The Results

It's been about a month since I began this quest to regain my fitness, health, a slimmer body and renewed self confidence. I've been going at it strong for the last month and have changed a lot of things. I am eating way better than I ever have. I now exercise 2 hours a day, 5 days a week (1 hour cardio, 1 hour weight-training). I added spinning to my routine. I started working with a personal trainer two days a week. And for the first time in my life, I am trying to do this all without the aid of supplements, like good old ephedra.

So you can imagine my disappointment when I got on the scale. I lost 4 pounds. I was so hoping for more like 8-10. My trainer said that 4 was good because healthy weight loss is really only a pound a week. But still. When I hear about people losing 6 pounds in one week, my 4 pounds in a month is a little disheartening.

We also remeasured my body and did the body fat percentage. I lost a half a percentage in body fat. And I've lost 5 inches over my whole body. Here's how it shakes out:

Neck Was 13.5" Now 14" (how the hell does my neck get bigger??)

Shoulder Was 39" Now 40.5" (again, bigger??)

Chest Was 37" Now 36" (smaller of course!)

Abs Was 39" Now 38.5"

Waist Was 32.5" Now 31.5"

Hips Was 42" Now 41.5

Bicep L 13" Now 12"

Bicep R 12.5" Now 12"

Forearm L 10 Still 10

Forearm R 10 Still 10

Thigh L 25.5 25

Thigh R 25.5 25.5

Knee L 17 16

Knee R 17 16

Calf L 15.5 15

Calf R 15 15

So, overall, not what I hoped for after a month. But, better than nothing had I not changed my habits. And I know that my heart has to be much stronger now too.

My trainer suggested that I might need to eat more. She thinks that I need to eat every two hours. While my selections for breakfast, lunch and dinner have been sensible, they are not enough to keep my body burning. I do snack here and there when I am hungry, but Cheryl says that I should not get hungry. To make it a point to eat every two hours or so. What should I eat I asked? She suggested a granola bar, yogurt, even a piece of chicken.

There you have it folks. Wish I could report better numbers. But, please, hang in there with me. Next month, I think I'll have the hang of this!