Wednesday, August 8, 2012

Tuesday, August 7, 2012 - Accountability

NUTRITION

I stayed within my calorie range, although during the week my goal is to really stay right at 1800 calories per day - so I was a little bummed about that.  My lunch was much higher in calories than I had thought, and that really got me.

Somebody brought in Salt Water Taffy at work - it is the death of me.  Every time I walk by the desk, I grab one.  UGH.  Thankfully they have all been consumed, so that should help my calorie count!!


EXERCISE

1.56 mile walk
33:23 minutes to complete
21:25 min/mile pace

The walk was good - continues to be tough for me though.  It just irks me that I am out walking at a pace that, let's face it, is pretty slow for most - and I am huffing and puffing and really having to work at it!

I have to cut 3 minute off this pace in order to be ready for the marathon!!  That makes me pretty nervous!  When I walk on a treadmill I can definitely get my pace up much faster.  Maybe I need to do some work on the treadmill to increase my pace??? I don't know!!  

I am having some trouble with my left ankle.  I completed my own diagnosis on Webmd (boy, I'm sure doctors just love to hear that) and am pretty sure that I have Achilles tendinopathy.  Before and after the walk I made sure to stretch and have been taking Ibuprofen.  I also iced it when I got home.  I really need it to stop hurting.  It is definitely slowing me down!!  It is so frustrating that when I decide to get going and get in shape, I have something stupid like this flare up!!!  BOO!


Zero Gratification Marathon

In light of my recent half marathon announcement, a good friend sent this to me...




HILARIOUS!  I wish this was the marathon I was prepping for!!!

Monday, August 6, 2012

Monday, August 6, 2012 - Accountability

NUTRITION


EXERCISE

1.42 Miles Walked
30:35 Minutes
21:26 Mile/Min Pace

LIVING IN THE EXTREMES

If you have been reading my blog for any period of time, you probably understand that I am a woman of extremes.

I swing from one extreme to the other like a big, emotional pendulum!!!

I don't tend to play in the middle very often where weight loss is concerned (or anything else for that matter).  I am either on track and gung ho, or I am off track - and eating at McDonald's every day.

Long term, I realize living in the extremes is not healthy or sustainable.  Obviously it hasn't been exactly fruitful for me either - yes, I do well for a period of time, but then I burn out...and the pendulum swings to the other extreme.

I know I will have to moderate myself if I want to make a lasting, life long change.

BUT, sometimes when I am 'in the extremes', I push myself and do things that I never thought I were possible.  HENCE, my hike to the Y.

Well, friends, in true Connie fashion, I have once again gone to the extreme!!!  I really felt like I needed something to motivate me to incorporate exercise as a key component of my current weight loss journey.

I believe strongly that my prior attempts to shed weight and get healthy have been far too focused on nutrition, and not enough on exercise. A good friend of mine is currently on her own weight loss journey, and she is REALLY kicking butt.  She started her journey SOLELY focused on exercise.  Slowly, but surely, the nutrition came along - and seriously, the weight loss has been amazing - in fact many people think she has had lap band or gastric bypass because she is shedding weight so quickly!!.   This has convinced me that exercise MUST be a priority.

So, this time around, I am trying to put a heavy focus on exercise.  AND, by put a heavy focus on exercise, I mean I signed up for a Half Marathon!!!

Yes, friends, you heard that right....I signed up for a half marathon. The Halloween Half in Provo, Utah to be exact!!!  I will not be running it....I will be walking it. This half marathon is friendly toward walkers (I really think more of them should be!!!) allowing 4 hours to complete the course (about an 18:20 minute mile pace).

Katie at Runs for Cookies (do you get tired of me referring to her???  Really, have you checked out her blog???  If not, you need to - then you will understand why I constantly refer to her) walked a half marathon BEFORE losing weight.  I decided I could do the same.

I think having this goal will help me to truly focus on the physical aspect of my journey and help me to take the next stop to getting healthy.

NOW, because I do much better when I have comrades in arms - I went ahead and signed up the Hubs AND my poor unsuspecting sister!!!  No, I did not tell them I was signing them up - this was done without their knowledge.  I JUST SIGNED THEM UP!  I didn't want to give them a chance to say "No".  LUCKILY, they both got on board and last Monday we started the Hal Higdon training program to walk a half marathon!!!

AND...now my kids, my sister's Mother in Law, and two of my nieces are training with us!!!  We also have a dachshund - Magnum, and a bichon/yorkie mix - Ripley, in tow.  WE ARE A FORCE TO BE RECKONED WITH!!

Saturday we completed our first week of training - culminating in a 3 mile walk (we actually walked 3.42 miles, but hey, who's counting!!)  Let me tell you, my body hates me - I am stiff and sore - and really stiff and really sore.  During the 3 mile walk I tripped and fell flat on my face - I bruised my ego, banged up my left knee and elbow, and twisted the right knee.  BUT, I got back up and I finished that walk.  AND tonight I will be back on the streets again, pounding the pavement, prepping for that 13.1 mile walk.

I will finish this program and walk that damn half marathon!!!

It will be worth it.  I know it will.  Even it if is extreme!

