So That is What WELL Feels Like?

Perfect 10 Update - Final Week!

It's been a long time since I've felt this good. And while I would NOT say that I am 100% yet, I am very happy to be 90% well - and looking forward to the rest coming along soon!

Is the Perfect 10 REALLY over already? I feel like I'm just getting back in the game - only to find out that the buzzer is ringing. Here's how it wound up - this week and overall.

Limit to 1 Soda a Week - Again, I went with no soda this week. Overall, I have gone from being a "several a day"drinker to about 1 a month. I am very pleased with this result and believe that I will be able to continue this pattern. (I even made it through the "sick period" without returning to my old ways - previously, this would have been a deal breaker!)

Push-ups 3xs a Week - I did do 1 day of push ups and for the rest of the week I had one of those BOX weeks - that I did enough lifting to mimic weight training! And I have the aching muscles to prove it. Due to illness - I'm out of practice. I think that overall, I did very well. I plan to continue this practice in hopes of shaping and toning my arms to reach a "sleeveless quality"

Walking 2xs a Week - I walked twice (counts for last week) after updating - and I didn't think I would feel that good. I'll be walking this weekend as well. With spring approaching, I see this routine developing into a regular thing - the dogs love the walk and so does my son, since it gives us "talk time". I plan to get back on track with this and also to increase - by joining a new found pal on a regular schedule of walking...though she would like to convince me to run! Time will tell!

Limit calories - I was much more successful at boosting fruit intake this week. I spent some days without meat as well. And what I did eat the rest of the time was pretty reasonable and appropriate in portion size. This is a work in progress and I don't know that the goal is ever "met", but I'll keep working on this. I know it's the only way to make my scale my friend.

Limit Boxed Foods - I did purchase a few boxed food items. Not in crazy amounts. This challenge has really forced me to look closer at my box purchases and while it has not prevented all "junk" foods from entering my pantry - it has limited my relationship with them. I do plan to continue this challenge - I see the direct correlation between what goes in my cart and what is available to go in my mouth mindlessly later. Go figure.

Unknown thing about me: I am legally blind without the glasses. This is somewhat related to my month+ long headache. I'm hoping that a new pair of glasses with new prescription and progressive lenses (don't be fooled - that means BIfocals - a fact that made me cry) will help put all that headache business to rest once and for all.

I am happy that I've been able to experience success with this project. I'm sad to see it end. If nothing else - the weekly posts kept me focused and honest and accountable. I may continue updating on a weekly basis - before this challenge it was easier to say nothing. Cross your fingers that all my work is rewarded with being the random winner of some exercise equipment that will NO doubt help me continue meeting goals and getting fit! Thanks for all the support / comments and new followers - we hope you stick around. Also, a big thanks to Steve for hosting this physical challenge and for giving me an excuse to push myself and report to the world!

Still At It- Update

Still working on recovery phase...

Soda - none.

Walking 2xs week - I have been out of bed most days this week. Does that count? Seriously, my activity level has increased - but not to a point that would be considered "exercise".

Push-ups - not yet back to this.

Boxes - unless we are counting boxes of fries (see previous post) I'm still doing good there. 2 boxes purchased this week - both were drink mixes to stock up.

Reduce calories - eating is not back to normal, so I'm still at an unhealthy low level.

In my last post I talked about how I've dropped down into a new body fat category according to my scale. However, I was not completely correct - I thought I previously was in the Obese category - turns out I was only in the Overfat category - still an ugly "o" word. According to my scale / scale manual I am now flirting with the upper range of the "healthy" weight. When I look in the mirror (or at the size on my pants) I don't see it - so I'd like to be closer to the middle or lower part of this range. Baby steps in the right direction.

Little known fact about me: While I am usually a fan of all-things-chocolate, I do NOT prefer chocolate cake. As a matter of fact - I usually will only eat chocolate cake of any sort if it is frozen...which is a whole other odd thing about me - my preference for cake products in a frozen state.

Perfect 10 Update

I am still under the weather - and frankly about SICK of begin SICK.

• Soda - none this week.
• Exercise (push-ups and walking) - I've traded this in for extra sleep time and a few moments without throbbing head pain.
• Boxes - still none purchased.
  
• Reduced calories - still not back to regular eating, so this has not been a concern.

Unknown fact: I am a dog person. I especially love smaller dogs because they are like puppies their whole lives.

