Thursday, May 31, 2007
Progress
I have been meaning to report the progress I have seen me make in my exercising in the past few months. I don't know why it is - either I am pushing myself harder, or I am looking more at non-physical changes, or what - but I have seen me make good progress in odd areas in the past month or so. The most obvious example is that I was able to finish the boxing class TWICE now and am only feeling minor pain now. In the past, the WARM UP section would have been enough to do me in. But from a more detailed point of view... I have NEVER been able to do ab work with my legs in the air - last night I was able to. OK - My legs weren't beautifully straight and graceful - but they were in the air. In the past I wasn't able to hold them up at all. The other thing I noticed today is that before the most UNCOMFORTABLE position for me to get in would be a low down squat (you know, the position toddlers and pregnant women use to rest). I could NEVER do that - at least not with out placing my hands on the floor to hold me up... This morning I noticed I COULD do that - and while I was writing this, I checked to see if I could do it again. I COULD. It wasn't exactly comfortable - but my balance has improved enough (and I guess the strength in my legs too) that I could do it without holding myself with my hands and without falling on my butt!! This is progress for me. I also have noticed that I don't get as winded as quickly. Yay me!!!
What's the opposite of exercise?
That's what I've been getting this week. When not only do you NOT exercise, but you replace your normal exercise with counter-productive activities like watching movies or going to parties. I haven't been to the gym once so far this week and I haven't even done pilates at home. At home I keep falling asleep on the sofa during a movie after getting the kids to bed, and at work I keep having meetings and parties (there was a retirement party yesterday during my normal gym time). So today I have to get in two or three days' worth of exercise, so I'll need to go to the gym and do two pilates workouts at home. Wait, I'll need another day also--tomorrow I'm at a meeting all day in Carroll County so I'm not going to the gym then either. And on the weekend I'm at encampment with Claire, so it's exhausting and active but not real exercise (walking at the pace of a second grader isn't much of a cardio workout). So I have to do an entire week's worth of exercise today. What's that, about three or four hours? Yeah, I'll get right on that.
Boxing Baby!
Katie and I did our second boxing class last night. It was enough different to keep it interesting still. There were more people there so there were three wall stations (so actually I guess there were only two extra people - we did one wall station - shadow boxing - last week). This time the wall stations were actual exercises. One was a squat with your back against the wall hold a weighted ball above your head. You maintained that position the whole round. My legs hurt today because of that. The other two were worked with pairs standing back to back. One set you passed a weighted ball over head, under legs for the round and the other was you passed the weighted ball left to right twisting your torso. I liked them both but they certainly worked your muscles. I got an "Very Good" or "Exactly Right" or something from the instructer when I was doing the speed bag. I was pleased, because I had JUST gotten the rhythem down - and I wasn't counting out loud this time. We stayed for the abs this time. Yeah - hummmmm. It was hard, but I can't feel it really today. I couldn't do the push ups part. What a joke!! But I tried. Sadly, it takes me almost as long to get into position as it takes everyone else to DO the push ups. Oh well. If I keep trying maybe I will get there eventually.
My weight yesterday was 222.2 and today 222.6. The good thing about the heat is that I don't eat as much - but of course, I am SUPPOSED to be eating five times a day. Sigh.
My weight yesterday was 222.2 and today 222.6. The good thing about the heat is that I don't eat as much - but of course, I am SUPPOSED to be eating five times a day. Sigh.
Lots of exercise
Today I hiked up to the dome of a basilica, wearing a backpack with a baby in it. Talk about exercise! It was a looonnnng time before my heart rate was completely back to normal. At the landing halfway up we discovered there was a public elevator that everyone else was using -- the landing was the switchover point from one elevator to another. So we did take the second elevator, but I still think I earned a lot of cardio points for the first half! I did a lot of walking around the city yesterday and today, all with the baby carrier, so I'm getting plenty of exercise. The people here are much thinner than at home!
Food has been spotty. Yesterday I completely missed lunch -- I hate eating in restaurants by myself or even just with Cecilia (actually, it's more complicated with Cecilia so I find myself less inclined to eat at the cafes than I would have been just by myself) and I haven't had a lot of luck finding sandwich shops (except Subway!) or grocery stores. I did get Cecilia an ice cream cone and helped her with that a bit. And I had a huge breakfast yesterday -- whole grain toast with a bit of butter and jam, a small croissant and another pastry (with chocolate inside, yum), some yogurt, juice, milk (definitely not skim) and I'm not sure what else. So I was fine going without lunch. For dinner I had a grilled chicken breast (with rosemary, very good) and chunky fries (good but not healthy). And they offered a salad with it, but it was inedible -- it was some brownish iceburg lettuce with bits of cabbage and carrot, one half slice of cucumber, several pieces of yellow corn (Cecilia ate all of those) and some tomatoes which would have been nice if I liked tomatoes, which I don't -- and all drowned in a dill cream sauce which negated any pathetic health benefits there may have been. So I really didn't eat any of the salad. I drank water with dinner, but Daniel and I had beer afterwards, and some wine -- all in all more alcohol than I needed! So I haven't added the day up but I'm pretty sure I overdid it on calories.
Today my breakfast was by necessity smaller -- I only had about 3 minutes to eat. So I had some yogurt again, and one inhaled pastry -- I would rather have had toast but that would have taken too long to make -- and a glass of OJ. But I ate much more of a lunch, since today I swiped some things from the breakfast buffet and then I found a grocery store: I have had a roll, a hunk of a loaf of white bread, a couple of thin sandwich slices of gouda, the peel of an apple (Cecilia ate the insides, but the peel had a lot stuck to it), and far too many chocolate "biscuits", i.e., cookies, very much like Chocolate Teddy Grahams in flavor. Tonight we will probably go into town to eat, so again I will exceed my calorie needs, I fear!
Food has been spotty. Yesterday I completely missed lunch -- I hate eating in restaurants by myself or even just with Cecilia (actually, it's more complicated with Cecilia so I find myself less inclined to eat at the cafes than I would have been just by myself) and I haven't had a lot of luck finding sandwich shops (except Subway!) or grocery stores. I did get Cecilia an ice cream cone and helped her with that a bit. And I had a huge breakfast yesterday -- whole grain toast with a bit of butter and jam, a small croissant and another pastry (with chocolate inside, yum), some yogurt, juice, milk (definitely not skim) and I'm not sure what else. So I was fine going without lunch. For dinner I had a grilled chicken breast (with rosemary, very good) and chunky fries (good but not healthy). And they offered a salad with it, but it was inedible -- it was some brownish iceburg lettuce with bits of cabbage and carrot, one half slice of cucumber, several pieces of yellow corn (Cecilia ate all of those) and some tomatoes which would have been nice if I liked tomatoes, which I don't -- and all drowned in a dill cream sauce which negated any pathetic health benefits there may have been. So I really didn't eat any of the salad. I drank water with dinner, but Daniel and I had beer afterwards, and some wine -- all in all more alcohol than I needed! So I haven't added the day up but I'm pretty sure I overdid it on calories.
Today my breakfast was by necessity smaller -- I only had about 3 minutes to eat. So I had some yogurt again, and one inhaled pastry -- I would rather have had toast but that would have taken too long to make -- and a glass of OJ. But I ate much more of a lunch, since today I swiped some things from the breakfast buffet and then I found a grocery store: I have had a roll, a hunk of a loaf of white bread, a couple of thin sandwich slices of gouda, the peel of an apple (Cecilia ate the insides, but the peel had a lot stuck to it), and far too many chocolate "biscuits", i.e., cookies, very much like Chocolate Teddy Grahams in flavor. Tonight we will probably go into town to eat, so again I will exceed my calorie needs, I fear!
It's Thursday?
Short weeks ALWAYS goof me up for some reason. On Tuesday I told Amy Mantay it was Friday and asked what plans she had for the weekend. Sheesh.
I went to a spinning class last night. All I can say is HOLY CRAPPERS! It was really challenging, and I am definitely going back again. What a work out. I am not going to the gym tonight--it is going to be a calculated night of rest as well as cramming for my interview tomorrow.
Food yesterday was ok. A banana and a few bites of bagel, pizza, chicken curry and chips and a cookie and tall skim iced latte from Starbucks. It really is evil that the Starbucks is right under the gym.
I went to a spinning class last night. All I can say is HOLY CRAPPERS! It was really challenging, and I am definitely going back again. What a work out. I am not going to the gym tonight--it is going to be a calculated night of rest as well as cramming for my interview tomorrow.
Food yesterday was ok. A banana and a few bites of bagel, pizza, chicken curry and chips and a cookie and tall skim iced latte from Starbucks. It really is evil that the Starbucks is right under the gym.
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
It's only Wednesday
Last night I went to the gym and biked for 35 minutes. I did the hills routine on level 4 and I picked the around the world program. I watched the body pump weight lifting class and I am going to try that one night. It is weight lifting in a group and it looked like I was coordinated enough to keep up. I was all set to try spinning last night, but felt really crappy so I opted out of the organized group effort in favor of going it alone, just in case my pms got the best of me.
Food yesterday was ok. It is really evil that there is a Starbucks on the floor below the gym, but I managed to resist.
That's all for now I think...
Food yesterday was ok. It is really evil that there is a Starbucks on the floor below the gym, but I managed to resist.
That's all for now I think...
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
357 pounds?
I have no idea. I don't have a scale here and even if I did it would tell me kilos or stones or something else furn. I feel enormous because it's furn food involving lots of meat and butter and not the lovely fresh fruit from markets I've been envisioning -- all the markets in Frankfurt were closed yesterday because it was Pentecost Monday, not to mention pouring down rain, and today we were in transit all day and I was lucky to get any food at all. We scraped together some breakfast from the market at the airport (a pastry and some apple juice for me) and for lunch I had a couple of squares of chocolate (very dark, so at least it's lower calorie and higher antioxidant) and a handful of baby goldfish crackers, because there was a water leak on the plane and the flight attendants spent the whole time cleaning that up rather than feeding us sandwiches and drinks!
For dinner tonight I went to the hotel restaurant, which was pretty much my only option -- we got here too late to take transit into the city and the island our resort is on doesn't have any restaurants other than the ones in the hotels. The food was really good (and now I've had authentic Hungarian paprikash, and it's really good but not as good as Mom's!) but there was a shortage of vegetables. So I made myself eat a salad, and then it was all meat and fiber-less starches, except for some soggy carrots and the mushrooms that were hiding in the paprikash. Oh, and there was half a strawberry buried in the whipped cream with my cream cake dessert.
I also drank a very large, dark beer at the restaurant (not what I ordered, but the Hungarian pronunciation is so strange that even if I just say the letters in front of me and point to the word on the page I still can't get my point across -- they say the language's only cousin is Finnish! -- anyway, it was still a dark beer, but larger than I'd planned on), and I'm working on a beer now. Alcohol in Europe is cheaper than soda and about the same price as water. This I do not understand.
I fully expect to gain many pounds on this trip. The only redemption for me is that I will be walking all over the place with a toddler in a pack on my back. So maybe I won't be huge when I return. My official diet starts the Monday after we get back -- that's a full-fledged, calorie-cutting, exercising loads diet.
Obviously I have Internet access here and I'm going to have a fair amount of time with just me and Cecilia in a hotel room, so I'll be posting with some regularity!
For dinner tonight I went to the hotel restaurant, which was pretty much my only option -- we got here too late to take transit into the city and the island our resort is on doesn't have any restaurants other than the ones in the hotels. The food was really good (and now I've had authentic Hungarian paprikash, and it's really good but not as good as Mom's!) but there was a shortage of vegetables. So I made myself eat a salad, and then it was all meat and fiber-less starches, except for some soggy carrots and the mushrooms that were hiding in the paprikash. Oh, and there was half a strawberry buried in the whipped cream with my cream cake dessert.
