One Good Day
I’ve posted before about how having ONE good day can totally transform the way it feels to do this work and continue with this journey we’re on. Sometimes it feels like we can’t won’t get it together, no matter what. You know what I mean – those days you have when it feels like everything has been a struggle for longer than you can remember. When it almost feels impossible. When you’re tempted to throw in the towel, give in, stop fighting, and just quit because maybe you were destined to be fat.
Growing up my mom always said she couldn’t have a rational conversation with me at night. When I get tired, I get emotional, and I cry at the drop of a hat. As an adult that remains true, only now I know it, so I can usually figure out whether I’m freaking out about something because I’m tired and emo, or because it’s worth freaking out over.
Those days when you feel like quitting, when it feels like the deck is stacked against you? Those days feel like that for me – like that tired, emo me that can’t have a rational conversation (or thought, for that matter!) to save her life.
Because, as we all know, the deck is not stacked against us, it IS possible, we CAN succeed, and it’s NOT impossible. In fact, as I’ve mentioned before, sometimes all it takes to turn things around is ONE GOOD DAY.
I had such a day yesterday. I posted the following goals yesterday, and my progress/results are in italics next to each goal:
- Circuit/strength training workout at the gym. Check! I got in a great strength training session, keeping my heart rate up and really challenging my muscles.
- Hit Costco on the way home to stock up on healthy stuff. Check. I spent nearly $400 *gulp* but that included a few housey things, like glass “tupperware” containers since we’re trying to get away from all the plastic we used to use! I also came home, washed and prepared all the fruit and veggies I bought, and cleaned the kitchen to boot!
- Plan and track tomorrow’s food; prepare tomorrow’s food so I don’t have to do it in the a.m. Check, sort of. I planned and prepared today’s food, but I didn’t enter it into my tracker until this morning.
- Be in bed by 10pm. Nope. I didn’t get to bed until 10:40 or so. I’m pretty tired today and am staying away from caffeine for the day, so making this happen tonight shouldn’t be a problem.
- No sweets, stick to the food I’ve packed and planned for the day. I broke down in the evening and indulged in a few semi-sweet chocolate chips. I don’t feel too badly about it because it was a reasonable portion, but I did have a goal of staying sugar-free for the day, so I definitely fell short on this one.
Overall, I feel good about my day yesterday. I’m feeling that workout today! I think publicly posting my goals and reporting back on them is a helpful tool for me to stay accountable and also just stay aware of those goals. Remembering that there is an overarching purpose behind why I am doing all this stuff is super helpful for me. So I’ll be doing more of that in the future.
Tuesday’s Goals
- Walk at least 30 minutes before noon.
- Aim for 10,000 steps today.
- Stick to planned food for today.
- In bed by 10pm.
- Pack tomorrow’s food tonight.
- Pack tomorrow’s clothing and toiletries from tonight so I am set up to succeed at getting to the gym by 7am tomorrow!
How was your day yesterday? What tools do you use to keep yourself on track and remind yourself of your reasons for the choices you make every day?
New Year, Same Old Story
Every year on January 1, throngs of people make a New Years Resolution to get fit, lose weight, be healthy, etc.
Every year, those throngs of rotund folks join a gym and actually go to the gym a few days a week for the first week, month, etc. of the New Year.
And every year, the vast majority of those throngs give up, over time, on the goals they set for themselves at the start of the New Year.
There’s a part of me that loves the idea of making a New Years Resolution. It’s a symbolic fresh start, the new year. January 1, 2010 – it feels so full of possibilities to think of the whole year ahead of me! A year full of potentially good choices, a whole year to change my habits and become the person I want to be.
The problem is, every year we have that opportunity, and so many of us fail at taking advantage of it.
I am not making New Years Resolutions this year, because over the last year, I’ve already identified and taken steps toward achieving the goals that are so important to me. And I’ve realized that January 1 is just another day, exactly like the other 364 days of each year. EVERY day has the potential to be the day you choose to change your life. EVERY day dawns with the opportunity for us to take the first step (and the next, and the next) towards living the life we desire and becoming the person we know we can be.
