Still here
I have been in the office one day this week - the rest I've been offsite at a training class. When I get home, I've been too pooped to get on the computer. It's been a hectic week. I haven't even read blogs! :-O
Hope you all are well. We had a nice time in Florida - the weather was excellent and we had a good time visitng folks. Cuban food is yummy! Key West itself is a bit too crowded & touristy for me. But mom is already planning to go back to peruse all the little shops and galleries. The boy is planning to go back and get his scuba certification. We saw a baracuda as big as me!!
My friend in Miami intoduced us to polymer clay and now we are all hooked. We've been saving our coupons from the craft store so we can get the tools cheaply. I'm not talking cheesey stuff - I'm talking reproducing antique jewelry and creating some gorgeous stuff! Like I needed a new hobby! :-)
Like I said, crazy week. Hub called while I was down in Fla - the boat dealership rented us a boat from a local marina one day over Memorial Day weekend since ours was still in the shop. The marina was claiming we'd hit something and owed them $700 in damages. This is the same place doing the warranty work on our boat, which they quit working on until we gave them the money. Can you say 'extortion'?!?! Needless to say, we refused to pay, and my big linebacker -looking hub had to go up there and threaten them with a lawsut to get our boat back! Argh!
And of course the saga of MIL continues. She got qualified for public housing. Then she blew a bunch of money while we were in Florida, so when we got back she said that she didn't have the money & that she didn't think it was a "good deal" anyway. I told her either she moves in or goes up to Maryland to the rest of the family (I am always the bad cop!) Well, you can imagine how that went over. They have all basically disowned her. Without going into the rest of the drama, let's just say we've all had it and are going out to celebrate Saturday night once she's out of my mom's house!!!
Luckily, I have a quiet weekend planned. I haven't made it back to martial arts, but I've been walking and lifting. My eating still isn't great - eating my stress as usual. But its not totally out of control.
Take care!
Friday, June 02, 2006
Down but not out
I’m only in the office for a couple of hours this morning, and won’t be back here until June 12th. Yippee!
I have lost 1.5 pounds of my previous 4 pound vacation gain. Not so good since I am leaving on vacation again tomorrow! However, I am packing some healthy foods for the trip that will travel well, I am taking my running shoes, and the hotel in Key West has a “fitness facility.” It’s anice hotel, so I hope that includes some kind of weights!
I won’t lie, I’m getting pretty discouraged – my eating is on track, I’m exercising a lot, but what are my options? Stop doing those things and gain weight? I just feel like for as much as I do, I should look better than I do.
On that note…. See ya on the flip side!
I’m only in the office for a couple of hours this morning, and won’t be back here until June 12th. Yippee!
I have lost 1.5 pounds of my previous 4 pound vacation gain. Not so good since I am leaving on vacation again tomorrow! However, I am packing some healthy foods for the trip that will travel well, I am taking my running shoes, and the hotel in Key West has a “fitness facility.” It’s anice hotel, so I hope that includes some kind of weights!
I won’t lie, I’m getting pretty discouraged – my eating is on track, I’m exercising a lot, but what are my options? Stop doing those things and gain weight? I just feel like for as much as I do, I should look better than I do.
On that note…. See ya on the flip side!
Thursday, June 01, 2006
That was yesterday, this is today
I wrote that last post yesterday, but couldn't get into blogger.
Slammed at work, slammed at home. My underpants were on right side in, but I left my boxing gloves at home. It's always something. :-)
Food fine, exercise great. May the scale gods be kind to me tomorrow.
I wrote that last post yesterday, but couldn't get into blogger.
Slammed at work, slammed at home. My underpants were on right side in, but I left my boxing gloves at home. It's always something. :-)
Food fine, exercise great. May the scale gods be kind to me tomorrow.
Inside out underpants (Thursday post)
So, with the boy out of school I am having to figure out a whole new routine. Weights have been moved to Tuesday and Thursday mornings, with running on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Martial arts are Monday through Thursday evenings, and also Saturday morning. Run or bike ride Sunday morning optional.
As a result of all the rearranging, I am finding myself perpetually running 15 minutes late everywhere I go. Not the panicked kind of late, just a little flustered and scatterbrained. Which probably explains how I found myself in the ladies room at the office this morning, having to turn my underpants right side in.
The irony is that I’ll muddle through this week, only to go on vacation Saturday morning for a week. So I’ll have to start all over when I get back! Agh!
Food is going fine thanks. Sticking with my plan, eating plenty of veggies from the Farmer’s market. It’s hot as heck here, so lunch buddy and I are walking indoors at lunchtime. So far, exercise is feeling good.
I am planning to take some cans of tuna, protein shakes, string cheese, & fruit on our trip next week. I don’t want to find myself unprepared. Yes its vacation, but I don’t want to get derailed. Dinner will be a more relaxed affair. I just don’t want to waste the calories on crap I’m not even enjoying, you know?
Well, time to fly!
So, with the boy out of school I am having to figure out a whole new routine. Weights have been moved to Tuesday and Thursday mornings, with running on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Martial arts are Monday through Thursday evenings, and also Saturday morning. Run or bike ride Sunday morning optional.
As a result of all the rearranging, I am finding myself perpetually running 15 minutes late everywhere I go. Not the panicked kind of late, just a little flustered and scatterbrained. Which probably explains how I found myself in the ladies room at the office this morning, having to turn my underpants right side in.
The irony is that I’ll muddle through this week, only to go on vacation Saturday morning for a week. So I’ll have to start all over when I get back! Agh!
Food is going fine thanks. Sticking with my plan, eating plenty of veggies from the Farmer’s market. It’s hot as heck here, so lunch buddy and I are walking indoors at lunchtime. So far, exercise is feeling good.
I am planning to take some cans of tuna, protein shakes, string cheese, & fruit on our trip next week. I don’t want to find myself unprepared. Yes its vacation, but I don’t want to get derailed. Dinner will be a more relaxed affair. I just don’t want to waste the calories on crap I’m not even enjoying, you know?
Well, time to fly!
Monday, May 29, 2006
Very vegiliscious!
Very nice weekend. I was 300-500 calories over my target – not bad! And exercise was right on.
This week I made a concerted effort to include more unprocessed foods, in particular vegetables. Here’s what this week’s food looks like:
B: vegetable soup with deer
S: “pancakes”, made with oats, cottage cheese, and egg whites (these are yummy!)
L: “naked” salad with tuna, avocado, herbs, and lime juice
S: cottage cheese and berries
S: carrot muffins before martial arts, a glass of chocolate milk after
D: varied, but lean meat & veggies – foregoing potatoes, rice, bread, etc.
The muffins are made with a mix of whole wheat flour and oats. They are a recipe from my “Eating for Life” cookbook. A little dry, but I needed something light to eat before martial arts. They have protein powder in them, so I’m getting some protein in.
Well, have a great day!
Very nice weekend. I was 300-500 calories over my target – not bad! And exercise was right on.
This week I made a concerted effort to include more unprocessed foods, in particular vegetables. Here’s what this week’s food looks like:
B: vegetable soup with deer
S: “pancakes”, made with oats, cottage cheese, and egg whites (these are yummy!)
L: “naked” salad with tuna, avocado, herbs, and lime juice
S: cottage cheese and berries
S: carrot muffins before martial arts, a glass of chocolate milk after
D: varied, but lean meat & veggies – foregoing potatoes, rice, bread, etc.
The muffins are made with a mix of whole wheat flour and oats. They are a recipe from my “Eating for Life” cookbook. A little dry, but I needed something light to eat before martial arts. They have protein powder in them, so I’m getting some protein in.
Well, have a great day!
Friday, May 26, 2006
Hub came through in the clutch
The hub arrived home last night with a beautiful flower arrangement, complete with a “happy anniversary” balloon that plays “You’re still the one” and a card. He is taking me out for sushi tonight. :-)
Weight is unchanged from last week. I hate the scale. I hate trying to lose weight. Suck suck suck suck suck!!!!!!
Hub is going out of town to play D&D, returning sometime Sunday. Boy will be up at grandpa’s, the martial arts studio is closed. I will be lifting weights tonight, running both days this weekend, and trying to avoid the kitchen. I will either do some sewing, or clean out closets – whatever strikes my fancy.
Boy, I live an exciting life!
The hub arrived home last night with a beautiful flower arrangement, complete with a “happy anniversary” balloon that plays “You’re still the one” and a card. He is taking me out for sushi tonight. :-)
Weight is unchanged from last week. I hate the scale. I hate trying to lose weight. Suck suck suck suck suck!!!!!!
Hub is going out of town to play D&D, returning sometime Sunday. Boy will be up at grandpa’s, the martial arts studio is closed. I will be lifting weights tonight, running both days this weekend, and trying to avoid the kitchen. I will either do some sewing, or clean out closets – whatever strikes my fancy.
Boy, I live an exciting life!
Thursday, May 25, 2006
A review, a rant, and my attempts at creating an untenable scenario
At 9 am this morning I was starving. I had my usual breakfast at 7, but there was no way I could wait until 10 for my snack. I popped off to the caf for a little something, where I bought a slice of light whole wheat bread with a bit of pb and a Coke Blak. For those of you that haven’t seen it, this is Coke’s new “fusion beverage” – a coffee & Coke combo. One serving is 8 oz. and contains 45 calories. While that’s not a lot of calories, I wouldn’t make this a daily occurrence. But I’d wanted to try it for a while, so I did. If you’re thinking what I was thinking when I first heard of it “That sounds weird!”, you’d be correct. On first taste, I thought it was weird. It tastes more like Coke than coffee, although the flavors are fairly balanced. For some reason, the coffee made me think of chocolate flavored Coke. It reminded me of going to the soda fountain and ordering a flavored Coke. I enjoyed it, and I will have it again, but I won’t be having it on a regular basis – I prefer not to drink my calories, beer excepted!
Hub and I had a fight yesterday morning. While it wasn’t over anything huge, it left me feeling very very shaken. I managed to make it through the day, but I was just trying to keep it together until I could leave. I asked my mom to take the boy over to her house for the night because I didn’t want him to see me in the state I was in. I was not in a good place. I left work as soon as I could (3 pm), and went to K0hl’s to go shopping. I was hoping to avert a binge. I just desperately wanted my raw emotions numbed until I was ready to deal with them. I had a store credit and wanted a bathing suit top to wear with shorts while walking around down in Fla. I found a load of stuff on clearance – the bathing suit top, 2 purses, a great hat for the beach (which matches my swim suit tops), a small wallet to carry when I travel (it’s pink!), and 2 pair of flip-flops. The wallet and flip-flops were on sale, but not clearance. The flip-flops are the kind with the wedge heel and they have sequins – one pair is brown and the other is pink. The swim suit top (and hat) have aqua blues and browns in them. I wound up spending $25 dollars.
I was feeling better by the time I left the store, but when I called my mom they were still at my house, so I had a little time to kill. If the boy had known I wasn’t going to martial arts, he would have wanted to stay home so I was trying not to bump into them. So I drove to the Mexican place for cheese dip, chips, and jalepenos, and then stopped by the convenience store for beer. Sigh. It was all gone by the time hub got home. Not so good. We didn’t talk about it – it was still too raw for me and I wasn’t ready. Tonight he has the boy while I go to martial arts. I hope I can talk myself into going tonight. As horrid as I was feeling yesterday I’m not going to beat myself up over what happened – that was the worst fight we’ve had since around Thanksgiving. Sure we quibble about this & that, but we don’t argue at that level often, so when it happens it really affects me.
It’s pretty ironic – today is our wedding anniversary. I had bought a really cute card with 2 doggies on the front that says “communication is everything” on the inside. I gave it to him this morning. As I left he wished me a happy anniversary and I just sobbed as I walked out the door.
Have you ever read fitness/weight loss advice that read something like “Live like a fit person and your body will follow.”? That’s what I’m trying to do: eat healthy foods in appropriate portions and keep very very active. If I live like an athlete, perhaps my body will give up the fat. I have a pretty ambitious schedule for hitting the martial arts, on top of morning walk/runs, and of course lifting at least twice a week. If I can keep that up I’ll be in really good shape come the end of summer. I just have to stay on track while we’re in Fla. for the week. I have to say, I wish I were just staying home. I know we’ll have fun, I’m just tired. And I’m scared I’ll eat the world and get no exercise. I hope I can get to a place where I can trust myself to make healthy choices no matter where I am. Vacation shouldn’t mean eat every high calorie food you can dredge up.
Okay, time to put a gag on the negative voice. And have my real morning snack.
At 9 am this morning I was starving. I had my usual breakfast at 7, but there was no way I could wait until 10 for my snack. I popped off to the caf for a little something, where I bought a slice of light whole wheat bread with a bit of pb and a Coke Blak. For those of you that haven’t seen it, this is Coke’s new “fusion beverage” – a coffee & Coke combo. One serving is 8 oz. and contains 45 calories. While that’s not a lot of calories, I wouldn’t make this a daily occurrence. But I’d wanted to try it for a while, so I did. If you’re thinking what I was thinking when I first heard of it “That sounds weird!”, you’d be correct. On first taste, I thought it was weird. It tastes more like Coke than coffee, although the flavors are fairly balanced. For some reason, the coffee made me think of chocolate flavored Coke. It reminded me of going to the soda fountain and ordering a flavored Coke. I enjoyed it, and I will have it again, but I won’t be having it on a regular basis – I prefer not to drink my calories, beer excepted!
Hub and I had a fight yesterday morning. While it wasn’t over anything huge, it left me feeling very very shaken. I managed to make it through the day, but I was just trying to keep it together until I could leave. I asked my mom to take the boy over to her house for the night because I didn’t want him to see me in the state I was in. I was not in a good place. I left work as soon as I could (3 pm), and went to K0hl’s to go shopping. I was hoping to avert a binge. I just desperately wanted my raw emotions numbed until I was ready to deal with them. I had a store credit and wanted a bathing suit top to wear with shorts while walking around down in Fla. I found a load of stuff on clearance – the bathing suit top, 2 purses, a great hat for the beach (which matches my swim suit tops), a small wallet to carry when I travel (it’s pink!), and 2 pair of flip-flops. The wallet and flip-flops were on sale, but not clearance. The flip-flops are the kind with the wedge heel and they have sequins – one pair is brown and the other is pink. The swim suit top (and hat) have aqua blues and browns in them. I wound up spending $25 dollars.
I was feeling better by the time I left the store, but when I called my mom they were still at my house, so I had a little time to kill. If the boy had known I wasn’t going to martial arts, he would have wanted to stay home so I was trying not to bump into them. So I drove to the Mexican place for cheese dip, chips, and jalepenos, and then stopped by the convenience store for beer. Sigh. It was all gone by the time hub got home. Not so good. We didn’t talk about it – it was still too raw for me and I wasn’t ready. Tonight he has the boy while I go to martial arts. I hope I can talk myself into going tonight. As horrid as I was feeling yesterday I’m not going to beat myself up over what happened – that was the worst fight we’ve had since around Thanksgiving. Sure we quibble about this & that, but we don’t argue at that level often, so when it happens it really affects me.
It’s pretty ironic – today is our wedding anniversary. I had bought a really cute card with 2 doggies on the front that says “communication is everything” on the inside. I gave it to him this morning. As I left he wished me a happy anniversary and I just sobbed as I walked out the door.
Have you ever read fitness/weight loss advice that read something like “Live like a fit person and your body will follow.”? That’s what I’m trying to do: eat healthy foods in appropriate portions and keep very very active. If I live like an athlete, perhaps my body will give up the fat. I have a pretty ambitious schedule for hitting the martial arts, on top of morning walk/runs, and of course lifting at least twice a week. If I can keep that up I’ll be in really good shape come the end of summer. I just have to stay on track while we’re in Fla. for the week. I have to say, I wish I were just staying home. I know we’ll have fun, I’m just tired. And I’m scared I’ll eat the world and get no exercise. I hope I can get to a place where I can trust myself to make healthy choices no matter where I am. Vacation shouldn’t mean eat every high calorie food you can dredge up.
Okay, time to put a gag on the negative voice. And have my real morning snack.
Wednesday, May 24, 2006
Is it Friday yet?
I am tired. I am sore. I slept 8.5 hours last night, and could have easily used another hour!
Needless to say, I did not get up and run this morning. I went to the gym yesterday afternoon, and weight lifting was mediocre at best – I was just so darn tired. Friday I am taking a 20 minute nap before I lift weights.
Food however is on target. Just to give you an idea, here’s what I had yesterday:
B: ground elk stir fry – lots of veggies and a bit of brown rice
S: French toast made with egg whites & protein powder
L: tamale casserole and a side salad
S: cottage cheese and mixed berries with walnuts
S: cup of lowfat chocolate milk after gym
D: broiled salmon, zucchini, and corn on the cob - fudgecicle
S: fake beer and a low carb tortilla with some lowfat shredded cheese (I was starving!)
The stir fry and tamale casseroles recipes are both properly balanced and portioned. The stir fry came from the BFL cookbook, and the tamale casserole I adapted to fit my needs. It’s made with polenta for the carb – yum!
I have a feeling of overall achiness (just a bit) and tiredness. Tonight is jiu-jitsu and muay thai. I’m loving this stuff, even if its wearing me out!
I am tired. I am sore. I slept 8.5 hours last night, and could have easily used another hour!
Needless to say, I did not get up and run this morning. I went to the gym yesterday afternoon, and weight lifting was mediocre at best – I was just so darn tired. Friday I am taking a 20 minute nap before I lift weights.
Food however is on target. Just to give you an idea, here’s what I had yesterday:
B: ground elk stir fry – lots of veggies and a bit of brown rice
S: French toast made with egg whites & protein powder
L: tamale casserole and a side salad
S: cottage cheese and mixed berries with walnuts
S: cup of lowfat chocolate milk after gym
D: broiled salmon, zucchini, and corn on the cob - fudgecicle
S: fake beer and a low carb tortilla with some lowfat shredded cheese (I was starving!)
The stir fry and tamale casseroles recipes are both properly balanced and portioned. The stir fry came from the BFL cookbook, and the tamale casserole I adapted to fit my needs. It’s made with polenta for the carb – yum!
I have a feeling of overall achiness (just a bit) and tiredness. Tonight is jiu-jitsu and muay thai. I’m loving this stuff, even if its wearing me out!
Tuesday, May 23, 2006
Decisions, decisions
Things are going well. My meals this week are balanced and properly portioned, but a little light on the fruits & veggies. I’ve been adding a side salad to lunch & plan to check that a bit more closely when I plan for next week!
I went to 2 jiu-jitsu classes last night. A bit of soreness, but nothing major. Thanks to Ben Gay, my lower back is feeling much better today (it was feeling a little better before the BG).
Hub is going out of town this weekend to play D&D. While I will enjoy the solitude, I am a bit peeved for 2 reasons: 1) I was hoping we could go out for our anniversary dinner Saturday and 2) I wanted to go to Hooter’s to watch the Gracie/Hughes fight. I don’t want to pay $40 to watch it on PPV. And yeah, I’d spend that at Hooter’s, but I wouldn’t feel ripped off. Our anniversary is Thursday, but going out during the week doesn’t work.
Today I plan to lift weights. I got up and ran 2 miles this morning – the weather was wonderful! I also walked 30 minutes at lunch. There has got to be some lard busting going on around here!
