Morning Weight: 158.6
This Morning's Exercise: Strength Training with Jeremy Walters
Yesterday Evening's Exercise: 2 mile walk/run
Yesterday's Calories: 1604
Vitamins: 1-A-Day, D, B-Complex, Calcium, Glucosamine
This morning I had my first session with Jeremy Walters at his new gym, Aspen Fitness. It felt great to be working with him again. The workout was much tougher than the workouts I have been doing with Jeremy Wallen at 24Hour Fitness. One of the biggest differences is we spend a whole lot less time talking and a whole lot more time lifting weights. We talked about my goal to lose this last 8.6 pounds before the end of the year. That is another big difference, Jeremy Walters cares as much about me making my goals as I do. So we're in this together, once again.
I have to run, I have an 8:00 am meeting. Have a great Friday!!
Friday, November 30, 2012
Thursday, November 29, 2012
11/29/2012: Just Another Day
Morning Weight: 158.8
This Morning's Exercise: Day Off
Yesterday Evening's Exercise: Bowling
Yesterday's Calories: 1675
Vitamins: 1-A-Day, D, B-Complex, Calcium, Glucosamine
I'm just gonna say that 1675 calories is not that bad when all you can think about all day long is how much you want to eat. It's still more than I wanted to eat, but I never binged on anything. Lunch was a little bigger than normal. I went to Panera's and had a 1/2 chicken caesar salad (220 calories), a cup of black bean soup (170 calories), and a french baguette (180 calories). I know, I know, I would have been fine if I had skipped the bread. On the other hand, it was a satisfying meal that required a lot of chewing. It just didn't leave many calories for the rest of my day.
I have to get off this 158.something mark soon. A week and a half ago I dropped below 160 for the first time, and I have been stuck within a pound of that mark for 10 days. I'm ready for some action!!
I have my first workout with Jeremy Walters at Aspen tomorrow. It will be interesting to see if that makes a difference. The workouts with Jeremy Wallen have not pushed me as hard as J Walter's workouts, so maybe it will make a difference.
I am going to stop at the Aspen Fitness close to work on my way home this evening. That is part of my new plan to get my evening workouts in. I've heard that it is very nice. I'll tell you all about that gym and my workout with Walters tomorrow.
Until then, have an awesome day. There is only 27 days left until the Christmas Season is over!
This Morning's Exercise: Day Off
Yesterday Evening's Exercise: Bowling
Yesterday's Calories: 1675
Vitamins: 1-A-Day, D, B-Complex, Calcium, Glucosamine
I'm just gonna say that 1675 calories is not that bad when all you can think about all day long is how much you want to eat. It's still more than I wanted to eat, but I never binged on anything. Lunch was a little bigger than normal. I went to Panera's and had a 1/2 chicken caesar salad (220 calories), a cup of black bean soup (170 calories), and a french baguette (180 calories). I know, I know, I would have been fine if I had skipped the bread. On the other hand, it was a satisfying meal that required a lot of chewing. It just didn't leave many calories for the rest of my day.
I have to get off this 158.something mark soon. A week and a half ago I dropped below 160 for the first time, and I have been stuck within a pound of that mark for 10 days. I'm ready for some action!!
I have my first workout with Jeremy Walters at Aspen tomorrow. It will be interesting to see if that makes a difference. The workouts with Jeremy Wallen have not pushed me as hard as J Walter's workouts, so maybe it will make a difference.
I am going to stop at the Aspen Fitness close to work on my way home this evening. That is part of my new plan to get my evening workouts in. I've heard that it is very nice. I'll tell you all about that gym and my workout with Walters tomorrow.
Until then, have an awesome day. There is only 27 days left until the Christmas Season is over!
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
11/28/12: Oh, I Just Want To Eat!!!
For three days now I have felt hungry...well not hungry so much as I just want to eat. Constantly. I just want to find some food and put it in my mouth and chew it up and swallow it and do it again and again and again.
For three days I have been trying to figure out what is causing these intense cravings. In an email conversation with Jack, he suggested that this is my body's (or my mind's) old way of dealing with stress. Yes, he is right about that, but the stress today is not any more intense than the stress of a week ago. What's changed? Why now? What's going on? I've tried to pin it on being so close to goal, but that doesn't feel right. Then I tried to pin it on too much exercise and not enough calories, but I should have recovered from that by now, so that doesn't feel right, either. So why the hell am I sitting at my desk at 8:30 in the morning wishing I had a bowl full of something to munch on? Just about anything would do, but sweets would be best.
Then, as I was writing to Jack, trying to explain what I was feeling, the answer dawned on me. It's Christmas-time. The month between Thanksgiving and Christmas is like this for me every year. And it's all mental. It's not because there is more food around, because there isn't. It's not due to holiday parties, because there aren't any. It's about this big emotional knot that I get inside of me at Christmas-time. It comes every year, just like clock work, right after Thanksgiving, and it sits in my chest like a water balloon until the day after Christmas. Year after year after year. I keep thinking it will get better and this will stop happening, but it doesn't.
I've believed for some time that this started after my divorce from the kids' dad. Christmas was always a very special time for our little family and our divorce messed it up, royally. It's been messed up ever since. Perhaps these issues go back a lot further than that...it wouldn't surprise me if that is the case...but I do know that Christmas hasn't been the same since...when?...1992, I guess. We got divorced the year Carla turned 7, so our last Christmas before our divorce would have been when she was 6. She's 26 now. You'd think in 20 years I would have gotten over it.
So...this next 5 weeks will be rough. I hope Jack has a hell of lot of patience. Perhaps it is time to give the ol' shrink a call. Maybe this is the last little vestige from a life long past that needs to be purged from my system. Whatever happens, I will not succumb to my desire to over-eat. Today, more than ever, I am grateful for my "Get Fit Initiative," this blog, the chart on my bathroom wall, my exercise habit, and the support I get from my husband, sister and friends.
For three days I have been trying to figure out what is causing these intense cravings. In an email conversation with Jack, he suggested that this is my body's (or my mind's) old way of dealing with stress. Yes, he is right about that, but the stress today is not any more intense than the stress of a week ago. What's changed? Why now? What's going on? I've tried to pin it on being so close to goal, but that doesn't feel right. Then I tried to pin it on too much exercise and not enough calories, but I should have recovered from that by now, so that doesn't feel right, either. So why the hell am I sitting at my desk at 8:30 in the morning wishing I had a bowl full of something to munch on? Just about anything would do, but sweets would be best.
Then, as I was writing to Jack, trying to explain what I was feeling, the answer dawned on me. It's Christmas-time. The month between Thanksgiving and Christmas is like this for me every year. And it's all mental. It's not because there is more food around, because there isn't. It's not due to holiday parties, because there aren't any. It's about this big emotional knot that I get inside of me at Christmas-time. It comes every year, just like clock work, right after Thanksgiving, and it sits in my chest like a water balloon until the day after Christmas. Year after year after year. I keep thinking it will get better and this will stop happening, but it doesn't.
I've believed for some time that this started after my divorce from the kids' dad. Christmas was always a very special time for our little family and our divorce messed it up, royally. It's been messed up ever since. Perhaps these issues go back a lot further than that...it wouldn't surprise me if that is the case...but I do know that Christmas hasn't been the same since...when?...1992, I guess. We got divorced the year Carla turned 7, so our last Christmas before our divorce would have been when she was 6. She's 26 now. You'd think in 20 years I would have gotten over it.
So...this next 5 weeks will be rough. I hope Jack has a hell of lot of patience. Perhaps it is time to give the ol' shrink a call. Maybe this is the last little vestige from a life long past that needs to be purged from my system. Whatever happens, I will not succumb to my desire to over-eat. Today, more than ever, I am grateful for my "Get Fit Initiative," this blog, the chart on my bathroom wall, my exercise habit, and the support I get from my husband, sister and friends.
11/28/2012: Running Out of Cushion
Morning Weight: 158.6
This Morning's Exercise: Strength Training with Jeremy Wallen
Yesterday Evening's Exercise: None...for no very good reason
Yesterday's Calories: 1610
Vitamins: 1-A-Day, D, B-Complex, Calcium, Glucosamine
I lost the 4/10ths of a pounds I gained, but November is almost over which means December 1st is almost here. Then I will only have one month to get to 150lbs. I felt like I had a little cushion, since I have lost weight at an average rate of 8 pounds per month, but it looks like I am using up all of that cushion this week and I will have 8 full pounds to lose in December. I can still do it, but there is not going to be any wiggle room or margin for error. Focus, focus, focus!!!
I have confirmed that I am not going to China this month, so that will help, a lot!
Also, 24Hour Fitness is not going to give me a refund for those 6 training sessions, so I will work out with Jeremy Wallen on Wednesdays and Jeremy Walters on Fridays. That should be interesting. Maybe it will help with the weight loss efforts. We shall see. I will be done with Jeremy Wallen at the end of December.
Tonight is bowling night, which I count as my evening physical activity. Tomorrow I am going to stop by the Aspen Fitness that is on my way home from work for a 15 - 30 minute cardio workout. I should have done it yesterday, but I had an 8:00pm phone meeting (with the CPAs in China) and I just wanted to get home and relax a little bit before my meeting. My plan is to stop at the fitness center on the way home on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays (and maybe Fridays, if I can get out of work early enough) for my evening exercise during the winter months. That way I will get my exercise out of the way before I have a chance to get home and be lazy, as an added benefit traffic will clear out and it will take me about 20 fewer minutes to get home. Because of the decreased drive time, 30 minutes of exercise will only cost me a net ten minutes. Seems like a reasonable investment of my time, doesn't it? I just need to pack workout clothes and bring them with me to work! Tomorrow I will do exactly that!!
This Morning's Exercise: Strength Training with Jeremy Wallen
Yesterday Evening's Exercise: None...for no very good reason
Yesterday's Calories: 1610
Vitamins: 1-A-Day, D, B-Complex, Calcium, Glucosamine
I lost the 4/10ths of a pounds I gained, but November is almost over which means December 1st is almost here. Then I will only have one month to get to 150lbs. I felt like I had a little cushion, since I have lost weight at an average rate of 8 pounds per month, but it looks like I am using up all of that cushion this week and I will have 8 full pounds to lose in December. I can still do it, but there is not going to be any wiggle room or margin for error. Focus, focus, focus!!!
I have confirmed that I am not going to China this month, so that will help, a lot!
Also, 24Hour Fitness is not going to give me a refund for those 6 training sessions, so I will work out with Jeremy Wallen on Wednesdays and Jeremy Walters on Fridays. That should be interesting. Maybe it will help with the weight loss efforts. We shall see. I will be done with Jeremy Wallen at the end of December.
Tonight is bowling night, which I count as my evening physical activity. Tomorrow I am going to stop by the Aspen Fitness that is on my way home from work for a 15 - 30 minute cardio workout. I should have done it yesterday, but I had an 8:00pm phone meeting (with the CPAs in China) and I just wanted to get home and relax a little bit before my meeting. My plan is to stop at the fitness center on the way home on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays (and maybe Fridays, if I can get out of work early enough) for my evening exercise during the winter months. That way I will get my exercise out of the way before I have a chance to get home and be lazy, as an added benefit traffic will clear out and it will take me about 20 fewer minutes to get home. Because of the decreased drive time, 30 minutes of exercise will only cost me a net ten minutes. Seems like a reasonable investment of my time, doesn't it? I just need to pack workout clothes and bring them with me to work! Tomorrow I will do exactly that!!
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
11/27/2012: Errg!
Morning Weight: 159.0
This Morning's Exercise: Cardio day at the gym: 112 floors (24 minutes) on the stairmaster, levels 7 - 10; 1500 meters (about 8 minutes) on the rowing machine; 2682 strides (20 minutes) on the elliptical
Yesterday Evening's Exercise: 2 mile walk with Jack
Yesterday's Calories: 1550
Vitamins: 1-A-Day, D, B-Complex, Calcium, Glucosamine
OK, so I am frustrated that I gained 4/10ths of a pound. Who knows why? I worked out hard this weekend. Yes, I rested a little yesterday morning, but went for a brisk walk with Jack last night when I got home from work. I know it is temporary, I really do, but it is so frustrating! Just when I think my goal is attainable by year end, it takes a sidestep and I begin doubting myself again. There is only one solution. Keep on doing what I've been doing. It's been working well, it will keep working. I just can't let the frustration derail me.
I also feel awkward about firing Jeremy Wallen as my personal trainer. I talked to Seth, the manager at 24Hour Fitness yesterday and he gave me a hard time about canceling my last 6 sessions with Jeremy and said he couldn't give me a refund for those sessions. I pushed him on it and asked him to send me the portion of the contract that states that my payment is non-refundable. I haven't received that yet. After pushing him on the issue, he said he would "see what he could do" and call me back. Of course, he hasn't called me back, yet. I will call him this morning. I have a session scheduled with Jeremy Wallen tomorrow morning and I don't know if I should go or not. If I can't get my refund, I might as well train with him on Wednesdays and Jeremy Walters on Fridays. It can't hurt to get the extra session in. I guess I will see what happens today. It was awkward seeing J Wallen at the gym this morning, knowing that Seth had spoken to him. Ugh, it is always hard letting people go. It's even harder when you have to continue seeing them on a regular basis! Particularly when they know that you fired them and hired someone else that they know. It is all very stressful!! At the same time, I am totally pumped about getting to work out with Jeremy Walters again! Oh, the mental anguish of it all!!
