bonjour

i should feel really tired today, but i don't. last night was wednesday date night and by wednesday date night i mean my bf and i just hang out, either at my place or his place, depending on who is lazier and does not want to travel. he has a lot going on this week so i went to his apartment, but i was feeling pretty lazy myself and decided to drive instead of taking the transit.

since i drove i had to move my car off the main street (aka go home) before 7am or risk a ticket and towing. this morning i left at 6:50 and saw the tow truck waiting to attack innocent sleepies so i know they mean business. i've had my car towed before - not a fun time.

the point is, i should be tired and i am not. when i got home i did two 20-minute pilates videos. the first:

windsor pilates ab sculpting!


and the second, windsor pilates bun and thigh scultping!


both videos are rad, because they are only 20 minutes long but quite effective. i tried my best not to stop with ab and bum exhaustion during the sets but it was hard. and 20 minutes is just long enough to feel some major burn, but not too long where it becomes boring.

my only problem with these pilates videos is my horrible lack of flexibility. i cannot lay on my back and put my legs straight up in the air at a 90 degree angle. it is not happening. likewise, i can hardly sit up straight with my legs straight in front of me. when sitting in that position, i definitely can't reach toward my toes! maybe 1-5 cms! the women on the screen are reaching their toes, chest resting on their thighs. ha! not in my lifetime. i know this is due to my very poor hamstring flexibility. maybe if i keep doing the videos i will improve. i should do a yoga video for this.

in other news, i am wearing the pants today. they are actually incredibly comfortable when i am sitting down. when i stand up they are a little tight in the waist. i say waist but they are so low cut i mean hips, and since they are around my hipbones and not waist, it's just a bit annoying not painful. they are already stretching and feeling better. and they fit so well everywhere else. AND the jean material feels like a dream. like buttery jean velvet. with stretch. i can't stop touching them.

today i am working in the burbs. i am going shopping afterwards. i have a giftcard to la senza from christmas and am in desperate need of undergarments. i might do some biking in the condo gym (because i can read while i do it) but i'll probably just crash instead.

tea time

my new jeans did not arrive yesterday, and there is a chance they might arrive today. apparently they were scanned in "concord" ontario, and out for delivery. i will see where this alleged concord exists. oh, it's just a wee bit north of me, so i think i will see the pants today. hallelujah!

yesterday i went for a swim after work and worked on job applications. i only got one down but it was a special one that required a lot of detail and attention. i am happy i got that swim in. for me, exercising on mondays is the absolute WORST. i just have no energy, and then feel like a lazy slob if i do nothing. it's tough, but actually doing something physical makes me feel so much better and starts the week off right. now i want to keep it up!

today not working. i am going down to the gym (after breakfast) and i think i will ride the stationary bike so i can read gone with the wind at the same time. 450 pages down, 625 to go. it's just a little mass paperback so the type is too small to read on the treadmill. so much has happened already in the story, i can't imagine what is going to come next and fill the next 2/3 of the book! i guess that's why they call it an "epic."


also, all of my silly girl dreams are coming true today because i am going downtown to a fancy hotel to have high tea. yes, my friends, high tea. i live downtown, but i'm going really downtown where all of the skyscrapers are. to have tea and eat pastries and little sandwiches. i am going with my bf's brother's fiance. that is a mouthful! should be a lot of fun. now.... should i wear diamonds... or pearls? just kidding. (pearls obviously) ;)

tight pants

my pants are tight today. uh oh. not good! but i'm not sure if it's because i've gain(ed)(ing) weight or because of other reasons. the other reasons could be:

a) post weekend - always a bit more bloaty due to excess alcohol and salt.

b) freshly washed jeans - and dried the whole way in the dryer.

c) last night i tried on a sweater and it looked tight and puny. but i haven't worn it in a while and i washed it and maybe dried it for too long and it could have shrunk.

excuses, excuses! i will see how i feel tomorrow. AND i bought a pair of silver jeans online after shannon mentioned the big sale in her blog, and they are the size of jean that i strive to wear and that generally fit me when i'm in my maintenance range. so they should be here today or tomorrow or this week (better be...) sometime so trying them on will be a very good non-scale indication.

in other news, last week i killed the exercise. i met my four x cardio goals and two x pilates video goals. AND i did one more cardio workout than planned. yarrrrrr. this week is going to be equally as magical for me.

for some reason i am experiencing some bum pain today. i've done a little more online research and i think the following describes it best:


Pseudo-Sciatica - Gluteus minimus

The smallest and deepest of the gluteal muscles, lying beneath the gluteal medius, its fibres run from the pelvis to the hip. Like the overlying gluteus medius it has a split role in life; the anterior fibres medially rotate the thigh whilst the posterior fibres assist lateral rotation, all fibres contribute to abduction of the thigh. It also helps to stabilise the pelvis during ambulation.

