The Daily Diet--news you can loose

A Slow Start

2008-01-08T22:41:00.000-05:00

I'm using Wednesday as my weigh in day so here I am at bedtime Tuesday night.... worrying. I would say I had a so-so week: started back on my exercise routine but didn't quite make my weekly goal. Somewhere along the way I strained a muscle in my butt and had to lay low for 2 days, I have not been eating everything in the house that is not tied down, but I have not been eating fruits and veggies for my snacks- the nuts and crackers still win out. Safe to say that I am easing my way back to good habits.

The muscle strain recovered way faster than I feared and I was able to do some weights this morning and am planning on trying out the treadmill (something I have been avoiding all winter) tomorrow morning. From Sweat Pea's list of suggestions I am going stock up on oranges and grapefruit and plan on "one a day". I know when I'm in the groove and when I'm not, and I'm not there yet. If the Diet Fairy would take a pound off the digital read tomorrow morning it might just give me the jump start I need. I'll hold my breath or click my heels three times or something like that. :)

Forming New Habits

2008-01-03T20:32:00.000-05:00

Our corporate training team starts nearly all their training sessions telling their trainees that it takes 21 days to form a new habit. Once you’ve done something for 21 consecutive days, it is officially a new habit and becomes part of your routine. So that is my drive – for the next 19 days (‘cause I started yesterday) I am going to eat right. "Right" being sensibly – low fat, healthy, natural foods, (avoiding high-fat, high-calorie and highly-processed foods). So far so good, but it’s always good on day 2!

ALSO – I am headed back to the gym! I had worked out a routine I was pretty good about back when I worked from home – it was easy to get up in the morning, go to the gym and get to my desk at home, still sweaty, smelly and in my gym clothes by 8:00 (or so) and at some point durring the morning take a shower-break. But now that I am back in an office position – YIKES! This sucks! I figured I should be able to make it on Saturdays and Sundays most all weekends, and then I’d only have to find TWO other days to get there (or more if I feel like it). So I tried. But it’s nearly impossible for me to get out to the gym in the evenings. I either have another obligation, or if not, what I really want to do when I get home is relax with a drink and visit with my sweetie. SO – this morning (the coldest day of the winter so far!) I set my alarm really early (5:20 AM!!) and got my fat ass out of bed by 5:40 and headed for the gym. Just enough time to get in a cardio and weight routine before hitting the shower and heading off for the office. DAMN! I was proud of myself. And as Blondie would say “then I got to feel good about myself all day!”

So my question is this – how do I form a habit of going to the gym 4 days a week when I have to do it for 21 consecutive days before it becomes a habit?? – maybe I have to do it for 5 or 6 weeks (21 visits to the gym) and that will be the equivalent? Well, that will take me to the end of our Valentine's Day challenge, so maybe that’s a good plan!

WooooHooooo

2007-03-04T13:30:00.001-05:00

I did it!! I'm finally down 20 lbs YeeeeeHaaaaaa! About 40 more to go.

Down again

2007-02-21T09:20:00.000-05:00

I'm down again, and that's a good thing! Went to WW last night and lost another pound and a half. My total weight loss so far is between 15 and 17 lbs - you know how weight fluctuates. My short term goal is for 15 more lbs and then I have a long term goal of 40 more lbs after that... so that means I have a grand total of 55 to go. I measured my waist, chest and hips a week and a half ago and yesterday I re- measured and lost a half inch off my waist and a half inch off my hips. I didn't re-measure my chest. I don't wanna know how much smaller that is~! My jeans fit looser, my scrubs are getting baggy and when I look in the mirror, I can see the difference in my face.

This week I started walking a half hour every day. I learned on my first day to carry my cell phone and pepper spray. I was nearly attacked by a Pit Bull who was running loose. He's at the Pound now.

I can't recommend the book, "YOU on a Diet" too much. It's chock full of information that is so useful! Next week I'm going to start the Beginning Workout from the Website, Realage.com. I downloaded it (free) and am actually looking forward to incorporating this with my new regimen.

Pureassnow

I'm Back!

2007-02-14T08:46:00.000-05:00

I'm Back and I'm Back. First I had to re-route myself to use the blog. This took 2 days. Second, after a very weird week last week, I feel like I am really on track again this week- a pot of "YOU" soup going in the crock pot (from "YOU on a Diet" as commented by pureassnow) and a perfect workout schedule week-to-date (including this AM which involved 3 attempts to get thru the drifts in my drive to go do a weights workout with my exercise partner).

But first: Congratulation to 10-8 and to pureassnow for excellent progress! Hopefully you are both experiencing some of the momentum that comes from making great progress. It always seems to me that it's the very best fuel for keeping you on track.

To report my numbers from this weeks weigh in: 10/4/2 ( I think that's right- total to lose, total last week, total so far). Last weeks lose was surely the fault of the flu that I experienced at the end of the week. I had one of the worst work out schedules I have had in ages and was only okay in the food department. Never mind, I got rid of the 2 pounds I'd gained the week before plus two- and, since the scales have said the same thing for 3 days running, I believe it is real.

When I am having a successful week food-wise, I am always aware that it has a lot to do with having a "food plan"- a big pot of soup put together at the beginning of the week, some kind of pasta or rice dish that will cover a couple of nights, a big container of salad mix made up and ready to add to and fresh fruit in the fridge- the good stuff has got to be SO easy to get to that I will not have any excuse to tear the cupboards apart grazing on the junk.

That's my "news you can use" for today. Stay warm.

Thursday Weigh In

2007-02-08T08:18:00.000-05:00

Down 1.6 this week! :) honestly, that is a gift! And I am going accept it graciously -- and quietly and hope I don't get "caught" by the diet police.

I feel like I wasn't very good this week, but I couldn't have been THAT bad - I stayed OP (on plan) but I eat EVERY LAST ONE of my flex points this week and I did not exercise once and I really fell off the water wagon. So just think how much better I might have done if I had all that going for me too!

Next Wednesday is Valentines Day and my mini- goal was 6 lbs by VD, so I have .6 to go -- if I stay OP I think I can do it! My reward is a full body massage. Then I will need a new mini challenge -- anybody want to set a goal for St Patricks Day or Easter if you want a longer one - - We could say we were "losing eggstra pounds" -- get it -- Easter -- "eggstra" (ha ha)

Who's up for a challenge?

10-8-ious
17/-5.4/-1.6

The Daily Diet--news you can loose

2007-02-05T16:23:00.000-05:00

I didn't deserve this, either

I weighed in this morning- I guess I have picked Sunday or Monday as my official day. I had a very good work out week last week and thought I was being very good food-wise- at least M-F. I did, however, drink appoximately one bottle of wine on each Friday and Saturday night. Do you suppose that's why I'm up 2 pounds from last week? It sucks. Sunday is supposed to be a dependable day to start my week with a run- outside- not on the boring treadmill. My daughter reported to me as I was waking up "the thermometer says 2, with a minus in front of it. Guess what happened to my run. My workout partner and I skipped this morning- so of course neither of us did the workout on our own... I'm off to a bad start for the week. I know- I can hear it for myself- they are all sorry excuses. I've got get this turned around. So, to update my numbers- I guess I am 10/+2/+2 which of course means I really now have 12 pounds to loose. ARGHHHHH!

I didn't deserve this!

2007-02-05T08:44:00.000-05:00

I don't deserve to have the scale give me the same # this Monday morning as it did Friday morning -- not after the weekend I had! The only good thing I did was not go to a super bowl party (only because it was canceled -- lucky for me, Bill the Dog was sick as a dog!) I went to a party Friday night and ate some evil things -- could have stuck to the boiled fish dinner with yummy salmon and vegies, but no - I opted for the gumbo (with sausage) and a piece of fried chicken (didn't eat the whole piece of chicken, but made sure I got all the crispy skin!) I was relatively okay on Saturday -- a couple of handfuls of peanuts I didn't need. And then on Sunday attended a Pastie Dinner at church -- I had a vegitarian pastie, but it was the pie crust the veggies were wrapped in that was a killer -- had to be pure butter (if not lard!)

So imagine my surprise when I got on the scale this morning and it said I had maintaned the same weight -- maybe if I exercise hard today all that fat I inhaled over the weekend will not catch up to me!? I can hope!

How did the rest of you do this weekend?

10-8-ious
17/3.8/o

Thursday Weigh In

2007-02-01T08:54:00.000-05:00

Thursday is my official WI day and I am down .8# from last week. I was hoping for a full lb, but I will take what I can get. I've been being VERY good with my food -- I've been OP (on plan) all week and made it to the gym 3 times -- more would be better, but at least I'm doin' it.

I have set a "mini goal" for myself of 6 lbs by Valentines Day and I am down 3.8 since I started, so I am moving in the right direction, but I'm not sure I can do 2.2 in the next 2 weeks -- but it's a good goal to strive for, even if I don't quite hit it. This week(end) is going to be a killer - two partys which will include lots of fun (evil) foods and drink. I need to stay focused --remember that parties are for enjoying the company I'm with and doesn't have to include over eating or drinking. (you guys help me remember that when you see me headed to the food table!)

How's everybody else doin?

10-8-ious
(17/3.8/-.8)

Ready, Set, DO IT!

2007-01-29T22:04:00.000-05:00

Okay – It’s a new year, but no new excuses – we’ve heard ’em all and we’ve used ‘em all. NOW IT’S TIME TO DO IT! Are we all ready to get serious about losing weight, being more active and maintaining a healthier life style? Good! – Lets do it!

I was thinking it might be fun to set up a “weigh in” schedule like Weight Watchers does. Here’s my proposal:

1) Everybody pick the day of the week that they want to “officially” weigh in for this site, and that day post your success (hopefully).

2) Pick a “goal” weight

3) Since many of us may not care to plaster our actual weight on a web site for the world (or even each other) to see, I propose this as a format:

Goal: # lbs you want to lose
Total: # lbs lost so far
This week: +/-# lbs gained or lost this week

My weigh in day is Thursday, so until this Thursday, my stats are:

Goal: 17
Total: 3
This week: -3

I want to lose a total of 17 (and KEEP it off!); through my last weigh-in (last Thursday) I had lost 3 lbs; and in my last weigh in (last Thursday) I had lost 3 lbs. I will weigh in again this Thrusday and hopefully my numbers will change a bit.

I don't know about you guys, but I could use the accountability of having to post my success or failure to my friends for support or harrasment - whichever you think I deserve!

What do you say? are you in?

10-8-ious
17/3/-3

Working when I'm not working

2006-11-10T07:57:00.000-05:00

Holy Cow! This un-employment stuff is a lot of work. Been hitting it pretty hard. Getting the Bar area ready for a christening, getting the yard in shape, cleaning the garage. It tires this old boy out.

Good news is that I have kept the eating under control. Down three more pounds since the last blog, sitting at 29 down on the SBD. Sweetpea is down 19. Been working out twice a week. Staying away from beer. I miss that part but am enjoying the weight loss.

Hike and campout this weekend. That should be interesting!

l8r
Alpha Male

The Winds of November are Blowing

2006-11-02T08:01:00.000-05:00

Lots of change here. I'm unemployed as of yesterday and that will bring a new diet challenge. Will have to learn to deal with a different kind of stress. Being home where eating is convenient. But I'll get through it. I've come to fr to turn back now.

Good news is I'm now down 26 pounds on the SBD. Exercise has been good. Just keep trudging along.
Time to get busy.

microe

Back at it

2006-10-27T12:00:00.000-04:00

Okay well I was really doin' pretty well - didn't stick with it long enough to make a difference on the scale, but I was forming good habbits in terms of diet and exercise. But then I had some trips and vacations thrown in there, and . . .

Does anyone have more excuses then me?! My god, girl! Just DO IT!

Okay - next week I start my routine back at the gym every workday I am not on the road and resume a healthy eating pattern.

I think my next excuse is Christmas, so I have a couple of months to be serious before I start screwing off again. -- Ho Ho Ho

SBD Week 4

2006-10-24T10:15:00.000-04:00

Still at it. Learning to deal with Scout Campouts, Sundays at the Hat and not eating poorly. Beer is an issue as I thought it would be, drink the right amount and I get the munchies. Managed to stay away from potatoes and pasta though. And bread!

So far so good, down 2 for the week, 21 total! Anyone else out there?

microe

Chugging along

2006-10-17T11:28:00.000-04:00

Just started week four of the Beach. Doing OK. Down a total of 19 pounds. Not sure where Sweatpea is. Introduced a little fruit and grain (mainly oatmeal) back into the diet. Trying to skip bread and pasta all together, though we did have some whole grain pasta last week.

Did pretty good partying. Drank wine at the first party. Beer at the second. Managed to stay away from all the chips and bread and pastas on the buffet. Stuck to meat and the vegi tray.

Exercise is ok. Seem to be in the 3 times a week at the gym. Walking has been slow lately. Too much rain.

That's it for this week. l8r - Alpha Male

Phase II - kinda

2006-10-10T09:53:00.000-04:00

So we made it through Phase I of the Beach. Life at the Beach has been pretty good to us. Sweetpea down 12 pounds, I'm down 17. Sweetpea is starting to introduce some of the Phase II foods into her diet. I'm sticking more to Phase I fair until the weekend.

I made it through a major test last weekend. Saturday I was at Boy Scout Camp all day, 7:30 am until 11:00pm. Managed to stick to the diet really well, avoided all the pasta, potatoes, cookies, etc and didn't feel deprived.

Exercise has been pretty good, though I got less last week than I would have liked. Try and get more in this week.

Big test coming Saturday. Two parties, one in the afternoon and one at night. I know Beer will be my big problem, but if I can keep everything else in control I should be ok.

How's everyone else doing?
microe

Party's Over

2006-10-03T14:23:00.000-04:00

Okay - that's it -- summer is over, back to work -- or better stated: back to workouts. Due to a busy (and lazy?) summer schedule and some traveling, I pretty much blew off the gym (and all related fitness behaivor) from July thru September. Just about the time I would start THINKING about getting back to the gym, I would realize that I had a trip coming up, and, well, you know, what's the point in going to the gym if you can't really stay at it. WRONG! Oh well, I can't change what's done, but I can change what I do from here.

So - Monday, October 2nd - back to the gym. I seem to be having dificulty getting out of bed on these dark mornings, so I am trying something different. I get up in the morning and put my workout clothes on and go downstairs to my desk (working from home is a big bonus here); sometime mid-dayish I head out to the gym -- it's close to home, so I can go do a 50 minute workout (arobics and weights) and be back home within an hour (65 minutes tops); then I fix something quick and healthy for lunch and head back down to my desk. So far (yes I realize I'm only on day two!) this is working well -- it gives me a nice break in the day where I can get my mind out of my work for a while and I feel like I get a more energized workout then I did when I was going before work, because I'm more awake (and since I was having real problems getting out of bed early enough to go, I started blowing it off all together). I think one thing that is really helping me here is getting dressed for the workout when I get up -- it's like making the mental commitment when you get up in the monring.

Not sure which, or if, I will do a specified "diet plan" there are several good ones out there that have good track records, but I have a hard time staying on ONE, and when I slip off, then I somehow use that as a justification to blow the whole thing. So I'm going to try just "being good" which really means "being smart" and see how I do.

