Random musings from the week…

First off, I’ll totally be updating with a Weekly Weigh-In post later tonight. Just have to nab Sunny and make sure my notes are correct from her weigh in. 🙂

No Pop Until August 13

Secondly, if you all recall, I was giving up pop for two weeks. Can we say, WOW those first few days were hard? Not because my body actual needs it, but my ‘mind’ seems determined to convince me that I do. It was genius at sneaking in doubtful thoughts and there were several days early on that I really contemplated quitting. But I’ve done this before (six months a few years back) and so I knew it was possible. In restaurants especially this was difficult. I drink diet, so when presented with the options at a restaurant…it tends to be the best option. Okay, water would be, but ugh. The tap water in most restaurant is nasty tasting. I’m using to drinking purified so believe me, there’s a HUGE taste difference. Which tends to leave me with juice–which typically is loaded with sugar and calories at most restaurants–and normal pop, which has the same problem, just worse. (And yeah, I think most places carry tea? I wouldn’t know. I’ve yet to find a tea I can swallow without gagging–did I mention I was extremely picky?) However, I made it through.

I will say, the restaurant issue will most likely mean I drink at least some pop in the future, primarily when I’m eating out. Which ironically, isn’t’ as often as we’ve been doing it. I’m not exactly sure what the kick is lately. However, all in all?

-gasp- I don’t actually miss pop. At least I haven’t for several days. I have water. I made homemade strawberry lemonade (with actual fruit blended with water). I have chocolate milk for after workouts (1 cup/not a whole glass) as a treat and my recovery drink. And my morning smoothie. Even cooler? I find myself craving water! I started drinking 1 huge glass of water first thing when I woke up every morning a little before this blog, and in these past few days I’ve discovered that I’m waking up with my morning glass of water in the same way I’ve seen people wake up with their coffee. It revitalizes me, gets my body going, and I find I’m more awake first thing in the morning. A huge difference to me.

I’ll definitely finish out this two week goal for no pop and then I’ll reevaluate.

 

Fast Food…not as great as I remember?

I had Wendy’s this week with a friend. It was challenging enough to find something I was willing to eat, while also not sacrificing more calories than I wanted to. What’s interesting…is I’ve never fully managed to see what people in my life have meant when they’ve complained of greasy fast food not sitting well with their stomachs. (A testament to my crappy diet?) I’ve never had the issue before. However, lately I’ve noticed a slight discomfort after going out to eat–especially if was something really greasy–and Wendy’s definitely left me with a cranky tummy. Doesn’t exactly make me crave to go back anytime soon. And I’m supposed to be taking a motorcycle trip with my dad next week (if all goes well on his end)…and now I’m a little leery. We’ll be eating out for every meal throughout the trip (it’s how his motorcycle group does it, and I don’t have room to pack food on his bike, we’re lucky we’re fitting all our clothes!) I’m hoping not to get thrown off track, to stay true to counting calories, and heck, hopefully my stomach won’t be extremely unhappy the entire time.

 

My Fitness Pal

I’m officially back to using the app. I only track my food on this (though veggies are free because I hate them, and if I have to ‘pay’ for them, I’ll never touch them…so yes, I’m bribing myself). I don’t like the fact that they give you an insane amount of extra calories for fairly light activity. So I skip tracking my workouts altogether.

 

Exercise

Loving my new exercise routine. The new dumbbell set works great. I’ve been using the C25K app for my recumbent bike workouts and those are really fun, though I’m looking forward to getting out there and starting running again. I’ve been eying a few exercise DVD programs, and so if I end up purchasing one, I’ll let you all know how I feel about it.

 

And that’s it…since this is getting really long!

New Toys!!

My ten pound dumbbell wasn’t providing me with much of a challenge, so I went out today trying to find an affordable option to start building up some free weights. Would love to have a rack soon, but for now, dumbbells would do. While poking around, bemoaning their prices the entire time, I spotted this:

It’s Gold’s Gym 40lb Adjustable Vinyl Dumbbell set. For $20 I got two dumbbells that I can mix and match and make various weights. Not a bad deal at all! I’m super excited about it…just bummed I already did my weights today, so I don’t get to play with these until Tuesday!

This is everything inside the box. Four 7.5 lb weights, four 2.5 lb weights, two bars, and weight clamps.

Here I have a 20 lb dumbbell built and a 5 lb one.

 

The only catch? They’re dirty coming out of the box, so I’ll wipe them down before using them. My hands were filthy playing with them.

My Beginning Workout Plan

Yeah. I’m new to this, but as someone new to everything trying to find ‘the way to go’ I figured I’d share what I’m starting with right now. I’ll update as I make changes to my work out plan and update how it’s working for me.
I’m doing both cardio and weight training. I personally love cardio, not so much on the weight training front but I fell that’s more of an overwhelmed, I don’t know what I’m doing!

So far I’m doing cardio Monday, Wednesday, and Fridays. I either work out on the recumbent bike or treadmill that we have at home, or I walk/run outside. I’ll be starting the Couch to 5k program soon. Then weight training Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday. Sundays I have off, other than whatever I do to wear the dogs out.

A great article I read on strength training for women is over on Criss Gets Fit: Ladies Lifting Weights: Get Strong, Not “Toned”

It tackles a lot of the myths about weight training and shares a lot of the reasons behind why I’m doing it. Even though I am losing weight, I still feel squishy. Especially up top. My legs have gained muscle from all my cardio, but my upper half? Not so much.

For my weight training, I chose to use this work out plan to start (with some further modifications, which I’ll explain below): Goonlifter’s Modified Starting Strength

Now, I don’t have gym access at the moment, so I’ve had to modify these a bit further.

In work out A, instead of doing a barbell squat, I’m doing squats with a dumbbell (though you could also do squats without any extra weight too). I’m deadlifting a dumbbell too, which is probably not the smartest move, but I’m hoping to get a rack soon. And I can’t do the dips yet (both physically and because of a lack of equipment). Obviously, instead of the hyperextensions I’m doing supermans. And while I can’t do a full sit up yet, I’m doing them as best as I can on the theory that I will get stronger.

For work out B, I”m doing everything with a dumbbell. And I plan on getting a pull up bar for my door. I might also add kettlebell swings to a work out, especially in the meantime while I’m waiting to get my hands on a rack. I could always use a filled up milk jug until I can buy a kettlebell.

Now, dumbbells aren’t exactly cheap, so I’m hoping to get my hands on a used barbell and rack set (Craigslist!) soon. First up though…I have to fix my car. So this is what I’m making do with.