I have some friends who are really into 5K's. They don't run them all the time, sometimes they walk. I would like to eventually start jogging again, but I have to be careful with my foot. I broke it 10 years ago and it never fully recovered. When I've tried jogging previously, my ankle swells up and hurts for days afterwards.
For now, I will walk. And walk. And walk.
We were signed up to do the Jingle Bell Run in December, but I got horribly sick two days before the race and had to back out. I was so so so so mad!
A few other races I'm signing up for this year...
Do you have any big goals for 2013 and fitness?
Showing posts with label Exercise. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Exercise. Show all posts
Wednesday, January 2, 2013
Hey, Fat Girl
I've seen this circulating Facebook and every time one of my friends post it, I read it. And every time I read it, I cry. And cry. And cry. I'm that girl! I'm the fat girl you see working my way slowly around the lake, trying to not make eye contact with the people who are "in-shape" because I don't fit in with them. I do though, I mean, I do. We're all working for the same thing, health and wellness. We all have our struggles, we all have those days where nothing we do is motivational enough to get out of bed to exercise.
The difference would seem to be that they have fewer of those days than me!
See the original post at Flintland
The difference would seem to be that they have fewer of those days than me!
Hey, Fat Girl -
Yes, you. The one feigning to not see me when we cross paths on the running track. The one not even wearing sports gear, breathing heavy. You’re slow, you breathe hard and your efforts at moving forward make you cringe.
You cling shyly to the furthest corridor, sometimes making larger loops on the gravel ring by the track just so you’re not on it. You sweat so much that your hair is all wet. You rarely stay for more than 20 minutes at a time, and you look exhausted when you leave to go back home. You never talk to anyone. I’ve got something I’d like to say to you.
You are awesome.
If you’d look me in the eye only for an instant, you would notice the reverence and respect I have for you. The adventure you have started is tremendous; it leads to a better health, to renewed confidence and to a brand new kind of freedom. The gifts you will receive from running will far exceed the gigantic effort it takes you to show up here, to face your fears and to bravely set yourself in motion, in front of others.
You have already begun your transformation. You no longer accept this physical state of numbness and passivity. You have taken a difficult decision, but one that holds so much promise. Every hard breath you take is actually a tad easier than the one before, and every step is ever so slightly lighter. Each push forward leaves the former person you were in your wake, creating room for an improved version, one that is stronger, healthier and forward-looking, one who knows that anything is possible.
You’re a hero to me. And, if you’d take off the blaring headphones and put your head up for more than a second or two, you would notice that the other runners you cross, the ones that probably make you feel so inadequate, stare in awe at your determination. They, of all people, know best where you are coming from. They heard the resolutions of so many others, who vowed to pick up running and improve their health, “starting next week”. Yet, it is YOU who runs alongside, who digs from deep inside to find the strength to come here, and to come back again.
You are a runner, and no one can take that away from you. You are relentlessly moving forward. You are stronger than even you think, and you are about to be amazed by what you can do. One day, very soon, maybe tomorrow, you’ll step outside and marvel at your capabilities. You will not believe your own body, you will realize that you can do this. And a new horizon will open up for you. You are a true inspiration.
I bow to you.
See the original post at Flintland
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Exercise challenges & a check-in
Tonight I went for my regular walk with my family and since it's snowing and freezing here, the streets were super icy and hard to walk on. Normally I like to walk fairly briskly and take longer strides, but tonight I had to practically shuffle my feet and went the pace of a snail.
We're supposed to get more snow overnight, up to 6 inches, I secretly have my fingers crossed that my office closes tomorrow, but I'm not sure. They've been threatening us with snow all week and so far we've only gotten about an inch. If it does snow though and I'm home tomorrow I'm really looking forward to going hiking in the snow.
On Track
I do feel like I'm getting back on track. I went over my points today, but that's what they give you the "weekly" points for, right? The stuff I ate wasn't unhealthy, I just ate more than I normally would because I was hungrier than I normally am. The only "naughty" things I had today was a donut hole (Just one! Yay!) and 5 french fries from McDonalds (individual...not orders HAAA!) For dinner I had a Subway Spicy Italian, which used to be my favorite there but after tonight I'm thinking I've lost my taste for it. It tasted too meaty or something. I think I'll switch back to the chicken from now on.
Anywho - I'm feeling better and getting my diet in order.
We're supposed to get more snow overnight, up to 6 inches, I secretly have my fingers crossed that my office closes tomorrow, but I'm not sure. They've been threatening us with snow all week and so far we've only gotten about an inch. If it does snow though and I'm home tomorrow I'm really looking forward to going hiking in the snow.
On Track
I do feel like I'm getting back on track. I went over my points today, but that's what they give you the "weekly" points for, right? The stuff I ate wasn't unhealthy, I just ate more than I normally would because I was hungrier than I normally am. The only "naughty" things I had today was a donut hole (Just one! Yay!) and 5 french fries from McDonalds (individual...not orders HAAA!) For dinner I had a Subway Spicy Italian, which used to be my favorite there but after tonight I'm thinking I've lost my taste for it. It tasted too meaty or something. I think I'll switch back to the chicken from now on.
Anywho - I'm feeling better and getting my diet in order.
Sunday, January 8, 2012
Happy New Year!
*sigh*
Right after Christmas my dad was diagnosed with Diabetes, which startled all of us. He's doing well, taking it in stride and doing all the work required. He's changed his diet and he's started exercising.
