This has got to be the worse exercise slump I have ever experienced. I am unmotivated, disorganized and easily distracted. My routine - I used to have one - is completely shot. I could go back through the series of events, list causes and explanations...but the important part right now is the solution.
Why hello there treadmill! It's been a long time...
In my unmotivated, disorganized state of mind, I can't settle on any exercise that I feel like doing. Since I have no routine, I can't look at a schedule to see what my next workout should be. But my treadmill is still there, faithfully waiting. This is one of the reasons I wanted a treadmill in the first place; barring injury or illness, I can almost always manage a walk on the treadmill. Tired? Busy? Lacking in energy or motivation? A short and/or easy walk on the treadmill still adds some exercise into my day.
So Monday after work I liberated my treadmill from it's corner in the basement. When I first turned it on, it did this horrible shuddering-groaning-grinding thing, but once it started up it was fine. I went back through my workout notebook and found that the last time I used my treadmill was in February; I don't think it has ever gone unused for such a long period of time.
So we're getting to know one another again. I'm taking it easy for now. I think I need new sneakers. But I'm getting back in the game.
Now to tackle the eating. When Husband first started traveling for work, I was all enthused to cook purely for myself. I enjoyed experimenting with full time vegetarianism. Then adding in some fish. Trying to cut out wheat and dairy and finding that it does have health benefits for me. But I've lost my motivation there too. I don't want to be bothered with cooking. I can't think of anything in particular that I want to eat. What is the healthy eating equivalent of the treadmill? Any thoughts?
I did stop at the grocery store on the way home yesterday to stock up. Hard to make eating your veggies a priority when the fridge is pretty much empty. In addition to my usual veggie staples, I bought a bag of Broccoli Slaw. Open bag. Dump in bowl. Consume. I should be able to manage that. Baby steps in the right direction.
Friday, August 17, 2012
Sunday, July 8, 2012
What's Up For July
Had a fantastic Canada Day Weekend! Took Friday off as well, so I had 4 days and the weather was perfect. Spent lots of time out in the garden, got a few things done inside, made time for some relaxation and fun - a pretty perfect weekend all around. It was hard to go back to work on Tuesday.
This month I am:
Trying to get back to food journaling - not calorie counting, just moving towards intuitive or mindful eating (still) so more about how I feel. Cutting out wheat & dairy is a lot more difficult with Husband home full time. Aiming for 5 out of 7 days to start (though this past week was a bust).
Since the schedule changed at the fitness studio, I will only be able to get to zumba once a week, instead of twice. I definitely need to get back into the home routine. Last week was bad because I ended up not feeling well, this week will be busy, but I will try to fit some short ones in.
I signed up for a month long online photography course. It actually started on June 28.I consider myself a beginner, but the first bunch of lessons were basic, even for me. Still, the review didn't hurt, and the lessons seem to be getting into the things I want to know/feel like I need to learn. It's good in that the lessons come by email, they are videos that I can watch when I have time, so there's no pressure.
Workouts for June:
Again, I did not keep track. I only had four written down in my notebook:
June 2: Garden
June 3: Garden
June 4: Zumba
June 5: Zumba
....And that was it. I know it was mostly Zumba Mondays & Tuesdays, with yard work in between, and I remember one strength workout for sure. So this is all I can fill in for the rest of the month:
June 11: Zumba
June 12: Zumba
June 18: Zumba
June 19: Zumba
June 24: Kathy Smith Personal Trainer Sculpting workout
I like to have these records, so I am definitely going to try and keep better track this month, though so far there hasn't been much to keep track of.
I will say though, we are having a fabuolous summer so far. The weather has been great, I have been spending quite a bit of time out puttering in the garden, so I'm less worried about the formal workouts. I just want to enjoy the summer!
This month I am:
Trying to get back to food journaling - not calorie counting, just moving towards intuitive or mindful eating (still) so more about how I feel. Cutting out wheat & dairy is a lot more difficult with Husband home full time. Aiming for 5 out of 7 days to start (though this past week was a bust).
