This is just a quick side note to the use of the stationary bike in the gym.
It takes me just over 20 minutes to walk a mile on the treadmill at a reasonable pace. I can walk two miles now in over 40 minutes.
Today I was on the bike for about 10 minutes and I biked two miles in that time. So, if it take five minutes per mile, then in the same 40 minutes I could bike 8 miles - YIKES!!!
I think I will start at two miles in 10 minutes.
I will climb the mountain, one mile at a time!
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Monday, April 4, 2011
Empty Hangers
I have worked from my home for the last two and a half years. During that time, I haven 't had to buy a lot of 'work' clothes, because when you work from home, it consists of a very casual wardrobe. Yes, I get dressed every day, but it could be leggings and a t-shirt.
One thing I can say about being a plus size person over the years, was that I had a lof of clothes. When I found something that I like and it looked good on me, I would buy it in every colour that they made the item in.
My closets and drawers were always full. A couple summers ago I had my bedroom closet organized with new shelves and hanging areas, and Martine was shocked about how much clothes I actually owned. At one point I didn't have any empty hangers in my closet, every one was filled with a shirt, skirt, or pair of pants.
Until now.....
Back at the start of the year, I tried on everything in my closet and finally decided to get rid of everything that no longer fit me. That was practically everything. Old mother Hubbard, went to her cupboard, and her cupboard was bare - that is now my cupboard, and my drawers.
I am not complaining about becoming a smaller, better me, but at the same time, it is a struggle emotionally. To try on clothes, and see the person you were at one time and now the person that you are (are becoming) it very emotional.
This past weekend I had Edna take a picture of me wearing a jacket that used to fit me. I haven't worn it in a LONG time, but yes, I used to wear this jacket.
Thankfully, I have wonderful friends, who gave me gift cards for the mall, and for two clothing stores that I shop at so that I can buy some new clothes for the spring. But the problem is when you need everything new, you can't go crazy, because this is not the end of the journey, it is just a pit stop.
I am looking forward to shopping, but with trepidation. I tried to buy a new pair of jeans about a month ago and it was a very stressful experience. After trying on 12 pairs of jeans, two meltdowns (one with tears) in the dressing room, I left the store, unsuccessful. So, I decided not to buy anything new until spring.....
So, with this new season, comes new clothes to hang in my empty closet!
Saturday, March 26, 2011
what an 'ah ha' moment can really do
Over the winter break my brother rented ice at the York U arena, and arranged for a family skate after a hockey game with his friends. My niece Zoe called and asked if I would come and watch her, which of course I did. Little did I know that day that I would have an Oprah "ah ha" moment that would really change my life.
We went for dinner upstairs at the Ice rink and of course it was pub food - wings, pizza, chicken fingers etc...all of the things I was starting to avoid in my quest for healthier food options. While I was eating my salad option, everyone around me was eating the chicken wings, pizza, chicken fingers. I survived, and as I am finding out through this journey, it is a huge mountain to climb.
Sitting across from me that day was my brothers two friends, both of whom are personal trainers and very physically fit. It wasn't until I got home that night and was thinking about the time we spent together that it hit me - like a "V-8" moment - THEY CAN HELP ME!!!
So, I sent Adam a message and he told me that it he would have Shoshana call me the next day. And she did. And on January 4th we met, to discuss my needs, my objectives, what I need/want/have to have in my life. On January 11th we started in the gym at my condo.
And what has transpired in the process has been amazing. I expressed my fears about personal trainers pushing my friends so hard that they cried, and I told her that wouldn't work for me. And she has pushed, but has not made my cry!
It has been 10 weeks now since I started, and it is really amazing. Being active has become a part of my life. I have accomplished so much already, and even though there is so much more to do, I can say that I am building success each time I try something new or reach a new milestone.
- I can now walk over 2 miles on the treadmill.
- I have tried the elipitcal machine, which looked so scary and daunting when I would see people on it, but now I have tried it and it is not so scary and daunting.
- today I tried the bicycle. Not the one that you sit in the 'chair' and peddle, but the banana seat kind, the one that looks like a bike, but not. I was apprehensive and a nervous, but again, not so scary and not so daunting. And when Shoshana told me, "now...peddle as hard as you can for 30 seconds", my first thought was, "is she crazy, I am going to have a heart attack", but no, I didn't and it felt great. I will be doing that again.
