I look more dorktastic than normal in this week's scorecard. I attribute it to the oh shit, it's 7:15am on a Sunday and I have to snap this quickly before I head to the gym.
Previously:
Today:
The Good:
My endurance has definitely improved. While my pace on the Couch-to-5K isn't the 10-minute mile they imagine you'll run, it's definitely improving. Today began week five, and the idea of running five minutes in a row didn't inspire feelings of impending doom. I'm getting stronger. And while some days the idea of going to the gym (or back to the gym, if I've worked that morning) make me want to stab myself in the eye, I'm going, dammit.
The Bad:
While I mentioned Friday that I want to use the scale as tool of measurement and nothing more, this morning's number was accompanied by a ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME?! UP TWO POUNDS?! However, this is precisely why I take measurements. Clearly something is happening, and my clothes are looser. And I swear to you I didn't get hit in the face with a shovel, it was early and I needed to get my workout in before I headed to my new job. (That's four, if anyone was counting.)
Currently I'm eating between 1400-2000 calories a day, with most days falling in the 1500-1600 category. I've made the executive decision not to start my diet until the next eight-week challenge. Because I don't wanna. Yes, I'd like to lose some weight and it would be nice if it magically fell off my body, but it would also be wonderful if the Universe was one big Puppy Bowl (and someone dropped a bag of money off at my door.) But in the grand scheme of things, not really a problem. I'll get over it. (Interspersed with periods of whining, but I bet you guessed that already.)
The Ugly:
Guess who was back at the gym with her boyfriend this morning? He kissed her and went to do curls in the squat rack; she took to the elliptical at the end of the row of treadmills. She looked at him, and I smiled at her. She turned away, clearly uncomfortable.
But not uncomfortable enough to chat with the trainer.
Trainer: You're here early. Got plans for the Superbowl?
Girl: [indicating toward her boyfriend] He's going to a sports bar.
Trainer: You're not going with?
Girl: You couldn't pay me twelve thousand dollars to go to a sports bar.
Trainer: Twelve thousand dollars? Really?
Girl: Really.
Trainer: I'm not a fan of sports bars, but I think my price would be less. Maybe a thousand bucks.
Girl: Okay, twelve hundred. But after taxes.
Trainer: You've given this some thought.
Girl: I think a lot.
At this point, I stumble and almost fall off the treadmill. Recovering, I send a psychic message to the trainer. JohnEdwardsJohnEdwardsJohnEdwardsJohnEdwardsJohnEdwardsJohnEdwards.
Trainer: So, your boy John Edwards dropped out of the race.
YES!
Girl: Yeah, I'm so upset.
Trainer: So who're you gonna vote for now?
Girl: I don't have a choice.
Trainer: What do you mean?
Girl: You can't vote Republican*, so you only have one choice of who you can vote for. Which sort of ruins the whole point of voting, because voting is all about choice.
Okay, I lied. This last part? Totally the good.
*For the record, I'm a Democrat. But stupidity clearly cuts across all parties.
Doesn't muscle mass weigh more than fat? You're probably gaining tone, definition, and density.
You're doing damn good. And Well Done with the psychic messages, too :)
Posted by: Damien | February 03, 2008 at 03:15 PM
Just remember - muscle weighs more than fat... at least that's what I keep telling myself.
Posted by: Vicky | February 03, 2008 at 03:57 PM
A nitpick: a pound of muscle weighs the same as a pound of fat (it's per unit volume that muscle takes up less space - but you will find people that will say one pound is heavier than the other.)
While scientifically one shouldn't be able to gain muscle and lose fat (because you have to have a surplus of calories for one and a deficit for the other) for some reasons newbies have this period of "newbie gains" where they can do both. Since it's been so long since I've weight trained, I'd be elated if that was the case! (With the change in measurements, it would seem the case!)
Posted by: the slackmistress | February 03, 2008 at 04:13 PM
Yeah, I knew that. I just like to kid myself. Inch loss is definitely the way to go though.
