Power Start

Each year in December, Weight Watchers releases an updated version of their program to modify based on latest scientific research the most effective ways to lose weight and be healthy. Last year was the big Points Plus overhaul, but this December was just a few minor tweaks and a new look.

One of the changes they made though was to help with getting started and they introduced the PowerStart method. Three weeks of plans to help you kickstart your program, or refresh your focus and motivation if you have been doing the program. They work on three concepts which cycle from week to week and they invite members to use these at any time.

They also provide a weekly planner with a shopping list and meals which you can use if you don't know what to plan to eat. This is a great idea since I never know where to start with planning my meals for the week.

Topic One is Power Spaces.
They ask you to evaluate your environments which you spend time in and how to maximize it to help you be successful in weight loss.

It's all about removing items from your environment (home, car, work, etc...) which are bad food options, and replacing them with healthy options. By removing the obstacles in your way, you are setting yourself up for success.

They started us by asking us to figure out what environments we struggle in when it comes to making good food choices. Is it the workplace where the office snack machine calls out your name 8 hours a day? Or is it your home cupboard where leftover Halloween candy haunts you? What can you do to change that? Either remove the temptation--or arm yourself with better alternatives--either healthier food options or something to do instead of eat.

I've done this in the past...gotten rid of food which I had bought out of emotion or craving but I knew was bad for me. A few times I've just eaten it all so it was gone...but other times I've actually thrown it out. It's difficult, but it had to be done.

More often I've gone out and stocked up on health options...fruit & veggies, 94% fat free popcorn...etc. And while it's there its been helpful, but if I don't continue to get it, I end up returning to making bad choices.

It really is all a matter of having a plan though--if you address your weaknesses and come up with an alternative, you can be successful. It won't happen overnight but if you are persistent, it will happen.

A while ago, I made the decision that I wanted to combat my nighttime boredom eating in front of the television. There were a few things I tried, which worked on short term levels

• Finding something else to do while watching TV: I tried knitting and crocheting, as well as doing puzzles. Kept my hands busy and my mind going while I watched TV
  
• Healthy snacks: Popcorn, fruit, tea, portioned desserts were all things I supplied myself with knowing they were something that weren't high in points and it was something sweet (or salty) and delicious and something to look forward to.
• Going out. If all else fails, don't be home watching TV. I took various classes, went out with friends, or went for a walk so I wasn't wasting away in front of the TV.

It's time to revisit some of these to help my environment stay a healthy one.

What are some of the things you do in order to create a healthy environment for yourself to overcome the obstacles which stand in your way? What are your weaknesses? What can you do to change them?

Until next time

Living to your potential

Ever feel like you're just not living life the way you should? Or like your life is spiraling away from you one day at a time?

Lately I've been feeling like that all the time. Like I'm just watching my life pass me by. And I didn't always feel this way. I was a take life by the horns kind of gal for a while there...well not entirely, but I definitely felt more in charge of my life than I do now.

Part of that is my job. I've been wanting to leave for so long, and I feel so overwhelmed by the thought of working here much longer, but I haven't been able to find something new to move on to. I know what I want to do, and I feel like I can be doing so much more.

The other part of that of course is my health--my activity, my eating and my overall health. I try, but I can't seem to get back into the swing of things when it comes to being healthy.

I know I can do more. I have done more. I have done better...in all parts of my life.

Remember as a kid when they used to talk about your potential. You have the potential to be anything you want if you just work for it. Well...I am not working for it...I am not living up to my potential.

I NEED to take back control of my life. The question now is just how to get started............

I was thinking earlier what I need is a good overhaul of my space & time. Eliminating clutter from my life both literally and figuratively. Eliminating distractions & focusing on what I really want. That means knowing what I really want, writing it down, and setting those goals & priorities.

It's funny - I was going to end the post before that paragraph, but leaving this post unfinished was not satisfying. It was not taking life by the horns, it was once again letting it get away from me. But just writing that last part about what I need to do feels better. Creating that action for myself feels right. And now I'm a little bit inspired as to what I need to do!

So from a somewhat whiny post, I leave you with ambition. And I hope to start my next post with a plan. And maybe even some action already taken :)

Until next time

The plan...it's WORKING

"it isn't enough to WANT to meet your goal, it take blood, tears, and sweat to ACHIEVE your goal."-whomever Megan stole it from...

Well, things are moving swimmingly in the right direction with the new Weight Watchers Points Plus program. Last night's weigh in had a loss of .8lbs which may not seem significant but it is for three reasons

• I actually ate before my weigh in last night (just a 1/2 sandwich but still)
• It's PMS week...I always gain during PMS week
• Two big dinners in a row this weekend and I still lost.

