Life and Bleuets

I think many people may just see weight as a touchy subject... and they may think that even a positive remark could be taken badly... hmmm, interesting that. But seeing as you're so brutally honest with your dad and bro, why not just ask them next time you see them "So, what do you think, I've lost 30 lbs in the last X months!" That should get a reaction (and make for some interesting conversation :)

On the close girl friends side.... they could be jealous and not want to make you feel good about something that they feel bad about??

Just some options... or rhetorical answers if you will!
 
Ankebuzz said:
I think many people may just see weight as a touchy subject... and they may think that even a positive remark could be taken badly... hmmm, interesting that. But seeing as you're so brutally honest with your dad and bro, why not just ask them next time you see them "So, what do you think, I've lost 30 lbs in the last X months!" That should get a reaction (and make for some interesting conversation :)

On the close girl friends side.... they could be jealous and not want to make you feel good about something that they feel bad about??

Just some options... or rhetorical answers if you will!
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lol. Thanks for the input, Anke. I did already put the boys on the spot - it was fun watching them squirm.
 
Alright, so I've had a rough couple of days for a myriad of reasons. Most of them personal. And while I'm a huge fan of honesty, I'm not quite sure I'm up for internet-diary honesty. Maybe if I was getting paid to spill my guts ;).

So I'm afraid I have to admit to absolutely ignoring my regime for the past two days. I ate like it was my job (don't I wish it was, though?). And the closest thing I came to a workout was a shopping session with my roomie with the pure design of getting me out of the house. She bought more skirts. I bought a soccer ball. My dog has already punctured it.

In any case, I've decided to snap out of it. The two days, I can't regret. I don't think anyone should ever feel guilty about cutting themselves some slack during rough times - as long as that slack doesn't become permanent.

Tomorrow, it's a fresh start. Here's to making yourself happy :)
 
Here's to getting up when we fall down, and to getting up again and again no matter how many times we trip!
 
Guys notice bugger all usually. I once got in trouble for asking if a female friend of mine got her hair cut since last time I saw her. Turned out her hair was the same but she had lost like 20lbs or something.

Hope the crappy few days are starting to recover and it wasn't too headwrecking for you.
 
Thanks for the positive feedback, Anke and Feenix. Feenix, I think you should totally get brownie points for at least noticing something was different. That's a step quicker than most guys.

So I really love to read. So much so, I used to get in trouble with my Dad for reading in my room instead of playing outside. And I will read anything. With pleasure. I have 3 bookcases full of the weirdest collection of titles and styles from academic journals to my childhood favourites (who else loved The Chrysalids?).

Now, this does not have that much to do with weight loss. But books can be a real comfort (or escape) and, if you read the right ones, they can just make you feel good. I give you my top five feel-good books. So if you're having a shit day, or if you ate a whole cake all to yourself, or if you're trying to get your mind off that cake that is tempting you from the kitchen, read one of these. For sure.

5) A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett: Okay, so this might not work quite as well for the boys. But this book is all about overcoming and rising above the crap in life. Granted, Sara's perfection is slightly annoying, but it's a feel-gooder all the same.

4) Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts: This is a somewhat fictionalized autobiography but it has some of the most beautiful lines that I have ever read. The book is essentially about life with all of its ugliness and beauty. Fantastic. I have never read anything else that emphasized quite as strongly that life is a journey, not a destination.

3) The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer: This is the most HILARIOUS piece of literature in existence. All of the Tales are wildly inappropriate and showcase how ridiculous we all can be. Will definitely make you think twice about what kind of benefits your children are receiving by reading the classics.

2) Animal Dreams by Barbara Kingsolver: I love all of her books. She is so good at making you understand the meaning of community and this book is all about those connections that make us who we are. Will definitely make you want to call your grandma.

1) Fried green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe by Fannie Flagg: This is also an awesome movie. The book defies words. Read it.

If anyone else has some happy books they'd like to recommend, I'm always looking for something new to devour that hasn't been picked out for me by Oprah. Or Heather. Who made them the book deciders anyway?
 
Hehehe, I used to get in trouble for switching my light back on after "lights out" to read some more until I fell asleep. There was always the familiar sound of my dad opening my door and flicking the switch off and closing the door, in one fell swoop :)

I lost track a while a go and didn't read for ages, but again got myself started. Mostly Jodi Picoult books the last while, and political dramas (happen to have these books that a friend left behind, so may as well read what's on my shelf :)

Will be checking out those that you mentioned now... in fact, I'm going to go order one or two right now :)

Thank you!!!
 
