Humor Always Helps

Nothing earth shattering today, just a little humor:

Tomorrow marks the beginning of phase 2 in my journey to lose 75 pounds.  I'm embarking on a new eating plan - because obviously my 3000 calorie, ice cream and pasta diet has been a failure.  Tomorrow, I'll outline my eating plan, some food combining principles I will be adhering to and hopefully get some feedback from you about your most successful food choices for weight loss and optimum health!

Feel the Burn

Instead of my usual 2 mile power walk, I decided to climb some nearby hills.  These are big hills and they have a very steep incline.  I thought it might be good for my backside.  So I only walked a mile today, but the first half was strait up!  When I got to the top, I was winded and sucking gas big time.  Cedar City is at 6500 feet and the high altitude means that I have less oxygen than I'm accustomed to.  However, the burn I was feeling in my butt and thighs was great!  I just recently read that women who get their heart rates up for just 10 minutes a day were generally 6 dress sizes smaller than women who did not.  Jack took some quick snap shots of me as I headed out on my walk this morning.  So, here I am on my way out and up up up!

P.S  Today's play list was all Mo Town!

A New Day

Yesterday was a day of rest, but this morning, I was up early and back at it!  I took a 2 mile power walk and returned home to a fresh light breakfast of Clementine oranges and a tall glass of water mixed with the juice of 1/2 a lemon. Back on track!

P.S.  Today's play list was a shuffle of upbeat tunes from 1980's hairbands.  (My husband's albums.)

Trust the Process

Today is sort of a bust.  I awoke in a grogy haze only to find that I'd started my first full blown menstrual cycle since having my baby Charlie 11 months ago.  I've had some spotting here and there, but not the real deal.  I forgot how crazy the first one is after delivering.  So, I'm not really in a any condition to go power walking around the neighborhood.  I was also feeling ill equipped to tackle my messy kitchen and homemade meals today.  So my darling husband took me and the kids to a sweet little diner for grilled cheese sandwiches.  In addition, I had a side salad and a huge glass of ice water.  After lunch, we went to a frozen yogurt place for a cold treat.  So today, nothing.  Just some greasy food, sugary treats, a midol and a happy family.  Tomorrow will be better.

 

Weigh In - Week 4

Another good week.  As I've said before, I'm taking this process one day at a time.  As road blocks come up, I examine them, ask questions, do a little research and move on with a new game plan.  I have continued the June goal of power-walking six days a week and am enjoying the relative ease and surprising pleasure of this newly formed habit.  My food intake has been generally healthy and in smaller portions.  I still have BIG sugar cravings that I'm learning to deal with, but again, its a process.  I am almost ready for phase 2 on my journey to lose 75 pounds: an over haul of my diet.  I've been doing little test runs, trying different prescribed eating plans and food combinations to see how my body responds.  Two weeks ago, I spent 6 days adhering to a loose version of the Raw Food Detox Diet:  I lost 4 pounds that week (my biggest weekly loss by far) and felt better than I had in years.  So, the new eating plan will certainly have some raw food elements.  But back to the task at hand - my weekly weigh-in!

Pounds lost this week: 1

Total pounds lost: 8

The "I Did It" List

power-walked 6 out of 7 days

ran a half mile for the first time since college (14 years)

switched out most of my usual meals for vegetarian versions

substituted water for most of my usual beverages

cut WAY back on coffee intake

Soothing Myself Without Food

As most of you know, I have a group of awesome teammates who are also on a journey to better health and lasting weight loss.  Their blogs can be found to your right in the sidebar.  I love checking in with them and reading their thoughts and commentary about this often daunting process.  Yesterday, I was inspired by Mary Jo of Shrinking Mary Jo who wrote honestly and openly about the grieving process associated with dumping all of her favorite sugar rich foods.  Mary of A Small Loss responded by recommending a book called "50 Ways to Soothe Yourself Without Food".  First off, I'm buying this book!  Secondly, dear readers, I put this question to you:  In what ways do you soothe yourself without food.  When that moment strikes and you think, "I want something sweet, or savory, or salty, or fattening or..." what do you do to turn it around?  I'll take your answers below in the comments section!