Since the schedule changed at the fitness studio, I will only be able to get to zumba once a week, instead of twice. I definitely need to get back into the home routine. Last week was bad because I ended up not feeling well, this week will be busy, but I will try to fit some short ones in.
I signed up for a month long online photography course. It actually started on June 28.I consider myself a beginner, but the first bunch of lessons were basic, even for me. Still, the review didn't hurt, and the lessons seem to be getting into the things I want to know/feel like I need to learn. It's good in that the lessons come by email, they are videos that I can watch when I have time, so there's no pressure.
Workouts for June:
Again, I did not keep track. I only had four written down in my notebook:
June 2: Garden
June 3: Garden
June 4: Zumba
June 5: Zumba
....And that was it. I know it was mostly Zumba Mondays & Tuesdays, with yard work in between, and I remember one strength workout for sure. So this is all I can fill in for the rest of the month:
June 11: Zumba
June 12: Zumba
June 18: Zumba
June 19: Zumba
June 24: Kathy Smith Personal Trainer Sculpting workout
I like to have these records, so I am definitely going to try and keep better track this month, though so far there hasn't been much to keep track of.
I will say though, we are having a fabuolous summer so far. The weather has been great, I have been spending quite a bit of time out puttering in the garden, so I'm less worried about the formal workouts. I just want to enjoy the summer!
Saturday, June 23, 2012
Late June Update
I have been meaning to post an update for the past week or so, but somehow I never find time in my day. But here I am now, so let's get this done...
Eating and Excercising
I am working my way back to the gluten & dairy free eating...The extremely itchy skin is very motivating. Based on last time I know it will take almost 2 weeks to see a difference, so I am gritting my teeth and hanging on.
Exercise has basically been Zumba on Mondays & Tuesdays, then gardening on the weekends. I used to have a pretty good routine, and was getting in some workout DVDs, but lately that has not been happening. I have reasons though...
a) My beloved cats are kind of being monsters, and I'm having to take them out for a lot of walks
b) I think it's time to switch workouts; I tend to settle on a routine - which has been Jackie Warner DVDs for a while now - and then suddenly I get to a point where I just don't wanna do it. I realized last weekend that's where I am now - time to switch to something else for a while.
The Zumba schedule at the fitness studio I go to is changing anyway, and now it looks like I will only be able to get to one class a week. I am undecided on what to do. I was thinking of trying a different class - they offer yoga which might enjoy...Then it came to me last night (after work, as I was out weeding and hanging out with the cats) that I should just play it by ear; when the weather is good, it probably makes just as much sense to go out and work in my garden and not worry about formal workouts. I wait all winter for the warm weather, and there is plenty to do out there right now. Plus...
My Little Monsters ~ previously known as the Fabulous Felines
Ever since we went to Japan the cats have been peeing all over the house. We had a house sitter while we were away, and I had asked her to open the basement window for the cats if the weather wasn't too bad, but she didn't let them out at all. So I don't know if it's the fact that they didn't get outside at all, or if they just didn't like having someone stay in the house...or if they were just upset that we were gone for 10 days...In any case, they were showing their displeasure by peeing in the house.
I think that may have been what triggered my binge in late April/early May. Husband was away again, and I was cleaning up cat pee and trying to figure out how to make them stop. I wasn't talking to anyone about it because somehow "I'm living in cat pee" is just not something you want to say to people. I was stressed out.
The vet said it can take up to 3 months for cats to stop behavior like that, assuming it was stress induced. It has pretty much been 3 months now. It hasn't completely stopped, but it's less frequent now and taking them out for lots of walks seems to help.
So that's my life right now. Doesn't it sound like fun?
Eating and Excercising
I am working my way back to the gluten & dairy free eating...The extremely itchy skin is very motivating. Based on last time I know it will take almost 2 weeks to see a difference, so I am gritting my teeth and hanging on.