I also drank a very large, dark beer at the restaurant (not what I ordered, but the Hungarian pronunciation is so strange that even if I just say the letters in front of me and point to the word on the page I still can't get my point across -- they say the language's only cousin is Finnish! -- anyway, it was still a dark beer, but larger than I'd planned on), and I'm working on a beer now. Alcohol in Europe is cheaper than soda and about the same price as water. This I do not understand.
I fully expect to gain many pounds on this trip. The only redemption for me is that I will be walking all over the place with a toddler in a pack on my back. So maybe I won't be huge when I return. My official diet starts the Monday after we get back -- that's a full-fledged, calorie-cutting, exercising loads diet.
Obviously I have Internet access here and I'm going to have a fair amount of time with just me and Cecilia in a hotel room, so I'll be posting with some regularity!
Those crazy Brits...
The Word of the Day for May 29 is:
hemidemisemiquaver \hem-ih-dem-ih-SEM-ih-kway-ver\ noun
: a musical note with the time value of 1/64 of a whole note : sixty-fourth note
Example sentence: The pianist's fingers became a blur flying over the keys as she played the difficult hemidemisemiquavers of the allegro movement.
Did you know?
Hemidemisemiquavers are the fastest musical notes that are commonly played, and performing them well can stretch human technique to its limit. The term is mainly used in Britain, where eighth notes are called "quavers," sixteenth notes are called "semiquavers," and thirty-second notes are called "demisemiquavers." In the United States, "hemidemisemiquaver" is likely to be used humorously, occurring especially as a clever substitute for "moment" or "bit," as in "the concert ended not a hemidemisemiquaver too soon."
hemidemisemiquaver \hem-ih-dem-ih-SEM-ih-kway-ver\ noun
: a musical note with the time value of 1/64 of a whole note : sixty-fourth note
Example sentence: The pianist's fingers became a blur flying over the keys as she played the difficult hemidemisemiquavers of the allegro movement.
Did you know?
Hemidemisemiquavers are the fastest musical notes that are commonly played, and performing them well can stretch human technique to its limit. The term is mainly used in Britain, where eighth notes are called "quavers," sixteenth notes are called "semiquavers," and thirty-second notes are called "demisemiquavers." In the United States, "hemidemisemiquaver" is likely to be used humorously, occurring especially as a clever substitute for "moment" or "bit," as in "the concert ended not a hemidemisemiquaver too soon."
Weighing in
So today I was 136.6. How is that possible when I was 136.2 last week, lost weight steadily all week and stuck with my good habits? It's so annoying--I was dropping a little bit every day all last week, then Saturday morning I was 136.4, then on Sunday 136.6 and there I've stayed ever since. I would have expected it on Monday after spending Sunday hanging out at Mom and Dad's and eating too much, but on Saturday and Monday I was great--very active, kept my food intake in check, etc. Yesterday especially was a physically demanding day--three hours in the morning tromping around a graveyard putting flags on the gaves of veterans, then another three hours of HARD housecleaning in the afternoon (the kind of cleaning where you are on your hands and knees pulling stuff out from under beds, then standing on stepstools scrubbing walls and this level of activity doesn't let up for hours), then I walked Davey for 40 minutes in the evening. I'm exhausted, but I weigh exactly the same as I did on Sunday and Monday, and half a pound more than I did last week.
Catching up
Let's see...I weigh what I did last week. Saturday I went to Belvedere Brick Bodies and walked for 30 minutes and biked for 20. Saturday night Amy M & I ran. Sunday I ate and ate and ate. Oh, and drank. Monday we ran. Tonight I am going to try a spinning class hopefully. Plus I am also pms-ing. It is grand. I feel like that guy on XMen that turns into water and explodes on the table when Halle Berry is holding his hand.
Weekend Follow-up
I hate it when our weigh in day happens to be the day after a holiday. I am ALWAYS up. I spent all day yesterday being a slug. If I walked 2000 steps I would be surprised! I didn't leave the house at all - but I did get dressed, so that counts for something. I spent the day reading Mozart's Sister and watching episodes of Bones Season 1. My weight today is 224.8 - which is exactly the same as last week, but since I was down as low as 222.8 on Saturday I would have expected to be lower today. Oh well.
This weekend I made a few necklaces and bookmarks for the fair on Saturday. I should have made a sign since we don't have one. Katie and I applied for a sales tax licence on Sunday. The internet is amazing. It occurred to me on Sunday that if we were selling in a public venue there MAY be a tax inspector there and I SHOULD have a tax license. The one I used to have for Long Ago Far Away was long since expired - and besides - this is a different business altogether. The last time I applied for anything like this it involved a call to the Comptroller of the Treasury in Maryland, a trip to the library (to get the application) another one to go back and copy the completed form, one to the post office to mail the form and then a few weeks wait to get the license back. On Sunday I went online to the MD Comp office website, began the application, opened a new window to apply for a FIN (which I got instantly), and then completed and submitted the MD application. It took a grand total of about 10 minutes. I don't yet have the license - but I have the receipt for the application - which would probably keep a tax inspector happy, and I may even have the license by Saturday.
Katie and I each had our gym assessment this weekend - mine was Saturday hers was Sunday. It was very depressing. My body fat was UP from the time I first met with Tony three months ago. I don't know how that is possible. When I met with Tony I had been doing sporadic exercise mostly on the treadmill - and now I exercise at least a few times a week. I don't know how they measure body fat - I don't know what those sensors are actually sensing - but how could I gain FIVE percent more body fat in three months??! I now have another person telling me I don't eat enough. I don't see how that can be. It is - as we keep saying - a simple formula... burn more calories than you consume and you will lose weight... Yet I consistently am GAINING weight and people tell me to eat more. I am supposed to eat 358 calories five times a day - ever three hours. That is less than 1800 calories, so THAT is at least consistant with what most books and nutritionists say... Katie and I did the math on our breakfast this morning; 70 calories for the toast, 90 calories for the orange juice and about 20 for the apple butter. That leaves me 188 calories short. I could add in a hard boiled egg for protein - but that STILL is only about another 60 calories. If you count the coffee I drink it is about another 40 calories... Sigh. By the time I cram in all 358 calories it is time for me to eat my next meal!!!!
This weekend I made a few necklaces and bookmarks for the fair on Saturday. I should have made a sign since we don't have one. Katie and I applied for a sales tax licence on Sunday. The internet is amazing. It occurred to me on Sunday that if we were selling in a public venue there MAY be a tax inspector there and I SHOULD have a tax license. The one I used to have for Long Ago Far Away was long since expired - and besides - this is a different business altogether. The last time I applied for anything like this it involved a call to the Comptroller of the Treasury in Maryland, a trip to the library (to get the application) another one to go back and copy the completed form, one to the post office to mail the form and then a few weeks wait to get the license back. On Sunday I went online to the MD Comp office website, began the application, opened a new window to apply for a FIN (which I got instantly), and then completed and submitted the MD application. It took a grand total of about 10 minutes. I don't yet have the license - but I have the receipt for the application - which would probably keep a tax inspector happy, and I may even have the license by Saturday.
Katie and I each had our gym assessment this weekend - mine was Saturday hers was Sunday. It was very depressing. My body fat was UP from the time I first met with Tony three months ago. I don't know how that is possible. When I met with Tony I had been doing sporadic exercise mostly on the treadmill - and now I exercise at least a few times a week. I don't know how they measure body fat - I don't know what those sensors are actually sensing - but how could I gain FIVE percent more body fat in three months??! I now have another person telling me I don't eat enough. I don't see how that can be. It is - as we keep saying - a simple formula... burn more calories than you consume and you will lose weight... Yet I consistently am GAINING weight and people tell me to eat more. I am supposed to eat 358 calories five times a day - ever three hours. That is less than 1800 calories, so THAT is at least consistant with what most books and nutritionists say... Katie and I did the math on our breakfast this morning; 70 calories for the toast, 90 calories for the orange juice and about 20 for the apple butter. That leaves me 188 calories short. I could add in a hard boiled egg for protein - but that STILL is only about another 60 calories. If you count the coffee I drink it is about another 40 calories... Sigh. By the time I cram in all 358 calories it is time for me to eat my next meal!!!!
Friday, May 25, 2007
Stress and Ice Cream
Yesterday Kristy and I went to Coldstone. Her birthday was on May 15th - so she had a coupon to use. I can't believe I ate the whole thing! Then today it was Grace's birtday - so I had a (small) slice of Coldstone Cake. So too much ice cream...
That is as far as I got on Friday. My weight was 223.8 - or something like that. I will do a real post now...
That is as far as I got on Friday. My weight was 223.8 - or something like that. I will do a real post now...
Down a little bit every day
I've been losing about .2 pounds per day this week. I was either 135.6 or 135.4 this morning, and now I can't remember which weight it was! My exercise has been good--still running or doing pilates or both each day--my food not quite as good, but no really horrible days. Yesterday was Spring Convocation, where they make you sit through interminable awards and speakers for hours with the promise of a free lunch and afternoon celebration (our president is leaving at the end of the year, so it was a big deal this year; last year was the college's 35th anniversary so it was a big deal last year too. I'm thinking that next year they'll come up with yet another excuse to make it a big deal!). So by the time we got to lunch an hour after it was supposed to happen, I was starving. Unfortunately, the lunch wasn't fantastic--grilled chicken which had gotten dry sitting out waiting for us, yucky macaroni and cheese (apparently I only like the fake boxed stuff), baked beans (which I didn't even take because I don't like them), dinner rolls, salad and fruit. So I ate my whole salad and cup of fruit and dinner roll and half of the chicken, so I guess that wasn't too bad, but then I followed up with ice cream, which was the best tasting thing all day! And at our "Innovation Fair" I scarfed a bunch of Hershey's kisses (btw, our display won! Hee-hee. I knew my scrapbooking skills could be used for a practical purpose at some point!).
The other exercise I've been getting all week has been teaching Claire to ride her bike. When she was younger she just couldn't get the whole pedaling motion down--never even learned to ride a tricycle. So we haven't even gotten on a bike with her for a couple of years, and she had long since outgrown her first bike. When she showed some interest earlier this year, we got her a bike and all this week I've been taking her out after work for riding lessons, and by George, she's got it! Still very wobbly and no real control (i.e. speed, steering, braking) but that will come in time, and she's so proud of herself for going from zero to riding 40 and 50 feet at a time in just four days. Now if only I could somehow teach her to NOT get distracted by every little thing on the road--she keeps looking around when she sees or hears anything, which invariably makes her crash. Really have to work on the braking and steering!
The other exercise I've been getting all week has been teaching Claire to ride her bike. When she was younger she just couldn't get the whole pedaling motion down--never even learned to ride a tricycle. So we haven't even gotten on a bike with her for a couple of years, and she had long since outgrown her first bike. When she showed some interest earlier this year, we got her a bike and all this week I've been taking her out after work for riding lessons, and by George, she's got it! Still very wobbly and no real control (i.e. speed, steering, braking) but that will come in time, and she's so proud of herself for going from zero to riding 40 and 50 feet at a time in just four days. Now if only I could somehow teach her to NOT get distracted by every little thing on the road--she keeps looking around when she sees or hears anything, which invariably makes her crash. Really have to work on the braking and steering!
Thursday, May 24, 2007
Wednesday update
Yesterday was a long day. Food wasn't too great but not horrendous. I had a bagel, peanut butter and banana sandwich, snack pack of cookies (darn those cookies!), Let's Dish chicken with peppers and orzo, a small serving of chips and guacamole and some dry capn crunch for a midnight snack.
I ran at the Goucher program last night. We did a warm up and then 15 minutes around campus and a cool down. My little toe is causing me grief. But I ran anyway. That is my new plan--ignore it. It's just my little toe. You don't technically need it... The run around campus was really nice--it is a little hilly but not enough to make you want to die. The speed bumps are a bit treacherous if you aren't paying attention though.
