Wednesday Weigh-In

Through no effort of my own I managed to be down this week. I haven't written anything down in at least two weeks and I exercise three times a week at best. I think I attribute the weight-loss to Booty Camp, building muscle and having fun! (hahaha) I love Boot Camp and I want to do it forever. That being said, if anyone from the Greater Vancouver area wants to come to my Booty Camp session tonight for free (to help me win another four weeks) let me know!

My weight this week is 196.6 that is a loss of 1.6lbs from last week. Hooray! Perhaps this will be the inspiration to get back to my good habits (although being sick might get in the way).

Andrea of 'a cake for a wife' posted an insightful blog about why staying on track is easier than getting back on strack. I like her. You all should read her blog.

I want these bags.

Quote from Bangkok. Classic and unique. I want so many of them. Here are a few I am particular to.

Wednesday Weigh-In and Alas, I knew it would happen.

I gained this week. 1.2lbs. I knew it was coming. I've been carrying on without thinking too much about what I'm consuming. It's distressing and at the same time, enjoyable. I am refocusing though. Boot Camp has been a fantastic experience so far and I will be disappointed when it ends. I am happy to say that although my eating has left much to be desired my exercise isn't following the same pattern. I am definitely feeling stronger and tighter. This post is short and is meant more as a check-in. I am giving myself a couple more weeks to settle into the new job and then I will be back to beef up the blog and get back to my fitness goals.

Weigh-In Wednesday

Well I have managed to maintain for yet another week even though my eating has been less than ideal. 197.4lbs. This is not a bad thing. But I have regained some of my self-control and am on to bigger and better (or maybe just better) times.

I started Booty Camp this week. I had my first session on Monday and it was great. Working out with a bunch of other women is a fantastic motivator (especially if you're a tad competitive like myself). My legs were sore yesterday but I managed to do my hour on the elliptical at the gym and they are still sore today, but I am not as uncomfortable. So Booty Camp again tonight, bring on the squats!

Lunch

I want one of these. Now. Grump grump grump...


Sorry about that, I just woke up from a friday evening nap. I'm never all sunshine and lollipops right when I wake up. I guess it just isn't my natural disposition thus it takes a bit to kick in after I've been asleep.

We're ordering Indian food for dinner. I'll add that to the list of bad choices for the evening. I'm looking forward to adjusting to my new schedule. Fast.

Anyway, above is the laptop lunch bento box I want. It makes me excited to pack lunches if they are to be so neatly displayed. I'll even forgive them for using the comic sans font on their website. I also don't understand why they chose such ugly colours for their product... Mysteries of the world.

Weigh-In Wednesday

Well my friends, this past week has been brilliant and less-than-brilliant. Let's start with the less-than-brilliant. I ate, a lot. I baked a lot and ate a lot of the baking and generally ate whatever I felt like. I'm losing my motivation in the calorie restriction department and it is frustrating. I worry because I generally get to the 30lb mark, feel great about myself and lose motivation and I will not let that happen again. However, I seem to be doing it to myself anyway.

To some degree at least.

The brilliance of the week comes in two parts. First I went to the gym every day (today was the ninth day in a row!) and did an hour of cardio each. Woo! I have been feeling very fit and strong lately, and am enjoying it. This also enabled me to not gain any weight this week. Although I didn't lose any either. The scale stuck at 197.4lbs, just as it was last Wednesday. Oh well! This week will be better. I was originally supposed to be going on a cruise on September 19th to Alaska and had a goal of being at 195lbs by then. Even though the cruise has been canceled, the goal sticks. I start Boot Camp next Monday, so I hope I find new motivation in it.

The second part of my brilliant week is my new found employment! At long last! My last post now places my foot firmly in my mouth, as I got the call shortly after. And its an incredibly dynamic position as well, very much what I had been looking for.

So all in all, things are looking up...waaaaay up.

On feelings of hopelessness and remaining optimistic.

My confidence in my self ebbs and flows. Sometimes I feel like I can truly accomplish anything as long as I set my mind to it and am persistent. But even then there are things out of my control, that no matter what I do to aid and encourage it, it is not my decision in the end. Finding a job fits into this category. Never before have I had such a difficult time finding a job, in fact, if I was intent on getting a position I felt I would fit, I would usually get it. But now, because I haven't had that ease, I can't help but see it as a reflection on my skills and personality, rather than on a reflection of economic times, fewer jobs and greater competition. I have to remind myself of what I was once able to do, to remain optimistic that I will be able to do it again. Yet, with the added pressure of finding a "career" post-graduation, these feelings of hopelessness creep up more often than they are invited to. I want to be able to support myself, doing something challenging, in a position where I am valued as a part of a team. It is incredibly distressing for me to feel like that is not an option, even after completing my degree. I understand that we do not all have that luxury, of a job we love, but I at least hope it as option for me.

