amiwithrow

Do you use any type of energy bar/drink before a workout?  And if so, what type and how long before?  I’ve been doing 1/2 a clif bar and at least 16 ounces of water at least 30 minutes before my workout.  I figured I’d turn to you all to see if maybe there might be something out there better.

I’m going to chili’s for lunch today and their nutritional info says a guiltless chicken platter is only 371 calories.  Does this seem right?  It’s a chicken breast, some rice pilaf and some steamed brocolli.  I thought I could ask you all.  I don’t want to be bad and knew you all would have good advice.

I’m down to 200 pounds and I’m

My first thing I need help with is finding a good protein drink mix.  I bought a few at the Bally’s I sometimes go to and they are around 400 calories with 40 grams of protein and they are deeeelicious.  They cost around $5.00 each.  The Bally’s that is closest to my home does not have a juice bar, so I’ve tried two, MyoPlex Lite Vanilla Crème and the Designer Whey French Vanilla.  Why the Designer Whey was the better of the two, I know there must be a better one out there.  The last time I was at the Bally’s with the juice bar, I asked if they sold the protein they used, they do, in a 10 pound bucket and it cost $110.00 (a bit too much for me to spend at one time), especially with having to buy new clothes, bras, bathing suits, etc.  So that’s my first dilemma, a pretty easy one huh?

On to the next one….which makes me want to S C R E A M and jump up and down.

A fast background.  When I first started working out, I wore a 40DD bra.  When I had lost 10 pounds my bras were lose and no longer fit right.  I figured I’d go buy some 38DD and be ok, wrong.  They smooshed me and looked like I was trying to smash them against my body.  So I measured and went online and according to my measurements I was not a 38DDD.  NO WAY! I thought, but sure enough, I went to Lane Bryant (which is the only place I thought would actually carry DDD) and bought 2 40DDD (the 38 were a bit too tight).  Now that I’ve lost more weight those are getting lose and uncomfortable on me, so I again go to Lane Bryant and buy 4 new bras all 38 DDD (they were buy 2 get 2 free) and I figured I would save two and when I lost more weight I would just exchange two because I bought the wrong size.  Well, they don’t fit.  UGHHHHHH!!! So I measure again, now my measurements say I need a 38F or 38H.  Where in the heck am I gonna find those?  My husband said the 38DDD looked fine, but I had bulges popping out, and I had a low cut top on, so it wasn’t that noticeable, but put on a t-shirt or other type shirt and eeewww, nasty.  I am happy with losing weight, but I had heard women lost first in their chest and I don’t seem to be losing any in that area which is wreaking havoc with being able to determine what size bra’s to buy.  So now I need to take the bra’s back to Lane Bryant and wear the ones that are too big around my rib cage a bit longer until I can figure out what to do.  Any suggestions?

Does anyone use anytime of Diet supplements?  And if so, what kind?  I mean like appetite suppressants.  Sometimes it just feels like I need a little extra help on some days.  I feel so ravenous.  So I thought I would ask for your opinions.  So what do you think?

…Or more to the point your recomendations. 

 I need some good upbeat workout songs for my ipod.  I have been going to the gym for nearly two months now and I have a few good ones that really give me that ompf, but after playing them over and over, they lose that quailty.    I love Christina Aguilera’s “Keeps Getting Better” and “Ain’t no other man”.  But I need some new songs. 

 PLEASE HELP!!!!!!

So I took my measurements today and compared them to what Bally’s took when I started.  When I started here where my measurements:

Date:  5/7

Chest 46 ½

Shoulders 49

Waist 38 ½

Hips 49 ¼

Thigh 29 ½

Calf 17 ¼

Arm 14

Weight 218

On 6/2 (total loss)

Chest 44 (-2.5)

Shoulders 44 ¼ (-4.75)

Waist 38 (-.5)

Hips 47 (-2.25)

Thigh 26 ¼ (-3.25)

Calf 16 ¾ (-.5)

Arm 13 ½ (-.5)

Weight 210 (-8)

Today (total loss)

Chest 44 (-2.5)

Shoulders 44 (-5)

Waist 38 (-.5)

Hips 42 (-7.5)

Thigh 23 ½ (-6)

Calf 16 (-1.25)

Arm 13 ½ (-.5)

Weight 203 (-15)

So it looks like I need to work more on my waist and arms huh.  I also expected to have to buy some new clothes along the way, but didn’t grasp exactly what that would entail.  Now I hate hate hate to clothes shop.  I am going away with my husband for the first time in twenty years for three days to a cabin in the woods, alone, just me and him next week.  The cabin has a hot tub and as a last minute thought, I tried on my bathing suit, and too big.  So now I need to go buy a new bathing suit. OH NO.  The dreaded bathing suit trip.  I mean don’t get me wrong, I love losing weight.  I just wish my clothes could magically shrink with me.  And what’s up with Bally’s measuring shoulders?  Anyone have any ideas?  Well with the shoulder measurements thrown in (do you all think I should count them or not?) I have lost a total of 23 inches and 15 pounds in 47 days.  Is this too slow?  Do I need to rev up my workouts?  I went to Fashion Bug to buy new pants as mine were practically falling off me, and they have a new sizing system.  So I’m now a 2 Plus, whatever that means.  How am I suppose to relate that to normal sizes?  That’s my rants for today.

Okay, I really started on 5/4/09.  I was at the biggest I had been my whole life.  I was at 218.5 pounds and was just really unhappy with how I looked and how the weight made me feel.  I want more energy too.  So with support from my loving husband and family I joined the gym and planned to go at least three times a week.  I didn’t plan to diet, we all know how dieting goes, but just to make some healthier choices and cut back on foods that aren’t that good for me.  I started drinking more water and less soda and coffee.  I now force myself to eat breakfast, even if I’m not hungry, and even if it’s just some toast.  So now I’m a 12 days away from 2 months of going to the gym and watching what I eat and I’m 15 pounds lighter.  I had to buy some new clothes and I feel pretty good about that.  I love going to the gym, and my wonderful husband is so supportive with whatever I want to do.  Seeing results is a great motivator.  So I did have a long term goal of 50 pounds, but I changed it to 58 pounds to make my weight an even 160 when I’m done.  I know it will take time.  I hope by next summer I will be down to my goal weight and will be able to buy a cute summer wardrobe.   That is one thing that really makes me mad about being a big woman; they don’t think big women want to dress cute.  It’s starting to get a little better, but you still have to search and search, and then most of the time you have to look online.  So that’s it for now…