Kat's Challenge Journal - please feel free to post

[kittythepoohbear]

I have lurked on the WISH boards for a while but decided today to start a journal, hoping that it will make me stay with the program and keep me motivated.
I am 28 (and a half - yikes!), 5'6" and 160. My goals are to lose 30 pounds and get in better shape physically and emotionally. I have been feeling like the gum on the bottom of someone elses shoe lately and really want to change that.
I had lost about 7 pounds earlier this year but packed it all on again when the weather got cold since I didn't want to freeze my butt off as I walked. I can't afford a gym or a treadmill at the moment, so I have basically been laying on the couch watching my Disney DVDs instead of anything active. My eating habits are also off from eating too much sugar and bad carbs. I know I need to change so I signed up for the Self Challenge to motivate myself. I figured I would keep my journal here on the WISH board since I have found DISers to be such nice and motivating people. Also since I am on the DIS everyday anyway, it would be easier to keep track of things.

Today was my first full day making a commitment to change. I am actually rather proud of myself for some of the choices I made today. For a snack I chose to have a few baby carrots and completely ignored the bag of Valentine's candy still on my dining table. I also walked to the coffee shop to meet a friend and declined her offer for a ride home, choosing to walk instead for a grand total of 30 minutes of cardio!

I went grocery shopping and loaded up on lots of yummies like beans, hummus and veggies so I won't be tempted to eat junk. Tonights dinner will be some Goya already prepared pink beans (they are truly the best time saver and very tasty) with some yellow rice and broccoli. I hope to cap of the night with some yoga or at the least some meditation. One a side note that only DISers can appreciate, my iPod yoga/meditation playlist consists of the following:
The Living Seas soundtrack
The Horizons score
The Tree of Life/Animal Kingdom BGM
Tomorrowland BGM (the New Age-y tracks, not the Monorail song )
Others laugh when I tell them, but I find these pieces to be very relaxing.

Off I go to finish my last lesson of the day, then I am free to eat my healthy dinner and re-read Harry Potter 6. I invite comments and motivation. I tend to quit when the going gets tough, so butt kicking is thoroughly appreciated.

Kat

 

[Foxfiregrrl]

and congratulations on taking the first steps in your weight loss journey! I agree with you that these boards are great motivation. Everyone is so nice and helpful. I have also been struggling with feeling down lately in addition to my weight loss struggles. It is nice to come here and read all of the kind things everyone has to say.

I have never done Yoga but would love to start. Did you take a class or are you self taught? There aren't classes here w/out joining a gym. I am afraid to try it on my own cause I feel that it is something I would need person to person help with.

Anyway, I am glad you are here and I wish you well! There is some pixie dust to get you started!

 

[kittythepoohbear]

Alas, I have to re-type my post as I hit the wrong button and I erased my almost completed post. Drat.

Today I managed to keep resisting the M&Ms and Whatcamacallits but feel very hungry. I am talking about mean and antsy hungry where if you don't eat NOW you are a mess. I am chalking it up to my body starting to detox from all the sugar and assorted yuckiness I was eating. I also think I should go back to a more substantial meal in the morning. Just having a piece of fruit, a couple of slices of whole wheat toast with PB and water is not cutting it. I have to find a more nutritional substitute for a Dunkin Donuts everything bagel with veggie cream cheese.

I was supposed to start my strength training work out today and was actually really, really looking forward to it. Couldn't wait to finish work so I can do my lunges, squats and all sorts of crunches. But now I am so tired I am wondering if my regular yoga routine can count as a strength workout. I sure hope so. It is only 7:30 pm and I am ready for bed. Must be a sign of impending old age.

Firefoxgrrl, thanks for the encouragement and the pixie dust!!! Yoga is really great exercise as well as wonderful for calming the spirit. A few years ago, I treated myself to a spa vacation. There I took yoga classes everyday and learned the basics. I continued to take some classes here and there, either at a gym or at a yoga studio but for the most part I practice at home using videos and such. I would suggest taking a few classes if you can to at least learn the basics. Once you have a good understanding of that, you can be comfortable with developing your own routines. But if you can't, there are some great videos and DVDs out there. I would be happy to give you their names if you would like to know - just send a PM. Best of luck to you!

Kat

 

[lindalinda]

Good Luck! I think posting on these boards will really help you keep focused. It really helps me. Also you might want to join one of the exercise challenges. I honestly thought I exercised a lot until I started tracking it on here, and realised I could do way more than I was.

 

[kittythepoohbear]

Well, progress continues albeit in a small way. Today I was stupid and almost hurt my new rabbit Lola. She has a folding play pen I use to keep her seperate from my other rabbit Jellybean. Anyway, instead of completely unfolding the pen as I usually do (I had a student over and the pen takes up so much room) I just put it, in its folded state, standing up by JBs cage. Well, Lola comes running by, the folded up pen falls on her.
I immediately lift it up and she scampers away, thumping her hind legs at me and otherwise being mad. My student and I check her out and while she is fine (a call to the vet confirmed that as she is eating, moving her neck freely, and hopping around she is and will be fine) I was panicked and guilt stricken. My 17 y.o. student actually hugged me and asked if I could continue teaching as she was more worried about me. We finished the lesson and all I wanted to do was attack the M&Ms on my dining table. I almost reached for them when I remembered my goal. I ended up eating a small bunch of grapes instead. So out of a stupid near-crisis came a new strength. I was able to not eat out of guilt and sadness and instead chose a healthy alternative.
So as I sit here having a snack of whole wheat pita and hummus and watching a perfectly healthy Lola chilling out in her cage I am proud of the way things are shaping up. Now if I could only get my butt moving more.

Lindalinda (BTW, my favorite aunt and the one who introduced me to both Disney and classic rock is named Linda. It is a lovely name!), thank you for the good wishes. I plan on signing up for the next exercise challenge - I am sure there will be one for March, correct. That is where I fall behind and where I most want to change.

Kat

 

[kittythepoohbear]

Things continue on track today. Although I didn't get to do my strength training again, I did walk during a work break and did well with the diet. I have discovered that eating a more substantial meal in the morning really helps me to not overeat later in the day. An omlette sandwhich is very filling and healthier than eating pastries or bagels as big as my head everyday.
I have been so good that I treated myself to an chocolate chip cookie ice cream sandwhich for dessert today. I made sure it fell within the calorie value of allowable desserts so that I stayed within my diet. The best thing is that I felt no guilt what so ever. I knew that since I was eating a healthy balanced diet I could give myself a little treat once in a while. It was the best ice cream sandwhich I have tasted in a long time! Well, next to Mickey Bars eaten while sitting in front of the Living Seas in 80 degree weather. But this was the next best thing.
I have also been feeling very good, physically and emotionally, these last 4 days. I don't know if it is the diet, the added exercise, or just the mindset. I haven't felt this way since my last Disney trip. I usually let my busy schedule get me stressed or bring myself down worrying about all sorts of things. This week, even though my work schedule was almost doubled and I had a freak out over Lola, I have been able to return to a calm state and stay there. I think I am finally getting the hang of this!
I look forward to tomorrow where I plan to walk/jog in the park and play with my very healthy and happy bunnies. I also plan on weighing myself this weekend. In any case, I am very happy with my progress so far!

Kat