One of the cool things that I discovered when investigating the C25K program is that there is a link on the website that connects to a free downloadable no-music podcast. It features only the audio cues necessary to stay on track with the timing of each week’s training.
I used this great tool and, with a little time and the help of some video editing software, was able to create my own personalized playlists with the cues playing over top of the music. I really thought this was an excellent alternative to using the tracks other people have put together as I am now able to listen to songs that I actually choose specifically to keep me motivated when jogging.
I have only created my own versions for the first and second weeks so far, but I am hoping to get the rest done soon. I thought it might be fun to showcase the random musical tastes that are uniquely mine, so I am posting the lists of songs below. Enjoy!
Week 1:
You Are The Best Thing – Ray LaMontagne
With A Little Help From My Friends – Across The Universe Soundtrack
Days Like This – Van Morrison
Grace Kelly – Mika
It’s Raining Men – Martha Wash
Stand By Me – Ben E. King
Twist And Shout - The Beatles
Sisters Are Doin’ It For Themselves – Xena Soundtrack
King Of Spain – Moxy Fruvous
Week 2:
All You Need Is Love – Across The Universe Soundtrack
Summer Of ‘69 – Bryan Adams
Love Shack – B-52’s
Goodbye Earl – Dixie Chicks
Patricia The Stripper – Chris De Burgh
Greased Lightning – Grease Soundtrack
Get Jiggy Wit It – Will Smith
Piece Of My Heart – Janis Joplin
FOOD & BEVERAGES:
- 10 glasses of water
- 1 1/2 cups canned pear halves
- 1 homemade mini pizza on a whole wheat pita wrap with garlic and basil pizza sauce, deli turkey beer sausage, grated part skim cheese, and mushrooms
- 3 1/2 cups spinach salad with shrimp, 1 light Laughing Cow cheese wedge, croutons, yellow pepper, green onion, dried cranberries, and calorie-wise Greek feta and oregano dressing
- 1 strawberry flavoured bran bar
- 1/2 piece homemade low fat, low calorie zucchini bread with margarine
- 3 miniature Mandarin oranges
- 2 cups Caesar salad with Parmesan cheese, croutons, dried cranberries, and fat free dressing
- 3/4 cup fat free black cherry yogurt with 1 cup almond and honey oats cereal
EXERCISE:
- 30 minute walk
- 30 minutes of the C25K program (Day 1 of Week 2)
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Monday, February 8, 2010
Waste Not, Want Not
One of the big chores that I got done yesterday was going through all of the dry, canned, and frozen food that is in the house and making a mental inventory of what we have. It’s been a long time since this was done. I am going to be trying to incorporate a lot of these items into my diet over the next few weeks to try and use up the majority of the excess stuff that we have. I will be doing this in a healthy way.
There is quite a bit of preserved fruit, so that shouldn’t take too much adjusting. I know it’s not as good for me as fresh produce, but at least I am not letting anything go to waste. There are a number of cans of flaked meat, plus lots of the frozen packaged variety too, which means that I will be making more meals that utilize that food group. There are a few pre-packaged dehydrated items that I will go through a little more slowly. Also, I have a lot of soup that should be used up before the warmer weather hits and it is likely shuffled to the back of the cupboard.
The biggest thing that I need to be careful of while implementing this process is monitoring my sodium intake. I don’t want to make these temporary adjustments to the detriment of my weight loss, and the potential for water retention could result in exactly that. I think, though, that the biggest selling point of this plan is that it will shake things up for my body and keep it guessing. A lot of the items were bought prior to me beginning this journey and I want to make sure that they aren’t wasted, but it is also an opportunity to surprise my system with the introduction of unfamiliar foods in a health-conscious manner.
There is quite a bit of preserved fruit, so that shouldn’t take too much adjusting. I know it’s not as good for me as fresh produce, but at least I am not letting anything go to waste. There are a number of cans of flaked meat, plus lots of the frozen packaged variety too, which means that I will be making more meals that utilize that food group. There are a few pre-packaged dehydrated items that I will go through a little more slowly. Also, I have a lot of soup that should be used up before the warmer weather hits and it is likely shuffled to the back of the cupboard.
The biggest thing that I need to be careful of while implementing this process is monitoring my sodium intake. I don’t want to make these temporary adjustments to the detriment of my weight loss, and the potential for water retention could result in exactly that. I think, though, that the biggest selling point of this plan is that it will shake things up for my body and keep it guessing. A lot of the items were bought prior to me beginning this journey and I want to make sure that they aren’t wasted, but it is also an opportunity to surprise my system with the introduction of unfamiliar foods in a health-conscious manner.
