Yes, this post is to brag. Usually I don't brag, but today I'm going to. I'm just extremely proud of myself. Today I ran/walked for 5 miles. I went to the Y, and I walked a warm up, ran 20 min straight, walked for 5 min, ran for 20 more min, and then walked for 10 min. In that time I went exactly 5 miles. Yes Karin, this means I can do that race with you...as long as you are OK w/ taking 1 whole hour to do so.
The farthest I've ever ran myself at once is 3.2 miles. The farthest I've ever ran/walked myself has to be around 4 miles (in recent history, I'm sure when I played soccer in high school I might have gone farther.
So, yay me! It shows that hard work does begin to pay off. I will not lose ground, I will keep pushing this! On another subject...the scale says I'm going in the right direction again, the software is working.
Showing posts with label goals. Show all posts
Showing posts with label goals. Show all posts
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Back on the wagon
..and by wagon I mean software.
In 2006 I had my RMR (Resting Metabolic Rate) calculated to determine what amount of calories my body needs just to exist. This came out to 1640. Throw in walking about, and we're likely at about 1800 a day. I haven't had this done in a while, likely it's changed some, but not drastically. Recall most people/commercials etc say 'based on a 2000 calorie diet'? Well, If I don't excercise daily, that will gain me one pound a week. No wonder I gain weight like I'm standing still............
Along with doing the RMR, I bought a software program called Balance Log to track the calories of what I was eating. I started in Sept of 2006, and lost about 10 lbs. Then I stopped, and gained the weight back, though bad habits. I tried again, and again lost some weight (though not the original 10 lbs). I lost interest, and over time, I went to that mass that indicated my need to change my blog, and my lifestyle. As of Monday, I'm back on the software. This time, I've already lost 5-10 lbs on my own (depending on time of day/month etc of weight measurement). But then, I stopped losing. I haven't gained any back, since November, but I'm not making progress either. So, along with my new outlook, I'm going to try the software for a while to track what I'm eating, learn and SEE my bad habits, and be able to work on them. My goal for the software is 20 lbs by July 4. Will I make it? Dont' know. Don't care if I get that low, but 10 is absolutely necessary. Why? Because I did 10 on my own, I need to do 10 w/ the program. No other reason, just that.
So, I put in accurate information for myself, and I've kept track of what I'm eating for 2.5 days. I already see a trend, and it's one of laziness - or perhaps a consequence of being too busy. I need to work on adding more fresh veg and fruits, and less packaged food. Translated - cook my own food more.
As the weather turns nicer, and the sunlight is out more, I will have more motivation I think. Also, I will be able to grow my OWN fruits and veggies, and that will help. Right now I just have to adjust to turning the clocks ahead one hour. It hit me much harder this year than most, or I'm just more tired lately. Either way, I think 'daylight savings' needs to be banned, by court order, at the soonest possible opportunity.
So, track and hold self accountable for calories, go to the Y my 12 times per month, and cook more homecooked foods. That's where I'm going from here.
In 2006 I had my RMR (Resting Metabolic Rate) calculated to determine what amount of calories my body needs just to exist. This came out to 1640. Throw in walking about, and we're likely at about 1800 a day. I haven't had this done in a while, likely it's changed some, but not drastically. Recall most people/commercials etc say 'based on a 2000 calorie diet'? Well, If I don't excercise daily, that will gain me one pound a week. No wonder I gain weight like I'm standing still............
Along with doing the RMR, I bought a software program called Balance Log to track the calories of what I was eating. I started in Sept of 2006, and lost about 10 lbs. Then I stopped, and gained the weight back, though bad habits. I tried again, and again lost some weight (though not the original 10 lbs). I lost interest, and over time, I went to that mass that indicated my need to change my blog, and my lifestyle. As of Monday, I'm back on the software. This time, I've already lost 5-10 lbs on my own (depending on time of day/month etc of weight measurement). But then, I stopped losing. I haven't gained any back, since November, but I'm not making progress either. So, along with my new outlook, I'm going to try the software for a while to track what I'm eating, learn and SEE my bad habits, and be able to work on them. My goal for the software is 20 lbs by July 4. Will I make it? Dont' know. Don't care if I get that low, but 10 is absolutely necessary. Why? Because I did 10 on my own, I need to do 10 w/ the program. No other reason, just that.
So, I put in accurate information for myself, and I've kept track of what I'm eating for 2.5 days. I already see a trend, and it's one of laziness - or perhaps a consequence of being too busy. I need to work on adding more fresh veg and fruits, and less packaged food. Translated - cook my own food more.
As the weather turns nicer, and the sunlight is out more, I will have more motivation I think. Also, I will be able to grow my OWN fruits and veggies, and that will help. Right now I just have to adjust to turning the clocks ahead one hour. It hit me much harder this year than most, or I'm just more tired lately. Either way, I think 'daylight savings' needs to be banned, by court order, at the soonest possible opportunity.
So, track and hold self accountable for calories, go to the Y my 12 times per month, and cook more homecooked foods. That's where I'm going from here.
