Tapes and Measures

I admit it. I'm a scale snob. I weigh myself every day. I know that as part of this journey, you are not supposed to rely solely on the scale as points of progress. Progression pictures, how clothes fit and measurements are also encouraged to track your changes.

I really have a hard time with measurements. Do you measure at the smallest point for the waist measurement? Or at the belly button? Do you suck in or just try to stay neutral? I know the key is consistency, but even keeping that in mind I really am not sure I trust my measurements. It seems like if I breathe differently or move just a bit, I can lose an inch right there!

So ... I have attempted to take some measurements. I bought this MyoTape (pictured above) from Amazon and I DO think it is an improvement over just a regular measuring tape. You can loop it much larger than you need then press the little button and it then retracts until tight. This function is good for storage too.

I've looked up an article  "How To Properly Measure Your Body"  and will read and review it as needed. So instead of this post being too helpful for YOU ... anyone have tips for ME on taking measurements? Are measurements an important part of your progress tracking?

Linking up with Kristen and Kristen 

for Tips and Tricks Tuesday.

It's Monday ...

I usually love Mondays. I'm ready to return to the routine after the "wicked weekend" ... weekends are hard. This last one was no exception. It was good ... which means it was BAD (funny how that works). Much of that had to do with it being my birthday. We went out with my folks on Friday. Saturday we stopped for donuts after the basketball game, and then had pizza & root beer while we watched a funny show (live theater,  "The Hungry Games" a parody of "The Hunger Games").  On Sunday, hubby made his wonderful BBQ and I made a yummy pudding dessert I had been craving.

Three days of BIG calories in.  Three days of not as much exercise, so not many calories out.  I did get in a little cardio, but looking back on these past three days, 20-40 minutes only gives me a TDEE of just over 2000. If I want my 3000+ daily burn I really have to work for it. 

This morning didn't start out great. Stepping on the scale, I'm up FIVE pounds from the weigh-in Friday morning. Although I ate bad this weekend, I know I didn't eat an extra 17500 calories. I'm fairly confident that I can turn the weight around with a few good days and then get back to actually losing "new" weight. But I'm still dragging ... not sure if it's still the time change or what. I got some good sleep over the weekend and I hoped that would help. 

This morning, #1 son was up at 4:30 ... and that woke me as well. He has early morning seminary, and his scout group was on flag duty (putting up flags throughout the neighborhood for Veteran's Day). He had thrown his laundry in and I could hear it clunking in the drier (I'm a light sleeper). Now looking on the positive ... I have a teenage son who can and does get himself up and off every morning. He also does his own laundry. So I'm trying to focus on those positive points (and not the 4:30 wake up call).

#2 has basketball tryouts tonight, which has me a bit on edge as well. He's a freshman, going out for the high school team. I'm fairly certain due to both politics and the amount of talent that he won't make the high school team this year, which I'm actually fine with. I know he'll make the 9th grade team and it has a great coach, is closer to home and is a lot less expensive and time consuming. But still ... I'll be glad when this week of tryouts is over and we know for sure. Uncertainty always has me on edge.

We had some issues with #3 and a book he needed, we got off a little late after trying to do a quick digital download (unsuccessfully) #5 wasn't feeling well. There are loads of laundry to do. I'm behind on sports videos.  Just NOT a good morning.

But, it's Monday. Motivational Monday. Gotta kick myself into gear. The weekend is over and it's time to adjust for the slipups of the last three days and push forward again. I've done two 20minute sessions on the elliptical already, and I will get in three more. I've got weights on the schedule too, and hopefully some bike and/or treadmill time. I'm watching "After Earth" before returning it to Blockbuster (as they have announced their closing. We did still get DVDS from them) and I have "The Good Wife" and "Downton Abby" recorded and ready ... I want to watch them. It's good Monday motivation for me!

Linking this up with Motivational Monday.

Wendy @ Daily Dose of Del Signore

Veronica @ V Watts' Thoughts Morgan @ Fat to Fit Confessions Tiff @ The Fit Train Katie @ The Carb Monster Alisha @ Coily Locks

Burn 800 Calories In Just 30 Minutes!

Welcome to the second installment of Sunday Fitness Funnies. Here's a calorie burn claim that sounds a bit inflated ... but you know, it's true! Anyone can do it too. *Ü*  I am always suspicious of claims of large calorie burns. In my limited experience trying to get an accurate count (Exercise Estimates) I can see how widely varied the different estimates can be. I do try to err on the side of caution and take the lowest calculation. 