I'm proud of the .8 lbs. And I took that to the gym afterward and jogged 4 miles.

So I have not mentioned that I am in training for the Pittsburgh Half Marathon in May. It's the same one I did last year which I ended up walking all but the last 3 miles. This year, I'm preparing for it though. And I'm doing it through the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Team in Training. You raise money for them, they will train you for an endurance event. It's pretty cool and a great group of people. You get assigned a coach, and a mentor who will help guide you through the process. as well as an honored person--a cancer patient or survivor--to help inspire you and share their story as you raise money.

The official training doesn't start until January, but this week I had my first run with my mentor and a group of women also training for a race. I was nervous because I had just started running again and didn't know how I'd fare with a group of people. Surprisingly it went really well and I was able to keep up. It was a reasonably cold and sunny day and we went to a nearby college to run. We did 3 miles and it was great. It was definitely a slow jog but made me feel better about being able to do this. My mentor Melissa is really nice & along with a couple of other mentors, made it a fun experience. Who knew?

Anyway--here are my successes of the week:

• Tracked 5/7 days (and sort of tracked over the weekend)
• Stayed within my points all but Fri/Sat/Sun
• Earned 26 activity points with 3 days of running
• Was able to run 3 miles consistently without too many breaks
• Made some great food choices (like passing on pizza for a better lunch, snacks like Greek yogurt & berries to keep me satisfied, lots of fruit!, paid attention to portions...)

And my goals for this week:

• Run 3x (four if possible, at least one day outside); 3-4 miles each
• Keep tracking
• Focus on getting in all healthy guidelines each day (water, fruits & veggies, milk, oil, protein, whole grain, exercise).
• Plan out obstacles for week & how to get around them
• Start to incorporate strength training workouts

This week's meeting topic was planning ahead for obstacles such as holidays, holiday parties, office treats, etc...What have you done or what can you do to plan ahead for your obstacles?

Until next time

Welcome February-Let's see if you can top January

Turning the page of a calendar is refreshing--often feels like a fresh start on life. A whole new month full of potential!

Unlike most retrospectives though, January was literally a kick ass month! I set up goals for myself which I accomplished with flying colors (even though I actually forgot all about them). No regrets here!!
40 lbs down As of last week--Check
Tracking food 5x week Check (Fridays can be tricky--weekends still a problem)
Exercise 4x week every week Check!! (My biggest accomplishment!)
Meal planning Check (More like making sure I have healthy food on hand)
Revisit WW lessons Check (Part of WW meetings)
Don't gain. Check!
35 lbs down
Re-join gym

As I mentioned, my biggest accomplishment is my increased activity. Since Jan 7th and joining the gym, I have earned at least 89 APs (11, 21, 24, 33) and been active for 22 out of 31 days. I hear it takes 21 days for a habit to stick. Even though those 22 days weren't consecutive, I definitely feel like being active is becoming a staple in my life (including feeling guilty for Rest Days!)

This has been a milestone month for me too since it's the first time I've ever been able to run 3 miles, and at least 2 of those miles is without stopping!

And as of next weekend, I'll have accomplished one long overdue goal of my "Winning Outcomes" list and my "Feats of Strength" list...the 5k!

Once I finish my 5k, I'm going immediately into training for the 1/2 marathon in May. It's 12 weeks from that point. It's going to be grueling, but it's going to be good. I of course want to continue my weight loss progress, but I hear when you're training for long races, it's common for weight loss to plateau. Since my main goal is to run, I'm going to have to evaluate where I want to be in May with my weight.

The one thing I absolutely have to get under control is my eating patterns. I go a few days eating really good and then the nighttime eating begins. Even after writing my 10 things last week, I paid no attention to that list as I made my way through far too many wheat thins, skinny cows and other snacks. I can't blame it on being hungry from exercise--it was definitely lack of mindful eating.

So, to finish this off, here are my goals for February:
-Run 5k!!
-Start 1/2 marathon training
-Run 5 miles
-Assess goals for May
-Practice mindful eating
-Track 5x week
-Exercise 4x week
-Healthy guidelines!

And as I think I've mentioned, if you want a peak into my running/workout routines, I've started a new blog (Live to Fit to Live) specifically as a fitness log for myself.

Happy February everyone!!
Until next time

Swinging into December!

