Mind Blowing

 I had my mind blown this past week.   Literally blow out of the water!  As I just wrote that line I almost started laughing though, because what I am going to share is not exactly rocket science.  But it is a shift in my thinking....and kinda earth shattering for me.   You see, I read a book.......

 About a week or so ago, I wrote a post about my guilty pleasure and a concept that I had picked up from watching you tube videos.  (You can read that post here.)  One of the comments on that book as to recommend a book, (the comment was made by Mrs.Swan....who has a great blog to read)  or specifically she recommended an author.  I researched it right then and there and saw the book was called Eat It.  Mrs. Swan had kindly offered the audible, as a loan but I logged on immediately to the library app and saw that they had the audio book available right then and there.  Sadly, the book form was not available.  Not feeling very patient that day (or any day actually), I got the audio book and grabbed some headphones when I went out to my graveyard walk. (Because you know me, I love me a good graveyard walk!)  

The book is called Eat It (You can find the books here....amazon link.)  

 Oh. My. Word.    This book makes so much sense.  The author kinda debunks quite a few of these fad diets, myths and ideas.  He give science behind his thoughts and he also adds personal stories to his beliefs to give the reader real life.   But lets not delay and instead lets talk about what he does believe or to be specific what I learned from this book.   

*  Weight loss is strictly calories in versus calories out.  It doesn't matter if you are eating junk food, as long as you are eating in a calorie deficit for your body, you will lose weight.   This made sense....and to back it with my own personal story, I once knew someone that was losing weight.  She had lost a fair amount of weight.  She did it by drinking pepsi!  Yup pepsi.   For 6 days a week she drank pepsi....and ate nothing.  ON the 7th day she feasted.  She wasn't tracking calories, but I am sure she was in a calorie deficit and she even admitted that on her 'feast days' she wasn't eating crazy.   Pepsi...pure junk.  Yet she lost weight because she was in a calorie deficit!

*  While weight loss is all about calories the macro nutrients are important for other reasons.  Most notably, heath  and bang for the buck.    Protein builds muscles and boosts metabolism.....Carbs give a temporary burst to fuel you for an intense workout or activity....etc. So if you are eating good calories with lost of macros you are actually helping aid your body.   I loved the analogy he used.  We can walk a mile.  A mile is a mile is a mile.  BUT you can walk a mile on flat ground or you can walk a hilly mile.   The flat mile still gives you the benefits of a mile, the same benefits of the hilly mile, but the hilly mile gives you added benefits.      For me, I don't need that temporary boost that carbs gives me all that often, but I do need the protein for muscles and to boost my metabolism.....especially at my age when muscle loss is a real thing.

* Lets talk about metabolism.  It doesn't permanently slow down when you we weight.  He said Pure myth!   His answer to this was, "Well if our metabolism slows down with weight loss the Jews that lived in concentration camps would have remained skin and bones even after their liberation.  But no, their bodies gained weight and their metabolism didn't show major adversity in the years following, they maintained normal weights after that time. (In most cases, because of course there are always extenuating circumstances) 

*The whole 'calories for the week"that I picked up in my guilty pleasure of youtube videos?  Yeah calorie cycling is what it is called.  (I've actually heard it before but always ignored it because it sounded more confusing to have high and low days and whatnot).    Their first recommendation is to go high day, low day, high day, low day with calories.   But they said that many of their clients do the low calories all week so that they can indulge on the weekend.  They talked about how many of their clients adjust what days are high to match the craziness of life (birthday parties, weddings, vacation days, etc).    They basically said the exact same thing.  Know what you need weekly, multiple it by 7 and divide it up any way you wnt for each day of the week.    (BOOOM....there goes my mind!)

* Exercise.  They do recommend strength training (that's been a sore spot with me....I don't like strength training)  but they don't advise super high intensity with training.  THey said a walk is just fine.  The important thing is to DO IT, and do do something that you actually like to do (or at least halfway enjoy doing!)

*They absolutely do not preach perfection.  They strive for the 80-20 plan.  Try to be on target 80% of the time and stop stressing about the other 20% of the time.     They set a challenge to get a calendar and two pens, one black and one red.  They say that at the end of every day they recommend that you look at your day.  If you stayed within your calories, drank your water and did whatever exercise was planned for the day that you should put a big red X in the day.  If you missed something then you put a black circle.  At the end of the month you can then easily see how you did overall.  When prescribing to the 80-20 thought process, you should have about 24-25 big red X's at the end of the month.

