Comparisons

Apples to Apples.

My son LOVES that game!

Personally, I know better than to try and compare myself to others. There are so many variables at play. But I DO compare me to myself. One workout to another. Various estimates on different devices. How I do and feel day to day. I'm a bit of a numbers nerd. I collect and compare my stats, steps, calorie counts, weight ... almost anything I can assign a number to.

Looking back on the past few days, 

my workouts and numbers have been quite similar.

 Monday

 Tuesday

Wednesday

Each day in the morning, I had an hour of Zumba. I also had some small sessions on the elliptical throughout the days (10-20 minutes at a time. 40 minutes on Monday, and hour on Tues/Wed). All three days I spent 37 minutes reading while riding the stationary bike (10miles).

I felt really good about Mon and Wednesday, 

but felt like Tuesday was an off day. Why?

So much of it is perception. Expectation also. Tuesdays are normally really good days for me (often 30k in steps).  I started out strong, hitting my 10x10 and then ... I had some lazy hours. Also, after really keeping calories controlled on Monday, I caved to cravings and went way overboard. In the evening during my little guy's basketball practice, I usually walk while I wait, getting in 5000 or more steps. I did do some walking, but I just wasn't feeling up to it. I'd worn bad shoes, my other son who had come along too decided he didn't want to shoot and took my ipad mini that I'd been reading while I walked. Even in non-exercise attitudes, I just felt better about Monday and Wednesday (getting more "mommy" stuff done).

Another little "perception" ... if you notice on the graphs above, on Mon/Wed, the vertical axis extends to 3,000. On Tuesday, I didn't quite get enough steps in a 15min period of time to warrant that little graph increase. That actually affects me mentally! It just throws off the graph perspective. I really try to make sure I have ONE workout in the day that pushes the graph axis up, and on Tuesday I just didn't make it.

I was just thinking back on this past week, finding it ironic how I had some good days, and a bad day, when the numbers were so similar. Well ... the eating calories weren't similar on those day. I know the eating is where it's at more than the exercise. I wish I could get as much control and routine in my food as I do my fitness. It's a constant challenge!  Just thinking out loud ... and linking up late with Workout Wednesday.

Saturday Spotlight #10

As this first week of January has passed ... how ARE your resolutions coming along? Did you make any? Did you link up with Motivation Monday and tell us what they were? I'm back to MY routine. Back to exercising, back to blogging and back to my Saturday Spotlight. I've still been enjoying reading novels (I got into that during December when I was so sick I couldn't do much else) but I've been trying to browse the blogs and online articles as well. I'll admit I haven't been reading my magazines ... gotta get back to that (I have a few out from the library that are due back as well). 

Now to shine a spotlight on stuff you might have missed during the week ...

• Resolutions: I liked A Little of This and a Little of That's post about goal setting and Talk Less Say More shared the SMART acronym to remember when setting goals. Nerky shared some fun tips for newbie gym "resolutioners" (that's her word). 
• 100 Days: Have you seen this viral video of an overweight but inspiring woman who shares a video diary of her 100 Days at the gym? It's worth the watch.
• Sexercising: I forwarded this Time Magazine article to hubby, hee hee. Thanks science!

At My Fitness Pal, they announced they were joining up with PACT ... formerly GymPact.  I had looked into GymPact a while back (I mentioned them in my Reaping the Rewards post) but based on reviews and requirements, I decided against giving it a try myself. I preferred the reward site options (Everymove, Achievemint) that linked easily and automatically to my current programs (MFP and Fitbit). Ones that didn't require any "check-in" on my part. With recent updates, it looks like Pact DOES now link with Fitbit (10,000 steps in a day counts as a workout) and with MFP, as food pacts have now become part of the program. 10,000 steps a day? Easy peasy for me (unless I'm sick or it's a holiday with family activities) and I haven't missed logging my food on MFP since I started last May (235 day streak and counting). So I'm signed up to give this a try starting next Monday. You can bet I'll share my experience here on the blog. Watch for it. I'd be really interested in hearing about anyone else participating and their experience as well!

Finally - I thought I'd link up with #backthatazzup Friday (I know, it's Saturday now), but sometimes you just gotta link up late. We've all got our Demons ..

Try (Motivational Monday)

I'm so glad I had some noticeable results right off the bat when I first started counting calories and actively setting goals to lose some weight. It was motivation to keep going. Then for a bit there last month, the scale seemed to stall. Yes, there were some Chocolate Mint Brownies that could perhaps take some of the blame. I had some eating days that were not great, I had some exercise days that were not great ... but I was trying every day. The progress has been slow, but I think I am still heading in the right direction. I am conscious of the choices I'm making and I am NOT giving up. Every. Single. Day.

I did have a slight shift in the scale this past week (Weigh-In #12) and that does help reinvigorate me. Ok ... I'll admit over the weekend Saturday was BaD, with a capital B and a capital D. We stopped for donuts after the boy's basketball game. I have no self-control. If donuts are in the house, I will eat donuts. And these donuts are big donuts (Dunford Bakers). They even have the "nutritional" information online ... so I know just how many, many calories I just consumed. Then hubby suggested going to a movie. I know we don't HAVE to get popcorn, but I seriously feel like something is missing if we don't. At least we didn't get a refill! So Saturday ... Saturday wasn't great. But I wasn't really considering it a mistake or a slip. I wasn't consciously calling it a cheat day. I did just decide to celebrate Saturday. We hadn't done donuts or gone to a movie in quite a while.

I managed to keep Friday on track, and Sunday actually wasn't bad, so I didn't blow the whole weekend. I'm always ready to get back to the routine Monday morning. I know some people loathe Mondays. I am not one of them. Mondays-Thursdays are SO much easier than the weekend.

It is a busy week coming up ... basketball almost every day. An orthodontist appointment (#2 is SO excited to get his braces off), I'm helping out with a field trip, PT Conferences. Hubby has two derbies. It's TOM too. It might be hard to get to goal many days, but I'll do my best.

Exercise Goals for October ...

I started Ripped in 30 last week. I got (not quite) two days in. I'm actually not planning on doing it 5 days a week like I did 30DS. I have MY weight workout that I like, so I'm going to stick with in on Mondays. Then I'll do Ripped Wed/Fri (that's that plan anyway). I want to get in my 100minElliptical at least five days a week. I want to get in my mile jog at least three days a week, with a longer treadmill time at least once. I haven't been good at getting back on the bike ... I'd like to get in at least two bike sessions per week (I NEED to catch up on my reading!).

Eating Goals for October ...

Ah eating. Exercise is easy, it's the eating.  My "goal" is to stay under 2000, and I so rarely do that. I think I'll make a "Streaks Calendar" to track the days I'm successful, and see if that motivates me to keep calories under control.  Also a goal to eat at least one fruit or veggie a day ... I know some of you gasp to think THAT is a goal, but it is so hard for me to do!  I'm so picky (Eating Issues) that my options are quite limited, but I know I need to do better.

Have you set goals for October?

Do you like or loathe Mondays?

Linking up with Motivational Monday  ... check it out to find other bloggers and their motivation. Share yours!

Wendy @ Daily Dose of Del Signore Veronica @ V Watts' Thoughts Morgan @ Fat to Fit Confessions Tiff @ The Fit Train Katie @ The Carb Monster Alisha @ Coily Locks

I enjoy Link Ups and I've started my own. Spotlight Saturday. If you have a post where you recommend an article, book, DVD, video, or another blog post ... come link up (older posts are fine, give them a second chance in the spotlight).  The link up is still open and I'll post each Saturday. It keeps me motivated to get through my magazines and to browse other blogs to find something to share.