Tuesday, April 26, 2011
I'm Overweight!!!
And that's reason to celebrate! Based on my weight this morning, I moved from the "obese" category to "overweight" on the BMI charts (by .1%, but I'll take it!). If it feels this good to move to "overweight", I can only imagine how it will feel to reach "normal". (Watch for the blog post entitled "I'm Normal!!!")
We ate. We chatted. We laughed. We froze.
Thank you to those of you who braved the elements to come to our Freeze-out! Despite the weather, a good time was had by all, and we decided we should do it again sometime...when the weather cooperates a little better!
Friday, April 22, 2011
Why I Haven't Joined the Circus
1) I wouldn't look too hot in a leotard (well, not yet anyway)
2) The smell
3) I still have a lot of work to do in the balance department (so I would probably fall off the tightrope). At our nutrition class last week (?) Mindy gave us a pie chart to have us fill out about how much time we spend on certain things throughout our weeks. Mine was not so balanced.
4) I'm horrible at juggling. It seems like there is always one proverbial ball that is heavier than the rest. Right now, my exercise and nutrition ball is the heavy one. It is a wonderful and necessary thing to focus on, but I'm realizing that I need to figure out how to fit in all of my other responsibilities and not drop any balls. I certainly don't want to take weight away from the nutrition and exercise ball, I just need to figure out how to strengthen myself enough to add weight to the other ones. I have had glimpses into the fact that I can achieve this, but I haven't mastered it quite yet (o.k. I actually have a long way to go). I did have one fabulous week where I was able to stay on top of everything, but slowly extra things have crept in and I feel behind in a couple of areas again (or maybe that one fabulous week just did me in!). It just seems like when one thing is going really great, other areas suffer and I don't like that! For example, Darin and I are getting so much time together (exercising together at the gym + travel time + nutrition class + having a common goal) and we feel so connected. But other areas of my life are suffering. I know I can't do it all. I know I need to sit down and prioritize my life and do the most important things with purpose. I will end this post with two of my favorite quotes (and then go get some stuff done!):
"Do what needs to be done, when it needs to be done with a cheerful heart." (Marjorie Pay Hinckley)
"That which we persist in doing becomes easier to do. Not that the nature of the thing has changed, but our power to do has increased." (Heber J. Grant) (Ralph Waldo Emerson)
2) The smell
3) I still have a lot of work to do in the balance department (so I would probably fall off the tightrope). At our nutrition class last week (?) Mindy gave us a pie chart to have us fill out about how much time we spend on certain things throughout our weeks. Mine was not so balanced.
4) I'm horrible at juggling. It seems like there is always one proverbial ball that is heavier than the rest. Right now, my exercise and nutrition ball is the heavy one. It is a wonderful and necessary thing to focus on, but I'm realizing that I need to figure out how to fit in all of my other responsibilities and not drop any balls. I certainly don't want to take weight away from the nutrition and exercise ball, I just need to figure out how to strengthen myself enough to add weight to the other ones. I have had glimpses into the fact that I can achieve this, but I haven't mastered it quite yet (o.k. I actually have a long way to go). I did have one fabulous week where I was able to stay on top of everything, but slowly extra things have crept in and I feel behind in a couple of areas again (or maybe that one fabulous week just did me in!). It just seems like when one thing is going really great, other areas suffer and I don't like that! For example, Darin and I are getting so much time together (exercising together at the gym + travel time + nutrition class + having a common goal) and we feel so connected. But other areas of my life are suffering. I know I can't do it all. I know I need to sit down and prioritize my life and do the most important things with purpose. I will end this post with two of my favorite quotes (and then go get some stuff done!):
"Do what needs to be done, when it needs to be done with a cheerful heart." (Marjorie Pay Hinckley)
"That which we persist in doing becomes easier to do. Not that the nature of the thing has changed, but our power to do has increased." (Heber J. Grant) (Ralph Waldo Emerson)
Sunday, April 17, 2011
An "AHA" moment
Thursday at class Mindy talked about fiber, then stress. At the very end of class she had us do some "target practice". She handed us a bullseye. In the center circle was our circle of control. The circle outside of that was our circle of influence, then our circle of concern (that over which we have no control). The exercise was very short, but I had the biggest light bulb moment. As I filled in the outermost circle I realized that everything I have lost sleep over, stressed about, and had anxiety over in the past couple of years has belonged in that outer circle (over which I have no control). It felt so good to let all of that stress go and realize that my time and energy needs to be spent in the center circle, focusing on making good choices (in all areas of my life) and letting the outer circle do its thing.
