Tuesday, June 06, 2006

Walking the Walk

Hubby took the kids to the park, so I walked and walked for thirty-five minutes. I was sweating like a pig, ran upstairs, then vacumed the living room. I jumped in the shower and turned on the oven, just a few minutes before they came back. Hubby cooked dinner (BBQ chicken, mashed tatoes and corn on the cob) and cleaned the kitchen. How nice!! I couldn't have been more thrilled. At around 8:30, I was ready to pass out. I slept really good until the baby awakened at 10:30pm, then again around 2:30. What happened to my sleep-through-the-night baby? Man, I gotta get her back!

Tuesday, May 30, 2006

I'm Thinking, Tonight's the Night

Working out again is scary. I know, it's only been two weeks, but it's still scary. Getting back into the swing of things is never easy and I'm not blind to it. I know it's going to be hard as hell, but I'm willing to do the work.

There are lots of reasons to workout; for your health, your state of mind, your stamina, to lose weight. Yes. I agree that these are all good reasons and all are reasons that I am starting up again, but there's another very important reason to get the booty moving - my favorite jeans. My favorite jeans (in black) are not the all coveted skinny jeans (and I do have a pair of those). No. These are the jeans that make me feel so good. They make me feel a lot of things, actually. Comfortable, sporty, trendy, sexy, fashionable...they are awesome! So awesome, in fact that I've tried to find a back-up pair, just in case something ever happened to these but to no avail. They are unique...one of a kind...special, like me.

I haven't been in these jeans since last winter (before the baby came). I can't even find them, but I know they are near...waiting ever so patiently to be worn again. We miss each other and they only way we can find ourselves skin to denim again is for me to lose this baby weight. It seems silly, I know but wouldn't you be wiling to do whatever it takes to feel all those emotions? I mean, come on!

Friday, May 26, 2006

The Happy Couple Working Out Together...um, Soon.

My hubby suggested that he and his lovely wife work out together, to get in that quality time we so desperately need. I told him I was all for it and he says we'll get started soon. When's soon, I wonder? I've been off the wagon for a couple of weeks, now and I don't want him pushing too hard. He has a tendency to whip out the personal training hat and that stuff just doesn't fly to well with me on the initial. If I've been working out for a while, then I really don't care. Since there have been a couple of weeks there where I've gotten soft, I need time to build up.

I'm sort of afraid of how my body is going to react to the machines. Will they itch and burn again? Man, I was so happy to have gotten past that point before. Will I need to do it all over again? And the elliptical, Lord the elliptical. I fear it, now. Two minutes was painful...I wonder if I'll even last thirty seconds? Body memory to the rescue. Let us pray...

Wednesday, May 24, 2006

Just right!

Oh, thank God for my husband getting a "light bulb" with this blasted swamp cooler. He figured out what was wrong with it and wham! Instant cool air in my house. Hallelujah! I couldn't be more thrilled. I need to start back up, but haven't as of yet (my mother-in-law is still at our home). It's funny but she's kind of "theif in the night" quiet and has, on more than one occasion, scared the crap out of me by just sort of appearing out of no where. I hesitate to work out in my skivies until she's gone (I think on Thursday).

Tuesday, May 16, 2006

My House is Too Hot


I didn't work out much, this weekend. In fact, I got in one more episode of "Hooked" then didn't work out again. Not because I wasn't motivated but, dear Lord! My house is so hot! We are having unseasonably warm weather in our neck of the woods (about twenty degrees warmer, in fact). It's nuts! I'm not used to nearly 90 degree days in May and my house isn't really prepared for it. We've now got fans everywhere to try and keep the house cool. By 5:00 p.m., you're nearly melting and it doesn't really cool down until 11 or 12 in the evening. I'm not enjoying this at all. So, it makes no sense to get myself all sweatied up only to take a shower, get out and start sweating all over again. Yuck! I left Nashville sweats, I'm not trying to do that again. I'm really hoping we'll get another couple of cool days before true summer arrives, then I can workout on those days then hopefully by then, we'll have some sort of cool house air.

