I am a story teller.

Liddy, I loved your post and wanted to toss out my two cents on the matter.

First, I just want to point out what I think isn't fair. Free Candy. Lots of FREE frickin candy. This week at the hospital was "Admitting Appreciation Week". This translated into a personal VAT of candy given to all admitting staff. I have been able to save some for Greg who's back in candy-mode once Lent is up on Sunday, but I won't deny eating MORE than my fair share. At any rate, being part of Weight Watchers has showed me that what you do and eat this week won't come into play on the scale until a week or so from now. It's not instantaneous. Your workout this afternoon (or poundcake you ate last night) means nothing today. Your body is still thinking about the drinking you did last Friday and the 20 laps you were gonna do but didn't on Saturday morning.

More great things I've learned from joining Weight Watchers:

• I've learned to keep your sanity it's best to only weigh yourself once a week- at the same time of day because of the daily fluctuations Liz talked of.
• I've learned that lack of sleep promotes weight gain.
• I've learned not to eat two hours before bed time (but I do it anyhow).
• I've learned that when you first start getting in to an exercise routine it's common to gain a couple pounds because the muscle you're gaining weighs more that the fat you're losing.
• I've learned that working out too hard, too fast is quite bad for you.

But most important of all, when I get discouraged on the scale I remind myself that my number one priority is to be healthier and not to worry so much about what my idiot scale has to say. If I'm sleeping better, eating better, and exercising, the weight loss will follow.

sleep

It has got to be a mean trick that god plays on us.... observe... so sleeping the act of doing NOTHING burns calories.... we've heard this before but let's just do an experiment.... weigh yourself at night and then again in the morning everyday for a week or so.... i'm 169 lbs. and night and 167 lbs. in the morning. Here's another trick... you shrink during the day. In the morning I can see out of my rearview mirror. In the evening I have to readjust my mirror lower because I'm shorter. So basically you are taller and leaner in the morning. And shorter and heavier in the afternoon/evening. Unfortunately, you can't sleep forever. I just think this is kind of mean of god to do. Just when you think you lost 2 lbs and grew a 1/4 inch in turns out you didn't you just slept and you'll gain it all back again by the end of the day. This seems unfair.

Blah, the week just started

Well, ladies,

I hope everyone is having some kind of success in their quest to get healthier, weather its weight loss, healthy eatting, exercise, a new goal or accomplishment!

The week has gone well for the most part. I'm happy to report that the number on the scale has remained the same. I've been a "good girl" about the gym all week, even with having Landon for 2 days.

Can you believe that I SCHEDULE my shifts around when I can gym? I hardly know myself! Today, I took off from the gym, which I immediately regret. I'm feeling sluggish, dehydrated, irritable, just flat out PMSy and its no where near the blessed time. I'm finding, which amazes me, that when I don't gym or exercise in some way, I'm such a tried, grouchy person. I actually enjoy sacrificing sleep for sweat. I'll hit the gym in the morning, and I can't wait!

In the coming weeks, my goals are to eat healthier and not give into the numerous chocolate easter bunnies that are begging me to bite the ears off. I hope to continue to see the numbers on the scale remain the same if not get smaller. Workout wise, I hope to challenge myself to endure more cardio, even if its only for an extra minute or two, and I also hope to lift heavier weights to get more toned.

Have a great Friday and a fantastic weekend, ladies!

Rough Week

Well... This week has been lets say... Interesting. The kids are on spring break this week, so no time for the gym :/

Last week the weather really pissed me off. By Friday I was so depressed I think that I have S.A.D. I begged Devon to let us go to Hawaii this week. I just couldn't stand it anymore. I felt cold down to my bones. Ugh! Thankfully a couple of days of sunshine were on their way!