Symptoms

Hip pain that may cause a limp during walking. Lying on the affected side may be too painful and result in disturbed sleep. Pain on rising from sitting and standing up straight. The pain in the hip area can be severe and constant with no let up either lying down or walking. As this muscle lies close to the Piriformis, the pain patterns are similar. Like the Piriformis it can cause SI joint dysfunction. But whereas the Piriformis pain pattern can extend down to the knee, the minimus pattern includes the calf and the thigh. Low back pain in the sacral and sacroiliac regions is most likely be due to problems in the gluteus medius. Pain referred from trigger points in the gluteus medius is less likely to involve the thigh; gluteus maximus trigger points restricts flexion at the hip whilst Piriformis trigger points restricts medial rotation.

Activation

Trigger points may be activated by too much, too soon. For example, walking too far or too fast, especially over rough ground; overuse in running and sports such as tennis. Even painful blisters can alter the gait pattern sufficiently, or simply running awkwardly due to another injury.

Holding the foot constantly over the accelerator pedal during a long car drive results in hip muscle imobilization, resulting in activation of trigger points in this muscle. Likewise, prolonged standing will have the same effect. SI joint dysfunction will perpetuate the trigger points.

Sitting on a wallet placed in a back pocket can cause impingement on this muscle and therefore produce referred pain in a sciatic-like distribution pattern.

i'm sticking to not running until the spring although it's taking a lot of determination... hopefully this goes away and i can go back to my normal activities.

not weighing in

this not weighing myself weekly is the best thing i've done in months (in regards to my personal health). it is so wonderful to wake up on friday morning, not dread getting on the scale, congratulate myself on a week of good food choices and hard work in the gym, and move on. this morning i looked in the mirror and was very pleased with what i saw. if i got on the scale and saw that i was two pounds above my maintenance range, that would put a damper on my whole morning.

i'm going to have to weigh myself sometime i guess. maybe at the beginning of every month. how does that sound?

today is a good day. it's freezing outside, but sunny. nothing is worse than freezing and gloomy. i went to the gym early and did 30 minutes on the elliptical, and then some sit-ups and bum exercises. working out in the morning really takes a lot of effort. my heart rate was pushing 170 the whole time, and after 23 minutes, i thought i might faint. i lowered the resistance and i was able to complete the 30 minutes.

today is also a good day because on the way to the office, my mom called and asked if i could stop by my dad's work and pick up a pill she needed. i did and my dad gave me a bottle of blueberry mead. oh yum! it's from the trafalgar brewing company. here is a description:

"Blueberry Mead: 9% alc/vol.

Blueberries, from the fields of PEI, are blended with fermented honey and water then cold aged to become unique melomel style mead. Blending the most “Canadian” of berries with the oldest style of beverage alcohol results in a drink that is surprising in its refreshing dryness. Blueberry mead is enjoyed over ice or well chilled."

for lunch today i am really vegging it up. i have a baggy with chopped carrots, 1/2 red pepper and 1/2 zucchini. and hummus for dipping. sabra hummus - the most magical of all hummuses. and i also have a hummus and veggie wrap. last night i sauteed the other half of the red pepper and zucchini, and 1/2 onion and some mushrooms. what a delicious wrap it's going to be.

and finally, my hair turned out really fab. i will try to snap a photo on the weekend. i didn't have to go "natural" or really short. my stylish just cut it shorter at the back, and gave me highlights and lowlights, which looks rad and choppy(ish). and when my hair grows out a little, it will blend better and i won't look like a reverse skunkhead.

get out of the pool

i am not working today because i have a hair appointment. great excuse, right! ;) it's kind of a sad appointment because i'm having some major hair trouble. my bleached hair has been breaking off in giant chunks, and only on the top of my head. luckily i can style it in a way so that it's not noticeable, but i feel terrible about it because i'm used to having nice, soft, shiny hair. just my luck lately...

so i don't know what to do. i'd like to stay blond, but i don't want hair like a roll of hay in a field on a farm! i was growing my hair too, so now i might have to cut it super short again, dye it as close to natural as possible, and then just let it grow. maybe i can go blond again after i grow it to the style i want. what a bummer though. and super short hair in the winter... brrr. i better invest in some new scarves. actually i already have lots of scarves haha, i just said that for emphasis.

so that is this afternoon. i'm sure i will feel better when it's over. if not, i will just buy some paper lunch bags and wear one every day over my head. with eye and mouth holes cut out. my new "shtick" will be jumping out from behind corners and scaring people with my scary mask face. booga booga!

enough about that. oh, one more thing. i think that i am not being offered jobs because of my blond hair. and i don't think it's in my head either. i'm sure thinking that is not helping. the power of thought. but i really believe that as a platinum blond i'm being judged and not in a good way. i asked my bf about this last night. he usually tells it like it is, so i can trust his opinion to be on the ball, and he agrees with me. alright - back to brown... maybe.

now, i mean it. enough about that. this morning i went for a 40 minute swim but it was cut back to 30 minutes as i was kicked out of the pool. it wasn't that harsh. the security guard asked me to get out because the cleaners clean from 11am-noon. no big deal. when i started swimming today, i could really feel my ab muscles, which means that the pilates videos from yesterday had an effect. alright! i might go back to the gym later if i have time.

