Laila: la la la.

I have a computer again :)

So today i got more exercise tan I have in a while. Went swimming for an hour, took the dog (an Akita...very big and very strong) out on a walk well make that two walks. I'm pretty beat.

As for food, all I can say is that I've done better.

So I am moving away in eactly 27 days. And right now it's scaring the crap out of me. Soo I indulged myself in some chocolate (good comfort food) and am now feeling better, thanks to some much needed friend-advice. ANYWAYS when I move, my posts on here will be extremely spiratic...gotta go out and live the college (FUN) life! Just warning ya.

I am planning on doing my 5K swim on the 4th of August. I'll definetly post on here how that all turns out.

Laila: I'm Baaaack

Just as a disclaimer, I have limited access to a compter, thus why my posts lately have been spiratic.

What a hectic week! Whew! I'm going going going. It's quite exhausted and I'm ready for the month of July to be OVER!!!

Anyways, guess what?? I went SWIMMING today!! Whoo! It's putting me back into that sane piece of mind that only swimming can do for me. Found out yesterday that I'll be racing the 5K (5000 meters...I'm guessing that'll be about 1.5 hours worth of swimming) the first week of August. Haven't gotten much pool time in lately with the schedule I've been holding, but I'm sure it'll all work out. After all, I am a distance swimmer. I will be training for the 10K later this fall. SOmething to look forward to.

Food: 1 protein bar, 1 pbj sandwich, 1 small bag doritos, 1 bowl mac & cheese.
Calories: 1450
Water: I'd say about 8 glasses
Exercise: Swimming for about 20 mins (FINALLY).

Tomorrow will be my last crazy day of the week. I'm hoping that this weekend will bring relaxation, swimming, tanning (?) and maybe a hike or two.

:)

Laila: Prepping for another big week

Today was my resting day before this week ahead. It's been nice to just hang around and relax these past few days.

If anything, this housesitting adventure is teaching me that I don't have to eat as much as I'm accostumed to. There's not much around here to eat, so I'm rationing the food for the next week :)

Food: protein bar, pb&j sandwich, handful of dark chocolate Hershey's kisses, 1 bowl macaroni and cheese.
Water: about 10 glasses :) finally!
exercise: took the dog I'm staying with on a walk / run that lasted about 45 min or so (FINALLY got the exercise! Yes!)
Vitamin: no

Laila: Finally.

Finally an end to my hellish week. I am an eternal optimist and like to look on the bright side of things, but for me this past week was just horrible.

Nothing good came out of these past few days.

Perhaps I'm overstating it, but I have never been so stressed / on the run in my entire life.

And it's OVER!!! Well for the weekend atleast. Let's hope things start looking up or else my memories of my last five weeks in Vancouver won't be happy ones.

I haven't been able to have a moment to myself this week, do anything that felt like exercise which in turn affected my food choices. I'll just say this: I did bad. Hopefully things will get better. Or I will start to pull all of my hair out.

Food: 1 protein bar, 1 pbj sandwich, 1 cup yogurt, 1 package 100-calorie cheese-its, 1 chocolate chip cookie (notice that the number is not higher....I am gaining SOME self-control), 1 granola bar.

Water: Not enough
Vitamin: forgot
Exercise: of course not
Calories: 1350

Laila: arghhhh!

So today is over.

It seems as the days go on, I keep asking myself the questions "REALLY??"
This schedule I'm on is officially kicking my butt. All I want is rest. But no.
ARGGGG.

I am in no way proud of my eating today.

I ended up being at work much longer than expected, with only an hour brake. So I headed to Wendy's (the closest food place around) and got a burger and fries. I had planned on working out later in the evening, but my friend invited me to her birthday dinner at the Olive Garden. How I miss the gym!!!! ( I realllllly do! Haven't been in WEEKS). So I went there and then on a couple arrends before cfomming home and finishing up some stuff for work tomorrow.

Food:
1 protein bar, 1 burger + small fry and diet soda from Wendys, 1 plate of 5-cheese ziti from the Olive Garden (plus 2 breadsticks).

Calories: off the charts I'm sure

Exercise: None. Again. I will go stir crazy if I can't get any soon....

