Tuesday:
I got hooked in to a documentary last night, when I should have been in bed, about how people in the UK allocate their spending money. Like whether private school was worth the money, or clothes with designer labels. They interviewed people from all different backgrounds and income levels and it was fascinating. But the two people at opposite ends of the scale were the most interesting (and a little sad) to me. One man, a Romney gypsy who grew up poor in a caravan, was very rich with over 100 million UK pounds worth in assets. He had several enormous houses, very expensive vintage cars, artwork. But when the interviewer asked him if he liked the artwork he said no, he had no attachment to any of it. He bought things for investments, then sold them when they had increased in value. He bought houses fully furnished without regard to his own taste. He was only interested in making more money. But what for? He didn't spend it on his son, who he wanted to grow up with a good work ethic like he had. Not even private school (he himself left school at 12). His wife cleaned the enormous mansions herself - no household staff! He gave no explanation of what he wanted all this money for, he didn't use it for anything except to make more money. Maybe the process itself made him happy, who am I to say?
At the other end of the scale was a family of six struggling to make ends meet. The wife seemed content to buy her clothes at op shops, getting food on sale and bulking meals out with cheap beans because meat is so expensive. Until the show sent her to visit a wealthier family for a few days. Not rich, but comfortable. She saw the children with the latest electronic devices, photos of holidays overseas, food with price labels that shocked her. And you could see her getting more and more dissatisfied with her own life. She surely knew that there were other people who lived like that, but I guess it's different having it laid out right in front of you. She got very sad as she talked about her endless financial struggles with no expectation of it ever getting any better. I think the documentary did her a real disservice. Her circumstances didn't change at all over the course of the filming. Only her attitude to it did.
It's so easy, isn't it, to look at what other people have and be envious. Whether that is material possessions, relationships, weight loss, other achievements. Facebook posts of their exciting holiday or the cool jazz cellar they went to or the amount of times they went to the gym this week. Maybe you feel like you're doing well, then you see someone doing so much better and your life suddenly seems worthless in comparison. And you think if you had what they had, life would be better.
Yet on that show, the poor wife wanted what the wealthy family had - but the wealthy family weren't content, they wanted more money so they could afford to send their children to private school (without sacrificing other things in their lifestyle). And the guy who had millions and millions, seemingly enough to buy anything in the world he wanted? He was forever making more, not content with what he had either!
But should we just sit where we are, being happy with what we have? Does being content mean stagnation? I think that as humans we need to find a balance between appreciating what we already have - and who we already are - and striving for more and better. You can be grateful for what you have while still working to get more... and then appreciate the new all the more because you had to earn it. You can love yourself and still want to improve. Indeed, "they" say you have to love yourself first, before you can progress.
Showing posts with label goals. Show all posts
Showing posts with label goals. Show all posts
Monday, February 22, 2016
Sunday, October 13, 2013
Defining success
Monday:
I was thinking this morning about what I want to achieve from doing 30 days of clean eating; and not just unprocessed but cutting out things a lot of people think are healthy and even essential - dairy and grains and legumes. The Whole30 is close to a paleo diet, although the authors stress that they base the rules on health not history - they don't care what cavemen ate, they care what the science says is good for humans now. Of course their science is in direct opposition to many other diet gurus, and the government's diet guidelines in both Australia and America which heavily push dairy and grains.
I figured since everyone tells me a different thing, I can only know what is best for me by experimenting on myself. It is only for 30 days. (The Whole9 guidelines relax a bit after the 30 days, you can start reintroducing things and see if they make you feel worse again.)
So how will I know if this nutritional plan is good for me?
It is not specifically a weight-loss diet, but most people do lose weight and I certainly hope to. How much in 30 days? I really don't know.
The diet is supposed to help inflammation issues and general health including insulin resistance. I will be happy if my joint pain is noticeably lessened, the dark circles under my eyes lighten, my sleep gets better, I have more energy, and/or my insulin resistance improves.
I was thinking this morning about what I want to achieve from doing 30 days of clean eating; and not just unprocessed but cutting out things a lot of people think are healthy and even essential - dairy and grains and legumes. The Whole30 is close to a paleo diet, although the authors stress that they base the rules on health not history - they don't care what cavemen ate, they care what the science says is good for humans now. Of course their science is in direct opposition to many other diet gurus, and the government's diet guidelines in both Australia and America which heavily push dairy and grains.
I figured since everyone tells me a different thing, I can only know what is best for me by experimenting on myself. It is only for 30 days. (The Whole9 guidelines relax a bit after the 30 days, you can start reintroducing things and see if they make you feel worse again.)
So how will I know if this nutritional plan is good for me?
It is not specifically a weight-loss diet, but most people do lose weight and I certainly hope to. How much in 30 days? I really don't know.
The diet is supposed to help inflammation issues and general health including insulin resistance. I will be happy if my joint pain is noticeably lessened, the dark circles under my eyes lighten, my sleep gets better, I have more energy, and/or my insulin resistance improves.
Monday, February 25, 2013
Re-starting C25K training
Tuesday:
I usually get up at 7.30 but this morning I set the alarm on my iPhone to 6.45 and put it beside my bed (I usually leave it charging in the kitchen all night). I woke in the dark and checked the time: 4.30. Back to sleep. Woke in the dark and checked the time: 5.45. Still an hour to go. Couldn't get back to sleep. Why can't I just trust that the alarm will wake me! I always do this.
Finally got out of bed in the dawn gloom and got into my running gear, ate a nectarine and drank some water. Joe was at the door before I was really ready but I grabbed my stuff (iPhone, earbuds, tissue). We walked briskly to the oval -- as usual it was a real effort for me to keep up with someone else's brisk walk, not only is everyone else fitter than me but they are also considerably taller. I am only 5' tall (152 cm) and leg length makes a difference! But I pushed hard and kept up.
Once there I did C25K training, starting again from day 1 week 1. Eight 60 second intervals with 90 second recovery walks in between. I stayed in the running lanes. Joe was jogging around the outside of the oval continuously for the 20 mins at about 12 kph. The lanes are just marked on the grass, which is usually a lovely surface to run on but after days of rain it was utterly sopping wet. My shoes and socks were sodden before I started the first interval, which was a bit cold and uncomfortable.
I managed the whole 60 seconds on the first two intervals but after than only got to about 30 seconds before dropping to a walk. I am determined to get better, and I will, but I am just not a natural runner. I really struggle to get any kind of rhythm and it feels uncomfortable in a way that is different from just muscle tiredness. I haven't done many of these running training sessions, but this was possibly the worst so far. The low-carb diet may be contributing to that. Whether that is the case or not, I'll just keep trying and I'm sure I'll improve in time. We are going to do two mornings a week.
With walking there and back and the intervals and a bit of stretching it was 45 mins of exercise.
Joe has an interesting way of setting his goals for races -- he aims to complete the race in less than double the winner's time. The winner of any race is generally a pretty elite athlete, so this isn't as easy as it may sound. Some people can do a 5k in about 13 minutes!
The first female in the Verti-cool challenge last year did it in 3:26, which gives me a time of 6:52 to aim for. That seems achievable.
The first female in my age group in the Canberra Times fun run last year did it in 23:48, which gives me a time of 47:36 to beat. I certainly hope to do that, it's only about 5 mins less than my current best. But the first female overall did it in 17:23 and I don't think I can do 34:46. Whatever, I'll do my best! Looking up those times again just then I discovered another fun run in September to aim towards.
Whatever my results are, it is all good exercise.
I usually get up at 7.30 but this morning I set the alarm on my iPhone to 6.45 and put it beside my bed (I usually leave it charging in the kitchen all night). I woke in the dark and checked the time: 4.30. Back to sleep. Woke in the dark and checked the time: 5.45. Still an hour to go. Couldn't get back to sleep. Why can't I just trust that the alarm will wake me! I always do this.
Finally got out of bed in the dawn gloom and got into my running gear, ate a nectarine and drank some water. Joe was at the door before I was really ready but I grabbed my stuff (iPhone, earbuds, tissue). We walked briskly to the oval -- as usual it was a real effort for me to keep up with someone else's brisk walk, not only is everyone else fitter than me but they are also considerably taller. I am only 5' tall (152 cm) and leg length makes a difference! But I pushed hard and kept up.
