Day 4 of New Beginnings!

It's been an exceptionally rough week at work, but I'm not sure why. I stayed up way too late last night -- didn't get home til about 1:00 a.m. and then I just had to figure out what Beatles songs I'm going to do for my Burning Uke Beatles jam, different ones than I'd done in the past. Then I had to get my uke out and try them out and see if they worked! silly me. I think I got to bed at like 3am. this is not good.

of course I awoke late and had to rush to get to work on time. Then at lunch I had to drive to the bank to deposit a check I'd received in the mail... I didn't get much exercise in until I finally hit the Baylands tonight and even though it was later than usual, I still got a pretty good walk in!

and, between the Baylands and the walk up the hill tonight, I did get my 10,000 steps! let's see...according to this pedometer, I got 10, 247 steps in today YAAAAYY! :) and that hike up the hill is KILLER! even the dog looked tired when we got to the top, but we made it yet again! I was feeling it, though, let me tell you!

WOW, what a beautiful night!

I am in my happy place here! I LOVE THE BAYLANDS! :)

So tomorrow is another day of figuring out how to get my PA in. I'm kind of thinking of it as a sort of "game." what will I do? Oh I know! I'll walk to Chase Bank and deposit the rent tomorrow instead of drive. It's a good walk, but not too far that I won't be back from lunch on time. then I'll walk the baylands until the traffic subsides. this time I'll leave work right on time. and then later tomorrow night, I'll make that trek up the hill again. that 9.1 mile walk is in just a little more than a week! I hope I'm ready. I can hardly wait to walk across the Golden Gate Bridge.

I know it's after midnight and I'm not supposed to eat, but I am STARVING. and I really AM. so I'm having an HMR oatmeal. just plan oatmeal with a little Cinnamon. I've been munching on some french grapes tonight too... I realized I really didn't eat dinner tonight - not a good thing. but I stuck with the plan! I'm thinking about the weekend and what I'll do... so I can be prepared.

Day 3 - of New Beginnings!

Well, at least I got to work on time today! 

I have lots going on so I'll have to "plan" a little more... HMR weight management meeting tonight...yes, I gotta "face the music" so to speak, although I dread weighing in each and every time... I think it'll take at least a couple of weeks for me to get past this...the disappointment I feel if I haven't dropped the weight. I mean, I just started again, right? but sometimes, for me especially, it takes a couple of weeks for anything to kick in. 

Then there's the Big W music jam in Palo Alto -- and getting my 10,000 steps in today... I WILL DO IT!

today is a new day...

well, I only got about 7,000 steps today but I did stick with the plan... I've decided to just DO Healthy Solutions through HMR...the meal replacements, the entrees and fruits and veggies... I went to my first meeting again in several weeks and felt good that I actually lost a couple of pounds since the horrible weigh-in last week which I'd done on my own. what a reality check.

and yes, I drove down to Palo Alto for the famous Big W jam -- the one that's been going on the first Wednesday of the month at this house in Palo Alto for well over 20 years, I hear, if not longer. My friend June lives right across the street and every month she'd see a blazing "W" in the window -- and a bunch of people go in with guitars and various musical instruments. but it wasn't until I told her it was the Big W that I'd been invited to by one of the folkies I met at the SF Folk Music camp a couple of years ago! He also said I could invite people if I felt they'd be good people for the jam... I brought Steve of course. I met June in her driveway and we walked across the street and she and I both had a blast singing, playing our ukes, just having a fabulous time! Unfortunately we stayed til it ended at midnight. the jam always ends at midnight with a special song that goes on for about 10 minutes that everyone sings, "And I bid you good night, good niight, good night!"

that didn't leave time for exercise...I just drove home.

but it was a very good day!

Day 2 of new plan

This morning didn't start off so well. I woke up late, aaahhh!  air was low on a tire too! so I was a few moments late for work which never looks good and I apparently spent too much time working on a job that the desktop publishers could do...

but I'm not going to let this mess me up. I'm doing okay today. I've already consumed over 900 calories, but that's okay. I have it under control. and I already have over 4,000 steps in today, yay me! Last night I ended up with over 14,000 steps!!!

and tonight I'm meeting my friend John down at the Baylands and we're gonna walk...to stretch out the stiff necks. too much time slumped over a computer or playing ukuleles (playing ukuleles is a lot more fun, trust me on that!).

so maybe today won't be so bad after all!

the Baylands ROCK!