Things are going well. My meals this week are balanced and properly portioned, but a little light on the fruits & veggies. I’ve been adding a side salad to lunch & plan to check that a bit more closely when I plan for next week!
I went to 2 jiu-jitsu classes last night. A bit of soreness, but nothing major. Thanks to Ben Gay, my lower back is feeling much better today (it was feeling a little better before the BG).
Hub is going out of town this weekend to play D&D. While I will enjoy the solitude, I am a bit peeved for 2 reasons: 1) I was hoping we could go out for our anniversary dinner Saturday and 2) I wanted to go to Hooter’s to watch the Gracie/Hughes fight. I don’t want to pay $40 to watch it on PPV. And yeah, I’d spend that at Hooter’s, but I wouldn’t feel ripped off. Our anniversary is Thursday, but going out during the week doesn’t work.
Today I plan to lift weights. I got up and ran 2 miles this morning – the weather was wonderful! I also walked 30 minutes at lunch. There has got to be some lard busting going on around here!
Monday, May 22, 2006
Ah, the joys of getting older
You know what really irks me about getting older? The terrible tricks your body plays! How can this body roll around in jiu-jitsu, do 2 solid hours of kickboxing, cover miles and miles with no complaints, but god forbid I stand on a ladder to paint! My back feels like I’m 85, and all I did was stand on a freaking ladder painting on the wall! Geesh, for this much discomfort I should’ve at least gone skydiving or something fun and dangerous like that! I wish I had some Ben-gay.
It was a wonderful weekend. Productive, relaxing, just really nice. The boys had a good time too. There was an unfortunate incident last night involving beer & tamales that did mar it just a bit. Why does ML always have that effect on me???? Sigh.
You know what really irks me about getting older? The terrible tricks your body plays! How can this body roll around in jiu-jitsu, do 2 solid hours of kickboxing, cover miles and miles with no complaints, but god forbid I stand on a ladder to paint! My back feels like I’m 85, and all I did was stand on a freaking ladder painting on the wall! Geesh, for this much discomfort I should’ve at least gone skydiving or something fun and dangerous like that! I wish I had some Ben-gay.
It was a wonderful weekend. Productive, relaxing, just really nice. The boys had a good time too. There was an unfortunate incident last night involving beer & tamales that did mar it just a bit. Why does ML always have that effect on me???? Sigh.
Saturday, May 20, 2006
Eat, leave, come home, eat, and on and on
Today I am in and out a lot - went to 2 hours of kickboxing this morning (loved it!!), came home for food, then out to the Farmer's Market and CostCo, now I'm back home for food, then back out for grocery shopping. Whew!
My goal is to get errands run, laundry & house clean, so tomorrow is all about doing the celtic knotwork and chilling out.
I am having a wonderful weekend. Lordie I needed this.
Did I mention I loved kickboxing? :-)
Friday, May 19, 2006
Well hello there
It's Friday afternoon. I walked an hour, got cleaned up, ran some errands, and now I am taking a break from housework. Scrubbing floors on my knees isn't the thrill of my life, but having a clean house is! (Yes, I know I am pathetic).
The boys got off this morning around 8, and I am slowly but surely making progress around here. The place was waaaaay overdue for a really deep cleaning.
I really enjoyed jiu-jitsu! I was a little nervous driving there, but the instructor really put me at ease. I think I'm gonna learn some good stuff. He warned me I might be sore today, but I'm fine.
I've got food planned out for most of the weekend - I think I'll be okay. I am going to kickboxing tomorrow, running a couple more errands, and then I want to work on the celtic knotwork in the kitchen. I may get that done by the time I retire!
Anyway, doing a couple of small projects, but focusing on a good cleaning, then more projects next weekend. No classes at the jiu-jitsu studio next weekend. :-( Darn national holidays!
Have a good one!
It's Friday afternoon. I walked an hour, got cleaned up, ran some errands, and now I am taking a break from housework. Scrubbing floors on my knees isn't the thrill of my life, but having a clean house is! (Yes, I know I am pathetic).
The boys got off this morning around 8, and I am slowly but surely making progress around here. The place was waaaaay overdue for a really deep cleaning.
I really enjoyed jiu-jitsu! I was a little nervous driving there, but the instructor really put me at ease. I think I'm gonna learn some good stuff. He warned me I might be sore today, but I'm fine.
I've got food planned out for most of the weekend - I think I'll be okay. I am going to kickboxing tomorrow, running a couple more errands, and then I want to work on the celtic knotwork in the kitchen. I may get that done by the time I retire!
Anyway, doing a couple of small projects, but focusing on a good cleaning, then more projects next weekend. No classes at the jiu-jitsu studio next weekend. :-( Darn national holidays!
Have a good one!
Thursday, May 18, 2006
New reads and the week in review
Well, given that this is the week I typically retain some extra water, being up half a pound doesn't seem too bad.
A loss would have been nice, but not realistic:
- I let my "2 free meals" spill over into, 2 meals and 1 day.
- Exercise? Puhleeze! Not so much.
On the plus side:
- Monday when I had a couple of beers while watching a movie, I ate popcorn. In the bad old days that would have been an order of cheese dip!
- I did stop the "spill over" at 2 meals plus one day, instead of deciding I'd blown the week and staging a pig-out day after day.
Because I weighed a day early, I have an extra day in next week. I intend to use that day well! Instead of being discouraged, I know I’m basically doing the right things – I just need to do them a bit more often next week! :-O
-----------
One thing I’d like to do this weekend is move some of my regular reads into an “old” folder. While occasionally a blogger will take a hiatus of months and come back (Amy), all too frequently they just fall off the earth. Lee is posting more and more infrequently, Lexy abandoned her blog due to a “friend” who kept reading after being asked not to…. I check back, and I don’t want to delete the links, but some of my regular and favorite reads have gone away I'm afraid.
I think that’s normal, especially for a weight loss blog. Once you’ve either reached goal or quit trying to lose (for whatever reason), you may find your blog has either morphed into something entirely different, or that you no longer have anything to say.
My list of regular reads has grown a little thin. So…. Those of you reading this, who do you read? What are your favorite blogs to read and why? Feel free to send me the addy of your own blog! There are so many fantastic blogs out there – and I bet you folks know about some I don’t, so give em up!
Have a great weekend!
Well, given that this is the week I typically retain some extra water, being up half a pound doesn't seem too bad.
A loss would have been nice, but not realistic:
- I let my "2 free meals" spill over into, 2 meals and 1 day.
- Exercise? Puhleeze! Not so much.
On the plus side:
- Monday when I had a couple of beers while watching a movie, I ate popcorn. In the bad old days that would have been an order of cheese dip!
- I did stop the "spill over" at 2 meals plus one day, instead of deciding I'd blown the week and staging a pig-out day after day.
Because I weighed a day early, I have an extra day in next week. I intend to use that day well! Instead of being discouraged, I know I’m basically doing the right things – I just need to do them a bit more often next week! :-O
-----------
One thing I’d like to do this weekend is move some of my regular reads into an “old” folder. While occasionally a blogger will take a hiatus of months and come back (Amy), all too frequently they just fall off the earth. Lee is posting more and more infrequently, Lexy abandoned her blog due to a “friend” who kept reading after being asked not to…. I check back, and I don’t want to delete the links, but some of my regular and favorite reads have gone away I'm afraid.
I think that’s normal, especially for a weight loss blog. Once you’ve either reached goal or quit trying to lose (for whatever reason), you may find your blog has either morphed into something entirely different, or that you no longer have anything to say.
My list of regular reads has grown a little thin. So…. Those of you reading this, who do you read? What are your favorite blogs to read and why? Feel free to send me the addy of your own blog! There are so many fantastic blogs out there – and I bet you folks know about some I don’t, so give em up!
Have a great weekend!
Wednesday, May 17, 2006
The weekend cometh!
Good morning!
I'm taking Friday off. I decided not to go to Pa. - I am sending the boys without me. I plan to stay home and get some stuff accomplished, and just have some quiet time to myself. I didn't get my relaxing weekend this past weekend, and I am overdue!
My only exercise the past couple of days has been walking at lunch - I planned to hit the gym yesterday but we ended up going to look at a trailer (which we bought). We needed a small one to haul our camping stuff to Pennsic in August, and this trailer is perfect. The price was perfect too - $200!
I am going to the gym this afternoon. Food is on track - now I need to give the old exercise a boost. Hey - when I fall off the wagon these days at leadt its only for 1 or 2 days!
Have a great day!
Good morning!
I'm taking Friday off. I decided not to go to Pa. - I am sending the boys without me. I plan to stay home and get some stuff accomplished, and just have some quiet time to myself. I didn't get my relaxing weekend this past weekend, and I am overdue!
My only exercise the past couple of days has been walking at lunch - I planned to hit the gym yesterday but we ended up going to look at a trailer (which we bought). We needed a small one to haul our camping stuff to Pennsic in August, and this trailer is perfect. The price was perfect too - $200!
I am going to the gym this afternoon. Food is on track - now I need to give the old exercise a boost. Hey - when I fall off the wagon these days at leadt its only for 1 or 2 days!
Have a great day!
Monday, May 15, 2006
Pity party cancelled
Well, I have to say it was the most craptacular Mother's day ever! And one of the lousiest weekends ever that didn't involve death, wrecked cars, or hospitals!
Friday evening was nice, Saturday I got up and went to kickboxing class (which I really enjoyed). After that I picked up my mom and I went to CostCo to pick up the seafood for our big seafood feast we had planned.
It all went to hell in a handbasket after that.
We planned to go out in the boat Saturday afternoon and meet the boy up at the lake (he was with his grandpa). My mom shows up at 3 - minus the MIL. She never got out of bed Saturday. Now, we had this big talk with her last weekend and she agreed to start getting on a schedule etc and blah blah, but you know what she followed through on this week? Squat. The whole not bothering to get up, sleeping all day at least once a week - no change.
So, we were all a little frustrated when we arrived at the lake. Hubs backs us down the ramp, and guess what??? The boat won't start!!! Woo hoo! A super fun half hour ensues where we are trying to contact Randy (who sold us the boat) who is out on THE SAME LAKE so we can figure out why our brand new boat isn't working. Hub is pretty much on the verge of an aneurism. Me, I just wanted a beer.
It turns out (although we didn't know this at the time), but the stereo isn't correctly wired, it was wired directly to the battery. So it was draining the battery constantly. We could have jumped started the boat, and the engine would have charged the battery and we would have been fine. But we didn't know that. So we went home.
So, mom, hub and I go home, drop boat, and go to get something to eat. I sure as heck wasn't cooking, and mom had to hang around to pick up the boy from the lake when he was done skiing with Grandpa. We use the time to have a serious talk about MIL. She is driving my mom insane. It's the little things, and the big things. Like my mom had bought 3 bags of expensive dried fruit (on sale) and when she went to get a couple of pieces the other day they were gone. She asked MIL if she knew where the dried fruit was, and MIL just smiled and rubbed her belly. Or the fact that she can get up if she has a doctor appt, but doesn't bother any other day. Or that she keeps asking to borrow $$ for her prescriptions from my mom, but spends 10 bucks a week on creamer for her coffee. Or that when her dog wants breakfast she opens her bedroom door and just lets him out, closing the door behind him. If mom isn't up, then MIL's dog Winnie wakes mom up so SHE can feed him. You see how this could get old.
The woman has been living with my mom 4 months. She got back over $500 from income taxes, which she spent on clothes and unnecessary crap, while she lives in my mom's house free of charge. None of us ever dreamed at the beginning she'd still be with my mom after 4 months. My mom has put up with stuff that would have driven me over the edge. So, over dinner the 3 of us decided that MIL had to be given a deadline to move out of my mom's out. We decided to give her a month's notice.
But hub's out of town next weekend, and then mom & I are taking the boy to Key West and will be gone the following 2 weekends. So we got to tell her this on Mother's Day.
Sunday morning I got up early, fed all the animals, and went to do the grocery shopping. It was beautiful, and I asked my husband if we could go out on the boat. At that point, we knew we could jumpstart it and be okay, and we had to take it to the marina anyway to get fixed, and we can't use it the next 3 weekends. So off we went for a very pleasant 2 hours at the lake. But of course it couldn't last. The boy proceeds to act like a total horses ass as we are getting the boat out of the water. He heads home with my mom, & hub and I head home.
At this point, we have 8 loads of laundry, the house is trashed (he was sick last weekend so it got a light surface cleaning only) and none of my cooking is done. Oh yeah, and I haven't gotten a bath since kickboxing the prior morning! After we got home, I got the lentil soup in the crockpot for my breakfasts and went to get cleaned up. Hub works on laundry & the house. By the time I'm out of the tub and had a bite to eat the moms are there!
So, its 4 pm, no cooking is done, half the laundry is done, and the only housework done is vacuuming. Oh, and the sink is full of dirty dishes.
I start on supper while mom loads the dishwasher and peels the shrimp. Hub goes out & talks to MIL. MIL is totally distraught and won't look at us, speak to us, and just sits outside crying. Mom and I bust our butts to prep food. Hub grills shrimp and scallops. We cook crab cakes, steam crab legs and a lobster tail, make a salad, and make alfredo noodles. Dinner is a lovely affair, with MIL barely touching her food while everyone makes awkward conversation. After dinner, she asks hub to drive her home, because she doesn't want to ride with my mom.
Turns out hub has stated things in such a way that MIL thinks mom wants her out. Which is true, but this wasn't my mom’s idea or solely her decision. So after dinner we have a lovely 2 hour conversation, the gist of which is that we've helped s much as we can for as long as we can. Now she has to start helping herself and/or enlist other family members to help her. She has chosen not to tell her sister or other son anything about what has been going on down here.
They finally leave at 8, boy goes to his room with phone glued to ear, wife (aka me) heads to store for 6 pack. Luckily I was too tired to stay up long enough to do much damage.
Instead of 2 "free" meals, it was more like 1 meal and 1 day, and you can imagine my mental state when I went to bed last night.
I woke up bright and early this morning (3:45), bolted upright, and realized I'd never put my soup in the fridge and it’s been out on the counter all night!!!! Needless to say, I'm way too upset to even dream of going back to sleep. I get up, sit in the living room, and cry for 15 minutes. Then I made the decision that I wasn't going to let my eating be ruined all day Monday because I don't have anything prepared. I'd already "wasted" a day on poor food choices, and I didn't want to waste another.
At 4 am I headed to the kitchen and started cooking. At 5:30 I'd done quite a bit, but needed a couple of things from the store, I got dressed and went to the grocery at 6. I bought myself a basket of geraniums while I was there. I got home, finished my cooking, packed lunches, and sat down for breakfast with my family. The boy and I headed out the door at 7:05, headed for school.
It was a beautiful morning, a hint of fog that hadn't finished burning off, clear air, and birds chirping. At one point I caught a whiff of diesel exhaust, which always reminds me of going to the field in the Army. It was like morning in Hawaii, the cool air and beautiful sky. The day seemed poised on the edge of something happening. I've been smiling ever since.
Well, I have to say it was the most craptacular Mother's day ever! And one of the lousiest weekends ever that didn't involve death, wrecked cars, or hospitals!
Friday evening was nice, Saturday I got up and went to kickboxing class (which I really enjoyed). After that I picked up my mom and I went to CostCo to pick up the seafood for our big seafood feast we had planned.
It all went to hell in a handbasket after that.
We planned to go out in the boat Saturday afternoon and meet the boy up at the lake (he was with his grandpa). My mom shows up at 3 - minus the MIL. She never got out of bed Saturday. Now, we had this big talk with her last weekend and she agreed to start getting on a schedule etc and blah blah, but you know what she followed through on this week? Squat. The whole not bothering to get up, sleeping all day at least once a week - no change.
So, we were all a little frustrated when we arrived at the lake. Hubs backs us down the ramp, and guess what??? The boat won't start!!! Woo hoo! A super fun half hour ensues where we are trying to contact Randy (who sold us the boat) who is out on THE SAME LAKE so we can figure out why our brand new boat isn't working. Hub is pretty much on the verge of an aneurism. Me, I just wanted a beer.
It turns out (although we didn't know this at the time), but the stereo isn't correctly wired, it was wired directly to the battery. So it was draining the battery constantly. We could have jumped started the boat, and the engine would have charged the battery and we would have been fine. But we didn't know that. So we went home.
So, mom, hub and I go home, drop boat, and go to get something to eat. I sure as heck wasn't cooking, and mom had to hang around to pick up the boy from the lake when he was done skiing with Grandpa. We use the time to have a serious talk about MIL. She is driving my mom insane. It's the little things, and the big things. Like my mom had bought 3 bags of expensive dried fruit (on sale) and when she went to get a couple of pieces the other day they were gone. She asked MIL if she knew where the dried fruit was, and MIL just smiled and rubbed her belly. Or the fact that she can get up if she has a doctor appt, but doesn't bother any other day. Or that she keeps asking to borrow $$ for her prescriptions from my mom, but spends 10 bucks a week on creamer for her coffee. Or that when her dog wants breakfast she opens her bedroom door and just lets him out, closing the door behind him. If mom isn't up, then MIL's dog Winnie wakes mom up so SHE can feed him. You see how this could get old.
The woman has been living with my mom 4 months. She got back over $500 from income taxes, which she spent on clothes and unnecessary crap, while she lives in my mom's house free of charge. None of us ever dreamed at the beginning she'd still be with my mom after 4 months. My mom has put up with stuff that would have driven me over the edge. So, over dinner the 3 of us decided that MIL had to be given a deadline to move out of my mom's out. We decided to give her a month's notice.
But hub's out of town next weekend, and then mom & I are taking the boy to Key West and will be gone the following 2 weekends. So we got to tell her this on Mother's Day.
Sunday morning I got up early, fed all the animals, and went to do the grocery shopping. It was beautiful, and I asked my husband if we could go out on the boat. At that point, we knew we could jumpstart it and be okay, and we had to take it to the marina anyway to get fixed, and we can't use it the next 3 weekends. So off we went for a very pleasant 2 hours at the lake. But of course it couldn't last. The boy proceeds to act like a total horses ass as we are getting the boat out of the water. He heads home with my mom, & hub and I head home.
At this point, we have 8 loads of laundry, the house is trashed (he was sick last weekend so it got a light surface cleaning only) and none of my cooking is done. Oh yeah, and I haven't gotten a bath since kickboxing the prior morning! After we got home, I got the lentil soup in the crockpot for my breakfasts and went to get cleaned up. Hub works on laundry & the house. By the time I'm out of the tub and had a bite to eat the moms are there!
So, its 4 pm, no cooking is done, half the laundry is done, and the only housework done is vacuuming. Oh, and the sink is full of dirty dishes.
I start on supper while mom loads the dishwasher and peels the shrimp. Hub goes out & talks to MIL. MIL is totally distraught and won't look at us, speak to us, and just sits outside crying. Mom and I bust our butts to prep food. Hub grills shrimp and scallops. We cook crab cakes, steam crab legs and a lobster tail, make a salad, and make alfredo noodles. Dinner is a lovely affair, with MIL barely touching her food while everyone makes awkward conversation. After dinner, she asks hub to drive her home, because she doesn't want to ride with my mom.
Turns out hub has stated things in such a way that MIL thinks mom wants her out. Which is true, but this wasn't my mom’s idea or solely her decision. So after dinner we have a lovely 2 hour conversation, the gist of which is that we've helped s much as we can for as long as we can. Now she has to start helping herself and/or enlist other family members to help her. She has chosen not to tell her sister or other son anything about what has been going on down here.
