Saturday, May 29, 2010

Tough Week

No exercising with the exception of household chores. I kind of watched what I ate at the beginning of the week, then it all fell all to hell. This morning wasn't too terribly bad. I had a venti caramel macchiato from Starbucks, as well as the mini vanilla bean scones. Not too bad, but I've had better. I do have chicken noodle soup for lunch, and dinner- I haven't even thought about dinner yet. We're having the kid's birthday party this afternoon at a park in Corinth, so there will be cake. Just a small one though. We're not going too big. Just a family thing for right now.

The girl and I went to see Wicked on Thursday in Dallas, and OMG. It was AMAZING! I have read the books, and I also have the soundtrack on CD, and am just thrilled with it. The story is indeed a little different than the book, but it is oh so good! I even got a little misty-eyed in a few places. :) The girl loved it, and as soon as it was over was asking to see it again. We may make this a yearly (or whenever it is here) thing. Next on our list is Spamalot. The national tour for next year has not been announced yet, so I'll be sure to keep an eye out.

I also had a chance to talk with the girl about running in a 5k. She is up for it and has been asking to go running with me more often. I think we may get signed up for the TMS 5k that usually happens in November. That way it's not in the heat of the summer (August runs blow in Texas) and it gives us plenty of time to train so there are no more Dash Down Greenville disappointments (42 minutes- seriously???).

I am also thinking of adjusting the way I do this blog. Instead of just freeforming it (and rambling) as I do now, I will have particular sections, like food, exercise, family, et cetera. I'll work something out over the next few days and put it into action as soon as I decide. I think this will certainly help as long as I make sure to blog just before bed.

I'm off to do some reading and finish my coffee. Finishing up one Stephen King novel (Lisey's Story) and continuing with another (From A Buick 8). It's been awhile, Mr King. :)

Thursday, May 20, 2010

Ew. Just- Ew.

So my first week or two didn't go as I had planned. We went back to eating out a lot, and I've gone up on the scale. Totally my fault. I also didn't bring my lunch every day like I should have, so there have been plenty of days (and mornings) that I ate out. Again- totally my fault.

Started over. I stopped at the store last night and picked up a Turkey and Cheddar Lunchable sub kit. It has a little sub, some mini Nilla Wafers, applesauce, and water with a packet of Koolaid. And only 370 calories for the lot, including the packet of mayo I won't touch. So not too bad. Breakfast was two caramel corn rice cakes with some peanut butter. I think my toughest thing is kicking the soda again. I'll just have to ween again by drinking a glass of water minimum for every bit of soda I drink. That shouldn't be too hard.

Exercising has been hard too. I've been putting it off in lew of practicing for our flute choir performance this weekend. Actually tomorrow- YIKES! I think I'm kind of ready. This week I figure while I focus on practicing I'll work on cleaning up my eating. Once the performance is done, I can go back to my exercising. Baby steps. :)

I also need to sit and create my reward chart. Luggage and a passport will of course be the last things, but I was also thinking of throwing in some fabric for a cute skirt pattern I found. Maybe as I lose the weight I can also add to my sparse wardrobe (I have a TON of tshirts though) and also start making some of the skirts and simple shirts I like. I already have one bit of fabric picked out. It's a light breen and pink argyle. LOVE IT.

Okay, so I have to go get some water to supplement the soda I had with my rice cakes. According to my wicked calculations that I whipped up really quickly (thanks, Calculator!) in order get to my goal weight in one full year, I need to lose 1.7 lbs per week.

That is totally doable. :)

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Day One

Today is Tuesday. Today I do kickboxing and free weights.

So Day One is down and in the books, and I have to say I think it went rather well. I brought my workout clothes to the office with me so there would be no reason to go home. Breakfast was a just a cup of coffee, then as a snack I had some cheesy sharks (I like my snacks to be juvenile, tyvm). Lunch was a peanut butter sandwich, Lays, orange Hi-C, and some mandarin oranges in jello. The jello was not that great. I did have 2 cans of Coke Zero throughout the day, supplemented with 40 ounces of water. Not as good as I could have been, but it was certainly better than I have been in the past. Dinner was Subway. I had a 6-inch spicy Italian, on the honey oat bread, with lettuce, tomato, pickles, cucumbers, and green peppers, with some oregano, salt and pepper. I topped it with some baked Lays and Moutain Blast Powerade, and I was good to go. I did have 2 glasses of Coke Zero at the house, though. That was bad.