Okay so last night's weigh in was another disappointment, but I have no one to blame but myself. I gained another 0.6 lbs. Expected, but still not a good feeling as it was the 3rd week in a row that I gained. But--it's a new week and a new month, and I'm already making strides to change that.

My bad mood didn't last long because I went to Swing Dancing immediately afterward and you really can't be in a bad mood while swing dancing. Then I went home & made a decent dinner & despite going over by 3 pts, I felt energized. I sat & crocheted while watching TV and wasn't tempted to binge, though I did have some baked tostitos and salsa (only 2pts).

Plan for week:
Food goals: Stay within daily points as much as possible. Eat from home as much whenever possible. Get in 8 Healthy Guidelines as much as possible (especially liquids!!). Track 5 out of 7 days.
Challenges: Wednesday night out--will need to grab food
Thursday pizza @ work event
Saturday night-post concert food & drinks
Being at home Tuesday night/Friday night/Sunday evening
Exercise goals: 14 APs (avg 2pts/30 min moderate activity per day). 6 days Cardio, 2 days strength.
Challenges: Should have time for at least 30 min all days. Thursday will be a challenge because of a work event, but I still want to try to fit in at least 20 min walk or 10 min stairs late afternoon. Saturday I have a bunch of stuff going on, but will fit in a long run/walk & some strength training. Sunday will be a rest day, but if the weather is reasonably nice, I want to get outside for something. Other days--no excuses.

I kicked off the week of activity with swing dancing last night (2pts), a walk/run this morning (2pts), a Biggest Loser workout (3pts), and a lunchtime walk (1pt)...8 APs already? And it's only Tuesday?? But I'm energized and I'm keeping this up as long as possible.

Until Next Time

At least it's a new week

I did not invest in myself this holiday weekend.

If I were a stockbroker or financial planner, I'd be fired. Or in jail...

Thanksgiving Day was fine, but due to a pre- and post- Thanksgiving disappointment, my weekend didn't turn out quite as I had planned.

I really had no plans for post-Thanksgiving, and that was my first mistake. Having things not work out for me and letting it get to me was my second mistake. One lazy day--fine. Three ridiculously lethargic days...dumb. And I'm totally feeling the effects of crappy food and inactivity today. Oh boy am I feeling it.

At least it's a new week. And holy guacamole as of tomorrow a new month! The last month of 2009! And I'm not letting it go by the wayside.

Last year I did a few things in December.
December was Strut your Stuff month: An excuse to celebrate fabulous you. A way of helping bring out the confidence by strutting proudly, even if it's just for show at first.
I also spent a lot of time looking back: In my first year of weight loss, I took a lot of pictures. I wanted to see my shape changing and I really did. Man--do I look different--especially with the new hair.
Apparently I was also in the midst of my various exercise DVD reviews from my local library. (I ended up buying Dancing with the Stars and Biggest Loser Workout)

Most importantly though, I made myself a calendar for December; setting a goal, planning out all the holidays, parties, get-togethers, and other high-risk and splurge-worthy events. Figuring that you'll want to save your extra points for those days, you work around them to plan out your week. Which days you'll stay strictly to your daily points, which days you'll bump up your exercise, etc. It allowed me to plan out meals, and fitness. And I know I didn't exactly stick to it, but it did help as a visual and a planning tool-especially when it was right in front of me on my wall near my desk. And I didn't lose the 3-4 lbs as I had planned...but I was lower at the end of the month than when I had started, so you can't beat that.

So that's what I'm planning again for this December. On a weekly basis anyway since my plans come last minute usually. I'm going to see what I weigh in at tonight, but I'd like to be back down to 180 by the end of the month. If I really focus I can do it. I'm so tired of feeling like I'm stagnant and with the last month of the year here, a change has to be made.

So expect Tuesdays to be Weigh in Report and my plan for the week with results from the previous week.

Okay--well I survived a miserable post-holiday Monday and now on to the new week!!

Until next time

Weekend of productivity

It turns out I have nothing to do tomorrow. Well, I have a show tomorrow night, but other than that I have the rest of my Saturday free.

I do plan on enjoying the ability to sleep in, but I have bigger plans on the horizon.

Other than mini errands and some light cleaning/organizing, I have two goals for tomorrow

1) Exercise: Break out my fitness DVDs which have been collecting dust and actually do them! I really enjoyed them when I did and I don't even remember why I stopped. I have a bunch of them--30 Day Shred, The Biggest Loser, Dirty Dancing (dance fitness), etc. I think I'm going to save The Shred for when I have gotten myself into a routine and want to punch it up a bit. I know I'm going to piss my cranky downstairs neighbor off by doing them and jumping around and all that, but, you know what--screw him. I'm doing this for me.

