I'm Still Standing

I've noticed that one thing I do to make life harder on myself is not getting into an exercise routine and sticking with it.  I tend to go in huge spurts, and then quit for weeks.  And then I have to get myself all psyched up to get started again, which is way more effort than it is to just keep going once you're in the habit.

Part of it isn't my fault.  The yoga class I love is only once a week.  And my new work schedule means that, for a while, I can only go every other week.  I keep thinking I'll do a yoga video in between, but it just isn't the same.

Anyway, I went last night, and it was awesome, as always.  I walked a bit beforehand, and I noticed all the people working out as I circled the community center.  I love working out there, because I never feel like anyone is looking at me or judging me.  There are people of all shapes and sizes, and everyone is just there to exercise.  No one cares how cute your clothes are, or how buff your biceps are.

And I, of course, would never be judgemental, but I have noticed lately that a lot of people have really fat elbows.  Like there is one woman who is probably a size four, and she's always there working out like a fool, but I noticed she has major fat around her elbows.  I guess, if we should find something we love about our bodies, I can wholeheartedly say I have super sexy elbows.

Most Awesome Song I Heard While Working Out:  "I'm Still Standing" by Elton John.  I know it's technically a "break up" song, but it's been keeping me going through my unemployment mess.

It's Just Not a Good Time to Diet

I've read before (sorry, I can't point to where, but I've seen it more than once) that a woman should start a diet after her "time of the month" and never before.  Just better to let the hormones work for you, rather than against you.

Yet, here I find myself, deep in the throes of PMS, and trying to start back on that Rapid Start Plan again.  It's not going so well.

I had raisin bran and coffee for breakfast.  A big salad, with only two tablespoons of dressing, for lunch.  A cup of light yogurt for a snack.  And then...a cookie.

But then, baked tilapia, cold slaw with low calorie dressing, and fat free baked beans for supper.  And then...a cookie.

R must be hormonal as well, because he followed me into the kitchen and promptly ate seven miniature Reese's cups.  But then he ate some grapes.  And when I commented that we weren't doing so well on our diet, he said, "Hey, at least I'm eating fruit."

All in all, I figure the majority of our choices today were healthy.  I know we got more vegetables in than we would have on a typical day.  I'm calling it a win, given the timing.

Working is Hard on my Diet

I've written before about how my job was making me fat.  And about how, since being fired (or laid off, or whatever it was), I've lost a few pounds.

I start a new job on Monday, which I'm happy about, despite a couple concerns.  It is actually almost my old job, only I'll officially be employed by a different agency.  And I won't have the same co-workers and stress that they brought on.  I'll also be avoiding a few of the tasks that made my old job so stressful.

Still, I'm a little bit concerned about how this is going to affect my eating and exercise habits.  I can already tell I'm slacking off the healthy eating, just out of stress from preparing to start the new position.  And I'm starting with a bang by travelling for three days.

I hope that once I get settled into the new job, my eating will resume it's healthiness.  I'll be working from home 3-4 days a week, so I should be able to control what goes into my mouth those days, even if the "on the road" days are a bit more difficult.

I already looked at my work calendar compared to the yoga class calendar. and it looks like I can only go one more time in October.  Ugh.

Wish me luck!

You Be Illin'

R and I are doing fairly well with our eating habits, though we fell off the wagon pretty hard this weekend.  He was out of town for basically all weekend, and I was too on Friday.  And we had burgers and fries for lunch that day.  Ummm...and for dinner too.

I know, that's a bad meal plan in any book.  But the thing is, after just four days of eating healthy foods, I actually felt ill from the burger and fries.  The second time anyway.  It was a bigger burger the second time.

So, I got back on the wagon Saturday, pretty well anyway.  We had Taco Bell last night because we were in a hurry and out running errands, and I felt ill after that too.  Though feeling ill after Taco Ball probably isn't unusual.

I've walked every day this past week except Saturday.  And I'm planning to go to yoga tomorrow night.  I haven't been in weeks.  I think it will be good for me, both physically and mentally.  I've been feeling a little off, and I think skipping yoga for so long is part of it.

So, my plan is to keep up my positive efforts, continue to avoid the scale, and try harder to avoid foods that make me ill.