Monica's Quest to Lose the Weight!!

I have to admit that writing on a blog was never really something that I wanted to do, but I find real reasons to believe that it will help me in my efforts to lose weight. It has been a struggle since my teen years to find a healthy balance between nutrition, exercise, and my overall mental well-being. You would think that being a physical education/ health/ and aerobics teacher that I would have all the right tools to assist me in this lifelong quest. Wrong! I do know a lot about overall wellness and fitness, but making it work for me has been the ultimate challange. I have challenged myself to lose weight before the start of the next school year so I can be more of an example for my students. I think they will listen and take what I say more seriously. With this being my motivation, I know I will be successful because I will look better and feel better about myself. I will try and write a daily journal to let everyone be a part of my quest in becoming physically fit. There is some components of this quest that I would like to share with you. If I lay it all out, then I will be more accountable in this quest. The most important component, (and the hardest for me) is my nutrition. I have found a very successful program called the "Six Week Makeover", that I have lost 30 pounds in the past years. I haven't gained those 30 lbs back, but I have so much more to lose. IT is awesome because I eat a lot of compex carbohydrates, lots of lean proteins, loads of veggies and just enough of the "right" fruits to get that sweet fix. With the program I am eating 6 times a day and watching my serving sizes. Next I have a kick butt exercise program that should help me with burning calories and fat. I am doing a fitness club at the high school that I work at. I have invited lots of my students and church ladies to come so I can help them to become physically fit. I will do a 1 hour session on monday, tuesday, thursday, and friday. We will be doing step aerobics, kickboxing, circuit training, hi/lo, pilates, and lots of toning. This is my favorite part. On wednesdays, I will be going swimming. I am also coaching volleyball next year, so we have open gym three times a week. I will be running, jump training, and playing a lot of volleyball thorughout the summer! I am then going to fit cross country running in as well. ( I am thinking wed, friday, and saturdays) I think I have the fitness component under control. Well this first entry is getting really long, but I know that good things will happen for me this summer. I will give you an update on my daily endeavors. Wish me luck! GO MONICA!!

Snacks on the Go*

Always on the go? Here is a simple list of healthy, quick food to grab when on the run. Just remember to be good about eating the correct portion size.

1. Avocado and whole wheat crackers
2. Almonds and grapes
3. Bran cereal and reduced-fat milk
4. Beef jerky and a piece of fresh fruit
5. Black bean dip and veggies
6. Cottage cheese (non-fat or low-fat) and fruit
7. Carrots and humus
8. Celery sticks with dill and non-fat or low-fat cream cheese
9. Chicken salad and pineapple
10. Fruit and low-fat yogurt
11. Fat-free refried beans and Flat Out bread or tortilla
12. Hard boiled egg with Dijon mustartd and celery
13. Kettle-corn (94% fat-free) and a bottle of flavored calorie-free water
14. Ricotta cheese (non or low-fat) and fresh fruit
15. Salad bar from the grocery store
16. Spinach salad with non or low-fat dressing on the side
17. Steamed vegetables and spray butter
18. Take-out egg drop soup and steamed vegetables

Hope fully this will give you some ideas to improve your snacking.

*information provided by Weight Watchers Regional Manager, Robin Bingham

Yep, Another Post by Me

I'm afraid that I may be the only one contributing to this blog, but that just gives more attention to me! So I will carry on. . .

Do you know what? I like being active! Who knew?! Being active and involved is getting very fun. Before I looked for every moment to do personal hobbies like reading, scrapbooking and such. These days I can't wait for my next run to see how far I can go, to get on the basketball court for the next game or being outside chasing the boys. I spent an hour this afternoon just shooting hoops today in the neighborhood ghetto court with two other ladies. It was so much fun! I still enjoy being crafty and reading but if there is a chance to play sports, I'm game.

I feel so much more alive these days than I have in a long time. My confidence just soars when I tell people I just ran 4.5 miles or get high fives when I make a nice jumper outside the paint. And today I was asked to be on a softball team and I hope to set up a few tennis matches in the next month. What a much funner way to live than moping around feeling sorry for my overweight, in-active self!