for those who asked about my HRM, i have the polar f4, in red. it's very cute and i'm happy with it.

workout songs

great workout songs can really make all of the difference. or a great magazine. last night i added two new songs to my playlist:

1) all the single ladies by beyonce, and

2) live your life by ti and rihanna

amazing! nothing like getting your groove on to make working out fun. it will be heaven when no doubt releases a new album. HEAVEN.

last night i did about 36 minutes on the elliptical (burning 300 calories), and then moved to the mat for some stretching, sit-ups, and more bootylicious exercises. my bee-hind is definitely feeling the burn.

i wanted to write a little bit about heart rate monitors. mine has really opened my eyes to three important things:

1) the number of calories i'm actually burning. i find the estimates on the treadmill and the elliptical to be grossly overestimating how many calories i'm burning. i used to walk for an hour and think i burned 600 calories. HA! of course, the number of calories you burn doing any exercise varies based on your own weight, height, and age. i burn a lot less calories than a 200-pound man would doing the exact same exercise.

2) the level of physical exertion i should be aiming for and maintaining. after you input your stats into the monitor, it gives you a range to aim for and maintain during cardio exercise. for example, my resting heart rate is in the upper 50s. this is pretty low. my "cardio" zone is between 125 and 165 beats per minute. when i used to run, my heart rate would stay around 140 beats per minute, unless i was running up hill. on the elliptical, it's about 150 because i'm pushing myself hard. sometimes it goes up to 165, and i know it's time to back off a little.

3) what exercises are good for cardio and not as good for cardio. i'm not saying bad, because any exercise is good. but i now know that even walking on an incline doesn't pump me for maximum burn. and that tony gazelle machine (my parents have)... worthless! unless there is some way to turn up the resistance that i don't know about (there probably is).

my dinner last night was ridiculously low in points. i roasted an entire acorn squash, scooped out the insides (1 point for the whole thing) and covered it in 1/2 cup cottage cheese (1.5 points). since i had leftover points i enjoyed a 50 oz. glass of wine. 50! and now i'm dead. i meant 5 oz. i measured it on my kitchen scale and 5 oz. is a lot. i was underestimating my wine consumption before. not anymore haha.

this morning i thought about swimming but that didn't seem very appealing, so i did two pilates videos instead. the first was a beginner 25-minute "band exercises" workout, and the second was the 20-minute circle workout. my hips are very flexible but my hamstrings are NOT and both these videos stretched them out a bit.

wrap it up

i am addicted to making wraps with the "flat out" brand of tortilla wraps that i bought in the united states a couple of months ago. i bought four packs and froze them, and now i am into them with a vengeance. for breakfast i make egg and cheese wraps, and for lunch, tuna and hummus wraps. today's lunch wrap also included onion and zucchini that i sauteed this morning. each wrap is only 90-100 calories and 9g fiber, which is only 1 weight watchers point. amazing! it's nice to get the taste of bread without going crazy on the carbs.

last night after work i headed right downstairs to the condo gym. i did 30 minutes on the elliptical and then some sit-ups and bootylicious exercises. i wore my HRM and overall my calorie burn was over 300, and my heart rate stayed in the upper 150s and 160s during my cardio. that is a high heart rate! last spring when i was running 5-6 miles, my HR would stay about about 140. am i grossly out of shape? i know swimming cardio is different than sweaty running/elliptical cardio, but still.

on the elliptical i played this game with myself to pass the time. 2 minutes using arms, and then 2 minutes without arms, or "running" on the spot. both are very effective. i can really feel the burn in my arm muscles when i'm using the arm ski poles (or whatever they are), and it's much harder on the legs to not have any arm help. i had so much energy it was hard to get to sleep last night!

today i have more big exercise plans. either swimming or using the elliptical again. i want to get it done before watching the biggest loser. i'm going to watch it tonight (instead of taping) and do some trinket organization. desk drawers, makeup cases, jewelry boxes. a major purge is needed. yesterday i bought some cheap makeup on ELF so i need to make room. aren't you supposed to throw out makeup that is 6-months old? i still have eyeshadows from HIGH SCHOOL. yes, that's ten or more years people. scary thought.

fun thursday!

today i am not doing anything resembling a) driving and b) work.

for breakfast i had a cup of caramelo coffee, an english muffin with chocolate peanut butter (yum), and a cup of frozen mango, thawed.

my plan for today is to hit the gym (for either treadmill walking or elliptical), then i am meeting my old boss for lunch, and then i am getting my hair done (a cut and lighter blond). i'm not sure where we are going for lunch, but hopefully there will be healthy options. if not, i'll just eat half and save the rest for later.

that's all i really have to say today. tomorrow is weigh in and i'm hoping it will better than the last few weeks... after thanksgiving weekend though, so i'm not counting any chickens before they hatch!

