Getting back on track.
I went back to the gym yesterday for some cardio and actually went OVER an hour because I was feeling so good. Today I was feeling really sick (again!), because of my irritable bowel syndrome. I did not go to the gym because the symptoms could have caused... well, best not to go into deal. I did however get some exercise in here at the apartment, which is better than nothing :)
I am going to go back to weighing myself starting March 1. Both this time and the other time I thought I should stop weighing myself, my motivation to go to the gym slipped. I don't know if this is "healthy" and I need to get to a place where I want to work out every day for fun and for my own good. Seems like I'm not quite there yet.
I am really looking forward to Spring and exercising outside! I am going to CA for my Mom's birthday which is exciting. Also, there is a walking trail there that I was not able to complete last time because of my physical pain. I am hoping to try it this time, so I am going to warm up with some uphill walking on the treadmill this week.
Love,
Elizabeth
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
Monday, February 25, 2013
Sort of Off Track
Hi again.
So... I screwed up my back on Friday. Aunt Ruth kindly replied to my text and suggested that I do some light cardio to help fix it, such as elliptical or biking. As of Monday at 10:40 PM, I have done this... only once. I felt good while I was exercising yesterday, but afterwards and this morning I hurt more. Also I am feeling crankier... having pains can do that. So, that's my 'fession.
However, I DID have a solid day of applying for jobs. Mondays are great for that! So many new posts. I finally heard back from Equality California... they just said, "we have your application and are reviewing it." Great... but, I applied to three new places, all of them exciting. Then I tried to distract myself from checking my email too many times, which is when I SHOULD have gone to the gym.. but, alas, no.
Gym tomorrow and for the rest of the week. No excuses. I am inspired by Aunt Roberta's latest blog about how she doesn't even question exercising every day. I enjoy my gym time quite a bit these days, so I don't often question going either, but when I do question, sometimes I choose laziness. Need to get over that.
I made a healthy version of oatmeal cookies that doesn't irritate my delicate system... so that was a win :) Derek likes them too. They are good, but not SO good that I am tempted to inhale them all at once :)
So... I screwed up my back on Friday. Aunt Ruth kindly replied to my text and suggested that I do some light cardio to help fix it, such as elliptical or biking. As of Monday at 10:40 PM, I have done this... only once. I felt good while I was exercising yesterday, but afterwards and this morning I hurt more. Also I am feeling crankier... having pains can do that. So, that's my 'fession.
However, I DID have a solid day of applying for jobs. Mondays are great for that! So many new posts. I finally heard back from Equality California... they just said, "we have your application and are reviewing it." Great... but, I applied to three new places, all of them exciting. Then I tried to distract myself from checking my email too many times, which is when I SHOULD have gone to the gym.. but, alas, no.
Gym tomorrow and for the rest of the week. No excuses. I am inspired by Aunt Roberta's latest blog about how she doesn't even question exercising every day. I enjoy my gym time quite a bit these days, so I don't often question going either, but when I do question, sometimes I choose laziness. Need to get over that.
I made a healthy version of oatmeal cookies that doesn't irritate my delicate system... so that was a win :) Derek likes them too. They are good, but not SO good that I am tempted to inhale them all at once :)
Friday, February 22, 2013
2/22/13 - SIZE TEN JEANS!
Hi! Yesterday I spontaneously decided to walk down to Target as part of my work out (it's only about two miles away, so I also did some lower body weights at the gym when I got back). While I was there, I tried on a size 10 jean - and it FIT! For the first time since I was fifteen or sixteen, the tens zipped up and buttoned. Now, I didn't get them because I need a job to spend money on things that aren't survival-needs... and they weren't exactly COMFY... but it was still sort of a trophie to put them on and dance around in the dressing room.
Applied to more jobs yesterday, going to be at it again today. It is still a discouraging process because I get so few responses. I got a weird phone interview where it LOOKED like I got a job, only to be told that they couldn't actually *pay* me for my work for a while. Gaaah! No, I will not work for free... I can do that on my own time and my own projects :(
I had a brief chat online with a man I used to work with at Equality California, just to give him a heads up that my application is on his way. He responded enthusiastically, rather than just saying, "Communications Director? That's WAY out of your skill zone!". ... that's a plus? The application deadline for that position was March 1, so maybe they are still gathering their applications before they decide who to write back to. Fingers crossed.
