I haven't abandoned this blog. I've been thinking things through for a bit. This was never intended to be a weight loss/fitness blog, but...well, the whole process of growing a healthy me has just consumed me. :)
To separate my writing and fitness worlds, I've started a new blog: The Tippy Toe Diet. I'll still blog here when something strikes my fancy, but it will probably be hit and miss until I've tippy toed my way to my goal. Whatever that is.
From here in rainy Memphis and beyond:
Catchy title, huh? I'm all about creativity. :)
I had some deadspace at work today, and it occurred to me that a post highlighting the things for which I'm thankful would be appropriate. Because I have a whole lot to be thankful for.
I have a family who loves me, who has always loved me, who will always love me. No matter what. I have never breathed a single breath without having that and without knowing I have it. They love me without restraint or restrictions. My family is a blessing.
I have friends who love me, who care about my health, who care about their health, who generously share their wisdom and guidance and successes with me. I love them back and strive every day to match their successes, in effort if not in achievement. My friends are blessings, each and every one.
I have a warm home, cluttered and funky with age (not a gracious age, just age) that somehow suits me well. It has trees that guide cool breezes my way in summer and rain orange and gold and russet in late autumn winds. My home is a blessing.
I have a job that provides all my material needs and more, a job that alternately aggravates and invigorates--but never bores--me. I work with people I like. My job allows me to occasionally put my feet up and ponder life, even when my feet look ridiculous wrapped up like some Goth ballerina.
But that's another good thing about my job: it provides health benefits that allow me to take care of what hurts me. My job is a blessing.
There are so very many blessings in my life, far too many to list here. Quite often I forget about one or more (or all) of them, and yet, they're still with me, waiting to comfort me when I need it or to shame me when I realize how rich my life is.
But this time of year I remember these blessings and give thanks for them, and I wish for all people to find the blessings in their lives, too.
Happy Thanksgiving to the people I love and to anyone just passing through.
Alt. Title: The Toes of the Developing Athlete
For years I've had horrible toe pain caused, I thought, by ugly corns on both pinkie toes and lately by corns between my toes. You can imagine how much the addition of extensive walking and workouts helped the problem. On my long Sunday walks, I can hardly feel my toes at all by the time I'm finished. The process of getting to numbness is excruciating.
But, no more! I saw a podiatrist a few weeks ago and he diagnosed bone spurs on both pinkie toes. He recommended a procedure I can't pronounce, but basically it involved making a small incision on both pinkie toes (5th toes in podiatrist-speak) and shaving off the bone spurs. Ooh! Ouch! The whole idea of it made my stomach churn, but the idea of pain-free walks was really appealing. Throw in the concept of corn-free toes that might look semi-attractive in sandals, and my decision was made. On last Thursday, I went to my podiatrist's office and had my toe bones shaved. Ooh! Ouch!
The past two days have not been fun. I'm supposed to stay off my feet as much as possible, and I have to wear goofy black sandals thingies. They may protect my feet, but they're killing my legs. (Apparently there are muscles in my legs Ashley and Rachel haven't found yet. But let's let that be our little secret.) Vicodin helps during the roughest times, but I don't like the groggy aftermath. Today, I've managed with Tylenol, and I'm hoping to continue that.
When the podiatrist suggested the surgery, my first question was, "How long before I can work out?" (Which goes to show the difference six months and 56 pounds can make!) Dr. K. says it will probably be three weeks before I feel like doing anything in the way of exercise. That's a little scary. I've stocked up on fresh fruits and low-cal snacks and so far there haven't been any food melt-downs, but I'm a little nervous about it. I'll have to come up with some distractions.
That's all for now. If anything exciting happens, let me know. I'll be sitting here with my feet up.
Five cities in ten days. Not exactly a relaxing trip, but I had fun all the same. I covered Greenville, Columbia, and Charleston in South Carolina, then moved down to Savannah, GA for a week, and then back up to Atlanta. This was part business, part fun, and the fun definitely won out! Walking wasn't a problem at all in Charleston and Savannah. I also squeezed in one workout in Atlanta. Eating healthy was easier during the vacation part of the trip. The class I was attending included lots of unhealthy snacks. I held out until the end of the week, but then I indulged a bit. Nothing major, certainly nothing to get upset about, but not something I want to repeat any time soon.
I came home to this startling news: Memphis has been designated as the most sedentary city in the U.S. According to this study, about 65 percent of the population here is obese or overweight. I hate being a statistic, and I'm doubly glad I had a good workout before I read the article. :)
In other news, I spent yesterday and today getting rid of Every Single Item of cool/cold weather clothing I own. My closet has been decimated. My thinking on that has shifted (mostly). In addition to being a sign of fitness progress, it's also kind of freeing having only a few things to wear. I'm definitely going to try to keep new purchases to a minimum for a while. If I'm really lucky, it will be a permanent approach.
I panicked immediately after I signed up to participate in Blog Action Day. What in the heck does a personal fitness/weight loss blog have to do with the environment? How can the choices those of us who are on this journey make a difference to the world at large? Can we make a difference? After a few months of pondering, I realized that there are indeed ways to positively impact the planet as we seek newer, healthier selves:
1. Opt for filtered water over bottled water. In 2001, the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) reported that around 1.5 million tons of plastic are used each year to bottle 89 billion liters of water. Yes, we can recycle plastic containers, but do we really need to? How can we use our local water supply safely? Check out allaboutwater.org for all the info you can use about making your drinking water safe. (At minimum: why not commit to reusing half –or more—of the bottles you do consume?)
2. Eat less meat. Easy for a vegetarian, less so for those of us whose bodies like meat. But did you know that reducing our meat consumption (even by as little as 15%) would greatly reduce our risk of heart disease, diabetes, or stroke? Why, yes, you say, I do know that, but what’s it got to do with the environment? Some sources report that livestock production is responsible for up to 18% of greenhouse gases created by humans. Factor in the amount of water required and the number of forests destroyed in favor of grazing land, and you have even more reasons to reduce your consumption of meat. You can find more info at eatlessmeat.org (At minimum: try going meatless one day per week. You can find some great tips here.)
3. Buy fewer packaged products. You need more fresh foods anyway. By shopping the outer aisles of most grocery stores (bakery, fruits/vegetables, dairy, meat), you’ll cut down on sodium and other chemicals, for one thing, and for another, you eliminate a lot of packaging that will likely end up in a landfill.
