I have been such a slacker. I could use school as an excuse, but honestly school hasn't been too busy yet. I could use school plus work as an excuse, but even that hasn't taken up so much of my time that I don't have hours of free time. What it really comes down to is choosing to spend my time doing other things besides working out, or planning meals, or keeping track of calories, or any of the things that helped me find so much success earlier in the year. Definitely a slacker, and I've gained back ten pounds in the last two months, of the thirty-five I lost in the first four months of the year. If that's not a kick in the pants, I don't know what is.
I know I keep saying I really need to get busy, to get back on track and make healthy choices. And yet I keep putting it off, saying I'll start back on my healthy diet tomorrow, I'll start exercising next week, I'll start counting calories again after I get back from vacation. There went the whole summer. The second week of classes is almost up, so the I'll start back to the gym again once I have access for fall semester has been put off by a few weeks now. However, there is something about the negative motivation of seeing that number on the scale. Maybe that will be enough to get me moving again - or maybe it won't if I'm still saying 'maybe'. I'll let you know!
On the plus side, school is going great so far. I'm excited to be back in school, and very encouraged about this semester and the classes I'm taking. I just had a probability class before this, and I'm heading off to my computer architecture class now, then web programming after that. I also have advanced programming on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. And I'm off to classe!
Thursday, August 30, 2012
Monday, July 30, 2012
Back from vacation
I am home from a crazy and exciting couple of weeks away. I flew out to Utah for a couple of family reunions (one in Idaho, one in Utah), then drove back across the country with my mom, got home just in time to do my laundry and repack, then flew to DC the next day. Back-to-back trips are exhausting, but I had a great time. The not-so-great part is that I did gain about five pounds over the course of those two weeks, but that was to be expected. Now it's really time to get serious again and lose the weight I gained, and then just keep going from there.
It was a lot of fun and see people I haven't seen in a while (both at the family reunions and in DC). It was also quite energizing to hear the comments and compliments face-to-face from people who care about me and are as pleased with my progress so far as I am. I feel encouraged and motivated to get back on track and push forward, and that is just what I needed.
One week from today I will have access to the gym again. I'm looking forward to getting back into strength training and cardio workouts. It will be interesting to see how much I have regressed during the three months I have not done much resistance training to speak of. I think before these last two weeks that would have been a depressing and discouraging thought, but now I'm just excited to get back to it!
It was a lot of fun and see people I haven't seen in a while (both at the family reunions and in DC). It was also quite energizing to hear the comments and compliments face-to-face from people who care about me and are as pleased with my progress so far as I am. I feel encouraged and motivated to get back on track and push forward, and that is just what I needed.
One week from today I will have access to the gym again. I'm looking forward to getting back into strength training and cardio workouts. It will be interesting to see how much I have regressed during the three months I have not done much resistance training to speak of. I think before these last two weeks that would have been a depressing and discouraging thought, but now I'm just excited to get back to it!
Wednesday, July 11, 2012
Sweet dreams
I'm finally sleeping at something close to a 'normal' time, for a few days anyway, or however long it is before something else comes up to throw my sleep off again. It really doesn't take much. I'm going to make it a priority to try to stay on a healthy sleep schedule now though, because I know how important sleep is in the establishing a healthy lifestyle. Of course, that will probably go out the window while I'm on vacation, but not too far I hope!
I'm getting ready to head out to Utah and Idaho for a couple of family reunions. I'm excited to see my siblings and their kids who are out that way, as well as cousins and aunts and uncles I don't get to see very often. I'll get to see my youngest nephew for the first time (he was born in May), and I'm always excited to see my other nieces and nephews - they're just so adorable, and so much fun! So I'm flying out to Utah next Wednesday (July 18), then I'll be driving back to Indiana with my mother either July 23-24 or 24-25. Hopefully 23-24 because on July 26 I'm flying out to DC for a few days, and it would be great to have the 25th to recover from the long drive home and prepare for the DC part of my vacation. We'll see how it goes.
In the mean time, now that I'm back on a more healthy schedule as far as sleep goes, it's much easier to make myself eat reasonably and plan for exercise. When I'm sleeping during the day, it's even harder to keep up the energy and motivation than usual. -- Okay, I just heard something knock knock knocking above my head. Hopefully just be squirrels unloading our pear tree onto the roof, and not some critter(s) in the attic! Totally lost my train of thought there. Oh well, here's to enjoying the day!
I'm getting ready to head out to Utah and Idaho for a couple of family reunions. I'm excited to see my siblings and their kids who are out that way, as well as cousins and aunts and uncles I don't get to see very often. I'll get to see my youngest nephew for the first time (he was born in May), and I'm always excited to see my other nieces and nephews - they're just so adorable, and so much fun! So I'm flying out to Utah next Wednesday (July 18), then I'll be driving back to Indiana with my mother either July 23-24 or 24-25. Hopefully 23-24 because on July 26 I'm flying out to DC for a few days, and it would be great to have the 25th to recover from the long drive home and prepare for the DC part of my vacation. We'll see how it goes.
In the mean time, now that I'm back on a more healthy schedule as far as sleep goes, it's much easier to make myself eat reasonably and plan for exercise. When I'm sleeping during the day, it's even harder to keep up the energy and motivation than usual. -- Okay, I just heard something knock knock knocking above my head. Hopefully just be squirrels unloading our pear tree onto the roof, and not some critter(s) in the attic! Totally lost my train of thought there. Oh well, here's to enjoying the day!
Friday, June 29, 2012
Bat Crazy...
This is hard for me to write. Harder than the lack of progress from my previous few posts. The last two weeks, I have gained weight. I know it's common for there to be some up and down when one is trying to lose or maintain weight, but for a couple of months I was staying within one or two pounds of the same weight. Then the last two weeks, it was up by four pounds total. I know why. I've been eating junk, skimping out on exercise, and for the last week my sleep schedule has been completely upside down. It's so hard to find the drive to get back to making healthy choices, but one way or another, I am determined to do it.
Funny story. I mentioned my sleep schedule. Last Saturday night, I was sitting in the living room, doing something on my computer. It was pretty late, the house was totally quiet (more so than normal since I was the only person here), when I see a dark blur and a big shadow fly across the kitchen doorway. My immediate thought was, "Oh great, there's a bat in the house." So I watch for a minute, then go back to what I was doing. A few seconds later, the bat comes flying through the living room, into the dining room, then through the kitchen again, and around and around in crazy circles trying to find a way out. I started to freak out a little, because it was flying about halfway between the floor and the ceiling, and I was feeling a little trapped.
Then it flew about two inches above my head, and I really started freaking out (for me). It was pretty late by then, and I was the only one in the house and had no idea what to do. I called my mom, she's in California for a visit, so it wasn't near as late there. While I was on the phone with her, the bat flew close to my head a couple more times, and each time I hunched farther down on the couch, until I decided it would be better to crouch down on the floor and figure out a way to get down the hall and shut myself up in one of the bedrooms. Mom suggested I run to her room, since it has the attached master bathroom. Problem was, I didn't dare move for fear of the bat. Even while I was crouched on the floor, that darn bat was swooping down entirely too close to me for comfort. I ended up lying down on the floor in the shadow of the coffee table, still on the phone with mom trying to calm down enough to get to the relative safety of the master bedroom. At one point while the bat was flying through the dining room and kitchen, I gathered up my things and made a dash down the hall, closing doors to the other rooms along the way.
I was still too freaked out to do anything about the bat, and too on edge to get any sleep at all that night. I never considered myself a wuss before when it came to creepy, crawly, or flying things, but apparently I am terrified of bats! It took me a couple of days to recover, and even though I didn't see the bat again after that first night I spent most of that time shut up in the master bedroom.
Funny story. I mentioned my sleep schedule. Last Saturday night, I was sitting in the living room, doing something on my computer. It was pretty late, the house was totally quiet (more so than normal since I was the only person here), when I see a dark blur and a big shadow fly across the kitchen doorway. My immediate thought was, "Oh great, there's a bat in the house." So I watch for a minute, then go back to what I was doing. A few seconds later, the bat comes flying through the living room, into the dining room, then through the kitchen again, and around and around in crazy circles trying to find a way out. I started to freak out a little, because it was flying about halfway between the floor and the ceiling, and I was feeling a little trapped.
