Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Chapter 2 page 40 - more goal updates

Hello my millions of readers! I certainly hope you are loving the weather and having some positive outcomes from your resolve to achieve your weekly goals. I'm cheering you on. I wanted to give you another update on my week's progress. I'm quite certain that this doesn't make for very interesting reading (and for that I apologize) - but this is a necessity for me to be accountable.

My goals for this week:

1.) Attend aerobic class on Monday and Tuesday.
MONDAYS CLASS WAS CANCELED, BUT RESCHEDULED FOR WEDNESDAY SO I WENT TO IT TONIGHT (SO THAT COUNTS RIGHT????). I DID GO TO AEROBICS CLASS ON TUESDAY AS WELL SO THIS MAKES IT 100% ACHIEVED FOR THIS WEEK - WOO HOOO! IT'S BEEN AWHILE SINCE I CAN SAY I DID 100% ON A WEEKLY GOAL - YEAH, GO ME!

2.) Go to the gym on Wednesday and Friday.
ALTHOUGH I DID NOT WANT TO - I DID GO TO THE GYM TODAY, BUT I ONLY DID HALF OF THE WORKOUT - DOESN'T THAT COUNT? I RAN SHORT OF TIME AND COULDN'T GET THE FULL 2 CIRCUITS AROUND. FRIDAY MIGHT BE A CHALLENGE. I DIDN'T KNOW THE GYM WAS CLOSING AT NOON (SHOULD HAVE GUESS THAT) AND I HAVE TO HAVE MY CAR SERVICED EARLY AND IN FW. I DON'T WANT TO FAIL AT THIS GOAL SO . . . I'LL THINK ABOUT ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS AND GET BACK TO YOU ALL.

3.) Participate in Spring Into Training on Tuesday.
MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!!! I WROTE MORE ABOUT THIS LAST NIGHT IN BLOG PAGE 38

4.) Using the week's menu I created and grocery shopped for today, be mindful of my portion size.
SO FAR, WE'VE STUCK WITH THE MENU I HAVE PLANNED OUT WHICH IS AWESOMELY FANTASTIC NEWS. I STILL EAT WAY WAY WAY WAY WAY MORE THAN I SHOULD AND REALLY NEED TO REIGN THAT IN. OBVIOUSLY I'M STRUGGLING WITH PUSHING AWAY FROM THE TABLE SO . . . . I'M GOING TO CONTINUE TO HAVE BEING MINDFUL AS MY GOAL FOR THE NEXT FEW WEEKS.


CONTINUED SUCCESS WITH WHAT IT IS YOU ARE AIMING FOR!

Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Chapter 2 page 39 - positive goal update

I'm super thrilled to give you this goal update because I have finally done something RIGHT!!!!!! . . . well, mostly right!!!!!!! - it's not all sunshine, but at least on the exercise front I have done well today (hope my WWI team reads this and can finally smile at me-I've let them down sooooo badly the past 3 months!!!!)

My goals for next week:

1.) Attend aerobic class on Monday and Tuesday.
AS I SAID YESTERDAY, MONDAY'S CLASS WAS CANCELED, BUT I DID GO TO AEROBICS CLASS TONIGHT AND MONDAY'S CLASS IS RESCHEDULED FOR TOMORROW SO . . .I'M GOING TO GO TO THAT TO MAKE UP FOR NOT GOING ON MONDAY. I DIDN'T HAVE AN ACTIVITY GOAL LISTED FOR THURSDAY BECAUSE I THOUGH MY SOCIAL CALENDAR WAS FULL, BUT TURNS OUT MY PLANS WERE POSTPONED 'TILL NEXT WEEK SO . . . I'M GOING TO TORTURE MYSELF BY GOING TO 2 HOURS OF AEROBICS CLASSES - MY WWI TEAM DOES IT EVERY WEEK SO SURELY I SHOULD BE ABLE TO DO IT ONCE???!!!??? WISH ME LUCK!

