A New Plan (and New Jeans)

Yesterday, I did a weigh-in.  Once again, I wasn't feeling great about it, but I did it anyway.  And the results were... a little disappointing.  I'm up about half a kilo (one pound).

Weight - 59.2k (130lbs)

What I put this down to is the fact that I've been eating a lot of dried fruit and nuts after dinner.  I'd go so far as to call these binges.  Now, as I'm doing everything else fine (working out daily, with a range of different workouts: weights, step, static bike, pilates, yoga), it's not too dreadful.  Still, a pound every couple of weeks could quickly add up.

And I'm having no luck stopping these binges with the hypnotherapy apps that I've got.  I don't know if this is because there isn't an app specifically for bingeing, or if this is based on stuff that is too primal for hypnotherapy to reach (an idea another psychotherapist friend raised).  Either way, I realise I need a new plan to take this into account.

I don't want to stop eating and enjoying fruit and nuts (which I could probably manage with some of the craving buster apps).  So, what I'm going to try is to make up a plate with treats after dinner, and have just that plate.  That way, I have my treat, but have it in a controlled manner.  I tried this last night, and it worked, so fingers crossed.

On a more cheerful note, I went shopping for new jeans yesterday, a size down from the last ones I bought.  It feels good to be wearing jeans that fit me again, and knowing that they are a smaller size than I've worn for several years :)

Yay for Tapping

I'm not sure whether tapping has actually had an effect on my weight.  However, as I wrote yesterday, I've been doing it more regularly this week, and it gave me the confidence to step on the scales for the first time in months.  Since before my son was born, in fact!  Not that I thought the number there would make me happy, but rather that I felt I'd be able to deal with it, whatever it was.

Imagine my surprise, then, when the scales showed 64.6k (142.4lbs)!  That's lower than my weight when I first started writing this blog, by just over two kilos (2.2lbs).

It's true I've been working out - generally at least three times a week, and most often daily.  Not as much as I used to, sometimes just 20 minutes rather than an hour, but at least I've been keeping moving.  And I've been mixing it up a lot.   For instance, this week I've been on my static bike, done weights, stepping, and this morning I did 16 minutes of yoga (before baby woke up).  Hope to do another short workout later.

It's also true that I'd still like to lose a couple of kilos, and that I notice a lot of that extra weight is on my stomach, which they say is the least healthy place to put on weight.  So, I'll keep tapping, and hope that it comes off...

Stepping Up

Friday - 62 minutes of stepping with Cathe Friedrich's Low Max.  After seeing an old friend on Thursday who pointed out that I've put on weight in the last year, I wanted to workout a bit harder.  After all, til that point I'd only done 74 minutes of exercise all week.  Admittedly, it was a particularly slack week mainly because I was travelling on business, but still...

However, I also know that the second part of the equation, what I eat, is probably even more important.  Have a few plans to help improve that, too.

Saturday - 41 minutes of cardio-sculpting with Alison Davis-McLean's Ultimate Fat Burning Workout. Rather interrupted, though, by the baby :(  Ate badly, but not dreadfully - couldn't put my plans into effect, as the baby wouldn't sleep at all from dinner time onward.

Back to Basics

Tuesday - didn't exercise at all, as I had a really full, busy day.  However, I didn't eat as badly on Monday or Tuesday, being away from home and my "comfort" zone, so that's one plus.

Wednesday - 36 minutes of cardio-sculpting with Allie del Rio's Hardcore Fusion.  Would have liked to do more, but between travelling, catching up on regular work, and taking the baby for his first immunisations, there just isn't time.

Blast, No Better Body

Saturday - 22 minutes of Jessica Smith's Better Body Blast - the arms section.  I had hoped to do both arms and legs for about 45 minutes of exercise, but the baby had other ideas :(  So, I stuck on a couple of minutes stretching at the end of the arms section, and that was that!

Sunday - 45 minutes of low impact step with Cathe - yay!

Monday - 18 minutes of yoga self-practice.  Didn't think I'd get to workout at all, so it was a bonus.  Plus, I was inspired by Carla to at least do a little :)  I also silently chanted to Yemaya while I practised.

Feeling fat and disappointed in myself, eating way too much chocolate.  Do have a plan, though, to start doing something to keep my hands occupied after dinner...

What Shall I Fuse?

Friday - 45 minutes of cardio-pilates with Ellen Barrett's Floor Fusion Workout.

I bought this shortly after it came out, earlier this year, but hadn't managed to do it yet because I suspected it would have too much stuff on the tummy for a pregnant body to handle.  Actually, there wasn't all that many exercises prone on the floor, and it was a better workout than I expected.  Didn't really raise my heart rate much, but it certainly challenged my muscles :)

I'm still not eating well, simply not tracking it.  I feel like I should be able to find the magic formula that will help me eat better.  A few years ago, going back onto meat helped me not eat chocolate or sugar for the better part of a year, first time in my life I'd managed that.  Now, it's been weeks since I even managed to avoid sugars until mid-afternoon.  I know that I'm tired and physically challenged by breast feeding, but bingeing on junk isn't the solution.  Just wish I knew what it is...