When Shoshana comes to meet me, I have already been on the treadmill for about 20 minutes. Today she came in with punching gloves, and I said to her, "are you going all Gillian Michaels on me today" and YEP, she did. I actually did target boxing today. It was GREAT. Once I got used to it, she told me "punch has hard and as fast as you can" and I did that for 1 minute. It felt so good.
Social networking is a very public environment. You can choose to share and let people in as much or as little as you want. I am happy to share my accomplishments on facebook and on here. Many people have told me that I inspire them. That is such a compliment, and that is HUGE for someone like me, who in 10 short weeks has discovered how much I can do, and how much more I have in me!
Thanks to all of you who comment, and cheer me on, you have no idea how much that helps me keep doing what I am doing. What I need to be doing.
We went for dinner upstairs at the Ice rink and of course it was pub food - wings, pizza, chicken fingers etc...all of the things I was starting to avoid in my quest for healthier food options. While I was eating my salad option, everyone around me was eating the chicken wings, pizza, chicken fingers. I survived, and as I am finding out through this journey, it is a huge mountain to climb.
Sitting across from me that day was my brothers two friends, both of whom are personal trainers and very physically fit. It wasn't until I got home that night and was thinking about the time we spent together that it hit me - like a "V-8" moment - THEY CAN HELP ME!!!
So, I sent Adam a message and he told me that it he would have Shoshana call me the next day. And she did. And on January 4th we met, to discuss my needs, my objectives, what I need/want/have to have in my life. On January 11th we started in the gym at my condo.
And what has transpired in the process has been amazing. I expressed my fears about personal trainers pushing my friends so hard that they cried, and I told her that wouldn't work for me. And she has pushed, but has not made my cry!
It has been 10 weeks now since I started, and it is really amazing. Being active has become a part of my life. I have accomplished so much already, and even though there is so much more to do, I can say that I am building success each time I try something new or reach a new milestone.
- I can now walk over 2 miles on the treadmill.
- I have tried the elipitcal machine, which looked so scary and daunting when I would see people on it, but now I have tried it and it is not so scary and daunting.
- today I tried the bicycle. Not the one that you sit in the 'chair' and peddle, but the banana seat kind, the one that looks like a bike, but not. I was apprehensive and a nervous, but again, not so scary and not so daunting. And when Shoshana told me, "now...peddle as hard as you can for 30 seconds", my first thought was, "is she crazy, I am going to have a heart attack", but no, I didn't and it felt great. I will be doing that again.
When Shoshana comes to meet me, I have already been on the treadmill for about 20 minutes. Today she came in with punching gloves, and I said to her, "are you going all Gillian Michaels on me today" and YEP, she did. I actually did target boxing today. It was GREAT. Once I got used to it, she told me "punch has hard and as fast as you can" and I did that for 1 minute. It felt so good.
Social networking is a very public environment. You can choose to share and let people in as much or as little as you want. I am happy to share my accomplishments on facebook and on here. Many people have told me that I inspire them. That is such a compliment, and that is HUGE for someone like me, who in 10 short weeks has discovered how much I can do, and how much more I have in me!
Thanks to all of you who comment, and cheer me on, you have no idea how much that helps me keep doing what I am doing. What I need to be doing.
Saturday, March 19, 2011
simple things, like an empty box
I am sure that we have all watched a child in our life open a gift and is more interested in the box than the gift. There is so much truth to that on so many levels.
Last night my two nieces played with two empty boxes for over two hours over our Shabbat meal. In fact, they were having so much fun before dinner, that they wanted to leave the table early to continue their works of art.
Zoe was very interested in creating "Zoe's Taxi" and had Gramma cut out windows for the front, back and sides of the car. She drew wheels, and headlights and tail lights, and inside the 'taxi' she drew in the steering wheel and seats on the bottom of the box. When I asked her if she wanted me to write the word "TAXI" at the front, she said no, but asked how "taxi" was spelled and did it herself. Very sophisticated at six years old.
