Breaking the scale

Ok, I am sure that many of us have wanted to break the scale because it didn't show us what we wanted to see, or we thought it was broken because it didn't us tell what we thought it should.  Right now, breaking the scale habit is where I am.  I admit it, I am a peeker when it comes to the scale, have been for many years.  If the batteries in my scale died, I had to replace them immediately.  Last week, at the urging of my trainer, I need to break that habit of stepping on the every morning.  Weighing in at the gym once and work once is more than enough.  No need to stress myself out about the scale any more than that. How am I going to do that?   My morning stop at the scale us part of my morning ritual, just as much as getting dressed and eating breakfast!

I can proudly say that I have survived week one!  In the last seven days, the only time I have stepped on a scale was last Friday morning at work (Biggest Loser weigh in) and then tonight at the gym, witnessed by my trainer.

Why did the scale become such am integral part of my daily routine? Back in my Weight Watchers days, I had convinced myself that it was a way to keep myself accountable.  Did this really work?  I thought so. If the scale was up, it motivated me to eat better, exercise more etc.  If the scale was down, I knew that I was doing the right thing and needed to keep working. However, there is a downside to this.  There are so many factors that can make "peeking" daily a negative.  Most bathroom scales are very temperamental- are you sure it is in the same spot on the floor?  Is the floor actually level? That is just the scale itself.  Are you wearing the same clothing?  Shoes? Is the sodium from last night's Chinese dinner helping you hold on to more water than usual?  In the end, the number on the scale was became the most important thing in my journey.  It was at the forefront of my mind everyday, whether I would admit it or not.

Spinach Artichoke Tart
Original Version

I have learned over the years that the scale is not the only thing that matters in the journey to my ultimate goal - a strong, healthy body... and of course be able to go shopping because nothing in my closet will fit me anymore!  The food choices that I make are just as important as everything else in this journey and we have been working to find more new, exciting recipes to try!  Today was one of those days that we tried something new!  I found the recipe for this Spinach Artichoke Tart that I just had to try!  I actually bought some of the ingredients for it a a few weeks ago, but had to wait until I could get my almond flour from my mom (best deal I could find was through her food coop!)  This morning we finally dove in and made is, and I am so glad that we did!  It was phenomenal!  My apologies for the not so brilliant photo - it was tough to get a good shot before it started disappearing from the pan! I did realize that since I used almond meal instead of almond flour, the crust did not have the same texture as the original  but it was still wonderful.  I actually had 2 pieces with lunch just because I wanted to eat it when it was still warm!  I was going to make a quiche to bring for Easter Brunch, but I think this just may be replacing the quiche!  It was the equivalent of spinach artichoke dip, in a crust!

Oh, before I forget... the scale at the gym tonight?  Yup, down 2 pounds from last week!  Was this because I didn't stress myself out over the scale?  Hard to say.  I guess we will have to see what the next week shows!

The new normal?

Steel Bridge, Sturgeon Bay

OK, I am done with winter and glad that it is officially spring, but I am really not liking the first day of spring this year!  The above picture was actually from a few weekends ago, but it is still a good reference to the current weather around here.  At this rate, we are not going to be able to get the grill out until August and will have ice on the lakes until about the same time!  This has been one of the snowiest March's in a long time - and I am so ready to be done with snow!

In an earlier post, I commented that I never thought I would say going to the gym was part of my normal routine.  I am really seeing how much they gym has become the new me - it is no longer a chore, but something that I have come accustomed to.  Over the last few days I have realized 2 things...

First is that my home workouts are losing some of their intensity.  I keep finding too many other distractions to keep me from doing what I need to do on those days that I am not able to get to the gym.  I think that I need to really change things up at home to keep myself going.  I need to do something to get my home workouts back to what they need to be.  It should help that I finally have gloves to use with the punching bag that I got last month - releasing stress and frustration on that bag is going to be awesome!  Hopefully that is what I need to get back  into the swing of things at home.

The other thing that I realized is that the gym puts me in a better place both physically and mentally.  Yesterday I felt like I was just going through the motions.  I couldn't focus on anything and was just not myself.  After getting back to the gym last night, I felt better today. I had more focus again. Now after tonight, I feel like I am back to normal... yup, they gym has become part of my new normal... and the world has not come to an end - yet.  :)

Curse the Scale, Embrace the pinch

Tonight night when I met with my trainer I informed him that I was not holding my breath for a good number.  The scale was not nice to me at home this morning, so I was pretty sure that it would be the same result at the gym.  I was tracking what I ate, made smart choices when we ate out and got in my workouts.  I was right... scale was up another pound.  This makes 2 weeks in a row that the scale was up so it was getting a little frustrating.

