Motivating Monday

I don't like to go see bands I've never seen before. Generally I don't like loud music. I am kind of a grump that way. Yet, for some odd reason, I asked Amanda to go see a new band about 6 years ago. It was All Girl Summer Fun Band. I fell in love with the band. I have several of their songs on my iPod.

If you listen to this song and don't wish you could be in their band I will be surprised.

Today I met Mandee for an AM elliptical workout. At lunch I went for a 2 mile run. It was a good day.

Darn You, Ivy!

Today I did the elliptical at lunch. After work I ran three miles. It wasn't a good run, but I did it. I was pretty slow. After the run I did level 2 of the 30 day shred DVD. It sucked. Big time. It is so bad that halfway through it I started cursing Ivy for ever telling me about it. I only forgave her once my heart-rate returned to normal and I realized that she was torturing herself by doing the workout too.

I'm taking a break from morning workouts for two weeks. Mandee tore a muscle in her calf so she is taking it easy for a few weeks. I could say I planned on getting up and working out alone, but I know I never would. I'll just relax and make up for it with afternoon runs.

I did OK with food today. I'm hoping to see results on the scale, not just in my fitness level when I weigh myself tomorrow.

Friday

Yesterday I did a 45 minute circuit with Mandee at lunch. I ran three miles after work. My legs are sore today.

Yesterday I did OK with food and ate within my calorie range. I am better off than I planned because John dove his bike over to use my pump to fill his tire. He parked behind my car in the garage. After that he went on a ride and then rode home. With his car keys. So we walked to meet each other in downtown Beaverdale and had a disappointing dinner at Goodsons. After that we walked back. So I got a good 20 minute walk in that I wasn't planning on.

Sick of Dining Out

Tonight I went out for a work dinner again. I had one lambic and fish and chips. We were at the Royal Mile which is delicious but not exactly known for their healthy options. I had planned ahead, so I was OK with calories.

I slept in today and did a 45 minute circuit with Mandee at lunch. She kicked my butt by making me do four kinds of squats. I'm going to have a hard time walking tomorrow.

I've always known I do better when I have a routine. This week has been very busy and I haven't kept to my schedule. I've stood up Mandee twice this week and haven't worked out after work at all. I have stepped up my lunch work out, but not enough. Eating heavy dinners and having cocktails every night is wearing me out. Don't get me wrong, I realize that I have an great life and I am thankful that I get to go out and spend time with my boss and co-workers. I'm just tired. I am not used to this schedule and I'm tired. Very tired. I may actually go to bed before 10 tonight.

I will be back in my routine soon, which will help with my energy level. I don't think it will be too hard to get back into the hard core workout habit as I've still been working out and I have tracked my calories all week.

Finding my Stride

Where have I been? I've been at home. Being lazy. Eating too much. I did great on Saturday (getting a 40 mile ride in makes it easy to eat within your calories). Sunday and Monday were another story.

The problem with a day or two off isn't that I cheat on those days. It's that it is so hard to eat a normal amount after just a couple of snack filled days. By 10 AM this morning I'd had peanut M&M's and some Bunny Crackers. I decided to let loose in the morning and make up for it later.

At lunch I met Mandee for some elliptical and catching up (we both slept in). After work I ran 3 miles and did the DVD. I only did level 1 but I upped my weights from 5 lbs to 8 lbs for the second set of weights and the chest fly in circuit 3. Running felt great. It really clears my head and helps me focus on what I need to get done.

I'm headed to Davenport this weekend for another wedding. One bad day won't kill me as long as I can get myself to immediately refocus.

Halfway to Friday

I cruised through another day of tracking food. I cannot believe how much easier it is to be honest with myself and track things when I know that I will be reporting to blogosphere (OK, in all reality probably just Ivy and Claire). I'm sure that it will rub off eventually, but until it does I am happy to take advantage of it.

This morning I met Mandee and lifted for 40 minutes. At lunch I went outside and ran for 40. The run SUCKED. My legs muscles were tight and running was actually painful. I ended up taking far more walking breaks than I normally do. After work I did level 1 of the DVD. I think I'm now at the point where I need to do level 2 unless I run prior to doing the DVD (because I want to die doing level 1 after I run).