Then it flew about two inches above my head, and I really started freaking out (for me). It was pretty late by then, and I was the only one in the house and had no idea what to do. I called my mom, she's in California for a visit, so it wasn't near as late there. While I was on the phone with her, the bat flew close to my head a couple more times, and each time I hunched farther down on the couch, until I decided it would be better to crouch down on the floor and figure out a way to get down the hall and shut myself up in one of the bedrooms. Mom suggested I run to her room, since it has the attached master bathroom. Problem was, I didn't dare move for fear of the bat. Even while I was crouched on the floor, that darn bat was swooping down entirely too close to me for comfort. I ended up lying down on the floor in the shadow of the coffee table, still on the phone with mom trying to calm down enough to get to the relative safety of the master bedroom. At one point while the bat was flying through the dining room and kitchen, I gathered up my things and made a dash down the hall, closing doors to the other rooms along the way.
I was still too freaked out to do anything about the bat, and too on edge to get any sleep at all that night. I never considered myself a wuss before when it came to creepy, crawly, or flying things, but apparently I am terrified of bats! It took me a couple of days to recover, and even though I didn't see the bat again after that first night I spent most of that time shut up in the master bedroom.
Friday, June 15, 2012
Commitment
It's been too long since my last post. I'm still struggling with getting back on track and staying the course - I've stayed around the same weight, within a pound or two either direction, for two months now. That's certainly better than gaining back what I lost, but if I don't get it together I will start gaining. I haven't been tracking my nutrition or even trying to eat healthy or sensibly, though I have at least tried to keep from going overboard most of the time. I also haven't been exercising hardly at all, other than the little I get when I water the garden or a walk now and then. In other words, more of the same I've been writing about for a while now.
It's past time I commit to a definite workout schedule and recommit to balanced nutrition. I'm not sure what time I'll be finished working for today, but I should have time this evening for a walk, so I'll start there and then walk tomorrow evening as well. I'll start with 30 minutes a day, five days next week, and work my way back up from there. I'll try mornings next week to see how that goes, then decide where to go from there. I'm going to start using SparkPeople to track everything again, and post here periodically to report my progress and update my goals.
It's past time I commit to a definite workout schedule and recommit to balanced nutrition. I'm not sure what time I'll be finished working for today, but I should have time this evening for a walk, so I'll start there and then walk tomorrow evening as well. I'll start with 30 minutes a day, five days next week, and work my way back up from there. I'll try mornings next week to see how that goes, then decide where to go from there. I'm going to start using SparkPeople to track everything again, and post here periodically to report my progress and update my goals.
Monday, May 28, 2012
Getting back to work
I mentioned before that I had been sick. I ended up getting worse after my last post, and I'm still sick now but nearly better. My exercise for the last week and a half has consisted almost entirely of watering the grass and vegetable garden. It really is a pretty decent workout, wrestling with the hose and getting everything watered, but I'm ready to start walking again too. Over the last week, I lost what I had gained back the week before, which is encouraging. Now to just keep moving in the right direction.
I really want to get in good enough shape to try running, but that will be a while. I've been looking at some tips for getting started, and I know there's a lot I can do now that will make the transition to running easier. Pushing myself harder, either faster or farther, during my walks is one big thing. It's something I need to be doing anyway just for the sake of getting enough exercise. Strengthening exercises are another plus, and though I will not be going to the gym again until fall, I'm planning some things I can do on my own at home. And finally, eating healthy, balanced meals so that I'm getting the proper nutrition is essential. Nothing new, I know, but definitely things I need to remember and keep working on. And while it will be several months at the earliest before I can even start running, it's good to have goals to look forward to!
I really want to get in good enough shape to try running, but that will be a while. I've been looking at some tips for getting started, and I know there's a lot I can do now that will make the transition to running easier. Pushing myself harder, either faster or farther, during my walks is one big thing. It's something I need to be doing anyway just for the sake of getting enough exercise. Strengthening exercises are another plus, and though I will not be going to the gym again until fall, I'm planning some things I can do on my own at home. And finally, eating healthy, balanced meals so that I'm getting the proper nutrition is essential. Nothing new, I know, but definitely things I need to remember and keep working on. And while it will be several months at the earliest before I can even start running, it's good to have goals to look forward to!
Sunday, May 20, 2012
Another week slipped by
So, I have let yet another week slip by me. I did make a decision about what I'll do for the summer for resistance training, but I didn't follow through with it yet, and now I'm having second thoughts about spending the money on it. I probably don't have the money for it now anyway. It's not so bad, as long as I keep doing -something- on my own. A few basic strength training exercises at home, plus cardio five or six days a week for the summer would be fine. Then I can start up at the rec center again in the Fall.
On Monday I had to make an emergency dentist visit. I got a temporary filling, and tomorrow I'm supposed to get foundation work done for crowns, but I might have to reschedule because I'm sick. I'm going to have to have two crowns - there goes all the money I had managed to save, and then some. That was supposed to go toward tuition in the Fall. I'm just hoping at this point that I don't have to have a root canal too. We're doing a wait and see game for that. I won't know for sure until the visit after
Oh right, I've been sick all week with a nasty head cold, which doesn't help anything. I really need to just push through and make myself get moving again. I know I won't be able to go full speed ahead until I'm well, but I'm not sick enough that I can't do anything at all. So I'm going to start small again. I'll take a leisurely walk this evening after I do the watering (newly planted grass and a vegetable garden). Tomorrow I'll walk a little harder, either faster or father or both, and progressively work my way back up to where I should be. I need to start blogging more often too. Maybe then I'll have more incentive to actually follow through with my exercise plan so I'll have something positive to write about!
On Monday I had to make an emergency dentist visit. I got a temporary filling, and tomorrow I'm supposed to get foundation work done for crowns, but I might have to reschedule because I'm sick. I'm going to have to have two crowns - there goes all the money I had managed to save, and then some. That was supposed to go toward tuition in the Fall. I'm just hoping at this point that I don't have to have a root canal too. We're doing a wait and see game for that. I won't know for sure until the visit after
Oh right, I've been sick all week with a nasty head cold, which doesn't help anything. I really need to just push through and make myself get moving again. I know I won't be able to go full speed ahead until I'm well, but I'm not sick enough that I can't do anything at all. So I'm going to start small again. I'll take a leisurely walk this evening after I do the watering (newly planted grass and a vegetable garden). Tomorrow I'll walk a little harder, either faster or father or both, and progressively work my way back up to where I should be. I need to start blogging more often too. Maybe then I'll have more incentive to actually follow through with my exercise plan so I'll have something positive to write about!
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
One hurdle down
Semester grades were made available online today, and I ended up faring better than expected! Two As, two Bs, and I have never been more thrilled about Bs than for those two classes. Especially Econometrics. That is the most challenging class I have ever taken. I am ecstatic that the semester went so well!
Yesterday and today, I have been so lazy, but that's not going to continue. I need to get back into a routine as far as meals and exercise are concerned, and especially sleep schedule. Tomorrow is decision day for what resistance training I will do through the summer. I'll also be spending time workout out some menu ideas tomorrow for the next few weeks. I'm working from 9am to 9pm on Friday, so that should help keep me from going too crazy with my sleep schedule - this week at least. When I'm at work is when I'm worst about what I eat though, so I'll need to plan carefully. I am determined to do better than I have in the past few weeks, doing more each day to improve my health and happiness.
Yesterday and today, I have been so lazy, but that's not going to continue. I need to get back into a routine as far as meals and exercise are concerned, and especially sleep schedule. Tomorrow is decision day for what resistance training I will do through the summer. I'll also be spending time workout out some menu ideas tomorrow for the next few weeks. I'm working from 9am to 9pm on Friday, so that should help keep me from going too crazy with my sleep schedule - this week at least. When I'm at work is when I'm worst about what I eat though, so I'll need to plan carefully. I am determined to do better than I have in the past few weeks, doing more each day to improve my health and happiness.
Sunday, May 6, 2012
Summer!
Well, I am finished with the semester! It feels great to have it done and behind me. I should know my grades tomorrow. I'm feeling pretty good about the semester. I have really loved being back in school, but I'm glad to have a break for the summer. None of my classes are offered during the summer, so I'll just focus on work and working on my health.
I still haven't settled on what to do for strength training for the summer. I keep going back and forth between paying $90 for a summer pass to the student rec center or buying a program my cousin recommended and working the program alongside her. The rec center works well for me, when I actually make myself go, but it might be nice to have more at-home workout options.
I still haven't settled on what to do for strength training for the summer. I keep going back and forth between paying $90 for a summer pass to the student rec center or buying a program my cousin recommended and working the program alongside her. The rec center works well for me, when I actually make myself go, but it might be nice to have more at-home workout options.
