A couple days ago, a friend said he was going to lose 14 pounds in 14 days. I told him I was having some difficulty staying motivated to get healthy and lose a few pounds. I am much better at things when there's a challenge involved, so I asked him if I could consider that a challenge for me to lose 14 in 14 too. He said sure.
At the beginning of day 1, I weighed in at 174.0 lbs. Today is day 4 and I weighed in at 170.2. Yes, I'm a little shocked at myself for posting my actual weight, but I'm happy about the progress.
How am I doing it? Well, I'll admit that part of it is part of my natural weight loss/gain based on my "cycle". I'm due to lose a few pounds anyway.
I'm exercising (not walking everyday yet). I walked for about 1/2 mile on days 1 & 2.
Day 3, I played with my nephew and did his Winnie the Pooh and friends exercise CD twice. It's about a 15 minute recording that follows along with actions in 6 little books... running, skipping, marching, stretching, dancing and hopping. It's kinda silly, but I put some extra effort into it and made it kinda intense. My calves burn today from all the hopping.
Day 4 is today and still forming. After a severe lack of sleep over the last 2 nights (prior to last night), I caught up on sleep last night... about 13 hours. It was wonderful, but I woke up with a headache, so I've been slow to get started today. As long as the rain holds off, I'm going for a walk when I'm done posting this.
What have I been eating? Very simply, but I try to make sure I get 3 meals a day. I don't always succeed because I don't like to cook for just myself.
Recent breakfasts include:
2 Eggo waffles with a little Mrs Butterworth's lite syrup, fresh pineapple (maybe about 1/2 - 3/4 cup), 4 slices of bacon
2 egg scramble with onions sauteed in olive oil and wilted spinach all over a whole "thin" bagel with 2 slices of some kind of smoked white cheese (My nephew said I was the best chef ever after this meal, even though it wasn't one of his favorites -- mine neither, but it was something different. I think the cheese was the problem. Should have used American or cheddar.)
Lunches and dinners have been similar, rotate and sometimes vary slightly:
Giant salad (whole stalk of Romaine lettuce - chopped, whole avocado - diced, 1 or 2 Roma tomatoes - chopped, a handful of sunflower seeds - unsalted, a handful of almond slivers, about 3 Tbls salad dressing - Sweet Vidalia Onion Viniagrette(sp?) from Sam's Club)
Turkey sandwich (2 slices of whole wheat breat, 2 slices turkey, 1 slice American cheese, 1 avocado mashed - only 1/2 makes it onto the sandwich - the other 1/2 gets eaten with a spoon, 1 Roma tomato sliced)
Turkey wrap (1 flour tortilla, 1 slice turkey, 2 slices American cheese, 1 avocado mashed - half and half like above, 1 Roma tomato sliced)
I still snack. I won't go without snacking. Instead of eating 6 2-bite brownies, I cut back to 2 or 3 and make sure to have a big glass of milk with them. A few bite-sized chocolate chip cookies do the trick too. I do like healthier things like oranges or a handful of mixed nuts too.
That's about it though. I'm not doing a whole lot out of the ordinary, just moving a little more and eating a little less.
What have you started doing or quit doing that would help you lose 14 in 14?
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Post Interrupted...
So, it's been a few days since I last wrote anything here. I could make up some excuse about how I was getting into my workout routine or busy working or something like that, but it wouldn't be the truth. I've just been lazy about writing and spending too much time on Facebook and Twitter.
Some good news though... I have gotten out and walked everyday since I decided to start this transformation. They say it takes 21 consecutive days of doing something for it to become a habit. Well, 5 days down, 16 to go.
Day 1: Distance? I'm not keeping track since I'm not in training for anything. I think it's about a 1/2 mile. Time? I don't know. However long it takes. It seemed like an eternity.