So me and John met down at the Baylands and we walked...got over 10,000 steps YAAAAYYY!!! it was good to walk with my friend John and talk about playing ukuleles and contemplating whether it's a good idea to buy a U-bass...!

Baylands tonight -- TRIPPY SHADOWS!

I used the last of my money for gas and some canned green beans, and some yummy GRAPES that were on sale!!!  but I couldn't afford the Rolling Stone magazine with the Beatles on the front...no worries, though. It looks like the EXACT same one Rolling Stone put out a year ago!! Seriously! 

but seeing the Beatles on the magazine stand while waiting in line at Safeway always makes me smile. :)

1 HMR oatmeal
1 diced peaches
1 banana
2 HMR shakes
2 B-bars 
1 Smart One meal (220 calories)
1 HMR entree with canned green beans
1 cup grapes
and maybe I had another oatmeal but forgot?

Final steps for the day 15681
308 pa

On top of the world! trek up to the very top of the hill on Appian Way, Union City!

I've totally lost control...NOW back on track!

I haven't posted here for a long time? why? because I think life got out of control -- or *I* managed to allow my life to get out of control!

but today I'm back on track again...today I've set up a goal. First goal is to prepare for a big hike on Saturday, September 14th! check it out...beautiful photos here!

the Big 9-Mile Hike!

I'm very excited about this -- we start in Fremont (close to my house), take BART into San Francisco, then take the ferry over to Sausalito and walk across the Golden Gate Bridge and beyond -- through San Francisco all the way back to the Fremont BART station! it's a huge endeavor and I happen to know there's a killer hill from Sausalito to the Golden Gate Bridge, but I'm ready to rock n' roll!

I know it will be spectacular, but I'll have to prepare. I'm sadly out of shape right now. I haven't been exercising and have only gone on some walks, but nothing major. Plus when I returned from my epic adventure, my weight was higher than ever. THIS CANNOT HAPPEN! I don't want to take pills and right now I feel overwhelmed with all these various theories that are supposed to work -- cross-fit (scary - forget that!) -- gluten free (why??), vegetarian -- vegan -- and the list goes on. it is overwhelming.

I'm going back to what I know -- the HMR weight management plan... just little things like avoiding all the yummy pastries at the cafe I hung out at with my friends from uke rebellion in San Francisco is a step in the right direction!

so starting today, I am going to get AT LEAST 10,000 steps in -- not a hard thing to do when I'm off work! it's the work days that get super tricky. or when I'm playing uke for hours and hours...and I'll need to make the trek up the hill to get accustomed too that too.

so far I've eaten 1 HMR oatmeal with applesauce (no sugar), 2 HMR shake mixes WITH my coffee...I still swear by the HMR 70 plus shake mix with the coffee! my fave! and I feel good right now and ready to go!

So I took the dog for a super long walk and by the time it was over, I had: 11,529 steps and 3.63 miles! the walk was really nice...super far down the Niles Creek trail which does go on for miles and miles I understand...

nice day for a walk in Niles along the Alameda Creek

then that evening I walked up to the top of the hill even though it was kind of creepy! I almost ran face to face with a deer!

ended up with 14,600 steps after that trek. didn't take the dog because she was still recovering from the other walk!

I'm on top of the world!!!

final count for last night: 

4 HMR cereals/shakes
2 HMR entrees
2 Benefit bars
3 fruits
and 250 PA calories.
no veggies. :( I'm broke til Friday!! gonna just go with the food I have. at least I have HMR food!

It's JUST not happening yet...!

On Wednesday I went back to my HMR meeting (the one I missed the week before due to life's chaos) and was disappointed to find I did not lose any weight -- in fact I gained a tiny bit. and it's like, what the heck is going on here? I guess running uphill once in San Francisco isn't enough. I admit I missed the aqua aerobics completely this past week -- just couldn't awaken early enough. I have loads going on -- with the full-time job and those 2 classes on Wednesday and Thursday nights at DeAnza, while I love them, are KICKING MY BUTT! they are writing classes...everything I do involves writing or playing music on my ukulele. so I spend a lot of time doing that -- or SITTING at work...yes I try to be active and I try to keep track of everything. but sometimes I forget to put them into my "Lose It' program.

my life "feels" a little chaotic, but I have to figure out a way to make this work, to finally get rid of these last 40 pounds that hang on to me for dear life and don't want to let go! those 40 pounds have been with me for so many years now...they are stubborn, they're yelling, "NOOO! DON'T GET RID OF ME!" I said that about all that extra weight when I finally got under 200 pounds too...I felt like I would NEVER get under 200 pounds and I did... but I can't let myself go back up there again, I just can't.