Him exercising has been a great motivator for me. This last week we've been out for 1/2 mile to 1 mile walks and today we went on a 2.5 mile hike around a local park that has nature trails running through it. The more he walks the better his energy is so each day we're able to walk a little further than the day before and on Friday he went up his first set of hills. I'm hopeful that he sticks with it and in a few weeks he'll be up to my speed of about 2 to 2 1/2 miles a day.
I've also decided to sell my bike *sad face* and use the money I get from it to save up for a more comfortable bike. I love riding bikes, but now that I'm older overweight, it's hard for me to ride a standard mountain bike. It hurts my wrists to lean forward on the handle bars and the pressure from pushing down on the pedals really bothers my ankle that I broke...so I'm thinking a new bike, like this is in store for me.
The holidays were tricky, I'm impressed that I didn't gain 10 lbs, but my weight went up and down every week like a teeter-totter. I didn't overeat and I didn't overload on sugar and sweets, but there wasn't a lot of exercising and I didn't exactly stay on plan. I'm forcing myself to get back on track this last week, and with the exercising and eating better I'm starting to feel better.
Friday, December 9, 2011
Refocusing
I was down almost 20 lbs! I got so excited I gained back 6 of them. Yuck. And yikes!
I was only half-assing my weight loss program, still weighing in, still exercising, but not tracking foods and not exercising to my fullest ability. I'd walk a half mile and call it good ... for a week.
When I started this program I posted all the time on here about how I wanted to hold myself accountable, be responsible and take this seriously. That worked for about 6 months and then in September I went on vacation for two weeks and when I got back completely let myself go.
It wasn't until I got on the scale last Friday and I realized my weight was creeping back up that it occurred to me that I've let it slip away again.
I don't want to go back to weighing over 330 lbs.
I don't want to go back to being winded walking up one flight of stairs at work.
What I do want is to be under 300 lbs so I can use my Wii Fit board that my amazing husband got me for Christmas a year ago (My original goal? To be there by October...which was totally reachable until I started slacking.)
What I do want is to take my daughter for bike rides, and fit in an airplane seat without being self-conscious of the person sitting next to me.
What I do want is to be healthy.
I was only half-assing my weight loss program, still weighing in, still exercising, but not tracking foods and not exercising to my fullest ability. I'd walk a half mile and call it good ... for a week.
When I started this program I posted all the time on here about how I wanted to hold myself accountable, be responsible and take this seriously. That worked for about 6 months and then in September I went on vacation for two weeks and when I got back completely let myself go.
It wasn't until I got on the scale last Friday and I realized my weight was creeping back up that it occurred to me that I've let it slip away again.
I don't want to go back to weighing over 330 lbs.
I don't want to go back to being winded walking up one flight of stairs at work.
What I do want is to be under 300 lbs so I can use my Wii Fit board that my amazing husband got me for Christmas a year ago (My original goal? To be there by October...which was totally reachable until I started slacking.)
What I do want is to take my daughter for bike rides, and fit in an airplane seat without being self-conscious of the person sitting next to me.
What I do want is to be healthy.
Monday, November 21, 2011
Finding creative ways to exercise
It seems like I've written about this before? But I looked back through my archives and couldn't find it. Could be that it's on one of my previous blogs that I've deleted or something. Either way, now that winter is here and the rain and wind is back it's harder for me to get out in the weather and exercise.
One thing I hate, but I do anyway because I know it's good for me, is stair climb. My office is on the 3rd floor of an office bldg and whenever I come in or go out, I take the stairs (Unless I'm with my pregnant friend and co-worker who gets a little topsy-turvy on stairs!). If I stop taking them for a day or two and then take them again, I can definitely feel the burn! I'm still too overweight and when I get to the top, I'm usually out of breath, but the more I do it, the easier and less painful it gets.
Another thing I do is take the long way! There are several routes around my office, I can cut through a conference room to get to my bosses office or I can go around it and I usually go around it to get in the extra steps. I also make as many trips as possible. While trying to maintain efficiency in my job, I try and walk the office as much as possible.
I also am a believer in the little desk exercises people recommend (Lunges, back stretches, desk pushups...etc.). Not only for the exercise but also because I read an article once where a news journalist died in Iraq from a blood clot he got from sitting too long without moving around. I'm TERRIFIED now that it's going to happen to me so I'm and moving as much as possible!
Anyway, that's how I exercise at work and how I sort of make-up for maybe not walking as much at home when it's pouring rain outside.
Do you exercise at the office? If so, how do you do it? Do you skip the elevator and take the stairs?
One thing I hate, but I do anyway because I know it's good for me, is stair climb. My office is on the 3rd floor of an office bldg and whenever I come in or go out, I take the stairs (Unless I'm with my pregnant friend and co-worker who gets a little topsy-turvy on stairs!). If I stop taking them for a day or two and then take them again, I can definitely feel the burn! I'm still too overweight and when I get to the top, I'm usually out of breath, but the more I do it, the easier and less painful it gets.
Another thing I do is take the long way! There are several routes around my office, I can cut through a conference room to get to my bosses office or I can go around it and I usually go around it to get in the extra steps. I also make as many trips as possible. While trying to maintain efficiency in my job, I try and walk the office as much as possible.