Once there I did C25K training, starting again from day 1 week 1. Eight 60 second intervals with 90 second recovery walks in between. I stayed in the running lanes. Joe was jogging around the outside of the oval continuously for the 20 mins at about 12 kph. The lanes are just marked on the grass, which is usually a lovely surface to run on but after days of rain it was utterly sopping wet. My shoes and socks were sodden before I started the first interval, which was a bit cold and uncomfortable.
I managed the whole 60 seconds on the first two intervals but after than only got to about 30 seconds before dropping to a walk. I am determined to get better, and I will, but I am just not a natural runner. I really struggle to get any kind of rhythm and it feels uncomfortable in a way that is different from just muscle tiredness. I haven't done many of these running training sessions, but this was possibly the worst so far. The low-carb diet may be contributing to that. Whether that is the case or not, I'll just keep trying and I'm sure I'll improve in time. We are going to do two mornings a week.
With walking there and back and the intervals and a bit of stretching it was 45 mins of exercise.
Joe has an interesting way of setting his goals for races -- he aims to complete the race in less than double the winner's time. The winner of any race is generally a pretty elite athlete, so this isn't as easy as it may sound. Some people can do a 5k in about 13 minutes!
The first female in the Verti-cool challenge last year did it in 3:26, which gives me a time of 6:52 to aim for. That seems achievable.
The first female in my age group in the Canberra Times fun run last year did it in 23:48, which gives me a time of 47:36 to beat. I certainly hope to do that, it's only about 5 mins less than my current best. But the first female overall did it in 17:23 and I don't think I can do 34:46. Whatever, I'll do my best! Looking up those times again just then I discovered another fun run in September to aim towards.
Whatever my results are, it is all good exercise.
Monday, December 31, 2012
Goodbye 2012
I went for a walk this evening and thought about my New Year's Resolutions. I will only deal with my health/weight-loss resolutions here.
2012 was certainly imperfect in many ways, BUT
1. Yesterday is not tomorrow. Yes, I know that Dr Phil says that the best predictor of future behaviour is past behaviour, but I can't live as if that was true for me or I'll never get anywhere. I am putting aside regret, shame and guilt for not achieving my goals already. Every decision is a new chance to make a better choice.
2. Exercise every day. 30 mins minimum. An hour would be better. Two hours would be wonderful. But if I can only manage 30 mins, then that is better than nothing. Much better.
3. Follow my pre-diabetic diet guidelines. Restrictive, punishing diets are not sustainable. But I will count my carbs and stay within my limits. I'll track again (just carbs) until I am sure I have a handle on that.
4. Hydrate hydrate hydrate! One glass of water with lemon and two cups of tea a day are not enough.
And that is all.
I've been feeling particularly yuck for the past few days. I've had sciatica (pains from my lower back going down my leg) since Christmas, probably due to compression in my back from so much standing in the kitchen. I've had it before, but never for more than one day at a time. Also lower back pain, I've been using the massage chair a lot which helps. And headaches and general yuckness from the heat and (probably) dehydration. I am so looking forward to feeling healthier. It isn't aways about the scale.
Goodbye 2012
picture by Alex Abion
Friday, September 14, 2012
Ready to start
Friday:
Apart from the grocery shopping, today I just buckled down and got my editing work done. I continued after I'd brought the kids home and finished around 4.30. It always feels good to finish a project and send it off.
I still have a couple of jobs floating around in the ether but I don't know when they will land on my desk, and in the meantime I am free to spend a lot of time on exercise. A minimum of two hours a day. Lets see how that goes, shall we?
For the past couple of weeks I've had the goal of a minimum of 30 mins of exercise a day. I've achieved that most days, but on two days I only did 15 and on one day nothing. Not a perfect record, but not bad. 30 mins should be achievable every day, even if I am busy and tired. It's only a walk! If I don't want to go outside I've got a treadmill and lots of Kinect games.
I think my favourite exercise is still walking, especially if I actually have a purpose and I'm not on a treadmill or just walking around the block. I've enjoyed walking to the shops and to the library. Exercising with some kind of goal or target is a big motivator for me.
I look forward, now that spring is here and the weather is (slowly) warming up, to getting back to walking/jogging around the lake. It's very pretty there, and I have a time to beat. I need to build up the jogging portion to more than about 20 seconds at a time! The early part of next week is supposed to be rainy, but soon. The flower festival, Floriade, will start on the shores of the lake in a couple of weeks. I always enjoy spending time there. That can be my reward at the end of a jog. Hmmm... I will hopefully be dripping sweat... should I look at the tulips first instead so I don't stink out the crowds?
Apart from the grocery shopping, today I just buckled down and got my editing work done. I continued after I'd brought the kids home and finished around 4.30. It always feels good to finish a project and send it off.
I still have a couple of jobs floating around in the ether but I don't know when they will land on my desk, and in the meantime I am free to spend a lot of time on exercise. A minimum of two hours a day. Lets see how that goes, shall we?
For the past couple of weeks I've had the goal of a minimum of 30 mins of exercise a day. I've achieved that most days, but on two days I only did 15 and on one day nothing. Not a perfect record, but not bad. 30 mins should be achievable every day, even if I am busy and tired. It's only a walk! If I don't want to go outside I've got a treadmill and lots of Kinect games.
I think my favourite exercise is still walking, especially if I actually have a purpose and I'm not on a treadmill or just walking around the block. I've enjoyed walking to the shops and to the library. Exercising with some kind of goal or target is a big motivator for me.
I look forward, now that spring is here and the weather is (slowly) warming up, to getting back to walking/jogging around the lake. It's very pretty there, and I have a time to beat. I need to build up the jogging portion to more than about 20 seconds at a time! The early part of next week is supposed to be rainy, but soon. The flower festival, Floriade, will start on the shores of the lake in a couple of weeks. I always enjoy spending time there. That can be my reward at the end of a jog. Hmmm... I will hopefully be dripping sweat... should I look at the tulips first instead so I don't stink out the crowds?
Sunday, September 2, 2012
Spring goals and Fathers' Day
It's the second day of September and therefore the second day of Spring here in the southern hemisphere. We've had a really long cold winter (I think the northern hemisphere has had a very hot summer!) and even yesterday was freezing which was disappointing but today it was sunny enough to get out for a Fathers' Day picnic which was lovely.
A new month is always a good time to rethink goals, and a new season -- especially Spring! -- even better. Obviously my prediabetes is a big motivator and my goals certainly revolve around getting healthy and reversing the condition. I rarely think about anything else these days. So:
1) Lose weight. I still need to lose nearly 20 kg. I would love to lose 10 kg in the next three months.
2) Manage my blood glucose levels to avoid doing damage to various parts of my body, and to avoid accelerating a plunge into actual diabetes.
I will do this by:
a) Exercise. This helps with both losing weight and managing blood sugar levels. As well as improving insulin action, exercise uses up glucose stores in the muscles so that later glucose will be stored there first rather than going straight to fat. I have resolved to exercise for at least 30 mins every single day of Spring. These first two days I have been for a brisk walk each day, 5 km/h which is about as fast as I can go without jogging. I listen to music and also have RunKeeper on to tell me how fast and far I am going.
b) Writing down everything I eat. As I said yesterday, this really helps me stay on track. For the moment, I will continue to just count carbs. If I stop losing weight I will obviously have to take more drastic action.
When I saw the doctor the other day we discussed my often-dehydrated state and she sternly abjured me to drink more. I really am trying. And last night I only had to get up twice to pee; better than the night before. I did have a dream, though, where I really needed to urinate so went to the refridgerator in my old childhood home and peed in the vegetable crisper drawer! Four times! I woke really needing to pee. Sometimes I wonder how adults don't (usually) urinate in their sleep when they dream about it. Or fall out of bed when turning over. I guess we never sleep so soundly that we are completely out of control or unaware of our bodies.
Another thing that came up with the doctor was that when she was looking over my lab results she noticed that they had not tested my Vitamin D levels, and I had been deficient two years ago. Oh well, she said, as long as you are still taking your Vitamin D tablets you should be fine. I smiled as agreeably as I could without actually lying. Those tablets used to make me nauseated when I took them with breakfast, I even threw up once or twice, but I could never remember to take them later in the day. But I'm trying with that too -- taking one at lunchtime. I have remembered so far, and they don't seem to make me nauseated except in the morning.
