25 August 2007


Well, there she is. Bought and paid for. She is still at the bike shop getting pedals, aero bars, and a computer installed. Monday afternoon I go down and get fitted and then I can take her home. I am so excited, I can't tell you!! Sorry about the crappy photo quality, hubby took it with my phone.

Today is the day

and I'm so excited I can hardly contain myself. I do have a ton of other stuff to do today so I can't focus solely on my new bike - wah!!

I have realized something this week though. I've been following the Precision Nutrition program and I really, really like it. For this entire week I've tracked my food in FitDay and I believe I'm eating just about what I should be. I'm averaging about 1800 calories a day. I might be able to bring it down slightly, but not much. The amount of food I eat for that amount of calories is staggering. That tells me I'm making good choices. Also, I get hungry between meals which indicates that the old metabolism is cranking. That's a good thing.

So, based on my eating this week and my activity level, I'm averaging about a 1,000 calories deficit a day. That being the case, I'm down 5,000 calories this week (actually 6,000 - I started on Sunday) and I should have dropped 2 lbs. I didn't.

So here's what I'm thinking. I'm confident in the calculation of my consumption since I've weighed and measured everything this week, so I really believe that's exactly how many calories I ate. Also, the days are pretty similar so the calorie intake is steady during the week. The only breakdown in this equation is my activity. I'm on my feet all day at the lab. The only time I sit is at lunch. I work out every morning for 45 minutes. But I do sit on my big butt at night when I get home. I still think I'm overestimating my calories expenditure.

So, I need to up my activity. I'm trying to think of the best way to do this. I could get up a little earlier in the morning and add something, a run or a bike ride, in the morning. I could add something in the evening so I'm not just sitting on my butt in front of the TV/computer/book, whatever. I could add something in at lunch time, a run/walk/bike ride. I need to work out what will work best for me. Something that I will stick to.

That's what I need to decide this weekend, when to add my additional exercise in. That's the only thing I can come up with as to why I'm not losing weight. I can't cut my food any further or I'll be starving. As it is now I am never really full. There are times when I'm constantly hungry no matter how often I eat. Okay, enough of that, I have things to do before I can go get my bike.

Maybe, if I increase my activity I'll finally get a body where I can wear crotchless panty :)

24 August 2007

I'm very excited

about the new bike. I can't wait for tomorrow.. That's really all I can think about and so pretty much all I'll talk about for now. I just hope they can get a bike fit in tomorrow so I can take my bike home. Also, I need to have them put all the stuff on, pedals, aero bars, computer, etc. It's like Christmas...

I seem to have a limit

on how many days in a row I can workout. That limit seems to be 5. I got up this morning with every intention of working out but ended up sitting here reading blogs. So I checked my calendar and sure enough, it's been 5 days since my last rest day. I have a giant wall calendar with boxes about 2" square. I write my workouts and notes in the boxes. If you look at the month of August every 5th day is an off day. That's pretty funny. I never thought about it,that's just the way it worked out. So I can probably use this information when planning my upcoming training.

23 August 2007

Okay, I did it....

I've thought it over for almost 2 weeks now. I've looked at it from all angles. Thought about the pros and cons. I've finally made a decision.

I called the bike shop this afternoon and a sold sign has been placed on the Fuji. I wanted to make sure they still had it and hadn't sold it. It was still there so clearly it was meant to be mine. I go down on Saturday and pay for it. Hopefully I'll be able to get the bike fitted on Saturday too and take it away. I'm going to get aero bars, new pedals (the ones I have are ancient) and new shoes. I figure I'll probably be spending $1500 when it's all done but then I'll be all set.

This decision has not been just a decision to buy a bike. If it only involved a bike I could have made that decision in a snap. The went much deeper. I had to decide exactly what I wanted to do. Do I want to do triathlons? Do I want to just ride? What is my passion.

Well, I really want to do triathlons. I do. I wanted to use this year to lose weight and build some muscles. I haven't lost much weight but the year isn't over yet. I like weight lifting and I'm going to keep it up, but I really want to do tris. So at some point before January, I will join the Y again and start swimming. I will start running in the next few weeks (my plantar is soooo much better), and of course I'll have my bike. The first tri of the season is usually around March or April and I'm planning on being there.

So there it is. I know I make decisions and change my mind but this decision feels right. This one sets well with me. I'm glad I'm not rushing into anything, but I'm glad I have a plan. I'll be working up a training schedule to fit it all in. I know it can be done, I've done it before, it's just figuring it out.

Okay. There you have it. Hopefully I'll have pictures of me and my new bike on Saturday :)
Now I have to think up a name for her :)

22 August 2007

Something weird is happening.

I have been working out all year basically. I've been watching what I eat though I haven't been perfect. Since Sunday I have been an absolute saint with food. I have not eaten one thing I shouldn't have and I have logged every bite on FitDay. So I have 4 solid days of eating well.

What has happened? Nothing. I have remained the exact same weight all for days. I weight myself every morning at the same time so it's not that. I've been doing that for years now. I've been drinking 3 liters of water a day, so that's not it. I should have seen some movement, either up or down, the scale should have moved. It just sits on that number, mocking me.

The only possible explanation I can come up with. PMS. Although it's not exactly the right time, it's possible. Normally during this time I am ravenous (I'm not), I'm super tired (a little, not too bad), and I crave sweets (not at all). So I'm not positive. Also, the scale tends to move upwards 3-4 lbs this week. So, it that's the cause, I am way ahead of the game, because once it starts I usually drop 5-6 lbs.

I guess I'll just keep plugging along and see what happens in a week or so. I will tell you this, seeing that scale stay the same does not make we want to wear sexy lingerie, that's for sure.

