The ELFF Diet

Let's Talk Weight

I never post here. I'm going to try to make more of an effort, though, for I think I need the accountability.

At the end of my weight loss efforts, I weighed 129. I took a picture of the scale. That was the summer of 2007. I maintained that all winter. I had hernia surgery in the spring of 2008 and weighed 135 on the hospital scale. 5 pounds, not bad. Still better than the 210 I had started with.

I had a sever IT band injury in the fall of 2008 running a half marathon. I tore my calf muscle February 2009. I had a miscarriage May 2009. I severely pulled my piriformis muscle fall 2009.

I knew my weight was up but I purposely did not get on the scale. When I was trying to lose weight, I was obsessive about it. I weighed every.single.day, often three or more times in one day. I made myself crazy. So I stayed off the scale, and I knew that my weight was going up.

When I was in Grand Cayman this week, I went into the changing room at the gym. There was a scale there, and I stood in front of it for a good two minutes. Do I want to get on it, I thought to myself. I did, kind of. I was curious to know what I weighed. I knew, though, that the number had the power to ruin my entire weekend. If it was high, I'd obsess and fret about it nonstop. But I really did want to know, and so I made a promise to myself. No matter the number, it doesn't define you. It could say 170 and you are still lighter than you were 4 years ago. Your thighs are chunkier, yes, and your belly is looser. But you are strong and work out a lot, and if you aren't happy with that number, you have the power to change it. You know you haven't been the best with the food, so you know it's going to be high. Just get up there, already.

And so I did. 145.

I'm not going to lie and say that I love that number, but I'm ok with it. I know I need to get back to about 135-138, but I am glad to at least know where I stand.

Cook at Home to Lose Weight?

Eating out is easier. Eating out means that I don't have to think about what to cook, how to cook it, I don't have to shop for it or prepare it. I just have to sit down, order and eat. I love to eat out.

My body - and my wallet! - don't love to eat out. I know that when I eat out, I gain weight. Even if I think that the recipe is healthy, there are often hidden calories, extra fats and sugars and larger portion sizes - all of which encourage me to eat more!more!MORE!!!  Eating at home requires pre planning, a bit of effort and time - but the rewards are great.

That's why I am happy to say that I'm taking part in the Diets In Review Cook At Home Challenge. Disclaimer: I work for DIR - but I would take part in this nonetheless. It's a fantastic way stay accountable  to myself, keep my meal ideas fresh and become even healthier. Just in this first week alone, there are some FANTASTIC recipes posted and I already have two new meals planned.

Check it out and let me know if you are participating!

TRX Cables

I've been doing the boot camp every M/W/F.

I'm tired every single M/W/F.

Today we did TRX cables. Have you ever seen these things? go look. I'll wait.

Um, yeah. I'm sore. And tired.

What are you up to in the name of exercise?

40 Days of Clean Eating

Well, sort of. Kind of.

I've recommitted to clean eating. I'm taking one day off a week - rotating, but as of right now I'm setting it for either Friday or Saturday.

I feel better when I eat better, so I don't know why I don't eat better all the time.

So now, I'm trying again. It's been a week and I made it through - 5+ weeks to go.

Anyone in?

My Food Thoughts are Skewed

My body image, my self image and my mind go alternatively crazy and sane in spurts.

I think, when I'm working out, that I have my food in line and everything in order. I feel good about myself and think that I'm thin and powerful.

And then I can spend a day not working out, like today, when I'm so exhausted I can't think straight and so overwhelmed with SO.MUCH.STUFF. to do - and feel like absolute crap about myself. If I pass a mirror, I scowl grumpily at my reflection, zeroing in on my stomach, which seems to pooch over my waistline and my butt, which seems to be spreading to fit a bus seat. 

I thought I had it figured out when it turns out that I know nothing whatsoever.

It's a New Year - Will It Be a New You?

I brought in the New Year the same way as I have for the past three years - by running in the Hair of the Dog 5K. It's a fun event - people run in pajamas, formal wear from the night before, tiaras, crazy hats - it's always neat to see who wears what. I uh, wear black yoga pants and a black sweatshirt. Always. I'm pretty boring. 

The Last Week of the Year

It's typically a quiet one, as we revel in the new presents received, enjoy a week off from school, and ready ourselves for the upcoming New Year. What about you? Are you making resolutions for weight loss/diet/exercise/all things fitness and exercise and healthy living related?

I've been plugging along with the Couch to 5K plan, and I'm up to the middle of week 5. I've enjoyed it, but I find it tough to believe that I ever ran as much as I used to. I count any running as a success, since I never thought I'd run again after tearing my calf muscle. I plan to continue and finish the program, and in fact I signed up to run the Hair of the Dog 5K on New Year's Day - I've done it three years now and plan to make it a tradition. I'm not sure if I'll run in formal wear, but I'm definitely planning on wearing a tiara.

I don't know if I have lost any of the 15 pounds that I have put back on, but I feel good and the pants I wore to church, the pants that were too tight to be comfortable in September - well, they zipped smoothly on Christmas Eve.

It's a small victory, but I'll take it.

Holiday Happenings - The Cookie Exchange Dilemma

What do you do when you are invited to a Christmas Cookie Exchange - you know, bring a dozen (or six) cookies and exchange them with your friends, and bring home several different types of cookies?

Do you bring a type of cookie that you like, knowing that, in all probability, you will end up eating a ton of raw dough while baking?

Do you take a chance and bring a cookie that you hate, hoping that other people will like it enough to take it?

Do you go, eat a few cookies and leave, bringing none home?

Or do you bring home your fair share and try to give them away before you eat them all?

Or do you try to make a healthier cookie - or is there even such a thing? I saw this recipe online - No Fat, No Sugar, No Flour Chocolate cookies that actually taste good - and I wonder if they are all they sound. 

What do you do?

Begin at the Beginning

I've done day one and day two of the Couch to 5k program.

Shh, but...

It's not as difficult as I remember.

I'm afraid to say that, because I'm SURE that day three and above will smack me right.back.down where I belong.

But it's a good start and I'd highly recommend it, especially if you have an iPhone - because NOTHING beats not having to remember to look at a stupid stopwatch or try to count to 60 while you are running - you just turn on your music, start up the C25K, and wait for the siren to sound that tells you to change speed.

Running. Again. Me.

GAH.

21's

When I let my trainer go, I decided that I wasn't going to give up on working out - and I haven't, but it's been hard for me to stay motivated and really whip my arms into the shape that I'd like. Finally, I decided that enough was enough and I emailed my fitness inspiration, MIZFIT, who has the most amazing body I've EVER seen. I begged for her ideas.

She was kind and gracious and looked over the routine I'd emailed her. She indicated that I probably wasn't lifting heavy enough weights and I was doing too many reps. So I changed up my routine. I also added one of the exercises that she recommended called 21's.

One of the best things about MizFit's website is the entire library of videos - she demonstrates every exercise. I watched the video and the exercise looked easy enough, so I tried it.

Whoa. My arms were shaking at the end. I did it with 15 pound weights.

Watch the video and try the exercise. I'm interested to know what you think - and share your favorite arm exercise with me!