It was Fathers' Day today, a lovely day with my little family. Unfortunately (my husband asks: why unfortunately?) my idea of a lovely day still revolves around food. French toast with raspberries and real maple syrup (I didn't have any of the syrup) and bacon for breakfast, lunch picnic that included fried chicken, lasagne for dinner. And dessert. I felt rather overstuffed all day, but I was careful with the carbs and portion sizes and my blood sugars have been ok. Haven't tested the dinner yet.
When I was making the lasagne I thought it would be ok for me because I was only counting the pasta, since meat* and cheese don't have carbs. But 2/3 of the way through my slice I suddenly went and checked the empty tomato pasta sauce bottle. Lots of carbs there! Probably full of sugar. And some in the bechamel sauce too, white sauce has flour in it. I pushed my plate aside and just finished my salad. It wasn't as though I hadn't had plenty of food already.
* I read today in one of my many library books about diabetes that about 50% of meat is actually converted to glucose too, but not for 4-6 hours. So it seems I can't ignore my meat portion sizes after all.
photo by Reid Kasprowicz
Wednesday, August 22, 2012
Rowing milestone
More Wednesday:
I went back to the gym this afternoon and got back on the rowing machine while the kids were doing their Gecko class. (I've decided they are going to keep doing Gecko for the moment, at least for the rest of this term while the weather is often too cold to play outside -- although today was lovely, almost Spring.) I felt like maybe today was the day to get that 5 km in the 30 mins.
I started strongly. The first five minutes I dealt with the usual little niggles; back feeling a bit stiff, knee giving a twinge. The second five minutes were hard, my muscles were protesting at the fast pace. I was on track though. The middle ten minutes, the middle third, was the worst; I had already worked so hard yet I still had such a long way to go! I was feeling at that point that I might not be able to keep up the pace, I was getting tired. I was dripping sweat, my bra was rubbing under my arm, my shoulder muscles were complaining ... and whenever I closed my eyes for a few moments to focus I unconsciously slowed down and had to go a bit faster for a while to compensate. But when I got to around the 25 minute mark I realised I was going to do it. I was still on pace, and I could do another five minutes. Five minutes is nothing. I tried to speed up at the end but had nothing left, I just kept pulling at the same steady pace I'd been maintaining pretty much the whole row. And I got to 5 km with 15 seconds to spare. I used those final seconds to slow right down, aware of my heart pounding and sweat pouring off me. At 30 minutes, I had gone 5.03 km.
I think I've been rowing for about a month, which seems about the right amount of time for me to work towards a specific goal. I have earned another charm! Yay! Finally!
After my gym session this morning I was thinking about how 30 mins of moderate intensity exercise was really quite pleasant. After this afternoon's session I can say that 30 mins of high intensity exercise is very unpleasant. I didn't enjoy it at all. My sense of achievement was more "thank God that is over". I had been pretty keen on rowing, now I have no immediate plans to do more. I might take a little break from it and do something else, and when I get back on the rowing machine I think I will put up the resistance but go more slowly and/or for a lesser time. I know that I don't have to enjoy something for it to be good for me, but it sure helps with motivation. That row was damn hard, and not fun.
Since writing this morning about spending more time exercising while work is slow, I won a job that I had quoted for last week. So I'm going to have less time again for a few weeks. Lucky I have Gecko in the afternoons to mind the kids while I work out!
Hmm, if not rowing, what am I going to do at the gym during that half hour? I did like the cross-trainer this morning.
I went back to the gym this afternoon and got back on the rowing machine while the kids were doing their Gecko class. (I've decided they are going to keep doing Gecko for the moment, at least for the rest of this term while the weather is often too cold to play outside -- although today was lovely, almost Spring.) I felt like maybe today was the day to get that 5 km in the 30 mins.
I started strongly. The first five minutes I dealt with the usual little niggles; back feeling a bit stiff, knee giving a twinge. The second five minutes were hard, my muscles were protesting at the fast pace. I was on track though. The middle ten minutes, the middle third, was the worst; I had already worked so hard yet I still had such a long way to go! I was feeling at that point that I might not be able to keep up the pace, I was getting tired. I was dripping sweat, my bra was rubbing under my arm, my shoulder muscles were complaining ... and whenever I closed my eyes for a few moments to focus I unconsciously slowed down and had to go a bit faster for a while to compensate. But when I got to around the 25 minute mark I realised I was going to do it. I was still on pace, and I could do another five minutes. Five minutes is nothing. I tried to speed up at the end but had nothing left, I just kept pulling at the same steady pace I'd been maintaining pretty much the whole row. And I got to 5 km with 15 seconds to spare. I used those final seconds to slow right down, aware of my heart pounding and sweat pouring off me. At 30 minutes, I had gone 5.03 km.
I think I've been rowing for about a month, which seems about the right amount of time for me to work towards a specific goal. I have earned another charm! Yay! Finally!
After my gym session this morning I was thinking about how 30 mins of moderate intensity exercise was really quite pleasant. After this afternoon's session I can say that 30 mins of high intensity exercise is very unpleasant. I didn't enjoy it at all. My sense of achievement was more "thank God that is over". I had been pretty keen on rowing, now I have no immediate plans to do more. I might take a little break from it and do something else, and when I get back on the rowing machine I think I will put up the resistance but go more slowly and/or for a lesser time. I know that I don't have to enjoy something for it to be good for me, but it sure helps with motivation. That row was damn hard, and not fun.
Since writing this morning about spending more time exercising while work is slow, I won a job that I had quoted for last week. So I'm going to have less time again for a few weeks. Lucky I have Gecko in the afternoons to mind the kids while I work out!
Hmm, if not rowing, what am I going to do at the gym during that half hour? I did like the cross-trainer this morning.
Friday, June 29, 2012
Reviewing goals
Saturday:
The turn of the month always seems like a good time to review goals, and it is the last day of June 2012. Halfway through the year, and here in Australia that also means the end of a financial year. Tax time. Oh joy. July is the middle month of winter, and also contains my birthday and a two-week school holiday. My last Friday Weight Watchers meeting will be 20 July, then I'll have to switch to Wednesdays.
Looking back for a moment; in five months at Weight Watchers I have lost 2.7 kg. Not a huge amount, and yet so much better than not having lost that 2.7 kg! I have been sick all June so I'm kind-of writing that off in terms of weight loss effort. I know I have said this the previous couple of months as well, but ... that month wasn't great, next month will be much better. Well, it will! Gotta stay positive, even with today's rampant PMS.
So, my goals. I know I wrote a post about mixing up goals with expectations, but bugger that. My weight-loss goal is to lose another 1.3 kg in the coming 3 weeks, so that I lose 5% of my starting weight while still at my old meeting time with my old leader. I want my congratulatory bookmark! And my fancy Pandora charm! 1.3 kg is certainly a reasonable target to aim for, less than half a kg (about a pound) per week.
I have rejoined the gym with a starting day of Monday, the day after tomorrow (my birthday). As I said in a previous post when I decided to rejoin, I am aiming for 3 morning group classes (BodyPump, Zumba, Body Attack, maybe try Spin) plus 3 afternoon sessions where I'll have 30-40 mins to run on the treadmill or use the crosstrainer etc while the kids are doing their Gecko class.
Food is simple. Follow the Weight Watchers guidelines. Track everything -- I managed to track the whole day yesterday which is a good start. Incorporate more fruit, vegetables, and water into the day. Not necessarily easy, but basic stuff I should be doing every day.
I also want to get back on track with the little daily schedules I made a couple of weeks ago. I stuck to them as best I could for a week, although I couldn't exercise in those timeslots, but then got even sicker and all the writing and housework and everything fell by the wayside. I did find the schedules helpful and now that I am nearly well I can start using them again. Of course weekends are pretty relaxed, although I'll have to do a bit of catching up.
I decided against having a party, the thought of organising it and cleaning the house was just too much. I've invited my best friend and her husband & kids over for tomorrow afternoon. We'll have a cake but otherwise it will just be like our usual playdate and chat. Unfortunately she has come down sick so I don't know if they'll even be able to make it. I'll have a nice afternoon tea with Tim & the kids anyway. Then on my actual birthday I'll go out to lunch with Tim. Gecko & gym with the kids in the afternoon and I'll cook a slightly indulgent dinner with dessert. I could see a movie during the day if there is anything on.
