Yesterday was our last big hoorah of fall break. We have actually had a really great week, but today is pretty much back to reality. I am tired but my house needs cleaned very very badly :)
So late yesterday afternoon, we got in the car and drove to Flagstaff. I had a gift certificate for Black Bart's Steakhouse that I wanted to use, plus we thought taking Nate to the observatory would be lots of fun.
The dinner was fabulous and the music was awesome! Nate had a great time! I ordered a very healthy menu option of shrimp and vegetable kebabs. Should have taken a picture...it was that good :) I knew I wanted dessert last night so Jim ordered the blackberry cobbler and Nate the chocolate cake. I had 3 bites of cake, and 2 of the cobbler. I was perfectly satisfied with that. I just needed a couple of tastes.
After dinner we headed up to the observatory and saw telescope views of the moon and Jupiter. Very cool. I didn't realize that until we got home last night that I had a major non-scale victory. We had to stand in line to see Jupiter for about 40 minutes. 3 weeks ago, standing that long would have made my lower back hurt plus my knee would have been achy. It didn't even occur to me until I crawled into bed that neither of those things happened. YES! It is amazing to think that I have spent the last 7 months of inactivity in an almost constant state of some form of discomfort. And yesterday...it was not there!!!!
My body is so happy to be active again and eating "good" foods and it's rewarding me. It is sad that I almost missed the reward...but I am glad that I recognized it for what it was :)
Saturday, October 16, 2010
Friday, October 15, 2010
Weigh in day
Fall break has kicked my ass! I miss my routine, but I have to say that Nate has had a great time so far. On Tuesday, a friend of mine took her nephews plus Nate fishing for 8 hours! They had a blast, ate nothing but junk food, got burnt to a crisp, and caught ZERO fish! Die hard fishermen these boys to be able to be out there all day without even a nibble.
Wednesday, we picked up a friend of Nate's and went to Peter Piper Pizza. Then we took them bowling. We came home after that, and I made spaghetti for dinner with ice cream for dessert. The friend slept over, and I made bacon and pancakes for them for breakfast yesterday morning before we took the friend home. 24 hours of nothing but food that 8 year old boys would eat!
But guess what? I ate pizza at Peter Piper...I just ordered my personal pizza they way that I wanted it. I chose not to eat nachos at the bowling alley. The spaghetti was my homemade sauce and whole wheat pasta, and instead of ice cream I ate an apple with peanut butter. The bacon was the hardest to turn down, but I did and today reaped the benefits of choosing wisely this week....
Wednesday, we picked up a friend of Nate's and went to Peter Piper Pizza. Then we took them bowling. We came home after that, and I made spaghetti for dinner with ice cream for dessert. The friend slept over, and I made bacon and pancakes for them for breakfast yesterday morning before we took the friend home. 24 hours of nothing but food that 8 year old boys would eat!
But guess what? I ate pizza at Peter Piper...I just ordered my personal pizza they way that I wanted it. I chose not to eat nachos at the bowling alley. The spaghetti was my homemade sauce and whole wheat pasta, and instead of ice cream I ate an apple with peanut butter. The bacon was the hardest to turn down, but I did and today reaped the benefits of choosing wisely this week....
5.5 pounds lost in 2 weeks!!!!!
Yep...I lost another 2 pounds this week. I was telling Jim just yesterday though that I really hate being a slave to that damn scale. If I never got on the scale, and just went with how my body feels...yep...I would still feel successful these 2 weeks. My body is so much happier not eating the junk and exercising consistently...sigh...it feels so good to feel good. It has been a long, long time :)
Yep...I lost another 2 pounds this week. I was telling Jim just yesterday though that I really hate being a slave to that damn scale. If I never got on the scale, and just went with how my body feels...yep...I would still feel successful these 2 weeks. My body is so much happier not eating the junk and exercising consistently...sigh...it feels so good to feel good. It has been a long, long time :)
Monday, October 11, 2010
mind body connection
I went to bed last night fresh with the incredible feelings of yesterday's bike ride. I had a choir concert in the afternoon that was fun but tiring, and food choices were not the best because of the timing of the concert. Yet, with all of that, I did go to bed with a firm plan of getting up this morning, walking, then lifting weights.
Yeah....so didn't happen. I got up around 6:30 and Nate hadn't been up for too long so we chatted a little. I messed around on face book *evil time waster* for about an hour...was then getting ready to get dressed and decide where I was going to walk when a friend called....sigh....good to chat but motivation was slowly leaving the building.
