Walk/Jog/Run

It has been about a year and a half since I started to get serious about my health. Since November 2009 I have lost 50 lbs and went from a size 22/24 down to a size 16/18. I can lift heavier weights than ever before and I do not get winded after 20 minutes of cardio. I go to the gym 3 or 4 times a week and when I am not giving into my cravings I eat very light. This past month I have been upping my cardio exercise by increasing my walking on treadmill to 4.0 mph to a light jog of 4.8-5.0 mph. I am excited that I am improving with both cardio endurance and the increasing weight in strength training. I am starting to 'swim' in my gym clothes and I am starting to notice that I have a 'waist'. It is pretty exciting to see this transformation and I am starting to feel 'more in control' of my life.

Summer 2011 goals

To start walking/jogging/running outside (1 x week)
Hot yoga once a week (1 x week)

Eating Out

I eat out a lot. Not going to hide the fact that I enjoy Asian food. I heart Dim Sum, Japanese, Thai and Korean. The job I have now is very high stress and we are on tight deadlines. When I am stressed I emotionally eat. I run out at lunch and indulge. I rationalize to myself that I will work an extra hour to pay for my indulgence and I promise myself that I will go to the gym and burn off the extra calories. Often enough I break my promise and choose to laze around, play on computer, or watch TV. Sometimes I am so tired to cook anything I often twist my partners rubber arm and order something or go out for burgers and fries or mall food. This summer my goal is to be a better meal planner and save the $$ I spend on take out, restaurants, and mall food and put it toward debt (car loan and old student line of credit that was merged into a single loan) and save for an end of summer splurge. I am not cutting myself off from eating out; I still want to have my weekend indulgence of dim sum with my good friend and perhaps a payday pizza or breakfast with my partner.

Here is a picture of Michael and me at Lake Louise, Alberta in October 2009
(50 lbs heavier). I like this picture because it was our first big trip we took together. I hope to go somewhere this summer before Michael goes back to school to finish his last year in the Faculty of Education at the University of Manitoba.

Last nights workout

35 minutes hard cardio (treadmill and step)+ 220 lbs seated leg press + 45 lat pull down + 45 lb chest press = sore butt and chest

238

Yeah in the 230's
Bye bye 240's
Not sad that I have to say good bye to size 20 and some 18 pants!

yeah me!

242

There it is.
42 lb loss since November 2009.

Goal 232 by March 4, 2010

Goal - under 200 November 2011?

Time to be accountable.

sigh...

Up 2 lbs

I am still on my journey to achieve a balanced lifestyle. The past two weeks I only been to the gym twice and I am starting to feel it in my body and mind. The other night over mimosas, movie theatre popcorn (finally went to see Life as We Know It) and a few episodes of Grey’s Anatomy, I felt like rubbish. I knew a brisk walk or jog would make me feel better. The gym was closed and there was a -30 degree Celsius wind-chill so I decided to make it to the gym today. My 20 minute brisk recumbent bike ride and a 20 minute brisk elliptical hike/jog/walk felt wonderful. I did some weight training and that included time on the leg press (level 12?), back row (95 lbs) and chest press (level 4). My body felt so much better. Even though I know working out makes me feel wonderful, I admit to being a workout slacker (especially through this past December).

Eating wise, I did not do too badly. I watched my meal portions, but I did snack – chips, popcorn, pie, xmas dinner leftovers at inappropriate times, like when watching Grey’s at 11:00 pm! Although, my weight loss effort has dwindled a tad, I am back on the saddle.

I am not brave enough to state my current weight at this moment in time, but let’s just say that I am between a size 18 and a 20. I tried on an old pair of size 16 pants from Reitman’s and 16 months ago they could not be done up. Last night I could button and zip them up but had a slight muffin top. I think if I can drop 10 pounds in the next eight weeks or so, the pants may fit like they should.

I heart blogs

I like to read healthy living blogs. I find them very motivating and often I get excited when my favorites post a new entry. The main purpose of this blog was to document my healthy living progress and to also document the weight loss that often comes with that. Since November 2009, I have lost 40 lbs and I feel great about that. Aside from losing some pounds, I been reflecting on the changes I made the past year. The changes were minor, for example, I eat less and I diligently watch my portion sizes. At first I used measuring cups and a food scale, but now I am pretty good at eyeballing. Michael and I eat a lot of veggies, whole grain carbs, and lean cuts of meat. We never buy white bread, white rice or regular pasta. The only white item we allow is homemade bannock. Michael’s granny makes the best Cree style bannock. It is a treat. She sends it home with me when I return from Gillam for work. Bannock has its roots from Scotland and over the decades or even centuries it has become a tradition in Cree people’s lives. I can argue that we should stop eating bannock for health reasons – but there are ways to make the bread healthier like using white wheat flour and eliminate the lard and use fat that is less evil.
Another factor I contribute my success to is exercise. Over the past 6 months or so I have taken up weight lifting in addition to cardio. I have read from numerous sources that weight lifting is essential to building lean muscle mass and assists with weight loss. I feel stronger and more confident.
Here is a list of blogs that I love to read! Some deal with weight loss, living a balanced lifestyle and humour. They are not categorized.

http://www.jennyfromdarock.com/
http://www.embracingbalance.com/
http://lynnsstylediaries.blogspot.com/
http://fattyfighter.blogspot.com/
http://hereontheprairies.blogspot.com/