Move along now, little doggy. Move along.

As quick as the summer has gone by, this past month feels as though it crawled. I would be kidding myself (not to mention lying!) if I said I completed my monthly goal ending August 12 (I can't believe that's tomorrow!). The actual going to bed by 11:30 p.m. has not drug me down a bit. I just can't get out of bed by 8:25 a.m. Within the last 2 weeks, this task has gotten harder every day. The only thing I can attribute to this issue is that I am still having a hard time falling asleep quickly. With that said, I've been plagued by this problem since I can remember. One of many biological issues I can attribute to my granny (also, anxiety and mild depression, oh and writing poetry). I can say with much certainty, though, my not falling asleep can be chalked up to the increased stress over our current finances.

Moving along. Moving along. I know I said I was ready to add another day to my weekly workouts. I was thinking the other day that I should probably go ahead add one more 5 minute increment before moving up to 5 days a week. It would lesson the burden, I think.

Week of 8/10-8/16: Complete 30 minutes of continuous activity 4 out 7 days.

Month of 8/13-9/12: Consume absolutely no fast food, what so ever. Even if others offer to purchase it for you. I have a feeling this is going to be a hard task to complete. But I'm up to the challenge. If you remember right, I have completed a similar goal at the beginning of this quest. I need to one up myself!

I'm so glad we bought those bikes. As badly as our finances are this month, I feel it was worth the price. Saturday we went on an evening ride, taking the bike loop west, towards down town. On the way back we stopped to pick wild blackberries, which grow in overabundance in these parts. I'm still not riding far, but I feel awesome afterwards. I bet it will be easier once I get a more comfy seat on there. But that isn't going to happen any time soon. With that said, I am thoroughly enjoying the variety of workouts I'm able to complete now. No getting bored over here!

Now I need to drag myself away from the couch (love love love the Olympics!) and do some work around here!




(Anyone else notice I'm parenthesis happy today?)

Wholesome Me

I've successfully completed week 3 of Weight Loss Quest 2.0! I finally found a bike on c-list and purchased it yesterday. We had to take it to a local bike shop to have the inner tube of the back tire replaced for a measly $14. Eventually I'll need to replace the wheel and rear brakes, but for the time being the bike will serve it's purpose. We took our bikes to Gresham City Park, were a portion of the 40 mile bike loop cuts behind the park. The loop itself cuts behind our apartments, (if you take a look at the map, we live off of 174th Ave and Powell Blvd, just to the left of Powell Butte Nature Park, we're we have hiked a few trail heads) but unfortunately the route to the east is under construction until Sept. 15th. One night this week we should pick the loop up to the west and head towards downtown. I can't wait for the day I can begin and complete the whole loop!

This week's goal will be the same as last weeks. I'm actually biting at the bit to incorporate an additional day of physical activity! I didn't know that I was capable of such a thing! I'm going to stick with 4, 25 minute sessions of activity as to not over whelm myself, but I'm excited for next week when I get to make that 5, not 4!

I really am feeling more up beat the past week or so. For awhile there, my outlook on life was bleak and menacing. I haven't felt quite that low since I was in high school. I'm thankful though, that it was only situational depression, not chronic. Though I have been known to suffer from seasonal affective disorder. Which I'm sure can get pretty sever living in the Pacific Northwest. However, I'm feeling confident that my urge to achieve and maintain regular physical activity will help keep this at a minimum. Not to mention, the more active I become, the social I will want to be. Though for the time being, I've kept my social activities to a minimum.

I realized last week, after finding some really awesome vegetarian blogs, that a portion of my weight gain is more than likely attributed to my increased consumption of processed foods. There was a point (late college years) that I kept that a minimum. Ever since T and I began dating, and moved into together, along with the hike in consumer prices, we've relied more and more on processed foods. This week I'm putting a stop to all that. I bought a ton of gains from the bulk food section at Winco, including unprocessed quinoa, oatmeal, couscous, pastas, raw sugar, unbleached flour, and whole wheat flour to name a few. I came up with an awesome breakfast muffin recipe with dried apricots and crushed pineapple. I dropped boxed cereal and am going to try really hard to not eat granola bars. Though I do buy them for T, because it is a good on the go, low protein snack for him. I'm also going to reduce the amount of dairy I consume. I'm working hard to eliminate eggs in my baking. I'm working on a vegan version of those muffins. As soon as I master the recipe, I will post it here. I am also trying to reduce the amount of cheese I eat. I'm sure this is also attributing factor. I want to make as many things as I can instead of buying the prepackaged version. I'm hoping it will be cheaper and cut back on packaging waste. I bought a frozen pizza during my weekly shopping trip purely from habit, even though I have a quick and simple crust recipe I could make myself! It will be hard to break those old habits but I want to create a wholesome, unprocessed, fresh food environment. I think my biggest struggle will be creating easy snacks instead buying a box of something. Hmm time to go research recipes.

Oh and I lost 1.5 pounds last week. Nice, slowly, steady weight loss. I gotta keep this up!


Note: I gained 5 pounds during my hiatus and changed the parameters of the scale accordingly.

Take joy in running the race, not trying to win it.

I don't know why I keep avoiding writing a new post. It's not like I've quit or not completed goals. I've been on my computer all week. Why haven't I written, yet?

In any case, I completed last week's goal and am holding steady for my monthly goal. I'm proud of myself! I dropped the reward system. I can't tell if it was working, but anyhow I should be able to do this from motivation from inside myself, not material stimuli. Although, my behavior modification professors would say other wise. It's ok to give yourself a reward, but we are tight tight tight on funds and I just can't always justify spending the money in my head. I do really really need new hiking/running shoes because mine hurt my feet and don't support my high arch properly. I found a decent pair at a discount store, but that was months ago. Maybe they still have 'em. I'll try to check it out mid August. This pay check is purely for rent and bills.

My goal for this week was to complete 25 minutes of physical activity 4 out 7 days. So far so good! I only have one session left to do and will more than likely complete it today. Next week will be the same goal, as I'm trying increase time and number of days at a slow pace. Mostly every 2 weeks. Ultimately I would like to achieve 60 minutes, 6 out 7 days. But like I said, that won't happen over night. I am enjoying my time outdoors as well as not pushing myself so far that I give up to quickly. I am building confidence. That gray cloud hanging over my head has shifted slightly. I really needed that. I needed to feel a little more like myself.

T and I are trying to buy mountain bikes. Well, he already found his, but it seems women's bikes are few and far between. We're using the cash from selling his old truck to the junk yard. We also used it to buy a new blender from costco. That dang pos of mine got on my last nerve. I haven't had a chance to try the new one out yet, but I'll be all of it tomorrow!

Check out this article. It gave me a little reassurance in rewriting the rules.

the engine's still humming

I reached my goals for last week! Well almost. I'm struggling with the wake up time, I just can't get out of bed by 8:20. It's always between 8:23 and 8:25. So I'm going to tweak it. I have to be up and out of bed by 8:25. Amazingly enough, now that I set a bed time for myself, I'm finding that I actually going to bed sooner than 11:30. That's pretty darned awesome!

I struggled getting in the 20 minutes of exercise, but I did it (even though I procrastinated half way through the week)! I'm going to stick with this goal one more week before adding to it.

Meanwhile I'm still struggling with the internal battle of my mind. I've found myself at the bottom of the barrel. I can remember the last time the clouds lifted and I actually felt like myself, sometime in the early spring, pre-Portland. I want that day back. I want that feeling back. I want to feel alive again.