Weighty Issues

I have struggled with my weight for the past 10 years. The only time I was happy with how I looked was back in 2001 till I got pregnant with Avasha. After Ashwina, I started working out and was in the best shape of my life.
Having 3 kids in 6 years(am not counting Ashwina because I had lost that pregnancy weight) does a number on your body. Not only do your breasts are almost touching your kneecaps, your children will inform you that when you laugh, your belly jiggles and wiggles. My ass could have its own zip code and my thighs never know what it is like to move independently of each other.

I have tried to do the Cabbage Soup diet, the Atkins Diet and so many others that I forget but each time I lose 5-10 lbs and then gain it all back. But now, I am decided that I am getting rid of the extra fat once and for all. And I am not doing it by going on a fad diet plan but instead will do what is common sense, ie get more active and control portions.

5 weeks ago, a new 24 hour fitness opened 3 miles from my house. I went to check it out and signed up right away. They offer babysitting for 2 hours per child per day at only $15 a month which clinched the deal for me. Then as an opening special, they had training sessions with a personal trainer at a special price. I signed up for 2 sessions.(I informed NK after my 3rd session)

In 5 weeks, I have lost 13 lbs(6 kg) and need to lose another 18kg. I have a plan.

1. I started Nordic walking(NW poles came 10 days ago and I love them. I almost died the first day I used them. My back and shoulders were aching the next day. I now NW a 4 mile route in 60 mins. I found this blog .She is an author who wrote about NW. Funny thing is that she is in Boulder.

2. I bought a pedometer. This one from amazon. It tracks my calories, my aerobic steps, the miles walked and it resets itself at midnight. I am aiming for at least 10K steps per day, most days I manage to walk that much. I am a competitive person by nature and

3. I love food. There is no denying it. I realised the key for me is not to deny myself my craving. We dont keep ice-cream,sodas or junk food in this house because of Samar’s allergies. We dont eat out because of his allergies as well. But I want to eat bagels smothered with cream cheese and nuttella. I want to eat 3 Aloo Paratha with the paneer sabzi. So portion control to me is how I am going to win the game. The other tactic my trainer told me is to drink a glass of water before eating and see whether you are actually hungry.

4. I go alternate days to the gym, where I do weights and use a stability ball(I bought a ball to use on my vacation in Singapore). My trainer showed me the right way to lift. Muscle burns more calories and gives your body more definition. Before my first appt, my trainer had to get all my measurements. She used the pinching instrument(what is it called?) to pinch my tummy fat,back,underarm and thigh fat. Then she gave me my BMI(a number that I am not sharing here) Each time, she pinched my fatty layers, she will say “dont worry abt this. This is just stored energy. You need to exert more energy and this will burn. Its stored energy”. I thought it was a nice way instead of saying look at your fat storage!

That in a nutshell is my plan. I want to get to my goal weight by Oct 10 ,the day Samar turns 2.Kiran and I are both going to do it!