I don't have much time to dawdle this morning, I have a new employee starting today. I am very excited about having him as part of the team and am confident that he will be able to help me get all of my projects done within the next 6 months. That will be a huge relief. I feel like with Steve starting, my job will be manageable. I am looking forward to 8:30 this morning!!
I'm hungrier than normal. I don't really understand why. My guess is that I ate too little over the weekend. Even though I had my 1600 calories, I burned off so much in exercise that I think I ended up with a bit of a calorie deficit. I've noticed before that when my net calories for a day are particularly low (either due to too few calories consumed or a lot of calories burned) I am more hungry than normal for a couple of days. Being hungry doesn't help the frustration level at all. It just makes it worse. *Heavy Sigh* Ah well. Not much longer and I won't be trying to lose weight anymore. Yes, that will be a relief. I am ready for Stage 2 to begin!!
This Morning's Exercise: Cardio day at the gym: 112 floors (24 minutes) on the stairmaster, levels 7 - 10; 1500 meters (about 8 minutes) on the rowing machine; 2682 strides (20 minutes) on the elliptical
Yesterday Evening's Exercise: 2 mile walk with Jack
Yesterday's Calories: 1550
Vitamins: 1-A-Day, D, B-Complex, Calcium, Glucosamine
OK, so I am frustrated that I gained 4/10ths of a pound. Who knows why? I worked out hard this weekend. Yes, I rested a little yesterday morning, but went for a brisk walk with Jack last night when I got home from work. I know it is temporary, I really do, but it is so frustrating! Just when I think my goal is attainable by year end, it takes a sidestep and I begin doubting myself again. There is only one solution. Keep on doing what I've been doing. It's been working well, it will keep working. I just can't let the frustration derail me.
I also feel awkward about firing Jeremy Wallen as my personal trainer. I talked to Seth, the manager at 24Hour Fitness yesterday and he gave me a hard time about canceling my last 6 sessions with Jeremy and said he couldn't give me a refund for those sessions. I pushed him on it and asked him to send me the portion of the contract that states that my payment is non-refundable. I haven't received that yet. After pushing him on the issue, he said he would "see what he could do" and call me back. Of course, he hasn't called me back, yet. I will call him this morning. I have a session scheduled with Jeremy Wallen tomorrow morning and I don't know if I should go or not. If I can't get my refund, I might as well train with him on Wednesdays and Jeremy Walters on Fridays. It can't hurt to get the extra session in. I guess I will see what happens today. It was awkward seeing J Wallen at the gym this morning, knowing that Seth had spoken to him. Ugh, it is always hard letting people go. It's even harder when you have to continue seeing them on a regular basis! Particularly when they know that you fired them and hired someone else that they know. It is all very stressful!! At the same time, I am totally pumped about getting to work out with Jeremy Walters again! Oh, the mental anguish of it all!!
I don't have much time to dawdle this morning, I have a new employee starting today. I am very excited about having him as part of the team and am confident that he will be able to help me get all of my projects done within the next 6 months. That will be a huge relief. I feel like with Steve starting, my job will be manageable. I am looking forward to 8:30 this morning!!
I'm hungrier than normal. I don't really understand why. My guess is that I ate too little over the weekend. Even though I had my 1600 calories, I burned off so much in exercise that I think I ended up with a bit of a calorie deficit. I've noticed before that when my net calories for a day are particularly low (either due to too few calories consumed or a lot of calories burned) I am more hungry than normal for a couple of days. Being hungry doesn't help the frustration level at all. It just makes it worse. *Heavy Sigh* Ah well. Not much longer and I won't be trying to lose weight anymore. Yes, that will be a relief. I am ready for Stage 2 to begin!!
Monday, November 26, 2012
11/26/2012: Taking it Easier, Today
Morning Weight: 158.6 - again!
This Morning's Exercise: None - Decided to rest today after this weekend's intense exercise. In fact, my whole body is sore. Ruth suggested yesterday evening that I should take it easy for a couple of days, but my plan was to get up this morning and do my strength training. Instead, I got up and everything hurt, even my feet so I went back to bed for an hour and a half. Resting a bit seems like a good plan! I will go for a walk this evening.
Yesterday Evening's Exercise: 2 mile walk with Jack
Yesterday's Calories: 1666 (a little higher than 1600, but since I knew I would be working out for two hours yesterday morning (before breakfast), I ate a snack before my workout)
Vitamins: 1-A-Day, D, B-Complex, Calcium, Glucosamine
The day after!!! Man, that mini-tri I did yesterday kicked my butt! I felt wiped out after the workout yesterday, but I wasn't hurting. Today I am sore all over. In addition to my workout at the gym yesterday, Jack and I went bowling in the late morning and then went for a 2 mile walk in the evening. OK...my body is tired! I am taking the morning off this morning, but will go for at least a short walk this evening. Nothing crazy, just enough to get me outdoors and moving for a little bit.
I was hoping after all that exercise that I would weigh less this morning, but I didn't. My theory is that when my muscles are sore they are inflamed, and when they are inflamed, they are a little swollen, and that when they are a little swollen, they weigh more. Therefore, when the soreness is gone, I'll see my weight loss. How do you like that theory? I'm hoping tomorrow we will see a little movement on the scale. I need to make a little progress everyday if I want to get to 150 by the end of the year.
I went into 24Hour Fitness on Friday to cancel my last 6 training sessions with Jeremy Wallen, since I am going to start working out with Jeremy Walters (at Aspen Fitness Center) again on Friday. The person at the front desk said that I needed to speak to the club manager, who would not be in until today. I left my name and phone number. He is supposed to call today. I hope that he does so that I can get refunded for those sessions. That will pay for the first couple of months with Jeremy Walters. I am excited about starting to work with J Walters again. The right trainer makes a big difference!!
It's back to work today. I need to have a very disciplined 5 weeks!!
This Morning's Exercise: None - Decided to rest today after this weekend's intense exercise. In fact, my whole body is sore. Ruth suggested yesterday evening that I should take it easy for a couple of days, but my plan was to get up this morning and do my strength training. Instead, I got up and everything hurt, even my feet so I went back to bed for an hour and a half. Resting a bit seems like a good plan! I will go for a walk this evening.
Yesterday Evening's Exercise: 2 mile walk with Jack
Yesterday's Calories: 1666 (a little higher than 1600, but since I knew I would be working out for two hours yesterday morning (before breakfast), I ate a snack before my workout)
Vitamins: 1-A-Day, D, B-Complex, Calcium, Glucosamine
The day after!!! Man, that mini-tri I did yesterday kicked my butt! I felt wiped out after the workout yesterday, but I wasn't hurting. Today I am sore all over. In addition to my workout at the gym yesterday, Jack and I went bowling in the late morning and then went for a 2 mile walk in the evening. OK...my body is tired! I am taking the morning off this morning, but will go for at least a short walk this evening. Nothing crazy, just enough to get me outdoors and moving for a little bit.
I was hoping after all that exercise that I would weigh less this morning, but I didn't. My theory is that when my muscles are sore they are inflamed, and when they are inflamed, they are a little swollen, and that when they are a little swollen, they weigh more. Therefore, when the soreness is gone, I'll see my weight loss. How do you like that theory? I'm hoping tomorrow we will see a little movement on the scale. I need to make a little progress everyday if I want to get to 150 by the end of the year.
I went into 24Hour Fitness on Friday to cancel my last 6 training sessions with Jeremy Wallen, since I am going to start working out with Jeremy Walters (at Aspen Fitness Center) again on Friday. The person at the front desk said that I needed to speak to the club manager, who would not be in until today. I left my name and phone number. He is supposed to call today. I hope that he does so that I can get refunded for those sessions. That will pay for the first couple of months with Jeremy Walters. I am excited about starting to work with J Walters again. The right trainer makes a big difference!!
It's back to work today. I need to have a very disciplined 5 weeks!!
Sunday, November 25, 2012
11/25/12: Mini-Tri
Morning Weight: 158.6
Today's Exercise: My first back-to-back. 60 laps (1500 meters) swimming; 30 minutes on stationary cycle - 9.8 miles at level 10; 30 minute run on treadmill and a 3 minute cooldown walk, 10 minutes @ 5mph, 10 minutes @ 6mph, 2 minutes @ 5mph, 2 minutes @ 6.5mph, 2 minutes @ 5mph, 1 minute @ 7mph, 1 minute @ 5mph, 1 minute @ 7mph, 1 minute at 6mph, 3 minute walk (2.5 - 3.5mph).
Yesterday's Exercise: 1 hour of racquetball with Jack (that was a workout!) and 30 minute run on treadmill (5.0 - 6.5mph).
Yesterday's Calories: 1558
Vitamins: 1-A-Day, D, B-Complex, Calcium, Glucosamine
It's kind of sad that today is the last day of our Thanksgiving break. It has been really nice to relax at home and enjoy this quiet time together. Yesterday I fantasized about getting the Christmas trees up today, but this morning I changed my mind. I think it's better to finish out this weekend without a lot of fanfare. We have plenty of time to get our Christmas trees.
It's been a little cool for bike riding this weekend (Thursday was our warmest day, by far, and I didn't have time to ride on Thursday) and it has been a while since I have been in the pool, so I decided today was a good day for a swim. At the same time, I kind of wanted to do a brick, so I decided to do a little mini-tri indoors at the gym today. I swam 60 laps (1500 meters), rode the stationary bike almost 10 miles (30 minutes), and ran just short of 3 miles (30 minutes). None of it was too hard, unless you count the first four laps of swimming. That is always the hardest part. If it has been a while since I've been in the pool, my legs always feel like lead when I starting out on my laps. I didn't have any trouble with the cycling or running, though I feel pretty wiped out now. I put the stationary cycle on level 10, which feels like a very slight incline. No incline on the treadmill. Next weekend it is supposed to be in the 60s, so I will try to get outside for a bike ride and a run then. Between yesterday's racquetball/run and today's mini-tri, I feel like I have worked out hard this weekend. It feels pretty good!!
I was pleased to see 158.6 pounds on the scale this morning. Only 8.6 pounds to go!! Perhaps it's time for before and now photos. Here you go!!
It won't be long now before the weight loss phase is complete. Yes, I am looking forward to that!!
Today's Exercise: My first back-to-back. 60 laps (1500 meters) swimming; 30 minutes on stationary cycle - 9.8 miles at level 10; 30 minute run on treadmill and a 3 minute cooldown walk, 10 minutes @ 5mph, 10 minutes @ 6mph, 2 minutes @ 5mph, 2 minutes @ 6.5mph, 2 minutes @ 5mph, 1 minute @ 7mph, 1 minute @ 5mph, 1 minute @ 7mph, 1 minute at 6mph, 3 minute walk (2.5 - 3.5mph).
Yesterday's Exercise: 1 hour of racquetball with Jack (that was a workout!) and 30 minute run on treadmill (5.0 - 6.5mph).
Yesterday's Calories: 1558
Vitamins: 1-A-Day, D, B-Complex, Calcium, Glucosamine
It's kind of sad that today is the last day of our Thanksgiving break. It has been really nice to relax at home and enjoy this quiet time together. Yesterday I fantasized about getting the Christmas trees up today, but this morning I changed my mind. I think it's better to finish out this weekend without a lot of fanfare. We have plenty of time to get our Christmas trees.
It's been a little cool for bike riding this weekend (Thursday was our warmest day, by far, and I didn't have time to ride on Thursday) and it has been a while since I have been in the pool, so I decided today was a good day for a swim. At the same time, I kind of wanted to do a brick, so I decided to do a little mini-tri indoors at the gym today. I swam 60 laps (1500 meters), rode the stationary bike almost 10 miles (30 minutes), and ran just short of 3 miles (30 minutes). None of it was too hard, unless you count the first four laps of swimming. That is always the hardest part. If it has been a while since I've been in the pool, my legs always feel like lead when I starting out on my laps. I didn't have any trouble with the cycling or running, though I feel pretty wiped out now. I put the stationary cycle on level 10, which feels like a very slight incline. No incline on the treadmill. Next weekend it is supposed to be in the 60s, so I will try to get outside for a bike ride and a run then. Between yesterday's racquetball/run and today's mini-tri, I feel like I have worked out hard this weekend. It feels pretty good!!
I was pleased to see 158.6 pounds on the scale this morning. Only 8.6 pounds to go!! Perhaps it's time for before and now photos. Here you go!!
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| 11/25/12, 39 weeks, 158.6lbs, 65.4lbs lost! |
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| 2/26/12, Start Photo, 224lbs |
Saturday, November 24, 2012
11/24/12: The Day After the Day After
Morning Weight: 159.4 - Recovered from the Thanksgiving weight gain
Today's Exercise: None yet - Jack and I are planning on going to Aspen Fitness to play racquetball. We are going to stay at the gym after our game to do 45 minutes of cardio. It's kind of cold outside this morning. I hope it's warmer tomorrow. I want to get on my bike this weekend.
Yesterday Evening's Exercise: Did my strength training and 30 minutes of cardio in the afternoon. No additional evening exercise
Yesterday's Calories: 1468
Vitamins: 1-A-Day, D, B-Complex, Calcium, Glucosamine
Yesterday I exercised extra hard and was careful about my calories which allowed me to recover from my 1.6 pounds of Thanksgiving bloat. I have two days left of my weekend and I intend to lose that stubborn 4/10ths of a pound and weigh no more than 159.0 by Monday morning.