Exercise has basically been Zumba on Mondays & Tuesdays, then gardening on the weekends. I used to have a pretty good routine, and was getting in some workout DVDs, but lately that has not been happening. I have reasons though...
a) My beloved cats are kind of being monsters, and I'm having to take them out for a lot of walks
b) I think it's time to switch workouts; I tend to settle on a routine - which has been Jackie Warner DVDs for a while now - and then suddenly I get to a point where I just don't wanna do it. I realized last weekend that's where I am now - time to switch to something else for a while.
The Zumba schedule at the fitness studio I go to is changing anyway, and now it looks like I will only be able to get to one class a week. I am undecided on what to do. I was thinking of trying a different class - they offer yoga which might enjoy...Then it came to me last night (after work, as I was out weeding and hanging out with the cats) that I should just play it by ear; when the weather is good, it probably makes just as much sense to go out and work in my garden and not worry about formal workouts. I wait all winter for the warm weather, and there is plenty to do out there right now. Plus...
My Little Monsters ~ previously known as the Fabulous Felines
Ever since we went to Japan the cats have been peeing all over the house. We had a house sitter while we were away, and I had asked her to open the basement window for the cats if the weather wasn't too bad, but she didn't let them out at all. So I don't know if it's the fact that they didn't get outside at all, or if they just didn't like having someone stay in the house...or if they were just upset that we were gone for 10 days...In any case, they were showing their displeasure by peeing in the house.
I think that may have been what triggered my binge in late April/early May. Husband was away again, and I was cleaning up cat pee and trying to figure out how to make them stop. I wasn't talking to anyone about it because somehow "I'm living in cat pee" is just not something you want to say to people. I was stressed out.
The vet said it can take up to 3 months for cats to stop behavior like that, assuming it was stress induced. It has pretty much been 3 months now. It hasn't completely stopped, but it's less frequent now and taking them out for lots of walks seems to help.
So that's my life right now. Doesn't it sound like fun?
Thursday, May 31, 2012
Nose dive
The few of you still reading (since I hardly ever post these days) may recall that back in the fall, Husband went away on business and I took my alone time as an opportunity to experiment with cutting out wheat and dairy. I was really strict about it for two weeks, then I tried but it was honestly hit and miss. Still, I definitely cut down on my wheat & dairy consumption.
Over the next few months, I found I was gradually losing weight. I didn't feel like I was dieting - aside from the wheat & dairy, I was eating what I wanted in reasonable amounts. And I was feeling pretty darn good. I was sort of mentally holding my breath, you know, waiting for the other shoe to drop...But also thinking that maybe I'm finally getting the hang of this intuitive eating thing.
You know what happens next right?
Things went so smoothly from November to late March, early April. Then Husband left on his 4th business trip since November, gone for another four weeks. I drove him to the airport on a Saturday morning, then went directly to the salon for a hair appointment, followed by grocery shopping. I hadn't eaten breakfast. It was one of those mornings that I just didn't feel like eating. I put a LaraBar in my purse, but I didn't eat it. I picked up another coffee and a baked treat on my way to the salon. Then went grocery shopping and proceeded to make very poor choices. And pretty much went on a four week binge of eating crap.
I have no idea where it came from, but I'm so disappointed in myself. I lost 6 pounds or so between November and April, then put it all back on in 4 weeks. So so angry at myself. And afraid that I won't be able to lose it again. Six pounds does not sound like a lot, but it's the most I've manage to lose in years of dieting. And I lost it without making myself miserable. I'm afraid that I won't be able to do it again. Like it was a one-time magic formula that can't be repeated.
Why why why did I do this?
So this is me. Starting over again for the seventy-millionth time. Okay, maybe not that many, but more than enough.
