argyle

Thursday, December 3, 2015

Well, @!#!$%

I swear, lately it's just one thing after another.

Pneumonia. Bad cold. Another cold. Now, I have a problem with my foot - even walking hurts. I did not injure it, so I have no idea what happened, but there appears to be a pain and swelling issue. I forget what the doctor called it. But it means exercise is a no-go - again! And you know what happens when I can't exercise - my eating falls off the tracks.

Lately, I keep getting asked at work when I am due. And yes, I am NOT pregnant. So that is a big kick to the ol' self esteem. I really want to get my eating under control again, but tis the season to be difficult! I don't want to make excuses, though, so I think I am going to try cutting back without following any specific plan. Maybe being less restrictive will help. I don't know.

I am feeling pretty defeated lately...

Friday, October 30, 2015

Why I Quit the Gym

I recently cancelled my gym membership.

No, I am not done with working out. And I didn't quit the gym because I didn't like going there. On the contrary: I love working out, loved my gym, really enjoyed the classes and found the interaction with staff encouraging.

However, I just wasn't getting there enough. The hours weren't the best for my schedule, I wasn't making it to my favourite classes, and in the summer (when I'd rather be running) I felt like I HAD to go just because I was paying for it. Overall, having a gym membership started to feel like pressure. Pressure that I don't need.

I am considering joining a cheaper, no-frills 24-hour gym nearby. My sister goes there, and since it's so cheap I can go once a week (or even less) and still feel like I am getting my money's worth.

But most of my working out will be at home. I bought some hand weights and a mat, plus this handy little dumbbell holder:


I also have an exercise bike, some decent work out videos (30 Day Shred anyone?) and of course my running to keep me busy. Now if I can just get my eating in better shape, I will be all set!

Monday, September 21, 2015

Update

Just a brief update to tell you...I have pneumonia. I have been ordered off work for the rest of the week. I shall rest and try not to lick the cupboards clean...

Wednesday, September 16, 2015

Good News, Bad News

Good News! I have managed to lose about 3 pounds - that's without exercise and just trying to eat a little better. Not a fast loss by any means, but still...I am happy with it.

Bad News - the reason for the lack of exercise is because I have been sick for about a month, and am now at home with bronchitis and suspected pneumonia. I had a chest X-ray done so we'll know for sure soon. In any case, I thought I'd take the time to write a very brief update before collapsing back into my bed.

Thanks for listening :)

Monday, August 31, 2015

Life

Life is funny.

A year ago, I could have weighed 40lbs less than I do now and felt miserable. I would have hated how I looked, how I felt...heck, I think I would have just hated myself!

Yet, here I sit now, the biggest I've ever been (and yes, that means I weigh more now than I did when I was 9 months pregnant) and I do not hate myself. I do not hate my body. In fact, I am rather happy with myself. Because the truth is, I needed a break. I needed a break from stressing over calories and fat, how many calories I was burning at the gym, how soon I could fit into my old clothes...the list goes on and on. I was just DONE. Surely you all can understand that.

Of course, I put on weight really easily and really quickly. Which is why I quickly go to be the size that I currently am. But you know what? My body still works. I still wear non-plus-sized clothes. I still get told that I am beautiful, or that I have a nice smile. And I actually feel MORE confident than I did before, because I am happy with myself. I like myself.

Does that mean that I am done trying to lose weight? No. Not at all. I know that I am not as healthy as I could be, and I know that I could feel even more confident at a lower weight. I'm just not willing to beat myself up over it, or obsess over it like I did before.

As of today, I am starting a new weight loss plan. It is nothing special - I will watch my portions, but not count points or calories. I will exercise 3 or more times per week, but I will focus on what exercises I WANT to be doing, not what I think I should be doing. I want to make happiness a priority in all areas of life, and my physical body should be no different.

I am going to try this for a month and see how it goes. If the weight isn't coming off, or if I still find myself binge eating, then I will re-evaluate. But for now, this feels right for me.

And here's something interesting: I read somewhere that the age where women tend to feel the most confident, sexy, and happy is 31. Seems fitting, as that is my exact age...