We're enjoying our quiet holiday weekend, though we went to the movie theater yesterday and all of the movies we wanted to see were sold out. We are going to try to see the first showing of Life of Pi in 3D this morning. Then we're going to go check out our new gym. I am looking forward to playing racquetball with Jack.
We were going to play racquetball Thursday morning, but I bruised my finger pretty badly bowling Wednesday night. On my very first ball of practice, I bounced the ball off the alley while it was still on my hand and when it bounced up it crushed into my middle finger and bruised it pretty badly. It made it very painful to bowl, so I kept my hand in a glass of ice water all night. As long as my finger was numb I couldn't feel anything and it didn't impact my bowling. In fact, for my second game I bowled 6 strikes in a row and got a 210!! How about that? Much better than my first game in which my teammates say I got an 86, but I've blocked that out and don't really remember that very well. My third game was OK, right around my average. Our team won two of the three games and total pins, so for the first time in a long, long time we won 3 our of 4 points. We may still be in last place, but at least we won for a change!!!!
My finger feels much better today, it bends and most of the swelling and bruising is gone. It still hurts a little when I press on it, but it's healed enough to start playing. I'm glad it was just a bruise.
Not much more new, around here. It's been quiet...nice and quiet.
Today's Exercise: None yet - Jack and I are planning on going to Aspen Fitness to play racquetball. We are going to stay at the gym after our game to do 45 minutes of cardio. It's kind of cold outside this morning. I hope it's warmer tomorrow. I want to get on my bike this weekend.
Yesterday Evening's Exercise: Did my strength training and 30 minutes of cardio in the afternoon. No additional evening exercise
Yesterday's Calories: 1468
Vitamins: 1-A-Day, D, B-Complex, Calcium, Glucosamine
Yesterday I exercised extra hard and was careful about my calories which allowed me to recover from my 1.6 pounds of Thanksgiving bloat. I have two days left of my weekend and I intend to lose that stubborn 4/10ths of a pound and weigh no more than 159.0 by Monday morning.
We're enjoying our quiet holiday weekend, though we went to the movie theater yesterday and all of the movies we wanted to see were sold out. We are going to try to see the first showing of Life of Pi in 3D this morning. Then we're going to go check out our new gym. I am looking forward to playing racquetball with Jack.
We were going to play racquetball Thursday morning, but I bruised my finger pretty badly bowling Wednesday night. On my very first ball of practice, I bounced the ball off the alley while it was still on my hand and when it bounced up it crushed into my middle finger and bruised it pretty badly. It made it very painful to bowl, so I kept my hand in a glass of ice water all night. As long as my finger was numb I couldn't feel anything and it didn't impact my bowling. In fact, for my second game I bowled 6 strikes in a row and got a 210!! How about that? Much better than my first game in which my teammates say I got an 86, but I've blocked that out and don't really remember that very well. My third game was OK, right around my average. Our team won two of the three games and total pins, so for the first time in a long, long time we won 3 our of 4 points. We may still be in last place, but at least we won for a change!!!!
My finger feels much better today, it bends and most of the swelling and bruising is gone. It still hurts a little when I press on it, but it's healed enough to start playing. I'm glad it was just a bruise.
Not much more new, around here. It's been quiet...nice and quiet.
Friday, November 23, 2012
11/23/12: The Day After...
Morning Weight: 161.0 - 1.6 pound reminder of Thanksgiving dinner...sadness...
Yesterday morning's weight: 159.4
Today's Exercise: Strength training and 32 minutes of cardio (to make up for yesterday). Cardio was 10 hard minutes on stationary bike, level 11; 12 minutes on treadmill at 5mph for 1 minutes, 6mph for 5 minutes, 7 mph for 1 minute, walk slowly for 1 minute to see how much my heart rate would go down in 60 seconds, 7mph for 1 minute, 5mph for 1 minute, 3.5mph for 1 minute, slow walk for 1 minute; 10 minutes on elliptical, level 8.
Heart rate recovery: After running at 7mph for 1 minute my heart rate was 162. After 1 minue of walking slowly it decreased to 124. Pretty good recovery rate!!
Yesterday's Exercise: None - unless you count the day in the kitchen cooking a Thanksgiving feast
Yesterday's Calories: 684 plus Thanksgiving dinner (and tasting gravy, soup, etc... as I was cooking)
Vitamins: 1-A-Day, D, B-Complex, Calcium, Glucosamine
Ok, I didn't do so great yesterday. I did OK throughout the day, not snacking and only tasting what I was cooking for flavor, but when I sat down to dinner with Jack, Alix and Nicholas and looked at all that delicious food in front of me, I filled up my plate. I didn't eat a ton of food, but I ate too much. Dinner was smoked turkey (cooked to perfection on the Weber by Jack), mashed potatoes, gravy, stuffing, thyme roasted beets, cranberry sauce, steamed broccoli, soup (lentil, sweet potato, apple - very good), and homebaked rolls. Dessert was sweet potato cheese cake - too good. I ate a helping of everything, and had seconds on the beets. My first piece of cheesecake was small. That was going to be my token gesture to my diet, a small piece of cheesecake. But it was too good, and I had a second small piece, and really enjoyed it. Nicholas and Alix brought a bottle of wine and I had a glass. I paid the price...I was over 160lbs this morning.
But I isolated the over-eating to the actual event of Thanksgiving dinner. That is something I have been very successful at since starting my program in February, isolating the over-eating to a very small window of time rather than allowing myself to over-eat for a day, or a weekend, or a longer period of time. The meal happened, the meal is over, and I was back on track this morning. No regrets, I guess. I am a little disappointed in myself, but it would have been pretty difficult to spend most of the day cooking and not indulge a bit in the results of my efforts. Jack has a lot of leftovers, which was part of the plan. I'll help eat the leftover soup and turkey. The mashed potatoes, gravy, and stuffing are his, though! The beets are gone. They were the last ones from my garden and were totally yummy! Whatever cheesecake is left on Monday will go to work with me. I am not going to eat anymore of that, even though it was delicious.
One holiday down with minimal damage. I hope to be no more than 159.0 by Monday morning when I mark my chart.
Yesterday morning's weight: 159.4
Today's Exercise: Strength training and 32 minutes of cardio (to make up for yesterday). Cardio was 10 hard minutes on stationary bike, level 11; 12 minutes on treadmill at 5mph for 1 minutes, 6mph for 5 minutes, 7 mph for 1 minute, walk slowly for 1 minute to see how much my heart rate would go down in 60 seconds, 7mph for 1 minute, 5mph for 1 minute, 3.5mph for 1 minute, slow walk for 1 minute; 10 minutes on elliptical, level 8.
Heart rate recovery: After running at 7mph for 1 minute my heart rate was 162. After 1 minue of walking slowly it decreased to 124. Pretty good recovery rate!!
Yesterday's Exercise: None - unless you count the day in the kitchen cooking a Thanksgiving feast
Yesterday's Calories: 684 plus Thanksgiving dinner (and tasting gravy, soup, etc... as I was cooking)
Vitamins: 1-A-Day, D, B-Complex, Calcium, Glucosamine
Ok, I didn't do so great yesterday. I did OK throughout the day, not snacking and only tasting what I was cooking for flavor, but when I sat down to dinner with Jack, Alix and Nicholas and looked at all that delicious food in front of me, I filled up my plate. I didn't eat a ton of food, but I ate too much. Dinner was smoked turkey (cooked to perfection on the Weber by Jack), mashed potatoes, gravy, stuffing, thyme roasted beets, cranberry sauce, steamed broccoli, soup (lentil, sweet potato, apple - very good), and homebaked rolls. Dessert was sweet potato cheese cake - too good. I ate a helping of everything, and had seconds on the beets. My first piece of cheesecake was small. That was going to be my token gesture to my diet, a small piece of cheesecake. But it was too good, and I had a second small piece, and really enjoyed it. Nicholas and Alix brought a bottle of wine and I had a glass. I paid the price...I was over 160lbs this morning.
But I isolated the over-eating to the actual event of Thanksgiving dinner. That is something I have been very successful at since starting my program in February, isolating the over-eating to a very small window of time rather than allowing myself to over-eat for a day, or a weekend, or a longer period of time. The meal happened, the meal is over, and I was back on track this morning. No regrets, I guess. I am a little disappointed in myself, but it would have been pretty difficult to spend most of the day cooking and not indulge a bit in the results of my efforts. Jack has a lot of leftovers, which was part of the plan. I'll help eat the leftover soup and turkey. The mashed potatoes, gravy, and stuffing are his, though! The beets are gone. They were the last ones from my garden and were totally yummy! Whatever cheesecake is left on Monday will go to work with me. I am not going to eat anymore of that, even though it was delicious.
One holiday down with minimal damage. I hope to be no more than 159.0 by Monday morning when I mark my chart.
Wednesday, November 21, 2012
11/21/2012: The Plan, The Plan!!
Morning Weight: 159.6
Morning Exercise: Strength training with personal trainer (J Wallen)
Yesterday Evening's Exercise: 2 mile walk with Jack, to and from Governor Stumpy's for dinner
Yesterday's Calories: 1424
Vitamins: 1-A-Day, D, B-Complex, Calcium, Glucosamine
Yes, I gained two-tenths of a pound and no, I don't know why. If I had to guess I would say it is because we went out to dinner last night and I ate a slightly heavier evening meal than I normally do. I had cajun chicken with green beans and snow peas (extra veggies, no rice, and I saved about 1/3 of the chicken for lunch today) so the calorie count was fine, but I am sure there was way more salt in the cajun spices than I normally eat. I am pretty sensitive to salt and tend to retain water when I eat too much of it, so I'm guessing I had a little extra water weight this morning. I am not going to get too excited about it.
Yesterday morning as I was blogging I made the decision to commit to losing this last 9.4 (OK, now 9.6) pounds by the end of the year. I have been all over the emotional map with regard to how I should tackle my last 15 pounds or so. My original goal date was February 4th because I thought I had 72 pounds to lose and I thought February 4th was 48 weeks from my start date and 1.5 pounds a week for 48 weeks is 72 pounds. It turns out I was wrong on two counts. First, when I weighed myself on the morning of February 27th I weighed 224 pounds, not 222 pounds, so I needed to lose 74 pounds, not 72 pounds. Second, it turns out that when I originally made my chart I missed a Monday, so 48 week takes me out to January 28th, not February 4th. I made the date correction on my chart, left the 48 weeks as my goal in spite of the extra two pounds, and now my original goal line intersects the x-axis (150 pound line) on January 28th. So while I have talked a lot about February 4th being my original goal date, because it was - until I corrected it, I guess you could say that my true original goal date was January 28th, 2013.
After establishing my goal date, based on an average weight loss rate of 1.5 pounds/week, I started my program and for about six months my average rate of weight loss was 1.8 pounds a week. After several months I was significantly ahead of my goal line. Eventually I decided to change my goal date, it looked like if I stayed on my trend line I would hit my target weight by December 1st, so for a brief period of time I thought December 1st would be my new goal date. Then September happened. We went to Oregon for a long weekend for Steve's wedding, Jack and I went on a two week vacation, and I went to China for the first time. I didn't stop losing weight in September, but all of that activity did slow down the pace of my weight loss and my progress line became much bumpier. There was a period that I got a little frustrated, but I never gave up, and slowly but surely my weight loss rate has evened out again. While I was in the low 160s I started thinking that I would be content to hit my goal weight by my original target date of January 28th, but as soon as I got into the 150s and I only had 9+ pounds to lose and I still had 6 weeks left in the year I knew I could get this done this year. There is something very motivating about knowing that by the end of this year I will have reached my goal weight. I can focus on something completely different next year. It will be a relief to no longer be focused on losing weight, but to be focused on physical fitness, instead. It's not that physical fitness hasn't been an important part of this from the beginning, it's been a huge part of every day, but I spend a lot of my mental energy on thinking about losing weight. I am looking forward to having that part of it behind me. It feels neat and tidy to get the weight loss phase completed in 2012. I really like that idea.
So I am completely and totally committed to losing this last 9.whatever pounds this year. Perhaps for this next 5.75 weeks I may seem a little too obsessed with the numbers on the scale, but so be it. We're only talking 40 days, and I can do anything for 40 days. I'm really not going to change much. The program has been working just fine, I'm just going to be very disciplined about the program - even through the holidays. One thing that I will change is how consistently I do some form of evening exercise. I will be much more disciplined about that, as disciplined as I was during my 30 day transition mitigation plan in August. So the plan for the next 40 days is:
Jack and I did go to Aspen Fitness Center today and we signed up. Starting next Friday I will be working with Jeremy Walters again. I am very excited about that!! He does have a way of making me want to succeed and reach my goals. I thought I might end up working with him and Jeremy Wallen at the same time, until I use up the last 6 sessions that I already paid for, but it looks like I will be able to get that money back. That would be great, because it will pay for the first 2 month with Jeremy Walters. I am glad to be back with my personal trainer!! Tomorrow, Jack and I are going to go over and play racquetball! That should be fun.
I have five days off from work, starting with today. I hardly know what I am going to do with myself!! It feels like such a treat. Perhaps we'll start off with a little Christmas shopping.
