Marci

Hi everyone!

I am alive!  I’m all better now and back to moving and grooving.  It’s going to take me a couple weeks to get back to where I was.  All my aches and soreness that I worked so hard to get over are back.  That is a total drag, but I will get there again.

Last week, I didn’t set any goals because of the illness I was suffering from.  Basically, any suddent movements sent me into a head spin.  Have any of you ever heard of positional vertigo?  The long medical drug out term for it is Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV).  Basically, there are these little tiny crystals in your inner ear that float around and keep your balance in check.  Sometimes those crystals get lodge and don’t float around anymore and basically complete screw up your equilibrium and eyesight making you want to yack (ya, that happened a couple of times, neato!)

For treatment of this condition, the doctor had me lay down, had my head fall below the end of the table and they positioned my head a different angles a few times until the dizziness stopped.  I wanted to throw up at first just doing that, but we kept repeating it and it freaking worked!  Can you believe that shit?  All of that trouble and many doctors visits later and it came down to a few head angles.  Oh well, I will take it, I feel so much better, my head is so clear!  I’m very happy to be back at it again.

I didn’t really do much of anything last week because of that crap.  I started feeling better Saturday and started moving around and doing things.  I did track my water and food.  I gained 1.8 freaking pounds last week, but that isn’t really shocking given the situation. So now that I am well again, I am going to start with my core goals and work my way back up to where I was.  Here we go!

Week 29 Goals

• Stay Hydrated
• Maintain a 500-calorie per day deficit
• 10,000 steps a day
• Get out of my chair for a spin around the block three time a day
• Meditate four times per week
• Reflect on my goals every day and keep my vision board updated
• Keep posting on my blog and Facebook, posting my Fitbit Dashboard everyday
• One hiking/adventure day per week
• Lose 1 pound per week

Okay, so there you have it, I am back!  It so great to be here with you guys again.  I really appreciate all your support and kind words while I was going through this fiasco.  I hope my report next week will be tons better!  Thank you for checking out my week 28 summary.  You guys rock!

Hi everyone,

I’m not going to post in my normal format tonight.  It’s been a crappy week.  Still sick, seeing lots of doctors and trying to figure out what the hell my problem is.  In a nut shell, I’m having some sort of inner ear/sinus issue going on that causes my head to feel like it’s swelling up with mega pressure and then kicks in this vertigo issue that gets my head spinning so bad that I throw up.  Neat stuff!

Needless to say, moving does not help my situations what so ever, so I have been keeping pretty still. I’m on prescribed medication, but it doesn’t really seem to be helping.  I tried to go back into the office to work today, it started out okay, felt a little loopy but manageable, but then all of a sudden, I had another head spin out and ended up losing my breakfast.  I’m going back to the doctors tomorrow to see what the next steps are.  This is going on two weeks now, there has to be something that can help my situation so I can get passed this.

As far as hitting goals last week, I couldn’t really focus on that.  I can tell you that I have been drinking lots of water, I have been tracking all of my food and I haven’t gained or lost any weight, so I guess thats something.

Thanks for checking in and me and reading my sparse week 27 summary.  I will check in with you guys next week.  Please send me all your good loving, healing vibes, I need to shake this shit!

Here is a picture of a Fitbit step count moment I caught this week, 1234!  =)

Hi guys!

It’s been a mixed week for me.  I started out strong and then fizzled when I got sick… AGAIN!  Why do I keep getting nailed with the stupid crud?  I’m still not feeling very good, so I am going to this week’s update a little short.

Week 26 Goals Check

• Stay Hydrated – A – No problems there
• Maintain a 500-calorie per day deficit – A – I have logged it all.
• 10,000 steps a day – D – I started out strong and got 2 days in and then crapped out.
• Get out of my chair for a spin around the block three time a day – C -I got some spins in there, but not as much as I could have done.
• Meditate four times per week – A – Done!
• Reflect on my goals every day and keep my vision board updated – B – Updated, but lost focus.
• Keep posting on my blog and Facebook, posting my Fitbit Dashboard everyday – I got a couple of 10k post up this week!
• One hiking/adventure day per week – F – No adventures to speak of
• Lose 1 pound per week – F – I gained .2 pounds this week.  Not surprised.

