IT'S OFFICIAL!

I just wanted to post a quick update letting you all know that I finally did it...

25 POUNDS IS OFFICIALLY GONE FOREVER!  And I feel great!

My weigh-in was kind of impromptu, but I'm SO glad I decided to do it.  I was feeling a little down and this was the pick-me-up that I needed to get me back on track for my goal by my birthday!

Another WooHoo Weigh-In Under My Belt!!!

Good Days and Bad Days

I have great days.  I have bad days.  I have days when I feel fat.  I have days when I feel skinny.  I have days when I feel like the same 'ol person who never bothered to get off the couch and do something with herself.  I have days when I can tell my clothes are too big.  I have days when my clothes feel too tight.  Some days I just want to quit.  Other days I can't wait to get out and go on a run.  Some days I get a lot of compliments from people, and some days I see people who I haven't seen in months and they don't say anything. 

As you can see...this is all SO flip-floppy for me.  I wish I knew how to feel.  I mentioned in a previous post that losing weight has been a big adjustment.  But then I have times where I feel that it shouldn't be a big adjustment because I really haven't lost that much, and the person next to me has lost a ton!  My clothes feel different, yet I can't fit in the next size down yet.  I have hit a major plateau and it's so frustrating, so some days I feel like this is it for me.  Maybe I'm not meant to be smaller.  Maybe I am?

Do you have days when you feel so blah that you really can't put it into words that make any sense?  Clearly that's how I feel today. 

My New and Improved Goals

It has been a while since I posted last and I want to bring you all up to speed on what has been happening in my life.  The summer has been just nuts.  With all of the activities and barbecues it seems we are busy all of the time.  Also, the summer is generally a busy time at my job.  Lots of extra time spent working in the evenings and it's really hard to find that balance between work, my family, exercise, and the blog.  Unfortunately, the blog comes last and it has suffered a little bit.  But I see the light, and I hope to be posting more now!

As far as my journey, I'm happy to report that I have almost lost 25 pounds.  I have been losing merely ounces for the last couple of months and it stinks!  Yes, 25 pounds is great, but not good enough for me.  I never wanted it to be about a number, but I think a numeral goal makes me want it even more!  I went back into my weight tracking program and looked at what I had originally entered as a goal.  It's really funny because I wanted to lose a certain amount before my 34th birthday, and I am only 5 pounds away from that.  I had totally forgotten about that goal!  So, here I am, about 3 weeks away from that date, and I am totally ready!  Time to get it together and shed that last 5 pounds!

Every day is a new day and every day is a chance to try again!  Enjoy the rest of your weekend all!

Are you a Diet Saboteur? How to be supportive or not...

Welcome back to the blog.  Yes, it's been a while.  I have lots of excuses, but I don't plan to bore you.  I do want to share something that has been on my mind lately.  I realize that I have made a personal committment to myself to become an overall healthier person.  I believe I have been relatively successful, although I have plateaued, which is totally annoying.  But at any rate...

My thoughts evolve around the people I align myslef with on a daily basis and those I associate with from time to time.  It's been very interesting in this journey to see how people react to me and the comments that I get and the general "I really don't understand why you are trying to do this?" kind of attitude.  I suppose that I'm the one who decided to make this change in my life, and certainly I can't expect other people to jump on board simply because I think it's a great idea.  I have to keep reminding myself, "I am the one who has made a change.  Not everyone else."

Having said that, I think it's important to highlight things I have experienced since the beginning of the year, and I also wanted to touch on a few tips I think might be helpful to those of you out there who are already skinny, naturally beautiful, non-exercising, and overall perfect.  Unfortunately, I have to try at all of those things, and I wish I couold report that I am always successful, but I guess that's the way the world goes around.  So here we go.  I'll start with the "don't and do's" of "What Not to Do and What to Do When You Have a Loved One Who Has Decided To Change His/Her Life."  (Phew, that was long, wasn't it?)  Disclaimer:  I am going to speak in first person, although these are simply my thoughts, and not necesarily true occurrences.  :-)

The Don'ts:

1. Please, please...do not invite me to a restaurant that you know will sabatoge my diet.  People, I have addicting personality, and cannot tell you no.  I just can't.  So, please don't ask.

2. Do not give back-handed compliments.  Those of us who have struggles are well aware that we have struggles.  It isn't necessary for you to point out that I (or someone else) no longer has rolls on one's back like the Michelin man.  Thanks, but no thanks.

3. Don't ask me to exercise with you, knowing that you always have and can still beat me.  It isn't a race.  I'm still going to let you win if it makes you feel better about yourself.

4. When you come into the same public bathroom and have a million stalls to choose from, DO NOT pick the one right next to mine.  What does that have to do with weight loss?  Nothing. I'm just sayin'.

5. Don't give unsolicited advice.  I know we all think we are experts in this area, but we aren't.  My body is different from your body and we operate differently.  Enough said.

6. This one is huge! Do not make comments such as, "Wow, you are going to be awesome and skinny, and then you won't be my friend anymore."  Read that again...it sounds really dumb, doesn't it?

OK, enough of the negative and sarcastic.  I would like to highlight some positive things and give some helpful hints that I (and people like me) need from people like you!

1. When I tell you that I really don't want to exercise, encourage me to go anyway!  By now you know how it makes me feel and I need your support! 

2. If it really is important to you, ask me what you can do to help me.  No, the world does not revolve around me, but throw me a bone, and ask anyway!

3. Let me talk about it!  This is all new territory for me and it is exciting.  For once, I am successful at something.  Even if you don't care, pretend that you do.

4. Treat me the same as you always have.  I am the same.  But now, I have just a little less to love.

5. Compliment me when you see a positive change.  I really need the reinforcement.  I am having a lot of trouble accepting the changes that are happening (as weird as that sounds), so your thoughts are much appreciated. 

6. If you are going to ask me to go with you to a really fab restaurant, be a dear and look at the menu ahead of time.  If you are invested in our relationship, then help me out.  Maybe you could suggest some things that you know would work for me?

Those are just some of the thoughts that I have on this subject.  My mind swirls around it all of the time.  Part of that is because I, myself, am being judgmental.  Part of it is because some of these things have really happened to me.  It's a daily struggle.  I have to admit that sometimes I really hate it.  Being healthy IS NOT easy.  I digress all of the time.  Because I feel  like I'm living this life, I have to try and point out things that I know will help me and others in this very same fight to be healthier and happier.

Frankie says "Relax"

But don't relax too much.  Because clearly that is what I have done.  I weighed in on Friday, and I have only lost .4 pounds in the last three weeks.  And while I continue to run three times a week, I have clearly blown my good eating habits over the weekends.  I can honestly say that is what happened.  I tend to relax a little too much and throw everything I have done down the drain on the weekends.  Like I "deserve" to eat.  I have to switch that mentality quickly!  This is a lifestyle change and food rewards are just no good! 

I think everyone struggles when they commit to a change in their life and food issues really are no different.  And while, no, I won't gain back the weight overnight, I have to remember that I didn't gain it overnight to begin with.  It was a series of years in the making and a long path of poor choices.  One bad weekend leads to two bad weekends, and on and on...

So, with that, I plan to totally get back on track.  I'm ready to move to the next step which is to lose the final 2.8 pounds to put myself into a new decade! 

I sincerely appreciate all of your encouragement!

My 5k Comeback!

Hello all!  It has been awhile, and so much has happened in the last month!  I continue to "joggle" 3 days a week and also continue to fight the good healthy food fight.  I have a weigh-in this Friday and I'm hopeful that I will enter a new decade this time.  It has actually been 3 weeks since I weighed myself.

This past Saturday, I ran in a 5k race to benefit the youth group at my church.  It was in my neighborhood, so I couldn't reasonably say no.  It was at 8:00 in the morning, so it wasn't too hot, but the humidity in Ohio is just unbearable sometimes, so it was definitely sticky!  I couldn't be more ecstatic about my results because I finished it in 37:50!  That is just amazing compared to some of the past races I have done.  My last 5k was in October, 2010, and I beat that time by 12 minutes.  The kicker is that I actually walked the first 5 minutes to warm up, so I was really putting a lot of effort into this run.  If I would have kept up that pace for a 10k, I would have beat my results of the 10k race I ran in April by almost 10 minutes.  Just awesome for me! 

