Bikram Recap- 4 weeks of Bikram...the results are in

I learned something this week.  I learned that if I was on the biggest loser and was faced with my food temptations I would FAIL miserably!  I would be the girl who would go in and be "one little bite won't hurt"....I would be wrong.

My diet was HORRIBLE, HORRIBLE this week. *Please Note- I DO NOT blame the restaurants, I blame myself.  I could have opted for healthier choices....I did not*

Sunday was the HORRIBLE, horrible Bears/Packers game.  I went over a friends house to watch the game.  Now, Papa Johns just opened in the city (or at least in our neighborhood), so I have been wanting to order it.  We did..it was delicious. I should have stopped at one piece, I did not...I had 3 (at a whopping 240 calories a slice...YIKES!). I blame my depression of the bears offense.
Sunday un-needed calories: 720 (half of my usual daily intake)

Monday I didn't like the lunch I took, so I went to the McDonald's in the other corporate office building.  I should have opted to get oatmeal (cuz it's delicious and only 290 calories), but I had a bad meeting, so I opted for a chicken tenders value meal.
Monday un-needed calories- 830

Wednesday, we had a lunch meeting....bring in the Buona Beef Italian Beef Sandwich.  Now, I could have had one 4 inch sandwich (only 300 calories- would have kinda fit in my diet---minus the white awesomely delicious Italian bread (especially when it is soaked in beef broth---yum).  I had 3 4 inch sandwiches. 
Total un-needed calories- 665

Thursday- another lunch meeting, surprisingly more Italian Beef (I did limit to one this time) and some baked mosticholi...yippee....more carbs.  Cant find the calorie count here, but Im assuming at least 600 un needed.

Friday night- (I told you....bad week)- I went out with some co-workers to celebrate some good news from McDonald's...and had a few (several) beers.  Now, I have been trying really hard WHEN I go out, to limit my drinks to vodka and soda....not the case...these were STONG ale's (no MGD 64 here).  Then I had some late night quesadilla's.

So, my results show that.  The only good thing that came from this week was me realizing that my diet was DEFINITELY assisting in my weight loss.

So, enough about all of that.  Let's do a quick recap of my month of Bikram.
I stared Bikram in November, and I remember that first class.  It was horrible.  I sat down about every other pose, I threw up afterward (though I think that is more because of my "Women's One a Day").  Throughout my couple of times going in Nov and Dec I began to really take my yoga seriously.  In January, when it really almost became a daily practice I could feel myself getting further into the poses, into my practice and really being able to breath in the poses.  I became flexible (or at least more flexible) and calm...which is not a word people usually use when they describe me.

So yoga is over. My next 4 weeks will be spent on 'The Daily Method" -which is like the bar method, but closer to my house.  I did my first session this morning, and WOW- it is different that what I have been doing.  I think it's going to kick my rear!  I am also back on the diet.  Scott is at the store as we speaking picking up my healthy options:)

Bikram Yoga week 4 results:
weight: 153 lbs
BMI: 26.1
Chest: 37 inches
Waist: 31.5 inches
Hips: 38.5 inches

Total Loss-
weight: 8lbs 2 oz
chest: 1.5 inches
waist: 2.5 inches
hips: 1.5 inches

Weigh In- Week 4

This is my LAST week of yoga.  Can you believe it?  I can't.  Im getting a little sad already, because I REALLY REALLY am begining to LOVE my Bikram yoga classes.  I can see how much better I have become, I get through classes without sitting down, and the teachers at Bikram Yoga Andersonville actually complement my poses sometimes (this happened yesterday during triangle....my nemisis pose, so I was pretty excited.

Here is me in a few poses at home.  Note- these were taken at home, and not after a Bikram class, so I am CERTAIN I look better in my class.

Bikram, for me, is great because it is consistent.  It is the same 26 poses every class.  You can really start to feel your body change, your positions change, amidst the consistency.  If you are having a bad class, which happens to the best of  yogis, you can tell where you are in class and know if you should sit down, or if you can make it to the mid-class sevasina (NO idea how to spell that).

I have begun following a Bikram Blog- I'm becoming kinda die hard.

As for my diet...I did REALLY good all week, until last night.  I ate chicken fingers at the bar...OMG- they were soooooooooo good:)

Here is my weigh in for 1/23/2011
Weight: 151- only down one pound from last week :(  but still down (I mean, the biggest loser guys GAINED 9 pounds this week, so Im doing just fine)
Chest: 37 inches
Waist- 32 inches (down 1/2 an inch)
Hips- 39 inches (down 1/2 an inch)

Thanks again for checking in and your words of encouragement.