... and back to the picture posted above ... 

I did overcook a waffle this morning. 

I toasted 300+ calories in just over 5 minutes!

We have belgian waffles every Sunday. We call them "Sunday Circles".  Alas, I wasn't watching the "done" light closely enough and this poor waffle got toasted and no one wanted it. I certainly didn't. If I'm going to indulge in 300+ calories, I want it to be perfect and yummy. I don't like waste ... but it's better to waste the waffle than eat something just to avoid waste. I'll just try to keep a better eye on my cooking!

Hope this edition of Sunday Fitness Funnies could make you smile today.

Go burn some calories the right way!

Saturday Spotlight #5

I didn't post a Saturday Spotlight last week ... did you miss it? *Ü*  I don't know if I just didn't get in as much reading, or if I just didn't find any posts that struck me as interesting enough to include, but I just did not have a list to post.  This week's offerings are a little short too ...

• Kids & Concussions - There has been a lot of focus lately on concussions. I know with all my kids sports I have to sign a sheet outlining the signs of a concussion. Here in Utah, after a head injury you have to get a doctor's ok before the child can return to play. This article takes it even further, saying even a return to mental activity (school) should perhaps be postponed.
• How Foodie Are You? This is a little Facebook quiz going around about 100 rare foods, to see how you stack up on what you've tried. As I'm uber picky, I figured I would probably get zero, but there were five I had tried. A rootbeer float is rare?  I haven't had one in years and I don't really like them (I'll have the rootbeer and ice cream separately) but I have had one before ...
• How Old Is Your Health: Another quiz, answer a few questions to see how your "health" age compares to your actual age. The title link takes you to the article, direct link to the quiz can be found here (online calculator). I did come in under my actual age. 
• Food That's Not Food: In the "clean eating" world, almost all processed food gets a bad rap, but even among the processed foods, there are some that perhaps don't deserve the label of "food" ... 
• Trans Fats Ban: Trans fat has been so vilified that most products have stopped using it, but there are some still out there. If it's actually banned, I wonder what will be developed to replace it?

... just a little shout out to a couple other bloggers with posts similar to this. I enjoy hearing what others have been reading about.  Check out SuccessAlongTheWay and Strength&Sunshine for more reading recommendations.  If you have a post sharing something you've read and think deserves a second chance in the spotlight, I love it if you linked up!

Weigh-In #17

It's Friday, that means it is time for my "official" weigh-in.  Weight is down .7 and it is the lowest I've been in about four years (I had been lower back in 2009). MFP ticker at 27 pounds lost, like last week. I was happy that I never bounced back up over 155, back into the "overweight" category even once this week. My weekly average was also a  new low.

This past week was a bit off kilter, in addition to TOM ...

• Sick Stuff:  I've been a little under the weather. Nothing major, just some sniffles and coughing that really didn't affect me during the day, but impacted my nights some. I wasn't feeling well on Saturday though, so that was a very slow/low day that dragged down my averages for the week. 
• Time Tweaks: The "Fall Back" has felt hard this year ... I've been absolutely dragging by the end of day. Still adjusting to the switch.
• Hubby Home: The hubs is changing jobs, and this past week he took off in-between. Just having him home throws the schedule off a little. He's usually "early to bed, early to rise" but not so much this week. We used this time to get the cars serviced, so that was some extra running around that isn't usually in my schedule. We managed to make it out on a breakfast date one morning too.

My numbers weren't quite where I wanted them to be. Average intake was 2200 ... I had a good "under 2000" streak  ( last Tues-Sun) but THIS week it just wasn't happening. There wasn't any family parties, dates or dinners to blame ... it was handfuls of peanut M&Ms and leftover Halloween candy that just added up.   Average TDEE was 2887 ... I like it to be over 3000. 

Total deficit for the week was 2629, so just shy of the 3500 goal. And the .7 was just shy of a one pound loss ... so the numbers DID seem to line up this week.

Tom has finished up, hopefully I can shake the sniffles and adjust to the time change. Hubby starts his new (actually, it's his OLD job, the one he had before this last one).  Fall basketball is winding down (Winter ball is right around the corner, but I may have a bit of a break for a week or two) ... No excuses this coming week! 

Flirting with 150 ... I really want to get there!