Monday, July 20, 2015

Under the Sea

I just noticed something...did I really not end up posting any photos from my daughter' party in May? I was so proud of how I pulled it off! Oh well...better late than never. So here they are:

The invitation:

Image and video hosting by TinyPic

Hairbands I made for the Goody Bags...Aaralyn got a special one with a sea turtle on it (the other girls' had sand dollars)

Image and video hosting by TinyPic
Image and video hosting by TinyPic
Image and video hosting by TinyPic

Decorations:

Image and video hosting by TinyPic
Image and video hosting by TinyPic
Image and video hosting by TinyPic
Image and video hosting by TinyPic

Bubble Station, ready to go (there was also a craft centre)

Image and video hosting by TinyPic

Snacks!

Image and video hosting by TinyPic
Image and video hosting by TinyPic

The Cake! I frugaled things and ordered just the fondant characters from a local baker, but made and iced the cake myself!

Image and video hosting by TinyPic
Image and video hosting by TinyPic

Overall it was a really fun day!

Monday, July 6, 2015

Sixty Pounds to Lose

(Ulgh, that makes me sweat just saying it)

Yup, you've read that correctly. As of today, I need to lose 60lbs to get to my goal weight.

This is the largest weight loss goal I have ever faced, pregnancy excluded.

Before, I told myself that I would be angry with myself if I didn't get my eating back on track and gained all of my weight back. And it turns out, I was right. Boy was I ever right!

Look, I am generally happy with how my body FEELS. That's because I've stayed pretty consistent with my exercise, despite not watching what was going in my mouth. I can still lift and squat the same amounts as before. The only time I really notice my weight gain during exercise is when I'm running. Running is hard right now. But, I am keeping at it, and steadily making small progress. So yes, I feel okay. But when I see pictures of myself - WOW. I am NOT happy. I don't even recognize the person in them! So, something must change.

Here I go...

Tuesday, June 23, 2015

How to Measure Success

What's on my mind right now? Measuring Success

There are many different ways that people use to measure success in regards to weight loss and maintenance. The most common, hands down, is the dreaded SCALE. How much weight has been lost? Many also take measurements, which in my opinion is a fantastic option. Some look at body fat percentage, which is a great idea, but difficult to do accurately. Taking progress photos is another great choice. Others track their BMI (Body Mass Index) to see changes there - when the classification finally goes from obese to overweight and then to "healthy". Ahhh...healthy...

But let's hold the phone for a minute. I need to get this off my chest. I HATE the Body Mass Index. All it does is compare your weight to your height, and voila - it thinks it can decide whether you are healthy or not. Well, let me tell you...Mr BMI is not as smart as he thinks. He can't tell how much of your weight is from muscle or fat. He can't tell if you are healthy enough to run a marathon. He can't tell the difference between a 300 pound body builder and a 300 pound couch potato (Note: I am NOT judging couch potatos). I am personally offended by the BMI right now, in fact. Look, I get that I am overweight. But it's telling me that I am obese - OBESE - and yet I don't even wear plus sized clothes. That boggles my mind. Sure, maybe I'm just trying to make myself feel better, but still...doesn't that seem strange to you?

Where was I going with this? Oh, I forget. I think my point was that there are many ways to measure success when you are trying to slim down, and you have to try to figure out which way works for you. Or something. :)

Monday, June 22, 2015

Hi!

Hi there!

That is all I have to say for now!

Monday, May 18, 2015

Hmmm

Has it really been almost a month since my last post?

It just seems like I haven't had a lot to say for awhile. I'm still working out, still chugging away, but my weigh isn't moving. I know it's my fault...too many times making bad choices. I guess I should be happy that I'm not gaining? I got a little self esteem boost when I went shopping the other day. I thought for sure I'd have to buy plus sizes, and I didn't - however I'm mostly in the largest size that regular stores carry. So, that's been a bit of a wake up call for me.

I've been eating less fast food, and even though I haven't lost much weight, I feel like I look less bloated. That's always a plus.

Anyway...that's my small update. Hope you are all doing well!

Monday, April 20, 2015

These are My Confessions

Confession: I officially weigh more than I ever have before, excluding pregnancy. As you can imagine, this is doing a number on my self esteem.

Why do I eat so much?

- I eat when I'm bored
- I eat when I feel sad and depressed
- I eat when I feel like celebrating
- I binge eat but don't know why
- When I have a bad meal at the start of the day, I say "screw it" and eat more and more
- I eat when I'm craving something
- I eat when other people are eating around me

I have come to the realization that I'm probably addicted to food, and could really use some suggestions of resources, if anyone has any.

In the meantime...I'll just keep floundering...and trying to improve...

