It's that time again. Diet time. Ok, I really prefer to call it something like Health & Fitness Improvement... I have really got to get some of these excess weight off. To be at my 'ideal' weight, I need to lose about 100 pounds. Right now I'd be happy to see a steady loss of 5 to 10 pounds a month.

I'm trying the Flat Belly Diet by Prevention. I chose it because it allows really good things like nuts, and olive oil, and avocados, and dark chocolate. They call them MUFA's ~~ which, for the life of me, I can't remember what that stands for *shaking head in disbelief*. Something about healthy unsaturated fats ~~ and you have to have some with every single meal & snack. I'm hoping I won't feel too deprived.

I start tomorrow with breakfast. There's a 4 day jumpstart, then a 28 day program, which you keep repeating as long as you need to.

I think the main challenges are going to be:

• Making sure I eat every four hours
• Making sure I get everything for breakfast, lunch & snack prepared the night before
• Dinner at home with family
• Weekends, when my schedule is not structured at all

I've been going to the gym regularly the past few weeks ~~ at least 2 times a week for at least an hour each time. I've been doing mainly cardio work ~~ at least 1/2 hour on the elliptical & another 1/2 hour or so on the rowing machine. I really like the rowing machine ~~ a nice full body work out, cardio with strength/toning. Between the two, I do feel it the next day, in a good way. And according to my heart monitor, I'm getting & keeping my heart rate in the proper zone while exercising & burning massive amounts of calories. I really need to add at least one more day, ideally two, to get the best results. Looking at the Yoga, Pilates & Aquaerobics classes at the gym, but right now they are filled to overflowing. I'm hoping they empty out in the next month or so.

And I'm hoping some exercise & weight lost will help with my back pain. My right hip has been very painful lately... I've been to the chiropractor & it's helping, plus I am constantly doing pelvic tilts, hamstring stretches & such to try and make it better.

There is exactly one month 'til our vacation, and I'd really like to be a little bit lighter, thinner, firmer.

Wish me luck :)

Just for the record...

I hate squats. Really hate them.

With the new gym membership there was a free evaluation. During said evaluation, I was asked to do 2 sets of 15 squats, no weights. Had to work at it, but got them done, none the worse for wear -- or so I thought.

Tuesday I felt fine until late morning, when I started to feel some stiffness and soreness in my thighs. It got worse as the day went on, 'til it was painful to stand, walk, or lower myself to sitting (stairs and bathroom the worst).

And now it's Thursday, and while slightly better, I am still sore and walking with an odd gait.

So, I repeat, I HATE SQUATS!!!!

On the bright side, I have been getting to the gym, doing cardio only right now (gotta wait for the thighs to heal). An hour on the treadmill Thursday and Friday last week. Then Monday a half hour. Tuesday was end of month so I didn't leave work until almost 7 -- too late to hit the gym. And last night, pain and all, another hour on the treadmill. Walking actually helps with the stiffness and pain, and I don't feel like I overdid it. I started using a pedometer and my Polar fitness monitor yesterday. Almost hit 10,000 steps (9562) and kept my heart in the target range during the exercising.

Plan to go again today. I'm really trying hard to get my work schedule back under control. There is no way I can work the gym and family in together if I keep working long ridiculous hours at work.

I keep repeating to myself -- I can do this, I can do this...
:)

Back to the Gym

Well, it has happened...

DH took me to a gym and had me sign up for a membership. It's been a couple of years I think since I've actually been to a gym. I've worked out at home, sporadically, so I haven't been a complete slug.

But, it's been a crazy year, what with the emotional upheaval in February/March, the vacation in May and then all the extra long and stressful work days starting in June, that my exercise routine up and died.

And while I haven't packed on the pounds, I have lost what little toning and definition I did have -- and DH keeps commenting on it...

So, back to the gym I go, starting tonight. I'll get some baseline measurements taken and do a little working out.

Added incentive -- I'm meeting my sibs in 6 weeks for a long weekend and I'd like to be a little slimmer when I see them (it's been 2 years). Plus DH has promised some special rewards for weight lost and kept off :D

Wish me luck ;)

Survived the Holidays

Hey there. Bet you thought I'd given up on this.
Nope, it's just been a little crazy with the holidays and all.

