Actively avoid temptation or your life may be forfeit. Not even kidding! Bad choice #1: I leave for town without eating lunch, so I'm starving by the time I head back home. Bad choice #2: As I'm driving home from town, I decide to dig around in the dark recesses of the "junk collector" tray in the front of our car. Bad choice #3: I find a caramel/chocolate swirl piece of soft candy (one of my many favorites) and decide to leave it there instead of trashing it immediately. At the earliest, it had to have been there since the previous owner. Melted, cooled, melted again. Bad choice #4: Decide to eat it and not even wait to get home. (Maybe I was afraid my conscience would talk me out of it by then?) Bad choice #5: I struggle with the stuck-on wrapper, taking my eyes off the road. (If my parents are reading this, this was the ONLY time I've ever done stupid things while driving.) (Of course, now I've compounded the evil of eating candy with the sin of lying!) CONSEQUENCE: I look up, popping the illegal candy in my mouth, only to find myself halfway in the left lane (two lane highway) and a semi just coming over the top of the hill.
Obviously, I survived. I swerved back into my own lane and enjoyed chewing the candy for the next 500 feet of roadway. But I had to ask myself, "Really? Risking your life for a stale, smaller-than-a-golf-ball, lasted 15 seconds, piece of sugar that isn't even good for you and has been crammed in a car console for who knows how long? Is that intelligent?" Clearly not.
A wise person would have - Wise choice #1: Eaten lunch. Full stomachs provide greater mental fortitude. Wise choice #2: Kept my hand out of the guts of the junk tray. Seriously, what great treasures was I expecting to find? Don't go places that are gross! Wise choice #3: Tossed the temptation. Familarity breeds affection. After ten minutes, I had forgotten where it came from and how long it had been there. It looked fresh out of the package to my sugar-deprived eyes! Wise choice #4: Exercised self-control and waited til the proper time for candy-eating. In November. I waited 26 years for my husband! Couldn't wait 26 minutes for my candy. "Idiot!" (Napoleon Dynamite. Hated it the first time, but it's growing on me. Again, some quotable lines!) Wise choice #5: Kept my eyes on the road. The goal was to get home safely. One little chocolate-caramel swirl made me forget my purpose. RESULT: I would arrived safely home, with less stress and guilt, eaten my supper, and maintained my integrity. Funny how the downward spiral on something so trivial so closely mirrors the descent on things less trivial.
PS - Cardio was a little bit easier this week, and the scale said two pounds less. (Pretty sure that relates more to time of day and amount of clothes on than to actual body composition, but I'll take what I can get!) Maybe I'll survive this after all. (But stay away from candy in the car!)
~Stick to it!
Monday, August 9, 2010
Day Eight
Chest & Back/Ab Ripper X - round two! I surprised myself. It was easier this time! Important note: "easier" is not equal to "easy." I still can't do a pullup without a leg on a chair to help. And my abs may be stronger, but that just means I can now do a quarter of the workout, instead of...well, not a quarter. Of course, that may be in part due to the fact that I've adapted some of the exercises so as to increase their achievability. (Is that a word?) I figure, I'll work up to the real version. It's the principle that counts, right?
I'm a big fan of understanding basic principles and working from there. For example, I just finished another one of those books about how to be a good wife. (A lifelong obsession, I suspect. See Day Two.) One of the author's main points was "Get up early." Instant guilt! Not even kidding, we eat breakfast at ten. Am I failing my life purpose because I see more sunsets than sunrises? After the hyperventilation calmed, I read that chapter again. Guess what! The main PRINCIPLE was "Use your time wisely." Don't waste time on meaningless, selfish pursuits. (Note: taking time to exercise is healthy. Taking 3 hours every evening to watch soaps by yourself and bemoan that your husband hasn't a romantic script to follow is stupid. To put it bluntly.)
