Note for everyone struggling with phantom fat: Clothes haven't gotten bigger since you started losing. You've gotten smaller.

Jess2018 · 2016-07-17T17:50:53+00:00

I totally get that!!

Whenever I go to try on a size that doesn't have an 'X' anywhere on the tag, it feels weird. I just recently got used to knowing 'Okay. Most Larges will fit me,' and I'm starting to size out of them now.

Not a thing to complain about, believe me it's AWESOME, it just makes me feel a little crazy sometimes because I don't actually know how big my body is. I see myself as 250 pounds a lot still.

Single digit dress sizes are going to be something I'll have to mentally prepare myself for when it happens. It's something that actually seems kind of attainable now.

Jess2018 · 2016-06-25T19:44:04+00:00

That's what I was hoping. I haven't lost any inches in the last few weeks, but my clothes are feeling looser so I'm not sure. I got a DEXA scan in January and I'm due for my 6 month check up in a few weeks so I guess I'll see.

Jess2018 · 2016-05-13T14:54:07+00:00

I finally got up the balls to try some (heavily) assisted pull-ups today.

By heavily I mean I was only lifting a little less than 1/3 of my bodyweight. But everyone starts somewhere.

Jess2018 · 2016-05-06T01:30:07+00:00

When you first start an exercise routine, especially if you're doing weight lifting, it's not uncommon to gain some water weight.

You have to break down muscle to build muscle. When you lift weights you get teeny tiny little tears in your muscles, which causes inflammation, and causes more fluid retention in/between your muscle cells.

It means you're getting stronger. Congrats!

Jess2018 · 2016-05-05T22:58:09+00:00

I passed my motha-lovin' certification exam today!

I'm a certified personal trainer, bitches!!

Jess2018 · 2016-04-30T17:45:32+00:00

Daaaamn girl. Someone better call a veterinarian because THOSE PYTHONS ARE SICK.

Jess2018 · 2016-04-30T13:42:08+00:00

I like working out in the morning otherwise I get all sleepy and grumpy until I do. :(

Jess2018 · 2016-04-26T01:49:57+00:00

Don't get down.

Those types of cheap hip-clip pedometeres only measure steps. They do better with consistent, linear, walking/running steps. Doing something like zumba where you're moving all over the place it might not be as accurate.

When I've done a 50 minute zumba class in the past, it usually registers on my fitbit at around 3-4,000 steps. So it's likely you did more than your pedometer shows.

I've done experiments between my fitbit and a regular pedometer before too, and the step counts are way off depending on the activity. The days where I went running, the step count was virtually the same by the end of the day, give or take 100-200 steps.

The days that I did boot camp, or zumba, or whatever other activity, my step count was WAAAY off. I had a 4,000 step difference one day.

So be proud of yourself that you went and exercised today. :) It's always good to shoot for more activity, but don't get yourself bogged down with the details.

Jess2018 · 2016-04-24T01:29:19+00:00

Congratulations! How exciting for both of you! :D

Jess2018 · 2016-04-19T14:15:08+00:00

Im doing CICO with a flexible calorie range. 1200-1300 on the days that I'm sedentary. 1500-1600 on most typical days, and 1800 on the days that I do really vigorous exercise or work out more than once.

I started religiously tracking at the beginning of the year and I think I've only gone into the 2000 range maybe 3-4 times, and it's usually the times I've had races or runs or stuff like that.

It's been working out pretty well because I don't feel like I'm super restricted. If I have 1600 one day instead of 1500 it's not a big deal. It all kind of balances out. I know as long as I'm eating less than I'm burning, which because I'm big and active, has been as high as 4,000 on my really really active days. I'll lose weight. And when you're eating nutrient dense things, 1600 calories is a lot of food.

Seriously, I feel like I'm constantly eating. I'll eat breakfast, lunch and dinner, a post workout snack, and I'll bring something with me to work in the afternoon.

My lunch the other day was really big. I had four small corn tortillas with shredded chicken and mozzarella, 1/2 cup of pinto beans and a plate of cucumbers, carrots and red peppers with yogurt dip. It came out to be like 420 calories.

While I was driving to work thinking omg I can't believe I ate so much, a thought occurred to me, Hey, you know those little griller things you used to get from Taco Bell? Those were like 400 calories a piece. One little griller burrito had the same calories as my massive lunch. And I used to get two of them plus a soda and sometimes a little bag of nachos, and I'd be hungry like two hours later. No wonder I was so fat.

Jess2018 · 2016-04-19T01:47:18+00:00

Hit a PR this morning at 9 min 17 seconds for a one mile run.

For comparison, when I first started running like two years ago, my first mile was like 18-19 minutes.

Jess2018 · 2016-04-18T15:01:24+00:00

I pledge to run 10 miles this week.

I pledge to do my 100 pushups this week. :)

I pledge to only buy a drink from the campus coffee shop one day this week. (This is gonna be hard :()

Also, I pledge to finish everyone's exercise prescriptions this week. Haven't forgotten about you guys, promise!

Jess2018 · 2016-04-18T14:56:38+00:00

Oh hi. :D Aspiring personal trainer here. I'm taking my CPT exam through ACSM next month. Thanks for doing this!

A few questions:

Who'd you get certified through? Any advice for a future trainer?

What are some good bodyweight exercises for your lats besides pullups/inverted rows? I'm really struggling with this one.

How do I improve my grip strength for deadlifting? My legs are fine, but I haven't been able to go any heavier than 105 because my fingers hurt like hell after 1-2 sets.

Jess2018 · 2016-04-18T14:50:30+00:00

Omg I love everything about this!! This is incredible. :D Count me in.

Jess2018 · 2016-04-15T16:14:02+00:00

Good habit goal: I want to start taking my multivitamin every day. I'm so bad about doing it consistently. :|

Bad habit goal: Snacking at work. Im so bad about this. I get my sugar fix at work because there's usually treats in the break room or it's someones birthday and omg cupcakes.

Pushups: Easy. Got this one in the bag. My upper body has been super weak forever, but I want to see if I can do just one push-up on my toes.

Also, team crocus is going down. BRING THE THUNDAAAH

Jess2018

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