Tuesday, November 25, 2008
147.5
That's a "yikes" weight but an improvement over yesterday's 148.5. I exercised 5 days last week (though one day was just a 1.25 mile or so FREEZING COLD walk downtown) and again last night, so that's not the problem. I haven't eaten great but I've had much worse weeks, so that's not the problem either. This leads me to conclude that I am retaining water, which is very likely, given the timing of the month. Ugh. I hope next week's number will be better, or that my jeans will start falling off, or something to show I'm doing some good!
142.6
Today's weight is slightly higher than last week's weight, but since last week's weight was ridiculously low, I never believed it (and it didn't stick around more than a day or two anyway--by Thursday I was back to 143.8). So I guess I'll have to tell the Daily Plate that my weight is down slightly, which means the amount I can eat will be reduced (on every day except Thursday and Friday, that is. Those days don't count this week.).
I did get to the gym yesterday for a very short workout. I'll be back again today. Running doesn't hurt my back at all, but unless this pinched nerve gets much better overnight I don't see how I'll be able to swim tomorrow. I can go through the motions (no muscle injury) but it hurts like hell.
I did get to the gym yesterday for a very short workout. I'll be back again today. Running doesn't hurt my back at all, but unless this pinched nerve gets much better overnight I don't see how I'll be able to swim tomorrow. I can go through the motions (no muscle injury) but it hurts like hell.
Monday, November 24, 2008
Monday update
So on Friday I ended up running five miles, which is more than I've run in one session since college. I think it may have been too much, too soon, though because I spent the next couple of hours with my chest feeling really tight. Not dangerous-tight--just I-went-too-far tight. I'm hoping to get back to the gym today, but with a 4:15 conference with Claire's teacher I'm not sure I can make it.
I've also been walking around the past 24 hours or so with a pinched nerve in my back. Ouchie ouchie ouchie. I blame it on bad sleeping this weekend--Friday night on the hard floor of the scout room packed in among 30 or so little girls, then Saturday night in my own bed but wedged between two little kids so I could barely move. For the first time in his life Connor insisted on sleeping in my bed, and Claire, of course, takes every opportunity to sleep in my bed. Turns out it's not quite big enough for three. The pain started yesterday afternoon and makes any upper body movement (including deep breathing) hurt!
Anyone reading my Daily Plate log saw that I completely gave up on dieting over the weekend. Saturday, in particular, I made a conscious decision about midday that it wasn't worth it and I was just going to eat and not worry about what I was eating. I was a bit better yesterday, but not by much!
I've also been walking around the past 24 hours or so with a pinched nerve in my back. Ouchie ouchie ouchie. I blame it on bad sleeping this weekend--Friday night on the hard floor of the scout room packed in among 30 or so little girls, then Saturday night in my own bed but wedged between two little kids so I could barely move. For the first time in his life Connor insisted on sleeping in my bed, and Claire, of course, takes every opportunity to sleep in my bed. Turns out it's not quite big enough for three. The pain started yesterday afternoon and makes any upper body movement (including deep breathing) hurt!
Anyone reading my Daily Plate log saw that I completely gave up on dieting over the weekend. Saturday, in particular, I made a conscious decision about midday that it wasn't worth it and I was just going to eat and not worry about what I was eating. I was a bit better yesterday, but not by much!
Friday, November 21, 2008
I'm going to the gym
Maybe I've turned a corner, or maybe I'm just looking at the next 24 hours (Girl Scout overnight--yikes!) and recognizing that I need to work off some stress before I go into that, but this morning I woke up and realized that I *wanted* (in fact, maybe even needed) to go for a run today. I hadn't planned on this since I volunteered at the book fair at Claire's school this morning and can't really justify that amount of time away from work, but I'm going anyway. This will be my fourth trip to the gym this week (although I think Emily has me beat--it looks like she's been just about every day!), so I'll be keeping up with my minimum number of aerobic sessions each week that I'm aiming for. That was a really convoluted and badly written sentence. Sorry.
Unrelated: I just signed Connor up for swim lessons! I've been looking for a program for a while that would be able/willing to teach him, and it turns out there's a program based in Ellicott City/Columbia that specializes in teaching kids with special needs to swim. It ain't going to be cheap, but it'll be worth it if we can get him to the point where we don't have to fear for his life when he's around a pool or lake. How cool is that?
