Weigh-In Wednesday: Plateau Demolished, and PT #2

Starting weight (4/21/10): 167.8
Last week’s weight: 156.2
Current weight: 150.6
This week’s loss: -5.6 lbs!!
Net difference: -17.2 lbs

You guys. I think I have FINALLY overcome my year-long plateau. Ever since last summer, I’ve been stuck hovering between 153 and 156 pounds, and it had become this Ugly Monster that I felt I had no power to destroy. I know it had more to do with my lack of motivation than anything, but seeing So. Many. Weeks of making zero progress had really begun to discourage me.

So today, when I stepped on the scale and saw 150.6? I had to re-weigh myself three or four times to convince myself it was actually accurate. I mean, last week I was 156.2, and other than the time in January when I got SUPER sick and couldn’t eat for days, I have never logged more than a three-pound loss in one week. However, I did log a gain last week, which was most likely due to bloating and constipation (hey, I’m keepin’ it real), so I’m considering this week’s 5.6 pound loss to be split between the past two weeks.

Anyway, the point is: I’m back in action on this weight loss train! I have four more weigh-ins before my wedding anniversary, and I think I can totally reach my goal of being 145 pounds by August 3rd if I keep up the motivation I’ve had these past two weeks. It’s 1.4 pounds a week, and now that I’m using MyFitnessPal to track my calories, it should be ridiculously easy to shed these last few pounds.

Quick, unsolicited plug: MFP is SO GREAT. It’s simple and clean, and the app works really well. I input my calories consumed (food) and my estimated calories burned (exercise). Every time I log an exercise, my total allowable calories increases. So, if I don’t exercise at all one day, I have to stay under 1200 calories in order to meet my goal of losing 1.5 pounds a week. But if I go to spin class, for example, and burn about 300 calories, I can eat 300 more calories that day without going over my allotment. It’s a straightforward way to keep myself on track, as long as I actually put forth the effort to use it daily. And I’ve been pleasantly surprised at how easy it is to eat 1200-1500 calories in a day and still feel plenty full!

Now, let me tell you about PT #2 last night: It was pretty awesome, especially considering I hadn’t worked out in over a week and I’m still a tad congested. I definitely ran out of breath way more quickly than usual, but Chris encouraged me to keep going, and we took a couple of one-minute breaks to go outside and gulp some fresh (non-clammy-sweaty-stinky-gross) air, which helped a ton. He made me do this one drill that will either end up becoming my Worst Enemy or my Absolute Favorite (jury’s still out): I run up and down the stairs inside the gym (about 30 steps, I think), then I jump each step up as quickly (and light-footedly) as I can, then run back down, and then I jump two steps at a time and run back down. It seemed pretty easy the first time, and then last night he made me do that drill about four separate times over the course of 45 minutes. I may or many not have survived it by mentally picturing myself stomping on his face for those two-step jumps. (Just sayin’.)

But seriously, it was a really good session. Chris said I was actually motivating him to put in a good workout afterward, since he hadn’t been feeling too excited about it until he saw me giving it my all despite still being a little sick. At which point I said, “In that case, maybe you should be paying ME for these sessions.” (No such luck.)

Later this week (maybe even tomorrow, which would be THREE DAYS IN A ROW! Can it be?) I’ll tell you about the “Prisoner’s Row” workout that Chris invented. (Teaser: Actual prison is a birthday party compared to this drill.) Tonight I have session #3, which is probably going to be excruciating. Two consecutive days of training? Eek. But I’m pumped up and ready to kill it…probably.