I've been dreading this post. But sooner or later, I had to face the music. I can't just post about the downs of my journey, I gotta come clean on the ups as well. This week that up was 1.6 pounds.
R and I went to Winona for a long weekend to visit Hayley. It was grand. R's sister and her husband met us on Saturday and, armed with Hayley's "clipboard of fun!", we had ourselves some fun. We ate. We drank. We ate some more and then we relaxed. We ate and we drank. And, you get the picture. Nirvana much??
I knew the intake portion of the weekend would be a challenge and it was. I had a lot of issues. I guess that has been part of my problem all along. My issues. But let's not go there. Let's just suffice it to say that, like so many other things, I topsy-turvey this cliche and instead of letting my issues eat me, I eat them. For breakfast, lunch and dinner. That's the whole point of this 12-week experiment, isn't it? To break that cycle and learn how to deal with things in a healthier way.
Well, I'm making progress. You want to know what one of the best things was about the weekend from my perspective? The one thing I'm proud of? I worked out. All three days.
Shhh. Listen! Can you hear that shattering? Yup. That's the sound of a cycle breaking, babee. I actually took my workout clothes and my shoes and did more than carry them around for the weekend. I actually used them.
Friday afternoon, Hayely and R and I searched for a trail up to Sugar Loaf, a high rock formation. A famous Winona landmark, which rests upon a peak, overlooking the city. We never did find it. After quite a bit of driving around, however, we did find another trail. They dropped me off with instructions to return in an hour. And went to Walmart to buy toilet paper or something. Twenty minutes into the trail I smell the end. No worries. Just pick up another trail. No can do. The only one in sight is unmaintained and vertical. A total "attempt-at-your-own-risker." So, I start walking back to a huge hill I saw a ways back. Garvin Heights Road. It's long and it's a good incline. I start bookin' it up. Twenty seven minutes later, I'm at a fork in the road and 57 minutes of my hour is up. I call in the troops. Work out #1. Check.
Saturday, we checked in to a lovely Inn in the shadows of the colorful Winona bluffs. It is gorgeous. While the guys relax and Hayley takes a much needed break from us elders, my sister in law, Sherri and I take off on a circuit. For an hour we cruise at a brisk pace with stops in between for push ups, squats, step ups, shoulder presses (I brought a band), bicep curls, side shuffles, jacks, front kicks, stairs and calf raises all around the beautiful campus of St. Mary's. Basically, whatever we could think of we did. It was actually sort of fun. Work out #2. Check.
Sunday, while R watched the football game at Hayley's apartment and Hayley took pictures at a friend's event, I went for a walk around Lake Winona. Hayley thought the trail was about a mile. Since R wanted to hit the road soon, I told him I'd be back in half an hour or so. A mile didn't seem like it should take that long, but I would figure the rest out on the fly. So, off I went. It was a bee-uu-ti-fuuul day! Plus, I had my new lavender beanie on that I got at the dollar store, so I felt very stunnah. I was walking at a good, brisk clip and checked my watch about the half-way point. Hmmm. 30 minutes all ready... Ruh-roh...Should I go back, or just keep going? I wasn't going to make it back in anything close to what I had expected. I decide I might as well just keep going. I hauled ass, but didn't make it back to Hayley's apartment for another half hour. Luckily, R was understanding about the miscalculation and I got in an extra half hour that I hadn't expected. And, as it turns, out, I'm glad I did. Work out #3. Check.
So, when I got on the scale yesterday with Jen, all I could think about was the poor food choices I had made and the wine I'd had. Somehow, on Monday, as I faced the scale and Jen, those goodies didn't seem that important or worth it. Why is it, in the moment of indulgence, it's so easy to sacrifice the long-term goal for that immediate gratification. But hold on, Sloopy, let's not get into dissection of the human psyche, this post is already way long.
Anyhoo, my goal was to break even. I did not accomplish that. I gained 1.6 pounds. But I did learn something about myself. I can change. And I can persevere. So I'm not going to pound on myself about missing my goal. I'm going to tospy-turvey that mother and be proud of myself for being dedicated enough and creative enough to get in some quality work outs on the road.
O.
M.
G.
Did you hear that???? I am the queen of cycle-breaking.
5 Weeks/5.4 pounds. Roar.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
A Third of the Weigh!
Har-dee-frickin'-har. I love me a pun!!