And On The Seventh Day...
It was not the best day in the world as far as my eating goes, but it also wasn’t all that bad. My exercise, on the other hand, really could have been improved. I pretty much just forced out a few crunches before I sat down to write this to make sure that I had something to report.
It was just a bit of a running around, getting stuff done, and visiting with people kind of a day. I did not plan properly and so it wasn’t the best that I could have done, but I know I will do better tomorrow. I’m not beating myself up about it!
Two really interesting things happened today. First, I had a photo taken of me and when I went to look at the digital image to see how it had turned out, I was a bit taken aback by how slender I looked. There has been a few times over the past couple of months when I have noticed the photographic evidence not meshing with how I think I appear (but in a good way, for a change). Today really surprised me though because I did actually think of that specific word when I saw the image: slender.
The other thing which took place that was a first is that my wonderful father-in-law told me today not to lose too much weight. Wow! Those are words I never really thought I would hear. I am so appreciative that he cares so much and wants to make sure that I take care of myself! Having read about other individuals’ journeys I was prepared to eventually get this kind of feedback from the people I love – I think it must be very unnerving to watch someone’s physical appearance change so drastically – but I know that the truth is that I am still technically overweight and that I am not yet done losing. I am fortunate that I have always generally carried my weight very evenly, but I think it throws people off when they discover the actual numbers – both now and when I was at my heaviest.
Overall, my day was really great! I got to spend time with several loved ones, made some significant headway on some chores around the house, had a lovely, long, and relaxing chat with my better half, got to cross something off my life list, celebrated the Superbowl victory of my team of choice, and was in a pretty fabulous mood all day long! Here’s to more absolutely perfect Sundays!
FOOD & BEVERAGES:
- 9 glasses of water
- 1 toasted whole wheat English muffin with light peanut butter
- 1 mug gingerbread steamed soy milk
- 2 small Mandarin oranges
- 3 cups spinach salad with 1 light Laughing cow cheese wedge, croutons, yellow pepper, mushrooms, green onion, dried cranberries, and calorie-wise Greek feta and oregano dressing
- 1 fiber chocolate delite bar
- 1 white dinner bun with butter
- 2/3 cup roast potatoes
- 2/3 cup roast pork
- 1/3 cup canned corn
- 1/2 cup rainbow sherbet
- 1 bite of a cupcake with icing
- 4 sips of beer
EXERCISE:
- 30 stomach crunches
It was just a bit of a running around, getting stuff done, and visiting with people kind of a day. I did not plan properly and so it wasn’t the best that I could have done, but I know I will do better tomorrow. I’m not beating myself up about it!
Two really interesting things happened today. First, I had a photo taken of me and when I went to look at the digital image to see how it had turned out, I was a bit taken aback by how slender I looked. There has been a few times over the past couple of months when I have noticed the photographic evidence not meshing with how I think I appear (but in a good way, for a change). Today really surprised me though because I did actually think of that specific word when I saw the image: slender.
The other thing which took place that was a first is that my wonderful father-in-law told me today not to lose too much weight. Wow! Those are words I never really thought I would hear. I am so appreciative that he cares so much and wants to make sure that I take care of myself! Having read about other individuals’ journeys I was prepared to eventually get this kind of feedback from the people I love – I think it must be very unnerving to watch someone’s physical appearance change so drastically – but I know that the truth is that I am still technically overweight and that I am not yet done losing. I am fortunate that I have always generally carried my weight very evenly, but I think it throws people off when they discover the actual numbers – both now and when I was at my heaviest.
Overall, my day was really great! I got to spend time with several loved ones, made some significant headway on some chores around the house, had a lovely, long, and relaxing chat with my better half, got to cross something off my life list, celebrated the Superbowl victory of my team of choice, and was in a pretty fabulous mood all day long! Here’s to more absolutely perfect Sundays!
