<p>It started out as a gorgeous day, but the clouds are thickening, so my treadmill might get some action tonight!</p>
<p>There is at least something good about this daylight savings time - we no longer need to run with flashlights :)</p>
<p>I went to the gym tonight after work and did ab exercises. They burned. Then I did a new personal best – 2.42 miles in 32 minutes. I’m determined to eventually do 3.1 miles (also known as a 5K), and I don’t care about the time. (Well, that’s not true; I could easily do 3.2 miles in an hour. I’m hoping for better than that.)</p>
<p>VeryHappy, great job. I’m still running at my 4.8 mph pace, so doing the 5k in about 39 minutes. </p>
<p>My big news is I finally bought the immersion blender thingy for making soup today and can’t wait to use it.</p>
<p>Lots of sun today. Don’t know if I have a cold or just allergies but I am beat. Played some slow motion tennis today. My tennis partner and I were commenting on how we are pathetic in our part of Ca. It hits 75 and we are soooo hot. Hit 65 degrees and we are soooo cold.
I am finding I have to stay strict with my diet. This morning one red vine did me in. Before the afternoon was over I had eaten a big peanut butter cookie and 6 more red vines. I haven’t had that much sugar in months.
I hope I am not getting sick again. I hate the thought of having to start my exercise routine all over again.</p>
<p>Back to it. I lost a week to the flu - totally down and out. No mileage. But hey, I lost a few pounds? Temporary, no doubt. I’ve had to scale back to shorter and just walking. I huffed and puffed my way through it, hopefully it will come back quickly. It’s a little depressing to go so far backwards.</p>
<p>My sweet tooth wanted to kick in right before I got sick - coincidental? I need to figure out a way to satisfy that nasty beast without giving in to the Haagen Daz. My brakes occasionally fail me on that one.</p>
<p>Wrote a long post yesterday and lost it between hitting reply and it actually being posted.</p>
<p>Had an interesting conversation with one of the personal trainers at our gym yesterday. It began with, “This is what I’ve been doing; this is what I’ve accomplished; what can you do for me?”</p>
<p>Of course, his first response was I absolutely need to start doing weights. I knew this already, but explained to him that my first priority was to get into the habit of getting to the gym on a regular basis. He said that when you do cardio, the calorie-burning efforts basically end within a half hour to hour after you’re done. When you’re weight training, you get the benefits of a high metabolism 24-hours/day. He also said lifting weights will have a more significant impact on my cholesterol than cardio. When I told him I was doing cardio about five days a week for 45-minute sessions, he said that was too much, that after the first 25-30 minutes, you’re really not getting any significant benefit. He also felt the five days a week of cardio was too much, that it would eventually take a toll on my joints. </p>
<p>So we talked about setting up an appointment in April (I’m going out of town at the end of March for a week, so it seemed rather useless to start a program he’d design for me, learn new equipment, then try to remember what I learned after being gone for a week), so he’ll help design something specifically for me. I think I’m going to start out meeting with him 2-3 times a week so I can be assured to see some progress quickly. </p>
<p>My weight fluctuated back down near the 10-lb. loss again, even after I celebrated the arrival of spring (I’ve spent about seven hours working out in the yard in the last five days) with a blizzard from Dairy Queen; they opened a couple of weeks ago, and I’d avoided it since then, but did indulge once. My craving was satisfied and I’m OK with not stopping by as much as I used to (2-4 times a week). </p>
<p>Went to the Chicago Flower and Garden Show last week and picked up a rasp plate, which is used a lot in Mediterranean cooking. My herbs in my Aerogarden have taken off, so I’m looking forward to some more changes in healthy food options (bought several fresh heads of garlic and even some whole nutmeg today at Whole Foods).</p>
<p>I’m hanging in there, but have lowered my expectations until I get back from vacation and get started with program designed for me.</p>
<p>Everyone else here seems to be hanging in great; you all are such an inspiration.</p>
