Holy $%^#...we are almost half way through this challenge! This is the start of week 6. I'd like to be able to say that time flies when your having fun but its more like time flies when you procrastinate! I have been thinking a lot about this challenge lately and how it seems I have not been taking it seriously or that I am not as focused as I was originally and not anywhere near as focused as I was when I was doing the Mooser competition. My friend Lisa, who is doing the challenge with me has been in the same boat. We dont seem to have any will power...where the hell does it go?? vacation? And every bad choice has a justification...where the hell did that come from? REALLY?? I feel like my body wants to keep going and improving but my head needs a kick in the ass (is that possible?)...my attitude and motivation have regressed into old thoughts and habits. SSSOOOOO, what is it gonna take to get through the next half of this challenge??! I wish I freakin' knew...Because right now I feel like I have nothing to show for the last 5 weeks.
I was looking at my goals I had when I started this challenge...they were not very detailed but they were solid goals and I dont know that I can achieve them given the slacking off I have been doing recently. So, heres what I am going to do...Lisa inspired me to re-evaluate things and add some things to my goals. I am thinking that my goals have only been for the end results and I need something a bit more immediate, so I am going to set weekly goals and then keep the ones for the end but maybe add to them.
Week 6:
*Off week for bootcamp so I need some alternatives. I am setting a goal of running 10 miles between now and Saturday. I have been runnig off and on...dont care for it a whole lot but Ben recently posted a blog about getting through a plateau (very good post @ benwarstler.com) and adding more straight cardio was one strategy.
*I think that food wise...again my weakness...I need to be better than 90% compliant because knowing about those cheats messes with ym head. So I get one cheat this week and the rest is supportive. I think I will take some snack and meal ideas from warp speed. I will also use fitday.com to track food.
*WATER: I have got to drink more water so I will be drinking half my body weight in ounces...dont convert your weight to ounces and then take half...yeah I did that at first and was like "uuhhh my eyeballs would be floatin"
*Another strategy from Ben's post was to work out at a different time of day. I will try to get up earlier and do something but I already get up at 515. But it would mean that I could get 2 workouts in a day, before school and after.
I think that these goals are reasonable and attainable and will make a difference if I can stick to them. Its not coming up with the goals, its actually following through with them that I need to work on.
OK...this is Jule signing off...live long and prosper...yup I just Star Treked you:)
Monday, May 30, 2011
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
week 5
The last couple of weeks have seemed to drag but now that I'm into week 5, I am like "Whoah! Already??" I'm still plugging along. I am still feelinglike for some reason I am not taking this as serioulsy as I thought I would...I dont know if its because its 90 days and I am one of those people who think "oh I still have 80 days, I'll do better tomorrow" And its gonna bite me in the ass.
The lovely scale is once again doing its yo-yo thing and I'm sure its due to my food intake. Even though I am following 90% compliance, its still really hard. That little devil part to my conscience is still winning alot of the time. Why cant I realize that I am NOT one of those people who can eat whatever I want?! I'm also a justifier...yeah you know what I'm talking about. "I worked out so I can eat this" Yeah if you want to undo all the hard work you just did. See I can talk the talk but I need to seriously practice walking the walk.
I am going to try...no no wait let me rephrase that. I AM GOING TO start using Fitday.com again to help track my food. It's a free online food/exercise journal. Once you put the food in, it calculates your % of protein, calories, fat, etc for the day and displays them in charts and such. I know that I do much better when I am tracking my food intake. I need to face the fact that I cant just wing it.
On a more positive note (as I feel like the last couple of posts have been me bashing myself) I did the retest for the bootcamp challenge and was pretty happy with my results.
Pullups-I couldnt do one, even assisted at the beginning and I still couldnt. They look so easy when others do them but its really not. And its not about your arm strength at all really. Its your abs, back, shoulders and arms all working together. I'll keep working on them:)
Pushups- I did 10 on my toes to start and I wanted 15 on my retest but got 14. Nothing to sneeze at considering that it took me awhile to even be able to do 1 on my toes.
Burpees- My least favorite exercise...I had 27 in 2 minutes to start and I wanted 40 for my retest. I got 37. I was going at a really good pace for the first minute but after that my legs felt like someone had filled them with lead and I could hardly move them. If I could have kept my pace, I would have smoked my number BUT I am still proud that I improved. I really need to start giving myself credit for things. I dont do that enough.
