Continue to Challenge

So, I'm not real fond of saying "I can't"...and I REALLY hate it when someone else tells me I can't do something.

These days, I continue to seek out new and different challenges--both physical AND intellectual. These past few months I have taught myself to read and write Braille so that I can communicate with and help my best friend, who is legally blind. I figured if I could learn Japanese, surely Braille would be doable, right?

On to the physical...

Thank goodness for Groupon! It always seems to bring me new ideas just when I'm ready for the next new thing--at an affordable price! This weekend Shin and I went to the Kersey Valley Zipline. With my fear of heights, I was a little worried, but after jumping off the Stratosphere last month, I knew it would be a cinch.

Thanks to my new-found adventurous spirit and my lighter body (old me would not have met the weight requirement), I had a GREAT time zipping around above the corn fields. I highly recommend it to anyone who is considering giving it a try..

I'm back!

I have taken a long break from my blog, but now that I have an iPad, I should be able to make more frequent updates. Please follow my blog if you are interested in fitness, weight loss, being active, or just being silly like me!

Since losing weight, SO many things in my life have changed. Here is one that occurred to me yesterday.

Fat Mindy probably wouldn't have gone to an outdoor concert in the first place. She preferred to be home on the couch...eating fattening snacks and drowning in her depression. However, yesterday I went to the neighborhood concert with all my friends. I didn't sit on the sidelines, just watching...I got up and danced and had a great time.

This might not seem like such a big deal, but it is truly revolutionary for this former couch potato. What is holding YOU back? What would YOU like to do/try? MY advice? Go ahead and do it--don't wait for the timing to be just right or to feel "ready". Once you let go of what's holding you back, it will all seem worthy and you'll wonder why you didn't act sooner.

Good luck, everyone. Let me know what YOUR latest accomplishment was. We can all learn from each other!

-m2

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!