FMM: Just Wondering

Happy Monday! I had a fantastic time with my dad (and the rest of our family) for Father’s Day yesterday.  I’m so lucky that I have such a close relationship with my dad and that he and I can spend so much time together, especially in the summer.  Since he and I both have summers off (my dad “retired” about 5 years ago, after 38 years of teaching, but he continues to substitute most days during the school year), we’re able to hang out all the time.  We pal around and go to blockbuster movies, go swimming, and just spend time together.  Believe me, I know how rare our relationship is, and I feel blessed.

If you’ve taken part in FMM then you know the rules. If you’re new, please take a moment to answer this week’s question on your own blog then add your link in the comments section at: www.alltheweigh.com so we can all see your FMM questions and answers. Please invite your blog readers to add their links here too so everyone has to opportunity to be seen. The idea is to connect with other awesome bloggers so take a moment to post your own FMM post and comment on a couple of other posts. Now it’s time for this week’s topic!

FMM: Just Wondering

1.  Do you wear glasses and/or contacts?  I don’t have to!  I had the Lasik surgery in 2001, and it was one of the best things I’ve ever done.  I still have near-perfect vision 12 years later.

2.  Do you have summer vacation plans?  If so, where are you going?  No trips planned this summer.  I will go on day trips to Half Moon Bay, Monterrey/Carmel, Santa Cruz, and San Francisco,  though.  It’s great that I live so close to all of these places that people go on vacation.  I think that may be one of the reasons I haven’t gone on a “real” vacation in so long.  Well, that and the fact that I haven’t been able to save much money.  My main plan for my summer break is to get as much exercise (and weight off) as possible.

3.  What is your favorite food to eat for breakfast? I’ve been going between Greek yogurt + berries + Go Lean Crunch or EggFace’s Breakfast Bites.

4. Do you enjoy window shopping?  It really depends on my mood.  I love being able to buy things, but sometimes just looking around is really fun, too.  I can see myself doing a lot more “trying on” with clothes as I go down in sizes.  I’m trying really hard not to buy too many outfits while I’m in this time of major transition.

5. What is your favorite candle scent?  I don’t really have a favorite scent, but I did recently go into Bath and Body Works and I smelled some great summertime candles – Lakeside, Summertime S’Mores, and Aloha Waikiki. Hmmm, I think I may just have to head to a BBW and get myself a new candle this week.

6.  If you had to choose between going to a zoo or an aquarium, which one would you pick?  Since I love the ocean and all things that go with that, I’d definitely choose an aquarium.

7.  How many times do you plan to exercise this week?  I’m planning on working out 6 days this week.  At least three times at the pool, 2-3 gym cardio sessions, and at least 3 weight training sessions.

8.  Do you speak another language fluently?  No.  I’ve had 5 years of instruction in Spanish, (3 years in high school, and another 2 in college), and I can understand much of it, but I’m in no way fluent.  I’d actually really like to learn to speak Italian, since that’s my heritage.

9.  What are you currently reading?

I’m reading The Glass Wives by Amy Sue Nathan, among a few others.

10.  What are you looking forward to most in the coming week?  I have my WLS support group meeting on Wednesday.  It’ll be my first since surgery, so I’m excited to share my experiences.

Now it’s your turn to answer the questions! And also be sure to go back to Kenlie’s blog and leave a link to your FMM post in the comments! I really encourage you to comment on as many people’s posts as you can – I’ve met some fantastic people through FMM. You never know who you’ll meet today.

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#Reverb12, Day 24: Your Most Important Habit?

Throughout the month of December, I’ll be participating in #reverb12: celebrating the successes of 2012, honoring the challenges of 2012, and planting the seeds for a rich and rewarding 2013. December is the perfect time to reflect on the year that has passed and start to manifest dreams for the new year.

Day 24 – What is the single most important habit you intend to cultivate in 2013?

The biggest habit I’d like to cultivate is not putting tasks off. This can be applied to so many things:

• working out
• putting away the clean laundry
• grading essays

So 2013 is going to be the year that I tackle things head on and I don’t put them off until tomorrow.

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#Reverb12, Day 23: What Will You Let Go Of?

Throughout the month of December, I’ll be participating in #reverb12: celebrating the successes of 2012, honoring the challenges of 2012, and planting the seeds for a rich and rewarding 2013. December is the perfect time to reflect on the year that has passed and start to manifest dreams for the new year.

Day 23 – Name three excuses — stories you tell yourself that are holding you back — that you are going to let go of in 2013.

1. “I don’t have time to workout.” This one is the biggest excuse/lie I tell myself, and it’s certainly not true.  I’m single, no kids, and have a job that officially ends my day at 3pm.  I have the time, it’s just easier to watch t.v. or go online, or do a million other things instead.  That ends now.  More on this with my 2013 Goals post, coming soon.
2. “It’s okay if I eat ____, I’ll put in extra time at the gym tomorrow.”  Or some other sort of justification for giving into temptation.  I had a handle on this when I started Jenny Craig in September, because the plan allowed for an afternoon salty, crunchy snack and a nightly dessert.  I lost it a bit in December, but once this holiday madness is over, I’ll get back to it.
3. “I don’t need to spend time after school grading today, I’ll do it tomorrow.” I tend to do my grading in big bursts, which always leaves me feeling mentally and physically exhausted.  I know in my heart that if I spent 2 hours on my “B days,” and do a bit of grading every single day, I’d be so much more efficient.  Early in December I also started grading for a few hours on Saturdays, and it really made me feel organized. I definitely plan on carrying that over into 2013.