My Better Half (MBH) is a night owl. Once, when I was young and naive, I suggested we retire at 9pm - something I did routinely as a single. He laughed - until he realized I was serious. Then he ever so gently (more or less) vetoed that crazy notion. For me, the principles of loving your husband and wise time use mean staying up late and rising late. I do try to rise before he does, do a few things, then return to bed as he is waking. But 4am is the new midnight. If our family routine is supper at eight, so be it. Our future children will just have to adapt. (One of my favorite quotes, "When I was twenty, I had no children and six theories. Now I am twice that and have six children and no theories.")
Lastly, MBH and I have come to an embarrassing realization. (One of many, beginning with the fact that we had to increase our clothing sizes after marriage.) We are addicted to sugar. If there was an S.A., we should be part of it. We took the step of acknowledging it yesterday, as we checked the freezer multiple times to see if any ice cream had appeared yet. I combed the shelves at the store to see which protein bar most closely resembled a candy bar. (All of them have less sugar than one swallow of pop. Blast!) In the interest of preserving my sanity, I tell myself it will get better. My cravings will subside over time. Besides, it's only 82 more days. (Not sure I wanted to know that!)
~Stick to it!
I'm a big fan of understanding basic principles and working from there. For example, I just finished another one of those books about how to be a good wife. (A lifelong obsession, I suspect. See Day Two.) One of the author's main points was "Get up early." Instant guilt! Not even kidding, we eat breakfast at ten. Am I failing my life purpose because I see more sunsets than sunrises? After the hyperventilation calmed, I read that chapter again. Guess what! The main PRINCIPLE was "Use your time wisely." Don't waste time on meaningless, selfish pursuits. (Note: taking time to exercise is healthy. Taking 3 hours every evening to watch soaps by yourself and bemoan that your husband hasn't a romantic script to follow is stupid. To put it bluntly.)
My Better Half (MBH) is a night owl. Once, when I was young and naive, I suggested we retire at 9pm - something I did routinely as a single. He laughed - until he realized I was serious. Then he ever so gently (more or less) vetoed that crazy notion. For me, the principles of loving your husband and wise time use mean staying up late and rising late. I do try to rise before he does, do a few things, then return to bed as he is waking. But 4am is the new midnight. If our family routine is supper at eight, so be it. Our future children will just have to adapt. (One of my favorite quotes, "When I was twenty, I had no children and six theories. Now I am twice that and have six children and no theories.")
Lastly, MBH and I have come to an embarrassing realization. (One of many, beginning with the fact that we had to increase our clothing sizes after marriage.) We are addicted to sugar. If there was an S.A., we should be part of it. We took the step of acknowledging it yesterday, as we checked the freezer multiple times to see if any ice cream had appeared yet. I combed the shelves at the store to see which protein bar most closely resembled a candy bar. (All of them have less sugar than one swallow of pop. Blast!) In the interest of preserving my sanity, I tell myself it will get better. My cravings will subside over time. Besides, it's only 82 more days. (Not sure I wanted to know that!)
~Stick to it!
Saturday, August 7, 2010
Day Seven
And the first week is over! A little "X Stretch" today, a lot of resting, and (as always) a lot of eating. I'm ingesting about 1800 calories a day, but it feels like way more. Protein apparently does that to you. Supposedly I should lose the fat this month, but we'll see if it happens. Ever seen those models of five pounds of yellow fat? (Or is it ten?) It's bigger than a yoga block! (4x4x8 ish for those of you who, like me, had no idea yoga blocks existed.) My Better Half (MBH) and I both are at comfortable weights for our heights, but we want to adjust where it's at a bit. (Less gut, more guns!)
After six days of pummeling, my body was SO EXCITED for a day off. My right elbow is finally starting to recover from the pullup mania of day one. (Just in time to do it again tomorrow. Yippee.) My right hip still complains about moving, but at least it doesn't have to "bring it" again for a few days. MBH did "Legs & Back." His comment? "Seems like it was a little easier than some of the others." Ha! There's no accounting for taste. I quote "Pirates of the Caribbean." (We just finished rewatching the trilogy. So many great lines!)
