Wrapping up another year...

Well, I looked back at where I was a year ago...

My word for the year was OVERCOME.

I wanted to lose 30 lbs.

Here I am just about a year later, and I'm pretty sure I have more than 30 lbs to lose now. Hmmm... That didn't work like I'd hoped, did it?

I did overcome a lot of things this past year, like hormone issues, some scheduling / overcommitment issues, and some other things I can't think of at this particular moment. But when it comes to a lot of the areas I struggle with, I'm learning that overcoming isn't as big if it isn't accompanied by discipline. So this year my word for the year is...

DISCIPLINE

It's a word that's been on my heart and mind for a while now. And, I've been making progress toward it. Waking up, getting up, spending time in the Word, reading / listening to the scrolls, doing my 6 MIT each day. Of course, making progress is not the same as mastering, so I still have a LONG way to go. I'm hoping 2011 is the year of discipline.

I found a few definitions for discipline that I particularly like in light of choosing this word for 2011. They are:

1. activity, exercise, or a regimen that develops or improves a skill.

2. behavior in accord with rules of conduct; behavior and order maintained by training and control.

3. orderly or prescribed conduct or pattern of behavior

So, I suppose the question is... for definition #1, what is the skill I want to develop or improve? I've tried making it about the weight, and that obviously isn't working for me. So what do I REALLY want to improve? What behaviors and patterns of behavior do I want to see in my life?

When it comes to food, I find myself making poor choices, often as a result of unbalanced emotions. I buy things because they sound good (and are on sale! So of course, I have to buy 5 of them...) and then eat them because they're there. Really, I tend to eat things because they're there. So perhaps one skill I want to work on this year is discipline in my shopping habits.

1. DISCIPLINE in my shopping habits.

But how do I do that? Well, I suppose first off is by keeping and FOLLOWING a grocery list. And creating some rules. If it's not on the list, don't buy it. I can add it to the list when I get home if I want, but I have to wait until the next time I go to the store to buy it. I suppose another area in which I ought to discipline my shopping habits is to follow a budget.

Once I've got items in my house that are generally acceptable to eat (and not just the result of a buying binge), I need to ask myself why I am eating. Is it because I need to? Is it because I'm stressed? Is it because I'm craving something?

2. DISCIPLINE myself to think before I act.

This is going to be a hard one. I think thinking before I eat includes planning meals. I've been doing this, and it definitely helps, but only if I actually start dinner earlier in the day. If I wait until dinner time to start dinner I just snack on junk. So one rule I could implement is... Plan the meal before I eat it. Decide ahead of time what I am going to have for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Thinking my day through will help.

3. DISCIPLINE myself to enjoy the food I'm eating.

I think one of the reasons I eat as much as I do is that I am not actually thinking about and enjoying the food I'm eating. I'm thinking about other things, or watching TV, or trying to eat and do something else at the same time. If I actually sit down and enjoy the food I'm eating, perhaps I wouldn't want more when I was finished eating. Perhaps the code of conduct I ought to follow is... Enjoy what I've been given.

Okay. That gives me 3 things to strive for. Discipline in my shopping, thinking, and focus, especially where it concerns food.

Rebellion and Structure...

Why do I rebel against structure? This is a constant struggle for me and I find myself frustrated by it. I know that self-discipline and structure will help me achieve my goals, so why do I resist so much? It affects my every day... how much I get accomplished, how much sleep I get, how healthy I am, how well I parent... Everything! My day is full of resistance...

I resist getting up in the morning.

I resist reading my Bible.

I resist doing my daily coaching work.

I resist taking my pill.

I resist eating a healthy breakfast.

I resist taking a shower.

I resist emptying the dishwasher.

I resist doing a load of laundry.

I resist making my bed and teaching Eliana how to make hers.

I resist doing my work early in the day.

I resist exercising.

I resist cleaning the house.

I resist planning meals.

I resist eating a healthy lunch.

I resist making dinner.

I resist making business calls.

I resist loading the dishwasher.

I resist putting Eliana to bed.

I resist washing my face.

I resist picking out my clothes for the next day.

I resist going to bed at a decent time.

