HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!! Bring on 2009!
Here we are, a new year, a fresh start - it's wonderful. Made it through the holidays with only a 1.6 lb gain, which I think is not too bad. I was up a little bit more, but some of it must have been water gain.
Got a bad cold, again - grrr! Once again it's hit me square between the eyes. Hopefully it doesn't stick around too much. The last two days no medicine could touch it and give me any relief, that sucked.
Had a nice new Year's at my sister in law's house. She had a bunch of friends over and they seemed like a nice crowd. Just wish I hadn't felt so awful so I could have been a bit more social, oh well, another time.
My sister got me a 3 month journal from weight watchers with the Canadian food guide & restaurant guide, and a little book with recipe/meal ideas. Today was the kick off for that. I got up this morning, recorded my weight & measurements. Set my next couple of goals and am raring to go. Gotta love this time of year for that.
Boot camp starts up again next week and I'm eager to get back to that. By then this cold should have cleared mostly (I hope). This morning I lifted a basket of laundry and struggled, obviously I'm just a "little" weak today :).
Today I'm going to start packing up the Christmas decorations and give my gym a good cleaning (it's getting pretty gross down there).
Life can only be taken one step at a time. The speed and the direction is up to you.
Friday, January 2, 2009
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Haven't posted on here in a few weeks, but things are going great. I'm finally starting to see losses again - wahoo! Didn't reach my goal of being under 155 for my birthday, but I'm getting pretty close now and I'm pretty sure I'll be there before Christmas.
I got a cool new thing for my birthday - a fancy schmancy insulated lunch bag. It's made by Elle and it looks like a pretty cool purse. I just LOVE it. My MIL bought it for me but I picked it out - hahaha. Though I probably should have picked one slightly bigger, it seemed big enough in the store, but once I start packing my containers it fills up pretty quick.
Here's a pic of it:
Got hit with a flu a week and a half ago and that knocked me out for a bit. Still struggling with congestion, which sucks! But I've continued to exercise and it actually makes me feel better when I do.
I'm happy the scale has started to move again, but to be honest I couldn't pinpoint a change I've made that has made it go. Maybe I truly was in a plateau and have moved through - let's hope!
I have been pretty diligent about being aware of my true hunger levels. I've had a few nights where instead of supper I've had some chopped up veggies and a cup of tea - but that's because I truly wasn't very hungry and just sort of felt like munching. And the other day I was having a MAJOR chocolate craving. I seriously spent about 15 minutes in Shoppers Drug Mart trying to decide what would be "worth it". I could not find something that I felt would be worth the indulgence and finally settled on a 100 calorie Cadbury Almond Thins bar (I love those). And it was just right!!! I really wanted super smooth chocolate over whole hazelnuts, but it wasn't there. So I decided to go for the small reasonable indulgence rather than wasting 5 (or more) points on something that I didn't truly want.
I've also had pasta quite a bit lately. I know, pasta, how can that be something to help move the scale? But not just any pasta! I love pasta, plain is really the best - and of course alfredo is pretty darn good too. Plain I could probably eat 3 or more cups without even blinking an eye. Now ... with a red sauce, not so much - it just becomes OK for me, the first few bites are great but the rest, bleh. My husband loves it though (and thinks I'm amazing even though I just pour on a jar of premade sauce). So a few weeks back I made it and just had a 1 cup portion. And I found that it feeds my carby, pasta craving, but because I don't absolutely LOVE the red sauce, I don't overeat it - but I still enjoy it! I've been experimenting with sauces and last night I found a super spicy sauce that is wonderful. I really enjoyed it, but again - after 1 cup I'm done and don't want anymore. Lasagna is the same for me, I like about a 1 or 2" square and after that I can't stand the taste. HAHA self-controlling foods - gotta love it.
I got a cool new thing for my birthday - a fancy schmancy insulated lunch bag. It's made by Elle and it looks like a pretty cool purse. I just LOVE it. My MIL bought it for me but I picked it out - hahaha. Though I probably should have picked one slightly bigger, it seemed big enough in the store, but once I start packing my containers it fills up pretty quick.
Here's a pic of it:
Got hit with a flu a week and a half ago and that knocked me out for a bit. Still struggling with congestion, which sucks! But I've continued to exercise and it actually makes me feel better when I do.
I'm happy the scale has started to move again, but to be honest I couldn't pinpoint a change I've made that has made it go. Maybe I truly was in a plateau and have moved through - let's hope!