Have a great hump day!!! And yes I mean mid-week geez get your minds out of the gutter:)
The lovely scale is once again doing its yo-yo thing and I'm sure its due to my food intake. Even though I am following 90% compliance, its still really hard. That little devil part to my conscience is still winning alot of the time. Why cant I realize that I am NOT one of those people who can eat whatever I want?! I'm also a justifier...yeah you know what I'm talking about. "I worked out so I can eat this" Yeah if you want to undo all the hard work you just did. See I can talk the talk but I need to seriously practice walking the walk.
I am going to try...no no wait let me rephrase that. I AM GOING TO start using Fitday.com again to help track my food. It's a free online food/exercise journal. Once you put the food in, it calculates your % of protein, calories, fat, etc for the day and displays them in charts and such. I know that I do much better when I am tracking my food intake. I need to face the fact that I cant just wing it.
On a more positive note (as I feel like the last couple of posts have been me bashing myself) I did the retest for the bootcamp challenge and was pretty happy with my results.
Pullups-I couldnt do one, even assisted at the beginning and I still couldnt. They look so easy when others do them but its really not. And its not about your arm strength at all really. Its your abs, back, shoulders and arms all working together. I'll keep working on them:)
Pushups- I did 10 on my toes to start and I wanted 15 on my retest but got 14. Nothing to sneeze at considering that it took me awhile to even be able to do 1 on my toes.
Burpees- My least favorite exercise...I had 27 in 2 minutes to start and I wanted 40 for my retest. I got 37. I was going at a really good pace for the first minute but after that my legs felt like someone had filled them with lead and I could hardly move them. If I could have kept my pace, I would have smoked my number BUT I am still proud that I improved. I really need to start giving myself credit for things. I dont do that enough.
Have a great hump day!!! And yes I mean mid-week geez get your minds out of the gutter:)
Thursday, May 19, 2011
sabotage
Self sabotage to be more specific. Hopefully I spelled that correctly:) When I think of sabotage I think of someone deliberately $%@#ing things up for themselves or for someone else. For me, I have no one to blame but myself.
Let me explain...I have been "stuck" at a plateau for seriously about a year. Since I finished the Mooser competition I have not lost a pound more. I think my body has still changed and toned but scale-wise...nada, zip, zilch. I have gained about 10 lbs back and have been yo-yoing with the other 5 but a plateau in every sense of the word. And when i think about why I have only one person that I can hold responsible...ME. I fell like I have been doing a pretty good job with exercise. On a scale of one 1 to 10, probably a 7 or so. It's WAY more than I used to...so what's the problem then you ask? FOOD!! That's what. Again, compared to what I was eating a couple of years ago, I eat much better. And I am trying to eat 90% supportive...easier said than done. I have found that I dont seem to have that little voice that shouls tell me to put the bad stuff back or walk away. Actually, I take that back...I do have that voice but it's only a whisper that happens like once as I am thinking about eating a cookie or two. It's not a strong voice at all and is easly overpowered by the much louder voice that is justifying eating the cookie. I feel like one of those cartoons where the angel pops up on one shoulder and the devil on the other and their arguing back and forth about what I should do...only the angel hardly ever wins.
Why is this so important??? Because I worked my ass off when I exercise...I give it my all. I also try my hardest to get 5-6 days of exercise in a week. I feel like I have been successful with that. But its all for nothing if I cant get the food thing down. I am great during the day at work but it all goes out the wondow once I am home. Supper I am usually pretty good but its the time from after supper til bed...I'm talking like an hour or so!! But its a big deal if you're shoveling in crap right before bed when your body is recovering. 80% of your weight loss success comes from nutrition and eating properly. You can lose weight just by eating supportively. I personally wouldnt recommend it because you need to build muscle by exercising and that muscle will help burn more fat and keep it off. But again, its all for nothing if you're not eating supportively.
So, I need to work on getting that whisper much louder or helping the angel win way more often. I KNOW that is why I have been stuck. I am good for about a week and things start to peter out. I need to work on my follow through...MAN ain't that the truth! That applies to so many parts of my life right now!
Game on!
Let me explain...I have been "stuck" at a plateau for seriously about a year. Since I finished the Mooser competition I have not lost a pound more. I think my body has still changed and toned but scale-wise...nada, zip, zilch. I have gained about 10 lbs back and have been yo-yoing with the other 5 but a plateau in every sense of the word. And when i think about why I have only one person that I can hold responsible...ME. I fell like I have been doing a pretty good job with exercise. On a scale of one 1 to 10, probably a 7 or so. It's WAY more than I used to...so what's the problem then you ask? FOOD!! That's what. Again, compared to what I was eating a couple of years ago, I eat much better. And I am trying to eat 90% supportive...easier said than done. I have found that I dont seem to have that little voice that shouls tell me to put the bad stuff back or walk away. Actually, I take that back...I do have that voice but it's only a whisper that happens like once as I am thinking about eating a cookie or two. It's not a strong voice at all and is easly overpowered by the much louder voice that is justifying eating the cookie. I feel like one of those cartoons where the angel pops up on one shoulder and the devil on the other and their arguing back and forth about what I should do...only the angel hardly ever wins.
