Oof - did things fall apart or what ?
Well, they didn't really fall apart. I continued to do consistently well during the week for week 5, but then weeks 6 and 7 my husband was traveling, or we were all traveling, or there was red velvet cake in the office (my favorite) and I decided I needed a break for a couple of days.
The only accomplishment I can note is that when I did choose to eat something unhealthy or something I didn't need, I only had one serving. Meaning, 1 slice of cake, or 1 cupcake, or 1 Reese's peanut butter heart, or 1 Snickers. This is better than eating 2 servings !
I kept up my exercise every time I had a legitimate opportunity. So, for example, if the husband was out of town, I clearly couldn't leave the kids at home by themselves to go to jazzercise, nor do I want to pay $30 for a babysitter. But I did run at my friend's house several more times.
I also experienced some great workouts on some really quality equipment at my parent's gym when we were visiting them. My parents belong to a beautiful gym connected to a hospital complex type thing and they work out regularly. I did two run/walk workouts on the treadmill and 1 workout on the elliptical. I knew that I needed to have my heart rate up for at least 40 minutes and that I also wanted to go 2.5 miles. I was SHOCKED though at how many more calories I could burn my taking the incline up one level and by running for 65 or 70 seconds instead of just 60. I also tried a couple times to make my run intervals last for 2 minutes. I found that as long as I knew that I didn't have to do it every time, then it wasn't quite as daunting.
I also experienced how my hardest point comes at around 10 minutes into my work out, but once I've passed 20 minutes, I feel some endorphins or something kick in. Man, that feels awesome.
So, my new (optimal) workout routine is this:
Monday: Jazzercise
Tuesday: Jazzercise make-up if need be
Wednesday: Running (morning); and yoga (evening)
Friday: Running (morning)
Saturday: Jazzercise (morning)
Jazzercise includes a weight training segment, so if I can add in another weight training session, then I'll be in really good shape.
I've also cut down on some other community type commitments that had evening meetings. But with the meetings I have left, trying to see my friends (1-2 evenings per month), and date night (1x per month); I'm usually away from my kids 3 nights a week. Luckily I can usually schedule the social stuff so I'm not away from them 4 nights a week.
Of course, that optimal schedule also includes my husband being at home, which is tough since it's a busy time for him.
And doesn't something always seem to get in the way ? For example, look at what's on tap for this week:
I'm having some dental work done on Monday and I'll be under sedation, so I won't make jazzercise that night.
Tuesday night, the husband will be gone.
Wednesday day the girls have a dentist appointment so I can't run then, and Wednesday evening I have a meeting, so I can't go to jazzercise.
I will be able to run Friday morning and go to Jazzercise on Saturday morning, so that's good.
How about you - have you found any creative ways to squeeze in your exercise ?
Saturday, February 26, 2011
I'm still here
I'm still here and I'm doing fairly well. I'm going to go and back date several entries because I really do like going back and reading them afterwards.
Sunday, February 6, 2011
End of Week 4
At the end of week 4, I noted that I journaled Monday - Friday.
My accomplishment was that I practiced a couple times sitting with my hunger. Really letting myself feel what it felt like and how it wasn't so scary, after all. I know that for some people that can increase the urge to eat unhealthfully, but for me, I needed to remember that a little hunger was okay.
There were several years where I was either pregnant or breastfeeding (or both for a couple months) and getting too hungry could either cause me to get nauseous or could affect my milk supply. So, I definitely had started to eat when I wasn't hungry and it often wasn't the best of choices.
I also saw my weight go down a few pounds by this point. I don't necessarily track how much I lose every week, but I do weigh myself every day to make sure I don't get too far off track.
Probably the biggest accomplisment of this entire week was that I started a new form of exercise. My dear friend is a marathon runner and has a treadmill in her basement with a nice tv set-up to aid distraction. She agreed to sit in her basement with me while I tried to run on her treadmill.