Morning Exercise: Strength training with personal trainer (J Wallen)
Yesterday Evening's Exercise: 2 mile walk with Jack, to and from Governor Stumpy's for dinner
Yesterday's Calories: 1424
Vitamins: 1-A-Day, D, B-Complex, Calcium, Glucosamine
Yes, I gained two-tenths of a pound and no, I don't know why. If I had to guess I would say it is because we went out to dinner last night and I ate a slightly heavier evening meal than I normally do. I had cajun chicken with green beans and snow peas (extra veggies, no rice, and I saved about 1/3 of the chicken for lunch today) so the calorie count was fine, but I am sure there was way more salt in the cajun spices than I normally eat. I am pretty sensitive to salt and tend to retain water when I eat too much of it, so I'm guessing I had a little extra water weight this morning. I am not going to get too excited about it.
Yesterday morning as I was blogging I made the decision to commit to losing this last 9.4 (OK, now 9.6) pounds by the end of the year. I have been all over the emotional map with regard to how I should tackle my last 15 pounds or so. My original goal date was February 4th because I thought I had 72 pounds to lose and I thought February 4th was 48 weeks from my start date and 1.5 pounds a week for 48 weeks is 72 pounds. It turns out I was wrong on two counts. First, when I weighed myself on the morning of February 27th I weighed 224 pounds, not 222 pounds, so I needed to lose 74 pounds, not 72 pounds. Second, it turns out that when I originally made my chart I missed a Monday, so 48 week takes me out to January 28th, not February 4th. I made the date correction on my chart, left the 48 weeks as my goal in spite of the extra two pounds, and now my original goal line intersects the x-axis (150 pound line) on January 28th. So while I have talked a lot about February 4th being my original goal date, because it was - until I corrected it, I guess you could say that my true original goal date was January 28th, 2013.
After establishing my goal date, based on an average weight loss rate of 1.5 pounds/week, I started my program and for about six months my average rate of weight loss was 1.8 pounds a week. After several months I was significantly ahead of my goal line. Eventually I decided to change my goal date, it looked like if I stayed on my trend line I would hit my target weight by December 1st, so for a brief period of time I thought December 1st would be my new goal date. Then September happened. We went to Oregon for a long weekend for Steve's wedding, Jack and I went on a two week vacation, and I went to China for the first time. I didn't stop losing weight in September, but all of that activity did slow down the pace of my weight loss and my progress line became much bumpier. There was a period that I got a little frustrated, but I never gave up, and slowly but surely my weight loss rate has evened out again. While I was in the low 160s I started thinking that I would be content to hit my goal weight by my original target date of January 28th, but as soon as I got into the 150s and I only had 9+ pounds to lose and I still had 6 weeks left in the year I knew I could get this done this year. There is something very motivating about knowing that by the end of this year I will have reached my goal weight. I can focus on something completely different next year. It will be a relief to no longer be focused on losing weight, but to be focused on physical fitness, instead. It's not that physical fitness hasn't been an important part of this from the beginning, it's been a huge part of every day, but I spend a lot of my mental energy on thinking about losing weight. I am looking forward to having that part of it behind me. It feels neat and tidy to get the weight loss phase completed in 2012. I really like that idea.
So I am completely and totally committed to losing this last 9.whatever pounds this year. Perhaps for this next 5.75 weeks I may seem a little too obsessed with the numbers on the scale, but so be it. We're only talking 40 days, and I can do anything for 40 days. I'm really not going to change much. The program has been working just fine, I'm just going to be very disciplined about the program - even through the holidays. One thing that I will change is how consistently I do some form of evening exercise. I will be much more disciplined about that, as disciplined as I was during my 30 day transition mitigation plan in August. So the plan for the next 40 days is:
- Exercise in the morning for an hour, 6 days a week
---Mondays: Strength train
---Tuesdays: Cardio day at the gym (stairmaster, row machine, elliptical, stationary bike, treadmill)
---Wednesdays: Strength train
---Thursdays: Morning off
---Fridays: Strength train - With Jeremy Walters!! I signed up today!!
---Saturdays: 6.4 mile run
---Sundays: 30 - 40 mile bike ride or 2000 meter swim, depending on the weather - Exercise for at least 15 minutes every weekday after work. This may include:
---Walking
---Jogging
---Sprint or Hill Training
---Bowling
---Swimming
---Cardio Machine at the Gym
---Wii Fit Biggest Loser Workout
---Core or Ab work
---Racquetball game
---Any other activity that keeps me moving and off the couch for at least 15 minutes - Eat between 1500 - 1600 calories per day
- Drink plenty of water
- No alcohol
- Take my vitamins
- Daily reading about exercise/physical fitness.
Jack and I did go to Aspen Fitness Center today and we signed up. Starting next Friday I will be working with Jeremy Walters again. I am very excited about that!! He does have a way of making me want to succeed and reach my goals. I thought I might end up working with him and Jeremy Wallen at the same time, until I use up the last 6 sessions that I already paid for, but it looks like I will be able to get that money back. That would be great, because it will pay for the first 2 month with Jeremy Walters. I am glad to be back with my personal trainer!! Tomorrow, Jack and I are going to go over and play racquetball! That should be fun.
I have five days off from work, starting with today. I hardly know what I am going to do with myself!! It feels like such a treat. Perhaps we'll start off with a little Christmas shopping.
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
11/20/12: Holiday Season!
Morning Weight: 159.4 - exactly - again!
Morning Exercise: Day off
Yesterday Evening's Exercise: None - no excuse, just came home from work and put on my PJs. Probably should have gone for a walk, I had plenty of time and it was nice outside. I think it's because it is so dark when I get home, I feel like the day is over even though it is still early. I will do something after work, today.
Yesterday's Calories: 1445
Vitamins: 1-A-Day, D, B-Complex, Calcium, Glucosamine
Oh, goodness gracious! Who tries to lose weight during the holiday season? We're coming into that month between Thanksgiving and Christmas when most people gain a few pounds and what do I want to do? I want to lose 9.4 pounds over the next six weeks. Well, 41 days, to be exact.
That is not an unreasonable goal nor an unprecedented weight loss rate. It is just going to take a whole lot of discipline and hard work. It's going to take not indulging in holiday treats or drinking at holiday events. It's just 41 days, after all. It doesn't really matter which 41 days it is.
I don't see any reason why I cannot be at my goal weight of 150 pounds on December 31, 2012. Doing all of the things I have been consistently doing over the last eight and a half months should get me there. Exercising every day, eating less than 1600 calories a day, and drinking plenty of water. The 15 - 30 minutes of exercise in the evening helps, too, and I have not been doing enough of that. Over the next 41 days I will do some sort of exercise, even if it is just a brief walk, for at least 15 minutes after work every day. On Wednesdays, bowling will count for that exercise.
There is no reason that "Thanksgiving and Christmas" should mean "weight gain." I can count calories right through the next 41 days and still enjoy the spirit and festivities of the season. My biggest gift to myself will be waking up on January 1st, 2013, stepping on the scale, and weighing 150.0 pounds! That is when stage two of my "Get Fit Initiative" will officially begin. Stage one - lose 74 pounds (I am 87.3% of the way there!), Stage two - improve fitness level, train for, and complete an Olympic length triathlon during the summer of 2013. I can already swim, run, and bike the distance - now I just need to put the three of them together. I am planning on doing my first "brick" over the long weekend, with a vigorous bike ride followed by a run. I'll probably do it at Kill Creek Park. I'll let you know how it goes!!
I have decided to take tomorrow off, as a comp-day to compensate for the two weekends I lost on my last trip to China. I am looking forward to having five days off in a row. Yeah!! Tomorrow, I work out with Jeremy Wallen in the morning and then, after breakfast, Jack and I are heading over to Aspen Fitness to check it out and talk to Jeremy Walters. There is a good chance that we will take advantage of their Black Friday specials (albeit a couple of days early) and join the gym and sign me up for training with Jeremy Walters. My strength training workouts have not been the same since he left. I am also looking forward to having a place to play racquetball with Jack. We've been bowling for about 6 months now, which is a lot of fun. It will be great to add another sport to our play time!!
Speaking of bowling, I really am determined to get good at it. I don't need to be awesome, but I can't see any reason why I should not be able to consistently bowl around a 150. Right now my average is 120, which is low. Before I've had an average around 135. I bowl inconsistently and I find that incredibly frustrating. Jack and I practiced on both Saturday and Sunday this weekend and I felt like I may have figured a few things out. We'll see what happens tomorrow night.
It looks like it's going to be a beautiful day and gorgeous long weekend. It'll be nice to spend some time outdoors before winter sets in. I need to take advantage of the weather and get on my bike a couple of times over the next five days. Also, it's been a while since I swam, so I need to get in the pool. It looks like I have plenty to keep me busy over my mini-vacation!
Morning Exercise: Day off
Yesterday Evening's Exercise: None - no excuse, just came home from work and put on my PJs. Probably should have gone for a walk, I had plenty of time and it was nice outside. I think it's because it is so dark when I get home, I feel like the day is over even though it is still early. I will do something after work, today.
Yesterday's Calories: 1445
Vitamins: 1-A-Day, D, B-Complex, Calcium, Glucosamine
Oh, goodness gracious! Who tries to lose weight during the holiday season? We're coming into that month between Thanksgiving and Christmas when most people gain a few pounds and what do I want to do? I want to lose 9.4 pounds over the next six weeks. Well, 41 days, to be exact.
That is not an unreasonable goal nor an unprecedented weight loss rate. It is just going to take a whole lot of discipline and hard work. It's going to take not indulging in holiday treats or drinking at holiday events. It's just 41 days, after all. It doesn't really matter which 41 days it is.
I don't see any reason why I cannot be at my goal weight of 150 pounds on December 31, 2012. Doing all of the things I have been consistently doing over the last eight and a half months should get me there. Exercising every day, eating less than 1600 calories a day, and drinking plenty of water. The 15 - 30 minutes of exercise in the evening helps, too, and I have not been doing enough of that. Over the next 41 days I will do some sort of exercise, even if it is just a brief walk, for at least 15 minutes after work every day. On Wednesdays, bowling will count for that exercise.
There is no reason that "Thanksgiving and Christmas" should mean "weight gain." I can count calories right through the next 41 days and still enjoy the spirit and festivities of the season. My biggest gift to myself will be waking up on January 1st, 2013, stepping on the scale, and weighing 150.0 pounds! That is when stage two of my "Get Fit Initiative" will officially begin. Stage one - lose 74 pounds (I am 87.3% of the way there!), Stage two - improve fitness level, train for, and complete an Olympic length triathlon during the summer of 2013. I can already swim, run, and bike the distance - now I just need to put the three of them together. I am planning on doing my first "brick" over the long weekend, with a vigorous bike ride followed by a run. I'll probably do it at Kill Creek Park. I'll let you know how it goes!!
I have decided to take tomorrow off, as a comp-day to compensate for the two weekends I lost on my last trip to China. I am looking forward to having five days off in a row. Yeah!! Tomorrow, I work out with Jeremy Wallen in the morning and then, after breakfast, Jack and I are heading over to Aspen Fitness to check it out and talk to Jeremy Walters. There is a good chance that we will take advantage of their Black Friday specials (albeit a couple of days early) and join the gym and sign me up for training with Jeremy Walters. My strength training workouts have not been the same since he left. I am also looking forward to having a place to play racquetball with Jack. We've been bowling for about 6 months now, which is a lot of fun. It will be great to add another sport to our play time!!
Speaking of bowling, I really am determined to get good at it. I don't need to be awesome, but I can't see any reason why I should not be able to consistently bowl around a 150. Right now my average is 120, which is low. Before I've had an average around 135. I bowl inconsistently and I find that incredibly frustrating. Jack and I practiced on both Saturday and Sunday this weekend and I felt like I may have figured a few things out. We'll see what happens tomorrow night.
It looks like it's going to be a beautiful day and gorgeous long weekend. It'll be nice to spend some time outdoors before winter sets in. I need to take advantage of the weather and get on my bike a couple of times over the next five days. Also, it's been a while since I swam, so I need to get in the pool. It looks like I have plenty to keep me busy over my mini-vacation!
Monday, November 19, 2012
11/19/2012: Steady as She Goes!!
Morning Weight: 159.4
Morning Exercise: Strength Training at Home
Yesterday Evening's Exercise: Jack and I went for a 2 hour hike yesterday at Monkey Mountain and then we went bowling later in the afternoon. I am determined to get good at that game!!
Yesterday's Calories: 1516
Vitamins: 1-A-Day, D, B-Complex, Calcium, Glucosamine
Not much new to report today after so much news yesterday. I was very pleased to see 159.4 on the scale again this morning. I didn't want that number to be a fluke. The digital number on the scale was flipping between 159.4 and 159.6 but in the end it settled on 159.4 - thank goodness!!
Now that I am in the one-fifties I want to build a little cushion so that on a bad day I don't inch back up over the 160 mark. I can tell that I am going to obsess about this a little bit until I get to about 156 - 157. Once I'm there, I'll feel confident that the 160s are gone for good!! This should be a good weight loss week since I only have to work two days. That's my theory, anyway. I just can't eat more than a sliver of the sweet potato cheesecake that I am going to be baking on Thursday morning!!
Thank you, all of you, that read my blog regularly and comment on it, or comment on or like my Facebook links. This blog works. It keeps this real and it makes this project a daily project instead of a year-long project. It makes all the difference in the world. Knowing I have friends, loved ones, and maybe even a few strangers out there reading this blog helps keep me on my program and moving in the right direction. I appreciate your time and attention. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!
