Mmmm, beets!

Love me some pickled beets! A nice addition to the boring, routine lunch I've been having lately. Too bad I spilled some juice on my new sweater in the process.

a day to celebrate

I have finally, FINALLY, gotten below 170.  Sure, it's only by a measly .3 lbs this morning, but this day has been almost 6 years in the {wishful thinking} someday I'll get back there category.  Not kidding.  I know, many more have lost a tremendous amount of weight and done it in a more timely manner.  My method has been "slow, but sure" this time around. 

If you know me personally or have followed any of my other blogs, you'll know that I have given birth to three surrogate babies within 5 years (2007, 2009, 2011), and with all the of meds and baby weight, my highest was somewhere over 200 (I stopped paying attention when they insisted on weighing me at the OB's office each week).  Well, as of today, I am ONE POUND away from my starting weight back in 2006 of 168.  My starting weight is no longer a healthy BMI for me at my age {yeah, I said it}, however, so my goal weight is much below that.  I will continue on this life-long journey, one day...  one pound...  at a time.

Today, I celebrate a small success!



cravings

As posted to MyFitnessPal : Someone better come sit on my hands... because I'm not doing a very good job from staying away from the WRONG things today! It's a good thing I don't have any change or I'd be at the vending machine too!  

pedal, pedal, pedal

I've found a new form of exercise and love it! Gets my heart rate up too! I can dream myself to tandem biking in the Caribbean and go a good 6 miles in no time!

Might even have to see about making a habit of biking to work on a regular basis when the weather is nice this summer! I didn't do it as much as I could have last year.

This week's goal is to drop another poun and get off this new plateau! I will workout three days this week during lunch and once on the weekend.

orange, hot & creamy

And that's just the carrot soup I'm talking about!
Awoke from a dead sleep/wicked dream this morning... it's thrown me off all day... I even ate "naughty" Caribou when I got into work this morning... shame on me!

Hubby made a very yummy soup, adding white pepper for depth of flavor, he said.  It's far too spicy {yes, I know, I'm that bad} for this Minnesota Mild Girl.  Honestly.  But...  I'm liking the overall flavor and consistency of it.  I warmed it up, and even slightly cool (because it's taken me that long to eat it), it's still pretty good.

I have been remiss in updating on my other blog lately.  Oops.  It really is the pits to be without a computer at home.  Mine hasn't been working for a good month now, and ipad interface isn't as user-friendly as I would like it to be.  But I'm able to blog quick snippits on this one when eating lunch.

Weight loss and exercise, still going good.  I also look forward to strength training, especially when looking in the mirror at my sad triceps lately.  Short-sleeve weather is around the corner!  I am optimistic that I will be ready to bare skin again come April/May timeframe. 

Keep on keepin' on!!

Boring, but effective

I have

eaten
the
same
thing
for lunch
every
day
this
week.

Boring, with a capital B.

However, not having to think twice about calorie count or if I will give in to the cravings and find a less-healthy alternative in the cafeteria = priceless.  This little number is only 91 calories total.  Now, the number isn't necessarily important, and I have added in hard boiled eggs this week to add protein, but the fact that I already know where I stand by midday is making this routine comfortable. 

I have only managed to squeeze in a gym workout twice this week.  I am going to get on the elliptical tomorow at home, however, so I can claim 3x this week.  Might even make it two weekend days in a row, imagine that?!

Lost another pound and maintaining.  Oh, to go under the next "decade" mark and stay there...  by the end of January... would be amazing!!

Time

For the first time in almost two years... I don't feel pregnant, nor could I be mistaken to have a baby bump! I am finally showing a waistline again and "feeling" less heavy. And what an amazing feeling it is!!

If that feeling alone isn't enough to keep me headed in the right direction, I don't know what is! New habits, formed before the new year even began, are finally feeling routine.

Happy, happy girl.

slow, but sure

If you asked me recently about my new year's resolutions, I don't know that I would have anything original to add to the usual mantra of lose weight, get healthy, eat right.  Just like everyone else, right?  But this is personal.  It's about MY health and future years on this planet.  I am attempting to workout 3x per week in the fitness center at work and, so far, having a workout buddy with me has made all the difference!  No weaseling out because it's the easy thing to do.  Accountability, baby!  We spend about 40 minutes in the gym doing both cardio and weights, and then eat our lunch back at our desks. 

I'm also happy to report that I'm maintaining my 5 lb. loss and losing a few inches (toning) in the process. The pants are feeling slightly looser and I'm making better food choices too.  This has all been going on since roughly September, so I feel safe in saying that it's finally a habit and no longer a novelty. 

So, while the chronological clock is still ticking forward, I'm determined to make this stick!  By my 46th birthday, I will be well on my way to successful habits.  Heck, I might even jump on the paleo bandwagon with my girlfriend (if I can get my personal chef to acquiesce some of his cooking recipes/choices). 

I can also say that I've successfully kicked the 2:30 pm vending machine habit!  Packing snacks that are healthy and/or going for a walk has also made a huge difference in my day.

So, slow but sure... this tortise will win the race!

today's healthy lunch