I realized something sort of scary yesterday. Which is: March is soon, and then comes April, and then May. I moved here to Derek's apartment in May 20, 2012. Since then, I had a job/paid internship for a few months which I had to give up when I became sick. I also got a job which I had to quit after a few days because I thought their practices were unethical. If I don't get another job by May... well, that's not much to show for the year. Yikes. Time really flies... I think I probably will get a job by May, but if for some reason I don't, I might have to start making some real changes. I don't know what that would look like, but I don't want to exist off of Derek's charity for more than a year. No, sir.
I have made SOME great changes this year: namely, to my health. Losing forty pounds is a big deal to me, and going to the gym consistently for eight months is a new thing! I have never been active for that long in a row. I have a network of doctors here since I was sick. I know which healthy foods I love and which unhealthy foods are the worst for me. I know that my adult life and responsibilities should and must include a job, and I am working towards that. But taking charge of my health this year is definitely a step that will lead to a happier adult life.
Applied to more jobs yesterday, going to be at it again today. It is still a discouraging process because I get so few responses. I got a weird phone interview where it LOOKED like I got a job, only to be told that they couldn't actually *pay* me for my work for a while. Gaaah! No, I will not work for free... I can do that on my own time and my own projects :(
I had a brief chat online with a man I used to work with at Equality California, just to give him a heads up that my application is on his way. He responded enthusiastically, rather than just saying, "Communications Director? That's WAY out of your skill zone!". ... that's a plus? The application deadline for that position was March 1, so maybe they are still gathering their applications before they decide who to write back to. Fingers crossed.
I realized something sort of scary yesterday. Which is: March is soon, and then comes April, and then May. I moved here to Derek's apartment in May 20, 2012. Since then, I had a job/paid internship for a few months which I had to give up when I became sick. I also got a job which I had to quit after a few days because I thought their practices were unethical. If I don't get another job by May... well, that's not much to show for the year. Yikes. Time really flies... I think I probably will get a job by May, but if for some reason I don't, I might have to start making some real changes. I don't know what that would look like, but I don't want to exist off of Derek's charity for more than a year. No, sir.
I have made SOME great changes this year: namely, to my health. Losing forty pounds is a big deal to me, and going to the gym consistently for eight months is a new thing! I have never been active for that long in a row. I have a network of doctors here since I was sick. I know which healthy foods I love and which unhealthy foods are the worst for me. I know that my adult life and responsibilities should and must include a job, and I am working towards that. But taking charge of my health this year is definitely a step that will lead to a happier adult life.
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
2/20/13
Hi!
Yesterday was a good, productive day. I spent most of the day finishing my application to work as a Communications Director at Equality California. I would have to work on persuading Derek to live with me in CA if I did get it... but I would like that :P I like California the best!
The job will probably not wind up being mine, because it is a director position. What I tried to emphasize in my cover letter were two things: I have a LOT of experience working with EQCA in a lot of different parts of the organization, and I am proven to be innovative and start new things on my own initiative. I described both and made the case that they should hire me instead of someone more experience because I have higher QUALITY experience. We will see if that works. I also wrote, and my mom helped edit, three new writing samples (the EQCA application asked for three), salary requirements, references, etc. It was the longest application I have had to do, and now I'm waiting to see if they respond! Fingers crossed! Trying not to check my email every hour :) Keeping in mind it was always a long shot.
So: the schedule is helping. Pre-schedule, I am afraid I was getting raaaaather laaaazy. And thus I was depressed. Lazy Elizabeth --> Depressed Elizabeth, and then it's a downward spiral because depressed Elizabeth --> lazy Elizabeth. The internet can be such a time sink!
I also (finally!) made my way back to the gym. For a while I was legitimately not supposed to go because I had a nasty cold, and then after that came the part where I had stabbing pains in my tummy again. I probably should have gone the day before yesterday, but I didn't for some reason. Yesterday I did! It felt great to be back and I felt strong and thinner than ever. I did an hour on the elliptical, trying reverse mode for the first time. I took a picture to put in my months chart, although I am still not weighing myself.
