Day 16 and Thoughts on Changes in Plans

DAY 16. The cruise vacation was cancelled :( The weather was too bad to leave the port so we got a free night in what was essentially a floating hotel and then disembarked this morning. The wedding yesterday was so lovely, and it was great to have a free night aboard and enjoy dinner and dancing.

I was super proud of myself. There was temptation everywhere but I did not give in once. When I got up at 5 am, (gah! hair and make-up took awhile) I made my protein shake and brought an apple and some almonds for a snack. I didn't have anything to drink but lots of water and a cup or two of black coffee (with a splash of soy). I did my toast with sparkling water and lemon in a champagne glass. During the reception, I had some plain shrimp with marinara sauce and at dinner I asked to modify the entree to work for me (salmon with lots of green veggies and no potatoes please!). Breakfast this morning was a delish egg white omelet from the omelet station with spinach, mushrooms and salsa, yum!

Overall, yesterday was unforgettable... I had the most amazing time and spent the evening in the company of my friends, dancing and having fun til the wee hours of the morning. I should have put on my heart rate monitor, cause I'm sure I burnt a bunch of calories yesterday with all that running around and dancing!

New vacation plan: my boyfriend and I are taking off to Bellingham/ Seattle for the week. It'll be much easier to follow my plan when I can buy some groceries and make a few meals in our hotel. We'll definitely pick a place that has a gym too!

Day 14 and Thoughts on Encouragement

DAY 14. Because I’ll be away next week, I did my weigh in this morning. The scale reports that I’m at 279 lbs… down 17 lbs so far! One of my goals is to lose 20 lbs the first month, so it looks like not only will I be able to meet that goal, I’ll be able to leave it in the dust. I know that my blogs do try to stay optimistic, but this journey is hard. I am so proud to see that number dropping as my body responds to the hard work and willpower I’m putting in. I had no idea my willpower and resolve was so strong. It makes me wonder what else I could accomplish if I really wanted to.

Kick ass workout this morning! I had my new heart rate monitor on, so I could see where I was at during the workout. One particular station was a small unassuming blue ball, a little smaller than a volleyball. We had to lift it over our head and slam it to the ground, then catch it on the bounce. When I picked it up, that little bugger was heavy! And it did not bounce, well, maybe 3 inches off the floor. After 1 minute of that I was dizzy and my heart rate was up to 160 bpm. It’s always those unassuming exercises that get you, lol. It was a tiny bit satisfying to slam it on the ground though. There was what I thought was a great moment today too… I was trying to do push ups, and I was really struggling. I didn’t think I could do another one, but Tracy piped up and said “You can do it!” I actually felt really encouraged and lifted, and got through it J It’s really amazing how a few kind words of encouragement can really motivate us to keep going. The TF+ group is so amazing like that, we really want to see each other succeed and look forward to our workouts together. At the end of the workout my heart rate monitor reported that I had burned around 600 calories!

Last night was my best friend’s rehearsal dinner. Pizza and beer. Not just any pizza, the good pizza from Hell’s Pizza. My best friend and I discovered it in New Zealand when we were travelling through there, and they happened to open up a location in North Van when the owner came to Canada. They have awesome toppings like artichoke, avocado and brie. Drool. I outsmarted it though, I made some salmon and packed a salad to bring along, and stuck to water.

It’ll be great to see how my bridesmaid dress looks tomorrow with a few pounds lost J

DAY 13 and Thoughts on Comfort

DAY 13. Keeping it short and sweet today, so much to do before the vacation! Last night was not the greatest. I had to work much later than usual because of a downtown showing, and by the time I got home it was late, I was tired, cranky and not in the mood to cook. I made some plain air-popped popcorn and had a big glass of water and sat on the couch to decompress. Although I didn’t have my planned meal, I cling to the fact that at least I didn’t make a poor choice like I used to. On nights like that, I would usually order pizza or make mac and cheese. Comforting foods. Instead of turning to those unhealthy comforts, I made a healthy snack, called my dad and then my best friend for a chat. I made some new playlists to put on my iPod for my vacation. I curled up in bed and my boyfriend read a book aloud to me… his latest read is Stephen King’s The Shining. It actually turned into a lovely evening even without the comforts that I used to depend on, in the form of fattening foods.

