Tasty Breakfast

I'm seriously making some changes this year. Paying closer attention to what I eat and not snacking mindlessly are my main short term goals. I really do want to try more recipes also. I have been experimenting with scrambled egg white omelets and am quite surprised at how easy it is to make them tasty. Since I am easing myself into the egg white routine, I used one whole egg (Egglands's Best), some All White liquid egg whites, one heaping teaspoon of Newman's Own mild salsa, several generous shakes of the powdered Parmesan cheese (is that even food?) and mixed it together thoroughly. I used my non stick cookware with just a touch of olive oil and made a omelet/frittata that I used as a filling for a Nature's Own Thin Sliced Bagel. I can honestly say it was almost as tasty as my usual whole egg and cheddar artery clogger. Guess you can teach an old(er) dog new tricks.

 What is your goal for the upcoming year? New healthier recipes or more exercise? I'm trying to do a combo.  I have finally figured out that I just don't do well lifting weights so I am doing exercises that are more of a resistance nature. The machines at the gym that you have to move, to make them move as well as wall push ups and a really easy, yet effective move called a "stick up".   Don't know about stick ups? Well, you can do them two ways. Simply hold your arms out to the side with your arms bent at the elbows and hands pointing upwards... then reach for the sky like you used to see in the old western movies (as in "it's a stick up"). If you add a calf raise as you reach for the sky, it gives you an extra workout. Return to the starting position and do nine more.  Easy and yes, even you can do it.

Hang in there everyone, this is going to be the year that we lose weight. I'm sure of it!

It's almost the new year!

It's almost the new year and I do feel rejuvenated.  I am ready to clean out the junk in my life and get back on the healthy train (not to be confused with Ozzy's Crazy Train).  I came across a two year old Ladies Home Journal at the spa last week and they allowed me to bring it home. (Really those gals need to replenish their magazines) In said mag, was a article with a seven day plan based on The Biggest Loser television show.  Since I already know what the exercise portion of this program is, I thought "what the what", so I am currently restructuring my menus according to The Ladies Home Journal seven day plan.

One of the things that I am never honest with myself about is bread and pasta.  On this plan, you will periodically see one slice of whole grain bread. NOT an entire loaf of bread in the form of oven baked cinnamon toast. I really needed to see seven days worth of meals printed out to remind myself of the extras that I have been eating.

I am a "nester", I like to get the house good and clean with dishes done and laundry fluffed and folded. This means I can snuggle in somewhere and read or do needlework and not have to worry about chores.  This also translates into snacking.  I don't eat because I'm bored or lonely, I eat because I love to eat. Period. Now, I'm certainly not saying that there aren't deep seated reasons for my love of the ritual of eating, there  are and I know it and I know how to deal with it. Sometimes I just fall back into old habits.

All that being said, I'm starting out this years' version of "Let's Lose Weight This Year" with a slightly different attitude.  I know that I'm in control and that my weight problems do NOT stem from any medical conditions.  I'm healthy and I'm ready (this week, anyway) to lose some more weight.

Of the twenty pounds that I lost last year, I gained back about six of it gradually. I know why and I know how to continue with losing in a healthy manner.  I hope, if there is still anyone that reads this little blog, I hope that you will join me in my continuing journey of losing weight and gaining confidence.

I will not give up

Even though I'm old, I will not give up. Even though I never get any comments here,I will not give up.  Even though I'm so tired of the rules of staying fit, I will not give up. Even though I ate six pieces of toast with jam for my breakfast this morning, I will not give up. 

Even though I want to, I will not give up.  Even though my back hurts, I will not give up.  Even though I have corns on my pinky toes, I will not give up.  Even though I really want to stop worrying about my weight, I will not give up.

Life is good.  I have food (obviously) and a sweet husband and two loving sisters.  I have a nice house and fun things to do with my free time.  I pretty much have it made.  Why would a gal in my situation feel defeated by the inability to lose weight?  I don't know.  It's the one thing that no matter what I do I can't control.  I really don't want to be consumed by numbers and grams and trans fats and words that end with "ose".  I don't want to be, but I am.  But you know what?  Even though... I will not give up.

I'm quitting the weight loss challenge at our gym

That doesn't mean that I've given up, it just means that I want to find a way to customize my workouts and not be at the mercy of a pre-determined generic workout.  I'm tired of dreading the sessions.  Everyone says working out is supposed to be fun.  Well, guess what...going out with your honey, that's what's fun.  Meeting up with friends where your hair looks good and you don't have to worry about passing gas in public because you are in a torturous position, that's what's fun. Meeting new people and not sweating on them when you shake their hand, that's what's fun.   Get my drift?

I tried to make the most of it, but truth be told, I don't give a rat's patooty if I never do another burpee or another mountain climber.  I'm ready to plan my own workout, doing the things that I like so the workout will be less aggravating (notice I didn't say fun). I think I can still be fit and feisty if I do it myself.  This is the second time I've tried the standard trainer driven workout plan of bosu balls and crab walks,  and this old gal is tired of people thinking I'm a miserable old coot, because I don't think military style calisthenics are fun.

So all that being said, I'll keep you posted on how it goes.  I'm not saying I'm smarter than the certified trainer, I'm saying she's not certified in motivating and training a Silver Fox like me.  I'll show them, you just wait and see!

