11th Sunday

Weight = 142lbs! I lost 2 more pounds!

Boooo-ya!

So I woke up early, read for homework, then in the afternoons did workouts. I noticed my back/hips started hurting on Wednesday so I eased off my workout and was able to still do well overall - no injuries! I do one minute jogging/running, and 2 mins walking, and do intervals until I can start running for longer periods of time. That works really well.

Food, well, not eating breakfast as much and not as healthy, but still seeing results.

I think that trying to fit in an appropriate workout or study session in the one hour in the morning, doesn't work as it's not enough time. I need the evenings/afternoon to work on things. So I thought, maybe alternate my morning/evening activities.

I can spend 2 days of the week waking up early to do homework, then workout in the evenings. Then spend the other 2 days waking up early to workout, then afternoons studying. Wednesday will be my break/sleep in day where I can choose whatever I feel I need, homework or workout in the evening or just rest/relax. That will work :)

Gotta keep up the workouts! Feeling tired overall but awesome that I'm making progress :)

Stuff Mom Says

I might start a series called "stuff my mom says". She's pretty randomly funny and gets us in stitches sometimes with her off the wall comments. Here's a few.

One time while playing a game with game cards

Sis: What color was it?

Mom: You know, that one that's color triangle.

At lunch today

Mom: Hey, did you guys see that baby over there? He's wearing a helmet like Magneto.

And my favorite, from today, talking about a new restaurant

Me: So that new restaurant, what kind of food does it serve?

Mom: They have breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Really Mom? :) We love you!

The Magic Man

My husband the magician! Husband appreciation blog!

Husband is so wonderful. Today he bought and put on new hubcaps on my car. There were 2 front ones missing, so he got a whole new set and put it on!

He also made a delicious surf and turf dinner, with tri-tip and salmon, along with white cheddar mac and cheese, as well as carrots. The food was an 11 out of 10! The salmon was cooked perfectly and the tri-tip was so yum. This was all his idea too. We ate out on the balcony and had a really nice romantic time. All this while I'm procrastinating/doing homework.

Such a fabulous guy! My magic man!

Thank you husband!

Exit Through the Gift Shop

This documentary was great. Loved it.

It's about street art and the artists. I have a new respect for their message and their work. Its about personal expression and art for the people for the sake of art. It's also about the popularity, success and inevitable results of this. I thought the title was fitting and the twist if the story, tale and statement or message was worthy.

Share your art and stay true to it.

Predators

Oh Adrien Brody! Watched Predators today. Pretty awesome. Surprisingly some great plot & twists. A solid good action alien Predator movie :) Oh and, Mr. Brody and Topher Grace were excellent as well. I liked this movie more than, dare I say, all other predator movies and the Aliens movies :) it was just a great take! Try it out sometime.

Oddly Specific

Saw this at Costco. Yes we are at Costco on a Friday night. Party. Anyway, this is oddly specific.

Hungry Hippos

Another animal calendar of the day. I want to draw in word bubbles. So many great possibilities.

"it's Hawaiian shirt day!"
"Can you hear me now?!"
"Han shot first"

The possibilities....

Cause you gotta make a choice: when to do something, and when to let it go

Sometimes I really like quotes, posting movies and others I've read. I should probably start posting them more often, my favorites. Anyway this is one I came across this morning. Was having a rough/not good morning where I felt I needed a re-start or at least, everything felt like it was going wrong. Then I saw this, and felt better. The longer version is below, but it's from The Limey, a movie I've never heard of. We have a movie guy at work who likes to post movie quotes. Thanks movie guy :)

'Cause what I thought I wanted wasn't what I wanted. What I thought I was thinkin' about was something else. I didn't give a toss. It didn't matter, see?.... It meant sod-all in the end, 'cause you gotta make a choice: when to do something, and when to let it go. When it matters, and when it don't. Bide your time.

