It’s the end of April!

I was heading to work today when the radio announcers started talking about midnight, tonight, being the deadline for getting my taxes in. “What?!” I say to myself in disbelief, “it’s the end of the month already?!”

Yup it is. I have to write my month-end check-in update! Craaazzzyyy. April has totally escaped me, it seems!

How you doing, Grace?

Great, really. I feel great. So, so, so much better than I felt at the end of March. So much better.

Really, Why? How so?

Well, first, March was just a tumultuous month with lots of personal stuff happening. As much as I tried to stay on track, really, I was out of my groove and it was difficult to maintain any sort of focus with all that was going on. April is much calmer. It seems unfair to even compare the two months at all. April was better. Much better.

Fair enough. Tumult aside, is there anything new or different?

Yup. Lots. So, April 13th was the last of my weekly visits with my dietician and she has now shifted to my ‘fitness and food guru’ and we will be meeting only once a month. It does seem a little odd that I’m making this month-end report without a recent visit to her… our next visit is in two weeks from now.

Okay, so how do you feel about the shift from weekly to monthly visits?

Surprisingly good. At first, I thought that if I didn’t see her on a weekly basis that I’d end up ‘slipping’—not paying a lot of attention to what I was eating, or perhaps getting less exercise in. That is not the case. As I had posted before, I have weekly email check-ins with her, and I have set a running goal for myself, which really does help me stay focused. I’m amazingly more motivated now that I have set this running goal, really.

Talk about your fitness, how is that going?

I am getting a lot more exercise. A lot. My newest schedule:

Mondays

6:00 a.m. visit to the gym for a 35-minute stationary cycling session

3:30 p.m. visit to the Stratford Oval for a 50-minute 3&3

6:30 p.m. out to Cornwall for a 60-minute karate lesson

Tuesdays

4:15 p.m. attend a 60-minute fitness class

Wednesdays

6:00 a.m. visit to the gym for a 35-minute stationary cycling session

3:30 p.m. visit to the Stratford Oval for a 50-minute 3&3

Thursdays

4:15 p.m. attend a 60-minute fitness class

Fridays

6:00 a.m. visit to the gym for a 35-minute stationary cycling session

Saturdays  

10:00 a.m. out to Cornwall for a 120-minute karate lesson

Sundays

9:30 a.m. attend a 60-minute fitness class OR a 4-6km hike outside

I should say... I don’t actually think that I will do every single bit of exercise on my list every single week. Realistically, things happen and there may be a day when I can’t get my fitness in. I’m not going to worry too much about it though, I will try my best.

 

Whaaat?! Did I read karate? KARATE?!

Yeah, you did. I have been attending Ivan’s karate classes for a few months now and have always thought that it was a really interesting discipline. Sensei had been asking me over the last couple of weeks to join, I talked it over with Ivan and both of us agreed that it would be a cool thing for me to do. This just started today. Today was my first class… it was not easy, and my feet are sore (I remember Ivan saying the same thing when he first started the class too). I feel I will be a white belt for a while, but I’m okay with that!

And how’s the eating?

It is good! I have been sticking relatively close to my goals and expectations in that area too. I have been drinking a few beers though… it’s spring! What can I say? I have been drinking either ‘Canadian 67’ or ‘Coors Light’, both are slightly better options than some of the other beers out there. But, if I have a beer (or two) I make sure I pay attention to what else I have or will be eating on that day. It’s a trade-off I am willing to make.

Okay then… any final thoughts?
Don’t I always have some?

I love life. Life is great!! Spring is here, I see many changes happening in the future… all of them positive! I just want to share it with everyone... honestly, I have said it before and I will say it again: if I can do it, you can too. Anyone out there who is on the fence about starting your own journey, get off of that fence and just do it. Sure, it will be a bit of a struggle at first, but only good things will happen if you stick to it, I promise!

And so the journey continues…

(and I DID get my taxes filed in time too!)

Stationary bike

I don’t own a stationary bike, but I do own a gym membership. In preparation for running, my fitness guru recommended I start using the stationary bike. So… to the gym I go.

Saturday was my first visit to the gym so I had to ask the (extremely fit) guy at the counter where the stationary bikes were. He took me to them. Not knowing how to use a stationary bike, I needed (extremely fit) guy to help me. He showed me the ropes.