Too Blissed Out?

Wednesday - 53 minutes of Eoin Finn's Blissology Friday.  On the box, it said the full programme was 45 minutes, but actually it was 58 minutes.  However, that was a bit too long for the baby, and 53 minutes in, during Savasana, he kicked off.  So, I finished my relaxation feeding him in bed :)

The bad news is, today my knee has been hurting.  Despite what the GP said about it being better to do Pilates or Yoga, rather than aerobics, I think there's still too much relaxin flowing through my body for me to be as aware as I should be of what's happening when I stretch.

Thursday - 36 minutes of cardio-sculpting.  I started with Alison Davis-McLean's Calorie Explosion, but found it a bit too high intensity.  Instead, I swapped to Rebekah Sturkie's Total Body Time Crunch Express - just weights :)

Yoga, Day Off, and other Exercise

Catching up...

Friday - just 25 minutes of cardio-sculpting with Rebekah Sturkie's Total Body Time Crunch.

Saturday - 28 minutes of yoga self-practice.  I love that all I need is a yoga mat, wherever I am.

Sunday - day off!  We were travelling, and I just didn't manage it.  Instead, we watched "The Fox and the Hound", which none of us had seen before.  I'm still hormonal - almost cried at the bit where the old lady has to set the fox free.

Monday - 58 minutes of cardio-sculpting with Alison Davis-McLean's Dangerous Curves.  I have to admit, I find it a bit annoying the way she tries to get the workout title into her "patter".

Tuesday - 41 minutes of Allie del Rio's Time Crunch Cardio.  I had the baby, and wasn't sure how much I'd get to do.  With a couple of pauses to feed, I felt I'd had a fairly good workout.

Exercise Catch-Up

I've felt quite good about my exercise, even though I haven't always done very much in any one session.  I am happy about my consistency, and I've also enjoyed the variety.  I saw my doctor this week, and she suggested I should just stick to Pilates and yoga while I still have breast-feeding hormones flowing around my body.  Personally, I think that shows a lack of knowledge of exercise, as a low impact step workout is less stressful on the joints than an all-out astanga workout (unless you are super strong).  So, I'll carry on my way...

Saturday

I exercised:  51 minutes of step with Cathe Friedrich's Low Impact Circuit.

Sunday

I exercised:  43 minutes of yoga self-practice.  It was lovely to just listen to my breath and chant silently, and move.

Monday

I exercised:  31 minutes of cardio-sculpting with Alison Davis McLean's Calorie Explosion.  Didn't have time for more, as my MIL was coming over.

Tuesday

I exercised:  Kari Anderson's Hot Steps - just a quickie, 36 minutes.  Fun, but I do prefer when I don't have to modify down high impact moves, as the temptation is always there to just go for it...

Wednesday

I exercised:  45 minutes of cardio-pilates with Ellen Barrett's Firm and Burn Pilates, a Crunch video.  It was pretty fun, and I did work up a bit of a sweat :)

Thursday

I exercised:  41 minutes of cardio-sculpting with Alison Davis-McLean's Ultimate Fat-Burning Workout.

Every Little Counts

Wednesday

I exercised:  30 minutes with Ellen Barrett's Sleek Sculpt Express.  I really like her positive talk during the programme, emphasising the importance of breath, and talking about movement being a treat.  She also says that for her, being functionally fit is the same as being aesthetically beautiful.  While I don't totally agree, I like the reminder that my body allows me to do lots of wonderful things.

Thursday

I exercised:  20 minutes of Allie del Rio's Time Crunch cardio.  Busy day, but it was nice to at least work up a slight sweat, feel I'd done something for me.

Friday

I exercised:   41 minutes with Kelsie Daniel's Pump, Jump n Jab.  Had to interrupt once to breast feed, but I still enjoyed the kicks and punches.  Kickboxing workouts make me feel strong in a "don't mess with me" way :D

Reassessing My Priorities

Did premixes of this 3 times in 10 days :)

Friday

I exercised:  33 minutes of cardio with The Firm's Cardio Party.

I ate: 110g biscuits and not sure how much chocolate after dinner.  Probably just under 200g total :)

Saturday

I exercised:  46 minutes of step with Cathe's Low Max.  This time I did the all combos premix - fun!

I thought:  About a comment by Magic Mentha about how looking at my bad eating is reinforcing it.  I also did a draw on it, from Les Vampires.  Will try to post about it at some point.

Sunday - I exercised:  40 minutes of yoga self-practice.

Monday - I exercised:  52 minutes of cardio sculpting with Alison Davis McLean's Bootcamp workout.

Tuesday

I exercised:  44 minutes of stepping with Cathe Friedrich's Low Max.  This time, I did the combos and blasts 4-7 premix.

