Takes Time



Outside the Box

Happiness can be defined, in part at least, as the fruit of the desire and ability to sacrifice what we want now for what we want eventually.-- Stephen Covey

True in oh so many facets of my life, and I bet for others as well.  I just have to keep in mind what I want 'eventually' to keep me satisfied currently.  Speaking of currently-- I have been in a funk, somewhat.  Physically I feel fine.  Mentally I'm looking forward to the last day of February and Spring.  What I have been obsessing over is saving money.  After listening to the forecasters predict gas rising to $5 a gallon I forewarned the girls that when it reached $4 a gallon they were transporting themselves to school.  Yesterday morning my oldest daughter's inability to answer a question correctly concerning whose job it was exactly caused her feet to convey her body to the schoolhouse.  After this morning my morning chauffeur duties cease on Monday.  
Another shocker to their system will occur on the Ides of March!  The Garcia household is discontinuing satellite t.v.  Hopefully network t.v. can be captured through antennae.  If not, there are plenty of books in the house.  We also subscribe to Netflix and Hulu Plus which will be discontinued for the summer and brought back to life in September (there are no cancellation fees).  This decision, so far, was the hardest for me to make.  I am a t.v. addict.  I asked the spousal unit for the o.k. and he reminded me that it wasn't him that would be going without.  Total cost savings for the year- @$700.   
The next extraneous cost to go?  Probably satellite radio I'm not sure.  I'll share when it gets cut.  (I know it will never be the internet- I really would be a nutcase.)

Changeable

The other day during a daughter's basketball game I noticed a referee was not very agile.  He was able to keep up with 10 year-old-girls and did a respectable job calling the game.  At half-time he and I conversed about the aerobic ability of the players, or rather the lack of.  We agreed that young people had more choices of what to do in their free time and sometimes those options affect their ability to run at a pace for an extended period of time.  He alluded he longed for a  time when he could run a mile.  Opened my eyes.  Right now, my physical limitations are reversible.  His are not.  Another visual aid when I don't feel like runnng.

A Long One

Yesterday I stepped on the scale.  I said I was going to use clothing as a gauge of success.  Well, I think my gauge is broken!  The pants are not getting looser- so I'm switching to plan B.  A few days ago I started researching the website www.caloriecount.com and needed to know my weight.  I brought it out from the linen closet, held my breath and stepped on it.  Bam- nothing.  The digital scale was blank because the batteries were dead.  A sign!  Did I follow the sign?  No!   I  bought and replaced the old batteries, stepped on the scale, read the number and wham- went through the emotions; shock, denial, sadness and pissiness- all within seconds of each other.  Did I read that sign?  No!  I stepped on it again just to make sure I wasn't seeing the wrong number.  I needed the number to plug it into a formula on the website.  I also found the basic formula on-line.  To compute you need to know how many pounds you want to lose and in how many days.  Since I like to eat and am not into denial I am giving myself a full year to shed the poundage and increase the muscle mass. 

(3500xP)/D=C       

Where P equals the amount of pounds to lose, D equals the amount of days in which to lose it and the outcome C equals the amount of calories to be reduced from the daily intake.  In my case to lose fifty pounds in a year I need to reduce my daily caloric intake by 479 calories.  Reduce it from what number I asked?  I researched and found it.  I posted it under 'Pages'- "Daily Calorie Allowance Table".  The number 3500 represents the amount of calories in a pound.  The easier way to compute caloric deficit is to reduce by 500 calories a day for seven days and by the end of the week you should be one pound lighter.  Easier said than done.  From all the research I've conducted I should be injesting between 1600 and 1780 calories a day.  I posted research websites on the side.          

One forseeable stumbling block, at least for me, is translating recipes into calories.  Once again, to overcome and motivate, I visualized a year's calendar, a choo choo train, and new clothes.  Don't ask--  it's working.

Pictures

Day 30.  I started blogging about my tribulations of re-shaping not only my body, but also my life, a month ago.  The exercise portion of this venture is chugging along, maybe not a breakneck speed, but then again I'm not on the couch!   I stopped eating fast food  at the beginning of the year.  Two days ago my mom and I ate lunch at Steak n Shake and the cheeseburger  didn't taste all that great (the strawberry shake went down just fine!)  Though not of the Catholic faith, I'm participating in Lent by giving up alcohol.
As I'm revealing these mini accomplishments I'm trying to understand how, as a creature of imbedded habits, I've gotten this far.  The answer is imagery.  Different pictures pop when I think about doing or not doing something specific.  When the time arrives to exercise and motivation is low I see my mom falling off the curb.  When I see the big yellow arches and think of chicken nuggets I imagine the big pink goo pictured on a FB post.  When I open my beverage fridge I see a calendar counting down to Easter!
As a sidenote I researched the pink goo story and posted what I found in ' Pages' under "The Rest of the Story". 

