Biking

I have always loved biking. When I was younger I would put my hair in what I called 'pig buns' and then bike along the farm trails near my house (I mention the hair style as a side note since I always got bit by black/horse flies right between the buns and it would swell up so badly). I felt like I was out there for hours and always got a good workout but in reality it wasn't very long (though I did still get a good workout). When I moved to Ottawa my bike became my main mode of transportation as I had no car and lived so close to the school. I couldn't rationalize taking the bus to school and walking just took so darn long. Last summer Dave and I got our first car and my bike became obsolete for anything other than exercise. Unfortunately the novelty of the car made me more than a little lazy and I really didn't go biking that much.

About two weekends ago I pulled out the bike and attempted to get it going again. I biked to the gas station near my old house to get the tires refilled (this took about 1.5 times longer than usually and about 3 times as much energy as one would think as the tires were so flat). When I got there I learned that the air was not free and I had no money. I now have an air pump and the bike is ready to go again. It is gorgeous outside and in about a month the Sunday bike days will be starting again (this is when they shut down Colonel By Drive on Sunday mornings for bikers, walkers, runners, etc). I plan on at least biking around the neighbourhood this summer - it is quick and relatively easy not to mention a great way to dream about the wonderful houses way back in the subdivision.

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Stressful Loss

The last 10 days have been some of the most stressful days of my adult life and unfortunately they are not over yet. Over this time I have lost about 4 pounds due to stress. I haven't been eating very much as I am worried all the time. It is getting much better and I am starting to increase my food intake (and I am feeling better too). I don't like losing weight this way but it has given me a boost to make the number on the scale continue on its downward path (in the proper fashion of course).

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Inspiration from my Mom

I spent the weekend at my parents' house this past weekend and was rather inspired by my mom. She has gone back to weight watchers (WW) as is attending the meetings once a week and participating in the new momentum plan. She is doing really well and has already lost over 10lbs! I was so happy for her as I could tell she was happy about it too. We spent the weekend making yummy, healthy meals for each other and I told her a few of my secrets to WW. I introduced her to the Smart pasta (the stuff that looks and tastes like regular white pasta but is actually whole wheat) and how to incorporate soy sauce into her stir-fries to give them a little extra flavour. She told me about her victories of the buffet at a recent work meeting she went to and other such things. She has done really well and in eating properly with her all weekend I lost over 2 lbs! I am sure it is mostly water weight and probably has to do with my currently high stress levels, but it is something and it happened when I was behaving 110% so it is definitely encouraging me to keep behaving. So to sum things up, my mom is doing well and I am so proud of her.

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The Whole Work Week

This past work week (Monday to Thursday) I was 100% on plan with my food. I have eaten approximately 1600 calories each day. I have been eating things like Caesar salads, homemade pad thai, strawberries, Uncle Ben's Rice Entrees and granola bars. I have been really happy with myself for going so long - not that I have stopped or anything. Now I just have to get the exercise in - I didn't really have time this past week as I wasn't home for very long each night but next week should be better.

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Demoralizing

The scale is being mean to me. Now to be honest I haven't been that good to it either so I guess I kind of deserve it but still - it is being mean to me.

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