I Said "Persistent," Right?

It's humbling.  I didn't make the goals I first set out to accomplish with this blog.  I made quite a few life changes but got discouraged when they didn't add up to significant weight loss.

But I'm not giving up.

During the first phase of Persistent Elephant, I read a few books that built my knowledge base about what permanent healthy eating looks like.  I joined the YMCA,  discovering the joys of water aerobics but also the relief that comes with quality classes that take all the brainwork out of building muscle and flexibility rather than just improving your cardio.  I had noticeably more energy, my endurance increased, and I lost about five pounds while building muscle.  I think now that if I'd stuck with it, the good changes would have begun snowballing into more substantial changes and weight loss.  Unfortunately, I allowed periodic sleep deprivation from having a toddler and our cross-country move sideline me.  By the time the move (with its three-week vacation driving cross country) was over, I was up about five pounds from my original starting point.

But I'm not giving up.

We are now living in Georgia.  My husband's current hours allows him to trade off nights with me so I never have to slide very far into sleep deprivation.  I joined the local YWCO, discovering that while the water aerobics classes are a little disappointing, there is a kick-butt weights/cardio/Pilates class that I love.  I'm down three pounds.

For the next month, I'm committing myself to keeping track of my food and exercise using the free SparkPeople online software.  I now have a smart phone and they even have a free SparkPeople app to help me.  In addition, during the next month I'm also committing to reading a book about mindful eating.

I'm not giving up.

Getting Back on Track

It is humbling how one work deadline and one sick toddler could throw off so much of my good efforts.  But the manuscript is now in the hands of my editor once again and I won't have to work on it again for a few months.  Little Guy is all better and full of energy.  This week I finally had time while E. was at preschool to sort through emails, tidy up the house, and think about my health goals.  Yesterday I was back in water fitness class.

I almost didn't go to fitness class yesterday.  I felt like just being a slug.  But I asked myself, "What is getting in the way of my goals today?"  Suddenly I realized there were just some silly little things.  I've got to remember to ask myself that question more often!

(AM, thanks for the couple of nudges and hanging in there with me!)

I'm Still Here!

Oh no!  Has it really been so long since I've posted?  I was even given a gentle nudge by a dear friend.  (Thanks, AM!)  The great news is that I've been exercising consistently and even moved up from two intense workouts a week to three.  (Thanks for the advice, Emily!)  The current struggle is a work deadline.  Even in my down moments, I'm working through a huge writing project and all the edits it entails, so I'm not mulling over my next Persistent Elephant post.  My work will need to be turned in at the end of the month, though, and I look forward to writing more about my get-healthy journey.  In the meantime, I'm upping my water intake and easing back on sugar.

Thanks for hanging in there with me!

Honesty

I love the Shutter Sisters photography website.  A group of photographers take turns posting a photograph with a insightful description and then invite viewers to post comments along with links to their own photographs.  Thus photographers from all over the world can explore a theme and see each other's work.  The site also offers annual projects.  One of these is the "One Word Project" -- exploring the meaning of a single word all year long through photography.

I love the concept of "one word."  It gives one a chance to mull over a word with all its meanings and nuances.  In 2012, without really meaning to, I realized I'd begun to explore the word "honesty."  It kept coming up in books and blogs that I read.  It kept popping into my head.  At first I didn't like the idea.  It nagged at me.  Why?  I've always felt that I am an honest person.  If you ask me to hold your purse or diary while you're gone, I'm never going to look in it.  If someone gives me the wrong change, I'm going to bring it to their attention even if it means I lose money.  I pride myself in taking responsibility for my actions and telling others the truth.

It was reading Frank Bruni's Born Round, that got me to thinking more about my honesty to myself.  Bruni lost a lot of weight, keeping it off even after becoming the food critic for the New York Times.  He stated, "The main difference between then and now wasn't determination.  It was honesty.  I didn't lie to myself the way I had in the past.  I especially didn't lie to myself about food."  (pg. 347)   After reading the book, I wrote a post about it here:  http://persistentelephant.blogspot.com/2011/11/born-round.html.  I realize now, it was a new chapter for me.

More to come...

Anchor

I feel so lucky to have found my way to the water fitness classes.  I love to take walks and thought I'd never want to exercise indoors, but there's just something about the swirl of the water and the slowed movements that truly appeals to me.  I love giving myself over to it, the class passing quickly as I'm concentrating on holding my abdominal muscles in and achieving correct form.  My brain is in a whole other way of thinking, which I find restful.  At the same time, my body is getting much stronger and more flexible plus I have more endurance.

The water fitness classes have become an anchor of sorts.  Some days I eat really well, but other days I find myself forgetting my resolve, sliding off track.  But I can -- and always do -- make it to water fitness class two mornings a week.  I'm not sliding off track as much or as long as I used to because those classes give me courage and remind me what I'm fighting for.

Veggie Soup

I've got my momentum going now.  Thanks to the water fitness class at the Y, I started the new year with a lot of hope.  I'm definitely more flexible and stronger than I was a month ago.  My cardio endurance is greater.  And I didn't gain weight over Christmas.

I'm still making the green smoothies, and I think they help with easing hunger, building nutrition, and promoting weight loss.  Now I'm making fresh vegetable soup for the same reasons.  So warm and good for winter!  

6-8 cups organic vegetable broth

1-3 tablespoons each of herbs (as you prefer) -- chives, oregano, basil, parsley

2 cloves garlic, minced

Salt to taste

1 onion, chopped finely

1 stalk celery (or celery salt)

12 cups organic veggies chopped into bite-sized pieces -- carrots, bell pepper, mushrooms, cabbage, greens, cauliflower, broccoli, zucchini, etc.

Put broth in a large stock pot, add seasonings, and bring to a boil.  Add chopped vegetables and bring to a boil until veggies soften as much as you like them.  You may wish to add harder veggies (carrots, thick greens like kale) first and softer veggies (pepper, zucchini) last to preserve texture.

When the soup is done, I let is cool until barely warm and then put it into single serving containers.  They go into the fridge to chill and then into the freezer.  I'm getting in the habit of moving one or two from freezer to fridge for thawing each day.  I microwave them as a snack or appetizer.  (I love the Martha Stewart glass containers from Kmart!)

In this last batch, I added beets.  Ugh.  Won't do that again.  The whole soup is Barbie pink and tastes overwhelmingly of beet.  My favorite soup is heavy on the mushrooms and greens.