I began using a new training program on my iPhone called Podrunner:Intervals Gateway to 8k, and I love it as much as the 5k training program I previously used.  I am a little embarrassed to admit that I am still on week one, but I have been doing it for almost 3 weeks.  It is really tough, and again, the heat and humidity has been exhausting, so it's all I can do to run 3-4 times a week!  At any rate, I'm still exercising and gettin' my sweat on!

I am trying to reassess my plans to run a Half-Marathon in October.  At this point, I just don't know if I'm ready for that large of a goal.  Yes, I'm wimping out a little, but I'm also trying to be realistic.  I don't want to end up hating exercise.  I am really comfortable with running 3-4 miles at a time right now, but at the same time, I know I need to push the envelope a little.  So, we shall see.  I may make my next goal a 10k and hope to run most of it.  I really think that is a better goal for me right now.

I hope all is well with everyone and that you are taking the time to get out and enjoy some of this blistering sun!

I was Runnin'!

And runnin' I was!  Last night I went for a run and I'm proud to say that I ran for two miles straight!  This is a huge deal for me folks.  I am loving the Podrunner:Intervals program so much!  I never, EVER thought I would be able to run the way I used to, so I am definitely thrilled with that.  I did it in 25 minutes, with a 5 minute walking warm-up and cool-down on each side.  And the best part was that I was not really too winded.  So, I am making strides people!

As for my Weigh-In last week, I only lost 1 additional pound over a two-week period.  I have slowed WAY down in this department and I would really like to pick that part back up.  I have become a little relaxed on my eating habits and I really need to re-focus on this.  I have come way too far to quit at this point.  I really don't think that the healthy changes I have made are ever going to change, but it has become way too easy to slip in the no-no's every once in a while.  I think in my head that one little thing isn't going to hurt me, but I simply cannot live with that attitude.  That is what got me into trouble to begin with!

So, I continue on.  I plan to run again on Tuesday and Thursday.  I need to incorporate my Polar HRM back into my exercise routine, but I found that it is a little cumbersome to have the watch, the monitor strapped around my chest, and my iPhone in my armband all at once.  There are a billion programs out there for the iPhone to monitor heart rate and calories, but I just can't imagine how accurate they are if you aren't wearing the actual monitor around your chest. 

Do you use any smartphone apps for running or exercise, and if so, what do you like?

My Training Plan...or Not...

Hello everyone!  I have been so ridiculously busy over the past few weeks.  My work has definitely been busier and when I come home in the evening I find myself wanting to just go outside and play with the kiddo.  He absolutely loves being outside, so I try to take advantage whenever I can.  Couple that with him falling ill with strep throat, let's just say life has been hectic.

At any rate, my running plan continues on and I struggle everyday with fighting this good fight.  But alas, I still plan to conquer.  I have a great friend that provided me with a new term to use in place of what I like to call, "running."  It's called "joggling."  So for now, I will call myslef a Joggler.   A little mix of walking, skipping, hopping, and kind of picking my feet up off the ground in a faster-than-walking pace.  There it is: Joggling!

So on my continued path of becoming the greatest Joggler known to mankind, I continue to exercise at a minimum of three days a week.  I was thrown a little off track by my vacation a few weeks ago, so I am now on Week 6 Day 2 of the Podrunner:Intervals First Day to 5k Program.  And can I just say that I am loving it.  It totally consumes my mind so I really don't think about my breathing technique at all.  But obviously something is working because, well, I haven't passed out yet from not breathing.  But as with anything, I do have two issues.  One, I still don't really like water.  I am trying really hard to over-hydrate on the days I know I am going to joggle, but I know I'm still not getting enough water.  And two, I absolutely hate from the bottom of heart bumble bees.  With the extremely hot and humid weather, they are inevitable.  But, nonetheless, I hate them.  They cause me to completely freeze and panic.  They scare...me...to...death!  And they insist on following me down the bike path every time I run.  I am allergic to them, and am terrified I am going to get stung.  I mean, seriously, what are you supposed to do when they start bouncing off of your head and swarming around you, ready to attack?  Do you just keep running?  Will they eventually go away?  Ugh, if I could just figure that out, I really would be fine.  I know I need to ask for a prescription for an EpiPen, just in case, but you know how that goes.  I just haven't made the time to do it.

Anyway, I am still trying to find the perfect training plan for this Half Marathon that I am just crazy enough to participate in.  I blame my husband's cousin for that.  Thanks, Katy...

I have looked high and low for the right plan and I still haven't come up with the perfect plan for me.  I still don't know if I am woman enough to actually think that I'm going to run the whole thing.  AHHH, decisions, decisions!

As for a weigh-in update, I did have a successful WooHoo Weigh-In almost two weeks ago.  I have not quite hit that 20 pound milestone, but I'm confident it is going to happen this week.  It HAS to!  I totally have "pants on the ground syndrome", so something has to give here!  I need to go shopping!

Do any of you have the same fear of bees that I do?  Do any of you recommend a Half-Marathon training plan for a Joggler like myself?

Where you at?

Well, here I am!  After a short hiatus, I have re-entered reality.  I haven't posted since Mother's Day because we have been just SO busy!  My husband and I take a trip each year down to Charlotte, NC and we just got back.  The trip serves two purposes: first to see one of my sisters and second to attend the NASCAR All-Star Race.  Yes, I do have a little redneck in me (but please don't tell anyone).  The truth is that I love NASCAR and my in-laws buy us tickets to go down to Charlotte every year to see the race.  It's an awesome time of relaxation and extended family time.  See, as proof, here we are:

And yes, I also got my hair did last week.  I have wanted to grow it out for some time, but since my hair is quite fine, the only way I could do it was by getting a perm.  So far so good!  My son took one look at me and said, "Mommy, why is your hair so silly?"  :-)

I was a pretty good girl when we were out of town.  I did indulge a little, but I am now past it and back on track.  I even ran 2 miles on the morning of the race!  And here's the proof of that:

I plan to weigh-in this Friday.  Fingers crossed for a "WooHoo Weigh-In!"

I'm melting...

Or at least that's what I thought!  Tonight was my sort of re-entry into running/walking, except this time I ran.  And I was sweating buckets.  I walked twice last week, but that celebration is over.  If I am considering a Half-Marathon, it's time to get busy!  But more on that later...

My Mother's Day was awesome!  My son made some things for me at pre-school and he was SO proud to give them to me.  Honestly, there are no better presents than the ones that come from your child's heart.  And the sappy little poem that was attached to the picture of his hand print was absolutely amazing!  He was just gleaming, and I couldn't have asked for a better gift.  Having said that...my husband "helped" my son buy me an awesome Mother's Day gift.  I have been toying around with buying an iPod for quite some time.  At the same time, it was time for me to buy a new cell phone.  Mine was quite outdated.  I didn't even have texting capabilities!  Mostly because I have been resistant, and not because I'm not "hip."  So, my gift was the new iPhone 4 from Verizon.  And can I say, it is unbelievable!  The funny part is that I didn't even know how to answer a call at first.  I work in technology for a living, but have sworn against modern technology for some time.  Nonetheless, I now have a sweet phone. 

One of my friends from work just finished the C25K program, and she told me about a podcast that she downloaded for free.  So, Terri, meet Podrunner:Intervals.  And let me just say, this program is amazing!  It keeps your stride, bpm's (beats per minute), and breathing totally under control.  Because I just finished a 10k, I decided to start with Week 4.  I want to be able to run most of the Half, so I really thought it would be wise for me to go back and re-visit a running training program to get my running under control.  I just loved it.  And 3 miles was done and over in no time!  I'm a dance-party music type of girl, and the music for this program is techno-like.  Honestly, I didn't think about my breathing patterns one time.  I was so focused on getting in sync with the beat of the music that it just flowed naturally.  I am really looking forward to doing it again on Thursday!