Yes, I DO know how to ride a stationary bike! What I didn’t know was what all of the buttons were for. He showed me the basics.

So I hopped on. The first 15 minutes weren’t bad. I got up to a steady pace and it didn’t really feel as though staying on for another half hour would be too hard.

I was wrong.

The second 15 minutes kicked my ass… thankfully a man running on a treadmill behind me was huffing and puffing quite loudly, helping me feel a little less embarrassed with my own heavy breathing.

As the last 15 minutes came along, I was excited to watch the time count down. I do remember, however, a flash of fear coming over me: “OMG, what if my legs are rubber at the end of this and I can’t walk?!”

Thankfully, that wasn’t the case. I could walk. About four hours later though, well... my ass (specifically, the left cheek of my butt) was killing me! Of course, not literally... I am fine, alive and breathing.

Ultimately, it was good! So much so, that I woke up at 5:30 this morning so I could do it all over again. Today it wasn’t so bad… and I felt as though I really earned my morning shower!

So, the stationary bike… the newest addition to my lifestyle journey! Fun.

Embracing 'inspiration'

Here are a handful of the changes that I have noticed over the last three and a half months:

• My energy level is much higher than it was before
• I am happier—which is somewhat surprising because I have always thought of myself as a person who is generally happy, but, yes, I am happier
• My skin and complexion are nicer
• I have better sleep patterns, and I wake up feeling really well-rested
• I am stronger
• I am able to do more things with Ivan than I did before (like kicking his butt at street hockey!)
• I don’t get that ‘gross’ feeling because I’ve just eaten something that is really unhealthy
• I am a ‘good’ busy which keeps me away from sitting in front of the television all evening
• My clothes fit better (in fact, I am re-fitting into clothes that I haven’t been able to wear for a while)

Where am I going with all of this, you ask? Well, I have been thinking about the “you’re such an inspiration” phrase that I have been hearing a lot lately. Like I have said in the past, I’m not entirely comfortable with the accolades because I don’t really feel as though I am any more inspirational than anyone else out there (see the end of my February 1st post for more details). That being said though, I’m trying to embrace being an inspiration. If I can some how inspire other people feel any of the great, positive changes that I am feeling, well, that's fantastic!

So, if I am an inspiration, then great… honestly, if I can make these changes and notice such huge differences in my life in only three and a half months, then anyone can do it! Really! Embrace it… become an inspiration to others.

Singing and dancing again!

Well, today was a big day for me along my lifestyle journey. It was my last weekly meeting with my dietician, which means that it was my final weekly weigh-in AND it was the first time I have been measured since starting this journey three months ago.

While visiting my dietician/fitness coach we discussed how we’re going to continue together over the remainder of the year. We’ve decided that it would make sense for me to have monthly goals for me to work toward. These are my goals over the next month:

• I have to email my dietician/fitness coach on a weekly basis, providing her with a progress report.
• I have to find and try one new recipe per week (and include it and its nutritional information in my weekly progress report to dietician/fitness coach—letting her know if how I felt about it too).
• I have to go to the gym at least once per week where I will do at least 45 minutes of cycling. This is my first step in getting ready to participate in the ‘10K Run, Walk, Nordic Walk’ in October. My dietician/fitness coach thinks (and I agree) that starting running right away might not be the best idea… I’m still a larger girl and neither of us wants me to injure myself (joints, back, etc) while running. Cycling, however, will still work my legs quite well, without the jarring contact with the pavement. She’s smart.

Okay, so January 13, 2012 was my initial meeting with my dietician/fitness coach where I was weighed and measured. These are my before pictures:

Measurements are as follows: Arm: 15", Calf: 18", Chest: 45", Hips: 54", Shoulders: 46.5", Stomach: 47", Thigh: 27", Waist: 40".

My after pictures:

 Measurements are as follows: Arm: 14", Calf: 17", Chest: 43", Hips: 50", Shoulders: 42", Stomach: 42", Thigh: 24", Waist: 38"

I tried to wear the same clothes in my before and after pics. Although I was unable to find the top I was wearing in January, today's shirt is quite similar.  Next time I'll try to remember to smile in my pics too... lol!