They finally leave at 8, boy goes to his room with phone glued to ear, wife (aka me) heads to store for 6 pack. Luckily I was too tired to stay up long enough to do much damage.
Instead of 2 "free" meals, it was more like 1 meal and 1 day, and you can imagine my mental state when I went to bed last night.
I woke up bright and early this morning (3:45), bolted upright, and realized I'd never put my soup in the fridge and it’s been out on the counter all night!!!! Needless to say, I'm way too upset to even dream of going back to sleep. I get up, sit in the living room, and cry for 15 minutes. Then I made the decision that I wasn't going to let my eating be ruined all day Monday because I don't have anything prepared. I'd already "wasted" a day on poor food choices, and I didn't want to waste another.
At 4 am I headed to the kitchen and started cooking. At 5:30 I'd done quite a bit, but needed a couple of things from the store, I got dressed and went to the grocery at 6. I bought myself a basket of geraniums while I was there. I got home, finished my cooking, packed lunches, and sat down for breakfast with my family. The boy and I headed out the door at 7:05, headed for school.
It was a beautiful morning, a hint of fog that hadn't finished burning off, clear air, and birds chirping. At one point I caught a whiff of diesel exhaust, which always reminds me of going to the field in the Army. It was like morning in Hawaii, the cool air and beautiful sky. The day seemed poised on the edge of something happening. I've been smiling ever since.
Friday, May 12, 2006
It's like flossing your teeth
Yesterday afternoon I truly, really, passionately didn't want to work out. Driving to the gym (rain meant riding inside rather than out) I told myself 'It's like flossing your teeth. You may not always love it, but it's a necessary thing you must do to care for your health.' I acknowledged the feeling, but reminded myself that exercise isn't always about fun. It can be great fun, and a lot of other positive, wonderful things. And some days it's like flossing - a necessary chore.
Yesterday afternoon I truly, really, passionately didn't want to work out. Driving to the gym (rain meant riding inside rather than out) I told myself 'It's like flossing your teeth. You may not always love it, but it's a necessary thing you must do to care for your health.' I acknowledged the feeling, but reminded myself that exercise isn't always about fun. It can be great fun, and a lot of other positive, wonderful things. And some days it's like flossing - a necessary chore.
Week in Review:
Miles run or walked: 18
Lift weights: 2
Food: A couple of bumps in the road, but 95% on track
Weight: 1.5 pounds lost
Some thoughts:
I generally buy breakfast at work on Friday because I come in to the office, use the scale, and then eat. I need to bring my breakfast in. That café food gives me a stomachache!
I really liked what I saw at the dojo last night. The manager sat with me and gave me a ton of info, and answered questions. The cost is $60 per month, which isn’t bad at all for martial arts training. I can take as many classes per week as I want. As a beginner, I can go to jiu-jitsu (they have beginner and regular classes, and he said I could go to either type), muay thai kickboxing, and something called LA kickboxing. LAKB is taught by “real” kickboxers (as opposed to aerobic instructors), but with an emphasis on cardio endurance and also good form. They also offer mixed martial arts classes and grappling classes for more advanced students. I didn’t get a chance to talk with hub about it last night after I got home, but I think I may go for it!
I’ve come up with a food plan for next week that looks like it will be a good change. After next week I’ll need to ditch cottage cheese and berries as a snack – cottage cheese is starting to look about as good as eggs! Blech!
I’m happy with the loss I posted this week. A pound and a half per week is a good rate, and I didn’t feel miserable, starved, or deprived this past week.
I may have a beer or 2 tomorrow night, but I’m thinking none tonight. I am going to LAKB in the morning! Monday I’m doing jiu-jitsu, and after that I’ll decide if I want to sign up or not. I am doing legs this afternoon, so I’ll be tired enough without adding alcohol to the mix! :-O
Have a great weekend!
Miles run or walked: 18
Lift weights: 2
Food: A couple of bumps in the road, but 95% on track
Weight: 1.5 pounds lost
Some thoughts:
I generally buy breakfast at work on Friday because I come in to the office, use the scale, and then eat. I need to bring my breakfast in. That café food gives me a stomachache!
I really liked what I saw at the dojo last night. The manager sat with me and gave me a ton of info, and answered questions. The cost is $60 per month, which isn’t bad at all for martial arts training. I can take as many classes per week as I want. As a beginner, I can go to jiu-jitsu (they have beginner and regular classes, and he said I could go to either type), muay thai kickboxing, and something called LA kickboxing. LAKB is taught by “real” kickboxers (as opposed to aerobic instructors), but with an emphasis on cardio endurance and also good form. They also offer mixed martial arts classes and grappling classes for more advanced students. I didn’t get a chance to talk with hub about it last night after I got home, but I think I may go for it!
I’ve come up with a food plan for next week that looks like it will be a good change. After next week I’ll need to ditch cottage cheese and berries as a snack – cottage cheese is starting to look about as good as eggs! Blech!
I’m happy with the loss I posted this week. A pound and a half per week is a good rate, and I didn’t feel miserable, starved, or deprived this past week.
I may have a beer or 2 tomorrow night, but I’m thinking none tonight. I am going to LAKB in the morning! Monday I’m doing jiu-jitsu, and after that I’ll decide if I want to sign up or not. I am doing legs this afternoon, so I’ll be tired enough without adding alcohol to the mix! :-O
Have a great weekend!
Thursday, May 11, 2006
Sometimes, the old ways are the best
1. For this morning’s run the air was heavy with the scent of honeysuckle… and with humidity. While we haven’t achieved “sponge” status, the humidity (and wearing my long running pants instead of shorts) definitely impacted the quality of running this morning. Ugh.
2. I am sleeping much better lately. Relaxation CD, taking medicine at different time, voodoo sacrifice… something worked.
3. We have a whole bunch of elk and deer in our freezer, but none of it is ground. I told my mom last week I was thinking of getting a meat grinder, and she told me she had my grandparents’. Last night I needed some ground meat for soup I’m making in the crockpot for dinner today, so I set it up and in about 5 minutes had a pound of gorgeous course ground deer. It’s the old fashioned kind that mounts onto the edge of the counter & has a hand crank. I’m never buying ground anything again!
4. I am so sick of eggs! I’ve nearly gagged on them the past couple of mornings. I don’t like to do protein shakes, so I’ve felt limited in my breakfast choices. But no one ever said I had to eat breakfast for breakfast! I mean, all 3 of us eat a healthy breakfast at home, but we all eat something different. Next week I’m having lentil soup with shredded chicken. Of course the dogs will hate me because they get all the yolks I don’t eat. (I usually make 1 egg + 3 whites).
5. Tonight I am going to check out the jiu-jitsu class. I’m excited! I hope its something I would like doing.
6. Since the boy had tae kwon do yesterday, my time at the gym was limited. I managed to sneak in a quick upper body. I did the workout with all free weights on a single bench, working circuit style with little or no rest between exercises. Then I finished with a set of push-ups. Not the very best, but I’m a touch sore today, so that’s a good thing.
7. It has rained every Sunday we’ve been home since the week we got the boat. How’s that for bad luck? I’m taking that sucker out this weekend!
8. We had company over for supper last night. I managed to do a good job with my food choices. I’ve been tired of my food this week, so I know I need some changes next week. Yeah, it’s a pain to check recipes etc, but it’s a lot better than not enjoying my food. Plain and simple is fine, as long as it’s different. And I’m in a food rut this week for sure!
9. I have a notebook – small enough to fit in my purse but big enough to write in. I’m keeping track of things I want/need to do, and my exercise. I’ve just started this this week, but so far I like it. I don’t journal my food because I eat the same thing every day for a week, and the week before its been pre-measured & packaged. As long as I don’t snack at night I’m golden. Last night I did have a sugar-free ice cream and a faux beer, but that kind of “cheat” I can live with a couple times a week.
10. I plan to have the world’s quietest, most restful day Saturday. Because I need it!
1. For this morning’s run the air was heavy with the scent of honeysuckle… and with humidity. While we haven’t achieved “sponge” status, the humidity (and wearing my long running pants instead of shorts) definitely impacted the quality of running this morning. Ugh.
2. I am sleeping much better lately. Relaxation CD, taking medicine at different time, voodoo sacrifice… something worked.
3. We have a whole bunch of elk and deer in our freezer, but none of it is ground. I told my mom last week I was thinking of getting a meat grinder, and she told me she had my grandparents’. Last night I needed some ground meat for soup I’m making in the crockpot for dinner today, so I set it up and in about 5 minutes had a pound of gorgeous course ground deer. It’s the old fashioned kind that mounts onto the edge of the counter & has a hand crank. I’m never buying ground anything again!
4. I am so sick of eggs! I’ve nearly gagged on them the past couple of mornings. I don’t like to do protein shakes, so I’ve felt limited in my breakfast choices. But no one ever said I had to eat breakfast for breakfast! I mean, all 3 of us eat a healthy breakfast at home, but we all eat something different. Next week I’m having lentil soup with shredded chicken. Of course the dogs will hate me because they get all the yolks I don’t eat. (I usually make 1 egg + 3 whites).
5. Tonight I am going to check out the jiu-jitsu class. I’m excited! I hope its something I would like doing.
6. Since the boy had tae kwon do yesterday, my time at the gym was limited. I managed to sneak in a quick upper body. I did the workout with all free weights on a single bench, working circuit style with little or no rest between exercises. Then I finished with a set of push-ups. Not the very best, but I’m a touch sore today, so that’s a good thing.
7. It has rained every Sunday we’ve been home since the week we got the boat. How’s that for bad luck? I’m taking that sucker out this weekend!
8. We had company over for supper last night. I managed to do a good job with my food choices. I’ve been tired of my food this week, so I know I need some changes next week. Yeah, it’s a pain to check recipes etc, but it’s a lot better than not enjoying my food. Plain and simple is fine, as long as it’s different. And I’m in a food rut this week for sure!
9. I have a notebook – small enough to fit in my purse but big enough to write in. I’m keeping track of things I want/need to do, and my exercise. I’ve just started this this week, but so far I like it. I don’t journal my food because I eat the same thing every day for a week, and the week before its been pre-measured & packaged. As long as I don’t snack at night I’m golden. Last night I did have a sugar-free ice cream and a faux beer, but that kind of “cheat” I can live with a couple times a week.
10. I plan to have the world’s quietest, most restful day Saturday. Because I need it!
Wednesday, May 10, 2006
Mid week reality check
Exercise has been great this week – 5.5 miles Monday and 6.5 yesterday! Now, that is 2 or 3 outings per day, but it’s getting done. Today I am walking 1.5 at lunch and going to the gym after work.
Food’s fine. After finishing Tom Venuto’s book, I realized my estimated requirement of 1500 calories per day was a good place to start. I did tweak my nutrient ratio a bit, and that seems to have helped my cravings a bit. Huh! In an ideal world, my calories would be more heavily weighted toward the beginning of the day, but I have my meals so that calories are an even 300 per meal. So at least I’m not weighting my calories to the end of the day.
Running yesterday afternoon, I re-realized that when I am very active, it is easier for me to stay on track with my food. When I’m out there panting, it’s easy to say “It’s easier to just not eat X than to burn it off out here!” I had planned a bike ride, but hub wasn’t home and the boy didn’t feel like it, so it was easier to just stay closer to home. It was great outside – I love getting outside after work this time of year.
We are having a cookout with friends this afternoon, so dinner isn’t the healthiest, but it meets my guidelines (turkey dogs and vegetarian baked beans and salad). That will keep me busy tonight, then tomorrow I am going to watch that class. Friday I may ride my bike after work. Or I may go and get my fingernails & toes painted!
I am spending a lot of time using Venuto’s suggestions around goals, affirmations, and visualization. I see myself doing athletic stuff, with a trim body. I see the muscles, and see myself in the gym lifting the weights. It sounds hokey, but I swear keeping my short term goals in my pocket is motivational, and these techniques do seem to help!
I also ordered a set of calipers so I can measure my body fat. God help me.
Exercise has been great this week – 5.5 miles Monday and 6.5 yesterday! Now, that is 2 or 3 outings per day, but it’s getting done. Today I am walking 1.5 at lunch and going to the gym after work.
Food’s fine. After finishing Tom Venuto’s book, I realized my estimated requirement of 1500 calories per day was a good place to start. I did tweak my nutrient ratio a bit, and that seems to have helped my cravings a bit. Huh! In an ideal world, my calories would be more heavily weighted toward the beginning of the day, but I have my meals so that calories are an even 300 per meal. So at least I’m not weighting my calories to the end of the day.
Running yesterday afternoon, I re-realized that when I am very active, it is easier for me to stay on track with my food. When I’m out there panting, it’s easy to say “It’s easier to just not eat X than to burn it off out here!” I had planned a bike ride, but hub wasn’t home and the boy didn’t feel like it, so it was easier to just stay closer to home. It was great outside – I love getting outside after work this time of year.
We are having a cookout with friends this afternoon, so dinner isn’t the healthiest, but it meets my guidelines (turkey dogs and vegetarian baked beans and salad). That will keep me busy tonight, then tomorrow I am going to watch that class. Friday I may ride my bike after work. Or I may go and get my fingernails & toes painted!
I am spending a lot of time using Venuto’s suggestions around goals, affirmations, and visualization. I see myself doing athletic stuff, with a trim body. I see the muscles, and see myself in the gym lifting the weights. It sounds hokey, but I swear keeping my short term goals in my pocket is motivational, and these techniques do seem to help!
I also ordered a set of calipers so I can measure my body fat. God help me.
Tuesday, May 09, 2006
The meaning of yesterday’s post – or, Jack’s dropping a hobby and I might pick one up
Losing weight (for me), is sort of like trying to pick up a handful of live goldfish – grab too hard and watch them slip through your fingers. I’ve been so focused on losing weight, like that’s the end all be all, I find I’m looking so hard at the outcome that I’m not watching the process. I think I need a fitness goal to keep my exercise on track, and also a weight goal to help keep the food part of the equation on track.
After the post vacation derailment, I’ve developed a pretty good plan for eating that I believe will get me where I want to be. I’m riding my bike some, running (well, walking with running breaks!), and lifting weights. But my only fitness goal right now is “lose weight”. To that end, I am considering adding martial arts into the mix. This will compliment cardio and strength training, as well as provide some flexibility training into the mix. It will also give me a focus other than the scale.
This isn’t a “sure thing”, but I plan to go & watch a class Thursday to see if this is something I think I might enjoy. If I had the answers, I’d be at goal by now. I should at least get some credit for persistence! :-)
Losing weight (for me), is sort of like trying to pick up a handful of live goldfish – grab too hard and watch them slip through your fingers. I’ve been so focused on losing weight, like that’s the end all be all, I find I’m looking so hard at the outcome that I’m not watching the process. I think I need a fitness goal to keep my exercise on track, and also a weight goal to help keep the food part of the equation on track.
After the post vacation derailment, I’ve developed a pretty good plan for eating that I believe will get me where I want to be. I’m riding my bike some, running (well, walking with running breaks!), and lifting weights. But my only fitness goal right now is “lose weight”. To that end, I am considering adding martial arts into the mix. This will compliment cardio and strength training, as well as provide some flexibility training into the mix. It will also give me a focus other than the scale.
This isn’t a “sure thing”, but I plan to go & watch a class Thursday to see if this is something I think I might enjoy. If I had the answers, I’d be at goal by now. I should at least get some credit for persistence! :-)
Monday, May 08, 2006
Laser-like focus needs a target
Lifting weights is important, cardio is critical, and eating is key. In my never-ending quest to turn myself from slug to athlete, I am going Thursday night to watch a class. If I like it I’ll be signing up. I’m not giving up the iron, the bike, or the road, but Brazilian jiu-jitsu and Muay Thai kickboxing sound fun, functional, and like an awesome workout! Gotta keep it fun, right?
Lifting weights is important, cardio is critical, and eating is key. In my never-ending quest to turn myself from slug to athlete, I am going Thursday night to watch a class. If I like it I’ll be signing up. I’m not giving up the iron, the bike, or the road, but Brazilian jiu-jitsu and Muay Thai kickboxing sound fun, functional, and like an awesome workout! Gotta keep it fun, right?
The morning report
Weekend was good. Despite the “sticker shock” on the scale Friday, I didn’t let that send me careening into a vat of cheese dip. I ate pretty well over the weekend, especially in light of the fact that we were traveling.
The boy did well at his tournament and had a good time. The trip was uneventful and we were home around supper time Saturday.
I didn’t get in as much exercise as I would have liked – I used the treadmill at the hotel, but yesterday hub was sick so I had to pick up his duties, which meant I spent the day cooking, cleaning, etc, and still didn’t get finished. But I took it slow and tried not to get overwhelmed. As a result, I am starting out the week feeling fairly refreshed.
Nothing special going on this week – a full week at the office, and a weekend at home next weekend. Here’s to a little quiet!
Weekend was good. Despite the “sticker shock” on the scale Friday, I didn’t let that send me careening into a vat of cheese dip. I ate pretty well over the weekend, especially in light of the fact that we were traveling.
The boy did well at his tournament and had a good time. The trip was uneventful and we were home around supper time Saturday.
I didn’t get in as much exercise as I would have liked – I used the treadmill at the hotel, but yesterday hub was sick so I had to pick up his duties, which meant I spent the day cooking, cleaning, etc, and still didn’t get finished. But I took it slow and tried not to get overwhelmed. As a result, I am starting out the week feeling fairly refreshed.
Nothing special going on this week – a full week at the office, and a weekend at home next weekend. Here’s to a little quiet!
Friday, May 05, 2006
Wednesday, May 03, 2006
Tao of the Machine
I’ve always been a Walkman user. I was forever being told by the MPs not to run on the streets of post with my Walkman. Up until last winter, I used a Sony Walkman which played tapes! I’m not generally an “early adopter”, preferring to wait until technology has gotten better (and cheaper).
If you’ll recall, earlier this month the MP3 hub bought me for my birthday last year died. Luckily, it was under warranty, and I now have a Samsung MP3 player. It took me a couple of weeks to get around to it, but a couple of weeks ago we finally set up the playlist on the computer and loaded it onto the little bugger. Can I say I love it? I do!
4:45 came awful early this morning. It took a while, but I was out the door at 5:15, Bugger strapped to my arm. We started out with a little “Omnibus” by Laut Sprecher, to get the blood going. Go listen to that song on Amazon or something and try to keep your feet still. That got me through the first stretch of running. I was walking up the first hill, thinking maybe I’d skip the second running stretch, when Bugger responded by playing the theme from Rocky. Why do high school bands love that song so much? Anyway, it did its magic, and I was running along, feeling like a champ. Then something off the South Park soundtrack to give me a laugh. Not sure what came next. Darude? For the last running stretch, I got to enjoy “Tao of the Machine” off the Blade 2 soundtrack. I ran up the final hill like I’d stolen something, and then cooled down to Kylie Minogue. Tao of the machine indeed. That little thing knows how to get me moving in the morning. 30 minutes of pure pleasure.