So off I go -- again! Wish me luck as I bid Tubbyville a'du.

Stairway out of Tubby Town

2006-10-02T10:02:00.001-04:00

They are 150 of some of the steepest, ramshackle, un-even stairs you will find. 8 flights straight up with a little landing in between each. They go from North Division Street up the hill into the Belknap neighborhood in Grand Rapids. They are a test of what kind of shape you are really in. I stood at the bottom last Friday telling myself I could trot all the way up them. Thursday I had gone up them with my walking partners, I trotted all but the last 20 or so. Walking the rest. My partners complained and were about 40 steps behind when I got to the top. Friday I was alone...

I stretched my calves a little, the right calf a little tight from the day before. I took a couple of big breaths and started up. At the half way point I felt good, after 6 flights I was feeling it. My calves starting to burn, but the worst is breathing. This climb knocks the wind out of you, you can't get enough air. After 7 flights I told myself, 20 steps to go, don't stop now. Then I was there, at the top, gasping for air, calves on fire. But I had trotted all the way up! Then off to finish my walk, another couple of miles. 10 minutes later, I've caught my breath, my calves are loosened back up and I feel alive! Energized.

South Beach Diet Phase I, week one is in the book. I lost 10 pounds. So did Sweetpea. We stuck to it to the letter. Exercise definitely helps. Last week I walked 5 days, hit the gym for 2, and got in a 20 mile bike ride. On to week two.

Hope the thunderstorms give me a break around lunch. I hear the stairs calling me again.

microe

Off to the beach

2006-09-25T12:31:00.000-04:00

A week in Charleston, SC. Too many good meals. Continental breakfast at the hotel with way to many carbs. Ughhhhhhh. Up a couple of pounds.

So it is off to the beach, South Beach that is. Sweetpea and I are going to give it a shot and see what happens. Anything to jump back into losing mode. Film at eleven.

microe

A Holding Pattern- Part 2? Revisited? Still?

2006-09-18T15:16:00.000-04:00

Well, let's see... Good news and bad news? I managed to be on the road for basically a full work week and did not gain weight. The hotels had good workout facilities- I finally stayed on an elliptical machine long enough to get the hang of it and break a sweat. That's good.

Since I've been open I've been practicing the all-too-familiar "it doesn't really count if I just sneak a bite" diet. My version of this is what I will call "hit and run"- I tear through the cupboards or fridge- find something that is likely not part of my "good" plan and eat some amount of it- usually from the box/bowl/jar. I then close everything up and zip back to my desk where I pretend that I did not just eat whatever it was. Ahh... this is obviously the bad news. Working on getting regrouped.

In my travelogue vernacular I will call this a lay over. Hopefully my next blog will be an actual PROGRESS report!

2006-09-11T09:28:00.000-04:00

I am presently and forever back to part-time at work. I feel I have my life back. I know it has been ages since I bloged here, but my last post was about getting back to "me" and happiness and this has inturn developed into discovering "peace of mind." I think when I find peace of mind in my life, work, and family, everything else will fall into place--including my weight control.
I have re-discovered vegetables! I was a vegetarian from about my junior year in high school and then on and off while raising the girls (one of my daughters is vegetarian while the other only eats chicken now). For almost two months I have not eaten anything with legs, nor have I had eggs or milk. This is the beginning of my transistion into avoiding animal protein altogether.
Before everyone jumps on a band wagon and gets defensive, please remember this is my choice and a choice I made for personal reasons--health being the number one reason and animals being the second. I re-chose to be a vegetarian after reading "The China Study" and researching some of the studies I read about there. My philosophy on animals has grown up abit since I was a teen. I am not against eating animals. I do believe if you are going to own them or eat them, you should do it w/o cruelty. So am I against something here? Yes, but you'll have to read my other blog site.
I have only lost about 4 lbs in the last couple months but I am going to attribute that to the large quanty of beer that I have been consuming and the lack of exercise.
Well, I love beer and hate exercise. This too shall pass in good time.
I have been having way too good of a time reading veggie cookbooks, books on preserving (we bought a freezer and the dehydrator has come out of storage!) and I have been cooking up a storm! The hubby has been really supportive. No complaints about eating meatless dishes--could be that I'm doing all the cooking! He even shucked two bushels of sweetcorn while I was a work and helped me put it up for the winter.
So that is where I am. Feeling very healthy, relaxed and cooking w/ my hubby--in more ways then one.

A Holding Pattern

2006-09-08T13:00:00.000-04:00

Yea... that's what I'll call it. Just for this week, right? I have gotten back on track with my workouts- moved indoors for 2 weight sessions this week and 3 outdoor runs (I hate the treadmill!). Youch- guess I took too many weeks off from weights. Still, the scales are kind of stuck (or truth-be-told moving a little in the wrong direction). There are a number of very pitiful excuses for this trend but I'm calling it a holding pattern. The problem is that I will be on the road from Monday to Friday next week so I'm a little worried--might be an extended holding pattern. Just one of the many legs of the on-going journey out of Tubbyville.

Back to the grind.

2006-09-06T16:26:00.000-04:00

Went mountain biking over at Fort Custer last Friday. Quite the workout. Worked out Saturday loading papers at the Scout paper drive. Monday removing bushes around the house. It was Sunday where we kind of lost control for a while. Brunch with all the fixin's and enough Champagne to drown a horse. But trying to stay on the grind. Salads for lunch. Down 3 more pounds in the last week. New scale keeps telling me that I have too high of a percentage of body fat. Need to get to the gym more.

l8r microe

Go Figure!

2006-08-30T16:53:00.000-04:00

I'm having a bad little run of not running. If there is one thing that I have had pretty well nailed now for about three years, believe it or not, its the exercise thing. My goal is to do "something" 5 times a week and I pretty much always make at least 4. Last week I completely fell apart- my schedule was not good, it's pretty dark in the morning these days, the temperature wasn't just right, I'll just take a couple days off and be newly motivated by the weekend (which came and went). Now, here is the thing- I lost two pounds last week. I've been afraid to actually claim them but it seems to be real (since I now weigh myself DAILY just to be sure). So, I'm thinking... it's pretty dark in the morning, wet, this week, the temperature isn't just right.... STOP! I have promised myself a long run tomorrow am- it will make just 2 for the week but I still have time to get back on track. I can still see Tubbyville in the rear-view mirror but my 10 pound goal is within reach! Hiking, hiking...

2006-08-30T14:37:00.000-04:00

Yep that new scale says I need to loose weight. I have been a couch potato since June after surgery.
Well, Fall is coming so I will try to get motivated to move off the couch.

Say What?????????????????

2006-08-30T09:07:00.000-04:00

So for my birthday, my son got me this really cool bathroom scale. It has all the bells and whistles. It can estimate your %Body Fat, %Body Water, recommended calorie intake and how much methane is in the gas you pass. So I get it all programmed in with height, age, sex (I tried to answer yes but that wasn't an option, so I chose Alpha Male) and activity level. I get on it and WHAT?! It says I weigh 13 pounds more than my old scale!? I go back and forth a couple of times and that's the deal. Then Sweetpea tells me she had e-mailed Blondie and gotten the scoop on which scale to buy.......... SOOOOOO, now I know who to blame.

Actually, I knew that the old scale was weighing light and had been contemplating when I would switch to a new scale, I wanted to soften the psychological blow of the perceived set back. Well I have to fret no longer. I am encouraged though, I thought it was around 15 - 17 pounds light so 13 pounds doesn't seem as bad.

On the road again,
Alpha Male

PS: It registered 0% Methane, go figure?

Phew!

2006-08-28T22:57:00.000-04:00

I closed my eyes and slowly edged up on the scale, sliding my feet onto the platform. Carefully I let my whole weight and cracked my right eye open and then my left. I looked down and Phew!!!!!! down 2 pounds from last Monday and the same as Friday morning. And I'm glad, cause I spent a weekend at "The Cabin" and didn't pork up. 3 days drinking beer and eating in the lost town of Sharon and I maintained! Well I did keep an eye on the portions. Not the 5 pounds a week I have been dropping, but hey, that wasn't going to last forever.

Went to the gym tonight. Sweat like a pig, that's what I get for drinking beer all weekend. Last week I kind of got off the exercise routines so this week I'm going to get back on it. Time to ratchet back up.

l8r, microe

TMI

2006-08-21T20:38:00.000-04:00

I have one of those "fancy" scales that tells you pretty much everything but your zodiac sign. This morning it was acting like a phony psychic, though- I weighed myself once, okay. Got off, reset, stepped on it again (don't ask me why). I gained 2/10 of a pound. On and off again, another 2/10 up. Best out of 4? I tried it one more time and it went back to the middle reading- I'll take it. Who knows how far it could have gone. Total loss since I started, 4 weeks ago, 4 lbs. (jack #$(* compared to microe's 5 lbs a week!). None-the-less, this is a journey, remember. I still seem to be hiking away from Tubbyville so I will just keep trekking.

50 miles(not a detour)

2006-08-19T17:18:00.000-04:00

I just finished a couple of hours ago. 50 miles on the bike. Now that's a ride. I wanted to ride faster, but being the official "Scoutmaster", the leader, I had to sit back and make sure everyone finished. We had one boy drop out at 15 miles. Too much couch potatoe this summer. 4 made it, including the T-Man. I felt good. Could have rode another 10 or 15. Getting in condition really helped. Losing weight has really helped.

So now I'm enjoying a beer. I deserve it and besides I figured out that the bike ride burned between 2000 and 2500 calories. I can spare a few tonight.

Down 5 lbs more this week. Riding has helped. The diet has been going good. Drinking diet pop at Mug Club, while not my first choice, was a big boost. I wore a pair of size 40" pants to work this week. First time in 2 years. That felt great.

Now if I just could get that butt cheek massage I'll be all set.

Whoa! Detour! Detour!

2006-08-15T07:35:00.000-04:00

Hiking along having a pretty good week last week when, suddenly, I was not on the path out of Tubbyville anymore. SOMEHOW I had gotten myself in Restaraunt Ally and boy was I having fun!

A short trip to TC to catch up with some customers that I haven't seen all summer, a nice dinner out with our "big kids" and then to top it all off a "church" outing to feast on Dim Sum... This is fried what?

I didn't even see the road block sign, and of course there is never a really direct route out of a detour, right? I think by the end of yesterday I may have found my way out- stir fry for dinner, passed on the ice cream when I took the Pooh for a treat. Not sure what to do about the points thing-thinking about a fresh start today. Up 1/2 pound- hoping it's not firmly attached!

5 pounds, Micro? Way to go.

The wheels on the bike go round and round!

2006-08-14T15:59:00.000-04:00

Bicycling is my latest regime in aerobic exercise. Not that I needed a big change, but the I'm working with my Boy Scout Troop on the cycling merit badge. I decided that it would be a good idea to get into pedaling shape. We have a 50 miler scheduled for Saturday and I don't want to be the Caboose. So I rode three times last week, a 10, 15 and 25 miler. Going to ride tonight and Thursday. Walked last night with Sweetpea also.

Been back to the gym in between. I'm sore, but a good sore. I was playing around with some old pants that are a size smaller waist than what I am currently wearing. I can get'em buttoned, but they are still a little tight to wear... Close though, close.

Last week down a total of 5 lbs. The blueberry snacks are working good for now. Take a bowl of blueberrys to snack on, hey they are in season. Just don't make cobbler, bad, bad, bad. (Ok so I accept some of the blame for 10-8 not having a good "habbit" changing weekend). Trying Veggies instead of Chips at lunch. Film at 11.

AM

I Need to Try a New Position

2006-08-14T11:57:00.000-04:00

Nothing as kinky as you are imagining!

Positioning is a marketing term, right? -- like: positioning a product in the market place so that it will seem better then it is and people will buy. That's what I need to do to myself with this damn diet. (Oh woops, I forgot, I'm not on a diet, I'm adapting a new habbit (so much for positioning!)). For one thing, I have my log set up to start my weeks on Mondays, which really sucks because I'm at my worst over the weekends, so to do my official weigh-in on Monday morning is self-defeating. I should track myself from Wednesday to Wednesday or something like that. Now I realize it is the overall progress that counts and not just a given day -- so theoretically it shouldn't matter what day I call my offical weigh-in day. That's where the posistioning comes in -- it's all smoke and mirrors, I realize, but if it makes me feel better, and makes me more hopeful, then I think I should go with it. I'm not above psyching myself out.

2 weeks and I'm down 1/2 lb. This is the worst start to a diet (woops - habbit change) I've ever had. Gonna' have to think on this a while. (But maybe I should think about it while I'm jogging or something!)

Back in the Alpha Saddle

2006-08-09T09:21:00.000-04:00

Ok, so it took a week or so to get back with the program. But I think I have done it. 4 pounds this week. Crack that whip, spur that horse! Got the breakfast lunch thing under control. Breakfasts right now are yogurt and fruit. Bought 5 lbs of Michigan Blueberries. Been taken them as snacks. Working pretty good!

Had a business lunch yesterday, turned down Chinese went Mexican instead. Easier to eat light and low fat with Mexican. I had a salad, and it filled me up, so I ate a light late dinner.

Exercise, well I've been to the gym a couple of times but not a lot. Been riding my bike. Got a 15 mile ride with the Scouts tonight. Probably take a bike to South Haven this weekend.

Speaking of weekends, moderation, moderation, moderation..... Might go beerless this weekend. Would really like to get down some before Labor Day and sucking a hundred beers at the boat won't get me there. Stay tuned.

Alpha Male, Over and Out!

Journeying Along

2006-08-07T12:37:00.000-04:00

Hiking along on the path out of Tubbyville. I had a good week- 3 pounds! (Although I usually think the first two aren't "real", I'm counting these 'cause they'd been parked on my gut for a few weeks).

It is so true that this is not a short term project but a life long journey- when I can't see Tubbyville in my rear view mirror it does not mean that I pull my Weight Watchers rules off the fridge and start eating bon bons. I will likely WANT to, though, and there is the crux of the problem: how do you turn this into an every day attitidude and not some transitory plan?

I know for myself, when I'm "on" I'm on- I usually know pretty quickly into a week weather I've managed to get my head in the right place or not. Right now, I'm on. Hiking, hiking, hiking...

False Start

2006-08-07T08:40:00.000-04:00

DO OVER - I declare a do-over for starting my diet. In retrospect, last week was a REALLY bad week for me to start a new diet plan. I already whined about all the obligations to eating/drinking out I had lined up last week (and I added a couple more over the weekend), I was haveing some hormonal issues (sorry Microe, I know-- TMI) and the end of the week was super high-stress/intensity couple of days. So yeah - those are all my excuses for why it is that in my first week of dieting I GAINED a 1/2 lb.

So, I am regrouping, making some resolutions about the choices I make and the control that I need to have over those choices. I completely agree with Microe's last comment that we should not look at it as a "diet" but as a life style change (behaivor modification). This works much better in the long run, but is harder to implement. But I am willing to be patient, not beat myself up to bad, and accept that this will be a long term solution with better results. Rome wasn't built in a day and I'm sure that was an easier task then melting the fat off my butt.

