Health in Many Forms...

So it's been over a month since I posted last?! I know, I know, far to loong and there is no real excuse for it other than the fact that I have been lazy. Part of it post grad school laziness and not wanting to do ANYTHING not required of me, part of it has been that my foot is still giving me drama, and yah, just being lazy general.

This week my employer is starting the Virgin Health Miles Program and I have joined. To learn more check out; http://www.virginhealthmiles.com/ . Basically, I'll be wearing a pedometer and reporting my physical activity via their website to earn money for obesity prevention programs.

I found out this week that I'll need braces a second time.. I had originally gone for cosmetic reasons but long story short I'll be getting them at some point soon to realign my bit and prevent further wear on my teeth and hopefully help resolve some of my TMJ issues. We're trying to work the money part out now... fun stuff eh?

Otherwise, I am trying so very hard to limit eating out at work to 1 - 2 days a week and cook more nights at home. This varies from week to week.. sometimes it works out perfectly, others not so much. I'm anxious to see what type, if any, the virgin program has for this... we'll see.

So that's what's up here.... any of my readers (are there any? :) up to?

Strawberries, and Granola, and Chia O-My!

So for whatever reason I have been craving strawberries, blueberries, granola, and iced chai... yep... all yummy yes but at our house? No! So they are tomorrow's grocery list. Lots of other fruit but no berries in the mix :) Although, thanks to Starbucks and my at home stash I have the chai covered!

I have lost about another inch all the way around but my weight is in the same range. No swimming (or real workouts) really this week thanks to unseasonably cool temperatures and a nutty after work schedule but still progress so that's good right?! The human body continues to be a mysterious thing... hmm...

Day One...

After two weeks of eating less than healthy and working out less than my normal 4 - 6 days tomorrow is day one for me. Thankfully, I have only gained about two lbs with my measurements staying in the same however, I don't want to lose progress so it's back to my normal healthy routine.

Why is that as people in times of celebration like graduations and anniversary's let's say... (insert guilty smile)... we eat and get lazy? Seriously, I'm not the only one. I think the food/eating part has to do with community and sharing food as a community with the people that you love. The lazy part I have no idea?

Anyway, Day One for me is Tuesday ;)

Making My Way Down

So I'm down about 3 - 4 inches overall (depending on the body part of course :)

I have lost about 4.5 lbs too...

I feel good about this overall (and my goal dress is fitting better!!). I've been keeping up with a mix of cardio and strength and I've been tracking my eating although not freaking out about it and the results are there. It's good to be on a gradual decline and doing it in a healthy way. I just hope that despite all the yummy stuff I'll be eating the next few days in celebration of graduation I can keep those numbers going down ;)

Not Much to Report

but report I shall...

I have been getting my workouts in about 2 - 4 times a week and I would like to have this at 4 - 5 days these coming weeks so I am working hard to squeeze in even strength training and wee bits of cardio whenever I can. Today I did the recumbent bike at the apartment complex gym as opposed to walking which burned a few more calories and it's a break from walking/jogging.

Eating well continues to be tough for me. I have been doing a lot of traveling/eating out lately and while I make an effort to eat lower calorie foods it's not always easy. I am great at drinking water and getting in fruits and veggies though because I adore them! So it's coming along.

I gave blood last week and have gotten school stuff under control so both are good for my mental health and well being!!!

I have also decided that instead of only focusing on the scale I'm going to keep track of my measurements. I have never done this and since I don't seem to be losing yet lots of people verbally indicate seeing a difference I thought this might be a more encouraging thing to check out. So there's all that....

Short Term Goal - The Dress

So graduation is 30 days away, 1 month!!!! Whoo Hoo!!!! I ordered the following dress from the gap. I love it in every way and plan to wear it with a cute pale blue or perhaps yellow cardigan, pearls, etc.. Problem is it's tight in the hips/tummy.. so my plan is this; gradually increase my strength training to aid in weight loss and toning and make it a point to get my cardio in (this has been tricky this week) and sparkpeople my meals daily. I had noticed that I was eating about 200 - 300 calories over my "recommended" amount which according to some is too low to begin with so I am just right? .. so just to be on the safe side I have replaced my WW SM's breakfast pocket with oatmeal and am limiting myself to one 12oz mug of tea (I take mine with fat fee half and half and sugar) and am working on transitioning to green tea for a while to avoid the cream and sugar all together. So my hope is these little changes will add up.

On a kinda of cool note several coworkers over the last few weeks have asked me if I have been losing weight. While I haven't budged on the scale I guess I am losing inches? I need to measure and see... hmm..

Yoga Day!!!

The year that Shane and I got married I did yoga 3 days a week at the Y in Bloomington and walked or swam on the "off days". I have since done yoga off and on from time to time and I really love it. Since I have a nutty schedule and can't find a place here that has a schedule that jives with mine I decided to try a yoga video and "The Biggest Loser Weight Loss Yoga" won based on several reviews. So today was my first day with Bob as my yoga instructor. Overall, I really liked it. I got my butt kicked (which I needed) but it seemed a little short to me. I did weeks 1- 2 which are about 35 min in total with warm up/cool down. So I'm gonna keep up on it on the days I don't walk/cardio of some variety. I do so miss yoga so this should be fun!