OK2010A! Challenge #2 - Bite it and write it!

Operation Kick 2010's Ass is commencing part II. It's time for you to jump onboard.

If you BITE IT, WRITE IT. For the month of February you are challenged to WRITE IT DOWN. You'll be recording your food everyday. Good days and bad days don't have anything to do with your calories, fat or choices. The only choice that is a bad choice is not writing it down (or lying to yourself about writing it all down).

It's pretty easy to do. You can make your own log book. Use a notebook. Log on to a site like SparkPeople. I'm planning to use an iPod Touch app called "Lose it!". Weight Watchers online or in person requires that you write it down (for some plans). As someone who has done this task before, here are my tips.

1. Have a back up plan. If you forget your iPod, you're not on your computer, or your notebook was left behind find someplace to write it down. It's easy to forget what you've eaten. I used to keep notepads in my bag, my diaper bag, and on the counter. At the end of the day I'd enter them all on the computer.
   
2. Be conscience of serving sizes and note that you had 3 servings of X or 1/2 a serving of Y.
   
3. Looking ahead to future challenges it's worth noting your water intake, fibre and a count of fruits & veggie servings.
   

Don't forget your 30 minutes a day of exercise is still expected. That was the new habit for January. This is the new habit for February.

The midway: 30 for 30

Just a quick update on the 30 for 30 challenge. I challenged a few friends to 30 minutes of activity everyday for 30 days. It's been enough to get us all moving more. Some are more successful than others. It's a reminder that life does get in the way. For me, that life is a reminder of why I want to get healthy.

So what does 30 for 30 look like when you're 225lbs+? It looks really inconsistent! Here's a glimpse at my log.

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Day 30 - I did 31 minutes of Wii games. Not the best workout, but something.
Also dragged the baby around in the carrier at the mall & grocery store for over an hour. Slow pace but holding an extra 15lbs.

Day 29 - I did my 30 minutes. Mostly stretching and the other exercises I'm supposed to do everyday for physio. Unfortunately I was too sore to do much else. Physio hurts.
Haven't logged on to Biggest Loser on the Wii in a few days. (Did I tell you it sucks and not to buy it? The interface is horrible).

Day 28 - Got my Wii time in today. 30 minutes of step, and step related all while wearing the baby (extra 15lbs).
Now I need someone to strip a turkey carcass for me.

Day 27 - 35 min on the treadmill courtesy of Dinosaur Train & the exersaucer

Day 26 - Squeezing it in! 38 minutes on Wii, with only 45 min left in the day

Day 25 - 20 min on the treadmill followed with 10 minutes of core and 5 min of stretching.

Day 24 - Does 2 hrs on my feet wearing the baby & prepping for a 3-year-olds birthday party count?
later that night 30 minutes of stretching done! I'm tired.
As for falling off the food wagon? There is no food wagon. There's just paying attention. (But I totally get the shoveling in of things that I *think* are going to taste good and when they don't? I keep shoveling).

Day 23 - Thirty minutes of the treadmill! Done. Love the exersaucer and TV. But I'm sad that my Nike+ appears to have died from disuse.

Day 22 - I did a mixed work out at the gym. 15 minutes on the elliptical. 5 minutes on the stepper. 15-20 minutes of stretching and the physio I was assigned.

Day 21 - Finally got my 35 minutes on the Wii

Day 20 - Today was at the gym. First measured day on my new begin to run program. An aggressive paced 15 min walk after 15 min warm-up on elliptical and about 15 minutes of stretching & back/butt strength moves.

Day 19 - I've got 25 minutes done. 18 min walk plus stretching.
much later Finished off with 15 minutes of Wii

Day 18 - Got 15 minutes on the treadmill done before 10am. Not sure what else is on for today, but it won't involve using my shins much!
much later I did some Wii Fit+

Day 17 - 34min on the Wii - strength & yoga

Day 16 - I got it done. 25 min walk. 14 min elliptical and my regular stretching & strengthening

Day 15 - Today was a quick gym day. About 20 min on learn to run program and 10 min on elliptical. I am tired.

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You know how grateful I am to have access to and resources for a gym? and a Wii? and my own in-home high-end treadmill? It's great. I do appreciate it.

What are you doing? Want to get in on the end of the challenge? Or better yet, start your own.

OK2010A!