The holidays are upon us

Well, the holidays are upon us and while we didn't overindulge too much for Thanksgiving, my delicate constitution isn't aware of that. Enough of that, I'm ready to get back on my regular plan of healthy eating. We had our  first weigh in last week (we're only weighing once a month) and I was down three pounds, but it really isn't indicative of anything.  I had eaten way too much the night of weigh in, in my mind it doesn't really count.

I am struggling with a team member that refuses to stop talking during our sessions and I feel like I'm being gypped out of some of the experience.  She is one of those gals that needs constant reassurance.  I really don't know if she has poor body image, or just needs attention.  She mentions the size of and burden of carrying her "butt" around all day.  How hard the exercises are because of her butt, how she doesn't want to lift weights because her arms are too big (what ever that means) and on and on.  The reason I join these weight loss programs is because I need the discipline of having a trainer.  I would not exercise as vigorously as I do if not for this program.  I'm beginning to wonder if it really is worth it. I am so tired of her constant chatter, that I'm wondering do I really need to balance on a ball and do push ups and such?  I really think that this will be my last round of this program.  I'm just not sure how I feel about things.  I know I am stronger than I was a year ago and that is actually my main goal. Strength and endurance comes from exercising.

I'm venting, I guess.  Why is it always so difficult to workout with a group? Is one out of every four people a jerk?  Last time we had  boy/girl teams with a team mate that was down right mean and was physically a bully to the other guy on the team.  Same trainer, nothing much was done, but that guy dropped out about halfway with an injury or something. Honestly, upon reflection, I think that the trainer is the problem.  I like her as a person and one-on-one she is a good trainer (I guess), but she really doesn't have much control of a team.

What are you thoughts on this? 

Here is a typical workout...

Our trainer is sick today, but she sent us a workout to do in her absence.  I had already told her, I wouldn't be able to show up, since I was so sore from Tuesday.  I'm glad I didn't because this is what she sent us to do:

Bike - 10 minutes 

Start at level 6

Minute 2 - level 8

Minute 4 - level 12

Minute 6 - level 14

Minute 8 - level 8 - finish at level 8.

Elliptical - 10 minutes (you choose which machine)

Either set it to a program or choose quick start

If you choose a program, select at least level 10.

If you select quick start, set it to level 8-12.

3 laps (lap 2 is backwards)

25 jumping jacks

25 pushups

1 minute plank

10 burpees

3 laps (all are forward)

24 alternating lunges (12 each leg)

25 wall taps (jump up and touch wall)

V-Sit - the hundred (body is in a v position - arms out straight and pulse hands - try to count to 100

25 Tricep dips (use the bench where the cubbies are)

3 laps (lap 2 is backwards)

Wall Squats - hold for 1 minute

Plank - 1 minute

25 mountain climbers

2 laps - walk last lap to cool down

Stretch!

I don't know about you, but this is quite a workout.  I'm going to try to do some of it on my own tomorrow. Wish me luck.

It's On Like Donkey Kong!

Well, today was the first day back with the trainer. I have been sick with a cold for several weeks, but I powered through.  Our group chose the name "Hips Ahoy". Pretty funny, huh?  Since we are using the same trainer as before, she knows what we are capable of doing and trains accordingly.  Today we did a mile on the track to start with. I had to do a "run a lap, walk a lap", but I still made the nine laps in under 14 minutes.  Pretty good for having basically taken 15 weeks off from any really strenuous exercising and having a cold.

For evaluation purposes, we also did crunches (63) and pushups (32) for a minute each.  Then she wanted us to do more cardio so she put us on the stationary bikes.  Started out at resistance of 8 for eight minutes, then went up to 10 for two minutes and then back down to 8 for two minutes and then 10 again.  At one point I felt really sick and had to go to the ladies room and get a wet paper towel, but I didn't upchuck.  I came back and finished up feeling OK.   She was monitoring the RPM's on the bike as well as the resistance and I had never done that. 

So, all in all, it was a really good session.  I like the gals on the team and my recovery time was quick. I'm really glad that I signed back up for this. The cost is $250.00 for working with a trainer twice a week for fifteen weeks.  Can't beat that. If I can hang in there, I'll continue on with the program next time and won't take a break.

That's it for now.  Remember to eat healthy, get some form of exercise, even if it's walking up and down your driveway.  It's exercise and you will feel better for it.

Orientation

Just went for orientation, weigh in and photo for the next round of Lose Big at our gym.  I weighed in at 186 with my shoes on.  That is a few pounds up from my last weigh in in May, but we weren't wearing shoes.  I think I have put on about 5 pounds, but I'm ready to get back in the groove. We don't start our official workouts with our trainers until next week, but I'm ready to hit the gym full force.  I want to lose another 20 pounds this go around.  I started off in January weighing 196+4.

I'll be making posts along the way with the types of exercises we are doing and any weight losses. This round ends in January so hopefully I will have lost almost 40 pounds in a year. That's what I shooting for.  How ever long it takes, I'm going to keep going until I lose 60 pounds. 

Anyone care to join me?  Weigh or measure yourself, check your fridge for trigger foods, and get ready to make some attitude adjustments.  We can do this.  If I can do it at my age (58) I know you can.  It's like anything else, it works if you work it.