I am so grateful to be a part of this challenge. I was thinking the other day about what a great blessing this has been...to have access to so much valuable information, a gym, a trainer, a great support system etc. etc. I have learned so much not only about nutrition and exercise, but also about myself. Our group is so amazing and I have loved getting to know everyone and sharing tips, successes and disappointments. (On that note, our family barbecue is still happening next Monday, April 25th at 6:00pm. I will bring reminders with more details to class on Thursday.)
I am looking forward to many more "AHA" moments in the coming weeks!
I am so grateful to be a part of this challenge. I was thinking the other day about what a great blessing this has been...to have access to so much valuable information, a gym, a trainer, a great support system etc. etc. I have learned so much not only about nutrition and exercise, but also about myself. Our group is so amazing and I have loved getting to know everyone and sharing tips, successes and disappointments. (On that note, our family barbecue is still happening next Monday, April 25th at 6:00pm. I will bring reminders with more details to class on Thursday.)
I am looking forward to many more "AHA" moments in the coming weeks!
Monday, March 28, 2011
We Played Cards at the Gym
Aren't we lucky? Our trainer really knows how to show us a good time! Here's how the game went:
After a 20 minute warm up (walk/jog intervals), Jeff pulled out a deck of cards. He explained that each suit represented a different exercise. When he pulled a card out we would do the exercise that suit represented the number of times listed on the card (for example, 8 of hearts=8 push ups). The four exercises were push-ups, jumping jacks, leg lifts (lie on your back and lift both legs to 90 degrees, then lower them back to the ground), and squats. The two jokers were 2 minute runs on the treadmill. We went through the whole deck. (Jacks were 11 reps, Queens 12, Kings 13, Aces 14). We ended our little game with 20 minutes of intervals on the bike (where Darin is still trying to get the mileage past 3.99. We think it might be rigged!). At the end of the night my legs were jello, my arms were shaking and there was sweat covering my whole body. I felt really weak...until Jeff did the math for us. We did 104 of all of the exercises, totalling 416 reps. At that point I felt really strong! The card game was a fun way to switch things up; although I'll admit there were times throughout the game that were less than fun (like when we got a push up card three times in a row, totalling 25...yikes).
In other news, my comments aren't showing up on your blogs (other 100 day heart challenge participants). I have commented on all of your blogs. They show up, and then when I go back to read a new entry my comment is no longer there. I'm trying to get it worked out because I feel like I'm getting to know all of you better and I want to show my support of your journey...it's just not working. So...until it gets worked out, know that I love reading your blogs and love to see you on Thursday mornings! :)
After a 20 minute warm up (walk/jog intervals), Jeff pulled out a deck of cards. He explained that each suit represented a different exercise. When he pulled a card out we would do the exercise that suit represented the number of times listed on the card (for example, 8 of hearts=8 push ups). The four exercises were push-ups, jumping jacks, leg lifts (lie on your back and lift both legs to 90 degrees, then lower them back to the ground), and squats. The two jokers were 2 minute runs on the treadmill. We went through the whole deck. (Jacks were 11 reps, Queens 12, Kings 13, Aces 14). We ended our little game with 20 minutes of intervals on the bike (where Darin is still trying to get the mileage past 3.99. We think it might be rigged!). At the end of the night my legs were jello, my arms were shaking and there was sweat covering my whole body. I felt really weak...until Jeff did the math for us. We did 104 of all of the exercises, totalling 416 reps. At that point I felt really strong! The card game was a fun way to switch things up; although I'll admit there were times throughout the game that were less than fun (like when we got a push up card three times in a row, totalling 25...yikes).
