Pedaling

plank

Still here.  Had a little hiccup in my giddy-up in the last few weeks.

 

Started a plank challenge.  30 days.
I'm on Day 3.

Working out regularly again.
The diet isn't so great.
Fell into the sugar bowl.
Trying desperately to make good choices.

Anyway, an online friend posted this challenge.  I've seen them before, but thought "Why not?" this time around, so I started on the day she posted it.  It's not easy.  My core is sore.

I"m wondering, on Day 30, what my "long as possible" will end up being!

270 seconds is 4-1/2 minutes, by the way.

Join me?

The 30 Day Plank Challenge will send your core strength through the roof!
Day 1 - 20 seconds
Day 2 - 20 seconds
Day 3 - 30 seconds
Day 4 - 30 seconds ...
Day 5 - 40 seconds
Day 6 - REST
Day 7 - 45 seconds
Day 8 - 45 seconds
Day 9 - 60 seconds
Day 10 - 60 seconds
Day 11 - 60 seconds
Day 12 - 90 seconds
Day 13 - REST
Day 14 - 90 seconds
Day 15 - 90 seconds
Day 16 - 120 seconds
Day 17 - 120 seconds
Day 18 - 150 seconds
Day 19 - REST
Day 20 - 150 seconds
Day 21 - 150 seconds
Day 22 - 180 seconds
Day 23 - 180 seconds
Day 24 - 210 seconds
Day 25 - 210 seconds
Day 26 - REST
Day 27 - 240 seconds
Day 28 - 240 seconds
Day 29 - 270 seconds
Day 30 - PLANK FOR AS LONG AS POSSIBLE!!

 

seven

Good for a Friday when I didn't want to work out in the first place.  I am pleased. 

Where did summer go?

The older I get, the more time seems to pass in the blink of an eye.  Is it like that for everyone? 

August was kind of a blur.  Ended up disliking every Tuesday (more here) in August and didn't work out much.  Now that it's September, and my face is healing up, I've got to find the motivation to begin again.

I'm back in the saddle starting today: working out at lunch and packing healthy. As long as I'm making lunches again for MA BOYS, it's an easy add back into the morning routine!

My weight has fluctuated a couple of pounds back above my original goal weight, but with the State Fair behind us, eating on the fly throughout the summer and back to a routine...  my goal is back in sight again.  Three weeks until my birthday - I can easily drop back down below 160.  From there, my hope is to reach another 5 lb. loss by Christmas.

I have also worked back up to my original weights in the gym, so the little amount of time off has been conquered by my muscles once again.  Good thing for muscle memory!

Leggings, sweaters and cute boot season is just around the corner!!  I ordered this cute little dress a while back from Zulily (yet to arrive at my doorstep) and I want to rock it (not suck in the gutt).

Let's do this! 

July {poof}

 

 

Not sure what happened.
Pretty much lost all momentum and willpower.
Raising teenage boys is stressful. 
No excuses, no one to blame but myself.

Fell into the sugar bowl and the bad habits again.
Gained 3 lbs. back and they are sticking around. 

 

One is these things is not like the other...

But I pedaled to work anyway!  Me and my beach bike. Slow and steady. 

Time to climb out of the sugar bowl and bad habits!

Hello August!

Back at it!

June flew by, with the end of the month being a little too crazy for any kind of routine. I'm happy to report, however, that I've successfully made it to the fitness center three days this week - with a SUP experience awaiting my weekend. 

Feels great!

plateau be gone

So excited!!

After a very difficult month - where'd June go anyway?!  I've finally broken through to a new level!!

new hair for the new me

 It's been a few years
since my hair was short.
 I chopped off about 7" yesterday,
to match my overall inches lost.
Might as well celebrate
less of me
with less hair too!


Maintaining goal weight.
Going on vacation soon
for ten whole days.

Going to try hard to stay active,
yet still enjoy some R&R,
and a cold beverage or three.

Wish me luck.

ta-dah!

 

 

Original goal met.

Time to set a new one!

 

155

 here I come!

what's in a number?