Saturday, April 28, 2012
Realizations
As I lose weight, I keep finding fun little changes to be amazed about. A few weeks or months go by, and one day I suddenly realize, "Oh hey, my nose is getting smaller!" or "Wow, even my shoes are too big!" One day this week, my realization of the day was that for the first time I can remember, I can now cross my legs comfortably. It is always heartening to have such reminders along the way of the success I am achieving one day at a time. My weight loss has slowed down a bit over the last few weeks, but mostly because I haven't been eating as well or exercising as much as I should.
I did feel like I was failing myself on a few occasions over the last few weeks, like when I gave in and had a binge on cookies, or put off going to the gym again (and again, still haven't been back for about three and a half weeks). But I have to put things in perspective. Considering how stressful school has become, I should be proud of myself for keeping it together as much as I have. If you let yourself, it's easy to get caught up in the idea that if you're not perfect on your diet or with your exercise plan (or whatever goal you are working for), you are a failure. I am not a failure. In spite of less than perfect diet and exercise, I have still continued to lose some weight, just not as much as I did when I was better about both. And sure, there have been a few times when I have been irresponsible about eating in the last few weeks, but I am still keeping track of everything I eat and keeping things under much better control than before I started making changes at the beginning of the year. So no, I'm not perfect, but I should not expect myself to be perfect either. The important thing is that I am moving in the right direction in spite of obstacles.
It's also important that I recognize the obstacles I face and the mistakes I make along the way, because if I'm not learning from my experiences what good is it all? The simple fact that I am monitoring my nutrition and activity level helps me to learn so much more as I go. I feel so much more encouraged today than I did last week or the week before.
I did feel like I was failing myself on a few occasions over the last few weeks, like when I gave in and had a binge on cookies, or put off going to the gym again (and again, still haven't been back for about three and a half weeks). But I have to put things in perspective. Considering how stressful school has become, I should be proud of myself for keeping it together as much as I have. If you let yourself, it's easy to get caught up in the idea that if you're not perfect on your diet or with your exercise plan (or whatever goal you are working for), you are a failure. I am not a failure. In spite of less than perfect diet and exercise, I have still continued to lose some weight, just not as much as I did when I was better about both. And sure, there have been a few times when I have been irresponsible about eating in the last few weeks, but I am still keeping track of everything I eat and keeping things under much better control than before I started making changes at the beginning of the year. So no, I'm not perfect, but I should not expect myself to be perfect either. The important thing is that I am moving in the right direction in spite of obstacles.
It's also important that I recognize the obstacles I face and the mistakes I make along the way, because if I'm not learning from my experiences what good is it all? The simple fact that I am monitoring my nutrition and activity level helps me to learn so much more as I go. I feel so much more encouraged today than I did last week or the week before.
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Excited for Summer!
It has been three weeks since I made it to the gym for resistance training. I have been super busy with school and work, but that's really just an excuse. I could have planned my time better and made working out a higher priority, but I just didn't. Definitely need to work on that. I have still been getting some walking in, but not as much as I should. I'm still undecided about whether to pay for a summer pass to the rec center (since I'm not taking classes and therefore not paying the mandatory fee to use the facilities over the summer), or find another workout program. I had better make up my mind soon though, since there are only two days left of classes and then a week of finals, then the semester will be over!
This morning I had a group presentation in my English composition class, which was the last major project for the course. All that I have left is to attend one more class period, and then show up for the final to get my last paper back and do an easy writing activity. I didn't have time to think about that right away since I have my Computer Science class right after English, but as I was heading to my car and then driving home after CS, I just felt giddy. A huge weight had been lifted from my shoulders - I finished my writing class, which is something that I have been struggling with for a while, and I did really well in it! I still have a good bit of work to do for my Math Software and Econometrics classes, but nothing that I can't handle in the time I have to do it. I am so excited about finishing the semester!
This morning I had a group presentation in my English composition class, which was the last major project for the course. All that I have left is to attend one more class period, and then show up for the final to get my last paper back and do an easy writing activity. I didn't have time to think about that right away since I have my Computer Science class right after English, but as I was heading to my car and then driving home after CS, I just felt giddy. A huge weight had been lifted from my shoulders - I finished my writing class, which is something that I have been struggling with for a while, and I did really well in it! I still have a good bit of work to do for my Math Software and Econometrics classes, but nothing that I can't handle in the time I have to do it. I am so excited about finishing the semester!
Monday, April 16, 2012
In a slump
Last week I didn't make it to the gym. I just had too much to do and not enough time to do it all, so of course I wasted my time doing things I didn't need to do instead of going to the gym or getting started on Math Software labs or other homework that is due later this week or next week. Fun times. Did I mention I am the master of procrastination? I would feel much better and less stressed if I managed my time better and paced myself with homework, and especially if I exercised more faithfully, but I'm not there yet. I can acknowledge this as a problem, so that's a start.
I haven't been as good about my diet the last couple of weeks, so between that and my minimal exercise my progress has slowed. I feel like I'm almost at the point I was just over two years ago when I gave up on healthy nutrition after losing 20-25 pounds. I'm not giving up this time. I am determined to make it, to develop healthy habits to last a lifetime, to look and feel better, and especially to treat my body better over all. I'm just in a bit of a slump right now, but I know I can pull myself out of it and get back on track.
You'll notice I haven't been as good about blogging either. It's so much easier to blog when I have something positive to write about, but I think it's just as important to keep some kind of record of the down times so I'll be able to look back on them and remember what I learned.
I haven't been as good about my diet the last couple of weeks, so between that and my minimal exercise my progress has slowed. I feel like I'm almost at the point I was just over two years ago when I gave up on healthy nutrition after losing 20-25 pounds. I'm not giving up this time. I am determined to make it, to develop healthy habits to last a lifetime, to look and feel better, and especially to treat my body better over all. I'm just in a bit of a slump right now, but I know I can pull myself out of it and get back on track.
You'll notice I haven't been as good about blogging either. It's so much easier to blog when I have something positive to write about, but I think it's just as important to keep some kind of record of the down times so I'll be able to look back on them and remember what I learned.
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
Too busy to work out?
I haven't made the time to work out yet this week. I really need to make myself get to the gym in the morning since my evenings are full with work and studying and writing research papers. I especially need to work out for stress relief right now, because classes are very stressful. Only two and a half weeks of class left, but those two and a half weeks are packed with homework. I have a group research project and individual essay for English Composition, one more homework assignment and a research project for Econometrics, three labs for Math Software (last week's lab took eight hours to get through half of it, so these can get pretty ridiculous), three labs for Computer Science and one or two programming assignments, and studying for three final exams. And that's just the list of things for school.
The last couple of weeks, I just have not felt like I have enough time to work out. I only made it to the gym twice last week, which isn't too bad, but I'm afraid I won't make it to the gym this week until at least Thursday unless I make myself go first thing in the morning tomorrow. I haven't been getting as much walking in either, partly because my leg isn't fully recovered yet, but mostly because I have just been in too much of a rush. I plan on making time for at least a walk tomorrow no matter how busy I am, because I really need to take that time to decompress.
Question of the day: Do you ever feel like you're so busy you just don't have time to exercise, but at the same time you know that's when you need to the most?
It's so important to make exercise a priority, not just for physical health, but for mental health as well. Having that time that's just for me to reflect as I work out, taking the time to be active and relieve stress, is something new to me over these last couple of months. I have to make a very conscious effort to plan exercise into my day, and I probably always will have to - it's just not a natural part of the way I operate, but I would like it to become that.
(Edit: Just got back from a walk and visit with a good friend. I actually looked up and saw her out the window as I was about to post the above, and had to drop everything and go out to say hello. I went ahead and joined her for a brisk walk and ended up spending some much-needed time not thinking about school as we caught up. Between the exercise, conversation, and laughter, I feel much rejuvenated!)
The last couple of weeks, I just have not felt like I have enough time to work out. I only made it to the gym twice last week, which isn't too bad, but I'm afraid I won't make it to the gym this week until at least Thursday unless I make myself go first thing in the morning tomorrow. I haven't been getting as much walking in either, partly because my leg isn't fully recovered yet, but mostly because I have just been in too much of a rush. I plan on making time for at least a walk tomorrow no matter how busy I am, because I really need to take that time to decompress.
Question of the day: Do you ever feel like you're so busy you just don't have time to exercise, but at the same time you know that's when you need to the most?
It's so important to make exercise a priority, not just for physical health, but for mental health as well. Having that time that's just for me to reflect as I work out, taking the time to be active and relieve stress, is something new to me over these last couple of months. I have to make a very conscious effort to plan exercise into my day, and I probably always will have to - it's just not a natural part of the way I operate, but I would like it to become that.