The truth is that with a little routine, a little structure, and a little self-discipline, my life would run a WHOLE lot smoother. And yet I can't seem to be able to do it. It can't be THAT hard, can it? What is my issue?

I have learned that my schedule has to be flexible. I don't get up at the same time every day, nor do I have the same schedule every day. So I don't expect myself to adhere to a strict timeline each day, but is it so hard to get things done early in the day so my house is not a mess and I am taken care of? What if I...

Woke up

Read my coaching reading

Read my Bible

Took my pill

Got up

Made my bed

Took a shower

Got ready

Started a load of laundry

Ate breakfast (a healthy breakfast)

Emptied the dishwasher

Moved laundry to the dryer

Started dinner (or at least got things thawing / crock pot / set out)

Ate lunch

Read my coaching reading

Read my Bible

Exercised

Worked

Spent time with Eliana

Made dinner

Cleaned up dinner and loaded the dishwasher

Made business calls

Put Eliana to bed

Washed my face

Put out my clothes for tomorrow

Got into bed

Read my coaching reading

Read my Bible

Went to sleep

Would that really be so difficult?

And what about what I am putting into my body? I have gotten into an awful habit of eating out fast food lately. I make poor choices at home. I don't plan ahead. I don't plan meals. I have not been eating well and it makes me feel sluggish and unattractive. What would happen if I...

Stopped watching TV?

Walked / Exercised 30 minutes a day?

Cut artificial sweetener out of my diet?

Cut white sugar out of my diet?

Ate more whole foods?

Ate more fruits and vegetables?

Took my vitamins?

Drank water?

Planned my meals?

Stopped eating impulsively?

Would I lose weight? Probably. Would I feel better? Definitely. So why don't I? Good question...

These are the things I'm pondering today.

*ahem*

Today, I begin a new day.

Today I can choose to form new habits or conform to the old ones. Today I can make better choices than yesterday. Today I can start anew, if I choose to.

I will greet this day with love in my heart.

I will choose to love not only those around me, but I will choose to love myself. My thoughts will be loving thoughts, my self corrections loving ones. I will love myself by the foods I put into my body, the effort I expend with my body, and the time I take to care for what God has given me.

I will live this day as my last.

I will live this day as if it were the only day, forgetting what has passed, ignoring what may come. I will not kick myself for what I ate yesterday, for I cannot change that now. I will not worry about whether I will be able to maintain my new habits tomorrow, for who knows what tomorrow will bring? I cannot change tomorrow today, nor can I change yesterday. The only day I can change is the one I am living now, so I will make choices today worthy of being the last choices I ever make.

I am doing some life coaching these days, and one of the things we are doing is reading the scrolls by Og Mandino. While they are not scriptural, there are some very good bits of truth in them, ones that support what scripture has to say and help me keep perspective on things.

I am not "dieting" right now. To update you on what is going on in our little world, we are moving out of our house somewhat unexpectedly in 8 days. We are still in the process of looking for a new place to live (hoping that one lead in particular pans out) and packing and all that fun stuff. On top of that, I have 2 Holiday Shows for Mary Kay this week (tomorrow and Thursday nights) that are keeping me busy. I am having to rethink my holiday season, since I had several open houses at my house planned in the next few weeks - not any more! There are a lot of things going on beyond those, too, but those are just the big things. =D

SO... I am not concentrating on exercise or calorie counting right now. BUT I am choosing to live today as my last, greet the day with love in my heart, and begin a new day today. And those things are going to help me make better choices when it comes to idleness and food intake.

This morning for breakfast I chose to eat cut up strawberries and apples, bathed in vanilla yogurt, sprinkled with some pumkin-flax seed granola. It was delicious! Filling! and not too bad for me! ;)

I stepped on it.

I have been avoiding the scale this week, especially since the eating and calorie counting have been going so well. What if I step on it and it says I haven't lost anything? What if it says I weigh more? What if it says I have lost a little weight? Really, what is on the scale is just a number and doesn't mean a whole lot in contrast to a healthier body and a healthier lifestyle. But I stepped on it anyway. Wanna know what it said? 2 lbs less than it said Monday. It's just a number, and it shouldn't make me so giddy, but it does. Hooray for lost poundage!