Oh Happy Day

I'm starting to see small signs of my weight loss.  I can see it in my face.  My pants are fitting a little looser.  And my skin is clear and bright.  Granted its only 7 or 8 pounds, but I already feel so much better than I did before I started walking and eating less processed food.  This morning, I was out the door for a walk by 7am, shower at 7:45am and on a massage table at 8:30am.  I got a massage for Jack for father's day and when he was there, he made an appointment for me!  I returned from my massage and enjoyed a tall glass of water and a whole mango - first food of the day.  I feel like a million dollars!

Don't Forget to Smile

I've learned a few small lessons since beginning my walking regimen.  They're not revolutionary - they're just little tid-bits about the nature of exercise.  Initially, I thought that waking up in the morning and going for a power walk would get easier as the days wore on.  Which brings me to my first drop of knowledge: 

1.  It doesn't get easier.  You just get better.


I also thought that while on this journey, I'd be doing battle with my conflicting desires.  Namely these two desires: "I don't feel like going out for exercise" and "I want to stay home and eat something sweet".  This is what I've learned:

2. I almost always regret eating something sweet.  I never regret going for a power-walk.


The other thing that I've discovered (yogis have known this for centuries) is that smiling makes everything seem better and easier.  When I'm feeling a little burnt out or exhausted, the simple act of smiling releases endorphins and relaxes my muscles so that I can push through the tough spots.

3. Don't forget to smile.

P.S.  Today's play list was Journey.  I've been having trouble with my ear buds staying in my ears.  They keep wriggling out and I am constantly adjusting them.  I feel so silly, like a 13 year old girl who always messes with her hair. This came to a head today when I ran a half mile of my walk.  The running exacerbated the issue and made me realize, I need to invest in some proper sized ear buds.

The Readiness is All

I'm just back from a two mile walk up the canyon behind Cedar City, Utah.  I feel good.  I'm feeling even better about being on this "get healthy" journey.  I'm also excited to be down another pound since Sunday.  The question that kept coming up today as I power walked happily against the breeze to Prince's Raspberry Beret was "Why didn't I do this sooner and avoid ten years of needing a belt extender on airplanes?"  And I guess the answer is simple.  I just wasn't ready.

Computer Binging Pajama Fest

I took the day off yesterday.  Monday mornings always seem to be a little more hectic around my house.  My husband is back to work after a day off and my three-year-old is eager to get to swim lessons.  Charlie, my 10 month old is popping a tooth and decided that he would spend the morning screaming into my ear.  Poor kiddo, I wish there was something more that I could do for him.  So, I spent the majority of my day in clothing that resembled pajamas, taking care of my boys.

I also spent many hours online reading Mormon scripture as a little "getting to know my temporary neighbors" exercise.  I'm currently in Cedar City, Utah while Jack works at the Utah Shakespeare Festival.  From the entrance to our apartment, I can see four white steeples all belonging to Mormon churches.  I am visited two or three times a week by "the Mormon boys".  This is how they introduce themselves - "Hi, we're your local Mormon boys.  Are you interested in our message?"  In fact, I am interested in their message but not for the reasons they think.  I'm more interested in their message from a "Hey, why is Mormonism the fastest growing religion in the West?" kind of way.  More anthropological than spiritual.  Instead of chatting with boys, I spent LOTS of hours online with the angel Moroni, Nephi, Lehi, Joseph Smith and a host of other crazy characters.  Anyway... I'm waaaaaay off track here.

The point is that I yesterday I was a stationary lump and getting out the door this morning for my walk took some serious energy.  I was lethargic from yesterday's computer binging pajama fest.  But once I was out in the sun, smelling the sage and feeling Cedar City's mountain breeze on my face, I felt amazing!

P.S.  Today's playlist was Joan Osborne.

Where are you getting your protein?

