new me part ii/iii

This is my monthly weight-loss/get in shape blog. As such, it's actually the third in a series: the first one, new year, new me? was a blog with a few resolution-like goals, and the second one, i'm melting! was my first report on what I've been doing in an effort to lose weight and get in shape. Welcome to Part III.

In order to lessen the boredom my three-four regular readers will face, I'm offering a condensed version of what I've been doing the past four weeks in order to reach my goals. In general, my efforts involved exercising five times a week and trying to eat 1,458 calories or less per day--the number necessary for a person my weight (195 pounds as of the February 5) living a sedentary lifetsyle to lose one to two pounds per week. In order for a person my weight to maintain her weight, she shouldn't eat more than 2,200 calories a day. I did keep track of everything I ate, although the tracking got harder when I was finishing my portfolio and when I went out to eat a few times. When I report calories burned, it is only known calories burned--those on the machines (hiking, walking, jogging on a treadmill or using the elliptical machine). None of the other exercises have been included in this number.

Once again, I'll use the suspense to build up to the utlimate moment, the amount of weight I've lost over the past four weeks. I'm going the slow, safe route, so I only weigh myself on Mondays after four weeks have passed--I don't want to discourage myself by seeing very little progress from week to week. Anyway, here goes with the detailed accounting:

Week 1
Calories eaten: 12,696.16 - average 1,816 calories per day
Calories burned: 1,124
Days exercised: 6
Exercises done: Weights (2x), Walking on track (3x), Walking, jogging, or hiking on treadmill (3x), Elliptical (1x)
Miles travelled on foot: 8.37

Week 2
Calories eaten: 11,135.36 - average 1,591 calories per day
Calories burned: 989
Days exercised: 5
Exercises done: Weights (2x), Walking on track (3x), Walking, jogging, or hiking on treadmill (2x), Elliptical (1x)
Miles travelled on foot: 6.75

Week 3
Calories eaten: 12,480.5 - average 1783 calories per day
Calories burned: 912
Days exercised: 5
Exercises done: Weights (2x), Walking on track (2x), Walking and jogging on treadmill (3x), Elliptical (2x)
Miles travelled on foot: 8.17

Week 4
Calories eaten: 16,950.8 - average 2,422 calories per day (ouch)
Calories burned: 889
Days exercised: 4
Exercises done: Weights (1x), Walking on track (2x), Walking and jogging on treadmill (2x), Elliptical (1x), Downhill skiing (3 hours)
Miles travelled on foot: 9.31

My hard work this month resulted in a (drumroll)... 4 pound weight loss. A little disappointing, but understandable based on the way I've been eating the last week and a half. Some of my shirts are starting to fit better on the arms, and one pair of pants is a little less snug. Other than that, though, I'm not noticing any difference in the way my clothes fit. But I would like to. With that in mind and with the upcoming hiking trip this summer, I have a few new goals for the following month:

1. Keep my caloric intake to an average of 1,434 calories per day, which is the amount of calories a person with a sedentary lifestyle weighing 191 pounds should eat in order to lose one to two pounds a week.
2. Fit into an old pair of pants (this would mean a loss of inches in my butt and thighs).
3. Travel 20 miles on foot in one week (on foot = treadmill, track, elliptical, and--if the weather is good--outdoor walking, jogging, and hiking).

I'm going to be looking up (and posting) fitness plans for newbie hikers such as myself and modifying the plans to fit into my lifestyle. Stay tuned for new weight-loss results in four weeks!