Hello Strangers

Hello Strangers ....... 

I've been majorly MIA lately.

First, we spent 6 days on our new property.  Our very good friends from Washington State came up camping with us.  It was so wonderful to spend so much time with them. 

The weather however was very uncooperative.  Alot of overcast and some drizzle.  Not terribly warm.  We did get one half-warm day, and the day we had to drive home it was nice (figures, right?)

The worst thing was that I came down with a bug - GRRRR!  We left on Jun 30th and by the evening of July 1st I was done.  My throat was absolutely killing me and my head felt like it was filled with rocks.  I had to take some medication which made me fall deep asleep maybe 5 minutes before the Canada Day fireworks started.  I was VERY disappointed.

Of and on for the rest of the trip I was sick.  I had planned to get in lots of running during this trip, and I wasn't able to do even 1 mile.  I did get out for a c ouple of walks, but nothing that really got my heart beating.

We got back home on Monday afternoon, and on Tuesday morning I woke up feeling even sicker.  I did however have to go into work.  But I only made it part way through the day.  By mid-afternoon I was toast and had to drive home.  I had what felt like a migraine and my stomach was tossing and turning.  I mostly slept the remainder of the day, and got sick in the afternoon.

Today I'm feeling ever so slightly better, though far from 100%.  My appetite did return with a vengeance after eating next to nothing yesterday. 

So ... I have decided I'm not setting any goals for July.  I haven't run at all for the first week of July and I think it could be a few more days before I'm able to do much physically.  I'm just going to do what I can, when I can.

As for eating & the South Beach diet .... I managed a good 12 days without a stitch of sugar or starchy carbs and I'm very proud of myself.  The next few days I had very limited amounts of those items.  Then I relaxed a little while camping (I had planned this before I went).

Originally I had planned to stick completely to the diet.  But then I thought .... you know what ... I'm not a machine and I want to be normal.  Yes, I want to lose more weight, but I also want to be able to enjoy treats during certain times - like camping.  And while I did indulge .... I didn't go insane crazy.  I enjoyed a couple of cookies each day.  I had two glasses of wine in a one week period.  I ate bread (white bread) and some meaty cheesy lasagna.  Crazy .... huh?  No ... normal.  I still drank my tea without sugar and stayed away from pop entirely.  When we got home I said to my husband that I went a little further than I should have, and he said "No, you ate like a normal person ... or less."  I suppose he's right.  I did gain 1.8 lbs in the week, but I'm totally OK with that.  The key is in taking it right back off and not staying in holiday mode and I feel I will be successful with that.

I think that's the way I want to live my life.  On a daily basis keep the treats & sugar at bay, and limit the starches.  But enjoy myself to a normal level for special occasions. 

I've been trying to catch up on my blogging buddies and will be more active over the next few days.

Hope everyone is doing well!

Keep Active!

Heidi

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Let the Games Begin

Did you happen to notice that I didn't post a weigh-in yesterday?  Yeah, I didn't think so.  Anyhow, I purposely chose not to post it.  Why?  Because I'm just don't know what's going on.  So it's all really quite useless information.

My weight is fluctuating wildly throughout the week without reason or explanation ...

and not changing over the longer term either.

I am the exact same weight I was 5 weeks ago.  Honestly, I almost don't care to weigh myself right now.  For right now, I'm more interested in being healthy and active.

And on that note ....

Last week I went to my hairdresser.  Back in January she asked me if I had ever tried the 30 Day Shred, which of course I had.  She wanted to give it a go so I lent her my DVD.  She loved it!  I think she lost about 15 lbs in the month.

She loved it so much she went and bought her own DVD (she was afraid she'd wear mine out) and she has done it EVERY SINGLE DAY since January. 

Honestly I don't know how she does the same thing every day, and I don't understand fully how her body hasn't adapted to the workout.  It's the only workout she does.  But ... she is looking so good!  The other day after the appt, she took off her smock and I could really see how small she's gotten. 

I went straight home and pulled out my DVD and it kicked! my! ass! 

Oh my have I ever neglected my muscles.  That first set of push-ups almost had me in tears and I was shocked at how much strength I have lost. 

