OnceAndAgainAnew

And again…

30 May 2013 2 Comments

by murfkitten in Diet, Fitness, Renewal Tags: LinkedIn, Plantar fascia, Strength training

And so, while it isn’t Monday, it’s time to get back on track and start again to focus on my health and fitness, and work to bring the future that I imagine closer to the future that I will have.

This came along at just the right time and is now the desktop on my computer so that it reminds me every time I mindlessly play solitaire and waste my time away, that I need to be making my future happen – and it won’t by sitting on the computer playing solitaire!!

So I’m going back to my plan of eating five times a day, 3 smoothies and two low fat/high fibre snacks, to help kick my metabolism into action. My previous weight loss has diminished over the past week or so, and the numbers have crept back up on the scale so I’m going to add some cardio and strength training, though I have to watch that the cardio is low impact, since I have shredded my plantar fascia and need to be able to walk at the job. 😦

At the same time that I’m rebuilding and renewing on the health front, I’m redesigning the way I tackle the job hunt and starting to reach out to LinkedIn contacts and ask for help. You know, they thing “they” say is the “new and only way to find a job these days. It’s pretty much a full time job looking for a job – a job that will be fulfilling, challenging and rewarding, not just a job.

So lots of renewal going on here. I hope you keep renewing every day, as well. Make sure what you are doing today is getting you closer to your tomorrow!

Plantar fasciitis how best to avoid it (dwitys.wordpress.com)
Plantar Fasciitis: Or ‘the reason I stopped running and started talking’… (getgoing-getrunning.com)

Wasted

22 May 2013 Leave a comment

by murfkitten in Fitness, Renewal

I’ve seen the future and, honey, let me tell ya, it isn’t pretty.

I recently visited a dear friend who has some significant health issues. She is a diabetic, significantly overweight and has great difficulty walking and climbing stairs. And if I don’t do something about my own weight, that will be my future. It isn’t a future that I want for myself – a future of discomfort, of needles and of heavy – emotionally and physically.

I went to the Jillian Michaels “Maximize Your Life” evening just before seeing my friend. While I liked the show, I didn’t LOVE it to be honest with you, but she is right – the choice is mine to make as to what I want my future to hold. Do I want a future of pain and the inability to walk or do I want a future of lightness, activity, full engagement and health. Gee, let me think about it…

Do I want this….

or Do I want this…

So, it’s time to get back to The Body Reset Diet and start forcing myself onto my own aching feet to get myself more fit and physically active and back to life!! Heading towards the life that I want and away from the life that could be.

I’ve spent enough time here on the chair thinking about getting back to life. It’s time to start doing it and stop wasting precious time. And on that note… Enjoy!!

Week 1 Done

08 May 2013 3 Comments

by murfkitten in Diet, Renewal

Well, that wasn’t so bad! Week 1 of The Body Reset is now in the can and I have to say, I enjoyed it. I enjoyed it very much, actually. The smoothies were flavourful and very filling. I wasn’t hungry, though by Day 4 I admit that I was looking for some food but mainly because I just wanted more solid food than the snacks prescribed in the program. And when I did that, I didn’t lose weight. No surprise there!

Overall, I lost about 6 pounds over the span of the 5 days of smoothies (with that slip on Day 4). I’m going to continue with the program for the coming week and see where I wind up. Nothing to lose but weight, after all. 🙂

On the big picture, I’m down about 16 pounds from where I started at an all-time high weight. I have cracked a 10 pound barrier that had been dogging me for some time, and I’m now, thanks to The Body Reset and some renewed motivation, energy and spirit, am heading on down through the next 10 pound goal. Feeling good and ready to renew! Let’s go!!

Here we go!!

30 Apr 2013 Leave a comment

by murfkitten in Diet Tags: Body Reset Diet, MyFitnessPal, Weight loss

So I’m seeing some success on the weight loss journey this time around. I’ve finally (FINALLY!!!!) broken through a 10 pound barrier that had been dogging me for months. Tracking and logging my intake and exercise seems to be working for me this time around. And using the MyFitnessPal site is easy and right up my techie alley. 🙂

Never one to settle for what’s working well already, I’ve decided to take on a new food program that looks promising. Well, it’s making promises anyway…

Today sees Day 1 of Harley Pasternak’s The Body Reset Diet.

The program promises to kick-start your weight loss with 5 days of health-packed smoothies and snacks that will see the pounds falling off to keep you motivated to continue with the plan after the first 5 days.