FOOD & BEVERAGES:
- 9 glasses of water
- 1 toasted whole wheat English muffin with light peanut butter
- 1 mug gingerbread steamed soy milk
- 2 small Mandarin oranges
- 3 cups spinach salad with 1 light Laughing cow cheese wedge, croutons, yellow pepper, mushrooms, green onion, dried cranberries, and calorie-wise Greek feta and oregano dressing
- 1 fiber chocolate delite bar
- 1 white dinner bun with butter
- 2/3 cup roast potatoes
- 2/3 cup roast pork
- 1/3 cup canned corn
- 1/2 cup rainbow sherbet
- 1 bite of a cupcake with icing
- 4 sips of beer
EXERCISE:
- 30 stomach crunches
Sunday, February 7, 2010
The Universe Isn't The Only Thing Collapsing In On Itself
Where is my bellybutton going? With the flesh on my abdomen becoming increasingly soft and pliable as I lose more weight, there seems to be a slight flap forming over the opening. It’s not really an unattractive or annoying development, but if I go to stick my finger in there – don’t ask – now I have to aim from a lower angle to avoid pushing the skin into the abyss.
I hate it when my husband tries to poke around in there (which I’m sure he does just to test my patience) so maybe this is my body’s way of protecting itself. It’s sort of like when a snail pulls shut the shell’s operculum and is less vulnerable!
In all seriousness though, it’s so strange to experience such a wide array of changes that I never expected and certainly never could have anticipated. There are some things that are not a surprise like the lower scale number, the smaller sizes, and the increased stamina and energy, but there is still a lot that happens that comes as a bit of a shock when losing a large amount of weight. I would definitely rank this recent personal microcosm of the theory of universal collapse with the latter.
I hate it when my husband tries to poke around in there (which I’m sure he does just to test my patience) so maybe this is my body’s way of protecting itself. It’s sort of like when a snail pulls shut the shell’s operculum and is less vulnerable!
In all seriousness though, it’s so strange to experience such a wide array of changes that I never expected and certainly never could have anticipated. There are some things that are not a surprise like the lower scale number, the smaller sizes, and the increased stamina and energy, but there is still a lot that happens that comes as a bit of a shock when losing a large amount of weight. I would definitely rank this recent personal microcosm of the theory of universal collapse with the latter.
Dream Girl
I awoke from my slumber this morning fairly slowly and was able to recall a lot of what I had been dreaming about as I gently drifted into full consciousness. It was all about food.
Specifically I can remember that I was at a restaurant with at least one friend and she was trying to get me to order a hot toddy. I turned it down, however, because I knew that it was largely made up of butter (apparently my sleeping brain mixed the drink up with hot buttered rum).
Next I started ordering items from the menu, but I was flip-flopping between being really good and not caring at all. Basically I would refuse to order any fries because they were bad for me, and then I would ask for onion rings. I contemplated and decided against a huge greasy burger, but wound up requesting an enormous plate of chicken chow mien. I wouldn’t consider getting the fancy pasta with cream sauce, yet I had no qualms about diving into a massive slab of cheesecake topped with whip and caramel sauce. These are just a few examples as this went on for a while.
Then – and I remember this very clearly – I noticed that they had white chocolate eggnog truffle steamed milk! Does such a thing even exist?! Did my mind seriously create this unbelievably tempting, yet evil, flavour?
Finally, I recall that there was a machine that we could take all the food to – or more accurately duplicates of the food, since I ate most of what I ordered – in the back of the restaurant that measured out how many calories everything had when you tossed items into its opening. After throwing everything I had consumed in, it turned out I had already had 3000 calories in that one sitting. Then after putting the few things into the machine that I was still debating eating, it turned out that the tally came in at 5000 calories. That’s when I remembered that the next day was my weigh-in.
I have no idea what that dream was all about, but it was technically food related so I figured it warranted a journal entry. Now if I can just figure out how to make a low fat version of that steamed milk and come up with a prototype for the calorie counting machine I’ll be rich!
FOOD & BEVERAGES:
- 10 glasses of water
- 3/4 cup fat free lemon chiffon yogurt
- 1 piece of homemade low fat, low calorie zucchini bread with margarine
- 1 bite of a pumpkin spice scone
- 1 wrap on a soft tortilla shell with deli turkey breast, grated cheese, spinach, dried cranberries, fat free Miracle Whip, mustard, and pepper
- 2 1/2 cups celery and orange pepper with calorie-wise three cheese ranch dressing
- 2 cups steamed asparagus with margarine
- 3 miniature Mandarin oranges
- 1 fiber chocolate delite bar
- 3 cups spinach salad with 1 light Laughing Cow wedge, croutons, dried cranberries, red pepper, green onion, and calorie-wise Greek feta and oregano dressing
EXERCISE:
- 50 minute walk
- 30 minutes of the C25K program (Day 3 of Week 1)
- 45 minute workout video
Specifically I can remember that I was at a restaurant with at least one friend and she was trying to get me to order a hot toddy. I turned it down, however, because I knew that it was largely made up of butter (apparently my sleeping brain mixed the drink up with hot buttered rum).
