lynnde43’s BodyBlog

Food!  We are surrounded by so much food.  Good for you food and bad for you food.  It’s not a surprise that we are all confused about what we should be eating and what kind of foods we should be avoiding.  I went shopping yesterday…and did really well. Fresh vegetables:  carrots, celery, cucumbers and iceberg lettuce.  I love fresh cold cuts, green beans, peas and sweet corn.  I do not like a lot of canned food, fresh or frozen taste so much better to me!  I think it’s all the preservatives…I also bought apples, bananas, strawberries and more water.  I also bought yogurt, pudding, milk, chicken, eggs and cheese.  Those are the nutritious good for me foods.  I bought the kids treats for their lunches along with some healthy snacks to stow away in their lunch boxes.  I got it all washed and cut up as well….I’m ready for the week.

I stepped on my scales this morning and they registered a 1.5 pound loss, sitting at 149.  I went to the gym and the scales there registered me at 151.4….hmmm, they are usually pretty accurate with my own scales, so I’m not sure what is going on.  I’ll wait a week and weigh myself and see where I am at.  I want an accurate weight!  I know, I know…it’s not the number…so that’s why I also took my measurements.  I really want to see some improvement in the abdominal area.  I feel so bloated and look five months pregnant!  The water should definitely help in that area.

I got my hair cut today.  It hasn’t been this short in three years.  I was getting tired of trying to grow it long and it looked so unhealthy.  I love this cut and it will be cool for the summer months.  Now the maintenance part…I’ll have to keep it trimmed every six to eight weeks.  I’ll have it trimmed again before going to Michigan in December.  I also want to start experimenting with some new make up….and try some darker colors as well as some different brands.

I worked my legs today….the leg curl, leg press and leg extention.  I so dislike the leg extention….I compare it to squats and lunges.  I feel like my quads are so weak, and they feel the burn really fast.  My hamstrings, weird as it sounds seem much stronger than my quads.  Maybe it’s because it’s all the squatting that I do at work (bending down to talk to kids).  Just rambling now, so have a great evening and a healthy week.

I did not do a video yesterday, but I did get in some cardio!  I just wasn’t in the mood for a video, so I decided to run up and down the stairs in the apartment.  I went up and down the stairs for a 16 minutes, and I’m feeling it in my quads today.  I even worked up a little sweat.  I did some ab work and stretched my inner thighs.

I’m feeling good.  I have to work on getting in all of my water.  Weight is 150.6/2  so that means I need I have to have 75 ounces of water a day.  I have 65 ounces to go!!  I also bought some vegetables, and cut them up so I could have them for my lunch today.  I love fresh cut vegetables and fruit, especially finger food.  It’s so much easier to get my vegetables in that way.  I will have to go grocery shopping sometime this weekend.  I promised myself no matter how expensive the whole wheat bread is, I will buy at least one loaf.  I am so tired of this white bread!  It just doesn’t feel me up and I love my whole grains.  Also, this weekend there will be at least one trip to the gym.

There is nothing better in this world than being around positive people.  Loving people, who live to laugh, and know how to have a good time.  They don’t let the little things throw them for a loop, but take them all in stride.  I love being around these people and feeding off their energy, it really puts me in a good mood and makes me feel lucky to be alive.  Sometimes it’s hard to find these positive people!  I want more positivity in my life.  I want to hear all the good things that are going on.  I want to be surrounded by people who just love to laugh, but yet take life seriously.  When I’m around these type of people, I feel like DOING!!  I feel unstoppable, and that life is the greatest thing since strawberry cheesecake!

Today, I will get in  a good workout.  I will throw in one of my DA videos and just go!  Work up a good sweat, and recharge my batteries.  I will also be smiling at the end of my workout, because I know I am doing something positive for my body.  I also plan on eating some healthy fruits and vegetables.

I did not get in any cardio or strength training today.  I did get in some toning and stretching exercises this morning though, so I’m feeling good about that.  I did some ab work, stretched my inner thighs and worked the waist.  I will be sure to get in some form of cardio tomorrow, even if it’s just a 20 minute walk at the mall.

Yesterday, I was able to get to the Y and work the legs.  I hit three different machines, and had an easy workout.  Leg curls, leg press and leg extentions.  I don’t  remember the weight, and I didn’t bring a pad and paper with me.  *note to self…throw some paper and pencil in the gym bag!  I wanted to do some cardio on the treadmill, but all the machines were taken, but it worked out since I did some walking at the mall earlier in the day.

Meals are going well.  I need to go grocery shopping, I want my flavored oatmeal!  Suppers are a littler harder, since I’m to tired to cook a decent meal when I get home.  I have chicken breast ready to go for tomorrow night, thank goodness I love chicken so much.