So, when are you going to start taking those steps? January 1, or today? Tomorrow? Tomorrow never comes, because by the time you get there, it’s TODAY. What are you going to do TODAY to step into the life you want?
Monday, Monday
It’s so good to be back! Don’t get me wrong – I already miss the AZ weather and I had a fabulous time. Seattle has welcomed me home with sunshine both yesterday and today, which is wonderful! But really, it does feel good to be home and able to run my day according to my goals, needs, and responsibilities, rather than being mercy to someone else’s whims.
Today I have a few goals:
- Circuit/strength training workout at the gym.
- Hit Costco on the way home to stock up on healthy stuff.
- Plan and track tomorrow’s food; prepare tomorrow’s food so I don’t have to do it in the a.m.
- Be in bed by 10pm.
- No sweets, stick to the food I’ve packed and planned for the day.
I forgot my new book in AZ with my hottie husband!! Ack! I will have to start the new strength training program next week once he gets home, but in the meantime I can start getting into the habit of working out in the morning. Yes, that’s right – *gulp* I am going to try to commit to 3 morning workouts per week. My morning schedule will look something like this:
6am – wake up, get dressed for gym, pack clothes & food for the day.
6:20 – leave for the gym near work to avoid commuting during rush hour.
6:50 to 7:45 – workout
7:45 to 8:15 – shower & get ready for work
8:30 arrive at work for the day
This will be most important on the days I am strength training (ST), as it produces an “afterburn” effect that cardio does not. (Did you know that? With ST you burn the calories you burn as you work out, but your metabolic rate runs higher for up to almost 2 days after the workout; with cardio, you burn the calories burned during the workout that that’s pretty much it.) I want to take advantage of that afterburn by working out in the morning so I boost my metabolic rate for the day while I sit on my bum at work!
I’m going to start with two weeks of JUST doing my ST, which is a circuit and combines full-body movement and movement on different planes (i.e., lateral movements, plyometrics, etc.), so it elevates your heart rate for the entire workout, too. After two weeks, I’ll add one interval workout per week; two weeks after that I’ll add a second interval workout. Only once I’ve been in that routine for a full month will I then add, if I can fit it in, a long moderate cardio workout per week just for the added calorie burn.
The schedule I’m thinking of is this:
Monday: Morning ST
Tuesday: Interval workout
Wednesday: Morning ST
Thursday: Interval workout
Friday: Morning ST
Whatever activity and movement I get on the weekend will be a bonus, and will be part of my active lifestyle rather than a formal “workout.” Of course, life happens and this schedule will have to flex to account for that, which is totally fine.
How are you all doing? Did you survive the holidays without a gain? (I’ll find out if I did at my WI on Saturday morning.) How did your workouts fare during the Christmas holiday?
Vacation Check-in
Hi, friends.
Whew, it’s been forever! I know it’s only been 5 days, but I was just getting into the groove of blogging more days than not when *poof* vacation happened! I’m still in AZ, but I am on an early flight back to Seattle tomorrow.
Overall I’ve done well while here. I had a kick-a$$ workout at the gym on Wednesday, went for walks on Thursday and Friday (yes, that’s right, walked on Christmas), and we went for a 4 mile easy hike in Sabino Canyon today – it was beautiful! My eating has been okay, too – several super healthy days leading up to indulgences yesterday and today. Today more than yesterday (Christmas), actually – my cousin manages a GREAT Tucson restaurant and she treated us to appetizers and two HUGE platters of dessert, which we all sampled to our heart’s content. It was an awesome day spent with family with a perfect mixture of hang-out time, food time, and active time (hiking).
I’m excited to be back home tomorrow and to get back into a routine with my eating and the gym. Right before I left to come here, I had found a spark of motivation and have used that to keep from going overboard on this trip. I want to go home and put it to use to do some real work in establishing a routine of working out and eating well!