Okay, I decided I was going to start walking and was going to take Marcus (my Black Lab/Shar-pei mix dog) with me. Since he always pulls me along when we walk, I thought I'd try things a little differently. When I bought his last doggie bed, they gave me a saddlebag type pack free. I thought I'd make him start carrying our water bottles, my phone, house keys, ID, etc., so I don't have to anymore and hopefully, the extra weight would slow him down. So, I strapped him into the pack and was pleasantly surprised when he didn't try to get out of it. Next, on went his Gentle Leader and out the door we went.
Since jogging with my 4-year-old nephew felt pretty good several days before, I thought we'd start out jogging along our route. Besides, it was downhill, what could it hurt? With the first couple steps, pain shot up my legs from my ankles and I thought I was going to have to turn around and start walking the next day. I didn't quit though. We pressed on and it became more comfortable. Hey, it's been over 20 years since I ran any real distance.
We turned the corner and the ground leveled off. I was already feeling the chest tightening burn and hating my decision to run, so we slowed down to a walk just in time to go up the biggest hill in my neighborhood. I was so tired and sore, I let Marcus pull me along this time. It was sad, but we made it to the top of the hill.
By the grace of God, we somehow made it all the way back to our house without me passing out. Marcus was panting like crazy. I was gasping for air. I got him out of his Gentle Leader and ran to find my inhaler, took a couple puffs.
Note to self: Don't go walking/running without using my inhaler first. And take it with me... just in case. Oh, yeah, I've had exercise induced asthma since I was about 12.
After collapsing on the couch, I don't think I moved for several hours.
Day 2: After starting this blog very early in the morning, I slept in. (I was so sore!) I'd planned on going walking as soon as I got up. I was dressed, had my shoes on, was packing Marcus' pack when it started thundering and lightning outside. Yea! Just the excuse I needed to not go walking. Change of plans, I'm staying inside to do my physical therapy exercises instead.
No sooner had I updated my FB status to reflect the current weather and new workout plans, the rain stopped and the sun came out. Midwest weather. Ha! So, my sister called me up to see if I wanted to go to the park by my house with her and my nephew. We walked the 1/4 mile (I'm guessing) to the park, played for about an hour and walked back to my house, the long way around (about 3/4 mile).
Glad I remembered my inhaler this time.
Day 3: I was still a little sore from using all these muscles again, but it was better than each of the last couple days.
I watched my nephew at my house today. Since I didn't have anything planned for him and he was full of energy, we walked to the park again. We stayed for a couple hours this time and took the long way back to my house again. His stamina's pretty good for 4-years-old.
Day 4: Feelin' pretty good today. I watched my nephew at his house today, so we didn't go for our walk. We did meet up with my sister at a park near her work though. He played for about half an hour before we went to dinner.
We found a great family-owned Italian restaurant in North Kansas City, called Delisi's.
-----------
Okay, I got totally side-tracked. I started this post a few days ago to catch up on my progress for my first week of transformation. I've put it off 4 days.
-----------
And side-tracked again, for several more days. I'm gonna have to work harder on this thing called blogging. I guess it takes some practice.
Some good news though... I have gotten out and walked everyday since I decided to start this transformation. They say it takes 21 consecutive days of doing something for it to become a habit. Well, 5 days down, 16 to go.
Day 1: Distance? I'm not keeping track since I'm not in training for anything. I think it's about a 1/2 mile. Time? I don't know. However long it takes. It seemed like an eternity.
Okay, I decided I was going to start walking and was going to take Marcus (my Black Lab/Shar-pei mix dog) with me. Since he always pulls me along when we walk, I thought I'd try things a little differently. When I bought his last doggie bed, they gave me a saddlebag type pack free. I thought I'd make him start carrying our water bottles, my phone, house keys, ID, etc., so I don't have to anymore and hopefully, the extra weight would slow him down. So, I strapped him into the pack and was pleasantly surprised when he didn't try to get out of it. Next, on went his Gentle Leader and out the door we went.
Since jogging with my 4-year-old nephew felt pretty good several days before, I thought we'd start out jogging along our route. Besides, it was downhill, what could it hurt? With the first couple steps, pain shot up my legs from my ankles and I thought I was going to have to turn around and start walking the next day. I didn't quit though. We pressed on and it became more comfortable. Hey, it's been over 20 years since I ran any real distance.