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Start Small, and The Blog Itself
As I mentioned in my last post, I intend to start now with changes to myself and my lifestyle. No more putting it off. I've also learned, though past experience, that I have a Very Hard Time starting something slow. This tends to be a problem because I burn out and quit. For example: I say "I'm going to start exercising more" and proceed to go out and roller blade 20 miles; not 5 or 6 (which isn't far for me as I like to skate long distances), but 20. Or, "I'm going to start running again" and I go out and run 3 miles as fast as I can (which is a long distance for me because I hate running). Then, tired, frustrated at my inability to do well, and fed up...I stop.
Goal 1: Start Small.
It may not seem like a hard concept. Staring small, take a small bite of the pie, and work my way up. For me, though, it's extremely hard. I am not a patient person (and admitting that to myself has taken 27 years). I like things done NOW! I like and hate knitting for that very reason. I love that you see the instant gratification. Finish row of knitting, can see row of knitting. I hate it because you still have 200 more rows of knitting before you can see the final project. The same is true for me of working out, and trying to 'get in shape'. I go to the gym, I work out, I 'feel the burn', but I still have a whole lot more of this before I see the end result. It's worse on working out and etc, because it shouldn't just be a 'lose 10 lbs' or 'one year' goal...it should be a change of lifestyle and an 'always thing'. So. Very. Hard.
So, Goal number one for me is to Start Small. Make a small change, work at small change, when it becomes a habit, move on to the next small change. Also, as part of this, I will be prioritizing the changes, and listing them as 'easier' and 'ouch'. Easier, relatively, of course is something like take my vitamin every day. 'Ouch' are the changes in habit of diet and exercise because, face it...I love food.
Goal 2: The Blog Itself
"What does that mean?" you ask. I am the type of person who can work out by herself. I can make goals. Really. But, I am also the kind of person who will allow herself to cheat. If I don't hold myself accountable, somehow, I will do 9 situps instead of 10. I will skip a day if I 'just don't feel like it', I'll find myself eating that extra snack. I know the only one I'm cheating is me. But that little sentence does nothing to stop it. I'm hoping 'the blog itself' will help with that accountability....I do not intend to be using this space as a 'look at me, look at me! lookey how cool I am.' place. Nor do I intend to hurt anyones feelings if the topic I am discussing seems to...strike home. This is something to help me stay accountable to myself. If you have advise, encouragement, constructive critism, want to play along, that's awsome!! It's always more fun when you are not in this kind of endeavor alone. I also realize that other peoples methods and goals are going to be different than mine. That is cool too. :P (Here ends the 'disclaimer' part of this blog). I mentioned a few posts ago that the reason 'whimsical doodles' has a new look and new name is because it had outgrown its original purpose, and that is true. "the blog itself" is the other reason for the new name and new look. I am not forgetting about the path behind (some parts of it are circular and I'll find myself on them again and again), which is why I didn't sunset Whimsical Doodles.
Originally, I was all gung ho to start a new blog, even a new webpage about life changes and fitness goals and using it to keep myself accountable. (See goal number 1). I sat down to create the blog for it, and...NO TITLE would come to my mind (Recall with Blogger one starts with title and description). I had a few ideas, but they all sounded - wrong - after some thought. Then, when I was finally frustrated enough to stop and think...the idea of changing my current blog came to mind and the process went smoothly. At first I didn't even think about why. I just thanked my lucky stars and got to work. The title - there it was, I found a template that didnt' completely irritate me (although it has some quirks I want to be rid of), I had a new description, found some pictures, and away I went. Then I thought about it. The reason I had trouble with creating a new web page/blog was because it was too big a chunk. I was falling into old traps. (DUH! - but I'm not always the brightest when it comes to my own foibles.)
Originally, I had drafted the first post in my mind, and thought - hey, others might want to join me, I can even make it editable by many people, and we can all use it.... It may get there, someday. Maybe people who read this will like the idea and want to jump on board. We can be like a writing group or book club, except we're clubbing our life changes. Maybe we'll have a website where we each have our own personal blogs linked instead, or maybe we'll have a community elsewhere. I have no idea. But the point is, that wasn't where this needed to start. I was starting in the middle, not at the beginning. I was wanting to be done before I had begun.
I can see that Goal 1 is going to be an 'ouch', but for me, it's a life lesson, one of the quinteciential building blocks of my path...I have found a wa yto help me with my goals, and my path...this, the blog itself. Now, I'll just have to tag this post and reread it often so I don't lose myself on some of those lovely circular paths I have mentioned.
Goal 1: Start Small.
It may not seem like a hard concept. Staring small, take a small bite of the pie, and work my way up. For me, though, it's extremely hard. I am not a patient person (and admitting that to myself has taken 27 years). I like things done NOW! I like and hate knitting for that very reason. I love that you see the instant gratification. Finish row of knitting, can see row of knitting. I hate it because you still have 200 more rows of knitting before you can see the final project. The same is true for me of working out, and trying to 'get in shape'. I go to the gym, I work out, I 'feel the burn', but I still have a whole lot more of this before I see the end result. It's worse on working out and etc, because it shouldn't just be a 'lose 10 lbs' or 'one year' goal...it should be a change of lifestyle and an 'always thing'. So. Very. Hard.
