WATCH-ME'S Goal Seeking Journal

[WATCH-ME-SHRINK]

I posted this on another thread/board, but it belongs here as well, considering how important my beloved water bottle is to me and its relevance in my fitness journey.

I get attached to things very easily. Pens, coffee mugs, water bottles, CD's, certain wines, candles, lip liners.......to name a few.

So making my journal debut, my water bottle fettish:

This is my all-time favorite water bottle. I carry it with me everywhere I go. No, it doesn't keep water cold, but it has lots of other redeeming qualities:

See-through
Easy to open with one hand
Easy to close with one hand
Wide mouth for ice and easy cleaning
Easy to carry with no hands (slip it on my finger while my hands are busy carring other stuff)

Love it, love it, love it. I'm on my second one. I'll buy another if this one bites the dust.

[WATCH-ME-SHRINK]

Updating Saturday:

It rained this morning. It was so pleasant, sitting on the porch in the rain. That was a great start to my day.

I had a low sugar Detour bar and a thin bagel with coffee, and about two hours later headed to the gym. Did not go with LB (still having DOMS from earlier in the week and from Callanetics on Friday), so worked delts, back, biceps, abs and 3 sets of sumo squats. Stretching. Cardio.

Spent some time in the sun today, reading. It was very hot, so I'd spray myself down with water every so often.

It's quiet now. My family is gone, and I'm alone. It's all good. I get some me time. Always look foward to ME time.

It's been a good day. Carbed up a bit, close to 175 carbs or so. I'll back down to LC tomorrow.

Tomorrow will be an all cardio day. If I wake early enough, I'll do power walking with jogging intervals. My knee seems to have improved slightly more each day.

[jamistar77]

Hi T!! Its been a long time since I've come by to see ya! I love you avi pic, You are simply breath taking! Such a kind heart and spirit.
I am so sad to hear about your mother.. sorry this is so belated, I had no idea.

[WATCH-ME-SHRINK]

Originally Posted by jamistar77

Hi T!! Its been a long time since I've come by to see ya! I love you avi pic, You are simply breath taking! Such a kind heart and spirit.
I am so sad to hear about your mother.. sorry this is so belated, I had no idea.

Hello there, Ms. Jami. Thank you on the avatar, but mercy, you should talk. You've certainly earned the right to strut your new hard body in YOURS! Congrats and kudos to you for your continued hard work and focus on your goals.

Thank you for your condolences re my mom. My heart aches with missing her, more than I can even put into words. Good days and bad days, all to be expected.

Glad you stopped by my journal.

[WATCH-ME-SHRINK]

I've been visited once again by an overwhelming emptiness. It hit, customarily, out of nowhere, no warning, a frustrating ebb and flow of mixed emotions, suffocating the deepest part of my soul.

I want to run and hide from it, but there is nowhere to run to. I know I have to face my emotions head on. Look life and reality straight on, not flinch, not fight, but deal with it to truly overcome and get through it.

I slept late this morning, partly because of fatigue and need for rest, partly because I wanted to run away. Hide. Shut down. Push away from everything and everyone.

It has gotten easier. Calm has taken over as the day has progressed.

I decided it was a good day for Callanetics, the empowering it gives me along with the undeniable sense of relaxation and purging. I followed up with about 15 mins of light cardio on my elliptical. I took a nap late afternoon.

I'm feeling much better now. The storm seems to have passed. I made it through.

TOTALS FOR TODAY:

CALS..........1274
PROT............171
CARBS............44
FIBER.............15
FAT................50

50 MINS SUPER CALLAN
15 MINS CARDIO, SS

[Lisa46]

Sending virtual hugs, T. I know that feeling. The emptiness of being a motherless child is sometimes too hard to bear. But bear it you must. Stay strong, my friend.

[WATCH-ME-SHRINK]

Originally Posted by Lisa46

Sending virtual hugs, T. I know that feeling. The emptiness of being a motherless child is sometimes too hard to bear. But bear it you must. Stay strong, my friend.

How very sweet, Lisa. You speak from experience, and always from the heart. Feel my hugs reciprocated.

[jamistar77]

Originally Posted by WATCH-ME-SHRINK

Hello there, Ms. Jami. Thank you on the avatar, but mercy, you should talk. You've certainly earned the right to strut your new hard body in YOURS! Congrats and kudos to you for your continued hard work and focus on your goals.

Thank you for your condolences re my mom. My heart aches with missing her, more than I can even put into words. Good days and bad days, all to be expected.

Glad you stopped by my journal.