Week 27 Goals

• Stay Hydrated
• Maintain a 500-calorie per day deficit
• 10,000 steps a day
• Get out of my chair for a spin around the block three time a day
• Meditate four times per week
• Reflect on my goals every day and keep my vision board updated
• Keep posting on my blog and Facebook, posting my Fitbit Dashboard everyday
• One hiking/adventure day per week
• Lose 1 pound per week

So it was a good start, but then my energy got completely nuked by what ever this is going around.  I am feeling better, but still missing that mojo.  I’m going to keep working at it and get it back though, I’m not giving up!  Thanks for checking in on my week 26 summary.  You guys rule!

Hello everyone!

Did you all successfully navigate the holidays?  I did okay, as you may have seen in some of my previous post, I have been pretty much checked out for vacation.  Last week, I busted my goals down to my core goals.  Still fell short, but definitely getting closer to being back on track.  Lets see how it went!

Lessons Learned

Make sure you are getting all the nutrients that you need.  I have been having this really bad issue with getting a full night’s sleep for the past three weeks or so.  Basically, I have been waking up between 3 and 3:30 in the morning, daily and not being able to get back to sleep.  I was bitching about it to my friend, Bryce and he suggested trying a Magnesium supplement.  He has used them to help him with workout recovery and getting good sleep.

So I checked my multi vitamin and sure enough, it doesn’t contain any Magnesium.  I did some further research on Magnesium deficiencies, which include:

• Not being able to sleep.
• Facial twitching, which has been happening with my eyelids everyday for I don’t know how long, I didn’t really think about it or concern myself with it.
• Muscle cramps, I just thought I was getting them because of all the exercise.
• Anxiety, I haven’t really had a total melt down for a while, but I do feel my heart rate rise and start feeling little anxious at least once a week.
• High Blood Pressure and/or Hypertension.  I’m on two different blood pressure medications so maybe this could help.
• Low energy.  This has been off and on for me, I don’t know that I can blame a Magnesium deficiency for this, but not being able to sleep for a full night would have a definite impact in this area.

I started taking a 200mg Magnesium supplement about a week ago.  The first night, I did wake up again at 3am, but I was able to go right back to sleep.  The next night, I woke up about 4am, looked at the clock and slept in until about 7am!  The next night, I didn’t wake up at all and I have continued to sleep well.  I haven’t noticed an eye twitch for the last three days, anxious feeling is still there at times, but not bad and I haven’t had any muscle cramps, but I haven’t been doing a lot of exercise either.  Blood pressure remains the same.  I will keep taking it and if it continues to help me move forward with my master plan, great!

You lose a lot in vacation mode.  Unfortunately, it’s not weight!  Vacation was officially over yesterday, but I had to work from home because my area of town was still covered in ice.  I have been working my way back to the 10,000 steps per day and it hasn’t been easy.  My stamina is definitely not there like it was.  Next vacation, I will have to come up with a better plan of attack so I don’t fall short on my goals.

Week 25 Goals Check

• Stay Hydrated – A – I drank all the water and then some.
• Maintain a 500-calorie per day deficit – A – Logged it all and stayed within my calories.  Last week I reported how bummed out I was because I missed a day and lost my log day streak.  NOPE!  I did log my breakfast, just nothing else, so I kept my streak!  YES!
• 10,000 steps a day – F – I haven’t hit 10,000 steps a day, but I haven’t been completely sitting around either.  I have been out and about when the weather permitted and while inside, I have been watching TV while doing knee lifts to try and keep moving.
• Get out of my chair for a spin around the block three time a day – C- Not as much as I have wanted to because of the stupid weather, but I did make an effort to do house work and move around more.
• Meditate four times per week – A – This helps me in so many ways, I’m glad I do this.
• Reflect on my goals every day and keep my vision board updated – A – This was much better this week, I felt more into again and excited about it.
• Keep posting on my blog and Facebook, posting my Fitbit Dashboard everyday – F – I didn’t have any 10k post and didn’t really post anything I was doing on Facebook.  Next week will be much better!
• One hiking/adventure day per week – F- No fun hiking adventures last week.
• Lose 1 pound per week – D – I lost .1 pounds week.  Not a pound, but very thankful I didn’t gain!

Week 26 Goals

• Stay Hydrated
• Maintain a 500-calorie per day deficit
• 10,000 steps a day
• Get out of my chair for a spin around the block three time a day
• Meditate four times per week
• Reflect on my goals every day and keep my vision board updated
• Keep posting on my blog and Facebook, posting my Fitbit Dashboard everyday
• One hiking/adventure day per week
• Lose 1 pound per week

All right!  So again, not a terrific week, but I still feel I have made some progress and I am on the path to full goal recovery.  Vacation is over and I’m back to work so I think that will help out a ton.  It was great going on a lunch walk today with my work homies!  Thanks for checking in on me and reading about my week 25 summary.  It’s going to be a great year, I just know it!

