Being Mindful

Mindful – attentive, aware, or careful

What is mindful?  For me, I guess it’s just being aware.  I’m mindful of what I eat.  So far, I’m doing good.  I have work to do, but I’m doing it. I do think it’s time to reevaluate my eating though – specifically my breakfast.  I almost always have the sugary fruit on the bottom greek yogurt – pineapple, mango, or key lime being the 3 I rotate most often.  I need to switch it up w/ proteins (eggs, specifically).  My plan is to cook in bulk this weekend in order to have breakfasts done for the week.

I’m mindful of my movement. I’m blessed to work for a company that gives me 2 paid breaks of 15 minutes each.  They also give us 2 PTO days per year for creating, reaching, and maintaining our wellness goals.  I’m working on increasing my steps every day and so far, am averaging about 5,000 steps per day.  My goal is still 4,000 (until Monday), but I strive to get there every day.  Thank God I can walk – I can’t do much more than that these days, but that I can do.

My other goal is to cook foods I haven’t cooked before.  Parsnips, Rutabagas, Mangoes, Beets – that’s just the start.  I may even (more than likely) share the food and the recipe. I’m looking forward to what I find.

Until next time…..

4,000 Steps

Doesn’t sound like much, does it?  But, I’m sedentary.  My hobbies are sedentary.  My job is sedentary.  So, a goal of 4,000 steps is attainable for me.  My goal for the week is to meet my stepping goal.  The hardest part will be the weekends – BUT I’ve got a plan 🙂  I’ll walk during commercials.  I can do that!

After I’ve met the 4,000 steps per day for the week, I’ll increase it by 500 steps (per day) each week until I get to 10,000 steps (per day), per week.  How’s that for a S.M.A.R.T. goal?

Specific
Measurable
Attainable
Realistic
Target-Date (or Timely, depending on the acronym you’re more familiar with)

Today, I came in just barely over my goal.  BUT, it was over my goal! The sound you hear is me patting myself on the back.

As you can see by my points below, my eating is abysmal.  I’m getting plenty of fruits and veggies, but need to add more protein somewhere.

Here’s to tomorrow!

268.7/262.2/140

Plans for Today

I have 2 goals today.  The first is to drink 2 Liters of water; the second is to get in 30 minutes of exercise.  I’ve got two fantastic dance games for the wii – Just Dance and Gold’s Gym Dance Workout.  They both look fun….and they are both sitting unopened in my living room.  Or there’s Zumba.  I LOVE Zumba.  It is so much fun and I do have a few 30 minute workouts I could do there. 

Food Plans for the Day (so far)
B: Eggbeaters w/ mushrooms, ham, lf cheddar cheese
S: 5 Mini Cukes, 1 Baby Bell
L: Grilled Pork Chops, Salad w/ Ranch
S: 5 Mini Peppers, 1/4 c. cashews
D: Steamed Broccoli & Grilled Pork Chop
S: ??? (no plans)
E: 30 minutes
W: 2 Liters (hope for more)

Goals

My goals this week will be:

#1: To quit mindlessly snacking on nuts. Limit my portion to the 1/4 cup allowed per day instead of the 1/4 cup PLUS the few here and the few there that I tend to grab. The calories add up!!!

#2: To finish cleaning out my dresser drawers. Must organize and get rid of the larger sizes. (done!)

edited to add:
#3: Do not try to makeup for a week’s worth of exercise within two days! It does not work and now everytime I move I squeal like a pig ~ I mean, a little girl! (ow, ow, ow).

Goals

My goals for this week are:

Exercise:
3/3 ~ 90 min gym (done!)
3/4 ~ 60 min Boot Camp Class (none, sick)
3/5 ~ None (45 min Fat Burning Fusion)
3/6 ~ 45 min Fat Burning Fusion w/ Ellen Barrett (60 min Minna Lessig)
3/7 ~ 60 min gym (done!)
3/8 ~ 60 min Tank Top Arms, Bikini Belly, Boy Shorts Bottom w/ Minna Lessig (does shopping count? I worked up a sweat AND increased my heart rate ~ especially when I realized how much damage I’d done to my budget!!!)
3/9 ~ 60 min Zumba (eeeeek!!! I cleaned my fridge and finished cleaning out my closet instead)

Compliments:
Accept a compliment by simply stating “Thank you.” No “ifs, buts, or howevers”. (Ummmmmmm, I did okay on this. Maybe. Somewhat. Kind of. Okay, I failed miserably. I’ll try it again next week and see if I’m in a better place.)

