Working in Workouts Inbetween Work

All this new work is really wrecking havoc with my diet and exercise goals. Or rather, this new work has become my new excuse for not devoting enough time to workout or eat properly. But I didn't join Casey's HASAY diet group for nothing! I just need to make some serious adjustments to my everyday routine.

First, I will continue to walk Wrigley every morning for about 45 minutes. We are going earlier each day as the sun comes up sooner and it's starting to get hot, too.

Second, I will pack my exercise bag with clean workout clothes, several sets, and put in the trunk of my car. This way, there really is no excuse for not going to the gym on most days, at some point in the day.

Third, I am going grocery shopping after I write this post and will get food for the whole week. I hate doing this. I prefer picking super fresh items and cook them that evening, but when you are tired at the end of a work day, I find I choose more comfort foods, like pastas, and less fresh fish and vegetables.

Fourth, I will continue to do some serious hard care exercise with Bill over the weekends. This weekend, we did a killer hike in the middle of day. Pretty soon, it will be too hot for such adventures in town.

The good news...I did not gain any weight during this week of missed workouts and having that extra glass of wine at dinner. Probably because I am moving around a lot more these days. My butt has not been attached to my computer chair and that is a good thing. (Although, I have been a lousy friend to my favorite blog sites and have not spent time commenting as much as I usually do! Sorry about that.)

25 Reasons to Stick with Hasay Diet in Week 25

You have probably visited Casey's website and read guest poster, Jen from Steenky Bee's hilarious story about rear contests and rear gear and stupid radio contests. She made you look at your rear didn't she. I checked out the backside and has kicked me back into a stronger routine with this very special list about rear-ends:



1) Rear ends should not resemble the jowls of a basset hound;

2) A tight rear helps the fat legs look better;

3) People will see you coming and they'll watch you leaving (this was in a 80's exercise tape from a guy wearing 4" shorts);

4) 500 squats a day will produce rear results;

5) 500 lunges will also produce awesome results;

6) A hate long lists;

7) Does anyone ever read past #5 of a long list anyway?

8) Even when my rear becomes the most awesome rear in all of North Scottsdale, I will not send a copy/picture to the local radio station (I already have a gym membership!);

9) While a tight rear is a goal of mine, I don't necessarily want to be known as the 'woman with the tight rear';

10) Why don't radio stations care if men have great rears? The typical double standard is always present. It's time for women to complain;

11) I am tired of focusing on the arms anyway;

12) Also, the legs need a break, it's the rear's turn;

13) Perhaps rear gear will speed up the process of getting a tight rear;

14) If you do a handstand up against the wall and take a picture from that angle, your rear can be right where it's supposed to be;

15) A funny joke: Two rears walk into a bar from the front...WTF? Don't get it, do you? Ha, got ya. Well, most of you;

16) Good friends like Jen have us covered, even if it's Arby's fake cheesy sauce that's covering us;

17) Casey keeps us in gear and this week just happens to be 'rear gear'.

18) I lied a little earlier, or maybe I just got to thinking about it. Okay, maybe I wouldn't mind being known as the 'woman with the tight rear'. Smart and witty are sometimes overrated!

19) Can you name your 5 friends with the best rears? If so, please go to visit another site. That's kind of creepy.

20) But now that I asked you the question, I am sort of curious...

21) It's a little known fact that most of the Easter peeps that we all inhaled yesterday, goes directly to the rear, no stopping at the chest or stomach.

22) I am 'reary tired' of writing this list and have no intention of finishing it to the bitter end of # 25!



I leave you with this "happy moment" to inspire you, to depress you and to get your rear in gear:

http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid1137883380?bctid=2065176001

What Makes You Motivated to Diet and Exercise?

Living in Arizona in January and February is quite nice; you put a sweater and coat on to walk your dog in the morning, strip down to a bathing suit to layout at noon and by evening, you might need to throw on a sweatshirt to avoid a little chill!

It's also a fun time to be here with all the unique events that occur when we have so many out-of-towners visiting.

One such event is the FBR Open Golf Tournament. It's not one of the truly prestigious tournaments like the Masters but it is known as the largest party and probably the most fun (for the attendees anyway!) of all the tournaments. Last year, just on the Saturday alone, there were 124,000 people who attended. That's more than any of the other tournaments' attendance for a whole week's worth of golf.

What does this have to do with HASAY and dieting, you ask? Well, I'll tell you. The tournament is a huge motivational tool. This event seems to bring out the most beautiful of all beautiful people by the thousands. Every one's game seems to be on. It can be really intimidating, to tell you the truth. (I would take pictures for you, only they are really strict about not letting in cameras or cell phones). And yet, it is making me eat smaller portions last week and this week. And, I am going to the gym or hiking daily. Not that a couple of weeks is really going to help that much, but it's not hurting either. So, thank you FBR Golf tournament for keeping me moving and trying not to be a fatty.