Hello!

It’s been a pretty low key week.  I didn’t do a lot, I have been in total vacation mode.  Gained a little bit of weight back this week.  I’m a little sad about it, but I recognize that I am bound to fall of the wagon a few times during this process.  The important thing is to stay positive, learn from my behaviors, make changes and move on ward and upward!  Lets break it down.

Lessons Learned

• I am only human.  There was so much good, rich delicious foods during the holidays, I couldn’t resist. I went over my calories a few days, but I did log those days!  I am disappointed with myself, but I’m going to stay positive and keep moving forward.
• Once you start sliding, everything seems to slide.  Not doing one or two things turns into not doing much of everything.  I even forgot to log my food yesterday!  That makes me really mad, I had a 120 plus days streak.  Damn!
• Snow walks are the best walks.  We got a little bit of snow one day this week and I decided that I had to get out and walk in it.  I had my own little magical winter wonder land going.  It was so cool, clean and crisp outside.  I got soaked to the bone, but it felt so good!

Week 24 Goals Check

• Stay Hydrated – A+ No problems with this goal.
• Maintain a 500-calorie per day deficit – C – I went over my calories twice this week and forgot to log on day.  Pretty lame!
• 10,000 steps a day – F – Nope!
• Get of the MAX train one stop early every commute day – NA – Not sure why I left his goal in here this week since I’m on vacation and not taking the MAX.  Derp!
• Walk home from the MAX train stop three times per week – NA – Again, on vacation, I’m not taking the MAX train this week.
• Get out of my chair for a spin around the block three time a day – D – I wasn’t sitting around all the time at home, but I definitely could have moved much more.
• Tai Chi two times per week – F – Not at all
• Practice my squat form 4 times a week – F – Nope!
• Stay off the elevator at work and take the stairs – NA – Haven’t been anywhere to stay off the elevator and take the stairs instead.
• Meditate four times per week – C – I got in two nights last week.
• Reflect on my goals every day and keep my vision board updated – D – Ya, I looked at them, but my heart wasn’t in it and I didn’t do a lot with them.
• Keep posting on my blog and Facebook, posting my Fitbit Dashboard everyday – D – There was a couple Facebook posts, but no 10k posts. =(
• One hiking/adventure day per week – F – None.
• Lose 1 pound per week – F – I am sad to report that I gained back .4 pounds…. FUCK!  It’s my own fault, I own it.

Week 25 Goals

• Stay Hydrated
• Maintain a 500-calorie per day deficit
• 10,000 steps a day
• Get out of my chair for a spin around the block three time a day
• Meditate four times per week
• Reflect on my goals every day and keep my vision board updated
• Keep posting on my blog and Facebook, posting my Fitbit Dashboard everyday
• One hiking/adventure day per week
• Lose 1 pound per week

Okay, it was a pretty sad week.  I didn’t do shit and I gained weight back.  Actions/Consequences,  lesson learned.  I cut back some of my goals for this week because I am still on vacation until next Tuesday and I really want to focus on the core goals that help me feel better and keep me on track for my long term goals until I can get my good habits and stamina back.  I appreciate you guys checking in on my process and reading my week 24 summary.  Thank you so much for your support and hanging in there with me through my ups and downs.  I love you guys!

Hi everyone!

I hope you are all enjoying the holiday season, I am!  I have been busy, busy, busy!  I almost forgot to write my blog today.  It just occurred to me that it’s Wednesday.  It’s been a pretty unproductive week for me.  I haven’t hit my 10k steps at all this week, I’ve been averaging around 6k a day and I haven’t really done anything else other than maintaining my calorie intake and logging my food.  No excuses, just didn’t do anything.  Here is the break down.

Lessons Learned

I don’t really have anything to report on this topic, this week. Just been busy getting ready for Christmas.