In other news, my comments aren't showing up on your blogs (other 100 day heart challenge participants). I have commented on all of your blogs. They show up, and then when I go back to read a new entry my comment is no longer there. I'm trying to get it worked out because I feel like I'm getting to know all of you better and I want to show my support of your journey...it's just not working. So...until it gets worked out, know that I love reading your blogs and love to see you on Thursday mornings! :)
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Just Keep Swimming
As I wait for the scale to tell me that I'm working hard, I need to remember that progress is being made. I have been reading a blog called Fit to the Finish. It is written by a woman who lost 150 + pounds in about 14 months and has kept it off for over 12 years. It is so inspirational to read about her journey and see her before/after photos. The blog post I read today was just what I needed. Here is my list of progress:
*My wedding ring fits! It hasn't fit in over 2 years
*My jeans are getting baggy. The other day I was at the store with my 12 year old daughter and I looked at her with a huge smile and declared, "My pants are falling off!" She thought I was weird but I didn't care. I was so excited.
*I am getting much better at portion control (especially for sweets). This is huge for me.
*I am learning that beating myself up for not having a perfect eating/exercise day is counter-productive. It is much better to accept that I still have things to learn, try to learn them and realize that it's all part of this journey and I'm getting closer to my goal.
*I have finally decided that plateaus will be overcome, but only if I "just keep swimming". If I stop, the plateau will turn into a hill again and I will have to swim harder to get over it. It's much better to keep going than to stop and start all over again.
*My endurance has increased. Every time Jeff increases the mph on the treadmill or asks us to run a little longer or do an exercise we haven't done, I always think "There's no way". And then I do it and it feels really good (afterward). My heart is healthier and I can feel it.
I know there are good changes happening, I just need to keep remembering the victories that are not measured by the scale or evident by looking at me.
Here is a link to the Fit to the Finish blog:
http://www.fittothefinish.com/blog/
*My wedding ring fits! It hasn't fit in over 2 years
*My jeans are getting baggy. The other day I was at the store with my 12 year old daughter and I looked at her with a huge smile and declared, "My pants are falling off!" She thought I was weird but I didn't care. I was so excited.
*I am getting much better at portion control (especially for sweets). This is huge for me.
*I am learning that beating myself up for not having a perfect eating/exercise day is counter-productive. It is much better to accept that I still have things to learn, try to learn them and realize that it's all part of this journey and I'm getting closer to my goal.
*I have finally decided that plateaus will be overcome, but only if I "just keep swimming". If I stop, the plateau will turn into a hill again and I will have to swim harder to get over it. It's much better to keep going than to stop and start all over again.
*My endurance has increased. Every time Jeff increases the mph on the treadmill or asks us to run a little longer or do an exercise we haven't done, I always think "There's no way". And then I do it and it feels really good (afterward). My heart is healthier and I can feel it.
I know there are good changes happening, I just need to keep remembering the victories that are not measured by the scale or evident by looking at me.
Here is a link to the Fit to the Finish blog:
http://www.fittothefinish.com/blog/
Monday, March 14, 2011
Meet the Fam
These are the people I get to spend every day with, and I love them dearly. Even though my very best push- myself-to-the-limits, feel-like-I-want-to-throw-up workouts happen in the gym, I am learning that exercise doesn't have to happen in a gym or with headphones on. I have had so much fun lately playing basketball and Just Dance with my kids. Both are great workouts for all of us, and we are creating memories at the same time! Today I just wanted to remind myself that this challenge is about so much more than just me. It is forming healthy habits in our family and that makes me very happy!
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