feeling good...and hoping to keep it up!

Yesterday was a good day...I felt like I was really moving in the right direction and for the last few months, I have felt myself moving in the wrong, bad direction. I have tried to correct it a few times over, but I would fail by the end of the day and be back to my bad self (and not in a cool way!)

So, what was the difference? Well...one, I woke up with a different mindset. It seems simple, but I woke up early...and immediately drank some water and got my vitamins in my tummy. It's just a different start...a different mentality.

Then at work...I didn't eat out, even though I had the opportunity. I went for a walk at work for my 15 minute break. I ate what I was supposed to when I was supposed to eat it.

I also stopped this raw food obsession. I think I have to admit that it just isn't working for me. I am still eating a lot of raw foods, but not everything. I am eating some yogurt...some granola bars...some protein shakes, etc. I ended up being so hungry by the end of the workday that I would just eat myself out of house and home when I got there. So, it wasn't working for me...I would eat raw all day long...end work starving and then eat something like pizza or a bag of chocolate when I got home. I think there are healthier ways to live. I do plan on still putting many of the raw food concepts into my diet, but not all of them...just not sensible for me.

And then when I got home...I immediately went to working out. I didn't even give myself the chance of talking myself out of it. I got home, changed and jumped on the elliptical machine. I have to do some maintenance on my elliptical...some of the joints need to be tightened up and I need to change the battery (and sadly changing the battery is like open heart surgery for this thing...grr)...so, I am going to try to give it some maintenance love tonight. I was on the machine for 30 minutes or so...and it felt good to get back to it.

And then I had dinner...I made a protein smoothie with my Magic Bullet. It was really good...and healthy too. Let me tell you, I am in love with the Magic Bullet.

After dinner...I went for another walk...about 30 to 40 minutes around my apartment complex and then to the local school. It was just getting dark and the weather was perfect. The air had that feeling, smell and even taste that it was going to rain and it was nice being out in it.

Then I came home...had some more Magic Bullet love and made a apple cider Slushie. Oh MY Gawd....best thing ever! I could eat these forever. They sell them at the fair and I was happy to be making my own.

I took a shower (with all that walking and working out..I needed it)..plopped down and watched some TV. I did eat bunches of goldfish crackers while watching 24, but well...if the worst I do is eat too many goldfish, life ain't bad, eh?

So...yesterday was a good day...and it's motivated me to make today a good day too. I woke up this morning...drank water....took my vitamins and did rotation one of weights...it only takes 10-15 minutes and done. And at 10am...I walked with a co-worker over to Dunkin' Donuts...when we usually drive. I didn't get anything at DD...just went for the exercise.

This is suddenly feeling do-able again...and I am so happy and grateful for that feeling!

Weight Loss Update

I know...it has been forever since I updated about my quest to remove some of this pudge from around my middle. And why haven't I updated? Well...silly...because I have been adding pudge instead of removing it.

Gaining weight sucks...let me tell you. Of course the eating of the easter candy and the pizza didn't suck...and going home and lying down on the couch instead of working out didn't suck...but the consequence of my butt and everything else getting bigger sure does suck.

I know I have been gaining weight for a while...but have been in denial about it. I know that I had to buy bigger clothes to go to Florida. I know that things haven't fit like they used to. But I didn't want to step on the scale and see the number.

Now I have seen the number....and now I am officially depressed. But I am also officially motivated again. I need to do better....I need to start again, clean slate.

This morning...I had a protein shake for breakfast and packed my healthy lunch.

Oh...another thing, I am stopping the raw food kick. I am still looking to eat a lot of raw foods, but not as much as before. I just ended up being so starved by the end of the work day...that I just grazed when I got home. So, I am going back to eat the way I was last year...when this weight loss thing was actually working.

Back on the saddle again.....

Saying it out loud....

So, have you noticed that I haven't posted much health or diet related in the past couple of weeks...or maybe even close to a month? Have you noticed that I haven't updated the weekly weigh ins...in a long time? Well...have ya?

That would be because I am officially the Queen of Suck when it comes to anything diet or fitness related. I have stopped weighing myself in...probably to save me the depression of seeing the number go up. I have stopped working out...I haven't gone to the gym in almost a month. I have stopped writing down what I am eating. I have stopped seeing fitness goals fitting into my life.

Aurghh!

OK...today...I am hoping to do better. I am going to pick myself up my by boot straps and just do better. I had a healthy breakfast this morning and plan on continuing that into the day. I plan on working out today...no matter how tired or hungry I am when I get home from work. I plan on taking care of myself in a way that does not include eating a bag of chocolate or buying mass amounts of ice cream.

I am going back to what worked for me before...what I know. I am listing my weekly goals and keeping with them.

1. Drink at least 100 oz. of water a day. I have let that go on some days...and I need to make sure I keep it up.
2. Start taking my daily vitamins again. When I went raw for most of the day...I convinced myself I didn't need them. But well...I am now convincing myself that I am wrong.
3. Write down every single little thing that I eat...even if it is horrible.
4. Workout 4 times this week. I don't care if it is at home or at the gym...just workout.
5. Weigh myself in again on Sunday...because if I don't know where I stand...then I won't know where I need to go.

There ya go...I am heading back on track...or at least recognizing that there is some track that I have been ignoring for way too long.