What more can a girl do, aside from giving up everything in her life?  I want to succeed at this, but I don't want to have to give up everything in my life just to lose the weight.  I enjoy my pizza on occasion, wine is my friend and who doesn't like chocolate?  Balance is the key to life.  There has to be a way to balance the desire to get back to a healthy weight without having to give up everything that you enjoy.  I am determined to find it.

Today he told me that he wants to do a body fat test.  3 quick pinches will hopefully tell us what we need to know We have not done one since I started working with him at the end of October - on Halloween to be exact.  I was totally game for that - who would not be!

I know that the scale is only one part of the equation, but it is the one component that is the easiest to focus on.  The scale is right there in the bathroom, calling to me each time I walk into the room.  It is too easy just to hop on and see what is has to say.  It's the curse that has virtually controlled my mornings for several years now.   Next old habit to break - stop stepping on the scale daily!  My trainer has suggested that I not torture myself like that. As it is, I weigh in at the gym weekly, as well as weigh in at work once a week for the Biggest Loser competition there.  That is more than enough.  This is going to be a tough one - I have been a chronic peeker for years!  It is part of my morning routine!  I guess it is time to hide the scale and see where that takes us!

The measurements that we have been taking at the gym every few weeks have slowly shown that things have been moving.  Granted they have been moving slowly, but when the total pounds lost (7 pounds as of last night) is less that the total inches lost (9.1 inches since last week), it makes one scratch you head.  Something is happening inside...  After a few pinches, and some quick calculations, the results were in.  I was down 11% body fat since the start!  BINGO!

So it is official, although the scale is not showing it, there is something happening under all this fluff!  The Pinch tells the unseen chapters of the story!  Embrace it and use it to fuel the mission!

With that behind us, it was time to get to the workout!  It was that beloved week when we change up the routine and push it to the next level!  It was a great feeling when I finished a few of the new exercises that he said he needed to add more weight next time - I was stronger than he thought!  Now that will definitely keep a girl motivated!  Now I just get to wait and see what is in store for me tomorrow!

Chasing Leprechauns

Waking up before the crack of dawn, with temperatures in the low teens and snow/ice everywhere is really not be idea of fun when it comes to heading out to run a 5k.  But that was exactly what we did this morning!  Mission = St Patty's Day 5K in Appleton  .  This marks the first 5K run since the Packers Training Camp run last July.  Matt and I were on the road bright and early... ok it was not really bright outside when we his the road, it was just early!

With with the training/conditioning that I have been doing in the last few months in they gym, I should not have been worried.  My trainer has expressed his confidence that I am ready and will succeed.  However, approaching that starting line was somewhat nerve wracking!  Would I really be able to finish this?  Would I be able to even come close to my 36 minute time that I was aiming for?  Can I survive my first outside run this winter?  Would I be able to keep up with Matt - considering he is quite a bit taller than me?

I know I can do this.  I have done it before.  This is just another run.

The cold and wind was something that we could have done without - it was brutal.  But we pushed through it.  I pushed myself and ended up running all but about a half mile of the course.  In the end, we finished with a time of 38:28, slightly over my 36 minute goal.  I am not going to complain one bit!  With the wind, cold and lack of outdoor training, I call it a success!  Unfortunately, I did not get any pictures at the event because I was so cold once we finished that I just wanted to get out of the crowd,  head for home and find my warm comfy clothes!

Any guesses on how long it will take for the lunges to thaw out?

Back after a weekend relaxing

Redwood Winery, Sturgeon Bay

After a weekend relaxing and visiting wineries in Door County, it was great to get back into the routine. Overall, the weather was on the dreary side for most of the weekend, but we did not let that take away from the fact that we were away form home, getting the chance to spend some quality family time together.  I never thought I would say going to the gym was part of my routine, but it has. I actually missed being able to get into the gym over the weekend when we were out of town! I did get in a short walk on Saturday as Darrin and I explored part of downtown Sturgeon Bay, unfortunately the off and on rain showers sent us back inside before too long.

I was not surprised that the scale was up a little this week.  Between the dining out most of the weekend, wine samples and then a company dinner on Sunday night, I knew that it was coming.  I was prepared for it and have decided that I am not going to let it bother me.  Last week's measurements showed that I am still slowly losing inches.  1 week with a gain is not going to kill me.  It keeps me motivated to get back on track and keep moving forward.

