Clean Eating & Exercising Consistently

I've been eating clean since Monday, and went to kettlebell class twice, as well as a "The Swing On-the-Minute" drill at home. Yesterday I was down 6 lbs! Or maybe it was 8, I can't remember exactly so I'll say 6.

I know that this is going to slow way down, but I'm not going to worry so much about the scale as about eating healthy, clean food and exercising consistently. The rest of it will fall into place on its own if I do that.

I had entered the swing drill (20 min.) into My Fitness Pal as a 300 calorie workout. I got my new Polar Heart Rate Monitor yesterday and wore it during the drill. Man, I was delusional! According to the HRM I only burned 107 CALORIES! I was delusional. 300 calories?!?!? UGH. I'm going to go to the gym and get a good 60 minutes of cardio in and see what the monitor says I've burnt vs. what the machines at the gym say. Should be interesting. And it will get me into the gym today too!

I'm looking forward to wearing it at kettlebell class on Monday and seeing what kind of burn I get there.

I made a lovely Qui-tatta on Friday. I put lots of broccoli in it, but not enough fresh vegetables. Husband makes a much better one! I used goat cheese in it...next time feta for a little more tang. But it was still delicious. And I've still got a serving of it left. I'm trying really hard to control the portions and eat in more "normal" quantities. I'm looking forward to Tracy coming back to Olympia. We hit it off so well, and it felt like we've known each other all our lives. I want to make her proud. I want to be like her.

Well, OK, maybe not THAT bad-ass! LOL

Summer Jump-Start

My "365 Days of Corpulent Compulsions" blog didn't last even 3 months. And I'm still nearly as fat as I was at the beginning of the year...maybe a few pounds less, but nothing close to where I could have been had I continued on the path.

I've gotten a got kick in the pants though, from someone who is one of the most motivating and encouraging people I know. She is an expert in her field, she looks amazing and is incredibly strong, but best of all, she's been exactly where I am, so she knows.

I discovered her through "Google" as she is a heavy hitter in her field, I became "virtual friends" with her through interactions on Facebook and email, and this past weekend, I was able to spend some real "face time" with her and I can now say that I consider her a dear friend and mentor. With her instruction, advice and support, I know that I can succeed in finally getting full control of my health and my fitness.

Have you guessed who she is yet? She is the great and powerful Tracy Reifkind! The last blog I posted, on March 1st, was about Tracy! If you know nothing of her, then google her!

Better yet, check out her blog: Tracy Reifkind's Training Food and Thought

Or find her on Facebook!

We had a totally amazing day (and half the night) together, first exploring the Farmer's Market in my town, then doing a swing workshop, then drinking wine and eating clams and laughing til our bellies hurt.

Unfortunately the heavens literally opened up before we could really get into the more advanced portion of the workshop, but everyone who was there absolutely loved it and can't wait until she comes back. She lit a whole bunch of fires in her time here, and it's only the beginning!

We hope to bring her back in late summer or early fall for another workshop...one that we can market and promote much better. Everyone who came wants to do it again, plus bring friends. And Tracy also is giving those who wanted the advanced training a "Rain Check". No pun intended in spite of the deluge that absolutely SOAKED them while they were trying to train.

I am freakishly afraid of being hit by lightening and I was watching from the porch - wimp that I am! They didn't let the rain stop them, but when the thunder and lightening cracked directly overhead, they ran for cover! It was seriously one of the most spectacular thunderstorms I can remember in my 53 years here in Washington!

So, as a summary, I've got a new shot of motivation, I quit Weight Watchers and am now tracking on "My Fitness Pal" (free!) and the money I was sending to Weight Watchers will be going to Pilates classes to complement my kettlebell workouts. When Tracy comes back here in a couple months, she is going to be GOBSMACKED (I LOVE that word!) when she sees the progress I will have made by then. BELIEVE IT.

Day 69: I Can. I Will. Watch me.

I have a goal.

I don't know when I will reach it, but I will.

I am going to earn my certification in kettlebells.

I will be able to be an HKC instructor should I choose, and I will be in the best shape of my life!

