I'm Starting to Panic...

When I set my Weight Watchers goal I intentionally set it with a bit of a cushion as I knew there could be a shift in the subsequent few months - I was weaning the little miss, going back to work, etc. I was fully prepared to gain a little bit back, while of course hoping that I would beat the odds and that wouldn't happen. I've been doing everything I can to avoid the "secretarial spread," a bum-enlarging condition my mum told me about years ago and an image that has stuck in my brain ever since. I've made it to gym at least once a week and have been doing early morning lunges, squats, crunches and free weights in my bathroom before getting in the shower. It's not an ideal workout schedule, but it's something. I've taken my lunch all but two days since returning to work, which is a MAJOR accomplishment for me.

I've now been back at work for four weeks. It's been "so far so good" for the last three and a half, with the scale not budging. In fact, I'd lost a couple more pounds and had to wear a jacket at my last Lifetime weigh-in to avoid paying the fee.

This past week was my 35th birthday. I went away on a girls' trip the weekend before and was pretty good food-wise, splurging a little but getting back on track the next day. Mr. Awesome took me out for lunch on Tuesday for my actual birthday, and we had Chinese take-out that night. The next night some girlfriends and I went out for dinner. All these instances are extremely out of the ordinary, and they ALL happened within one week.

A couple of weeks ago the little man was messing about with my iPhone and only the next day did I realize he had deleted my points tracker app, Nutrition Menu. And only when I tried to reload it did I realize that with the app he'd also deleted all my weight loss history and all the custom favourite food items I'd laboriously entered nutritional information for. I hadn't tracked for about a month as I was pretty much sticking to the same things most days, but I REALLY should have been tracking this past week.

For the last few days I've been feeling bloated and not as "trim" as I have for the past few months. Now, there is a good chance this could just be raging PMS, but there is also the very real possibility that the last week's indulgences have caught up with me. And the scale has crept up, getting dangerously close to my actual goal weight (gasp!). I'm starting to panic.

Needless to say, tracking begins today. I am retaking charge of my food. Yes, this could indeed be a nasty case of the monthly bloat, but it's been a big wake up call.

I have a three-night work retreat coming up this week and we're all taking turns cooking for the group. I know the lunch I'm in charge of is WW-friendly, but I've heard rumours of fondues, wifesaver, huevos rancheros... I think I'm going to have to bring my own food for certain meals or things will quickly spiral downhill even further. This weight loss journey is a lifetime commitment and I don't intend to let things get out of control. One woman in our group has some pretty serious allergies so I won't be the only one bringing in my own food. Maybe I can tell them I'm allergic to gaining the weight back. Oh, how I wish that was the case. Yes, if I gain the weight back I will puff up like I've had an allergic reaction to something, but an antihistemine pill won't bring me back down in a matter of minutes.

So, no magic pills for me. Tracking and exercise it is. Onwards.

10 At Home Exercises to Keep You Fit During the Holiday Season

I was recently contacted by Jessica at Gym Source and she asked if she could share an article with my readers. She's compiled 10 easy exercises to do at home without any exercise equipment needed. With the cold weather and dark mornings coming in, I've been a bit worried about keeping up my routines, and Jessica's suggestions are great for those days I'd rather stay warm and dry then haul my butt to the gym!


10 At Home Exercises to Keep You Fit During the Holiday Season

Question: What's the best form of exercise?
Answer: The one you'll actually do!

As long as your fitness program:

1. Raises your heart rate
2. Has a strength training component
3. And is done at least thirty minutes a day five days a week – you'll experience significant health benefits.

Variety is the spice of life; it keeps you motivated and works better for your body by working different muscle groups. You don't need to go to a gym and use fitness equipment. In fact, here are ten simple, yet effective exercises you can do in the comfort of your own home that can help prevent putting on holiday weight.

Take a Hike/Stroll

It's also simple, low-impact and easy on the joints – just put on a comfortable pair of shoes, step outside and walk at a fairly brisk pace around your neighborhood. It's a great way to clear the head and improve your mood – it may be cold, but will give you an opportunity to enjoy all the lights and decorations for the holiday season.

Jump!

Act like your kids on Christmas morning! Jump up and down, or do some jumping jacks. They're a great way to get the heart pumping and the limbs loosened up. 15-20 repetitions with a minute or two of rest between sets for thirty minutes should be sufficient. This will increase endurance and work on toning your thighs.

"Drop and Give Me 20, Soldier!"

Push-ups confer all the same strength-training benefits of bench presses with barbells – without the risk of handling heavy weights and need for a "spotter." You can adjust the intensity by elevating your feet. Push-ups do more than work your arms, they are a total body workout Lift That Leg This provides a strength training workout for the thighs and adductors (muscles that attach the upper leg to the hip). If you can't manage leg lifts with a straight leg, bend the knee .

Washboard Abs?

You may not get "ripped" by doing crunches, but you'll definitely work your ab muscles – and this will award real benefits to your back as well, and you will see an improvement in toning your abs.

You Can Keep Running In Place...

...and you should. This is an exercise you can do while watching TV, making the "boob tube" actually good for something. You can also do it while stringing popcorn on the string for the tree. The Squatters... No, we don't mean settling land that isn't yours – it's what you do every time you sit in and get up from a chair. Just do it several times until you "feel the burn!"

Household Weight Equipment

Cans of food, milk and water jugs, sacks of flour – you'd be amazed at how much weight training equipment is just sitting in your pantry or refrigerator. (Who knew your could actually lose weight with using your holiday baking ingredients?

Roll Up The Carpet

The latest craze is dancing off the weight, but not all of us can get to the classes when they are offered and the videos cost more than Christmas. Instead roll up the carpet, and crack up the tunes, whether it's Mariah Carey's "All I want for Christmas" or whatever is on the radio, dancing will increase your aerobic hear rate, and help with endurance training.

Steppin' Up

Finally, you don't have to buy a bench step and sign up for a step class to do step. Chances are you've got a step or two around your home. So while those cookies are in the oven, run the stairs a few times. The timers will make great intervals and keep you fit while baking!

The fact of the matter is, that all of these are not difficult, and do not require patience, or a long drawn out explanation. They are simple and they WORK. So maybe you aren't getting fit on treadmills, or ellipticals, but the end result is the same and you will have a lot of extra cash to go and spend it on holiday gifts, or a treat for yourself!

Jessica Costello
Jessica is a writer with the outreach team at Gym Source. In addition to writing, she is also a personal trainer, working mainly with new moms looking to get fit after having their baby. Her specialties are fitness, and nutrition, and toning.