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Wednesday, June 20, 2012

Life...it happens

I fully intended to take a picture of myself.  And I have, taken many in the past couple of days, from unflattering angles and of some of my least pretty body areas.  But not because of the book or the challenge.  Because of this:




Life happens.  We are all OK, thank goodness!  See that rear door, how it seems to be the only part that isn't touched?  Yeah--that's where Abby's seat is.  I'm convinced her sunshine-like personality beams protected her.  Jenny B and I in the front seat, Jason and Abby in the back, were t-boned in Natomas Saturday night.  While not a fault, it's still huge, with lots of good vibes shooting over to Jen while she recuperates from taking the brunt of the accident.

So, the book is on hold.  So much is going on with dealing with everything and I'm exhausted when I finally lay down at night.  And still sore and bruised.  I will say this: I can go the rest of my life without doing that again.

We're all OK--thanks goodness!
Cheers, Katie :)

Friday, June 15, 2012

Photo Op--not excited

Today's challenge is to ACTUALLY take a "before" picture and measurements, including weight.  They had talked about it earlier in the book, about having a starting point.  A photo that shows you were you are and later, where you were.  I can honestly say that when they talked about it, I blew it off.  I know I'm heavy.  I know that I have a roll or two.  And I really don't think I need any photographic evidence.  I have enough with clothes on to clover it up.  And I weigh weekly so I know where I am there.

But I'm doing this.  I have been for more than a week and for me, that's a good start.  So tonight, after an already planned tri-tip dinner with friends, I will go home, strip down to panties and bra, and take a picture that I hope no one ever sees.  I will not be posting it here.  I'll also take the measurements they recommend in the book.

Because I'm a player.  I'm a rule-follower.  Mostly because I appreciate the path being already laid.  I appreciate the direction and advice.  Maybe that's why I don't have any dreams...?  I'm OK with other peoples...?

Speaking of, last night I told my mom about my lack-of-dreams issue and she had some suggestions.  I need to have that conversation again with her because the music was loud and the kids were ALL OVER THE PLACE (didn't know throwing bark up in the air was so fun) but I'm looking forward to discovering my new dreams.  One thing I did catch that I thought was interesting: totally right off the cuff, she says "well, you should reevaluate and recreate your dreams at least every ten years."  What?!  Maybe that's why I don't have any now.  I've been coasting for two-plus cycles as it is! :)

Happy Friday!

Thursday, June 14, 2012

Run Abby, Run!

Today's goal: play with a kid/pet/etc for 30 minutes. Like fun exercise. OK. Shouldn't be too hard was my thought last night when I read the challenge. I'm the parent to an active toddler. I can do this. And it would be a "Mom and Abby" day, so even easier. And I closed my big browns for some sweet sleep. 1145pm our little ray of freakin' sunshine awoke crying and continued to fuss, whine, complain and basically be miserable for the next four hours (good news is that she woke up like nothing was weird, took a long nap, and has generally been herself all day). So...you can imagine my thoughts on chasing her around for 30 minutes were...well...not happy ones. But it was also Twilight Thursday at the zoo and we had plans to go with Mom, Tammy and Alexa. And Abby must read this blog...or what's on my kindle...or MY MIND...because she proceeded to stay amazingly, almost annoyingly, close all evening until it was time for a quick run through our favorite animals before going home. This is when she decided to RUN AROUND THE ZOO LIKE A WILD ANIMAL WHO HAD ESCAPED! So...I was able to accomplish my challenge of the day. Ummm, thank you Abby...? Now I'm off to finish off my mini goals (water done, breakfast success earlier and unintentional exercise down, 25's and stretching left) and I'm off to bed. Wish me luck that the whole house gets a good nights' rest. Sweet dreams all!

Wednesday, June 13, 2012

I figured out who/what my grudge was to let go and practiced last night.  It's weird--she has no idea I have this weird feeling about her.  And it's not because of something she did, really.  I just get this weird competitive vibe.  And that's totally not me.  I don't even like to keep score when I play games (which drives my mom CRAZY).  So I let it go.  And I even go to practice letting it go last night.  All went well.  As it should.  I'm the one with the problem, not her. :)

Today I am supposed to think about something I can't/haven't/won't do because of my weight and write about it.  Write about how it will feel to do it once I loose weight.  I'm thinking on this...I can't think of anything that I haven't done because of my weight.  Some things may be easier at a lighter weight but it hasn't stopped me from doing them.

