Home Exercise

I have a bit of exercise advice for you. It's a little early, but after the new year I am considering getting a piece of home exercise equipment. Why after the new year? That's when we can afford it :) NOT a new years resolution. Those darn resolutions never work!

I already know I want the bars that MizFit gave away a while back (can't remember what they're called, but I will definately look back in her archives...but if anyone can remember it's the bars that look like hurdles).
However, I really would like a cardio machine. My friend has a gazelle and said it was a lot like an eliptical machine and gives a good workout. I was always skeptical - seemed way too easy, but then again people said that about the elliptical machine. What do y'all think?

Damage done!

I will be back again Sunday I think, but for now I'm just enjoying the time "off" and spending with family! I did not stuff myself to uncomfort, but I have not been want for food. I'm sure with the hourly grazing that I still hit my 3-6k that MizFit reported. (I was not aware of that before she said it and was in sock after reading her statements about it). Anyway, have a fabulous weekend. I hope you had your fill of food and family :)

If you are traveling back home - please be careful! There are a lot of idiots, er, unskilled drivers on the road.

Facebook pals

Anyone that has facebook (and promises not to talk about issues here that my face to face people don't know about - the biggest being my cousin) and wants to add me please feel free to email me (my blog name at yahoo). Or that would like to exchange Christmas Cards (yay!) please feel free to email me too :)

HYC

I was reluctant to post something this time, as I have had several events (some that I talked abut, but others I will need to keep quiet) that have shaken me to the core. But, I will post my goals. HYC is not just for when times are good, but also for when times are bad. Even more helpful in these times.

I need a total body, mind, soul focus this week. Thanksgiving week should be good for that! The hubby and I are going to Ft Worth to stay with his family and eat dinner with the whole group (aunts, uncles, cousins, etc.). I'm excited :)
Body: I will try to exercise and try, try, try not to eat ALL of my MIL's southern down home cooking! Well, I'll eat something from every meal she makes, but I WILL NOT PIG OUT :)

Mind: I will journal. I think, unless I miraculously find money for a shrink, that I need to journal some of these feelings and frustrations.

Soul: enjoy family. Enjoy that we get to spend one more holiday with them, no matter how much they make us mad! At least they're here now and we can enjoy the good, the bad, and the ugly :)

Happy Thanksgiving to Everyone!!!! I hope you enjoy every bite you take and, more importantly, that you enjoy every single person (especially family) that you are privilaged to spend time with!


To continue the thankful till Christmas thing, this week is family :)
So, I am thankful for a large supportive family! Even my in laws are pretty great. I am thankful that I've been loved so much, and that I've loved so many people that I get the chance to miss them when they're gone. That I hurt when they're hurt only means that I've had and have some really fabulous people in my life. I'm lucky to have known and to know such unconditional love.

6 random things

Chantelle tagged me for the 7 random things, but I was a bum and didn't get to it (shameful, I know). But, when she posted this I figured itw as a way to redeem myself! Here we go :)

1. I've always wanted to live out of the city and be somewhat secluded. As in away from people! I know, those of you that know I'm in PhD school for Psychology are wondering how the two fit. I can't help you as I don't get it either!
2.I always wanted to be an Astronomer, but thought it involved too much schooling! Hah! Silly kid.
3. OH, that brings me to a related topic to number 2 - I never wanted to go to school for a long time - it just kind of happened. And, now I love it :)
4. I have road rage. Oh, wait, I've talked about this before! OH, well, I have to admitt it again in hopes that I will STOP! Hi, my name is Diana and I'm a road rage-aholic!
5. I wear crocs everywhere. Even soemtimes when I'm dressed up for teaching. It's rare you'll see me out of them. Fashion faux pas, yes, but they're cheap for shoes that support well. Yet, I watch america's next top model and fashion runway! Oh, heidi and tyra would be so angry :)
6. Me and my husband talk about wining the lotto and plan out what we're going to do with the money. Sometimes I really think I, er we, will win :) Just need to buy the ticket once in a while...there's always a catch to these things, aren't there?

Six random things I like:
1. Strawberry ice cream. Yummy.
2. Snow days. I miss them terribly. Back in the day, it's when my roomate and I would decorate the Christmas tree and then watch movies curled up on the couch. Love them :)
3. puppy bellys :) Silly and juvenile, but they're so soft and pet-able.
4. 70-80's music like Chicago (both 70's and 80's), Air Supply, Beegees, REO Speedwagon. Love it. OOOH, and Elton John. B-b-b-benny and the jets :)
5. blankets from the dryer. nice and warm
6. Sleeping in on a Saturday with nothing to do but play all day.