I have done it a couple times in the last few days and can feel every step I take and my whole body is cursing me.  So, apparently it's working!!!  I kinda love that feeling.

June 1 - 5 mile/8K run

Keep Active!

Heidi

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Just want to say HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my sister!  I think she still reads my blog, though she never comments ;-p   :)

Weekly Weigh In

WEEK IN REVIEW

Points:       counted 3 out of 7 days.  Stayed in range 5 out of 7 days  (not bad for camping)

Activity:     4 out of 7 days

Weigh-in:  147.8 - Down 1.0 lb

Still haven't lost all of my gain from two weeks ago, but going down and I'm not complaining.

Overall results ...

Apr 27 - 149.4

May 4 - 146.8

May 11 - 150.4

May 18 - 148.8
May 25 - 147.8

Overall Down - 1.6 lb.

We went camping on our new property for the long weekend.  It was WONDERFUL!  I'll have some pictures to post, but may not be able to get them up for a couple days.  I have a couple on my camera, but need to see what my daughter and MIL got too.

The weather wasn't 100% perfect, but I still loved every minute up there. 

Didn't do as much exercise as I had planned.  Never got on the bicycle, and I never got out in my running skirt - it was a bit cold for it.  We went out on the ATVs alot though.  Did a ton of exploring of the trails near our property.  I think you can go forever if you wanted to.  I am going to absolutely LOVE living there.  Did alot of walking too.

We did run around the block once - the 4.5 mile/7 Km block!  With an elevation decline & incline of about 350 ft (100 Meters).  Let's just say it was a slow run, but one that once I master it, I will be a much faster & stronger runner for doing it.  It actually wasn't as hard as I thought it would be and I can't wait to do it again.  Great training!

Camping/holidays are always a challenge.  So much food, most of it not exactly healthy.  But I didn't do too bad.  We had burgers one night and I cooked myself a veggie burger.  Had steel cut oats for breakfast one morning while the family had sausages, eggs & pancakes.  We even did a big waffle buffet style breakfast with bacon, eggs, waffles, and a bunch of other stuff and I just took a reasonable portion.  No need to overeat just because I'm on holidays.

Another thing I found helpful was to keep active.  Sitting around doing nothing invariable leads to mindless eating.  Get out, go for a hike, go for a ride, do something!  The worst is sitting around the campfire and someone brings out the munchies.  Not one of us needs it.  I try to bring out fruit and/or veggies, but often get beaten to the punch and someone usually brings out things like nachos, chips, cheesies, cookies.  Guess I need to be a bit more pro-active when out with others, huh??

We have another camping trip coming up next month (that I am so excited for I am almost sleepless!).  I need to take this same attitude into this trip.  It will just be us this time, so I'll have more control over the mindless munchies.  Note to self:  just because you're away from home doesn't mean you need to eat any different!  It should be a pretty active holiday so I'm not worried about that.

Hope everyone had a great weekend! 

And someone ... please send me some sun!!! 

Heidi

♥♥♥♥♥

Math Grade - F

Did you know I was a Math Honours student in high school?  A pretty good one too.  Though apparently without a calculator I am useless. 

Last week I reported my bad gain of 4.2 lbs. however my math was apparently wrong.  It was actually a 3.6 lb gain.  Still a bit depressing, but not quite as bad.

I'll have to remember to check my figures before posting.  Sadly it's not the first time I have done this ... and probably not the last.

Oh, and here was one of the items that contributed to this gain.  My son's 16th birthday cake - ice cream.  Thankfully it's long gone.  Darn was it good though!

He got his learner's license last week and has been out driving a few times.  A little scary at times, but he's been pretty good.  He's been driving around the property and operating machinery for years, but out on the road it's a little different story.  I'm very excited to have another driver in the family!

This week has been just OK.  You may have noticed I haven't posted much.  Mid-week I came down with a bug that left me a bit listless.  Not sure what it was but I had a bit of fever and was definitely out of sorts and extremely tired.  I'm feeling better now.

I did still manage to ride to work a couple of times.  Saturday night we went out to friends, had one drink and indulged a little bit in appies, though not bad.  The next morning I felt like I'd been run over by a truck.  Still went out for a 6.8 mile run, but felt awful for the whole thing.  Was hoping the run would burn it off, but nope.  My husband experienced the same thing.  It was hot & humid , plus I had a headache.  ICK!

