100 Days

In 100 days, hubby and I are going on vacation! Oh thank heavens! It's been over a year since we got away and I cannot wait!

But, I'm not happy with what I look like. I had a doctor appointment Tuesday night to update the primary with all the ankle stuff from the summer. And of course, the dreaded weigh-in. Apparently the ankle caused a 9 pound weight gain.

I suppose that's not too bad, but I am not happy in general with my weight and I really don't want to go on vacation looking like this.

So, I want to spend the next 100 days working hard on my food and my exercise. At this point I need to get my butt back to the gym and work out, even though I know it will be less than it was before the ankle break. I need to start eating better, stop buying dinners out and making food at home that's healthy.

So, here's to a healthy 100 days!





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January 2015 Review

Hard to believe January 2015 is already over. That went quick! It seems as you get older, the time really does fly by!

January did not go as well as I had hoped. Not by a long shot. I didn't make a single goal I set for myself. As a review, here are the goals I set for myself in January:

Here's a breakdown on each:

1. Lose 7-8 lbs: Gained 1.6 pounds
2. Run 48 miles: 16 miles {32 miles under goal}
3. Follow meal plan: Not 100%, but actually not too far off. Some nights swapped a meal from later in the week. Ate out a few times more than we should have, but overall stayed on track better than usual.
4. Read 10 books: 9
5. Post Eastern State Penitentiary photos: Still on camera

I will say that I missed a whole week of runs due to my back the first full week of the month, so I knew I wasn't going to hit that 48 miles for the month. But, then I just lost total motivation. I couldn't bring myself to go out and run. Some of it had to so with snow, some of it had to do with my work schedule changing around, but mostly I just couldn't bring myself to do it. I lost the desire to go out. I don't know what happened, but this whole running thing just wasn't it this month.

Kinda annoyed I missed my reading goal by one book. Bah! Last January I read 19. Guess that's tied to that whole I lost the desire to do it this month. 

Not sure why the photos didn't come off the camera. I honestly thought about it many times. It just never translated into me actually doing it. Maybe this month?

So, I guess February is a new month and a new start. The monthly meal plan is written out. I do need to go over goals for the month, but at least I kept the one positive thing going...the meal planning.

How did your January go? Did you meet your monthly goals?       

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Motivational Monday

This past weekend, hubby and I went to Philly to see the Philadelphia Phillies play the last two games of their season. I have all sorts of Phillies gear to chose from to wear. I tried on multiple items and was upset when nothing looked good because I have gained too much weight.

I decided then and there that this would be the last time this would happen. I'm tired of doing this...finding a way to make clothes look ok on me. I need to change. I need to make myself a priority. I need to say what I've been doing hasn't worked. I need to make changes if I want to be happy with myself...which I am not currently.

Oh sure, I'm happy with the way I've gotten back to my workouts - due in no small part to the running coach I hired. But, while I thought my eating habits would fall into line because I was working out, they haven't. So, I am making a concentrated effort to focus on my food intake and what it should be rather than what it is.

This is my Motivational Monday. I felt so bad about how I looked over the weekend that it has motivated me to get my shit together. I have done it before, so I know it's possible.

What are you needing to focus on? Is it time to start making and implementing plans to make changes in your life?


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Weight Watchers here I come

For the past few years, I have gained weight. In 2012, I weighed the least I ever had and was 12 pounds away from my goal weight.

Hubby and I at the Sasquatch 5k

Then, for some reason (I really don't know what triggered it), I started gaining weight. Ok, one can gain a few pounds, then get back under control. It happens, but no. I let it go on far too long and I gained 40 pounds in 2.5 years. Yea.

Easter 2014

Awful, isn't it? It's ok. I'm not going to be offended. I'm angry at myself for letting it happen. So, this past Sunday I decided enough is enough. I have been saying that for months now, but doing nothing. I kept thinking I could do it on my own. But, I am wrong. I can't.

What did I do? I signed up for Weight Watchers on-line. I have done the meetings before, but I have found I have very little in common with the people in the meetings. I would go, weigh in, then leave. What's the point in that? Instead, I joined the on-line program. I am more of a loner anyway. I believe this will be more successful.

