It's Me...Only Thinner

Sorry guys, life has been crazy!

2011-09-27T07:23:00.000-07:00

I run a freelance writing business and I'm the Primary president at my church (Primary being the organization for the kids) and things have just been CRAZY.

After spending a couple of frustrating weeks on a pleateau, I've finally broken it! Woohoo! I was down 2 1/2 lbs yesterday from where I was stuck.

Best of all, those 2 1/2 lbs must have come from the right places because I've also lost some inches from where I was. Yippee!

And miraculously, although I've worked the natural, unprocessed starches back into my diet (potatoes, rice, whole oats...NOT bread, pasta, etc.), I still don't have near the sugar cravings I had before. I've tweaked things a little and I'm staying off the carbs (except fruit) during the day and only having them with dinner. That's working well for me. I've had a treat here and there but that hasn't hurt me or sent me into a tizzy for sugar. As long as I'm careful about that I think I'll be fine.

At dinner I have made it a point to eat in the following order: Salad first, then steamed veggies if we're having them, then protein, and carbs last. That way I'm too full to eat too much starch (which would make me get hungry an hour later) and I'm sure to get my veggies in. If I do get hungry after dinner, I'll eat what I feel like; sometimes that's cereal or something (think oatmeal), sometimes nuts or fruit.

My clothes are getting too big, which lets me go shopping in my own closet for clothes that I used to wear. The other day I pulled on a pair of jeans I haven't worn in ages! Wooooo!!

I hate Aunt Flow

2011-09-13T08:09:00.000-07:00

She showed up a full week ago and I've still got water weight hanging around. Every time with me, it seems like I can't lose anything for several days before, then I stall while she's here, then at the end I actually put on more water which stays for several days after it's over.

I hate it. It's discouraging even though I know the cause.

But I'm not gonna let it get me down! I did so well in C1 and I'm not gonna let AF ruin it for C2. Just gotta keep on keepin' on and let it come off.

So, I don't really know what I've lost now, but hopefully in a few days I'll have a better idea and actually see the scale move below where it was before my stupid monthly (or whenever she wants these days) visitor.

Day 17! Last day of Cycle 1.

2011-09-07T08:18:00.000-07:00

This actually makes me a little nervous. I'm totally familiar with what I'm doing and now it's time to change it some. However I'm totally looking forward to things like OATMEAL and BROWN RICE. :)

I've lost 11 pounds, but dear Aunt Flow showed up yesterday so I'm sure that is affecting the scale. I was really hoping I'd lose 12, but I guess cycle 1 isn't officially over until tomorrow, so I could still make it. I probably would have without dear AF. But, I also told myself I'd be happy with a 10 lb loss in the first cycle, so I'm good. I'm 11 pounds ahead of where I'd be if I hadn't done this.

Well, time for breakfast. :)

Drumroll please....

2011-09-05T08:50:00.001-07:00

I got stuck for a few days, but as of this morning I've lost 10 1/2 pounds since August 22nd.

Doing very well on this. I did cheat the other day by eating a cookie. :P Good news is, after that I actually didn't want any more. A few weeks ago I'd have ended up eating several.

It feels so good to know that sugar doesn't have that much power over me anymore!!

I will be on this cycle through Wednesday. I was really hoping to hit the 12lb. mark, so I may still make it. But if not, I'm still pretty proud of myself for the way I've stuck with it.

The only power that stuff can have over you is the power you give it.

Total weight loss...

2011-08-29T15:34:00.001-07:00

8 pounds so far! Actually, from my heighest weight about a year ago, I've lost 26 pounds. :) Too bad it took me so long to lose the first 18 (well, 20...but then I bounced around for a while).

Man, I guess I just wasn't totally ready or something....

2011-08-27T15:20:00.000-07:00

I've also been super busy! But I'm back now. I won't promise daily posts but I'll at least try to check in once a week. I'm the primary president at church, and I've got a good freelance writing business going. Add that to a family and a home, and well, you've got a busy mom.

I started back on the diet bandwagon on Monday, August 22nd. First day of school for the kids, and first day of new habits for me. As of today, August 27th, I have already lost 7 pounds! I know it will slow down and that's fine. Nothing like getting off to a good start though!

I've said before that I'm a total sugar/carb addict. Well I've just got to stop that. It finally dawned on me in one of those DUH moments that, good grief, it's like I'm sitting around here WAITING for my body to change. But that was never going to happen unless I MADE IT HAPPEN. Why it took so long to realize that I don't know. I've realized that before and lost 60 pounds because of it, but that was about 10 years ago. I guess I forgot, huh?

My hormones are changing (good old menopause that shows up way early in my family...I'm only 36) and that has made things difficult, and helped me put on flab in places where I haven't had trouble before. But that's no excuse.

I am getting my carbs exclusively from fruit. No sugar, no starch. In about 2 more weeks I'll slowly start adding some whole grains back in and kind of go back and forth from day to day, to try and avoid a carb-addition cycle again. I am actually following the 17 Day Diet by Dr. Mike Moreno. I've read the whole book and it makes a lot of sense.

As you can see from previous posts I've tried a lot of different methods. Problem is, I've never stayed with anything very long before I've become frustrated and given up. This plan goes in 17-day cycles where things change a little, which will hopefully keep things varied enough that I don't get bored & frustrated. There are 4 different cycles on the 17 Day Diet, each lasting - you guessed it - 17 days. The first 3 cycles are for weight loss, the 4th for maintenance. I promised myself I would at least give it one round of those first 3 cycles, and if I've had good success (and I really think I will), I'll probably do at least one more round before I hit my goal.

Wow, it's been a while...

2011-02-15T07:49:00.000-08:00

Over the past few months I have been on and off the wagon.

Happens to us all, doesn't it?

BUT...I am down 7-8 pounds since I made some changes Feb. 4th! During this time I've MOSTLY stayed on the wagon. Gee...I wonder how much better that loss could be with 100% commitment. Yeah, I think I'm trying that starting today.

I've made adjustments to my diet. I'm eating fruits, veggies, carbs, meat, eggs, nuts...all the good stuff. The only stuff I'm staying totally away from (except when I've fallen off the wagon or just decided to have something) is sweets. I LOVE the way I've been eating. It fits me, and the way my days go very well. So for the most part, it's been easy and I know I'm getting better nutrition than I've probably had in a while.

I still go to Zumba at least 2x week (I found another FREE 3rd class on Thursday nights I might start going to). When I'm not going to Zumba I've been doing quick interval workouts on the treadmill and just started adding some short yoga workouts. Yoga is harder than it looks but it feels really good! Zumba is an hour and includes some strength training, but on the other days I keep my workouts to about 30 minutes or less.

