Ok - the nine days of tracking my walking were awesome, 39.2 aerobic miles, not counting the steps in between the ”real” walks. This week is shaping up even better. Now that I’ve added some speed and a vigourous walk at noon every day for 30 minutes or more, I’m standing straighter, my midsection feels stronger. My hip no longer hurts. Going up the steep hill to the Prom I’m breathing hard but not hurting, even in the heat we’ve been having - I know I feel better and I can tell the way my pants and shirts fit.
I track all of my steps most days, and keep special track of the “aerobic” steps, time and miles, but since I naturally walk a lot in and between offices and around the building the total is always over 10,000. Yesterday, because I went to Lowes and Target after work, I logged over 17,500 steps… 11,000 of them were aerobic… and about 4000 of them uphill and another 200 on beach sand. I walked up the bluff trail to the Western Promenade from Valley Street 3 times this week so far, and once last week.
Another subject - my old car just wasn’t safe anymore and didn’t qualify for the Cash.gov program but it had to go. So I shopped around - the Toyota people were laughable, high prices and no inventory and little interest in selling me a car. I kept coming back to the Kia dealer and 2010 CUV Soul. In the end the Kia Soul was a shoo-in - it’s a 5 sd std (which I wanted), has air cond., power locks and windows, terrific sound system, USB and MP3 payer slots, est 32 mpg highway - and for a little more I extended the bumper to bumper warranty to 10 yr / 100,000 mi. Plus scads more room and style. I put in about 55 miles per day from Kennebunk to Portland, so I’ll save some gas $$.
The target Soul audience is kids - it’s similar in looks to the Scion xB and the Nissan Cube - but more rad. I’m in the kid category if not demographic in that I kayak, bicycle and take my dog everywhere… on the way home from the dealer I got a grille to keep Jackson safely in the back.
Jackson - my Bassett-German Shepherd mix - loves it. With the back seats folded flat, he has a full size bed and tons space, can see out all the windows. No more whining and jumping from seat to seat! He’s in heaven and so am I. He can easily jump into and out of the back hatch. The side doors are so useful for groceries, anything I need to pick up.
There’s a depression in the floor behind the back seats, about 43″ wide by 25″ long and 8″ deep. I cut a storage cover from inch-think foam core board, put several boxes beneath it for use as compartments. I can store all sorts of stuff under the floor and It doesn’t show. Very cool.
Posted on August 14th, 2009 by jaxie
Filed under: weight loss | 1 Comment »
So here I go, walking with intensity instead of the mindless stroll I’ve gotten used to. I consider myself a good walker because of the amount of walking I do daily, without fail, with my dog. 5 AM, 5PM and 9PM we head out the door and walk for 45 - 75 minutes each time. I’ve been averaging 2-3 miles a day. But mostly at Jackson’s pace which involves a lot of stop and go - at least one of the walks and usually two. In the early AM he’s off the leash and I can maintain a pace on the beach. So usually one mile brisk walking and 2 or more slow to medium. But now I’m speeding it up, swinging my arms, walking faster as much as possible on all the walks. It’s going to make a difference, I can tell.
We got our pedometers and tracking booklets on Friday, and I can hear people this AM talking in the corridors about what they did this weekend. Competition. Well, whatever works. I did my walking plus a lot of physical work this weekend and was wiped each evening.
I cleaned up on other fronts - literally! My weekend was full of cleaning out. Friday I took off from work and P & I got ready for the yard sale and also cleaned out some of my cellar. Lot’s more to do down there, but it’s a start. Lots of heavy lifting. Sat. was the yard sale, again lots of heavy lifting. Sunday more cleaning. Sold my bureau, replaced it with cubes and mesh drawers until I go down to IKEA for the bureau I want. Made a lot of space for myself, bedroom now has just the bed cubes and computer. As soon as I get someone in to wire a few more jacks I can move the computer to the room over the stairs.