Week 23 Goals Check

• Stay Hydrated – A+ No problems with this goal.
• Maintain a 500-calorie per day deficit – A+ – I kept up with this one.  Lets so how I do with Christmas Eve dinner =)
• 10,000 steps a day – F – Nope!
• Get of the MAX train one stop early every commute day – D – I did this once.
• Walk home from the MAX train stop three times per week – F – Didn’t do this at all.
• Get out of my chair for a spin around the block three time a day – D – Didn’t hit the streets because of cold and rain, but I did make it a point to get out of the chair and walk around in the office.
• Tai Chi two times per week – F – Nada!
• Practice my squat form 4 times a week – F – Nope!
• Stay off the elevator at work and take the stairs – C – I did get in some steps this week, but I could have done better.
• Meditate four times per week – D – I got in one night last week.
• Reflect on my goals every day and keep my vision board updated – C – I looked at them, but didn’t keep up with them.
• Keep posting on my blog and Facebook, posting my Fitbit Dashboard everyday – C – There were a few Facebook posts, but no 10k posts.
• One hiking/adventure day per week – F – No adventures, no hiking, pretty sad.
• Lose 1 pound per week – F- No weight loss again this week, but not weight gain either!  phew!

Week 24 Goals

• Stay Hydrated
• Maintain a 500-calorie per day deficit
• 10,000 steps a day
• Get of the MAX train one stop early every commute day
• Walk home from the MAX train stop three times per week
• Get out of my chair for a spin around the block three time a day
• Tai Chi two times per week
• Practice my squat form 3 times a week
• Stay off the elevator at work and take the stairs
• Meditate four times per week
• Reflect on my goals every day and keep my vision board updated
• Keep posting on my blog and Facebook, posting my Fitbit Dashboard everyday
• One hiking/adventure day per week
• Lose 1 pound per week

Okay, I obviously need to get my shit together and get back on track.  I am very relieved that I haven’t gained any of the weight back, that would have sucked!  I am on vacation until after new year’s and I am going to make it a point to get out and about and keep moving.  Maybe I will hit Tabor with my trusty side kick, Maximus.   I just need to make it through the holidays without over eating or gaining weight and I will call that a win!  Thanks for checking in and reading about my week 23 summary.  I hope you all have a very Merry Christmas and a safe and happy new year.  I love you all!

Hi Everyone!

Another week down!  It wasn’t a stellar week, but things are starting to look up.  Our house is on the mend after Michael and I being down with the cold/flu hybrid bug going around.  I just finally started really feeling better and moving again last Sunday.  I didn’t hit the goal marks this week, but I am starting to get my mojo back and have started ramping up to get to full speed again.  Lets see what I did do this week.

Lessons Learned:

• Podcasts for the win!  I have never listened to a Podcast before, but a couple of friends and family members have been listening to this Podcast called Serial, I’m hooked!  it’s really awesome to listen to while I’m walking.  Now I can alternate my listening preferences between Podcasts, audio books and music!
• Eggs in a Basket are so good.  I have always wanted to try making them, but just never got around to it.  They are so easy to make and so good.  Toast and egg all in one buttery delicious sitting and within my calorie allotment!
• The huskies are such good boys.  With Michael being so sick, the boys have been stuck indoors with no activity what so ever.  Since they are used to going for a run in the morning and a walk at night, we figured they would go stir crazy.  Nope, they have been so good and very clinging to Michael.  They have been basically watching over him while he’s been sick.  So sweet!

Week 22 Goals Check

• Stay Hydrated – A+ – I drank tons of water to try and flush out the sick sooner.
• Maintain a 500-calorie per day deficit – A+ – Didn’t eat a ton while I was sick, so this one was pretty easy.
• 10,000 steps a day – F – Nope!  As of Sunday, I have been getting in 6k per day.
• Get of the MAX train one stop early every commute day – F – Not ready for this yet.  And was kind of tough to do last week while I was working from home.
• Walk home from the MAX train stop three times per week – F – Couldn’t walk home from the MAX if I was working from home.  I’m also starting to get a little worried about walking home at night, this last week we have had THREE shootings in the immediate vicinity of our home.
• Get out of my chair for a spin around the block three time a day – F – I get out of the lounge chair at home to move around, but not for spins around the block.
• Tai Chi two times per week – F – Didn’t even worry about it last week.
• Practice my squat form 4 times a week – F – Nope!
• Stay off the elevator at work and take the stairs – F – I wasn’t at work to take the stairs.
• Meditate four times per week – C – I got in two nights last week.
• Reflect on my goals every day and keep my vision board updated – C – I was only half into it last week.  Being sick, not really a point to it.
• Keep posting on my blog and Facebook, posting my Fitbit Dashboard everyday – C – There were a few Facebook posts, but no 10k posts.
• One hiking/adventure day per week – B – I went to the Muse concert on Sunday night, that counts as an adventure of the mind, but no hiking this week.
• Lose 1 pound per week – F- No weight lost this week, BUT I DIDN’T GAIN ANY WEIGHT EITHER!  Nice.