The Limey 1999
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0165854/quotes

How you doin' then? All right, are you? Now look, squire, you're the guv'nor here, I can see that. I'm in your manor now. So there's no need to get your knickers in a twist. Whatever this bollocks is that's going down between you and that slag Valentine, it's got nothing to do with me. I couldn't care less. Alright, mate? Let me explain. When I was in prison - second time - uh, no, telling a lie, third stretch, yeah, third, third - there was this screw what really had it in for me, and that geezer was top of my list. Two years after I got sprung, I sees him in Arnold Park. He's sittin' on a bench feedin' bloody pigeons. There was no-one about, I could've gone up behind him and snapped his fuckin' neck, *wallop!* But I left it. I could've knobbled him, but I didn't. 'Cause what I thought I wanted wasn't what I wanted. What I thought I was thinkin' about was something else. I didn't give a toss. It didn't matter, see? This berk on the bench wasn't worth my time. It meant sod-all in the end, 'cause you gotta make a choice: when to do something, and when to let it go. When it matters, and when it don't. Bide your time. That's what prison teaches you, if nothing else. Bide your time, and everything becomes clear, and you can act accordingly.

10th Sunday

One pound! I lost one pound!

So the exercise does make a big difference. I decided to wake up early every morning to exercise. That worked, but it made me really really tired after work, so I wasn't really able to get any homework done. Plus this was a very very long, complicated and sticky work week, so I was worn out from work anyway, and physically tired. Most days I napped after work and ate out because I was too tired to cook. Wasn't the best for eating week, but the giant breakfasts were good for overall days.

In order to get some better balance with homework and workouts, I decided to wake up early and do homework while my brain was awake and fresh. Then after work, inevitably I'll be tired, but I can go for a walk or go to the gym when I'm tired. I can't necessarily do homework or think when I'm tired. I want to try that and see if I can have some weekend to myself. This weekend I spent most of it doing homework which, I'd like to avoid.

So the workouts are key. The diet is key also but not as much. I think the eating a huge breakfast will help my hunger throughout the day. Waking up early to study and eat breakfast is probably sustainable. Going to try that.

One pound :) One silly pound. Back to 144lbs for me, and overall in better shape. Gotta keep it up!

Exercise Fortunes

It's a little sad when the fortune cookie is also telling me I need to exercise.

I've been struggling with losing weight with various diet tracking and attempts at exercise. Although I'm proud to say I've woken up early Monday & Tuesday to do quick morning workouts. Monday did a 40 min walk & today some stairs & weights. It's not exactly running yet, but at least it's something.

I got the fortune while eating only half if my veggie/tofu lunch from Pick Up Stix. Pretty tasty. Go me!

Will keep the fortune taped up somewhere as a regular reminder.

Filler Up - Love Tank

I'm going to start blogging about all the wonderful things the husband does. It's a husband appreciation blog, but also a bit of a love letter and diary. I'd like to remember & keep track of all the great things he does, as a reminder of what a great partner he is in my life. Little things, big things, etc. Its going to sound like bragging, but really its not. Im trying to be more conscientious and appreciative. I might also start blogging about some of the quirky and ridiculous stuff too, but we'll see what he puts up with.

Yesterday we drove all over town in my car. Today without me asking or knowing, he took my car to the gas station, using my preferred gas station, to get a filler up, because he knew I'm not the best at keeping track of my tank & I'd have to use it tomorrow. I tend to run late but also I don't pay attention to the tank. He's just thoughtful and thinks ahead.

Also, another reason for this blog, if you've ever read "The 5 Love Languages" book, I want to keep our marriage love tank full. I recommend the book for all couples. It's a pretty short & easy read, with a good message.

Thank you husband! For being thoughtful & considerate!

9th Sunday

Weight today, 145 lbs. *Sigh. It's annoying at this point. It's one pound more since my last weight-in. *ugh.

Husband's birthday was this week so a lot of eating out and celebrating. We went to Fogo de Chao yesterday for a meat and salad buffet. It was a ton of food and I was as good as possible but we did end up eating a lot. A bit hard to help it. Best part was the fat on their special. Oh favorites were the banana and mushroom. The polenta was great too. I actually said no to a lot of food and stopped myself from eating more.

Yesterday we also had a baby shower with lots of snacks. Before that we ate at Jolibee and a Dimsum place for brunch. That was just yesterday. A few days before that we had The Counter. Today was a big family brunch. I was as good as possible but hard not to over-indulge.

Not to be sunny optimistic, but actually, I weighed myself right after eating the big family brunch and lunch. Looking back and thinking back, I actually think overall, I am doing well comparatively. Only one pound over, and IF that if it varies a pound or two depending on the time of day, I might actually be doing good.