Thursday, April 2, 2015

Give Me A Challenge

I feel the need for a new challenge.

Preferably a work-out challenge.

Any ideas?

Wednesday, March 18, 2015

Still Here

Just wanted to let you know that I'm still here, and still working at it! My weight loss has stalled (my own fault) but I am doing really well with my workouts - being consistent and hitting it hard! I finally got a nice run in outside - it was only around 1 or 2 degrees out, but the roads were clear(ish) so I gave it a shot. I haven't run outside in months, and I think I did really well. I guess forcing myself to use the DREADMILL during the winter months was worth the torture!

Hopefully I will soon be once again seeing movement on the scale!

Tuesday, March 10, 2015

Disney Planning!

Yesterday was an exciting day for our family - we booked our next family vacation to Walt Disney World in Florida! I am so excited...I designated yesterday as "Disney Day".

We will be going in August. Yes, I know it will be hot, and yes, I know it will be busy. I'm over it. My sister is a teacher, so we have to go when it's busy. The last two times we went, both my sister and I were on maternity leave, so we were able to go at a more desirable time. Now? Not so much.

This is definitely motivation for me to stay on track with my eating on exercise. I'm off to a good start this month. Anytime I feel like binging on junk, I remind myself that Disney is coming. I want to feel good and have energy during the trip, and I want to look good in the photos. Five months gives me plenty of time to make good progress.

Here are some photos from our last trip, just for fun:

Image and video hosting by TinyPic
Image and video hosting by TinyPic
Image and video hosting by TinyPic
Image and video hosting by TinyPic

Thursday, March 5, 2015

It Has to be Said...

I know we are all sick of talking about the white/gold/blue/black dress, but...I have to do it...

Image and video hosting by TinyPic

There. I'm done!

Monday, February 23, 2015

Ramblings

So I fell off the wagon again, but don't you worry...I am back on it today, and working once again at whittling my waist!

Even though I've gained some weight back, I couldn't be happier about some of the progress that I've made at the gym. My running is getting faster, despite having to use the treadmill which we all KNOW that I hate; I can last longer on the stairs; and I'm about ready to up some of my weights for strength training! I am feeling strong!

Well not today - today I have a tummy ache. I think I've caught a small bug that my children so lovingly have passed around, and I'm just hoping that I start to feel better soon. I am really hoping to start March off with a bang...and I want no more sickness to get me down!

Wednesday, February 11, 2015

Before and After- First 10 Pounds

I realize that I should have posted this at the end of January, but...better late than never, right?

These photos show about a ten pound difference, from my starting weight as of January 1st (207) to my weight as of January 31st (197.2) At first I was unhappy that I couldn't see much of a difference, but then several people pointed out that my face and tummy look smaller, so I figured I should just listen to them and be happy with the results.

Image and video hosting by TinyPic

Here is an even better comparison picture, though. On the left is a photo taken 3 years ago when I weighed 198, and on the right is the same 197.2 photo as shown above. Now I can DEFINITELY tell a difference in this photo, even though my weight is basically the same!

Image and video hosting by TinyPic

This just serves as a reminder that weight isn't the only indicator of success. Obviously my weight lifting and cardio routine has helped to keep my body in better shape than it was three years ago. Knowing that is DEFINITELY helping to keep me motivated.

I'm starting to feel better, so I'm sure I'll be kicking butt at the gym again in no time.

Tuesday, February 10, 2015

Well, that lasted long

Remember last year when I got sick with something every single month?

Well, I really thought that this year was going to get better. I managed to avoid a major illness in January - SCORE! But now, just into February, I am sidelined once again...this time with a chest cold. The good news is that most of my symptoms aren't too bad. The bad news is that I feel like I need to sleep approximately 90% of the day. So gym time is OUT while I get some rest.

I'll check in with you later in the week. I still have those progress pictures to show, after all.

Wednesday, February 4, 2015

Blonde...Third Time = CHARM

So, I got my hair done again. This is the third adjustment since going blonde, and I think it's my favourite. What do you think? (Please forgive my lame face)

Image and video hosting by TinyPic



Here is a comparison picture of the different shades of blonde I've tried. The first is a bit ashier, the next is brighter and lighter, and the last is the darkest. I think it looks the most natural. If not, at least it's the easiest to maintain!

Image and video hosting by TinyPic

Which do you like best? I'm not going to lie...keeping up with blonde is expensive. In a few months, I'll probably go back to brunette. Or maybe red! What do you think?