4. Buy organic and buy local, when possible. You eliminate those messy chemicals used in production and the noxious fuel consumed in transportation. Oh, and don’t forget to get yourself some re-usable canvas grocery bags. Opt out on paper AND plastic.
5. Walk your errands every chance you get. I’ve been doing this lately, and it’s a great way to get my minutes in and accomplish tasks like going to the dry cleaner and pharmacy. The book store is 1.2 miles in the other direction, and I’m planning on making that a regular walk, too. (It will help me physically, but it will also reduce the number of books I buy!)
6. Commit to carrying a sack and a pair of gloves on your walking route just one day per week. As you’re walking, pick up any trash you see and take it to your own garbage can/recycle bin. You’ll get extra exercise, your neighborhood will look better, and fewer items will be headed down the drain and into a local river or stream.
Those are just a handful of ways we can improve our environment as we improve ourselves. If you have more, I’d love to hear them.
If I'm being completely honest, I have to admit that when I started this latest journey to fitness, I never thought I'd end up where I am right now. Where am I, you ask? Well, that would be at the minus 48.75 pound mark, that's where. Yep, you read that right:
Interesting article from Reuters about the growing number of obese children. Timely article, too, considering that I just had lunch with 100+ teenagers at McDonald's. I was there for the Apple Dippers, which are a nice 100-calorie dessert to follow the tuna-and-wheat-cracker entree I had prepared for myself. The kids were there for the fries, apparently, judging from the number of trays I saw with the telltale super-sized red cartons on them. It also seemed as though most trays had large sandwiches like Big Macs or Quarter Pounders on them. That's a lot of fat calories for lunch. Curious, I asked one of their teachers if any of the kids had ordered salads. At first she said 'no', but then she remembered seeing one (ONE) walnut-apple salad. She also said she had seen several kids with yogurt parfaits. So that's what, 4 or 5 out of 100 kids. And as I was leaving, I saw two of those yogurt parfaits sitting untouched while their purchasers finished...you guessed it, their super-sized fries. Oh well, it was a better choice than the Big Mac combo, I suppose.
If I had had access to the fast food and convenience food options these kids have (not to mention the funds to purchase them), there's no telling how big I would be today. When I was their age, canned fruit (as opposed to fresh) was about the worst dietary choice I could make. Pizza, burgers, and such were available, I just usually didn't have any money with which to purchase them. For that matter, neither did my parents. "Snack Night" was a big deal at our house. We each got to pick one thing that we wanted, and Dad would go to the store and purchase just those things. Mom would almost always get a Butterfinger candy bar, my sister asked for Hostess Twinkies, Dad would get some sort of Hostess product, and I would get the Hostess Banana Flip. It only happened about once a month, and the whole excursion probably set Dad back about two dollars, but it was A Very Big Deal to us. Limited snacking--what a concept!
Obviously, I lost my way somewhere along the line, and for that reason, I can identify to some degree with teenagers today. It's easy to get caught up in doing what everyone else is doing, and not really considering the long-term consequences of what we're doing. I can only hope that we somehow "fix" the system so that these kids have a good shot at long, healthy lives.
The whole experience reminded me of my own commitment, so I took the stairs back up to the office. Seven flights, all uphill. :) It wasn't pretty, but I made it. I definitely need to continue to do this, at least once a day.
The Chicago trip is now a memory, and a very good one, at that. It was so much fun to see my friends, especially those who are sharing this same fitness journey. They've all done so well, and I'm so proud of them. One has lost 62 pounds, another is training for a marathon, and still another is maintaining a 70+ pound weight loss. They set the bar high, and I love them for it.
I managed to eat properly during the entire trip, with a few delicious splurges to remind me that I was on vacation. I worked out almost every day, in one form or another. Perhaps that's why I came back to a 1.4 lb. weight loss for the week!
So now I'm back into the swing of things. I've got a good start on an energetic playlist for my Shuffle:
Walking On Sunshine ~ Katrina & The Waves
Walk the Dinosaur ~ Was (Not Was)
These Are Days ~ 10,000 Maniacs
I Touch Myself ~ Divinyls
Brick House ~ The Commodores
Material Girl ~ Madonna
Tell Her About It ~ Billy Joel
Celebration ~ Kool & The Gang
I Just Called to Say I Love You ~ Stevie Wonder
Cartoon Heroes (Radio) ~ Aqua
If I Had $1,000,000 ~ Barenaked Ladies
Rescue Me ~ Fontella Bass
25 Miles ~ Edwin Starr
Don't Stop ~ Fleetwood Mac
I Can't Go for That (No Can Do) ~ Daryl Hall & John Oates
Express Yourself ~ Madonna
Walking In Memphis ~ Marc Cohn
You Make Me Feel so Young ~ Frank Sinatra
Get the Party Started ~ P!nk
I'm So Excited ~ The Pointer Sisters
He's So Shy ~ The Pointer Sisters
We Are Family ~ Sister Sledge
Today was my second assessment at Fitness Together, and 42 is the Big Number. That's how many pounds I've lost since February. Giving credit where it's due, 32 of those pounds have been shed since I started working with the trainers 3 months ago. (Trainers, take a bow!)
Of the 32 pounds lost, 11 were muscle pounds, meaning I replaced 11 fat pounds with 11 muscle pounds. More good numbers!
One of the best numbers was my active heart rate: 91 after a 3-minute step test. Six weeks ago, it was 117, I think, but to be fair, last time we used two steps and this time only one. Still, it's a good number. :)
I moved from below average to average in a couple of categories, and in one, I moved from well below average to the simple below average. Woo-hoo!
The only other thing I remember is that my pinch tests for body fat came out in the 20s for triceps and hip area, but is still in the low 30s for thighs. My thighs were not pleased as they have been tortured with all sorts of contortions these past few months.
And I still can't do a real push-up. But I did 20 Cammy-ups and I think I only did 5 during my initial assessment.
So overall, I'm Very Pleased. In total, I lost only 2.75 more inches (my shoulders even measured bigger!), but the weight loss and other numbers more than made up for it. Great momentum for the vacation I embarked upon today.
Not to brag or anything, but I'm pretty damned proud of myself. And more than a little grateful to my wonderful trainers.
