Thursday, March 19, 2009

First Bike Ride!

Aubrey and I had our first bike ride today and it was a blast! Here's the route we did:



It was such a nice evening and we both just loved the ride! It took us just over an hour, so I know one of the things we'll need to work on is upping our speed. For me, I haven't ridden a bike in YEARS and this was Aubrey's longest ride as well, so I think it's a good starting point. We had a few hills and really just had fun. At one point she said, "This is the best day of my life!" She is soooo easy to please! ;)

I'd really like to get a speedometer so that I can tell how fast we're going as we are riding. That might help as we work on improving our speed. There's no question in my mind that we can do the 15 miler but I think that we'll be up to the challenge of riding 35 miles.

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

Getting Closer!

It is really hitting me just how close we are getting to the cruise ... woot woot!!!

I'm like a roller coaster, one minute I am so pleased with what I've lost and the transformation I am making in my body and the next I feel fat and wish I had more time before the cruise. I think the number on the scale really influences how I'm feeling. Last week I had a big drop and then this week it was up .4 lbs. I am REALLY trying to not let the negative thoughts get in and to just embrace where I'm at. I will have a blast on that cruise no matter WHAT size I am, right?!? RIGHT!!!

Got in my workout yesterday. Today is a scheduled rest day. I'm going to start doing biking with Aubrey for my cardio days which I'm really looking forward to. I think this will be a fun way to get in the cardio which is not my favorite (I'd rather do weights every day!)

Aubrey and I are going to to the 35 mile segment of the Little Red Riding Hood bike race in June. It's up in Logan and should be all kinds of fun ... anyone want to join us? You can do lengths starting at 15 miles all the way up to 100 miles. There's a Hawaiin Luau the night before and tons of stops along the way. It's all girls and is to raise money for breast cancer research. My sisters are doing it and I'd love it if any of you want to join!

Friday, March 13, 2009

All kinds of Revelations

Hi all! I ended up missing my workout on Wednesday due to having to help my Mom get ready for a unplanned trip back east (funeral). Since I hadn't gotten the workout done first thing, I had no other time to get it in. Good thing I didn't take my rest day on Tuesday! I did get LC2 in yesterday. It's been quite a ride and I'd like to get it down in writing, but I don't blame you if you don't read it ... it might be long!

Yesterday I spent a better part of the day trying to talk myself into working out. This week has been pretty sucky in my personal life, more of the same and then some more. (How's that for vague?!?) I kept finding that I really wanted to nurse my wounds with food and Revelation #1 ... I realize that I have really used food as a comfort tool in the past. But I know that cycle all to well and that is NOT the road I want to be on! Back to yesterday. So, I've been eating pretty well (out of the cycle ... wahoo!) but there was no part of me that wanted to work out. In fact, honestly I just wanted to crawl back into bed. Revelation #2 ... when things aren't working in my life (or are overwhelming, sad, angry, etc.) I want to retreat. Run away from all responsibilities, decisions, etc. So, to break the cycles, I MADE myself do the workout. It literally felt like my whole body was screaming not to, I'm sure the neighbors wondered what all the noise was about! I started doing the shoulder rolls in the warm up and almost immediately my body (and mind) stopped fighting it. At one point during the workout, Chalene said something like, "Forget the laundry that needs to be folded or anything else that is on your mind right now and just focus on the muscle you are working." At another point she said, "Make exercise your new go to. When there's stress, you work it out here." Revelation #3 ... Stress happens in life. We worry, we get angry, we get hurt, we are sad, things don't work, etc, but I don't have to go back to my old ways of being when this happen. I CAN make new ways of being instead. For a moment, I pictured a new me, a me that did not escape to bed with food but allowed my body the release the angst through exercise which would then allow me to powerfully face life. I did notice there were times during the workout that my mind started to stray to the worries and stress. It was during those moments that I wanted to just stop the workout and do something else. I focused back to the workout and pushed through. Was life perfect after the workout? Certainly not. But I am one huge step closer to winning this war!

Monday, March 9, 2009

Getting Closer!

Happy Monday! Today is my official weigh in. Will you believe that I lost 6.2 lbs this week? So I lost those 2 lbs. of bloat from last week and then some!!! I am just in amazement. It's been over 3 years since I've been this weight. Another 13 lbs. and I'll be in territory I haven't been for 10 years!!! (From before I had Aubrey.) What's really cool is that I had a wedding this weekend. I totally had my cake and the yummy meal, but I prepared by eating well up to the wedding and then immediately after. It was so nice to enjoy the celebration guilt free!

Today starts week 2 of LEAN for me. I gotta tell you that these workouts scare me, in a good way ... kinda! ;) I can see why this is the month that makes everything happen. Those first two months, I just THOUGHT I was working hard!!!

Monday, March 2, 2009

Month 3 - LEAN - starts today!

So, I have to say, this past week has been kind of a downer for me. I got in my workouts, but my eating was horrific. This coming from me who made the declaration that it was easy to eat well! It has been a roller coaster of a week from Taylor's job search and lots of other stuff going on ... all the regular stuff that comes up in life. I have taken a step back and realize that eating really can be an emotional thing for me. What's funny is it really doesn't comfort me at all, because once I have that second piece of birthday cake or that 5th cheat meal of the week, those horrible thoughts come in that make you feel really guilty and then the cycle begins.

But not this time. I refuse to enter that cycle again. No way, no how. Nuh uh. Yes, my weight is up 2 lbs. this week, but overall I still have a loss for month 2 (which ended yesterday). No more feeling bad or guilty, but starting fresh and mustering up every bit of drive that I have within me. Here are the results at the end of month 2:

Weight Loss: Month 1 - 12.8 lbs. Month 2 - 2.6 lbs. Total - 15.4 lbs.
Inches: Month 1: 9.25 in Month 2: 4.5 in Total - 13.75 in
Chest: Month 1 - 0 in. Month 2 - 1.25 in Total - 1.25 in
R arm: Month 1 - .25 Month 2 - .75 Total - 1
L arm: Month 1 - 1 Month 2 - .25 Total - 1.25
waist: Month 1 - 2 Month 2 - 0 Total -2
hips: Month 1 - 2 Month 2 - 0 Total - 2
abductors: Month 1 - 2.5 Month 2 - .75 Total - 3.25
R thigh: Month 1 - .25 Month 2 - .75 Total -1
L thigh: Month 1 - 1.25 Month 2 - .75 Total - 2

You know what I just realized as I was posting these numbers? I have never gotten this far on a rotation before! I trained for a half marathon last year, which I completed. But I didn't focus on eating at all and as a result I did not lose any weight during that time. I've worked out on and off over the years, and ate well here and there. But never have I done both for more than a month. Maybe these downs are all just part of the journey and maybe I can embrace them instead of getting stuck because they scare me. Hmmmm, I'll have to think on that!