Progress

Well, I'm now officially a week and a day into my new routine. How's it going? Great! Better than expected actually. Although, we're weighing in tomorrow so we'll see. I typically either stay the same or even gain for the first couple of weeks but this time, I've done things differently so I have more hope.

So, what's different?

1. No refined sugar added to anything. And really, so far I haven't eaten much that even is made with it. I've eaten one slice of whole wheat bread, taken one bite of cinnamon bread, oh-and there was that half a donut (there's a whole guilted-into-eating-it story that I should share here). But that's about it. A DRASTIC reduction from what I used to be eating.
2. More fruits and vegetables. I'm eating fruits and veggies all the time.
3. Raw, not processed. I've really veered us away from pre-prepared foods. This also means no preservatives.
4. Lots of water.
5. No eating after 7:00 pm.
6. Think about what I'm putting in my mouth-energy giver or taker?
7. No guilt. If I really want something, have it. This alone I think has been a game changer. It's not NO, it's sure go ahead, but will it make your body feel good?

I had a thought yesterday. What if I went all "Biggest Loser" style and worked out a couple of times a day until I went back to school? It would help me take off extra pounds a bit quicker and then I could work on maintaining. Even though I don't look like it-my body could easily lose 30 pounds and I'd still be considered overweight, I'm sure. I'm tinkering with the idea...

Happy Tuesday!

Monday

It's gotten to that point again. Where things have gotten out of control. When summertime hits I find I have the best of intentions. And you know where that paves a road to.

So I hitched up my britches and called a friend, two doors down, and we made a plan. Starting this Monday we will meet on the street at 6:00 am (with a leeway window until 6:15) and work our butts out. It will be an every-other-day pattern.

Day A will be running. We will be doing the First Day to 5k series. I used this back in January to train for my May 5K. And while I should be able to do more now than I could then, I'm hoping to up my pace.

Day B will be flexible-walking or biking or whatever suits our fancy. But we're meeting EVERY day, at that awful hour.

I may even have an addition challenge for myself--weight lifting. Lord knows I need it!

More than that, I'm going to stop putting bad things into my body. (Eew, okay, that sounds gross). What I mean is, I'm going to eat good things. It's not like I don't have the time now to make healthy things. But, NO guilt trips just goodness.

Care to join us? I'm weighing my arse on Monday and keeping track. I'm sticking to the thought Jillian Michaels has shared on The Biggest Loser-if you're burning more than you're taking in, you should be losing. I can do that.

Last Chance Workout-Day 2

Wow. So today I think I found a new muscle. I really didn't think I moved or lifted in a new way but holy moly, there is a new muscle forming in my underarm, bicep area to be exact. I'm scared at how tomorrow will go. Will my arms be slumped at my side rendering me useless at the whiteboard?

Anyway, I like how every day you do a different workout. I do not like that every workout involves lunges. They are really very hard for me. I'm wondering if when more weight comes off if they'll get easier?

Today for dinner I tried something new. It came from a coworker and I think she said she got it from a Kraft magazine or catalog or something. I made mini turkey meatloaves. All I did was put the ground turkey, a box of Stove Top Stuffing, and one cup of water and then mixed it all together.

I transferred the mix to muffin tins-I didn't use the smallest size tins but the next size up (there were 6 muffin spots). I baked them for about a half hour at 350 degrees. Yum.
Hubby even likes them although he wants it to be known that he knew right away it "wasn't meat". (o:
I also made egg noodles but boiled them in chicken broth. Before serving I thickened the broth with a little cornstarch. We also had canned corn. I can't wait for summer and our garden veggies.

What else did I eat today? It's a real shocker...

Green tea with mixed berry
Low fat Greek yogurt with honey and Corn Flakes

Cottage cheese and strawberry

Leftover chicken fajita-2. This time no cheese. I made an avocado dip too and had some tortilla chips.

And I think I might enjoy and apple-pear later. I've never eaten one...hope it's good.

Happy Shredding, LCWing, or cardioing!

The Shred-Day Nine

I don't know what it was about today but man was day 9 hard! I tried to pump myself in the car on the way home. I only listened to upbeat music and I bopped and sang along. But nothin'. Day 9 was hard.

I turned on music again today during the workout but it was not inspiring. There were 5-7 second delays between songs and even one song took a good 15 seconds. I need to make my own mix. Maybe this weekend.

I did notice today, though, that Anita did what I did--rocked between her feet during the jump rope because our calves were on FIRE! Made me feel better.

I am trying to do more Natalie things--sinking low into squats, a couple ab things too. I am not good at push-ups, totally Anita style. Is it just me, or are the beginning warm up things, the windmills, difficult and painful? I think they hurt, really.

I'm certainly hoping for a better workout tomorrow. The last day of level one!

Today's uninspired menu:

Green tea with mixed berry
Low fat Greek yogurt with granola and honey

Banana--3/4 of it...the bottom was mushy!

Paprika chicken with brown rice

Apple

3 tacos-cheese, ground beef, lettuce, avocado
oh and another hard shell to eat the rest of the avocado...oops.

Kiwi-shared with hubby, who had never eaten it like me before. I cut mine in half and then scoop them out. The kiwi is its own bowl. Yum yum.

Okay, the Biggest Loser is on. I'm tuning in, sans food, to find some inspiration.