Lets see...I have updates.

I guess the most important update is that I got my cholesterol results back from the doctor, and it is still borderline high. The doc said it wasn't outrageous, so she's not concerned about it. However, I clearly still have work to do. I think that I was doing pretty well with my diet when I was with my conscience. Since I've been home I haven't been bad, but I also haven't been as devout as I was before. My red meat intake (particularly pork) was a bit higher as I was taking advantage of bar-b-que season. This is no good. I definitely need to check myself on this front. Honestly, I hope that was the main issue. I haven't been eating shellfish much (maybe twice in the last two months) b/c I just can't afford it. I know that dairy is supposed to be high in cholesterol, but I'm really not ready to give it up yet. I don't think that I will have another screening for at least another 6 months, so I'm just gonna have to try and be more diligent. Hopefully the next test will come out better b/c if it doesn't then I don't really know what to do next.

Ok what else? Lets see...last week sucked for working out. I got sick on Wednesday and had wedding stuff (not mine) on Thurs and Fri. I feel so blah. Every time that I look in the mirror or at myself I see the pounds piling on. Its not a good feeling. I started out this week on a good note though...I did 3 miles at the park and it feels wonderful. My conscience is coming to visit this weekend, so I am committed to getting in at least 30 mins every day until he arrives. That would be 6 workouts for the week, which would be awesome. Maybe he'll even be up for doing some walking...or other exercises...with me when he arrives.

Speaking of other exercises, last weekend I took a pole dancing class. Can I just recommend this to every woman on the planet. Not only was it super liberating, it was actually a great workout. I was sore for the next two days. Then I decided to put on the music at my home and practice some of my moves...again I was sore for the next several days. It is an absolutely awesome workout. I know that Carmen Electra and a few others have been offering 'strip tease' classes, which I honestly laughed at. However, I think that I'm going to continue to give this a try. It is especially perfect for days when I'm not motivated to do a 'regular' workout. I can usually always convince myself to get up and shake my groove thing. This might be the best thing since my discovery of yoga!

I CANNOT WAIT FOR THIS SUMMER TO BE OVER!

Seriously, the weekend bar-b-ques are killing my diet. Ok ok I can't really blame the bar-b-ques, I must accept the blame for how I am behaving at them. How is that, you ask? EATING EVERYTHING IN SIGHT. :-( :-( I know, I'm ashamed. I try to just make one reasonable plate, but then as I am there for hours upon hours and more and more food continues to be prepared, well then...I find myself wandering my way back to the table. Plus...you know that I have a weakness for desserts, well there are always so many wonderful options. Ugh! Its disgusting. The good news is that I really only have about 2 or 3 more weekends with activities planned. After that, I'll be on my own for food, which means cereal and salads b/c lately I haven't much felt like cooking.

I have still been getting in 3 workouts per week, but clearly that is below the four minimum that I need to be at. I've been lucky in that my weight hasn't changed. I was at the doctor last Friday, and I weighed in at my same 170lbs. YAY! However, if I don't get my eating under control, then I won't be at this weight for long.

Ok, enough pouting. I am deeply engrossed in the world of the 100 calorie pack. They have sooooo many options these days, and they are perfect. I take them to work for a light afternoon snack, and I eat them at home when I'm having a craving. I love them! Klondike even has 100 calorie ice cream sandwiches...those are awesome. Recently I spied an add for a 100 calorie hostess cupcake. I couldn't find them in the grocery store today, but when I do...trust me...its going down. I also picked up some fruit bars...under 100 calories a piece. They aren't as substantial as the ice cream bars, but they are a good snack when I feel like I just need to be eating.

Let's see...that's all that's really going on with me these days. I don't really feel any kind of way right now. I'm too tired to really be motivated, but I'm also pleased that I haven't fallen completely off the wagon. Its kinda like I'm just waiting to get back on track. That probably doesn't make any sense, but it is what it is. Sorry to be a bore, but I'll let you know what's up with my cholesterol as soon as I hear back from my doctor, and I'll keep you updated on any diet/exercise solutions that I discover.

Quick update: I have been busy busy busy busy lately. Between work and personal commitments I have barely had any time for myself these past few weeks. I have averaged 3 work outs per week for the last 3 weeks. On the one hand, I am glad to be getting even that much time in. On the other hand, clearly I am falling short of the goal. Le sigh, I guess there is not much left to do but try harder.

Unfortunately I injured my knee doing yoga this week. I have it in a brace, but I'll probably be reduced to doing yoga and light walking for the next week or so. I think that I can also do my Shape mag strength training workout. It does require knee strength and proper knee alignment to execute all of the lunges, but as long as it isn't a lot of jumping around, I think that I can do it.

As for eating, I've had some hits and some misses. I think that I am doing pretty well with my breakfast and lunches. I 've been getting my oatmeal or yogurt for breakfast and salads or other grilled entrees for lunch. However, I think that my afternoon/evening snacking has been more than I would like. I tend to get hungry again at 3 or 4 in the afternoon, so I have a snack at that time. However, since I don't leave work until 6 or 6:30, then I am hungry for another snack when I get home before or while dinner is being prepared. My early snack is 100 calories, but I feel that my evening snack is probably closer to 200 or 300 calories, so I am going over my limit there. I plan to hit the grocery store this weekend where I can get more 100 calorie packs and fresh fruit. Hopefully that will keep me closer to my target with the additional snacks. Also, I'm not 100% sure about my dinner choices. I found out that my client servers free dinner after 5:30, so sometimes I just eat at work. It tends to be healthy (grilled chicken fajitas or veggie lasagna), but probably not as low cal/low fat as if I would have cooked for myself. The thing is, the free dinners are so tempting b/c #1 they are free, #2 the allow me to have more time in my evening, and #3 they are ready at right about the time that I am hungry for my 2nd snack. I eat dinner at work and then don't really eat anything else (except maybe a 100 calorie WW ice cream sandwich) for the rest of the evening. I think that I am going to limit my eating at work to dinners that I feel are as healthy as the ones that I would have normally prepared. This will work for the next few weeks. Once I begin working my 55 hr weeks, then I will probably eat at work every night b/c of time constraints. In those cases, I am going to have to work on portion size.

Where I feel like I am having the most trouble is that I have been allowing myself some little indulgences that I fear could add up on me. I've been to a lot of social events this week, so I've been eating desserts that I should be turning down. I also have been accepting little pieces of candy, etc. that co-workers bring to work and offer the team. I'm going to have to remember my commitment to avoiding those types of temptation. I think that they could lead to some subtle weight gain that could sneak up on me.

Ok, that's all I have for right now. I'll try to get back on this weekend w/some of food favs!