Ankebuzz said:
Hehehe, I used to get in trouble for switching my light back on after "lights out" to read some more until I fell asleep. There was always the familiar sound of my dad opening my door and flicking the switch off and closing the door, in one fell swoop :)

I lost track a while a go and didn't read for ages, but again got myself started. Mostly Jodi Picoult books the last while, and political dramas (happen to have these books that a friend left behind, so may as well read what's on my shelf :)

Will be checking out those that you mentioned now... in fact, I'm going to go order one or two right now :)

Thank you!!!
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Hey Anke!

Good to know I wasn't the only bookworm as a kid. I've read some Jodi Picoult. I like her, but her books are always sad :(. What are the political dramas?
 
So I've finally figured something out. It is SO much harder to go to the gym or do anything whose primary purpose is to make my muscles burn if the weather is crappy. Now, clearly this is true when it's rainy or cold and you were planning on a rollerblade. But, it's also hard to motivate myself to just walk the five minutes to my gym in this weather.

I've decided that it's because when it's warm and sunny out, not only am I automatically in a better and more optimistic mood, but it is also a reminder of why I want to lose weight. I am stepping out in a bikini this summer. It is happening. But it's easier to forget that goal when the weather is so blatantly anti-bikini.

Solutions: Rose-tinted sunglasses, a picture of my bikini to bring with me to the gym?, a super hot raincoat that I can't fit in yet? Maybe move to someplace with more predictable spring weather? It's gotta happen.
 
Nevermined weather, it's always a battle :p

You're right, Picoult books are always sad! The political ones are a series by Jeffrey Archer... ("Not a Penny More, Not a Penny Less", "The Prodigal Daughter" and "First Among Equals")
 
Ankebuzz said:
Nevermined weather, it's always a battle :p

You're right, Picoult books are always sad! The political ones are a series by Jeffrey Archer... ("Not a Penny More, Not a Penny Less", "The Prodigal Daughter" and "First Among Equals")
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I'll check 'em out. The titles alone sound pretty interesting :).
 
I went for an awesome rollerblade this morning. I did about a 15 km loop and it was sunny and I was along the river the whole way. Pure bliss. Not to mention all of the cute runners I passed. Made me want to slow down a little. Men in short-shorts - not always a good thing. Except when they're running ;).

The only problem I find I have with exercise like this is that in my head, it almost doesn't count as a real workout. Hockey games, soccer games, bike rides, rollerblades, and basically any physical activity that I do not primarily think of as pure exercise or that lacks measuring capabilities (for calories, RPM, HR, etc.) doesn't count. Which means I'll be going to the gym later.

But this attitude is definitely the wrong one to take. Just because I find certain activities fun does not mean that their value as a fat-burning, muscle-building, stamina-enhancing force should be discounted. Added to which the measures the machines give me are most certainly inaccurate. And most importantly of all, I look forward to sports or a rollerblade. The gym, while it can make me feel awesome most days, can also be a tougher place to be because its primary purpose is a "workout" rather than fun.

In conclusion, I think I'm going to try skipping the gym for a full week. Instead, I will do something I consider fun in place of gym days. I want to see if I lose the expected amount when I'm not staring at a screen with my (supposed) rate of loss and intensity.
 
I think that's a brilliant idea! I was going to suggest counting the time exercised rather than the cals/ rpm etc.

I wish I enjoyed SO MANY exercise things... right now it's belly dancing and running (well, I'm trying my best to enjoy it!!!)
 
Alright, so my out-of-gym workout plan has been pretty sad so far. My road bike still has two flat tires (despite the fact that i bought new tubes two weeks ago) and the water is still too cold, fast and dangerous for me to be willing to risk a kayak. So I've been rollerblading which is definitely a workout if I make it one (I love feeling my lungs burn). And then I've been walking. My dog has never been this happy and I have never been more aware of my pressing need for sandals that don't make me hobble after twenty minutes.

But I have to admit it. I'm already bored. Granted, soccer will start in two weeks and hockey in another six. Until then, I think my best bet is a mix of gym-time and other activities. I just need to get my bike together. It's such a sweet ride. And maybe invest in a full-length wetsuit rather than the sad version I already own.
 
That's alright, the walking and blading will keep you on track til you can do what you love again! You're doing well!!
 
So a friend of mine recently got a membership at my gym and has been all about the group exercise classes that are offered (she finds it too hard to motivate herself to work out for an hour otherwise). And, as everyone knows that gym-time is SO much better when you go with someone, she has asked me with her a few times and we have sampled some of the classes.