I'm trying to find that "magic" that occurred when I did lose all this weight...I haven't quite found it yet. but hopefully I will soon. :/ it's just so frustrating at times.

SF Uke Rebellion invades Land's End San Francisco!

SF Uke Rebellion invades Land's End San Francisco!

me and the gang down at Land's End...a beautiful day in San Francisco

Yesterday a whole group of us, about 25 people, played ukuleles at a magical place...down at Land's End of San Francisco where the ocean meets the bay. In spite of some of us having to park a little up the hill and trek in, the day could not have been MORE perfect for our very first ukulele jam here...! People stopped to listen and even clapped after we finished...good times! 

Afterwards I walked the trail..or most of it anyway, on my own...and that's when I remembered that 16 years ago at about this time we scattered my mom's ashes into the Pacific Ocean at Yaquina Head Lighthouse up in Oregon..I still remember it as clear as day. The ocean is where we go to honor and remember my mom...and I think she would've dug the ukulele playing too (even as a spectator) so close to the ocean that she loved so much...she was eccentric, smart and funny and never cared what anyone thought about what she did or said...! 

one of a kind...she would've approved of her first great grandson's name ("Jeremiah")...trust me, she did NOT always approve of the names I chose and she would have been thrilled to meet both of her great grandsons Baby Jeremiah (born July 2011) and Baby Iyumni (born Sept. 2012)...we sang and played for you Mom...because we won't forget you. 

Oh and to top everything off, I ended up on Haight Street in San Francisco last night with my friend...we ate dinner at this very cool, funky Indian restaurant I'd never seen nor heard of before and walked up and down the street...stayed at the book store til it closed...then happened to find a Tobacco store that was still open -- had no need for tobacco but dug the psychedelic memoralbilia in the window...even the ashtrays were cool...walked inside and found a TREASURE TROVE of rare 1960's posters, artwork, ceramics...YOU NAME it! The guy didn't mind that we spent a very long time looking at all the fabulous posters...a piece of 1960's rock n' roll history tucked away here...early photos of The Who, the Stones, the BEATLES (of course)...the Doors (and Jefferson Airplane seemed to be everyone's special guest -- OF COURSE!)...turns out the building is called the Red House...Jimi hendrix once resided there...I ended up purchasing a Yellow submarine tie-dye t-shirt in my size...what a perfect way to end a momentous occasion such as yesterday.

San Francisco Running Adventures 60s Rock and roll Style!

I didn't make it to today's Wednesday meeting. I have too many things to do here at work, etc. But I will come in some time this week to pay for my food from last week and the fee! I just wanted you to know I’m on top of it even though I’m not physically there (well as much as I can be).

I sort of lost track of where I was at in Lose It! this week but got back on track…and I didn’t do TOO badly… I am now looking at just the calories and not counting exercise when I think of the calories, but I am putting the exercise in so I have some way of keeping track. The pedometer is great on days where I’m just walking (or running, you are NOT going to believe my adventure this weekend which DID give me lots of PA!!!

And I did not come back to work until TODAY which is why I’m so under the wire… ANYWAY, on Sunday I was in San Francisco for the Uke Rebellion – I took BART and a MUNI bus there…and of course it was fun. But then I knew that Jefferson Starship (members of them anyway) were going to be doing ALL of Surrealistic Pillow (classic 60s Jefferson airplane album, one of my all-time FAVES…defining 60’s rock n roll)… at this funky little club called the Razz near Geary and Van Ness. My friends Steve and Dean didn’t want to go (it cost like $40 which is kinda spendy, especially for me right now since I was pretty much down to my last 50 bucks!). so I figured I wouldn’t go. While I was at Dean’s house on Baker and Grove, his good friend Dave showed up and we watched the recap of that amazing 49ers game where they were losing and then they got it back! (we were getting updates while at Uke Rebellion). At about 6:30pm, a half hour before that Starship show was supposed to happen, I told Dave about the show and he yelled, “Oh my God, I have to go!!!! Surrealistic Pillow!” So Dean suggested me and Dave go (I don’t know him too well but Dean does). But we didn’t have a car to get to Geary and Van Ness as I took BART and he rode his bike over… so we had to catch a bus to make the show. Dave started RUNNING up Baker Street yelling, “We gotta hurry to catch the 38 Geary Bus!” I did my best to follow him really I did. I ran too, UP HILL>..he was sooo crazy because if we had just gone down to Divasadero a couple of blocks further east, we would not have hit all those HILLS!!!

