Junio

 

We are six days into this new month and I've already lost a day.  All day Thursday I was operating under the premise that is was only Wednesday.  This, in and of itself, wasn't an epic proportion tragedy. It has presented more like an annoyance that the work stuff (tasks I set up to get stuff done in accordance to pre-determined schedules and deadlines) was now off which undoubtedly impact the off-the-clock task list and schedule.  

Otherwise, June has gone as expected; it has been hot, noisy (thanks to Memorial Day fireworks, motorcycles, bikes, four-wheelers, blaring car stereos, and of course, kids playing) and reflective.  

The half-year mark is kind of a natural point of looking back as well as looking forward.  Looking back, goals established at the beginning of the year have not been fully met. Some daily goal benchmarks were met but clearly not consistently or urgently enough as the expected results are missing.  

So, looking forward: Reset.   

The plan, I believe, was a good plan, but I need to be more consistent and approach each day with a bit more urgency toward reaching and achieving.  

Cheers to June.  Here's to the days and weeks ahead.  

  

Put Me In Coach

Sometime over the last few days, I ran across a piece of paper dated January 10, 2012. This paper is peppered with notes from a webinar I must have watched.   

Among the notes scribbled written very neatly on this piece of paper was: Set SMART Goals "SMART" being an acronym for: 

 Specific Meaningful Achievable Rewarding Time based 

And Drop 'All or Nothing' Thinking  AND Make IT Fun 

Game On. 

                                                                 

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Missed Last Monday Week

Poof Went Some Days 

1. I think I take more steps when I forget my pedometer at home. 

2. I could be wrong about number 1. 

3. Was meaning to post the second set of 40 questions and answers. 

4. Second set loaded with favorites.  

5. Favorites not my favorite. 

6. Buttah was such an awesome cat, pet. 

7. I miss him. A lot. 

8. I was looking forward to the new season off Orange Is the New Black  But . . 

9. have not watched one minute of it; opting to catch up on other shows instead. Hmmm

10. Alliums at night 

11. It is time to re-dedicate myself to healthy choices.

12. Seriously 

13. A friend recently had bariatric sleeve surgery. 

14. She felt like she had no other options. 

15. I am not at that place. 

16. But I am at A place. 

17. Confidence reigns. 

18.  In other newes, I've been giving a lot of thought to what a "typical" American is 

19. I've gotten nowhere with said thought. 

20. So, this: 

MORE MORE MORE 

Ready, Set, Go! Again.

I am knee deep in endeavoring to keep more weight away from my waist (and hips, and arms, and . .well, all of me.) But even more, I am endeavoring to improve my my overall health; that entails eating healthier, exercising regularly, and not crossing the street against the light or other not so prudent acts that may result in massive head trauma or broken bones.

I've been down this road before. I've been successful before. I am trusting that I can be successful again. But, more than reaching a weight loss goal, or achieving multiple (consecutive) days of healthful eating and hitting exercise targets, I am looking to achieve a lifestyle shift toward a health-filled existence.

Every journey begins with a step. I celebrate the steps taken to date, and the steps yet to come.

#MicroBlogMonday. (click the link to see, read more)    

Cool Poultry

Buttah Explored*

Last week I participated in an experiment of my own design. For the five work days, I went without coffee.
It was a trial. Even though I do like teas and drink them fairly often, tea is not my go-to hot beverage. It is certainly not my, "getting up in the morning, on the go" beverage. Or, it wasn't until last week.

It was Thursday before I wasn't actively craving coffee and considering abandoning the experiment. Still, on Saturday morning upon reporting to a rare Saturday shift, the coffee had brewed and it called me, loudly.

The first taste was gulped hungrily. I soon settled into a more respectable sipping and savored with glee. I had coffee again at home on Sunday and it was swell. Quite.

This Monday morning the day begins with Green Tea with Honey and Ginseng to have alongside some cottage cheese, sliced strawberries and peaches, saving coffee for a weekend pleasure.

Maybe.

The experiment shall continue for the next few weeks, or for as long as I can stand. Unless, it is proven that there is (or is not) a direct correlation to the hot beverage of choice and overall eating habits. (I believe I eat poorly and / or make poor choices when I drink coffee and not so much when I have tea. I also tend to drink more coffee and less of other beverages (like water).
The theory may be all wet, but there it is.

It may simply be mind over matter.

Whatever the case, appreciable and measurable changes must be made and maintained--forevermore.

This is a new start.

#MicroBlog Monday *
*Happy Anniversary Twitter*

Well, it is Wednesday

And welcome to it. Before turning in last night the news was all about how we (the region) have suffered record (for this point in November) low temperatures and now the S word and how it would affect the morning commute.