*Stop stressing about a half pound loss....that is what sabotages so any people. People get worried and upset about only losing a half pound and in their panic they decide that their plan is not working so the switch before their bodies really get settled into a plan.   And furthermore, maybe a half pound a week IS what a person will lose each week.  That is not a bad thing either.

The book had lots of really good tidbits and I will be making some adjustments in the near future.  I thought about making some adjustments now, but I want to finish out my 75 hard Challenge first since that has a 'diet plan' that I am following.  and while the adjustments that I am planning on making are not earth shattering or really even far off of what I am doing for my 75 hard the changes would cause me to break from my set plan and I have come this far and I don't want to break from that.  I want to finish it!  So since I am actually on day 58 out of 75 (if you don't like math, that is only 17 days away from the end) I am going to finish!  In the meantime, I am laying out my plans.  I am getting my calendar and pens ready!   Stay tuned and I will definitely be  sharing my plan going forward!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

75 Hard Week 7: Days 43-49

 After the week of the squeak in week 6 of my 75 Hard challenge I vowed to really set it straight and have a good week.  No more squeaking through!   I was going to charge into the week full force and I was going to slay the beast.  No Squeaks.  But, well it felt too easy.  I felt like I was forgetting something.

Day 43 

This was a Sunday and I did great with my exercise.  On the weekends I don't do it at 5AM, but still complete it before I shower for the morning.  It is such a wonderful treat to not do it so early!  We ran a few errands and while I wanted to go walking on a rail trail, it didn't happen.  But never fear, I still went out and walked around the neighborhood behind us.  Jason and the dog went with me.   I went to pull out my phone to take some pictures and video....and oops.  It wasn't in my pocket.  The last half of the walk I was admittedly a wreck because I had no clue where my phone was! (It was left in the c

ar after our errands).  But with that snafu, I didn't get a single solitary picture!

I did fine with my reading and my water. I ended the day with my calorie count at 1356.  All in all, it wasn't a bad day!

Day 44

I started out strong with my indoor exercise at 5AM.   I have been choosing 'lighter' things.  More 'walk away the pounds' type of exercise.  I am trying to ease up the knee.  The last few weeks have been miserable and I don't like that.  So another easier workout.  Still 45 minutes.  Still sweaty.  Still elevated heart rate....just less twisting, squatting and lunges!  I headed out with the dog early and we spent a good half hour or so romping around the yard.

I left my house at around 9AM and headed to my brothers house where I met up with my oldest nephew.  He was kind enough to indulge me in my new somewhat weird hobby.  We went to a graveyard and walked around.  My hobby is locating graves and taking pictures of the stones (for people that have requested it on Findagrave.com).  So my nephew tagged alone and we had a fun time....well at least I had a fun time!  hahahah   

The reading was done before I even hit the shower.  The water was not a problem.  And my calories were at 1342. 

Day 45

Exercise started as normal.  And then my in-laws called and asked if I wanted help with the mulch pile.  Yes, I worked on the never ending mulch pile again. Last week pert near killed me. Ok, that is a bit dramatic, but I was sore...not from achy muscles but from various ailments within my body!  (You can read about it here.)   So this week I made the statement "only for an hour or so'.   I wore a knee brace and we stopped after an hour and a half.   I am sooo happy to say that my knee fared so much better this week!  But hey, it was good outdoor exercise!

I continued reading the same non fiction book, with dread...it really isn't a fun one to read!  My water drinking was in line and my calories were at 1359.  Another win!

Day 46

What can I say....it was another good day. I managed everything with grace. My outdoor exercise was the only thing that gave me issues.  It was rainy all day and I was dreading it.   I did manage to go out at the last minute...I put dinner on the grill.....cranked some music and walked/danced in the backyard while dinner was cooking.  30 minutes barely completed!   My calories were at 1314 and everything went well.   

Day 47

Indoor exercise completed.   Outdoor exercise was at the graveyard...I was there for a LONG time and enjoyed myself even though it was cold!  Water was taken care of.  Reading done....almost done with the book thank goodness.  Calories were at 1476, a little close but still under the goal!  Other than the close call with the calories, it seemed easy.  

Day 48

I did an indoor exercise with a lady that does zumba and I got brave and did some squats.  Not many, but I did some.  I thankfully was no worse for the wear!   I showered and then promptly fell asleep (even though I had slept really well all night long).   So I was late heading out to grocery shop.  It was a about 40 but super windy.  I made a quick executive decision to head to a graveyard for a walk before shopping.  I knew that if I shopped first and then went home that it would be MURDER to go back out!  So I got my graveyard walk (an hour and fifteen minutes) in before I did my shopping.   WISE decision!