Let's get in shape BEFORE the holidays

I know, I know...it's only a week until Labor Day, but I'm talking the food holidays, the ones that always seem to involve goodies.

November brings to the States the always popular Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving brings us turkey and all the trimmings, normally healthy veggies made unrecognizable by the addition of marshmallows, sugar, and other refined additives.  Shucks, I'll bet you know someone that adds a can of condensed...well, they call it soup... to at least one dish that is served.  What is that stuff anyway?

Well, if you're careful you can survive the onslaught of covered dishes and get ready for the real test. Because as we all know, Thanksgiving, in addition to being a very family oriented holiday, is the kick off for the shopping season.  While some seem to take this as justification to melt the plastic in their wallets when buying gifts for loved ones, other folks take to the kitchen to melt chocolate, sugar and butter while creating delights to give as gifts of food for their friends.

January rolls around and here you are rolling around from the massive amount of visceral fat that has accumulated from the consumption of the above mentioned gifts of food.  Sheesh, what a gift...another five pounds of body fat.  I could have done that myself and they could have avoided the astronomically high Discover bill, not to mention the time lost on baking dozens and dozens of cookies. Let's not even mention the burns they got from wrestling with that bubbling caldron of fudge that somehow overtook the neighborhood.

So just as you think your New Year's resolution for losing said poundage is really going to work, some well meaning friend (read saboteur) brings you a huge heart shaped box full of additional calories. Sigh...

You get my drift, there is always a food related holiday to get in the way of losing weight.  But we know  that the choice is really up to us.  We can graciously accept the food and then donate or re-gift it.  We can tell folks ahead of time that we won't be accepting any food gifts, and suggest a charity  that could use the money they would have spent. We could even promise to match the amount as incentive.  We can do lots of things to stay healthy.  We can...but will we?

Speaking for myself, I have signed up for an additional fifteen weeks with a trainer at our fitness center.  I did this in February and lost about 17 pounds.  I took a break to see how well I could do on my own, and I have maintained the weight loss, maybe going up and down 1-2 pounds.  I do know that I wont push myself like I will for my trainer, so here we go again.

Well, that's it for me for today.  Remember if you're bored and want to do some web surfing that I have two other blogs that are always looking for new friends.  Stop by and see me at ...A Walk In The Park or at my newest blog...Where We Really Create.  Never know, you just might find something interesting or make a new friend.   Till then, take care and have a great holiday.

Still here...

Just wanted you all to know that I'm still hanging in there.  Still hitting the gym 4-5 times a week and eating healthy.  My weight plateaued at 177, but I'm going to knock through that number and start losing again soon.

Since my weight loss posts have become few and far between, I am starting a new blog for anyone and everyone that has a hobby. The idea is to send me a picture of your studio and something you have created and I will post it on the new blog.  If you are interested, check it out here.  It is new today, so no followers yet, or any fancy stuff.  These things will be forthcoming.  I hope to see you there soon.

Still hanging in there

Just stopping by to let everyone know that the hubby and I are still hitting the gym every day.  He has lost all of his weight, of course, and I still have 25 pounds to go. I am currently at a plateau and am trying to change things up to "trick" my body into losing again.  I have started using the stationary rowing machine.  It's easy to do, doesn't hurt your knees, feet or butt and is said to be an excellent machine.  For some reason, no one uses them at our gym so they are always available.  I started out with five minutes and have worked up to 20 minutes.  If you are interested in proper technique and form when rowing, check out the Concept 2 website.  The reason I mention learning proper technique is because you can get a burning sensation in your shoulders if you are out of alignment.

Well, that's it for me today.  I am still logging in my exercise and food intake on My Fitness Pal and as I said, we are hitting the gym 4-5 days a week.

Hope everyone has a great holiday weekend (if you're in the States) and if you're not just have a great weekend. 

Take care and kiss you loved ones, they deserve it.

Boo

Yep, you heard me.

Losers

Yep, yesterday we had a loser picnic.  Our fifteen week challenge has ended.  The most weight lost was 60+ pounds by one of the guys.  His prize...a gift certificate to participate at no charge in the next round of the competition.  We all lost pounds, some more inches. It was a fun day and I think I've decided to do it again.  Next time there is an advanced group, so here we go again.

The next challenge doesn't start until mid June, so I'll still be working out and getting stronger.  Join me and we'll compare note.

Talk soon, so "come on with your rat killin'".

Last weigh in...

Well, we had our last weigh in on Thursday. I was down another pound.  I ended up losing 17 pounds and 19 inches during this competition.  I've lost 20 in all. The inches don't sound right to me, but my body fat was down a bunch also.  This is just a start for me.  I'm used to working out and using the food diary, so I'll continue in this vein until I lose around 30 more pounds. I learned a lot during the competition. The main thing I learned is that for me, I have to exercise and move a LOT.  I had always heard, "only 30 minutes a day, five days a week". I have to face up to it, that just wont work for me.  I have to get my cardio up and keep it up for  at least 45 minutes to one hour. I know this now and I think it will work for me.  We have our group party this weekend, so that should be fun.