I finished reading “Burn the Fat, Feed the Muscle” by Tom Venuto last week. It’s an e-book, available on his site. I have to say it was very excellent. There wasn’t a whole lot that was brand new to me, but he did explain some of the “whys”. And he assembled and organized a lot of info, much of which I had only gleaned by churning through a lot of articles on bodybuilding.com. I’ve long said if you want to learn how to lose fat while maintaining your muscle, go talk to a body builder. Even if you don’t want to look like that, those folks know how to do it. He also spent a lot of time on the mental aspects of weight loss, the power of visualization etc.
I took time this weekend to review my menu, checking the nutrient balance in each of my meals. As I suspected, I’d drifted off course a bit. So I took the time to re-balance my meals. I ate like crap this past weekend, and I feel so much better after one day of clean eating. I swear, when will I learn? For exercise, I decided to get outside for a walk since the weather was so terrific. I walked an hour yesterday. I’ll hit the gym for weights this afternoon (its supposed to be hot). I am in an all day class tomorrow and Friday, so I won’t be able to get to the gym either day. And Friday we’re leaving for my son’s tae kwon do tourney up in Richmond.
This morning I drove the least trafficked route from home to work. I’ll have to re-check the final odometer reading, but it came in right around 13.5 miles. I may experiment with riding the route on the weekend with the hub in a couple of weeks, to see if I’m comfortable enough to ride my bike to work some this summer. In the meantime, the boy has agreed to ride with me a couple of evenings a week. I hate that we are going out of town and I’m still in the middle of getting back on track. Gosh darn those pesky family commitments! Hee hee hee.
Have a great day.
I’ve always been a Walkman user. I was forever being told by the MPs not to run on the streets of post with my Walkman. Up until last winter, I used a Sony Walkman which played tapes! I’m not generally an “early adopter”, preferring to wait until technology has gotten better (and cheaper).
If you’ll recall, earlier this month the MP3 hub bought me for my birthday last year died. Luckily, it was under warranty, and I now have a Samsung MP3 player. It took me a couple of weeks to get around to it, but a couple of weeks ago we finally set up the playlist on the computer and loaded it onto the little bugger. Can I say I love it? I do!
4:45 came awful early this morning. It took a while, but I was out the door at 5:15, Bugger strapped to my arm. We started out with a little “Omnibus” by Laut Sprecher, to get the blood going. Go listen to that song on Amazon or something and try to keep your feet still. That got me through the first stretch of running. I was walking up the first hill, thinking maybe I’d skip the second running stretch, when Bugger responded by playing the theme from Rocky. Why do high school bands love that song so much? Anyway, it did its magic, and I was running along, feeling like a champ. Then something off the South Park soundtrack to give me a laugh. Not sure what came next. Darude? For the last running stretch, I got to enjoy “Tao of the Machine” off the Blade 2 soundtrack. I ran up the final hill like I’d stolen something, and then cooled down to Kylie Minogue. Tao of the machine indeed. That little thing knows how to get me moving in the morning. 30 minutes of pure pleasure.
I finished reading “Burn the Fat, Feed the Muscle” by Tom Venuto last week. It’s an e-book, available on his site. I have to say it was very excellent. There wasn’t a whole lot that was brand new to me, but he did explain some of the “whys”. And he assembled and organized a lot of info, much of which I had only gleaned by churning through a lot of articles on bodybuilding.com. I’ve long said if you want to learn how to lose fat while maintaining your muscle, go talk to a body builder. Even if you don’t want to look like that, those folks know how to do it. He also spent a lot of time on the mental aspects of weight loss, the power of visualization etc.
I took time this weekend to review my menu, checking the nutrient balance in each of my meals. As I suspected, I’d drifted off course a bit. So I took the time to re-balance my meals. I ate like crap this past weekend, and I feel so much better after one day of clean eating. I swear, when will I learn? For exercise, I decided to get outside for a walk since the weather was so terrific. I walked an hour yesterday. I’ll hit the gym for weights this afternoon (its supposed to be hot). I am in an all day class tomorrow and Friday, so I won’t be able to get to the gym either day. And Friday we’re leaving for my son’s tae kwon do tourney up in Richmond.
This morning I drove the least trafficked route from home to work. I’ll have to re-check the final odometer reading, but it came in right around 13.5 miles. I may experiment with riding the route on the weekend with the hub in a couple of weeks, to see if I’m comfortable enough to ride my bike to work some this summer. In the meantime, the boy has agreed to ride with me a couple of evenings a week. I hate that we are going out of town and I’m still in the middle of getting back on track. Gosh darn those pesky family commitments! Hee hee hee.
Have a great day.
A bit more about beef
First off, I want to thank Linda for her great comment regarding yesterday’s post (go read it – I’ll wait!). Sometimes in a short blog, we don’t always do a great job of explaining ourselves. So I’d like to expand on my comment from yesterday.
Growing up, we raised chickens and goats. My uncle Marvin raised cattle. It never would have occurred to me not to eat those things. I guess that’s why I’ll never be a vegetarian. My issue is NOT with the folks who are growing our food – it’s with the companies that handle the products once they’ve left the farm.
One of the congressman who has voted to reduce the authority of OSHA and the USDA over the meatpacking industry is from eastern NC. A few years back 40 workers were killed in a poultry plant fire in his district. The plant had been cited several times for safety violations. The people weren’t able to get out of the burning building because the emergency exits were chained shut. And no one is really overseeing these companies except themselves.
Salmonella and E. Coli have been virtually eliminated from the food supply in several European countries. Why can’t we do that here? Why do we feed chicken poop to cows? I honestly don't worry much about Mad Cow, but I certainly do worry about E. Coli, antibiotics, and anabolic steroids.
But most of all, why do we allow these large companies to treat their employees so badly? NC is a leading producer of turkey for the US. The mistreatment of workers isn’t just in beef meatpacking – it’s in poultry as well. Let’s face it, in our quest for cheaper foods, we’ve said with our pocket books that we’d rather have low prices over high quality. We rally against Nike over the treatment of workers in their Asia plants – what about workers right here?
Would I eat organic beef? Absolutely! It’s just that I can get elk & deer cheaper. Ostrich is raised around here a lot. I can get reasonably priced organic poultry and ostrich, but there just isn’t a lot of beef raised around here. If it were, I’d happily eat it. And I will probably go to the local Whole Foods to pick up a couple of organic steaks for a special occasion, but its not going to be the staple of our diet.
I’ve been moving away from processed foods for quite a while now – I make my own bread, I buy vegetables from the farmer’s market rather than the grocery. Getting away from mass produced beef is one more step in that direction. Very likely the next thing to go out of my diet will be boneless skinless chicken breasts that aren’t organic. My dream is that someday, growers of food and shoppers unite, growing and buying the highest quality food possible. Food is just another symptom of our “quantity over quality” mentality.
Wow. I am now going to put the soapbox away!
First off, I want to thank Linda for her great comment regarding yesterday’s post (go read it – I’ll wait!). Sometimes in a short blog, we don’t always do a great job of explaining ourselves. So I’d like to expand on my comment from yesterday.
Growing up, we raised chickens and goats. My uncle Marvin raised cattle. It never would have occurred to me not to eat those things. I guess that’s why I’ll never be a vegetarian. My issue is NOT with the folks who are growing our food – it’s with the companies that handle the products once they’ve left the farm.
One of the congressman who has voted to reduce the authority of OSHA and the USDA over the meatpacking industry is from eastern NC. A few years back 40 workers were killed in a poultry plant fire in his district. The plant had been cited several times for safety violations. The people weren’t able to get out of the burning building because the emergency exits were chained shut. And no one is really overseeing these companies except themselves.
Salmonella and E. Coli have been virtually eliminated from the food supply in several European countries. Why can’t we do that here? Why do we feed chicken poop to cows? I honestly don't worry much about Mad Cow, but I certainly do worry about E. Coli, antibiotics, and anabolic steroids.
But most of all, why do we allow these large companies to treat their employees so badly? NC is a leading producer of turkey for the US. The mistreatment of workers isn’t just in beef meatpacking – it’s in poultry as well. Let’s face it, in our quest for cheaper foods, we’ve said with our pocket books that we’d rather have low prices over high quality. We rally against Nike over the treatment of workers in their Asia plants – what about workers right here?
Would I eat organic beef? Absolutely! It’s just that I can get elk & deer cheaper. Ostrich is raised around here a lot. I can get reasonably priced organic poultry and ostrich, but there just isn’t a lot of beef raised around here. If it were, I’d happily eat it. And I will probably go to the local Whole Foods to pick up a couple of organic steaks for a special occasion, but its not going to be the staple of our diet.
I’ve been moving away from processed foods for quite a while now – I make my own bread, I buy vegetables from the farmer’s market rather than the grocery. Getting away from mass produced beef is one more step in that direction. Very likely the next thing to go out of my diet will be boneless skinless chicken breasts that aren’t organic. My dream is that someday, growers of food and shoppers unite, growing and buying the highest quality food possible. Food is just another symptom of our “quantity over quality” mentality.
Wow. I am now going to put the soapbox away!
Tuesday, May 02, 2006
Good-bye, Beef
Quite the weekend. I was feeling yucko Friday, so I stayed home. We left for Pa. that afternoon, arriving about 1:30 am. Then we worked at our friend's house all day Saturday, getting back to the hotel a bit after midnight. Then up at 7 to drive home. Ugh. The boy wasn't feeling great yesterday, so I stayed home with him. I'm beat!
Glad it's a new month, although April is my favorite, just because it feels like a fresh start. My eating was lousy over the weekend. No excuses, and nothing I can do about it now, except live with the consequences. When I got home, I checked all my meals to make sure they were balanced & properly portioned, then I bagged it all up for the week. That should make it easy to stay on track this week. Since I wasn't here last Friday, I didn't weigh. I'll let you know how it goes this Friday.
We haven't eaten much beef in quite a while. For one, the amount of antibiotics and steroids in commercial meats has long bothered me. Two, I seriously doubt we are doing a good job of keeping mad cow out of our food. And three, we have a lot of deer, which is better and cheaper in any case. This weekend I got a 4 and a 5: I read "Fast Food Nation" - while I knew meat packing plants were dirty, I had no idea how absolutely inhuman the treatment of the workers is throughout the industry and 5) I now have a great source for natural elk at $3 per pound. We were down to eating beef maybe once a month. No more. If I lived in a country where the industry was actually overseen by an agency outside of the companies, yeah, maybe. But here? No way.
This afternoon, Neca go to gym to move grey pieces of iron around room. I think I'll be working upper body. Bring on the fun!
Quite the weekend. I was feeling yucko Friday, so I stayed home. We left for Pa. that afternoon, arriving about 1:30 am. Then we worked at our friend's house all day Saturday, getting back to the hotel a bit after midnight. Then up at 7 to drive home. Ugh. The boy wasn't feeling great yesterday, so I stayed home with him. I'm beat!
Glad it's a new month, although April is my favorite, just because it feels like a fresh start. My eating was lousy over the weekend. No excuses, and nothing I can do about it now, except live with the consequences. When I got home, I checked all my meals to make sure they were balanced & properly portioned, then I bagged it all up for the week. That should make it easy to stay on track this week. Since I wasn't here last Friday, I didn't weigh. I'll let you know how it goes this Friday.
We haven't eaten much beef in quite a while. For one, the amount of antibiotics and steroids in commercial meats has long bothered me. Two, I seriously doubt we are doing a good job of keeping mad cow out of our food. And three, we have a lot of deer, which is better and cheaper in any case. This weekend I got a 4 and a 5: I read "Fast Food Nation" - while I knew meat packing plants were dirty, I had no idea how absolutely inhuman the treatment of the workers is throughout the industry and 5) I now have a great source for natural elk at $3 per pound. We were down to eating beef maybe once a month. No more. If I lived in a country where the industry was actually overseen by an agency outside of the companies, yeah, maybe. But here? No way.
This afternoon, Neca go to gym to move grey pieces of iron around room. I think I'll be working upper body. Bring on the fun!
Wednesday, April 26, 2006
Too many balls, but I’m keeping them up there!
No sooner than I had posted…..
Hub is working on a very big painting job this week, with a very tight deadline of “before we leave town on Friday”. Yesterday he put out the 911, and after work the boy and I went over to paint. Yep, my 11 year old can roll walls like a pro. We rolled primer on the walls while hub worked on trim. Tonight we are going over to roll the paint. Does painting count as cardio?
Here’s a recap of yesterday:
B: yogurt with ¼ c oats, 1/8 c granola, and a couple of chopped walnut halves. Omelet with 1 egg + 3 whites.
S: ½ c cottage cheese with berries and a couple of walnut halves chopped
L: salad with (heated up refried beans & extra lean ground beef), topped with guacamole and salsa for the dressing. It was all homemade, so very healthy. I crumbled a couple of baked taco chips on top.
S: string cheese. My orange was moldy, so I got some peanut butter crackers from the vending machine.
D: subway 6 inch club with mustard & loads of veggies.
S: sugar free fat free blue bunny ice cream bar.
Exercise yesterday was walking for 90 minutes, with some running thrown in during the morning outing.
That’s about all I know. Looks like there won’t be any more trips to the gym this week, but I am walking 1 hour at lunch every day so that’s helping.
Have a great day!
No sooner than I had posted…..
Hub is working on a very big painting job this week, with a very tight deadline of “before we leave town on Friday”. Yesterday he put out the 911, and after work the boy and I went over to paint. Yep, my 11 year old can roll walls like a pro. We rolled primer on the walls while hub worked on trim. Tonight we are going over to roll the paint. Does painting count as cardio?
Here’s a recap of yesterday:
B: yogurt with ¼ c oats, 1/8 c granola, and a couple of chopped walnut halves. Omelet with 1 egg + 3 whites.
S: ½ c cottage cheese with berries and a couple of walnut halves chopped
L: salad with (heated up refried beans & extra lean ground beef), topped with guacamole and salsa for the dressing. It was all homemade, so very healthy. I crumbled a couple of baked taco chips on top.
S: string cheese. My orange was moldy, so I got some peanut butter crackers from the vending machine.
D: subway 6 inch club with mustard & loads of veggies.
S: sugar free fat free blue bunny ice cream bar.
Exercise yesterday was walking for 90 minutes, with some running thrown in during the morning outing.
That’s about all I know. Looks like there won’t be any more trips to the gym this week, but I am walking 1 hour at lunch every day so that’s helping.
Have a great day!
Tuesday, April 25, 2006
How I’m moving & what I’m eating
Thanks for the comment Sue – and you are right. Family, work, blah blah all play into our fitness. But I’d gotten to the point where I never came here to write about what I’m doing for my health, and I want to get back to that.
And another blogger introduced me to those D^% buffalo pretzels, so its only fair I share the love! :-)
I am walk/running in the morning, walking at lunch, lifting weights, and doing HIIT. My goals are AM – 4 times per week, lunch – 5 times, weights – 3 (but I’ve been getting only 2), and 3 for HIIT, but averaging 2. So, doing pretty good. I just need to make a little more effort to get to the gym and up my intensity a bit.
Food has gotten off kilter, but I’m back on board with my 5 small meals (and one after dinner snack). Last night that snack was a sugar free popsicle and half a cup of lowfat chocolate milk. A typical breakfast for me might be a 1 egg + 3 whites omelet with a bit of cheese and a small bowl of oatmeal. Meal 2 is ½ c cottage cheese and berries, with some crushed nuts for fat. Lunch is often a salad with tuna or chicken, some type of bean, olives, a bit of sunflower seeds, and lf dressing. Dinner varies a lot, but I am trying to buy plenty of veggies from the farmer’s market. I need to keep my after dinner snack small – too much food keeps me awake at night. Maybe a pudding or lowcal ice cream bar. It’s not a balanced meal (I’m working on that!), but we eat dinner early so I typically need something around 8.
Well, that’s what I’m doing. I’m also reading Tom Venuto’s ebook “Burn the Fat, Feed the Muscle” – a good read!
Take care.
Thanks for the comment Sue – and you are right. Family, work, blah blah all play into our fitness. But I’d gotten to the point where I never came here to write about what I’m doing for my health, and I want to get back to that.
And another blogger introduced me to those D^% buffalo pretzels, so its only fair I share the love! :-)
I am walk/running in the morning, walking at lunch, lifting weights, and doing HIIT. My goals are AM – 4 times per week, lunch – 5 times, weights – 3 (but I’ve been getting only 2), and 3 for HIIT, but averaging 2. So, doing pretty good. I just need to make a little more effort to get to the gym and up my intensity a bit.
Food has gotten off kilter, but I’m back on board with my 5 small meals (and one after dinner snack). Last night that snack was a sugar free popsicle and half a cup of lowfat chocolate milk. A typical breakfast for me might be a 1 egg + 3 whites omelet with a bit of cheese and a small bowl of oatmeal. Meal 2 is ½ c cottage cheese and berries, with some crushed nuts for fat. Lunch is often a salad with tuna or chicken, some type of bean, olives, a bit of sunflower seeds, and lf dressing. Dinner varies a lot, but I am trying to buy plenty of veggies from the farmer’s market. I need to keep my after dinner snack small – too much food keeps me awake at night. Maybe a pudding or lowcal ice cream bar. It’s not a balanced meal (I’m working on that!), but we eat dinner early so I typically need something around 8.
Well, that’s what I’m doing. I’m also reading Tom Venuto’s ebook “Burn the Fat, Feed the Muscle” – a good read!
Take care.
Lift well, Eat less, Walk fast, Live long
Listening to my meditation CD last night helped. So did exercise, healthy food, and a good night’s sleep.
As I was out this morning doing my walk/run, I realized that this blog has gotten pretty far from what it’s supposedly about: fitness. That’s not too surprising – that realization was followed by a second: my life has gotten pretty far from that focus as well.
I’m bringing this blog back to its roots. And while I haven’t given up on fitness, I want to make my health a higher priority. Watching my MIL slowly and painfully kill herself with the processed, packaged, modified, fake food product stuff she consumes as the mainstay of her diet has made me realize that I value my health, I enjoy “real” food, and I love pushing my body to its limits.
You can expect to see more here about what I’m eating, what I’m doing in the gym, and whether the birds were awake yet when I got up to walk (they weren’t this morning). You are welcome to come along, if there is still anyone still reading this thing! And even if there isn’t, well, its here to help me after all.
Listening to my meditation CD last night helped. So did exercise, healthy food, and a good night’s sleep.
As I was out this morning doing my walk/run, I realized that this blog has gotten pretty far from what it’s supposedly about: fitness. That’s not too surprising – that realization was followed by a second: my life has gotten pretty far from that focus as well.
I’m bringing this blog back to its roots. And while I haven’t given up on fitness, I want to make my health a higher priority. Watching my MIL slowly and painfully kill herself with the processed, packaged, modified, fake food product stuff she consumes as the mainstay of her diet has made me realize that I value my health, I enjoy “real” food, and I love pushing my body to its limits.
You can expect to see more here about what I’m eating, what I’m doing in the gym, and whether the birds were awake yet when I got up to walk (they weren’t this morning). You are welcome to come along, if there is still anyone still reading this thing! And even if there isn’t, well, its here to help me after all.
Monday, April 24, 2006
I’ll post an update later – this is a long rant about why my MIL is driving us all insane
Words that describe my MIL: lazy, ineffectual, pathetic, needy, demanding. You get the idea. This is a woman that expects us to take care of her, while she refuses to lift a pinky to help herself.