I couldn't believe that I could do it. I ran a minute/walked a minute for 45 minutes and covered 2.5 miles in that time. I still can't believe I got through it. I was so, so proud of myself and those endorphins lasted all day.
It was a good thing that run kick-started my metabolism that day, because that evening was my monthly "Mom's Night Out" and I ate and drank a lot.
My commitments for the next week include:
My accomplishment was that I practiced a couple times sitting with my hunger. Really letting myself feel what it felt like and how it wasn't so scary, after all. I know that for some people that can increase the urge to eat unhealthfully, but for me, I needed to remember that a little hunger was okay.
There were several years where I was either pregnant or breastfeeding (or both for a couple months) and getting too hungry could either cause me to get nauseous or could affect my milk supply. So, I definitely had started to eat when I wasn't hungry and it often wasn't the best of choices.
I also saw my weight go down a few pounds by this point. I don't necessarily track how much I lose every week, but I do weigh myself every day to make sure I don't get too far off track.
Probably the biggest accomplisment of this entire week was that I started a new form of exercise. My dear friend is a marathon runner and has a treadmill in her basement with a nice tv set-up to aid distraction. She agreed to sit in her basement with me while I tried to run on her treadmill.
I couldn't believe that I could do it. I ran a minute/walked a minute for 45 minutes and covered 2.5 miles in that time. I still can't believe I got through it. I was so, so proud of myself and those endorphins lasted all day.
It was a good thing that run kick-started my metabolism that day, because that evening was my monthly "Mom's Night Out" and I ate and drank a lot.
My commitments for the next week include:
- Journaling everything
- Having a vegetable at lunch every day
- Having fruit every afternoon
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Accomplishments End of Week 3
Here's what I noted at the end of week 3.
My accomplishments were keeping a detailed journal Monday - Saturday and that I was able to eat under my points on Monday. I ate very intentionally on Monday, eking out every last calorie for less points than I am allotted.
Again, I ate all my flex points on the weekend and then some, on Sunday. I just can't seem to get over the idea that the weekend is my time to splurge. On Saturday I ran errands for several hours and included a couple stops for snacks. I didn't think about what I wanted, just walked into 7-11 or the drugstore and looked around.
For the next week, I committed to being intentional about my flex points - trying to really plan out the 2-3 things that I feel like I have to have and allocating points towards them, rather than trying to use up all 35.
I also commit to journaling everything - every lick, taste, and bite.
My accomplishments were keeping a detailed journal Monday - Saturday and that I was able to eat under my points on Monday. I ate very intentionally on Monday, eking out every last calorie for less points than I am allotted.
Again, I ate all my flex points on the weekend and then some, on Sunday. I just can't seem to get over the idea that the weekend is my time to splurge. On Saturday I ran errands for several hours and included a couple stops for snacks. I didn't think about what I wanted, just walked into 7-11 or the drugstore and looked around.
For the next week, I committed to being intentional about my flex points - trying to really plan out the 2-3 things that I feel like I have to have and allocating points towards them, rather than trying to use up all 35.
I also commit to journaling everything - every lick, taste, and bite.
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Accomplishments End of Week 2
So, I'm doing Weight Watchers on my own. Any time I spend going to a WW meeting is also time that I could be at Jazzercise, and I don't think I'd stick with the on-line version. So, I bought a new journaling book/tracker thing on e-Bay and read through my old materials.
Anyway, at the end of each week in the journal, they ask you to list your accomplishments of the past week. I thought I'd share:
I journaled every single bite I put in my mouth. I did not journal the sniffs that I took when my friend was drinking courvoisier. They were only sniffs.
I'm letting myself be comfortable with being a little, tiny bit hungry. I needed to remember what that felt like.
I made a new 0 point recipe: roasted chickpeas. Not the same as chips, but definitely enough to ward off a craving.
I did not order a 3rd glass of wine or dessert when out to dinner with friends.
Yet again, I went over my 35 flex points for the weekend, this time by 7. Definitely got to work on that and figure out how to be more intentional about them.