I'm reflecting that maybe God knew what He was doing with the "Six days you should labor, and on the seventh, rest" thing. Pick a day, maybe yours can't be Sunday, and relax. Hang with family, read a book, grill out, or whatever floats your boat. MBH doesn't have a set schedule, so when he has a stretch of time open, we drop everything. We visit, either friends/family, or the couch. We play games: card, board, computer, outdoor, you name it. We catch a movie, or four.
I've noticed that principle applies in other ways, too. After seven hours of work (housework, or whatever) my brain starts shorting out. I find myself walking in circles around the house trying to remember what I was going to do. A 20 minute sit-down, or an hour to nap or read, and I'm recharged for another seven hours. So take a guilt-free break. (Just not on company time, of course!) And maybe pause to thank the One who had the idea in the first place.
~Stick to it!
After six days of pummeling, my body was SO EXCITED for a day off. My right elbow is finally starting to recover from the pullup mania of day one. (Just in time to do it again tomorrow. Yippee.) My right hip still complains about moving, but at least it doesn't have to "bring it" again for a few days. MBH did "Legs & Back." His comment? "Seems like it was a little easier than some of the others." Ha! There's no accounting for taste. I quote "Pirates of the Caribbean." (We just finished rewatching the trilogy. So many great lines!)
I'm reflecting that maybe God knew what He was doing with the "Six days you should labor, and on the seventh, rest" thing. Pick a day, maybe yours can't be Sunday, and relax. Hang with family, read a book, grill out, or whatever floats your boat. MBH doesn't have a set schedule, so when he has a stretch of time open, we drop everything. We visit, either friends/family, or the couch. We play games: card, board, computer, outdoor, you name it. We catch a movie, or four.
I've noticed that principle applies in other ways, too. After seven hours of work (housework, or whatever) my brain starts shorting out. I find myself walking in circles around the house trying to remember what I was going to do. A 20 minute sit-down, or an hour to nap or read, and I'm recharged for another seven hours. So take a guilt-free break. (Just not on company time, of course!) And maybe pause to thank the One who had the idea in the first place.
~Stick to it!
Friday, August 6, 2010
Day Six
"Kenpo X" - martial arts as exercise! I won't lie, I was looking forward to today. I experimented with some various forms of self-defense after high school and had a blast. The best part was that the instructor was a police officer, etc. so we heard practical tips, real life examples, and some great stories! (And some gory, but that's not the point!) I think I would have enjoyed taking it farther (or is it further? English experts, anyone?) but you can only do so much in one lifetime. You may have "Top Twenty" priorities, but if you plan on sleeping or eating, better pick ten. And if you want to do them well, pare it down to five.
Therefore, Kenpo brought back some good memories. But it's a good thing no one is watching anymore. I ain't no teenager no more. (Actually, if you're an English expert, you should probably not read this. You don't need this kind of stress in your life!) All that uncoordinated jiggling was embarrassing me!
In my defense, I think it was a little rotten of Tony Horton to put Kenpo right after "Legs & Back." I could barely walk yesterday (ok, slight exaggeration, but only slight!) and today...all that kicking? Followed by all that punching while down in a "horse stance"? (Horse stance: like a squat, only you never come back up. Isn't that nice.) Pretty sure I need a cane to get the mail tomorrow.
Pro - drinking lots of water is healthy for you. It gets the toxins out of your body and into the toilet. Con - it gets the toxins out of your body many, many times a day. Pro - All this exercise helps me sleep better at night. Con - All this exercise makes my muscles sore. (Even with the much touted recovery drink, though I do think it has helped.) Pro - After getting up in the middle of the night to "purge toxins", I fall back asleep faster. Con - With bedroom and bath on two different floors, and sore muscles, I spend way too much time hobbling up and down stairs at three in the morning while questioning my own sanity. Pro - Pretty sure my body will adjust after a few more weeks. (Either that or I will finally get it through my thick skull that the negative effects of drinking water after supper may outweigh the positive health benefits! Timing is everything.)
The end is in sight! (Of the first week of thirteen anyway.)
~Stick to it!