This Dave dude kept running and yelling lyrics to songs from Surrealistic Pillow! I thought for sure I was going to die of a heart attack following him realizing just how out of shape I am – and he even said he was going slow for my sake and had a bad knee…GIMME AN EFFING BREAK!!! So anyway, he kept running and I kept going, but I slowed down…I just couldn’t keep up the speed. No way! I thought for sure someone would find me lying on the cement passed out…but somehow I kept going. He made a right and I went straight and I LOST him! He did not wait for me! He said later he yelled for me, but like he just wanted to get to the show! So I managed to figure out where I was and walked (half ran) AN ADDITIONAL four blocks after about 3 quarters of a mile uphill…but at least this was flat. I JUST missed the 38 Geary bus…it was awful. Then me and this lady started walking down Geary hoping to make headway to Van Ness where she was going and we missed ANOTHER bus cuz we couldn’t run fast enough to get to the next stop! I was pretty distraught and defeated and should have given up, but I did not. We flagged down an out of service bus and I begged the driver to get us to Van Ness and he DID IT just for us! Yaaayy for the nice bus driver! This is TOTAL OLD SCHOOL San Francisco stuff!

So I got to the venue but it was a movie theater 1000 Van Ness…and finally found out that the club (the Razz which just reopened) was upstairs…you have to go up all these marble steps but you don’t see them when you walk in…I RAN up those steps – on PURE ADRENALIN and walked into the night club. THE opening band was playing but not Starship yet! I was hyper ventilating as I tried to explain to this usher dude or whomever he was that I had run a long ways just to get to this show and please let me in…and he did! I did have to get a ticket though. I pretty much gave him the last of my money leaving only enough to get home on (this is so old school and nutty, I can’t believe it). And he gave me one of the best seats in the house right by the stage, crammed in with all these people dressed up in night club attire…but this was a 60’s show…what the heck? I was fully in tie-dye as I normally am on the weekends…I must’ve looked like a crazy hippie chick or something…

The show WAS AMAZING!!! It was worth every single penny and today is pay day too. I caught up with the guy who left me – he saw me and even managed to find him a seat close to mine. I even watched his stuff while he went outside to smoke a bowl on the break politely refusing to smoke one myself (those days for me are over now…been that way for quite a few years!! Hehe!)… the sound quality was perfect and I felt like I was a part of San Francisco history!

Turns out that crazy dude I was following is an ATTORNEY! I kid you NOT! At first I thought he was BSing me, but after he talked about it for a few moments, I realized it was the truth…I can tell. I work for lawyers and have been for many many years. He even knew my role in the office and had it all down. He’s a litigator from New York… Wow!

So why am I telling you all this? This DIRECTLY relates to my PA goals! (and by the way, I ate really well that day – I did have a nice meal at a health food place where I was able to pick out different types of veggie dishes and the amazing Thai chicken breast which wasn’t bad at all…then after the show I had a turkey sandwich on rye with no mayo at the famous Tommy’s Joint…I stayed away from stuffing, mashed potatoes, etc. and etc. I was so broke I couldn’t even afford a salad…just the sandwich cuz it was CHEAP! And the dude I was with said he had no extra money.  I REALLY felt good about that – in fact, I didn’t even THINK about food that day! I was thinking, I DON’T RUN! I actually tell people I don’t run…and I don’t! but I sure did on Sunday night…it was TOO MUCH of course, way more than what I should’ve done…pushing beyond all physical limits – beyond what I felt I was even CAPABLE of doing or handling. Would I do this every day? HECK NO!!! but the lesson here is that we are capable of more than we think we are!