2) Baking: Right, so this may be completely counter-intuitive to the exercise goal, but I've been wanting to bake for a while now. I have a few recipes for healthy breads & cookies & stuff that I want to try and I and figure, what better way to celebrate a cold rainy fall day (which seems to be the weather forecast for tomorrow) than making some great home baked goods? I have a bunch of bananas which I peeled and froze yesterday (I needed the peels for my show), so I plan on banana bread. I'd love to make some pumpkin bread too. I'll post the recipes if they turn out well. Maybe even some photos :)

Have a great weekend!

Until next time

From high to low

Last week I was all about trying new things.

This week I'm all about comfort. I had a strange and mercurial weekend and now I'm craving comfort. It's cold and I want to be warm, it's grey and I want it to be sunny. I have a lot to do and all I want to do is be home and sleep. (Apparently it's also opposite week.)

Quick update: Weigh in this week was a gain--another 3 lb gain to be exact. I'm not happy about it, but it's not entirely a surprise. I don't think it's permanent. For one, I think I'm not drinking enough water. Second, I actually had a ton of exercise this weekend--a lot of walking, running, and dancing. But all of that came at the end of the week and because I wasn't drinking enough water, I figure it had a negative effect on the scale. And third, I went to a wedding on Sunday which I didn't really overdo anything, but the sheer fact is I had minimal control over what I was being served--just pick and choose carefully. Other factors--winter clothing (I was cold all day & had on more layers than normal) and a heavier lunch than I usually have on Mondays. Yes, these may be excuses but a 3 lb gain is a lot in one week, and I was pretty on track for the most part, so I'm attributing it to other factors. We'll see what the scale says next week.

Quinoa update: It was really good & really easy. I cooked the Quinoa plain with just water & salt, then combined it with baby spinach, broiled shitake mushrooms (marinated in oil & vinegar), feta cheese, and I added some dried cranberries for some more flavor. The quinoa was my favorite part--the rest of the salad was lacking something. But it was easy, and I suppose I would make it again, maybe add a bit more.

Swing update: Went again to Swing class last night. I enjoyed it more--there were two HS kids there who were learning & they seemed to liven it up a little more. When I switched to have him as a partner, it was more energetic & I actually felt like I was swinging. I'm going to miss next Monday because of my play rehearsal, but I definitely want to go back. They seem to run in 4 week cycles, so I hope they continue the class. I hope they get more people for the class (men!) and a slightly younger crowd.

Plan update: I think this next couple weeks is going to be a struggle for me--my show opens up next Thursday and whenever this happens, I end up having no time to think about anything, no time to work out, no time to plan meals, etc. Not to say I'm not going to try, but it becomes that much harder when I'm running straight from work to rehearsal & then I'm exhausted to do anything when I get home. So I'll be happy just to maintain through the week after the show.

So this week I'm going to stick to being comfortable, and just sticking to routine. I just need to get through this next two weeks. Although maybe I'll try some low-point versions of comfort food like mac & cheese or something. The only thing I have to watch out for is tomorrow night going out to eat w/friends, and watching that those comfort foods don't get too comfortable.

And then maybe after all of this my lows will only be showing on the scale.

Until next time.

Ze Plan! Ze Plan!

I imagine little Tattoo from Fantasy Island yelling this with me...

Okay--so I spent some time thinking about what my plan is going to be for getting back on track and losing the weight I have been putting on so efficiently due to my lack of good habits. It's hard to start slow, when I've gone through all of this before...multiple times. But I also want to establish these good habits as part of my life continuing forward, and the only way to have them become habits, is to start slow, re-introducing them little by little.

So here it is...Ze Plan (subject to change based on progress)

Week One (starting today):

• Track everything (broken record?)
  
• Fit in 8 Healthy Guidelines daily (water, milk, fruits/veggies, oils, vitamins, exercise, protein, whole grains)
• Earn 14 APs (averaging 2 per day)
• Re-read WW materials from early in program.
  
• Run 5k (Okay, I'm so not ready for it, but I still want to accomplish it! It's now or never)
  

Simple right?

Week Two (Mon 9/28):

• Establish schedule for meals & exercise with reasonable expectations (mornings just ain't gonna happen)
  
• Evaluate food choices from previous week & current week. What is making me eat these foods? Is it worth it?
• Make choices based on evaluation--Pros vs. Cons=Choice
  
• Earn 14-20 APs
  

Week Three (Mon 10/5):

• Up exercise intensity focusing on endurance & strength--try new class, program, dvd, etc.
  