If I had to guess, I would guess that between the Valentines Day feasting and the six day long gym hiatus, I have probably put on a few pounds. I think I expected that at the very beginning of the not-weighing-self thing... I have slightly less motivation. At first. But that was part of the point and part of the plan: I need to find the way to have motivation without constant weight loss. Because sometime within the next year, I will get to the weight that is healthy for me (yaaay!!!) and need to stop losing weight. if I don't figure out how to stay motivated to keep up my health habits now, I am afraid I will not know what to do at that point. Back to the gym I go today!
I have been doing well at reintroducing more fruits and veggeis. There is a baby spinach recall in MD right now (perfect, right? that's my healthiest green...) But I have kale, broccoli, pears, apples, celery, bell peppers, onions and carrots in the fridge right now. I choose amongst these each day more than once. I also have various packs of frozen veggies for when I need a serving FAST.
A question: How do you feel about cheese? Through trial and error I discovered that most cheese upsets my IBS, but fresh shredded sharp cheddar cheese, with less fat and preservatives, does not. And - I REALLY like it. I like it on rice&beans, eggs, pasta, everything. I do limit myself to absolutely no more than once per day, but I still think that might be too much cheese. How do you consider cheese? Is it a "junk food" or an acceptable source of calcium and protein?
Thanks everyone for reading!
Yesterday was a good, productive day. I spent most of the day finishing my application to work as a Communications Director at Equality California. I would have to work on persuading Derek to live with me in CA if I did get it... but I would like that :P I like California the best!
The job will probably not wind up being mine, because it is a director position. What I tried to emphasize in my cover letter were two things: I have a LOT of experience working with EQCA in a lot of different parts of the organization, and I am proven to be innovative and start new things on my own initiative. I described both and made the case that they should hire me instead of someone more experience because I have higher QUALITY experience. We will see if that works. I also wrote, and my mom helped edit, three new writing samples (the EQCA application asked for three), salary requirements, references, etc. It was the longest application I have had to do, and now I'm waiting to see if they respond! Fingers crossed! Trying not to check my email every hour :) Keeping in mind it was always a long shot.
So: the schedule is helping. Pre-schedule, I am afraid I was getting raaaaather laaaazy. And thus I was depressed. Lazy Elizabeth --> Depressed Elizabeth, and then it's a downward spiral because depressed Elizabeth --> lazy Elizabeth. The internet can be such a time sink!
I also (finally!) made my way back to the gym. For a while I was legitimately not supposed to go because I had a nasty cold, and then after that came the part where I had stabbing pains in my tummy again. I probably should have gone the day before yesterday, but I didn't for some reason. Yesterday I did! It felt great to be back and I felt strong and thinner than ever. I did an hour on the elliptical, trying reverse mode for the first time. I took a picture to put in my months chart, although I am still not weighing myself.
If I had to guess, I would guess that between the Valentines Day feasting and the six day long gym hiatus, I have probably put on a few pounds. I think I expected that at the very beginning of the not-weighing-self thing... I have slightly less motivation. At first. But that was part of the point and part of the plan: I need to find the way to have motivation without constant weight loss. Because sometime within the next year, I will get to the weight that is healthy for me (yaaay!!!) and need to stop losing weight. if I don't figure out how to stay motivated to keep up my health habits now, I am afraid I will not know what to do at that point. Back to the gym I go today!
I have been doing well at reintroducing more fruits and veggeis. There is a baby spinach recall in MD right now (perfect, right? that's my healthiest green...) But I have kale, broccoli, pears, apples, celery, bell peppers, onions and carrots in the fridge right now. I choose amongst these each day more than once. I also have various packs of frozen veggies for when I need a serving FAST.
A question: How do you feel about cheese? Through trial and error I discovered that most cheese upsets my IBS, but fresh shredded sharp cheddar cheese, with less fat and preservatives, does not. And - I REALLY like it. I like it on rice&beans, eggs, pasta, everything. I do limit myself to absolutely no more than once per day, but I still think that might be too much cheese. How do you consider cheese? Is it a "junk food" or an acceptable source of calcium and protein?