Water: NOt nearly enough

Vitamin: yup

Laila: Needing a Change of Scenery....

Another day another dollar. With my schedule now, the weekdays are blending all together, kind of frustrating. But more housesitting this weekend! Yay!

I FINALLY got a chance to get in the pool today (to swim, not to teach lessons). It's been...oh atleast 3 weeks-ish since I've been. It sure felt good. I'm gearing up for a big meet the first weekend in August- going to try to tackle the 1650 again (66 lengths of the pool). So we'll see how that goes.

Food: 1 protein bar before work, a sandwich (BLT), 2 cups yogurt, I'd say about 4 cups of blueberries / strawberries / watermelon (not all at once, but spread out thru the day), 1 string cheese, 2 granola bars, 1 100-calorie ice cream bar.
Calories: 1590
Vitamin: Yes
Water: 6-ish glasses. I'm slackin
Exercise: 25 min swim. Not nearly enough, but it's better than nothing.

Laila: HAPPY 4TH!!

Well today turned out to be a really good day, despite having no prior plans.
Finished up housesitting, came home and mooched food from my parents (haha) when they had some people over. It was GREAT! Salmon and steak. Yummm. Then I finished off the day by spending the night oohing and ahhing over fireworks with my friend (greatest guy in the world). Even got a flower out of the whole deal. Overall, verrrry good end to an otherwise stressfull week.

Water: not enough :(
Vitamin: yes
Exercise: none. AGGGHHH it's killing me.
Food: 1 piece toast w/ pb, 1 cup yogurt, 1 banana, lunch/dinner consisting of fruit salad, salmon, and steak.

Laila: A MUch Needed Day of Fun

Today I went hiking to a local spot with a great friend. It was fun, scary at times, but let's just say I think I've caught up on my exercise quota for the next week or two :) I'm keeping this post short and simple because I'm so tired I am about to pass out. Good day, but a very long day, as well.

Water: 10 glasses
Exercise: about a 6 hour hike (it was epic)
Food: 1 piece toast w/ peanutbutter, a bowl of peaches, 1 pg & j sandwich before the hike, 1 granola bar on the hike, a bowl of mac & cheese, small bowl of strawberry ice cream to celebrate our defeat over the mountain :)
Calories: 1540

Laila: Whew.

Today has got to be the most exhausting day I've had in a long long time. Spent nearly all my day at work (10 AM to 7ish PM). Most of the day was spent outdoors in that glorious blazing sun. And guess what: I GOT TAN!! Woot.

I found myself lacking on serious energy (food) and am quite impressed with myself to have made it the entire day really on a bagel and bowl of cherrios.

Before work this morning: 1/2 bagel with about a tbsp cream cheese
Between shifts: a small bowl of cherrios, 1 banana
After work: 6-inch sandwich from Subway, 1 bag wheat thins, 1 diet coke, 1 banana

That may seem like a lot of food, but granted I spent nearly 9 hours out in the sun. Got about an hour 1/2 of swimming in plus 30 min of playing water polo. Pretty intense!

Took the dog for a late night walk with a friend. Mainly uphill for about 20 min or so.

Needless to say: I'M POOPED!

However, as I look back on my day I'm proud of the progress I've made. Coming home from work I knew I should go out to eat, mainly because the house I'm staying at doesn't really have much on-the-go food. Everything takes a while to make. Normally that wouldn't be an issue. But I figured I'd better save my sanity and just let Subway make my food for me. I was tempted to go to maybe a cheaper burger joint....but I resisted. It's good knowing I've filled up on good food all day.

I am now going to sleep. Wishing I didn't have to wake up for about a week or so. But alas that is not possible. Oh well. Overall: good day!

Laila: GOOD Day!

Well today was a very good / somewhat crazy / productive day on my end. I think it was the sun that motivated me to do all of this work today.

