Metrics

Card carrying data monger, here.

There is no taking the analysis out of this lady.

I like being able to track and forecast things. It gives me a realistic idea of what the future holds.

I like seeing what my 7 day average weight it and see when it reaches various thresholds.

I like having a measuring stick to measure against and work towards.

These motivate me.

How I feel motivates me, but when I'm having a bad week or a bad day, it helps to review how far I've come. Today is NOT a bad day, but I'm coming off a rather intense week.

So, what are these tools? Oh, just a ton of spreadsheets & charts, and measurements, weights, and a pair of jeans.

Spreadsheets:

Weights & Measurements
This is where I keep my semi-daily home weigh-ins and my Weight Watchers weigh-ins. I also have a section with the measurements I take monthly.

Weight Chart & Measurement Chart, which are updated on the tracking page here

Differences Spreadsheet
This keeps track of the total drop at home and at Weight Watchers and also the difference between the scales on the days that I weigh in in both places (on average the difference is about 2.5 pounds)

Forecast Spreadsheet & Chart
This is the fun one. I have my current weight trend from Weight Watchers and I have projected the loss if I continue at 2 lbs/week, 1.5 lbs/week, 1 lb/week and .8 lbs/week into the future highlighting when I will reach my first goal of 150 lbs, and then subsequent 145 lbs and 140 lbs. After 140 lbs, I plan to hold steady. There is absolutely no reason for me to be smaller. I'm not even sure that 145 is not too small for my frame & the muscle I'm building.  So I'm really just seeing how it goes after reaching 150 lbs.

Trends I use this to get a 7 day average of my daily home weigh ins. This helps me to see the trends that I'm following. I already have the 7 day sampled Weight Watchers weigh ins, but the moving average takes into account what's going on in between so there is more detail to it.
And there's just a small insight into how my mind works in its motivation. Charts, forcasts, trends.

~Katie

Back in the Swing

Yesterday was my big meeting, so I got to do something after work with James rather than just heading home & crashing.

This week has been full. I've been spending my time either at work, or sleeping. I missed a number of workouts in a row, but I also did not have any beer, because there was no relax time. So I'm down in weight a tiny bit.

This morning, I woke up & realized I had time for one of the two scheduled workouts for today & jumped out of bed to squeeze it in. This means I can go to the social event planned for tonight! Yay!

Tomorrow is going to be another good workout day & next week is the big finale for this section with tracking on Friday or Saturday!

~Katie

Combatting the Burnout

This past week has been long, hard, and very disciplined. 

I do not work well for too long under those conditions. 

The past two days were workout-less & I caved into stress eating a number of times.

But I will not go more than 2 days without working out. Tonight, I get right back on that saddle. I rededicate & recommit.

Yes, my life is a series if recommitments.

Next week, I'm starting to do BeerSox events again, and getting back into the swing of things after a long 2 & a half months "off".

~Katie

The Week That Just Keeps Going

I have eaten the same meal for lunch and dinner every day this week.

It's an okay meal.

My schedule is:
wake up
get ready
work
walk to get lunch & dinner
work
eat dinner
work
go home
work out
relax a tiny bit
sleep

That's it

Today is a switch up because it's checkup day.
I went to Weight Watchers at lunchtime, picking up said same lunch & dinner on my way
I will go to therapy this evening, I really feel like just going in asking how much I owe, and walking out.
I am not frustrated, I don't have anything huge that I'm having issues with, I don't feel like I'm spinning out of control, I don't feel manic, I don't feel sad, I actually feel quite content, if a bit stressed (normal when it's sortof like finals week for my short term assignment, it's okay, I've been steadily working towards this, I've got it, it's just a bit stressful).

So.

Weight this morning was a solid 169 lbs on my scale at home before any food or clothing to mess things up.
This is a big thing for me.

When I broke down in my kitchen last year while dyeing yarn because I went and weighed myself and I weighed 170 lbs, it was the impetus of my joining Weight Watchers online. I lost about 15 lbs in a month and a half. And then I gained it all back plus 15 more pounds.