The turn of the month always seems like a good time to review goals, and it is the last day of June 2012. Halfway through the year, and here in Australia that also means the end of a financial year. Tax time. Oh joy. July is the middle month of winter, and also contains my birthday and a two-week school holiday. My last Friday Weight Watchers meeting will be 20 July, then I'll have to switch to Wednesdays.
Looking back for a moment; in five months at Weight Watchers I have lost 2.7 kg. Not a huge amount, and yet so much better than not having lost that 2.7 kg! I have been sick all June so I'm kind-of writing that off in terms of weight loss effort. I know I have said this the previous couple of months as well, but ... that month wasn't great, next month will be much better. Well, it will! Gotta stay positive, even with today's rampant PMS.
So, my goals. I know I wrote a post about mixing up goals with expectations, but bugger that. My weight-loss goal is to lose another 1.3 kg in the coming 3 weeks, so that I lose 5% of my starting weight while still at my old meeting time with my old leader. I want my congratulatory bookmark! And my fancy Pandora charm! 1.3 kg is certainly a reasonable target to aim for, less than half a kg (about a pound) per week.
I have rejoined the gym with a starting day of Monday, the day after tomorrow (my birthday). As I said in a previous post when I decided to rejoin, I am aiming for 3 morning group classes (BodyPump, Zumba, Body Attack, maybe try Spin) plus 3 afternoon sessions where I'll have 30-40 mins to run on the treadmill or use the crosstrainer etc while the kids are doing their Gecko class.
Food is simple. Follow the Weight Watchers guidelines. Track everything -- I managed to track the whole day yesterday which is a good start. Incorporate more fruit, vegetables, and water into the day. Not necessarily easy, but basic stuff I should be doing every day.
I also want to get back on track with the little daily schedules I made a couple of weeks ago. I stuck to them as best I could for a week, although I couldn't exercise in those timeslots, but then got even sicker and all the writing and housework and everything fell by the wayside. I did find the schedules helpful and now that I am nearly well I can start using them again. Of course weekends are pretty relaxed, although I'll have to do a bit of catching up.
I decided against having a party, the thought of organising it and cleaning the house was just too much. I've invited my best friend and her husband & kids over for tomorrow afternoon. We'll have a cake but otherwise it will just be like our usual playdate and chat. Unfortunately she has come down sick so I don't know if they'll even be able to make it. I'll have a nice afternoon tea with Tim & the kids anyway. Then on my actual birthday I'll go out to lunch with Tim. Gecko & gym with the kids in the afternoon and I'll cook a slightly indulgent dinner with dessert. I could see a movie during the day if there is anything on.
Friday, June 15, 2012
Daily scheduling
Saturday:
I would have loved to sleep in this morning but Aiden came in for a cuddle at about 7.15 and once I was awake the nose-faucet got going. I decided being upright was the better option so I took my constant nose-blowing away, letting Tim sleep, and spent an hour writing a detailed daily schedule for myself. It incorporates a lot of exercise, planned times for editing work and housework, and a lot less computer time during the daytime.
I'll join the gym this week and then as soon as I am well I will start group classes and also running on the treadmill while the kids are at their Gecko classes (assuming they like it) and also while they are at gymnastics on Saturday mornings. Theoretically this would give me 5 one-hour classes plus 4 half-hour running sessions. I do not expect to actually achieve this level of exercise -- I am not aiming for that. But various interruptions happen unexpectedly on different days of the week so I am scheduling in a lot of extra exercise to allow for that. For instance this week I am sick today and have a meeting on Tuesday, cutting out 3 sessions already. My goal is 3 one-hour classes and 3 half-hour runs. I have downloaded a c25K app for my runs and will try that as a guide. I also walk the kids to and from school, giving me about 35 minutes of gentle exercise most days. Friday and Sunday are days off from exercise, but Sunday should include being active with the family.
I have always been pretty slack with housework, and having kids to clean up after and then returning to paid work have not improved the appearance of my house. So I am instituting a "room of the day" which I will draw out of a hat each weekday and do 15 mins there. Every room should get some attention each fortnight -- for a neglected room this might be a quick tidy and vaccuum, for a less-neglected room I could do something more advanced like clean out a cupboard. I also plan to be more vigilant with things like tidying the kitchen straight after a meal and folding each basket of clean clothes as they are ready rather than ending with a whole week's worth to do on the weekend. My idea is to avoid the marathon cleaning sessions, but instead do a little bit several times a day.
In regard to my paid work, because I freelance I sometimes have days or weeks with no work. But this will no longer mean extra time playing computer games! If I am not working in those timeslots I will be writing. My novel and some short stories.
See, I am about to become the perfect human being!
But seriously, I used to be a very hard-working and organised person. I seem to have slumped. A lot. My new schedule is not intended to make my life horrible, it is to make my life easier. I have reminders on each page for things like my children's news days or having to take their violin to school. I want to be slender and fit and healthy and live in a reasonably clean house and excell at my work and write a novel. I am giving myself tools to make this happen. The schedule is a sturdy framework, not a prison.
I would have loved to sleep in this morning but Aiden came in for a cuddle at about 7.15 and once I was awake the nose-faucet got going. I decided being upright was the better option so I took my constant nose-blowing away, letting Tim sleep, and spent an hour writing a detailed daily schedule for myself. It incorporates a lot of exercise, planned times for editing work and housework, and a lot less computer time during the daytime.
I'll join the gym this week and then as soon as I am well I will start group classes and also running on the treadmill while the kids are at their Gecko classes (assuming they like it) and also while they are at gymnastics on Saturday mornings. Theoretically this would give me 5 one-hour classes plus 4 half-hour running sessions. I do not expect to actually achieve this level of exercise -- I am not aiming for that. But various interruptions happen unexpectedly on different days of the week so I am scheduling in a lot of extra exercise to allow for that. For instance this week I am sick today and have a meeting on Tuesday, cutting out 3 sessions already. My goal is 3 one-hour classes and 3 half-hour runs. I have downloaded a c25K app for my runs and will try that as a guide. I also walk the kids to and from school, giving me about 35 minutes of gentle exercise most days. Friday and Sunday are days off from exercise, but Sunday should include being active with the family.
I have always been pretty slack with housework, and having kids to clean up after and then returning to paid work have not improved the appearance of my house. So I am instituting a "room of the day" which I will draw out of a hat each weekday and do 15 mins there. Every room should get some attention each fortnight -- for a neglected room this might be a quick tidy and vaccuum, for a less-neglected room I could do something more advanced like clean out a cupboard. I also plan to be more vigilant with things like tidying the kitchen straight after a meal and folding each basket of clean clothes as they are ready rather than ending with a whole week's worth to do on the weekend. My idea is to avoid the marathon cleaning sessions, but instead do a little bit several times a day.
In regard to my paid work, because I freelance I sometimes have days or weeks with no work. But this will no longer mean extra time playing computer games! If I am not working in those timeslots I will be writing. My novel and some short stories.
See, I am about to become the perfect human being!
But seriously, I used to be a very hard-working and organised person. I seem to have slumped. A lot. My new schedule is not intended to make my life horrible, it is to make my life easier. I have reminders on each page for things like my children's news days or having to take their violin to school. I want to be slender and fit and healthy and live in a reasonably clean house and excell at my work and write a novel. I am giving myself tools to make this happen. The schedule is a sturdy framework, not a prison.
Friday, June 8, 2012
WW weigh-in 13: 77.6 kg; up 0.8 kg
Friday:
I managed to get to my WW meeting this morning after missing the last two due to flu and/or laziness and/or fear of a gain. I always enjoy them when I do go so I need to keep that up. I had a gain of 0.8 kg over those three weeks which was totally expected -- of course that doesn't make it ok!
I can't really remember the topic for today's meeting. The weekly magazine cover says "How to get the most from tracking" and we did talk about how important tracking is, but also other things. I guess we did talk about tracking food, exercise, and emotional state. We were given homework of reading through our weigh-in books and doing the little exercises like writing a letter to yourself.