I have been pretty diligent about being aware of my true hunger levels. I've had a few nights where instead of supper I've had some chopped up veggies and a cup of tea - but that's because I truly wasn't very hungry and just sort of felt like munching. And the other day I was having a MAJOR chocolate craving. I seriously spent about 15 minutes in Shoppers Drug Mart trying to decide what would be "worth it". I could not find something that I felt would be worth the indulgence and finally settled on a 100 calorie Cadbury Almond Thins bar (I love those). And it was just right!!! I really wanted super smooth chocolate over whole hazelnuts, but it wasn't there. So I decided to go for the small reasonable indulgence rather than wasting 5 (or more) points on something that I didn't truly want.
I've also had pasta quite a bit lately. I know, pasta, how can that be something to help move the scale? But not just any pasta! I love pasta, plain is really the best - and of course alfredo is pretty darn good too. Plain I could probably eat 3 or more cups without even blinking an eye. Now ... with a red sauce, not so much - it just becomes OK for me, the first few bites are great but the rest, bleh. My husband loves it though (and thinks I'm amazing even though I just pour on a jar of premade sauce). So a few weeks back I made it and just had a 1 cup portion. And I found that it feeds my carby, pasta craving, but because I don't absolutely LOVE the red sauce, I don't overeat it - but I still enjoy it! I've been experimenting with sauces and last night I found a super spicy sauce that is wonderful. I really enjoyed it, but again - after 1 cup I'm done and don't want anymore. Lasagna is the same for me, I like about a 1 or 2" square and after that I can't stand the taste. HAHA self-controlling foods - gotta love it.
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Seems no one is around today - hmmm. Very quiet around all the boards/blogs that I visit. Figures since I'm bored out of my gazoo today!
Did my terrible three last night and saw some great improvements from 3 weeks ago.
Wall Sit - went from 2:30 to 4:00 minutes
Plank - went from 2:00 to 3:00 minutes
Push-ups went from 25 (angled against a picnic table) to 40 girly push-ups. Then later on (after I'd worked out for a while) I tried "real" push-ups and did 6 - though I think I could do better than that if I tried them before I got tired. Next time I'll just start with the real ones as it would seem I've mastered the girly ones.
Did the activity challenge last night of exercising through commercials. Did it through a 1/2 hour show earlier on in the afternoon, then through the entire 2 hours of Biggest Loser. WOW - that's alot of commercial time. It was actually kind of fun - even if the kids did think I was a bit nuts. Certainly didn't need to keep the fire stoked last night :)
I'm bound and determined to see a loss tomorrow. The last 2 days in a row have showed a gain though so I'm quite apprehensive. At this rate I don't know how I'll be under 155 for my birthday in just over 2 weeks. And I wanted under 150 by the new year. Wonder if there's a limb I could have removed - hahhahaha. It has to be water retention, though I can't feel or see it. I started doing some reading again on the South Beach Diet today. I tried it a couple years ago and couldn't really stick to it, but even what I did do I lost some, and I wasn't in the frame of mind that I am now. I "think" my diet is OK, but maybe that's the problem and I need to try something new. Always such a guessing game. I personally know a couple people who have done it and had amazing results, long term too. There's just a few things I don't completely agree with and struggle with. Seems that certain foods (like potatoes) are completely forbidden and I know that I wouldn't give them up. But maybe if I just did the 2 week Phase 1 to give myself a little boot ... I don't know .....
Did my terrible three last night and saw some great improvements from 3 weeks ago.
Wall Sit - went from 2:30 to 4:00 minutes
Plank - went from 2:00 to 3:00 minutes
Push-ups went from 25 (angled against a picnic table) to 40 girly push-ups. Then later on (after I'd worked out for a while) I tried "real" push-ups and did 6 - though I think I could do better than that if I tried them before I got tired. Next time I'll just start with the real ones as it would seem I've mastered the girly ones.
Did the activity challenge last night of exercising through commercials. Did it through a 1/2 hour show earlier on in the afternoon, then through the entire 2 hours of Biggest Loser. WOW - that's alot of commercial time. It was actually kind of fun - even if the kids did think I was a bit nuts. Certainly didn't need to keep the fire stoked last night :)
I'm bound and determined to see a loss tomorrow. The last 2 days in a row have showed a gain though so I'm quite apprehensive. At this rate I don't know how I'll be under 155 for my birthday in just over 2 weeks. And I wanted under 150 by the new year. Wonder if there's a limb I could have removed - hahhahaha. It has to be water retention, though I can't feel or see it. I started doing some reading again on the South Beach Diet today. I tried it a couple years ago and couldn't really stick to it, but even what I did do I lost some, and I wasn't in the frame of mind that I am now. I "think" my diet is OK, but maybe that's the problem and I need to try something new. Always such a guessing game. I personally know a couple people who have done it and had amazing results, long term too. There's just a few things I don't completely agree with and struggle with. Seems that certain foods (like potatoes) are completely forbidden and I know that I wouldn't give them up. But maybe if I just did the 2 week Phase 1 to give myself a little boot ... I don't know .....