The Daily Diet--news you can loose

2006-08-02T11:36:00.000-04:00

The Daily Diet--news you can loose
My Maiden Blog

Blondie here. Thought I'd try out this blog-thing and see how it works!

I'm also doing a Weight Watcher's thing but I am trying the Core Plan- if you eat stuff that is on the "approved" list, you don't have to figure out your points and track it. In the "non-approved" category (all the fun stuff) you have 35 points per week to use as you wish- low-fat whole wheat toast uses up 1 point, so it's not like you have a lot of room here. Day 3 for me, to0 (10-8 and I did not even coordinate this plan!) and so far so good. I am not weighing in yet- want to wait a week and hopefully give myself a nice surprise (hopefully).

Eating Out without Pigging Out

2006-08-02T08:32:00.000-04:00

Okay, so I am on day three of my Weight Watchers routine and it's going pretty well. I'm staying within my daily alotment of points and I have been to the gym three days this week so far. I actaully don't find dieting all that difficult on a normal daily basis (right, so why do I keep straying off of it? Don't know!) I enjoy a lot of healthy foods and I live alone so I don't have to stock the house with a bunch of evil crap for any co-habitants, AND I work from home, so I am really in control of my environment. Until I go out to eat . . .

My boss will be in town for a couple of days this week and I have two nights of dinner out with him and two days of lunches out with him. This is a challenge for a few reasons. 1) I will be tempted by evil things that I sholdn't eat -- even if I order something sensible it is not going to be made with low/no fat ingredents, so even if it's pretty good, it's not great 2) reastraunts usually serve much larger portions then what I would eat at home or what WW considers a portion 3) it's very difficult to figure the "points" in a meal you didn't prepare yourself (althoughWW does have a web site with chain restraunt menue points).

I realize this sounds like a bunch of lame excuses to blow my diet, and I don't mean it that way. I know that with a little dicipline (I think I have a little of that in me - not sure) I can order someting sensible, eat only as much as I "should", and I can estimate the points the best I can. But still, when you are looking at a two day block and know that 4 out of 6 of your meals are going to be reastraunt meals - YIKES!

So I won't brag about the 1.5 lbs I lost Monday and Tuesday, because by Friday I probably will have found them again! UGH!

rethinking the situation

2006-08-01T11:34:00.000-04:00

I gained 5 pounds just since Sarah's wedding. I have been having a good time this summer and not thinking about dieting or exercise and I haven't really given-a-shit either.
OK--I need to get back on track. I have been spending a lot time contemplating many changes in my life and my health is one of the big issues.
I know I have to exercise--not more--just in general; I know I have to eat healthier; I need to change careers; I need to write more.

I have come to a conclusion--I have grown fat and lazy.

Now that I have finally reached a truthful conclusion--I must decide to start anew.
To start anew, I have been contmenplating myself as the young woman I was before I began a life devoted to my daughters. When I watch my daughters and listen to their thoughts and convictions about life and the world--I see myself and how influencial I was in their lives.
They are young woman who care about their health; they exercise; they eat very little meat and as much organic as they can get their hands on; they care about the environment, about equality, about social justice. They want to adopt children; they volunteer.
What amazes me is that I don't put forth that much effort in my present life, yet my daughters will say that I taught them all of these things.
What I taught my daughters is that life is about living what you believe. I think if you live your own truths everyday, you can be a really happy person. So, I'm thinking that my fat and laziness, and my happiness are linked.
So I'm starting with happiness. I'm going to begin with making an effort to start caring about the things that have always mattered to me and eliminating from my life the things that don't make me happy; I will in turn be happier and healtier.
What do you think?

Alpha Renewal

2006-07-31T16:27:00.000-04:00

It’s hard to get motivated. There are parties and outings and beer to be drank. July has kind of slipped away. I didn’t’ drop that extra 15 I wanted. But I haven’t gone up much. Just a couple of pounds.

Working out has slowed down. I was having trouble getting to the gym with all the summer activities and then I went to Boy Scout camp for a week. Actually I got plenty of exercise at camp, took the BSA Lifeguard certification. Lots of swimming. But have had trouble getting back into a good exercise routine since I’ve been back. It appears that my workout partner has thrown in the towel permanently. He has more excuses than me.

So last week I went out to that BSA Seabase site to remind myself how much I have to loose in the next 12 months. They have a height/weight chart for maximum weight for the Bahamas Trip I’m signed up for next July. Oy! I’ve got a long way to go. Wonder if I’ll make it?
So I went to the gym once last week. Took an hour bike ride another day. Yesterday I helped the T-Man mow TMF’s lawn in the heat. Probably mow my own in the heat tonight. Knock off the excess drinking for now (especially beer, I'll miss the Firecracker Red, but it will keep). Get my eating back in order and see if I can drop some more weight. Go back to the gym, anyone know of someone looking for a strength training partner? Start walking at lunch again.

I need to set some weight loss goals. 10-8-ious uses the count something method to motivate herself. I use the goal method. 20 pounds in 5 weeks, before Labor Day. Four pounds a week.
Maybe we should have a weekly evening bike ride? We could meet someplace and go for an hour ride or so? Or just walking?

L8r -- You friendly neighborhood Alpha Male

Back from Denial-Land (10-8-ious)

2006-07-30T20:16:00.000-04:00

Well, I’ve been enjoying a nice little hiatus from reality – the land of denial is a wonderful place while you’re in it, but re-entry back into reality can be brutal – especially when using a scale to measure reality!

I’ve been telling myself for the last couple of months that I’ve been in “maintenance mode” for the summer – you know, not really working too hard at reducing and not aggressively maintaining a workout schedule, but just sort of eating sensibly and being active. RIGHT! – NOT! Meanwhile I gained 7 lbs – I don’t call that maintenance, damn it!

So I'm officially exiting the land of denial and weight gain and re-entering the land of dieting sensibly and exercising routinely. For me this means recording everything I eat. Whatever program I am on, as long as I am recording what I eat and tracking SOMETHING – whether it be Weight Watchers points, or fat, or fiber, or calories, whatever – the simple act of writing down everything I eat (and DRINK!) is usually enough to keep me on the straight an narrow. And I will get back to my gym routine of at least 4 workouts per week.

How is everyone else out there doing? I noticed that no one has blogged here in almost 2 months – did I see you out there in denial land too? I really enjoy the camaraderie of this blog and it would help me if my fellow weight reducers would report in once in a while – how’s it going? What’s working? What’s not? What’s frustrating you? – a little moral support goes a long way.

June Swoon

2006-06-09T10:53:00.000-04:00

It is the 9th of June and I have been in kind of a holding pattern for a couple of weeks. Not loosing any :-( but not gaining any either :-) Life has been pretty hectic and taken me out of my routine, with weddings and graduation parties and other things that go on that involve large quantitities of good food and good beer. I think one of the worst parts is that some of these have been out of town, which means eat-sit in the car for hours, repeat.

But I'm not discouraged. I have only been making the gym about 2 times per week, but still making progress. Last Tuesday I had a personal best on box squat of 340#. Worked out this morning, lots of energy felt good.

Shortstory, have you joined the gym yet? Ginger, how is it going? 10-8-ious, too busy being in love to write? I know, as I said above, this is a busy time of year.

Coming up, a push before July 4th to see if I can drop 15 more pounds.

l8r from the Alpha Male

YooHoo...here I am....

2006-05-31T18:24:00.000-04:00

It has been so long since I blogged that I almost forgot how to log into this site!! I apologize for being so elusive...like a butterfly...lately, but with the wedding and all I have been neglecting duties and people in my life that aren't...well...weren't my daughter and her wedding. But that is over and the bride and groom are back home beginning life as their own family.
Now to get back to my life.
I don't think many of us overate at the wedding but it was really good food. I know that we indulged in some awesone stout right after dinner but I heard there was still room for wine in the wee hours of the night. Back to the gym you Heathens!
Anyway. The wedding was beautiful and I felt truly blessed to have my family and friends there and (did I mention this before) I got a son without the labor pains! And he is a wonderful addition to our family.
I feel that I am standing at a crossroad right now in my life and I have important decisions to make. One of those decisions that I have been putting off, naw, seriously resisting is JOINING THE GYM. Someone tell me it is air conditioned!!
I have come to the conclusion that I am just not motivated on my own. No, I don't motivate myself. Nothing is working to make me work.
I belonged to the gym once and I paid money every month but I never went. I was thinking that maybe if I made a gym date to meet some of you there, I will feel too guilty to let you down and I would have to show up. NOt that I want to partner exercise, I KNOW I'm a loner exerciser, but I would at least feel obligated to show up. What are you all thinking?
And maybe Microe can show me some weight lifting moves--hes so strong now that I saw him pull a galvanized steel bucket apart with his bare hands! Or maybe he was just really excited about getting the beer on ice! So should I spend the $$ or what? I want to hear from all the gym goers???

In Memory of Fat...

2006-05-26T13:02:00.000-04:00

Memorial Day weekend is upon us and hopefully you will all take a moment of silence in memory of the fat you have shed. Sweetpea and I are headed for ShortStory's daughters wedding in Indiana Saturday. It will be a challenge to not over eat and drink too much, but I'm up for it.

Went to Mug Club Wednesday. Had 3 beers (encouraged by ShortStory no less), and then a night cap at home. Felt it in the morning Thursday and at the gym Thursday night. Need to stick to my 2 beers on a school night limit or simply drink diet-Pepsi on Wednesdays.

Progress. Down a couple more pounds. Weightlifting is not going to bad considering I am only getting to the gym about twice a week now. Notable, Tuesday night I rack pulled 550 pounds a new personal best. Most significant is that it is jean day at work and I am sitting here in a pair of size 40" waist jeans I haven't been able to wear for two years. Bonus!

Hope to hear lots of reports next week! l8r Alpha Microe

Summer Plan

2006-05-22T10:38:00.000-04:00

I'm holdin' my own. I'm down 6 to 7 lbs from when we started this -- when was that? April 1st? And I'm holdin' on to that pretty good and with very little effort. I think I have past that point where I've moved from a "diet" to a "healthy life style" -- I really don't think much about eating good stuff -- it's what I WANT to eat and I'm not at all tempted by the crap I used to eat. Don't get me wrong, I'm no saint -- still enjoying my dark beers, but even that is in moderation (for the most part).

I'm not being quite as good at the gym as I should - I really wanted my minimum average to be 4/wk and I am hitting 3/wk consistantly. At that rate, I don't feel like I'm getting near as much out of the weight training as I otherwise would and I really ought to be getting my cardio workout in more often if I really expect to burn off my saddle bags.

So what to do about this delema -- well I bought a bike this weekend. Okay, to tell the truth, I did not buy a bike because I'm overwhelmingly concerned about fitness (but that is a BIG bonus!). My sweetie (a recent addition to my life) is an avid cyclist and I am looking forward to our spending many fun hours over the spring/summer/fall months peddling around. I have the perfect body for cycling -- good strong lower body -- finally I can put these thighs to good use!

So that's my summer plan -- continue a healthy diet, gym as often as I conveniently can, and enjoy my new bike. So if you have a bike and you want to go out for an adventure - give me a call, I'm in!

??????

2006-05-13T00:45:00.000-04:00

I sit at my computer,
My fingers lightly aligned on the keyboard,
Wondering,
Where o where have the diet bloggers gone?

Prehaps they have been distracted,
pre-occupied,
Attention drawn to other subjects,
More pressing and urgent...

ShortStory caught in the chaos of a quickly approaching nuptials ceremony,
10-8-ious drawn to a new love while dashing her flute on the rocks of dispair.
Sweetpea stranding between Stargates on the Sci-Fi channel,
Ginger lost among the ditch lillies in search of the perfect mulch.

So here I am.
Alone,
Reporting on my progress, my trials and tribulations,
Maybe I should get a life.

But I feel so good lately,
More stamina, more strength, more horny, more alive.
I've come to need the exercise, if I miss it I feel deprived.
It's just so quite in this blog lately.

So come back,
ShortStory, 10-8-ious, Sweetpea, Ginger,
Keep this old man company,
l8r, the Alpha Male......

Lunch with the Alpha Male

2006-05-10T13:05:00.000-04:00

A smoked chicken breast, a few sun dried tomato Wheat Thins, a piece of cheese, a bowl of Strawberries and a 32oz bottle of H2O, lunch with the Alpha Male. Just got back from my walk. A little tired today. Been exercising particularly hard this past week. Trying to get in shape for a Boy Scout Campout and Mountain Biking at Fort Custer this weekend. Hope it doesn’t rain.

Was talking to Aaron down at Strength Beyond about re-arraigning my workout schedule to accommodate my summer activity. I don’t want to stop working out, but I can’t commit four nights a week now that the boat is in the water. We talked about some options and I decided to modify to 3 workouts per week, Tuesday and Thursday nights and Sunday afternoon. Same workout rotations just spread them out. Aaron said a lot of older guys (like me over 40), go to this as it gives them more muscle recovery time. So I started into it last week. In the mean time I have been riding my bicycle as much as I can to get my butt in shape for Fort Custer.

Progress this week – 3 lbs more. I’m pleased that the Cinco de Mayo Blue Margaritas didn’t seem to hurt. An interesting thing happened Sunday. Sweetpea and I had the day to ourselves so we decided to go to breakfast at the Breakfast Place in Lawton. Everything on the menu seemed huge! I ordered a Steak Omlet and it was so big I could only eat half. It tasted good, but as I’m eating I quickly start getting this bloated feeling. I got a box and half the omelt and potatoes are sitting in the fridge at home, waiting to be a science experiment. I felt crappy until the afternoon when I went and worked out at the gym. I’m taking all this as a good sign that my healthy eating habits are taking over and pigging out on a big greasy breakfast just isn’t going to be my thing anymore. Hope I can keep it that way.

Alphaout….l8r

Alpha Progress

2006-05-04T00:18:00.000-04:00

10-8-ious asks, "Where did everybody go?", to which I answer, "The gym to work out!" Yes it is a busy time of year and finding time to blog is tough. I have been running all over the place, seems like there is always something else to be done. But that is another Blog. This is about my diet blog.

Minor setback last week. I had an elbow problem. Seems I possibly had an infection in my left elbow that triggered a bout of gout in the same elbow, or at least that is the theory without poking me full of needles. They ran some blood work and Uric Acid was high. Anyway it hurt like hell for two days and swelled up big time and knocked me off my weight lifting regiment for about 5 days. But I was back at the gym on Monday and the elbow is feeling much better and lifting has not been a problem.

Since I have had a history of gout, though no recent flare-ups, and this being the first in a joint other than my big toe, I decided to do research into what may have caused the high Uric Acid. It always used to be brought on by bad diet + no exercise + too much red wine or dark beer, etc. But my diet has been stellar, I hadn't had any red wine or dark beer in 3 days before the attack and I've been exercising like a banshee. A little research on some sites on gout.com (yes they is actually a site) and I have some big clues. First, weight loss (especially quick losses) can raise Uric Acid. Second, dehydration keeps the body from flushing it through the kidneys, and I think I have been dehydrated. Third, foods that increase Uric Acid include Spinach and Mushrooms which I have been eating like 5 days a week in large quantities (my lunch salad). On sets of gout are often triggered by trama to a joint. The doctor thinks this trama was the infection that I had from a scrape. Put it all together and bingo, I'm up at 3 am with an elbow the feels like someone hit it with a sledge hammer.