It's looking as if our neighbor's friend will never come and install the air conditioner we so desperately want and need and I know my husband is never going to get on the roof to service the swamp cooler. Am I destined to burn up, implode, melt in my own home? Death by heat...doesn't sound too pretty. I'm not sure what I'm going to do because I was so motivated and ready. Another stumbling block to get over. Hate those blocks, I gotta tell yah. Please oh please anonymous friend of my neighbor, if you're out there and you read blogs about weight loss and new lives, this is your friend Ryan's neighbor who is in desperate need of that air conditioner you're holding for ransom. What is the ransom fee, I'll pay whatever, if only to keep my butt from getting any rounder. Is a check okay?

Wednesday, May 10, 2006

Hooked On Aerobics




Man oh man. My love for the 80's is out of control! This was a show that began in the conservative state of Utah, then went to mass television in the early 80's. It's too funny - the outfits, the music, the goofy looking man instructors, but they did get some things right. The three levels say low effort, medium effort and high effort. Actually, it should say the three levels in terms of impact. The high really looks like you could hurt yourself. On the other hand, the medium and low are not so intense that you could really injure yourself. In fact, the instructors encourage people who are of limited mobility to try the low effort and cater it to their own needs. Even those who are physically disabled should try. Now, what workout program allows for that kind of flexibility with it's viewers?

The program still airs on the KBYU channel here (that's the public broadcasting channel designated for BYU...high Mormon influence) on Saturday mornings. A couple of years ago, I would set the VCR to tape the shows, so I have several episodes. The other nice thing is that there are no commercials to interrupt the workout. I did one of these last night, so that I wouldn't wake up my mother-in-law (the workout room is next to the guest bedroom). I pendulumed, ponied, chugged and grape-vined my way into a heavy sweat,then jumped into the shower. I did well, for not having done a workout in the last few days. I was proud of myself.

Today, I feel really good and am thinking another episode is in order this evening. I think I will stretch a bit more (although, there is a stretching segment). I think I may be headed for a Charlie horse in my right calf today. I've been flexing like crazy to try and ward it off.

So here's a bit more information about the workouts, if you're interested.

My Hooked on Aerobics Review
There are three instructors, as I indicated earlier. The cast is made up of a host and two additional instructors. The host, a very pretty, almost exotic looking woman named Ellen, warms up the viewer and shows them some of the steps that will be used in that episode's workout. The hosts then rotates to the left (like Volleyball...hmmm) and the workout begins with the second instructor. Intensity is increased and by that person's end, the heart-rate chart appears to make sure you have reached your training zone. Rotate! The next (third) instructor takes the viewer through a series of moves and then...rotate! Our original host has returned. Again, a series of moves and...rotate! The second instructor who, once again, stops at the end to allow for a quick heart-rate check. Rotate! We have our third instructor taking us through moves that are, hopefully, a little less intense. I've watched many an episode and I often wondered if they allowed BYU students free run of the audio. The music is sometimes way too fast or entirely too slow. Rotate! We're back to the lovely Ellen who cools us down and gives us some additional stretching time (encouraging the viewer to continue stretching, even after the program ends). With a quick plug to the write in to the station with questions, our workout ends and the viewer is left worked out and energized.

Pros - a. The variety of workout intensities. I would never recommend the high due to possibly killing your knees or another living person. I've seen so much bouncing around that it's scary. Truly 80's, before we knew how bad it was for people b. The variety of instructors. If you don't like one, another is bound to start up sooner or later c. The pace. This definitely clips along without a lot of lag time. You don't feel like "it's never going to end"d. The female instructors are non threatening (no cheerleader types, thank God), pleasant and attractive. They appeared to be in their late twenties to early thirties (hard to tell with all the 80's make-up), average height with fit bodies. Not too skinny and very tone. Achievable results in instructors. I really like that.

