Whoops!

I stayed away for longer than I intended! Usually that's what I do when I'm falling off the wagon, but that's not the case. I've been steadily going to the gym, walking and eating right (with an exception here and there).

I got a fitbit, and that's really helping a lot. Previously I had been logging all my working out/walking and eating in a paper journal. This worked great for me, being able to see everything in one place, but the fitbit keeps track of most of the fitness stuff, and it's very easy to log food. (My biggest concern was that it was going to take a while, but it keeps track of food you eat regularly, and it's easy to just pick that thing out of that list.)

I mentioned last time that I started back with the running. That was actually the last time I ran, because that hip thing still hasn't resolved. No fun. I actually stopped doing leg workouts, too (although, I might resume these soon), because I'm thinking I overdid it with them, and the the running just made something worse.

So for now, the modified plan is to use the fitbit to log the walking. Anything over 12,500 gives me a free pass on the cardio for the day, and I'll alternate days at the gym, doing arms and legs. Hopefully soon, I'll be able to fold the running back into the mix. Also, the fitbit tracks flights of stairs, so I was up to 35 flights yesterday. Technically, I was tricked...I thought I would get a new badge for 35 flights, and as it turns out, I did not.

I'm hoping to take a super-extended walk this weekend (10 miles) to kind of push myself some, but that may or may not happen.

Oh! I almost forgot...down another 4 pounds for a total of 13. So that's 181. That's pretty exciting. I had actually seen the scale dip down to 178 before Super Bowl Sunday and the cake debacle! (I had two pieces of cake, and about a quarter pound of cheese. Scandalous!)

For future reference

Dear future self,

Today was full of excuses. It was one of the coldest days it's been so far (33 degrees/22 with the wind chill factor). You had female "stuff" going on and felt kind of meh. There was some bad news, and lots of family is arriving unexpectedly this weekend. You had every reason in the world to stay home, watch some TV and just relax. 

And yet, you didn't. You got dressed in many layers. You put on your sneakers. You ran an errand (stupid post office!) You got a cup of coffee. And you went to the park. And you walked. At first you were like, "Dude, it's cold out here. Just walk a couple miles and cash it in. You can do some more at the gym." But after a while you opened the handwarmers you bought at CVS and just kept walking. Your face was cold and after a while you couldn't feel your butt anymore, but you kept walking. Soon you got to over 7 miles. And you kept walking. Finally at 10 miles, you stopped. After all, you promised yourself you'd go to the gym and work your arms. 

At the gym you worked out hard, lifting more weight than you have so far. You pushed yourself harder than you thought you could. 

And then you came home. You needed to go shopping for something to make for dinner. You strapped on your backpack and you walked some more. First, a mile back to CVS to get more of those handwarmers. That's an awesome way to get rid of the "it's too cold!" excuse. Then a half a mile back to Acme for food. And a half mile back home, carrying 20 pounds of groceries. All told, including miscellaneous walking around the house and stores, you walked 26,976 steps today. Or nearly 13 and a half miles. Plus the gym. 

Then you came home and cooked 8 servings of breakfast and 8 servings of lunch/dinner and scrubbed the bathtub. 

Basically, self, you rocked it the eff out. And you didn't let excuses get in the way. Remember this next time it's too cold/hot/rainy, or you're too tired/sore/depressed/stressed out. 

Love, 

Yourself

PS, since you did such an excellent job of everything else, we'll try to forgive the fact that the Christmas tree is still up and you're still wearing yesterday's clothes. 

Baby steps. 

27,976 of them. 

Methods -- Fitness

All right. So now that we've established WHAT I intend to do, let's talk a little bit about HOW I intend to do it. 
I joined a gym a few months ago. I've pretty much had memberships to some gym or another for the past 9 years or so. My attendance at said establishments tends to be all over the place. At times, I'm hardcore and I go and work out like crazy. When I get derailed, I can stay away for months at a time. And sometimes I go, but I'm just phoning it in. I'll walk on the treadmill for half an hour and go home. 


In November, I started trying to walk 10,000 steps a day. There's nothing strenuous about walking that much, it's just a matter of fitting it in. It basically amounts to adding about an hour of walking into what I'd ordinarily walk in the normal course of life.


I stuck with it mostly--averaging 8800 steps per day, or 13,000 five days a week. I ate pretty well for the most part, but slipped up between December 25 and Jan 1, and didn't lose a pound. (Didn't gain one, either!)


 So for January, I'd like to average the full 10,000 steps, plus strength training four times a week. What that means, specifically, is that, in addition to the walking, I use 5 machines to work my arms/chest twice a week, and 5 machines to work my legs/back/abs twice a week. 


Since I'd like to average 10k steps a day,  I'm actually aiming for 12, and coming closer to 11. I want to make sure that if I get sick or have to stay late at work, that I'm still on track. 


I'd like to start running again, but right now, at 192 lbs, I feel like it's not worth putting that kind of strain on my knees. It's something I would like to revisit in a month or so. And I think another challenge to revisit in February will be to add a class to my workout repertoire. 


My usual M.O. is to start something whole-heartedly,  see a small amount of success (3-4 lbs) and then back off (because clearly I'm doing so well, I deserve a break!) and then fall off the wagon completely, gain it back and say "What's the point??" I think it will be good to constantly re-evaluate the plan (both diet and exercise) and keep doing what needs to be done to keep it interesting. Saving running and a fitness class in my arsenal for later will help with any plateaus, too.