I also am a believer in the little desk exercises people recommend (Lunges, back stretches, desk pushups...etc.). Not only for the exercise but also because I read an article once where a news journalist died in Iraq from a blood clot he got from sitting too long without moving around. I'm TERRIFIED now that it's going to happen to me so I'm and moving as much as possible!
Anyway, that's how I exercise at work and how I sort of make-up for maybe not walking as much at home when it's pouring rain outside.
Do you exercise at the office? If so, how do you do it? Do you skip the elevator and take the stairs?
Saturday, November 19, 2011
Weekly Weigh-In
Weigh-In: 321.4 lbs
Change from last week: -1.0 lbs
Now, it would appear that I've gained a few of those pounds back and stalled again. Granted, I haven't gotten much in terms of exercise this last week because of the back problems, but I've been eating right, and before my back had issues I was getting exercise.
To say I'm frustrated again is a severe understatement. I have been working incredibly hard to not let this kill my motivation and so far I'm holding up OK. I went out lastnight and bought some new much-needed workout clothes and this morning went for a walk with The Kid and The Dog in the freezing cold morning weather (Still no snow. COME ON! Just a little bit???). I feel better, my back is improving more and more everyday and I feel good about what I'm eating.
This next week is a short work-week and Hubs and Kid leave Friday morning for a short trip which will give me time to myself for some hiking time, and while I always miss them when they go on these short trips to visit his family, I do enjoy the time alone because the guilt factor for doing what I want goes down drastically.
Next week is a new week, right? Keep your chin up! (Or in my case...chins. Har har har)
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Ohhhhh hello Mr. Back Problems
I'm getting old.
There's no other way to say it that will make the hit any softer.
I'm getting old. And I'm fat.
And with those two ailments comes problems. Back problems to be exact.
Sunday night I was sitting in my recliner and when I got up, I must've gotten up kind of awkward or something because all of a sudden I was paralyzed. Couldn't move. Couldn't breathe. Couldn't even talk to tell The Family that I was paralyzed. It was the worst, most shocking pain I've ever experienced. It truly felt like I'd cracked a rib or something. There was a muscle so deep in my back and I pulled it good.
By Monday morning I was in bed and still half-paralyzed, and by now it was spasming like nuts. Today I was feeling a teeny bit better and ended up going in to work. I haven't been able to walk more than a few feet without it spasming, I can't lift my hands over my head, and I was supersuperthisclose to letting The Hubs spoon feed me lastnight because I couldn't move my arms.
Here's hoping I recover quickly! Not only do I want to start exercising again, but breathing without sharp pains shooting through your body is a good thing I hear!
Friday, August 19, 2011
Weekly Weigh-In 19.0
Weigh in
Last weigh-in: 329.8 lbs
Current weigh-in: 326 lbs
Change: -3.8 lbs
Dear #326:
Oh. I've been waiting for you. Since February 25th, 2011 to be exact. I've cried for you. Ached for you. BEGGED for you. Went on anti-depressants for you! Not that I didn't enjoy seeing the first 12 lbs come and go...the only problem with them is they kept coming...and going....coming...and going. It got tiresome. I'm happy that you're here. Let's not ruin it though by having you outstay your welcome and next week how about you bring me an even lower, new number. Mmkay? kaythanksbye!
Sincerely,
Me
Exercise
Lastnight me and The Kid went for a long walk. Not just along the top of our hill either, we did "The Loop"...which is a 1.42 mile walk and about half of that is a long steady climb to the top and then we loop back down to our street and come home. The distance isn't that far when you look at some of the other walks I've done, but considering that I've been doing .3's and .5's for the last two weeks in order to not screw my foot up again, this is a "nice long walk".
It felt good too. Especially having that time with The Kid. She's a lot of fun and because of work being insane lately, going through this depression this summer, I haven't been as engaged with her as I'd like to be. So every chance I get, we go for a walk together, or we snuggle in the recliner. We always have amazingly funny conversations on our walks too. For instance...lastnight we're walking along and she's quiet (which is r.a.r.e.) and she starts saying "5...4...3...2...1....................AWWW! Come ON!" and I said, "What?" She said, "I was counting down to a burp and it didn't WORK!"
Long story short...we really had fun and as we were walking home she grabbed my hand and asked me if we could do it again. I feel bad for how much my depression has effected her this time. Last time I was going through this she was much younger and I'm not sure she understood much, but now she's older and can see me going through this and it worries her and I know it makes her sad too. It's a nice feeling knowing that I'm coming out of it, feeling better, and moving on.
Last weigh-in: 329.8 lbs
Current weigh-in: 326 lbs
Change: -3.8 lbs
Dear #326:
Oh. I've been waiting for you. Since February 25th, 2011 to be exact. I've cried for you. Ached for you. BEGGED for you. Went on anti-depressants for you! Not that I didn't enjoy seeing the first 12 lbs come and go...the only problem with them is they kept coming...and going....coming...and going. It got tiresome. I'm happy that you're here. Let's not ruin it though by having you outstay your welcome and next week how about you bring me an even lower, new number. Mmkay? kaythanksbye!
Sincerely,
Me
Exercise
Lastnight me and The Kid went for a long walk. Not just along the top of our hill either, we did "The Loop"...which is a 1.42 mile walk and about half of that is a long steady climb to the top and then we loop back down to our street and come home. The distance isn't that far when you look at some of the other walks I've done, but considering that I've been doing .3's and .5's for the last two weeks in order to not screw my foot up again, this is a "nice long walk".