UPDATE: i just got back from the gym. i wore my HRM this time because it's been collecting dust. i did 20 minutes on the elliptical, then some stretching and situps, then 10 more minutes on the elliptical. then, when i was leaving, the elevators in my condo were out of order and i had to walk up 10 flights of stairs. 350 calories burned... not bad for an hour! and i feel great now! woopee - although clearly i am not as in shape as i was when running. there were times on the elliptical (near the end when i was pushing it) when my heart rate was over 170... apparently it's not safe (for me) to go over 166.

short one

friday weigh in 119.8 only 0.2 down from last week which is a bit disappointing since i was really good food and exercise-wise this week. still it's good - i'm happy in general.

sorry for bumming everyone out yesterday about the pigs and crazy lady. for the record the slaughterhouse is not right next door or anything haha, just in the general vicinity. i can't smell anything from my apartment. also i talked to my mom about the crazy lady and she is also quite concerned. she said to give her $10 from her... that's nice. :o)

so today is a half-day of work, and then the cottage. i'm feeling a bit stressed actually because i haven't packed anything for the cottage yet, and i know it's only for one weekend so not a big deal, but packing and being ready on time really stresses me out. i am perpetually late. my biggest flaw haha. and before leaving i told my bf i'd look at an apartment with him that he is thinking of renting. so not much time to pack. i will make a list of things to pack and that will make me feel better.

last night i tried on my bathing suit and bikini and wasn't really that impressed. i know i look better than last year, but i'm too focused on my flaws. smaller boobs, stomach pooch, etc. this has got to stop. i am going to wear the damn bikini and not cover it up and get used to it. maybe wearing bikinis (with confidence... this is key) just takes practice, like wearing heels or anything else.

this morning i got up and did a half-assed workout at the gym. running on the treadmill "galloway" method which is running with walking mixed in. also some arm weights and situps. same old same old.

have a great weekend everyone. :o)

sad or what?

i came to work today even though i had planned to take a vacation day. why? nothing to do. is that sad or what? my boyfriend went home yesterday and is coming back to the city tonight and i could have spent the day at home, hanging around, but it's not really that nice outside (not sunny) and i hate sitting around all day watching tv. that is so boring. now having tomorrow off will feel like a special treat. i am going to a canada day bbq... mmmm... bbqs. that reminds me i will have to pick up food and booze and stuff tonight.

speaking of booze, yesterday i made beer bread. it is soooo easy. here is the recipe:

3 cups flour
3 t sugar
3 t baking powder
1 t basil
12 oz warm beer

i used 2 cups white flour and 1 cup whole wheat flour. i was going to make it all with splenda and whole wheat flour, but i didn't want it to taste gross. not that it necessarily would have, but you know. i used zywiec beer, because my boyfriend is polish and i liked the people dancing on the bottle.


anyway it's so easy to make. you just mix the dry ingredients, then incorporate the beer until just mixed. then you plop it into a prepared bread pan and bake for 50 minutes at 350°F. prepared bread pan means that you grease it/spray it with cooking spray, and then sprinkle it with rough cornmeal (i used whole wheat flour and it was fine) to avoid the sticking. see? easy! the bread it more cake-like than the bread you would purchase in the supermarket.

on saturday it was raining so i went down to the condo gym for a quick workout. i did 20 minutes running, arm weights, 10 minutes running, then decided that was enough for me thank you very much. yesterday i took a rest day. this morning i went back to the gym and did 15 minutes running, arm weights, 15 minutes biking, more arm weights, 10 more minutes running, and situps. the biking was so hard. i was really pushing it for 1 minute (trying to get a rpm of 100 on level 10) and then slowing a bit for 2 minutes (rpm of 85 at level 10). when i got off the bike my legs were like jello.

in other news, i've been really into making spicy hummus wraps lately. i use a whole grain tortilla (about 170 calories), 2 T spicy hummus, cut up about 1/4 yellow pepper, sprinkle some shredded carrots, peel a string cheese, and add baby spinch - then wrap it up and enjoy. it's filling and healthy and sooooooo spicy! it is still substantial because of the tortilla and the hummus, but feels light because of the veggies.

in more other news, i got this book at the bookstore yesterday:

lonely planet coastal california... *sigh of happiness*

only tuesday?

ack, it's only tuesday. last night after work i was going to head down to the gym but then i thought the skies were clearing up so i planned a new running route through high park. so off i go, and it begins rain rain raining on my head, but i keep going. sometimes running in the rain is hardcore, other times it is crazy. this might have been a crazy time. so i make it to the park, and am run run running, and enjoying the nature, and it sort of stops raining, and smells great by the way, so i'm having a good time. until i reach this massive hill. there were a lot of runners on this hill running it up... i guess it's a good workout spot. so i make it up the hill and feel great about myself and keep going. then there is this big hill going down! running downhill is not my idea of fun... it's too hard on the knees. but i make it down and then... an even bigger hill going up. people, this hill was so steep that if i stood up straight i would have fallen backwards, arms flailing whoaoaoaoaoaoa! (like that.) but i made it up. from start to finish, i was gone for an hour and 45 minutes, burned 630 calories, and ran almost 8 miles. that is a lot! i was soooooo tired by the end.