Today at the shops I saw one man so hugely obese he was in a motorised buggy, unable to walk, and one child of around ten whose neck was as wide as her face and whose arms stuck out at angles from her body because of her bodyfat. Try telling me again you can be healthy at any size? That little girl's parents should be up on child abuse charges.
I get regular emails from author Holly Lisle who runs a writing course, today's topic was the difference between goals and expectations. It was an excellent coverage of that topic and I would copy it here except she expressly forbids doing that, she provides a link to her website:
but the email was actually much better, I think, than this formal post. Anyway; she talked about how a goal is saying you will write a book in a year, an expectation is that a publisher will accept your manuscript. The first is under your control, the second isn't. Confusing expectations for goals can cause much heartache.
This can obviously be applied to weight loss as well. My goals are things like to stay within my ProPoints and do a certain amount of exercise each week -- things under my control. My hope/expectation is to lose weight each week and eventually get to my goal weight. Those things will (hopefully) come in time, but I can't set a goal of losing x amount per week because I am not 100% in control of that. Even if I do everything right, bodies have will sometimes retain water, cling to fat, build heavy muscle etc.
A long list of goals can be a bit daunting, but as usual my weight-loss related goals are:
# Drink at least 6 glasses of fluid a day (it is 5.30 pm and so far I have had 2)
# Track everything I eat and also my exercise
# Earn 50 activity PP a week
# Go to my WW meeting every week even if I don't want to
# Keep within my daily + weekly PP but not use my activity PP, meet the food goals of fruit and dairy etc
That seems like plenty to be going on with.
I managed to get to my WW meeting this morning after missing the last two due to flu and/or laziness and/or fear of a gain. I always enjoy them when I do go so I need to keep that up. I had a gain of 0.8 kg over those three weeks which was totally expected -- of course that doesn't make it ok!
I can't really remember the topic for today's meeting. The weekly magazine cover says "How to get the most from tracking" and we did talk about how important tracking is, but also other things. I guess we did talk about tracking food, exercise, and emotional state. We were given homework of reading through our weigh-in books and doing the little exercises like writing a letter to yourself.
Today at the shops I saw one man so hugely obese he was in a motorised buggy, unable to walk, and one child of around ten whose neck was as wide as her face and whose arms stuck out at angles from her body because of her bodyfat. Try telling me again you can be healthy at any size? That little girl's parents should be up on child abuse charges.
I get regular emails from author Holly Lisle who runs a writing course, today's topic was the difference between goals and expectations. It was an excellent coverage of that topic and I would copy it here except she expressly forbids doing that, she provides a link to her website:
but the email was actually much better, I think, than this formal post. Anyway; she talked about how a goal is saying you will write a book in a year, an expectation is that a publisher will accept your manuscript. The first is under your control, the second isn't. Confusing expectations for goals can cause much heartache.
This can obviously be applied to weight loss as well. My goals are things like to stay within my ProPoints and do a certain amount of exercise each week -- things under my control. My hope/expectation is to lose weight each week and eventually get to my goal weight. Those things will (hopefully) come in time, but I can't set a goal of losing x amount per week because I am not 100% in control of that. Even if I do everything right, bodies have will sometimes retain water, cling to fat, build heavy muscle etc.
A long list of goals can be a bit daunting, but as usual my weight-loss related goals are:
# Drink at least 6 glasses of fluid a day (it is 5.30 pm and so far I have had 2)
# Track everything I eat and also my exercise
# Earn 50 activity PP a week
# Go to my WW meeting every week even if I don't want to
# Keep within my daily + weekly PP but not use my activity PP, meet the food goals of fruit and dairy etc
That seems like plenty to be going on with.
Saturday, March 31, 2012
New month, new goals
Sunday:
It's April 1st so time to set some new goals. I achieved a lot in March; lots of exercise, earned 3 charms, and after some struggles I got back on track with my eating. Time to look ahead.
I am reasonably happy with my diet. (By "diet" I am always referring to food intake in general, not specifically restrictive eating.) I am eating a lot of vegetables and other healthy food and little junk. A few treats and one supper a week seem to be fitting in fine. I notice, however, due to my daily weigh-ins; that take-away causes an instant set-back. So that definitely won't be an every-week event. One big gain undoes several days of loss. I will work harder at organising myself so that take-away isn't needed.
I need to set some new exercise goals. The amount I am doing is pretty good but might not be sustainable once work picks up. Nevertheless, I will up my goal to 50 activity PP a week. I won't feel bad if I don't get this, but it would earn me a charm if I manage it. I will start tackling Just Dance 3 on the difficult setting, going for 5 stars in every dance again. PowerUp Heros isn't tough enough to deserve a charm, but Fighters Unchained definitely is -- I will work on getting through the whole campaign. I'll start running around the lake again, going for 45 mins. Then reducing that by 5 min increments. To hit 30 mins would mean running at 10 kmph the whole way, I don't know if that is possible for me. I am very short, and I think the fastest I have ever run is 11 kmph on a treadmill -- that was a flat-out sprint for me and I could do it for about 20 seconds. I don't think even athletes can sprint for 30 mins! But we'll see, as my fitness improves I might be able to run faster than I think.
Our garden is a disaster, but I have hired a gardener who is coming in a couple of weeks to do a major clean-up and then regular maintenance. I am hoping that this will encourage me to get outside and do some gardening myself. It was one of the many things I used to enjoy but fell by the wayside when I had kids. And got a house with a whole garden instead of just pots on a balcony.
I can't really think of anything else. I am pretty close to my first weight-loss goal of 5 kg (home scale) or 5% (WW scale) -- the two events should happen at approx the same time. Need to lose another kg. That will definitely happen this month.
It's April 1st so time to set some new goals. I achieved a lot in March; lots of exercise, earned 3 charms, and after some struggles I got back on track with my eating. Time to look ahead.
I am reasonably happy with my diet. (By "diet" I am always referring to food intake in general, not specifically restrictive eating.) I am eating a lot of vegetables and other healthy food and little junk. A few treats and one supper a week seem to be fitting in fine. I notice, however, due to my daily weigh-ins; that take-away causes an instant set-back. So that definitely won't be an every-week event. One big gain undoes several days of loss. I will work harder at organising myself so that take-away isn't needed.
I need to set some new exercise goals. The amount I am doing is pretty good but might not be sustainable once work picks up. Nevertheless, I will up my goal to 50 activity PP a week. I won't feel bad if I don't get this, but it would earn me a charm if I manage it. I will start tackling Just Dance 3 on the difficult setting, going for 5 stars in every dance again. PowerUp Heros isn't tough enough to deserve a charm, but Fighters Unchained definitely is -- I will work on getting through the whole campaign. I'll start running around the lake again, going for 45 mins. Then reducing that by 5 min increments. To hit 30 mins would mean running at 10 kmph the whole way, I don't know if that is possible for me. I am very short, and I think the fastest I have ever run is 11 kmph on a treadmill -- that was a flat-out sprint for me and I could do it for about 20 seconds. I don't think even athletes can sprint for 30 mins! But we'll see, as my fitness improves I might be able to run faster than I think.
Our garden is a disaster, but I have hired a gardener who is coming in a couple of weeks to do a major clean-up and then regular maintenance. I am hoping that this will encourage me to get outside and do some gardening myself. It was one of the many things I used to enjoy but fell by the wayside when I had kids. And got a house with a whole garden instead of just pots on a balcony.
I can't really think of anything else. I am pretty close to my first weight-loss goal of 5 kg (home scale) or 5% (WW scale) -- the two events should happen at approx the same time. Need to lose another kg. That will definitely happen this month.
Thursday, March 29, 2012
WW weigh in week 8: 77.2 kg, down 1.0 kg
Friday:
I missed last weigh-in so I think this should be week 9 but the leader said they just write it in as the following week without skipping. Thus it is officially week 8, and I lost 1.0 kg over 2 weeks which is a good average. In reality I gained in the first week then lost a lot then regained a little.
Starting weight: 80.2 kg
Week 8: 77.2 kg (down 3.0 kg)
5 % goal: 76.2 kg (only 1.0 kg to go!)
