Weight loss diary -- Baby steps and energy

People!

The energy!!!!!

I have so much of it!!!!!!!

It's Monday morning and I'm like

HELLO LIFE!

HELLO OFFICE!

HELLO TASKS!

I'm so chipper! Boss asks me to do things and I'm like, "Right O, Boss!"

And I just thought of getting a fizzy water and I got all excited.

I mean, it's just a fizzy water.

But also: fizzy water's amazing.

A couple of people Facebook messaged me this week and said they've been reading my weight loss posts, and just like that -- I increased my support network. And hopefully increased theirs.

I've eaten so much kale I can't believe it.

Also I can't wait to go to the gym tonight.

I've been taking mega baby steps with running.

Once upon a time (about six years ago), I loved running. I ran about 3-5 miles a day, about 5 days a week.

And I loved it. I didn't find it difficult, or boring. Even on hot, humid days in Kansas, I loved what I was doing.

Since then I've lost that love.

I want it back.

So at the gym this past week, I've jogged .25 miles, then .5 miles the next time, then .75 the next.

Tonight I'm going to jog one mile.

And I can't wait.

I don't want to ask myself to run too fast or too far right off the bat, because I think for sure I'll get frustrated and discouraged.

So, in doing baby amounts, I'm slowly building up my endurance, and, at least at this point, I'm always finishing with a feeling that I could run further. I want to stop before I feel like I hate life.

So I've just got to get through this day at work, get myself to the gym, press "Start" on that treadmill, and get to gettin'.

Feels so good to be back in the saddle.

Over and out,
Bailey

Killin' time

That yogurt I told you about earlier? 

Gobbled it up.

Then I drove to church, parked, went to get out of the car, and realized I forgot something at home:

the printed out scripture reading. 

Whoops. 

Yes, we have Bibles in our church, but there was a specific translation I needed, so I raced back home to get it. 

Then I got to church and our pastor, Rustin, handed me a printed out version of a different translation he wanted me to read. Ha!

I did my reading, and got at least one comment after the service, thanking me for reading. So that was nice. 

I got home from church and had kale, hominy, salmon, carrots, peppers, tomato, parmesan cheese, chia seeds, and ranch dressing. 

I gotta say, as a RANCH LOVER, I didn't love the ranch. I've been addicted to balsamic vinaigrette for quite a while, maybe I shouldn't stray from it. 

I'm headed to the pool in a bit. I have a new high waisted bikini, but the cat is sleeping on the top piece. One of my bikini tops is being borrowed. And my tankini and swim skirt have gone missing. 

So I am left with two bottoms at the moment, and a top and bottom in the dryer. 

So, I'm going to wear the suit in the dryer. 

By the way, you know you live in Los Angeles when you own four swimsuits. I actually had five, but I finally tossed my one piece, because it was really old and stretched out. 

Anyway. 

I'm thinking of picking up some beer, and bringing an assortment of beer and fizzy water to the pool. 

It's just soooo hot. And when it's hot, I want a beer. 

I haven't decided yet. 

Anyway. My clothes have to spin for another 11 minutes, so I'm just killing time right now. 

I could be packing a swim bag (I don't think I'm high maintenance, but I do take a lot of things to the pool -- towel, sunscreen, sunglasses, water, [beer]), but I'm not. 

OK fine, I'll go do that. 

Keep cool, everybody!

Weight loss diary #9 -- dizzy

I'm a li'l dizzy. 

I think I need to eat. 

I ate super well yesterday, but:

I'm not sure I got enough protein.

And I drank more alcohol than I would have liked. I mean, at the time, it was what I would have liked, but now I wish I had consumed less. 

Church starts in an hour. 

I'm not sure if yogurt with banana and chia seeds (and cinnamon! Yum!) will hold me over until lunch. 

I'm reading scripture today at service, so this would be a bad day to pass out. 

Not that I've ever passed out in my life. (I truly haven't, but have a strange fear that it will happen, particularly at the gym). 

Right now I feel like a McDonald's McGriddle (it's basically pancake and sausage, in a sandwich form) would curb the dizziness -- I mean, I hope. But I know that's not a healthy choice. 

It's like I'm in a hunt for calories, because I know eating calorie-dense things (like greasy pepperoni pizza) fills me up and prevents lightheadedness. Not that I'm prone to dizziness -- this is pretty strange that I'm experiencing it. 

It's hard to get my head to a place where it knows that healthy things will fill me up. If that makes sense. 