Late Update

My health has gone from bad to worse. Every once in a while my asthma likes to remind me exactly HOW much energy you use just breathing. I thought I pretty much had it under control and I had a sneak attack of a headache that literally lasted all week - ending with a tearful visit to Urgent Care on Saturday. They told me what I had already assumed - I had strep - but when your tonsils are the size of alien spaceships- I'm not sure you have to be a Dr. to figure that one out.

Regardless of all the drama - here's how the week went.

Exercise - I did manage two days of the push-up routine. Also I did walk one evening. When you factor in how I have felt, I think that is the equivalent of being in a triathlon.

Overeating - none - mostly I've barely eaten anything.

Soda - Did have one this week. It was a moment of desperation.

Boxes - None, mostly not eating has helped greatly with this goal. Though I do look forward to a return to "normal".

unknown fact: I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE hospital food.

Weekly Update

This one will be short and sweet.

I am not feeling sweet - I am feeling sweaty and it has nothing to do with exercise.

My little one appears to have shared his germs with me - for Valentines Day. Awwww.

So, it all comes down to this -
Exercise - nope none of it happened. I thought of it. I thought of the fact that I was dressed, at work, felt like poop and had deadlines - and that is as far as we got.

Overeating - nope. I don't have the energy to lift that much food to my mouth. Nor to cook. Nor to drive to pick up food. Nor to yell for dinner service... is the universe trying to HELP me? And I knew I was getting sick when rice cakes were the thing that sounded best for lunch.

Soda - I did have a soda day. When your throat is dry and itchy - that is when I need the burn BAD. Now, I believe I would have NOT consumed a soda if it were not for the fact that I was trapped at a work event that day in which I was paying $4 a person for beverages! (which I thought was an insane price for 3 varieties of 2 liters with ice and tap water) Regardless, had soda and will sooth my throat for the rest of this illness with club soda so I don't have to confess to being a huge cheater. As penance I plan to consume no more soda in the month of February. (Even notice how close the word penance is to penis? just saying. )

Boxes - None. The public is infested with germs and I should resist the urge to send this bug back out into the world.


Unknown fact of the wonder-of-me: When I have the itchy throat - I NEED McD's fries. It's not something to be proud of - but it's a moment of weakness. I believe that trans fats may be the cure to the common cold.....no?

Update on the Snail-Speed Progress

Week: 5 Update

# Consume a limit of 1 soda per week. Back to success! No soda this week. Really - at this point, when I have a craving - it's usually the idea of soda and not the real thing that I desire. But I kind of miss the burn as it goes down my throat. Ahhh. This can be re-lived with club soda, which I think is okay for you - unless someone tells me otherwise.
# Do Push-Up's 3xs a week. Done. But mostly because I will be finishing up the week today and tomorrow - sick kiddo, weird work schedule - I'm not sure where the week went.
# Walk 2xs a week. Done- again, because I'm doing it today and tomorrow.
# Reduce calories and keep food journal. I've been practicing Mindful Eating - which does reduce my intake. But I've kicked myself almost weekly for making this a goal - knowing how I feel about it. I think that the Mindful Eating is my best approach to meeting this goal.
# Purchase no more than 5 boxes per week. Back on track here. Frozen veggies (couldn't find in a bag), cream cheese, and a box of wheat thins for SuperBowl day.

Knowing that we are at the halfway point is a bit disappointing - the numbers on the scale are not dipping as I would like, in fact they don't move. However, I believe that I have improved my health on several levels - even if I won't be featured in any fitness magazine any time soon as a "before" / "after" feature. Having the pedometer has completely opened my eyes to the lack of movement on my regular days and then need to crank it up a notch. I think awareness is an important step in this process - so I'm trying to embrace and celebrate it.

Deep secrets about me: Along Steve's secret - I'll confess with my musical talents. I play several instruments - the piano (at a pretty expert level- though I'm sure I'm rusty from lack of practice), the flute (at an okay-dokey level), the trumpet (I could likely crank out a scale or two), and percussion (xylophone, marimba, tri-tom drums) not so much on the drum set - though I could keep good time (which is really like Drums 101). Also, I've composed a piece for a complete concert band. It's been preformed a couple of times by my hometowns municipal band.