Goal weight: 58 kg
The meeting was about how supportive friends and workout buddies can make a difference. We were supposed to think of a healthy person we would like to emulate, but I couldn't really think of one. I mentioned my husband Tim who exercises regularly no matter what, but I don't have anyone who's food habits I admire particularly. I suppose a couple of guys who come to supper will turn down unhealthy food when they are in training for something, but eat junk other times. That seems like a reasonable way to live.
If I constructed an imaginary perfect person (in terms of their relationship with food and exercise), they would behave something like this:
Healthy food most of the time without being fanatical, treats occasionally when they felt like it without feeling guilty, splurges for special events without stressing about it but also without going totally overboard. Aware of their body's nutritional needs and hunger signals. Eats a balance of foods without having to keep score. Not always thinking about food and what they are going to have at their next meal or what they can and cannot eat.
Exercises most days at a variety of activities and a variety of different intensity levels, enjoying exercise and finding things they like rather than having to force themself, taking time off if needed for injury or illness without stressing, always improving and meeting new targets and goals.
So I guess that is the person I would like to be.
I bought my two new Pandora charms; one with silver filigree butterflies and one with purple enamel hearts. I bought and ate a banana, shopped for some kids' clothes, did the grocery shopping. Got home unphased by the time (12.45 when I like to have lunch at 12) and cooked up a chicken stir-fry with lots of vegetables and satay sauce.
I'm learning.
I missed last weigh-in so I think this should be week 9 but the leader said they just write it in as the following week without skipping. Thus it is officially week 8, and I lost 1.0 kg over 2 weeks which is a good average. In reality I gained in the first week then lost a lot then regained a little.
Starting weight: 80.2 kg
Week 8: 77.2 kg (down 3.0 kg)
5 % goal: 76.2 kg (only 1.0 kg to go!)
Goal weight: 58 kg
The meeting was about how supportive friends and workout buddies can make a difference. We were supposed to think of a healthy person we would like to emulate, but I couldn't really think of one. I mentioned my husband Tim who exercises regularly no matter what, but I don't have anyone who's food habits I admire particularly. I suppose a couple of guys who come to supper will turn down unhealthy food when they are in training for something, but eat junk other times. That seems like a reasonable way to live.
If I constructed an imaginary perfect person (in terms of their relationship with food and exercise), they would behave something like this:
Healthy food most of the time without being fanatical, treats occasionally when they felt like it without feeling guilty, splurges for special events without stressing about it but also without going totally overboard. Aware of their body's nutritional needs and hunger signals. Eats a balance of foods without having to keep score. Not always thinking about food and what they are going to have at their next meal or what they can and cannot eat.
Exercises most days at a variety of activities and a variety of different intensity levels, enjoying exercise and finding things they like rather than having to force themself, taking time off if needed for injury or illness without stressing, always improving and meeting new targets and goals.
So I guess that is the person I would like to be.
I bought my two new Pandora charms; one with silver filigree butterflies and one with purple enamel hearts. I bought and ate a banana, shopped for some kids' clothes, did the grocery shopping. Got home unphased by the time (12.45 when I like to have lunch at 12) and cooked up a chicken stir-fry with lots of vegetables and satay sauce.
I'm learning.
Thursday, March 22, 2012
A new week
Friday:
I missed my Weight Watchers meeting this morning after all, despite being firm last night that I was going to go. But I didn't skip it because of the weight gain (by home scales, I'm up 0.6 kg from last Friday), but because I was feeling unwell. I walked the kids to school, dragged myself home, and went back to bed. After a nice nap I do feel a bit better, I'll have to go out and shop later because I am not getting more take away!
I am recommitting to my Weight Watchers diet today. In the spirit of breaking challenges into small chunks, I am just looking at this week for now. I did it for the first month, I can do it again. I'll focus on vegetables and other healthy foods, and eat my daily PP each day and only a few weekly PP. I will not gorge in the afternoons. My snacks will be fruit and/or yoghurt, and vegetables if I want them -- I am going to make some vegetable soup today. I will combat hunger with lean protein and complex carbohydrates -- and learn to deal with a little bit of hunger in the lead up to my next meal.
When I feel better, of course I will exercise. I am really enjoying the various Kinect games and there are plenty more to buy when I get bored with these ones. I'd like to get something that incorporates weight lifting, and buy hand weights, since I no longer go to BodyPump. Autumn is a lovely time to re-start running 5k around the lake, with the initial goal of getting under 45 mins and the eventual goal of running the whole way instead of about 1/5 of it (I currently walk a lot, run a bit). I'm not worried about the exercise at the moment, I've proved I can do that -- although of course I don't want to lose my momentum -- I am really concentrating on getting food back on track. Maybe not exercising for a couple of days while I am sick will help with that.
Despite my runny eyes and headache I am feeling motivated this morning to do this. I'm going to fight the weight back down and show an overall loss for March.
I missed my Weight Watchers meeting this morning after all, despite being firm last night that I was going to go. But I didn't skip it because of the weight gain (by home scales, I'm up 0.6 kg from last Friday), but because I was feeling unwell. I walked the kids to school, dragged myself home, and went back to bed. After a nice nap I do feel a bit better, I'll have to go out and shop later because I am not getting more take away!
I am recommitting to my Weight Watchers diet today. In the spirit of breaking challenges into small chunks, I am just looking at this week for now. I did it for the first month, I can do it again. I'll focus on vegetables and other healthy foods, and eat my daily PP each day and only a few weekly PP. I will not gorge in the afternoons. My snacks will be fruit and/or yoghurt, and vegetables if I want them -- I am going to make some vegetable soup today. I will combat hunger with lean protein and complex carbohydrates -- and learn to deal with a little bit of hunger in the lead up to my next meal.
When I feel better, of course I will exercise. I am really enjoying the various Kinect games and there are plenty more to buy when I get bored with these ones. I'd like to get something that incorporates weight lifting, and buy hand weights, since I no longer go to BodyPump. Autumn is a lovely time to re-start running 5k around the lake, with the initial goal of getting under 45 mins and the eventual goal of running the whole way instead of about 1/5 of it (I currently walk a lot, run a bit). I'm not worried about the exercise at the moment, I've proved I can do that -- although of course I don't want to lose my momentum -- I am really concentrating on getting food back on track. Maybe not exercising for a couple of days while I am sick will help with that.
Despite my runny eyes and headache I am feeling motivated this morning to do this. I'm going to fight the weight back down and show an overall loss for March.
Thursday, February 16, 2012
WW weigh-in: 79.3 kg; down 0.4 kg
Friday:
I had my third Weight Watchers meeting this morning with my official weigh-in. I had really been hoping for a big number as I only lost 0.5 kg last week, not a big number for the first week of a new diet. But this week it was 0.4 kg. Very frustrating.
Also odd because the WW scales don't seem to relate to my scales at all. I don't expect the same number, of course -- it is a different time of day and fully dressed for WW -- but I thought the difference from week to week would have some correlation. But no. Week 1 at home was a loss of 0.2 kg but 0.5 at WW. Week 2 at home was 0.8 kg but 0.4 at WW. Oh well, I just have to get over it and get on with it.
A combination of disappointment, slight unwellness, and annoying people meant I didn't enjoy the meeting as much as other times. There was a long delay before we started, during which I was talked at by two other ladies: one around my age who seems to be a know-it-all who never shuts her mouth, and the other an older lady who blamed her low weight-loss (bigger than mine!) on too much fruit (?) and the rainy weather preventing her from exercise. Nothing so terrible there, except that she repeated these two points over and over again to everyone around her and then the leader. Very whiney and complaining. Yes I know I whine here on my blog, but you don't have to read it if you don't want to. I was trapped next to this lady!
Last week the leader had set us an unofficial goal of 0.6 kg each, but it seems no one at all reached it. I don't know if anyone actually lost weight this week other than myself and Granny Whinger. Two other people near me gained weight, not sure about the rest of the group.
Apart from that, the meeting was ok. It was about making time for yourself to get healthy. I have always carved out personal time for myself, the only problem is I don't always use it to exercise!
Ok, lets reframe the week positively (I haven't learned about reframing yet but BitchCakes used to talk about it a lot). I lost weight! Yay! Nearly a kg in the fortnight, and a loss two weeks in a row.