Jaime's car was more the look of a 1960's VW hippie van with all kinds of art on the sides, front and back. I had written the words "Jaime's Car" in bubble letters on one side, and she was very interested in colouring each letter about 4/5 different colours. I coloured in trees, and a sun, and she followed it up with a kite in the sky.
After their creations were done, photos were taken with them inside their cars to email to their mom (she and Ezra were not there due to illness). It was fun to see the creativity flourish and grow the way they are.
After that, Gramma put on Klezmer music and the dance fest began. There was lots of creativity there as well. Jaime told me that she could "feel the music in my heart"....and that made my heart melt just a bit.
We did say a prayer for the Fogel family and being with my family and watching them laugh, smile and dance was all I needed on this Shabbat.
Last night my two nieces played with two empty boxes for over two hours over our Shabbat meal. In fact, they were having so much fun before dinner, that they wanted to leave the table early to continue their works of art.
Zoe was very interested in creating "Zoe's Taxi" and had Gramma cut out windows for the front, back and sides of the car. She drew wheels, and headlights and tail lights, and inside the 'taxi' she drew in the steering wheel and seats on the bottom of the box. When I asked her if she wanted me to write the word "TAXI" at the front, she said no, but asked how "taxi" was spelled and did it herself. Very sophisticated at six years old.
Jaime's car was more the look of a 1960's VW hippie van with all kinds of art on the sides, front and back. I had written the words "Jaime's Car" in bubble letters on one side, and she was very interested in colouring each letter about 4/5 different colours. I coloured in trees, and a sun, and she followed it up with a kite in the sky.
After their creations were done, photos were taken with them inside their cars to email to their mom (she and Ezra were not there due to illness). It was fun to see the creativity flourish and grow the way they are.
After that, Gramma put on Klezmer music and the dance fest began. There was lots of creativity there as well. Jaime told me that she could "feel the music in my heart"....and that made my heart melt just a bit.
We did say a prayer for the Fogel family and being with my family and watching them laugh, smile and dance was all I needed on this Shabbat.
Sunday, February 20, 2011
special orders....new way of life
Last weekend I went to the Keg for dinner with my friends to celebrate my friend Judy's upcoming birthday. I love the Keg, and I was looking forward to the meal ever since we made the plans to go there.
BUT...as the day drew closer, I thought more about what I would eat there and how I would enjoy what I used to never think twice about eating. It was mentioned to me, "have a chicken breast, that is a safe bet"....yeah, well, not when you are going to a steakhouse and you eat chicken pretty much 5 out of every 7 days of the week.
So steak it was going to be. But which one, and how big. Portion size should be the size of your palm, which is about 4 oz of protein. There isn't a steak on the menu that is the correct portion size, so you have to make a choice, to take some home, or be okay with what you eat and leave the rest.
The Keg has a great prix fixed menu right now - $39.95 gives you a choice of salad, four different steak/prime rib options, seafood side and then dessert. The dessert was the only thing that made the option not the best for me, but it turned out it was not a full size dessert, but their shooter glass size mini portion.
Ordering reminded me of my favourite movie - When Harry Met Sally. I said to the girl, "I will have the 7 oz filet, but I would like it like this....can you give me a tablespoon size of garlic mashed, and the rest steamed vegetables, not the sauteed ones that you normally give, but steamed.". To which she replied, "the portions are all pre-portioned out, but I will see what I can do."
I should say that I also had shrimp with my steak. So, when the plate arrived at the table, it was exactly what I asked for, my steak, the shrimp, one beautiful little scoop of garlic mashed and veggies, broccoli, cauliflower, carrots and green beans - the perfect plate.
After eating the salad, and then as the nutritionist suggested, the veggies, I ate the four shrimp and at the end of all of that, didn't eat the whole 7oz filet. I didn't even finish the one little scoop of potato. It was a really great meal, and it was totally satisfying.
Eating out has been a source of stress for me the last few months. Making the right choices is really challenging. I guess as time goes on, and the new lifestyle starts to become habit and normal, it won't be as hard. I am hoping that happens, because it really hasn't happened yet.
Conquered the Keg, and was really happy about it.