Thanks everyone for reading!
Monday, February 18, 2013
2/18/2013
So far: the schedule is working!
Ducking in to say I have been much more productive today than in the past week. I am doing lots of writing for job applications, sending off two applications with letters tailored to each specific one, and laundry. Also my eating has been healthy today and I am definitely going to the gym this evening because I am feeling better. Now, back to work! Feeling groovy!
Have a great day.
Ducking in to say I have been much more productive today than in the past week. I am doing lots of writing for job applications, sending off two applications with letters tailored to each specific one, and laundry. Also my eating has been healthy today and I am definitely going to the gym this evening because I am feeling better. Now, back to work! Feeling groovy!
Have a great day.
Friday, February 15, 2013
2/15/13: A New Chapter (an important one)
Hello All,
You know when you realize it's time to change again? I am having one of those moments now. It's not as dramatic of a change as my decision to start my diet in July, or to move to Maryland with Derek... I just need to make some adjustments.
As you may know, I was hell-bent on losing 40 pounds by Valentines day and being 170 pounds. I wound up at about 171.5 pounds, which seemed close enough to celebrate. I got very dressed up and went out to eat at a fancy restaurant. I started out by ordering healthy food... but it went downhill from there. The food was so rich and delicious and abundant that I felt a primal compulsion to keep eating and eating and eating! I am going to lay the scale to rest for a while, but I feel I may have undone some of the progress I worked so hard for - temporarily.
Another setback: My job search. So far, I have only gotten one interview ... which I thought went GREAT! I was so excited about the job and I felt that I performed well. They told me it might be a while before they got around to second interviews for candidates, because the woman who would be performing them works out of state most of the time. So, as I continued to apply for jobs, I held out in hope that I would get that amazing job.... but I didn't, I just found out today by calling the office and asking directly.
So: I am going to make some changes, both to my diet approach and the way I live my life.
1. Eat MORE food. I have recently stepped up my exercise to the point where I am burning over 600 calories per cardio session, which feels great. I also go to the gym almost every day unless I am sick. However, this past month I did not adjust my food intake to meet that reality, and as a result I was starving. I was so focused on not going over my calorie budget that some days I fell asleep while significantly under it. I woke up from dreams about pasta feeling ravenous. I justified this with my desire to lose forty pounds. Well, I didn't quite make it there and then I self-sabotaged when I overate on V day. So: I need to focus on SUSTAINABILITY. Eating enough to keep my body healthy and happy, not feeling like I am going through a famine.
2. Eat MORE fruits, veggies, and protein. I was doing better about this earlier in my diet, but now looking back at my food diaries, I see lots and lots of carbs. They are mostly good carbs like brown rice, but brown rice alone does not a healthy diet make. I need to focus especially on re-inserting green veggies to my diet every single day.
3. Spend MORE time working! Yes, you were right, I need an established structure. I truly do. Realizing that I did not get the job I interviewed with, and am back at square one, really hit hard. So, my days from this next week on:
7-8:30 - Get up at the same time as Derek and get ready to have the day. This includes healthy meal prep, showering, finding workout clothes, deciding what to work on, and eating breakfast.
9:00 - 1:00 - First working session. May work on getting a job (preferably) or art work, but may not doddle.
1:00 - 2:00 - Lunch and food prep for dinner
2:00 - 3:40 - Go to the Gym (That extra forty minutes around exercising is for walking to and from the gym).
3:45 - 6:30 - Second working session. Either swap with first session or continue job search. (I do want to work some art into my days... but I need, need NEED a job soon. So for now I want to make searching for work my job!)
6:30 on: prepare dinner, tie up loose ends, relax with Derek.
I realize this is not a very ambitious schedule. It has fewer working hours than a full time job. I will adjust it upwards if I need to. Sadly, it is still more work than I have been doing of late. When I successfully follow through with this next week, I will be increasing my productivity a lot!
