Calorie Grazer Math Hater

Never, ever did I think MY healthy journey would include counting calories.  As I tell my students, never say never.  After doing some research, I've discovered that counting calories is not what it used to be.  With today's technology, it's so much easier!  Basically, this got started because a good friend of mine and her husband were actually concerned that when I started eating better and adding exercise that I might not be eating enough calories for what my body needed to lose weight.  Ironic, huh?  This actually ties in with some other news I've seen about women who have the "fat gene" and PCOS.  Anyway, I digress.  After checking out sites such as Livestrong.com and Loseit.com and I found that free websites make tracking calories easy and eye opening.  While I think both sites have great information, Loseit is a bit more user friendly for me.  Both figure out how many calories you should be eating a day based on your age, weight, height and gender.  Both have phone applications if you want to download or if you do not have that type of cell you can enter all your meals via computer.  Their database of foods is large so all I have to do is enter in what I eat and how much and it figures out the calories for me!  Yeah!  Trust me, I hate math.  Believe it or not, I also like the accountability of logging in what I eat all day.  I may not do this forever, but for now it's important. 

I am learning I work best as a grazer.  Seriously.  I need to eat a little bit all day long.  My body and brain function much better this way.  I stay happier and more focused and I'm less likely to binge or have rash cravings.  I'm fine without traditional "meals" per say.  So, I graze and I keep track of everything I munch on.  The other cool feature about Loseit.com, for example, is that in addition to adding food, I can log in exercise.  It has a big list of exercises to pick from and I can select how long I did it and at what intensity.  Based on my age and weight, the program calculates how many calories I burned and logs it for me!  Love it. 

Every week of this journey I am arming myself with one or two more pieces of knowledge followed by an action.   Each small step is important.  Here's another example: knowing we eat out at least once a week, I downloaded a few applications that provide nutritional information for many restaurants so I can know ahead of time what to order.  I'm not going to deprive myself.  I can still eat good food...I just need to be aware.  What I sometimes think is the healthy option is not always the best way to go! 

As I said in my previous post, I get tired and overwhelmed at times.  I feel like I'm a journey that is never ending.  In a sense it is.  But, at other times, I feel empowered.  I'm feeding myself with knowledge and strength.  Want to know new exercises, I'll share.  Interested in brain food, let me know.  Curious about high fiber snacks, I got your back.  This is how I keep my magic bag full of new skinny chick treats so I can graze... And now here I am, a math hater, a calculator carrier, counting calories.  Thank God for modern technology! 

Big Girl Camp?

I'm feeling frustrated right now. It's like I want the rest of my world to stop while I focus on this journey. I'm suddenly and instantly overwhelmed. I finished my workout today, and I should have been pumped. All I could feel was a sense of sudden dread. We're behind on laundry, work is stressful, and the real meals that need cooked require using fresh ingredients and I'm too tired to mess with it! Can't everything just STOP...at least for awhile so I can just DO this?! I want to read articles and books, stretch, exercise, plan, have time to clean vegetables, pack lunch, keep my eyes on the prize, etc. As it is now, I'm feeling a bit half-assed at many things. Seriously, how much easier and faster could this process be if I could devote more time and attention. Ugghh. I need to be sent to a ranch or a camp or given paid leave or something. I know there's a fat camp in Minnesota but it costs about $2,000.00 and, well, it's colder there. Deep breaths.

Quick Update...

Weighed in this morning and lost 4.6 pounds.  Yes!  This means I've shed 8 pounds since January 3rd.  I will take it.  Today officially begins the fourth Monday of my getting fitter journey and while it hasn't been a cinch, I'm still playing to my dark strengths: being stubborn, fiery, and a little compulsive.  I hope I can keep this up as the harder days approach. 

Stinking Scale (play nice)

What's weighing on my mind at the moment is tomorrow's weigh in.  I have, rather coldly, turned a blind eye to the scale sitting ominously in the corner waiting to feel my feet step apprehensively upon it's surface to weigh judgment upon me without justice.  Last week, even though my monthly visitor came and spent the entire week with me, I could not resist the pull of the scale calling my name almost every day.  I ate well and worked hard but each morning as I slid onto that fiend my confusion and frustration rolled as the numbers shifted  up, down, up, and barely down.  I'm sure I was bloated...right?  I mean, all that hard work and I only lost one pound. 

This week, no monthly visitor and no extra steps on the scale.  It tried to beckon me and I resisted its pleas.  I have not stepped on the scale since last Monday.  Here is what I am currently telling myself: regardless of the number glaring up at me tomorrow morning, I've completed over five hours of exercise this week and I'm truly eating healthy.  I do feel better.  Take that!  Blueberries and kiwi are my new fruit friends.  My purse is always full of "skinny chick treats" and I'm carrying a freaking water bottle for goodness' sake.  OK, if I'm being completely honest, I do still hope the scale of justice tips in my favor!

On another note, here are some simple ideas I'm exploring.  Every movement we make consumes calories.  This includes my bigger workouts but it also includes cooking, brushing my teeth, pushing a grocery cart, stretching, dancing around my living room, an extra trip to fill my awesome water bottle at the fountain, etc.  Basically,  I just need to move more, a little longer and a bit more intentionally.  Next, is food.  From the beginning I've said this journey is about being healthy and not about dieting.  We all need food and I, for one, am a foodie.  I'm having fun reading about healthful food options, foods for brain power and I'm discovering many things I like that surprise me.  My repertoire is expanding.  It's something new to be educated about, and, most importantly, I'm not starving myself or grumpy or bitter or bound by rules. 

