Challenge and Change

True story. I need challenge to change. There's a sweet spot, not too much, not too little, but juuuuust right. The lady in the meme is doing Crow Pose -- a basic version. The full-on pose puts the knees in the armpits. But I like this one: this is the one that I regularly fall out of. However, I can tell that, by trying and trying again (and again), I'm ever so slowly getting closer.

Small progress is progress -- and it's encouraging. One of these days, I'm going to figure out this business of taking care of my body, and it's going to be awesome.

Bodies are cool.

Woot!!!

I'm down another 2 pounds today, at 188, putting me a couple pounds below what I was when Monkey was born. I'm about 27 pounds away from where I was when we got married! Gotta keep up the streak; this is feeling good!

I sent a whole big box of clothes to Goodwill yesterday, and I need to pick up a ball-point needle for my sewing machine so I can alter my tshirts to my new size. I am so NOT going back to where I was. I also can't afford to replace EVERYTHING right now. But more and more of my clothes don't fit - in a good way!

Interestingly, I find that there is an awkward spot between large and medium. The sizes can't seem to make up their minds: some of the mediums fit, some of them I've still got quite a ways to go. And of course, as long as I'm nursing I'll be a bit top-heavy, which makes things even more interesting. Once I get those needles I have some fabric that I need to make into shirts, which will actually fit and that will be exciting.

Small Change, Big Help

So I finally got tired of eating the nasty school foods!! So Mom and I decided to buy some lunch meat and have me bring cold lunches to school. I started bringing my own lunches on Monday, and so far, I've already lost 3.5 pounds!! Yay!!! All because I'm no longer eating the nasty, greasy school "food." I'm so excited. Now I have to find a good workout to add to it, and then stick with it, and I'll be all set. I'm so excited!!! ^.^ I've also been snaking less after school, and the lunches I bring stay with me longer so I'm not as hungry at the end of the day. I eat less at dinner, but it doesn't feel like it because I'm eating healthier foods. :)

I Get It!!

I finally understand why people run! Why it is that runners get so strange about missing a run, why they spend so much money on that expensive gear, why they go out in the rain and snow and whatever. Why they run.

It feels good!

Whoa. It was super cool this evening. I ran more than I have ever before. I discovered a stride - one that uses my whole foot, kind of a rolling motion - that just works. It was completely amazing. I got totally nasty sweaty, but instead of feeling nasty it felt like an accomplishment, in a strange sort of way. And I could breathe. Most of the time. Except that since I was doing so well I pushed it, so then I couldn't breathe. But as soon as that passed, I'd run until it happened again. And I was running more than before too; instead of running 1 walking 2 and not even that, I was running 1 walking 1 a good bit of the time. It was so cool!

Also, I weighed myself and got out the old measuring tape this morning. Good news there too: I'm down 3 pounds. One more and I get a new badge. I'm hopeful that I'll have it before the week is out. Most of my measurements are also improved over last week.

Oh, and I need a shower. Man, am I stinky. Andy says the sweat smells worse at first, and once your body cleans itself out with the heavy sweating it gets better. I sure hope so!

Oh Happy Day!

I've got a 2 pound loss this week! Plus, 2 of my 3 measurements are slightly down. I am a happy girl. The biggest thing I did this week: more water. More water more water more water. Makes a huge difference, because between the heat & both my guys being sick, I didn't really do so hot on the exercise this time around. I'm feeling very encouraged about my lifestyle changes. They seem to be working! It still takes vigilance, but the changes are doing the job and I'm getting closer to that baby!

Lovin' the Measuring Tape

Yes, indeed I am! The scale isn't nearly as encouraging as I wanted it to be. But I started taking measurements, and that requires records. I am reminded why it is that we liked records so much when I worked at IDTC: they make little progress real, keep away discouragement, and keep the goal on track! They make progress visible.

So, here is my progress:

Weight: down 3 pounds
Waist: down 1/2 inch
Hips: down 1 3/4 inches!!!
Thigh: down 1 inch.

I'm so excited about these numbers! They are 2 weeks worth of time, and I was feeling rather blah about the weight, as I'm not into new numbers yet, nor am I below 200, and I had hoped to be. However, I AM about 10% of the way to my first goal. And when I make it to that goal I'll have my doctor call in some fertility drugs! Wooooot!! Talk about your non-food rewards!!

