All in a Day and Weigh-In

Another weigh-in has arrived.  This is weigh-in number 8.  Okay, first I would like to congratulate myself on sticking with this for 8 weeks. And the best part is I am not considering giving it up :)  I am thankful that my husband and I were ready at the same time to do this and that we have been able to encourage each other through the rough spots.

So, today's meeting with the scale says I am down 1.6 pounds.  I am very happy with that...but (why is there always a but?) it leaves me just .4 short of getting into another ten zone. It feels so good to see the second number on the scale change too :) 

I think I am getting my faster walking groove back.  At least I hope so since we have a race on Saturday.  Yesterday we had some crazy thunderstorms. This morning the temperature was crazy low for July in the 50s.  It felt great!!  Anyway, I managed to be under 15 minute miles for 2 or the 3 miles. With this race being a 5k and the competition of the other racers I am really hoping for sub-14:30 miles. The race is the evening so I am not sure how that will factor in.

Speaking of it being an evening race I have a question. I have thought it good to have a rest day before the race. I walk in the morning and since this race is in the evening I am a bit conflicted. Should I just rest Saturday morning or should I rest Friday morning too?  Any thoughts?

See this sweet innocent kitty...it kind of freaked me out this morning. I was walking along and all the sudden out of the corner of my eye I see this white steak coming across a yard and into the street behind me. I turned and the cat was coming right for me. Seriously, am I about to be mauled by a puddy-tat?  Thankfully, when I turned the cat changed course and continued to cross the road.  Then it stopped and gave me the stare down.

I suspect these people are waiting for someone else to come along and clean up their mess. Okay, technically someone does come to pick up branches, but most people pile them on the curb not just toss them in the street. I am constantly surprised by the things I see in the road or next to the road. The most tragic thing was an unfinished McDonalds shake smashed in the middle of the road. Enough remained to tell it had been strawberry. Even the cherry lay on the road :( 

When I finished my 3 miles I waited for my husband to catch up.  I was captivated by the light of the morning sun.  It was a little frustrating to be stuck just with my cell phone camera when I see the "perfect" lighting. The beautiful glow came out much more yellow. I love seeing the "da mooooonn" (name that movie!) during the day.

This monstrous electric pole was installed recently.  One day I was driving over to my sister's house and all kinds of construction equipment was driving up to a house. By the time I went home (an hour or two later) the house was demolished...turns out it was destruction equipment rolling up. Apparently the power company decided it was better to buy the people out and tear down the house rather than to try to work around the house. It made me tear up a little thinking about the memories that house held. 

I never get tired of this view - my husband running towards me. He is a little distracted by checking his watch though. His "slowest" mile today was 10:04. Crazy!! You can see we are not the only early birds. The woman in pink always walks her Australian Shepherd around the same time we are out.

Today I got my first FleurtyBand made by Jasmine at Fleurty and Fit. I ordered "Dreamsicle" from her Etsy shop. She was so sweet to include an extra one because I mentioned her on my blog a couple of weeks ago. I can't wait to see how much faster I walk with my hair under control :)  

I have a confession. I tend to write my blog throughout the day when I have a few minutes. Part of the reason I do that is I feel like it gives a more accurate portrayal of my feelings. I want the blog to be honest about the ups and downs of this journey. Today would be a perfect example. I felt pretty good about my weigh-in this morning, had a good walk and then sometime after lunch the bottom fell out. I have noticed the past few days I've been hungry in the afternoon even though I've been doing pretty much the same thing exercise and meals. Then when I am hungry I start to question the process. Am I doing the right things to achieve my goals?

I ended up getting myself all worked up about how hard this is and that I don't want to do it. I couldn't see the light at the end of the tunnel. I know for sure I have another 50ish pounds I need to lose (then re-evaluate). Today that just seemed overwhelming. By the time I got home from work I was a bit of a mess. I was trying to make dinner through my tears. My husband was doing everything he could to console and encourage me. But you know how it is, sometimes nothing helps, but time.

We had talked earlier in the day about playing frisbee golf this evening.  We haven't played in months. I didn't want my crummy mood to change that plan. It seemed like it would be better than sitting at home stewing. It did help some, but I was still grouchy. I ended up getting down on myself for being a terrible frisbee thrower. Seriously, get a grip!  By the end I settled down some. Perhaps taking Millie wasn't the best idea. It was a little stressful because she didn't quite understand what we were doing and there were a bunch of squirrels taunting her.

