Guilt And Compliments

Well...

Things have been busy...

Teaching 4 zumba classes a week, Business Travel, Catching a Cold While on Business Travel, Then Getting a Sinus Infection, and a Kitchen Remodel.

Realized that I needed to simplify things a bit and dropped a zumba class :(

Anyways...I had to go to to the DR. to deal with the Sinus Infection. We updated my file. >>>>>Let the guilt begin>>>>>> I am up 1 lb from the last time I was there....(BUT up about 8lbs from my happy maintenance weight). Still exercising 6 days a week? NO...3 to 5. (BUT, actually last year I was working out 6 days a week - 2 to 4 times a week 2x a day). >>>>>More Guilt>>>>>>

Then, a few days later....one of my Zumba participants mentioned how skinny I was...So kind of her...BUT not true.

Anywhoo...keeping up the workouts but wanting to take a few up a level...Thinking about meeting with my dietitian again for a follow-up visit.

#$@I$*%*&^!!!!!!

I stepped on the scale this morning and this is certainly how I felt! I really wanted this to be the week that I broke through the 140s and back in 130s. I was briefly in the high 30s in January and haven't been back since. I don't know if that's gonna happen anymore....

AND that makes me so !@#%^Y%#$#%$%$ frustrated. What the heck is going on?

I just don't get it. I'm not losing ('enough' - 'quick enough')! And I'm not...gaining muscle OR losing inches....(My cardio endurance has improved though).

I've been working out 4 to 6 days a week since January. Watching what I've been eating since January. Added strength training about 3 weeks ago. Started calorie counting again last week.

So...anyways, here we go again...working hard to get to and stay in those 130s.

Getting Into The Greek

Greek Yogurt......I tried to add this to my diet about a year ago...My dietitian recommended trying it. It has about twice the protein of regular yogurt, less lactose, and less sugar.

I love yogurt! BUT, greek yogurt left me desiring for more.

But, lately, I have been wanting to give it a try again....Maybe, it's because I've been trying to refine my yogurt eating....I've been trying to skip yogurts with no artificial colors, high fructose corn syrup, modified starch, or added sugars, etc...So, I tried a few types of greek yogurt last week....Nothing to write home about.



AND then, yesterday, I gave Chobani Yogurt a whirl. I LOVE it! It has a little bit of fruit on the bottom and has nothing but authentic ingredients....(a little embrassed to admit this) But, I have tried the blueberry, strawberry, raspberry, and black cherry and liked them all....Raspberry was my favorite. They have several other selections too.

Do you like greek yogurt? Why or Why not? Do you have a favorite brand?

Counting Calories

My dietitian had me (among other things) count calories. After the initial adjustment period, I felt empowered by counting calories...I was taking concrete steps to lose weight. Although my calories were limited, my choices to eat were not...I selected what/when/how to eat. I counted calories all throughout my losing weight and for the first several months of maintenance. Then I moved to focusing on eating food groups as recommended by my dietitian and paying attention to portion sizes(and the food pyramid) instead of counting calories over the past year. That worked pretty well. (Although I did count calories the weeks approaching my birthday.)

But now...counting calories seems so restrictive. This week I was going to start eating 1500 calorie a day until I hit goal weight of 135. Sigh....That really didn't happen this week. So, I'll try again Sunday.

Nipping It In the Bud

So...I've written this post about 5 times in my head...each time it has most of the same message but with a different focus....

I've been tolerating being over my acceptable weight range for almost 3 months now. First, a pound, then two, now 7. And, enough is enough. It's time to nip it in the bud.

A few weeks ago a coworker approached me and said Cute outfit...You are doing a good job at keeping the weight off...I thanked her and yes, it' true that I have kept at least 20 pounds off for a year and half. That was a good reminder to keep the course...We actually were in the cafeteria so I definitely ate especially well that day :) But, it also reminded me to shake off the rest of the weight.

Honestly, the last few weeks, I've been a mix of feeling....I've been frutrated that the weight has come off as fast as I wanted. Mad at myself for letting my weight creep up. Sad that I had forgotten about the girl who worked sooo hard to get this weight off.

