Fit Mommy Friday

The hill, in the springtime.

My exercise goals for this week were pretty simple, just keep moving! And so, I moved!  :-)

I thought all went well.  I discovered a few interesting things.  For one thing, I discovered that walking inside was an inadequate substitute for walking outside.  For the last month since my fall, I have been walking to Leslie Sansone indoors.  I have not been walking as hard as before the fall, mostly doing 2 miles with stretchy bands, trying to take it easy on my injured knee. 

Well, the weather cooperated this week, and so I did two of my walks outside at the park with my son (a bonus).  Wow!  There is a huge difference being inside versus outside.  Perhaps it is the fact that I have to propel myself forward over various terrain (THE hill).  My hips also ached afterwards.  I feel as if I have a long way back to being able to bop around the park like I did before the fall.  But, I will get there, little by little.  I hope to try again next week.  It's nice to have my son along, too.  

In addition to walking inside, I went back to doing my strength and toning via Biggest Loser, alternating between the boot camp and an easier dumbbell workout. I had been using resistance bands.   The first week back to Biggest Loser boot camp, I was in major pain.  The next week, things got better.  This week, I did not hurt at all.  That means I need to increase the weights or find another way to torture myself.  (Ha, ha!)  It's nice to see improvement! 


As for my eating, I've gone back to recording calories at My Fitness Pal. I decided that  I needed to keep track of calories for awhile until I found a few good meals for breakfast and lunch.  After I build my go to "menu".  I'll not have to keep track of calories as long as I stick to my plan.  I want to have five or so for each category.

Here are a few of my ideas:

~Breakfast~

• 2 eggs & whole grain toast
• whole grain cereal & milk
• green smoothie & toast
• oatmeal
• South Beach Oatmeal pancakes

~Lunch~  

• leftover lean meat from dinner, vegetables, & fruit
• chef salad & fruit
• whole grain wrap with lean meat, greens,& fruit
• homemade soup, whole grain bread, & fruit

I need more lunch ideas.  I am toying with just having another smoothie, perhaps one made with oats, yogurt, spinach among other things.  I think part of my problem has been that I am lazy at lunch time.  I don't want to make a salad.  I am thinking of also making a big batch of vegetable soup to eat for a few days. 

For dinner, I am enjoying taking recipes from South Beach Diet, Sonoma Diet, and my favorite cookbook Saving Dinner the Low Carb Way.

Thanks for taking the time to read! If you'd like to see more blogs of people encouraging each other to care well for the bodies God has given us, visit Annie Kate! 
~Jenn

Day 85: No Excuses Allowed

Happy Birthday to my dear mom, who supports me all the way!   Thank you, Mom!  I love you!!! 

Movement:  walking at the park with my sweet friend.  Thinking I may need some better walking shoes.  I nearly got a blister after last week's jaunt. 

Last night we previewed The Biggest Loser Workout Number 2.  I think it is going to be a good one.  I like how flexible it is in allowing choices in the workouts.  It's mix and match all the way. 

Food:  Once again, I will be recording my food at My Fitness Pal.  If you (hint, hint Mom) join the site (it's free), request me as a friend (jenn4him).  Then you can see my daily food diary.  I really like this and think I will be keeping it up from now on.

Yesterday's intake was 1533.  I was hungry at bedtime. I did not care.  I did not want to eat anything else because I want those 3# gone!  And they are!  I cheated.  I weighed a day early. 

On My Mind:


Now to the subject at hand, excuses.  I do not want to seem harsh here, but am attempting to speak in love.  There should be very few excuses allowed to interrupt your exercise plan.  Illness or injury would have to be the only exceptions.

For years, as a homeschooling mother, I used my kids as an excuse not to move my body.  I used any and all excuses!  I flat out just did not want to do the work.  I was mad that I had to do it.  I was stuck in the thought that if I could not do it "right", why do it at all.  (What is "right", anyway?) 

When I started this current version of my weight loss journey, I knew that I would have to be pretty tough with myself in this area.  There is just no other way.

Even now, I find myself thinking about the future and thinking there is no way I will be able to "keep this up" when I am 90!  (So silly, I know!) So my little lazy self starts to think, "why bother."  Ugh!  I think it will be a constant battle in my head forever.  That's OK.  I am more determined than those negative thoughts. 

So, if you find yourself making excuses, remember it is best to just lay them aside and figure out a way to make time.  If it means getting up early or doing just 10 minutes at a time until you get your whole workout done, then so be it.  If it means involving your kids, do it.  Whatever it takes.  Your health is at stake! 

Schedule your exercise into your day and do not allow anything to get in the way. You will thank yourself!  Not only will you have extra energy to keep up with your demanding day, you will have the satisfaction knowing you did not let your excuses get the best of you.  Nothing feels better than that!

Just walked up a dune, so happy! 

Day 84

Movement:  BL's sculpting and toning.  Love this workout.  It is challenging and yet doable.  I know it is making me stronger.  :-) 

Food:  Yesterday I ate 1973 calories with a 524 deficit.  I earned 327 calories from my work out.  I think it was a good day.

Random Thoughts: 

• I'm almost out of everything healthy, so today will be interesting, eating wise.  
• I really need to increase my vegetable consumption.  It is pure laziness on my part. 
• I am amazed that whole wheat pasta has so much protein.  That's why I like MFP. I can learn so much about foods I eat. 
• MFP tracks your water, so I've been keeping up with that better.  
• I really want some TJ's whole grain brown rice today!  
• I am thinking of a trip to the Apple Store, not that Apple store, but the one at Conner Prairie with bags of beautiful apples from local orchards.

Day 83

Movement:  BL's low intensity aerobics, with those jumping jacks!  I earned 325 calories from today's workout, according to My Fitness Pal (MFP).  I worked up a good sweat. I am looking forward to changing my fitness plan this fall.  Only this week and next left of the 6 weeks BL challenge. 

I've also figured out that I need to split up my breakfast around my activity.  I eat my cereal and coffee and then work out.  Then I have some protein, water, and fruit afterwards. That is how I am upping my calories for breakfast.  If I eat it all before my workout, I get an upset tummy.  If I don't eat at all, I feel like fainting. 

Food:  I love MFP!  I even printed off my food diary from yesterday.  It gives you so much information beside calories.  Speaking of, I ate 1,860 calories yesterday with 24g of fiber and 54g of protein.  (Go me!)  I also like that it makes you stop and think before you eat.  I can plan a little better knowing the calorie (or even the fat and sugar) content of a food. I like numbers.  Now I really want a Droid so that I can take MFP with me where ever I go!  (lol, not going to happen anytime soon)

I still had over 600 calories remaining yesterday.  According to My Fitness Pal, I should loose a pound a week if I eat like I did yesterday.  I actually had to make an effort to eat more.  That was fun. We shall see if my body agrees with MFP.  It seems to have a mind of its own.  I am going to weigh again Saturday morning.  Until then, no peeks!  Otherwise I will drive myself insane.