Six pounds down... 20 to go

Last time I weighed myself, I was around 164.5 lbs. My goal by Bonnaroo is 145.

Days until Bonnaroo... 80
Weeks until Bonnaroo... 11.42

Pounds to lose in 80 days/11.42 weeks... 19.5

Ave. weight loss goal per week: 1.7, but let's round up to 2 for good measure

Time to hit it hard.

Giving up on meat (any meat - red meat, chicken, fish, etc.) has helped me lose a quick 6 pounds or so. I haven't had time to work out but have been renovating a house and cleaning, so I haven't exactly been sitting around. HOWEVER, these past few weeks have been REALLY stressful, which has led to junky eating and lots of soda.

These next couple weeks I need to bring the stress level down (yoga and music ;)) and start eating more vegetables and fewer carbs. I need to start taking vitamins regularly again and I need to drink water all day long instead of soda. Soda makes me feel puffy anyway.

Then I've got to hit the gym some more. And get my bike out around the neighborhood.

Trying vegetarianism for 40 days

For Lent I gave up meat. Not eggs or milk, just meat. 

So far, I've lost three pounds on my new vegetarian diet. I didn't eat a lot of meat in the first place, but it is keeping me away from McDonald's and the like pretty successfully. 

I'm hoping this will get me into new foods. I've been researching vegetarian recipes, which I hope to try over the next month or so. 

Does anyone recommend any sites or anything I should try? 

Of Montreal, a new priority

Do these guys look like they'd be fun to see live, or what?

Of Montreal is a band I'll really like to catch at Bonnaroo this year. I hope there aren't a lot of conflicts. 

My boyfriend David introduced me to the band when he made me a handful of mixed CDs about a year ago. I instantly fell in love with "Climb a Ladder." 

I haven't researched nearly enough music this year to be able to prioritize properly at the 'Roo, so that's something I'm really going to work on. I listened to 2004's "Satanic Panic in the Attic" yesterday. Where have I been all these years?

At the present moment, they can do no wrong by me. Pair that with a cross dressing lead singer? A can't miss, for sure. 

Check out www.ofmontreal.net for more. 

I fell off the wagon... temporarily

So I did the Couch to 5K for a week and a half. Then, I bought a house and fell off the wagon.

I closed on Feb. 20, and have spent virtually all my free time (at least on the weekends) at the house painting, fixing, etc. At least I'm getting some exercise. Plus, I don't really have time to sit around and gain weight anymore. Still, it doesn't balance out. 

I'm afraid I am going to have to keep the running part of my plan on hold at least through this week and possibly next. In the meantime, at least I'm getting stuff done and not being a fatty.

I'm holding steady at 167.5. Need to get down to 145 by June. I found a Web site called peertrainer.com that is helpful. It teaches you how to make realistic goals and keep them. 

Couch to 5K - Week 1

I successfully completed the Couch to 5K Week 1 last week and attempted to start Week 2 yesterday.

During week one, I walked at a 3.5 pace for a 5-minute warm-up then completed 8 rotations of 60 seconds jogging at 5.0 and 90 seconds walking at 3.5. Cool down was about 6 minutes of 3.5, then 3.0, then 2.5 until I stopped. I used the podcast to make timing easier.

I didn't have much of a problem until the last two rotations each time, and it obviously got better each day that I ran - Monday, then Wednesday, then Saturday. I felt accomplished. I had more energy.

Yesterday, Monday, I tried Day 1 of Week 2.

Week 2 is only a slight step up, so I'm a little embarrassed I wasn't ready for it. After I was through, I almost thought I could puke I was so beat. My lungs burned and I was dizzy and red in the face... Wheezing.

Still, I completed the entire podcast from Day 1 - 5 minute walking at 3.5 to warm up, then 6 intervals of 90 second jogging at 5.0, two-minute walking at 3.5, then another 6 minute cooldown.

I know you're supposed to push yourself, so I did, and I know when you're out of shape that it hurts, but it shouldn't have been that bad should it? It took me nearly an hour to regain composure and I really did think I might pass out.

It probably didn't help that I already had some breathing issues from terrible allergies as of late, but does anyone have any advice?

I'm thinking maybe I should double my workout time and try the program at my own pace. You know, do week 1 for another week, and then spend two weeks on week 2 before moving on.

I do know that I don't want to give up.

I've also started doing yoga a little bit again, and I have been eating smaller portions and less junk. I've had a lot less soda and even choked down a diet. I've also been purposely trying to push water down my throat. I don't drink enough water.

I know weight fluctuates around 2 pounds per day. I'm holding at a steady 167-168.5. That's at least 1.5-3 pounds gone in a week. I'm already feeling a difference though, feeling tighter and better about myself.

Wish me luck!

How to avoid sitting on the portos

I've been spending a lot of time on Inforoo. One day, I posted a thread asking how girls deal with the portos. It is one of my fears, after all, and I'll be working these next few months to get over it.

Days later, the thread has 49 posts to it and quite a conversation has started up. People are recommending wet wipes and disinfectant, all stuff I could have guessed, but others have recommended a variety of plastic devices that let girls pee standing up (mostly for camping and outdoorsy type uses). Could these really exist?

Why, yes they can, and they do. In many varieties.

First there's Freshette. It looks like a cup guys wear to protect themselves while playing sports, but it has a little hose off of it. I think you can imagine what that's all about.

There's the GoGirl female urination device (Watch the intro video, you won't be disappointed.)

But the most highly recommended one I'm finding is a device called Pstyle. You can even get them in several designer colors.



I won't lie to you, I'm fascinated.

At least, I figure, there are options ;) Anyway you slice it, I'll definitely be ready come 'roo.

My Bonnaroo fitness plan

So I've been wanting to get in shape for awhile, but always found it quite easy to slough off my efforts and go back to lounging and fast food.

The fact of the matter is though, I can't be my unhealthy self on the farm with temps hovering around 100 and a gagillion people crammed into a loud, loud, dirty, smelly (yet heavenly) space. It won't be as heavenly if I am.

So I'm taking this opportunity to try and stick to my fitness initiative. I have just about 17 weeks.

Here's the plan.

I'm trying to make David do a "couch to 5K" running plan with me. It requires going to the gym three days per week, which I think we can handle. It's a 9-week program altogether.

I'll stick to Yoga and Wii fit on the other days, so as not to wear myself out.

I can't start eating 100 percent healthy right away because that would be a diet 180, but I can cut down on fast food and portion sizes. Less soda, more water, etc.

I'll be keeping track of my progress on here. It will be fun and you all can laugh at me if I don't make my goal. Maybe that will give me some more inspiration.

Speaking of inspiration, lots of 'Rooers are doing the same thing as I am. I found a really neat thread on Inforoo where the girls are supporting one another through the whole process.

(I'm onesweetla83 if you want to find me.)

Wish me luck!