So time-wise I am a third of the way into my twelve week journey. Pound-wise I'm over half-weigh!! I lost me another pound this week.
And it hurt.
Last Monday was this important football game. Some of yous may have heard about it. Packers and the Vikes. Who now have Favre. And my boyfriend, Jared Allen. So, we have these neighbors and they went through this really horrible process of digging out the basement of their older-than-dirt-house. Like running a conveyor belt through a window and literally hand-digging it out. It took like for-eva. But they did it and then they put in an uber-cool home theatre. I'm telling you, it is UBERCOOL.
Well, they invited us over to watch The Game. Of course, there were snacks and beer and cookies and all the twizzlers you could eat. And I did. It was ugly.
So, the next morning I was bloaty and up three pounds from the day before and feeling really gross. But I didn't give up. I spent the next six days trying to eat better and working out and I emailed Jen yesterday and told her I was skeerd to get on the scale. I was hoping for a break-even situation.
But I lost a pound and I am very thankful.
We celebrated by doing a circuit on the rowing machine, stair machine, elliptical, bike and doing thirty push-ups and sit-ups and fifteen shoulder presses and bicep curls. But it wasn't so bad.
Cause I was a pound lighter.
So, this week I have another challenge. R and I are going to Winona to visit Hayley. We are staying at an Inn and meeting R's sister and her husband. It's going to be grand! Hayley created a "clipboard of fun" and I am super excited because it includes wine tasting and cupcakes. But that is wicked scary for me too because wine and cupcakes cloud my judgement. The clipboard of fun also includes a big hike up a local bluff called "Sugarloaf." So, I hope that I can stay active enough to off-set some indulgences. Like wine and cupcakes.
Tip:
My sissy gave me a good tip for those times when you've had too much salt. Lemon. Try some lemon juice in some hot water in the morning, or put some lemon Crystal Lite in one of your glasses of water during the day. I think it really helped. Next time you need a little de-bloating, give it a try.
This week, my goal really is to maintain and I am trying to be super-duper diligent in the days leading up to all that fun. (Read: wine and cupcakes!!) Witht that in mind, I'm open to receiving any positive thoughts you'd like to send my way.
Here's to good choices, fun and keeping a healthy balance.
4Weeks/7Pounds
So time-wise I am a third of the way into my twelve week journey. Pound-wise I'm over half-weigh!! I lost me another pound this week.
And it hurt.
Last Monday was this important football game. Some of yous may have heard about it. Packers and the Vikes. Who now have Favre. And my boyfriend, Jared Allen. So, we have these neighbors and they went through this really horrible process of digging out the basement of their older-than-dirt-house. Like running a conveyor belt through a window and literally hand-digging it out. It took like for-eva. But they did it and then they put in an uber-cool home theatre. I'm telling you, it is UBERCOOL.
Well, they invited us over to watch The Game. Of course, there were snacks and beer and cookies and all the twizzlers you could eat. And I did. It was ugly.
So, the next morning I was bloaty and up three pounds from the day before and feeling really gross. But I didn't give up. I spent the next six days trying to eat better and working out and I emailed Jen yesterday and told her I was skeerd to get on the scale. I was hoping for a break-even situation.
But I lost a pound and I am very thankful.
We celebrated by doing a circuit on the rowing machine, stair machine, elliptical, bike and doing thirty push-ups and sit-ups and fifteen shoulder presses and bicep curls. But it wasn't so bad.
Cause I was a pound lighter.
So, this week I have another challenge. R and I are going to Winona to visit Hayley. We are staying at an Inn and meeting R's sister and her husband. It's going to be grand! Hayley created a "clipboard of fun" and I am super excited because it includes wine tasting and cupcakes. But that is wicked scary for me too because wine and cupcakes cloud my judgement. The clipboard of fun also includes a big hike up a local bluff called "Sugarloaf." So, I hope that I can stay active enough to off-set some indulgences. Like wine and cupcakes.
Tip:
My sissy gave me a good tip for those times when you've had too much salt. Lemon. Try some lemon juice in some hot water in the morning, or put some lemon Crystal Lite in one of your glasses of water during the day. I think it really helped. Next time you need a little de-bloating, give it a try.
This week, my goal really is to maintain and I am trying to be super-duper diligent in the days leading up to all that fun. (Read: wine and cupcakes!!) Witht that in mind, I'm open to receiving any positive thoughts you'd like to send my way.