I suppose this morning was the ultimate test of my commitment. For about 50 minutes, Fran and I slogged through a pouring rain to complete our Sunday morning walk on the Greenbelt. Puddles that were minor pools when we first saw them were minor ponds on the return trip. At one point, it even appeared to be raining tiny frogs. They were everywhere.
This had to happen on the day I decided to wear a fitted t-shirt. Usually I wear baggy shirts (body image + all my shirts are too big), but today I decided to wear one that actually had shape. Needless to say, by the time we finally got the cool breeze Fran anticipated, I had turned the Greenbelt into my very own wet T-shirt contest. The frogs didn't seem impressed.
I had planned to go to Target after our walk, but considering that I had to wring out my clothes before I could even get in the car, I detoured by the house, peeled off to the skin, toweled off, combed my hair and set out again. A normal person would have showered first, but considering that it was still raining steadily, I figured, what the hell.
At Target, I bought the prize I won for making my challenge of 500 minutes extra walking in August. It's a teeny tiny iPod Shuffle (the silver one, so that it doesn't clash with my workout wear.) I'm now busily searching the web for walking/workout songs to download while it charges. And since I didn't get the iPod nano I had originally planned on getting, I added a heart rate monitor watch to the prize pool. It was on clearance for $36. It says my resting pulse rate is 77-79, but I don't know how accurate that is. I have an assessment with the trainer this week, and I'll try it then to see how the results compare.
For my September challenge, the definition of extra walking is changing. Part of my lifestyle change is a commitment to a minimum of 30 minutes exercise six days a week. Three days a week is trainer time. The other days, I walk and do some floor exercises outside the training studio. Since 30 minutes is my minimum (15 on trainer days), I'm only going to count what I do beyond that in September. My goal is 300 minutes for the month. That's truly extra time. The other is my new lifestyle. I had 70 minutes extra for the first week of the month, and I feel like that should have been 75, but I'm sure I'll make it up on my Chicago trip, which begins this week.
And now it's time for my last trip out into the wetness. Might as well end the day the way I started it.
Leo at zenhabits.net had a great little challenge today. I'm still mulling over a few things, but the overwhelming thing that jumps out at me is how badly I want to truly have nothing to do. To get there is going to require a LOT of lists and streamlining and thinking, but I'm really feeling geared up about it.
Imagining what I would do if I had nothing to do reminded me of a fun little exercise I did a year or so ago. I pulled out pen and paper and made a list of things I would do if I won the lottery. When I finally put the pen down and reread what I had written, I was amazed to see that quite a few items were within my reach. (Thing Glenda the Good Witch: You've had the power all along, my dear.) Back then, I think Hire a Personal Trainer was #3 on the list. I messed around before I actually did it, but I finally bit and it's been life changing. Really life changing. With the coaxing of a friend, I'm now considering actually becoming a Certified Personal Trainer sometime next year. I'm still at the exploratory phase, and I have along way to go until I've reached a comfort level with my own fitness, but I'm definitely feeling a little buzzed by the idea. At minimum, just completing the curriculum would give me information I really need to maintain my own fitness level.
I love when things like this happen. Out of the blue, an article or idea comes along that completely changes what I think I know about myself. Amazing!
A friend asked me this morning what exercises I recommend as "must do" for a beginner. My mind was blank at that moment (it was early), but later I remembered a great article on Sparkpeople.com that covered a lot of the exercises my trainer forces me to do on a regular basis. There are seven exercises listed and we do five of them. I loathe every single one of them (along with planks!) It's partially for that reason that I recommend every single one. They're tough, but they make me stronger. (I have to keep reminding myself of that while I'm doing them.)
Here are the exercises listed (the Sparkpeople article has a neat little demo of each one):
7 Exercises to Work Your Whole Body The Ready-to-Order Workout -- By Zach Van Hart, Staff Writer
Ever gone through a workout and afterwards said, "That was great, except I forgot to work my triceps," or "I should have done a set of leg lifts," etc.? Here’s a workout that will have you thinking, "Why haven't I done this routine before?" The following 7-exercise workout will take care of every major muscle area.1. Hamstring Flexion with Ball The hamstring flexion is a great exercise to strengthen your hamstrings and calves, and improve your stability in your core. To start, lie on your back and place the Swiss ball underneath your feet with your arms to your side. Raise your hips off the ground until your body is a straight line on an incline. Then, roll the ball towards you with the
bottoms of your feet, which will cause your knees to shoot up. Roll the ball as far underneath as you can, then roll it back out and repeat. It’s important to do all the work with your legs and not to cheat by using your arms. Do two sets of 10-12 reps. (Cammy notes: We did this one tonight, but I had to do 2 sets of 20!)2. Wall Squat with BallThis exercise is an awesome workout for your quads and can also help with posture. To start, place the Swiss ball against a wall and lean against it with your back. Stand straight up with your legs shoulder-width apart and bent slightly at your knees. Then, lower straight down until your knees are bent at a 90-degree angle. Stand up and repeat for
10-15 reps. (Cammy notes: I haven't done the 'reps' version of this one in a while. The trainers usually make me squat and hold it for some ungodly length of time, like a minute. They also like to make me do something with my hands like lifting weights, or sometimes just holding them. One thing I've learned from this exercise (and the trainer) is that whenever I do them, I feel better the next day if I do a little bit of easy walking on the treadmill for 5-10 minutes when we're finished with the workout.)3. SwimmingThis is a great workout for your lower back, one of the more neglected parts of the body. It requires no equipment so you can do it anywhere. Start by lying face down on the ground, with your hands and legs extended so you make a skinny X. Simultaneously lift your opposite arm and leg (right arm-left leg, left arm-right leg) 6-12 inches off the ground. Lower and
lift the other arm-leg combination to the same height. Do two sets of 20-30 total reps, 10-15 of each combination. (Cammy notes: I actually like this one. Well, okay, maybe that's going too far. I'll put it this way: I don't hate it.)4. Crunches with Swiss ball By exercising with the Swiss ball, your typical crunch has a little kick added to it. Start by sitting on the Swiss ball just a little forward from the top, with your feet in front of you on the ground and your knees at a 90-degree angle. Then, lie back until your back
covers the ball. Place your hands to either the side of your head or across your chest, but not behind your head. Come up until your body is at a 45-degree angle with the ball. Release back down and repeat, 10-15 reps. (Cammy notes: This is definitely an easier way to do crunches!)5. Reverse Flys with Swiss Ball and DumbbellsThis is a great workout for the shoulders and upper back, areas that can be neglected. To start, sit on the top of a Swiss ball, holding the dumbbells to your side and your palms inward. Have your feet on the ground, your knees bent at a 90-degree angle and lean over until your chest is close to your legs. Keeping your arms straight, raise your hands up until they are perpendicular to the ground and even with your shoulders. Bring them back down and repeat 10-12 times for two sets. (Cammy notes: We don't do this one, but I might have to suggest it.)