MIL was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes – a direct result of being obese I’m sure. She’s supposed to keep a food diary for her doctor, so the doctor can make sure her dosage of medicine is correct. Yeah, right. She complains that my mom is frequently gone in the evenings out with friends so she has nothing to eat, and is eating nothing but oatmeal. Yep, she can’t even open a can of tuna to make herself a sandwich – she’d rather risk her health so she can complain. Why is my mom responsible for her food???? Yesterday she ate a bowl of oatmeal and 3 Lean Cuisines. Now there’s a healthy diet!
And let’s not forget the creamer of course. She uses a half gallon of liquid creamer in her coffee per week. That’s 550 calories per day in creamer. She’s supposed to be on a 1500 calorie per day diet. Hoo!
She reads her books on diabetes but doesn’t follow the diet. Hell, I wrote her out a food plan but she insists on consuming nothing but “non-food” – she won’t eat fruit, shuns vegetables. And even her oatmeal is the packets of instant flavored junk. Gah.
And she totally mooches off my mom. For example, for my birthday dinner my mom paid for her meal (she never has money). Do you think she even thanked my mom??? Of course not. She lives in my mom’s house, doesn’t clean up after herself (other than a dab here & there), uses my mom’s laundry detergent etc, and then says things like “I’m so hungry. I’d have a bowl of cereal but I’m out of milk”, hinting for my mom to give her some of hers. Yet she’s been saying for a month she needs to go down & renew her food stamps, but hasn’t been bothered to do it. She’s rather mooch off my mom (except my mom isn’t letting her!).
MIL sleeps 12 – 16 hours a day, and when she’s up all she does is drink coffee & smoke. My mom had to leave a note taped to the mirror in the hall bathroom reminding this woman not to put paper towels down the toilet. I have 16 boxes of her quilting fabric in my dining room so she can work on her quilts – except she hasn’t made any real pogress on that in the past 3 months. She supposedly had a couple that were nearly finished she could just quickly assemble to sell (she desperately needs the money), but she hasn’t. It’s one lame excuse after the other.
She has no money. No job. No other family member will take her in at this point. So now we are the only thing between this woman and the street, and she’s such a selfish bi*&^% that she isn’t even the least bit thankful or thoughtful.
I feel better. Thanks for listening. :-)
Words that describe my MIL: lazy, ineffectual, pathetic, needy, demanding. You get the idea. This is a woman that expects us to take care of her, while she refuses to lift a pinky to help herself.
MIL was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes – a direct result of being obese I’m sure. She’s supposed to keep a food diary for her doctor, so the doctor can make sure her dosage of medicine is correct. Yeah, right. She complains that my mom is frequently gone in the evenings out with friends so she has nothing to eat, and is eating nothing but oatmeal. Yep, she can’t even open a can of tuna to make herself a sandwich – she’d rather risk her health so she can complain. Why is my mom responsible for her food???? Yesterday she ate a bowl of oatmeal and 3 Lean Cuisines. Now there’s a healthy diet!
And let’s not forget the creamer of course. She uses a half gallon of liquid creamer in her coffee per week. That’s 550 calories per day in creamer. She’s supposed to be on a 1500 calorie per day diet. Hoo!
She reads her books on diabetes but doesn’t follow the diet. Hell, I wrote her out a food plan but she insists on consuming nothing but “non-food” – she won’t eat fruit, shuns vegetables. And even her oatmeal is the packets of instant flavored junk. Gah.
And she totally mooches off my mom. For example, for my birthday dinner my mom paid for her meal (she never has money). Do you think she even thanked my mom??? Of course not. She lives in my mom’s house, doesn’t clean up after herself (other than a dab here & there), uses my mom’s laundry detergent etc, and then says things like “I’m so hungry. I’d have a bowl of cereal but I’m out of milk”, hinting for my mom to give her some of hers. Yet she’s been saying for a month she needs to go down & renew her food stamps, but hasn’t been bothered to do it. She’s rather mooch off my mom (except my mom isn’t letting her!).
MIL sleeps 12 – 16 hours a day, and when she’s up all she does is drink coffee & smoke. My mom had to leave a note taped to the mirror in the hall bathroom reminding this woman not to put paper towels down the toilet. I have 16 boxes of her quilting fabric in my dining room so she can work on her quilts – except she hasn’t made any real pogress on that in the past 3 months. She supposedly had a couple that were nearly finished she could just quickly assemble to sell (she desperately needs the money), but she hasn’t. It’s one lame excuse after the other.
She has no money. No job. No other family member will take her in at this point. So now we are the only thing between this woman and the street, and she’s such a selfish bi*&^% that she isn’t even the least bit thankful or thoughtful.
I feel better. Thanks for listening. :-)
Friday, April 21, 2006
I’ve been here before.
The past week has been filled with lame excuses, overeating, and generally feeling physically bad and emotionally guilty. Why am I here again? I feel like someone lost in the woods, who comes to the realization that they are walking in circles.
I put a call in to my doctor regarding my Welbutrin. I think I may either need a different medicine or a different dose. I felt like it was working for a while, but it doesn’t seem to be any more. Or maybe my perception is skewed?
I guess its no surprise that I didn’t get on the scale this morning. I had to shop for capris last night (I needed more warm weather work bottoms), and that felt like enough punishment for one week.
Besides still trying to get the house & yard squared away from being on vacation, I think part of the issue this week has been my MIL. She isn’t managing her life very well – not paying bills (or knowing where they are), not remembering appointment times, etc. Hub wanted to talk to her therapist to make sure the lady understood just how dysfunctional Mil is right now, and he probably also needed to let her know just how dishonest MIL is when discussing the past. Anyway, MIL threw a big fit about it and didn’t want him talking to her and was really acting like a goob, even though hub really was trying to help. So until 4 pm on my birthday, I wasn’t sure whether I would need to uninvite MIL from coming out to eat with us because of that situation.
In the end, hub did talk to the therapist and MIL had told her she wasn’t managing things well. He didn’t get a chance to talk about his mother’s dishonesty though. Which is a pretty major thing – she is completely off base in her portrayal of family relationships & events. I guess it’s a bit of a moot point – she owes over $200 at their office, and can’t come back until her account is current. Which will likely be never – she stills owes my mom half the money my mom loaned her for her glasses. I wish this woman weren’t in our lives. Sigh.
This weekend is going to be about getting my house tidied, de-stressing myself, and just generally getting my self back on track. I think I’ll rent a funny movie while I’m at it. Any suggestions?
The past week has been filled with lame excuses, overeating, and generally feeling physically bad and emotionally guilty. Why am I here again? I feel like someone lost in the woods, who comes to the realization that they are walking in circles.
I put a call in to my doctor regarding my Welbutrin. I think I may either need a different medicine or a different dose. I felt like it was working for a while, but it doesn’t seem to be any more. Or maybe my perception is skewed?
I guess its no surprise that I didn’t get on the scale this morning. I had to shop for capris last night (I needed more warm weather work bottoms), and that felt like enough punishment for one week.
Besides still trying to get the house & yard squared away from being on vacation, I think part of the issue this week has been my MIL. She isn’t managing her life very well – not paying bills (or knowing where they are), not remembering appointment times, etc. Hub wanted to talk to her therapist to make sure the lady understood just how dysfunctional Mil is right now, and he probably also needed to let her know just how dishonest MIL is when discussing the past. Anyway, MIL threw a big fit about it and didn’t want him talking to her and was really acting like a goob, even though hub really was trying to help. So until 4 pm on my birthday, I wasn’t sure whether I would need to uninvite MIL from coming out to eat with us because of that situation.
In the end, hub did talk to the therapist and MIL had told her she wasn’t managing things well. He didn’t get a chance to talk about his mother’s dishonesty though. Which is a pretty major thing – she is completely off base in her portrayal of family relationships & events. I guess it’s a bit of a moot point – she owes over $200 at their office, and can’t come back until her account is current. Which will likely be never – she stills owes my mom half the money my mom loaned her for her glasses. I wish this woman weren’t in our lives. Sigh.
This weekend is going to be about getting my house tidied, de-stressing myself, and just generally getting my self back on track. I think I’ll rent a funny movie while I’m at it. Any suggestions?
Thursday, April 20, 2006
To weigh or not to weigh?
Thanks for the birthday wishes - I had a great day. We did teambuilding at work - we hung siding at a Habitat house, had a nice lunch, & went to see "Scary Movie 4". Then I went out with my family & got some nice gifts and a (small thankfully!) ice cream cake from Coldstone Creamery.
I am terrified of the scale - I feel like an elephant. So, do I face reality or keep working at it & take a peek next week? Sigh.
I have to tell you guys - Edisto is so great. Not terribly commercial, very nice beach with lots of shells, and just very gorgeous. Our house was not so great unfortunately. It should have been ideal - huge porches with ocean views. But it was an older home and hadn't been well maintained. The company gave us a discount and were very nice about it - I think they didn't realize how bad some things had gotten over the winter. But we are already making plans to go back next year! I went there every year with my grandparents as a child, so its great to be able to share that with my son.
We won't be able to go to Ga. this weekend. :-( For one, we have a lot of stuff to do at home (oil change, lawn mowing, blah blah), and for 2 the boy was going to be with his granddad, but he (grandpa!) had a stent put in yesterday, so the boy may not be going up there this weekend.
Well, back to the salt mine.
Blogger won't upload pics right now, but I have some!
Thanks for the birthday wishes - I had a great day. We did teambuilding at work - we hung siding at a Habitat house, had a nice lunch, & went to see "Scary Movie 4". Then I went out with my family & got some nice gifts and a (small thankfully!) ice cream cake from Coldstone Creamery.
I am terrified of the scale - I feel like an elephant. So, do I face reality or keep working at it & take a peek next week? Sigh.
I have to tell you guys - Edisto is so great. Not terribly commercial, very nice beach with lots of shells, and just very gorgeous. Our house was not so great unfortunately. It should have been ideal - huge porches with ocean views. But it was an older home and hadn't been well maintained. The company gave us a discount and were very nice about it - I think they didn't realize how bad some things had gotten over the winter. But we are already making plans to go back next year! I went there every year with my grandparents as a child, so its great to be able to share that with my son.
We won't be able to go to Ga. this weekend. :-( For one, we have a lot of stuff to do at home (oil change, lawn mowing, blah blah), and for 2 the boy was going to be with his granddad, but he (grandpa!) had a stent put in yesterday, so the boy may not be going up there this weekend.
Well, back to the salt mine.
Blogger won't upload pics right now, but I have some!
Monday, April 17, 2006
T minus 2 days, and counting.
1) Wednesday I am turning 40. I’m not sure how I feel about this. 30 was no big deal – I was the single parent of a 14 month old, going to grad school full time and working 2 or 3 jobs. I didn’t have time to even think about it. This one is a bigger deal. Most days I feel between 28 and 32. But 40? No way.
2) What was up with that finish of the Paris-Roubaix? I haven’t looked at any cycling news, I just watched what I tivo-ed. Bruneel didn’t seem a bit upset about his boys getting disqualified. I think they went through that train intersection on purpose, knowing they’d get disqualified, just to screw with Boonen. Fifth place in a race he thought he’d win? That’s gotta be a blow to the confidence. I think that’s why they did what they did. Besides, if they had all waited for the train, he likely would’ve beaten them in any case.
3) The beach was good. I’ll post more details later in the week. The weather was amazing, I found some gorgeous shells, we rode our bikes every day on a beautiful path…. Now here I am, back at reality! Ouch!
1) Wednesday I am turning 40. I’m not sure how I feel about this. 30 was no big deal – I was the single parent of a 14 month old, going to grad school full time and working 2 or 3 jobs. I didn’t have time to even think about it. This one is a bigger deal. Most days I feel between 28 and 32. But 40? No way.
2) What was up with that finish of the Paris-Roubaix? I haven’t looked at any cycling news, I just watched what I tivo-ed. Bruneel didn’t seem a bit upset about his boys getting disqualified. I think they went through that train intersection on purpose, knowing they’d get disqualified, just to screw with Boonen. Fifth place in a race he thought he’d win? That’s gotta be a blow to the confidence. I think that’s why they did what they did. Besides, if they had all waited for the train, he likely would’ve beaten them in any case.
3) The beach was good. I’ll post more details later in the week. The weather was amazing, I found some gorgeous shells, we rode our bikes every day on a beautiful path…. Now here I am, back at reality! Ouch!
Thursday, April 06, 2006
It’s the Tour baby! (The Tour de Georgia, that is)
Thanks for the get well wishes – yes, I am feeling better. I got loads of sleep last night, and I know that helped. Also, I managed to eat a bit better yesterday – I’m sure that helped also.
I was on OLN’s web site today, trying to decide whether to order live streaming of the Giro (if they get enough takers will they show more on tv?), and I saw the Tour de Georgia. On a whim I checked out their web site. Turns out the Saturday stage is up in the Ga. Mountains – not too far from where my grandparents used to live and not too far from us. I’m going!!!! I’ll be there on the mountainside, doing my best imitation of a Basque fan(atic), with my face painted T-Mobile pink. Envy me!!! And I will post pics.
Gotta run!
Thanks for the get well wishes – yes, I am feeling better. I got loads of sleep last night, and I know that helped. Also, I managed to eat a bit better yesterday – I’m sure that helped also.
I was on OLN’s web site today, trying to decide whether to order live streaming of the Giro (if they get enough takers will they show more on tv?), and I saw the Tour de Georgia. On a whim I checked out their web site. Turns out the Saturday stage is up in the Ga. Mountains – not too far from where my grandparents used to live and not too far from us. I’m going!!!! I’ll be there on the mountainside, doing my best imitation of a Basque fan(atic), with my face painted T-Mobile pink. Envy me!!! And I will post pics.
Gotta run!
Wednesday, April 05, 2006
A little secret about me
How many times have you been checking out the reader letters at bodybuilder.com or Velo News or in the latest issue of Runner’s World and read something that goes a little like this “I have a question about training while sick. While doing a (12 mile recovery run, 50 mile ride, lower body workout) I coughed up a lung. To make matters worse, then I tripped over it and broke my left leg! I have a (20 mile run, hundred mile ride, power lifting competition) this weekend. Is Saturday too early to get back into it, or should I wait until Sunday?”
This is so not me. If I am sick, I immediately curl up in my chair with a book, munching on crackers or something, until fully healed up. I even walk slow lest I inhibit my recovery. I’ve been fighting a cold since Saturday, so that means 4 days of no exercise and not so great eating. I dread getting on the scale Friday. I am probably the only person in America who thinks they’ll lose weight on vacation, but that’s what I’m hoping for next week. Sigh. On the plus side, I can tell you that "Bag of Bones" by Stephen King is one terrific ghost story!
That’s why I’ve been so quiet – too busy irrigating my sinuses with salt water and rubbing Neosporin over the rawness that is my nose to take time to post. This week is pretty much shot from an exercise perspective – I sure am glad I have those exercise bands for next week! I’ll try to do better food-wise, even though its hard when all I want to do is comfort myself by stuffing my belly. I hate being sick.
How many times have you been checking out the reader letters at bodybuilder.com or Velo News or in the latest issue of Runner’s World and read something that goes a little like this “I have a question about training while sick. While doing a (12 mile recovery run, 50 mile ride, lower body workout) I coughed up a lung. To make matters worse, then I tripped over it and broke my left leg! I have a (20 mile run, hundred mile ride, power lifting competition) this weekend. Is Saturday too early to get back into it, or should I wait until Sunday?”
This is so not me. If I am sick, I immediately curl up in my chair with a book, munching on crackers or something, until fully healed up. I even walk slow lest I inhibit my recovery. I’ve been fighting a cold since Saturday, so that means 4 days of no exercise and not so great eating. I dread getting on the scale Friday. I am probably the only person in America who thinks they’ll lose weight on vacation, but that’s what I’m hoping for next week. Sigh. On the plus side, I can tell you that "Bag of Bones" by Stephen King is one terrific ghost story!
That’s why I’ve been so quiet – too busy irrigating my sinuses with salt water and rubbing Neosporin over the rawness that is my nose to take time to post. This week is pretty much shot from an exercise perspective – I sure am glad I have those exercise bands for next week! I’ll try to do better food-wise, even though its hard when all I want to do is comfort myself by stuffing my belly. I hate being sick.
Friday, March 31, 2006
Friday!
TGIF – the weather here is fantastico and we are taking our new boat out this afternoon. Woo hoo!
I was a little down when I got off the scale today – no change from last week. But when I went to enter it into my weight tracker Excel sheet, I realized that I lost for 3 straight weeks, and have had 2 weeks of maintain. That kinda put it in perspective for me – I had some solid losses, and now my body is “consolidating its position”. I’ll continue to lose – right now I can’t maintain this weight on this amount of food & exercise.
Thanks for the warm comments yesterday – I agree 100% that both all and nothing are the wrong approaches. You have to be somewhere in the middle to make this a lifestyle. I think though that I have been a little too far toward the “nothing” side of the scale, particularly in the food department. I do need to tighten that up a bit.
All that being said, yesterday was a good day. 1 hour of walking and an awesome leg workout at the gym. The legs aren’t sore though, but I sure was beat driving home from the gym! That’s a good thing.
Well, another busy day here at the salt mine and my breakfast break is over. I’m including a funny & calling it a day.
Have a great weekend!
HEALTH QUESTION & ANSWER SESSION
Q: I've heard that cardiovascular exercise can prolong life; is this true?
A: Your heart is only good for so many beats, and that's it...don't waste them on exercise. Everything wears out eventually. Speeding up your heart will not make you live longer; that's like saying you can extend the life of your car by driving it faster. Want to live longer? Take a nap.
Q: Should I cut down on meat and eat more fruits and vegetables?
A: You must grasp logistical efficiencies. What does a cow eat? Hay and corn. And what are these? Vegetables. So a steak is nothing more than an efficient mechanism of delivering vegetables to your system. Need grain? Eat chicken. Beef is also a good source of field grass (green leafy vegetable).And a pork chop can give you 100% of your recommended daily allowance of vegetable products
Q: Should I reduce my alcohol intake?
A: No, not at all. Wine is made from fruit. Brandy is distilled wine, that means they take the water out of the fruity bit so you get even more of the goodness that way. Beer is also made out of grain. Bottoms up!
Q: How can I calculate my body/fat ratio?
A: Well, if you have a body and you have fat, your ratio is one to one. If you have two bodies, your ratio is two to one, etc.
Q: What are some of the advantages of participating in a regular exercise program?
A: Can't think of a single one, sorry. My philosophy is: No Pain...Good
Q: Aren't fried foods bad for you?
A: YOU'RE NOT LISTENING!!!. Foods are fried these days in vegetable oil. In fact, they're permeated in it How could getting more vegetables be bad for you?
Q: Will sit-ups help prevent me from getting a little soft around the middle?
A: Definitely not! When you exercise a muscle, it gets bigger. You should only be doing sit-ups if you want a bigger stomach.
Q: Is chocolate bad for me?
A: Are you crazy? HELLO ..... Cocoa beans! Another vegetable!!! It's the best feel-good food around!
Q: Is swimming good for your figure?
A: If swimming is good for your figure, explain whales to me.
Q: Is getting in-shape important for my lifestyle?
A: Hey! 'Round' is a shape!
Well, I hope this has cleared up any misconceptions you may have had about food and diets. And remember: "Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways - Chardonnay in one hand - chocolate in the other - body thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and screaming "WOO HOO, What a Ride!"