I'll keep posting here until I lose my remaining weight.  I'll be keeping track of other weight loss blogs because you're never too old to learn something from someone else.

We'll talk soon.

Yep, it's me again...

Just stopping in to say hello and to introduce you to the newest members of our gym.  For some reason, their trainer only allows them to do their workouts outside the gym.

Aren't they the cutest things you have ever seen? If you click on the photo you can see the baby in the back screaming at me "hey, stop taking our picture...we're working out!".

We are entering into our last week of workouts with our final fitness evaluation being next Thursday.  I have lost 18 pounds, and have leveled off at 179 pounds.  I still have 30 pounds to lose, so I'm not stopping by any means.  I really feel like I now have the tools to continue.  Those tools include the knowledge that I can do it.  Before I had convinced myself that I was too old, too menopausal, too whatever to lose weight.  It's not true.  Now I jog and do squats and lunges and all the things that I was just too trifling to do. Yep, I know it now if I keep myself motivated, I can continue on until I am healthy and fit.  I am most definately on my way.

I talked about losing weight for about five years and I dieted for various amounts of time and never lost much. I really wasn't convinced that exercise was the key, but now I know that I need to monitor my calorie intake and my activity level to do it. Knowing your own body is key to getting and staying healthy.

That's it for me for today.  I'm sore as all get out from yesterday's workout, so I guess I'll mosey on down to my studio and sit on my fanny for a few hours.

Take care and call soon!

Oh my, how did I do it???

When your trainer warns you, "today's routine is very hard" beware.   Using the Insanity cardio workout as a guide, we did 50 minutes of calisthenics. We did jumping jacks, push ups, squats, burpees, mountain climbers, 1-2-3's, long jumps, running in place, and side kicks.  We used weights.  We did planks. Then we did all this over two more times.  It was one tough workout.  That little negative voice, that has been on vacation, came to watch and even had me thinking during the session, "What's wrong with me, why is this so hard".  Why, because it was that difficult of a routine.

Our trainer does this to keep us challenged and to let us know just how much we can do. We are all so much stronger then when we first started.  At the end of the session, after a nice stretch and rest, I regrouped and even shot hoops with the hubby. 

I have lost another pound this week, bringing me up to 16 pounds since we started the weight loss challenge.  Only two more weeks to go.  Hubby says he is going to do the challenge again in the advanced class.  Me, I think I'll do continue on my own, as I want to get in some swimming and water aerobics also.

Well, that's it for me today.  Remember you can do a whole, whole lot more than you ever thought you could.  You just have to get started.  I am living proof.  Fifty-eight years old and doing the Insanity workout....get outta here.

Staying strong.

Just a quick post to let you know I'll still working out and getting stronger.  My weight has stalled at 182.  I think this is three weeks at the same number.  I try not to be too tied down by numbers.  I am getting smaller, stronger and healthier.  At my age, what more can a gal ask for? We had a good workout yesterday, running laps and doing circuit exercises.  This is not my favorite routine, but the body needs a variety of moves, in order to stay revved up and to strengthen the muscles.  Remember this if you are going about the same routine, day after day.  At some point, if you don't change it up and challenge yourself, it's not really that beneficial. 

I know that I used to think, something is better than nothing, but is that really the case?  There is one gal at our gym that looks maybe 40 something, that is carrying all her excess poundage in her front.  She is a bit barrel shaped.  Every day she strolls the track.  I mean really slowly.  I don't know her story, she may be recovering from something that prevents her from moving any faster, but I really don't think that is the case.  Maybe it's the fact that she talks on the telephone the entire time she is walking.  She does wear those shoes that are supposed to help exercises your muscles, but I'm skeptical about those also.

Sorry, I got side tracked for a bit.  Had what my sister calls a shiny moment.  Got distracted by something else, you know.  Any way, my point being in addition to changing up my workout routine, I think it's just about time for me to drop my daily calories down a bit.  I'm at 1400 calories a day and burning off usually about 400-600 calories depending on the workout.  There is a technique called Zig Zag Dieting that is used by Weight Watchers, as well as numerous bodybuilders.  In essence, it takes the number of calories you are consuming per week and instead of having the same number each day, one day you might do 1000, then one day you do 2000, and then you drop back to 1400 and so on.  As long as the calories equal the weekly amount, and this is supposed to shock or snap you system out of the groove that you have gotten into.  I am not one to sponsor or suggest any particular website, but this one has a good description of what I'm talking about. 

Well, hubby just got back from having his cholesterol checked, and boy are his numbers greatly improved.  He went from totals of 247 to 202.  All of his numbers are borderline perfect, instead of borderline scary.  Weight loss, exercise and healthy eating, as well a being a man of strong faith seems to be working for him.   So join me in congratulating him on such a good check up.

Also, Happy Birthday to Peri!  My sweet sister and one of my favorite commenters has a birthday today.  Go Peri Nicole, have fun today and enjoy life, as it is good.

Slow and Steady....