Next time I have a bad day or want to turn to those unhealthy staple foods, I’ll remind myself again to find solace in another activity:

1.       Take a bubble bath

2.       Read a book

3.       Make a new playlist

4.       Go for a stroll

5.       Clean out my closet (somehow this one might never make the cut…)

6.       Call a friend or family member

7.       Make-out with boyfriend ;)

Any other suggestions that work for others?? Please feel free to comment, I could use the extra suggestions!

Day 12 and Thoughts about Push-Ups

DAY 12. I’m sitting at my desk munching on a salad and thinking to myself, “Man, this oven-roasted tofu is soo good.” Things have certainly changed in just under two weeks, lol. I don’t think I would have uttered those words before. I seriously need to find out their recipe though. I’ve also already started to notice a bit of a change on the outside, I have a suit dress for work that is a bit binding and had become more tight in recent months, today I was so happy when I noticed that it feels a bit looser and more comfortable.

My second early-morning workout today, Chris definitely kicked my ass again today. I was doing push-ups, even modified they were still really tough for me. I vowed, then and there, that I would be able to do a regular push-up by the end of this experience. Not a girly one, a proper one. I know it doesn’t seem like much, but it’s the little triumphs that add up to something great. As I progress on this journey there will be so much to look forward too, I can’t wait until I’m at a level that I can keep up my boyfriend when we go for a jog together. We live super close to Ambleside Beach and the seawall, so lots of quality time could be spent jogging together, enjoying the beautiful ocean views and salty sea air. J

I got my new heart rate monitor this morning too. It’s the most adorably pink monitor and I’m so excited to start using it. It’ll be especially great to have it while I go on vacation, cause let’s be honest, it’s a lot harder to push yourself as hard as the trainers can push you. The heart rate monitor will help me properly gauge my level of activity while I work out so I don’t go easy on myself.

One thing I’ve noticed this week that’s better than the last is that my body is becoming used to my new level of food and stuff. I’m not getting the same hunger pangs or cravings or random emotional breakdowns (yes, there was a couple occasions of these last week). This is probably not only good for me, but good for my boyfriend who is on the receiving end of such emotional breakdowns and complaints about hunger and cravings. If you’re reading this sweetie, I’m sorry… In terms of cravings, I’ve still had the occasional dirty thought about a veggie burger and fries from Cactus Club or the fettuccine alfredo from Carmello’s, but I’ve definitely not giving in to them. I feel a bit bad though, my favourite server at Carmello’s always waves when I walk by on my lunch break but I never go in anymore, lol. In terms of hunger pangs, last week there were a couple nights where I was still hungry at like 8 pm, so I had some plain air popped popcorn as a snack, but this week I haven’t needed to. Popcorn is one of my favourite things, actually let me clarify, movie theatre popcorn is one my favourite things, lol. Being allowed to eat popcorn as a light snack, however unlike the popcorn I love, is still comforting and somewhat filling.

I’m getting pretty darned excited about my vacation… just 3 sleeps away!

Day 11 and Thoughts on Sleep

DAY 11. It’s so weird but I didn't get tired enough to fall asleep for hours last night. Every morning I wake up with copious amounts of energy, pack my lunches and actually be productive at work. Up until I started with Team Fitness, I usually went to bed around 10:30 and woke up at 8 am, more sleep than usually needed. It was a regular occurrence for my boyfriend to become quite annoyed when we were having a lovely evening together but I fell asleep on the couch by 10 pm. Yesterday I worked til 5, had a work meeting, came home and cooked and ate dinner, met with my co-leader at Starbucks for herbal tea and Girl Guide planning, came home and watched a TV show with my boyfriend, then read for a couple hours. It was amazing. I don’t remember the last time I did that much in the span of an evening. When I woke up this morning after about 7.5 hours of sleep, I still felt great. It’s weird. I almost don’t trust it. I know that my body is beginning to heal from the inside and start running the way it’s supposed to, which is probably the cause of my needing less sleep and feeling great all the time. I found this photo online, seemed to fit…

 

I watched the documentary ‘Hungry for Change’ the other day, and if anyone is curious about what the Team Fitness meal plan is all about or curious about making a change to a more healthy and natural lifestyle… definitely check it out. There are some really interesting people featured in the film, including Kris Carr, the woman who started the ‘Crazy Sexy Diet’ and has used healthy vegan living to slow down and control her rare and incurable form of lung and liver cancer for 10 years now. As an aside, she also looks like she’s still in her twenties and she’s over 40… It’s really amazing what a healthy lifestyle can accomplish.