Ask and You Shall Receive...Update

Well last week I was in distress because my favorite flavor of water packet is being removed from the shelves of all of my local shopperies. Shortly after that - I was working late and happened to be drinking my energy mix to avoid the temptation of soda-land. As my night was coming to a close, I developed a horrible migraine - which left me feeling nauseous / fuzzy eyed for my entire hour plus long drive home - in a thick fog. By the time I got home I was in tears and contemplating self-brain removal to end the pain. I woke the next morning with the migraine still raging in my head - not enough to make me fully nauseous - just enough to make me remember it could crush me at any moment.

The fortunate side-effect of this (see how I'm looking for the positive? Brownie point anyone?) is that I completely have one of those food / illness associations and I've gone most of the week without my drinking any at all. Which is quite amazing - b/c it has really become a daily requirement (at least on work days) So - I guess the moral is be careful what you wish for.
On with the rest of the report:

• Consume a limit of 1 soda per week. I had hopes of going a full month without a soda - however, a visit to a house that could only be described as my allergies-worst-nightmares led to symptoms including difficulty breathing, my throat threatening to swell shut, and in general feeling like I'd been poisoned (after not ever getting back to normal from previously mentioned migraine and also this treatment!) In my compromised state - I consumed 1 soda (on a Sunday no less). It wasn't even gone before the regret set in, but if 1 a month is going to be my new average - that's not bad at all.
  
• Do Push-Up's 3xs a week. Done. I have been increasing the length of the sets to build some more endurance. And to meet my "able to do 50 push ups" goal.
  
• Walk 2xs a week. Done- we've decided this is what the mall is for.
  
• Reduce calories and keep food journal. No. It didn't happen in any sort of formal manner. I knew when I needed to stop - I just didn't always listen. I appreciate all the suggestions for online food trackers - it's just not my thing and I still don't like them - but I'm glad that they seem to work for so many of you. I will officially do better next week in this area.
  
• Purchase no more than 5 boxes per week. Apparently this was my "epic fail" week! LOL I did surpass my box quota - twice. I had not had a real "stock up" shopping trip and some prices were just too good to pass up. However, the vast majority of boxes that I did buy were NOT junk food - so I think that counts for something.
  

Little thing about me: I have a sweet tooth. This week I've fallen off the wagon due to butterscotch blondies and dark chocolate that I've been dipping in white chocolate peanut butter (no trans fats and no high fructose). Regardless of my sugar addiction - I have managed to keep the scale in the same place. I would ask for help avoiding my sugar craving ways- but I'm afraid of how the Universe might deliver that "gift".

Food Pyramid and Other Impossilbe Mountains

Do you remember the food pyramid as a child? It involved eat this many servings of each food group. It made SENSE. Okay, so it was kind of tricky - is a serving of meat a half a cow? A slab of fish? A multitude of chicken body parts?

And then some genius came up with the "same size as" theory. You know, a serving of meat is about the size of a deck of cards. I think a serving of veggies or fruit was about the size of your fist. Bread servings were about the size of a CD - but there was some rule about thickness that always got lost in my mind. But it was a guideline that I could visualize.

Flash forward to this week - I've openly admitted that food journals stink! (A. They are a pain in the butt. B. Calorie counts are always a guestimation. C. I find that food journals ENCOURAGE me to eat purchased / boxed foods - b/c they come with a label, unlike my homemade meals.) I'm not a total quitter so I'm trying to adapt the food tracking to some kind of system that doesn't make me crazy - so I thought of the food pyramid. Isn't that the idea? If you eat from those guidelines you would be eating a healthy and well rounded diet?

So I began my visit to my pyramid. Now, I have not been living in a cave. I am aware that they revised the pyramid. What I had not noticed so much was how completly UNuseful it had become. Now, before the mypyramid folks go crazy with hate mail - there are some wonderful tools on the site that help to guide you in the right direction of number of servings you need based on age and weight. There is a lot of good information about food groups, variety, and healthy guidelines.

The problem lies here - after my visit to the pyramid of nutrition - I feel like I know LESS than I did before I went there. I was under the impression that you need 5+ servings of fruit / veggies per day. Nope. Apparently not. Mine suggested 2.5 CUPS of veggies and 1.5 CUPS of fruit. Now, I ask you - how many cups is a banana? What is the size comparison to 2 cups of lettuce? And not all produce is measured equally. Dried fruit 1/2 cup = 1 cup - say what? What happened to servings? Where did they go? Is 1 cup 1 serving? (unless you are dried?)

