Weigh in at 197.

Measurements

Ok…

Arm/Biceps:     13.5

Thighs:               23.5

Hips:                   45

Waist:                  39

Lets do this….

No Loitering

I’m in a holding pattern. I am not breaking that 190 mark I have increased to 196 back to 191 and so on for about 5 weeks now. I mentioned books I had on hold, I have looked at “The 4-hour body” by Timothy Ferriss and he suggests a slow carb approach that I find fascinating.  The rules are simplistic but strict.

1. Eat within an hour of waking, and then every 4 hours

2. No white anything

3. No Fruit

4. Do not drink calories

5. Take one day off per week and go wild.

I paraphrased the rules but you can see the simplicity.  The approved meal choices are one of the following in each meal. Protein/Legumes/Vegetables. This if followed is supposed to produce 20lbs of fat loss in 30 days.  

I will try it, starting Saturday and using Friday as my “cheat” day.  I will measure later today or tomorrow and try to be as accurate as possible.

Today I have had 5 chocolate chip cookies, and the last 2 weeks I have been obsessed with chocolate (especially in the form of twix or kit kats) I also climbed about 50 flights of stairs and did so much damage to my calves that I could hardly move without pain for the past few days. In sum, I am still trying to be active and exercise but my diet sucks.  I have done some preliminary shopping, I need more legumes…..anyone know how to prepare lentils?

Is this thing on?

I have 2 books on reserve at the library right now. One is the body makeover book , that is supposed to tell you what kind of metabolism you have and how to work with that particular set of “rules” to achieve the body you have always wanted.  I’ve always wanted Johnny Depp’s body, this should be interesting…The other is something about how just about anything can be achieved in 4 hours.  It seemed intriguing. I’m all for instant gratification. I don’t believe instant gratification is long-term satisfaction, but I’m willing to give it a whirl to see what comes of it.

I’m confidant though.  I ordered some summer clothes that will not fit me now, but if I get on track with my goals should be good wardrobe additions by the time they are weather appropriate.  I even bought a sundress.  I haven’t worn a dress on purpose in YEARS.

I have also mostly solidified the idea of a 5k in the near future.  It kind of terrifies me, but I know I can walk it without any problem. I would really like to be able to run it though, and part of me suspects I might be close. I was able to “play” with Lindsay on a soccer field for a good 45 minutes non-stop which was mostly running and SHE was more out of breath than I was. Hazzzah!

I have done 2 posts that have mysteriously disappeared.  Its ok really they were just posts to post, kinda like this one.   I will share the idea behind them again. 

1st How lucky/blessed am I? My family is healthy , I have shelter and enough to eat. I’m reminded often in my line of work that things could be worse.  I’m very grateful for my life.

2nd I have great neighbors. I have neighbors that make sure my kid has a ride to school. I have neighbors that have allowed me the use of their vehicle when mine is not working. I have neighbors that will go to the store and pick up items of need, and these are offered things.  My neighbors are the absolute best.

old nonsense

Finish each day and be done with it. You have done what you could. Some blunders and absurdities no doubt crept in; forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day; begin it well and serenely and with too high a spirit to be encumbered with your old nonsense.

Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803 – 1882)

I am looking into options that fit into my level of consistency. It seems I am not able to maintain specific guidelines.  I can not seem to get back on the Phase I bandwagon for South Beach try as I might.  I am wondering why I keep fluctuating in the same 5 lb rollercoaster. I don’t believe I am eating too many calories, but perhaps 25 minutes of exercise is not enough anymore to affect things.  I am going to 60 minutes. I am also going to start a 30 day “schedule”. When the weather clears and I am able to run on something other than a treadmill I will see where I fit in with the possibility of an actual race or something.  On a treadmill whether it’s on a 7 or a 6 after a minute or 2 I want to stop, however, I can walk at 4.5 for an hour or better without becoming winded so I need to get a better handle on my capabilities.

The clean plate club.

I will eat when stressed. I will eat when bored, but my biggest challenge is trying not to finish the plate. I figured it out for myself, and so I don’t put so much on my plate anymore, but Lindsay likes a big plate and hardly ever finishes, and I feel the need to clean her plate too.

Snow, paperwork and other obstacles

Yesterday there was so much snow, that most schools were closed.  Most back roads were closed, or should have been , and the Hospital was so grateful to have staff that they were giving away free stuff to the people who made it in to work. 