Meanwhile....It's spring! That's been nice. Lots of lovely weather and green things growing. Husband got sick a few days after he got home from his trip. Then a week later I got sick. That wasn't so much fun. But I'm feeling much better now. We're having a rainy week, but I hope the sun comes back soon so I can finish planting my garden.
Belated workout logs from April & May...
April
02: Zumba
03: Zumba
04: Jackie Warner Xtreme Circuit DVD
15: Zumba
18: Jackie Warner Power Circut Total Body DVD
23: Zumba
24: Zumba
26: Walk - 30 mins
27: Workout with Jackie DVD - lower body
28: Workout with Jackie DVD - upper body
30: Zumba
May
01: Zumba
04: Garden
06: Garden
07: Zumba
08: Zumba
?
?
15: Zumba
17: Burn & Firm Pilates DVD
19: Garden
20: Garden
21: Garden
29: Crunch Joy of Yoga DVD
I have a gap in my notebook for May...Lately I have not been as diligent about writing down my workouts so I'm not sure if I really did skip that many days or if I forgot to write stuff down. I do know that between the 21 - 29 is when I ended up getting sick. May 19 - 21 was Victoria Day Weekend and I was out in the garden every day. The weather was perfect and I got a lot done. Went back to work on Tuesday feeling great. Woke up Wednesday morning feeling unbelievably exhausted...Wondered if all the yard work was catching up with me after all but it turned out I was getting sick. Boo. :(
Did you know that in Japan they have all kinds of weird and wonderful flavours of Kit Kat bars? We tried a few during our vacation, I like the dark chocolate and the cinnamon cookie. Husband asked if I wanted him to bring me anything and I said some Kit Kats. So he stuffed his suitcase full.
That should last me for a while.
Over the next few months, I found I was gradually losing weight. I didn't feel like I was dieting - aside from the wheat & dairy, I was eating what I wanted in reasonable amounts. And I was feeling pretty darn good. I was sort of mentally holding my breath, you know, waiting for the other shoe to drop...But also thinking that maybe I'm finally getting the hang of this intuitive eating thing.
You know what happens next right?
Things went so smoothly from November to late March, early April. Then Husband left on his 4th business trip since November, gone for another four weeks. I drove him to the airport on a Saturday morning, then went directly to the salon for a hair appointment, followed by grocery shopping. I hadn't eaten breakfast. It was one of those mornings that I just didn't feel like eating. I put a LaraBar in my purse, but I didn't eat it. I picked up another coffee and a baked treat on my way to the salon. Then went grocery shopping and proceeded to make very poor choices. And pretty much went on a four week binge of eating crap.
I have no idea where it came from, but I'm so disappointed in myself. I lost 6 pounds or so between November and April, then put it all back on in 4 weeks. So so angry at myself. And afraid that I won't be able to lose it again. Six pounds does not sound like a lot, but it's the most I've manage to lose in years of dieting. And I lost it without making myself miserable. I'm afraid that I won't be able to do it again. Like it was a one-time magic formula that can't be repeated.
Why why why did I do this?
So this is me. Starting over again for the seventy-millionth time. Okay, maybe not that many, but more than enough.
Meanwhile....It's spring! That's been nice. Lots of lovely weather and green things growing. Husband got sick a few days after he got home from his trip. Then a week later I got sick. That wasn't so much fun. But I'm feeling much better now. We're having a rainy week, but I hope the sun comes back soon so I can finish planting my garden.
Cherry tree in our front yard, May 11.
Frank in the garden, May 11.
Our herd of deer, May 20
Belated workout logs from April & May...
April
02: Zumba
03: Zumba
04: Jackie Warner Xtreme Circuit DVD
15: Zumba
18: Jackie Warner Power Circut Total Body DVD
23: Zumba
24: Zumba
26: Walk - 30 mins
27: Workout with Jackie DVD - lower body
28: Workout with Jackie DVD - upper body
30: Zumba
May
01: Zumba
04: Garden
06: Garden
07: Zumba
08: Zumba
?
?