As for Mother's Day, I wanted to share a pic of me and my baby boy!

Just a quick check-in...

I don't know why I felt compelled to weigh myself this morning, but I did it anyway.  And no, it wasn't bad news, but it wasn't great news.  It has been 10 days and I have only lost .8 pounds.  I mean, GOOD GRIEF, can a girl get an extra .2 pounds for an even 1 pound???

I swear I stepped on that thing and it actually giggled.  I know that  I haven't done as well as I should this week because I have had this mentality that consisted of rewarding myself with food since I did so well at the 10k last week.

Nonetheless, it's time to get over it and move on.  Onto the next thing...trying to figure out how I'm actually going to train for this Half-Marathon!  Please help me!

Rockin' the 10k!

The 10k build up finally ended on Saturday.  We woke up bright and early and headed out for the 8am race.  I was really excited and nervous all at the same time.  I ended up running a lot of the first mile, just to get away from the pack of people.  And right around mile two we had to cross a huge bridge into Kentucky and that's when I thought I could totally quit!  Road races seem so LONG compared to exercising near known courses and paths close to home.  But, I continued on, with the help of my sister.  Honestly, I have no idea how much we ran.  She was pacing me the entire time and would tell me when to go and when to stop.  Thank goodness for her, because otherwise I don't think I would have done nearly as good as I did.  In the end, my goal was to finish in 1:30, which would have been close to a 15 minute mile.  Heck, I could walk that.  But I did beat my goal and I finished in 1:25!  ROCKSTAR!

But to speak of the build-up...it is so exciting to train and actually do the race.  But once it was over I felt a little empty.  Proud, but empty.  What's next for me?  Will I keep going?  I certainly can't give up at this point?

My cousin ran in the Half Marathon the following day, and she began her training last September.  She is a full-time working mother just like myself, yet she didn't let excuses get in the way of her goals.  So, she started the C25K program in September, ran her first 5k in January, and rocked it all the way to the Half in May!  When she was done, she sent me a very simple message through Facebook..."Want to run the Columbus Half in October?"  Um...YES!

So, here I am.  Wondering what on earth I am thinking.  Trying to figure out how I am ever going to fit in this training.  Why I am even considering such a thing?  Well, it's because I'm not finished yet!  I CAN do this!  I WILL do this!  I am a ROCKSTAR!!!

Just before "GO" time

Heading to the Finish

The "Finish Swine!"

  

T-Minus 5 days and counting...

The Flying Pig 10k is looming.  My goal is to finish it in 1:30, and I really think that's an attainable goal.  Lately, my average pace has been right around 14 minutes, and that's with some jogging thrown in.  I'm hopeful that the adrenaline and excitement of the race atmosphere combined with my sister pushing me along will make me prosper.  I'm really excited, and yet my stomach has a pit just thinking about it.  I tend to psyche myself out about this stuff for some reason (a little OCD perhaps?)  I don't know why it is such a big deal to me mentally...it isn't going to be the first time that I go 6.2 miles.  I guess the whole goal part is what has me freaked out.  So...we shall see.  I walked 3 miles last night and Thursday night I'm supposed to walk 1 mile. 

So many things have transpired since my last post.  Easter came and went.  The rain has washed away many parts of Dayton.  Oh, and I've lost another 2.6 pounds, pushing me into a new decade in this journey.  I couldn't have been more shocked when I stepped on the scale a few days ago.  I don't know if it is the new eating habits or the new exercise or what?  But, I'll take it.  One question remains, "When am I going to physically feel the change?"  I still feel heavier.  Even though people have given me compliments and even though one of my best friends told me, "Wow, you totally have saggy butt!"  (Um...thanks?)  I just can't wrap my head around the fact that I have done this, I have won the good fight, and I am almost to my first mini goal of a 20 pound weight loss.  Even my husband gave me a very back-handed compliment last night.  (Again...um...thanks?)

Here is a side-by side comparison of me at Christmas 2010 and me on Easter Sunday (no, I didn't slim myself down for the sake of the photo):

 

And, of course, there's this guy (YUM!):

At any rate, I am looking forward to the weekend.  Looking forward to the race and looking forward to the race being over!  I know that after the race, I want to go back and revisit the C25K program and I also plan to take up some Zumba classes at my church.  It's free, so why not?

Enjoy the rest of the week everyone!

Another one bites the dust!

Another weekend that is...

My weekend was kind of hectic, but I did manage to get my walk in on Saturday morning.  But two adventures happened while I was out.  At about 2 miles in, I came to an intersection on the bike trail and look to my right to see about a dozen police officers in swat uniforms with big guns and shields, heading into the woods.  I say, "Self?  Am I going to be shot...or better yet, murdered?"  Turns out it was a police training exercise, but still.  It was creepy scary.  Once I got over that, I headed onward for what I thought would be another 4 miles.  I was shooting for 6 miles (no pun intended).  But of course, another hassle had to interrupt me.  At around mile 4, the rain began to come down.  And it POURED!  Of course before I left, I asked my husband if we had a waterproof jacket I could wear just in case it started to rain, and he gave me one, assuring me it was indeed waterproof.  He could not have been more wrong!  I got soaked from head to toe and my shoes were then rubbing my feet.  So...I gave up at 5 miles.  I was cold, drenched, and mad.  I guess the good news is that I was more mad about not finishing than I was about the downpour!

Sunday lent itself to more adventure when my husband ended up having to go to work.  So, no walk.  BOO!

I hope to get it together this week and get back on track.  Less than two weeks until the Flying Pig 10k!  My original hope was to be able to jog, but at this point, I just don't think it is going to happen.  I can walk very fast, but honestly my jogging capabilities are slower than my fastest walk.  And when I say jogging, I mean hopping really because I am certainly not a very good runner. 

After the Pig is over, I am going back to the basics.  I plan to use the Couch-to-5K ® Running Plan so that I can get it together by September.  I am hoping to be able to run the entire Air Force 5k by that time.  I have a few friends who are registering for that one and I REFUSE to let these smaller girls take me down!

TGIF!

Ah, it's Friday, and I have the Spring itchies like no other!  I feel like I need to take a day off work and clean my house from top to bottom.  I have been so thrilled that I have been able to open my windows in the evening and let the breeze freshen up my house.  What a wonderful feeling!

I'm kind of bummed because tomorrow is my 6 mile day and it is supposed to rain.  Honestly, I'll be really irritated if I can't go.  I suppose I could just suck it up and exercise in the rain, but that doesn't really sound like my idea of a good time...

Other than that, things have been going along relatively smoothly.  Work is steady and the kiddo is doing wonderful after his surgery.  He has been such a trooper.  He had his follow-up appointment with the ENT yesterday and the ENT told me that everything looked clear.  And pretty much, that's all he said.  (It's pretty obvious that those folks don't attend any kind of bedside manner classes in med school.)

I decided to weigh myself yesterday and I am down another 1.2 pounds.  And while that sounds great, it really isn't that good to me because that is only a .6 pound loss per week.  I've really had some struggles over the past few weeks with all  of the Easter candy laying around and just a general need to snack due to stress.  You see, it never stops.  I don't think I will ever have a point in my life where the temptation goes away.  I suppose it is an addiction like any other addiction.  I understand, to a very small degree, why people continuously "fall off the wagon" when it comes to drugs and alcohol.  And for that matter, I have suffered a different addiction in my own personal life that I also continue to struggle with everyday.  Vices and habits are VERY hard to break!

So, I think it's time for me to really kick it up a notch.  I still have yet to sit down and really think about what my goals are.  Both in the short-term and the long-term.  I think it's a good time to start dealing with this since I feel pretty comfortable in my workout and weight-loss routine.  I just don't want to be unrealistic with my new journey.

I do want to share one of the new little products that I found that really helps me with my water consumption.  Why someone didn't think of this before, I'll never know.  MiO liquid water enhancer has been one of the greatest little creations I have seen lately.  This stuff is mega concentrated so it really one takes a squirt or two to make your beverage a delightful fruity concoction!  I love it! 

I hope everyone has a fantastic weekend!

Fantastic Article!

