The beginning of February was the jump-start I needed for my fitness and weight loss regimen.  Like many others, I was hoping to use January and the new year to reinvigorate my weight loss journey, but February seemed a better fit for me - my mind was ready!

My orientation at the new fitness center worked out quite well on a cold Friday morning, February 2.  One of the staff members (who is also a knitter and a friend of mine!) did some various measurements, weights, etc.  I was disappointed to see that I had gained some weight back after a few months of hiatus.  However, I used this disappointment as fuel to get back into the regimen, and reach my goal, once and for all.

Since the beginning of this month, I have maintained a steady workout schedule, working out at least 5 days a week - sometimes more! - doing a mix of different aerobic/cardio exercises, weight training, as well as yoga and Pilates. 

One class, taught by the fitness instructor, is a total body conditioning class called “Healthy Backs” that uses weights, strength training, and cardio exercises to strengthen the muscles in your shoulders, arms, back, and hips.  The first time I took this class, it really “did me in”.  I was so sore in my legs from long sets of lunges and squats.  I could barely walk, much less climb stairs.  Simply put, I overdid it, and it hurt.  However, I knew I could adapt, and made a mental note to not push myself past the threshold.  Luckily, I felt better after the next workout: still tired from a strenuous session, but not incredibly sore due to some quality stretching after the class.  It made a big difference.  I am proud of myself for sticking to it.  With that, I have also seen some results:  I have lost about five lbs of weight! 

The weight loss is once again a combination of diet and exercise; I have cut calories, and keep a log on Peertrainer of every thing that I eat.  PeerTrainer has been a great tool for motivation.  The community has grown - over 40 knitters/bloggers share ideas and tips on diet, exercise and weight loss there.  Feel free to join us in the Losin’ Knit team!

For the last two weeks, I have been focusing on fat burning - exercising at a lower target range for a longer period of time in order to burn a greater percentage of my calories from fat stores. Many exercisers tend to fatigue themselves while working out in a higher heart range, and anaerobic exercise.  This kind of exercise does burn a larger amount of calories, but the great majority of calories are from carbohydrates and sugars - not from the fat that many people doing exercise for weight loss want to target.   For me, this fat-burning range is about 133-151 beats per minutes, or about 70% of my maximum heart rate.  (For more details on heart rate training, see my post “Oh, My Beating Heart!”, with information on the kind of heart rate monitor that I use).

The weight is not coming off as quickly as it did last year, when I first began working out and dieting.  However, I can see the way that my body is adapting to the new regimen - toning muscles, no “catch my breath” moments when climbing flights of stairs, and more endurance to go a little longer than I did before.  It’s the small things, right?

In true librarian fashion, I have been doing a lot of research.  I find that reading great amounts of information on a subject inspires and motivates me, and I am using that motivation for my health.  Some of the articles that I have stumbled upon:

• Know your Mind-Body Type/Find your Most Compatible Workout  - This is a quiz (but better than the teen mag quizzes!) you can use to determine what kind of exercises and workouts may be best for your body and personality type.  It takes about 6-7 minutes to complete.  I had an interesting result: I straddled three separate categories the first time I took the quiz (Summer/Indian Summer/Autumn), and then was a Summer/Autumn the second time I took it.  However, many of the exercises mentioned are ones that I enjoy most, so it seems to work!

• Why Conscious Fitness is the Key to Losing Weight - Makes the case for a varied and integrated routine, combining all sorts of elements.  States that cardio is not the only weight-loss solution.  I wholeheartedly agree!

• Want a Good Workout?  You Better Believe It!  Simply believing in your routine - whether it is a traditional workout or not - can do wonders for your overall health.  Another point for mind-body connection!

• Just-Right Fitness Another article that looks at other ways to lose weight and stay fit - it is not about quantity and longevity, but the quality of your activity.

More articles and information on the Weight Loss Journey page!

Having made only one other item from the top-down, I had completely forgotten the allure. It takes shape so quickly, and you can even try it on! The Glee pattern from Zephyr Style is a cute stylish knit that will be a great piece for spring and summer. I have been working on it pretty regularly over the past few days (save for the sock marathon of the snowy Sunday) and just put the sleeve caps on some waste sock yarn. I will return to them later. I am hoping to have enough yarn to make them elbow-length, but if not, a cap sleeve will suit me just fine. Seeing the lovely version that the Girl Who Knits just finished up makes me want to have my own version even sooner!

I am using Elsebeth Lavold Silky Wool, and what a cool yarn it is! It has some natural qualities (read: it has little bits of raw silk and “matter” in it) but it has a wonderful texture and drape, and works up into a nice knit fabric. I got gauge with size US 5 needles, and this is perfect for the DK weight of the yarn. This lovely color, 027 Periwinkle, was purchased for a bargain at a Stitch DC sale day back in 2005. I didn’t have a pattern in mind when I first picked it up, but now that I started Glee, I know this yarn was fated to be this pattern! It creates a light fabric that will be ideal (not hot) for the hot summers that we will undoubtedly encounter here in Maryland.