15: Zumba
17: Burn & Firm Pilates DVD
19: Garden
20: Garden
21: Garden
29: Crunch Joy of Yoga DVD
I have a gap in my notebook for May...Lately I have not been as diligent about writing down my workouts so I'm not sure if I really did skip that many days or if I forgot to write stuff down. I do know that between the 21 - 29 is when I ended up getting sick. May 19 - 21 was Victoria Day Weekend and I was out in the garden every day. The weather was perfect and I got a lot done. Went back to work on Tuesday feeling great. Woke up Wednesday morning feeling unbelievably exhausted...Wondered if all the yard work was catching up with me after all but it turned out I was getting sick. Boo. :(
Did you know that in Japan they have all kinds of weird and wonderful flavours of Kit Kat bars? We tried a few during our vacation, I like the dark chocolate and the cinnamon cookie. Husband asked if I wanted him to bring me anything and I said some Kit Kats. So he stuffed his suitcase full.
That should last me for a while.
Monday, April 2, 2012
March Summary
I'm going to hazard a guess and say this is the shortest workout list I've ever posted:
Mar 01: Jackie Warner Power Circuit Total Body[40 mins]
Mar 05: Jackie Warner Xtreme Circuit[30mins]
Mar 08 - 17: Walked All Over Japan
Mar 26: Zumba
Mar 27: Treadmill Walk[45 mins]
Mar 28: Zumba Toning
At the beginning of the month I was busy getting read to go. Then I was gone. Then I came home and got sick. But it was still a good month because I went to Japan! I'm probably not going to get tired of saying that.
I'm so far behind on everything else it isn't funny, but I'm okay with it because: see above.:)
Spring is coming. I need to get some seedlings started. And exercise. And get back off the wheat and dairy (I ate whatever I wanted in Japan and the wheat & dairy didn't seem to bother me, but now that I'm home I'm getting itchy again. Sigh).
Slowly getting pictures up on the garden blog - see the link above if you are interested.
Mar 01: Jackie Warner Power Circuit Total Body[40 mins]
Mar 05: Jackie Warner Xtreme Circuit[30mins]
Mar 08 - 17: Walked All Over Japan
Mar 26: Zumba
Mar 27: Treadmill Walk[45 mins]
Mar 28: Zumba Toning
At the beginning of the month I was busy getting read to go. Then I was gone. Then I came home and got sick. But it was still a good month because I went to Japan! I'm probably not going to get tired of saying that.
I'm so far behind on everything else it isn't funny, but I'm okay with it because: see above.:)
Spring is coming. I need to get some seedlings started. And exercise. And get back off the wheat and dairy (I ate whatever I wanted in Japan and the wheat & dairy didn't seem to bother me, but now that I'm home I'm getting itchy again. Sigh).
Slowly getting pictures up on the garden blog - see the link above if you are interested.
Walking up stairs. In Japan!
Saturday, March 24, 2012
I Went To Japan!
I went. I found my husband. We had a fantabulous vacation. We came home. I got the flu.
Things have been busy.
I have lots of photos that I have not yet done anything with, but will be posting over on the garden blog once I get my act together (since that is the blog my family reads). I did throw up some posts during my trip, to preserve that sort of as-it-happens feeling, which I'm glad I did. If you are interested check out my Japan posts on the garden blog and keep an eye out there for pictures.
Things have been busy.
I have lots of photos that I have not yet done anything with, but will be posting over on the garden blog once I get my act together (since that is the blog my family reads). I did throw up some posts during my trip, to preserve that sort of as-it-happens feeling, which I'm glad I did. If you are interested check out my Japan posts on the garden blog and keep an eye out there for pictures.
Thursday, March 1, 2012
Moving into March
I think this may be the most winter-y week we've had this winter. While we have not had any storms, it has stayed cold, and we've had flurries that did at any point turn into rain. Really we've been so spoiled, it seems like it has never stayed cold for more than a few days at a time until this week. Having all of these cold days in a row feels like a real hardship...and it hasn't even been all that cold compared to other years. I was looking over my posts from last March, and the amount of snow we had at this time last year was just crazy. Still, I'm ready for winter to be over.
