Triumph

Tonight, for the first time in years and years and years (so many years that I can't remember how many years) I was able to do the stretch above without holding a wall. No struggling, no leaning, no grabbing my shoe and holding onto the inside of the back. I did this stretch standing on one leg and it was awesome!

Next goal-squats

Goals for the week of May 30-June 5

Goals for the week of May 23-29
1) 3 fruits/veggies per day
2) On average-1750 calories per day
3) email personal trainer
4) make a trip to the farmer's market to stock up on some lovely fruit
5) Take all medications this week (it takes 28 days to make a habit)
6) Get the hula hoop off of the floor and moving on my hips
7) Measure/weigh all food this week

Whoa! Well I didn't realize that I didn't pay attention to my goals at all this week. Time to step it back up. I didn't lose any weight this week but I'm also incredibly bloated so I think that I will have a big weight loss this next week. I'm moving, that's for sure and making it to the gym is becoming second nature to me. This next week is focusing on food. I have a problem controlling my portions and just "eyeball" what I eat. My mantra this week is measure, measure, measure!!

Goals for the week of May 30-June 5
1) 3 fruits/veggies per day
2) On average-1750 calories per day
3) email personal trainer
4) make a trip to the farmer's market to stock up on some lovely fruit
5) Take Monkeyface out for bike rides this week
6) Try one new thing this week
7) Measure/weigh all food this week

Movement May 30-June 5

May 23-29

May 23) 90 minutes of yoga
May 24) 45 minutes elliptical plus weights (30 minutes elliptical plus 30 minutes weights)
May 25) 30 minutes stationary bike (32 minutes elliptical, 28 minutes bike)
May 26) 30 minutes elliptical plus 30 minutes circuit training (30 minutes elliptical plus 24 treadmill)
May 27) situps 100am/100pm
May 28) 60 minutes elliptical
May 29) 30 minutes treadmill

I completely forgot that Saturday was spoken for and that I miss going to the gym. I was exhausted on Sunday so I opted to pass out on the couch for a few hours because it was needed. Still made it to the gym for 4 days this week and the guys behind the counter at the gym are starting to know my name.

May 30-June 5
May 30) 65 minutes elliptical (averaging 15 minutes per mile yay!!)
May 31) 90 minutes yoga
June 1) rest
June 2) 30 minutes elliptical, 30 minutes circuit training
June 3) rest
June 4) 60 minutes elliptical
June 5) 30 minutes stationary bike

Goals for the week of May 23-29

Goals for the week of May 16-22
1) 5 fruits/veggies per day
2) On average-1750 calories per day
3) Schedule a personal training session at the gym so I can get reassessed and learn how to use the treadmill
4) Get party supplies for little one's birthday
5) Take all medications this week (it takes 28 days to make a habit)
6) Get the hula hoop off of the floor and moving on my hips
7) Get an exercise/stability ball for use at home

I really tried to get the hula hoop up and moving, however it just falls off over and over again. I'm going to watch a few videos and see if I can get this thing moving next week. Still working on food control. I'm not sure what to do about this so I'm going to brainstorm this next week.

Goals for the week of May 23-29
1) 3 fruits/veggies per day
2) On average-1750 calories per day
3) email personal trainer
4) make a trip to the farmer's market to stock up on some lovely fruit
5) Take all medications this week (it takes 28 days to make a habit)
6) Get the hula hoop off of the floor and moving on my hips
7) Measure/weigh all food this week

May 23-29 (movement)

Week of May 16-22

May 16) 75 minutes of yoga
May 17) 30 minutes elliptical + 30 minutes circuit training
May 18) 40 minutes elliptical
May 19) Rest (done with pleasure!!)
May 20) Crunches (150AM/150PM)
May 21) 30 minutes elliptical + 30 minutes circuit training (60 minutes elliptical)
May 22) free day-whatever I feel like doing (just cleaned and didn't leave the house all day)

I feel like I spent this week breaking records. First 45 minutes on the elliptical, then a 12:12 mile on the elliptical, followed by a full hour on the elliptical. Elliptical, elliptical, elliptical....sometimes I feel like this machine is my best challenger. I can't wait to see what I'm going to do this next week.

May 23-29

May 23) 90 minutes of yoga
May 24) 45 minutes elliptical plus weights (30 minutes weight plus 30 minutes weights)
May 25) 30 minutes stationary bike (32 minutes elliptical, 28 minutes bike)
May 26) 30 minutes elliptical plus 30 minutes circuit training (30 minutes elliptical plus 24 treadmill)
May 27) situps 100am/100pm
May 28) 60 minutes elliptical
May 29) 30 minutes treadmill

Week 6

Goals for the week of May 9-15
1) 5 fruits/veggies per day
2) On average-1750 calories per day
3) At least 15 minutes of activity every day this week
4) Get party supplies for little one's birthday
5) Take all medications this week (it takes 28 days to make a habit)
6) Figure out 5 new low calorie snacks that I can eat
7) Eat 5 yogurts this week

I definitely need to up my fruit & veggie intake so I'm really going to focus on this. I almost did 15 minutes of activity every day this week but I was just too exhausted yesterday. On average, I definitely did more than normal but I'm still not going to mark it off. Still need to get party supplies.

