2 Pounds Away

I am 2 pounds away from making this blog into another weight loss blog. Last night, I weighed myself (first, it’s not good to weigh yourself at night because that is not your *real* weight anyway) and the results are enough for me to say, “no more.” I have got to get it together and focus. There’s just way too much eating in my life and not enough doing.

Less eating and more doing is what needs to be happening if I want pounds to be shed off. Then slowly, I can eat more only if I work out intensely to get that awesome Michelle Rodriquez body which I know is underneath my sweat pants and hoodie.

I have read enough, and I know what I should do. Here’s what I know: The main reason why people want to lose weight faster is because the process sucks. Despite all the Jenny Craig and Weight Watchers ads telling you you can eat all this delicious boxed food you’ll like, it’s all a lie. To lose weight, you need to eat plain stuff that’s nutritious and low in fat and portioned out. When you want to build the muscles, throw protein in the mix. Protein does not make your muscles magically grow, nope, it’s just to repair your muscles so that you can be back at the gym pumping those dumbells some more. The more muscle you have built, the more calories that are burned. So that’s why you need to mix cardio (fat loss) with strenght training (muscle building). And that’s what I know in a jiff.

Wish me luck.

Tips from a Pope

I have yet to get to the 2nd part of Jillian’s work out. I think I’m actually scared to do it. It’s pretty sad though, that a DVD that I can stop ANYTIME, is preventing me from actually starting it. I guess I just believe that, once is playing and in there, I follow through on it. Sooo in my mind, it’s better to not even start it. Bad method.

Because I really just needed a place to paste this before I go, here’s a list I copied from The Happiness Project:

So here are ten tips from Pope John XXIII about how to live a better life, day to day:

1. Only for today, I will seek to live the livelong day positively without wishing to solve the problems of my life all at once.

2. Only for today, I will take the greatest care of my appearance: I will dress modestly; I will not raise my voice; I will be courteous in my behavior; I will not criticize anyone; I will not claim to improve or to discipline anyone except myself.

3. Only for today, I will be happy in the certainty that I was created to be happy, not only in the other world but also in this one.

4. Only for today, I will adapt to circumstances, without requiring all circumstances to be adapted to my own wishes.

5. Only for today, I will devote 10 minutes of my time to some good reading, remembering that just as food is necessary to the life of the body, so good reading is necessary to the life of the soul.

6. Only for today, I will do one good deed and not tell anyone about it.

7. Only for today, I will do at least one thing I do not like doing; and if my feelings are hurt, I will make sure that no one notices.

8. Only for today, I will make a plan for myself: I may not follow it to the letter, but I will make it. And I will be on guard against two evils: hastiness and indecision.

9. Only for today, I will firmly believe, despite appearances, that the good Providence of God cares for me as no one else who exists in this world.

10. Only for today, I will have no fears. In particular, I will not be afraid to enjoy what is beautiful and to believe in goodness. Indeed, for 12 hours I can certainly do what might cause me consternation were I to believe I had to do it all my life.

What I am Doings

What I’m doing:

Reading: Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert
-book is easy to read since it is cut into somewhat short sections
- I’m on India now
- great way to pass the time if bored at work
- movie is coming out, but I’m not one of those people who MUST read a book before the movie comes out so I sound so prestigious because written words are so much better than pictures on a screen. I saw Julia Roberts interview on Oprah and remembered this is one book I can probably read to see what the fuss is all about.

Exercising: 30 Day Shred
- had a break because I was sick and coughing up a lung or two
- have the goal to move on to level 2

I have also been just accepting each day as is. I am trying to not get worried about work and what each week will bring. I plan out each week as best as I can and hope for the best. If it doesn’t work out, I have to remember to let it be. It can be hard in my worrisome head, but it’s a struggle that I am trying my best to work hard at.

That’s where I’m at right now. My next thing I want to get done is painting my room!

List of What I’m Doings

Right now I was singing George Michael’s “Faith.” That’s always a good song to sing when it seems like life will be questionable for the next couple of days and all I want is some assurance in a fun pop melody.