Here's to good choices, fun and keeping a healthy balance.
4Weeks/7Pounds
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Yeow.
Weird week in my world of weight loss. Had a few obstacles and didn't exercise as much as I would have liked. My intake was pretty good, however, and since we didn't have a lot going on over the weekend, I managed a booze-free week. Yay me!
Finally got new workout shoes, which I had been needing, and took a long walk on Sunday. Ended up with a purty sore foot, however. It had been bothering me ever so slightly for a while, which I chose to ignore. That's a mistake and I'm lucky I got off as lightly as I did. I know better. I've learned through experience to replace my workout shoes every 3-4 months. But this gets expensive and I tried to eek out some extra workouts and shift around other shoes. Not too smart. So, my foot was sore.
But I did find a helpful exercise. I will share: roll your foot on a wine bottle. I happen to have stash under my desk at work. "Why?" Well, one year for Christmas, R and i made my friends those lighted wine bottles that you decorate and I thought they were uber cool. I was going to make dozens to put on my deck when we entertained in the summer. So when my friends found a cool bottle, they would bring it to me. Well, needless to say, the bottles never got made, and the parties never happened. And, because I can be a tad lazy, I never took all the bottles home. And that was lucky, because I had a supply of wine bottles handy when I needed them. So, for the past few days, I've been rolling one under my sore foot periodically. And you know what? It really helped. Even though the clinking of bottles sounds sorta weird at the office. So, there is a handy recycling tip for you. Help the environment and help your sore foot. Kewl.
My workout with Jen this week was a bit uninspired. Since I wanted to pamper my foot, we did intervals on the bike. It was okay, until we took a break between intervals for some ab work. My side sorta felt weird the first set. Then the second set...
Yeow.
Pulled a muscle in my side and it hurt. It sucks getting old and injured all the time. But I am hoping that if I can lose some poundages, and get stronger, the frequency of my injury occurrences will decrease. And I'm on my way because when Jen weighed me this week, I lost 2 pounds! Score!!
This week's snack tip:
My new LOVE: Chester's Cheese Puff Corn!
A 1 oz serving (3-count 'em-3 CUPS!!!) is 160 Calories! W00t!!
Sometimes (like every day) you just need a salty snack. Of course I NEVER eat 3 whole cups, but if I wanted to, it would be 160 calories. That's a lot of snacking bang for your calorie buck!
I have had 1-1/2 Cups, but that's a manageable 80 Calories.
Stats: 3 Weeks, 6 pounds. Half way there!
Ciao for now!
Finally got new workout shoes, which I had been needing, and took a long walk on Sunday. Ended up with a purty sore foot, however. It had been bothering me ever so slightly for a while, which I chose to ignore. That's a mistake and I'm lucky I got off as lightly as I did. I know better. I've learned through experience to replace my workout shoes every 3-4 months. But this gets expensive and I tried to eek out some extra workouts and shift around other shoes. Not too smart. So, my foot was sore.
But I did find a helpful exercise. I will share: roll your foot on a wine bottle. I happen to have stash under my desk at work. "Why?" Well, one year for Christmas, R and i made my friends those lighted wine bottles that you decorate and I thought they were uber cool. I was going to make dozens to put on my deck when we entertained in the summer. So when my friends found a cool bottle, they would bring it to me. Well, needless to say, the bottles never got made, and the parties never happened. And, because I can be a tad lazy, I never took all the bottles home. And that was lucky, because I had a supply of wine bottles handy when I needed them. So, for the past few days, I've been rolling one under my sore foot periodically. And you know what? It really helped. Even though the clinking of bottles sounds sorta weird at the office. So, there is a handy recycling tip for you. Help the environment and help your sore foot. Kewl.
My workout with Jen this week was a bit uninspired. Since I wanted to pamper my foot, we did intervals on the bike. It was okay, until we took a break between intervals for some ab work. My side sorta felt weird the first set. Then the second set...
Yeow.
Pulled a muscle in my side and it hurt. It sucks getting old and injured all the time. But I am hoping that if I can lose some poundages, and get stronger, the frequency of my injury occurrences will decrease. And I'm on my way because when Jen weighed me this week, I lost 2 pounds! Score!!
This week's snack tip:
My new LOVE: Chester's Cheese Puff Corn!
A 1 oz serving (3-count 'em-3 CUPS!!!) is 160 Calories! W00t!!
