I have lacked inspiration the last couple of months. It isn't that I haven't been doing everything I've committed to. I'm walking and working, I'm eating a very very very appropriate amount and type of food for a woman who wants to lose weight. I've lost 13 lbs. I've lost a size. But somewhere in there...I lost inspirational words.
I'm not writing today because I found some inspiration either. I'm writing because I didn't and my Catholic guilt for neglecting this blog has kicked into high gear. Gotta love that guilt sometimes. It can kick me right in the behind and remind me to do something I've committed to. So, I'm back to blogging.
Here are things that I thought might be nuggets of inspiration that just never resulted in a blog entry:
1) My son Ben was extremely frustrated with his batting slump. So, I read the Tiger Mom article "Why Chinese mothers are superior" (I didn't have time to read her whole book) and told him I was going to go "Chinese Mother" on him. I'm driving him to private lessons, arm velocity and strengthening classes and nagging him to do his baseball workout just like I nag him to brush his teeth, do homework and wear clean underwear. Well - this weekend it paid off!!! Ben was hitting like a champ all weekend in the Metroplex Season Opener and even ended up being intentionally walked by the opposing team to avoid another big hit out of my little boy. I meant to blog about this decision....ask for advice....get opinions...but hell, I just did it... It has had some positive results, so my verdict is "Go Chinese Mother when you need to!"
2) Walking without eating right isn't enough. My (now 41) year old metabolism was not kicking it into high with just the walking. I continued to eat like I was 16 and my girth continued to stay the same. I finally decided on 2/1 to start eating in a way that I knew would shed the pounds. It is finally working!
3) Finding my mission statement. I know this is going to sound so completely corporate of me. But one of the things that kept demotivating me in finding myself again was the fact that I wasn't really sure what I was going after. I wanted to feel healthy...be a good role model to my kids....feel them being proud of me again and just feel good again. But, in attending a lecture that was about a completely different topic (how to talk to your kids about S-E-X) I found something I could use even in this aspect of my life. The speaker said that you need to create your "Banner statement"...now she was talking about creating a banner statement about S-E-X that you would use with your kids from day 1 to keep an open dialog with them. Her example was "It is something given to a man and woman in marriage that is designed by God." So, I thought I could apply the "banner statement" concept here. At first, I came up with mature and appropriate banner statements like "Good food in, good feelings out" and "your body is a temple of the Lord and should be treated as such". But I realized that a big root of my desire to do something about my weight/health were my 2 kids. So then my banner statement started to morph into "I am proud of my mom for being a good example of healthy eating." and "I want to grow up to be healthy just like Mom". But soon I realized that I wasn't being 100% true to myself. So, in reality, my banner statement is something more like, "Yep that's my mom...she's hot" Now, before you go running to pull out your parenting books on this, I'm not ACTUALLY sharing my banner statement with my kids, nor do I want them to think of me as "hot"!! But that is the closest thing to melding the different worlds of wanting my kids to be proud of me, learn to do the right things and me wanting to feel good about my looks!! I know...it needs work. Suggestions?
4) All work and no play makes for a really unhappy family. I'm trying to put play back into our lives. I miss playing. I miss just sitting down with a deck of cards and playing a game. I miss dancing in the living room to crazy 80's songs with my kids. I miss being spontaneous. I miss sitting down and doing something that is using the creative side of my brain. So....I know it isn't spontaneous, but I'm trying to start PUTTING fun intentionally back into our lives in the hope that it just catches on and we start doing it more naturally. This is that time of year when baseball season goes into high gear and we don't have a minute to spare. We rush from one activity to another, never stopping to smell the roses. Step 1: I rented a lakehouse for Spring Break. I still have to work all week, but at least I'll be doing it in a location that is more fun and I can hang with my family in the evenings.
I know this isn't inspirational...nor organized. Frankly, I keep thinking I should just hit delete. But that is the Type A in me coming out. I'm sending this...crappy as it is. I'm sending it. I just need to get back on the horse of blogging again!!!
Monday, March 7, 2011
Saturday, December 11, 2010
I tempted fate...