I get my protein from a wide variety of plant based foods.  For a woman my age, taking my weight into account, the daily recommendation of protein for me is between 60 and 90 grams.  An "average" size female (125-170 lbs) needs about 40 - 60 grams per day.  Dudes need about 5-20 more grams of protein a day than women. Where am I getting that protein if I'm not eating steak or chicken?  Here are a list of foods that I eat in varied amounts that are great sources of protein:


   1 serving of Greek Yogurt - 22 grams
   1 cup Oatmeal - 6 grams
   1 Bagel - 9 grams
   2 slices sprouted grain bread - 5 grams
   2 tablespoons of peanut butter -  8 grams
   2 tablespoons almond butter - 5 grams
   2 tablespoons almonds - 4 grams
   1 baked sweet potato - 4 grams
   1 cup spinach - 5 grams
   1 cup broccoli - 4 grams
   1 cup brown rice - 5 grams
   1 cup cooked lentils - 18 grams
   1 cup Tempeh - 41 grams
   1 cup black beans - 15 grams
   1 cup cooked peas - 9 grams
   1/4 cup sunflower seeds - 5 grams
   1 cup whole wheat spaghetti - 8 grams
   1/4 cup Cashews - 5 grams
   I also eat salmon - 21 grams per serving


Here's what Dr. Sears has to say:

It's a nutritional myth that you have to eat muscle to make muscle. Vegetarians who eat fish, dairy products, and/or eggs get plenty of protein, and even a strict vegan can get enough protein by eating enough grains and legumes, which provide a feeling of fullness, along with the necessary quantity and quality of protein. There's no need to worry about vegetarian children getting enough protein. Each day, for example, preteens can get all the protein they need from an egg, a peanut butter sandwich, a couple glasses of milk, a cup of yogurt, or a black bean burrito. 

P.S.  I've been so much happier eating protein from mostly plant based foods and fish.  (I'm still eating a little chicken every long once in a while - chicken vegetable soup, or over a salad.). I have fewer digestive problems, I feel more energized, my skin looks better and I'm less grogy in the morning when I wake.

Weigh In - Week 3

Overall, this was a good week.  I started out strong, but by Wednesday, I was sliding into some old eating habits.  Part of my plan is to make changes, one month at a time.  This month I've committed to power-walking 6 out of 7 mornings a week.  My goal is to create a good habit before I introduce something new.  So far I have been 100% successful with my walking goal.  Yay!  And now, I'm already looking to my July challenge, which will be a huge shift in my diet.  I'm trying a few things out now - a little test run if you will - to see what needs to be in place for me to succeed in my new eating plan.  I lost 4 pounds last week by cutting most meat and all refined sugar from my diet (in addition to the walking, of course).  Four days ago, I caved and re-introduced refined sugar into my diet in the form of two tall frothy Starbucks coffee drinks and a mini Mint Oreo DQ Blizzard. My weight loss came to a halt.  So that's a no brainer.  One of the policies for my eating plan will definitely be no refined sugar. 

Pounds lost this week: 2

Total pounds lost: 7

The "I Did It" list:

power-walked 6 out of 7 days
extended the length of my morning walk

switched out most of my usual meals for vegetarian versions

substituted water for most of my usual beverages

P.S.  Thank you to everyone who continues to cheer me on and leave comments and emails in my in-box.  I'm go grateful to have you here!  

P.P.S.  Being that it is Father's Day, I want to thank my incredible husband, Jack, for being a loving and compassionate father to our sons.  I also want to thank him for supporting me 1,000 percent on this journey.  I couldn't do this important work without you.  More ovations of my love for Jack HERE and HERE.

Sometimes My Mind Wanders...

A few days ago while on my walk listening to the rebounding flap of my rear end with each step I took, I had a little day dream fantasy:


Dallas area woman caught in the middle of a freak accident last Thursday. There were no witnesses to verify the incident, but local police say that a large tree limb fell on the victim grazing only her backside. The Dallas area woman walked away from the accident unharmed. However, her butt went with the tree.  When asked why she was under the tree, the victim said, "I was walking to lose weight." She is currently in the hospital undergoing evaluation and some light reconstructive surgery. Authorities say that she'll be released on Monday, fifteen pounds lighter with a cute new butt.