One of my favorite blogs is Foodtrainers.  Throughout this journey, I have learned to be very careful of what kind of advice or tips that I consider "valid", and this particular blog is absolutely fantastic for providing valid and real advice.  Advice about healthy living, weight loss, being a mommy who is trying to do it all, and many other items of interest.  When I looked at the most recent blog post I was really stunned at how it was a picture perfect replica of my life.  Not just prior to this new journey, but even now.

Over the past few weeks, and in particular since my son had his surgery, I have found myself being a lot more lenient in regards to grazing and having a bite of this or that each day.  And what I have come to realize is this:  "You are still in the beginning stages of this new lifestyle, and you simply cannot cheat."  I am not at the point where "Don't be so hard on yourself" is applicable.  This might sound really harsh and it might seem like I am setting myself up for a disaster in the long-term, but I don't really think so.  I NEED to be harder on myself when it comes to snacking on the wrong things because I have not reached my goal.  And I am not going to attain that goal if I live in such a way that allows me to backslide into old habits.  Those are the very habits that got me to where I was in the first place.  Now, I'm not saying that you can't indulge.  In fact, I wrote a previous blog post about this very thing.  But what I am saying is that those 10 M&M's that I am eating every single day in the blink of an eye are going to add up! 

However, I absolutely love the end of the blog that talks about your Victory List.  I'm not really into all of the Psycho-Babble that goes on in today's culture, but I do believe that rewarding yourself in a positive manner creates significant strides in your self-confidence and allows you to move that tiny small step ahead towards your personal goals.  I am also a person who loves a challenge, so I think it would be helpful for me to set a small goal for each day, and then celebrate at the end of the day with a much needed pat on the back!

Having said that, my husband should be thrilled when our closet space begins to slowly disappear due to my new DSW shopping habit.  I deserve it, right?  :-)     

Surgery was a success and a WooHoo Weigh-In!

I want to first tell you that my son's surgery went very well!  It was not without issue, however, because he had some ill effects from the anesthesia.  It made him really sick!  But his recovery has been fast and he bounced back very quickly.  Now, to work on my own recovery...

I haven't exercised since last Sunday, which makes me feel really bad.  It really couldn't be helped considering we were preparing for his surgery and watching over him during recovery.  But, nonetheless, I feel weak and tired.  I need to get back to this very soon!  My eating habits have also slacked over the past week.  I haven't been horrible, but I found myself slipping back into choosing bad things to eat, and I want to get over that.  It is SO easy to pick horrible food because it is too convenient and I was also stress eating...A LOT.

Having said that, I finally weighed myself this morning on a total whim.  I actually wasn't going to, but it was killing me.  I am happy to report that over the last few weeks, I have lost another 3.2 pounds.  Most of that was because I continued to make good food choices as well as pound out some serious foot movement on the pavement.  Part of me can't help but think I've also lost some muscle mass because I didn't work out for several days.  Who knows?  Regardless, it's time to get busy and back on track to my overall weight loss goals!

What kinds of things do you do to get back on track after falling off the weight loss wagon?

It's Saturday!

I had another great exercise day, although I have to admit, I didn't run or jog at all.  It was 28 degrees when I went out this morning and my legs were just not letting me go any faster.  But, I had to get the mileage in.  I almost feel really strange lately if I don't exercise.  I was supposed to jog this past Thursday, but ended up going to a friend's Thirty-One party and eating some seriously yummy snacks.

At any rate, here are my stats for today:

Distance: 4 Miles
Duration: 56 minutes
Calories burned: 717
Average Heart Rate: 170
Maximum Heart Rate: 180 (A little better than last Saturday)
In Heart Rate Zone:  Not very long...

I was supposed to go for 4.5 miles, but I just didn't have it in me.  I was absolutely freezing and my hip started to bother me.

I wish I could say that I have a weigh-in update, but I don't.  I haven't weighed myself in a few weeks because I just don't want to see the scale go up or stay even.  That would be completely irritating.  I plan to weigh-in sometime mid next week.

My husband and I have been preparing our son for his surgery this coming Tuesday.  He is going to have ear tubes put in and his adenoids removed.  I have been praying for a speedy recovery as well as some kind of remedy to his near constant sinus and nasal problems.  This week he started yet another cold.  It is so ironic to me that as soon as he completed his last course of antibiotics that his nose began to run once again.  I am convinced that his adenoids are causing the problems, at least I hope.

So for the next couple of days I plan to hang out with him as much as I can and will post another report after his surgery on Tuesday.

If you pray (or even if you don't), will you consider saying a little prayer for us as we go into surgery Tuesday morning?

It's Official

Yep, it's official.  Well, by my non-medical standards anyway, but my hip bursitis has returned.  I began my bout with bursitis many, many years ago.  It has come and gone over the years, but for whatever reason, it has decided to rear its ugly head at me.  And darn it hurts!  I imagine it is from all of this crazy exercising I have been doing, but it isn't going to stop me!

I guess I have to ice it every once in a while and just move on. 

Does anyone else have this problem, or do you have aches and pains that just nag you?

A much better end to the week!

After my sort of fail earlier this week, I decided to simply move on.  All I can do is better, so better I did.  I did very well with my food choices and never went overboard, not even this weekend!

I might add that Chili's restaurant has a FABULOUS dinner called Margarita chicken.  It comes with a grilled chicken breast over a small amount of rice and the most fabulous black beans!  According to Eat This, Not That is has 580 calories.  Which for a large dinner is really great!  Not only that, black beans are SO good for you.  According to one study, black beans have more antioxidant activity, gram for gram, than other beans.  And no, I suffered no indelicate side effects.

On Saturday, I went for one of my infamous jog/walks and managed to exercise for a distance of 4 miles with the following stats:

Duration: 54 minutes
Calories burned: 708
Average Heart Rate: 170
Maximum Heart Rate: 180 (A little better than last Saturday)
In Heart Rate Zone:  Not very long...

All in all, my mile average was 13.5 minutes.  I say that's not too shabby for someone who doesn't really run.  Actually, I have no idea how far I ran, but I ran when I could until I just couldn't do it any more.  And then I walked in between.  I realize this really isn't a 'proper' way to train, but it's working for me.

Then today, I went on a shorter jog/walk for 2.5 miles.  Sunday is generally a more relaxed exercise day as far as mileage, and then I build during the week.  But, I finished it in 34 minutes and still burned almost 400 calories, so I'll take it.

My son and I have come up with one awesome fruit smoothie, so when I got back from exercising this evening, he helped me make smoothies for the family.  Here is my favorite version:

1 banana, sliced by a 3 1/2 year old (if you don't have one of those, you can cut it yourself; it just won't be as cute.)
1/2 bag of frozen strawberries (I think the bag was 16 oz.)
1/2 cup 100% apple juice (this helps the sweetness factor)
1 5.3 oz. container of whatever Greek yogurt you like.  We used Fage with honey.

Whip that bad boy in the blender and you have an awesome treat for you and one that your kid will even drink!  I choose Greek yogurt because of the really high protein content and lower sugar count than regular yogurt.  I also read that it helps your muscles recover after a workout.  I'll let you know tomorrow if that's true.

I'm supposed to weigh-in tomorrow, but I am absolutely scared to death.  I may wait until later in the week and try to get on a new weigh-in schedule.  Weighing in on Friday seems so much better than Monday.  I always have a 'case of the Mondays' anyway...who wants to add a weigh-in to that?

Keep on keepin' on!

I wish I had a WooHoo Weigh-In to report, but unfortunately I was up .6 pounds this week.  BOO!  But, I actually am well aware of what happened (at least I think), and old habits do not die fast for me.  It really takes one day of bad eating to throw things off.  In my case, I ate kind of crappy all weekend.  So, I suppose this is what happens.

I have definitely realized that I have to be very disciplined at this point in my journey, because I am not in maintenance phase.  I am in the beginner phase, and being very strict is key!  I don't like it, but as they say, "It Is What It Is."

