10 Weeks In

I've been on this latest version of this journey towards good heatlth for 10 weeks now.  I've lost 15 pounds.   I honestly thought the first 20 would come off faster but I'm actually really happy with my progress.  There is more going on than the scale shows.    One NSV is that last week I was able to wear a new pair of jeans in size 20 for the first time in a long time.  I can't wait til I can throw away all my size 22s.   I also did my measurements the first week of March and in two months, I've lost 2.5 inches on my hips and 3 inches on both my bust waist and bust.    Can't ignore actual numbers proving I'm getting smaller.    And the thing that I'm the most proud of is that today is my 10th day of getting up early (daylight savings time - or is it the end of it? - is kicking my butt this week but still doing it) and walking for 30 minutes.  I don't think there's ever been a time in my life when I've exercised that many days in a row.   Consistency is an issue I struggle with in many areas of my life and it feels so good to do something so important to my health consistently.    And one more thing... the last couple weeks, I've pretty much forgotten I even have foot problems.   They aren't bothering me AT ALL.   

I'm on such a good path and things are just going to get better!

Loving Spring!

It is so wonderful that spring is arriving early here this year.   Take that you stupid groundhog.  ;)   We are usually due to get a couple more good snowstorms in March and although that might happen, the rain of the last couple days is doing a great job of washing away a lot of our snow.    The warmer temps (and yes - everything is relative - only time of the year where mid-40s is 'warm') are wonderful.  

We've been having a lot of fun spending more time outside.  It's good for me but even better for my daughters - we've all spent too much time inside this winter.    Here's a cute picture of my daughter 'finally' getting to try out her motorized scooter which she got for Christmas.   Ok... the motorized scooter probably defeats the goal of getting outside and exercising but she loves it and she must be working on her core muscles cause she looks like she really has to work on her balance while usuing it.  ;)

So good news on the exercise front... I got up today for a 5th day in a row and walked on the treadmill for 30 minutes.  I'm on a real roll now!     And even better, I walked another 30 minutes and did some work on my arms with the weight machine last night after work.   Having a Tivo in my workout room and only allowing myself to watch certain shows while I'm in there working out is great motivation.   I watch way too much TV and it's great to have guilt free TV watching time.   

Struggling with the food part lately but off to a good start today.    Actually did pretty good yesterday with the exception of the WAY too many Girl Scout cookies.  Didn't have a binge or anything - just one here or two there and by the end of the day they really add up.  No more opened boxes around today so it should be easier to resist.   

Hope you all have a great day!

4 Days in a Row!

I got up early 4 days in a row and walked 30 minutes on my treadmill.  Yahoo!!!  This is such a sucess for me because I can't remember the last time I strung together 4 days of exercise.   And I am so not a morning person so getting up at 5:30 just about kills me but the feeling I get after I exercise is so worth it.   And it's so nice to get it out of the way early in the morning.   Thanks to Loretta, Barbara, Lisa & M for your nice comments on my new workout room.   It really is a nice cheerful room and I'm loving that I have it!

We took our Girl Scout troop snowshoeing yesterday.   My assistant leader is so much more of an outdoor person so this was obviously her idea.    We went behind the grade school and the plan was for her to take the kids on a little trail behind the school.  I'd take a few pictures and then wait for them all to come back.   It all started out ok but I could see that most of the kids were getting quite a bit ahead and my daughters and another girl were hanging back so I trudged through the wet heavy snow to be with them so the other leader could catch up with the other girls.   Both of my girls were big whiners about the whole thing from before they even put the snowshoes on.  I said to them at one point, you really need to try this so you don't end up like me.  Because there was no way I was putting snowshoes on!    Well after trying to walk with them a little bit, both of my girls had their snowshoes off and my older daughter became absolutely impossible to deal with.    So I sent her back to the school (so much for the 'helper' she was there to be) and guess what I did - I put on her snowshoes!!    And you know what... I didn't break them or fall on my butt or die of embarrasment!  And they worked really good.  I was was able to walk on snow.  Go figure.   It was actually a lot of fun.    There was a lot of whining going on (not just from my daughters) and about half way through, several of the girls were carrying their snowshoes but I think overall it was a positive experience for most of them.    Afterwards, they played on the playground and then we went in for cookies and hot chocolate so all was right with the world.    Still can't believe I actually tried snowshoeing myself!   Definitely didn't live up to my fears.