Cons - a. The clothing. Ugh! What the hell were we thinking wearing belts during a workout, anyway? The color scheme is enough to either distract or blind you. Geesh! Ellen has a lot of hair and most times it's braided and in a ponytail, but there are episodes where I think she's going to smack the hell out of herself with her hair b. A couple of the male instructors are totally annoying to hear, strange looking and too aggressive. There is only one I find tolerable and he comes across as a dad-figure c. Guest instructors. There are about 6 or 7 standard instructors but, every so often, they bring some random person on who (most times) looks utterly ridiculous and out of place. They never speak and look like little aerobic puppets; "Do my bidding! Jump, I say. Jump!" d. the music isn't the best. As I said before, they catered this show to a Mormon audience initially. Very conservative with their dress, mannerisms and music. Once they went mass-market, that changed a bit, but not by much. Many of the songs sound like other, more known 80's songs. There are even a couple of songs heard on some famous t.v. shows of the time (Love Boat & Fantasy Island) Some of the music sounds just plain stupid e. There are many editing problems. I understand that they taped the first twelve episodes one after the other, wiping down the instructors and adding more make-up between takes (eww, nasty!). Then, when they went nationwide, they taped more episodes daily. Sometimes, our instructors seem to be lost or unsure of what to do next. Hesitations between moves, primarily (okay, we've ponied for two minutes, now what?). Sometimes, Ellen would make all sorts of mistakes in her "speech" to the viewers. One I remember distinctively is "Remember, aerobics isn't for everyone," (when that's what they touted from show to show) and "Let's get hooked on maerobics." Hmmm. Maerobics. Sounds like a disease.

So, there you have it. These episodes are not on DVD and there are a couple of VHS tapes you can buy, but they're expensive for VHS. I would imagine, with the resurgence it's had here in Utah, they will be converting those episodes to DVD soon enough.

Other than that, the eating is good, I'm on a new supplement and hubby has me doing a colon cleanse for the next fifteen days. Doesn't that sound appealing!

Monday, May 08, 2006

One More and then...Break!

I worked out to FitPrime again on the fifth. I did much better this time around and felt really good, afterwards. Hubby caught me in mid pump and asked me to use the mat when I'm working out from now on. I guess he's afraid I'll sweaty up the carpet too much and he's probably right.

Saturday night and Sunday, no workouts for me. Instead, I drank myself into almost a stupor (not a good thing) but it sure was fun. Tonight, I'm going to get back at it with some cardio on the machines. Well, that's the plan and I hope it comes to fruition I need to burn off all those empty calories I drank over the weekend. The good news is that I didn't eat a bunch of horrible things, like I could have. I'm proud of myself for not going over board on the eating, during this crucial period. Now, if I could just leave the spirits alone....

Thursday, May 04, 2006

Burn Baby Burn


I climbed onto the elliptical trainer last night for the first time since I've had the baby. Yeah. I'm still looking or my quads. They were on fire! I knew that I'd only be able to do five minutes, getting on, but after only fifty seconds I thought I would die. So, two minutes was all I could muster (I know, I know. I felt like a total weakling, too). Then, I jumped onto the treadmill for 25 minutes, walking at a pretty fast clip and doing only about three minutes worth of a jog (this portion's music really didn't allow for much jogging). It wasn't fast enough for a run; however, try walking to "Turn the Beat Around" and see how much you're sweating, afterwards? Phew!

After my five minute cool-down, I thought I'd give it another go on the elliptical. I burned thirty calories in the next two minutes. Man, that thing is great for burning up those pesky calories. I really hate the build-up period, you know? I just want to jump on and be where I was this time last year but, alas. I must practice patience and work my way back up. Rome wasn't built in a day...


She looks so happy, doesn't she? Yeah. I didn't quite look like this last night. This is the model I have, by the way; a Proform 675. It's going to be great again (my ability to workout on a whim with no problem), I'm sure. I'm going to continue to be optimistic (yes, even if it does kill my quads).

Wednesday, May 03, 2006

Woo, Lord. My abs!


Mercy! I worked out to The Firm:Volume 4 or Time Crunch Workout. Yikes! I was pretty much sweating buckets by the fifteen minute mark (this is a forty-five minute video). I only stopped twice; once, during the "step up, step down" routine on the 10" box with weights (a rotation of bicep curls, laterals, and kick backs), and during one of the segments for the ab routine. Geesh! Those reverse crunches were kicking my tail (seeing that I have no muscle tone whatsoever in that area, right now). I just had a baby, for God's sake! I told the t.v., "I'll get back to you on that one." Anyone who may have walked into my living room at that moment, would have thought me a raving lunatic. Oh, well. I'll hit them back on the full deal in a couple of weeks. I'm still building my strength, after all.