Next I started ordering items from the menu, but I was flip-flopping between being really good and not caring at all. Basically I would refuse to order any fries because they were bad for me, and then I would ask for onion rings. I contemplated and decided against a huge greasy burger, but wound up requesting an enormous plate of chicken chow mien. I wouldn’t consider getting the fancy pasta with cream sauce, yet I had no qualms about diving into a massive slab of cheesecake topped with whip and caramel sauce. These are just a few examples as this went on for a while.
Then – and I remember this very clearly – I noticed that they had white chocolate eggnog truffle steamed milk! Does such a thing even exist?! Did my mind seriously create this unbelievably tempting, yet evil, flavour?
Finally, I recall that there was a machine that we could take all the food to – or more accurately duplicates of the food, since I ate most of what I ordered – in the back of the restaurant that measured out how many calories everything had when you tossed items into its opening. After throwing everything I had consumed in, it turned out I had already had 3000 calories in that one sitting. Then after putting the few things into the machine that I was still debating eating, it turned out that the tally came in at 5000 calories. That’s when I remembered that the next day was my weigh-in.
I have no idea what that dream was all about, but it was technically food related so I figured it warranted a journal entry. Now if I can just figure out how to make a low fat version of that steamed milk and come up with a prototype for the calorie counting machine I’ll be rich!
FOOD & BEVERAGES:
- 10 glasses of water
- 3/4 cup fat free lemon chiffon yogurt
- 1 piece of homemade low fat, low calorie zucchini bread with margarine
- 1 bite of a pumpkin spice scone
- 1 wrap on a soft tortilla shell with deli turkey breast, grated cheese, spinach, dried cranberries, fat free Miracle Whip, mustard, and pepper
- 2 1/2 cups celery and orange pepper with calorie-wise three cheese ranch dressing
- 2 cups steamed asparagus with margarine
- 3 miniature Mandarin oranges
- 1 fiber chocolate delite bar
- 3 cups spinach salad with 1 light Laughing Cow wedge, croutons, dried cranberries, red pepper, green onion, and calorie-wise Greek feta and oregano dressing
EXERCISE:
- 50 minute walk
- 30 minutes of the C25K program (Day 3 of Week 1)
- 45 minute workout video
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Weigh-In For Week 26
I am down to 167.8 as of this morning which means I have slipped into a new ‘decade’ since my last weigh-in. I am less than two pounds away from being able to say that I have lost one hundred pounds from my highest weight! I know that the numbers are not the only thing that is important on this journey, but I have to admit that I am feeling pretty happy about this week’s loss. It’s been a bit of an emotional go of things lately and – right or wrong – this is a welcome pick-me-up.
This is also the first weigh-in of the month and, as usual, the time I choose to update my measurements and progress picture. The one thing I noticed this time that was significantly different is that my arms went down twice as much as they have in past months – I think I am safe in attributing that result to the strength training portions of the 30 Day Shred.
Weight - 167.8 lbs (-86.8 from start / -13.4 from Jan.)
Bust - 38.0 inches (-12.0 from start / -2.0 from Jan.)
Waist - 36.0 inches (-12.0 from start / -2.0 from Jan.)
Hips - 43.5 inches (-11.5 from start / -1.0 from Jan.)
Arms - 14.0 inches (-3.5 from start / -1.0 from Jan.)
Thighs - 25.0 inches (-7.5 from start / -1.5 from Jan.)
BMI - 26.3 (-13.6 from start / -2.1 from Jan.)
This month I am having a little difficulty seeing the changes from my last photograph apart from those in my aforementioned arms. That could easily be because of the state of mind I am still in however. Nevertheless, I am feeling like January was a successful month despite all the ups and downs. February is much shorter though, so I will have to make sure that I stay on the ball to see even more developments in just four weeks.
This is also the first weigh-in of the month and, as usual, the time I choose to update my measurements and progress picture. The one thing I noticed this time that was significantly different is that my arms went down twice as much as they have in past months – I think I am safe in attributing that result to the strength training portions of the 30 Day Shred.
Weight - 167.8 lbs (-86.8 from start / -13.4 from Jan.)
Bust - 38.0 inches (-12.0 from start / -2.0 from Jan.)
Waist - 36.0 inches (-12.0 from start / -2.0 from Jan.)
