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.