Week 3 weigh in- Im cheating---

So, it's Saturday---I'm weighing in.
Why, you ask?  Well, it's Scott's birthday so we are going to dinner tonight with his parents.  Dinners with his parents always involve more food and alchol than I should consume prior to my weigh in.  So....I'm weighing in today.

How did I do this week?  As you recall from last week, I had a pretty busy week without my workout schedule.  I had ACS meeting on Monday night, and bookclub on Wednesday night.

No need to fear, I still got my 4 workouts in this week.  Next week is going to be great, as I get MLK, Jr day off and it's my work from home day on Friday.  It's getting easier and so much better.  As I really get to enjoy Bikram, I get sad that it goes so quickly (it's the fastest 90 minutes of my life).  In every class at Bikram Yoga Andersonville, they say "if you want to stay for the next class, go sign in" .  I used to think these people were crazy, but now Im starting to think..."I could do that".  maybe Ill try that this week?

Need more great news?  Yesterday I bought a "living social" deal- $20 for 30 days of boot camp workout.  So, I am going to do that in April! 

I can really start to see that my clothes are fitting better.  My bras aren't pinching anymore, my sports bras are easier to get on and off, my pants are fitting better, and I'm starting to feel better.  At work, we order food more than any company needs to order food in the history of companies.  On Tuesday we ordered lunch from Jason's deli.  Jason's is great because they have good healthy food in general. I was able to order and stick with my diet requirements.  Thursday we went to Gibson's for lunch to celebrate a co-workers birthday and another co-workers last day.  I had a bit of difficulty there.  They brought out chips with my turkey club (with extra avocado)...I ate way too many of them...salt is my weakness:(

Anyways, it was a pretty good and successful week.  Here are the stats:
Weight: 152 lbs (this is probably more like it- 2lbs a week is a bit more realistic)
Body Fat %- 24.4%
BMI= 25.9

Chest: 37 inches
Waist: 32.5 inches
Hips: 39.5 inches

Also, evidently I have quite the following out there.  Thanks for checking on on my status!  It keeps me motivated!

Week 2- Bikram Yoga

Good morning everyone!

I have something to admit to you.  I only worked out 4 days this week (not that 5 that I am supposed to).  It started because I was LAZY last sunday and didn't go, then Thursday night we went out for drinks with some friends, and Friday....well...I guess I was lazy again.

It's going to be very hard to do 5 days again this week b/c Monday I have a American Cancer Society Meeting, and Wednesday I have bookclub....but I am going to try.

Let me tell you something else.  I went back to Bikram on Monday (after about 2 weeks off)---it SUCKED.  I probably sat over 1/2 of the standing poses.  I was so dizzy and not feeling well.  I went back Tuesday, Wednesday and yesterday and it got MUCH better...hard to believe that before my break, I was able to get through a whole class without a drink or a break, and now I am back to before. 


I have done a really great job at food intake this week.  I followed my diet almost to a tee...I bought a bunch of fish from Trader Joe's (I haven't eaten any of it yet...but it's purchased and in my freezer), I did have some chicken chili at the bar on Thursday night, and last night....last night was not good.  We had some friends over to watch football, and I made artichoke dip....I had to try some, it smelled so good....my stomach did not know what do to with the fatty goodnessI put in my body....it reacted very poorly:(  So, I guess I learned my lesson!

So, now for the stats-
1/9/2011 weigh in:
Weight: 154.0- (mostly this is all water weight- I am not nieve enough to think I will lose 8 lbs a week on a regular basis....but its a great start!)
Body Mass Index= 26.3
Body Fat %= 24.7%
Chest= 37inches
Waist= 32.5 inches
Hips= 39.5 inches

So...so far, so good.  Doing great so far!
Thanks for everyone's words of encouragement.  They are really helping!

Week 1: Weigh In

Well, I have gotten myself pretty prepared for this 4 month experiement.  I had my last "fun week" last week, full of appetizers, crackers, wine and all the other good stuff.  My journey to lose some weight begins today!

I bought a new scale that shows my BMI, body fat %, bone mass, etc.  Its a pretty cool scale.  It also lets me set a goal weight and it shows my progress.

So, the moment you have all been "weighting" for...and I have been dreading.  Let's take a look at some numbers

Total Lbs: 161.2
BMI: 27.6
Chest: 38.5 inches
Waist: 34 inches
Hips: 40 inches

I head to yoga tonight at 5:45 (I havent been in almost 2 weeks so I am excited, but a little nervous about how much flexibility i have lost in those couple of week).  I also am very dehydrated due to two celebration days , so I will only do what I can.

This week shouldnt be too difficult.  I dont have a whole lot going on, so I should be able to maintain my 5 days schedule!

Ill see you next Sunday with an update (hopefully a lb or so lighter!)