My water was a bit tricky , but I got it in....by the skin of my teeth. I was SURE that I had gone over my calories for the day.  I didn't want to, but I do have that free day once a week so I wasn't too upset.  So imagine my surprise when I looked at my calorie count after everything was entered and saw that I was at 1491 for the day!

The biggest news of all for the day was that I FINALLY finished the non fiction book I was reading!  FINALLY.   Part memoir part instructional. It was just really slow reading and well....just not my cup of tea!

Day 49

A lazy weekend day was upon us!   I got a nice lazy start and didn't exercise at 5AM.   It feels good to relax a bit before starting. HOWEVER,it hangs over my head until I do it!    I make it a rule...no shower until the exercise is done! That works because I need my shower!     We did one or two things around the house but just took an easy day.   We did go out for a walk in the afternoon!  A graveyard of course.  Graveyards seem to be my thing lately!  This one has a Jewish cemetery within it.  The fancy arch over the walkway entering it caught my eye today!

 I started a new non fiction book.  I have high hopes for it, it sounds so interesting!   I got my water in.....guzzled it to finish it before dinner.  I knew we were going to pick up burgers from 5Guys and I knew that I would want to have a diet soda....they have Fanta Strawberry and Cherry pop!   YUM!   So my water was done early!    As you can guess my calories were a bit higher since we went to 5Guys!   Seriously, dinner alone took up my base allotment of calories!  But I ended the day at 1888.  I wasn't worried though.  While my goal and rule to meet the 75 Hard challenge is 1500 calories a day, I built in a once a week cheat day which would allow me to go over that as long as I had earned the calories via exercise!  So all is well and I am still on track and meeting my daily goals!

 Who know that when I started this challenge back in January that I would still be going strong.   I'm not seeing much progress on the scales, but I am TOTALLY seeing progress in my fitness levels.  I am able to work outside and /or walk for so much longer than I had been doing.  I am also doing it with no muscle  aches and pains (boy were those first weeks rough).   While I wouldn't say that I am 'fit' I can see that I am making strides in the right direction.   But even more importantly, I know believe that I CAN do it!

 

 

 

 

Weigh in #9 for 2025

 9 weigh ins completed for the year 2025!   I have to be honest though and say that I have mixed feelings about it though!  It's kinda like the common thoughts that wow it's been 9 weeks  already, where has time gone but in the same breath thinking 9 weeks, it seems like a lifetime ago!   That is how I feel about the weigh in.  I have two totally conflicting emotions in regards to my weigh in. 

Let me just put it out there right now.  I lost 0.4 pounds this week.  I am not looking a gift horse in the mouth.  A half of a pound is fantastic!  It's a loss.  It's incredible.  But....shouldn't it be more.  I mean, I am working my tail end off with exercise.  I have tracked my food religiously and kept within my set boundaries.  I have drank my water.  I have done incredible (Thank you 75 Hard)!    

And that is where the divide lays.  I am tickled.  I have lost just about 10 pounds this year.   Yay.  10 pounds gone!  I am all about celebrating the loss of those 10 pounds.   That turns out to be just over a pound a week.   I'll take it!  Gladly!   Any loss is a win.   But at my weight, which is currently at 264 pounds, I should be dropping weight like mad!  It should be a whole lot more than this weeks measly half pound.  It should even be more than the 1 pound average that I have been posting.  It should be flying off of me so fast that people around me should be ducking to avoid it!  But it's not. 

I had recently talked about adding more protein into my daily diet.   Protein is more difficult for me because I am not a huge fan of meat.  I don't really like eggs. (Well, I like eggs...but they have to be hidden within a delicious cake or a soft gooey cookie!)  Protein is difficult for me.  In a quest to add more, I turned to 'products.  One of those products was a protein pancake mix.  Great option, right?  Except that I was forgetting that carbs are a kryptonite for me.  I love them....once I start I can't stop!   And even worse, I know for my body that I can't indulge complex carbs (pastas, white potatoes and breads.....including pancakes) more than one time a day.   I loved every last morsel of that box of pancake mix.  And when it was done, I still had some pancake syrup here at the house so I just made my own from scratch.   Bad bad bad.   I recognized the pitfall and didn't buy another box of pancake mix nor did I buy more maple syrup! 

