Eleana's Weekly Check-In

• Weight: 69 kg (- 1 kg)
• Waist:30.5"
• Hips: 42" (-1.5")
• Thighs: 24 (+0.5")

Today was not the best day to measure myself. Yesterday I was 68kg! I must have quite the food baby.

My efforts have slowed down because I have somehow pulled a ligament in my knee, so I have to make sure that heals up first. It feels much better today compared to the rest of the week, but still not perfect. Once my knee is back in order I will be starting running! Yes, I'm actually going to do it. My boyfriend will also be joining me and he is in worse shape than me right now so that'll make me feel good. Plus I always do better when there is a level of competition happening.

I have just finished some important schoolwork! So I can dedicate a time again to working on health and fitness. I am still making some better choices than normal, I have done very well with cutting down on my diet coke consumption, and soft drinks as a whole. Better than I thought actually!

My confessions: I made British flapjacks because I found Golden Syrup in a Kroger in Memphis and fairly attacked those flapjacks with abandon. I also had a red velvet cupcake to celebrate finishing my important project. Guess I have some salads coming my way!

Eleana's Weekly Check-In

Current: March 19, 2014

• Weight: 69 kg (- 1 kg)
• Waist: 30.5" (-2")
• Hips: 42" (-1.5")
• Thighs: 23.75 (+0.25")

Me too, Jodie, slightly late. For me it's bad news, and not so bad news. I'm doing okay with my measurements although I seem to have gained 1 kg. However, that could be because of our fantastic meal at Ajax and the pain au chocolat (or chocolate bread, if you're that waitress who didn't understand me the first time when I spoke French). Not that it gained me 1 kg, but it would have affected my weight the next day with all the sodium and water retention.

I'm still making up for the overindulgent Spring Break, and have made the decision to cut out Diet Coke which I now severely regret seeing as I need it during my hard slog through my final portfolio, but oh well. I am definitely addicted to the fizzy stuff so I I feel like it could undo all my hard work, and everyone who successfully manoeuvres through a diet always said they cut out the soda.

In order to really convince myself, I'm going to do a little research on the effects of soda when I have a spare moment or want a break from my Masters work. I'll post the results of my research here so keep a look out!

I still want to do Ripped in 30 but until I get a handle on my work I don't want to half-heartedly start it because I'll be able to make up all kinds of excuses not to do it. But I will still go to Zumba so I'll see you on Friday girls!

Eleana's Weekly Check-In... only slightly delayed

I checked my measurements on Wednesday, but I've been putting off posting them out of busyness... and shame.

• Weight: 68 kg (- 2 kg)
• Body Fat:
• Waist: 31.5" (-1")
• Hips: 42" (-1.5")
• Thighs: 24 (+0.5")

Yes I know. I've gained everywhere. Not back up to my original measurements but I've undone a lot of my good work. In my defense, it is Spring Break. And I did leave Oxford to go to Jackson and Natchez where home-cooked meals were impossible and low-calorie foods were elusive. You can still make the effort of course and find or choose something better for you, but I admit I indulged because I was on holiday. Though it sounds like you did too, Jodie!

The weekly challenge was a lovely idea and very important to those who suffer from low self-esteem tied to their weight, but for me I don't want to lose weight because I feel ugly or unattractive. It's not about looks, it's about general health, mostly related to my hypothyroidism and my high cholesterol.

This week classes at the gym were cancelled so I did not attend any, and I have not done any Jillian Michaels since my first day a couple week ago. I know, I'm terrible, but it's hard to find motivation when you absolutely loathe exercise (no exaggeration) and your personal trainer and motivator and... guilterer (sp?) has skipped town to South Carolina. I'm making excuses. I'M SORRY.

I can't promise to change my ways immediately as I have a lot of homework and a lot of deadlines this week, but hopefully soon I can work again on my motivation and determination. I'm still drinking my water! And I did a big shopping spree yesterday with lots of walking, so that counts right? Right? Okay yes, I also ate at an Indian buffet and had Red Robin, but I chose the smaller sized burger for once. I'm not sure if this counts as baby steps as much as they are tiny pigeon steps...

Another motivating factor did occur to me yesterday, however. I do not need a beach body for summer because I hate the beach and won't be going, BUT I am graduating in May. My pictures from graduation a couple years ago are of me with really short bleached hair and a slight pooch I forgot to suck in. I am going to aim to take a better picture this year. FIGHTING!

Eleana's Weekly Check-In

Weight: 68 kg (- 2 kg)

Waist: 30.25" (- 2.25)
Hips: 41.5"(- 2")
Thighs: 24" (+ 0.5")

Another week, another check in! And what a week it's been. As you can see from figures, while I am struggling to lose weight overall. I am still losing inches, so I'm not totally disheartened!

I can't really explain my lack of overall weight loss, not being an expert. I know that weight is very dependent on the day and how your body is in various things other than mass weight (e.g. water, time of the month etc.) but ultimately I do want to see those numbers go down to at least what they used to be.

Happily I am still seeing difference in my measurements (as long as I am doing it right, really hope I am). I have seen a difference to both my waist and hips to my delight, although once again I have gained in my thighs. I'm hoping this isn't a repeat of my karate years where I kept myself in good shape but got big uber thighs from it.

This week's challenge was the reflection chart. It was pretty much what I expected, I didn't really have any surprises. I woke up feeling tired and found it difficult to get out of bed, even after 8-10 hours sleep, but that's not unusual at all for me. About 30 minutes later I am awake and won't even want a nap for the rest of the day and will struggle to get to sleep in the evenings. I've never figured out why this is, but I've been like this so long I don't question it. I am usually in a good mood and not stressed, lucky! This week I had two major last minute homework assignments, but even this did not affect my eating. I was still under my calories. It did affect my exercise, however, as for Tuesday and Wednesday I just didn't have the time in the day to do exercise. 

Thursday I had a very unusual very bad day for personal reasons. It really affected me that evening and the next morning. It, amongst other things, prevented me from working out on Thursday, and it almost stopped me from exercising Friday too, but I forced myself to join Jodie at Zumba. The bad episode continued into the afternoon until I was able to clear the air in the evening. I can now really see how Rachael struggles when things get on top of her. It really does affect your motivation, or even ability to stick to your plan.

This weekend I had a major spring clean which took me 4 hours on Saturday so, considering it involved a lot of physical exertion and time, I didn't exercise that day. Sunday was the only day where I was truly lazy and could have exercised, but didn't. Not bad for me! But room for improvement as always.

I wrote a piece on Baby Steps in changing your habits, which you can see by clicking here.

Considering everything I wrote in this post, I am not as disheartened about my efforts this week as I might have been, because I accept that sometimes life gets in the way and the small steps and changes I made this week still helped me work towards my goal. I am, however, going to restart Week 1 of the Ripped in 30 Challenge. I shall not be defeated!