We’re taking a quick break from reading Harry Potter 6 to post, eat, and attend to the children. So I’ll be brief…

Basically, I did treadmill twice, physical therapy three times, and weights once this week. I’m having such a hard time being consistent. I am fluctuating with my diet as well. Sometimes it’s great, sometimes it’s awful. I’m gaining weight, argh, and I’m always hungry. To answer the next, inevitable question,

No, I am not pregnant. That seems to be a favorite question among my friends! So, as usual, I’m going to try to do better next week.

I do feel frustrated at the weight gain. I don’t think it’s warranted. Gotta do better.

Hi! We just got back from a great BBQ picnic in the park, and I played Ultimate Frisbee for the first time! I’m so excited. In the past, I never would have played because I was afraid of messing up for my team, or just being pathetic. Since I gained weight, I’ve been even more self conscious. But today I decided to jump in and participate. I was the only girl on the team. They actually passed to me! And I ran, barefoot, in the grass for 30-45 minutes. So there’s my exercise for the day. And I couldn’t be happier. SO….

Monday- was the end of my girls’ weekend away, and then straight on to a 4th of July BBQ, so there was nothing admirable to report.
Tuesday- I did 50 minutes of treadmill and PT.
Wednesday- was the same.
Thursday- the same again.
Friday- I did upper body weights and PT. My pecs hurt, and I love it.
Today, as you know, I worked it playing frisbee.

I’m ignoring the scale. On the whole the past few weeks, I’ve eaten really well, but this last weekend away, well, we ate. A lot. I gained 7 pounds in two days. I’m puffy. And then last night, to celebrate my last Finchy Friday, I brought food. Brie, crackers, basil/pasta salad, salami and a sourdough baguette, fresh basil from my “deck garden”, havarti, donut holes and sparkling cider. So, I’m still puffy. I have my work cut out for me, but for the most part, I’m doing really well.

I’m loving the wheatgrass juice. I’m up to 2 oz, twice a day, and I intend to bump it up in a week or so. I feel so invigorated in a mellow, soothing way. It sounds weird, but that’s how it feels to drink the stuff. I actually crave it. This doesn’t mean I like it. It’s still way weird, but I like what it does to me.

How’s it going out there? Our own FYRKRKR (aka Gayle) is doing very well. She has been doing PT exercises, and water aerobics 3x a week, and has dropped another pant size. Way to go, Gayle!

Good morning. Real quick, before I take off for the weekend…

Monday I did 50 minutes of treadmill and PT.
Tuesday was just PT, but quite a workout.
Wednesday I was on the treadmill again.
Thursday was nothing.
Friday I did treadmill again.

As soon as I get my garage under control again (it’s messy), I’ll be hitting the weights.

I’ve been eating very well this week, and I feel good about it. Depending on how you look at it, and which days you take into consideration, I lost 2 pounds. And that’s what I’m going to be shooting for. I’m hoping to lose 2 pounds a week!

Tell me how you did!

Good morning! How are we doing? I haven’t started back on my exercise yet, but I’m making strides in the healthy eating department. I made the YUMMIEST Black Bean and Rice Salad this week.

Rice-

1 quart (4 cups) chicken broth + 1/2 cup water
2 1/4 cups brown rice
2 bay leaves

Salad-

4 cups cooked black beans, rinsed
2 red bell peppers, diced
1 green bell pepper, diced
1 medium red onion, diced
1 medium bunch fresh cilantro, chopped

Sauce-

1/2 cup olive oil
3 Tablespoons orange juice
2 Tablespoons red wine vinegar or balsamic vinegar
2 teaspoons cumin
1 teaspoon chili powder
salt to taste (lots of salt for me)

garnish with cilantro sprigs, serve on a bed of lettuce

Bring the chicken broth, water, bay leaves, and rice to a boil. Reduce heat to a gentle simmer, cover, and cook 45 minutes or until liquid is absorbed. Toss with remaining salad ingredients and sauce.

This recipe is fabulous immediately when it’s still warm, and it’s great refrigerated the next day. We eat it in pitas with romaine lettuce and sour cream, or in tortillas, or as a side dish. It makes tons.

I’ve been doing the wheatgrass thing, and I’ve run out of grass. I had no idea I would go through that much grass that quick, so today I’m going to go get some more topsoil and seed trays so I can increase production. And if we get all that done, I might just jump on the treadmill.