Hips - 43.5 inches (-11.5 from start / -1.0 from Jan.)
Arms - 14.0 inches (-3.5 from start / -1.0 from Jan.)
Thighs - 25.0 inches (-7.5 from start / -1.5 from Jan.)
BMI - 26.3 (-13.6 from start / -2.1 from Jan.)
This month I am having a little difficulty seeing the changes from my last photograph apart from those in my aforementioned arms. That could easily be because of the state of mind I am still in however. Nevertheless, I am feeling like January was a successful month despite all the ups and downs. February is much shorter though, so I will have to make sure that I stay on the ball to see even more developments in just four weeks.
It's A Good Thing
I think I spent more time in the kitchen today than I do in a typical week. I made a variation on my Delish Squished Fish Disks, two batches of Macaroni And Cheese Soup, and a couple loaves of low fat, low calorie Zucchini Bread. Move over Martha Stewart!
The tuna cakes were just for regular eats today for my hubby and me, but I made the soup and the larger bread for a family that needs it right now. I good friend of mine brought their situation to my attention and I have a hard time denying anybody help when it is within my means. We will enjoy the smaller of the two loaves tomorrow as it is too late to be eating something so close to bedtime. It just came out of the oven though and the amazing smell has got me drooling all over this keyboard!
FOOD & BEVERAGES:
- 11 glasses of water
- 1 large banana
- 1 toasted whole wheat English muffin with light peanut butter
- 1 Mandarin orange
- 2 cups strawberry caprese salad with basil, part skim mozzarella cheese, and a balsamic vinegar, olive oil, seasoning, and pepper dressing
- 5 cups low fat popcorn
- 2 homemade tuna cakes
- 1 pear
- 3 spoonfuls of homemade macaroni and cheese soup
EXERCISE:
- 50 minutes walk
- 8 push ups
- 30 seconds for each leg of a static lunge with bicep curls with 2 lbs for each arm
- 30 seconds of crouched shadow boxing with dumbbells with 2 lbs for each arm
The tuna cakes were just for regular eats today for my hubby and me, but I made the soup and the larger bread for a family that needs it right now. I good friend of mine brought their situation to my attention and I have a hard time denying anybody help when it is within my means. We will enjoy the smaller of the two loaves tomorrow as it is too late to be eating something so close to bedtime. It just came out of the oven though and the amazing smell has got me drooling all over this keyboard!
FOOD & BEVERAGES:
- 11 glasses of water
- 1 large banana
- 1 toasted whole wheat English muffin with light peanut butter
- 1 Mandarin orange
- 2 cups strawberry caprese salad with basil, part skim mozzarella cheese, and a balsamic vinegar, olive oil, seasoning, and pepper dressing
- 5 cups low fat popcorn
- 2 homemade tuna cakes
- 1 pear
- 3 spoonfuls of homemade macaroni and cheese soup
EXERCISE:
- 50 minutes walk
- 8 push ups
- 30 seconds for each leg of a static lunge with bicep curls with 2 lbs for each arm
- 30 seconds of crouched shadow boxing with dumbbells with 2 lbs for each arm
Friday, February 5, 2010
I've Had The Energy Sucked Right Out Of Me
I gave blood yesterday and, as a result, I am feeling pretty worn out right now. I already went for a walk today, but if this energy crash continues I think that will have to be the total culmination of my activities. I’d love to get in some more exercise and will do just that if I start to feel revitalized later on, but I have to listen to my body. For the time being it is simply telling me that I need to rest.
Savoir Fare
Lyn from Escape From Obesity recently wrote two blog entries that caught my attention. First, she posted a nice looking recipe for an adaptation on a caprese salad; basically, strawberries were used in place of tomatoes. I have never even tasted the original form of this type of dish so I tried the variation this afternoon and I have to say that it was delicious! The blending of the different flavours really made this meal for me.
The other bit of food knowledge that Lyn peaked my interest with was when she talked about how she has finally incorporated grapefruit into her diet. Since the issues that she sited were virtually identical to the reasons I have always given when saying that I hate this sour fruit, I thought it may be time to give it another try while carefully following the advice laid out in her post.
Honestly, it was pretty good. I can’t claim that I am going to make grapefruit a daily or weekly staple, but at least now I know that I can have some if I experience a craving – and after what I had yesterday, there very well may be the occasional craving in my future. What it came down to was picking the right variety (pink or red, rather than white) and adding a little honey to amp up the sweetness factor. All in all, I thought it was a nice change from the other fruits I usually consume.
