Doctor's report and WI

Had a pretty good WI this morning - DOWN 2.2 to 185.4. This would be a great trend to continue through the end of the year! I'm not sure if this pace will help me win the "Biggest Winner" contest at the gym, but it will be nice for the long-term!

I went to my GP yesterday for a six-month check in. The good news is my BP was nice and normal (120/78) and she is thrilled with the weight loss. I have started cutting one of my BP pills in half (I'm on four), and need to go in for a bunch of fasting blood work to see how everything else is going. We will then evaluate next steps, including... possibly getting pregnant again.

The idea of trying to get pg again is pretty scary, to be honest. I don't remember if I've shared this, but in addition to one wonderful, easy healthy first pregnancy that resulted in my amazing son, I then had an early-term miscarriage, followed by a mid-term loss (20 weeks). The loss was completely and totally devastating in so many ways, and that's when I think I REALLY began the downward slide in my health and wellness.

While I would like another kid, it is not the end all be all for me (or my husband), as we are kind of wishy-washy on the whole prospect of trying again. After my blood work, and a subsequent appointment with Awesome (cardiologist) next month, my team of doctors (including my ob-gyn, who is a high-risk specialist) will determine if it is OK to proceed. I would have to be off some of the pills for at least three months, which is totally fine by me. That gives me longer to lose more weight and be healthy and really think things through.

P.S. - 29 years ago today... we all shine on.

Workout today:
- 60 minutes spinning class

Eats today:- Breakfast: Skim hot chocolate from local shop; fage strawberry yogurt w/ Bear Naked granola
- Possible snack: navel orange
- Lunch: TBD - going out
- Possible snack: apple
- Possible dinner: Baked potato or veggie burger or soup or eggplant parm (hubs is scouting tonight)

Reigning in the girls

OK - kind of a personal post here. Although I guess they are all kind of personal, right?

I am in dire need of recommendations for a great but not too expensive sports bra. For the, ahem, well-endowed. Here's the problem - when I do my run/walk routine, the sports bra digs into my shoulders, and leaves cuts on and under the gals. Not the most attractive or comfortable look. The days I don't do the run/walk routine, I am wearing a completely unsupportive sports bra.

Any suggestions? I don't need it to be cute since I am not going to go topless anytime soon. Just functional. For high impact. Thankyouverymuch.

Today was otherwise an OK day. For some reason, I wasn't super hungry throughout the day, but I kept to the normal eating routine so as not to overeat later on. I skipped the morning walk in the 'hood because frankly, I was cold and tired and have worked out eight straight mornings in a row. Plus, I met with my trainer tonight, so I did have some exercise planned. Between the squats and the dead lifts she made me do, it def got the heart moving. I also had a good WI for the Biggest Winner contest. I don't count the weight there as my "real" weight because I am wearing clothes and shoes, and it is a different time of day then when I usually weigh-in, however, it has been consistently 2-3 pounds more then my morning WI, which is right on target.

Workout today:
- 60 minutes lifting w/ my trainer

Eats today:
- Breakfast: TJ english muffin w/ Justin's Nut Butter
- Lunch: Spinach salad with grilled chicken, strawberries, blueberries, mandarin oranges, dried cranberries, slivered almonds; 1/2 serving of pea crisps; dark chocolate
- Snack: Apple
- Dinner: Honey-mustard pork chop; 1 serving TJ's mushroom risotto; broccoli; 1 Alexia roll (90 cals - obsessed) w/ a bit of butter; meringue and 2 dark chocolate stars

I've Fallen Off the Wagon

The Starbucks wagon, that is.

Before the high blood pressure fiasco/life changing moment, I was an addict. I would drink a venti something or other with lots of sugar and FOUR SHOTS of espresso. Of course, always no fat - to save calories - ha ha! Every morning. Sometimes twice a day.

Since being hospitalized, I have switched to decaf tea and on occasion, a small, skim hot chocolate.

But today, I gave in. I am now sipping a venti nonfat no whip extra hot mocha. I don't think I'll be able to drink even half!

