Weigh In #1 (of 2010)

OK, here's my first weigh in of 2010.

Mrs.
Starting weight: 168 pounds
Goal weight: 130 pounds
Current weight: 168 pounds
Pounds lost (gained) this week: fresh start
Total pounds lost (gained): fresh start
Pounds left to lose: 38
Workouts: lots planned!

So it's 168. I actually thought it would be more, since I ate a massive amount of chocolate chip cookies, and did NOTHING as far as exercise over the holiday break.

Today I got up at 5:30 and ran for 30 minutes, and I'm planning on going to Zumba class at lunchtime.

I've packed my breakfast, lunch AND snacks for work, and brought a huge water bottle. Hopefully this will keep me away from the cafeteria, where they sell delicious fountain soda.

Have a great week!

A New Year, a New Me

Are you still visiting here? Bless your heart. Thanks for coming back, and for sticking with me.

Sometimes I go away (usually because I'm on a shame spiral), but eventually I come back. Kind of like cockroaches.

Anyway, it's a NEW YEAR. And I've got new motivation:

I TURN 40 THIS YEAR.

Yes, 40.

And I am most unhappy with the way I look- that's the bad news.

The good news: I CAN DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

Like I posted on my other blog, I'm not going to obsess about what I DIDN'T do in the past.

I'm going to focus on what I did accomplish over the past year, such as:

• Regularly going to fitness classes
• Regularly going to the gym at work
• Participating in pedometer contests at work (often was named top performer for my team!)
  
• Going to my health club when I can
• Running regularly on my treadmill at home
• I ran four 5k races, improving my time with each one
• I had periods of time where I gave up soda
• I did a lot of yoga, which was great for my stress level, sleep habits, and flexibility
• I read some great books about health/weight loss: Fighting Fat After Forty, Does This Clutter Make My Butt Look Fat? and others
  
• I purchased a book to read in the new year: The Zen of Eating and Eating Mindfully
  
• I tried new healthy recipes
  

Looking over all that, I did come along way last year, since prior to 2009, I really wasn't doing any of these things.

All this did wonders for my stress level. My muscles and heart are stronger from the consistent exercise.

Unfortunately, with all I accomplished above, I did not accomplish ANY weight loss. In fact, I GAINED weight.

But I refuse to try another diet. I've done them all, and have eventually rebelled against them all. I don't do well with restriction and rules. But I know I can't continue the crap food free for all. But I'm going to try some things that I hope evolve into habits:

• Pack my lunch for work often (controlling portions as well as costs)
  
• Eat less meat
  
• Eat more fruits/vegetables
  
• Be aware of portion sizes and try to reduce them without obsessing
  
• Drink less soda, more water/tea
• Commit to planning ahead to cook healthy meals for my family
  
• Continue challenging myself with exercise
  
• Run consistently in the mornings before work
  
• Continue running races, 5k's and maybe even a 5-miler or 10k
• Read The Zen of Eating and Eating Mindfully
  
• Stop obsessing over the small stuff
  

I hope these things will push the scale downward. Speaking of the scale, the weekly weigh-ins are back - starting MONDAY.

Enjoy the rest of your week and visit again soon!

Weigh In #20: Just One Thing

Mrs.
Starting weight: 152 pounds
Goal weight: 130 pounds
Current weight: 166.2 pounds
Pounds lost (gained) this week: .2 pounds gained
Total pounds lost (gained): (14.2)
Pounds left to lose: 36.2
Workouts: (1) Zumba class, 1 kickboxing class

Yes, I gained this week. But at some point this week my weight was higher, so I'm glad I only showed a .2 gain this morning. Surprisingly, I haven't had much Halloween candy.

So last time I blogged I was gung-ho about eating only fruits and vegetables. For a couple days, it was great and I felt great. But with all things, I fell off the wagon pretty quickly and went back to my normal crap eating and drinking soda.

Then I read a blog post on the Harvard Business Publishing site about changing just one thing. The author, Peter Bregman, lost 18 pounds by changing just one thing about his lifestyle. Of course it was a big one - he cut out all sugar. But that's all he did. He advocates changing just one thing. You are to figure out what "one thing" would give you the most bang for your buck, and do it - don't change anything else. Put ALL your focus on the one thing.

Now, cutting out sugar would be HUGE. But I tend to rebel with deprivation, so I think that's too much for me. I've decided my one thing would be my regular sodas. Each one has a couple hundred calories, and I have a couple a day, so I think that it should have an impact.