I will stay standing and I will finish what I started!  Wish me luck tomorrow morning...

p.s.- Glee Version of "Dream On" with Neil Patrick Harris and Matthew Morrison is an awesome workout song for motivation!

Bob My Builder

I have officially worked out four days a week for two full weeks. My hope is that if I continue like this for 4 full weeks it will become habit!  Supposedly, research says repeat something for three weeks and it shall become habit, but I figure 1) I'm stubborn and 2) working out is not in my blood. Therefore, I better add some cushion.  I'm just waiting until magically, it sticks, and I wake up one morning and become one of those obnoxiously obsessive people (yes, right now I think they are obnoxious) who just must work out at least five days a week or they don't feel complete! Of course, I do have obsessive issues.  I mean, I can totally see myself addicted to exercise.  hahahahaha.

On a more serious note, I've decided on my new motto: "stand up and finish what you started."  I saw it on this season of The Biggest Loser. It's a quote from Bob Harper (the trainer). Now, I don't typically watch this show and I was leery this time. On one hand, I want to be inspired, but on the other hand, I don't want to be discouraged by the huge numbers these people are dropping on the scales each week. Let's face it. In reality, I work during the day and can't exercise five hours at a time, I don't have a trainer, there are no medics next to me when I'm working out, I'm not secluded from other people and restaurants and I don't have someone helping me with food.  However, I really like a couple of their workout videos and I think Bob is adorbs, so, I turned it on to see what, if anything, I could glean from their process. Here's what I got.
1.  Hallelujah...there are some people bigger than me on the show.
2.  Two people, with lots of weight still to lose, already lost 100 pounds, on their own, before getting on the show.
3.  If they can work out that hard, I can work out as hard as I am if not harder.

Another quote that resonated with me, from Bob of course, was during a conversation he had with a guy who kept focusing on all the weight he had to lose and he kept feeling defeated before he really got started.  Bob said, "We gotta think about what we gotta do today...
otherwise it will just mess with your head."  Love it!

P.S.- I now, as of three days ago, am carrying around a water bottle and actually drinking from it and...wait for it....refilling it!  One more positive change.  

Wonder Woman, Wonder Woman (minus the satin tights)

Why isn't it simple to lose weight?  First of all, I for one, lack patience and like many Americans with addictive personalities, I like instant gratification.  However, anything of sustainable value does not come with speedy rewards.  It's hard.  It's gritty.  It's time consuming.  Unlike most addictions, including food addictions, where gratification is instant, that which is diligently accomplished by the sweat of one's brow has no immediate result for good behavior.  Therefore it is important that I outline MY own health plan and find ways to see and appreciate the real and authentic benefits of the albeit small but beneficial successes along the way. It takes time to lose weight and the more weight you want to lose the more time it takes.  As much I may say the numbers on the scale do not control me, I must have other motivations.  For example, I just weighed in this morning and I only lost one pound.  To me, the scale is not tipping too far in my favor considering the amount I’m busting my butt.  If I’m not going to get defeated, I need to find more than that one-pound to hang onto.  Here it goes.  I specifically feel stronger in my legs from working out 3-4 times per week.  And for some reason, I seriously seem taller.  I like that. 

My pastor once said, "Sometimes the hardest things are the things that bring us the most freedom." My picture right now is Wonder Woman.  Granted, she looks a bit manly here, but I remember watching her as kid and admiring her strength.  You know what else I like, she’s not stick skinny.  She’s got curves.  What I’m doing is hard and emotional but I’m continuing to battle it out.  I've got my eating plan in place, a good support system with friends and family, and an attitude of strength!

So to leave you...check out the lyrics to the Wonder Woman theme song!

Wonder Woman, Wonder Woman.
All the world's waiting for you,
and the power you possess.

In your satin tights,
Fighting for your rights
And the old Red, White and Blue.

Wonder Woman, Wonder Woman.
Now the world is ready for you,
and the wonders you can do.

Make a hawk a dove,
Stop a war with love,
Make a liar tell the truth.

Wonder Woman,
Get us out from under, Wonder Woman.
All our hopes are pinned on you.
And the magic that you do.

Stop a bullet cold,
Make the Axis fall,
Change their minds, and change the world.

Wonder Woman, Wonder Woman.
You're a wonder, Wonder Woman.

The Challenge!

I received an intriguing text yesterday.  This was a call to battle, a battle of wills, a will to win!  The challenge, a friend and I put in ten dollars each month for three months and at the end of April, the winner, or in this case loser of the most pounds, gets the cash.  Now, while cash is nice, payment may actually come in the form of a well-deserved shopping trip of some sort.  As most of you know, when it comes to playing games, I have a, well, competitive spirit.  To turn down this offer would be difficult.  On one hand, I began this journey for the sole purpose of getting healthier.  To keep things simple and focused, rather than going psycho over numbers and diet plans; this is still my standing.  However, who am I to deny a friend in need of a little jumpstart, right?  If I'm motivating their need to get healthier too, who am I to be the defeatist?  So, here's what I figure.  I can battle and still focus on my own plan (eat good, energy producing, brain smart, healthy food all day and exercise 3-4 times per week).  This is what I have been doing.  In fact, we just went back to the store tonight and restocked the skinny chick treats.  My "carry on" bag is always full.  I worked a long day and came right home and exercised before going out with the man.  My point, why not throw a little competition in the mix for three months.  After all, I'm going to be on this journey for a long time. Now, I'm sure if my friend is soliciting me with this competition, said friend means business as well!  Well...

Bring it on! :-)

By the way, found this quote:

"Everyday do something that will inch you toward a better tomorrow."