Grand Re-Opening - May 12 '09

I'm having a little grand re-opening of my blog - newly revamped with information no one will care about other than myself.  Why am I doing it?  It's for me.  This is the beginning of my chronicle...my battle with my weight, food, dieting, working out, and trying to get healthy - in general.  This particular blog entry will be long, as it is my re-introduction.  Subsequent blogs will contain more of a food and activity journal.  Possibly moods and frustrations too.

About me:  My name is Rey.  I'm a woman nearing my mid-30's and not long ago, I realized I need to make some drastic changes in my life.  All of my medical tests have been good...but at this weight, I don't feel healthy.  I knew steps needed to be taken to change.  A few years ago, my favorite foods were pasta, cheese and well, not much else.  My body was living proof.  A year ago I weighed 194 lbs, and I'm short.  Oddly enough, I'm quite proportionate so somehow I can honestly say that I really don't look obese.  When I have pants/jeans on, if I suck in my tummy just a little bit....it's a flat tummy.  I don't have buldges sticking out all over my body.  I'm not thin, but I'm not lumpy, squishy and bumpy either...yes, obviously at this weight, I'm a "thick" woman though.  I went back to school and got a couple degrees - long overdue.  I felt like it was my renaissance...and how better to continue than with resculpting my physique?  So - I started working out.  Currently, I'm weighing in around 183.  Not thin by any stretch of the imagination, but I've lost over 10 pounds.  I say "around" 183 because I forgot to weigh myself yesterday, and I'm hoping it's 181 by now.

Regarding food, I'm horrible at eating breakfast.  I don't really care for breakfast food and I never have time to grab something before work.  I usually grab a yogurt or something.  I've recently quit drinking coffee, and while I think my body has since acclimated to the change, I still enjoy my yogi joint health tea, but only one cup per day.  Beyond that, it's organic skim milk, sobe life water (0 cal) or plain water.  Maybe a glass of wine with dinner, but not on a regular basis.  I drink cranergy juice here and there, but I'm not a big fan of juice.  It's usually too potent for me.  I'm trying to eat more fresh fruits and berries to account for the vitamin C and anti-oxidents.  I absolutely love salmon and eat it any chance I can.  Fresh, steamed beans are also on my menu more often than not.  I love spinach, and I love making all-inclusive pasta salads, loaded with fresh veggies, a bit of wheat pasta, some EVOO and some fresh herbs to spice things up.  I've started poaching chicken breasts - it sounds bland, but it's extremely healthy, tasty and easy.  I just spice them up afterwards.  I still love cheese, but I'm eating much less of it.  A fellow Shine! reader clued me in that the body can crave fat - so eating avocados can accomodate that craving while being healthy.  I've found that that theory is true for me.  The more avocados and healthy fats I eat, the less I crave cheese.

Today is Tuesday May 12, 2009.  Last night after work, I burned a few hundred calories on an elliptical machine at the gym.  I ran 2.75 miles in 40 minutes.  I realize many could do it better, but I'm still proud of my accomplishment.  2 months ago, I had trouble running one mile and I ran with half of my current tension on the elliptical.  At the moment, I'm trying to decide if I should push to do more miles, or if I should push to do 2.5 miles in less time than I can right now.  So tonight I'll head to yoga where I'll bend, stretch, work on my strength and flexibility, and a healthy mind. 

I forgot breakfast today (true to form) but I ate some fresh blueberries, activia yogurt and one Fiber One "pop-tart".  I've also had a handful of almonds and 2 thumbnail sized pieces of dark chocolate - but I consider that to be my wiggle room.  Dark chocolate is good for the heart - in small quantities.  I'm not exactly eating a whole candy bar here.  Tonight for dinner, I'm not sure what to make yet.  Inspiration hasn't hit me yet.  I'm just not hungry today.  I've been drinking pretty much constantly though.

My husband is also on a work-out plan of his own, so together we're exploring new ways of creating and enjoying meals together.  I love to cook, as does my husband.  We're always up for trying something new, although we do have our favorite go-to dishes.  I cannot follow recipe books and everything I make is different every time I make it.  Usually not by much, but I feel recipes are AWESOME at inspiration, but in practice, I find having to follow instructions to the letter to be stifling.  My husband agrees with my sentiment and tends to do things much like I do them in the kitchen.  I consider myself lucky to have such a supportive husband. 

I enjoy having supportive people in my life, and while some of my readers might think (and dare to say) that I'm gross and fat, obese, etc - please realize that I'm making changes in my life to overcome my previous excessive habits.  Before you judge me, consider how you might treat someone in my situation if I were your sister, best friend, or girlfriend.  I personally don't believe we should treat people as anything less than "human" just because we might not know them personally - as per the internet.  You never know...I might be that person sitting 20 feet away from you in a neighboring office.  I might even be your boss - you don't know for sure!  A little respect goes a long way in helping someone's morale during a difficult quest.

I'll be blogging little updates here and there - writing about my progress, my downfalls and my victories.  Hopefully, there'll be more victories than downfalls.