(Edit: Just got back from a walk and visit with a good friend. I actually looked up and saw her out the window as I was about to post the above, and had to drop everything and go out to say hello. I went ahead and joined her for a brisk walk and ended up spending some much-needed time not thinking about school as we caught up. Between the exercise, conversation, and laughter, I feel much rejuvenated!)
Saturday, April 7, 2012
Minor setback
Somehow I strained or pulled a muscle in my leg the other day. I first noticed there was a problem as I was heading to bed, but I have no idea what I did to hurt myself. I ended up missing a workout because of it, but sometimes that's the best thing for your body - have to give it time to rest and recuperate.
I'm getting excited about the semester being over. Maybe a little too excited. I need to get my head back in the game for these last three weeks of class and then finals. No counting chickens before they hatch and all that. But still, just four weeks! I am so ready for this semester to be over. Of course, I have another four or more semesters after this one, but I'll have the summer to recharge - I really need it!
I switched my weigh-in day to Saturdays, so this morning I weighed myself. I am down less than half a pound since last Saturday, but I'm okay with that. I'm just glad it was that direction instead of a gain for the week. It was a stressful week, and for most of it I either wasn't feeling well or was recovering from my mystery injury, so my diet and exercise were not the greatest. I'm already feeling better now, and I'm sure I'll do better in the coming week.
Looking forward to Easter with the family tomorrow, but not so much the temptations that come along with it in the form of rich foods and desserts and candy.
Question of the day: What's your favorite (or most tempting) treat at family gatherings?
Mine is pumpkin pie at Thanksgiving and Christmas, and anything chocolate at Easter. Right is a picture of LIBBY'S® Famous Pumpkin Pie from verybestbaking.com - pretty much just like the pie my mom makes.
I'm getting excited about the semester being over. Maybe a little too excited. I need to get my head back in the game for these last three weeks of class and then finals. No counting chickens before they hatch and all that. But still, just four weeks! I am so ready for this semester to be over. Of course, I have another four or more semesters after this one, but I'll have the summer to recharge - I really need it!
I switched my weigh-in day to Saturdays, so this morning I weighed myself. I am down less than half a pound since last Saturday, but I'm okay with that. I'm just glad it was that direction instead of a gain for the week. It was a stressful week, and for most of it I either wasn't feeling well or was recovering from my mystery injury, so my diet and exercise were not the greatest. I'm already feeling better now, and I'm sure I'll do better in the coming week.
Looking forward to Easter with the family tomorrow, but not so much the temptations that come along with it in the form of rich foods and desserts and candy.
Question of the day: What's your favorite (or most tempting) treat at family gatherings?
Mine is pumpkin pie at Thanksgiving and Christmas, and anything chocolate at Easter. Right is a picture of LIBBY'S® Famous Pumpkin Pie from verybestbaking.com - pretty much just like the pie my mom makes.
Monday, April 2, 2012
It's Spring!
It has felt like spring here in Indiana for almost a month now. It looks like late spring outside, vibrant and green, and last week all the trees were in bloom. Today was yet another gorgeous day. Sunny and sixties, just the perfect weather. I absolutely love this time of year!
I had a great workout at the gym today. I walked a 16:33 mile, which is my fastest pace to date, and I didn't really feel like I was pushing myself as hard as I could have. It was my warm up before lifting, so I didn't want to push myself too much. I have been steadily increasing my pace on the treadmill. It's harder to gauge my pace when walking outside (which I also did today), especially when I forget to use the stopwatch on my phone, or walk a route I didn't map out, or various other circumstances. I'm really tempted to buy a piece of equipment to track my pace and distance, but I really don't have the money for more gadgets right now.
I've been thinking more about starting a section on my blog for workout tips and tidbits. I'm going to start putting a few things together as I have time, then I'll post it here to see what you all think.
Question of the day: Because yesterday was April Fool's Day, what was your all-time favorite April Fool's joke (either made by you or played on you)?
I've never done any particularly impressive April Fool's jokes, but one of my favorites was the year my brother Paul was born. He was born on March 30, and I waited to tell my classmates until April 1st. They were all positive that I was trying to fool them, which was, of course, the reason I waited to tell them until then!
I had a great workout at the gym today. I walked a 16:33 mile, which is my fastest pace to date, and I didn't really feel like I was pushing myself as hard as I could have. It was my warm up before lifting, so I didn't want to push myself too much. I have been steadily increasing my pace on the treadmill. It's harder to gauge my pace when walking outside (which I also did today), especially when I forget to use the stopwatch on my phone, or walk a route I didn't map out, or various other circumstances. I'm really tempted to buy a piece of equipment to track my pace and distance, but I really don't have the money for more gadgets right now.
I've been thinking more about starting a section on my blog for workout tips and tidbits. I'm going to start putting a few things together as I have time, then I'll post it here to see what you all think.
Question of the day: Because yesterday was April Fool's Day, what was your all-time favorite April Fool's joke (either made by you or played on you)?
I've never done any particularly impressive April Fool's jokes, but one of my favorites was the year my brother Paul was born. He was born on March 30, and I waited to tell my classmates until April 1st. They were all positive that I was trying to fool them, which was, of course, the reason I waited to tell them until then!
Saturday, March 31, 2012
Still plodding along!
I slept beautifully last night, and had a nice relaxed day today. My week was pretty busy and stressful, so it was nice to just be able to unwind today. I probably spent a little too much time unwinding and not enough preparing for the coming week, but I really did need to relax. I'll just have to plan my time better during the week to make sure I get everything done!
I'm planning morning workouts for next week, Monday/Wednesday/Friday, to see how that works for getting my day started when I have a busy day ahead. I don't start classes until 10, so I don't have to go super early to exercise, but it will still be a challenge. I'm the kind of person who likes to stay in bed until the last minute, until I roll out of bed and have to hurry to get ready that is. I've been better about that since I started keeping a food log, since I know I have to make time for a good breakfast. Still, some days I end up grabbing something fast on my way out the door.
Today, I feel like this turtle. Sometimes I get to thinking about how long the road ahead of me is and how it is going to take ages to get where I really want to be, and it's hard not to groan or get discouraged. But then I remind myself that the important thing is that I keep going. Just keep plodding along, and little by little, I'll make it. It has been so helpful to have smaller goals that are easily within reach. I have weekly goals, monthly goals, and quarterly goals that are close enough to keep me motivated. It also feels great to accomplish the smaller goals and have that extra boost along the way. So, even if it sometimes seems like I'm a turtle who just passed the first few yards of a mile-long journey, I'm still plodding along!
Question of the day: What animal do you relate to today?
I'm planning morning workouts for next week, Monday/Wednesday/Friday, to see how that works for getting my day started when I have a busy day ahead. I don't start classes until 10, so I don't have to go super early to exercise, but it will still be a challenge. I'm the kind of person who likes to stay in bed until the last minute, until I roll out of bed and have to hurry to get ready that is. I've been better about that since I started keeping a food log, since I know I have to make time for a good breakfast. Still, some days I end up grabbing something fast on my way out the door.
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| photo from animal.discovery.com |
Question of the day: What animal do you relate to today?
Friday, March 30, 2012
Summer is just around the corner!
Summer break, that is. Four weeks left of classes, then finals. I am so ready for the break. This has been a pretty intense semester, but I have weathered through rather well so far. I ended up working extra hours yesterday, and had a ton of homework to do, so I didn't make it to the gym as planned. I really ought to try working out first thing in the morning. I'm just not a morning person!
I can really feel the difference on the days I miss a workout. For instance, last night I slept horribly. That's pretty normal for me, or was before I started exercising regularly, but it's so much more noticeable after sleeping better due to working out for the last few weeks. One more reason to do better at sticking to my workout schedule. So on that note, I think I'll head to the gym this evening!
I can really feel the difference on the days I miss a workout. For instance, last night I slept horribly. That's pretty normal for me, or was before I started exercising regularly, but it's so much more noticeable after sleeping better due to working out for the last few weeks. One more reason to do better at sticking to my workout schedule. So on that note, I think I'll head to the gym this evening!
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Before and After
So, as promised (sorry I didn't get it up yesterday), here is one of my before and after sets. It's not the best comparison, but it's what I have on hand at the moment. The before picture (left) was taken on 23 January 2012, and the after picture was taken on 18 March after I hit the 25 pound weight loss mark. I'll see about getting a better comparison, but this will do for now! As of Tuesday (27 March), I had lost 28 pounds total since the beginning of the year, 9 of which were lost during the 30-day challenge. I also lost roughly 4% body fat over the course of the 30 days (I don't have numbers from before then).