Why is this so important??? Because I worked my ass off when I exercise...I give it my all. I also try my hardest to get 5-6 days of exercise in a week. I feel like I have been successful with that. But its all for nothing if I cant get the food thing down. I am great during the day at work but it all goes out the wondow once I am home. Supper I am usually pretty good but its the time from after supper til bed...I'm talking like an hour or so!! But its a big deal if you're shoveling in crap right before bed when your body is recovering. 80% of your weight loss success comes from nutrition and eating properly. You can lose weight just by eating supportively. I personally wouldnt recommend it because you need to build muscle by exercising and that muscle will help burn more fat and keep it off. But again, its all for nothing if you're not eating supportively.
So, I need to work on getting that whisper much louder or helping the angel win way more often. I KNOW that is why I have been stuck. I am good for about a week and things start to peter out. I need to work on my follow through...MAN ain't that the truth! That applies to so many parts of my life right now!
Game on!
Saturday, May 14, 2011
Yup...still here
So its been a few days but I have been working hard...just been busy. Its hard to find even 10 minutes to post. This wraps up week 3...feels like it has been longer. I exercised Sunday through Thursday...took Friday off and did Bootcamp this morning.
When I walked into Bootcamp I almost walked right back out...15:15 Tabata was on the board. Now for those of you who are not sure what that is, allow me to explain. The 15:15 stands for 15 seconds of work and 15 seconds of rest...alternating between 2 exercises for...50 yes I said 50 rounds. And what were the 2 exercises you ask?? Well it wouldn't be Tabata without burpees, lateral jump burpees to be exact. The other was Goblet kneel to stand...this wonderful exercise is where you hold a weight right under your chin and kneel down then stand back up as quickly as possible. I'll give you a minute to think about those two exercises...rotating between them in a 15:15 format for 50 rounds........................................................................................................got it?
Yeah, I was not exactly happy to see that when I walked in. Mary was teaching and knew from the look on my face that I was not happy. She was very supportive though. Which brings me to my main subject of this blog...support.
This workout is one I dislike because it is VERY hard for me and like most people, we dislike things we cant do or suck at. Well this is one of those things for me. Burpees I can handle but the kneel to stands are something I constantly struggle with. I'm not sure if its my knees or what but I have a very hard time with them and I so envy those who can do them easily.
As I was doing these in class this morning I must have had my disgust and frustration all over my face because Mary picked up on it...she told me to have positive thoughts while I was working out and that bad thoughts can affect your workout.
I took it to heart and started thinking more positively and low and behold, the workout started going better. And it also helped that everyone in class was encouraging each other because 15:15 is such a tough workout. We were all struggling towards the end but shouted out to one another and it was just an awesome sense of support and community. It made all the difference in the world and I feel blessed to have such wonderful people to workout with.
Supoort, support, support...dont have it??? GET IT!!!!
When I walked into Bootcamp I almost walked right back out...15:15 Tabata was on the board. Now for those of you who are not sure what that is, allow me to explain. The 15:15 stands for 15 seconds of work and 15 seconds of rest...alternating between 2 exercises for...50 yes I said 50 rounds. And what were the 2 exercises you ask?? Well it wouldn't be Tabata without burpees, lateral jump burpees to be exact. The other was Goblet kneel to stand...this wonderful exercise is where you hold a weight right under your chin and kneel down then stand back up as quickly as possible. I'll give you a minute to think about those two exercises...rotating between them in a 15:15 format for 50 rounds........................................................................................................got it?
Yeah, I was not exactly happy to see that when I walked in. Mary was teaching and knew from the look on my face that I was not happy. She was very supportive though. Which brings me to my main subject of this blog...support.
This workout is one I dislike because it is VERY hard for me and like most people, we dislike things we cant do or suck at. Well this is one of those things for me. Burpees I can handle but the kneel to stands are something I constantly struggle with. I'm not sure if its my knees or what but I have a very hard time with them and I so envy those who can do them easily.