Jumped on the scale in the fitness center and was surprised to see that little need go UNDER my goal weight.  By four whole pounds.  This scale isn't the one I weigh myself on the in the morning, but I have, on occasion, stepped on it midday after a workout and a shower, and I can tell you this much for sure...  it has been above 160 for a very long time and by more than a couple of pounds.

So, in theory, I could say that I've reached my goal weight.  However, until my scale at home tells a similar story in the morning, I'm going to reserve my celebrating for another day. This has prompted me to look at what IS ideal for a woman of my height and {ahem} age.  Calculators vary, and some are very outdated.  You see, there's a Biggest Loser competition beginning at work over the summer months, and I considered entering it for the challenge and reward money, until I saw that an individual must lose 7% of their body weight in order to get their "entrance fee" back at the end of the segment.  Well, I'm here to tell you that I probably cannot afford to lose 7% of my body weight and be healthy.  Ok, so maybe I could, but it might be a struggle to achieve such a quick loss in a short amount of time, based on my past history. 

 

But I digress.  It has taken me a whole lot of effort to curb bad habits and develop new ones, but to say that I cannot afford to lose another 7% of my bodyweight...   how's that for a numbers success story?!  I am finally back within healthy BMI (barely, at 24.5), but I'm not sure losing another 10 lbs. is where I should be focusing my energy over the summer.  Instead, I will continue along the same pathway of an increased fitness plan and awareness of what my body requires for fuel.  If I see another ten pound loss, it will be all the sweeter knowing that I'm doing it on my own.

 

The chart below is a year's snapshot from the Sentry Machine I use at work occasionally to keep track of my results.  Regardless of where the line falls horiztonally, the general idea is that it continues to go in a downward direction.  At a good, steady pace.

 

 

 

Oh, and I look forward to being able to bike to work soon (when the monsoon season stops, now that the snow finally has), because the price of gas at $4.39/gal is killing me!  As soon as the kiddos are out of school, I will make it a personal goal to at least bike once a week to work and back.  Baby steps, remember? 

 

 

can you see a difference?

I can.

one little pound at a time

Baby steps...  and just over a year later... my goal is within reach! Hoping to see the magic number by the end of May!!  JP and I have a little overnight getaway planned at a B&B in Stillwater.  What a wonderful way it will be to celebrate how far I've come to find the healthy in me once again. 

Locker Room Etiquette

Honestly, some people's kids!!  The owner of these belongings strewn about the locker room floor was nowhere to be found.  Did she vanish into thin air, leaving behind her unmentionables for the rest of us to see?  Reminds me of my boys' bedroom floors.  Hmph!

This would have to be one of my biggest pet peeves in having to share space with others in order to exercise in a public place.  Personal exercise habits are one thing to endure, but the complete inappropriate understanding of encroaching on shared space is quite another. 

Other pet peeves include taking up the full counter space with all of your make-up and essentials, as if it was your personal bathroom bureau, leaving no room for anyone else or even a chance at reaching the hair dryer tied to the counter.  Oh, oh, and the ones who take it upon themselves to spray endless amounts of perfume or hairspray into the air, reaching more than their intended objects...  {cough hack cough}...  no, I personally don't like YOUR eau de toilette of the day.  And what about all the hair that sits on the floor of the shower stall?!   Ok, I'll stop there.  You get the idea.

I tried out a yoga class one morning earlier in the month and there were about 20 women gathered in this tiny space getting ready before work (after their workout, I presume), and that was enough to cure me of working out in the morning.  Forever.  My personal get ready "routine" is pretty basic...  shower, scrunch hair, apply mascara and go!  I couldn't imagine getting ready in such a sea of women every morning.  This must be what dorm living was all about?!  Can't say I'm sorry I missed that part.

Well, enough complaining for one day.  I've happily gone back to staggering my workout sessions over the lunch hour to avoid the aforementioned messy etiquette. 

What's your biggest exercising together pet peeve?

almost @ goal weight

Hard work is paying off!  Maybe I will see my original goal weight by the end of May!  Two pounds to go (and a few ounces, but who's counting).

 

Happily looking forward to this evening on the patio - and Mother's Day feasting!!

