Thanks to Sarah I've now got a table! Thank you very much! One question: how do I get rid of that space at the top?

Posted at 12:07 p.m. | |

So I'm in. Curves, that is. My mom even came downstairs to make sure I got up on time (though I was already awake, albeit groggy). It's a beautiful day out so I walked there. I'm wondering how I'll actually get there in the wintertime because it would probably take nearly 30 minutes by bus (you know how bus routes are) while it's only a 10, maybe 15 minute walk. So I guess I'll just have to bundle up and walk it!

A couple of months ago I had convinced myself that Curves was for older women primarily because it wouldn't get my heart rate up or provide the amount of resistance I'd need to feel the "burn". Well I was wrong. I felt it! I sweated! And my heart rate was right where it was supposed to be! I'm convinced that Curves will help me.

So now that I was weighed and such I can share the not so impressive revelations. The first one that surprised me (though in retrospect I'm not sure why I was suprised) is my % body fat. I have 43.3% body fat! Yipes! I can't wait to see that number shrink.

Posted at 11:50 a.m. | |

I'm almost an official member of Curves! My mom and sister went yesterday afternoon to sign both my sister and I up. I was working but they called me and I was able to book an appointment to get all my measurements taken tomorrow morning. I hope I am able to get up in time for the 8:30am appointment.

I'm so thankful that my mom footed the bill and I intend to stick to this 3 times a week deal for the 3 or 4 months I've been signed up for.

I will update every day I go to Curves.

Posted at 1:32 a.m. | |

My mom is paying for a 3 month starter membership for my sister and I at Curves. I'm thinking maybe this is the push I need to actually get into the routine of regular exercise. Maybe I'll actually see results and lose some inches! I'm pretty excited about this.

When I have paid for gym memberships in the past, I've been able to skip the gym and not feel bad because for me, once I've paid the money it's gone. Now that it'll be my mom's money, however, I know I will feel a bit more responsible for getting the most out of it and not wasting her money.

We're supposed to go on Monday to get all signed up! I'm excited (now, at least).

I still haven't bought a scale yet. I'm sure I'm heavier than what is currently listed on this page. But I guess I'll find out soon.

Posted at 12:54 | |

I'm still using the "I'm not quite finished school yet" excuse when it comes to exercising as I should be. I've even stopped going for my walks, a routine I had started but didn't even keep for a week. I know myself well enough now to know that I'm going to have to celebrate the little things, the times I resist the temptation to buy a Dairy Queen blizzard (at least I never get bigger than a small now) and the days that I voluntarily choose a vegetable from the fridge instead of cookies.

I cannot wait until Tuesday, when my school life will be almost over and I will have no excuse for not going to the gym.

I was trying on some clothing at the store I work at for the summer and there is no denying it. Unless the capris and pants that I tried on are cut small (and I always laugh at customers who use that excuse instead of admitting that they've gained weight), I have gained a size. I'm now a 22 on the bottom. A 3X. And I thought I'd never get bigger than a 2X, which I've been for over 6 years. Clearly either my metabolism is slowing down or I've increased my junk food eating. I think it's the latter.

Posted at 11:31 p.m. | |

Needless to say, I didn't go for that walk after my exams. I was way too tired (only 3 hours of sleep the night before...yes, I'm making weak excuses). My friend's wedding is in a year and 3 months and I'm the maid of honour. That should be great motivation!

Posted at 3:43 p.m. | |

I hate to say it but exam studying and hockey playoff watching has taken priority over walking at night. The original plan was to study for a few hours, then take an hour long walk to let what I've studied percolate but the windy/cold weather combined with my general lethargy hasn't helped.

The exam is now in 10 hours so I intend to "celebrate" with a nice relaxing walk afterward. I hope I do well on it.

Posted at 11:27 p.m. | |

I might not be able to go for my walk tonight because I won't be home until about 10:30pm. The good thing is that I'm going to salsa dance lessons from 8-10pm so perhaps I will get a tiny bit of activitiy.

Posted at 6:22 p.m. | |

I went for my 45 minute walk again. I still have skittles in the house too.

Posted at 12:10 a.m. | |

I had a dentist appointment today so I walked to it! It was about a 30 minute walk and I got there almost right on time.

There's a good article (well, one worth a skim) about weight loss challenges women face. They say a good rule of thumb is to avoid white foods (sugar, potatoes, rice...) I eat rice at least 5 times a week. Around the holidays I eat a lot of potatoes, and sugar? Well you don't have to go far to know that sugar is a main part of m diet.

I am trying to eat more fruits/veggies.