WEEK IN REVIEW

Points:       counted 6 out of 7 days.  Stayed in range 5 out of 7 days 

Activity:     5 out of 7 days

Weigh-in:  148.8 - Down 1.6 lbs.

Didn't lose all of last weeks gain, but still went down.  I'm not disappointed.

Overall results ...

Apr 27 - 149.4

May 4 - 146.8

May 11 - 150.4

May 18 - 148.8

Overall Down - 0.6 lb.

The overall picture isn't very impressive, but I'll keep chipping away.

Heidi

♥♥♥♥♥

Back on the Coaster

Apparently the Roller Coaster ride is not completely over.  Two weeks ago I decided to really buckle down and get serious about losing some more weight.  I had a hugely successful week one.

I vowed last week that I would "just have to keep the momentum up. No fizzling after one successful week. "

Well .... I sort of fizzled!

I did track my food and stay within my points range every day except Sunday & Monday.  Despite that, I still was showing about a 1 lb gain.  I do daily weigh-in's and weeks like this make me glad that I do.  I'm attributing that 1 lb gain to it being ovulation week.  Not sure why, but that often equals a little gain for me.

Come Sunday though ... after the race, I definitely loosened the reins.  I indulged in my son's ice cream cake and then my husband suggested we have steak dinner to celebrate our race.  Probably not too damaging really.  I didn't weigh myself Monday morning.  I did OK during the day, but late in the afternoon I met up with my husband and son at McDonald's and spur of the moment decided to have a cheeseburger.  Again, not the end of the world.  It did put me 1 measly point over for the day, but I wouldn't sweat that.

The trouble came later in the evening.  We had been out with my husband's friend and he asked to take us to a Chinese restaurant he really likes.  He is Chinese and said the food here was very authentic.  I shouldn't have gone.  I wasn't hungry and really had things I needed to do at home.  But I felt sort of like I should.  Ended up eating more than I needed to, late at night.  And Chinese food ... we all know what that does to you.

My penance .... 4.2 gain! (edited: bad math ... 3.6 gain)

Overall results ...

Apr 27 - 149.4

May 4 - 146.8

May 11 - 150.4

Gain - 1.0 lb.

So, this weeks results, while disappointing, will not derail me.  I know WHY it happened and I WILL learn from it.  I'm also aware that alot of that is water weight due to the sodium.  If I stay clean it will be gone in no time.

It would be so easy to not post about this.  Not like anyone would notice or care.  But I notice.  I care.  I'm done with hiding from bad weigh-ins. 

Heidi

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Roller Coaster Ride is O-V-E-R

Did ya catch Biggest Loser last night???  OMG, did anyone else think that Sam is now a total hottie????  WOW, that boy looks good.  I don't say that about a lot of men, especially people on TV, but he looked great!  Best makeover of the night.  He has such a great personality too.  I'm so happy for him & Stephanie.  That's cool!

I wasn't going to share this next bit until I came across Darcy's most recent post.  I was hoping to get a couple weeks under my belt and then share ... but I think it will benefit me most to get this out there.  Stop being afraid of failure. 

Over the last few weeks I've hinted on and off that I was struggling.  After my disappointing first half in March I was really left feeling down.  I slacked on the workouts, then I started slacking on my eating as well.  I was already struggling with eating a bit before the half ... but afterwards it got worse.

This post is I think where I really started to make that first step back off that ledge.  It's been a HUGE, LONG step and it's been tough.  I had let it all unravel so fast and it has been quite the struggle to reel it back in.  I think I find it harder to repair and restart the engine than to get it started the very first time.

I spent weeks having do-overs.  Wake up with the greatest plans and let it fall apart by mid-day, or certainly before the day was up.    Eventually I turned back to counting Weight Watchers points (the most successful method for me) ... but that was slow to take hold too.  I spent a couple weeks counting .. in my head, but rarely ever writing things down.  Then there were the days I'd write it down, but it would get ugly and I'd not finish the day or I'd rip out the page to start fresh the next day.

The workouts were back in order by mid-April, but the eating was still an issue.