• Change up food choices--introduce new foods, recipes
  
• Evaluate nighttime eating habits, brainstorm room for change.

Week Four (Mon 10/12):

• Avoid nighttime binging at all costs.
• Evaluate exercise. What works? What to focus on?
  
• Make Halloween costume. (That'll keep me busy!)
  

By week four I should start seeing changes--both in behavior and on the scale. By that point I will want to set goals for future weeks. The following week will be the aptly named "Hell Week" for my show and will likely make me abandon whatever normal schedule I'd have developed by this point. However I should be ready to take it on and move on afterward.

It's fall. The scale will be falling. The sizes will be falling. And I will be plowing ahead (thought I was gonna say falling right?).

Until next time.

Seattle ahoy!!

Well I am at work today basically just biding my time until I leave for Seattle this evening. I'm so excited! I've been there once about 18 years ago but remember nothing so I'm planning on fully taking advantage of the city and all it has to offer. And that includes exercise!

One thing I love about traveling is all the extra exercise I get from being a tourist. Wandering the cities endlessly on foot, strength training from carrying bags of goodies which I've bought at the interesting little shops, and taking advantage of the hotel fitness center equipment which I wouldn't normally have access to being too broke to pay a gym membership. Yay.

Of course the reason we're going is a family wedding and being Italian, that definitely includes food--but my aunt isn't one of those "cook so much food that it could feed a small village" people so I think the obstacle will be more about making good food choices while eating out. I think I can handle that. Plus there's a lot of seafood out there, and from what I know, a lot of vegetarian/organic/earthy-crunchy focused people so I expect to have pretty healthy options.

Since I did not weigh in this week, I can't really estimate how I'll do when I come back, but as I said, I expect to do well--and even if I don't, I'll know I enjoyed my time away. But my goals for the week:

• Lots of walking...find the Freemont Troll under the bridge
  
• Take advantage of the time difference & spend those early waking hours at the fitness center or going for a run outdoors
• Don't go Starbucks crazy
  
• Make healthy food choices as often as possible.
• Enjoy the wedding!
  

West Coast here I come!

Until next time

Boot Camp Day Twelve

It's a slow day. Slooooooooooooooow Day.

I should have gone out for a walk since it's sort of sunny but I have to leave early today and felt bad. That's okay because tonight I'll be running around with my nephins!

I'll keep this short and sweet, but there's a couple of things...
1) I finally cooked last night! I made the Pork Chops & Cucumber Salad recipe and it was yummy. And super easy. I had wicked onion breath and the dill is all over my kitchen, but YUM. I went over my points with this, but not by much. The pork was 3pts for 3 oz and the cucumber salad was maybe .5 from the oil. So 1.5 over for the day wasn't bad. Until however...

2) I had another late night eating catastrophe! I don't even want to list it because I ashamed. I knew better. There was no reason for it. But I did it anyway. Sgt Fyt is gonna kill me. I've already heard I'll be doing a lot of running tomorrow.

3) Kiwis are amazing. I haven't had fresh kiwi in so long & I had one yesterday, and just cutting into it and seeing the amazing bright green color made me smile. They're sugary so you don't get a lot for your points, but they are SO good.

4) This weekend I'm determined to make Sgt Fyt proud. I don't know what this weigh in on Monday is going to be like because of my points usage this week, but I'm going to try to make up for it. I seriously want to earn like 8-10 points this weekend. Average at least 4pts/day? I can totally do that. And I just have to focus on eating smart so to stay within my daily points for the rest of the weekend. I can do this! NO EXCUSES!!!

Hope everyone has a great weekend

Until next time

Boot Camp Day Nine

Wow--the hard work pays off--Sgt Fyt is happy with my progress I hear...now it's full speed ahead to make him and myself proud!

Last night I went food shopping with this whole meal plan in mind: cook once, eat all week. I got some recipes from Martha Stewart's Everyday Food magazine which I have a subscription to but haven't really used since I got it.

Well by the time I got home I didn't have any energy for cooking so I had some cereal and cherries which weren't as sweet as they should have been.

But here are the meals I planned on cooking this week and now have almost all the food for:

• Grilled steak with cherry tomatoes & scallions
• Gemelli pasta with goat cheese & arugula
• Pork chops with cucumber & dill salad

Oh I'm getting hungry just looking at those photos...