2.) Go to the gym on Wednesday and Friday.
ALTHOUGH I REALLY REALLY DON'T WANT TO GO - I DO PLAN ON GOING TO THE GYM BEFORE GOING TO THE AEROBICS CLASS (CROSS YOUR FINGERS AND PRAY FOR ME TO HAVE THE RESOLVE TO GO)

3.) Participate in Spring Into Training on Tuesday.
GUESS WHAT I DID????? 2 OTHER AWESOME WOMEN, OUR PROGRAM DIRECTOR, AND I DID MY FAVORITE 2 & 2 (WALK 2 MINUTES, JOG 2 MINUTES) - WOW IT WAS FUN AND FLEW BY. WE WENT NEARLY 3 MILES AND I COULD HAVE GONE A BIT FURTHER. I'M VERY SORE NOW - MY "WHO-HA-NESS" AND HEEL HURT, BUT I DID IT!!! LOVED IT AND CAN'T WAIT TO DO IT AGAIN!!!!!

4.) Using the week's menu I created and grocery shopped for today, be mindful of my portion size.
SO THIS IS AN AREA THAT REALLY NEEDS MY SUPER FOCUS. I MADE THE MOST AWESOME POTATO SOUP AND HAD SECONDS - WHICH WASN'T TERRIBLE EXCEPT AFTER I BROUGHT THE SECONDS BACK TO THE TABLE I REALIZED I WAS FULL AND REALIZED AS I WAS EATING IT THAT I WAS TOO FULL - I WAS, I GUESS, MINDFUL - I JUST DIDN'T ACT ON WHAT I OBSERVED -NEXT TIME!

So for the week, I'm not doing too bad. I love that I actually did 45 minutes of aerobics and 40 minutes of jog/walk and that I didn't HATE it.

How are you doing this week????? I hope you are experiencing success as well.

Monday, March 29, 2010

Chapter 2 page 38 - goal update

This is what I wanted to do last week, but . . . with computer failure I too failed. I'm trying to get back on track.

My goals for this week:

1.) Attend aerobic class on Monday and Tuesday.
SO MUCH FOR THIS ONE - MONDAY'S CLASS WAS CANCELED! I HAD WANTED TO GO FOR A WALK OR DO A DVD OR GO TO THE GYM, BUT I DID NONE OF THEM.

2.) Go to the gym on Wednesday and Friday.
NO UPDATE YET - CHECK BACK WITH YA LATER THIS WEEK.

3.) Participate in Spring Into Training on Tuesday.
NO UPDATE YET - CHECK BACK WITH YA LATER THIS WEEK.

4.) Using the week's menu I created and grocery shopped for today, be mindful of my portion size.
MISSION ACCOMPLISHED - I SKIPPED BREAKFAST, ATE NO LUNCH - DID EAT CRAPPY POP TARTS THOUGH, AND ONLY HAD ONE HELPING OF DINNER. NOT PERFECT, BUT BETTER THAN BEING MINDLESS IN MY EATING AND ABSENT MINDED WITH MY PORTION SIZES.

How are you doing this week?

Sunday, March 28, 2010

Chapter 2 page 37 - computer drama

Hello everyone.

So . . . I had this urgent need for accountability with my week's goals and on Monday when I went to report my awesome progress - poof, my computer goes dead. I had it over to my computer-genius husband and he says "it's broken. You need a new one!" Oh my - really???? So in the middle of my awesome accountability post on Monday - I was left without accountability and as a result - I did poorly with my goals. It's not all my computer's fault, work played a park in it too, and also I had one of those weeks where I had to go to FW several times during dinner time so what's a girl to do - eat out! Ugggg!

My wonderful husband picked out a new computer for me and ordered it though I paid for it. I have to say I love my husband, but hate the computer he picked up. So . . . even though I've had this computer for a few days - I've been depressed (how pathetic does it sound that the world is in turmoil and I'm upset about the type of computer my husband chose for me? I know - VERY so I'm coming around and using it with as much gratitude as I can muster in my heart).

Next week - I hope to do better.

My goals for next week:

1.) Attend aerobic class on Monday and Tuesday.
2.) Go to the gym on Wednesday and Friday.
3.) Participate in Spring Into Training on Tuesday.
4.) Using the week's menu I created and grocery shopped for today, be mindful of my portion size.

Wish me luck! Good luck to all of you as well. Have a great week!

Sunday, March 21, 2010

Chapter 2 page 36 - 3/21 goals

Hello everyone! I hope you are all enjoying the awesome spring weather, warmer temps, longer day light, and nearly blooming flowers and trees. Oh how beautiful.

