I have been seriously lax in updating lately but it’s difficult to compose posts about being healthy and working out when you aren’t even holding yourself accountable. July was not a good month. The heat is so exhausting, paving the way for excuses about a lack of energy, which despite being an excuse is fairly accurate – normally a workout actually gives me more energy but lately that has not been the case.
I had a weigh-in on June 25th. I wasn’t expecting much, since I have been vacillating between working out and eating to stay fit, and “fuck-you-it’s-hot-outside-and-I-have-zero-energy”. I was just hoping to stay the same. Of course a loss would be spectacular and motivating, but I honestly would have accepted no change at all with relief.
Alas, that was not the case.
The increases were minimal, but not trivial, and I would not be surprised if my complete disregard for my physical fitness in July has pushed these numbers even further into the red. And as if skipping the gym has not been bad enough, I could count on one hand how many meals I cooked at home this month – that is, if I could even remember cooking at home.
How can I reach my goals if I am not being committed to a healthy diet? The answer is, I simply cannot. I can try all I want, but I cannot brainwash myself into believing that eating out a few (or more) days a week, no matter what it is that I am eating, is going to set me on the path of being slimmer and fitter. I cannot bargain with my diet by working extra-hard at the gym. Food is fuel, and while we really can eat for enjoyment and eat for our health, none of that works when you are consuming what you do out of pure laziness. I have even reached a point where just the mere thought of trying to pick a place to eat is exhausting and banal, yet I have been so unmotivated to get back in the kitchen. Last night was only the second time I can remember since I got back from my trip to NY on the 15th that I have cooked. For shame.
So here are the setbacks: at this weigh in, it had been exactly two months since my last weigh in, during which we participated in the 2-month challenge. Here are my updated stats with the change since 4/25 (updated stats also available on the Stats page).
| CHANGE | CHANGE | ||||
| WEIGHT: | 178.5 | +3.5lbs | BF%: | 31.45 | +0.86% |
| LEAN MASS: | 122.02 | +0.55lbs | FAT MASS: | 55.98 | +2.45lbs |
| CHEST | 41.50″ | +1.25″ |
NAT. WAIST | 35.75″ | +1″ |
| WAIST | 40.75″ | +0.50″ |
HIPS | 42.25″ | -1.50″ |
| THIGH | 20.75″ | no change |
CALF | 16″ | +0.25″ |
So what do you do when you’ve had a setback? You stage a comeback – something that will require at least some short-term strict dedication to following the nutrition plan my nutritionist created for me so that I can get back on track with measuring portions appropriately, taking in the correct amount of protein, carbs, etc… and most importantly, preparing everything myself at home.
The key, they say, is not making drastic changes all at once and taking it one day at a time, but I have never been good at that. When I commit myself to being healthier, I dive right into it. Today I focused on eating a normal diet per my nutrition plan, consciously increasing my water intake, and I startied a 30-day trial run at a local Crossfit, which I will be mixing in with kickboxing days at Kosama.
Crossfit Basics Class
Today’s Crossfit class was, for us, just a “Basics” class in which we were introduced to some basic moves that will be used throughout our workouts, including: rowing, squatting, the Crossfit situp, the Crossfit pushup (a military-style push-up), the barbell deadlift, and ring rows. After some basic warm-up techniques and walking us through some resp of each core exercise, we did our own WOD (workout of the day): a 500 meter row, 40 squats, 30 situps, 20 pushups and 10 ring-rows. Z and I were competing for time so I pushed hard during the row. About 3/4 of the way through I realized that this was not a good idea. We finished within a few seconds of each other but my legs were noodles by the time I got over to the squats area. I instantly regretted it, but still pushed as fast and hard as I could through the last 10 squats to get the edge on Z. It is not nearly as easy to power through situps that fast. Z beat me to the pushups, and the ring rows, but we still finished within 35 seconds of each other. And theennnn…. I thought I was going to die. 6 minutes and 36 second of pushing it that hard, after a week off… I definitely should have eaten more than an apple pre-workout. It took about 10 extra minutes to work myself up to walking to the car, and the car ride, a protein drink, and a cool shower to fully recover.
Tomorrow I will eat some protein with my fruit, not push like I am some kind of super-fit bad ass, and take on another class.
Easy-Peasy Pasta Dinner
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 links chicken sausage, any flavor (I used spinach and asiago flavor by Hormel – there are lower fat options you can try)
- 2 oz (about 1/2 a cup) cooked whole wheat pasta
- 2 tbsp any tomato-based pasta sauce
- 1 cup cherry or plum tomatoes, cut in half
- 1/2 of one medium size zucchini, cut into cubes (cut zucchini half in half, then halve those halves,, then cut into pieces)
- 2 cloves garlic, roughly chopped
- 1 tsp extra virgin olive oil (I use garlic-infused evoo)
- Optional: italian seasoning for the veggies (to taste)
- Optional: 2 tbsp shredded asiago cheese
Prep
- lightly brown chopped garlic in the olive oil over medium heat
- add veggies and brown until tomatoes are soft; add italian seasoning to taste if desired
- heat chicken sausage according to package directions, and cut into medallions when fully heated
- toss pasta with sauce; add chicken sausage and sauteed veggies. top with asiago cheese
Just the Nutrition Facts, Ma’am
Nutrition facts calculated using the My Fitness Pal recipe builder. Information provided is approximate, not exact.
Calories: 503
Carbs: 43
Fat: 22
Fiber: 8
Protein: 33
Sodium: 1052
The sodium and fat in this recipe are a bit high for my liking, due to the particular chicken sausage I selected. I would opt for something with lower fat and sodium the next time around. But otherwise, this was delicious and really hit the spot after that workout!
Sorry, comments are closed for this post.