6. Dumbbell Lateral RaisesThis exercise will work both your shoulders and arms, and dumbbells are required. Start by standing with your legs shoulder-width apart and your arms at your sides. Then, raise your arms until they are even with your shoulders and perpendicular to the ground. Keep your elbows as straight as possible. Do two sets of 10-12 reps. (Cammy notes: Another one I don't hate--it depends on the number of reps. I don't think I get to do 12 of anything anymore.)
7. Pushup with Swiss ballThis is the classic chest exercise, with a little bit of a twist. Start in the typical push-up position, facing the ground while your hands keep you off the ground, but place the Swiss ball under your knees. Then push up until your arms are straight, lower, and repeat. Do two sets, 10-15 reps. (Cammy notes: Another one I haven't done, and I'm pretty sure I don't want to.)
Those are the seven forms of torture covered in the article. I would add an eighth one: planks. We did a couple sets of those tonight. I never did link together more than one thirty-second hold in each set, but I did try!
I'm sure none of these exercises is pretty when I do them, but they're all effective and at the end of it all, I feel good--really good--for having done them.
Even when I haven't done them particularly well.
I'm in one of those Blech! periods that seem to pop up from time to time. What makes this one marginally interesting (to me, anyway) is how I'm managing it. Once upon a time I would have used it as an excuse to eat non-healthy things in great abundance, but now my reaction seems to be...just blech! No follow-up. No angsting over the cause, the effects, the future. Just blech!
I had a horrible workout last Wednesday. There were actual tears involved. I'm not sure why, exactly, except that it seems like everything is so much harder to do these days. I wouldn't mind the struggle so much because we have added a little weight (*very* little) and a few (and I do mean few) more reps on some things, and I'm not this for the Easy Factor, but I think the combination of feeling like I'm right back where I started and the fact that the front part of my body seems to be melting into one unsightly blob in my midsection, combined with a fickle scale, was overwhelming for some reason and I had a sniffly moment.
But like I said, I didn't resort to a pity fest with Little Debbie as my only guest. Instead, I came home and tried on clothes that I was sure would be too big. They were. I smiled and went to bed happy. The next morning I had to try on even more clothes to prepare for a jeans day at work. All six pairs of jeans were too big! I wore the least big pair to work and beamed when a lot of folks mentioned the weight loss. Snifflies over.
Yesterday I went to Catherines and found new jeans. They're called The Right Fit and I love them. They only had one pair in my size, but I have another pair on order. Life without blue jeans is unimaginable.
This morning I went to walk the Greenbelt, but I was the only one who showed up. The trainers are in Louisiana on an unauthorized field trip, and I think my walking buddy was out of town as well. I walked the shorter of the two trails and a small portion of the other one, but the place was deserted this morning. No bicycles at all, and I only saw three other walkers. It was kind of spooky, to tell you the truth.
So here I am, still sort of blech-y, but not as much as before. I think we'll just have to call that Life.
All my life I've heard, "It's not the heat, it's the humidity" to describe the worst of summer, but I'm here today to tell you that it really is the heat. Eight days of 100+ temps have me just the teensiest bit cranky. Not to mention sweaty.
So, the folks from The Biggest Loser are in town doing try-outs for the new season. Several people who know I like the show have asked me if I planned to audition. Me, in spandex on national television. Me, in spandex anywhere. Not going to happen, folks. Evah. I do have one friend who says she's going over there, and I hope she will. She's perfect for the show, all charm and moxie.
Nothing much to report in my world. I didn't lose any weight last week, or so sayeth the scale, but I did learn that my cholesterol is looking pretty good. Total cholesterol is 141, which is really good, but the HDL is at 37. That's down two since I started exercising, which isn't what I was going for, but my doctor assures me it's nothing to worry about, given my overall low number.
Another good number: 15. That's the number on the weights I'm using for chest presses now. I'm at 12 pounds on all the others. I also increased my reps this week on several exercises. It wasn't particularly pretty, but I did it. :)
This weekend is about celebrating my birthday. I've timed it for my monthly splurge, so my family is taking me to Pancho's tonight, where I intend to have taco salad (not particularly splurge-y since I don't eat sour cream or guacamole, but it's good) and chip and dip. I refuse to count the tortilla chips for one night. Tomorrow morning, I will walk and pay the price for the indulgence.
Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!
Yesterday was weigh-in day. Are you ready? Eight pounds! Yes, that's eight, the number after seven and before nine. I was a tad schocked, but oh so pleased. I guess the pounds were hanging on just to have a dramatic exit all at once.
The funny thing was that, while the eight pounds were exciting, the big drop wasn't the best part of yesterday. Or maybe it's more correct to say that there were other things that made me just as happy: two more people commenting about the changes they see in me, moving up five lunges in my workout, being guilted (happily) into adding 25 minutes of cardio at the end of my workout so that I'm now at 201 extra minutes for the month, doing my grocery shopping after my workout so that I would have the "right" foods on hand, when all I wanted to do was go home and cool off--all successes, too, of varying sorts. It all makes me feel really good about being me right now, and it makes me think I'm finally building a better 'big picture' for myself.
Walked for an hour with the FT group this a.m.
Early, this a.m.
I am not an outdoor person (all those bugs and such), but it feels really, really good to have done it.
Now, for a celebratory...nap.
At the end of this, the second week of temps in the high 90s, I finally cracked. At least, that's all I can think of to explain this most unusual behavior. Usually when one thinks of rabies and other end-of-summer diseases, it's frothing at the mouth or stumbling about the town snarling at people that are the headline grabbers. Me? I go wild and join a gym.
Yes, you read that right. I joined a gym, a real one. Well, it will be real in a couple of months. They're in the process of remodeling an old store (which earned them bonus points from me for re-using existing space rather than building something new). The best news is that it's about a half mile from my house. I can walk there. Or, if I break down and buy a bicycle, roll over there within minutes.
