Non Scale Victory # 4

It's funny how we tend to overlook the small things as a victory.  That is one of the great things about this weekly link up....it makes you think. 

I have had a few non-scale victories this week.  For some reason, my surgery was a turning point for me.  I can say without a doubt, it is not a health scare thing.  Sadly, I have admitted before to my TOPS group, I am not sure what sort of monumental health scare would make me smarten up.   I looked at my surgery as a fresh start.  My body feels better, without the undertones of nausea lurking.  Also, it doesn't digest fatty foods and sweets to well anymore.  The "side effects" from eating them have turned me off.

Back to the topic on hand.

My first non-scale victory is no longer letting my excuses win, mostly in regards to exercise.  With that one in mind, I have gone out for at least a 20 minute walk everyday since Sunday.  The third one is, once again, in the same line.  I have walked my kids to school/daycare every morning since Tuesday this week.

A little back story about that one:

We live a 5 minute walk from the school/daycare.  I never walked the kids, I always drove them.  My reasoning was that I had to head to work straight from work and didn't have time.  Then, on the weekend, there was an unfortunate incident at the daycare and starting on Tuesday (and until the incident is resolved) we are to use the front door of the school to access the daycare and avoid using the daycare parking lot.  For me, this really means that by the time I park the car, I am pretty much at home anyway.  So I got the kids ready to go out the door 5 minutes earlier and we walked.  Even in the rain.  When I got back to the house, it was still only 8:30 (the same time I would usually get into my car at the daycare)  That let me know that I could walk the kids and still get to work on time.  Even if I was a few minutes late, my boss doesn't mind.

I am trying my best to fit in as much exercise as I can.  If I can walk, I walk.

How was your week?  Why don't you join the weekly link up?  The hosts are great!

The Truth Of Tuesday Night

Now that I am better on track, I enjoy Tuesdays again.

I knew I was going into tonight's TOPS meeting with a loss.  I worked hard this week.  By worked hard I mean I stayed away from the junk food and made it a point to walk more.

No more letting excuses get in my way. 

It paid off,

Last week: 247.75 lbs
This week: 245.25 lbs

That's a loss of 2.50 lbs

I'm encouraged that my hard work showed results.  It would have been disappointing to know I had worked as hard as I did and still gained.

Tonight my group discussed an older program called Cut & Burn

The idea behind it is to get you started on the right track to changing your habits towards diet and exercise and the path to losing weight.

It is exactly like it sounds.

Each day, you cut 100 calories from your diet and burn 100 calories through exercise.

Keep in mind that 1 pound of fat = 3500 calories.

Want some examples?

Cut 100

• leave 1 tbsp. of butter off of your bread
• make your sandwich without the slice of cheese
• leave four bites on your plate
• instead of a full glass of juice, add a splash of juice to sparkling water

Burn 100

• dance for 15 - 20 minutes
• vacuum and scrub floors for 25 minutes
• climb up and down your stairs for 15 minutes
• wash your car for 25-30 minutes

If you really put some thought into it, there are lots of ways you can make small changes each day.

Now, this plan won't have you losing a pound a week, to do that, math says you need to cut 250 calories and burn 250 calories each day.  That is still do-able, just need to work a bit harder.

So, that is the plan for the week.  I am going to try to keep at what I was doing and incorporate the cut and burn program.

Below is the quote I posted for the group:

Sunday Confessions - # 4

I find this weekly post the hardest to keep up with.  Not because I am perfect or anything crazy like that.  I think part of it is that my bad habits are so ingrained and second nature that I don't even notice them.

But I must confess:

I am the Queen of Excuses!

 

If there can be any time of excuse to not exercise, I will think of it.


Here is a quick sampling of some of the ones that I use:

 

 

• It's too cold
• It's too hot
• The kids need me around at bedtime
• It's too dark out
• I might get attacked by a cougar (this one came last year after an alleged cougar sighting in the village)
• My baby toe hurts
• I would walk if I had a partner to walk with
• I don't have time
• If I can't exercise for a good 30 minutes, it's not worth it
• I'm too tired
• My stomach feels upset
• My kids coming won't make for a good calorie burning walk

 

As you can see, a good fat girl will come up with any excuse to not exercise.

I am working hard at changing this since my gall bladder surgery.

I am out walking nice and slow and not letting the weather or children stop me.

 

 

 

Look at all those wonderful reasons to pack up my excuses!

How about you? Are good at making excuses?



Fitness Friday - 04/06 - 04/12

Friday already!