I've "talked" (via FB msgs) a few times to Tracy Reifkind, who is considered the "Queen of Swing" in the world of kettlebell. She is the most encouraging, the most motivating woman I've ever (not) met! I am doing some serious hero worship on her. LOL

Her husband, Mark Reifkind, is one of only 9 Master RKC Instructors in the U.S. That is the HIGHEST level. They have a gym in San Jose, how I wish I could go train with them a few times!

In 2004, Tracy started swinging kettlebells at age 42, and at 250 lbs. Since picking up a kettlebell, Tracy hasn't looked back. She is in amazing shape and kettlebells helped to erase every sign of her former obesity. Something Tracy wrote on her own blog in early 2008 really speaks to me and helps me forgive myself and believe in myself after struggling with my leg injury for the past year:

"Starting again is not the same as starting over. Every time we start again we don't lose the experience of our first steps, we bring them with us. We don't forget our beginning, we learn from it. And our beginning gave us the base to define where we are currently and where we need to go. I just need to keep moving forward. And if moving forward means healing, then recovery is not moving backwards...it's readjusting the speed of the journey....of the experience."


I will have my own story. And my own photos. And my HKC certification.

And an absolutely AMAZING back!

Day 51 - So Much for "Daily Blogging"

I would love to say that my not blogging for almost a month is because I've been so busy with work and fitness and healthy living and...and...and...

Alas, it's probably 85% because of my tendency to procrastinate and indulge my innate laziness. At this point in my life, I'll probably never change those tendencies, so I must embrace it, and celebrate when I *DO* actually follow through with something.

I have actually been doing really, really well on my healthy lifestyle...following the WW program for the most part, and exercising consistently. So far in February, I have exercised "on-purpose" 16 days out of 19. After today's workout it will be 17 days out of 20.

However...

I had a business trip last week, and was on the road for three days. First day I drove nearly 6 hours to get to my hotel. Water consumption way down, naturally, but I packed all my food and ate very healthy. I had forgotten my personal laptop, AND also forgotten the wifi card for my work laptop, but the hotel had wired internet access. I didn't sleep so great as the bed was uber-soft, so I was in the fitness room at the hotel at 4:30 a.m.! I was at a conference all day, and got LOTS of activity unloading and setting up, running back and forth, packing up and re-loading. The only internet I had was on my Kindle Fire - but at least I had that. Unfortunately, my WW online tools didn't work on the Kindle.

Then...the beginning of the end. The conference coordinator asked if I wanted to take a left over box lunch. Greedy bitch that I am, I took TWO! There were tangerines in them, so they were healthy, right? On my way to my next destination (almost 3 hours driving) I dove into the first box. OMG, it was a fantastic tuna salad on a cheesy kaiser roll. I wish I had savored it longer, but disordered eater that I am, I inhaled it. I had waited too long to eat, and had only a salad for lunch, so waiting too long was my FIRST mistake. My SECOND mistake was taking two boxes, and my THIRD mistake was diving into the second box. That one was vegetarian...and was hummus on a cheesy kaiser. It wasn't that great, but I STILL ate every crumb. Then I grabbed one of the gourmet brownies and ate most of it. OK...I was full now.

When I got to my hotel and settled in, I grabbed a quart of milk I'd packed...my cooler had been plugged in all day (it's powered via either electric outlet or cigarette lighter in vehicle!) and the milk was icy cold. What could be better with a quart of icy-cold milk than the other brownie, the tabbouleh salad and a couple of WW mini bars? FOURTH, FIFTH and SIXTH mistakes.

I decided to NOT get up early the next day (SEVENTH mistake) when I noticed how late it was...I had a meeting at 10 a.m. the next day in Seatac, which was another 2 hours plus drive, so I slept in until I absolutely had to get up and get out the door. I had my WW oatmeal, but also grabbed 6 sausage links from the hotel breakfast bar. EIGHTH mistake.

I ate a healthy "lunch" at my meeting...2 hard-boiled eggs, an apple, a babybel cheese and a couple of tangerines. Looking back, that was my NINTH mistake. Just too little food.

After I drove back to Olympia, I stopped to fill the tank on the motor pool car, and then went inside and got a 12" subway sandwich for $5.00. My TENTH mistake was eating it all by the time I got home from turning in the car. I ate it IN MY CAR and was done with it by the time I got home...maybe 20 minutes?