Next week, I plan to only use 4 flex points on Friday night for 2 glasses of prosecco (I LOVE it !); maybe just 4 again on Saturday night, and then make a plan for what I want to have on Sunday. However, I will not exceed 35 points, and I'd like to get it lower.
Anyway, at the end of each week in the journal, they ask you to list your accomplishments of the past week. I thought I'd share:
I journaled every single bite I put in my mouth. I did not journal the sniffs that I took when my friend was drinking courvoisier. They were only sniffs.
I'm letting myself be comfortable with being a little, tiny bit hungry. I needed to remember what that felt like.
I made a new 0 point recipe: roasted chickpeas. Not the same as chips, but definitely enough to ward off a craving.
I did not order a 3rd glass of wine or dessert when out to dinner with friends.
Yet again, I went over my 35 flex points for the weekend, this time by 7. Definitely got to work on that and figure out how to be more intentional about them.
Next week, I plan to only use 4 flex points on Friday night for 2 glasses of prosecco (I LOVE it !); maybe just 4 again on Saturday night, and then make a plan for what I want to have on Sunday. However, I will not exceed 35 points, and I'd like to get it lower.
Saturday, January 22, 2011
A funny thing . . .
Gosh, I felt really devastated after writing yesterday's post.
When I was laying in bed with hubby that night, he said to me "Is there a reason that you have the scale set to 5 lbs. instead of to zero ?
What ?
What ?!?!?!
That means that I weigh five pounds less than I think I do ! I couldn't wait to weigh myself the next morning. Yep, it was true. The scale was set to a base of 5 pounds. The girls play in that area occasionally, and I guess they had accidentally adjusted it.
Talk about motivation - seeing that I had been successful in the past couple weeks makes me feel great !
When I was laying in bed with hubby that night, he said to me "Is there a reason that you have the scale set to 5 lbs. instead of to zero ?
What ?
What ?!?!?!
That means that I weigh five pounds less than I think I do ! I couldn't wait to weigh myself the next morning. Yep, it was true. The scale was set to a base of 5 pounds. The girls play in that area occasionally, and I guess they had accidentally adjusted it.
Talk about motivation - seeing that I had been successful in the past couple weeks makes me feel great !
Thursday, January 20, 2011
I feel sad
I volunteered in my daughter's kindergarten class today.
This evening, I asked her if any of the kids said anything about me after I left. I said, "Did anybody think I was really mean, or did anybody think I was really nice ?"
She said, "No, they probably thought you were fat, because sometimes you are fat and sometimes you aren't."
She said it very matter-of-factly. It definitely wasn't mean - she thinks of "fat" as a descriptor, not as a good or bad thing.
I really thought I had a couple years left to get this under control before the girls noticed. I guess not.
This evening, I asked her if any of the kids said anything about me after I left. I said, "Did anybody think I was really mean, or did anybody think I was really nice ?"
She said, "No, they probably thought you were fat, because sometimes you are fat and sometimes you aren't."
She said it very matter-of-factly. It definitely wasn't mean - she thinks of "fat" as a descriptor, not as a good or bad thing.
I really thought I had a couple years left to get this under control before the girls noticed. I guess not.
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
I'm back on
Gosh, how many posts have I started with "I'm back !"
I'm on day 10 of re-starting Weight Watchers. I'm also trying to make it to Jazzercise 3 times per week, but 2 times per week is usually all I can do because of Mr. Quimby's travel schedule.
I'm journaling everything and I'm using up every single one of the 35 bonus points. I save them up for the weekend. A girl has got to have her prosecco, right ? At some point I'm going to have to cut down and not use all 35, but for now, it's how I'm getting through.
Other tricks this time ?
Progresso Light soups. I eat an entire can (which is technically 2 servings) (3 pts) at lunchtime and it really helps fill me up. Then, I have my 1/2 sandwich (whole wheat bread with a protein, 3-4 pts) later in the afternoon. The problem is that they have a lot of sodium, and I can feel that my wedding ring is tighter on the days I eat them. Supposedly, I should be able to off-set it with a big glass of water, but that doesn't seem to work for me.