Original HASAY weight: 135 pounds

Current Weight: Still holding at 129 pounds

Week Three-Half As Small As You

Week three of my efforts and achievements on the HASAY group diet can best be described as dismal, at best. The excuses/reasons for not progressing on the same pace as the past two weeks are all legitimate and can explain why I always have difficulty dieting and exercising on a regular basis.

I am a comfort eater and almost everything else comes before exercising when I feel stressed and/or upset for some reason. Until I can learn not to associate getting comfortable in times of stress and worry with eating and discover how some people actually feel better after exercising, I probably won't have any miraculous weight change.

On that depressing note, I will say, I am not a quitter and while I may be approaching OLD, I can still be taught new tricks! Listed below are the important facts and stats from this past week:

Starting weight: 135 pounds
Week Three weight: 135 pounds (damn!)

Exercise: Daily walking, total 1 hour each day
Ran with Wrigley: 1 day, 30 minutes
Elliptical and strength training: 2 days, 30 minutes each

Food: Decent breakfasts, decent dinners, candy corn and leftover Halloween candy primarily for lunches, too many cheese and crackers before several dinners, beer and wine with most dinners.

Don't worry, I through out all the candy in the house on Sunday afternoon!

Relieving stress: This is out of my control. Bill's company is working its way through a Chapter 11 (of an apparently bad book!) and "what ever will be will be!" I can only offer support to Bill and maybe do a little praying. Keeping expenses down helps to relieve some of Bill's stress, so I guess it's no new anything for now.

Later in this week, I will posting about learning how to release the endorphins in your body through exercise. So far, my little endorphins get locked up and aren't getting released. If I actually felt great after sweating at the gym, I know I would go more. My dog trainer has told me that if I want Wrigley to stay out of the golf course sand traps, then I need to offer him something far more interesting and exciting away from the fun sand trap. The same theory applies here. Exercising at the gym or hiking one of our fantastic hills needs to be more fun then sitting at my computer and reading every one's fabulous blogs. So, will you all stop being so clever and funny in this week's posts?!*! Do it for me and all those innocent people out there in the world wide web.

Week One- Half as Small as You Are

It's the end of week one for the group diet efforts hosted by Casey over at Half As Good As You. Here are the excited statistics, the trouble spots and the areas to work on for this second week:

Beginning Poundage: 135
Monday Mornings' poundage: 132

Trouble Spots:

Wine with friends after The Phoenix Cotillion's Fall Fashion Show and Luncheon. Delicious, great fun; wouldn't change a thing. Three women want to join us starting this week, too!

Wine Tasting Party for Boots & Heels fundraiser. Good company, good wine; wouldn't change a thing.

Candy Corn and other assorted Halloween candy. Okay, 4 days left and then it's all gone, thank goodness. Also, found out no one else has the gas problem when eating these tasty morsels. Is this some one's cruel joke on me?

Exercise:

Went to Pilate's, visited the gym several times and hiked three different days. I feel a little stronger and I am not so out-of-breath.

This week's goals: End this week at 130 pounds;
Exercise 5 days this week;
Drink more water;
Skip alcohol around dinner several nights this week.

This marks the end this very exciting post. I know that my words just make you want to add a comment at the end of this article, saying, "I want in...give me the details!" Come on, you don't have to be an empty nest Mom to enjoy the FUN of group-dieting.

Freshman Fifteen to Lose

Mark October 20th on your calendars as the perfect day to begin losing the 'Freshman Fifteen' I have gained since my daughter went off to college this year (she's the Freshman). Casey over at Half as Good as You is hosting a 'Club Half as Small as You' party of sorts.


Today's the last day to join, so why don't you join me in this attempt to get back into our clothes!


She has asked us to write and publish a blog post on our blog sites (if you don't have one, you can just email me and I'll add to my post), detailing the following information, so hear goes:


1. What motivates me and why do I want to do this challenge?

I really want to be able to fit into the clothes in my closet. Also, I want the college boys to be able to say, "that Beth, she's really a MILF", without breaking into hysterical laughter mid-sentence!


2. What is my long term goal?

I would like to be able to run for long distances. I want my high school legs back!



3. What is my long term weight loss goal?

To lose 10-15 pounds. Also, I want to eat healthy foods and burn enough calories to enjoy my wine and desserts every once and awhile (okay, nightly).



4. What tools are available to me?

I belong to an awesome gym and take Pilates at a fantastic studio.



5. How often can I exercise?

I CAN exercise 3 hours a day, 7 days a week. All my good excuses have flown the nest.



6. What do I plan on doing?

To exercise 5 times a week, mixing it up so I don't get too bored.



7. What has worked for me in the past?

I respond well when I am losing weight, it's the first week or two that I have a hard time remembering why I am doing all this exercise.

That's it. The Freshman Fifteen is going away!