I love going to the gym, and getting a good workout.  I love all the classes that are offered as well as all the equipment that is available.  The plan was to go to the gym today, but I woke up 30 minutes later, which is late enough to spoil my good intentions.  I would love to fit in a visit to the Y sometime today, but I don’t think it will happen now.  I wish the gym was on my way to work instead of the other side of town, it definitely makes it more difficult to get there.  The weekends are not a problem…it’s just during the weekdays when I have to work…..so I have to come up with a solution to this problem.  It would be fine if I was working a typical eight hour day, I would have an extra hour and a half to two hours for working out.  So…other than working out at home to my videos, I need to come up with another plan where I am fitting in some good strength training for my upper and lower body, because once a week is not going to be enough.  As it is, I work for the craziest place here in Virginia…bordering on NUTS!  lol….Okay, time to come up with a back up plan.

Today will be another day of walking, and I am looking forward to getting that little bit of exercise.  Yesterday I walked for 30 minutes and did some stretching.  I did very little ab work.  I will have to make sure to do that today.

I put over a pot of beans last night with some turkey bacon.  It will be ready when I arrive home from work.  Pre-planning and thinking ahead.  My lunch is ready and all I have to do is put it in my lunch box.  I have chicken breast, boiled egg, grapes, strawberries and yogurt as well as a little slice of cheese.  I would like to add some vegetables…and that is going to take pre-planning as well.  I don’t have access to a microwave during the day, so vegetables could consist of celery, carrots and cucumbers….a vegetable tray without the dip. I have to write that on the grocery list.
I am drinking a cup of coffee with fat free creamer, I know, I know….I shouldn’t even be drinking the coffee but it’s not something that I’m willing to give up.  Maybe in the future, but just not right now…that along with my diet soda…I just need to make sure to get my water in.  Slowly working at it.

It’s also time for breakfast..I’m not hungry.  Still have a little bit of a sore throat and a cough, and there isn’t much of an appetite.   I know I have to eat something.  I think I will have some oatmeal, and egg whites sprinkled with my favorite spice…cinnamon.

Admittedly it’s been two months since I have had any kind of workout, but I really didn’t think I would be this sore.  My shoulders are burning, and I kept the workout light to avoid this type of "burn"  The last thing I want to do is start to hard, and then quit in the middle.  I have the right mind-set and my goals are realistic.  I walked this morning to one of my videos, and will get in some ab work this afternoon.  It’s a rainy sunday, so I won’t be going anywhere…we’ll be stuck in the house all day.  It will be a great day to get some ab work in.
I made my you tube videos as I promised myself.  Revealing to say the least!  They are uploading as I write this now.  I am not sure if I will be doing a video everyday, or just once a week.  If I do a video everyday, I won’t upload until the weekends. I really didn’t realize how much cellulite I have on my arms or the fat pockets until I watched this video…now if that isn’t motivation, I don’t know what is.  Getting married is also a great motivator.  I can do this!! I want to do this.  These videos should also be great motivators.
The kids went trick or treating last night, and I have no urge or desire to get into their candy.  Right now, I’m not even hungry. It could be, that I am feeling under the weather….and going through hot flashes.  I skipped my cycle again for October, I have been going through peri-menopause since 2004, and I just wish it would be over with.  Right now, I just have no appetite.  I will eat though, I know how important it is to keep my metabolism fired up through eating.

I am off to a good start though my meals haven’t been exactly two hours apart, but I will work on it.  I’m boiling the chicken breast  now for the week.  The fruit has been washed and cut and is in the fridge and ready to go.  On Monday, I will have to replenish the water for the week as well.  It’s easier and cheaper to buy it by the gallon and refill my 20 ounce bottles.

I went to the Y this morning and ran 13 laps on the track.  One mile is 19 laps.  I warmed up for four, ran nine and cooled down for two.  I meant to run the full 19 laps, so I could get that mile in, but for some reason my mind was focused on the number 13.  Afterwards, I did some upper body work with the weights.  I kept it light, and felt good after my workout was completed.  I started on the stairmaster, I did five minutes!!  OMG, how tough!!  The tension was set to high, and I tried to get it to ease up some…five minutes was enough.  I will not be doing the stair master anytime in the near future.  I have stairs here at home, so I can climb those if the desire strikes.  I got in a good 30 minute workout, and I’m happy with that.  Tomorrow, I will fit in 30 minutes of exercise here at home, and will also work the abs.

I plan to post at least once a week on my blog.  If I post more than that, GREAT!  If not, I am fine with that.  I do like to post, because it keeps me motivated and helps me to reflect on what I’m doing, how I’m doing and where I’m going with my workouts. I also like to read posts by others who are in the same boat as me, trying to be better.  Not only physically, but mentally as well.  Twenty one days to make a habit……

I’ve been thinking about this all day, what am I going to do to make this work?  How am I going to fit in all the exercise and how in the world am I going to eat all the food that I need to eat when I’m working such crazy hours.  This is what I have come up with for now with a little help from my family….