Therefore, Kenpo brought back some good memories. But it's a good thing no one is watching anymore. I ain't no teenager no more. (Actually, if you're an English expert, you should probably not read this. You don't need this kind of stress in your life!) All that uncoordinated jiggling was embarrassing me!
In my defense, I think it was a little rotten of Tony Horton to put Kenpo right after "Legs & Back." I could barely walk yesterday (ok, slight exaggeration, but only slight!) and today...all that kicking? Followed by all that punching while down in a "horse stance"? (Horse stance: like a squat, only you never come back up. Isn't that nice.) Pretty sure I need a cane to get the mail tomorrow.
Pro - drinking lots of water is healthy for you. It gets the toxins out of your body and into the toilet. Con - it gets the toxins out of your body many, many times a day. Pro - All this exercise helps me sleep better at night. Con - All this exercise makes my muscles sore. (Even with the much touted recovery drink, though I do think it has helped.) Pro - After getting up in the middle of the night to "purge toxins", I fall back asleep faster. Con - With bedroom and bath on two different floors, and sore muscles, I spend way too much time hobbling up and down stairs at three in the morning while questioning my own sanity. Pro - Pretty sure my body will adjust after a few more weeks. (Either that or I will finally get it through my thick skull that the negative effects of drinking water after supper may outweigh the positive health benefits! Timing is everything.)
The end is in sight! (Of the first week of thirteen anyway.)
~Stick to it!
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Day Five
I don't want to be sexist, so I'll keep this general - guys tend to make more noise than girls when they work out. The grunting and groaning is a way of psyching themselves up. They're saying "I'm tired. This hurts. I'm accomplishing this by sheer force of will power. I'm not ready to quit, I just have reached the point where I need a little encouragement." (Side note: They aren't actually THINKING all those words in connection with their grunting. They're just grunting. What you just read was the female expanded version.)
Today's "Legs & Back" followed by "Ab Ripper X" got me to that point. So I did the female version - I cried. Note to other females: maybe you're not a crier, I'm not saying you are, I'm saying I am. Note to males: notice that sometimes female crying is the equivalent of male grunting. It just means "I'm tired. This hurts." (And so on, read the above expansion.) A little gentle encouragement is all that's needed.
And I finished. And I'll do my workout tomorrow. And I'll do that same workout again next week. (Though I'm trying not to contemplate that too deeply too far in advance. No need for all that extra stress in my life!) Sometimes you gotta say, "Life is hard," and then keep going.
Not quite a decade ago, I was pretty frustrated with a certain musical genre which shall remain unnamed. It felt like all the songs were based off the children's tune. You know, the one that ends "And now I'm am happy all the day!" They rang false. Nice fairy tale, now get back to reality. Fortunately, the pendulum has swung back the other way. Now there's great songs like "The Edge" by Michael Card, "Praise You in the Storm" by Casting Crowns, and "Held" by Nichole Nordeman. Life's tough, but it's worth doing.
~Stick to it.
Today's "Legs & Back" followed by "Ab Ripper X" got me to that point. So I did the female version - I cried. Note to other females: maybe you're not a crier, I'm not saying you are, I'm saying I am. Note to males: notice that sometimes female crying is the equivalent of male grunting. It just means "I'm tired. This hurts." (And so on, read the above expansion.) A little gentle encouragement is all that's needed.
And I finished. And I'll do my workout tomorrow. And I'll do that same workout again next week. (Though I'm trying not to contemplate that too deeply too far in advance. No need for all that extra stress in my life!) Sometimes you gotta say, "Life is hard," and then keep going.
Not quite a decade ago, I was pretty frustrated with a certain musical genre which shall remain unnamed. It felt like all the songs were based off the children's tune. You know, the one that ends "And now I'm am happy all the day!" They rang false. Nice fairy tale, now get back to reality. Fortunately, the pendulum has swung back the other way. Now there's great songs like "The Edge" by Michael Card, "Praise You in the Storm" by Casting Crowns, and "Held" by Nichole Nordeman. Life's tough, but it's worth doing.
~Stick to it.