I got off the phone with her, went to get dressed, came out, and then started chatting with another friend regarding plans for the rest of the week for our kids during this lovely fall break....yep...even more time wasted. By this time it was after 9am!!!! I am sooooo not a during the day exerciser. If I don't do it pretty much first thing it usually doesn't happen. Through all of this time wasting, I have to say that I was very willing participant. I was tired. My feet hurt from wearing heels yesterday for the concert, and I really just didn't want to walk or lift weights.
Then I tried to get Nate involved. I thought that if he wanted to go on a bike ride at least I would get a little activity in if not a high intensity workout. No go. He was not at all interested. At this point, Jim woke up. Motivation is very low, and now the timing kind of stinks. Sigh. Jim seemed to understand my need for me to move my body so he suggested that we all ride bikes. No go. Nate just wasn't up for it today.
I was about to throw in the towel, when at the very last minute I got a burst of resolve. I told Jim that I was going to go for a 30 minute bike ride then I would take a quick shower before we headed out to do our errands.
Lesson to this really long story. I ended up riding for 40 minutes, went 7 miles, and felt amazing afterward...woot!!!! Two weeks ago I would have totally just blown off the day. That is what the last 10 days has done for me. That is what those endorphins were for yesterday. My body, while tired, still craved that drug of exercise on some deep level that my brain couldn't really connect to...I am so glad that I talked my brain into doing what my body wanted and needed :)
Yeah....so didn't happen. I got up around 6:30 and Nate hadn't been up for too long so we chatted a little. I messed around on face book *evil time waster* for about an hour...was then getting ready to get dressed and decide where I was going to walk when a friend called....sigh....good to chat but motivation was slowly leaving the building.
I got off the phone with her, went to get dressed, came out, and then started chatting with another friend regarding plans for the rest of the week for our kids during this lovely fall break....yep...even more time wasted. By this time it was after 9am!!!! I am sooooo not a during the day exerciser. If I don't do it pretty much first thing it usually doesn't happen. Through all of this time wasting, I have to say that I was very willing participant. I was tired. My feet hurt from wearing heels yesterday for the concert, and I really just didn't want to walk or lift weights.
Then I tried to get Nate involved. I thought that if he wanted to go on a bike ride at least I would get a little activity in if not a high intensity workout. No go. He was not at all interested. At this point, Jim woke up. Motivation is very low, and now the timing kind of stinks. Sigh. Jim seemed to understand my need for me to move my body so he suggested that we all ride bikes. No go. Nate just wasn't up for it today.
I was about to throw in the towel, when at the very last minute I got a burst of resolve. I told Jim that I was going to go for a 30 minute bike ride then I would take a quick shower before we headed out to do our errands.
Lesson to this really long story. I ended up riding for 40 minutes, went 7 miles, and felt amazing afterward...woot!!!! Two weeks ago I would have totally just blown off the day. That is what the last 10 days has done for me. That is what those endorphins were for yesterday. My body, while tired, still craved that drug of exercise on some deep level that my brain couldn't really connect to...I am so glad that I talked my brain into doing what my body wanted and needed :)
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Endorphins, baby!
There is a feeling flowing through my body right now that I haven't felt in many many months. What is it? It's vibrating throughout...it's ENDORPHINS! I can actually pinpoint the last time I felt like this...March 5. That was my last spin class before I got sick. If you have never felt that high you get from intense exercise...I highly recommend it! It is better than any drug out there!
How did I get these endorphins today? Hmmm...I am not sure why today and not any other time this week...but I went for a 8.5 mile bike ride this morning and it all just, well, clicked. I have been done with the ride for over 90 minutes yet I have not come down at all from that high. I truly feel like I am vibrating inside almost like I have had about 5 cups of coffee too many. Very strange, very cool, and very missed.
Having these feelings is like adding fuel to my campfire *see previous post*. It is exactly what I need to make sure that I eat right the rest of today. Because if I do that, then tomorrow I can get up and workout again to get more of the endorphins. Good cycle there, huh?
Oh how I have missed feeling this good about something my body has done. It is just amazing, and makes the world around me seem brighter today. Okay okay...I know that I am pouring it on pretty thick. But the fact that I haven't had this feeling in about 7 months is just horribly sad to me. And they came back today...it's a good day :)
How did I get these endorphins today? Hmmm...I am not sure why today and not any other time this week...but I went for a 8.5 mile bike ride this morning and it all just, well, clicked. I have been done with the ride for over 90 minutes yet I have not come down at all from that high. I truly feel like I am vibrating inside almost like I have had about 5 cups of coffee too many. Very strange, very cool, and very missed.