I know we've probably still got a month of winter weather ahead, but this is the time of year when I really start to get sick of it. What also happens this time of year is that grapes start to look really good to me...
For some reason, grapes always taste extra good this time of year - probably because we've gone so long without in-season produce. And really good grapes just have a sun-shiney quality about them.
Anyway. On to business. My February goals? Well, I didn't do so well on the tracking. All I really wanted to do was track if I ate anything that contained wheat or dairy. And I started to, but I didn't stick with it.
So there I was, eating goat and sheep milk cheese, trying to fill the void left by the absense of my beloved Balderson 2 Year Old White Cheddar (Oh how I miss you!) and thinking I'm going to have to stay away from the non-cow's milk cheeses because I am getting itchy patches...Then I gave it some thought and remembered those few little innocent cookies that husband brought home from Japan...and the bits of chocolate here and there...and oh, how about some popcorn with real butter? So I honestly don't know - which was the whole point of tracking, now wasn't it?
So, I guess that's going to have to carry forward as a goal to work on, and I'm probably going to have to start all over again. But that won't happen right away, because my main March goal is to GO ON VACATION AND HAVE A FABULOUS TIME.
How's that for a goal?
Actually, this has taken up quite a bit of my February. But we've got things mostly figured out now. We have a house sitter to stay at the house while we're gone and take care of the Fabulous Felines. We've got our itinerary and our reservations. I'm honestly too overwhelmed by everything that needs to get done to be excited at this point, but it will come.
February Workouts
Feb 01: Jackie Warner 30 Day Fast Start Lower Body & Abs + Treadmill Walk[45 mins]
Feb 05: Zumba @ Baila Fitness
Feb 06: Jackie Warner 30 Day Fast Start Upper Body + Treadmill Walk]40 mins]
Feb 07: Jackie Warner 30 Day Fast Start Lower Body & Abs[25 mins]
Feb 10: Crunch Fat Burning Yoga DVD[40 mins]
Feb 11: Jackie Warner Power Circuit Upper Body + 1 Heavy Set[20 mins]
Feb 12: Jackie Warner Power Circuit Lower Body[15 mins]
Feb 13: Zumba @ Baila Fitness
Feb 14: Zumba @ Baila Fitness
Feb 15: JW Xtreme Circuit[30 mins]
Feb 17: Zumba Toning @ Baila Fitness
Feb 20: Zumba @ Baila Fitness
Feb 21: Zumba @ Baila Fitness
Feb 23: Jackie Warner One On One Training - Upper & Lower Body[40 mins]
Feb 26: Jackie Warner Xtreme Circuit[30 mins]
Feb 27: Zumba @ Baila Fitness
Feb 28: Zumba @ Baila Fitness
Yep, so, a lot of Zumba and a lot of Jackie Warner DVD workouts. I have not been on the scale, but my upper arms look slimmer. I have no idea if I've magically stumbled onto the right workout formula, or if it's because of how I've been eating - most wheat & dairy was eliminated, I have been mainly vegetarian though I've had fish probably once a week. I would like to say I will keep it up, but once Husband is home from his travels the vegetarian with fish thing will be out the window and I'm not sure I'll be able to get to Zumba as often. We shall see what happens I guess.
The Fabulous Felines say hello...
Frank is such an excellent model. He holds his pose perfectly, allowing me to take lovely portraits. Meanwhile, Zappa either jumps up and runs toward me as soon as he realizes I'm focused on him, or he looks goofy and/or wild. Also, he constantly rolls around on that rug leaving balls of fur all over the place. But that's okay. I adore them both and the only thing I don't like about going on vacation is how bad I feel about leaving them behind. Enjoying lots of kitty snuggles now to make up for it!
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