Have A Good One

Quick Post:

I'm getting ready to leave for D.C. so I won't be posting again until Thursday or Friday. I did get to workout this morning. And I did get to see my crush. But I forgot to take a clean bra and socks into the gym to change into after a shower. But I did have my luggage with me so I changed when I got to work. Uck. 

I hope you all have a great week.

Another Day off to a Good Start

I did a total cardio day today. I like to do that from time to time‚ it helps break the intensity. I walked on the track for 40 minutes, doing stairs every three laps. My butt is killing me. Then I did the elliptical for 30 minutes. I think it was OK. I want to jump rope, but sometimes I feel a little intimidated. I'm OK at it right now, but I know I've been much better. But the only way to improve is practice. So, what am I waiting for? I could practice at home, but that makes too much sense. And then what would I have to complain about?

When I got up this morning, the dog had been sick all over the house. So I spent a half an hour cleaning up that mess. Then at gym, when I got my shower stuff out, a bottle of lotion had broken inside the bag. But at least it wasn't all over everything. And I'm tired. I woke up too early. (I wish I had gotten up a little earlier.) So this may well be one of those days.

So I have to buy some new clothes for this Washington, D.C. trip. I have nothing to wear.

OK. That's it for today.

New Picture

I have a new picture of myself that I posted in the "About Me" area. What do you think? I don't have a full body shot yet, but I'll get one. Do I look almost 50?

It's Time for Phase III

Today's' workout was mild compared to the workouts of the last couple of weeks. I used to think this particular aerobics instructor was the most difficult. But I have since changed my mind. Karen, the regular instructor, has changed her workout so much that it's like boot camp. Ali's workout is nothing compared to what I've been going through. But it was a nice break. I feel refreshed today rather than completely beaten up. 

I need to get my metabolism going again. I've weighed the exact same amount for three weeks now. I was losing. But it's stalled. 

I don't know if I said anything about this. I can't remember. But I was approved for Phase III of my insurance company's weight management program. That means I get my membership for half price for the next year. Phase III for me doesn't really begin until mid June, but it never hurts to be ready. I can now have a seamless transition. Yea. Maybe I already said this; I really can't remember. I will still be weighed and measured every month. And I think I will be able to stay on track.

OK, OK, what else? I have to go to Washington, D.C. next week, so I likely won't be posting Monday through Thursday. But rest assured that I will be working out somewhere. I will try to stick to my eating plan as best as I can while away. Maybe getting away from it all for a couple days is what I need. I will exercise tomorrow and Monday here. Tuesday and Wednesday—damn I won't get to go to the gym—I'll be working out somewhere in D.C. I think the hotel has some sort of gym and there's a gym nearby. There's also a walking trail, but I'm not sure about that unless I can get someone to go with me—big city, walking around alone, not a good combination. 

All right—later on people. 

 

I'm Stalled Again, But Wednesdays Are Good Days

Todays' workout was OK. I haven't jumped rope in a few days. I bought one to use at home but haven't done it yet. I need to start jumping rope in the evening, even if I only do it for five minutes. I'm so tired by the time I get home. Maybe a little activity would rev me up.

My weight loss is stalled. I've weighed exactly the same for three weeks now. I feel like things a tightening up. It's getting kind of frustrating. The last 15 pounds that I've lost has been a real struggle. But at least I'm losing, right? Geez, this is hard.

On the bright side, I got to see my crush this morning. I think he only shows up on Wednesday. Note to self: Always go to the gym on Wednesday. Wow. He makes my day. Anyway. . . .

Weight Watchers is today. I hope I can get myself in gear again. But man, I love food. I love to eat. I'm much better at eating things that are good for me. I used to eat nothing but Hostess Suzy Qs. Now I eat fruit and vegetables, lean protein, whole grains. But I want a lot of them. Remember the Coneheads: "Consume mass quantities." Yeah, well that's how I feel. A massive veggie sub would be great right now. Mmmmmm.

OK. I have a big day today, so I will see you later.