Except now I won't be home to cook tonight and now it looks like I won't be cooking tomorrow, Thursday OR Friday. I hope all that food doesn't go to waste (especially based on how much it all cost!!!).

Anyway--Today I'm pretty much on plan, though I haven't had an opportunity to take a walk since the weather's been crummy.

Breakfast: Cereal & milk
Lunch: 1/2 tuna sandwich from yesterday, carrots, cherries, some tortillas
Snack: A few animal crackers may have crossed my path
Dinner: TBD...I'm thinking pizza with lots of veggies

Boot Camp Days Six, Seven, Eight

Another Whirlwind weekend. Drill sergeant let me out to see how I'd do on my own. And I think I did pretty well. If I hadn't had an insane week of eating, I would have had plenty to work with this weekend. But I did have one accomplishment on Sunday...see below.

Friday eve: still points crazy--managed to keep within my points for dinner and avoided dessert like the plague. Also avoided alcoholic drinks cuz there was no reason to tack on extra points. Score one for Julia. Didn't exercise...deduct scorepoint.

Saturday: Spent the morning monitoring HS students as they took their SATs. Breakfast was banana, coffee & nutrigrain bar (3 pts! so not worth it). Lunch was leftover chicken & rice. Dinner was beer (light), and mexican. I went for a jog/walk during the day though--good stuff, but my endurance wasn't as good as it had been. Still, I went.

Sunday: Egg beater, spinach, turkey & cheese omelet (SO easy in the microwave!), and then a picnic in Central Park. Tried to eat mostly fruits, but there was lots of cheese & bread too. Oh, and champagne and wine...I didn't overdo it though and got in as much water as possible. Got some sunshine. Fit in a brisk 40 minute walk when I got home since I heard the drill sergeant taking roll call.

Not ridiculous, but could have been better.

My big accomplishment for the weekend...I WORE A BIKINI!!!!! Or at least half of it. At the park yesterday I wanted to get some sunshine & so I wore my new bikini top with shorts. There were no photos as far as I know, which probably is better, but I wish I could have documented it. It didn't look fantastic, but it looked pretty good (at least when I stood up). Hopefully it will serve as motivation to keep going to wear the bottoms too!

This week I'm working to get past last weeks insanity and start fresh with a plan

Today: Quick breakfast-mozzarella. Lunch: healthy tuna, rye, cheese, carrots, snow peas, roasted zucchini/squash. Yum. I'm full. I weigh in tonight and then I'm going food shopping for the week. I will try to take a walk before it rains this afternoon and then do some strength training tonight.

Boot Camp Days Three, Four, Five

Okay, I've been slacking. The drill sergeant hasn't checked up on me lately & I've been hiding out.

I won't give exact details about the past two days, just a summary...

Wednesday: I as pretty good managing my meals, but didn't plan ahead of time. Went a little over my points in the evening. Not too bad. Only got in 15 minutes of activity--a quick, brisk lunchtime walk. Nothing in the evening.

Thursday: Another unplanned day--not quite as good. Tried to keep points low, but by the end of lunch I had barely gotten any healthy guidelines in. Dinner I craved sushi and I needed veggies. Yum--hit the spot, helped on bulking up my veggie count. Only exercise was walking around a school taking photos and squats to get down to take photos of little kids. Maybe 1 point. Felt really drained all day, especially afternoon. Intended a walk in the evening, but rain (AGAIN!) stopped me and I wimped out of a DVD.

Today: Started good--egg beaters & spinach sandwich at home + coffee. Lunch will be healthy too--half turkey sand & veggies. Dinner is still up in the air. Raining again--no lunchtime walk. Need to get alternative cardio in.

Tales from the scale: Yesterday I decided I needed to go weigh in. I missed last week because of memorial day & then a busy week. I missed this Monday because of my schedule. I know I gained, but I needed to see what the damage was, so I went last night. 2.8 lbs. A little scary, but not as bad as it could have been. (I was expecting anywhere from 2-5 lbs). I needed it so I could assess what I needed to do to bring it down. It would have been a lot worse for me to go to next week's meeting for that surprise. So while I'm not happy about it--I'm taking the opportunity to make an appointment with the drill sergeant and let him whip me back into shape.

Tomorrow's supposed to kick off a great weekend weather-wise, so I'm going to be hitting the trails for a run, and kick my workouts back into gear. Time to get tough.

Until next time

June Bootcamp

Happy June everyone. May flew by. Always my favorite month, but this month was crazy--maybe more than usual. But I loved every minute of it and now I'm ready for June!

