A New Goal!

Thanks to an invite from my friend and co-worker, Dustin, I have signed up for the Charlotte RaceFest 10K to be held on April 16, 2011.  I will be 50 + 11 days at that point, and can't believe that I'm planning to run a 10K! At least this will put me in a higher age bracket!!

A bunch of people from Okuma will be participating, so it should be a fun time.  Now I just have to convince my son, Ken, to join us as well.

Training started in earnest today... I did some interval training near home.  It was 10K total, but I did sprints and speed walking to get a good fat burn going.

It feels good to have a new goal! Why not join us?  Check out the map below, or go to the event's site and register:  Charlotte RaceFest Site

Stop Counting Calories!

Stop Counting Calories!  Yes... that's what Adam said to me.  Until now, my food journal has been my bible.  Everyone who knows me is accustomed to seeing me toting it around, making notes, weighing/measuring my food, looking up calorie counts on my BlackBerry.  Well, starting this Monday, that ritual has changed!

I'm still keeping a journal, but it is a much looser version from what I had before.  Basically, all I write down is:

• Time I ate
• Hunger level (this is VERY important)
• Food Description
• Food Amount (not how many grams or ounces... more like "One handful" or "Two servings")

So... why the sudden change in my record keeping method?  Well there were several reasons, I suppose.  The first reason was that I was out of touch with my hunger level, and was just eating because it was "time" to eat or I had calories "left over."  This new way deciding whether to eat or not based on my hunger level may seem overly obvious to some, but to me it is actually quite a novel challenge!

Another reason for this new method is that eventually it would be nice to get rid of the journal altogether.  Since I have a very compulsive personality, in some ways I've just traded one obsession (food) for another (the journal).  Neither should be allowed to replace the actual task of dealing with my emotions in a more productive manner, right?

I've only been trying this new method for 5 days, and there has been no change in my weight.  I also feel a little nervous about not counting my calories, but I think as I see success, I will slowly forget about the days when I was SO focused on the numbers on the page.

If all this talk about food and counting calories has made you hungry, too, get up and move a little (and not just a walk to the fridge)!  See if you're REALLY hungry or possibly just bored.  You just might be surprised!

However, if you really are hungry, well, go have a nice healthy snack.  Fruit and cheese, almonds, whole wheat bread & turkey ham, etc.  WE CAN DO IT!!!!!!!!

-Mindy
AKA The Red Tornado 

Flying Without My Safety Net

For anyone who is trying to get (or stay) healthy & fit, traveling can be a real challenge.  Once we are away from our routine and our familiar surroundings, it is easy to get off track. 

Lately, every time I have traveled (business or pleasure), I have struggled to stay on program.  I always started out with the best intentions, but quickly veered off course with the slightest bump in the road.

I wanted my latest trip (5 days/4 nights) to Utah to be different, so Adam and I made a little challenge.  We listed all of my most-hated workout elements (pull-ups, burpees, running witht he treadmill at 15-degree incline, etc.) and agreed that if I came back more than a pound over my pre-trip weight, I would have to perform the redemption workout based on all of these detested elements.

Maybe it was this challenge, or maybe it was my stubborn determination to finally come home without failing at something that is SO important to me, but I just knew in my heart (and my mind) that this time had to be different.

So... what was my plan for success?  Here are the # important elements that I thought would work for me:

1. BE PREPARED
   The food that we are used to and what we might be able to find while on the road (especially in the airports and on planes) will be quite different.  I knew it would be important to bring food for the travel days and also for snacks during the week.  Some of my favorites are:  almonds, beef jerky, South Beach cereal bars, Atkins protein bars, Luna bars, apples, dates and raisins.  Once I got to Utah, I made a trip to the grocery store for a case of bottled water, apples, oranges, and yogurt.  My room had a fridge, so I was able to keep everything chilled and ready.
    
2. BE INFORMED
   Whenever possible, know what you're getting yourself into.  Before you leave home, go online and check out the hotel's fitness room.  Do they have cardio equipment?  Do they have strength training equipment? If they don't have a fitness room, do they have day passes to a nearby gym?  Have an idea of how you are going to get in a workout and stick to the plan.  If the hotel's fitness room is not optimal, remember that a lot can be done with body weight and just your normal surroundings:  body weight squats, pushups, sit ups, jumping jacks, running, climbing the hotel stairs, etc.  Take some time to work out a game plan, either way.
   
   While I can usually find SOMETHING to eat no matter where we go, it is always good to know the menu ahead of time, and most places have their menus online.  Even if they don't provide nutritional information, you can usually get enough from the site to help you make a wise dining decision once you get there.  If you feel rushed or overwhelmed, you might be tempted to over-indulge or stray from your program, so a little information can go a long way.
    
3. BE STRONG
   There will be many temptations to stray from your program. 
   
   You've found the perfect salad on the menu, but they don't have any calorie-friendly dressing choices?  Ask for a bowl of lemon wedges.  Along with some salt and pepper, it can make a nice substitution for dressing.
   
   Everyone has decided to order dessert?  Have coffee or tea while your tablemates indulge.
   
   Is the group making an after-dinner trip to the bar?  Say your good nights and hit the gym instead.  You'll save on the extra calories, burn a few extra, AND get to bed before the night owls.  Remember... our bodies not only need nourishment and exercise, but also need the proper amount of rest.

So... how did I do this trip?  I stuck to my program and came home 1.5 pounds lighter.  Finally--success!  If I can do it, I know you can, too!  If you have a success story or a tip for keeping healthy and active while on the road, please feel free to share it here.  Together we can DO this!!

My Second 5K Was a Success!

I successfully finished the Clean Air 5K

at McAlpine Creek Park!