Time for Friday Link Ups

JillConyers at Fitness, Health and Happiness

Katie at Talk Less Say More

Michelle at Mind, Body and Goal

Blogging on the Brain

A bit of a Throwback Thursday post today. Several years ago, I was a "scrapbooker". Yes, one of those obsessed crafty mommy's making pages with her kids pictures. It went beyond just a hobby, as I pursued publication in the various magazines, entered contests, taught classes and worked on design teams. At one point, it even became a full time job. I was managing editor for the Fun With Photos Memories and More project (a collaboration from IMP and Creating Keepsakes, I was working for Creating Keepsakes).  We were using mostly previously published stuff; re-organized for direct mail presentation. But there was a lot of original artwork as well (the page featured above is one of mine).  You can see more of my pages in my online album.

I think I scrapbooked myself out.

I still have a room FULL of supplies (cardstock, stickers, adhesive, trimmers ... seriously, everything you could imagine!) but other than the occasional poster for the kids school or handmade card, I haven't done much in years. The poor little one (will be turning eight this year) doesn't have a scrapbook page to his name. I did start a family blog a few years ago. That is now my way of keeping up with all the photos and journaling.

Why am I bringing this up on my fitness blog?

Back when I was scrapbooking, my head would almost always be filled with "pages in progress" ... ideas to feature a picture or a product. Sometimes "scrapbook brain" would keep me awake at night. My mind was always turning toward ways of preserving my memories on a page.

As fitness and getting to goal weight has become my passion, my thoughts are often on a variety of related topics. As I started this blog, I often have "blogger's brain" ... new experiences, products, interesting articles, I'll think "that could make an interesting blog post".  The trouble is finding the time to get them from my head to the page (just like it was when I was scrapbooking). I plan on doing a post about my experience with my heart rate monitor, about going back to music for my mile jog, about shoes, about my weight workout ... some things I think I will remember, but experience has shown are so easy to forget.  It's one thing I regretted with my original weight loss ... I didn't have anything documented. This time, I wanted to record it all every step of the way.

Ironically ... back as I was working on the project above, we had several categories we were creating cards for. One of those was "Life's Milestones".  We so wanted a "weight loss success" scrapbook page or mini album to feature. In all my resources (all published magazines and books to date) there wasn't one! Often, when we were lacking a page for a specific topic, I'd go ahead and commission it or create it myself. But at that point in my life, I had not had any weight loss success and I honestly didn't think I personally ever would.

That would be an easy scrapbook page to create now. 

I could create an entire album. 

But that IS my blog, and it's still in progress.

Link-Ups also inspire me to different topics or posts I might not have thought about on my own. Very similar to assignments for certain scrapbook pages in the past.  I do consider my blog an NSV for me. Linking up with Kristen (who posted about blogging yesterday *Ü*).  Also check out Feed Me I'm Cranky's blog post You Know You're a Blogger When ...

An "Extra" Hour?

So a few days ago we had the switch back from "Daylight Savings" time. The Fall switch is usually easier than the Spring switch, because we "gain" an hour (on Sunday anyway). I should have snagged my graph that day from the Fitbit site. There was a gap (no calorie burn) for that extra hour around 1:00 in the morning, but it isn't showing anymore (it just reverted back to a regular 24-hour cycle.) Technically though on Sunday, there were 25 hours that day ... we all DID burn a bit more, right?

I recall another blogger mentioning that she was going to use this as a jumping off point to get up earlier. Although I didn't set that as a particular goal ... Monday morning, I WAS awake at my usual time (around 6:00) and so I did go ahead and get up, even though the clock said 5:00. I got in two 20 min sessions on the elliptical instead of the usual one, before I took the kids to school. I had a productive day on Monday ... but by 9:00 (10:00 to my body) I was DONE.

Yesterday, was much the same. Up early, productive day, but I was dragging so much by the end. I was dreading #3's basketball practice from 9:00-10:00.  But as I went to grab him, I found him asleep in bed. We're all still adjusting. 

Getting up early is great, but I do need my beauty sleep too. So getting up earlier in the morning means I need to go to bed earlier at night ... and that isn't always something I can control.  I do like it lighter in the mornings as I drive the kids to school, but then it's darker earlier as I'm still running them places as well. I personally don't exercise outside, so that doesn't affect me as much as it might others.