I'm participating in the Wells Weighs In and I'm pretty sure that after I gained 3 pounds this month, my team has voted me off the island. I am officially the weakest link on my team. The other members did sooooo great, but me - nope, I'm a HUGE liability for them. I feel terrible about letting them down. I feel even worse about letting myself down. What the heck has happened? I started this blog back in December and was enthusiastic about losing weight, exercising more, and taking responsibility for making positive healthy choices. So what happened??? I'm pretty far from where I hope to be. I tell my clients that wellness/weight loss is a journey not a destination - well dang it, let's get there already!!!!

I have mentioned previously the importance of creating a wellness vision, then developing 3 month goals, and then using that to create weekly goals to help keep the journey focused and moving in the right direction. I used to post my weekly goals, but stopped doing so when I was failing to accomplish them. Easier to quit setting goals than to fail each week (despite the fact the goals are suppose to be obtainable). So, I've reached the maximum amount of fat and laziness that I'm willing to accept - so here are my goals for this week (3/21).

1. Absolutely NO desserts or sweets!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
2. I will do the following workouts: Monday-gym, Tuesday-aerobics class + 45-60 min. walk/jog, Wednesday-either a 45 min. walk or a walking dvd, Thursday - 2 aerobics classes, Friday-gym.
3. Be mindful of my portion sizes at all of my meals.
4. Write down EVERYTHING I put in my mouth 4 days this week.


My 3 month goals -
1. Break the sugar addiction so that it doesn't rule my life.
2. Exercise 240-300 minutes a week.
3. Reduce my portion size and eat more of the proportion of foods I'm suppose to (i.e. 7 oz meat, 3 dairy, 12 svgs cho, 3 fats, etc)
4. Make the "right" (read as "healthy") choice when eating in public, with friends, or family (exceptions are eating out with 3 Elles or my husband in which case I'll use strategies to reduce the potential damage - i.e. eat less, drink less, chose healthier option, etc).
5. Plan healthy weekly menus at least 3 out of 4 weeks each month.

What about you? What are you going to be working on these next 12 weeks?

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Chapter 2 page 35 - plan B nixed

So it appears that most of my loyal readers don't think my plan B is a good idea - me included. Bummer! Thanks to all of you who emailed or spoke to me about your ideas. Greatly appreciated!!!! As for my next option - not so sure!

I still welcome any other suggestions you may have for how I can make a living on teaching health (to anyone who will listen).

More posting later this week. Have a great week!!!!!

Saturday, March 13, 2010

Chapter 2 page 34 - plan B

Hello everyone! I noticed it has been a week since I updated this blog - I'm so sorry for the delay. Where did the week go? Wow!!!!!

I'm considering some very aggressive fitness goals - just in case I may be forced to chose a different career path.

I'm thinking about working out 1-2 hours a day (of course, I'll have to work up to that) which will help me lose weight (cross my fingers - I hope). I'm thinking about becoming certified to teach Zumba (3-6 months from now) and maybe a few other types of aerobic classes too so that maybe I could teach some classes at churches, at factories/companies, or even to personalized groups (like large families or social clubs) etc.

It surely wouldn't be my first life plan, but I'm thinking about a sort of plan B should the need arise.

I welcome your thoughts - if it's a dumb idea, please tell me. If you have other suggestions for how I can share my love of health with others - please share them with me.

Right now - this is just something I'm thinking about, but I do think a plan B is going to be very important for me to have in place!

Have a great week!

Sunday, March 7, 2010

Chapter 2 page 33 - Friends

What a fantastically beautiful weekend!!!!! I'm so bummed that it is nearly over, but . . . I'm so grateful for the gift of warm sunshine.

A couple of posts ago I talked about joining a race. I noticed none of you had any comment about that - I don't blame you - it was a hard sell, but in case you want to jump into a race but want someone to join you - just let me know - I'm game!!!! Or if you want some suggestions on which races to join - I can help with that too.