When I relayed my fantasy to my mom, she reminded me that my butt will fall off if I keep walking.  Point taken.  So, this morning, I headed out the door with my big beautiful hind quarters in tow.  Besides, reconstructive surgery is so ... ugh.

P.S.  Playlist today was Eminem.  That guy can really throw some beats.  Oh, and tomorrow is my weigh in!  So stay tuned to see how we did this week!  (You should know that I had a tall Coffee Frappuccino on Thursday.  I couldn't help myself.)

Burn Fat with Yoga

I love yoga.  I've been doing it off and on for about 15 years.  (Obviously more "off" in recent years.)  I find that yoga is easy on my joints and tough on my fat stores.  I've just started doing yoga again - not in a class, but at home in between bouts of laundry and wiping poopy baby butts. This is what I usually look like when I'm doing yoga.  Fat, happy and flexible!

As with most exercises, some yoga poses burn fat better than others.  So I did a little research: here are some beautiful poses (asanas) that will invigorate my spirit and, according to nameless online yogis via You Tube, help me take off the extra weight.  I usually do these poses within the confines and flow of a Sun Salutation.  But since I now know that these are fat-burning poses, I tend to linger in these positions. 

Downward Dog

Chaturanga

The Bow

Warrior I

The pose below seems deceptively simple, but let me tell you - this burns and works!  Root your feet to the floor and sit back as far as you can as if sitting on a chair.  Arms stretch up in alignment with your spine,  I hang here for 10 full breaths and then continue through my sun salutation.

Utkatasana

At first glance, most of you will look at the pose below and think, "Yeah right".  I certainly did.  I do the handstand up against a wall for full support.  At my current weight, doing this pose unassisted in the middle of the room would be ridiculous.  Can you imagine?  I performed this pose last week for the first time since nursing two babies and my boobs slid out of my bra and flapped onto my chin. So I recommend that you sweethearts with large bosoms wear protective gear.  I do this after my sun salutation series.  I stay here for 10 full breaths and then slowly lower my feet and then my knees to the ground.  I always feel invigorated after this pose.  I switch this up with a headstand if my arms feel like baloney from the other poses. 

Adho Mukha Vrksasana

I always finish with a resting pose.  This helps my body decompress and process what it just did.  It's also a deeply meditative pose.  Sometimes I fall asleep in this position, which is no surprise for a mother of two little ones who are up every morning at 5:30am.  So Jack, if you're reading this, don't be surprised when you come home from work and I'm on the floor in the middle of our living room doing this pose.  Don't worry.  It's intentional.  I'm doing yoga.  The kids are fine.  At least... they were fine before I fell asleep.

Shavasana

Shedding My Armour

This loosing weight stuff is funny business.  Every morning I go for a walk and I have lots of time to think about the "why" of my weight gain.  Over the past two weeks, it has become clear to me that my weight gain is not the simple equation I previously imagined.   If you had asked me a few weeks ago, "Why are you so overweight?"  I would have said without hesitation, "Because I overeat and I don't move my body."  If you asked me the same question today, I would reply with the same answer and add "...also there are some past emotional factors that I need to work out."

I met with a Reiki healer two years ago who said that my excess weight was armour.  What exactly was I protecting myself against?  Its seems pretty clear to me now.  I had a romantic relationship when I was young that went sour.  I moved in with him when I was 18 years old.  We married and divorced quite quickly.  But in those odd and formative three years, I gained about 70 pounds.  That's a lot of weight for such a young body in such a short time.  I'm not saying that this early relationship made me fat, but it certainly created a toxic environment and wreaked havoc on my self esteem.  The Reiki healer was right - I was unintentionally packing it on to shield myself from this person. This isn't a sob story, its just a part of my life.  I think its time to move on.