I'm coaching a water polo camp at the gym where I work, and today (it was the 2nd day) was a great day! After a quick pep talk with the kids about learning how to be civil with each other, as well as learning a few basics of the game, they did awesome! And I must say I love coaching! I've been in the coaching / swimming atmosphere in a pool setting for about 6 years now and I must say I have yet to grow tired of it :)

If an hour and 1/2 of pacing up and down the pool wasn't enough, I went to swim practice for 90 minutes. I had a good hard workout. Came home pooped. But of course, there's more. I had yet to give the dog her walk today, and decided to embark on about a 2 mile or so walk (up a HUGE hill if I might add) at about 9PM. Not the smartest, because about 20 min into it I realized that the setting sun was catching up with us. And I refused to be out there alone in the dark. So we walked fast. Made it in about 40 min or so (granted I was wearing flip flops). So again. Good day.

Food: bowl Special K w/ strawberries, 1 apple, 1 deli sandwich from Walmart, a handful of fish crackers, 10 or so wheat thin crackers.
Exercise: see above. I do feel quite tuckered out. So I'd say I did good.
Water: 10 glasses. Yay for sunny weather

Laila: Better Day

Well today was a better day than yesterday. Actually DID stuff today (shocker).

I got to the gym for the first time in a week and did cardio for about 45 min and lifting about 30 min. Got to train a little with a friend who works there. I sure did miss that endorphine "high" this past week of little working out.

This upcoming week for me will be crazy. I'm "counseling" a camp at the gym I work at for a water polo camp. I know the basic idea of the game, and have played it only a couple times. So it'll be interesting how that all plays out. This also means that I will be LIVING at work this week (and of course work and the house I'm at couldn't be farther apart). So I'm beginning to make and bag up my meals for the week. The bright side is, that with all this activity going on I won't have time to overeat!

Water: bout 8 glasses
Vitamin: still no. I need to go get those
Calories: absolutely no idea

Laila: Day ?

I've quit counting the days on here. I keep losing track.

Well guess what....I'M SHRINKING!!!! (in a good way)
I went to JCP tonight for some retail therapy (haha) and tried on a floor length summer-y dress that on the rack I did not think would look good on me. Not only did it look good, it looked GREAT! I'm definetly gaining more confidence to try new types of clothes that I normally wouldn't go for. Good stuff.

Still house-sitting. Eating healthy is not easy ( a lot of frozen dinners). Soo the calories kind of slipped by me today. Plus I embarked on a journey of making a pizza-sized cookie covered in marshmallows and chocolate with a friend (don't worry, I didn't eat any. I just love making this junk and handing it off for others to consume). The cookie turned out as a success if I may say so myself.

Water: 8 glasses
Exercise: None. Today was my lazy day and I enjoyed every minute of it. (Believe me, if you had to teach 30 kiddos how to swim in the matter of 3 hours you'd understand!!)

Laila: Another Day

I am currently housesitting for a family friend, and quite frankly there is a lack of healthy food in this house. I've done the best I can to eat somewhat healthfully, but of course I am lacking. I didn't have access to count the calories today, but here's a report of what I've eaten:
1 bowl lucky charms, 1 ham & cheese sandwich (w/ mayo), a handful of goldfish crackers, 1 bowl honey nut cherrios, 1 bagel w/ cream cheese.
Vitamin: don't have them with me
water: fell short, about 6 glasses today....though I am happy to report that since my stay here I've had FAR more milk than I usually do.
Exercise: attempted to get the dog out on a run today, which ended up in about a 40 min walk, also 1 hour of swimming. Today at practice, I tried breastrstroke- used to be my favorite stroke before my knee screwed up. Well tonight I tried it and felt GREAT!!! Yay!

Laila: Day 32

Yesterday I went shopping as a reward to myself for finishing up school. I tried on a dress that normally I wouldn't take to- more form fitting, and accentuating the curves more than I used to. I was tempted to fall back into my comfort zone and get a sundress (nothing against sundresses, but I have about 4 right now). Anyways it feels good to shop out of the comfort zone a little bit and to wear something that I'm not quite used to. Plus it fit perfectly. Retail therapy is such a good thing :)

Today's update:
Calories: 1600
Exercise: None today
Vitamin: Yes
Water: 8 glasses

L: Day 29

Today was a verry busy day today, so I didn't really have to worry about eating. Plus an early morning dentist visit that numbed half my mouth curbed the hunger as well.

