I'm Rolling

Just wanted to do a check-in on my exercise this week.  I had lost my groove when it came to workouts this month.  After much reflection about my chaotic life, I decided that no matter what I would make at least three workouts.  Well...it is Thursday and I already have three in for the week. 

I'm not doing my favorite form of exercise but that's ok.  At least I'm moving and burning some calories.  I've done step aerobics and yoga this week.  One night I was feeling exhausted and thought I can skip tonight and still make three workouts, but my daughter said, "Is it time to exercise yet?"  Yes. Yes,  it was time to exercise!  I finished up a chore and got busy with step aerobics. 

On a side note, my eating has been great this week.  I'm staying under calorie and keeping my night snack to a piece of fruit.  Evening snacks are my biggest enemy especially during the winter.  During the warmer months, we stay outside for several hours during the evening, so there is little downtime before bed.  That equals less grazing for a snack(s) before bed.  When it gets dark so early, that means there is a lot more time in the house.  For me that means more time to be tempted to make my way to the kitchen. 

I hope to stay rolling and moving toward my goals.  Still haven't decided about a gym just yet...

Challenge needed for Change

I know I've been too lax in my eating and exercising.  There are a myriad of reasons for both lately.  Umm... should I say reasons or excuses?  Some are real reasons: e.g. wicked sinus infection that won't go away.  Some are excuses: too tired to workout after a crazy work and family schedule.  I need to find a new way to challenge myself.  I'm up a pound, down a pound, stay the same, and the cycle goes on for my weight loss. 

I just mentioned to my mom that I should join a gym until Spring.  Around March, I will be able to fit in a walk/jog before sunset.  I don't get home from work until evening time, so right now there isn't enough daylight for working out outside.  My mom's response was when are you going to go?  Good question Mom, good question.  It would probably be around 7:30 p.m. or 8:00 before I could get out the door to go to the gym.  To be honest, I'm usually wiped out by then. 

I guess I need to set a new challenge for myself with both food and exercise. More to come on those new challenges and hopefully goals. I'll need to think of a fun exercise gadget or other "prize" for meeting my challenges.

Satisfaction

I had a late night conference at work last night.  My supervisor bought pizza for everyone.  By the time I had a chance to eat, the pizza was cold and overcooked to top it off.  As I ate a few square of it, I already knew that it wasn't satisfying.  It didn't really taste good and I knew that it wasn't going to satisfy my brain for my dinner.

My question is this: why did I continue to eat it when I knew it wasn't satisfying or enjoyable to eat?  Do you ever find yourself eating something that isn't even good or what you want to eat?  I had this conversation with a co-worker today and she said the same thing. The pizza was cold and didn't taste good so she went home to eat some more. Me too!  I found myself eating Hickory Farms sausage and cheese with my husband.  Normally, I wouldn't eat  a high fat snack at night.  However,  I felt "cheated" at dinner.  I was looking for something to satisfy my brain.  I wasn't real hungry but felt like I needed a snack before bed.  I ended up overeating and surpassing my calories for sure.

Lesson learned: if it doesn't taste good or it isn't want I want to eat, just say no.

Finally a pound down

 

Why is it that it takes very little time to gain a pound but forever to take it off!!!  I went up a pound about two weeks ago and finally at today's weigh in it was gone.  Good riddance.  I sometimes feel like I am running in circles on the scale.  It was nice when I had a lot of weight to lose and those numbers kept right on rolling by but now it is much slower. 

So I've just been working and not getting too worked up about that pound.  I want to use the scale to stay accountable but not obsessive about my weight.  Been there done that, not going back.  I could easily let myself get wrapped up in that number and not be healthy about it. 

I did make an awesome weight watchers chicken stroganoff this week.  I sent the leftovers with my mom to work for her to share with a friend.  They both really enjoyed it as well.  It is real simple and I just left it all day in the crock pot.  I am all about the crock.  I leave around 7am for work and don't get back home until late in the evening. I love recipes that can be left all day and require little prep to get to the table.

Recipe:
1 lb boneless chicken breasts
1 or 2 cans of 98% fat free cream of mushroom soup
1 pkg. Lipton onion soup mix
16oz container of fat free sour cream
Leave it all in the crock pot on low for 6 hours
I then shredded the chicken mixture and poured it over No Yolk noodles.



 

 

Weather Won't Cooperate

Yesterday, it felt like a warm Spring morning.  It was 60 plus degrees outside.  Keep in mind that we just had a blizzard a few weeks ago and that snow had just melted two days ago.  That meant I had to take advantage of the clear roads and warm weather.  I wasn't feeling too good when I woke up but nothing was stopping me from a long walk. 

My husband and kids even joined in on the action.  It was so enjoyable spending time with them and getting a good workout at the same time.  I love that both of my kids enjoy being outside and realize the importance of exercise. 

I soon found out why I wasn't feeling good.  Just a few hours later I had a wicked temperature with full blown chills and body aches.  Even though I felt terrible, I was still happy that I made it through my walk.  My  walks aren't just about exercise but a way to clear my mind.

How's the weather today?  Today it is sleeting with frozen precipation on the ground.  Totally bi-polar weather where we live.  To top it off, I have included a picture of what we found by our house today.  I think the poor guy froze to death. I had never seen a snake out in January!!!

I Have Resolved to Work Harder

When I weighed in Saturday morning, I was pretty disappointed.  I had done better with my eating and working out.  To be honest, I didn't hit my 5 workouts that I had planned for the week.  I only did 3 out of 5.  There are plenty of excuses but the main one was returning back to work kicked my butt!  The kids and I had been staying up late and sleeping in (8:00 a.m. at our house) over Christmas break. 

However, last week was a big improvement over the past two weeks.  I was hoping my body would be shocked into a substantial weight loss.  No such luck.  It seems that this last chunk of weight is refusing to go!  From time to time, I let myself get discouraged at the amount of time it has taken.  I jokingly told a co-worker that I could go down in the Guinness's Book of World Records for the longest amount of time to lose weight. 

I will just resolve to do better and work harder this week.  Best of luck to everyone for a healthy week. 

Lunch Portions

I went with some work friends out to eat for our first day back to work after Christmas break.  I had eaten at the restaurant for lunch many years ago.  My recollection was that it was a cheap place to eat but not enough food.  The lunch plate is "small" (aka right size) and not flowing over like a lot of other Chinese restaurants. 

So after we ordered our food, I discussed how at lunch a person doesn't get a lot to eat here like other Chinese restaurants.  When the lunch plates were served, I looked at mine and said, "Wow, that is a lot of food."  My friends agreed with me that we had plenty to eat for lunch.  I said that the restaurant had closed to remodel and had possibly revamped their portions. 

Then, after I was reflecting on that experience last night, I thought maybe it was just me.  When I was extremely obese, did that lunch plate not seem or feel like enough? I was used to shoveling food in without enjoying or thinking about the experience.  The portions may still be the same as they were years ago.  I didn't eat even half of my main entree.  The waitress kept trying to convince me to take my lunch leftovers home with me.  I only indulge in Chinese food once every few months, so I told her no thank you.