Keep on swimming'

Last night, Katie and I had plans to go to my gym for a swim.  We both needed motivation to exercise and get in the pool.  And what other better motivation other than each other?!

We got in the pool probably around 9pm, and decided to swim until 10pm.  Then at 10, we bumped it back to 10:30pm.  Then to 11pm.  We swam for 2 hours!  Neither of us have been to a pool for SO long, so we took several breaks, and kt tried not to black out, as she does when working out fiercely.  I did a total of 2200yds I think.  In 2 hours.  I used to be able to do 1000yds in 30 minutes.  So...I'll have to see how long it will take for me to get there again.

But either way, I really enjoyed my last 500yd stretch (I don't know what it's called in swimming terms, but I swam 500yds without taking a break other than to take a breath or turn).  I went at a slower pace and I could feel my body stretching with every arm's reach.  I've never felt my body that long before.  I told Katie that it was like yoga in a way, where I can think about my body and slowly stretch and tone at the same time.  It was just very rhythmic and I loved every bit of it.

Fast Food, NO MORE

Yeah, yeah, yeah...I know...we've all said this before...

NO MORE FAST FOOD!

At least for now.  My goal is to NOT HAVE fast food until I feel like I "need" it.  I "need" it because I'm addicted to it.  And it's not okay.  I honestly feel like I'm not even hungry sometimes, and I see the golden arches and next thing you know...I'm at the drive through.  Even as I'm eating it, I can imagine the food not processing in my body and turning into bad fats because I know how bad it is for me.  And I know that if you leave a McDonald's french fry out for years...it will never go away - it will still hold it's frame...GROSS! Yet, I'm still addicted.

Even while thinking about how I have to give up fast food, I made up exceptions, such as, "when I'm traveling, I can buy fast food."  No.  The final answer is no.  Because once I have it, I will want it again and again and again.  And if I don't have it for awhile, I will buy SO much food because I've missed it all...that I feel ill afterwards.  Great example: White Castle.  I don't eat White Castle that often.  But when I do...I want cheeseburgers, regular burgers, fries (I love their fries), mozzarella sticks, onion peels, chicken rings, and a Dr. Pepper because I don't drink soda that often, and Dr. Pepper used to be my favorite as a child.  I will order about 90% of what I just listed off, and eat about 90% of that.  The rest 10% will be eaten later in the day.  Wtf?!  NOT OKAY!

So...once again...the answer is NO.  Maybe I'll have to give "Fast Food" an acronym "FF" and think of it as "fast fat" or "f*cking fat" or "free fat" or something along those lines to remind me of what I'm doing.

I will have to meditate on this everyday until I feel confident that I've passed the "unnecessary cravings."  I know that millions of other Americans suffer from fast food addiction as well.  I hope to be one less addicted American.

SWEATIN' at the Gym!

Yup....I finally made it back to the gym.  Tuesday was a busy day with appointments, and meetings.  In between, I scheduled time to go to the nearest gym to get a workout in.  I almost didn't go because the Highland Park LTF, has a parking ramp (free for gym members who swipe their lifetime card) and I couldn't find my card that afternoon.  So I freaked out and decided not to go because I didn't know where the gym's actual front door is (I'm only been in through the parking ramp) and I chickened out.  For me, it wasn't worth the stress of trying to figure it out.  Then I decided I was dumb.  So I decided to go, and just grab a parking ticket and pay for it.  I went inside and asked the LTF front desk if they validated parking since I had misplaced my member card.  She told me to grab one on my way out.  I did 30 minutes on my favorite "total body conditioning" elliptical machine at the interval program.  I forgot my headphones so I couldn't listen to my music which is the best part of working out on those machines.  And I hated it because they only have 2 of those machines and they are RIGHT in front of the mirror.  Literally about a foot away from my face.  So it's just really awkward working out that close to a mirror because I can't see a tv.  The only thing I can look at in front of me is the mirror which is the length of the entire wall...so I'm actually looking at everything that is  BEHIND me.  It's weird.  Anyway, I was there for about 1.5hrs, and the parking validating coupon said 30min.  I handed it to the guy and he let me out.  So they must just use those old tickets for no time limit.  This is good to know for the future, in case I forget my card again.

It was good to be back at the gym.  I actually had plans to go to the pool for a 30min swim the next day but due to confusion and schedule changes at work...I wasn't able to go.  As Sasha said in her last blog...people who go to the gym at 4am BEFORE work DO make me feel and look lazy.  And she's right.  It IS possible for us to fit in a workout.  We just choose not to.  ugh.  I hope to get to the gym sometime next week to swim.  Swimming is somewhat of a newer exercise for me, and it's really addicting.  I know that it will just take me one time to the pool...and I'll be going there a LOT more frequently.

ALSO...an update on my last blog entry about being more consistent with the workout apps on my phone...I DID complete that workout program.  So YAY!  That's over.  But I haven't started a new one, nor have I started up on the Push Ups app yet.