4. Weigh myself LESS often. Specifically: I want to give up weighing myself for lent :) I have eliminated the most dangerous excess weight from my frame - in fact, even if I put on two pounds yesterday (which seems unlikely), I am still thinner than I have been since high school. (pats self on back). So, I want to focus on continuing to kick butt in the gym and really forming a sustainable diet. My weight loss phase isn't over, but I want to underscore to myself that this is not a "diet" in the vernacular sense - it is a lifestyle change. It is something I am doing for myself for the long term, not just a short-term race for a lower number on that scale. Then on April 1, I will weigh myself and hopefully be pleasantly surprised! But part of this challenge: I will not set and obsess over a certain number I want to see on April 1. Rather, I will set the goal to continue losing weight and getting healthier, which I KNOW I can attain.
--------
Today and this weekend, I am going to work on having better writing samples. Although I write well, I don't really have many samples that are an appropriate length and both generic enough to apply to many jobs and specific enough to be interesting. I am also going to go through my cover letters and make some templates that are engaging. It will be a writing-prep couple of days!
Thank you for reading. This is an important blog for me, and these changes will really help. Hopefully soon I will need to make some more dramatic changes because I will HAVE A JOB, and I will need to work continuing my healthy habits around that ;)
You know when you realize it's time to change again? I am having one of those moments now. It's not as dramatic of a change as my decision to start my diet in July, or to move to Maryland with Derek... I just need to make some adjustments.
As you may know, I was hell-bent on losing 40 pounds by Valentines day and being 170 pounds. I wound up at about 171.5 pounds, which seemed close enough to celebrate. I got very dressed up and went out to eat at a fancy restaurant. I started out by ordering healthy food... but it went downhill from there. The food was so rich and delicious and abundant that I felt a primal compulsion to keep eating and eating and eating! I am going to lay the scale to rest for a while, but I feel I may have undone some of the progress I worked so hard for - temporarily.
Another setback: My job search. So far, I have only gotten one interview ... which I thought went GREAT! I was so excited about the job and I felt that I performed well. They told me it might be a while before they got around to second interviews for candidates, because the woman who would be performing them works out of state most of the time. So, as I continued to apply for jobs, I held out in hope that I would get that amazing job.... but I didn't, I just found out today by calling the office and asking directly.
So: I am going to make some changes, both to my diet approach and the way I live my life.
1. Eat MORE food. I have recently stepped up my exercise to the point where I am burning over 600 calories per cardio session, which feels great. I also go to the gym almost every day unless I am sick. However, this past month I did not adjust my food intake to meet that reality, and as a result I was starving. I was so focused on not going over my calorie budget that some days I fell asleep while significantly under it. I woke up from dreams about pasta feeling ravenous. I justified this with my desire to lose forty pounds. Well, I didn't quite make it there and then I self-sabotaged when I overate on V day. So: I need to focus on SUSTAINABILITY. Eating enough to keep my body healthy and happy, not feeling like I am going through a famine.
2. Eat MORE fruits, veggies, and protein. I was doing better about this earlier in my diet, but now looking back at my food diaries, I see lots and lots of carbs. They are mostly good carbs like brown rice, but brown rice alone does not a healthy diet make. I need to focus especially on re-inserting green veggies to my diet every single day.
3. Spend MORE time working! Yes, you were right, I need an established structure. I truly do. Realizing that I did not get the job I interviewed with, and am back at square one, really hit hard. So, my days from this next week on:
7-8:30 - Get up at the same time as Derek and get ready to have the day. This includes healthy meal prep, showering, finding workout clothes, deciding what to work on, and eating breakfast.
9:00 - 1:00 - First working session. May work on getting a job (preferably) or art work, but may not doddle.
1:00 - 2:00 - Lunch and food prep for dinner
2:00 - 3:40 - Go to the Gym (That extra forty minutes around exercising is for walking to and from the gym).
3:45 - 6:30 - Second working session. Either swap with first session or continue job search. (I do want to work some art into my days... but I need, need NEED a job soon. So for now I want to make searching for work my job!)
6:30 on: prepare dinner, tie up loose ends, relax with Derek.