Posted at 2:13 p.m. | |

More skittles, no walk. Gah!

Posted at 9:31 p.m. | |

When it comes to making healthy choices and being active, today was not a good day.

The day started off badly with me waking up at nearly 1:30pm because I had gone to bed around 5am. This means I didn't start the day off at a decent time with breakfast. I then followed that up with a tiny lunch that didn't fill me up. Instead of adding some delicious pears to that meal to fill me up I went out when I knew I was hungry and I succumbed to the temptation to buy skittles and starburst. Both! And I ate them! Both. And these weren't the little packages with 8 or 9 starburst squares either.

And my serving of mashed potatoes tonight! Disgraceful!

I also didn't get my 45 minute walk. Instead I had a short one, only about 25 minutes, and it was chopped up. So I'm off to bed now and hoping that tomorrow brings a healthier outlook.

Oh, I did have one pear today.

Posted at 12:53 a.m. | |

I went for a walk again today, 45 minutes. I am really starting to enjoy these walks and I intend to stick to it.

Foodwise I'm still eating too much and the wrong stuff (cake, cookies). No skittles, though.

Posted at 12:07 a.m. | |

I went for another 45 minute walk tonight, this time with my sister. I was tempted to just skip it because it was 8:30pm and quite dark outside but I made myself do it and I'm glad.

When I read inspiring blogs like Megan's, which is now locked, or Sarah's or Tenth-Muse's, I'm just pumped up and willing to prove that I too can be a big loser like them and shed a lot of weight. For good.

Posted at 10:20 p.m. | |

Hello, hello!

I went for a nice long walk today: 44 minutes! I'm hoping to make this a regular activity, every day until it becomes habit. I took my portable cd player with me and was listening to an old cd mix while I walked and thought about some things. I might have had deep thoughts but with no place to put them down for posterity, they flitted away.

The weather was nice today (above 0 degrees, somewhere around 5 or 6 I believe) so there were a lot of people out, walking their dogs or biking with their young children. The path I walked is actually quite scenic and I plan to come with my camera one day and snap some pictures.

As I was walking, I was thinking how I actually don't mind the way my legs look and it's really my stomach area that is out of control. When I first started walking, I didn't feel like my stomach was getting much out of the walk but about half way through, I started to feel my belly moving, so that's good.

I need a nice reliable scale. I think I'm going to buy one tomorrow (if I find a good one at the Sears sale). First I will test it and make sure it says something close to what the gym scale says.

Posted at 4:04 a.m. | |

Here are some self affirmations this site suggests using to empower yourself when the going's tough:

• I am healthy and lean
  
• I give myself recognition beyond food
  
• I love myself, I love my body, and fat just disappears
  
• I look nice, I am active, I am enough, and I count
  
• I am my ideal weight
  
• I feel great in my clothes
  
• I enjoy exercising several times a week
  
• I can say no
  
• It is easy to find other things to do in the evening besides eat
  
• I let down my walls
  
• I am proud of my body; it did what I told it to do
  
• My body's natural state is to be lean
  
• I am fulfilled
  
• Food is a resource I manage wisely
  
• My metabolism works great
  
• My body knows what do with what I give it
  
• I am patient with my body as it learns new habits
  
• Others notice how great I look and feel
  
• My organs are relieved of overworking
  
• I am slim and trim
  
• My body responds to my thoughts
  
• I am physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually balanced and healthy
  
• I am whatever I think and feel I am

Of course a lot of these affirmations don't apply to me yet but I'm praying that with time they will.

In other news: I'd like to finish off Dr. Phil's book by the end of this weekend and really start taking his words to heart.

Posted at 3:21 a.m. | |

So I went to the gym. And I realized how out of shape I was. The original plan was to do 20 minutes on the stairmaster, then do some weights, particularly for my arms.

Instead I had to quit the stairmaster after 10 minutes (and I was on the lowest possible level, too!). I switched to the bicycle because at least you get to sit on it and I did 15 minutes on it. Then I switched to weights. I looked carefully this time at what muscle groups the machines I tend to use are supposed to work and I think I need to make sure I'm not using the wrong ones. The last thing I need to make my pecs more defined.

Since the gym is closed tomorrrow for Good Friday I believe, I intend to go for a nice long walk, at least 30-45 minutes long. I'd also like to incorporate a 20 minute walk into my day. That is the distance between where the bus that takes me from school home drops me and my house. It's very hard not to hop on the bus though and turn away and walk the distance. I need to think about the consequences of that action though (remaining flabby).

Posted at 12:50 a.m. | |