Yeah, I know...I know.  Slow and steady wins the race, right?  I'm down one more pound today.  I know that losing slowly is the best thing to do.  It allows me to practice healthy eating and exercising until it becomes second nature.  Since my long range goal is to lose weight and get stronger by the time I hit the big 6-0, I actually still have two years to go.  So even though I really wanted to lose two pounds a week and end up with a 30 pound loss at the end of the weight challenge, I knew that half that was more realistic.  I'm happy to have lost 14 pounds during the competition and another 3-4 prior to that.  During the winter I saw 200 on my scales several times.   If I were 5'9" instead of 5'3" I could have dealt with it, but 200 pounds on this short little frame was a bit uncomfortable.

I'm still working out twice a week with the trainer and I mentioned that I felt like I needed more core work.  Take my advice, never, ever, EVER, tell your trainer to give you more core work. We had to balance on the bosu balls and do crunches and since my butt is as round as the ball, I kept rollling off of the thing.  I rolled completely off and felt like a little turtle with its' legs wiggling about. Took two of them to right me.

Anyway, today we walked the crazy incline machine until I thought my lungs would burst into flames and we did a kettlebell circuit routine, combined with laps. (Kettlebells, I just love these little buggars. Check them out if you havent).  When working out, it does seem like for a very short period of time, during every session, I think "I'm going to stop, I can't do this". But I don't and I always feel so good afterward.  During laps I may slow down to a walk and start up again with a jog, or on the treadmill I take down the resistance or speed, but I try to never just quit.  This is working for me.  My hubby, on the other hand, is so strong that he usually stays with the resistance and speed on the machines and usually does extra laps while we are finishing up ours. That works for him.  My point being, know your own limits.  Push them if you can do so safely, but otherwise better safe than sorry.

I hope everyone is tuning up for a beautiful spring. My plan for spring?  I want to try to eliminate something unhealthy from my regimine every day. How about you?  Let's add more movement.  Thirty second exercises are a great place to start.  Calf raises and wall pushups will help more than you ever imagined.  Just remember, that there is something that you can do.  If you are extremely out of shape, start slowly.  Try to walk a bit.  It's a good place to start.  If you are not mobile, check to see if there are any of these seated exercises that you can do.  You will feel better.  I promise.

Well, that's it for me today.  Happy and getting healthier every day.  Oh, by the way, I'm wearing a pair of size 16 jeans today, with no MUFFIN TOP!  Sometimes it's the little goals that mean the most.

Later.

No, I didn't fall off the edge...

I'm still hanging in there.  I did have a one pound gain last week, but my measuring tape is still looking very good.  We had a great workout last week running and stopping at different spots on the track to do push ups, crunches and step ups.

I never thought I would be letting a 22 year old girl tell me what to do, but this trainer is just so good that you want to please her.  If I hadn't gotten this gal I would not have known what a jewel a good trainer really is.  Her name is Chelsea and she gets to know her clients and she knows if they are serious about their health and workouts, or if they are just going through the motions.  She doesn't like to hear someone say "I can't" if they just don't want to do something, or if they just think it's going to hurt.  She can read folks really well, and knows that if I stop during an exercise, it's because I really need to stop.  I think her level of confidence is key.  There are some trainers that think that they have to push you beyond your limits to make you realize how out of shape you are and how much you need them.  Not Chelsea, the club did fitness and medical evaluations on us all and she studied them and made a custom plan for each of her teams.  If one team wants to swim she works that into their routine.  If you have some that are scared of bees, she doesn't suggest doing an outside workout.

But even with all this being said, having a great trainer is very important, but working out is not easy.  This has been a gradual process and each workout is hard and sometimes I make myself do it when I don't really want to, I mean after all it is only an hour.  But guess what, I feel so good later in the day, that it really is worth it.  My recovery time has gone from having to lay down when I get home, to actually "shaking it off" and hopping up to do something else.  Bottom line is I have so much more energy, it's almost unbelievable. 

Well, I won't bore you with how great I feel, cause I don't want anyone to be thinking that I think I'm all that because that really isn't the case.  I just feel good.  I'll be 58 in April and other than an occasional aspirin or acid reducer I take no meds. My cholesterol is excellent and my blood pressure is probably perfect.  Stay healthy, guys.  Who knows how long you might have to be around?  It might be like that old saying "If I'd known I would live this long, I'd have taken better care of myself".

Well, the weight loss teams are having a dinner tonight provided by Southern Foods at Home.  We will have to listen to a spiel, but it's free food and a fun get together with like minded folks.  I'll let you know how it is.

Until then, behave and get movin!

Half Way Point

Just a quick post to let you know that today is week seven of our fifteen week program.  Hubby and I have each lost 12 pounds and 12 inches.  I am still stunned that our trainer can challenge us each session.  Today, she put us on the super incline treadmill. It's actually a terrain trainer and the incline is intense.

I am telling you this bad boy will kick your....well, you know what I mean.  So we did a circuit on this machine, then the stationary bike and the stair climber,

We were supposed to be doing seven minutes on each, but I could only handle five minutes on this monster, even after reducing the speed.  It's intense, but it really does the job.  My legs are getting much stronger than they were.

After these machines, we did a walk-run for two laps and came back to do a circuit of step, punching and a neat thing called a TRX suspension strap.  You can do lots of exercises with this piece of equipment.  I chose to do a kind of pull up, with my body at an angle, pulling my weight up.  Hard, but doable.

