Awkwardly-uncoordinated guy...

...was at the Stratford Oval today! He's a far more coordinated 'walker' than he is 'fitness-classer'.

The weekends are the worst

Although I manage to keep myself fairly busy over the weekends—tidying the house, laundry, Ivan’s karate on Saturday mornings, swimming on Sunday mornings, and usually a visit to my parents’ place sometime in there—I still find the weekends the biggest struggle for me. I’m quite used to ‘grazing on junk food’ on the weekends, and they are still a very tempting time for me. Weekends are an exercise in self-restraint and self-control. I went to bed at 9:15 last night just so I would stop thinking I needed something to eat. No, I wasn’t hungry; I was bored and needed something to fill my time with… a habit that I’ve developed and had for probably 10+ years, one that certainly will take more than a few weeks to break.

I am thinking of starting a new hobby. I need a distraction that will help me get though the 'down times' when I'm most tempted to munch on something I shouldn't.

Maybe learning a new craft, playing games… perhaps I’ll start up a group of some kind… Anyone have any suggestions?

OH! But on a more positive note… I  put $40.40 into my ‘special account’ this weekend! Yay me!

Portion size and self-control

This lifestyle change is definitely interesting. I think the most interesting parts of it are understanding portion size, and working on self-control.

In a meal, I am eating much less than I used to. For example, I have ½ of a cup of rice rather than a cup of rice, or 10 almonds rather than 100 almonds (okay, I never ate 100 almonds, but I know I didn't stop at 10!). That being said, I’m not at all hungry… I'm eating six times a day, plus I'm drinking 2-3L of water a day, so my belly always has something in it.

Still, self-control is something that I am working on. Honestly, I haven’t had a drop of peanut butter since this began, but I am very, very tempted sometimes. Thankfully, I am slightly afraid* of my nutritionist and what she might say if I actually pigged-out on peanut butter…  I’m also slightly afraid** of falling off the wagon with the peanut butter-- it is never just one tablespoon for me. Nope, I’m not even going there!

* this ‘slightly afraid’ actually means that I have a great respect for my nutritionist's knowledge, and I don’t want to let her down.  

** this ‘slightly afraid’ actually means that I completely understand my peanut butter addiction and know that because I’m still working on exercising self-control, I can’t eat it. Ultimately, I don’t want to let myself down.  

Speaking of self-control, I am sticking to my exercise regime. Due to an unforeseen circumstance yesterday, I had to miss my walk. But I made sure I did something active after work. Despite missing yesterday, I was back in my fitness class this evening (thanks for coming J!).

Awkwardly-uncoordinated guy was there again… he’s such a joy to watch!

Curse thee, protein powder!

I know, I know, I haven’t posted anything for a number of days. It isn’t because I’m slacking off, nope, that’s not it. I was so, so, so sick over the weekend, too sick to sit in front of a computer (I am opposed to taking a laptop into the bathroom with me).

At first I thought I had a cold or flu. Then I realized that other than an extremely upset stomach, I didn’t have any other symptoms that would point to a cold or flu. So, on Sunday night I decided it would be smart for me to analyze some of the changes I’ve been making (specifically with my eating habits). Overall, I’m not eating anything that is out-of-the-ordinary or unusual, all of the foods I am eating now are foods that I have eaten in the past. However, there is one exception: the berry smoothie. Sure, sure, I’ve had smoothies before, but not with all of the ingredients that I’m using now, namely a scoop of flaxseed, and a scoop of protein powder.

After two days and nights of excruciating pain, countless visits to the bathroom, and a belly that was so bloated I thought it might actually explode, I decided that I needed to find out what is in this magical ‘protein powder’. Know what? It’s full of lactose! Know what else? I am only able to handle about a cup of milk in my system at a time, more than that and my lactose intolerance wreaks havoc on my digestive system.

Apparently, I can buy lactose-free protein powder. I didn’t realize there were different types of powders, and will invest in a suitable one on my next payday. In the meantime, I’m going to skip the protein powder in the smoothie and eat some almonds with it instead.

Why almonds with my smoothie, you ask? Well, almonds have a lot of protein in them, and my nutritionist says that protein should be consumed with carbohydrates. Protein aids in slowing the digestive process. This in turn, does two things:  it makes my blood sugar levels rise slower and spike later, and it postpones of the sense of hunger.

You know what else my nutritionist says?! She wants me to eat my breakfast within the first half hour of waking up.
“WHAT?!” says I, “Normally, my breakfast is consumed at least an hour after I wake up—Ivan and I have a routine, and breakfast is the second-last thing I do before leaving the house.”
But, no, that won’t do. “Breakfast should be eaten within the first thirty minutes of getting up,” says my nutritionist.
“Why… really, why?” says I, in disbelief.
“It kick-starts your metabolism in the morning,” says my nutritionist, and upon sensing my opposition to her suggestion, adds, “That is my challenge you, Grace. This week, breakfast within a half hour of getting up.”
“Ugh, oooohhhh-kay,” says I, suddenly feeling like Ivan when I’m trying to get him to clean his room, “I’ll do it.” (My nutritionist smiles at me and I force out a smile in return.)

Although it was a bit of a struggle, I am pleased to report that breakfast was the second thing I did today (after a brief, normal, visit to the bathroom), within 30 minutes of waking up.

COME DANCING!

I, along with a few friends, will be heading out to St Jame's Gate tonight to boogie down to their 'video dance party' (yes, just like the good ol’ days back in Junior High!). If you’re looking to burn off a few calories while having fun, you should come along!

