Day 4 on alli

Today is the 4th day and still no side effects.   In fact, everything I was warned about just didn’t happen, causing me to take a glass of Fibersure last night.  Alli is not working they way the other friendly bloggers have warned. 

My guess is, that the side effects come from a high fat diet.  Thus, I am not experiencing these effects, because as a general rule, my diet is healthy.   I don’t watch fat like a hawk, but if I had to guess, I would say my fat grams are between 9-15 per meal per day.  Not low, but I think I would call this regular.

Just thought I would share my experience so far.  In case there is a soul contemplating the expense.  I couldn’t find a real persons thoughts and don’t trust the sites comments.

 

 

If a topic embarrasses you…..

maybe you should listen???

I started taking alli on Monday.  I bought it last week and fessed up to the purchase on my other blog.  There were not any good comments from this.  Many were looking out for my best interest with concerns of side effects.  Mostly in the area of loose bowels - gross.

As I opened and read the product, I was immediately led to believe it would not work for me. 

You see, alli is a fat blocker of sorts.  Stopping your body from absorbing fat that is eaten.  I don’t believe I am a regular “large” fat eater.  In fact, I try to eat healthy. 

My main objective is to see the scale go down.  Mentally, I hate that 159 -162 weight range.  It is ……  Just wrong for me.  I’m not a talk model type.  I’m 5′4″ and a bit of a pear shape.  Even the alli materials say I am a candidate for the product if “you are over 157 lbs at 5′ 4″”. 

I have doubts that alli will help me though.  I take in a low amount of fat.  Not because I plan it, but this is how I eat.  I’m not one to really diet, considering my past.  I guess you could say I eat 5 meals a day, don’t stuff myself and eat what I want.

It’s just, I feel like I have to try.  I need to see that scale number go down.  For some insane reason.  I’m going back, starting this week, to the trainer 2 days a week.  And I really want to see myself in the 130’s by summer end.  I don’t know if it is possible. 

Why this number bothers me??? I don’t know.  All my other numbers seem good.  I am still seeing progress - even thought the “weight” isn’t going down.  I feel good!  I am strong.  My blood pressure is excellent at 94/64 last week when I gave blood.  So, this whole have to thing is just nuts.  But I can’t stop myself.

Today’s weigh in info:

• 161.8 lbs
• 19.8% fat
• 56.2% water
• 6.6 lbs bone mass
• 3105 daily calorie
• 15 metabolic age

Did you read that?  I’m 15…..and crazy!

Weekend News

It was our anniversary this past weekend.  So we headed out alone for an overnight Michigan get-a-way.  Doesn’t happen around here often. 

We had a great time.  We visited 5 winery’s and 1 chocolate truffle house.  It was a weekend free of diets and healthy choices.  And yet, I didn’t gain any weight.  Amazing. 

Could have been the hotel bed or the 2 days driving around, but I returned home with a back ache that rendered me useless.  I haven’t had a back issue since starting with the trainer.  So, this left me totally out of practice to handle.

I shouldn’t have, but I went on the treadmill yesterday.  Of course, I only ran 1/4 of a mile.  The pain was just too much.  I really felt the need for exercise so I slowed to a 3.5 pace and did an incline - decending from a 15 by .5 every 1/4 mile and increasing speed .1 every 2 minutes. 

I was hoping to work through my back.  So, I didn’t stop there.  I mowed the lawn, did the poop scooping, and hung out 5 loads of laundry.  It wasn’t working.  The pain was increasing.

AS bad as it sounds, there is only one thing that truly helps.  Sex with my husband on the floor.  I don’t know if I should be saying this. LOL.  Anyway, he was more then happy to assist when he came home from work. 

Immediately I felt the pressure relieve from the nerve.  No, the pain doesn’t go away that fast, but there is definitely a difference.  I don’t know why it works, but it does.  I always thought it is like a mini-adjustment at the chiropractor for my lower back. 

This morning I feel much better.  There is tightness on my right side, but pain is no more. I will be training today. 

 

I bought alli today

I’m kind of feeling weird about this purchase.  I just keep seeing their ads on t.v., the Internet and in print and I just want to know - will this help?

I think I am a good canditate for this product.  I eat good.  I exercise regularly.  I’m not a junk food addict. 

My thoughts are, if my weight doesn’t start to go down, this product is bogus. 

Then again, maybe alli is just for those with a high fat intake?  Maybe I have wasted my money before one swallow.   After all, alli is a fat blocker.

Very curious I am. 

 

2nd work-out

Last night my husband and I went to get the credit application for a new tenant on one of our rental properties.  I’m excited to get this place back into the black with a rent paying tenant - but that is not the story.

Generally, the tenants mow and take care of the yard.  Of course, without a tenant, this is our job.  Or it is if we want to keep our property to our standards. 

So last night I schedule the meeting after work, so I could get the yard work done at the same time.  With gas prices so high its good to combine trips.  This place isn’t merely a bike ride away.  I’d probably be run off the country roads by some high speed crazy person, texting a friend.

This particular property sits on a hill on a corner lot.  While my husband weed-whacked, I mowed.  Not with our John Deere riding lawn mower, but my old push mower. 

It has been a long time since I push mowed.  Funny, there was a time that was the only way for me to mow.  I push mowed through 3 pregnancys.  I remember the neighbors complaining to my childrens father that he was “not good” having his 8 month pregnant wife push mowing our acre lot.  What they didn’t know, is I liked doing it.   That was 15 years ago.