It felt good too. Especially having that time with The Kid. She's a lot of fun and because of work being insane lately, going through this depression this summer, I haven't been as engaged with her as I'd like to be. So every chance I get, we go for a walk together, or we snuggle in the recliner. We always have amazingly funny conversations on our walks too. For instance...lastnight we're walking along and she's quiet (which is r.a.r.e.) and she starts saying "5...4...3...2...1....................AWWW! Come ON!" and I said, "What?" She said, "I was counting down to a burp and it didn't WORK!"
Long story short...we really had fun and as we were walking home she grabbed my hand and asked me if we could do it again. I feel bad for how much my depression has effected her this time. Last time I was going through this she was much younger and I'm not sure she understood much, but now she's older and can see me going through this and it worries her and I know it makes her sad too. It's a nice feeling knowing that I'm coming out of it, feeling better, and moving on.
Thursday, August 18, 2011
I got a pocket, got a pocket full of sunshine
Am I bi-polar? Geesh.
I'm feeling better today. I always feel better when I eat right...I think there might be something to that :-)
This morning I had a peach, chopped up and in a bowl and I poured a Yoplait Harvest Peach yogurt over the top of it and ate that for breakfast.
For lunch I had a turkey sandwich with lettuce and tomato and onion (I normally *hate* lettuce and tomato on food other than salads...but I'm doing it for my waist!) and a two cup serving of strawberries, grapes and cherries.
I didn't get as much water as I normally do...work was extremely busy and before I knew it, it was 5:00 and I'd only had 36 ounces. Not bad...but not what I normally intake either.
For dinner, The Hubs is going to grill hamburgers and he's going to make mac n cheese for him and The Kid, while I eat more fruit.
I'm a little nervous though...I posted on a WW message board asking for some help and when I posted what I eat on an average day I was told.....get this........are you sitting down??? That I don't eat enough...what. the. hell???
After thinking about it though, I suppose they're right. They also suggested changing what I eat (as in...don't eat salads everyday for three months...*sigh*) because eventually your body gets used to that and stops responding (DAMN YOU BODY! WORK WITH ME! I'M DOING THIS FOR YOU!). So I'm going to start working on that.
What makes me nervous though is getting my family on board with new foods...The Hubs and The Kid aren't big on new things, and if I accidentally slip up and use the word "Healthy" ... they may disown me and move out (Oh...but then I'd be alone! That might be a plus! ... I kid, I kid!).
I am going to start out with things that are healthy but aren't blatantly obvious, screaming 'healthy' from the mountaintops. I'll lull them into a false sense of security and then BAM! Fat free sour cream! They'll never know what hit em'.
I feel like if I can take baby steps, this will work. Get my food under control (again....*sigh*) and go from there. Build my exercise plan and eventually find a bootcamp or a gym because I know that walking is wonderful, but I need weights thrown in too.
I'm feeling better today. I always feel better when I eat right...I think there might be something to that :-)
This morning I had a peach, chopped up and in a bowl and I poured a Yoplait Harvest Peach yogurt over the top of it and ate that for breakfast.
For lunch I had a turkey sandwich with lettuce and tomato and onion (I normally *hate* lettuce and tomato on food other than salads...but I'm doing it for my waist!) and a two cup serving of strawberries, grapes and cherries.
I didn't get as much water as I normally do...work was extremely busy and before I knew it, it was 5:00 and I'd only had 36 ounces. Not bad...but not what I normally intake either.
For dinner, The Hubs is going to grill hamburgers and he's going to make mac n cheese for him and The Kid, while I eat more fruit.
I'm a little nervous though...I posted on a WW message board asking for some help and when I posted what I eat on an average day I was told.....get this........are you sitting down??? That I don't eat enough...what. the. hell???
After thinking about it though, I suppose they're right. They also suggested changing what I eat (as in...don't eat salads everyday for three months...*sigh*) because eventually your body gets used to that and stops responding (DAMN YOU BODY! WORK WITH ME! I'M DOING THIS FOR YOU!). So I'm going to start working on that.
What makes me nervous though is getting my family on board with new foods...The Hubs and The Kid aren't big on new things, and if I accidentally slip up and use the word "Healthy" ... they may disown me and move out (Oh...but then I'd be alone! That might be a plus! ... I kid, I kid!).
I am going to start out with things that are healthy but aren't blatantly obvious, screaming 'healthy' from the mountaintops. I'll lull them into a false sense of security and then BAM! Fat free sour cream! They'll never know what hit em'.
I feel like if I can take baby steps, this will work. Get my food under control (again....*sigh*) and go from there. Build my exercise plan and eventually find a bootcamp or a gym because I know that walking is wonderful, but I need weights thrown in too.
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
It hurts so bad!
Today my foot was feeling better so I decided to go for a lunchtime walk with some friends. We walked 1.86 miles down to a cafe for lunch and then back up to our office. The walk back is a looooong steady climb up an incline. When we got back to the office I could feel how hot my foot was and it felt like it was slightly swollen. I elevated it on some boxes and put an ice pack on it which seemed to help.
I wasn't done with the self-destruction though. Oh, no I wasn't.