So I have modified things to prevent a re-occurrence while still staying on the weight loss program. First plenty of water, at least 40 - 48 ounces a day. Second limit spinach and mushrooms, I replaced them in my lunch this week with Strawberries, Red Grapes and Wheatables. Fourth, take care of the cuts and scrapes. It seems to be working, though you can never tell with gout.

Progress!!! I'm down another 4 pounds. Weightlifting is going good. Feeling good, clothes are fitting better. Lifted weight last night new Personal Record Dead Lift. Which got me thinking... So I went back through the archives to my first blog on this diet site. March 1, two months ago to almost the day. It was about me doing deadlifts in the gym, lifting 335 pounds and tweaking my back in the process. Since then I have worked out about 32 times in the gym. What a difference some hard work will make. Last night I deadlifted 405 pounds, no back pain, a good strong lift. And it felt really encouraging breaking the 400 pound mark.

What has my weight done? Since the first of the year I am down over 35 pounds. So while my weight went down about 11% my deadlift went up 21%. By the way, when I went to see the doctor last week, my blood pressure was lower than it had been in over a year 110/80.

Another thing I noticed in some of my early blogs was I talked about getting through hump day with limiting my beer consumption at Mug Club. Well tonight was Mug Club and for the second week in a row I drank Diet Pepsi. And I didn't feel deprived. Progress is so sweet.

One other observation, I think the change in the lunch menu from Spinach/Tuna Salads to Fruit with Smoked Chicken Breast has put the metabolism back into high gear. I'll have to see if it is the food or just the change. Stay tuned..... From the Alpha Male, l8r.

Routine Maintenance

2006-05-02T09:15:00.000-04:00

Where did everyone go? Has everyone fallen off the wagon and they are too embarassed to blog? Spring is here and your all too busy to blog? You've fallen and you can't get up? Somebody send a signal!

Last week I was in maintenance mode -- which I'm not going to beat myself up over, but I'm not where I want to be yet, so I need to push forward. I had several distractoins from attending the gym - some work related and some pleasure related, but I only got there ONCE last week (UGH!). I'm doing really pretty well with my food though -- I'm hanging out in phase 1 1/2 of South Beach - which is to say, I'm mostly in phase one in my routine, but I stray over to phase two occasionally. But I only really blew it on one meal -- a full plate Mexican dinner (which was really good by the way) but even that was a chicken dish and nothing fried.

I've just begun a new (and really incredible) relationship, which of course I'm really happy about. But relationships are notoriosly not good for my diet plans -- I usually end up eating more often and not good stuff and I fall out of exercise routines (it's hard to get up and go to the gym when you didn't get enough sleep the night before!). So I am doubly pleased with this guy because he is a VERY healthy eater - lots of veggies and fruit and granolla and yogart; lots of whole grains and natural ingrediants, no peservatives, that kinda stuff. And he is very active - hiking, canoing, he's a cylcalyst, etc. so we tend to do active things together and he's supportive of my efforts. (Of course this is just the icing on the cake - I won't go into all his other wonderful and beautiful traits here).

So - the bottom line - it was a maintenance week - I went down a little, I came back up a little, pretty much in the same spot I was 2 weeks ago. But not discouraged at all.

My update (SS)

2006-04-25T18:39:00.000-04:00

Well, I am finally feeling better--I was sick for a week, from Thursday to last Thursday. Then I spent the weekend at college with my youngest who doesn't own any food! So we ate a couple of times--once at the Pita Palace and once at Agave--mexican, of course! So nutritionally, in three days I ate two meals and drank a lot of Margaritas. I lost a total of 4 lbs since my sickness and I still don't have the energy to do anything. I did finally had sex with my husband last night and that really wore me out. Other than that I have done nothing but sit at my desk at work all day and drive to Detroit. Same thing this week. Thursday I leave for Indiana to meet w/ the oldest to make final wedding arrangments. I'm hoping for a few more meals and a few more margaritas...and no more weight.
I'll just have to get back in the saddle again when I get back. I have no horse, but I have saddlebags--know how your feeling 10-8!

Back on the Wagon again

2006-04-24T16:47:00.000-04:00

I've got to admit that I had fallen off the walking wagon...I'd get into projects at home, or sucked into the internet job search, and think, "Just one more hour, then I'll go out..." Didn't happen.

Now, with a new dog, I have to walk, because at 5 months old he gets pretty damn hyper if he doesn't get his exercise...so I'm walking twice a day now, and although there are plenty of sniffing stops along the way, I'm still getting (I think) a decent amount of exercise, and my right arm is getting a workout from playing fetch...although its really more like "throw", because he doesn't always bring the ball back...then I have to fetch.

So, although there's not much of a weight change, I am down two more percentage points on the body fat index...and I know that my clothes are fitting differently, and I've been on a Mediterannean cooking jag lately, so my diet is very well balanced. All in all I think I'm doing ok.

What's in those saddle bags, anyway? - FAT!

2006-04-24T12:30:00.000-04:00

Well, I have lost another 2 which puts me down a total of 12 lbs., which doesn't really sound like much, I definatley have another 15 to go (at least). But I can REALLY feel the difference - in my clothes, in the mirror, and mostly in my attitude. I feel like a thinner person INSIDE, which is really fun. And still I am not suffering -- I am enjoying what I'm eating and I am actaully enjoying the gym every morning. Now that the weather is turning to Spring (I think), I want to start walking again -- anybody else?

I have identified a new goal for myself -- I had set a particular weight goal and a particular jean-size goal, but I have settled on an even better one. No matter how much I weigh or what size I'm fitting into, I am not giving up until I lose my saddle bags. (Microe, this may not apply to our Alpha male, sorry) You know girls -- I have hips where they're supposed to be and then I have hips just a tad lower, on my thighs. Our thighs are NOT SUPPOSED to have hips. I have had them all my life (except for one very brief skinny period in my life) and they drive me NUTS! If you look at me straight on and follow the line of my siloute I curve in at the waise, out at the hips (okay this is good so far - I am a girl after all) but then I have this litte inward dent and curve out again at the top of my thighs -- It's not SUPPOSED to curve back out again, damn it! So. That's my new goal - loose the saddle bags! I'm not a horse!

Happy Trails!

Is anyone out there?

2006-04-17T11:40:00.000-04:00

Just smile if you can hear me. What the heck is going on here? 10-8, Ginger, SS are you girls all on a road trip or what? We need to know about progress! Good or Bad! Weekend was tough but I managed to make it through without completing blowing my weight. Back to the salads and yogurt and the gym..

2006-04-14T10:41:00.000-04:00

“Life” changes

I went to see the dietitian at WMU that is a free service to employees so why not? It will be a one on one session and my doctor really wanted me to go to this class but this seemed to an even better solution. For now I am just keeping track of how many carbs I am having and when trying to keep this to about 12 per day and then just trying to be reasonable about the amount of protein and fat I have per day. Gretchen (the dietitian) has me writing down what I eat, when I exercise, if I forgot to take my pills and what my glucose is following the Diabetic plan/guidelines.

At this point I want to improve my health and get my glucose back down and so far since I have been keeping record it has dropped from 178 to as low as 138 – this morning it was 144. The dietitian let me know that exercise will help just as much as diet will. I am finding this to so true. My glucose is lower after I have made an effort to exercise for the day.

So I continue to struggle to be motivated to go to the gym on a regular basis. Now that I am working 40 hours per week there is less time for getting food on the table before everyone goes running off to do something else at night. It is amazing how much a ½ hour can make in time of getting home and getting things done. The stress of planning dinner, getting Thomas to Tae Kwon Do or Scout night seems to exhaust me. Then I have to go and shop for the food we eat also.

I got back to see Gretchen next Tuesday so I will see what happens from there. I suspect that there will be more changes suggested because she has suggested that we take this in steps. So what will the next step be?

I am still afraid of the scales – that is too scary - for now I will look at the numbers on my glucose monitor.

Alpha Review

2006-04-13T10:39:00.000-04:00

Benefits…… After dieting for a while I think we all need to remember the benefits of loosing weight to help fend off boredom and complacency. Based on SS’s last blog, she sounds bored and un-motivated. So as I thought about her last blog, I looked at my own progress and whether I am seeing some of the benefits.

Benefits that we are all shooting for are pretty obvious, they include, to feel better, to look better, to get into smaller clothes, better health, and of course better sex. And then there are specific personal things that you want to achieve. Anyone who would like to add to the list please do. In reviewing our progress we tend to focus the short term, namely what that nasty scale says. It is good to look at these overall benefits also.

As I review these, I find some significant progress:

Do I feel better? Most definitely!
Do I look better? I think so, at least I feel like I don’t look quite as much like a whale.
Smaller Clothes? Pants size from a tight, barely get them button, ready to pop open 44 to a comfortable 42. Shirt size, wore the smaller Scoutmaster shirt last night and it didn’t feel like the buttons were going to pop off.
Better Health? Took my blood pressure this morning, and for the first time in months it was down to where it should be! 123/84 (I’ve had trouble getting the diastolic below 90, finally!)
Better Sex? Yup! More stamina and flexibility, and contrary to some comments on this blog, no shrinkage!!
Personal Goals: I have three big ones. First I have Sleep Apnea. I know if I loose weight I can get that under control and get off the CPAP pump. This is important because it makes camping with the Scouts and sleep on the boat much more enjoyable. Still have a way to go on this one but I’m encouraged with my sleep patterns lately, more restful. Second, to ride the Millennium Force rollercoaster at Cedar Point again. Last year in August I was at Cedar Point with the Scouts and I was too fat to fit in the coaster chair and get the seat buckled. It has one of the smallest seats in the park. I’ve road it before, and I will ride it again, cause it is a lot of fun!! I figure I’ll be close in about 15 lbs. less than now. Third, next year I have signed up to chaperone the Scouts to the BSA Seabase in the Bahamas Summer 2007. I need to take pretty strenuous physical before I go. So I need to be in great shape. I’m feel right now for the first time since I signed up that I am making good progress towards that long term goal.

That is where the Alpha Male is at. Let’s hear how the rest of you are doing?

Alpha Male Status Report

2006-04-10T22:36:00.000-04:00

After the 2 week jump start, my progress plateau'ed. I didn't go up but didn't go down. I maintained my exercise, both weight lifting and walking and thought I was eating right.

So I took about 4 days off. Not that I binged, but I drank more than I normally would and had a couple of diet no-no's. Like Pizza, all you can eat fish fry, bar food. Funny thing, is that I didn't feel like I was extremely hungry. I still did good most of the day each day, like Yogurt for breakfast, salad for lunch, etc. So no big weight gain during the days off. And I continued exercising during that time.

Back on the regime. Looking back, I suspect that part of the reason for the plateau was some afternoon snacking I had become fond of. Namely Beef Sticks and Smokehouse Almonds. No calories there, (and mostly fat and salt). Funny thing is that I think the urge to snack was really thirst. Trying to drink more water after my noon walks.

More later this week, including the Alpha Weight Lifting report, sure to just reek of testosterone.

How's everyone doing?

2006-04-09T11:44:00.000-04:00

OK, we are nine days into April and no one has posted any progess except 10-8, nor any set backs, except SS.
How is everyone doing?
Are you hanging in there?
Are you struggling?
Have you reached your goal and don't need to blog anymore?
Are you sick of blogging about weight?
Are you sick of exercise and dieting and sick of talking about it?

Something must be happening.....or not.

Life gets in the way (SS)

2006-04-08T08:50:00.000-04:00

My life has suddenly gotten in the way of diet and exercise. I can see where it all starts taking an out-of-control tumble back in to sedate living and bad food choices!
I'm back in management until sometime in May! This means back to work Monday-Friday from whatever time I go in to whatever time I leave. This has been going on for a week now.
This past week I have exercised ZERO times!
This past week I have had some form of chocolate for lunch!
This past week I had cold pizza for breakfast!
This past week I have drank beer-a lot. All in one night.

I left work yesterday (Friday) and drove straight to the Hardings liquer section.

I have a daughter getting mattied the end of May. She is calm. I have begun panicking.
We are on the phone re-arranging plans and making final ones.
I have a daughter needing help with a 20 page research paper. We have been doing a lot of it over the phone.
My husband has been working his full time job and then three nights a week he is bartending. I have been spending my evenings at home alone talking to the oldest daughter and helping do research with the youngest, but not eating dinner or just eating nuts or smoothies because I don't feel like cooking for one.

I know why I got fat in the first place. I didn't pay attention.
I haven't gained any weight...yet...but I feel unhealthy.

Got to figure out how to calm life and get back to my routine!

Hello Milk (Phase 2)

2006-04-02T13:46:00.000-04:00

Okay - today I am officially starting Phase 2 of South Beach. Phase 1 was pretty succesful -- 7 lbs. -- not a bad jump start. Now I move into phase 2 which means I can introduce some other foods that have been off limits for the past 2 weeks. Phase one went by pretty quickly - it really was not at all painful.

I am mostly excited to have MILK back in my life -- I didn't miss the alcohole all that much, but the milk was a killer! So aside from milk I can now add back in red wine (which I will do and I will also extend that to include dark beer - which I'm SURE is a no-no, but screw 'em -- I'm human) and high fiber carbs such as whole grain breads and whole grain pastas. But I have really not been missing the breads and pastas -- it's nice to know I can have them -- it makes eating out easier. The only things I think I will strongly go back to (keep in stock) is low-fat milk (1/2 %) and alcohol (limited quantities (hopefully).

I know that my weight loss will not continue at the same rate as I move into Phase 2, but I did some math on this -- If I loose just 1 lb a week, by the end of July, combined with my recent 7 lbs, I would be 25lbs thinner, which is my logn term goal. That's only 4 months! I can absolutely live with that! I've been pissied off at myself for 3 years about the extra weight I let creep up on me -- four months to get rid of it is nothing!

You gotta' look at the big picture -- which in this case is a smaller picture! :)

What do you do on the treadmill? (SS)

2006-04-01T13:21:00.000-05:00

10-8 asked me in a previous blog, what I do on the treadmill to tolerate 80 minutes. That is a good question and anyone who uses a piece of equipment like a stationary bike, mill, stairstepper, etc, I would like to know how you keep yourself there and for how long?

For me, it is all in the music. The Hubby has made me two cds to mill to and I am currently picking out music for a third and fourth. This way I can rotate and never get tried of hearing the same thing.
I pick music that I love and that will inspire me to keep going. I can't wait to hear the next song b/c I know its something I WANT to hear. I also walk/jog to the beat of the music.
Here is an example: I may have Macy Grey's, A Moment to myself...then Springsteen's Born in the USA...then Dwight's Little Sister...then ZZ Top's Tush...
as each one of these songs come on I either walk faster and change the incline...or I may slow down but increase the incline even more, or no incline and pace myself slower if I need some recovery time before I speed it up again. And of course, there are those songs that you have to dance to and the ones that I work w/ weights and do arm exercises to.
I really am never walking at the same pace. And I always stay in fat-burning mode the entire time!
Over all, the mill can be boring, so I liven it up as much as possible. How does every one else keep at it?