I mention the racing post because the point of that post was "what do you have to lose?" - the third installment of posts with that title. I had a unique opportunity on Saturday to try something that I would have previously never considered doing - but I sort of a jumped in with both feet given my recent postings. On Saturday, my "Spring Into Training" group had a 90 minute session called "Get To Know The YMCA". It consisted of learning about the benefits of cross-training (30 minutes), Zumba (30 minutes), and then 30 minutes of something that I've heard a lot about but dismissed as something I would hate - Spinning. I have heard people in various aspects of my life recently (last 6 months) discuss how much they LOVE spinning and how anyone, even people like me, could do it and have fun.

Wanting to be part of the S.I.T. group, and appreciative of the opportunity to try Spinning, I mounted bike #1 and started pendeling. After 3 minutes my tooshie hurt so bad-after 10 minutes I thought it was going to break - after 15 minutes someone said it would soon go numb and not to worry. At 17 minutes, I couldn't take it any more. My hands were hurting, my tooshie was hurting, my legs were going to fall off, I was sweating like a champ, and I quit!!!! I absolutely hated every single second of it. Sadly, I failed at spinning. I was appreciative to my supportive S.I.T. group mates who encouraged me along the way, but wow - spinning is definitely NOT for me (unless I can get a super cushy seat and padded handle bars).

When I left I ran into a Y employee who has become a friend. She asked if I was okay and I said, "yes, but spinning isn't my friend." She said without hesitation - "That's okay, Zumba can be your friend." I thought, yeah, Zumba can be my friend. Thanks "N"!

After the "Get to Know the YMCA" session, I had to ride in the car to Indy yesterday, sit in a 3 hour movie, sit on wooden bar stoles for dinner, and then drive home again - my tooshie was soooooo sore. When I woke up this morning and sat up in bed - OMG - I had totally forgotten overnight, until I sat up - WOW!!!!! Sore Sore Sore tooshie!!!!!!!!!!

So - I've learned that spinning isn't my friend, but Zumba is. I'm in the market for new friends. What are some of your old friends? Found any new friends, lately?

Thursday, March 4, 2010

Chapter 2 page 32 - blue skies

Hello my millions of readers. I hope each of you is doing well!!!!

Have you noticed the beautiful weather AND the fact that at 7 p.m. it isn't pitch dark out (it's not exactly sunny either, but it's down right bright compared to January at 7 p.m.)?????? Isn't it fabulous!!!!!!

What will the weather and daylight motivate you to do today? Whatever it is - enjoy it and thank God for his welcomed gift!!!!!!!!!!

God Bless you all!!!

Enjoy your day!!!!!!!

Tuesday, March 2, 2010

Chapter 2 page 31 paragraph 3 - what do you have to lose?

I believe this will be the final installment (at least for now) of "What do you have to lose?". Heads up - it's a long post (sorry), but I think it's worth reading - let me know what you think.

In today's episode -

I would like you to think of something slightly beyond your reach and possibly something you have never even given a moment's thought about doing . . . .until now. What is something you may have heard of but yet dismissed as something you would NEVER do for one reason or another (the reason(s) may or may not be valid)?

Here are some examples to help spark your own ideas-
My husband would NEVER think about downhill skiing despite my telling me over and over that it is fun. He dismissed my efforts to push him into compliance. He refuses to even spend a minute thinking about the possibility that he might indeed enjoy the experience. He will not allow himself a moment to think what it might be like to ski downhill - experience the wind blowing on his face, seeing nature, and enjoying the cold temperatures which he really does like (NUT!). One could ask - "What does he have to lose in trying it?" Perhaps the real question is "What does he have to gain in trying it?"

What is the point of this post? At the root - it's a plea to encourage you to occasionally try new ideas no matter how unexpected - something pleasant may be waiting for you. What do you have to lose in trying something new/different/unexpected?

In addition to encouraging you on a vast stage, I want to encourage you to think about participating in an organized race (a 5K = 3.1 miles, 10K= 6.2, 1/2 marathon = 13.1 miles, etc). I know - I know - I know - - - you all just said, "OH NO WAY!" Wait!!!!!! What do you have to lose (well, except the race of course, but would it really be a loss???)? What do you have to gain? I want to share my experience with you in hopes it might motivate you to try - just once (unless you love it, then do more than one).