The Kid was performing in a neighborhood parade and The Hubs called me at 4:30 to tell me that her helmet was in the trunk of my car. I left early and sat in The Worlds Worst Traffic Jam for 45 minutes, almost making me late. When I got there and parked, I had to run/walk up a hill on the hard pavement to reach them and then I had to walk down the parade route to where my mom was and THEN I had to walk back up the hill to get to my car after the parade.
By the time I got home I could barely walk and the top of my foot looked like a golf ball was stuck under the skin. Now I'm sitting here with ice on my foot waiting for The Hubs to get home and take pity on me and make me go to bed.
I wasn't done with the self-destruction though. Oh, no I wasn't.
The Kid was performing in a neighborhood parade and The Hubs called me at 4:30 to tell me that her helmet was in the trunk of my car. I left early and sat in The Worlds Worst Traffic Jam for 45 minutes, almost making me late. When I got there and parked, I had to run/walk up a hill on the hard pavement to reach them and then I had to walk down the parade route to where my mom was and THEN I had to walk back up the hill to get to my car after the parade.
By the time I got home I could barely walk and the top of my foot looked like a golf ball was stuck under the skin. Now I'm sitting here with ice on my foot waiting for The Hubs to get home and take pity on me and make me go to bed.
Monday, July 25, 2011
FAT GIRL DOWN!
I know. I should stop being so self-depricating.
Anyway.
My fabulous time yesterday on my bike is now clouded in misery. I was sitting in my office today and got up randomly and realized: "HOLY CRAP MY FOOT HURTS!" I think that riding my bike yesterday screwed my foot up. I broke this foot 10 years ago and ever since then I've had problems with my foot. Sometimes when I put too much stress on it problems happen! I don't ride my bike very much and I think the way your feet move on the pedals is what screwed it up.
I'm not a doctor...but I assume that can happen. My mom and The Hubs are both afraid I broke a tiny bone in my foot, but I don't think that's the case. Regardless of how it happened or what's wrong with it...icing it and keeping it elevated seems to help!
Here's hoping my family is wrong. They're usually right though...which, in this case...totally sucks.
Anyway.
My fabulous time yesterday on my bike is now clouded in misery. I was sitting in my office today and got up randomly and realized: "HOLY CRAP MY FOOT HURTS!" I think that riding my bike yesterday screwed my foot up. I broke this foot 10 years ago and ever since then I've had problems with my foot. Sometimes when I put too much stress on it problems happen! I don't ride my bike very much and I think the way your feet move on the pedals is what screwed it up.
I'm not a doctor...but I assume that can happen. My mom and The Hubs are both afraid I broke a tiny bone in my foot, but I don't think that's the case. Regardless of how it happened or what's wrong with it...icing it and keeping it elevated seems to help!
Here's hoping my family is wrong. They're usually right though...which, in this case...totally sucks.
Sunday, July 24, 2011
Bicycling
I went with The Kid and The Parents over to the lake and we rode our bikes around. It's an almost 3 mile loop around and we went around once. I would've been up for going around once or twice more but my.butt.hurt.so.bad. By the time we got around the first time, I thought I could keep going and we were about to head over by some soccer fields and try a quieter trail, but we ended up collapsing under some maple trees and people watching. I had to explain to The Kid that people watching isn't the same as creeping or stalking. I don't think she understood.
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
I'm totally using excuses now
What the heck?
I was so "off" everything last week that I didn't even do a weigh-in. I'd tell you how, what, when and why, but really those are just excuses. When really I just haven't been doing it. I've slowly started pushing "losing weight" into the back of my mind, where it slowly dissolves into a non-priority and before long it just doesn't exist anymore in any form except the "I'm so fat...I need to lose weight." line that I use 1,000 times a day.
When I was dedicated to it, going through the process of following my plan, getting exercise everyday and actually working towards my goal, I felt great. I had confidence again. I didn't feel like a super model, but I could feel myself being healthy again. I felt good about myself.
Now that I've been slacking for two weeks, all that confidence and self esteem is gone. I am so unmotivated and unhappy that I feel worse than when I started this journey in February. I feel worse because I know I can do it. I have proof. I have proof that I can lose weight and the only reason I'm not losing weight is because I pretty much gave up.
I hit some road blocks, a minor patch of rough "real life" issues came up and what did I do? I threw in the towel on weight loss and let the rough patch consume my whole life. I sit around after work, completely immersed in some Netflix streaming movie instead of getting out and exercising. When I go for walks now, it's to the corner...just long enough for The Dog to do his "dog bidness" and come home again.
So anyway, here's to hoping that soon I find my mojo again. I need to find my motivation and my energy to want it again. This feeling of nothingness is nowhere to live long-term and I need to find that one thing that will snap me out of it.
I was so "off" everything last week that I didn't even do a weigh-in. I'd tell you how, what, when and why, but really those are just excuses. When really I just haven't been doing it. I've slowly started pushing "losing weight" into the back of my mind, where it slowly dissolves into a non-priority and before long it just doesn't exist anymore in any form except the "I'm so fat...I need to lose weight." line that I use 1,000 times a day.
When I was dedicated to it, going through the process of following my plan, getting exercise everyday and actually working towards my goal, I felt great. I had confidence again. I didn't feel like a super model, but I could feel myself being healthy again. I felt good about myself.
Now that I've been slacking for two weeks, all that confidence and self esteem is gone. I am so unmotivated and unhappy that I feel worse than when I started this journey in February. I feel worse because I know I can do it. I have proof. I have proof that I can lose weight and the only reason I'm not losing weight is because I pretty much gave up.
