It’s all up to me

Now that we have been on vacation I have become accustomed to getting 8 hours of sleep every night and I didn’t get it last night so I am zapped.  My hubby has been fighting bronchitis for about 2 weeks so he has been sleeping downstairs in the guest bed so that he doesn’t keep us all up w/his coughing which means that I have been getting up w/the baby every day.  Generally it’s no big deal, the earliest he has gotten up in a while is 5:30; considering he only used to sleep 2 hours a day this is a huge improvement.  But last night felt like the old days.  It wasn’t that he was up all night but he was noisy.  I think I saw every hour on the clock b/c I woke up every 30 minutes or so.  Kyle may have been awake more than I know but he wasn’t fussing so I wasn’t going to let him get up.  I finally gave up at 5:15 and got up to fit in my workout today.  Tonight my hubby is taking a turn and I’m going to sleep in the guest room!

I have been thinking a lot lately about my goals for the new year and I’m going to figure out the details today.  I’m sure you’re hanging on the edge of your seats to know what my goals are so I’ll post them tomorrow

I don’t know if I mentioned this yesterday or not but I had a haircut yesterday and instead of my regular trim I got a new style.  I am VERY slow to change so this is huge, it’s about 3″ shorter and much more modern.  I’m excited to hear what people think when I see them but I like it so that’s all that matters.

Progress toward workout goal:  143/250

I have been toying w/the idea of using calorie cycling to help me stay on track.  I found a website that factors in your weight, age, height and activity level to give you your suggested calories every day and I’m shocked to see that even on my “low” days it’s way more than I usually eat when I’m on plan.  The suggestion is that 5 days a week I eat just over 1900 calories and the other 2 it is either 2100 or 2300.  This is WAY more than I usually eat.  Could the reason that my weight-loss stalled be b/c I’m not eating enough?  It’s an exciting yet scary proposition.  Has anyone else been told they weren’t eating enough and then increased their food and lost?

I have to take my son now to get blood work done but afterward I’m off to the gym.  I’ll post more later.

PS–The bedroom looks awesome.  I found some really cool artwork that makes everything come together.  It should be in a freakin’ magazine!!!!!

7:30

The bedroom is FINALLY done, took a bit longer that I had planned.  Once I have a chance to clean everything in there I’ll be happy.

I went to the gym and had to start on the bike b/c 2 ladies were on the treadclimbers.  They made me laugh b/c it was 8 am yet they had their hair done, full make-up and snazzy workout outfits.  Finally they went to lift weights so I had my machine all to myself and logged 45 minutes.

Progress toward workout goal:  142/250

Good thing computers don’t have smell technology b/c none of you would want to be around me.  I’m sweaty not from working out but from painting!  We have this awesome paint stick that just allows you to paint instead of constantly stopping to reload your roller so I worked up a sweat.  I painted our bedroom in under 30 minutes, now I’m just waiting for it to dry so I can add a 2nd coat.  It looks awesome, by the way.  Previously I always had quilts and although I like them I wanted something more sophisticated.  Our new bedspread is simple but glamorous and it goes so well w/our walls.  If I could ever figure out how to post pictures I would but I have given up trying to figure that out.

As far as exercise goes, I got up early this morning and did my favorite FIRM DVD.  I also bumped my weights up to 15 pounds each from 12 pounds.  It wasn’t as hard as I thought it was going to be; the only times I was in agony was when I was lifting them in front of me.  Now that I’m thinking about it increasing my weights on a day that I’m painting probably isn’t a good thing, I’ll probably be sore for sure tomorrow.

Speaking of being sore, there have been many days when I have been lifting until the last few reps were so tough and I figured I would be sore the next day for sure.  But when I woke up I felt fine.  Does this mean that I’m not working hard enough or just that the stretching afterward is working?  If anyone has any knowlege about this I’d appreciate it.

Food has been good today but I’m not courageous enough to say that I’m back on track.  Let’s just say I’m in the stands, looking at others who are on the track and wondering if I want to join them.  I’ll take it, considering that last week I was just aimlessly driving around the parking lot.  Enough bad metaphors???