Having these feelings is like adding fuel to my campfire *see previous post*. It is exactly what I need to make sure that I eat right the rest of today. Because if I do that, then tomorrow I can get up and workout again to get more of the endorphins. Good cycle there, huh?
Oh how I have missed feeling this good about something my body has done. It is just amazing, and makes the world around me seem brighter today. Okay okay...I know that I am pouring it on pretty thick. But the fact that I haven't had this feeling in about 7 months is just horribly sad to me. And they came back today...it's a good day :)
Saturday, October 9, 2010
Inspiration
I haven't written in awhile...obviously. After that last post, well, let's just say that I was Miss Downer Debbie for a little while. But since I wrote that last post, my little boy has learned to ride his bike and LOVES it! I have NEVER seen such determination in that kid to master something. I was so proud, and cried many proud mama tears throughout one weekend.
But in watching how much determination he had, plus seeing how often he fell and got right back up...was in a word inspiring. At one point middle of the week after he learned how to ride I counted how many bruises I saw on his legs. 14. Yeah 14! Yet, he never gave up. And he never was afraid to get back on the bike.
It got me thinking. I haven't had anyone inspire me in a really long time. I know that ultimately you have to inspire yourself, but I feel like it's like starting a campfire. A campfire will feed upon itself, but initially you have to provide the spark. And then you need to feed it every so often so it doesn't burn itself out. That is what I have been for 2 years. A burned out campfire. I needed a spark and some fuel.
Nate was my spark. He has shown me exactly what I have within myself to accomplish a goal. He shows it to me, because he came from me. We have very similar personalities. I watched him dig in and master that damn bike, and if he can do that...well I can lose some weight and regain my inner athlete back. Now I just have to provide the fuel to fire so that I don't burn out again.
As of October 1, I am back in action. I am exercising consistently, and eating healthy foods. I haven't binged in a couple of weeks, and I have to say that my insides are thanking me for that! I have a lot of weight to lose again...sigh...hate saying that...but it's the truth. I want to lose 75 pounds, and then reevaluate at that point. I lost 3.5 pounds my first week. I am pretty proud of that...wish that it was more...but know that to be healthy and long term that was a really good first week.
Today is tough and so was yesterday...I am hungry. I don't want to fall off the wagon so soon, but am going to have to find some snacks to eat in between meals that are healthy and filling. My long term goal is 75 pounds, but short term is 10 at a time. I don't want to get hung up in the I have so much to lose that I'll never get there. If I do that, I will end up quitting and I really don't want to quit this time. I want to keep moving forward, and not look in the past at the mistakes I have made or how many times I have done this...it's over...I have only today and tomorrow. To steal a phrase from a friend.... one bite, one breath. I am doing this one bite at a time, and trying my damnedest to learn why I binge and how to redirect that energy into something less self destructive. I'll get there... one bite, one breath.
But in watching how much determination he had, plus seeing how often he fell and got right back up...was in a word inspiring. At one point middle of the week after he learned how to ride I counted how many bruises I saw on his legs. 14. Yeah 14! Yet, he never gave up. And he never was afraid to get back on the bike.
It got me thinking. I haven't had anyone inspire me in a really long time. I know that ultimately you have to inspire yourself, but I feel like it's like starting a campfire. A campfire will feed upon itself, but initially you have to provide the spark. And then you need to feed it every so often so it doesn't burn itself out. That is what I have been for 2 years. A burned out campfire. I needed a spark and some fuel.
Nate was my spark. He has shown me exactly what I have within myself to accomplish a goal. He shows it to me, because he came from me. We have very similar personalities. I watched him dig in and master that damn bike, and if he can do that...well I can lose some weight and regain my inner athlete back. Now I just have to provide the fuel to fire so that I don't burn out again.
As of October 1, I am back in action. I am exercising consistently, and eating healthy foods. I haven't binged in a couple of weeks, and I have to say that my insides are thanking me for that! I have a lot of weight to lose again...sigh...hate saying that...but it's the truth. I want to lose 75 pounds, and then reevaluate at that point. I lost 3.5 pounds my first week. I am pretty proud of that...wish that it was more...but know that to be healthy and long term that was a really good first week.