Six random things I don't like:
1. Smoking (I'm with Chantelle here) - especially when the smell is on my clothes. Yuck.
2. Animal shedding. That's why we have a Schnauzer. No shedding.
3. Hair in my face/eyes. Like when I don't have a headband and my husband puts the window down in the car!
4. Whiney kids. Whyyyyyah. Nooooooooooah. Makes me laugh when other have to deal with it in public (sorry! what can I say, I'm mean like that), but drives me nuts when kids do it to me or to their moms and it's a friend or sister.
5. Guys and loogies. Yuck. Do that in the bathroom with the fan on or away from me. Makes me gag every.single.time.
6. Capers. Totally ruins a great meal.

Whew, ok, I'm done finally :) Now must go do work!! Anyone that would like to do it please feel free to do this for yourself! Just throw me a comment to let me know to check it out :)

Things I'm grateful for.

Two posts in one day? How crazy of me! But, I need to be reminded of how wonderful my life is and how lucky I am with all of the negative that's been going on the past few years (there's more than what I have mentioned in the past and what I talked about earlier today that I won't talk about now, but it's been a hard few years on many levels). So, I'm going to do Chantelle's Grateful Challange that she found in a magazine. She's doing a year of gratefullness...I don't think I can possibly do every day (I will need days off to work :), but I will do most days until christmas and then maybe once a month or week.

The first will always be my hubby! It may be cliche, but before him I did not believe in a world changing love. That is for me - my parents were lucky enough to have it. But, me? I did not believe that I could find someone that I would 1. want to spend the rest of my life with and 2. someone that felt so right like they just fit with me. We clicked instantly. He not only restored my faith in love, but also cam about right before I lost my mom. I don't think I would have survived at all or as well as I did when I lost her if he hadn't been there for me.

Non weight issues

I need a second to vent about non weight/health me issues. I woudln't mention it here, but I can't talk about it to ANYONE except my husband (and mother in law). It's no secret that my mother passed away last year from ovarian cancer and that last year I also had one of my aunts pass away from breast cancer. But, I have 3 other cancer survivors in my family, one (my cousin) that I mentioned last month with a link to her cancer survivor article. She happens to be one of my closest friends, not "just" family. She had a bad mammogram picture yesterday (after 5 years out). The thing is, this cancer that runs in my family (I don't have the gene, thankfully, so I don't have to worry as much about me having cancer) is really progressive. I'm just worried about her and that I'll lose another person that I care about so much. It's not known yet exactly what it is, but since she insists to her doctors to get tested every 6 months (even though after 3 ish they wanted to only do it every year) it's unlikely to be benign. Benign usually don't grow that fast.
I guess I just needed to get that off of my chest. If you could send good vibes, prayers, light a candle for her too (I have a lot of people in my life that have or do need that) I would appreciate it. It'd be nice to have her around so that we can grow old together. Isn't that what is SUPPOSED to happen? You grow old with family and friends.

Energy Boost Via Spark People

Spark People wednesday was saying how 5 minutes per hour you should stand up and stretch or give yourself a mental break of some sort. This, along with good posture (eek...you mean I should have been listening to my nagging grandmother?), can help fight menal fatigue. It got me thinking about what I do at work...which is slouch over a computer and sit there for hours until I need to teach or take a course and try to concentrate for hours on end. Sometimes I get up, but it explains why I feel the need to blog during the time I am supposed to be working! I feel tired and don't want to get back to it. Ever. Is this how you feel? Maybe if I alloted time to stretch and have a mental break I wouldn't go home exhausted and useless at 5 or 6? Need to try it out.

HYC check...I should have said the meal stuff (I did that), but also fitness test, and give myself time every hour to regain my energy. Check, check, and check.

Weight and fitness issues

I am down 4-5 pounds today compared to yesterday. How can water weight really equal that much? I don't know, but I guess I just need to be more consistent and things should go back to normal....or hopefully below normal :)

Even though my weight is going back to normal with less salty foods and more water, I got a wake up call when I tried to do Mark's "burn" workout. Go check it out! Even though it's extreme, I assumed that I'd be slow but that I'd still be able to do all of them. Nope. I am so out of shape it's not even funny! I only did 4 flights (not 10) and I stopped when I did about 5 seconds of the plank hold and was straining and, well, weezing a little :( lol. I think I need to vamp up what I'm doing. I need to do the harder videos, or at least to make a larger effort, or maybe doing some of this stuff Mark had (in a smaller amount...seperated and slowed wa down), but wow. With the two wake up calls in the past two days, I can't hide it any more.

