July Check-in

I like the idea of monthly check-ins. Weight loss is not a short trip! And things are so busy right now (when are they not?) that monthly check-ins are more likely to happen.

So. How's things? Meh. I still have a long old way to go.


The various goals have become kind of mushy. I need to post them inside the cupboard where I keep my snacks or something, so that I think of them more often.

But, here they are.


1. No more than one piece of bread or one sandwich at a meal.

LOL. Bread is tasty. I suck at this. I should re-write this goal in terms of keeping up the veggie intake. Let the veggies crowd the bread. I think that would work better.


2. If I have dessert, it will be only one helping in a day.

Most days, there's no dessert. Most days, if there is, I can keep it to one, no problem. But then we go to my BFF's house and there's potluck and everybody is an awesome cook... yeah. I over do it those days, every time.


3. Drink 2 quarts of water - every day.

 I'm getting there. Most days, I'm close, if not quite there. I've got my 2nd quart sitting next to the computer as I type this, and I'm probably going to have it down before I sleep. The water thing is improving, and everything works better when well-hydrated. Including getting rid of fat.


4. Daily supplements.

I need to get some more of these; I've run out of both the magnesium and the dandelion-burdock concoction that I drink.


5. Weekly bike rides, at least for the summer.

Dragon has learned to ride without training wheels!! Which means that we can start going to the park on bikes again. I told him that he has to practice his brakes some more (funny how important stopping can be), but we made it to the park again tonight, and it was just lovely. Gardening is another summer thing that I can do to increase the activity level pretty painlessly. And my yard thanks me when I do it. And the kids are big enough now that they're not going to run into the street,if I take my eyes off them for .05 seconds.


The big development is that I've started a notebook tracking things. I write down how I feel, what I eat, the physical activities, any remedies I take, and basically anything that seems relevant. I'm collecting data, so that I can find patterns. Like, yesterday, something that I ate didn't agree with me. We had a movie day for the kids, and our friends brought over some very processed food - cheetos. I had some of those, and also some rice crispie treats. This morning I was up fully 2 pounds when I got on the scale. I suspect that it was the very processed cheetos, more than the rice crispies. Tomorrow, I'll probably make another pan of rice crispies for the pot luck we're going to, so I'll be able to compare my body's reaction. I need to find my thermometer too, and start charting my cycles again. The kids got so bad about swiping my thermometer that I got out of the habit - and my cycles are so much more regular now than they've ever been, that it's not bee a problem. But I am convinced that there is a hormonal aspect to my weight, and to why its so difficult to get rid of. Or perhaps some allergy. I know that my body hates high fructose corn syrup: 1 soda will put me up 2 pounds the next morning. I'm looking for other patterns, trying to ferret out the pieces to the puzzle that is my body.

Check-in: Good Enough

Last week, I set some goals. Here's how I did:

1. No more than one piece of bread or one sandwich at a meal.

I forgot this, and was thinking general portion control, rather than bread. I think I'll modify it to portion control, generally: stop eating when I'm not hungry. I did pretty well with that most of the time.





2. If I have dessert, it will be only one helping in a day.

I did this. It was hard, sometimes. But I did it.



3. Drink 2 quarts of water - every day.

I at least got close. Which is an improvement. I'll take it.




4. Daily supplements. I've got a couple. I'm not being consistent -- and they help my overall health.

I did better, but there's still room for improvement. The one of them doesn't taste very good, and I think I need to find a way to fix that.

5. Weekly bike rides, at least for the summer.

I did not take my bike out all week. As usual, this week was a zoo. I have to figure out what to do about that. 

So a mixed bag. BUT. I'm down on the scale, and I made progress in the right direction on taking care of my body. So I'm calling it a success!

Still Chugging

It's been a tough week for exercise - even the short sessions that PACE requires are tough to get in when the baby is teething, and the big boy caught the cold, and you spend several days traveling. But the cool thing is that it's still working. I'm down another pound and a half. When I get rid of that pesky half pound I will have lost everything I gained on our trip to North Carolina. Not too shabby: it's been about two weeks since we got back. I'm noticing other stuff too: I can breathe better. Lots better. Enough to make a difference when I sing. I'm getting stronger. Moving is more fun. I like the way I feel. I sleep better. That could also be related to the baby suddenly sleeping longer in his own bed before he wakes up for his night-time snack. Night-weaning is a bear, and it's not going to be fun. I'm waiting for those teeth to settle down before we tackle that. The Hubs is also noticing some nice improvements. So far, this new PACE style workout is a smashing success.

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!

Go Mama!!

Take it Outside

I'm struggling to make the kind of life-style changes that will make loosing weight & keeping it off possible. Recently, I was praying about it and felt prompted to spend more time outside.

---

Once upon a time, there was a Mom who had a daughter that liked to read. (That would be me.) Mom, from time to time, would say to the young girl, "You need to go outside to play." Seated on the coziest corner of the couch, with her nose well buried in a fat book, the young girl probably didn't even hear her Mother until she'd said it at least three times. But eventually, if the Mother persisted, she would look up and say, "What?" Sometimes, the Mother was persistent enough that she would actually end up outside. Upon finding herself in the Great Outdoors, the girl commenced to search for a corner as soft as the couch to sit upon. Preferably, a corner without bugs. This was a difficult thing to find, and the girl very seldom found it. Sometimes, she would sit on the cement stairs and try to read comfortably there, but it never seemed quite as appealing as the coziest corner of the couch. In addition, there always seemed to be ants, spiders, and bees on the porch. So she would go back inside to the couch to continue her story, much to the Mother's frustration.