Week 23 Goals

• Stay Hydrated
• Maintain a 500-calorie per day deficit
• 10,000 steps a day
• Get of the MAX train one stop early every commute day
• Walk home from the MAX train stop three times per week
• Get out of my chair for a spin around the block three time a day
• Tai Chi two times per week
• Practice my squat form 3 times a week
• Stay off the elevator at work and take the stairs
• Meditate four times per week
• Reflect on my goals every day and keep my vision board updated
• Keep posting on my blog and Facebook, posting my Fitbit Dashboard everyday
• One hiking/adventure day per week
• Lose 1 pound per week

Okay, so that a wrap on my week 22 summary.  Not a stellar week, but there is not much you can do about it when you aren’t well.  On ward, upward!  I am feeling much better and getting my energy back.  It shouldn’t be too much longer before I am back to business.  Michael is finally starting to feel better too, he has no voice, but he is up and about again.  Tough week, I’m glad it’s over!  Thanks for checking in everyone!

Hello everyone!

This week kind of sucked. Everyone in my house has been sick with the cold/flu hybrid bug and feeling pretty crumby. I did get a few things in before I got too sick. Here is how it went.

Lessons Learned

• When you’re sick, don’t push it. I started getting sick Thursday night and just couldn’t accept it. I didn’t want to give in. I think I just made it worse. I was feeling better by Saturday and was up and about. Sunday I was pretty tired, but I was so excited about the Jingle Bell Run 5K that I couldn’t give in and went anyway. I have been down for the count since.
• My birthday boots are made for walking!  When you get some comfy gel inserts. Oh yeah, fixed that problem. Woot!
• Writing my blog from the iPad sucks! Anyone have any pro tips on this?  I have tried it from the Chrome and Safari browsers and the experience is horrible. Weird formatting issues, loss of simple things like copy and paste by long tap. The WordPress app is really quarky, it randomly logs me out and then won’t let me back in. NEATO!

Week 21 Goals Check

• Stay Hydrated – A+ – Nailed it
• Maintain a 500-calorie per day deficit – A – Done!
• 10,000 steps a day – D – Didnt feel like moving around much while I was sick this week. I did get two days of 10k steps in there.
• Get of the MAX train one stop early every commute day – D – Only one day.
• Walk home from the MAX train stop three times per week – D – I got in one day.
• Get out of my chair for a spin around the block three time a day – C – I didn’t do this every day.
• Tai Chi two times per week – F – Didn’t do this at all this week.
• Practice my squat form every day – F – Didn’t even attempt it.
• Stay off the elevator at work and take the stairs – B – Nit everyday, but I did get some stairs in there.
• Meditate four times per week – F – Not at all.
• Reflect on my goals every day and keep my vision board updated – A – I have been reflecting, just no energy for doing.
• Keep posting on my blog and Facebook, posting my Fitbit Dashboard everyday – B – Only posted two 10k days, but I did check in.
• One hiking/adventure day per week – C – No hiking, but I did get over halfway through a 5k before I gave in.
• Lose 1 pound per week – D – Not surprising, I only lost .1 pounds this week.

Week 22 Goals

• Stay Hydrated
• Maintain a 500-calorie per day deficit
• 10,000 steps a day
• Get of the MAX train one stop early every commute day
• Walk home from the MAX train stop three times per week
• Get out of my chair for a spin around the block three time a day
• Tai Chi two times per week
• Practice my squat form 4 times a week
• Stay off the elevator at work and take the stairs
• Meditate four times per week
• Reflect on my goals every day and keep my vision board updated
• Keep posting on my blog and Facebook, posting my Fitbit Dashboard everyday
• One hiking/adventure day per week
• Lose 1 pound per week

Well, there it is, the sucky week 21 summary in a nutshell.  I can’t really beat myself up too bad for being sick.  I am feeling better, but not there yet. I will focus on getting well so I can get back at it. Thanks for checking in guys, I will see you next week!

Hi everyone!