Even though I've been a teeny bit more physically active...I haven't lost any pounds yet.  Why?  Because I've been eating shit.  Once again.  I'm choosing to.  I don't know how many drive thru's I've been through this month.  What's wrong with me?!

30 MINUTES TO FAT FREEDOM

I worked out today!!! It felt so good. I've decided to dust off those Biggest Loser Workout videos that I purchased years ago and use them:-) I have a video called Last Chance Workout and it is really motivating; just 30-minutes a day for 6 weeks. What I love about the Biggest Loser is that it's everyday people in the videos working out. Seeing them struggle just as much as I am with each move is much more validating instead of some insanely ripped fitness model who is not even breaking a sweat.  I've always had good results with doing workout videos at home in the past and I hope to see results with this. 30 minutes doesn't seem like a long time but I was drenched in sweat by the end the workout. Jillian Michaels knows what she's doing!

Yesterday at work one of my co-workers was talking about how she wakes up at 4:00 am to go to the gym before work. Made me feel like a total slacker. There is no excuse to not exercise. I don't even have to go to the gym I can just wake up and do a 30 minute video in my living room before work. I'm really proud that I worked out today! Gonna keep it going!
 

Getting back in shape

I haven't really been very active these past few months.  Especially now that Sasha and I have declared an end to this tennis season...we've decided to bike until it snows.  I feel like it takes a little more effort to organize our biking dates.  Or maybe we're just both slacking?  Either way, I can be much more active but I'm just being lazy.  Isn't that the reason why I downloaded those two apps (Workout Trainer & Push-ups) on my phone?  I haven't done them since the first week of October.  I've been meaning to get back on track with those, and I finally did a workout trainer 9 minute session tonight.  I will do another one tomorrow afternoon, and I'll do push-ups on Sunday.  

I'm writing this here, so I can be accountable for it.  

WHY I HATE BEING FAT

11/8/12

Apparently I don’t hate being fat, because I’m still fat and have not lost any weight in the month of October. November is not starting off too well but my goal this month is going to be minimal. I know I’m not even trying to lose weight. If I really hated being fat I would get off my ass and doing something about it.  The best I’ve felt this month was after Lesley and I biked 17miles last Friday. I felt really good about myself even though it was really hard and I was extremely sore the next couple of days it was the best I’ve felt all month. Why can’t I do that every day or at least 3x a week, or even once a week? So my goal: Work out once a week that’s only 4x this month. I have 3 more times this month to work out if I can’t do that something’s really wrong with me. So here’s a top ten list of why I hate being fat:

1. Feeling tired all the time, lack of energy

2. Hating the way I look and feel about myself—low self-confidence/self-esteem

3. Not being able to be active and do the activities I want to do without feeling winded—bike, I want to rock climb, hike, run and be able to keep up with the healthy people I’m doing those activities with.

4. Having sore joints, foot and back pain from the sheer pressure of my body I’m crushing myself

5. Fear of developing diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia and other chronic illnesses at a young age.

6. Not being able to wear the clothes I want or shopping in a normal size.

7. Jiggle and flab everywhere all the time, in addition to skin chaffing.

8. Feeling ashamed to have my picture taken

9. Feeling like an embarrassment/disappointment to friends, family and myself.

10. Feeling like I’m missing out on truly living my life.

Thanks Lesley, for still trying to have faith in me and pushing me to be accountable through blogging. Our bike rides have been the most successful I've felt lets keep it up. Your overall weight loss has been a great motivation!!! You can do it!

November Begins!

October was a busy month...and it came and went so fast...I even turned 29!

Once again, I did not meet my monthly goal.  My goal was to lose 7lbs, that would bring me down to 173lbs.  Even though I didn't meet the goal...I did manage to lose 4lbs, so I'm at 176 today.  I'm seriously proud that I haven't gained any lost weight back since Aug 31st!  That alone, is a huge success in weight loss.  I know that there are still several more years to come...but I'm just trying to focus on one day at a time here.

I guess my monthly goals are getting smaller and smaller...because this month's goal will be to lose 6lbs, so that I'd be at 170lbs by December 1st.  I hope to lose more this month, but I see the pattern already of not being able to lose that many.  Which is fine...as long as I'm still going down not up.  And it's not like I'm going to stop trying to lose weight if I reach my Nov goal by Nov 18.  I'd obviously keep going, and lose more if I can!  But we'll see how this works out.

Speaking of working out...I didn't achieve my workout goals for last month either.  With the winter approaching, I've been craving the cold swimming pool.  I don't know why but I've always loved the feeling of jumping in the cold pool, then being hot and sweaty quickly, and then walking outside in the cold after a warm shower.  Yeah, I'm weird.  So I hope to swim a couple times this month, and maybe get a couple runs in too.  As for the rest...I'll just do what I can do and see what happens.  All I know, is that I have to get some physical exercise in.  I will set more specific goals once I get active again.

GOOD LUCK, SASHA!