One whole year of Health Group! How exciting! Am I skinny yet? No. But I’m fine with that. I am ecstatic that Health Group has lasted a full year. That seems an accomplishment to me, because even thought I’ve had bad weeks, and even though my weight loss has been stagnant for a number of months, I haven’t given up. I’m still here, and I’m still trying to be healthy.

Well, I’ve unfortunately put on a few pounds. I was 224 this morning. It’s hardly surprising, because I’ve been sick three or four times this year, and that means my exercise has been severely interrupted, and I haven’t had the energy to eat well. Surprisingly, I’m not upset. I’m not going to let this get out of hand.

Today, for example, I’ve eaten really well so far. I missed breakfast, which is bad, but since breakfast time ended, I’ve been snacking on homemade hummus on celery sticks, I made a great lentil and chard soup, and we just had what I call “potato fries”, which is cut up russet potatoes in their skins baked on a cookie sheet with olive oil and salt. SO good! And quite healthy.

I’ve been thinking this past week about things I can eat to feed my body well. I’ve written them down every time I’ve thought of something. I’m going to make a plan, and I’m thinking about picking up my FAVORITE cookbook, Cookbook of the Year, to get me in the habit of making healthy dinners again. I’ve been in a lazy “I’m too sick to cook” rut, and I’m ready to get out.

It’s strange how I have complete confidence that I now know what I need to do to shed the pounds, and yet, I’m not doing it. I blame illness, which has certainly been a factor, and I am hopefully done being sick for awhile.

How is it going for you?

I am anxiously awaiting my juicer! Here’s my first tray of wheatgrass in progress. I let the girls chew on a blade to get a feel for the taste, because watching it grow was overwhelming their curiosity. Their first response was a predictable, “Ewwwww“, but they kept coming back for more. I take that as a good sign. Nate keeps making jokes about “sitting around, watching the grass grow”, but the truth is, it does! It changes hour to hour. The life force coming from what I have mainly used for grinding into bread flour is astonishing. Fun for the whole family!

I am still sick, so I haven’t been exercising. I’ve snuck in some physical therapy exercises here and there, but that’s all. I can’t WAIT to be back!

What have you got?

Next week will be our 52nd week of Health Group, meaning one whole year! What should we do to celebrate?

Good morning. This week wasn’t stellar, but I was working on some things that I’ll talk about later.

Monday & Tuesday, nothing.
Wednesday- treadmill and physical therapy
Thursday- physical therapy
Friday- nothing
Today- probably nothing as we did some yard work this morning, and now it’s hot outside and I’m tired. Plus, we want to take the kids out and do something.

So, not the best week, however it is a step up from how I finished off last week. I’m done with cupcakes! That’s a VERY good thing. I ate waaaaaay too many of those, and it continued into the first part of this week. The remainder of the week I spent my exercise time looking into something exciting.

As you know, my car was broke into a week ago. This cut significantly into the birthday money I was going to use for a particular spinning wheel. To make a long story short, because it isn’t that interesting, I’ve decided to put off the spinning wheel a little bit and buy a juicer.

I’ve wanted a juicer since last year sometime. I can’t remember when exactly it happened, but I woke up one morning with the thought that I needed to be drinking wheatgrass juice. It was the weirdest thing. I’ve only ever had the stuff once or twice in my life, and I don’t know much about it at all, but I think it is something I need to do. I looked into it last year, and the timing wasn’t right for a number of reasons. Now, I think it is time. So I went here and ordered my juicer. The Omega 8005. I am sooooo excited!

I have plenty of hard red wheat, which is sprouting now, and I get to plant it later this afternoon. I have some soil, though I’ll need more. I have growing trays. I bought a book. With the expert help of my internet shy friend and neighbor who shall remain nameless, I’m getting a composting worm bin set up for my kitchen scraps and wheatgrass mats.

I’ve wanted to do this for SUCH a long time, and it’s finally happening!

I know that some of you are thinking that I’m going over the top, but this feels right to me. I don’t think this is the “missing link” that is going to kick start my weight loss or anything, but I think it will significantly improve my health and energy. I can’t wait for my juicer to arrive!

I was reminded this week about one of my favorite lunches, and so I’ve started eating it again. I don’t remember if I’ve told you all, so I thought I’d pass it along.

Vegetable burritos-

Flour tortillas, whole wheat are good but not necessary
chopped fresh broccoli
chopped fresh tomatoes
small amount of shredded cheddar cheese

Make burritos with the above ingredients, secure closed with a toothpick, leaving both ends open, and bake on a cookie sheet at 375 for 15 minutes. Mmmmm.

