Not to count my chickens before they hatch, but I've already been thinking about what I should do to celebrate once I make it to 100 pounds lost. Monica asked me the other day what I would do once I stepped on the scale and saw the number I wanted to see, and it's gotten me thinking. I have a big reward planned for after I make it to 100, but it's not the kind of thing I can do the same day. I weigh in on Fridays, so I'll be headed to the office shortly after weighing in (unless it is Friday, March 11, because then I'll be headed to the airport later that day to fly to England!).
So, this is where you come in. You can vote in the poll below and/or make suggestions in the comments. How should I celebrate?
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Endorphins
"Exercise gives you endorphins. Endorphins make you happy. Happy people just don't shoot their husbands, they just don't."
Ah, the motivational words of Elle Woods. I'm sure there were many important lessons to be gleaned from the film classic Legally Blonde, but this is the one that continues to stick with me.
It amazes me how a good workout never fails to clear my mind and turn my day around. Today I was at a breaking point, ready and willing to use food to comfort me and solve my problems. Instead, I called a friend to talk me off my food-ledge and then put Bons on a leash and went for a long walk. Before I was even out of the neighborhood, I was feeling better.
This was not my first such experience. I may have even blogged about it before. Time after time I am amazed by the way a workout can change my attitude completely. That's part of the reason I love my lunchtime workouts so much. It benefits both mental health and my work to get out of the office and clear my head. It changes my perspective of whatever I'm thinking about or working on.
It makes me think I should go back and watch Legally Blonde again to see what other life lessons I could ascertain. Maybe I should try the bend and snap?
Ah, the motivational words of Elle Woods. I'm sure there were many important lessons to be gleaned from the film classic Legally Blonde, but this is the one that continues to stick with me.
It amazes me how a good workout never fails to clear my mind and turn my day around. Today I was at a breaking point, ready and willing to use food to comfort me and solve my problems. Instead, I called a friend to talk me off my food-ledge and then put Bons on a leash and went for a long walk. Before I was even out of the neighborhood, I was feeling better.
This was not my first such experience. I may have even blogged about it before. Time after time I am amazed by the way a workout can change my attitude completely. That's part of the reason I love my lunchtime workouts so much. It benefits both mental health and my work to get out of the office and clear my head. It changes my perspective of whatever I'm thinking about or working on.
It makes me think I should go back and watch Legally Blonde again to see what other life lessons I could ascertain. Maybe I should try the bend and snap?
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Whatever it Takes
A couple of weeks ago, Abi, friend and weight loss mentor, emailed me to tell me that her husband had said that I need to do "Whatever it takes" to make it to 100 pounds, because he felt I had some sort of mental block.
Whatever it takes.
At first I asked if that meant he was advocating starvation, but he wasn't.
My second response was kind of "Isn't that what I've been doing?"
But since then, I've kind of taken "Whatever it takes" as a personal mantra. When I come rushing back to work after a solid lunchtime workout at the gym, I think "Whatever it takes." When I turned down a free breakfast biscuit after already eating a healthy breakfast at home, I thought "Whatever it takes." When I think I'd rather skip an evening swim because I haven't been home much lately, I think "Whatever it takes." When I came back from a weekend away and set to work making my weekly meals right away, before unpacking or before I caught up on my television shows, I thought "Whatever it takes."
I think you get the picture.
I'm still not perfect. I've still caved in the presence of the leftover Valentine's Day candy that has been present around the office. But I really want to make it to 100 pounds before I leave for England in 2.5 weeks. That's 3 weigh-ins and 4.5 pounds to lose. I just have to stay focused and determined. I can do this.
Whatever it takes.
At first I asked if that meant he was advocating starvation, but he wasn't.
My second response was kind of "Isn't that what I've been doing?"
But since then, I've kind of taken "Whatever it takes" as a personal mantra. When I come rushing back to work after a solid lunchtime workout at the gym, I think "Whatever it takes." When I turned down a free breakfast biscuit after already eating a healthy breakfast at home, I thought "Whatever it takes." When I think I'd rather skip an evening swim because I haven't been home much lately, I think "Whatever it takes." When I came back from a weekend away and set to work making my weekly meals right away, before unpacking or before I caught up on my television shows, I thought "Whatever it takes."
I think you get the picture.
I'm still not perfect. I've still caved in the presence of the leftover Valentine's Day candy that has been present around the office. But I really want to make it to 100 pounds before I leave for England in 2.5 weeks. That's 3 weigh-ins and 4.5 pounds to lose. I just have to stay focused and determined. I can do this.
Monday, February 21, 2011
Swimming
Man, I love swimming. There's nothing else like it. You're alone with only your own thoughts to entertain you. You can think through any problems or make mental to-do lists. You feel good and tired when you're done, but not sore or in pain.
I'd swim every day, if it were easier to accommodate swimming workouts. It's just difficult to accomplish during my lunch hour, and I can't commit to it regularly after work.
I was thinking last week about how I wish there was a race that was a biking/swimming race so I wouldn't have to run. I've been a total slacker in my running lately and will have to completely re-learn how to be a runner when I'm ready. But then I went on last week's cycling adventure, and I started doubting my biking confidence.
But swimming, swimming will never let me down. Tonight I jumped in the pool planning to swim for 45 minutes and didn't stop to look at the time until I had been in there for 53 minutes.
Do you have one particular workout that you love?
I'd swim every day, if it were easier to accommodate swimming workouts. It's just difficult to accomplish during my lunch hour, and I can't commit to it regularly after work.
I was thinking last week about how I wish there was a race that was a biking/swimming race so I wouldn't have to run. I've been a total slacker in my running lately and will have to completely re-learn how to be a runner when I'm ready. But then I went on last week's cycling adventure, and I started doubting my biking confidence.