My exercise was similar to this, except I kept both feet on the ground in front of me and pulled up.  Two more laps around the track followed this. Then we finished up with 80 crunches. Yep, I did 80 crunches.  We ended the session with a lovely stretching sequence.

We were feeling good, so after class I did six more laps of walk/run and then shot hoops on the basketball court for about 15 minutes.  When I started shooting with the hubby, I couldn't make a basket from the foul line.  Now I shoot from there regularly. Years of playing H.O.R.S.E. on the court across from the house as kids finally paid off.

Well, that's my report for this week.  Hope everyone is have a great week and is motivated to get moving.  Take care and remember to listen to your body.  If it says "stop, I'm feeling bad", listen to it.

Have a great weekend!

Quick post

Just a quick post. Weigh in was today, dropped another pound. Total of 10 since we started the weight loss challenge on Feb 1st. Today we jumped rope, punched the bag, did a couple of laps and plenty of core work. Add that to the usual cardio that we start out with and it equals a great workout!

Getting ready to go get a pedicure as a little reward.

Hope everyone is having a great week.  I'll be back soon with more interesting bits and bobs.  Talk soon.

...and I'm paying someone to do this?

Yep, I'm actually paying someone to guide me (read, torture) through some of the hardest exercises I've ever done.  Today we did lateral squats, all the way around the track.  Oh, did I mention we had a flat rubber band on our legs at the time? 

Honestly, I'd say we did between 100 and 200 of these traveling squats.  Stretch and squat, stretch and squat. This was after our usual 15 minute warm up on the elliptical.  Then we went to the top of the stairs of the building, three flights with landing between each set of steps.  Had to "run"  the steps, then do exercises on the landings.  When we got to the bottom, then we had to go back up the stairs two at a time.  I have to admit I flaked out on several of the exercises, but I did alternate ones.  Instead of doing knee push ups on the concrete floor, I opted to do wall push ups, which are still pretty intense.  I was ok doing jumping jacks on that landing, but doing the burpees/squat thrusts was impossible, so I did more wall push ups.  On the way back up, I did take two of the flights two steps at a time, using the handrail.  One of the flights I just walked up.  I thought several times that I might upchuck, but I didn't.  You know what?  I'm glad I did this. Maybe it's because I took a green tea extract supplement, but I feel great and still very energetic.

Hubby and I went to Ruby Tuesday's and had a celebratory meal.  Finishing this workout was worth the extra calories that I intentionally consumed.  Not only was the celebration because we finished the workout, but for me it was because I lost another pound.

So that's nine pounds in four weeks and I've got ten more weeks to go.  I'm pumped.  I'll probably be sore tomorrow, but it's all part of the big picture.

Ummm, and how was your day??

Another week has passed

We had our weigh-in today.  I have dropped two pounds, the hubby dropped four.  Our regular trainer is on vacation, so we have a substitute.  While she is nice and quite competent, we do miss our regular trainer.  She put us through circuit training, after 15 minutes of cardio.  I have felt a bit yucky this week, and really didn't push myself too hard.  I am still very sore from the workout Tuesday and might even be trying to "fight off something". 

But enough whining from me.  I'll be back soon.

Today's workout

10 minutes on the Arc Machine, resistance of 25, then down to 10, for two minutes...

Then after we warmed up on that machine, she took us over to the treadmill and had us do seven minutes on an incline of 15, which a bit higher than this next picture shows...

She then had us reduce the incline to what you see here and hold a weighted medicine bowl in our hands while we walked.  Then, she had us hold the medicine ball over our heads for 30 seconds.  Talk about hard...  but I did it.

After the treadmill routine, she took us into the studio room with the mirrors and had us balance on a bosu ball and lift 8 pound weights to our shoulders, then up while attempting to balance on this funny looking half ball.

It is very difficult to even stay on the ball, this image from the web shows someone without shoes, but we were wearing our shoes. I was able to do a few lifts, step off the ball for a second and then reposition myself and do a couple more.  I changed out the 8 pounders for 5 pound weights for the next set which was doing squats with only one foot on the ball, while bring our arms out straight from our sides while holding the weights. Intense to be sure.

Then we put on our boxing gloves and did three sets, one minute each on the stand up punching bag.

These bad boys are weighted enough to keep from moving much, but if you punch hard enough they will move around the room.  That's always fun.

After the punching bag, we did crunches touching opposite arm to opposite leg.  That was a good ab workout and when we were done here, she said now turn over on your mat (I thought she was going to have us do a nice relaxing ab stretch)... and do planks.

The gentleman in this image from the web makes it look easy, but believe me, at this stage of the game it's not yet simple.  I can do it for about 5-6 seconds at a time.  It's a killer exercise and I'm sure at the end of 15 weeks we will have mastered it.

We then do our stretches and cool down while sitting on the mat.  I guess she knows we are so tired we can hardly get up.

My recovery time is increasing by leaps and bounds, as is my strength and endurance.  I'm really glad we decided to do this.

Oh, by the way, I did lose one pound at today's weigh in. Hubby stayed the same, I think Pete gained  and Gail lost.

Hubs and I are being especially diligent about our food diary, measuring and weighing all our food.  It's all part of the experience.

Well, hope that some of these routines are ones that you can incorporate into your workouts.  Thanks for keeping up with me in my journey toward strength and health.