I hope you all had a great Thanksgiving!  I have had a pretty crazy and busy week both at home and work.  I have slipped on my walking and a few other things, but I did manage to keep my calorie intake in check throughout the week, including  Thanksgiving day!  Here is how it went…

Lessons Learned

• These boots WERE NOT made for walking!  It’s boot season and getting pretty cold out, so I figured it was time to bust out my beautiful Fryes boots I got for my birthday last year.  I tried to do all of my normal walking in them. NO GO!  My feet are pretty sore now.  The bottom of my feet feel like one giant bruise.  I am going to try some inserts in them and see if that helps, if anyone else has some pro tips about this issue, I’m all ears!
• Sometimes you just need a break.  I had a good start this week, but with all the extra work involved with Thanksgiving, I just couldn’t keep up with all my goals.  I didn’t bet myself up about it, I just backed off a bit and took a break this week.
• It puts the lotion on it’s skin or else it gets the hose again.  I don’t recall my skin ever getting so dry during the colder season.  I guess I just wasn’t out in it that much until this year (because I hate the cold and will try to avoid it at all costs).  Anyway, I have stocked up on moisturizers to try and keep this dry skin in check.  My poor hands got all chapped.  Blah!

Week 20 Goals Check

• Stay Hydrated – A+ Nailed it
• Maintain a 500-calorie per day deficit EVEN ON THANKSGIVING! – A+ – Can’t believe it, but I did it!
• 10,000 steps a day – F – I really slacked off on this one.  I didn’t hit 10k once this week.  I just needed a break.
• Get of the MAX train one stop early every commute day – A – I actually did do this one every day.
• Walk home from the MAX train stop three times per week – B – I got in two walks home this week.
• Get out of my chair for a spin around the block three time a day – C – I didn’t do this every day.  I am trying to get into the groove with my schedule and my new role at work.  This is a work in progress.
• Tai Chi two times per week – C – I got in one Tai chi session.
• Practice my squat form every day, get it done Marci! – F – Didn’t even attempt it.
• Stay off the elevator at work and take the stairs – B – I did get some good stair workouts in, but not everyday.
• Meditate four times per week – A – No problem with this one, I got in four days.
• Reflect on my goals every day and keep my vision board updated – A – I have been reflecting on my goals and noting both the good and the bad.
• Keep posting on my blog and Facebook, posting my Fitbit Dashboard everyday – B – Posted on the blog and Facebook, but I didn’t get any 10K Fitbit Dashboards posted this week =(
• One hiking/adventure day per week – C – Got in a concert this weekend, but didn’t get out for a hike or any quality Mt. Tabor time in this week.
• Lose 1 pound per week – A+ – Okay this is pretty crazy given how much I slacked on my goals this week.  I lost 1.5 pounds this week!  WTF?  I will take it!

Week 21 Goals

• Stay Hydrated
• Maintain a 500-calorie per day deficit
• 10,000 steps a day
• Get of the MAX train one stop early every commute day
• Walk home from the MAX train stop three times per week
• Get out of my chair for a spin around the block three time a day
• Tai Chi two times per week
• Practice my squat form 4 times a week
• Stay off the elevator at work and take the stairs
• Meditate four times per week
• Reflect on my goals every day and keep my vision board updated
• Keep posting on my blog and Facebook, posting my Fitbit Dashboard everyday
• One hiking/adventure day per week
• Lose 1 pound per week

Some pretty mixed and interesting results.  I didn’t get the steps in, but I managed to keep the food intake in check.  It was a fast and furious week and this week is ramping up to be the same.  I have lots of stuff going on at work and lots of stuff going on at home with the Christmas season upon us.  I also have a 5K this week, the Jingle Bell Run!  The cold weather also continues to be a challenge for me, I despise it!  I am going to do my best this week to stay on track with all of my goals.  Out of all of this, I am pleasantly surprised at the weight loss, I can’t figure that one out.  I have now lost a total of 40 freaking pounds you guys!  I am so excited and happy about this!  This is working for me and I am going to continue to do it!  Thanks for checking in and reading about my week 20 summary guys!  I will see you all next week!

Hi Everyone!

It’s been yet another fantastic week.  Been super busy at work in my new role.  Learning lots of new things, challenged every day, totally fun and loving it!  I feel like I have had a very productive week, it seemed to fly by so fast.  Lets see how I did.