I did feel great, afterwards. It wasn't until this morning that I felt like someone had taken one of those vehicles (you know the kind...they use them to lay down the tar when they're redoing or putting down new roads) over my stomach a couple of times. Obliques, lower and upper abs...they were all screaming. Thank goodness for the stretching at the end or I really would have been in trouble.

Tonight? I'm thinking treadmill or maybe a go at the elliptical. The only thing about it (and I know it is less impact and burns more calories) is that it's so tough for me to get going on it again. I can usually only go in five minute spurts, at first so. Maybe, I'll warm up on it, then hop on the treadmill. We'll see. The working out after dinner was also a good idea. I was tired, but I didn't feel like I was going to pass out.

Now, we'll see if all of this is for not on Monday. Oh yeah, I'm weighing on Mondays, right now. That may change. We'll see.

Tuesday, May 02, 2006

Jog it!

That's the name of the CD I created to run to, since there's no t.v. in the workout room (yet). I took the baby down with me and put her in her bouncy chair, sent the oldest upstairs to eat dinner (and meditate on why lying is not good...she got herself grounded for trying to be a sneaky, devious five-year old and I will not have it), then started the disc. Here's the layout:

1. Borderline - I was moving at a good pace for warming up (about 2.8 or 2.9 mph). The baby thought I was funny as I tried to walk, punch the air and sing at the same time. I probably looked a wretched mess.

2. Love Shack - The pace picked up to about 3.3 to 3.4... Warm up's over and I'm moving (please keep in mind that I'm five feet, two inches so my stride isn't very long. This may be slow for some, but I was moving pretty good at this point.

3. Wild Wild West (80's) - Yeah, I was sweating on this one and it was the extended version or something. I thought this song would never end! (Around 3. 7)

4. Cool Jerk - Yep. I was off and running on this one (4.0) Phew! Thank goodness this song is only a couple of minutes long.

5. Tequila - 4.2 (this was too intense on a first go, so I slowed the treadmill down to a fast walk, again). I hope to be able to do the 4.2 in a week or so. It just wasn't going to happen last night.

6. The Hustle - 2.8 cooling down. Thank God! I've never been so happy to hear that song before in my life! It reminded me of when my girlfriend and I used to do step aerobics and our cool down song was UB40's version of, "I can't help falling in love with you". We were always thrilled to hear that song.

I then jumped on the elliptical for about a minute, stretched, then called it good. I showered, came back to the kitchen and cooked dinner. By eight, I was eating but completely wiped out. Normally, I don't eat so late but with the menu, I have to cook in order to eat. We've got great leftovers for the next couple of days (Italian Pasta Primavera was last night's entree). I put the baby down at 8:30, and was in bed by nine. It was nice to get the extra couple of hours of sleep. I don't plan on doing things quite in that order tonight. I think I'll eat first, wait a couple hours, then workout. There just wasn't enough on my stomach and that's definitely necessary for a workout as intense as what I did last night. Tonight, I'm thinking either another dose of FitPrime or a Firm classics (we'll see).

Today, we went out for lunch and I ordered the orange peel with tofu and veggies. My carb? Why, brown rice (loaded with fiber). It was tasty and I have leftovers. I'll eat them for dinner and will have had a really good day of nutrition (oatmeal for breakfast, protein bar for snack). Things are looking up.

Monday, May 01, 2006

FitPrime - Wow, it's serious...


So, I took on Susan Harris' Floor Burn last night for the first time and I gotta say, I took it like a trooper...but oh man. This DVD is no joke! My butt was screaming during the dog kicks and leg turn outs. She brings in the tall box from the firm videos, weights and a towel. I noticed she only has five-pounders...gone are the twenty-pounders she hefts in the Firm Volume 1.

You use the tall box to stabilize your body, but that also allows your leg more room for movement. Thus, more intensity...thus, more butt burning. Yikes! The stretching segment at the end is true Firm (Anna Benson gets the credit, I'm sure). I love how it allows for gaining flexibility. The yoga segments are pretty good, but I wish they'd slowed the music down more. When I think yoga, I think peace and tranquility. Birds chirping, ocean waves, kokopelli music and the like. They continue the hip hop beat that is found throughout the video, granted it's at a slower pace but it didn't allow me to "get into" the yoga like I wanted to.

