Getting Dunked - Round 2

Finally, I've been able to get back to Fitness Wave for my second hydrostatic test to see how I've been doing losing FAT.  Since confirming my appointment, I've been nervous because I know I've gained back some of my previous losses, but it's better to know where you're at than to fret about what might be, so off I went for getting dunked round 2.

You'll remember from my last test, my weight was 192.0... today my weight on the same scale was 183.0, which is a 9 pound loss.  This trends to 0.5 pound per week lost.  Previous to my gain I had been trending around 2.0 pounds lost per week, so my gain here at the end has really hurt my average.  But I still have a solid loss on the record and that's something to celebrate as going in the right direction is what counts.

And of this 9 pounds lost, 6.6 pounds were FAT!  Most of the weight lost has been FAT and this is the best news of all.  I'm losing slowly enough that my body is actually changing and becoming more lean.  I did lose some lean tissue, 2.4 lbs to be exact.  This is to be expected as I'm not really exercising these days other than walking the dogs here and there and an occasional Pilates mat workout.

This is another take away from the test as my lower activity level has reflected in the daily calories I need.  With a couple pounds less lean tissue and several hours less exercise each week, I need to eat less than what I was eating before.

This is all good news to me as it gets me back on track and motivates me to stay the course as this course is actually working.

Last test, my body fat percentage was 37%... this test it's 35%... a 2 % reduction in four months, which means I'm winning this war against FAT.  Are you with me?

 -- Kristin

My First Gain

On June 7, 2009, I began this blog, weighing in at 198 pounds and a few months prior to that, I logged my heaviest weight ever: 204 pounds.   Since then until today, I've either lost or maintained with each weigh in.  Today, however, I've logged my first gain, weighing in at 183.0 pounds, a 6 1/2 pound gain from last month's weigh in.

Now before I go ballistic and blow a head gasket, let's be sure to pat myself on the back for going nearly five months in the correct direction.  This is undoubtedly a first for me as I've always been the yo-yo dieter - down 5 pounds, up 2; down 7 pounds, up 3.

And, I'll admit, this is no surprise.  Since my last blog post, my smallest jeans have grown uncomfortably tight, so I knew I was getting bigger.

But this is not a disaster - it's a wake up call!  I've fallen off my eating small routine and have indulged myself in extravagant goodies (around the clock) since arriving home to my husband, my kitchen and my new cookbook, Mastering the Art of French Cooking.  The key now is to remember all the principles I had previously conquered and get current with all of them.

First up: to track my daily consumption regarding calories.  Remember when we did this before? 

I'm also working to schedule my next hydrostatic test, which will tell me exactly how I've done these past months losing FAT and also give me an updated target for daily calories given my exact lean body mass.


The world is my oyster and I intend to continue my FAT loss journey all the while eating wonderful and delicious foods I truly enjoy.  Stay tuned for some exciting recipes I'll be sharing, all with appropriate caloric and nutritional content provided.  Are you with me?  :)

-- Kristin

Finally Home

After spending much of the past two months away, I'm finally home and enjoying all the comforts that come with being home: my husband, my own bed, the company of my animals and the joy of being in my kitchen.

Since leaving for my last trip, a new cookbook has arrived and already, I'm enjoying cooking from it.  The cookbook, Mastering the Art of French Cooking by Julia Childs, offers not only delicious recipes, but also wonderful instruction on cooking techniques.

Of course, the first question that comes to mind is how can I maintain my FAT loss while cooking and eating lavish dishes prepared with butter, wine and other delectable ingredients?  The answer is simple: FAT loss isn't about what you're eating, it's about HOW MUCH you're eating.

Have you ever been to France?  If you have, you probably noticed that French people are not fat... in fact, they are some of the slimmest people in the world.  How can this be given their constant consumption of rich French food?  Easy - they don't gouge themselves with portions the size of a basketball.  They simply enjoy small portions, which, frankly, is all you need to sustain your body with proper nutrition.

I'm convinced that Americans are obese not because of what they are eating, but because of how much they are eating.  Instead of constantly worrying about eating fat-free or low carb, everyone needs to pay attention to how many calories are passing your lips as this, more than anything else, will impact your FAT loss success or failure over time.

Also, now that I'm home, I'll be scheduling my next hydrostatic body fat test so that I can stay on track with my slow (and permanent) FAT loss... be sure to stay tuned and in the meantime, happy eating!

-- Kristin