Sunday, October 28, 2012

Eat and Be Happy :)

I'm sure I mentioned that I use the site Calorie Count to track how many calories I am consuming and burning.  I recommend it to anyone looking to lose weight.  It's a great tool to use to keep myself in check.  I had decided against participating in the Biggest Loser challenge at work since I had already lost 20 pounds when they started, but I did recommend the site to one of my participating co-workers who asked how I was doing it.  I hope that she took my advice and look forward to hearing the results of the contest.

Couch to 5k, Week 2 Day 1, kicked my a$$! I will certainly need to wait until Wednesday to do Day 2 but then it's Halloween so it may be a late workout! Worst case scenario I'll have to wait until Thursday. I almost did another redo of a Week 1 Day, but I talked myself into moving on.

It was my daughters' birthday today so it was good proof that you can eat what you want (with small adjustments) and still make it through the day. For breakfast (more like brunch) it was Bacon, Eggs, and Diced potatoes. I had the eggs scrambled so that I wouldn't need toast and saved 120 calories. For supper we went to Swiss Chalet (love) and I had chicken (with skin), fries, a roll, and coleslaw. I only went a few calories over for the day but then burned them and more on the treadmill. To me that is proof that you can eat and be happy at the same time!

Saturday, October 27, 2012

Couch to 5k, Week 1 Day 3, Again

I did Couch to 5k Week 1 Day 3 again Friday.  I'm still not feeling ready to move on to week two although I did make it to the end without too much struggle.   I suppose I should go ahead and move on but when I can barely make it through one minute jogs, how am I supposed to make it through one and a half minute jog?  Wow, that sounds pathetically lazy!

I got a new mattress pad for my bed finally.  It's a two and a half inch gel mattress pad.  It's so cozy!  I haven't had to get up in the middle of the night to crack my hips since we got it.  The only "problem" is that I have been sleeping for longer stretches and ending up with a sore back instead.  I can't win!

A co-worker told me to go buy new pants the other day. She said she didn't want to see me wear the ones I wear anymore because they are all too big for me! She's like my "work mom". Always nagging about something (it's always true though), but she's great and at least someone notices! I had another co-worker comment on my weight loss also! It feels nice that people are noticing.

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

I Made It!

I made it below 200!  I'm at 199 and I'll take it!  Nineteen pounds to go to reach my goal!  Somehow I don't think I'll be reaching my second goal of twenty pounds in twelve weeks but that's okay, it wasn't a very realistic goal.  Now I just have to get to 180.

I got back to Couch to 5k tonight.  I technically did Week 1 Day 3 tonight but I don't feel like I'm ready to move on to week 2 yet since I had such a large gap between day two and three.  I will do one more day of week one and move on to week two the next time if it goes well.

I'm sorry that my "blog" has become so boring.  I don't have much to say in regards to my progress.  Nothing out-of-the-ordinary at least.  I suppose I could discuss the next journey I plan to attempt.  I will save that for when I feel like writing more.  I gotta keep the suspense!

Sunday, October 21, 2012

Life Gets in the Way Sometimes

This past week has not been very successful exercise-wise.  Life gets in the way sometimes and Couch to 5k has taken the back-burner.  Play-dates, concerts, plans with friends. . .I still haven't made it out of week one!  As of right now I plan for Tuesday, Friday and Sunday.  I figure if I schedule it in I will have a better chance of actually doing it.  I haven't been feeling well this weekend so I really hope that I'm not getting sick, that would really get in the way.

I declared this past Saturday "Pig Out Day!"  My family and I went out for lunch at a popular diner that I have only been to once many, many years ago.  I enjoyed it so much!  I think it has to be okay to be really really bad once-in-a-while. I think it makes it easier to keep things on track the rest of the time.  The truth is the "bad" food is out there and even though I try so hard to be good most of the time if I eat what I really want once-in-awhile I have a better chance of eating the "good" stuff all the other time.

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

My Thoughts. . .Everything in Moderation

Someone asked me yesterday what my best advice is for losing 25 pounds so I thought I would share what I said.

Everything in moderation! You want chocolate, have chocolate. . .just eat 1/2 of the chocolate bar (put the rest in a Ziploc bag for the next time). You want chips, eat chips. . .just take one small bowl. The best thing I own is a digital kitchen scale, then I can measure just one serving. Moderation is key, if you deprive yourself you will eventually snap and binge. This way you can factor a little "cheat" into your day and not feel guilty! Good luck! :)

Monday, October 15, 2012

Twenty Five!