I did do my training jog/walk on Sunday evening and I also managed to get in a Leslie Sansone workout tonight.  It has been really rainy and dark here today and I almost talked myself out of exercising, but I put those big girl panties on and worked out anyway.  And in the end, I feel better for it!

With that, I'll keep on keepin' on this week and hopefully I'll have a better weigh-in next Monday.  Or maybe I'll switch it to Friday so I can weigh-in before the weekend?  :-)

And we're off!

I had my last jog/walk this week from my training plan for the 10k that I am participating in on April 30th.  Today's walk (and I am saying walk because I would be lying if I said I actually ran) was 3.5 miles.  Using my new Polar FT4, I was able to determine the following stats:

Duration: 50 minutes 30 seconds
Calories burned: 665  (WooHoo!)
Average Heart Rate: 170
Maximum Heart Rate: 183 (Yikes!)
In Heart Rate Zone: 6 minutes 58 seconds

Now, I'm guessing the last part is bad.  I was only "in my zone" for right around 7 minutes.  When you initially set-up the heart rate monitor, it asks you to enter all of your stats like sex, height, weight, etc.  I assume that it determines your appropriate heart rate zone for the duration of your exercise activity based on your stats.  I'm guessing mine was too high.  Guess I have to work on that...and read what that actually means.

Otherwise, I feel great!

Next week's plan is as follows:

Sunday (yep tomorrow): 2 Miles
Tuesday: 3 Miles
Thursday: 2 Miles
Saturday: 4 Miles

I really don't have a particular running pattern yet.  I basically just try to warm up by walking and then run as far as I can without passing out.  Today I probably ran a total of .75 miles.  I guess that isn't bad for someone who "isn't a runner."  But we shall see how this goes!

Oh, and to relate back to my post from earlier this week; I plan to have some Texas Sheet Cake to celebrate my step-son's birthday this evening.  At least I planned it and already know what I'm going to eat, right? 

A few lessons learned

“Most people who fail in their dreams fail not from lack of ability but from lack of commitment” ~ Zig Ziglar

I found this quote on another blog and I really love it!  It's so true and certainly applies to my life.  I looked back on my blog posts from the beginning of this journey and I have really learned quite a few things.  But, I have SO far to go!  Not really as far as actual "pounds lost", but my mentality is so immature.  I learn new things every single day about health, food, weight loss, and about myself.  One thing is certain, I do not have the lack of ability to make this happen.  But do I have the commitment?

I like to think that I am committed.  But it is really hard!  I have found through this process that I am not a Superwoman, nor will I ever be.  I have weaknesses.  I like food that is bad (well, to the contrary, it is really good.)  I have a lot going on during the week.  I am a mother of a very rambunctious three year old.  I am trying to be a good wife.  I am trying to faithfully serve my God.  And on and on and on.

But thus far, I have learned many things and it only reinforces why I am committed to fulfilling my dreams of being healthy and feeling good!  Let me share a few of those realizations with you:

1.  I have to consistently exercise.  I have led a lifestyle that didn't incorporate exercise and it is way to easy for me to slip right back onto the couch and watch television.

2.  I really love finding and trying whole and healthy foods to eat.  Who knew that fruits and veggies could be so tasty?  And might I add, I make a really mean fruit smoothie!

3.  I cannot do it all at once.  I am the kind of person that becomes obsessed with things almost to the point of insanity.  I realize this about myself, yet I continue to do it anyway!  This is exactly what the title of the blog states:  a journey.  A journey is a lifetime of change, not a one day turnaround.

4.  I feel really good in my own skin.  I haven't felt this way in a long time.

5.  My son has taken notice of the changes I have made.  This simply amazes me that I can make such a significant impact in his young little life.  He asks me all the time, "Mommy, are you going to do your ets-ercise?"

6.  I really love Greek yogurt!  Why didn't we have this sooner???

7.  I have the ability to do this and the commitment continues to burn inside of me.  It's awesome!

8.  I love to blog.  It does take time, but it is so important in my self-accountability.   

These are just a few things that I can name off the top of my head.  I am certain there are more exciting lessons to be learned!

Foodtrainers: The Secret Ingredient for Weight Loss

I am loving this article. I really believe it is true. Now, if I could only convince myself of that, I'd be all set!

Foodtrainers: The Secret Ingredient for Weight Loss

My new gadget and a WooHoo Weigh In

Well, it really wasn't a WooHoo Weigh In, but I'll take it.  I'm only down .6 pounds, but I know exactly what happened.  It all started Friday afternoon and went down hill from there.  I went to a really awesome deli/sandwich shop and I'm sure that didn't help...and neither did the Laura's iced cookie that I had for dessert.  Oh, and then came the biscuits and sausage gravy for breakfast on Saturday morning (which might I add that I will never have store bought frozen buttermilk biscuits again, so lesson learned.  Those things are little heart attacks in a bag!)  And then came the ultimate downfall of the weekend, the movie theater.  And we all know what happens at the movie theater, right?  Yep, you got it, popcorn.  And lots of butter.  But you know, it was fabulous and now I'm moving on.  I am thankful that I didn't gain anything.  But now I know what I can't do, otherwise the pounds will come back!

I am sad to say that my fabulous Omron pedometer is being shipped back to Amazon.  In my last post, I told you about the jog/walk that I went on with my friend, and I used the pedometer.  I was very, very disappointed when at the end of the walk, it only registered 1.91 miles.  I know for a fact that we walked almost 3 miles and I wanted to throw the thing out in the field behind my house.  Fortunately, Amazon has a fantastic return policy and I actually ended up purchasing something to replace it.  After much research, I found the Polar FT4 Women's Heart Rate Monitor Watch.  It truly has everything that I want in a gadget and I think this is going to be the device for me.  I don't really need anything for distance because the bike paths behind my house are marked.  I am going to use those as my training guide for my upcoming race. 

If you are interested in seeing the trails that I use for training, you can find them here.  I have a fantastic asset right in my back yard!  I use "Xenia to Spring Valley" portion.

That's all I have for now.  Have a fabulous week everyone!

Wanna run?

So I got an e-mail from a friend of mine at work this past week and she asked me if I would be interested in going for a jog.  Huh, what...me?  After I realized she really was talking to me, I sent back a message and loathingly said, "Sure."  Let me preface this by saying, I am not a runner.  I don't know if that is in my head, or if it is true, but at that moment I knew, "I was not a runner."  I say all that to say that yes, I finalized my registration for the Cincinnati Flying Pig 10k on April 30, 2011 last Monday.  Seriously?  What AM I thinking? 

Regardless, I have run before, and I WILL do it again.  I have another friend who signed up for the race, too, so it is totally serious now.  I am not about to go down like a fool on this one.  You see, the last time I attempted this was in 2005.  It was around Christmas time and my entire family was joking about signing up for the Flying Pig Relay that May.  They wanted to have two teams of 4 people, and may the best team win!  I thought, "Wow, that sounds nice", and little did I know that I would be running on one of the teams.  And the reason why I ran?  My own mother actually bet me that I couldn't do it!  HA!  I showed her!  (Now as a disclaimer, I know that bet was merely for motivation on her part).  But I did...our team won...and I ran an 11 minute mile.  Pretty awesome for a chubby chick who had never lifted her foot off the ground or tried on a pair of real running shoes!

Fast-forward to 2011.  And I am here again.  This time for 6.2 miles and I find myself feeling that same terror that I felt before.  But this time, I am challenging myself.  This time, it's me and only me.

At the suggestion of an acquaintance of mine, I plan to use a combo of my friend's training schedule and the Couch to 5k program.  It starts tomorrow. 

It's on folks!  

Wow! What a week! (and a WooHoo Weigh-In!)

I'll start by apologizing for the lack of posts this past week, but I have been so busy!  I hope you don't forget that I am a full-time working mom to a 3 year old rambunctious little boy and a wife.  Having said that, you can see where my blog might take a backseat for a few days.

