The 4 months are OVER....WHAT!!!

So Im sitting here...and realized my four months are over.  (You know the title 4 months, 4 workouts 20lbs)....
Let's recap-
In January I did Bikram Yoga...26 yoga poses in a hot HOT room (105 degrees F).  I learned what sweating is like in Bikram.  I loved it.  Loved the studio, lost a lot of weight, and loved being WARM in those cold January days!

February was The Daley Method-  The Daley Method is a combination of pilates, yoga, and ballet.  I believe the daley method helped me build up some of my upper body strength so I could do Jillian Michaels.  Sometimes the classes seemed a little less "exercisey" for my taste...and more like a fashion show.... but it was a good workout.

March was Jillian Michaels.  I worked out from home, did the "no more trouble zones" workout.  I liked getting home early and getting a parking spot.  I liked being able to compare and see how I was progressing and finally being able to do the WHOLE workout without taking a break.  I love me some Jillian...she kicks my bootie.

April was Row Fit Chicago.  Most of the classes were spent on an urg.  rowing in an instructor led class.  There were a few "cross fit" days thrown in there, working on upper body and building some muscles.  I really like rowing.  I think I will use this as my "cross train" day when running in May and may end up getting a membership in June.

So...what do the results show?  Bikrams WINS....Surprisingly, the daley method was  a close second.
However, in the defense of Jillian and Rowing...my diet was MUCH MUCH better in January and February.

Month	Beginning Weight	End Weight	Weigh Loss Total	Weight Loss %	Workout
Jan	161.2	153	8.2	5.09%	Bikram
Feb	153	147.6	5.4	3.53%	Daley Method
Mar	147.6	145.2	2.4	1.63%	Jillian
Apr	145.2	142.6	2.6	1.79%	Rowing

Now, fear not.  I will continue blogging about my weigh loss journey.  I still haven't lost my 20 lbs...just BARLY under... and I need to continue this and do a few more.  I'd truly in my heart of hearts like to be about 130 for the wedding....
Luckily, I have another 4 months to go.  I think I now have a better idea of what works, and I still have a boot camp groupon to use!

Rowing Weigh in - Week 4

Good Easter Morning all-
First, thank you for all your comments on my last post.  Thanks to you, I have upped my calorie intake to 1250 net calories per day.  Let me tell you what a difference it makes.  I am not feeling hungry anymore, and have seen a decrease in weight...just as you all predicted!  I think my body is still getting used to not being "starved", so it may take a bit longer, but I think it will get me back on track!

This week was great.  I am getting SOOOO good at rowing.  My splits are going down, I am getting better at form (my back doesnt hurt nearly as badly). If it wasn't for this silly run I am doing at the end of May, I think I would continue rowing.  Instead, after Wednesday---Melissa is my name, Running is my game.

My mom and sister came to town yesterday, and all of us (including Scott) went on a food tour of a neighborhood in Chicago.  It was sooooo fun!  We went on the near north side and had 7 stops: We had a pastrami sandwich at one of the only real Jewish Deli's in downtown chicago, we had some tea at Tea Guschwender, went to The Spice House where we tasted cinnemen from around the world, Old Town Oil, where we sampled some great 100% EVOO's and balsamic vinagarettes, some delicious toffee from the Fudge Pot, a perogi and Kolaczki's, and then to Bocino's pizza for some "heart healthy" Chicago style stuffed pizza.
All that eating....but it was a walking tour, we walked about 3 miles through three different Chicago Neighborhoods (Gold Coast, Old Town, Lincoln Park).  Learned a lot about the history of Chicago, saw the original playboy mansion, and just had a great time.  I highly HIGHLY recommend it to anyone who wants a nice way to spend a few (3 and a half) hours on a walking tour in Chicago.

Anyways, with all that walking plus some more, and my rowing yesterday and the burger and fries I had for dinner, I still didnt get my required calorie intake!  I tried as hard as I could!!!!

Mom and sis are still here, and we are up for some more eating and fun!  Enjoy your Easter's.
PS- next weekend I will be at a wedding.  I may post something on Monday!

Oh- the weigh in results!
Weight- 142.6 lbs
Hips- 38
Waist- 30.5
Chest- 37

Too FEW calories?