Lessons Learned

• My friends love the Mt Tabor stair challenge!  One of the highlights of my week was getting a couple of my gal pals to climb Mt Tabor with me.  We did all the stairs and did five loops around the top.  We celebrated afterwards with some Bloody Marys and a good breakfast and then followed that up with pedicures.  Perfect Saturday!
• Maximus loves the Mt Tabor challenge too!  I decided that it was time to test Max out up at Mt Tabor.  I was a little hesitant because he is so high strung and hyper, especially with other dogs around and there are TONS of dogs up at Tabor.  MAX WAS SO GOOD!  We did the first set of 101 stairs and made it up to the top.  During the first lap around the loop, he was very excited, whiny and wanted to go after everything (dogs, squirrels, grass, leaves .. the wind).  By the second lap he calmed down a lot.  We met lots of other dogs both on and off leash and lots of people (people seem to love to pet the huskies).  We encountered bike riders which he usually hates, but he ignored them.  We walked with groups of people that gave me the okay so he could get in some good people practice.  We had such a nice walk together.  I love being able to walk with my dog.  I was so caught up in the moment with Max that I wasn’t even tracking how many turns around the loop we took.  When I finally looked, I had over 6,000 steps in.  Win win!  We are going to do this again this weekend!
• My hip is still an issue.  All though, it’s not as bad as it was so I am hoping the exercise and the supplements are helping with this problem.  Last Wednesday, I had to take the day off.  It was hurting so bad that it kept me up all night and I could hardly move around the next day.  I did have 14 straight days of 10k + steps in prior, so maybe I just pushed it too hard?  The Arthritis Foundation says that exercise is the best thing for it, so I will keep on moving.  I’m still hoping that with exercise and additional weight loss, things will get better in this department.

Week 19 Goals Check

• Stay Hydrated – “A+” Drank and logged all the water and then some.
• Maintain a 500-calorie per day deficit “A” – Done and logged!
• 10,000 steps a day “B+” – I missed this goal on Wednesday because my hip was super sore and I didn’t want to injure myself further.  After that day, I was on the move!
• Get of the MAX train one stop early every commute day “A” – Every commute day.  Doing so feels like a normal part of my day now.
• Walk home from the MAX train stop three times per week “A+” – I did this four times last week!
• Get out of my chair for a spin around the block three time a day “A” – I’m doing this, but it’s been tough.  My schedule at work these days is pretty packed full and working this in there has been a challenge.
• Tai Chi two times per week “A” –  Done!  I am master movement number two now!
• Practice my squat form every day, get it done Marci! “F” – I did not work on this AT ALL.  Not sure why.  I want to do it, I just haven’t.
• Stay off the elevator at work and take the stairs “A” – I hate the stairs, they are evil, but I am doing this!
• Meditate four times per week “A” – Done!
• Reflect on my goals every day and keep my vision board updated “A” – Done, again, the Wuderlist task list is my savior in this regard.
• Keep posting on my blog and Facebook, posting my Fitbit Dashboard everyday “A” – No problems with this one.
• One hiking/adventure day per week “A+” – I got in two Mt Tabor days last week with my friends and my dog.  Work it girl!
• Lose 1 pound per week “B” – I lost .4 pounds this week.  Not a full pound, but I will take it!

Week 20 Goals (wow… week 20!)

• Stay Hydrated
• Maintain a 500-calorie per day deficit EVEN ON THANKSGIVING!
• 10,000 steps a day
• Get of the MAX train one stop early every commute day
• Walk home from the MAX train stop three times per week
• Get out of my chair for a spin around the block three time a day
• Tai Chi two times per week
• Practice my squat form every day, get it done Marci!
• Stay off the elevator at work and take the stairs
• Meditate four times per week
• Reflect on my goals every day and keep my vision board updated
• Keep posting on my blog and Facebook, posting my Fitbit Dashboard everyday
• One hiking/adventure day per week
• Lose 1 pound per week

Okay, so there it is, my week 19 summary in a nutshell.  I think it was a pretty good week.  I only missed one 10k day.  I didn’t lose a full pound, but I lost some weight, so I am happing with that.  I am logging all my food and keeping at my deficit.  I am determined to stay with in my calorie allotment on Thanksgiving, we shall see how I do.  I am really excited about getting to walk with my dog, Max.  I get green with envy when I see other people getting to enjoy a nice walk with their pets.  Now I can be one of those people too!  I will get the squat work done this week!  I am going to enlist my husband (who has been lifting weights for years) to help me with this endeavor so I don’t kill myself. Thanks for checking in my friends.  I know I always say this, but I couldn’t do this without all of your support.  You guys really make a difference and help me stay accountable.  Love you guys!