Bio-identical Hormones for Menopause

I started taking bio-identical hormones for my perimenopausal symptoms. I think I may be feeling a little better. But I've only been taking them for about five days so it might just be my imagination. I had to do something. I felt horrible. I have been sleeping a little better—well, I didn't sleep well on Saturday night but that's another story entirely. I had my girls on Saturday night and they slept with me. The five-year old does OK. She picks a spot and goes to sleep. The three-year old on the other hand spins like a top. Anyway, I didn't get much sleep.

But back to the drugs. I think they help. At least I'm hoping they do. My doctor wrote a prescription for me that I had to have filled at a compound pharmacy—where they actually mix the drugs in house. Most pharmacies don't do it. Anyway, bio-identical hormones contain all of the hormones your body makes itself but loses at menopause and at the levels your body would make them. Anyway, I don't know if that makes sense. 

Taking this compound potion may even help me lose weight. At least some of the stuff online says it might. My doctor said I may have no side effects at all from taking them as well—and that's a good thing, right? God knows I need all of the help I can get in the weight loss department. So, we'll see how this goes.

I worked out this morning. Yea. I got in cardio and strength training. Good way to start the week. With a lot of luck the scale will moving again soon. When they messed with my thyroid meds, I gained a total of seven pounds. I have now lost that weight and am back to where I started. So, I'm hoping things will pick up. It's been almost a year that I've been trying to get my old self back. And I feel better now than have I felt in years. So it's still all good.

It's All Good

Last night I worked in the yard. To my surprise, I could move so much easier—I wanted to work in the yard all evening. But there's also this thing about saving something for later. So I did. Now I have something to do tonight.

I'm going to be watching the girls this weekend. Mommy is going to a Ramp Festival—hey this is West Virginia. Anyway, I'm looking forward to it. They are at the she's-touching-me stage of child development. You know what I mean? And sometimes it's she's going to bother me—not she is bothering me. Wow. To be that young again when the worst thing that happens all day is your sister might touch you. Remember when you were a kid and you thought that adults had it made? We were so deluded.

Today's workout was good—strength training and a little cardio. I'm kind of sore from yesterday's workout. But it's all good. Right?

I almost forgot to post anything today. Oops. But better late than never. 

Picking Up Some Produce—And Maybe Some Other Stuff

On my way home yesterday I decided to stop for some groceries. Once in the store, my first stop was in the produce section. As I was trying to find a package of strawberries that hadn't been squished, I man reached across me saying, "Excuse me, I'd just like to check these (meaning the strawberries—I hope)." 

I said, "Oh, I'm sorry," and moved out of the way.

Then he said, "You're alright sweetie."

"Sweetie," I'm thinking. "When was the last time anyone called me sweetie?" I'm still thinking. 

He then put the package back and moved to the other side of the produce counter and started looking over the apples—but he was directly across from me sort of giving me the side eye. Kind of unnerved, I quickly moved on. But it was kind of nice—even though there was no way I wanted this to go any farther. So this was a first for me.

Today's aerobic workout was tough. The instructor has been taking the boot camp classes, and I think she's  decided that we all need punished. (I decided not to do boot camp this time. Maybe next time.) I was completely worn out at the end of class. I don't think I could've done another sit up, squat, or anything else. I still feel like she beat me up.

I got an invitation to a pot luck social at the gym. We're supposed to bring a healthy dish along with the recipe. I'm not sure what I'm going to do yet. Something Mexican probably—that's my favorite. The social is on the 26th. 

So. . . what else. I think that's about it for today.

Might as Well Jump

Today's workout was good. I did some rope jumping. I used to love it. I'm getting my old form back again. I can jump for quite a while before I mess up or just get so winded I need to stop. I used to date this guy—when I was about 19 years old—who was really into boxing. He taught me how to really jump rope. It's all in the wrist, and when you jump, it's more like hopping. I don't know if that makes sense. You jump straight up and down—don't bend your knees too much and don't try to jump too high. One of these days, I'm going to get myself a video recorder so I can just show you what I mean. Anyway, I love it.

I did some strength training today as well. I think that workout goes a little too fast. Maybe I should bump it up. 

The big thing today was I forgot my music. I left the MP3 player in my coat pocket, which I left hanging in my closet. I didn't want to wear a coat today because it's supposed to get warmer later. So I was without music. It wasn't too bad though. I made it through without too much suffering. 

I have a crush on this guy at my gym. I can't say who. I'd die if he knew. Anyway, he's married. But is he ever nice to look at. Sigh.