Today I am meeting with the Brick Bodies rep after work.
I ran at the Goucher program last night. We did a warm up and then 15 minutes around campus and a cool down. My little toe is causing me grief. But I ran anyway. That is my new plan--ignore it. It's just my little toe. You don't technically need it... The run around campus was really nice--it is a little hilly but not enough to make you want to die. The speed bumps are a bit treacherous if you aren't paying attention though.
Today I am meeting with the Brick Bodies rep after work.
FINALLY
I wish that was a finally for the fact that my weight this morning was 155.4 - but sadly it wasn't I was 223.8 today and 224 even yesterday - so down both days from Tuesday's weigh in. Maybe I WILL lose the 4 pound period weight and be down to 220 next Tuesday... Maybe.
Anyway, the FINALLY is for my workout yesterday. Katie and I went to the Boxing 101 class at Brick Bodies. IT WAS SO MUCH FUN! It was an hour long class. I was really worried that I wouldn't be able to make it through the whole hour - but I did. Actually, by the end it was easier than it was in the beginning. We started with basic calisthenics (NO CLUE on spelling!) We did jumping jacks, toe touches, shuffle up and back and stuff... It was fun since I haven't done THAT sort of warm up since grade school gym class! Then he had us doing some general boxing moves as a class. Katie and I kept laughing since it was JUST like our kick boxing video - without the kicking. That was all about 20 minutes. Then he put us on the bags. There are 15 bags that are all different. Some are very hard to hit (6" peanut on bungie cords... you hit it once and not again probably for 20 seconds - but you stand there flailing at it as though you COULD hit it again!) others are traditional weighed bags with different shapes (for uppercuts and hooks and stuff...) There is a rubber man who puts a "face" on what you are doing. You could see that your cross was meant for his nose, your hook for his ear and your uppercuts for his body. Katie said she was frustrated with him because he was too tall for her to beat up. The speed bags were the most challanging. There were two of them - and for Katie and I they fell right in the middle and at the very end. These are the little hanging bags that you see boxers hit really fast. Even if you hit it slowly the bag swings fast. That was actually a nice rest each time - because you DO just stand there and tap on it. It was hard to get the rhythem. Anyway - 15 bags, 90 second "rounds" just like a boxing match. By the fourth bag I was whipped - but I kept going - by the rubber man I was back in business. After the 10th station he asked if we wanted to stop and do abs. Katie and I both voted to continue and finished our match. We will be back. We will bring our own gloves next time - so our hands won't smell like someone elses feet.
I also dug three holes and planted rose bushes yesterday. It was good.
I got two estimates for my deck. Long Fence was about $3000 more than Creative Decks. And I expected the Creative Deck people to be more. CD was about $1000 more than the guy who gave me an estimate over the phone. I don't know what to do. Part of me feels like I should go with the cheapest price (which would seem obvious) but the companies can provide guarentees that independant guys can't. Also - they have more selection on the products to use. I don't know. I have one more coming next Wednesday and then I have to still hear about the home equity loan.
Katie and I went for sushi last night as a reward for completeing the whole hour of boxing. I had a salad for breakfast. I know that is odd - but it was 11am and I hadn't eaten yet. I did have coffee and grapfruit juice when I was up earlier -but this was the first food I had eaten. Then I had a peanut butter and jelly sandwich for lunch. I was laughing at it. It was high fiber organic oat bran bread, sugar and salt free peanut butter and reduced sugar strawberry jam. It was good though. I think that is all I ate yesterday.
Anyway, the FINALLY is for my workout yesterday. Katie and I went to the Boxing 101 class at Brick Bodies. IT WAS SO MUCH FUN! It was an hour long class. I was really worried that I wouldn't be able to make it through the whole hour - but I did. Actually, by the end it was easier than it was in the beginning. We started with basic calisthenics (NO CLUE on spelling!) We did jumping jacks, toe touches, shuffle up and back and stuff... It was fun since I haven't done THAT sort of warm up since grade school gym class! Then he had us doing some general boxing moves as a class. Katie and I kept laughing since it was JUST like our kick boxing video - without the kicking. That was all about 20 minutes. Then he put us on the bags. There are 15 bags that are all different. Some are very hard to hit (6" peanut on bungie cords... you hit it once and not again probably for 20 seconds - but you stand there flailing at it as though you COULD hit it again!) others are traditional weighed bags with different shapes (for uppercuts and hooks and stuff...) There is a rubber man who puts a "face" on what you are doing. You could see that your cross was meant for his nose, your hook for his ear and your uppercuts for his body. Katie said she was frustrated with him because he was too tall for her to beat up. The speed bags were the most challanging. There were two of them - and for Katie and I they fell right in the middle and at the very end. These are the little hanging bags that you see boxers hit really fast. Even if you hit it slowly the bag swings fast. That was actually a nice rest each time - because you DO just stand there and tap on it. It was hard to get the rhythem. Anyway - 15 bags, 90 second "rounds" just like a boxing match. By the fourth bag I was whipped - but I kept going - by the rubber man I was back in business. After the 10th station he asked if we wanted to stop and do abs. Katie and I both voted to continue and finished our match. We will be back. We will bring our own gloves next time - so our hands won't smell like someone elses feet.
I also dug three holes and planted rose bushes yesterday. It was good.
I got two estimates for my deck. Long Fence was about $3000 more than Creative Decks. And I expected the Creative Deck people to be more. CD was about $1000 more than the guy who gave me an estimate over the phone. I don't know what to do. Part of me feels like I should go with the cheapest price (which would seem obvious) but the companies can provide guarentees that independant guys can't. Also - they have more selection on the products to use. I don't know. I have one more coming next Wednesday and then I have to still hear about the home equity loan.
Katie and I went for sushi last night as a reward for completeing the whole hour of boxing. I had a salad for breakfast. I know that is odd - but it was 11am and I hadn't eaten yet. I did have coffee and grapfruit juice when I was up earlier -but this was the first food I had eaten. Then I had a peanut butter and jelly sandwich for lunch. I was laughing at it. It was high fiber organic oat bran bread, sugar and salt free peanut butter and reduced sugar strawberry jam. It was good though. I think that is all I ate yesterday.
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
OK, I need a shower!
I made do with baby wipes and powder and body spray, but 3 miles on an outdoor track in this weather will really make you sweat! Yuck. I don't know why I even bothered changing afterwards--it was already almost 5:00 so I could have just gotten in the car and gone home.
My time for the 5K was 32:24, although it was probably a bit longer--either the iPod stopwatch doesn't do more than 9 laps or my battery was so low that it couldn't keep up with the lap timer, but it looks like I did eight laps at about 2:30 each and then one very long lap at 11:30 or so, but that was actually laps 9 through 12.5. And I managed to run the first five or six laps without pause, but then I didn't make it through one lap without having to walk part of the way. But my final time isn't terrible, although I'd love to get it under 30 minutes, which I could probably do by just getting to the point where I can actually run the whole way.
Another cool feature of the iPod stopwatch is that it saves all of this information. I know the iPod/Nike doohickey does the same (and with more information I suspect), but I was surprised to see that it saved the information. I don't know if it will then upload it to my computer when I get home. We'll see. Oh, and I also discovered that I'll have to just make do with this stopwatch--the Nike gadget only works with Nanos and not the video iPod.
My time for the 5K was 32:24, although it was probably a bit longer--either the iPod stopwatch doesn't do more than 9 laps or my battery was so low that it couldn't keep up with the lap timer, but it looks like I did eight laps at about 2:30 each and then one very long lap at 11:30 or so, but that was actually laps 9 through 12.5. And I managed to run the first five or six laps without pause, but then I didn't make it through one lap without having to walk part of the way. But my final time isn't terrible, although I'd love to get it under 30 minutes, which I could probably do by just getting to the point where I can actually run the whole way.
Another cool feature of the iPod stopwatch is that it saves all of this information. I know the iPod/Nike doohickey does the same (and with more information I suspect), but I was surprised to see that it saved the information. I don't know if it will then upload it to my computer when I get home. We'll see. Oh, and I also discovered that I'll have to just make do with this stopwatch--the Nike gadget only works with Nanos and not the video iPod.
Tuesday update
I went running last night. Wasn't the greatest given the little toe situation, but I went. Amy M & I did 30 minutes of intervals. I feel ok today but my knee is sore from not being able to bend my foot correctly to walk & run. Stupid toe. Tonight we have the Goucher program, and tomorrow night I am checking out Brick Bodies in Belvedere Square. I found out Monday that with Care First Blue Cross Blue Shield I get a decent discount at a number of health clubs. I am going to check out Bally's too. Brick Bodies isn't on the list, but our rep said she would look into getting them added. It is cool because it has nothing to do with JMT, just the fact that we are CareFirst subscribers.
Food yesterday was ok. pop tart for breakfast, pear, half an orange, half a banana, ham & swiss sandwich with mustard, lettuce & tomato, snack pack of teddy grahams, and baja fresh nachos for dinner, about half of the plate they give you.
I am pms-ing today so I could possibly eat everything in sight. Thank goodness I have no reason to be near a whole foods today. I'd eat 1000 cookies.
Food yesterday was ok. pop tart for breakfast, pear, half an orange, half a banana, ham & swiss sandwich with mustard, lettuce & tomato, snack pack of teddy grahams, and baja fresh nachos for dinner, about half of the plate they give you.
I am pms-ing today so I could possibly eat everything in sight. Thank goodness I have no reason to be near a whole foods today. I'd eat 1000 cookies.
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
146.5
I almost missed posting today -- I'm just squeaking it in under the wire. We had a baby to watch this morning and school to do, and I had the church schedule to work on, and what with one thing and another I just haven't been online much today. My weight is up for the week -- big surprise -- but not as badly as it could have been. I'm still exercising but I'm just not going to fuss about the eating thing until after our trip. Any changes I could make right now would be for all of three days. But after our trip you are all required to nag me to start a diet again.
We went for a walk this afternoon, about 2 1/2 miles total. Alexander was a total pill on the walk -- he won't ride his bike, ever since his accident (which caused no significant damage but scared the pants off both of us), so he takes the scooter, and he can't control it going downhill so he ends up wrecking more with that than he would with the bike (but hasn't fallen down a "mountain" yet, so I guess that's why he likes it better). Mary, on the other hand, is getting extremely proficient on her bike and would like to go three times as fast. I've about decided I'm going to splurge on the trailer on sale at Target this week ($77) and insist that Xander ride his bike, and then we can all go at more or less the same pace (assuming I can pull the darn thing, and Cecilia in it, up the hills). But riding my bike wouldn't be as much of a workout as walking, unless we went a lot further, which Alexander couldn't manage right now. Hmm.
We went for a walk this afternoon, about 2 1/2 miles total. Alexander was a total pill on the walk -- he won't ride his bike, ever since his accident (which caused no significant damage but scared the pants off both of us), so he takes the scooter, and he can't control it going downhill so he ends up wrecking more with that than he would with the bike (but hasn't fallen down a "mountain" yet, so I guess that's why he likes it better). Mary, on the other hand, is getting extremely proficient on her bike and would like to go three times as fast. I've about decided I'm going to splurge on the trailer on sale at Target this week ($77) and insist that Xander ride his bike, and then we can all go at more or less the same pace (assuming I can pull the darn thing, and Cecilia in it, up the hills). But riding my bike wouldn't be as much of a workout as walking, unless we went a lot further, which Alexander couldn't manage right now. Hmm.