 While I was super focused on the protein my calories slipped upward.  I know from experience that I don't lose weight at 1500 calories.  I lose weight when I am between 1200 and 1350.  Yet I was eating my protein with wild abandon and ignoring that wee little fact.

So where does that leave me?    I need to get back to basics.  I need to get my calories back down to the level where I know I lose.  I need to limit my carbs (goodbye pancakes).  And for my body and for my AGE, I need to keep my protein levels higher.   I will keep the protein higher by adding in protein bars (which I had already started)  but also by doing something I swore off years ago.   What am I talking about?  I am talking about yogurt.  Years ago (wow I was still at the bank so more than 10 years ago) I wrote about how I was not going to eat foods that I don't really like simply because they are 'good for me'.  I can't find the post at the moment, but I remember sitting eating a cup of yogurt. (It was a weight watchers brand yogurt that I had picked up at the grocery store....do they even still make those things?)  As I shoveled the yogurt into my mouth I thought to myself "man, I really don't like this" and at that moment I made a decision to stop eating something that I don't really like just because it is 'good for you'.      Well, I am backtracking.  I would rather eat some yogurt versus meat!    So Yogurt it is!  I will be buying a weeks worth of yogurt and seeing how that goes.  Will it last more than a week?  I am not sure, but I'm going to give it a go!  

Learning Lessons from my Guilty Pleasure

 I have picked up a guilty pleasure.   Seriously, I'm kinda embarrassed to admit this.  It's ...well.  Seriously, I don't want to say it!  But I will.  I have gotten sucked into watching some youtube channels of 'professional' eaters.  I told you....embarrassing!

 Ok, so what comes to mind for you I am sure is the hot dog eating contests where people are shoveling hot dogs into their mouths in the most disgusting of manners.  This is not like that.....well most of the time. 

It started when I stumbled upon  a channel called "Katina Eats Kilos".   This gal is ....well in one way dainty.  She is not overweight....at all.  She is on the shorter side....but she is muscular.  Her videos are pretty 'clean'.  She doesn't shovel the food with wild abandon.  She eats as daintily as possible as someone can when they are eating POUNDS of food in a short amount of time.  I was immediately intrigued because seriously.  This girl is fit.  I would say not an ounce of fat on her! (Ok, she may beg to differ...but seriously, if you say this gal anywhere else you would NEVER think she was a professional eater!)

From "Katina Eats Kilos" it was a really easy jump to the channel "Beard Meats Food".  This guy is again thin! He always laughs because when he 'wins tees hirts they almost never have a size medium because they assume it will always be a large guy who attempts and manages to complete said challenge.    I actually enjoy watching "Beard" more than Katina.....I just enjoy the way Beard includes the people in the restaurant in his videos and his humor.  BUT beard sometimes can get a bit 'messy' with his eating (don't say you weren't warned).....but not all the time.  

But Seriously....why am I writing about this?  Because, They are literally eating 5-6 or even more pounds in 30-60 minutes yet they are thin.   And almost without fail each of them completes a challenge and then orders dessert!   And they are thin!   What's up with this.     I am writing because I have watched videos from each of these youtubers where they talk about their eating.    I have heard each of them talk about their 'non challenge' days of eating.   They are eating yogurt....and salads....and HEALTHY.    I have heard them talk about how they know their maintenance calories needed per day.  And how they thus then know their maintenance calories needed for a week (daily need times 7) and how it's really two things.  1.   Knowing that the one day of their challenge may blow a LOT of their weekly calories.....so adjust the rest of the week accordingly.   and 2.  Eating healthy 80% (or more) of the week and then it doesn't matter as much about the 20% where they are shoveling the food in faster than an average person would think possible!

What is the take away for my weight loss journey. 

1.  I don't have to be perfect ALL the time.  

2.  Instead of working myself into a state of panic (or the mentality that I had failed and totally messed up) when I have a bad day, just make sure that the next 6 days are good ones.  In essence average the calories for the WEEK and I will probably realize that as long as I didn't throw in the towel after the bad day, that the weekly average was just fine!, I

3.  If you do indulge.....make sure the rest of the week is nutritious with GOOD calories!

 So while I will probably continue to watch these videos....I will make it clear that while I sometimes feel as if I could put those eaters to shame, I have NO INTENTION of ever taking on one of those challenges.  Kudos to them for figuring out their bodies and having the willpower to keep the indulgent eating at a minimum.  For me, I'm good with a normal serving!