I pretty much ate nonstop after I got home...I ate some leftover spaghetti that Ken had made the night before (ELEVENTH mistake), I ate the Pork Lo Mein that I had packed with me on the trip but had not eaten (TWELFTH mistake), I ate several sugar-free puddings and a couple of frozen fruit bars...I don't know what else I ate, but it was in excess. And I was weighing in on Sunday morning.

I was going to go to Kettlebells class...I was home in plenty of time to do it, and I really needed to as I hadn't exercised on Friday...but I blew it off. (THIRTEENTH mistake).

Saturday, I again blew off exercising (FOURTEENTH mistake) but I ate pretty healthy. By now, I was so much in the red on my points (having gone through ALL my weekly points and ALL of the 52 activity points I'd earned over the week), but I lost track of by how much. It was very, very significant, and it showed at my WW meeting Sunday morning when I was UP 6.2 lbs. I GAINED 6.2 lbs.

I'm sure that much of it is due to not drinking nearly enough water...but I'm also sure that skipping two days of exercise and eating in such a disorderly way had more to do with it.

At least I'm back on track now. THIS time, I am not going to let an episode like the above throw me off my game for weeks or months. Lessons have been learned, and hopefully by my next trip next month, I will do much, much better.

Day 22 - Snowbound and Unwired

Well, I missed days 19 through 21 because of not having any internet at home! We got our power back (was off for about 55 hours), but we still have no internet, cable, cell phone or land line. I guess it could be much, much worse, but I am having serious withdrawal issues with not having internet or even phone at home!

I've spent at least 6 hours at Starbucks today, getting my online fix. That's kind of pathetic. I guess I won't chastise my kids again for being addicted to their technology. LOL!

I also gained 4.4 pounds this week. People have said I have a good excuse, having been snowed in and all...but it wasn't a reason, it was an excuse that I exploited to the max. I didn't exercise and I could've...shoveling snow if nothing else! I ate without a single thought to tracking or moderating. It was something I could have controlled and triumphed over and I chose not to.

So today I've wiped the slate yet again and I am going to have an AWESOME week. My leg has been really hurting, and I missed a week of PT, but I am not going to let that hold me back. I AM GOING TO HAVE A POWERFUL AND ON PLAN WEEK!!!

Day 18 - Record Snowfall!

Well, the epic snowstorm that was predicted arrived in full glory. I woke up to over a foot and a half of snow!

Needless to say, I didn't even try to go to work...I can't get out of my driveway let alone out of my neighborhood. Fortunately we kept our power, so I just enjoyed looking at the snow from the warmth of my house. I'm sure I'll be staying home tomorrow too. I'm now regretting that I took that week off between Christmas and New Years!

Sophie enjoyed the snow. A LOT!

She actually prefers wearing her coat...otherwise the snow balls up in her bib and her paws and her belly...she is a true Mountain Dog, the way she frolics in the snow is so much fun to watch! And she eats it like it's doggy-candy! Just grabs HUGE mouthfuls of it.

The snow is going to be around for awhile...hopefully it will be gone enough that I'll be able to go to work on Friday at least...but I'm not going to risk putting my car in the ditch if it's bad still. Supposed to be really ugly tonight and tomorrow with freezing rain.

Someone posted something on the WW board today that really threw me for a loop. (A binge on chocolate chip cookie loop.) I had posted about a neighbor whose beagle wandered off, and that I'd left the garage door open in case it wandered by here...and she posted: "try not to close the garage door on his head and kill him or anything. i hear that happens to animals at your house."

WTF??? WHY would she say something like that? My Morimoto got caught in the opener a couple months ago and it was a horribly tragic, heartbreaking accident and she posts THAT on my post? What an unbelievably mean-spirited thing to do. I would be willing to bet that she was a bully in school...either that or she was bullied and lashes out because of that.

I don't know what would cause someone to be like that, but she is not anyone I want to have anything at all to do with. Ever. If she goes to the Lake Tahoe WW GTG, I won't. I'd wish karma would come back and bite her, but I don't want to wish bad things on anyone. I just don't understand the twisted ways some people's minds work.

Day 17 - Waiting for the Epic Snowstorm

We're waiting for what is being predicted as the most significant snowfall in Puget Sound in 30 years. On top of the 8 or so inches we already have.

I hate snow. It should stay in the mountains where it belongs.