Rats! It's math time again...

Hmph. The problem with counting calories is that it's all based on math. How am I supposed to come up with a realistic goal without doing math? How am I supposed to reach my goal without doing math? So... math it is.

140 lbs.

I need to lose... well, ideally I want to lose 30-35 of that. But we'll just start with, say, 10%, which is 14 lbs. Yeah, let's start with 14 lbs. That seems reasonable.

I want to lose 14 lbs, which means I need to rid myself of... 49,000 calories. (Sheesh! That's a lot!)

If I've BEEN eating about 1800 calories a day (which is probably low, in all honesty), then I can save 500 calories a day just by sticking to 1200-1300 calories daily. At that rate it will take me 98 days to lose 14 lbs, or 14 weeks. Or 1 lb a week. That's reasonable, but I think I can do just a smidge better, with a little exercise.

So... add in some moderate exercise, say, burning 200 calories 5 days a week through exercise, and I should lose that a little faster. Hmmm...

500 calories x 7 days a week = 3500 calories

200 calories x 5 days a week = 1000 calories

At that rate, it will take me just shy of 11 weeks to lose 14 lbs.

If I up that to 300 calories burned 5 days a week, that's 1500 calories a week burned through exercise.

At that rate it will take me just shy of 10 weeks to lose 14 lbs, and I'll be losing just under a lb and a half a week. That seems reasonable. So... 10 weeks. Hmph.

10 weeks from now is... November 29th. I could be 126 lbs by November 29th.

I'll give that a shot.

Food Rules

I'm reading a book called "Food Rules" by Michael Pollan. It's an eater's manual full of rules that, if you follow them, will have you eating foods that are much better for you than the synthetic stuff most of us eat on a regular basis.

Now, I am a huge fan of Splenda, as I like to cheat my way out of calories without losing the sweet things I love. But I am wondering if what I have been doing is really just that... cheating. So... I'm considering following some of these food rules. Who knows, maybe it will make a difference.

So... here I am. I am 140 lbs. That's the biggest I've ever been, save when I was pregnant. I am dissatisfied with my weight. I am dissatisfied with my body. I want my outside to reflect who I am inside, and I don't think it does right now. But, it turns out that wallowing in self pity really only makes you want comfort food more, not less, and doesn't do a thing to help the predicament you're in.

So... I'm going to attempt to drag myself out of this pit I've dug. I'm scared to try, because I'm so tired of failing. Sometimes it's easier to just lay at the bottom of the hole instead of trying to start climbing out of it. But I'm dusting myself off today, and starting the climb. I don't know how far I'll make it, but I've got my first hold on the dirty face of my hole and I'm starting the climb. This morning's climb began with oatmeal and 2 cups of black coffee. Now, I'm not saying that the coffee is the best for me, or that the oatmeal I chose was 100% natural, but it's better than, say, a cinnamon roll or nothing at all.

I saw a friend yesterday whom I haven't seen since April. She looks fabulous. She's lost 20 lbs since I saw her last. I asked her how she did it... calorie counting and exercise. Huh, exactly what has worked for me in the past. So... I'm inspired to go back to calorie counting. This time, though, I'm going to try to calorie count while eating mostly whole foods. I'm going to work at not cheating myself out of calories by turning to synthetics. I'm going to work at eating better foods instead of just less food.

SO.... this week's challenge? Get back on SparkPeople. Start tracking calories again. Aim for 12-1300 a day. And go for whole foods. The rules I'm trying to follow?

1. Don't eat anything my great-grandmother wouldn't recognize as food.

2. Don't eat anything containing ingredients no ordinary human would keep in the pantry.

3. Don't eat anything containing high fructose corn syrup.

4. Don't eat anything with sugar listed in the first 3 ingredients.

That's what I'm striving toward. So far, I'm not doing too badly. The oatmeal I chose for breakfast could be better. We have some Wheat Montana oats, so once I finish the small box of oats I have been eating, I'll switch over to Wheat Montana. That will be good. I'm hoping that going through this book will transform what the inside of our pantry looks like, which will change the foods we eat on a daily basis.

Here it goes. I'm scared, but it's time to climb. I'm tired of being at the bottom of the hole.