That being said, that's the only complaint I have. I do like the music, actually. The set is very basic but there are not so subtle throw backs to the Firms of old with a bust on a pillar in the corner and some lace strewn around, Susan works out on a sort of oriental rug/mat...a little odd. Susan is alone with only her box, towel and weights to keep her company. She's an awesome instructor, concentrating on form and good, solid repetitions. I always enjoy her style of teaching. Instructors that are constantly screaming at you or (ahem) encouraging you along (Denise, please shut up!) are such a turn off. I especially dislike the ones that are working out with you, all of a sudden stop, and show you how your form should be on another participant on the tape. (Uh, Billy Blanks, do you hear me?) I mean, I know they're already in shape and really don't have to work the whole program, but I certainly appreciate it when they do. It's like, "I know, you're going through this and it's tough so, I should too, if only to keep you motivated" mentality. The only time showing form on others is acceptable is if you do it along with that person. Leslie Sansone is good about this.

Okay, so this totally turned into a review but I did want to show that I'm truly back on track. It's the first of the month and the first of the week. No better time, eh? Hubby has the workout room all set up, I might as well use it. Besides, I'm just so tired of being "large and in charge." I can certainly be "small and in charge". I'm wearing a size 14 today and it's a perfect fit. Yep. That pretty much did it for me. It's time to get back into those 8s. Sweat on, my sisters. Sweat on!

Thursday, April 27, 2006

Still Getting Started

I'm not in full swing yet, but the downstairs play room is now and exercise room - complete with Proform Treadmill, Proform Elliptical Trainer (my mother's) and Welso Inversion Table. Plus, plenty of free weights to use. Lovely...now, if I could just find some time. I will, I must. It's going to happen.

More to come...

Thursday, April 20, 2006

Coming up with Walking/Running Music


The treadmill is in a room now with no TV. No Thai? What the hell! So, I've moved hubby's CD player into the room and attempted to walk to music I already have. Okay. This may work for people who don't have rhythm, but for people like me who do...it totally throws you off! You step and the beat is behind or ahead of you. Not so good. So, I went to one of my favorite fitness review sites (www.collagevideo.com) and checked out their selection of walking music. I scrounged up some of the titles I already had and put them together on disc to walk and alternately jog too (on days I feel strong). Well, what a mess! When I was ready for the pace to pick up, the current song would maybe be a beat or two slower than the previous. I'd get into that niche then, all of a sudden, I'm off at a racing gallop. What the hell?

After my fiasco of a workout (some of which was done totally off the beat which made it really crazy), I got a pen and paper and really worked out how I want the disc to flow. This evening, I'll put a new disc together in hopes that I get it right this time. Man, pray for me. I probably had my heart cursing me out, last night. What the hell? (Oh yeah...I already said that).

Tuesday, April 04, 2006

The Firm and My Sore...

So, I put in the Classic Firm, Volume I yesterday morning, before I logged on for work. It's an hour long and they tell you not to do the whole thing if it's your first time or if it's been a while. That usually means that I do all of the upper body work then work through only one or two sets of each exercise in the lower body circuit. That way, I don't feel like I've been run over by a car the next day. It's all about pacing yourself. Anyway, that's what I did and I was really tired afterwards. It's a different kind of tired then say, not getting enough sleep. It's a, "My muscles have worked hard," tired...a tired I really miss.

Today, my butt is humming and my legs are singing. Geeze! I'd forgotten what kind of work those moves put your body through. It's good, don't get me wrong but, on man! Now, I'm totally psyched but I my schedule is still so sporadic. Hubby takes the girls when he can but timing will be difficult for both of us until the baby is older.

Nice side effects to working out that I'd forgotten: good soreness, body/muscle tired, endorphins, appetite suppressant, energy, horniness, mind clarity, tone everything. It'll be so great when these are all regular again.

Monday, March 27, 2006

What Certain things can do

If you jump over and read my post for today on the other blog site, you'll understand why this happened over the weekend:

Saturday - No breakfast, Wendy's Jr. Hamburger and small chili for lunch, side salad with vinegrette, 2.5 cheddar biscuits, 3 lobster rolls, stuffed flounder, mashed potatoes and one bahama mama from Red Lobster for dinner (Date with hubby. It was definitely a reason to celebrate). I walked on the treadmill for 35 minutes burning 200 calories and walking 1.85 miles at 3.4 mph. Getting better every time!