I hit some road blocks, a minor patch of rough "real life" issues came up and what did I do? I threw in the towel on weight loss and let the rough patch consume my whole life. I sit around after work, completely immersed in some Netflix streaming movie instead of getting out and exercising. When I go for walks now, it's to the corner...just long enough for The Dog to do his "dog bidness" and come home again.
So anyway, here's to hoping that soon I find my mojo again. I need to find my motivation and my energy to want it again. This feeling of nothingness is nowhere to live long-term and I need to find that one thing that will snap me out of it.
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
C25K and the Furry 5K
Have any of you tried the Couch to 5K Running Plan? If you have, and you're similar in weight to me, how did it go for you?
Several of my friends are trying it, one is moderately overweight, another just had a baby and is trying to work off baby weight and some excess weight from before. I haven't jogged since High School, which was about 13 years ago. Some coworkers and I were looking over the program and I think we're going to try it together. I told them I wouldn't be doing the training for it at work, but we could do it on our own at home and then work our way up and run in a 5K together, right? That would be fun, and motivational. I was going to try and use my Map My Walk account to track my times and workouts. If any of you are reading this and want to try it with us, let me know and I'll send you my Map My Walk info and we can be "friends" on there and keep up that way.
If I decide to do it, I'm going to start on May 23rd, so that it's a fresh week. I haven't totally made my mind up to commit to it yet, so I'm going to think about it a bit more. I know that if I want to keep up the losses, I need to do something to change my workout routine.
Also, on June 12th me and The Dog will be walking in the Seattle Animal Shelter Furry 5K. I don't think I'll be ready to run it by then, but I have wanted to participate in this for a few years now and I think this is the year to do it!
Several of my friends are trying it, one is moderately overweight, another just had a baby and is trying to work off baby weight and some excess weight from before. I haven't jogged since High School, which was about 13 years ago. Some coworkers and I were looking over the program and I think we're going to try it together. I told them I wouldn't be doing the training for it at work, but we could do it on our own at home and then work our way up and run in a 5K together, right? That would be fun, and motivational. I was going to try and use my Map My Walk account to track my times and workouts. If any of you are reading this and want to try it with us, let me know and I'll send you my Map My Walk info and we can be "friends" on there and keep up that way.
If I decide to do it, I'm going to start on May 23rd, so that it's a fresh week. I haven't totally made my mind up to commit to it yet, so I'm going to think about it a bit more. I know that if I want to keep up the losses, I need to do something to change my workout routine.
Also, on June 12th me and The Dog will be walking in the Seattle Animal Shelter Furry 5K. I don't think I'll be ready to run it by then, but I have wanted to participate in this for a few years now and I think this is the year to do it!
Sunday, May 1, 2011
Oh Emmm Geeeeeee
Holy leg kicks batman!
Another appropriate name for this post could be: "How Leslie Sansone kicked my ASS"
Today The Hubs and The Kid took The Dog to Doggie Disneyland (Or...dog park...however you prefer to read that...) and I had the whole glorious afternoon to myself. I've got all the windows open letting the beautiful air outside come in and de-stink the house (it's been pretty closed up lately thanks to the crappy weather we've had and is in bad need of an air-out!). I'm also doing laundry.
Anyway, I was sitting here browsing our Netflix instant queue on the Wii and remembered that a few months ago when I first got back into this weight loss thing, that I bought the Leslie Sansone: Walk at Home: Walk Away Your Waistline! DVD and belt. It sat in it's box next to our recliner for the last 8 or so weeks, unopened, sealed up tight. I'd bought it after reading some posts on Weight Watchers Community boards, and after it arrived I convinced myself it was silly to have done that because hello? Walking outside is much more intense than walking inside...in place right?!
So yeah. I put the DVD in and had the option of choosing the full workout, 1, 2 or 3 miles. I thought "What the Hell...I'll do the full workout. Most of my walks outside are between 2 and 3 miles anyway, so this should be easy peezie right?! Oh, my poor distorted little mind.
She had me doing knee kicks and side steps and and and and...by about the 3/4 mile mark I was falling behind and cursing out Leslie's smug little smile.
I made it through the 1 1/2 mile mark before I collapsed in exhaustion in my chair and fumbled for the Wii remote and instant streaming of Wings: Season One.
The work out though was great. It almost felt like I did after I was done working out with my personal trainer. I just need to find time when The Hubs and The Kid aren't around so I can do it without feeling
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
It's the little things
When you break down your own personal diet and exercise plan, what do you see? Here's mine:
Exercise
my crazy how I'm working it off.
Exercise
- Walking. Walking walking walking. I used to do more, jogging, horseback riding, bicycling, hiking (Which I still love and can do a little here and there), but I broke my ankle 10 years ago and never fully recovered my range of motion and while I haven't had it confirmed yet, I'm fairly certain it's arthritic. Regardless of my limitations on other forms of exercise, walking helps. I gained a pound and a half over two weeks where I only went out for one or two walks. I've been walking every night for a week and I'm pretty confident that I'll see a loss on Friday morning. I have an advantage in the form of a very energetic dog that demands long, meandering walks through my incredibly hilly, challenging neighborhood.
