Jillian Has Nothing on My Children

I didn't have a chance to get to the gym today, so after the kids finished dinner I decided to make my maiden voyage into Jillian Michaels' 30-Day Shred territory.

I did Level 1, which consists of three six-minute interval circuits, plus a warmup and cooldown. I was worried 20 minutes wouldn't be enough, but worry not, friends. It was enough. Two hours later, my legs feel like I really exercised. They're a little jelly-ish.

And through the whole thing, my boys kept correcting my form ("Bend deeper, Mom. Do you see how she's doing it?"). I tried to get them to join me, but they weren't interested. The toddler has impressive pushup form, though.

Food-wise, I ordered Indian and once again my band snapped shut after a single bite. I'm starting to find this suspicious - my band has been wide open for several days but Indian food doesn't seem to agree with me. I put the Indian away, and now I can't even get my artichoke down.

Which is kind of funny, since I was planning to post about how I think I need a fill but I have a lot of travel coming up and I'm afraid to do it because once you have one bad PB, it starts a cycle of inflammation that doesn't let anything through, so you end up vomiting liquids and get dehydrated and then need an unfill. (At least, that's my experience.) I really don't want to need an unfill when I'm not close to my surgeon. So I'm going to stick with what I've got and see how it goes.

Strong. Like Ox.

I finished my workout week pretty well for a rookie. Four workouts this week - I ended up canceling Thursday because I was so fatigued from the previous three days. That ended up being a good idea and I felt good and strong at this morning's interval workout.

I really need to get my cardio up, though. Today my average heart rate was 144, which was pretty good. But if I don't tell the trainer I really need to keep the heart rate up, I can finish with an average heart rate of 121 and a puny calorie burn. Not so great on the fat-burning but at least I'm still building muscle.

Which may be why I weighed 207.8 this morning. I am not freaking out about this, though. Do you see how calm I am? So not freaking out.

I'm going to keep plugging away. Wish me luck.

The Dark Side of the Gym, Oscar Roundup & More

So much to say, so much to say, so much to say. First of all, did anyone see the Jennifer Aniston movie? Was anyone else totally stunned that Dave Matthews played Nicole Kidman's husband? I know it was meant to be a mismatch, but still. I kept squinting at the screen, saying, "Is that Dave Matthews? Do you think it's him?" to my husband, who wouldn't know Dave Matthews if he handed him a bong and smacked him upside the head with a guitar.

My takeaway from the Oscars: The spray tan is on the wane. I didn't spot any Oompa Loompas at the Academy Awards this year. Sure, glamazons are still misting themselves, but it's nothing like it was a few years ago when a tangerine Charlize Theron showed up on the red carpet and I snorted pinot noir through my nose.

Moving right along, I've fallen victim to Gym Syndrome: Start working out and experience a scale stall for a little while (please, let it be just a little while). I've gained a few pounds since going back to regular workouts. My eating hasn't changed; in fact, I think it's not bad.

I know this has happened to a bunch of bandsters in the past (Catherine and Jenny both come to mind), so I'm trying to be all zen about it and just keep plugging away because I know these workouts are making a difference in my body. I'm feeling it every day.

I will have to kick up the cardio and make sure I'm keeping my heart rate up through my workouts to maximize calorie burn. I bought a new heart-rate monitor and that already has been a help in gauging how hard I'm working and how many calories I'm burning.

And now I must bid you a fond farewell, since a 5.30 am wakeup call beckons.

OSCAR OSCAR! (And, My Thighs Are Burning)

***NYC BRUNCH UPDATE AT RIGHT.***


It's my favorite night of the year - Oscar red carpet night. We're hosting 16 of my husband's relatives for dinner, followed by a red carpet viewing party. Door prize to the first guest who spots cellulite or forehead movement on any presenter or nominee.

Please let me know in the comments what your favorite parts are. What do you think of James Franco and Anne Hathaway? Whose dress is awesome? Which star is most obviously under the influence of an illegal substance? These are the things we must discuss.

So I'm cooking, cooking, cooking and getting ready for the onslaught tonight. But in a good way.

In other news, I'm feeling better, mostly because of the kindness and rationality and compassion from your comments. You really know how to give a girl hope. Thank you.

I'm continuing my gym visits (but going at 11 am tomorrow because I want to watch the Oscars wtihout having to wake up at 5.30 am), and I have five workouts scheduled for this week. I'm not sure I'll be able to make it to all of them. My thighs are KILLING me from yesterday's session. I woke up this morning and as I walked downstairs I had a flashback to the day after I ran 26.2 miles in 1999. My thighs were just as sore, even though I didn't run at all yesterday. Must discuss with trainer.