I’ve had the white and red smoothies so far today and, I must say, Yummy! And I’m sure not hungry though The Hubby looks a little sad – hey, it was his choice!! Looking forward to the green smoothie for supper (spinach in a blender!!).

So I’m feeling positive. Feeling upbeat and feeling that there’s hope for me yet. I’ll keep you posted on the smoothies and our progress. 😀

Harley Pasternak Blogs About How to Reset Your Body – And Lose Weight Now (theweightloss1.wordpress.com)

Well. That was interesting.

13 Apr 2013 Leave a comment

by murfkitten in Uncategorized

Another week has come and gone, with a rollercoaster of diet/weight dilemmas to go along with it. What’s that you say?? That’s life?! Guess what – you’re right!!

So life and my weigh-ins have been up and down, but the general trajectories are polar opposites, meaning that life is looking up and my weight is going down. And those are the directions I want them headed, so no complaints!

Yeah, sure, I gained a few pounders back after I had that pizza the other night, but I’m getting back to where I was, quicker than I would have, and gonna break that 10 pound barrier. I swear I am!! Yes, I am.

So here’s to a new week to come that I plan on seeing the end of one of the 10’s on my scale and saying “Hello” to a whole new set of 10’s!!

Catchya on the flipside!!

And the beat goes on…

07 Apr 2013 Leave a comment

by murfkitten in Diet, Renewal

Wow!! I actually lost weight from yesterday! Can’t quite believe it, but it does give me some motivation to stick with cutting down on crap. And by ‘crap’, I mean I won’t be going out and downing a pizza and brew this afternoon with TheHubby before going to a moving and eating a bucket of popcorn. Water, anyone?? Hmmmm…

Just came across this article (and website) with some good information for newbies or restarters like myself.

http://www.fitsugar.com/Weekly-Exercise-Schedule-Weight-Loss-23529009

Renew anew.

Ok…..

02 Apr 2013 1 Comment

by murfkitten in Job Search, Renewal

So here I am again. Renewing. Restarting. Once and again. Anew.

I seem to have experienced an epiphany along the way. It is time. Time to get over it, get past it, and leave it (and I mean all of it) in the past, where it belongs. It’s about forgiving myself and those who have caused me pain in the past, and starting to live my life for me, and live the life I really want to live. And that starts today.

Plus, my Big Sis was raggin’ on me to get back to blogging… Ps – Plus, I actually enjoy the release.

So I’ve started working with a new career agency to do things differently in terms of my job search. I’ve been looking for permanent work in my field for going on two years now, and nothing has really come of it so, instead of continuing to do the same thing over and over again, I’m doing something different. You know that Einstein thing. The definition of insanity thing – the “doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result” thing – well, I’m done with that! Let’s try something new. So today, I’m re-re-writing my resume in a different format (Functional) and working with new people and new services to try to get that mojo going.

And I’m happy. I’m actually happy. And I have hope. Again.

And happiness and hope are wonderful things.

Just sayin’.

Musical Interlude

09 Jan 2013 Leave a comment

Working on resume’s and job applications yesterday and today, so here’s a little something to hold you over until I’m back.

Hope you enjoy Sara Bareilles as much as I do!

Sara Bareilles

Video by murfkitten

Day 3

07 Jan 2013 3 Comments

by murfkitten in Diet, Fitness

The stars have aligned as I start this new journey. I have only one shift at work over the coming two weeks, so it’s just a perfect time to kick off the exercise and food control parts of the journey. Sure, I’d like to have more work but I’m also celebrating having the time to start my plan. And what is that plan, you ask? Well, here’s the outline of it at this initial stage:

I am starting Dr. Alejandro Junger’s 21-day Cleanse, Detox and Diet program today. If you haven’t checked into this program, it’s definitely worth a look. It isn’t anything like the Lemon Juice/Cayenne/Maple Syrup plan, as the Clean program includes food – Clean food. Lots of organics, lots of steaming, fish and chicken and grains. It’s gluten free too, so introduced me to brown rice pastas which have turned out to be a nice surprise. And there are smoothies too, which are really good! And make eating on the run really easy. I read several reviews of this plan before doing it the first time (when I lost 10 lbs, by the way) and they were all positive and described the cleanse as very doable. I can attest that it was for me and I definitely looked and felt a lot better – clearer headed, clearer skin (and I have clear skin, so it was kinda amazing) and just so damn proud of myself for sticking to it!

