Spontaneous Walk!

This afternoon, between the dark, foreboding thunderstorms, the girls and I took an impromptu walk. It was not far. In fact, I do not have the first clue as to how long we were gone. We walked down the road to the creek. And back. We all enjoyed it, though it was slightly stressful for me. You see, we live on a rural country road. Paved, yes. Sidewalks? No. Shoulders? Not really. Ditches? Yep. All this combined with a 4-year-old who likes to dart around made it not such a relaxing walk for me. I enjoyed it totally though. And, plan to do it again.

I found out last night that the 8th grade girls softball team had to run about 2 miles every single practice. As a warm up! Alex loves softball, though I am wondering how much since she is not a big runner. I think she is just not really built to be a good runner, but I would love to be wrong! Try-outs are March 10th (2008)….

In the meantime, I have been continuing on a low-gi eating regime. I feel so much better, though the weight is not dropping off like I fantasize it should. That is okay, though, since I feel so much better. My exercise had been, shall we say, accidental. I do things here and there, ride my bike sometimes. Nothing regular and consistent.

A few weeks ago, I had gotten a pass to the fitness center at the high school. Went to the orientation and visited ONCE since then. ARGHHHHH! Anyhow, the hours are very small. Regular hours are Monday-Thursday 6pm-10pm. Summer hours, which started right after I started going, are Monday and Thursday 8pm-10pm and Tuesday 6-8pm. And, with R’s work, those hours have not been working well at all. At least there is no expiration on the fitness card. I have eleven more visits on it, too.

Feeling the Momentum

So, I’ve been following a low gi diet for a week and a half. I have to say that I think I feel better. Mostly. So far.

I have had only two days with “cheating” or spending 10% of my life off the plan. First day was Memorial Day. Stupid me, start a new way of eating the Friday before Memorial Day! Or, maybe it was a good thing? I certainly refrained from any gorging of anything, more like sampling. The second day was this past Saturday evening when we went to a “birthday bash” and I again sampled a lot of yummy things, but tried hard to balance it with veggies and cheese and deviled eggs. Yum. I have no regrets which is a new feeling on the day and days after.

Saturday, I rode my bike for 30 minutes (since the softball game vs. the parents was called due to the storms giving me the time in the afternoon to do this) and did my P90-100 Ab video (I am up to 8 reps minimum for all 10 exercises except the last. Full body crunch is hard for someone big like me).

Sunday, I did no formal workout. Not even something “close enough” for me to say I did something.

Today, I did my P90-Sculpt 1/2 video. I upped most of the weights. Last time I used 5 pounders for everything. This time I only used 5′s for the triceps kickbacks. I used 10′s for all bicep, shoulder and back exercises. I used the 8′s for the side lateral raises. I wore my ankle brace while doing the routine, but frankly I’m not sure if it was more of a help or a hindrance. I’m sure it helped during the lunges, maybe during the squats. It was really in the way during the stretching though.

I feel good. My butt was finally not noticeably sore this morning, but I’m sure it will be tomorrow!

An Update

Again with the long breaks from the blog! Anyhow, here is an update on things since the last post (almost a month ago).

I once again jump on board another weight loss wagon before really thinking things through. I suppose that I hope (deep…DEEP…down) that I can just get caught up in the ride and everything will stick and be as it should. That NEVER works, yet I keep doing it.  Isn’t that somewhere in the insanity definition? Anyhow, I did not really do any serious work until about a week ago. Almost two weeks ago, I nonchalantly asked my husband if he’d be willing to do the South Beach Diet with me. I nearly fell out of the chair when he said yes! Wow. A close partner in this, I am loving that idea!

So for the next few days, I pitched some of the stuff in the pantry and fridge (I could not believe how much there was in “expired” boxed stuff) which needed cleaning anyhow. Then I went over the food lists and menus and went to the grocery store. The following Friday (May 25th) we started. What a lunatic!!! The Friday of a HOLIDAY WEEKEND! Sheesh. Anyhow, we started and did really well. On Monday, Memorial Day, we “cheated” a bit, but had planned for it the day before then went right back to the diet. I think it was harder for hubby as he seems used to very carby snacks whenever he felt like it. I am just looking forward to something other than an egg dish for breakfast (seriously, but I do want breakfasty food).

I honestly only planned to do phase one for one week rather two. I have my appetite under control (yay!), my portion sizes are self regulating since I am eating nutritious and filling food now. My water intake is even way up and I have not been craving anything really. Even when the girls were snacking on Cheetos, I wasn’t even tempted. I’m not saying I want to go carb-crazy or anything. I’m thinking more like a half serving of oatmeal with an egg in the morning, or an apple with a cheese stick for my morning snack. Nothing huge. My husband, though, I’m not sure. I will totally leave that up to him and whether he is still having cravings or what-have-you.

On the exercise front, not much happened prior to Memorial Day weekend. On my birthday, I did hop on my exercise bike while waiting for the shower to free up. A 10 minute ride turned into 30 minutes while I cranked my iPod for a while, then, yes, chatted on my cell phone while panting and sweating. (Wonder what the person on the other end was really thinking?!) I rode sporadically during the following week 15 minutes here, 30 minutes there. Though on Sunday, I really kicked it up. Sunday, I rode my bike for 35 minutes. Monday (Memorial Day), I walked with my cousin. Tuesday, I rode for 20 minutes and did the Power 90 Ab100 routine. Wednesday, I rode for 20 minutes. Thursday, I did the Power 90 Sculpt 1-2 routine. Friday (today), I have already rode for 20 minutes and did the Ab100 again. Right now, everything just seems to fit into whatever else I’m doing. It is just “falling into place” which has me very happy, but very VERY concerned that I will hit one little bump and everything will fall apart again and leave me sitting my my arse dumbfounded and not moving.

On the health front, I feel odd. I don’t know how else to describe it. I have those “on the brink of a migraine” sinus headaches…all week…which I am so far blaming on the constantly shifting weather patterns we have been experiencing. I felt really tired yesterday afternoon and instead of coffee or a nap, I worked out. Then I felt more tired, but in a good way. This morning, I felt exhausted. I don’t think it is a lack of food thing, I haven’t felt hungry between meals for days (a fabulous feeling, let me tell you!). I don’t think it is the exercise, because, frankly, although I have been exercising every day, I am certainly not training for a marathon or anything, plus I do not want to get injured, so I am proceeding gradually and carefully. I hope I am not getting sick. More vitamin C and being sure to take my supplements (multi-vitamin mostly) is what I started yesterday.

So here we are…starting the weekend. Gloomy, humid weather. I am lighter than I was a week ago. I see the downward trend and am liking it. Why? I look forward to my knees, hips, and feet to stop the constant aching. For the headaches to at least become less frequent or severe (stopping all together would be nice too). To just feel better.

Here I go again…. (Didn’t Brittany Spears sing a song like that…?)