Can simply skipping sugar lead to inch loss success?

Strenua — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 14:41:55 +0000

Restricting food for weight loss isn’t really my thing. Although I need to lose some weight, I think it’s more important to adopt a long term healthy diet than to starve yourself for a few weeks. I started by not having sugar in my coffee, there is around 16 calories in a teaspoon of sugar, which doesn’t sound like much but in 5 cups a day 7 days a week that is around 560 calories. I also cut down my chocolate and ice cream intake. Cutting them out completely wouldn’t have worked for me, I enjoy my daily sugar rush but I cut it down to only one bar or ice cream a day. Two weeks after my first weigh in and measure and I have lost 4lbs and my BMI is now 24.1.

I have lost ¼ inch on each bicep and half an inch across my chest, 1/2 inch at my waist and 3/4 inch across my navel. There were no changes around my hips, bum and lower legs although each thigh lost almost 1.5inches.

My knee still gives me some pain and I’m still doing exercise to strengthen the muscles in my legs with the high reps obviously helping to tone my thighs. I’ve started running a few times a week, so far only 3-4 miles and at marathon pace, so not too fast. My physio says that it is important I don’t tire my legs while they are weak as I may develop poor technique running over longer distances leading to more problems later on.

I’m quite satisfied with my results I have achieved with little effort and I haven’t noticed the missing sugar from my coffee, nor do I really need a second chocolate bar in the evening. Over the next few weeks I’m looking to increase my running and other cardiovascular exercise and hope fully lose some inches from my hips. I’ll let you know how I get on.

Day 1 of my fitness journey

Strenua — Wed, 27 May 2009 12:06:00 +0000

Day 1 so time for my weigh in and measure.

The scientist in me wanted to record my baseline body measurements so if my weight loss plateaus I can hopefully stay motivated with some recordable inch losses.

I chose 9 points to measure on my body which I’ve shown on my photos. Point A is at my biceps and point B across my chest. I’m never sure exactly where to measure for hips and waist so I’m going to measure at the thinnest part of my waist (D), level with my navel (C), across hip bone (E) and widest part of my bum (F). The final points are the widest part of my thighs (G), above my knees (H) and across my calves (J).

I’m also interested in measuring my improvement in fitness not just changes in weight and body inches, so I am also measuring my resting heart rate.

A Bicep 11 1/4 inches (L) 11 1/4 inches (R)
B Chest 36 1/2 inches
C Navel 31 inches
D Waist 28 3/4 inches
E Hips 35 1/4 inches
F Bum 39 inches
G Thigh 23 3/4 inches (L) 23 3/4 inches (R)
H Knee 19 inches (L) 19 inches (R)
J Calf 15 inches (L) 15 1/4 inches (R)
Weight 9 St 10lb (136lbs)
Height 5 ft 2
Body Mass Index (BMI) 24.9
Resting Heart Rate 63 beats per minute (BPM)

Looking at these measurements I’m a bit concerned that my BMI is so close to being overweight and my waist and bum definitely could lose some inches. But my priority is to concentrate with strengthening my right leg so I can move on to more intensive cardiovascular and endurance training.

Hopefully we’ll see some changes in these numbers next few weeks.

Strenua's World» inch loss

Can simply skipping sugar lead to inch loss success?

Day 1 of my fitness journey