If you have an iPhone or Android (which is what I have) there are workout timers you can download for free. You can set whatever time for your own work/rest intervals, and create your own workouts. My phone is also an MP3 player, so I set my music, start my timer, and the whistle sound of each interval comes in over the music so I know when to speed up or slow down. It makes timing my workouts really easy without those expensive timer gadgets or having to watch the clock on the treadmill. Highly recommended if you have a smart phone!

Overall, I'm 20 pounds under my highest weight, which was probably sometime in late August. The last 10 pounds has come off within the last month. Even better than that, the inches have finally started coming off again, including the most stubborn part of my body...those dang hips!

So I'm still here...I've just been busy since they made me the Primary President at the end of November! I will try to post more often!

I've been busy...

2010-11-11T08:35:00.001-08:00

and just kinda maintaining for the last little while. But since the beginning of this week I've been more serious about this whole thing.

And this morning I reached a lowest-in-recent-memory number on the scale. Funny how that works huh?

My heart rate monitor also died on me, which was a real bummer. But I have a new one now, and it's always motivating to know how many calories you're burning during your workouts.

So I'm back, just in time for Thanksgiving. LOL

This is a great one too!

2010-10-13T11:55:00.001-07:00

She has you pointing your toes a little outward whenever you extend your feet and pull your heels back together, like 1st position for a ballerina. So your inner thighs really get worked, as well as the rest of you. It doesn't look real strenuous, but believe you me, it's amazing & burns major calories. Great challenge to your balance as well, which of course tightens the core and helps in not being a klutz. We could all use that. ;) Here is a clip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ehfKr7o4DGo

:) :) :) :)

2010-10-13T08:00:00.000-07:00

Wow.....

That's what I said when I got on the scale this morning.

You gotta love those "a few pounds lower than I thought it would / should be" moments. LOL It must be the workouts!

That motivates me to be extra healthy and see it move down some more!

Time for Skinny Sculpt!! I got some 2 lb weights, so hopefully I won't have to put them down at all today.

What a great workout...

2010-10-06T11:54:00.000-07:00

I tried this today and I absolutely loved it. I used 3 lb weights (they use 2 lbs) and thought they might be a little heavy for all those reps, and I was right. I had to put them down a couple of times. Nice flowing movements with strength training, cardio and stretching all at once. Love the instructor too...Ellen Barrett.

Here's a clip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qlb9F_SyQQU

Gotta be 100%

2010-10-05T08:34:00.000-07:00

I've been maintaining a 10-lb loss, but good grief, I've been kinda blah-blah with my eating lately. I haven't done anything incredibly stupid, just haven't felt like putting in the mental energy to plan, etc.

But that changes TODAY!

I've been working out at home and going to my Zumba classes (having an absolute blast with that). But if I'm going to get back on the losing wagon, I've got to be 100% on track with my food choices.

"Please keep your arms and legs inside the car at all times."

If you wouldn't stand up on a roller coaster, don't get out of your seat on the proverbial "wagon." :D

Looking forward to seeing the scale move again! Even though it's AF week. :P

Went to Zumba this morning...

2010-09-28T08:30:00.000-07:00

and burned a whopping 745 calories in 58 minutes! Pretty dang good stuff!

B: Orowheat sandwich thin, toasted, with peanut butter & light margerine

L: Grilled cheese w/ tomato on Orowheat, vegetable soup

S: Apple or peach

D: Swedish Meatballs (South Beach recipe...ended up not having these last night because I was too busy to get to it early enough), noodles, garden green beans

S: Peach or apple

Ex: Zumba this AM, some light isometrics after lunch (not enough to get sweaty)

Extra! Extra!

2010-09-28T07:20:00.000-07:00

Extra now makes dessert-flavored gum! I've seen three flavors: mint chocolate chip ice cream, strawberry cheesecake, and key lime pie. We bought one of each. :) I tried the key lime pie last night and it was GOOOD. The flavor doesn't last as long as the regular mint, but when you want something sweet, it might be a good way to get the taste without blowing it. Still need to try the other flavors.

Still here, just busy!

2010-09-27T14:24:00.000-07:00

B: Special K Yogurt Crunch cereal with milk and a chopped peach. YUM

L: Tuna on Orowheat sandwich thin, fresh green beans from the garden

S: Peach

D: Swedish Meatballs (South Beach recipe), noodles, salad

S: Air popped popcorn

Ex: T-Tapp abs/butt workout (Hit the Floor), walk after lunch

I love Zumba!

2010-09-21T07:25:00.000-07:00

I'm taking a class on Tuesdays and Saturdays, and it's so much fun!

I'm still doing well but my eating has been kinda so-so, so I need to be back on the straight and narrow with that.

B: Toasted Orowheat sandwich thin

L: Tuna melt w/ lettuce and tomato

S: Apple

D: Stuffed peppers (from our garden!), salad

S: Blueberries

Ex: An hour of Zumba this morning, maybe a 20-minute stroll after lunch

Just been busy!

2010-09-15T07:14:00.001-07:00

Busy weekend, busy week so far.

B: Oatmeal Squares, milk

L: Turkey sandwich with lettuce & tomato, carrots

S: Banana

D: Grilled shrimp, potatoes, green beans

S: Raw broccoli & light ranch for dip

Ex: T-Tapp Tempo Lower Body (I think) in the AM, and a walk after lunch

I'm doing well, but dear Aunt Flow finally showed up for real over the weekend. :P Ah well...such is the life of a female, eh?

Yay for Friday!

2010-09-10T08:28:00.001-07:00

Brekkie: Toast, apple, milk

Lunch: Pasta with sliced zucchini & yellow squash

Snack: Apple

Dinner: Not sure yet, but we'll probably end up at Friday's or Applebee's because we have coupons. :) And I know they have lighter stuff that will fit into my plan.

Snack: Banana

Exercise: T-Tapp BWO+, after-lunch stroll

Gotta run!

Less is more!

2010-09-09T09:06:00.001-07:00

Over at the T-Tapp forums, they say "less is more."

I used my heart rate monitor this morning while I did the T-Tapp Basic Plus workout, which is about 15 minutes long. My monitor registered 187 calories burned! Not too shabby huh? I even took a couple of breaks between some of the exercises with which I have a love/hate relationship. LOL I was planning to get on the treadmill for about 10 minutes after "tapping" like I did yesterday, but I'm POOPED. :)

Good News & Bad News

2010-09-09T08:26:00.000-07:00

Bad news first: I gained a few pounds back. I did veer off track a little bit, but I also think my body is doing this weird "having a cycle but not a period" thing. I've had all the normal signs of a period, but no "period" -- if you catch my drift -- since early July. So I think that has something to do with it (and no, I am NOT pregnant). :)

But the good news is that I did a quick check this morning and those few pounds that came back are pretty much gone now.