Fast, D4

Cautiously stepped on the scale this morning and was pleasantly surprised to see a 2 lb. loss since my last plateau.  I've officially lost 20 lbs. since starting this journey (and my last pregnancy).

Fasting is more difficult than I thought - but in a completely different way!!  I'm able to stave off the hunger pains until my midday meal on fasting days, but having a hard time wanting to eat 500 calories in one sitting (and presumably within an hour).  Yikes!  I'm full.  Prior to starting this I was averaging a 300 calorie meal with two 100 calorie snacks for roughly 1200-1300 calories. 

First workday:  I had my tea this morning, then water (no coffee today) all morning.  Worked out for an hour and had pre-pared my lunch to bring from home.  I honestly cannot eat it all.  I forgot salad dressing for my spinach and have left it out of the mix for my calories.  I've chosen healthy, filling, but not too much protein, for my first two fast day meals so far.  This definitely takes some forethought when planning a social calendar and preparing lunches too!

 

Happily biked 45 minutes before eating too!

Starting a new lifestyle... with ADF

Alternate Day Fasting
and how it got its momentum in my life was by watching this documentary.


Started ADF on Friday, May 3.
Had a healthy dinner date with my husband at a restaurant to end the evening of the first day.  Hey, why not call it feast day one, right?!

First day of fasting, Saturday (D2), wasn't as bad as I thought it might be. Not as hungry today either when I'm on a feast day (D3). 




Dr. Krista Varady, who studies Alternate Day Fasting, with presenter Michael Mosley.

what do eating carrots do for you?

I was reading the lunch menu for school and noticed a headline at the top - an effort to get kids to eat their fruits and vegetables instead of having them go straight into the trash:

Our apples are getting a new look and a new name!
During the month of April, you will start to see a few new changes on our serving
lines. First, apples will be sliced in schools to help consumption of the apple and
decrease waste. Apples and other fruits and vegetables will also be placed in
attractive black bowls and trays. Lastly, research from Cornell University has shown
that by naming fruits and vegetables , such as “juicy apple” or “x-ray vision carrots”
instead of just calling them apples or carrots, a whopping 66% were eaten, far
greater than the 35% of them eaten when unnamed. Look for new names to be
popping up next to apples this month and be sure to keep your eyes peeled for
others to pop up next school year.

I'm excited that they're trying hard to get more kids to eat healthy fruits & veggies.  Reading between the lines, however, it's a shame that this is what it comes to in order that kids take in such important nutrients.  Vegetables and fruits are not an option in our house, never have been.  It's part of a well-balanced meal.  We also pack a lunch from home.  I've always given my kids the option to pick ONE day a week to eat at school, and you can imagine, it's always been the junkiest food day picked each time.  The tradition continues this year for Oliver, but Henry hasn't taken a hot lunch option yet.  I think he gets it and understands that his options are healthier and less wasteful when taken from home. 

Perhaps those who eat lunch at school will make better choices, be less wasteful, and take steps to improve their own health.  Well...   one can hope.  At least the school is trying!

bodyfat percentage {drumroll}

I have lost 3.4% in body fat since hitting the gym hard back in October.  That's working out at minimum three times per week, and eliminating a lof of poor eating habits on a daily basis.  Probably not hugely impressive, because I've not been a true die-hard and have fallen into old habits on occasion...  but still, something to celebrate!

What areas are measured for these caliper numbers?



My measurements were taken by the same ACE certified individual both times, so I am confident in the readings she took.  It's an awkward way of measuring, that's for sure.  In comparison, when I used the site above and entered my numbers with this morning's weight from my scale at home, I came up with the same percentage.  In effect, I'm currently 112 lbs. of lean body weight and 52 lbs. of body fat. 

According to this website, I am almost in the average range again (instead of overweight).  The proof isn't always in the numbers and there are obviously many variances on what's average, but having lost inches and now this - I'm feeling pretty excited that I will reach my goal if I continue to improve in my exercise & eating as summer draws closer.

Body Fat Percentage Women 30%
While most men have fat funnel into their stomachs, as the body fat of most women (but certainly not all) increases, this fat tends to accumulate in the hips, buttocks, and thighs. At 30% body fat, the hips, thighs, and buttocks are more pronounced and round. This is considered the high end of average for women in many body fat charts.

