Ah-Maze-ing Updates and Randomness

I had an ah-maze-ing week end two week ends ago.  My friends from college and I get together about this time every year for a "Girls Week-End".  I was so excited to see them, because the last time I saw them I was about 30 pounds heavier.  Well, and to catch up on what has been going on the past year (that we have not been able to follow on Facebook). 

I was conscious of everything I put into my mouth.  I did indulge, and I made sure to get in activity points before and after the girl week end.  Afterall, every girls week end we manage to go to a candy shoppe.  The past two have included wine tasting.  I think all but one has included looking at art of some sort.

I have rediscovered thrift shops.  I am still trying to get over my issues with them, but I am just over halfway to goal.  I could not keep my pants up.  It was getting annoying to keep yanking them up all of the time.  My issues with thrift stores is that I have to try on everything before I buy it, you have to sort through everything to find what you might be looking for, and even then you can come up empty handed.

People are really starting to realize the weightloss too!  I hear it everywhere I go :).

Last night, I received an e-mail from a friend/fan.  She recently joined WW, and had some questions.  I am sure I could make this a separate blog post, but I really want to share with you parts of my reply.   I think they could help more people.  Here are my reccomendations and advice:

My number #1 tip is to think: "Baby Steps"  This is a lot to take on at once. I only incorporate 1 or 2 new things into my lifestyle a week. 

Etools is great. My first recommendation is if you have a smartphone: download the Weight Watchers App (it is free) and the Weight Watchers Scanner (also free). If you have an ipad there is a Weight Watchers kitchen app (free) that houses a lot of recipes. The phone app, takes away any excuse to not log my points, because I always have my phone on me.

In regards to eating out and drinking: the smartphone app is wonderful. There are tools in there that can guide you on what to eat and drink. I love me some pizza. You can build your piece of pizza in the app and it will tell you the points. Diet pop is 0 points. Lighter colored alcohol is less in points than darker. Light beer is not bad points wise. I would alternate between beer and water at the bar. (Perk: less chance of a hangover). If you go over your 49 weekly points you can fall back on the activity points you earned during the week. If you know you are going out, come up with a plan. I use eTools to roughly plan what I will eat and drink. I don’t always stick to it, but I stay close. Like I may say 2 glasses of wine, but really have 3. I keep track. The cool thing with the app is that all your friends think you are texting.

Get a pedometer.  Track any and all activity. Cleaning house and yard work count, too! WW also has this device called ActiveLink. You can hook it to your pants or shirt, wear it all day, it logs your movement, and you plug it into your computer for it to read. It will tell you how many activity points you earned and shows opportunities for improvement. It is waterproof. One of the WW support staff accidently threw hers in the washer, and it still works. I don’t have activelink because it is an additional fee each month.

At one of my first meetings there was a lady who just became lifetime. She reached her goal for the second time through WW. She said the first time she lost 150 pounds. The second time around she lost 20 pounds. Anyway, she said the first time she struggled losing the last 50 pounds. This time she struggled losing the last 5 pounds. Keep in mind everyone struggles your 50 may be my 5. After 10 months I am finally able to recognize a plateau earlier on. I hit one in April (which also happens to be my birthday month…a lot of alcohol and cake was consumed). It took me MONTHS to realize I need to switch it up. At the end of July I started seeing results again. I am approaching another plateau. I know I need to change it up again. Looking back at my logs helps with this. I can see patterns and I learn a lot from them.

At one of my first meetings there was a lady who just became lifetime. She reached her goal for the second time through WW. She said the first time she lost 150 pounds. The second time around she lost 20 pounds. Anyway, she said the first time she struggled losing the last 50 pounds. This time she struggled losing the last 5 pounds. Keep in mind everyone struggles your 50 may be my 5. After 10 months I am finally able to recognize a plateau earlier on. I hit one in April (which also happens to be my birthday month…a lot of alcohol and cake was consumed). It took me MONTHS to realize I need to switch it up. At the end of July I started seeing results again. I am approaching another plateau. I know I need to change it up again. Looking back at my logs helps with this. I can see patterns and I learn a lot from them.

My biggest advice is break down your goal. I know you think you have a long way to go, but if you should follow WW principles to celebrate each milestone (every 5 pounds lost, when you have lost 5% , 10%, and 20% of your starting body weight). Reward yourself with a nonfood treat (get your nails or hair done, etc). In your weight record on-line you will see stars for every milestone your reach! I rarely thought, “I have 58 pounds to lose.” I keep focusing in on the small milestones. Now I have 24 left to go. Actually, I am focusing in at 1 pound to lose, because it puts me at 35 .

The holidays are coming!

