Nicole Gets In Shape

Starting Over

The last severals months have been tough. I was extremely unhappy with my job, still adjusting to life as a mom, just couldn’t seem to find a balance or any sense satisfaction. There just never seemed to be enough time to get all of my work done, exercise, cook, spend time with bang an husband, and do household chores. I’m sure lots of new moms struggle with this. I was able to secure a new teaching position for next year, much closer to home with a totally different student population. I have the next 2 months off. I’ll have time to cook, do chores, exercise, and enjoy my precious little one. I have to attend some work training this week, so my plan is to start to get back into exercising, and return to eating 6 small, healthy meals a day aiming for a lean protein, complex carb, and fruit/veggie at each. I’m not much of a fish eater, but I’m going to try incorporating fish a few times a week. I plan on photographing a lot of my meals to post on here. This will help keep me accountable and portions in check. I look forward to following the journeys o my fellow tumblrs, too—they never cease to provide encouragement and motivation. As embarrassing as it is (because it has only creeped up bit by bit since the holidays), I’m going to post my weight. I will photograph the scale, too, for check ins to keep myself accountable. This morning’s disgustingly high weight: 293.8

Last week was a rough week. I continued to work out, but I half-assed everything and made several bad food choices. This weekend a cheesecake was the epitome of my bad food decisions and I ate half of it, all by myself. That led to the ol’ “well, you already ate _____ so you might as well go ahead and eat ______.” But you know what, every bite was delicious and it DID make me feel better as I was enjoying it. Now, after, I don’t feel great about it, but in the moment it was total bliss. Eating that smooth, velvety, cold, ultra decadent cheesecake just melted everything away and numbed the stress and frustration, much like I imagine alcohol numbs an alcoholic or pulling a slot machine gives a rush to a gambling addict. Lesson learned: cheesecake is one of those foods you only allow yourself once a year, preferably at someone else’s house so you don’t have leftovers to gorge on.

Today was a new day with a new plan to spice up workouts. Ann decided we’d jog a lap then do a set of arms (push ups or reverse pull ups) followed by a set of legs (step ups or lunges); repeat several times. We got in a total of 2.43 miles and I was definitely pushing myself.

I made the famous Cuban Pork and Sweet Potato Stew that’s been floating around Tumblr. It was delicious, and it really keeps me full! Eating today was a success.

I hope I can stay motivated. It’s hard to think that I have soooooooooo far to go until I get to where I need to be. The reality is that the next year is going to go by regardless. In a year from now I can be 180, 280, or 300+. It’s all about just making the right choice at the right time. I’m happy to say that today, I made the right choices and pushed myself.

Check.

After a week off, I’m back in business—with exercise and eating, that is! Did 30 minutes of Biggest Loser DVD after work. We used the SmartBoard in my classroom, so Bob was huge and it was as if he were right there with us. Decent workout, but not super hard. Good for just a little sumpin’ sumpin’ in a time crunch. I think I’m gonna be sore from the pushups!

Today’s food:
Baked oatmeal, hard boiled egg, milk

Apple, mini whole wheat cinnamon bagel

Leftover salsa chicken, two small tortillas, a little cheese

Grapes, orange, whole wheat pretzels

Big green salad with 2T ranch, braised Korean short ribs, rice, steamed green beans

Jog scheduled for tomorrow morning. Hopefully it doesn’t rain again! If it does, we’ll have to use my room again!

2nd 5K today!

A month ago I ran my first 5k. It took me 45:52. Today I ran my second one in 41:57. I’m so proud of myself because although my food intake hasn’t been perfect, I HAVE made exercise a consistent part of my life and I can see definite improvements in clothing fit, stamina, energy, and overall attitude. I still don’t LIKE running, but I was lucky enough to find a wonderful friend/coworker who keeps me on track, pushes me, gives me unending encouragement, and joins me several times a week for runs. If I didn’t have her, I’m pretty certain I would’ve given up by now. It’s hard to go at it alone, and I’m so thankful that this time I’m not alone. Oh, and I almost forgot… I made my goal of 35 miles for January today!!!! Woo hoo!!!! I still have a few days to (hopefully) make the weight goal!

It’s been a good week in the exercise department, but my body is tired and sore! After my timed mile on Tuesday, I did 3.25 miles of intervals yesterday and 2 miles of them today. I wanted to go longer today, but after putting out a fire with a parent at work and making some last minute copies, I only had 30 minutes. I jogged the first two laps without walking, waiting for the aches to work themselves out, but they never did—I ended up switching to jogging the long aides and walking the corners, then headed in after 2 miles. Ann and I are doing a timed 5K (by ourselves) on Saturday, so I think I’ll just walk tomorrow and give myself a chance to recover a bit before I give it my all Saturday!

Things are pretty good in the food department, but there are areas for improvement! My baked oatmeal and turkey vegetable chili are both delicious, easy, and healthy—I think they’ve become my new weekly staples! My morning snacks have been an 80 calorie fiber muffin from trader joes with a piece of fruit; afternoon snack has been 2 tablespoons roasted red pepper hummus with carrots and cucumber, honey wheat pretzel sticks, and another piece of fruit. For some reason, despite eating a snack at 4:30, I get crazy hungry between 5:30-6 and just want to eat everything in sight, even though I know dinner is in the oven. It’s a hard battle, this food battle!

1 month update

Timed mile: 12:38 (30 second decrease)

Waist: 50 (2 inch decrease)

Hips: 60.5 (2 inch decrease)

Thigh: 27.5 (1.5 inch decrease)

Bicep: 14.5 (no change)

Body Fat %: 49.5 (no change)

BMI: 45.6 (down from 46.4)

Weight: 282.2 (Down 16.6 total)

2 miles this morning. 1/4 mile warm up walk, then 1.75 jogging WITHOUT ANY WALK BREAKS!!!!! I’m so freaking proud of myself; the longest I had gone without walking prior to today was 1 mile.