Wendy and I at the Soups and Suds
Benefit a few weeks ago

I stumbled across this picture in my phone today of Wendy and I at the Soups and Suds benefit.  This is the same friend that I posted the picture with previously at the Packer PreSeason game.  What a difference a few month in the gym makes!  The changes are happening slowly, but they are happening!  Having great friends that encourage you along the way is always a good thing too!  Wendy keeps telling me that we need to do some training together for a half marathon... we will see about that.  I have done a few half marathons in the past, but after a few injuries in years past, long distance runs have been put onto the back burner.  One day again... you never know!

I did sign up for the St Patty's Day 5k that is this weekend.  I used to do at least 4-5 5K's each year but with the above mentioned injuries, I took a break from running as many of them- last summer my road bike was my friend!   This will be the 1st 5k that I will be running since the Packers Training Camp run last summer.  I did conquer the Warrior Dash last fall, but that can't be considered in the same category as a traditional 5k - that was insanity in the form of fun! There will be one major difference between the training camp run and this on... the last one was 90+ degrees by the time I finished the run - forecast for this weekend in mid-30's.   BRRRRRR!  Joining me on this run is my friend Matt.  It will be interesting running with him as he is over 6 feet tall (compared to me being 5'4")  I am going to have to take 4 steps to keep up with his every 2!  5 days and counting!

Starting the blog adventure

June 2006

Today is the day that I take a huge leap out of my comfort zone and start blogging my adventures.  Over the last few years I have struggled with gaining and losing the same 40ish pounds.  My weight has been a yo-yo since before John and I got married.  Before our wedding, I was determined to fit into that wedding dress (which was a discontinued style and not able to be ordered, meaning I had to lose some weight just to make it fit!) I did what I needed to and was actually 5 pounds from my goal when we got married.  Fast forward 6 years to last fall.  I had gained almost 50 pounds back and was feeling very frustrated.  Something had to change!

Last October I joined a gym, which got this journey started.  It has been a slow moving 4 month, which I will get to later, but it has all been about moving forward.   A few summers ago, I signed up for an 8 mile walk with a good friend on mine.  Throughout that day we kept telling ourselves that we just had to keep moving forward. As long as we were moving forward, we were 1 step closer to the finish line.  That morning has stuck with me and I find myself using that statement over and over.  Just keep moving forward.

Myself (on left) and Wendy
at Packers PreSeason game -
2 months before I joined
 the gym

When I joined the gym this time, I told myself this was going to be different.  I needed to stay focused and get myself there at least 3 times a week.  It was just a few weeks after I joined that I signed up for 6 months of training session.  Twice a week I was committed to being there and working my butt off (hopefully in the literal sense too!)  My trainer is awesome!  He was exactly what I needed - a sense of humor, makes me work hard and pushes my to my limits and then some!

Today marks the end of 4 months worth of training session at the gym.  I can honestly say this is the longest I stayed committed going to the gym on a regular basis.  I join with great intentions and ambition and go a few several times a week for about the first month.  Slowly, I find that I am going only a few times a week, then once a week and by the time 4 months rolls around, I have a useless gym membership that I virtually never use. I will not say that it has been an easy 4 months.  In fact there has been nothing easy about it!  Frustrating is often the word would come to mind when I think about the last 4 months.

Frustrating for may reasons, but the biggest one is that  the scale have been extremely stubborn.  I never miss a workout.  If my trainer has had to cancel a session for any reason, I am still at the gym, doing what I need to do.  I have become more conscious about what I am eating and making sure that I am making smart choices.  According to the scale, I have only lost about 6 pounds at this point in time.  This just does not seem right, especially since I have started seeing  a loss of inches whenever we do measurements.  In fact, I have lost about the same number of inches as I have pounds!  I have to keep telling myself that I am gaining muscle through my workouts so this could be muscle gain as I am losing the fat.  All I know is that I hope this is the case!

My husband has been extremely supportive in everything that I have been doing.  He knows how important this is for me and does what he can to make sure that I get there- including making sure he leaves work in time for get home before I have to leave to head to the gym, helping shuttle our son around when I have workouts scheduled at the gym and more.  Even when it comes to going out to eat, he is always conscious of where we choose to go so that I can make smart food choices.  A few weekends ago,  he mentioned ordering Chinese takeout, but knows that is a huge red flag for me - between the sodium in the sauces and the carbs in the rice, I have found that I need to steer clear of it whenever I can.  Don't get me wrong, I like going out for Chinese just as much has him.  I just need to limit how often I splurge and enjoy it!  A few days after he mentioned Chinese, his brother happened to be coming into town for a few day.  One of these nights, I had plans with some friends and was not going to be home for dinner.  Instead of going out to eat, they all decided to order pizza and Chinese.  Win for everyone.  They got to enjoy the pizza and Chinese, I had a fun evening out with friends and everyone was happy!

Here is to the continuation of what I started a few months ago, now I am just bringing friends along for the ride!