So, I'm cutting out soda. So far this morning I have been drinking orange-flavored seltzer, and it is an adequate substitute.

So that's my one thing. However, it's really two things.

At 5am this morning, I got up and went running on my treadmill.

Not far. I want to start small so I can actually turn this into a habit. I warmed up walking for 5 minutes, ran for 10, and walked to cool down for 5. So 20 minutes total, about 1.25 mi. Then some stretching afterwards. It felt good, I worked up a sweat. So now I want to make a habit of doing it every day. (And eventually run a little longer and faster).

Getting up early to run while the rest of the house sleeps ensures I get a workout in no matter how busy or crazy my day gets. That's been my issue - consistency - I have good intentions, then life happens - meetings, doctor appointments, onset of laziness, etc, which throw off my plans. Then a day goes by without a workout, and then 2 days, 3 days, etc. . . then yet another weigh in with disappointing results.

So, the plan is: Cut out soda, run 20 minutes every day. Can I do it daily until next weigh in? Tune in next week to find out!

Weigh In # 19: *&@#!!!!

Mrs.
Starting weight: 152 pounds
Goal weight: 130 pounds
Current weight: 166 pounds
Pounds lost (gained) this week: 1.8 pounds gained
Total pounds lost (gained): (14)
Pounds left to lose: 36
Workouts: (3) Zumba classes, (2) 30 minute run/walk intervals

Crap! The darn creep keeps creeping. I need a jump start. I need inspiration.

I need to STOP EATING CRAP AND DRINKING SODA! RIGHT NOW!

So I've got the exercise thing down. I'm not the most consistent, but I do what I can. I enjoy it, it does wonders for my stress level, and it helps me sleep better at night. I'm averaging 4-5 days a week. Not bad.

So DARN IT, now I need to focus on eating habits. I need a jump start, something drastic. I pored over my current self help books (Fight Fat After Forty, and The Psychology of Weight Loss) and I've decided to do a fast. No, not that crazy maple syrup/lemonade/cayenne pepper thing. I'll never do that again! No, not a liquid diet.

I'm going to eat only fruits and vegetables, and drink only water. As much as I want, whenever I want. And see how long I can keep it up. I figure I'll cheat occasionally, but even so I'll still be better off than if I kept the status quo of eating mostly crap and drinking fountain Cokes all day long.

I've started today, except for breakfast (eggs, a biscuit with butter, and a large fountain Coke. See - crap!). I did an awesome Kickboxing class today (thanks Steph!). I loaded my plate with veggies (hot and cold) from the lunch buffets at work, and pulled out my 32 oz. Weight Watchers cup and drank a full one of water.

My books say you should drink 8 ounces of water for every 14-20 pounds of body weight. In my case that would be 64-94 ounces of water. Wow, that's a lot. I'll have to work up to it.

The books also say to buy a juicer and juice your own fruits and vegetables. I took a look at juicers online, and they are kind of pricey. My fridge is already loaded with some low-sodium cans of V8, so I think I'll use that up while I ponder getting a juicer.

I'm excited. I'm hoping this feels great and I'm not hungry all the time. I'm hoping to post some positive results come next Monday!

Weigh In #18: One Step Forward, Two Steps Back

Got off track on the 5k training (1 for 4). Getting back on track today.

This weekend was disastrous with eating. Just one example: we went out to eat last night to celebrate a big achiemevement Mr. had at work. He asked me my preference in restaurants, and I said wanted one with some healthy options.

The restaurant did have a variety of options, many of them healthy. I then proceeded to order BEEF NACHOS with a LARGE fountain Coke. And when the waitress asked me if I wanted my drink refilled, I said YES. Sigh.

This morning, while reading my new book, Fighting Fat After Forty, a passage really spoke to me. On page 217, it said:

"Your family and friends are the genuine treasures in life. You, in turn, are their greatest gift. Take care of your gift to them by acknowledging that your body needs care and attention.

Exercise is not about trudging to your workout, getting sore muscles, rushing around the gym. It's about moving your body every day, and leading a healthy, balanced, enjoyable life. And honoring the really important priorities in your life."

Good stuff, right? Now here's where it gets REALLY GOOD:

"If you neglect yourself, if you don't exercise, if you continue to eat self-destructively, you will not only shorten your life, but you will also bring sadness to your loved ones."