And more related: I heard about a device this week called the Bodybugg that is supposed to help with weight loss by tracking your actual energy expenditure and measuring that against the calories you're taking in. It's a little device that you strap onto your arm and it measures motion, skin temperature, skin conductivity and things like that to determine how much energy you're using. You plug that information into a computer program along with your food intake and it compares what you burned to what you ate. I was skeptical until I read a review by a real person, who said that as long as you're completely honest about what you're eating, it seems to be pretty accurate. I don't think I'm ready to drop $250 to get this information, but I thought it was cool that there's a commercially avaiable gadget that will tell you how many calories you're actually burning (instead of just guessing based on what you think your activity level is and how hard you ran on the treadmill).
Unrelated: I just signed Connor up for swim lessons! I've been looking for a program for a while that would be able/willing to teach him, and it turns out there's a program based in Ellicott City/Columbia that specializes in teaching kids with special needs to swim. It ain't going to be cheap, but it'll be worth it if we can get him to the point where we don't have to fear for his life when he's around a pool or lake. How cool is that?
And more related: I heard about a device this week called the Bodybugg that is supposed to help with weight loss by tracking your actual energy expenditure and measuring that against the calories you're taking in. It's a little device that you strap onto your arm and it measures motion, skin temperature, skin conductivity and things like that to determine how much energy you're using. You plug that information into a computer program along with your food intake and it compares what you burned to what you ate. I was skeptical until I read a review by a real person, who said that as long as you're completely honest about what you're eating, it seems to be pretty accurate. I don't think I'm ready to drop $250 to get this information, but I thought it was cool that there's a commercially avaiable gadget that will tell you how many calories you're actually burning (instead of just guessing based on what you think your activity level is and how hard you ran on the treadmill).
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
My weight today
I was lower today by four pounds too - so maybe we are shivering off the weight. I can't imagine ONE session of water aerobics and one day of eating a fibery lunch lost me four pounds. The good thing is that I felt fat this morning so I expected to weight A LOT - so I was relieved. It was actually only about thre-ish pounds now that I think about it - but it was on the low end of my range, which was surprising.
I just got back from my first holiday event of the year. The Transmitter Team does a dinner out and ornament exchange every year. This year we went to Ruth Chris Steak House. I had never been there. It was fabulous - but honestly, the filet and crab cakes at Bonefish were just as good. The service was excellent - which almost made it worth the money. We had a prix-fix menu for $50 - and we had choices throughout. I had the ahi tuna sashimi app (but I got to try the crab stuffed mushrooms also). Then there was a salad. My entree was a mixed grill, which was a 4 oz filet, a half size crab cake, and a crab stuffed chicken breast. It had steamed veggies and garlic mashed potatoes to go along. I had cheesecake for dessert. It was VERY yummy and we all had a lot of fun.
The ornament exchange was fun as always. We do it as a double round robin. First we each get to pick and open a package. Then we do a second round where we can keep our or take any from anyone else at the table. There was not an ornament that I didn't want there tonight. It was fun. I ended up with a clip on bright blue glass bird with a fluffy feather tail. It is similar to some I have already - but I really like it.
I just got back from my first holiday event of the year. The Transmitter Team does a dinner out and ornament exchange every year. This year we went to Ruth Chris Steak House. I had never been there. It was fabulous - but honestly, the filet and crab cakes at Bonefish were just as good. The service was excellent - which almost made it worth the money. We had a prix-fix menu for $50 - and we had choices throughout. I had the ahi tuna sashimi app (but I got to try the crab stuffed mushrooms also). Then there was a salad. My entree was a mixed grill, which was a 4 oz filet, a half size crab cake, and a crab stuffed chicken breast. It had steamed veggies and garlic mashed potatoes to go along. I had cheesecake for dessert. It was VERY yummy and we all had a lot of fun.
The ornament exchange was fun as always. We do it as a double round robin. First we each get to pick and open a package. Then we do a second round where we can keep our or take any from anyone else at the table. There was not an ornament that I didn't want there tonight. It was fun. I ended up with a clip on bright blue glass bird with a fluffy feather tail. It is similar to some I have already - but I really like it.