My ideal body fat percentage (as I age into a new bracket this year) to be healthy is between 25.2 and 28.6.  My numbers goal is to attain another decrease in BF% in order to fall in that range by the one-year mark in October 2013.  In six months' time, I will have the same individual take my measurements - stay tuned!

__________________________________________

Bottom line?
I am measurably less squishy & more lean!!

 

 

what was I thinking?!

Have you ever worn something to work and then, upon seeing your reflection in a mirror think,
“I could be on an episode of What Not to Wear today?!”   yeah, that. 

 

I am trying to get through this very long Spring with the wardrobe I have, that obviously no longer fits or flatters me.  This morning, I went to put on my belt and discovered I'm about 2" past the point of the last notch and can no longer wear it (that's a good thing!) and so I ended up wearing my husband's belt instead (don't tell him, and yeah, that's pretty pathetic, isn't it?! my husband is smaller than I was in waist size). 

 

Anyway...

This outfit will be retired when I get home today, if I don’t die first of embarrassment.

Ok, commence laughing.

#dontcallmebaggybutthighwaters

I have a whole laundry basket full of clothes to donate, in case anyone local is interested. 
It's 25# worth if I'm shipping it somewhere.

one thing is for sure

Slow and steady does win the {personal} race!

I have fallen into bad habits again where eating is concerned, but staying the course on exercise.  Perhaps that's the reason I am staying at this new plateau?!   If only I could get back out of the sugar coma and into light?  Maybe it's the continued SNOW falling outside that has me a bit more depressed than I care to admit?  I don't know.  But one thing is for sure, I have created a new healthy habit and lifestyle that is working for me, and for as much as I feel out of control some days in my eating, I am in control of my goals!

On the days that I work out during the week, I successfully bike over 6 miles at a moderate-vigorous pace, and I also spend about 15 minutes on weight machines.  Defined muscles have begun to appear in my arms, and my arse is a little less saggy.  Sleeveless & short season IS around the corner, and I look forward to it more than ever this year!  No hiding behind a baby belly or wishing I were more in shape.  This year, I will flaunt my success, even if it's not my ultimate - because life's too short NOT to do so!

How I spend my lunch hours!

Pedaling my little hear out!

Still going strong. Upped the time to 45 minutes (including cool down) and hoping to see/feel a bigger difference soon!

Maybe it's a good thing Capri-weather is delayed in MinneSNOWta this Spring!? More time to keep working toward the goals I've set!

seven!

It's soooooooooooo easy to get discouraged.  I know.  Jumping on the scale daily, seeing little movement, sometimes doesn't seem worth the .2 ounces of change in a week or a month's time, am I right?  However, looking back over the last year...  I am so proud of myself for keeping on keeping on!!

I have been tracking both at work on their blood pressure/weight machine, as well as entering (not as frequently, as you will tell from the plateaus) measurements into MFP.

But lookey here....   when this girl got a new job a year ago, a fresh outlook, and a new lease on life last April...  she started keeping track of all things weight loss {and I don't know why I'm suddenly talking in the third person, forgive me}....  drumroll, please

7 whole inches GONE {poof} from this girl's frame. 
Well, obviously not that easily, but yeah, that's right...  I'm doing the happy girl dance!!





source

Being honest, it's not been easy.  Choices are hard.  Eliminating what I love most (sweets) is difficult, even to this day.  Heck, I keep wrestling with the idea that I should eliminate the occasional social alcohol imbibe too (but then, clearly, that would be nuts, right?).  However, anything this rewarding as an end result is worth the difficult choices it's taken me to get this far.

I must admit, I do not love individual workouts.  If I had the money to pay for the fitness classes at work, I'd do it in a heartbeat.  I'm better motivated by peer pressure (the person working out next to me/competition) and a teacher in front of me, than I am by myself (or even sometimes with a friend nearby).  Speaking of, I must also give KUDOS to the friend who has been with me since September...  for without Eileen, I would give in to cravings most days and not hit the fitness center over lunch.  Instead, three, sometimes five days a week for the past six months, we have drug our bums down to the weights and bikes and created a new habit!

