handdareseizethefire

I’ve been keeping track of what I eat with a food diary, which is annoying, but helpful.  I’m keeping the calories at about 1600-1700, but watching carbs more than anything. I haven’t really eaten anything processed, the only thing being some bread at Subway today (a salad would’ve been a better choice, I guess, but I was way under my calories for the day. And I need energy for tomorrow’s workouts.) So I’m definitely on the right track and I feel really good. :] 

What I’m worried about is Thursday. I tend to fail on Thursdays and spiral downward in the weekend. Not this week….oh no…This shit’s real now. >:[ 

Bust: 38” 
Waist: 32” 
Hips: 42.5”
Arms: 12”
Thighs: 24.5”
Calf: 17”

Yikes. 

Going to do yoga now, and then I have a boring day of cleaning and chores ahead of me.  

Awesome start: sunrise karate practice at the beach and a picnic to celebrate the dojo’s anniversary.  
Then work for the rest of the day. I was so exhausted by the time I got home. 
At the picnic, kept it light. Had steak and broccoli for dinner. 

Today, I can barely move my legs, so I’m just going to stretch and walk a little.

Ouch.  

I’m giving myself 176 days to kick my own ass into shape.  If 176 seems like an arbitrary number, that’s cause it is.  I needed an amount of time that was fixed, long enough to reach a goal, and unchangable. I’m tired of telling myself, “blah blah I’ve got until the summer” or “blah blah blah I can lose weight during the semester”.  A number is concrete, it can serve as a symbol and a milestone. So…I’m giving myself 176 days to kick my ass into shape.

I’m a 21 year old girl, 5’ 7” and 180 pounds, which actually isn’t so bad for my figure. I’m naturally curvy, even at my thinnest, which was 135 pounds at 15. I’ve always enjoyed exercise, even as a chubby little kid, and especially now as a self professed gym rat.  I, however, eat like a hippotamus. I always have, it’s a thing in my (Latin) family to keep everyone plump. Plus, I’m the kind of person that is absolutely not picky and will eat anything.  I want to lose weight, but even with all the exercise I do, all I’ve managed to do is maintain my weight for years. The most difficult thing for me will be changing my eating habits. For 176 days, it might be THE most difficult thing I’ve ever done. 

So my goal is this: Lose 40 lbs. Lower my body fat percentage to a fit level (24%, currently I’m at 31%). Increase my overall fitness (not sure how I’ll measure this…I guess I’ll know).  And fit into some of my age 15 clothes (just fit in them, not wear them… I’m well past the “goth” phase of those days o.O).  

And I intend to do that by: Continuing my normal workout routine, which includes strength training, regular karate practice, and running, but incorporate more cardio, such as adding more running days a week (maybe 5 instead of 3).  I’m in decent shape, but I really need to intensify if I want any change to happen. 

And most importantly, completely changing the way I eat. I know how to eat healthy, I just… don’t. I dine out every day, sometimes for all my meals, and often go for cheaper rather than healthier options. I’m going to eat clean, following the “shop at the edges of the supermarket” rule, a small meal every three hours. Nothing processed, basically lean meats, a LOT of vegetables, fruits, nuts, eggs and a little bit of dairy (yogurt, and low fat cheese). I’m also mostly staying away from grains and starchy foods, at least for most of the week. 

I think I can do it this time. Having this tumblr will help keep me accountable, and be kind of a scrapbook of motivation.

 I’m pretty pumped.