And there were like 5 meat ounces per day. I dare you to find the 5 oz. meat serving on a menu AND by the way - that would be IT for the whole day! What happened to the deck of cards? Are they an ounce? Two ounces? And where do you count wheat germ- is that a grain? And how much is considered an ounce? Because - for the record - if I have to choose between wheat germ in my yogurt or a toasted English muffin - well, let's just say the wheat germ is going to lose.

And, please don't get me started on the veggies. While I need 2.5 cups per day, apparently it takes a statistical genius to make the spreadsheet of how those should be divided - there's a suggested number of servings per week for dark greens, orange, starchy, and then the all mysterious "other". What the hell is an "other" vegetable?

And all of this is without getting into the COMPLEX realities of real life eating. Like corn bread - this recipe has one can corn and one can creamed corn in it. So is that a grain? Is it a veggie? Is it a grain and a veggie? How many ounces is it? How many cups of corn? Let's hope that weight loss is a side effect of insanity - because the doctor ordered a little crazy.

My plan for the next week is to make some kind of modified checklist for daily use where I'll track that I've eaten all of these suggested foods first. I figure that if I cover all my food servings before moving onto the "fun stuff" maybe I'll be too full to over do it. Oh yes, the "fun stuff". That was an eye opening moment. It suggested that I did have some "extra" calories each day - want to know how many? 120(ish)! Suddenly it's clear - that's not even a candy bar. Much less a mini candy bar in the afternoon, some ice cream in the evening, and a little snack while waiting for dinner - clearly I've been doing some creative budgeting with my calorie bank account - or credit card as it may be.

As for the rest of the goals.

• Consume a limit of 1 soda per week. So far, so good - but I just found out that Wal-Mart is going to stop carrying my life-saving flavored water product. Please Mr. Universe, stop dumping on me. Crisis to follow.
  
• Do Push-Up's 3xs a week. Done.
• Walk 2xs a week. Done.
  
• Reduce calories and keep food journal. Adapting to be more use-able, less PITA-ish. (Pain In The Ars)
  
• Purchase no more than 5 boxes per week. I fully plan to, but have not yet broken this rule. I only made a short trip to the store - no boxes involved. But when I find those little tasty water packets - I'm buying the full inventory. No questions asked. I'll repent later.
  

Little thing about me: I am a Prince fan. People that have known me -for years - are seldom aware of my great love for the purple man. But seriously, how many times can Purple Rain, Artist formerly known as..., and Darling Nicky come up in general conversation?

Week 2 Update

• Consume a limit of 1 soda per week. There really must be something about Sunday that makes me want a soda bad - again this was a testing day. But luckily our house was preferred soda-free, so I put myself on house arrest and survived. The rest of the week was not nearly as tempting.
  
• Do Push-Up's 3xs a week. Done.
• Walk 2xs a week. Done.
  
• Reduce calories and keep food journal. Not so good here - like a 100% fail. However, I was mindful of the things that went into my mouth (as if I were going to have to write them down and add them up later). So I think I still did an okay job of cutting some calories. Really, I do not think this goal suits me - I hate it. Just sayin - who's bright idea was that anyway?
  
• Purchase no more than 5 boxes per week. Little monsters have stolen time away from me this week - therefore, no time /energy for shopping. By default, no boxes have entered my house. Yeah!
  

Little thing about me: I am insanely crazy-happy about my new pedometer. I've always have the really cheap ones before - this one is super smart with auto reset, accurate counts, and memory for 7 days! Woo hoo!

Update Week 1

• Consume a limit of 1 soda per week. I drank NO soda - but did almost crack on my first day when we ate out for lunch. Eating out is always harder - but I wasn't going to set myself up with no wiggle room on Day 1.
  
• Do Push-Up's 3xs a week. Done.
• Walk 2xs a week. 1 done, 1 due tomorrow.
  
• Reduce calories and keep food journal. I am doing an okay job of logging my food - not so perfect at keeping the calories (but I guess you can always figure that up later). I usually don't have to do the math - just writing it down creates enough awareness to reduce the munching.
  
• Purchase no more than 5 boxes per week. Went on 2 shopping trips (3 stores) - spinach came in a box (doesn't count). Salmon came in a box. Pasta came in a box. Graham crackers. One box meal. So, success!

Random tidbit about me: I can not be trusted with a bag of Baked Lays. Ever.

Have you ever considered the Go Red or Better U program? Great info and great start at getting your heart healthy!