Step Away From the Cake

I just got back from a bike ride. It was awesome. I haven't really ridden my bike in a long, long time. Too long. I have 3 bikes and have ridden none of them in the past couple of years. There's a lot of reasons for that, but the main reason has been that I am so disgusted with my lack of fitness. I keep comparing myself to the shape I used to be in, and come up lacking. I find myself wanting to do the things I used to be able to do. And I can't. And it pisses me off. So I decided to start from square 1. I got my basic bike out today and fixed it all up. I then took it out for a spin. A couple of things I remembered as I rode: I love biking. It has to be my favorite thing to do.  I can push myself on a bike like I can in no other workout I love biking I live in a beautiful place and biking is a great way to see it. I love biking So yeah, I rode for 40 minutes, pushing myself pretty darn hard, and I loved it. I plan on riding every day. My goal is for an hou

It's easy to see what's wrong with a situation when you are not involved in it. For example, there is a blog I read and this person was recently diagnosed with a life changing condition - not necessarily a life ending condition, just changing. And as any well informed person would do, they did some research on their condition and the medication they are taking to learn exactly what's going on and how it will affect them and their lives. Unfortunately, there are times when information is not a good thing - as in this case. This person learned that the medication they will be taking does a specific thing to their body - basically it removes a nutrient. Now that they know this fact, whenever they feel slightly off they assume it's because of what this medication does, that the nutrient is too low and they can't function with it that low. Now here's the problem with that, it's most likely not true. There is a fine line between using something as an excus

Today was the last day of school. Tomorrow it all begins. I am so completely determined to make this summer awesome, I refuse to waste one single minute. There are 50 days until school begins and I plan on losing at least 20 lbs. I really want to lose 30 but I'll settle for 20. The numbers are pretty straight forward: 3500 calories equal 1 lb 20 x 3500 = 70,000 (30 x 3500 = 105,000) 70,000 / 50 = 1400 calories per day deficit ( 105,000/50 = 2100) BMR = ~1500 Morning workouts - 60 minutes of high intensity cardio/strength ~650 calories Afternoon workout - 60 minute bike ride ~ 600 calories Total burn ~ 2700 calories Consume ~ 1200 calories  Deficit ~ 1500 calories This is a rough estimate and doesn't include the dog walking, teaching or working.  It's going to be rough going at first but I can totally do it.  I have time in my day to take naps if I need and I will be eating right.  Tomorrow I start with pictures and measurements so I can track my progress. I&

That's what I've been doing. This week I worked Sunday and 2 nights at my part-time job. Also, it's the last week of school so I've been getting tests ready and doing final reviews and such. A busy, busy week. As a result I've been a little tired and out of it. But as the week draws to a close I find my energy and spirit improving...Hmmm....imagine that :) Anyway, I have made some interesting discoveries these 2 weeks working 2 jobs. First, I don't get hungry at night. I just don't. The first night I worked until 10 I didn't eat anything and tried to eat when I got home. Mistake. I couldn't go to bed and I felt like crap. The next time I worked late I took a sandwich and ate it around 7:30. that was better but I still wasn't hungry when I ate. Last night I didn't eat at all and I didn't eat when I got home. This morning though I was hungry, really hungry. So what I'm discovering is that the more tired I am the less hungr

Here we are again. Another Memorial Day . I can not believe that the year is going so quickly. This semester has just flown by. Wow!!! This whole school year has gone by so quickly, I find myself wondering what happened. Worst, I find myself in the same position I did last year. I had trouble finding clothes that fit for mass and graduation. I feel like a complete and total slob. I do not like this - at....all..... So I am going to have a concrete plan to change things around this summer. I am going to do it. First, I'm starting an exercise program today. No more waiting until school ends or this happens or that happens...Today...right here...right now. There are 57 days until school starts again. In those 57 days I can accomplish a whole lot of stuff if I put my mind to it and work it. That's what I'm going to do. I need to be able to say I made the most of the time available to me and I'm starting that today. Over the next 56 days I am going to: Workout e

I've started a part-time job in retail. Where is not important, just suffice it to say I'm in a discount store. I've been working the register and one thing I noticed is that some people are seriously good with coupons. I am jealous. They come in and buy $50 worth of stuff but have coupons and end up paying only $20 or so. Wow!!! One lady came in and had a binder with plastic sheets that had pockets that were coupon sized. She had the thing filled with all kinds of coupons and they were all organized and labeled...it was amazing. Where I work has some really great deals to begin with. Add coupons on top of that and you are really saving some bucks. There are some other stores where you can save big too, I bet you save a whole lot with Kohls coupons . We don't have a Kohl's here, but I go when I visit the mainland...Love that store...Anyway, just wondering if I could become a coupon queen or if I'm setting myself up for failure. I do envy those coupon