I also measured, and I'm actually making progress in my hardest area: HIPS! I think this is due to the fact that I've added T-Tapp back into my routine. YAY! Plus I'm losing everywhere else I've measured as well.

B: Toasted Orowheat sandwich thin, strawberries from our garden. :d

L: Chicken breast sandwich with tomato & lettuce, blueberries with a little plain yogurt on top

S: Raw broccoli, or maybe baby carrots instead if I feel like it

D: Spaghetti with fresh tomato sauce (garden tomatoes!!)

S: Small bowl of Wheat Chex

Ex: T-Tapp basic workout in the AM, and a stroll on the treadmill or outside after lunch

Time to let Teresa Tapp kick my hiney!!

Just think...

2010-09-08T08:38:00.000-07:00

It's already Wednesday! :D

B: Quaker Oatmeal Squares, milk, banana

L: Salad w/ chicken, saltines

S: Banana

D: BBQ Shrimp & pineapple skewers, baked potato, green beans

S: Air-popped popcorn (I actually pop it in the microwave--you don't need oil or even butter if you use a little PAM and some garlic & chili powder! Quite tasty!)

Ex: AM; T-Tapp Basic Workout & a short walk. PM; After-lunch stroll

Back to work, people!

2010-09-07T07:30:00.000-07:00

I digressed a little over the weekend, so I'm glad to be back 100% today!

B: Toasted sandwich thin, grapes

L: Tuna melt on a sandwich thin, tomatoes

S: Banana

D: Pasta with yellow squash & zucchini, salad

S: Apple

Ex: Two walks, after breakfast & lunch

No weigh-in today...

2010-09-03T07:57:00.001-07:00

due to female circumstances beyond my control. :P

B: Toasted Orowheat sandwich thin with jam, milk

L: Whole wheat pita with lettuce, tomato, and tuna

S: Raw broccoli & carrots

D: Grilled shrimp & pineapple skewers

S: Blueberries & plain yogurt

Ex: T-Tapp Basic Workout, plus a walk after lunch

I've got a house to clean!! Having company tomorrow.

I just thought this was funny...

2010-09-02T09:49:00.001-07:00

And don't we all sometimes feel this way? (especially during those darned "Ladies' Days" as Ray Barone so eloquently put it).

http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=618061612428

Holy crap!

2010-09-02T08:46:00.000-07:00

I haven't T-Tapped in a while, but I've been wanting to work it back into my routine in place of weights, etc. I decided to try the basic workout this morning (with the instructional video since it's been so long). It's about 20-22 minutes for the instructions (the workout itself without instructions is 15). Holy crap man...I knew it was a tough workout, but sheesh! I wasn't expecting it to kick my butt like that! I wore my heart rate monitor and it registered 236 calories and 13 grams of fat. In 22 minutes! Gotta love using your own body for resistance and getting cardio at the same time. I'll definitely be sore tomorrow.

B: Raisin bran, milk

L: Baked potato with melted cheese and chopped broccoli

S: Apple or peach

D: Baked tilapia with rice & veggies (We ended up not having this last night as planned -- thus the oops -- and it was downhill from there -- so the fish will need to be cooked.)

S: Blueberries

Ex: T-Tapp BWO+

Ummm...

2010-09-01T19:21:00.001-07:00

OOPS!

And that's all I'm going to say about that. ;)

Happy Wednesday

2010-09-01T09:21:00.000-07:00

Just a quick fly-by post right now!

B: Raisin bran & milk

L: Big salad with chicken

S: Apple

D: Baked tilapia, potato, steamed broccoli

S: Baby carrots with light ranch for dipping

Ex: Walked the kids to school, plus a 4-mile Leslie Sansone workout. Haven't done one of those in a while & it felt good.

Earlier this week I thought dear Aunt Flow was upon me and she never actually showed. I'm thinking she's getting close now, but these days it's getting harder and harder to tell. She hasn't paid me a visit in almost 2 months. Not that I'm complaining about that. :D

A few words about structure & diets

2010-08-31T07:51:00.001-07:00

As I've said before, I've spent the last many months in diet rebel mode, wanting to find a way to eat that would help me lose weight, but one that didn't make me stick to menus, tracking, or certain kinds of food. I avoided anything that included our favorite 4-letter word: DIET.

But I have learned something over the past couple of weeks. Sometimes it takes adhering to a certain structure to learn what kinds of foods, and how much of them, you can eat to lose or maintain your weight. Once you learn that, the "diet" you were on ceases to be a diet and becomes the way you live. Of course, if the diet involves crazy fads like eating only cabbage soup, popping stimulants, or skipping meals, you can't make that part of how you live without going crazy or ruining your health.

I think as long as it's sensible and doable for you on a long-term basis, the dreaded 4-letter word can become effortless & automatic. Eventually you begin choosing to eat that way not only because you know it will help you, but also because you enjoy it and feel good. I didn't know if this "diet" was going to be for me when I started (like I said, I'd been avoiding structure). I didn't know if I could deal with sticking to menus and set portion sizes. But I've really come to enjoy it and not feel like it's a diet at all. Plus, it's working.

Breakfast: 1 scrambled egg on an Orowheat Sandwich Thin (this counts as "light" whole wheat bread, and I like them so that's what I use), and a peach

Lunch: Grilled cheese & tomato on a sandwich thin, vegetable soup

Snack: apple

Dinner: Chicken Cordon Bleu (Hilton Head recipe...maybe I'll post it later), baked potato, green beans

Snack: Fruit (peach, pear, maybe some blueberries or grapes)

Happy Monday!

2010-08-30T08:10:00.000-07:00

I did great this weekend! :) I stuck with the plan as closely as possible, even though we didn't eat at home last night.

Breakfast: Toasted sandwich thin, grapes, milk

Lunch: Tuna sandwich & carrots

Snack: Peach

Dinner: Baked ziti, salad

Snack: Either an apple or some popcorn, whichever sounds better at the time

Exercise: Walks after breakfast & lunch

Last night we were at DH's mom's house for dinner. Hawaiian haystacks were on the menu and I LOVE those. I usually end up making this huge stack and stuffing myself to finish it, but last night I kept it small and heavier on the veggies, and didn't add the chinese noodles. I actually had a little seconds which I probably shouldn't have, but I didn't get stuffed and didn't blow it. I have been starting to realize that I don't need big portions to be satisfied. I've just been used to eating too much, and I don't think I realized I was doing it most of the time.

Drumroll please...