Weigh ins are on Friday {which has always been a good way for me to do this} and I'm hoping for a great first week! I have a big goal of 12-15 pounds by July 2nd. It is doable, I just have to follow the program.

What have you done to lose weight? Are you better at a structured program or going it alone?
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Sh*t

For months I've been saying I'm going to work out, I'm going to cut back. I find new things that will ensure I do this - food journals, challenges, races. None seem to work. I've been saying the same thing over and over again for months and I'm worse off than I ever was.

Tonight, I went to the gym. I used to go 2-3 nights a week, but stopped. Wednesday is the easy day, I grab my car after work, drive about 1/2 mile, park, go in, workout. Kinda simple. So many Wednesday's I skip. I don't go. I make excuses. But tonight, I went. I changed into my workout clothes, then jumped on the scale in the women's changing area. And the number that stared back at me was horrifying (to me). I am 7 pounds away from a number I swore I would never, ever be at again. 7 pounds. How did I let that happen???

So, I made the decision to change. Sure, I've said this before, but that number freaked me out. I will not go back to where I was 13 years ago. I will go back to where I was in 2011, which was 12 pounds away from my goal weight. Even if I get no further than that, I will get there. Not by Christmas, but I will get there.

I'm saying it now and out loud. I will get back into my workout/healthy eating groove. I don't care if it is Christmas, my 12th wedding anniversary, New Year's. I will work out. I will eat healthy. I'm tired of always saying I will. Done. Over. No more. This time I mean business.

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Time to stop kidding myself

I had a great spring running season. I ran in some fun races, ran two half marathons, got to run with the hubby at lots of races, and got to run with friends as well at others. I ran the inaugural Yuengling Lager Jogger, I ran the Dolphin Challenge at Yuengling Marathon weekend for the second time, I ran the Baltimore Women's Classic for the 5th time marking my 5 year running anniversary. The spring was great!

Then I took my two month summer vacation from running. I do not like running in the heat, so I take a break to rest the body then. But, it was a rough off-season. We had to put my baby boy Pooka down due to a blood clot, I was sick for 5 weeks, and I blew off exercise and healthy eating completely for the summer. Then in the middle of Sept. I went to the ortho doc about the pain in my hip and am now in PT to work out what's going on.

And through all this (July on), I have let my emotions run my actions. I have been so down about it all that I stopped going to the gym consistently. I just ate whatever my heart desired. Sure, I ate some healthy stuff but lots of my food has been crap.

And it shows. My weight has ballooned over the past year and a half to the point where I'm just so angry at myself for letting myself get so out of hand. Sure a week or two happens to everyone, but I allowed that to last about 74 weeks. Ugh. It is affecting my opinion of myself and now it's interfering with my workout/running. I went out for a one mile run to prepare for next Saturday's 5k and I was breathing heavy the whole time and the second half of the mile I couldn't run any of the hills. It was awful. I felt like I was starting the running journey all over again from 5 years ago - same running ability and same weight.

What did this run teach me? I've been talking for months about eating healthy and getting back into the gym, but haven't. I say I will, then just don't. Obviously this tactic has been highly effective. So, since a large portion of my identity now revolves around being a runner, I need to start doing the things I need to do to be a good one - eating to support my runs/workout, follow through on my workout plans, and find ways to supplement both to stay flexible and strong.

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Here we go again

I had a really good start to my 40 pound challenge. In 3 weeks, I was down 7 pounds. I was happy, a little behind schedule but happy. Then I had a bunch of things happen one right after another that threw me emotionally and I got off track. I knew what I was doing to myself, but I couldn't stop.

Friday, I got on the scale anticipating a really bad number. It wasn't a good one, about a 6 pound gain. I knew it was coming and honestly felt it would be worse. I was surprised at how low the weight was on the scale.

What does this mean? Does it mean I've given up? Does it mean I'm just going to stay where I am? Does it mean I'm going to continue on the way I have been? No. I'm going back to the habits that I had started using that brought about weight loss.