Oh my gosh!! thank you! Its been a journey, and I thank you for helping me along the way! I couldn't have done it without my friends
Your Welcome. I haven't experienced a loss quite like that, but, when I did lose my grandpa in January, one thing that helped me feel more at peace, was trying to imagine what his new LIFE was like with God. I couldn't even begin to imagine what all he has seen, felt.. I was very happy for HIM in a sense, but wow, it hurt. You maybe missing her dearly, but, you will be reunited in her arms again

[GardenGirl639]

Originally Posted by WATCH-ME-SHRINK

I've been visited once again by an overwhelming emptiness. It hit, customarily, out of nowhere, no warning, a frustrating ebb and flow of mixed emotions, suffocating the deepest part of my soul.

I want to run and hide from it, but there is nowhere to run to. I know I have to face my emotions head on. Look life and reality straight on, not flinch, not fight, but deal with it to truly overcome and get through it.

Dear Twila,

I am so sorry for your pain. I remember those days from losing my dad at a young age. While I don't post much, I have been praying for you during this time.

Elizabeth

[Danipower714]

Big to you Twyla. You look beautiful in your new avi. I can't imagine how tough this time is for you, but if anyone can get thru it I know it is you.

[WATCH-ME-SHRINK]

My LCF's are a wellspring of happiness for me.

Love you all.

[WATCH-ME-SHRINK]

Okay...I'm SO SOLD on this new young artist, making her debut at 23 with So You Think You Can Dance...how fortunate for her...!
Love her voice...LOVE IT, LOVE IT, LOVE IT! She has the voice, the style, guts, all of it.

Waiting anxiously for her to make it big.

YouTube - Christina Perri - Jar of Hearts

[jamistar77]

Darn computer! I cant see any videos! Still waiting for DH to install all the goodies on our new software.

Twyla! I meant to tell you that now that I finally have some knowledge on carbs/prot/fat etc. on when and how to eat them. I think that I am going to join you in the TKD carb cycling approach! I LOVE it! Since I am unable to do any cardio I think this would be great for me. I get carbs when my body really needs them and on days off from lifting I can have all the goodie fats that I've gone without!
Im so happy that you list your macros during the day with activities. That really helps me out.

[WATCH-ME-SHRINK]

Originally Posted by jamistar77

Twyla! I meant to tell you that now that I finally have some knowledge on carbs/prot/fat etc. on when and how to eat them. I think that I am going to join you in the TKD carb cycling approach! I LOVE it! Since I am unable to do any cardio I think this would be great for me. I get carbs when my body really needs them and on days off from lifting I can have all the goodie fats that I've gone without!
Im so happy that you list your macros during the day with activities. That really helps me out.

Jami, TKD is a great approach to getting lean and priming your body for the intake of all those carbs, because your insulin sensitivity has increased by the depletion earlier in the week. Try to make sure that your first few meals of the day have rapidly-absorbing carbs and keep the slower, complex carbs for later in the day. Helps to shuttle the carbs into the cells more quickly. And lots of water.

I remember being so AMAZED on the day after ingesting 250-300 carbs that I saw/felt NO BLOAT WHATSOEVER. Amazing energy on the carb up day and the day after too.

I'll be anxious to follow along as you go to see how your body responds.

[WATCH-ME-SHRINK]

Updating Monday:

Kept it to an all-cardio day. Began the morning with a 40 min power walk, with 1-min running intervals , followed by a slow, gentle session of stretching.

Added in a 22-min session of s/s cardio on the elliptical after work. Felt a little hungrier than the day before. Drank tons of water and kept my meals spaced.

When Gavin arrived home from his summer job late yesterday afternoon, he went to the gym to work out. When he got home from the gym around 7:00, he told me that the female co-owner had asked where I was, and was asking if he thought I might be interested in lifting with her on Saturday. I replied, "She did???? Seriously???" He went on to say that she'd been wanting to lift with me, after seeing my intensity and style, but always had a client with her when I would come to the gym and couldn't get free. Hmmmm..... How cool is THAT?

I'm looking forward to talking with her, swapping gray matter, and picking up some training tips from her. She looks AY-MAYZING, and I'll definitely benefit from getting to know her better.

He so made my day with that announcement.

Today will be LB and bicep day at the gym after work (assuming I have time), and then later this evening singing practice. Busy day ahead.

TOTALS MONDAY:

CALS...........1477
PROT.............202
CARBS.............59
FIBER..............14
FAT................52

WORKOUTS as stated.

[WATCH-ME-SHRINK]

Originally Posted by jamistar77

Twyla! I meant to tell you that now that I finally have some knowledge on carbs/prot/fat etc. on when and how to eat them. I think that I am going to join you in the TKD carb cycling approach! I LOVE it! Since I am unable to do any cardio I think this would be great for me. I get carbs when my body really needs them and on days off from lifting I can have all the goodie fats that I've gone without!
Im so happy that you list your macros during the day with activities. That really helps me out.

Jami, looking back through my jounal (huge eye-opener, learning tool for me, keeping a journal!), I ran across this entry from April 26th, 2008. Made me smile. Excites me just thinking about it.

