100 mile challenge

Tonight I was able to successfully complete the 100 mile challenge!  I even had a day to spare :)   I officially logged 100.69 miles by either going on the treadmill, cybex, elliptical or the stationary bike.  It certainly wasn't an easy challenge and I nearly gave up but I pushed through and ignored that inner voice telling me to stop.    The last two miles were really hard, it felt like I was climbing mount Everest but isn't that what a challenge is all about?  

 

 In the future I am looking forward to pushing the limits and seeing what I am really capability of doing. 

 

 

Monthly Check in

I hope everyone had a good weekend.  August is coming to end so it is time to check in and tell you how much weight I have lost for the month.  I lost a total of 5.7 pounds.  I am super happy with this and I look forward to what next month will bring.  :) 

 

Weekly Workouts

 

Monday- 35 mins (Stationary bike)

                45 mins (Volleyball)

 

Tuesday- 60 mins (Stationary bike)

 

Saturday- 30 mins (Stationary bike)

                 30 mins (Cybex) 

 

Total Calories: 1110

 

100 miles challenge update:   68.2 miles completed

 

I am super determined to complete this challenge.  I will give you the finally tally on Friday. 

 

Rock Climbing

I have been meaning to try rock climbing for a while now and I even added it to one my three month goals which is coming to an end soon.   I have been putting it off because I so petrified that I won't fit into the harness!   I have googled weight limits and I  seem to be okay in that department.  I am really worry about my hips not fitting.  I know I have conquered a lot in the last couple of years.  I can fit comfortable in an airplane and I don't have to squeeze myself into a movie chair anymore but what if the harness doesn't fit??  I can feel my face getting red of embarrassment as I write this!   But I think I am going to bite the bullet and call and get the information.  Worse comes to worse I might have to wait a couple more months.   Stay tuned.......  I hope I fit because I really want to try this.

Is there anything you have been meaning to try but your worried you weight will get in the way???

 

Weekly update

So far WW is going well it is making me very aware my portion control and tracking my food is now become second nature.  I feel a sense of accomplishment to be see my eating going in the right direction.   In the last couple of years I have noticed I am unable to have sweets in my home  for obvious reasons I will the eat the whole box of cookies in one sitting.   But the other day I bought a scoop of ice cream when I was running errand and I felt satisfied and didn't want anymore.   I think for me, it's better to buy single serving it may cost  more but in the long run my health is more important.  It is odd how things work  out sometimes?

I have decided instead of writing about my weight loss every week I am going to change it to monthly.  I will input the number in the "Weight Watchers Tab"  but I want to discuss more about the changes I notice about the food I eat, reaching all the goals I want to accomplish, exercise, etc.  I don't want to focus only on the number.  Don't get me wrong it's important but there are  so many other things that comes a long with weight loss and I feel writing about this will help me get to the weight I want. 

I am super excited to announce that in the last year I have worked out/exercised 124 times!!   I have been keeping track of my mileage, calories and time every single workout.    

Lastly an update on my 100 mile challenge for the month.  Currently I have done 42.46 miles in just exercise!  11 more days to go here I come :)

Weekly Workouts

Monday- Cybex (30 mins.)

                    Stationary Bike (8 mins)

                    Volleyball (75 mins)

Tuesday- Skip Circuit (60 mins)

Wednesday- Stationary Bike (35 mins)

Saturday- Tennis (50 mins)

Total Calories 1930

Do you keep track of your workouts?  or Write down the foods you eat?

Tennis

Rob and I played tennis last night in the crisp summer air.  It was really good to finally play and I almost beat him.   I really love having my summer bucket list with Rob since we both work shift work we don't spend a lot of time together but the time we do spent is quality and we love trying new and enjoyable activities. 

I hope everyone is enjoying their weekend! 

I will post my weekly update tomorrow.

Weekly update

Remember when you were a kid, going  back to school after summer break and how it took a couple of weeks to get back into school mode.  Getting adjusted to your new teacher, homework and friends and usually by the three week you started to have a routine again.  That is exactly how I feel with Weight Watchers. I am now going into my third week.  I am slowly becoming  more confident with the WW website.  It is becoming a routine to enter all the food I eat throughout the day. I am starting to learn the point values for certain foods without having to plug it in. It is certainly a new learning experience and I am really trying to give it my all.  It is eye opening really.  I'm sure it is going to take a while to figure everything out and I am learning it's better to find out what the points value is before I eat it rather then later.  Thatway I can decided if it's really worth it? It's kind of  like buying  a pair of shoes without looking at the price tag. I think it's way better to know.

Workouts (it's not great but that was due to my lower back pain.  I'm feeling much better.) 

Monday- Treadmill 13 minutes

                Stationary Bike 30 minutes

Sunday- Treadmill 30 minutes

               Elliptical 20 minutes

Total Calories burned 662

100 miles Challenge Update as of today

23.82 miles (I am going to add some serious miles this week )

What is your goal for this week/month?

Dream World

Every once in a while I dream of winning the lottery.   How nice it would be to have no debt, own a home,  take friends on vacation, buy my mom a cute little condo and never have to worry about money again.   In a dream world right? 

Instead I have to make a plan to pay off my debt, save my money and budget the money I do have.  Slowly year by year, month by month  I will see my debt go down.  I know it will be a great feeling once I am debt-free but just like my weight sometimes I wish I could close my eyes, spin around real fast, click my heels and instantly I am the weight I have always wanted to be and in a  really cute outfit!

But life doesn't work that way it takes hard work, discipline and the will to endure and hopefully it's worth the wait lol. (I'm not there yet but I will keep you informed once I do!) 

Glutes and Back Pain

My lower back has been bothering me for the last six weeks.  It has gotten worse in the last couple of days that I even had to take a day off work.

