This week is starting off pretty good. I weighed myself on Monday and lost 8lbs my first week. WooHoo! I also decided to start going to the gym before work this week. I've been going to the 5:45 am spin class and I am really enjoying it. I thought I would be pooped by the end of my work day considering I am waking up at 4:30 am. Surprisingly, the opposite is happening. I have tons of energy! We'll see how I feel by the end of the week. I'll keep you posted.
I made a promise to myself to focus on ME during this 90 day transformation. I decided to delete my Facebook. I felt that I was on facebook way more than I should have been on it. I would be working on class work and somehow my computer screen would always end on my news feed. Silly computer. So facebook had to go. Another reason I deleted facebook was because I feel I compare myself to other too often. I need to love me for me. I need to not worry what others are doing with their lives, and I need to focus on myself. Tata fb!
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Sunday, February 26, 2012
82
Confessions of a 90 day committer:
I have not been doing well at all. I started off doing well the first few days, but I have been a wreck. Like Michele said, I texted her saying that we would not wake up with any surprise motivation, but we would have to start anew anyway.
Well, I have been experiencing an extraordinary amount of stress, though I do not believe it to be an excuse for being unhealthy. The last two weeks I have been dealing with a rough break up which followed an intensely unstable relationship; this has obviously affected my mood on a number of a levels. In addition, I am living in an indefinite state of transition. I am supposed to be graduating in a few months with my Master's degree, which sounds great in theory, but the road ahead does not excite me. I am struggling with writing my thesis, I am lost in analyzing my data, and I am trying to keep up with a lab course I am teaching and the piling responsibilities at my second job. But the thing that makes me the most anxious is the thought of leaving Albany in a few months, the place I have made a home and where I feel like a real part of the community. I've been job hunting and cover letter-writing and networking, etc. etc. I've been struggling with my decision to stay or leave or stay or leave - what is logical, what is comforting, etc. etc. I feel like my brain is about to explode.
Needless to say, what food I put into my mouth and how often I exercise has not exactly been on my mind at all. This week I have a few things I desperately need to do: make progress on my Master's thesis, apply for 3 jobs that I feel are excellent opportunities I don't want to pass up, and cook a few healthy meals. Cooking is something that has been escaping me recently and I really want to get back into it. I found that this was the real key to losing weight in the past - cooking on a consistent basis.
I am writing myself an itinerary for the next few days that I hope to stick to, and this is my only real goal for this week. After all, losing weight is important, but my emotional health, which has been deeply effected by falling behind and losing control of my schedule, is equally important. Nobody is going to understand my itinerary but me, but writing it should help me a lot. If I am able to finish everything on my to-do list this week, by next week maybe I will feel better about my situation? That's the goal anyway.
Tomorrow, Monday:
- Write Master's section describing all variables I am using.
- Write cover letters and send with resumes to 2 positions in NYC.
- For dinner: Baked chicken with lemon and garlic sauce, baked potato, spinach.
Tuesday:
- Work at CR2 9-12
- Figure out had to create and code variables for Master's.
- Begin descriptive statistics.
- For dinner: Possibly leftover chicken in a big salad? Possibly my spinach/goat cheese "pita pizza" creation.
Wednesday:
- Grade lab essays!
- Continue working on descriptive statistics.
- For dinner: Chicken marinated in onion/balsamic, roasted pepper/onion/potato.
Thursday
- FINISH descriptive statistics and data/methods section and edit for meeting with advisor.
- Meet with advisor to discuss next step in data analysis (or problems with what I figured out).
- I can't think this far ahead for dinner.
Friday
- Work at CR2 and simultaneously learn about content analysis to create a lesson plan and activity for next week's lab sessions.
I have not been doing well at all. I started off doing well the first few days, but I have been a wreck. Like Michele said, I texted her saying that we would not wake up with any surprise motivation, but we would have to start anew anyway.
Well, I have been experiencing an extraordinary amount of stress, though I do not believe it to be an excuse for being unhealthy. The last two weeks I have been dealing with a rough break up which followed an intensely unstable relationship; this has obviously affected my mood on a number of a levels. In addition, I am living in an indefinite state of transition. I am supposed to be graduating in a few months with my Master's degree, which sounds great in theory, but the road ahead does not excite me. I am struggling with writing my thesis, I am lost in analyzing my data, and I am trying to keep up with a lab course I am teaching and the piling responsibilities at my second job. But the thing that makes me the most anxious is the thought of leaving Albany in a few months, the place I have made a home and where I feel like a real part of the community. I've been job hunting and cover letter-writing and networking, etc. etc. I've been struggling with my decision to stay or leave or stay or leave - what is logical, what is comforting, etc. etc. I feel like my brain is about to explode.
Needless to say, what food I put into my mouth and how often I exercise has not exactly been on my mind at all. This week I have a few things I desperately need to do: make progress on my Master's thesis, apply for 3 jobs that I feel are excellent opportunities I don't want to pass up, and cook a few healthy meals. Cooking is something that has been escaping me recently and I really want to get back into it. I found that this was the real key to losing weight in the past - cooking on a consistent basis.
