Lesson from Housecleaning Tips ... Seriously!

Fun hike with camping buddies in September

So, that foot doctor doesn't believe that fat chicks can hike. Sad truth is, I don't hike much, but not for a lack of loving to do it. It's about being overwhelmed with things to do.

Lately, I've been aching to have more fun like I did last summer. (There's a song there, isn't there?) Once school starts, my weekends are consumed with grading and lesson plans and MAYBE, just MAYBE some house cleaning. This ain't livin'! And getting to the gym or even walking has proven to be too time-consuming. So I have been begging the universe to show me how to do it.

Yesterday, I stumbled upon a very simple plan on the web. Clean the house in 20 minutes a day. Hmm ... I'm thinking that doesn't just apply to cleaning. Lose weight one pound at a time .... exercise 30 min a day .... do it all a wee bit at a time.

The cleaning plan is pretty cool. I convinced myself that I could do yesterday's "assigned" chore before bed, even though I was pooped. After all, it's only 20 minutes! It was great to wake up to a fairly clean feeling (it will take a month to catch up completely).

I'm limiting my at-home "work" to small time periods, too. Finished or not. Leave school by 4:30 (that's an 9-hr day) and just get the lessons done on the weekend for the upcoming week. Period.

Exercise, even if it's just my old-broad's two mile walk, EVERY day. Like we have to eat. I HAVE to move.

This trek I'm on is not an all or nothing thing like it is for Biggest Loser contestants. Then it's a mission, for sure. I'm not there (though I wouldn't turn down the opp!). I'm here. With house, work, bills, etc. I need to work it out in a balance. That said, I did get to go to this season's premiere! Very fun experience and I may jump on the new challenge. I sat right behind one of the new contestants, so I'm invested in her and shall root for her in January. Dolvett, however, didn't even feel the vibes I was sending him. He never once looked out at the crowd in search of me. Ah, sigh. I'll always have an old-lady crush on him. The pic is a spoiler, but I won't give any more away.

End of Summer

Still August, but our summer has technically ended and we're back in school, even though it's hotter than Hades. And now it's time to confess my sins. I have lived, unchecked, for two glorious months.

Yep, it has been glorious. Wine tasting, frozen yogurt, pasta ... pretty much what I wanted, when I wanted. Oh, and the gym? Yeah, I haven't been more than two or three times all summer. Why am I so flip? Because I'm good with it.

I LIVED this summer. Don't get me wrong. I didn't live to eat. I ate to live. But I truly had a summer and I enjoyed every single day. No regrets. Yes, I will have expanded, I'm sure, but I'll face that like a big girl. To be honest, the jeans are not as loose, but they're not tight. I'm okay.

High in the mountains with fun folks and beautiful views

So here we go. Back in the saddle with a smile on my face and some really fine memories.

We Are the Champions ♬

Muhammad Ali - "Winning is a good thing, but some may call it luck, or a fluke. So win, then win again, then win again, and again...then they must call you a champion!"

Thank you, Champ! As you (all five of you) may have seen, I've been learning this lesson and it just looks so good to see it was a mantra for someone who clearly was a champion. I just had to let you all know ... we're doing okay.

Just a wee update ... a conference in San Diego meant terrible food choices, but one hell of a lot of walking. I mean a LOT. My hotel was a mile from the action and the convention center there is the biggest thing I've EVER seen! Thank God for walking flip flops (Skechers). So, good and bad probably evened it all out. Back home, now, and back at the gym with a long walk scheduled for today. Oh well, all of that is on my calendar.

To all of us! Champions in the making!

Battle for the Throne

Today's sermon will be on keeping on. I just read Diane's Loser for Soup blog. She mistakenly thought SHE was the Queen of Starting Over. Silly girl. That would be me.

If you have been reading this silly blog, you have noticed that I seem to start over every single time I blog. There's a reason for that. If I'm not quite disgusted enough to start over, I'm sure as heck not going to come on here and say, "Hi all. Just wanted to touch base. Off to have a hot fudge sundae!"