Today is tough and so was yesterday...I am hungry. I don't want to fall off the wagon so soon, but am going to have to find some snacks to eat in between meals that are healthy and filling. My long term goal is 75 pounds, but short term is 10 at a time. I don't want to get hung up in the I have so much to lose that I'll never get there. If I do that, I will end up quitting and I really don't want to quit this time. I want to keep moving forward, and not look in the past at the mistakes I have made or how many times I have done this...it's over...I have only today and tomorrow. To steal a phrase from a friend.... one bite, one breath. I am doing this one bite at a time, and trying my damnedest to learn why I binge and how to redirect that energy into something less self destructive. I'll get there... one bite, one breath.
Saturday, September 11, 2010
It just sucks!
I haven't put much action behind wanting to be at a healthier weight for a long time. I am not exactly sure why that is but I am getting tired of just thinking about it. It's time to do something about it. I want to go back to spin but am terrified that I don't have the level of fitness required of spin.
I know that I have to start somewhere, but when I think about where I was before I got sick and where I am now....I get really pissed off. I miss being able to work out for an hour+ and knowing that it was hard but also knowing that it was very doable. Again, I know that I have to start somewhere....but does somewhere have to be so far back. Sigh.
It's time for my whole family to be eating healthier. It's time for us all to move more. It's time, but do I have the motivation again? Do I have what it takes to inspire my family to move towards a healthier version of themselves. I don't know. And...if I can't motivate myself and my family how could I EVER motivate anyone else.
On top of it all, it is very difficult to want to get out and exercise when you're still running a fever most of the time. It just sucks.
I know that I have to start somewhere, but when I think about where I was before I got sick and where I am now....I get really pissed off. I miss being able to work out for an hour+ and knowing that it was hard but also knowing that it was very doable. Again, I know that I have to start somewhere....but does somewhere have to be so far back. Sigh.
It's time for my whole family to be eating healthier. It's time for us all to move more. It's time, but do I have the motivation again? Do I have what it takes to inspire my family to move towards a healthier version of themselves. I don't know. And...if I can't motivate myself and my family how could I EVER motivate anyone else.
On top of it all, it is very difficult to want to get out and exercise when you're still running a fever most of the time. It just sucks.
Saturday, September 4, 2010
Catching up
I have a cold. At least I think it is a cold, but I have noticed that the lung issues that I had earlier this year are more prevalent when I am sick. Smells are triggering me to cough, etc. Ick!
Nate is back in school, and doing some extracurricular activities that leave him at school until 4:30 two days a week. It is very strange to have him gone from the house that long...I know that it will only get worse from here on out, but right now it is just weird. He is participating in drama (ahhhh...just like his mama), and then chess club (just like his daddy). Two very cool things to do, and I am excited to see how the year plays out with both activities.
All of that gives me extra time to do be productive. Have I been? Well, kind of. Mostly I have caught up on my relaxing, and then I got sick. The one exciting thing that I did do???? I finished reading my book. You know the one. The one that I wrote last November in a flurry of fingers flying :) I have been scared to read it. I thought that maybe it wasn't any good. However, I kinda liked it. I actually laughed out loud at one point. I have a TON of editing to do, and that is my next step but it is encouraging to know that I liked reading it.
So that's what has been going on. I still need a job, and I look at the want ads daily. There isn't much available unless you're a nurse or a medical assistant. But someday soon there will be an ad that will be perfect for me, and I will then have a job :)
Nate is back in school, and doing some extracurricular activities that leave him at school until 4:30 two days a week. It is very strange to have him gone from the house that long...I know that it will only get worse from here on out, but right now it is just weird. He is participating in drama (ahhhh...just like his mama), and then chess club (just like his daddy). Two very cool things to do, and I am excited to see how the year plays out with both activities.
All of that gives me extra time to do be productive. Have I been? Well, kind of. Mostly I have caught up on my relaxing, and then I got sick. The one exciting thing that I did do???? I finished reading my book. You know the one. The one that I wrote last November in a flurry of fingers flying :) I have been scared to read it. I thought that maybe it wasn't any good. However, I kinda liked it. I actually laughed out loud at one point. I have a TON of editing to do, and that is my next step but it is encouraging to know that I liked reading it.
So that's what has been going on. I still need a job, and I look at the want ads daily. There isn't much available unless you're a nurse or a medical assistant. But someday soon there will be an ad that will be perfect for me, and I will then have a job :)
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