Friday, August 31, 2012

Feel Good Friday

I had a rough start to the week on Monday.  I felt anxious, furious, nervous, and scared all within a two hour period.  I hate being vague, but they are over things I don't care to get into now.  I am sure one day I will reveal the events of this day.

I could dwell on the three bad things that happened to me on Monday, but I am chosing to think about the things that make me happy.  Here are things that make me feel good:
  • Feeling good about a video of myself.  I still see myself as ginormous, but the video made me realize I am not as big as I think.
  • Laughing uncontrollably over insignificant things.
  • Knowing I am down 25.4 pounds since the beginning of this year!
  • Making a difference and positively affecting someone else's life.
  • Random Acts of Kindness
  • My new work out addiction.
  • Being called out in Water Tabata by the instructor for 'the harder she works the bigger her smile'.
  • My WW Leader mentioning that I should become a leader when I reach goal.  A little over 30 pounds to go :)

Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Random Thoughts on Music

I have heard and seen differing opinions from people in regards to listening to music to work out.  For as long as I can remember music has been what I turn to when I need to be grounded.  It has helped soothe my anger, kept me joyful, and pushed me through a work out.
A dear friend told me that when she started a running regime she listened to music while running, but by time she was running marathons she found listening to music while running to be distracting.  She could clear her thoughts solely with running (exercise).  I feel I have come to this point.  Sometimes,  I feel a need to tote my iPod with me to the Y, because listening to it when I don't want to work out distracts my brain from thinking thoughts like, "How much time do I have left?", "I really don't feel like doing this.", and "It is not like anyone will know if I stop early."  Other times I feel like it is in the way, and the best way to kick my butt is with out the background noise of music.

I don't have a good segway to the next paragraph (back story), so please accept my apology.

People say that they don’t make music like they used to, and refer to the decades of their youth as the best music.  I was thinking that today.  I like to listen to music from the 80s and 90s.  Many songs I have positive associations with.  There is a whole bunch of songs that remind me of my BFF from Middle and High School.  When I hear them, I think “This was a driving down the road song.  K and I liked to listen to it in the car.”  Or “K and I would listen to this when I would stay over night at her house.”  Then there are the ones from college (which is more late 90’s/early 00’s).  Sometimes, they make me laugh.  I can imagine listening to them in our dorm rooms, apartments, classrooms, etc. and the things we were doing.  I think this is why when I first started hard core working out I coped with listening to music: it made the experience more bearable for me by allowing me to think of positive events in my life while doing something that felt awkward and unpleasant.

Back to working out and listening to music.

Sometimes, I while listening to music on a piece of cardio equipment I catch myself dancing.  I wonder if people think I should really be in a Zumba or Hip Hop Hustle class or if I am even alright.  I am sure I look like a fool when I am dancing on the elliptical trainer.  But really, think of the extra calories I am burning looking like a fool.  Most of the music on my iPod is from the 90's.  I find myself reminiscing about the good ole days while working out, which makes the bad work outs more bearable.

What do you do to make your work outs more bearable?

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Confession

Confessions: I am having a really hard time writing this blog post.  I started writing about how I haven't been good at keeping up with my weekly goals for the past two weeks...I am just not feeling the topic of talking about goals.

I would like to talk about motivation.  Remember how I said I hit the 10% mark a few weeks back?  That signified, that I lost over 20 pounds.  I about cried on the scale (I am sure some of you are envisioning the weigh-in on the Biggest Loser right now).  It has really kept me going, because I realized I have/had less than 5 pounds to go to reach 25.  25 is a big milestone for me.  It is actually one of my mid term goals. This week's grand total is 23.2.  1.8 to go.

This week, it is my goal to lose the 1.8 pounds.  I have been going to the Y a lot.  Even one of the trainers commented that I am there a lot.  This girl has goals, and if I have a snowball's chance in ____ at reaching them, I am going to be working out and eating right for my body as much as possible.

Friday, August 17, 2012

Changes for the better

Wednesday, was my youngest daughter’s birthday.  We went to Rainforest CafĂ© for dinner to celebrate.   My ILs came, and MIL brought a giant chocolate chip cookie.  I had a small piece.  DH also purchased a cake from for her birthday (no realizing his mom was bringing a cookie).  Last night, we cut into it.  Again, I had a small piece.  I love sweets, so it did take a lot for me to not serve myself the sized piece my eyes demanded.  I have come a long way in this journey with willpower and doing what is right for my health.

DH has been giving me a hard time about the amount of time I work out.  Here is a recap of what I do:
Sunday: 60 minutes Cardio/10 minutes of Core
Monday: 60 minutes Cardio/10 minutes of Core
Tuesday: 45 minutes Water Tabata
Wednesday: Off
Thursday: 45-60 minutes Cardio/30-45 minutes full body weight training
Friday: 60 minutes Cardio/10 minutes of Core
Saturday: 45-60 minutes Cardio/30-45 minutes full body weight training

This past week end, I was at the Y in the fitness center, I was talking to the personal trainer I worked with at the end of June.  She asked if I was able to get my husband to come (as she always does).  :( I told her no, and that he questioned what took me two hours to do at the YMCA. She replied with, "2 hours is pretty standard around here."

Tonight, during my work out, I was reminiscing back to when we joined the Y in March (not quite 5 months ago).  When we registered to use the on-site daycare, they said that we were allowed to use the daycare for a total of two hours each day.  I remember thinking, "Who would work out for two hours in one day?" like it was very painful.   5 months later and sometimes I wish I could work out more than 2 hours some days.