Thursday, January 29, 2015

DietBet Results

This week ends with the conclusion of my very first DietBet experience. I am happy to report that I am a "winner", having hit my goal a week early!

I'm not going to lie - when I first signed up, I was a bit cocky about the whole thing. I had been eating so poorly and not exercising, so I figured that it would be SO EASY to lose 4% of my body weight in 4 weeks. But, when the weight didn't magically start falling off, I had to kick it into high gear.

I started out at 208lbs, and I weighed in today at 197.2...which feels amazing. I've improved my eating habits once again, and challenged myself with exercising. Every time I was tempted to skip a workout or eat half of a pizza, I'd remind myself of the DietBet challenge and would make a better choice. I was so happy to have the motivation!

I am sure that I will continue on with these habits in the upcoming months. I have so much more energy than I did even a few short weeks ago, and I'm sleeping better too. I really do feel healthier.

I plan to take some comparison photos this weekend, so I will show those to you next week!

Monday, January 26, 2015

Healthful Cookies

So, some of you know that I hate to cook. But baking? Love it. The obvious problem with this is that baking tends to involve a less healthy (but super yummy) end result, so I don't end up doing it a lot. So I was delighted to find a more healthful cookie recipe to try. You may have seen it going around Facebook. Note: the end result will NOT look like the photo they show. It will look like this:
Image and video hosting by TinyPic

The ingredients are:
- 3 ripe bananas, mashed (mine weren't overly ripe so I microwaved them to make mashing easier)
- 1/3 cup apple sauce (unsweetened is what I used)
- 2 cups oats (I used quick oats)
- 1/4 cup almond milk (I recommend unsweetened...I actually used unsweetened chocolate)
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- OPTIONAL: 1/2 cup raisins or chocolate chips. I used chocolate chips, but with the cinnamon raisons would be a great choice too.

You want to set your oven for 350 degrees. The instructions said to bake 15-20 minutes, but I only baked them for 12 because my oven is crazy like that. I made the cookies on the small side, so it made 24 at just under 70 calories each. DELICIOUS, and except for the chocolate chips, no added sugar!

The recipe was from the Facebook page "Health is Wealth". I may have to stalk their sit for more recipes.

As for the end result? Well, they aren't pretty looking, but DELICIOUS. My 5-year-old refused to try them due to how they looked, but my little guy enjoyed his! My husband, on the other hand, looked like he wanted to divorce me just by looking at them :)

I say they are worth a try!

I was actually thinking that you could probably add some almond slices and bake them in muffin liners to make a half-decent quick breakfast. Hmmmm...

Friday, January 23, 2015

O...M...G

I LOST 3.4 POUNDS THIS WEEK!!!

Wednesday, January 21, 2015

Make Up

I am trying to decide whether or not I need to makeover my makeover. What I mean is, I am wondering if I should change up my makeup routine now that I've gone blonde. And because I've basically done the same thing for years, other than adding in new eye shadow colours. But I don't know where to start. Have any of you ever had a free makeover at a mall and had good results?

Here are some examples of myself (sorry to be so vain, but I need HEEELLLLP). The first photo is makeup-free (what I would wear around the house or for a quick errand). The second is with minimal makeup on(what I would wear on a day off where I was going out and about, but not doing anything important). The third is my full face, which I would wear to work. I would add more lipstick for a night out, but that's about it. Which do you prefer?





As much as I appreciate natural beauty in others, I definitely prefer myself with a full face of makeup on. I need it!

Please share with me any tips or tricks you may have. I'd really appreciate the feedback!

Monday, January 19, 2015

I. Am. Sore.

Ouch!

I think my body is letting me know that I have a really good workout on Saturday. I was sore as heck yesterday, and almost as sore today. I'm sure that my night time bike ride last night probably didn't help, but I was hoping to loosen things up. I really need to start stretching better. I mean, it's nice to know that I worked hard, but not so nice when I have trouble moving afterwards!

Eating is going better. Much better. But I still find that I'm consuming too much sugar, so I need to keep an eye on that. I'm trying to pay more attention to eating proper amounts of lean proteins and vegetables. But of course I still eat fruits and grains and treats and all that. I'm trying to stick to the "everything in moderation" mentality.

I can't wait to be out of the 200's....

Friday, January 16, 2015

Pants Schmants

So I had to bite the bullet and buy new pants the other day.

