Hello 2012

Clearly I am a slacker. I only posted twice last year. I do find it somewhat cathartic to post random musings to a blog that no one will read. I need to write more often. For now, let's say this: I am hoping to do the Cherry Blossom 10 miler again in April and I have 4 weeks to figure out whether or not my body will be able to physically handle it. The farthest I have run lately was 6 miles back in October 2010(!) when I did the Baltimore Marathon Relay. More recently I have been running 3 miles (at the Fort or gym). I really need to start kicking it into gear and running longer distances. In addition, I have need to get back on the wagon re: weight training. I am going to Aruba in 8 weeks from tomorrow and would really like to look at least a little bit better in my swim suit than I do today.

Here's my workout so far for this week:

Sun, Jan 1: n/a
Mon, Jan 2: Yoga Video (oh yea, DR said I need to do this to help w/ my back pain)
Tues, Jan 3: Elliptical at the gym, 45 minutes
Wed, Jan 4: Yoga Video
Thurs, Jan 5: Ran 3 miles, 34:44; walked 10 minutes, 3.5 mph
Fri, Jan 6: n/a

The plan for the next few days:

Sat, Jan 7: weights; some cardio
Sun, Jan 8: Run
Mon, Jan 9: Yoga video
Tues, Jan 10: cardio
Wed, Jan 11: weights

We'll see if I can stick to the plan.

South Beach Round 2: Day 12

So technically today is day 12 but really it's more like day 6. The first 4 days I had to cheat because of previously scheduled events and this past weekend also involved some cheating on the diet as well (chicken wings and beer on Friday night, beer and dinner out with the family on Sat). No cheating during the week last week and hopefully I'll be able to get through this week. The pressure at work to cheat is pretty tough. Lots of free munchies, goodies and sweets. Since I started on the first I've lost 4 lbs but that could be anything... pants are still tight... looking forward to Friday for the next weigh-in. Fun times.

South Beach Round 2: Day 1

Today is day one of my second effort to do the South Beach diet. The first time I did it was in September of 2008. It was mildly successful. I followed the diet for the first two weeks by the book (except I didn't give up the booze) and I stayed on phase 1 for a third week and modified it a bit with a few phase 2 options. I did phase 2 for two weeks. After about 5 weeks I lost around 7 pounds. Pretty cool. I gained it all back and then some during 2009.

So here I am, April 1, 2010 going in for round two. I have my grocery list written out for all of the food I need for the next 4 days. One thing about this diet that sux is that it is pretty expensive to maintain. I am trying to take this into account when I plan my menu for the week.

I think I am going to have to do 3 weeks with phase 1 again. We have a lot of dinner's out scheduled for the next 2 weeks so I still kind of feel like I'm cheating a bit, which means that for all of my other meals I need to be very strict and serious about sticking to the diet.

Which brings me to today. Day 1 and it is a colleague's birthday. You know what that means. Peer pressure to participate in the group office order for pizza and then cake or some kind of sugary treat later.

I've declined the invite to participate in the pizza party THREE TIMES already this morning. Geeze. Just let me eat my romaine lettuce with chicken breast and low sugar ranch dressing with my sugar-free Jello in peace.

I'll have another go-round with the office folks in about an hour when it is dessert time. Great.

Day 17(ish): Going As Well As Can Be Expected

So... in the interveining 12 days since I last posted we went to a Labor Day BBQ and cheated on the diet (more with alcohol than food really), I had a work staff retreat where I cheated (2 glasses of wine and some potato chips), and we played poker last weekend and we both cheated (wine and a cookie or 3). I think we are doing pretty well though. I am base minue 3.8 lbs and hubby is base minus 4. We are going to Blacksburg this coming weekend (YEA!) so we will once again be off the diet - but i think we are going to do another week of Phase 1 before we move on to Phase 2. God I can't wait. All I want is a freaking muffin and a sandwich. Now I just need to figure out where I can find whole grain muffins and bread - or learn how to bake them....

I am really looking forward to going to the 'Burg for the weekend. We got free Tix to the Georgia Tech game. I really hope we win. That whole East Carolina thing was soooo depressing. I don't know if I'll be able to blog during any of the games this season if we are going to suck this bad. I think i will just get more depressed. I mean, we are in a "building year" and all but still.....

anyways... GO VT!

BTW - the half marathon is now 4 weeks and 3 days away. I've ran 5 miles a few times the last 2 weeks but i need to up it to 6. I just don't know when i'm going to have the time. 6 miles takes over an hour for me. I just can't do it in the AM b/c I am so hot afterwards - even after I shower. I need to do it at night or over the weekend (not possible this weekend.) I am going to run 5 miles tonight when i get home from work. It is getting a little dark now around 8 so i'm kinda worried about that but i think i will be ok... i don't think i have any reflecty clothes tho... hm...

ok - that's it for now. - Peace!

DAY 5: Doing OK

I'm doing OK. Feeling a little light headed off and on throughout the day but it goes away once i eat. I've been to the gym only twice this week. Monday I did some cardio - ran and elipitcal - and yesterday I ran 4 miles on the treadmill. Today: weights and abs, Sat: spinning, Sun: OFF, Mon: Run 5 miles hopefully. I really need to pick up the pace for training for the half marathon - 6 weeks from tomorrow!
I weighed myself on Sunday before we started this diet and again last night at the gym. Currently I am base minus 1.6 lbs. That really doesn't mean much at this point. I can vary by that much on any given day of the week. The significant thing happend this morning. For the first time in a few weeks I had to wear my belt with my jeans. YEA! It's not like they'd be falling off or anything but they definately need a little help. Sweet.
I think we are getting into the groove as far as being more efficient with our time while we are cooking. It still takes a lot of time to put everything together though....

Day 3: I'm Hungry

Ok... I was going to keep this on the DL but i feel that if I write about it it might help me get through the next 3 weeks.

Husband and I started the South Beach Diet on Monday.

It is painful.

I haven't had pasta, bread, rice, potaotes of any kind or alcohol* for almost 3 days.

I never really realized how addicted I am to sugar and carbs.

Husband and I have been spending a lot of time in the kitchen prepping meals. Everything has to be fresh - which also results in a pretty hefty grocery bill.

We are following the book's** 2-week meal plan and then will continue week 3 with a recipe book that was borrowed from a friend.

This is quite difficult. Yesterday and Monday were OK. Today is hard.

I like veggies and eggs so that isn't really a problem for me. The hard part are the cravings.

Husband doesn't like veggies or eggs so convincing him to eat this stuff was a challange but he knows that if he doesn't go all out with this then he can't motivate me to do the same without being a hypocrite.

I will post updates on progress and stuggles as they occur.... 19 Days to go.

*Husband and I decided to do this for 3 weeks to maximize our "jump-start weight loss" and because we plan on cheating this Labor Day weekend. We have a BBQ to attend and it is unlikely that we will have the willpower to not eat or drink anything at the party.

*Also - I made shrimp salad last night for lunch today and it called for a cup of white wine in the recipe. I poured myself a glass but only drank about half.

** private message to ART: I am using your book and "may" have gotten a little food on it. When you return to the office I will have a brand new copy for you. ;-)