Speaking of my son, we learned this week that he is going to have to have ear tubes put in and his adenoids removed.  I have so many emotions surrounding this recommendation, and not even really from a 'surgery' standpoint.  Yes, the surgery stresses me out, especially the anesthesia, but I am more conflicted with how he ended up with so many illnesses to begin with.  Yes, I suffer from the typical syndrome called "mommy guilt" and it is something that I just can't seem to get away from.  My son was in private care for the majority of his early toddlerhood until we made the change and enrolled him into pre-school.  I knew that a whole host of illnesses were going to slam our lives, but I didn't anticipate that he would constantly be sick for the next entire year!  It has been one sinus issue or ear infection after another since April of 2010.  Having said that, I would enroll him all over again if I had the choice.  He LOVES school and his friends and his teacher.  Unfortunately, sickness is going to be a part of it.  My guilt lies with the fact that he was very rarely sick before going to school and I feel like he is now having this surgery as a result of a selfish decision on my part to put him into school.  There were many, many reasons why we took him out of private care, but it doesn't really lessen the blow of watching your child suffer from chronic nasal and ear problems.  At any rate, we are where we are, and I can't go back and change it.  I can only pray that our next step will help resolve some of his issues for good and that Our Almighty Physician will lay his hands upon my son and make him better!

OK, enough with my ranting and sadness...

My WooHoo Weigh-In for today found me 1.2 pounds lighter this week.  Not as good as I had hoped, but I know I slipped this past week, so I anticipated this result.  A loss is a loss and I'll take it!  And as for the Mexican I had last Friday, it made me feel quite sick to my stomach, so it really wasn't worth it.  Major lesson learned!

There is something to be said for...

Waking up late, exercising in the morning, eating gooey oatmeal, cleaning your home at your own pace, showering at noon, grocery shopping alone, throwing your hair in a ponytail, wearing no make-up, the still of an empty house on a rainy day, and brushing your teeth even later...

"WooHoo Weigh-In"

I had another fantastic WooHoo Weigh-In today.  Another two pounds of me are gone forever!  The number on the scale truly is significant to me today because I officially now weigh the same amount that I did when I was six weeks postpartum.  I know that sounds a little weird, but I didn't gain that much weight during pregnancy and when I had my six week check-up, I actually felt really good about myself and the amount that I weighed.  But this time, I have worked harder to get here!  Last time, I lost due to postpartum stress. (Oh, and I also pushed out a kid, but who's counting, really?)

Today is a work holiday for me and my son's school was open, so I went ahead and took him.  It was his teacher's first day back from her 10 day vacation, and I know he missed her.  She is absolutely wonderful and I know he is happy there.  And I am happy here,  ALONE!!  My husband is an "essential worker" in the health care field, so he doesn't have these fun holidays off. 

I've already worked out for the morning and am ready to do some hefty cleaning!  It doesn't sound like a fun day off, but it is personal cleansing for me.  I hate it while I'm doing it, but it brings me total satisfaction when I'm done!

Oh, and I tried McDonald's fruit and maple oatmeal today.  Really good, but honestly, not worth it for th calories it packs.  290 for a small bowl.  But it was tasty and will give me the fuel I need to get through this busy morning!

So, here's to you past, present and future Presidents!

Got 30 minutes?

If you do, and you want to do the same exercise that I did tonight...then try this!  It's free!

Leslie Sansone's 2 Mile Walk!  I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE it!  And I did it right in front of my computer.  You don't need a lot of room!

Let me know if you make it all the way through!

And, no, I'm not related to Buddy from Buddy's Carpet (you Daytonian's know who I'm talkin' about).

This isn’t going to happen overnight…

OK, so I am about six weeks into this whole lifestyle change thing and I just can’t help but feel some doubt from time to time.  Doubtful that I can really pull this off, doubtful that I am strong enough to make a significant change, doubtful that I can actually do this or that exercise routine, doubtful that I am eating the right things, just a  lot of doubt!  I suppose that is a very normal part of the process.  I have been at this for six weeks and didn’t even really see real results until last week.  Of course, that is my own fault, but I am convinced that I have to pick up the pieces and keep going!  I need and HAVE to do this! 

Today I had a little bit of a milestone and while it may seem silly to those of you who don’t have this problem, it was a big deal to me!  I walked through our coffee break area at work, and once again, someone had brought some kind of devil snack to share with those of us who would take the bait.  It looked really good, so I thought, “Well, I haven’t had any chocolate in a while, I’ll just have one little piece.”  So, I took a piece and went and sat down at my desk.  I took one bite and it didn’t taste good.  And then (and here’s where I had a huge breakthrough), I threw the rest away!  Wow, what a concept?  If you don’t like it, don’t eat it!  You have to understand, I used to be the kind of person who ate just to be eating.  I love food!  But I think I’m starting to learn that I don’t have to eat all of the time.  I don’t have to finish something, even if it doesn’t taste good, simply because it is sitting there. 

Just a few thoughts that I had today and needed to convey by writing them out.  I believe everyone needs a good brain dump now and again.

"WooHoo Weigh-In"

Happy Valentine's Day!  I had two very significant things that occurred today already.  One, my husband gave me a new pedometer for Valentine's Day.  I have been wanting one and was SO excited to get it!  No, it isn't one of those gift that offends me.  I actually asked for one.  Now...a new vacuum, perhaps...

And two, I had a 2.8 pound loss today!  WooHoo for weighing in!  I am actually very excited about this!  Now, I am trying to keep my expectations low because I do realize that I may not have weigh-ins like this all of the time.  But for now, I am thrilled!

I took the time last evening to go outside for a walk.  The weather change is fabulous in Ohio right now.  I managed to get in 2 miles, which made me feel really great.  I want to take advantage of this weather while I can because those of you who also live in Ohio know that it could change in a instant.  I remember snow days as late at April.

I hope you all have a great Valentine's Day!  Make sure to kiss the one you love!

Hooray for Saturday!

I'm just sitting down for a second on this busy, busy Saturday.  I have pretty much been active all day which makes me feel really good!

I have managed to continue to work out this week by doing the ExerciseTV videos and I am so excited to be adding a new routine to my fitness with weights.  A friend of mine at work was kind enough to loan me a set of dumbbells, and I am so ready to get started!  I also ordered myself a food journal this week with the recommendation of another blog I follow: priorfatgirl.com.  I hope I claim this title for myself one of these days!  The post can be found at http://www.priorfatgirl.com/2011/02/what-goes-up-must-come-down.html.  I purchased the DietMinder Personal Food & Fitness Journal.  Not only will this help me to be accountable to myself, and all of you, but it will help me log and track how I'm doing and where I can change things. 

I have an awesome crock pot potato soup almost ready to go with some yummy sourdough bread to top it off!

Have a fabulous weekend, friends!

Cardio is good!

After Sunday's snafu with my weigh-in, I decided to kick it up a notch this week with my eating habits as well as some additional cardio activity.  We are in the process of installing a new TV, so I had to find some exercises via ExerciseTV on the web.  I swear I love that channel/website because they offer free videos online!  So, my computer room isn't the best place to workout, but it is doable. 

Monday night I chose two walking segments that were 1 and 2 miles.  I had to break them up in order to give the kiddo a bath, but I finished 50 minutes of cardio that night.  I rested Tuesday, but was back at it today.  I actually ventured down to our gym facilities at work with a friend of mine.  It's funny because I have been at the same job for three years, and tonight was the first night I went to our gym!  Anyway, I did 30 minutes on the elliptical machine and barely felt like I had done anything.  I did sweat, but then again, I always sweat.  Nothing new there.  After a lot of play with my son (and a crash face first into the coffee table, lots of crying, and lots of hugging), I wasn't quite finished, so I picked up an extra mile with ExerciseTV online.

I am planning to buy a small set of dumbells so I can start to do some minor weight training/sculpting on my off nights.  ExerciseTV has some fabulous upper body workouts that I am really interested in trying!

As far as food, I need to start holding myself accountable by blogging about my intake.  Not that I'm doing bad by any means, but to see it written down might help me make some adjustments here and there.

But for now, I'm heading to the bed to relax and do some reading!  Have a good night all!

Weighing In

OK, so, I got my scale in the mail last week after the horrible snow/ice storms that we had in the local area.  I waited two extra days for it, and it was killing me, even though I wasn’t going to weigh in until Sunday.