Twenty-five pounds down on this mornings' weigh-in baby! Woot-woot!!! Just in time to bloat up for Tom's visit and (hopefully) shrink back down and be below 200 next Monday for the first time in about five years! I can't wait for that number!

I'm feeling better today although I am tired. I'm not feeling stiff today despite waking up 20 times to turn over and crack my hips. I still have to flip my mattress but I didn't feel like changing the bedding last night.  Tonight doesn't look to be in the cards either, I'm too lazy!

I'm taking tonight off from exercise, tomorrow I will use the Gazelle and Wednesday I still plan Couch to 5k, Day 3.  I don't have much to say so it may be a few days before I drop by again.  I just wanted to report my happy weigh in today!!!  Have a great week all!

Sunday, October 14, 2012

Rough One

I did Couch to 5k, Week 1, Day 2 tonight. It was. . . rough.   I haven't been sleeping great as I've been waking up with sore hips and a sore back, the soreness and stiffness seemed to last through the day today. I know this  affected my performance tonight.  I also don't think my body was recovered and ready.  I'm going to wait until Wednesday to do Day 3.  It didn't help that my iPod died and then I accidentally yanked the stop cord from the treadmill. . .sudden stop!  I guesstimated the amount of calories I burned based on the fact that I only did 7 out of 8 of the sprints.  I will try flipping my mattress and hopefully that helps!  I can't afford a new mattress, but I hope to save a little and get a new memory foam topper soon.

Friday, October 12, 2012

Couch to 5k: Redo

I finally restarted Couch to 5K tonight. I felt a bit of pain in my calves but increased the treadmill speed and it felt better. By the seventh "sprint" I could feel the knee pain that knocked me out last time, but I made it to the end without any trouble. Next time I will wrap it to be safe. I wore my old runners which seem to work best for me. As soon a I put them on it's like my feet found an old friend.  I actually went further and burned the most calories of any of my previous times. . .even when I had made it to week two previously.  It's very encouraging. I'm actually looking forward to day two on Sunday!

The hard part is that it's getting cold outside and I'm a hermit in the winter.  I hate the cold with a passion!  I'm getting a remote car starter so that I can warm the car up first.  Otherwise I know I will have a hard time getting my ass out of the house and into the cold!  Sometimes I think I should bring the treadmill here, but I am so hesitant because I know deep in my heart that I want to leave so I don't want to have to move it again. 

Anyhow, I will wish myself luck for the weekend ahead since it's so tempting to be bad.  I would LOVE to keep my calories under this weekend because today was my fifth "good" day in a row!  Seven would be even more fabulous but we will see!

Wednesday, October 10, 2012

If I Can Get My Ass in Gear

Third calorie-deficit day in a row! This despite the fact that I took my family out to dinner at Montana's. I tried to make the best choice for what I was craving, I really wanted BBQ-something. So I ordered a sandwich and ate half, with a side salad with balsamic vinaigrette (I've had a thing for balsamic lately), I ate one rib off of hubby's plate (to satisfy the need for BBQ), and 1/2 piece of his calorie-filled corn bread to satisfy myself. Then I came home and burned 300 calories on the Gazelle again.

Why do I want to take up running when I can burn 300 calories in 30 minutes on my glider? Obviously I'm nuts!  I'm thinking possibly restarting the running plan on Friday if I can get my ass in gear.

I know I've been feeling a little down again, but I'm trying really hard not to let it effect my eating and exercise.  Tomorrow is day 3 of PGX, it's an increase to two tablets per meal, it is supposed to help you eat less by making you feel fuller.  So far I'd say it was vaguely noticeable only, but hopefully when I get to three it will be enough.

Monday, October 8, 2012

Shoe Drama!

I saved some calories today to make a treat that I've been wanting to try for a while.  I had bought some Epicure Seasoning for Hot BLT Dip (basically cream cheese and mayonnaise).  It was okay, but I think the recipe calls for too much mayonnaise so if I make it again I will cut the mayo in half.  I figure it can't hurt because the cheesier tasting, the better!  I could add some cheddar also.

Couch to 5k Restart = failed!  I'm going back to my old shoes next time!  My feet hurt a little, but my ankles and my left knee hurt a lot.  I popped my old shoes back on after 15 minutes and felt instant relief in my feet and ankles but my knee continued to hurt.  I had to quit from the pain after 20 minutes (I would never quit from tiredness).  I figure if I try my old shoes the next time then I will know for sure if it is the shoe or if I have a knee problem.  I need to exercise though, so tomorrow I will do the Gazelle.  I need a good calorie burn.