I realize this is not a very ambitious schedule. It has fewer working hours than a full time job. I will adjust it upwards if I need to. Sadly, it is still more work than I have been doing of late. When I successfully follow through with this next week, I will be increasing my productivity a lot!
4. Weigh myself LESS often. Specifically: I want to give up weighing myself for lent :) I have eliminated the most dangerous excess weight from my frame - in fact, even if I put on two pounds yesterday (which seems unlikely), I am still thinner than I have been since high school. (pats self on back). So, I want to focus on continuing to kick butt in the gym and really forming a sustainable diet. My weight loss phase isn't over, but I want to underscore to myself that this is not a "diet" in the vernacular sense - it is a lifestyle change. It is something I am doing for myself for the long term, not just a short-term race for a lower number on that scale. Then on April 1, I will weigh myself and hopefully be pleasantly surprised! But part of this challenge: I will not set and obsess over a certain number I want to see on April 1. Rather, I will set the goal to continue losing weight and getting healthier, which I KNOW I can attain.
--------
Today and this weekend, I am going to work on having better writing samples. Although I write well, I don't really have many samples that are an appropriate length and both generic enough to apply to many jobs and specific enough to be interesting. I am also going to go through my cover letters and make some templates that are engaging. It will be a writing-prep couple of days!
Thank you for reading. This is an important blog for me, and these changes will really help. Hopefully soon I will need to make some more dramatic changes because I will HAVE A JOB, and I will need to work continuing my healthy habits around that ;)
Thursday, February 14, 2013
Valentines Day
To be blunt: I ate an absurd amount of food tonight. I started out well by ordering a healthy dinner, but it was not enough to fill me up and so I kept going. I feel sick now and I know exactly why! Silly, silly self.
Well, back on the wagon tomorrow. I haven't had a bad splurge like this in months. I think I will try to get some sleep, eat healthy tomorrow, drink lots of water and exercise.
I was 171.8 this morning... probably more tomorrow morning :(
I had a very fun evening with Derek though! Very romantic!
Well, back on the wagon tomorrow. I haven't had a bad splurge like this in months. I think I will try to get some sleep, eat healthy tomorrow, drink lots of water and exercise.
I was 171.8 this morning... probably more tomorrow morning :(
I had a very fun evening with Derek though! Very romantic!
Monday, February 11, 2013
Feb 11, 2013
Hi there,
I have been sick lately. I have either a very bad cold or a light flu. I was going to the gym through it at first, took a few days off for the worst of it, and was back in the gym today. I feel proud of myself for taking off only three days, when I would probably have taken off a week before and maybe even more. I think I am healing from this illness faster this time than I would have previously, because I am thinner and stronger.
Here are some before and during pictures:
I have been sick lately. I have either a very bad cold or a light flu. I was going to the gym through it at first, took a few days off for the worst of it, and was back in the gym today. I feel proud of myself for taking off only three days, when I would probably have taken off a week before and maybe even more. I think I am healing from this illness faster this time than I would have previously, because I am thinner and stronger.
Here are some before and during pictures:
Thursday, February 7, 2013
2/7/2013
Hello,
I have been feeling sick recently because of my period... it makes the interstitial cystitis worse. I still haven't heard back from the job I interviewed for. I sent them an email asking what their timeline for making a decision was. (This sounded more mature to me than just writing to beg for the job)!
Even though I haven't been feeling well, I have been knocking my workouts out in the gym. I feel great about that! I have been waiting for Derek to come home and take me so that if the pain did increase, he could pick me up. I am getting better at recognizing the difference between pain that is from exercise, vs the pain that is from sickness. When it feels like my organs are all being dragged downwards to my pelvic floor, this is bad and a time when I might need to step away from the machine and take a break. Same if I feel random or constant stabs of pain right under my ribcage. But I can and will work through the normal pain and soreness of exercise!
I have been staying well within my calories... in fact now that I have kicked up my exercise, I think I may be eating too FEW calories. I will continue to count and see, but I don't like to wake up famished early in the morning.