Neat hiking book
I picked up this neat book last night that is 60 hikes around Baltimore. I can't wait to try them out. Most are easy to moderate and don't require extra stuff--just water, sunscreen and the right shoes on your feet. They give you the distance, an approximate time to complete, a map and the topographic profile of the hike to show you the hills. Here's a link:
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbnInquiry.asp?z=y&EAN=9780897326230&itm=1
I don't want to say I like running, but what I do like is that after you stick with it for a bit you actually feel it getting easier. It totally sucks at first, but after a week of consistently going out I notice a difference in myself. For me the key is to have my iPod loud enough that I don't hear my own breathing. It keeps me from focusing on the pysical and just keeps my mind in the beat of the music. And for me--the music has to be upbeat. Amy Mantay makes me a new booty jams mixed CD every month. Granted, this isn't music I like per se, or a CD I would ever pop in the CD player in my car, but there's something to be said for Lil' Kim and Fergie to help get your a$$ moving. Oh!! And Gwen Stefanie. I actually lent my iPod out one time forgetting that this stuff was on there, and the person's reaction to my playlists was REALLY funny. If anyone wants to give Amy M's booty jams a try, I'll lend you my "collection." And, with running, I actually notice weight loss. With anything else, not so much.
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbnInquiry.asp?z=y&EAN=9780897326230&itm=1
I don't want to say I like running, but what I do like is that after you stick with it for a bit you actually feel it getting easier. It totally sucks at first, but after a week of consistently going out I notice a difference in myself. For me the key is to have my iPod loud enough that I don't hear my own breathing. It keeps me from focusing on the pysical and just keeps my mind in the beat of the music. And for me--the music has to be upbeat. Amy Mantay makes me a new booty jams mixed CD every month. Granted, this isn't music I like per se, or a CD I would ever pop in the CD player in my car, but there's something to be said for Lil' Kim and Fergie to help get your a$$ moving. Oh!! And Gwen Stefanie. I actually lent my iPod out one time forgetting that this stuff was on there, and the person's reaction to my playlists was REALLY funny. If anyone wants to give Amy M's booty jams a try, I'll lend you my "collection." And, with running, I actually notice weight loss. With anything else, not so much.
Weight
I am down from yesterday - THANK GOD! - but I am still up - 224.8 today. Sigh. I am reaching dispair again. My period really IS going to start any minute - but as I said yesterday, lately I get the weight gain - but not the subsequent loss. I don't know.
I don't care what you all say - there ARE some people who like exercise - I am just not one of them. If they didn't like exercise they wouldn't join the company softball team. Or play sports for fun in high school - or join crew! I personally think people who do sports for fun are absolutely crazy. OK, Ok, I can imagine dancing for fun... or even boxing. That is fun. Maybe hiking too... That can be very fun. But team sports? Racing? Training for team sports and racing? NO WAY IS THAT FUN! Skiing, ice skating, winter sports - that looks fun... Softball, soccer, again RACING - is not fun.
When I say that exercise is not fun, I mean I can't imagine ANYTHING more miserable! I would rather go to the dentist and the gynocologist IN THE SAME DAY rather than exercise. In fact - I would be perfectly OK with going those two things on a regular basis if it kept me in shape - rather than exercise. How come it is that I can do the dentist just twice a year and the gyno once and be considered perfectly healthy? But I need to exercise EVERYDAY? That just isn't right. Additionally, if it took five minutes or less to exercise (like brushing your teeth) I would TOTALLY be up to doing that every day. BUT - exercise requires a change of clothing AND SHOES, a shower, and AT LEAST 45 minutes of exertion - where you are bored and in pain five minutes into the activity! It just isn't right!
Also - while I am on my rant... why is it that when I am pondering food things like chocolate and popcorn leap into my head as something to be consumed, and as soon as they have lodged themselves in my brain I am helpless to resist. OR - if there was a candy bar plunked on my desk in front of me it would eat it in fairly short order, but if someone plopped an apple or spinach in front of me I could easily ignore it? Why is that? If I am not hungry I will go out of my way to find high calorie low nutrion food to consume. WHY? I am not hungry!! I have other things to do! What drives me to eat? And to eat bad foods!?? I see me do this on a regular basis - and now that I am not smoking I can honestly say, the inability to resist the thought of bad foods (i.e. sugar in its many forms) while at the same time ignoring the thought of good foods (i.e. vegetables and even protein) is right on par with my (former) addition to cigarettes. However, the difference is that I can give up cigarettes and thus break the addiction - but giving up food is impossible. I think even eating JUST approved foods (while I have proven to be possible) doesn't actually break the addiction. I crave sugar as much after a month on Atkins as I did in the beginning. OK - maybe not as much - but enough so that it only takes one ice cream bon bon to throw me completely off the wagon. And why are artifical sweeteners so gross? Why can't I be content to eat fake sweetened yogurt and cookies, and stuff? WHY?
WHY CAN'T I LOSE WEIGHT!?
I don't care what you all say - there ARE some people who like exercise - I am just not one of them. If they didn't like exercise they wouldn't join the company softball team. Or play sports for fun in high school - or join crew! I personally think people who do sports for fun are absolutely crazy. OK, Ok, I can imagine dancing for fun... or even boxing. That is fun. Maybe hiking too... That can be very fun. But team sports? Racing? Training for team sports and racing? NO WAY IS THAT FUN! Skiing, ice skating, winter sports - that looks fun... Softball, soccer, again RACING - is not fun.
When I say that exercise is not fun, I mean I can't imagine ANYTHING more miserable! I would rather go to the dentist and the gynocologist IN THE SAME DAY rather than exercise. In fact - I would be perfectly OK with going those two things on a regular basis if it kept me in shape - rather than exercise. How come it is that I can do the dentist just twice a year and the gyno once and be considered perfectly healthy? But I need to exercise EVERYDAY? That just isn't right. Additionally, if it took five minutes or less to exercise (like brushing your teeth) I would TOTALLY be up to doing that every day. BUT - exercise requires a change of clothing AND SHOES, a shower, and AT LEAST 45 minutes of exertion - where you are bored and in pain five minutes into the activity! It just isn't right!
Also - while I am on my rant... why is it that when I am pondering food things like chocolate and popcorn leap into my head as something to be consumed, and as soon as they have lodged themselves in my brain I am helpless to resist. OR - if there was a candy bar plunked on my desk in front of me it would eat it in fairly short order, but if someone plopped an apple or spinach in front of me I could easily ignore it? Why is that? If I am not hungry I will go out of my way to find high calorie low nutrion food to consume. WHY? I am not hungry!! I have other things to do! What drives me to eat? And to eat bad foods!?? I see me do this on a regular basis - and now that I am not smoking I can honestly say, the inability to resist the thought of bad foods (i.e. sugar in its many forms) while at the same time ignoring the thought of good foods (i.e. vegetables and even protein) is right on par with my (former) addition to cigarettes. However, the difference is that I can give up cigarettes and thus break the addiction - but giving up food is impossible. I think even eating JUST approved foods (while I have proven to be possible) doesn't actually break the addiction. I crave sugar as much after a month on Atkins as I did in the beginning. OK - maybe not as much - but enough so that it only takes one ice cream bon bon to throw me completely off the wagon. And why are artifical sweeteners so gross? Why can't I be content to eat fake sweetened yogurt and cookies, and stuff? WHY?
WHY CAN'T I LOSE WEIGHT!?
136.2
Yay! Actual weight lost! Or at least it better be after all the exercise I did this past week! My weight came up at 136 even the first two times I weighed myself, but then went up to 136.2 and I decided to make that my "official" weight since today might be a fluke and I might spike back up again tomorrow. I know that doesn't make sense, but that's how my mind works.
If I can keep losing almost two pounds a week, I should be back within my "acceptable" range by next week and back to my "bathing suit weight" a week or two later. Keeping my fingers crossed (or maybe better to keep my mouth taped shut!) for that.
If I can keep losing almost two pounds a week, I should be back within my "acceptable" range by next week and back to my "bathing suit weight" a week or two later. Keeping my fingers crossed (or maybe better to keep my mouth taped shut!) for that.
154
Holding steady...I haven't been exercising regularly given the painful yet not broken toe situation. It is fine in flip flops, but sneakers hurt.
I started taking my lunch again yesterday. That will make a huge difference, although I did SO much stress eating yesterday after noon it wasn't funny. I brought lunch again today as well.
Food yesterday was capn crunch with skim milk, oreos snack pack, ham & swiss sandwich, orange, (here comes the stress eating) black & white cookie from whole foods, about 3 hrs later a cranberry trail mix cookie from whole foods, a raspberry hippy soda from whole foods, 2 buffalo wings and a greek salad. Would have been ok if I wouldn't have had 82 cookies.
Exercise was minimal--a walk to the harbor and back during lunch.
JMT launched a new wellness campaign yesterday. I have to get a physical set up and then fill out some form online to identify my risk factors. I bet cookies will be on the list...
I started taking my lunch again yesterday. That will make a huge difference, although I did SO much stress eating yesterday after noon it wasn't funny. I brought lunch again today as well.
Food yesterday was capn crunch with skim milk, oreos snack pack, ham & swiss sandwich, orange, (here comes the stress eating) black & white cookie from whole foods, about 3 hrs later a cranberry trail mix cookie from whole foods, a raspberry hippy soda from whole foods, 2 buffalo wings and a greek salad. Would have been ok if I wouldn't have had 82 cookies.
Exercise was minimal--a walk to the harbor and back during lunch.
JMT launched a new wellness campaign yesterday. I have to get a physical set up and then fill out some form online to identify my risk factors. I bet cookies will be on the list...
Monday, May 21, 2007
Well, would you look at that?
My iPod has a stopwatch! Of course I discovered this AFTER I finished running 12.5 laps around the track outside. I wanted to run outside because it's completely different (and way harder) than running on the treadmill, but I never have any real clue how fast or slow I'm going--I can't judge by my effort since it IS so much harder, I start panting almost immediately instead of after 10 minutes like I do on the treadmill. Then other things get in the way (i.e. wind) and for all I know I could be running at 3 mph or 6--I can't tell. So I just kept vague time with the clock on the iPod (33 minutes for a 5K--not great, but can't really complain) but that could actually be 32 minutes and 3 seconds or 33 minutes and 55 seconds since I couldn't be accurate. When I finished running, I tried to mess with the clock to see if there was a way to display seconds as well as hours and minutes, and that's when I noticed the stopwatch. Duh.
I started to run another lap just to check it, and then I came to my senses and stopped.
The other thing I noticed is that I'm as white as a ghost. Picture my legs in black shorts in the bright sunlight after being under wraps for eight months. I look like the model for an "Are You At Risk for Skin Cancer?" poster!
I started to run another lap just to check it, and then I came to my senses and stopped.
The other thing I noticed is that I'm as white as a ghost. Picture my legs in black shorts in the bright sunlight after being under wraps for eight months. I look like the model for an "Are You At Risk for Skin Cancer?" poster!
Long, exhausting weekend
Daniel ran a conference at Virgina Tech this weekend, one that has been in the planning for two years. So there were several dozen extra theoretical (or "theatrical," as Mary called it) chemists around town this week. All of these guys are close personal friends of Daniel's, of course! So on Thursday we had several over for homemade pizza (and beer) and on Friday there was a banquet (with wine and cheesecake dessert) and on Saturday we had several more over for a cookout (and wine and beer, way too much of the wine for me) and the same people came back on Sunday when they learned Chez Crawford is the best brunch place in town (so waffles and mimosas, but I stuck to just juice because I was still regretting the wine, but we also had piles of bacon and fruit with real whipped cream).
Remarkably, despite the excessive eating and drinking, I exercised every day but Saturday. On Thursday I did a power walk at home, on Friday I did the usual trip to the gym (with a full two-mile run, but I forget the time), and on Sunday our whole brunch crew went for a walk down the Huckleberry trail for a total of just over three miles (and Mary walked pretty much the whole way except for a short part at the end on Daniel's shoulders). When we got back from the walk I was ready to go to sleep, but the kids had the energy to ride their bikes on the driveway for a long time afterwards! Whew.