I feel OK today. So at the moment, life is good.

Motivation and Inspiration

I'm finally back down to what I started from more than a month ago. Having my thyroid medication adjusted didn't do me any good. In fact I've read that even a minor change in TSH levels can have an effect on weight. So no more changes, please.

I've been struggling with what to write lately so I thought I would include some motivational quotes today:

Motivation is what gets you started. Habit is what keeps you going. —Jim Ryun

Eighty percent of success is showing up.—Woody Allen

Whatever 100 percent looks like, give it. —Lance Armstrong

We would accomplish more things if we did not think of them as impossible.—C. Malesherbes

No struggle, not progress. —Fredrick Douglas

Obstacles are things a person sees when he takes his eyes off of the goal.—Unknown

I hope these help inspire you to meet great challenges.

Big Arms

It's that time of year when I'm always sick. Yesterday I had a headache so bad I thought I was going to throw up. That's a nice way to start out isn't it?

On the nicer side of life, I do feel like my body is changing—toward the better. I can feel more muscles than ever now. I've lost at least another inch from my waist. My hips are smaller and tighter. My arms still need a lot of work. That has always been a trouble spot for me. My arms look like "man arms." Remember the episode of Seinfeld when he was dating the woman with "man hands"? Anyway. . . .

I've tried to add a lot exercises to my program that can address my "arm issues." But it takes so much longer for me to really get them in shape. It's frustrating.

I'm looking forward to working in the yard this year. I have so much more energy and I can do more. I have a lot of work that needs to be done inside, but I want to be outside.  I want to plant flowers. I want to make my house look nice. This weekend is going to be cooler. So I still have to wait a little while longer. Que sera, sera. 

Changing Myself and Not Worrying about Changing Anyone Else

When I was much younger, I worked at a homeless shelter. I worked with many recovering and practicing alcoholics. What I learned from this job is that I can't change anyone who does not want to be changed. I learned to accept things at face value. And I learned that I am better off working on my own problems. That's why I quit working as in social service organizations and became a writer. Writing is something I can do on my own. 

So why bring this up? It's my job. I can't change anyone else who works here, but I can change the way I react—or don't react—to what's going on. Some people try to control every situation. It just can't be done. So what I need to do is give people enough rope to hang themselves. It saves me lots of time and aggravation. 

I had an assessment of my exercise routine this morning and apparently I've already done every exercise known to man. Not really—the trainer who was going over my routine, however, was having trouble thinking of anything new. Did I tell you I lost my former trainer? I have no idea what happened—only that things seem kind of suspicious. Hmmmm. I've speculated numerous times over what happened, but I'm not really sure. 

Anyway, I do have a few new exercises to do—the abductor-adductor machine, Roman chair, and couple of others. Soooo, I'm kind of looking forward to it. I like doing different things. 

I didn't do much over the weekend except think about life and why people behave in certain ways. I think it's because there is something that this behavior—whether it's good or bad—does for them. Does that make sense? They get something out of acting little a spoiled brat. Their behavior is somehow rewarded. My job is to realize that I can't do anything about it. 

Fence Sitting

I'm thinking of doing Boot Camp. That's a six-week program of intense exercise taught by someone who is a hardcore athlete. I really want to do it. My reservations: being at there at 5 a.m.—that's currently the time I get up—and it costs $150—and that's kind of steep for me right now. I think I'm in good enough shape to do it. But I'm still on the fence. It would be a good kick in the butt, though.

I was thinking this morning that's it's been about a year since I made the decision to get in shape. I've lost around 60 pounds since then. I feel better than I've felt in years. And it's hard for me to believe that I was ever "that other person"—that fat woman who could barely get around. I still have a long way to go, but the distance is getting shorter. 

Last year in April, I went to Williamsburg. While on this trip, I began making some lifestyle changes. I walked a lot. I tried to watch what I was eating. I started trying to live again. It had been a long time since I was truly alive. I was still in heavy grief. But I knew I had to make some changes. My health had been rapidly deteriorating for more than 18 months. I felt sick all of the time. My body ached. My own weight was getting impossible to haul around. My joints hurt. I couldn't even bend over. But much has changed.

It's amazing what a difference a year makes.