Speed

In my case, it's not the extra mile I'm pushing for but the thirty seconds that I tack on to my run during Friday's workout.  After walking for five minutes, I jogged fifteen continous minutes.  The question for the day--at what speed does a jog become a run?  Right now I'm jogging at 5 mph.  My  goal before transitioning to run outside April 1st is to last thirty minutes on the the treadmill.  So far so good but I will need to increase time by minutes instead of seconds if I am to reach my aim.  

No Doubt

Adele

I ran today on the treadmill and with the aid of Adele singing in my ear the time passed quickly.  After stepping it out, I stretched, or attempted to stretch, like an 18 year old.  I've never liked that part of athletics.  As an individual who celebrated her 18th birthday for the twenty-fifth time I understand the importance of it.  Let me say, if at any time you want to feel your age, stretch your muscles- they'll tell you.

A Fine Line

Easier said than done, for the majority of us anyway.  I want to know who was the first one to say this...  And of course we all know the rest of the story... 'if you don't mind, it doesn't matter'.  Since I do mind, the rest does matter.  However, the idea of putting the psychological intention of change before reality still stumps me.  I understand what I should be doing but sometimes....

Tomorrow is the beginning of Lent.  Although I am not Catholic, I believe in the essence of it.  Let the countdown to Spring and Easter begin!

Baby Steps

I might have looked like this once- for a short time-long ago- in high school!  Will I ever look like this again?  Doubtful, but a girl can dream.             

Realistic

While I think I probably could out run my lack of healthy habits I'm not taking that chance. In the past I've gone  to Weight Watchers meetings and utilized their website in an attempt to lose weight. I would lose a few pounds a week, until the number stop going down.  Invariably, the weigh-in would come when the scale result would either stay steady or go up.  Two more weeks would pass and then the motivation would vanish and I would quit.  I found a free website similar to WW.  In this website you can plug in your current weight, your start date, your goal weight and objective date and it will compute how many daily calories you should consume to reach your target.  Also within this site you can enter your meals to compute your consumption amount.  I've decided to study the sight for a few days before commencing its use.  www.caloriecount.com-- I've been told there is an app for a smart phone (I don't have a smart phone!)  After inspection I'll relay more of what I learn. 

Order of Operations

Enough said.

Source: thehealthychange.tumblr.com via Caroline on Pinterest

Head up

The last few days I felt like my head was going to implode.  Motivation was down and energy level was non-existent.  I realized last night that my routine was shot.  I was not always a CinC House.  For the first thirteen years of marriage I was gainfully employed.  Three years into the marriage I decided the time had come to reproduce and eighteen months later my first daughter arrived.  After the six week stay at home with a newborn I happily returned to work. I say happily because at the time I had little choice- financially I could not stay at home. I salute mothers who remain at home with infants.  During my time at home, when the daily routine revolved around the needs of a baby, drove me nuts.  I loved caring for them and rocking them and laying them down to sleep but mentally I was unable to adjust.  Four years ago, when my youngest was four, the decision was made to become a Domestic Engineer. Over the years I have followed a daily and weekly schedule, for the most part. 
Although I'm not an early morning exerciser last night I decided to get up early and run- and I did.  The alarm clock went off disturbingly early and just a few minutes passed before I actually walked out the bedroom door with my shoes on and laced.  I made my running goal with a total of thirty minutes on the treadmill.  Change can happen- might not be easy or convenient- but it can happen.            

Source: google.com via Evelyn on Pinterest

Not Really

Simple for some.  Others- not so much.  Life- work, shopping, cooking, cleaning, children and their activities-usually takes precedence over actions needed to stay in shape (or in my case return to it). 
What also doesn't help is the ease at which food can be obtained and consumed.  I have somewhat returned to my pioneer roots.  With the exception of sandwich eateries I gave up fast food as a resolution.  In turn, I make more meals, sometimes from the basics as my grandmother would have done.  I use Allrecipes.com as a research and storage tool for recipes.  A few years ago I started making homemade bread rolls.  The latest cooking venture involves beans.  Up to this point, I have soaked and cooked pintos converting them into refried (good) and baked (not as good-using navy beans next). 
Breaking old habits, infusing new- not easy and as simple as that may seem, nothing ever is. I simply need to keep the end goal in mind on a daily basis.                           

