Exercise

This is Sonnet finally checking in. My healthy eating/exercise progress has been a bit up and down. My biggest struggle has been fitting in exercise. My two main exercise activities were going to the gym to swim and going on walks with Ruthie. They Gym was dependent on Christian’s schedule (he had to be available to watch Ruthie) and the pool schedule (the High School Swim Team swims there and they have water group classes and other events that take up block of time). Christian is very accommodating but as he picked up a second job it became more difficult to schedule time.  Going on walks was easier, but it was still required working around Ruthie’s schedule (if I cut it too close to nap time I found myself carrying a grumpy baby in one arm while pushing the stroller in the other).  I will admit that sometimes I would get rather frustrated because I often felt inactive. Last week we got a bike trainer. That is something that you set your regular bike on to make it a stationary bike. I love it. Now I can go for a ride when Christian is at work and while Ruthie takes a nap.  This has been great. I have ridden every day.  Then on Saturday, when Christian was mountain biking with our friends, Kelly and Jayson, Kelly mentioned that she goes to a spinning class. Somewhere in this conversation I was volunteered/invited to go to spin class with Kelly. Yikes! I had been riding the trainer but a spin class was a whole hour of insanely fit people spinning at unfathomable speed. However, I will try just about anything once so today I went. It was so fun – in that odd fitness I-think-I-want-to-die sort of way way. The instructor was really nice (not one of those yell at you types) and encouraging. I am definitely going back on Thursday. Wish me luck.

Another 2 week worth post. Last week at weigh-in I had lost another pound. That brought my total to 18 pounds down. YEA! I continue to go to the gym most days. I very much enjoy it. I must admit without the IPad I would not make it the 30 minutes on the Elliptical. I watch movies and that makes the time bearable. After my 30 minutes or 300 calorie Elliptical workout, I hit about 7 machines. It is a good routine that targets endurance/aerobic as well as arm and leg weight resistance. Today weigh-in showed another pound down, 19 total. Not too bad considering I ate crazy yesterday on Mother’s Day. We had a family dinner and yes, my portions were large and yes, I ate dessert. Other than that, I have been a totally awesome Zone eater. I seem to be moving soooo sloooow. Clothes are fitting better but my chest and hips are still too big. Oh well, they say slow and steady is the key. I am trying to be patient.

Playin' Hookie

So, you haven’t heard from me in two and a half weeks. Probably thought I’d fallen off the wagon and didn’t have the courage to admit it. Ah Contraire! Weigh-in day two weeks ago was on the day Stephen & I headed out for a conference in Tahoe. We weighed in but shortly after left town and I never got around to writing. Last weigh-in day was my first day back to seminary and work, so I hit the ground running. Just didn’t make time to write. However, this afternoon I have free and thought I’d catch up.

We had a wonderful time in Tahoe eating sensible.  Notice the water - I cannot think of the last time I had anything but water to drink.  Good thing we wern't soda pop drinkers to begin with.

I packed things like tuna, fruit, boiled eggs and our delicious 1 block trail mix snack bags. Sonnet turned us on to a yummy treat called Cliff Builder Bars. They make an easy snack, come in six flavors and taste good. It was handy to have a refrigerator in our hotel room. We picked up cottage cheese and yogurt at the store there and could pretty much eat out of our room however, at least once a day we went out to eat. The casinos buffets in Lake Tahoe are wonderful. A plethora of healthy food just waiting to be eaten. Of course, there was more unhealthy food but that didn’t tempt us. I have found that I really like spinach. Romaine lettuce and spinach make up the base for my favorite salads.
 I have been hitting the gym about 5 times a week. This increase in exercise has really paid off. Clothes are fitting better. Even while in Tahoe I availed myself of the hotel gym and walked extensively around town. At last weighing, I have lost 17 pounds. Feels great! Stephen is coming along slower. He does the diet thing pretty good but doesn’t really exercise. He is moving in the right direction and that is what is important.