I’m out there last night pushing up and down hills and wow what a work-out.  Good thing I am in such good shape now.  Cause combined with the humidity yesterday and the work involved, I was dripping sweat.  Not that it exhausted me.  I actually enjoyed it.

Weird - mowing for me is a relaxing thing.  It always has been.  I think I have missed it, since my husband does all the mowing at our home now.  I just don’t like riding the Deere. 

10% Physical Ability 90% Mental

I was reading another blog yesterday - I wish I could remember who’s.  Always good to give credit where credit is due.  Gratitude is a virtue we all need.  And here I am lacking. 

Anyway, the writer was speaking about training for a marathon.  No, I am no where near a marathon runner, but I am intrigued by others that are using their bodies to be the best that they can be.

The writer said that running was “10% physical ability and 90% mental“.

I was totally happy to hear this.  Every time I run I have this mental dialogue going.  Like having an angel on one shoulder and a devil on the other.  One is telling me to keep going and reminding me how good I feel after a run.  The other is saying stop, your tired, just walk today.

I start out the first minute thinking “okay, 34 minutes to go“.  Crazy but I count backwards practically the whole time.  When the clock rolls past the first minute - mentally I hear “33 minutes to go“.

Somewhere in between 32 and 30 minutes to go I begin to hear negative things.  Like “let’s just run 1 mile today and walk the rest“.  So, I begin negotiating with myself.  I’ll hear the angel say “okay 7 minutes till we can slow down.  That will complete 1 mile.”

After the first mile is done, if I am feeling mentally strong, I will negotiate in my head again - “how about running another 1/4 of a mile and then slow down.”  Followed by another negotiation for the next 1/4 saying “at least run 1/2 the distance“.

Today, that is as far as I got.  My mental strength was weak.  It took me 33 Minutes and 54 Seconds today. 

Another mental issue is I want to blame it on my sour buttocks.  Or the trainer’s ass whipping yesterday.  When the reality is I mentally failed.  I gave up! 

I need to defeat the devil inside me, if I am ever going to accomplish my goals. 

What I want???

I’m not sure but I have to grasp at something.  So here it goes:

• I want to do 100 Push-ups like it was nothing
• I want to do 100 bicycle crunches like it was nothing
• I want to run a 5k in 30 minutes or less
• I want to fit in all clothes, no matter the maker, in size 8 or less
• I want my pear figure to not be so plump - so that when I try on a pair of pants the waist isn’t huge while the ass and thighs fit tight.  I love my body waist up.  I know they say big bottom women are healthier and thats good - I just want to be more proportionate.
• I want to ride my bike to another state
• I want to see the scale under 140lbs.  I know the rule is, it is only a number, but for some crazy reason it bothers me to see these high numbers.  Ideally, I would love to be my 108 self again.  And although my body is close to this size now - not there I would need to be in size 3-4 for this, I am in better shape this time.  I think 108 is unrealistic.  Shoot my girls weigh more then this. 

That’s good enough.  Now to get there. 

I jogged 3 miles in 33 minutes today

I’m sorry can’t recall the seconds and I am too tired now at 4pm to go look. :-(  If memory serves me right it was 16 seconds. 

I didn’t push it today, because today is actually a training day.  I try not to run on training days, but I’ve learned to do what my body says first. 

So some days I don’t run the whole 3 miles.  And then today, I felt it and did it. 

Then I showered quickly and headed to the trainer.  Where she seems to be getting frustrated with me.  Not good, I’m frustrated too.

You see, I haven’t moved on the scale for months.  As you can see on the side bar.  I just remain. :-( 

Although, today my fat % was 19% and I was given a metabolic age of 14.

I’m not losing the pounds but muscle is still growing and I am getting healthier.  In fact, I ran 1 mile before I started sweating - amazing!

The trainer says I am not ready to go it alone with only 1 day of strength training.  So, starting next week - I’m back on for 2 days a week.  Until, as she put it, I am where I want to be and can just maintain. 

She worked me extremely hard today.  She had an open slot after me and ran my session for an extra 1/2 hour.  OMG!!!  This is why I am tired.  I’m strong, but she can still push me to my limits. 

This is why I love her - I have an awesome trainer! 

I really need to formulate, what I really want.  I need to have a concrete goal or else how will I know when I achieve it?

Monday’s - energy zapper

I’m wondering, is it Mondays?  Is this why running just seems impossible?

I did complete 3 miles today, but after the first mile I slowed to a power walk and an extreme incline. 

I ended up completing the 3 miles in 37 minutes.

Maybe I need to start pounding down those energy drinks everyone seems to love.  Of course, they are nasty tasting to me.  Go figure.

I’m just looking for some high-octane fuel. 

Biking by the flood waters

Today’s bike trip took us up the Fox River.  All I can say is WOW.  And we are not seeing nearing as high waters as others.  We have simply just had higher, faster water levels. 

The path we drove to and took today was underwater at many different locations.  The Fox sounded more like the Mississippi then the little river it is.   

Didn’t stop the folks from fishing, walking, roller blading and biking.  A beautiful day is much more powerful pulling you out then keeping you in from flood waters.

We ended up going 18.34 miles today.  And if I haven’t said it before - let me say it now - I love, love, love my bike and bike riding.  How did I grow up and get so far away from such a fun exercise?