Cam's New Lease on Life Journal (comments welcome!)

[Blueeyes101817]

Cam-you are doing amazing! you have accomplished so much in the past months/year, i am so proud of you and i know that you will continue to do a great job!! keep it up!

 

[Mykelogan]

Hi Cam!

Finally got to check in and read your 1/2 marathon report! Wow! You did it!!! I am so proud of your accomplishments this year, you are an inspiration!

Sending good vibes to you & to Howard! I hope that all is going well now.

Mike

 

[keenercam]

Thanks, Jen & Mike! I really appreciate that you took the time to visit!

I'd like to think that life is calmer now and I should be able to focus better on what I am eating and making time for exercise. This weekend was a disaster, food-wise and I ended up using all but 1.5 of my flexpoints for the week. Thank God my new week starts tomorrow. I went grocery shopping last night and bought stuff for so many healthy meals that I actually regret that there are only 3 meals a day!

Today's food:
B: coffee w/lite creamer (1); turkey burger and lite tortilla (6)
L: "free" salad w/kalamata olives and fat free feta cheese (3); veggie soup (2)
S(at 3:45): lite string cheese w/1/2 serving crackers; small apple (2.5)


I have lite cheese sticks and an apple here, and plan to have that for an afternoon snack, especially if I am going to the gym after work. I'd like to get back into the habit of doing that, but am not feeling especially motivated at the moment. Of course, I count on all my WISH buddies to hold me accountable.

It occurred to me this morning that the Minnie Marathon (9.3 miles) is 4 months from tomorrow. I'd really like to lose a significant number of pounds before then, since I know it will make the event easier, but also because I'd like to feel a sense of pride when I look at the photos of myself at the event. I can realistically see in the pix from this past trip that I am much smaller than in the past, but I can also see my "trouble spots" -- my hips and thighs and tummy, and am hoping to really target my workouts for those areas. I also really have to work on core strengthening since my sacroiliac joint definitely made itself known during the 1/2.

Well, I had hoped to include some pix here from last weekend, but am having trouble with imagestation. Once I get it figured out , I will include some pix.

By 4:15 I am up to 60 oz of water. I have also had a cup of tea and lots of coffee. But I am trying to get lots more water in, especially since my stomach is growling, even though I had a substantial snack in the past 1/2 hour. Guess I'll need to use some sugarless gum, too.

 

[keenercam]

Okay, if this works, it will be a link to our photopass pix!

Our PhotoPass pix

Not sure it always works. Hope you can see them!

ETA: Sorry. It doesn't work. I'd take any advice I can get on how to make them accessible without giving up my password. :

 

[Blueeyes101817]

cam-youre doing great--i think ill head to the store tomorrow to get healthy snacks--between journals and the 100 day challenge, were all holding you accountable!!!

i cant see the pictures! the link takes me to where i have to sign in, and when i do ,it tells me i have no pictures available...id love to see the pics though--i know imagestation gets annoying--thats what i have all my cruise pics on haah
you can do this--have a great night

 

[keenercam]

Finishing out food for the day:
D: seasoned salmon (7) & broccoli (0)
Dessert: devil dog (4); lite yogurt w/pretzels (I was supposed to eat this at work before going to the gym and now just ate it to get in my milk requirement) (4)

Did 30 minutes on the elliptical (burned 300 calories) and 30 minutes on the bike (165 calories)

Does anyone know how to calculate APs based on actual calories burned? It seems that burning 300 calories should earn me something like 4-6 extra points, rather than just using the WW chart for 30 minutes elliptical trainer.

Heading to bed now so that I don't eat anything else (though I am too full to even consider it!)
Am so glad I budgeted for a devil dog. 4 points but totaly worth it! YUM!!!!!

 

[agotta]

Cam, I thought a saw a website somewhere that had a formula based on how hard and how long you worked on. I will see if I can find it today.

 

[toystoryduo]

Hi Cam!

Stopping by to WISH you a terrific Tuesday today! You are doing a great job! Keep up the good work!

 

[keenercam]

Cam, I thought a saw a website somewhere that had a formula based on how hard and how long you worked on. I will see if I can find it today.

Thanks, Amanda! I think it is strange that WW says I only earned 2 APs but I know I burned 300+ for that 1/2 hour on the elliptical. I was hoping it was something like 1 AP for every 50-75 calories burned.

Well, I did eat something else before I went to bed last night, but it was just 1 hershey's kiss. I even had a couple of slim fast candy bars and snack bars on my end table that haven't been put back in the cupboard after our trip, but I avoided them.

I had such a great time last night talking to Liz (Lizdotcom99) and she is getting me energized to do another 1/2 marathon in August about a month before the Disneyland Inaugural. I am not sure it is wise to do 2 that close together, but the temptation of seeing so many WISHers in Chicago that weekend is so great! Will have to figure that one out as soon as SW releases those dates.