my boyfriend had to stay at work late so he stayed over and brought us burritos. i figured since i burned so many calories i could pretty much eat whatever i wanted. i was just saying the other day that we never eat burritos together (and i never eat them alone haha) so he wanted to try them out. i wasn't that impressed. anyway i think it was poisoned because after eating it i passed out on the couch and had to be dragged to bed.

so the summer challenge is over. i wanted to run 15 miles per week and try a new vegetable each week as well. a few weeks in i realized that trying a new vegetable each week was not my idea of fun, so i switched it up to a new food. here are the results of my weeks:

week 1 food: bok choy
week 1 running: 15/15 miles
week 2 food: eggplant
week 2 running: 15/15
week 3 food: red lentils
week 3 running: 19/15
week 4 food: quinoa
week 4 running: 19/15
week 5 food: wheatberries
week 5 running: 19/15
week 6 food: homemade pad thai
week 6 running: 21/15
week 7 food: nutritional yeast
week 7 running: 25.5/15
week 8 food: protein powder
week 8 running: 19/15

overall i am mostly impressed with the running. at the beginning of the challenge, it was difficult to run 15 miles per week, but as you can see, as the weeks passed, it became easier and easier. overall i ran a total of 152.5 miles and averaged 19 miles per week. it is about 100 miles from toronto to buffalo, new york, so i could have run there and halfway back. :o)

in other news, this morning i did 30 minutes of running on the treadmill in 15, 10, and 5 minute segments, as well as some arm weights. there was this girl who took the only set of 5-pound dumbbells on the treadmill while she walked, which annoyed me a little. most of the time she would rest the bells (still holding on to them) on the handlebar! seriously.... a) walking with weights in your hands is not good for you and b) gym equipment hog! oink oink oink!

tonight is my book club and i haven't finished the book yet. i will try to get as much done as i can at lunch and after work. we are reading "water for elephants" by sarah gruen and it's awesome. it's about the circus!

birthday willpower

good morning everyone. today is my birthday. i am now 27 years old. whoo-pa-dee-do!

i didn't do any HIIT last night. i was too pooped and had too much to do. i painted my old desk pink, did blue paint touch-ups in the bathroom, dyed my hair (it is medium brown naturally and i dye it dark brown but it always fades... nothing too exciting), and washed and dried the fabric i bought for my summer-dress sewing class, which starts tomorrow.

this morning i did 3 x 10 minute running on the treadmill, with arm weights in between, and then some stretches and sit-ups after. i am still following my plan (see yesterday) even though it's my birthday. i am not doing anything anyway so there is no point eating cake and other fatty stuff alone. already the plan is working and i'm excited to see what will happen after two days... then three... then four! (then stopping... )

the protein powder really helped to keep me full yesterday. i mixed it with some unsweetened almond breeze, ice, and banana. you don't have to worry about gaining weight from drinking it because it's an isolate which means it's the purest form of protein they can make into powder (or at least i think that's what that means...), and because it's only 110 calories and 1g of fat per serving. also, it doesn't really have a texture. it is not grainy or anything like that. i mixed mine with my blender on a stick and it just tasted creamy and yummy.

i am having a party on saturday and made a giant to-do list of all the things i have to get done. seriously it's very very long. tonight i have to do some cleaning, and maybe make a trip to the dollar store for party supplies (like plastic cups and forks, and tablecloths). that's really all i have to say today.

EDIT: all that talk about staying on plan probably won't happen... i thought my bf "forgot" about my birthday but he didn't (he was joking... hahaha... funny... hmmmm) and now we have plans tonight. i will keep in check though... and i don't need cake because there will be some at the party on saturday.

takin' it easy, takin' it slooowwwwww

good morning. today i'm doing things a little differently.

1) i did not go to the gym this morning. why? a) bum pain - needs a rest to heal... feels better already and b) i think i needed a mental break from it as well. it's not like i have to go everyday... that would be ridiculous.

2) i decided to have lunch for dinner today and dinner for lunch. usually i eat somewhat light at lunch — yogurt, fruits, toast — because i like to eat a bigger dinner.

