End of January Sluggishness

Ok, last week was a bust. Essentially, nothing lost thanks to too many snacks and letting the cold weather be an excuse to not work out. But it’s a new week, I’ve picked myself back up, so here goes nothing. Just got back from an almost 4 mile route, and today I got to whine about it being hot instead of cold. Hard to believe we’re at 80 degrees where my former home across the state is at 29 degrees and getting a mix of snow/sleet right now. However, tomorrow is back in the 40s, so I don’t get to stay thawed out for long.

I don’t really have much to say at the moment, just checking in.

Week one – check

It’s Monday, that means I’ve made it one week. That is really not an accomplishment since the first week is actually super easy for me. Usually we go out once on the weekends, but I cooked all week, so there weren’t any temptations. Down almost 7 pounds already, which is standard for a first week for me.  Now it will be down to 2 per week max, if I’m lucky, but that is what I’m going to struggle to hit.

The best part is that it was all clean eating, since I hardly worked out at all. I did my usual 4 mile Friday walk with mom, and a few light weights yesterday, and that was it. But, no more slacking, today will start my regular workout plan. I really need to get my legs ready for hiking trails in just 7 weeks (can’t wait for vacation – pure motivation). I wish we had some hillier trails to practice on in Florida, but pretty much everything is flat, completely different from the rocky cliffs I’ll be exploring.

Since all the extra food from the holidays is finally gone, this week I’m back to experimenting with recipes.Here is the weekday menu:

1. Yesterday we made cheese steak stuffed peppers.. that sounds higher calorie than it is, I only had one, and used 1 laughing cow cheese wedge in it, with roasted veggies on the side.
2. Today is a vegetarian Indian dish I’m experimenting with which is mostly cabbage. 
3. I’m making spinach stuffed chicken parmesan with spaghetti squash.
4. Asian chicken lettuce wraps.
5. Cauliflower and chicken paprikash with broccoli.
6. A bit of a Friday splurge, tacos since I have a ton of taco meat in the freezer and extra tortillas. But I will watch portions.

I’ve been looking up lots more dinner options.. although it gets annoying cooking complicated meals all the time, I really like trying new things. It really helps to keep my meals more interesting than boring baked chicken and salad every day.

2014… what?

Ok, last year was exactly the same as every other year. My intentions with naming this blog obviously failed. In every way. I am a yoyo blogger and definitely a yoyo dieter. Perhaps this is just something I can’t ever change. But all I can do is keep trying.. yoyo is still better than being 100% off the wagon I suppose.

I am ashamed to say this year was my 2nd highest re-starting point ever. That is really pathetic. I somehow really let myself stop caring in 2013. Now I have to face the consequences.

So here I am, back again, another January restart. Yesterday was a new day #1. I don’t have any competitions going this time, because I am really tired of those. I am competitive enough with my own goals (when I want to be), and I’ve never yet had a problem making good progress in January-spring. It’s August-December that are my undoing. In order to fix that I think I would have to make it a goal to stop watching football or going/having parties. Not happening.

I am easing in a little this time instead of going crazy full steam ahead. I actually didn’t manage to work out at all yesterday, which is probably the first time that has happened on a day #1. I really just didn’t have time, plus I like working out outside and we are having a taste of what the rest of the country gets right now. 33, really? Grr, I am always extra cold when dieting, so that does not make me happy.  But anyway, enough with the excuses.

I am back to major portion watching and focusing on lots of veggies and protein. Not low carb though, just less carbs, particularly less sugar – but I don’t care to cut that out completely. Been there, done that, it works for me physically, but it SUCKS. So, no thanks.

No competition, but I do have something to look forward to that will keep me going. In 8 weeks, I am going on a vacation I have been dreaming of my whole life, so getting off as much as possible before then (healthily, of course), is definitely the goal.

Fitness goals

1. Getting back to jogging a full mile with no breaks. I can’t even believe how quickly my running ability declines when I have slacked to just walking. Need to get that back.
2. Yoga. I really want to get back into that. I love how relaxed it makes me, and how much it improves my balance/flexibility. Definitely need to make this a goal, at least once a week, hopefully more.
3. 30 Day Shred. I always say this, but it really is amazing. I will probably start easing into strength training on my own a couple weeks and start 30DS in 2 weeks.
4. Doing SOMETHING at least 30 minutes a day, even if that only means strolling through a park on the weekends.

Here’s to healthy living. If my past history continues, at least you know you can continue to hear from me regularly for at least a couple of months. 😉

Yo yo in the wrong direction

Well, I’ve been avoiding the scale, not caring so much what I eat, and it has caught up with me. In fact, I’ve gained back almost everything I lost earlier this year. Just a few pounds shy. I must go into reverse.

This miserable weather has been a great excuse not to work out. It hasn’t actually rained that much, but it always looks like it will storm at any moment, so I just “can’t” go for a walk. And my motivation has been so non-existent, there’s no way I’d do a workout video at home or use my exercise machines.

So, today is a new day. I’m setting a new goal, for the first time in months. I will lose 10 lbs, and will do what I need to do to get there. That’s all I’m focusing on at the moment.