That's my update.. I'm about 174 pounds now. Looks like I will just BARELY miss the 170 by Valentine's Day mark, but it's okay. The only reason it made me sad is that I was also 174 before my period, and then it looked like I was going to make it. But then I looked at my before and current pictures, and realized that I have obviously been doing great. I think the goal helped me stay focused and get into the exercise groove that i am in now.
I have been feeling sick recently because of my period... it makes the interstitial cystitis worse. I still haven't heard back from the job I interviewed for. I sent them an email asking what their timeline for making a decision was. (This sounded more mature to me than just writing to beg for the job)!
Even though I haven't been feeling well, I have been knocking my workouts out in the gym. I feel great about that! I have been waiting for Derek to come home and take me so that if the pain did increase, he could pick me up. I am getting better at recognizing the difference between pain that is from exercise, vs the pain that is from sickness. When it feels like my organs are all being dragged downwards to my pelvic floor, this is bad and a time when I might need to step away from the machine and take a break. Same if I feel random or constant stabs of pain right under my ribcage. But I can and will work through the normal pain and soreness of exercise!
I have been staying well within my calories... in fact now that I have kicked up my exercise, I think I may be eating too FEW calories. I will continue to count and see, but I don't like to wake up famished early in the morning.
That's my update.. I'm about 174 pounds now. Looks like I will just BARELY miss the 170 by Valentine's Day mark, but it's okay. The only reason it made me sad is that I was also 174 before my period, and then it looked like I was going to make it. But then I looked at my before and current pictures, and realized that I have obviously been doing great. I think the goal helped me stay focused and get into the exercise groove that i am in now.
Monday, February 4, 2013
I did it!!
Albiet a day late...
So, I finally compiled my bills, added them up, and sent them to Mom. She has kindly agreed to take care of the bills from my current medical emergency, but for some reason they just stacked up on the floor untouched... I was so scared of them! Once I did them, as Aunt Roberta said, it was not so bad. I think I will read "Feel the Fear and Do it Anyway" :)
Point taken about the squats pain... I can exercise anyways, and have been doing so! I have exercised every day since my past blog. I am really enjoying the elliptical these days.
I had a proper "runners high" the day before yesterday... the kind that includes numbness of the extremities, ability to go SUPER fast, and a hospital-morphine-injection like state of euphoria. Ding ding ding! I have another reason to head to the gym :D Have any of my readers experienced this? I am slightly concerned about the safety of having these highs on a machine, as opposed to outside... but like I said, it encourages me to go to the gym and work harder if I think they may happen :)
I made a delicious butternut squash soup today... yummy!
Still haven't heard from the job I was interviewed at... meanwhile, I am shooting off more and more applications. I will update you when I hear ANYTHING! I am looking forward to being a real adult!
Also: Derek bought me my own scale. On Saturday morning, it read 176.6... so that's about a pound and a half more than I thought I weighed. At first I was feeling bummed out, but then again - it's that time of the month, and I know what to do to lose weight. I have decided to keep my home scale in a cabinet and weigh myself every Friday (if I can't stand waiting that long, every Friday and Tuesday).
Love,
Elizabeth
So, I finally compiled my bills, added them up, and sent them to Mom. She has kindly agreed to take care of the bills from my current medical emergency, but for some reason they just stacked up on the floor untouched... I was so scared of them! Once I did them, as Aunt Roberta said, it was not so bad. I think I will read "Feel the Fear and Do it Anyway" :)
Point taken about the squats pain... I can exercise anyways, and have been doing so! I have exercised every day since my past blog. I am really enjoying the elliptical these days.
I had a proper "runners high" the day before yesterday... the kind that includes numbness of the extremities, ability to go SUPER fast, and a hospital-morphine-injection like state of euphoria. Ding ding ding! I have another reason to head to the gym :D Have any of my readers experienced this? I am slightly concerned about the safety of having these highs on a machine, as opposed to outside... but like I said, it encourages me to go to the gym and work harder if I think they may happen :)
I made a delicious butternut squash soup today... yummy!
Still haven't heard from the job I was interviewed at... meanwhile, I am shooting off more and more applications. I will update you when I hear ANYTHING! I am looking forward to being a real adult!