On the positive side, I DO start over and I'm coming to terms with that. For the first time in a long, long time, I'm making headway. In the past, say, year I've lost over 30 pounds. This is remarkable! It hasn't been fast, but it has been pretty painless. The reason is I take breaks and then I start over. I don't beat myself up. I enjoy what I'm willing to eat and I skip what I'm not really, really going to enjoy. It's working. I've been travelling this summer, so frankly, I've been using my conscience as a guide. The results haven't been great, so I'm going back to keeping track. (For the record, Amtrak makes killer desserts, but they don't offer a lot of exercise space.)

This morning my trainer and I were talking about what it takes to lose. She called it a tripod. You need all three points for it to stand. Diet - Resistance - Cardio .  Not just one or two. All three. So, so much for telling myself that a cookie won't hurt if I walk a couple of miles. Side note: If the cookie is something I REALLY want, I shall have it, but I will log it. Logging seems to be key, though I hate to admit it. I've been doing the Weight Watchers mobile app, which is fairly easy. You can just skip veggies and fruits, since they have no point value, so it cuts down on your logging time. There's another app that I haven't played with yet that shows you the approximate calories from a picture that you take with the phone. Now, that sounds too good to be true, but I'm going to try it.

Bottom line: I'm starting over. Again. On all three legs. Even queens need stability.

ONEderland!

This new way of looking at weight loss is THE BOMB! I just keep striving to do better and I keep actually getting better! Since I only weigh-in once a month, I was hopeful because I could see an improvement, but it didn't dawn on me that I actually could drop below the barrier that has been my nemesis since like forEVER. It's so good to be back!

I've altered my workout schedule a bit, but in the long run, I think I'm coming out ahead because I don't skip. While I'm working, I workout every 1.5 days, rather than everyday. It's amazing how much more doable that is! I can walk at night, then hit the gym at 4:30am a day and a half later. It's fantastic. I've also given up on trying to run. At least for now. The resulting pains just weren't worth it. I have quickened my walking pace. I'm all the way up to a 21-min mile. Hey, that beats my 24 minute ones in the beginning!

So, if you've been starting over again and again, trust me ... it will eventually work. I started over for over 10 years and I'm finally allowing it to work. And it is working! It is!

Yep, It Works

My altered expectations (just strive to improve) worked! Scales said -5 pounds. Groovy, groovy, groovy! Not only that, but I slightly changed my set workout plans so that they made more sense, and it was way easier to do what I'd set out to do each day! Not only that, but I was thinking I'd do the gym at 4:30 am once a month (trainer days), but I actually liked it! I'm in there twice a week at the crack of nothing and bam! ... done for the whole freaking day! Not only that, but I made a little Google app/form for my trainer's circuit and it's so darned easy to do and follow. Not only that, but I got to "spend" my extra WW points last night and I did it by just eating healthy food!

I'm pleased with myself on so many levels this week! It's a joy to have shed the weird attitude I was portraying. I have no reason to hide the fact that I really love my life. Therapy will have to uncover why it was that I was doing that, but in the meantime, it is done!

About having a trainer: SO happy I did that! It is too tempting for me to jump into things I used to do, decades ago, and limp away with an injury. She has set out a plan for me to ease into things again. I can "feel" it, but it isn't a debilitating pain. It's perfect. Makes me actually look forward to going into the gym again.

Ding Dong, the Bitch is Dead!

Yesterday was a lucky day. I had a mirror held up to my face from start to finish.

First, I was up and in the gym at 4:30. That's AM, folks. Good thing, right there, but it gets better. I met with my new trainer (yes, another good thing!) and, as she was asking me questions about my eating and exercising habits, I found myself telling her these great things: I eat healthy foods, only ... I walk 2 miles almost everyday ... I'm doing Weight Watchers ... etc. Now that I think about it, she must have been cracking up inside, hearing this from a large bodied woman. She's very nice, though, and didn't let on that I was a walking anomaly. She just suggested that I change my thinking to positive expectations. Wow. I don't have a positive expectation? No, I guess I don't, come to think of it. But wait, folks, we're not done.