I look back to how I used to be in high school and miss those days where it was all about the next game. I want some of that glory back, the glory that I am an athlete and love sports. I know people question me when I say that I played three sports in high school. I sure don't look it, but you know what, I will get back there again. I promise you that! Next time you see me, you will think I am ten years younger fitting into those lovely polyester, purple basketball shorts with the thick gold stripes.

Now, there is a sight to behold. . . .

The Ultimate Accountability

For those that are really bored and have nothing else to do, I have decided to make public my running journal. You may (if so inclined) view my daily workouts and thoughts at www.addanothermile.blogspot.com.

I hope this will bring some motivation to you that struggle daily with exercising and loosing weight. As you will read in my journals, running is a love that I have had to work hard for and has not been an easy thing to master.

And of course, making this public will be the ultimate motivator to me to get better and better and to keep going.

Hey Noodle
I feel your pain...why isn't this weight loss thing easier? I hurt my back again ahwile ago, but now I am back on the exercise wagon! I had a good week 2 weeks ago and then last week gained a pound. How does that happen when I thought I did good? I am part of a "weight loss" group that started 2 weeks ago and I gained..in front of 6 people. Talk about acountability! If I could only figure out how to make my motivation convert into action when it really gets tough to resist those cravings.
Thanks for sharing your daily ups and downs with us. You are amazing and such an inspiration to me. I wish I had your determination and desire. You go girl!
I am finding myhardest time of the day is late afternoon through dinner time. What do find that works for lunches and dinners that keeps you fuller and not craving so much? Any suggestions?
Love ya!

1world2wheels

The Dissapointment Dance

For all intensive purposes, February was a disappointing month. I did not reach my exercising goals, I realized that I am still not "in shape", and I want to destroy any and all pictures of myself in shorts, a t-shirt, and a swimsuit. Not the most motivating things to inspire another go at this weight loss business. But let me share an experience I had this morning while running on the treadmill.

I listen to music on a Ipod shuffle while running, because music is probably the most helpful thing I have found to get me off my butt and moving. I just can't stand to listen to myself think for 30 minutes to an hour while staring at my basement wall. And I always have the "shuffle" button on to mix up the songs, so I never know what is coming next. Two songs played back to back this morning that really got me through and taught me a lesson on which perspective to have while encountering dissapointment in achieving weight loss.

Song #1:
life is like a mean machine
it made a mess out of me
it left me caught between
like an angry dream
i was stranded, i was stranded
and i'm standing
but i'm starting to shake
and i don't know how much more i can take
this is it now everbody get down
this is all i can take
this is how a heart breaks
you take a hit now
your feeling break down
make you stay wide awake
this is how a heart breaks

It was during this song that all my focus was on what I didn't accomplish and it made me think about the reasons why and what I was doing wrong or not doing. Then immediately song #2 began playing.

Song #2:
Risin' up, back on the street
Did my time, took my chances
Went the distance now I'm back on my feet
Just a man and his will to survive
So many times it happens too fast
You trade your passion for glory
Don't lose your grip on the dreams of the past
You must fight just to keep them alive

It's the eye of the tiger
It's the thrill of the fight
Rising up to the challenge of our rival
And the last known survivor
Stalks his prey in the night
And he's watching us all
With the eye of the tiger

Face to face, out in the heat
Hangin' tough, stayin' hungry
They stack the odds still we take to the street
For the kill, with the skill to survive

You can only imagine the thrill that went through me as this song was playing and the understanding that I am still in this fight because I want it so badly. I love the line, "Hangin' tough, stayin' hungry". I think I just found my new source of motivation.

So, my challenge to you is to recognize your disappointments, understand why you had them and then get back out in the street and keep fighting. Be hungry for success and go after it. We can do this! We can make changes in our lives to improve our health and loose those stubborn pounds.

And get up and dance every now and then to shake off those days that don't go so well.