3 month fitness evaluation

my three month evaluation was the week before thanksgiving (thank goodness!) today, i am excited to share the results. highlight of the month: breaking 150lbs for the first time since puberty!!!

the basics
weight: 147 pounds (-14.0 lbs)
body fat: 23.8% (-5.8%)
bmi: 23.8 (normal)
height: 5' 6"

measurements
neck: 12.25 inches (0.0)
chest: 36.5 inches (-2.0)
waist: 30.5 inches (-5.5)
hips: 38.25 inches (-3.25)
arm: 10.0 inches (-1.0)
thigh: 22.25 inches (-1.25)

total lost: -13.00 inches (since august)

fitness
push ups: 24 (+7)
wall sit: 150 seconds (+65)
plank: 126 seconds (+38)

p.s. starting stats, one month, and two months

2 month fitness evaluation

a couple of weeks ago, i had my two month fitness evaluation.  today, i would like to share the results with you.  this month's highlight was finally breaking into the 'normal' BMi category!!!

the basics

weight: 153 pounds (-8.0 lbs)
body fat: 27.1% (-2.5%)
bmi: 24.7 (normal)
height: 5' 6"

measurements
neck: 13.0 inches (0.0)
chest: 37.0 inches (-1.5)
waist:31 inches (-5.0)
hips: 39.0 inches (-2.5)
arm: 10.75 inches (-0.25)
thigh: 21.5 inches (-2.0)

total lost: -11.25 inches (since August)

fitness
pushups: 22 (+5)
wall sit: 180 seconds (+95)
plank: 106 seconds (+18)

p.s. starting stats and one month fitness assessment

weekly goal - meal tracking

this week i'm going to focus on tracking my meals. i will not be neurotic about this.  anything that enters my mouth, will also enter my food journal. i will not be neurotic about this.  i will simply jot down calorie estimates in this adorable new notepad that i picked up at the vera bradley outlet.  did i mention that i will not be neurotic about this?

p.s. i'm still going strong with operation drink-more-water. i even created game to make drinking “fun.” whenever i take a sip from my giant water bottle, i like to see how long i can go before stopping to take a breath. right now my record is 16 ounces. *insert fist pump emoji*

this post is part of the weekly wishes linkup, hosted by the nectar collective - for people who like to get shit done

1 month fitness evaluation

it has been one month since my initial fitness evaluation with my trainer.  i am so excited to share my progress with you!  this one month evaluation was just the pick-me-up that i needed.  i can feel my body getting stronger with each workout, and I've started making healthier choices (almost) instinctively.  it's so easy to get caught up in the day-to-day numbers game.  results like this show the importance of taking a step back to look at the big picture.

the basics
weight: 159 pounds (-2.0 lbs)
body fat: 25.8% (-3.8%)
bmi: 25.4 (overweight)
height: 5' 6"

measurements
neck: 12.5 inches (-0.5)
chest: 38.0 inches (-0.5)
waist:33.5 inches (-2.5)
hips: 40.5 inches (-1.0)
arm: 11.0 inches (0.0)
thigh: 22.0 inches (-1.5)

fitness
pushups: 19 (+2)
wall sit: 120 seconds (+35)
plank: 90 seconds (+2)

onward and downward...

how to drink more water in ten easy steps

1. invest in a brita filter... or a filter for your tap... or a faucet... or learn to harvest rainwater... really, any source of clean drinking water will work here.
2. determine the amount of water your body needs. helpful hint: divide your body weight in half. (i.e. if you weigh 160 pounds, you should drink at least 80 ounces of water per day)
3. buy one or two (...or three?) bottles that will provide the amount of water calculated in step #2.  i use the nalgene bottles pictured above. both were purchased on amazon. The blue one is 48 ounces and the pink one is 32 ounces. together, they provide 80 ounces of liquid awesomeness. important features: no leak, portable, easy to clean
4. high five for saving the environment one reusable bottle of water at a time!
5. Fill bottles with drinking water in the morning before work/school/netflix/etc.  this is key for all the water snobs (like me) that only drink ice cold filtered unicorn tears harvested by whistling leprechauns. this is also key for the lazies (like me) that don't want to waste time & energy refilling the bottles later.
6. keep your friends close and water bottle closer.  if you leave your water bottle in your bag/car/fridge, you will forget about it.  pretend your bottle is your baby; never let it leave your line of sight.
7. enjoy refreshing water throughout the day. set reminders on your phone if you have to.
8. feel good when you finish the last sip; partially because you've met your hydration goal, but mostly because an empty bottle is much easier to carry.
9. before bed, rinse the water bottles and put them on the counter so that they will be ready and waiting in the morning.
10. repeat steps 5 though 9, and in no time at all, you'll be feeling like Queen bey.

please drink responsibly :)

how do you hydrate?

10 things that will help me lose weight

note to self: bookmark this post for future reference.

to help reach my weight-loss goals, i made a list of things to add to my daily/weekly/monthly routine.  i fully understand that habits aren't formed overnight, that rome wasn't built in a day, and that the tortoise beats the hare every. single. time.  blah blah blah, i get it: old habits die hard and new ones are illusive, slippery little suckers.  in order to avoid the trap of too much, too fast, too soon, i will focus on one item at a time.  once something becomes second nature, i will move on to something new. so yeah, here's the list i came up with on my lunch break:

1. drink 80 ounces of water / day
2. sleep more than 7 hours / night
3. take vitamins daily
4. keep a food journal
5. run 15 miles / week
6. strength train 3 times / week
7. meditate every morning
8. journal every night
9. plan meals ahead of time
10. monthly fitness assessments

the body project

confession time:
i am super insecure about my weight.  i hate it, really i do!  i miss out on opportunities, push people away, and spend most of my time wondering how skinny ani would handle different situations as they are presented throughout the day.  it sounds crazy, i know!

i've decided that my first project (after all, this blog is called the ani project) will be to get healthy.  i've already lost some weight this summer (12 pounds to be exact) by joining a running group, but i still have a long way to go.

disclaimer:
I'm absolutely terrible at following through with things (see: running group mentioned above; also see: old blog, older blog, and oldest blog). gah terrible, i know! BUT this time is different! Yeah, yeah, that's what they all say (<-- that's you). no, i really mean it!  this time i will not hide my blog from the awesome people of the interweb *waves frantically at computer screen.* this time i will, however, hide it from my friends and family.

summary:
by staying semi-anonymous, i will be able to post as if no one is reading; because let's be honest, is anyone actually reading this? anyway, Get excited for lots and lots of super boring lame exciting health posts; coming soon to a computer screen near you.

when it comes to goals, how do you stay accountable?

"starting" stats

because who doesn't love a good numbers game!?  please don't get too emotionally attached to these numbers, we're just passing through. oh! and for the record, my goal is 145 pounds and 20% body fat.

the basics
weight: 161 pounds
body fat: 29.6%
bmi: 26.0 (overweight)
height: 5' 6"

measurements
neck: 13.0 inches
chest: 38.5 inches
waist:36.0 inches
hips: 41.5 inches
arm: 11.0 inches
thigh: 23.5 inches

fitness
pushups: 17
wall sit: 85 seconds
plank: 88 seconds

let the games begin...

If I type it, it must be true

the let's-get-healthy project

On this 27th day in the month of May in the year of 2014:
I, Ani, vow to become the healthiest version of myself.
No magic cleanses. No miracle pills. No lame excuses.
Just good old fashioned diet and exercise mixed with hard work.
I can do this, and I will do this.

Signed (in the forthcoming blood, sweat, and tears),
Ani

That is all.