Food plan for today:
B: turkey burger on lite flour tortilla (6) (This held my appetite very well yesterday); coffee with creamer (1)
L: garden salad w/olives & fat free feta cheese (2); veggie soup (1); broccoli (0)

I have to get out and buy more garden salad to bulk up my lunch a bit and I am hoping one of the lunch places near here has good fruit. I could really go for a crunchy red apple.

Am hoping to get to the gym tonight again, and get into strength training more this year.

 

[eeyore25]

HI Cam!!!!

I have been meaning to get to your journal since I have been feeling better and had a little more time,but it just does not happen. I am so sorry for that! You are doing great!!! Another 1/2 marathon....wow that would be great!!!!!

Keep up the great work and I hope you have a wonderful Tuesday!

 

[agotta]

Here is the formula:
borrowed from another website

Activity Points:

These are harder to calculate. The calculation is based on perceived exertion. Light, Moderate and Heavy. They base the levels on sweating and breathing levels, which leaves asthmatics and heavy sweaters in a strange conundrum.

In January 2005, Weight Watchers released recommendations for Activity Levels based on Heart Rate:

* WeightWatchers.com - Exercise Intensity Levels

They use the typical calculation for Maximum Heart Rate:

Maximum Heart Rate = 220 - Age

They state you can calculate your activity levels based on the following:

* Light is about 40-54% Maximum Heart Rate.
* Moderate is 55-69% Maximum Heart Rate.
* Heavy is equal to or greater than 70% Maximum Heart Rate.

I used much more vigorous percentages in my estimations, so this bit of news made things much easier for me.

Once you’ve calculated how much time you’ve exercised at a certain activity level, here is the registered calculation for Activity Points:

Light Activity Points = Weight X Minutes X .000232
Moderate Activity Points = Weight X Minutes X .000327
Heavy Activity Points = Weight X Minutes X .0008077

You can add Activity Points into your total for the day. The Flex Points plan states that you need to use the Activity Points on the day that you use them. The older plan used to let you Bank a maximum of four Points and save them for up to a week.

WW website says you can only do this for 12 points a week. Talk to you later!

 

[keenercam]

Awesome, Amanda! Thank you!

 

[kimwim8]

Hi Cam! I'm stopping by to say hi! I haven't read your whole journal yet, but I will! I love to watch progress happen! Sounds like you've done great if you're doing a 1/2 marathon!! What an achievement!!

Take care and keep up the GREAT work!!

 

[keenercam]

Hi Cam! I'm stopping by to say hi! I haven't read your whole journal yet, but I will! I love to watch progress happen! Sounds like you've done great if you're doing a 1/2 marathon!! What an achievement!!

Take care and keep up the GREAT work!!

Thanks so much Kim! BTW, your kids are absolutely adorable!


Well, by 11:00 am I'd gotten in 25 oz water (as well as lots of coffee). I have a terrible sinus headache and lots of congestion and post-nasal drip, so I just drank some lemon tea with a tiny bit of honey. I am really going to push the water today in the hopes I will feel better.

Up to 50 oz water by 1:00. Ate lunch but not the extra garden salad I ordered. I'll probably eat it before I go to the gym, to hold me over until dinner.

It's 5:20 and I've just finished another 25 oz water, bringing me to 75 oz. Not sure I am going to make it to the gym tonight. I have a terrible sinus headache and feel so with the post-nasal drip making my tummy icky. Just trying to finish some stuff up at work and will then probably head home. Glad I have veggie soup there because that may be all my stomach can tolerate for dinner. (Though I would hazard to guess that I might be able to force down a devil dog, too )

I am so grateful to all my WISH friends who PM'd me today and kept me awake and positive as I struggled to get through the day. You guys are awesome! I am so lucky to have you!

 

[keenercam]

I ended up staying right on target points-wise yesterday, even though I used 6 points for dessert. :EEK:

Dinner was the garden salad I didn't eat at lunch, less the yolks from the hard-boiled eggs and only a taste of the dressing (1); veggie soup (1); grilled chicken on a lite english muffin (2.5); and broccoli (0).

Dessert was a no pudge ice cream sundae cone which was not as delicious as I'd hoped. The cone part tasted like layers of thin cardboard. I think they try too hard to add fiber and lose all sense of what the food should taste like. Having said that, though, I wonder why I ate the cone anyway? : The ice cream part was really good. I think next time I will just scoop out the ice cream and toss the cone. I remember now that the weight watchers brand of these ice cream cones is much better. I also had another devil dog (4). I had the points and used them for that. I should probably make some commitment about using my points wisely, not on empty junk food, etc., but I probably wouldn't stick to that as long as there are devil dogs around. Or I could say I'll throw the DDs out or bring them to work or give them to my kids or something. But I really enjoy them and they are individually wrapped and I actually look forward to "budgeting" my points so I can have one for dessert. See, I can justify anything!

