Ho Hum

A bragger one must never be! I started this blog as a way to inspire and motivate people with my determination to live a well rounded life after 50. I wanted to not be so much of a work-a-holic, to actually find time for me, and live a healthier lifestyle. The reality is, the demands of my job (which I LOVE!), do not allow me to live this way consistently. Some days I have time to walk, eat healthy foods and get enough rest. Most days during the week I don't. Here's a summary of this week:

Sunday: Can't remember what I ate. I did walk 3 and a half miles. Whoopee!
Monday: Walked almost 4 miles at the mall. Did not match my personal best, but felt good. Cannot remember what I ate, but I did dip into my chocolate stash at work. Ouch!
Tuesday: This was a longggggg day at work. I put in almost 12 hours. I did eat a salad for dinner. However, for lunch I have been reverting back to cafeteria lunches, which are not too bad--just a little higher in calories. No walking for me, and not enough sleep, either.
Wednesday: Another long day at work. I ate 2 pieces of pizza that I bought for a meeting--the fattening kind. No walking again! I cooked Geoff dinner, and only ate the salad because of the pizza deal. Got home at 6:30 and was too tired.
Thursday: Left work at 3:30, went home and worked some more, prepared snacks for my Bible study, taught the Bible study, came home and worked some more, and went to bed. No walking again. Dinner was one chocolate chip cookie and a small bowl of watermelon. Not very nutritious...
Friday: I was bad, bad, bad! I had a football donut for breakfast, a cafeteria lunch, and chicken wings at Calhoun's for dinner. I worked until 6:00, ate dinner at 8:00, got home at 9:00 and was in bed at10:00.
Saturday: I woke up at 6:30 and feel great! Today I get to go to the UT game and sit in the sky box! I'm getting ready to clean my house (Does that count as exercise?). I may walk after the game. So far, I have not eaten anything. I'm saving it for the sky box....wish me luck!

Not So Good

Beginning with Thursay, I have not been doing well. I started out okay with a banana for breakfast. Because a banana is not much of a breakfast, I couldn't resist the entire cafeteria lunch--the worst part being a huge piece of oven baked/fried chicken. After school I went to a meeting, and there were all kinds of junk food snacks there. I could have gone with what was on the fruit trays only, but NOOOOO--I had to have a cookie, peanut M & Ms, and caramel dip for the apples. Plus, Diet Coke to drink. Not to mention that I did not drink enough water on Thursday. I was SOOO hungry walking at the mall, but didn't want to eat dinner because I had eaten junk. Thinking I would skip dinner, I waited until I got home and devoured the rest of a box of Wheat Thins. Not a good day.

Friday was even worse. I made it through lunch on a banana, a piece of white toast from the cafeteria (should have been whole wheat), and a very healthy salad. We were supposed to go to the fair, which would at least made me walk before devouring junk food. Instead, we went out to dinner at Puleo's and I ate a whole steak, grits, and an unhealthy salad! I felt absolutely gross all night.

This morning it is raining. So much for a morning walk. I think I'll go to school and work, and then hope that the rain stops so we can walk to the game tonight. If not, there's always the equipment at the Racquet Club and yoga. Wish me luck. I've had Raisin Bran and black coffee only so far today. I've got to get serious!

My daughter has been really working out and watching her diet, and she looks absolutely wonderful! Oh to be in my 20s again! After you turn 50, you can only look so good, no matter what you do. However, we have to do our best with what we've got, right?

Progress?

Yesterday was a fairly successful day. I had raisin bran for breakfast, a banana for a mid-morning snack, and a salad with spring greens, almonds, blueberries, parmesan cheese, and light basalmic dressing for lunch. I almost drank 32 ounces of water, and was doing okay until I made the leadership team s'mores for an after school snack. Of course I couldn't resist devouring one myself! The good thing was it made me feel a little sick, as junk food will do when you're trying to avoid it. Plus, you really think about what you're eating. For dinner I had white beans, tomato slices, and a roll. I was hungry after walking 3 miles at the mall, so I had a handful of dry roasted peanuts and a few wheat thins before bed. Not bad.

The problem is I'm not getting enough sleep. Since I don't walk until around 8:00 at night during the week, it winds me up. I've been sooooo tired these past two days. Today I thought I was going to fall asleep driving home. I hurried home (stopping at the dry cleaner's and grocery store first) because I had hired some guys to do work at my house. Even though I left work earlier than usual, I ended up doing about 2 hours of work on the computer besides cooking dinner. I haven't stopped! This is what I have eaten today:

Breakfast: Banana
Lunch: Cafeteria baked/fried chicken, applesauce, mashed potatoes, peas, small chocolate chip cookie
Snack: Bite sized Heath Bar
Dinner: Baked chicken, new potatoes w/parsley, salad with parmesan cheese, green peppers, arugula, and basalmic dressing
Water: 32 ounces
Coffee: WAY TOO MUCH!

I know I should walk, but I can't bear the thought. It's 20 minutes until 8:00. I think I'll read the paper and do 30 minutes of stretches--maybe in an hour or so.

Here's the problem: Trying to be healthy is wearing me out! You have to take the time to actually cook and prepare food, and if you exercise you don't get any sleep. You have to do your job, which I can't seem to do in less than 10 hours a day. I love my job, so what do I do?

Add On!

I just did at least 30 minutes of yoga and stretches! Tomorrow, I will have to remember that this is the only thing I had to worry about today. It will be interesting to see how I do when I have to go back to work full-time!

The Beginning

Labor Day. For many, this marks and end of the summer season. No more bright white pants, no more white shoes. Clerks in clothing stores are told that they must wear closed toe shoes and the new line of winter clothing, even though temperatures outside remain in the 90s. Colleges and schools are in full session now, if they weren't already. Church programs likewise are in full swing, with new programs and Bible studies to keep members motivated and inspired. The sun has sunk a few degrees in the sky, the mornings are crisp and cool, and the humidity is starting to disappear and make sitting outside in the evenings pleasant. It's the perfect time to start a fitness program!

My goals for this week: Drink more water, stay away from unhealthy foods, avoid snacking, and get some type of exercise every single day. Are you ready to eat your heart out? Here goes!

Breakfast:
1 serving of oatmeal
2 cups of black coffee

Walked 4 miles in 54 minutes, which enabled me to set a new personal best of 13.44 miles per hour.

Snack:
Made my neice in the Navy 4 dozen cookies. Sent her dozen, froze 2 dozen. Did not even TASTE a cookie. Drank 32 ounces of water
Lunch:
tomato and mozarella salad at Panera Bread
12 ounces of water

Dinner:
salmon, 1 and 1/2 new potatos seasoned with a dab of butter and salt and pepper, and brocolli
12 ounces of water

Current weight? I have no idea. My goal is to firm up and feel better. Now to make it through the rest of the evening!