Had very bad news on Saturday and spent Saturday evening in a black funk. thought my car qualified for the Cars.gov rebate program and was all psyched to get a new car, test drove a Kia Soul Saturday afternoon - then found out I don’t qualify for the program - car gets avg 19 mpg and the limit is18. Damn Damn Damn. The problem is, the car - Ethel - is manifesting a lot of bad stuff… rain is coming in, the seatback retractor isn’t releasing the belt, there’s a noise that sounds to me like a CV joint on one side in the front. Because of the dampness it’s smell swampy. And top motor that puts the top down isn’t running. It was such a bargain 3 years ago, but I think I’ve gotten the good stuff out of it.
And yes, I compensated by eating a small DQ Blizzard. Calorie-wise, with the exercise I’d had I could afford it, but eating to feel better is never a good strategy and the quality of the food (none!) wasn’t good. Yesterday was better. And today I’m up and hopeful.
Posted on August 14th, 2009 by jaxie
Filed under: weight loss | 1 Comment »
Weighed my self, nothing like a little reality. Could have been worse, but a-weigh we go! The wonder is if I HAD been eating on track for the past three months I’d have LOST 10 lbs instead of gaining it. I’ve been very active, or I’d have gained more.
Tracking again everything I eat plus all walking, by type - walking with Jackson vs alone, and biking. Drinking my water, 30 minute walk this AM, 33g fiber so far. Have been eating 1/3 C Bran Buds with 1/3 C Grapenuts, berries and 1% milk for breakfast every day for a few weeks now. Love all that fiber!
HR has started a team walking program at work for the next 12 weeks and everyone in this ofice is super-hyped. Lots of rewards - Drawings for multiple Ipod Nanos, paid days off for the winning team, etc. This has made those competitive sorts almost rabid with spirit, it’s amazing!
Posted on July 24th, 2009 by jaxie
Filed under: Victories, weight loss | 1 Comment »
Bumping my way out of the black hole I’ve been in… have been riding the folder, hugely loving it, walking hours and hours with J-man, the best dog-in-the-world! Fitting into thinner pants.
Ice cream is my latest challenge. If I stick with the FF frozen yogurt I’m fine, it’s the impulse DQ cone on the way home that snares me… it’s 4 PM, I’m hungry.
Hurray for holiday weekends, bought an enormous watermelon for 4 bucks. Also chicken burgers, Boca burgers, fish, shrimp. Salads are appealing again, esp those with fruit, etc. Bought Paul Newman light Italian, mixed in some crumbled bleu cheese for flavor - that way I end up with far less cheese than if I crumbled it directly on the salad.
I’ve been pinching off the tops of the herbs in my garden as usual (basil, rosemary, sage, thyme), and I had a brainstorm to use the herb shreds to infuse olive oil. Heat 1/2 c or so of olive oil a little with the chopped fresh herb in it, just enough to extract the oils in the herb. Not so hot it changes color. Combination are awesome, can also add chiles, lemon or orange zest. Plunk in a stem of the herb to the clean jar, use a funnel to pour into the jar… use in a month or two for salads, dips, egg white omlets, fresh pizza or foccacia dough topping.
Go to the link below - a stellar and funny obit!! We should all be so cherished and leave such funny descendants!
http://tinyurl.com/mb3gm4
Posted on July 7th, 2009 by jaxie
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Hand over hand I’m dragging myself back from the brink… that what it feels like sometimes!
A few weeks ago I bought hot dogs for two weeks in a row, grilled one or two ea night, heaping on saurkraut and mustard, having sliced tomatoes and green beans or asparagus on the side, or a small salad. I was fooling myself that I didn’t have the time to cook a chicken, or grill fish, or whatever else I would have done if I were in my groove, (which I’m not). I get home at about 5 or 5:30, walk the dog, roll into the kitchen at 6:30 or 7… and grill a hot dog. Eat it standing. The dash off to a class, or do chores before the last fur-kid walk before bed.
So this week I bought Boca burgers instead. And ground chicken. And tilapia. Made and cooked some chicken burgers, ready to heat up. Progress.
Now if I could just remember to buy milk on my way home…
Posted on July 7th, 2009 by jaxie
Filed under: Fits and Starts, weight loss | No Comments »
Reading Martha Beck’s SO FAR method of weight loss strategies and they resonate. S = stop, just stop. For when you’re making a bad choice, have just made one. STOP.