I’ve also been reading a book I mentioned before that I’ll review probably this week. It encourages women to prioritize their weight lifting workouts for a number of reasons, and to hit the weights HARD (i.e., none of this “low weight, high reps” crap) in order to build lean muscle mass, rev up your metabolism, and lose weight. I can’t wait to put some of these routines into practice in the weight room! I know it’ll be hard work and I’ll be sore, but I also know the results will be worth it.
I hope you’re all well and have had a wonderful Christmas holiday! I am wishing you a Merry Christmas because that is the holiday that has meaning to me – wishing you “happy holidays” is empty of meaning for me. So, I wish you all the goodness, hope, faith, love, and joy that I believe in and experience in this beautiful season.
Weekend Report
Hello all! How is your Monday going? More importantly (because, really, who wants to talk about Monday?!?) – how’d your weekend go?
Mine was ab-fab! I got in a great workout Saturday (jog around the neighborhood before the rain started), finished a ton of work for my business, did all the laundry, cleaned the house, and yesterday the HH (Hottie Husband) and I reorganized two rooms in our house – that was my Sunday workout. My calorie burn for yesterday (love my BodyBugg) was over 3K – gotta love that! We also went to see the movie Avatar, which we both absolutely LOVED. I could have done without all the political references, but it was a good story and the visual effects were incredible.
Best of all, my eating was under control and healthy. Amen to that! Can you tell I’m in a good mood (from all the exclamation points? lol)? It’s amazing the positive effect a good day (or a string of two or three) can have on my mood. Especially since, according to my official weigh-in Saturday, I am up EIGHT POUNDS in the last two months! That really snuck up on me me – I maintained for a LONG time after the wedding and saw my weight jump in the last two weeks. Just goes to show that even though you THINK you might be getting away with the fudging here and there (you’re thinking, “how awesome, I didn’t gain any weight!!”), you’re really not – it just might take your body and the scale a few weeks to catch on to your behavior.
I almost feel like I should feel worse about this gain, but instead I’m just glad that it’s provided a nudge for me to get back on track. I also started reading a great book over the weekend (review to come when I’m done) that just reminded me of a few things:
1. I have goals, people. Said goals do not include drifting through life – they include CHOOSING the life I want to live.
2. I can do this. Yes, you heard that right – losing weight, living healthily, and making good choice is not impossible. Is it hard? Hells, yes, at least sometimes. But it is do-able, and therefore I can do it. If I CAN do it, why the hell am I NOT doing it?!?
3. What you do 90% of the time is what matters most. If you can get to a point where your behavior is healthy 90% of the time, your 10% splurges (planned and w/in reason, of course) won’t pull you off course.
4. I can choose to settle, or I can choose to pursue the BEST for myself – the best life, the best body, the best nutrition, the best FEELING within myself. Um, okay, no-brainer?
5. Good things are worth sacrificing for. Does my inner teenager wish I could eat chocolate ice cream every day (three times)? Yes. And guess what – I can. I am an adult, and if I choose to eat ice cream every day (did I mention three times?), I can do that. No one will stop me. But I also have to be able to live with the consequences of making that choice, which will include not being healthy and not losing weight. Is chocolate ice cream (or fill in the blank with your biggest temptation at the moment) worth NOT reaching my goals? Nope. At least not right now.
I wish I could bottle and save for a later date the way I FEEL right now. You know what I’m talking about – those days when your motivation is high, your vision is clear, and you are able to honestly say, “I want this MORE than I want ________.” Because sometimes, if I’m honest with myself, I want ________ (chocolate ice cream three times, maybe?) MORE than I want to lose this weight. Not really, of course, but the wanting of that THING in the moment is so much stronger than the FEELING of wanting health for myself in that moment.
Am I making any sense?