I am truly amazed at how far I have come.  8 months ago I started to be more mindful over what I eat.  I have gone through phases where I didn't think I needed to track my PPV, and would be disappointed on the scale.  Exercise is my new addiction.  Again, if I do less than 6 work outs a week, I don't see any results on the scale.  I have realized how beneficial being in control is to my new lifestyle.  Nothing happens by chance.

Thursday, August 9, 2012

10% and Gaining Control

First things first: LET'S CELEBRATE *I met 2 mini goals this week*  1. I lost another 5+ pounds (actually 6).  Weight Watchers celebrates every 5 pound weight loss in the meeting (but really at the scale you celebrate any loss - even if it is .2).  Never let my leader hear you say, "I only lost ____."  She will lecture you on a loss still being a loss.  After all, that is less you have to lose to reach your goal.  Are other WW leaders like that?  2. I have lost over 10% of my starting body weight.  I received a key ring to celebrate.  My leader talked about using the key ring as an anchor along my journey.  I have been vocal with her over my struggles with my journey.

I am 4 pounds away from my next mini goal of 25 pounds.  Once I reach that I will get token to add to the key ring I earned for reaching 10%.

Because, I have been struggling the past few months, I have been taking a hard look at my lifestyle.  I have been gauging things by what I “think” instead of actual.  It is everything from what I am putting into my body to how I spend my time.  It is now obvious to me that my perception is off.  I need more control over my life to be successful in my lifestyle changes.  Question: How can I gain control over my life?  Answer: Plan (If you fail to plan; you are planning to fail).
Cassie over at BTHR made herself a color-coded weekly calendar to help her adapt to a new schedule.   I did this in college to help with time management when I was a Resident Advisor working several part time jobs.  Taking inspiration from her, I am going to adopt a similar tactic in my life.  One obstacle: I am not a structured person.  My family life isn't structured.   I am going to try to add structure as much as I can, as I feel this will help me greatly on my wellness journey.  I think this will really benefit the kids.
I am going to plan my week out a day or so in advance.  I will allow for some flexibility, because we all know life happens (and can be unpredictable).  Below is how I plan to plan my weeks

  • Time - I think I waste a lot of time, because I simply cannot think of what I should or need to be doing.  I think by giving myself a dedicated time on my calendar to my goals and other responsibilities I will be more successful in this journey as well as in the other roles of my life. 
  • Activity - While I am planning my time for the week, I will schedule in activity.  Over the past three weeks I have noticed that I need to work out 6 times a week to see the results I want to see.  This is what works for my body, and what works for yours might be different.  I also know that I need to do at least 45 minutes of cardio in these sessions.  I learned this by tracking my work outs for the past month and comparing it to my weigh in results. 
  • Meals - I have been pretty good about meal planning.  I plan my meals by coming up with 7 breakfasts (usually the same during the week), 7 dinners, the appropriate amount of lunches (in instances where there are not leftovers from the previous night's dinner), and fill in with snacks.  I do not assign a meal to a day and time.  This allows me to have flexibility if I only have a few minutes to throw something together or a child (husband included) decides they do not want a particular item for the meal.  I know what my PPV allowance is for each day and plan my meals to be within a certain range.  Currently, I have a 29PPV budget a day.  I shoot for 6-8 for brekkie, 7-9 for lunch, 7-10 for dinner, and the rest for my grazing snacks throughout the day.

In gaining control I need to give complete trust in the program/plan.  This is how I was most successful my first two months in Weight Watchers.  Leaving me to my own devices, systems, and cheats has lead me to do the scale dance far more than I want.  The proof is in the pudding :)


Taken 8/4/12

Tuesday, August 7, 2012

Over due update

I hope you all are doing well.  I have been super busy and have not had time to update :(  Please, accept my apology, because I have a darn good reason...my oldest daughter was the flower girl in a wedding.  It was such a good experience for both of us.  She can pull off the girly thing quite well.  She loved being a princess until the time of the reception.  Then she wanted to play hard.  Antoher good reason for me to be at the top of my game health wise.

Here is the update of where I am with my goals:
Work out 6 days:  I got back on plan and completed this goal.
Plan Menu: Check
Track: I tracked all but two meals.  That gives me a 94.3% success rate!  I will consider this goal met. 
Since the week end was busy with wedding stuff, I didn't focus much on my healthy lifestyle.  I didn't sabotage myself either.  The scale this morning told me I did good :).  At the wedding I had sensible portions.  I had a mini cupcake.   Oh, and a glass of homemade wine.  Yum.  Homemade Wine.

I didn't set any goals on Friday.  So, my goals this week will start Wednesday and go to Tuesday. 

I will schedule my exercise for the week.
I will complete 6 exercise sessions this week.
I will track my food the week. 
I will track my water intake everyday for the week.

My challenge for the rest of the month is going to be with meal planning.  Our budget is tight with birthdays, weddings, and back to school, so we are trying to cut corners where we can.  That means being more creative with what is in our pantry and freezer.

What is one of your  mini goals?

Wednesday, August 1, 2012

Check in

Midweek check on goals:
Work out 6 days:  I did not follow my work out plan for the week, BUT I am still on track.  I missed my Saturday work out.  Wednesday is usually the night I plan to be off, but my DH and daughters are at my ILs. 
Plan Menu: Check
Track: Check.  Although, one day this week I missed logging a meal, but I think that is pretty good for not logging for months.

This morning I weighed myself.  I was down 3 pounds from last week.  By weigh in time I was up .6.  I am so frustrated with my body right now.  I have been working hard and being mindful about what I am eating...