Be back soon with more fun stuff.  See ya then!

And the beat goes on....

Yep, we finished another week of training and eating healthy and the hubby and I each lost one pound each.  Gail lost three pounds and Pete gained one.  Since we are in this for our health and not really "in it to win it" no one mentioned his gain.  Seriously though, this makes a five pound loss for me so far during the challenge and brings my total loss since joining the gym to 12 pounds.  I hadn't wanted to admit that one day I saw 200, but I did.  Only once mind you, but I'm counting it in my pounds lost.  I was weighing in at 197 and 198 on a regular basis.  This morning after shedding all my clothes, I weighed 188.8.  I am actually quite motivated.

As a group we joined a site called My Fitness Pal.  We set our group up so we could view each other's daily food entries, and that is also helping to motivate me.  Except, I found out after years of thinking 1000 calories or less was ideal...it's not.  I need to be eating between 1200-1400 calories daily to LOSE WEIGHT.  Having been a life long dieter, I thought I knew it all.  Well, I'm here to admit that I don't.  I was sabotaging my own health by consuming too few calories.  I am having to make myself eat more, but I really think it's going to be the real deal.

So our last training session consisted of punching the banana bag, doing step exercises, lifting weights and doing crunches and the plank.  We also ran laps, bicycled and ellipitical-ed.  Even while sweating profusely, I realized that I kind of like this.  It hurts, but it feels good to hurt from exercise, and not just from hauling my own weight around.

So that's it from me this week.  Remember to look into "starvation mode" and "eat more to lose less".  It's real.  Seriously, it is.

As those Life cereal kids used to say to Mikey..."try it, you'll like it".

First weigh in

Well, we had our second session and our first weigh in yesterday.  Our trainer had us take our shoes off, even though we initially weighed with them on.  Confusing, I know but it did make the first weigh in seem impressive.  Plus this way, I can wear whatever shoes I want to work out in. I lost four pounds and everyone else lost one.  I knew that I had lost because my scale at home is accurate.  So I'm motivated about that.

Our workout consisted of 10 minutes on the elipitical and then 10 minutes on the stationary bikes.  We used various resistances and speeds and worked up a good sweat.  Funny, after all these years I would like to sweat.  I've even started wearing a bandana tied around my head to keep the sweat from going in my eyes. Oh, yeah...that's really a cute look on me.  We put on boxing gloves and two of us punched a banana bag, while the other two went around the track.  Since hubby and I were going around the track together, we decided to jog and believe it or not, after him slowing me down to pace myself, we jogged the entire lap.  It's a 1/8 mile lap and we did that, then ran in the gym so the others could stop punching the bag and get ready to do the track.  Without any break, they took to the track and we hit the punching bags. We did this twice, so hubs and I actually ran the lap twice.  It was fun and hard at the same time.  After that we got on stability balls, leaned back and did crunches for 30 seconds at a time.  I'm still a bit scared of the balls and my dismount was very awkward, but I got it done.  We then did a stretch and cool down on nice thick floor mats that didn't hurt my coccyx or tailbone, which I broke thirty years ago while ice skating.  I just might have to get a mat like that for home.

Well, it was hard to believe that our hour was up.  We did another lap on our own to cool down and hubby and I decided to stay at the gym and work of the machines.  So I worked ten more minutes on the elliptical, the track again and used the dumbbells and ended up with a 90 minute workout in all.

All in all, it was another great workout and I'm not very sore today.  Since we have a challange on Saturday, I do think we will use today as a recovery day.  I hope I haven't bored you with this account, but I had never known what working with a trainer was like and thought maybe some of you would find it interesting to see what our trainer was doing.

So that's it for now, I'll be back next week with the results of the challenge. Wish us luck!

The Jetsons

Well, we had our first session with the trainer.  The hubby and I had thought that we would be on different teams, but we changed our minds. I'm glad we did.  It was fun working out together.  This morning we met at 8:00 a.m. with the trainer and the other two members of our team.  We seem to be matched up fairly well.  All four of us are in our 50's.  Hubby and I have been in training for these training sessions for several weeks, but our team mates haven't worked out in a while.  Chelsea (our trainer) started us out on the treadmill at an incline of 10 and speed of 2.5.  We did this for six minutes, then lowered the incline and speed for two minutes.  For the last three minutes we went back up to 10 and 2.5.   We then went directly to the elliptical machines and did a similar routine.  This was the first time I had done the elliptical in about three months.  The last time I tried, my knee hurt and I couldn't stay on it at all.  Today...no problem.  I was into it.  Quite honestly, it felt pretty good to not be as challenged as I would have been without being in "training-for-training".  Now this is not to say that I didn't sweat like....like.... well, like something that sweats a bunch.  Because I did. 

Of course, we did some strengthening exercises.  We tossed a six pound medicine ball back and forth twenty times and then we took a giant step back and tossed it to each other twenty more times. We sat down on mats and did sit ups by facing each other, and alternately holding the medicine ball in our hands, sitting up and tossing it to our partner, then they did the same.  So we sat up and tossed to each other for twenty times each.  She also had us put our plump little legs in the air and make an attempt at doing some leg raising crunches.  We all made it through all of this.