(edit: I had another 'after' picture taken a few moments ago, this one from the side. Hopefully below is a better comparison.)
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
It's official
My 30 day challenge is officially over, and I'm generally pleased with my progress. I have really enjoyed resistance training, much more than I ever expected. It's late, so I'll give a full update in the morning including before and after pics. Next up: finishing my research paper on my experiences during the challenge and the accompanying research I did on strength training and weight loss.
Monday, March 26, 2012
Only the beginning!
Tomorrow is the end of the 30-day challenge for my English class. I feel pretty good about the success I have had with the challenge, and I consider this just the beginning of my resistance training experience. I am in it for the long haul, as part of my plan to get healthy and stay healthy. I'll be hitting the weights Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday this week, and I'll likely follow that schedule for the rest of the semester.
The 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, published by the US Department of Health and Human Services, recommend muscle strengthening exercises for all muscle groups on two or more days a week in addition to a minimum of 150 minutes a week of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise for all healthy adults. That's just to maintain a standard of health. For those (like me) who are working toward a healthy weight and improved strength, these guidelines recommend 300 minutes a week of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise. The nurse practitioner at the BSU Health Center recommended that I work up to 45 minutes of aerobic exercise a day, five days a week minimum, which I have trouble sticking to some days because I'm a master of procrastination and making excuses. I'm going to keep working at it. I have improved my walking pace, but I still need to work on walking longer - especially on the days I'm not at the gym. 10 to 15 minutes at a time is a good start, as long as I get up to a total of 45 minutes or more for the day, but it's far better (and more efficient!) to have continuous exercise for the full 45 to 60 minutes.
Question of the day: What are your fitness goals?
My short-term goal is to get a minimum of 45 minutes aerobic exercise on each of five days this week (Tuesday-Saturday), in addition to sticking to my resistance training schedule. One of my long(er)-term goals is to become fit enough to start running.
The 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, published by the US Department of Health and Human Services, recommend muscle strengthening exercises for all muscle groups on two or more days a week in addition to a minimum of 150 minutes a week of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise for all healthy adults. That's just to maintain a standard of health. For those (like me) who are working toward a healthy weight and improved strength, these guidelines recommend 300 minutes a week of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise. The nurse practitioner at the BSU Health Center recommended that I work up to 45 minutes of aerobic exercise a day, five days a week minimum, which I have trouble sticking to some days because I'm a master of procrastination and making excuses. I'm going to keep working at it. I have improved my walking pace, but I still need to work on walking longer - especially on the days I'm not at the gym. 10 to 15 minutes at a time is a good start, as long as I get up to a total of 45 minutes or more for the day, but it's far better (and more efficient!) to have continuous exercise for the full 45 to 60 minutes.
Question of the day: What are your fitness goals?
My short-term goal is to get a minimum of 45 minutes aerobic exercise on each of five days this week (Tuesday-Saturday), in addition to sticking to my resistance training schedule. One of my long(er)-term goals is to become fit enough to start running.
Saturday, March 24, 2012
Great day!
Happy weekend everyone! I had a great day today. I slept better last night than I have in a while. I felt good this morning when I got up. I had a fun afternoon with my niece and nephews. And finally, I had an amazing workout. I worked hard and felt great, and now I feel rejuvenated. I really needed that after the way I felt most of the week.
Exercise is good for you, and it generally makes you happier and relieves stress. So why is it so hard to get out there and do it? Of course, one reason for me is that I'm lazy - or at least I try to minimize the amount of work I have to do. It's going to take time for me to build up exercise habits, and even longer for exercise to come more easily for me I imagine. But it's definitely worth the work. Already I'm feeling much stronger, I have more energy, and I'm able to walk faster. I don't have adequate data to say whether I'm losing more fat now than I was before I started resistance training, but I know that the weight I'm losing now is predominantly fat. I invested in a body fat monitor so I could track my body fat percentage - I only wish I had it sooner for a comparison between my weight loss with and without exercise.
Question of the day: This is a bit different from the usual questions - What content would you most like to see added to my blog?
I have been planning on posting before and after pictures, just haven't gotten to it yet, but that's definitely on my list of things to add. I'm also looking at organizing a section of diet and exercise tips, things that I have learned from my research and put into practice, during this 30-day challenge and before. What would you find most interesting or helpful?
Exercise is good for you, and it generally makes you happier and relieves stress. So why is it so hard to get out there and do it? Of course, one reason for me is that I'm lazy - or at least I try to minimize the amount of work I have to do. It's going to take time for me to build up exercise habits, and even longer for exercise to come more easily for me I imagine. But it's definitely worth the work. Already I'm feeling much stronger, I have more energy, and I'm able to walk faster. I don't have adequate data to say whether I'm losing more fat now than I was before I started resistance training, but I know that the weight I'm losing now is predominantly fat. I invested in a body fat monitor so I could track my body fat percentage - I only wish I had it sooner for a comparison between my weight loss with and without exercise.
Question of the day: This is a bit different from the usual questions - What content would you most like to see added to my blog?
I have been planning on posting before and after pictures, just haven't gotten to it yet, but that's definitely on my list of things to add. I'm also looking at organizing a section of diet and exercise tips, things that I have learned from my research and put into practice, during this 30-day challenge and before. What would you find most interesting or helpful?
Friday, March 23, 2012
I'm a slacker
I haven't posted in a few days because I just haven't felt like it. I also skipped yesterday's workout. It's the first time I have missed a workout entirely, but I'm not going to get too down on myself over it. I was pondering working out today instead of tomorrow, and at this point I still could, but I haven't decided yet. That means I probably won't be going to work out this evening, because that's how it usually works. In order to get something done, you first have to decide to do it.
It's been kind of an off week in general. Sunday and Monday were pretty good, but it mostly went downhill from there. I'm not giving up though. This just means I need to pick myself up and get back on track. I wasn't so faithful about eating healthy meals, though I didn't exceed my daily calories - I just need to renew my commitment to make healthy diet choices. I wasn't as good about walking every day - I need to redouble my efforts to be consistent with exercise. I missed a resistance training workout - I need to get back to the gym and back to my routine.
The most important factor in making a diet and exercise program successful is sticking with it. Don't let the bumps in the road lead to giving up. Just keep at it!
Question of the day: What do you do to pull yourself out of a funk - like when you're having a particularly blah day or week?
I'm not always very good at this, but I usually try to find something to make me laugh or something to remind me how blessed I am.
It's been kind of an off week in general. Sunday and Monday were pretty good, but it mostly went downhill from there. I'm not giving up though. This just means I need to pick myself up and get back on track. I wasn't so faithful about eating healthy meals, though I didn't exceed my daily calories - I just need to renew my commitment to make healthy diet choices. I wasn't as good about walking every day - I need to redouble my efforts to be consistent with exercise. I missed a resistance training workout - I need to get back to the gym and back to my routine.
The most important factor in making a diet and exercise program successful is sticking with it. Don't let the bumps in the road lead to giving up. Just keep at it!
Question of the day: What do you do to pull yourself out of a funk - like when you're having a particularly blah day or week?
I'm not always very good at this, but I usually try to find something to make me laugh or something to remind me how blessed I am.
Monday, March 19, 2012
Busy workout day!
I had another busy day today between classes, meal planning, homework, working out, and keeping up with blogs. Busy is good, I feel so productive when I make it through a busy day and accomplish most of what I set out to do. I was tempted to skip my evening class to spend the time on other things, but I'm glad I didn't, because we have an exam coming up and he spent some time going over what will be on it. I'm also glad I didn't put off my workout, though I was very tempted. I walked to my car after class for my warm-up, then I was tempted to go home and have dinner and come back to campus later. I made myself go directly to the gym instead, and had a really good workout. I did a slightly modified routine because of my bruised leg, but I worked the same muscle groups as usual. I substituted the leg press for leg extensions and leg curls, since the leg extension machine would have been very painful because the bar hits right across the knot and bruise above my ankle. I think I like the leg press better anyway. I'm getting the idea that maybe I should try to mix it up with some of my other exercises as well to see if there is a better fit for me.
The fitness area at the rec center was very busy this evening, but my workout wasn't delayed. I did change up the order of exercises based on which machines were available, so I really only ended up having to wait on one machine. I had a great walk on the treadmill after I finished with the weights. I pushed myself to walk faster for longer, starting at an 18:10 minute/mile pace for two and a half minutes, then speeding up to 16:40 for ten minutes. Jeopardy was on television at this point, so I had a nice distraction trying to come up with the correct questions. Engaging my mind in that way is better than just passively watching a show or listening to music - a better distraction that makes the time seem to go by faster.