On the way to frisbee golf I asked my husband to stop so I could get some chocolate. I got a Dove bar - so good. I don't feel guilty about the calories because it didn't make me go over.  However, I know there was some self medicating going on with that chocolate and I don't know how I feel about that.  That is going to have to be a question for another day. I am getting ready for bed and am just thankful I have made it through the day :)

Birthday Party

I am struggling with this post. I have started it several times.  Bottom line is that I am struggling with my feelings today. I know I am doing very well overall, but I am frustrated with my body at the moment. I wanted to have a really great workout today because we are going to a birthday lunch today. I wanted to have a little flexibility in what I eat without feeling like I am splurging too much.

Unfortunately, my body is not cooperating. I have had a little concern about my right knee for awhile. Nothing major just at times it feels a bit tight and/or tender. Yesterday it started bothering me in a new way. Every now and then it would kind of pop - like it extended backwards. Then it would hurt quite a bit for a few steps. Then it will be fine again. 

I thought maybe I aggravated it with all the bending and pulling from the weeding frenzy yesterday. So, I rested it last night and hoped that it would feel better in the morning. Overall, it feels okay. Just every now and then I have the pop/pain incidents. I made the choice to not walk this morning to rest my knee. But I am really hating not getting in a good workout today. My husband ran this morning (his foot is doing better) and he is at the gym now doing weights. I feel like a big ol' slug. I know I am working hard and am not a slug, but I can't shake the feeling.

To be honest I am a bit envious of how well my husband is doing. Please don't mistake me to mean I wish he weren't doing as great as he is. I am thrilled and proud of him - he is seriously working hard.  It is just difficult to be side by side with someone who has much more visible success when you know you are working hard (and succeeding). It is just not noticeable to others quite yet.

I am trying to concentrate on how much better I am feeling (apart from my knee at the moment). Yesterday when I was doing the yard work I thought several times to myself that it was not as painful as it has been in the past. I know my legs are stronger. This morning I was a bit sore from the yard work, but nothing like I have previously felt after yard work.  

So here is the plan for today. Birthday party for my sister and niece. We made the birthday cake this morning. I have been wanting to make this since I first saw it on Pinterest. I wish I could give credit to the original creator of this adorableness, but I can't seem to track down who started it - many many people have recreated it and now we have too.  Now you can see why I am more concerned about missing a workout knowing that I am going to indulge in a piece of this chocolate extravaganza :) 

On the upside, my niece requested Subway and chips for her birthday party - I thought for sure she would want the dreaded hashbrown casserole...so naughty and so yummy.  Subway sure makes it easier for us to stay on track. To help with the chip situation (another of my downfalls), I bought the little individual serving bags. That way we know exactly how many calories we are getting, everyone can choose their own flavor and no one is stuck with big open bags of leftover chips. It may cost a bit more, but it is worth it to me. 

I am going to make good use of the pool this afternoon. People will think I am playing, but I will be giving myself a good workout that won't stress my knee.  

Well, off I go... Happy Sunday!

Birthday cake!!

Can I Do It?

I suppose the correct question is "Will I do it?"  I've been at this point so many times.  Happy to be getting exercise...I've never regretted a workout!  On target with calorie counting.  But fear, doubt, frustration is screaming at me...how long will this last?  A week or two?  Then back to my same old habits?  At the beginning of every attempt I've made to lose weight and be healthy, I always tell myself this time will be different. 

Having told myself that so many times and being here yet again I feel like a failure.  Why should I believe I can actually succeed?  I love to read the success stories on people's blogs.  Is it possible that a year from now someone may be reading my blog and finding inspiration in my success? 

I promised myself I would be honest on this blog.  I wouldn't just record the good, but also the bad and even the ugly.  Tonight I am feeling a bit of the ugly.  I had planned to walk with Millie this morning...but when the time came I found excuses.  The fridge needed to be cleaned.  Okay, it did, but I am sure I would have had time after a walk.  I think this "failure" set the tone for my day.  Tomorrow Millie and I will walk first thing in the morning and see if that sets a better tone.

I am sure the rambling could go on and on.  Perhaps the best thing to do at a time like this is go to bed and start anew tomorrow.