Tag Archives: fitbit

January Weightloss Update

23 Thursday Jan 2014

Posted by in Personal and Fun

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So far, not so good.

While my activity levels have increased since school has started back, I had visitors in town so my alcohol consumption increased over the last part of the month and I also haven’t adjusted my sleep schedule to accommodate being back in school.

The first week and a half after New Years I worked out every night for 30-45 minutes (light free weights, resistance bands, stretching, squats, leg lifts, and different styles of crunches), and I did very well at staying on track, until I had house guests.

For me, the hardest part of dieting and exercising is always the first three weeks because I often see negative results, which causes me to rapidly lose my motivation. Even if I work out everyday, I often gain 5 or so pounds the first few weeks I begin working out, and that has occurred this time as well (as those that follow me on Fitbit have seen). Another excuse I often find to keep me from working out, is the weather. As I said earlier, the spring and summer are my most “fit” times of the year, because I am more willing to go outside to workout. That being said, I should have access to a Bowflex machine by the end of the month, so hopefully that will remove the obstacle of bad weather.

Despite this initial weight gain, I do feel like I am healthier than I was before the New Year began. Excluding the period of time my guests were here, I have reduced my alcohol consumption and increased my consumption of fiber.

I also have a slight confession: I am always more motivated to lose weight when I have a crush on someone or if I am busy socially and I have neither at this time, haha! As I said, eating is an emotional comfort for me, so when I have a partner (romantic or platonic) to help expend some of my emotional energy, then I don’t eat as much and I don’t want to eat as much, and I am also more happy and upbeat which helps me lose weight quickly and  more easily.

My friend also recommended a cleanse that I plan on trying as soon as I have time to take a trip to my local organic grocer.

How is everyone else’s weight loss going so far? Have you guys had any specific challenges? Do you have any suggestions for me about how I might cut my calorie intake or increase my activity level?

I hope everyone is enjoying getting healthier and I hope I have more encouraging news about my progress in a couple of weeks! 🙂

My 2014 Weight Loss Challenge!

05 Sunday Jan 2014

Posted by in Personal and Fun, Uncategorized

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Hello all! I am joining a weight loss challenge to help me accomplish my resolution to lose 20 pounds this year! Carolinafitness has created this challenge in order to help bloggers hold each other accountable for their weight loss goals and resolutions, and I couldn’t think of a better way to keep my head in the game, so to speak. Below is my bio and weight loss goal for the challenge! If you want to join, comment on the post I linked above and then post your own bio and goal on your blog, before the 15th of this month!

My bio and goals:

Hi! I’m Anna, I’m 25, and I’m currently a PhD student studying European History. I grew up as an Army brat in Ft. Benning, Georgia, Mililani, Hawaii, and then Tulsa, Oklahoma, but I now reside in Dallas, Texas. I was a super tomboy as a kid and very active until my senior year of high school, when I began concurrently attending college. As my academic responsibilities increased over the years, my urge and ability to be active has decreased. During the summer I am really responsible about my eating habits and activity level, but during the school year, while I maintain healthy eating habits, I always find excuses not to work out. Also, admittedly, I am an emotional eater and whenever I am lonely, sad, or angry I usually go to food for comfort. My favorite outdoor activities include hiking, geocaching, swimming, running, and snorkeling (when I’m in a location that allows it)! While I don’t mind going to the gym, I am a sucker for cardio activities and really do not enjoy lifting weights (something I am trying to change). My other hobbies include cooking, drinking wine, watching movies, blogging, and listening to music. I am 5′ 5″ and my goal weight is 125-130 lbs. I reach my goal every summer, but throughout the academic year I always gain back the weight I’ve lost. So, my goal for 2014 is to reach 125 lbs as quickly as possible AND maintain it for as long as possible! In order to reach and maintain my goal I will be using this challenge to hold myself accountable and the Fitbit One to monitor my activity levels and encourage me to be more active. I will also try very hard to keep a food journal on the Fitbit site, so make sure to follow me (click the hyperlink above)!

Thanks for reading and  I will be sure to update my progress as often as I can!

Do you have a weight loss goal for 2014? What are some tips you would give people to lose weight and keep it off? What is the biggest challenge for you when trying to lose weight?