TGIF – the weather here is fantastico and we are taking our new boat out this afternoon. Woo hoo!
I was a little down when I got off the scale today – no change from last week. But when I went to enter it into my weight tracker Excel sheet, I realized that I lost for 3 straight weeks, and have had 2 weeks of maintain. That kinda put it in perspective for me – I had some solid losses, and now my body is “consolidating its position”. I’ll continue to lose – right now I can’t maintain this weight on this amount of food & exercise.
Thanks for the warm comments yesterday – I agree 100% that both all and nothing are the wrong approaches. You have to be somewhere in the middle to make this a lifestyle. I think though that I have been a little too far toward the “nothing” side of the scale, particularly in the food department. I do need to tighten that up a bit.
All that being said, yesterday was a good day. 1 hour of walking and an awesome leg workout at the gym. The legs aren’t sore though, but I sure was beat driving home from the gym! That’s a good thing.
Well, another busy day here at the salt mine and my breakfast break is over. I’m including a funny & calling it a day.
Have a great weekend!
HEALTH QUESTION & ANSWER SESSION
Q: I've heard that cardiovascular exercise can prolong life; is this true?
A: Your heart is only good for so many beats, and that's it...don't waste them on exercise. Everything wears out eventually. Speeding up your heart will not make you live longer; that's like saying you can extend the life of your car by driving it faster. Want to live longer? Take a nap.
Q: Should I cut down on meat and eat more fruits and vegetables?
A: You must grasp logistical efficiencies. What does a cow eat? Hay and corn. And what are these? Vegetables. So a steak is nothing more than an efficient mechanism of delivering vegetables to your system. Need grain? Eat chicken. Beef is also a good source of field grass (green leafy vegetable).And a pork chop can give you 100% of your recommended daily allowance of vegetable products
Q: Should I reduce my alcohol intake?
A: No, not at all. Wine is made from fruit. Brandy is distilled wine, that means they take the water out of the fruity bit so you get even more of the goodness that way. Beer is also made out of grain. Bottoms up!
Q: How can I calculate my body/fat ratio?
A: Well, if you have a body and you have fat, your ratio is one to one. If you have two bodies, your ratio is two to one, etc.
Q: What are some of the advantages of participating in a regular exercise program?
A: Can't think of a single one, sorry. My philosophy is: No Pain...Good
Q: Aren't fried foods bad for you?
A: YOU'RE NOT LISTENING!!!. Foods are fried these days in vegetable oil. In fact, they're permeated in it How could getting more vegetables be bad for you?
Q: Will sit-ups help prevent me from getting a little soft around the middle?
A: Definitely not! When you exercise a muscle, it gets bigger. You should only be doing sit-ups if you want a bigger stomach.
Q: Is chocolate bad for me?
A: Are you crazy? HELLO ..... Cocoa beans! Another vegetable!!! It's the best feel-good food around!
Q: Is swimming good for your figure?
A: If swimming is good for your figure, explain whales to me.
Q: Is getting in-shape important for my lifestyle?
A: Hey! 'Round' is a shape!
Well, I hope this has cleared up any misconceptions you may have had about food and diets. And remember: "Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways - Chardonnay in one hand - chocolate in the other - body thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and screaming "WOO HOO, What a Ride!"
Thursday, March 30, 2006
All, nothing, or somewhere in between? You be the judge.
I am on a Body For Life e-group. This morning there was a re-posting from a member who was a finalist in a BFL challenge. She was discussing how she worked the program to get the results she did. The moderator also linked to an article discussing the mindset behind the champions, and a joking (but true) description of how to guarantee you won’t be a champion (set no goals, skip workouts, eat cake at the office). But the whole thing got me thinking.
I am following BFL, but in a fairly lackadaisical fashion. I do not weigh my food or obsessively check the nutrient ratios, I could certainly eat cleaner than I do, I include faux beer and chocolate in my diet on a regular basis. These behaviors aren’t going to peel 2 pounds of fat of my body per week, at least not week over week. On the other hand, I don’t go into my free day, slavering at the bit because I’m going to die if I can’t get my pizza fix. I have “less than optimal” foods built into my diet, so that I enjoy them as I go along. This doesn’t feel like a diet to me, it’s just my lifestyle.
On the other hand, we all know how long I stayed stalled. Yes, the weight is (slowly) coming off now, but for how long? If you think of your program (whatever it is) as a sort of sliding scale, where are you? Where am I? The folks that win the BFL challenges are at an 11 on a scale of 0 to 10 – 0 being no effort and 10 being total effort. I don’t want to be at 0, and I can’t sustain a 10 or even a 9 without driving myself nuts and crashing and burning after only a few days. So where is the best place to be?
I’ve spent the last year somewhere around a 2 or 3 if I’m honest with myself. Right now I feel like I’m operating at a 6. I’d like to hover somewhere between 7 and 8 – IMO, that’s a pretty good effort, without making yourself obsessive or nuts.
I like BFL because it’s a program that doesn’t require excessive weighing or measuring. For most people, a certain amount of measuring is needed until you get your eyeballs adjusted and can make accurate estimates of portions. On the other hand, I can’t help but feeling like I would see better, more, faster results if I did a bit better on my food. Exercise-wise, I feel like I’m right on. For example, choosing more veggies in place of some of the whole grains. Having either a piece of dark chocolate OR a faux beer, just not both. I’m wondering if a few little tweaks wouldn’t pay off. But I don’t want to turn into one of those obsessive people who slice up a cuke to put their tuna salad (FF mayo only!) on so they can eliminate the 5 whole wheat Ritz crackers from their snack. I guess I’m wondering where I need to draw my line. What are good choices, and what is “over the line”? And how sad is it that I don’t know the answer to that question?
Maybe I’m just feeling bad that yesterday didn’t turn out as I had hoped. Yep, I got up and walked. But I was running late and feeling fatigued, so I skipped cooking breakfast and took the boy & me to Sonic. I had a diet limeade and a ham & egg sandwich (no cheese). A little over what I normally eat, a bit high on the fat, and there’s that white bread, but not too bad.
There was breakfast at the meeting which I knew ahead of time to avoid (no protein), but I did indulge in a fourth of a pecan sweet thingie. No biggie, right? I had my snack, so when we went to lunch I wouldn’t be famished. I limited myself to 3 nacho chips with some topping and one cracker with crab dip from the load of appetizers ordered. I had French onion soup for lunch (left about a third of the cheese) and a grilled chicken Caesar salad (no parm, dressing on the side). We didn’t get dessert, so when we got back I did have another third of that pecan thing because I wanted something sweet. Afternoon snack was skipped because we got out of the meeting late.
Because I got out of the meeting late and had to get the boy, I missed my chance to hit the gym. Hub was working late, so I figured we’d go out. We went out for Chinese with another family. Actually that was no problem – I ordered steam veggies with tofu & chicken, steamed rice and sauce on the side. I didn’t eat much of the rice at all, but I did use all of the general tso’s sauce on my meal and then ate a fortune cookie. Have you ever seen a fortune cookie with a nutrition label? I read this one after I’d eaten the cookie – 210 calories and 10 grams of fat! Good lord! How do they squeeze all that into that tiny, crisp cookie???
After we got home we took a walk, and I had a faux beer. All day long I made a series of “pretty good’ choices. But are they “good enough” to get me the results I want? I know it was just one day. But it’s our response to a series of decisions every single day that determines the outcomes we create for ourselves.
I’ve made a lot of positive changes lately – I’ve majorly curtailed my consumption of both beer & diet soda. I’ve cleaned up my evening snacking in a bit way. Am I just being impatient, or am I expecting more payoff than I’ve earned? I don’t know the answer to any of this, but I definitely want these thoughts at the front of my brain – as long as they don’t keep me up at night!
I am on a Body For Life e-group. This morning there was a re-posting from a member who was a finalist in a BFL challenge. She was discussing how she worked the program to get the results she did. The moderator also linked to an article discussing the mindset behind the champions, and a joking (but true) description of how to guarantee you won’t be a champion (set no goals, skip workouts, eat cake at the office). But the whole thing got me thinking.
I am following BFL, but in a fairly lackadaisical fashion. I do not weigh my food or obsessively check the nutrient ratios, I could certainly eat cleaner than I do, I include faux beer and chocolate in my diet on a regular basis. These behaviors aren’t going to peel 2 pounds of fat of my body per week, at least not week over week. On the other hand, I don’t go into my free day, slavering at the bit because I’m going to die if I can’t get my pizza fix. I have “less than optimal” foods built into my diet, so that I enjoy them as I go along. This doesn’t feel like a diet to me, it’s just my lifestyle.
On the other hand, we all know how long I stayed stalled. Yes, the weight is (slowly) coming off now, but for how long? If you think of your program (whatever it is) as a sort of sliding scale, where are you? Where am I? The folks that win the BFL challenges are at an 11 on a scale of 0 to 10 – 0 being no effort and 10 being total effort. I don’t want to be at 0, and I can’t sustain a 10 or even a 9 without driving myself nuts and crashing and burning after only a few days. So where is the best place to be?
I’ve spent the last year somewhere around a 2 or 3 if I’m honest with myself. Right now I feel like I’m operating at a 6. I’d like to hover somewhere between 7 and 8 – IMO, that’s a pretty good effort, without making yourself obsessive or nuts.
I like BFL because it’s a program that doesn’t require excessive weighing or measuring. For most people, a certain amount of measuring is needed until you get your eyeballs adjusted and can make accurate estimates of portions. On the other hand, I can’t help but feeling like I would see better, more, faster results if I did a bit better on my food. Exercise-wise, I feel like I’m right on. For example, choosing more veggies in place of some of the whole grains. Having either a piece of dark chocolate OR a faux beer, just not both. I’m wondering if a few little tweaks wouldn’t pay off. But I don’t want to turn into one of those obsessive people who slice up a cuke to put their tuna salad (FF mayo only!) on so they can eliminate the 5 whole wheat Ritz crackers from their snack. I guess I’m wondering where I need to draw my line. What are good choices, and what is “over the line”? And how sad is it that I don’t know the answer to that question?
Maybe I’m just feeling bad that yesterday didn’t turn out as I had hoped. Yep, I got up and walked. But I was running late and feeling fatigued, so I skipped cooking breakfast and took the boy & me to Sonic. I had a diet limeade and a ham & egg sandwich (no cheese). A little over what I normally eat, a bit high on the fat, and there’s that white bread, but not too bad.
There was breakfast at the meeting which I knew ahead of time to avoid (no protein), but I did indulge in a fourth of a pecan sweet thingie. No biggie, right? I had my snack, so when we went to lunch I wouldn’t be famished. I limited myself to 3 nacho chips with some topping and one cracker with crab dip from the load of appetizers ordered. I had French onion soup for lunch (left about a third of the cheese) and a grilled chicken Caesar salad (no parm, dressing on the side). We didn’t get dessert, so when we got back I did have another third of that pecan thing because I wanted something sweet. Afternoon snack was skipped because we got out of the meeting late.
Because I got out of the meeting late and had to get the boy, I missed my chance to hit the gym. Hub was working late, so I figured we’d go out. We went out for Chinese with another family. Actually that was no problem – I ordered steam veggies with tofu & chicken, steamed rice and sauce on the side. I didn’t eat much of the rice at all, but I did use all of the general tso’s sauce on my meal and then ate a fortune cookie. Have you ever seen a fortune cookie with a nutrition label? I read this one after I’d eaten the cookie – 210 calories and 10 grams of fat! Good lord! How do they squeeze all that into that tiny, crisp cookie???
After we got home we took a walk, and I had a faux beer. All day long I made a series of “pretty good’ choices. But are they “good enough” to get me the results I want? I know it was just one day. But it’s our response to a series of decisions every single day that determines the outcomes we create for ourselves.
I’ve made a lot of positive changes lately – I’ve majorly curtailed my consumption of both beer & diet soda. I’ve cleaned up my evening snacking in a bit way. Am I just being impatient, or am I expecting more payoff than I’ve earned? I don’t know the answer to any of this, but I definitely want these thoughts at the front of my brain – as long as they don’t keep me up at night!
Wednesday, March 29, 2006
Let's meet!
Just a quick note - I've got an all day meeting today.
Food was fine yesterday. After work, I hit the gym for a fun little workout I call "Drop Set Mania". Start with the largest muscle (I did upper, so I started with back) - start with the heaviest weight you can move, then drop to the next lowest when you can't do it any more. Do that down the weight rack. Don't take any breaks. Then go to the second largest muscle group & repeat.
It looked kind alike this:
db row: 40/18 35/8 30/8 25/6 20/6
chest press: 30/10 25/6 20/6
shoulder press: 25/10 20/6 15/2
tricep overhead press: 30/5 25/8 20/6
bicep curl: 20/10 15/8 12/6
As you can see, I only did 3 iterations after the first exercise b/c those muscles were laready getting pretty fatigued. My arms feel like lead today, which is a good thing.
I got up and walked this morning. I had Sonic breakfast sandwich (no cheese) for breakfast - I was in a hurry and I wanted to avoid the bagels & juice at this meeting.
Have a great day!
Just a quick note - I've got an all day meeting today.
Food was fine yesterday. After work, I hit the gym for a fun little workout I call "Drop Set Mania". Start with the largest muscle (I did upper, so I started with back) - start with the heaviest weight you can move, then drop to the next lowest when you can't do it any more. Do that down the weight rack. Don't take any breaks. Then go to the second largest muscle group & repeat.
It looked kind alike this:
db row: 40/18 35/8 30/8 25/6 20/6
chest press: 30/10 25/6 20/6
shoulder press: 25/10 20/6 15/2
tricep overhead press: 30/5 25/8 20/6
bicep curl: 20/10 15/8 12/6
As you can see, I only did 3 iterations after the first exercise b/c those muscles were laready getting pretty fatigued. My arms feel like lead today, which is a good thing.
I got up and walked this morning. I had Sonic breakfast sandwich (no cheese) for breakfast - I was in a hurry and I wanted to avoid the bagels & juice at this meeting.
Have a great day!
Tuesday, March 28, 2006
I feel like bustin’ loose (right outta my pants)!
Why did I wear my “they just fit” jeans today???? I am suffering from either carb or PMS bloat – or both, and I feel like a sausage. I generally avoid carbs with my dinner so I can have a faux beer & square of dark chocolate after dinner. Last night I had a square of dark chocolate, 2 faux beers, and a serving of lowfat ice cream! Hopefully today is the last day of feeling like a sausage.
The funny thing is that other than that, my eating was very clean and on plan yesterday. I managed 1 hour 45 minutes of exercise – including a super intense HIIT session on the elliptical. It was definitely a step up in intensity from the treadmill. I figure 2 weeks of HIIT on the treadmill alternating with 2 weeks on the elliptical will keep my body guessing.
Changing my medicine helped a little, but I still had a bit of trouble sleeping last night. Sigh. Not sure what to do. They have to be 12 hours apart – I wake up at 5 and go to bed at 9, and any time between 6 and 9 pm doesn’t seem to work, but earlier would mean waking myself up to take a pill. Ugh.
Despite the sleep woes, I did get up and walk this morning. Hurray!
Why did I wear my “they just fit” jeans today???? I am suffering from either carb or PMS bloat – or both, and I feel like a sausage. I generally avoid carbs with my dinner so I can have a faux beer & square of dark chocolate after dinner. Last night I had a square of dark chocolate, 2 faux beers, and a serving of lowfat ice cream! Hopefully today is the last day of feeling like a sausage.
The funny thing is that other than that, my eating was very clean and on plan yesterday. I managed 1 hour 45 minutes of exercise – including a super intense HIIT session on the elliptical. It was definitely a step up in intensity from the treadmill. I figure 2 weeks of HIIT on the treadmill alternating with 2 weeks on the elliptical will keep my body guessing.
Changing my medicine helped a little, but I still had a bit of trouble sleeping last night. Sigh. Not sure what to do. They have to be 12 hours apart – I wake up at 5 and go to bed at 9, and any time between 6 and 9 pm doesn’t seem to work, but earlier would mean waking myself up to take a pill. Ugh.
Despite the sleep woes, I did get up and walk this morning. Hurray!
Monday, March 27, 2006
Scuppers the Sailor Dog
When my son was a little boy, the Little Golden Book “The Sailor Dog” was one of his favorites. Maybe it was the sailor dog crib bedding – maybe it was that grandpa was a pro waterskiier at Cypress Gardens a billion years ago. In any case – he has always loved the water and has been skiing since he was 1 year old.
When my mom & stepdad divorced, my mom really missed being out on the water and missed watching the boy ski. She always wanted a pontoon boat, but they always had ski boats. This weekend her 20 year dream became a reality: we boat a pontoon boat. Yep, a new 20 foot Starcraft! I ordered a grill so my hub would have something to do *smirk*.
Oh – Friday my MP3 player broke at the gym! Luckily the hub bought the insurance, so we went to Best Buy Friday night and picked out a new one. Then we spent time over the weekend loading music onto the computer and then onto the new player.
Saturday was a lot of shopping – for the boat, the hub for pants, for groceries. Sunday was cleaning the house & the cooking.
Food was kinda crazy on Saturday – more eating out than I would have liked, but hey, that’s what a free day is for. I am trying to get sick with something, so I spent the rest of the time trying to get some quality rest.
Speaking of which, I think I figured out why I am having insomnia, and figured out the cure. I take a 12 hour time release Welbutrin, and the evening one was causing the insomnia. By taking it right before bedtime, I bypass the insomnia. Yay!
Have a good day.
Friday, March 24, 2006
Insomnia
Okay, I had insomnia last night for the third time this week. Argh! Not sure if it’s the new job, new medicine, or what. I’m going to try to faithfully use my guided meditation CDs next week to hopefully quiet my mind. If that doesn’t help, I’ll call the doctor to ask if it could be the medicine & what I can do about that. Maybe I’ll do both.
In other news, my weight remained the same this week. Given that this is “the week” when I am typically up a pound or 2, I think that’s pretty good. Hopefully I’ll see some scale movement next week.
Exercise this week: M 1.5, T 1, W 1.5, H 1, F will be 1 hour. Good lower body workout at the gym last night, and a good walk at lunch.
Driving to work one morning, I noticed a sigh that read “We buy & sell used boats” – there is apparently a boat store right next to where I had my trailer hitch put on, across the road from the farmers’ market I go to nearly every weekend and I never noticed it!
So I called yesterday afternoon and spoke with a very nice fella named Randy who told me that they would be getting in a used pontoon boat next week, and that he felt confident that he could get us into a new boat in our price range. What made me so excited talking to Randy was the fact that he talked to me like I had a clue. He actually seemed to think I knew what he was saying when talking about engines, and he seemed to understand that 2 women might actually have the money to purchase a boat.
Shopping last weekend for boats, mom and I kept checking each other to see if our “cloak of invisibility” had inadvertently been slipped on, as we seemed to go unnoticed until we rudely asked for service. Those places needed a sign on the front door “No penis, no service.” Hrumph!
I told hub mom & I were going to look at boats Saturday morning, and he asked if he could come with us. The guy who was totally against us getting a boat! Seems he has seen some country music video for a song “Red Neck Yacht Club” and has decided that a pontoon boat looks fun. I told him he would come around, and of course he disagreed vehemently. Ha! I know my husband.