Another blogger, Heather from Heather’s House, emailed me a recipe for Monterey Jack Fish Cakes following my recent experiment with creating my own tuna cakes. Again, I just had to try them and I was not disappointed! They were so yummy and I can not get over the fact that I seem to be past my aversion to all fish. Plus, my husband is extra happy that I am cooking up such scrumptious meals for him.
I am so pleased that I am becoming a bit more accustomed with the different foods that are out there, the many ways in which to prepare them, and the variety of opportunities to simply try something new. Finally being open-minded about fare that I used to turn my nose up has given my taste buds a lot to be thankful for!
FOOD & BEVERAGES:
- 9 glasses of water
- 1 pear
- 2 homemade sole cakes with cheese dip
- 1 Mandarin orange
- 1/2 almond and coconut nutrition bar
- 1 glass of a strawberry breakfast drink
- 1 glass of peach juice
- 2 shortcake biscuits
- 1 mug coconut steamed skim milk
- 2 cups strawberry caprese salad with basil, part skim mozzarella cheese, and a balsamic vinegar, olive oil, seasoning, and pepper dressing
EXERCISE:
- 30 minutes of the C25K program (Day 2 of Week 1)
- 2 hours and 20 minutes of walking completed in 2 outings (2 hour and 5 minutes long and 15 minutes long)
The other bit of food knowledge that Lyn peaked my interest with was when she talked about how she has finally incorporated grapefruit into her diet. Since the issues that she sited were virtually identical to the reasons I have always given when saying that I hate this sour fruit, I thought it may be time to give it another try while carefully following the advice laid out in her post.
Honestly, it was pretty good. I can’t claim that I am going to make grapefruit a daily or weekly staple, but at least now I know that I can have some if I experience a craving – and after what I had yesterday, there very well may be the occasional craving in my future. What it came down to was picking the right variety (pink or red, rather than white) and adding a little honey to amp up the sweetness factor. All in all, I thought it was a nice change from the other fruits I usually consume.
Another blogger, Heather from Heather’s House, emailed me a recipe for Monterey Jack Fish Cakes following my recent experiment with creating my own tuna cakes. Again, I just had to try them and I was not disappointed! They were so yummy and I can not get over the fact that I seem to be past my aversion to all fish. Plus, my husband is extra happy that I am cooking up such scrumptious meals for him.
I am so pleased that I am becoming a bit more accustomed with the different foods that are out there, the many ways in which to prepare them, and the variety of opportunities to simply try something new. Finally being open-minded about fare that I used to turn my nose up has given my taste buds a lot to be thankful for!
FOOD & BEVERAGES:
- 9 glasses of water
- 1 pear
- 2 homemade sole cakes with cheese dip
- 1 Mandarin orange
- 1/2 almond and coconut nutrition bar
- 1 glass of a strawberry breakfast drink
- 1 glass of peach juice
- 2 shortcake biscuits
- 1 mug coconut steamed skim milk
- 2 cups strawberry caprese salad with basil, part skim mozzarella cheese, and a balsamic vinegar, olive oil, seasoning, and pepper dressing
EXERCISE:
- 30 minutes of the C25K program (Day 2 of Week 1)
- 2 hours and 20 minutes of walking completed in 2 outings (2 hour and 5 minutes long and 15 minutes long)
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Brave Heart
A couple of days ago, when I was feeling at my lowest, my husband gave me some advice in an attempt to help me find the perseverance and strength for this journey that he knows resides within. He told me that although I have hit a bump in the road, it is no reason for me to go flying off into a ditch. Keep going straight, he prompted, and eventually you’ll get to where you need to go. “You know what works, so just do that,” was his rather insightful recommendation.
Then he peaked at me from the corner of his eye and, completely deadpan, said, “And remember… they can take our lands, but they can never take… OUR FREEDOM!” Talk about a supportive husband, or at least a man who can pull random quotes out of nowhere when trying to make his wife feel better. I’m fairly certain that he was rather pleased with himself when I laughed out loud despite my dejected mood.
Then he peaked at me from the corner of his eye and, completely deadpan, said, “And remember… they can take our lands, but they can never take… OUR FREEDOM!” Talk about a supportive husband, or at least a man who can pull random quotes out of nowhere when trying to make his wife feel better. I’m fairly certain that he was rather pleased with himself when I laughed out loud despite my dejected mood.
Can You Spot The Oxymoron?