Today I have my usual gym trip. Eating this week is going to be clean-out-the-fridge eating so that there's nothing in there when we leave town for two weeks. I imagine I will lose NO weight this week and Hungary isn't looking good, either! And my weight has been scary on recent mornings -- close to my high of 148 for the year. Eeek! I keep wondering how awful it would be if I weren't exercising six days a week.
Remarkably, despite the excessive eating and drinking, I exercised every day but Saturday. On Thursday I did a power walk at home, on Friday I did the usual trip to the gym (with a full two-mile run, but I forget the time), and on Sunday our whole brunch crew went for a walk down the Huckleberry trail for a total of just over three miles (and Mary walked pretty much the whole way except for a short part at the end on Daniel's shoulders). When we got back from the walk I was ready to go to sleep, but the kids had the energy to ride their bikes on the driveway for a long time afterwards! Whew.
Today I have my usual gym trip. Eating this week is going to be clean-out-the-fridge eating so that there's nothing in there when we leave town for two weeks. I imagine I will lose NO weight this week and Hungary isn't looking good, either! And my weight has been scary on recent mornings -- close to my high of 148 for the year. Eeek! I keep wondering how awful it would be if I weren't exercising six days a week.
A landmark day!
For the first time in, well, forever (or close to forever) I actually weigh less on Monday morning than I did on Friday morning! Not by much, mind you (I was 137.6 on Friday, 137.4 today), but it's not the pound UP that I've been used to.
But there's something about Sunday that causes me to gain weight, I think. I was down to 137.2 on Saturday, then 136.6 on Sunday so today's weight is actually up from there, but I know that weight was unnaturally low, due to the 2.5 hours I spent in the dentist chair getting a temporary crown on Saturday morning. Oddly, I didn't feel much like eating after that.
Besides keeping my food healthy all weekend (only indulging once, and that was an accident--I got a cupcake for Connor at Barnes and Noble and when I broke it into pieces for him, we discovered that it had jelly in the middle, so he rejected it entirely, including the non-jelly bits. And you can't just leave a cupcake completely untouched, can you? Plus it was easy to eat with my jaw aching.) and my portions small, I also kept exercising, sort of. So this is another landmark--every day for the past week I've either walked or run three miles or done pilates, or both on a couple of days. And that really seems to be the key to losing weight for me. Running three days a week is only good for maintenance, and not even for that during high-calorie times of the year. I need to exercise every single day if I want to lose weight.
So that's my new goal for myself--if I want to be at "bathing suit weight" (an arbitrarily chosen 132 pounds) for Disney World, I have to exercise every single day between now and then. Then *maybe* I'll be able to lose the five pounds I need to by then.
But there's something about Sunday that causes me to gain weight, I think. I was down to 137.2 on Saturday, then 136.6 on Sunday so today's weight is actually up from there, but I know that weight was unnaturally low, due to the 2.5 hours I spent in the dentist chair getting a temporary crown on Saturday morning. Oddly, I didn't feel much like eating after that.
Besides keeping my food healthy all weekend (only indulging once, and that was an accident--I got a cupcake for Connor at Barnes and Noble and when I broke it into pieces for him, we discovered that it had jelly in the middle, so he rejected it entirely, including the non-jelly bits. And you can't just leave a cupcake completely untouched, can you? Plus it was easy to eat with my jaw aching.) and my portions small, I also kept exercising, sort of. So this is another landmark--every day for the past week I've either walked or run three miles or done pilates, or both on a couple of days. And that really seems to be the key to losing weight for me. Running three days a week is only good for maintenance, and not even for that during high-calorie times of the year. I need to exercise every single day if I want to lose weight.
So that's my new goal for myself--if I want to be at "bathing suit weight" (an arbitrarily chosen 132 pounds) for Disney World, I have to exercise every single day between now and then. Then *maybe* I'll be able to lose the five pounds I need to by then.
Weekend Stuff
This weekend I spent most of my time watching Bones and making jewelry for the country fair on June 1st. So far we have 14 necklaces, 6 watches, 29 bracelets, 2 pairs of earrings, 5 book marks and 5 rosaries. I am halfway through another necklace and we have the beads for another rosary and two more pairs of earrings. I wish we were better at earrings. I would like to have more for that display - but, Oh well. If we sold everything we would make tons of money - but I don't anticipate doing that. I am hoping just to break even with the $50 table charge and about $250 in findings. If we sell nothing I hope you all want tons of glass bead stuff for the next 10 years!! 8-) Actually - after this Katie and I will try to sell stuff on eBay - or the craft auction site. Hey Katie! Maybe THAT can be your job for the summer? What do you think? We have a computer and a digital camera. We should sell stuff.
Other than my enterprise activities I didn't do a lot. Church was the only place I went. Katie and I walked to the gym yesterday and I did my upperbody workout. So that was good. My goal is to go three times a week with a bonus fourth visit if possible. Walking is good too...
My food was OK. I don't really remember eating anything too horrendous. We went out after church to Toninos. We have HORRIBLE service. The food is pretty good - but it is very expensive. They make up for it by giving you huge portions. I got ravioli. We ordered the Mediterranen appetizer sampler - and that would have been plenty for dinner. I had leftover ravioli for brunch and then the leftover greek salad (from the sampler) for lunch. We had lemon chicken and rice and aspargus for dinner.
My weight is doing the monthly going up thing. I was 222.0 on Saturday - then 224.6 yesterday (gack!) and then 225.8 today!!! My annoyance at the monthly weight gain of four pounds is that I don't seem to lose it anymore. I used to lose it each month - but ever since I quit smoking I DON'T lose it anymore. Grrrr!!!
Emily I dreamed you were pregnant last night. I was down helping you deliver again. I think it was another boy - but I didn't actually see the baby delivered. We were mostly cleaning the house while you were in labor. I kept saying that your belly didn't look as big for this baby and maybe you weren't REALLY ready to deliver. It was funny. I think it was winter however, BUT - your family had just returned from the beach - so I am not sure. Maybe it was summer and it was just cold from the airconditioning.
Other than my enterprise activities I didn't do a lot. Church was the only place I went. Katie and I walked to the gym yesterday and I did my upperbody workout. So that was good. My goal is to go three times a week with a bonus fourth visit if possible. Walking is good too...
My food was OK. I don't really remember eating anything too horrendous. We went out after church to Toninos. We have HORRIBLE service. The food is pretty good - but it is very expensive. They make up for it by giving you huge portions. I got ravioli. We ordered the Mediterranen appetizer sampler - and that would have been plenty for dinner. I had leftover ravioli for brunch and then the leftover greek salad (from the sampler) for lunch. We had lemon chicken and rice and aspargus for dinner.
My weight is doing the monthly going up thing. I was 222.0 on Saturday - then 224.6 yesterday (gack!) and then 225.8 today!!! My annoyance at the monthly weight gain of four pounds is that I don't seem to lose it anymore. I used to lose it each month - but ever since I quit smoking I DON'T lose it anymore. Grrrr!!!
Emily I dreamed you were pregnant last night. I was down helping you deliver again. I think it was another boy - but I didn't actually see the baby delivered. We were mostly cleaning the house while you were in labor. I kept saying that your belly didn't look as big for this baby and maybe you weren't REALLY ready to deliver. It was funny. I think it was winter however, BUT - your family had just returned from the beach - so I am not sure. Maybe it was summer and it was just cold from the airconditioning.
Friday, May 18, 2007
Laughing is still difficult
I can breathe again - but I can't laugh. My abs still hurt. Oh well.
I didn't get home from work last night until after 8:30 and so as a result I didn't go to bed until after 1am - and now I am very tired. The weather doesn't help. All I want to do is curl up in bed - and it LOOKS like it is dusk outside. Too bad it is only 2:30!
I was 222.0 this morning. I am SO stuck here! I need to do something to address that. Maybe I will do an all grapefruit diet this weekend. I have grapefruit juice, grape fruit fruit and grapefruit bath gel. I wonder if that would get me out of the 222222 thing?
I am planning on building a deck. I think you all know this already. I got an estimate yesterday, and I have talked to two banks about home equity loans. I have an appointment for another estimate on Wednesday and another one NEXT Wednesday. I am SO EXCITED about this! My original condition on buying the house from Dad is that I wouldn't do it until it had a deck - but we never did it then. Now I can't wait anymore. I think I want to do it fairly small (10x10) with stairs that bend at a landing on the way down. I would love to have backyard access from my living room. Of course, I have no idea where I will put my table that is currently in front of the sliding doors... And that is just another break-in point for all of the criminals once I put stairs to it... Sigh.
I didn't get home from work last night until after 8:30 and so as a result I didn't go to bed until after 1am - and now I am very tired. The weather doesn't help. All I want to do is curl up in bed - and it LOOKS like it is dusk outside. Too bad it is only 2:30!
I was 222.0 this morning. I am SO stuck here! I need to do something to address that. Maybe I will do an all grapefruit diet this weekend. I have grapefruit juice, grape fruit fruit and grapefruit bath gel. I wonder if that would get me out of the 222222 thing?
I am planning on building a deck. I think you all know this already. I got an estimate yesterday, and I have talked to two banks about home equity loans. I have an appointment for another estimate on Wednesday and another one NEXT Wednesday. I am SO EXCITED about this! My original condition on buying the house from Dad is that I wouldn't do it until it had a deck - but we never did it then. Now I can't wait anymore. I think I want to do it fairly small (10x10) with stairs that bend at a landing on the way down. I would love to have backyard access from my living room. Of course, I have no idea where I will put my table that is currently in front of the sliding doors... And that is just another break-in point for all of the criminals once I put stairs to it... Sigh.
I weigh the same as a giant panda cub!
Claire's current events report this week is on the giant panda cub being allowed to stay two more years at the National Zoo. In the process of helping her with this report, I learned that Tai Shan, at 22 months old, is 137 pounds. OK, I actually outweigh him by .6 pounds (although he's probably gained that since they weighed him). Think I could take him in a fight?
Food yesterday--boring. Exercise--pilates. That's four days in a row. Today I have to attend commencement in the afternoon (should be fun--20 mph wind gusts against a huge tent) so I'm going to try to get to the gym in the next half hour so that I don't break my streak!
Food yesterday--boring. Exercise--pilates. That's four days in a row. Today I have to attend commencement in the afternoon (should be fun--20 mph wind gusts against a huge tent) so I'm going to try to get to the gym in the next half hour so that I don't break my streak!
Thursday, May 17, 2007
I CAN'T BREATHE!
Yesterday I had my last training session with Tony. By the end of it I was less disgusted with him. He was listening to me more when I would say I couldn't do something (squats are pretty much it... I can't do deep knee bends with my weight on my knees - I can do knee lifts - so it isn't the bending of my knee, it is the pressing on it...). He also would listen to me if I would say things like 30 second sprints work better for me than 60 second, I lose momentum at almost exactly 30 seconds - so if I do 25 lifts in 30 seconds, I will only get 30 done in 60. OTOH I have gotten better about just doing what he asks and stopping when I can't go any further, so we both got better. I would sign up for 12 more sessions, but not now. I can't afford to do it continuously and I DO want to start using my gym.
Speaking of... Katie's choir gave her a three month membership to Brick Bodies in Reisterstown! How perfect is that! The same day I am stopping with my trainer, she gets a membership! \
Food yesterday was OK until the later part of the day. Toast and juice for breakfast, leftover fish and vegetables for lunch, but then Katie and I went for sushi, and stopped for coffee afterwards. I am usually really good about just getting a skim latte - but they have a new cooler - Heath Bar Toffee Cooler - so we had them. That is EASILY 700 calories right there!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! GACK!
I was 223.6 today and 222.4 yesterday.
So, yesterday during my training session I got to box - but between bouts of boxing I was doing crunches. We were listening to some 1970s motown music, and the beat of that is PERFECT for crunching. I did 175 in one session, 50 obliques in another session, and finished with another 100 at the end - so 325 total - which means I can't expand my belly to breath today. 8-) My arms are tired too from boxing, but my legs feel pretty good.