---

Yeah. I wasn't much of an outdoorsy type. I'm better now. Discovering gardening did a lot for me. And having flowers just outside my living room window, flowers that attract big fluffy bumbles, has also helped with the whole bug thing. And doing nature study with Monkey is also a lot of fun; I'm learning tons. But I often still feel that old "What am I supposed to DO out here?" feeling that used to bring me back inside so quickly. But it makes sense that getting outside will help with increasing my overall activity level. So Maulbeere and I brainstormed some ideas for Things To Do Outside.

And today is 2 days in a row that I've been outside.

Happy New Year!

So I too have made a bunch of New Year's Resolutions. And I, just like Kate, have felt like in the past they have lasted until about Jan. 2. So this year I have a system. My nerdy list making self and I got together and made The List. I have about a dozen resolutions, broken down into 3 catagories (Spiritual, educational, and other. Yes other. Creative. I know.) I also have a calendar just for me with The List pinned up next to it and color-coded sticker system to keep track of progress. Yea for shiny stars! 

I have to admit, I may have been a little over ambitious, but for the moment, other than one of the goals, I feel like they're actually things I can do. I'm going to exercise hard 3 times a week. I'm going to eat more veggies and only 1 dessert a week. (That's the one I'll have issues with. Last week it was 3. Still improvement though, so we'll keep it and keep moving.) I'm going to the temple once a month, I'm reading my scriptures every day, and I'm going to give everything I need to - time, effort, and most importantly, prayer - to the lessons I have to teach. And any other calling I'm asked to do for that matter. I'm going to go to school in the fall and get amazing grades. And I'm going to win the scholarships audition this spring. That one also may be difficult. But, I've talked to a friend of mine who graduated from the same school and now teaches voice lessons and I'm gonna have a few lessons. Kinda feel like as long as I put tons and tons of good hard work into it, if I don't win, I'll be ok. 

So there you have it. The bulk of my resolutions. And how are things coming? :) Pretty well. Dave and I have an appointment at the Redlands Temple next Saturday, and last week I went to the gym Thursday and Saturday. I actually bought veggies other than corn and green beans (which were never eaten before anyway. Hehe.) and I ate them! I had to teach the all young women Sunday since I was the "guest speaker" and, granted it wasn't a perfect lesson, but I tried hard and it even went pretty well! So I think this week I can give myself a huge pat on the back and maybe even a WHOO-HOO!!! :) Sorry for tootin my own horn a bit, but I'm feeling kinda proud. 

It sounds like everyone else is doing really well so far as well! I hope we can all keep it up! :) 

Movement

I remember now why it is that I like calorie counting! I'm already down 1 pound. I did a run this morning as well. Feeling more upbeat about loosing weight than I have in a very long time.

Weight: 201 (-1)
Over Bust:38 1/2"
Bust:42"
Waist:36"
Hips:46"

Run: 1.87 miles/34:25
20 Crunches on the balance ball

Building Steam

I've been doing pretty well this week. Maybe it's because I know that Thursday could be very bad news if I don't Take Steps. In any case, although the pushups have been somewhat neglected, I have done 2 runs this week and a yoga. That means that I've done something every day so far. I'm thinking I'll squeeze in another yoga tomorrow morning before the Big Meal (cuz you know nothing's gonna happen after!) and then another run on Friday. I'm feeling pretty good! Need to take my measurements again so that I have (another) baseline to work with and can tell when I start loosing inches again. I also have to be very good about finding people to help me eat the baked goods that I enjoy making so much! Good thing there's going to be so many people at Mom & Dad's tomorrow!

Accomplished: Day 5

Hot. Humid. Didn't want to go. Went anyway because Kate posted that there's only 11 weeks to the wedding and that means I need to loose 2.27 pounds a week between now and then to be at my first goal by her wedding. Not only did I go, but I pushed the Monkey in the stroller (he's 31 pounds, plus whatever the stroller adds), and I still made it through Day 5. I'm feeling pretty good about my workout today!

Good Morning Y'All!

So Rits made the comment that the rest of us aren't blogging, so I thought I'd start this EA session. (exercisers anonymous) Hello. My name is Emma. And I haven't exercised for 2 days. And before that, well. Let's just say it was a little while. 

But. Saturday I tried the running thing Rits is doing. I don't think I followed the format very well. Due to the lack of light - thus not being able to see my watch - and the lack of a stopwatch, I just kinda did a couple of sets of running for what seemed like a minute... ish. And then walk till I felt like I could go again. And I think overall it went pretty well! I ran/jogged 4 times, pushed pretty hard, worked hard, and didn't die! :) I like that last part the most. Dave and I went for 25 minutes without doing a warm up and we went about a mile and a half. So I think that works out to about a 16:20 mile. That's not too bad right? I don't remember what Rits was getting. Seems close...? So we'll call it good and start at Day 1 again tonight to try to get on schedule it being Monday and all. 

Progress Report:

Exercise in the last week - 1

Pounds lost - 4

Inches lost - Gotta find that measuring tape

New Goal - fit into a new temple dress by Nov. 6th. I went looking this weekend for a new one since mine is getting big and I found a really pretty one that's a size large and I almost fit. So I want to buy it before Kate's wedding.