Setbacks

So, setbacks suck.  They can be discouraging, frustrating, and when you write about them on the interwebs: embarrassing.  The past few weeks have been challenging.  I had a stressful week where I was craving something, but couldn't figure it out.  This made me want to stand in my kitchen and eat everything so I could determine what my craving was.  I know this is a bad choice, but for some reason, the later the hour, the lower my will power.  Come to think of it, that may directly correlate with some other bad choices I have made.  Oops! 

The following week was better, I lost weight, did a happy dance, it was all very exciting.  Then I hit another setback.  My brother's college graduation, family visiting, BBQ, Mother's Day.  We made sure to have healthier choices in addition to the potato salads and spinach dips. There were lots of fruit and vegetable options, but the spinach dip is delicious with carrots and there was cake!  I tried so hard to be good and mostly I was, but I still had a gain when I weighed in yesterday.  Total bummer.  I am feeling discouraged, but that is the nature of setbacks.  Some people say they are motivated by them; I am trying to view these past few setbacks as motivators. 

There is a picture I saw on Pinterest awhile ago that I loved.  Really want I loved is what it said: One "bad" meal can't make you fat, just like one "good" meal can't make you skinny. 

That's not you!

A mini weightloss victory:  the other day, I went to get my oil changed.  On the back of my credit card, I have written "check ID" so the gentleman ringing me up asked to see my ID - this doesn't happen often. 
I showed him my license and he said: "that's not you." 
"Sure it is."
"No, that's not you."
"I assure you, it is me."
"Well you are withering away.  But you know, in a good way."

Kind of a weird compliment - I assume it is weightloss related. I'll take it!

Technology and Wellness

I read an article on the 64 best health and fitness apps of 2013 and wow.  Most of the apps are free which makes me super happy.  Couch to 5K made the list which is great.  There are a couple of different apps available that are all very similar in getting someone ready to run a 5K.  I only have experience with C25K (free) and Ease into 5K (paid).  I think both are great, but C25K has a free version that is the complete program, where many of the other free versions are really just "lite" versions of the program and only include a few workouts. 

The app from the list I am most excited about is Teemo.  It has all these little challenge courses you work your way through.  Each course has multiple exercises that only take a few minutes and no equipment.  I love this because I can do one challenge while my oatmeal is cooking, or a multiple challenges to make a longer workout.  It seems like a new, kind of cool way to incorporate extra physical activity into my normal day.  The downside is you have to have a Facebook account to use the app.  I do have a Facebook, but I don't play games or run any of my other apps through it.  The app is designed to be social, but I am not sure I want to use it that way.  You can choose to not allow the app to post on your behalf. 


There is also an Eat Local app on the list that intrigues me.  I like to eat local whenever possible and I love going to a Farmer's Market, so this is something I may have to try.  I think I know about all the local Farmer's Markets near where I live, but the app is free, so it could be fun.  The Weight Watchers app was also included on the list and I do use it to track my daily points and weekly weigh ins.  Something that was not mentioned in the article: the app is free to download, but you have to be a Weight Watchers member to log in and use it.  An app that did surprise me as being a wellness type app was Instagram.  I have not jumped on the Instagram bandwagon.  I did download the app months ago to see what it was all about, but haven't really used it.  Greatist.com claims you can join communities and there is one that celebrates making healthier choices.  Making good choices is a strong theme in the lessons and workshops I created during my undergrad and into my career.  So I may have to become an instagramer. 

An app that I can't believe exists is STD Triage.  How it works is you take a picture of your problem (most likely located on your genitals) and submit the picture along with a description of your symptoms.  A dermatologist will review your problem based on the supplied information and you will receive a notification once a diagnosis has been made (which you then pay for).  The best part of this?  The app icon. 



*I don't know if I need to say this, but these are just my opinions (obviously!).  I was not paid by any of these companies or app type people to write this.  It is simply a collection of wellness related apps that I love or want to try (or scratched my head at).  And thanks to Greatist for making this killer list!

FPM

So, I nicknamed my weekly Weight Watchers meeting my Fat People Meeting, which is wrong on so many different levels.  It's mean, but I don't care: FPM makes me giggle, and to me that is important.  Not all the people at the meeting are fat, some are lifetime members that have reached their goal and continue to attend meetings for support.  Which is great, support is such a vital part to successful weightloss.  My progress for the last two weeks was not spectacular, but I am trying not to be bummed about it.  I missed a FPM, because of my eye injury, so my weigh in this week was for two weeks and I lost 2 pounds.  I am trying to be positive about it because any loss is good: I didn't put the weight on overnight, so I won't lose it overnight either.  Plus, I spent the better part of last week camped out on the sofa with a cold washcloth over my eyes.  I should be jumping up and down, shouting "Boo Yah!" to my fat. 

