The Blog Post That Turned Into A Rant. . .

One-sixty seven.  Progress is so slow now.  It kind of makes me really think that 170 is really where my body is meant to be.  I had no troubles maintaining 170 but getting lower and then maintaining that may not be in my future.  I kind of still want to get lower just to say I did it, but I'm pretty sure that 170 will be the ultimate place to never go over again!

The biggest reason I can't see myself getting past this "plateau" is because I do refuse to cut my calories any lower.  I've always lived by the motto "I'd rather be fat and happy then skinny and deprived".  It's still true even though I have lost weight.  
 

I know there will always be critics who think I'm lazy or unhealthy but you know what? They don't get to critique me because I did make changes and I am healthier than I once was and there are many other people out there in far worse shape than I ever was.  

Also, I can't stand those people who used to be "fat" that now critique every "fat" persons' "bad" choices.  Do you think they don't know they're being unhealthy?  Do you think they don't know that they're "fat"?  That used to be you!!!  Not everyone can do it.  Some people just can't make that commitment and keep it.  Some people don't have the time or resources to go to the gym or go running or whatever.  If it was easy then there would be no "fat" people, we would all be skinny!  People do not need to judge others for what they do or do not do.  Offer advice based on what helped you, but don't expect it to be followed, let it be taken if wanted, adapted as needed, and ignored by those who are not interested.  End rant.

Goat Cheese and Ham(string)

I am totally addicted to goat cheese.  I mean, I have had goat cheese once in a while over the past few years, but this last week I just can't get enough.  It's my current snack of choice.  So yummy!
 
I may or may not have bought myself an Olympic fleece hoodie today.  Shhhh. . .don't tell.   It's so wonderful to buy a fitted sweater and to not be embarrassed by my "rolls".  Sure, I still have them, but they are not as enhanced as they once were.

 

 

I am actually excited for the Olympics this year.  It's hard to believe that it has been four years since the last one.  I am worried about the safety of everyone though.  Especially our hockey players.  I by no means value their lives over any other athlete or person who attend the Olympics but I cannot imagine if anything were to happen to them.  While it will be fabulous to watch Olympic/International hockey but I would rather not if it means keeping everyone safe.

 

I did run tonight but I did find it a bit harder.  My left hamstring is sore.  It felt tight and sore last night when I did a short workout with the hand-weights, and it continued tonight.  I would still like to do yoga on Friday and I hope to run again on Saturday, so hopefully I can keep it loose with some periodic stretching over the next couple of days.   I am going to a hockey game on Friday and plan to have a big, bad, naughty, hot dog so I need to keep my exercise consistent, especially since I was already so bad yesterday!

 



Confession

I may have been very bad today. . .Ahem. . .Okay, I was very bad today.  After 16 days of being good we went out for dinner and I had yummy, bad food!  Wings AND ribs (with a salad).  And that's it!  Now it's back to being good.  It's not usually too hard to be good lately so I'm doing all right.

Good question!

Yesterday I started Couch to 5k Week 3. This week is 28 minutes each time so I burned about 15 calories less than week one and two.  Week 3 is your usual five minute warm up and five minute cool down with two 90-second runs and two three-minute runs followed by equal walking times.  The three minute runs were a little tough, but not overly.  My knee was feeling a little pain but I'm quite sure that was still residual from the weekend.  I'm hoping to feel 100% for tomorrow. 

I guess I don't really have much to say today.  I really just needed to confess that as far as so-called cheat days go, today was a doozie.  Really though, I prefer to call them self-sabotage days!

Oh Sh!t! (With a Side of Okay)

Oh sh!t, what was I thinking?!?  The front of my thighs are sore from yoga yesterday, but today was run day, so I ran.  Running uses different muscles so the running itself wasn't painful.  It was Couch to 5k, Week 2, Day 3, so really only nine minutes of running (22 minutes of walking).   few hours have passed and I am in so much pain whenever I get up and move now though.  I have actually just taken an Advil to hopefully alleviate the pain which is not something I normally do.  And yes, I will likely do the same thing to myself next weekend!