A week ago I finally called BULLSH&T!  Enough of this half-assing around.  Do I want to lose this last pudgy tummy roll or not?  Yes ... yes I do.  It HAS to come from my diet.  I can't put garbage in and expect diamonds.  I work too hard for this.

I don't even know exactly what my total damage was.  At some point in March I was 146.2, but I think that was a fleeting moment.  I've bounced between 147-149 regularly and it was becoming more and more on the higher end.  It definitely bounced up to over 151 at one point.  I was 143.6 last November so I had put on about 8 lbs!

Last Tuesday I finally wrote down my weight and since then I have gotten back to what works for me.  Every night I preplan my meals for the next day.  Every morning and night I get on that scale AND write down my weight ...although I only "count" my weekly weight.  EVERY day I write down what I've eaten and record the points.

The results ...

Apr 27 - 149.4

May 4  - 146.8

Loss - 2.6 lbs

I'm super happy with that.  Now I just have to keep the momentum up.  No fizzling after one successful week.  The roller coaster ride is O-V-E-R!

Heidi

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May Goals

Have you seen this guy?  MARATHON QUEST 250

He was on the local news Saturday morning.  He's from Cochrane, Alberta but was in town for the Vancouver Marathon tomorrow.  250 Marathons in a YEAR!  WOW!!!  And I can barely imagine doing one.  He typically runs 5 days in a row then 2 rest days (with some exceptions of course). 

Reading through his blog and seeing some of the weather and things he goes through on his daily marathons is amazing.  Makes me re-think the times that I've skipped a workout because I'm tired, or it's cold/hot outside.

Here's another summer dress I picked up recently.  I have a thing for bright colors ... or black & white.  This IS going to be the summer I wear more dresses.  Now if the weather could just cooperate!

MAY 2010 GOALS

♥ Run 80+ Miles - reducing this one a bit this month.  In the back of my head I want to do 100 again.  If I can stay uninjured I will go for the 100, but I want to leave a little wiggle room.  80 I should be able to comfortably do.

♥ 10 Strength Sessions - not a huge number, but more than I have been doing.  This is once every 3 days and is likely to fit my schedule.

♥ Plan! Prepare! Organize! - this worked so well last month that I'm going to keep this up.  One thing that really helps is to prepare food on the weekends, especially for lunches (veggies, fruit, boiled eggs, leftovers).  Also, making large batches of meals that can be reheated quickly after work. 

♥ Races:

May 9 - Vancouver Sun Run 10K (goals for this TBA)

May 30 - Run for Water Half Marathon (tentative)

I may or may not do the May 30th Half.  That was the one I was originally planning to do next, but some of my friends are doing one at the end of June and I may do that one instead with them.  In a perfect world I'd do both, but financially I'll probably just do one.  Race fees for myself wouldn't be so bad, but it's me AND my husband and they add up. 

May is going to be a busy month and hopefully full of lots of exciting things!  I'm really looking forward to it.  I'm feeling ALOT more energy and focus than I have for quite a long time.

Heidi

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Buying Shares in Tim Hortons

Last week I posted about my husbands ♥love♥ for sweets and the array of junk he brought home. 

Well ... it continues!

In the last THREE days let's see how many 40 packs of Timbits he has brought home:

Yes - THREE!

One box per day

Let's do the math on that:

3 boxes x 40 Timbits = 120 Timbits

1 Timbit = 50 to 90 calories

average of an assorted pack is 65 calories each

so .....

120 Timbits x 65 Calories each =

7,800 Calories

They don't look so innocent anymore, do they?  Where, oh where does my family put these?  Not to mention there is on average 2.9g of fat in EACH timbit .... 120 Timbits = 348g fat - GROSS!!!  I feel nauseous now.

With all this temptation around I've done pretty good.  I have had 6 Timbits total from these boxes, about 390 calories.  While that will not kill me or 'ruin my diet', my husband is in serious danger.

He has been warned that if he brings home one more box of these little devils or ANYTHING junk food like within the next two weeks I will throw the item AND him into the fire!  Though as I look back over those nutrition numbers I may be tempted to throw away any future Timbits, forever.