So, let's see, since my last 'real' post (I'm not counting the Christmas one), MC has turned 13 (oooh, yeah, another teenager in the house -- I am so not old enough to be the mother of teens); we've gone to see "The Waterhorse" (cute, nice family film, but nothing exciting) and "National Treasure: Book of Secrets" (some fun, but not as good as the first one); we survived 5 days in a row together without any major bodily harm; my exercise program got shunted to the side; managed to get all the shopping done before Christmas Eve; OC's best friend moved far, far away; DH and I went out for New Year's Eve (too a horribly loud bar); I woke up Jan. 2 with a nasty cold (which I am still not completely over); MC and YC have each lost a tooth; DH got a tattoo (his first, and probably last); my newest niece was born (today); my in-laws didn't come to visit -- again (they always say they're coming but never do -- mixed blessing); and that's pretty much it.

Nothing much, really. And now the holidays are over, not another official one till Memorial Day. DH and I are back to work and the kids are back to school. OC is getting braces this month -- that should be fun -- not. She's already made all sorts of demands on how they should work and how long she'll have them on, etc.

Today is the official restart of my exercise 'program'. To assist in my pursuit of a healthier and hopefully thinner me, I purchased a few things -- a scale that not only shows weight but also body fat%, muscle mass%, BMR, and total body water%; a pedometer; and a heart rate monitor (DH also got one for Christmas). I'm hopeful that as I see changes beyond just my weight, I'll be additionally inspired to keep going. I'm also trying to get my eating back on track -- I have a really hard time eating healthier when I'm home and with the family. Did ok today -- organic oatmeal for breakfast, a Kashi entree for lunch, a gyro for dinner, and two cookies with some Nutella for dessert -- no soda, no chips, no candy. Obviously, I fell way short on fruits and veggies, but there's always tomorrow. Trying to change it all at the same time is a recipe for failure. Too many ways to screw it up.

Still haven't made it to "P.S. I Love You." Hoped to this weekend but the cold waylaid that plan.

Since DH got a tattoo, he now tells me I can get one if I want to. I have thought about it over the years, but a) I don't know if I could find one I really, really like, and b) I don't know where on my body I'd like to have one. So not getting one any time soon, but maybe some day. I can at least do some research...

New Year's Eve -- DH took me to a bar he likes to go to, but we don't usually go together. Now I know why. Good grief, but the music was LOUD!!!!!. It was making me physically ill, and we were across the bar from the speakers -- don't know how people could stand to be dancing right in front of them. Also the crowd is heavy on the college aged -- local college is only a couple of blocks away. On the plus side, they had good food and good drinks (love their Mayan Chocolate Martini -- has a nice spicy kick). Don't think we're going there again. They do have a sister bar in the neighboring town and the music wasn't so loud (or the crowd so young) at that one. So, we'll see.

So, are you wondering about the picure at the top of this post? Going to tell about it anyway...
That is MC, Christmas morning, after allowing YC to play "hair salon" with his hair. He has 12 little pony tails, plus a few clips in his hair. He actually invited her to play with him. Sometimes he surprises us -- so often he is nasty and mean to YC, then he does something like this where he's actually a pretty wonderful big brother. Sigh.

Too Tired

It's been a busy week. So of course the exercise has fallen by the wayside the last couple of days.
I'm exhausted -- I had a 50 mile drive one way (about 2 hours) Tuesday and Wednesday to attend some special project meetings for work (which it turns out I really didn't need to attend as it was all review for me). Long, boring meetings in uncomfortable chairs which people from other facilities who have to be difficult. Aaaaaggggghhhh. Then OC had a band rehearsal Wednesday evening, with the actual concert tonight. So fitting exercise in just was too hard.
I do plan on getting back on track tomorrow after work.
Saturday I have a chiro appt and then it's clean the house top to bottom before DH comes home -- he's going to be exhausted and one of hte best ways to welcome him home is with a clean house. I even plan on reducing my piles (if you could see my bedroom, you'd know what i mean).

Still Going Strong

Well, the exercising thing is going well -- 5 days last week, and up to 3 days this week. And I can already see positive changes in my body, less jiggling, etc. (the scale hasn't changed -- see next paragraph). Weekends are more difficult than week days because that's when we do everything that didn't get done during the work week -- cleaning, shopping, cooking, errands, sleeping.

I have discovered that I have a psychological issue -- I cannot diet and exercise at the same time. Ever since I committed to exercising at least 5 days a week, I just cannot keep up the healthy eating. I keep healthy food at work, but have been going out to eat, and buying cookies and other not so good choices for weight loss and healthy living. I know it's psychological, and I am trying to work through it. I'm hoping that has the exercise thing becomes a regular, easy to keep with, expected part of my day, that my mind will realize that I am not trying to starve and torture myself and will then be able to reincorporate healthy eating habits. (Thank you Martha Beck and "4 Day Win" for helping me with the mental aspects of healthy living/eating).

