Weekly Wednesday Weigh In

Date	Change	Total	Total From Beginning	Work Outs in Week
10/6/2010	-1	-16.6	-34.6	5
10/13/2010	0	-16.6	-34.6	5
10/20/2010	-1.1	-17.7	-35.7	5
10/27/2010	1.3	-16.4	-34.4	4

Boo! I gained 1.3 pounds this week.  It really didn't come as much of a surprise to me.  I feel like I didn't have a great weekend with eating. Not terrible but not as good as I needed it to be.  For some reason then I just wrote the whole week off which was stupid. I am back to tracking every bite today and making sure I can make up for last week this week.

I worked out 4 times this week.  All 4 workouts were runs to prepare for the 5k I'm running in November.  This week I really was able to ramp my runs up.  My last run on Monday I ran for 36 minutes with just 1 1/2 minutes of walking in the middle.  It really helped that I went running with my friend Mrs. Acorn and her dog Barkley.  Amanda's pace is a little faster than mine so she was ahead of me for the most part, but not so far enough that I couldn't see her.  If we went around corners and I got out of Barkley's site he would turn around and look for me.  I should run with Barkley more often! We ran 3 miles in the 36 minutes which puts me at a 12 minute mile.  If I can run the 5k doing a 12 minute mile I will be happy. Nothing wrong with slow and steady!

This morning I also have started a new breakfast.  I like to eat breakfast at my desk in the morning. It gives me more time at home in the morning and I find eating later helps hold me over to lunch.  My new breakfast is instant oatmeal and then I add unsweetened applesauce to it.  I also will have a banana with it.  I wasn't sure how the oatmeal was going to taste but with the added applesauce it was actually really good.  I need to bring some cinnamon in to work. I think with an added sprinkle of cinnamon it would be even better.

Okay mine didn't look as fabulous as this but I'm sure if I had thrown pieces of apple into it then it would have.

Things that Make Me Smile

I'm a firm believer that your attitude and how you approach things makes a huge difference of how you feel and what the outcomes of your daily experiences are. That doesn't mean I always approach things with a great attitude and a huge smile but I do try to keep things in prospective and pick my battles.  Sometimes you just need something to help you smile.

Things that Make Me Smile

1. Sitting by a fire eating s'mores with the marshmellow light brown but not burnt to a crisp (I wonder how many  WW pts that would be)

2. This video

She is just hilarious. Sometimes I think I could use some time standing in front of the mirror reminding me how great life is. I mean I like my hair, I like my house, I like everything, everything is great, yeah yeah yeah!

3.My family, friends, and my fiancee. My triple F's! I'm so lucky to have such supportive loving people around me.

4. Saying "no" to eating something that isn't healthy.  You would think self control would be something that is easier than it actually is.  When someone brings in doughnuts to work or chocolate cupcakes and I resist the temptation it makes me feel good and warm and fuzzy for being strong.

5. Dress down Wednesdays at work. It's funny how something as simple as being able to wear jeans to work 1 day a week makes me happy.

6. How can you not smile at these faces? I just love my nephew and niece to pieces!

 

7. My Duke Blue Devils! I'm so excited that basketball season has started.  

What makes you smile?

Weekly Wednesday Weigh In

Date	Change	Total	Total From Beginning	Work Outs in Week
9/29/2010	-1.6	-15.6	-33.6	3
10/6/2010	-1	-16.6	-34.6	5
10/13/2010	0	-16.6	-34.6	5
10/20/2010	-1.1	-17.7	-35.7	5

Yay I lost 1.1 lbs this weeks!  It feels really good that I haven't gained in the last 6 weeks! 2 of those 6 weeks I did maintain but that's a lot better than gaining.  I worked out 5 times this week.  My workouts were 3 Couch to 5k workouts, 1 BodyCombat class, and 1 Zumba class. 

Running is getting harder and harder. I had originally planned on running 2 times a week but since then I realized if I was going to be ready to run a 5k in November that I needed to run at least 3 times a week Overall I'm really excited about the 5k.  I am running it with 4 of my closest friends, all of whom I went to high school with.  I am nervous that I won't be ready in time for the November 13th race but I try to push that thought out of my mind.  It's a pretty level course so as long as I keep training I should be able to push myself to finish that 5k. 

Did I mention that I got a promotion at work? I am really excited about it but it is causing a little bit of craziness at the time.  I'm currently learning my new job, doing my old job, and training people for my old position. 

This coming weekend Matt and I are headed to my hometown to celebrate my sister and brother in-laws birthday on Saturday.  Also I'll see some of my good friends that night. Then on Sunday I am going with my family to the NC Zoo.  I haven't been to the zoo since I was little so I excited to go back and to see my 3 year old nephews reaction to all the animals.

Bikram Yoga Craziness!

