Dietary Refinement

Published on June 8, 2006 By pseudosoldier In Diet

I had a "courtesy" weigh in today at my unit, so early that my boys had to go in with me. Oddly, they were more awake then than they normally are when I take them to daycare about two hours later.

I've gained 6 pounds since I got here, and I know it's not all muscle. My body fat composition has gone to seed, too. I'm over the standard.

It's my own fault. I need more cardio and less food. It may seem like a strange decision, but I had actually increased my caloric intake when I got here. The semi-regular PT I was getting earlier allowed me to put on some muscle, but I wasn't taking off enough of (or any of) the fat I already had.

I need to take about 2 inches off my waist, so I hope 10 pounds will do that.

It's crunch time (literally and figuratively).

Comments

Texas Wahine

on Jun 08, 2006

Good luck.

I hate being fat, but I love food so much.

Texas Wahine

on Jun 08, 2006

Oops. Double post.

pseudosoldier

on Jun 09, 2006

Oops. Double post

Eh, it's you, so I'll forgive it.

(I don't think you're fat, either, but I'm one of those people who do the whole gradiated scale bit... overweight is the highest I'd rate you, and it's where I put myself, too. It's like "still look healthy, but wouldn't hurt to lose a few"? Does that sound insulting? It's not supposed to be... on the bright side (for me), that means I feel I still look healthy even if I can stand to lose a few.)

... stupid parenthetical rambling. I need some sleep.

Texas Wahine

on Jun 09, 2006

Overweight instead of fat? I'll take it. Hehe.

Don't you wish the BMI charts worked that way, too? It could include categories like Healthy, but could lose a few, a bit chubby, seriously chubby, overweight, fat, really fat, etc., etc. Haha.

I sometimes call myself chubby, but that implies some sort of innocuous cuteness that doesn't quite fit. Ah well.

I actually convinced my husband that a treadmill was a pregnancy necessity, so he spent 2 hours putting that bad boy together today. I don't expect to slim up from using it, but I do hope it will help me avoid chunking out completely. I'm heavier now at 4 months into this pregnancy than I was the day I delivered either of my boys. Depressing.

And you know, I don't think I've ever seen a photo of you. I picture you as being fit (Army guy and all), so it's hard to reconcile that with your self-depreciating comments about your weight and fitness levels, haha.

pseudosoldier

on Jun 09, 2006

self-depreciating comments

Well, those have been par for the course for me for a long time. I'm getting better.

The treadmill will only help if you get on it, kiddo. I think you hadn't been as active as you would've liked prior to the pregnancy, so you may have an uphill battle with it, but the large part of any sort of self-improvement is willpower. Stick with it.

Keep baking that bun, too.

Texas Wahine

on Jun 09, 2006

The treadmill will only help if you get on it, kiddo. I think you hadn't been as active as you would've liked prior to the pregnancy, so you may have an uphill battle with it, but the large part of any sort of self-improvement is willpower. Stick with it.

I actually did a nice half mile this evening. I tend to not really enjoy exercise, lol, and I do avoid it. I've always liked walking on treadmills, though, and I have no idea why.

I feel really good now, and I'm hoping to go maybe half a mile in the morning and half a mile in the evening to start and work my way up to more significant distances.

I've also got a Total Gym which is great, and I find it to be pretty fun, but I'm scared to use it, thinking I might pull something or hurt the baby somehow. Which is probably silly.

Any suggestions re: being more physical?

And considering we spent $400 on a treadmill, $30 on Nikes, and $45 on a sports bra and work out pants set, I MUST use this treadmill. If I don't, I'm pretty sure my husband will never buy me ANYTHING. EVER. AGAIN.

Keep baking that bun, too.

I'm on it.

And don't you love how I turned this into a conversation about ME? Hahahaha.

pseudosoldier

on Jun 09, 2006

Any suggestions re: being more physical?

Just being active is what you should be doing. You can't increase your activity level too much beyond what you were doing before you were pregnant, but a gradual increase is fine. Working your way up like you plan (and always getting feedback from your body and your baby) sounds good to me.

And don't worry about this being about you. It's nice to catch up.

Spc Nobody Special

on Jun 11, 2006

Being active helps, but still........I'm capable of gaining weight doing 30-35 miles a week. I'm such a carb junkie.....................

Less drinkie, more runnie.......

Any suggestions re: being more physical?

Get good shoes. $30 Nikes are cool, but $80 Sauconys are way cheaper than $400 dollar x-rays, $50 dollar doctor visits, not being able to walk without pain.........etc. It's not just the fit, it's also they way they effect your foot movement.

Try a specialty running store to get a feel for the type of shoe you need. Good running shoes are usually great for just walking too, and you always find out what kind of shoe you need and buy it somewhere else cheaper. Also a good rule of thumb for preventing injury is too increase milage no more than 10 % a week max.

As for being active whilst (and at the same time even) pregnant, you are usually good running up to about a half hour at a time. Running longer is not known to harm the child, but it's usually the cautionary limit, sort of a just in case type of thing. I'm not sure about walking, but I think you would be fine going longer even, depending on your heartrate.

I wish you well as you join us in the fight. Long live the revolution!

Texas Wahine

on Jun 11, 2006

pseudosoldier:

Working your way up like you plan (and always getting feedback from your body and your baby) sounds good to me.

Thanks.

SPC: Hey, it's great to see you "around".

Hahahahahhahahahaa...there's NO WAY I can get $80 shoes! If it weren't for Adrian's insistence on new shoes, I would be wearing 3 year old Payless sneakers for my walking. Hehe. I will keep your recommendation in mind, though, in case we happen to have an unexpected influx of cash.

Also a good rule of thumb for preventing injury is too increase mileage no more than 10 % a week max.

This is good to know. I actually asked around at my baby site, and the pregnancy fitness lady told me that it would be good to start out at 1 mile 3X a week and then add a day in after the first week and so on and then increase mileage.

That sounds really wimpy to me. Right now I'm doing 1 mi. in the am and 1 mi. in the pm and plan to do it 5 - 6 days a week (brisk pace so that my heart rate is increased). I've been consistent with it everyday so far. I just don't want to go to the effort and get all sweaty and not get any benefit from it because I didn't do enough.

My main goals are to keep my blood pressure down (last appt. it was high end normal), to boost my metabolism, and to obtain some semblance of a fitness level.

My eating habits are decent (not perfect, but decent) and I keep a food/nutrition journal, so I feel like I'm not counteracting the effects of exercise with my diet.

As for being active whilst (and at the same time even) pregnant, you are usually good running up to about a half hour at a time. Running longer is not known to harm the child, but it's usually the cautionary limit, sort of a just in case type of thing. I'm not sure about walking, but I think you would be fine going longer even, depending on your heartrate.

I don't know if I'll work my way up to running, but I've read stuff from lots of chicks who...no kidding...run like 30 - 40 mi a week while GREAT BIG pregnant. It's amazing.

I wish you well as you join us in the fight.

Hehe. Thanks.

pseudosoldier

on Jun 12, 2006

chicks who...no kidding...run like 30 - 40 mi a week while GREAT BIG pregnant

NBS knows the same woman who I do who did just that... easily running 3-4 miles at a time while 8+ months pregnant. (I saw Kelly the other week, actually. She's doing very well, and so is her little girl.) Keep in mind that these women tend to be intense runners "in the off-season" as well. It's not like they start the running when they get pregnant and work their way up.

Keep an eye on yourself, but you sound like you're doing great.

And I also feel it was good to see you, Ben.

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