Blogs > Lighten Up with Kate

34-year-old Kate Bloom, of Willoughby, has plenty of support in her journey to get healthy. She wants to get back to being the active person she was as a youngster.

Saturday, February 25, 2012

Happy Baby

My sister-in-law and brother are taking classes to become Yoga instructors and one of their assignments was to teach a yoga class to family and friends.  So my mom, my husband, and I went to their house last Thursday to take a class.  My husband and I have never taken a yoga class before, but my mom is an old pro.  She even had yoga socks on?  I didn’t even know they made special socks for yoga.  We really didn’t know what to expect, but were pretty much game for anything.  The class was much more fun than I expected.  The class was pretty elementary as we are newbies, but it was still very relaxing and I got a really good stretch.  We did a little laughing as some of the poses were kind of funny.  Imagine my 6’5” 260 pound husband doing the “happy baby” pose.  He is always a really good sport when it comes to the wacky things my family does.  I couldn’t ask for a more supportive or amazing spouse to help me through this journey. 

I was very impressed with both my brother and sister-in-law and their yoga and teaching skills.  We decided to have a class every Thursday night.  I also want to throw in that my dad bailed out on this week’s class, so here in print I am throwing down the gauntlet.  So dad, I hope you will step up and throw those legs in the air for “happy baby.” 

 

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Step by Step

This weekend I took my stepdaughters  for a hike at Penitentiary Glen with my brother and his daughter.  It has occurred to me that I need to lead by example.  I can’t tell my stepdaughters to be more active or eat better if I’m not doing it myself.  They aren’t eating exactly how I am eating, but I have stopped buying all of the goodies and I think it’s working.  My stepdaughter Therese was looking for something to eat and picked up a piece of fruit that was sitting in a bowl on the kitchen table.  I think having it out and making it more accessible is the key. But back to our hike.  My brother’s daughter is almost 2 years old, so can’t hike all that much on her own.  So not only did my brother hike down and back up a bunch of steps (approx. 150) leading down to a waterfall, he did it carrying a 2 year old.  I guess I should mention that he also runs ultra-marathons, but still…pretty impressive.  I made it down and back up most of the way before I had to take a short break.  I think I will have to go back in a couple of weeks and see if I can conquer those steps.  I’m hoping to get enough weight off and get in good enough shape to run a 5k this May.    

 

Friday, February 17, 2012

Victorious!

Last night I was looking for something to wear for today.  My pants have been a little baggy/saggy as of late. I figured I’d try on a pair of jeans that have been in my closet for about three years, because I knew someday they would fit again.  I didn’t really think it would take three years, but who’s counting.  So I slid them up, fully expecting them to halt at the thighs.  But wait….. they slid easily over the thighs then the hips…. and yes they even buttoned.  Not the kind of buttoned where you have to hold your breath or lay down on the bed to get them buttoned.  I mean they comfortably buttoned.  A small victory, but a sweet one. 

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Ridiculous!

I wanted to share a lesson I learned the other morning.  I went to breakfast with my husband and ordered two poached eggs and two pieces of dry wheat toast.  I eat egg whites all week and typically treat myself to a couple whole eggs on the weekend.  So the eggs were terribly undercooked, so I had a choice to make.  Send them back (not really my style) or figure something else out.  Well the breakfast came with hashbrowns, which I hadn’t planned on eating, but now that I wasn’t eating the eggs I figured the hashbrowns would be a comparable substitute.  So I ate them.  I won’t lie, they were really good.  Then I went home to put my meal into my trusty on-line food tracker only to find out that they were 411 calories.  I couldn’t believe it.  I’m usually pretty well versed in how many calories are in what, but I was so wrong on this one.  For 411 calories I could have had a whole meal and a snack.  Ridiculous!  Next time, I’ll send the eggs back. 

So the weight is coming off at a pretty good clip and I like that.  I guess it is sort of the point of all of this.  I am a little beat from the working out, but I think that is to be expected.  From what I hear, it gets easier, but I’m not sure I buy that.  I have noticed that I am sleeping much better.  Instead of waking up through the night, I am sleeping more soundly.  I am also noticing that my clothes are a little looser.  These are the things that keep me going until I can really see a major difference. 

   

Saturday, February 11, 2012

So Far, So Good

I was talking to my brother on the phone today and I was discussing how I am having some difficulty blogging.  I guess I was asking myself….why are my opinions/ideas important enough to write about each week?  Is it pretentious to think that everyone would want to read my blog?  Then I started reading everyone else’s blog and it occurred to me that I found them motivating and interesting.  It would seem that we are all in a similar situation and knowing that is somehow comforting. 