Question of the day: What is your favorite distraction, whether during a workout or just passing the time?
In general, my distraction of choice is reading. I haven't tried getting audiobooks to listen to while I work out yet, but I think I'll line some up in the near future. I also enjoy trivia and puzzles!
The fitness area at the rec center was very busy this evening, but my workout wasn't delayed. I did change up the order of exercises based on which machines were available, so I really only ended up having to wait on one machine. I had a great walk on the treadmill after I finished with the weights. I pushed myself to walk faster for longer, starting at an 18:10 minute/mile pace for two and a half minutes, then speeding up to 16:40 for ten minutes. Jeopardy was on television at this point, so I had a nice distraction trying to come up with the correct questions. Engaging my mind in that way is better than just passively watching a show or listening to music - a better distraction that makes the time seem to go by faster.
Question of the day: What is your favorite distraction, whether during a workout or just passing the time?
In general, my distraction of choice is reading. I haven't tried getting audiobooks to listen to while I work out yet, but I think I'll line some up in the near future. I also enjoy trivia and puzzles!
Sunday, March 18, 2012
Feeling much better!
I was pretty under the weather when I posted last night, but my workout yesterday really wasn't that bad. I tried a few things differently, like changing my pace when lifting and doing biceps curls one arm at a time instead of both. The latter was a good idea, as it turns out the main problem I was having with biceps curls before was that the machine just isn't a comfortable fit for me to lift with both arms at once. I will probably do my biceps curls this way from now on. I will have to make some other modifications in my next workout too, because I bruised my leg just above the ankle this afternoon, so I won't be able to use the leg extension machine for a few days.
In spite of not getting enough sleep last night (again), I was feeling so much better when I got up this morning. I received a lot of positive comments and encouragement from friends at church, who noticed that I have lost weight. That's always nice! Beyond the comments from others, I also saw myself in a full-length mirror for the first time since before I started losing weight. I just had to smile and think to myself, "Wow, I really am losing weight!" I mean, I know I am - I feel the difference in my energy level, in how my clothes fit, in the number on the scale, in the monthly measurements I take - but it's different to really SEE the changes.
I had my dad take a couple of pictures today, and they're not too bad, but I'm not going to post yet because I need to see if I can find a better before picture. The one that I have is at a weird angle, so it doesn't give an accurate comparison.
Question of the day: What is the strangest compliment you have ever received?
I have noticed that if you are losing weight, unless you bring up the topic of weight first, people tend to dance around it a bit when they notice and want to compliment you. I can't remember any specific comments at the moment, but I have received some that were pretty off-the-wall - I wish I had written them down at the time!
In spite of not getting enough sleep last night (again), I was feeling so much better when I got up this morning. I received a lot of positive comments and encouragement from friends at church, who noticed that I have lost weight. That's always nice! Beyond the comments from others, I also saw myself in a full-length mirror for the first time since before I started losing weight. I just had to smile and think to myself, "Wow, I really am losing weight!" I mean, I know I am - I feel the difference in my energy level, in how my clothes fit, in the number on the scale, in the monthly measurements I take - but it's different to really SEE the changes.
I had my dad take a couple of pictures today, and they're not too bad, but I'm not going to post yet because I need to see if I can find a better before picture. The one that I have is at a weird angle, so it doesn't give an accurate comparison.
Question of the day: What is the strangest compliment you have ever received?
I have noticed that if you are losing weight, unless you bring up the topic of weight first, people tend to dance around it a bit when they notice and want to compliment you. I can't remember any specific comments at the moment, but I have received some that were pretty off-the-wall - I wish I had written them down at the time!
Saturday, March 17, 2012
Tomorrow is another day.
Had a pretty lousy day today. I woke up feeling sick, so I stayed home from the activity I had been planning on going to. By evening I felt somewhat better and decided to make myself go work out, and just take it easy if I needed to, or stop if I started feeling ill again. I made it through my regular workout, but I still just wasn't feeling great even by the time I was finished. And now I'm back to feeling gross again. I guess not every workout can be a great workout after all, and sometimes there are gross days. But tomorrow is another day.
A few people have asked me if I'm going to do before and after pictures to show my progress in getting fit, both for my own benefit and for sharing with others. I plan on posting some pictures here on the blog in the near future, so that's something to look forward to.
Question of the day: What's your favorite comfort food?
I like soup and a grilled cheese sandwich if it's a cold or grey day. I need to find some healthy soup recipes, since canned soup is pretty much a no-go because of too much sodium.
A few people have asked me if I'm going to do before and after pictures to show my progress in getting fit, both for my own benefit and for sharing with others. I plan on posting some pictures here on the blog in the near future, so that's something to look forward to.
Question of the day: What's your favorite comfort food?
I like soup and a grilled cheese sandwich if it's a cold or grey day. I need to find some healthy soup recipes, since canned soup is pretty much a no-go because of too much sodium.
Friday, March 16, 2012
I need new clothes!
I'm going to have to break down and buy new clothes sooner than I had planned - they're just way too big now! Such a wonderful problem to have!
My feet were rather sore this morning from yesterday's workout. I pushed my warm-up walking harder than I have before, and it showed today. I had to take it a little easier walking today because of it, but that's alright - certainly better than pushing myself too hard and ending up with an injury. Tomorrow is going to be a rather full day with a program for the women's organization at church, my workout, and homework. I like keeping busy, as long as it's not too busy.
I'm well over half-way into my 30 day challenge, and I have come to realize that I have a bit more research to do for the paper I am writing to go along with my research and experiences. My original research was good for preparing me to plan my resistance training and get started, but I'm thinking I need to branch out a little for the purpose of my research paper. One thing I'd like to look at is a comparison between resistance training programs for people at different fitness levels. My focus up until now has been on nutrition and fitness for the purpose of weight loss, since that is what applies to my specific situation, but it would be useful to know how to address the wide range of fitness levels among my audience.
Question of the day: What types of exercise would you include in your own custom fitness program - what exercises do you enjoy/are you most likely to stick to?
So far, I'm still working up to getting in good enough shape so that I have more options for exercise. I'd like to try a lot of different things, like running or zumba or any number of high-intensity aerobic exercises, and find what works best for me.
My feet were rather sore this morning from yesterday's workout. I pushed my warm-up walking harder than I have before, and it showed today. I had to take it a little easier walking today because of it, but that's alright - certainly better than pushing myself too hard and ending up with an injury. Tomorrow is going to be a rather full day with a program for the women's organization at church, my workout, and homework. I like keeping busy, as long as it's not too busy.
I'm well over half-way into my 30 day challenge, and I have come to realize that I have a bit more research to do for the paper I am writing to go along with my research and experiences. My original research was good for preparing me to plan my resistance training and get started, but I'm thinking I need to branch out a little for the purpose of my research paper. One thing I'd like to look at is a comparison between resistance training programs for people at different fitness levels. My focus up until now has been on nutrition and fitness for the purpose of weight loss, since that is what applies to my specific situation, but it would be useful to know how to address the wide range of fitness levels among my audience.
Question of the day: What types of exercise would you include in your own custom fitness program - what exercises do you enjoy/are you most likely to stick to?
So far, I'm still working up to getting in good enough shape so that I have more options for exercise. I'd like to try a lot of different things, like running or zumba or any number of high-intensity aerobic exercises, and find what works best for me.
Thursday, March 15, 2012
Do it anyway!
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| Tonight's workout |
I'm so glad I did. I had my best workout yet - worked harder, got into a good rhythm, increased most of the weights I was lifting, and ended up so energized! I know I keep saying how great a workout I had after every workout so far, but tonight's workout was just awesome. The difference in how I felt before starting my workout and after completing it is really quite amazing. So, when I'm just not feeling like working out, my new mantra for getting myself to the gym is, "Do it anyway!"
On another note, I reached 200 page views today! Thank you all for coming to share in my experiences. I especially appreciate the comments you write, keep them coming!
Mine so far have been more for postponing than missing entirely, and they include "I don't feel like it", "I'm too tired", "I have too much to do", and "I don't need to work out today, I can always do it tomorrow".
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Sweet!
It's funny how when I'm consciously eating healthy and balanced meals there are days when I have a hard time coming up with enough calories. Today was one of those days. How did I resolve the issue this time? Ice cream. One half-cup serving of strawberry ice cream left over from my nephew's birthday dinner. It is delicious. I think I enjoy it more now than I would have in the past. Since staring my diet back in January, I rarely have desserts, but I don't deny myself completely. I think that's one key for me to succeed. I don't feel deprived, because I'm eating food that is healthy, but that I also enjoy. And on occasion, that includes a treat or dessert. And I know it's working because I have lost 25 pounds so far (as of my weigh-in this morning).