I've thought about joining a gym or fitness center before, but I was always afraid that I wouldn't be able to actually do anything once I got there. Now, I know I can get a good workout without looking like a total idiot. Plus, the timing is right. In a couple of months, I should be ready to step down to two trainer sessions a week and begin working out at the gym twice a week. I don't really like to think too much about the day when I'll be on my own, and who knows, maybe I'll win the lottery and be able to stay with my trainers forever, but the reality is that the gym is so much more affordable.
Huh. Me, with a gym membership. Gotta be the heat.
More people are noticing my weight loss success and mentioning it in the nicest ways. Over the past few days, four people have said something nice about the way I look. One comment came from a VP at my company, who said I'm inspiring him. Wow. That was huge. Only a miraculous surge of willpower kept me from bursting into happy tears. I think of all the compliments I've received that was the best. Not because it came from a VP, but just the idea that I could inspire anyone...
Last night when I was working with the trainer, I realized that while some exercises make me feel strong, others make me just feel fat. When I'm doing arm work, I feel great, but when we do any core work, I feel like a big fat blob. Any sort of wall sitting and planks are the worst. Jumping Jacks are a bitch too. I can hardly focus on the exercise for the chanting in my head: You'refatYou'refatYou'refat! Not the best frame of mind to build a future on. It makes the work that much harder.
I was pondering today, trying to figure out how to get myself into the right frame of mind, and I think I'm going to start substituting the last great compliment I received from someone in place of the nega-chant. I inspire, I inspire, I inspire! might be much more helpful in keeping me focused on the fight at hand. I certainly hope so!
One of the reasons I love to take road trips (besides the whole anti-flying thing) is that I think a lot. I think about myself and the world around me. I solve all my friends' problems, and I write delicious stories in my head. It's a great way to unwind.
On this trip, I once again did not come up with solutions to any of the world's pressing issues, but I did figure some things out:
See? No major revelations or resolutions. Just random thoughts and observations.
The second day of BlogHer was exceptionally nice, but not for the reasons I expected. I only attended two panels (one on technical blogging and the other an off-the-record session), the keynote breakfast (fascinating panel discussion of online communities and their extensions), and the very interesting closing keynote discussion with Elizabeth Edwards (Blogher taped it.) And that was all very enjoyable, but I think my favorite part of the day was the three hours of free time I had midday. I wandered around The Navy Pier and the park, sat and talked to a senior deckhand (and wannabe writer) from one of the water taxis, went to Billy Goat Tavern for a cheeseborger (don't really understand the fuss), and just generally people-watched. Random observations:
- flip flops are the new sneakers
- if you sit in one place in Chicago long enough, you'll hear half of the world's languages spoken
- Chicago has a Pepsi fixation
- some people shouldn't be allowed to own boats
- who knew there would be gulls this far north
- the traffic cops at the pier's entrance deserve their own reality show
- earning a captain's license requires a lot (and I mean A LOT) of time and money
- skateboarders are obnoxious everywhere
- I want to live here
I'm glad I came here. While I don't think I made any new and lasting friendships, I met some really nice people and I learned a lot, and that was the point all along.
Greetings from Chicago! More specifically, from The Navy Pier in Chicago. It's a gorgeous, breezy summer day, and I'm sitting on the pier about 30 yards from Lake Michigan.
Looking at this picture, I'm underneath the tower on the left at the far end of the pier.
I'm in Chicago for the two-day BlogHer07 conference. This is my first BlogHer event, and I don't really know anyone, but I'm still having a good time. I've attended two panels so far, one on web design and another on body image and blogging. (I'm all about variety. ) And as so often happens at these things, I've met some really wonderful people.
I've also made a pass through the exhibitor area. Lots of interesting concepts out there and some goodies, besides. Plus, we got a swag bag from BlogHer. Now seems like a good time to check it out....okay, so there's way too much stuff in here to list, but it includes some CDs, a memory stick, and a bath/body set. And a really cool tote bag.
Right now I'm kind of hungry, and so I think I'll mosey down to the McDonald's at the other end of the pier for an apple dipper and a diet coke.
More later....
The results are in on my six-week fitness assessment:
Inches lost:
neck -1.75
shoulders - 0
chest -4.25
waist -4.5
hips -4.5
thigh -2.5
calf -1.25
upper arm - 0 (all those weights!)
forearm -1
Total = 19.75" gone.
Weight loss was only 10 lbs. for the six weeks. I kind of expected more, but while I've cut out the unhealthy snacks (no-mo Li'l D Swiss Rolls), I haven't exactly starved. I've been averaging about 1200-1300 calories a day and I've stayed in my fat/carb limits every single day. I have to feel good about that. I'll just presume that the extra weight I feel I should've lost was actually converted to muscle. Yeah, that's it. Plus, it makes me feel pretty good that I lost 10 lbs. on my own before I started training.
The best news was that my resting heartrate went from 80 to 72. The goal is 65. I hope to get there by the end of August. The trainers (a.k.a. Satan's Grrrlz) are having some sort of cardio contest in August with prizes for the most cardio minutes racked up. I hope it's extra sessions, especially if I should win. :) Wish me luck!
I turn up again. I didn't realize until today that I had completely forgotten to post a progress report. Or two.
What's a real pity is that there's definitely progress to report. My blood pressure has gone from being high to being too low. For weeks now, it's been fluctuating between 80/50 and 94/60. My Before BP was usually high 120's/80's, and that was with the medication. So apparently they weren't lying when they said regular exercise and a healthy diet will help your blood pressure. :)
Because my energy level was so low, I went to see my primary care physician last week, and---*drumroll--- he halved the dosage on my medication! I think I might be on my way to getting rid of the prescription all together, which would be so very cool.
Dr. S. also informed me that I've lost 21 pounds since February! What's so especially wonderful about that is that I suspect I actually gained some weight in March and April, so it's possible I've lost more than 21 lbs. since May 8th. I have my first "fitness assessment" with the personal trainers next week, six weeks after starting this exercise program. I'll be sure to post a report. I've lost a size for sure, and am well on my way to being another size smaller.
I really can't believe how easy this has been. There have been moments here and there that have been difficult, but overall, the combination of sparkpeople.com, the trainers, and the support of truly wonderful friends has made this transition to a healthier me so much easier.