The day ended with far more energy than it began. Very busy day, loads of stuff to do, places to go, baseball game, housework, and not enuf time to do it.............

...........Decided to get in 20 mins of cardio and some isolated ab and gluteal work (10 mins) after dinner, while energy levels were still revved. Trying to eat 2500 today, and I ate just over that...so uh, I think I made it. Carbs WAY up thar! So weird that I really don't feel bloated or stuffed, maybe just a tiny bit in my abs, but not really. Not when you consider what all I've eaten today. That blows me away....

MAC TOTALS:

CALS 2706

FAT........51 GR.....17%
CARBS..503 GR....70%
FIBER.....34 GR
PROT 74 GR.....11%

Junk eaten: 1 chocolate choc/chip muffin, 1 bowl lowfat moosetracks icecream, 2 Weight Watcher cookies

Misc carbs: fruit, bagels, cereal, skim milk, bean burritos, popcorn, pretzels, dried fruit, asparagus

Tomorrow begins LC day, 30 or under, gonna back down to about 1700-1800 cals, but will have one last cheat meal at the end of the day before I begin carb rotations, starting Monday.

Monday will be a high day, 250-300 carbs, and high cals, prob around 2100, low fat.

Fingers remain crossed as I test the waters of new territory.

[sweettooth]

Originally Posted by WATCH-ME-SHRINK

Still, there are times when (as is my nature/personality) I love being alone, away from the crowds, from anyone, and just do my own thing in the peace and solitude of my own home.

Ditto!!!!

Even if I have a gym just in front of my house door I still prefer working out at home: it seems to me that I can focus more on what I'm doing and, furthermore, it helps me to wash away my worries because I'm far away from "the madding crowd", it's a special "me time".
I wish you a great week, and hope you'll find time for yourself to work through your loss

[jamistar77]

Twyla, Holy Smokies! Thats a lot of food! Were you having a refeed?? Erik on LBC has me eating the amount of cals that I was eating when I did BFL, which was a shocker!
I think I may start a Journal as well. Its nice that I can go back on MyPlate to see things, but nothing was documented about how any of it worked for me.
I think now with the TKD approach, Refeeds are going to be in the plan! I have never really officially had one. At the end of Body For Life, I had a really small refeed the night before my pics and it did help, my muscles were really plumped out.
Thank you for sharing that with me!!

[WATCH-ME-SHRINK]

Tuesday was a rather busy day for me, at least from after work forward. I drove home from work through a blinding, ferocious rainstorm, traffic creeping, hardly moving from huge deposits of water on the highway. When I got home, I was craving sleep/rest so badly. I took a 25-min power nap, and then quickly dressed and went to the gym. Got in LB and biceps, rushed from there back home, freshened up and changed in less than 10 mins and headed off to sing, not getting home until 9:00 or so, maybe a little after.

A slight setback with my knee improvement: Stupid me, thinking I could handle it, I attempted to do DB stepups on a bench at the gym yesterday, and after only ONE, felt a stabbing pain in my bad knee, immediately stopped, stretched, , and threw in the white flag ON THAT. Finished up with deadlifts and some preacher curls. I have to realize there are certain lower body things that are for now, and maybe for a very long time, off limits. And that's definitely one of them.

TOTALS:

CALS..............1598
PROT...............209
CARBS...............68
FIBER................15
FAT..................58

25 MINS TURBO JAM CARDIO (w/gloves) a.m.
18 MINS AB JAM a.m.
45 MINS LB AND BICEPS p.m.

[jamistar77]

Hi Twyla! Thanks for the reply.. finally! LOl Just kidding.

Im glad you got home safely from your raining road trip. Its been terrible this year with weather! It rains every other day here. Then when its not raining its incredibly humid and hot. Not a very fun summer here in the Midwest. Here's to fall having some nice weather. I love fall, dont you?
Sorry about your knee! Does it bother you if you do Turbo Jam? I have been having some issues too, but only happens when I do any form of cardio, even walking for a while. My left hip, down to my knee hurts and both my legs go numb. I had an mri of my back and there was no herniation thank goodness. I think that there is some type of impingement somewhere though.

Great workouts btw!

[WATCH-ME-SHRINK]

"We must all suffer to some degree
from a choice of two pains:
the pain of DISCIPLINE
or the pain of REGRET."

- M2 Fitness

[WATCH-ME-SHRINK]

Received my latest Netrition order today...anxiously awaiting a new flavor whey protein to try. It's a yummy keeper!

Champion Whey Banana Scream


Good stuff!

[WATCH-ME-SHRINK]

WEDNESDAY TOTALS:

CALS...................1441
PROT.....................208
CARBS.....................50
FIBER......................13
FAT........................52

35 MINS POWER WALK A.M.
15 MINS CALLANETICS P.M.

[tempted_by_food]

Hope your weekend is going great!!