Last week Ivy suggested I wear a pedometer around Sturgis Falls so I'm aware of how far I've walked. I ended up not wearing it because I biked 30 miles on Saturday morning. I have been wearing this week at work and my goal has been to reach 15k steps. On my off days I'm going to try to keep it at 10k. So far I've met my goal every day. I'll probably keep track of how I'm doing with steps on the blog too.

Do you have any tricks you use to keep yourself on track?

I think I can, I think I can, I think I can.

I did fine today. I tracked my calories, ran with Mandee at lunch, and did the DVD. I skipped my morning workout. I just couldn't drag myself out of bed. I'm hoping that eating normally for a few days will get me back on track. I think it will also help me to read Half-Assed: A Weightloss Memoir, I like the author's blog a lot, and Ivy was nice enough to volunteer to lend it to me.

Tonight I made what has become a usual dinner for me - scrambled eggs made with plain yogurt instead of milk (it started when I had run out of milk) topped with pickled jalapenos. I've had it for dinner three times in the last 10 days. I tend to get on kicks with food and eat the same thing over and over again. I'm pretty sure it's a result of living alone and having lots of leftovers.

Blar!

I tracked my food, walked two miles this morning, and did 45 minutes of circuit training at lunch. Both of my workouts were with Mandee. I'm impressed she put up with me because I am grumpy. Very grumpy. I met my goals, but I am not overly excited that I did. Perhaps having the most frustrating work day in years broke my spirit. Perhaps having two beers just makes me down the next day. I really don't care why I'm in a bad mood and don't care about my diet, I just want this mood to go away.

So here is my plan. I can bitch and moan as much as I want until 10:17 PM. At that time I will be in a good mood. I will change my attitude tonight. Tomorrow will be a better day.

Monday

I think that Monday is the easiest day to do well on a diet. There is something about starting a fresh work week that makes me want to succeed in other areas of my life.

Today I was ditched by two different workout buddies. Mandee overslept, so I skipped lifting and did the elliptical instead. Kelly had to cancel our usual Monday lunch workout, so I ran three miles with Mandee. After work I did the Jillian Michaels DVD.

I did great with food today. I feel like I will easily make up for Saturday.

I love running on the treadmill at lunch, yet prefer running outside after work. I think that is because I usually run with a friend at lunch. We can each adjust our speed and intensity to what we're feeling up to that day. We can talk and get a customized workout in at the same time. After work I run to clear my head. I honestly think I would trip and fall off of the treadmill because I get so deep in thought when I run after work.

Sushi and Booze

THANK YOU CLAIRE!! Your advice on pre-exercise and just admitting that you'll probably eat more than you would at home when you go out.

I tracked my calories (guessing when it comes to some of the sushi). I even went out for a drink after dinner and remembered to track it.

I ditched Mandee this morning. I just couldn't get up to work out. I made up for it at lunch with 15 on the elliptical, 30 in a circuit class, and 15 running. After work I lifted for 25 minutes. All in all a good day.

Tomorrow I'm heading to a wedding reception. Any advice about cake and booze? I often convince myself that I will dance of the calories but I know that is a lie.

A Little Help from My Friends

Last weekend I went on a knitting date with Ivy. She has been blogging about her weigh loss efforts since April. After too much coffee and yarn talk I decided I would join her in her yarn diet. Every 5 pounds I lose I get to buy yarn. The rest of the time I'm saying no to my desire to purchase new wool and alpaca.

My plan for this blog is to share what I've done to help me reach my weight loss goals every day. I'm not following a specific diet, I am tracking my calories and exercising. I won't go into detail over food, I'll just say if I've logged it or not. I will go into a little more detail on my workouts, because working out is one of my favorite things to do. I plan on blogging every day, even if all I do is eat pretzels and sit on the couch.

This morning I lifted with Mandee for 45 minutes. I ran 3 miles after work. I tracked my food. It has been a good day. Honestly, if it was a bad day I would have never started this thing.

Mandee is my workout buddy. We meet at 7 every work day at the gym at work (OK, some days it is more like 7:30). Monday, Wednesday, and Friday we lift. Tuesdays and Thursdays we do cardio. The cardio is kind of weak, as I'm not a morning person and can't get my feet to move before 10. Working out with Mandee is nice because there is someone to hold me accountable, which I need (duh, people who hold themselves accountable don't have blogs where they share with the world that they are trying to lose weight).