I have a friend who said “Let’s do 13 in 31 in July” and I said sure. The intent is to eat clean and work out every day in July with the goal of loosing 13 lbs. I am a bit worried about it because that is a lofty goal. The 13 lbs is a lot. But that isn’t even the thing I am worried about. It’s the eating clean.
Realistically eating clean will DRASTICALLY change my eating. I drink pop. I bake and that is pretty much out the window since it is added sugar. I am not sure about Starbucks but I am worried about that one. And eating out is going to be rough.
Also, I did the math, in order to loose 13 lbs in 31 days I have to cut/burn 45,500 calories. That averages to 1,452 calories I have to address in some manner daily. Now according to a calorie calculator I need to eat about 2,291 calories a day to maintain my weight assuming my age, gender, weight and light exercise of at least 30 minutes a week for 4-5 times a week. Now I do normally do more than that when I’m good because I average about 4 class at Title Boxing a week (or 3 and one very hard butt kicking by Wilkins the trainer in personal training) but I wasn’t really comfortable with the other options. I certainly don’t feel like an athlete and I’m not even sure my metabolism is killin’ it at a higher rate.
So this leaves me with a couple of options on how to handle. First, I need to work out and burn at least 500 calories every day. Period, not discussion there. I can’t drop my caloric intake below 1,200 which would be 1,000 of the 1,452 calories I need to address. But even still that is going to be a problem because I like to do things like partake of a drink now and then. Yes, not exactly clean but if I want to succeed, I need to be realistic.
So it would probably be wise to try and schedule additional calorie burns besides the mandatory 500. This leaves a few options. More boxing classes, walking/running, barre/dance and weight training. All of these can get me to those extra calories burned and I actually enjoy them. I think I also want to try new things. There is an amazing chick at the Title that teaches at other locations. I like the idea of supporting people I know, plus it would push me to get out of my comfort zone. I have been becoming a bit isolated lately.
Now, I also need to work in stretching which leaves me yoga and pilates. Both don’t really do much on the calorie burn for me but if I am working out a lot I REALLY need to make sure I don’t stiffen up. Plus another amazing chick at Title owns a yoga studio were they do hot yoga, something I have always wanted to try. Luckily the first week of this is a holiday week so I can be in pain and figure this all out that week. But first and foremost, I need to make sure I hit the goal of cutting/burning 1,452 calories every day.
OH. Dear. God.
I also committed to posting every day in July. I have been so freaking stressed the last few weeks with work and life, and writing is such a good outlet for me. I actually starting thinking about offering up to some of friends to be able to start posting here just so they can have the same outlet, since being overwhelmed and feeling alone about it seems to be a common theme I am hearing.
I need to get out of my head, and writing helps with that. So I’m committing to doing that daily. There is a good chance there will be a lot of cursing since I will be hungry and tired, but I will do it.
And since it doesn’t count unless you put it in writing, that is what I am doing.
And at the end of the month, I will post the totals. Calories consumed, calories burned, blog posts and of course, lbs lost.
July is going to be a trip.