Time for a reboot

November 21, 2015
I attempted to focus on fitness awhile back, I failed at the time.  I have started to focus once again, it has been going on for a little while now.  At the end of August I decided to try Jenny Craig, I had done it successfully before but I failed to learn the maintenance protocol and sadly I allowed myself to regain all the weight I had lost, plus some more.  Isn't that how it always goes?  I knew Jenny Craig was expensive so I decided to put my gym membership on hold while I went money on the program.  I love my gym but it is very expensive, I will go back once I get my head straight with my food plan and the amount of exercise I need to maintain.  Thus far I have lost 19 pounds and I feel like I am really starting to finally grasp the interaction of the mind-body connection in regards to food & exercise.  I am a trained Chef, I have a very hard time cutting out all of the things that make food so good but I am starting to see that it is possible to splurge once in awhile and still maintain good health.  I am also starting to truly crave the burn of getting a good sweat on.  I decided that I wanted to become a runner while my gym membership is on hold.  It is something I can do locally and it doesn't cost anything other than shoes and clothes...and loading my iPod with good music.  I am not fooling myself into thinking that I am going to become a marathon runner but I really want to be capable of running a small distance without the fear of death from failure to breathe.  I have never been a runner, I was very athletic growing up: dance, gymnastics, diving, cheerleading...never a runner.  In fact, in junior high we had to run a mile once a week, it was supposed to be done in under 15 minutes.  I don't think I ever made it in under the time limit.  How sad is that?  I spent HOURS every week at gymnastics and diving yet every Thursday in P.E. I failed to run 1 mile under 15 minutes.  Pathetic.  I am proud to say that although I am not speedy I can now complete a mile in under 15 minutes! One of the hurdles I faced after getting out of the hospital after my accident was getting my movement back.  I had to relearn how to walk let alone run.  My depth perception is gone and the floor used to look like it was moving in waves all the time.  My balance is comparable to a toddler at times.  When my nephew first started to walk (and then run) I was so scared to be the one with him on the street or in a parking lot because I was concerned that he would take off and I wouldn't be able to catch him or protect him.  Luckily that type of situation never presented itself but I knew I needed to be steadier on my feet if I wanted to be a fun Auntie.  It took a few years to finally be able to run, but I did it and I am finally getting out there many days a week and running/walking between 3-6 miles.  Just last weekend there was a fundraiser for Jackson and Audrey's school, it was a 5 or 10 K or a 1 mile fun run.  Last year I participated in the 5 K, I think I was able to run about half of it, I walked the rest.  I do believe I finished dead last.  This year I actually ran the whole thing, I finished in the last 5 people....but I wasn't last!  Its funny how people react when you tell them you are trying to become a runner.  There are 2 very definite opinions.  #1 is "That's awesome, good for you!"  #2 is "Why?  Running is to hard on your joints and walking is just as good for you."  I believe that there are people out there that are more apt to be runners, maybe it depends on your body-type, maybe it is dependent upon you height, your weight, your strength....who knows but I will say if it is dependent on determination then I do believe I will be just fine.  I feel better once I have completed a run, I get a little down on myself if my time is extra slow and I beat myself up a little if my time is really slow but ultimately I know I am still learning how everything functions since my accident and I truly am grateful that it is even a choice for me to get out and run.  If I walk a little or if I go slow...too bad - suck it!  The point is: I am out there and I am trying.  I have also discovered how easy it is for me to get off track.  I don't want to be the type of person that uses my disability as an excuse. Unfortunately I have learned how easy it is to get lost in a little bit of pain or a little bit of depression.    I have to make it a point everyday not to wallow in self pity, put your big girl panties on, suck it up an go....

MLK...his words make you stop and think

"Faith is taking the first step, even when you don't see the whole staircase" ~Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

I most certainly could not see the whole staircase when I started re-focusing on my health a few weeks ago but I do believe I can see a little more of that staircase now.  Today's workout included:

• Run/walk the trails, twice - totaling 4.6 miles
• Modified push-ups, 4 sets of 25
• Squats, 2 sets of 25
• 60 stairs, 2 sets
• walk to the gym
•  2 different elliptical machines, totaling 50 minutes
• Yin Restorative Yoga, 1 hour
• walk home from the gym

My yoga class today was a little harder than usual.  There was one pose I could only hold for a few minutes because of where the pain in my left collar bone flares up from where it was injured in my accident.  Luckily, the pain is rare these days but there are certain things I do in my workouts that flare things up a little.  Now I know to modify that posture in the future. I also have to let myself believe that the yoga philosophy of not comparing yourself to others to judge your performance holds true.  It's not about what others can do, its about how I did in comparison to the last time I practiced yoga.  Now if I could just believe that, things would be great.  I feel really good about how much I am accomplishing in a day in regards to fitness.  I really need to stop weighing myself so often, it is starting to make me crazy and I'm like a junkie that needs a fix....just let me jump on the scale and make sure its moving in the right direction....again, I need help.