I will not reach my 40 pound goal by Nov. 11th. I am saddened by this, but because of that challenge I'm not going to give up. I am going to go back to my healthy habits and do my best to lose what I can by then. I may not be able to reach 40 pounds by Nov. 11th, but I can lose something.

I don't want to give in. I want to succeed and that's what I plan on doing!

Have you ever been thrown off track with your diet or exercise? What steps did you take to right the train?

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40 Pound Challenge Week 4

Do you know your habits? Do you know what you revert to over time? Sometimes that 21 days to instill a habit cannot compete against YEARS of habit. And that is how week 4 went with me. I reverted back to old habits. I didn't stick to the great habits I was developing in week 2 and 3. And it showed this week on the scale. :-(

Here are my overall weekly goals:

increase my protein levels (approximately 79 g per day) 

eat approximately 1500 cals per day 

work out 3-4 days a week

 

Day 21/July 2, 2013

* Under in calories (-145)

* Over in protein (+10)

* 60 minutes on stationary bike

Day 22/July 3, 2013

* Did not count, surely over

* Did not count, surely under

* Missed workout because I forgot to pack pants for the gym

Day 23/July 4, 2013

* I did fine at the picnic I went too, it was the drive to and from that I did poorly (drive was 5 hours total)

* No workout

Day 24/July 5, 2013

* Planned cheat day

* No workout

Day 25/July 6, 2013

* Did not count, not perfect, but closer

* No workout

Day 26/July 7, 2013

* Under by about 100 calories

* At protein requirements (79)

* 30 minutes TRX

* 35 minutes treadmill, inclines

And last week's goals?

1.  KEEP FOOD/EXERCISE JOURNAL EVERY DAY Nope. Not even close. Two days total.

2. Be at 1500 calories 6 out of 7 days. Two days. The days I tracked.

3. Reach 70 g of protein 3 days out of 7 days I got 2 out of 3 days. Not bad considering the two days were actually over that.

4. Workout 4 out of 7 days (Tuesday, Wednesday, Saturday, Monday) I managed Tuesday and Monday. I would have gotten Wednesday if I hadn't forgotten my workout pants...

5. Lose weight. Nope. Sad.

Rather than losing this week, I gained. I knew it was coming. This week I am up 2 pounds from last week. I'm happy it's not more, which I honestly anticipated it would be. I can come back from this. I will not allow week 4 to drag into week 5, week 6, week 7, etc. One bad week does not define my challenge! Onward and downward!

 

Goals for this coming week:

 

1.  KEEP FOOD/EXERCISE JOURNAL EVERY DAY

2. Be at 1500 calories 6 out of 7 days.

3. Reach 70 g of protein 3 days out of 7 days

4. Workout 4 our of 7 days (Tuesday, Wednesday, Saturday, Monday)

5. Lose weight.

 

Might as well go for the same ones from last week since I didn't reach them. This week I will reach them!

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And I'm logging food and exercise again...

Last year I ran the Sole of the City 10k with hubby. We had a fun time running through Baltimore and we had a fun post-race party time with friends. We even took a pic pre-race:

This year we did our self-portrait in the parking garage. Yea...yea...We were cold and tired.

You can't tell too much from this photo, but I am much bigger than I was last year. I noticed it in the race photos. Ugh. Awful. So awful that I have finally figured out what I need to get my ass in gear. Yes. I do not want photographs of me looking like that anymore. It's awful. Did I say that already?

Last August, while in Las Vegas I looked like this:

And now?

How about a closer comparison?

Shamrock 2013

 

Shamrock 2012

 

I want to get back to what I was in August of 2012. Then I want to lose 12 more pounds. Because yes, I was 12 pounds away from my goal before gaining about 20 pounds in 8 months. I'm annoyed with myself. It's frustrating and sad. But, today's Sole of the City 10k photos made me see myself for what I really look like right now. It's not pretty...

 

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One

Ugh. I gained a pound this week. I'm not real thrilled about this. I know I didn't eat 100% perfect and I missed a workout, but... I'm still mad. Not at anyone but myself. I know what I did. I know why this happened. I got a little too cocky.