Weakness and Strength

I am slowly making some progress. I made myself a journal this week - just a three ring binder, with a verse printed out in a pretty font for the front, to remind me. This is what it says:

I give unto men weakness
that they may be humble;
if they humble themselves
before me
and have faith in me
then will I
make weak things
become strong until them.

It's from Ether 12:27. Weakness includes an inclination to over-indulge when eating and to under-indulge in movement. I am seeking His help, and as He promises so often, I am finding what I seek. It's slow progress: I haven't lost any pounds yet. But one of the things I'm keeping track of in this new binder of mine is my measurements, and I lost 1/2 inch on two of them this week. I am grateful for His help!

So, now that I'm measuring myself, and I'm actually taking weekly pictures too, though I don't plan to post those, as they are the most honest (read: unflattering) ones that I've seen in a long time, I'll be checking in with my journal weekly about Thursday. I did it early this week because I was so frustrated with the scale that I needed to see what the tape measure was going to say. But if anyone cares to join me, I'd love company on a Thursday weigh-in/measurement schedule!

Picking Up Steam

I've been talking to the Lord for some help with the fears that are causing me to sabotage myself. And while I'm not actually loosing yet, I think it's helping. My exercise is getting more important to me again: I did 2 days last week & started the week out right this morning with a bit of a walk-n-run. I listened to some Conference talks on my phone while I did it, and it felt good. That is, it felt good until I got a cramp in my hip. Andy said that sometimes happens when your body isn't used to it, so I'll take my day of rest (probably try for some yoga tomorrow, but Monkey has an allergist appointment that's going to seriously gum up the works) and then try again on Wednesday. I'm feeling pretty good.

Right There With Ya

Well, I think that I'm doing pretty well in the eating department: I seem to be right close to being back where I was at Thanksgiving, which I definitely wasn't after Christmas. A few too many tasty treats, me thinks! But I too have an excess of snot, and it makes it hard to breathe. Which makes it hard to exercise. And we just won't go into the motivational difficulties that brings on. I think that Kate did justice to those already. But I'm pleased with myself anyway: even without decent exercise I've been making some small progress. I need to check my BMI: I think I'll be out of the "obese" range here in another pound or two and that will be exciting!

Pressing On

Now that the wedding is done, it's time to get rolling again! Been awfully quiet around here, I'm wondering what you girls are up to these days? I'm still trucking along in the push-up challenge. We're into week 3 now, and it's going well. I did 47 pushups, divided into 5 sets, the other day. I still need to do my pushups this evening before I go to bed. Working out has been more difficult, as has drinking water. I always do better when both Andy and myself are at home. There's been a lot of one or both of us out and about lately. Hopefully that will ease up here shortly and I'll be able to rebuild my routine. I was doing so well this summer, but I've really been struggling to re-create that this fall.

I went shopping this evening and picked up a lot of fruit and some veggies to chop up. I've been realizing that my food is a significant part of the problem. I need to eat more fresh chopped veggies, more plain fruit. I need it as snacks, at meals, all the time. It's better for me. It's less calorie-filled, so it will help me reach my goals.

Today I bought pears and apples. I also picked up some bananas and peppers. They are yummy. They are things that I like to eat. Pears and apples are even more or less in season still, so they fit nicely in the Word of Wisdom:

And again, verily I say unto you, all wholesome herbs God hath ordained for the constitution, nature, and use of man—

Every herb in the season thereof, and every fruit in the season thereof; all these to be used with prudence and thanksgiving.

I've got a long way to go, but I'm working on it! One of these days I'm going to start reaching some goals!

EA - Session 2

Hello. You know my name. :) And I am so very happy to report that I have a much better week going than last week. Last week I exercised once (Saturday) and I ate a whole bunch of junk food. This week, I have gone running twice and my junk food intake is much less. Yes. Even with the junk only day yesterday. Dave and I just got back from a 40 minute run around the neighborhood. Still sticking to Rits's running program, but we got in a warmup today. I count that too. I'm outside and I'm moving. So - dang it! - it counts. :) And our time was somewhere just below 16:00 for a mile! We knocked off over 20 seconds! YEA!!! Of course that doesn't include the warmup, but that's ok. WE IMPROVED!