145.5
I did see that scary 148 on Saturday but that was higher by a lot than any other number I've seen so I can safely write it off as a fluke. I'm happy to see the 145.5 today -- it's lower than last week and mostly lower than I've seen over the week. I'm starting to cut calories a little bit, though not in a very healthy way yet!
Yesterday I went to the gym! I was planning to go while Mary was at Girl Scouts -- they're just around the corner from each other (well, more like a half mile, but in the same general neighborhood) but Daniel called mid-day and suggested that we go together, so I got my act together and made the call. I ended up with four appointments over this week and later I made another for next Monday. So I'm set until our trip. Now the trick will be NOT to fall into the same I-don't-feel-like-calling cycle after Thanksgiving. Since I do have the Monday appointment I should be able at least to make one for the Monday after T-day and that will jump me past the out-of-town period. And Mom and Dad have long distance so I have no excuse for not calling the other days that I'm in Maryland. So there. I hope.
Last week....
....I found the 147.something impossible to believe. This week I'm finding the 142.4 on the scale equally impossible to believe. I'm like one of those crazy ads for diet pills: "lose five pounds in one week!" Yesterday I had been 144.2 and was just hoping to match that amount today since it seemed like a realistic loss (assuming the 147 was wrong and my actual weight was somewhere around 145).
I'm still keeping up with the exercise, although I didn't get out on my bike this weekend and my evening schedule this week means I can't commute by bike (two basketball games, a book fair, scout meeting and scout overnight). But I should be able to get to the gym at least three days this week (I've been aiming for four, but I've got a couple of days this week where I have to be at the kids' schools midday, so I won't be able to take a break those days). Last night I dreamt about swimming. In my dream, it was fun. Wish that were the case in real life!
I'm still keeping up with the exercise, although I didn't get out on my bike this weekend and my evening schedule this week means I can't commute by bike (two basketball games, a book fair, scout meeting and scout overnight). But I should be able to get to the gym at least three days this week (I've been aiming for four, but I've got a couple of days this week where I have to be at the kids' schools midday, so I won't be able to take a break those days). Last night I dreamt about swimming. In my dream, it was fun. Wish that were the case in real life!
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Challenges
Sarah scolded me today about challenging everyone to use TDP but then not doing it myself. Sorry. I DID for a few days but didn't see anyone else. And - I REALLY don't like it in the Livestrong format. Ugh. The colors are ugly and it doesn't seem to be as easy to navigate. I got caught up tonight - but even that was a challenge... It kept saying that today was actually tomorrow! Then, I added a recipe for Split Pea Soup, but it did that thing where it calculated it as 1 person, and used salted drumsticks instead of salt. So it says it is 7200 calories! Sigh. I fixed it - but it doesn't seem to show my changes.
I went to water aerobis yesterday. I really enjoyed it. I didn't go today because I wanted to just stay in my PJs for a change. I have had committments that have me up and about everyday by 8am for weeks now - and I just didn't want to do it again! I will go again next week - maybe even both days... It was fun.
Katie and I started on the basement yesterday. We got as far as dusting and killing the spiders, vacuuming, bleaching the walls and spraying the carpet with bleach AND cat odor killer. It smelled like a pool down there, and definitely smells better - but I don 't think it will last. We will really have to stay on top of spraying the carpet - regularly. We also bought Kilz and paint yesterday. The paint is Orchid Opulence. Actually it is Behr's Bed of Roses - but it is almost exactly like Orchid Opulence (same color as this type). I think it will be pretty when it is done - which will hopefully be by next weekend. Yay! Then the moving starts... Ugh.
I went to water aerobis yesterday. I really enjoyed it. I didn't go today because I wanted to just stay in my PJs for a change. I have had committments that have me up and about everyday by 8am for weeks now - and I just didn't want to do it again! I will go again next week - maybe even both days... It was fun.
Katie and I started on the basement yesterday. We got as far as dusting and killing the spiders, vacuuming, bleaching the walls and spraying the carpet with bleach AND cat odor killer. It smelled like a pool down there, and definitely smells better - but I don 't think it will last. We will really have to stay on top of spraying the carpet - regularly. We also bought Kilz and paint yesterday. The paint is Orchid Opulence. Actually it is Behr's Bed of Roses - but it is almost exactly like Orchid Opulence (same color as this type). I think it will be pretty when it is done - which will hopefully be by next weekend. Yay! Then the moving starts... Ugh.
