A whole new me...

Ok, not really. I'm still me. But, I have been getting very frustrated because I am not making much progress. I was not feeling like a happy JavaChick. So, a JavaChick overhaul was required.

1. On Thursday, got my nails done on my lunch hour. I got what they call a gel overlay. For those who might not know (since I just discovered this recently), they use the gel product that would be used to give a person gel tips (I think that is what they are called) but just put the gel on your natural nails. It doesn't chip off like nail polish, so it's like having a manicure that lasts for weeks instead of just a few days (which is how long they usually last for me). A bit more expensive, and if you want to keep it you have to go back for regular maintenance, but I like how it looks. It makes me feel more polished when my nails are done, but I usually can't be bothered because it doesn't seem worth it to put on nail polish and then have to take it off a few days later. So, that was treat #1 for myself.

2. I said a while back that I was going to avoid buying any new clothes until I lost weight and needed smaller sizes. But. I cheated. Unfortunately, I've been finding a lot of the stuff I have now doesn't seem to fit right, and it's frustrating to have this closet full of clothes and feel like I have nothing to wear because it all makes me feel fat. So, on my Friday lunch hour, I bought a few things - 2 cardigans, 3 t-shirts in bright, spring/summer colours, and 1 sleeveless light knit sweater. I'm going to try and hold off on pants, I think I should be able to make do with what I have (the pairs that currently fit me) for now. That would be treat #2 and I am feeling better for it.

3. On Friday, I found myself asking a question that I have asked many times before. What am I doing wrong? Because I must be doing something wrong. That's why I decided to try Weight Watchers last fall. I was hoping it would help me find the missing puzzle piece. But alas, here I still am. Puzzling.

So, then I asked myself: Have I really changed my habits?

I think the answer to that is yes, to a certain extent. I think I have been making changes, evolving my habits over the years. As I learn new things about how to be healthy, I try to incorporate them into my life. However, I think that the biggest changes (food-wise) have been to my breakfasts, lunches, and snacks during the work week because those are the meals where I have only to please myself. Supper time is a bit harder because I am trying to please Husband as well. We are both picky eaters in our own ways, and it is a challenge to plan meals that are quick & easy for after work and that please both of us. I get really tired of trying to do it, to be honest. But, I think I am going to have to put more effort in there. And I'm going to have to figure out how to get Husband on board. When it comes right down to it, he needs to lose some pounds just as much as I do. Maybe more so, since at least I exercise regularly and make an effort to feed myself healthy foods.

There is challenge #1 - figure out how to make over those evening meals.

Challenge #2 - I am going to try to become more structured with my workouts. While I know that it's important to get in strength training and cardio, I often find it hard to stick to a schedule. So, I tend to be haphazard about it and tell myself that the important thing is to get in the regular activity. So if I switch out a planned workout for yoga or pilates because I don't feel up to whatever was on the schedule for the day...well, at least I did something, right? And maybe as far as fitness goes, that is ok. But I am also trying to shed some pounds so I guess I just have to suck it up and do the work.

Sigh.

So, I've come up with this plan and, of course, it immediately starts to go wrong...

Friday night - Did 1 hour weight training workout.
Saturday - 45 mins on the treadmill (with running intervals) + 40 minute pilates/yoga blend workout
Sunday - was planning on weights again but...shoulders were actually feeling strained, I think the weights followed by the pilates workout the next day may have been a bit much (the pilates did involve some planks, tricep push ups and a couple of other things that worked the shoulders). Also, my day got a bit hectic so I didn't get the workout done in the afternoon as planned. So I ended up doing 1 hour on the treadmill instead.
Tonight - hoping weights, but we have plans to meet friends for a movie, so it depends on whether we get home in time for me to exercise, shower, eat, and be ready to meet up for the late show at the theatre. Husband has a bit of a Big Day at work today, so I'm not sure how things will go.

So, that is slip #1 (potentially - I guess as long as I get in the workout tonight, I can still be on track for the week).

Slip #2 - I was finding last week that my Minestrone Soup for lunch was not cutting it. Even with my afternoon snack, I would arrive home at the end of the day starving which is a Bad Thing because then I eat wrong things/more than I should. So, my brilliant plan - reorganized my meals to include yogurt for breakfast as well as my afternoon snack, and add a Kashi Granola Bar at lunch time (130 cals, 4g Fibre, 5g Protein). So it was all sitting there, on the counter this morning, ready to be packed...and somehow when I threw it into my bag, I managed to forget the granola bar. Grr. I have a box of those Quaker Crispy Delights in my desk drawer for emergencies, so that will have to do for today.

This was a long post - if you've stuck with me this far, thanks! I appreciate your fortitude. I am open to suggestions if anyone has any to offer.

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Daily Record
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BF: Vanilla yogurt, coconut, raspberries (see post from Saturday), coffee w/cream
Lunch: Minestrone Soup, Quaker Crispy Delights Cinnamon Streusel
Snack: Vanilla yogurt & strawberries
Supper: salad, Chicken Fajita Wraps (leftover from last night)

Workout: TBD