At some point she had us do biceps curls and punches with hand weights.  I chose five pounders and toward the end of the second set of 20 reps, of the third routine...I was quite winded.  We did stretches and cool downs and survived.

Back when we were on the elliptical, Chelsea asked if we wanted to participate in the physical challenges that are part of the program.  We decided we did, but we needed a name in order to sign up, so I suggested The Jetsons.  I wanted us to have a team name that was a bit silly, so the other teams wouldn't think we were a threat.  Hopefully, at the end of the program we will be zooming around that gym just like something from the space age. 

Well, that's it for our first training session.  When we weighed in last week, I was 196 pounds.  Our weigh in's will be on Thursdays and even though she hasn't fixed us up with an eating plan, I'm hoping to have dropped a pound or two.

I'll keep you posted.  Gots to go.  Whew, I'm tarred.

Let's get moving!

Just a quick post to say that Monday evening is our first weigh in and such for the weight loss competition. I have been doing lots of cardio and weights at the gym and moving whenever I can to "get ready" for this event.  I don't want to be one of those whiny babies that says "I just can't".  As part of our plan, we even went bowling Friday morning after the gym.



Here I am tying up my 48 year old bowling shoes that belonged to my mom.  Yes, we come from a family of bowlers.

And here I am getting ready to get ready to roll.  This picture reminds me of the whispers I heard when I was a little girl.  "Oh, look at her.  What a shame, she has such a pretty face."  I know I'm not the only one that heard these things as a child. Did they think I couldn't hear them, or that I wouldn't be hurt by this?   Another favorite around our house was "she's not fat, she's just solid."  Right...solid fat.  From the second grade on, I was a chubby little girl and my sister and brother were underweight and fairly normal, in that order.  I had various years of a normal sized body, but not that many.  In any event, I will admit that I still have good hair and skin and one might say I still have that "pretty face".  But it is certainly obvious that I can't hide 197 pounds behind a ten pound bowling ball, so I am actually going to lose weight this year.  I would love to lose 50 pounds or more eventually, but right now my goal is 30 pounds.  There is a big (pardon the pun) part of me that just knows that I cannot do it.  I've tried so many times since Mother Nature sent me my mini-paws.  It's just too hard. I know it won't work.  But I have to muzzle that little voice and keep on trying.  I will not stop trying to shed these excess pounds.  Just between you and me, I actually do have a secret goal.  My hubby doesn't usually read this blog and I know my sister won't squeal on me...I want muscles.  You know, those bigger kind that the ladies that lift weight get.  I know it's silly, but I think it would be so cool to actually have muscles that were visible and weren't covered by layers and layers of fat.  It sounds ridiculous when I see it typed out like this, so I guess I'll just settle for "getting stronger", but I would love to wear sleeveless tops again and not have the batwings flapping around when I raise my arm.  Probably realistically, at my age (58) this is a physical impossibility, but there has to be some in-between that I can reach.  Whatever it ends up being, I'm going for it. 

I hope you will join me in my quest for a healthier body.  I think that together...we can do it.

I'll keep you posted, so remember to stay tuned!

Only one more week...

Just a quick post to let my friends know that it's just one more week until my hubby and I start the weight loss competition at our fitness center.  And yes, we have been quietly sneaking in foods that cause us to binge a bit.  For me, it's sugar.  If I start out the day with a sugary breakfast, then I want soda and candy and cobbler and anything sweet the entire day.  For hubs,  his sugar habit is a bit different than mine. His is candy.  If he eats one Reese cup, he wants an entire 4-pak and then two packs of Twix and then he wants to top it off with a Hershey bar.  At one sitting.  So that thing of limiting your sugary treats doesn't really work for us.  We will (at least I am) going to go off sugar completely.  I will also limit my "white" foods. You know the pastas, and rice and breads that have been so refined that we hardly need to chew them.  I may have mentioned in the past a book called "The No Flour, No Sugar Diet" by Dr. Peter Gott.  It may be a bit too much for some folks, but it really does have some great ideas in it.

So, for the next week I'll be consuming and then saying bye bye to some of the foods that I know will trip me up.

This weekend, on my other blog I wrote about some of our self-inposed rules that you may find interesting.  Even though it usually is an art blog, this post isn't art related and I'd like to invite you over to see my take on some of those little rules that may have us stumped.  So just click here and you will be redirected to my "A Walk In The Park" blog.

I do hope everyone has had a great weekend.  Stay safe and get ready for a new week!

It's a new year to be sure

Yes, it's a new year and my hubby and I are going to be losing some weight for real this time.  I have been going to the gym for several months now, walking, using machines and doing Zumba Gold.  Today hubs went with me, signed up for the program and got in a bit of exercise himself, whilst I was huffing and puffing to the music.  He walked the track, used the weight machines and shot a few hoops.  Wonder if he'll be sore tomorrow?  We will see.

Well, I hope everyone had great holdays and stayed safe and happy.  I hope to be a bit better about updating this blog in 2011 and I just know it will be full of positive information about us losing tons of weight.  Feel free to join me if you'd like.  I want to lose 20-25 pounds by May and I really think this will be the year I lose.  If not, I just may have to change the name of the blogs.

Well, that's it for now.  Enjoy the first week of the new year and don't forget to .....  get moving!