My buddha babe husband just turned me on to this great organization and website called Self Compassion.  I think anyone in the process of loosing lots of weight (or even a little weight) needs to develop and nurture a healthy sense of self compassion.  Losing the weight is hard enough without berating ourselves for every little hick-up along the way.  You can even take their test - How Self Compassionate Are You?  It's hard work changing decades of mindless habit energy.  Its hard work to create a new story about how we feel, how we look and how we are perceived by others.  I don't know about you, but I'm ready to shed the armour.

P.S.  After two weeks of power walking, I am averaging 5,000 steps per walk.  That's about two miles a day!  When I walk in the morning, I notice that for the rest of the day, I feel more energized, lighter on my feet, less forgetful and better able to listen and receive energy from my three-year-old.  Who knew that walking every morning would make me a better mom?

Food Rules

I really enjoyed reading Michael Pollan's new book Food Rules - an Eater's Manual.  I thought I'd include some of my favorite "rules" in today's post for your enjoyment. 

#36

Don't eat breakfast cereals that 

change the color of your milk.

#21

It's not food if it's called by the same name in 

every language. (Think Big Mac, Cheetos, Etc.)

#19

If it came from a plant, eat it;

if it was made in a plant, don't.

#57

Don't get your fuel from 

the same place your car does.

#18

Don't ingest food in places where 

everyone is required to wear a surgical cap.

#13

Eat only foods that 

 will eventually rot.

Gorgeous salad served at Bliss Raw Cafe & Elixir Bar in Dallas, TX

P.S.  Doesn't that raw concoction above look delicious?  That is from a raw food restaurant in Dallas.  Amazing that even in the beef loving, bar-b-que boasting heartland of America, you can find this kind of thing.  I can't wait to try it out!

More reasons to lose the weight

I woke up this morning with a runny nose.  I was up all night with my 10 month old, Charlie, who is also suffering from a allergies.  My husband was also up at 3:30am without returning to sleep.  No rest for the weary.  I thought, "There is no way that I'm going for a walk this morning.  I'm beat."  While I was in the bathroom I stepped on the scale to find that I've lost another pound over the past three days.  Then I peeked over the edge of Charlie's bed to see him sleeping soundly under his flannel blanket.

Many of you know that my son Charlie is a stroke survivor.  He had a grade four stroke in utero and is in the process of overcoming the physical effects of his brain hemorrhage.  I was chatting with my Dad yesterday.  We talked about my weight loss goal and I said, "In addition to feeling healthy and becoming smaller, losing the weight is about preparing myself for the small possibility that Charlie may not ever walk unassisted.  He may be in a wheel chair or need me to carry him during the early years."  My Dad laughed and said, "Are you kidding?  You need to lose the weight so that you can take off after him in a dead sprint when he runs away from you into the street.  That kid is going to leave you in the dust if you don't drop a few." I'm so lucky to have positive, funny, wonderful people in my life.  Thanks Dad!  So, Charlie, the race is on - hit me with your best shot.  I promise to get out of bed every day and go walking so that when you're ready to start sprinting, I'll be right behind you!

P.S.  This morning's playlist was a shuffle of Beyonce, Cake, Nelly Furtado, Madonna and Christina Aguilera.  When I came home from my two-mile walk, Charlie was still asleep.

Check In - Week 2

Its been a great week.  I've continued my walking regimen, power walking a mile and a half every day (except one).  I can feel my body ready and wanting to walk for longer lengths of time, so I'm planing on adding a half mile to make it an even 2 miles.  I'm also in the process of adding more raw food to my diet.  Overall, a great week.  Thank you everyone for your comments, emails and wonderful support!