2010-08-27T07:49:00.000-07:00

Today is Friday, and I've made Friday my "official" weigh-in day. Today is day 12 for me on the NEW Hilton Head Metabolism Diet.

And so, over the last 11 days since I started, I have lost a total of....

EIGHT POUNDS!! 8!

Not too shabby, huh? :D

Overall, I've found the structure actually good for me. There's no guesswork and no room for cravings because I know what's on the menu ahead of time. The emphasis on portions and serving sizes has really made me see that I was eating too much, even of things that are good for me. And I've hardly ever been hungry since I started. Last weekend I goofed it up somewhat, but other than that I've stuck to it very strictly, and I'm finding it easy to do so; much easier than I thought it would be going in.

Breakfast: Wheat Chex with milk and blueberries.

Lunch: Spaghetti with a mix of broccoli and chopped bell pepper

Snack: Banana

Dinner: Small hamburger with lettuce & tomato, oven fries (If we go out, I'll shoot for Applebee's Grilled Shrimp & Island Rice)

Snack: Apple

Exercise: Today is a weights day, along with my after-lunch walk

An open letter to my extra fat...

2010-08-26T09:05:00.000-07:00

Dear Fat,

I hope you don't mind my saying so, but...

You are goin' DOWN!

This is war, I say. WAR!!!

(and FYI: I'm gonna win - by losing)

B: Mix of Fiber One (all gone now...SNIFF) & Wheat Chex, milk, banana

L: Chicken sandwich with lettuce & tomato on a sandwich thin, blueberries

S: Apple

D: Spaghetti with sauce, broccoli

S: Wheat Chex or Oat Squares with milk

Exercise: Power walk after breakfast, light walk after lunch. Too hot outside--treadmill it is.

I hate trying on clothes

2010-08-25T07:32:00.001-07:00

I went dress shopping last night, for my brother-in-law's wedding. I was relegated to a size that I don't like, because the other one they had available in the right style was too small. The dress I ended up buying is a little bit big. Hopefully by the wedding, in October, I'll actually need to take it in. I'll keep ya'll posted.

Sometimes you have to accept what is before you can change it. I was disappointed last night, but I didn't feel too bad because I had already accepted where I am, and decided that my current body is going to change. So I think it actually motivated me, instead of making me beat myself up. It is what it is, and over the next few months, it's going to be changing...a lot.

It has already started!

Breakfast: Fiber One, banana, milk (are you sensing a trend here?)
Lunch: Chef's salad, saltine crackers

Snack: Piece of fruit that strikes my fancy (banana, plum, or apple)

Dinner: BBQ shrimp skewers, baked potato, steamed broccoli

Snack: Popcorn

Exercise: Two walks - Power walk after breakfast, stroll after lunch

Simple pleasures

2010-08-24T12:35:00.000-07:00

I pulled out a pair of jeans this morning that I ordered online and haven't been able to wear.

But I'm wearing them now. :) And they're new. Doesn't get much better than that.

School is officially in session :)

2010-08-24T07:32:00.000-07:00

My two oldest will be in school all day. Just me and my 3-yr old. :) I miss them, but it's nice to be able to get more stuff done.

Breakfast: Fiber One, milk, banana

Lunch: Tuna sandwich on Orowheat sandwich thin, salad

Snack: Apple or more banana

Dinner: Macaroni & cheese (homemade), green salad

Snack: More fruit

Exercise: Lift weights this morning, then I'll get in a walk after lunch.

Busy day!

2010-08-23T17:23:00.001-07:00

First day of school today for my two oldest hooligans. :) I haven't had time to post the usual stuff, but I'm doing great today!

Might make Fridays my official weigh in day. Think I can stay off until then?

Been kind of an iffy weekend...

2010-08-22T17:54:00.000-07:00

Not bad, just iffy. Looking forward to tomorrow...and not just because school starts. :)

Howdy

2010-08-20T09:30:00.000-07:00

I'm glad it's Friday, but weekends can present one problem for someone trying to lose weight: restaurant food. I'm pulling for TGI Friday's tonight, so I can still enjoy it while keeping myself in check. According to LiveStrong and a few other places I looked, the nutrition info for TGI Friday's Shrimp Key West (from the smaller portion menu) is: 225 calories, 7 g fat, 12 g carbs, 5 g fiber, and 33 g protein.

Brekkie: 1 toasted Orowheat whole wheat sandwich thin (one side with butter spray, one side with jam, 1 pear, glass of milk

Lunchie: 1 whole wheat pita stuffed with salad greens, tomato & tuna

Snackie: raw broccoli (I actually LOVE raw broccoli!), maybe some carrots

Dinnerie: TGI Friday's Key West Shrimp...comes with steamed broccoli

Snackie: piece of fruit

Exercise: Lifted weights after breakfast (should really do this in place of breakfast walk 3x/week) and will take a walk after lunch.

I love these!

2010-08-19T13:43:00.000-07:00

100 calories, 5 grams of fiber. Whole grain, no fat, and yummy!

On today's menu...

2010-08-19T13:03:00.000-07:00

Breakfast: Fiber One, milk, banana

Lunch: Big baked potato w/ melted American cheese and broccoli, plus a little cottage cheese

Snack: Banana

Dinner: Chicken Picatta, rice pilaf, green salad

Bedtime Snack: apple

Exercise: Two 20-30 minute walks, after breakfast and lunch

Let's report, shall we?

2010-08-18T12:52:00.001-07:00

Breakfast- Fiber One Honey Clusters cereal, milk, banana

Lunch- Grilled cheese on Orowheat sandwich thin, cup of tomato soup (Yeah yeah, I guess it's too hot for grilled cheese & soup, but it was still good!)

Snack- Pear

Dinner- Italian chicken (new recipe), baked potato, green beans or broccoli

Snack- Apple

Exercise- Monday thru Saturday, my plan is to take 2 walks every day, after breakfast & lunch. The early one will be more of a workout, and the lunchtime one will be more of a stroll so I don't get all sweaty and need another shower. :) Just enough to get the metabolism going a little again. After a while I may change the morning workout and keep the lunchtime walk.

Totally not hungry between meals! :D

It's time...

2010-08-18T11:45:00.000-07:00

To get off my diet-rebelling butt!

I guess you could say I finally got fed up!

I think Dave getting laid off really did a number on me and I just didn't have the mental energy to worry about weight loss (or much exercise for that matter). Dave went back to work last month, and I've actually been pretty much back on the workout wagon for a while, but gosh-dangit, sometimes you just have to follow a disciplined regimen if you want results. For a long time I just wanted to do a few simple things to make the weight budge that didn't require much planning or mental effort. But I got to the point over this last weekend where getting the weight off became more important than being a diet rebel.