5 snacks:
1) loving the yogurts I've been trying for 100 calories or less each
2) string cheese with one piece of deli turkey wrapped around
3) Pretzels with mustard
4) Pistachios-totally worth the work
5) Skinny Cow Heavely crisp bar-YUM!

And I have been eating yogurt after my workouts and I've had no leg cramps this week except for the one day that I didn't eat one. So I suppose I'll be eating one of those every day I work out from now on. Lesson learned.

Goals for the week of May 16-22
1) 5 fruits/veggies per day
2) On average-1750 calories per day
3) Schedule a personal training session at the gym so I can get reassessed and learn how to use the treadmill
4) Get party supplies for little one's birthday
5) Take all medications this week (it takes 28 days to make a habit)
6) Get the hula hoop off of the floor and moving on my hips
7) Get an exercise/stability ball for use at home

Week of May 16-22 movement

Week of May 9-15
May 9) elliptical-35 minutes/weights
May 10) Flow Yoga-90 minutes
May 11) gardening (only 10 minutes but I made up for it!)
May 12) bike plus weights (this day I made up for the lack of gardening and did 35 minutes on the elliptical and 30 minutes of circuit training.
May 13) 250 situps (125AM/125PM) TOO EXHAUSTED!!
May 14) elliptical plus weights today I did 30 minutes of circuit training plus 15 minutes on the bike.
May 15) walk around the neighborhood (Spent most of my day at a wedding and then was just too tired to do anything else. I am listening to my body.)

Took off 3 lbs last week so I have BUSTED through my plateau. Here's to keeping it up this week. I'm also surprised that I was pissed that I couldn't work out on Wednesday. I'm suddenly turned into the woman that is obsessed with moving.

picture source


Week of May 16-22

May 16) 75 minutes of yoga
May 17) 30 minutes elliptical + 30 minutes circuit training
May 18) 40 minutes elliptical
May 19) Rest
May 20) Crunches (150AM/150PM)
May 21) 30 minutes elliptical + 30 minutes circuit training
May 22) free day-whatever I feel like doing

What is going on?

I went to work in the garden last night and the plan was to work for an hour. My help was only needed for 10 minutes because the garden is looking SO good and doesn't need much love right now. It was great, I was able to rest but I was seething that I gave up a workout.
WHAT? I don't get mad at not being able to exercise. Who am I?

It's all about the Savasana

Last night I did my first Vinyasa Yoga flow class. It was hard but wonderful. So many downward facing dogs and planks, but I did it. 90 minutes later I was on my home blissed out and thankful that I did do it.
Lots of people were able to do headstands but I'm not ready for that. One day soon, definitely. I aspire to do it but there is just no way that I have the core strength now to hold myself up and that's ok. I have a new goal :)

Movement this week

Week of May 2-8
May 2) circuit training-30 minutes**
May 3) Yoga-60 minutes-30minutes cleaning
May 4) elliptcal-25 minutes (actually did 30)
May 5) circuit training-30 minutes (35 mins on elliptical, 15 on bike plus weights)
May 6) 200 situps (100AM/100PM)
May 7) Elliptical-25 minutes (actually did 32 plus 13 on the bike)
May 8) Cooking for Mother's Day
I have moved this week!!
**They shut down the circuit training at the gym while they renovate so I used the stationary bike for 30 minutes plus 30 minutes of weights

Week of May 9-15
May 9) elliptical-35 minutes/weights
May 10) Flow Yoga-90 minutes
Vinyasa/Flow

This is an energetic style of practice that connects the breath with a series of flowing postures. It will allow the student to build strength and increase flexibility, but most importantly to experience the full measure of santosha (contentment) at the conclusion of the practice. Focus will be on alignment principles, building strength, breathing techniques and meditation/mindfulness.
May 11) gardening
May 12) bike plus weights
May 13) 250 situps (125AM/125PM)
May 14) elliptical plus weights
May 15) walk around the neighborhood

Week 5

Goals for the week of May 2-8
1) Minimum 64 oz water per day
2) No fast food (not even in a pinch-everything planned!)
3) On average-1750 calories per day
4) Get rid of 12 items from the kitchen
5) Take all medications this week (I almost always forget at night)
6) At least 10 minutes of activity every day this week (does not have to be the gym)
7) 5 fruits/veggies per day

Wow! What a great week. I am so proud of myself. Apparently as my best friend told me, "if I can cross it off a list, by God I will do it." Planning my workouts really worked for me. I was completely exhausted on Monday so I was out by 815pm but after the weekend I had I obviously needed the rest. Otherwise, I did some sort of exercise every day. It's been a great way to keep my late night snacking under control since I go to the gym between 730 and 8pm and stay at least 45 minutes to an hour. I'm still having problems keeping my calories where they should be and making wise choices so I'm really going to focus on that next week.