He was quite shocked to learn that these little suckers are about 50 calories each.  I can't wait to tell him tonight that it's actually 65 calories on average, and how many calories & fat he has consumed just from these in the last few days.

Sometimes it takes a little bit of shock value to set them straight.

Today was my Belly Blast weigh in.  I was down .4 of a pound, yippee.  I'd like to be more excited, but it's hard to be because a couple of days ago I was down over a pound.  Since my race and long run and the last two days I have been doing weights, so my weight is up.  This is typical with this type of activity as I put extra stress on my muscles.  I'm not gonna stress over it.  The scale is going the right way and I'm happy AND I'm going to keep it moving that way.  Plus, while I haven't done measurements yet (too early), my belly seems a bit flatter and my husband noticed it too.  What more can I ask for!

Hope you're have a great AND 'Timbit Free' day!

Heidi

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Sabotage and Encouragement

Sometimes I hear people say that it's hard for them to lose weight because (insert person of choice) sabotages them.  Maybe their Mom or friend insists on serving unhealthy foods.  Or maybe their husband just is not interested in eating better or exercising.  Or their husband/sibling/roommate, etc. insists on having junk food in the house.

Yes - those are challenges!  But it's up to us to make the right decisions.  Ultimately we are the one's who decides what goes in our mouth.  We are the person who chooses to exercise.

In a perfect world everyone around us would eat healthy, nutritious foods and we would never be tempted to eat things that aren't so good for us.  This is NOT a perfect world - get over it!

My husband is 100% supportive of my healthy lifestyle.  He frequently exercises with me (as much as his schedule allows).  He never tries to talk me out of a workout.  He actually enjoys eating healthier foods and other than veggie hamburgers or tofu, he's pretty much game to try anything.  If he wants pizza and I tell him that I want stir fry instead, he's always game.

But ... he's got a sweet tooth!  He ♥loves♥ his candies.  And he loves a good sale after a holiday (Christmas, Valentine's, Easter).

I had to ask him yesterday if he suddenly has a motive to sabotage me.  This is PART of what he has brought home in the last week (all 75% off - yaaaaa - NOT!)

oh, and a 40 pack of Timbits...

There was also a large tub of ice cream (which the kids made into frosty's), another large heart of the most decadent Lindor chocolate, some smarties ....

Do you know how hard all this is to resist? 

Of course you do, pretty much anyone would struggle with this.

But, it's up to me to decide and choose what I need.  Can I say that I've not touched even one of these treats?  No, I can't.  Can I say that I've had a bit in limited moderation?  YES - most definitely!  Can I say that by having recently set obtainable goals looming in my head have kept me from overindulging in this sick overabundance of treats?  AB-SO-FRICKING-LUTELY!!!!!!

If it wasn't for the goals I've set and that I review them on a daily basis I would have had SO much more of this crap than I've had.

And hmmmmm .... how's that little project going?

Weekly loss GOAL  - 0.8 lbs

ACTUAL weekly loss - 2.2 lbs

Yes - 2 point 2 POUNDS!!!!!!!

OK, just a little happy with that!

So while my husband may be the most likely in my life to sabotage me (with his ever present candy addiction) he is also the most likely to encourage me and push me to reach my goals.  Kind of my own personal devil on one shoulder, angel on the other.

Last night he said, "Set the alarm early and we'll go out for a run in the morning."

So we did!  This morning we woke up to a drizzly, dark morning and headed out for an 8 mile run.  The start was horrid and I questioned my sanity frequently in the first two miles.  I was so slow and could not get it into gear.  Can you believe that he actually compared himself to Tommy Europe at one point?  He was trying to get me to pick up my pace and I barked at him to leave me alone.  He said Tommy Europe doesn't back off and he's my personal Tommy Europe (ohhhh gooodiiieeeee - remember this from Scar in The Lion King? - what a great movie). 

I told him last night about my plans to run home after the race this weekend (which he is racing too).  He said "and how do I get home?"  I said, "You can drive."  He was upset that I hadn't included him.  I think we'll see if one of his parents can give us a lift there and then we'll jog home together - if time allows for him.  But either way, I think I'm going to go for it.  It will be a good test for me.  It should make the half easy by comparison.

Have a great day!

Heidi

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