Well, the pooch and I were outside about forty minutes ago and low and behold, no snow. On one hand I feel great because who wants to trudge to work in the snow, get all wet and have to pack extra socks and some indoor shoes for sitting for subsequent eight hours?

Not his girl. Not this morning anyway. So, thank you weather forecasters for being wrong and weather pattern for changing course or whatever happened. However, on the other hand, I was kind of looking forward to the snow because, well, trudging. Extra effort to walk meant using extra energy which meant calorie burning.

It is coming. Just not today. (Or not this morning).

Welcoming this Wednesday morning is a scale date. I decided on November 5th when I got on the scale at it read a few ticks beyond 260 and I would 1. weigh myself every other Wednesday 2. Work to have the needle move in the  away from the 260 mark (in the lower register, just to be clear) and 3. To try to sustain the efforts for longer than a month, longer than 2, longer even than 3.

Oddly enough, the image I found this morning for this post is exactly depicts what my scale read this morning.

One day at a time, in two week blocks. Welcome to Wednesday. Welcome snow, whenever you arrive.    

       

Obese

Jillian Michaels said, "let's face it, you're obese!" I wasn't offended. I invited her opinion. I'd voluntarily gone to her website, filled out the questionnaire, and invited her to opine on my status and perhaps advice as to what I should might be less . .  (didn't / don't consider myself obese, but . . . ) less large.

Disclosure: I've never watched "The Biggest Loser".  I know of it due to it's (and by association, her) popularity and the show and / or contestants showing up in mainstream media from time to time; most recently, the criticism of a victor's extreme weight loss. I didn't really consider that I'd become a member of the BL bandwagon, I was just curious as to what her program would offer me for free and if that were anything different from what I could get elsewhere.

It wasn't.

The basic message was take in less, burn more: calories. 

Intellectually, I know this. Emotionally, I get it. As most of us know, it is much easier said than done.

I've been up and down this road these last few years. Most recently, I admit, more down and up

However, been there, done that, must do it again. Re-booting the campaign. I must. I not only huff and puff about the way I look, but huff and puff about the way I feel. I don't like the huffing and puffing.

So, with no thanks or offense to Jillian and her crew's program,  I will get back to what has worked in the past, tweaking to allow for my advanced age and other . . . advancements. Thankfully, time has come to get outside, get Melody out from under the stairs and on the road.  Adjustment to my diet began in earnest last week with further adjustments on tap for this week and beyond.

The loss won't be epic. It won't be quick. It certainly won't be easy. But, I will have measurable success.My emotional and physical health depends on some measure of success.

Goal set. Clock begun. Wheels turning.And a weigh we  go.

Re-Visit, Re-Vise

As you may recall your plucky (plucky?) Middle Girl began a quest at the beginning of last year. If you're interested in that journey, click: here. That post links to the related posts along the way. Also that post notes plans for moving forward.

Well, this post is here to tell you, shit happened. Oh, I was doing fine and dandy. Eating my sensibly put together meals, getting some exercise, and shedding a pound here and there. . . moving right along.

Then, blam. slam. flim. flam. winter. And what I feared would happen, happened. I stopped moving (so much) and starting eating more (and less sensibly). Spending more time inside has had a direct affect on my waist-line.

Of course, I can't blame it all on winter and being indoors (there were other issues, but still...) I saw it coming and should have been able to build the reserve, strengthen the resolve to solider onward. But alas, I didn't. It's on me, quite literally.

So, here I sit at the exact weight I was when I started the quest last January. And I'm here to tell you, 1. I'm annoyed and 2. I'm beginning again (The Quest 2010). Effective immediately.


Much like the 2009 Quest, the 2010 version will feature sensibly sized portions of figure friendly foods and beverages, as much physical activity as the heart and knees can muster, and an attention to stress triggers and a concentration on relief that doesn't involve food or other less than constructive acts. I enter Quest 2010 with a fierce, ferocious, nearly feral attitude. I'll need it to 1. begin immediately, what with the still 20 degree morning / overnight temps and 2. sustainability. I have to keep this motor running well through December, at least.

I'm planning to schedule my annual physical for later in the year. I'm hoping the desire to visit the doc many, many pounds lighter, with bp well in check, and cholesterol readings well under warning levels will provide enough incentive to power through November.

I have a proven track record and I'm not concerned about the ability to lose the weight once I focus, but sustaining that through the long, cold, dark, power sucking winter . . . well, that's proven the challenge.

Well, here I go. . .

The End? No, Somewhere in the Middle

You know about the quest. The Shrinking Piggies have come to the end of the term. I've written a brief account of the journey. As noted, this is not the end. Though I didn't achieve the goal within the term, I'm very much encouraged by what I did achieve.