No, these were not “I’ve already lost so much weight that I need new clothes” pants. These were “I outgrew my fat clothes two months ago and still can’t fit into them and am tired of feeling like a sausage” pants. I’ve basically been wearing the same two pairs since mid-December, and only one even fits properly. So I decided that it was time to move forward (or backwards?) I didn’t have the best luck shopping, but I did manage to get two pairs for 50$, so that’s good. I was fully expecting to need size 16, or ever larger, so I was thrilled to come out with one size 14 and one size 12. Sure, it may very well be vanity sizing (actually I’m sure it is), but heck, it made me feel better about myself.

I’ve been asked three times in the past month if I’m pregnant, so I need all the self-esteem boosts I can get. And they look good!

In other news, my workouts are going well. My husband dug out the ol’ stationary bike for me, and I’m trying to do at least 20 minutes on that twice a week (plus some arm exercises) in addition to my gym time. Usually I like to get to the gym 3 times per week, but due to the crummy weather making me feel like I want to hibernate, I’m setting a goal of just twice a week for now. So that’s still 4 workouts altogether. Not bad. And my eating is getting better too. I’m still eating too much sugar, but I’m slowly improving on that. Slowly.

I lost 1 1/2 lbs this week, bringing my New Year total to 4 1/2 lbs. While that is a good loss so far, it’s frustrating that it seems to take twice as long to lose weight as it does to put it on. I guess I just need to be patient.

Have a great weekend!

Monday, January 12, 2015

Homemade Goodies

I was really excited to share the photos of things I've made leading up to this past holiday season. However, blogger isn't allowing me to update photos right now! So, if you'd like to see them, try this link: here. Let me know if it works.

If you scroll down to the piggy banks and work your way up, you should hit everything that I've done in the past few months. I am sorry for not showing them directly on here!

Sunday, January 4, 2015

For the Runners

I've got a recommendation for you runners out there.

No, it's not something that will help you to increase your speed or distance...it's actually a book. Behold:

Image and video hosting by TinyPic

This book (well, book of comics, really) is brought to you by the author of such nonsense as "How to Tell if Your Cat is Trying to Kill You", "My Dog: The Paradox", and "Why Grizzly Bears Should Wear Underpants". This author tends to make very hilarious observations about every day life - his books make me laugh until my sides ache. Now, I should warn you...the author doesn't watch his language (I'm not a fan of cursing myself) and occasionally his examples can be crude, but if you think you can stomach that...then I recommend this book for you.

Actually, you can see some of the comics on his website here.

I don't find these ones quite as funny as some of his others I've read, but if you are a runner (even a new runner), I am SURE you can relate to some of these!

Happy Reading!

Friday, January 2, 2015

Starting Over, Yet Not Starting Over

I am struggling to find the best way to word this post. There are so many things that I want to say, so many thoughts and emotions swirling around in my brain that it feels darned near impossible to put them together coherently. Don't you hate it when that happens? I know I do. I'll try my best to get this out, but as always, no promises.

I am starting over again with my weight loss. As I've mentioned before, a few weeks ago I decided that I'd just about had it with worrying about everything I put into my mouth, and I vowed to give myself a break until the new year. No counting calories, no counting points, no clean-eating goals. Nothing, nada! Well, as you can imagine, that really added up, and I officially weigh the most I've ever weighed outside of pregnancy-related pounds: 207 lbs.

I'm actually not as upset about that as I thought I'd be. (Except for the fact that the BMI chart says I'm obese!) I don't hate what I see in the mirror - I'm not impressed, but I don't hate myself. I have come up with a plan for the New Year, joined a diet bet (where my weight is just slightly different than it will be here because for that you have to weigh in wearing clothes!), and am ready to get back in the swing of things. My mindset is also better than it's been in months. I could waste my time being angry with myself for "letting myself go", but that would just be wasted energy. I'd rather look forward, not backward. So with that attitude, I start over.

And, yet, in another way, I am not starting over.

Because last time I weighed this much, I couldn't run for 30 seconds without feeling winded. Heck, Icouldn't run for TEN seconds! I could barely squat with just my own body weight, yet now I can use a fifty pound bar. I couldn't do a "girlie" push up, lunge with any weight on my shoulders, or do a proper sit up. I can do those things now. So while yes, I am starting over with my weight, I am NOT starting over with my fitness. So what that means is that my health hasn't suffered quite as much as it could have. So, I am happy about that.

Here is to moving forward...