At any rate, I used it on Sunday and felt completely shattered.  After scraping myself up off of the floor, I truly had to tryand keep it very real and explain it like this:  “Terri, you started this journey on January 5^th and had no idea what you weighed.  When you weighed in on January 23^rd, you couldn’t even provide an accurate weight because your scale was about as ghetto as all get out.  So, what are you so upset about?  Take the number you got and go with it.”

OK, I feel much better now.  I’m still scared to death to report any real number.  It is so cliché to say, “Well, it’s just a number…it really doesn’t matter…and blah, blah, blah…”  But you know, and I know, that talk like that is simply untrue.  How do women measure one another?  By weight and size.  No matter what.  Period. 

With that being said, I plan to continue to weigh in on Sunday’s and I plan to report my progress that way. 

On the coffee front, I finally found the coconut creamer that I thought was going to change my life.  Instead, I learned that I miss my regular creamer that much more!  But I’m not going back to the nasty calorie-laden creamer at this point, but I do plan to tweak it just a little.  Maybe I’ll do half of each type for a while? 

Happy Saturday!

Well, I'm still totally bummed that my favorite routines aren't available on Exercise TV.  And I don't really feel like doing anything on the Kinect.  So, I decided to vacuum the entire house.  Takes about 30 minutes and has lots of ups and downs.  I need one of those calorie counting things to see just how many calories I actually burn.  It's better than nothing, right?

We are going out to eat tonight at the Spaghetti Warehouse.  Ah, my personal carbohydrate Hades.  But, I've already checked out the nutrition info online and I guess I'll just have to pick the least damaging item on the menu, which means something with the lowest calories and fat content. 

I finally received my new digital scale.  I'm excited to use it tomorrow, but yet, I'm scared to death.  It's been two weeks since I weighed myself, and I am so afraid nothing has changed.  I guess at the very least, I am healthier!

Have a good weekend everyone!

More lessons learned...

Lesson #1: Anytime you want to find a food item that is unusual or a little quirky, visit Health Foods Unlimited in Dayton, Ohio.  They have everything and I mean EVERYTHING.

Lesson #2: Not everything in said health food store is healthy. :-(  You have to read labels, although I admit I have no idea what I'm reading yet...

Now onto lunch to eat my Lean Pocket with ham and cheese and my Baked Doritos!  Cheers!

It's been a looong few days!

Well, between the snow and ice, it has been very interesting around here the last few days.  I was ready for a good, consistent workout on Sunday night and I turned on Exercise TV only to find that my videos were gone!  Not only the walking videos I like, but most of the videos!  AGH!  I settled for a short 25 minute cardio workout followed by more frustration with the Your Shape Fitness Evolved game for xBox Kinect. 

However, on Monday, I decided to do some searching on the Internet and found several You Tube tutorials for the game.  Yes, success!  So, I did that on Tuesday night as well.  And "WOW!!" do my thighs hurt, even today!  Nonetheless, I will march on and continue this good fight!

I finally decided to contact the company that makes the coconut milk creamer to ask where in the heck I can get it in Ohio.  Three minutes later, they sent me a message telling me exactly where to go and even the name of the salesperson I can ask for help!  Talk about customer service!  I have to give a big shout out to "So Delicious" people for being fabulous!

Also, I actually decided to break down and buy myself a digital scale.  Due to the bad weather we have had, it hasn't arrived yet.  But I do plan to use it once a week on Sunday mornings.

I got my first compliment yesterday...my husband said, "You really look like you are losing weight."  Thanks, babe ;-)  (P.S. You can tell me that anytime you want!)

Good grief!

OK, so the key to this whole swap-out thing is to actually be able to find said coconut milk coffee cream from two posts ago.  I have been to 4 stores now with no luck!

Has anyone ever seen "So Delicious" coconut milk creamer in the store?  I have tried two local Kroger stores, Wal-Mart (which I knew wouldn't have it, but I was there anyway), and Dorothy Lane Market.  Yes, DLM has let me down.

Let me know if you see it out there!

A little ranting

OK, so I'm having a little bit of a "down" day.  Ugh!  I just want to be healthy and skinny.  But, macaroni and cheese and hot dogs are not going to get me there.  It's very difficult to eat healthy when there are so many outside influences around me.  I mean, I wasn't horrible today, but I wasn't great either. 

But, I have to own this.  Face the fact that I ate what I ate.  And move on!

More learning!

Wow, what a difference a little reading and lots of research makes!  I was trying to think of little things I could do to decrease my calorie and fat intake without really noticing a huge difference.  I was reading some information on coffee cream and was horrified at the things I found.  Did you know that a certain brand of flavored non-dairy liquid coffee creamer has 35 calories and 1.5 grams of fat in one tablespoon?  Not to mention the first three ingredients listed are water, sugar, and partially hydrogenated soybean oil?  YUCK! 

This information led me to do a little research on coffee creamer alternatives and I found coconut milk creamer.  To compare, it has 10 calories per TBSP and 0 grams of fat.  Its main ingredient is organic COCONUT MILK (organic COCONUT CREAM, WATER, GUAR GUM). 

In this process, I have learned that not all fat is the same.  A huge difference exists between saturated fat grams and monounsaturated fat grams. 

So to bring this to term and to compare it to my old habits, I can save approximately 50 calories and 3 grams of fat by simply switching coffee cream.  This is per day!  For the week, I will save myself 350 calories and 21 grams of fat!  And that's 21 grams of saturated fat!  And this is from one of the flavored non-dairy creamers with lower calorie and fat content.  There are other flavors that are even worse!

My goal in this whole lifestyle change is to change what goes into my body.  Not just by consuming lower calories in foods, but by choosing healthier alternatives.  I see this as a double bonus!

What swaps do you make in your daily routine that have made a difference to you?

In the words of the Great Patsy Cline...

I'm Crazy!  Yes, I am.  With this encouragement of one of my sisters, I am signing up for the Flying Pig 10k in Cincinnati, Ohio.  Now, I've done several of these races in the past, but I'm not really ready for a 10k at this point.  Guess I better get my behind in gear!  13 weeks to go!

A really motivating quote

I was looking around on the Internet today and saw a quote on another weight loss blog that I just absolutely love:

“Stop being a moron and start getting skinny! If you can’t take one more day of self-loathing, you are ready to hear the truth: You cannot keep shoveling the same crap into your mouth every day and expect to lose weight.”

Well, if you put it that way...

A couple of new things I learned this weekend!

It has been a very interesting weekend of learning for me.  First, I learned my current weight.  I'm going to give or take a few pounds because every time I tried to calibrate my scale it would start at a different spot.  But at least I have a number to work with.  An my initial goal would be to lose 10 pounds.  Not too hard, right?

Second, I ordered the book Eat This, Not That, at the suggestion of someone on the blog who calls him or herself "anonymous".  Not his or her fault, but for whatever reason, Blogger doesn't let a person post a name without being a member of Google.  At any rate, the book is fascinating.  So much so that I ordered another edition, Eat This, Not That: Supermarket Survival Guide.  Well, here in Ohio we call it the grocery store, or better yet, Kroger"s".  Certainly made me stop and think about a few things I have eaten in the past.  And on that front...bad news for those of you who thought the Grilled Turkey Burger from the Cheesecake Factory was a good idea (and you know who you are because you made me split that junk with you once.)  It has 1,331 calories and a whopping 31 grams of fat!  Top that with 1,674 mg of sodium!  YOWZA!  Now I know a lot of that has to do with the mayo, but still!

Third, I went to our Sunday staple McDonalds today.  Well, I had to because the new Tonka Truck toys are now in the Happy Meals.  I mean, I would be a horrible mom if my kid didn't get another toy.  But anyway, I read in my new book that you could swap fries for a yogurt parfait and save 220 calories and 17 grams of fat.  So, that's what I did.  And it was SOOOO good!  Then I got the grilled chicken sandwich, sans mayo.  I would have normally ordered the classic #2 combo, which some of you may know is the Quarter Pounder and fries.  Good, but I always felt horrible afterwards.  So, valuable lesson learned for me.  You CAN eat at McDonalds and eat a decent meal.  And, yes, my son gets apple dippers and the 100% Minute Maid apple juice.  I'm not that awful of a parent.