 

 

It was a squeak of a week! 75 Hard Week 6: Days 36 to 42

 I am still pushing through the 75 hard challenge.  But this week could be categorized as the week of the squeak!

Day 36

 I may have been alone with my indoor exercise on this Sunday, but I didn't have to go outside alone!  Jason and I headed to the Cedar Grove Cemetery where I was able to walk around the graveyard and get my outside exercise completed.  This was my third trip to this graveyard within a few days so I knew the lay of the land, but graveyards are the kind of place that you can go back a gazillion times and still see a different name or a different gravestone!  

 

 My calories were on the high side. However, I managed a win with 1463 as my daily total!  My water was easy this day as was my reading!

 Day 37

This was the most routine day that I had all week.  I got my indoor exercise completed.  I went for a walk outside (at a graveyard of course) and got my outdoor exercise completed.  My water slipped down the hatch easily and my reading was spot on.   It was so mundane that I didn't even film or take many pictures!  I did take one picture, which is when the dog and I went to the bank!

 

My calories.....once again I squeaked out the win with 1493!

 Day 38

This is the day that pert near did me in!  The day started wonderfully.  I did my indoor exercise.  I got my reading done.  I was drinking my water. The weather was FABULOUS!  The day was going splendidly!  It was going so splendidly that I decided to go outside and work on one of the projects that I have hanging over my head.  That project is a mulch pile that I need to get spread!  I worked outside for a few hours.  It felt like I barely made a dent in the pile.......and the work of moving the mulch up a steep hill just about did my knees in!   I had been having issues with my knees the last week or so, but this day ratcheted up the pain 100%!

Once again, I barely squeaked in my calories with my total being 1444. 

 Day 39

I was still hurting pretty badly from the day before.  My knees ached.  Yes, KNEES.   Both of them were screaming with arthritic agony!  I tried to do a lighter workout for my indoor workout and I kept my outdoor exercise as light as I could also!  

Water and reading posed no issue for me and my calories were the lowest they had been all week at 1354.

Day 40

I started my day early.  I got  my indoor exercise in and I knew that I was going away for a good portion of the morning and early afternoon so I got out with the dog and spent about 45 -50 minutes outside with her early in the day.  I had grand plans to go for an 'official' walk in the afternoon, but well....best laid plans sometimes are the biggest failures.  

My morning activity was shopping and running into some stores with my mother in law.  I was on my feet all morning....and on concrete.  My knee was KILLING me when we got back and I chose to spend the rest of the afternoon resting it.   I squeaked out my calories with my daily count being 1482.   For the first time in this whole 75 Hard Challenge I also really squeaked out my water.  I got it in, but it was tight!

Day 41

Another crazy busy day.  I got the indoor exercise done and got the dog out for about 30 minutes in the morning.  I wasn't planning on using the dog walk as my exercise.. because it wasn't a full 45 minutes, it was closer to the 30 minute mark.  But my day just flew by and I didn't have another opportunity to get out again!  Thus I really squeaked out the exercise this day!

Reading was easy.  Water was ok and my calories were so close at 1473. (Another squeaker day for the calories.) I finally finished the last non fiction and moved onto the next one....I think it's gonna be a 'snoozer' book though as it seems rather dry thus far! It's called Stupid Things I Won't do When I get Old. (You can check it out here.....amazon link)

 

Day 42

The first day of March and a Saturday, what a great combination!  With my knee pain, I decided to do a really light indoor workout and I did Yoga!   For the outside workout, we headed to a graveyard of course!   We made a couple of laps around the Norland Cemetery in Chambersburg.  We also checked out an old Presbyterian Graveyard and also the Fort Chambers Park.  

The water was again squeaked out!  And if squeaking the water isn't bad enough, I also squeaked out my calories with my daily total being 1781.

 It was definitely not a grand week.  I am happy to say that I didn't mess up my 75 hard, but it was CLOSE and I totally squeaked some of those days (guzzling water at the last minute.....calories that couldn't have been must closer without going over......defaulting to the walks with the dog as outdoor exercise).  But I made it!  I am vowing that this week will NOT be so close!  No more squeakers!

 

 

Picture a day for 365 days : Days 117 to 123

 The last week of February passed with some of the most fantastic weather!   It was in the 50's most days and was a real treat!  Could spring really be around the corner???

Day 117  2/22/2025

Back to the graveyard to walk.  This day I was with Jason as it was a Sunday!   This particular graveyard is the home to an ancestor of mine.....one of my maternal grandfathers ancestors to be exact.

