So I have decided it is time to get back on the horse and ride off into the thin and fabulous sunset.  After being in and out of town, the holidays wreaking havoc with my diet and being sick for three weeks with SARS or whatever the hell I had, it is time to get back on the train.

I have had some 12-grain toast with a little PB and J this morning, a banana, an orange and some pretzels.  A lot of water.  AND I’m headed to the gym for the first time in about a month.  The antibiotic I was on, believe it or not, Avelox, has a side effect (while rare) of rupturing one’s Achilles’ tendon.  Sick, right? Eff that, big time.   So I decided even on the days I did feel well, but was still popping the pills, I didn’t want to risk it.  I’ll slowly ramp up to more weight and speed, but right now, I am just happy to be going to the gym at all.

I know my tushie has gotten bigger.  I know my arms are a little flabbier than before.  But I’ve decided today that it’s on.  been watching my intake, going to the gym and taking care of business so when the summer comes around, I look amazing.

So – I have been having a bit of down time – almost the entire month of January – from working out.  For a while I was still eating appropriately, but lately, I can’t even claim that.  I do have an excuse – Illness & medication – but that’s not good enough any more.

This weekend was my first batting practice in 10 months…. That’s a LONG time for me.  Coming from Washington State, where we hit and play year round, any kind of break is extremely unusual.  10 months is a lifetime.  Needless to say, I was sore as HELL yesterday.  I was planning on going home and getting some sleep, but my workout partner/neighbor guilted me into getting off my arse and hitting the gym.

Got a good workout in, which helped with the soreness, but cardiovascular activity and I have fall out of favor.  I need to get back into that, since it’s what truly enables my badonkadonk to get a bit smaller.  Some running/walking intervals and I should be back to where I was.  I’ve gained 3 lbs back, but I’m still doing well as far as the sizing goes.

I’m still pushing the water thing, too – drink as much water as you can and that helps your digestion and overall functioning.  I’ll be back soon with an update.  Or I’ll die.  One or the other….. See ya….

Hello all. It’s been too long, has it not?

I’m proud to say I haven’t gained anymore weight. Good for me. However, I haven’t lost anymore either. The last several weeks, (no exaggeration) have been filled with doctor’s visits, an inordinate amount of medications and very little relief for this cold/cough/SARS/ear infection/Bird Flu/Plague I have. The last two days, I have finally felt better rather than worse. My lungs and the “productive” cough aren’t really ready for the gym again quite yet, but I have been taking note of my caloric intake and trying to off-set my cough-syrup-induced lethargy.

Still at 140 even, I am just trying to be patient for when I can hit the stepper again. I’ve been sticking to tilapia, baked chicken and the like, and trying to stay away from simple carbs as much as possible. And of course, they suggest drinking a lot of fluids for upper respiratory shenanigans, so I’ve been guzzling water like I’ve been alone in the desert on a horse with no name. For real.

Winter can always bring the common cold and other infections into your household…and unfortunately can derail your gym practices. Just keep in mind that if you’re being less active, maybe there can be a few places you can trim some of your intake. Maybe you can muster up some sit-ups before bed at night. Maybe you just do some simple yoga moves instead of blowing through 30 minutes on the treadmill at full bore. Just know your limits and do what you can to stay in the right mindset. I know it’s tough for all of us, but even just conscientious eating can help keep us on the same path.

Admittedly, I have told you all that I am a horrible Coca-Cola addict.  I love it, the full flavor, full sugar, full caffeine version.  I won’t drink Diet Coke and I’m not a fan of Coke Zero, though both are fair alternatives if one is trying to be “good”. 

Here is the shocking claim – I have all but QUIT drinking Coke!!!!  I know, I know, it’s a shock.  I might have one 20-oz bottle in a two week period.  It’s craziness, I know, but it is the TRUTH!!!  I don’t even know how I got off it, to be fair.  I was off work over the end of December/beginning of January and I didn’t have any at home, so I simply didn’t have it.  Then I just quit buying it with lunch, and ordering it when out, and picking it up at the store. 

Sure enough – I have quit my addiction.  A little will power goes a long way.  I still entertain the thought of one here and there, depending on how much sleep I’ve had or how boring my class looks to be, but for the most part, I’m doing pretty darn well.

How’z your diet frenzy going for you???? 

