New week, new workout

I found a new workout online that I really like.  It works my abs and my back which really need the most TLC right now.  When I reach a certain weight, my back feels really uncomfortable, so I am hoping to burn that fat away so I can feel better when I walk and stand.  And as I am writing this, I realize that my feet have been hurting for a long time, mostly my heels.  I thought it was my shoes, but I recall having this same pain many years ago and I think it was when I was almost this heavy before.  I am starting to wonder if the 2 are related.  So I think I have found my motivation...I am in pain and uncomfortable.  Maybe if I think of that, I won't run to the refrigerator every time I get bored.  I have lost a little weight.  I need to eat better.  I need the desire to eat better.  How do I get that?

I ran 1.8 miles and did this workout.

Time to get back at it.

I fell off the wagon and am at my heaviest that I have ever been, while not being preggo.  And instead of writing about excuses and why I think I got this way, I am deciding to move on, start again, workout how I want to and keep myself accountable by recording it in my journal.  I don't have time or the money to cook huge meals of vegetables for myself.  And I have a jar of Starbursts in my study that I love and don't plan on giving up.  So my 3 main goals are running 4 times a week, strength training 4 times a week, and Slimfast 2 meals a day, Monday through Friday.  That is where I am starting out.  Wish me luck.

Today and I ran 2.31 miles, interval form
And did this workout

Oops!  Didn't realize I let so many days go by from journaling.  I don't remember my diet from those days, but I feel like I did pretty good.  I did have some McD's for lunch yesterday, but won't have fast food for rest of the week.  Here was my workouts.

Monday
Ran/walked 2.03 miles

Tuesday
Ran/walked 2.03 miles

Didn't do tire run jumps, 2 min run, step ups.

Wednesday
No workout, volunteered at Wyatt's school, went shopping and took Carter to park for a bit.

Diet
Hash brown pattie, scrambled egg, fruit, tea with stevia and milk

Almonds, Atkins bar

Double cheeseburger, small fries, large iced tea, cherry pie

Tea with stevia and milk

Waffle, egg and ham cups, fruit salad

Thursday
Ran/walked 2.12 miles

Didn't do skullcrushers, leg raises, or military press

Diet
Half a waffle, fruit smoothie with greek yogurt for protein and workout supplement

Peanut Butter Protein smoothie

Cobb salad with hard bolied egg

Tea with stevia and milk, greek yogurt with almonds, chocolate chips, and drizzle of honey

Grilled hamburger, no bun, salad, sweet potato fries

Weigh in Saturday!  Lost 2 1/2 pounds.  I'm sure that will go back up a bit, but I am happy with the number.  Half way to a pedicure reward.  Ran/walked 2.5 miles.  Did the following workout but took some things out.  I did not do the spider crawl (that move is weird), pullups, or side to side pushups.  Mainly because I have no idea what those are or I didn't have the equipment.  Feeling a little bit better mentally.  And I made sure to curl my hair and put on full make up so I can feel that I look good.

Diet
Fruit and spinach smoothie and atkins bar

rest of smoothie with protein powder added

Only ran/walked 3.2 miles instead of the 4 posted on the workout.  Burned 449 kcal.  Was just my dog and me, which is nice to be alone every now and then, plus pushing a stroller up hill is torture.  Kind of feeling in the dumps today emotionally.  Proud of my workouts this week, but feeling like the other things I do aren't good enough.  I really can't handle when my choices are criticized, even the little things.  I need a nap.



Diet

wheat toast with butter spread
1 scrambled egg
tea with stevia and milk


salad with lunch meat and cheese

atkins bar
tea with stevia and milk

2 fish tacos with black beans, lettuce, salsa and cheese

spoonful of cookie butter and small handful of candy (sweet tooth)

I need to drink more water.  That's my goal for the day.

I ran 2.5 miles, intervals running 1 minute, speed walking 1 minute. Then did this workout, not perfectly, but still, it was something.



Diet:
Hard boiled egg whites
whole wheat english muffin with butter spread
tea with stevia and milk

greek yogurt with peanut butter

cottage cheese and pasta salad, pickle

atkins bar
tea with stevia and milk

Chicken and dumplings
milk

Wednesday...no workout, I volunteer at Wyatt's school

Diet
Poptart...not a good choice
Fruit and Protein smoothie

Atkins protein bar

Salad with crab meat, thousand island dressing

1/4 cup cookie butter...not such a good choice

Roasted chicken
pasta salad
roasted zuchinni and yellow squash

diet coke
peanut butter and greek yogurt

Did this workout today, except probably about 2.5 miles.