Speaking of... Katie's choir gave her a three month membership to Brick Bodies in Reisterstown! How perfect is that! The same day I am stopping with my trainer, she gets a membership! \
Food yesterday was OK until the later part of the day. Toast and juice for breakfast, leftover fish and vegetables for lunch, but then Katie and I went for sushi, and stopped for coffee afterwards. I am usually really good about just getting a skim latte - but they have a new cooler - Heath Bar Toffee Cooler - so we had them. That is EASILY 700 calories right there!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! GACK!
I was 223.6 today and 222.4 yesterday.
So, yesterday during my training session I got to box - but between bouts of boxing I was doing crunches. We were listening to some 1970s motown music, and the beat of that is PERFECT for crunching. I did 175 in one session, 50 obliques in another session, and finished with another 100 at the end - so 325 total - which means I can't expand my belly to breath today. 8-) My arms are tired too from boxing, but my legs feel pretty good.
My week so far....
I've gone to the gym to run twice, done pilates three times--am I cool or what? Actually the second pilates workout was done while watching a movie and NOT while being led by the pilates video, so I couldn't remember all of the sequence and I'm sure I didn't do the whole thing, but at least it was exercise.
I'm still getting into the cookies too often, but my weight looks like it is coming down a bit--I was under 138 this morning. I just hope I can keep this up. I'm aiming for four pilates workouts each week, along with three days of running (did I already report that? I can't remember.)
I'm still getting into the cookies too often, but my weight looks like it is coming down a bit--I was under 138 this morning. I just hope I can keep this up. I'm aiming for four pilates workouts each week, along with three days of running (did I already report that? I can't remember.)
Hurt Toe
I went to the Goucher training program last night. Our assignment was to walk 2 minutes, run 10, walk 4, run 10, walk 2. I went last night with every intention of just walking--my toe is still bruised and sore (but not broken!) and it was the first time I had something on it other than a flip flop. BUT in my stupidity, I ran the first 10 minutes. After that it was throbbing so I just walked the rest. So back to flip flops for me.
Food hasn't been too good either. I really need to get to the grocery store and get some decent produce, etc. Maybe Friday. Tonight I'm meeting up with some folks at Ryan's Daughter to celebrate our classes being over.
Food hasn't been too good either. I really need to get to the grocery store and get some decent produce, etc. Maybe Friday. Tonight I'm meeting up with some folks at Ryan's Daughter to celebrate our classes being over.
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
Childcare reservations are a good thing
If I didn't get charged for not showing up there's a good chance I wouldn't have gone to the gym either Monday or today. I'm willing to commit to it a week in advance, but a half hour before I so very much want to be lazy. Anyway, I went today and did 15 laps on the track (1 2/3 mile) -- I was aiming for a full 5k but I tried to keep a 59 second pace per lap and I wore out too quickly. The track was also rather full because it was raining outside, so I was constantly having to swing around people, which gets old fast. Anyway, if I can do a low-50s pace pretty readily for a full mile, it's pathetic that I can't extend that any further, so it's clear that I need to be working to push my distance more and not worry about speed so much for now. (But speed is more fun.)
I also did 20 minutes on the bike, plus the usual VKRs, chest presses, and shoulder presses, as well as a few tricep presses. Even the muscle workout is getting dull. I still haven't used my free training sessions so I should sign up for those and learn to use some more equipment to work my upper body. There's no point in doing this right now, though; we'll be gone for two full weeks starting in a week. So I'll save it for June.
I also did 20 minutes on the bike, plus the usual VKRs, chest presses, and shoulder presses, as well as a few tricep presses. Even the muscle workout is getting dull. I still haven't used my free training sessions so I should sign up for those and learn to use some more equipment to work my upper body. There's no point in doing this right now, though; we'll be gone for two full weeks starting in a week. So I'll save it for June.
Tuesday, May 15, 2007
146.0
Not surprising. I've been forgetting to post all day, though. I did read the other posts, but I forgot my whole reason for showing up to begin with!
Yesterday I went to the gym and jogged one mile (8:21, I mostly took it easy) and did 30 minutes on the elliptical (darn thing kept clicking in certain positions and I couldn't make it shut up, but it was an OK workout otherwise, and a nice change from the bike). I also did 60 VKRs and a bunch of chest presses and shoulder presses. Not particularly exciting but it's something. Today I need to get moving soon or I'll let the whole day get by with nothing -- maybe I can talk the kids into going for a walk.
Yesterday I went to the gym and jogged one mile (8:21, I mostly took it easy) and did 30 minutes on the elliptical (darn thing kept clicking in certain positions and I couldn't make it shut up, but it was an OK workout otherwise, and a nice change from the bike). I also did 60 VKRs and a bunch of chest presses and shoulder presses. Not particularly exciting but it's something. Today I need to get moving soon or I'll let the whole day get by with nothing -- maybe I can talk the kids into going for a walk.
138.0
I don't know if that is a "real" weight or not, but I'll go with it--at least it's lower than last week's weight! But I seem to be fluctuating a lot these days, so I wouldn't be at all surprised if it shot up or down tomorrow.
Yesterday I both ran at the gym and did pilates at home--just like the good old days when I was actually losing weight.
I'm really glad we closed comments on this blog. This has got to be the most boring, self-absorbed, ridiculous blog on the internet! I know if I ran across it from someone else, I'd laugh myself sick! But I guess it's no worse than a Weight Watcher's meeting; better actually--at least we aren't assigning point values to our food.
Yesterday I both ran at the gym and did pilates at home--just like the good old days when I was actually losing weight.
I'm really glad we closed comments on this blog. This has got to be the most boring, self-absorbed, ridiculous blog on the internet! I know if I ran across it from someone else, I'd laugh myself sick! But I guess it's no worse than a Weight Watcher's meeting; better actually--at least we aren't assigning point values to our food.
Weigh-in Day
Today I was 222.4. This is better than what I was yesterday and less than a pound down from last week.
I had horrible stomach issues yesterday - which kept me running to the bathroom, but not actually feeling sick - so that was beneficial - since I credit my weight loss to that. That was also my exercise for the day.
I haven't started Southbeach yet. I am still struggling with the menu planning part of it. I don't get how it works. I guess I could just follow their menus verbatem and not think beyond that - since I only PLAN on doing the first two weeks. I want to finish the fruit in the house first (or at least the bananas and grapefruit). I also have to figure out which Let's Dish items I can use on Southbeach.
I had horrible stomach issues yesterday - which kept me running to the bathroom, but not actually feeling sick - so that was beneficial - since I credit my weight loss to that. That was also my exercise for the day.
I haven't started Southbeach yet. I am still struggling with the menu planning part of it. I don't get how it works. I guess I could just follow their menus verbatem and not think beyond that - since I only PLAN on doing the first two weeks. I want to finish the fruit in the house first (or at least the bananas and grapefruit). I also have to figure out which Let's Dish items I can use on Southbeach.
Monday, May 14, 2007
Just when I thought the Easter candy was gone...
My mother in law shows up with a huge container of Jelly Bellies! Eeek! Those are evil because they seem as relatively harmless as regular jelly beans but instead they're loaded with fat and calories. And every now and then they catch you off guard with a Buttered Popcorn or a Peanut Butter or something else that ruins the good taste in your mouth so you have to eat more just to get rid of it.
AND for Mother's Day Daniel brought me three different chocolate oranges. Fortunately the Chocolate Almond one is kind of boring so I'll share it cheerfully with the kids but I suspect I'll hog the other two (dark chocolate orange, and toffee crunch). So that's more calories I don't need. And I discovered some Oatmeal Stout in the fridge this morning that will have to be dealt with this week. Sigh. ;-) He also bought me a non-food -- Lucy Pevensie the Madame Alexander Doll! And pink roses. He's a good DH.
AND because my in-laws were here, Daniel and I went out to dinner on Saturday, where I ate most of a fajita quesadilla (yummy grilled thing with fajita fillings) and drank a beer, and then we went to the movies, which meant half of a large popcorn (but the girl's idea of butter was either "none" or "a couple of drops" so it wasn't as bad as it could have been) and half of a "medium" lemonade. And then on Sunday the Crawfords took the whole family to Red Lobster (why anyone wants to go out on Mother's Day is beyond me, because they warn you in advance how bad the lines will be, and I don't even like Red Lobster as much as a lot of other places) which meant two more beers, and some yummy gooey appetizer of chips and lobster-cheese dip (but it had spinach in it -- doesn't that make it health food?) and a caesar salad (but I quit before the end of it) and a biscuit (Cecilia kept feeding it to me though I didn't want it) and a dinner of grilled salmon, rice pilaf, and coconut shrimp (wouldn't want to get too healthy with the salmon and rice, after all). And then we went home and each had a birthday cupcake for Cecilia's birthday. So last night at bedtime I weighed an alarming 147. I didn't weigh myself this morning because I had to hurry getting up and dressed before the Crawfords left. But it would have been bad.
This week I have gym appointments all three days and I'll try to get exercise in on the off days. I mean, I WILL get exercise in on the off days. Last Friday when I told Cecilia I had to exercise she got excited and said "Walk Power Walk!" She likes my DVDs. Wish I did. At the gym on Friday I got stuck in front of an infomercial for Hip Hop Abs. The infomercial featured all kinds of skinny people raving about how they'd lost twenty gazillion pounds and a million waist inches in the first week, blah, blah, blah. I was bored out of my mind on the bike and found myself thinking the series looked pretty good. Eeek! I would HATE having to figure out hip-hop steps -- I always feel like an idiot when the dancing in my aerobics tapes gets too dance-y, because you have to have a WAIST to move like that (and I'm not talking a thin waist, I'm talking a not-short waist). I so need to rev up my exercise routine, though. Sigh.
AND for Mother's Day Daniel brought me three different chocolate oranges. Fortunately the Chocolate Almond one is kind of boring so I'll share it cheerfully with the kids but I suspect I'll hog the other two (dark chocolate orange, and toffee crunch). So that's more calories I don't need. And I discovered some Oatmeal Stout in the fridge this morning that will have to be dealt with this week. Sigh. ;-) He also bought me a non-food -- Lucy Pevensie the Madame Alexander Doll! And pink roses. He's a good DH.
AND because my in-laws were here, Daniel and I went out to dinner on Saturday, where I ate most of a fajita quesadilla (yummy grilled thing with fajita fillings) and drank a beer, and then we went to the movies, which meant half of a large popcorn (but the girl's idea of butter was either "none" or "a couple of drops" so it wasn't as bad as it could have been) and half of a "medium" lemonade. And then on Sunday the Crawfords took the whole family to Red Lobster (why anyone wants to go out on Mother's Day is beyond me, because they warn you in advance how bad the lines will be, and I don't even like Red Lobster as much as a lot of other places) which meant two more beers, and some yummy gooey appetizer of chips and lobster-cheese dip (but it had spinach in it -- doesn't that make it health food?) and a caesar salad (but I quit before the end of it) and a biscuit (Cecilia kept feeding it to me though I didn't want it) and a dinner of grilled salmon, rice pilaf, and coconut shrimp (wouldn't want to get too healthy with the salmon and rice, after all). And then we went home and each had a birthday cupcake for Cecilia's birthday. So last night at bedtime I weighed an alarming 147. I didn't weigh myself this morning because I had to hurry getting up and dressed before the Crawfords left. But it would have been bad.