As I was doing these in class this morning I must have had my disgust and frustration all over my face because Mary picked up on it...she told me to have positive thoughts while I was working out and that bad thoughts can affect your workout.
I took it to heart and started thinking more positively and low and behold, the workout started going better. And it also helped that everyone in class was encouraging each other because 15:15 is such a tough workout. We were all struggling towards the end but shouted out to one another and it was just an awesome sense of support and community. It made all the difference in the world and I feel blessed to have such wonderful people to workout with.
Supoort, support, support...dont have it??? GET IT!!!!
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Day 15...I think
It feels like much longer...and I am finding it hard to keep track of the days so I wanted to just throw out a quick one tonight. First, those of you who follow me on facebook know that I am down 5 lbs!! Granted, it was weight that I had regained and most of it was probably water weight BUT i'll take it!
So overall I am doing well with nutrition...I need to work on my water intake though. I am not drinking enough. I did learn however NOT to drink 2 full glasses before leaving for school which is a 40 minute ride!! No accidents but damn close!! I had to stop at Cumberlands and use theirs...probably should have just used a bush! ;)
I have also been working on my challenge exercises: pull ups, push ups and burpees. The pull ups are killing me...my goal is one by the end but they are so hard!
Pushups I try to do one more each time
Burpees-again I try to keep beating my time so I am confident I will improve at the end of this challenge but how much I'm not sure...regardless I will do my best.
So overall I am doing well with nutrition...I need to work on my water intake though. I am not drinking enough. I did learn however NOT to drink 2 full glasses before leaving for school which is a 40 minute ride!! No accidents but damn close!! I had to stop at Cumberlands and use theirs...probably should have just used a bush! ;)
I have also been working on my challenge exercises: pull ups, push ups and burpees. The pull ups are killing me...my goal is one by the end but they are so hard!
Pushups I try to do one more each time
Burpees-again I try to keep beating my time so I am confident I will improve at the end of this challenge but how much I'm not sure...regardless I will do my best.
Sunday, May 8, 2011
a new inspiration
I feel very blessed on this particular Mother's Day, not only because I have two beautiful and wonderful children who are my life BUT also because I had a total epiphany (spelling?) this morning as I was going for a jog with my daughter Emma who was on her bike.
She was riding ahead of me as I was jogging and I kept thinking "Why haven't we done this before?" She was so good, didn't complain, stayed on the side like I told her and we kept right up with each other and we felt great afterwards. I thought about that as we went along and I came to this conclusion or part of one anyway...this whole journey that I have been on for the last couple of years I always thought was just about me...me as an island. Yes I knew I needed support from family and friends but the weight loss and getting healthy was always about just me. Everybody else could eat and do what they wanted but I was the one who needed things to change. I think today I realized that was all bull#$%&. It's about everyone in my life, especially my chilren. What kind of mother and hypocrite I have been by preaching these things to myself and mean while my kids, Emma especially are suffering the consequences of my denial.
Let me tell you a bit about Emma. She is soooo much like me in so many ways...she loves to laugh and make people laugh. She is sensitive and empathetic to others. She cares deeply about her family and her friends. She adores animals and wants to be a vet when she grows up. She is so so smart...I'm not just saying that;) Unfortunately, she is also following in my footsteps as far as weight. I remember when I hit third grade, I just plumped right up and it never went away. Emma is in third grade right now and I have seen a steady increase in her weight for a few years now. I just put it in the back of my mind and kept telling myself that it was just baby fat and she would grow out of it or that as long as we didnt address it, it wasnt a problem. I have been so foolish.
I dont want Emma to go through what I did growing up. I am in a constant conflict with myself...on one hand I dont want her to suffer through those kinds of things and on the other hand, I feel I am the person I am today because of what I have endured. It just breaks my heart when she comes home and says that she is always picked last for kick ball or that she hates gym class.
She is a lot like me in so many ways but she is also her own person. She is so much stronger than I was at her age. Things dont seem to bother her the way they did me. She has a great group of friends that like her just the way she is. She is happy and confident. I dont know that I could ask for anything else but I now know that I need to share this journey with her so that when/if she comes to a place in her life she has it to look back on and knows what she can do and see that her mom fought the battle and won...this is what I am not just hoping will happen but will do what I can to MAKE it happen.