I thought:  I'd like to eat less junk, and I'd like to sleep more, and I'd like to tap more for better eating.  However, it's not happening right now, and I think the main reason is how tired I am.  Baby's been a bit grizzly and difficult the last couple of days and nights, and the house has been noisy and busy all day.  So, maybe I need to give myself a break.  When I get more sleep and feel less exhausted, I'm more likely to eat better.  In the meantime, I'll keep exercising and try to be loving towards myself.

Hard Core Thursday

Thursday

I exercised:  35 minutes of cardio sculpting with Allie del Rio's Hardcore Fusion.  It's nice to have workouts of all different lengths.  This workout was a bit disrupted, though, first by a phone call, then breast feeding, and then during the last bit I had an ocular migraine.  This has happened before, and I just exercise through it.  Still, I'm grateful that a) they don't tend to last long and b) they aren't painful.

I ate:  44g biscuits after lunch.  175g biscuits and 55g cake after dinner.  Total - 274g :((

Ballet Wednesday

Wednesday

I exercised: 56 minutes of ballet with Kari Anderson's Centre Floor.  It's interesting, I founded it harder than I remember, yet I have been working out consistently, and with weights…

I ate: 28g biscuits after lunch, and 170g biscuits, 49g choc after dinner.  Total 247g :(

I thought:  About my altar, after finally unpacking most of my "elements", altar cloths and trays...

Losing Count Again

Monday and Tuesday

I ate:  Monday I tracked what I ate, but have forgotten it now Tuesday is ending.  Today, I didn't even manage to track my eating.  A big chocolate macaroon at lunchtime, and lots of chocolate chip biscuits and some minstrels after dinner… :(

I exercised:  Monday I finally managed all 41 minutes of Allie del Rio's Total Body Toner, having only done 11 minutes of it last week.  Tuesday I did 26 minutes of Cathe Friedrich's Rhythmic Step, and 21 minutes of Allie del Rio's Time Crunch Cardio - nice :)

I felt:  Tired and annoyed with myself.  No self-control.  Didn't help that I got very little done with a visit from my MIL.  Nice, though, that a tarot client came back, repeats are a morale boost :)

Rainy Sunday

I exercised:  47 minutes of stepping with Cathe's Low Max - and I even put the step back up to 8 inches for the first time since I was in the middle of my pregnancy :)

I ate:  60g biscuits and 15g choc after lunch, then 101g choc and 70g biscuits after dinner.  Total: 246g :(

I thought:  Overeating may have been to do with doing a much stronger workout, but I don't think so.  I put it down to not having had a nap for a week - I'm tired!  Tried to nap on Saturday, but baby boy was having none of it :/

Another So-So Saturday

The Good:  Did 47 minutes of cardio sculpting with Alison Davis McLean's Cardio Overdrive.

The Bad: 15g choc and 30g biscuits after lunch, 125g biscuits and 32g choc after dinner.  Total 202g.

The So-So:  Only did tapping about twice.  Didn't eat any brassicas with dinner, which seems to have improved the baby's temperament.  Still had some whinging after dinner, though.  I think maybe he was tired and needed help sleeping, after DH had been playing with him when I would have tried to send him off...

Flop Friday

Friday

I ate:  16g biscuits after lunch.  40g chocolate and 150g biscuits after dinner.  Total - 206g :/

I exercised:  Not sure whether to even count it as I just did 11 minutes, and even that wasn't straight through.  Allie del Rio's Total Body Toner (at least the first little bit).

I tapped:  At least 4 times, it's a start.

Stepping Up?

Thursday

I ate: 118g biscuits and 49g chocolate, mostly after dinner.  Total: 167g, a bit better.

I exercised: 47 minutes of step with Kari Anderson's Go.  It felt a bit easy, so I think it's time to put my step up another notch again :)

I felt:  Annoyed with myself that I have hardly done any tapping, despite my resolution yesterday.  Part of it is that I don't often have hands free for it.  When I was tapping before the baby was born, I would do it on the toilet, or just any time I had a moment free.  Now, I don't really seem to have those free moments, as I carry my son a lot, and if I'm not carrying him I'm hurrying to do something else.  Still, this is important, too...

New Intention

Wednesday

I decided:  To start tapping on eating more healthily.  Using it for my son's birth worked really well, and I could do with some help eating less junk!

I felt:  Fairly happy to have found 2 pairs of trousers that are only half a size up on what I'd normally wear.  I needed something to replace my maternity trousers which, having been stretched by the bump, are now falling off whenever I walk around.

I exercised:  34 minutes of cardio sculpting with Ellen Barrett's Bikini Ready Fast.

I ate:  Gah, lost track again :(

Toned Tuesday

Tuesday

I felt:

I ate:  33g biscuits and 14g choc at lunchtime.  Kinda lost track after dinner - about 100g cake, 36g biscuits and maybe 50g chocolate.  Total round about 235g.

I exercised:  46 minutes of cardio sculpting with Rebekah Sturkie's Total Body Time Crunch.  The cardio segments don't really get my heart rate up, but I like the sculpting sections, and used 4, 3 and 2k weights, and 1/2k's in the cardio bits.

I am grateful for:  My DH encouraging me to be clearer about what I want.