I am going to go to the gym (YMCA) at least twice a week, during the weekdays and once on the weekends.  Not everyday, I want to start back slow, so I don’t burn out.  I will walk at home on the days that I’m not going to the gym, and my walking will probably be done to a video.  I might even walk with the kids around the neighborhood.

Food???  I have to start cooking and preparing food on Saturdays.  I need to get in as much preparation as possible.  Boiling the chicken ahead of time, getting all fruits and vegetables cut and divided into containers for the week, so all I will have to do is "grab and go!"  The weekends are usually reserved for laundry and grocery shopping anyways.  I will also be keeping boiled eggs and cut up cheese in the fridge for afternoon treats, along with bananas and apples instead of chips and cookies.  I will be asking my daughters to help me with this as well.  Having all of this preparation done for the week will help on the weeknights when I get home, tired from the long day of working with kids that have taxed my patience to the max and I don’t feel like cooking a nutritious dinner.  I enjoy a cheat meal of pizza…and so do the kids, so we are going to continue to have our pizza every friday night.  It’s also a nice break from cooking and if we want we can always toss more vegetables on top of that pie!
I have decided not to count calories.  I just don’t have the time for counting calories right now.  I am going to eat all three meals with snacks in between.  I’ll keep a cooler in the car and ready to go at all times, including Saturdays when we are out and about…like going to the store, library or who knows.  Having a cooler filled with low calorie nutritious foods is a big part of this plan.  I am going to keep my meals simple…like oatmeal or fruit smoothies for weekday mornings.  Weekends will include bigger breakfasts, and some pancakes or waffles for Sunday mornings.  This is the plan right now, it is easy to follow…I just have to make sure all my preparation gets done on Saturdays.  I also have to make sure and keep a grocery list on the refrigerator, so when I get ready to go shopping on Saturday, I won’t forget anything that we are out of.

I also plan to eat more beans and peas (dried lentils) that can be put over in the crock pot so we can eat as soon as I get home from work.  I love my crock pot and it has been a life safer on many a night in the past.  I should be able to whip up some very nutritious meals!

The rest of my plan includes, posting at least once a week and sticking to only one website.  Bodybuilding is my website of choice for now…and I even plan on making some videos to post on you tube.  I will have that done within the next couple of weeks.  So…this is the plan.

At home today with a sick child, so what better time to re-evaluate and re-connect with goals.  How long this time is in the back of my mind…I want to make permanent changes.  And is now the time to really do this?  There is still a lot of stress hanging over my head, but not as much as in the last six months or four years.

We are in our own townhome, I have a job, the kids are in school and we have the weekends together.  I have not fit in any exercise at all..none, zilch, nada!  And chasing kids around a playground or a classroom simply does not count.  Yes, it’s movement, but not "steady state!"

I miss exercising, I miss the feel I get from exercising….the one drawback are my work hours.  I’m at work by 7am and usually don’t get home until 6pm.  There’s dinner, the kids, time for me…and it doesn’t all fit very well together.  My weekends are busy with grocery shopping, laundry and trying to fit some time in for the kids.  They love going to the library and so do I.  It’s a great way to spend a Saturday morning.

I have my membership to the YMCA and I love going to the Y, drawback…it’s on the other side of town.  It would be great if I could stop in for a 30 minute workout on may way home from work.  For me, it’s all about balance, between home, family and taking care of myself.

And then there’s this aching pain in my left hip that radiates to my knee, and all the way down to my foot, like it’s a pinched nerve.  This is on ongoing condition. My back has even gone out on me.  I went to the ER to be told it was a ‘muscle spasm’ like football players get.  Excuse me?  I don’t play football.  I’ve gone to the chiropractor, and I’ve been told there is a lot of muscle tension in my back and start of osterperiosis.  I can walk, and feel fine when I am walking…for how long?  Another reason to be lifting those weights, build up the strength in those lower back  muscles.

I’m drinking diet sodas again, specifically Mt. Dew.  Water would be so much cheaper, and better for me.  Right now, it’s my vice along with my morning consumption of caffeinated coffee.   It’s probably the caffeine that does the most damage but I’m just not ready to give it up.  I am ready to work on drinking more water.

My will power, and dedication are there.  The next step is to make a plan, but making a plan that I can live with and a plan that will fit in with my current lifestyle.  Dedication is one thing, but following the plan is simply something entirely different. I am going to work on my plan today, and when I figure it out…I will post it.  Hopefully, getting it out there for everyone to see, will help keep my motivation up and the resolve to follow through…strong.