BUT...as the day drew closer, I thought more about what I would eat there and how I would enjoy what I used to never think twice about eating. It was mentioned to me, "have a chicken breast, that is a safe bet"....yeah, well, not when you are going to a steakhouse and you eat chicken pretty much 5 out of every 7 days of the week.
So steak it was going to be. But which one, and how big. Portion size should be the size of your palm, which is about 4 oz of protein. There isn't a steak on the menu that is the correct portion size, so you have to make a choice, to take some home, or be okay with what you eat and leave the rest.
The Keg has a great prix fixed menu right now - $39.95 gives you a choice of salad, four different steak/prime rib options, seafood side and then dessert. The dessert was the only thing that made the option not the best for me, but it turned out it was not a full size dessert, but their shooter glass size mini portion.
Ordering reminded me of my favourite movie - When Harry Met Sally. I said to the girl, "I will have the 7 oz filet, but I would like it like this....can you give me a tablespoon size of garlic mashed, and the rest steamed vegetables, not the sauteed ones that you normally give, but steamed.". To which she replied, "the portions are all pre-portioned out, but I will see what I can do."
I should say that I also had shrimp with my steak. So, when the plate arrived at the table, it was exactly what I asked for, my steak, the shrimp, one beautiful little scoop of garlic mashed and veggies, broccoli, cauliflower, carrots and green beans - the perfect plate.
After eating the salad, and then as the nutritionist suggested, the veggies, I ate the four shrimp and at the end of all of that, didn't eat the whole 7oz filet. I didn't even finish the one little scoop of potato. It was a really great meal, and it was totally satisfying.
Eating out has been a source of stress for me the last few months. Making the right choices is really challenging. I guess as time goes on, and the new lifestyle starts to become habit and normal, it won't be as hard. I am hoping that happens, because it really hasn't happened yet.
Conquered the Keg, and was really happy about it.
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
trust me on the sunscreen
Every time I hear this song I stop....what I am doing, and just listen....really listen to the words. Baz Lurhmann was ahead of his time, or was he? Take some time and read this post, the whole way through....it really makes you think:
"Ladies and Gentlemen of the class of ’99, if I could offer you only one tip for the future, sunscreen would be
it. The long term benefits of sunscreen have been proved by scientists whereas the rest of my advice has no basis more reliable than my own meandering experience…I will dispense this advice now. Enjoy the power and beauty of your youth;
oh nevermind; you will not understand the power and beauty of your youth until they have faded. But trust me, in 20 years you’ll look back at photos of yourself and recall in a way you can’t grasp now how much possibility lay before you and how fabulous you really looked….You’re not as fat as you imagine. Don’t worry about the future; or worry, but know that worrying is as effective as trying to solve an algebra equation by chewing bubblegum. The real troubles in your life are apt to be things that never crossed your worried mind; the kind that blindside you at 4pm on some idle Tuesday.
Do one thing everyday that scares you. Sing.
Don’t be reckless with other people’s hearts, don’t put up with people who are reckless with yours.
Floss. Don’t waste your time on jealousy; sometimes you’re ahead, sometimes you’re behind…the race is long, and in the end, it’s only with yourself.
Remember the compliments you receive, forget the insults; if you succeed in doing this, tell me how. Keep your old love letters, throw away your old bank statements. Stretch.
Don’t feel guilty if you don’t know what you want to do with your life…the most interesting people I know didn’t know at 22 what they wanted to do with their lives, some of the most interesting 40 year olds I know still don’t.
Get plenty of calcium. Be kind to your knees, you’ll miss them when they’re gone. Maybe you’ll marry, maybe you won’t, maybe you’ll have children, maybe you won’t, maybe you’ll divorce at 40, maybe you’ll dance the funky chicken on your 75th wedding anniversary…what ever you do, don’t congratulate yourself too much or berate yourself either – your choices are half chance, so are everybody else’s.
Enjoy your body, use it every way you can…don’t be afraid of it, or what other people think of it, it’s the greatest instrument you’ll ever own..
Dance…even if you have nowhere to do it but in your own living room. Read the directions, even if you don’t follow them. Do NOT read beauty magazines, they will only make you feel ugly.
