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Tuesday, December 21, 2010

A Few Moments to Myself

This will be brief, trust me (the few moments to myself, I mean, not the post. When was I ever brief?). I wrote on my other blog about how we are having a historically un-white Christmas and it has been raining cats and dogs for days. Hence, my children are going stir crazy. When you live in an area where is hardly ever rains and you can nearly always send your children outside to run off some energy, these days of confinement begin wearing thin very quickly.

Plus, the rain gives me a headache which makes me guess that I am lacking patience.

Anyway, this past week has ultimately become a total rest week. Too many late nights of staying up and trying to order customized calendars before the sale ends because someone (me) procrastinated in uploading photos this year have left me zapped of energy. I also suspect the fact that I've been eating cookie dough and other gluten products is a contributing factor. Next year, I'm going to have to take the plunge and look into making gluten free cookies, I think, even when I swore I wouldn't do it.

Anyway, many of the lengthy BeachBody programs such as P90X or Insanity have a rest week incorporated into them where you do lighter exercise. And then they recommend taking a week off in between ending one program and starting another. Counting back, I never really did that after P90X, so this will be my rest time before starting TurboFire on Jan. 3. I think I mentioned that my sister has already started it and she says it's really challenging. My friend and fellow BeachBody coach, AnLee, has recently started Insanity, and Anne just started P90X, so I feel like I'll be in good company as I get back in the swing of things.

Besides, my children have been camping in the basement in my workout space, so that's cramping my workout style just a bit.

I'm feeling a little sad that I obviously can't partake in the Christmas cookies like in years past. The whole intolerance to certain foods does make me wonder about a lot of things. Like I think it's interesting that I notice this so much more this year. Is it because I have mostly removed gluten from my diet and when I add it back in, my body goes haywire? Why is that? The body is a curious thing.

As you ponder whether or not you want to do the post-holiday challenge with me (I'll put a few details below so you can decide if it's for you or not), consider what you might eliminate. I think that you'll be surprised, too, in just six weeks time, if you eliminate certain "toxic" foods, how your body will not like it if you try to add them back in. What would you eliminate? Soda? Diet soda? Refined sugars? Artificial sweetners? Is that even how you spell sweetners? Or is it sweeteners?

Anyway, here's a brief summary of what the challenge will entail.

-This first challenge will be four weeks long
-To be eligible, you will post in the comments section here or on the Facebook page I intend to set up, probably at the very last minute, your daily accountability--the workout you did, what you ate
-You will follow some sort of plan. If you are doing a BeachBody program that has you on 5 or 6 workouts a week, you do that. You are welcome design your own program to walk or run or whatever, but you have to do it for at least 30 minutes, 5 days a week.
-You don't have to track your calories, but I highly recommend you do so. It's very enlightening!
-There will be prizes!
-We're on the honor system. I won't be watching you from secret cameras planted at your house. Or maybe I will...

So, just something to think about. More details to come. Let me know if you have questions.

And now, back to my gluten detox...

Saturday, December 18, 2010

Ah, the Holidays!

Confessions:

-I haven't worked out since Tuesday
-Today I ate cookie dough
-I will likely eat cookie dough again tomorrow

I've made an interesting discovery these past few days. I finished my work on Tuesday, so I haven't been sitting and working. But even though I haven't exercised, I also haven't been sitting on my rear all day. The result is that I've actually hit my BodyBugg goals without working out. Nice.

It won't last forever, I realize. Eventually, I'll have to sit back down and type all day, but until then, I'm digging this.

Actually, I plan to workout tomorrow, lest I get a little too lazy. Because let's face it, if you take too long off from working out, getting back into a routine is hell.

Plus, Turbo Fire arrived last week and Santa will give it to me a week from today. Thank you, Santa!

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Smashburger Hangover

I swear, I'm still here. Just a lot of work and holiday stuff going on.

Last Friday was my cheat day. On Fridays I also weigh in. Before I cheat, of course.

Anyway, I was up two pounds from before Thanksgiving.

Angst.

Apparently it didn't affect my psyche too much though because I had to take my kids to a natural allergist in another town where there just happens to be a Smashburger.

I have decided that Smashburger is my current favorite way to cheat. I swear, I was practically wallowing in that burger. And the haystack onion rings. I'm nearly weeping thinking about it.

And then that night, I ate popcorn.

The next morning, I would testify in court that I was hungover.

Let that be a lesson to me. Or maybe an explanation instead, because it's not like I'm swearing off either Smashburger or popcorn. Heaven forbid.

So as we move on through the holiday season, the good news is that I've been sticking to my morning workouts. Today I skiied and worked out and burned a killer amount of calories, which is important if I keep hitting Smashburger.

I haven't been logging my food though. I haven't taken the time, and I'm OK with it. I know it's temporary. And I am having some sort of holiday treat each day. Yesterday I ate ice cream. Today I ate some toffee. But what is different from in years past, I won't eat myself into oblivion.

I'll definitely have work to do after New Year's. Just not as much as before, hopefully.

Between Christmas and New Year's I'll post more details about the challenge. I hope you'll take part because it's so much more fun to do stuff like this with other people.

Thursday, December 9, 2010

I Love Cookie Dough

I've finally figured out a way to keep from eating cookie dough: Gluten free.

Yes, gluten free cookie dough is nasty. Nasty, I tell you. Make some gluten free cookies and you won't be grazing on the dough, I promise you.

No one in the house has Celiac, that I'm aware of, but I do find my own digestive system works better when I reduce how much gluten I'm eating. Hence, my experimentation with gluten free cookies. When they're cooked, there is a slightly different texture to the cookie, but the boys and my husband eat them all the same. And I don't eat the dough during the baking process. It's a win-win.

However, I do not plan to make gluten free Christmas cookies. That's sacred, baby. And today the boys and I made some reindeer head cookies that were delish and yes, I did eat dough.

And I liked it.

Surprisingly, even with cookies and hot chocolate this afternoon, I still came in under calories.

I hope this is a sign of things to come this holiday season because I don't see me staying out of the dough.

Today's information
Workout: Jillians Michaels' Banish Fat, Boost Metabolism. Burpees. Ugh.

Food
Breakfast: Chocolate Shakeology, almond milk
Lunch: Amy's palak paneer entree
Snack: I'm taking a hit for 3 cookies in terms of the dough and one cookie and a few random M&Ms which were used to decorate the reindeer heads. I also drank hot chocolate.
Dinner: homemade bean and cheese burrito in whole wheat tortilla w/2 tbls. cheddar cheese, salsa, sour cream; apple

Total calories: 1451

BodyBugg Stats as of 10pm MST
Calories burned: 2270
Steps: 9596
Activity: 1 hour, 34 minutes

I was at the ski school all day yesterday. I did sit down in good faith and attempt to log my food last night, but I couldn't remember what I ate. I know it wasn't horrible, but I couldn't remember what I ate for lunch. Still don't. How can that be?

I'm weighing in tomorrow. I can only imagine...

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

My Birthday Present

Yesterday was my birthday. And I decided that my birthday present to myself was that I wouldn't track my calories, I would eat a piece of birthday cake, and I wouldn't blog. The cake turned out to be strawberry cheesecake, but whatever.

I didn't pig out all day or anything like that, but I just didn't take the time to sit down and figure out calorie totals. I did do a really good workout in the morning, one of my TurboJam favorites.

I can't remember exactly what I ate, but I ate well all day. I ate homemade lasagna for dinner and then had a reasonable piece of the cheesecake. I was really full afterwards. I have stayed out of the leftover cheesecake. Miracles do happen.

Today, I'm right back on track, which I'm pleased about.

My point here is this: enjoy special occasions. Don't try to put such restrictions on yourself that you can't enjoy things (on occasion and in moderation, of course!). It'll come back to bite you every time!

Get right back on track. That's important.

Today's information:
Workout: Jillian Michaels No More Trouble Zones. Ouch.

Food
Breakfast: two egg omelette with spinach and mushrooms, hot chocolate
Lunch: Chocolate Shakeology, almond milk, 2 tbs. peanut butter, banana...1 cup stale, leftover popcorn?!
Snack: Bagel thin, neufchatel cream cheese, 1/2 apple
Dinner: salmon croquette, spaghetti squash with 1 tsp. butter, 1 tbsp. maple syrup

Total cals: 1559 (I think). My web browser crashed and ate my total and I'm too lazy to go back in and look.

BodyBugg stats as of 10:50pm MST:
Calories burned: 2074
Steps: 7169
Activity: 1 hour, 21 minutes

I actually suspect my calories were lower. I'm starving. I need to hit the hay before I eat something, but also because I feel like I'm getting a cold. Boo hiss.

FYI.
No one has commented that they are interested in some sort of fitness challenge after the holidays. This leads me to believe that:

1. No one is reading this blog
2. If you are reading, you are thin and don't need a challenge
3. You already own 4,032 workout DVDs and don't want anymore, even if they're free
4. You are too busy to reply

If it's 4, comment and let's do this thing.

Sunday, December 5, 2010

Eating Too Much at One Sitting. Burp...

I underate early in the day today. As a result, I overate at dinner. My calories came out fine for the overall day, but I recommend making a goal of spreading your calories more evenly over the course of the day.

Unlike me today.

Or you will sit around regretting it.

Like me.

A trainer once told me that extra weight around your hips and thighs is a result of inactivity. Extra weight around your middle means you typically consume too much food at one sitting. I think the latter describes my situation today.

I didn't workout before the tree hunting extravaganza. As I lay in bed procrastinating this morning, I convinced myself I shouldn't get all sweaty before gallivanting around in the frozen wilderness.

And in the end, all of that gallivanting around in the frozen wilderness actually burned a fair number of calories, so I'll escape unscathed.

Except of course, for my too many calories at one sitting.

Burp.

Today's Information
Workout: Gallivanting around in the wilderness watching my husband pull a tree through thigh deep snow.

Food
Breakfast: Instant oatmeal

Snack in the wilderness: beef jerky, hot chocolate. Isn't beef jerky such a wilderness sounding snack? Nothing like gnawing on a piece of animal muscle to give you some energy. Thinking about that just made me throw up in my mouth a little.

Lunch: Shrimp won ton soup, apples

Snack: Skipped. That jerky really sticks with a girl.

Dinner: Breakfast for dinner! I love it! Two eggs, whole wheat toast, one piece bacon. The fam ate French toast. I did not.

Total calories for day: 1659

BodyBugg stats as of 8:11pm MST
Calories burned: 1754
Steps: 6757--What!? Shockingly low after all of that tramping around in the woods!
Activity: 57 minutes. I must have been strolling.

Saturday, December 4, 2010

The Weekends Mess Me Up

Does anyone else have this problem? I'm so good with nutrition and exercise and maintaining my schedule all week, and then all of the other people in the house are around all weekend and I get all off track.

Really, all in all, today wasn't too bad. I didn't get up very early, but I did squeeze a good walk in before we headed to the next town for a hockey festival--my younger son's first (they lost the first game, won the next two). It was an outdoor rink so there was a lot of standing around in the cold and drinking hot chocolate.

Yum.

I'm trying to figure out a way to roll with the weekends without getting too off track. Maybe having my rest day on Wednesday instead of Sunday will help.

Tomorrow we're hiking out into the wild to mercilessly cut down a Christmas tree.

Tomorrow's goal: get a workout in prior to the tree cutting!

Give this idea some thought: does anyone want to do some sort of fitness challenge starting January 3? It won't be based on how much weight we lose, but more about making sure we exercise every day and eat well. I'll sweeten the deal and throw in some prizes--from BeachBody, of course.

If it's something you're willing to think about, put a comment to that effect.

Today's InformationWorkout: 60 minute walk

Food
Breakfast: Instant oatmeal, milk, maple syrup

Lunch: Bagel (one of those new bagel thins--very good way to enjoy a bagel without all of the calories), egg, cheese, sandwhich. Grapes.

Snack: peanut butter cookie, hot chocolate

Dinner: Chili with cheese, a bite of my husband's BBQ sandwich

Snack: cornflakes, milk, banana

Total calories: 1651

BodyBugg Stats (as of 8:54pm MST)
Calories burned: 1875. I'll come close, but won't quite hit my goal.

Steps: 10,418

Activity: 1 hour, 27 minutes

Friday, December 3, 2010

True Confessions

It's Friday. It's my cheat day. I ate donuts and popcorn for dinner tonight. For reals.

I just felt you should know this so you don't go thinking I'm all perfect or anything.

The topper is that I spent most of the day in the car and didn't exercise.

It happens.

Thursday, December 2, 2010

Weights, Measures and Counting

You're going to despise me for this, but my recommendation, if you really want to lose weight, is that you need to measure and weigh your food and count your calories.

I know. It sounds like drudgery. I fought it forever. And back in the old days, counting calories stunk. Food labels were confusing. You had to do it all by hand. I don't do math, so that presented a problem.

And then Al Gore invented the Internet and changed all of our lives. You can send him a thank you note later.

There are a zillion websites out there that make counting your calories so easy. I was shocked, SHOCKED I tell you, the first few days I started tracking my calories. I've been doing it now for about two years. Occasionally I miss a day, but I have discovered that over time, I've finally become pretty good at eyeballing things and using portion control. Portion control was always my nemesis. You mean I can't make and eat an entire packet of Lipton flavored rice? Seriously, in grad school I remember making these. They were yummy with all of their chemicals. If I only ate that, why couldn't I eat the whole packet? Why was I gaining weight? Duhhhhh.

So, pay attention to serving sizes. Weigh and measure your food (you can get a little scale really inexpensively). Track your calories.

I know it sounds horrific and time consuming, but it's very educational, and after awhile, it's second nature.

If you are confused about how many calories you should be eating, let me know. There are some online tools we can use to figure it out.

When I got my BodyBugg, it walked me through my fitness goals, my current exercise plan, body types, etc., and it told me how many calories to try and burn each day and how many calories to eat each day.

The free website I used for tracking my calories pre-BodyBugg was www.myfitnesspal.com. But there are tons of other ones out there.

Do a little experiment and track your food for a few days--every little morsel. I was floored by how much I was actually eating, mostly comprised from mindless grazing or eating kids' leftovers. Do not eat the leftovers, I'm telling you. Don't do it. Now I think twice before I pop something in my mouth because I don't want to confess it. Clearly, I would have made a terrible Catholic.

Today's information
And actually, as for yesterday, I didn't input my data--how about that after a post lecturing you to count calories! I think this may become typical for Wednesdays when I'm working on the mountain.

Workout: Burn Intervals (an interval workout from Chalene Johnson's ChaLEAN Extreme program); big walk with my sister's dog

Food
Breakfast: Chocolate Shakeology, original flavor almond milk, ice

Snack: skipped in a frenzy of work

Lunch: leftover salmon and wasabi potatoes

Snack: two oranges, pumpkin seeds

Dinner: Cooking Light's corn chowder w/bacon, tomato/onion/avocao salad

Dessert: Two bites of leftover pound cake, 2 squares dark chocolate

Total Calories: 1612

BodyBugg Stats as of 10:24pm MST:
Calorie burned: 2400

Steps: over 11,000 (I took it off before I saw the final number)

Activity: over 2 hours