Perfect Timing

So on Sunday Miguel and I went gym shopping. We visited the four large gyms in our town. We settled on the one that gave us the best deal, $64 a month, no contract, with $125 enrollment fees. And for $18 more a month we can get access to one of their other gyms in a nearby town (that we pass on our way home during commute hours).

I was ready to work out when we joined but Miguel complained of starving to death so we left and went and had lunch. Needless to say that was not the cause for my 'perfect timing' title of this post.

As I mentioned in my previous post I canceled cable. It was on all last week and we both sat and watched TV all day Saturday. The weather was crappy and neither of us had the motivation to do anything.

Anyway, we came home from our gym expedition on Sunday afternoon and lo-n-behold the cable was off. How perfect. We have a few shows stored on Tivo and when those run out we'll be high and dry

Okay, I'm headed to my first gym day.

Losing the Dead Weight

Well, I took the dive. I canceled the cable and internet. I felt that we were just wasting too much time on something that, really, is quite meaningless. Besides, it keeps us from talking to each other, that is, the husband and I. We're going to use the money for a gym membership, how perfect is that?

I made the call yesterday and it was supposed to be turned off today. It's still on. I don't know what I'm going to do if it never actually goes off. It's an addiction I can't seem to kick on my own.

Gosh I hope they turn it off because I don't know if I have the strength to ask them to turn off free cable.

Around About the Way

I'm still hanging around. I need to update my weight logs. I'm only 2 pounds, if that, down from my last posted weight. I haven't been trying very hard but I've also stayed aware of my eating habits. I'm happy that the weight I lost has stayed off. Work is finally stable so I'm going to choose a gym in the next few weeks. I think that's been the missing piece. I was able to lose 25 pounds just changing my eating habits but exercise not only speeds things up but helps me keep the eating in check and motivates me over all.

Husband and I met with a financial planner. We both suck at money matters and waste a lot. This, plus not saving for retirement, meant we needed help. Something about getting financially fit, creating a plan, sticking to it, that feels a lot like the weight issue. I think I can use that same motivation to makeover both parts of my life.

Creative Fitness

I lost 2.2 pounds this week for a total of 25.4 pounds lost! Weight watchers gave me a new charm for my WW key chain, a 25 pound charm that looks like a fishing weight. It's cute and I appreciate the milestone marker. It's incentive not to go backwards.

As you all know I've got my "must exercise" weight and I'm only 8.4 pounds away from that now. I have been thinking more and more about exercise. Over 6 months ago I made a commitment, bore out of too much time on the couch. That commitment was to do one social activity a week. My life had become a series of trips between work, the grocery store, the gas station and my couch. I wasn't getting out at all and I was depressed. Now I do something every weekend and amazingly my schedule is booked through August! Most of the time a commitment does not feel like the chore it used to feel like. I am socializing, getting out of the house, and having fun.

This success got me to thinking. What if I make a commitment to do one physical activity a week? I'm thinking hiking, tennis, swimming, racquetball, walking, etc. Basically getting some fun physical activity in. I purchased 2 new hiking books and they have a lot of "easy" and "moderate" hikes that I could do. I also have a book about biking trails in my area. My husband is game for anything so I could easily get him to go with me if needed. I haven't ridden my mountain bike in ages so I can get that ready to go and do some easy rides. I'm not so much thinking about doing these things as "working out" but more to get myself moving in an enjoyable way to change my thinking around "working out". Again, having what I do be a reflection of what's going on inside. I've written before about my being in therapy. One thing I'm learning is that I have a pattern of feeling that things are forced upon me. I resist exercise like an adolescent resists cleaning their room, I haven't felt like it's what I want to do but something someone is making me do. That needs to change. I need to remember that the most enjoyable part of being in shape for me is being able to do things that I want to do. That I want to do. I used to love riding to a beautiful picnic spot in a remote area on a beautiful day. I really enjoyed hikes with big, beautiful, payoff views. I want to do those things again. I'm missing out on so much of life right now.

So - one physical activity per week. It can be an after work hike, a short, easy bike ride, swimming a few laps...anything. I feel really good about this. It's a good lead-in to my impending exercise routine. I'm starting to envision a workout routine that is part gym and part outdoors stuff. I can't do what I did before and fall flat. I have to try something different.

Another Loss.

Lost .4 pounds this week. And that means I've now lost 10% of my body weight. Weight Watchers is big on the 10%, it's like your first major goal on the plan. They talk about all the health benefits of losing 10% of your weight..."By losing just 10 percent of your body weight, you can lower your cholesterol and reduce your blood pressure". I guess that would be true for 5% or 15% but they like the 10% and make a big deal out of it. I got a silver key chain, which I put my 16 week charm on. They give you a charm at 16 weeks because they say coming to meetings for 16 weeks really establishes it as a habit and shows you are committed. Anyway, I like the support and clapping and motivation I get from the meetings.

So, now I'm 10.6 pounds away from my "must exercise" weight. I'm thinking about joining a gym near my house that I once belonged to.

In other news....I may have a job offer in Hawaii by the end of the week! I'm freaking out! I've wanted to move back to Hawaii (went to undergrad at UH) for a while now but now that it might happen I'm scared! We'll see. Maybe I'll be posting from the beach soon