Okay – not really – I’m still doing really well, given that we just completed the worst time of the year to be on a diet.  I have lost an additional 4 lbs over the Christmas/New Years break.  Granted, I’ve also had a heck of a head cold to make food taste like cardboard, and have no smell whatsoever, so that did have a lot to do with it. 

This particular season gets on my nerves.  This being the post-holiday, resolution season.  I can’t get the machines I enjoy at the gym because every other middle-aged, over-weight, fad diet lover is pouring sweat and whatever other bodily fluids they can all over them.  I can’t work the treadmill because Suzy Homemaker who has lost the allure her hubby loves so much is busy jogging herself into a heart attack on every last one of them.

SERIOUSLY – why do people think that the passing of another year is what’s going to save their arteries and cholesterol against their own bad eating habits and workout routines?  This is an ongoing thing.  Every year, without fail, millions of people resolve to lose weight, eat right, get in shape, etc, etc….  I’m no amazing person myself, but I don’t wait til January 1st rolls around to realize that I need to take action and get my ass to work in order to live a longer life.

These fad diets, Sugar Busters, Nutrasystem, Atkins, Jenny Craig, Weight Watchers, Hollywood - may work for some, and have on many occassions, but if people don’t actually take the time to learn about nutrition and that magical mathematical equation that results in more calories burned than consumed, they are never gonna get it off and keep it off.  It’s a sad state of affairs. 

We are so incredibly stupid sometimes.  A pill is not gonna make me Pamela Anderson.  It’s just not.  And why would I want to be?  Why are we so caught up with being SKINNY?  Can’t we just be healthy?  There’s nothing wrong with a little meat on your bones – as long as you are healthy.  Go to the doctor – see what they say.  How’z your blood work?  How’z your cholesterol?  Seriously – most of what we see on the television is severely under-nourished.  I don’t want my daughter to emulate those idiots. 

Be yourself, be healthy, enjoy life and don’t freakin’ starve yourself.  If I catch you with a diet pill and not doing any freakin’ work, I’m talking big shit, and I hope you throw them out.  Just sayin’.  Love ya!!! 

For those of you who didn’t understand my reference to “muffin top”….  Note how the top of the pants cut into this poor woman’s stomach/waist area and cause an overflow of chub… That, my dear friends, is the muffin top.  That, my dear readers, is what we DONT want to have happen – ever again.

There are 2 ways of rectifying this situation – 1) buy bigger pants that do NOT cause the muffin top phenomena or 2) lose weight.

We have opted for #2.  Enjoy the journey.

If I keep getting minimal sleep – I’m totally trying this new diet….

Here we go again…  I’m stillllllll holding steady, even given the holidays we are in the midst of!!    To me – that’s success.  I have not been eating a whole lot, because I believe my stomach has shrunk – I’m just not ABLE to eat as much as I used to.  That’s a good thing.  I’m still hitting the gym pretty hard and have roped my neighbor into joining me on the days I have the trainer.  They basically kick our collective asses and we pay them for it.  As a result, we are generally unable to walk or lift anything for a day or two afterward…. It’s all good pain and we get to grow all that fun mitochondria that helps to burn energy while sitting on those same asses mentioned before.  In the end, it’s a winning situation – despite the pain and sweat.  (and I like to type mitochondria)

I’ve begun keeping a daily diary of what I eat, including the massive amounts of water I intake, down to the single cookie I shoved in my mouth like a starving wolf faced with a sweet little baby chipmunk….yummy…. and gross at the same time.  Basically – whole thing, shoved into my moufff, no chewing, 100% swallow.  Yeah baby….  The diary has definitely helped guilt me into only eating when appropriate and to only eat appropriate foods.  On the other hand, it does NOT help me when I forget to eat, or when I run out of time to actually prepare something that may not cause twenty new saddle bags on my already-burdened hips.

Additionally, I’ve cut the Coke out about 50% of the time.  Today is Friday and I believe I’ve only had 2 this week.  THAT, in and of itself, is a major step forward for me.  I tend to consume one 20-oz Coke a day and that’s a couple hundred Calories I don’t have to eat good, healthy food with.  So, while it is a moving target, I’m making progress.

I still have to get through next week, with Christmas, and the week after with New Years (this will be a challenge as I plan on getting all drunkerd up and sloshy over that particular holiday), so wish me luck.  I’m planning on hitting the gym hard EVERY day between now and then just because I feel so much better when I do, and I’m really liking the results I’ve seen thus far.  Smooches – ciao!