Wish me luck!

2007: Week 4 Weigh-In

Hey y'all....I was hoping for a loss this week since I started working out at the YMCA. I worked out three times this week...and did pretty well when I was there. I worked out on the elliptical and the bike..and sometimes jogged around the track. I have to go to the store and get a pair of earphones so I can listen to music or the news while I am there. I like it there...and I am glad I joined. I know I need to sign up to see the trainer and get the weights and stuff set up.

The low down for weight loss is:





That's right folks...I didn't lose and I didn't gain. I'll take it...but I shouldn't take for too much longer. I need to start seeing the scale moving in the right direction. This weekend...I didn't do a lot. I planned on working out, but I just didn't get to it. My roommate was sick...and sick in a bad way...so I ended up not doing a lot except watching TV and seeing if she needed anything (gingerale, juice, popsicles). I am going to be better this week...I swear!

Here are my fitness goals for this week:

1. Drink 100 oz. of water everyday.
2. Continue to eat only raw foods until dinner time.
3. Workout at the YMCA at least three times this week.
4. Workout two times at home in my rusty trusty apartment.
5. Workout at least one day out of the weekend: Saturday or Sunday
6. Sign up to meet with the trainer at the Y and go over the weight machines.

There ya go....on to week 5!

Thursday Thirteen #17

Thirteen Things about Fitness in Shelley's Life! 1. I just joined the YMCA...and I plan on using it. I am not wasting $37 dollars each and every month! 2. I love the Y's step classes and plan on signing up in the spring session. 3. I am paying myself $1 for each hour that I spend at the Y....as a way to make sure that I go and to reward myself for doing so. 4. I am working on eating a raw food diet. 5. I can no way eat raw 100% of the time...at least right now. I only eat raw up until dinner time. 6. The only downside...I get hungrier than I used to eating raw. By the time I leave work I am starving. 7. I think it is because the foods I eat now are so much easier to break down. 8. I have started to plan a snack for right after work, so I don't eat myself out of house and home. 9. I did find the one day I spent a lot of time at the Y...I didn't overeat at all. That is definitely something to remember. 10. I still love my elliptical..I haven't abandoned her. I still use it when I can't get to the Y. 11. I want to try to Couch to 5K program again...I have tried it twice before and always quit to go to another fitness routine. Since the Y has an indoor track, I think I should give it another go. 12. I still have 35 pounds I want to lose...and don't like that I spent November and December gaining weight. 13. However, I am very proud of my fitness level and that I didn't DIE when I stepped on the elliptical machine at the Y for the first time. I am overweight, but I am still healthier than I was before I started all this. That's something that I carry onto when I struggle or get frustrated.

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Report Card for Day 1

I didn't pretty gosh darn well yesterday....I did eat more ice cream that I planned on yesterday, but all in all...a good day. By the way...Edy's Espresso Chip Ice Cream is just divine...I could eat a pool full of it and still want more.

I need to think about different raw desserts....because right now...other than nuts and maybe some raisins...really drawing a blank. I will look through my raw uncook books and find some interesting things that aren't too complicated or difficult to make.

Off to Day 2 or Being Raw! I am basically planning to eat everything the same today as I did yesterday...except hope to not eat as much ice cream.

Oh...and for exercise...I am taking this week off exercise. I am going to add in exercise to the raw way of living next week. This week I focus on eating and food...next week...I slowly add working out to the mix. Everything doesn't have to be all at once, now does it???

Raw Food Day 1

So...after a lot of reading...and getting...actually...really excited about this idea of eating a good deal of my food raw...I am trying it out. I have a lot of people kind of look at me strangely when I saw I am transitioning to the Raw Food Diet, etc...so, I thought I would explain what is my plan for eating.

Right now...I am eating raw until about dinner time and then have a little bit of cooked food, but nothing heavy. One...they say not to start 100% in the beginning because it is too much of a change all at once. And two...I want to make sure Raw Food Dinners from my cookbook, but I am not going to be able to try them for a while, so a cooked dinner will work for now...until I am ready to eat even more raw.

Here is what today's plan is (and so far, I am on plan):

Breakfast
Large Grapefruit (and trust me they are HUGE!)

Snacks
Bowl of chopped watermelon and cantaloupe
Large Apple

Lunch
Large Garden Salad with Light Basalmic Vinagrette Dressing
Raw Pumpkin Seed

Snack
Bag of Baby Carrots

Dinner
Small Salad
Bowl of Veggie Soup

Dessert
1/2 Cup of Ice Cream (I have it in the freezer....so I am going to slowly eat it and then replace it with something like sorbet or gelato or something like that.)

I am really exciting about this raw food thing...since I have been a vegetarian for 6 years now...and the fact that I love raw fruits and veggies...I think this diet seems doable, easy and really enjoyable. I would love a bowl of fruit anyday instead of a bowl of chocolate...don't get me wrong, I love my chocolate too, but I love fruit more. Plus...I often overeat on sweets and carbs...like candy or pizza or pasta. With this new way of eating...it really eliminates those as problems areas. Will I never eat a pizza again? Probably not, but I don't think it will be a regular occurence in my diet.

P.S. I have been snacking on raw pumpkin seeds the whole time I was writing this....