01/04/2009 18:39
Good news from 2008!
I exercised an average of 3.5x per week in 2008!
I had no idea it was that consistent. Many of those were 30+ minute walks, with some other more intense stuff thrown in, but it is exercise. And it is consistent and a pretty darn good rate because for many of those months, I wasn't pushing myself. So this feels like an unexpected treat I gave myself without even completely realizing it. How cool is that?!?!?
This makes me feel much more confident about my coming year. I need to bump up the intensity and rate a bit since I want to loose weight, but I have a habit that I can rely on. Whew!
This Friday is the day I begin my 14 month journey to "Earn 40". I'll post more about that soon.
Happy New Year to my EP friends!
12/30/2008 14:56
a good week
I made my exercise goals last week -- 2 (mini)yogas, 2 cardios, 2 strength training, and 2 core workouts 
Plus we went skiing last week. Friday after this (1/9) I start kicking it up a notch and tracking food/calories. This week's exercise felt really good except for a foot pain I had after my last run/walk and some knee pain I'm having now 
The foot pain has eased and hopefully the knee pain will too. It is pretty minor but still needs to be paid attention to. I don't want to get injured!!! Nothing like that to make exercise/diet plans waaaay more challenging. Have a great week all!
12/21/2008 19:57
blog reVamp
A new blog name, look, and photo for the next leg of my journey.
This March, I turn 39. I'm happy that I've been maintaining in the 160's and with more regular exercise than in earlier years of my life. But! I'm not satisfied to stop here.... I can feel the motivation building steam to really *arrive* at satisfying goal by the time I turn 40 in March of 2010.
Last night I was doing my cardio walk/run intervals and feeling great. As I was in a run interval I thought...."I want to EARN 40." I want to earn a fit, healthy, energized 40 where I feel a sense of satisfied accomplishment and new relationship with my body.
So I'm thinking....I will maintain during the holidays (not a given) and stick to exercise. Then on January 9th, begin in earnest. That gives me 14 months....14 months to get the scale to the 140's and to arrive at a fitness level that I've never found before. That is about 2 pounds a month and that (if you factor in plateaus, vacations, and just real life) is a truly accessable goal. It will still take discipline and persistence over a long haul. But I have a goal in mind that is clear and unmoveable. I'm turing 40 on that date whether I meet my goal or not. And I want to do it AND meet my goal.
11/11/2008 08:48
imperfection
After 3 weeks of solidly meeting my exercise goals, I didn't last week. If I've learned anything in this process, I've learned that it is a process with cycles. Some weeks I can do it, some weeks I don't. And the quickest way to get where I want to go is just keep moving forward and forget the weeks I don't. I can feel that I'm getting slowly closer to my overall goal of having a foundation of motivation to exercise. I actually have the "just do it" energy sometimes, something I've never had.
And after 6 days with no exercise but walking the dog....I'm ready to get back to it!
11/02/2008 21:34
exercise goals....Check!
Yahoo! Made my exercise goals again this week.
- Cardio 3x 20min
- Strength training 2x (assisted pull-ups, assisted dips, dead lifts, squats, chest press, and a few shoulder exercises)
- Core training 3x (superman, plank on elbows, and jaguar)
- Walk 3x 30min
Not doing bad with food, not counting calories still but writing most everything down. Eating better all around, more veggies/fruits and other fiber sources (beans, whole wheat).
By my 40th birthday (March 2010) I should have some solid, kick-butt habits developed and (even better) hope to have reached goal weight by then. This means that sometime in the next 16 months, I'll have to start counting (and limiting) calories. But for now, habit formation is the goal.
Have a great week all!
11/02/2008 18:35
writing down food
Wow! I just got an eye-opener. I gathered up all of the forms where I write down what I eat. I thought I had gone months without recording food at various points since June '07. Thank goodness for writing things down because I now know that I really kept up the habit really well.
Since June '07
- 38 weeks I recorded 100% of my food
- 14 weeks I recorded at least 5 days of my food
- 8 weeks I recorded 3-4 days of my food
- 11 weeks recorded 0-2 days of my food
Feelin' kinda proud right now!
10/27/2008 08:55
Meetin' goals right and left
For the past two weeks, I've met all of my exercise goals! And the week prior, I got really close. Here's my target:
- gym 2x for cardio and strength training
- cardio (home or gym) 1x
- walk 30m 3x
- core training 3x
- small set of yoga 3x
Also been writing down all (most) of my food. Really focusing on getting 5 veggies/fruits a day and begining to pay attention to the All Important fiber. I'm counting fiber intake so I can learn more and be more aware of what I'm eating.
No explicit calorie counting or diet plan at this point. But of course all of these changes are lifestyle changes that are important for weight loss. I really feel like I'm taking it to the next level and am excited about that!
10/20/2008 00:48
lovin' the gym!
Had a great gym workout tonight! Warmed up with yoga, worked my core, 20m on the elliptical (with arm levers), and 3 sets of strength training! My body felt soo good afterwards.
My plan for this week is in place...workouts, food, work, dissertation.
Rarin' to go!
10/15/2008 10:12
Workout yesterday made me feel strong
Had a good workout at the gym: core, cardio, strength. Felt really good! Focusing on getting my exercise in, being mindful of what I eat, and writing it down. I may very well go back to counting calories but not for now.
Today's exercise is a 30m walk + some yoga. And tomorrow is cardio + core workout.
10/09/2008 11:45
On track and feelin' fine
I've felt on track this week. Writing down what I eat (but not counting calories again yet) and exercising according to plan. The exercise is feeling really good! I feel really motivated to do core work again (I need it!) and I'm liking my routine. My abs are sore from low to high, and those low one's are hard to get at.
It has been motivating to think of the 10 pounds less I weight now than last year. More motivating than thinking of loosing 10 more. Strange but true. It's as if the momentum of the prior loss creates motivation.
Have a good day all!