This was a great exercise for me, as I begin thinking about making so many positive changes in 2013.

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#Reverb12, Day 22: The Most Important Gift?

Throughout the month of December, I’ll be participating in #reverb12: celebrating the successes of 2012, honoring the challenges of 2012, and planting the seeds for a rich and rewarding 2013. December is the perfect time to reflect on the year that has passed and start to manifest dreams for the new year.

Day 22 – What was the greatest gift you received in 2012? What was the greatest gift you gave? What do you intend to give yourself in 2013?

I feel like so many of my posts are about weight loss, but since that’s the #1 goal I have in my life, it seems natural that it will be a central focus.  The best gift I received in 2012 is definitely when my parents loaned me the money for Jenny Craig.  Being on that program, and then being able to apply it on my own using Lean Cuisine, Healthy Choice, and other prepared meals, has transformed my belief that I will make it to my weight loss goals.

The greatest gift I gave was probably the support that I offered my friend Ani as she struggled with a really terrible situation she was going through at work.  She and I spent hours together in my backyard as our dogs played and she shared the gritty details of the turmoil she was dealing with.  At times I felt helpless because I couldn’t do much to help her, but I do think that sometimes just listening and being there to offer advice is more than enough to make a difference.

I intend to give myself the gift of qualifying for WLS in 2013.  It’s a gift that is way past overdue.  It’s time.

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#Reverb12, Day 21: What’s on the Dream List?

Throughout the month of December, I’ll be participating in #reverb12: celebrating the successes of 2012, honoring the challenges of 2012, and planting the seeds for a rich and rewarding 2013. December is the perfect time to reflect on the year that has passed and start to manifest dreams for the new year.

Day 21 – What items did you tick off your dream list in 2012? What other, unexpected, dreams came to fruition? What are the top items on your dream list for 2013?

A few years ago I wrote my “Life List,” but unfortunately, I haven’t been able to tick off any additional items since I updated it in July of 2010.  I’ve also composed a Fitness Bucket List, but I haven’t been able to tick too many of those off, either.  The main reason being, I’ve been so concentrated on weight loss that I’ve put blinders on.

It seems that 2013 needs to be the year that a few items are completed, don’t you think?

• Complete C25K.
• Run a 5K.
• Go on a vacation by myself to somewhere I’ve never been.
• Try a spin class.

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#Reverb12, Day 20: What Was Lost and What Was Found?

Throughout the month of December, I’ll be participating in #reverb12: celebrating the successes of 2012, honoring the challenges of 2012, and planting the seeds for a rich and rewarding 2013. December is the perfect time to reflect on the year that has passed and start to manifest dreams for the new year.

Day 20 – What was lost in 2012? What do you intend to find in 2013?

2012 was the first time in years that I saw success on the scale.  I finally got my dieting mojo back, and with it my willpower.  I gained confidence and a will to succeed.

In 2013 I hope to find more healthy habits, especially about leading an active lifestyle.  Now I “workout,” but it hasn’t gotten to the point where I feel like something is missing if I’m not active.  I want that find true fitness in 2013.

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#Reverb12, Day 19: How Did You Nourish Yourself?

Throughout the month of December, I’ll be participating in #reverb12: celebrating the successes of 2012, honoring the challenges of 2012, and planting the seeds for a rich and rewarding 2013. December is the perfect time to reflect on the year that has passed and start to manifest dreams for the new year.

Day 19 – How did you nourish your beautiful body in 2012? What self-care practices will you take with you into 2013?

I continued my weight loss quest, which you can read more about throughout the many, many posts on this blog.  I will continue to lose weight by eating healthy and moving my body in 2013.

 

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Exercising Off My Feet?

As you guys know, I have a torn fascia, along with PF, which means being on my feet for too long leaves me in quite a bit of pain.

Even things like shopping for too long can leave me debilitated later. The other day I walked around Target for about an hour and spent the rest of the evening in terrible pain. So…walking is out.

The podiatrist told me that the PF is going to take 3-4 months to fully heal, and I don’t want to stop working out for that length of time. I’m close to my WLS goal requirement, and I don’t want to let this injury prevent me from getting it. Ironically enough, one of the treatments of PF is losing weight.

My go-to workouts lately have been biking (both outside and on the recumbent bike at the gym) and swimming. But those are so limited. As the weather turns cold, I’m less likely to want to wet (not to mention the curly hair factor). Biking is good, but it can be so boring, no matter how great the workout playlist I’m listening to is.

I know I need to hit an aqua aerobics class, but again, the being-wet-and-cold-in-winter factor. I think I’m just going to have to get over that one and not be a wimp.

So, I’m turning to you guys. What suggestions do you have for “off my feet” workouts that can help me get my cardio in?

(Keep in mind that I’m not supposed to be barefoot, so as much as I’d like to do yoga, I don’t think it’s an option right now).

Amber @ Hungry 4 a Healthy Life suggested working out with a big exercise ball, which reminded me that I bought a series of DVDs 3 years ago that use the ball. I think most of those are strength training, but there might be a few heart-pumping moves I can check out.

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