 

Pounds lost this week: 4

Total pounds lost: 5

The "I Did It" list:

power-walked 6 out of 7 days

bought a sports bra (this was a necessity)

read The Raw Food Detox Diet by Natalia Rose

read Food Rules - an Eater's Manual by Michael Pollan

switched out most of my usual meals for vegetarian versions

began implementing some of the raw food principles

substituted water for most of my usual beverages

 did NOT eat ice cream

 

 

 

My Own Omnivore's Dilema

The Omnivore's Dilemma, as described by Michael Pollan, is a daily decision that each human must navigate:  "What am I going to eat?"  Most of us are fortunate enough to have a large array of foods to choose from.  So, as I begin thinking about an eating plan, I'm asking myself not only what is healthy and essential for my diet, but also what do I enjoy eating?  Please know that when I use the word "diet" here, I am referring to The Human Diet and not a funny concoction of food combinations sprung from the the brain of Suszanne Somers.

I want to make sustainable healthy changes to my current diet that allow for yummy food without all of the calorie counting that accompanies most eating plans.  Obviously, I won't be gorging on ice cream and buttered popcorn any more.  I just finished reading The Raw Food Detox Diet by Natalia Rose and for the most part I am very interested in her eating plan.  I will be using many of her recipes and heeding most of her tips for combining food. I will not, however be making my own almond milk or having a monthly colonic.  Some of her suggestions, while understandable in a certain context, are a little wack-a-doo in terms of my own lifestyle.  The reason I even picked up the book in the first place is because her diet featured many of the foods I love to eat.

Avocado / Guacamole
Salsa
Salmon (her diet plan is not entirely raw)
Olive Oil
Coconut
Sweet Potato
Cheese
Fruit of all kinds
Honey
Portobello Mushrooms
Tomatoes
Pesto Sauce
Garlic
Cucumbers (one of my fave veggies)
Maple
Ginger
All kinds of nuts


I've already started implementing more raw and healthy food into my meals this week.  I've also gone two weeks without late-night snacking which is one of my biggest bad habits.  These changes in addition to my daily walk make me feel lighter and more able to meet the challenges of my day!

P.S.  I weigh in tomorrow so check back to see my progress!  I was a little sad about only losing one pound last week.  But my sweet spouse reminded me that if I only lost one pound a week for the whole year I would be 52 pounds lighter.  He's an angel.

Time to think

One of the unexpected outcomes of taking a mile and a half walk every morning or afternoon is that I have time to myself.  For a mother of a toddler and an infant with special needs, this is an enormous boon.  For thirty minutes every day I can breathe quietly, take in a little sun shine, feel the breeze on my face and think.  I don't have my phone with me.  I'm not near the computer.  My toddler cannot ask me 45,000 questions which is his half hour average.  And I don't have to wipe a nose or a butt or a counter top.  More brain space and a smaller Sarah - what could be better?

P.S.  I've walked every day this week!  Yay!  My playlist has expanded to include Christina Aguilera's Bionic.  Now that is some Hot Mama Music!  What music do you listen to while working out?  I need some ideas!

Diet Books

So, I'm doing a little research and putting my diet plan together before I leap into a world without Dairy Queen.  I know it sounds simplistic, but I made a list of food that I love to eat.  It didn't matter weather the food was good for me or bad for me.  If I love it, it went on the list.  I was very happy to see that most of the foods on my "I love it" list were healthy foods.  And I was even more shocked to realize that most of the foods I loved were plant based.  My goal is to develop an eating plan that includes food I love to eat that doesn't require me to count every last calorie. 

So, with my list in hand I headed to the Barnes and Noble and browsed the weight-loss books, which was an experience in and of itself.  Health and Weight Loss was, appropriately I think, next to the religion section.  Here's the kicker - the weigh loss section was double the size of Religion. 5,000 years of religious, mystical and spiritual life did not add up to the bulky avalanche of weight loss literature available at the Barnes and Noble.  Hmm...

A nice lady was shelving books in the romance section across the aisle and said, "Can I help you?"  "Yes", I replied, "I'm fat and looking for a book that will make me thin."  She didn't bat an eyelash, "Well, there are lots of books to chose from."  I looked back at the overwhelming array of literature.  "Can you recommend one that allows for weekly trips to the Dairy Queen?"  She smiled and shook her head.  There was an awkward pause.  Finally, I said."Thank you, I'll just browse on my own."