Workout Habit

Well, I am on a roll so far. Workouts Monday-Friday last week, plus Sunday and today. Not all were super long, but I call it a win. I also did lots of yardwork in addition, which is definitely exercise even if I don’t count it as a workout. I’m feeling pretty productive right now. Now to get my eating act together again…

Creeping Upward

Not a good thing! Apparently, I need to plan parties, but not actually go to them. All the leftovers and junk last week, and I gained back the 2 lbs I had lost, plus added 1. Rats!

This week, I have managed 2 workouts so far, so that is more than I’ve been doing.  I made a mostly healthy cabbage dish last night, but it was only ok, not worth posting. The rest of my meals for the week could definitely be healthier, but I am going to aim for portion control.

I can’t seem to get my motivation back. I am forcing myself to workout, but I don’t want to do it at all. And I don’t care enough about what I’m eating right now. Grr. I’m just hoping to get back in the workout habit, even if I do dread it every day. If it’s a habit, I’m more likely to just get it over with.

Love to Party

Where have I been this time?? Busy going crazy with party planning, of course. Sunday was Cinco de Mayo, and this is one of the 2 events a year that we try to go all out for with a party (the other is our annual Christmas party!). We’ve been having Cinco de Mayo parties since back in 2008, and I try to make them bigger and better every time. Last year, Cinco de Mayo was also our housewarming party, so I didn’t have as much time to go all out with decor or little details since I was getting the house in shape, but this year I was able to get crafty. I had a lot of fun cutting out tissue paper banners, flowers, and chili peppers, and setting up other little decor touches.

And, of course, I cooked a TON of food. I am still overloaded with Mexican food in the fridge, but my husband and I love it, so it’s not so bad. I do need to get back to healthy meals ASAP though.

As of last Friday, I had actually somehow lost 2 lbs from my post-vacation weigh in over a month ago. I think it was just that I kept myself so busy preparing for the party. I am SURE I gained back those 2 lbs and hopefully not much more now.

I just got in over 3 miles walking to start getting back in the habit of working out. I need to get back to 5 days a week. I am always complaining about the weather in the summer, but I am going to do some swim workouts soon too, so it will be a nice break from walking.

Argh

Ok, this is not working.  Vacation, family visits, party, party party. I am not doing well at getting back on track at all. My workout time has mostly been spent being “productive” around my house/yard.. which is work, but deweeding a flower bed, installing closet shelves, and cleaning off patios doesn’t get my heart rate up like running.  Last week, all I managed was my 4 mile walk with my mom. That was it! Terrible! It is definitely on my list to go today. I will be slow, but it is better than nothing.

My meals haven’t been much better. We made one of our standby healthy meals last week, and that was it. Unfortunately, it is one that I don’t really have a definite recipe for. My husband puts the seasonings in, and he never measures. It is good though, so maybe I will still put up a guideline post for it.

It is so hard to plan good menus when I am trying not to fill up the fridge.. I am going to need the space for a big party coming up (which is why I’m spending all my free time doing other stuff too).

So, since I’m not posting my real recipe posts, I’ll at least leave you with this link.

Creamy Spaghetti Squash Primavera

I’ve made that recipe a few times now, and it is so healthy, and versatile. You can use all kinds of different veggies for it. If you don’t have the nutritional yeast, you can always use parmesan. I actually use both. Also, I think I put a little red wine vinegar in it, but I like my hummus dishes a little zippy.

Sooooo Hot

Goodness. It feels like just yesterday I was whining about 40 degree nights.. and now we are in full swing 80+ degree days. I am used to that for the most part, but it is extremely hard to get back into running in the heat, especially when I have lost so much endurance in my slacking off in the past month.

My house guests are back to their state now, so I have no more excuses to make homemade cinnamon rolls and fettucine alfredo with garlic breadsticks (bad Christi!). Unfortunately, the fridge is still crammed with leftovers, so no new healthy meals this week either. However, next week, I am DEFINITELY doing it – no more excuses!

I just finished a short run, but at least I gave it more speed than usual to make up for the shorter distance. Yesterday I also walk/jogged and did more yardwork, so I am at 2 workouts down for the week. I guess that is not terrible since it is only Wednesday. I will definitely do more tomorrow and Friday.

Anyway, sorry for the once a week updates, I will try to be more frequent with my posts (and more interesting!).

April

How is it April already? I definitely have not been very good at remembering to check in here lately. I guess it just sucks to not really have anything positive to say. I did manage 3 workouts last week, for about 15 miles total, so I guess it wasn’t a terrible week, but I still feel bad for missing the other days. I also did lots of yard work. Between the yard and house cleaning, that is probably going to make up most of my activity this week too. I really have so much I’m trying to get done, and it is almost summer already (Florida summer weather anyway).

I finally weighed again today and it said basically the same as last week. I’m sure I can thank the back to back family Easter dinners (and candy) for that. But it’s better than another big gain.

It is such a challenge with all these leftover cookies and candy in the house. I will have house guests staying with me Friday-Wednesday, so I’m sure my eating will not improve much.

I also didn’t make it to the grocery store since Publix was closed and we were busy on Sunday, which is our standard shopping day. Next week, I am definitely making a new recipe. It has been forever! Tonight we are just making steak fajitas with some steak from the freezer. Not the healthiest, but so yummy…