Monday, April 20, 2009

Trippin'

No, not on drugs!



This is a health-ish type blog, people!


I'm talking about the things that trip me up from eating right, getting to the gym, being an overall pillar of health and wellness....you know?

SO I'm going to list mine. 'Cuse I'm all about accountability and full disclosure here.

Then maybe those (5) of you who read this can list your things. And then I won't feel so lame. And alone.

Things that make me trip:

1) beer, wine, vodka, gin....(man, I sound like a total alcoholic).
It's not just the empty calories that trip me up here, its the hangovers ( apparently I am not 21 anymore) that make me want to lay in bed all the next day and eat french fries and stay as far away from physical activity as possible.

2) going out to eat.
Usually, going out to eat includes drinking. But aside from that, I am just seriously terrible at making good choices when faced with a menu that includes sweet potato fries, nachos and chicken wings. Sometimes I will get a salad AND one of these things (to make me feel less guilty) but you and I both know which one I eat more of. (DAMN YOU, NACHOS! Nachos make me weak.)

3) the rain.
It makes me want to crawl up on the couch with a book (or re-runs of the Hills).
It's raining today.

4) BBQs.
Potato salad, burgers with billions of fixins, mac and cheese, beer, a table full of desserts...
You get the idea.

5) my job.
I have to travel a lot for my new job. Which is great/exciting. Except that it's usually day trips that have me in a car/train/bus for hours and hours (with no access to even stairs let alone a gym.) By the time I get home, I'm beat. And the last thing I feel like doing is working out. It is challenging (often impossible) to organize work out time around my "real" work schedule.
It is also hard to make good food choices when all you have to pick from is a vending machine and a bagel joint.

I have probably 13 more things that I could list here. But I've made myself feel sufficiently unmotivated for today (see #3).

So what makes you guys "trip?"

Tuesday, April 07, 2009

Gone and Done It

Last week, I shelled out a whole bunch of money on myself.
No, not on shoes.
On a personal trainer.

I had a trial workout session with him last week and it was GREAT! Everything was designed for me and the things I want to accomplish. He even took the time to get in touch with my chiropractor before our workout so that he could find out more about my back issues and suggest exercises that would help alleviate some of my back pain, instead of making it worse.

I came home feeling great, but I was hesitant about spending the money.



And then I thought about how I can justify just about everything I spend money on (Examples: I need new tank tops for summer BUT its a good investment because I can also wear them all winter to layer. And, its hard to find a time when all of my friends can be together so dinner out is worth it. And, these shoes will go with my nicer work clothes BUT I can also wear them with jeans and dresses.) Justifying spending money is seriously a piece of cake for me. I do it without even knowing that I'm doing it. (The weird thing is that I'm also really good at talking myself OUT of buying stuff, too. But that's another post.)

So why was I having such a hard time justifying spending money on my health?

The hypocrisy of the situation became too apparent to ignore. So I marched myself back to the gym and slapped down my plastic. Yes, I will probably have to forgo a cute summer sundress or two, or a couple pitchers of margaritas.

But it's (I'm) worth it. Eh?

Thursday, April 02, 2009

Back on the Buggg


Remember this guy? Ahhhh, my old friend, Body Bugg. Oh how I have ignored you sitting there on my nightstand for the past 1.5 months....



Time's up! I gotta get my butt back in gear. I have put back on all but 9 of the original pounds I lost. I'm feeling gross (Yes, I know that "gross" is not actually a feeling), and my clothes are a little tight and I know exactly what's to blame.

Its the little snacking bites of this...and that. And the random glasses of wine. And the "forgetting" to measure food. And the "forgetting" to log it. BUT NO MORE! The weather is getting gorgeous and I have lots of cute Spring clothes in my closet that I bought when I was 10 pounds lighter. And I'll be damned if I'm not getting into them!

No more excuses! I have taken on so many other parts of my life that I'm not satisfied with in the past few months. Everything, it seems, but my weight. That ends now. But I need your help, blog world!
I need accountability!
I need workouts that are different...and fun!
I need to not eat so much cheese!

Think wedding dress. Think wedding dress.....

Wednesday, April 01, 2009

On Why I'm Moving to Utah

Hey-o blog world!

Have you ever considered moving to Utah? Me either. Until a friend of mine went to visit and came back to report that in Utah, she is 5 pounds lighter! Heck yes! I'm guessing it has something to do with altitude, or maybe all that salt they got out there. Either way, I'll take it. Utah's department of tourism should really get on this. I think a good slogan would be, "Utah. Its good for your self esteem."

But I digress.


I am officially registered for the Susan G Komen Race for the Cure. I will be running the 5k. In college, Susan G Komen was my sorority's philanthropy, so its a cause that I have always felt very connected to. Earlier this month, my friend's mom passed away from breast cancer. She was an AMAZINg woman, and she fought the cancer for many years. This race really means a lot to me and I am running on a team in her honor. I have raised almost 20% of my goal so far, but I know that I can do more.

If anyone is feeling generous and wants to support me in my fundraising (and fitness) goals, I would be more than appreciative. Here is the link to my page: Support Becky in Race for the Cure

I've been running about 4 miles every other day to get ready for the race in May. I still need to shave about 7 minutes off my 5k time. Its a lot to do in a month, but I'm confident. I have been advised by my doctors to not run every day, so I've been mixing it up with intervals on the erg, weights and the evil, er, lovely Jillian Michaels. But I know once it gets closer, I'm going to need to be running more than 3-4 days a week. But then I have almost 2 months before my
next 5k, which is in June and is part of a relay triathalon for charity.
I know 5ks may seem wimpy to some of you who run much, much farther, but I haven't actually participated in any kind of athletic competition in about 4 years, so this is a big deal for me. I'm starting small. Then maybe next year I'll take on the Broad Street Run...