See last week I kinda half-assed my workouts and food. I wasn't on point each day, but close enough. And last week I lost about 3-4 pounds. Rather than building on that and continuing on with tweaking the diet to go healthier, I let myself slack. I ate a bit more than I did last week. I skipped the gym Wednesday. I ate poorly two weeknights rather than one. I know I can get away with one night with a bad dinner, but not two. And that's what I did.

So, this week I'm going to work on getting past my malaise. I need to get back in the groove with food and exercise. I have to follow through on what I say I'm going to do. I need to follow my calorie allotment for the day and I need to do my workouts. One week isn't forever, but it sure can lead to more.

Next week I want to be down 2 pounds. I know how to do it. Cut out 3,500 calories via food and 3,500 calories via exercise. I can do it. I just have to buckle down.

Eating Issues

Cheesesteak eggrolls

I am realizing more and more that food and I do not always get along. I spent the last two years losing weight and I was this close to reaching my goal this past July. I was about 12 pounds away from it. And then I stopped all my healthy habits and fell into all those habits that had been part of my life for the past 35 years. 

Breakfasts have been fine over all this time. I've managed to eat healthy everyday (besides my Saturday morning donut). This meal has been easy to keep on track for. I suppose anything would make this meal easy to keep on track with when for years I didn't eat breakfast at all.

Lunch generally is pretty good. I tend to eat healthy lunches. I pack a lunch two days a week and eat at home the other three. I rarely eat lunch on weekends because we're not home. Sandwiches, carrots, and apples are generally what make up my lunch, whether at home or at work. Occassionally, based on how hungry I think I'll be I'll either pack nuts or buy them at work. I won't lie, some Fridays I just don't feel like packing and buy out. Usually, pretzel nuggets from Auntie Anne's or I might hit up a local restaurant for their Turkey Melt and sweet potato fries. But, overall lunches are decent.

My biggest downfall is when I come home. I either stop on my way home and grab a (bad) snack. If I don't do that, I come home and eat something from the pantry. Usually pretzel rods, but it could be anything - nuts, potato chips, crackers. Whatever happens to be lying around. Then I go on to eat dinner. I don't know what it is about snacking after work. It doesn't matter if I come right home or stop at the gym first, I go right for food. I know this is tripping me up big time. It starts a downward spiral of eating for the night. If I did go to the gym before coming home, it totally negates all the good I did. Ugh.

Dinner's aren't always great. I'm lazy when it comes to making dinner. I don't want to make huge casseroles or meat with vegetables. It really is hit or miss when it comes to dinner, some nights I'm all about the healthy, other nights I'm all about the easy. I really need a chef. Not only would they help me eat healthy, but I wouldn't have to cook. Yes. Lazy. Dinners are not awful per se, but they aren't always healthy. There are enough nights of potato chips/french fries/crap. It apparently is adding up.

Dessert. Ahhhh...dessert. My favorite meal of the day. And honestly, it's becoming a meal in it's own right. It used to be I could have a "real" dessert on Friday and Saturday night. The other nights of the week I could have a couple pieces of chocolate (Hershey Kisses so I can limit them) or maybe jelly beans (good sugar rush, but easy to count out ahead of time). Lately, I've been having slices of apple pie every night or some other bakery dessert. Yea. This helps the ole diet.

Writing it down helps me see I'm not doing everything wrong. I apparently can handle breakfast and lunch. It's just late afternoon/dinner/after dinner that is the problem. Which isn't great that 3 out of 5 times of day I am struggling, but I suppose it's good I know this. I know where to concentrate. I can work on each one, trying to bring that back to where I was. Build on success.

I also know I need to get my butt back to the gym and on the roads again. I haven't been that great about running lately or going to the gym after work. I know this is the busiest time of year, but you know what? I need to focus on getting there. I have a trainer I see on Monday nights, I can hit the gym after work on Wednesday and Thursday, and I can run on Saturday. I might even squeeze a run in on Monday and/or Tuesday.

I can do this. I can turn things around. I just need to concentrate and follow through.

T-shirt comparison

I've been struggling with my weight lately. Over the past three months, I've gained about 15 pounds. Ugh. That sucks. No one likes to admit gaining. It's so much better to share you've lost.