In any case, I’m back on track and it feels great to have a few good days to build on. I’ve got my food planned and tracked (and packed) for the day. My gym bag is in the car for whenever I choose to go work out (I’ll be hitting the weights today). I’m packing tonight for our trip and my running shoes and gym clothes will be in the suitcase for our time in Arizona. As will my hiking boots; we’re hoping to hit Sabino Canyon for a hike on Saturday. I’ll be tracking my food daily using SparkPeople and I will try to pop on here with an update at least once while I’m gone.
What are your plans for staying on track this holiday week?
Fantastic Friday
Just a quick post for today! Reporting in to say my workout this morning went well and so far my eating is going well, too. Some deviations from the plan due to unforeseen circumstances, but so far all of my choices have been pretty good. Hooray for good days!
Have a wonderful weekend friends. Make good choices EVERY day, not just M-F.
One Good Day
THAT’S what I’m doing about this reflection/regret/i-can-do-better stuff I’m thinking about. I’m finishing out today strong with grocery shopping, planning for tomorrow, and food prepped and packed in advance. I want to have ONE day where I stick to my plan 100%. Anyone with me?
Where Does it Go?
…the time, that is? Do you realize it is already December 17? That means Christmas is one week from tomorrow, and 2009 will be over in 2 weeks.
That gets me thinking and reflecting on the last year. How’d I do? What would I change? Do I have regrets?
This isn’t just about eating, but I had to laugh at this t-shirt!
Seriously, though. I honestly think people who say they have no regrets are full of poo. I mean, really, seriously? You’re that perfect? You’d change NOTHING about your life? For real, I don’t know anyone who doesn’t think back — to a mistake made, words rashly spoken, time wasted — who doesn’t think of those things and wish, just for a moment, that they could have a do over. I can hear myself as a child yelling it: “Do over!!!”
Thinking of this last year, I definitely do NOT want a do over. How can I? I married my best friend this year. I started to really establish myself in my business and my career. I skied for the first time in over 10 years! I did so much, and conquered so much, that I simply can’t ask for a do-over.
So I don’t want a do over. I just want to do better. And I know I can. I know you can, too. So what are we going to do about it?
This isn’t a post about a New Years’ Resolution or a challenge or a “re-commitment” or anything else “big” like that. It’s just an acknowledgment that time is passing, and I want to do better. You see, the time is going to pass whether I make good use of it or not. A year is going to fly by, and I’ll either be healthier, or not; wiser or not; better…or not, once that time has gone by.
How about you?
End of the Year MeMe Courtesy of MrsFatass
Mrs. Fatass posted these Q&As on her blog and I haven’t done one of these in ages! If you decide to do it to, please let me know in the comments here so I can come read!
1. What was the highlight of your week?
Going to bed at 9pm last night. Yes, that means I’m getting old! It was more about getting 8 hours of sleep than anything else…
2. When is the next time you will kiss someone?
When I next see my husband, probably when I get home tonight (he’s working at our office right now, but he’s not a PDA guy, so I will refrain. Barely.).
3. Are you good looking?
Yeah, I think so. Certain features are cuter than others, but on the whole? Not bad.
4. Last movie you watched?
Up In the Air.
5. Who were you with?
My Hottie Husband.
6. When was the last time you had your heart broken?
Oh, are we talking hearbreak or Heartbreak? If the former, probably within the last few months. If the latter, it’s been years (thank God).
7. Are you happy right now?
Yep.
8. What did you say last?
OMG, I can’t remember! But I think it had to do with evil cookies hanging around the office.
9. Describe your eyes?
Brown, short lashes, good bone structure. Pretty.
10. What do you dislike currently?
Cool rainy weather, as opposed to the cold, sunny weather we had last week. Come back. Please.
11. What are you listening to?
The hum of the central heating fan, the working noises of my co-workers, and the sound of my fingernails on the keyboard.
12. If you could have one thing right now what would it be?
More time to spend with family and friends.