And today...  all by myself, as much as I wanted to create another excuse or eat instead of workout, I made the choice to head downstairs to the gym (when my friend was home sick), and I can tell you now, two hours later - it still feels good!

My goal is in sight, with a work fitness "trihealthalon" ending this month and a body composition recheck happening by end of April (yes, I will post that difference/results too)... 

I'm healthy & happy!
 

I am still
...a little girl with GREAT BIG plans!

soda: did you know?

 

evil stuff.

 

I must admit, I drank it. 

past tense.

 

There is still one person in our house

who is hooked on the stuff.

 

I am hoping to break him of that habit soon!

 

Nothing better than H20!

 

 

If you're trying to break the sugar habit - stop soda.

All kinds.

There is nothing good about sugar-substitutes in diet,

Zero, or any other artificial soda additive.

 

 

someone noticed!

Without prompting,
or a pre-emptive discussion
about weight loss or diet...

!!someone in the rest of the world noticed!!

 

yeah me!

 

not quitting.

sore today, strong tomorrow

I need to find/make this shirt for myself.

A reminder,
that every time I whine
and yes, I've been told that I do,
about going to the gym,
to workout
that
in the
end
it's all worth it!

This week,
I am working out
every day during my lunch hour.

And while my sugar cravings have returned,
I am determined to see the results!

Orange

They say to eat a variety of color for health, right?! Today's lunch consists of all that is orange! Clementine, cantaloupe and squash.

Significance of Colors

According to the CDC, eating fruits and vegetables of different colors gives your body a wide range of valuable nutrients to fight diseases and stay healthy. According to dietitian Julie Garden-Robinson, a food and nutrition specialist at North Dakota State University, some healthy colors to consider include reds, oranges, yellows, greens, blues, purples and whites. The different colors have different benefits and should be eaten regularly.

She adds that orange and yellow produce is rich in carotenoids, which help reduce the risk of cancer and heart disease, can improve immune system function and aid healthy vision. Yellow and orange produce includes apricots, squash, carrots, lemons, oranges, papayas, peaches, pineapples, sweet potatoes and tangerines.  Source

 

 

This is leftover from our non-traditional Easter meal yesterday.  Hubby made it from this recipe, with only slight modifications (peaches {more orange} not pears) due to what we had on-hand.  It's a very filling little meal and not bad warmed up too.  Mmmmmm, perfect for getting back on track after my slip of eating all things sugary in the past week.  oops.

 

Oh, April,  how I love your change in weather and the opportunity to get outdoors soon!  30 days to prove I can make it to my original goal weight and continue on this path of a healthy lifestyle!  30 days until short-sleeves will bear unbelievably better looking arms on this chica than in the past six years!

 

What colors are YOU eating today?

 

I got this!

Feeling so good on this first day of Spring! Despite the frigid weather outside, I am staying motivated. I cannot wait to start biking to work again. Today was 8 miles on the indoor bike. Perhaps a short month away, the weather will cooperate and my 3 mile trek to/from work will begin again!

happiness

today

I biked
45 minutes

because
taking care of myself
is a priority
and necessary

as much as I dislike this cold weather
and would rather be outdoors
I am making this habit stick so that, come April,
and six months into my rededication,
I will see bigger results
than I've seen in over 8 years!

i love me.

 

hooked on wheatgrass

The adventures of wheatgrass have begun at our house! In JP's quest to get us on the right track, all but one @3513 have tried it (and I'm not naming names) as of this morning.

What exactly IS wheatgrass, you ask?

Wheatgrass is young wheat which is sprouted and grown for about 7-10 days. The deep green cereal grass is harvested (cut) and juiced in specially designed wheatgrass juicers. Thousands of health-conscious people drink wheatgrass juice every day.