Morning Exercise: Strength Training at Home
Yesterday Evening's Exercise: Jack and I went for a 2 hour hike yesterday at Monkey Mountain and then we went bowling later in the afternoon. I am determined to get good at that game!!
Yesterday's Calories: 1516
Vitamins: 1-A-Day, D, B-Complex, Calcium, Glucosamine
Not much new to report today after so much news yesterday. I was very pleased to see 159.4 on the scale again this morning. I didn't want that number to be a fluke. The digital number on the scale was flipping between 159.4 and 159.6 but in the end it settled on 159.4 - thank goodness!!
Now that I am in the one-fifties I want to build a little cushion so that on a bad day I don't inch back up over the 160 mark. I can tell that I am going to obsess about this a little bit until I get to about 156 - 157. Once I'm there, I'll feel confident that the 160s are gone for good!! This should be a good weight loss week since I only have to work two days. That's my theory, anyway. I just can't eat more than a sliver of the sweet potato cheesecake that I am going to be baking on Thursday morning!!
Thank you, all of you, that read my blog regularly and comment on it, or comment on or like my Facebook links. This blog works. It keeps this real and it makes this project a daily project instead of a year-long project. It makes all the difference in the world. Knowing I have friends, loved ones, and maybe even a few strangers out there reading this blog helps keep me on my program and moving in the right direction. I appreciate your time and attention. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!
Sunday, November 18, 2012
11/18/2012: News, News, News!
Morning Weight: 159.4
Morning Exercise: None yet - Jack and I are thinking about doing a long hike today, but he wasn't feeling very well yesterday afternoon or evening. If he is not up for the hike I'll go for a bike ride or a swim. Probably a bike ride. It is supposed to be a beautiful day today.
Yesterday Evening's Exercise: 4 mile run - 40 minutes!
Yesterday's Calories: 1395
Vitamins: 1-A-Day, D, B-Complex, Calcium, Glucosamine
I have three pieces of exciting news to blog about today. The first bit? I broke the 160lb barrier!!! This morning I weighed 159.4 pounds!! I only have 9.4 pounds left to lose to reach my goal weight. I am so excited. After weighing 160.4 for a couple of days in a row I started to believe that I was actually going to get into the 150s by today or tomorrow, and it came to pass this morning. I even dreamt about marking my chart below 160 last night. I need to pinch myself to make sure I am awake and that this is real.
Last night a friend of ours had a graduation party at a local bar and grill. This would be a perfect opportunity to eat and drink the wrong things too late at night. Being this close to goal, that was not going to happen! Jack and I ate dinner before we left for the party and just drank water. We had a good time, playing darts and pool with friends, and didn't spend a dime at the bar, except for the quarters we used in the dart board and pool table. I thought it was cool that she had the party at a place that was holding a benefit for Safe Home and she asked us to bring an unwrapped toy to donate rather than bring a gift for her. We had fun shopping for the toys at Target yesterday and were happy to support Tam's favorite charity. Great idea, Tam!
Speaking of the party, here is a picture of me dressed up and ready to go...
...in my size 8 jeans! Yes, size 8! You heard me right. I had two pairs of jeans that I had bought over the last couple of months, one was a size 12 and the other was a size 10. Lately, the only ones I have been wearing were the 10s because the 12s were just getting too big. I am very fortunate that I get to wear jeans to work. Well, one pair of jeans just wasn't cutting it. So Jack and I headed to JC Penney's to pick up another pair. I really am trying to avoid shopping until I reach my goal weight, but it was driving me crazy wearing the same jeans day in and day out, so I figured one more pair would be fine.
Well, we picked out all of the styles of Levi's that have a high waist (yeah, those hip-hugger jeans never worked on me and never will!) and I decided to try on 8s and 10s, just for fun. The 8s fit! I couldn't believe it. Admittedly, they are snug, but I know they will fit perfectly when I lose this last 10 pounds, so instead of buying one pair we bought 3. So the blue-jean portion of my shopping extravaganza has been completed a little early and I couldn't be happier!! Yeah me!! A size 8!! Whoo Hoo!!!!
And, just for fun, I am going to post one more photo...of me, of course...same day, different story. This is a picture of me...
...after completing my 4 mile run. In 40 minutes!! Yes, I ran four 10 minute miles in a row! I was so exhilarated! That is why I have that kind of crazed look in my eyes. It's kind of still there in the first photo I posted, too, which was taken not too much longer after this one. Jack and I had a busy day yesterday, running errands, doing chores, practicing our bowling, etc... and then we had that party to go to last night and by the time we got home from running errands we only had an hour left and I hadn't exercised yet. So I decided to squeeze in a 4 mile run. In 45 minutes. As soon as my first foot hit the pavement I realized the error I had made in my calculation. Wait a minute, I said to myself, 4 miles in 45 minutes, that's practically 10 minute miles. I'm going to have to run fast to get this done in time for me to take a shower and still make it to the party on time. So I started out on a pace that felt like the 10K/hour pace I had done on the treadmill in Macau and decided that I was going to try to keep that pace for the entire 4 miles. Except for the big hills, and there are two on this route, I managed to maintain the pace, even on the up-hill grades. It felt pretty damn good! When I ran through the front door and checked the clock and saw that it took exactly 40 minutes for me to run 4 miles I was thrilled!!! Wow!! It wasn't too long ago that 4 miles took an hour, and it wasn't too much longer before that that I was walking most of 4 miles. I am starting to feel pretty good about my physical fitness accomplishments! Just think, in 7 or 8 months I'll be blogging about completing my first triathlon. How much fun is that going to be?!?!
It's been a big 24 hours!! First, I tried on several different styles of size 8 jeans and they all fit!! Second, I ran 4 miles in 40 minutes, my fastest pace ever! And third, I weighed less than 160 pounds this morning. I am so jazzed and so pumped right now I feel like I could jump through the roof. I know I have 9.4 pounds to go, but I know I'll make it. I'll hit another plateau or two along the way, that is a certainty, but I know I'll make it. My chart has been a lot bumpier this last month, but the trend is still going the right way and I know I'll make it. In relatively short order, too. By my original goal date, for certain, and maybe even by the end of the year. That's another reason to be happy about the low-key holidays this year. It will be much easier to stay on track through the holidays without a lot of company or traveling for the holidays.
So here's to the final stretch!! Thanks for sticking with me throughout this journey!!
Morning Exercise: None yet - Jack and I are thinking about doing a long hike today, but he wasn't feeling very well yesterday afternoon or evening. If he is not up for the hike I'll go for a bike ride or a swim. Probably a bike ride. It is supposed to be a beautiful day today.
Yesterday Evening's Exercise: 4 mile run - 40 minutes!
Yesterday's Calories: 1395
Vitamins: 1-A-Day, D, B-Complex, Calcium, Glucosamine
I have three pieces of exciting news to blog about today. The first bit? I broke the 160lb barrier!!! This morning I weighed 159.4 pounds!! I only have 9.4 pounds left to lose to reach my goal weight. I am so excited. After weighing 160.4 for a couple of days in a row I started to believe that I was actually going to get into the 150s by today or tomorrow, and it came to pass this morning. I even dreamt about marking my chart below 160 last night. I need to pinch myself to make sure I am awake and that this is real.
Last night a friend of ours had a graduation party at a local bar and grill. This would be a perfect opportunity to eat and drink the wrong things too late at night. Being this close to goal, that was not going to happen! Jack and I ate dinner before we left for the party and just drank water. We had a good time, playing darts and pool with friends, and didn't spend a dime at the bar, except for the quarters we used in the dart board and pool table. I thought it was cool that she had the party at a place that was holding a benefit for Safe Home and she asked us to bring an unwrapped toy to donate rather than bring a gift for her. We had fun shopping for the toys at Target yesterday and were happy to support Tam's favorite charity. Great idea, Tam!
Speaking of the party, here is a picture of me dressed up and ready to go...
 |
| 11/17/2012 - 38 Weeks and 63.6 pounds |
...in my size 8 jeans! Yes, size 8! You heard me right. I had two pairs of jeans that I had bought over the last couple of months, one was a size 12 and the other was a size 10. Lately, the only ones I have been wearing were the 10s because the 12s were just getting too big. I am very fortunate that I get to wear jeans to work. Well, one pair of jeans just wasn't cutting it. So Jack and I headed to JC Penney's to pick up another pair. I really am trying to avoid shopping until I reach my goal weight, but it was driving me crazy wearing the same jeans day in and day out, so I figured one more pair would be fine.
Well, we picked out all of the styles of Levi's that have a high waist (yeah, those hip-hugger jeans never worked on me and never will!) and I decided to try on 8s and 10s, just for fun. The 8s fit! I couldn't believe it. Admittedly, they are snug, but I know they will fit perfectly when I lose this last 10 pounds, so instead of buying one pair we bought 3. So the blue-jean portion of my shopping extravaganza has been completed a little early and I couldn't be happier!! Yeah me!! A size 8!! Whoo Hoo!!!!
And, just for fun, I am going to post one more photo...of me, of course...same day, different story. This is a picture of me...
 |
| 11/17/12 |
It's been a big 24 hours!! First, I tried on several different styles of size 8 jeans and they all fit!! Second, I ran 4 miles in 40 minutes, my fastest pace ever! And third, I weighed less than 160 pounds this morning. I am so jazzed and so pumped right now I feel like I could jump through the roof. I know I have 9.4 pounds to go, but I know I'll make it. I'll hit another plateau or two along the way, that is a certainty, but I know I'll make it. My chart has been a lot bumpier this last month, but the trend is still going the right way and I know I'll make it. In relatively short order, too. By my original goal date, for certain, and maybe even by the end of the year. That's another reason to be happy about the low-key holidays this year. It will be much easier to stay on track through the holidays without a lot of company or traveling for the holidays.
So here's to the final stretch!! Thanks for sticking with me throughout this journey!!
Saturday, November 17, 2012
11/17/2012: Survived a Dinner With Nary a Scratch
Morning Weight: 160.6
Morning Exercise: None - Will run mid-afternoon. I like the mid-afternoon runs on the weekends.
Yesterday Evening's Exercise: None - Work related dinner
Yesterday's Calories: 1425
Vitamins: 1-A-Day, D, B-Complex, Calcium, Glucosamine
Last night Jack and I attended a work related dinner welcoming our new Production Manager into the management team at Castle Creations. We went to Ya Ya's and, of course, appetizers, salads, main courses and desserts were ordered. And don't forget the wine and beer. My dinners of late have been really light, with most of my calories consumed earlier in the day. I find it makes my weight loss more predictable if I stay away from eating very much after about 6:00 in the evening. So I was kind of anxious about this meal out with fellow managers. I was so excited yesterday about weighing only 160.6 pounds, I didn't want to do anything to blow it. I am so close to the 150somethings! On the other hand, I'd have to eat something at this dinner. It all worked out OK in the end.
When appetizers were being order I threw in an order for beets, so while everyone else was eating bruschetta and fried lemony palenta balls (I know, right? Fried palenta? Oh, let's take a simple carb and make it worse by frying it!!) I was eating beets. That worked out just fine. In fact, one other person at the table that came late was a big beet fan. He was pleased to see the beets.
I also had a spinach salad. All of the salads had high calorie toppings but I just pushed most of the dried cranberries and chopped nuts to the side. For dinner I had scallops with asparagus and risotto. Luckily, I really like scallops and consider them a treat and most nice restaurants offer a scallop dish as an alternative to all the large, high calorie meat dishes. The scallop entree was quite reasonable with three large scallops, some asparagus and a wilted green of some sort, and risotto, all in some sort of light slightly cheesy sauce. The sauce was mostly mixed up in the risotto, which I tasted but didn't eat much of. The scallops were well cooked and delicious, and are very low in calories. I picked the veggies out of the risotto and ate them. All in all, it was a reasonable and tasty entree that I could enjoy while everyone else was over-eating on their hunks of meat. The table ordered dessert and my darling husband asked me which one I wanted a bite of. That works out so well! He orders dessert, I have a bite because I am always curious what the desserts taste like, and he eats the rest. My best guess for calories for my dinner out is 465 calories. Not bad! And I drank tons of water, no beer and no wine. All of the water made me feel very full by the time we left.
I was still worried about weighing more this morning because we ate later than I normally eat, so I was relieved when I got on the scale this morning and weighed exactly what I weighed yesterday morning. I consider that a win!!
Tonight we have another event. A friend of ours just received her college diploma and is celebrating at a local bar and grill. That event doesn't start until 7:30, though, and it's friends, not co-workers. So I will eat before we leave for the event and just drink water while we're there. If we're lucky, the band will be good and Jack and I will do a bit of dancing. That would be fun!! My friends may give me a little shit about not eating, but I don't really care about that. That will not be nearly as awkward as not eating at a work related dinner event would be. I think tonight will be fine.
What I am hoping for is to be at 159 (or at the very least 159.something) by the time I mark my chart on Monday. I think it is doable!! I am getting pretty excited about getting this close to goal!!