3) i stepped on the scale this morning and i never do that (except on friday)... what's up with me? i was feeling particularly thin and fit this morning... unfortunately the scale said i was up from last week. excuse me scale? where do you get off!? the nerve! so anyway, if i switch my meals around today maybe that will help.

here is today's menu:

about 10 strawberries
10-15 raspberries
4-5 blackberries
5-10 blueberries... obviously i am a berry fiend
vanilla hazelnut coffee

1 packet maple brown sugar instant oatmeal
1/2 cup all-bran
1 T ground flax
1/2 cup blueberries
1/2 cup fat free vanilla pear yogurt

gardenburger on a high-fibre pita with
mixed greens
baby tomatoes
honey mustard
small sweet potato on the side

1 cup plain 2% yogurt
2 slices sprouted grains toast
1/2 cup raspberries
1/2 cup pumpkin mixed in

that's about it. i am boring today. my big plans for tonight include cleaning the bathroom. JOY.

hair postpone

i'm supposed to post a photo of my new hair today but i'm not going to. why? i just don't feel very cute today. maybe it's because i just put on the tightest jeans of all time and can barely breathe. i shouldn't complain - they always have been tight, and i just washed them. they are black guess jeans i got from the junior department in winners. hot stuff. but damn, so friggin' tight. i worked up a sweat doing those stretch-your-tight-ass-pants lunges that all girls do, unless you are sensible enough to buy jeans that fit properly of course.

i woke up at 9:30 after 10.5 hours (!!!) of sleep and had to start working (at my kitchen table) right away so i could courier something out.

i didn't shower until about an hour ago and my hair is... ok. before straightening it's all poufy and going in all directions and not the best. after straightening it's a bit better.

i am going back to work tomorrow (for sure) and my computer at work has a built in camera so i will take a photo then. right now i want to vacuum before my bf gets here for date night. i wanted to do some reading with a coffee, but between showering, and laundry, and going to the gym, and vacuuming, there just isn't time. wah wah wah.

today i went to the gym around 2pm and did 30 minutes incline walking on the treadmill, and 4 miles (about 12 minutes) on the bike. i just wasn't feeling the long workout today. i wanted to be feeling it, but my body said, "take a break buddy" and i said, "ok." speaking of work outs my heart rate monitor is DEFINITELY at my office right now so i'll have it tomorrow. about friggin' time! i've said "friggin'" twice in this post. weird, because i don't say it in real life. i don't swear really either so i don't know where i got "friggin'" from. anyhoo.

today on the menu is:

1/3 cup red river cereal
2 clementines

1 fat free astro yogurt (yes, i'm switching up the source)

1 source yogurt with unsweetened almond breeze, an equal sweetener, and chopped strawberries

pita sandwich with:
one pita
tomato paste
mustard
lean deli chicken
1 slice swiss
lettuce
tomato
shredded carrots

and carrot chips and garlic hummus on the side. that reminds me, i better brush my teeth. see you tomorrow for a better post, promise!

friday yahoo thank the good lord above yippee skippy!

can you tell i'm excited it's friday? i didn't do any exercise this morning because i needed a break. friday is also weigh-in day and today my big number is 116.2, which is a 2.6 loss from last week. This is my lowest ever adult weight. I weighed 135 in high school and can't remember before that. this number is a little low, but a) I have been exercising more (longer runs) b) I've been painting like a crazy fool c) I've been stressed out at work trying to do the jobs of three peeps at once. yes, i said peeps. also d) it's still in my maintenance range so it's all good. keep in mind i do have very small bone structure.

i'm going to answer jenn's question from the comments yesterday here: yes, my gym is in my building, so it's really easy to work out there. and i have to wake up early in the morning, but not unreasonably so. i don't have to be into work until about 9:30 if i want, so as long as i begin showering around 8:00am then i have enough time to get ready and get to work. if i'm swimming i start around 7am, if i'm running i like to start around 6:45am, and if i do a longer cardio workout (like walking) i like to start at about 6:30am. even when i didn't live in this condo, and had to pay for a gym, it was still a 2 minute walk from my house. i guess that is one of the benefits of city living. i just don't get the point of driving to a gym when you could walk there... of course i hate driving and avoid it at all costs.

i tried to take an ab picture this morning, but the angles were all crappy and i was getting that mirror flash reflection which is not attractive. so i took some photos here. not of my abs obviously... i don't want to be obscene.

this first one is a stomach shot:


the second is more of a body shot:


the third is of my ripped arm, haha:


and the fourth, me... hello!:


today i'm eating:

source yogurt
strawberries
pc blue menu multigrain oatmeal with added flax and all bran
salmon something lean cuisine
orange
more strawberries
more source yogurt

and then dinner. happy weekend!

thursday - out for lunch

i wish it was friday... but it's not. only one more day until the weekend. last night my photoshop course went until 10:45pm, so i didn't get home until after 11. yikes! i have hardly been home at all this week. my apartment is a pigsty and of course i haven't started to do any painting prep. tonight i have to return a movie and pick up a coat from the dry cleaners on the way home, and it's my tap class too. when will the madness end?

this morning i still managed to wake up somewhat early and run for 4 miles on the treadmill in the gym. i did it without stopping, but i definitely did not enjoy it until it was over. now i'm happy i did it though. i might take tomorrow off from the gym, depending on what time i get to bed tonight. i don't want to be tired on friday!

today at lunch my office is going to hernando's hideaway for more mexican food. what should i have? normally i get the chicken enchiladas, but today i want to try something different. here is what i'm thinking:

1) TOASTADAS 7.99 (under fiesta salads)
A flat open faced golden corn tortilla with your choice of Chicken Vera Cruz or Mexi's Chili. Topped with Santa Fe beans, crisp chredded lettuce, Pico de Gallo, Monterey Jack, diced green onions, tortilla strips and sour cream sauce.