Aerial Dance Fabric Work

Here's a video of some of the fabric work we did at Aerial Dance last week. It is by far the hardest thing I've had to do in Aerial Dance so far, and took the most strength. It also took the most trust to just let go and drop! It might also have been the most painful thing I've done so far, and I still have bruises a week later from it! It was so worth it, though!! I am loving Aerial Dance, and i'm loving that I am actually stronger now than I was a year ago. I have confidence and skills I didn't have a year ago. I know my body better, and I can feel confident in pushing myself farther, knowing that I can do it! When we started doing fabric a few months ago, I hated it. It is HARD. I didn't have the strength to climb the fabric, and I didn't want to work to get that strength. A few weeks ago I actually climbed to the top of the fabric, though, and that was HUGE for me! I was SO EXCITED! Now, having done this move, I am even more excited to learn more about fabric. It feels like a new challenge, and I am excited to conquer it!!

I am posting from an ipad

I figured I would give it a try. So far I am not sure I like it. But anyway... I had my third pilates session today and I have to say I love it! Now if I can only find a good cardio and strength routine I would be in good shape. I still can not find a good routine. I promised Andi that I would do card at least three times this week, though, and I will. That is where I will start, I guess. There is mass crazy at our house right now, between protocol this week, my tutoring final on Tuesday, the house flooding and the restoration from that, going back to worship team this week, my parents coming into town tomorrow... Just crazy. Hopefully the crazy will level out, though and I will find a food exercise routine soon. That would be great.

Pills.

FlickrDroid Upload, originally uploaded by elizabethwickland.

I took my pills this morning. It's been a long time since I have, going on a month. I've fallen out of the habit and I think it makes a difference.

I also got up early this morning and did some cardio time on the treadmill, doing my interval workout. I skipped the weights today because I'm somewhat sore from Pilates yesterday, but I will get weights in tomorrow.

I am at 133 for weight this morning.

I have been watching my food, but been crazy busy and haven't actually been tracking it. I think I'm doing fine for calories and I've been too busy to snack much, so I'm not too worried about that.

Working out...

Well, I've got an official plan from my trainer for working out 5 days a week. The plan doesn't include Aerial Dance on Friday and Saturday mornings, or the Pilates I will do with her on Wednesdays. Those get to kind of be bonus times for working on core strength and flexibility. Here's what my plan is, and my ideal days of the week...

• Monday: Interval Cardio (20 minutes)
• Tuesday: Moderate Cardio (30 minutes) + Strength
• Wednesday: Pilates with Trainer
• Thursday: Interval Cardio (20 minutes) + Strength
• Friday: Aerial Dance Class + Endurance Cardio (1 hour)
• Saturday: Aerial Dance Rehearsal + Moderate Cardio (30 minutes) + Strength
• Sunday: Day Off

The interval training goes something like this...

Work rate: 3.7 mph, incline 6.5
Rest rate: 3.7 mph, incline 0

Work / Rest (in minutes)
1 / 1
2 / 1
3 / 1
3 / 1
2 / 1
1 / 1

followed by a 2 minute cool down to reach 20 minutes.

So far my week has been crazy and I have had a hard time finding a good workout routine. That's sort of the point of doing this training, so I'm still working on finding a routine I can keep on a regular basis. I am up early this morning to get my workout in because I'm doing endurance today (Day off? Well, I sort of took one of those earlier due to eating out with friends and getting home late and a busy day that didn't allow me to get it in earlier, so today is a workout day!) and I can type and do my hour on the treadmill at the same time. =D

My week generally looks like this:

Monday: 9 am conference call (though I can miss it and still listen to it later)
10 am gym (childcare for Eliana) - Interval Cardio
Tuesday: 9 am - 3 pm Josie (I can toss the girls in the stroller and walk for this workout)
3 pm - 4 pm Tutor Latin
6 pm - 9 pm Mary Kay
Wednesday: Pilates in the afternoon (1:30ish? I need to double check my calendar on that one)
Thursday: 9 am - 10 am gym (childcare for Eliana) - Interval + Strength
Friday: 6 am - 7 am Bible Study (Interval and/or Strength between 7 and 9?)
9 am - 3 pm Eliana at Amber's house
9:30 am - 11 am Aerial Dance
Saturday: 9 am - 10:30 am Aerial Dance
Sunday: 10 am - 11 am Church

I think those are my only set times for things, though I anticipate that this will be another crazy week as I work to finish my 50 faces. I need to do 4 before and afters each day to make my goal, so it will be crazy, but I WILL NOT sacrifice my workouts to accommodate my MK goal. =D

So there you have it.