I feel like I am one big ball of stress lately.  As a matter of fact, I have been trying to write this post for over a week.  The girls are both in Girl Scouts and Cheerleading.  I am leading one troop.  Work is stressful.  Home is stressful.  Now, the holidays are right around the corner.  Oh, and I have a girls week end coming up too (before T-day).  I love the food Thanksgiving and Girls Week end bring. 

The girls week end is not stressful - it is quite the opposite.  It just maybe the distraction I need from all of this choas.  Girl time, yummy food and wine.  I am sure that will be a post in itself.  I love the memories my girls from college and I have made getting together annually.  Oh, and the reminicing about the good ole days....

In our WW meeting this week we were challenged to make a challenge for ourselves each week to help us lose weight prior to T-day.  It could be anything as long as it fits into the goals of getting healthier.  My challenge to myself was to try a new strength training work out.  Ouch I hurt today.  I found an arm work out on pinterest and let's just say, I thought I was doing a good job of working my shoulders...but my delts do not agree. 

Over the next 8 weeks and the 8 weeks after that, I am going to challenge myself to keep challenging myself to become more physically fit and lose more fat!

One random thing: I read in a Shape magazine - Pinnersice - when you spend more time pinning exercises on pinterest than doing the actual exercises.  I do not do this, but the above strength training work out I posted, I found on Pinterest.

3 milestone/6 weeks

Tonight, I hit another milestone.  That is 3 big milestones in 6 weeks.  6 weeks ago, I hit 20%/20 pounds.  A few weeks ago I hit 25 pounds.  This week I am down 30.8 pounds.  I had to have my leader repeat my loss to me twice.  I could not believe that I lost over three pounds this week.  I know I worked hard, but was unsure of how that would show on the scale as my diet has been iffy.

Last week, I logged a lot of miles on the cardio equipment at the gym and with my dog.  I also have been ramping up my strength training.  Pinterest has been a great source of exercise inspiration.  I have found different exercises to do at the gym to minimize the monotony. 

The great thing about WW meetings is that you get to hear and see the trials, tribulations, and success of other members.  Every week there is opportunity to ask questions and gain solution and insight to any issues you are having.  Every week, we celebrate loss.  This week there was a member who became lifetime after losing 93 pounds.  Another member was celebrating 90 pounds of loss too.  As I was leaving, a lady sitting near me said, "Congratulations on your loss.  30 pounds.  Wow!"  I replied with, "15 is a big deal too.  How amazing that must feel."  I love going to meetings and seeing how I inspire others and how I get inspiration from others.

Starting Out on a Fitness Journey

***I am not a fitness expert***

My husband has decided to start exercising more regularly.  He asked to accompany me to the Y on Friday.  He admitted to me that he had no clue what to do.   I asked him what his goals are.  Basically, he wants to improve his health.  At this point, I have no idea what to tell him to do, because I do not have any personal training experience.  I became really frustrated, because I am not an expert in this field.  I do not want to lead him down a wrong path.  I kept thinking that men’s bodies are so different than women’s bodies.  Heck, from woman to woman there are differences in what will work.

After stewing about it for a couple of days, I remembered my many attempts at a healthy lifestyle.  When we were engaged, I joined the YMCA our community.  They had a new member service where you got so many free consultations and a customized work out plan.  The trainer I worked with then said she likes to start all the fitness newbies to commit to 30 minute cardio sessions 2-3 times a week.  After a month, she will evaluate how you are doing, meet with you, and incorporate strength training to your work out program. I did discuss this with DH.  He agreed to do 30 minutes 3 times a week.  I encouraged him to meet with a personal trainer at the Y.  I should have introduced him to the one I used. 

I had a friend as me how I determine what to do when I work out.  Well, it has been an evolutionary process.  I started just taking classes.  I tried all the ones I thought I would like.  Even, some that I thought I would not like.  If I couldn’t make a class, I would go to the fitness center and use the stationary bike.  I didn’t see any progress, so I took advantage of the fitness consultation.  I learned how to use more equipment and the weight machines.  The trainer showed me how to do new exercises.  I stuck to the things she showed me for awhile, as I was intimidated by stepping outside of my comfort zone.  Mind you this was only a few months ago.  Remembering that time is now helping me see my husband’s point of view.  “Slow and steady wins the race,” after all.

Lately, I have been getting exercise inspiration from Pinterest, SparkPeople, and magazines.  I set a schedule that I kind of follow.

Monday: 60 minutes of cardio

Tuesday: Water Tabata

Wednesday: Off

Thursdays: 45-60 minutes of cardio/strength training

Friday: 60 minutes of cardio

Saturday: 45 minutes of cardio followed by muscle tiring strength training.

Sunday: 60 minutes of cardio

If I miss a day, I don’t dwell on it and move on.  I try to be conscious that I don’t miss too many days in a row, so I don’t regress too much.  I have come so far, having muscle definition I never had before, and I don't want to lose it!

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 :)

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?

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.