Running! Running! Running!

I've been to the gym both days this week and plan to go today. I'm running a full 20 minutes, okay, I did 20 on Monday but only 15 on Tuesday. But, I'm running and I'm doing better than I thought I would in light of all the inconsistency in the last 6 weeks. I'm pleased and hopeful.

I want to note that I'm not setting myself up to fail this holiday season. I plan to keep up my exercise, indulge a little, but make sound food choices the larger part of my week. I figure I'm going to be on this merry-go-round for the rest of my life, I might as well pace myself! What are your plans for not over-doing his Christmas and New Year?

Zumba!

I went to a Zumba class and I love it! I'm not very good at it, but it's so fun. The music is up and sexy and the moves make me feel young. Again, I'm not very good, I look like an old white lady trying to bust-a-move, but who cares, it's fun. This is going to be my new Monday and Wednesday night exercise date. Tuesday and Thursday, it's running on the tradmill. Thanksgiving is next week so I know it will be a slow week, but I will go Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday for sure!

Active Kidd

We have a new publication here in Auburn called Active Kidd. It's a local magazine that focuses on activities for kids like gymnastics, swimming, martial arts, and more! They are publishing things like when soccer and baseball sign-ups are and even a list of Kidd Runs, fun runs for youth of all ages. What a great idea!

I plan to submit an article for the next issue and ZipperBack Gloves is advertising. What better place to let people know about our gloves than a publication that promotes playing outside? Though many of the activities are focused on Placer county, there is plenty of good information about healthy lunches, candy and dentistry & Halloween and so much more!

Check them out on line at http://www.activekidd.com/.

15 Minutes

Create a burn. Speed walk when you normally toodle, take the stairs instead of the elevator, and ride your bike when you can instead of drive. Look for "burst of energy" opportunities. You're gonna be amazed by how many mini workouts you can squeeze into a day. If you normally take your dog for a walk after dinner, alternate one-minute bursts with five minutes of brisk walking. Start with 15 minutes and build up until you're sprinting for five minutes and walking for one.

If you're anything like me, even that little success will fuel your fire to do more and go farther. No matter, short or long, it's all good!

10 Minutes

Build up to more time. Do some toning exercises while at work. To tighten your behind, stand with your feet apart, holding on to your desk for balance. Slowly lift one leg out two feet out to the side, squeeze your buns and slower lower it back down. Repeat and switch legs. To tone your arms, sit upright in your chair and press the palms of your hands together (like you're praying) in front of your chest, hold it for five slow breaths Relax and repeat four times.

It's a series of little actions that make the job easier and once it gets a little easier, you don't mind spending more time doing additional exercises. On Wednesday, 15 minutes!

5 Minutes

Don't worry about a little sweat when you think of getting a moment of exercise in your mid morning work day. If you can make a five minute brisk walk happen, do that. If not stand up and do some stretches. Reach your arms way above your head, look up, reach a little higher on the right and then on the left. Breathe and let your arms down. Now, slowly bend at your waist and touch your toes. Stay down as long as you can and still be comfortable. Finally, put your arms strait out and your sides and twist in fluid easy turns. This little bit of action is enough to get your blood flowing and make you feel invigorated! All it took was a mere five minutes!

Again, it's the small things you can do that keep fitness and exercise on your calendar. On Monday, what you can do in ten minutes.

It's a Struggle

It's a struggle to just enjoy life when you are trying to lose weight. So much of what we consider enjoyment or pleasure involves food. We were camping this weekend and though not all of our activity revolved around chow, it inevitably came back to the coolers and, "What do we have to eat?"

I tried to find balance so that I remembered the trip as enjoyable. I found that having a little of something was enough to participate, but I didn't need to keep helping myself to more. This morning, my weight is up, but you know, it's going to be up and it's going to be down. I'm going back to the gym today and my mental state is that the last time I was there on Thursday, I ran the full three miles! Additionally, my body is starting to show the changes. My clothes are looser and my measurements are all down. With that, up or down, I'm on the right track and plan to stay with it!

I Want To Run A Marathon

I really do. I don't know that I'm committed enough to honestly train to meet that goal, but I do think it's a step in the right direction to even feel an inkling to want to do it. I've been running on the treadmill at the gym and as you know, have started feeling those lovely endorphins. Today, my goal to to run a 5K, which I feel I'm very close to being able to do. Dave can do it now and I bet we could realistically run one together in September. I'll talk to him about it and let you know what he says. Either way, I'm gonna run a fun-run next month!

I Have A New Target!

Dave and I have been working on diet and exercise and Dave has been far more diligent than I have. Last night we lay in bed talking and I recommitted to my plan. I'm looking forward to the trade show in Las Vegas in September as my goal to feel good in my clothes. I'm planning to work out six days, resume my protein shake program, and do a measured meal for dinner.

I don't know why it seems easier when you have an event or date to strive for, but I'll take what I can get. I started yesterday by doing just over 3 miles walk/run, upper body strength training, and ab work. Today will be more of the same. Here I go, again! Smiling!

My Favorite Summertime Drink

I love water with fresh fruit in it. For my bridal shower some eight years ago, I received a very pretty pitcher and glass set that was hand painted with bright yellow lemon slices. I didn't use it initially because I was afraid it would get broken. I woke up one day and realized that more than five years had passed and I wasn't using this pretty pitcher that I love so much. I started that day by filling it with water and adding slices of lemon, lime, and orange. I use whatever fresh fruit I have and this has become my favorite summertime drink! My own fruit infused water! I think it even tastes better because I think it is so pretty!

We're Decluttering The Pantry...