Can I post my food log here? We'll see...

CALORIES

CARBS

FAT

PROTEIN

MORE NUTRIENTS

Breakfast:

egg white, fresh, 2 large 34 0 0 8 Clementine, 1 serving 35 9 0 1 Dannon Activia Peach Yogurt, 4 oz., 1 serving 110 19 2 5

Breakfast TOTALS: 179 28 2 14

Lunch:

Pizza Hut Big New Yorker Pepperoni Pizza (1 slice), 1 serving 370 41 16 17

Lunch TOTALS: 370 41 16 17

Dinner:

Turkey Bean Enchiladas, 1 serving (view recipe) 323 43 9 16 100% Blueberry Juice, 1 cup 100 24 0 0 Strawberries, fresh, 4 extra large (1-5/8" dia) 32 8 0 1 Land O Lakes Ultra-Pasteurized Whipped Heavy Cream (sweetened w/ Splenda), 2 tbsp 20 0 2 0

Dinner TOTALS: 475 75 12 17

Snack:

Nature's Select Dry Roasted Soynuts, 1 oz 130 9 6 12 Famous Amos Bite Size Chocolate Chip Cookies (1 package), 56 gram(s) 280 38 13 3 Dryer's Fruit Bar, Strawberry, 1 serving 80 21 0 0

Snack TOTALS: 490 68 19 15

Evening Snack:

None

Evening Snack TOTALS: 0 0 0 0

Click To Add/Edit Extra Meals

			CALORIES	CARBS	FAT	PROTEIN
			1,514	212	49	63
			1,200 - 1,550	163 - 236	32 - 56	60 - 127
			0 - 36	0 - 24	0 - 7	0 - 64

Today is a new day...

... and I met with my personal trainer this morning. She did the pinchy-pinchy fat test to calculate my body fat and we talked about my goals and where I want to be. Now she's writing up a 90 day plan for me and going to come over on Thursday and walk through all the exercises I should be doing to make sure I am doing them correctly. I am supposed to be tracking my calories daily for right now and sticking somewhere between 1200 and 1500 calories. I'd like to lose 20 lbs by my birthday (really, I'd like to lose 30 lbs by my birthday, but we're going to start with 20!) in September.

So... today is a new day. I recorded my food, and I'm starting again.

Oh, and I'm at 135, according to the scale this morning.

Just reporting in...

I hopped on the scale this morning and I'm down to 131.2! =D That's 4 lbs down so far, and I hope it keeps going!

I'm BA-ACK!!!

Career Conference was AMAZING. Absolutely amazing. And when I got home, I was high as a kite. I woke up the next morning, energized and excited to get back to routine. I stepped on the scale and... lo and behold...

I lost 1.5 lbs at Career Conference!

No kidding. I didn't particularly watch what I ate, but we took our own food to cut down on costs, so we didn't end up eating out much. I ate 2 meals out. I shared some fish&chips with my friend Tam at Pike's Place Market, and then we all went out to The Cheesecake Factory after CC. I had fried zucchini and steamed edamame for dinner (it's what sounded good!) and shared a slice of cheesecake with Andrea. I did drink some sugary coffee drinks, but mostly I behaved myself! I even got up one morning and went down to the gym and worked out at the hotel! =)

So now I'm down to 133. I just walked 1 hour 10 minutes on the treadmill while making calls and doing computer work, and I plan to hit the gym tomorrow morning, taking advantage of the $1 childcare.

Progress is good.

New Weight...

I hopped on the scale yesterday morning... 135.2.

Ouch.