Posted by: Vicky | February 03, 2008 at 04:17 PM
Yeah, I don't care what the scale says if I could be 38-26-38. ;)
Posted by: the slackmistress | February 03, 2008 at 04:21 PM
Can't tell you how many times when I ask someone "Which weighs more, a pound of feathers, or a pound of lead?" they answer "a pound of lead" without hesitation.
Training your Jedi mind powers will be very beneficial to you in the post-apocalyptic society. Don't know if it would work on zombies, but it will certainly work on all the raiders.
Posted by: Complete Geek | February 03, 2008 at 04:26 PM
Gotta say that the top in the latest photo is a major improvement. Pink may look all cute, but it's highly visible. The US Woodland camo pattern of your tank top is an improvement in this respect, but there are better patterns out there, like CADPAT, MARPAT, ACU and MultiCam, not to mention a plethora of commercial patterns like Mossy Oak and Realtree (which are basically realistic tree-themed floral prints) that'll do a better job of breaking up your outline in the woods.
Also, for the camouflage to work, you have to wear it all over, and position yourself in or against a similarly patterned and coloured environment or background. You'd want at the least a longsleeved top, and matching floppy hat and pants, for it to be effective.
Given your location, US pattern BDUs (Battle Dress Uniforms) are probably your best bet; they're widely available in a wide variety of colours, and quite inexpensive. IMS has a huge selection of them: http://www.imsplus.com/ims7.html
Posted by: Fearsclave | February 04, 2008 at 08:30 AM
What height are you, if you don't mind me asking?
If US women are advised to eat 1500 calories a day, won't your fitness be adversely affected when you diet?
Posted by: astrothsknot | February 04, 2008 at 12:30 PM
@astro: I'm 5'7.5" And while some days I'm eating 1500 calories a day, it's clearly not enough for me to lose. I mention that I tracked my food intake for nearly four years during my last weight loss effort, and I discovered (again, with the help of a diet/fitness professional/criminal mastermind) that I had to cut calories to 8 calories per pound of current bodyweight to get things moving. (Which at that point would be 1200 calories a day or less.) Yes, it certainly compromises fitness, although the body can adapt.
However, being lighter will ideally help me run faster and assist in being able to pull myself up. That's why I think the plan will be to intersperse eight weeks of working out/eating healthy with eight weeks of workout out/dieting. The fact is that I can't have it both ways, so I have to figure out what will work for me.
Posted by: the slackmistress | February 04, 2008 at 12:47 PM
Haha, love that your psychic abilities worked on the trainer!
Keep working on those...you could develop a pyrokinetic ability so you can burn zombies where they stand, like one of my fic characters can! =)
Posted by: Scath | February 05, 2008 at 05:06 AM
As a frequent reader, (mostly a luker), and a hetero male, I do not understand your need to lose weight. You look faantastic. Your body is pleasantly curvy in all the right places. Why are women so obsessed with being so friggin' skinny? Personally, I find skinny girls remind me too much of boys, and not being the least bit gay, I find it a turn off.
What does Will think about your physique? I'm fairly sure he'd be in my camp, but...
Getting in shape is one thing. Go for it. I applaud your determination, and you have inspired me to join in the workout, but I think you should skip the diet thing. Truly.
BTW, tho' I like how you look when you are all dolled up, I think I actually prefer the pre-workout Nina, sans make-up, and ready for action. Will is a lucky, lucky man.
Peace.
Posted by: Timo Primo | February 06, 2008 at 09:39 AM
It makes me grit my teeth when the scale goes in the wrong direction after stepping up my work-out plan. I'm doing my own spring training now (mostly because I'm slated to become a Zumba instructor in the end of March) as well, yet I think I gained two pounds this week. For me, I know that I need to exercise and cut out all treats. Giving up booze for Lent will go a long way in the cutting calories plan. That and Step, Cardio-Cirkick, Zumba, and those fast, fast walks on the boardwalk with weights. Go us!
Posted by: aliastaken | February 08, 2008 at 05:57 PM
looking good nina and HOLY SHIT you are tall.
Posted by: monkey | February 09, 2008 at 12:14 PM
Keep up the great work!! I am in the same boat. I am also trying to get in to zombie and robot slaying shape.
Posted by: roboslayer | February 13, 2008 at 01:26 PM