Question of the day: When you're in the mood for a treat, what do you usually go for?
I enjoy a lot of different things, but most often it's something chocolate.
Question of the day: When you're in the mood for a treat, what do you usually go for?
I enjoy a lot of different things, but most often it's something chocolate.
Monday, March 12, 2012
Happy Monday!
So I'm not usually a fan of Mondays, especially the Monday after Spring Break, but today was a good day. I decided to switch to M/W/F for my strength training schedule this week, and had a great workout tonight. I went right after my evening class, so between 7 and 8pm. It was pretty busy both at the treadmills and other cardio machines, and down in the weight room, so I had to wait an extra minute or two here and there for some of the weight machines. That's okay though, it was nice to see so many people working out. Tonight's workout:
I've been reflecting the last few days on why it is I chose resistance training for my immersive research project. The biggest reason is definitely because I want to develop a healthy lifestyle, and strength training is one of the keys to a healthy body. Of course, part of my motivation is to help with my weight loss goals, but that in itself is just another aspect of getting healthy. In my research leading up to this immersion project, I read several articles that commented on the benefits of resistance training, and one of the common points was that building muscle, increasing lean tissue mass, raises your resting metabolic rate. That means you burn more calories even at rest since lean tissue requires more calories. That's something I hadn't thought about before. Another big bonus from strength training is that in addition to building muscle, it strengthens bone and helps prevent osteoporosis. That becomes more and more important as we get older, especially for women. Here's to building a life-long habit of exercise, including strength training!
Question of the day: What do you like most about exercise?
I love that I have more energy throughout the day and just generally feel better when I exercise.
I've been reflecting the last few days on why it is I chose resistance training for my immersive research project. The biggest reason is definitely because I want to develop a healthy lifestyle, and strength training is one of the keys to a healthy body. Of course, part of my motivation is to help with my weight loss goals, but that in itself is just another aspect of getting healthy. In my research leading up to this immersion project, I read several articles that commented on the benefits of resistance training, and one of the common points was that building muscle, increasing lean tissue mass, raises your resting metabolic rate. That means you burn more calories even at rest since lean tissue requires more calories. That's something I hadn't thought about before. Another big bonus from strength training is that in addition to building muscle, it strengthens bone and helps prevent osteoporosis. That becomes more and more important as we get older, especially for women. Here's to building a life-long habit of exercise, including strength training!
Question of the day: What do you like most about exercise?
I love that I have more energy throughout the day and just generally feel better when I exercise.
Saturday, March 10, 2012
Busy day!
I feel like I've been going non-stop all day! Between errands, meal preparation, exercise, more meal preparation, and more exercise, I've had a very full day. I was so tempted to skip the gym today, but I already felt guilty for putting it off until today so I made myself do it anyway. Even with how busy I was, I'm glad I took the time to work out anyway. Based on how I'm feeling right now, I would say my lower back muscles were worked the hardest today. That would be from a combination of the cardio, weight lifting, running errands, and food preparation, I do believe. Here's tonight's workout:
I am hosting a birthday dinner for my nephew tomorrow, and I spent this evening putting together a lasagna and baking a birthday cake. It took me longer to prepare that lasagna than ever before because I was measuring every single ingredient and carefully portioning them between layers. Normally I would pretty much just throw things together, but I'm still counting calories so I needed to know exactly what went into it. Eating a balanced, healthy diet is a lot of work, but it is definitely worth it to me to stick to it.
Question of the day: When life gets really busy, how do you make sure you're still getting the exercise you need?
Question of the day: When life gets really busy, how do you make sure you're still getting the exercise you need?
Friday, March 9, 2012
So tired...
I didn't make it over to the rec center today, and at this point I won't have a chance to get there before it closes at 9 tonight. I haven't decided whether to try some strength exercises at home tonight, or go to the rec center to work out tomorrow. Probably the latter because using weight machines gives me more control over how much I am working my muscles and how many muscle groups I am working. I'm considering taking a fitness class for body toning so I can learn some more dynamic exercises to add variety to my workouts, but I'm not sure I'm ready for that yet.
I have been so tired all week. I really need to do something about my sleep schedule. That is something I have always struggled with between insomnia, procrastination, and getting too involved in reading or some other activity long past a sensible bed time. During breaks I just let my schedule get out of hand, mostly because I know I don't have anywhere to be in the morning so I don't make myself get to bed at a reasonable time. I need to work on that, especially because of the impact poor sleep has on health.
Question of the day: What do you do to keep a healthy sleep schedule, or what keeps you from sleeping as you should?
I have been so tired all week. I really need to do something about my sleep schedule. That is something I have always struggled with between insomnia, procrastination, and getting too involved in reading or some other activity long past a sensible bed time. During breaks I just let my schedule get out of hand, mostly because I know I don't have anywhere to be in the morning so I don't make myself get to bed at a reasonable time. I need to work on that, especially because of the impact poor sleep has on health.
Question of the day: What do you do to keep a healthy sleep schedule, or what keeps you from sleeping as you should?
Thursday, March 8, 2012
KFC is evil
I very rarely have fried chicken, but I love the taste of KFC extra crispy, usually breast meat. The family I sit for several evenings a week brings KFC for dinner at least once every two weeks, sometimes more. Tonight was a KFC night, and it was so hard to resist having some. It tastes so good, but it is not worth all that fat, all those calories. So I resisted. It's kind of sad that I'm so proud of myself for that feat, but I am. Following a balanced, nutritious diet is such an important part of a healthy lifestyle, and giving in to empty calories just robs me of more nutritious alternatives or leads to overeating, or both. I have done so well with my diet these last two months, but there are still times that I'm sorely tempted to choose unhealthy food, especially when I'm away from home feeding the kids dinner. I don't know if that will ever really get easier, but I know I'm stronger for each time I resist.
Looking forward to tomorrow's workout. I'll have to go during the morning or early afternoon because I'll be working in the evening, but that's fine because it will give me a chance to see what difference it makes to work out before the end of the day.
Question of the day: What time of day do you prefer to exercise?
For my strength training so far I have only done evening workouts, and I like how that turned out, but for cardio I prefer mid-day just before lunch.
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Hating my treadmill
I really need to make myself walk outside in the morning more often, or head over to the rec center for my cardio. My treadmill at home is pretty horrible, doesn't have any give so my feet end up pretty sore by the time I'm finished. And I can definitely relate to Katie over at Runs for Cookies, who calls hers the "dreadmill". But enough complaining. In spite of sore feet, I feel better for sticking it out.
I must have worked my shoulders more than the rest of my muscles in my last workout - I'm feeling it most there. This is going to take some getting used to, and I may to need to tweak my workouts so that I'm keeping things balanced.
Question of the day: What is your favorite healthy snack?
Right now, mine is cottage cheese and broccoli.
I must have worked my shoulders more than the rest of my muscles in my last workout - I'm feeling it most there. This is going to take some getting used to, and I may to need to tweak my workouts so that I'm keeping things balanced.
Question of the day: What is your favorite healthy snack?
Right now, mine is cottage cheese and broccoli.
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Ready... set... stop!
I had hoped to work out on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday over Spring Break, but I hurt my right arm over the weekend and still needed time to recover on Monday. I had to remind myself that this isn't a race, and I definitely need to listen to my body as I proceed so I don't end up injuring myself or causing other undue pain. By this morning, my arm was doing much better so I decided to go ahead with a workout this evening. I went with the rower and triceps curl instead of assisted pull-ups and dips tonight, because I didn't want to overtax my arms. I probably won't go back to assisted pull-ups and dips until I'm both stronger and lighter. The row machine exercises mostly the same muscles as the pull-up, but I can set it at lower weights so it works out great. I increased weights on everything else - last time just felt too easy on everything except pull-ups and dips.
I also did 10 minutes cool down on the treadmill today and stretched in between exercises. That worked better overall, I just need to be sure to plan future workouts so that I have plenty of time for it. The facilities close at 9pm over the break, so I need to schedule earlier workouts.
I was pleasantly surprised when I weighed in this morning and registered the same 2 pound weight loss for the week as I had the week before. It would be great if I can maintain that pace, but I know there will be times when I don't lose as much (or anything at all). That's a natural part of long-term weight loss and getting healthy. I need to remind myself so I don't get discouraged when it does happen!
Question of the day: When you're working on a challenging goal, what do you do to keep from getting discouraged?