There are all sorts of great ways to kick off the weekend:
So, off to the guest bath I go. (because StS doesn't really live with us, he's just a guest...and an unwelcome one at that) I suspected I knew what StS would say, we've had this conversation before, many...many...times, but it was my form of confession, so I walked the long dark hallway, wearing nothing but my boots....no wait...everything but my boots (because all good fluffy women know that boots weigh like 10 lbs and clearly we don't want to have to break out the defibrillator on a bright Saturday morning) I slowly...stealthily approach him....and gently stepped on (because all good fluffy women know that if you step on "gently", it will clearly register a smaller number. Sucking in also helps).
Holy Guacamole!! I'm down...like...down below one of "THOSE" numbers. The ones on the scale that years ago you thought you'd NEVER see.... between the cleavage of your boobs as you look down trying desperately to find your feet. Keep in mind...I am fully dressed. So, what does every fully dressed fluffy woman do after she's stepped on the scale....
I strip.
Holy Sh*t - I'm even lower than that!!! OK - so not like, "let's go out and buy a bikini" low or "let's stand naked in front of a mirror" low or even "let's tell people what *the number* is" low. But it is "Thank you God, I never have to put that number down again before taking a helicopter tour so the pilot can "balance the load" low.
Dear TrekDesk....I still love you.
Laura
- Breakfast in Bed...
- Something else in bed...
- Coffee by the fire...
- A great run...
- A Snuggie and your favorite Christmas movie..
So, off to the guest bath I go. (because StS doesn't really live with us, he's just a guest...and an unwelcome one at that) I suspected I knew what StS would say, we've had this conversation before, many...many...times, but it was my form of confession, so I walked the long dark hallway, wearing nothing but my boots....no wait...everything but my boots (because all good fluffy women know that boots weigh like 10 lbs and clearly we don't want to have to break out the defibrillator on a bright Saturday morning) I slowly...stealthily approach him....and gently stepped on (because all good fluffy women know that if you step on "gently", it will clearly register a smaller number. Sucking in also helps).
Holy Guacamole!! I'm down...like...down below one of "THOSE" numbers. The ones on the scale that years ago you thought you'd NEVER see.... between the cleavage of your boobs as you look down trying desperately to find your feet. Keep in mind...I am fully dressed. So, what does every fully dressed fluffy woman do after she's stepped on the scale....
I strip.
Holy Sh*t - I'm even lower than that!!! OK - so not like, "let's go out and buy a bikini" low or "let's stand naked in front of a mirror" low or even "let's tell people what *the number* is" low. But it is "Thank you God, I never have to put that number down again before taking a helicopter tour so the pilot can "balance the load" low.
Dear TrekDesk....I still love you.
Laura
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Dear Trekdesk and Treadmill
I don't often write love letters, but today I'll make an exception.
If I could ask for one thing.....could you maybe start shaving off some of this backside? Really, I'd greatly appreciate it. Blah Blah muscle buildup, Blah Blah stamina, Blah blah stress relief. I know - but I'd really like a smaller gut and butt.
Thanks.
Your new best friend,
Laura
- I love the way you take up my entire study and make me really guilty if I try to sit at the old fashioned desk. That is just the prodding I need.
- I love the way I completely forget about the fact that I'm walking on you for hours on end.
- I love how you keep me from strangling the moron on the other end of the phone that somehow gets to still be employed and making a hefty salary while clearly not having a clue how to do their job.
- I love the way I can completely make a mess of you, AND have room for my Starbucks, AND my scented candle (which is clearly a work priority)!
- I love how you almost completely knock me on my a$$ when my program ends and I you suddenly stop with a jolt. Guess your beeping is no longer annoying me, since I don't hear it.
- I love how quiet you are.
- I love the way you make me look like I've got some form of autism on the video conferences since only my chest up is shared with my fellow meeting goers.
- I love logging the brainless 2-4 miles a day.
If I could ask for one thing.....could you maybe start shaving off some of this backside? Really, I'd greatly appreciate it. Blah Blah muscle buildup, Blah Blah stamina, Blah blah stress relief. I know - but I'd really like a smaller gut and butt.
Thanks.
Your new best friend,
Laura
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
I don't do Deserts
Desserts..yes...oh YES!! Deserts...no thanks.