Roasted broccoli. I have a serving at least 4-5 days a week. I need to try roasting other vegetables because I think it's starting to effect my GI system.
Seltzer.
Home-made veggie dip. I use non-fat greek yogurt and light sour cream and some ranch dressing mix. Because I only eat about 30 calories worth in a serving, I count it as 0 points. Not sure if that's right or not, but it makes me feel great that I'm getting some protein for 0 points.
Blogging and the computer. When I feel a craving coming on (like I did 30 minutes ago) I head to the computer. I can get lost in the blogosphere and sometimes the craving passes. Even if the craving doesn't pass, I eat my last thing of the day (yogurt, 2 pts) and head for bed.
Late afternoon is still an AWFUL time on the 4-5 days per week that I'm not in the office. AWFUL. I need some sort of fulfilling source of protein that is also low points. I've tried almonds (6 for 1 point) and cottage cheese (2 pts) but I still feel hungry. I usually don't have any meat on hand, but even if I had some deli turkey around, it wouldn't fill me up. I might try almonds and popcorn, or milk and popcorn. I LOVE cheese but there's so little of it that I could eat for 1 point, I don't think it would be worth it.
Sweet potatoes. I eat them at least twice a week and you can eat a good sized serving for only 2 pts. I steam mine, sprinkle with about 1 tsp. of cinn-sugar, and then warm them in the oven for a few minutes.
So, anyway, I hope you're hanging in there too. Keep an eye out for more late afternoon and late night posts !
I'm on day 10 of re-starting Weight Watchers. I'm also trying to make it to Jazzercise 3 times per week, but 2 times per week is usually all I can do because of Mr. Quimby's travel schedule.
I'm journaling everything and I'm using up every single one of the 35 bonus points. I save them up for the weekend. A girl has got to have her prosecco, right ? At some point I'm going to have to cut down and not use all 35, but for now, it's how I'm getting through.
Other tricks this time ?
Progresso Light soups. I eat an entire can (which is technically 2 servings) (3 pts) at lunchtime and it really helps fill me up. Then, I have my 1/2 sandwich (whole wheat bread with a protein, 3-4 pts) later in the afternoon. The problem is that they have a lot of sodium, and I can feel that my wedding ring is tighter on the days I eat them. Supposedly, I should be able to off-set it with a big glass of water, but that doesn't seem to work for me.
Roasted broccoli. I have a serving at least 4-5 days a week. I need to try roasting other vegetables because I think it's starting to effect my GI system.
Seltzer.
Home-made veggie dip. I use non-fat greek yogurt and light sour cream and some ranch dressing mix. Because I only eat about 30 calories worth in a serving, I count it as 0 points. Not sure if that's right or not, but it makes me feel great that I'm getting some protein for 0 points.
Blogging and the computer. When I feel a craving coming on (like I did 30 minutes ago) I head to the computer. I can get lost in the blogosphere and sometimes the craving passes. Even if the craving doesn't pass, I eat my last thing of the day (yogurt, 2 pts) and head for bed.
Late afternoon is still an AWFUL time on the 4-5 days per week that I'm not in the office. AWFUL. I need some sort of fulfilling source of protein that is also low points. I've tried almonds (6 for 1 point) and cottage cheese (2 pts) but I still feel hungry. I usually don't have any meat on hand, but even if I had some deli turkey around, it wouldn't fill me up. I might try almonds and popcorn, or milk and popcorn. I LOVE cheese but there's so little of it that I could eat for 1 point, I don't think it would be worth it.
Sweet potatoes. I eat them at least twice a week and you can eat a good sized serving for only 2 pts. I steam mine, sprinkle with about 1 tsp. of cinn-sugar, and then warm them in the oven for a few minutes.
So, anyway, I hope you're hanging in there too. Keep an eye out for more late afternoon and late night posts !
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