It’s Not All About the Numbers

I have a confession to make. I’m a chronic scale junkie. I weigh myself everyday, first thing in the morning right after I use the bathroom. Normally, it keeps me on track. I understand weight fluctuations, so seeing the scale fluctuate a few pounds here or there doesn’t really bother me normally. But this week, it’s got me shaking my head and I do find myself getting frustrated. I just don’t get it.

I’m attempting to think about goals for this next week and I’ve thought about not stepping on the scale at all, other than my Monday morning weigh-in (which I consider my “official” weigh-in). But I’m still on the fence ~ I’m not sure I could stay off for a whole week. And I don’t want to set myself up to fail. But on the other hand, I’ve been so frustrated with the numbers lately that maybe a week of not seeing them and not wondering would do me good. See what I mean about being on the fence?

I know my journey isn’t all about the numbers on the scale. In hindsight, I really wish I had taken measurements when I first started this journey. I wish I’d allowed people to take my picture because then I’d have visuals. But that’s the thing with shame. I felt such shame at how I looked I didn’t want any reminders. And the thing that saddens me the most is Kiddo because she and I have such an exceptional relationship, I know she just wanted pictures of someone she loved. But I robbed her of that.

I saw someone yesterday that I hadn’t seen in months. She was smiling and so happy when she hugged me and said, “Look at you! You’re so skinny!” Now, normally I’d say “Thank you, but……” (pick your ending here)…”I still have a lot to lose”, “I’m nowhere near where I want to be”, but, but, but, but, but. Last night, I simply said “Thank you.” That’s something I’m working on.

My Mom calls my almost everyday to tell me how proud she is of the journey I’m on. She’s so proud, in fact, that she’s started her own journey and now calls me for guidance just about as much as calls me to tell me how proud she is. My sister brags to everyone we know about how well I’m doing. She’s thought about doing this journey as well, but right now she’s focusing on quitting smoking ~ then there’s the fact that she manages a Chinese Restaurant and she’s just not sure how well she’d do with all the smells, etc. I can understand that. If I’m surrounded by foods that I choose not to have but that I really want, I’d tend to get crabby. At least in the beginning. I’m not sure it would bother me now.

Then there’s the fact that I now can shop anywhere for my clothes ~ not just the plus sections. Or the fact that I’ve had to clean out my closet twice now because my clothes are just too big. Or the fact that there were four coats my mom gave me 2 or 3 years ago that I’ve never been able to fit into. They fit now. Or the outfits that Mom gave me about the same time she gave me the coats. Most of them fit now. There are still a few I want to be able to get into, but for the most part they all fit.

My point, I guess, is that those are things I should be focusing on. Not the numbers on the scale. But that’s another journey. I’m getting there.

My Goals this Week

Goal #1:
To exercise at least 5 hours this week (300 minutes to go!).
2/25 ~ 40 minutes Pilates (260 minutes to go!)
2/26 ~ None (260 minutes to go!)
2/27 ~ 60 minutes Cardio; 30 minutes strength training(170 minutes to go!)
2/28 ~ None (170 minutes to go!)
2/29 ~ 60 minutes Cardio (110 minutes to go!)
3/1 ~ 60 minutes Walking (50 minutes to go!)
3/2 ~ 40 minutes Sweatin’ with the Oldies; 20 minutes Pilates (Goal achieved!)

Goal #2:
To drink 1/2 of my body weight in water ounces everyday (84.75 oz).
2/25 ~ 135.2 oz
2/26 ~ 135.2 oz
2/27 ~ 202.8 oz
2/28 ~ 135.2 oz
2/29 ~ 135.2 oz
3/1 ~ 135.2 oz
3/2 ~135.2 oz (Goal achieved!)

I’m Stuck

For the past few weigh-ins, I’ve been stuck at the same weight. I need to re-evaluate what I’m doing. I know I need to up the exercise. I believe my eating is okay, but I may have to look at what I’m putting into my body to be sure it’s as good for me as I think it is.

My goal for next week is to exercise at least 5 times for the week, a minimum of 60 minutes per workout. I can do it. I used to workout everyday. I just need to get back to the habit.