But you've got to start somewhere, and that's where I'm starting, I guess. I did my best to eat better yesterday, and it went pretty well. I did end up stress snacking after Ellie went to bed, but there just wasn't that much time to get in too much damage at that point, so that was good. For breakfast I had a banana, lunch was an apple, string cheese, and an apple gouda sausage, snack was another string cheese and a yogurt, dinner was tenderloin and a little bit of wild rice. So I was short on veggies, but the snacking didn't put me completely over the edge, which was nice.

This morning I got on the scale again, just to continue the habit and it said 134.4.

Hooray!

Working the numbers...

So... it seems like the last time I successfully lost weight, it was a matter of vanity. I wanted to get down to 115 by my 10 year reunion, and I did. And while I'm not suggesting vanity is a virtue, perhaps I should try to employ it to my benefit again.

I will be performing an Aerial Dance piece with a couple other dancers in June. I do NOT want to be the fat girl on stage, so maybe that will help motivate me? Dunno. It's worth a shot, though...

So we'll see where I am when I hop on the scale (provided I remember...), but I think I'll just assume I have 15-20 lbs to lose to get there. That's in approximately 11 weeks. That means I need to lose... about 1.5 lbs a week.

So.... 1.5 lbs is 5,250 calories I need to reduce per week.
If I walk on the treadmill and burn about 300 calories in a session, and do that 3x a week, that is 900 calories. If I do it 5x a week, that's 1,500 calories.
That takes me down to 3,750 calories I need to reduce per week.
Assuming I know my approximate calorie intake right now, I'd need to reduce it by 550 calories a day to cover that amount, give or take a bit.

I don't know my calorie intake right now.

But I DO know that it includes more sugar free lattes and larger portions than it should. So I guess I can start with that.

More fruits and veggies, more water, smaller portions, more exercise. I've heard it all before. I've said it all before. But I need to make it happen. Now... just how do I do that?

How I've Been...

Lately I've been underwhelmed at the prospect of trying to lose weight, or even get healthy for that matter. I've been discouraged. Frustrated.

I haven't gotten on the scale, for fear of what it might tell me.

I haven't been watching what I eat, really.

I didn't make it to the gym this week, though I did have Aerial Dance Friday AND Saturday.

I DID go for a walk on Monday, which was nice.

I went through 5 outfits this morning trying to find something to wear that didn't make me feel fat. Then I went to church and someone mistook me for being pregnant and asked how I've been feeling.

Discouraged.

I took a pregnancy test just in case, and it mocked me. It was one of those digital ones that says "pregnant" or "not pregnant" so there's no confusion. It blinked an hour glass as I waited, just like it was supposed to, but after 3 minutes it gave the follow result... NOTHING. Blank screen. Stupid test. I took another (the 1-or-2 line kind) a few hours later. Negative. Well, so much for that excuse for why I felt like a whale today!

My motivation is low. In most areas right now. I need to finish cleaning my craft room, but can't seem to bring myself to do it. I need to call customers, but keep watching the time dance by without picking up the phone. I need to fold the laundry, but there it is, still piled.

Frustrated.

I'm not sure how to manage my time better. I'm not sure how to manage my food better. But I've got to do something, I think, because this is an irritating cycle I'm finding myself in.

Tomorrow is Monday. Maybe I'll step on the scale.

Loving tea lately

FlickrDroid Upload, originally uploaded by elizabethwickland.

Including Montana Gold loose tea (in my new ingenuiTEA!) and Good Earth original. SOOOOO Yummy! =D

Reflections on the aught years

From Christmas in Texas with Bitikofers

Well, looking back over the 2000's, I realized a few things. First, I am getting older. I am 30 now, and that means I'm just not as young and energetic as I used to be. I'm not old and crippled or anything, but my body does take longer to adjust to new things. Second, I realized that I put on the extra weight I've been carrying around 10 years ago. 10 years!!! That is way too long for this weight to be hanging around, so I am ready to be rid of it. Third, over the past 10 years, I have tried a few times to lose weight, and twice I have lost about 15 lbs. Both times it came as a result of watching my calories, and with regular exercise.