I'm leaning towards the idea/thought that my knees will feel so much better when I have less weight on them.  Not really a thing/event/activity but it is one of the major things that I am mad about in terms of my weight.  Having bad knees and extra weight makes for a wicked combo.

Happy Wednesday!
Cheers, Katie :)

Tuesday, June 12, 2012

Let it go!

Progress report--yesterday I successfully completed all five of my mini goals.  Oh...I also made like 50 copies and taped them all over my house, work and car. :)

Today's goal is to let go it.  You know, those grudges you hold over people--and in my case, they usually don't even know it--that take up time and stress in your heart and mind.  Pick one and LET IT GO.  Forgive and move on.

I have the wonderful skill of being so forgetful that I forget to hold grudges.  OK, not such a bad thing.  Maybe I'm highly evolved but most likely, I just have too much else to think about.  And most of it is GREAT so why waste time of the yuck.

I'm going to think today about who/what I'm holding secret grudges towards/about and make a resolution to LET IT GO.  We'll see what I come up with...since I read the challenge last night, I still haven't thought of anything more than the kid who bullied me in the fifth grade, who I haven't seen or even heard about in DECADES.

Come on Katie...let it go! :)
Happy Tuesday!

Monday, June 11, 2012

Five Mini-Goals

  1. Drink at least 50 ounces of water
  2. 25 each: push-ups, sit-ups and jumping jacks
  3. Stretch routine
  4. Plan AND eat a breakfast with protien
  5. Unintentional activity: use upstairs bathroom, park far away, take the long way.

Weekends are my Weakness...and I love it!

So apparently, weekends are my weakness.  I gave no thought to reading the next goal Friday night (actually, even fell asleep with Abby for a while).  Neither did I even think about it Saturday night.  So I'm thinking that weekends are off.  And if there was ever a weekend to not hold myself accountable, it was this weekend.  Oh goodness!  Between my 14-year anniversary at LPL Friday, a graduation bash Saturday and BBQ with all of Abby's grandparents last night, I don't think I ever felt anything but FULL.  I miss the feeling of hunger.  I think some clean eating is in store for me this week...clean the system out, if you know what I mean! :)

So...Friday's goal was to schedule my fitness.  I'm going to publish it here.  Tuesday night Kim, Carrie and I (and whoever else wants to--come play!) are trying out the Y's yoga class.  And then, even though it kind of feels like cheating, I am going to work out both Saturday and Sunday.  I've decided to invest in a punch card for a couple gyms here in town, so I can use them when I want to instead of paying a monthly fee.  I'm just not sure I'd get my money worth right now.  Strike that--I know I wouldn't.  So for $5 I can go to the gym at the Y and then Sunday I'll try one of the other gyms in town and start a punch card.  That's my plan for the week.

Today's goal is to write out five mini-goals.  They make the correct assumption that if you're reading the book, one of your dreams is to be fitter and healthier (in 90 days).  So today I should make five mini goals of how to get there.  I'm going to focus on goals small enough that I can check off daily that they are done.  I'll be back by the end of the day with what those are...

Happy Monday!

Friday, June 8, 2012

"In the Moment" and scheduling

Yesterday was day two and the mini challenge was to live in the moment.  You can't change what's already been done and really, there's only so much control over what's ahead of you.  So live in the moment, try to make good decisions along the way (eating and otherwise), and trek on.

Yesterday was my Abby day.  I cherish these days...and they exhaust me.  Every Thursday I become more and more in awe of SAHM's.  I mean, you guys do this every day, not just Thursdays and weekends with your hubby's to help.  We usually have plans with other moms and their littles and yesterday was no different.  We met up at Rainbow Park for a little play time/picnic.  Abby has this wonderful skill--apparently it's important to her to taste-test everyones food, to make sure it isn't poisonous, I'm sure.  And even when I've packed her favorite foods, it's still much more exciting to see what everyone else has.  It's annoying--my daughter is a mooch!  Everyone says they don't care...they lie but they're nice so they keep me/us around. :)

So Abby and I left the house a little early yesterday and hit Trader Joe's and got all of the group favorites: blueberries, edamane, cheese rounds, sliced apples and cheese puffs.  Pay it forward--or in this case, try to pay it back for all the past moochi-ness.  The kids and moms ate, we laughed and watched our kids get corralled by first graders, and I sat back and realized that I was FULL.  On fruit and edamane.  Not on cheese puffs.  Go Katie!  In the moment baby! :)

Disclaimer: I was that full where you don't even want to drink water but by dinner, it was necessary to eat some protein.  Panera is helpful like that.  So is a book club meeting with my lovely ladies, where the only discussion of the book was about how we weren't going to read it.  Ha!  I guess that's how we roll.