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh…………..

 

Seriously – it’s quite aggravating and I mentally understand it but cannot emotionally detach myself.  I just love Coke.  Original Coke, no diet, no zero, no caffeine free.  Good, old fashioned, original Coke – okay, minus the actual cocaine, but with 100% calories, sugar and caffeine. 

This is not helping my diet efforts.  However, since I don’t really eat a LOT of junk, I allow myself this indiscretion.  Yesterday, twice.  I’ve begun keeping a food diary so I can review my intake and compare it with what I should be eating.  YES, I understand that this is pretty much a trial run and that I don’t eat enough of the good stuff and too much of the bad stuff. 

For instance:  yesterday’s total intake was this – 6 fig newtons, 1 blueberry Activia yogurt, 2 – 20oz bottles of water, tuna salad in a spinach wrap, 20 oz Coke, 1 small biscuit, 2/3 of a chicken breast, 1& 1/2 cups of spaghetti with alfredo sauce, 20 oz Coke, and another 12 oz of water. 

While this combination of food was yummy to my tummy, it was not nutritionally balanced.  While I may have consumed enough protein, there is a severe lack of fruits and vegetables….. 

TIP – it can be especially helpful to keep a food diary and track your food intake.  It allows for a comparison to nutritional guidelines and lets you know just how bad your diet may be for your efforts to lose, and can enable you to make adjustments where necessary to maximize your intake.

It’s almost Thanksgiving folks, and I’m flat lined right now.  I’m not mad, and I’m certainly going to eat me some turkey and all the fixin’s with the Pash clan, but I will definitely be hitting the gymand getting some great day-after exercise.  Enjoy yourselves, try not to over-indulge, and if your family’s making you crazy, leave.  Hard enough to do, but honestly, it’s possible.  Traditionally, I check out a movie or something.

Ciao!! 

I’m going to stop apologizing for being busy and not updating the blog as often as we initially intended.  We start off about every 3rd post with apologies and reasons why we haven’t blogged in an appropriate span of time, but you know what?  Oh well – we all have busy lives and try to keep things going daily, so if we miss something here or there, it’s just a good thing we remembered to get back to it at all….   That being said, I have lots of good news to share with those of you playing along at home:

Workouts:

I’m doing VERY VERY well on the workout scene.  I’ve become a little obsessive with it.  As Ash said earlier, I finally joined Peak fitness so I can try and get some workouts in at lunch or immediately after work or class as it works out.  I’ve also made use of the workout facilities in my apartment complex which is not as good as elsewhere, but encourages sweat, so I’ll take it.  I’m trying to consistently attend the Funky Fit classes, though I am rhythmically challenged at times, it works my smile/laugh muscles as well ‘cuz I can’t help but laugh at my own ridiculousness.  I’m also still getting up at the ass-crack of dawn with my step mom and doing interval run-walking.  It’s really showing a difference, and I’m excited about it.  Additionally, this week I’ve begun doing core work and ab work directly after my morning excursion – situps, pushups, butterflies, crunches, and supermans (gotta work the back).

Food:

Also doing pretty well, though I definitely have room to improve.  I have been consistently eating lunch, and drinking water and taking my vitamins.  As a downfall, I’m still drinking my Coke a day (crack in a bottle, I like to call it), and often forget dinner.  NOW – that’s also because the term is coming to an end and I’m stressing over homework and projects to complete within the next couple of weeks, so I really DO forget.

Weight:

Drum roll, please…………………………..  I’m down to 212lbs!!!!!!!  I can hardly believe it, but hard work pays off, and I’ve been fairly successful at a good eating/lifestyle change.  A little reality for you all – I bought a pair of pants 4 years ago because I loved the style and they were $7.00.  Couldn’t pass them up.  I have NEVER been able to wear them before because I tend to average from a size 20 pant to about a 16 when I’m doing really, really good.  Well, these pants are a size 14 and I wore them to work yesterday.  NO – I did not have a muffin top, and they were very comfortable, with room in the waist… I call that SUCCESS!!!! 

I still have a long way to go, but I am seeing improvement.  My peeps are doing great at keeping me accountable and reminding me that I can no longer be a blob o’ awesome, but a lean, mean, machine of crazy, mad, sexiness…….  Care to join me?