I have stuck to a diet successfully for two whole weeks. Tracked every day. No cheating. No private binges. Excessive unhealthy food twice a week but planned and budgeted for, other days only a fun-size milky way or WW low-fat ice cream.
Hit my exercise goal of 21 activity points. I know I can do more than this, but I have spent several days unwell. Earned a Pandora charm which I bought today.
You see, lots of good things.
What do I need to work on? More exercise. Not getting takeaway every week after swimming, trying some other options like casserole that is ready when we get home. Continue all the good stuff I am doing.
On the non-weight-loss front the big thing I need to work on is managing my work time much better, I am really struggling to get into a routine. I have work lined up for the next four months and I have to stop faffing around. Unless I work more efficiently during the day I'll have to give up some evening or weekend time, or get up earlier. That should be motivation enough!
Starting weight: 80.2 kg
Week 1: 79.7 kg
Week 2: 79.3 kg
5% goal: 76.2 kg
Goal weight: 58 kg
I had my third Weight Watchers meeting this morning with my official weigh-in. I had really been hoping for a big number as I only lost 0.5 kg last week, not a big number for the first week of a new diet. But this week it was 0.4 kg. Very frustrating.
Also odd because the WW scales don't seem to relate to my scales at all. I don't expect the same number, of course -- it is a different time of day and fully dressed for WW -- but I thought the difference from week to week would have some correlation. But no. Week 1 at home was a loss of 0.2 kg but 0.5 at WW. Week 2 at home was 0.8 kg but 0.4 at WW. Oh well, I just have to get over it and get on with it.
A combination of disappointment, slight unwellness, and annoying people meant I didn't enjoy the meeting as much as other times. There was a long delay before we started, during which I was talked at by two other ladies: one around my age who seems to be a know-it-all who never shuts her mouth, and the other an older lady who blamed her low weight-loss (bigger than mine!) on too much fruit (?) and the rainy weather preventing her from exercise. Nothing so terrible there, except that she repeated these two points over and over again to everyone around her and then the leader. Very whiney and complaining. Yes I know I whine here on my blog, but you don't have to read it if you don't want to. I was trapped next to this lady!
Last week the leader had set us an unofficial goal of 0.6 kg each, but it seems no one at all reached it. I don't know if anyone actually lost weight this week other than myself and Granny Whinger. Two other people near me gained weight, not sure about the rest of the group.
Apart from that, the meeting was ok. It was about making time for yourself to get healthy. I have always carved out personal time for myself, the only problem is I don't always use it to exercise!
Ok, lets reframe the week positively (I haven't learned about reframing yet but BitchCakes used to talk about it a lot). I lost weight! Yay! Nearly a kg in the fortnight, and a loss two weeks in a row.
I have stuck to a diet successfully for two whole weeks. Tracked every day. No cheating. No private binges. Excessive unhealthy food twice a week but planned and budgeted for, other days only a fun-size milky way or WW low-fat ice cream.
Hit my exercise goal of 21 activity points. I know I can do more than this, but I have spent several days unwell. Earned a Pandora charm which I bought today.
You see, lots of good things.
What do I need to work on? More exercise. Not getting takeaway every week after swimming, trying some other options like casserole that is ready when we get home. Continue all the good stuff I am doing.
On the non-weight-loss front the big thing I need to work on is managing my work time much better, I am really struggling to get into a routine. I have work lined up for the next four months and I have to stop faffing around. Unless I work more efficiently during the day I'll have to give up some evening or weekend time, or get up earlier. That should be motivation enough!
Starting weight: 80.2 kg
Week 1: 79.7 kg
Week 2: 79.3 kg
5% goal: 76.2 kg
Goal weight: 58 kg
Friday, February 10, 2012
Think!
Still Saturday:
I just earned a Pandora charm! Yay!
On Just Dance 3, on the Kinect, I think it scores you out of 12,000 (even with a search online, no one seems sure) and I consider anything over 10,000 a good score. I think that is the point it gives you 5 stars. I suppose a perfect score is theoretically achievable, but I decided to aim for 11,800; allowing for a few "good" moves instead of all "perfect". My favourite dance track is "Think" and I have been working on it quite a bit. I do it every time I use Just Dance 3, and today I just did it over and over, getting a slightly better score every time. I went from about 11,400; up by small increments each time. And finally hit 11,824!!!! Go me!
This is on the easy setting, btw, but still damn good.
I tried one more time after that but was a bit tired and my score went back down in the vicinity of 11,400.
I am going to get myself a lovely Pandora charm to celebrate dance skill, persistance, and regular exercise.
I haven't worked out my next Dance goal, maybe getting a certain score on difficult, or maybe something like getting 11,800 on several more tracks. I don't think I have come close to that score for any other song, although I generally get 10,000 for most.
When I hit this goal I also got an in-game achievement but was too focused to see what it was: maybe "Perfectionist" -- 90% perfect moves. I could go for their gold achievements of "Highway to the Stars" -- a 5 star rating on 10 songs in a row; and "Constellation Maker" -- 5 stars on every song!
I feel quite proud of myself.
I just earned a Pandora charm! Yay!
On Just Dance 3, on the Kinect, I think it scores you out of 12,000 (even with a search online, no one seems sure) and I consider anything over 10,000 a good score. I think that is the point it gives you 5 stars. I suppose a perfect score is theoretically achievable, but I decided to aim for 11,800; allowing for a few "good" moves instead of all "perfect". My favourite dance track is "Think" and I have been working on it quite a bit. I do it every time I use Just Dance 3, and today I just did it over and over, getting a slightly better score every time. I went from about 11,400; up by small increments each time. And finally hit 11,824!!!! Go me!
This is on the easy setting, btw, but still damn good.
I tried one more time after that but was a bit tired and my score went back down in the vicinity of 11,400.
I am going to get myself a lovely Pandora charm to celebrate dance skill, persistance, and regular exercise.
I haven't worked out my next Dance goal, maybe getting a certain score on difficult, or maybe something like getting 11,800 on several more tracks. I don't think I have come close to that score for any other song, although I generally get 10,000 for most.
When I hit this goal I also got an in-game achievement but was too focused to see what it was: maybe "Perfectionist" -- 90% perfect moves. I could go for their gold achievements of "Highway to the Stars" -- a 5 star rating on 10 songs in a row; and "Constellation Maker" -- 5 stars on every song!
I feel quite proud of myself.
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Weight Watchers
Wednesday:
I've decided to stop struggling along alone and have joined Weight Watchers. Whatever I have been doing obviously hasn't been working and I need help. I'll be going to meetings (on Friday mornings) and tracking my food with ProPoints.
I get 26 ProPoints per day plus an extra 49 per week plus more when I exercise. I am still exploring the site and haven't been to a meeting yet so I'm not sure if they have specific exercise recommendations.
I am committing to this fully for 3 months, after which time I will decide if it is working for me. It is 1st February 2012 today. The Christmas/holiday period was challenging, but the upcoming 3 months shouldn't have any major hurdles -- Valentine's Day and my husband's birthday are just one day each.
I will still earn Pandora charms for weight loss, sticking to the plan each month, and regular exercise; plus I will come up with some specific Kinect goals like getting a score of 12,000 on JustDance3 (I think that is a "perfect" score which might not be possible -- maybe 11,800 or something?) or a platinum result on intermediate or advanced on KinectAdventures.
I've decided to stop struggling along alone and have joined Weight Watchers. Whatever I have been doing obviously hasn't been working and I need help. I'll be going to meetings (on Friday mornings) and tracking my food with ProPoints.
I get 26 ProPoints per day plus an extra 49 per week plus more when I exercise. I am still exploring the site and haven't been to a meeting yet so I'm not sure if they have specific exercise recommendations.
I am committing to this fully for 3 months, after which time I will decide if it is working for me. It is 1st February 2012 today. The Christmas/holiday period was challenging, but the upcoming 3 months shouldn't have any major hurdles -- Valentine's Day and my husband's birthday are just one day each.
I will still earn Pandora charms for weight loss, sticking to the plan each month, and regular exercise; plus I will come up with some specific Kinect goals like getting a score of 12,000 on JustDance3 (I think that is a "perfect" score which might not be possible -- maybe 11,800 or something?) or a platinum result on intermediate or advanced on KinectAdventures.