Goals for the week of May 9-15
1) 5 fruits/veggies per day
2) On average-1750 calories per day
3) At least 15 minutes of activity every day this week
4) Get party supplies for little one's birthday
5) Take all medications this week (it takes 28 days to make a habit)
6) Figure out 5 new low calorie snacks that I can eat
7) Eat 5 yogurts this week

May challenge

4. Do something that makes you feel strong. (May 9)
5. Do something that makes you feel free. (May 16)
6. Do something that makes you smell really bad. (may 8)
7. Do something that makes you think hard about your goals. (May 13)
8. Do more than you think you can handle. (may 7)
9. Do something to release excess tension/stress/anger. (May 10)
10. Do something you can brag about later. (May 18)
11. Do something right for all the wrong reasons. (May 15)
12. Workout at a different time than usual.
13. Do something that makes you feel like a gladiator. (May 17)
14. Work on your core.(May 6)
15. Surprise yourself. (May 19)
16. REST (May 11)
17. Break a personal record. (May 14)
18. Workout first thing in the morning.
19. Add 15 minutes. (May 5)
20. Workout your lower body. (May 4)
21. Do something that makes you feel sexy or beautiful.
22. GO HARD OR GO HOME. (May 12)
23. REST (May 20)
24. Break a personal record. (May 21)
25. STRETCH longer than normal.
26. Mid-Week super killer cardio day!
27. Practice your balance.
28. Pushups.
29. Obliterate your brick wall.
30. Enjoy the holiday.
31. Make a JUNE plan.

I pulled this list from a blog I really like. You know I love a good list and I really like that it is open ended. I'm not going to do it day by day but by what calls out to me that day. I also need to print this and put it somewhere I can see it every day.

Go make your life worth loving

I read this last week and it's sticking with me. I do love my life. I have a great family, great husband, and kid. I live below my means and I'm almost out of debt. My house was a great deal and I have no intention of moving any time soon (even though my neighbors suck!). My point is, I have enough. I am loved and sheltered and fed.
It's not that I'm unhappy, I just feel like I could be giving so much more-to myself and to others. The thing is...I'm so tired of hearing people complain. Something has clicked inside of me and I'm done with the complaining. I see all that I have vs what I don't have and I'm content. Then I wonder, should I be content? Should I strive for more? Not material possessions more, but more spirituality, more volunteer work, more weight loss? Is it ok to be content? God, if I could lose these 100 lbs, seriously, I don't know who I would be. As much as I love my life now, I couldn't imagine it if I could actually keep up. If I could actually sky dive, horseback ride, run, bike, etc. HRmmm...I know I'm rambling but this is how I think. Now off to think some more.

Week 4

Goals for the week of April 25-31
1) Minimum 64 oz water per day
2) Get to the gym 3 times this week
3) On average-1750 calories per day
4) Get rid of clothes too small for the little one
5) Yoga twice this week
6) At least 10 minutes of activity every day this week
7) 5 fruits/veggies per day

I know that setting goals is an important part of weight loss. I am down almost 50 lbs from my highest pre-pregnancy weight. I don't count the pregnancy weight since I gained 30 lbs with that which I lost immediately after having the baby almost 5 years ago. Whew! Almost 5 years ago. It is amazing to me...ok back to goals. I know they are important and I think about them all week but then life gets in the way. I'm glad they are here and that I take the time to reflect on them each week because it gives me time to think about what I am doing and why I'm not reaching them. It's weird but I'm not beating myself up this time. I'm not angry that it's not coming off fast this time b/c I am still losing 2 lbs on average per week. I'm down almost 40 lbs since I started losing weight last year and I've kept it off. That in itself is amazing. So I'm going to lighten up on the goals this week and accomplish them all. I want to come back here next Monday feeling accomplished with no excuses.

Goals for the week of May 2-8
1) Minimum 64 oz water per day
2) No fast food (not even in a pinch-everything planned!)
3) On average-1750 calories per day
4) Get rid of 12 items from the kitchen
5) Take all medications this week (I almost always forget at night)
6) At least 10 minutes of activity every day this week (does not have to be the gym)
7) 5 fruits/veggies per day