Friday, November 14, 2008
Still in the lead... sigh...
I was 148 this morning. That's a two-pound gain over yesterday. Since I started tracking calories on Wednesday I had a dinner out at a fancy restaurant (included bread, wine, dessert, bleu cheese on the filet mignon -- you get the picture) and then Girl Scouts nuts and candy arrived. I suspect I under-counted yesterday and it was still much too high. Today there is nothing special going on and Daniel's out of town so there's not even a beer or a glass of wine on the horizon, so maybe I can manage to keep my calories in check. But I still need to get my rear in gear with exercise!
My week, challenges, etc.
Emily, I've got you beat--on Thursday morning I was 147.something (I stopped at the seven and didn't look at the number after that!). I had been 144.6 the day before, so I don't know what's up with the 147, and today I was down to 146.2 so maybe the 144.6 was unusually low and the 146.2 is more or less accurate with the 147 being a spike. Who knows?
I'm still keeping up with exercise. I went for a longish bike ride on Sunday (17 miles), ran on Monday and Tuesday and yesterday, and today I'm scheduled to go to swimming (Claire got angry when she saw my suit and towel sitting out this morning--I think she was pissed to find out I've been swimming regularly without her!). I'm trying to make the running more interesting/challenging by incorporating a couple of training ideas I read about this week. One is training for speed, which is pretty much like interval workouts but with a higher top interval and lower steady pace. I did that while walking Davey on Tuesday and he thought it was great (although when I'd stop the sprinting he'd stop and sniff around, figuring I must be stopping for an interesting reason like maybe a rabbit in the bushes or a piece of chicken on the sidewalk). The other is a tempo workout that's supposed to increase your lactate threshold. I don't have the time for that full workout (it's supposed to be 8 miles total and starts by saying "run an easy three miles." An easy three miles? What planet are these people on?) so I cut it in half yesterday, jogging at a low speed (4.9) for a mile to start and a mile to cool down, with two miles in between at a slightly higher than usual speed (6.2). The idea is to condition your body to handle higher speeds for longer distances. Since it would take me nearly an hour and a half to do the full eight miles (plus, I might die) I don't see doing the full workout until maybe this summer when I could get out in the early morning comfortably.
So does that count as doing something new? I hope so, because I don't think I could handle another new thing--Girl Scouts and triathlon training is enough new for me right now!
Vitamins and Daily Plate--I don't take vitamins and never have regularly except during pregnancy, so you all are on your own with that one. I'll try to start logging my food on the Daily Plate, but it was getting so slow to access it from home that the last few times I've tried, I've just given up. I don't mind tracking my food when it means five minutes online each evening, but it was taking 15 or 20 minutes and I don't have the time or patience for that! Has anyone else been having that problem? I haven't tried it for months now, though, so maybe it's not a problem anymore.
I'm still keeping up with exercise. I went for a longish bike ride on Sunday (17 miles), ran on Monday and Tuesday and yesterday, and today I'm scheduled to go to swimming (Claire got angry when she saw my suit and towel sitting out this morning--I think she was pissed to find out I've been swimming regularly without her!). I'm trying to make the running more interesting/challenging by incorporating a couple of training ideas I read about this week. One is training for speed, which is pretty much like interval workouts but with a higher top interval and lower steady pace. I did that while walking Davey on Tuesday and he thought it was great (although when I'd stop the sprinting he'd stop and sniff around, figuring I must be stopping for an interesting reason like maybe a rabbit in the bushes or a piece of chicken on the sidewalk). The other is a tempo workout that's supposed to increase your lactate threshold. I don't have the time for that full workout (it's supposed to be 8 miles total and starts by saying "run an easy three miles." An easy three miles? What planet are these people on?) so I cut it in half yesterday, jogging at a low speed (4.9) for a mile to start and a mile to cool down, with two miles in between at a slightly higher than usual speed (6.2). The idea is to condition your body to handle higher speeds for longer distances. Since it would take me nearly an hour and a half to do the full eight miles (plus, I might die) I don't see doing the full workout until maybe this summer when I could get out in the early morning comfortably.