I know that weight loss is inextricably tied to moving my body; walking, riding, dancing, jumping (rope), tennis . . whatever form the movement takes, moving must happen. daily.

I find it fitting that I completed this leg of the journey with 0 loss. I knew going into the weigh-in Monday morning that the 8-mile ride on Sunday would be too little, too late, for the previous six days yielded very little movement, or at least, much less than previous weeks.

The goose egg provides added incentive, and illustrates yet once again, that a body must M O V E it to L O S E it.

Simple.

Progress? Why Yes, Some

What with all the walking talk I thought I'd let you in on where all the walking has and will continue to lead this determined Deborah.

You know about the quest. As you'll recall and as declared to my co-piggies my goal was to lose 40 pounds by July 6th. Like I said over there* a little bit ago, I won't make it, not by July 6th anyway. The last update has me at a total loss of 21 pounds. There was another one gone at the beginning of this week, which means 18 to go by July 6th. No, I won't make it, but that will not deter me.

I set the bar particularly high because I needed the motivation. I joined the groups because I needed the motivation.

I'll admit here and now that I haven't done much more than much more walking. I toyed with dancing to dvds, and various other work out regimes not the least of which was riding my bicycle across a few towns. But weather, a downstairs neighbor, more work responsibilities, mood swings, and other factors kept me from being consistent in anything but the walking.

As a result of the relative in-activity I didn't lost loads of poundage over the course of any of the given, recent weeks. But that does not deter me. I will not be deterred. For as I said, not only do I intend to lose the forty, but I intend to lose more. More than that though, I intend to maintain a healthful life that will lead to maintaining the weight that is my goal.

And if I can take the words from my own mouth fingers: I’ve learned some things along this journey. I’ve learned that I can’t lose without moving. I’ve learned that I can’t lose unless a move much. I’ve learned that the rah-rahs, atta girls, and positive reinforcements are important to and for me. I’ve learned that I can. I’ve grown to learn that I will.

One of my iGoogle home-page gadgets is a to-do list. The first and only item on the list is: get off your ass.

So there.

*you'll note that over there, I said July 1st, should be the 6th.

Walking, Too

Most of us figure out how to do it within the first couple of years of our existence. As we grow out of infancy, we begin to become aware of our extremities and start testing. We grasp with our pudgy fingers, using our rubbery arms to pull ourselves up on wobbly legs to a very shaky stance.

Then it happens. We toddle. A process that includes more falling than anything resembling walking.

Eventually, we grow more confident, stronger and before we know it we’re walking, running, and heck, some of us are even jumping.

I don’t know about you but I never gave much thought to the process of walking. It was just something you did. It wasn’t like learning how to ride a bike, or even learning how to roller skate. With those activities there were instructions, rules even, to follow.

About the only things I ever heard about walking was, “walk, don’t run!” or “be careful where you walk” or even, "walk this way" which, I guess can be construed as instruction.

Over time we each develop our own walking form. This form is predicated on many factors. But, still, I don’t think there is much thought about the process, except of course for those folks walking competitively or those folks who learn to walk for fitness. There are rules of form related to such walking.

My concerted efforts to walk faster have resulted in me paying much more attention to form. I’ve discovered that to walk faster I must breathe differently. I’ve had to alter my gait. Not to mention adjust my posture and surprise, surprise lift my feet. In fact, my entire leg (well both of them) is fully engaged. Actually, this walking exercise is a full body experience.

Imagine that.

Anyhoo, I am so into the process now that I’m inclined to believe that the occasional trip on a sidewalk that inexplicably rises up to meet me is just me feeling nostalgic for the good old days, like March 3, 2009.

Stepping off.

Walking

Since joining the walking group, I’ve come to discover that what I was doing prior to joining the walking group was not walking. Not walking in the least.

One might have described what I was doing as strolling, or sauntering.

At some points I may have even appeared to be rambling.

But, walking? No, I certainly wasn’t walking, at least as compared to the group.

I may as well have been crawling.

Just let me say that the pace was a tad quick. And me? I’m a tad slow. In fact, I’m more than a tad slow. I am v-e-r-y slow. My nickname was “Christmas” for a time growing up, because it took me so long to finish, move. I was deliberate, is all.

I was going to have to step up my game if I had any hope of surviving staying even with this group. I mean, a woman several inches shorter, walking on the backs of her shoes due to blisters on her feet, was walking faster than me and not even breathing as hard.

How these folks can walk and talk still bugs boggles me.

Never-the-less, after some several very many outings with the group, I’m keeping relative pace. My breathing at the end of the trial and tribulation walk is not as labored these days as in the beginning.

