Mr. W said something to me the other day that I did not necessarily want to hear, but needed to hear regardless. The gist was, “You’re not active enough.” He is totally correct. I sit all day at a computer for work, and then come home and sit all evening a.) watching tv, b.) reading, or c.) at my computer.

I work out for an hour every day, but it’s not enough activity. I need to work in more. On the way home from work, I had been walking instead of taking the bus, but since summer kicked in [with its infernal temperatures] I had been busing it.

So, some changes:

1. Back to walking home instead of taking the bus. Not only does this increase my activity, but it makes me sweat. This is actually a good thing, because now I am taking a shower when I get home from work every day, instead of my usual morning shower. This is especially good, because I can sleep in a little more in the morning and be that much more well-rested. Being more well-rested eases the social anxiety I feel when going to work. This has win all over it.

2. I made a cleaning chart. I decided that one way to be more active at home is to clean more. Also, I love charts and checklists. So on Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, and Friday I have checklists for cleaning. And this is serious cleaning, like dusting and baseboards. Not pansy cleaning like doing dishes or cleaning the dinner table [that gets done every day]. This also has win all over it because I enjoy cleaning and being in a very clean environment.

3. Mr. W and I will start taking more walks together, time/weather permitting.

I think these changes [which were implemented only this past Sunday] are already having an effect. Instead of the 1 or 2 pounds I had been losing each week, this week I lost 3. [I never posted about last week, in which I gained 2 pounds. I was terribly annoyed. But now I am back on track!]

Can anyone think of more options for me to be more active? Free is a requirement. Also, no sports. [I have never been able to do anything where I could possibly get hit in the face/eye area, which could then possibly detach my already tenuous retinas.]

I wrote a sci-fi short story for a competition.  Basically people vote, starting today until July 15th, and the top five vote-getting stories will be considered for publication in an upcoming sci-fi book.  I need votes, which means I need you.  Please go read the story.  If you think it sucks, hey that’s okay.  If you like it can you please vote for it?  [I believe you need Facebook to do this, which stinks.]  If you vote can you maybe post it on your wall and encourage others to read as well?  I would really appreciate it.

I will post the story up here once voting has concluded so if you didn’t get a chance to read it you still can.  I’m kinda proud of it.

For now, you can read/vote here.

Thank you!

Sometimes eating healthier can be a real pain.  Especially when you randomly eat a chili dog for dinner and your stomach freaks out because it isn’t used to the grease or lack of vegetables or whatever it is and decides to hurt for the rest of the evening.  Not that I did that.  Just saying.  Hypothetically. 

Speaking of food, I am amused by how my introverted tendencies can influence what I eat for lunch.  On Friday I could not decide what I wanted to eat.  Nothing sounded good.  One co-worker invited me to Subway with her, but it didn’t sound appealing.  Others invited me to Beggar’s Pizza but, again, no thanks. 

Finally I remembered that I could order on-line for a sandwich/salad place across the street.  Close-by *AND* I don’t have to interact with anyone when ordering?  I’ll take it!!  I ordered, waited the specified amount of time, and walked on over to pick it up.  All I had to say was, “Pick up for order 48″ and “Thank you”.

Bless you, sandwich/salad place.  And bless you, Internet.

On an unrelated note, the Commenteri site will be going down for maintenance soon [time/money permitting].  I will give a heads up before that happens and it shouldn’t be down for too terribly long.  When I am finished, the site will be completely different.  But better. 

I kept going back and forth on what to do with the blog, and I think I am keeping it for the most part.  Also having separate pages for fiction writing and book reviews.  I am also going to post works-in-progress in order to share and get feedback.  This goes against my perfectionistic nature and will be challenging, but I think it could also be helpful and motivational.

Today was my first countable Wednesday Weigh-In.  Three pounds lost this week, which disheartened me a little at first [was hoping for at least five] but I realized that if I maintained three pounds a week I would go above and beyond my 30-pound summer weight loss goal.  So there’s that.  I think I must be gaining some muscle also, because my pants are fitting a little looser.  I doubt only losing three pounds would account for that.

This is hard.  Not to say that I am surprised.  If losing weight were easy then I would not have weight to lose.  It’s a lot of telling myself no.  Just today, a guy walked past me in the office with a bag of McDonald’s.  It smelled really good.  It was depressing to eat my lunch of a pb&j sandwich and an apple after that.  But I did.  A couple of weeks ago I probably would have chucked the sandwich and gotten the damned McDonald’s.

One thing I have realized lately, with Mr. W’s help, is I’ve been lying to myself.  I always say, “I don’t have willpower” in regards to snacking, but it isn’t true.  If I didn’t have willpower there is no way I could be a minimalist.  By saying, “I don’t have willpower.  I can’t help myself” I am actually giving myself an excuse.  Like, I can eat those chips because I don’t really have a choice–I don’t have willpower.  It’s time to admit that I am actually eating those chips because I don’t want to tell myself no.

So I’m changing my inner dialogue a little.

BEFORE:
Brain: I want some chips!
Me: I don’t think that’s a good idea.
Brain: GIMME GIMME GIMME!
Me: We really shouldn’t have chips.
Brain: CHIPSCHIPSCHIPSCHIPSCHIPS–I can do this all day–CHIPSCHIPSCHIPS!!
Me: Fine, damn you.

NOW:
Brain: I want some chips!
Me: No.
Brain: Pssht, you can’t tell me no.  GIMME…
Me: No.
Brain: [pouts] You’re mean.
Me: Suck it.

Today marks the first day of Teri’s Weight Loss Challenge.  However, it has grown a little and is now also going to make me put my money where my mouth is.  My friends, Stephanie and Holly, have also decided that they would like to lose weight this summer.  We decided to create a private group on Facebook where we could keep each other updated and accountable.  To spice things up a little, we have also turned this into a competition and are calling in The Facebook Weight Loss Challenge, since it’s not just mine anymore.

After each Wednesday Weigh-In, we will post our weight lost as a percentage.  The two people with the lowest percentages have to put $10 into a pot.  That week’s winner will contribute no money.  Also if we miss a workout or cheat on our diet [except for our one "cheat day" each week] we have to contribute $1 for each infraction.

At the end of the summer, the person who has lost the highest total percentage of body weight will win the entire pot.  I must win!  Glory, as well as a couple hundred dollars, hang in the balance.

Here is the workout that I am pledging:
1. Workout every day [except my cheaty day].
2. Teri’s Rule of S: Slower eating, smaller portions, and no sweets, snacks, soda, or seconds.
3. Saturday is my cheat day.

I will post weekly updates here as well like I had planned on doing before the challenge grew.

Wish me luck!