  I do love that so many of the electronic items update automatically. I do have a clock in my home gym that I needed to adjust, as well as several others around the house. It took me three days to remember to change the time on my Omron pedometer. 

Has the time change impacted your workout schedule?

Linking Up with

Workout Wednesday & Weigh In Wednesday 

A Fitbit Family

I discovered the Fitbit almost as soon as it hit the marketplace. I remember I placed my order and had to wait several months, as supply could not meet demand. As soon as I tried it ... I was hooked. My first Fitbit isn't pictured above. It was the "Ultra" and I had it for 3+ years. It was starting to crack a bit, and the new One (pictured above) had been released. So I upgraded.

My old Ultra still worked, and I wondered if my oldest son would be interested in wearing it. He was thinking of joining the track team and I thought I would be fun to track his steps. He never did adopt it though. So, I thought I'd offer it to my mom. She doesn't get a ton of steps in, but she has been a pedometer person for many years, and I thought she might be motivated by the Fitbit feedback. I got her set up, and the next morning she forgot to remove it before going for her morning water aerobics. It was dead. But even just wearing the Fitbit for less than 24 hours had her interested enough that she wanted one.

She bought a One (we debated between the One and the Flex, but ultimately decided on the One). She liked it so much, she bought one for my dad too.  As summer hit, suddenly my oldest son WAS interested in tracking his steps, and #2 was as well (I also really thought it would be interesting to see how active my boys were). I authorized a purchase for both boys ... but #1 wanted the wristband style and the newly released Flex was on backorder everywhere. He bought the Jawbone Up instead. Unfortunately the Up went down ... to the bottom of the lake after my son hit the water hard while wave running. I was sad about the loss ... but I hadn't been happy with the Up anyway. I couldn't see his stats, which was one of the things I wanted (to compare/contrast the graphs/numbers with mine and his brother). We did end up getting him the Flex.

... so yes, we are a Fitbit family. My mom ended up getting one for my brother for his birthday, and I think other family members may be interested as well. It's fun for me to get after my boys, telling them that Grandpa is beating them in steps (which he often is!) We're all "friends" on the Fitbit site, so we can see each other's steps and have a little family competition.  I am now a pro at setting up a Fitbit ... I think I did it for everyone!

 I also go ahead and get everyone signed up for the various reward sites (Reaping the Rewards) and we're able to give each other bonus points on Everymove.   When I saw that a $5 Amazon giftcard was being offered, I quickly got everyone signed up (there are limited amounts, and these actual cash rewards are few and far between).  Was it bad when I had my boys turn over their $5 Amazon credit to me once they had earned the reward? I HAD paid for the Fitbit after all.

I'm still watching for the Amazon offering again (until then, we're all just donating to charity) but #2 did snag some Redbox codes another time.

The boys aren't as active now that they are back in school. But it's fun to look at their daily graph and be able to see when they have gym, or basketball practice. Grandpa is always quite competitive ... but no one in the family can beat me (although #2 did have days he did during the summer).

Hubby's birthday is coming up ... I don't know if he's really interested at all. I think it would be fun to add him to our Fitbit Family too though. I've also wanted to buy a Zip ... just to be able to experiment with it (I like to consider myself a bit of a Fitbit expert). I think it would be fun to stick it on the younger boys and see how their activity stacks up to the rest of us.  We'll see ... (update June2014 ... Tracking the Family).

For more information on the Fitbit ... check out my post 

Wondering About a Fitbit? 

 I love my Fitbit feedback!

October is Over ...

October is over.  I have my basic goals listed there on the right. Most are fitness related. Steps, calories burned, active minutes, a 500+ deficit between TDEE and intake. The "streaks" calendar above shows the days I achieved all my numbers.  As always, I also keep an account in my Day to Day Doings if you wanted more details ...

Breaking it down ... tracking my cardio.

The days I got in my 100 minutes on the Elliptical.

Jogged (no walking) one mile.

30+ minutes on the bike.

... and strength training.

My personal full body weight workout (1 hour)

and Jillian (currently "Ripped in 30")

The fitness is easier for me than the food ...

I was trying to keep calories to 2000 or under

and eat one piece of fruit a day.

Here's how I did.

I also shared my food intake publicly one day.

(What I Ate Wednesday ~ Photos of Food) 

In addition to my calendars,

 I have my Fitbit "Intake vs Burn" graph.