Today's challenge is schedule three or four hour-long sessions to work out next week.  To actually put them on the calendar, get the gang on board, and do them.  They always say to do this...I'll try it.  I will say this--the authors have kids but they are old enough to be left alone for an hour at this time of their life.  And the "solutions" they suggested to make the hour happen in terms of your kids was inadequate and really, just laughable.  But whatever.  Neither here nor there.

I should mention that besides these mini challenges, which I seem to be concentrating on, there are other things to do.  I seem to be effectively ignoring them.  I haven't journaled any food I've eaten.  I haven't done any of the exercises they have so nicely listed out for me.  I've only taken the mini challenges and blogged about them here.  Cheating...I'm not saying.  We'll see.  It's had me blogging more consistently (I've even thought about doing it when I'm falling asleep).  Can blogging count towards calorie burn? :)

Wednesday, June 6, 2012

Maui 2012

I need to post this post!
Really...Maui seems like so far ago but it wasn't, and we had a GREAT time.
As these pictures show:
Mom, Abby and I

Mom and Abby figuring out the snorkel gear.  This was so fun to watch.  This was literally 30 minutes of watching the two of them crack each other up.  Their bond is too much!
Aaron and I snuck away for some sister drinking bonding while there.  It was much deserved and needed...oh, and it was happy hour so it was cheaper too! :)
Doesn't that smile just make you smile?!  Or is that just me?! :)

Werid...and possible spin for a while

The weird part is coming...

I've joined up with this facebook challenge of a Biggest Loser theme.  It's fun.  I've never watched the show and haven't really "meant to" but when an "old" friend (meaning I'm old and she was in 4H way after me but remembers me--UGG, those kill you, right?! in a good way) invited me to the challenge, I said OK.  $20 for the chance to win $500?  And all in the name of losing weight healthfully.  OK, sign me up, here's my cash.

Last week I was 15 out of 60 some-odd people but I'm still not in the top 15 for the challenge.  Still, it's been fun and has kept me on track on more than one occasion.  So, some part of it is working.

Within the group, they started a book club of sorts, to read "together" a book called "The 90-Day Fitness Challenge" by Phil and Amy Pargman.  They are a couple who were on the show and lost a bunch of weight and have since started a business of going around and teaching other people what they learned from being on the show.  It's an easy read.  I can't say I'm not enjoying it but it's also a lot of what I've read before.  They live by their "DREAM" Principle:
  • Dream about what you want your life to be
  • Recognize where you are today
  • Eat to live
  • Activate your body
  • Make a difference in the lives of others
Anyway, I won't go into it more now but if lots of bible quotes, cheerleader chat and great before/after photos are your thing, you'll be in heaven.  It's fine for me...like I said, it's an easy read and I'm game.

They recommend you use a journal to record your daily stuff, so the "possible spin for a while" is that I might use this for that place to chat with myself (and you) with what I'm thinking, realizing, etc.  And please feel free to comment.  I'm a pretty open book, and especially to the (very) few of you who read my blog.

So the "weird" part, which is why you kept reading, isn't it?! :)  The first principal is to dream.  They say that what they found with themselves is that as they got older, more responsibilities in the way of kids, home, life, got heavier in weight and further in debt, they found that they lost sight of their dreams.  And then forgot how to dream.

So that's one of their big things, in fact the first they want you to work on, is to remember how to and start dreaming again.  Basically, as I read it, create your goals based on your dreams rather then numbers or pants sizes.  And the challenge for today is to acknowledge/write down/remember those dreams that you had earlier in life.

Weird part: I can't think of any dream I had that I haven't already accomplished.  I always wanted to be a mom (Abby), be married (Jason), have a home I loved (check), be a secretary (a little more than that but...), live on a street with lights (and a sidewalk!).  I have family near and far, all of who I get to see often.  I have friends whom I LOVE LOVE LOVE.

So where does that leave me?  Do I need new dreams?  Is wanting to figure out how to BBQ really a dream?  Or an organized house--is that a dream?  This seems to be a weird place to be.  No dreams here.  But not because I forgot how...because I'm just that lucky.  Oh goodness.

Thoughts?