This week I have gym appointments all three days and I'll try to get exercise in on the off days. I mean, I WILL get exercise in on the off days. Last Friday when I told Cecilia I had to exercise she got excited and said "Walk Power Walk!" She likes my DVDs. Wish I did. At the gym on Friday I got stuck in front of an infomercial for Hip Hop Abs. The infomercial featured all kinds of skinny people raving about how they'd lost twenty gazillion pounds and a million waist inches in the first week, blah, blah, blah. I was bored out of my mind on the bike and found myself thinking the series looked pretty good. Eeek! I would HATE having to figure out hip-hop steps -- I always feel like an idiot when the dancing in my aerobics tapes gets too dance-y, because you have to have a WAIST to move like that (and I'm not talking a thin waist, I'm talking a not-short waist). I so need to rev up my exercise routine, though. Sigh.
I'm a big fat slug
Compared to National Junior College Athletic Association track and field champions, that is. I had volunteered to work at the check-in tent for this event, but they ended up sticking me out in the field working first at the men's high jump and then the women's triple jump. I can't recall ever seeing so many people in one place with no body fat whatsoever. Probably that was the case at the regattas I used to attend, but I was in college and was "one of them" so I didn't notice at the time! After staring in awe of these incredibly athletic and beautiful kids for a while, I consoled myself thinking about them in 25 years when they are all out of shape and wondering what happened to them when they used to be so athletic.
I was pretty good about exercise last week--I ended up doing pilates on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday to make up for NOT going to the gym any of those days, so it was at least something. I meant to do one more workout on the weekend but just didn't get around to it. I was good about eating on Saturday (I even had a very virtuous salad with chicken for lunch instead of my usual high-carb, high-fat grazing) and was even good on Sunday until 3:00, at which point all heck broke loose and I had cake, then came home and Brian made chicken scallopini for dinner AND got some yummy appetizers that could be a meal in themselves (potato skins and fried cheese) and we shared a bottle of wine, only he did less sharing than I did. I think he maybe had one and a half glasses. I did then go take Davey for a really long walk, but it didn't help--on Saturday I was 137.6 pounds, and this morning I was 139.4!
I was pretty good about exercise last week--I ended up doing pilates on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday to make up for NOT going to the gym any of those days, so it was at least something. I meant to do one more workout on the weekend but just didn't get around to it. I was good about eating on Saturday (I even had a very virtuous salad with chicken for lunch instead of my usual high-carb, high-fat grazing) and was even good on Sunday until 3:00, at which point all heck broke loose and I had cake, then came home and Brian made chicken scallopini for dinner AND got some yummy appetizers that could be a meal in themselves (potato skins and fried cheese) and we shared a bottle of wine, only he did less sharing than I did. I think he maybe had one and a half glasses. I did then go take Davey for a really long walk, but it didn't help--on Saturday I was 137.6 pounds, and this morning I was 139.4!
Darn it!
I went running Friday after work, which was supposed to be the start of getting back to the gym regularly. BUT that all changed Friday night when there was a very unfortunate incident involving a Longaberger basket and my little toe. It might be broken. Peter, my paramedic friend, and Andi, my physical therapist friend, both seem to be in agreement that it is more than bruised. I plan to go to the dr today. It didn't seem bad enough to sit in the ER for 100 years, and they both ok'd that train of thought. The bruise is ugly--it spreads from my little toe all the way to my big toe, and about 2.5-3 inches back towards my ankle. SO, we;ll see. It might be flip flops for me for the next month.
Food was nuts Saturday because I went to Silver Spring Mining Co, but then Sunday it was more normal. I have to weigh myself tomorrow to assess the damage.
Food was nuts Saturday because I went to Silver Spring Mining Co, but then Sunday it was more normal. I have to weigh myself tomorrow to assess the damage.
Weekend
Well - I wasn't great this weekend. I was pretty good with working out. I went to Tony's on Saturday and we did my upper body. It wasn't a particularly hard workout - but my arms are still a little sore today. Then yesterday Katie and I put in a vegetable garden in the backyard. It started out to be about 3'x7' but we then extended it by another foot or so while we were planting it. So - the 15' of picket fence we got to go around it covered the two short sides and the one long side. We planned it that way. Since it is such a small plot we knew we wouldn't be able to get IN the garden to weed and stuff - so we wanted easier access from one side - so we got two sections of the shorter white fencing for the front. Those two pieces left about a three foot gap still (which we really didn't want since part of the point of the fence is to keep the dogs out. During the process of planting our garden we realized that we wanted to plant more than we had space for. So in the plot itself we put in four tomato plants, four pepper plants (two green and two red - all sweet) beets and green beans. We had several containers from when I used to do my container gardening, so in a long low windowbox on the ground we planted the lettuce (we don't really care if we get a harvest of that - but it is worth trying...). Then in four large pots we put in basil, chives, and dill. I still have two zucchini plants and two yellow squash plants left. I haven't decided what to do with them yet. We will probably have to put in another plot somewhere - but I am not sure where would be best.
So after all of this Katie and I decided that gardening is NOT a hobby for the elderly - unless you have a gardener to do the heavy work and all you have to do is the grooming. We worked hard yesterday. We were joking at one point that it looked like we were digging a grave - it was about the right size and shape. And then later Mike came out on his deck and made the same joke. He said that he hadn't seen Laura in a while and perhaps that is where we buried her. Hee hee.
I also took out one or two old rose bush stumps that didn't survive. My roses aren't doing quite as well in this garden as they have in the past - but I think that is partially due to the fact that I haven't tended them as well as I did before. I am going to order a couple of new ones today from Jackson Perkins. My Peace rose didn't make it through the first winter in this new house (and I DID tend that one!) and I have space for another one - so I will probably put in two new ones. Ironically, the rose bushes out front in the extreme shade of that Bradford Pear tree seem to do the best of all my bushes...
I don't think my peonies came up this year. At least not yet. I can't tell - we have so many weeds in the front garden that I just don't know what are plants and what aren't. That is going to be my project for Wednesday. You know what really isn't right? I hate it that gardens just don't STAY weeded. Katie and I BOTH put in big chunks of time early this spring on the front garden - but you would never know to look at it now. Well - except the azaleas look gorgeous!
Anyway - to sum up quickly - my food was awful! I had bangers and mash on Saturday at the Still. Then mac and cheese on Sunday from Noodles. Also birthday cake. Friday AND Sunday! My weight was 223 yesterday (but I had been up and eaten something at that point) and 223.2 today.
I think I am going to start Southbeach soon.
So after all of this Katie and I decided that gardening is NOT a hobby for the elderly - unless you have a gardener to do the heavy work and all you have to do is the grooming. We worked hard yesterday. We were joking at one point that it looked like we were digging a grave - it was about the right size and shape. And then later Mike came out on his deck and made the same joke. He said that he hadn't seen Laura in a while and perhaps that is where we buried her. Hee hee.
I also took out one or two old rose bush stumps that didn't survive. My roses aren't doing quite as well in this garden as they have in the past - but I think that is partially due to the fact that I haven't tended them as well as I did before. I am going to order a couple of new ones today from Jackson Perkins. My Peace rose didn't make it through the first winter in this new house (and I DID tend that one!) and I have space for another one - so I will probably put in two new ones. Ironically, the rose bushes out front in the extreme shade of that Bradford Pear tree seem to do the best of all my bushes...
I don't think my peonies came up this year. At least not yet. I can't tell - we have so many weeds in the front garden that I just don't know what are plants and what aren't. That is going to be my project for Wednesday. You know what really isn't right? I hate it that gardens just don't STAY weeded. Katie and I BOTH put in big chunks of time early this spring on the front garden - but you would never know to look at it now. Well - except the azaleas look gorgeous!
Anyway - to sum up quickly - my food was awful! I had bangers and mash on Saturday at the Still. Then mac and cheese on Sunday from Noodles. Also birthday cake. Friday AND Sunday! My weight was 223 yesterday (but I had been up and eaten something at that point) and 223.2 today.
I think I am going to start Southbeach soon.
Friday, May 11, 2007
I am lazy
I haven't been out all week. I am going to the gym tonight after work. HAVE TO. Work was really busy this week. I had a deadline to get some legislative maps out that showed all of DPW's capital improvement projects for the next fiscal year. Then it is also the last week of school. AND I have been filling out the application for a full time faculty position at CCBC teaching geography & GIS. It has essay questions...do you know how long it has been since I have had to write like that??!!??!! I should be done tonight. After I go to the gym.
My week
Yet another weird week for me. I got to the gym on Monday, was out sick on Wednesday, and today I'm here but unlikely to get to the gym because, ironically, I have to work at a track meet for three hours this afternoon! So I'll see a lot of running but not be involved in it except in measuring and greeting and selling t-shirts. Or whatever they will have me doing.
OTOH, to make up for not getting to the gym on Wednesday, I took Davey for a long walk and did the pilates abs workout, then yesterday I did the pilates "maximum burn" workout (still just 20 minutes, but fast-paced and a full body workout). I figure if I keep doing these four days a week between now and the end of June, I might be in good enough shape for Disney. Like Amy, I've been telling myself for months that I really need to start doing pilates again. Maybe tomorrow. Maybe next week. So I decided just to do it. Turns out I still like these workouts--challenging but not impossible, and rarely boring.
OTOH, to make up for not getting to the gym on Wednesday, I took Davey for a long walk and did the pilates abs workout, then yesterday I did the pilates "maximum burn" workout (still just 20 minutes, but fast-paced and a full body workout). I figure if I keep doing these four days a week between now and the end of June, I might be in good enough shape for Disney. Like Amy, I've been telling myself for months that I really need to start doing pilates again. Maybe tomorrow. Maybe next week. So I decided just to do it. Turns out I still like these workouts--challenging but not impossible, and rarely boring.
Restricted Calorie Diet
OK - on Wednesday I had about 1100 calories - and woke up at 3am hungry! I hate that!! Yesterday I was doing really well - until dinner. Katie wasn't home, and I had had an extremely stressful day at work - so I got sushi on the way home. It was late in the day - so I didn't eat after the sushi really. So - I am not sure how many calories I consumed. Pre-sushi I was at 425 calories for the day. So - I guess I could have ended at 1100 again. I didn't wake up last night - but I was absolutely done at the end of the day. I don't know.
Regardless - it doesn't seem to be working. By dieters standards I was PERFECT on Wednesday. I took my vitamins, drank water, ate low calorie healthy food and worked out both aerobically and resistantly (ummmm). Yet - yesterday I was at 222.4. Yesterday I didn't work out, but my food (sushi non-withstanding) was pretty good. I was 223 today. So I am going up. I am back to the belief that it doesn't matter what I eat or if i exercise, I am just going to continue to gain weight. Grrrr.
Regardless - it doesn't seem to be working. By dieters standards I was PERFECT on Wednesday. I took my vitamins, drank water, ate low calorie healthy food and worked out both aerobically and resistantly (ummmm). Yet - yesterday I was at 222.4. Yesterday I didn't work out, but my food (sushi non-withstanding) was pretty good. I was 223 today. So I am going up. I am back to the belief that it doesn't matter what I eat or if i exercise, I am just going to continue to gain weight. Grrrr.
Wednesday, May 09, 2007
Today
Nothing interesting... I was 222.0 today. So - still going down. SIgh. I was doing the whole "Tomorrow I am going to start doing X" thing when I caught myself and said "No - TODAY you are going to start doing X!!!!" In this case X is a controlled calorie diet. So far I am at 155 calories today - and I am starting to feel hungry. However, I am on my way (weigh) to see Tony the Trainer, so I won't get my 200 calorie lunch until later. Sigh. Unlimited coffee.
Not fair!
On Monday I weighed 138.8, which I figured wasn't terrible for a Monday weight after a long weekend of eating and two weeks of almost no exercise. Then I spent Monday in my usual fashion--good diet all around, trip to the gym, etc. Normally my weight drops on Tuesday by a pound or so, but instead this week it went UP on Tuesday. I was 139.2 yesterday!!! I think it just took a while for the barbeque and cake and waffles and bacon to catch up with me.
This morning I'm back to 138.6 and I'm absolutely not allowed to cheat anymore!