Here are our girls with my assistant leader (my youngest daughter is the one in pink kneeling down):

Here's my older daughter - probably the last time she smiled for awhile...

And here I am.  From the height of my 7 year old - not exactly my best angle.  But hey... my pants look baggy. ;)

March Goals - Better Late Than Never!

These are my goals for March.   Can't believe it is the 8th already so I'd better get going on these goals.

1) Exercise 30 minutes every day.    I'm hoping that I can get up early each morning (like I've done for the past two!) and walk 30 minutes on my treadmill.   If my feet are hurting, I'll have to do the bike but I feel like I get a much better workout from the treadmill.    If I don't get up early, I'll have to fit it in later - either on my lunch hour or after work.

2) Track WW points Monday - Friday.   I'm gotten lazy with this and I know at least for now, I need to stay focused on the points.   I actually eat pretty well on the weekends but we are so crazy busy that I need a couple days off of measuring and tracking everything.   

3) Blog every other day (at least!).   I think I stay focused more if I blog what I'm doing.   I read other people's blogs every day but need to take the time to update my own more often.  

4) Learn how to use my new weight machine.    A few of the exercises are obvious but I know there's a lot more I can do with it.

Guess that's all.  Keepin' it simple! 

Last month, I did so so on my goals other than the one to finish the work out room.   Feel very good about succeeding on that one!  It's so good to finally have one room in our basement completely finished.   (And the bathroom is almost done too!).  Here are some pictures of our new room:

Now, just need to use it - EVERY DAY! :)

Have a great day and thanks for reading!

March Already?!

Well I guess I need to do some goals for March and reflect on February.   I'll do that in my next post!   

One February goal that I did complete with literally 15 minutes to spare was my new workout room!  Yahoo!!    It is such a pretty room and just as nice as I visualized it.     And finally after we first put up the walls a couple years ago, we now have ONE finished room in our basement.  From the floor trim up to the textured ceiling.    And now we're on a roll because this weekend, we might even have the bathroom finished!   I'll take some pictures of the new room today and post them tomorrow.    Oh yeah and I've actually been using the room too!   Walking 30 minutes a day (at least) most days and getting some time in on the bike too.

Last night, I did have a bit of a setback that really bothered me.  Having a setback itself didn't really bother me as I've had lots of those and I've getting really good at letting them go and moving on.  The part that bothered me is I kept eating even though I knew I wasn't hungry.  I didn't even like what I was eating anymore.  I told myself I didn't want anymore.   But I kept putting the food in my mouth.   It all started by waiting too long to eat dinner and I've already learned that leads to bad things.    I had to leave work early to pick up our troop's Girl Scout cookies.  Then for the next few hours we hauled and sorted our troops 1505 boxes of cookies and I was tired and hungry when it was time to head home.  You probably think I'm about to tell you about a GS cookie binge, eh?!   NO!!  Just had two Peanut Butter Patties.   That is a huge victory in itself.  Of course, there is lots of cookie time ahead so the struggle to avoid a cookie binge isn't over yet.    Anyway, back to last night.   On the way home, we stopped at Subway.  Knew I just didn't want to go home and cook and thought Subway would at least be somewhat healthy food and it was quick.   (Although the "Shamrock Shake" ad on the McD's sign almost pulled me completely to the dark side...)   I must've fell for the $5 footlong song because that's what I got.   Think I thought I could eat half yesterday and save the rest for today.   I was laying on my bed watching TV while I ate.  Another bad idea.   I mindlessly ate the first half and then started on the 2nd half.   That's when I started telling myself to stop.   Told myself I didn't really want it.   I really didn't.  It was started to not taste good.   But I kept mindlessly eating it while I watched TV.   It was so classic of the me I don't want to be.   And I was miserable the rest of the night.    I couldn't get the motivation to move off my bed and get anything done.  I dozed off and on  during one of my favorite shows.     I had already decided to take the night 'off' cause I was in a lot of pain from working so much in the basement lately but I didn't need to spend the night in a food-induced coma.    Grrr....   I guess the positive things to take from this is that even though I kept eating, I was AWARE of it and can learn something from that now.  I noticed how I felt later and made the connection instead of just being tired and not knowing why.    I did stop eating after the sandwich and didn't continue on a full blown binge (especially considering I now have 370 boxes of cookies in my house...). 

Today is going to be a good day!  :)