O = Open, meaning breathe. Stretch, look away, soften the eyes. Yawn. Let the shoulders drop. (For me this means I find my Tai Chi root, sink into it, shift my weight slowly from foot to foot), look to the right, the left, up, down, rise up on my toes. Put my arms up over my head. Coworkers ask if I’m pretending to be on a roller coaster because my hands stick up over my office walls!
F = Forgive. Really, this is self-forgiveness, remembering what you do right. A positive re-focus.
A = Accept, as in OK, this is where you are, no kidding.
R = Renew. Start doing what is good. You’re now relaxed, not in the fight or flight, charged, self loathing mode you were in just before you stopped. You’re relaxed, at a point of strength. Take up your program, whatever it is, again. With more energy, positive thoughts.
OK, this does resonate, because I’ve felt since January 2009 that this staying in one place, losing focus and good habits, just isn’t me, this struggle to keep up what I’d been doing all through 2008, losing 20% or more of my weight.
It seems like I’ve been too stressed to concentrate. Or to relax and get on with it. I’d been so successful January through December 2008! I had hangars in my closet for April, for June, for August, clothes I was sure I’d be able to wear by then. Instead I’m still in December. And I’m eating Munchkins, PopTarts, Ice Cream, Honey Roasted Peanuts. I’m still eating yogurt, fruit, fish, vegetables too. And drinking water and walking daily.
I know myself, and when I face a dinner plate as if it’s the best thing I’ve seen all day and I fill a cereal bowl overfull day after day, I just know something is wrong. I’m loathing my behavior, ducking facing myself in the mirror, sinking into books and disassociating from everything and everyone.
I can do this, I know I can.
Posted on June 23rd, 2009 by jaxie
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I’m not often impressed, but I’ve read some blogs on this site lately that blow me away, they’re so articulate! Wow! I’m in good company.
I walk over 2 hours each day… my goal is to ramp up the intensity. Walking faster, with more motion. Running a little, on a suddenly clicking knee. Counting steps, then minutes then miles. The dog stops me sometimes, but he’s going faster too.
Took him out with the bike last weekend and he was awesome!!
Put it all together. Track, Chew, Stay in the moment, Plan, Control Cravings. One or even three out of five doesn’t cut it.
Today I will track. I walked only 30-40 mins this AM in heavy, cold rain.
Posted on June 19th, 2009 by jaxie
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OK - now for the second half. I’ve plateau-ed for 6 months, now I’m moving on.
Taking advantage of the long light filled days, coming back to my blog, tracking, getting up extra early for a longer walk, wanting to run, walking - jogging at the beach evenings and mornings, tracking what I’m eating online.
Evenings and weekends it’s still hard to track because the last place I want to be is sitting at the computer. Weekdays I have no choice, I’m here anyhow and can take a minute to blog and log… and read other posts.
Posted on June 11th, 2009 by jaxie
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In the 60’s I hiked. Backpacked in the mountains, cross-country and downhill skied in the winter, rode my bike in between.
In the 70s, making very little money as a school librarian, and ran. I started with a half mile, then a mile, then two. Quit smoking for good. I ran every day, I ran when I couldn’t sleep, on hot nights, snowy evenings, early mornings. I rode my bike for 30 - 40 mile loops when I wasn’t running, working or sewing. I made all my clothes, except t-shirts… I remember being excited when the pattern for Calvin Klein jeans came out. I sometimes made jeans from upholstery fabric, tennis shorts from old sheets, tops from linen dishtowels. I spent what little money I had on running shoes, Shaklee vitamins and fabric. I bought a dozen and a half fresh eggs, fresh vegetables from the farmstands, shellfish and packets of Oodles of Noodles weekly - and cooked it all up together, pretty much every night. I baked loaves of bread, made pizza dough and cinnamon rolls.
