wanted to see results. I want those inches off my waistline! I wanted to see that my sacrifices last week were paying off.

Except the stupid scale is telling me different.

Okay, I did have that cup of buttered, mayo elotes one day last week. Corn carbs work like rice on me; I gain back the pounds I lost and retain it for 3-4 days. 

Some of those days, I just couldn’t stand the white diet of sandwiches, fruits and veggies; which is why I swung over to the simple Thai, Chinese, Japanese and Mex options. With the exception of the Peanut Sauce Chicken and Vanilla Prawns (and elotes), I thought my estimations of the sushi and fajitas/grilled chicken were right on the nose.

This week, I thought I would be in great condition to meet the workout challenges, especially given enough sleep. But I still struggled, and flat out gave up, on some of the exercises. Perhaps I overreached: I did kick harder, punched harder during sessions, but that had the side effect of shortening my performance. And I’ve got some unusual pains in my joints for it too.

Another observation: sometimes when I think I’m weaker on one side, it soon proves me wrong when I’m exercising the other side. This has been occurring a lot with the lower body workouts lately.

A forum comment pointed out that there are different gains from a lifestyle change versus a diet. I pursued this project initially as a diet; I’m not ready to make a lifestyle change when it comes to food however. 

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