So does that count as doing something new? I hope so, because I don't think I could handle another new thing--Girl Scouts and triathlon training is enough new for me right now!
Vitamins and Daily Plate--I don't take vitamins and never have regularly except during pregnancy, so you all are on your own with that one. I'll try to start logging my food on the Daily Plate, but it was getting so slow to access it from home that the last few times I've tried, I've just given up. I don't mind tracking my food when it means five minutes online each evening, but it was taking 15 or 20 minutes and I don't have the time or patience for that! Has anyone else been having that problem? I haven't tried it for months now, though, so maybe it's not a problem anymore.
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
I weighed myself today...
... but I wish I hadn't, because it was 146.5, which is the highest this year, I think. I am just SO not enthused about the whole dieting thing and I've barely exercised lately -- another point of non-enthusiasm. Alexander and I have been going for walks; or, rather, we went for two walks. One was my doing, because I was tired of feeling blobby and was feeling a bit unwell and thought a walk would help. It did. But I only got down the block and back once (can't go far with the kids home alone) when Alexander came out and joined me, and then it was a lot more fun, especially since my iPod was uncharged. Then the next day he looked forward to our walk all day, so we went out for a much longer and further walk/jog once Daniel got home. We jog whenever Alexander wants to, which is less than I would, so it's really easy for me, which makes it more fun, too. But we haven't been able to go out since then, as we've had other things getting in the way the last several nights. And I don't have any gym appointments coming up. I just can't seem to make myself make the first phone call! Ugh.
Anyway, I'll join in the Daily Plate challenge. I'm already good about taking my vitamins and I don't know what I'll do that's new, though I'll keep my eyes open. I KNOW that's what I need to do -- I'm eating a lot of junk (though most of it's gone now) and not being careful about what I snack on mindlessly (like today I already had a grains family item at lunch because I had a sandwich, but I still also ate the less-healthy pretzels when I got some for Cecilia, just because they were there). So DP will help with that. I know it will help; I just don't wanna.
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Challenges
Why haven't we done any challenges lately? I mean, I know we don't actually even POST much any more - but maybe if we were doing challenges again we might check back...
Challenge #1 - I want to challenge everyone to log in to The Daily Plate for the next two weeks and record what you have eaten. I am not caring about calorie counts necessarily - unless that is what you are concerned about - but to see what our eating patterns really are. As I posted before, Katie and I have been in scrounge mode recently - and I think it is easy to get derailled that way. I had a blueberry muffin (think cake...) for breakfast this morning since Katie and I BOTH managed to get up too late and be very slow going... NOT GOOD!
Challenge #2 - The Vitamin Challege. Does anyone else take vitamins like crazy? I have been bad with mine lately - which is a shame, because I have invested some serious money in vitamins. I should take them. So for the same 2 weeks I challenge you all to take your vitamins... no missed days.
Challenge #3 - Try something new... New healthy food, new exercise - try something new and report it back here.
Challenge #1 - I want to challenge everyone to log in to The Daily Plate for the next two weeks and record what you have eaten. I am not caring about calorie counts necessarily - unless that is what you are concerned about - but to see what our eating patterns really are. As I posted before, Katie and I have been in scrounge mode recently - and I think it is easy to get derailled that way. I had a blueberry muffin (think cake...) for breakfast this morning since Katie and I BOTH managed to get up too late and be very slow going... NOT GOOD!
Challenge #2 - The Vitamin Challege. Does anyone else take vitamins like crazy? I have been bad with mine lately - which is a shame, because I have invested some serious money in vitamins. I should take them. So for the same 2 weeks I challenge you all to take your vitamins... no missed days.
Challenge #3 - Try something new... New healthy food, new exercise - try something new and report it back here.
Forgot
I forgot to weigh in today. I thought of it last night as I was eating my dinner of Halloween candy - but I didn't remember this morning. Or I may have - but I was really foggy today - so I didn't actually REMEMBER until I was on my way (weigh) out the door. Oh well...
