FertilehealthyAiming for success, not perfection…

Day 8 of 2009 and so far so good.  I’m eating well and I’ve managed 395 minutes of intentional exercise in the eight days. 

I keep reminding myself that it doesn’t matter that I’m not perfect in my eating habits yet. I’m going through a change over and there is room for improvement. Which is a good thing! Think about it, if you start at 100%, where can you go? Only down. I’m at about 85% and moving up. It works for me. Cold-turkey hasn’t in the past.

One excellent habit that I’ve reintroduced into our lives is to start all cooked meals with something raw.  That means green juice (Barleylife) before our morning oatmeal and freshly extracted carrot and beetroot juice before supper (even if the main meal is predominantly salad).  Lunch normally consists of left-over salad from the previous evening (I make huge salads), fruit or a smoothie.  That way we’re getting lots of nutrients in every day.

As for the exercise, nobody starts at 100%. Like with a fun-run, the leaders may already be nearing the halfway mark, but I’ve only just made it across the start line.  I’ve had to suspend my treadmill efforts for now, since the blisters I poo-poohed so foolishly on Monday have made it almost impossible to get my trainers on.  I tried on Tuesday, but could barely walk, so I had to contend myself with the elliptical and the arm cycle, which don’t involve moving the feet.  I was amazed to be able to do 15 minutes on the elliptical… it’s a new record for me.  But in order to allow my blisters to heal, I’m not putting on those shoes and have gone back to walking to the DVD drop box every morning, wearing Craig’s my Crocs.  It’s a 25 minute walk with some inclines, so I’m definitely getting exercise (even though I’m not schvitzing profusely like I do in the gym). 

I’m doing beginners Pilates four times per week and am already noticing some progress after only one week.  Yesterday my transversus abdominis bit me every time I moved.  I felt like I did after my uterine surgery all those years ago…  Of course, weighing over 300 pounds, there are some things in Pilates that I just can’t do, but my instructor is very skilled and knowledgable and gives me alternatives or watered-down versions of the exercises.  I have noticed that my hamstrings are very weak (always have been, now that I think about it), so I’m going to do some mini-squats every day, along with the walking, to strengthen them.

I want to do aqua aerobics at least twice a week, but I’m going to have to inspect my bathing suit.  I think it may be too disreputable for public use.  Not indecent, just stretched out and threadbare.  And I’m certainly not going to fork out a fortune for a new one (in my size they are feats of engineering and this is reflected in the price tag) right now.  I’ll wait until I’ve dropped a few sizes.

But I’m going to have to do something about my gym clothes.  I bought my gym T-shirts two years ago from Andy’s Big & Tall Man Store and they weren’t exactly cheap.  But they were b-i-g and I thought that was a good thing.  Turns out that it’s not.  I feel like I’m crawling around in a tent (and probably exposing much more than I would like) and Jan can’t see which muscles I’m using.  As for the pants.  I bought them in Seattle four years ago and they are overdue for retirement.  My mom and I will be hitting the fabric centers next week (since I’m too stingy to buy ready-made clothes that will only fit for a few months).  I’m not looking for skin-tight lycra, just clothes that actually fit me.  My mom will be starting up the Singer again!

I was going to raid my husband’s wallet for a session with a personal trainer.  I really need to learn how to use the machines and the free weights.  But when I discussed this with the very helpful lady at reception she told me that since I come during off-peak hours the floor managers are perfectly capable of helping me.  That’s actually perfect for me, since I don’t really want a program, I just want some orientation.  So, I saved my hubby some money and he doesn’t even know it!

As for the Oil Cleansing Method, I’m loving it!  It’s only been a few days, but I can see a huge difference in my skin.

So, this is just the beginning, but I’m enjoying myself and making progress.  The scale seems to agree.

How are you doing?