This morning, I had my Lose the Dough check-in at Healthworks. Tara, my trainer, took my stats and measurements, and then snapped this gorgeous photo:
Blah. Worst photo ever! I look like I just woke up. š Direct quote from my husband: “I’m not going to lie, you don’t look good.” (His comment actually cracked me up! š )
Anyway, here are last month’s stats:
- Weight: 129.8 pounds
- Body Fat: 21.0%
- BMI: 22.2
- Waist: 26.25 inches
- Abdomen: 27.5 inches
- Hips: 36.75 inches
In comparison to my starting point, my numbers went down in every category. Yay! This surprised me quite a bit because I didn’t change too many aspects of my lifestyle– I actually thought that the numbers would stay the same.
Looking back on the past month, these are the things that I think “worked” for me:
- Adding more strength training to my weekly workouts
- Cutting back on alcohol
- Eating smaller portions of dessert
So, I guess trying a little bit harder seems to be working. Hopefully, I can keep it up!
A lot of people have asked me if I have a goal weight in mind for Lose the Dough– and I really don’t. I just want to feel strong and look more toned. My core is already stronger and my hip is a million times better.
Ask Me Anything
Here are a bunch more Ask Me Anything responses!
You and Mal seem so great together! What would be your number one piece of relationship advice?
I actually have two pieces of advice: laugh with your partner multiple times a day and have separate checking accounts.
You mentioned that Mal has a blog, right? What is it?
Mal does not have a blog. He’s really not into them.
I recently read that you spend about $300 per month on groceries. I would absolutely love to know how you manage this while still eating healthy! I am a nutritionist and spend much more then $75/wk! Would you consider posting about shopping on a budget?
Check out some of my posts over at Trading Up Downtown:
- Grocery Shopping 101: Before You Leave the House
- Grocery Shopping 101: At the Grocery Store
- Shop, Trade, Save
- Save Money by Reorganizing Your Fridge
Do you monitor your heart rate while working out?
No, I don’t use a heart rate monitor.
Any suggestions for a beginning runner?
Yep! Check out my Running Tips.
How much fresh produce do you buy at a time and how do you keep it so fresh?
I typically buy enough fresh produce for one week. I keep the majority of it in the refrigerator to help it last longer. You can see my recent shopping trips over on Trading Up Downtown.
Do you take the time to edit your photos? How long does it take you to write a blog post?
I don’t edit my photos. I just upload them to iPhoto and put them into Ecto.Ā It takes me anywhere from 15 minutes to an hour to write a blog post.
How old is Mal?
He’s 27.
If you could live anywhere, where would it be?
San Francisco.
Do you ever get sick of Boston and its weather?
I don’t really get sick of Boston– it’s a wonderful city– but the winter is depressing, frustrating, and never-ending.
—
We just dropped Beth and Corey at the airport, so now we have a lot of packing to do! The movers are coming at 8 AM tomorrow morning! Eek! šÆ Better get cracking!
77 Comments
good luck packing! can’t wait to see the house all fixed up š
way to go on your lose the dough stats! so proud and inspired of your hard work!
Good luck tomorrow, Tina! I live in Coolidge Corner (that’s awesome that you stopped by this weekend!) but you’re totally right- too expensive! I’m moving in June, and can’t decide which neighborhood to settle on. Jamaica Plain seems pretty cool, but my commute to Belmont would be tricky… maybe Somerville or Watertown? Not sure…
Great job on your lose the dough!! I’m sure your packing will be a good little workout tonight!
ROCK ON!!!! Kudos to you for living it up while staying healthy. You’re a prime example of why losing the dough doesn’t have to be crazy restrictive. I love your NON all-or-nothing approach, Tina.
Great progress!! Don’t you feel great and motivated to keep going when you see results?!
thanks for answering all these questions about yourself. It’s great to learn more about you and your writing process!
congrats on your progress! it’s goo to know that little changes really can make a difference. š
I absolutely have a worse photo of me – a girl in a hostel took it when I had just woken up after 4 hours of sleep, and I look like a puffer fish! Would never be brave enough to put it online! š
I’m loving reading these questions and answers – so much fun!
Who could ever get sick of Boston; there’s so much to do!
Nice work! God bless an honest husband.
Okay, I have a question. What is your favorite childhood memory?
Goodluck packing…deep breaths.
You look great, congrats and nice job putting your self out their and being vulnerable.
Not to be awkward or anything, but your arms looked really good in NYC. I remember thinking that they looked even more toned than the last time I saw you. !!!