2) CALIFORNIA SALAD 13.49 (under fiesta salads)
Crisp mixed greens topped with Drunken Shrimp, artichoke hearts, Jack cheese, roasted red peppers and tomatoes. Avocado vinaigrette on the side.

3) MEXICALI SALMON 15.98
A fillet of Atlantic Salmon, steamed and enhanced with the refreshing flavours of cucumber, lime, avocado and garlic.

4) VEGETARIAN CHILI
Chunks of garden fresh vegetables in a rich tomato based Mexicanstyle stew. 100% vegetarian and 100% great taste. Served in a sourdough bread bowl.

i think i'll go with the california salad, because it seems veggielicious. the salmon could be good but my company does pay for these lunches and is that too expensive? actually some people order booze and i do not, so maybe i should just get what i want. ;) i've only had one shrimp in my whole life, but people are always going on and on about them like they are the living end, so maybe i should force myself to get over their weird appearance. the chili sounds great but i probably couldn't resist that bread bowl... sourdough... drool.

for breakfast this morning i had a delicious bowl of red river hot cereal which really is the greatest thing ever, a fat free yogurt with some frozen berries mixed in, and coffee. :) weigh in tomorrow and i hope to maintain.

for once

i am nervous and excited for tomorrow's weigh in. i am feeling really good and looking pretty good, but like many the numbers on the scale can have an influence on my mood. sort of. actually if i am back in my maintenance range i'll be happy. i know last friday i was only 0.4 over it, but saturday i was more than a pound over and sunday more than 2 pounds over. i don't even want to think about monday after sundays gorge-fest. i am pretty good about shrugging off bad numbers actually, i just want to see results for the work i put in this week.

last night for dinner we had fast fry steaks, salad, and whole wheat rotini mmmmm. delicious. and a post dinner snack of smartpop mixed with ketchup chips. i managed to eat mostly popcorn which was a victory for me because i loooovvvveee ketchup chips.

this morning i woke up and had a great run on the treadmill. except for that my headphones stopped working in one ear a couple of days ago. yesterday i went headphone shopping but couldn't believe how expensive they were, so i am going to try ebay. i decided to try running with no music, and let me tell you it was a very pleasant experience. i felt really in tune with my body and running, and my thoughts were very clear. until the big guy with b.o. got on the treadmill beside me and i could hear his music through his headphones. so i did some running and stretching, sit-ups and pushups, and i think i will go back tonight for some strength training before tap class. i really love getting cardio out of the way in the mornings. it sets me on a happy track all day long.

here is today's menu:

pre-run
1/2 slice sprouted grains bread

post-run
other half of bread slice

breakfast
banana bread oatmeal with added flax and splash of unsweetened almond joy
blueberries and strawberries
coffee

lunch
low fat coffee yogurt
weight control maple brown sugar oatmeal
clementines

snack
clementine
cookies and creme oatmeal

dinner
maybe oatmeal pancakes and peas. for some reason i am craving these pancakes again. :)

doing well

wednesday and it's FREEZING today. wowee wowee. but it's ok. last night for dinner i had peas, cauliflower with frank's chili lime hot sauce, and mix of tuna, onion, and sun-dried tomatoes mixed with mustard, baked until hot, and served over a slice of multigrain toast. i made way too many veggies so i have a bit left for lunch today YUMMY. i knew i really should eat tuna when i was STILL craving it. maybe i heard john tesh talking about mixing it with mustard or something haha.

so canadian girls, i have a freebie for you. it's a 32 page guide to your health called live well: a woman's guide to optimal health. i can't vouch for how good it is because i just ordered mine this morning. but why not order it? it's free (my favourite price).

i am feeling good about my weight and health, but i'm not stepping on the scale until friday because a) it's tom, which truthfully i don't think affects me as much as other women and b) i don't want to get discouraged.

i got up again this morning and walked for 60 minutes on the treadmill. i bumped my speed up to 3.8 mph and changed the incline from 0% to 11% every 1.5 minutes. EDIT: i also forgot to mention that i actually went swimming in the condo pool last night - only for about 1/2 an hour and definitely not strenuous, but it was fun and i will go again soon.

here is my menu today:

breakfast:
pc blue menu multigrain oatmeal with added flax
clementine
coffee

snack:
toffee yogurt

lunch:
leftover peas, cauliflower and tuna mix
clementine

snacks:
vanilla yogurt
cinnmon roll oatmeal

dinner:
not sure as my boyfriend is coming over tonight.

ps. it turns out my kitchen scale was not delivered because UPS didn't have my apartment number - GRRRRRRR. hopefully it will come soon now that it's cleared up.