If you're one of those wonderful friends, I love you and I thank you from the bottom of my healthier-already heart!
Okay, so who do you know who not only found pants that fit, but pants in a smaller size that fit? One guess.
All right, I'll tell you: ME! And these are not your ordinary pants. These pants have an actual button waistband without even a hint of elastic. To make things even better, I went to another store and found another pair of pants that fit. I picked up two different colors of that style. And then, finally, I went to yet another store and found a shirt...yes, in a smaller size! How much do I love myself and my trainers right now? (And this despite the fact that I'm pretty sure my trainers are trying to kill me--one appendage at a time.)
That all happened last Friday. On Monday, I went to the office nurse for a regular blood pressure check. It was 80/50. A couple more weeks of this, and I'll be knocking on my doctor's door.
Since I have to work tomorrow, I went ahead and had my July 4th splurge tonight. It was an order of Rafferty's french fries--the first fries I've had in months--and they were delicious... while I was eating them. A half hour later I wanted to pull the car to the side of the road and dismiss them. I won't be doing that again anytime soon. The barbecue chicken and salad were good, though. (My next scheduled splurge is July 26th in Chicago: Pizza! Real pizza with real crust and real cheese. I'm hoping for better results than I had with the fries.)
Nothing much happening otherwise. As I said earlier, I have to work part of tomorrow. I moved my workout to 8 a.m. to be sure I got it in. (I didn't even know about the fries at the time.)
I hope everyone has a wonderful 4th of July!
It seems as though we zip straight from Friday night to Sunday night. The rest is just a blur.
Everything's clicking along nicely here on the health and fitness front. Weekends aren't quite as hard since I began scheduling trainer time on Friday night. That helps keep me focused on doing the right things throughout the weekend.
Had one of those blippy moments Thursday night. I was out shopping for new pants, and I was getting very frustrated. It seems I'm between sizes and nothing fits right. Add in a minor heat wave and a lack of dinner and you get one grumpy girl. At one point, the thought that all the workout time was for nothing, since I couldn't find any pants that looked good. I had wasted my time and hard-earned money when I could have just kept on doing what I was doing and my old pants would have fit just fine. No, they wouldn't have looked good, but they FIT!!
Fortunately for me, Rational Girl came running to the rescue to set Grumpy Girl straight. It's been a freaking week of workouts--at that point there had been a total of 3.5 workouts--and I can't expect my body to transform itself overnight. Sheesh! What was I thinking? Okay, I know what I was thinking. I was thinking about poor pitiful me, who hadn't even so much as glanced at a snack cake in six weeks. The one who spent a small fortune hiring personal trainers who made her sweat and chip her nail polish on the weight thingies. That poor girl deserved a Special Dinner. One that would make her feel better. It's the same kind of thinking that has plagued every effort I've made at eating healthier.
But not this time. On the way to the car, I decided my Pants-Don't-Fit Pity Treat would be an icy cold Diet Coke--the largest one I could find. I pulled into a KFC (a safe fast-food choice since I don't eat there, except I forgot about the chocolate chip cookies which I pretended they were out of). I ordered my drink, pulled up to the drive-through window, and awaited my fizzy treat. That's when the neatest thing happened. The clerk passed me my drink and said, "Have a great evening!" I waved my money at her, and she just smiled and said, "Nah, just enjoy it!" How nice is that? I told her so, thanked her enthusiastically, and drove off before she could see that my eyes were getting all blurry. I hope she knows what a generous gesture that was. Not the free soda. That cost KFC about 12 cents. In the space of 30-seconds, that clerk made me forget about my stupid pants. All I could think about was how bright her smile was and how good she seemed to feel doing something nice for someone.
And yesterday, when I tried on more pants at a different store, I couldn't even begin to feel badly when they looked pitiful. I just kept my eyes on the future, because I know that good things--big and small--are always there waiting, sometimes in the strangest places.
Until next time...
Another week, another series of goals achieved. It has me wondering why this seems to be working now. It's not like I haven't tried most of this (excluding the trainers, which is a new thing completely) before. Why am I now able to eat healthy and exercise regularly? I've been thinking about it off and on today, and I've come up with a timeline, of sorts, that got me here:
1. In 2005, I learned that a new friend had, over the past several years, lost weight by exercising and changing her diet. That's not so unusual, except that she didn't work her way down to a size 2. She's a double-digit size, she looks great, and physically, she's the strongest person I know. She's also the first person I've ever known who recognized when it felt good and said, "I'm here." That's not to say she quit working at it. It's an everyday thing for her now (and it shows!) Everyone else I know keeps going for the lower numbers, and it occurs to me now that I don't know anyone personally who made it.
2. A little over a year ago, I started walking regularly. I tried to upgrade my eating habits, but it was kind of hit and miss. It seemed as though I couldn't get the diet and the walking/yoga working together. If I did one well, I let the other slide. A few times (dark days/weeks), I let them both go. But I always circled back to one or the other.
3. At the beginning of May of this year, I hit the treadmill again. At the same time, the Style Network kicked off a Make Me Over May campaign. Now, you have to know that this time last year, you could not have made me watch this channel if you had promised me a lifetime supply of Little Debbie's. I think my exact words were, "This is the worst excuse for a network I've ever seen." Fortunately for me, those words are fat-free and non-caloric, because Style's airing of The Biggest Loser was life changing for me. Here were fat people setting goals and meeting them. People my size exercising hard...and not dying from it. I decided to play along in my own version of a home game and cut out all the junk food from my daily diet.
4. In early June, I joined sparkpeople.com. I started reading articles on health, nutrition, and motivation. I set goals and began learning how to achieve them.
5. Last week, I started recording what I ate, paying attention to nutritional goals (calories, protein, fat, carbs), and ended the week by signing on with a personal trainer. I met my triceps. They're nice, if a bit unrefined at present.
So here I am. Nowhere near the end of this journey and not even sure where I am on the map. But it's nice to be off of the two-lane blacktop and onto the highway. I think, though, that I'll stay on this road rather than look for an expressway. It will take me longer to get there, sure, but I'll stand a better chance of arriving safely at my destination. :)
Have a happy...and healthy week everyone!