Now, admittedly, they sound gross. When my friend Lara told me about them, I had NO interest whatsoever. They sounded dry and yucky. Wrong, my friends. They are super amazingly delicious, easy, and healthy. A feel good lunch!

I’ve been drinking a lot of water, and I’m doing good. I forgot to weigh myself before eating this morning, so we’ll have to wait ’til next week to see where I am.

How are you doing?

Well, well. Here we are. I am now 30 and still obese. I was going to be grumpy about it, but for some reason, I’m feeling quite temperate this morning. So, onward and upward.

Monday, I did treadmill, weights, and physical therapy.
Tuesday, I did treadmill only.
Wednesday didn’t see any exercise. I can’t remember why just now, but there was nothing.
Thursday was physical therapy only, and cupcake baking and eating. Seriously, lots and lots of black bottom cupcakes were consumed. The shame.
Friday, I went clothes shopping with Olivia and Veronica. I planted V in the dressing room with a Gameboy and O and I scoured the racks. It was a really good time. I baked and ate some more cupcakes, and got ready for the party (which was fabulous, thank you).

Today I have a mild headache, and leftover Doritos and cupcakes, among other things. I’m not feeling too motivated today. Kind of tired from sugar overload and lack of the usual good food that gives me energy. I’m going to go out and play with my family today.

So, not the most productive week, but not a total loss in the exercise category. I always wanted to be thin by the time I was 30. It didn’t happen. I’m a little bugged about it, but not overly so. I’m still trekking along, making progress. I guess I feel grateful for the progress I’ve made, and I’m feeling grateful for the good things in my life right now. I’m happy. I love my family, my dog, and my cute little house. I have excellent friends. My health is improving, and through this trial I am able to help people.

Life’s a journey after all. What would be left to do if I’d reached all of my goals by age 30? I guess it’d be downhill after that, and 30 is much too young to peak. Know what I mean?

How was your week? How did you do? I’m going to go drink some water.

Good morning! How is everyone? My week was pretty good.

Monday- I spent the day with a friend and didn’t get exercise in.
Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday- 50+ minutes of treadmill, weights, and physical therapy exercises.
Friday- combined against me. I had things to do from the moment I woke up ’til 10pm. Exercise didn’t happen.
So today, I’m going to try for the treadmill, PT, and weights to bring my exercise up to four days. I did it last Saturday, and I think I can swing it again.

I’m up a couple pounds this week. I’ve been eating ok, so I’m thinking this may be increased muscle mass. I know I can feel it already in my pecs, quads, and biceps. I know I’m getting somewhere with my core strength, too. I’m FINALLY experiencing significant progress from these PT exercises. I would imagine my abs are looking pretty nice under all the padding. Wish I could see it.

And now, a soap box speech.

I’ve had some email correspondence with one of my favorite knitbloggers out there about exercise this past week. :-). I’ve had email conversations like this before with others of you, and as I was exercising last Saturday, I was thinking that it is something I’d like to talk about.

I love exercise. LOVE it! I haven’t always. Exercise used to be that dreaded activity that I’d just as soon avoid. Now, I’m about to spout opinion. I’m not an expert. Keep in mind that these opinions are coming from someone who is still obese. However, this obese person has been talking to people, trying things, listening and working on losing weight for over 10 years. I think I’ve learned a few things. (And this obese person DID lose 25 pounds last year, and kept it off, despite the major plateau she’s experiencing).

First of all, I’ve learned that everyone needs to find out what their particular body needs and is lacking. So keep that in mind. Secondly, with one three month exception involving the Atkin’s induction diet, I’ve always acted on my belief that HEALTH is the first objective, and the only weight loss I’m interested in comes through being good to my body, not abusing it.

Today, I only want to focus on ONE of the aspects of becoming healthy, which is exercise. If you want to read a long missive discussing many other aspects, check out this entry from New Year’s Day.