A new perspective (SS)

2006-03-30T11:28:00.000-05:00

For years I have been cursing my body for being fat, being tired, not working the way it use to; but, after watching a video that my mother had made us of collected home videos, I decided to look at this issue of me VS my body differently.
In this video, I watched myself grow from a crying (actually screaming) infant in a crib, to a very pretty young woman of 17 in cut-offs up my ass and halter top. My hair covered both my back and my ass. Actually, if you really want to know, I was quite the looker. I had a great body!
This sent me looking into a box of photos for pictures of myself. I wanted to see where I changed, where things went fat.
When I dated my daughters' father, I was still hot. Still wore cut-offs up my ass and tube tops (remember those?). OK, I got married and pregnant. I looked good pregnant. In fact, unless you saw me from the side, you would never know I had a baby in my belly. In between babies, I was again hot...my hair was short and I look skinnier than before I had baby #1.
Baby #2 comes along. I was a fat pregnant woman and it shows (I believe I gained 45lbs w/ her). Hummm.....
Nothing changed from that pregnancy much, except I kept getting fatter. I can prove it in the pictures. My kids grew up and I grew out.
So where do I place the blame? Kids? husbands? Genes?

How about me?
I take the blame.
Nobody has a relationship with my body like I do. It is mine. It is the place I carry my brain and my heart. It is my soul's home. It is my temple, if you think biblically.
My body hasn't done anything to me, I have done my body wrong. There is nothing wrong with my body except what I have done to it. I'm sorry for this. I wrote my body a letter to apologize and I would like to share it with you. You might want to try writing your own letter (to your body, not mine).

Dear body,
We have been together for almost 49 years now and I have spent a considerable amount of that time neglecting you. For this, I am truly sorry. You have always been there for me. You were my constant companion on all those long runs we took; all those 880 yard races we won; you carried my most precious cargo for me--my daughters; in our youth, you helped me taunt those boys in that yellow bikini and those cut off shorts; together we baled hay, rode horses, swam lakes; you helped me be the boy my father never had, learning to hammer, use power tools, canoe and fish; and all the men in my life have held you and loved you, so that they could love me.
I am sorry for mistreating you. I am sorry for not taking better care of you, my body. Hopefully we have another 49 years together, but if we don't, what ever time we do have, I am forever from this day, your keeper.
From this day forward, I will treat you with the utmost respect. I will nourish you with healthy food; I will give you plenty of exercise; I will rest you when you are tired. Hopefully I can undo the wrong I have done to you.
SS

MIA no more

2006-03-29T15:19:00.000-05:00

Has it really been two weeks? Time is just flying by. Sorry I have been neglecting my duties as your Alpha female, but life has seemed to get in the way!! Here are my excuses:
1. I'm planning a wedding (over the phone!) So...
2. I have been working a lot! (to pay for the wedding)
3. Hubby and I have been working on the bedroom re-do project
4. Hubby and I have been planning parties (it was fun, thanks for coming!)
5. Hubby and I have been spending an extra-ordinary amount of time together in the spine position (and I ain't talking sleep)
6. I have been suffering from some siatic nerve pain (either from exercising or #5)

I am happy to report that I have maintained a 16 lb weight loss and dropped a dress size. But I haven't lost any more weight.

Today I walked 80 minutes and kept my level at fat-burning the whole time! I have decided to do a calorie count for a few weeks and see how that goes. I decided this because I always keep track of how many calories I burn on the treadmill and then it amazes me when I put those calories back in my mouth--its why I don't really get any where with this weight loss. And it is SHOCKING to see how many calories I can consume in a day without even realizing it.
Supposedly it takes 3500 calories to gain a pound. If you consider that I burn only about 500+ calories in 80 minutes on the mill, I would have to be on it every single day of the week and NOT EAT ANYTHING to lose ONE pound. Of course this doesn't take into account the other normal movements that burn calories, but still... the math boggles my mind!!!

Well, that is the excitement in my life. Keep up the good work and drink lots of water.

Question for the day...How many calories do you think an OLD HAT Stout has?

MIA

2006-03-29T10:00:00.001-05:00

ShortStory is missing in action. It has now been 2 weeks since she posted or commented on this site. Pretty poor if you ask me, since she created this monster... Anyone have any theories?

Alpha Groovin'

2006-03-27T11:25:00.000-05:00

I think I’m hitting my groove. During dinner last night I noticed myself getting full a lot quicker than usual. Not as hungry all the time.

Exercise report – last week I worked out in the gym 4 times and walked at lunch 4 times.

And then I took Friday off and setup for a Boy Scout Orienteering competition, which required me to hike about 4 miles in the woods, up and down hills, off trails, etc. Saturday I essentially repeated Friday’s exercise. I did go to the Here Comes the Sun party Sat. night, but I kept the drinking and eating to a minimum. Back to Scout camp Sunday morning. By the time I got home Sunday afternoon I was dead tired. But I think my plan of kicking the diet in the pants by cutting out beer and increasing exercise is working. I dropped about 5 pounds last week and was down this morning, (instead of losing ground over the weekend because of too much partying).

Looking forward to a good week this week. Weather is shaping up! Getting outside more. Feeling good about the diet…. I’m Alpha Groovin’.

1 week , 2 weeks, 5 lbs and counting!

2006-03-27T11:13:00.000-05:00

Well I'm one week into Phase 1 of South Beach; 2 weeks into my gym routine and I've lost 5 lbs. I don't realy see it or feel it yet, but it's enough to keep me motivated -- and that's what counts at this point!

I'm not suffering and in fact, finding some really good stuff to eat that I enjoy. Luckily I picked a very popular diet that's been "out" for quite a while -- you can Google: South Beach recipies and find all sort of good stuff. The lack of alcohol has not been a problem for me, but I haven't put it to the social-test yet (Wednesday I'm Hatting, so that will feel odd -- who orders Ice Tea in a micro brewerey?!) I'm still craving milk, but not at EVERY meal. Sunday I get to move into Phase 2 where I can add some stuff into my diet -- like l-f milk and alcohol -- so yes! I will be having a tall cold glass of milk with breakfast and I will be catching the Blues Jam at the Hat!

I'm settling into my gym routine - it's no longer complete torture to get out of bed at 6:15 to head to the gym. And as my sister would say, "then I get to like myselft for the rest of the day!" I really do feel really good about myself that I have exercised and also just that I already have it behind me for the day!

5 lbs is an tiny little start - but it's forward momentum - this is good! :)

Nuts about Cats & Rabbits

2006-03-23T12:55:00.000-05:00

Thank god I love salads because it's the only form of the "vegtable group" I embrace. But I really DO love salads and I'm having an especially good one today.

Nuts about Cats & Rabbits
(I made up the name! Infact, I made up the salad!)

fill a plate with chopped Romain hearts
sprinkle sparingly with finely shredded FRESH Parmasian
sprinkle generously with chopped Walnuts
crumble Salmon over top (the stuff from a pouch works well)
Salt & Peper to taste
drizzle reduced-fat Ceaser dressing
Toss and eat!

YUM!

The Hobbit Diet

2006-03-23T10:01:00.000-05:00

I was thinking about this whole eating every three hours thing when I remembered part of the "Lord of the Rings" movie... the hobbits have just started travelling with Strider and begin unpacking their cooking equipment. When Strider says that they've already had breakfast, they say, "No, this is second breakfast."

Discussion ensues: "He doesn't know about second breakfast? How can he not know about second breakfast?", "Does he know about elevensies?", "I don't think so.", "Does he know about onesies?"

My inner Strider really doesn't care for stopping what I'm doing for breakfast, second breakfast, elevensies, lunch, onesies, or any of the others...but I'm on the Hobbit Diet, so I'll keep on downing yogurt, roughage, and the occasional high calorie, but oh so good, beer.

Alpha Particles (are really really small)

2006-03-22T19:17:00.000-05:00

Been a week since I blogged. Since last Tuesday, I have worked out at the gym four times and walked for an hour at lunch four times. Trying to keep up the pace. Diet has been good, though Friday and Saturday were killers, lots of beer! This week I have been doing very well. Going to fore-go the beer for awhile. Should be easier with a Boy Scout weekend coming up to keep me occupied.

Gym notes: I have been making significant strides in the strength area. Personal 2 personal bests to note. Incline Bench press of 205 lbs. This is significant because I never got over 200 on this exercise before shoulder surgery. The other was last night. I did a rack pull of 500 lbs (like a dead lift but the weight is suspended just below your knees). I thought I might get 400 lbs but I kept going. Finally hit the 1/4 ton mark on something.

Diet is starting to hit a groove. Yogurt and maybe oatmeal for breakfast. Spinach/Tuna salad for lunch. Dinner I don't worry too much about, just watch portions. Protein shake in the afternoon or at night if I'm hungry.

Now a little more encouragement from that scale would be nice.

A Day at the Beach

2006-03-21T11:48:00.000-05:00

. . . or in this case, a day ON the Beach -- South Beach to be specific. I started So Bch on Sunday - so this is day 3 - and so far so good, sorta. Phase 1 of So Bch is tough, especially for me - for the first 2 wks you are really limited in what you can eat -- lean proteins and only the strictest carbs (veggies). Chicken and Fish are good with me, so that works, and I love salads, and I can do REAL eggs, so that is pretty much my diet for the next 11 days (and the past 3). I'm just not much of a veggy eater (outside of salads). And although having no alcohol for 2 weeks will be a bit of a bummer (and probably good for me for a lot of reasons!) the ABSOLUTE hardest thing -- the thing I am already nearly willing to kill for is MILK! I love milk! Everytime I eat anything from noon to bed time I ache for a tall cold glass of milk. I think it's in my genes (my father was a dairy farmer!).

But I am willing to stick with this - I am "gaurateed" to lose 8 to 12 lbs in the first two weeks and then when I move on to Phase 2 I can reintroduce fruits, whole grain carbs and DAIRY! So, no matter what else I do on Sunday 4/2, I am going to dive into the biggest, coldest glass of low-fat milk I can find!

I am determined -- between the gym and hopefuly finding an eating regiment that suits me, I am going to DO IT!

The Scales of Inequity...(Ginger)

2006-03-17T17:27:00.000-05:00

Weighed in this morning and my weight isn't moving...but at least my body fat percentage is. I'm down 4 points since I started the walking thing - woo hoo, I am now LESS than half fat!!

I know that my clothes are starting to fit differently - I got dressed up for an interview today and I had to pin the waistband on my skirt and my pantyhose were too big (dont you hate that!!!). I feel better, and even though I want to start the St. Patty's day celebration right now, I'm still going to go out and walk first. Still, it would have been nice if my weight had gone down even a little... I've been pretty much sticking to the diet (still having problems eating every three hours). Hopefully next week the scale will move downward, in the meantime I'm just going to work on wearing out my walking shoes.

2006-03-16T13:44:00.000-05:00

Today I just had my health & fitness check with a sports/dietitian at WMU. They have a new program they are piloting that I have signed up for where they have hired a consulting health firm Holtyn & Associates. My Cholesterol is not too bad now that I am on medication it appears that this is helping. My Glucose was on the high side (for me) but I knew that because I had checked it this morning however I had birthday cake and a beer yesterday.

I am trying to go to the gym 3 times per week and the consultant thought that this was probably helping quite a lot. She suggested that I do strength training 2 times per week and then aerobic 3 times per week – 30 minutes at least.

The weight is still staying the same and I am still struggling with the food changes. I am trying to take small steps and that is what the consultant suggested for example one beer instead of 3 when we go out. I know my results may be slower but my goal is for long term.

Sweet Pea

Alpha Bet Soup

2006-03-16T12:55:00.000-05:00

Went walking today at lunch again. Got out before the snow started. That's 3 times this week. During my walk I stopped in and checked out Boardwalk Spa and fitness, on Monroe in the old Waterworks Building. It was bought out by Strength Beyond a couple of months ago. Pretty preppie. Lots of ellipticals, treadmills, bikes, awork class going on, lots of pretty machines. The free weight room is small and doesn't have enough Squat Equipment for me, but it was empty while every where else was crowded. I can use my membership there and might want to work in some noon workouts especially during boat season.

Speaking of Squats, I had a new personal best Tuesday night doing Good Mornings, 290#, 3 reps. Good mornings are a type of squat to strengthen your Gluts and lower back. http://www.exrx.net/WeightExercises/GluteusMaximus/BBBentKneeGoodMorning.html.
Felt good. Back to the gym tonight!

microe!

Fitness professionals' top-12 list (short story)

2006-03-15T08:04:00.000-05:00

I ran across this list and wanted to share it with you.
The American Council on Exercise asked 36,000 fitness professionals what they considered to be the most important exercise items.

Their top-12 exercise essentials were:
1. Good shoes
2. Fun or appropriate music
3. Free weights
4. A positive attitude
5. Comfortable clothing
6. Lots of water
**(Microe, skip to #8)**
7. A supportive sports bra
8. Safe, well made equipment such as cardio machines
9. Weight training gloves
10. Enough time
11. A workout partner
12. Fresh, clean air and sunshine

Source: American Council on Exercise 2003

Adding Alpha Cardio

2006-03-13T22:02:00.000-05:00

Well I finally got off my but today and added some cardio exercise. I went walking at lunch, clocked about 2.5 miles around downtown GR, which I'll work into 3.5 miles soon as long as the weather cooperates with no heavy snowfalls. My walking partner of for the last couple of years went with me. We got out before the front came through and the weather was gorgeous. My walking friend is a petite woman in her early 40's who is trying to loose weight, but really isn't fat at all. I've almost always had women as walking partners, guys are just too lazy I guess.

Anyway, I decided that my walking shoes were shot and if I didn't want ankle problems or plantar fasciitis, that nasty pain in your heel, it was time for a change. So I stopped into DSW on West Main and got some new Reeboks.

I also was back at the gym tonight. Upper body work out, arms, shoulders and biceps. Good work out. I'll sleep well tonight. Ate well today also. Still need to work in some better snacks but things are coming along. l8r.

Walking into a Headwind (Ginger)

2006-03-13T17:59:00.000-05:00

Whew - just got back from my afternoon walk and I think maybe I was a wee bit ambitious...I looped over to 2nd St then up to the high school and found myself walking back against one heck of a headwind. My hair now looks like I paid a professional to tease it for hours, or like I was just electrocuted...

Got a little off track last week...missed a day of exercise and cut a couple others short, ate like crap, you know the general "oh woe is me, so I'll make myself feel worse" drill...so I only lost .8 of a lb (but I'm still taking all the points I can get!!!). I love this kind of pre-storm weather though, so when I got back from errands I was really looking forward to going for a walk...and I enjoyed it, but dang I wonder how much added resistance that wind kicked in, I think I may be feeling it tomorrow!!

