07 July 2012

It all comes down to choices


And I'm not making the best ones lately.

First off, today was weigh-in, so let's get that out of the way. The scale said, 194.4, up .8 from last week. Not at all anything to get crazy over and considering I had pizza for dinner last night, it could be very temporary. So I'm over that, let's move on.

Second, yesterday having a to-do list definitely made things a whole lot better. I had a focus to my day. I had things I needed to do and that made me not so bored. And it turned out to be a good day. So that's the key - have a focus to the day.

Third, I do need to start making better choices. Last week I decided to try the vegan thing and that did not work in a big, big way. I found that I was constantly hungry. I could eat until I was full but still did not seem to be getting enough. I would wake up with headaches and generally felt like crap. So I'm pretty sure that's not for me. I still can't help but believe that humans were not meant to be complete and total vegans. It's an evolutionary fact that if we did not start eating protein our brains would never have developed. I don't think cavemen had the amounts of protein that we modern man eat every day, but I know when they killed something they stuffed themselves on meat. I don't think they ate a whole lot of grains and stuff. When I was eating some meat and lots of veggies, I felt really good. So that's what I'm going to do. Another thing I firmly believe in, is that you have to find what works for you. Everyone is different. Some people can go without meat and it not bother them. Some people can eat a lot of processed food and still lose weight. You have to find what works for your body. I found it and then immediately moved away from it. So I'm moving back.

And the choices with exercise. I just have to do it. I signed up for the gym figuring I'd go there, but the truth of the matter is, I don't like the gym. I would rather work out at home. So I'm going to cancel my gym membership. Set up the spare room for a workout room. And workout everyday in there. I'm also going to get back into running. I ordered these yesterday:


These are supposed to provide a serious amount of cushioning. That's what I need when I run. So I'm excited to get those and get serious about running again.

So there. It all comes down to choices and I need to start making better ones.

06 July 2012

Where has it gone???


My motivation and drive that is... Actually, this is completely typical for me. I ended summer school last Thursday. For a couple of days I was gung-ho and active. Then I started to slack. And slack some more. Then I started to get bored. The 4th of July was the longest day on record and yesterday I was just bored. Plain old bored all day. This is the pattern I follow. If I'm not busy, I'm bored. I have things to do, things I need to do desperately, but if I get bored forget it. Before summer school ended, I kept telling myself I need to have a schedule. If I have a schedule I will, generally, stick to it and not find myself navel gazing. But it has to be a schedule I can live with, not something unreasonable. Like an annuity schedule. But I didn't make one and so yesterday ended up being a miserable day. I completely see why people who stay home all the time are crazy. If you don't get out in the world and interact with other people you really can lose your mind. Humans were not meant to be solitary creatures. Also, on Tuesday I did a Tabata workout and really couldn't walk very well on Wednesday and Thursday. I'm feeling better today so I'm going to do it again. Although I like feeling my muscles, I hate being that sore. So here is my schedule for today:

  • Tabata workout
  • Thesis for at least 2 hours
  • Ride to the mall and cruise for a while
  • Gym for a run
  • Walk the dogs
That should keep me from getting bored and insane. Maybe I'll even treat myself to lunch at Subway. Woo Hoo!!!!!


UPDATE: When I published this post I always go to look at it to make sure it looks okay. Up in the corner I have daily quotes and the quote today is "The soul's joy lies in doing." Now how perfect is that?????

03 July 2012

Quick update


Just wanted to do a quick update so that I remember. After my earlier posts, I honestly didn't feel like working out but I am really liking the way I'm feeling and I don't want to lose that.

For the record:

  • I don't feel like I'm walking on peg legs when I get up in the morning
  • My back rarely hurts anymore - except for today because I've been sitting so much
  • I'm sleeping well, very well
  • My joints don't hurt
Okay, so I forced myself to workout, but I did not want to go to the gym.  I pulled a Tabata workout off the web and did that. One hour of short bursts of exercises. I've done this once before and really liked it and I still do. I like it. The hour just zooms by because you are only doing something for 20 seconds at a time. Awesome.  After that I wanted to run. Crazy, I know, but I did. So after resting for about 30-40 minutes, I went out for a run. The C25K program called for me to run for 3 minutes then walk for 3 minutes. I didn't think I could do that after my Tabata workout so I went back to 90 seconds running/2 minutes walking. I did that and was able to really run, not shuffle, during the running intervals. It was a brutal workout - in the rain - but I got through it and felt like a rock star when I was done. I came home showered, had some oatmeal, and am now watching TV, working on my thesis and watching it rain.  Fun times....

Taxes


I detest taxes. For years I've owed money and since tax day is my birthday I have really, really hated it. I've always done my own taxes but a few years ago I started using a professional. The reason I'm writing about this now, in July, is because this year I chickened out and filed an extension. That extension is up next month and I need to get off my butt and find someone to do my taxes. The seasonal place down the street, actually there are 2 seasonal places down the street, are now gone so it's research I need to be doing.

In looking for someone good to do my taxes, I've learned a whole lot. Did you know that if you get paid to do taxes you now have to be a Registered Tax Return Preparer? I did not know that. Did you also know that in order to be a registered tax return preparer you have to take an irs exam? I did not know that either. You learn something new every day.

I have to say, this actually makes me feel good. Although I've never investigated it, I always thought that anyone could hang their shingle out and claim to be a tax preparer. Glad to know that there is some qualifications and knowledge that goes with that. Not sure I trust the IRS being in charge of it, but okay.....

Bump in road


This was yesterday. From the minute I woke up all I wanted was meat. That's all. When I went to make breakfast the thought of facing another bowl of my 10-grain cereal just made me gag. So, trying to appease the demons, I had scrambled eggs for breakfast. That was good but not good enough. For lunch I had a Kashi frozen meal with chicken. That too was good - actually, very good for a frozen meal - but still not good enough. For dinner we had pork stir-fry. Again, good but not good enough. After dinner I actually ran to the store and got giant Drumstick ice cream cones for dessert. That seemed to do it. I went to bed satisfied but far, far from stuffed. I awoke this morning with a, somewhat, strengthened resolve to continue on the vegan path. I'm not sure what yesterday was exactly; boredom, cravings, true hunger for meat; I don't know. But I do know that while I ate what I wanted I kept it within reason and did not binge in any way. So that was good.

I didn't workout yesterday either and I'm not sure exactly why. I have been very lazy since Friday - my first real day of summer - and it's possible I was still decompressing from school. I usually take a couple of days to completely relax and recharge, so that may have been it. Today though, I am working out. I will be doing a strength workout here at home then going for a run. I don't feel like going to the gym so why force it. It's more important to get the workout in then to go to the gym just because I'm paying for it.

So, blowing off yesterday and starting over. That's where I'm at today.

01 July 2012

What to do


Actually there is a thousand things I can blog about, my quandary is what to do today. I have a number of options, none of which are overly appealing.

I could:

  • Go to the gym and workout, but quite honestly I just don't feel like it
  • Work on my thesis, bleh....I will probably do this later anyway
  • Work on lesson plans.... that is somewhat interesting, so maybe
  • Clean the house...this I'm kind of into and will probably constitute my workout today
  • Be a bum.... I did that yesterday and an not in the mood to do it again
So I guess I'll go shower and dress and then do some cleaning. The problem is Hubby is still sleeping. He is supposed to be playing golf but it was raining this morning so he cancelled.  He gets in the way when he's around...even when he's sleeping...

Okay, I've decided. Cleaning, lesson plans, thesis...that's the order of business for today.....

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...