Farewell, January – Hello, Return to Normalcy

As I alluded to yesterday, I largely failed at last month’s One Month Goals, an idea stolen from Jen on the Edge (not really stolen, since she generously invites all to share . . . )

My goals were modest:

• Make my bed every day
• Catch up and keep up with my laundry
• Run 5 days/week
• Lose 2-6 pounds

I came closest to keeping the running goal.  I think I did hit 5 days most weeks, and dropped to 4 once or twice.  Not so bad.  I did get to the point where I can round the reservoir (about a mile) without walking breaks.

I did not lose 2-6 pounds. I held steady.

I made my bed every day for 2 weeks.  And it was lovely.  It worked to keep the whole room cleaner, through the power of suggestion, and to keep the sheets and blankies at their maximum comfort level every day.  But then David was sick, and I started staying in bed more once my interviews wound down, and the bed was overlooked.  I’m putting it on February’s list.

I got my laundry better under control.  I got rid of some of the backlog (sheets, blankets, summer clothes that have been waiting so they could be put away), and my general pile is smaller.  But I did not “catch up.”

I am not going to take this first outing’s failure as a reason to stop the exercise.  No.  I’m going to look at this last month, and the craziness it brought to my life, and I’m going to say “fair effort,” especially considering the lack of a routine and the weirdness brought to life because of interviewing and job hunting and stuff like that.

So, on to February:

• I will lose 2-6 pounds.  I will keep my fitness momentum from January, but now I’m going to focus on eating better.  I will start with looking for healthier lunches.  (Which will tie in with my budget revisions, since lunches out aren’t gonna cut it anymore.)
• I will make my bed every day.
• I will buy (and therefore drink) less wine.  This merges the health and the budget.  Less calories, less money. So my plan is to buy a bottle on Fridays, and that’s it.
• I will really catch up with laundry.

Let’s see how it goes this time.

Another Snow Day that Isn’t.

Although, you know, walking around Boston’s Government Center in the snow was actually quite enjoyable.  I like living in New England.  I like living in a snowy climate.  It was pretty, and I didn’t mind.  In fact, news reports are telling us another blizzard may be heading our way, and I am excited about that, too.  [I also think this may really be my snow day ... I could stay home and shovel!  Yee ha!!]

Also, the non-snow day for me meant I got to have my first use of my new gym membership.  If I’d stayed home, it wouldn’t have happened.  Also, the office was just quiet enough, in snowy Friday mode, that I was able to disappear from 2:30  - 4 without being noticed.

It felt great to be back at the gym.  I did the elliptical machine and the stationary bike, and I burned around 400 calories (according to those machines) in about 40 minutes.  I was surprised at the stamina I had right out the gate, and was pleased.

I remember the last time I was really successful at gym work outs, I was absolutely obsessed with the number of calories burned.  It was like a game, or a puzzle, for me.  What speed do I have to stay at in order to burn 600 calories on this machine? [I know those read outs aren't accurate, but I'd like to think - at least - that they're consistent, so if I work to increase my calories burned on one machine from one day to the next, it is truly an increase].  That obsession still resides within me.  I was so determined on that bike yesterday to get to 200 calories … I increased the RPMs as much as possible without getting ahead of the peddles.

I burned 400 calories at the gym, but then came home and indulged in not only Friday Night Wine, but also ice cream night with the family.  But I still feel thinner and more fit today.  Just knowing that I started on the path toward fitness.

 

Reset Button

Well, as much as my 2-week vacation from work has been delightful, it also wrecked any semblance of routines, and broke my resolve toward aggressive weight loss goals.

Actually, S~’s graduation week was the beginning of the end.

So the second half of June, and into the first week of July saw me blowing off my “Lose It!” app, and eating whatever I wanted.  Granted, I was still making wiser choices, and not eating dessert, etc.  I also was hoofing it  for hours at a time around several destinations and swimming against ocean currents.  But I logged nothing.

And lost nothing.

Fortunately – I also gained nothing.

Phew!

But now I’m home, and work resumes on Monday, and routines need to be reinstated.

Today is another disgustingly hot day here in the Boston area, so I didn’t go outside to run.  Instead, I stayed home and did my first day of Jillian Michaels’ 30 Day Shred (where I learned about it).  I also did my first day of 100 Push Ups.  It felt great, too.  Even though Jillian may have left me feeling like I was going to barf.  That may have been more because of the fact that I had nothing to eat as of 2 p.m. other than a single cup of coffee.  (Not on purpose.)  Or because it was more ab work than I’ve done in a long time.  It definitely made the 35+ push ups that 100 Push Ups assigned to me feel easy!

Yeah, I’m probably in overkill mode (again) by doing 3 programs at once – 30 Day Shred, 100 Push Ups and I’m trying to the Couch to 5K!  But the Couch to 5K is only 3 days/week, and that’s really not enough for my goals.  I think it’s a good program, and will help me build up my endurance, but I don’t think it’s enough.  So, I’m doing all 3.

I am happy that I lost 20+ pounds since April.  It still serves to keep me from being completely discouraged.  But I had hoped to lose another 20 by this time – if not 30.  So, I need to re-focus.