- Stairs. Don't underestimate the power of these monsters! My office is on the third floor of a building and you enter on the 2nd floor. I counted. It's 16 stairs to my floor. I used to take the elevator (until people started getting stuck in it...yikes.) and now I take the 16 little stairs up every morning and afternoon. I also take the stairs in my apartment building. I don't climb 10 flights of stairs, but I can feel it in my legs after I've climbed even two or three flights. Those bastards kill but in such a good way it's hard to stay mad at them.
- Pushups. OK. This is where I get kind of weird. I do wall push-ups. In the shower. I KNOW! A few years ago I had this really great, totally amazing personal trainer and he kicked my a$$ with push-ups and back extensions. I still hate back extensions, but I like push-ups. I only do about 10-15 a day and it's while I'm in the shower. HEY, it's convenient and the bathtub and wall are perfectly aligned so it's easy. Plus, you know...I can't get sweaty if I'm standing under a shower.
- Food intake. I think it's important to eat healthy, but I don't go overboard. If I want pizza, I eat pizza. If I want a Kidd Valley Cheeseburger and some onion rings, I'll have it. This is where Weight Watchers and I have always disagreed. This is why I stopped going to WW meetings and only doing the plan online. They will tell you, "If you're craving a cheeseburger, eat a rice cake." WTF? Have you eaten a rice cake and a cheeseburger? There's a difference. If I'm craving a cheeseburger and I eat a rice cake, chances are I'm still going to be craving that cheeseburger. So why not eat it? The problem arises when you start "craving" a cheeseburger every day for every meal.
- Water. It took me and water a long time to be friendly. I thought water was the most pointless drink ever. It has no flavor. Sometimes it does and it's not a good flavor. I grew up on a farm, with well-fresh water everyday of my life. Moving to the city all of a sudden and I was like, "WOW, water sucks! It tastes funny. Why can I even taste water?!?!?" So I didn't drink it for a long time. Slowly though, I started adding it back into my life. I only drink out of a water cooler or bottled water and only in life or death situations will I drink water straight from the tap. I have to load it up with ice because Hello? Luke warm water is nasty. I have a 26 oz water bottle and I fill it up to 24 oz. Why not the full 26 oz? Because they want you to drink 8-8oz glasses and it's easier for me to track if I do it in 8 oz increments...it's not that I can't do the math or anything but if I'm being completely honest, I have to be exact. There's none of this "I drank 80.79 oz of water today." It has to be a nice fat round number. Yes, you may call the asylum now. Between this and the push-ups in the shower admission, I'm sure I've certified the crazy.
- Smoothies. I *heart* smoothies. I make some of the craziest combinations of smoothies and people see it and go, "I'm sorry...you mixed what with what to get that?" I buy frozen fruit, mix it with a half cup OJ and a half cup milk (2%) and throw it in my little smoothie maker that The Husband rocked me with for Christmas (I can't believe I talk like that...) and I eat it. It's an easy way of getting your fruits/veggies for the day if you struggle with that and it's kind of fun to see what different fruits taste like when you combine them (I don't recommend plain yogurt, peaches, blueberries and blackberries being put together...that was something I won't be doing again. Yikes.)
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
THE SUN IS BACK!
Dear Sun:
You and I have a rocky history, what with the blistering sunburns as a kid...the years I lived in LA resenting you, not realizing how much I was taking advantage of you.
I'd like to call a truce though. Maybe you come around more often and maybe I stop complaining so much about your oppressive heat waves and unnecessary reddening of my sensitive, delicate Irish skin.
These last six months without you have been harder on me then any years prior. I thought moving up here would be great! Growing up in the Pacific Northwest, I missed it. I missed snow, and rain. But now after 5 years of being back makes me pine for the days where I didn't have to plan my day around whether or not my socks would need to be changed twice because of the rain.
I used to enjoy the dark, gray dreariness of the PNW winters...reveled in the snow we'd receive, laugh at the Emerald City drivers who couldn't (or wouldn't) put up with it.
But now! Dear Gawd in Heaven bring back the bright warm hug of your rays!!!
When I woke up this morning and you were bursting through the bedroom blinds, I almost CRIED I was so excited. If my big fat ass could've managed it, I would've SKIPPED from my car to the office this morning!
Lunch was glorious! I got out and walked over the freeway and to the little park at the bottom of the hill that overlooks downtown and the bay. It was freaking amazing!
Tonight when I got home, me and The Dog went for a 1.79 mile walk in JUST. A. SWEATSHIRT!!!
So...from me to you, Sun. Truce, mkay?
Love you!
Fat Chick
-----------------------------------
So anyway!
My walk tonight was intense. I live at the bottom of a big hill, so when I left I walked straight up to the top, across one block, down that hill, across to the next street, up, over, down...and so on for 5 blocks. Then around a big loop and down to the bottom of another hill, and over again, up the last hill and home again.
To say that I was out of breath is a bit of an understatement. Since these last two weeks I've only been averaging about a mile a week (Down to the corner and back usually), tonights walk pretty much wasted me!
I really do hope that todays amazing weather (SIXTY! DEGREES! SUNNY!) keeps it up and continues improving! It's amazing what it does for my emotional health as well as my physical.
You and I have a rocky history, what with the blistering sunburns as a kid...the years I lived in LA resenting you, not realizing how much I was taking advantage of you.
I'd like to call a truce though. Maybe you come around more often and maybe I stop complaining so much about your oppressive heat waves and unnecessary reddening of my sensitive, delicate Irish skin.