Yet again. We had amassed large quantities of crap food left over from Poobah and the S'mores bar. I took all the cookies to Mason's preschool for a special snack but there was still plenty of little special candies in the box singing to me to eat them. I've managed to stick to working out and if I find I can't get the candy tune out of my head, I eat just a small portion.

I'm going to work out of town for a few days and Dave has advised me that he will be clearing out the crap food while I'm gone. That's sweet music to my ears and I'm ever so grateful!

Hi-Ho, Hi-Ho, It's Off To The Gym I Go!

The struggle continues to get the exercise I need. I've been to the gym twice this week and plan to go today. On Wednesday I ran on the treadmill and it felt so good! I have to be careful with my back, but in fact, I felt so good, it made me want to go back. My diet is great and my less pressure attitude is helping. Dave has been great, too! He's been working out and encouraging me, not pressuring me. It's a journey and I'm working on making it part of my life, not my liefs focus. It's Friday! I love Fridays. I'm off and running to the gym so I can enjoy this Friday evening with my boys! Happy weekend!

Life Keeps Getting In The Way

That's not necessarily a true statement if you make your exercise time a priority. I'm taking responsibility when I say, I've been up to my eyeballs in projects. It's so difficult for me to take an hour and do a tape or go to the gym when ALL I can think about while I'm exercising is the stuff that's still waiting for me to do. I know all the common sense answers to this insanity in that, if I'm not healthy, none of the other stuff matters. Or that I need to make time for myself so I'm more effective for the people who need me. I know, I get it.

The bottom line is that the projects never go away, one may get finished but two more probably started while that one was in progress. Health and fitness are essential to the success of all aspects of our lives no matter how we look at it. I started out to write this entry and make just one more excuse for my lack of motivation. I can't do it. I don't have an excuse, an answer, or a direction. All I can do is put myself on my calendar, work to overcome my complete disinterest in exercise for the moment and keep up with the healthy food choices. And that's all I have to say about that!

We're Home!

And so happy to be here. I'm off to a great start by hitting the gym first thing this morning. We took lots of pictures and though I don't like my size in the images, I love my zest for life. I love that I'm healthy, and happy, and on vacation with people who love me no matter what size I am. Dave even got a pretty good picture of me in the hot tub. Go figure, wearing less looks better! Laughing!

Balance. Keep on keeping on. Make good food choices. Keep the house free from crap food. If you're gonna deviate from the low cal food, make it worthwhile. And know that this this is a journey that has no destination. Every day is a new opportunity to succeed! Yes!

Vacation And Exercise...Do They Really Go Together?

They might if your vacation is rock climbing or backpacking through rough terrain! I have to chuckle because, for all our best intentions, we got only a single day of exercise in during this full week of vacation! I might be wrong, Dave may have gone running twice, but as I write this, he's laughing saying, "Nope, just once."

We brought our workout clothes, I even remembered my DVD, but we have been busy going places, wine tasting, swimming (not the heavy-duty exercise kind), and just enjoying each other. Here's where, yet again, balance comes into play. We are on vacation so the plan is to pick back up where we left off when we get back to our everyday routine at home.

With all that said, I'm not weighing in until I'm a week or two into my normal routine. How do you handle exercise while on a week long vacation?

"Eat This Not That"

While I've been on the road, I've been referring to my new healthy eating bible: Eat This, Not That. This book gives me the skinny on what my healthier options are while I'm not in a position to prepare all my own meals.

Yesterday I ate at Burger King. Per the books advice, I ate a Whopper Jr. that has a mere 340 calories as it's made. I omitted the mayonnaise and cut the calories down to 270! Very cool! I had a few fries and an unsweetened iced tea.

Check out the site and buy the book. It really is a good reference to keep in your car. When you find yourself looking at a restaurant's menu, you'll be better equipped to make a healthier choice. Even if you don't want what's recommended, you can steer clear of the choice that's a full day of calories in one dish. Learn more about this paperback gem at: http://www.eatthisnotthatbook.com/uof/eatthisnotthatbook/

I'm A Little Behind

This title makes me laugh! I wish I were a little behind, because I feel like I have a big one! Laughing! I crack myself up! Okay, I've been on the road since June 18th, so I'm feeling the pressure to keep up.

the good news is that with all this travel, I've not gained an ounce. I've not been keeping up with my exercise, but I've been active. That counts!

I also want to say thank you to Penny and Tania for chiming in even though I haven't been as diligent in my comments back. I'm having some difficulty working in the blog from my mobile device. I love that you're here with me and want you to know I appreciate you two!

Birthday Cake!

Happy Birthday Dave! Yes, I'm gonna eat cake. Not too much, but enough to celebrate with my family. I have to weigh in and measure on Monday, so I don't want to mess up my good streak. I'll let you know how I did camping after I weigh in on Monday. Have a wonderful weekend, I know I will!

This Is SO true!

Don't shop when you're hungry! I can attest to the danger in this practice. I've been in the grocery store and bought five different things to eat on the way home. Crazy! I didn't necessarily eat them on the way home, but they weren't the kinds of things I wanted to eat when I got home either!

Now I make it a hard and fast rule that I eat before I go into the grocery store. If for some reason I'm really hungry, I buy an apple. I can say I've stuck with this, diligently. Do you find that you buy dangerous foods when you go to the store hungry?

Here's A Sour Tip

I read somewhere that if you feel like you're about to really pig out, quickly suck on something sour: a pickle or a lemon. It said if you suck it for a while, it may make your sweet craving go away. I tried it with the pickle and that just made me want to eat a tuna fish sandwich with potato chips! I like a little crunch with my sandwiches! Laughing. Maybe it will work for you!