 I went yesterday to get an adjustment from Dr. Marc my mother and I like to call him "Mr. Magic Hands"  he really does wonders but it seems my back is pretty inflamed and it will take a couple of days to heal.  I went today for a massage my mom actually gave me her appointment because she knows I need to get better so I can work.  How sweet is she?   The massage was good a little painful because I am so tense.   The reason my lower back  has been hurting so bad is because my glutes are so tense!!  lol 

 I have this weird habit or tick maybe.  I squeeze my butt all day long, not on purpose of course It just happens especially when I am stressed. There are times when I am super busy at the restaurant running around for 4 to 6 hours at a time I get these butt cramps. My co-workers are always laughing at me when I complain about it but it's true :)

 I am trying to be more conscious of my body so I don't do this anymore.  I guess some people tense up their shoulders when they get tense and I squeeze my butt. I know T.M.I.  

I think the reason I am posting this is mainly because it is really important to listen to your body and I don't think a lot of people do.  We always have so many things running through our minds and so much to cram into one day.  For instance can you honestly say your relaxed right now?  Are you shoulders tense, are you clenching your jaw or breathing swallow breaths.  

Humour me and  breathe deep  with me right now.       Doesn't that feel better??  

Although I work out on a regular bases I think my body is telling me to add more yoga into my regular routine and to be quiet with myself and just breath!   And stop clenching my butt all the time lol  

Weight Watchers

I started my first week of Weight Watchers Online.  Tuesday was my first day but since Monday is my weight in day.  I logged what I ate the previous day.   I had a huge eating binge on Monday it  wasn't pretty!  ( For those of you who are aware I used all my bonus points for the week in one day!)Probably not the best way to start on WW but I wanted to be honest with myself.  For the rest of the week I was very diligent about logging everything  I ate but really the first week was more of a trial week.

Here are the Pros and Con's of WW (in my opinion)

Pros

-  it makes you aware of portion control

- I enjoy keeping track of my points, it's like a game

- if you eat a lot of healthy foods it is a lot of food in one day!

-website is user friendly

- I am making better choices ex. having mustard on my sandwich (0 points) vs Mayo (1 to 2 points)

-you can eat everything in moderation

Cons

 -the database doesn't have a lot of Canadian brands, which means you are plugging in a lot of the foods (time consuming)

- measuring everything you eat is kind of a pain

- it is hard to go out for dinner when you don't know exactly what's in the food

Last Weeks Exercise

Monday- Treadmill (30mins)

                Cycling (15mins)

Tuesday- Spin Class (50mins)

Thursday- Yoga (60mins)

Total Calories 1365

As of today I have logged 15.72 miles.

Does anyone have any tips on WW online? I would love to hear them.

I hope everyone has a great week.

Moonlight Yoga

I am always trying to find cheap and fun things to do in Ottawa and I stumbled across this website http://ottawastart.com/events.php that writes about all the events in Ottawa big and small.  I was looking up the schedule for the Busker Festival (street performer's)  when I came across this

 

Full Moon Yoga - August 2 at Mooney's Bay Beach

Sports & Recreation • Posted by OttawaStart on August 01, 2012

 

Full Moon Yoga

Thursday August 2nd, 2012

Mooney's Bay Beach

Join lululemon athletica and Amber Stratton, co-owner of Pure Yoga Ottawa, in Ottawa's first outdoor yoga class under the starry night sky (and full moon of course!). This Pure Power Flow class will be dedicated to synchronizing our breaths with the water and energy of the moonlight that surrounds us! Bring your mat, your yoga buddies and a flashlight! Class begins at 11 pm.

I was so excited!!  It was free and Mooney's Bay is literally a five minute walk from  our apartment.  I brought my sister with me well more like forced and dragged ( lol you know it's true Becky!)  but I was so glad she came.  I know she was nervous she has only done yoga once before and she didn't want to be self conscious but I said "there is no judging in yoga!! "  You just do what you can and really listen to  your body .    Being the loving sister that I am I gave my sister my mat since I forced her to go and plus it was her birthday.  I did all my yoga poses on the grass which I thought would be very grounding but holding poses on your knees in the grass felt more like little needles poking into your skin lesson learned bring a second mat or a sweater or something!

There must have been over 100 people there with there mats spread out surrounded by candlelight. We tried to take a picture but it  was way too dark. I was  also able to spot two of my friends who joined us for yoga.  I would definitely to this again!   

Do you have fun or interesting this to do in your town ?  I would love to hear about it.

Namaste

p.s Your probably wondering did my sister like it??  Well I will let her comment and she can tell you herself. 

Times they are a changing

You know the old saying "if it ain't broke, don't fit it", well in the case of my diet it's "broken" and it's time for a fix'in.  

Two days ago I was getting so frustrated and felt like I needed a life preserver.   After some thought about The South Beach Diet ( I have been on it for over 2 years)  I decided to try a different route.  I think I was getting super bored so I took the plunge and  joined Weight Watchers online.   Even though money is super tight right now my lovely boyfriend was kind enough to put it on his credit card.  I signed up for three months and I will give it 100 percent and see what happens?? 

(Side note) I did try Weight |Watchers about 7 years ago and it didn't work for me but I know it has changed a great deal since then so why not give it a second chance??   

I didn't reach 100 miles for the month of July but I am still proud that I did 60.72 miles/ 97.15km!   This only includes exercise from spin class, walking and the elliptical.   This month I will challenge myself again to do 100 miles.  Wish me luck :) 

My sister, Rob and I went to the drive in to see the latest Batman it was pretty good and It is something we have been wanting to do for a few years now.  I can cross that off the bucket list now :)