I took yesterday off, but in reality, I was doing okay physically…I just needed that extra day. I walked with the baby in the stroller… and this morning I made the last 30 minutes of aqua aerobics…got there late but still went. Am I still a little sore from the other night? Yeah a little…but I actually feel okay now. My knees don’t even hurt today…amazing. I wonder if I’ll ever be in good enough shape to actually RUN UPHILL like that dude did! And I found out he’s pretty close to my age too. But he’s not overweight… I’m still a good 40 pounds overweight (in my opinion).

but I'm working sooo hard!

Okay this is just sooo unfair! I got to Aqua Aerobics, and I did the dreaded elliptical...okay I failed and only made it for five minutes of so called step aerobics at 24-Hour Fitness...it was some sort of weird, modern-day hip hoppish dance thing that just made no sense.

But I tracked my food...and did everything I was supposed to do, right? How come my weight was exactly the same as last week? :( boooo! but I'm told not to give up, to keep going...so I made it to Aqua Aerobics on Wednesday and this morning too! but yesterday I ate too many calories (it was the pizza and those benefit bars). hopefully I'll get some REAL dancing in tonight, and perhaps tomorrow night too! it's time.

and there's the hierarchy chart...that REALLY helps!

it apparently starts with attendance and check-in and goes from there... hey if that pink haired chick at Aqua Aerobics can lose over 100 pounds, I can get rid of the rest of the weight!
 

Weekend Challenges!

Okay so the weekend wasn't easy -- starting on Friday night when I got home from the coffee shop. There was chicken and rice and I was STARVING! so yeah, I admit it. I went for it...I woofed down two chicken thighs and at least a cup of white rice before you could shake a stick! sigh...! but the damage wasn't as horrible as it could've been -- 600 calories or so is pretty bad. I thought, okay I will count it for the next day...

Saturday morning I headed up to Sacramento (Roseville) -- had some of the benefit bars with me, a couple of bananas and coffee with the shake stuff in it. I stayed away from the cookies in the back of the Strum Shop altogether. Luckily they went fast. I have to admit I was pretty hungry by the time we left the Strum Shop and headed home. After driving around, we FINALLY came to an IHOP and I breathed a sigh of relief because I KNOW they have "fit and fair" meals and at least I can have an idea as to how many calories I'm eating. And yes, I went for the blueberry harvest nut and grain pancakes cuz they're THE BEST! it's the only time I can eat pancakes -- with sugar free syrup of course and egg substitutes, YUMMY! 560 calories, wheeeee!

I expected to do more dancing and get more exercise than I did at the Saddle Rack where there was too much country music and not enough music I really liked...

First Weekend OUT AND ABOUT!

Okay so I'm back in it -- to win it and FINALLY get rid of the extra weight once nad for all. Right now the momentum is high, but I just walked into the kitchen here at work and saw doughnuts...okay I don't eat those..I can get past it. But here at work I am in control because I have all of my own foods around me. I'm a little worried about this weekend when I drive to Sacramento tomorrow for ukulele madness and then San Francisco for more ukulele madness... what will I eat? How will I manage being away from a kitchen and home for so many hours? What will happen when I'm hungry? I can only eat so many bars. I've been so focused on 24-Hour fitness that I have sort of forgotten the other necessary component. Yes, I'm tracking now. I'm using Lose It, a nifty little app on my iPhone. But things sometimes get way out of control when I'm out and about with my friends!

Maybe I'll go for the salads if I'm out and about and stay away from lebanese foods and snacks...I can bring some food with me...but there are only so many grapes, bananas and such one can carry with them!

and not all HMR meals taste good without being heated up. it's not like microwaves are readily available.

FINALLY -- AQUA AEROBICS!

Aqua aerobics is the BEST!!!! I love the water, LOVE it...made a new friend too! she's a writer person who lost a bunch of weight like me...and is trying to get into shape. :) and she loves the beach and fog...cool! I think so far the aqua aerobics is my FAVORITE thing to do...!!! and it ain't no scimpy workout either! still trying to figure out how to get ready and at my desk by 10am sharp (which I did -- hair still wet pulled back)...but barely! I felt like it was a mad dash in the end...because I didn't want to leave the water!!!