Other things going on --
DH is travelling again. He'll be home for the weekend, then off again until the last week of the month, just in time to take charge of Halloween (I will be at work 4:30 a.m. till at least 6 p.m. that day and the day or two after as well).
Special multi-day project at work -- I am so not a morning person that I will be stressed out and cranky for the duration. In light of this, my chiropractor has arranged a one hour session the Thursday before and the Saturday after to help me relax and destress (I am one of those people who holds all their stress in the back -- can only go so long without a good therapeutic massage and adjustment).
Oh, and I can expect PMS that week as well. Oh, joy, can't wait.

Reading --
Just finished 'Expanded Universe' by Robert A. Heinlein. I love the way he writes and what he writes about, fiction and non. He is someone I would have like to have met.
Also read 'The Worst Thing I've Done' by Ursula Hegi. Very interesting, but somewhat dark. I don't often read novels of this type, but it fit my mood when I saw it. I enjoyed it -- read it in two days, and recommend it.
Now reading 'I'd Kill For That,' a serial mystery edited by Marcia Talley (authors include Rita Mae Brown, Kathy Reichs, Kay Hooper, and nine others). It's a little confusing to start -- too many characters introduced too quickly -- but I'm getting into it now.

And that's about it. Same old, same old.

3 days

Totally exhausted and sore, but managed to make it 3 days in a row for exercising. Unfortunately, the endorphins aren't boosting my mood so well tonight -- feel the need for a good cry. But I really need to try to sleep since tomorrow is another work day.

Nothing much else going on -- since I've been exercising after work, I haven't had a lot of time for reading or attentive TV watching. Soon, once the exercise becomes for of a regular habit, it will be easier to fit it all in.

Sore and tired

Sore and tired today, but I again did 30 minutes of cardio and some strength training. Definitely need to take the ibuprofen before bed.

I'm trying to find a widget of a calendar where I can check off the days I exercise. Haven't found one yet, so I'm looking to see how hard creating my own will be. If I find one or create one, I plan to add it to this blog.

I'm trying

I came home today and exercised. Whoo hoo! Did 30 minutes of cardio and some strength exercises. Now if I can just keep this up. I did not eat well today, but I did exercise.

I've tied my computer time in with this -- I won't get on the computer, for blogging or anything else, until I've done my exercise. Some days there may be exceptions (evening appointments, illness, etc.) but my mantra today was "I will exercise when I get home. I will do 30 minutes of cardio. I have no excuses, I am not sick, and being worn out is not valid." I just kept repeating this to myself through out the day. Amazing how changing one little word changes the force of the message (should to will).

And I needed the exercise endorphins. I've been spiralling into a funk the past few days, not really sure why, happens occasionally, and I think if I hadn't exercised I'd be curled up in a ball listening to my 'need to cry' playlist on my iPod.

Here's to keeping up the hard work.

Physical follow up

I mentioned previously that I'd had my annual physical. My injection site is almost back to normal -- no longer red and swollen, but there is still a hard knot present. Got my test results back and everything is normal, with the exception of my cholesterol (LDL too high, HDL too low). Dr doesn't want to put me on meds, so I've got to make some lifestyle changes. We all know what those are: move more and eat better/less. I don't do well on either point, haven't for years, which of course explains all the extra weight I carry around with me.

I've tried over the years -- joining various dieting groups, the gym, hiring a personal trainer. I have a hard time sticking with anything, and I've discovered I'm somewhat of a picky eater. And with working full-time with an hour commute each way, I find it difficult to find the energy and enthusiasm for exercising before or after work (doesn't help that I am not morning person, either).

I know I've got to pull it together -- I'm 40 and there are a variety of cancers in my family medical history -- and get healthy before it's too late. I actually eat healthier at work than I do at home, keeping whole grain cereals in my desk and non fat milk in the fridge, along with frozen meals, veggies, fruit, etc. also either in my desk or the fridge. There are vending machines, but I rarely raid them (usual only during that one week of the month), and I am not a big soda drinker, diet or regular -- water is my drink of choice. So I have to take care with dinners and weekends.

Exercising is my biggest challenge. When I do exercise, I enjoy it and I feel good after (gotta love those endorphins), but I can always come up with excuses not to (I'm tired, exercise clothes aren't clean, kids need taken care of, dinner needs fixing, housework needs done, errands to run, etc., etc., and on and on). A lot of guides to healthy living are now talking about building rewards into the system -- every time I exercise I get to do something that I enjoy (as long as it has nothing to do with food), and anytime I reach a small, specified goal, I get a bigger reward, and so on. I'll have to come up with a list -- I think computer time/blogging is going to have to become an after exercise reward. Maybe I can enlist DH to provide extra special rewards when I meet my goals