Not really related, but begging to be shared: I like to eat oatmeal, it is tasty.  Oatmeal is like ice cream, but hot and oaty.  What I mean is you can put fun toppings on it like you would for an ice cream sundae. I am usually a fruit and nuts kind of girl (haha!), but sometimes chocolate is required.  This morning I made my oatmeal, topped it with 8 pecans - chopped, a teaspoon of raw sugar, and half a teaspoon of cinnamon.  Then I poured my hot Irish breakfast blend tea on it.  Seriously.  I just stood there and stared at it for a minute, trying to decide if I should dump it and start over or mix it up and eat it anyway.  Then a stroke of genius hit me: drain it over the sink.  Okay, maybe not the stroke of genius you were expecting, more like stroke of common sense.  I don't know what was going on in my brain this morning.  Tea doesn't go on oatmeal!

Bucket List

3. Go to a murder mystery dinner.
Kind of cheesy?  Yes.  Fun? I hope so.  All I know about murder mystery dinners: I want to go to one, I want to dress up, and I love the movie Clue.  After some fancy googling, I learned there are options.  You can be creative and plan one, you can be less creative and get a kit, or you can let others be creative for you and go to a show. 

4. Learn to whitewater kayak.
I am already an active flatwater kayak type person: love love love being on the water.  Whitewater kayaking has always been something I have wanted to learn, but I let my weight keep me from taking the first step (or roll class so I don't get dead).  Now that I am doing something about my weight, I am making a goal to make this happen.   

5. Go kayaking in a bio-bay.
Okay, bio-bay is short for bio-luminescent bay, which means that it is a body of water that contains millions of micro-organisms (called dinoflagellates) that briefly glow when agitated.  So while kayaking at night everywhere your boat or paddle disturbed the water would glow.  Spectacular!  I tried to find some good pictures, but so many had been edited to make the glow brighter, and that is cheating!  Anyway: three bio-bays can be found in Puerto Rico. 

Heart Rate

I have seen some great playlists created for running out there in the interwebs. For me, music is great for pacing, which is something that a lot of people struggle with, specifically new to running or start again type people. There are some great running apps available (I used - and still use - Couch to 5K and am a big fan), but if you don't want to pay for it or don't have the technology, the advice I frequently give is to jog for a song, walk for a song, repeat. If you can't make it a whole song that's is okay, just keep at it, your endurance will get better.

I love music, discovering new (at least to me) bands, checking out the local talent, whatever. I always keep a playlist specifically for running on my iPhone; it is titled heart rate. Because I love music and making lists is fun, my current running playlist.  I just put it on shuffle and go.  According to iTunes, my playlist is 1.6 hours; I typically make my running playlist longer because I play the shuffle game; I find this is more than long enough for my warm up, run, and cool down. The type of running goals I am setting now are distance and pacing related because of my half marathon goal. 

Magic: B.o.B (feat. Rivers Cuomo)
So Good: B.o.B
I Know What I Am: Band of Skulls
One Week: Barenaked Ladies
Done.: The Band Perry
Timebomb: Beck
Crazy in Love: Beyonce
Hunting for Witches: Bloc Party
Runaway Baby: Bruno Mars
You Make Me Feel...: Cobra Starship (feat. Sabi)
Turn Me On: David Guetta and Nicki Minaj
Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This): Eurythmics
Good Feeling: Flo Rida
Give a Little: Hanson
I Kissed a Girl: Katy Perry
Peacock: Katy Perry
Blow: Ke$ha
Somebody Told Me: The Killers
Say Hey (I Love You): Michael Franti & Spearhead
Seven Seas Blues: Monster Truck
Chocolate Raspberry Lemon and Lime: Muscles
Moving In the Dark: Neon Trees
A Good Idea At the Time: Ok Go
Breakin' Dishes: Rihanna
Get Busy: Sean Paul
Got 2 Luv U: Sean Paul
Shut Up and Let Me Go: The Ting Tings
That's Not My Name: The Ting Tings
Drive By: Train

Bucket List

 

Tomorrow morning at 7:30 AM, I have to report to a testing center to take a professional exam that will qualify me to do professional type stuff.  I should be practicing good test taking procedures like studying, going to bed early, and eating a good breakfast, but it is likely that won't happen.  What will actually happen is I will roll out of bed late, pull on a pair of running shorts and my favorite Adidas jacket with the thumb holes, and eat an energy bar on my way to the testing center.  Since I know myself so well and am okay with the reality of what will go down in the morning, I am surfing the web and looking at other people's bucket lists on Pinterest.  Which got me to thinking: I have never actually committed to making a "bucket list." To be honest, I don't even like the term, but it is better than "to do" list and flows better than "make it happen" list.  Instead of creating one long list that will take half your life to read, I am creating a running one as inspiration hits. I love to travel and take pictures, so a large portion of my bucket list will likely involve travel of some kind (but who's doesn't?).

1. Climb the Tower of Pisa. 
The tower leans about 3.99 degrees, is absolutely beautiful, and you get to climb it!  Look at it all leany and stuff.

2. Go to a drive in movie.
I have never had the opportunity to go to a drive in movie.  Unfortunately, this style of theater is not common anymore.  I know there is one near me; I sometimes drive by it when I go hiking.  So I really need to make this happen.