13. What is your favorite scent?
Chocolate chip cookies baking. Fresh cut grass. Babies (clean ones). Yes, I know – all cliches. For a reason, people!
14. Who makes you happiest?
Being myself and being with the ones I love.
15. What were you doing at midnight last night?
Sleeping.
16. Do you have any expensive jewelry?
Yes.
17. What type of boy or girl do you usually fall for?
Kind, intelligent, active, adventurous, funny.
18. Do you have any hidden talents?
All the ones I write about in public are known. The ones that are hidden are hidden for a reason. lol
19. Dream Job?
Something that combines working out, cooking, hospitality stuff, traveling, and languages. Let me know if you think of something!
20. Are you an only child or do you have siblings?
I have a younger sister and a younger brother.
21. Would you consider yourself to be spoiled?
Nope. Well-loved, but not spoiled. (The first person to say “semantics” gets a smack!)
22. What was the first thing you thought when you woke up?
Oh my gosh, what happened to my alarm?!?!
23. Do you drink?
Yep. Rumor has it I just bought two bottles of bootleg, homemade vodka – one plain, one sweet tea flavored. I can’t confirm or deny that rumor.
24. Do you want to be famous one day?
No thank you.
25. Ever been out of the country?
Yes! Canada and Mexico, of course. Russia & Finland at age 15. France at 18 and again at 19/20 (for 6 months that time). Italy, Switzerland, Spain, and the UK while I was there. And I can’t wait to add to the list!
26. Where were you born?
Detroit, MI.
27. Who are you thinking about right now?
I think about my Hottie Husband a lot. We’re newlyweds, but I kinda hope we hang on to the think-about-you-all-the-time thing. My uncle, who is going through tough time and who I love so much.
28. When was the last time you laughed REALLY hard?
Saturday night. Okay, well, maybe Sunday, too. My HH (Hottie Husband, have I said that often enough?!?) makes me laugh. A lot.
29. Are your toes always painted?
Almost always. Deep red right now.
30. Do you like rollercoasters?
Yes! I love going on them over and over again!
31. What’s the craziest thing you ever did with your cell phone?
I don’t think I’ve ever done anything crazy with it. Use it as a mirror? Flashlight? Doorstop? Not so crazy…
32. Do you wish you could move?
Not really, not at the moment. In a year or two, yes, but now, I am exactly where I want to be.
33. Have you ever wanted someone you couldn’t have?
Well of course – am I not human?!?
34. If you could be anywhere right now where would it be?
On a hot, sunny beach with water warm enough to swim in.
35. Are you happy with your life?
Yes, although I will always try to improve it, too!
Starting the Day Right
It’s amazing how differently my day goes when I start it with a workout.
Let’s back up a little. I am NOT a morning person. I’m fine if I get enough sleep, but I struggle to get to bed early, so I struggle to get up early. I’ve always said, and I truly believe that the best time to work out is when you will actually, well, work out!
That being said, I really do feel a difference in my day when I am able to work out in the morning.
I recently found a personal training company that comes to your home to train you morning or evening, as many days per week as you want to pay for. They were running a special for $50 for two sessions – what a steal! So I signed up and Kelly (the owner of the company) showed up at my home this morning just after 6am.
She kicked my arse and then wiped the floor with me gave me a great workout! It was awesome, in a my-butt-hurts-so-bad-I-can’t-sit-down-to-pee kind of way. (Sorry if that was TMI.) So here I am, thinking how I can possibly fit a few more of these sessions into my budget.
After the session, Kelly asked me if I would be willing to do some legal work for her company. I said, “sure, and how about we do it on trade?” She said that’d be great, and voila! I’m hooked up with at least 10 more sessions over the coming months. Hooray!
I’m going to shoot for twice a week if she can swing it schedule-wise, or once a week if not. I think I’ll pay for half of them and use my “freebies” the other half of the time so I can make this process last a bit longer. I’m so excited!
What gets you excited about working out? Do you have a preference for morning or evening workouts?
My future shoulders & back!
