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.

Suggested Serving Size

There will be so many New Year's resolutions made and broken for a lot of us.  I am going to focus on two: exercise  and serving size of my food. 

1) Exercise: I need to just do it.  No more excuses about being too busy or blaming the holiday rush for not finding the time.  Starting tomorrow I will exercise at least five days a week.  During the winter I struggle with exercise. 

As my blog title states, I've been walking off the weight.  My absolute favorite form of exercise is speed walking with a bit of jogging tossed in for good measure.  I do have a treadmill but just abhor it.  I want to be outdoors when I get my exercise.  I get to do something great for my body and enjoying nature is good for my mind.  I do have a wii fit system and several workout DVDs in my arsenal for burning fat.  Again, I just don't get excited and look forward to those forms of exercise like I do my daily walk.  When I'm working it is dark by the time I get home and right now we have a foot and a half of snow on the ground.   So no walking right now for me.  That means it is time to step up to the plate and get in some other form of exercise. 

2) Serving sizes of food: I do "cheat" on serving sizes from time to time.  I think this "looks" like a 1/4 cup or whatever the suggested serving size is for the nutrition information.  I need to be mindful of the serving size and limit myself to that amount.  I hate taking the time to measure out a serving of food, but I need to start doing it now.

I may just measure the food I know is tempting for me.  There are certain foods that I will "eyeball" the amount because I don't really want to be limited in how much I eat.  For example, I really love Special K chocolate delight cereal.  I mean really love it.  I say I don't have time to measure it in the morning but really I want to pour in as much as I want that day.  Time to buckle down on serving sizes.

I think if I focus on exercising and measuring my food this year, I will be able to reach my weight loss goal. 

Another Day of Snow Fun

Today, it was just me and the kids at home.  I got busy early this morning to finish cleaning up the holiday mess and catching up on laundry.  I knew they would want to go back outside today to play in the snow.  As predicted, the first thing my daughter asked was if we were going to play in the snow today.  At this point, I have to say that I'm not a big fan of winter precipitation.  I think fresh, fallen snow is beautiful.  However, I can admire the beauty from my window while I sip on some coffee.  Just not a fan of snow or for that fact winter in general.  So... I said yes of course we will go play in the snow later today.

I do know this: when I was extremely obese I probably would have told her it was too cold to go outside.  I might have even said to wait for daddy to come home, and he can take you out.  It wasn't just because of my dislike of the cold and snow but really a lack of energy.  It is a chore:  button up, layer on the clothes,  find all the winter gear, trudge around in the snow and play, and then clean up the wet mess once we got inside.  I just didn't have the energy. 

My daughter rolling around in the snow.

 

Today I had the energy to get everyone ready to go outside, play for almost an hour, and clean up the mess without feeling exhausted.  I love how my weight loss has positively impacted my role as  a mom.  We rolled in the snow, played with the dogs, and built a snowman.  No pictures of the snowman because  he didn't turn out as expected.  And that is okay because we had a lot of fun making him. 

 

It is so important to keep moving!  



 

Blizzard workout

Today, I got a blizzard workout!  I was thinking that an exercise DVD was in my future for this evening; however, my workout ended up being two hours of shoveling snow.  It is the first time in my life I can recall getting an official blizzard where we live. 

My husband had to call off work today because it was impossible to get out of our driveway.  We waited until the  winds died down in the afternoon to get busy on our chore of digging out of our drive.  I'm off work until after the new year, so I was content with a foot plus of snow.  That was until I realized he would be needing to go back to work today.

I must say the shoveling, sweeping, and pushing of snow was quite the workout.  I had been slacking in the workout department due to so many activities surrounding the holidays.  When we were finished getting both our vehicles out from the snow drift, my entire body was tired.  It felt great at the same time: a good workout and an accomplished chore. 



I also played outside with our kids.  My daughter only lasted outside about ten minutes before she needed to go inside and have some hot cocoa.  My son stayed out about 30 minutes and that was because of our dogs.  It was such a fun afternoon outside with family. 

Holiday Temptations

There are so many holiday temptations.  There have been work and friend parties, family parties to come, and if that weren't enough my husband's birthday party.  I have been trying to convince him for the last 16 years to please move his birthday away from Christmas celebrations, but he just won't do it.  That equals countless extra calories. Ok, so they could be counted but I have decided not to this week.  I am using self-control to just have a small helping or single treat from all the extra food.

Image found on pinterest

I have several friends that have brought me "treats" for Christmas.  One even said,"I know you won't eat these but take them home to your family."  Umm...I live with my family and it is just another temptation.  So far here is my total for Christmas treats: two pieces of peanut butter fudge, a homemade tag-along cookie, and half of a snicker doodle cookie.  I'm hanging strong at this point.  I have passed on several other offers, and my own baking and candy making. 

However, I feel like I have hit my limit on indulgences and I still have five more days to go!  It is time to get tough and buckle down on extra calories.  I'm thinking since I'm off work until Jan. 02, I could start working out twice a day.  I've been a slacker in that department too.