Sunday, January 29, 2012
Late weigh-in: 79.5 kg
Monday:
I thought I weighed myself yesterday but I don't seem to have written it down anywhere. I was a bit distracted. But on Saturday I was 79.5 kg and today 79.4, so I am going to assume 79.5 for my official weigh-in.
It has been a hectic couple of weeks. Just about all of it was fun holiday stuff, but busy none the less and OMG lots of food. A week at the beach, then my dad visited for two nights, then the very next day the next lot of houseguests arrived: a total of seven slept here. Then yesterday was my daughter's 8th birthday party followed by a family BBQ lunch here and the last guests left just after 6 pm Sunday evening. I was so tired by then I wanted to weep, and I'm still feeling pretty exhausted this morning. But it is daughter's actual birthday today. We'll do something quiet, like go to the movies.
Last night in particular I was eating in search of some energy, shovelling in left-overs from the party and BBQ. Not healthy or sensible.
I did get in some exercise this weekend, though. Lots of Kinect. We did the dancing and adventure games and then my brother-in-law brought his new game Power Up Heros which involves kickboxing moves. I reckon a couple of hours of vigorous exercise on Saturday. I was pretty sore afterwards!
Time to turn the page on the past (yet again). I'm a bit divided about how to deal with my bad behaviour. My strategy so far has been to argue that there is no point beating myself up after the event and that guilt and misery doesn't help me to do better. But as Dr Phil would say, "How is that working for you?" Do I need to be tougher on myself? Give myself a stern talking-to after a binge? If it was a rare event I think it would be best to just forgive myself and move on. But my episodes of food debauchery are not rare at all.
I haven't been wearing my charm bracelet. It still only has two charms on it, nothing new for months. It has seemed more a reminder of failure than a motivator. But I just went and put it on. I will see and feel it on my wrist and remember to be good.
I am back to 79.5 kg, where I started. I don' think I can lose 4.5 kg (10 pounds) in a month to reach my original goal of 75 kg by the end of February; 4 weeks from now. I have lost January, so I will reset to end of March -- half a kilo per week.
I am so tired this morning that I feel very discouraged. I don't even know if I am up to exercising today. But I will put healthy food in my mouth.
I thought I weighed myself yesterday but I don't seem to have written it down anywhere. I was a bit distracted. But on Saturday I was 79.5 kg and today 79.4, so I am going to assume 79.5 for my official weigh-in.
It has been a hectic couple of weeks. Just about all of it was fun holiday stuff, but busy none the less and OMG lots of food. A week at the beach, then my dad visited for two nights, then the very next day the next lot of houseguests arrived: a total of seven slept here. Then yesterday was my daughter's 8th birthday party followed by a family BBQ lunch here and the last guests left just after 6 pm Sunday evening. I was so tired by then I wanted to weep, and I'm still feeling pretty exhausted this morning. But it is daughter's actual birthday today. We'll do something quiet, like go to the movies.
Last night in particular I was eating in search of some energy, shovelling in left-overs from the party and BBQ. Not healthy or sensible.
I did get in some exercise this weekend, though. Lots of Kinect. We did the dancing and adventure games and then my brother-in-law brought his new game Power Up Heros which involves kickboxing moves. I reckon a couple of hours of vigorous exercise on Saturday. I was pretty sore afterwards!
Time to turn the page on the past (yet again). I'm a bit divided about how to deal with my bad behaviour. My strategy so far has been to argue that there is no point beating myself up after the event and that guilt and misery doesn't help me to do better. But as Dr Phil would say, "How is that working for you?" Do I need to be tougher on myself? Give myself a stern talking-to after a binge? If it was a rare event I think it would be best to just forgive myself and move on. But my episodes of food debauchery are not rare at all.
I haven't been wearing my charm bracelet. It still only has two charms on it, nothing new for months. It has seemed more a reminder of failure than a motivator. But I just went and put it on. I will see and feel it on my wrist and remember to be good.
I am back to 79.5 kg, where I started. I don' think I can lose 4.5 kg (10 pounds) in a month to reach my original goal of 75 kg by the end of February; 4 weeks from now. I have lost January, so I will reset to end of March -- half a kilo per week.
I am so tired this morning that I feel very discouraged. I don't even know if I am up to exercising today. But I will put healthy food in my mouth.
Monday, January 16, 2012
The next two weeks
Monday:
I'm going to be really busy with social activities for the next couple of weeks (I'll blog more specifically afterwards) including lots of restaurant dining, houseguests, card parties etc. Lots of food-centred events. It will be a challenge and my goal is to be moderate. I don't expect to stay under my calorie limit five days a week, but I won't go overboard either.
On the other hand, there is no reason for me not to be active and I still intend to strive for lots of exercise! I didn't exercise today but I am feeling much better and I'll get back into it tomorrow.
I'm going to be really busy with social activities for the next couple of weeks (I'll blog more specifically afterwards) including lots of restaurant dining, houseguests, card parties etc. Lots of food-centred events. It will be a challenge and my goal is to be moderate. I don't expect to stay under my calorie limit five days a week, but I won't go overboard either.
On the other hand, there is no reason for me not to be active and I still intend to strive for lots of exercise! I didn't exercise today but I am feeling much better and I'll get back into it tomorrow.
Saturday, January 7, 2012
Sunday weigh-in: 79 kg; down 0.5 kg
Sunday:
# Lose 0.5 kg (4.5 kg in 9 weeks)
Done! Exactly 0.5 kg. On track for my 75 kg goal. I am not in virgin fat territory yet as I have been hovering around 79 kg for the past 6 months, but it is a start.
# Stick to calorie limit of 1340 five days per week
Done! I only had two days off, and interestingly my weight went up significantly the next morning each time (the only days it did this week). Instant effect!
# Exercise for one hour five days per week
Almost. I did an hour on four days and half an hour on two days. Those two half-hours add together don't they? Well, I was pretty close anyway, considering a sick child. I will catch up later in the month to earn my charm.
I also drank at least six glasses of fluid every day this week, which was great.
I got a good night's sleep last night but I am still not feeling 100%; my head feels very heavy and my back is aching for some reason. I don't know if I'm fighting off some germs. Luckily I have been treating my body well so it is better equipped than usual to resist illness.
# Lose 0.5 kg (4.5 kg in 9 weeks)
Done! Exactly 0.5 kg. On track for my 75 kg goal. I am not in virgin fat territory yet as I have been hovering around 79 kg for the past 6 months, but it is a start.
# Stick to calorie limit of 1340 five days per week
Done! I only had two days off, and interestingly my weight went up significantly the next morning each time (the only days it did this week). Instant effect!
# Exercise for one hour five days per week
Almost. I did an hour on four days and half an hour on two days. Those two half-hours add together don't they? Well, I was pretty close anyway, considering a sick child. I will catch up later in the month to earn my charm.
I also drank at least six glasses of fluid every day this week, which was great.
I got a good night's sleep last night but I am still not feeling 100%; my head feels very heavy and my back is aching for some reason. I don't know if I'm fighting off some germs. Luckily I have been treating my body well so it is better equipped than usual to resist illness.
Saturday, December 31, 2011
Sunday weigh-in: 79.5 kg
Sunday, 1 January 2012:I didn't weigh in last Sunday as it was Christmas Day but I was approximately the same as today. The Sunday two weeks ago I was 78.7 kg; so I'm up 800 grams since then. Not too bad considering we had the Christmas and New Year festivities in between.
I might chat about my non-weight-loss resolutions occasionally, but I will review my weight-loss goals every Sunday with my weigh in.
To review, my goal is to lose half a kilogram (about 1 pound) every week. I will achieve this by exercising five days a week and sticking to a low-calorie plant-focussed diet five days a week. I will track my food every day, even the days I don't stay under the calorie limit. I will also concentrate on drink 6-8 glasses of water (with a squeeze of lemon juice) every day.
Any week, day, or even moment can be a new starting point; but the New Year has a certain glamour to it.
I know this is a bit of a rehash of yesterday's post, but I want to reinforce my goals and plans in my own mind.
At a starting weight of 79.5 kg, it will take me 9 weeks to get down to my first goal of 75 kg. A few days after the end of February. Slow and steady is fine, much better than my previous track record of ... fail. This is the year to win!
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