Branching Out

     I branched out today. I did it. I tried hot yoga. And WOW what a workout. After 90 minutes in a 98 degree room I was sufficiently exhausted and now am a little sore. It was a good workout all in all and I stretched places I didn't know could be stretched. I think I would be willing to try it again now, today mid-class with sweat pouring from every part of my body I wasn't so sure! But before yoga began, I hit a bit of a road bump in this path I am on.
     Before I went to class today, when I got up, I decided I wanted to weigh myself again. To see if after all this hard work and such where I was. Well, yup, no weight lost. Now I know it's not really that big of a deal (well I can say that now, this morning it was) but it is in a way discouraging. I have been eating really well and correctly and exercising and yet, nothing shows on the scale, nada. Now I know weight loss isn't really my goal here at all, but I was sure I had lost a little. Nope. So I wrote my nutritionist a what the heck email about the situation then headed to hot yoga. By the time I was done (and uber sweaty) I had an email back from her. She was quite empathetic which helped and she told me this isn't a quick process. I know this, yet I still expected something. She told me I was doing everything right and encouraged me to not fall back into old patterns. Reading all this really helped. Especially with her telling me I was doing things right. I haven't really treated my body right food wise in a long time. So, I decided  to put the scale away for the next six months. Why six months? She told me it can take up to that amount of time for all of this to balance out. So, I am going to practice that whole patience thing and leave the scale be.
     What frustrated me about the whole experience before hot yoga this morning was that the number I saw on the scale put me in an instant snit. I was instantly down on myself. Not fun. I felt insecure at first during  yoga.  I compared myself to all the other ladies that walked in. I was just in a very negative place. But, over the next 90 minutes being forced to focus on myself, my body and what it could do, that changed. I began to realize I am getting stronger and I am getting healthier. That this is about health and balance not the number. Besides being physically challenging the yoga sweat-fest was also mentally challenging which is what I needed today.
     So, while I started in a negative place today I am now feeling better. Also, instead of feeling discouraged about nothing changing yet, I am going to keep moving forward. Just the ambition to keep going forward is progress for me, because I would have given up in the past. Not this time. This time like this blog's title I am choosing to change.

Constructive Criticism

     It is finally Friday night and I am on the couch. Exactly where I want to be on this cold February night. After a long week at work, it's nice to be doing a whole lot of nothing tonight and pretty much all weekend. Have a shopping and lunch date with Mom tomorrow and my plan is on Sunday morning to try hot yoga. I have had a Groupon for some time for it now, but I haven't been brave enough to try it. But I figured carpe diem (or carpe Sunday) and go for it.
    As I was getting ready to write on here tonight Jeremy told me I need to switch things up a little. I am not always a good recipient of "constructive" criticism as he called it. Something in me just takes it personally. I guess because this blog is pretty personal. I also just don't want to get too boring or repetitive, which he said I was doing. He focused on the repetitiveness more than the boring, or at least that is what he said! So, I guess I will start branching out a bit more on HERE too.  I get some inspiration from other blogs so maybe I will look at a few and get some new ideas!
     Now it is time to read some trashy magazines and relax on the couch on this blustery night. Happy Friday to all and to all a good night!

Opposites Attract

     Like Paula Abdul once sang, "Opposites attract". As far as the eating habits of Dunham and I this couldn't be more true! I have mentioned before on my blog that Jeremy doesn't necessarily share an intrest in healthy eating and cooking like I do. Well, that was made all the more apparent tonight. I came home from a tough workout with Susie. He cooked me a chicken breast and I made a big spinach salad with lots of goodies like beans, a little avacado, a little cheese, veggies and topped with a salsa ranch dressing I made. It was quite tasty and filling. Now, Dunham on the other hand. He made himself a 3/4 pound cheeseburger with onion and American cheese. And for his side dish he tested out his trusty new deep fryer and made some french fries and cheese balls. Yes, cheeseballs at home! He was in burger and fried food heaven. I have to say I tried a couple fries and he did pretty good! The dinner experience tonight made me giggle and think.
     Yes, I am focused on healthy eating and heating and fitness in general. I like this lifestyle I am building for myself.  However, I have to say sometimes I wish I was more like Jeremy. Someone who could just kind of give into what they really want to have for a night, screw calories. Don't get me wrong, I have done this, often with a few cocktails in me, but there are times when in the middle of the week I want to throw caution to the wind . But I never do. Now I know it wouldn't kill me or make me blow up like a hot air balloon. I realize this now, believe me before I would have agonized. I can't honestly say if I did give in that I would not have any negative thoughts, because they are still there. What I can honestly say is that I know I can  eat my "forbidden foods" if I want them, but truthfully now that I am eating healthier and more balanced, realizing how I will feel after eating those foods stops me. Thinking about how I will feel makes me rethink the idea or recreate it in a healthier recipe. This my friends, is part of the intuitive eating process that I am beginning to understand. That I am allowed to eat that food but that sometimes realizing how it makes me feel overall plays a role in the decision to eat that food. I think my nutritionist would be proud.
     So, I am pretty glad Dunham made his ginormous fried food and burger feast, it made me understand more about this intuitive eating process I am going through. I know he is glad too by the cheesy burger eating grin on his face!

Every Other Saturday Morning Ritual

     Here I am on a CHILLY and slippery Saturday morning having my every other Saturday morning ritual. My husband works every other weekend. So, on these Saturdays I have to myself, I get up for a run, maybe get some errands done and sit down for a breakfast of oatmeal and coffee while messing around on the computer. I really have learned to like my little ritual and now blogging has become a welcome part of it! This morning I ventured out on the semi-icy roads and headed to the gym. I did a 5 mile pain free run and when I totaled my miles for the week today, it turns out I ran about 25 miles this week! This thrilled me. I haven't ran that many miles in a  single week since before I injured myself over the summer. I was ecstatic and had to think it has to be the changes I am making that are helping me run better and farther! I truly believe  my healthier eating habits and new trainer are making an impact. And to think, for so long I was so scared to branch out and try these things because I didn't believe they really would help or work, clearly I was COMPLETELY wrong.
     I was thinking to myself last night how long I was scared to really change anything, most of all my eating habits. Even though I had trainers and friends tell me and I would read articles and books about  how much better it would make me feel, how much better I would run and how I WOULD NOT gain weight I was scared.  But when I had my epiphany a while back I realized I had to try something else. Put my trust in something else and maybe I would start to feel better. And so far, lo and behold, it is WORKING! Words can't explain how happy I am about this and how glad I am I have started this journey. Realizations like this make the tough days worth it and make me realize that health and balance is fabulous!
     So, off now to start my Saturday! I am having some late afternoon cocktails with my brother who I haven't seen since Christmas thanks to a busy work schedule for him. Then later, to dinner with some fun ladies at a  yummy restaurant in St. Louis that serves ice cream martinis that are AMAZEBALLS! And I plan to enjoy every sip!! Happy Saturday!