I am writing myself an itinerary for the next few days that I hope to stick to, and this is my only real goal for this week. After all, losing weight is important, but my emotional health, which has been deeply effected by falling behind and losing control of my schedule, is equally important. Nobody is going to understand my itinerary but me, but writing it should help me a lot. If I am able to finish everything on my to-do list this week, by next week maybe I will feel better about my situation? That's the goal anyway.
Tomorrow, Monday:
- Write Master's section describing all variables I am using.
- Write cover letters and send with resumes to 2 positions in NYC.
- For dinner: Baked chicken with lemon and garlic sauce, baked potato, spinach.
Tuesday:
- Work at CR2 9-12
- Figure out had to create and code variables for Master's.
- Begin descriptive statistics.
- For dinner: Possibly leftover chicken in a big salad? Possibly my spinach/goat cheese "pita pizza" creation.
Wednesday:
- Grade lab essays!
- Continue working on descriptive statistics.
- For dinner: Chicken marinated in onion/balsamic, roasted pepper/onion/potato.
Thursday
- FINISH descriptive statistics and data/methods section and edit for meeting with advisor.
- Meet with advisor to discuss next step in data analysis (or problems with what I figured out).
- I can't think this far ahead for dinner.
Friday
- Work at CR2 and simultaneously learn about content analysis to create a lesson plan and activity for next week's lab sessions.
82
This past week I have been exercising and eating very healthy. I am proud of myself. I am very eager to weigh in tomorrow. Yesterday I started taking raspberry keytone in the morning and eating golden berries with my diet. Both are suppose to be very healthy and helpful for losing weight (research if you're interested)... We will see.
Although I had a very successful week, I did run over a few bumps in the road. My biggest challenge this week was staying positive in situations that I came across.
Situation #1: The first challenge was the realization of how out of shape I am. Seeing my weight was discouraging but then to actually go to the gym and realize how out of shape I was, really was a struggle for me. I became out of breath very easily, I wasn't able to to walk as fast as I use to, and I wasn't able to do certain stretches anymore. I am 26 years old, this is not the life I want. So instead of being sad about it, I pushed myself at the gym. I did a little more each day. I went to classes even though I was embarrassed because of the way I looked and because I knew I might have to stop if it gots to difficult. But I did it, and I will continue to do it!
Situation #2: So this week I was feeling great. I was eating healthy, exercising, sleeping longer and having a lot more energy than before.... and then two of my pairs of pants rip. That's right, TWO pairs of pants. It was hard enough staying positive after my first pair of pants ripped, but then for a second to rip... it was upsetting. I decided not to focus on my ripped pants. I had an "Oh well" attitude and took it as an excuse to go shopping.
Situation #3: Considering I am down two pairs of pants, I went shopping today. I knew after a week of being healthy, I wasn't going to walk in a store and suddenly fit into everything. I always hated going into the fitting room and looking at all the clothes not fit me in the mirror. Today while I tried clothes on I started to get upset but then realized that I need to accept me for me. I need to be okay with who I am and focus on what I want to look like. Not only focus, but believe I can do.
I do believe I can do it! I have been having a very positive attitude this week and believe it helps me through out the day to stay of track. I am focused and know what I want. Having people around me that are supportive and praising me for my accomplishments is helping me stay focused as well, THANK YOU!
Although I had a very successful week, I did run over a few bumps in the road. My biggest challenge this week was staying positive in situations that I came across.
Situation #1: The first challenge was the realization of how out of shape I am. Seeing my weight was discouraging but then to actually go to the gym and realize how out of shape I was, really was a struggle for me. I became out of breath very easily, I wasn't able to to walk as fast as I use to, and I wasn't able to do certain stretches anymore. I am 26 years old, this is not the life I want. So instead of being sad about it, I pushed myself at the gym. I did a little more each day. I went to classes even though I was embarrassed because of the way I looked and because I knew I might have to stop if it gots to difficult. But I did it, and I will continue to do it!
Situation #2: So this week I was feeling great. I was eating healthy, exercising, sleeping longer and having a lot more energy than before.... and then two of my pairs of pants rip. That's right, TWO pairs of pants. It was hard enough staying positive after my first pair of pants ripped, but then for a second to rip... it was upsetting. I decided not to focus on my ripped pants. I had an "Oh well" attitude and took it as an excuse to go shopping.
Situation #3: Considering I am down two pairs of pants, I went shopping today. I knew after a week of being healthy, I wasn't going to walk in a store and suddenly fit into everything. I always hated going into the fitting room and looking at all the clothes not fit me in the mirror. Today while I tried clothes on I started to get upset but then realized that I need to accept me for me. I need to be okay with who I am and focus on what I want to look like. Not only focus, but believe I can do.