In the 80’s I went back to college, became an geologist, moved to an urban part of the state. Traveled a lot. Running became an on and off thing, handy when I was travelling but not an everyday thing anymore. I biked and kayaked on my time off. Longer and longer bike rides. I bought kayaks (4), one for rivers, one for creeks and two for the sea and camping. I spent a lot of time exploring the coast in my sea kayak, camping on the islands. In Spring I paddled down the local whitewater rivers with groups of paddlers. On a nice weekday summer or fall morning I’d strap my bike and kayak to the car, drive somewhere I wanted to paddle, drop the kayak, drive to the takeout, drop the car, ride the bike back to the kayak, lock the bike to a tree, kayak all day, then load up, drive to the bike, pick it up, and drive home.
In the 90’s I rode my bike more, longer and longer distances. Lots of charity rides, across states, Boston to New York… sometimes I’d ship a bike to a job site and ride it in the evenings after work. I lifted weights, started running again for awhile. It wasn’t hard to start again, but I began to have sore knees, hips, so I’d lay off. Some hiking, swimming, kayaking, when I had the time.
I still didn’t own a home, have a big circle of friends outside of work. Didn’t own a sofa, a TV. I had 2-3 bikes, 4 kayaks, a small sailboat, skis, snowshoes, racquets, balls, boots, straps. Lots of straps. I got awfully good at tying things to my car or truck. When I saw a cliff out the window on a trip, I’d be out there the next minute or chance I got, climbing up have a look.
After Y2K I bought a house. Biked a lot, still. Camped. Walked. Sometimes hiked with friends, paddled a bit. Ran for a while, 6 months. Started looking for a dog. Got some friends, connections. Got a less active job, biked around town. Got the dog. Walked. Walked more
I have one kayak now, but the dog doesn’t fit into it and I can’t strap it to the roof of the convertible I drive so it’s in my cellar. I have my x-c skis, but rarely use them, maybe once or twice a winter, my boots give me blisters. Have snowshoes. Have three bikes, the carbon-fiber road bike stays on it’s rack. Last Spring my right knee swelled to twice its size when I rode only a short group ride, I’m reluctant to head off for the day (and I don’t want to leave the dog), so I ride 3-5 miles maybe once a week. My Tai Chi teacher moved out of town.
I walk the dog 2-3 times a day. On the beach. Sometimes around time, early morning, evenings. I walk fast up hills. My legs are strong. I want to run.
I blew up the tires and lubed the folding bike this weekend, put it in the car trunk. I think about running a lot. During my walks, I run a little. I want to run. It won’t be like it was, I know that from the way I shuffle now. It is a shuffle, but it doesn’t have to be. Won’t be, if I start again, keep at it. I read a few things in the Times by Jeff Galloway about run-walk training. That’s how I started running again several times, and I want to do it again.
I’m trying to get free of debt. I’m on a strict self-imposed budget. There was a time when I might have been able to retire in a year or so, but not now. Investments are back at 1990’s level. 20-odd years of saving gone, or gone for now, because I’m an optimist.
But I want to buy some running shoes. I have some ASICS but they’re not very good. I want to run.
Posted on June 9th, 2009 by jaxie
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2009 hasn’t been fun yet. I feel like the people with overinflated egos and super-entitlement issues are crowding me out. Like big balloons, there’s no room for me. To breathe. I’m unhappy, unmoored. I was doing so well last year, but now… not.
Desperation from the Marketing folks. In the food labeling world, Marketing is on one side and regulations are on the other…and I’m the enforcer. So what I perceive as a barrage of pure make believe “what-if…” “let’s pretend…” etc. is just no fun. Suspending judgement and belief isn’t the point when you’re the regulatory affairs coordinator. They ask me if it’s legal, I say no, then it’s my fault they can’t make a product claim with no basis… HELLO??
So I say “maybe” when I mean “In your dreams!” then I stop at DQ on the way home for an ice cream cone. It’s my choice I know, I sound victimized… but the truth is it’s hard to keep a handle on emotional eating issues when things are so stressful for much of the working day.
I just can’t get a grip on MY issues. Instead I concentrate on all the ways I’m failing to be helpful, turn it against myself, disassociate from whatever I can. I get irrationally mad at other things… dream of all the mistakes I made, the choices I should have made. Talk about what-ifs!
Posted on June 1st, 2009 by jaxie
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