I missed my TrekDesk last week. Well, ok, maybe I didn't really miss it. I preferred the deep tissue massage to the hours and hours of meetings that I normally get to "enjoy" each day. Last week, I got to play wife for 4 days and accompany Ron to the Unitrin Executive retreat in Tuscon. This happens every 5 years. 5 years ago we were at the Broadmoor in Colorado. I can, with 100% certainty say that I prefer the Colorado to Arizona. It is just so much dirt...and it is so...so....dirty. I mean, I can see like nice smooth pretty sand - I'm all for that. But this was just ugly dirty dirt. Now, my friend Sonja Harsch thinks I'm completely nuts. She says it is beautiful there. So, I kept looking. The only time I felt "beauty" was late into the sunset, when it was too dark to see how dirty things were...and there was only a hint of burning light left in the sky and and you'd see the silhouette of an old cactus with its arms reaching to the sky as if in prayer...now that was pretty. But that's kind of not fair. That is like saying the woman at the bar you met was pretty....in the dark....with very very low lighting...and only if you caught her silhouette...with beer goggles on. So, I'm sticking with my assessment. Tuscon was ugly. I will give in on the fact that the clear dry air made for some ROCKING GREAT hair days. Which Ron liked ;-) I think...
So, between being gone to Arizona and having many in the office meetings last week....I got very little TrekDesk time in. That was a big bummer. I did get to ride on a dusty trail following the backside of Ron's horse and eating dirt the whole way. Is that exercise? I did eat 3 catered meals a day for 4 days straight....oh crap.....guess I'm going to have to pay a visit to STS (Satan The Scale).
Today, I started the day off right with a call with Ireland. They (ok - Thomas Lambert!) did sway with me as the video I was sending while walking made me look like I was rocking back and forth, but they were surprised that I was able to walk, talk and type. (What does that say about my coworkers' confidence in my ability to multi-task?) ;-) I've gotten my 4 miles in, so I'm parking my treadmill for the day. My right ankle that I keep re-injuring is still sore. That sucks. Wish I was fully well.
So, here's to my goal this week of making sure I get in 4 miles EVERY day. Will report back on Friday....at least I'm in Texas...where we have less dirty dirt....
I missed my TrekDesk last week. Well, ok, maybe I didn't really miss it. I preferred the deep tissue massage to the hours and hours of meetings that I normally get to "enjoy" each day. Last week, I got to play wife for 4 days and accompany Ron to the Unitrin Executive retreat in Tuscon. This happens every 5 years. 5 years ago we were at the Broadmoor in Colorado. I can, with 100% certainty say that I prefer the Colorado to Arizona. It is just so much dirt...and it is so...so....dirty. I mean, I can see like nice smooth pretty sand - I'm all for that. But this was just ugly dirty dirt. Now, my friend Sonja Harsch thinks I'm completely nuts. She says it is beautiful there. So, I kept looking. The only time I felt "beauty" was late into the sunset, when it was too dark to see how dirty things were...and there was only a hint of burning light left in the sky and and you'd see the silhouette of an old cactus with its arms reaching to the sky as if in prayer...now that was pretty. But that's kind of not fair. That is like saying the woman at the bar you met was pretty....in the dark....with very very low lighting...and only if you caught her silhouette...with beer goggles on. So, I'm sticking with my assessment. Tuscon was ugly. I will give in on the fact that the clear dry air made for some ROCKING GREAT hair days. Which Ron liked ;-) I think...
So, between being gone to Arizona and having many in the office meetings last week....I got very little TrekDesk time in. That was a big bummer. I did get to ride on a dusty trail following the backside of Ron's horse and eating dirt the whole way. Is that exercise? I did eat 3 catered meals a day for 4 days straight....oh crap.....guess I'm going to have to pay a visit to STS (Satan The Scale).
Today, I started the day off right with a call with Ireland. They (ok - Thomas Lambert!) did sway with me as the video I was sending while walking made me look like I was rocking back and forth, but they were surprised that I was able to walk, talk and type. (What does that say about my coworkers' confidence in my ability to multi-task?) ;-) I've gotten my 4 miles in, so I'm parking my treadmill for the day. My right ankle that I keep re-injuring is still sore. That sucks. Wish I was fully well.
