Morning Routine @ MindSay 
Have you ever sat at the table eating, and by accident grabbed a condiment such as ketchup, or hot sauce, or even the salt, thinking it was your beverage? You realize at the last second, wait a minute, that would have sucked, and then you get your cup. Well if it hasn’t happened to you, I want you to picture what that would be like.
This morning, I get my toothbrush and apply the toothpaste, going through the morning routine in a sleepy stupor. Next thing I know, I give it a good swipe in the armpit. Yep, did the deodorant routine with the toothbrush. Felt so weird and so gross at the same time. Not the coolest way to start the day, if I do say so myself.
I do however feel a bit of luck, because I think it would have been a lot worse if I had completed that activity in reverse, giving myself the worst case of dry mouth in the world. Nice Ocean Breeze breath for 24 hours though…
That's how my day went. I don't know what I did to mess it up, but the whole day just seemed off. A couple of people who I used to know came into my work and I had two separate awkward conversations with them. You know the conversation where you are obliged to ask "How are you? What's new? It's been so long" and then they both had to end it with "We should get together some time?" It's just one of those conversations you have to have. It was uncomfortable and I didn't want to stay there any longer than I had to, but wait....I work here I can't leave, I'm required to help you until you leave. Ugh. I have to work again tomorrow. That's six days this week. Yes I know it's only friday, the fifth day...but I haven't had a day off in a long while. I'm trying to save money for germany.
Tschuess!
This morning was my weigh in day. I keep my records based on my Saturday morning reading. Then I do what is called the "up" side of the calorie cycling. Today I will increase my caloric intake much more than I do during the workout week. My research has shown that it increases my metabolism level and keeps my metabolism from stabilizing during the week when I am keeping my calories at a lower level. At least thats what I have studied and I cannot eat chicken wings and drink beer during that time.
This morning I weighed in and did manage to lose a total of two pounds this week. After averaging 5 a week, though, it was still disappointing even though I know about the "plateau" issue. This past week I came into the gym and worked out on chest and ab before doing my aerobics. I increased my treadmill routine by 5 minute doing a total of 35 at level 1 incline. Then I go to the elliptical and do 20 interval on it and that is my workout. Since I have hit the plateau I know that my routine has to change so I thought I would split my treadmill time up today using the treadmill and the bike. But motivation hit me like a tidal wave and since I did not have to work today I thought I would take the opportunity to really have an aerobic workout. This was my workout today not including warm ups and warm downs:
Treadmill: Level 1incline for 16 minutes @ 3.0 mph
Elliptical: 20 minutes of interval at 5.6 to 6.0 mph between intervals
Bike: 20 minutes but I did not keep track of my mph
Treadmill again: Level 2 incline for 30 minutes @ 3.0 mph.
All of this before 6:00 in the morning!!!!!!! If I can do this today, next Saturday will be a repeat of the same if not more.
Yesterday I really liked wearing clothes I have not been able to wear in years. I felt like a stud again even though I so much more to go before I actually look like one. I have lost 22 pounds in 5 weeks. My energy level has increased dramatically but when I crash, I crash hard. I look forward to sleeping in tomorrow and getting some much needed rest. The marathon has just begun.
I just woke up to the sound of BTO's You ain't seen nothin yet. That puts me in a good mood.
My morning webpage routine:
Then, I get on with my life to run around in circles like a lab rat.
How about you?
I'm writing this using PICO. Pico is a text editor in UNIX. The reason I'm writing in UNIX is because it looks like I'm doing work instead of posting on my blog.
I guess the only problem is that any window that my boss doesn't recognize would be considered not working. I just think it is too much trouble to write my posts in a QuarkXpress box. Oh well, I suppose that is my next option.
Starting a new schedule today... again. I have tried to do this many times and I always end up stopping. I always tell myself that it will be different this time and it isn't. I'm really the only one to blame for that. Blame... I hate blame.
So to absolve myself from guilt... I'm not going to force myself to do anything. I want to get to bed at a decent time in order to wake up and go for a walk around the pond at the park. I may do it or I may not. I don't have to do it if I don't want to. I have found that committing myself to NOT do something is a sure-fire way for me TO do it. I have to turn it into a challenge of sorts.
"Go ahead Chilly, you can do it if you really want to. I don't mind. If you feel that strongly about it.. just do it."
It is those moments when I have the option that I re-think the action, "Okay... well now that I know I can... I wonder if I should?" Funny, how I don't think of that at first. Instead I'm so focused on my free-will. I don't like being forced into anything! Makes me worry for the poor firefighter who may have to save me from a burning building.
"What do you mean your TAKING me? Do I have a say in this?"
In the end, I did get up and I did take that walk. I'm going to have to take some pictures because the park is really beautiful in the morning. The park has this big pond in the middle which is schweet. There are ducks and other critters that are active in the AM. It really made it worth it to take that walk.
I may (or may not) take that walk tomorrow.