On another note, I am meeting my old trainer, Jeremy Walters, on Wednesday morning. It is looking really likely that I will switch gyms so that I can start working out with him again. It would actually be cheaper to join the new gym (and it is a brand new gym with racquetball courts and everything!) and train with him and keep my 24hour fitness membership (so I can use the pool - the new gym does not have a pool) than to just belong to 24hour fitness and use one of their trainers. Jack and I have been looking for someplace to play racquetball, so this may be a win-win. We meet with Jeremy at 8:00 Wednesday morning and check it out. I still have 7 sessions left with Jeremy Wallen at 24hour, but I will use those up, too. The new gym, Aspen, has a special on Black Friday, if you sign up for a training session on Black Friday, you lock in a $25/half hour personal training rate for life. That's a good price. So if we like what we see, I'll buy a couple of sessions on Black Friday, then use up my sessions with J Wallen, and then start training with J Walters again. I look forward to that. I have really missed working out with Jeremy. He is good at what he does. This biggest difference between the two? I'd have to say that it is the fact the Jeremy Walters cares about his clients.
OK, that's it for now. Jack is at the grocery store shopping for Thanksgiving dinner and I need to clean up the kitchen and straighten out the fridge and pantry before he comes home.
Have a great weekend!!!!
Morning Exercise: None - Will run mid-afternoon. I like the mid-afternoon runs on the weekends.
Yesterday Evening's Exercise: None - Work related dinner
Yesterday's Calories: 1425
Vitamins: 1-A-Day, D, B-Complex, Calcium, Glucosamine
Last night Jack and I attended a work related dinner welcoming our new Production Manager into the management team at Castle Creations. We went to Ya Ya's and, of course, appetizers, salads, main courses and desserts were ordered. And don't forget the wine and beer. My dinners of late have been really light, with most of my calories consumed earlier in the day. I find it makes my weight loss more predictable if I stay away from eating very much after about 6:00 in the evening. So I was kind of anxious about this meal out with fellow managers. I was so excited yesterday about weighing only 160.6 pounds, I didn't want to do anything to blow it. I am so close to the 150somethings! On the other hand, I'd have to eat something at this dinner. It all worked out OK in the end.
When appetizers were being order I threw in an order for beets, so while everyone else was eating bruschetta and fried lemony palenta balls (I know, right? Fried palenta? Oh, let's take a simple carb and make it worse by frying it!!) I was eating beets. That worked out just fine. In fact, one other person at the table that came late was a big beet fan. He was pleased to see the beets.
I also had a spinach salad. All of the salads had high calorie toppings but I just pushed most of the dried cranberries and chopped nuts to the side. For dinner I had scallops with asparagus and risotto. Luckily, I really like scallops and consider them a treat and most nice restaurants offer a scallop dish as an alternative to all the large, high calorie meat dishes. The scallop entree was quite reasonable with three large scallops, some asparagus and a wilted green of some sort, and risotto, all in some sort of light slightly cheesy sauce. The sauce was mostly mixed up in the risotto, which I tasted but didn't eat much of. The scallops were well cooked and delicious, and are very low in calories. I picked the veggies out of the risotto and ate them. All in all, it was a reasonable and tasty entree that I could enjoy while everyone else was over-eating on their hunks of meat. The table ordered dessert and my darling husband asked me which one I wanted a bite of. That works out so well! He orders dessert, I have a bite because I am always curious what the desserts taste like, and he eats the rest. My best guess for calories for my dinner out is 465 calories. Not bad! And I drank tons of water, no beer and no wine. All of the water made me feel very full by the time we left.
I was still worried about weighing more this morning because we ate later than I normally eat, so I was relieved when I got on the scale this morning and weighed exactly what I weighed yesterday morning. I consider that a win!!
Tonight we have another event. A friend of ours just received her college diploma and is celebrating at a local bar and grill. That event doesn't start until 7:30, though, and it's friends, not co-workers. So I will eat before we leave for the event and just drink water while we're there. If we're lucky, the band will be good and Jack and I will do a bit of dancing. That would be fun!! My friends may give me a little shit about not eating, but I don't really care about that. That will not be nearly as awkward as not eating at a work related dinner event would be. I think tonight will be fine.
What I am hoping for is to be at 159 (or at the very least 159.something) by the time I mark my chart on Monday. I think it is doable!! I am getting pretty excited about getting this close to goal!!
On another note, I am meeting my old trainer, Jeremy Walters, on Wednesday morning. It is looking really likely that I will switch gyms so that I can start working out with him again. It would actually be cheaper to join the new gym (and it is a brand new gym with racquetball courts and everything!) and train with him and keep my 24hour fitness membership (so I can use the pool - the new gym does not have a pool) than to just belong to 24hour fitness and use one of their trainers. Jack and I have been looking for someplace to play racquetball, so this may be a win-win. We meet with Jeremy at 8:00 Wednesday morning and check it out. I still have 7 sessions left with Jeremy Wallen at 24hour, but I will use those up, too. The new gym, Aspen, has a special on Black Friday, if you sign up for a training session on Black Friday, you lock in a $25/half hour personal training rate for life. That's a good price. So if we like what we see, I'll buy a couple of sessions on Black Friday, then use up my sessions with J Wallen, and then start training with J Walters again. I look forward to that. I have really missed working out with Jeremy. He is good at what he does. This biggest difference between the two? I'd have to say that it is the fact the Jeremy Walters cares about his clients.
OK, that's it for now. Jack is at the grocery store shopping for Thanksgiving dinner and I need to clean up the kitchen and straighten out the fridge and pantry before he comes home.
Have a great weekend!!!!
Friday, November 16, 2012
11/16/2012: Inching Closer to the One-Fifties
Morning Weight: 160.6
Morning Exercise: Strength training
Yesterday Evening's Exercise: None - I didn't get home from work until after 8:30.
Yesterday's Calories: 1440
Vitamins: 1-A-Day, D, B-Complex, Calcium, Glucosamine
Any day now I'll be into the single digits and have less than 10 more pounds to lose. I mark my chart again on Monday. Maybe I'll be to 159 by then. That would be cool.
It's hard to believe that I have been this successful and that I am getting this close to my goal weight. Eight months ago this task seemed so daunting, but by having a plan, sticking to it, and focusing on each individual day I've been able to stay on task. Blogging has helped considerably. When I sit down to write it helps me collect my thoughts and recap my previous day. It forces me to be honest with myself about what I did well and what I could have done better. It's also when I press the reset button. Each time I sit down to blog I'm reinforcing my goals and thinking about my plan for the new day. It has helped tremendously with reminding me to take my vitamins. At first, I wouldn't think about my vitamins until I was putting up my stats from the previous day. Now I remember my vitamins the second I think about walking to the computer to write my daily blog entry. Maybe someday I'll be able to remember my vitamins without blogging about them. Perhaps they'll become as much a habit as exercise. Only time will tell, I guess.
It has become impossible to not exercise. I had lunch with Brenda, one of the primary owners of Castle Creations, yesterday. She wants to get into the habit of exercising daily but she was talking about how much she hated to exercise. She reminded me of me so much, when early on in this process I complained practically incessantly about how much I hated to exercise. I'll never forget the day it was pointed out to me how much I was sabotaging myself by all of the negative self-talk about disliking exercise. That was a turning point for me. From that day forward I have tried keep a positive attitude towards exercise. A funny thing happened along the way. I stopped hating it. And sometimes I even kind of like it. The words we speak to ourselves and others really do make a difference.
The other big change has been my relationship with food. It has become much less important to me. I don't think about eating very much and when I do think about eating it is usually in the terms of calories and fuel. What portion of my daily allotment of fuel (calories) should I consume with this meal?, is usually the question I ask myself. This detachment from food has made this process much easier for me. I truly believe to be successful at losing weight and maintaining long-term weight loss, one has to lose their obsession with food. I just don't care about it much, anymore. There are some down sides, like my husband does not get nearly as many home cooked meals. It's not unusual for dinner to be a light snack of some kind. But the less I care about food as something that I enjoy and brings me comfort, the more I gravitate to food that is easy, healthy, and nourishes me with the least amount of effort. There are so many other things to enjoy in life. Food does not need to be a source of pleasure. In a way, food as a source of pleasure is almost too easy. There are so many ways to enjoy life - many of them require moving your body, stretching your imagination, or taxing your mind - yet they require effort. Hmmm...I have never really thought about it that way before. I need to let that idea simmer for while...
My weakness is still sweets. Obviously, I count my calories and that limits the sweets I can eat, but I do have two sweets of choice. The first is dark chocolate that is at least 80% Cacao. I read over and over again that dark chocolate has some substantial health benefits. I buy the big bars and have a serving (about 1/3 of a bar) or a half serving on most days. I like it because it is so chocolaty that a little bit satisfies my desire for chocolate for the day. I don't let myself chew it, I stick a square in my mouth and let it melt. That way I am truly enjoying the flavor and texture of the chocolate and it lasts a while. A serving is about 200 calories. The other sweet that I indulge in with some regularity is tootsie pops. One tootsie pop has 60 calories, but it lasts a long time. It's usually right after a meal that I want one, when I am not feeling quite satisfied. Again, I try not to bite them, so they last a long time and by the time it is gone I feel sated and satisfied. And it's only 60 calories.
The down side of my little sweet treats is that I worry that it keeps my sweet tooth alive. There are studies out there that talk about how bad sweets are for us. There is even one article that I read that talks about how sugar makes us stupid. Sometimes I think I should give up the tootsie pops, if not the dark chocolate (which really does seem to have some redeeming qualities), but at the same time being able to pop a tootsie pop in my mouth often keeps me from reaching for other foods that would result in a lot more calories a lot more quickly.
So, the big changes in the last 8 months? I am enjoying my exercise a lot more and I always, always, always do it. (Except when I intentionally take rest days, of course.) I no longer care very much about food. For the most part, it's fuel, and thinking about, preparing, and eating food is no longer a significant part of my daily life.
10.6 pounds to go. I'm going to make it!! What a journey this has been!
Morning Exercise: Strength training
Yesterday Evening's Exercise: None - I didn't get home from work until after 8:30.
Yesterday's Calories: 1440
Vitamins: 1-A-Day, D, B-Complex, Calcium, Glucosamine
Any day now I'll be into the single digits and have less than 10 more pounds to lose. I mark my chart again on Monday. Maybe I'll be to 159 by then. That would be cool.
It's hard to believe that I have been this successful and that I am getting this close to my goal weight. Eight months ago this task seemed so daunting, but by having a plan, sticking to it, and focusing on each individual day I've been able to stay on task. Blogging has helped considerably. When I sit down to write it helps me collect my thoughts and recap my previous day. It forces me to be honest with myself about what I did well and what I could have done better. It's also when I press the reset button. Each time I sit down to blog I'm reinforcing my goals and thinking about my plan for the new day. It has helped tremendously with reminding me to take my vitamins. At first, I wouldn't think about my vitamins until I was putting up my stats from the previous day. Now I remember my vitamins the second I think about walking to the computer to write my daily blog entry. Maybe someday I'll be able to remember my vitamins without blogging about them. Perhaps they'll become as much a habit as exercise. Only time will tell, I guess.
It has become impossible to not exercise. I had lunch with Brenda, one of the primary owners of Castle Creations, yesterday. She wants to get into the habit of exercising daily but she was talking about how much she hated to exercise. She reminded me of me so much, when early on in this process I complained practically incessantly about how much I hated to exercise. I'll never forget the day it was pointed out to me how much I was sabotaging myself by all of the negative self-talk about disliking exercise. That was a turning point for me. From that day forward I have tried keep a positive attitude towards exercise. A funny thing happened along the way. I stopped hating it. And sometimes I even kind of like it. The words we speak to ourselves and others really do make a difference.
The other big change has been my relationship with food. It has become much less important to me. I don't think about eating very much and when I do think about eating it is usually in the terms of calories and fuel. What portion of my daily allotment of fuel (calories) should I consume with this meal?, is usually the question I ask myself. This detachment from food has made this process much easier for me. I truly believe to be successful at losing weight and maintaining long-term weight loss, one has to lose their obsession with food. I just don't care about it much, anymore. There are some down sides, like my husband does not get nearly as many home cooked meals. It's not unusual for dinner to be a light snack of some kind. But the less I care about food as something that I enjoy and brings me comfort, the more I gravitate to food that is easy, healthy, and nourishes me with the least amount of effort. There are so many other things to enjoy in life. Food does not need to be a source of pleasure. In a way, food as a source of pleasure is almost too easy. There are so many ways to enjoy life - many of them require moving your body, stretching your imagination, or taxing your mind - yet they require effort. Hmmm...I have never really thought about it that way before. I need to let that idea simmer for while...
My weakness is still sweets. Obviously, I count my calories and that limits the sweets I can eat, but I do have two sweets of choice. The first is dark chocolate that is at least 80% Cacao. I read over and over again that dark chocolate has some substantial health benefits. I buy the big bars and have a serving (about 1/3 of a bar) or a half serving on most days. I like it because it is so chocolaty that a little bit satisfies my desire for chocolate for the day. I don't let myself chew it, I stick a square in my mouth and let it melt. That way I am truly enjoying the flavor and texture of the chocolate and it lasts a while. A serving is about 200 calories. The other sweet that I indulge in with some regularity is tootsie pops. One tootsie pop has 60 calories, but it lasts a long time. It's usually right after a meal that I want one, when I am not feeling quite satisfied. Again, I try not to bite them, so they last a long time and by the time it is gone I feel sated and satisfied. And it's only 60 calories.
