I am a wimp. Seriously, I can barely walk today. And don't get me started on the amount of pain involved with trying to either stand up or sit down. It's insane.
Yesterday, I bought myself a kettlebell. It was a pretty light one by kettlebell standards - a mere 10 pounds (4.5 kg), but MAN those are 10 pounds of hell. After the workout, my legs felt shaky. Walking was a bit unsteady, so I stayed seated for awhile. Then we went to the Museum for 3 hours, so I leisurely strolled around there, though I did get a bit of a workout on those stairs!
By the end of the evening, I felt fine. I even made sure to do exercises during the commercials to try and up my exercise time for the day.
Then, I woke up this morning. I should not have moved. At all. The pain was excruciating. I thought that it would get better, but honestly, I think that it has gotten worse. My thighs feel gigantic. My plan is still to go out and walk, but I seriously doubt that I will be able to even go around the block.
Of course, when I'm not in so much agony, I will probably try out that Kettlebell again. I might be a wimp, but I'm awfully stubborn!
Update: I managed to walk! It was so cold out that I couldn't feel much pain after my legs froze, we walked about 2km, which is much better than I thought I would be able to do :)
Friday, 15 March 2013
Thursday, 14 March 2013
We All Have Our Bad Days
Yes, we do all have our bad days, and mine was doubtlessly yesterday. I was short-tempered, grumpy, unmotivated and exhausted. I was also slightly overwhelmed by the arguing of my children and the state of my house, but I'm sure my bad mood exasperated that. Oh, and I tried this PGX Slimstyx thing in my glass of water and I almost barfed when I took it. Slimstyx are just not for me. That's for sure.
I have decided to just let it go. To forgive myself for my snappiness and put a smile on my face today. After all, I did manage to join a site called My Fitness Pal to help me track my food and exercise. Of course, every time I track my food, I spend the day freaking out about what I'm eating and obsessing, causing me to eat more. Regardless, I managed to eat the proper amounts (except sugar by a tiny bit, which I was at my limit after hardly anything. I'm amazed by how sugar hides in all of these foods!).
I also managed to exercise, albeit not for as long as I have been. That pain in my leg was extreme and my walking buddy/eldest daughter was home sick, so I did half of my walk. Still, I'm proud that I went out despite my horrible mood. And truth be known, I didn't feel as grumpy when I returned home.
I have come to the realization that I really do better if I have a walking buddy. My daughter, suggests routes and keeps track of our walk on her handy dandy pedometer app on her phone. She says, "Let's just go down there and back before going home", when in my head I was planning on going home. It's hilarious really, because she is REALLY inactive. Like, seriously. She hates exercise. So this walking buddy thing is really benefiting both of us.
I weighed myself first thing this morning and I was down another pound and a half, but I hadn't eaten anything, so I don't know how reliable that is. I am determined to just keep at it. Even if I have a bad day where I eat the wrong foods (Let's ignore the popcorn at the movies on Tuesday) or don't get enough exercise like yesterday, it doesn't mean that I have failed, it just means I am human. As Scarlett O'Hara said, so eloquently, "After all.....tomorrow is another day."
I have decided to just let it go. To forgive myself for my snappiness and put a smile on my face today. After all, I did manage to join a site called My Fitness Pal to help me track my food and exercise. Of course, every time I track my food, I spend the day freaking out about what I'm eating and obsessing, causing me to eat more. Regardless, I managed to eat the proper amounts (except sugar by a tiny bit, which I was at my limit after hardly anything. I'm amazed by how sugar hides in all of these foods!).
I also managed to exercise, albeit not for as long as I have been. That pain in my leg was extreme and my walking buddy/eldest daughter was home sick, so I did half of my walk. Still, I'm proud that I went out despite my horrible mood. And truth be known, I didn't feel as grumpy when I returned home.
I have come to the realization that I really do better if I have a walking buddy. My daughter, suggests routes and keeps track of our walk on her handy dandy pedometer app on her phone. She says, "Let's just go down there and back before going home", when in my head I was planning on going home. It's hilarious really, because she is REALLY inactive. Like, seriously. She hates exercise. So this walking buddy thing is really benefiting both of us.