21 August 2007

On the other hand.....

We are trying to buy a house, so traveling is probably not the brightest idea right now. Because, when we buy a house we will need to buy new furniture. Our furniture (except for our new bed :) is old and ugly. Most of it has marks of dogs (chews and scratches) and is just basically ugly.

If we get a house with a yard I might consider some teak outdoor furniture. Hubby likes to set up an area outside for relaxing and playing poker. Talk about you're ugly furniture!! Maybe I can class him up a little.

Island Fever

I've really got it bad. For the past 18 months or so hubby and I have been so good with money. We have paid off a bunch (okay 3) credit cards. We have paid off 2 car loans. We have not spent any extravagant money on anything. We have been so stinking good it hurts.

Well, I've got island fever. I'm ready to go just about anywhere. I'm supposed to go to Europe in the next year or two. I'm ready now. Maybe Spain.
I hear Madrid is beautiful, especially this time of year. There are lots of Hotels in Madrid and there are even better places to stay. I'd love to explore, hike, bike, and drive around the Madrid area.

I bet the nightlife in Madrid is off the hook. I bet they party till all hours of the night. I don't do that but every once in a while I want to just cut loose.





I've also heard that Barcelona is beautiful too.

Barcelona is located on the coast so there is beach access. There are lots and lots of Hotels in Barcelona too. Or as the natives say, there are Hoteles en Barcelona . I'm really making myself crazy here. I can see myself on the beach, or sailing around on a catamaran. Yes, I know I live in Hawaii! That doesn't mean I don't dream of other ocean places.

Okay, back to reality. I need to go do dishes. So much for my exotic dreaming.

So , here's the deal....

I've thought about it for few days now. I've given it serious consideration and I have made a decision. I know, I seem to make decisions all the time and then change my mind. You know why I do that?? I get scared! There, it's out, and now everyone knows. I get scared. The thought of doing somethings really scare the hell out of me. Silly things. Things you folks do all the time. Scare the bejeezus out of me. I have to force myself to step outside my comfort zone and do a lot of the things you read about here. You would not believe how hard somethings are for me to do. But, that's not what this post is about.

I've decided to buy the Fuji.
It's not a top end bike but I think it will do me nicely for awhile. The best part is it's Pink!!! I'm not sure when I'm going to get it. I may go this weekend - I don't know. If I wait too long I will change my mind. $1,000 is not the end of the world but it is a lot of money. I usually talk myself out of spending that much money on myself. I plan on using my blogging money to pay for it so it's not like I'm spending household money to buy it. Anyway, I'll let you know what happens.

If I do get it this weekend I will definitely be doing the century ride at the end of September. I want to do that ride, and have for years. If I get this bike I will be doing the 50 mile option. If I don't get this bike I'll be doing the 25 mile option. So we shall see.

20 August 2007

What to say?

I don't know where to start tonight. I hate that. I have things to say but don't know how to get it started. So I guess I'll just jump right in.

I started FitDay yesterday. The scale is not moving and I have to figure out why. I'm working out to the point where I'm ready to throw up when I'm done so it's not that. Also, diet is 95% of the battle. So I started using FitDay again and it's very interesting. I seem to be doing okay, so I'm not sure what the problem is.

Maybe it's just time for a nice vacation. Maybe I'll look into some Miami real estate, and escape for awhile.

19 August 2007

Hey kids

it's Sunday again. I've been doing some mental gymnastics and I think I've figured some things out. Amazing I tell you.

I set this year up as a weight loss year. I haven't been doing so great at that. I have been working out and I have been eating mostly right but I haven't really lost any weight. I think it's because I said I would get back to tris next year. I think that's playing with my mind a little, it kind of puts some pressure on me. Don't know if that makes sense but it does to me. Also, my boss is a very accomplished triathlete. She's done 25 Ironman and quite frankly intimidates me a little. She is moving to the Big Island next April so that cloud will be gone, so to speak. So I've decided to not decide what to do next year. I'm going to finish this year focusing on weight loss and I'll decide after that what I want to do.

Also, I think I'm having a hard time losing the weight because I have a little voice in my head that says it's hard for me to lose weight. Well, I'm working on stomping and squishing that voice so I can't hear it anymore. My weight watcher leader used to say, 'where the mind goes the body will follow' Well, my mind is going to lean, muscular country so body - get ready.....

Also, yesterday I went shopping. I can not tell you the last time I went clothes shopping. I've picked up things that I've needed here and there, but to just go shopping just to shop. What fun I had. I got a couple really cute tank tops. I got a pair of bermuda shorts that I'm dying to wear. I haven't worn bermuda shorts since I was a kid. I also got some workout gear and some very cool new rubber slippers (actually they are more hard molded plastic). I figure if I look good I will feel good and that too will help fuel the weight loss fire.

Then finally, I watched a DVD by the guy who wrote Precision Nutrition, John Berardi, and he talks about the mindset being one of the most important factors in transforming your body. Anyway, I'd forgotten or just lost track of that fact but this really brought it home. So now I have a whole new mental attitude. I am a person who eats really healthy stuff. I am a person who works out 7 days a week. I am a person who doesn't like sweet stuff. These things are true, I just have to internalize them so I don't have to think about them.

So watch this space for a rapid, unprecedented turn around and transformation. It's going to happen and I've got a little over 3 months to make it so. I will because where the mind goes the body will follow. On that note, pardon me, I have to go work out (or as I like to say, kick my own ass :)

Conversation with Hubby

 So yesterday morning I presented my idea of working out at home to the Hubby. Once I presented it to him, he said he was in. I told him I h...