Chug a Choo

Put the coal in the bin, pull the lever, put it on the correct track and send it forward for the trip.  Old steam locomotives were operated under these auspices.  Same with our body.  Feed it well, lace the shoes, find an enduring activity and move forward!  Finding that enduring activity has been a game stopper in the past.  How do I get past that point, when it arrives, to keep moving forward on the track?  Good question.    

Say No to the Potato

Today's adage is very apropo. I feel like the turtle in the race against time. By this time each year, I would normally be on the couch watching dust float and settle on the treadmill.  Not so much this year.  I might not get there quickly, but get there I will.  "I think I can, I think I can, I think I can"!

    

Satisfied

Incentive for these writings usually comes from the 'posters' I place before or after the text.  I search for a redeemable image, set feelings into words and then pursue a title. Today’s title came before the script.  I believe my happiness comes from not wanting more- more than I need, more than I have or more than I can afford to buy.   There are some days when I wish I had a bigger house or a newer car.  By the time I finish surfing the web for these consumer products I realize I already have what I need and that life is good, which is part of the problem.  I’m basically a happy person.  Losing weight for a satisfied individual is hard.  So, in addition to not stepping on the scale, losing weight is not The Goal but a lateral one.  I have a list of goals (my Bucket List) in mind and for now a short term goal is to run a 5K in May.   

Response Time

This may be so- but getting there, sometimes, is painful.  I accomplished my running goals for the week and yesterday, for the first time, I felt my gluteus maximus respond.  My butt hurt!  Overall my body is starting to respond.  Agility is up, breathing is easier and my knees hurt less.  Baby steps- moving forward.  Motivation comes in different forms.  Today I asked the spousal unit if we could go to Hawaii next February-- (I've been watching a lot of 'Lost' and 'Hawaii 50'!:-)) and he said 'I guess'- which is close enough to yes for me.  Yeehaw!  

Take Stock

11 Feb

Life, with its ups and downs, can be quite hectic.  Growing up with three active brothers I participated in a number of athletic endeavors.  As a mother of three daughters, I assist in their many pursuits as well.  Two weeks ago a set of sisters on the basketball team of my youngest lost their mother.  She died quite suddenly at the age of thirty-four, leaving behind three daughters.  While life has not been without its difficulties, I am still here.  When cloudy days come and I would rather do nothing than something I remind myself of that fact!  While discussing today's post my husband said-- "Every day when you wake up you have the choice to live the day or dread the day."  So true.

Make It Happen

This I believe.  I also believe that willpower comes in waves, and if it were to remain constant, change would be easier.  The ultimate answer, for me, then is to acknowledge the need for change and to maintain a level of willpower to make it happen.  For years, I have looked in the mirror and saw a bigger version of myself- not in great shape but not tremendously overweight either.  This year, the tide changed and I have seen my future if I do not reverse my course.  From where will my willpower come?  Internal, environment, friends and family.  Today, the clouds remain constant, the sun is hidden, my legs are tired and a friend helped me to stay on track, literally!  Thanks AW!   

Source: believe-toachieve.tumblr.com via Elisa on Pinterest

 

Patience as a Virtue

“Sow a thought, reap an action; sow an action, reap a habit; sow a habit, reap a character; sow a character, reap a destiny.”  Stephen Covey 

 Holy crap- that’s a lot to take in.  Though I’m a fan of Stephen Covey, I don’t understand all his statements.  Little by little some quotes become clearer than others.   I am somewhere between sowing an action and reaping a habit.  How long does that process take?  I’ve read that it takes 21 days for an action to become a habit. While looking for confirmation on that tidbit I came across an article on the web located at http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/creatures-habit/200912/how-long.   The article, simple and pithy, answers with- ‘it depends’- as in trying to convert from fast food to salads might take longer than converting from iceberg lettuce to romaine.  No kidding!  In my case the switch from diet coke to water might take a 'bit o' time'!  While patience is not my best virtue I do have the ability to 'plug away' at a task until I master it.  I just need to place 'reap a habit' on my to do list.

Source: everythingfab.com via Sonja on Pinterest

Tips and Advice Needed

Has anybody else started or resumed any life changing processes?  Any tips or advice that can be shared on the wall?  I finally created an exercise calendar-which can be accessed through the link on the right.  I made the schedule with end goals in mind- mostly athletic.  A short term goal is to run in the 5K Race for The Cure-May 12^th-Peoria, IL.  Would love to jog with people I know.  Any takers?  Today- exercise goals attained (according to my calendar!)