So here we go!

I have actually lost 4 pounds...FOUR pounds, since Monday. Yes, that was 2 days ago (and I'm supposed to only weigh once a week, so now that I know something is happening I'll stay off until then).

I am SO ready!

Boy has it ever been crazy around here!

2010-03-22T13:01:00.000-07:00

My hubby got laid off from his job (out of basically nowhere) about 10 days ago, and unfortunately this has affected my eating and exercise habits. :P

I've also been doing a ton of freelance work (I'm a writer) to try and bring in some money, so I've been super busy.

I'm feeling fairly positive about things, so I'm getting everything back on track now. :)

Whew...

2010-03-15T16:51:00.000-07:00

The other day, the scale finally started moving back down, getting rid of those past couple of AF pounds. :) Yay!

Still working out :)

2010-03-11T11:43:00.000-08:00

I've worked out every day this week so far, either Callanetics Evolution or Cardio Callanetics. AF is almost gone now but I've still got a little water weight hanging on, and probably will for at least another week...for me that's just how it goes.

Benefits of Intermittent Fasting

2010-03-08T10:50:00.001-08:00

Here's a great article. http://www.howtoslowaging.com/benefits-of-intermittent-fasting/

Weigh to go, me!

2010-03-05T08:31:00.001-08:00

I have lost 2 1/2 pounds since last Friday. YAY! :)

And dear old Aunt Flow (AF) has returned. BOO! :(

About this intermittent fasting thing...

2010-03-04T10:44:00.001-08:00

I still like it. :) Last week I started following a program called Eat, STOP, Eat. That kinda sums it up. A once or twice a week (flexible for your schedule, events, whatever) you go from dinner one night to dinner the next night (or lunch to lunch, breakfast to breakfast) without taking in anything caloric, so up to 24 hours. But, you still eat every single day. So if you have dinner at 6:30 on Tuesday and Wednesday is a fast day, you'd simply wait until 6:30 (or thereabouts) to have dinner on Wednesday. On the other days, you just eat normally. Don't pig out or eat a bunch of junk, or your fast days won't do you any good.

This gives me a little bit of structure without telling me what to eat or making me count stuff. But still, so much freedom, which I like. Right now I'm fasting about every 3rd day, and after a couple of weeks I may cut that back to every 4th day, but we'll see how it goes.

There is actually a FREE e-book on Intermittent Fasting here: http://www.theiflife.com/

Don't believe everything people tell you about having to eat every few hours to keep your metabolism up. It's not true. Besides, don't you think your body deserves a break from digesting food all the time? Giving your body a break from that means it actually has energy for other functions, letting it USE the food you have already given it. Makes sense to me.

Workout report

2010-03-03T08:39:00.001-08:00

Cardio Callanetics with about the first 10 minutes of toning exercises. Burned 390 calories & 23 grams of fat (42 minutes).

Speaking of plateaus...

2010-03-02T08:59:00.000-08:00

I think this one is officially over. Hopefully I'm not going to jinx myself by saying that. :)

And holy cow, how I LOVE LOVE Callanetics. It burns, but then it feels so darn good! Every time she says, "Let's stretch to get ready for the upcoming abdominal exercises" or, "Now for our fabulous hip and behind exercises" I say to myself, "Crap! Do I really want to do this?" But then I do, and I'm always glad that I do.

I must be one of those people who secretly likes pain. :)

I hate plateaus

2010-03-01T08:29:00.000-08:00

After losing 10 pounds, Aunt Flow showed up. Yes, you expect some water weight. What you don't expect is for 2-3 pounds to hang around for WEEKS, which is what's been going on with me, even though I wasn't doing anything different. The scale finally dropped again this morning, probably just in time (with my luck) for another round with Aunt Flow.

It's so frustrating, but guess what. You just gotta keep on going.

Nice!

2010-02-26T13:30:00.000-08:00

If I'm not crazy (well, that's debatable), the skin on my thighs, both front and back, is getting smoother. My waist, hips, etc. continue to shrink little by little.

However, I do understand that since I have some weight to lose, any muscle toning and lifting I do is going to be underneath a layer of less desirable stuff. So before I can really see the FULL results of the Callanetics workouts, I need to get rid of that, which I am working on as well.

Don't get me wrong...I do see results and other people have commented on it, but I know once I get closer to my weight goal, the muscle tone will really start to show. I can certainly FEEL the difference. My posture and flexibility have improved, I feel stronger and thinner, and my tricky left knee is MUCH better than before I started Callanetics. I'm quite happy with my progress so far, and the workout feels so good. I definitely feel the burn, but I feel so nice and lengthened afterward. I know it is doing good things for me.

Day 4!

2010-02-26T11:44:00.000-08:00

Callanetics Evolution today! Those abdominal exercises are going to KILL ME. :)

Moving on

2010-02-25T10:11:00.000-08:00

Well, I'm not all better yet but I still felt like a workout would do me some good. Still getting little waves of nausea but nothing that has me down and out. And no, I am NOT pregnant. :) My throat is still scratchy too, but it hasn't gotten any worse than when it started. I think I am on the mend.

Workout: Cardio Callanetics, full hour with toning. Felt good to move.

Can't do it today...

2010-02-24T08:08:00.000-08:00

I'm sick to my stomach. Ugh. As much as I want to continue the streak, my body will hate me if I work out today. And I may throw up. :P

Bootcamp Day 2

2010-02-23T13:42:00.000-08:00

Done! Callanetics Evolution. I feel like I'm starting to come down with something, so I'm taking vitamins and trying to cut it off at the pass. So far I'm no worse than I was last night...just the scratchy throat & swollen glands in the neck thing. But I felt fine working out and I'm glad I did it, even though I didn't get started until 1:30. :)

Bootcamp Revisited

2010-02-22T09:25:00.000-08:00

Day 1, Cardio Callanetics (cardio and toning sections). Burned 595 calories and 35 grams of fat.

My goal is to do the full hour workouts (whichever one I feel like) every day this week, through Friday.

Bootcamp, interrupted

2010-02-21T17:54:00.000-08:00

Okay, having been interrupted by sick children (who are all feeling better now), I think I'm going to do another bootcamp this week, Monday - Friday. I might use the other Callanetics video though, with the cardio, or switch between them, as long as I do the entire video every day.

On the plus side, if I'm not crazy I did lose an inch in my waist, an inch in my abdomen and 1/4 inch in my hips during that short bootcamp last week. :)

Speed bump for day 4

2010-02-19T06:59:00.000-08:00

My little girl is home from school sick...might not get a chance to work out, so day 4 might have to actually be tomorrow.