Sometimes (like every day) you just need a salty snack. Of course I NEVER eat 3 whole cups, but if I wanted to, it would be 160 calories. That's a lot of snacking bang for your calorie buck!
I have had 1-1/2 Cups, but that's a manageable 80 Calories.
Stats: 3 Weeks, 6 pounds. Half way there!
Ciao for now!
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
My first Question!
Snaps to me!! A friend messaged me about this journey I'm on. Thought I would post our correspondence.
(My friend)
Hey girl! It is awesome that you are losing weight! What is your plan - how are you doing it?
(Me)
Hey, Friend!!
I am just trying to take the common-sense approach. Smaller portions, healthier choices, incorporating breakfast and snacks. Exercising 5-6 days a week: one or two intense cardio days, several low-medium intensity days. Trying to mix it up and include resistance training to boost my metabolism.
This is so scary, because I'm documenting my journey and it is out there for all the world to see. But I've been told that this act of publicly sharing can help one succeed.
I am also trying to find substitutes for foods I crave and love so I can stay satisfied. They are not always the healthiest options, but they are much better than what I would have chosen in the past. I consider that progress.
It's been an issue for me my entire adult life, but I just have to keep trying. Hoping things click for me this time.
(My friend)
Hey girl! It is awesome that you are losing weight! What is your plan - how are you doing it?
(Me)
Hey, Friend!!
I am just trying to take the common-sense approach. Smaller portions, healthier choices, incorporating breakfast and snacks. Exercising 5-6 days a week: one or two intense cardio days, several low-medium intensity days. Trying to mix it up and include resistance training to boost my metabolism.
This is so scary, because I'm documenting my journey and it is out there for all the world to see. But I've been told that this act of publicly sharing can help one succeed.
I am also trying to find substitutes for foods I crave and love so I can stay satisfied. They are not always the healthiest options, but they are much better than what I would have chosen in the past. I consider that progress.
It's been an issue for me my entire adult life, but I just have to keep trying. Hoping things click for me this time.
Monday, September 28, 2009
Jen didn't want to count it!
WTF? Hey! Point six pounds is over half a pound and when you've been battling weight issues as long as I have, you count every frickin' half pound, maybe even quarter-of-a.
Jen made the mistake of sort of DISCOUNTING IT!
Okay, so she was down with it once I set her straight. I guess it would be difficult for her to see why that would be important to me, but when on stepped on the scale, and she said, "you stayed the same," I took exception to the fat!
And if anyone has a weight vest, may I borrow it? I'm absolutely dying for Jen to wear one during one of our workouts. I would love, love, love it if she could walk the steep hill in my shoes.
For the record, I'm not bad-mouthing Jen. I think she's tops. I just need to set her straight from time to time. I'm all about the educating, the coaching, the mentoring. She has a heart of gold and has stuck with me through thick and thick. I truly do heart her.
This week went pretty well. I did me some H2O aerobics, took a couple of walks, did an hour in the gym midweek and on Saturday, I climbed the steep hill 8 times! W00t! If I hadn't done that, I'm purty sure I woulda gained me some poundage fo sho. (Overdid the vino and steak and m&m's Saturday night.) Shocking, I know!)
So I'm thankful for my stinkin' .6 pound!
Tip for this week: Country Hearth Light Wheat Bread. 40 cals/slice! I love me a sanich at lunch time and with this bread, I can have a whole sanich instead of a half, and I have never been one to do anything half way. bwaaaa...
Two week total: 3.6 pounds.
Jen made the mistake of sort of DISCOUNTING IT!
Okay, so she was down with it once I set her straight. I guess it would be difficult for her to see why that would be important to me, but when on stepped on the scale, and she said, "you stayed the same," I took exception to the fat!
And if anyone has a weight vest, may I borrow it? I'm absolutely dying for Jen to wear one during one of our workouts. I would love, love, love it if she could walk the steep hill in my shoes.
For the record, I'm not bad-mouthing Jen. I think she's tops. I just need to set her straight from time to time. I'm all about the educating, the coaching, the mentoring. She has a heart of gold and has stuck with me through thick and thick. I truly do heart her.
This week went pretty well. I did me some H2O aerobics, took a couple of walks, did an hour in the gym midweek and on Saturday, I climbed the steep hill 8 times! W00t! If I hadn't done that, I'm purty sure I woulda gained me some poundage fo sho. (Overdid the vino and steak and m&m's Saturday night.) Shocking, I know!)