Monday, Monday...(shortstory)

2006-03-13T10:01:00.000-05:00

Well, it is Monday morning...again. I always have a hard time getting started on Mondays b/c I have been taking the weekends off. I did drink one too many beers on Friday night and one too many White Russians on Saturday night (along w/ the good snacks) but my mental health is better for it and I am looking forward to this week of exercise. My body was dragging yesterday and is dragging a little today so I decided to skip the treadmill and head outside for my daily walk for a change of scene and because it is so beautiful out there.
According to my pedometer, I covered a little over three miles. I did take my walkman and my favorite exercise cd, and I did find myself walking to the beat of the music and not really caring who saw me. There may be rumors!
I am always of two minds when walking outside. I walk with the same purpose as I do on the treadmill and listen to my music to keep me motivated; but, I really enjoy listening to the sounds of town, the birds and squirrels, even the barking dogs. I like to look around me and see what I can discover in the places that are familiar, yet never really looked at. Then I catch myself. I am strolling and sight-seeing rather than exercising. Nothing wrong with that, except it defeats the goal I started out with.
A couple things did catch my eye today. They made me feel renewed, the way Spring makes us all feel.
I was delighted to spot three deer playing on the edge of the vineyard on 72nd St. and Nursery. Some brilliant yellow crocus have forced their heads through the cold ground near a fence on Union St.
Enjoy your life today. Eat good food, do some exercise. Love yourself. Do something kind for someone else. Think Spring.

End-of-week check in (shortstory)

2006-03-10T16:33:00.000-05:00

How is everyone doing out there? I have made it thru another busy week. I worked all week and kept to the exercise routine except for yesterday b/c I went looking for a couch for the Elvis room--which I found, and bought, and brought home and didn't have time to exercise cuz we were hungry and needed to eat.
I had the day off today and have been cleaning, cleaning, cleaning. I even cleaned my coffee grinder?! I have so much energy lately. It is a good thing. But I forget to blog. Sorry. Which is why I am checking in today to make sure you are all on track.
Keep up the good work.

Still walkin'...(Ginger)

2006-03-08T19:15:00.000-05:00

I'm coming to enjoy these afternoon walks...it'll suck when I actually have a job and can't take them anymore!! I've found that between 4pm and 5pm is kind of my productive "dead zone", so that's when I'll go out.

Its nice to get out of the house(sometimes I spend so much time inside that I feel like an agoraphobic), smell that little bit of spring in the air, and literally clear my head. Aside from my musings on nifty houses I couldn't tell you what I'm thinking about as I meander along - and that's just the way I like it.

The downside is that sometimes that clear head alows a sneaky coherent thought through. I was thinking about my new scale, and how I programmed it; I always thought I was 5'8" until I stood next to Comrade, who also claims to be 5'8" - either she's taller or I'm shorter, so I told my scale I was 5'7.5". Anyway, as I approached my front door I realized that I'd also told my scale that I was 34. I did the math and realized I was 35 (yes, I know I'm the puppy of this group...stop laughing!) - holy crap, I'm on that downhill slide to 40!! There are times that I'm just amazed by how quickly time passes - maybe if I'm thinner I can at least keep up with it.

Update from the Alpha Male

2006-03-08T13:37:00.000-05:00

Semantics – 10-8-ious commented that, “Look, big boy, don't assume just because you are the only male on the site that you are Alpha”. Well I can assume that, technically, being the only Male to be blogging on this site I am the “Alpha Male”, the “Beta Male” and even that dirty old bastard. I didn’t say I was the only Alpha just the male. The only thing I don’t claim to be is “The Alpha and The Omega”, and to that I don’t even measure up.

Motivation – I am motivated mainly from a health standpoint. I could care less what size clothes I wear as long as I can find a selection in the store. I have no desire to look like any run-way model, be it the anorexic or the big beautiful type. It is my health that has me worried. I want to feel better over all, live longer and get back into the kind of health that allows me to do some of things I like to do without pain or complications. I know if I lose a substantial amount of weight and get back into a regular exercise routine, that 1) my sleep apnea will get back under control and I can put the CPAP back in the closet, 2) my high blood pressure will go down, which keeps me from having nasty things like a heart attack or stroke, 3) I’ll have more energy and in general feel better, which is a big thing with my hectic life style, and 4) sex and sexual performance is always better when you are in good shape! Funny, I never used to think about the health issue, but my lack of attention has contributed to a lot of my health problems along with getting older. I can’t reverse the clock, so…. I am truly motivated to get in better health and that means losing weight and exercising regularly.

Diet – After falling off the wagon this past weekend, (kind of on purpose) I have gotten back into the swing quickly this week. Breakfast and lunch are back under control as is late night snacking. I have started interjecting healthy snacks at more frequent intervals, which seem to be keeping the cravings wolf away from the door better. These snacks include fresh fruit, nuts, Balance Bars and “Shit Shacks”. SS’s are the protein powder and milk or Zone Shacks. Seems to help.

Exercise – Back at the gym Monday and Tuesday. Felt really good. I have been maintaining 4 times a week for a couple of weeks, showing really good progress in all areas. I hit a personal all time high last night with Squats, Box Squatting 300 lbs (previous was 280 lbs from 2 years ago).

Challenges - Wednesday, I like to have a “hump day” beer. Also need to get back to walking regularly for cardio workouts.

α Male

Motivation (shortstory)

2006-03-07T08:06:00.000-05:00

Kerri and I took a weight loss quiz in Prevention Magazine. One of the questions asked, "What is your motive for loosing weight?" There weren't any right or wrong answers, but it essentially said you must be motivated for yourself, not anybody or anything else (like a wedding).
Over the past month, I have spoken to a lot of people about their motivation to exercise or diet and everyone has something that motivates them. Mine is my daughter's wedding and this is my sister's also. Some women just say, "my butt" or "my gut" or "I have never been this fat in my life."
Rarely do I hear anyone mention the motivation is health. Rarely does anyone approach weight loss and exercise as a life changing decision. I know I am guilty of this. Some of you may be guilty of this. I think we all have a tendency to look at this type of change as a short-term goal that once achieved we don't have to think about it again. I believe this because a lot of people have been on diet and exercise plans before and are still on them or starting again. I believe this when I hear how many people use to have gym memberships (like me) and never used them or are "going to start a program, any program...again!"
I give us all credit because we keep trying, but I think if we changed the motivation, and changed our skills at being motivated, we might see this as a long term health issue that becomes part of a lifestyle rather than a must-do every Spring! Isn't it funny how thoughts of Spring can be a motivator?
The Mayo Clinic Plan gives some tips on staying motivated and I will list some of them here for you:
1. Start slowly. It reads that one of the common mistakes that people make is starting at too high an intensity and progressing too quickly for your body (which has been doing nothing up until you threw it on the treadmill at 4 MPH). This can lead to injury, soreness and stiffness which may lead to abandoning your program. So start slowly and progress slowly. If this is a committment for life, you have the rest of your life to get your body to walk 4 MPH.
2. Make a commitment. It takes three months to develop a healthy habit. If you can stick with your program for three months you are more likely to stay with it long term.
3. Choose activities you enjoy. Boredom is the major reason people stop exercising.
4. Broaden your definition of physical activity. Everyday activity such as walking the dog, taking the stairs, riding your bike to the store all promote health. Doing something everday is what counts.
5.Choose activities that fit your lifestyle. Do you like to exercise alone or with a group?
6. Learn discipline. To make a permanent change, you have to be disciplined. If you tell yourself you are going to take the stairs instead of the elevator--then do it, even if you decide when you get to them you don't want to.
7. Plan for exercise. Reserve a time slot each day for physical activity. If you wait to find time, you won't. Schedule exercise like an appointment.
8. Avoid all-or-nothing thinking. On days when time is tight, do less, but do something.
9. Support your plan with other healthy behaviors. Get enough sleep. Drink plenty of water. Eat healthy food. Reduce stress. Stop smoking.

I think there are a lot of good tips here for long term changes. Good luck to everyone this week. Let us hear how you are doing or let us know if you need encouragement.

Timing is Everything! (10-8-ious)

2006-03-06T09:50:00.000-05:00

I wasn’t exactly ready to start this new group plan on 3/1. I didn’t have my mind in the right place and I hadn’t quite figured out the exercise thing, but I was getting close to getting serious. I went to town on Saturday to purchase a new and good scale (who knew they were so expensive?!) and I had to have a new pair of jeans as mine are all worn out (the ones that fit anyway). I won’t go into the ugly details of trying on jeans, suficive to say, I did not buy any. I returned home to find one message on the answering machine. It was from the local gym in town (that I used to belong to years ago) they are offering a special to former members - $20/month! SOLD! (how did they know I was out shopping for jeans?!) I spend $40 a month on my damn fingernails – I think melting my butt off is worth at least $20! So I called them back, made an appointment, went in today, signed the paperwork and I am a member!

So here is my plan: Every weekday that I am not headed out to a meeting in the morning I will be headed to the gym for a full cardio and weight workout and likely once or twice over the weekend (this will give me 4 to 5 workouts/wk). And I am going to eat sensibly withOUT counting every carb, calorie and fat gram I consume (I am SO sick of obsessing over what I eat!)

Long Term Goal – maintain a size 10
Short Term Goal – 15 lbs by July

Here I am (shortstory)

2006-03-05T09:17:00.000-05:00

I was having some technical difficulties with the computer...don't know what, but its working again. So here I am and very happy to see all the team bloggers. Welcome everyone. A couple others have asked to join so I will be inviting them too.
I have been doing a lot of research and reading on subjects such as motivation, methods to change behavior, etc. so I will be blogging on those this week.
I have managed to stick with my exercise routine everyday so far. I am not seeing it on the scales, but I am feeling it already in my clothes, and all of a sudden I am very aware of how my body feels when I move it (yes, some things are sore).
Yesterday I took the day off and ate chicken wings and drank beer. That was good. Today I will be going on my longer walk and then back to the hour on the treadmill Monday.
Lets make sure we are in touch all week and keep each other motivated.
I promise to post everyday, Microe!

At Last, Some Progress (Ginger)

2006-03-03T14:23:00.000-05:00

Well, after the new scale shocker last week, when my new high-tech scale arrived and told me that I weighed 12 pounds more than the old one said I did, today I found I've lost 3.2 lbs (I'll take all the points I can get!!!).

Unfortunately the day has gone downhill from there - I've spent most of the day looking for/applying for jobs online, and I've now hit the point where I'm screaming at the computer...one of my job search engines pulled up some really juicy-looking jobs, but one was in L.A. (as in California), and the other was in Memphis (as in Tennessee)- and yes, Michigan was in my search parameters...

Time to vent some frustration by taking a walk (healthy, healthy!), but I do reserve the right to end that walk at the Old Hat...or absolutely anyplace that serves alcohol.

1 hour later: Whew, that gentle slope on Orchard going up to Nursery kinda sneaks up on you...definitely feeling better (and sorer) than I was an hour ago.

SS What Gives?

2006-03-03T12:02:00.000-05:00

Ok, so we sign up and start participating and Shortstory disappears into the abyss of the bit bucket. No posts lately! No reports? What gives? Don't expect us to carry you along here, you started this goat rodeo!

Speaking of mutten, it is lunch time. I'm having Salmon/Spinach Salad. (I know that has little to do with goats, but the are both eatible.) The spinach salad last night tasted really good for some reason so I decided to repeat at lunch. Bon-Appetite

Back to the gym.

2006-03-02T21:21:00.000-05:00

Back is feeling better. I went to the gym tonight as planned. Worked my Upper Body so no strain on the back, we will try that tomorrow.

Got back on the daily eating plan. Light Breakfast, light lunch, Balance Bar late afternoon. Big spinach salad and salmon patties smothered in Sisterworks Tomato/Horseradish Sauce for dinner. Good stuff. l8r, microe

What is My Scale Trying to Tell Me?

2006-03-02T17:28:00.000-05:00

Okay so we started this yesterday -- 3/1, right?! My meetings got cancelled, so I was working from home all day. I thought, "great! I can start the exercise thing today!" NOT --the day got away from me. I looked at my ski machine and I looked at my sneakers several times during the day and said to myself "you need to exercise - you have no excuse not too." Well apparently I don't need an excuse, I just didn't! UGH What I need is some dicipline! But here is the weird thing -- after a week or so of being just sort of so/so about the whole diet thing (because I knew I would get serious on 3/1) I got on the scale yesterday and I had lost 3 and 1/2 lbs -- without really trying! Wow! That's like winning the lottory without buying a ticket (and they said you had to play to win - HAH!)

So this morning I get on the scale and it is speaking arabic -- the first two characters looked sort of like "ba" and then the next two characters looked sort of like upside-down Fs. Hmm -- I haven't seen this one before. (And then it alarmed me that my scale had room for 4 characters! YOWSA!) So now I am hoping that my 3 and 1/2 lbs was not a battery malfunction -- I was feeling so good about it!

Okay - I am out of town tonight. I should be home by mid afternoon tomorrow -- I AM GOING FOR A WALK (I'm pretty sure of it!)

Diet Quirk

2006-03-02T00:22:00.000-05:00

Here is something from an eating perspective. All the dieting I've done over my life, and I think I just figured out something. In diet mode I like a light balanced breakfast. 2/3 Cup of Oatmeal and a Cup of Cottage Cheese or a Yogurt. That has been working fine.

Lunch I go for another light balanced meal about 400-600 calories. Tuna or Salmon or Chicken with fruit, like pears or peaches or pineapple.

Snack on the home commute, like a Balance Bar.

When dinner hits I am pretty in control, no big cravings, can proportion well, etc.

Here is the quirk. If I eat too much at lunch, say add some chips, maybe a full size turkey sandwich, a single cookie, I'm in trouble! The rest of the day goes to hell! I start getting hungry in the afternoon, the candy jars on peoples dess start calling me, I feel like stopping on the way home for beef jerky or something and dinner I scarf everything in sight!!!!

Lunch really sets my tone for the rest of the day. Anyone else seeing this?

Exercising with the Alpha Male..

2006-03-01T23:00:00.000-05:00

Ok, so guys do things differently. Yup, we are motivated by different things, but actually if you think about it, alot of it has to do with personalities and not just gender. So here our some incites into my preferred exercise routine.

First, I love walking or cycling.......with one caveat, I like my walking and cycling outdoors. It has to move. I get bored after 10 minutes on the treadmill, 20 minutes and I bolt for the door. I need that change of scenery. So to get to 20 minutes of treadmill time I get out the iPod and crank up some really robust George Thorogood or Stray Cats or Stone Temple Pilots, etc., close my eyes and really rock.

I am hoping for a little bit more temperate weather because my favorite walking places outdoors are at lunch in downtown Grand Rapids or after dark in Paw Paw. I like to put in 45 minutes to an hour on either route which gets me at least 3 miles. GR affords more hills and challenges, but the Paw Paw walks are plenty aerobic, but relaxing.

Stationary Bikes, don’t cut it either, they don’t feel natural. I mean if you are doing serious cardio on a bike and you’re a guy, you should need a good nut massage afterwards! Sitting back, reading a magazine in a chair with pedals isn’t really biking! Besides those stationary bike seats at the gym are slippery and I keep sliding out of the seat with my slick nylon-blend shorts. So if I’m pedaling, it is hunched over, on a ball crushing seat, looking down at asphalt and road kill.

