Fun, Fit Friday - Oh Yeah It's a New Thing!

Totally dropped the bomb on writing a Thankful Thursday post.  Almost didn't get around to this one either, but while I'm waiting for volleyball to start tonight, I figured I could rep this out.

Normally its Fun, Flirty Friday, but today I wanted to talk about Fitness.  I did something physical every day this week.  Monday was yoga, Tuesday I ran, Wednesday I did a Totally Toned class, yesterday I went for a 30-minute walk and today I ran for 30 minutes.  Yay.  I haven't done that in a really long time.

Doing these various activities allowed me to see other people working out in a natural setting.  Not to say that I am staring at these people whilst they attempt things, but some people just have NO IDEA what they are doing, but at least they are trying.

I do have to comment on it though because I find it absolutely hilarious how one can be so unaware of how their body is moving.  Let's take yoga for example.  Not the easiest practice, but definitely not hard.  However, the instructor tells you how to align your body.  Shoulders back, heels aligned but a foot apart and hinge from the waist--then WHY are you almost in a split and hunched over like Quasimodo?

Or take this picture for example...how do you not know that your butt is propped up in the air when you are planking or doing a push up?  I am not judging you because you may not be able to do said plank or push up, but I judge when you make NO adjustment throughout the whole thing.

Today while I was stretching and doing my push ups (on my knees, I am not ashamed), this girl in front of me also started doing her reps.  Not to my surprise though, she was on her knees and she looked like she was bobbing for apples, head, arms and feet, EVERYTHING was moving.  So just to make sure I wasn't rushing to a quick judgement or anything I redid a set...only thing moving for me were my arms.

Another thing I have a hard time watching people do is A) stretch like they are in a hurry and b) do squats.  Stretching is a dreaded task I know, but touching your toes and then reaching up to the sky, does not a stretch make.  And I don't think some people will ever understand the "don't go past your toes" thing.  It just seems to be incomprehensible for some to grasp.

Again, I am not a pro, but I know what my body is doing.  If you ever see me working out and I look like an awkward duck, make sure you say something.  I will definitely thank you and so will my muscles too.

Anyways that is all I have for today.  Big exciting plans this weekend. Maybe pictures will follow, we shall see.

Until next time,
-A

Weight Watcher Wednesday on Thursday

I forgot to post this yesterday so...here it is today

Well here we are again on Weight Watcher Wednesday Thursday.

If you read yesterday's  Tuesday's blog, I said I lost weight at WI (weigh-in) for those unfamiliar with WW.  I lost 0.8 lbs.  Yeah I know its not a whole pound, but its a loss of the gain from last week and then some.  Plus it also gets me to the lowest weight I have been at since probably 2005...a wonderful 157.2, just 3.4 away from my next goal weight.  Five pound increments are key because if the goal is too much it looks like it is forever unattainable.

WW meetings are sometimes a supremo joke to me.  I used to have a great group on Wednesdays that I looked forward to going to.  It was a mixture of young and old, lifetime and newbies, but now my Tuesday meetings sometimes just make me sad.  I would say the average age is 40+ and most people are not newbies, but lifetime members in a different way -- they may never lose the weight.  I unfortunately can only go to the Wed. meetings on rare occasions when I don't have class.  Soon I may have to switch to another meeting as well because I will be playing badminton on Tuesday nights (I think).

Bad meetings make it difficult to share my successes like I would have in the Wednesday meeting.  Like my personal PR for the 5K...I would have definitely share that with the Wed. group, but Tuesday I felt like they think just because I am young that it is easy for me to get weight off and that running should be no big deal. This young/old paradigm exists and I think I may discuss it in other blog another time. I know it is different for everyone, but I feel like being young is one of the harder times to lose weight.

Going to these meetings have been instrumental in my weight loss though.  It is comforting to know that others are going through the ups and downs just as I am.  It also gives me a slight boost because I know that I am doing this "right".   Many members return after regaining the weight they lost.  I don't ever want to be one of those people.  If  When I get to Lifetime, I will continue to make an effort every day to make sure I never go back to being the person I was before.  It will be a battle.  I will have good days and bad days, but heck I already have those now.

Meetings are safe place to me.  Even though there may be judgement, I feel like it is a good place to share and talk.  I just wish more people wanted to talk besides myself and a few others.

If you ever want to learn about Weight Watchers and my experience I am happy to share.  I am not embarrassed that I needed a program to lose weight, but at least I am doing it healthy and I know what works and what doesn't.  I have not given up any of my favorite foods, just lessened their appearance in my diet.  I can still go out and have too many drinks and know I will be okay.  WW is a program I think I would recommend for any one trying to lose weight.  If you get out of your head and start dealing with the issues

Meditation Monday: My body

This is my first Meditation Monday which will basically involve a thought or thoughts I have been thinking about throughout the week or even throughout this whole weight loss.  So this week I have been thinking about my body.

The body is an amazing thing...Like the creepy guy in Saw V said: "The human body, for instance, is an astoundingly durable creation. It contains approximately ten pints of blood. Yet it is still able to operate with just half of that."

Well I hope to not be operating on minimal pints of blood, but my body has amazed me over these  last few months. 