Friday, May 6, 2011
to cheat or not to cheat...that is the question
Yes it is...practicing 90% compliance allows for cheat meals but it often makes me feel like crap afterwards so is it worth it??? I'm not planning them anymore because it actually stressed me out a little....rather I am just using them if I need them. (thanks Hallie:) I am still struggling a bit with the time between supper and bed...its down time, tv, laptop, etc. I have yet to use my push up/sit up strategy but I think I may need to do that.
exercise has been good this week...no maybe better than good...great! Bootcamp classes and then after school Turbo Fire babeee! love it! I am feeling a difference in my clothes a little bit which is awesome because they were getting tight! I have confidence that I can get back to where I was but its getting past that, that will be the challenge...
I think this wraps up day 12...
exercise has been good this week...no maybe better than good...great! Bootcamp classes and then after school Turbo Fire babeee! love it! I am feeling a difference in my clothes a little bit which is awesome because they were getting tight! I have confidence that I can get back to where I was but its getting past that, that will be the challenge...
I think this wraps up day 12...
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
ketchup
Nope not that kind...I am playing catch up because I did not post yesterday. It was a late night last night as am on a committee to hire a new special ed teacher at my kids school (something I take very seriously) and we had an interview last night. That's going to be a long road, as we will not be settling for just anybody. But it did mean that I did not get in any exercise...my nutrition was very good though! YAY! It is always so easy adn feels so good to be back on a routine and schedule during the week!
Tonight was Bootcamp and MAN it kicked my you-know-what! I have a feeling that I may have a hard time using the potty tomorrow;( But before class started I signed up for the physical challenge that Ben is doing this session. You have to do as many pullups and pushups as you can and then as many burpees in 2 minutes as you can. So pullups...not even 1. I have never done a pull up so I can only improve from there right?? That's how the winner will be determined, by most improved. Pushups-on my toes, I did 10. But Ben was pretty hard core as far as how you needed to do each exercise. Then burpees...because you had to do the whole jump at the top with the clap, I only got 27. If I could have cut the jump out, I could have done more but I had to listent to the boss;) So like I said, I can only improve from here...the pullups will be THE most difficult. But I'm willing to work at it.
Night all...8 days down, 82 left!
Tonight was Bootcamp and MAN it kicked my you-know-what! I have a feeling that I may have a hard time using the potty tomorrow;( But before class started I signed up for the physical challenge that Ben is doing this session. You have to do as many pullups and pushups as you can and then as many burpees in 2 minutes as you can. So pullups...not even 1. I have never done a pull up so I can only improve from there right?? That's how the winner will be determined, by most improved. Pushups-on my toes, I did 10. But Ben was pretty hard core as far as how you needed to do each exercise. Then burpees...because you had to do the whole jump at the top with the clap, I only got 27. If I could have cut the jump out, I could have done more but I had to listent to the boss;) So like I said, I can only improve from here...the pullups will be THE most difficult. But I'm willing to work at it.
Night all...8 days down, 82 left!
Sunday, May 1, 2011
Weekend one...first week done
I would have to say that for week one, even though I was trying to be 90% compliant I think I was probably 85%. Weekends are tought o begin with and this weekend was even more so because I was away at my masters program...OH by the way, I officially finished my second year and have just one left to go before I get my masters! As much as I have enjoyed it, the weekends away are wicked hard nutritionally. I have brought my own food before but with no fridge its kind of hard. Man I feel like I am FULL of excuses...but tomorrow is a new day and a new week. I did do well overall, just not as much exercise as I would have liked.
I also had Ben measure me last week and I have decided that if I can post my before pics, then I have the guts to post my numbers...I will not however post my weight...not ready for that. BUt here they are:
Body Fat: 35.5%
Bicep: 12 Inches: Arm: 15.75
Tricep:27 Hip: 51.5
Back:30 waist: 36.75
Hip: 19 thigh: 28.5
Compared to last time I was measured they are actually not that bad. The scale says that I have gained back 1o lbs but my measurements are the same if not better. My body fat is a hair less but a couple of my measurements are higher...wonder what that means. Not sure but I am planning on all of them going DOWN!
Happy Sunday everyone...kick ass this week!!
I also had Ben measure me last week and I have decided that if I can post my before pics, then I have the guts to post my numbers...I will not however post my weight...not ready for that. BUt here they are:
Body Fat: 35.5%
Bicep: 12 Inches: Arm: 15.75
Tricep:27 Hip: 51.5
Back:30 waist: 36.75
Hip: 19 thigh: 28.5
Compared to last time I was measured they are actually not that bad. The scale says that I have gained back 1o lbs but my measurements are the same if not better. My body fat is a hair less but a couple of my measurements are higher...wonder what that means. Not sure but I am planning on all of them going DOWN!
Happy Sunday everyone...kick ass this week!!
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