Yawn

219.2 (wow, depressing)

At this point, I figure no one is even reading this blog any more. But it's still good for me to write about my feelings and chronicle my efforts.

As evidenced not only by the number on the scale above but also by the fact that I recently became winded walking up 5 flights of steps to my car in a parking garage, I desperately need to get my weight under control. I know how to do this--exercise regularly and make healthier food choices--but as ever, there is a disconnect between what I know and what I do.

I've read from numerous sources over the years that exercising first thing in the morning is supposed to give you more energy. I've seen evidence of this firsthand in several people I know.

I bought all the food I need to (yet again) restart South Beach this week. Cutting out sugar and starches just seems to work for me. I also decided to walk 15-30 minutes each weekday morning and focus on weight training when I go to the gym in the evenings. (Not only would this help "jump start" my day, it would also help the dogs get more exercise. Hunter needs to lose weight, and Sebastian needs to stay active for his heart.)

Planning to start the week off on a good foot, I put my plan into motion this morning. I woke up an hour earlier than usual today so that I could walk the dogs and have a leisurely breakfast before leaving for work. I took the dogs on a brisk 15-minute walk around the neighborhood (starting small, baby steps), followed by 8-10 minutes of stretching. I ate a healthy breakfast: scrambled eggs, salsa, V8, and 2 glasses of water. I felt full of energy when I hopped in the shower.

I have now been at work for a little over an hour-and-a-half, and I am really, really tired. It's not lack of sleep due to getting up earlier. . . . I went to bed earlier to compensate and still got about 7.5 hours of sleep. I gave up coffee (again) in mid-April and have grown accustomed to not having it every morning, so it's not lack of caffeine.

So riddle me this: if morning exercise gives you so much energy, why am I frickin' exhausted today? *sigh*

I'm starting to think that this whole "morning exercise will give you more energy throughout the day" thing is one of those habits that doesn't pay off right away. I probably have to do it for several days before I'll see the benefit.

Healthy lifestyle changes would sure be easier if I could see some immediate results.

SNAFU

216.4

My blog is sadly neglected of late. I have nothing to write about. Life is uneventful, unless you want to read my complaints about work and billable hours, and who wants to read that? (I am looking for another job, but it's not the ideal time to be job hunting.)

I am off the wagon again with healthy eating and exercise. I walk the dogs most evenings and make it to the gym maybe once a week, and that's the extent of my physical activity. I've given up on pilates, and I don't stretch regularly, though I have pain in my right piriformis almost all the time and sometimes in my lower back, too. I try to watch my portions and make healthier choices, but I know I'm not eating enough fruits & veggies.

My house is once again in chaos. You wouldn't know if if you came to visit because the common areas look OK, but that is due more to MM's efforts than to mine. Our home office looks almost as bad as it did before my BFF and I decluttered it last fall. I never even put away the Christmas decorations, which are shoved willy-nilly into random open boxes in the room. I never organized my bathroom cabinets as I'd planned, and my closet has fallen into disarray as well.

Right now I really don't care about my obesity, my sloth or the chaos in my house. My stress over work and the impact on our finances is my primary focus. I hate money worries!

So that's me in a nutshell. Still alive but apathetic.