Also: Derek bought me my own scale. On Saturday morning, it read 176.6... so that's about a pound and a half more than I thought I weighed. At first I was feeling bummed out, but then again - it's that time of the month, and I know what to do to lose weight. I have decided to keep my home scale in a cabinet and weigh myself every Friday (if I can't stand waiting that long, every Friday and Tuesday).
Love,
Elizabeth
Friday, February 1, 2013
Catching Up
Hi everyone! Sorry I haven't updated in the last few days.
My interview was really, really amazing... I want the job more than I have ever wanted a job. I hate this period of waiting to see if I get second-rounded... I sent my thank-you letter, and now I feel like there's not much I can do but wait. The interviewers kept me for over an hour asking about my experience and skills, so that seems like a good sign - they were interested in me. Now I've got to keep going, whether that particular company hires me or not.
I missed the gym the ONE day that I was at the interview, although there was lots of running around DC done that day... I was not a couch potato. My legs were extremely sore for three whole days after I learned the squats, so when I went back to the gym, I was trying to stretch them out really well and do some lighter cardio. Yesterday I was able to do my full hour of cardio again, so that's good. Today I will mix up some cardio with some upper body strength.
The scale at the gym is FUBAR! I texted Ruth about this. It jumps allllll over the place! For instance if I get on it, step off, reset it and step on again, it will give me a two pound or so difference. Derek said he will get me a new scale tonight, so that is good news. I am afraid I will be heavier than I thought... but if so, I know what to do to work through the weight again.
I've been feeling kind of crumby not knowing how much I weighed... I think I invested too much interest in the number on the scale, instead of being proud of how much work I was doing. (Sound familiar? Who HASN'T done that at some point?) I'll get a real number tomorrow morning and keep going forward from there.
I have been going to and from the gym in some VERY inclement weather, including rain and snow. The rain was a mistake - it started pouring while I was walking back home, out of the blue! My gym shoes got SOAKED! Good thing I wasn't wearing my pea coat or it would have been history :(
Also tonight: bills. Last time I looked at the medical bills, I managed to assemble them all in one pile and look at them... and then I freaked out and put them away. Mom said she would actually help me pay the medical bills, so I don't know why I find it so scary to type them in and add them up. But I do. This weekend: NO EXCUSES, I need to get that taken care of so it's off my mind.
My interview was really, really amazing... I want the job more than I have ever wanted a job. I hate this period of waiting to see if I get second-rounded... I sent my thank-you letter, and now I feel like there's not much I can do but wait. The interviewers kept me for over an hour asking about my experience and skills, so that seems like a good sign - they were interested in me. Now I've got to keep going, whether that particular company hires me or not.
I missed the gym the ONE day that I was at the interview, although there was lots of running around DC done that day... I was not a couch potato. My legs were extremely sore for three whole days after I learned the squats, so when I went back to the gym, I was trying to stretch them out really well and do some lighter cardio. Yesterday I was able to do my full hour of cardio again, so that's good. Today I will mix up some cardio with some upper body strength.
The scale at the gym is FUBAR! I texted Ruth about this. It jumps allllll over the place! For instance if I get on it, step off, reset it and step on again, it will give me a two pound or so difference. Derek said he will get me a new scale tonight, so that is good news. I am afraid I will be heavier than I thought... but if so, I know what to do to work through the weight again.
I've been feeling kind of crumby not knowing how much I weighed... I think I invested too much interest in the number on the scale, instead of being proud of how much work I was doing. (Sound familiar? Who HASN'T done that at some point?) I'll get a real number tomorrow morning and keep going forward from there.
I have been going to and from the gym in some VERY inclement weather, including rain and snow. The rain was a mistake - it started pouring while I was walking back home, out of the blue! My gym shoes got SOAKED! Good thing I wasn't wearing my pea coat or it would have been history :(
Also tonight: bills. Last time I looked at the medical bills, I managed to assemble them all in one pile and look at them... and then I freaked out and put them away. Mom said she would actually help me pay the medical bills, so I don't know why I find it so scary to type them in and add them up. But I do. This weekend: NO EXCUSES, I need to get that taken care of so it's off my mind.
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