Later, in my FaceBook group, someone was begging for help because she had gotten so off-track with her weight-loss. I simply replied that, oh well, some of us will ALWAYS be working on it ... just get back on track again. Now, I was thinking that's a nice reply. Really. I was. I got schooled by the next guy who basically told me I'd never lose if I didn't quit thinking that way.

The day culminated in my therapist's office (a scheduled visit, not because of FaceBook) where she pretty much told me I didn't come across as a positive, happy person. What??? Me??? Of course, I'm in there for a specific issue which isn't particularly happy, so it does make some sense that I wouldn't be a bubbly bundle of joy when we talk. Still, she doesn't see the positive me at all? Mirror, mirror, on the wall ...

I have lost the power of positive thinking! When did that happen? I used to have it (and I used to be thinner!). Somehow, I've conned myself into thinking I'm still upbeat, happy, and quite the optimist, when I'm actually portraying a whole different image. Why are we the last to know these things about ourselves?

Goals! I'm setting improvement goals (therapist's suggestion) that aren't locked into a number, but just saying that I will improve in the healthy areas. I'm resetting my mental image of my physical me. I'm NOT going to succumb to a life of dieting. This is a fix-it period and then I will continue with healthy eating, but the point-counting, etc. won't be necessary. Well, that's a relief, right there!

The universe speaks to us. Sometimes it takes three messengers to get our attention, but it does speak. Goodbye, negativity!

Was That Over a Month Ago?

Oy. My NO EXCUSES post was more than a month ago? Seems like last week. So, did I stick to it? I'd say yes, but it has been A MONTH! I'm not the quickest bunny in the patch. Here is what I have done:

• Tracked food and activity in Weight Watchers
• Made modifications to the foods I normally eat, so they will fit into the tracker
• Signed up for a personal trainer
• Had my first evaluation meeting (including measurements and weight!)
• Walked at least 2 miles/day most days

Here is what I haven't done:

• Have not hit the gym, once, outside of the evaluation
• Have not pushed myself in toning or cardio
• Have not used my two week vacation time well

Now, looking at the list, I see that I do like to beat myself up. Sure, I could have done a whole lot more, but my "dids" are bigger than my "didn'ts" and I need to get excited about that. As for the second list, shoot ... I'll just do them! Plan A: plan my gym time in advance to include toning/cardio. I can do that.

NONE!

Rob posted on a thread: "Thanks, Garri. I hope this motivates you, too!" Motivates me? I don't need motivation, I thought to myself. I'm a very motivated girl!

Really?

I mean ... really?

I did restart my walks and I'm almost up to 2 miles/day. Whoop freaking eeee. I have allowed myself to sit for the past two days because "I'm so busy at work." No way I should allow myself to let "work" get in the way of getting healthier. There's my #1!

Foodwise, I'm full of it. This bouncing around from one new idea to another is stupid. I really end up doing nothing of value, in the long run. I'm sucking it up and joining WW. I've so resisted that organization because of one stab at it in 1972, when I actually gained a pound while sticking to it religiously. That was 40 years ago! It works for everyone else. I'm just not that anomalous.

As the show says, NO EXCUSES! None. Zero. Nada. Rien.

Pass GO ... eventually

Ridiculous. I'm doing more than starting over. I'm starting over from BEHIND the starting line. Though I'm off steroids after two rounds, my leg is still numb and now I literally get winded just taking a walk. Ugh! However, starting over regardless. Keeping record is easy, since we're also recording our miles at work right now, so it's all on my calendar. One mile/day sounds ridiculous, I know, but it's the best I can do. And I'm happy that I'm doing it.

I cancelled my scheduled week at the ridge with regrets. It's almost a month away, and I just can't see getting myself up to enough speed to be able to put out for seven hours a day by then. That does NOT mean that I'll stop trying; no, no, no! I'll keep improving. Again.

Diet wise, I have actually gone back to the Primal Body idea. By mistake, I heard the interview with the author again and it just kept ringing true. This time, I'm taking it slowly and tracking my food as gas, paper, kindling, and logs. The goal will be to primarily eat above-ground veggies and proteins. I admit that I eat a very lowfat, carb-based diet now. She says this is training my body to ignore the proteins when it should be living off of them.