It all started with an email last night, promoting Starbucks making a charitable contribution in honor of World AIDS Day (today) with the purchase of a bar drink. It continued with it being just so cold here, and me always being cold even when it is somewhat warm. So, I'll keep sipping for a few more minutes, then probably dump it and resume with the usual water. (I don't drink juice or pop - EVER - I have never liked it!)

In other news, had a good WI today (187.6) and a semi-good workout. I did spinning at 5:30. I wasn't too excited to go, so I have to admit, I didn't push as hard as I normally do, but I still got the heart rate up and broke a sweat. So that's a good thing.

Workout today:
- Spinning: 60 minutes

Eats planned for today:
- Breakfast: Starbucks (see above); Oikos blueberry yogurt w/ 1/4 c. Bear Naked granola
- Lunch: Spinach salad with grilled chicken, strawberries, blueberries, cranberries, mandarin oranges, slivered almonds; dark chocolate
- Snack: Apple
- Dinner: Probably a veggie burger with swiss cheese and peas (hubs has a scrimmage tonight)

Moving Along on Monday

Happy Monday - it's over! At least on the East Coast!

I hope everyone had a great t-day and long weekend. We had about a dozen peeps over for dinner, then a few more for dessert. I worked out really hard in the morning, and continued the tough workouts all weekend. I haven't had a workout break since last Monday! Booyah!

The eating was less than ideal. I wore a pair of almost too-tight pants for Thanksgiving, so that helped keep my chowing somewhat at bay, but because we hosted, we had a ton of leftovers. We gave a bunch away, but we were still left with:
- turkey
- meatballs
- ramaki
- stuffing
- mashed potatoes
- lima bean casserole (delish!)
- cheese/crackers
- rice
- desserts - I made a chocolate-pumpkin bundt cake from scratch, plus a cookie tray, and we also had a few other random desserts

I'm sure I'm forgetting something. Here's my problem when I host - I can't edit. There are so many recipes I want to try, yet there are other traditional items that I feel required to make, which ultimately means way too much food. The above list is only a partial list - we also had dips, more sides, etc. Even though we were totally exhausted, my hubs and I went on a short walk (1.5 miles?) to our village before collapsing on the couch.

And, just when I thought it was all over and I was off the eating hook, I went with six girlfriends last night to surprise/celebrate a friend's upcoming 40th bday. Mexican apps and desserts! At least we split everything, which kept the portions smaller. And I managed to stay away from the booze, since it was a school night and all.

But, enough about the trials and tribulations of the weekend... hence the name of this post, Moving Along on Monday!

Today's eating has been pretty good. This week I should be in control with lunches and dinners, until a banquet thing I have on Friday. One day at a time. And today was good.

Workout today:
- Run/walk: 30 minutes (2.31 miles on treadmill)
- Weights: 45 minutes

Eats today:
- Breakfast: Raisin spice oatmeal w/ flax
- Snack: Navel orange
- Lunch: 4 oz turkey breast, Health Valley Tomato soup, square of chocolate
- Snack: Unsalted soy balls (approx 1-2 tbsp)
- Dinner: Spaghetti squash w/ meat sauce (TJ's no-salt added spaghetti sauce, broccoli, mushrooms, meat); one meatball; a literal bite of pepperoni bread; one meringue

Upward and downward

Instead of onward and upward... because I did go UP in the WI this morning - almost 3 pounds - I will be looking onward and downward for now on - the numbers going down, that is.

I'm not surprised. I'm disappointed. My trainer for the Biggest Winner contest will be disappointed tonight. At least it isn't more. Thanksgiving day will be a challenge. I am hosting, and I am cooking a tremendous amount of food. Some healthy. Some not so much. I will work out tomorrow morning, and I will do my best to keep it all in check.

Short post today because I need to get caught up at work before taking off for the holiday. But, here's my parting "What I'm thankful" thought in case I don't post tomorrow:

This year, I am thankful for:
- My family
- My friends
- My job and my husband's job
- My health insurance
- My HEALTH

For those of you who celebrate, I hope you have a great turkey day!