We turned the corner and the ground leveled off. I was already feeling the chest tightening burn and hating my decision to run, so we slowed down to a walk just in time to go up the biggest hill in my neighborhood. I was so tired and sore, I let Marcus pull me along this time. It was sad, but we made it to the top of the hill.
By the grace of God, we somehow made it all the way back to our house without me passing out. Marcus was panting like crazy. I was gasping for air. I got him out of his Gentle Leader and ran to find my inhaler, took a couple puffs.
Note to self: Don't go walking/running without using my inhaler first. And take it with me... just in case. Oh, yeah, I've had exercise induced asthma since I was about 12.
After collapsing on the couch, I don't think I moved for several hours.
Day 2: After starting this blog very early in the morning, I slept in. (I was so sore!) I'd planned on going walking as soon as I got up. I was dressed, had my shoes on, was packing Marcus' pack when it started thundering and lightning outside. Yea! Just the excuse I needed to not go walking. Change of plans, I'm staying inside to do my physical therapy exercises instead.
No sooner had I updated my FB status to reflect the current weather and new workout plans, the rain stopped and the sun came out. Midwest weather. Ha! So, my sister called me up to see if I wanted to go to the park by my house with her and my nephew. We walked the 1/4 mile (I'm guessing) to the park, played for about an hour and walked back to my house, the long way around (about 3/4 mile).
Glad I remembered my inhaler this time.
Day 3: I was still a little sore from using all these muscles again, but it was better than each of the last couple days.
I watched my nephew at my house today. Since I didn't have anything planned for him and he was full of energy, we walked to the park again. We stayed for a couple hours this time and took the long way back to my house again. His stamina's pretty good for 4-years-old.
Day 4: Feelin' pretty good today. I watched my nephew at his house today, so we didn't go for our walk. We did meet up with my sister at a park near her work though. He played for about half an hour before we went to dinner.
We found a great family-owned Italian restaurant in North Kansas City, called Delisi's.
-----------
Okay, I got totally side-tracked. I started this post a few days ago to catch up on my progress for my first week of transformation. I've put it off 4 days.
-----------
And side-tracked again, for several more days. I'm gonna have to work harder on this thing called blogging. I guess it takes some practice.
Sunday, May 2, 2010
My First Post
Hey everybody!
I'm just taking a minute to write this first post for my new blog. I named it "Transforming Maggie" because I'm going to chronicle the steps I'm taking to transform my life... body, mind, spirit and finances. I used to have a great life. I was happy with myself, my health, my relationships with family and friends, my employment, etc.
Then, I moved 1000 miles away from my family, friends and happy life in order to get married. Funny I should put it that way, right? Sure, I was happy for a while, but there were too many changes in a very short time period. Even though he was (and still is) a great guy, I was miserable for a few years. That lead to us separating and me moving back home. We have since filed for divorce, but due to some complication, we're still waiting for it to go through.
Moving home did help make me happier, but I was starting over... literally from scratch. I hadn't been working, so I had nothing saved up. I didn't expect to come home to my exact same life that I left a decade earlier, but I thought things would have been a little easier than I found them to be. So, I had no money, no relationship with any of my former friends, was separated (so I wasn't single, but didn't feel married either), hadn't been to Church (except for a couple weddings and way too many funerals) in several years, didn't have a relationship with God at all (don't freak out, I'm not going to be "preachy") and had some health issues that were about to reveal themselves in the coming months.
With all that against me, I did have a few things. My sister, brother-in-law and nephew welcomed me into their home for a few months when I first moved back. They were very generous and I appreciate them probably more than they know. I got a job that I really enjoyed and made a good wage. I had an excellent opportunity for a home-based business that I had been working off-and-on for a few years, even though it had been "off" for a while. I had hope. And, I had my dog, Marcus. He's been with me through almost all of it and I love him like crazy.