1999-2003 I was in the U.S. Army Reserves. I was buff, amazing, awesomely athletic, and had confidence oozing out of me. I wore a size 10/12 Misses. In 2 minutes, I could max the Army PT test by doing 60 men's push ups and 95 sit ups (the Army doesn't do crunches). I could run 2 miles in about 12 1/2 minutes. I could easily run 3-5 miles at a time. I rocked Basic Combat Training like it was daycare. Sounds like I'm gloating and I am (I'm sorry) - but it was a definite high point in my physical and mental health. I ran almost everyday; however, I don't remember hearing one word about a 5K or 10K - and if I had, I'm sure I would have said, "I'm that kind of person." (not really sure what "that kind" of person is - but I'm sure it is one who wears spandex and can run without sweating).

Skip ahead to 2009 and 100 pounds heavier and a little program called "Parlor City Trot Training Program" held June-September. To me, this was a just one more work duty - coordinate a program which would be led by someone else. I had no intention of participating - why would I want to train for a race - UUMMMMMMM ---I wouldn't!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm morbidly obese and out of shape - I have zero intention of running a race. After all, "I'm not that kind of person." I reluctantly agreed to participate for a few weeks - BUT just until everyone else got faster and could go further since they were all training and I wasn't "REALLY IN" the program.

Come to find out after the 12 weeks, most races allow walkers and they are welcomed participants - WHAT????? Why on earth would I want to enter a race and walk? A 10K - that could take nearly 1 1/2 hours - WHY WHY WHY would anyone want to walk that far? I absolutely had ZERO interest, but because of my cohorts in the training program (and a little thing called peer pressure) - I decided to walk the actual course a week before the event - and guess what????? I did it and LIVED to tell about it. That gave me confidence to know that I COULD do it - still left the WANT to part missing from the equation. In the end, I decided to walk the 10K race and had trained hard enough that I could "run" (read that as slowly jog and look like I was having a seizure the entire way) the last 1/2 mile. I huffed and puffed and pretty much couldn't believe I was doing it the entire way. My friend "V" that walked right next to me step by step was walking like it was a day in the park, but she was right there to chit chat with the entire way (also to call 911 in case I went down which I was sure would happen). Along the course, there were water stops and police officers blocking traffic that willingly gave me high 5's. There were words of encouragement from racers who were "lapping" me (NICE!) and when I was nearing the end I saw the ambulance - I didn't need it, but it was like a miraculous thing to have it just parked there. After 6.2 miles at 14 1/2 minute miles, I finished and it was one of the greatest feelings I have ever experienced. Such joy!!!!!!! I almost got choked up and nearly cried in elation when I crossed the finish line (shhh, I haven't admitted that to anyone before).

I loved it so much that from Labor Day to Thanksgiving, I entered a total of 6 races and have entered races already in 2010. I LOVE IT!!!! WHY? Well, for starters, there are plenty of people who walk, jog, or walk/jog in these races - within 10 minutes, you can have 10 new friends!!!! Second, I HATE walking!!!!!! Hate it with a passion especially doing so alone - but when you are doing a race - you are getting the benefits of exercise, but NO WAY does it seem like exercise at all - it's fun!!!!! Third, you may get something cool like a t-shirt or even cooler like a trophy! Fourth, you can hang your hat on the statement "I DID THAT!" Fifth, some of the races even support a good cause - like cancer research, or missions work, or youth groups.

I have no delusions of winning a race (though I did get 3rd in my age group for walkers at my 2nd race - a 5K called Girls Night Out - ROCK!!!!!). I just have fun, get a GREAT workout that doesn't feel like a workout, and I get the chance to say to myself "I did that!". My only 2 goals are to finish the race and hopefully not get last (I always take a friend who will at least finish one hundredth of a second behind me to ensure I'm not dead last - thanks "L" you're the best!!!!!).

So I ask you - what do you have to lose in participating in a 5K? What do you have to gain? Most of you already walk 3 miles anyway - why not get a cool t-shirt while doing it? Why not meet new people? Why not get a great sense of accomplishment? Enlist your friends, and go for it!!!!!

FYI - The Parlor City Trot Training Program will be held Tuesdays at 7 p.m. from the first Tuesday in June through the first Tuesday of September. It changed my life - think about joining us this summer!!!!!!

What do you have to lose?????
(Thanks for reading all the way to the end!)