Choices Choices

Two weeks.  I have been writing and exercising for two weeks.  While I did not have a tangible plan when this process started, researching topics to chat about helped greatly.  Lately, I sense I am on the precipice between eating healthier / getting into better shape and maintaining the status quo.  Do I struggle now or do I struggle later?  The burning question of the day.  I posted the Game Plan, up to this point, on the side bar.     

So True!

Source: Uploaded by user via Sara on Pinterest

No Scale for Me

A few days ago I received advice to weigh in on the scale and to do so daily.  Others advise to weigh in once a week or once every two weeks.  In the past, during this start up process, I would weigh in-having a rough idea of what number would pop up on the screen- and then become ‘shocked’ when I saw it.  Invariably the next emotions would be anger and then depression.  We women know what comes with depression- usually chocolate, sometimes ice cream and in my case, the combination in the form of a Blizzard.  Instead of stepping on the scale, I went to Goodwill and bought two pairs of jeans.  For the past fourteen years my normal civilian attire did not include wearing a belt- sweat pants, athletic pants, stretch pants, fat pants.  The plan, for now, is to wear jeans and let clothing determine accomplishment.  When I go down a size and look like this I just might step on the scale. 

Great Exercise!

 

Realistic

This weekend I returned to my roots, donned a military uniform and attended a Unit Training Assembly. As a member of the Air National Guard I work outside the house one weekend a month and fifteen additional days throughout the year.  This weekend was the first ‘drill’ since commencing this writing/exercise expedition.  Reluctantly, I confess that I did not complete thirty continuous minutes of aerobic activity yesterday.  Uggh!   Instead of going home and dutifully walking on the treadmill The Garcia Household went out to eat.  While mildly disappointed that I dropped the ball I realize that perfection is not feasible.   I imagine before the ultimate goal is achieved I will let numerous balls bounce…. 

Afghanistan 2007

 

Getting Older

Today’s topic-Fiber! Really?  Truly! On the average one should take in 20-35 grams of fiber a day.  According to research most of us typical peeps ingest half of the suggested amount.  Not a big fan of vegetables- I’m probably lower than the average bear.   I don’t remember what foods are high in fiber so I visited the Internet.  The site I chose- http://www.webmd.com/- seems straight forward and reliable.  Benefits from eating a high fiber diet include (http://www.webmd.com/diet/features/why-you-need-more-fiber):  weighing less (in the long run), reducing the risk of colon cancer, reducing the risk of Type 2 diabetes, and lowering cholesterol.  Good to know since my family medical history includes a number of these health issues.  One should increase water intake when slowly increasing the amount of daily fiber.  Makes sense!  Without going into minute detail- the webpage- http://www.webmd.com/diet/features/6-foods-and-tips-for-more-fiber - spells it all out in full.  Trying to incorporate both-more water and fiber. 

 

Source: thedivinemissmommy.com via Amy on Pinterest

Decisions to be Made

Today-Aerobic-treadmill Five Points Washington-13.5 min run, 16.5 min walk.  Abs- 2x25 leg lifts, 25 sit ups, 25 crunches.

Plans

What would my grandparent's generation- those that went through the Great Depression with minimal belongings and basic food choices-  say if they were to read my blog about modern concerns of healthy eating and regular exercise?  At one point my grandparents ate fried okra for the morning, noon and night meal.  When food became more abundant they didn't overeat nor did they waste food- a skill not easily acquired.  Exercise for my grandparents was their daily existence as dairy farmers.  They didn't carve time out of their day to walk on a treadmill- they milked the cows and cultivated the crops.  As a teenager I didn't understand why Grandma had clean and folded tinfoil in the kitchen drawer and twenty boxes of the same in her pantry.  I now realize it was her way of stocking for an uncertain future-her plan B.  Transforming  into a healthier shape requires a plan-at least for me-something to guide my actions when I tend to let exercise slip in priority.  After many starts and stops I think I'm on Plan J! :-)  Today- Aerobic- treadmill-walked 30 minutes.  10 Pushups- 25x2 leg lifts.

Source: photo.renren.com via Christina on Pinterest

National Freedom Day

In the depths of winter I finally learned there was in me an invincible summer.
~ Albert Camus

Remember the show (for some of us) "One Day at a Time"?  When I was young and the day was filled with endless hours I never understood the title.  As an adult I keenly understand the tribulations of taking life one day at a time.  February, while having the fewest days in a month, seems interminable. 
In the past I 'slept' through the month, biding time until March 1st.  Not this year.  By February 29th- Goal: Run 15 minutes- Pushups-21.  Today:  Aerobic-30 minutes- treadmill- 13 run, 17 walking.  Abs- 2x25 leg lifts,  25 sit ups, 25 crunches.    

Source: tumblr.com via Christina on Pinterest