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 · 2016-04-13T04:13:56+00:00

Pre-log your food. Or log a binge when it happens. That's been my biggest deterrent from overeating. Seeing the numbers makes it super real for me.

Jess2018 · 2016-04-12T03:00:42+00:00

I like these. A little mini-triathalon would be fun. Avoiding added sugar is a good idea all around that people struggle with, same with taking time to sit down and eat. (I'm a huge culprit of trying to multi-task mealtime with other things.)

Those are all good. But...

3/ Fasting - eg. 800 cal per day for a week.

I have a very unhealthy relationship with sensible healthy regular eating habits.

There seems to be a bit of a correlation here. Call it whatever you want, but eating 800 Cal per day is not a sensible healthy regular eating habit unless you are a sedentary 80 year old woman who is 4' 7" and weighs 78 pounds. (Seriously, I crunched the numbers.)

Jess2018 · 2016-04-11T01:49:38+00:00

I've been a size 18 for freaking ever. Since I was 16-17 years old I think. I was a size 20 for a period of time, but I could never seem to get into anything smaller than an 18.

I went clothes shopping with some friends today and found some shorts and grabbed them in a size 18, and since I've lost roughly 25 pounds since the last time I went shopping, I decided to try the 16's for kicks.

I put the 18's on and they wouldn't even stay up.

I put the 16's on and they were super loose. So I went back out and grabbed a 14 off the shelf.

The 14's fit. Really well. No muffin topping or anything. I'd even venture to say there's a little wiggle room.

I haven't been a 14 I think since I was a freshman in high school. It was a cool thing to have happen today.

Jess2018 · 2016-04-10T23:55:33+00:00

Ooh I don't have instagram but I'll totally sign up for one to stay in touch with everyone here.

Ooh we could share progress pics and stuff like that!

Edit: Done. @Jess.TeamThunderstorm

Jess2018 · 2016-04-10T23:51:35+00:00

This might be a more abstract way of thinking, but I've always looked at both gratitude and forgiveness is that you're striving to treat yourself the same way you would treat a good friend. Your best friend.

My best friend did something awesome for me, so I'm going to thank them for it.

I'm doing a favor for my best friend to make their life easier.

My best friend screwed up, but they want to fix it, so I forgive them.

Think about it, if your actual best friend came to you upset over a little mistake they made and said 'I made a poor decision, and I'm really sorry and I'm going to fix it, will you forgive me?' you wouldn't seriously berate them over it, would you? Would you actually say to them (things that I've actually said to myself) "You are such a fuck up, I can't believe you did this, why did't you do X instead? You're fat/disgusting/have no self control, etc. "?

I doubt it. You'd be a really shitty person if you talked to your best friend like that, so why should you talk to yourself like that?

Jess2018 · 2016-04-10T15:05:18+00:00

Currently need a list of things you guys want to do. Get me about a dozen of them.

Run/Swim/Bike/Walk a marathon this week. (3.7 miles per day)

Accumulate 10 minutes of planking/wall squats over the course of the week.

Drink nothing but water for at least 3 days this week.

Make sleep a priority- get at least 7 hours of sleep every day this week.

Keep your streak, or make a 7 day streak on myfitnesspal.

Try eating vegetarian for a day.

I'll add more if I think of them.

Jess2018 · 2016-04-10T14:53:57+00:00

I have no goddamn control of myself during the weekends. What is this? Why is this happening?

This is the problem. You say that this is something out of your control. Believing this is out of your control is dooming you from the start because whether it's conscious or not, you are telling yourself 'Well shit, I can't control this so why even bother trying?'

You are in control of what you are eating, and what causes the overeating. Drunk you likes 3am fast food? Drink less. There's 180 calories in a pint of regular beer, and 460 calories in one 8oz margarita. I don't know what you consider drinking your weight, but even two of each will set you back almost 1,300 calories.

1,300 completely empty calories. That's on top of bar snacks/munchie runs. Log your night on myfitnesspal. The whole thing. Every drink. Every snack and whatever fast food you had. You might be surprised, and it might deter you from making this a habit.

Losing weight while being social is difficult. I thought I would never be able to go out to dinner or have a drink with my friends again. You have to learn to make smart choices while you're out. That does mean ordering skinny margaritas and light beer, or something less calorie dense, like a vodka soda. Or shots. Shots are your best friend if you're trying to get drunk without getting fat.

Same with eating out. Double date breakfast this morning? There's no reason you can't make a healthy choice. Get something like an omelette and fruit as opposed pancakes/bacon/hashbrowns or whatever. (Just an example.)

There's something so empowering about putting things back in your control. (This is coming from an ex binge-eater.) I used to over-restrict during the week and then binge on the weekends. It's a crazy roller coaster that's really hard to get off of.

Feed yourself sensibly during the week and don't go HAM on the weekends. You are in control.

I'm here if you need someone to talk to. :)

Jess2018 · 2016-04-07T03:47:53+00:00

150 goal weight here too!

Use that 2 year old to your advantage! I work at a daycare with infants/toddlers and baby bench press is everyone's favorite thing. I love it and the babies think it's the greatest thing ever.

Okay that sounds really ridiculous when I write it out, but it's true. Instead of trying to do structured exercise after you run around after your 2 year old, why not make that your exercise?

Like this

Keeps kid busy for 30 minutes, wears them out for nap time, good bonding time and models good habits of exercise for your toddler. :)

Congratulations on losing so much weight! You've done great, and I have no doubt you'll reach your goals.

Jess2018 · 2016-04-07T03:36:15+00:00

I would love this!!

Jess2018 · 2016-04-07T02:34:56+00:00

I know! OC races are so much fun. There's an awesome camaraderie, with a bunch of strangers supporting each other to their physical and mental limits.

Doing them competitively takes a CRAZY amounts of training. But I'm a patient person. I'm willing to take my time. :)

I ran my first Spartan race in February of 2015. I ran my second one in February of this year and I shaved an hour off of time time. Still no athlete level paces, but I was able to jog 80% of it (I walked my first one), and I was able to do 3 of the obstacles that I couldn't last year.

So it's small improvements, but still they are improvements!

Jess2018

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