Eh.

I'm feeling sort of, eh. That's it, just eh. I've been battling a little cold all week. It started Tuesday night, I worked out Wednesday which is good because by Thursday (last night) I was beat. I'm staying home from work today and hoping that by this afternoon I'll have the energy to go to the gym. I'm going to, eat breakfast, watch my Netflix offering, The Kid Stays in the Picture and then see if I can go. I've only gone twice this week so I hope to be able to go today and tomorrow.

On Sunday I'm going on a Wine Hike. From the description: "There's a 5,000-acre classic oak woodland bordering the Valley of the Moon. It is vast and largely undeveloped, a place that can make you feel as if you're in the back country. We'll haul our packs along a classic loop that comprises much of Annadel State Park's best features, including forested canyons and uncompromising views. After the hike we'll toast our day when we sample fine wines and picnic among the lush lavender gardens of Matanzas Creek Winery, located 20 minutes away around Sonoma Mountain." Doesn't that sound like fun?? I am a member of a great activity group and this is the kind of fabulous thing I get to do with them.

This is why I want to be in shape. I wouldn't have done this a year ago. So even though I'm feeling all Eh today I just got a little emotional lift by telling you about my Sunday plans.

Oh, I almost forgot. I lost .4 pounds this week. Not much but better than nothin', or a gain! I don't know why I didn't lose more but it's okay, I'll survive. One thing is I know I'm building muscle now that I'm weight training so even if it doesn't come off this week I know I'm making an investment in future weight loss. It'll come off eventually. That reminds me, I have to make my menu for the next two weeks too. I got a new cookbook, Cooking Light's Superfast Suppers. Looks good, I'm going to make at least one thing from it this week.

Alright, off to watch my movie. Hope everyone that reads this is having a better Friday, heck, a better week, than I am. I'll be back next week with new resolve and fight I'm sure!

My Groove

I think I've found my groove. I like going to the gym four days a week. I'm on a Mon, Wed, Fri (plus whatever other day works) as a plan. I do the Couch-to-5K plan on those days and the fourth day I do other cardio. I always do 45 minutes total of cardio. Five days left me too tired and I think I'd build up resentments about the gym that I don't seem to get going four days a week. Since my plan is all about maintenance I'm focused on discovering what will work for me in the long term. If it slows my weight loss a bit that's okay, it's not worth an extra 1/2 pound a week to push myself too hard and then relapse altogether. I do want to put more focus on my other goal of one "fun" physical activity per week, like a hike or bike ride or indoor rock climbing or whatever. Doing those things are a big payoff for me, a big part of why I want to get in shape; it's a big reinforcer to keep doing what I'm doing.

So, I'm wearing a size 12 today! They are a pair of Eddie Bauer khakis I got for 9 bucks a couple weeks ago. They are a tad snug but at least this is post-washing so I don't have to worry about too much shrinkage. I have them with a blue striped button down shirt with a larger striped sweater over it. I just took a picture of myself with my cell phone and I'm going to post it here so you can all see the top. It's so fun dressing more adventurously! I never would have layered like this before. Okay, here's the picture:


Yesterday I did 10 minutes elliptical followed by the Couch-to-5k Week 1 (again) followed by 15 minutes on the upright bike. I burned around 550 calories. Shin splints made an ugly return and I hate them!!! I then did weight training, lower body, and since I'm still recovering from the dancing the squats and lunges almost killed me! But I got through them and felt strong as a result. I can do it!! Crunches are getting easier but I'm not yet ready to add another set. One set of 25 regular and one set of 26 obliques is fine for now.

Well, I'm having a great week! Hope everyone else is too.

Boogie, woogie, woogie

Dancing was a blast! I danced until the wee hours of the morning (got home around 3am!) and who knows how many calories I burned. I wasn't geeky enough to wear my heart monitor and watch but I'm sure it was a ton of calories. I drank three drinks in total, one vodka soda and two vodka tonics. I was needing something sweeter as vodka sodas are a bit on the harsh side with cheap vodka, which is what I was drinking. Anyway, I was able to do a lot more moves that involved using my leg muscles. Don't ask

Of course I spent Sunday recovering and wasn't able to go to the gym as planned. I watched a documentary on crossword puzzlers, Wordplay, perfect for a rainy Sunday at home and my favorite kind of slice-of-life doc. I actually didn't eat much as I was mostly thirsty all day, ended the day with points left (oh no!). I've got lower body weight training today and I know my legs will be hurting because I still feel the pain from dancing.

I've got a Gap shirt on that I bought ages ago (maybe 2 years?) and hasn't fit me until now. It really is surreal getting so much smaller. I pointed out to Miguel that I weigh less now than when I met him and that he's never seen me this small. He's certainly getting more affectionate, or maybe I am? Who knows, it's all good is all I know

The Late Shift

I worked ridiculously late last night, until 9pm. I've been slacking for a few weeks on keeping up on writing chart notes and got 3 weeks behind! I'm not going to let that happen again. Needless to say I didn't go to the gym last night as planned. So even though I had a busy day planned today I got up this morning and went. The c25k was more on the easy side again. I walked at 3.7 and jogged at 5.0 with a few of the jogging portions done at 5.5mph. I did my other 25 minutes of cardio on the elliptical and bike. Then weight training, upper body. I had to rush through because I was meeting an appraiser at our condo (we don't have to refinance, thankfully we have a fixed rate, but rates are so low that we might get a lower fixed rate).

Anyway, met him and then off to a late lunch that was breakfast too. Egg whites (made with butter, I could taste it), bacon, fruit cup and whole wheat toast with jam. Not bad all around but still felt extravagent. The bacon was good. Anyway, going out dancing tonight. I'm really excited and hope I have a good time. I feel really good today.

Some (not so tall and really petite) people weigh 100 pounds.

Lost 3 pounds this week. That certainly makes the hurt of gaining one pound last week go away I'm in the 180's. Wow, this eating healthy and exercising really works doesn't it. Slowly but surely. Today's a day off from the gym and I went to happy hour with co-workers. We went to Chili's and I had the guiltless Salmon and beans, still not all that guiltless at 10 points for the meal (I get 24 for a day) but I was happy to have something not too bad. Of course I tasted all the appetizers they ordered and had three drinks. Vodka soda though, so only the alcohol calories.

I was scared to come home because after a few drinks I sometimes want to eat everything. So I walked around the mall until it closed. By the time I got home I only succumbed to some FF Pringles and drank a big glass of H20. Not bad.

Anyway, enough about what I ate. I lost three pounds. My current goal of 179 is coming into my sights. I posted some new progress pics and posted the old ones from when I started BFL at 221 pounds. I didn't take pics when I started Weight Watchers at 233.8 pounds. Of course I regret that now. Oh, I get a new charm from Weight Watchers when I've lost 50 pounds. That's just around the corner too. Wow. Oh, Megan pointed out that she and I are this close to having lost a combined 100 pounds. That's almost a whole person. Isn't that amazing?!?!