Amazing support

Friday, October 05, 2012

On Tuesday, I was voted the "Done Girl of the Day" in the Done Being the Fat Girl group. What an amazing group of supportive women! It reminded me that I can and will continue my journey to be healthier.

I then realized that I haven't been tracking and have barely been on Spark for the last couple of weeks. Why? Because I have been overwhelmed with my final studying crunch for the LSAT tomorrow. What is the LSAT you say? The Law School Admission Test. That's right folks, I'm applying to law school.

SO - I will be back and going strong next week. I just need to get through tomorrow without having a nervous breakdown. But thanks for all the support and love my Done Girls!

Stay tuned - great things are just around the corner :)

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

JENSDAY1012 10/6/2012 12:46PM

Good Luck on your LSATs!!! Report Inappropriate Comment

LINDAK25 10/5/2012 4:44PM

Have a great day tomorrow! Good luck! Report Inappropriate Comment

RYDERB 10/5/2012 1:29PM

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NEVERORNOW 10/5/2012 12:15PM

Good luck tomorrow! I know you'll do great! Report Inappropriate Comment

DIETER27 10/5/2012 11:47AM

Good luck to you on your law exams. You can do it! What a great accomplishment. Best of luck to you. Report Inappropriate Comment

MEXGAL1 10/5/2012 11:47AM

Congrats for being the Done girl for the day! Report Inappropriate Comment

One Step Back, Two Steps Forward

Sunday, September 23, 2012

The past week was an interesting one. I had my birthday on Thursday, so of course there was a lot of eating out and not tracking my food. I also had some depression set in, which doesn't ever bode well for my motivation. Therefore, I didn't get to the gym as much as I had planned to, and I also undoubtedly overate. I didn't get my water in, which my body FELT! But, I still DID things. I still went to the gym twice and participated in my first 5k yesterday. I still checked in here every day.

The scale moved in the wrong direction this morning, but I'm not going to sweat it. I'm so proud of finishing my 5k in 45 minutes. I never thought I would do it in under an hour, since I didn't train properly (I'm only finishing week 2 of the 5k rookie running plan). I ran as much as I could and then walked for a while, started running again when I could. It was such an awesome experience! And it's giving me the motivation to keep going with this program so that I an actually RUN a 5k when it is over.

I'm also going to really think about my grocery list for this week. I'm going to try and pick 2 or 3 easy, healthy dinners that I can incorporate into our week, as well as continue to bring my breakfast and lunch, and track what I am eating.

And the water. Oh, the water. I have not gotten 8 glasses the last few days (some days NONE!) and my body really feels it. I am more sluggish and dragged out because of it. It's amazing how something that seems so small and simple can really make a huge impact on how I feel. So, back to at least 8 glasses a day, no matter what my mood is.

Here's to a great week everyone!!!!

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

ANNIESADVENTURE 10/2/2012 9:01AM

Good analysis. You can see the cause and effect of your behavior, and you know how to change it so you can feel better. Birthdays can throw us off track. The Spark says the most successful Sparkers are those who get right back up and on plan. I want to become one of those successful Sparkers! Report Inappropriate Comment

JENNIK2 9/23/2012 10:19AM

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LINDAK25 9/23/2012 9:54AM

Happy Birthday! Congratulations on your 5K! This isn't about how perfect you are, it's about learning to be flexible while maintaining a healthy lifestyle. At least, that's how I see it. Okay, it would have been nice if the scale stayed the same, but after a couple of days of drinking your water, you might just find that you lose that weight. When you eat out you get a lot more sodium! What I notice here, though, is that you really have a plan and know what direction you want to go in and that's fantastic! Report Inappropriate Comment

ORANGE81 9/23/2012 9:14AM

Here's to water it does a body good. Congrats on the 5k and knowing you need to track and make changes. It's hard to fall off the plan but it's so good when we know and get right back up. Report Inappropriate Comment

Excuses, excuses

Wednesday, September 19, 2012

Today, SparkCoach wants me to blog about my workout excuses. There are really just a couple that I use.

1 - I am depressed and I would rather curl up in my bed and hide from the world.
2 - I am too tired.

That's it. Those are the two things that keep me from the gym when I know that I should really be there. I used the depression excuse last night. Yes, I was unhappy and it was easier to hide in my room than brave the monsoon that was happening, but I should have gone.

I'm going to try and fight through the "I'm tired" excuse tonight. I need to remember the reasons that I'm doing something healthy for myself, instead of the reasons that the rest of my life feels like it's falling apart.

Wish me luck. I know I'll feel better after I go. I just need to get there.

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

ANNIESADVENTURE 10/2/2012 8:58AM

We always feels better after we do it. The hardest part is getting started! If you can get past that, you'll do fine. For me, exercise is the best way to fight the blues. Just getting up and moving changes how I feel. Report Inappropriate Comment

JINLYNN 9/20/2012 2:38AM

Good luck! Report Inappropriate Comment

LINDAK25 9/19/2012 8:52PM

Good luck, you can do it! Besides, exercise fights depression. Sorry your life feels like it's falling apart. Just take one step at a time and focus on what you're doing right now. Report Inappropriate Comment

OLIVIANIGHT 9/19/2012 3:24PM

Good luck! You can do it : ) Report Inappropriate Comment

Oh the times, they are a changin' (and so am I!)