For a long time the one thing I felt I could not accomplish was weight-loss. Regardless of my efforts, old habits would get the best of me. I felt like there was a 'better' version of me inside that would be trapped forever. A few months ago I dropped this frame of mind. I knew that weight-loss was a possibility and having finished school, I knew I was ready. Still old habits get the best of me (at least once a week), but this time I don't let them control me. In three months, I have accomplished 1/3 of my goal (in numbers). I still feel sometimes, that I won't be able to lose anymore, but I prove myself wrong every week.

I suppose this post is meant as a way for me to re-frame my own mind. To appreciate what I have done and what I can do, to understand what is in my direct control, and what is not and to realize that discouragement is part of the journey. I may not even remember this time in my life five years from now. As I think back what sticks out in my mind is what I have accomplished, not what I haven't. I only remember the jobs I got, not the jobs I didn't. It is so easy to put all ones eggs in ones basket, as they say. And it is not surprising that disappointment follows when that basket breaks and you're out of eggs. So I guess its best to act like a chicken? (That metaphor took a turn for the worse, sorry).

Shoe Erosion, Figs, Flowers and Macarons.

These are images I took of my favourite pair of flats. I thought it looked a bit like rocks eroded by the sea. A definite indication that I need to shoes, especially since it will start raining soon. Speaking of rain, I've been lusting for a storm. This overcast weather puts me in a weird mood. I think its a combination of feelings of idleness (because I haven't found work) and nostalgia due to the fact that I will not be returning to school this September (something I have not done since before preschool). I try to keep busy and to pick up small things to cheer me up.


I finally got around to picking up a basket of fresh figs. I'm tempted every time I go to the store. I love figs. Fig newtons, fig gelato, figs with brie and prosciutto in a buckwheat crepe (thanks to the Saturday farmers market). I love to eat them fresh like this. They're extremely high in fiber as well, considering one fig yields 1g of fiber. Mmm fiber. I'm not sure what I will make with them yet. Maybe this recipe for Grilled Fig Salad, or maybe some homemade fig newtons, or Fig and Brie pizza!


Today I went to have lunch with some women I used to work for. It was in a neighbourhood I seldom go to anymore because I have finished school and its a bit out of the way. There is an amazing grocer around the corner that have beautiful flowers at unbelievable prices. I bought this small bouquet of dahlias for $2.99. I wanted to buy several. I think flowers are just incredible.


And to keep up appearances I made these vanilla macarons with chocolate hazelnut filling (well really, its just Nutella) to bring with me to lunch. They were a hit! I need to lay off the macarons though, they're sabotaging my attempts at healthy eating.

Weigh-In Wednesday

Well. Not the best week I'd say. Had an emotionally stressful weekend which I attempted to mend with 1/3 jar of nutella last night. Productive! (maybe not). At least I pushed myself to go to the gym at 8pm for an hour.

I've noticed people are talking to me more at the gym. Most of the time they comment on how fast I'm going. I find my reactions settle nicely between flattered and mortified. Today a man leaned over from his elliptical trainer saying "excuse me", "yes?" I replied. He followed with, "how many calories do you usually burn?" me: "uh, well, I, uh..try to push for 1000 in 60 minutes" him: "wow you're on a mission" me: "yup!". He then transitions to treadmill for about 10 minutes, upon his exit he stops and says "well good luck, you're off to a good start". Thanks sweaty fellow gym member!

I think the friendliest people in Vancouver go to my gym.

Anyway, the weigh-in. Down 2lbs! Awesome that means I currently weigh 197.4lbs down a total of 32.6. Hot dog! (Mmm..)

In other news I also won a four week session of Booty Camp thanks to Jess. I wanted to do Booty Camp because they have a class in the park next to my apartment but couldn't afford it at the moment, so this worked out just dandy. Hopefully I'll be able to start in a couple of weeks.

So all in all things are looking up. I had my first interview in months today! Keep your fingers crossed as it is a position I am thoroughly excited about. I'll let you in on it after I hear back about it.

Tonight we're splurging and having Lombardos pizza which is the best pizza around. Thin crust, just the right amount of gourmet toppings. Yes please!