I do believe I can do it! I have been having a very positive attitude this week and believe it helps me through out the day to stay of track. I am focused and know what I want. Having people around me that are supportive and praising me for my accomplishments is helping me stay focused as well, THANK YOU!
Monday, February 20, 2012
88
So I am the new girl on the blog. My name is Michele and Selina and I have been friends for many many years. When Selina and I discussed doing the 90 day transformation together I was excited and eager to begin. We spoke for 40 minutes about our plans and goals and I couldn't wait to start. Then I woke up the next day and all the excitement and eagerness was gone. I thought to myself "WHY? What am I getting myself into! Why did I tell Selina I would do this with her?" I looked at my phone and I had a text from Selina that read "Day 90! You won't wake up with any surprise motivation but ya gotta do it anyway! You committed to me :)" She was right! I did commit to her, but more so I made a commitment to my myself.
To be honest, the first two days I didn't eat the healthiest but I did things for me. I once heard a guy say "I feel the way your room looks describes how your life is in the moment." and I believe that it's true for my life. The last couple of months I have been stressed,exhausted, and overwhelmed with work/my life. I feel like I wasn't making time for me or doing things that I needed to get done. My bedroom was getting out of control, like my life. On day 90 I cleaned my room. After I was finished, I felt at ease and more hopeful for the 90 transformation.
My ultimate goals for these 90 days:
1) Be healthier.
2) Loose at least 30 lbs
3) Gain confidence
4) Go to the gym at least 4 times a week throughout the 90 days.
Saturday, February 18, 2012
90
I'm back....... But this time I am not alone! My best friend Michele is going to join me in chronicling weight loss efforts on the good old 90 day countdown blog. Michele and I have been friends since elementary school, and for years and years we have both struggled with the ups and downs of weight loss. I had great success last year when I made a 90 day commitment to myself, so this time we both hope to kick start healthy lifestyle changes by making a 90 day commitment to ourselves and each other.
Personally, I am in a much better place than when I began my journey last year. I have gained a bit of the 34 lbs I lost back, but I still kept a good chunk of it off. If I have even half of the success I had last year, I will be very satisfied with the end result.
I have a few ultimate goals for these 90 days:
1) Be able to do more of the things I love. To elaborate, my closest friends in Albany go on weekly hiking trips that I never feel comfortable joining them on. I have only been hiking a few times in my life, and I found it extremely challenging to go miles uphill... But it is so incredibly beautiful and peaceful once you reach your destination. My friends are all in perfect shape and I haven't wanted to hold anyone back or embarrass myself by trying to go on these hikes with them. The whole thing is kind of ridiculous. For my own happiness, I want to be physically fit enough to do all of the things I want to do, specifically I want to be able to go hiking with my friends without having to worry about my ability to do so.
2) Drop at least one full dress size. I don't mean that I want to squeeze into the next size down. I mean I really want to know that I can walk into ANY store and pick up jeans in a size smaller than I am now and know with 100% certainty that they will fit. I recently ordered a bridesmaid dress for a wedding, and when I picked it up over the weekend it was so uncomfortably tight that I would never go in public in it the way it currently fits. I have a little over three months before this wedding, and I want this dress to look great on me, and I want to feel really confident wearing it.
3) Prove to myself that I can pick up where I left off with the healthy habits I developed last year in spite of the fact that I have made a lot of very unhealthy choices over the last few months.
4) I have a weight loss goal of 25 lbs.
~Sel
Personally, I am in a much better place than when I began my journey last year. I have gained a bit of the 34 lbs I lost back, but I still kept a good chunk of it off. If I have even half of the success I had last year, I will be very satisfied with the end result.
I have a few ultimate goals for these 90 days:
1) Be able to do more of the things I love. To elaborate, my closest friends in Albany go on weekly hiking trips that I never feel comfortable joining them on. I have only been hiking a few times in my life, and I found it extremely challenging to go miles uphill... But it is so incredibly beautiful and peaceful once you reach your destination. My friends are all in perfect shape and I haven't wanted to hold anyone back or embarrass myself by trying to go on these hikes with them. The whole thing is kind of ridiculous. For my own happiness, I want to be physically fit enough to do all of the things I want to do, specifically I want to be able to go hiking with my friends without having to worry about my ability to do so.
2) Drop at least one full dress size. I don't mean that I want to squeeze into the next size down. I mean I really want to know that I can walk into ANY store and pick up jeans in a size smaller than I am now and know with 100% certainty that they will fit. I recently ordered a bridesmaid dress for a wedding, and when I picked it up over the weekend it was so uncomfortably tight that I would never go in public in it the way it currently fits. I have a little over three months before this wedding, and I want this dress to look great on me, and I want to feel really confident wearing it.
3) Prove to myself that I can pick up where I left off with the healthy habits I developed last year in spite of the fact that I have made a lot of very unhealthy choices over the last few months.
4) I have a weight loss goal of 25 lbs.
~Sel
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