So getting back to that point, that breaking point for me, it means a lot.

At my meeting, my weigh in was actually .2 lbs over what I weighed in at two weeks ago. I don't really like that. However, given my relaxed tracking from my birthday through the holiday weekend, an overall gain of .2 lbs means that I kept in check and corrected. So, I'm fine with it, but I really do need to barrel through July and get solidly into the small pair of jeans.

They keep staring at me. They want to be worn. I just don't feel comfortable in them, yet. I have a couple inches on my hips to go before they will be non-muffin-toppy.  And I don't like wearing clothes that are too tight anymore. I'd rather swim in clothes and feel the effect of losing weight than wear something that is a bit too tight, but in a smaller size, and then feel constricted and fat.  Does that even make sense?

The feeling of loose clothing has suddenly become a feeling of accomplishment. It means that I've been making progress. It means that I've come a long way from where I started and those articles of clothing were too tight.  Wearing tight, yet, smaller sized clothes, just feels like I'm squishing into it and reminds me that I'm not there, yet. All day long. That I'm not there, yet. That I planned on being there 2 months ago, and I'm still not there, yet. And then I get frustrated and flustered with myself.  And so I wear the loose clothing that proves to me that I've made progress, and encourages me to continue. And I keep the pair of jeans at hand to try on in the morning after weigh-in, just to see if I'm that much closer to feeling comfortable in them. Because that moment. That moment will be a celebration.

~Katie

Work It Out

Today, I decided to combat stress in new ways. I prepared for lunch, and dinner, at the office. I have a big meeting next week, and I want to be fully ready for it. I know I will be, but until then, I have self-imposed 12 hour days. 

This means that normally, I would be stocking up soda & gummy candy for late night writing sessions. Yes, my psyche still thinks that this will somehow make my synapses fire more quickly.

In order to prepare for the day, and the sweet cravings, I packed some chobani bites in a chocolate/coffee flavor. I also went to Zoe's Kitchen for lunch. I ordered a lean turkey pita with a side of fruit for lunch, and another to take with me for dinner.

When dinner time came around, I was very glad to have good, solid food available that didn't weigh me down.

I was also happy that I took a walk in the middle of the day.

I got home late, and did my slated workout of Fire 45 & Abs 10 from TurboFire, and now am having a recovery beer, which is within my points for the day.

Shower, sleep, repeat for the next week.

I am determined to keep the bad effects of stress at bay with clean eating and exercise. The good effects of stress, I'll keep. Like focus, productivity, and focus.

And having a plan for lunch & dinner every day is rather nice. As well, we received our shipment of PB2 from Amazon today, so I'll be bulking up my Shakeology in the mornings! For some reason, the word got out about PB2, and all of the grocery stores that carry it have been completely out every time we go shopping for the past month.

~Katie

Always rolling the ball back up the hill

Holidays & birthdays are my nemesis. I love love love to celebrate.

I really don't like having to think during holidays & birthdays.

But when I don't, the ball slips down the hill, and I have to chase it, catch it, and change the direction.

Currently, I slipped a few pounds. I haven't been religiously tracking.

But I have been working out every day.

My July Challenge has started, so I'm really putting in the effort to keep after it every day.

Let's change this small slip in motivation.

~Katie

13 Day Challenge Results

So, I realized I didn't fully recap my little 13 day challenge for the shoes.

I was really, really good. But in the end, I did not reach my goal of 32 post-its by the end of June 29th.

I went over points on Friday, and on Saturday, too. So I really ended up with 31 post-its by the end of June 29th.

SO CLOSE! But no shoes.

I really enjoyed this challenge! I think I'm going to continue with it during the 30 day July Challenge I put together. But this time, I'm making my goal a little bit more realistic.

I will meet 2 metrics every day & 3 metrics 5 times in 2 weeks (basically, I would have made my goal last time if I had those metrics)

 ~Katie