Wow. Now that's something to print out and post on the bathroom mirror, fridge, and computer monitor. Thank you, Dr. Pamela Peeke.

Well, here's the weigh-in, another disappointment.

Mrs.
Starting weight: 152 pounds
Goal weight: 130 pounds
Current weight: 164.2
Pounds lost (gained) this week: 1 pounds gained
Total pounds lost (gained): (12.2)
Pounds left to lose: 34.2
Workouts: 1 Zumba class, 1 walk/run, 2 "P.M. Yoga" video sessions

Weigh In #17: 5k, here we come

I'm back in workout mode. I successfully completed the first week of 5k training. It's not THAT much of an accomplishment, because it was just 4 days of 30 minute walks. Not very hard. But I was determined to stick to it.

THIS week we start the actual running. I'm trying to be very disciplined and finish out this plan. Discipline is not something that comes easily to me - maybe my parents should have sent me to military school.

Mr. decided to do the 5k training program with me. He did the first two days of walks, then he hurt his back and was out of commission for a few days. He is going to start the program over again this week.

Even though I'm back in workout mode, no weight loss. In fact, weight gain. Yeah, it sucks, big time.

I started reading a new book, Fight Fat After Forty: The Revolutionary Three-Pronged Approach That Will Break Your Stress-Fat Cycle and Make You Healthy, Fit, and Trim for Life by Pamela Peeke, M.D.

It's one of those books where as I'm reading it, I feel like the author is speaking SPECIFICALLY TO ME.

Mind you, I'm not yet 40, but close enough. And I've got stress fat galore. I'm working my way through the book and once I become clear on the plan, I'll implement it (and of course let you know more about it).

So far, what I've gleaned is that you've got to exercise regularly, do your best to deal with stress in your life, watch portions, up fruits and vegetables, and not eat complex carbs for dinner most nights.

Not rocket science, I've heard all those things before.

But in the book Dr. Peeke really breaks down physiologically what happens to a woman's body with age . . . and scientifically why we need more activity and less calories as we get older.

The message that's really stuck with me is that eating healthy and exercising is not just to get and stay thin- in your forties and beyond, it's more important to do these things in order to AVOID DISEASE so that you may live for a very long time. I want to live to be at my grandchildrens' weddings and beyond!

I've already started trying to reduce stress by upping my yoga sessions this week. And I've been bringing grapes to work to snack on in the afternoon rather than hitting up the candy and cookies that are always floating around the office.

So here goes:

Mrs.

Starting weight: 152 pounds

Goal weight: 130 pounds

Current weight: 163.2

Pounds lost (gained) this week: 2 pounds gained

Total pounds lost (gained): (11.2)

Pounds left to lose: 33.2

Workouts: 1 Zumba class, 4 days of 30 minute walks, 4 "P.M. Yoga" video sessions

Mr.

Starting weight: 245 pounds

Goal weight: 185 pounds

Current weight: 238

Pounds lost (gained) this week: (unknown)

Total pounds lost: 7

Pounds left to lose: 45

Workouts: 2 - 30 minute walks

Weigh In #16: Vacation happens

We were on vacation last week. We didn't go too nuts with eating, and I only had a few sodas over the course of a week. I did have ice cream a couple times though.

2 pounds gained is not too bad, I think. Back on the wagon now. I went to Zumba class yesterday and also walked on the treadmill for 20 min last night.

I'm starting a "Couch to 5k" training program in anticipation of running another 5k with Diva in November. It's will be my 3rd 5k since May, so I'm not exactly starting from the couch, but I hadn't previously trained for them and have paid for it the next few days after the races.

Mr. said he wanted to do the program too. But when I reminded him to walk his 20 minutes last night, he pretended not to hear me and kept watching TV.

So I'm going to hopefully stick to this 5k training program in addition to my exercise classes, and hope that it jump starts my weight loss. I'll post more details about the program soon.

Mrs.

Starting weight: 152 pounds
Goal weight: 130 pounds

Current weight: 161.2
Pounds lost (gained) this week: 2 pounds gained

Total pounds lost (gained): (9.2)
Pounds left to lose: 31.2

Workouts: chasing 3 kids around the beach and pool, daily. Several bike rides & walks on the beach.

Mr.

Starting weight: 245 pounds
Goal weight: 185 pounds

Current weight: ?
Pounds lost (gained) this week:

Total pounds lost: 15
Pounds left to lose: 45

Workouts: chasing 3 kids around the beach and pool, daily. Several bike rides & walks.