Over the past three months I have lost a total of 17.6 pounds. That number is off of my 2 pound/week goal that I had set for myself. BUT, yes folks, I have lost fat and gained muscle… it is so obvious in those photos (check out the difference in my ass!). It is also obvious in the 22.5 inches I have lost! I am really proud of myself. Really. I am. This journey is fantastic!

Sing it and dance along with me folks!

I ain't worried, doing me tonight
A little sweat ain't never hurt nobody
Don't just stand there on the wall
Everybody, just move your body
Move your body (4X)
Everybody, won't you move your body? (2X) Hey!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MYq0zAQ3lHY&feature=related

Weigh-in and measurements...

Tomorrow is my final weekly visit with my DIETICIAN. I can’t believe it’s been three months already! Time seems to have flown. After tomorrow we will then have monthly meetings, and our meetings will be more ‘whole body’ health—although we will still be discussing food, my exercise will be discussed more in our meetings (she is, after all, a personal trainer too!).

I think it will be an interesting change. One, I feel, I am prepared for.

Also tomorrow, I will get another weigh-in AND I’ll have my measurements taken as well. I have a good idea of the weight loss I’ve experienced over the past three months as I’ve been weighed every week, but I haven’t actually been measured since this journey first began, so I’m interested to know how many inches I’ve been able to shed.

Oh, and I’ve decided I’m going to start running, and I am going to participate in the ‘10K Run, Walk, Nordic Walk’ that is happening over the Prince Edward Island Marathon Weekend in October. Yup.  I am. I'll keep you posted.
(For more information, visit: www.princeedwardislandmarathon.com)

Good bye hangers and hills… hello self-control!

Lately I have been noticing some small changes which have been giving me pleasure along this lifestyle journey I am on...

People are noticing that I look different. My fat loss (as opposed to weight loss, because as we all know, I have been trading fat for muscle) is showing. I think my skin tone and complexion have also changed a little too because I’m not eating ‘junk food’ like I used to. Of course, I’m not on this lifestyle journey for other people’s approval (those who know me know that I’m a pretty self-confident woman!), but knowing that people can see the results of my hard work is nice. Additionally, it has opened the door to many interesting conversations about food, exercise, and other journeys which may not have been talked about otherwise.

I don’t have to hang my shirts to dry anymore. You know how your clothes shrink slightly when they are in the dryer? Well, I didn’t like that happening to my shirts because they’d feel snug in all of the wrong places so I’d hang them to dry. I don’t have to do that now! No more separating the shirts from the rest of the clothes, no more forgetting my hangers and being pissed off that I have to go all the way back upstairs to my room to get some, no more waiting forever for my favourite shirt to dry before I can wear it again! Sweet!

Pants and skirts are getting longer. You know what I mean… there are less ‘hills’ for my clothes to cover so they are slightly longer than they were a couple of months ago. Nice.

I didn't eat a cupcake. Just today one of the people I work with brought cupcakes in for everyone… they looked amazing… they were topped with white icing and then topped again with a candy and some sort of caramel which, well, made them look like little dollops of mashed potatoes with a pat of melting butter on top! So creative! A couple of months ago those cupcakes would have been too good to pass up and I’m sure I would have eaten one, if not two. Today, however, even though I appreciated the gesture, I didn’t eat one. Not only did I not eat one, but I didn’t have a desire to eat one, nor did I feel like I was missing out on something by not eating one! Okay, okay… today’s self-control isn't a ‘small thing’, really, it's quite a ‘major thing’ for me… I am very proud of myself.

Ivan is looking 'slender'. It’s true! My roommate told me so (and I've noticed too). This is one of those fantastic, unexpected, spin-offs that has come along with the changes I have made to my lifestyle. He’s eating a lot of the foods that I am. Yes, he still gets a couple of cookies once in a while in his lunches (I don’t), but instead of a jam sandwich on white bread, he’s taking things like chili or pita pizza. He's eating healthier. It’s nice to know that I’m instilling some really good eating habits in him now, hopefully they will stay with him throughout his lifetime.

I guess that these aren't 'small changes'... some are pretty huge actually! Paying attention to these things helps remind me of all the reasons why I'm on this journey to begin with. All of the hard work is definitely paying off!