Weigh In: Too much time in Vegas??

It's that time again. I can't believe it's the last day of February. You would think I'd be prepared, knowing that February is the shortest month but I'm not. But let's just start..

Current Weight: 204.8 lbs (little by little right? Let's just hope it keeps going down)

Work Out Achievement(s): Last week felt soo long I can't remember exactly what I did but I know I missed out on swimming at least once and decided to go for a quick jog/trot instead. I was starting to feel sick and I COULD NOT get sick since that weekend (last weekend) was going to be the weekend I met my parents in Vegas and we were going to see "KA" the Cirque du Soleil inside the MGM Grand Casino.


So I opted to skip getting wet and walking around soaked in cold and windy weather and instead stay dry and use my legs.

However, although it was the first time I went jogging at night (I wore my headlamp and everything and blasted Daft Punk through my earphones) the jog seemed too short and just didn't compare to the long swim I'm used to.

I'm trying to come up with new and interesting work outs though because I'm finally starting to realize that I have maybe two more months left out here and after that *poof* NO MORE POOL!

It was in the back of my mind that I should really start incorporating new work out routines that didn't require a pool and only required my body, or something that I can do anywhere and almost anytime.

Because of my field work I move around all the time and I'm still unsure of where I'll end up this summer.

Will there be wifi? I don't know. Will there be a pool? Doubtful.

I'm thinking about investing in a bicycle. I haven't ridden a bike since I was a kid and I'm worried about my knees but I would really like to try it. I don't know. What do you think?

------------

One good AND bad thing about going to Vegas again, besides having a great but short time with my family is eating out AGAIN. Like my last post I have been absolutely ravenous lately and craving the worse food possible. Thankfully, (or not) I was able to satisfy those urges last weekend.

We went to IHOP and I ordered the All You Can Eat Pancakes meal. Ate some sausage, ate some hash-browns, barely touched their crappy eggs, but mainly enjoyed a total of 4 pancakes smothered in Butter Pecan syrup. I ate it up. Enjoyed it. Didn't even feel stuffed afterwards (though I admit I wasn't hungry the rest of the day either.) and now my urge is gone.

Not only that but we had a late dinner and I ended up ordering a huge burger with swiss cheese, avocado, and chipotle sauce with fries. I ate EVERYTHING.

My cheese and greasy food urges are now also gone. *wipes brow*

Now, I know I should feel guilty. All this food is definitely NOT in plan. But I like to think that I'd rather sit down, eat the food I want to eat. Satisfy the craving I have, and MOVE ON. If I don't then I would start eating crappy food left and right (like I had been doing prior to this) and end up consuming a lot more calories than having ONE day of "bad" eating.

But one thing I think I need to "cool it" with is eating out every time I go to town and definitely start minimizing the times I go to Las Vegas. Although it allows me to dress up a little:


when most of the time I'm wearing worker pants, hiking boots and long sleeved t-shirts but still.

I'm becoming a Starbucks addict just heading to their coffee shops to use the internet. NOT GOOD. I don't even like coffee.

Goal(s): It's time I started cooking for myself more often. I also need to see what I can do to strengthen my knees so that I can eventually start cycling around and work on those "sexy biker legs" as I like to call them. LOL

I still have the pool though. I haven't lost it yet! So I'm going to amp up my workouts and take advantage of the few weeks I have left.

I can do it!

<3 w0rld

Mapel Oat Pecan Scone and Meat Ravioli

Yup you read that right. That meat ravioli was dinner last night, and since there was a delay with my order I got free super chocolate cake for my patience. Did I take advantage of the chocolate offer. You bet I did.

Eating Meat Ravioli and checking email. Yeah I'm a multi-tasking badass!

And this morning. A "maple oat pecan scone" from Starbucks followed by a Grande Caramel frappacino.

*$ lady:"Would you like whip cream with that frap?"
Me:"I sure would. That's what makes the drink."