Day 11/  2/23/2025

I am so 'blessed' to have a dog that likes to supervise me while I am exercising!   Some days she gets in the way....ok, most days, but hey, she is there with me! Even worse, if I do any floor work, I usually have a hundred pound dog jump on top of me.......added weight for resistance!

Day 119  2/24/2025

 Zoey and I took a trip together.  We went to the 'cookie store'.  Ok, that is how we refer to it with her.  In reality it is the bank!  But hey, they do give her cookies!

Day 120  2/25/2025

The weather was fabulous so I was able to get outside and work on some projects.  One of the projects was the seemingly never ending pile of mulch!   I got about 1/4 of it moved! The bad thing though was that it KILLED my knee.  I was already having issues with the arthritis but that day just decimated it!

Day 121  2/26/2025

After annihilating my knee with the mulch, I decided to take a wee break from working on the pile of mulch.  So I headed back to a graveyard to get my outside walk in!  This is in the Jewish cemetery that is part of Lincoln Cemetery in Chambersburg, PA.

Day 122  2/27/2025

Zoey and I spent a lot of time outside early in the morning.  I had plans for the day and wanted to give her lots of outside time before I cooped her up in the house when I went away.  Of course we had to take a picture for Jason!

Day 123  2/28/2025

The last day of the month was a busy one for me!  I started early with the dog outside, moved on to groceries.  I did some job hunting.  I went to mom's house to clean.  I went driving with my nephew (he has recently learned to drive stick and I am the only one with a manual transmission car). I made dinner.  Yes, it was a busy day!

The month of February just flew by!   The last week the weather was fantastic.   You can see on day 122 that I was outside in a sweatshirt...and that picture was taken at about 7 in the morning.  I am hopeful that the weather is changing and this is the start of spring.  Yet, I am fearful because March can bring a whole variety of weather!

Picture a Day for 365 Days : Day 110 to 116

 I am still going strong on my quest to take one picture a day, although some days are a snapshot of myself taken for my youtube channel or to send to Jason...hahahah!   

Day 110   2/15/2025

I got home late on Valentines Day as I had gone to a Gymkana show to see my niece perform.  (You can check that out here.) I had chocolate covered strawberries waiting for me!  YUM!   While I indulged in two that night, I enjoyed them again for breakfast this morning also!

Day 111  2/16/2025

She looks so pitiful doesn't she?   She cries and acts like we are killing her when we give her a bath!   But that doesn't stop us because she starts to stink after a while, so about once a month we head to Tractor Supply to use their pet wash!  

Day 112  2/17/2025

Zoey loves her bling.  When we put a bandana on her, or a new harness or whatever, she just prances around like she is the queen.   However, we haven't been able to get her to leave a hat on!   Jason puts his hat on her all the time though!

Day 113  2/18/2025

Walking in a graveyard.....fascinating place to walk.  It's usually not busy.  It is fun to see all the names.   It is neat to imagine the lives and stories.  And it's good exercise....even though it was like 20 degrees!  

Day 114  2/19/2025

And I was back at the graveyard for a walk in the bitter cold!  (Gotta love the 75 Hard Challenge!)   I thought it was actually pretty funny to see a black cat roaming through the graveyard! 

Day 115  2/20/2025

I started my morning early with a book and a cuddle with the dog.  Yes, I absolutely love reading!

Day 116  2/21/2025

Oh my word, it was so cold out!  I went out walking at 8AM.  All week long I had walked at graveyards, but decided to break from the graveyards and I went to the park near our house.  BRRRRRRRRRR

 Seems like my pictures this week were mostly centered around walking or the dog....hmmmmmm...is that my life now???  hahahaha

75 hard Week 5: Days 29 through 35

Sometimes if feels like I've been doing this 75 Hard challenge forever, but at other times it totally does not feel like I have been at this for 5 weeks already.  Each week has been a discovery or a positive step in the direction toward health and fitness. While I have suffered aches and pains I am continually amazed at myself and my body for steadily working through this 75 Hard Challenge!

 Day 29 2.16.25

This was a typical Sunday.  We started our day slow and I got to avoid the 5AM exercise.  Not to worry, I still got the exercise done before I showered, I just didn't have to do it so darn early!   I watched the weather all day long though, because it was raining and drizzly.   I waited until the rain turned to a drizzle and the forecast advised that we were in a lull for an hour or so.  I headed out for my walk.  It was still rather cool at 33 degrees but I figured a slight drizzle would be manageable!   I was about 15 minutes into my walk when it turned into a downpour.   Yes, if you live in Chambersburg and saw some crazed lady walking outside in 33 degree temps during a pouring rain, that was me!  I was drenched!