The goal is to keep the lines from touching or crossing. I didn't do great this past month on that. My goals are to have an average burn of 3000+  (I was just shy of that) and an average intake of under 2000 ( ... I've been eating too much, having too many big/bad days. I think this is the highest average since I started tracking food).  I created a page to keep all my monthly graphs together for easier comparison.

Intake v Burn Graphs

Here's my stats from WalkerTracker ... less steps/distance than Sept or Aug

(mileage is approximated, assuming 2000 steps = 1 mile)
21556 for my daily average.

When October started, my weight was 156.5. On the last day of October, my weight was 152.9. A drop of 3.6 pounds. That's decent. I actually did better with my numbers in September (meeting goals, steps, etc) but the scale just refused to shift last month. I'm so glad it budged this month.

I did take attempt to take new measurements. I have NOT mastered taking measurements, so I'm not sure how much stock I put in changes or the lack thereof. I did not see much (if any) change in the numbers from last month. I am feeling pretty happy with the changes I feel and see in the mirror though. Still not always happy with pictures (Picture Imperfect) but hopefully getting there!

October didn't have any huge challenges. I got in a baking mood, and that wasn't good for the calorie count. I have been a little under the weather here at the end of the month, nothing big. Just some stuffiness and congestion. Now just to resist the left-over Halloween candy that is all over the house.  I still have candy corn in our glass pumpkin on the piano. We have some birthdays in November (mine and hubby's), and of course Thanksgiving. I love Thanksgiving. 

For November, I'd like to continue to strive to hit my fitness numbers and wrap up Jillian's "Ripped in 30" (although I'm not doing it in 30 days, but should still finish this month).  I'll continue tracking my two food goals (under 2000 and a piece of fruit each day) and I really want my monthly average to be below 2000! Again, I'd like to share one day of eating publicly. I hope to lose a few more pounds and get under 150 by the time November ends. I'd like to NOT ever bump up into the "overweight" category ever again, not even for a day (any weigh-in over 155 will do that). 

So that's my look back at October, and my plan for November.

How did you do?

Weekly Weigh-In and Review

Weigh in #16. A loss of .8 this week. I'll take it. It is my lowest "official" weigh-in, although it's up slightly from yesterday. My average was down too (154.8). It was enough to move my MFP ticker from 26 to 27 pounds lost. It's a new month ... I guess I need to (attempt anyway) take measurements too.

 

This past week did NOT start out good at all. Sat/Sun/Mon my calorie intake was so high. I stayed active but not enough to combat the calories. I was over (not just over goal, over my TDEE) those three days. And the scale showed it ... I was bumping back up into the "overweight" category. It was enough that I cracked down on my eating and upped my exercise. Tuesday, Wed and even Thursday (Halloween) I managed to stay under 2000 calories. My total deficit for the week still only added up to 1,440. My average intake was 2293, TDEE average 2871.

Yesterday ... for the first time, I had a little color on my Fitbit weight ticker. It's the only tile not in color on my dashboard, and I've been anxiously awaiting seeing something other than gray. Unfortunately THIS morning the couple ounces up edged me back off, but I'm determined to see the green overtake the gray on this graph. 

As it was Halloween ... here are a few photos from the day.

 Three different events. 

Church. School and "official" Trick or Treating.

A different costume each time.

The top picture shows my supplies for the Halloween Party for the 4th grader.

Bone Bender (Halloween Twister)

Monster Toss

Cup Crash

Pass the Pumpkin (ala Musical Chairs)
Make a Mummy (TP Wrap)

Memory and PicturEEka

Then it's the kids and their candy (the oldest two didn't trick or treat). I sent hubby out supervising. He doesn't have a pedometer. I remember last year I was surprised that we got almost two miles in walking around! Last night the kids came home moaning that their feet hurt. The other pictures are ... as dressed up as I got, and #4 with some witches brew (dry ice in fruit punch). We had that at the school party too and the kids were SO impressed. I do enjoy going in and helping out, but I don't know how the teachers do it everyday! Corralling and controlling  the kids is a huge, hard job!

Oh ... #5 got his cast off today (after school, before Trick or Treating). Everyone was all dressed up at the doctor's office and they got us in and out super fast. He still needs to be careful for the next several weeks, but everything looked good. 

Friday Fitness Linkups!

JillConyers at Fitness, Health and Happiness

Katie at Talk Less Say More

Michelle at Mind, Body and Goal