Week 2 wrap-up

Saturday 1/24/2015

Yesterday I started my day with an 8:00 am with a Slowburn Vinyassa yoga class - 60 minutes long.  I followed that up with 54 minutes on the elliptical and 45 minutes on the treadmill.  The yoga class was really good, I think I will add it to my weekly schedule.  "From the slower progressive sequences, to the longer holding postures, the entire body and mind are brought into balance in this focused, intense yet calming class.  It is a great option for newer students who may be nervous about trying yoga.  You will be encouraged to explore all the benefits of each posture while finding equanimity between challenge and release.  This practice is typically accompanied by soothing music.  *For all levels."

Sunday 1/25/2015

I started my day bright and early with a quick 2.3 mile run of the Trails plus 2 sets of modified push ups, squats & stairs.  I rushed back to the condo because the kids spent the night last night and I didn't want to miss any time with them, I needn't have worried, everyone was still asleep when I returned home.

weekly wrap-up:
I feel like I had a really good week.  I met my goal of 10,000 steps per day, even on my day off (I got all my steps in at the mall with Jamie)

Date	# of steps in Fitbit
Sunday, 1/18/2015	15,227
Monday, 1/19/2015	10,113
Tuesday, 1/20/2015	29,436
Wednesday, 1/21/2015	18, 048
Thursday, 1/22/2015	26, 816
Friday, 1/23/2015	13,713
Saturday, 1/24/2015	19,737
	Total = 133,090

This upcoming week is when I will start paying attention to my abs once again, I will be continuing with what I have going already but I will add in some ab work.  I increased my run distance to a little over 4 miles now, I am attempting to do that daily, I have no idea what I will do when the weather gets hot.  I have also expanded my yoga practice:

M,W,F = Yin Restorative Yoga

Tuesday = Yoga-Pilates Fusion

Thursday =  choice of Hot Vinyassa Yoga or Vinyassa Flow Yoga

Saturday = Slowburn Vinyassa Yoga or Hot Vinyassa Yoga

Sunday = My day off from yoga although I still want to get at least a run in on Sundays!

 I feel good, I am waking up with the craving to get some exercise completed.  I seem to be doing pretty well with the food portion of this lifestyle shake-up.  Yesterday was the first day I had a little fumble - I ate 2 of my Weight Watchers snack bars instead of just one.  I was well within my points on both my Weight Watchers app & my Fitbit app...we'll see how the scale reads at my Weight Watchers meeting on Thursday.  My challenges this week will be on Tuesday and Sunday.  Tuesday we will be babysitting for Audrey and although I could choose to skip it and get my ass to the gym instead I am making the choice to go spend some time with my Squishy Girl.  I don't know if I can really call her that anymore, she is not squishy, she is tiny.  She is also hilarious.  Last night and this morning there were discussions of who was being nice and what other options there were of how to act.  Jackson proudly told us that he's a nice guy.  Audrey proudly told us that she was naughty.  Auntie Mickey is also naughty, several years ago I would have to agree but these days its all peace and mellowness, meditation and yoga, running and cardio....holy crap, I sound boring.  I feel good and that's what matters, right?  If Audrey says Auntie Mickey is naughty than maybe I am.  They also picked out Disney princesses for everyone.  I got Merida from Brave.  She has curly hair so I can see it.  She is also kind of a bad-ass...I don't mind being thought of as a bad-ass.  I wonder how many steps on the Fitbit Merida would get?  I know...I have issues

Nothing tastes as good as skinny feels

Friday 1/23/2015

I started my day with a 4.59 mile run/walk on the Trails.  I also did my squats, triceps curls and modified push ups, 50 of each plus 2 sets of stairs.  The kids were due to be at the house today so I figured I would get my workout in before they got here.  I did end up missing yoga today but I figured it would be worth it.

"Never give up" means getting comfortable with being uncomfortable.  I need to remember this when I am complaining about any of the parts involved in this 'getting healthy' mission.  I will be wearing more workout clothes than regular clothes.  I will be cold in the morning when I start out for my run/walk.  When March rolls around I will be hot all of the time.  There will be times that I struggle with the amount of self-control it will take to continue eating heathy and passing on snacking on bad stuff for the feeling of immediate gratification.  "Nothing tastes as good as skinny feels.'  I think that will be my mantra while on this mission.

