Saturday Weigh In - 06/30

The days may be at their longest right now - but it certainly doesn't feel that way on the weekend!  It's 7pm and I'm finally getting the opportunity to write my weekly weigh in post...

Another great week - plenty of exercise and delicious food!  I didn't get any strength training in this week - I truly just wasn't feelin' it.


Here's what my exercise week looked like:

Saturday - DAY OFF!
Sunday - Zumba Blast (2 hours)
Monday - 7 mile run
Tuesday - 3 mile run/2 mile walk
Wednesday - 3 mile run/2.22 mile walk
Thursday - Zumba
Friday - DAY OFF!

Total of 6 hours, 7 minutes and 6,518 calories burned! 


I didn't get any bike riding done this week - I decided to take a break and PRAY my knees recover.  Unfortunately, my knees started bothering me from the bicycling.  Sounds strange eh? - especially considering cycling is supposed to be easier on the joints versus running!  Well, this is when I discovered that cycling for fun when you're a kid and cycling for exercise when you're an adult aren't the same things.  Yes, I know how to ride a bike, leisurely anyhow.  I did not, however, know how to ride a bike, for exercise purposes and as a result it affected my knees.  Thankfully my dad is a cycling guru so I asked for his help and we resolved:

1. My seat was too high so my legs weren't in the proper position/angle they should be when pedaling.

For a short person my legs are surprisingly long - I had raised my bike seat until my legs were comfortable, but I raised it a tad too far.

2. I was pedaling using too high a gear

I mistakenly thought the more effort required to pedal the better... I was wrong.  The goal is actually to "spin" and reach an ideal cadence of 90-100 RPM - revolutions per minute... as a beginner, I should be using a lower gear and working on my cadence as opposed to what my legs feel like as I'm pedaling.

3. My tires were next to flat.

{Insert major laughing at myself here} Uhm... well... here's the thing.  I'm 220+ pounds so I figured when I sat on the bike that's why my tires looked a bit low.  The tires felt firm - but honestly, I know better.  You cannot gauge a tire's pressure with how it feels - or even by looks for that matter, unless it's really low.  My dad recommended a tire PSI of 55 for my tires based on my weight and how I'm using the bike.  When he went to put air in the tires with his compressor - my back tire had a PSI of 15.  DOH!

These three things combined ultimately affected my knees!  I'm grateful I don't feel any pain when I walk or run - however, when I bend at the knees it's very uncomfortable.  I had to do some modified Zumba moves a few times in class this week because my knees were hurting.  I'm really hoping they'll recover - STAT!

Here's my weekly progress...

Current weight: 222.8
Last week's weight:  224

Difference: -1.2 lbs
Total lost: -53.2 lbs

Here's why I call the scale a "liar." I weighed in this morning just a little earlier than I usually do and I was actually up 0.4 pounds.  I looked at the scale and thought to myself, "SERIOUSLY?"  I did NOT get disappointed or discouraged!  I'm VERY proud of myself for that - because there was a time when I would have felt both, in addition to being irate; ultimately leading me to drown my sorrow and anger in a bag of Kettle Honey Dijon chips, a couple cans of Coke and probably a trip to get Sushi!

Instead, I said to myself, "You did everything right and the scale is clearly just having a bad day."  I was seconds away from grabbing the camera to document the weigh in - but figured I would wait a little and weigh in again in an hour.  I got a little carried away with some chores so an hour and a half later I was at a 1.2 pound loss.  HA!  Of course I expected a bit more since I've diligent with my exercise and eating - but hey, I'll gladly take a LOSS of 1.2 pounds versus a GAIN of 0.4 pounds!

I hope this lesson reaches everyone who obsesses with the number on the scale - the scale isn't always an accurate indicator of your weight loss and certainly not a measure of your hard work and resolve!  So...

Until the referee rings the bell
Until both your eyes start to swell
Until the crowd goes home
What we gonna do ya'll?

Give em hell, turn their heads
Gonna live life 'til we're dead.
Give me scars, give me pain
Then they'll say to me, say to me, say to me
There goes the fighter, there goes the fighter
Here comes the fighter
That's what they'll say to me, say to me, say to me,
This one's a fighter

(Lyrics from Gym Class Heroes - The Fighter)