Checking In

This week is going well so far!  Well, except that I've gained a pound ... but I feel like that happened last time I got serious about weight loss, too.  It fluctuates up a bit before starting to go down.  At least I hope that's what it's doing.  I am assuming it is water weight and given that we ate a Mardi Gras dinner last night (to celebrate since I was out of town on the actual Mardi Gras), I'm sure that had something to do with it.  Even though I was very good with portions.

At any rate, I have ridden the bike each morning this week and I can sure feel it!  I also started back on the bowflex, and I can feel that too!  I need to figure out when Hubby and I can do our yoga together - I'm very excited about that.  But today I've got to deal with court preparation, doctor appointments and school closings, so I'm trying to find some time to work it in.

It feels good to be DOING something again.  I feel so much better about myself when I'm working towards getting healthy.

Tonight I am having the Campbell's Italian Wedding soup which is very satisfying and very tasty, but low calorie.  I know it's not the greatest as far as salt content, but one thing at a time.  I'm going to try and make the meal early - that seems to be a key in losing weight.  And then somehow stop myself from snacking.  My trick for that is to doodle while watching TV.  Keeps my mind and hands busy.

I just wanted to report how good it feels to be taking affirmative action again.  One day at a time!

Timing

Finally.  I've gotten through seminars, hubby being out of town and all the celebrations.

I'm ready to start.

Got up and rode the bike for 46 minutes today.  Went for 11.4 miles and burned 247 calories.  All that before the day even started!

I want to start the bowflex today as well, but not too much since I don't want to hurt my shoulder again and I am just getting started.  I tend to be one of those "I want to do it all in one day" type people and I have to prepare myself for the slow and steady.

I've been so exhausted and I'm hoping that getting back into the exercise routine will help with that.

We aren't supposed to wait for the timing to be "right" because then we'd never get anything done, but I've had some issues, so it's good to know that my time is here now.  And I'm ready for it.  There is something to be said about having your mental state in the right place.  There can't be a right time if you can't get there mentally!

Now I have to plan the menu for the week - I know the key is eating a lighter dinner and trying not to snack after dinner.  I will try and plan accordingly.  If I make up something that is just really good, I'll pass it on here!  I'm going to have fun trying to create tasty meals that satisfy.  I'm also going to try and learn to cook less.  I've always cooked for 6, even when there's only a few of us home and no matter how much I made, we'd eat it all.  Now that it's just 4 of us here most of the time, I need to learn to cut portions accordingly.

As I need humor to get me through this, I'll leave with this for the day:

Permission

Hubby is doing great on his exercise routine!  I'm so proud of him!  He makes the time to get his work out in and is trying to eat healthy choices when his muscles demand protein from him.

Me?  I'm not doing so well.  I always seem to have an excuse.  Right now it's, "Well, I've got that seminar all next week, so I might as well not start working out until I get back."  I know.  Excuses.  Poor ones at that.

I've been thinking about how to get back to that mindset I was in back in 2012 when I started this journey.  I was all pumped up and excited and motivated.  I've come to the conclusion that it was because I gave myself "permission" to become wrapped up in myself :  my health, my time, my body.  Me.  Not something mom's do very often.  I had made 2012 the "year of me" and it worked.  I didn't feel guilty because it was my goal. I had permission to think about myself and concentrate on myself.

So since then I've moved on to other things that needed my attention:  my art, my writing, my family.  Once again, I've relegated myself to the back burner to take care of others.

How do I give myself permission to take time away from other things that are important?  My kids are important and I need to concentrate on them.  My work is important.  My husband is important.  And I have still been cooking healthier and eating better, just not with the gusto from 2012.  There I was consumed with myself and it worked - I lost 24lbs.

I need to figure out how to get back that permission when I don't feel so deserving.  Somehow I'm supposed to "just fit it in" around all the other important things.  I already cut back on sleep.  I'm not sure where else I can cut.

So I'll ponder how to grant myself permission to pursue me again.  I'm not sure how to get there with all the guilt that floats around when I do ...

Another Day ... Back to Basics

Hubby and I are doing great!  He has done his work out plan again and I made healthy dinners for 2 days in a row, which we have both eaten and kept our portions small.  I still haven't done the workout yet - I had court yesterday so my routine was interrupted.  BUT hubby has agreed to start doing yoga with me in the afternoons before the kids get home!  I'm super excited!

There are pros and cons of us both working from home and one of the pros is having the ability to work out when our schedule permits.

I'm actually going to get back to the basics.  I'm going to go back to the tools I used in my earlier days.  They appeal to the geek in me and help me be motivated.  My previous post on tools is HERE.

I think I need to go back and re-read my early posts to help get me excited about all this again.

My challenge today is that I am taking my 16 year old to get her hair cut and dyed today after school.  I know it will take hours and I'll be at the mall area which will mean temptation to eat out.  I'm going to try and stay on top of things.  I have a meal planned for tonight, so I will attempt to come home and stick to the plan.  It's just that 16 year olds are so darn persuasive!

I will keep you posted!

It's Hard to Do Alone - And That's OK

I've been stuggling.  Part of it has been the influences around me.  I'm a pretty weak person (I think that's been established) and it doesn't take much for me to say "OKAY!" to an offer of brownies or eating out ... I'm pretty good if no outside influence comes up, but a complete disaster with any amount of temptation.

However, my hubby is getting motivated himself, so I've got a partner now!  He started his work out plan yesterday and we've agreed to try and encourage each other in the face of adversity.  I'm hopeful again.

I've been in this vicious cycle where I don't feel well, so I eat poorly (things that make me feel great for an instant) and then I don't feel well, so I eat poorly ... you see what I mean.

So, I need help.  And now I have my hubby on board, so I'm hoping to get myself together!

I'll update as we go!