To make matters worse I didn't enjoy the scone that much (yet I still finished it. What's wrong with me?!) so I ordered a toffee, walnut chocolate chip giant cookie to make up for the disappointment in taste.

I know. I know. W.T.H?


I shake my head just thinking about it.

But I'm all about taste these last few.. weeks.

I want sweet, amazing tasting things. And when I don't like what I try I can't stop thinking about it until I find something that will suffice. I really need to focus that obsession on something that would help me out. Like learning how to bake healthy things, or finding sweet things that aren't a million calories.

Chocolate!
Syrup covered, chocolate chip pancakes!
Blueberry waffles!
Date and walnut bread! (<---- most amazing bread I've ever tasted!)
Dates!
Strawberry sorbet ice cream!
Chocolate covered raisins!
Mashed potatoes with REAL butter!
CHEESE!! (feta, cheddar, parmessan, gooey, yummy, amazing!)
Grilled Cheese Sandwiches!
Pizza!
and my all time favorite (and I do it ALL the time)

A giant fruit salad with blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, Gala apple, banana, purple grapes, and any other fruit I could find, loaded with cottage cheese, smothered in honey-honey-and more-honey and topped with almonds!!!

Mmmmm.. Just thinking about it all is making my body melt and my mouth water.

I gotta take control of my urges! I can do this!

"I can have it all just not all at once."

This quote from Bethenny Frankel's fabulous book Naturally Thin

is a godsend during these times of crazy control issues. I love this book because it explains HOW to eat not WHAT to eat. Does that make sense? And believe it or not I need to read these kinds of things. It may seem simple to say "eat smaller portions. Choose your food wisely." But I really like the way this is explained.

It's time to pick up my copy again. Time to meditate. Time to find sugar free syrup!

Hugs,
-w0rld

Weigh In

Thought I forgot didn't you? Well you're wrong! Here it is!

Current Weight: 205.2 lbs (That's a .8lbs loss from last week)

Work Out Achievement(s): So... about a 1 lbs loss this week. Honestly I was hoping for a bit more than that but I'm also not too surprised. I admit I haven't been eating the best this last.. month really and I guess all the walking and hiking and some swimming I've been doing is no longer enough to keep the pounds melting off like they were doing back in November and December.

I have been feeling like I needed a new challenge/change in my workouts and I'm already starting to switch it up. Buying that pull buoy is a big step in to changing that. Not to mention I need to start paying closer attention to how many calories I've been consuming. I admit I only count calories every other month nowadays to make sure I'm not going crazy or fooling myself to thinking I'm eating less than I am.

Still, I'd rather continue losing slow and steady like this than ending up in another plateau again. I DO NOT want that to happen again.

Last week besides the strip walk I also got to check out Red Rock Canyon. It was beautiful

I had a lot of fun messing with the timer on my camera but I admit I didn't do as much hiking as I wanted. I really spent most of my time taking pictures. I'm definitely planning on going again and spending the day hiking. I want that sweaty, sore legged, but oh-man-that-wind-at-the-top-of-the-hill-feels-good feeling.

Yes I said it, I'm hoping for AND planning an activity that'll make me sweaty and tired but happy (hey, hey no dirty thoughts allowed here ok? LOL)

Goal(s): Besides a return trip to Red Rock Canyon I need to go back to Sparkpeople.com and start recording my calories again. Apart from that I need to start working on my core. I feel like my posture is suffering. My back is starting to hurt again. Work has been long so far this week (I've been working since this weekend so Monday is like my Wednesday) and I need a massage. I'm also planning to finally order my new swimsuit.

I wanted to wait until I reached the 200 lbs mark but this suit is ridiculously stretched and loose. It feels like I'm wearing a flowing gown when I'm swimming. Not cool.

I'll post a couple more pictures of my trip to Red Rock later this week. Have a great week everyone!

-w0rld

Exercise on the Las Vegas Strip

Today was the second time this month that I (on a whim) decided to walk the Las Vegas Strip as a form of exercise, but mainly for fun.