But swimming, swimming will never let me down. Tonight I jumped in the pool planning to swim for 45 minutes and didn't stop to look at the time until I had been in there for 53 minutes.
Do you have one particular workout that you love?
Saturday, February 19, 2011
Workout Playlist, Part 2
1. According to You, Orianthi (I just stumbled across this on Itunes, but I love it.)
2. The Power of Love, Huey Lewis and the News (classic 80's)
3. Baby, Justin Beiber (I know, I know, the shame of it!)
4. Male Prima Donna, Subtle Sexuality (Yes, this is the one single released by The Office's girl power duo Erin and Kelly. It is great fun and available on Itunes.)
5. Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It), Beyonce (strong beat and fun to sing to!)
6. Live Like We're Dying, Kris Allen (so inspirational for making your life count!)
7. Accidentally in Love, Counting Crows (lots of fun!)
8. I Think We’re Alone Now, Tiffany (My first jazz dance recital piece was choreographed to this song. Yes, it’s true I had formal dance training from the age of 3 until 7)
9. Must Have Done Something Right, Relient K (first heard this when Amie and Daniel played it at their wedding in 2007. I think of that whenever it comes on.)
10. Boys of Summer, The Ataris (Good for some light headbanging)
11. Closer to Fine, Indigo Girl (Can’t explain it, it’s just good)
12. Far Away, Ingrid Michaelson (beautiful)
13. Gonna Make You Sweat, C & C Music Factory (kind of a no-brainer)
14. Bust A Move, Glee Cast (I listened to this so much, I had to temporarily remove it from my playlist)
15. Champion, Queen Latifah (Awesome, inspirational song)
16. Burning Love, Elvis (If you move your pelvis like the King would to this song, you can burn serious calories)
17. Walking on Sunshine, Katrina and the Waves (This song was playing in my headphones as Cindy, Stefanie and I neared the finish line at my first 5k…it powered us through!)
18. Almost, Bowling for Soup (I have more boy rock songs than this on my playlist, but this is one of the best.)
19. P.Y.T.-Pretty Young Thing, Michael Jackson (In all honesty, several King of Pop songs are on my full playlist)
20. I’m Outta Love, Anastacia (Try and not dance when this comes on, just try)
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Haikus for Health
A few haikus:
____________________________________
Dieting is hard
Being overweight is hard
Time to choose your hard
____________________________________
Food tried to rule me
I ate more when sad or mad
No more; I rule me
____________________________________
Hated exercise
Made commitment to be fit
Now lost without it
____________________________________
PS I was totally inspired to write haikus by this post on Able-Bodied Girl's blog.
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
My Cycling Adventure
The weather has been spectacular lately, so I've been taking as many workouts as possible outside. Today when I got home from work, I was excited to take my bike out on the road. I also needed to make a run to the library, so it was the perfect excuse to save some gas, complete my errand and be just a tad bit greener.
Now, it should be known that I don't own a bike, but my sister loaned me hers at the end of last summer to keep indefinitely. I only got to ride it a handful of times before it got too cold. It has some different gears, but I don't really know how they work or how many there are. I mostly just ride and adjust the gears when going up and down hill until it feels right. I'm also not the best at steering. I have a tendency to lose my balance and jerk the wheel erratically.
So today I took off, towards the library, as soon as I got home from work. I'd like to say that biking was a good way to explore my home town, but that would be a lie. The area between my house and the library is not the nicest of areas, and the sidewalks are full of overgrown weeds, broken glass bottles and other trash. Oh, and today is garbage day, so I was also dodging trashcans. I was racing against the sun setting, so I had to take the most direct route to and from the library. Plus, because of my erratic steering and the heavy traffic next to me (I rode the whole way there and back on the sidewalk, because the streets I took are so busy.), I had to focus just on the bit of sidewalk directly in front of me and couldn't look around to enjoy the scenery.
So I suppose I could of found a prettier place to ride my bike, but it's amazing how freeing it feels to be able to get somewhere with just my feet on some pedals and no car. It also was exciting, trying to get there and get back as fast as possible. Plus, it just feels like I accomplished something with my workout, you know?
So I'm not sure I have a point for this particular blog, except to share my little adventure with you. And to remind you that workouts don't have to involve a gym or a treadmill. If your workouts bore you, maybe you just need to get a little bit creative with what you call a workout?
Now, it should be known that I don't own a bike, but my sister loaned me hers at the end of last summer to keep indefinitely. I only got to ride it a handful of times before it got too cold. It has some different gears, but I don't really know how they work or how many there are. I mostly just ride and adjust the gears when going up and down hill until it feels right. I'm also not the best at steering. I have a tendency to lose my balance and jerk the wheel erratically.
So today I took off, towards the library, as soon as I got home from work. I'd like to say that biking was a good way to explore my home town, but that would be a lie. The area between my house and the library is not the nicest of areas, and the sidewalks are full of overgrown weeds, broken glass bottles and other trash. Oh, and today is garbage day, so I was also dodging trashcans. I was racing against the sun setting, so I had to take the most direct route to and from the library. Plus, because of my erratic steering and the heavy traffic next to me (I rode the whole way there and back on the sidewalk, because the streets I took are so busy.), I had to focus just on the bit of sidewalk directly in front of me and couldn't look around to enjoy the scenery.
So I suppose I could of found a prettier place to ride my bike, but it's amazing how freeing it feels to be able to get somewhere with just my feet on some pedals and no car. It also was exciting, trying to get there and get back as fast as possible. Plus, it just feels like I accomplished something with my workout, you know?
So I'm not sure I have a point for this particular blog, except to share my little adventure with you. And to remind you that workouts don't have to involve a gym or a treadmill. If your workouts bore you, maybe you just need to get a little bit creative with what you call a workout?
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