Today's plan is similar to yesterday. I was feeling fine until I got to work and then my sinuses started hurting badly. I have to wonder if there is something about the air quality in this high-rise office building. Then again, it could just be the time of year, the rain, etc. But feeling this lousy impacts on my ability to gear myself up to go to the gym after work. I am planning to do that, though.

Food Plan for the day:
B: lite turkey burger (4) split over two lite english muffins (3); coffee w/creamer
L: green salad w/fat free feta cheese & kalamat olives & ff italian dressing (2); broccoli (0); green beans (0)
S: (I know I'll need one around 3 or 3:30) -- small apple (.5); lite yogurt (2)
D: grilled chicken (4) "stir fried" with green beans & garlic (0); broccoli (0)
Dessert: devil dog (4)

I have more points to fit in there, but will see how hungry I am before I go to the gym and may have to have some string cheese and crackers or something before I leave here.

ETA: It is 12:30 and I've had 50 oz water in addition to coffee.

By 3:30 I finished another 25 oz, bringing me to 75. Hoping it helps me get re-hydrated. Everything is feeling dry -- chapped lips, dry skin, etc. Of course there is enough congestion/moisture in my head, etc. to make up for all that! UGH!

 

[Blueeyes101817]

cam-you are doing absolutely great , even though you dont feel good! im impressed. you are really getting the water in! thats awesome!
hope you are feeling better and have a great day!!!!!!

 

[carissanboys]

You have an amazing story! I'll have to go back and read more of your journal when I have some free time.

I posted my recipe for the muffins in my journal for you

BTW...I love devil dogs. I'm kind of glad they don't have them here in Australia

 

[keenercam]

You have an amazing story! I'll have to go back and read more of your journal when I have some free time.

I posted my recipe for the muffins in my journal for you

BTW...I love devil dogs. I'm kind of glad they don't have them here in Australia

Thanks, Carissa! No need to read the rest of the journal -- too much drama. Hard to believe 2005 was even real when I think of everything that happened.
Anyway, I can't wait to check out your muffin recipe! Yep, devil dogs are a big temptation. I think the real problem is I'd wanted one since at least October, so now that I have a box, I am relishing them! My aunt LOVES tastykakes and they don't have them in new england where she lives, so every once in a while we ship some to her! She freezes them and takes out one package at a time, though God knows they have so many preservatives in them, she could ration them on the shelf for a year and be fine!

I am having a hunger fit. My tummy is growling loud enough for my colleague to hear it. I am heading toward 100 oz of water and may finish the last of this bottle at the gym. I just ate an apple, too, so I just don't understand. I am going to have a lite yogurt now, and a lite string cheese and crackers before I leave here for the gym.

 

[keenercam]

Finished out yesterday well on food/points & water (100 oz). I did splurge a bit before bed and had about 3 pts worth of nuts, but I know they are "good fat" and I only used 2.5 FPs to do that. It was worthwhile.

Today's food:
B: grilled chicken on lite EMs (5); coffee w/creamer (1)
L: green salad w/fat free feta & olives (2); broccoli (0)

Snacks will be an orange, very small apple, lite yogurt.

I didnt' get to the gym last night. I had gotten completely undressed in the ladies' room at work, folded all my work clothes and started to put on my gym clothes when I realized I'd grabbed shorts instead of pants (it was freezing cold when I left here), and the shorts weren't even workout shorts (wayyy too short, more likely for sleeping or TM at home). By the time I got completely dressed again, I was tired and hungry and frustrated and just went home instead. I did pack workout pants today and will try again tonight.

DS has play practice so I am planning to get to the gym and get done in time to pick him up at 8 and head home for dinner.

It has been SOOO nice this week having food cooked ahead of time in the fridge (grilled chicken, turkey burgers, broccoli, green beans), so that I can eat pretty quickly after walking in the door.

The awesome news in our house is that DH got a fabulous job offer after 7+ months of looking. It has been a big stress for all of us and I am so glad that someone has recognized all he has to offer. It will have a huge impact on our lives as he won't be getting home from work until 6:30 or 6:45 each night. It will impact on his training for the 1/2 and full marathons he is planning to do, too, but it will hopefully, be worthwhile.

 

[kimwim8]

Congrats to your DH, Cam!! That's so great that he has a new job!!

Congrats to you too on your awesome progress. You do such a great job staying on points and drinking your water (even when sick). Great job!!