Must plan my food & activity for the weekend, but I am setting myself up for scale success come next Friday. Have a great weekend!
Okay, I had insomnia last night for the third time this week. Argh! Not sure if it’s the new job, new medicine, or what. I’m going to try to faithfully use my guided meditation CDs next week to hopefully quiet my mind. If that doesn’t help, I’ll call the doctor to ask if it could be the medicine & what I can do about that. Maybe I’ll do both.
In other news, my weight remained the same this week. Given that this is “the week” when I am typically up a pound or 2, I think that’s pretty good. Hopefully I’ll see some scale movement next week.
Exercise this week: M 1.5, T 1, W 1.5, H 1, F will be 1 hour. Good lower body workout at the gym last night, and a good walk at lunch.
Driving to work one morning, I noticed a sigh that read “We buy & sell used boats” – there is apparently a boat store right next to where I had my trailer hitch put on, across the road from the farmers’ market I go to nearly every weekend and I never noticed it!
So I called yesterday afternoon and spoke with a very nice fella named Randy who told me that they would be getting in a used pontoon boat next week, and that he felt confident that he could get us into a new boat in our price range. What made me so excited talking to Randy was the fact that he talked to me like I had a clue. He actually seemed to think I knew what he was saying when talking about engines, and he seemed to understand that 2 women might actually have the money to purchase a boat.
Shopping last weekend for boats, mom and I kept checking each other to see if our “cloak of invisibility” had inadvertently been slipped on, as we seemed to go unnoticed until we rudely asked for service. Those places needed a sign on the front door “No penis, no service.” Hrumph!
I told hub mom & I were going to look at boats Saturday morning, and he asked if he could come with us. The guy who was totally against us getting a boat! Seems he has seen some country music video for a song “Red Neck Yacht Club” and has decided that a pontoon boat looks fun. I told him he would come around, and of course he disagreed vehemently. Ha! I know my husband.
Must plan my food & activity for the weekend, but I am setting myself up for scale success come next Friday. Have a great weekend!
Thursday, March 23, 2006
A quote, a question, and the hunger thing
"The world is full of flat squirrels who couldn't make up their mind."
In big corporation buildings the bathrooms frequently have multiple stalls, lined up in one or more rows. If you walk in & sit down, and then a second person comes in, why do they always sit in the stall next to you??????
My girlfriend suggested a glass of milk before bed, since I am awake 3 hours after dinner. I gnawed on a cold piece of leftover fish from last night's dinner before we walked at lunchtime because I was starving. I mean, on a scale of 1 to 10 I was at 11. Also, for the third day I've eaten about 100 calories of vegetable soup in addition to my lunchtime salad to fill the pit. I think the problem is my morning source of protein this week is mostly protein powder with just a little egg (I made french toast) - also its pretty low in fat. So its probably not lasting as long as the egg with a bit of cheese and small serving of oatmeal I've been eating. But I had gotten bored. Back on the egg band wagon for me next week! If that doesn't work, then I'll add half a glass of milk before bed.
"The world is full of flat squirrels who couldn't make up their mind."
In big corporation buildings the bathrooms frequently have multiple stalls, lined up in one or more rows. If you walk in & sit down, and then a second person comes in, why do they always sit in the stall next to you??????
My girlfriend suggested a glass of milk before bed, since I am awake 3 hours after dinner. I gnawed on a cold piece of leftover fish from last night's dinner before we walked at lunchtime because I was starving. I mean, on a scale of 1 to 10 I was at 11. Also, for the third day I've eaten about 100 calories of vegetable soup in addition to my lunchtime salad to fill the pit. I think the problem is my morning source of protein this week is mostly protein powder with just a little egg (I made french toast) - also its pretty low in fat. So its probably not lasting as long as the egg with a bit of cheese and small serving of oatmeal I've been eating. But I had gotten bored. Back on the egg band wagon for me next week! If that doesn't work, then I'll add half a glass of milk before bed.
Ravenous
Sounds like the name of a bad zombie movie, doesn’t it? Come to think of it, I feel a little like one of those zombies in the sense that I AM STARVING!!!!!
I have upped my exercise, and apparently ye olde body is trying to tell me that it isn’t caring for the current caloric deficit. Monday was 1 hr walking, 30 minutes HIIT, Tuesday was 30 minutes walking and 30 minutes lifting, yesterday was 1 hr walking and 30 minutes HIIT, today is 30 minutes walking and 30 minutes weight lifting.
Food was most excellent yesterday – last night was baked fish, sautéed carrots, and a salad. Followed by 1 square of Dove dark chocolate and a “Faux Milwaukee beer”. The weird thing is I am now used to non-alcohol beer. I haven’t had a soda since Sunday. Who is this woman????
I am concerned about vacation and the lack of weight lifting. I think I’m going to investigate the possibility of buying some resistance bands or something I can take with me so I don’t go all flabulous. Does anyone have any experience with these things, or other suggestions???
MIL went in this morning for an ultrasound on some sort of cyst, tumor, something. Mom went with her.
In other news, there is thankfully no other news!
Sounds like the name of a bad zombie movie, doesn’t it? Come to think of it, I feel a little like one of those zombies in the sense that I AM STARVING!!!!!
I have upped my exercise, and apparently ye olde body is trying to tell me that it isn’t caring for the current caloric deficit. Monday was 1 hr walking, 30 minutes HIIT, Tuesday was 30 minutes walking and 30 minutes lifting, yesterday was 1 hr walking and 30 minutes HIIT, today is 30 minutes walking and 30 minutes weight lifting.
Food was most excellent yesterday – last night was baked fish, sautéed carrots, and a salad. Followed by 1 square of Dove dark chocolate and a “Faux Milwaukee beer”. The weird thing is I am now used to non-alcohol beer. I haven’t had a soda since Sunday. Who is this woman????
I am concerned about vacation and the lack of weight lifting. I think I’m going to investigate the possibility of buying some resistance bands or something I can take with me so I don’t go all flabulous. Does anyone have any experience with these things, or other suggestions???
MIL went in this morning for an ultrasound on some sort of cyst, tumor, something. Mom went with her.
In other news, there is thankfully no other news!
Wednesday, March 22, 2006
Feeling Groovy
I generally loathe music from the Simon & Garfunkel era (I think my subconscious relates it to my parents’ miserable marriage), but that song captures how I’m feeling today. Optimistic.
That in spite of a few things: In the past 3 days, my MIL’s dog has taken a dump in my bedroom three times! When I told hub about last evening’s little present (complete with some urine for him to stream clean up), he went postal. Over the cell phone, I heard him stop for a chocolate shake & fries and then he let me know he wanted to go out because he wanted buffalo wings and beer for dinner. Eeks! I tried to talk him out of it, to no avail. He had 12 wings and a beer for dinner. I had half a breadstick, 1 wing, and a child’s order of spaghetti with meat sauce. Not the best meal perhaps, but not terrible.
In the ongoing drama that is my MIL’s life, she got pulled by a state trooper yesterday – her car inspection, registration, AND license were all expired. He must’ve been a big softie, he wrote her a warning with the promise that she would fix it all that day (which she did).
Oh, and we’re back to winter mode here, with temps below average!
But ya know what? I ate pretty well yesterday in the face of stress. I did a killer upper body workout at the gym. I got up and walked this morning. My navy pants don’t fit yet, but my second pair of jeans do. I’m getting back to where I was – and then I’m gonna blow by it!
Yesterday’s workout was another “circuit of pain”. I did this first circuit twice through: cable row, cable lat pulldown, cable bicep curl, cable tricep pressdown, cybex machine shoulder press. Then I did once through this dumbbell circuit: db row, db incline press, bicep curl, did dips between benches, with 50 pounds on my lap, and then front and side raises for the shoulders. The thing I love about circuits is you can move from exercise to exercise quickly, maximizing your workout time. Felt great!
I generally loathe music from the Simon & Garfunkel era (I think my subconscious relates it to my parents’ miserable marriage), but that song captures how I’m feeling today. Optimistic.
That in spite of a few things: In the past 3 days, my MIL’s dog has taken a dump in my bedroom three times! When I told hub about last evening’s little present (complete with some urine for him to stream clean up), he went postal. Over the cell phone, I heard him stop for a chocolate shake & fries and then he let me know he wanted to go out because he wanted buffalo wings and beer for dinner. Eeks! I tried to talk him out of it, to no avail. He had 12 wings and a beer for dinner. I had half a breadstick, 1 wing, and a child’s order of spaghetti with meat sauce. Not the best meal perhaps, but not terrible.
In the ongoing drama that is my MIL’s life, she got pulled by a state trooper yesterday – her car inspection, registration, AND license were all expired. He must’ve been a big softie, he wrote her a warning with the promise that she would fix it all that day (which she did).
Oh, and we’re back to winter mode here, with temps below average!
But ya know what? I ate pretty well yesterday in the face of stress. I did a killer upper body workout at the gym. I got up and walked this morning. My navy pants don’t fit yet, but my second pair of jeans do. I’m getting back to where I was – and then I’m gonna blow by it!
Yesterday’s workout was another “circuit of pain”. I did this first circuit twice through: cable row, cable lat pulldown, cable bicep curl, cable tricep pressdown, cybex machine shoulder press. Then I did once through this dumbbell circuit: db row, db incline press, bicep curl, did dips between benches, with 50 pounds on my lap, and then front and side raises for the shoulders. The thing I love about circuits is you can move from exercise to exercise quickly, maximizing your workout time. Felt great!
Tuesday, March 21, 2006
Blech
I will start off on a positive note: exercise was excellent yesterday! 1 hour of walking, plus 30 minutes of HIIT at the gym. I am a goddess! Also, food was very good. I had 2 NA “beers” after dinner, plus a square of dark chocolate, but it was planned for and fit into the food for the day.
So many stressors are coming at me from so many different directions right now. I can’t believe I didn’t turn to food last night, although I certainly considered it!
The boy is having a tough time right now, on several fronts. He thinks his best friend stole 20 dollars from him. His grandpa’s wife’s mom just died, and her dad is in the hospital. MIL is getting on his nerves too – she at our house during the week and over at grandma’s when he goes over there on the weekend. He feels like he doesn’t get much of a break except up at grandpa’s – which is true. MIL is driving my husband insane and he is taking his ill humor out on the boy and is totally acting like a jerk! On the plus side, he does at least recognize the fact, and he apologized this morning, but his behavior has been pretty aggravating.
Me? I’ve just been hiding in the tub with the latest Stephen King book (which I finished last night BTW – excellent!). I spent 45 minutes last night holding my son while he just sobbed his little heart out. I gave him a Tylenol and a cool rag for the headache, and held him until he passed out, exhausted. Hub took him out for breakfast at their favorite breakfast spot this morning, so I hope he is feeling better today. He just had a lot bottled up that he needed to release. Poor guy.
It’s been two months – her unemployment lasts for six. She has yet to produce a single quilt, or to advertise the “sample” patterns she has made up so that people can select a style & color to place an order. A good idea, but no follow through, as is the norm with her.
The more I think about it, the more I realize I don’t want the headache of managing a rental property that she is “renting” from us. But god knows hub’s brother won’t help her in any long term kind of way – his patience with her is much shorter than hub’s! And quite frankly I don’t think the woman is capable enough to manage on her own. She’s just too messed up. Sigh. I don’t have an answer.
I am walking at lunch, and going to the gym to do an upper body workout this afternoon. Legs are still sore from Sunday. Now let’s work the upper body until it matches!
Here’s a recipe I modified from a cookbook I checked out of the library by Kathleen Daelemans.
Plum Butter:
4 plums, 1 apple, ¼ c sugar (if needed)
Quarter plums, chop apple, use sugar if plums are tart. Microwave 20 minutes. If you want it smoother, you can put it in the food processor. This is great on toast, French toast, pancakes, and I bet it would be yummy on a pork tenderloin.
Unfortunately, I only have the book until the 31st, and I can’t renew it. That and Bill Phillip’s “Eating for Life” are on my must purchase list. I’ve renewed Bill’s book like 3 times! I guess people think a “bodybuilder” can’t write a cookbook. Fools! Yeah, some of the recipes are a bit bland for my palate, but I use Rachel Ray’s seasonings & Bill’s ingredients. That way, I know the meal is balanced for my needs, yet conforms to my family’s palate. And most of the recipes are great as is. I made his sloppy joes last night and everybody loved them – especially my MIL.
Here’s another freebie recipe to zest up your food:
Salsa Verde
1/2 lb tomatillos (remove husks)
1 slice onion (about 1/4 inch thick)
1 garlic clove
1 canned chipotle chili (preserved jalapeno) OR 1 serrano
bunch of cilantro plus stems
salt to taste
1/2 to 1 cup low-fat, low-salt chicken broth
1 TB vegetable oil (optional--also can use Pam)
Blend all ingredients except oil in food processor. Don't worry about coring the omatillos or trimming the stems off the cilantro. Just toss it all in.
Use raw for: chips, veggies
Cook for ten minutes in sauce pan with vegetable oil until dark green. Use cooked for eggs, enchiladas, tamales, etc.
It is rainy & miserable & cold here – I just slept in this morning. Maybe that is affecting my mood also. Hopefully, I won’t be such a downer tomorrow. Until then, grouch, grumble, moan. :-[
I will start off on a positive note: exercise was excellent yesterday! 1 hour of walking, plus 30 minutes of HIIT at the gym. I am a goddess! Also, food was very good. I had 2 NA “beers” after dinner, plus a square of dark chocolate, but it was planned for and fit into the food for the day.
So many stressors are coming at me from so many different directions right now. I can’t believe I didn’t turn to food last night, although I certainly considered it!
The boy is having a tough time right now, on several fronts. He thinks his best friend stole 20 dollars from him. His grandpa’s wife’s mom just died, and her dad is in the hospital. MIL is getting on his nerves too – she at our house during the week and over at grandma’s when he goes over there on the weekend. He feels like he doesn’t get much of a break except up at grandpa’s – which is true. MIL is driving my husband insane and he is taking his ill humor out on the boy and is totally acting like a jerk! On the plus side, he does at least recognize the fact, and he apologized this morning, but his behavior has been pretty aggravating.
Me? I’ve just been hiding in the tub with the latest Stephen King book (which I finished last night BTW – excellent!). I spent 45 minutes last night holding my son while he just sobbed his little heart out. I gave him a Tylenol and a cool rag for the headache, and held him until he passed out, exhausted. Hub took him out for breakfast at their favorite breakfast spot this morning, so I hope he is feeling better today. He just had a lot bottled up that he needed to release. Poor guy.
It’s been two months – her unemployment lasts for six. She has yet to produce a single quilt, or to advertise the “sample” patterns she has made up so that people can select a style & color to place an order. A good idea, but no follow through, as is the norm with her.
The more I think about it, the more I realize I don’t want the headache of managing a rental property that she is “renting” from us. But god knows hub’s brother won’t help her in any long term kind of way – his patience with her is much shorter than hub’s! And quite frankly I don’t think the woman is capable enough to manage on her own. She’s just too messed up. Sigh. I don’t have an answer.
I am walking at lunch, and going to the gym to do an upper body workout this afternoon. Legs are still sore from Sunday. Now let’s work the upper body until it matches!
Here’s a recipe I modified from a cookbook I checked out of the library by Kathleen Daelemans.
Plum Butter:
4 plums, 1 apple, ¼ c sugar (if needed)
Quarter plums, chop apple, use sugar if plums are tart. Microwave 20 minutes. If you want it smoother, you can put it in the food processor. This is great on toast, French toast, pancakes, and I bet it would be yummy on a pork tenderloin.
Unfortunately, I only have the book until the 31st, and I can’t renew it. That and Bill Phillip’s “Eating for Life” are on my must purchase list. I’ve renewed Bill’s book like 3 times! I guess people think a “bodybuilder” can’t write a cookbook. Fools! Yeah, some of the recipes are a bit bland for my palate, but I use Rachel Ray’s seasonings & Bill’s ingredients. That way, I know the meal is balanced for my needs, yet conforms to my family’s palate. And most of the recipes are great as is. I made his sloppy joes last night and everybody loved them – especially my MIL.
Here’s another freebie recipe to zest up your food:
Salsa Verde
1/2 lb tomatillos (remove husks)
1 slice onion (about 1/4 inch thick)
1 garlic clove
1 canned chipotle chili (preserved jalapeno) OR 1 serrano
bunch of cilantro plus stems
salt to taste
1/2 to 1 cup low-fat, low-salt chicken broth
1 TB vegetable oil (optional--also can use Pam)
Blend all ingredients except oil in food processor. Don't worry about coring the omatillos or trimming the stems off the cilantro. Just toss it all in.
Use raw for: chips, veggies
Cook for ten minutes in sauce pan with vegetable oil until dark green. Use cooked for eggs, enchiladas, tamales, etc.
It is rainy & miserable & cold here – I just slept in this morning. Maybe that is affecting my mood also. Hopefully, I won’t be such a downer tomorrow. Until then, grouch, grumble, moan. :-[
Monday, March 20, 2006
Fire up the barbie, we're having green beans for dinner!
The weekend went way too fast! As usual *smirk*.
I got in two very good weight routines last week - my legs are cursing me even as I sit here. "It hurts so good!" So, even thought I did 45 minutes less exercise than the week before, I think it worked out to be better overall since I have managed a return to the gym. Before we left for the gym yesterday, the hub and I were doing that old "Hans and Franz" schtick from SNL - we're such goobs. :-)
For the curious, here is the "circuit of doom" I created to pummel my legs into submission. I did each exercise and then moved on to the next one, doing the whole cicuit twice. Next week I'll try for three!
Squats, step ups (step from the floor onto a flat weight bench while holding dumbbells), leg press, abductor, adductor, calf raises, crunches, low back hyper extension, decline sit-ups, donkey kicks.
Food gets a B+ for the weekend. I had post dinner snacks Friday and Saturday, but my meals were very good all weekend. Saturday nigth the snacking got a bit out of control, and both times my snacks included beer. Not good!
I made an amazing ratatoille on the grill last night - my MIL probably ate more veggies at dinner last night than she generally eats in a week! That stuff was good! Tonight I am making the sloppy joes from the "Eating for Life" cookbook, and getting the hub to grill some fresh green beans. I know - kinda a weird combination.
Mom & I went and looked at boats Saturday. 1) Men that work in boat shops seem to think that 2 women aren't worth waiting on unless everyone else in the store has been helped. Hello, this ain't Korea people! 2) We will definitely be buying a used boat. Whoa!
Looked at a house Friday. Uh, no!
Hub walked for 45 minutes with me Saturday morning. And went to the gym yesterday with me. And walked this morning! (We didn't walk together - I left the house before he had even managed to sit up. He's not a quick riser!). I'm not saying anything, but yay! He went to a christening Saturday and went to put on a pair of jeans and they were too tight! I suspect that was a rude awakening.
Have a great day!
The weekend went way too fast! As usual *smirk*.
I got in two very good weight routines last week - my legs are cursing me even as I sit here. "It hurts so good!" So, even thought I did 45 minutes less exercise than the week before, I think it worked out to be better overall since I have managed a return to the gym. Before we left for the gym yesterday, the hub and I were doing that old "Hans and Franz" schtick from SNL - we're such goobs. :-)
For the curious, here is the "circuit of doom" I created to pummel my legs into submission. I did each exercise and then moved on to the next one, doing the whole cicuit twice. Next week I'll try for three!