Day 3 done!

2010-02-18T09:28:00.000-08:00

And the weight is starting to come back down. :) Gee, 2 more weeks and AF will be back to give me more grief.

Bootcamp Day 2

2010-02-17T09:16:00.000-08:00

Day 2 is complete.

And I've discovered something for myself that I've always heard but never paid much attention to. Soda pop, especially with caffeine, makes people (namely ME) retain water. Yep. No more of that. I found this little bit of an article:

Caffeine, for instance, is a known diuretic, explaining its presence in many pain relievers made for women with PMS. It will shed a bit of water weight when taken in small amounts. Too much caffeine can have a reverse effect, causing dehydration and thus a cycle where the body attempts to retain water.

I think for me, even the caffeine in a Coke, if I drink it more than occasionally (which I have been wanting to lately for some odd reason), has that reverse effect and I end up actually retaining water. So yeah, I've got to stay away from that. It's not good for me anyway. I know that, but for some reason lately I've been wanting it. But it's not worth it.

Bootcamp time!

2010-02-16T10:03:00.001-08:00

Starting today, I'll be doing a short "bootcamp" with Callanetics Evolution, doing it every day through Friday, maybe Saturday. I need a boost to get my butt back in gear. I'm not sure what kind of results a short bootcamp will give me, but at the very least it'll get me back into groove. Depending on what I get from it I might take a couple days off and then do another short one.

So today: Callanetics Evolution

Tomorrow--Friday: ditto

Confession time...

2010-02-15T10:33:00.000-08:00

This weekend has been pretty loosey-goosey. Time to pull it back together!!

And yes, I will be avoiding the scale for a few more days. If I didn't know better (which I really don't these days), I would swear I'm about to have another batch of "ladies' days."

Rest is good

2010-02-12T11:46:00.001-08:00

No workout today. :) Back at it tomorrow though.

Checking in

2010-02-11T06:45:00.000-08:00

Today's workout (and I actually got up at 6am to do it!):

Cardio Callanetics (both cardio and toning): 521 calories and 32 grams of fat burned.

Happy Wednesday

2010-02-10T09:23:00.000-08:00

Callanetics Evolution. Burned 341 calories & 23 grams of fat. :)

Now, my AF water weight tends to hang around for several days, so I'm not worrying about the scale until at least this weekend and maybe early next week.

Callanetics puts a lot of emphasis on strengthening that pelvic floor (any woman who's had babies knows how much trouble that can be). I have three kids, and that entire region just ain't what it used to be, if ya know what I mean. But I think things are improving.

I do need to take some more pictures one of these days. I'll post the differences in what I see, but the pictures I'm keepin' to myself! :)

You know you're retaining water when...

2010-02-09T07:17:00.000-08:00

Your wedding ring doesn't fit and you have to wear your backup ring. :)

So I'm avoiding the scale for obvious (ahem...monthly) reasons, but I did have a nice Cardio Callanetics workout this morning. I said goodbye to 327 calories and 18 grams of fat in about 30 minutes.

I had kind of an off day yesterday food-wise...just one of those blah type of days. So I'm actually glad that I don't feel like eating for a while today.

Monday's workout...

2010-02-08T13:22:00.000-08:00

Callanetics Evolution. :) 325 calories burned.

Oh joy...

2010-02-08T09:49:00.001-08:00

I was wondering where the AF water retention was. Oh...there it is. I found it this morning. :P

Ah well...not gonna let it frustrate me because I know it's meaningless.

It will be a happy Sunday!

2010-02-06T09:57:00.000-08:00

I have this jumper; my favorite one actually. It's navy blue and it's way cute. My mom (in-law) bought it for me about 7 years ago. I have worn it dozens of times, but it has not fit me in many months. Well, I thought "what the heck" this morning and tried it on.

Drumroll please....tomorrow I will be wearing this jumper to church!

And, Aunt Flow showed up this morning. I'm not very regular like I used to be, but I can usually tell at least a week before that it's coming because I put on weight and have the typical witchy symptoms. Well, I was actually surprised when she showed this morning because I didn't have those symptoms. I guess I've been irritable for a couple of days, but I have actually been LOSING weight this time, which is a miracle the week before AF.

HAPPY DAY (well, not the AF part)!!!!

Inches!

2010-02-05T10:09:00.000-08:00

Okay, I didn't write down my measurements the last time I took them, but I'll have to take a new set tomorrow and go from there. I'm pretty sure I've lost about 3" in my waist and 4" in my hips, which are the only measurements I can remember from last time. For me to lose more in my hips than my waist is pretty amazing, considering that my hips have always been the last and slowest thing to budge. YAY!

P.S. I slept in this morning. :)

So here's the story so far

2010-02-04T13:38:00.000-08:00

In case anyone wants to know. I'll do this in a timeline of sorts, and I'll be as accurate as I can.

Dec 31: Start a program of intermittent fasting (after reading about the health benefits and hearing success stories). This was hard at first, but I've found it really has tuned me into what my body wants and how much food it really needs (i.e. less than I thought, but certainly enough). No, I am not starving, and yes, I eat every single day. Plenty. :) I'm so used to this now, that I hardly even realize I'm doing it anymore. I'm to the point where I LOVE this, and I don't feel deprived in the least. I've taken a little time off of this here and there since then, which is fine, but I always feel better when I go back. I don't count anything. I don't stress over what to eat (or not to eat). The only thing I keep track of is balance. I try to keep to about 30% each carbs, fat, and protein, and this is easy to keep track of at the Daily Plate @ Livestrong.com. This is probably only temporary, as I think eventually the balance will be automatic. Anyway, it sounds weird but I love the freedom of this. I enjoy food again and the cravings I had before are all but gone.

Jan 1-18: Weight loss of about 4 pounds after about 3 weeks of this. During this time I was working out 5-6 days per week, for an hour, doing cardio mixed with a little strength training (Leslie Sansone videos). No disrespect to Leslie because these are great workouts, but I got kinda bored with these just from doing them alot. I decided it was time to shake up my exercise routine. (Prior to December 31st I had been using these workouts regularly for a while and on and off for years). Plus, my left knee had been giving me minor problems previously. These workouts didn't make it any worse (unless I did the jogging parts of the workout, which you don't need to do), but they didn't help either.

January 19th: My first Callanetics workout. I started with the 1986 original 10 Years Younger in 10 Hours workout, which I found on DVD from Amazon. This is a great workout and Callan's original explanations still go through my head when I do the newer video, Callanetics Revolution, released in 2007. Since then I have done, as I said in my last post, just over 7 hours of Callanetics toning exercises. I do the 30-minute Cardio Callanetics about 3x per week, and an hour of Callanetics Evolution (new and I think improved version of the original) 3x per week. I have done Cardio Callanetics plus the 35-minute toning section (on the same DVD) a couple of times, counting that as a cardio day.