I'm still a slowpoke (this was only my second 5K), but I improved my previous time, so I'm happy. When I ran the Komen 5K in October, my time was 39 minutes, Wednesday when Ken and I ran the 5K trail at McAlpine, we did it in 38:30, and today my time was 35:51.

I was #92 out of 97 in my age group, so at least I wasn't last! Next year I'll move up to the 50's age group, so hopefully that will give me a little more advantage...?? Thanks to all my friends for the words of encouragement, and thanks to Ken for running by my side the whole time!
 
After the race, Ken reminded me that 1 year ago, there is no way that I could have done something like this.  He told me how proud of me he is, and for once, I'm actually proud of myself, too!

Journeys are not always about forward progress

Within this blog, it seems like I'm always writing about the positive things that happen along my weight loss journey.  There is a VERY good reason for that, I suppose... after all, this journey IS mostly filled with good stuff.  However, like any journey, this weight loss adventure has its ups and downs, and if I didn't share it ALL, I wouldn't be telling the whole story.

This past weekend, I went out of town.  I did NOT eat like the old, fat me would have, but I DID eat a bunch of stuff that I shouldn't have.  I worked out, but not as HARD as I should have.  I came home and was tired and lonely, and ate some MORE stuff that I shouldn't have.  Results?  Plus 7 (yes, seven) pounds on the scale.

What was I thinking?  How could I DO such a thing?  Not only have I set myself back a WHOLE bunch, but I have disrespected and disappointed my friend and trainer who racks his brain daily to find a way to help me lose just one more pound...just one more pound.

So...on top of beating myself up for being so stupid and disrespecful of my body and trainer, I have been banned from training with him until I get my weight back where it was.  Some might find this harsh or even counterproductive, but it is probably just the medicine that I need.

I'm gonna' work at this and get it right.  I am a food addict, and this is not easy for me, but I WILL work at it and I WILL get it right.

Cheer for me, pray for me, even learn from me if you like!  I will keep everyone posted and I WILL get back to where I deserve to TrainWithAdam---you'll see!

A Whole New World

Cute boutiques, trendy clothes, sexy shoes... when I was fat, none of this was a part of my life. A window shopping trip in downtown Greenville was never that much fun for me. I could look at the jewelry or other accessories, but none of the clothes were my size and even a lot of the jewelry was too small for my chunky wrists and neck.


This weekend, after a delicious meal at The Lazy Goat, we went for a stroll through town. My sister-in-law spotted a really cute top in the window of one of the stores and said she thought it would look cute on me. The store had lots of cute outfits and trendy accessories... the kind of place that "Fat Mindy" would never think to even enter. However, this time I decided to take a risk and go in.

Not only did I find a cute outfit, but I also found some matching accessories AND some sexy, hot shoes! I had SO much fun trying things on and picking things out. It was a whole new experience for me!


The BEST part of the whole experience, though? My sister-in-law, Sheila, being SO happy for me! I think she was more excited than me and even kept exclaiming, "Look at YOU--SHOPPING!" Yeah... look at ME! SHOPPING! It's a whole new world for me, for sure!

Can't...

It has been a while since I have had anything to say that has felt "blog worthy," but last night while working out with Adam, I had a revelation and a strong desire to share it with anyone who might be reading this. 

My inspiration was the word "can't."  Last night I accomplished something SO small that most people wouldn't even recognize it as an "accomplishment," but to ME it was HUGE.  Ever since I started working with Adam, I have been using the stairs as a regular part of my training routine.  We started out only doing a few reps at a time, and believe me, I was not moving fast or with any amount of grace.  As time went on, he began asking me to take the steps 2 at a time.  This was not easy for me.  Hoisting my over 200-pound, 5'4" body up one step at a time was hard enough!  Taking the steps 2 at a time I would wobble, bang into the wall, have to grab onto the hand rail, etc.  Recently, however, I have been able to walk up 2 at a time with ease.  Still, in the back of my mind was a "can't"!  This "can't" was that I just knew that I could never RUN up the stairs 2 at a time.  With my fear of falling, and my lack of confidence in my athletic ability, I told myself, "I can't ever do THAT"!

Well, last night we spent some time on those damn stairs.  All of a sudden, Adam decides that I'm going to RUN up them 2 at a time.  Of course, my cowardly self just stands there and stares at the steps, hoping they'll somehow magically disappear or something.  All the while, he's behind me saying "You got this...don't think about it, just do it!" (one of his favorite sayings).  Well my first two attempts were lame, and I only made it about halfway up before I had to slow down to a walk, but after a while, I was able to make it the whole way at a run (maybe a "jog"?).  Adam pushed me into making a "can't" into a "can."

So... that little episode got me thinking about all the "can'ts" that I have now eliminated from my life:

I can't run (I am signed up for my second 5K on 5/22)
I can't fit (I fit in a size 10, an airplane seat, chairs with arms, roller coasters, etc.)
I can't jump (I can do jumping jacks, jump rope, jump up onto a box, etc.)
I can't keep up (Most people have trouble keeping up with me, now!)
I can't do a single pushup (I can drop and do 20 ANYTIME!)
I can't do situps (I can do them on an incline, now!)
I can't live without fast food (other than an occasional salad, I don't eat fast food anymore)
I can't enjoy shopping (I can now try on clothes in the regular stores--SO much fun)
I can't do it (I may not WANT to do it, but I CAN do it!)

What are you telling YOUR self that YOUcan't do?  Are you sure?  What if someone ELSE told you that you can't?  Would you try to prove them wrong?  Sometimes we have to have the courage/fortitude to prove our SELVES wrong!

Turn a "can't" into a "can" this week.  After all, if you prove your SELF wrong, aren't you still RIGHT?

We CAN do it!