Anyway, I went for a beautiful walk at the beach this morning, cut a little short by a recalcitrant toddler. It's a good day.

Debbie Downer, and NYC Brunch

****** NYC BRUNCH: Please see brunch update at right. *********

In looking through my recent posts, there's virtually no substance. I'm not writing about feelings or much about where I am with my band, just a sentence here or quip there with little insight.

Here's where I am: At a standstill, as I have been for six+ months, in a four-pound range between 204 and 208. My measurements are the same as they've been for a few months, although I do think that will change as I continue working out.

Here's what I think about it: It sucks. I am failing at this.

Here's how I feel about it: Depressed. Disappointed. Resigned. Hopeless.

Here's what I'm doing about it: Going to the gym, which is a start but not doing much on the scale. I'm eating way too much sugar, in the form of chocolate. On the upside, my body is sore from good workouts yesterday and this morning, so that's good.

I am seeing so many of you with much success, and I'm thrilled for you. At the same time, I'm so disappointed that I'm just not doing well with this. I'm surprised, I really thought the band would be just what I needed to get myself on track.

When I took that glorious drug Phen-Fen (or was it Fen-Phen?) in the late 90s, I rocked it. I lost 75 pounds in nine months, started running, ran lots of 5ks and 10ks and eventually a full marathon. Food was a nonissue for me during much of that time. I ate, I enjoyed my meals, and that was it. No thinking about food, no inner battles, none of that. It was like the medicine flipped a switch and put me into the 'normal' category with regard to my relationship with food.

One of the frustrations I'm feeling is that right now I have 5.6 cc's in my band. It's tight enough that there are plenty of times when I simply cannot eat anymore, and I stop. I'm disappointed, but I get over it within an hour and then I'm relieved that I didn't overeat.

Sometimes, though, I'm hungry. And when I can't eat it is maddening.

So I don't want to get a fill. 5.75 cc's has twice been wayyy too tight for me, and I've gotten weak and dehydrated.

Where I am now, I can eat solids. I definitely can eat sliders.

I know the things I can do to make this better: Try a five-day pouch test. Cut chocolate out altogether. Focus more on solid protein (I've done okay on this).

Oh, blah. I'm just tired of thinking about this.

NYC BRUNCH DETAILS

Hi everyone,

Our March 20 brunch is turning into quite an event - we're up to 20 bandsters, both veterans and newbies. I've made a reservation for us. Please email me at catchytitlehereblog@gmail.com and I will send you the specifics.

Thanks,
Kristin

NYC BRUNCH - Need final headcount!

Hi everyone,

I'll need to call Dos Caminos and reserve a table for our March 20th brunch. We are planning a noon start.

Please let me know if you're in so I can get a solid headcount and make the reservation.

Sunday, March 20th, 12 pm
Dos Caminos

So far, I have:
Gilly
Joey
Liz
Annie
Catherine
Jenny (Life's Little Journey)
Cindylew
MLM
Vanessa (Dinnerland)
Carmen
Yana
Barbara and daughter
Read
Bonnie
Linda
Banded Mommy Angie
Stef
Susan
Colleen
Nicole
Kristen
Kristin

TOTAL: 23

Can't wait to see all of you! Conversation is always more fun over prickly pear margaritas and guacamole.

We're Baaaaack

We're back from Florida, and had a special welcome home with the most white-knuckle descent and landing I've ever had the pleasure of experiencing, thanks to crazy wind.

Last weekend I took my daughter to visit my parents in Florida while my husband took the big kids skiing in Utah with his parents, and it was glorious to see blue skies and sunshine every day. I even, according to the scale this afternoon, lost a pound. Yay for that.

I've missed reading all your blogs this week but I'll be catching up over the next few days.

Comparison Time

I've been putting off any before/current pictures because I don't know how to make them. (Jen has a great tutorial here.)

I finally got around to it. It's not full-body, but I can see some difference in my face, despite the lighting issues.

Feeling Better

Thanks for the love - the horrid swelling is gone and I'm able to eat again. Yesterday, too. Just taking it slowwww.

Nothing too exciting to report. I went to the gym again this morning, and have another appointment tomorrow at 6 am. Then on Sunday I'm off to visit my parents in Florida for the week. Looking forward to all but the traveling with a toddler part. It's never boring.