[inatic]

Originally Posted by WATCH-ME-SHRINK

Thank you for your condolences re my mom. My heart aches with missing her, more than I can even put into words. Good days and bad days, all to be expected.

I understand that feeling. My grandmother just passed late last friday and we all had to say goodbye .. We layed her to rest next to grandpa on wednesday.

Excited to hear what comes of your meeting at the gym! How fun will that be!

[Meek75]

Originally Posted by WATCH-ME-SHRINK

"We must all suffer to some degree
from a choice of two pains:
the pain of DISCIPLINE
or the pain of REGRET."

- M2 Fitness

So true.

Have a great day, Ms. Twyla!

[WATCH-ME-SHRINK]

Monday, July 26

Today begins a new work week. Hope everyone had a good weekend.

I would prefer cooler temps to make the weekends a little more pleasant, but afterall, it IS summer, and we'll just have to deal with the hot, muggy weather for a while, it seems.

Originally Posted by inatic

I understand that feeling. My grandmother just passed late last friday and we all had to say goodbye .. We layed her to rest next to grandpa on wednesday.

Ileen, I am so very sorry to hear this. Grandmothers hold such sweet, special places in our hearts. May your memories of her comfort you and keep her close to your heart always. Praying for your healing and comfort.

Excited to hear what comes of your meeting at the gym! How fun will that be.

The workout with the co-owner on Saturday was ALL THAT. I really enjoyed working out with her, getting to know her better, and allowing her to kick my butt sufficiently. O-U-C-H. My muscle soreness is even worse this morning than on yesterday morning.

I am going to try to make it to the gym this evening, once I take youngest son to his first football practice. I'll be working biceps and back today. LB is still screaming for mercy, and I'm listening. This morning I'll do some cardio and some Callanetics and stretching.

I'm counting the days --- OH.SO.EXCITED. --- till my oldest son Zach returns home from Japan. Only FOUR MORE DAYS. I can't believe it's been almost a year since he's been gone. He arrives home late Friday night. I'm going to be putting up balloons and welcome banners at the entrance to our subdivision and in the house, and friends are going with us to take pictures and video the homecoming. My head spins just thinking about it. So much emotion and excitment awaits!

My middle son and I have bonded closer this summer than ever before. I've enjoyed having him home from college. He's matured a lot, and his summer job has kept him busy and taught him responsibility. He prefers structure anyway, and that, coupled with his allegiance to lifting and working out, he's had very little down time. I think he's excitied about his upcoming football season.

Zach won't believe how much my youngest has grown since he's been in Japan. He's shot up like a weed, and his voice is much deeper....my baby is growing up.

I had a lower carb week all last week, and enjoyed some freedom on the weekend with a bit higher cals and carbs. I'm backing back down to my lower cals and carbs for another week.

Going for another cup of coffee....looking forward to a productive week ahead.

TOTALS SUNDAY:

CALS..........1286
PROT............184
CARBS............41
FIBER.............10
FAT...............41

25 MINS CARDIO, ELLIPTICAL

[inatic]

how exciting for YOU! all your kiddos home.. will he be staying home or is it just a short visit
Everyone says just wait till all the kiddos are out. We have 2 of our 5 boys on their own.. My Zach often not home between work and school, leaving only 2 often about.. The house seems so empty without all the noise and sounds we once had. I dont like it this way, prefer it bursting at the seams with life and sound..

Have a great week and thank you for the comfort..

[WATCH-ME-SHRINK]

Originally Posted by inatic

how exciting for YOU! all your kiddos home.. will he be staying home or is it just a short visit
Everyone says just wait till all the kiddos are out. We have 2 of our 5 boys on their own.. My Zach often not home between work and school, leaving only 2 often about.. The house seems so empty without all the noise and sounds we once had. I dont like it this way, prefer it bursting at the seams with life and sound..

Have a great week and thank you for the comfort..

We both have Zachs!

My Zach will only be home for about two months, then he leaves for Germany for a year. Something tells me that when he leaves "home" this time, he won't be returning. I'm bittersweet about that.

I love my sons, I love having them around me, but at the same time, I love it that they're maturing into fine young men, ready to start their own lives, chase their own dreams.

There's that side of me that although I love having my family around me, I love having freedom too.

Working full time, it's tough trying to keep a clean house when all three of them are home. Three guys? Surely you know what I mean. It wears me out trying to keep up with all that needs done, and still find time for me. Is that selfish?

Speaking of time for me, I wanted to go the gym later this evening, but my energy levels are tanked. I've been SO TIRED all afternoon. I'll wait it out and see.

[WATCH-ME-SHRINK]

Originally Posted by inatic

Have a great week and thank you for the comfort..

Yes, you have a good week too.