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...

Marinate On This....

From LaWanda Brokenborough of Aerobics Delivered....

(Healthy) Food for Thought:

Does your family have a "history" of hypertension, stroke, heart disease, diabetes,etc?

Or does your family have a "history" of bad choices-( pork, fried foods, sugar, red meat,and a sedintary lifestyle)?

If you all sit at the same table and eat the same foods, it will usually yield the same results!

Marinate on that!

www.aerobicsdelivered.com

Black Women "DO" Workout!

I stumbled upon this facebook page a few days ago. I'm diggin' it!

Its a celebration of the sisterhood working towards being healthy!

I especially love the pictures of the transformations from overweight/inactiveness to fitness.



I ordered my t-shirt today! Can't wait to wear it.

Eating Healthy in the Airport

I travel with my job...anywhere to 5 to 12 trips a year. I enjoy traveling...seeing new and familiar places. I have an any club membership with 24 Hour Fitness so I can work out facilities all over the nation. I also love Zumba-ing when I travel too. I look up new instructors to try out.

Once at my destination, I am usually able to eat pretty well (though that can be tricky at times). But, one of the hardest thing with traveling is finding good selections at the Indy airport. So imagine my surprise and pleasure when I stumbled upon this:

An organic and healthy food eatery. I was pretty happy with the selections there....
(If you look closely to the left, you'll see the sign stating "eat right")

AND THEN....I noticed this....



Why is all this junk in the organic and healthy restaurant? :)

Anywhoo...I hope to see more places like this in airports (and out)

The Trolley Run

Yesterday, I participated in the 22nd Annual Trolley Run. It's a run benefitting seeing impaired children. It's also the nation's largest timed four-mile run is 'known for its fast, flat to downhill course'. 7,630 people participated. It was chilly outside and overcast - perfect for running.



It's a beautiful run...winding through a lovely section of town....Waldo, Brookside, ending on the Plaza. At times you run through neighborhoods and the residents were wonderful coming out to cheer us on - some still in their bathrobes, coffee cups in hand. Other residents turned up their stereos so we had music to run too. A band was out playing around mile 2 and 1/2. But, my favorite was the ladies at mile 3. They were hilarious and definitely helped me going.

I ran/walked it. My official time is 49 minutes. 12:15 average per mile.

I'm out of shape (as far as running is concerned) due to sitting out a few weeks due to the knee pain/waiting on the medical diagnosis. Although we are working on building back to running in physical therapy, I am not doing more than 10 minutes at a time.

I'm convinced I would have been faster if I had had my mp3 player. I forgot to check the battery and it was dead :( But, then I wouldn't have heard the supporters and volunteers.

Oh, yeah, and about the mostly "down-hill" (which they publicize, my co-workers, and the folks at the running shoe store all say how 'easy it was')...Uh...there were plenty of UP-HILLS...It's was challenging.

Today, I'm feeling pretty good...Just very sore and very little knee pain.



Nope. Not me. :) This is Jane Kibii. She was the women's winner. She clocked in at 20:43. AND she is blind in one eye! She is my she-ro.

Anywhoo...at the end of it, there were goodies like most races...Orange juice, yogurt, and skim chocolate milk.



And every more goodies....Krispy Kremes, Gourmet Popcorn from Velvet Popcorn, and Lil Guys tortilla chips. First race I've been to with "goodies" like this. LOL!



Anyways...this race was a lot of fun...can't wait to do it again next year.