After reading through a few dozen diet books, I found one that was most suited to my non-calorie-counting, "I love it" list.  The Raw Food Detox Diet by Natalia Rose.  This book has been recommended to me quite a few times, but I was surprised to find that this book was most closely aligned with my needs.  I thought, "Wow.  This seems kind of hard core."

I just finished reading the book and while I won't be able to implement all Ms. Rose's recommendations, this book is a great starting place for me as I plan my diet.  Again, I want this to be a lifestyle change and not a crash diet.  I want to make changes that will have a big impact and will be easy to maintain.  The best part about the Raw Food plan - no portion control or calorie counting.  Just eat whole, raw and yummy foods until you are satisfied.  I can roll with that.

 Have you read The Raw Food Detox Diet?  

What do you think?

Do you have a favorite weight loss book?  

Recommend it to me!

  

P.S.  I'm so happy that my mom is in town right now. She walked with me today!  We went walking in the afternoon as opposed to my normal morning walk.  (Note to self: walk in the morning.)  She totally schooled me - my mom chatted the whole time without stopping.  We walked at a good clip and I was out of breath, nodding my head as she talked.  She talked and walked and walked and talked and all I could think was, "Wow, Sarah, your 60 year old mom is in GREAT shape!  Thank God for awesome genes!"  Hopefully in a few months, I can power walk with my mom and be part of the conversation.  Until then, I'll focus on breathing.

Habit Sarah vs. Smaller Sarah

This morning I woke up to the howling sounds of high winds coming down the canyon.  (I'm currently in Cedar City, Utah while my husband works at the Utah Shakespeare Festival.)  This was my internal conversation:


Habit Sarah:  I can't go walking in this wind.
Smaller Sarah:  Oh yeah?
Habit Sarah:  No way, its brutal out there - listen to that WIND!
Smaller Sarah:  Are you going to use this as an excuse not to move your body?
Habit Sarah:  Its not an excuse, its just a fact.  The weather is bad.
Smaller Sarah:  You live in a post global warming world - the weather is always bad.
Habit Sarah:  Oh, don't be so "I've got the big picture and you're just lazy."
Smaller Sarah:  Great, then get out there.  You've got a blog post to write!


So, I'm back from my walk with a mouth full of dust and a heart full of pride.  To make the walk go faster and avoid the tumbling sage brush, I ran about a quarter mile of my walk.  And you know what?  It was awesome. I used to run all the time while training with my high school basketball team - but that was fifteen years ago.  For some reason, I figured that my overweight self would be incapable of running.  But, really its no different than it was back then.  I sucked gas in high school and I suck gas now.  Yes, its harder on my knees - but mostly its the same. I'm just a running fat girl.  I'm not impaired, I'm just big.
Note to self: Your body was meant to move.

P.S. The playlist today on my walk was Madonna's album, Ray of Light.

Check In - Week 1

My goal is to do a weekly check-in every Sunday, weigh in and do a little assessment about the past week.  Thank you for all your comments, support and suggestions this week.  You are all awesome and I'm so glad that you're here in solidarity, cheering on my efforts! I've been on this journey for only five days and I can already tell that this blog is going to be an invaluable tool in helping me reach my goal. Thanks again for all your wonderful ideas and suggestions this week.  Keep them coming!

Pounds lost this week:  1

Total pounds lost: 1

The "I Did It" list:

bought walking shoes and a pedometer

power-walked everyday (9 miles)

ate more vegetables, fruits and grains

did NOT eat ice cream (this is a big one for me)

substituted water for most of my usual beverages

Before and After

I'm having a little internal debate.  Most weight loss blogs I've read begin with a "before" photo.  This is usually a terrible self portrait in the mirror of a small bathroom with the top of their head cut off.  Ugh.  Then at the end of the journey, the blogger has someone take a nice photo of them in their workout clothes with a spray on tan.  Again, ugh.  If I were going to do it, I'd probably just have my husband snap a shot of me in my normal Sarah clothes and then take the same kind of photo when I'm 75 or more pounds smaller.  This is the part where you comment below and say:

"Yes, you'll definitely want a before and after photo." 

or 

"No, you'll know that you've succeeded because 

you'll feel better and you won't have to buy your underwear 

in an eight pack from that online specialty store anymore."

