Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Weigh In Wednesday: 2/27/13 - The I'm Officially Only Overweight Edition

Last Weigh In:                                     234.1
Current Weigh In:                                231.5

Current Weight Loss:                              2.6

Total Weight Loss:                                78.5

Highest BMI:                                         39.8
Current BMI:                                         29.7

Weight loss since returning to Tour:     23.4



I didn't think this day was going to come, when I would step on the scale and see a number below 233. 233 was a goal because for me, because that was when I finally crossed over the magical BMI chart from "obese" into "overweight."  It's kind of crazy to wrap my brain around actually.  I've been considered obese by this chart my entire adult life and now to no longer be in that "danger zone" is really nice.  I don't personally hold that much regard for the standard BMI chart because it does not take muscle mass into the equation (an athlete can be considered overweight simply because their muscle weighs more than fat... see?  stupid.) but when you go to the typical doctor's office, they do pay attention to that chart, and believe me... not getting the "you know, you really should lose some weight because you're obese" speech from a doctor will be a nice thing.

Sorry I haven't posted in a while, but the tour has been kind of circling my hometown for the past few weeks and so I've been shuttling back and forth to Lexington for quick visits with my Mom.  She has a scale there, but since it's a different brand than my scale they tend to be just slightly off from one another.  Not enough to make me slit my wrists or anything, but enough to not get an accurate enough reading to post here.

I had something interesting happen over the past couple of weeks actually, in terms of my weight loss.  While I was in Louisville, I worked my ass off.  I went to the local Y (because the hotel gym was unusable) 5 or 6 times during the week, working out at least 45 minutes each time and I was really good in terms of my caloric intake.  I was the exemplary weight loss candidate that week.  What happened when I stepped on the scale?  Nothing.  It hadn't moved.  I was pissed.  So, I got to thinking and I thought maybe it was time to take a little breather.  Kind of let my body reset.  While I was home with my Mom, I didn't really track my calories, but I knew I wasn't being horrible.  Yes, I had a couple of cake pops (I made them and its a sin to not sample!) but overall my Mom eats pretty well, so therefore I was eating pretty well.  What I wasn't doing was exercising.  I went for a run outside that first day, and for the rest of the week I relaxed, even when I was back in the hotel in Cincinnati I didn't push it.  I did the elliptical for 45 minutes (but now that I'm running again, I don't even work up a sweat on those things even when my watch says I burned 500 calories) and ran a bit, but nothing like I had been doing in Louisville.  So, what happened?

For the last week, I was some sort of weird weight loss monster.  The more I ate?  The more I lost.  My body must have gone into starvation mode while I was in Louisville and so was hanging onto every spare calorie.  So, when I started feeding my body?  POOF!  The weight started dripping off!

Now, I realize this will probably only work for this week so I need to get back to being strict.  But, it has opened my eyes to the fact that I need to make sure to eat back the majority of my calories that I'm burning off.  I knew this and had been ignoring it.  Silly, silly Maia.

Okay, this is a bit of a tangent, but it's something I need to address here.  Yesterday I had a REALLY bad body image day.  I looked in the mirror and cringed.  I will say, with clothes hiding all the bumps and bulges, I am really happy with how I'm looking.  However when I step out of the shower or just have my bra and underwear on, I am repulsed and its because of the extra skin.  This may be too much info, but things are saggy and I'm not okay with it.  The extra skin was actually able to get into my head and make me forget about all my hard work and to make me feel ugly.  I've worked hard to get that idea out of my head and a result of my hard work is what is actually bothering me!  (Did that just make any sense?)  Anyway, I started looking up skin removal surgery and how much it would cost.  It kind of just depressed me even more because it's probably going to run upwards of $7,500-$10,000 since it's elective and not covered by insurance.  I'm hoping to talk to a doctor when I'm back in Lexington because I am also keen on getting a breast reduction and since that's the only form of plastic surgery that you can usually get insurance to pay for, I'm wondering if that could pay for the anesthesiologist and the surgery center, which would therefore make the out of pocket costs for the skin removal surgery a lot cheaper.  I don't know, we'll see.  Probably just a pipe dream, but it's a goal I have for myself.

Anyway, that's what is going on with me.  Have a good week!!

Wednesday, February 6, 2013

Weigh in Wednesday: 2/6/13 The Back to Normal Edition

Last Weigh in:                                     234.3
Current Weigh in:                                234.1

Current Weight Lost:                                 .2

Total Weight Lost:                                75.9

Hello all, I'm back!  In more than one way.  I didn't post for a couple of weeks because I was really not in a good place still.  I was working on getting my back into a good place and I was working on getting my eating back under control after I emotionally ate my way through the first week of my injury.

This morning when I stepped on the scale I was very glad to see that I was right back where I started a few weeks ago.  My stamina is slowly but surely building itself back up to where it needs to be and I am feeling strong again.  I'm working on strengthening my stomach and I'm trying to find new ways to target that area.  A friend on tour gave me some starter pilates videos that I haven't started yet, but I think I will do them tonight.  The gym here at this hotel in Columbus closes at 9 PM and while I'm trying to move my workouts to the mornings to compensate but there are still days where I'm just not able to (like today when I had to be up and at the theater at 8:30 AM for a promo appearance.)  I'm excited to try these videos and I know that I'm going to be hurting tomorrow!

This injury really did do a number on my head and I wouldn't wish it on any of you.  I started doubting everything, including the number on the scale!  I even bought a new scale because I didn't believe it when it said I had gained back 6 pounds (even though I had certainly eaten enough to warrant the gain!).  I automatically assumed there was something wrong with the scale  instead of something wrong with the user.

I am just happy to be back where I was before, right on the cusp of a huge achievement!  I'm right on that overweight/obese cusp!  I'm so damn close!  I just need to work hard this week and not let myself get out of control next week when I'm in my Kentucky neck of the woods.  I have to save my calories for Memphis, because there is no way I'm getting out of that city without gaining at least 5 pounds.  Got to lose some more preemptively!

Until next week, when I'm only (hopefully!) overweight :)