We ended up taking the dog for a bath in the late morning so she was squeaky clean!   I got my reading done, drank my water and kept my calories in check with my total calories for the day being, 1305

 

 Day 30 2.17.25

The weather was still a 'balmy' 33 degrees today when I headed out for my outside walk.  I was dreading it though!   The wind was whipping something fierce and was rattling the windows of the house!  But that was no excuse to not get that outdoor workout in!   It was soooo windy! (25-30 mph, we were actually in a wind advisory.)  It made me realize that I would take the rain over the wind any day!  I know, that shocked me too!

My indoor exercise had been completed early so that was out of the way too!  The rest of the day passed and I was able to easily get my water drank, my non fiction reading completed and my calories were right in line at 1395.

 Day 31 2.18.25

It is so nice to get my indoor exercise done first thing in the morning while Jason is in the shower.  I honestly HATE doing it that early, but I absolutely love the fact that it is done by 6AM!   I have been doing mostly CDorner on Youtube.  Her videos are fun and she calls out the instructions with impeccable timing!   I decided to do something a bit different for my outdoor exercise though.  I headed to an old graveyard in Chambersburg and started roaming around.  Graveyards are a great place to walk.  You usually have the place to yourself.....well except for the people that are buried there!  hahaha. 

The rest of the day went well.  My calories were a bit higher at 1427 but I was within my 'boundaries' so all was well.  The other requirements were completed and I had another successful day!

 

Day 32 2.19.25

Exercise is definitely my weak point in this challenge.  I have to be honest about it, I dread it some days, most of them actually!  But I am not letting up.  I have not cheated and knocked time off of my required exercise.  Indoor has never been less than 45 minutes  and the outdoor exercise has never been less than 30 minutes and this week I never went below the 45 minute mark on my outdoor exercise.   For the outdoor exercise I headed back to the old graveyard that I had gone to the day before. I wanted to find the grave of one of my ancestors. It was my 4th Great grandfather.  I searched and walked from gravestone to gravestone in the section in which he is said to be buried and I can say that if he is in that section then his gravestone is totally gone.  I did see a black cat running across the graveyard.  For people that are superstitious and are freaked out at me being in a graveyard, I am sure the black cat just made it worse.  But then again....it's a double negative, which makes it a positive, right!   hahaha  Ok,I don't believe in that stuff and I was just delighted to see the kitty cat!

 

I started trying to focus on getting more protein and this was the first day.  I found that I was using more calories in that quest.  I finished my day at 1495 calories.  I barely squeaked that one out!  Water and reading....I had those in the bag!

 

Day 33 2.20.25

 There is nothing too exciting to say about this day.  I got it done.  I got everything done actually.  My calories were a bit higher at 1492, but still right where they needed to be.   I walked in a graveyard again.   This time in a different grave yard.  This graveyard was in the middle of town, but was very secluded with trees all around and just...well....secluded.   But it was a delightful walk, even if a bit cold because after the two 'balmy' days at 33 degrees, the temps dropped to low 20's!

Day 34  2.21.25

This was another routine day.  I got my indoor workout done at 5AM and by 8 in the morning I was ready to head out to complete my errands.  But first I stopped at a local park and completed a few laps around the park to get my exercise.   Once again, I was surrounded by homes, but being totally alone in a large expanse of property made me realize how vulnerable I was when I was out walking by myself.  So while I was completing my cold walk, I made a decision to add a canister of pepper spray to my grocery list.  I did really good with my calories.  My protein consumption was really good and my calories were in check at 1249.  Reading of course posed no issue!

Day 35  2.22.25

This was the day!  I knew it going into the day that I would most likely be calling due one of the 'free days' for my calories.  Yes, I put in a safety net for my calorie goals.  My goal is to keep my calories under 1500 each day but I allow myself a 'free day' where I can also eat any earned calories.   So if my goal is 1500 calories and I earn 300 through exercise I can then eat 1800 that day.   I had a really good feeling tat this Saturday would be a day when I had to use that free day.   I got up and got my indoor exercise completed and then I waited.  My nephew arrived just on time and we headed out in my old car for a nice drive around.  He has recently learned to drive stick shift and wanted some practice.  We drove around all morning and then he and I went to lunch.  We went to Southwest Moe's where I got a vegetarian burrito.  It was delicious! I also ate the chips.....also delicious!  (I didn't get queso....that is a victory!)  The afternoon was busy with some errands and then Jason and I took a nice walk....in a graveyard again.  (it was the week of graveyards!  Might be graveyards again next week too.)  Water and reading were easy.  But my calories were at 2060.  Luckily according to garmin and myfitness paln I earned 759 calories through movement/exercise.   Which means I was still under my goal!  WHEW!!!!