So I'm not the Queen of Inspiration right now. Sigh.

VOTE FOR ME! please?

Chances are, I don't know you. Most of my friends aren't into diet and exercise. They aren't even clicking on my vote button for the Jennie-O breakfast contest. So I'm pleading with my five followers and anyone else who may trip across my blog. You won't be hounded by some virtual turkey, but if you could spare a click a day, I would really, really love to win the two weeks at the Biggest Loser Resort. I have not been able to put the cash together for TWO weeks. It would be huge.

Jennie-O Breakfast contest link:  

http://www.facebook.com/jennieoturkey?sk=app_208066882621169&app_data=72

Now, about my status to date. I'm NOT letting circumstances hold me back. No sir. I'll just keep on, because that's what a person does. Loser for Soup helped me realize that you don't ever quit, just because you don't always win. Ok, so I did know that, but it helps to hear it again from someone else who is fighting the same fight. I'm all the way UP to walking a half mile/day. Wow. Blow to the ego. I was disappointed that I only did a couple of miles a day, before. Oh well, better to be in the game, than out! Our school district started a walking contest, so I created a website and pseudo "app" for our school. Now, I have to do it, you see? 


Bumped into a friend last night and, in talking with her, I heard how happy I am. Yes, I was listening to myself speak. I am so thrilled with my job, my life, etc. This blog may look like I'm focusing on the negative. I'm not. It is just the one place where I dump my darkest part of my life ... weight. One of these days, though, there shall be light in this corner, too!

SO Many Lessons to Learn!

Yeah, I thought I had that figured out. My eating isn't emotional, but I still ballooned in weight gain. Dr. visit today regarding this thing that's going on and the scales were so rude!! Like 6 pounds up! I'm on steroids, which is most likely the cause, but oy!

Exercise is still on hold but I should be able to do walks again in a week. I'm really, really looking forward to it!

Lessons to Learn

Several days of following my exercise plans with my shiny new Polar and BAM! The back goes out again. There's a lesson here, which I will learn. As soon as I can walk upright.

On the diet scene, I blew that off the minute an emotional upheaval hit the house, following the back thing. It has been a giant roller coaster that I sincerely don't want to get on again. Silver lining: I'm NOT an emotional eater! Not in the least bit. I had to make myself eat things so I could take Advil. Still, not worth the ride, but good to know I'm not going to balloon in weight after this week.

Lesson Learned: Sometimes, you just don't get to be the master of your universe. Get over it.

I'm Posting Again BECAUSE ...

Loser for Soup just posted a New Year's blog that is spot on. We say we want to lose weight, at least I do, but why? I've spent so many years/decades saying I want to ... I need to ... I must, yet I've never been specific.

My because has changed over the years, I realize. Used to be that I wanted to look hot again. Yeah, well that ship has left the harbor! Now I'm a grandma and so darned stuck in my ways, I highly doubt that there are any grandpas who could tolerate me, so "hot" is out. And wrinkles just look silly on hot bodies. Then again, I would enjoy being amazingly snappy for my age. Snappy is not trying to be "hot", but rather being vibrant and cute. That would be fun.

Still, at 61, I'm really thinking more about keeping the chasis running, rather than giving it a shiny paint job. I'm taking all kinds of meds, which just goes against everything that I stand for. Shedding tonnage would knock out three of them. Now, THAT is a because! (The fourth one keeps the world safe from hormonal explosions which can erupt without warning, so we won't even entertain taking that off the list.)

My list of becauses:

1. I want to lose weight because I want to get off of the stupid medicines.
2. I want to lose weight because I would love to be the snappy-looking grammi.
3. I want to be more active because exercise actually lifts my spirits and makes regular walking less painful.
4. I want to lose weight because reduced weight-pressure on my knees and feet would actually make walking a fun experience, again.
5. I want to say no to white starches because they give nothing of value to my body. (See Boo's poster, below.)

One other stolen quote from Jessica on the BLR FaceBook page:

  Sweat is just fat cells, crying. 

Love that!

HAPPY NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS!