Back to the Grind.

On Friday, I posted about journaling, the day before that a music video, and the post before that was about a diaper basket.  You are probably wondering when I am going to get back to the exercising and weight loss stuff.  Well Here we go!!



Have you ever noticed that once you start running everyday your body seems to get more and more ready for the next run, but as soon as you miss a couple of day, then it is difficult again?  That is because your body was getting used to being conditioned everyday, that is why you could go farther or was able to breathe better as your running sessions went on.  However, if you stop that process, then your body is going to get comfortable with only processing a resting stage amount of oxygen and carbon dioxide.  Now don't go rolling your eyes at the fitness guru talk.  I am no where near that.  Remember I am the one that start this blog in order to motivate me to lose weight? 

I have kind of fell off of the wagon a little bit since my husband has been home everyday with me.  Well now it is time to get the most out of that gym membership that I am paying for.  I have tomorrow off for Memorial day.  Well, sort of, I have to go in and do some daily paperwork and reports, but that only takes a few minutes.  So on the way back home, I am just going to stop by the gym for a run and some other exercises. I think that I am going to try to log what I have done in the gym each day to keep myself motivated and accountable.  This might be a good idea for you too, if like me, you tend to fall off of your goals and track to get there.  So please bear with me and we will get this ball rolling again and see what we can do!!!

Keeping a Journal

I recently started a journal on my Iphone.  I know it sounds juvenile and you may think that it has nothing to do with fitness or weight loss.  If you just bear with me, I will explain why keeping a journal can help you understand downfalls, keep a record of your progress, and have any inspirational quotes to keep you motivated at the tip of your finger.  I started a journal on a Iphone application because let's face it!  Most of us now have our cell phones attached to us like a breathing tube, and most of us have a fancy "smart phone" that can do everything from changing your tv channel to tracking our (ahhem...) cycles.  I was able to find an application that has a passcode protected journal.  Here is an example of the program I have on my Iphone: Of course it isn't mine but an image found online that looks similar: 


Ok now to the part where I think that it is good for anyone to have a journal no matter what age they are.  All of us go through stress throughout our daily lives.  That stress builds up on top of itself until it seems hard to handle.  Well just like when we were teenagers, writing down what is going in our lives can help us let go of unnecessary stress, set goals for ourselves, and watch ourselves grow as an individual.  Just the other day I had dinner with a friend that I had not seen in a few weeks and she commented on how much I had changed in my demeanor and attitude.  Sometimes, we get so caught up in growing up that we lose track of the actual process of growing up.  Yes I know, I am 25 and most of you reading this are around the same age.  But we still grow everyday, and we mature with every event that happens in our lives. 

I have used this before:


Take this challenge.  Keep a journal for a year.  Don't say you don't have time.  Just put aside a few minutes a day, (like right after your bible study or when you put your little one down for their nap.)  It will only take a few minutes and depending on how your day has been going it can make you feel better.  Take time to reflect on the things going on in your life, how they affect you individually, how they affect your family as a whole.  Even keeping a journal and entering how much trouble you are having potty training your little one can help you.  Write in there when you are stressed about it, and a few hours or even days later, reread that entry and think about things that were important and how you can help your child understand what they need to be doing.  In a year just glance through your journal and I am sure you will be astounded at how much you have grown and changed through out that year.

It's been a while!!!

Ok, I know that it has been a while since I have posted anything.  I am not going lie!  :(  I have slacked so much on my working out since my PFA a couple of weeks ago.  And guess what!  My weight is also starting to climb!!!  Can't let that happen.  I have to get back into it.  Now that my husband is at home full-time, I have enjoyed spending time with him and relaxing with him.  However, since I am so enjoying his company, my trips to the gym have become fewer and fewer.  Well, time to break that bad habit and make myself do what I need to do.  Starting tomorrow I am going to pack a bag with my gym clothes in it and take it to work.  After work, regardless of the time, I am going to change into those gym clothes before I get in my car, and drive straight to the gym (which is only like 2 minutes literally from my apartment).  That way, there is no excuse.  No chance to get comfortable at my home with my family and change my mind.  I will just get to the gym, run and get my workout in before headed home for the night to relax.

Have any of you started a workout plan and missed a couple of days only to find yourself getting comfortable with not going and becoming that person you didn't want to be again?  I challenge you to join me.  Find a way that makes you go to the gym and get that workout in regardless of your comfy zone.  Tomorrow is a new start for me.

New Outlook!! Let's Break the Plateau!!

So, I would like to have you recall last week when I posted that I was at a plateau.  Even though, I had lost a bunch of weight, my body seems to be comfortable where it is now.  I thought about ways to break that slump.  Here is what I thought about.  Instead of focusing on the number on the scale, stay off of the scale for at least a week. and instead focus on more of a distance goal.  Let's say for example, ( and of course please modify to your best convenience), his week's goal is to walk a mile by the end of the week.  Now there are two weays to do this goal.  You could either record your distances to add up to a mile or you can work up to a goal.  Meaning see how far you can walk today without like freaking you body out, say 1/4 of a mile...Well, tomorrow, after your stretch, try for 1/2 mile or maybe around another corner in your neighborhood.  The next day, 3/4 of a mile.  You get the point.  At the endof the week see how far you can go before you have trouble.  A good way to look at it is to train throughout the week for your "test" on Friday.  If you are like me, and are a bit under the weather, don't stress your body out too much, but still try to do something!!  If you completely shut down while you are not feeling well then it will be harder for you to pick it back up and make progress.  Obviously if you are really, really sick and just can't get out of bed, then by all means give your body the amount of time it needs to rest and heal.  I am sorry this isn't much longer but, I am so not feeling it!!!
   

Realizing a Plateau

So I decided to go back in my posts and just check them out.  Well, I found a post of an weight update (yes I know I haven't kept it up), and realized that I am the same weight that I was a month ago!  So even though I have lost a considerable amount of weight since January, I have not had any progress for a month.  So, now that my Navy PFA (Physical Fitness Assessment) is over and I have weighed in at 174, I can try to look at this as a refresh and restart.  So my goal in all this is, in my mind 174 is now my new starting weight, and see if I can lose some more weight.  Of course, I still have to keep in mind that I have come a really long way.  But maybe a new challenge will help boost it all and help me lose more weight.

My husband has also recently started his terminal leave in transition of getting out of the Navy, and having him home all the time now I think has countered me a bit in going to the gym.  This week I gave myself a break because of my test earlier this week and my not so welcome visitor came to bug me all week!!  Next week, I have decided to start over and see if I can break my lull. 

So help me!!!  Join me!!!  Whatever!!  Anyone got any advice!!!