As of today (February 4th) I have lost 9.5 pounds. So since starting Callanetics on January 19th, I am down 5.5 pounds. I think shaking up my workout routine, doing less cardio and more strengthening exercises, has really made a difference that I can see and feel.

Doth mine eyes deceive me?

2010-02-04T09:26:00.001-08:00

I've done 6 full Callanetics sessions (started with the original and have moved to Evolution). Besides that, I've done the Cardio Callanetics 3 times, twice followed by the Callanetics toning exercises (on the same DVD) of about 35 minutes. So let's see...just over 7 hours of the toning exercises.

If my eyes aren't playing tricks on me, my butt is noticeably higher and tighter, saddlebags smaller, and backs of my thighs smoother. I did take some "before Callanetics" pictures, and maybe next week I'll snap some more and compare (NO, they are not being posted here...they are for my comparison only). I promise to be honest about my findings, but for now just looking in the mirror, I'd say 7 hours of Callanetics has already made a significant difference. And, my left knee, which has been bothering me, actually feels better and bothers me much less since I started.

So excited!

Hurts so good!!!

2010-02-03T06:27:00.001-08:00

Ahh...Callanetics Evolution. I forgot to start my HR monitor, but I'm guessing around 350 calories burned, similar to last time I did it.

So glad I found this. :) I feel like a giant rubber band.

:) :) :) :) :) :) :) :)

2010-02-02T09:42:00.001-08:00

I'm down again today,

I'm down again today...

Hi-ho the dairy-o

I'm down again today!!!

And now, I really need to stay off until Sunday so I don't obsess. Seriously.

Know what serendipity is?

2010-02-01T10:02:00.000-08:00

It's when you find or discover something you didn't expect.

I wasn't going to get on the scale this morning. I was going to wait until Sunday, which is the day I like to officially "weigh in." I've been stuck for several days and I wanted to wait a week before weighing again. Well, I'm glad I thought "what the heck" this morning and got on, because when I looked down I found a lower number than I expected, and realized I'd broken a 10-lb mark I've been working for! I won't tell you which one. :) And, this was after my workout which of course had me drinking water.

This makes an 8-lb loss since I started my new eating style (no I am not on a "diet") and consistent workouts a month ago. If you've been reading this you know I recently changed my workout routine, (i.e. Callanetics) so that probably had something to do with the drop. I am very happy with this, especially since I really haven't deprived myself eating the things I've wanted. Delayed maybe, but never deprived.

I am SOOOO very pleased and thankful!!!

Wow...what a workout!

2010-02-01T08:45:00.000-08:00

Boy, that Cardio Callanetics workout is a winner. WOW. I can't believe how sweaty I am after 30 minutes. It's definitely hard work, but it feels wonderful. I hope they will make more of these.

Burned: 330 calories, 18 grams fat. A little less than last time but I think that's to be expected, as I spent more time in the 70-80% zone and less time above it. But that means more fat burning, so it's okay with me.

I just really love this one.

OOPS....

2010-01-30T09:10:00.000-08:00

...and that's all I'm going to say about that!!

Callanetics Evolution

2010-01-29T09:20:00.000-08:00

I like it. THE BURN, THE BURN!!!

Speaking of burn: 358 calories and 24 g. fat

There are a couple exercises I wasn't feeling much, so I'll need to pay closer attention to how I'm doing them to make sure I'm in the right position. Other than that...BURN BABY BURN!!!

This just in!

2010-01-28T10:15:00.000-08:00

I got a pair of jeans for Christmas that I couldn't even get up all the way, let alone button. Guess who's wearing them right now? :) I freely admit they are tight and will hopefully stretch a little as I wear them (since I'm not going anywhere right now anyway), but they're ON. Now about this muffin top...well...all things in time.

I have a new favorite cardio workout!

2010-01-28T06:49:00.000-08:00

I wasn't sure what to expect based on the Amazon.com reviews, but I tried this today and I LOVE IT. There is a cardio section and a toning section, and I did both. First about the cardio: It's so gentle to the joints, so low-impact, and made me feel graceful even though I'm not. :) But here's the kicker: even with these slower, flowing movements of the cardio portion, my heart rate monitor registered 360 calories burned...in under 30 minutes! I was impressed! The whole thing just felt good. Not quite as easy to follow as Leslie Sansone maybe, but the whole workout just stretched me out and obviously got my heart rate up there. And it's so gentle, they don't even wear shoes. You totally don't need them. Awesome.

The cardio section is followed by about 35 minutes of Callanetics toning exercises. I already knew I'd like those. This section won't replace a full traditional Callanetics workout, but I still feel it. These new videos place an emphasis on tightening the pelvic floor muscles (you know...the ones that get all stretched out and wrecked during childbirth, resulting in unpleasant side effects--if ya know what I mean). I had never realized how closely related those muscles are to the lower abs. They say in the video that tightening the pelvic floor will also engage your lower abdominals, and if you do that during these exercises (both the cardio and toning parts), you'll feel that. All told, this whole workout (a little over an hour) burned 687 calories!

I can't wait to try the Callanetics Evolution (different video...60 minutes, toning only) tomorrow. But I really love this cardio section. I didn't expect to be so sweaty by the end. BONUS!

Callanetics today!

2010-01-26T06:43:00.000-08:00

I was pleasantly surprised at the number of calories I burned with those tiny little movements and stretches.

Burned: 369 calories and 23 grams of fat in 51 minutes.

I sure feel worked over today. Think JELL-O for legs, and the ab work is killer. But, I am DEFINITELY seeing changes after only doing this workout 4 times. They say it works fast and I think they're right. Wow!

YAY!

2010-01-24T13:53:00.000-08:00

At church today someone noticed I'd lost weight and complimented me on it. She's my new best friend. :)

Ouch!

2010-01-22T08:45:00.000-08:00

These stomach exercises are going to be the end of me. Or at least the end of the dreaded "kangaroo pouch" so lovingly given to me by my three children.

There are four different stomach exercises in my Callanetics workout. Okay, fine. But how many repetitions do you do of each exercise? 100! Yeah, that makes 400 pulsing little stomach exercises that LOOK deceptively easy but are anything but. If this doesn't flatten the tummy I dunno what will.

Know what though? After that workout I definitely feel worked over, but incredibly relaxed. There is a lot of stretching involved too.

Re-focused and doing good.

2010-01-22T06:39:00.000-08:00

I just haven't slept well the past couple nights. Yesterday I didn't work out at all and I'm planning it for a little later on this morning. Callanetics.