Get to know your parents, you never know when they’ll be gone for good. Be nice to your siblings; they are the best link to your past and the people most likely to stick with you in the future. Understand that friends come and go, but for the precious few you should hold on. Work hard to bridge the gaps in geography and lifestyle because the older you get, the more you need the people you knew when you were young. Live in New York City once, but leave before it makes you hard; live in Northern California once, but leave before it makes you soft.
Travel. Accept certain inalienable truths, prices will rise, politicians will philander, you too will get old, and when you do you’ll fantasize that when you were young prices were reasonable, politicians were noble and children respected their elders. Respect your elders. Don’t expect anyone else to support you. Maybe you have a trust fund, maybe you have a wealthy spouse; but you never know when either one might run out. Don’t mess too much with your hair, or by the time you're 40, it will look 85.
Be careful whose advice you buy, but, be patient with those who supply it. Advice is a form of nostalgia, dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts and recycling it for more than it’s worth.
But trust me on the sunscreen…"
Many thoughts for the day....and the year...the year that a lot of the people I know will turn over into a new decade. WOW!
"Ladies and Gentlemen of the class of ’99, if I could offer you only one tip for the future, sunscreen would be
it. The long term benefits of sunscreen have been proved by scientists whereas the rest of my advice has no basis more reliable than my own meandering experience…I will dispense this advice now. Enjoy the power and beauty of your youth;
oh nevermind; you will not understand the power and beauty of your youth until they have faded. But trust me, in 20 years you’ll look back at photos of yourself and recall in a way you can’t grasp now how much possibility lay before you and how fabulous you really looked….You’re not as fat as you imagine. Don’t worry about the future; or worry, but know that worrying is as effective as trying to solve an algebra equation by chewing bubblegum. The real troubles in your life are apt to be things that never crossed your worried mind; the kind that blindside you at 4pm on some idle Tuesday.
Do one thing everyday that scares you. Sing.
Don’t be reckless with other people’s hearts, don’t put up with people who are reckless with yours.
Floss. Don’t waste your time on jealousy; sometimes you’re ahead, sometimes you’re behind…the race is long, and in the end, it’s only with yourself.
Remember the compliments you receive, forget the insults; if you succeed in doing this, tell me how. Keep your old love letters, throw away your old bank statements. Stretch.
Don’t feel guilty if you don’t know what you want to do with your life…the most interesting people I know didn’t know at 22 what they wanted to do with their lives, some of the most interesting 40 year olds I know still don’t.
Get plenty of calcium. Be kind to your knees, you’ll miss them when they’re gone. Maybe you’ll marry, maybe you won’t, maybe you’ll have children, maybe you won’t, maybe you’ll divorce at 40, maybe you’ll dance the funky chicken on your 75th wedding anniversary…what ever you do, don’t congratulate yourself too much or berate yourself either – your choices are half chance, so are everybody else’s.
Enjoy your body, use it every way you can…don’t be afraid of it, or what other people think of it, it’s the greatest instrument you’ll ever own..
Dance…even if you have nowhere to do it but in your own living room. Read the directions, even if you don’t follow them. Do NOT read beauty magazines, they will only make you feel ugly.
Get to know your parents, you never know when they’ll be gone for good. Be nice to your siblings; they are the best link to your past and the people most likely to stick with you in the future. Understand that friends come and go, but for the precious few you should hold on. Work hard to bridge the gaps in geography and lifestyle because the older you get, the more you need the people you knew when you were young. Live in New York City once, but leave before it makes you hard; live in Northern California once, but leave before it makes you soft.
Travel. Accept certain inalienable truths, prices will rise, politicians will philander, you too will get old, and when you do you’ll fantasize that when you were young prices were reasonable, politicians were noble and children respected their elders. Respect your elders. Don’t expect anyone else to support you. Maybe you have a trust fund, maybe you have a wealthy spouse; but you never know when either one might run out. Don’t mess too much with your hair, or by the time you're 40, it will look 85.
Be careful whose advice you buy, but, be patient with those who supply it. Advice is a form of nostalgia, dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts and recycling it for more than it’s worth.
But trust me on the sunscreen…"
Many thoughts for the day....and the year...the year that a lot of the people I know will turn over into a new decade. WOW!