This year has a theme for me.  It's about embracing the whole of my life and living large.

My theme for the year, Operation Kick 2010's Ass (OK2010A!), started January 4, 2010.

You're welcome to be part of it. You're welcome to ignore it. This is part of how I'm going to face 2010, because 2010 is about generally maximizing fun for me, my husband and the kids.

Want to join me?  You are officially challenged to 30 minutes of new activity every day for 30 days.

We're all busy. Some of us are parenting a number of kids, some of us have stressful jobs, some of us are in the middle of profound life changes. But your goal is to take on another 30 minutes of activity. Include your kids, do it at your desk, on the Wii, 3 sets of 10 minutes, 6 sets of 5 minutes; whatever it takes to get it done.

Walks, squats at the bus stop, a class, a swim, a run, a video... if you're struggling with how to get it done, ask for help. We've all got ideas and we've all got excuses. (I can help with coming up with excuses, too!)

There is no weigh-in. No need to point to a before and after. This is about feeling better and having more energy. About creating good habits and modeling good behaviour for others in our lives. The pride of accomplishment is your reward.

The Sound of Silence

The silence is frustration. I'm bored of writing about excuses.

My treadmill has been as idle as my blog.
I hurt my back (again) and am just back to walking for fitness today.

But the blog, and my running, are both working on the same assumption:
I'm just going to have to start one more time then I stop.

Running fat & large, but RUNNING

There are no speed records being set, but the running has begun.

The last two weeks have had somewhere between 4 to 6 walks of about 30 minutes. The first one was barely 2km, the last have been barely 3km.

But my assumptions that technology is smart made an ass of me again. My iPod must have completely died at some point and been recharged, but not synched. No idea what date my walks were recorded as over the last two weeks, so I can't provide the details.

Tonight I broke out with the 1 minute runs. The schedule was:
0-5 minute warm-up walk
1 minute run + 2 minute walk x 7
4 minute walk (at good pace)
about 5 minute cool down

Managed to cover around 3.5km. Still slow. Took me almost all of 30 minutes to get to 3km. My Nike+ claims my best 3km was 25min & 19sec. Who knows how long ago that was. Certainly pre-pregnancy.

It felt great. My intention was only to do 5 sets of the 1 minute run + 2 minute walk. But it was good so I kept at it. Plus there was a desire to reach 3km in 30 minutes.

Tonights walk/run (according to the iPod):
Distance - 3.39km*
Time - 35:32
Pace - 10:28min/km
Calories - 362
*treadmill claimed it was 3.5km and I stayed on the treadmill an extra 30 seconds to get there.

Anyone running fat? Running postpartum? You're welcome to keep me motivated by sharing your training.

Running fat: On the treadmill again

Moving on up! Finally got off my rather large ass and got on the treadmill. 35 minutes while watching the Biggest Loser last night. My walks are a little faster than when I was 7 months pregnant, but still a quite slow.

But it was mostly good. I worked hard. Got a good sweat going. Was moving. I don't hurt today. That's all good.

Tonight I was too lazy to do it again, but I did pull out the Wii and did 32 minutes of Wii Fit. That's on top of my walking lunges and crab walk to the bus stop and the sumo walk back. The kids music class "Parent Room" was empty, so I did a few crunches, situps and planks.

My todo list is changing. Instead of just having my homework, things the kids need, meal prep and similar now it starts with "30 minutes of activity".

It feels good to move, to sweat and to feel strong. If I can work this in while parenting 3 kids and going to school? Surely you can, too.

The week in review

Thursday night was weigh in. Down around 2lbs despite scarfing a McDs cheeseburger and cone on the way.

Friday

Saturday kicked off with boot camp offered through http://www.coressentials.ca/

Sunday

Monday got all the 64oz of water in. Mixed my high fibre cereal with a little granola and nuts. Grabbed a handful of walking squats on the walk to meet the bus.

Tuesday snuck in a panicked walk with a friend. We were both running late late late, so the stress didn't help. But about 30 minutes in. 64oz of water gone before 9pm. And a stability ball core class with Christina of Body & Spirit Fitness.

Wednesday the water was done. Cereal was eaten. And I did walking lunges on the way to the bus stop.

Thursday was a busy busy day. I don't think I did anything positive. And the week must not have been that good. I was back up all but .2 of what I'd lost.