So, I've been doing the whole upset I've gained weight, then eating to make myself feel better. Which it doesn't because I only gain more. See where this is going?

Yesterday I was switching over my summer clothes for my winter ones. We're finally getting cooler temperatures and I can finally wear long sleeves again. Yea!

While switching out my clothes, I found one of the first t-shirts I bought when I got to college. It's big. Really big. And it fit when I bought it.

Elizabethtown College located in Elizabethtown, PA 

 

Yea, extra-large...

 

And as I was pulling clothes out to put into the closet, I came across a long-sleeve t-shirt for Penn State (where I earned my M.A.). When I bought it, it was a tad tight, but after my work in the gym in the spring it fits. Kinda surprised, but happily.

I attended Penn State Capital Campus rather than Penn State Main. Closer.

 

 Yea! Smaller.

 

And then I thought this would be fun...

Wow...

 

So, while I'm not happy about those 15 pounds that have come back I have still made progress overall. I have to remember that. I have to remember that the Elizabethtown College shirt could fit, rather than the Penn State one.  And I've lost those 15 pounds once, I can do it again. It's only failure if I chose to give up. And I've been battling this weight thing for years and have not given up. It's taking me longer than I would like, but I'm still making progress. Those two shirts are proof.

 

 

After months of ignoring the scale, I decided to face it head on.  Ugh.  It isn't as bad as I anticipated, but gaining 10 pounds is not pleasant. It also explains the pants/jeans not fitting as well as they did.

So, what does this mean?  It means I know where I am. 23 pounds over my goal weight.  It means I have 3.5 months to move the scale in the downward direction to hopefully reach goal or close to it by December 31st.

I'm back to logging what I eat.  I need to get better at that and working out, but it's a work in progress.  I have that pesky half marathon coming up in October.  Then I have two months of being able to pick races for fun.  Hopefully this helps motivate me to get my butt in gear!

Too tight...

I don't need to get on the scale to know I've gained too much weight over the last few weeks.  How do I know?  The weather is gorgeous now and I grabbed a pair of jeans to drop off my car at the dealership for some work last night.  They were tight.  Not so tight I could get them on and button, but tighter than I like.  Way tighter...

This better be the push I need to get back into healthy eating and back to the gym...

 Time to review those goals again.  How did April go?


1. Lose 5 pounds.  Well, this was again a failure.  More so than last month.  I gained .2 pounds in April.  Ah well.  I knew it was coming.  I didn't follow my plan for the first 15 days of the month and then decided the goal for the rest of the month was to just get back to where I was at the end of March.  Missed it by .2 pounds.  Onward and downward!

2. Run 25 miles. Got it!  Barely... I ran 2.5 miles on April 30th to get me to 25.4 miles for the month of April.  The two 10ks I ran this month really helped because I was slacking on the weekday runs.  I don't know why.  It seems like I need a big race goal, i.e. a half marathon, to get me running more consistently.  The positive is I still got those 25 miles in even if it was at the very last minute.

3. Bike 40 miles.  Oops.  Missed this goal for the month.  Ended up with 26ish miles.  We haven't gone outside on a ride yet, still using the stationary bike either at home or at the gym.  First month this year I haven't met the biking goal.  Which is funny since I hadn't planned on even starting the biking goal until April.  Well, here's to a better May!

4. More photography.  Took the camera to the Orioles Opening Day and the Phillies Opening Day. But other than that, I haven't done the best job...Though I did take a bunch of really cute pics of the kitties the other day.  Maybe I need to do a challenge for the month of May with my camera.  A photo a day?  Hmmm...

5. The big picture.  This hasn't been an issue lately.  Maybe I've gotten it in my head so well that it's natural now?  Not sure.  But, I am getting better at not letting the little things get to me.  Working hard on enjoying life as it plays out.  I'm guessing that's why I'm not stressing the above weight loss fails and the bike fail.  I have confidence it will happen.  Stressing out over it not being accomplished now will do me no good.  Focus on the positive and it will happen.  And you can read all about how here.