I feel like baked chicken would fill me up right now, but it's 9:28 a.m. 

Yet I think pizza would be justifiable right now. [Rolls eyes at herself].

All righty, here's what I'm going to do: 

Wash my face. 

Put on sunscreen.

Get dressed for church -- maybe I'll wear my new stripey dress from Ross!

Eat something -- probably yogurt and banana, maybe wash it down with a V8.

And then I'm gonna go to church. I'm going to hug the people there who I know -- yay -- and be grateful that I have such a wonderful church. I really love it there. 

When it's time for the scripture reading, I'm going to be a little nervous and self conscious, but I'm going to go to the front of the sanctuary and do just a tiny little thing to serve: I'm going to read. 

From Psalms. I love psalms. Oftentimes they make me cry. Especially this one. 

OK. Church in 45. Gotta go. 

Oh yeah. And the plan is to eat lunch and then get a workout in. Probably going to hit up the gym, but if Alex suggests a hike I might do that. With my new purpley hiking backpack. :)

Weight loss diary #8 - Adventures in Starbucks

Very good morning!

That's what all our European servers said on our river cruise, and I've taken it back to America. You're welcome, America.

Make America polite again.

So, Bails, what are you doing at this exact moment?

Thanks for asking!

I'm eating oatmeal and typing! Yay!

I'm at Starbucks.

There's a man knitting outside. Love it. Love it so much, which is just the right amount.

So I dropped off my car BRIGHT AND EARLY this Saturday morning, for an airbag recall that I should have dealt with months ago -- Hi, Mom and Dad...

Instead of having my sweet love pick me up at 7:30 from the mechanic, I've decided to walk 3.3 miles to his apartment.

Now, I'm not totally insane, because I'm not skipping my coffee this morning. Duh.

So I'm currently parked (with my body, not my car) at the coffee shop.

I got in line and paid for a bottle of water and ordered a plain coffee (which I added skim milk to) and oatmeal.

I took a seat at the bar.

Not the bar where they make drinks, that would be intrusive and uncomfortable for everyone.

The bar in the lobby. Wait, what did we used to call it, when I worked at Starbucks? Did we call it the lobby? Maybe we did. I'm trying to remember what my supervisors would say to me -- was it "go on a lobby sweep"?

Anyway. You don't care. I don't care all that much, so moving on.

I immediately texted my support network to tell them of my coffee-and-walking plan. Then, naturally, I called Dad.

He was eating eggs in Kansas.

I told him that I had been waiting for my oatmeal but hadn't received it yet.

He encouraged me to go get what I paid for.

The line was long, so I talked with him a little longer.

Got off the phone, got back in line.

[Isn't it fun reading my diary like this? You get the play by play of every last detail weeeeeee!]

I was standing there in the much shorter than before line, and all of a sudden:

I felt something touching my butt.

I honestly had no idea what it was.

All I could think was:

"Something feels squishy about my bum."

And then:

"Something inappropriate is happening."

I looked down and realized that a sweet little boy had mistaken me for the human he had come with, and was giving my leg a little snuggle snuggle.

Awwwwwwww.

Now he's sitting outside with his mum and he's making eyes at me through the window.

Bum touching flirt.

If he weren't two years old, I would never stand for this.

Remember the guy knitting? He's still at it. Swoon, swoon, goes my gender role defying heart.

SWOON.

Guess what? The car place just called, my car's already done!

Sooooo, I'ma finish this oatmeal (which I added nuts and fruit to, but no sugar, by the by), walk back to the mechanic, and then drive my newly fixed car to the gym. Skipping my outside walk -- instead I'll do some treadmill work and weights.

I love lifting weights. I feel like a He Man Woman Lover. I mean, I'm not a lover to any woman, but I don't hate women, like Alfalfa-who-was-in-love-with-Darla claimed to do.

What I'm trying to say is lifting weights makes me feel tough and strong and awesome.

All righty. I'm gonna finish up my breakfast, say goodbye to my new toddling boyfriend, and head to the gym!

I learned in Europe that "gymnasium" means something else -- I can't remember what, though...just googled it. It means school.

You're welcome.

Is "googled" supposed to be capitalized?

Smooches,
Me

Weight loss diary #7

Uh oh.

I'm irritable.

And I want sugar.

Breathe.

Breathe.

Breathe.

Nothing in particular is bothering me, but all of a sudden EVERYTHING is bothering me, you know?

Ugh.

Back to breathing.

I can't promise I won't eat cookies.