So I'm thankful for my stinkin' .6 pound!
Tip for this week: Country Hearth Light Wheat Bread. 40 cals/slice! I love me a sanich at lunch time and with this bread, I can have a whole sanich instead of a half, and I have never been one to do anything half way. bwaaaa...
Two week total: 3.6 pounds.
Monday, September 21, 2009
Good job to me and Jen!
Okay, so my personal trainer, Jen, is something else. She is two parts creative, two parts motivating, 3 parts knowledge.With a dash of an S&M whip master. She concocts the most torturous workouts and keeps her cool when I complain and call her a "witch" during the entire.
But seriously, she is also very caring and totally knows what she's doing. I heart her. That's why I want to be a better advertisement for her.
We decided that with my new 'tude, she'd help me reach some goals. Every Monday when I see her, I will weigh in. She took my measurements. She gives me homework. She made me sign a contract. (I didn't like that part.)
Last week was my first weigh in. So, today I had to see if I lost weight. I had done my homework and had eaten pretty well, but I was uber nervous because I'd had a run in with a giant order of nachos and a mega beer Friday night. I was skeerd.
But, I actually lost 3 pounds! On my way people!
Anyway, hoping to keep the momentum going and lose 12 pounds in 12 weeks.
Fingers crossed!
But seriously, she is also very caring and totally knows what she's doing. I heart her. That's why I want to be a better advertisement for her.
We decided that with my new 'tude, she'd help me reach some goals. Every Monday when I see her, I will weigh in. She took my measurements. She gives me homework. She made me sign a contract. (I didn't like that part.)
Last week was my first weigh in. So, today I had to see if I lost weight. I had done my homework and had eaten pretty well, but I was uber nervous because I'd had a run in with a giant order of nachos and a mega beer Friday night. I was skeerd.
But, I actually lost 3 pounds! On my way people!
Anyway, hoping to keep the momentum going and lose 12 pounds in 12 weeks.
Fingers crossed!
Here we go again
Those of you who know me understand that I am on a perpetual journey. Okay, journey schmourney. Let's call it what it is: a Battle.
Uhm, No.
A. Freakin'. War.
I have been beaten and battered and dragged through hell. And it sucks because I am fighting myself. That's the really sick part. The Rubik's cube of it all. But I refuse to give up. I will never give up. And by doing that. By engaging in the very act of trying, I gain a little sliver of self respect.
Every day that happens, I stack that hard-won sliver on top of the layer from the day before. It's a painstaking process, but you know what? I'm building myself some dignity, babee. Because I think that's the answer. Or at least part of it. Maybe if I can find some confidence and convince myself that I am worthy of living this life I was given, I can turn this thing around before I kill myself.
Yesterday was a pretty good day. Got up and ate me some multigrain cherrios with fat free milk. Went out for lunch to Panera. I decided to go online to see the nutrition stats for their menu. Turns out they have a nutrition calculator. You put in what you want for your meal and it abracacalulates it for you. For a right-brainer like me, that is what you call AWESOME!So I put in a few scenarios until I came up with an appetizing lunch that fit into my food budget.
Here's the link:http://www.paneranutrition.com/
Go crazy.
Uhm, No.
A. Freakin'. War.
I have been beaten and battered and dragged through hell. And it sucks because I am fighting myself. That's the really sick part. The Rubik's cube of it all. But I refuse to give up. I will never give up. And by doing that. By engaging in the very act of trying, I gain a little sliver of self respect.
Every day that happens, I stack that hard-won sliver on top of the layer from the day before. It's a painstaking process, but you know what? I'm building myself some dignity, babee. Because I think that's the answer. Or at least part of it. Maybe if I can find some confidence and convince myself that I am worthy of living this life I was given, I can turn this thing around before I kill myself.
Yesterday was a pretty good day. Got up and ate me some multigrain cherrios with fat free milk. Went out for lunch to Panera. I decided to go online to see the nutrition stats for their menu. Turns out they have a nutrition calculator. You put in what you want for your meal and it abracacalulates it for you. For a right-brainer like me, that is what you call AWESOME!So I put in a few scenarios until I came up with an appetizing lunch that fit into my food budget.
Here's the link:http://www.paneranutrition.com/
Go crazy.
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