Sunday - a few crackers and cheese from the church fellowship hall after worship service, (hubby and I get into it after grocery shopping), no proper lunch (a small bowl of cereal and a few pieces of trail mix). No dinner...I can't eat when I'm upset.

Monday - Got on the scale this morning and am two pounds down. Small bowl of cereal (hubby is, at least talking again), a healthy choice lunch with a side of pasta and broccoli hubby made for dinner last night, a few pieces of trail mix and some saltines with swiss cheese for a snack. SunnyD fruit punch and 7-up mixed together to drink (no water) I know...shame on me. If the chicken defrosts in time, we'll have Shipwreck casserole for dinner.

I gotta run to the store but if I can keep baby quiet, I'll try to do the Firm again. We'll see. Toning is just as important as cardio...no more wings for me!!

Thursday, March 23, 2006

Keeping up with the Momentum


I managed to keep the momentum today. I fed the baby at 4:15am and finished up around 4:25am, which gave me time to throw on my tennies and a sportsbra. Then, I made my way into the living room and got all prepped for toning, toning, toning.

The picture to your left is the video I used this morning. I absolutely love The classic Firm videos, but this one isn't my absolute favorite (but it is only 34 minutes long which is speedy compared to the other videos). It's a lot of ab work, but also inner thigh and outer thigh toning, tables, and gluteals. My tummy is already tender and usually I don't feel muscle workout soreness for, at least, 48 hours. Yikes!

You may be wondering why I stressed the fact that I prefer the classic series. Well, it has more to do with aesthetics. The older, 80's videos were high class productions, filmed with a faux mansion set and gorgeous cinematography. I know, it's only a workout video, but those aspects make them all the more worthwhile. Some of the music is really outdated and chessy, but the exercises, positions and forms? There's nothing that compares. The new videos are sort of bland, but they retain the principles from the old videos. There not just blowing smoke with the guarantee, either. By workout 8, I always start seeing the definition (I'm anxious for that again. Triceps, come on out!).

My favorite tape is the one to the right. Susan Harris leads this tape and, believe me, she puts a body to work! Every muscle group is addressed and I truly believe I've arrived when I can complete the entire 60 minutes without taking breaks or stopping (unless, of course, the performers stop). Again, it's 80's mod and the music and make-up, for that matter, are over-the-top but who cares! If you love the 80's like I do, these little things will only serve to keep you interested. One thing to note is how strong this lady is. I mean, she probably weighs 115 pounds soaking wet, but she's hefting twenty-pound dumbells like a trooper. She's totally my role model! I think I'll be trying this one out again on Saturday, if hubby can give me that much time. We'll see.

Food was pretty good, but I got a little carb happy during breakfast. Hey, what's breakfast without carbs? Anyway, it's not something I do every morning:

Breakfast -3 Aunt Jemima, Frozen Pancakes, approximately two tablespoons regular syrup (I refuse to by light. That stuff is nasty!), 5 canadian bacon slices (low in calories and fat, but packed with protein!).

Lunch - Smart Ones Tuna Casserole Gratin

Dinner - Parmesan Crusted Chicken with Cream Sauce (I've never seen my daughter eat so much chicken. It was amazing. Hubby liked this one, too.)

So, tomorrow I work from home. I'll have to remember to eat because, I start going and totally space it. I'm also trying to get my water down, but that always takes time. Here's to keeping up the momentum.

Wednesday, March 22, 2006

Getting Started

So, I finally, finally, finally got started with my workouts tonight. Hubby, who normally sleeps till seven, wanted me to wake him up at 4:30 (my normal time to be home). I tried to talk him out of this early rise time, but he insisted that I do it. When I got home, I went straight to our room and roused him. The next thing I knew, he was getting dressed.

"What time does the babe need to be at dance class?"
"Well, it starts at 5:15, so I usually leave at 5:00."
"Should I take the baby?"
"What are you talking about?"
"I'm going to take the babe to dance class, so you can get your cardio in."