Progress toward workout goal:  141/250

Got up early this morning and did 30 minutes of pilates while my son was getting his breathing treatment.  I plan to go to the gym as soon as my hubby snowblows our driveway and use the treadclimber.  Part of me thinks “Screw it, the 1000 calories or so that you’re going to burn won’t make a bit of difference when you’re shoveling food in as fast as it can go down.”  But I’m going to do it anyway.  I have to start making smarter choices.  My goal is to actually go to the gym 3x this week instead of working out at home, I’ll workout at home the other days.  Then I’m going to paint our bathroom.  We’re redoing our bedroom and master bath and I was able to get everything taped yesterday so I’m going to paint the bathroom today.  I can’t wait to see how it turns out.

I did workout this morning so I’m going to update my workout goal but I will update here after I go to the gym.

Progress toward workout goal:  140/250

4:30

I made it to the gym and did my hour on the treadclimber.  Then I went to the store to buy spackle and then “had” to buy some dark chocolate peanut M&M’s (they were 50% off) and Oreos.  I have been wanting Oreos for about a month, I couldn’t hold out any longer.  I felt like a complete idiot, still sweaty in my workout clothes, buying junkfood. 

Then I finished the bathroom and I think it’s going to look great.  I can’t tell right now b/c the power is shut off since my hubby is switching out the light fixture and there are live wires exposed but by the vanishing daylight it looks good.  It will be nice to see the bedroom done w/the new artwork and bedspread.  I love painting…you can completely change the look of a room for very little money.

I’m struggling over the holidays w/food, not an uncommon feeling.  For those of you who have been staying on-plan with food I have tons of admiration for you.  I thought I was going to be able to be one of those people but every day is an adventure in gluttony.  I think I thought it would be easier b/c last year I was able to lose weight over the holidays but I think that was because I was just starting this journey and was in the “honeymoon” phase.  I’m not making excuses (at least I don’t think that I am); I realize that every bite I put in my mouth is a choice and right now I’m choosing comfort food over nutrition.  But every day is a new day and although I know I won’t be 100% on plan today I will strive to incorporate some healthy choices between the junk food.

I just ordered a few books from the internet that have inspiring weight loss stories.  Back when I was really focused one of the things I did at night was either read your blogs or read weight loss stories in books.  I want to get back in that routine.  I also told my hubby that after the 1st of the year I don’t want any more junkfood in the house; not only for me but for our son.  Secretly I want my hubby to eat less of it, too, but I don’t feel that I can control his eating.  I told him to keep it in his car if he really wants it but that our son has started to ask for potato chips when he used to be happy to eat yougart and fruit.  That’s a battle I’m not going to fight with him.

Today I got up early and did the pilates DVD.  I couldn’t do it by the light of the Christmas tree b/c I was a grinch and took it down yesterday.  We really need the room and if I didn’t do it yesterday I probably couldn’t get it done until the 2nd and as much as I love Christmas I did not want that tree up for that long.

I’m also toying w/setting a goal for a certain number of on-plan days each month.  Just like I track my exercise, I would track days w/good eating.  This is my downfall and I need to do something to keep myself on track.  What do you think is a good number?  I was considering starting w/20 days each month and then increasing it as I went along.

Time to feed the baby, got to go

Progress toward workout goal:  139/250

I took yesterday off from exercise (except for hauling 18 cases of ceramic tile to the basement, that was tough)…not because I really wanted to but w/the excitement of Santa and then traveling to see family I didn’t make the time.  Plus, my hubby wasn’t feeling well and we were worried about Kyle being exposed to more people so he kept him at home while I took my older son to my grandma’s.  Secretly I think my hubby is overwhelmed by my loud, large family (I’m starting to realize how loud we really are) but it was nice of himto take care of the baby while I went.  It just doesn’t feel like Christmas if I don’t visit my grandma’s house on Christmas Day.

Anyway, the strange thing is that after taking 1 day off I really don’t feel like working out.  I am going to force myself to get one in, though, or I could go for days and days being a slug.  And with the way I have been eating lately that would NOT be a good thing.  Our nurse is coming an hour or so late this morning b/c we had some ice overnight but as soon as she arrives I’m hitting the basement.  I was going to go to the gym but b/c of the ice I’m going to workout here.  I’ll update after my workout to hold myself accountable.

4:00

I worked out earlier today and it felt good.  Even though I’m getting a bit “fluffier” with this holiday eating I know the muscles underneath are still strong.  When I reach the point that I’m ready to jump in with both feet I know I’ll lose the extra pounds.  This means that it will take me longer to reach my goal but I will reach the goal.