First of all, it can keep going.  I started training for a 5K race back in January and have now ran six since then plus two obstacle-type runs.   The most challenging was definitely the Warrior Dash. It showed me that I am strong and be even stronger when I lose some more weight and build muscle.

After I got back from my vacations this summer, I began training for a 10K.  I can honestly say that never in my life, even at my fittest back in high school, would I imagine running 6.2 miles. We shall see how it goes at the Turkey Trot in 42 days.

The second thing about my body is that even though it changes it stays the same.  I have lost 36 pounds and on most people's body it would be two or maybe three sizes down, but not me.  I have always had big legs and a big butt (Thanks mom's side) because of soccer, skating and gymnastics.  So despite losing weight, I still have curves and I still have big legs.

My final thought about my body is how much I like it.  I have had my fair share of body image issues, not liking how I looked, but surprising I always liked it. It may bother me that I have big legs, but they keep me upright.  Plus it runs well, if that makes sense.  I don't ever have that many issues with it except for the occasional ache and pain, and possibly a cold here and there.  My stomach is extremely strong and not easily upset, I am flexible and besides my vision, everything is in working order.  Funny how when we think about our bodies we always look to the outside.

In my mind, I am beautiful.  Even when I was heavier I thought I was beautiful and made others believe it.  My body is now even better and I hope it keeps getting better because its the only one I have (cliche I know).

Until Trouble Tuesday,
-A

Fun, Flirty Friday: Always a Good Day

When coming up with Friday's theme...I originally had Fitness Friday, but you know what I am gonna throw in fitness throughout the week so I figured why limit it to just one day.  Fun and flirty though is sometimes reserved for just one day of the week...at least when they are together.

Fridays are my favorite day of the week as I am sure they are many others as well.  It is the final day of the work week, the beginning of the weekend, and a day much deserved by many.  Well for me Fridays are sometimes just the fifth day of a seven-day workweek.  Aside from not having to be in the office from 9 to 5 on Saturday and Sunday, I often have to work odd hours because of my profession.  For some reason though I always look forward to Friday.

E-cards...gotta love 'em

Looking at my calendar, I can see that I consistently work out on Fridays more than ANY other day!  And yes I keep track with smiley faces, :) ,  in sharpie on my calendar when I work out.

Anyways, because Friday are for most people, a laid-back day at work, and the same applies here, I come in my sweats with gym clothes under (for those who don't know I work at a University so my gym is in the building I work in.  Lucky, I know) and sit at my computer while my breakfast digests for about a half hour.  Then I am up-and-at-it going hard with a workout.  Normally its a longer run because Friday's are relaxed and not pressed for a lot of time.

Post work out I shower and actually style my hair for the first time all week and sometimes (GASP!) even put make up on.  I did this last Friday and my boss was SHOCKED at the notion, or maybe it was Saturday? But either way it doesn't happen too often unless I'm going out.  Then Friday's in our office is Mancino's day...which means hawaiian calzone.  Yeah, I know what you are thinking -- how the HELL is that Weight Watcher friendly?  Not too sure that it is, takes up a VERY large portion of my daily points, but its worth every one.  Luckily, after eating said-calzone, I don't really eat much of a dinner.

Fridays to me will always be looked forward to because I get to enjoy them.  I actually like waking up kind of early on Fridays, knowing that I have a great workout to get to.

This Friday is a get-out-of-work-early day :)  Every one is gone in the office except me, but luckily I will take my handy lap top and work from home. before heading to State to hang out with my cousin which leads into Saturday tailgate and the MSU/Iowa game.

Here's hoping for a Fun, Flirty Friday!
-A

Next up: Weekend Warrior (to be posted Sat. or Sun.)

Day 2...I could get used to this.

Well day two went well...so far.

Yesterday I was going to go to the beach with my friend for happy hour... that didn't work out so I made my dinner.  It was pretty bland, but I ate it and it was filling and healthy.  Whole wheat pasta (wwp), garlic olive oil, spinach, zucchini and squash topped with a little bit of shredded Parmesan cheese.

On top of that I made dinner for the whole week which included wwp, tuna fish, zucchini, squash, spinach, black beans, fat free cream of mushroom soup and a little bit of shredded cheese. Yeah it looks like throw up, but its pretty tasty.  I made three servings that I plan to last through Saturday.

I went grocery shopping yesterday as well. Got some steak to cook up for stir fry...it was only $2.40 and its definitely enough for two servings so more lunch/dinner.  Turkey and cheese for sandwiches and some eggs that I hard boiled.  I am trying to make food so that I am not aching for something on the way to or from work.

Run down on food today:
Breakfast was a whole wheat bagel and fat free cream cheese.  The bagels were on sale and sometimes I need something other than an egg white sandwich.
Snack - Yogurt with a few pretzels again
Lunch - Turkey sandwich with cucumbers, muenster cheese (my fave!) on wheat bread, string cheese and a clementine...I'm still hungry though uh oh!
Planned Dinner - The smorgasbord left over from last night.

I "worked out" today.  A straight 10-minute run and then I did a stretching class for an hour...yes a whole hour of just stretching. It was quite wonderful.

Well that is all for now...back to work (or looking like I'm working) I go.

PS - I had a MASSIVE headache yesterday and I mean it last through exercise, through food and through cooking until I went to bed.  Luckily, when I woke up it was gone and has stayed away so far.  Fingers Crossed!