I’m also gearing up to start watching the Biggest Loser in a week! In the past I used to comfortably curl up on the couch with a bowl of buttery popcorn and a drink, and watch the contestants sweat it out. This time I’m going to be an active participant! It’s a 90 min show (once you PVR and fast-forward through the 30 min of commercials…) so I’m going to come up with some sort of Biggest Loser bingo, like ‘do 10 crunches every time Gillian yells at someone’. At that rate, I’m going to be buff after a few airings, lol.

My Vacation Plan of Action

After I read through and responded to a comment from my last post, I thought about it a lot more. It was absolutely right, I am entering into a situation where temptation will be everywhere, and I won’t be in my usual environment or have the same support system around me to deflect those temptations. I need to create a plan so that I will succeed. It’s not the exact meal plan I follow, because each day of the week cycles through different levels of carbs and stuff, and at home I have the blender to make green smoothies and stuff, but with Leanne’s help, here’s my vacation plan…

Meal plan

·         Sticking to the cleanse – No dairy or flour
·         Eat every three hours
·         If eating out, request substitutions!
·         Breakfast - egg whites with veggies and sweet potatoes, fruit and oatmeal
·         Lunch - seafood/tofu with salad and veggies
·         Dinner - seafood/tofu with salad and veggies
·         Snack of almonds and apple or similar
·         2 litres of water every single day!!!
 
Exercise Plan
·         Walk, walk, walk!
·         Do at least 2 – 60 min workouts between Monday and Friday

The vacation is for my best friend's wedding, so I may choose to allow myself 1 or 2 small glasses of red wine for toasts or the reception dinner, which is definitely not on the regular meal plan, but I may decide that sparkling water is just fine.

I will also have reschedule my Thursday morning workout for the week I get back, so with 4 workouts that week, I'm sure the TF trainers will sufficiently kick my butt back in gear!

Day 10 and Thoughts about my Vacation

DAY 10. Some research has shown that it takes between 21-30 days to break and form new habits, so I’m almost halfway there already!

Last night was the TF+ weekly check-in and group workout. Drum roll…. 12 lbs lost since the assessment 2 weeks ago, and only 1 week on the meal plan! So proud of myself so far, 8% of my goal complete already.

I love my Mondays now, I can’t wait to see my new TF+ friends and see how they’re doing. Leanne also had a surprise for us this week, she had another client come in to talk with us and then join our workout. This lovely lady has been on the meal plan and working out for 8 months now (including a 2 month vacation in Europe) and has lost 73 lbs. It’s so inspiring to hear about someone else who’s had the same struggles and triumphed over them. Not only that, to hear that she was able to go a vacation and not be totally sabotaged, that’s fantastic.

It was a great workout, a little harder than last week, but it was actually great because the workout eased the soreness from Saturday morning's workout. Wes had us do this one core exercise where we lie on our back and hold the exercise ball between our legs and arms, then lower alternating arm and leg at the same time. omg. I think he must enjoy torturing us. Though I have to admit, it was a little bit fun to watch the others do that one while safely at another station... ;)

I’ve been thinking about my upcoming vacation next week. It's a cruise for 3 days followed by 3 days in San Francisco. I have to say that while I’m determined to stick with this over the vacation, I’m nervous as well. This phase of the meal plan is the cleanse, so no dairy, flour or alcohol… all things that will be tempting me more than usual. The cruise ship has all manner of wonderful cheeses, fried foods, cocktails and desserts, and San Francisco is one of the most fun culinary cities on the west coast. At home, things are getting to be routine, we don’t eat take-out or keep tempting stuff in the house, so it doesn’t cross my mind much. For the first time, I’m actually packing workout clothes in my suitcase (well, I’ve packed them in the past and never used them). I’ve also decided that I better make some specific vacation goals/promises:

1.       I will work out at least twice, as there will be a gym on board the cruise ship.
2.       I will stick to my no dairy, no flour cleanse.
3.       I will follow my meal plan as best I can, or at least some form of it.
4.       I will continue my journal and my blog while away to keep me on track.
5.       I will use this vacation not to gorge on fattening food and drink, but rather to relax, recharge and enjoy the activities and sights.

I guess the point I’m trying to keep in mind is that something will always get in the way or be there to provide an excuse… vacation, family get-together, change of job, moving, etc… I just won’t let myself give in to any more of these excuses.