Day Four
Yoga X. Biggest challenge: endurance. Whereas the others are 60 minutes or under (maybe adding on the 20 minutes Ab Ripper X on which I only do about 1/4 of the work cause I'm a wimp at this point) this one is 90 minutes all by itself. It wasn't too bad though - I'm fairly flexible already, so I felt more successful than on other workouts. And I skipped the two minutes of "ohmms" at the end. That's just not my style, so I did more stretching.
Quite frankly, that's about all I'm going to say about it. Today is actually Day 5, so I'm trying to remember yesterday. Keep in mind, I hardly remember what I had for breakfast today, so anything that happened yesterday...
As Tony Horton says: "Do your best, forget the rest." Got the second part down! (What's the opposite of "the rest"? Cause I forgot whatever that is, too.) Sometimes it's just better to let history sleep. Maybe I'll remember when it repeats itself.
~Stick to it!
Quite frankly, that's about all I'm going to say about it. Today is actually Day 5, so I'm trying to remember yesterday. Keep in mind, I hardly remember what I had for breakfast today, so anything that happened yesterday...
As Tony Horton says: "Do your best, forget the rest." Got the second part down! (What's the opposite of "the rest"? Cause I forgot whatever that is, too.) Sometimes it's just better to let history sleep. Maybe I'll remember when it repeats itself.
~Stick to it!
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Day Three
The first test: spent half the day away from home. This in itself was a challenge - I had to get up extra early in order to do the whole "Shoulders & Arms" plus "Ab Ripper X" plus eat breakfast (which, prior to August 1st, I typically skipped) plus do all I needed to do to be able to be gone the rest of the day.
But overall, I did ok. I packed my snack, along with extra water bottles. I resisted the temptation to grab a frappecino for the drive. At the supper restaurant, I carefully ordered to match my allotted portions - no alcohol, no dessert. I was surprised at how easy it was to find something to order. An 8oz tenderloin was 2 portions Protein (plus 2 extra ounces, but I wasn't about to ask the chef to chop off 2 oz, he might get offended!) A side of cottage cheese = 1 Dairy. A house salad finished me off with 1 Fat, 1 Extra, and 1 Vegetable.
I didn't even stumble when we stopped at Dairy Queen on the way home. I needed to use the restroom anyway - no need to spend all that time waiting in line drooling over the lucious menu of sin. :) Maybe that's a slight exaggeration, but maybe not. The mindset permitting cheating on a diet needs disciplined just like the mindset permitting cheating in other areas, though consequences are less severe.
I did succumb to a handful of dark cherries. What does that imply about my character? I won't waste sleep on it. Most likely the difference is the conviction that cherries are not equal to ice cream.
Anyway, My Better Half (MBH) is done with "Shoulders & Arms" (he is behind, I'm somewhat smug) so it's "Yoga X" for me.
~Stick to it!
But overall, I did ok. I packed my snack, along with extra water bottles. I resisted the temptation to grab a frappecino for the drive. At the supper restaurant, I carefully ordered to match my allotted portions - no alcohol, no dessert. I was surprised at how easy it was to find something to order. An 8oz tenderloin was 2 portions Protein (plus 2 extra ounces, but I wasn't about to ask the chef to chop off 2 oz, he might get offended!) A side of cottage cheese = 1 Dairy. A house salad finished me off with 1 Fat, 1 Extra, and 1 Vegetable.
I didn't even stumble when we stopped at Dairy Queen on the way home. I needed to use the restroom anyway - no need to spend all that time waiting in line drooling over the lucious menu of sin. :) Maybe that's a slight exaggeration, but maybe not. The mindset permitting cheating on a diet needs disciplined just like the mindset permitting cheating in other areas, though consequences are less severe.
I did succumb to a handful of dark cherries. What does that imply about my character? I won't waste sleep on it. Most likely the difference is the conviction that cherries are not equal to ice cream.
Anyway, My Better Half (MBH) is done with "Shoulders & Arms" (he is behind, I'm somewhat smug) so it's "Yoga X" for me.
~Stick to it!
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