Category: #FitReaders

#FitReaders Check-In

Published on by Rachelle
  • This check-in is for June 23rd – 29th.
  • I’m only 5 lbs. from my goal weight and my clothes fit more comfortably. I also feel better and lighter and movement is easier. I WANT to move my body more, which is a big deal because exercise has never been something I enjoy.
  • If you have a Fitbit, you can find me HERE.
  • Active Days: 5/5
  • Steps: 49,272
  • Miles: 20.02/15.34
  • Miles Outside: 13.10/100
  • Total Miles: 402.36/800
  • Active Minutes: 189/150

#FitReaders Check-In

Published on by Rachelle
  • This check-in is for June 16th – 22nd.
  • All of my mood, sleep, and skin issues have improved tremendously! I’m feeling so much more like myself again. Even on the days that I felt a little low or didn’t sleep well, I was still able to function at close to my usual level without feeling like I was trying to survive.
  • One of the bonuses to my new medications is that I’m losing weight again. I’m now only 7 lbs. from my goal weight. I’m hoping this will continue as I continue to improve my nutrition to match up with the Galveston Diet guidelines.
  • If you have a Fitbit, you can find me HERE.
  • Active Days: 6/5
  • Steps: 35,063
  • Miles: 14.25/15.34
  • Miles Outside: 13.10/100
  • Total Miles: 382.34/800
  • Active Minutes: 192/150

#FitReaders Check-In

Published on by Rachelle
  • This check-in is for June 9th – 15th.
  • Everything went to hell this past week. My mood swings and anxiety went through the roof.  My face broke out again, and I started waking up in the middle of the night again and couldn’t get back to sleep. Things got so bad that I booked an appointment with a virtual clinic.
  • I had to run all over town to find a pharmacy that had my new medications in stock, so that was a stressful adventure! I start my medications tonight, and even though I was told that it could be a little bit of a bumpy ride for a couple of months as we figure out the dosage, I have hope that the end of my mood, sleep, and skin issues is in sight.
  • With all of that craziness going on, I’ve done nothing else but get through each day. I did discover that getting outdoors and doing something physical (walking, gardening, whatever) helps with my anxiety and feelings of overwhelm. That’s difficult to do at work, but much easier when I’m at home. I also learned that, for the first time in my life, meditation doesn’t help me. I guess it’s not enough to get me out of my head and grounded back into my body.
  • If you have a Fitbit, you can find me HERE.
  • Active Days: 4/5
  • Steps: 47,450
  • Miles: 19.32/15.34
  • Miles Outside: 13.10/100
  • Total Miles: 368.09/800
  • Active Minutes: 137/150

#FitReaders Check-In

Published on by Rachelle
  • This check-in is for June 2nd – 8th.
  • Other than the mood and anxiety issues, things are getting better. My face has mostly cleared up, I’m sleeping a bit better, and I discovered that spicy foods are a common trigger for night sweats, so I’ve stopped eating anything spicy for dinner to see if that helps.
  • Since body composition is a much better indicator of overall health than weight or BMI, I splurged on a new scale that measures all that. The at-home scales aren’t as accurate as the professional ones found in some gyms and other places, but they’re much more reasonably priced (a one-time cost versus around $100 each time at the gym) and it doesn’t require me going anywhere or making an appointment.
  • My first time on the new scale showed me some things I already knew but also showed me a couple of measurements that made me happy (my muscle mass for example). The important thing is now I have solid numbers that I can track over time to see how the changes I’m making in my diet and exercise are affecting my body.
  • If you have a Fitbit, you can find me HERE.
  • Active Days: 3/5
  • Steps: 47.689
  • Miles: 19.30/15.34
  • Miles Outside: 11.65/100
  • Total Miles: 349.30/800
  • Active Minutes: 104/150

#FitReaders Check-In

Published on by Rachelle
  • This check-in is for May 19th – June 1st.
  • I’m not sure what happened, since I had continued sticking to the Belly Fat Blast challenge guidelines as much as possible, but I regained nearly all the weight I had lost. With this, my night sweats, insomnia, acne, and mood swings went through the roof. I guess that my hormone levels went haywire. My symptoms began easing up this past week, but the weight is not going down again yet. This has not done well for my overall mood, and I feel discouraged. I’m not giving up, but I am struggling.
  • Since I didn’t post last week, I’ve listed the totals for both weeks below.
  • If you have a Fitbit, you can find me HERE.
  • Active Days: 4 and 3/5
  • Steps: 53,278 and 41,943
  • Miles: 21.73 and 17.19/15.34
  • Miles Outside: 11.65/100
  • Total Miles: 330/800
  • Active Minutes: 105 and 72/150