The first time (the yellow line. Click to enlarge.) I walked from the MGM to the Mirage a total (according to google maps) as 1.4 miles not including going through casinos, exhibits and extra walkways which could have definitely doubled this number. I took the tram back to the MGM.

Today I decided to do the second half (the black line) from the Mirage to the Stratosphere which is a total of 4.4 miles round trip (1.7 miles one way). This is NOT to mention walking around the casinos and not just in a straight line AND using the stairs every step of the way instead of all the convenient escalators and elevators. So it could very well have been over a 5 mile walk.

Although I really enjoyed walking the strip at dusk and night when all the lights are on I had a lot of fun walking it this morning (Started around 9:00 am and returned to my car by 11:30 a.m.) because the streets weren't so crowded and the people that were out that early were also power walking, jogging, or just enjoying the nice morning. Of course most of the stores and attractions were closed but I wasn't there to go in to shops. I was just there to walk. LOL.

I wasn't in a huge rush and although I took a lot of pictures the first time around I didn't take any this time and simply enjoyed it.

I mean if you have access to such an interesting place why not take advantage of it right?

Have a great Friday everyone!

-w0rld

Weigh In

First of all let's start off with saying Happy Valentines Day! I still have about 4 hours of the day left and although I was working all of today and even forgot about it and got confused when my mom screamed "Feliz Valentines!" to me over the phone I like to think that I have this tiny little time to actually celebrate it. And how do I celebrate? I treat myself to dinner! LOL.. I guess I'll never learn.

But let's get to it!

Current Weight: 206.0 lbs (although I didn't blog last weeks Weigh In I DID weigh myself and it was 207.4. That means that this weeks loss is -1.4 lbs)

Work Out Achievement(s): Ok so I'm actually really glad of this one pound loss because I went home last week. That means eating waffles and pancakes and home cooking and messing with the little nephew as the only form of exercise.
But wait! I managed to get a ton of things done and one of them was to go to my local sporting goods store where I bought myself a pull buoy.

My swimming has now increased in intensity!I've currently switched my swimming with half my laps using the buoy and half of them using the buoy as a kick board.That way I am working both my arms AND my legs And I'm loving it! I've also found that using the buoy actually helps my dolphin kick technique. That means my abs are going to get toned. Six pack here I come! Ok, jk.. but the enthusiasm is there and that's what matters right?
Add the fact that these last couple of weeks have been warm so going to the pool at night has been welcome rather than dreaded. Honestly I'm glad I'm slowly getting psyched to work out again. This weather has been amazing and is bringing back fond memories I've had of working in the desert rather than the not-so-happy mood I've been in since before New Years.

Goal(s): So I said I was going to start jogging again and I actually did go jogging a few weekends ago. On Superbowl Sunday actually. I've recently rekindled my love for Daft Punk and had them on my mp3 player as I started my first jog of the new year. I wasn't planning on going very far knowing that I hadn't been running in over a month. But Daft Punk didn't let me down, and the music refused to stop, so I kept going. In the end I went further than I had ever gone before, too bad I pulled something in my left hip and it's been bugging me ever since. I don't blame Daft Punk though. I love D.P. It was my mistake for getting over excited.

So my goal this week is to continue my new swimming routine and find out how well it does on the scale. I also started drinking more water and I think it's been helping. I'm going to stretch well and try jogging again. I'll go slowly.

I CAN do this!

I know, I know. I've been AWOL.

You know I had to look up AWOL on an online dictionary to make sure I had the right description and the right meaning to this post and when I read the definition I knew it was perfect. Here it is:

"away from military duties without permission, but without the intention of deserting."

Now do I consider this blog to be in the same league as the military? Not really but I do feel that it is my duty to keep this blog going, not just for the people that read this but mainly for me.

I need to feel responsible for the promises I make to myself. I need this blog as a recorder and log for my successes and set backs. It keeps track the numbers on the scale for me and allows me to look back at the mistakes and patterns I have (like becoming a gluttonous monster the second I go home).