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Look at the comments of that workout. I think DaDivaStreet had the right idea when she just did as much as she could! I burned out too quickly and couldn't get through it. I may have to try this several times (or at least once) per week with modifications (as much as I can do) and that way I see how much more fit I'm getting! I like it.

HYC update

I've been eating horribly. What is that you say? Exercise doens't give you free reign to eat whatever it is you want? No. Damn. In that case I think I've been very bad.

I am up 10 pounds from my last post of weight. I know at least 5 of that is water retention. Somehow I blame those potato chips (you mean my vice? yes, that would be the ones) that I mowed down this weekend. Or it could be the hot dogs for breakfast. Hey, I said I'd be honest and I've been slacking on that job. But, some of it is good 'ol fashion unhealthy fat. Because there is healthy fat?

So, my plan coincides with my pocket book...which is extremely light/tight right about now. Here's the deal. Until I can be trusted, I leave my debit card, credit cards and any cash at home. I eat what I plan the night before. Nothing more than that. No chips from the vending machine, no soda (even though I drink the zero stuff, I'm sure it's not helpin the situation). I drink a cup of coffee in the a.m. and water throughout the day. That's it. Simple, right? I'm banking on that one.

Date day

Thanks for all the good ideas for our date day. We didn't use them (boooh on us!), but we'll probably use them next week so they weren't said in vain :) We ended up going to a gun show with some friends (it's TX...that is a date ;), went out for lunch, hung out with some friends. But, we did put down the couch cushions on the floor with blankets and pillows while we watched Christmas themed movies. It was nice just to hang out. Nothing too spectacular, but enough to appreciate each other.

I hope those of you that haven't taken a date with your hubby/wifey/significant other in a while think about doing it! We make a point to spend the day together on Saturdays so that grad school and, well, life doesn't get the better of us. Even if it's a few hours of you two in a park while your mom/dad/sister/brother/etc watches the kids (for you moms and dads), it can really help the rest of your week and remind you of how great your life is. This is especially true if you're having problems lately that make you feel down in the dumps). Sometimes we need to be reminded of how much we are loved.

P.S. Chantelle - I promise I'll get to the 7 random things again. Till then, you can read what I said last time here :)

Days passing and passing

Answer from my last post: my next step is to figure out where the public library is in my town! I hope they have fun dancing exercise videos - like belly dancing. And, yes, I realize that I will look rediculous, but I'm going to do it anyway :) Isn't that half the fun of doing the weird exercises? Looking weird in the comfort of your own home? Not for you? It is for me :) I've developed a weird sense of humor over the years.

The point of the post:
I've been having issues lately where I feel like a drone plugging along. I work for a while and then come home and veg...just biding time until it's acceptable to sleep (ok, where I can justify sleeping...sometimes by 8:30)....just to start it all over again. Because of this, time seems to be passing by so quickly and I can't remember a lot of the days. I feel like stopping to "smell the roses" is just a phrase people say instead of a way of living :( At least it's not how I'm living my life. Grad school or not, I can still enjoy life!

I don't want to get into this too much, but my hubby is having a hard time. We need some quality time...not just time spent. And, we need to do things to take his mind off some stuff without costing a lot of money. Our date day is tomorrow (the one day where I DO NOT do work of any sort and we spend the whole day together). I need some ideas! I already know I want to paint with him, but we will want/need other ideas outside of vegging watching tv. I want to know what you guys do with your significant others to enjoy each others company! Keep in mind that we're broke right now (so I'm hoping you have cheap to no money ideas) and also keep in mind that he has health issues (his knees are really bad and he has bad asthma), so long or any strenuous hikes are out.

Thanks!

Dance, dance, dance!

Hi guys/gals. I have a question for you. I like to work out to videos, but my collection is tiny. I've been doing Carmen Electra's strip tease set (it's not dirty...just gets you moving while feeling good). However, there are only so many times you can do the same workout! Do any of you know some really great dancing videos (of any kind) that you really like? Are they beginner friendly?

OOH, has anyone tried the belly dancing one? I want to try it in a bad way, but money is tight and I can't justify trying one that I haven't gotten good word of mouth about!