So, I have been utilizing livestrong.com to tell me how many calories I need to consume to get down to my target weight by my my wedding  (my own personal shedding for the wedding....but I don't win a honeymoon:().  According to livestrong.com I was supposed to be around 940 calories a day.  Here's the thing....since I have started trying to get down to 940, nothing has been happening!  I have been doing some research and I think I am not eating ENOUGH!  I guess if you "starve" yourself- which I have not been doing in case anyone is worried- your body stores all the extra food so it has a safety zone!

So, I from what I am reading, I need to increase my calorie intake to 1200/day, which is what I was doing a few months ago (4 meals a day at 300 calories a meal).

Hopefully this will keep me going and put back on track!

Hey there readers

Guess what....I am not weighing in..  Well, I take that back...I did weigh in...it was a pretty miserable experience.  Last week being my birthday week and all (30---yippee), I ate pretty horribly, and it all caught up to me.  (PS- did you know that Leinenkugals Berry Weis has 208 calories per bottle...that was pretty depressing!)

So... I have a wedding to be at in Kansas City at the end of the month and I need to be under 140....so I have a bunch of work to do to get me there:( Also, this weather is NOT helping!!! Grrr....  I am sooo aggravated.  I am ready for spring....I am ready for April....this May better be the floweriest, because this April is the rainiest.  Booooooo rain.

Row Fit Week 2

Hey all-
Sorry it's so late.  Spring has sprung in Chicago (at least for a few days), and I was taking all the advantage of it I could. 
I am really starting to get into this rowing thing.  I like that I can really start to see my progress. 
There are two "stats" we look at (a) strokes/minute and (b) split (ie- how long to row 500 meters.

When I first started it was really hard for me to get below 2:45 for a split.  but now, I am almost consistently at a 2:20 split (or less if we are doing sprints).  I am feeling really good about it.  My legs are working well, my arms and chest are working well.  I am really liking the coaches, and am really excited for progress.  I really do like this workout alot!

I also got to go on a bikeride yesterday and today.  I volunteered at the "Shamrock Shuffle" this week (one of the largest 8K races in the US).  For those of you who don't know, I race for the American Cancer Society's DetermiNation program.  I have done a marathon and a half marathon in the past.  This year I am doing the Soldier Field 10 mile at the end of April.  We finish on the 50 yard line of soldier field on the jumbotron!!!!  awesome!  (shamless plug for fundraising- here is my link: http://main.acsevents.org/goto/meldanzsf10   )

So, this weekend I volunteered at the expo yesterday and was a "coach" today.  I biked all the way to Navy Pier yesterday and back, today all the way to grant park and back....Im thinking it was about 25 miles total.  My butt HURTS, but it hurts so good.

Anyways, the weight loss doesn't show it this week, but I know if I keep pushing through this, I will get over this plateau.  I feel a little like Cortney on the biggest loser.  But I will keep it up...and it will happen!!!


Weight: 142.8
24.4 BMI
38 inches- hips
30.5 inches waist
37 inches chest...


oh and did I forget to mention.....It's my BIRTHDAY WEEK!!!!  Hip Hip Hooray!!!  I turn 30 on Thursday and can't wait!  I am so excited for my thirties....Thirty, and Flirty and Fun!

RowFit Week 1

I have a confession to make.  I really really like rowing.  The place where I go for my rowing classes also has a couple of other options for class.  I went to a "cross fit" class on Tuesday where I had to do a sequence of items (dead lifts, ball clings and squats) in a couple of sets 21, 15, 9 in as quick as time as possible.  Most of my rowing classes have a set workout.  So on my first day we rowed did a variety of strokes per minute.  Yesterday in the class we did little races.  So, this was my 3rd day of rowing.  I didn't plan on winning a whole lot of these races....but it's amazing what compitition does to me:)  I lost the first race (the girl next to me was pretty awesome).  I went 548 (or so) meters in 2:30, she went 614- rediculous....So my teacher put us next to someone with closer ability.  The second race I went 558 meters in 2:30.  Not only did I beat myself in the first race, but I beat the person next to me.  In the third race, the girl next to me and I were neck and neck,  The teacher came up behind us with about 20 seconds left and said that it was going to be neck and neck.  I finished with 578 meters in 2:30....the girl next to me....577.  I won....by a METER.
It was amazing.
I do feel like it is a good workout.  I am excited to go back today and the rest of the week this week.
Here are the weigh in results:
Weight: 143.0
BMI: 24.4
Hips: 38 inches
Waist: 31 inches
Chest: 36 inches

If anyone knows of any ways I can lose more around my waist, I would be appreciative!!!