This morning I'm back to 138.6 and I'm absolutely not allowed to cheat anymore!
Tuesday, May 08, 2007
144.5
I thought it was going to be worse. I exercised last Monday and then, I think, not again until yesterday except the half mile or so of walking to the wine festival. And my eating is not so good, either. My pants are getting too snug and my pink capris that I bought late last year don't fit at all.
Yesterday I went to the gym and did 45 minutes on the bike, then a round of VKRs and smallish sets of leg lifts and chest presses. All told it was about an hour and five minutes worth of exercise. The right side of my right foot is hurting and I'm not sure why, but it's making me nervous about doing anything weight-bearing. I'm trying to wear my better sneakers all the time now in the hopes that it will heal itself, but it has been hurting for about six days now. Ugh.
Yesterday I went to the gym and did 45 minutes on the bike, then a round of VKRs and smallish sets of leg lifts and chest presses. All told it was about an hour and five minutes worth of exercise. The right side of my right foot is hurting and I'm not sure why, but it's making me nervous about doing anything weight-bearing. I'm trying to wear my better sneakers all the time now in the hopes that it will heal itself, but it has been hurting for about six days now. Ugh.
152
I am creeping back up. I did not do my running homework this week either for the training progrm. With school winding down, there just isn't much extra time. Next week I will regain my Tuesday and Thursday evenings for the summer. I am really looking forward to that.
So for this week, I will be ok with 152.
So for this week, I will be ok with 152.
Ugh
OK - Today - weigh-in day - I am 223.0. Ugh. That is almost three pounds up from last week.
I was a big slug again last night. That is it. Nothing more... I sat around and watched episodes of Bones that I downloaded from iTunes. I didn't exercise. At all. It was pathetic.
I am trying to remember what I did last year to lose weight before my cruise. I am doing this because I have just about five or six weeks before I leave for Disney. That means I SHOULD be able to lose between 10 and 12 pounds at the rate of 2 per week. I can't remember what I did. I know I went to the gym about four times a week for January and February. I can't remember my eating - but it was probably about the same as what it is now.
I am considering doing Atkins again. That is how desparate I am. I hated Atkins. I lost weight, but I felt icky. Maybe I will do Jenny Craig again. Maybe I will do a 900-1200 calorie diet. Maybe 900 calories with unlimited coffee. I wonder how long I could sustain that? Long enough to lose 10 pounds? Probably. I am going to plan a menu today!
I have three more sessions with Tony left. It seems like I should be going through these faster than I am. I am not planning on going tonight - but I will see if I can schedule it in for Thursday night. I want to see if I can get these OVER with. I want to make an appointment with a trainer at my new gym.
I was a big slug again last night. That is it. Nothing more... I sat around and watched episodes of Bones that I downloaded from iTunes. I didn't exercise. At all. It was pathetic.
I am trying to remember what I did last year to lose weight before my cruise. I am doing this because I have just about five or six weeks before I leave for Disney. That means I SHOULD be able to lose between 10 and 12 pounds at the rate of 2 per week. I can't remember what I did. I know I went to the gym about four times a week for January and February. I can't remember my eating - but it was probably about the same as what it is now.
I am considering doing Atkins again. That is how desparate I am. I hated Atkins. I lost weight, but I felt icky. Maybe I will do Jenny Craig again. Maybe I will do a 900-1200 calorie diet. Maybe 900 calories with unlimited coffee. I wonder how long I could sustain that? Long enough to lose 10 pounds? Probably. I am going to plan a menu today!
I have three more sessions with Tony left. It seems like I should be going through these faster than I am. I am not planning on going tonight - but I will see if I can schedule it in for Thursday night. I want to see if I can get these OVER with. I want to make an appointment with a trainer at my new gym.
Monday, May 07, 2007
Me too slug!
When I packed for Blacksburg I took multiple sets of exercise clothes - none of which ever saw the light of day. The closest we got to exercise was a walk we took to get to a wine tasting... where we proceeded to consume more calories than we burned! So - no exercise for me in over a week!!
Food has been bad too - pizza, fast food, Combos (yesterday on the drive home...). I also have had WAY too much alcohol. So - I wasn't surprised (actually I was expecting it to be worse) this monring when my weight turned up at 223.4. I was 220 when I left on Wednesday - so 3.4 pounds in five days. Sheesh! I hope to lose it all by tomorrow.
Food has been bad too - pizza, fast food, Combos (yesterday on the drive home...). I also have had WAY too much alcohol. So - I wasn't surprised (actually I was expecting it to be worse) this monring when my weight turned up at 223.4. I was 220 when I left on Wednesday - so 3.4 pounds in five days. Sheesh! I hope to lose it all by tomorrow.
Friday, May 04, 2007
Complete slug
I now haven't been to the gym since a week ago Monday. Work has been too hectic to take a break (and more often than not I've been in long meetings, which isn't a normal occurrence in my job), and the one day I could have made it--yesterday--I instead spent the day at home with a sick kid. I didn't even weigh myself yesterday or today because I just didn't want to see it! And to make matters worse, I've been self medicating my stress with candy bars. Seems I'm making up for lost time from Lent when I ate none of this. Sugar is evil.
Thursday, May 03, 2007
Charm City Runners
I went to the first session of the 5 k training last night at Goucher. I enjoyed it. If I can figure out how to post the training schedule, I will. Emily & Sarah, I think you both would do well with the intermediate runners while I am definitely still back at the beginning runner stage. I may even consider joining this group once I see how these 8 weeks go. Our homework is to run 2 more times before next Wednesday.
Food has been ok. I am maintaining around 148. By the June I'd like to be maintaining around 145, and then by the end of summer around 140. I've come to decide that these plateaus in weight loss are actually good things--it just shows that once you lose you can maintain that same weight with minimal effort, then you can lose a little more, then maintain that for a little while, so on and so on. Really we are just shooting for a long term plateau at our target weights.
Off subject: does anyone use those sunless tanners? If so, can you recommend one? I was looking at the Body Shop one and the Neutrogena. I am SO white right now. It is scary. I have all these cute skirts but I can't bring myself to show my legs, especially with the horrible bug bite scares I acquired in India.
Food has been ok. I am maintaining around 148. By the June I'd like to be maintaining around 145, and then by the end of summer around 140. I've come to decide that these plateaus in weight loss are actually good things--it just shows that once you lose you can maintain that same weight with minimal effort, then you can lose a little more, then maintain that for a little while, so on and so on. Really we are just shooting for a long term plateau at our target weights.
Off subject: does anyone use those sunless tanners? If so, can you recommend one? I was looking at the Body Shop one and the Neutrogena. I am SO white right now. It is scary. I have all these cute skirts but I can't bring myself to show my legs, especially with the horrible bug bite scares I acquired in India.
Tuesday, May 01, 2007
144.5 - but I forgot to weigh!
I got up to use the potty before I was ready to be awake, and then I went back to bed, but I didn't fall asleep, so I gave up and got up. But I'd already been potty so I didn't go again, and that meant I didn't weigh myself. I didn't think of it until after breakfast when I did use the toilet, at which point I weighed myself, and I was 144.5. That's pretty close to what it would have been, I suspect, as I was 146 at bedtime.
I went to the gym yesterday and Friday and did the bike each time, followed by VKRs and upper body machines. On Friday I did the upright lateral chest thing -- I'm sure it has a name, but you start with your arms wide and bring them straight to the middle. I hate it. The arms move independently so I feel lopsided -- I do better with a machine that forces symmetry. Yesterday I did more normal machines.
I still have no excuse for not exercising more often -- I've just been lazy. Ugh.
I went to the gym yesterday and Friday and did the bike each time, followed by VKRs and upper body machines. On Friday I did the upright lateral chest thing -- I'm sure it has a name, but you start with your arms wide and bring them straight to the middle. I hate it. The arms move independently so I feel lopsided -- I do better with a machine that forces symmetry. Yesterday I did more normal machines.
I still have no excuse for not exercising more often -- I've just been lazy. Ugh.
Today
I was 220.2 this morning. (Actually it started at 220.4 but went to 220.2 - so I will take that...) So - that is down from last week by 2 pounds. That is good - but I am still 18 pounds over where I was just over a year ago. That is UNBELIEVABLE! I know I quit smoking, and I know I turned 40 - but even so!! Grrr!
So - I think part of my problem is based in the fact that Sarah considers a 2 mile walk with her dog an non-exercise day - when I consider a two mile walk EXERCISE. Granted, I don't have a dog setting the pace - but I still usually am sweating by the time I get home... maybe not as much as if I had been boxing - but still sweating.
Katie and I went to Bonefish. I had broiled Rainbow Trout with a salad and steamed vegetables. I had one piece of bread and two mojitos. I took most of my dinner home with me. We went grocery shopping afterwards where we bought fruit and vegetables and whole grain bread. (And forgot to get conditioner and vitamins...) I didn't snack last night after I got home. I made two beads and watched two episodes of Bones and then read. I went to bed too late. That was my whole evening.
We are doing Let's Dish tonight. We haven't done it since January. The whole non meat thing for lent delayed our consumption of meals. However, we are at the nearly gone state of existance now. So - it will be nice to have a full freezer again. The menu for May is pretty good -and June looks good too. We are hoping if we go now for May we will be able to go for June too without getting to stockpiled.
I don't know when I will get exercise in tonight... I am going to Blacksburg tomorrow and have laundry and other chores to do before I leave. Well, maybe the stairs up and down will count for exercise. Also - This isn't real exercise - but at Let's Dish I am on my feet the whole time, where otherwise I am not... Maybe I should try to work that into my daily activities. Figure out a way to stand rather than sit more often.
So - I think part of my problem is based in the fact that Sarah considers a 2 mile walk with her dog an non-exercise day - when I consider a two mile walk EXERCISE. Granted, I don't have a dog setting the pace - but I still usually am sweating by the time I get home... maybe not as much as if I had been boxing - but still sweating.
Katie and I went to Bonefish. I had broiled Rainbow Trout with a salad and steamed vegetables. I had one piece of bread and two mojitos. I took most of my dinner home with me. We went grocery shopping afterwards where we bought fruit and vegetables and whole grain bread. (And forgot to get conditioner and vitamins...) I didn't snack last night after I got home. I made two beads and watched two episodes of Bones and then read. I went to bed too late. That was my whole evening.
We are doing Let's Dish tonight. We haven't done it since January. The whole non meat thing for lent delayed our consumption of meals. However, we are at the nearly gone state of existance now. So - it will be nice to have a full freezer again. The menu for May is pretty good -and June looks good too. We are hoping if we go now for May we will be able to go for June too without getting to stockpiled.
I don't know when I will get exercise in tonight... I am going to Blacksburg tomorrow and have laundry and other chores to do before I leave. Well, maybe the stairs up and down will count for exercise. Also - This isn't real exercise - but at Let's Dish I am on my feet the whole time, where otherwise I am not... Maybe I should try to work that into my daily activities. Figure out a way to stand rather than sit more often.
Tra-la, it's May!
I considered just not weighing myself today, or this week at all. I've been fluctuating between 137 and 140 all the past week. I've barely been exercising--this deadline I'm working on has been hell so I only got to the gym once last week, then walked Davey twice. Yesterday I failed to get to the gym again, so again I walked Davey (although only two miles) and I'm looking at my schedule this week and realizing that I may not get to the gym at all the whole week. I might be able to make it on Thursday. And my eating has been not-great. At least the candy is gone, but I'm definitely a stress eater and I've been chowing down any carb that crosses my path. So as I said, I considered just throwing out the scale this week and instead focusing on eating better and fitting in exercise when I can.
Only weighing myself has become habit every morning. Today I was 137.6--a nice amount down from last week, but not nearly where I should be.
Only weighing myself has become habit every morning. Today I was 137.6--a nice amount down from last week, but not nearly where I should be.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)