75 Hard Reflections

This last week was the week that I was able to really think about where I am at.  I am not losing weight and I SHOULD be losing with what I am eating and how much I am exercising.  Yet I am not losing.  The 75 Hard challenge has taken away so many barriers and excuses that I have used. Some of those previous excuses were,  "Ohhh, I didn't exercise.'  or "Oh I haven't been exercising and then I started.' to 'I didn't drink my water so I"m probably retaining."  and conversely "I wasn't drinking and then I started so now my body is holding on to id all".   Always a barrier and excuse.  But this 75 Hard wiped the slate clean.  I've had over 64 ounces of water every day.  I've exercised for 35 days straight....not just a piddly 20 minutes.....we are talking two sessions one of which is never less than 45 minutes and the other between 30 and 45 minutes.  And with the consistency of this challenge, the excuses fell away.  I had to face the fact that something in my eating had to change.  Because that is what is holding me up.  So as I wrote in my last post, I looked closer at my calories and looked at the macros and what I saw coupled with what I read in the menopause book and from talking to my sister in law and a couple other people and I am now focusing on getting more protein into my daily diet. 

I also stopped using the cold as an excuse to use the bail out of 30 minutes outside versus that original 45 minutes.  I think the difference in my thinking was that I am no longer really battling the aches and pains of starting a program like this.  Admittedly, before I started this challenge I was lucky to get over 2500 steps a day.  So going from next to nothing to exercising for 1.5 hours (and over 10,000 steps) was a huge leap and I was sore.  Many days it was cold and icky and I just couldn't face that on top of the aches and pains.  But now that bulk of the aches and pains (not counting the arthritis in the knee) are past, I am able to brave the cold.   Seriously.  My warmest days were 33 Degrees....and I did those in a rain storm and a wind storm.  The rest of the days were colder!

I am excited because this next week is when I will pass the official half way mark of this challenge.  I honestly am a bit in awe that I have made it thus far!  But I've got this!

Bring it on

 My official weigh in this week was not kind.  I gained back all that I lost last week!  I don't know how!  Seriously, I have no clue!   I have been forced to look deeply within myself.   I am following this 75 hard challenge to the tee and I am not losing weight.  There is a huge problem with that.  

I can't blame not losing on lack of water consumption. I can't blame it on lack of exercise.  I can't blame it on calories because I've been eating within my caloric range.  No, this challenge has forced me to look deeper because something is wrong.

I sat out to compare two weeks. One where I lost and the next where I gained.   Here is what I found.

 

So you can see that my steps and my calories were pretty close to each other, so those couldn't be the culprit.  Also similar was my carb, fiber and cholesterol intake.   The differences came into play in terms of protein, sugar and fat.    

 So that is where I am focusing my attention.   First on protein!   I'm really working to get my protein to 80g each day.  When you don't really care for much meat, that is difficult!  But if I want to see change, I need to change.  So bring on the protein!

16 Minutes

Today I just want to whine a bit........

 Job hunting is for the birds.  Let me tell you!  This is not anything I would recommend for the faint at heart!  I've put in so many applications and I'm not even getting calls.    It's enough to seriously depress someone!

Most recently I  applied for to a company that literally is the counterpart to the job that I have been doing for the last however many years.   In a normal situation, I would be a shoe in for the job.  I met every qualification.  I had experience!   I filled everything out  and hit the submit button.  I was actually a bit hopeful!   For 16 minutes.    And then my hope was smashed to smithereens.  You see,  it took them  only 16 minutes to send me a reject letter!

Seriously, this is terrible.  I would feel utterly despondent except that I know that my ex-cowokers (with the exception of two that got jobs literally before we had even worked out last day at our job) are having the same issue.  So I know it's not me!  But dang if it doesn't feel horrible.

Meanwhile, my arthritis is crankin'!   Yikes it aches!   But I'm pushing through and not letting it get to me!  It's only 11 AM and I already have my indoor exercise done, the outdoor exercise completed and our grocery shopping done and it's all put away.   Go me!   Now to commence with the job hunt!