I mentioned gym, yes we belong to Strength Beyond. We, as in Sweetpea, Thomas and myself. We don’t have a treadmill or stationary bike at home, so that is where we go if we are going to use one. As I said though, I prefer my aerobic work au-natural. The main purpose of the gym for me is strength training. I find strength training helps me get through diet plateaus. Also exchanging fat for muscle mass is a good thing.

I try and strength train four times a week. Two days on upper body/chest and two days on legs/back. I use a fairly advanced routine for each that alternates speed/explosive workouts with maximum weight workouts. Aaron DePalma owner of Strength Beyond got me going on this a couple of years ago and it really works. The workout is almost exclusively using free weights and old style rigs, instead of the fancy machines, and is performed in the basement of the gym where the hard rock and heavy metal are playing as opposed to the Oprah and Game shows on the TV upstairs. I stopped however about a 18 months ago because of broken clavical. Yes the shoulder that I had arthroscopic surgery on last October. I am happy to say that the surgery was a resounding success and I am back to over 80% of what I was lifting when I stopped, with no pain or problems that caused me to quit.

I usually perform these workouts alone as finding someone interested in this kind of work out and has the flexibility to hook up with my busy schedule is tough. With some of the business commitments I have had lately I’ve had to adjust my work out schedule quite often. Strength Beyond helps out in the repect as it is open 24 hours Monday – Friday, and shorter hours Sat and Sun.

I worked out Monday night (upper body speed workout) and last night, Maximum effort Back and Legs. And I over did it a little.... See I normally don’t work out on Tuesday, I have Boy Scouts on Tuesday and well I didn’t get home till 9 pm. But I had missed my Sunday workout, so I felt I needed to get in another work out. As Liz was coming in the door from SiS, I was headed for the gym, about 9:30. I intended to work heavy box squats, lots of weight on a bar across your shoulders, sit down on a box and then stand back up. But even though only Aaron the owner and I were the only ones in the free weight area, he was using the squat rack. So I went to plan “B”, Maximum Effort Dead Lifts.

Now this kind of fired me up for two reasons (this is where the guy thing really comes out). First, when I was lifting a couple of years ago this was one of my better exercises. I had worked up to lifting 365 lbs off the floor without a belt. Respectable enough to get me on the “progress board”. The mark is still there. Not great but respectable, (you try lifting 365 lbs).

Second Aaron, who is ripped and big as an ox, was doing some advanced dead lift work on the squat rack and was putting some big iron on. So me being the typical Alpha Male wanted to prove I was no slouch.

So I started at 135 lbs and quick lifted 10 reps. Aaron in the mean time was somewhere around 350 lbs and headed up. I Jumped to 185lbs and 5 reps. Feeling good. Aaron was at 450. Me, 225 two reps. Aaron hits 500. 275lbs two reps, Aaron yanks 550. I’m feeling good though. I Jump to 315 lbs, one rep. A struggle but not bad, no doubt it was ever going up. I stop and watch Aaron pull 600.....

Ok, so let me put this in perspective for you. I’m standing on a 2 inch platform. The weight is resting on the floor. I don’t have a belt on, cause I’m exercising, not competing. The belt will help you lift more, but usually doesn’t protect you from injury. Anyway, I pick up 315lbs…. I don’t care who you are, when you put over 300 lbs back on the mat it crashes down and all the people upstairs can hear it.

Aaron, who is working on a rack, top half of the dead lift only, picks up 600 lbs and when he drops that puppy you swear the rack is coming apart! Then we chat a little. We talk about this odd phenom, where you go up in weight and the heavier weight goes up easier than the lighter one. It is weird, your muscles seem to get warmed up just right or something. He hits the 600 lbs again for one rep. CRASH! I’m inspired.

I haven’t been Dead lifting a lot since I got back into lifting two months ago, mostly squats, which works legs. Dead Lifts work more back. But I just pulled 315 and I feel good, inspired at the big guys 600. Yeah I can get 335 I’m thinking. I throw a couple of dime plates on the bar and un-rackit. I step up on the platform and start to psychic myself. You’ve lifted 30 pounds more than this! Bend over and grab the bar, left hand out, right hand in. Get your butt down, drive with your legs and stomach till you get it going then stand up. Concentrate………..Pull!

It starts up slowly but it is moving, never had one moving that I couldn’t finish. Pull…..it’s coming. But there is a slight problem. I didn’t get the butt down, in fact my ass stuck up like Howard Stern blowing a big fart! The weight is moving but I’m not quite in the position I want to be and about ¾ up I feel the twinge. I pull it the full way. I standing straight now holding 335. Shit. I’m gonna be stiff in the morning. CRASH I put it down. Dumb ass. You knew better than to go 100% without more work on form! But I smile anyway and think, screw it, I got 335.

In the mean time Aaron gets his 4 sets in at 600 and tells me how good he feels. Funny I forget to mention that I’m sore. But I do complete the rest of my work out. It’s not serious, just a slight strain and the rest of the exercises keep it moving. Besides I need the leg and glut work.

Oh yeah, It is stiff today. But I think my diagnosis is correct, it is not a serious, more of a warning than an injury. Today is an off day from workouts, back on Maximum Upper Body tomorrow, probably Floor Presse. No getting careless there, not going to re-injure the shoulder. Legs/Back on Friday. I’ll be back in the saddle by then. Wiser, the stiff back reminding me what can happen if I don’t keep the Alpha Male in the cage.

Off to the Hot Tub. Try and give an update tomorrow……. Microe

Up and Moving

2006-03-01T16:25:00.000-05:00

Well, today was Day One of "Create an Exercise Plan and Actually DO IT", it was also my "day off" (off of remodeling work, that is). I slept until about 9, at which point the cat literally got in my face and tickled me awake...brewed a big pot of coffee and got the computer up and running. I've had a painting brewing in my head for a while, and today is my day to get going on it. Since no one can take a picture of the inside of my head (THANK GOD!!), I've started using Photoshop to develop the images and then I print them so I have a point of reference when I start painting.

Originally I was going to walk at noon, but I was on a roll, so I decided to wait until 2, at 2 I was still humming along, so I decided to wait until 3...at about 3:10 my Photoshop suddenly shut down for no apparent reason; maybe it was a glitch, and maybe it was the exercise gods telling me to get off my butt.

I went out and walked a big loop from Kids Dream, the snowmobile trail north to Walker St (appropriate, don't ya think?), Walker Street to the railroad tracks, did a mini-loop-de-loop around the old Eaton (?) building (I love old factories and warehouses, don't ask me why), then back to my house. I have absolutely no idea how far I walked, but I was gone 50 minutes, and would have been "glowing" if it wasn't so cold out. My thigh muscles are comfortably warm, it was nice to get outside, and I got to snoop a little around an old building, which is one of my favorite things to do. I can do this...although it does still feel strange to be walking without a dog, I don't think the cat would go for it.

My plan is to alternate days of walking & riding my exercise bike. I'm just going to judge by time rather than distance for now (1/2 an hour at least), I'll do it 6 days a week with Sundays off and we'll see how things go. I'll integrate weights in next month - "The Biggest Loser" site has a good plan that includes lunges, crunches and all those other painful exercises that are really good for you ;-)

I'm also filling up a 2 liter bottle with water every morning and making sure that I've drank the whole thing by the end of the day to flush out my system.

Well, back to photoshop...glad you got up and walking too SS!!

I'm still walkin' and talkin'

2006-03-01T14:40:00.000-05:00

It took me a morning of contemplation, an hour of Dr Phil, two pots of coffee, three hours of ebay, two trips to the front door to talk with the Fed Ex and then UPS man before I finally put on my exercise clothes and headed upstairs to the treadmill.
It is very cold upstairs because we have no heat up there so I bundled up in a hoody with the hood up and my mittens on, hauled up my exercise journal, both cds, my list of exercises that Kerri wrote out for me and my "before pictures."
Sure, I'm ready for this.
I started the cd and then the treadmill. I started walking. Slowly. The music, which I had picked out with a purpose, began picking up tempo so I began picking up speed. Sure, I can do this.
The songs I chose for my exercise background noise were songs that made me feel good at sometime in my life. I started out with some slow tunes such as Gillian Welch's "Miss Ohio" and Otis Redding's "I've got Dreams" sung by Oh Suzanna and then before I knew it I was walking 3 miles an hour to Bruce Springsten's "Born in the USA," Henley's "Boys of Summer" and Cheryl Crow's "Soak up the Sun." I put some Tone Chaperones on the cd because I love "Hug, Hold, Squeeze You" and it makes me think of my hubby. The cd starts slowing down again with ZZ Tops "I'm bad, I'm nationwide" and ends with a song that always reminds me of my dad--"Silver Thunderbird" by Jodi Messina. When that song ended, I was finishing up with my weight routine.
Sure, I really did this.
I'm not sure what happened, but I started concentrating on the music and before I knew it I was dance walking like a crazy fool on my treadmill. I refused to look at the time or distance, but then after awhile, I completely forgot to look because I was in my own little world or some world I hadn't been in for a long time. I had stripped off the mittens and hoody and had the fan blowing!
It wasn't until I got this terrible urge to pee (oh yea, I had TWO pots of coffee before this) that I realized I had been on the treadmill for about 45 minutes and had walked nearly 2.5 miles. I wasn't ready to be done but I HAD to pee! So I stopped the treadmill, ran to the bathroom, ran back up stairs, started the treadmill and...where did that world go I was enjoying?
I got off the treadmill after 60 minutes and 3 miles. I will probably resent this at work tomorrow!
I completed ALL of the weight exercises for my upper body that Kerri suggested although, I will admit I could not do 12 reps three times, so I settled for 10 reps two times. I know for a fact that I have disturbed my sleeping bicepts, and they are already not happy with me.
I know what you are thinking and I agree with you. I enthusiastically over-did it my first day. Will it discourage me for tomorrow? No, I'm not going anywhere near the treadmill tomorrow.
Tomorrow, I dance to a whole different group of songs. And my arms get a rest because tomorrow I work on toning the flabby muscles of my butt and tummy.
Sure, I can do this!

Hope your first day was as successful!

PS. Welcome to Microe who is going to join our team blog! Yea, a guy point of view!

The plan starts today...

2006-03-01T07:55:00.000-05:00

I have invited folks to blog on this site so please view often to see how everyone is doing. If you got an invite to join this team site and don't want to do it right away, save the email and join later. 10-8 has joined the diet blog team and I have a feeling we will be hearing from her soon.
I have been preparing for today. I had hubby blow up the "big blue ball," daughter showed me some good exercises to do with it and some small weights, I went grocery shopping after removing the junk that wandered in the cupboards when I wasn't looking, bought a new journal and I had hubby take a picture of me in my bathing suit.
Let me explain the bathing suit picture. It has a lot to do with the skewed image we have of ourselves--both physically and mentally.
I spent a while looking at the pictures before placing them in my diet/exercise journal. I felt the need to come to terms with the fact that as much as I don't like my body shape and weight, it is me. I can see in a picture what others see. I can also see what I like and don't like--I like my ankles and wrists, I don't like my thighs and abdomen and arms.
Looking at the picture was like looking back through time and taking inventory of a life: those thighs developed because I was a runner until my bladder repair and my doc said "quit running." The tummy is from my dad's side of the family. I remember standing around with my cousins in about 8th grade comparing our tummys--and we were all related on my dad's side. If you put different period clothes on me I could be either one of my grandmothers--the stout one from England or the stout one from Ireland. Since my father and mother are both first generation Americans, the stoutness hasn't been bred out of us yet--almost--if you look at the generation after my sisters and me! About the arms--those are my mothers!!!
The picture helped me be at peace with some things, realize that I can't fight others, and understand that this is going to have to be a long committment with my self. If you are willing to hang in there with me, I am willing to hang in there with you.
Hope you have all done what you need to do to prepare to be the best you, you can be! (Did I steal that line from someone?)
This is my plan for the first week: 6 days/week
Mon: walk 30 min weights
Tue: dance 60 min toning
Wed: walk 30 min weights (today)
Thu: dance 60 min toning
Fri: walk 30 min weights
Sat or Sun will walk for endurance

Next Monday I will adjust what I think needs adjusting but I am pretty much sticking to these activities. I am going to attempt to increase times on the walks by at least 5 minutes/week. The long walk on Saturday or Sunday will be a prep for some distance walking I want to do this summer. I will let everyone know what day I am going and if you want to join me, please do.
Those of you who are going on vacation--find some exercise to do while you are there!! Those of you, like me, who have hubby's trying to loose weight or get healthy--keep in mind that men are different than women and will lose weight faster and be more motivated. They love us and will understand that the best thing they can do for us is be supportive. Any of you husbands that want to team blog--plese let me know.
Good luck everyone!

The plan

2006-02-26T09:14:00.000-05:00

OK girls, listen up...
After listening to some of the comments received both here and off the blog (yes, people discuss my blog w/ me in public) I have devised a plan for all of us. Participation is strictly volunteer but I would like to know who is willing to participate so we can be supportive of one another, and also so we can evaluate what is working and what is not.
This is about exercise and how we can get on track to do it as part of our everyday routine and be healthier.
Everyone who is going to participate must think of a daily exercise routine that they would enjoy doing. It dosen't have to be the same routine everyday, in fact varying the exercise may help you stay motivated. Write the routine down by days, ie, Monday walk 3 miles; Tuesday work out w/ weights and take leisurely walk; Weds walk 3 miles, etc. You get the picture. It is your routine, make it yours!
We will follow this routine that we have set up for ourselves for one month! DO NOT THINK BEYOND ONE MONTH! I say this because I keep thinking about having to diet and exercise until Sarah's wedding and it wears me out just thinking about it and then I lose my motivation. The other thing thing about thinking way ahead is that you think you have all this time and then the time is here and nothing has been accomplished. We need to take it ONE DAY AT A TIME.
Also, you must write it down for the entire month--almost like you have scheduled it into your day--that way you have already made time for it and you can schedule everything around your exercise routine.
This will start March 1 so please take the next couple days to develop your exercise plan. If you need music to walk to or exercise to, I have volunteered my husband to make you a CD. He is currently making mine--one song at a time! I think it will be more enjoyable to listen to what I like or can sing along to (yes, I am the mystery walker singing out loud to her self as I stroll the streets of Lawton). So if you need an individual exercise CD made--just get the music to Buggs.
As far as dieting--we all know what WE ARE NOT SUPPOSE TO EAT--so be healthy. I plan on eating healthy during the week and then using my weekends to enjoy my self--with in reason. I am an adult--I should be able to monitor myself, huh?
As soon as I get my routine figured out, I will post it here.
Tell me what you think?

I'm ok. Are you?

2006-02-21T13:12:00.000-05:00

Today is my day off and I feel like "nesting" as 10-8-ish so aptly referred to it in her own blog. I have a list of things to do, and a list of things to accomplish. One consists of many, many things to do and the other has two things listed--1. hang a curtain rod and 2. patch the holes in the bedroom walls before hubby paints this weekend. This weekend? Hell, its only Tuesday!