Diet for the day:
1 hard boiled egg
1/2 banana
1/2 whole wheat english muffin with spread
tea with splenda and milk

protein shake with fruit and spinach

salad with steak and apple

apple and protein bar

chili with baked potato and salad

One Tough Mudder/Mother

I have not blogged in ages, which is sad, because I really do love writing my thoughts and feelings.  This blog has been off and on for a while now.  I lost weight, had a baby, then tried to lose weight a few more times!  Ugh!  But for now the focus of the blog has changed.  On April 26th, I am running in the Tough Mudder Race.  Byron and friends have done it before.  They say its fun.  I think it is terrifying, and makes me want to cry just thinking about it.  Why am I doing it?  Because for 5 seconds I thought it would be a good idea and made the terrible mistake of saying it out loud.  Byron signed me up.  I want to hurl.  I have no upper arm strength, no breathe control, and most importantly, an incredible fear of looking stupid.  I really want to drop out, but then it hit me.  What kind of example am I setting for my sons?  We signed Wyatt up for basketball, and he is terrified.  Why?  He claims he doesn't know how to dribble the ball, or make the baskets, and the biggest fear of all?  He doesn't want to look stupid.  Hmmm.  Wonder where he got THAT idea?  And so, I am doing this for him.  I want to show Wyatt that we can do hard things that terrify us.

Most of the posts might not be that exciting.  They will mostly be my workout for the day and my diet, just to hold me accountable.   I ran 2.44 miles, burning 343 calories, then did the following workout.


I watched this series while working out, very inspirational!

I ate/will eat:
1/2 half whole wheat english muffin with butter spread
2 egg whites
1/4 cup spinach
tea with splenda and milk

peanut butter protein shake

salad with hard bolied egg

atkins snack bar

tea  with splenda and milk

steak

salad

roasted beets

***Binged on some cookie dough and cookies that they kids wanted to make.  No bueno!

More than just a shoe...oh, and I'm back.

I'm getting ready to break in my third pair of running shoes tomorrow morning.  Three pairs of running shows that represent over three years since I started running.  There are days that I hate it, there are days that I eat chocolate right after, there are days that I create geniuses ideas in my head during the run (and have a journal just for those thoughts), and there are days that I witness gorgeous sunrises and I become very aware of the blessings of being alive.  I look forward to those days the most.


P.S. I'm back to the blogging world, maybe not as much, but I do hope to post more often.  Keeps me honest!

Hello? Yeah, I'm still here...barely.

OK, so losing weight this time around is not working out so well, and for some reason I don't have a lot to say about it.  Perhaps its because I'm SO FREAKING EXHAUSTED FROM THE DAY TO DAY DEMANDS OF WIFE, MOTHER, AND HOMEMAKER, but I'm not angry or anything...I'm just sayin.'  But I will take comfort in knowing when I have the time to go running, I can run 3 miles and plan to try 4 miles next week.  I will take comfort in saying I don't have to run a 10 minute mile when pushing a 16 pound Butterball of a baby in a jogging stroller uphill...or downhill for that matter.  I will take comfort in knowing that Tuesdays and Thursday, I will only walk so that my 12 year old dog Da Vinci can have some resemblance of a happy life for his last few years on this earth.  And I will take comfort that though I don't have time to go running on Wednesdays, I'm sure I am burning plenty of calories volunteering for Wyatt's kindergarten class.  I will enjoy a 2nd piece of my Hungry Girl fudge and I will eat my Lean Cuisine for lunch, because those little things are what I have the energy for right now.  It can only go up from here, right?  Please tell me I'm right.

Summertime Blues

I am discovering more and more that I am an emotional eater.  And when I am in a funk, I get this "screw it" kind of attitude.  I don't turn to food, necessarily to comfort me, but I get pissed off that I'm feeling bad or that someone hurt my feelings and so I shove something bad in my mouth, like I'm being defiant or something.  Its as though I'm saying, "Ha!  You think you can make my day bad, well I control this situation and I can make it even more worse!"  Isn't that the dumbest thing ever? So...guess what kind of day it was today?  :P

Back Fat and a Girdle

That's what I have...and that's what a bought.  :P

I'm Back, Baby...with a baby!

Did ya miss me????  I miss me.  You know, the me that weighed at least 140!  Who knew that by adopting this healthy lifestyle and losing 20 pounds, that the Lord would bless me with becoming pregnant?  We had given up on hoping that another child was in our future, and then without a single drug, hormone, or even a glance at a calendar, I was pregnant!  I often joke that this was God's way of saying he has a sense of humor!  He was up in Heaven saying, "I know.  I'm going to wait for Sommer to lose 20 pounds, then I'll get her pregnant and make her gain it ALL back and then some!  Oh, I'll let her buy that pass to Disneyland, and then she won't be able to go on any of the rides!  He he he!"  But you know what, if that's the price that needed to be paid to get this most wonderful, most unexpected blessing, then I'd do it all over again!

