Weightloss Rehab

I have a tendency to run myself into the ground. I go and go and go ignoring all warning signs of exhaustion. I just keep fighting a losing battle with myself until one day I just can't move anymore.

Well, not this time.

As the past couple of blogs have shown, I nearing exhaustion with my constant worry about my weight. I've been thinking about it everyday for the past 18 months! It's almost become an obsession for me - the healthiness of which is debatable.

I need a break. Maybe even a form of detox! Clearly, I need Weightloss Rehab.

Since Spring Break is next week, I've decided to do just that: I'm checking myself into the Natalie Ford Clinic.

I'm going to let myself relax, rest, and just enjoy being me. I'm not counting calories, I'm not pre-planning meals, and I'm not weighing in. I'm not going to feel guilty about any food choices, nor am I going to justify, qualify or explain anything that happens to my body this next week. I'm just going to relax and be.

I will cook, bake, and have fun with foods. But I will also be active in some way each day. At the end of the week, I will take the time to reflect on my lifestyle and create a plan to start after my break is over.

Now, if you'll excuse me, it's time for my break.

The suite life

As part of a research project for school, I am being escorted across McConnell Air Force Base tomorrow and given the opportunity to observe a court-martial proceeding. Considering this is right up Career Goal Alley for me, I'm thrilled.

Since McConnell is three hours from home, I had to drive down this evening and shack up in a motel. Imagine my excitement when I fell upon a deal for suite for only $65!!!

That's right, I'm blogging from the middle of a queen bed decked out in crisp white sheets and a million pillows. I'm glowing with post-bubble-bath glee and blasting the a/c so I can snuggle in the night.

Since this is a special ocassion of sorts, and the start of my birthday month, I went all out. I hit up the grocery store and bought food to make in my suite's kitchen. I was planning to splurge on Kraft Mac n Cheese, but decided a suite night deserved sweets!

I found some neat things at the grocery store for a single person watching their calories. Dinner was Campbell's Red Pepper Soup and Smart Ones' Ham and Cheese Scramble. In total, it was 340 calories and lots of protein.

Then came the sweets!

Skinny Cow has these great little single-serving ice cream cups that are only 150 calories so I gladly grabbed a Dulce de Leche flavored cup. Then, because it's a rare microwave-filled evening for me, I hit up the baking aisle and grabbed a Better Crocker Warm Desserts individual chocolate cake brownie bowl - also only 150 calories!

After my bubble bath I made dessert, poured a glass of nonfat milk and snuggled in bed with my goodies. Imagine my surpass when I couldn't even finish it all!

Sure, tonight involved a splurge, but I'm proud of how reasonable it was, you know? I was able to satisfy cravings and make myself feel pampered and special without feeling guilty.

I'll take that sweet life any day!!!

Nothing taxing, just relaxing

The weather has been fascinating in Kansas this past week, and with it my body has been going haywire. Kansas is well-known for severe thunderstorms and such, but what may be less well-known is the affect these storms can have on the body.



Honestly, I have no scientific data other than my own observations, but as amazing as thunderstorms are, they do a number on my body. Without fail, when the clouds come rolling across the plains, I am guaranteed to need serious bed rest. I get fatigued and feel aches in every joint, my head becomes my enemy and my stomach is hardly my friend either.

This week has been one of those weeks. I spent the day home sick because I've been fighting a fever since Sunday night. I slept most of the day and woke up outrageously sore - more than when I went to sleep last night - in every joint. I decided I needed to try some stretching.

A few weeks ago, back when I still had a little money, I ordered a yoga dvd off Amazon. I didn't want pilates or cardio yoga - I wanted stress relief and was excited to buy "Yoga for Stress Relief" by Barbara Benagh. Monday mornings are pretty relaxed for me and I thought a relaxing yoga routine would help me ease into my hard weeks. While I haven't managed to fit it into my routine yet, I did put it in the dvd player this afternoon and enjoyed a routine to relieve neck, upper back, and shoulder tension. All I had to do was lay on my back and lift my arms and twist a bit - nothing taxing and very relaxing.

The next month, I can already predict, will be full of stress. Finals start in two weeks and there are numerous money issues hitting me (like the fact that I have no money coming in for summer school, much less living expenses!). Just thinking about it makes me want to cry. Clearly I need yoga in my life. When I was in junior high I did a wake up routine every morning and really saw improvements in my attitude, appearance and abilities.

50n50 is about more than weight loss to me. It's about promoting a healthy lifestyle - and that includes stress management. Numerous studies show that law school causes depression in a majority of students. Honestly, going into it depressed means I'm guaranteed to have a hard time just maintaining the right attitude about things. As a lawyer, stress will be an everyday part of life and it's good that I get a handle on things now.

Since starting 50n50, I have re-prioritized many things in my life - meal planning and exercising to name a couple. But now it's time to prioritize stress management - even if it's stressful at first.

I need a plan of action, not reaction. I need to plan groceries before I get so deep into studying that I can't stop and end up eating fast food or pizza. I need to schedule down time - like a park afternoon or a tennis game. And I need to have things ready to start studying so that I am spending my time wisely reviewing, instead of teaching myself things I missed.

But right now, I need a shower before Biggest Loser and I need to rest. Man, my head is heavy!