Sweat

You know what?  I have to go to work if only to stop myself from snacking all the live long day.

Today at work after I ate lunch all I wanted to do all afternoon was snack.  I was hungry and yet not really hungry.  Tonight after dinner, I snacked all night.  Must get my eating under control.

Am doing much better with the workouts.  Am doing the 30 Day Shred about every other day.  Level 1 is becoming “easy” and after 1-2 more workouts I think I’m going to try Level 2.  I’ve heard level 2 is hard because it involves a lot of balance along with the strength and cardio exercises.  I guess we’ll see!  And in the past two weeks I’ve done a fair amount of ellipticaling too - often on days I also do The Shred.

So, you see - it was with mixed emotions that I’m here to report a weight gain.  I was up to 165+ last week and today weighed in at 164.0.  Yes, exercise is good and maybe I’m building a bit of muscle and retaining water to repair those muscles.  And even though I’ve been snacking, not all of it was unhealthy.  And there has been a lot of salty foods in the mix lately.  And it’s this time of the month when I should be retaining a bit as well.

Still.  I’m not happy about gaining weight.  I now have 7 or so weeks left and 12 pounds to lose to get to 152.2 pounds.  And my inches haven’t budged.  So now I have 7 weeks to lose 10 inches.  I better get going.

I better stop snacking.  It may be time to write down my food again.  It’s much easier to stay accountable when you can see on paper exactly how much you’ve eaten in any given day.

And I better keep moving.  I have to do The Shred tonight before I go to bed.  Must.  It’s a mandate that I’ve given myself.  But I’m tired and want nothing more than to skip it.  Especially with two sick kids in the house and a guaranteed rough night of sleeping ahead of me.  Oy.

Better stop blogging and start moving - the quicker I do it, the quicker it’s over and the quicker I can get to bed.

OK - review time!

First up - Wii Fit - Love it!

I’ve played for 30 minutes each of the last three days.  I always do all of the yoga that I have unlocked and then I move on and do most of the strength exercises that I have unlocked.  I’m always amazed at how hard yoga can be if you push yourself.  It seems so simple!  I’ve skipped a couple strength exercises yesterday and today only because I’m sore from being shredded (that review below).  Next I move on to the aerobic games - love the basic step even though it is super simple (Kris calls it DDR for dummies).  And lastly I play a few balance games to round out my 30 minutes.  I’m not so good at the soccer ball heading game.  Even Annika is better at me on that one.  Amazingly my balance is pretty good though!  At least I rock at all the yoga moves.  So, yeah, two thumbs up for Wii Fit.  I can’t wait to get everything unlocked and see what else there is to do!

Next up - Jillian Michaels’ 30 Day Shred DVD - Love it!

This DVD actually has three workouts on it - Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3.  All you need is some basic hand weights and you are set.  I’ve done Level 1 twice now (Friday and today).  Yesterday I was so sore it hurt to do just about anything.  Today I was less sore unless you wanted me to say get down on the floor and then get back up. That hurt.  I’m actually a little embarrassed I’m as sore as I am!  It’s not like the exercises were that hard, and it was only 20 minutes, it’s just that she makes you do them for so long!  And it’s basically circuit training - 3 minutes strength, 2 minutes cardio, 1 minute abs - repeat 3 times with a 1 min warm up and a 1 min cool down.  The first time I had to take a couple breaks along the way (no more than 5 seconds though or Jillian would get mad!).  Tonight I had to take 1 break (during push-ups).  So, two days in, two thumbs up.  I’ve seen some of the exercises that are in Level 2 and 3.  I can’t wait to be strong enough to do them!

Since I’m a wuss and don’t want to run outside on the slippery, snow/ice covered sidewalks/trails in the freezing temperatures and since I do not and will not in the near term have a gym membership and since we do not yet own a bike trainer (although we want one and are saving money for one), my workout choices have been limited recently.  While I love our elliptical machine, it does get a bit boring after a while, even with a good book to read (currently: Vince Flynn - Memorial Day).  So, I was super excited last night when my sister and brother gave us a Wii Fit for Christmas!  I have already done “30 minutes” on it today.  (You get minutes per activity you do and most of the intro ones are 1, 2 or 3 minutes).  I’ve done all the yoga and strength activities currently unlocked and I’ve done most of the aerobic and games as well.  Then I had to get off to eat lunch and give Kris and Annika turns.  I took the initial body test and it told me my BMI was 25.83 although I don’t know how accurate that is.  It also told me my Wii Fit age is 51 based on my BMI and some balancing tests.  It’s my goal to lower both my BMI and Wii Fit age by just playing the game.  I want to do the yoga and strength portions at least 3 times a week.  There kind of fun and I was working up a bit of a sweat doing some of them.