And so, here I am.  I'm a lot wiser than I was after having Wyatt.  Though I still want to lose weight like after having Wyatt, I really just want to feel healthy and well again.  This pregnancy was hard and painful, and I struggled with being so healthy just months before, and now not being able to walk up the street without painful contractions and mental anguish that my baby would come too soon.  I ran my first official mile this morning.  11:06 was my time, not too far off from the 10 minute mile I used to run.  I'm not so concerned about my calories burned this time, but just focusing on the fact that I ran the whole thing, didn't die, and still felt good.  It felt good to run.  5 or 10 years ago, I would have never said that!

I'm ready to get my lifestyle back...and as always, I'll be recording the journey!

The Reason Why I was M.I.A.

I think this might actually pass for a good reason to miss a few workouts and to each some extra chocolate...ok, ALOT of chocolate!

Atleast I can do...

I haven't lost any weight in a month.  :( But I can run 3 to 4 miles, without dying!


Except after 2 days of Disneyland...then I want to die after running this:



But I looked at the beach for 2 miles, and that's ok!

My Body is a Temple

As members of the LDS church, I grew up always being told that phrase, "My body is a temple." I always understood the basis behind the words. Treat your body with respect. Only put healthy things into it. Don't defile your body in anyway. Our Heavenly Father gave us this body, a pure creation from him, and just like a temple, we should take care of it as such. But for some reason, I always only thought of the physical aspects my body encounters. Food, exercise, abstaining from harmful drugs, etc.. I never really considered things that would be mentally harmful to me, and yet looking back at when I was my heaviest, it was at times when I was under true mental stress. I've been watching a documentary entitled, "Killer at Large: Why Obesity is America's Greatest Threat." I watch these kinds of shows as I work out to scare the fat off of me. It works. I yell at the computer screen and kickbox a little hard as I watch. In the movie they discussed a study that was done concerning stress and weight gain. In the early days of man, if the body of a hunter or gatherer experienced stress, it was most likely due to not being able to obtain food. These people had to work very hard for their food, and so if they weren't able to obtain it, the body would go into a stressed state and turn on its own survival mode. While in the survival mode, the body's metabolism slowed down, and fat burned more slowly, allowing the body to save its energy due to the lack of food. But now in this day and age, the factors that cause stress to our bodies isn't usually about lack of food. Stress is now caused by other factors such as over-powering bad news on the tv, or money issues, or traffic, or family members. And, just like the cave man, when our bodies become stressed, they go into survival mode, and our bodies stop burning the amount of fat as before. But what do we do? We keep eating. And not just good stuff. What do I crave when I'm stressed? A quarter-pounder with cheese, fries and large sweet tea.
About a week ago, I found myself in a very stressful, very confrontation situation. It has taken me close to a full week to recover from it. During that week, my energy was low, my desire to eat properly diminished, and my will power to exercise was near non-existent. My body shut down. I wasn't sad and moping all over the house in my pjs for a week. I got up every morning with the intention to do my workouts and eat good food. I was able to speak with good friends that could help to uplift me. I still managed to get other obligations done and did them with joy in my heart. But that stressful moment had a negative impact on my body and I could feel it.
It wasn't until today, however, that I really thought about what was happening to my body. I have seen the Lord send blessings my way this week, especially through supportive friends, to help me cope with my stress. Today, however, he sent a lightening bolt of a blessing my way. I was sitting down at the kitchen table preparing our family home evening lesson. I decided that Byron and I would talk to Wyatt about respecting our bodies through nutrition and exercise, since its been something we've really been focusing on, and I don't really remember learning much about it as a child. We now live in a time where our children's generation is not expected to have the same life expectancy as our own, it is to be less than our own, and I'm hoping I can prepare Wyatt to defy that statistic. I sat at the table cutting out these cute little pictures. Some pictures were of bad things such as cigarettes and alcohol that were to be glued on a trash can. And others were good things like healthy foods and exercise that were to be glued on these cute little kids. Then I saw a picture that stopped me in my tracks. "Kind words." I looked at it and pondered the statement, "I can treat my body as a temple by saying kind words." And then I said to myself, "I can treat my body as a temple by hearing kind words." All this time, I tried to be around people who were positive and happy, just because it made me feel good. But I realized today, that by being around people who make negative statements, who treat others poorly, who criticize me, and who cause me stress are preventing me from treating my body as a temple. Is it their job to change what they say just for my benefit? No. But it is my job to create an atmosphere for myself and my husband and child that is positive and full of kind words. It is my job to say kind words to everyone around me. Negative statements were doing more than just making me sad, they were hurting my body, my temple.

I urge you to take care of your temple. Eat good food, go exercise, and say kind words. And try to surround yourself with kind words! It is your right to protect your temple!

Why am I finding it hard to actually follow through with a reward, a promise, that I made to myself. I'm actually second guessing my Dinsey Annual Passes. What is wrong with me?

Your Work's Not Done Yet!

No more whining. No more excuses. You reached your really big goal, but you're not done yet. Byron's back in town, can't use that as an excuse anymore. You ate like crap last week, time to do better. Put the chocolate and tortilla chips away, and go do your cardio workout. Your work's not done yet! :P