So I started my day by going to the local grocery store because I needed breakfast food. I also bought sugar free ice cream bars, a bag of Valentine Chocolate covered peanutbutter hearts that were 50% off and 3 magazines.
I can explain all of them except the Valentine sweets. It could be PMS or it could be the damn chocolate craving I have had for days which I find interesting because normally, I don't eat chocolate.
Its deprivation. I can't have it, so I want it. Like that boy in high school that all the girls wanted so you did too, but when you finally got him you couldn't figure out what all the fuss was about? Or giving something up for lent (if you are Catholic) and for 40 days you think about it--congratulating yourself for being "good" and telling everyone how great your doing but after lent and you are no longer deprived, you can't even remember what it was you gave up.
Each chocolate/bp heart is one serving. Each serving has only 45 calores and 8 grams of sugar. I can have a minimum amount of chocolate and peanutbutter on my diet and this is how I justified buying them and this is how I will justify it to hubby.
Justify it to hubby? There's that guilt thing as if eating candy is going to break his heart! There may be something Freudian about buying chocolate shaped like hearts!

I bought 3 magazines because all my books are either packed away or covered in plastic--we're painting, remember?
I bought Martha Stewart's Living because it was a special gardening issue and I love gardening. It has articles on hot pepers and cooking with fresh herbs and some really awesome recipes--especially meatless. I have never been much of a meat eater and I am tiring of all the meat I have been eating lately so I'm trying some veggie dishes. We'll see how hubby likes this turn of events. And she had a good article on wines that I will show hubby.
I also bought a Woman's World. I only bought this to find out Kirstie Alley's diet secret. No, it was not worth $1.49 to find out that she lives on Jenny Craig frozen dinners. I did find out that researchers @ the U of Kansas found that "folks who ate two frozen meals a day ended up just as thin as those given diet pills." Hum?
There were some other articles about trying the asian energy cure if you hate exercising (but it had something to do w/ mushrooms) and another about 3 secrets tricks your IPOD can do.
The third zine was FamilyCircle which boasted "Thin for good" and "Fast family meals" on it's cover. So have you heard about the new Sonoma Diet? You follow it for 10 days and you do it in "waves" as opposed to "phases" like the South Beach. It lets you eat bread and cereal and drink wine. It is inspired by "'one of the most flavorful crusines in the world...the foods of the Mediterranean...'"
I didn't finish reading the explaination, but there is an entire book about it.
What I really bought this particular magazine for was the article titled "beyond spaghetti" which was all about different oriental noodles--which I have tried in the past, but not as deliciously as the magazines suggests. Definitely some awesome recipes. I can have noodles?

What I have concluded in all of this zine reading this morning is 1. I'm ready for Spring; 2. I'm bored with my diet; 3. I don't want to be on a diet, I want to eat rice noodles; 4. I want to nest today and hang my curtain rod tomorrow.

Here's to being ok where you are at the moment!

The monster I have created

2006-02-20T14:50:00.000-05:00

This blog is doing what I wanted it to do: give people a place to vent, to realize they are not alone in their efforts, to understand that failure is not a solo flight.
10-8-ish commented on my last blog about giving up and then giving in. I too had one of those weekends. I was tried of salad, I wanted sugar, damn it, and I REALLY wanted PIZZA!!!!
So I talked with my hubby about this. I said, hubby, I want pizza and beer. Hubby said OK. He even volunteered to drive with me to the store to get beer and to Little Caesar's for pizza (I really had a craving for Chucky Cheese Pizza. Go figure).
In the store, I couldn't find the beer I wanted. My hubby was in the wine section looking for a "new" wine for his recently aquired taste in wine...red of course, and patiently listened to me rant about the beer situation. I wanted what I wanted.
Forget the beer. Lets go get pizza, I said. He answers back something about him cooking if I didn't feel like it. Nobody is cooking, I said. We are getting pizza.
He started looking around in the meat section. How about steak? Chicken? No and No.
Burgers? OK, burgers. BBQ burgers.
This meant we needed BBQ sauce to put in the ground sirloin he picked up. After 15 minutes studying the backs of ALL the BBQ sauces, we chose Big Mo's--not for the price, but because compared to the cheaper Jack Dainels BBQ sauce, it had 5 less calories and 1 gram less sugar.
OK, I get the message. He is not going to let me fall off the diet wagon.
If I was going to have a burger (with no bun of course) I wanted baked beans.
All the beans I wanted had sugar in them. Hubby finds beans with NO sugar. Texas Ranch beans. I surrender stating that I can always doctor them up w/ Splenda if I have to.
We also spent a good amount of time in the spagetti sauce aisle looking for something "nutritious" to put on the whole wheat spagetti we bought at a market in Detroit. We bought pickled Asparagus (he didn't know that until we got to the check out). But we didn't buy beer or pizza.

I have created a monster. My husband is a nutrition monster.
When did he start reading lables for anything other than sodium? What is up with walking past the beer and browsing the wine? I found him reading my South Beach cookbook!

Could it be the 10 pounds HE has lost since I started MY diet?
He has started to give me tips on when to exercise and for how long.
I'm worried. Maybe he will start getting me out of bed and forcing me to walk the treadmill? Maybe he will start weighing me before and after work to see if I cheated? Maybe they have such things as food breathalizers?

I'm not sure this is a good thing. Its hard, very hard, to fall off the wagon when someone has you tied down. And if I cheat, who am I cheating now, myself or him? I'm sure it has a lot to do with love.
Don't you?

Still -17lbs and holding!

A Valentine's gift to me...

2006-02-16T08:34:00.000-05:00

Two days ago I wasn't anymore motivated than I was the last time I blogged which was a while ago. I have been a little depressed because I have only lost another 1/2 lb in the last week. Hum....
So, I gave my self a gift for Valentines...a pep talk.
I have been getting exercise advice from everywhere and find it interesting what sorts of things people do. Even my daughters have given me advice...Kerri is going to show me butt exercises to do on my Big Blue Ball and Sarah says we should all dance a few extra dances and drink a few extra beers when we are at the bar.
My pep talk was just about the same pep talk I gave myself when I wanted to quit smoking (which I have successfully done for almost 9 months). It was a talk about being around to see my daughters live out whatever life dream they had. It was about living to be a "participating" grandma (I want to be the fun grandma). It was about finally having the time and hopefully more energy to take care of myself. It was a talk about what my husband deserves in a partner. It was about what I deserve as a human being.
So the treadmill and the Big Blue Ball have been my friend the last couple days. I also have some hand weights and those big rubber bands if I get bored. I am going to blog more. I am combining exercising and writing in an effort to inspire creativity in both areas.
I'm excited.
Thank you all for the suggestions, the words of motivation, and the offers to go to the gym. Please let me know how you are all doing w/ your own efforts.

Anyone willing...

2006-02-09T11:34:00.000-05:00

to give me a good swift kick in the pants?

I just can't seem to get my butt out of my reading chair and start exercising.
I figured out by counting weeks on the calander that I have 15 weeks until my daughter's wedding. I don't think I will reach my goal by then but I will be darn close.
The count as of today is 16.5lbs.

I have added skim milk, strawberries and yogurt to my diet. This means I can have Chai Tea. Love it. And yogurt and strawberries. Love it even more.

I haven't become totally bored with my diet, but I have become bored w/ thinking about food. I don't think I should have to think about food so much, but on the other hand, if I had thought about food maybe I wouldn't be obese.

Yes obese!

According to guidelines bought to you by your neighborhood wellness experts, I am obese in relation to my height and age.

So my husband says I need a goal.
My goal is to lose 2lbs a week until the wedding. That would be another 30 lbs. Add that to the 16lbs I have already lost for a total of 46 lbs. I wanted to lose 60lbs. I will still have 14lbs to go before bathing suit season (LOL) but I have a feeling I will be looking good at the wedding.

This diet thing has become a family affair because over-weightiness is a genetic trait in our family--amoung the women. It has something to do with the stout little English grandmother on my dad's side and the stout little Irish grandmother on my mother's side.

My niece is getting married this year, right after my daughter. So my sister is now on a diet. She is having an exercise motivational problem also. That may be genetic too. She says the most exercise she has done so far is get the Richard Simmons excercise tapes out of the cabinet. She has placed them where they constantly remind her that she is not using them. This is also a genetic trait.

Our younger sister has been reading my blog and is now fearful that she will be the Fat Aunt at the weddings. Keep reading sis, maybe you will find some motivation here. Or not.

The first step...

2006-02-07T15:33:00.000-05:00

So today I have been sitting around on my big butt thinking about my excersise routine. Thinking about it is the first step...

I know it will involve walking. I already have a route mapped out around town and in bad weather I already have a treadmill.

Actually... ((warning...please do not try this at home, the following was performed by an expert and should not be attempted by amatures...))

I discovered Sunday night that walking in the snow ain't that bad...I got p.o.'d at my husband and walked home from a friend's house. It was around 10:00pm, snowy, cold and I was very drunk. I'm not really sure how far I walked (the hubby's says over 2 miles) or how long it took me (it seemed like forever at the time). I do know I fell down once. I remembered this yesterday when I felt the bruise on my outer thigh.

I am considering it the beginning of my exercise routine. From now on though, I will make some important modifications, such as:

Wear running/walking shoes instead of boots
Wear appropriate clothing instead of jeans, a sweater and 500 million Mardi Gras beads around my neck
Walk in daylight
Walk sober

To add insult to injury, I had to work 16 hours yesterday...as a nurse, that means that I spent nearly 14 of those hours ON MY FEET!!

Which is why I am sitting on my big butt today, thinking about my exercise routine...
which I will restart tomorrow...

15.2lbs and losing...

Countdown

2006-02-04T09:05:00.000-05:00

If you're checking in just to be witness to the countdown...

-14.8lbs and losing! This was verified by my new scales both last night and this morning. I have lost nearly 1/2 of the weight I gained in the last three years.

I had gone about three days without the scales moving. I thought she was ignoring me or didn't like my singing anymore. Don't let on to her that I ever doubted her.

I have pretty much settled into this way of eating. I have had no bread or starches for two weeks. I think the only thing I miss in that group is Panera's Asiago Bagles and potatoes.

I have had no fruit for two weeks. I don't miss anything in that group because I'm not a big fruit consumer. I ate a lot of bananas before and now I find out it is the fruit highest in sugar!

I have had no dairy. This group I miss. I miss yogurt and milk.

I was supposed to refrain from drinking alcohol. I didn't. But I must admit that I didn't drink anything but wine and the most wine I drank all week was at Mug Club.

I am at a turning point.
Move on to phase two or stay here for another week?
Start exercising?

My scales

2006-02-01T05:39:00.000-05:00

I have developed an intimate relationship with my weight scales.

Every morning I strip naked and say, "Scales, scales on the floor, please say less; don't say more."

Then I mount them.

Its a great way to start the day--if you actually get on and off satisfied.

-12.5 lbs and losing!!!

Craving

2006-01-31T14:32:00.000-05:00

I'm having a craving...for ice cream. Actually I think it is for dairy, like a big glass of cold milk.
Its not on the diet until next week.
So I ate a mozzarella cheese stick and gave the dogs a treat. I am following the cheese stick with a big glass of water while I talk out this craving.
I read that somewhere--that you should stop and think about your craving, maybe talk it out or write about it until it goes away. The problem would be if it didn't go away; I'd be writing here forever.

I learned in my Maternal Nursing class that cravings are a signal that your body needs something. Like the cravings I had for strawberry anything with my first daughter. I also had cravings for pickles and milk. I couldn't stand the smell of pancakes or raw meat.
My second pregnancy was completely different--I craved chocolate (especially Hostess HOHOs) and grilled meat.

Here is the interesting part of all this:
My first daughter is a vegetarian and loves strawberry anything. She also turned out to be a bottle baby. She is a pickle eater.
My second daughter loves meat and sugar. She hates strawberrys and pickles. She had to be breastfed forever because she couldn't tolerate milk.

Makes you wonder if that old saying should read: "You are what your mother ate."

Craving is gone.

The reason the rich are thin......

2006-01-31T07:50:00.000-05:00

...THEY CAN AFFORD IT!
After a lengthy talk with my favorite Dietician, M, a women I work with, I decided that I would try the South Beach Diet to lose weight.
"At least they have a great cookbook," said M.
And they do. I bought it. And I bought the diet book.
Even with my Barnes and Nobles membership discount I spent about $30. I read the book and cookbook. This was a week ago Sunday. (I know, I could have been reading something more interesting like Martini's "The List" but I didn't and now I don't have to.)
The following Monday I went to Meijer's with my list and for the first time in my life I scratched EVERYTHING off it. The grand total? $199.64. I was only shopping for a week.
Before going to Meijer yesterday, I sat down and did some caluclations from the first week: dollars spent: $229.64 pounds lost: 7 If I did the math correctly, thats $32.80/lb. That is some high priced fat. And I lost it!

Since I had bought so much food the first week, I really only needed a few food items for this week. And a new scale. No, this is not a vanity thing. My scale was old and I think my hubby wore it out a couple years ago when he got on it everyday while losing 26 lbs! Besides, there were times when I got on the scale and it would read one number, then change its mind and display another, never in my favor, of course.
Before I swiped my debit card in the handy little swiper and gave Meijer $210.16 of our hard earned money, I asked the woman if employees got discounts and were they hiring. She had a look on her face that said, "You bought all that damn stuff and if you're trying to tell me you can't pay for all that, I'll be pissed."

To keep it real, I subtracted the cost of the doggie toy and bones: $204.16 including scales. How did this happen? Hubby said it was because I didn't take a list this time and I probably did the thing he hates the most---I wandered through the store thinking, "We could use this. And that. And this too." Guilty.
He didn't think we needed new scales either at $40 until he got on them and he weighed less than he thought he did. I weighed a pound less on the new scales. And it didn't change its mind on me.

The food I have been buying is really healthy. No junk, except the dog bones, but they are for the dogs. Green stuff and meat are very expensive. I have been buying new spices to try and they are expensive.

For the first two weeks of this diet, I cannot have any milk products, no bread, no fruit and no alcohol. The reason being about sugars, even natural ones like lactose and fructose and maltose.
I couldn't do it.
I have successfully stayed away from the bread, dairy and fruit, but it was the alcohol that made me cheat. I have been drinking wine. I probably should have subtracted that from the total too. $-12.00.

This diet has had it's benefits so far--mostly for hubby. I seem to be doing all the cooking. He has been eating what I eat and he has decreased his beer drinking to a minimum. Actually, except for the night I kicked him out, he didn't have any beer last week! He has lost weight, of course.
Benefits for me include the loss of 8 lbs and my husband's new taste for wine. (He even mentioned going to some winerys!) And we have spent more time together at the dinner table and he helps with dinner if he gets home early enough.

Despite the cost and the cheating, I'm sticking with it. One day at a time.

Notice that I have only talked about the price of food. I haven't even talked about the cost of exercising yet. Probably because I haven't started--unless you count carrying bags of grocerys once a week.