I've got the beat.

Last night, Jack (my husband) came home early from work.  Usually, we celebrate the free time by throwing some popcorn in the microwave and watching a few episodes of the Dick Van Dyke show.  But when he walked in the door, my first thought was, "Oh good!  I can go for another walk!"  And that's just what I did.  I did a quick one mile power walk before sunset.  I know, I know... I'm awesome.

I was out the door for my power walk by eight this morning.  I decided to grab the iPod for a little musical inspiration.  Michael Jackson's greatest hits!  I kicked things off with Billy Jean, then Beat It, Thriller, Bad, Smooth Criminal and ended with The Way You Make Me Feel.  My walking route takes me over a freeway bridge that has a pretty steep incline.  When I hit the bridge, Smooth Criminal was playing.  Michael kept singing, "Annie are you okay?  Are you okay?  Annie are you okay?  Are you okay, Annie?"  And I kept thinking, "Yes, I'm fine - stop asking!"  Walking to the beat took 3 minutes off of my walk from yesterday!
Note to self: listen to music while walking!

Later, Jack and I took our boys to a park before lunch and walked up the canyon trail for another 2 miles!  By 11am I had reached 8,600 steps! 

P.S. I tool almost 11,000 steps yesterday.
That's 6000 more than the average American.  Booyah!

So, what's the plan?

In short: I plan to burn more than I take in.  That seems simple enough.  Right?  Well, if it was so simple, there wouldn't be a multi-billion dollar weight loss industry in this country.  My goal is to lose 75 pounds in the course of one year and I want to create lasting habits for a healthy lifestyle.  I am going to achieve this by adding one new healthy habit each month.  I'll also be weighing in at the end of every week to chart my weight loss.  If, at the weigh-ins, it becomes obvious that my "plan" isn't working, I'll add to my regimen!

JUNE:
For the month of June, I am going to take a 30-45 minute power walk every day.  I'm not trying to tweak my workout or tone my butt or fit into a special dress or lose 5 pounds for my high school reunion.  Until two days ago, I had not worked out in almost two years. But if you want to get moving... then get moving! This morning, for the second day in a row, I laced up my shoes, grabbed my pedometer and walked out the door.  I will do this everyday.  When the month is over, I'll reassess and add a new habit.  July will most likely entail a big shift in my diet.

While I was out on my walk today, I saw all kinds of joggers and runners doing their daily distance training.  I was beginning to feel bad about hauling my big, waddling body out in public when this very old man in a pair of bib overalls came walking towards me.  He had on a pair of white running shoes and a pedometer.  I smiled at him and as we passed he shouted to me in a creaky voice, "Good for us!"  Yep - me and the old dude - we're making some changes!  I felt so uplifted that I decided to run the rest of the way home.  The first five strides were great.  Wind in my hair.  Smile on my face.  Then, when I picked up speed, I about knocked myself out from the back swing of my boobs.  I can just see tomorrow's headline: "Dallas area woman suffers concussion from blow to the head by her own breast."  Note to self:  buy a sports bra. 

P.S.  I reached 6,000 steps before 11am!

Walking the Walk

Did you know that today is National Running Day?  To celebrate, I bought myself a pair of running shoes.  I haven't had a pair since I was a starting forward on my high school basketball team.  I also grabbed a pedometer at my local drug store.  This will give me an accurate count of how many steps I'm taking during the day.  How can a pedometer help me lose weight?  I'm a competitive person and I enjoy beating the numbers held by others.  I also enjoy beating my own numbers.  The average American walks about 5,000 steps (two miles) per day.  The pedometer will assess how many steps I currently take and help me push that to 10,000 and eventually more and more.  Most people automatically up their walking distance simply because they are tracking their steps.   Step one to losing 75 pounds by June 1, 2012?  Take more steps.