My dinky Lebaron and I managed not only to get to work , but to get to the daycare and the gym, both of which were technically closed. I say technically because daycare excepted my child.  This is because I am a very good parent.  Pay on time, give tips, bring treats on a regular basis. The gym however was just plain closed, doors locked, no staff, no entry. 

This makes 2 days in a row without any structured aerobic/cardio/strength training, and today isn’t looking promising either, and the more I think about it tomorrow is not going to be an easy schedule to maneuver.  Lets add that I haven’t slept in about 36 hours, the opportunity for sleep existed, I just couldn’t. I tried.  So today, I am grumpy, I am feeling really sluggish and I have a well rested 4-year-old who wants Momma to jump every two minutes. 

It is also tax time and for parent’s who will have kids entering the public school arena for the 1st time, which I am one of, it is time for school enrollment. I do not want my child to go to the school she would naturally attend, so we are in the process of school of choice enrollment which isn’t difficult just a little more involved.

On of my mantra’s of late is “It’s only one day”. Tomorrow is going to be different, perhaps not better, but different. I am also a firm believer that if I want it badly enough it will happen. For example, I could go to the gym when my husband gets home tonight, yes it will be after 9pm, but I could do it. I could also wake up early tomorrow morning or any morning and get some structured exercise in as long as I am home by 7:30am, the time the husband goes to work.  This is more likely, but I am almost as fond of sleep as I am of food, so as long as I feel this is a choice, it will likely be a 2nd one.

Home sweet home

Today is meant to be a home day where laundry, dishes, and necessary cleaning is performed.  My awe-inspiring husband wins this round as far as just getting it done, and done right, and done right away. I will procrastinate, and find any excuse to not do the heavy stuff ( anything more than general picking up ).  I think I would even do a whole hour on a cardio machine before I wash walls or clean the bathtub..gaw…

The items on today’s agenda are bedrooms, laundry and floors ( and I should add bathroom to that just because).  I would add other things, but I have already done the grocery store, gas station and other things to do today in an extended procrastination event. 

I lack discipline. I know this, but it’s not an easy fix. When you have never had discipline/consistency/will-power trying to cultivate it is rather difficult.

I use lists to help me when it’s really imperative, like birthday parties, large events, and so on, and it would be a good idea if I want to remember a specific date for anything to send myself email reminders, otherwise things get missed.  The only reason this blog has been fairly current is because it doesn’t have to be done at the same time each day.  That would be my most challenging task, to do something the same time each day, unless it involved other people, like employment, school, that kind of thing. 

As far as the healthy living part of today, I am going to clean the bathroom, removing the germs in there has to be just as healthy as circuit training.

Where is my butt?

In college I did a project that set out to determine what kind of authority individuals used to influence decisions, tasks and the like.  The result of that study is that most people are very self-absorbed. They thought of themselves as the authority, the world revolved around them, that kind of thing.  I can emphasize that with the idea that whether you are pregnant, trying to lose weight, dealing with a major health crises, discovering a new spiritual revolution the “news” will also seem to focus on those things, or 10 people at work are going through the same thing.

My big focus of the day/week/hour is belly fat. My belly likes being squishy. It is determined to hold on to its mushiness, is the last to surrender a pound or inch, and will greedily add to its mass if given the calories or sedentary behavior to do so. There are a lot of media outlets that will tell you the best way to blast belly fat. I don’t think I’m going to fight it, IF I continue to do healthy things, eat healthy things and weight continues to drop, the belly will eventually have to give up its bountiful girth.

My butt on the other hand is a true giver. I have several pair of pants that feel more like skirts because there is nothing holding them up in the rear.

How many calories are in snot?

I am officially not feeling well. I have a head cold that is trying desperately to get into my chest. I can still do some exercise until it takes a firm hold, but my head feels like I imagine a hangover feels like. (I’ve never had a hangover-Seriously)

I haven’t felt very motivated the last couple days. I am stuck firmly in that 193 weight range, and I have been “cheating” at least once daily with chocolate treats or something that would definitely have carbs or sugar in it. I am still burning more calories than I consume, but I am definitely not trying my best.

This weekend should be ok.  I’ve been much better about sticking to the plan while working, and I work today and tomorrow.  I do have to make cupcakes for the young ones 1/2 birthday party at school on Monday, but I will only have one….maybe. Today I am going to make chili, because I was inspired by another blog I was reading, and I may research a low-calorie alternative to corn bread.