A little late night encouragment.

The following (edited) conversation was prompted by this photo. I posted a private message to a small group on Facebook around Midnight last night.

ME: Yea, I need to get some control of my life. I have no discernible jawline....

JENNIFER: you can do it! one day, on meal at a time.

LISA: You can do it the same way Mike Scherwitz and I are doing it.

ME: And I didn't get my 10-min workout in I should have done it this morning, but then got busy.  today, I mean 

LISA: Do you have 10 min. now? 

ME: I do, but my hubby is asleep. Don;t want to wake him. I will do them both tomorrow. 

LISA: Good plan. 

ME: thanks! I am glad I did yesterday's. My butt was sore today!and my back from the plank walks, all in that good-sore way.

JENNIFER: Mylynka go do some push ups and body weight squats, those are nice and quiet! 

ME: That is true Jennifer. I will do them before bed. I promise! I think the squats is why my ass hurts today! LOL 

JENNIFER: go you! omg yes squats are a great bum burner lol

ME: so, about how many should I do?

LISA: I do 3-4 sets of 25 at a rapid pace. but everyone is different.

JENNIFER: what lisa said, that should be good, and do it in a circuit fashion, pushups then squats, rest for 30-60 and repeat 

ME: ah, ok. so 3-4 sets of 25 of each exercise? thanks!! 

JENNIFER: yes!  err well max out on the pushups, those can be hard for beginners. hell i can only crank out about 40 

ME: I can do them modified, on an elevated surface, or wall in plank position. I can only do about 2 on the floor. 

JENNIFER: yes, good thinking 

ME: I'll report back in the morning! 

JENNIFER: yea i wanna see your numbers 

ME: numbers? (sorry, I am getting tired) 

JENNIFER: how many sets/reps you do for each 

ME: yea, i better go do 'em before I get too tired 

JENNIFER: yes you better 

ME: ok, off to do my push-ups & squats. Talk to y'all tomorrow ladies. Night night! 

(MUTUAL GOOD NIGHTS)

35 MINUTES LATER…. 

ME: Ok, I did 2 set of 25 wall push-ups, 2 sets of 25 squats, 15 of the "over the chair" leg lifts, 15 lateral leg lifts, the Heismans, and dips.(from today's BodyDrive). I am so freaking tired & I think my arms & quads might be in muscle failure. It feels good though! Thanks Jennifer & Lisa for making me do it!

LISA: You are awesome. Thank yourself for not allowing excuses to keep you from your goal. Really proud of you.

JENNIFER: ^5 you did it!! you are awesome and you will thank yourself later. Now get some good rest!

30 MINUTES LATER...

ME: I did Mike's 10-mins of stretches & took a hot bath! Heading to sleep. ok,I'll say it.... I am little proud of me right now.

LISA: You should be A LOT proud of you right now. Get some sleep. Tomorrow is a new day...and a new workout.

THIS MORNING

SARAH I missed this whole thing! But yay, Mylynka! Aren't you glad you did it? And Jennifer and Lisa are quite awesome!

ELISA: I missed the whole thing... anyway, way to go, mylynka! i'm glad they were online to encourage you like you encouraged me the other night. i'm always loathe to start, but i always feel better once i've finished! yay you!

ME: Aw, thanks. Oh, and record, I am not sure if I can get out of bed.... Of course, I HAVE to. The coffee is not in here!!

JENNIFER: mmmmm coffee is in my mug right now

THANKS LADIES!!!  My butt hurts and my arms are sore, but I KNOW it is worth it!!

Day 2 of 2012

Day two and I am off to an OK start.  I am getting ready to do my 2nd day of BodyDrive's 10min workout (& 10min stretching) before showering & heading to campus.  Wintermester classes are in session and I am sitting in on a US 1 class since I will be teaching one in 2 weeks time & needed a refresher.  4hr classes are a beast, now I know why I never did them as an undergrad!!

I just wanted to pass this link (to a PDF) along.  I am a pack rat and lazy and a full-time grad student and my house is a cluttered nightmare.  This declutter calendar, I think, is just the tool I need to get it under control without feeling overwhelmed. Much like my goal of fitness, I need to gain control of my house in small, manageable steps!

Ok, speaking of stepping, I'd better get to my workout.  I need to leave in a little over an hour for class!

Happy Monday!

Hello 2012!

Twenty-Twelve... whoa... that just sounds weird. 

Anyway, I have reclaimed my blog and am taking this year, twenty-twelve, to reclaim my life.  I decided not to have the blog post where I go on and on about what all I haven't done in the year and a half since I started this. Or to bemoan all the things I should have done, meant to do, wish I'd done etc.  Instead I have decided to change up some stuff. I changed the background (BOOKS!), but I am not 100% in love with it yet, and I added new blogs I follow, and, as you may have noticed, I changed the blog name.

I will be 40 in 82 days (!!!!!!!) and will not be "fit" by then, BUT I can become fit/find fitness in my 40s, and that is the plan.