Anyway, I'll keep up the good fight. It' just pretty annoying that it feels like I can't make any progress. Although, truthfully the fact I didn't gain more weight is probably good with everything going on. I have to face that there will always be an occasion or temptation around every single corner every single day. Must keep to the middle path and not overindulge. Also must remember I will gain for whatever I do eat.

It's been uber stressful at work, it's that time of the month, I just started school again and I haven't had much time to exercise. How to fit it all in? *sigh. How am I going to achieve my goals?

Anyway, I think it's time for some serious solutions. I'm going to wake up early every weekday this week and work out in the mornings. I haven't touched my gym membership and it really needs to start earning it's monthly fees. Morning workouts are the only way i'll fit it in - 5:30? I think it will also help with stress relief. I'm sick of this non-progress. Every time I want to sleep in, I'll just think of growing fatter slowly and slowly, or getting thinner, slowly and slowly. Or worst, I'll think of staying the same and never really improving. I really need to ease into it because my calf pain from my strain still flares up, and I don't want to re-injure myself. Ok so one hour in the mornings every weekday - I think I can handle that. Even if I just stay home because of the monthly, I'm sure I can get some stretches or some metabolism burning. Plus maybe some "me" time will be a good way to start off the day. Add some exercises to myfitnesspal, since I don't do any really.

OK, well I have to share. Below is a picture of all the delicious food we had this weekend. I think part of developing a healthy relationship with food/exercise is respecting food and having reverence for it. At least it occurred to me and it could all be BS but I'd like to learn something from this at least. That one pound, it was probably in part due to the below.

Fogo de Chao - dishes. *salivating.

The special at Fogo de Chao. The fat was the tastiest part.

Jolibee hotdog! And pancit and fried chicken.

Shomai and Pork Spareribs with rice.

Sad realization

So I just realized I've been "living healthy" for 8 weeks. If I was successful and more aggressive in losing weight, one pound a week, I'd be 8 lbs lighter weighing in at 136 lbs.

More motivation to keep me in check. Today I woke up early to do some light exercises before work, but I felt pain & strain on my right calf - former injury. I stretched it as much as i could & changed my workout because of it. I was more strength training vs cardio.

Must remember to take it easy & not go too hard, otherwise prone to injury & halting of exercise.

Anyway this slow & steady turtle pace is frustrating but probably better in the long run. I hope the diet tracker myfitnesspal is really helping. If anything it's making me uber conscious of what I eat.

Anyway, back to work.

8th Sunday

So, review of the past 2 months, wow already?

So I think I've stayed the same with my weight, but my overall habits are improving I believe. I am making healthier choices overall. With menus I choose the healthier options. In shopping and eating I am consistently being "good". I don't eat as much crap, although I still do eat junk food I can't help it. The "crap" food isn't satisfying as usual, but at least I realize it and work towards healthier snacks and sides.

Bad news is my exercise is probably remiss. It's just been too busy with everything. I haven't done any gym time and we haven't gone biking or done anything active in the past 2 weeks. So now that my diet is under some control with the myfitnesspal and overall healthier mindset, I really need to focus on workouts. Although with school starting and life in the way, I'm at a loss for realistic options.

I think it might be good to start off small with the workout frequency. TWO times a week at the gym will be a good start. How i'm going to fit that in I don't know. I was debating doing early morning workouts, so I might do Tues/Thurs mornings at the gym. Maybe one morning workout and one weekend workout? That's probably a realistic reasonable and achievable goal. I'll also work on 15 mins a day walking on work breaks or lunch, and around the neighborhood.

Weekend activity? I love being lazy and I literally spent all day Sunday in my PJs on the couch. Part of my Sunday laziness was also due to a headache, but still it didn't last all day. I thought about adding a weekend workout but will try to keep goals achievable and keep it to the two above for now. That's all I'm going to try for and will recap next week. The exercise is the thing that needs work. The food has been good so far, despite the occasional fried food binges. The workouts are ambitious but a bit realistic and I'll give it a shot.

Overall I believe I've been progressing well, but I haven't weighed myself in awhile in fear of discouragement. Oh well. I've got plenty of stuff to work on and balance. Next week for sure - weight check-in.