Exercise is certainly an acquired taste for most people. I think a lot of the problem is that when we start, we overdo it. We hurt ourselves and burn out. I had an aerobics class in my last year of high school that was wonderful. We had units. I don’t remember them all, but I know there was a jogging unit, a bicycling unit, a water aerobics unit where we walked next door to the pool… I know we did some things in the gym too, but I can’t remember what they were specifically. This class really opened my eyes to some things. First of all, the instructor was all about target heart rate. What we learned was how easy it is to go over without knowing it. In our jogging unit, we had to stop frequently to check our heart rate. Ridiculously so. I remember being annoyed and wanting to just get on with the jogging. During those frequent heart rate checks, I found that mine was above the “aerobic zone”. She made me slow down. I didn’t want to slow down. I felt I could go faster but she didn’t care. She made us slow down. The amazing thing is that I was able to jog longer than I thought was possible. Also, I found that my stamina increased dramatically, and it increased FAST. I couldn’t believe how quickly I was able to do more. That made such an impression that here I am, twelve or so years later and I can remember it like it was yesterday. Now, I know that some of the physical success happened because I was 17. Older bodies take longer to do ANYTHING than younger bodies do, but the philosophy works in age’s favor. It plays right into it. Pay close attention to your body. Listen to what it’s saying. Make adjustments. Slow down. You aren’t going to hate exercise, at least not as much, if you respect your body.

Example- I have a friend here locally that is very heavy. Her life is in serious danger in fact (and it isn’t anyone who reads this blog, so I’m not talking about you). She has a treadmill but hates to use it. When I was talking to her about why, she says that she just can’t do it. That after two minutes, she almost collapses. In talking to her further, she said that she’s trying to exercise at the speed and intensity that she worked out at when she was still the skinny little cheerleader in high school. I told her to slow down. To try for 10 minutes at a comfortable pace and then stop. This worked for her. She was able to build off of that .

I always want to jump in and workout too hard after being sick, or whatever else has made me stop exercising for awhile. I have to make myself slow down every time I start back up. Once I’m exercising regularly again, I don’t have that problem.

My Health teacher in 9th grade said that we should be able to hold a conversation while exercising. He said that if you’re too out of breath to carry on a conversion, you’re no longer working aerobically, and you’re working too hard. I have found that to be very true. When I’m in my target heart rate, I can manage a conversation amidst my breathing. When I’m over it, I can’t.

Another aspect besides intensity is duration. When I first started seriously walking, about four years ago, I could only manage 30 minutes. And I stayed at 30 minutes for some time. After awhile, I could tell that my body would be able to handle more, so I changed my route and made it 45 minutes. I’m currently walking on the treadmill for 50 minutes. If I weren’t also doing weights and physical therapy exercises, I know I could do it longer. But I can’t spend all day exercising :-). So now what I’m working up to is increased speed and increased incline on the machine.

It is widely said that you shouldn’t feel like death when you finish exercising. You should feel tired, but energized. My experience is that energization is of the mind, and it’s true, and I feel it. I have come to NEED it. If I stop exercising, I can feel physical awareness decrease and yuckiness move in. I love how exercise feels and what it does for me, regardless of the scale. (I didn’t think “energization” was a word, but it isn’t getting spell checked. Hmmm).

I know I can be long winded, but my POINT is that if you’re out of shape, start slow. Start slower than you want to. Even to the point of feeling like you’ve wasted your time. In the long run, it is so much more beneficial. You will feel better, you will progress faster, and you will be much more likely to continue exercising.

Of course I want to lose weight. But my motivation to exercise on a day to day basis isn’t exclusively weight loss. You don’t lose pounds every time you work out. There has to be another reason to do it on the days you’d rather not put forth the effort. I have come to love how exercise feels, and what it does for my self confidence and optimism.

I’ve learned a lot from you, and from many others over the years. Little things here and there that have molded my habits, opinions and philosophy. While I’m still obese, I feel much more educated and able to positively change my body.

There is so much information out there. It doesn’t all agree. I find it frustrating to know what to believe, what to try. I have found that trying different things and seeing how my body responds has brought my biggest successes. Working with my body as opposed to forcing it. Respecting my body. (That revelation came from a Yoga video). Working “in oxygen” or aerobically came from the high school teacher. “Working easier longer is better for weight loss that working harder shorter” came from the physical trainer type guy who sold me my weight system. Holding stretches for a full minute came from my PT. Drinking obscene amounts of water came first from a Kinesiologist (I ignored him) and second from my primary care physician. Little things here and there that I hear that ring a bell inside me. Something tells me to give it a try. Some things I dismiss, and some things I adopt and fit into my life.

I am reminded of the time last year when I couldn’t understand why consistently, after a great workout, feeling fabulous, I’d all of the sudden crash hard as soon as I stopped. I could tell I wasn’t over-working myself as I felt wonderful right up to the end. A few of you suggested eating protein before or after my exercise, and that made all the difference. Thank you!

I have certainly enjoyed this Health Group. I love the association with you all, the conversations we’ve had, and the help you’ve so frequently offered. Thank you, and have a great week.

How did you do this week? Tell us about it.