Catching up from yesterday

Wednesday 1/21/2015

Today's workout:

• Run/Walk the Trails, I completed the distance 1 1/2 times, originally it was 2.3 miles, I think I finished 3.45 miles.  I ran most of it...yay me!
• Squats = 50
• Triceps Curls = 50
• Modified Push Ups = 50
• Shoulder Rotations = 2 sets of 10
• Walk to the gym
• Octane Fitness elliptical machine = 20 minutes
• Yin Yoga = 1 hour
• Walk home from the gym

I took some pants to get some alterations done and then Dad and I stopped off to play some slot machines.  The day sure seems brighter when you win!

Thursday  1/22/2015

Today's workout:

• Run/Walk the Trails, I completed the distance twice so I finished up 4.6 miles today.  I ran more than I walked so that was good.  I have this dream of becoming one of those people who attain a "runner's high" when they run.  I am not that person yet but I will keep trying.  I did notice I feel the muscles in my stomach a little more that before, maybe implementing the breathing techniques that I have will result in a flatter stomach, wouldn't that be a lovely side benefit?  I think I need to start including an ab workout of some kind.  I think I will start with the 21 Day Fix ab routine - starting Monday.
• Walk to the gym
• Squats = 50
• Triceps Curls = 50
• Modified Push Ups = 50
• Arc Trainer (elliptical machine) = 20 minutes, burned 178 calories
• Octane Fitness (elliptical machine) = 33 minutes, burned 222 calories
• Treadmill = 30 minutes, burned 161 calories
• Walk home from the gym

Today was my Weight Watchers meeting.  I know I have been making good choices, I have cut down portion size and I have been better about not letting too much time go by between meals so I don't become a cranky bitch who eats everything in her path.  At the same time the scale hasn't moved an inch in either direction (according to my weight check at home).  I wish I could be the type of person that revels in her positive changes and knows that the number on the scale is not the end of the world.  I am not that kind of person.  I am racking my brain, trying to figure out what I can change to see more of a weight loss each week.  I checked in to my weekly Weight Watchers meeting and according to them I actually lost 1.4 Lbs.!  I don't know why I feel like this justifies my hard work but I know it is seeing results that helps keep me on track.  We have the kids a few times this weekend so I am hoping I don't fall off the rails due to wanting to do stuff with them rather than count points.

I am so not a Yogi

1/20/2015

I started my morning by throwing on my new yoga pants as part of my workout ensemble.  I ran/walked the Trails (about 45 minutes)and did 50 squats and 50 modified push ups.  Later in the morning I went to the gym.  My workout at the gym included:
2 different Elliptical machines, 53 minutes
Treadmill, 45 minutes
I tried a combo Yoga/Pilates class, 60 minutes.

I noticed a few things during meditation in class today:
1.  Yoga pants are truly built for yoga.  After I completed my run I went to the gym.  I thought I would try to get my cardio started by jumping on the elliptical machine.  Part way through the first machine I noticed that my pants were feeling a little droopy.  The legs of the pants fit just fine, the hips and the waist got really loose.  I think the fix for this will be to wear yoga pants to yoga only and put another pair of shorts or pants in my gym bag to change into for everything else.
2.  I know its only been a little over a week since I started really attempting to get more varied workouts, but I am really bad at yoga.  I also know that in the past I have said that I "do not like yoga or pilates.  Time for a little honesty, I like the concepts of both yoga and pilates.  I especially like the idea of practicing more pilates when I learned that pilates came about as a result of rehabbing injuries to get things back in working order.  Unfortunately the reason I told myself that I did not like those forms of exercise does not hold true.  Yes, they do both move a little slower that a full cardio workout but the reason I did not like them is because I am not good at them, I have gotten heavier and more awkward.  I am NOT flexible.  I have a hard time with balance.  In truth, I am finding that if I keep trying and I make it a point to get to several classes per week I can begin to feel more comfortable in my own skin while in class.  Really I just have to get over myself and get moving.

Lunch today:

a healthy smoothie of spinach, broccoli slaw 1 tsp. of coconut oil, 1/2 a frozen banana, Dole frozen tropical fruit, green tea and water.

We all deserve a break

Today was my day off from exercise.  Jamie and I went shopping at Fashion Show mall today.  We each found a few things for ourselves but we found A LOT for the kids.  Food-wise it was a pretty good day.  We stopped off for a treat at Starbucks...I chose the Oprah Chai latte (with nonfat milk) and I tried a That's It bar.  The package says it is the equivalent of 1 apple + 20 blueberries with no added sugar.  All in all I would call it a success.
Dad and I went over to Red Rock for a bit, I played my favorite new slot machine...Lucky 88.  I went in with $20.00 I left with $40.00...it was a good day.  I was hoping to add to my travel fund but I wasn't able to add much.
Tomorrow I am back at the gym and I'll probably get a run in too...