Progress toward workout goal:  138/250

My eating has not gone well this last week or so.  I’m proud to say that I have stayed on track w/exercise but I don’t think a diet of PB&J and peanut clusters counts for healthy.  I haven’t completely thrown in the towel but I only have a grasp on one corner of it.  And beyond my pants getting a bit snug compared to 2 weeks ago, my body feels sluggish and goofy.  Not to get too gross but my bathroom routine has changed b/c I’m eating very few veggies and less fiber.  I know I would feel better if I went back to my normal way of eating but that thought hasn’t seriously crossed my mind.  Part of it is that the Christmas goodies taste so darn good.  I love cauliflower and broccoli, but they don’t hold a candle to peanut clusters and kolaches.  The other part (and probably the stronger pull) is the social aspect of eating.  I would love to proclaim here that I am going to forego all of the holiday goodies b/c I’m worth it and my body deserves healthy food but I’m not there right now.  What I am going to do is read the Oprah article about her falling off the wagon to see if I can find some inspiration and come up w/a plan.  I don’t want to wait until January 5th to get back on track, I could honestly gain 10 pounds by then.  And even though there will be fewer parties and goodies laying around in January, it’s not like it will be easy just b/c I flip the page on the calendar.  Oh well, enough deep searching for now.

Sadly, I need to get working on breakfast.  It’s Christmas Eve and this morning we have a special breakfast w/just my hubby and the boys and we’ll open our gifts to each other.  I also have an eye appt (I can’t believe the office is open today) and I need to give my hubby enough time to shovel the driveway.  Yes, we got more snow.  But I did get up at 4:25 to do a TJ workout b/c this is the only time all day I would have time to do it.  I’m going to hang on to that proud feeling and have it take me through my day.

Progress toward workout goal:  137/250

Normally I don’t drink.  It’s not that I have anything against it, it’s just that even at 240 pounds it only takes me 1 drink to get loopy and I almost always have a headache the next day.  Last night, though, I threw caution to the wind and had 5 drinks.  I found a light version of Mike’s Hard Lemonade so it only had 80 calories and it tasted fantastic!  When I went to bed last night I already had a headache and it was still here this morning.  I popped a few Tylenol and decided to pound it out of my system by doing my toughest weightlifting DVD.  Poof, headache is gone.

Had a blast last night with my family.  Most of the men disappeared b/c my mom got a great deal on a 46″ LCD flat screen so all of the guys were watching Monday Night Football.  Now my hubby’s griping b/c our 32″ tv doesn’t seem as good as it did yesterday

The house is quiet for a minute so I’m going to take some time to see what’s up w/all of you.

Progress toward workout goal:  136/250

We are supposed to be heading out of town in…23 minutes and I still need to shower, get ready, pack everything up, etc. and instead I’m sitting here.  But I want to record my workout so I can advance one more day toward my goal of 250. 

Today is the 1st official day of vacation and it is wonderful.  Cold as hell, but wonderful.  I got to the gym and did an hour on the treadclimber and then braved the store to get diapers and a last few gifts.  We’re getting more snow (AGAIN) tonight/tomorrow so I didn’t want to wait until then.  Last year was bad enough but we’re already 6 inches ahead of the snowfall we has last year and last year we set a record.  Geez.  My poor sister, though, is in town from Georgia where it was 80 degrees on Friday when they left.  This morning it was -12 here.  Nothing like a nearly 100 degree difference in a few days.

Got to go, I get to see my sister.  YAY!!!!

Progress toward workout goal:  135/250

I woke up this morning on my own and was shocked to see that it was 6:20.  I knew that Kyle would be up soon so I decided to savor the time by myself and threw in the yoga/pilates DVD.  It was still dark, so instead of turning on the lights I plugged in the Christmas tree.  It was so peaceful to exercise by the glow of the tree, I’ll have to remember this for future days and years.

Our Christmas celebrations start today and it should be fun.  We’re going to my MIL’s and the boys will cash in which will be nice b/c it’s freezing here.  The actual temperature this morning was -11 and with the wind chill it’s -30 or so.  Kind of hard to send Justin outside to play and he’s getting stir crazy inside.  If I play another round of UNO or Go Fish I think I’m going to crack.  But he’s learning to be a good loser b/c I don’t let him win and I do enjoy playing those games. 

In addition to the pilates I had time to do a weights DVD and I always forget what a toughie this one is.  It’s called “Burn and Firm Pilates” and it’s by Crunch.  I should make sure to work this one in at least once a week, my arms will be buff in no time.

Got to go get ready for Christmas!  And I think that another round of UNO is in my future.

Progress toward workout goal:  134/250