Monday, September 17, 2012

Today's SparkCoach assignment is to blog about the changes that I'm seeing other than the scale. This is only week 3 of my latest attempt to be consistent, and while I'm doing well (4lbs GONE), I am noticing more important changes than just what the scale says.

1 - My body does not want crap. Last Friday, I treated myself to an order of french fries. BIG MISTAKE! After 2 weeks of eating better, my body said no way! I'm just as happy without it.

2 - My mood is better. I tend to be a pretty somber, Eeorye-ish sort of person. I also lose my temper pretty easily. But last week, I worked out. I went to the gym and broke a sweat and pushed myself. And guess what? Last week, I was in the best mood I've been in for a long time.

3 - I like water. Surprise! I find myself wanting to drink water most of the time. I have a Diet Pepsi here and there to fuel my caffeine addiction, but other than that, it's water. I have some Crystal Light made too, just for those times when I need a little flavor, but I haven't had any in over a week.

4 - It's ok to have a "bad" day, be it conscious or unconscious. I had a bad day yesterday. SO WHAT! I'm not going to let that make a bad week, or a bad month, or force me to give up. One day is just that - one day. So I'm letting it go and just focusing on today. And today has been great so far!

5 - I feel lighter. 4lbs may not be that much a loss, all things considered, but I do feel lighter. Maybe it is just the strength that I'm getting in my legs from the elliptical and running. It could be that my mood has lightened and therefore translated into me simply feeling lighter. Whatever it is, I'll take it!

I'm sure I could come up with more things that are changing for me. I'm sure that at some point I will. But for now, what are the things that YOU see changing?

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

ANNIESADVENTURE 10/2/2012 8:56AM

Well said. Those are wonderful changes. Doing this can only make us feel better! Report Inappropriate Comment

BLESSEDBEING 9/17/2012 11:38PM

How exciting! I just love hearing the honest delight as you describe these differences. And the cool thing is we don't have to be perfect to make real progress, and to feel better. Blessed Be, Amanda Report Inappropriate Comment

LINDAK25 9/17/2012 5:37PM

Isn't this kind of change great? Since I've started Spark I've noticed that I'm not depressed. I think the change in diet/exercise/sleep really made a huge difference for me. Report Inappropriate Comment

CHELAGETSFIT 9/17/2012 1:47PM

Good job on all your healthy choices and changes. Ours bodies will definitely reward us for good choices =) Report Inappropriate Comment

Ugh, weekends....

Sunday, September 16, 2012

I am so bad with my eating on the weekends. I think that, for now, I'm going to allow my Sundays to be "cheat" days. I went over my calories today (not by much), but I at very little that was actually healthy. I did still go to the gym this morning - I will not make any excuses for that.

So, I am getting better at eating during the week. I need to tweak things a bit for a couple of different reasons (lots of fruit but not veggies, getting potassium intake up, etc.) but I really need to focus on the weekends. It's hard because that is when I have time to cook, and now that it is getting cooler I have the urge to make big meals.

This is such a learning process. I don't want to set myself back too far (4lbs gone forever!) by giving in here and there, but at the same time, I don't think that one day is going to make or break my progress.

I do notice, though, that when I eat something really bad (french fries for example) my body just revolts against me. I definitely prefer the feeling of eating healthy food over garbage fast food. We ate a home cooked meal tonight, it was just chicken parm with pasta and bread. I will say, though, that hubby is a great cook :)

So, the plan is this:
1 - not beating myself up for going over calories today.
2 - learn to eat better on the weekends
3 - consider making Sunday a sort of "cheat" day
4 - otherwise keep it up!

Back to reality tomorrow. I hope everyone had a great weekend! I certainly did!

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

LINDAK25 9/16/2012 9:55PM

You have to find what works best for you! It sounds like overall, you're doing just fine! Report Inappropriate Comment

J0HNBANE 9/16/2012 8:36PM

I just did my first weekend through on spark. I had to focus on other things and kept drinking water whenever I had an 'urge' but wasn't really hungry. I did cook some larger meals, but I portion controlled and ate some leftovers for lunch on Sunday. I've found some low cal 'treats' from Starbuck's, so I can fake cheat and treat myself at the end of the week/weekend. I think going with your plan, especially number 1, will go a long way! I used to beat myself up when I fell off, and then I'd stay off. You can do it! Report Inappropriate Comment

KNIBARG 9/16/2012 8:35PM

Great attitude. After all, we need to learn how to make healthy choices but ones that we can live with long term. Report Inappropriate Comment

SHELLB7 9/16/2012 8:26PM

I sometimes struggle with the weekends, too. Good luck!! Report Inappropriate Comment