Saturday, January 1, 2011
Auntie
I love being an aunt. I think it is the greatest job in the world. I say it is a job because I think it is. As an aunt, you are an extension of their parents with the lessons and rules that they are expected to follow, but you are also a mentor and teacher for your nieces and nephews.
A few weeks ago my two nieces spent the afternoon here with my at my condo. After giving them lunch we embarked on the fun part of the afternoon. They both took turns being my 'teacher' and having me practice my alphabet in upper and lower case, getting marked on my homework (getting an "x" when I didn't do my upper case "J" properly), doing arts and crafts, and then of course the main event - making cookies. That is a tradition that my mom started with the children in her life coming to her house at an early age. All from scratch, cracking the egg, putting in the sugars, flour, vanilla - the whole deal - and of course what is more fun than eating the dough as you go along? haha...I digress.
I love every minute I spend with my nieces. They are not 'babies' anymore, which makes every visit interesting, to say the least. Zoe notices EVERYTHING, and will call you out on something if she sees fit. Everyone, including her, knows that my love for purple, and she even notices when I am NOT wearing something purple, and comments on it. When we went to Mexico for my cousin's wedding I told Zoe that a "kiss" in Spanish is 'beso' and I would say to her, "give me a besito" which means a little kiss, or a peck. She started to kiss on both cheeks, and that is the way we always kiss. It is 'our thing' and it makes it special just for us.
And then there is Jaime. She is so different to Zoe and also such an amazing young lady. She is serious, and funny, and everything rolled into one amazing girl. We went to the dollar store and I had to buy a notebook for work, and I bought her one, and she took it home and started right away to do 'her work'. She constantly wants to know, "how do you spell...this or that"...and is always watching and scoping out the scene, taking it all in.
And now my boy....Ezra....he is six months old now, and laughs, and smiles and changing so fast. I am looking forward to seeing what kind of boy he will be; how he will manage with the two girls; and what it will be like to be an aunt to a boy now, instead of just 'the girls'.
As I said at the beginning, I think being an Aunt (or an Uncle) is a job. It is a job that starts the day your first niece or nephew is born, and you have that job for the rest of your life! I can't wait to see how the job unfolds. Bring it on Zoe, Jaime and Ezra...I am ready for you!
Love Auntie Lisa (1)
A few weeks ago my two nieces spent the afternoon here with my at my condo. After giving them lunch we embarked on the fun part of the afternoon. They both took turns being my 'teacher' and having me practice my alphabet in upper and lower case, getting marked on my homework (getting an "x" when I didn't do my upper case "J" properly), doing arts and crafts, and then of course the main event - making cookies. That is a tradition that my mom started with the children in her life coming to her house at an early age. All from scratch, cracking the egg, putting in the sugars, flour, vanilla - the whole deal - and of course what is more fun than eating the dough as you go along? haha...I digress.
I love every minute I spend with my nieces. They are not 'babies' anymore, which makes every visit interesting, to say the least. Zoe notices EVERYTHING, and will call you out on something if she sees fit. Everyone, including her, knows that my love for purple, and she even notices when I am NOT wearing something purple, and comments on it. When we went to Mexico for my cousin's wedding I told Zoe that a "kiss" in Spanish is 'beso' and I would say to her, "give me a besito" which means a little kiss, or a peck. She started to kiss on both cheeks, and that is the way we always kiss. It is 'our thing' and it makes it special just for us.
And then there is Jaime. She is so different to Zoe and also such an amazing young lady. She is serious, and funny, and everything rolled into one amazing girl. We went to the dollar store and I had to buy a notebook for work, and I bought her one, and she took it home and started right away to do 'her work'. She constantly wants to know, "how do you spell...this or that"...and is always watching and scoping out the scene, taking it all in.
And now my boy....Ezra....he is six months old now, and laughs, and smiles and changing so fast. I am looking forward to seeing what kind of boy he will be; how he will manage with the two girls; and what it will be like to be an aunt to a boy now, instead of just 'the girls'.
As I said at the beginning, I think being an Aunt (or an Uncle) is a job. It is a job that starts the day your first niece or nephew is born, and you have that job for the rest of your life! I can't wait to see how the job unfolds. Bring it on Zoe, Jaime and Ezra...I am ready for you!
Love Auntie Lisa (1)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)