10.29.2008

Formula Fun....

So I was reading a few blogs today during my lunch break and I came across one that was talking about weight loss and the number of calories you are allowed to eat in a day without gaining weight. This calculation is called your TEE (total energy expenditure) and it is the number of calories you burn in a day. It set out a formula that you use to calculate this number which is called your TEE (total energy expenditure) and it is the number of calories you burn in day. I, of course being very curious, had to try this for myself. I’ll let you scroll down, calculate your TEE for yourself and then give my opinion at the end….

Your TEE takes into account 3 factors. So we will do 3 different calculations! Here's how you do this... Ready? Grab a calculator, some paper and a pencil.

1) Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR)- Your BMR is the number of calories your body burns in a day when operating at absolute minimum capacity. So, in other words, if you did absolutely nothing all day your BMR, then, is the number of calories your body burns just to keep you alive. (heartbeat, digestion, etc).
BMR is influenced by several factors, including age, weight, height, gender, environmental temperature, and diet and exercise habits. It's almost impossible to pin down your BMR to the exact calorie, but you can get close. Here are the formulas for calculating your BMR. Grab a calculator and plug your numbers into the formula that is for you!

MALE: 66 + (6.3 × body weight in pounds) + (12.9 × height in inches) − (6.8 × age in years)

FEMALE: 655 + (4.3 × weight in pounds) + (4.7 × height in inches) − (4.7 × age in years)

Keep your number handy!!

2) The next number you need to know is your physical activity level. Which one of these descriptions best fits your day-to-day routine? Give yourself the appropriate score.

- a. Sedentary Physical Activity Level - Do you have a desk job or sit for most of the day? If the answer is yes, your score is 1.1.
- b. Light Physical Activity Level - Are you on your feet and walking around for at least half the day? If this is you, your score is 1.2.
- c. Moderate Physical Activity Level - Are you on the move pretty much all day, with a few breaks, this is the level for you. If you're in this category, your score is 1.3.
- d. High Physical Activity Level - Does your job require being constantly on the move, and does it require manual labor? If you're in this group, your score is 1.4.

3) The last part is figuring out the number of calories you burn from exercise on an average day. The number of calories you burn during any exercise session depends on a few things, primarily your body weight.
Use Jillian's chart to help you figure out the number of calories you burn from exercise on an average day according to your weight, the type of exercise you do, and how long. Keep that number handy!

Okay, ready to find out how many calories you burn daily???? (PS-I will share my numbers)

Get the three numbers you've come up with and simply multiply your BMR by your daily activity score, and then add your exercise expenditure. Whatever you get from this final calculation is your magic number. As long as you eat less than that number you should lose weight, right???

Ok here's mine...

2307 -- So basically what that means is that I now have a great excuse to eat more! I typically track what I eat on a daily basis and have a good idea of how many calories I eat. Now maybe I’m way off but I don’t think I normally eat 2,307 calories in a day. Ok, Ok, maybe some times. However, I know I haven’t eaten close to that number today so I think I’ll wander down the hall for my second brownie (covered in icing) for the day.

At this rate I’ll be 5 pounds heavier next week :)

10.24.2008

TGIF!

Wow - this week has flown by (at least for me)! I mentioned in my last post that I was traveling to Philly for work and I had a great time. I arrived early Tuesday and had the opportunity to walk around the city. The weather was perfect (low 60's and sunny) and it truly felt like fall. This was my first time in Philly so of course I had to make a few of the famous historical stops. I regret that I didn't bring my camera but I didn't want to lug the Nikon around all day. Besides, I was trying to blend in with the locals. The city was bursting with Philly fans as it's been years (I think 28) since they have gone to the World Series. Oh and the work meeting went well also :)

Here's a few other updates from our week:

- Ryan won his flag football game on Monday
- My new fancy office chair arrived on Monday
- Ryan and Benny had quality time together while I was away :)
- Ryan is more than half way finished with his lessons from his GMAT course
- I spent some QT with Alison and Mark at one of our fave happy hour spots last night
- Ryan found out he is moving out of cube land and into an office next week
- We started the morning off right with Starbucks

and the weather is looking fabulous for the weekend!

Have a great day!

10.19.2008

Weekend Wrap-Up

Here are a few highlights from our weekend:

  • Had Friday off from work

  • Ryan cooked me a fabulous steak Friday night

  • Saturday morning jog at the park

  • Spent all day Saturday with The Merediths

  • My Sooners won!