First Week of Half Marathon Training

Well, today marked the completion of Week 1 of Philadelphia Half Marathon training.  My schedule is a Tuesday/Thursday 30 minute run, with Saturdays being long run days.  Week 1 had me run 3 miles for my long run.  It still boggles my mind that I can start a half marathon training at 3 miles.  There was a time when 3 miles seemed like a joke.  Who could start out at 3 miles?  Why isn't it 1 mile or even half a mile?  But, I am now one of those people who look at three miles and say "only" three miles or "only" a 5k.  Wow.  When did that happen?

This is my path today for my long run.  Tuesday's photo is the same intersection, just going the opposite direction (same side of the street).  I decided I was going to run the hill (you can see it in the distance) so I wanted to do it when I was fresh and not at the end when I would be tired.  I also wanted to push myself a bit today.  I feel like I could go faster if I pushed, so today was a move your ass faster day.

Started out at 79 degrees, which was not pleasant.  LOL!  And since I was pushing myself and going up a big hill, it seemed even less so.  But, I got my butt moving and got up the hill.  I did use the run half a mile, walk 1 minute like I've been doing.  I felt like I was running faster than Garmin was saying, but for the first mile and a half it didn't seem to reflect on my times.  Then, at the 2 mile mark, it showed.  I was at 27:38 for 2 miles.  Wow.  I know that's not much to most runners, but Tuesday I hit 2 miles at 28:35 and Thursday I was at 2 miles at 29:15.  What an improvement!  In 30 minutes (which is the T/TH schedule), I ran 2.17 miles, .08 miles better than Tuesday and .12 miles better than Thursday!  Nice!

The rest of the run went well.  I had high hopes I could do the 3 miles in under 40 minutes, but it was not to be - 41:30.  It's ok.  I stopped 4 times for water and walk breaks.  When I finished I still felt good.  Which I think is the point of the walking breaks, to not feel depleted at the end.  So, not a bad first week.  :-)

______________________________________________

For those interested in the weight loss component of my little blog, I gained .4 pounds this week. Bah!  I knew it was coming.  I ate crap Friday/Saturday/Sunday, which is a no-no for me when trying to lose.  I just need to get back on track Sunday to have a good week and I didn't.  Ah well, I'll survive.  It's less than half a pound.  I can lose that and more this coming week.


Total Down Since May: 12.2
Total Loss for Dec. 23 (21 weeks): 37.4
To Go: 25.2

Exercise: 30 Activity Points/4,142 Calories burned

_________________________________________________

If interested in the Archives part of my life, I am almost finished my 1918 Influenza Epidemic research.  I have a couple more things to look up, then I can start organizing it for publication on the website.  I'm sad to see it come to a close because it is so fascinating.  I got to look through cadaver receiving books this week, which are so neat.  I know, a bit morbid, but really interesting.  Especially the patients that come from mental institutions.  Once I finish off the last few places to look at (which I have a feeling won't have much, but I still want to check them out), I will then start writing up a finding aid that will be published on the Archives website.  Kinda cool.  :-)

I also cleaned some Muster Rolls this week.  We didn't clean last week, so it was great to get back to it.  It also looks like I'll be able to continue cleaning them once the official interns have left.  I was asked if I would be interested in continuing and of course I said yes.  :-)  Looks like I will be able to go and clean them without oversight come late August and into the fall.  Woohoo!

Slightly Disappointing

Well, after last week, when I kicked butt on exercise and lost 2 whole pounds (the best one week loss in MONTHS!), I totally lost motivation.  With the knee not being at it's best, I decided not to aggrevate it by exercising...at all.  Did nothing.  Then I had a rough day where I just couldn't not eat crap all day.  Bah!

But, I got on the scale this morning.  Normally, I would have skipped it thinking I gained a ton and not wanting to see it.  When I got on this morning, I saw a .2 (yes, there's a decimal point in front of that two) gain from last week.  WHAT?!?  That's nothing!  .2 pounds is not drinking enough water.  .2 pounds is having an extra Hershey Kiss.  2. pounds is having too much salt on my corn on the cob last night. 