Recently a few things have happened and have pushed me to realize that being unfit is no longer an option:

1. A whole crew of fit friends just entered my life. I take this as a sign that the Universe is telling me something. I am now getting all kinds of fitness support from great people like Sarah at Sarah Fitness, Wendy at I See Fit People, and Jennifer, (who needs to blog so I can link it). These gals inspire me to attain some fitness and they drink tons of coffee so I {heart} them already.
2. My yoga instructor's husband died unexpectedly the day after Christmas and she is not teaching for a while. I have been loving her classes, so was floundering around about what to do to fill the void until her return to the studio when...
3. Facebook came to the rescue (yes, you heard me right, Facebook). Firstly in the people in #1. And secondly in the form of Mike & his fitness company BodyDrive. Mike is posting 10-minute daily workouts on his Facebook page.  He posted this quote today:

   Though no one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending.

   I read this when I was thinking, "Meh, I won't work out today. I'll wait until tomorrow then I'll start." Famous delay tactic, no? After readng it and this:

   I've already heard from a few people who have done "Daily 10 workout" Day 1. Don't let this first day get away from you... It only takes 10 minutes! Don't think about it, just do it! Be sure to watch the Exercise demo video I posted. I show you how to modify the workout for your ability in it.

   I decided that I couldn't put it off any longer. Today was the day to do it.  And come on TEN MINUTES!  I can do ten minutes.  And I did.  And it was hard, but awesome. I watched the demo video and was so glad to see all the modifications. It made me feel like even I could do it!  And I DID!

   I am very excited to do this 10 minutes (plus the 10min post-workout stretches) everyday. And I know I will start to add more exercise into my daily life.

   That is it for today. I am tired and have that good-sore feeling one gets from exercise.  More soon!

   
   

   

   
   

   
   

The Fitbit Ultra

Here is the promised post on the Fitbit I just purchased.

The Fitbit Ultra is a small device that kinda looks like a flash drive that you can put in your pocket, clip to your waistband, or bra, and wear all day while you are going about your business.  It records your steps taken, flights of stairs climbed, calories burned, and even monitors your sleep cycle (you wear it on the included wristband to sleep). I wear mine on my bra while I get ready in the morning & then slip it onto my pants waistband for the rest of the day.

I chose the Plum one.

As you can see from the pic (from the website) it is really small.  I forget it is even there (from a comfort standpoint).  I don't even notice it at night - the wrist band is a soft, wrap-around style band that closes with a velcro-type closure.  One thing I like about it is summed up perfectly in this blurb from their site:

 Unlike bulky, awkward devices that all but scream, "Look at me, I'm on a diet," the Fitbit Tracker is light and small enough to wear all day without anyone knowing.

No one knows I am wearing it unless I tell them.  No one needs to know I am tracking my daily whatevers unless I want them too. Not that I keep much a secret (you know this if you have read any of my blog), but I didn't want a thing strapped around my arm indicating I am tracking my calories, steps, etc.  This also is a more comfortable option, in my opinion.

Well, what does the Fitbit do?  Again, from their site:

Fitbit Ultra's super sensitive 3-D motion sensor tracks your day down to details a pedometer can't catch, showing your exact steps taken, calories burned, and distance traveled. The new altimeter tracks floors climbed so you can monitor this heart-healthy activity, encouraging you to take the stairs at home or work, or climb a little further on your next hike. 

So, yea, it does all that.  What it doesn't tell you is that you will want to walk more & want to take the stairs more because there is something so annoying about seeing the 0 next to the stairs icon. There is also something SO gratifying about seeing the calories burned and the steps numbers climb into the quadruple digits! it is also cool to know how many miles (or parts of a mile) you walk in your regular day. Maybe it is because I feel some sort of immediate gratification. A satisfaction.  Ok, yea, and a little pride.  I climbed 14 flights of stairs at work yesterday!  YEA I DID!  It is like sneaking in a workout with out thinking about it. Nice!

The Fitbit is wireless, so as long as you are about 10' from the base (which handily plugs into a USB port & is also used to charge the Fitbit) your info is synched to your Dashboard page on the Fitbit website.  The website is neat because you can log in your food, your mood, other exercise (besides walking & climbing stairs), it shows your sleep pattern (who knew I woke up at 4am? I didn't.), & your water intake. You can also set fitness goals & weight loss goals.  I originally set my final desired weight goal as my end goal of 145lb, but that seems so far away (Nov. 28, 2012 - at 2lbs a week loss) & so depressing that I reset it for 250lb.  That is 13 or so pounds away and seems so much more doable (estimated at about Nov. 26, THIS YEAR).

The Fitbit Ultra is $99.99 and the shipping & website dashboard features are free.  There is a premium membership on the site that has more options, but for now I am good on the free site.  As my fitness improves and I need more challenges to push me through the inevitable plateaus I will face, I may try out the premium features.

Ok, so there ya go.  Oh, the website is : www.fitbit.com

 

PS I have not received anything from Fitbit to write about this product.  This is all my own opinion/experience about the product after I purchased it unless otherwise noted.

The post where I try to play catch-up blogger

So first things first... I DID weigh-in on Wed. I just kept meaning to blog...