Taking a cue from a fellow blogger at Bare it All, I am making a plan for June. Not that I always follow the plans I make because things come up, but this month I am determined. It's June 1st, and after two weeks of bad eating and minimal exercising, I am determined to get myself back in the game. I feel the effects my poor choices are having on my body, and I am certainly seeing those choices in how my clothes are fitting. It's time to take action. (So I don't end up really looking like that cat in the previous blog)

I have said in the past that planning is not my forte. Well, I can plan all I want, but actually following the plan is the hard part. But like I said, it's time to take action and I am serious about this. So this is bootcamp time.
Rules
1. NO EXCUSES!
2. Get in some form of exercise every day. Even 10 minutes is better than nothing. Aim for mornings. Push yourself. Challenge yourself. You can do it! 30 day shred, Biggest Loser DVD, weight training, jogging, and walking are your friends. Have backup plans.
3. Track all food. Easier said than done, but the more you track, the more you are aware of what you're eating, and the more you can make those good choices.
4. Eat the right foods! This is boot camp. No excuses. Plan meals as much as possible. Try to get in ALL the healthy guidelines every day. Limit sweets. Limit baked chips. Say NO to fried foods, chips, or any of those other "did I just eat the whole bag" foods.
5. Blog progress to keep accountable. It's always helpful seeing progress and a chance to vent frustrations and celebrate successes. It's been working so far anyway!

So here we go with Day One!

Until next time

Off plan & off my rocker

I hate holiday weekends.

Love the idea of them, hate what it does to my weight loss focus.

I'm two days back from Memorial Day/Birthday extravaganza weekend and I haven't tracked anything in well over a week and I keep putting it off. I also haven't really exercised since Friday. And my eating patterns have gotten lazy.

I keep saying I'm going to get back on the wagon, plan out my meals, plan out my week, get myself back on a schedule, but I keep making excuses.

Excuses? I thought this month was all about NO EXCUSES!!!???

It feels so much harder--like I've been doing this for so long and I need a break. But I don't want to give up all the work I've done so far! But each day brings up another obstacle. A dinner out, a rainy day, no real food in the fridge...I keep having to make these decisions and feel like I'm fighting a losing battle with it.

And it doesn't get any better this week: dinner at a friends' house tonight, dad's birthday dinner out friday night, weather's crappy, no time to go jogging anyway, long days of work to deal with and then no energy to work out at home...

To top it off, I didn't weigh in on Monday since it was a holiday...not knowing how I fared this weekend is killing me and I feel like it throws my whole week off.

Argh...

Until next time

Huh?

Confused Camel
(What I felt like after I weighed in)

Down 1lb? What? After THAT week? Okay, I don't believe it, but I'll take it.

Well this week I'm all about kicking it up a notch so even if next week the scale says I'm up, I'll know that it's that 2 week cycle and not my lack of trying.

Yesterday on WW.com I saw the Spring into Action Challenge headlining the site. It goes right along with my "No Excuses" mantra. (Okay, so maybe I got the inspiration from reading this article...)

Basically it's that "bootcamp" I was referring to. And it outlined the challenge in four ways
-Eat smarter by planning your meals, sticking to the plan, and staying within your points most of the week unless it's planned in. Don't give in to temptation.
-Moving more by increasing activity, making it a part of your daily routine and even signing up for a 5k (which I am planning for August)
-Build helpful habits by building awareness of your eating habits, your hunger signals, etc.
-Finding support. A friend who can help push you to keep moving towards goals and who you can lean on for support.

These are sort of the basics of how WW works, but those are the things I'm always struggling with. So I'm working on improving all of these things and sticking to my plans.

I went food shopping last night at Trader Joe's and loaded up on all sorts of good stuff. Frozen veggies, healthy dinners, etc. I'm going to be working on planning my meals more so I can be more consistent. Tonight I'm planning a run (especially while the weather is still good!) I'm going to be working on solving my boredom/nighttime eating habit which I regularly struggle with. And as for the support, I am trying to work with one of my friends to train for the 5k as well as share our progress with each other.

I feel newly inspired and newly energized so I want to take advantage of this while I can!! And maybe, in no time I'll be reaching those goals I've been striving for all year.

Until next time

April fitness brings May thinness

It's day three of this month and I still haven't given myself a goal. I certainly marched through March and I'm very proud of myself for having gotten through two levels and almost a full month of the Couch to 5K program.

Now I want to give myself a goal for April.

