Hone my curves

After struggling with this one for years, in the 5 months since my birthday, I’ve finally taken getting into shape seriously. Through a combination of eating well, reigning treats, exercising every day (aerobic/cardio, strength, yoga), lowering stress and getting enough sleep, as of August I’ve managed to lose 30 pounds.

It feels amazing, and I’m ridiculously pleased that I’ve kept motivated every day, no matter what. It’s not just the weight loss, the way I feel is SO much better, my energy, my mood. Before now I could never quite get into the routine of working out, or at least I didn’t keep it up for long enough to see real results. Now it makes me feel so good I can’t imagine not exercising and taking better care of myself.

I plan on keeping this up, so I’ll find a decent maintenance goal. It’s hard to believe, but I’m finally checking this one off my list. (Insert hallelujah chorus here.)

I’ve been doing the odd “now that’s a good idea!” fun exercise shows I come across, and we’re outside taking walks twice as often, but damn… I’d really like to go swimming again. It’s been years. If only there wasn’t the issue of buying a bathing suit. That, I have to confess, is not one of my favorite tasks on the planet.

We’re also stocking up on much better snacks, I’m back on the V8 train, drinking lots of water & taking my vitamins. The scale has been my friend lately. Sometimes it even gives me a cheeky little wink. I’ll just keep plugging away.

I not only fell off this wagon, but it ran over me and kept going down the road. The main culprits have been lack of exercise (I get out for walks, but I need to get the heart going faster & to actually break a sweat more often) and Markus bringing home evil, delicious treats that batter my self control. With all the combined evils, I think I’m probably back where I was this time last year.

This morning I was up early & started thinking about how I’ve been continually putting off another big push on this, so I flipped on the tv hoping to find something similar to the dance workouts I was following before surgery & the M channel shake-up. Lo and behold I found the new station had a bellydancing workout on. I sat there watching for a few minutes, then Isak shouted “Shake your booty, mommy!” (where did he learn that?) so I did. I shook my booty, and several other things as well.

I followed ‘Venus’ through half an hour of bellydance (Isak joined me, happily hopping back and forth, waving his arms, giggling and insisting that his hands were butterflies). It wasn’t anything I’d film and proudly display on youtube, but I feel an odd re-connect with my body, and I’d love to do it again (if I can manage to get up and shimmying at 7am).

Afterward Isak insisted I join him in his own favorite choreographic creation, the peanut butter dance, which nearly kills me every time I try to keep up with him, but definitely gets the heart rate up.

Ah, the post holiday, new year, whip cracking, scale slapping business. I fell off the conscious curve honing wagon a while back, and between lack of daily workouts and all those offers of Christmas goodies that I couldn’t refuse, I need to find some appetite reigns and an exercise crop.

Ideally I try to get out and walk whenever I can, but the weather is making it hard. The up side is that with all the extra layers and wading through several feet of snow, I’m expending twice the energy as before. Isak and I made it halfway around the lake today before the snow got so heavy we had to turn back, but two halves make a whole, do they not?

But really, really... I need to focus more. And to say no to marzipan on occasion.

Another thing I’m waaaaaaaay behind on (though it wasn’t my choice) is regular exercise. Now that I’m allowed to get back on the horse, they’ve taken the morning dance show I was doing off (and even if it was still on, my body clock is so messed up I wouldn’t even be awake for it – I have to start going to bed/getting up earlier again). I need to find something else. I’ve been taking walks, but motivation wanes when it’s cold and wet.

Today was supposed to be chilly and rainy, but it turned out to be warm and sunny – a beautiful fall day, so Isak and I went to the park and chased each other around in the leaves until we were pink cheeked and winded. It felt great. I need more of that stuff – YEAH!

We’ve all been a bit stressed lately, whether due to exams, insomnia, potty hurdles, or ill loved ones. The pressure has been evident and contagious.

Today we tried to leave worries at home and get outside to blow off some steam. We went for a walk, a game of soccer, and some badminton at the park. Afterwards we cooled off under a tree with some iced tea. It was just what we all needed.

This beat the heck out of dancing in my living room today. “Running amok with the family” as exercise wins hands down.

I also just had my no-pint-iversary. Although I’ve downed the odd frosty ale with friends (and still relish the occasional tasty cocktail), for the most part I’ve banished the “relaxing with a beer” habit, and I’m sure it’s made a big difference.

I’m back to Bhangra for the morning dance workout (during which I’m still frequently forced to wear funny hand-puppets so Isak doesn’t feel left out), and walks whenever I can. I try to get out for at least an hour wander daily, but if I can’t drag my ass outside, I’m moving it in the living room.

In the last couple of weeks, I’ve really managed to keep my food on track, and at the TDP recommended cal level, which is better than my previous jagged intake. I got my 60 day badge on TDP last week.

I’m having lots of water, a little less coffee/a little more green tea, and I’m currently on a blueberry binge. I’m so pleased I’ve been managing to keep all this up. Onward, onward…

Not only am I keeping up with my daily dance workouts and TDP recording, but the other day I tried on bathing suits. No luck, but it was another step in the right direction. I’d really like to start swimming again – it’s been years.

Then today after a half hour latin dance workout, I spent 45 minutes skipping rope. Killer workout, I think I’ll try to do that more often (though I can sure feel it tonight). Later I took Isak out for a long walk too. Lots of exercise today. I chock-o-splurged a bit after dinner as a treat. That 10 pounds hasn’t shown up again, so I think whatever I’ve been doing lately is paying off.

This continues to go well. Monday rolled around and I was happy to find an extra week of Bollywood dance in the mornings, and today I got my 21 day fitness logging & food tracking badges on The Daily Plate. This is definitely inspiring me to cut down on extra snacking, pay attention to what goes in my mouth, and move more. I’m even getting used to low sodium V8. We’ve searched out healthier choices and had lots of fruit around. I still need to find a good food to use up uneaten calories, but I’m keeping in the range.

I tend to “hover” around a weight, and for the last week I’ve been hovering about 10 pounds less than I was before. This is good. I think I’m looking at my body in a different way now too. Less critical. This is intentional… I should actually probably send it flowers or something, I’ve said some mean things to it in the past. Sorry body. Let’s be friends?

I’m getting such a kick out of these Bollywood workouts. I really threw myself into it today and ended up with my blood pumping & a sweaty brow. Great fun. Then lots of water.

No walk for me today, it’s absolutely filthy out, and my netherbod is girl-grumbly, so I think I’ll take it easy and try to ignore the other half of the rum-raisin-hazelnut bar hidden in the kitchen cabinet.

Daily plate… it’s going better, but when I cut back on the not-so-healthy things I find that even with decent meals and snacks, there are too many calories left over at the end of the day (especially if I’ve had a lot of exercise), and I’m not always hungry enough to top them up.

I need to find a good way to fill my quota (without eating junk). Something low carb/low sodium. I also want to pick up smoothie stuff next time we go shopping (yogurt, frozen berries, vanilla soy milk), de-staple that morning half bagel.

All in all, it’s going much, much better. I feel like I’m getting into a rhythm of movement and attentiveness, and I finally seem to have lost 5 pounds without it creeping back on again. More than that, I feel healthier, have more energy, my mood is up and I’m sleeping better. MOST of the time. Frankly, that sweet, sweet chocolate is calling my name rather seductively and sometimes you just have to say yes and sink into delicious indulgence. Especially on stormy, pms riddled days when you’ve danced your ass off.