I weighed myself first thing this morning and I was down another pound and a half, but I hadn't eaten anything, so I don't know how reliable that is. I am determined to just keep at it. Even if I have a bad day where I eat the wrong foods (Let's ignore the popcorn at the movies on Tuesday) or don't get enough exercise like yesterday, it doesn't mean that I have failed, it just means I am human. As Scarlett O'Hara said, so eloquently, "After all.....tomorrow is another day."
Monday, 11 March 2013
5K Monday
Today is Day 8 of my Two Week Walk Challenge and we managed to walk 5K! Unfortunately, I was so busy on Saturday and was gone all day, so I missed my walk that day. Regardless, I am proud of myself. On Day 1, I felt breathless. That is not the case anymore. I am finding it easier and have increased my walk time to an hour.
Today's walk was so much better than the other days because I actually wore my running shoes! All last week, I wore my LLBean snow sneakers, that don't zip up properly (I have a high dorsum - I had to look up that word!). Now, my running shoes used to be great in their day, but now they are 10 years old and in need of replacing.
ANYWAY, my walk was not as painful today. Usually, I am in agony in the muscle/tendon above my ankle. It is still a little tender, but I figure, I have been wearing the wrong footwear for a week, so I obviously pulled something. Not only, did I not have to stop to put snow on my leg to alleviate the pain, but I was able to walk faster.
The other positive thing today was that I weighed myself and I had lost one pound! Woot! I'm on my way to losing 2 pounds by Friday, and 6 by Easter.
Baby steps. This will be my motto for now. Baby steps.
Today's walk was so much better than the other days because I actually wore my running shoes! All last week, I wore my LLBean snow sneakers, that don't zip up properly (I have a high dorsum - I had to look up that word!). Now, my running shoes used to be great in their day, but now they are 10 years old and in need of replacing.
This is the shoe I am thinking of getting. It is the New Balance 860 . It is a Wellness/Fitness style of walking shoe, according the the website, so it seems appropriate. My last shoes were also New Balance, but I'm not sure what type they were!
ANYWAY, my walk was not as painful today. Usually, I am in agony in the muscle/tendon above my ankle. It is still a little tender, but I figure, I have been wearing the wrong footwear for a week, so I obviously pulled something. Not only, did I not have to stop to put snow on my leg to alleviate the pain, but I was able to walk faster.
The other positive thing today was that I weighed myself and I had lost one pound! Woot! I'm on my way to losing 2 pounds by Friday, and 6 by Easter.
Baby steps. This will be my motto for now. Baby steps.
Friday, 8 March 2013
Reality Check Friday
Hmmm. I'm feeling a little blue. I decided to weigh myself. Don't know what exactly came over me, but for some unknown reason, I momentarily thought it was a good idea. You know, to get a start weight. The number that I saw was startling to say the least. I think that the last time I weighed myself was around Christmas. I have gained about 6 pounds since then. I'm the heaviest right now, than I have ever been, I believe pregnancies included. WTF? How did this happen?
I need to fix this. Like, starting NOW! My goal is to lose that 6 pounds by Easter. Now, that is around 3 weeks, so I would have to lose 2 pounds per week. Which is very reasonable, though I'm not sure how to make that happen. First things first, pour that second glass of water and attempt to make a meal plan that includes a few more healthy choices. Not that I deliberately make unhealthy choices, but a) without a plan, we are more likely to eat processed food, which is not the healthiest of choices, and b) I don't like fruits and veggies. Not much anyway. For the time being, V8 will be my new best friend.
Wish me luck!
I need to fix this. Like, starting NOW! My goal is to lose that 6 pounds by Easter. Now, that is around 3 weeks, so I would have to lose 2 pounds per week. Which is very reasonable, though I'm not sure how to make that happen. First things first, pour that second glass of water and attempt to make a meal plan that includes a few more healthy choices. Not that I deliberately make unhealthy choices, but a) without a plan, we are more likely to eat processed food, which is not the healthiest of choices, and b) I don't like fruits and veggies. Not much anyway. For the time being, V8 will be my new best friend.
Wish me luck!
