Progress Report

I weighed in at 215.2 today. I’m so close to hitting my diet bet goal early in the game that it’s making me a little paranoid about being accused of cheating. At first I decided not to weigh in publicly anymore, but then I realized I have earned my weightloss as much as anyone. I just have really solid eating and exercise habits now (except at Christmas, I suppose) and good muscle mass that burns lots of calories. I’m just further in the process than the folks who have recently committed, so I entered my weight in. It motivates me to continue to move forward because I can watch the little line on the chart go down down down…

20140109-191940.jpg
Seriously. How can that not motivate me? I want it to keeeeep goooiiing doooowwwnnnnn! By the way, here is a link for my profile on dietbetter.com, in case you want to connect with me. We can cheer one another on! 🙂

Needless to say, the return to school has been instrumental in my New Year’s success. I can’t eat and snack all day long so I don’t get bad stuff in my body that triggers more cravings. I’ve noticed the more garbage I eat the more garbage I want to eat. It’s like I go into a food coma where the blerch comes out and takes over, my brain goes on autopilot and, apparently, I gain 15 pounds in seven days. How crazy is that?!?! Apparently not that crazy because I know I’m not alone.
I hopped on the elliptical today and did some WiiFit. I have to say, my WiiFit Meter is super motivating. At the end of the night I get to enter my data from the day into the Wii. It functions like a pedometer except that it also tracks speed and elevation. As I complete more mileage, it has these silly little races to finish and mountains to climb, based on my own mileage. There’s something about allowing the data compile that really motivates me to keep moving. I find that, as I am teaching, I’ll realize that I am standing still and I’ll start to very intentionally walk laps around the room as I read a story or lead a conversation. Today I found out that I also get walking credit for doing the elliptical. Guess which girl will be spending more time on there?!

End of Break

It’s the saddest day in January. It is the last day before we go back to school. I always thought the last day of summer was bad, but man, this has been a tough day. Ugh. It’s so silly, but I just love being around my family so much that I hate to go back to work!
I’m going back at 217 pounds though.
That is a plus! I can deal with a seven pound gain/return to work. I also hit my workout goals for the break. I managed to run all 20 miles I had planned for plus walked a ton PLUS did WiiFit a bunch AND even did weights and elliptical. I was a good kiddo this break in the workout world.
Diet-wise, I’m not quite as proud. I’m pleased that I’m losing weight again, but the biggest reason I’m glad of going back to work is because I’ll have my schedule again. That will help me get the rest of the way on track towards meeting my eating goals. I’m so close to Onderland! I can’t wait!
I got to play with my new wardrobe this morning. I put together my outfits for the week and it was really fun to play with my new sweaters and stuff. My closet was getting pretty slim before Christmas.
Speaking of clothes…
Bradley and I went and took a screen printing class this weekend at the all ages venue Vera at the Seattle Center. It was pretty cool. We took the class and now, for a small fee, we have access to the workspace with the ability to turn out some product. We did it mostly for fun, but I’m thinking some tamarashazam tshirts for running would be pretty awesome. Perhaps I can even give some away!
Anyhow, this is a picture of us at the Seattle Center in front of the fountain (which you can’t see because of the glorious SUN!) right before the class. Cheers!

20140105-230737.jpg

Check In on NYE Goals

I know it’s only been two days. I KNOW! LOL!
But so far, this year is off to a great start towards meeting my goals. Because I believe in small goals and small celebrations when I meet those goals, I’d say I’m pretty successful. Why?
1. I have started exercising like I did in the beginning. Like back in the olden days of April, 2013. If I eat, take a walk. I tell myself there is no reason why I can’t do something (like run third mile) if I know that I really can (and I really can). I spend time on my wiiFit working my core. I’m playing around with my weight machine. I’m living my life harder on purpose. I’m making progress.
2. I’ve started walking all the time. My daughter has had a million play dates this break and I have walked to them all, even the sleepover ones with excessive luggage. And today I walked three sides of a block that I really only have to walk one side on. Also known as ‘taking the scenic route’. I am shooting for the 10,000 steps per day, and when I’m not working at my job that’s hard to get. I’ve gotten close every day but today was the first time I passed that goal this break.
3. I’ve re-engaged with my passions. I watched Andrew Solomon give a TED talk last night all about depression. He spoke so eloquently and gave such a clear description of what it feels like to live with depression, panic and anxiety attacks. In his talk he brought up that the opposite of depression is not happiness, it is vitality. I had never thought of that before- but it’s true. As I was sinking lower and lower into the pit this past December, I became disinterested in teaching, in losing weight, in working out, in researching nutrition, researching muscle building, in Christmas, in my kids… I was pretty much just interested in making it through the next day, the next hour, the next minute. This break I knew I needed a BREAK. Light socializing, no or few commitments, downtime, focus time, reflection time. That’s what we did and I am coming into 2014 renewed and refreshed, re-engaged with my passions and ready. It feels so good.

***The first and last ten minutes were amazing, the entirety is beautiful, though, too.***
4. I am killing the diet bet! Want to know how? Well, remember those extra pounds that packed on over Christmas? A full bakers dozen- 13 of them, if I remember correctly. It was astounding how quickly they all jumped on and clung. I should have known they were short lived, though. As soon as I returned to my solid exercise habits and healthy eating they started melting off. I’m four pounds down already! Yahoo! That feels very, very satisfying.

20140102-211622.jpg