PGX Day One.  No noticeable appetite change after lunch (I didn't eat breakfast because I slept in instead).  I forgot to take it before dinner so I took it with dinner.  Again, nothing noticeable.  Maybe I won't notice until I get to the higher doses since I was already doing the 2.5g serving with lunch during the week.

Sunday, October 7, 2012

Happy Turkey Day!

Canadian Thanksgiving tomorrow = turkey day today!  I did very well considering. . .but certainly need to get more serious starting tomorrow.  It's time to get more calorie deficits!  I thought of doing Couch to 5k after dinner (dinner was at my mom's) but by the time my stomach settled enough I was having a hard time breathing due to my allergies.  She has my sister's two cats living with her and I'm more allergic to other people's cats even though I have three of my own. 

I think I'm going to restart Couch to 5k.  I am sure I'm not ready for week two, especially since I haven't been able to do it consistently.  Between getting more serious about that and starting the full PGX program, I hope to get some results again.  I have been bad (as we know) and I am starting to feel like I'm slipping away from it all.  I must not fall completely off the (food) wagon, I must stay on this journey.



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I Will Not Do Sit-Ups

I was feeling pretty bloated this morning.  I'm pretty sure it's because of the Pizza Hut pizza I ate yesterday.  I love Pizza Hut's Pepperoni Lovers pizza and I haven't had it in well over a year I am sure.  That probably contributed to the down-mood I experienced last night though.  I weighed myself, despite feeling huge, and I have almost taken care of the weight I put on while I was away! My current weight loss is 22.8 pounds.  My dream of losing another 20 pounds in twelve weeks is fading fast as I am just finishing the 5th week.  It's not tragic though, I knew it was an (almost)impossible goal.

I'm not really sure that "bloated" is the correct word to use for how I felt though.  My mid section is my biggest problem area and so far I haven't done any area-targeting activities other than the yoga on my Wii-Fit.  AND it has been weeks since I have done any.  I think maybe the area is feeling looser (for lack-of-a-better-word) right now.  I either have to start Wii-Fit again or think of something else to do, and no, I will not do sit-ups.  I am considering looking at resistance-band training as well. 

We had a potluck at a friends' tonight.  I was pretty well behaved at dinner, but my will power faded as snacks and desserts were left out to tempt.  Chocolate. . .mmmmmm!  Also a cheese ball. . .so good!  Those were my downfalls!  Tomorrow we are having our Thanksgiving dinner.  Oh how I will try to be good, but all those "tastes" add up the calories so fast.  I think I should probably chalk this weekend up to failure.  Monday is a holiday so I won't be working, I will try to start being good though.  I also plan to start PGX fully this coming week.  I really hope it helps!

Friday, October 5, 2012

Good Day/Bad Day

Wednesday - I had a good workout this evening, I burned the most calories on my Gazelle yet! I wore my comfy new Nike's and watched Glee (DVR'd) so I think the music helped keep the tempo up. Of coarse I'd rather believe the new shoes were my inspiration. I love shoes!

Friday (today) - I feel like I'm failing miserably! So many times that I am going over on my calories. This is a slippery slope that I can't seem to get off of. I tried to do Couch to 5k tonight but it's been over a week and maybe I should have gone back to week one since it has been so long, but I didn't and I had to quit.

My knee was hurting and then my foot started to hurt. The last time my foot hurt it took so long to heal so I stopped. I was wearing my new runners and now I'm worried that they may be too big. I got them bigger since my old ones were hurting my toes but the support doesn't seem the same. I also meant to get them only 1/2 a size bigger but I got one size bigger by mistake. 

This is all so frustrating. Tomorrow we are going to a potluck and Sunday we are having Thanksgiving dinner so this weekend is not going to get better. Zero will power. Sorry to whine, I'm just in a bad place today.

I love my shoes and my sister is encouraging and is telling me I just need to get used to them.  I hope she's right! I can't afford another pair!!!

Wednesday, October 3, 2012

I'm Back

I'm back from my extended weekend vacation. I put on a few pounds while away but I'm confident that they will be lost fairly easy now that my eating is getting back to normal.

I didn't get around to Couch to 5k while I was gone, but I did a fair amount of walking. The problem will be if I can continue on with week two or if it's going to be too tough. I might have to regress to week one! I bought new runners while away so I am eager to test them out though. More shoe therapy! Or shoe motivation I guess.  Tonight I will likely stick with the glider as I have too much "life" to catch up on to take time to go to a treadmill, tomorrow my kids have karate and I don't think I'm ambitious enough to do the drop-off, run, pick-up again.  This means no treadmill until Friday though. :(