I don't think I can lose 30 lbs in the blink of an eye, but I would like to work toward it this year. I also know that it won't happen as quickly as it did 7 years ago, and it will take me a while to form good habits, meaning that I will slip up more than I used to! I have more distractions now (including a beautiful 3 year old!) but I also have a clearer sense of who I am and what my personal pitfalls are. Hopefully that knowledge will translate into wisdom and I will be able to conquer this weight this year!!

To that end, I have been trying to set up regular times to exercise, both at home and outside. I have also joined a gym now and gone a couple times. They have an hour each day that I can take Eliana, and she seems to like it. I am also continuing Aerial Dance, and auditioned on Sunday for a performance in June, and I was selected as one of the participants for an Aerial Dance trio! I am very excited about the opportunity to perform, and it means that I get to add another day of Aerial Dance to my week! At the gym I have started lifting weights, and I have been trying to walk on my treadmill as I make calls each week. I am hoping all of this will help me become a happier, healthier me!

I have not done as well with the eating, but that is coming along. I'm hoping to go back to tracking calories at some point, but right now I am overwhelmed by the idea, so I am starting by avoiding sugar and trying to make healthy choices for snacks, including veggies and fruits. I am trying to make better meals for my family, too, including using fewer processed foods. Fresh fruits and veggies, more natural ingredients. So far it's going well, but it definitely takes a little more work!

So... that's where I am these days. I am looking forward to what 2010 brings, and I'm hoping to end the year healthier, happier, and thinner!

out of the 130's!

The scale told me I was 129.8 this morning. Thank you, scale! =D

I had Aerial Dance this morning and I got a good workout from it! The last time I went (2 weeks ago) I learned how to do some standing stuff on the low trapeze (1 foot off the ground) where it was safe enough for me to experiment and try to find my balance and play with how it feels to stand up there. This week I got to try all my standing stuff on the trapeze that is 5 feet off the ground. It was FABULOUS! I really love that class!

I have been consistently making MK calls a couple nights a week and being on the treadmill walking while I do so! That means I've gotten at least 3 days with 45 minutes to an hour of cardio this week! Hooray! Now to keep it up!

Tomorrow is a busy day with Leif off skiing with a friend in Yellowstone, so I am hoping to get exercise in, but might not. Worship team practice, church, Cheryl's baby shower, home, Ellie to bed, and then... a massage! I'm excited for that! =D

Well, it's almost 10, so I should get some shut-eye before too long. Goodnight!

131

That's what the scale said this morning. Yay!

Yesterday I took a belly dancing lesson. Ha Ha! It was fun, and a good workout! And I've been walking on the treadmill while talking on the phone and making calls. An hour each of the last 2 days!

So... that's where I am. Right now I'm tired and have a headache, so I'm going to bed, but I had to blog the progress. A number tracked grows (shrinks?), right?

Off to a slow start...

But I'm down 2.2 lbs so far. Not the best, but it's something, and I'll take it! I have been getting up and meeting with people at 6 am every weekday morning, and I'm settling into a routine. Mondays I meet with Shannon for accountability to pray and do Pilates. Tuesday and Thursday Amber comes over and we do Wii Fit Yoga. Wednesday I head to Amber's and we listen to MK training, and Friday I have my Bible Study with the church ladies. Now if only I can get to bed by 10:30 like my weekly plan sheet says, we'll be in good shape!!

I'm getting my stretching in, through Pilates, Yoga, and Aerial Dance. What I really need to be working on is cardio, so that is my goal this week. Cardio for at least 45 minutes 3x. Last night I made phone calls for an hour and walked on my treadmill while I did it! Tonight I have a sharing appointment / phone call, so I will walk while I do that, too. I also have errands to run and a day in town, so hopefully I will get some exercise in that way, too.

I am not tracking every calorie, but I am trying to watch my portions, and I think it's helping. I'm also staying away from sugar still, and that has been helping a lot, since the foods I reach for are salty instead, and I just can't eat as many of those!

I'm off to get more done today, but I wanted to touch base and say, "Yes! I am still alive over here!!" =D Thanks for holding me accountable.

Down 1 lb so far...

Well, no exercise yet today, but I'm tracking my calories for day 2 on Spark People and when I hopped on the scale this morning it said I weighed 132.8. I'm sure it will be back up tomorrow, but I'm going to be excited about it while I can! =D I'll take any progress I can get!

On the hormone front, I am learning that it's not enough to take my off-brand Zoloft (OBZ =D) just every day; I need to take it at the same time every day! I learned that the hard way, but am going to try really hard to take it when I get up in the morning. It's easy on days that I eat breakfast, but some days I just don't take the time to eat in the morning. Guess I need to work on that!

On the craft front, I have a clean, organized craft room and I'm loving it! I can craft again! And have been!

On the business front, I am getting back into my business after taking last month off... I had a facial today and I'm over the $100 sales mark so far for this week. We'll see if I can make it over the $300 like I want to!

On the house front, I can't say that my house is spotless, but I made progress today and overall it's pretty good! My bedroom is still a mess, but I'm hoping to do something about that this afternoon/evening while dinner is cooking. Speaking of, I'm not entirely sure what we should have for dinner, but I'm thinking chili. That sounds good, despite the warmer temperatures today! I've got over 600 calories I can splurge on dinner / dessert (probably a jello pudding cup - I bought a plethora of flavors - 60 calories each and sugar free sweetened with Splenda!) so I can hopefully eat enough to make me feel satisfied!

I heard a quote this morning that I'm going to end with... I got up at 6 and headed over to Amber's house to listen to a conference call we've both been meaning to get around to. On the call was the following quote, and I love it. It has changed a few of the things I've done today, and I think it applies to exercise as well! Here it is...

"Procrastination is the death of dreams."

I love it!

A new ticker...

You'll see I put a new ticker at the top of my blog. It says that I have 29 lbs to lose. *sigh*

I'm tracking my food today on Spark People. As much as I hate micromanaging my food, I think I need to in order to keep myself accountable to what I put into my mouth. So... Grapefruit for breakfast. I'm in my workout clothes and when I get off the computer I need to go do some DDR today. My goals for today are:

1. DDR
2. Clean my bedroom
3. Latin Lesson before 3

Well... after a short break, I'm back and happy to say that I did 25 min on DDR and burned 205 calories, then I did Wii Fit Yoga and strength training. I did all the yoga moves (15 min) and for strength did pushups, side planks, jack-knifes, and lunges (10 min) and I can feel it! =D

Now for lunch and some water (and vitamins, because I forgot with breakfast!) and tackling numbers 2 and 3 on my list!

A new week...

Today is the start of a new week, and I'm finally getting around to updating this blog. As of right now (8:15 am) I have gotten up, done my Bible study, gone to Shannon's for some prayer/accountability and Pilates, weighed in, walked/run on the treadmill, lifted weights, made the bed, taken my vitamins, and I'm drinking a smoothie (strawberries, kiwi, grapefruit, banana - just blended together, nothing else added) for breakfast.

I weighed in this morning at 133.8. Not good, but I know my starting point now, I guess. I'm considering joining a 10 week biggest loser group that starts tomorrow (no money involved, it's just a matter of committing to it), but whether I do that or not, I definitely want to work on losing weight! Now that my hormones appear to be balanced out, I am ready to get back in the game.

I have about 30 lbs I want to lose. If I go by the 10% guideline, that leaves me with about 13 lbs to lose before my first milestone.

133.8 - 10% - 13lbs
120.8 - 10% - 12lbs
108.8 - 10% - 10lbs

If I lost 10% three times, that takes me to 98lbs, just under where I want to be. So really, I have more like 10% twice and 5% once there... all in all, I would love to get down to 105. That's my target goal. I would be STOKED if I could lose the first 13 lbs by the end of the biggest loser (if I do it... I haven't decided yet) in 10 weeks. That would be GREAT! But I know that it takes more than just wanting to do it for it to get done, so I'm starting by eating and exercising a little better. This morning that means just getting some exercise in (2/3 intervals walking/running on the treadmill for 15 minutes, 15 minutes Pilates, and some light weight and situps. One day at a time. I'm hoping to get more cardio in this afternoon, but I need to clean the family room and dining room / kitchen first, so we'll see.

My word for 2010 isOVERCOME, and this is the year I want to finally overcome this weight that I put on 10 years ago, when we got married. It's time! Please hold me accountable!