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<p>At this point, I would have walked away. The American College of Sports Medicine completely disagrees. In case you’re wondering, the ACSM is THE authority on fitness in the USA and throughout the world. In fact, the ACSM recommends at least 30 minutes a day 5+ days a week to maintain weight and more like 60-90 minutes a day 5+ days a week to lose weight. Obviously this is not the case for every person, but these are the general guidelines they have established. These times are for cardiovascular exercises BTW (walking, jogging, swimming, cycling, etc).</p>
<p>regarding ice cream and other such treats: I think if you tell yourself you will NEVER have them again, psychologically you will crave them. So its good to indulge once in a while! Just buy it, eat it, then forget about it and go on with your usual healthier diet.</p>
<p>eddieodessa,
Thanks for suggestions! I will never ever give up cleanning lady. It is not saving money at all. I will not do what I hate to do, which means I will live in dirty house, which will lead to depression and will cost me much more $$ than paying cleanning lady. I have had cleanning lady for as long as I remember (at least past 25 years). I came up with my favorite after work/exercise activity. Some people suggested to me that I am pretty successful at it and even should start selling my creations. Well, selling is not what I like to do, and my rule is to stick to what I like. If I lose my job, I guess, it is a back up plan. My favorite activity is pottery, absolutely love it and do it every single free minute that I have. I will have start selling since my house is getting flooded by my pieces.</p>
<p>When I absolutely, positively have to have a treat, I’ll either grab a handful of chocolate chips, or have a piece of toast with butter and granulated sugar sprinkled on top. Generally, that’ll do it for a few weeks.</p>
<p>teri, I read (probably in Runners World so consider the source) that studies of older runners show they have fewer joint problems than nonrunners. H is over 50 and runs about 50 miles every week with no joint problems. I think the key is to build slowly and find a level you feel good about maintaining. I have no interest in running as much as he does (which would be extreme for most people), but he likes it and I can’t imagine him “needing” to cut back because it might cause joint problems eventually. </p>
<p>I also have trouble getting in enough weight training. I do a back to basics class twice a week that does 30 minutes of aerobics and 30 minutes of weights. I keep waiting for that class to feel easier before moving up to the sculpt class (which is all weights).</p>
<p>I fell off the wagon on my diet while my older son was home on spring break and immediately saw my weight bounce up three pounds (but am still under goal so not a cause for panic). However, the poor eating habits made me feel terrible, almost like I was hungover. The carbs just caused me to crash completely. I am eating better again, have lost two of the three pounds, and feel much more energetic. However, the younger one comes home the last week of March for his spring break and has a birthday in there, so some cake and ice cream will be mandatory.</p>
<p>On the issue of running and joint pain, I thought this recent study was interesting.
[Study:</a> Running Shoes Could Cause Joint Strain | LiveScience](<a href=“http://www.livescience.com/health/running-shoes-joint-strain-injury-100112.html]Study:”>Study: Running Shoes Could Cause Joint Strain | Live Science)</p>
<p>When I ran, I always stayed on soft or cinder trails. Running on asphalt gave me shin splints. I now have a bad knee and can’t run at all. Still walking though…very fast!</p>
<p>VeryHappy,
I absolutely, positively have to have a treat few times every day. I love chocolate (preferrably with nuts and hard liquor as a company), prunes + nuts, dates + nuts, lots of honey on different foods (and in drinks) and tons of fruits and lots of junk on B-day days at the office (maybe I forgot few items) . My whole diet consists primarily of treats.</p>
<p>^^^Way to go!!!</p>
<p>I think if you like them cake, ice cream, chocolate or what have you should be part of your eating plan. I will make cakes for birthdays and eat them at other people’s parties. I’m not a big ice cream fan, so I only eat in when we go to ice cream places in New England (and I usually order the kiddie cone.) Chocolate I have most evenings in tiny quantities. I’m fine with one truffle. Cookies I don’t buy - I find them too addictive - but I’ll eat them at parties. I’ll make them for Christmas, and once in a while I’ll buy my older son’s favorites when he is home and I can count on him to help me finish the box.</p>
