My Reunion with Aunt Flo

Wow- this week was a toughie! My daughter was away at camp, work involved a gauntlet of hour long meetings, and I had the "stay in bed" cramps that coincided with the worst menstrual period of the year.

I have to say that since I have started exercising, my battle with bad periods has eased a bit, but this month anemia set in- and I was down for the count. Still looking back at the week, my new healthy habits held strong and I can walk away holding my head high as I near the end of it all.

What I did right:

• Went to bed by 10pm (6 out of 7 nights)
• Continued to attempt workouts; if only to walk/swim casually after experiencing dizziness
• Demonstrated self understanding and compassion
• Spent some time with my husband/family/friends
• Put some thought into workout schedule change (Allison goes back to school in one week)
  

What I could have done better:

• Resisted some of the emotional eating
• Blogged more (Next week I'll carry around a notebook so I can start writing during free time)
• Tracked more (Only did 4 full days)
  

I think what I am most proud of is that I was "self aware" this week. I maintained my emotions and knowingly made choices. I gave into some physical/emotional urges but never ate past my point of satisfaction. I continued to stay as active as possible given the conditions, and understood when my body wouldn't tolerate it. In other words, I embraced the "life" part of the program- which has definitely been my personal challenge. It's nice to know that my S didn't disappear off of my chest- I'm still pretty super!

Past Due Assignment -10 points!

So two weeks ago we were given a green index card and asked to identify an 8 week "New Years in July" goal.

Since I tend to be an over achiever, I worried and panicked as potential goals popped in and out of my head.

My gut instantly went to time management, as quite honestly I'm in a pretty good groove right now with the (eating right + activity = loss thing) but it is the (work + blogging + chores/errands = life thing) that keeps throwing me the curve balls.

In the perfect world I would: Go to bed early, get up and work out, get ready for work, then take Allison to school, work intently for 8 hours, come home make dinner while keeping up with my friends, help with homework while doing the dishes, walk the dog while listening to the news, shag a bit (news and politics make me randy!) rinse and repeat. (Sorry but I'm married now and have to be honest we shag on the rare occasion - since it is activity I think it applies!)

I could come up with a mild goal like track even better... but I know I would be cheating myself. So calling upon a previous "life lesson," I chose to pick one or two key goals... and focus on the tough stuff.

After ruminating for a week, I finally identified the 2 items and I've just completed week 1. Let's just call it what it was; a stretching and warm up week.

The first goal: Go to bed earlier. (Aim for 10:00pm)
I went to bed early 2 nights last week. Next week we are aiming for 4 weeknights! Should be easier since Allison is out of town. I also worked on my prerequisites. I spoke with Mike and together we will work to reduce bedtime TV and other late night non-activity activities.

The second goal: Blog Already!
I know blogging helps me figure things out and really helps me to see where I have been and where I am going. I've decided that rather than look for a topic to blog about- I'll actually just blog about whatever it is going on. After all, this blog is about journaling- not necessarily entertaining my giant audience of... 6 :) I'm hoping that the blogging thing will subsequently help me with the ruminating thing I seem to be very proficient at! Good thing we have hidden (or not so hidden) talents! So I'll aim for 2 blogs a week.

Alright- 12 minutes till bed time and it is seriously storming out! (Seriously afraid of lightening- so under the covers it is!)

Kid Gives Speech After Learning To Ride A Bike

I felt like this kid this week! Broken, bruised, and battered... but darn it, I feel happy! No more training wheels... Just me and the wind on my face as I hurdle over obstacles. I know it won't be the last time I take a spill (can't do anything about pot holes or other drivers not being observant) but each time I get up it seems to get just a bit easier.

Battery is fully charged!

What a weekend! (I am now thoroughly convinced that every weekend should be three days long!)

• Enjoyed a starlight picnic with the best daughter (and salad) ever!
• Watched a hot mother-runner beat her personal record!
• Dosed up on Vitamin D pool-side
• Celebrated the holiday with family, good friends, and fish tacos (yes, not your standard memorial day fattening-fare!)
• Had a great introspective dream!
• Slept in with a snuggly puppy
• Tested out my green thumb
• Completed a high intensity workout at the gym
• Had lunch with my husband and daughter (even skipped the tortilla!)
• Washed the car
• Took an inner city drive with the family
• Super-Insane Healthy Dinner with an amazing friend who gets me completely
• Fell asleep snuggling with my munchkin and one pooped puppy after a game of chase the wiffle ball in the backyard.
• Woke up at 4:30 for a great hike/run @ South Mountain
• Scooped up some protein power
• Lost a bet
• Cleaned the bathroom (to pay for debt) and scrubbed the kitchen floors
• Topped the night off with a family dinner affair (Allison mastered the food processor!)

Ultimately a weekend spent with those I love, doing things I love... consider me charged and ready to face the week.















Allison in Hidden Valley- Fat Man Pass

Late night rendezvous with the treadmill. It almost didn't happen, but if I was forced to do the Bollywood video again, I was going to lose it!

Zoinks!

Let's try this blogging thing again!

Short Version:

• Celebrated the holidays
  
• Lost some more weight - Yay!
• Got married - Super-Yay!
• Got distracted and plateaued a bit - Boo Hiss
  
• Got real....again.
• Lost more weight!

Introducing Lynn

Well I have just completed week 10 of "operation- increase activity." With all that elliptical I thought I was toning... that was until yesterday.

"Footloose," was playing on the I-pod when I initially spotted Lynn working with a client about 5 weeks ago. (Hey- no mocking- its a bouncy song!) Instantly I knew she was the one. For the next couple weeks I stalked her. I realized that she wasn't one of those annoying trainers who made 200 lb women do rediculous things while attractive-skinny people pointed and laughed. On the contrary, she really tailored her routines to her client. I worked up the nerve to approach her and tell her what it is I was looking for. She totally got me!! In fact, she wasn't even mad when I said I didn't want nutritional advice! (Turns out she lost 75 lbs on WW herself!) I knew a few sessions would put a strain on the wedding budget- but hey, I decided to look at it as an investment. Money well spent to prevent my arm-wings from waving at my guests as I walked down the isle!

So session 1 was great! On Tuesday, I did all the exercises and in pretty good form I might add! I rocked it! Then I got up the next day and literally had to roll myself out of bed, crawl to the toilet, and call for emergency assistance when I needed to stand again. OH MY GOSH! DOMS (delayed onset muscle soreness w/ 3 lbs of swelling) sucks! I ended up having to give up the cardio session yesterday and replace it with some hobbling to the end of the block to warm up the muscles. I followed it with a dip in the pool to ice it a bit. Then as I woke up today, it was even worse! I pathetically worked from home, but forced myself to limp to the gym in the late afternoon where I proceeded to stretch, massage, and do the arm portion of the routine. I avoided the squats that got me into trouble- and did a modified butt dip instead. (My own creation!) With luck tomorrow, I'll be back to the grind! She showed me a new elliptical alternative... Yes, I am going to cheat on my old machine... after all he was cheating on me with some anorexic in short-shorts. Hmmmmph!