Also, arriving today via Netflix is Jillian Michaels’ 30 Day Shred DVD.  I plan on doing that the next several days as well. If I like it, then I’ll purchase my own copy and incorporate that into the mix as well.

I’m just happy to have more options right now!  And I still can’t wait for spring so I can get back outside again.  Or maybe I should look into the getting some YakTrax and get outside there now…

Week 1 -

Weight: still 162.2 pounds even though I was as low as 160.4 during the week

Measurements - (OK I measured myself today - maybe I’ll do this every week instead of every other) - same except for waist which was down 1/2″

Exericise - 1 day (out of goal of 4) Boo!

So far, a slow start to my 10×10 challenge.  That’s OK though.  I can feel progress being made.  Exericse is again a priority.  My eating is healthier and better controlled.  My attitude is changing.  All these are good.  And that is the path I need to take my life.

I’ve been spending a lot of time the past couple days at Bodies in Motivation.  From what I’ve read it’s real women - women with jobs and husbands and kids and issues - who are writing about health and fitness.  These women are at different stages - from Amanda who is re-starting her weight loss efforts after having her second child (Something I can relate too!  Too bad her second child is only 3 months old and mine is 22 months old!) to Linda who has transformed her average body (a lot like mine) to a smokin’ hot one!  She is a true inspiration.  And based on her review of Jillian Michael’s 30 Day Shred DVD, I might just have to pick that one up and give it a try!  So - go check it out and hopefully you can find some inspiration, ideas and tips there as well!

I know it’s been a while.  I’m still trying to pull myself out of that funk.  It’s getting a little better.  I’m trying to change my attitude about things, especially little things, and that seems to be helping.  I’m not all the way back to my old self I don’t think but things aren’t as bleak as they were a couple weeks ago.

But, it’s time to re-engage with Sweat and a healthier lifestyle in general.  I can’t keep letting this slip and making promises to “exercise tomorrow morning” or Monday or during Christmas break.  I need to start now.  I’ve been thinking lately about what I really want.  Do I want to be fit and healthy and a “hobbyist” exerciser?  Or do I want to be an athlete who trains and competes?  I don’t mean compete to win necessarily but who does strive to do better with each and every race.  To have personal bests in training and in competition.  I’ve decided that long term, I want to be that athlete.  I want to race.  I want to continually push myself to do better each time.  Right now though I need to take the first steps.  I need to first get into a routine of healthy(ier) eating and exercise.  To that end I’m challenging myself - it’s the 10×10 challenge.  It’s my goal to lose 10 pounds and 10 inches by the end of February (or about 10 weeks away from now).

And I can’t do it all by dieting alone.  I’m going to have to exercise (goal is 4 times a week) in order to do this.  It’s my hope that by the end of February my exercise routine will be set (6 weeks to form a habit, right?) and I can start to focus back on training again.  Monday I weighed myself and took my chest, waist, hips and thigh measurements.  People - it’s not good.  I’m an olive on a toothpick (as Tertia always so lovingly describes herself).  My weight was 162.2 pounds.  Before I had Annika my natural weight with my no dieting or regular exercise was around 152.  After Annika, before James, that same “natural” weight was around 156.  Now after James my weight without dieting or regular exercise seems to constantly sit somewhere in the low 160’s - 160, 161, 162.  I’m not happy here though.  I hate being at this weight.  And it’s because my weight is all in my belly.  I constantly look pregnant because that is where I carry all my weight.  My measurements are: chest: 34″, waist: 41″, hips: 42″ and thigh: 23″.  Look how disproportionate I am!  It is definitely time to do something about the gut.

I remember way back in high school measuring my waist and being so disappointed that it was 29″.  Didn’t the skinny girls have a 26″ waist?  Bleh!  I was so skinny back then I could cry now!  Of course back then I was a size 6 and now I’m a solid 12.  And back then I was way active - I was a (slow) sprinter on the track team!  I was walking miles a day in marching band.  I was constantly on the go and away from the dinner table.

Anyway, back to the 10×10.  I don’t think it’s unrealistic to lose 10 pounds by the end of February.  I have no idea about losing 10 inches though.  I’ve never really kept track of my measurements.  I’ve decided to re-measure every other Monday.  Is that too often?  Not often enough?  Is 10 inches too aggressive?  Please share your wisdom.

So now it’s up to me to do it - lose 10×10 by the end of February.  Anyone want to join me?  Leave a comment to challenge yourself to a 10×10 (whatever your 10’s are - they don’t have to be the same as mine).