Okay, so the second workout was harder--nauseating, demoralizing, painful at times. And that's not even factoring in the actual exercises. I knew it would be tough, but I hadn't counted on the mental/emotional side of it. My mind is constantly at war with itself, with one part chanting, "You can't do this," while the other side says, "But you ARE doing it." I'm so busy trying to help the right side win that I find it difficult to focus on the important things like breathing and strength. I hope that changes over time. Next week would be good, since I have three workouts scheduled.
Speaking of other workouts...I bought three pairs of exercise capris today! One of them is even a size large (not XL). Of course, they kind of look like a pair of larges on a still-XL body, but I think it shows a sense of commitment. And won't it be fun growing into them. :)
It's hot here in Memphis and still no rain in sight. Hungry Girl sent out this recipe just in the nick of time: Cookie-rrific Ice Cream Freeze. Seeing that made me realize it's time to head out for dinner. And not a moment too soon.
I survived my first session with the trainer, and I'm happy to report that I didn't die, nor did I want to die. I'm taking that as a very positive sign.
Today's workout was on the gentler side; tomorrow will probably be more of the same. They're easing me into it, and I appreciate that.
Per yesterday's post, I'm definitely going to be buying some more workout clothes. I' m tired of washing my single pair of exercise shorts, for one thing, plus I hadn't realized there would be m-e-n at this place. Granted, there's no socializing since we're in separate rooms, but you never know when you might bump into someone at the water fridge. Maybe if I'm wearing a cute top, they won't notice my beet-red-from-exertion face or the lovely aroma that proves I'm burning some calories.
I'm kind of proud of me right now.
I have a friend who teases me about my need for the appropriate attire for exercise. I tried to explain it to her the other night. In my yoga clothes, I'm tall and graceful. It doesn't matter that the woman in the mirror is dumpy and wide. If I put on my exercise shorts and catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror, I wonder why that person isn't on the treadmill. Even if I hadn't planned on walking, I lace up the shoes and hop on the treadmill. I'm the suburban equivalent of FloJo, or perhaps one of those women wrestlers from Russia. I'm treadmilling for my country and I'm out front (there's no one ahead of me, so I must be winning). It's a costume. A chance at as if. As if I'm an athlete, as if I'm in charge, as if I enjoy excercising, as if I'm already at my destination.
But I'm not at my destination, not even close, and today I did something about that. I went to meet the folks at Fitness Together. They weighed and measured and did some godawful pinch test and wrote it all down in a red folder. Then they told me what it was going to cost. Ouch. It's in line with other trainer fees, but the kicker is that I have to pay it up front. You understand what that means, don't you? They're asking me to commit. They're asking me to invest in myself. That's low.
It's a lot of money, but in the end, not really a tough decision. My checkbook is in my purse, and I have my first session with a trainer tomorrow after work. Now I just have to figure out what to wear.
'Woman left to die because she was too fat'
Angry John Teague has claimed that ambulance paramedics left his wife to die after joking that she was TOO FAT to lift.Mr Teague, 58, alleges that the ambulance crew sneered that they would need a fire crew to lift seventeen-and-a-half stone Sandra Teague, 52.
It's pitiful when you can't remember to do the one thing on your to-do list for Sunday night, isn't it?
Not a bad week, but not a great one either. My toe problems continue. They're basically a mess of blisters and corns. I took Friday off from walking and on Saturday, I didn't do any of my scheduled exercise (I cleaned house instead!). I found these toe separator thingies at the drug store, and on Sunday I went to the zoo and walked for almost two hours. No pain until the very end! I'll try the treadmill for a half hour tonight and see how that goes.
I also tried out a new exercise DVD: Ten Minute Targeted Workout for Beginner. The idea is to work on one ten minute thing each day until I feel like I can start chaining some together. But I'm not supposed to work on any area two days in a row. I like the trainer and the abs targeted workout is tough but attainable. I'll try it out for a couple of weeks.
A few weeks ago a friend sent me a link to zenhabits, and it's now one of my favorite sites. Over the weekend I found a great link, Top 42 Exercise Hacks. It's going to help me a lot.
I'll post a pic from my zoo walk later today, but for now I should get back to work.
I'm feeling really frustrated right now. Mentally, I'm ready to take on more strenuous exercise, but my body keeps throwing up roadblocks. My legs just won't walk any faster! Plus, I have new blisters on the bottoms of my feet. My toes feel like they're on fire when I walk. I'm trying to push through, but I'm finding out that patience is yet another virtue I just don't have.
Pretty good week goal-wise. I walked at least 30 minutes every day, but I never did make it to an hour. I did two yoga practices. I had planned for three practices, but I came up a little short.
Got all my fruits and veggies in Every Single Day! And I made it through another week with no major splurges. Thank God for Sugar-free Fudgesicles!
Today I walked out at Shelby Farms, a park in East Memphis. I almost didn't walk outside today. We've got ugly air, due to drifting from the fires in Georgia and Florida, and we've had a gray haze for three days. You can see it, a little, in the photo below. The bison had apparently already completed their walk and were in the cool down phase.
I don't know when I'll try this park again. The trail I was on was 1.67 miles, which is perfect for me right now, but it also is almost completely without shade. Not good in the heat of a Memphis summer, though it will probably be okay for fall and winter. We'll see.
All in all, a satisfying week, and I guess wanting to do more exercise isn't totally a bad thing. It's a far cry from where I was this time last month, right? Right!
Onward and upward! Or in my case, downward! :-)
Okay, time for the scorecard. Overall, not too bad.
My goals last week were:
Exercise: Walk a minimum of 30 minutes per day, every day, with 3 days of 1 hour walking and 3 yoga sessions -- Almost made it, but...::drumroll::...I have an injury. A sports injury. Okay, so it's not a rotator cuff or a pulled hamstring or any number of other things that happen to us athletes, but blisters are not to be taken lightly. Especially when they're HUMONGOUS, like this one. Still, I managed to complete six of seven planned 30-minute walks, with two 1-hour walks in there. One of the 30-minute walks was at the zoo today, where I walked for over an hour, though not cardio-walking. I'm not going to let myself count that as a full one hour.
What pleases me most is that I exercised Every Single Day last week. I'm a little proud of that.
Diet: 5 fruits and vegetables a day, every day - I'm pleased to report that I was successful five of seven days, and on the two days that I didn't get the 5-count, I did manage four servings of fruits and vegetables. I'm mostly happy with my results, because I was in a class for three days last week, and I still managed to stick to healthy eating. Mostly. Also, I went to a family reunion on Saturday and despite two tables laden with starch, sugar, and animal fat, I only ate one single serving of my grandmother's fried corn. (When she started pushing her potato salad on me, I looked her in her 85-year old eyes and said, "Stop it." She did.)