Come April 21st, I will have been on WW for one whole year. And I'm about 40 lbs down right now, and that's amazing to have done in a year. Although I probably would have guessed I would be nearer to goal by this time, I am not complaining. It didn't just take me a year to get where I was, and the fact that I have come this far is something I am proud of.

This month, I'm not going to focus on any one particular scale number, but I do want to start picking up the fitness again.

The C25k program is great, but that's really all I've been doing. I do feel stronger when I run, but I feel like I'm getting flabby again because I'm not supporting it with any strength training. I keep looking at all my DVDs I got back in Dec/Jan that had me in a great workout zone.

Plus bathing suit season is right around the corner, and I want to ROCK a bikini by the end of summer. At least once. Not that I go to the beach all that much, but what better way to celebrate my new body than to show it off on the sandy shores of...New Jersey ;)

And one more personal reason I want to tone up...the boudoir. I don't talk about my personal life all that much, but it certainly is something that changed through this journey. My body image & self confidence has certainly improved over the past year, but when I get down & dirty, I still feel full & flabby. The jiggling areas are probably going to always jiggle, but I'd prefer them if they were a little less J-E-L-L-O.

So my plan this month is to try to fit in 1-2 days of strength training with my 3 days of runs. It's going to be tough because my schedule is so packed right now, but the great thing about the videos is that they're SHORT. 20 minutes and I get an intense workout. C'mon Julia, you can manage that. You spend 20 minutes avoiding cleaning--you might as well fit in some fitness while you're procrastinating!

So--C'mon April, let's bloom into something great for May :)

Until next time

Wanted: Organization skills that stick!

Hi, my name is Julia, and I am disorganized. But I am also a habitual organizer attempter.

Time after time I try different tactics to get myself organized. Whether it's organizing my papers (my nifty mail sorter in my living room is now covered by piles of mail), organizing my kitchen (who has the discipline to wash dishes right after eating?), or organizing my clothes (let's not even go there) - I am always looking for a new way to keep things neat & easy to manage, and always failing to do so after a short time.

So knowing full well that I start these projects and never follow through with them, I was inspired to invest in a personal planner/agenda. I figured this is where I can keep track of not only my appointments and events, but plan out my weekly exercise, meals, and keep a journal of different thoughts and experiences both with my day-to-day life, and my weight loss journey.

I got a Day Runner. A nice spring green one (a little less bold than the bright pink one, but also less glaringly...pink) I have a monthly view, a weekly view, and I also purchased the 2 page-per-day daily view. Each set aside for different purposes. I feel organized just talking about it.

I hope I do continue to use it because I think it would really help me plan my weeks. One of my biggest hurdles in this journey is my lack of planning. Planning meals, planning to fit in exercise, etc. Maybe if it's in my face, and I don't have to think about it, I'll do it. I know I won't be perfect (jogging vs. drinks with the girls? Hmm...), but it's at least a start!

Wish me luck!

Until next time

Mindful Monday

I have been on a little bit of a hiatus from blogging. I was away for the Inauguration in DC until Tuesday (unbelievable) and then I just didn't really have much to say worth blogging for the rest of the week.

On the same note, I didn't really have a great week keeping on plan. I wasn't terrible, but I tracked absolutely nothing. I did go out walking during most of my lunch breaks and had decent healthy meals, but did not do any other exercise at night.

I weighed in Wednesday and had lost .6 lbs which is pretty good. Then I went home & started an uncharted eating frenzy that lasted me well into the weekend. I hate that I let the off week throw me off.

So between my off-week, and the lovely PMS/TOM state, I am expecting to gain when I weigh in tonight. I am expecting it and preparing for it, but I know it will still be disappointing because I am only 1 lb away from my first reward at 195 lbs. And I desperately need a manicure!

So this week I'm going with the Mindful Monday approach. I'm tracking everything. I am going to write everything down on my paper tracker as well as the online tracker. I am going to try to plan out my meals (at least through lunch) ahead of time so I can better plan out my evening meals. And I'm going to be mindful about exercising.

I received my Amazon.com order of sale DVDs on Saturday as I was leaving, so I opened the box on Wednesday while I was sitting & watching TV. I ended up getting the Dancing w/the Stars workout, two of the Biggest Loser workouts (workout 1 and cardio max), and I got The Shred. The much talked about Jillian Michaels (from BL) magical mystery Shred. This requires a whole blog unto itself. But my point is, I was so excited to get these ON SALE and I have yet to crack any of them open. So it's Monday again, a fresh start to my week. Let's get it on.

Here's to a Mindful & Marvelous week!! Let's get that Manicure!!

Until next time