The down side of my little sweet treats is that I worry that it keeps my sweet tooth alive. There are studies out there that talk about how bad sweets are for us. There is even one article that I read that talks about how sugar makes us stupid. Sometimes I think I should give up the tootsie pops, if not the dark chocolate (which really does seem to have some redeeming qualities), but at the same time being able to pop a tootsie pop in my mouth often keeps me from reaching for other foods that would result in a lot more calories a lot more quickly.
So, the big changes in the last 8 months? I am enjoying my exercise a lot more and I always, always, always do it. (Except when I intentionally take rest days, of course.) I no longer care very much about food. For the most part, it's fuel, and thinking about, preparing, and eating food is no longer a significant part of my daily life.
10.6 pounds to go. I'm going to make it!! What a journey this has been!
Thursday, November 15, 2012
11/15/2012: Easy Come, Easy Go
Morning Weight: 162.2
Morning Exercise: Cardio Day: 24 minutes on stairmaster - 119 floors (5 minutes level 7, 5 minutes level 8, 5 minutes level 9, 5 minutes level 10, 2 minutes level 11, 2 minutes level 7), 1500 meters (8 minutes) on row machine, 15 minutes on stationary bike, level 10
Yesterday Evening's Exercise: Bowling
Yesterday's Calories: 1570
Vitamins: 1-A-Day, D, B-Complex, Calcium, Glucosamine
I've lost the pound I gained while in China, plus another two-tenths of a pound. Woo Hoo!! I'm creeping towards those 150s, slowly but surely!! It feels good, it truly does.
Last night was bowling night and I usually take Thursdays off, since I am up late the night before. This week I decided to exercise on Thursday morning because I didn't exercise on Monday or Tuesday. I diligently set my alarm last night and when it went off this morning I hit snooze. Then I hit it again when it went off in what seemed like 5 seconds later. The third time the alarm went off I decided sleep was going to win this battle and that I would exercise this evening. Then, of course, I couldn't fall back asleep. It just kept bugging me that I ought to go to the gym. So I did. And it felt good. Chalk one up to good habits.
I pushed it harder on the stairmaster today, increasing the level every 5 minutes until I did 5 minutes at level 10 and then 2 minutes at level 11. Similar to the day that I increased my speed on the treadmill last week, increasing my speed on the stairmaster made the workout more interesting and it seemed to go by faster. It was much harder, but more fun, in some strange way. I also increased the intensity levels of the row machine and stationary bike. It was a good work out today.
This Thanksgiving it is going to be just me and Jack for dinner. We ordered the smallest turkey we could get and Jack is going to cook it on the Weber. We're going to just make our few favorite dishes and keep things traditional, simple, and easy. As much as I will miss family, I am glad for the low key holiday this year. It's been a busy, busy, busy few months with a lot of change and I'm really not up for holiday traveling or entertaining family. I mean, I could do it and would do it if family were already planning on coming, but I'm kind of glad to have this time off and just spend it with my sweetheart. Jack has Tuesday and Wednesday off next week. I took off Wednesday. So we'll have five whole days to relax and get caught up. I hope the weather is nice. Maybe we'll do some hiking. We'll see what rolls our way next week.
Morning Exercise: Cardio Day: 24 minutes on stairmaster - 119 floors (5 minutes level 7, 5 minutes level 8, 5 minutes level 9, 5 minutes level 10, 2 minutes level 11, 2 minutes level 7), 1500 meters (8 minutes) on row machine, 15 minutes on stationary bike, level 10
Yesterday Evening's Exercise: Bowling
Yesterday's Calories: 1570
Vitamins: 1-A-Day, D, B-Complex, Calcium, Glucosamine
I've lost the pound I gained while in China, plus another two-tenths of a pound. Woo Hoo!! I'm creeping towards those 150s, slowly but surely!! It feels good, it truly does.
Last night was bowling night and I usually take Thursdays off, since I am up late the night before. This week I decided to exercise on Thursday morning because I didn't exercise on Monday or Tuesday. I diligently set my alarm last night and when it went off this morning I hit snooze. Then I hit it again when it went off in what seemed like 5 seconds later. The third time the alarm went off I decided sleep was going to win this battle and that I would exercise this evening. Then, of course, I couldn't fall back asleep. It just kept bugging me that I ought to go to the gym. So I did. And it felt good. Chalk one up to good habits.
I pushed it harder on the stairmaster today, increasing the level every 5 minutes until I did 5 minutes at level 10 and then 2 minutes at level 11. Similar to the day that I increased my speed on the treadmill last week, increasing my speed on the stairmaster made the workout more interesting and it seemed to go by faster. It was much harder, but more fun, in some strange way. I also increased the intensity levels of the row machine and stationary bike. It was a good work out today.
This Thanksgiving it is going to be just me and Jack for dinner. We ordered the smallest turkey we could get and Jack is going to cook it on the Weber. We're going to just make our few favorite dishes and keep things traditional, simple, and easy. As much as I will miss family, I am glad for the low key holiday this year. It's been a busy, busy, busy few months with a lot of change and I'm really not up for holiday traveling or entertaining family. I mean, I could do it and would do it if family were already planning on coming, but I'm kind of glad to have this time off and just spend it with my sweetheart. Jack has Tuesday and Wednesday off next week. I took off Wednesday. So we'll have five whole days to relax and get caught up. I hope the weather is nice. Maybe we'll do some hiking. We'll see what rolls our way next week.
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
11/14/2012: Picture Time!
It's been so long since I posted a photo I asked Jack to take one when I got home from work today.
Here I am!!
Here I am!!
 |
| 11/14/2012, 37.5 Weeks and 60.6 pounds later. |
11/14/2012: I'm Back!!
Morning Weight: 163.4
Morning Exercise: Strength training with personal trainer
Yesterday Evening's Exercise: None - took a couple of days of rest after getting home from China
Yesterday's Calories: didn't count them
Vitamins: 1-A-Day, D, B-Complex, Calcium, Glucosamine
OK, I'm back. Officially.
I got home from China late Sunday afternoon and have spent the last couple of days recovering. Today I got up early and worked out with my trainer. It's time to get back on track!!
If you've been paying attention you'll notice that I am a pound heavier than I was on the morning I left for China. This is not too terribly surprising, in spite of the fact that I worked my ass off at the gym while I was there. The travel days are the killers!!
I packed a lot of healthy snacks; Luna Bars, almonds, and prunes, along with my extra dark (85% cacao) chocolate bars. I also asked for bottled water in the conference room of the factory. With plenty of water and the snacks, I did a much better job managing my food while in China. The days are rough. They start with a meeting over breakfast which usually starts at nine and lasts a couple of hours. Breakfast is at the hotel and it is an American/European style breakfast buffet with a hot food station. So I can get my eggs, whole wheat toast, and fresh fruit for breakfast. Unfortunately, as we are sitting there for two hours and breakfast time turns into lunch time I am usually tempted by the banana nut bread or the small pastries. Limiting my calories at breakfast while in China is made more difficult by the fact that we are eating breakfast so late, by the time I get to breakfast I am really hungry. At home, I eat breakfast at about 6:00. In China, breakfast doesn't start until 9:00. Of course, I am getting up later, too. My typical day while staying at the hotel starts at 6:30 with an hour at the hotel gym, instead of 4:30, here. I also tend to eat a little more at breakfast because I know there won't be a lunch, because breakfast goes so late. So my breakfasts ended up being bigger than normal (probably by 300-400 calories) and lunch was skipped.
After breakfast we'd go to the factory for a day of working and meetings. Usually "lunch" was brought in around 5:00 in the afternoon, which I always passed on because it was some form of fast food. There is always fresh fruit in the conference room and I would eat that during the day, have a Luna Bar around 3:00 in the afternoon, and a handful of almonds if I got too hungry before dinner. Then, after working all day, everyone would cap off the day with a big dinner at about 8:30 in the evening. I never got back to my hotel room before 10:30 at night. The days were absolutely exhausting. Eating dinner that late at night was rough, but this is where my snacks really helped. I was prepared for the weird eating schedule and would make sure I ate my healthy snacks. By dinner time I was never very hungry and food is always ordered for the table, not for individuals. Therefore it was very easy to just take a little bit of the dishes that were healthy, predominately protein and veggies, without looking like I was picking at my food. For the most part, I did not overeat at dinner. One of the difficulties is the water. You can't drink the tap water in China, so when going to a restaurant you can't drink the water. Everyone drinks beer or soda. Most of the time I would remember to bring a bottle of water with me to the restaurant, which helped a lot. When I'd forget to bring water with me, I'd drink a lot of green tea. It's not the same, but it didn't make me sick, either.
I exercised hard while I was there, alternating cardio/tread mill days with strength training days. I used the hotel strength training routine that Jeremy Walters put together for me when Jack and I went on our vacation. It kicked my ass, again!! I was diligent and worked out every single day that we were there, with the exception of Sunday, which was the day we left for home. We had to leave the hotel at 6:20 in the morning and the gym doesn't open until 6:00. But that was the only day I didn't exercise. I feel pretty good about that. One of the days on the treadmill I wasn't looking forward to the 75 minutes it would take to do my 6.4 miles, so I decided to run for an hour and pick up the pace instead. I ran for 10 minutes at 8km/hour (my normal pace), 10 minutes at 9km/hour, 10 minutes at 10km/hour, then back to 8km/hour for 10 minutes, then 9 for ten and back to 8 for ten. It felt good to speed it up. It made the time go by faster for some reason.
All in all, I did well on my plan while in China. My food wasn't perfect, but it was reasonable. I exercised hard. I drank plenty of water and got as much sleep as I could. I felt good about all of that. What wasn't good were my travel days, both there and back. The travel days are long, about 24 hours, door to door, with 16 of those hours in the air. It is incredibly difficult for me to not over-eat on those days. I start out strong, with a plan to eat only healthy food and snacks, but I am so bored and uncomfortable on the plane that I end up eating whatever they put in front of me. In addition to that, while on the ground between flights, we eat again. None of the food is any good, nutritionally, nor does it taste good, but for some reason I eat it anyway. I can't even judge how much I ought to eat, considering the fact that I am awake for about 30 hours. Does that count as two days worth of calories, or one? I've given up on even thinking about it and have decided travel days are free days and I am just not going to worry about it. Thankfully, that does not screw me up too much on the way there. Staying on track in China is so difficult that I am ultra-committed to it. That commitment makes it relatively easy to not let my day of reckless travel eating bleed into the first day we are in China. Coming home is a different story. By the time I get home I am exhausted both mentally and physically. It's hard to get back into the routine of healthy eating and exercising. This time around I took Monday and Tuesday off. I didn't exercise and I didn't count calories. I wasn't terrible about the food, but I wasn't good either. It didn't help that Carla baked cookies to take to Drew's mother's house and left a tin here for Jack and me. I ate several of them Monday evening and two of them for breakfast on Tuesday morning. Then I made Jack take the rest to work so I wouldn't eat any more of them.
Today, I am back on track. I got back to the gym this morning and I am counting calories again. Yes, I am one pound heavier than I was when I left, but only 1 pound. I can deal with that. Here is a photo of my chart that I took this morning:
I am short a couple of photos. I did not take Sunday photos the last two weekends because of the trip to China. I will make sure to take one this weekend.
You can see the bumps in the road caused by my China trips. At least this one wasn't as bad as my first trip!
On the way home I sat next to a guy that does a lot of tri's and other races. He was excited to learn that I am training for my first triathlon. We had a great conversation about training and exercising and it got me all pumped up about the triathlon that Ruth and I are going to do this summer! It's fun to get excited about doing things that are good for me!!
I am grateful for my plan and for my chart. I am proud of how far I've come since February 27th and I know I will reach my goal weight of 150 pounds. I have no idea when I'll reach it, but I'll reach it. These last 12-13 pounds are going to be a series of stair-steps, of that I am certain. How broad each step will be will depend on how many times I need to go to China between now and the time I reach my goal. But I'll get there. I am committed to this and nothing is going to stop me, not even this nutty travel schedule, though it may slow me down!! I'm looking forward to seeing 150 on that scale and the mega-shopping spree that is going to follow!!
Morning Exercise: Strength training with personal trainer
Yesterday Evening's Exercise: None - took a couple of days of rest after getting home from China
Yesterday's Calories: didn't count them
Vitamins: 1-A-Day, D, B-Complex, Calcium, Glucosamine
OK, I'm back. Officially.
I got home from China late Sunday afternoon and have spent the last couple of days recovering. Today I got up early and worked out with my trainer. It's time to get back on track!!
If you've been paying attention you'll notice that I am a pound heavier than I was on the morning I left for China. This is not too terribly surprising, in spite of the fact that I worked my ass off at the gym while I was there. The travel days are the killers!!
I packed a lot of healthy snacks; Luna Bars, almonds, and prunes, along with my extra dark (85% cacao) chocolate bars. I also asked for bottled water in the conference room of the factory. With plenty of water and the snacks, I did a much better job managing my food while in China. The days are rough. They start with a meeting over breakfast which usually starts at nine and lasts a couple of hours. Breakfast is at the hotel and it is an American/European style breakfast buffet with a hot food station. So I can get my eggs, whole wheat toast, and fresh fruit for breakfast. Unfortunately, as we are sitting there for two hours and breakfast time turns into lunch time I am usually tempted by the banana nut bread or the small pastries. Limiting my calories at breakfast while in China is made more difficult by the fact that we are eating breakfast so late, by the time I get to breakfast I am really hungry. At home, I eat breakfast at about 6:00. In China, breakfast doesn't start until 9:00. Of course, I am getting up later, too. My typical day while staying at the hotel starts at 6:30 with an hour at the hotel gym, instead of 4:30, here. I also tend to eat a little more at breakfast because I know there won't be a lunch, because breakfast goes so late. So my breakfasts ended up being bigger than normal (probably by 300-400 calories) and lunch was skipped.