Monday was great because it was a beautiful day. We were active all day. Tuesday was good until Nicole (the 6 yr old) came down with the flu. We were supposed to go to Northwest Trek on Wednesday and hop around the San Juans today. Both could've helped me get some physical exercise in. Sadly, most of my time has been spent indoors and on my butt. I've had a sudden craving for sweets too :( Tomorrow, we are supposed to go to Sunriver if Nicole feels better. I think we'll be able to go. I'm really excited. We are bringing our bikes. Going sledding. Getting away from home even if it's not Hawaii.

This coming week I have to stop making excuses and get my butt out there. I don't have to workout in the gym. I can workout at home. Hopefully all the rain next week won't get me down. This has been a long rough winter. Maybe this brown girl needs a light box!

By the way, I gained weight. I'm at 182 from 180.5.

Mz. Liz

Hi all,
I didn't get to weigh myself this morning, but I think I'm at 169ish. Oh joy, oh rapture.... I lost 4 lbs and then gained back 2 lbs. C'est la vie! I was good and went swimming last week and then did yardwork. But I've not done anything this week. Perhaps this weekend will be better. Jennie- I liked your post about not berating yourself for things you don't do and focusing on motivation and the good things you do do. I think it's a good attitude that we can all adopt.
Cheers, Liz

"Great Intentions"

this is my theme for this week, and quite possibly... my life. i always start off with the best of intentions, i'm going to save money, i'm going to eat better, i'm going to exercise, give to charity, shop less and spend less, spend more time with family... and im even going to blog about my success... right? well as with all of my other great intentions in life, i find that the harsh realities of life get in the way, and prevent me from having this ideal existence that i so long for, a life without rules where i can do whatever my heart desires without outside opinions or expectations.....

okay maybe this is a little dramatic. lighten up jennie you might say. well i'm a dramatic person... in a play there must be some kind of conflict or tension-otherwise its just boring... well its true of real life as well.... if i had the time to do everything i wanted i would probably find myself so bored that i'd just sit there and not do any of it.... as long as i continue to struggle i find that in that push and pull, the juggling of everyday life, the highs and lows of every day--that is where we learn the most about ourselves.... that is where the ideal existence happens...

so i'm going to stop feeling guilty about what i can't do, what i don't have time for.. i'm going to give myself a break. i realize its the focus shifting is what motivates me.... ive made a decision about what i want and instead of getting mad that i can't do it all immedietely with instantaneous results, i'm going to be happy that the two days this week that i did work out was better than last week. small steps. next week, maybe i'll be able to work out three or four days...

so i'll keep looking to the future. keep learning about myself and the world. and continue to grow... you do the same.

until next time...

Does two count for none?

Shame on me.... I didn't set foot in the gym all weekend, and it wasn't bad! That being said, does the fact that I did two workout classes back to back rectify it? Not only was I late to the spin class because of traffic (the sun must have been in people's eyes...) but I had taken care of Landon all day, so while I was physically in class, I think I was mentally watching Bolt. I did 80% of class, followed immediately with my favorite class, Bodypump. By the end of the classes, I looked like I had a sunburn, my previously straight hair had transformed into half curly, half frizzball with some straight hair matted to my head via a hat.... an ill fitting one at that. And I had the urge to upchuck. Needless to say, the workout actually went well and I now feel great although physically fatigued.

Monday's done, the rest of the week should be cake... or shall I say water and veggies?

Tomorrow, Landon and I will swim, and by swim I mean he clings to me while I essentially walk around in the pool. After my day with him, I will do cardio if I haven't passed out on the floor before then.

Have a great week everyone. Stay true to your goals!

Hi all, Hope you had a great weekend. I didn't get to exercise this weekend but I did do yardwork for a solid 8 hours on Sunday. So I hope that counts for something! Cheers, Liz

Good Morning!

Was everyone able to get out and enjoy the fabulous weather this weekend? Although I kept my butt on the couch editing photos yesterday, I did get out on Saturday for a nice stroll around Fremont, Ballard, and West Seattle. My fellow photo friend, Evan, and I braved the gorgeous weather to do a little location scouting. It was great to get walking. It's amazing how exhausting is can be- in a good way. And for me it's so much more fun with a camera in tow. Here are some images from our little outing...