Merry Yule - The holidays are here

Creating the Holidays

aka Consciousness, Play, AND Pleasure

First Results

Results for Week Eleven

Starting Weight Oct. 5th: 257.2

Last Week Nov. 30: 246.4

Week Nine 12/7/09

This morning: 249

+2.6 pounds

Weight gain this week is a bummer but I am not going to dwell there. I have two weeks left in the year and I am going to rocket into 2010. I can seen that the weight gain is probably due to being sick last week, taking 3 days off of working out, and not tracking points for 4 days. I did run a 5K (3.2 miles) last week and was able to do so in 36 minutes. Pretty cool.

So my focus for this week is to enjoy the Holidays in a conscious and playful way. I plan on allowing myself to be present to the pleasure of the Holidays. The additional sights and sounds. Foods that I only have once a year. The opportunity to see members of my family that I typically only see once a year. My focus for the next 6 days is to practice being present to the game I am playing while being present to my family and all of the festivities.

I spoke with Eryn this morning and she reminded me of the joy I find in exercising. I know that I will enjoy the Holidays more if I bring activity to each day. I did that on Thanksgiving and I certainly enjoyed it more.

This morning I went on ON DEMAND on Comcast. They have exercise tv. I did a killer workout with Jillian Roberts (the Biggest Loser strength coach).

Next week... Completing 2009 and Creating 2010. I will share goals and areas for development.

Blessings to all and enjoy the Holidays fully. I promise I will.

Transforming Failure - you mean I have to fail ARGH!

WAHHHHHHHH!!! I gained weight!!!

Starting Weight Oct. 5th: 257.2

Last Week Nov. 15: 246.6

Week Seven 11/23/09

This morning: 250

+3 pounds

Where to start? Well let's just say that after stepping on the scale I got totally ticked off at myself. I had brought the scale with me to the mountains so I could keep my promise (weigh myself on Monday and then blog about it). My fiancee's family was up in the mountains for a family gathering and Thanksgiving celebrations. It was a beautiful house btw. Unfortunately, the internet access in the house didn't work, and after I had gained weight, I wasn't in a big hurry to arrange something. Of course I can see that if I had spoken with Steven about the results and recommitted to the game, that would have helped.

Anyway. In looking back over the last week, I can see where there were failures. I can also see there were victories along the way. In my fashion, I will account for both. I appreciate having this method of accountability. I can't lie though. I would much rather have written about how I lost weight than how I gained. AND I do understand that I have a total say about how it goes. I definitely not a victim of chocolate chip cookies even though they begged for my participation and told me that without ice cream why bother.

Exercise -- VICTORY!!

I worked out for Seven days in a row. I went for a run on Saturday morning. I ran for 45 minutes. I was actually running hard enough to get a stitch in my side and be out of breath (Wahoo). I also did a work out at altitude (10,000 feet high) in Breckinridge. I brought my workout gear to the family gathering. I put on a one of my favorite Denise Austin tapes and got to work. I was seriously proud of myself for playing that part of the game this last week. I had my attention on it everyday. I was thinking about it and accounting for it daily.

Food -- Took my attention off of this

While working out so much, I got hungry. AND... I ate a lot (clearly). I tracked what I ate for two days and then stopped. For me out of sight is out of mind. If I don't write down what I eat, I am not tracking it. Gotta use the tools. While away on the family thanksgiving weekend, I ate lots of things I don't normally eat and ate them in unconscious portions.

What now... well I am still up for the same game. I sat down this morning and figured out roughly what I ate on Monday and Tuesday. All I got to say is WOW. When I stop tracking, I really stop tracking. I have written down what I have eaten today and am upping my water intake.

Starting on Monday of next week, I am starting the Fitness game. I have a scoreboard, a coach, and three other team members. Plus I am putting some $$ on it. More to come on that.

The game this week is really to keep my eye on both. Exercise and Food. I look forward to updating you on the Victories.

Have a great turkey day!!

Week Three -Results

Results 10/26/09
Starting Weight 10/05/09: 257.2
Last Week: 249.4
This Morning 251.8
+2.4 pounds

So I was sorting myself out this morning about what happened and what I normally do when I hit failure. First, I noticed that I wanted to lie about the results. Then I noticed that I wanted to go right back to see I can't do this. So I spoke with Steven (who was awesome) and then I decided that going public with the results would be helpful.

First I took an honest look at this past week. Both what I did food plan wise and exercise wise. I took a moment to look back over the last three weeks as well. What were the things that had me be successful in week one and two. What did I do differently.

Food Plan Wise:
Ok here is what I saw. I ate high point food and guessed on how much certain foods were points wise more than once. I didn't write down points for Sunday at all. I did some unconscious standing up in the kitchen eating on Sunday. I didn't drink my water everyday.

Exercise Wise:
This past week was a great week for exercise for me. I exercised in some way Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. 6 days. I felt myself really get into the habit and get excited. I noticed that waking up got easier every day. I did Yoga a couple of mornings, the long long bike ride on Monday, did Bollywood Booty, Arms, and the Rough Bodies 'Legs and Butt'.

What I am going to take on this week?


Food Plan:

I will go back to the basics and write down everything I am eating as I am eating it. I am going to get more mathematic about portion sizes. I have been using my eyes to measure the amount of food I am eating. Given how I gained what I lost in the 2nd week, I am pretty sure that I was visually guessing less than actual. I can start measuring food. Last drink my water everyday.

Exercise Wise: 
I will keep up the exercise I have been doing. 5-7 days a week is my goal and I will just repeat it this week. It was fun.

Ok... check back next week to see what happened.