These last six months without you have been harder on me then any years prior. I thought moving up here would be great! Growing up in the Pacific Northwest, I missed it. I missed snow, and rain. But now after 5 years of being back makes me pine for the days where I didn't have to plan my day around whether or not my socks would need to be changed twice because of the rain.
I used to enjoy the dark, gray dreariness of the PNW winters...reveled in the snow we'd receive, laugh at the Emerald City drivers who couldn't (or wouldn't) put up with it.
But now! Dear Gawd in Heaven bring back the bright warm hug of your rays!!!
When I woke up this morning and you were bursting through the bedroom blinds, I almost CRIED I was so excited. If my big fat ass could've managed it, I would've SKIPPED from my car to the office this morning!
Lunch was glorious! I got out and walked over the freeway and to the little park at the bottom of the hill that overlooks downtown and the bay. It was freaking amazing!
Tonight when I got home, me and The Dog went for a 1.79 mile walk in JUST. A. SWEATSHIRT!!!
So...from me to you, Sun. Truce, mkay?
Love you!
Fat Chick
-----------------------------------
So anyway!
My walk tonight was intense. I live at the bottom of a big hill, so when I left I walked straight up to the top, across one block, down that hill, across to the next street, up, over, down...and so on for 5 blocks. Then around a big loop and down to the bottom of another hill, and over again, up the last hill and home again.
To say that I was out of breath is a bit of an understatement. Since these last two weeks I've only been averaging about a mile a week (Down to the corner and back usually), tonights walk pretty much wasted me!
I really do hope that todays amazing weather (SIXTY! DEGREES! SUNNY!) keeps it up and continues improving! It's amazing what it does for my emotional health as well as my physical.
Sunday, March 20, 2011
A 3 1/2 mile weekend
This morning when I woke up the birds were chirping. I always consider that a good sign, like maybe they're chirping because they aren't drowning in rain!
We took The Dog to the dog park and walked him out to the end of the trail where the dogs can go swimming. Only...not our dog because he doesn't like the water that much and even if it is sunny, it was still cold.
The walk down and back is a teeny bit over a half mile, so if you throw in our walk yesterday, I did just over 3 1/2 miles this weekend.
My broken ankle is throbbing, and my joints hurt...but as much as I so would love to complain about it, I'm not going to.
Surgery
I had an email from my doctor. All of my lab results came back and even though I can't read them (Um? Hello? Not a doctor.) I'm assuming they are good to go since they were emailed to me instead of in a "Yes, we need to talk" kind of phone call.
I wrote them back, asking what the next step is in proceeding with lap-band surgery and they want me to schedule a follow-up appt with my doctor. I guess that means the ball is in my court now. Why am I procrastinating then? I should be on top of this! Truth is...the more real this surgery becomes, the more worried I become. I'm not worried about dying really...but it's more of a cosmetic fear.
I've seen pictures of people after they've had surgery and they have all this loose skin hanging off of them and that is what terrifies me. How do you get rid of that? Plastic surgery?
Yes, I'll make the appt and I'll go through with the surgery. In the end it is more important to be healthy...right?
We took The Dog to the dog park and walked him out to the end of the trail where the dogs can go swimming. Only...not our dog because he doesn't like the water that much and even if it is sunny, it was still cold.
The walk down and back is a teeny bit over a half mile, so if you throw in our walk yesterday, I did just over 3 1/2 miles this weekend.
My broken ankle is throbbing, and my joints hurt...but as much as I so would love to complain about it, I'm not going to.
Surgery
I had an email from my doctor. All of my lab results came back and even though I can't read them (Um? Hello? Not a doctor.) I'm assuming they are good to go since they were emailed to me instead of in a "Yes, we need to talk" kind of phone call.
I wrote them back, asking what the next step is in proceeding with lap-band surgery and they want me to schedule a follow-up appt with my doctor. I guess that means the ball is in my court now. Why am I procrastinating then? I should be on top of this! Truth is...the more real this surgery becomes, the more worried I become. I'm not worried about dying really...but it's more of a cosmetic fear.
I've seen pictures of people after they've had surgery and they have all this loose skin hanging off of them and that is what terrifies me. How do you get rid of that? Plastic surgery?
Yes, I'll make the appt and I'll go through with the surgery. In the end it is more important to be healthy...right?
Saturday, March 19, 2011
OH what a CHANGE!
Today the sun was out, which always improves my mood. Me and my husband and daughter took The Dog to the local lake to enjoy the sun, a picnic, and a nice (long) walk around the lake. It turned out to be a 2.98 mile walk (probably a little over 3 by the time we were back to the car, but I only counted the loop around the lake).
It felt so so so so good to be out in the SUN! The WARMTH! The glorious wonderful weather! Which should all go away by Monday when the doom and gloom of spring rain returns. I'll be out again tomorrow to enjoy it more though. Hopefully that will get the momentum going enough to get me started on my walking DVD while it rains next week.
CAN'T. WAIT. FOR. SPRING!
It felt so so so so good to be out in the SUN! The WARMTH! The glorious wonderful weather! Which should all go away by Monday when the doom and gloom of spring rain returns. I'll be out again tomorrow to enjoy it more though. Hopefully that will get the momentum going enough to get me started on my walking DVD while it rains next week.
CAN'T. WAIT. FOR. SPRING!
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