Anyone intersted in swapping/borrowing? I don't have really strenuous programs, or a lot of videos, but if anyone is intersted I will list the videos I do have and give a mini review to those that are inersted!

HYC check in

Gotta love the HYC to keep you accountable! Ok, so here it is.

I've been doing well...at least getting there. Not so good at the beginning of the past week, but getting on track. I could do better on food, but since it's progress I will give myself that one as success! I started exercising more now that I've encorporated workout videos back into my routine. Did them Sunday and this morning. Why do those help? I don't know - but I'll just go with what works...why not give the what works a try for a change!


Here are my plans for the week:

1. still continue to eat the healthier stuff (i.e., little foods with HFCS, enriched, and no partially or totally hydrogenated oils)...I'm not saying I won't have them this week, but most of my foods at home don't have it (except the bbq sauce...haven't found a non-hfcs bbq sauce and really, who can live completely without it! If you know of some please, please, please let me know :)

2. work out at least 3 days a week either through videos or walking - or both if I'm super good/motivated!

3. Not over eat. Does it cheat to have it as it's own number when #2 helps with this? I say not!

4. Work on being in my zen place. Wait!! Shouldnt' this be #1?? Ok, so what will I do? No (let's be realistic though, little! very little!) guilt for not being perfect...even with trying to be in my zen place! Cool down the anxiety when it hits (about school, eating, school, my weight, life, did I mention school? ;) Cool myself down with the road rage (what do you mean road rage isn't a zen activity? crazy talk). Stuff like that.

Exercise

Walking isn't cutting it for me. So, I did a workout video this afternoon that 5 months ago was easy for me. Ouch. I got out of shape so quickly! But, I felt better then I have in a while! Why didn't I go back to theee in the first place? The other thing: it makes me not want to over eat. I'm thinking exercise is a good food checker. Who knew :) duh, huh?

Walking. I'm hoping to keep up with that, but it's not strenuous or formal enough to keep me going. I'm weird like that. Work out videos and the gym are much better for me, but I feel bad not doin double duty for my dog and me. So, I'm thinking that I'll do work out videos in the am (MWFSat at least) then walk in the pm if it's not too dark. That way I get my work out in for sure, but I can still work the dog out when I can.

Quesitoning and more questioning...get to the answers already!!

I've been questioning my behavior lately (ok, always, but especially lately with eating and exercise). I just keep wondering: how can we keep explaining things away (by entitlement mostly) and not work on my goals? How can we, seriously, not realize the dammage that we're doing (e.g., eating bad foods and too much) until it's already been done? Why don't we notice earlier? What's stopping me from achieveing my goals...afterall this barrior I have was created by me! And, while we're going there, why can't I will myself healthier? :)

The thing is, questioning is helpful but if that's all that is happening then we're getting no where! And it's exhausting. And, no progress is being made! I can question all I want, but at some point I have to "do" rather than question.

Other issue: I don't know to achieve balance. How can I be lenient on myself without being so lax that nothing happens? I don't know that I know how to allow myself to not have guilt and still stick to a healthy eating program! How sad is that? My only mechanism is guilt and I don't know how to be my own cheerleader sucessfully. Guilt is a natural thing I go to, yet we've seen that it totally doesn't work. What can I do in place of this? How can I "make" myself adhere to a healthy lifestyle without guilt and punishment on my part? I can talk, analyze, and question things until I'm blue in the face...but it doesn't lead to anything happening (too bad - that's the part I'm really good at).

I have a plan. What's my plan? Just do it :) Duh, huh? Nike had it all along. Also, I have a card that I signed that represents my committment to being healthier. I put this in my wallet so that every time I try to pull out money to pay for bad foods I need to look at it and recognize it's there! Maybe it's not enough for me to say my goals (like I did tuesday), I need a physical reminder to actually do them! I think I also need a note in my office and on my fridge at home saying "does tuna fish sound good? Then don't eat!!!" (Thanks MizFit!) If I don't actually do the advice that's given to me and that I want to do, then no wonder I'm not succeeding!

All About me

Chantelle over at Fat Mum Slim posted her version of questions that are asked to various people in her local (or not so local...her favorite?) newspaper...and I decided to play along :)

I am obsessed with: trying to eat healthier. Suceeding? That's a different story!

Cant live without: my husband and beautiful doggie! They keep me sane(r).