Since beginning this blog nearly six months ago, I have done my very best to incorporate healthy choices into my menus. I am not perfect and will never aim to make fabulous selections one hundred percent of the time, but I am eating better right now than I have in my entire life – by a long shot.
I used to be the queen of the processed, pre-packed foods. If it wasn’t instantly edible out of the box or bag, or at least ready after five minutes in the microwave, I pretty much had no interest in it. With such habits, it’s not hard to imagine the copious amounts of sugar, sodium, and fat that I ingested on a daily basis.
So when I talk about how I now generally aim to have whole foods in my diet, what I mean is that I am doing the best that I can given that this is still quite new to me. As a rule, I travel more along the outside of a store when I need to get groceries rather than trekking through the aisles that are heavily laden with less than ideal packaged options. The deli, bakery, produce section, and dairy products are typically stocked along the walls and I find that using this guideline helps me make better decisions about what to put into my cart (and body).
Yes, I still eat some items that are likely over-processed and I will probably always feel the need to have a small amount of my dressings and dips to accompany my vegetables. I eat out sometimes too; although, even then, I try to find restaurants that provide options which include fresher products instead of frozen ones. With some other stuff I don’t doubt that I am fooling myself as far as what the ingredient list would illuminate if I bothered to check, but I am really okay with that for now. Like so much in life, when it comes to change, it’s all relative – and I am leaps and bounds away from the unhealthy habits that I used to sport.
All of this prefacing is so that I can explain why I felt the way I did earlier this afternoon. Today and yesterday I tried a few different nutrition bars since I have recently been reading about the amazing ones other people seem to be enjoying of late. I was only able to locate one of the specific kinds I have heard about, but I actually tried three different brands over the last two days.
They were very tasty and I honestly enjoyed every bite that I had, yet after sampling the last two types today I noticed a short while later that I felt both full and empty. It was the strangest feeling, but at the same time something that seemed very familiar. I had the sensation of being weighted down in my midsection – as if I had eaten too much – but I was still hungry.
Then it hit me! I felt preserved. I felt like I did when I was eating all of that other pre-packaged and over-processed stuff. It was as if I could feel the preservatives and abundance of ingredients making their way into my system and complicating the inner workings of my body. It was an unexpected epiphany, but one that was very welcome.
I still have a few of these bars in my house and, I admit, they won’t be going to waste. I did enjoy them and will likely have them again very soon. However, I am definitely going to be spreading them out over a longer period of time and viewing them as treats and not staples.
This was a good lesson for me today. It reminded me that I really don’t want to go back to the unhealthy eating that I demonstrated so regularly before. My body is happier because of what I choose to fuel it with now, and I can no longer imagine switching back to the foods which left it in a state of perpetually detrimental preservation.
FOOD & BEVERAGES:
- 8 glasses of water
- 1 banana
- 3/4 cup fat free blueberry yogurt with 1 cup whole grain Cheerios
- 1 wrap on a soft tortilla shell with deli turkey breast, cheese, spinach, dried cranberries, fat free Miracle Whip, mustard, and pepper
- 1 apple-cinnamon crisp bar
- 1 Mandarin orange
- 1/2 almond and coconut nutrition bar
- 2 cups steamed asparagus with margarine
- 1 pink grapefruit with honey
EXERCISE:
- 1 hour and 15 minutes of walking completed in 2 outings (35 minutes long and 40 minutes long)
- 15 squats
- 15 lunges for each leg
- 8 push ups
- 50 stomach crunches
- 15 bent leg donkey kicks for each leg
- 25 side lying leg raises for each leg
- 5 sets of walking up and down stairs
I used to be the queen of the processed, pre-packed foods. If it wasn’t instantly edible out of the box or bag, or at least ready after five minutes in the microwave, I pretty much had no interest in it. With such habits, it’s not hard to imagine the copious amounts of sugar, sodium, and fat that I ingested on a daily basis.
So when I talk about how I now generally aim to have whole foods in my diet, what I mean is that I am doing the best that I can given that this is still quite new to me. As a rule, I travel more along the outside of a store when I need to get groceries rather than trekking through the aisles that are heavily laden with less than ideal packaged options. The deli, bakery, produce section, and dairy products are typically stocked along the walls and I find that using this guideline helps me make better decisions about what to put into my cart (and body).
Yes, I still eat some items that are likely over-processed and I will probably always feel the need to have a small amount of my dressings and dips to accompany my vegetables. I eat out sometimes too; although, even then, I try to find restaurants that provide options which include fresher products instead of frozen ones. With some other stuff I don’t doubt that I am fooling myself as far as what the ingredient list would illuminate if I bothered to check, but I am really okay with that for now. Like so much in life, when it comes to change, it’s all relative – and I am leaps and bounds away from the unhealthy habits that I used to sport.