I did finally make two of my three pending appointments this morning (annual and nutrionist). I still need to have my boobie lump sonagram done - but I have to find that form. I think I may have "cleaned" it up in the Halloween rush.
Katie and I did Let's Dish last night for the first time since early summer. We have had NO FOOD for months now. I am pleased about that because it is very hard to eat well when there is lots of candy, but no real food in the house.
Anyway - since I didn't post last week (I don't think) I just will tell you my weight was still in my zone. I am pseudo plateaued I guess. I am testing the theory that there is some weird mold in my house that keeps me from losing weight... Or more precisely, gives me my stomach troubles. The way I am testing it is VERY radical. I am trying to keep my house clean. I don't know how that will go... but we will see. 8-) Actually, I just hired a girl (woman) I work with to clean for me every other week. I am very excited about this. As soon as Katie and I get the basement in order (guestament about two weeks) most of our clutter will be gone - which I think will make my house look like a grown ups house. I am very excited by this!!
I did finally make two of my three pending appointments this morning (annual and nutrionist). I still need to have my boobie lump sonagram done - but I have to find that form. I think I may have "cleaned" it up in the Halloween rush.
Katie and I did Let's Dish last night for the first time since early summer. We have had NO FOOD for months now. I am pleased about that because it is very hard to eat well when there is lots of candy, but no real food in the house.
Anyway - since I didn't post last week (I don't think) I just will tell you my weight was still in my zone. I am pseudo plateaued I guess. I am testing the theory that there is some weird mold in my house that keeps me from losing weight... Or more precisely, gives me my stomach troubles. The way I am testing it is VERY radical. I am trying to keep my house clean. I don't know how that will go... but we will see. 8-) Actually, I just hired a girl (woman) I work with to clean for me every other week. I am very excited about this. As soon as Katie and I get the basement in order (guestament about two weeks) most of our clutter will be gone - which I think will make my house look like a grown ups house. I am very excited by this!!
Friday, November 07, 2008
Long overdue update
Bad news is my weight and diet aren't great, thanks in large part to Girl Scout cookies and Halloween candy. I was 144.8 this week (on Wednesday, or maybe Thursday. I forgot to weigh myself on Tuesday).
On the other hand, my exercising has been really consistent. I haven't managed to bike to work the past couple of weeks (blame Halloween preparation and Claire's basketball schedule/Connor's therapy schedule) but I've been at the gym running and swimming regularly--once a week on the swimming and two to three days a week for running. I'll need to increase that over time but I am, at least, managing to hold on to my level of fitness in running and improve my swimming slowly. I think most of my swimming improvement is from equipment--first the goggles made life much more pleasant and then this week I got a swim cap that made everything easier. I had been having difficulties with hair getting in my mouth when I'd breathe, so this took care of that problem, but I didn't realize until I had the cap on how much my hair was also getting in the way of my arms moving freely. So now I look like a total dork, but a total dork who went five minutes faster this week over last. I still don't understand how people can just keep going and going and going when they swim without a pause to catch their breath or a stop halfway down the lane to choke on water. I'm not sure they sell equipment to help me with that problem.
On the other hand, my exercising has been really consistent. I haven't managed to bike to work the past couple of weeks (blame Halloween preparation and Claire's basketball schedule/Connor's therapy schedule) but I've been at the gym running and swimming regularly--once a week on the swimming and two to three days a week for running. I'll need to increase that over time but I am, at least, managing to hold on to my level of fitness in running and improve my swimming slowly. I think most of my swimming improvement is from equipment--first the goggles made life much more pleasant and then this week I got a swim cap that made everything easier. I had been having difficulties with hair getting in my mouth when I'd breathe, so this took care of that problem, but I didn't realize until I had the cap on how much my hair was also getting in the way of my arms moving freely. So now I look like a total dork, but a total dork who went five minutes faster this week over last. I still don't understand how people can just keep going and going and going when they swim without a pause to catch their breath or a stop halfway down the lane to choke on water. I'm not sure they sell equipment to help me with that problem.
Tuesday, November 04, 2008
145
Though it seems I'm posting my weight to myself these days. It's in rough shape -- I still haven't gotten back to exercising and I've been eating candy. Bleah. And now I'm fighting a virus (mostly sore throat). Double bleah!
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