Benefits  include increased energy, improved digestion, rids the body of toxins, improved fertility (don't need that benefit), and on and on...  but rather than retype everything that it can do for you, just check out some of the facts listed here and the testaments of others on their blog. This is our first harvest of three trays that grew from wheatberries over the last two weeks.  So far, so good.  Tastes sweet and smells like freshly cut grass (hmmmm, cannot say that's my favorite).
Unless we start turning green (you know, like eating too many carrots can make you turn orange), I think this will become part of our routine going forward.  Many hands to turn the crank, water the wheatgrass, and take a shot! 

great american fitness adventure

Have you heard about GAFA?

The Great American Fitness Adventure is a program that inspires you to get moving! "Participants choose any activities they like… whether they go for a walk around town or head to a park for vigorous hiking, cycle around the block or try mountain biking, use the gym or learn rock climbing. For each day they log 30 minutes of exercise, they earn a virtual park entrance pass and move along the Great American Fitness Adventure trail, learning about each national treasure."   This is my second year participating in the adventure and while I log my exercise in another location, I'm using this tool to learn more about our nation's parks and activities.  For instance, by logging my exercise time today, I've virtually visited Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, in New Mexico. Home to sandhill cranes and snow geese (my favorite), I didn't know that this was one of the largest winter refuges.  Maybe someday I will be able to visit in person!

This is a great program for inspiration and knowledge.  There's also a team spirit element built into it to help us gather steam and competition for prizes at the end.  There are 116 teams at my company and my team is bouncing around at around 95th place.  We probably won't win anything for this competition, other than improved health and energy to try again next year!

What are you doing to stay inspired in your daily quest for exercise?  

sweatin' in the sauna

It's been a long time since I've been in the sauna.
Oh, how I missed it!

With the projected snow storm for the next 48 hours,
you just might find me here daily.
I'm getting tired of winter.

happy march {anniversary to me}

Restating my san culpa:

I will

work out

every

single

day

this month

of March!

 

Minimum of 15 minutes.

 

I will

lose the last

6 pounds

hanging on

from babies

and meds

this month

of March!

 

I will

make healthy

food choices

every

single

day

this month

of March!

 

today's lunch

 

I will

stop worrying

about someone else's

choices

beginning

today.

 

Because this

(below)

struck

a chord with me

this morning

when I read it.

 

And

because

their happiness,

or yearning,

or choices,

are not

about me.

 

 

Oriah Mountain Dreamer

Yesterday this quote from Elizabeth Gilbert caught my attention: "But never use another person's body or emotions as a scrathing post for your own unfufilled yearnings." It reminded me of my affection for a particular aspect of Immanuel Kant's ethics- that we never treat ourselves or another as mere means to some sought after end.

And I wonder. . . is this not what creates dissonance & discord in our relationships (or at least robs them of their joy & depth)- when we treat ourselves as a "mere means" to the end of being seen & loved (& so shape our behaviour to our best guess of that the other wants- often unconsciously & inaccurately) - when we slide into failing to see the other as both another myself AND wholly other (& so a mystery to us on many levels, someone with their own experience & journey, different from my own.)

And when we lose that sense of the other as an end in themselves- particularly if we share the daily tasks- it's a short trip to beginning to see & treat the other as a mere (efficient or inefficient) means to the ends of keeping house, home, family, life and limb together. Of course, we help each other, are interdependent. If you give me a ride you are the means of my transportation. But Kant's warning is to take care not to treat ourselves or another as a "mere means"- not to lose sight of how each individual is an end within him/herself, unfolding, journeying, struggling, creating. . . .As Gilbert's quote implies, we need to tend our own unfulfilled yearnings.

I started this fitness blog
a year ago today!

I had just accepted a new job.
Changes were ahead of me.
Unforseen announcements hit me midsummer,
as evidenced in the weight going back up
(because I'm an emotional eater).
But I'm back on track.

I've come a long way, baby.
And there's no turning back!

a little reward

I purchased an Esty creation, due to arrive in 3-4 weeks (right about the time I should be reaching my first goal weight).  However, this is a reward for how far I have come to date!

 

Mine will be a combination of these two pieces - I will have the hood (not the cowl) and the sleeves with the thumb hole - made to measurements I supplied!  I love the color and comfy style.  Perfect for Spring and wearing just about anywhere!!

biking through the sickies

I biked yesterday,

while sick,

and then went home,
to bed,

where I was joined

by my fur babies.