All of this prefacing is so that I can explain why I felt the way I did earlier this afternoon. Today and yesterday I tried a few different nutrition bars since I have recently been reading about the amazing ones other people seem to be enjoying of late. I was only able to locate one of the specific kinds I have heard about, but I actually tried three different brands over the last two days.
They were very tasty and I honestly enjoyed every bite that I had, yet after sampling the last two types today I noticed a short while later that I felt both full and empty. It was the strangest feeling, but at the same time something that seemed very familiar. I had the sensation of being weighted down in my midsection – as if I had eaten too much – but I was still hungry.
Then it hit me! I felt preserved. I felt like I did when I was eating all of that other pre-packaged and over-processed stuff. It was as if I could feel the preservatives and abundance of ingredients making their way into my system and complicating the inner workings of my body. It was an unexpected epiphany, but one that was very welcome.
I still have a few of these bars in my house and, I admit, they won’t be going to waste. I did enjoy them and will likely have them again very soon. However, I am definitely going to be spreading them out over a longer period of time and viewing them as treats and not staples.
This was a good lesson for me today. It reminded me that I really don’t want to go back to the unhealthy eating that I demonstrated so regularly before. My body is happier because of what I choose to fuel it with now, and I can no longer imagine switching back to the foods which left it in a state of perpetually detrimental preservation.
FOOD & BEVERAGES:
- 8 glasses of water
- 1 banana
- 3/4 cup fat free blueberry yogurt with 1 cup whole grain Cheerios
- 1 wrap on a soft tortilla shell with deli turkey breast, cheese, spinach, dried cranberries, fat free Miracle Whip, mustard, and pepper
- 1 apple-cinnamon crisp bar
- 1 Mandarin orange
- 1/2 almond and coconut nutrition bar
- 2 cups steamed asparagus with margarine
- 1 pink grapefruit with honey
EXERCISE:
- 1 hour and 15 minutes of walking completed in 2 outings (35 minutes long and 40 minutes long)
- 15 squats
- 15 lunges for each leg
- 8 push ups
- 50 stomach crunches
- 15 bent leg donkey kicks for each leg
- 25 side lying leg raises for each leg
- 5 sets of walking up and down stairs
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Significantly Delayed
It has been far too long since I handed out any Significant Milestone Awards. But, just because I have been slightly remiss about keeping up with posting recipients, that doesn’t mean that I have failed to notice what has been achieved. A few of these people should have been recognized for their successes over a month ago, so I am sorry that I am just now getting around to congratulating you, but I hope that the spirit of this accolade is still relevant even though some time may have gone by since you passed your milestone.Created with weight loss blogs in mind, but not necessarily limited to only them, The Significant Milestone Award has been designed to be handed out to those who have reached a noteworthy marker on a journey of personal betterment. It may be given to a blogger who has recently achieved a meaningful accomplishment such as a ten percent drop in body weight, a twenty-five pound loss, or reaching their final goal. Anyone who has already received this award may pass it on to another blogger when they feel that it is warranted, provided that they take the time to ensure that they are presenting it for a truly exceptional and important feat. The only stipulation that is attached to accepting The Significant Milestone Award is that the recipient must take at least one full minute to really think about what they have achieved and to feel good about themselves.
My sincerest congratulations to the following superstars:
Dawne from 365 Days To A New Me! for reaching the 50 pounds lost mark and entering ‘Onederland’!
Jack from Jack Sh*t, Gettin’ Fit for making his way down the scale to the ‘normal’ weight category and for getting to Onederland!
Sarah from Ethereal Encounter for losing 25% of her body weight and ridding herself of 75 pounds!
Sheilagh at Sixty By Sixty Was The Plan... for getting half way to her goal!
Joania at Blueprint 2010: The Journey Continues… for reaching the one year mark in her weight loss endeavors!
Merry at Sheesh for completing the C25K program!
Trish at Endurance Isn’t Only Physical for making her way down the scale to the ‘normal’ weight category!
The team at Cranky Fitness for reaching 500 followers on their health, fitness, and nutrition site!
Sean at The Daily Diary Of A Winning Loser for getting to day 500 on his weight loss journey!
Kim at One Hundred In Twenty-Eight for losing 100 pounds in just slightly over a year!
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