So, Goal number one for me is to Start Small. Make a small change, work at small change, when it becomes a habit, move on to the next small change. Also, as part of this, I will be prioritizing the changes, and listing them as 'easier' and 'ouch'. Easier, relatively, of course is something like take my vitamin every day. 'Ouch' are the changes in habit of diet and exercise because, face it...I love food.
Goal 2: The Blog Itself
"What does that mean?" you ask. I am the type of person who can work out by herself. I can make goals. Really. But, I am also the kind of person who will allow herself to cheat. If I don't hold myself accountable, somehow, I will do 9 situps instead of 10. I will skip a day if I 'just don't feel like it', I'll find myself eating that extra snack. I know the only one I'm cheating is me. But that little sentence does nothing to stop it. I'm hoping 'the blog itself' will help with that accountability....I do not intend to be using this space as a 'look at me, look at me! lookey how cool I am.' place. Nor do I intend to hurt anyones feelings if the topic I am discussing seems to...strike home. This is something to help me stay accountable to myself. If you have advise, encouragement, constructive critism, want to play along, that's awsome!! It's always more fun when you are not in this kind of endeavor alone. I also realize that other peoples methods and goals are going to be different than mine. That is cool too. :P (Here ends the 'disclaimer' part of this blog). I mentioned a few posts ago that the reason 'whimsical doodles' has a new look and new name is because it had outgrown its original purpose, and that is true. "the blog itself" is the other reason for the new name and new look. I am not forgetting about the path behind (some parts of it are circular and I'll find myself on them again and again), which is why I didn't sunset Whimsical Doodles.
Originally, I was all gung ho to start a new blog, even a new webpage about life changes and fitness goals and using it to keep myself accountable. (See goal number 1). I sat down to create the blog for it, and...NO TITLE would come to my mind (Recall with Blogger one starts with title and description). I had a few ideas, but they all sounded - wrong - after some thought. Then, when I was finally frustrated enough to stop and think...the idea of changing my current blog came to mind and the process went smoothly. At first I didn't even think about why. I just thanked my lucky stars and got to work. The title - there it was, I found a template that didnt' completely irritate me (although it has some quirks I want to be rid of), I had a new description, found some pictures, and away I went. Then I thought about it. The reason I had trouble with creating a new web page/blog was because it was too big a chunk. I was falling into old traps. (DUH! - but I'm not always the brightest when it comes to my own foibles.)
Originally, I had drafted the first post in my mind, and thought - hey, others might want to join me, I can even make it editable by many people, and we can all use it.... It may get there, someday. Maybe people who read this will like the idea and want to jump on board. We can be like a writing group or book club, except we're clubbing our life changes. Maybe we'll have a website where we each have our own personal blogs linked instead, or maybe we'll have a community elsewhere. I have no idea. But the point is, that wasn't where this needed to start. I was starting in the middle, not at the beginning. I was wanting to be done before I had begun.
I can see that Goal 1 is going to be an 'ouch', but for me, it's a life lesson, one of the quinteciential building blocks of my path...I have found a wa yto help me with my goals, and my path...this, the blog itself. Now, I'll just have to tag this post and reread it often so I don't lose myself on some of those lovely circular paths I have mentioned.
Wednesday, July 09, 2008
On Scales, Mirrors, and Notes-To-Self
I made a huge mistake. What did I do? I stepped on a scale. “Big deal!” you say, reader? Well, it was rather a shock to notice the numbers continued past their time honored end point to a number I have never before associated with my own mass. I stepped down. I checked the zero/tare of the scale; I stepped back up. The same number stared back at me. For the sake of science, I participated in a third trial. Yup – there it was again. The precision of that scale was marvelous! I wasn’t sure about the accuracy though, so I went to find another measuring instrument. The result was similar to the first scale. This scale, too, has marvelous precision. My self esteem could not handle repeating the experiment a third time, on yet another scale.
This caused me to take a long hard look at myself in the mirror. Mirrors are funny things, for though they create a reflection of you, a mirror-image, the way you perceive that image depends on many factors. Are you in a good mood that day? Is the lighting good? Is the mirror surface dirty or flawed in any way? What did you have for dinner that evening (this is a confounding factor). The image that stared back at me was not the image I would have liked to see. I have been grumping at said image for quite a while. Months have passed where I have perused my person after a shower and made a mental note to ‘do more sit-ups’ or ‘attend to my posterior’. Said mental notes tend to fly out of the brain the second the clothes are donned. For you see, the clothing that I have owned for the last few years still fits. It’s stretched with my own image. It’s old, and wearing. As I sit in the chair and write this, though, I notice the bulges on my tummy that used to not be there (or not as prominent, anyway). Yes, the clothes still fit, but not as well.
The scale and the mirror are in agreement, something is changing. Perhaps that change isn’t rapid, and that is probably the worst part. These changes have been sneaking up on me with every meal eaten out, every day of missed or neglected exercise, and each forgotten a-for-mentioned note-to-self. I need to do something about the scale, and the clothes, and the mirror. And I intend to start now.