Basically, what I'm saying is .2 pounds is nothing.  I can get past this.  I can still lose the 6 pounds I want this month.  I have 2.5 weeks to lose 4.2 pounds.  That's totally doable.

And now I have the motivation I've been lacking this week.  Tomorrow is the Preakness 5k (yea!) and next week starts bricks for my duathlon training (a running/biking or biking/running training workout to get used to transitions).  We're hitting the grocery store this weekend, which is good since we need some veggies and fruit.  I have a good feeling about next Friday!

Eh

is about all I got to say with how things went with this week's weigh-in.  Up more than I would like to admit.  I got a little disheartened after last week's slight gain and it just went down hill quickly.  So, those 8 pounds I wanted gone by Oct. 9?  Yea, I have a feeling most of them will still be around.  Darn it.

Yesterday was my first photo gig.  Non-paying, but it was for the local fire company's 1st Annual Firefighter 5k.  I did their photos for the event - 4.5 hours.  Long morning, but I'm excited I did it.  It was my first real photo gig.  I will spend the week editing photos!  Which is fine with me!

Tomorrow is my interview with the library.  Still have a few things to do for that - iron suit, print resumes, print references, print directions...guess I had more than I thought left to do!  LOL!  It's ok.  It will get done.  Wish me luck though!  I sure could use it.

+1

Yea.  After going on and on about how I was thrilled that I was taught my lesson on tracking and staying on plan last week with a big fat 0 in the pounds lost/gained column, this week I go up a pound.  WTF?  I am NOT happy about this folks.  I'm not kidding.  I tracked EVERYTHING.  I earned 12 activity points.  I only had TWO beers.  Seriously, this is a tragedy and I'm not happy.

On my way to WI this morning, I popped in my new Love and Theft CD since I'm going to see them tonight (Friday) with Lady Antebellum and Tim McGraw.  Was looking forward to hearing how they sound.  Yes, don't like them.  They are very generic, minus the ONE song they had on country radio.  Waste of $10.95 right there.  Ugh.

Then on the way home, my car started revving, but not driving.  At first I thought the tires just kinda skidded and all would be fine.  Then the car wouldn't go above 40 mph.  UGH!  I got home and turns out there's red liquid leaking from my engine.  We think it's coolent.  The problem is, we can't really drive it to the dealership to have it looked at.  So, we're going to have to TOW it to the dealership.  We're calling AAA on this one.  Not paying for that.  No way!

So, that's how my Friday has started out.  Heading off to Philly/Camden to see the above concert and have dinner.  Let's hope the day gets better.

Gosh Darn Freaking

Let me start by saying, I weigh myself at home.  I have a scale that I use that helps tell me if I'm on track or not.  The exact weight on my scale and the WW scale never equal each other, but if I'm up on one scale, I'm up on the other and vice versa. 

I got up this morning and weighed myself, like I always do.  I was down.  I was down by a lot.  I was thrilled!  I knew I wouldn't be that down at WW, but I was anticipating a 1-1.5 pound loss.  I was excited.  So, I head off to WW to weigh in.  I get there, stand on the scale, and get the I'm sorry, you're up.  HUH?  UP?  What are you talking about?  I should be down!  And looking at the book, I was 1.2 pounds up. 

This makes no sense to me.  The only thing I can think of is that I weighed in on a different scale than I have been for the past 3-4 months.  There are three scales where I go.  I have been weighing in on the middle or left most scale for the past 3-4 months.  This is the first time in a LONG time I have weighed in on the right scale.  Now, I know what you're thinking.  Sure, it's the scale.  Right.  But, here's the thing.  All summer, I weighed in on the right scale.  One day this fall, I weighed in on the left scale and went up.  Then I weighed in on that scale for several weeks and was fine.  Now, I go back to the right scale and I'm up.  I think it's the scales.  Every time I change scales, I go up. 

While I'm ticked about this, it does make me reconsider what I'm doing at home.  I haven't really been exercising like I should.  I hadn't tracked perfectly either.  So, this week I will be doing both.  I can't deal with gaining.  Even if I think there's something weird going on with the scales.  I am tired of gaining and I'm tired of being where I am.  It's been too long.  I NEED TO LOSE.