  • Date night with Aaron and Nicole

  • Slept in Sunday morning

  • Lunch at Ruggles Cafe

  • Shopping at Rice Village (don't worry - Ryan is the one who was shopping today)

Dinner at La Mesa

Overall it was a GREAT weekend and we had beautiful weather. This week I'm headed to Philadelphia for work so check back soon for an update!

10.13.2008

Chicago Bound!

So Ryan and I have been wanting to go to Chicago for some time now and we finally booked our trip! We will be taking a long weekend in November to escape Houston and head to Chicago where we can relax, sight see, drink coffee and actually wear a coat for once in the Fall.

As of now we don't have any definite plans so please let me know if you have any restaurant recommendations or suggestions on things to do/see!


10.11.2008

Caution!

We have water! It's official - we actually have running water and I have now taken my long hot shower and ran the dishwasher. And yes, the laundry is going to wait until Sunday.

However, we came home to a nice surpise in our front yard. Not only did they fix the water they decided to place this huge Caution sign in our front yard. As we drove up I couldn't help but laugh as Ryan is not pleased at what he sees......



What now? I assume they are coming back on Monday to pick it up, right? Do we leave it out all weekend and look silly?

10.10.2008

TGIF!

It's officially the weekend (well at least in 30 minutes) but I've already tuned my mind off work and focused on the weekend. I'm looking forward to a relaxing evening that includes take-out and some wine, a Saturday filled with college football and friends and an uneventful Sunday. I'm also hoping for a weekend where I can take a shower with flowing water and not just a few drips, wash clothes and even run the dishwasher. I know this may seem odd but we have been now going on 5 days with NO water pressure.

Let me explain - The City of Houston finally came on Sunday to pick up all the debris from our front yard (leftover from Ike) and somehow they managed to break the water pipe. So we have had water flowing in our yard, down the sidewalk and into our neighbors yard. They have been out several times this week and Ryan has spent several nights on the phone with them and they have told us, time and time again, that it would be fixed. We're crossing our fingers that when we come home today we'll have water and we can take a nice long hot shower, wash clothes and even run the dishwasher. Well, maybe the laundry can wait until Sunday...

Have a great weekend!

10.07.2008

Meet Benny

As I mentioned in my first post I wanted to keep everyone updated on the Rudy household and I think it's time I properly introduce Bennett. It's hard to believe that we will have had Benny with us for a year next week. I'll admit that we had no idea what we were in for when we decided to get a lab but it's been one heck of a ride. Also, one year ago we were in an apartment with no intentions of leaving. To make this story short, we picked up Bennett Thursday night, found a house with a yard on Sunday and made an offer the following Thursday. We laugh that our dog cost us A LOT of money. Clearly, it's not a good idea to have a puppy in an apartment when you live on the third floor. It didn't take long to realize that our puppy was going to grow and grow and grow and an apartment would not suit our new lifestyle.

I'll also admit that the first few weeks I was wondering what in the world we had done. He kept us up all night, peed all over the floor and required way more attention than I thought was possible for a dog. However, over the year, things have changed in the Rudy household. Now for those who know Benny know that he's a little hyper and not the most trained lab, but he sure is the cutest. We've grown to love our lil Benny over the year and couldn't imagine it without him in our life.

We have also become "those people" who are obsessed with their dog even though we swore we wouldn't. Over the last year I've managed to take a few hundred of pictures of him and here are just a few of my favorite:







Bennett is such a big part of life now and I'm sure you'll be hearing much more about our crazy adventures with our dog!

**Update: Just as I finished this post my sweet lil boy Benny jumped on my white couch with muddy paws. Oh the joys of having a puppy.....

10.04.2008

Fall Fashion

Fall is officially here and it is one of my favorite times of the year. Fall brings college football, cooler weather, candy corn and of course my all time favorite, Fall clothes! Fall is in my opinion the best season for shopping. Who can resist all the cute cardigans, sweaters and handbags they have out right now!

Now, the only thing in the way of me buying my cute new Fall wardrobe is my husbands spreadsheet. Yes, he has calculated a strict budget for me that is all lined out on an excel spreadsheet. The spreadsheet was handed to me one day at lunch after he had seen my online credit card bill at Banana. I know, I know, I never said I was perfect and sometimes I get carried away with my retail addiction. Does anyone else have the same problem?

Anyways, here are a few things I've had my eye on this Fall and maybe, if I spend wisely, I can splurge on a few of these items.


*Update: My wonderful mother decided to come into town today and take me to lunch and do a little shopping. Somehow we ended up at Banana :) and they had the cardigan (pictured above)! They were out of it in the brown but I was able to snag it in red. It's super cute and I can't wait to wear my new favorite item this fall!