I would love to hear any tips or tricks that you have concerning your swaps at fast food restaurants or when dining out!

Decision time!

Let me start by saying, I hate the decision that I'm about to face.  I mean, I ABSOLUTELY DESPISE IT!  But I have to do it, because otherwise, all this extra work is for naught.  So...drum roll please...I'm going to get on the scale.  Yep, I'm going to strip down, even the remainder of my pedicure from last September, and get on that scale.  At this point, "it is what it is", right?

I don't know why I'm making this such a big deal, really.  People do it all the time, right?  I mean, I have one sister who gets on the scale like three times a day (and you know who you are).  I just never wanted to be caught up by a number, but for me, I need something to kind of "size up" this new lifestyle change.

Anyway, I've been a very good girl since the last time I wrote.  On Tuesday and last night I did the 2 Mile intermediate walk through ExerciseTV on Demand.  I just love it.  It makes me sweat something horrible, but my rear-end certainly thanks Leslie Sansone.  I love it SO much more than the gym because it makes me move all over and use my own body as resistance.  But, I also know that I can't do that one single workout forever.

I haven't really played any of my new Kinect games.  I'm going to check those out again this weekend, especially the toning portion of the Your Shape game. 

Oh, and I seriously need to get to Trader Joes.  I just love that place an it screams goodness to me!  I mean goodness as in "wholly" goodness.  Oh, and some other FABULOUS news...I just found out that Centerville is getting an Earth Fare.  O...M...G...

Thanks again for all of you who are sending me your thoughts and words of encouragement.  I'm ready to kick this thing into high gear!

What am I looking for, really?

So sorry to end that question with a preposition, but I just don't know how else to say it.  I feel like I've thrown myself into this world of the unknown? 

But the bottom line is this...

Here is who I am now:



Me and my sisters, Christmas 2010, aren't they bee-utiful? (I am on the right).

 


















And here is who I want to be...again...
 

Eastern Carribean Cruise - 2005 (that's me in the middle)






Yep, it was only five years ago, and I'm guessing around 30 or so pounds ago.  Not a huge change, but enough to make me realize that I am not where I want to be.  At all.  I was one fine woman, wasn't I?? :-)

At any rate, I don't know how I'm going to get there.  As I mentioned in my first post of the blog, I am full of plenty of excuses as to why I let myself get to where I am now.  Maybe I'll never look like that again?  Maybe having a child really does change you?  But I have seen too many success stories of women who take the weight off and keep it off to believe that this can't happen for me too!

So, I need to really sit and evaluate what I'm looking for and how I'm going to do it.  I need to set goals.  I need an Excel spreadsheet (no, not really)!  Do I want to join Weight Watchers?  Do I want to actually get on the scale and face this?  I mean, I have to have something to measure my success, right?  I can't just keep going like this without some kind of tangible (well, tangible to me) accomplishment.  OK, breathe...

I would like to reiterate that I'm not trying to create a "Don't Cry for Me Argentina" blog.  This is about me and accountability to myself.  Time to pick myself up and get moving, whatever that may be!

Wow!

Talk about being inspired.  I have a friend who sent me a link to some Weight Loss Bloggers and I AM HOOKED!
Check it out here: http://health.yahoo.net/articles/weight-loss/8-amazing-blogger-weight-loss-transformations

And my husband thought my coupon blogging habits were bad...

Happy Tuesday!

After a really great weekend with family, I re-focused on Monday.  I had the day off of work, and my son's school was actually open, so off he went!  Hooray for mommy days!

I started off with an exercise routine on Exercise TV and it was awesome!  I have taken a liking to Leslie Sansone and her walking workouts.  I thought, well, I'm used to walking, so this is going to be a piece of cake.  WRONG!  I chose the "2 Mile" walk, and it wasn't just a regular walk.  Ms. Sansone has you all over the place.  At any rate, I made it through and didn't quit.  I really felt great afterwards.

Then I decided to do a major cleaning overhaul of my house.  Really, working moms have a very difficult time doing this much needed deep-cleaning, so I decided to take advantage since I didn't have a kiddo hanging off of my leg all day.  Who knew that your refrigerator could be so absolutely disgusting?  And for those of you who have dogs, you know exactly what I'm talking about!  So, about a pound of dog hair later, the fridge is now sparkling.  And so is every other machine or appliance in my house.  And although I feel great for doing all the cleaning, my body is really sore today.  But it's a good sore.  An accomplished sore.

So tonight, I have no idea what I want to do as far as exercise, but I'm going to pick something.  I feel bad that I haven't been using my Kinect, but this Exercise TV has me hooked!

Here's to a fabulous Tuesday!

Lord forgive me, for I have sinned...

and I went to Chipotle today for lunch.  And...I'm actually upset about it.  Not so much that I ate at Chipotle, but that I shouldn't have eaten at Chipotle considering I haven't been able to work out the way I really want to.

BUT, tonight is going to be different.  My back feels good.  I took one extra day to make sure that I had recovered, so I am "pounding the carpet" tonight.  Kind of like pounding the pavement, but from the comfort of my own living room :-)

New week, new adventures

After taking the weekend off due to pulling a muscle in my back, I decided to go ahead and try one of the Exercise TV On Demand videos.  I settled on a basic cardio video that lasted about 25 minutes.  I was feeling great until the very end, when apparently I moved my arms the wrong way and then *WHAM*, there went my back.

What is a girl supposed to do when her body won't cooperate.  You all don't know how bad I really want this for myself and my family.  But it is SO frustrating.  I guess I just thought I was Jillian Michaels and went too far, too early.  I don't really think it had anything to do with the fact that I am currently out of shape.  It has everything to do with the types of exercise that I am doing and moving in ways I have never moved before.  Yes, an elliptical machine can be wonderful, and it helps you burn a ton of calories.  But that is the same mechanism that makes me quit every time.  It is SO boring!

So, here I sit, wondering what to do now?  Do I wait and let it completely heal?  Or do I continue to do other things that won't hurt me?

The fabulous news is that I can tell you that even after one week, I already find myself making better food choices!  I just love Greek yogurt!

A Short Intro

I wanted to post something short about a friend of mine who will be providing input from time to time on my blog.  Her name is Lisa and we have known one another for about 5 years.  We have been able to support one another in other areas of our lives, and when I decided to blog about my own health experiences, Lisa jumped on board and encouraged me to go for it!  In addition, she has a ton of experience at this stuff because she has recently changed her life by going from a Size 14 to a Size 2!  You go girl!  Certainly I can learn a thing or two from her because clearly she had this down pat!  You can check out her blog here: http://gettinghotin2011.blogspot.com/

Ugh!

So, last night was a great workout night using Kinect Your Shape and another favorite, Dance Central.  The only issue with each game is that I fell there are too many "breaks".  I want a consistent flow-through workout.  A lot of this is because I'm not familiar with the games and don't know how to navigate them yet.

The bad part about last night is that I re-aggravated the pulled muscle in my back and now I am sitting here with a heating pad on my back.  The good news is that I was actually watching tv last night and I saw a commercial for Exercise TV on Demand.  Who knew?  So as I sit here, I am flipping through the multitude of options.  This channel is amazing!  I plan to take it easy this morning and maybe I'll try a yoga routine or some sort of low impact cardio option later today.  I'm not trying to wuss out, but I don't want to cause myself damage.

Another thing I wanted to mention are all of the food options that seem to be popping up out there.  Who would have thought that Bob Evans would have a "Fit" menu?  Since it is really one of the only eat-out restaurants in my area, we opted to go there last night.  And we had a coupon for a free kids meal, so major bonus there.  I opted to have the potato crusted flounder, green beans, and a baked potato.  I didn't eat the potato plain, but I didn't load it up either.  It was so yummy and I scarfed down the whole plate!  So, my son had his mac-a-noni and I was able to eat healthy, the homestyle way!

I hope everyone has a good weekend!