<p>There are some foods that are just “triggers” for me- I cannot eat just a bit of it so I won’t buy it or bake it. The richer a food is the more difficulty I have in over-indulging. On the other hand, processed foods (like frozen Sara Lee coffee cake) - I could eat an entire one. So I haven’t bought one in a long, long time. For a long time I fooled myself that I was buying treats “for the kids”- well, they don’t live with me anymore. </p>
<p>H has been out of town so I have found myself being the chief and sole dog-walker. Happily pup has improved on his leash skills and is now a much more energetic and enthusiastic walker. I have to say I have enjoyed it much more. He’s never going to be a running companion but at least our walks are higher energy and more enthusiastic. I feel like Barbara Woodhouse- “walkies!” With our improving weather I will soon have no excuses for not exercising regularly outdoors. I don’t feel as embarrassed doing so anymore- I am no longer the obese woman huffing down the street- now I think I’m only moderately chubby. Hooray! </p>
<p>We are all doing awesome! Hooray for all of us!</p>
<p>sabaray…I hear you about the triggers. Best to keep them out of the house! For me, that would include practically any cookie from the Trader Joe’s tubs AND the bag of rice crackers they sell. I just can’t stop eating them!</p>
<p>You know, I think that’s the hardest thing…finding the right balance of discipline and treats. And it’s different for all of us. My friend down the street indulges regularly, doesn’t exercise and is thin as a toothpick! And she’s no spring chicken. Not fair! But bottom line, I have to pay attention. And I do. The weight is not falling off cause I’m really not that much over where I should be. But I could be HUGE if I didn’t watch my diet and activity… I know…my mom was. </p>
<p>I got a gift last year for 5 sessions with a personal trainer. I’ve been avoiding going because of tennis elbow. I’m making the call today. Cool. I plan to look good when we go to Yellowstone in June…AND I planning to keep up with my boys on those tough hikes!</p>
<p>sabaray - hooray indeed! You and the pooch - a win win situation.</p>
<p>If I am really mindful about my daily eating habits, I’m much better at not getting sucked into those crazy urges for certain goodies. Those urges tend to come later in the day or more towards evening. My problem is that I tend to not think about eating much during the day - bad bad bad I know, but I just get busy doing this or that and it really might not cross my mind. Sets me up to eat too much in the evening, or to have cravings get the better of me. </p>
<p>On the days that I make sure to eat my morning granola, have something for lunch, make sure I grab some nuts or fruit a couple of times during the day - well of course I don’t get overwhelmed at the end of the day. So obvious, yet for unknown reasons I’m having a tough time getting into that much healthier eating style.</p>
<p>Nuts just don’t do it for me. Everyone talks about a 12 almonds, or what have you, and that just doesn’t do it for me. I often eat a hard-boiled egg as a fill-in; or grainy bread with a bit of Nutella. For whatever reason that wil hold me. Or raw vegetables in large amounts. Days I have cereal in the morning I feel a sugar crash more frequently in the afternoon- so I’ve gone more with eggs and whole grain toast. I need a larger breakfast than just cereal, I guess.</p>
<p>sabaray, I don’t find the calorie/filling quotient on nuts to work well for me either as a snack. I will put a couple of walnuts on a salad and like the flavor they add but need the bulk of the spring mix and other stuff like mushrooms to make that work. I made a fruit salad for dessert yesterday that I dressed with a mix of fresh lime juice/lime zest and freshly grated ginger, with just a touch of honey that I had in the cupboard and wanted to use up. I’m hoping it wasn’t the honey that made it taste so incredible.</p>
<p>I have a business trip this Friday in which I will see a bunch of people I haven’t seen in probably five plus years so I am making an extra effort on appearance. Yesterday, I got a badly needed haircut and splurged for an eyebrow wax (a first). I absolutely love the difference it makes and will definitely do that again. I also bought a rinse for my hair (suede) that I applied today. It’s not much change in color, but I think it makes my hair look shinier. Then while shopping for a new suit just because I was on a roll, I found the perfect dress for S’s graduation in May. Both suit and dress were on sale for 70% off.</p>
<p>H wants corn beef and cabbage for dinner tonight, which is definitely a high fat meat. I plan to have a taste and then eat something else. Buying new clothes definitely works on the incentive side to keep my diet in line.</p>