First things first: holy CRAP I need to learn some rhythm. We went to a step class one day and a generic aerobics class on another and I was like a hippo in a tutu. I'm pretty sure my friend got a better ab workout from laughing at me than she did following the instructor. Step one: learn how to dance. Or at least to move to a beat. Step two: Practice at home to avoid public humiliation. Step three: Go to group exercise and look like an aerobics expert along with everyone else.

Also, I am definitely not as strong as i thought. In one class we did this push-up/plank sequence and it just about killed me. I had to go on my knees. I NEVER go on my knees, it's shameful for a hockey player. Even on my knees, my face got so red I was worried I'd pop a blood vessel.

I still want to try the kickboxing class but will definitely be passing on yoga.
 
So I finally got my roadbike together and was able to take it to work yesterday instead of the bus (cuts about 40 minutes off of my travel time - how ridiculous is that?). This commute from home to work by bike is simply amazing because I can go along a path that runs by the Ottawa River for almost the whole way. This means no potholes, no lights, AND a pretty view.

The only problem is that I finish up at 10:30 at night. Last fall, I would take the main (and busy) roads home because the park path isn't lit at night. These roads, though, would always have rocks or pieces of glass that I would unerringly run over and I would end up with a flat halfway home. Finally, a genius friend of mine suggested I take the suburban area back route which -gasp! - actually has a bike lane on the road, is well-lit, and has virtually no cars at that time of night.

So last night, I finished my shift, turned on the flashing lights on my bike, and started home on the new route for the first time. And let me say, I am powering it. I am like lightning (at least in my head). I see a small collection of stores up ahead on my right and suddenly a car starts to pull out of the parking lot and ACROSS my bike lane. Of course, I am now braking (and shouting) but the car continues to move forward across the whole car lane. I am unable to swerve around the car because there is oncoming traffic, SO, into the car I go. Over my handlebars, over their hood, onto the ground.

Let me just say that I have never been so angry before in my life. I think the poor kid that had been driving thought that I was going to kill him (I was considering it). Luckily, no serious damage was done. I've got some nasty bruises covering my legs and possibly some broken fingers (will have to get some x-rays after work today). AND miracle of miracles, my ridiculously expensive bike seems no worse for the wear.

Still, one of the scariest moments of my life. Will be biking to work today just to make sure I don't become afraid of the roads. And will be looking for new reflective clothing.
 
Okay, so yesterday started out so well. Ate some yogurt for breakfast, went to the gym and sweated it out, ate some veggie soup for lunch...then I was meeting some friends to go to a museum. We spent a good two hours tooling around looking at the exhibits (I love going to museums). Then we walked all the way back downtown to meet up some more friends for dinner.

I knew I was in serious trouble when my stomach started growling. And when the group decided we were going to the Elgin Street Diner (which is pretty much the most delicious poutine in town but not exactly good for your arteries). My willpower could not accept the house salad as a viable option at this point. Cheeseburger and fries it was. AND THEN we went to Sugar Mountain for chocolate (which of course I justified by arguing that the day was already ruined). AND THEN I had to meet my friend John for pints (I had 3).

I walked home feeling like the biggest idiot ever. I woke up this morning determined to hold myself accountable for everything I did yesterday. I calculated (to the best of my ability and the availability of information) exactly how many calories I ended up inhaling yesterday. The grand total was disturbing, but expected.

Here's the hilarious part: I also decided to calculate (again, this isn't exactly perfect numbers) how many calories I burned yesterday to determine just how disastrous this caloric haul was on my diet. Because of my morning workout in the gym and the fact that I had actually been walking for over seven hours (and at a quick pace outside of the museum), I actually burned more than I ate!!!! Haha, I'm not sure how accurate that actually is, but it certainly mitigates some of my guilt over yesterday. I was just hoping to break even.

Only bad thing: definitely have the blisters to show for all of yesterday's walking. I really do need new sandals.
 
Hey!

I'm doing a step class too! I know what you mean about rhythm:) I like to do the step aerobics thingy on my Nintendo Wii Fit, and it always tells me I'm too fast for it. I am almost always off. It's pretty much embarrassing! Anyway, you're doing well, and good luck!

WillLose!
 
WillLose60 said:
Hey!

I'm doing a step class too! I know what you mean about rhythm:) I like to do the step aerobics thingy on my Nintendo Wii Fit, and it always tells me I'm too fast for it. I am almost always off. It's pretty much embarrassing! Anyway, you're doing well, and good luck!

WillLose!
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Hey willLose! You know, I have never tried wii fit before. Is it any good? My dad has it and would rather play wii tennis than the real deal. i think because on wii he's an allstar. Thanks for the good wishes and good luck to you, too!
 
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