Workout today:- 80 minute walk in the 'hood (this a.m.)
- Trainer for lifting this p.m.

Eats planned for today:- Breakfast: Maple oatmeal w/ flax
- Snack: Navel orange
- Lunch: No salt added minestrone soup; pea crisps; dark chocolate square
- Snack: Apple
- Dinner: Not sure. Either pork chops with risotto or eggplant parm (low fat/cal) or a baked potato - it will depend on how busy I am with t-day prep

The good, the bad and the ugly

I'm just back from my business trip (to Canada!) and here's the lowdown:

The bad: Monday: No time to workout as we left at 6 a.m. I started the down slide with an Egg McMuffin (protein?), then continued with a semi-OK lunch at my client's site (grilled chicken, fruit, cheese, dry salad, dark chocolate) and capped the evening off with a very big dinner of mushroom chicken, 2 small redskin potatoes, bruschetta, bread and some fresh veggies.

The good: I worked out at the hotel this morning! The hotel (Delta) had an AMAZING facility, so I woke up at 5:30 and hit the treadmill (run/walk for 30); elliptical (20); bike (10) and rowing machine (5 - I love this, my gym doesn't have one), plus sit-ups and back stretching. My legs are pretty tired! I also had a decent breakfast: granola w/ yogurt, 1/2 of a roll and some cheese. I LOVE cheese.

The UGLY: Lunch. On the road. Quaker Steak. Two wings. Fries. Pulled pork sandwich (1/2 bun). BBQ sauce. Chocolate candy.

The reality: I feel so stuffed right now. The Biggest Winner WI tomorrow is going to be particularly ugly. If I get hungry I will have no-salt added soup tonight, and I plan on resuming the usual healthy behaviors tomorrow. I can't take back what's been done, and I have to try and not beat myself up over this. It's hard, because I feel like I have made such good progress, and I work so hard, then I make poor choices to stall further progress.

I guess why this is truly a marathon - a lifelong marathon - and not a sprint, right?

On a side note, I am super-excited to have won a giveaway from Mommy2Joe at Did I Just Eat That Out Loud. I believe it will be the certain to be amazing Cookbook from Prior Fat Girl - awesome! Bound to be full of inspiring and delicious recipes!

Yoga? Yes!

As I mentioned in a post last week, I decided to try yoga. Today was d-day, so off I went to a "power basics" class. It was a small group (seven of us), and the instructor did a good job walking us through the poses. I can def see where it will be good to help strengthen my core. We did several modified plank poses (don't ask me what the yoga names are), which is something I do with my trainer, so while holding them was a little hard, it wasn't impossible. I am going to keep going to this particular class once a week for a few months until I get the hang of the different types of poses, understand the language more, etc.

Otherwise, it's been a very fun weekend. Friday my husband had a scrimmage, so my son and I went with friends to a local Mexican restaurant then to a community-produced musical. I did OK with the eating, and sustained that pattern all day Saturday after my long Saturday workout. Saturday night was a different story.

We trekked out to a friend's house to play Beatles Rock Band. I don't know if I've mentioned this, but I am an obsessive Beatles fan. I have been for more than 20 years now. LOVE them. Beyond love. But, we also still have technology in my house that dates to the Beatles era, so of course we don't have Rock Band.

OMG it was super fun! I sang, played guitar, and drank way too much vodka (straight with just ice - yum!). I could have kept going all night, but we got home around 1 a.m. Eating was OK. But today I was just dehydrated and tired, so I skipped my usual long Sunday walk, and have eaten pretty crappy all day. Oh well - tomorrow is a new day for eating. And, at least I got yoga in.

Unfortunately, I am also skipping my morning workout tomorrow because I am heading to Canada for business for two days. I will be able to workout at the hotel on Tuesday, but tomorrow I will have to take off. Hopefully I will make good food choices while on the road!

Have a great start to your week! Gobble gobble