SOOOOOOOOOOOOO What Am I Gonna Do To Nip It The Bud???? Honestly, I am still trying to figure it out. Living Social had a deal for 8 personal training sessions for $40 dollars. I snapped that up and started working with with them a week and a half ago...I brought Thin for Life and Fit to Live up from the basement and hope to read them in my "free" time. Thin for Life is one of the very few books that deals with weight maintenance.

I also pulled out a plan that my dietitian gave me to use when I would plateau for a week or two. It works but I don't necessarily love it doing it. For the most part, I haven't been counting calories in over a year...but focusing on eating all the food groups with balance....So, I guess, I am back to counting calories.

But, when I mentioned to my friends today that I too want to shake off some weight...They said...you've gained weight? You wear it well...We can't tell...

I guess that agrees with something I've been thinking alot about...I am smaller than I used to be...Looking good in many areas....I think that is do in part to some of my exercise habits. But, I am bigger than I was and technically not in at a healthy bmi...

I think that can be the difficult part of maintaining...keeping vigilant about staying within that healthy weight range/exercise levels even though you may be in better shape then what you've been before.

So here we go, the journey to shake off these extra pounds. Today my weight was 144.4...135 here we go!

The Bullies

"There were 8 of them that bullied me. I tried to avoid them, not to notice them. They say if you ignore a bully they will go away…not always so. They reduced me to tears, haunted me, called me names, reminded me of my imperfections & lack of self-control.

They called me fat! I asked friends to help me, “what I should do?” But they never saw them. Some of my friends even questioned if they were really there. “Are you serious?” I would cry out! They are there; bullies never want to be seen so they hide themselves very well. I began hiding in my house rather than going out & encountering them in public. I allowed them to steal my joy, my happiness & my self-love.

There are 8 of them and 1 by 1 I’m fighting them off. The “8 pounds” that bullied me."

~Shirley Raines of Black Women DO Workout

****************I love this quote!!! I too have eight bullies to get rid of. I am 141.8 lbs. 5 pounds over the highest weight in my safe zone and 8 pounds from my the weight that I feel and look good at and is maintainable with reasonable eating and amount of exercise*****************

Happy New Year!

2011!

2010 was a challenging, challenging year...I think maybe the hardest year of my life...Those challenges made it really hard to keep this blog up and documenting my healthy living journey. I will write about that more later...

Anyways...I'm looking forward to blogging more often...My goal is for once a week.

Well, anyways, here were my 2010 Fitness Goals:

1. Lose the last 5 pounds (preferably before the All-Star Games) - DONE!
2. Exercise - 4 to 6 days a week including 1 to 2 days of weight training - ALMOST DONE - I did 3 to 6 days a through mid-August with a few exceptions due to knee pain. I slacked for most of September & October & early November.
3. Eat Healthily - Daily strive to Eat 3 servings of fruit, 5 servings of vegetables (starchy & non-starchy) a day, 6 servings of protein, 7 servings of Carbs/Starchs, 2 servings of dairy, and No more than 3 servings of fat/oil, 6 to 8 cups of water - PARTIALLY DONE - My eating patterned my work outs...on point for most of the year except for Sept. - Dec. I wasn't as consistent as I should have been
4. Run a half-marathon (Participate in a few smaller races to get ready for the 1/2) - NOPE...I did run a few 5ks but my knee was just not strong enough to run a half-marathon. I actually had to stop running all together for a few months while in physical therapy this summer.
5. Become Zumba certified - DONE!
6. Successfully help lead the 3rd Year of Women's Workout Program at my church - DONE -

Here my 2011 Fitness Goals....

1. Exercise - 4 to 6 days a week including 1 to 2 days of weight training

2. Eat Healthy - Daily strive to Eat 3 servings of fruit, 5 servings of vegetables (starchy & non-starchy) a day, 6 servings of protein, 7 servings of Carbs/Starchs, 2 servings of dairy, and No more than 3 servings of fat/oil, 6 to 8 cups of water -

3. Teach Zumba Classes! - I just started teaching at local curves and I love it!

4. Maintain a healthy weight of 132lbs to 137lbs...