So, here's to my goal this week of making sure I get in 4 miles EVERY day. Will report back on Friday....at least I'm in Texas...where we have less dirty dirt....
Monday, November 1, 2010
Back in the Saddle...and a little "Fluffy Girl" insider information
Yee Haw!
Twisted my ankles...surprising NOT on the treadmill, but instead while taking out the trash two weeks ago. I have walked 30 minutes at a time at my TrekDesk, but I've been in lots of pain. I'm so excited to announce that I walked ALL OVER the neighborhood last night with Catherine and I think my ankles are healed!!
So, today, I'm back in the saddle!!! I'll post again with the stats of the day. I'm really super behind at work, so I can't be more creative right now....but you know...that is what this journey is all about. Highs and lows, steady slow progress....so for those that have only read this or who don't know me well enough...I'll clarify some things.
Handbook to being a friend to a "FLUFFY GIRL"
1) I am not scale obsessed. I know to put stock in how I feel, not what Satan the Scale says. I still think that knowing that number is a valuable tool.
2) I'm not sharing this information because I think this one issue I have...my physical fitness...is in any way, on the same radar of a problem as those that are battling cancer, loss or other big struggles. I have perspective that my life is great....READ MY PROFILE if you think that because I've chosen to blog about THIS, that I don't have this in perspective.
3) I know this doesn't occur over night. I know that I have been sitting on my rear for 17 years of working in the high tech industry and that in 17 days, or 17 months, my physical issues may not be reversed.
4) I know that my kids need a healthy mom and I don't need to be a self sacrificing lamb. I am not in this situation out of martyrdom. I believe fully in having my kids see that being a good parent means taking care of myself too. I just had not found the right key to my life, with my particular life style.
5) Dear SAHM friends. I love you. I admire you. I find the type of life you have to be wonderful. But, please oh please, do not tell me how I need to join you for your 10am class that you love and can't I just schedule that in my work day. It really is quite insensitive.
6) A little known fact....overweight people are NOT stupid. We KNOW about calories in/calories out. We KNOW that you can't eat 4000 calories, burn 500 and think you are not going to gain. We KNOW how many points, calories, carb grams, sugars, fat grams, etc are in every food. The poor choices are not being made out of ignorance. So, thanks but no thanks on the information on Weight Watchers, calories per day, Body for Life, P90X, etc. I, by the way, own all of that, have been on all of that and then some. Please please please - dear skinny, fit, friends....do all of your fluffly girl friends a favor, and don't assume we have gained all of this weight because we are ignorant.
I am now going to get off my soap box. I know that when you decide to blog something, you open yourself up to lots of judgment and criticism. So, I do take your input dear friends. Just know....I will respond....that is just who I am.
Laura
Twisted my ankles...surprising NOT on the treadmill, but instead while taking out the trash two weeks ago. I have walked 30 minutes at a time at my TrekDesk, but I've been in lots of pain. I'm so excited to announce that I walked ALL OVER the neighborhood last night with Catherine and I think my ankles are healed!!
So, today, I'm back in the saddle!!! I'll post again with the stats of the day. I'm really super behind at work, so I can't be more creative right now....but you know...that is what this journey is all about. Highs and lows, steady slow progress....so for those that have only read this or who don't know me well enough...I'll clarify some things.
Handbook to being a friend to a "FLUFFY GIRL"
1) I am not scale obsessed. I know to put stock in how I feel, not what Satan the Scale says. I still think that knowing that number is a valuable tool.
2) I'm not sharing this information because I think this one issue I have...my physical fitness...is in any way, on the same radar of a problem as those that are battling cancer, loss or other big struggles. I have perspective that my life is great....READ MY PROFILE if you think that because I've chosen to blog about THIS, that I don't have this in perspective.
3) I know this doesn't occur over night. I know that I have been sitting on my rear for 17 years of working in the high tech industry and that in 17 days, or 17 months, my physical issues may not be reversed.
4) I know that my kids need a healthy mom and I don't need to be a self sacrificing lamb. I am not in this situation out of martyrdom. I believe fully in having my kids see that being a good parent means taking care of myself too. I just had not found the right key to my life, with my particular life style.