Two Week Walk Challenge - Day 5
Yes, it's already Day 5 of my walk challenge. I hope that Ann is enjoying her lovely walks down in Florida, because walking here has not been an easy feat! Seriously, I was so happy to hear that the weather would be mild, thinking that it would be beautiful weather to walk in. True, it is nice to walk in such weather, but the problem is that there is a huge amount of puddles the size of lakes and still plenty of ice to slip on.
Oh well, like I said, the weather is beautiful.
I have enlisted a walking buddy. Much to her chagrin, my eldest daughter, was recruited! It actually only started because, I was forced to walk at night on Day 2, so she came along, so that I wouldn't be alone. I must admit that walking with someone is so much easier. Chatting away seems to make the time go by faster. Not to mention, I have someone to grab onto, when I am about to slip.
I am really proud of both of us. Days 3 and 4 worked out well, because we just have been leaving a half hour earlier to pick up the younger ones at school. Which is another added bonus - my children are walking home, since I am no longer rushing at the last minute to pick them up at school. Of course, this has only worked because Daughter #2 has not needed a lift home from school on those days. Hopefully, after the March Break, the sidewalks will be less puddly and she can start walking home too. Though I'm sure that will meet with a bit of resistance!
Today, my goal is to leave 45 minute before the end of school; I think that it is time to increase my walking time. I am also going to start drinking that water. Like, right now. Ready, Set, GO!
Oh well, like I said, the weather is beautiful.
I have enlisted a walking buddy. Much to her chagrin, my eldest daughter, was recruited! It actually only started because, I was forced to walk at night on Day 2, so she came along, so that I wouldn't be alone. I must admit that walking with someone is so much easier. Chatting away seems to make the time go by faster. Not to mention, I have someone to grab onto, when I am about to slip.
I am really proud of both of us. Days 3 and 4 worked out well, because we just have been leaving a half hour earlier to pick up the younger ones at school. Which is another added bonus - my children are walking home, since I am no longer rushing at the last minute to pick them up at school. Of course, this has only worked because Daughter #2 has not needed a lift home from school on those days. Hopefully, after the March Break, the sidewalks will be less puddly and she can start walking home too. Though I'm sure that will meet with a bit of resistance!
Today, my goal is to leave 45 minute before the end of school; I think that it is time to increase my walking time. I am also going to start drinking that water. Like, right now. Ready, Set, GO!
Monday, 4 March 2013
Two Week Walking Challenge - Day 1
I was out on Friday night with my friend Ann at an Ottawa Valley Moms event - a dinner at a beautiful restaurant called Rare. She was saying that during her 2 week Florida vacation (which starts today - lucky duck!), she would be walking daily.
I promised her if she would walk, then so would I. You see, though I want to start being active, I never quite get to doing things. You just have to take a look at my dusty yoga and pilates DVDs to see the evidence of this. I figured if I was accountable to somebody else, then I would be more likely to do something.
Well, I am happy to say that I have successfully done my Day 1 walk! It was cold and the sidewalks were icy, but I did it anyway. My left calf was hurting like an SOB, but I persevered. Yes, that is just how out of shape I am, a brisk walk caused burning pain. Whatever. I did it and I'm proud of myself.
Now if I could only manage to drink 8 glasses of water a day.....
I promised her if she would walk, then so would I. You see, though I want to start being active, I never quite get to doing things. You just have to take a look at my dusty yoga and pilates DVDs to see the evidence of this. I figured if I was accountable to somebody else, then I would be more likely to do something.
Well, I am happy to say that I have successfully done my Day 1 walk! It was cold and the sidewalks were icy, but I did it anyway. My left calf was hurting like an SOB, but I persevered. Yes, that is just how out of shape I am, a brisk walk caused burning pain. Whatever. I did it and I'm proud of myself.
Now if I could only manage to drink 8 glasses of water a day.....
My Inaugural Post
Welcome! This blog has been started to track my progress in becoming a healthier, happier me. In other words, finding that inner Tiffany that I know is in there beneath the unhealthy exterior.
My hope is that by sharing my successes and struggles that I will better be able to be the person that I want to be, both inside and out.
My hope is that by sharing my successes and struggles that I will better be able to be the person that I want to be, both inside and out.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)