Run/walk on treadmill – Many years ago now I bought myself a good quality treadmill and I am pleased to say that I did not let it become a clothing rack. I’ve used it (albeit sporadically) since I’ve owned it and have to say that it was, without a doubt, the best investment in myself and my fitness that I have ever made. Whenever I’ve been feeling shlubby, I just hop on the treadmill and do 30 mins of some movement (even if it’s -30 outside) and I feel better just for having done it. Love my treadmill! So I’m using it to help get back at it again. My version of Old Faithful because he’s always there for me and he will be again. I’m starting out with a 30-35 minute walk/jog at 3.2. I know it’s slow and nothing like what Jillian Michaels would approve of, but it’s a start for me and I need to be sure that I can still walk afterwards to work (Plantar fasciitis, remember?).

Debbie Siebers Slim in 6 program from Beachbody. Now don’t let the title of this program freak you out into thinking I have an unrealistic goal here. I get that I won’t be Slim in 6 of anything (except maybe slimmer in six months!) quickly and without work. But I enjoy Debbie Siebers and her workouts. This program uses bands to help build lean muscle mass and strength training, some cardio and some floor work. Covers all areas in 3 stages – there is a Start It Up for the first two weeks, then you move to Ramp It Up for another two weeks and finally to the Burn It Up program to really kick it. Of course you can do it at your own pace and do one of the programs for more or less than the recommended two weeks, and I like that flexibility. She also provides options for newcomers and pros. All in all, I like the program and it will add nicely with my treadmill workout to give me an overall fitness plan to start.

So that’s the plan, in a nutshell. Also logging and tracking my foods in the journal from the last post. And, oh yeah, down another little bit (but only a little bit). But it’s down!!

Have a good one! Be gentle with yourself, but not too gentle! 🙂

Renew Anew

02 Jan 2013 1 Comment

by murfkitten in Diet, Fitness, Renewal

Well, the New Year has come and it is time to make those same old resolutions as with each year past. Or not. Perhaps it is time to make a plan instead of a resolution, as resolutions fail more often than not.

Trust me, I have failed many times but I continue to get up and try to move forward. Be that in weight loss, fitness, self-awareness or in my career. In each area, I have struggled, succeeded, overcome and failed. Again and again. But I keep on getting up, brushing myself off, and rising again. It is one of my more positive character strengths, and I don’t know where it has come from but I’m very glad it is there.

So I have a plan. A plan that is about forward movement and movement in general.

The plan includes a meal program that is a reasonable, Weight Watcher‘esque plan that will see a gradual weight loss progression towards my equally reasonable goal of losing 20 pounds in 4 months (by April 30, 2013). More weight loss, earlier would, of course, be better for me but I’m not going to me mean to myself and require more than my body and life can give.

I desperately want to get back to running, but I’m scared to do so given how badly my feet hurt (and my plantar fascia is strained) on the floor at my workplace.

Anatomical diagrams illustrating the components of the plantar fascia. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I can’t jeopardize my work to run, despite that I think they would both be better off!

One of the biggest lessons I have learned is to be gentle with myself. It’s a struggle for me to do that, as I am a typical Type A personality, but if I’m not gentle with myself who will be?? I have realized that I make mistakes, I fail, and I am human. All of these are ok. It is NORMAL to gain weight, lose weight and gain again or to succeed and fail. You can’t know success until you fail, after all, so it’s all about what you learn as you go. Having had a great deal of success and a great deal of failure, I’ve learned that it’s the getting back up that is the ultimate payoff.

I’m not registering for Weight Watchers this time out, though I think it’s a good program for many people. Mostly I’m not because I can’t commit to the meetings or the costs at this point. I’d much rather put my available funds into a good pair of running shoes that will see me through another 500 km.

I will do my first official weigh-in tomorrow (Jan 3) and that will be my starting point for the next few months. It would be too brutal to do an official weigh-in today, the first day after the holidays, so I’m opting to be gentle with myself but realistic. Tomorrow is good. I’ll start there with a goal to be under 200 lbs by the end of April 2013. I’m hopeful, but am more than that. I’m pro-active. 🙂

So at this time of the year, I think it is important to be kind to ourselves. To recognize that we may have tried before and not succeeded as much as we may have wanted, but that we can re-commit and continue in our journey to Renew Anew.

Renew Anew with me, folks. We’ll get there!!