I also did 10 minutes cool down on the treadmill today and stretched in between exercises. That worked better overall, I just need to be sure to plan future workouts so that I have plenty of time for it. The facilities close at 9pm over the break, so I need to schedule earlier workouts.
I was pleasantly surprised when I weighed in this morning and registered the same 2 pound weight loss for the week as I had the week before. It would be great if I can maintain that pace, but I know there will be times when I don't lose as much (or anything at all). That's a natural part of long-term weight loss and getting healthy. I need to remind myself so I don't get discouraged when it does happen!
Question of the day: When you're working on a challenging goal, what do you do to keep from getting discouraged?
Saturday, March 3, 2012
Lazy Saturday
I am so glad for the weekend and for Spring Break. School has been stressing me out just a bit, so it's great to have this time to decompress. I'm sore today after last night's workout, but in a good way. I decided to walk on the treadmill at home earlier, and it seemed so much faster than the treadmill at the rec center - I wasn't able to keep up with setting I used at the rec last night. On the plus side, I was able to watch a show of my choice while I walked, so the time passed quickly.
So I've lost about 20 pounds since the beginning of the semester, which is awesome. I expect that over the next week or two my weight loss will stall a bit because of my change in exercise - at least that tends to be the normal response especially when you start building muscle. I need to remember that and not let the number on the scale discourage me. What's important is that I'm eating healthy, balanced meals and keeping up with my exercise schedule.
Speaking of healthy, balanced meals, it has been so much easier to follow a nutritious diet than I would have expected, because I really do enjoy a lot of healthy foods. The key is to keep track of how much I am eating, since there is such a thing as too much of a good thing when it comes to food. There are so many free tools available online to help with that. Right now, I'm using SparkPeople to track my nutrition, and it has tools for tracking fitness, weight, and measurements as well. Another good site is LiveStrong, and I'm sure there are many more out there.
Question of the day: Do you worry about nutrition? If so, how do you keep a balanced diet?
So I've lost about 20 pounds since the beginning of the semester, which is awesome. I expect that over the next week or two my weight loss will stall a bit because of my change in exercise - at least that tends to be the normal response especially when you start building muscle. I need to remember that and not let the number on the scale discourage me. What's important is that I'm eating healthy, balanced meals and keeping up with my exercise schedule.
Speaking of healthy, balanced meals, it has been so much easier to follow a nutritious diet than I would have expected, because I really do enjoy a lot of healthy foods. The key is to keep track of how much I am eating, since there is such a thing as too much of a good thing when it comes to food. There are so many free tools available online to help with that. Right now, I'm using SparkPeople to track my nutrition, and it has tools for tracking fitness, weight, and measurements as well. Another good site is LiveStrong, and I'm sure there are many more out there.
Question of the day: Do you worry about nutrition? If so, how do you keep a balanced diet?
Friday, March 2, 2012
I love Friday!
That's right. Friday is awesome. I had a great workout tonight! I almost didn't go because work ran
late so I didn't have time before dinner, and after dinner I just didn't feel
like going out again. I figured I could just work out tomorrow and it would be
fine. I'm glad I made myself go tonight, because putting it off until tomorrow
is a bad habit to fall into. I'm also glad for working out this evening because
it just went really well. I like evening workouts so far; I may just make that
my regular schedule.
I started with a
long warm-up, and I was feeling pretty pumped by the time I finished walking a
mile. I went ahead and did a two-set workout similar to the one-set round I did
on Tuesday. I worked my way through chest press, leg curl, assisted pull-up,
leg extension, assisted dip, heel raises on the leg press, biceps curl, back
extension, and abdominal crunch with the same weight on most as I did last
time. I was able to do more repetitions in the first set tonight, followed by a
brief break, and then a second set with about the number of reps I did in my
sets on Tuesday. The biggest differences in my workout were the assisted
pull-ups and dips. The highest weight setting is not quite high enough to
sufficiently offset my weight for me to accomplish 12-15 reps of either
pull-ups or dips, so I just did what I could. I'm really going to feel that in the morning, but for now I feel
amazing!
Question of the day: In honor of Spring Break (no, I'm not
going anywhere), what is your dream vacation?
Thursday, March 1, 2012
Good Cardio Day
Today was a little gloomy, especially after what a glorious day we had here in Muncie yesterday. But it wasn't all bad. It was cool, but not too cold, so it felt great to get out and do some fitness walking. I got a decent walk in after classes, and felt invigorated by the time I got home.
I did a bit more research yesterday and today about weightlifting form and technique. My second workout is tomorrow, and I look forward to applying some of the tips I read today. One thing I know I need to work on is keeping a more steady pace from beginning to end of each repetition. Another is engaging my abs more consistently for most exercises. Resistance training takes so much more focus and concentration than I expected.
Tuesday as I was getting ready to go to the rec center, I realized I don't have any good workout music. My task for tonight is to load up my mp3 player with up-beat, high energy songs. Or maybe I'll find a book to listen to while I work out.
Question of the day: What motivates you to exercise?
I did a bit more research yesterday and today about weightlifting form and technique. My second workout is tomorrow, and I look forward to applying some of the tips I read today. One thing I know I need to work on is keeping a more steady pace from beginning to end of each repetition. Another is engaging my abs more consistently for most exercises. Resistance training takes so much more focus and concentration than I expected.
Tuesday as I was getting ready to go to the rec center, I realized I don't have any good workout music. My task for tonight is to load up my mp3 player with up-beat, high energy songs. Or maybe I'll find a book to listen to while I work out.
Question of the day: What motivates you to exercise?
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Soreness level: low to moderate
I'm a little sore this morning after last night's workout, but only in a few places. I'm sure it's more because of poor form than overworking, so I need to take a closer look at my technique next time. Looking forward to going back on Friday!
Question of the day: For those who have done weightlifting or other strength training, did you take classes or learn the basics from books or online resources?
Question of the day: For those who have done weightlifting or other strength training, did you take classes or learn the basics from books or online resources?
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
First workout!
Tonight I had my first workout over at the Student Recreation and
Wellness Center. In preparation for this momentous occasion, I read up on a few
possible beginner routines to follow and used SparkPeople to generate a
strength training program to try. This was really my first ever solo workout,
so I was pretty nervous about getting started and kept putting it off
throughout the day. It was about 9pm before I finally got over to the Rec to
work out.
Before I got
started, I took some time to walk through the weight room and learn the layout
and figure out which machines they had available. They didn't have all of the
specific machines from my selected routine, but they had machines that worked
the same muscles, so I was able to figure out pretty easily which machines I
needed. Once I felt confident enough about what machines I would need to use, I
headed back upstairs to the treadmills to warm up. I had a bit of fun varying
my pace to find what worked. I think I may do more of my walking on a treadmill
from now on - it's so much easier to get a good pace going that way.
Once I was nicely
warmed up, I headed back downstairs and hit the weight machines. I spent some
time on chest press, leg extension, lat pull, leg curl, triceps curl, biceps
curl, back extension, and abdominal. I started out on pretty low weights for
everything and decided to do just one set of each exercise, around 12 reps,
just to get a feel for the machines and the basic form. When I was
finished, I stretched and headed home, feeling pretty good about my first
attempt at weightlifting. We'll see how I feel tomorrow!
Question of the day: Do you prefer to work out at a gym or at/around home?
Monday, February 27, 2012
Getting ready to pump it up!
Since the start of the year, I have made a number of healthy lifestyle changes in the effort to lose weight and improve my physical health. Today marks the beginning of a 30-day immersion experience for my research composition class. I decided to use this project as the jumping-off point for a resistance training program to complement the diet I began in mid-January and the fitness walking I gradually added over the following weeks. I will start my resistance training with two sessions per week of moderate-intensity, two set training, and work my way up to three weekly sessions of moderate-intensity, three set training. I'll also be extending my cardio workout schedule to 60 min/day on the off days, and 30 min/day on resistance training days.
My main goal with this project is that by the end of 30 days I will have a solid start for a long-term resistance training program. I hope to start seeing noticeable results in improved strength, energy, and endurance as a result of strength training combined with increased aerobic exercise. I will use this blog to track my progress along the way. I'm excited to get started and share my experiences with all of you!
Question of the day: What is your favorite workout song?
My main goal with this project is that by the end of 30 days I will have a solid start for a long-term resistance training program. I hope to start seeing noticeable results in improved strength, energy, and endurance as a result of strength training combined with increased aerobic exercise. I will use this blog to track my progress along the way. I'm excited to get started and share my experiences with all of you!
Question of the day: What is your favorite workout song?
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