Organization: Straighten out home office and master bedroom, top to bottom - I suppose if I was going to fail at something , this was the best one to let go. I straightened and neatened, but I never managed to get either room dusted or vacuumed. I think I should have started in rooms that don't have books, magazines, television, a bed, or my computer in them.
Fun and relaxation: Zoo trip! - A great big YES! I went early this morning and had a great time. My feet were screaming at the end, but I was smiling!
When I set these goals, I had no idea if they were stretchy or not. It turned out that they were a little much for me, which seems like all the more reason to just roll them over for this week. At this point, I consider myself successful every day that I simply try.
Bye for now,
Cammy
A friend sent one of those meme thingies this week, and it turned out to provide a giggle or two. The idea is to type in a google search with the phrase "yourname needs" in the search box. Then copy the first ten hits. Interesting results; here are mine:
Cammy needs...
1. to drool again
2. ...a lot more.
3. to fucking jump against low tigerts
4. someone his own age to play with so he will leave his brother alone
5. to win a scholarship to stay in ballet school
6. a comeback.
7. to come in and warm up.
8. more encouragement to click on the Reply button
9. his eyes checked.
10. a supercharger.
I drool enough as it is, thank you (#1), but I do need a lot more of something (#2) (maybe the supercharger (#10). The idea of me in a tutu (#5) is a howler, and of course, the gender for myself and my sibling is wrong (#4 #9). Most of the rest are fairly accurate.
Does anyone know what a "tigert" is?
Bye for now,
Cammy
If you expected to read about mind-altering orgasms here, you might be a bit disappointed. This isn't that kind of blog. It would be if I was actually having mind-altering orgasms, or even just the ordinary everyday kind, but in the absence of George Clooney or any reasonable substitute, I'm taking my excitement where I can get it.
My newest passion is something I never, ever, expected: I am watching a television reality show! I know, I know. I swore I never would, but I was caught in a weak moment (in bed with a sinus infection) and I succumbed. Sue me.
The object of my desire is The Biggest Loser, currently airing season 2 on the Style Network. (Yes, I know I said the Style Network was the biggest waste of airspace on this planet and all the others--including Pluto, which I will always consider a planet--but I might have been a little bit wrong. This show and Clean House make it worth watching every now and then, but the rest of their schedule is pretty pathetic.)
What draws me to TBL is the overwhelming compassion and admiration I feel for the contestants. I can't imagine having the strength and courage to a) weigh myself, b) weigh myself in front of millions of people, c) appear on television in those skimpy workout clothes, d) exercise 3-4 hours a day, e) exercise for people's entertainment, f) discuss my inner feelings about my body image with a guy holding a video camera, and g) set myself up to fail in front of a national audience. Give me the faceless Internet! If I fail here, I hit the delete button.
The Grand Prize on TBL is $250,000. Worth dropping Little Debbie as my BFF, perhaps, but not if I have to get on stage in a sports bra and spandex bike shorts to compete. And I'm not so sure the money is what motivates the show's contestants, either. Maybe I'm imagining it, but it seems to me that they're far more interested in the opportunity to devote themselves to getting healthy(-ier) and the show is a way to jump start their weight loss efforts. Some of them have a sense of desperation about them, and I understand and identify with that. These are my people.
The basic premise of the show is that the contestants are sequestered on a "ranch" for a few months and organized in teams. Each week they face a new "temptation" and a new "physical challenge". One night they were offered a $2,300 prize if they ate a piece of cake (no one did!); another night, they could read letters from home if they ate a plate of their favorite food (no one did!) Physical challenges include running up mountains or moving a stack of gold bars equivalent to their weight from the bottom of a swimming pool to the side. Winners get extra prizes, sometimes tangibles, sometimes immunity from elimination. Oh yeah, that's the down side: each week, someone is voted out and sent home, which always makes me a little sad, but for the Style Network run, they've added a segment at the end that shows how the contestant does after he/she leaves the show. So far, almost all have continued their fitness quests and are enormously successful. (One guy didn't do so great.)
New episodes air every night at 7:00 (my time), and I tape them to watch after I've treadmilled. As crazy as it sounds, I sit there and watch, huffing and puffing after my 30 minute walk, and I'm one of them. I've avoided the day's temptations and endured my physical challenge. I listen to the lessons they learn and think about how to implement them in my own life. I laugh with them, and I cry with them. I feel their frustrations...and their unfailing hope. My people.
I have hope, too. Hope...and a plan.
Bye for now,
Cammy
So here's something new for the shiny new blog: weekly goals. I'm going to try (for a few weeks anyway) posting my goals and targets for the week. At the end of the week, I'll 'fess up. Maybe the possibility of public humiliation will be a good motivator.
Or maybe not. If this little feature disappears at some point, you'll know it wasn't working.
On to the show: Goals for the coming week...
Exercise: Walk a minimum of 30 minutes per day, every day, with 3 days of 1 hour walking; also 3 yoga sessions
Diet: 5 fruits and vegetables a day, every day
Organization: Straighten out home office and master bedroom, top to bottom.
Fun and relaxation: Zoo trip!
I'll let you know next weekend how it went. Wish me luck. Or maybe strength.
Bye for now,
Cammy
Sheesh. You don't use a blog for a year or so, and they assume you're not going to be back. Since Blogger doesn't seem to recognize my sign in info anymore (I'm sure it's nothing I'm doing wrong), I'll just start over. If you want to see what I was up to before, you can click here.
But life goes on. Not much has changed about me in the past year. Still living in my singlespace. It's still disorganized, because I'm still disorganized. But I'm ever hopeful.
I'm also still struggling with too much weight, but I think I've got the beast wrestled into submission for now. I'm having to start over on my exercising (nasty sinusitis!), but this weekend was really productive: 2.5 hours of walking and one yoga session. And no major food problems. All things considered, I'm feeling pretty good about me right now.
Writing is...okay, I don't know what writing is anymore. It's a long story that I can't seem to find the words to tell, but I'm working on it. Restarting my blog is step one.
Lots of restarting and renewing going on, so maybe it's a good thing to have a shiny new blog. Even if I am the same old me.
Bye for now,
Cammy