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
I hate the scale - hate it, hate it, hate it, hate it!!! GRRRRRRR!!!! Did I mention that I hate it? It's evil & nasty. They should install one in every prison cell just to drive the inmates crazy. ERGH!
I KNOW that daily weighing results in fluctuations, I'm OK with that. It does NOT derail me. But sometimes they just plain don't make sense.
Yesterday I ran in the morning outside, did some strength moves in the afternoon during commercial breaks, then in the evening I did a Bodysculpt class, lifted some weights and ran again. I drank lots of water. I ate very cleanly. And what do I wake up to this morning ... a 2.4 gain from the day before. ARGH - I just want to bang my head against the wall. How on earth can that be? I just know it better be gone - and soon - because I just won't stand for this!!! :)
I did however pull out the measuring tape today because I thought if I'm doing all this work and not seeing any change on the scale I darn well better be seeing some on the tape. At least I have a teensy bit of good news there as I did see 1/2" off my waist, 1" from under my bust and 1 1/2" over my bust. Though zippo from my belly, hips or thighs - which is where I'd really prefer to lose it. Hopefully that will come next. This is over the last 3 weeks so I guess I should be happy.
They say muscle weighs more than fat and that when you're putting on muscle your weight may not change - but they also say you only really put on a couple pounds of muscle. If that's the case then I must not be losing much fat and just putting on muscle - which also doesn't make sense to me.
All this said ... I'm not going to stop doing what I'm doing. I love exercising. I love the way it makes me feel. I know that I'm getting so many benefits from it - better skin, better immunity, more energy, more positive attitude about life and all that other good stuff. Same with my diet, I know it's healthy and I can feel the benefits from the changes I've adopted and I love that. So quitting is NOT in my agenda, even if the scale never budges. That doesn't mean I can't get frustrated from time to time though.
I KNOW that daily weighing results in fluctuations, I'm OK with that. It does NOT derail me. But sometimes they just plain don't make sense.
Yesterday I ran in the morning outside, did some strength moves in the afternoon during commercial breaks, then in the evening I did a Bodysculpt class, lifted some weights and ran again. I drank lots of water. I ate very cleanly. And what do I wake up to this morning ... a 2.4 gain from the day before. ARGH - I just want to bang my head against the wall. How on earth can that be? I just know it better be gone - and soon - because I just won't stand for this!!! :)
I did however pull out the measuring tape today because I thought if I'm doing all this work and not seeing any change on the scale I darn well better be seeing some on the tape. At least I have a teensy bit of good news there as I did see 1/2" off my waist, 1" from under my bust and 1 1/2" over my bust. Though zippo from my belly, hips or thighs - which is where I'd really prefer to lose it. Hopefully that will come next. This is over the last 3 weeks so I guess I should be happy.
They say muscle weighs more than fat and that when you're putting on muscle your weight may not change - but they also say you only really put on a couple pounds of muscle. If that's the case then I must not be losing much fat and just putting on muscle - which also doesn't make sense to me.
All this said ... I'm not going to stop doing what I'm doing. I love exercising. I love the way it makes me feel. I know that I'm getting so many benefits from it - better skin, better immunity, more energy, more positive attitude about life and all that other good stuff. Same with my diet, I know it's healthy and I can feel the benefits from the changes I've adopted and I love that. So quitting is NOT in my agenda, even if the scale never budges. That doesn't mean I can't get frustrated from time to time though.
Thursday, November 20, 2008
WOW, it's been a week since I've posted. Guess I've been too busy exercising! I had a great week and am feeling great. Done alot more strength training than I have in a long time and it really does tighten everything up.
Had a great dinner tonight of teriyaki chicken (my own yummy homemade sauce), rice & oriental cabbage salad (again, a homemade dressing). Mmmmm. After my workout I'm having a glass of milk and that will complete another great OP day!
This weekend I'm finally going to get to that salmon recipe I mentioned a couple weeks ago too.
I'm happy that I had a loss this week, but it was more a few days ago - so fingers are crossed and determination is in place to have an even better loss next week. I really want to be under 150 by the end of this year. And I certainly want to be under 155 for my birthday which is in just over 3 weeks. So 3.4+ lbs in 22 days - should be doable but I have to stay focused, determined & active!
Had a great dinner tonight of teriyaki chicken (my own yummy homemade sauce), rice & oriental cabbage salad (again, a homemade dressing). Mmmmm. After my workout I'm having a glass of milk and that will complete another great OP day!
This weekend I'm finally going to get to that salmon recipe I mentioned a couple weeks ago too.
I'm happy that I had a loss this week, but it was more a few days ago - so fingers are crossed and determination is in place to have an even better loss next week. I really want to be under 150 by the end of this year. And I certainly want to be under 155 for my birthday which is in just over 3 weeks. So 3.4+ lbs in 22 days - should be doable but I have to stay focused, determined & active!