The writer chick with the dyed pink hair (who lost 120 lbs so far by the way, good for her cuz I know how hard it is!) whom I met at Aqua Aerobics this morning said something that resonated with me. She said she wrote the content for video games and was actually doing quite well with it, that she even got to work from home! I told her that was really cool and she was super lucky. Then she said, yeah but I'm building someone else's dream, not mine -- when I do it! Yes, I agreed...but hopefully, I said, you get to do your own writing too. "That's what keeps me going," she said. and, as I sit here at work, it made me think...so I'm here to build someone else's dream? But, then I can look at it differently. I'm here to make money so that I CAN build my own dreams too? and if we have kids (of which I have a few) and family, etc., then we REALLY spend a lot of time working hard for them...it's more like, never lose sight of YOUR dreams, right?! go for it!! I try to make a point of it whenever given the opportunity! this weekend it's all about ukuleles...it's been TWO WHOLE WEEKS since I've been to a ukulele singalong jam (although I got to play uke over Christmas and on new year's eve too!)...and even admid following the music, the stories and the words always remain close...

Eliptical in spite of it all!

Tonight I did the elliptical for 40 min at 24 hr fitness and even the treadmill and it really is way better when I'm listening to cool rock n roll music! Peeked in on Zumba class and it looked pretty intense. Didn't do it. Not the right music! Aqua aerobics in the morn. Am determined to make it this time!

Continued Fitness Adventures!

Second time in a row I got up early to do aqua aerobics and missed out all cuz I couldn't find one hair scrunchie anywhere in my house. Not one. Causing me go forget my towel. Two different stores sold no towels. You have to go to a dept store like target or wal mart. Another missed opportunity. I should've slept in!

In spite of missing Aqua Aerobics this morning, I lost THREE POUNDS this past week (am back to HMR Weight Mangement program)!! the week between Christmas and new year's, yay!!! Maybe it was all that walking, or something! and found out this FACT: You can burn more calories from 30 MINUTES of swimming laps than an hour on a treadmill! I will swim tonight! I am on a roll...! also tracking food with my awesome little "Lose It" app on iPhone helps too! I also found out that champagne has a lot less calories than mixed drinks!

Note to self. Never attempt a yoga class you've never tried after swimming laps for 45 minutes! Lesson learned at 24 hour fitness tonight! Whew! And who says Yoga relieves stress? Yeah maybe the last five minutes when you get to relax and be one with yourself! A couple of times I found myself muttering under my breath are you kidding me? Like I can balance on one leg gracefully and hold the other up? Ummm I don't think so!

After such an amazing time in Niles last night, it seemed fitting for us to spend new year's day in Niles as well! Me, Jen and Baby Jeremiah first had lunch at Chile's (because the House of Dumplings down the street from my house was closed...). We had already walked down the hill with the baby in the stroller, so we headed back up again.

Then we went over to Niles. The Niles Cafe where they have REALLY good coffee was also closed, but it was such a gorgeous, cool day that we ended up going on a very long walk with the baby mainly because we got lost trying to find the Niles Community Park. But this getting lost was so worth it! After wandering through the neighborhood for a while, we found the back entrance and a wonderful paved trail...and what looked like a creek or a lake that we didn't even know existed. Baby J loved it...kept yelling "Hi Ducks!" and trying to quack like a duck...there were dozens of them out there...to his delight. we finally found the park with the lovely playground where Baby J gave us near heart attacks a few times...he goes right down the big slides...no problem. little daredevil! screamed his head off when we took him away...met some cool people down there. We stopped in at another place called "Joe's Corner" which was open down in Niles..apparently we got there right before they closed. Who knew we'd get such AMAZING service...we ordered coffees and warm chocolate for the baby...but the owner came out and said she had some minestrone soup left over and would we like some? She brought out steaming cups with pieces of bread and I gotta say it's the best soup I've had in YEARS...then the other lady accidentally made a soy mocha for me which I gave to Jen and she took it off the bill...they also had extra fresh bread which they gave to us too! I don't expect this every time, but will definitely go back there! Oh and we didn't get charged for the soup or bread either! HAPPY NEW YEAR!! we were exhausted when we finally got home, so while Baby J tore the living room apart (LITERALLY), we watched movies...HAPPY NEW YEAR!See More— in Niles District.