4 Weeks In A Row

BBB W6: 420/300

I actually came to work 4 full weeks in row. No wellness days. No vacation days. No holidays.

Amazing really!!!

I was marveling at this when a co-worker saw me talking to myself and asked what was up. I told her and she said, "Well, you're losing weight and you're healthier now."

You know what, she's right!!!

I feel healthy. I look smaller. I am losing weight. I feel more energized, less lethargic. I've eat intermittently, so I don't get unreasonably angry from low blood sugar. My immune system is pumped up. My hair, nails, and skin are more radiant and healthy. I can walk faster and farther. I feel alive, invigorated.

I feel healthy.

Taking a Pass

BBB W2: 150/300, 1/25 ST, 2 stairs

I am taking a pass on this week and will begin again on Saturday. I just wanted to say that out loud (or in pixels).

At this point in every year, my resolve unravels. I feel rebellious. I get physically sick with the pollen which develops into a cold. I get tired of the weather flipping back and forth. All I want is comfort food and sleep.

This time, instead of fighting it and beating myself up for it and telling myself that I'm a wus and a failure, I'm just going to give myself a break.

For two and a half weeks, I went from itchy eyes and skin to sneezing to stuffiness. I am finally in recovery. I'm at about 80%. I feel well again. By Saturday, I will be back to 100%.

Curiously, I really do want to exercise and run and lift weights and do yoga. I really, really want to. But in the morning, my head is in a fog and I just want to create a humidifier under the covers. It's worse than winter.

But...on Saturday, it's back in the swing of things:-)

Healthy Me

B2B W10: 280/250, ****, 9 stairs

Wow!!! I have about 25% to go. I remember in the beginning it seemed as though she was running along so slowly. Now the time is just zipping by. It's adding up really fast.

I am doing well with my food. I'm trying something different this week. For breakfast, instead of a breakfast bar, I'm having fruit. My body is just craving more nutrients. The more I exercise, the better I want to eat. The better I eat (meaning more whole, healthy food), the more whole, healthy food I want to eat. It's an upward spiral.

This morning I walked around the track and they were doing a sports conditioning class in the gym below. My goodness! I was so impressed. I now aspire to finish that class in its entirety by the time I get to onederland. They did everything. They ran, did stairs, weight bands, tricep dips, jump rope, abs, lunges, jump squats. It was truly inspiring. I found myself walking around the track faster.

Also, this morning, as I was inspired by that class, I got the inclination to walk with weights. I picked up 2 2.5lb dumbells thinking I could walk with them. HA!!! I ended up standing there doing bicep curls and stopped after 10. I soooooo need to add strength training. Can't weight to start the next challenge in 3 weeks.

I felt so healthy walking the track: healthy skin, healthy blood, healthy heart, healthy bones, healthy organs, healthy muscles:-)

McDonald's Is No Longer An Option

B2B W10: 180/250, **, 3 stairs

Went for a walk around the lake yesterday and did the bike this morning at the gym.

I was reading one of my favorite bloggers and I realized that I hadn't had McDonald's in about 9 months. I used to frequent them for the quick nugget meal and the Oreo concoction. When I did consulting work in the next city over, I would pick up a McGriddle on my 3-hour commute on Monday morning as a "treat". These days though, Mickey D's doesn't even cross my mind, despite having 2 within a 1 of each other and 1/2 a mile in either direction from my house.

I feel the sense of not speaking too soon, lest I get a ravenous craving for the oreo concoction. However, for the past 9 months it hasn't even been a thought. Before that for 9 months, it wasn't a thought either.

As I read this morning, it occured to me that if I could do that with MD, I could do it with anything.

Why do I feel so threatened when I realize that I can't have a particular food for a long time?

I get this panicky, what's going to happen to me, how can I live without it feel it. This is not a normal response. After all, it's just food isn't it?

Well, it's a process. Last night I contemplated going out to dinner after taking down ground beef to defrost. No particular reason to go out rather than cook. I wasn't tired. We didn't need to spend the money. There was nothing to celebrate. After DBF suggested that I cook, I found myself getting a bit biligerant. Why can't I...? It's like a little brat in my head.

I cooked anyway and it was great. I knew exactly how much and what I was eating. I made a nutritious, delicious, wholesome meal for both of us. I felt relaxed and oddly accomplished when I was done. It was a fulfilling experience. So what's that other stuff about?

I recognize that I am changing and I am willing to change. Radically, if necessary. I am willing to do what it takes to live a healthy, energized life. That isn't a short term 6, 12, or even 18 month journey then back to "normal". It's about creating a new normal where MD is no longer an option.

A Bit Under The Weather

B2B W6: 250/250, *-***, 8 stairs

I can't even believe I got to the gym today and did 50 minutes on the elliptical. I'm feeling a bit under the weather and, usually, at the first hint of a cold, I get punkish. I use it as an excuse not to do anything. Also usually, at the first hint of a cold, I get very protective of my chest as I have asthma. The last time I disregarded a cold I ended up in the hospital overnight. Since then I've been overly cautious. But this time, my body is achy and I'm coughing, but my chest is clear. So, because of that, I've put myself in the fine enough to get to work, therefore workout, category. However, the last time I had this achy, nothing wrong with my chest, but I feel like shit feeling, I had strep...So, you never know.

At any rate, a bit under the weather is how I'll describe it for now.