So believe me when I say I DID notice when I didn't log in and write a Weigh In last Monday. I noticed when I couldn't even log on to the blogger world to read other peoples posts for inspiration let alone write my own entry.

I don't know what happened but I just couldn't be online long enough to do anything productive. I don't have an explanation or excuse that can get me out of this one.

But I promise there will be a Weigh In post tomorrow night. I am STILL here. I'm not going ANYWHERE!

love,
-w0rld

I'm lucky; I was born Fat.

Going through the motions of weight loss and meeting people going through similar journeys and I wonder, am I at an advantage for never having been skinny in the first place?

It seems to me that it is a lot more stressful and frustrating for people who want to "return to the high school weight" or go back to being fit like when they "played so and so sport" etc..

It's something they had and they lost. Probably for a variety of reasons:
They had a super fast metabolism growing up and never had to worry about what they ate... until now.
They were always active kids and then when they slowed down the pounds caught up with them.
They injured themselves and couldn't move or eat the way they needed.

etc etc..

I never had these problems (or experiences). I never have to worry about wanting to go back to the "high school weight" since I weighed 230 lbs in high school. I never joined a sport and because I'm the most cautious person in.the.world (makes me the slowest hiker in history probably) I --knock on wood-- haven't had any major injuries that disabled me from moving (except of course morbid obesity and lack of motivation.. but anyway).

I've never been thin. No, I don't think me being a normal 7 year old counts since I started gaining weight when I was 9.

I guess it's one of those "you don't miss what you've never had" sort of things.

Now that isn't to say that I'm in anyway better or a step forward from people who were once fit and now have to struggle to return to where they were (or settle that they won't ever reach the same fitness level they once had) because I've allowed myself to go downhill for so long I now suffer from multiple health problems and chances are a few muscle and posture problems a chiropractor would love to get their hands on.

I've missed out on opportunities and lost a large sense of self esteem and confidence. No, I wouldn't wish my old life on anyone. But I admit I'm glad I don't have to worry about stressing over a body I once had and lost.

I'm at the point in my weight where I've never been before. It only gets better (and lighter) from here. This is all new to me. I'm excited. I'm scared. I'm determined to continue until I reach my goal weight and then some.

I wonder though, does the knowledge that you were once fit and happy make it harder to get back to that weight? Or does it motivate you knowing you were there once and could make it there again?

I don't know.

Always pensive,
-w0rld

My Next Article is IN!

I just finished my next article, mainly focused on my local community but with a simple message to check out Local Farmers Markets.


I honestly think farmers markets are an awesome experience to try. You get to socialize with your community and buy some awesome food.

Try new things, check out new recipes and actually be outside for it instead of in a boring old grocery store.

I love the flowers. You get good food and a center piece for your table. Mmm.

I don't know. Am I wrong? Do you buy from farmers markets? I wish my little desert town had more of these kinds of things.

It's February! Aaaah!

I cannot BELIEVE it's February people! Valentine's Day is 13 days away and I don't have a date! Oh NO!

LOL LOL

I'm just kidding. I'm not the kind of person who would worry or care too much about Valentines Day.

No, what I really came here to say is that I weighed myself again this morning and got an interesting surprise in the scale.

Beginning February weight: 207.6 lbs

I don't get. I don't get it. But it works in my favor. So, I'm keeping it. :)

I weighed myself three times to make sure it was right and each time the scale blinked "207.6" so 207.6 it is.

Thank you so much for the responses on my last post

The food WAS delicious. I WILL get back to my regular routine. I HAVE been meaning to try new things in the pool.

And for those of you that wonder what the *(&%^ I'm talking about when I mean "deer capture" I mean that a helicopter crew goes around, nets a doe, brings it back to camp, we take out samples of blood, hair and etc, put a radio collar on it, and let it go.

No venison for me tonight my friends. LOL

Thank you again. Wish me luck on this week and have a great February!!