On Tuesday night I went to my first ever Bikram Yoga class with my friend Mrs. Acorn. Living Social offered a special for Bikram yoga classes at a local studio.  I have never been too excited about working out for 90 minutes  in a 105 degree room, but Mrs. Acorn was interested, it was a good deal, and I figured I was willing to give it a try.

When we got to the studio there were 2 older men standing outside that were half dressed.  I couldn't help but think, "what did I get myself into?"  When I was finishing up my registration form Mrs. Acorn grabbed us a spot in the room.  Unfortunately the only place left big enough for 2 people was right up front directly next to the instructor.  As soon as I walked into the room and was hit with the heat I had my 2nd thought of, "OMG what did I get myself into?"

We started with some loud breathing exercises that I'm not sure I was doing exactly right. We moved into a lot of standing poses. Some of which were really hard and some which were more managable.  About forty minutes into the class I sat down for a few minutes to take a break.  The heat was just so overwhelming!  There were other people that were taking breaks too so it was confronting to know that I wasn't the only one.

We also did a lot of poses that started from laying on the mat. Laying on a mat sounds easy right? Yeah not so much.  Some of the ways she wanted us to move was insane.  At one point she said "if you feel like you are being strangled some then that's good you are doing it correctly".  I do not know about you but feeling strangling for me never equals good or correct.

When there was about 25 minutes of the class left I was having a hard time with the heat.  I stood up to try to get some cold water and have a few minutes out of the room.  The lady stood in front of me and told me to just sit on my mat. I got a panicky feeling that the lady did not want me to leave the room.  I knew that if I really needed to leave I could have but I really did not like her telling me to sit back down. Another guy tried to leave the class all together when there was 15 minutes left of class and he was scolded too.

Overall the class was intense and hard but I did feel really good afterwards.  After the class I felt very stretched out and relaxed.  Since I have more classes that are paid for I will go again to give it more of a shot. Next time though I will take a big towel to put on my mat so I don't slip on my sweat (disgusting I know) instead of just a little face towel.  Oh did I mention that I sweated a lot? I mean A LOT! I have never been so drenched from a workout before. I also will make sure to get there earlier so I can grab a spot in the back. I also want to try out another instructor.  The lady that taught the class knew what she was doing but she didn't actually do the poses or show us and I like to be able to see the correct way to do it.  I also am a little bitter that she reprimanded me for trying to leave. 

This was what I looked like at Yoga...okay just kidding not so much!

Weekly Wednesday Weigh In

Date	Change	Total	Total From Beginning	Work Outs in Week
9/22/2010	0	-14	-32	4
9/29/2010	-1.6	-15.6	-33.6	3
10/6/2010	-1	-16.6	-34.6	5
10/13/2010	0	-16.6	-34.6	5

So this week I maintained. Big boo!  I guess it's progress to maintain when I'm out of town for a weekend but I really wanted to lose.  I blame Matt's mom's evil yet delicious chocolate chip cookie brownie things. Okay actually I blame myself. Why is it so hard to just resist the deliciousness? I know it's not one chocolate chip brownie that made me maintain but it's for sure related.

I took my measurements tonight because I have noticed that my clothes have been fitting differently.  I have lost 3.5 inches since last time I took my measurements.  That puts me at a total of 11.5 inches lost since the end of March.  It's good to progress with my measurements but sometimes it just doesn't come quick enough. I have learned that dedication and patience is what makes this journey work.

This week I worked out 5 times.  My workouts were 3 Couch to 5k workouts, a BodyJam class, and my first ever Bikram Yoga class (more on that in my next post).  It feels great to be running again.  I definently lost some of my progress from the last time I did the program but that is to be expected since I haven't ran in a few months. 

Weekly Wednesday Weigh In

Date	Change	Total	Total From Beginning	Work Outs in Week
9/15/2010	-2	-14	-32	5
9/22/2010	0	-14	-32	4
9/29/2010	-1.6	-15.6	-33.6	3
10/6/2010	-1	-16.6	-34.6	5

Yay I lost again this week! I'm down 1 more pound and I worked out a total of 5 times.  My workouts were 2 Zumba classes, BodyJam class, BodyCombat class, and a power walk with Matt on Sunday.  Today after work I'm starting back on a modified Couch to 5k program.  My friend Shanzie just started the Couch to 5k program and asked me if I wanted to run a 5k with her in late November or early December.  I am going to start today with week 3 of the Couch to 5k program and I plan on running 2 times a week.

Next week I'm also going to go to my first Bikram Yoga class with Mrs. Acorn. I'm a little nervous about it. I mean 90 minutes doing Yoga in 105 degree heat...should be interesting to say the least.  Who knows maybe I'll love it. I feel like I should give at least give it a shot to find out.

This weekend I am headed to Florida to see my future in-laws and to go to a Gator football game. I should be able to get a run in on Saturday morning while I'm there. I also am mentally preparing for making good choices when I eat out.  I have to prove to myself that I can travel and not gain weight for the week.  Wish me luck!