Well, how about that! So, off he goes with the kids and I'm left to my own devices. Normally, this would have been the perfect time to sneak in a jetted bath or a favorite movie, but I knew what I had to do. Down the stairs I went to meet my destiny...our treadmill. It looked welcoming, almost happy to see me. It warned me that I would start off well, but the discomfort would soon appear (itchy legs from all the jiggling fat, lower back soreness, fatigue), but not to give in to them and work through the discomfort. It encouraged me and reminded me of all the good times we shared in the past, as well as many late night walks to relieve family stress. It also hinted that I should start off slow and ease back into my routine. I heeded its advice and started at 2.0, warming up for five minutes. By the sixth minute, I was up to 3.2 and doing a really good job of pacing myself. I know that 3.7 and 3.8 are not far from me, but I also know it's been almost a year since I've walked aerobically. I should definitely take my time.

Well, I should have been sweating buckets, but I didn't even glisten the entire time. Dehydration. I am not drinking nearly enough water and I'm retaining serious water anyway because of TOM. Well, that will change tomorrow. I washed my big, 32 ounce cup and will take it to work tomorrow. Eventually, I will need to get down at least two of those bad boys before the end of each day. Phew! It's gonna take me some time to get back to that place for sure.

Finally, here are the stats: I had 2 packets of raisin and spice oatmeal for breakfast, along with decaf Chai tea. For lunch, lo mein and tofu with water and for dinner, a healthy choice chicken and veggie meal with Sunny D fruit punch (yes, I know. I should have had water). I walked 1.75 miles in 35 minutes (this includes the 5 minute warm-up and cool-down), burned 191 cals and 70 some odd fat cals. The goal is to get up in the morning after baby's last feeding and try to get some toning in. If that doesn't happen, hubby's got my back on Friday and Saturday to complete my three workouts this week. Wow, and I didn't even think I'd get them. I'm stoked!

Tuesday, March 21, 2006

Hopefully soon...



I really will post regularly here, once the workouts begin again. I keep hoping hubby can carve out time to watch the girls but with him being on graveyard shift, it's so difficult. He's usually asleep when I would want to try and get to it. Then, I'd have to cook while drippy and stinky, which sounds non to appealing. We'll get it together soon cause when forearms flap in the wind, you know there's trouble.

Thursday, February 02, 2006

Doing Well, but Need to Eat More

Eat more? Well, believe it or not, I only got in about 10 grams of fat yesterday. I suppose I psyched myself up way too much because all I had was a Teriyaki Chicken lunch (with water) then ate a Lean Cuisine Cafe Classic for dinner (with apple juice). That's it! No snacks, no breakfast. Not good.

Today, I got off on the right foot. Two packets of raisin and spice oatmeal (that ought to clean me out) lol! I will have small meals throughout the rest of the day and be better about eating. Can't fuel the machine without the fuel...That will really mean something when the workouts start up again. Don't want to pass out on the elliptical trainer or the treadmill.

Here's to pressing forward...

Wednesday, February 01, 2006

Baby, I'm Back!

If you've been following the new blog, then you know that I've had my new baby and we're enjoying our "get acquainted" time together. In the process of this, I've been thinking about how to get going again with my workouts and good eating habits again. I can't workout right away (due to the c-section), but I can start working on my eating for my health again.

Last Wednesday, I stepped on the scale for the first time since my last visit with the doc. For the record, I put on about forty pounds with this pregnancy. Yowza! Anyway, I was down 27 pounds, when I stepped on the scale. Woohoo! Talk about an ego boost. I'm still wearing loose fitting and my early maternity clothes, but I'm really happy that I don't have as far to go as I did the last time I got pregnant. (I only dropped about 15 pounds the last time and stayed at that weight for about a year).

So today, I've had lots of water and a Teriyaki chicken lunch. Hubby will be making 98% lean hamburgers for dinner tonight. I'm really looking forward to the weight training and time on the treadmill again. I caught a glimpse of some oft he clothes hubby got me when we were in Daytona last spring and they are super cute! I'm setting a goal to drop 20 by mid April and then see where it goes from there. I feel good and I can tell my body is responding better to this pregnancy than the last one. I'm hoping that it's a sign of the progress to come. Wish me luck!