I haven’t written in a while. Mostly because I have been so busy, well not really. I lie. I have just been lolly gagging (I wanted to use that word, but I thought it was dolly gagging… imaging gagging dolls). I have been coming online, but only to google. Here is a short list of my lolly gagging moments:

1. Body make over tips

Ideal Trainer

I have reading nutrition info., getting tips on how to gain muscle, and other dieting tips. I have also been doing Jillian’s 30 day shred and have only done the Stage 1 part for 2 days with a day break in between. This morning I didn’t do it but I did run a bit. It’s a great workout since it’s free on Comcast’s OnDemand and only 20 minutes long. However, it only counts if you actually DO 20 minutes worth of work out. My quads and arms were sore. I have been watching what I am eating, then feeling guilty on some occasions. But why am I working so hard on getting a sexy body? Leads me to #2.

2. Searching for a fabulous dress

My Wish Dress

In July, my boyfriend’s sister is getting married and we’re all sailing away for a fun filled cruise. Heck yah I’m looking forward to this because it is also my vacation. I only need to suffer in misery another 3 months and it’s bon voyage! So, I thought I found a pretty affordable and nice-looking dress which I can dress up or dress down. However, when I found out that my 13 year old cousin ordered the same one for her middle school dance, I decided I needed to act my age and really shell out some dough and be my age. To save myself embarrassment, the original dress is not childish in any way, it’s pretty, soft, sweet, and down-to-earth looking. I can definitely vamp it up, but it’s the thought…. so I’m on a continuing my search. Which reminds me, I better ship that dress back ASAP.

3. Room make over

CostPlus Bedframe

My room is pea colored green. Originally, it was our family’s “office” room and when I first decided on the paint color, it was because I wanted the green to symbolize “wealth.” Now, every morning I wake up, it looks more and more like pea soup. It’s somewhat draining and I want to feel light, airy, and peaceful in my room. So I have been looking up paint colors, bedding, pillows, fabric, and possibly some bedroom furniture. I found some possibilities, but need some $$$ or figure out what I can actually make/afford.

4.  Excessive Planning

I keep planning to get certain things done such as getting rid of things I don’t use and simplifying life. Psh, as if my life is so chaotic. It’s not, but I think there is a general theme going on for figuring out how to live a better life and the trend seems to be, living simpler. I recently found a blog that has some interesting ideas on getting rid of things and making it an 80 day plan. I want to follow it and see how that goes. I will include this in another post since this is something that I just read today and I have actually had this post in my drafts for a while.

Work It!

Worked at Sport’s Authority today and saw the jubilee of colors with Nike. Makes we want to work out even more and eat fruit snacks.

This morning, I started my day off with the usual walk around the neighborhood with Esbee. I have been doing that almost every morning 5 days out of the week except when it rains. I’m not losing weight, which is expected because I am not pushing my body.  If I were to run instead of walk and if I increase my distance, I will lose weight. But weight is not a main goal of mine, I want to be toned or have a slight muscular look. Oh my lanky arms will be so hard to get some muscle on!

I’ve really been thinking of this whole health & fitness thing today and know that it’s going to be hard. But I have ultimate event(s) that I want to look good for. Plus, I have always wanted to achieve a somewhat muscular version of me back since I was going to Santa Barbara.  I don’t want to be bulky or anything, but I’m not too worried about bulk because that’s pretty impossible for me to achieve. It’s not in my genes or hormones to be that way.

I’m reading stuff. I’ll really TRY at it. So far I’ve read about feeling the burn, tearing the fibers, rebuilding the fibers, taking in protein and pushing yourself. Checked out a womanly workout for my shape, but I am not sure about the toning affect, I think it’s more about losing weight but I will try it out too. I’ve created a schedule (psh, we’ll see if I get to follow it).

Right now, I have room to try things out. If I end up just losing weight, then that’s cool. Maybe this will be my little project??