After breakfast we'd go to the factory for a day of working and meetings. Usually "lunch" was brought in around 5:00 in the afternoon, which I always passed on because it was some form of fast food. There is always fresh fruit in the conference room and I would eat that during the day, have a Luna Bar around 3:00 in the afternoon, and a handful of almonds if I got too hungry before dinner. Then, after working all day, everyone would cap off the day with a big dinner at about 8:30 in the evening. I never got back to my hotel room before 10:30 at night. The days were absolutely exhausting. Eating dinner that late at night was rough, but this is where my snacks really helped. I was prepared for the weird eating schedule and would make sure I ate my healthy snacks. By dinner time I was never very hungry and food is always ordered for the table, not for individuals. Therefore it was very easy to just take a little bit of the dishes that were healthy, predominately protein and veggies, without looking like I was picking at my food. For the most part, I did not overeat at dinner. One of the difficulties is the water. You can't drink the tap water in China, so when going to a restaurant you can't drink the water. Everyone drinks beer or soda. Most of the time I would remember to bring a bottle of water with me to the restaurant, which helped a lot. When I'd forget to bring water with me, I'd drink a lot of green tea. It's not the same, but it didn't make me sick, either.
I exercised hard while I was there, alternating cardio/tread mill days with strength training days. I used the hotel strength training routine that Jeremy Walters put together for me when Jack and I went on our vacation. It kicked my ass, again!! I was diligent and worked out every single day that we were there, with the exception of Sunday, which was the day we left for home. We had to leave the hotel at 6:20 in the morning and the gym doesn't open until 6:00. But that was the only day I didn't exercise. I feel pretty good about that. One of the days on the treadmill I wasn't looking forward to the 75 minutes it would take to do my 6.4 miles, so I decided to run for an hour and pick up the pace instead. I ran for 10 minutes at 8km/hour (my normal pace), 10 minutes at 9km/hour, 10 minutes at 10km/hour, then back to 8km/hour for 10 minutes, then 9 for ten and back to 8 for ten. It felt good to speed it up. It made the time go by faster for some reason.
All in all, I did well on my plan while in China. My food wasn't perfect, but it was reasonable. I exercised hard. I drank plenty of water and got as much sleep as I could. I felt good about all of that. What wasn't good were my travel days, both there and back. The travel days are long, about 24 hours, door to door, with 16 of those hours in the air. It is incredibly difficult for me to not over-eat on those days. I start out strong, with a plan to eat only healthy food and snacks, but I am so bored and uncomfortable on the plane that I end up eating whatever they put in front of me. In addition to that, while on the ground between flights, we eat again. None of the food is any good, nutritionally, nor does it taste good, but for some reason I eat it anyway. I can't even judge how much I ought to eat, considering the fact that I am awake for about 30 hours. Does that count as two days worth of calories, or one? I've given up on even thinking about it and have decided travel days are free days and I am just not going to worry about it. Thankfully, that does not screw me up too much on the way there. Staying on track in China is so difficult that I am ultra-committed to it. That commitment makes it relatively easy to not let my day of reckless travel eating bleed into the first day we are in China. Coming home is a different story. By the time I get home I am exhausted both mentally and physically. It's hard to get back into the routine of healthy eating and exercising. This time around I took Monday and Tuesday off. I didn't exercise and I didn't count calories. I wasn't terrible about the food, but I wasn't good either. It didn't help that Carla baked cookies to take to Drew's mother's house and left a tin here for Jack and me. I ate several of them Monday evening and two of them for breakfast on Tuesday morning. Then I made Jack take the rest to work so I wouldn't eat any more of them.
Today, I am back on track. I got back to the gym this morning and I am counting calories again. Yes, I am one pound heavier than I was when I left, but only 1 pound. I can deal with that. Here is a photo of my chart that I took this morning:
 |
| 11/14/2012 Chart |
You can see the bumps in the road caused by my China trips. At least this one wasn't as bad as my first trip!
On the way home I sat next to a guy that does a lot of tri's and other races. He was excited to learn that I am training for my first triathlon. We had a great conversation about training and exercising and it got me all pumped up about the triathlon that Ruth and I are going to do this summer! It's fun to get excited about doing things that are good for me!!
I am grateful for my plan and for my chart. I am proud of how far I've come since February 27th and I know I will reach my goal weight of 150 pounds. I have no idea when I'll reach it, but I'll reach it. These last 12-13 pounds are going to be a series of stair-steps, of that I am certain. How broad each step will be will depend on how many times I need to go to China between now and the time I reach my goal. But I'll get there. I am committed to this and nothing is going to stop me, not even this nutty travel schedule, though it may slow me down!! I'm looking forward to seeing 150 on that scale and the mega-shopping spree that is going to follow!!
Sunday, November 4, 2012
11/4/2012: Macau
Morning Weight: 163.4
Morning Exercise: 10 kilometers on the tread mill - 75 minutes
Yesterday Evening's Exercise: none - 24 hours on planes, trains, and automobiles - and don't forget the ferry ride!
Yesterday's Calories: unknown - airplane food
Vitamins: 1-A-Day, D, B-Complex, Calcium, Glucosamine
I'm not going to get excited about the extra pound this morning. I am weighing on a different scale and I spent the last 24 hours traveling to China. I got up this morning and went straight to the hotel gym and ran on the treadmill for 75 minutes. I brought healthy snacks with me and it is my intention to be incredibly disciplined with food on this trip, as well as exercise. I will get home on Sunday, November, 11th and it is my goal to weigh 159 pounds on Friday, November 16th. That should give me time to lose any water weight that I gain while traveling.
We are spending today and tonight in Macau and will head to mainland China tomorrow. Let the fun begin!
Morning Exercise: 10 kilometers on the tread mill - 75 minutes
Yesterday Evening's Exercise: none - 24 hours on planes, trains, and automobiles - and don't forget the ferry ride!
Yesterday's Calories: unknown - airplane food
Vitamins: 1-A-Day, D, B-Complex, Calcium, Glucosamine
I'm not going to get excited about the extra pound this morning. I am weighing on a different scale and I spent the last 24 hours traveling to China. I got up this morning and went straight to the hotel gym and ran on the treadmill for 75 minutes. I brought healthy snacks with me and it is my intention to be incredibly disciplined with food on this trip, as well as exercise. I will get home on Sunday, November, 11th and it is my goal to weigh 159 pounds on Friday, November 16th. That should give me time to lose any water weight that I gain while traveling.
We are spending today and tonight in Macau and will head to mainland China tomorrow. Let the fun begin!
Friday, November 2, 2012
11/2/2012: Last Day Before China
Morning Weight: 162.4
Morning Exercise: Strength Training at Home
Yesterday Evening's Exercise: Shopping with Carla. She got a new ski coat and ski pants for Christmas.
Yesterday's Calories: 1469
Vitamins: 1-A-Day, D, B-Complex, Calcium, Glucosamine
Sure enough, it was a little difficult to settle down and fall asleep last night with Jack gone to Utah. I stayed up a little too late and wasn't falling asleep until after 10:00. Consequently, it was a little difficult to wake up this morning and I decided to sleep in a little and do my "Pyramid Workout" at home. It's a great workout that Jeremy Walters put together for me and I have all of the equipment I need to do it at home. It's nice to have a good home work-out that I can pull out every now and then when I don't roll out of bed early enough to get to the gym before it starts getting busy.
Yesterday, I canceled all of my meetings for today that were not absolutely critical. I'm glad I did that. It will make it much easier to get ready for my week away from the office. I have a new laptop which I will be taking with me, so I'll be able to keep in touch. I'll also be able to bring files with me to work on during down times. I hope I am able to be more efficient with my time while I am there, this time.
I'm going to try very hard to count all of my calories while I am in China. There is going to be a lot of guessing going on, but at least that will be better than not even trying to count. I'll mark my chart before I leave tomorrow (two days early, I usually mark it on Mondays) and mark it again when I get back. I'll be more prepared to see the spike in my weight on the first day back, but I am going to do everything I can to avoid it. I feel like I am knocking on the 150s door and I would hate for this trip to China to be a setback. I know I can exercise every day, the hotel has a very nice gym. I asked the plant manager to get me a couple of cases of water for the office, so I should have plenty of water. The only other thing I need to do is make sure I don't eat too much. One of the things I did not do well last time was breakfast. The hotel we stayed in for most of our stay had a very good, Western style breakfast buffet with an egg station, pastries, etc... After the first hotel's awful breakfast I had a hard time not eating a little too much at breakfast time. This time I will commit to be very disciplined at breakfast so that I start the day off right.
12.4 pounds left...Wow...I can do this!!!!
Morning Exercise: Strength Training at Home
Yesterday Evening's Exercise: Shopping with Carla. She got a new ski coat and ski pants for Christmas.
Yesterday's Calories: 1469
Vitamins: 1-A-Day, D, B-Complex, Calcium, Glucosamine
Sure enough, it was a little difficult to settle down and fall asleep last night with Jack gone to Utah. I stayed up a little too late and wasn't falling asleep until after 10:00. Consequently, it was a little difficult to wake up this morning and I decided to sleep in a little and do my "Pyramid Workout" at home. It's a great workout that Jeremy Walters put together for me and I have all of the equipment I need to do it at home. It's nice to have a good home work-out that I can pull out every now and then when I don't roll out of bed early enough to get to the gym before it starts getting busy.
Yesterday, I canceled all of my meetings for today that were not absolutely critical. I'm glad I did that. It will make it much easier to get ready for my week away from the office. I have a new laptop which I will be taking with me, so I'll be able to keep in touch. I'll also be able to bring files with me to work on during down times. I hope I am able to be more efficient with my time while I am there, this time.
I'm going to try very hard to count all of my calories while I am in China. There is going to be a lot of guessing going on, but at least that will be better than not even trying to count. I'll mark my chart before I leave tomorrow (two days early, I usually mark it on Mondays) and mark it again when I get back. I'll be more prepared to see the spike in my weight on the first day back, but I am going to do everything I can to avoid it. I feel like I am knocking on the 150s door and I would hate for this trip to China to be a setback. I know I can exercise every day, the hotel has a very nice gym. I asked the plant manager to get me a couple of cases of water for the office, so I should have plenty of water. The only other thing I need to do is make sure I don't eat too much. One of the things I did not do well last time was breakfast. The hotel we stayed in for most of our stay had a very good, Western style breakfast buffet with an egg station, pastries, etc... After the first hotel's awful breakfast I had a hard time not eating a little too much at breakfast time. This time I will commit to be very disciplined at breakfast so that I start the day off right.
12.4 pounds left...Wow...I can do this!!!!
Thursday, November 1, 2012
11/1/2012: Nothing much to say today
Morning Weight: 162.8
Morning Exercise: Cardio: Stairmaster - 100 floors, 24 minutes; Rowing maching - 1500 meters, 8 minutes; Elliptical machine - 2580 strides, 20 minutes
Yesterday Evening's Exercise: None - came home, took a shower, put on my PJs and flopped on the couch. I was feeling lousy, tired, and worn out when I got home and just needed to rest.
Yesterday's Calories: 1711
Vitamins: 1-A-Day, D, B-Complex, Calcium, Glucosamine
Jack leaves for Utah today to visit the kids, I leave for China on Saturday, Jack comes home on Sunday, Carla leaves for Florida on Monday to visit Drew - she comes home on Friday, and I come home from China next Sunday. A crazy week at our house!!
I'm feeling a little overwhelmed. I accidently started a couple of big projects at work...important projects that shouldn't be stopped but that I am not sure how I am going to manage. Perhaps I am just feeling stressed because I am leaving town for a week. It's going to take time to see how this all works out.
The most important thing I can do is take care of myself. Eat right, exercise every day, drink plenty of water, don't drink any alcohol, get plenty of sleep, take my vitamins, love my family, and work hard. Eventually this will all start to take shape and make some sense.
Morning Exercise: Cardio: Stairmaster - 100 floors, 24 minutes; Rowing maching - 1500 meters, 8 minutes; Elliptical machine - 2580 strides, 20 minutes
Yesterday Evening's Exercise: None - came home, took a shower, put on my PJs and flopped on the couch. I was feeling lousy, tired, and worn out when I got home and just needed to rest.
Yesterday's Calories: 1711
Vitamins: 1-A-Day, D, B-Complex, Calcium, Glucosamine
Jack leaves for Utah today to visit the kids, I leave for China on Saturday, Jack comes home on Sunday, Carla leaves for Florida on Monday to visit Drew - she comes home on Friday, and I come home from China next Sunday. A crazy week at our house!!
I'm feeling a little overwhelmed. I accidently started a couple of big projects at work...important projects that shouldn't be stopped but that I am not sure how I am going to manage. Perhaps I am just feeling stressed because I am leaving town for a week. It's going to take time to see how this all works out.
The most important thing I can do is take care of myself. Eat right, exercise every day, drink plenty of water, don't drink any alcohol, get plenty of sleep, take my vitamins, love my family, and work hard. Eventually this will all start to take shape and make some sense.
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