Additionally, I will not be attending fitness class tonight. Not because I am going dancing, but because I forgot my lunch at home... I had an orange and a couple of rice cakes which is not enough for me to make it through my class. (Don't worry awkwardly-uncoordinated guy, I promise I'll be back on Tuesday!)

To one of the guys in my fitness class:

Dear awkwardly-uncoordinated guy in my fitness class: 

I must admit that when I’m in fitness class, I rarely pay attention to anyone other than my instructor. However, I have a confession: your flailing arms and legs in class drew my attention to you. Always a few seconds off beat, unable to bounce and punch at the same time, staring at the instructor with a puzzled look on your face... all of these are, truly, endearing.

 I hope that you continue to come to class because you are a great joy to watch. When I was starting to hit my wall and felt like I couldn’t do any more, I lifted my head, watched your mistimed punches and kicks and thought to myself, “Geez, if that awkwardly-uncoordinated guy can push through this, then so can I!” I wonder if you did the same with me? “Geez, if that chunky chick can push through this, then so can I!” 

Let us be each other’s source of inspiration. You can watch me burn off the fat, and I can watch you get more coordinated. Deal? 

Sincerely,
Chunky Chick

Random thoughts over the last few days...

Coffee intake:
I am trying to pay attention to my coffee intake. I never actually realized that I drank between 4-6 cups a day—I always thought I was having 1-2 (sometimes three). I've recently learned that the size of the cup I was drinking out of was about twice the size of what a 'cup of coffee' ought to be.

Yeah and a certain coffee shop in town is changing its cup sizes… they will now be ranging from ‘just a taste’ all the way up to ‘bucket o’ caffeine’.  

Changes in eating habits:
Working with a nutritionist is definitely the best choice for me. I have been given a meal plan (which includes recipes—all made with normal food found at the grocery store), and although I’ve had to rearrange the schedule very slightly, I haven’t actually strayed from it. It’s definitely good for me… knowing that I have to answer to someone else is very, very good for me.

Feeling a little tired:
So, with the reduction of coffee, and the alteration of my eating habits (cutting back of sugars and fats), combined with the increase of activity, I am feeling a bit tired. This isn’t a complaint though, merely an observation… I feel that this is a very natural stage of my lifestyle change and I’m sure it will pass in a week or two once my body is adjusts to these changes.

2-3L of water a day:
Yes. Two to three LITRES of water a day… daily… each day… not two or three CUPS, nope, LITRES. TWO TO THREE LITRES OF WATER A DAY. Holy visits to the bathroom, Batman! ‘nuff said.

The big break-up

Dear Peanut Butter,

I love you dearly… your taste, your texture, the way you smell, and just how delicious you are, especially when combined with chocolate. Really, you are a magical food that I adore. However, our relationship has got to end.

It’s not you. It’s me. Really.

I feel that when I am with you, I am out of control… no, one or two tablespoons are never enough for me, I always need more. We don’t have a healthy relationship—it’s not your fault, I take all of the responsibility. It just needs to end.

I know you’ll be fine without me, you are loved by millions. Eventually, I’ll miss you less and less… and I'll be fine too.

Good-bye, dear delicious one. I will remember you fondly.
Grace

---

I had my first ‘official’ meeting with my nutritionist yesterday. She and I sat down, talked about my week, I then got measured, weighed, and photographed… I forgot to get all of that information from her before I left, but I’ll be sure to get it next week so I can post it (yes, I am going to post my weight and all of my measurements—I’m not ashamed of any of it, why should I be?!).

She and I went over a realistic menu that I could follow for the week. She’s very accommodating, she had put peanut butter in as one of my snacks (on crackers), but when I told her that I don’t really trust myself around peanut butter, she happily replaced it with an alternative. Excellent. Maybe I can reacquaint myself with peanut butter in the future after I have some practice with self-control, but for now, I feel it is best that we ‘break-up’.

No walking or fitness class today—it’s house-cleaning day for me! I am looking forward to a nice long swim  with my monkey at the CARI tomorrow!

I am feeling great!

It's amazing how making a handful of small changes can really make a big impact on a person’s life. So, I have been walking at the ‘Stratford Oval’ Mondays and Wednesdays—at first we (yes, Glenn, I’m talkin’ ‘bout you) were going for 30 minutes, today we stretched it out to 45 minutes. We may try to fit an hour in next week, but we have to be mindful of the time (I MUST get my son by 5:30!).

The walking is great though, great!

Also great is my fitness class. I like that different people are at different levels of fitness in the class and I never feel like I’m the ‘slow girl’ or that I’m holding other people up.  What I am feeling are muscles that I forgot I even had! It’s all good!

My new sneakers are fantastic—comfortable, supportive… same can be said about my athletic bra! Seriously, more women should seriously consider investing in one... seriously.

I’m a little anxious about going to my nutritionist. Not a bad anxious, more of an eager anxious. I completed my 5 days of food tracking, and I’m interested to see what is said about it, what needs to change, and the processes that are yet to come.

While at my nutritionist this Friday, I will get weighed and measured… I’m not at all nervous about it. Honestly. I’m excited to get my ‘starting point’ recorded, knowing that I’ll be able to look back at it in a year and say, “huh, what a difference, eh?”

 Already I am noticing a difference with the slight changes I've made over the last 11 days. I like the 'transition time' that my exercising is giving me-- I have time to blow off steam between being a teacher and being a mum. I am eating because I need to feed my body and not because I'm bored. Also different-- I'm sleeping better too!

I've got a dancing date

A dear friend of mine will be on the Island next week and she wants to hit the floor with me at The Gate. We'll be there on January 19th-- if anyone else is interested, you’re welcome to come along!