#FitReaders Check-In

Published on by Rachelle
  • This check-in is for May 12th – 18th.
  • I took most of the week off from work to get over the sinus infection I had, and I didn’t do much the rest of the week, either.
  • I’ve hit my first weight goal! My next goal is another 10 lbs, which will hopefully get me down one clothing size.
  • If you have a Fitbit, you can find me HERE.
  • Active Days: 1/5
  • Steps: 25,108
  • Miles: 10.24/15.34
  • Miles Outside: 11.65/100
  • Total Miles: 291.08/800
  • Active Minutes: 91/150

#FitReaders Check-In

Published on by Rachelle
  • This check-in is for May 5th – 11th.
  • I got sick this week with a cold and have been resting as much as possible this weekend.
  • I’m only half a pound away from my first weight goal! I haven’t been this light in about 3 years 🙂 I had no idea that increasing fiber would help move the scale in the right direction. I’m still planning to start the full Galveston diet after the Belly Fat Blast challenge, but I will move into it a bit slower to ensure I’m still getting enough fiber.
  • If you have a Fitbit, you can find me HERE.
  • Active Days: 5/5
  • Steps: 43,396
  • Miles: 17.74/15.34
  • Miles Outside: 11.65/100
  • Total Miles: 280.84/800
  • Active Minutes: 161/150

#FitReaders Check-In

Published on by Rachelle
  • This check-in is for April 28th – May 4th.
  • I started the Belly Fat Blast challenge on May 1st, and so far it’s going well. I’m still struggling with perimenopause symptoms, which I knew wouldn’t go away overnight, but my body feels a little better overall. That is enough for me to continue. In fact, I’ve got a hot yoga class later this morning to help me get those active minutes in.
  • If you have a Fitbit, you can find me HERE.
  • Active Days: 5/5
  • Steps: 40,417
  • Miles: 16.41/15.34
  • Miles Outside: 11.65/100
  • Total Miles: 263.10/800
  • Active Minutes: 163/150

#FitReaders Check-In

Published on by Rachelle
  • This check-in is for April 21st – 27th.
  • I tried a few of my old yoga DVDs that are supposed to be for beginners, but either they didn’t mention any modifications for difficult poses or I didn’t enjoy them. I might try some YouTube videos, so if you have any recommendations, please leave a comment.
  • I haven’t had much trouble cutting added sugars from my diet, and so far, I’ve been able to get most or all of my daily fiber. I don’t officially start the Belly Fat Blast challenge until May 1st, but getting some practice and building a habit of tracking my nutrition has helped me figure out what I will need to work on to be successful.
  • If you have a Fitbit, you can find me HERE.
  • Active Days: 4/5
  • Steps: 43,453
  • Miles: 17.77/15.34
  • Miles Outside: 8.75/100
  • Total Miles: 246.69/800
  • Active Minutes: 141/150

#FitReaders Check-In

Published on by Rachelle
  • This check-in is for April 14th – 20th.
  • In my quest to help myself manage perimenopause while continuing to build healthy habits, I came across a book, The Galveston Diet by Mary Claire Haver, MD. I went on her website and discovered “The ‘Pause Life”, her blog and online community for all things related to menopause and women’s health.
  • While checking out the resources on “The ‘Pause Life”, I came across the four-week “Belly Fat Challenge” and decided to try it.  Instead of jumping straight into the Galveston Diet, I’m using the month of May to do the challenge. Until then, I’m slowly adjusting my diet to include more fiber, continuing to limit my sugar, and planning how to get the amount of exercise I need to complete the challenge.
  • I’m also considering adding restorative yoga and meditation to my evening routine since the challenge also calls for reducing stress. Doing those activities might also help with my sleep issues, but even if they don’t, neither is harmful so it’s worth trying.
  • If you have a Fitbit, you can find me HERE.
  • Active Days: 5/5
  • Steps: 44,688
  • Miles: 18.21/15.34
  • Miles Outside: 8.75/100
  • Total Miles: 228.92/800
  • Active Minutes: 150/150