Well done on your stats, you must be thrilled! Just further proof that ‘diets’ don’t work š
I hope there’s more questions, I love finding out about people – I’m so nosy :p Good luck with the movers, that must be exciting š
I have to disagree with Mal, I think you look cute!
I think you look great, good work on the challenge! And I’m with you on the Boston winter…yuck!
Why the separate checking accounts? You guys seem to be such great partners…so, do you split bills like roommates? When you go out do you take turns buying? Hmmm…seems like a lot of work!
Great job on the challenge. You look really good in that picture.
I am so impressed with how much dessert you can eat and still stay in such great shape. I am super jealous. Kids! They ruin your metabolism forever.
great job! It’s always awesome when you think you aren’t going to see results and you actually do!
I agree with the separate checking accounts, my husband and I do the same thing, people think it’s weird but it really works for us and there is no fighting over money!
nice work! But I think all things considered, you look adorable! – but when do you not? š
I too get sick of my city’s terrible winters! but i guess that makes us appreciate the warmer months, huh? š
I never would have guessed that you don’t edit your photos! Any tips on how to take pics that look ok unedited. I edit every pic I post, and it takes forever!
Congrats! Yay! You must feel so motivated to continue with “losing the dough.”
And don’t worry, you look great š At least you have a cute workout outfit – I’m usually in gym shorts and one of my dad’s huge t-shirts, haha.
congrats on the progress you’ve made! and you do NOT look awful in that picture. you look cute and innocent š
I totally agree with your relationship advice š
Good for you Tina! You are beautiful!
I hear you about the winter thing! I’m right up the coast from you in Canada..it’s pretty bad here too! š
And you look GREAT!! š
Congratulations! Great job! I think you look great in that picture! I’m down almost 5lbs in my own lose the dough challenge!
Great relationship advice by the way!
Congrats on a successful month! Definitely inspiring š Good luck with the move.
Nice job!!!! Doesn’t it feel good to see hard work pay off!?!
Congrats! That must feel great to see smaller numbers all around. You look so tiny in your pic already. Good luck with the big move!
Great job on your lose the dough challenge so far!! You are very inspiring because you just tweak your lifestyle, no HUGE changes! We can all live with a few tweaks here and there! I think it’s the major, all or nothing, changes that tend to make us fail on goals!
Lol at having separate checking accounts! I will keep that in mind, I’m getting married in June!
Woo hoo! Job well done!!
I’m going to really read up on your grocery savings tips. We spend waaaay too much money at the grocery store each week. I’m actually too embarrassed to even say what our average is. Eeek! :/
good luck with your move!!
I have to echo everyone on how great it is that you are still enjoying food and not passing on the tasty treats during your challenge! After all, it’s all a part of “real life,” right?!
that pic looks nothing like the other pics you’ve posted of yourself! I had to do a double take! congrats on doing so well in your lose the dough challenge..however you look like such a skinny mini already!
Tell your hubs to hush it up…..you’re adorable! š
-emily http://www.emilyeatsclean.wordpress.com
woo hoo! glad to see your challenge to yourself is working. you look great!
Wow those are some great stats!
Congrats on your progress š I think you’re a great example/inspiration that you CAN indulge and still have balance!
Congrats on such awesome results! I started to embark on a very similar challenge and have had awesome results by doing very similar things: less alcohol, more water, balanced approach to meals AND…
strength training 3x a week. This has been huge in changing my shape and making me stronger. I’m doing a program in my home but any way to incorporate weight sessions is a plus! Vamps up the metabolism!
Well done!
Keep up the good work Tina and well done on your progress! I think the monthly check in is a great idea (and motivation).
I didn’t know Mal was younger than you. Look at you, Cougar š Bill is also younger than me! We’re in the same boat!
Way to go with the check-in, you’re doing really great!
way to go! you’re inspiring me to keep going with my fitness goals of toning up!
Congrats!!! with all this talk of working out, I’m starting to get the itch to kick it up again, get into shape :)*
Awesome work! Makes me want to kick it up a notch myself. I just wish my knee was 100%. Injuries are soooo frustrating.
congrats on the great progress! keep up the good work š
and good luck with the packing!!
Awesome! I’ve been at my Bikini Birthday for 3 weeks and the first week was awesome. The past two weeks I’ve had some major setbacks and I’m pretty much right where I started again!
I need some inspiration.
Congrats on the progress! Reading Mal’s comment made me chuckle too but I think you look pretty darn good for an at the gym workout photo! I’d say bumping up the strength training makes a huge difference, it always seems to be the real benefitter for me!
Congrats!!! Sounds like lose the dough is working great!!