Haven't been as careful lately...

2010-01-20T08:54:00.000-08:00

The last few days, I've not been paying as much attention to my eating and keeping it to good quality food. I am re-focusing on that today. Amazing how you feel the difference when you eat well, and when you don't.

Workout done

2010-01-20T08:52:00.000-08:00

* Leslie Sansone's 3 Mile Advanced Walk

* Burned 352 calories and 22 grams of fat

Workout accomplished...

2010-01-19T10:22:00.000-08:00

Now I feel like pasta. Not like eating it, but like I'm made of it. I remember doing this workout with my mom a couple of times back in the 80s when it came out...but I certainly never did it consistently. A week or so ago I got looking at it and reading reviews and decided to give it a try. And holy crap. The reviews say it works, works FAST, and I believe them. It's supposed to deliver the tightening and lengthening of muscles similar to Pilates, but work very quickly. The exercises are definitely hard (holy abs and hips), but you don't sweat much and it's not aerobics. The movements are TINY but very specific to work very deeply to cinch everything in. You definitely feel worked out and sore (I'm still sore from Saturday in places, but did it again this morning for more punishment), but relaxed at the same time.

Anyway, I started with the original 80s Callanetics (10 Years Younger in 10 Hours) workout, now out on DVD, and I'm waiting to get the newer, updated one. The original is great if you can ignore the bad hair and makeup. :) Plus, this actually seems to be helping my knee so far. I haven't measured but I did take some pictures to compare after a few weeks of this. I can definitely feel it though!

Monday workout report:

2010-01-18T09:01:00.003-08:00

* 4 Really Big Miles

* Burned 449 calories and 28 grams of fat

Knee is feeling pretty good.

WHOOHOO!

2010-01-16T08:26:00.000-08:00

Okay, I'm down 5 pounds in the last 2 weeks, even though dear Aunt Flow showed up this morning, which always tends to put a few extra on. So yeah, it's going well. :)

I DID work out this morning, but I forgot to put on my heart-rate monitor. It's all good.

GUESS WHAT?!?!?

2010-01-15T15:22:00.001-08:00

I'm feeling and seeing definite shrinkage happening. Yesss!!

Thursday's Workout:

2010-01-14T06:54:00.000-08:00

Leslie Sansone's 5-mile (the one pictured below).

Burned: 628 calories and 36 grams of lovely, unwanted FAT. Eww.

According to my heart-rate monitor, since I started using it for workouts on January 1st, I've burned 4,971 calories and 90 grams of fat (roughly 2 pounds) altogether while working out. My numbers reported here could be a little off, since I was typing them from memory (without my monitor right next to me).

All that work for 2 pounds of fat? Well, guess ya gotta do what you gotta do. Burning the calories definitely is #1, since you have to create that calorie deficit (what is it, 3,500?) to lose a pound.

Interesting article

2010-01-13T07:32:00.000-08:00

I stumbled on a link to this article about intermittent fasting (IF). I thought it was interesting, and I liked what he said about being able to tune into your body and distinguish psychological hunger (which runs by habit or the clock) from real physical hunger (when you actually need food). I've been trying to tune into that and only eat when I'm really hungry, and it's amazing how much less food I really need than I thought. So much of what I was eating was simply a habit, or looking at the clock and thinking that because of what time it was, I should eat something. If you want to read the article, it's RIGHT HERE.

Workout report

2010-01-13T06:53:00.000-08:00

Did Leslie Sansone's 3-Mile Advanced Walk. I needed a little shorter one since I hit the snooze button this morning. ;) Burned 426 calories and 24 grams of fat.

Frozen diet dinners? You might be getting more than you bargained for

2010-01-12T16:12:00.000-08:00

My local news station ran this article today. Apparently those frozen diet meals from Lean Cuisine, Weight Watchers, etc. can have more calories than they are telling you.

Read the article here.

As for me, I haven't eaten very many of these. I figure the only way to know what's in something is to make it yourself. Any time I've eaten a frozen meal like this, I've come away disappointed and much less than satisfied.

Just my 2 cents. :)

Workout report for Tuesday

2010-01-12T09:15:00.000-08:00

Workout: 4 Really Big (sweaty) Miles

Burned: 516 cals & 30 grams fat

Not burning as many calories as when I started, but that's to be expected I think. And the fat burned in relation to calories is going up.

Still, if anyone has any suggestions for other low-impact aerobic workouts I can try, let me know. After a little while longer it will be time to shake up the routine.

I opted for sleep this morning...

2010-01-11T14:31:00.000-08:00

and I needed it, so I don't feel bad about it. :)

I've only lost a few pounds (4 now), but if my eyes do not deceive me, I am getting smaller. A lot of people say they notice inch loss before weight loss, so I don't think that's unreasonable. I'm just glad something is happening, especially since I'm finding the whole thing relatively easy.

Man, I cannot wait to go "shopping" in my closet and drawers, where I have tons of clothes that are too small.

Today's workout report:

2010-01-09T19:42:00.000-08:00

Workout: Leslie Sansone's 3 Mile Advanced Walk

Burned: 512 calories and 25 grams of fat.

The trend continues of spending more time in "training zone." This workout is only about 45 minutes long, but I still was dripping by the end. I love it. :)

Back in action...

2010-01-08T06:46:00.000-08:00

My knee felt more mobile this morning so I went ahead with the workout. During the jogging parts I kept with a fast walk and still got a good workout, and otherwise just tried to be gentle with the old knee joint.

Workout: 4 Really Big Miles

Burned: 528 calories & 30 grams of fat!

Again, time spent in the "training zone" continues to go up, so I think that means I'm getting into better shape. Unfortunately it may also mean I'm eventually going to have to work harder & change things up to get results. Which I suppose is okay...nobody wants to get bored with their workouts.

I weighed in today!

2010-01-07T08:53:00.001-08:00

I am down 3 pounds in the last 7 days. That makes me happy. :)

Well, shoot!

2010-01-07T06:48:00.000-08:00

I'm sidelined from working out today due to my knee, which was a bit swollen and sore last night. It hasn't hurt really at all except going up and down stairs, and even my workouts haven't bothered it much at all. Still, I figure it probably could use a break, but I'm disappointed because I've really been on a good streak. Oh well. I think tomorrow's workout is a game-time decision. We'll see how the knee feels after a day of rest. I think I know what the issue is (thank you WebMD). It just needs some rest, a little ice, and some anti-inflammatory drugs. A brace for working out in would probably be a good idea too.

Anyway, just because I have to take a day off of working out DOES NOT mean I can't still make progress today. So there.