(P.S.  if you are interested in training with us for the Half Marathon, drop me a line!  We walk every scheduled night at 9:00 pm...the more the merrier!)

ALSO, check out my good friend Erin - she is rocking it on her Couch to 5K program!!! GO ERIN!!!


Saturday, August 4, 2012

Saturday, August 4, 2012 - Accountability

WEIGH IN

415.6 lbs.
-9.4 lbs.
 (people, I had worked my way back to 425, so this was a great first week back on track)

NUTRITION

Some not so great moments nutritionally today - yes, I ate freaking Doritos for Breakfast, and YES, I consumed 2 Slurpees.  UGH!  Improvement and moderation needed there!

EXERCISE

3.42 Mile Walk
1 hr. 13 Min.
21:43 Pace

Thursday, August 2, 2012

EYE OF THE TIGER

The last few days have been good.  REALLY GOOD.  My new boss at work isn't a troll or an ogre, I've watched a TON of Olympic events on TV (Go Team USA!!) and screamed until my lungs burned and my throat was hoarse, AND I have done really well on my health journey.  I have the Eye of the Tiger!! OH YEAH.

I have tracked my points and easily stayed within or below my calorie target every day this week (starting on Monday).  I have exercised each of the last five days - even though my body is pretty much at war with me and is very hostile toward my efforts.

It feels GREAT.

OH HOW I WISH I COULD RECORD THIS FEELING AND PLAY IT BACK WHEN TIMES ARE TOUGH SO I COULD BE REMINDED OF HOW WORTH IT IT ALL IS.

My body is starting to crave the right foods again, instead of all the wrong ones.  Water tastes so dang refreshing, and my Coke cravings are nearly gone.

{{SIGH OF RELIEF}}

I am thrilled to be back on track.  I am ecstatic to be once again focused on and working toward what I consider to be one of the most important goals of my life.

It feels FANTASTIC.

I have also realized that there are a few things I need to avoid like the plague if I truly want to stay on track:

CHIPS - Look, I try to tell myself I can eat the right portion, but I can't.  I CANNOT.  I will continue to eat, and eat, and eat until before I know it, I have consumed the entire bag.  They cannot be in my house.  THEY CANNOT.

COCA COLA- I cannot touch the stuff.  EVER.  If I do, I am immediately spiraled into bad habits - it is my Kryptonite.

EATING OUT - Although one day I hope to be able to learn to be moderate when eating out, right now I just have to admit it isn't possible.  Even if I make good choices the first time out, what happens is I start to go back over and over and over.  And on the subsequent visits, I do not choose wisely.

In addition to those things I have realized I must avoid, I have also found AND remembered things that really do help me stay on track and stay focused:

TRACKING:  Yes, it is a pain, and no, I don't like to do it...but it really is necessary.  It is like balancing a checkbook, if you never do it, you will most definitely overspend.  If I don't track, I will definitely overeat.

FRUIT:  Having fruit readily available is an absolute must for me.  I am so much more satisfied if I finish off a meal with a piece of fruit. AND, a piece of fruit as part of a snack...well, fuggedaboutit.  Today I was so desperate for fruit that I went to a local produce stand AND Walmart during my lunch period so I could have some at the office with my lunch and snack (I had run out of fruit and was seriously crazed that I wasn't going to be satisfied and would go on a binge).

A KICK A** TASTING LIGHT MEAL - There is seriously nothing so gratifying to me as having a fantastic meal, that is on program.  I walk away thinking - WHY DO I EVER EAT OUT OR OFF PROGRAM.  This tastes so good!  Tonight we had Angus Burgers.  Now, at first I was like, this may be too much, but it wasn't.  I had the burger, sans cheese, with light mayo, mustard, ketchup, lettuce, tomato, pickles, onion and a toasted fresh baked bun.  SERIOUSLY, IT WAS AMAZING.   On the side I had fresh picked grilled sweet corn with a pat of butter, salt and pepper on it.  OH, HEAVEN.

QUAKER QUAKES - I have no idea how I didn't know about these things before.  They are divine!  They are a satisfying and filling snack and I love them! The chocolate, sweet chili, and sea salt and black pepper are my faves.

I am feeling so good about it is hard to imagine I could ever fall back down...but, as we all know, I certainly can...so I'm trying to remember that and not take my current few days of success for granted!

I'm also singing, RISIN' UP, BACK ON THE STREET....EYE OF THE TIGER!!!
___________________________________________________________________________________

I want to start doing a daily "accountability" on this blog.  So, here are my 'STATS' today:

NUTRITION:  Fully tracked and on target to be right at or slightly below my daily goal.
BREAKFAST:  Skipped - not on purpose, I was just so busy!!
LUNCH:  Healthy Choice Italian Sausage Pasta Bake, Salad with croutons and 2T. light ranch, 1 pink lady apple (YUM)
SNACKS:  Clif Bar - White Chocolate Macadamia (meant for breakfast); Medium Pina Colada Slurpee (OK, this isn't the most nutritional snack, I get that, but I have to have a little something every once in a while.  It did only have 175 calories!!)
DINNER:  Fantastic Hamburger dinner described above!!
WORKOUT:  Today is my rest day. Thank goodness.  I really needed a break.