It’s funny how a project like this can make one pine for the changing of seasons…

(Yes, this is coming from the girl who was wishing for blizzards and heavy wools just a few months ago…)

I started these socks before Socktoberfest 2006 - and they lingered on the double pointed needles for many months.  I guess I needed a little color inspiration to finish these up for Project Spectrum!

Hokusai Ribbed Socks
Yarn: Yarn Pirate in Cannon Beach colorway
Pattern: Madder Ribbed Socks from Knitting Vintage Socks
Needles: Size US 1.5 double pointed needles

This yarn has great saturated colors, and there weren’t any issues with pooling like I have seen with other handpainted yarns.  It has a nice even variegation. The yarn was a gift from Georgia at Yarn Pirate last year, and when I started working with it, I was struck by the similarity between the sock’s variegation and the color palette used in the woodblock prints of Katsushika Hokusai.

See the color similarities?

I completed the socks today, as several inches of snow fell outside.  I am looking forward to spring after weeks of sub-zero temperatures, but I can admit that it was a lovely snow - big fluffy flakes that built up quickly and looked like pillowy feathers on the ground.  I sat down with a hot cup of tea, a recently turned heel on the socks, and listened to the majority of a great audiobook. 

I am still listening to it now, but so far, I am completely entranced by The Thirteenth Tale - what great storytelling! and the best part? there is a whole sequence about a woman’s sock knitting memories!

It is such an amazing tale - I have three more CDs to listen to at this point, and if I could, I would just listen through the night.  Much like my other audiobook - sock knitting marathon last summer, I will remember this story each time I wear the socks! 

Much like the Patons Street Smart Hoodie, the Cotton Tape Angie was another sweater that I admired from the moment I saw it.  I was still a new knitter and was too intimidated to take on a sweater, but I bought the book anyway in early 2004.  Since then, I have made the Virtue beret, and the Carla sweater from this book, holding off on the Angie for just the right moment in time.

Unfortunately, Rowan discontinued Cotton Tape last year - but I was able to stock up on a late-summer trip to Knit Happens with two fun girls.  I chose the amazing azure blue “Lap” colorway.

Since I finished the Kristen hat, I was itching to cast on for something new (nevermind that I have three beautiful projects already on the needles…) and my gaze fell to the lovely Cotton Tape in the back corner of the stash.  Why not get ahead of the curve - start on a spring/summer knit now? 

So I did.

However, in the 3 year break between when I bought this pattern, and when I actually cast on, I find that the feature that drew me to it in the first place - the bell sleeves and hemline - is not really “doing it for me” anymore.  Sure, it looks pretty in silhouette, but I can’t help but think that those bell sleeves will stretch out considerably, and cause problems while washing dishes, cooking dinner, or any other daily task… I am a practical kind of girl, and these thoughts came to my mind before anything else. I am thinking about eliminating them all together.

While I am at it, I may skip the flared hemline too.  The drop stitches look cool, but I don’t know if I want to draw attention to the whole belly/hip area that I so desperately try to hide…  however, it may be worth a try - it looks fun! - the dropped stitch is in the beginning of the pattern on row 8.  It would be easy to rip back if I didn’t like it - especially since I got gauge on 10.5 needles…

More blue.  I am completely smitten.

This has been one of the coldest Februarys on record.

Almost every day has been below freezing.

…so why is it that the day that I finish my first colorwork hat…

Is the day that the temperature tops out at 50 degrees Fahrenheit?

Kristen Hat
Pattern: Bea Ellis knitwear original
Yarn: Dale of Norway Heilo yarn
Needles: Size 5 and 6 circulars
KALs: Fair Isle February & Stranded Colorwork

My first colorwork project is now complete! I have to say the whole technique was a lot easier than I thought it would be, and the Bea Ellis kit that I got was a perfect introduction to stranded colorwork. I am already thinking about another kit… but I may very well use this pattern again and mix up the colors. I chose traditional Norwegian colors for the first version, but it would look kind of cool in orange and purple, right?

The Kristen hat was a constant companion on my trip down to Alabama for my grandfather’s funeral. Kris and I drove for hours, and arrived in time to spend a good amount of time with my family. My grandfather had three sons, and each son (my dad is the middle son) had three children each. Luckily we were able to fit in everyone for a family photograph - the first that I can remember.

Click on the pictures for larger views and descriptions

The weekend passed by so quickly, but in the end, it was a very meaningful tribute to my wonderful grandfather.

Thank you so much for your well-wishes and encouraging words.