5) Dear SAHM friends. I love you. I admire you. I find the type of life you have to be wonderful. But, please oh please, do not tell me how I need to join you for your 10am class that you love and can't I just schedule that in my work day. It really is quite insensitive.
6) A little known fact....overweight people are NOT stupid. We KNOW about calories in/calories out. We KNOW that you can't eat 4000 calories, burn 500 and think you are not going to gain. We KNOW how many points, calories, carb grams, sugars, fat grams, etc are in every food. The poor choices are not being made out of ignorance. So, thanks but no thanks on the information on Weight Watchers, calories per day, Body for Life, P90X, etc. I, by the way, own all of that, have been on all of that and then some. Please please please - dear skinny, fit, friends....do all of your fluffly girl friends a favor, and don't assume we have gained all of this weight because we are ignorant.
I am now going to get off my soap box. I know that when you decide to blog something, you open yourself up to lots of judgment and criticism. So, I do take your input dear friends. Just know....I will respond....that is just who I am.
Laura
Friday, October 15, 2010
1 long week - 3 less pounds!
This was one of those weeks....Monday and Tuesday I felt like I was getting sick. I didn't walk at all on Monday and only for a couple of 30 minute stints on Tuesday. Not sure if it is my lovely thyroid issue causing me to feel like I've got one foot in the grave or just the stress of a really hectic work week, a husband working insane hours or the knowledge that every evening of my week was filled with being MOM THE TAXI, but whatever the reason, I felt like poop.
Hump day came and I forced myself...I walked 3 miles each day Wed, Thur and Friday. Not the increase to my stamina that I was hoping for. :-(
I was feeling pretty gloomy this evening here at 7:45, as I just finished up my work day and about to switch gears into grocery shopping, laundry washing, dinner fixing mom, so as all good Catholic girls do when they are already completely down on themselves, I decided to step on Satan the Scale. OH WHAT JOY!! I have actually lost 3 pounds!!!!! Glory Hallelujah!! This is like a freakin' minor miracle in my world.
Happy Friday Everyone!!
LB
Hump day came and I forced myself...I walked 3 miles each day Wed, Thur and Friday. Not the increase to my stamina that I was hoping for. :-(
I was feeling pretty gloomy this evening here at 7:45, as I just finished up my work day and about to switch gears into grocery shopping, laundry washing, dinner fixing mom, so as all good Catholic girls do when they are already completely down on themselves, I decided to step on Satan the Scale. OH WHAT JOY!! I have actually lost 3 pounds!!!!! Glory Hallelujah!! This is like a freakin' minor miracle in my world.
Happy Friday Everyone!!
LB
Friday, October 8, 2010
Satan lives
Finally bought batteries for Satan today....you know...Satan the scale. As expected, that evil vile piece of machinery did not miraculously put me back to my awesome fit weight of '05 after only a week of walking while working. (Hey - a girl can believe in miracles, can't she?). Well, it took me 5 years to put on this extra 50...guess it'll take some time to take it off.
Walking While Working update -
Did 4.5 miles this morning. Pace is steady at 1.2 and I'm pretty sure I can go faster and not impact my typing speed, nor my ability to multi-task. I'm actually finding it wasteful to sit down now. My goal for Monday will be to hit 6 miles. I think I can do that pretty easily now.
TrekDesk Height - I had read reviews that being the vertically challenged girl that I am (at a whopping 5 feet 1 3/4 inches (and don't forget the 3/4!!!)) that the TrekDesk would be too tall for me. I have it on the lowest setting, but I think I could actually move it up a notch. I'm sure YMMV based on the height of the deck of your treadmill, but for my Sole F80, it is perfectly fine for us squatty bodies.
Happy Friday! I wish I could say that I have some really cool plans for the weekend like some other bloggers out there, but looks like my version of GTL will be Grocery, Taxi and Laundry again. Ron did ask me if I wanted to hit the Rangers game tomorrow....I'm hoping that wasn't a tease and we are really going!! Gotta have me some baseball and my other favorite team, Ben and his Dallas Patriots, are off this weekend.
Back to Walking While Working (W3) - or maybe Woman Walking While Working (w4)...
Wacky Woman Walking While Working for Weightloss
OK I digress...again
LB
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