To make it even better....it's a snow day here in icy Keene.  It's April!  We should not be having ice storms.  On the bright side, it did result in my having a snow day from work while I shipped the kiddos off to school and daycare!  Yeah Me! :-)

So, there will not be too much to report fitness-wise.  With my surgery 2 weeks ago, I feel like I missed a whole week somewhere. 
Saturday & Sunday:  nadda - in recovery mode.  I did take Hayden to a birthday party on Sunday and wandered around for a couple hours, but I never really count spending money while I shop as exercise.

Monday:  nadda again.  This was my first day back to work after almost 2 weeks off of work.  I had actually suggested we take the kids for a bike ride after dinner (I was going to walk...not ready to ride yet), but it started to rain.

Tuesday: I went for a 30 minute walk at work

Wednesday: 20 minute walk with Abby. Real time for just me would have been 10.....toddler pace doubles that.  I should get extra points for this...it was raining!

Thursday:  25 minute walk around the block - again....should get bonus walk points....it was freezing rain/ice pellets

Friday:  Snow day today!   Complete ice storm.  I did NO exercise. Not fit to walk outside today and I was basically too lazy to get on the treadmill!

All in all, it was not a terrible week for exercise considering I am on the mend still.  3 out of 7 days.  Hoping to make that at least 6 for next week.

How about you?  What did you do to get yourself moving this past week?



Thanks to Sarah Nelson for posting this picture on Facebook!

My house people and our poor birch tree!
 

Non Scale Victory Link Up # 3

Well, it's nice to feel that I am back in control and on track. 

I am feeling pretty well after my surgery and managed to lose a pound after it.  I took that as an opportunity to get back on track.   Another part that helps is my diet is a bit more limited now and I am afraid to try a few things I used to eat in fear it will send me to the bathroom with terrible cramps.

Anyhoo, I had to struggle a bit to figure out what my Non Scale Victory for this week is.  I mean, I couldn't go hard core exercise and I was in no mood to try new foods.

I think I came up with a couple good ones though

Firstly, to update on a previous one, I now consider myself an eater of peppers RAW (but only with dip at this point)  I joked with my TOPS group that I had matured since I last attended a meeting.  But here is why it's a big deal...it opens the doors to adding that vegetable to other items.  It means I don't have to pick it out of my spaghetti sauce or off my pizza.  It means I ate them in the fajitas I made last night.  Do we see the trend people?!!?  It's adding a lower calorie filler to meals.

My other NSV is that yesterday (my day off) I went for a walk with my daughter.  Ok, no big deal you are thinking right?  Here is the catch!  IT WAS COLD AND RAINING!  The old fat me would have just brushed off the walk...but the new fat me, decided that I could bundle it up and take an umbrella.  It didn't matter if my hair or clothes got wet. I could take care of that at home.   The walk was not as successful as I had hoped.  My 3 year old got "chilly" about 10 minutes in, so we had to turn around and come back.

I should also point out that if you are thinking....10 minutes, that is pretty good.  Yeah, I could still see my house at this point.  Walking with a 3 year old is like watching paint dry.  SLOW.  Also take into account that there were pink rubber boots to wear and puddles to jump it.  But every step counts, but it's not a heart rate raising jaunt.

How about you?  How did you make out this week?

Why not link up too?  At the very least, go be inspired by these other bloggers!

The Truth Of Tuesday Night

Yahoo! I am officially back and in recover mode. My surgery went well and I am feeling pretty good.  I went back to work today and it is nice to get back into the normal routine of things.

I had really hoped that the combination of my gall bladder and gall stones would have weighed about 40 lbs, resulting in an a triumphant loss tonight at TOPS.  Turns out, that was wishful thinking.

The last time I attended my meeting was March 19th

248.75 lbs
This week: 247.75 lbs

That is a loss of 1 lb.  I contribute it to the fact that for 3 days, I really only ate Popsicle's and ginger ale.  My appetite was diminished and I am hoping to keep that momentum going.  I want to try and embrace the feeling of being satisfied with a smaller amount of food. 

I went for a slow walk at work today.  No speed walking for me yet.  I cannot lift over 10 lbs until the end of April, so I am using those same guidelines for heavy exercise, such as running.  For now, I will continue to plod away slowly.

I am focused to keep the scale going in the right direction.  I am also going to start logging my food again. 

Here is to a good week!

I'm A Famous Guest Blogger!

So my friends, I am now a famous guest blogger....well famous except for the money and fame part.

It was a great surprise and honour to be asked to guest post, so pop on over to Kate's blog, Not Your Typical Jersey Girl and read my post.

I'm so new to guest posting that I totally forgot to add a link to my own blog in my post.  Hopefully someone will check me out, I had to leave it in the comments :-)

Show me some blog love, pop over and leave a comment so I can tell who has read it!