Uhg! My boobs!  Please stop taking away from my boobs! I have all this flabby stuff around the middle that I'm perfectly happy to give up! I need to go down a band size on my bras as they are riding up all the time.  I'm just really hoping that I don't have to go down a cup size too! (I know, TMI!)

 

I am however admiring some of the other changes in my body.  I have noticed that my hips actually look like they curve "properly" from my waist and my bum is looking round instead of flat.  I also like the muscles in my legs.  It's almost strange to look in the mirror and like what I see!  I'm not perfect and never will be but it is great to actually be able to see results.

 

Taking Notice

One thing about losing weight is you start to look better overall.  Not just a smaller waist line, but a thinner face too.  Now I find that I pay more attention to how I look. . .or maybe I just actually like that I look better so I notice it more.  

Today I started Week 2 of Couch to 5k.  This week the program is 31 minutes each day.  As usual, it starts with a five-minute warm-up and ends with a five-minute cool-down.  There are six 1 1/2 minute runs, with two minute walks after each run.  It wasn't horrible, the runs were tolerable, but I still think to myself that I have no idea how I ever ran for 30 minutes!  I burned around 250 calories.

 

 

I saw this meme today and it rings true to me.  Remember, I lost most of my weight just by paying attention to what I ate.  The weirdest thing happened along the way though. . .I actually started to enjoy exercising.  And I'll be honest, I think about doing more but I also still enjoy being lazy!

Water

I'm trying to remember to drink water when I feel like I want to eat between meals.  It does work.  Sometimes I just need a little something in my stomach to get rid of the "munchies" and I'm not truly hungry.  If the water doesn't take the edge off then I need to snack!

I love these water bottle from Costco!

Did you know that drinking water can boost your metabolism?  Even if your body is mildly dehydrated, your metabolism will slow down.  Drinking cold water is even better because your body uses more calories to warm it up.

My planned self-sabotage day didn't happen as planned today, but it will happen soon enough, and I will soooooo enjoy it!   I did have pizza for dinner, not quite as bad as what I had planned, but enjoyable as a second choice.  Thin crust, tomato and feta.  Yummy.

I did go for a run too.  Week 1, Day 3.  Same program as day 1 and 2.  It wasn't easy, but it wasn't hard.  I probably shouldn't say that because once I start Week 2, I will probably be begging to go back to Week 1!!!  I did burn 254 calories, although I am not sure how it was more than my last two days as I ran the same distance.

I really am enjoying my Fitbit Force, even if it does show me how lazy I really am on a Saturday!  I truly hope it continues to work as some reviewers have mentioned their Force malfunctioned after a couple of weeks.  However, since my initial problems finding one that actually worked, I have had no problems.

A Snag in My Plan

I was going to go to the gym after work today for the first time.  The gym is at work and provided at no cost to us so I thought I could check it out and use the treadmill there before heading home.  However, there was boot camp in the gym so I could not go.  I also checked the schedule and there is boot camp three days a week.  I'm disappointed because I thought the gym would be a good idea, and I'm not a morning person and lunch is too short.  Tuesdays and Fridays are my only after-work options to go and who wants to stay at work on a Friday?!?  I will put that on hold for now.

I did use the treadmill tonight though.  Couch to 5k, Week 1, Day 2.  Same as day one.  Eight one-minute runs (well, a jog really) with 1 1/2 minutes walking separating each.  My Fitbit tells me I burned 240 calories.  I think I love it!  I probably burned a couple more but I forgot to record the number when I first started walking (it provides a running total for the day).  I think it will help me to push harder each time. 

As for the running, it was a little tougher this time, so I would like to wait until Saturday to run next.  However, I also wanted to make Saturday a self-sabotage day.  It might be a good idea to do both. . .or, it might not.