The numbers:

Starting Weight: 275.0


Last Week: 265.0


This Week: 263.4

It was a really nice surprise to have lost that 1.6lb!!  I thought I had gained!  YAY!


Item #2 - I bought a Fitbit.  I will blog about that later.  Basically it is a little tracking device I wear that monitors all kinds of stuff.  I promise I'll blog about it this week.

Item #3 - I have made a menu for the week.  Beef tips, mushroom, & onions are simmering on the stove for tonight. Everything is prepped & in the crock-pot (and in the fridge) for beef stew tomorrow. I have a plan & am sticking to it.  Veggies are prepped for snacking & lunch stuff is good to go, too.

The Casa Cardona menu for 10/10-10/13 is as follows

• Sun - Beef tips with mushrooms & onions, truffle risotto, & green beans almondine
• Mon - Beef Stew with onions, mushrooms, carrots & potatoes
• Tues - Arroz con pollo with a mixed vegetable side
• Wed - Dani's tortellini with spinach & a vegetable
  
• Thursday - Morningstar BBQ "ribs" with mashed potatoes & broccoli cheese casserole
• Friday - date night dinner out

I have stuff for oatmeal or smoothies for our breakfasts.  I also bought some cinnamon raisin bread for toast.  Lunches will be a mix of frozen (healthy) dinners, leftovers, or sandwiches with Popchips and fruit.  Our splurge is some chocolate pudding (I'll make it with low-fat milk).

I'll let you know how meal planning goes.  I am hoping it is going to help me monitor my intake, eat better, snack smarter and keep me within my calorie goals.

Item #4 - I am trying some new things to structure/schedule my time.  I am a HUGE time waster and cannot do that if I want to finish my dissertation on time.  I have already wasted 6 months of my allotted 4yrs. It is time to get my act together. I have my days planned out (with some wiggle room) to include time to prep my lectures, time to work on my article, time to work on my dissertation, plus have some downtime, exercise daily, have date-night, and some other stuff. Again, we'll see how it goes.

Wish me luck!

Weigh-In Wednesday - The Sickly Edition

Hello,


No weigh-in last week as I was on a plane to Portland, ME for a conference (more on that in another post).


So the numbers:

Starting Weight: 275

Last Week: 265.6

This Week:  265.0

 

I am ok with this as I have travelled, not exercised, and am currently under the weather.

I am pleased to be back to 10lb overall loss and am re-renewing my committment to a healthy life.

 

...right after I get over this horrible cold/raw throat/cough thing.  No water aerobics & yoga for me this week.

I feel like hell.

 

 

Weigh-in Wednesday, Blog Thursday

.. at least I am weighing in on Wednesdays!

So the numbers:

Starting Weight: 275

Last Week: 266.6

This Week:  265.6

One pound in one week.  Hey! That's progress!  If I keep this up I'll be down 52lb  in a year!

I am trying to remain positive... of course I realize if I stay at the rate of 1lb/week then this time next year I'll still be over 200lb!   So, now what?

I am not good at taking things, i.e. diet pills, appetite suppressors, fat burners, what-have-you.  I like my coffee and if I drink coffee AND take anything, I am a spaz, freak, jittery-mess who is 100% certain that her heart will explode in her chest at any second.  NOT a fun way to go through your day (I know this from experience).  If I stop the coffee I am a different kind of mess you don't want to be around either.

I am NOT interested in any type of weight-loss surgery.  I had a former Dr. asked me if I was interested in surgery WHILE SHE WAS CONDUCTING MY PAP.... um, not cool, I am kinda naked, and vulnerable, and um, your hand is in my vagina... can we talk about this later... ooh, did you take the photos of the fish on your exam room walls.... AHHHGGGK! (true story)

It seems like my only real options are to A) diet and B) exercise.

Damn, I hate being rational....

I have been looking at the UTA gym (the MAC) exercise class schedule and for some reason am feeling really intimidated.  I know from past experience that going to the classes were good for me (and they were actually FUN) and I was not the only fattie in there.  I am, for some reason, back in my discomfort zone.  I am afraid.  I don't know why I have regressed.  Maybe because Raefela the wonder instructor graduated (with her PhD in Mechanical Engineering, no less) and i really felt comfortable in her classes.  Maybe i am afraid that other instructors will be tough, or mean, or both.  Of course if they are mean, I can always walk out.  Maybe I am just making excuses....

I don't know what my problem is. I need to get over this mental block and get back to the gym or I am going to be a fat-ass for ever.

Meh.

I probably shouldn't have looked up my "ideal" weight range for my age & height.  The range for a 5'5' 39yr old female is 119-149 with my ideal target as 134.  That seems so unattainable right now.  At my absolute thinnest and fittest, when I graduated from Army Basic Training, I was a size 10 and 142lb.  I have been there and can get back there... but damn I am not 21 anymore....  I also know it is going to take a lot of work and something else, something that I am not good at.... SACRIFICE.

There, I said it.  I am not good at that.  That. Up there... the s-word.  I am pretty self-centered.  I can be, I don't have kids.  I guess I just need to realize that I should be more self-centered and take care of my SELF better.

Meh.