It's been 3 years since I moved back. (I know... long time for me to be in relationship limbo. Ugh!) Some things are better (I reconnected with some old friends and made new friends of people I knew of in the past, but didn't really know), others aren't. I'm finally at a point that I'm tired of things the way they are now. I know it can be better. I know I can be better. I expect more of myself than I've been giving. And so, the transformation begins...
Some messages will be as simple as what I had for lunch, what exercises I did for the day or a quote I like. Others will be much more in-depth and talk about what steps I'm taking to build my business, what books I'm reading (with my commentary), what political cause I'm now supporting, what steps I'm taking to find the love of my life or any number of other things.
You can count on reading about Marcus, music and sports.
This transformation chronicle comes complete with embarrassing "before" and "during" photos and weigh-in stats. Hey, I have to keep myself accountable somehow, even if it's not pretty in the process.
Okay, it's late (or early depending on your perspective, I guess). I have to get to sleep so I can wake up, take Marcus for a walk and get working around the house. My house is part of the transformation too. Hey, I moved 8 (I think) times in about the last 12 years. Most people get rid of stuff when they move. Somehow, I accumulated more things each time I moved. So, it's time to get rid of things that are no longer useful or of value to me. Today's the kitchen and dining room, plus some laundry too.
Have a great day!
I'm just taking a minute to write this first post for my new blog. I named it "Transforming Maggie" because I'm going to chronicle the steps I'm taking to transform my life... body, mind, spirit and finances. I used to have a great life. I was happy with myself, my health, my relationships with family and friends, my employment, etc.
Then, I moved 1000 miles away from my family, friends and happy life in order to get married. Funny I should put it that way, right? Sure, I was happy for a while, but there were too many changes in a very short time period. Even though he was (and still is) a great guy, I was miserable for a few years. That lead to us separating and me moving back home. We have since filed for divorce, but due to some complication, we're still waiting for it to go through.
Moving home did help make me happier, but I was starting over... literally from scratch. I hadn't been working, so I had nothing saved up. I didn't expect to come home to my exact same life that I left a decade earlier, but I thought things would have been a little easier than I found them to be. So, I had no money, no relationship with any of my former friends, was separated (so I wasn't single, but didn't feel married either), hadn't been to Church (except for a couple weddings and way too many funerals) in several years, didn't have a relationship with God at all (don't freak out, I'm not going to be "preachy") and had some health issues that were about to reveal themselves in the coming months.
With all that against me, I did have a few things. My sister, brother-in-law and nephew welcomed me into their home for a few months when I first moved back. They were very generous and I appreciate them probably more than they know. I got a job that I really enjoyed and made a good wage. I had an excellent opportunity for a home-based business that I had been working off-and-on for a few years, even though it had been "off" for a while. I had hope. And, I had my dog, Marcus. He's been with me through almost all of it and I love him like crazy.
It's been 3 years since I moved back. (I know... long time for me to be in relationship limbo. Ugh!) Some things are better (I reconnected with some old friends and made new friends of people I knew of in the past, but didn't really know), others aren't. I'm finally at a point that I'm tired of things the way they are now. I know it can be better. I know I can be better. I expect more of myself than I've been giving. And so, the transformation begins...
Some messages will be as simple as what I had for lunch, what exercises I did for the day or a quote I like. Others will be much more in-depth and talk about what steps I'm taking to build my business, what books I'm reading (with my commentary), what political cause I'm now supporting, what steps I'm taking to find the love of my life or any number of other things.
You can count on reading about Marcus, music and sports.
This transformation chronicle comes complete with embarrassing "before" and "during" photos and weigh-in stats. Hey, I have to keep myself accountable somehow, even if it's not pretty in the process.
Okay, it's late (or early depending on your perspective, I guess). I have to get to sleep so I can wake up, take Marcus for a walk and get working around the house. My house is part of the transformation too. Hey, I moved 8 (I think) times in about the last 12 years. Most people get rid of stuff when they move. Somehow, I accumulated more things each time I moved. So, it's time to get rid of things that are no longer useful or of value to me. Today's the kitchen and dining room, plus some laundry too.
Have a great day!
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