Yeah, it’s been a while. I know. Thanks for checking on my Robyn. Guys – all is not well. I’m in a funk and I can’t seem to pull myself out of it. I don’t know if it’s depression (I doubt it), Seasonal Affective Disorder (not so much sunlight around here now), hormonal (I had some issues relating to a pill I was using and I switched two months ago. The physical problems are gone but maybe new ones have arrived?) or what but I am not in a good place. I’m losing my patience with the kids (way too much yelling going on), I’m constantly irritated with the husband (and sometimes he doesn’t even deserve it!) and I am so, so tired. I’m always tired no matter how much I sleep. This morning I slept through 3 alarms before finally waking up enough the 4^th time to see and recognize what time it was. Now that I’ve recognized what’s going on (and my husband has also recognized it and brought it to my attention) I need to figure out how to fix it. I’m going to give the pill one more month (maybe my body just needs to adjust?) before going back to the doctor and asking for a different one (Or go without? Would need to discuss that option with the hubby and doctor). I’m going to try and work out more often (at all) because maybe the endorphins will do me some good. I’m going to try really, really hard to not yell at the kids. (Even when they don’t listen EVER! But they are almost 2 and 4. It’s like their job to not listen, you know?) And I’m going to try and not get so irritated with the husband but try and rationally work through situations that have lately set me off. And I’m going to try to not be so sad about it all. I want to be happy. I want my family to be happy. I want to be healthy. God, this all just sucks so much.

That is all. Thank you for listening to me whine.

I missed three days in a row there!  Guess I won’t be blogging every day this month, just most of them.

Here’s a grocery store tip for you: In order to avoid purchasing unhealthy food at the grocery store, bring along your impressionable four year old daughter.  Annika and I went grocery shopping on Sunday.  I try to show her healthy eating by preparing and eating healthy meals with her, limited our snacks or snacking on healthy foods such as yogurt or granola bars.  So, Sunday at the grocery store, I completely skipped the chip/pop aisle, I ignored the cookie/cake aisle and only came home with a box of granola bars as our only snack item.  There were lots of fruits, vegetables, lean meats, healthy carbs and minimal prepared foods or at least healthier options of those purchased (i.e. less sodium, fat free, etc.).  Had I been there alone, I certainly would have been tempted to buy a little treat for us all to share or I would have got the buy one, get one free half gallon ice cream’s.  Kris was actually disappointed I passed that good deal by.  So, there’s my accountability tip for the day.  I certainly feel better that when I go to the pantry to grab a snack, there’s no bag of chips or cookies staring back at me.  And I feel better when offering Annika yogurt, string cheese, a granola bar or a handful or crackers as her snack.

Now if she just wouldn’t remind me that I haven’t worked out yet today…

I’ve slightly modified my no cash rule.  When I took my cash out of my wallet I had $18 (a 10, 5, 3 ones).  Since vending machines won’t take 10’s or 5’s (OK, fine - they will at my work but I refuse to get those $1 coins as my change - I hate those!) I’m OK with having those in my wallet.  So, my new strategy is that I will leave anything above a $1 bill in my wallet.  However, all the $1’s have to come out.  I’m putting them in an envelope at home, saving them up and then when I have a bunch, I can decide what to do with them (new clothes? shoes? date with husband?).  Today I went to lunch with friends and spent $7.25.  I now have $2 to put in my envelope and 3 quarters to put in the kids’ piggy banks.  I can’t have change with me either as I’ll scrounge that together to hit a vending machine too.  For me, I just have to remove the temptation entirely because if I say OK to myself to go to a vending machine - I’m getting Cheetos - not pretzels.  I just know I will.  So, now?  No cash = no vending machines!

Often, I fantasize about having a personal trainer.  I really, really, really want someone to kick my butt.  I’m a big fan of The Biggest Loser and would LOVE to have Bob or Jillian (really Jillian) whip me into shape.  I let myself get away with too much.  I make excuses to not exercise (I’m tired!  I went to bed late!  The kids (or Kris) woke me up too much last night!).  I don’t push myself very hard while I am exercising.  Training for a run?  I focus on getting miles in but not on improving speed by doing fartlicks or sprints.  I know a well balanced fitness routine should include weights.  I now have weights in my basement.  I have yet to lift weights.  See? I need a trainer!  But.  We are focused on getting out of debt right now.  I have curbed my CAbi clothing addiction.  I have cut back on new shoes, eating out, a lot of “extras” right now.  And it’s working.  We’re making great progress.  And until we’re debt free, there is no money in the budget for things like gym memberships or personal training fees.  Especially not when I have all the tools I need right in my home (elliptical, Trek road bike, weight bench, yoga DVDs, etc.).  I need help.  What are your tips or tricks for getting your exercise in?  For staying on your eating plan?  For kicking your own butt?