Squats, step ups (step from the floor onto a flat weight bench while holding dumbbells), leg press, abductor, adductor, calf raises, crunches, low back hyper extension, decline sit-ups, donkey kicks.
Food gets a B+ for the weekend. I had post dinner snacks Friday and Saturday, but my meals were very good all weekend. Saturday nigth the snacking got a bit out of control, and both times my snacks included beer. Not good!
I made an amazing ratatoille on the grill last night - my MIL probably ate more veggies at dinner last night than she generally eats in a week! That stuff was good! Tonight I am making the sloppy joes from the "Eating for Life" cookbook, and getting the hub to grill some fresh green beans. I know - kinda a weird combination.
Mom & I went and looked at boats Saturday. 1) Men that work in boat shops seem to think that 2 women aren't worth waiting on unless everyone else in the store has been helped. Hello, this ain't Korea people! 2) We will definitely be buying a used boat. Whoa!
Looked at a house Friday. Uh, no!
Hub walked for 45 minutes with me Saturday morning. And went to the gym yesterday with me. And walked this morning! (We didn't walk together - I left the house before he had even managed to sit up. He's not a quick riser!). I'm not saying anything, but yay! He went to a christening Saturday and went to put on a pair of jeans and they were too tight! I suspect that was a rude awakening.
Have a great day!
Friday, March 17, 2006
Faux Milwaukee
The good:
1 hour of exercise per day has been achieved this week. I even made it to the gym and lifted weights. Proof that miracles happen in the modern age.
Weight popped up briefly last Friday, but today I was back to the 153.5 I saw in the doctor’s office. I had crept up to 157.5 – ouch! So, I do seem to be on a solid downward trend – huzzah!
I am down to 1 soda, not every day. So maybe 5 per week. This is a significant improvement over where I was. For my next trick, I plan to switch to decaf tea at home, since I drink it with supper.
Mom and I are looking at going in together on a pontoon boat. Woo hoo!
The bad:
After a wonderful night of sleep Wednesday, insomnia returned last night. I slept in this morning, again. :-( I have been making up the exercise time in the evenings, but I really enjoy exercising in the morning. And this insomnia thing stinks! I’m not sure what the deal is. I plan to add a half hour of meditation into my evening routine. Perhaps this will settle my mind.
My former boss’ boss decided that since I got a promotion I didn’t need a merit increase for last year, even though my end of year review was excellent. My boss tried to fight for me, to no avail. Angry and bitter, your table is now available.
The sad:
Beer and I have had to pretty much part ways in order for me to get this weight off. I, Neca, brewer since the age of 14, connoisseur of fine German beer, am reduced to drinking Old Milwaukee NA from a can. And the really pitiful thing is its starting to taste pretty good. Pity me!
The annoying:
My MIL. Maybe my insomnia is due to being dragged way farther into the train wreck that is her life than I would like. This is difficult to avoid when she is living with my mom, and staying on my sofa 3 nights a week to be at our house to work on her quilting.
The only reason I am letting her do that is that she is barely getting by on unemployment, and she needs to start saving so she can move out. Quilting is something she does extremely well, and she could earn some good money on the side. Hub and I are exploring the possibility of helping her purchase a small house – her credit is way too bad for her to possibly do it on her own. We are looking at a place this afternoon. The source of my insomnia perhaps????
In other MIL news, she got some lab results from the doc yesterday. Among other things, her cholesterol is 400. That is NOT a typo. If you saw the crap she eats you wouldn’t be surprised. That did at least prompt her to ask for help, so mom & I staged an intervention on her eating. We’ll see how long that lasts.
The unrelated:
While I like Riis and the CSC cyclists as individuals, I get a sense on arrogance. Perhaps it is merely confidence and I am misreading it through my T-mobile pink colored glasses. Americans seem to be kicking butt & taking names. “European” cycling my red, white, & blue butt! Looks to be a lot more exciting now that Lance is out of it. Yeah, I know, sacreligious.
Have a great weekend
The good:
1 hour of exercise per day has been achieved this week. I even made it to the gym and lifted weights. Proof that miracles happen in the modern age.
Weight popped up briefly last Friday, but today I was back to the 153.5 I saw in the doctor’s office. I had crept up to 157.5 – ouch! So, I do seem to be on a solid downward trend – huzzah!
I am down to 1 soda, not every day. So maybe 5 per week. This is a significant improvement over where I was. For my next trick, I plan to switch to decaf tea at home, since I drink it with supper.
Mom and I are looking at going in together on a pontoon boat. Woo hoo!
The bad:
After a wonderful night of sleep Wednesday, insomnia returned last night. I slept in this morning, again. :-( I have been making up the exercise time in the evenings, but I really enjoy exercising in the morning. And this insomnia thing stinks! I’m not sure what the deal is. I plan to add a half hour of meditation into my evening routine. Perhaps this will settle my mind.
My former boss’ boss decided that since I got a promotion I didn’t need a merit increase for last year, even though my end of year review was excellent. My boss tried to fight for me, to no avail. Angry and bitter, your table is now available.
The sad:
Beer and I have had to pretty much part ways in order for me to get this weight off. I, Neca, brewer since the age of 14, connoisseur of fine German beer, am reduced to drinking Old Milwaukee NA from a can. And the really pitiful thing is its starting to taste pretty good. Pity me!
The annoying:
My MIL. Maybe my insomnia is due to being dragged way farther into the train wreck that is her life than I would like. This is difficult to avoid when she is living with my mom, and staying on my sofa 3 nights a week to be at our house to work on her quilting.
The only reason I am letting her do that is that she is barely getting by on unemployment, and she needs to start saving so she can move out. Quilting is something she does extremely well, and she could earn some good money on the side. Hub and I are exploring the possibility of helping her purchase a small house – her credit is way too bad for her to possibly do it on her own. We are looking at a place this afternoon. The source of my insomnia perhaps????
In other MIL news, she got some lab results from the doc yesterday. Among other things, her cholesterol is 400. That is NOT a typo. If you saw the crap she eats you wouldn’t be surprised. That did at least prompt her to ask for help, so mom & I staged an intervention on her eating. We’ll see how long that lasts.
The unrelated:
While I like Riis and the CSC cyclists as individuals, I get a sense on arrogance. Perhaps it is merely confidence and I am misreading it through my T-mobile pink colored glasses. Americans seem to be kicking butt & taking names. “European” cycling my red, white, & blue butt! Looks to be a lot more exciting now that Lance is out of it. Yeah, I know, sacreligious.
Have a great weekend
Wednesday, March 15, 2006
Insomnia: Part 3
Last night marked the third night in a row of insomnia. You know, the kind where you wake up at 2 am and then lay there for an hour or two mulling over everything and anything? So that then you reset the alarm in your sleep when it goes off because you are so freaking exhausted. Only to collapse into bed at 9 pm the next day, only to repeat the whole heinous process yet again. Gah.
MIL is staying with us for a couple of nights, to give my mom a break, and so she can work on her quilts. She is finishing some to sell so she can put a little money into savings. I am helping her clean up the financial portion of the disaster that is her life. That’s something I’m actually good at.
Due to the PTA dinner and the middle school play at the boy’s school last night, I only got 30 minutes of exercise yesterday. I’m not too happy with that. Coupled with the fact that while I watched my portions at the dinner, I was limited to what they were offering (spaghetti, salad with full fat dressing), that’s not such a great day. But I did the best I could from the choices I had. I ate part of my spaghetti, large salad with just a teaspoon of dressing, and tea. Which was sweet. Sigh.
Despite being down due to lack of quality sleep, I am not beating myself up over this – I’ve been eating dead on plan during the day and tonight and tomorrow are very healthy dinners at home, so I’ll be okay.
This is for VJ, who always writes about the weirdest dreams: Last night I had the most bizarre dream! I was at a coliseum and I had tickets to see the show. The tickets were very much in demand, and I was graciously giving my tickets to an older couple. Why was I being so nice? Because the show was a cover for some bizarre brain washing on the selected people who had been given tickets. Some people were given tickets, and others bought theirs, but the ones given tickets were particularly targeted for the brain washing. There were a few of us that knew what was going on, and were trying to avoid going in. After giving away the tickets, a group of us attempted to escape the coliseum. I was caught in the parking lot and killed. Then I went to the afterlife where these brain washers went – I went there because somehow when they killed me I got misidentified as one of them. So then I started an underground rebellion there in the afterlife, to overthrow these people and free my people. I was disguised as one of them because I had molted the turtle shell I was supposed to have in the afterlife to identify me as a part of my group. By molting, I could infiltrate these other people and work against them.
Top that on the weird-o-meter. I need more sleep!
Last night marked the third night in a row of insomnia. You know, the kind where you wake up at 2 am and then lay there for an hour or two mulling over everything and anything? So that then you reset the alarm in your sleep when it goes off because you are so freaking exhausted. Only to collapse into bed at 9 pm the next day, only to repeat the whole heinous process yet again. Gah.
MIL is staying with us for a couple of nights, to give my mom a break, and so she can work on her quilts. She is finishing some to sell so she can put a little money into savings. I am helping her clean up the financial portion of the disaster that is her life. That’s something I’m actually good at.
Due to the PTA dinner and the middle school play at the boy’s school last night, I only got 30 minutes of exercise yesterday. I’m not too happy with that. Coupled with the fact that while I watched my portions at the dinner, I was limited to what they were offering (spaghetti, salad with full fat dressing), that’s not such a great day. But I did the best I could from the choices I had. I ate part of my spaghetti, large salad with just a teaspoon of dressing, and tea. Which was sweet. Sigh.
Despite being down due to lack of quality sleep, I am not beating myself up over this – I’ve been eating dead on plan during the day and tonight and tomorrow are very healthy dinners at home, so I’ll be okay.
This is for VJ, who always writes about the weirdest dreams: Last night I had the most bizarre dream! I was at a coliseum and I had tickets to see the show. The tickets were very much in demand, and I was graciously giving my tickets to an older couple. Why was I being so nice? Because the show was a cover for some bizarre brain washing on the selected people who had been given tickets. Some people were given tickets, and others bought theirs, but the ones given tickets were particularly targeted for the brain washing. There were a few of us that knew what was going on, and were trying to avoid going in. After giving away the tickets, a group of us attempted to escape the coliseum. I was caught in the parking lot and killed. Then I went to the afterlife where these brain washers went – I went there because somehow when they killed me I got misidentified as one of them. So then I started an underground rebellion there in the afterlife, to overthrow these people and free my people. I was disguised as one of them because I had molted the turtle shell I was supposed to have in the afterlife to identify me as a part of my group. By molting, I could infiltrate these other people and work against them.
Top that on the weird-o-meter. I need more sleep!
Tuesday, March 14, 2006
Monday, March 13, 2006
Sunny and 82
The weather here is just bizarre. Its was in the 80s this weekend and today. Gorgeous! Getting up and walking an hour on Saturday was a pleasure. So, exercise was totally covered this weekend. My goal for last week was 7 hours of exercise and I did 6.5. The bad part is that none of that was weight lifting, but still – that’s a lot!
Food was a bit excessive this weekend, but not out of control. So, sustained improvement in that area.
We did a lot this weekend – it was easy to be productive with the windows open and all the fresh air pouring in. I brushed the dog, we cleaned & rearranged our guest room – it looks so much better. I wouldn’t mind staying in there now.
Right now it just feels good to be in my skin.
The weather here is just bizarre. Its was in the 80s this weekend and today. Gorgeous! Getting up and walking an hour on Saturday was a pleasure. So, exercise was totally covered this weekend. My goal for last week was 7 hours of exercise and I did 6.5. The bad part is that none of that was weight lifting, but still – that’s a lot!
Food was a bit excessive this weekend, but not out of control. So, sustained improvement in that area.
We did a lot this weekend – it was easy to be productive with the windows open and all the fresh air pouring in. I brushed the dog, we cleaned & rearranged our guest room – it looks so much better. I wouldn’t mind staying in there now.
Right now it just feels good to be in my skin.
Friday, March 10, 2006
Fall down, get up. Lather, rinse, repeat.
The doctor’s scale showed me 2.5 pounds down from last Friday. Then I had a total binge last night. Not really sure why/how I let myself get so stressed out, but I did. It is humbling to be reminded that while I am doing so much better with the stress eating, that I am not impervious. I can go over that edge if I don't remain vigilant.
But, no beating myself up. It happened, but that's no excuse to slack on my exercise or continue to overeat. If you drop an egg on the kitchen floor, you don't toss the rest of the carton down too! I need to plan my menu for the weekend so I am not searching around for something to eat, as that generally ends badly. :-)
I have managed 1 hour of exercise per day since Sunday – the weather right now makes it a pleasure to be outside. We are going to rearrange & clean up our guest room this weekend. I am glad I’m getting us moving on some of the household projects that need to be worked on.
I know I rarely mention TV here – it’s because I watch so little. However, there are 3 shows that I follow faithfully and they all are airing their season finales tonight: Stargate SG1, Stargate Atlantis, and Battlestar Galactica. That’s almost too much excitement for one evening! Yes, I am a total geek.
Other than TV and room cleaning, there will be the usual suspects of housework, grocery shopping, and food prep. Other than that, my plan is to be outside. Have a good one!
The doctor’s scale showed me 2.5 pounds down from last Friday. Then I had a total binge last night. Not really sure why/how I let myself get so stressed out, but I did. It is humbling to be reminded that while I am doing so much better with the stress eating, that I am not impervious. I can go over that edge if I don't remain vigilant.
But, no beating myself up. It happened, but that's no excuse to slack on my exercise or continue to overeat. If you drop an egg on the kitchen floor, you don't toss the rest of the carton down too! I need to plan my menu for the weekend so I am not searching around for something to eat, as that generally ends badly. :-)
I have managed 1 hour of exercise per day since Sunday – the weather right now makes it a pleasure to be outside. We are going to rearrange & clean up our guest room this weekend. I am glad I’m getting us moving on some of the household projects that need to be worked on.
I know I rarely mention TV here – it’s because I watch so little. However, there are 3 shows that I follow faithfully and they all are airing their season finales tonight: Stargate SG1, Stargate Atlantis, and Battlestar Galactica. That’s almost too much excitement for one evening! Yes, I am a total geek.
Other than TV and room cleaning, there will be the usual suspects of housework, grocery shopping, and food prep. Other than that, my plan is to be outside. Have a good one!
Thursday, March 09, 2006
I'm not dead yet!
No new illness or injury to report. I was away at a 2 day Microsoft Access class, and at the end of the day the last thing I felt like doing was logging on to the computer, you know?
Food: check. Exercise: yes! 1 hr/day of brisk walking, plus some weights too. Goal: 7 hours of exercise per week. Yeah that is a lot, but with the weather being so nice it is no hardship whatsoever!
I'll post more tomorrow.
No new illness or injury to report. I was away at a 2 day Microsoft Access class, and at the end of the day the last thing I felt like doing was logging on to the computer, you know?
Food: check. Exercise: yes! 1 hr/day of brisk walking, plus some weights too. Goal: 7 hours of exercise per week. Yeah that is a lot, but with the weather being so nice it is no hardship whatsoever!
I'll post more tomorrow.
Monday, March 06, 2006
Excellent!
I couldn’t think of a nifty title, but that perfectly describes my weekend.
Friday for date night hub & I went out to dinner. Because he got home late and then took an hour to get ready (he takes twice as long to get ready as I do!), it was 6:30 before we were leaving the house. Since they roll up the sidewalks at 9 around here, the good restaurants were already packed. So the seafood place I hoped to go to was out. I was hungry, and I wanted to be at place ‘B’ by 7:30, so we’d have plenty of time. We wound up eating at the little Japanese place next to my son’s dojo – it’s decent food and quick, just no atmosphere.
That was okay though because we had plenty of time to get to ‘Ceramics Unleashed’ to paint pottery. I thought that would be a fun date thing to do, and hub really enjoyed it. We both painted plates for us to use at Pennsic this year. I’ll post photos – I think we both did a good job, and we had a lot of fun.
Saturday we got up and hub cleaned while I went grocery shopping. He took off to D&D, leaving me with a tidy home and a smile on my face. And I got to the nail shop early enough that I didn’t have to wait! A miracle. My nails are pretty and T-Mobile pink. :-)
My mom came over and we went to work painting the celtic knotwork I had drawn on the kitchen walls. We only got half painted, but what we did looks terrific. Then we went out for Mexican food – I tried to not eat too many chips!
Sunday I got up early, fed me & the animals, got dressed, and went for a walk. It felt so great – sunny and pleasant. Got home and did the cooking for the week, then watched our tivo-ed Sci-fi shows from Friday night. THEN mom & MIL came over. I made tequenos (a Venezuelan thing – a white goat cheese wrapped in dough & fried) and a yummy fish soup which was a hit with no one but me. Oh well. Win some, lose some. And the capper of the weekend? Watching the opening prologue of the Paris-Nice road race. Ah, cycling season – if only more of it were on tv.
Exercise was good – I walked for an hour yesterday. Food was also decent, my dinners were all a bit indulgent, but I kept my breakfasts & lunches really healthy, and there was no gratuitous snacking! Woo hoo! This morning I got up and walked 40 minutes – food is all planned out for the week. I really feel like its all coming together. And that’s a great feeling.
I couldn’t think of a nifty title, but that perfectly describes my weekend.
Friday for date night hub & I went out to dinner. Because he got home late and then took an hour to get ready (he takes twice as long to get ready as I do!), it was 6:30 before we were leaving the house. Since they roll up the sidewalks at 9 around here, the good restaurants were already packed. So the seafood place I hoped to go to was out. I was hungry, and I wanted to be at place ‘B’ by 7:30, so we’d have plenty of time. We wound up eating at the little Japanese place next to my son’s dojo – it’s decent food and quick, just no atmosphere.
That was okay though because we had plenty of time to get to ‘Ceramics Unleashed’ to paint pottery. I thought that would be a fun date thing to do, and hub really enjoyed it. We both painted plates for us to use at Pennsic this year. I’ll post photos – I think we both did a good job, and we had a lot of fun.
Saturday we got up and hub cleaned while I went grocery shopping. He took off to D&D, leaving me with a tidy home and a smile on my face. And I got to the nail shop early enough that I didn’t have to wait! A miracle. My nails are pretty and T-Mobile pink. :-)
My mom came over and we went to work painting the celtic knotwork I had drawn on the kitchen walls. We only got half painted, but what we did looks terrific. Then we went out for Mexican food – I tried to not eat too many chips!
Sunday I got up early, fed me & the animals, got dressed, and went for a walk. It felt so great – sunny and pleasant. Got home and did the cooking for the week, then watched our tivo-ed Sci-fi shows from Friday night. THEN mom & MIL came over. I made tequenos (a Venezuelan thing – a white goat cheese wrapped in dough & fried) and a yummy fish soup which was a hit with no one but me. Oh well. Win some, lose some. And the capper of the weekend? Watching the opening prologue of the Paris-Nice road race. Ah, cycling season – if only more of it were on tv.
Exercise was good – I walked for an hour yesterday. Food was also decent, my dinners were all a bit indulgent, but I kept my breakfasts & lunches really healthy, and there was no gratuitous snacking! Woo hoo! This morning I got up and walked 40 minutes – food is all planned out for the week. I really feel like its all coming together. And that’s a great feeling.
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