Am petrified of: losing my husband or doggie! I'm getting better with every month that passes (as we get farther away from me losing my mom)...you should've seen me after the first few months...crazy train about losing them. (anything else pales in comparison of losing my hubby)

Am proud of: how far I've come since high school! I've come out of my shell much more, along with gaining self efficacy - I have problems feeling like I can do things or that I'm worthy, but I'm changing that! And, I never would have guessed i would have been a school addict...would've told you that you were crazy!

Really need to: spend less time watching tv and more quality time for me and me and my hubby!

Don't get why: I can't have a money tree. Really. They should exist.

Think alternative medicine is: a good idea, and I want to believe in it. Let's just say I believe in it as much as I do regular medicine.

Relax by: vegging out or playing video games. But, I'm trying switch to doing things that are mentally better for me like painting and playing the guitar (poorly)!

Am excited about: the possibilities for the future! There are many places we may go and do, but it's exciting to talk about it and dream about what the future holds!

My worst vice is: fried foods. YUMMY. French fries, or homemade chicken fried steak. If it's salty and fried I adore it.

Fridge usually contains: too much! But, always fixings for quesadillas and bread pizza (slice of bread with pizza sauce, 2% cheese and pepperoni).

Family is: what always comes first! Everything else is just icing on the cake.

Friends don't understand why: I stress so much! I'm wound a little tight and need to work on being in my zen place. I should have put I'm working on being in my zen place above!

Attitude to exercise is: that it's something I need to do, and something I am working towards liking again.

Relationship with my body: becoming better. It helps that my hubby tells me he loves my body the way it is! (and he doesn't sugar coat things...makes me feel like it's worth celebrating).

Tagging time! So, it's your turn! I would love for y'all to do it, but I think that dr. wifey, Lainie, and nmburleson are the most likely to do this. Don't consider yourself left out if I didn't mention you though! Also, don't feel obligated because I want you to :) Just post a comment if you do!

I hope everyone is happy about the election results! I hate to admit it, as I lecture (literally :) about the importance of voting, but I did not. The only thing of importance was the presidential election, and I feel that both were good/bad candidates and really didn't have a strong opinion either way. Shame on me, yes I know.

I had other events happen. I got rid of my beloved beetle convertible. I loved it, but the maintenance would have been horrible. And, I know there would have been problems down the road. So, we got my hubby an 04 mustang (not the new body style, but it's a 40th anniversary:) and I get the VW 337 (the 25th anniversary of the german gti...do you see a trend? ;) It's a much smoother ride, so I don't mind. Plus, it already has the very expensive mods to get 42 mpg on the highway. And, it's quick. And, it's smoother. Yes, it still makes me sad but it's a better deal.

On a much more serious and tramatic (for me) note, one of my best friends has her lung cancer back. It started when she was 22 I think (she's 26 now), but it's a version where she had it in her hip too (not sure how that works though). This will be her 4th round of radiation (or fifth) and I'm hoping they do a global round of chemo to ensure she has every chance, but she has so many other health problems that I just don't know that they can without ensuring she will die soon. The kicker is that she's not only going through PhD school, but she's also a single mother to a 5year old daughter. Please do your thing: pray, keep her in your thoughts, light a candle, send good vibes...whatever you believe in. She could use all the help she can get!

HYC and me update

Message for Lainie: I can't post replies on your site. Tried twice (last night and this morning) and can't find your contact info :(

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Thanks for all your support! It was a very, very, very stressful week/month, but I am ok now. I have some time until my net deadline(s) and I will work as hard as I can to make sure everything is ahead of schedule! My hair color hadn't handle this much stress!

You know your old when....you have 2 beers and get a splitting headache and have to go to bed before 9!!! Yes, that was me Saturday. Not counting the whole 2 beers I had the night before at a Halloween party. I just don't do alcohol well anymore I guess (not that I ever did...unless you count getting drunk off my butt with 4 drinks). No complaints here though - I already have enough things I get addicted to.

So, while keeping up with readings I realized that y'all are kicking butt! Most of you are on track and doing well - way to go! I don't have to travel far for inspiration, do I? :)

My plan for the week.
1. I will walk 4 times this week (M, W, F, Sunday) traveling for at least 2 miles every time.
2. I will avoid most (if not all) foods with HFCS, enriched or having partially hydrogenated oils (seriously, makers of starburst...you broke my heart when I read this ingredient).
3. I will try to only eat when I'm hungry! This one will be the toughest to follow...but, I'm prepared to give it my all!
4. Most important: I will not guilt myself if I'm not perfect in my endevors. I will just try to give it as much as I can! I am my own cheerleader, not heckler!