Maybe a few more outings I will be able to talk while I walk.

Then again, maybe I’ll just focus on the walking. The quick pace further fuels the klutz factor. I haven’t tripped (too much) yet, but it’s only a matter of time, maybe.

Focus.

Surprised? Yes, Maybe A Little Take -3-

Heavy rain, fog, and snow in forecast
from chicagotribune.com

Moving on . . .

In keeping with the quest, I’ve been working to keep my caloric intake low. I’ve also been working to keep my body moving. That generally proves to be my biggest, what with weather related, knee & foot pain related, emotional issues and time crunches. But, I forge ahead.

Thanks to my mom, I experienced a burst of motivation. But, unfortunately that burst was short-lived due to the mother of all mothers, nature and her biiitchy sister, Flo.

What Flo does to me, beyond the water weighty bloat is drive me to food and drink. Not so much chocolate and other sweets (of course if I see ‘em, I’m eatin ‘em) but more the fatty, salty, greasy variety of food. Big, fat, juicy, burgers and mounds and mounds of hot, crispy, salty fries call my name, every day. "Deborah, come…eat us". Cold beer and colder martinis complete the crave craze. I resist the pleas, mostly.

So, it may not surprise anyone that I gained weight over the last week. I’m still at a net loss, but not where I’d hoped to be by this point in the quest.

Hi-ever, I am zooming into the next four weeks, rocket jet fuel propelling to the half-way point with a bigger bang. I have even thought of taking a class. I have done classes with our local park district, but . . . a room full of mirrors, other women (sometimes men), and a teacher exhorting me to “get lower” usually invigorates the klutz factor and well, it isn’t pretty, or safe. Anyhooooo, I saw an article on Zumba, which is apparently big now. And since I’m generally better at dancing (& dancing was part of the original plan) than the more traditional jumping and lunging, I figured win-win.

I looked for a Zumba class that was both schedule & budget friendly. Failing to find one that fit both bills, I’ve decided to do my own brand of Zumba. Home-grown Zumba, if you will with a little northern shimmy thrown in for additional seasoning. Or get a DVD.

Given my tendency toward klutz, it could prove . . . interesting. But at least I’ll be in my own bedroom (executive decsion, xx-ing out living room dancing) and can stumble onto the semi-firm mattress. Unless, I stumble in the other direct . .

Ok, ok think positive, no stumbling. On with progress and down with weight!

This Is My Quest

For the past couple, three years I’ve been trying to reduce my body mass. Toward that end, I joined a gym, WW and a couple of other on-line support-type groups, reduced my over-all caloric intake, made more careful choices regarding snacks and made a concerted effort to ramp up my physical activity.

There was some level of success. I had to dump the gym and WW. The other efforts continued to show positive results but often, I'd celebrate those results by over-eating and eating all the wrong foods.

C-E-L-E-B-R-A-T-E Good Times!

Still.

The pants I bought a few months ago, a size smaller than that of the previous season are a tad snug today, so I know I’ve loss some of the ground recently gained.

I could continue on the same vein and limp my way along to more 10 lb, 1 pant size losses over several months only to rebound with a 5 lb gain and so on, but I’ve had enough of that. I need a new plan of attack, new and aggressive goals, actions, and motivations.

Shrinking Piggies II and related accountability fits the bill.

It is my goal to lose 40 lbs. by July 6, 2009. If I stick to my plan for longer than the usual month to six-weeks, don't go food crazy at the first sign of jiggle-less showers, the goal is reachable.

So it is written, so it shall be done.

There, I feel lighter, more importantly, tighter already.

It's Official

Me, the daughter, the dog and now the cat, all overweight. Not, mind you, by much, but still over our respective recommended amounts.

I think a contest is in order. The daughter and the dog might happily agree. Somehow, I think we’ll have some trouble with the cat.

To be continued . . .

Twisty, Like Bread

I'd exercise more if my knees didn't hurt so much. My knees might not hurt so much if I exercised more.

So says the doc. She suggests losing weight to take pressure off the knees. I'm with that program, have been for several months years now. I'm up and down. Right now my weight is up and my resolve is down.

I feel it coming back, though. Slowly.

M'lady and I had vowed to K E O M (Keep Each Other Motivated) and it was working rather well. She was sidelined by an injury which led to surgery. She is now beginning to feel well enough to get back to the gym.

I took one of those bloggy tests the other day. The topic, health and fitness. After answering all the questions I was labeled "guru". I know what to do, what and how to eat. I just have problems consistently practicing what's been preached.

It's the last week of summer. There is a crispness in the air. Autumn is upon us and like the falling leaves, so too will my weight.

That's the idea, hope, goal, anyway. Resolved!?!