I did get in some running. After changing here at the office I drove into Denton to South Lakes Park. Good smooth surface (it's all concrete) and I've already got the distances mapped so I know how far I've run. Rather than do the C25K program, I just slapped on my headphones and started running. I kept at a nice slow jog, nothing to completely wear me out, but just ease me back into the act of running. Not like I was ever very fast :) I did 1.67 miles in 21:57, so a very slow pace, but I completed it. Today is going to be a bit trickier, as I have flute choir practice, then orchestra rehearsal, and by the time I get home it'll be very close to bedtime. I think I should have enough time for a 10 minute kickboxing DVD, as well as at least one run-through of the Spartacus workout listed on Men's Health. I know, I know-"Smee, you're a girl! Why are you doing something from Men's Health that's designed for men?" I need to speed up my metabolism, and so far the only thing that has ever worked are exercises geared for men. Maybe it's leftover from my military days, maybe my genes are all jacked up- I don't know. But I know what works, and I think the Spartacus deal will work. Added bonus? Have you seen Andy Whitfield's abs? Amazing! ;)

Yesterday's mood seemed pretty good. There was only slight irritation at some of the calls I was taking. Nothing too horribly bad, however. I read Diablo Cody's "Candy Girl" most of the day between calls and it was a good book. I was pretty relaxed, and was looking forward to running. I did have some trouble falling asleep, but I sometimes do when I take time off from exercising, then jump back into it. I have had a headache though. Still had it when I woke up, which is my fault since I didn't take Advil before going to bed. I think I need to make sure I get to bed at a decent time, especially when I'm on the 7-day shift.

Today will be a good day. I started bad with McD's for breakfast (sausage McMuffin, hashbrowns, coke), but I have rice cakes and peanut butter for snack, then lunch is peanut butter on an English muffin, Doritos, applesauce and orange Hi-C. I should have swapped the Doritos with pretzels, I think. All in all, it'll be a good day. :D

Sunday, May 9, 2010

The Conception

It has taken me ages to really decide how to proceed with this plan. I am 35 (36 in August, but don't tell anyone!) and I have a pretty normal life these days. My childhood wasn't, but that is another story for another day. I'm married to my military sweetheart of near-16 years, and together we've managed to create a girl who is not only smart, but pretty, talented and creative to boot. We live in a simple single-family house with three dogs and a pair of cats, and I have a nice, normal job at a local hospital. I'm even so vanilla I play in a community orchestra and am part of the Girl Scouts. Nothing too overly exciting, I'm afraid.

I have, however, managed to do the right American thing once I got out of the military. I got fat. I got lazy, developed a taste for fast foods, sweets and sodas, and an aversion to working out. I am fat enough that my ass fits into a pair of men's size 42 paints. At 5 foot 3 inches tall, that is not a pretty picture! I know this, and yet I keep eating crap and not working out. Small rewards work for a short time, but after a while they are neglected and eventually the bad habits return. So I've decided to give myself the ULTIMATE CHALLENGE-ALLEGE-allenge (cue dramatic music). Within one years time I want to be at 120 lbs. If in that time I am at my goal weight, I will begin the process of arranging to get to London. I'll set aside money, I'll find local hostels (but no going to parties with hot but strange guys, thank you very much, Eli Roth!) or whatever, but I want to get there and immerse myself in the culture of the country and its history. My mini goals will also be reshaped to reflect the trip, like picking up travel books, new luggage, and the final step- the passport. I think this will be a great step and help me take the weight off by getting me somewhere I've always wanted to visit.

So that's my plan thus far. It's not too bad, really. And it's totally feasible, especially if I can get a deal and make it work for me.

So here we go. I hope you enjoy the ride.

*~Smee

UPDATE:
HOLY CRAP! I'm looking at over $1,000 just in airfare alone, looking online! I think I may have to find sponsorship or grants or something because that's not even food, travel (like a rental car) or lodging. This is going to be hella-interesting to throw together.