As far as diet and exercise…..things are going well.  I have been keeping my daily caloric intake between 1200 and 1400.  I did have a little difficulty keeping my food in check yesterday, but was able to manage it.  I don’t know why, but I was carb crazy yesterday.  My solution to this, was simple.  I ate some carbs.  My caloric intake for the day was within the range I wanted, I just ate a little less protein.  If anyone has any good recipes, please send them my way.  I love to cook, so the more interesting the better.   I’m going to make an effort to learn more about herbs and spices and how to pair them with the appropriate foods.  I’ll keep you posted on how that is going. 

I’m going to try to make it to the gym today, but am a little apprehensive as it is snowing like crazy out there.  If not, I guess there is always shoveling the driveway for exercise.  Somehow, that doesn’t sound as appealing as watching television on the elliptical in the dry gym. 

  

Wednesday, February 8, 2012

Super Bowl Sunday - Not Food Funday!

This weekend was a little difficult.  We attended a Super Bowl party on Sunday and of course there was tons of food.  Specifically tons of my “trouble” food.  My “trouble” food is anything that is wrapped in croissant dough, dripping with cheese, or served on a cracker from a crock pot.  So basically, everything that was there.  I made sure I packed myself snacks and meals because I knew that if I even had one of anything that would lead to more and more.  My pre-planning did the trick.  During the party, I felt a little left out.  Everyone was munching and drinking and I was eating hummus and veggies and drinking flavored seltzer water.  But on Monday morning when I got on the scale and saw that I had lost a couple more pounds, it was all worth it.  The feeling of losing the weight far exceeded any satisfaction I would have received from eating and drinking at the party. 

I did not make it to the gym Saturday or Sunday, but I guess I’m ok with that.  I made sure I was active on those days, but decided I’d rather spend more time with my step-daughters.  We went to the park and played Wii Dance III.  I’m surprised at what a good workout that was.   I was back on track Monday morning.  I went to the gym twice and then on Tuesday I took a spinning class.  This morning I got on the elliptical for 40 minutes and plan on hitting the gym at lunch-time. 

                I’ve been having good luck with keeping track of my food intake with FitDay.com.  I’m definitely feeling more energetic and haven’t been overly hungry.  So far, everything is good and my motivation is on track. 

               

 

 

Friday, February 3, 2012

T.G.I.F

So, I made it through my first official week!  I’m feeling good and extremely motivated.  I’ve been eating really well and at the gym every day.  But, I’m about to head into a difficult weekend.  I love football and am attending a Super Bowl party at a friend’s house on Sunday.  We all know what that means…food…beer….and more food!  I’ve made the decision that I’m not going to drink or eat anything at the party.  I’m going to bring my own food and hope that my pre-planning will stop any unnecessary munching.  I’m feeling pretty strong now and I hope that holds true for the weekend. 

I’ve been to the gym 8 times so far this week and plan on going Saturday and Sunday too.  I’ve been going to the gym since early January and can already tell that I am in better shape.  I’m not going to lie and say that it doesn’t hurt a little still, but it’s getting easier to talk myself into going.  I took a Zumba class this afternoon and it was a lot of fun.  It’s kind of a Latin Dance/Aerobics type of class.  By far, the most difficult class I took this week was Power Pilates.  I was sore in places I didn’t even know I had.  My mom’s friend, Jane,  teaches the class and is tough as nails.  I love her and will definitely be going back for more “punishment”.  I also took a couple of Spinning classes which were difficult too.  My behind seems to hurt a little less each time I go, so I figure I’m making progress.  They say that eventually it won’t hurt at all, but I’m not sure how that works.  Do you get callouses?  Do you build muscles there?  I’m not sure.  I’m hoping it’s muscles.

 

 

Thursday, February 2, 2012

The Challenge Begins

Just a couple more days until one of the biggest secrets of my life will be revealed…MY WEIGHT!  I can’t remember the last time I shared that with anyone except my doctor.  We weighed in on Sunday and the number horrified me.  I couldn’t believe how much weight I had gained and that the whole world was going to know.  But then I remembered why I am doing this.  Some might think it is motivation by humiliation, but it’s more than that.  I want to show myself and everyone else that I can do this. 

My approach is simple.  I plan on eating a low calorie well balanced diet and exercising my behind off……literally.  My goal is to become a healthier person.  I recently started taking medicine for my blood pressure and for high cholesterol.  I’d like to get off both of those medications and not have to worry about those things. 

I think one of the biggest challenges is to weed through all of the information on weight loss and fitness and figure out what works.  Some say plant based whole foods are the only way to go.  Others say high protein and low carbs are the only way.  Do you do all cardio or is lifting weights a necessity?  I plan on taking this opportunity to figure out what method will be the most effective for me.