feeling better already

i think my oatmeal plan is working. by the end of the workday i had three packs of quaker instant oatmeal and i truthfully i was a little sick of oatmeal. but then for dinner i had oatmeal pancakes (and peas). funny because this morning i got a comment on my last post suggesting oatmeal pancakes. maybe it was the vibes of the universe ;o). i didn't really feel hungry all day, except before my workout and dinner. already i feel really in control and less likely to snack on things that i don't need. i want my stomach to get used to eating small meals, 4 or 5 times a day, and this really helps. and already i'm craving weird things like tuna and mustard.

last night i went for a 4 mile run. i had to stop and start a little because my womanly areas were feeling funny (wed. is t.o.t.m.) - also i had to go to the bathroom. so i walked for 5 minutes, ran for 25, walked for 2, ran for 5, walked 2, ran 3, walked 2, ran 2, cooled down walking for 5. in the end it was more like 4.6 miles but i wanted to get a full 35 minutes of running in. i also did some stretching, sit-ups, and strength training. i went to the bathroom in the women's change room, connected to the pool, and it is soooooo nice. why am i not swimming more? maybe i will swim tonight or tomorrow morning. maybe!

my oatmeal pancakes were delicious - i added flax. a side of peas may seem strange to some people but i figure that i only can eat whatever i want for dinner for so long, without having to think about other people, like "men" or "kids" so i might as well just eat what i want.

this morning i got up early (i also went to bed early which was amazing for me because i love staying up but then always regret it) and walked for 81 minutes on the treadmill. i walked at a speed of 3.7 mph which is really comfortable (not too fast) and changed the incline from 0% to 10% every 1.5 minutes. a good workout for sure, but not necessarily difficult which i like.

so it has come to my attention that when i'm in the car listening to the radio, which is rarely because i usually only ever drive on sundays, i sometimes enjoy the john tesh radio program. the speaking parts, not the music. is this a sign that i'm getting old? anyhoo, yesterday i downloaded his diet and fitness podcasts and i've been listening to them on the way to and from work, on the streetcar. i really recommend them. it's just a bunch of really short tips and tricks for dieters - like things you may not know, or what to eat to feel full, or what foods have more brain power etc. he really is pushing for everyone to eat oatmeal in the morning. maybe that is why i like him so much. and he just seems like a real guy - he mentions his daughter from time to time and says that if he didn't follow his own advice he'd weigh at least 25 pounds more. so i'm recommending his podcasts to you. there are also ones about relationships and other stuff which i will move on to soon.

doesn't he look like a reliable guy?

anyway, i'm oatmealing it up again today, so here is my menu!

breakfast:
1/2 boiled apple, chopped
weight control maple brown sugar oatmeal
cottage cheese cup with mixed berries
coffee

lunch:
banana creme pie yogurt
cookies and creme oatmeal
clementine

snack or lunch 2:
fibre berry medley oatmeal
clementine

dinner:
maybe oatmeal pancakes and peas again. it is really yummy :)

good morning

what a lovely sunny day it is. although still frigid boo hoo whinge whinge. but that's ok. this morning i got up and hit the gym. i did 35 minutes running on the treadmill, with a 5 minute warm up and cool down walk, and some sit-ups and stretches. i really need to get into the habit of running in the mornings, before work. for some reason i was scared of doing this. maybe i thought i'd be too tired or lazy, but that's just a ridiculous excuse. and i really don't like running at night right now because i do it inside (dreadmill) and the gym is busy after work, and i think about it all day. but now it's done and i feel grrrrreat! and i have my whole evening free which is another huge bonus.

my weekend in niagara was really fun. we walked along the strip, ordered pizza, went swimming in our hotel pool, went on the skywheel (a giant ferris wheel with enclosed pods), went to the ripley's believe it or not museum, the fudge and hershey stores, watched a movie, went out for dinner, went to the casino (where my boyfriend won at slots... he always wins), went to a haunted house, walked along the falls, drove to queenston heights (where general brock was killed in the war of 1812) and that's about it. eating was bad but could have been worse, and we split our portions at each meal that we ate out.

i have decided to rededicate myself to following a stricter eating plan, also known as less snacking and eating more healthful foods. i have gained a bit of weight and need to take of it before five pounds become ten.

today's menu:

pre-work out:
1/4 fibre source bar (0.5)

post work out:
1/4 fibre source bar (0.5)
1/23

breakfast:
berry medley oatmeal made with water (2)
strawberries (0.5)
3.5/23

lunch:
1 cup homemade soup (1)
2 slices sprouted grains bread (2)
2 deli turkey slices (1)
1/2 cup peas (0)
7.5/23

snacks throughout the day:
yogurt (3)
apple (1)
clementine (0.5)
fibre source bar (2)
english toffee tea (0)
14/23

dinner:
chicken breast (2)
mixed vegetables (1)
1 cup rice (4)
21/23

after dinner:
1 glass wine @ book club (2)
english toffee or tazo calming tea (0)
23/23

19 points + 4 AP this morning.