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Should have used the duct tape yesterday because after I got home from class my mouth lost control :(. And .. I didn't get in the extra minutes I needed so I ended up 30 min short for my weekly goal of 350 minutes.
So ...... today I had a wonderful OP day and felt really good. I think I was being too restrictive yesterday and it left me feeling unsatisfied. Tonight I had a wonderful dinner with Herb & Lime Sole Fillet, Brown Rice & Chinese Cabbage Salad with red peppers. Mmmm, mmmm, good! On top of that I made a HUGE batch of cookies (I have a certain extended relative who is nagging me to come through on a promise to send him cookies so I need to stockpile - haha) and my son made a batch of cookies and I only had ONE! YEAH - that's one of my goals to limit treats to once a day.
Also, I decided that my first 30 min of exercise from this week gets added on to last weeks minutes and I still have to do 350 for this week - so total 380 this week. I've got 30 down and plan to get lots in this weekend.
I've set up my activity challenge for this week which is creating the following strength routine:
♥ 3 sets x 12 squats with bicep curls, pulse between sets
♥ Push-ups - first set to fatigue, stretch then 2 sets x 10
♥ Wall Sit - 1 set to fatigue
♥ 3 sets x 12 front & lateral raises combined
♥ 2 sets x 15 Calf Raises - rotating foot position between sets
♥ Plank - first one to fatigue, stretch then do 1 more minute
♥ 5 min abs of various crunches
Though I know myself and once I get started on this I'll probably add some more - like tricep moves, inner/outer thigh, etc. But this is my bare minimum and I will do it at least 3 times this week.
So ...... today I had a wonderful OP day and felt really good. I think I was being too restrictive yesterday and it left me feeling unsatisfied. Tonight I had a wonderful dinner with Herb & Lime Sole Fillet, Brown Rice & Chinese Cabbage Salad with red peppers. Mmmm, mmmm, good! On top of that I made a HUGE batch of cookies (I have a certain extended relative who is nagging me to come through on a promise to send him cookies so I need to stockpile - haha) and my son made a batch of cookies and I only had ONE! YEAH - that's one of my goals to limit treats to once a day.
Also, I decided that my first 30 min of exercise from this week gets added on to last weeks minutes and I still have to do 350 for this week - so total 380 this week. I've got 30 down and plan to get lots in this weekend.
I've set up my activity challenge for this week which is creating the following strength routine:
♥ 3 sets x 12 squats with bicep curls, pulse between sets
♥ Push-ups - first set to fatigue, stretch then 2 sets x 10
♥ Wall Sit - 1 set to fatigue
♥ 3 sets x 12 front & lateral raises combined
♥ 2 sets x 15 Calf Raises - rotating foot position between sets
♥ Plank - first one to fatigue, stretch then do 1 more minute
♥ 5 min abs of various crunches
Though I know myself and once I get started on this I'll probably add some more - like tricep moves, inner/outer thigh, etc. But this is my bare minimum and I will do it at least 3 times this week.
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
This day hasn't been the greatest so far, though I suppose it is far, far from the worst - so for that I will be greateful. I sure am glad this is a short week though. And DH came home last night after being away for a week so I'm happy about that too.
Did some shopping yesterday and got a couple little things for Christmas. Also cleared out the Halloween decorations, and just like Wal-mart, put up a couple Christmas ones - haha. Just a couple, I swear! Though I think it may be fun to take out a couple every day until the end of the month.
DD has her final volleyball tournament today. She's very glad that it's over. Was fun at first, but it's not her thing other than the fun of hanging with friends.
I'm determined to reach my weekly goal of 350 minutes of exercise per week so that means I have to put in a little extra this evening to get there. The rain is holding off and it's just windy right now so I wouldn't mind getting out for a good 'ol power walk.
Been OP so far today and going to stay that way if I have to duct tape my mouth shut to get there! There really is no excuse for not being OP. I just have to make it happen.
Did some shopping yesterday and got a couple little things for Christmas. Also cleared out the Halloween decorations, and just like Wal-mart, put up a couple Christmas ones - haha. Just a couple, I swear! Though I think it may be fun to take out a couple every day until the end of the month.
DD has her final volleyball tournament today. She's very glad that it's over. Was fun at first, but it's not her thing other than the fun of hanging with friends.
I'm determined to reach my weekly goal of 350 minutes of exercise per week so that means I have to put in a little extra this evening to get there. The rain is holding off and it's just windy right now so I wouldn't mind getting out for a good 'ol power walk.
Been OP so far today and going to stay that way if I have to duct tape my mouth shut to get there! There really is no excuse for not being OP. I just have to make it happen.
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