Food:
Bowl honey nut cherrios, 1 protein bar, bread roll, 1 bag 100-calorie chips, 1 bowl tomato soup + toasted cheese sandwich, 1 banana, 1 100-calorie ice cream bar.
Calories: 1550
Vitamin: yes
Exercise: 1 hour moderate swimming (not real hard, but the sprints killed me a little)

Laila : Day 28

I've been a real butt about counting my calories lately. I don't think it's that I'm losing motivation....in fact I've been seeing results (on the scale, in workouts, and how my clothes are fitting). I'm not too sure what it is. All I know is that I need to get back on track.

Swim suit season is almost here (well it would be if this dang weather would cooperate), and I'm ALMOST ready!!! I'm workin hard to fit into some clothes from last year. I'm feeling really good about my results so far.

Water : 8 glasses
Vitamin: yes
Exercise: 30 min bike (burned about 350 calories), 15 min treadmil walk, 1/2 mi walk around the track, 30 min weights.

L: Days 25 and 26

Last night I didn't have internet access at the hotel I was at.
But for an overall view of Friday: epic fail. Stressful day of traveling, registering for classes, and dealing with work drama nearly 24 hours away from home all got to me. Plus eating on campus isn't the healthiest thing ever.

Today (saturday) I was traveling half the day and didn't count either. I do think, though, that I made smart food decisions at the airport: getting a smaller meal as opposed to a bigger one, that sort of thing. By water intake has been off these past three days. And so has the vitamin.

TOmorrow is my 3rd week doing this blog. I will do my best to get on track (after traveling and such). I'm very excited to go to the gym as well- I haven't worked out in about 4 days and am about to go insane!!

No more weightloss to report (go figure), but I did notice this week that my clothes are fitting better, and that my arms are definetly looking / getting stronger.
Yay for some progress.

L: Day 24

Greetings from BEAUTIFUL (and might I say sunny) Colorado!! I'm here for an orientation for the school that I'll be going to in the fall. And I'll just say it again......it's beautiful here! I'm just getting used to the fact that there can be "raincloud"-y lookin things MINUS the rain here. It's so great.
I don't really have access to calorie counting for the next 2.5 days, so I'm just trying to eat as healthy as I can.
Food: 1 bowl honey nut cherrios, 1 Italian combo sandwich (courtesy of the airport), 1 100-calorie chex mix, 340 calorie drink from Jamba Juice, dinner of chicken, potatoes and peppers (kind of teryaki style) and 2 breadsticks.
Water: about 10 glasses.....this elevation is killing me!
Vitamin: I forgot to pack them.....whoops.
Exercise: I did my best, went down to the hotel's "fitness room" and did about 15 min on the stationary bike.

L: Day 23

Despite feeling very motivated today, I felt physically crappy. So I started out the day well (oatmeal, I usually can't stand oatmeal), with fruit. But I slowly started downhill. I ordered a drink of chocolate-y, coffee goodness today that blew my calorie counting for the day.

But overall I feel as though I made good choices throughout the day.
Calories: ? No idea
Water: 8 glasses...that 10 is hard to get to
Vitamin: yes
Exercise: 90 min (hard) swimming.

L: An Inspiration....

I was reading through a magazine today at the dentists office and was encouraged / inspired. It was an article on Kim Kardashian, and while normally I find these articles to be fake, I was still encouraged. In the article, she described how growing up as a curvy girl affected her in the long run. I, too, grew up without the stick-thin body. And although I now look at pictures from a while back and think "wow, I really wasn't too bad back then", I remember the feelings of hopelessness and insecurities I had about my body. I surrounded myself with people who had different body tyes than my own and compared myself to them. Which of course resulted in a lose-lose situation.

One quote mentioned in the article was "I may as well embrace my curves, because they're not going anywhere soon. So I can either appreciate my body for what it is or simply be miserable the rest of my life". So so true.

I am working on liking....no, loving my body. Because as hard as I try, I'm stuck with it. No longer am I going to live my life as "if I can only lose those last _ pounds". Because I've done that nearly my entire life (that I can remember atleast). I have hated my body since I was 8 years old. And that's stopping right now. It may not look as good as I wish to in a swimsuit or in that certain pair of jeans, but I refuse to go through life thinking "if only". I've done that for 12 years now. And that's way too long.

That's my thoughts for now.