Gone Since November

What's changed? New chiropractor is out of network so buh-bye good chiropractor. Still not pregnant, no biggie. I started a new Jillian workout. This time I'm doing her Six Week Six Pack.

Today was day 11. I do want it to be clear, I began last year...December 31, to be exact. I don't like the New Year vibe. Anyway, the workout is rough but good. There are a few moves that I struggle with, two that I really struggle with being able to actually do (Spider and what she refers to as herkies, sp?) and one that really pushes me to the max-side plank knee lifts. And it's not so much that the move is difficult, my wrists start to really hurt. And then Jillian has to go and stack the wrist moves together, ouch.

I'm still going to yoga. My Thursday night Master's class has moved to Monday for a couple of months which allows me to go to Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday yoga. I had a recent epiphany while stretching. Never before in my life has stretching felt so good. Before it's just been something I tolerate for 8 counts. Now, it feels soooo good.

I'm beginning another adventure this week. Well, I tried to start on Sunday evening and there was a snafu. Some friends from my favorite online community recommended Podcaster Intervals. If you're not familiar it's basically a podcast of a running system--a way to get you running. It starts at week one and alternates walking and running, set to music with a particular beat, to get you to a 5K (there are others, but I'm doing the 5K).

So I downloaded, what I thought was, week 1 and set to the frozen streets. When I looked down at the time it said 47 minutes, instead of the 29 I was expecting. Turns out I snagged the week one challenge instead of the basic week one. So I walked for five minutes to warm up, yogged for 10, and then cooled back down for two minutes.

Tomorrow I'm taking my workout gear to work and I might head to the middle or high school to try this run inside. My lungs were not too happy after I got back in the other night (and I won't get into all the neighbors who have NOT shoveled their walk in days), lots of coughing.

Anyhow, if it all works out I will 6W6P 6 days a week, yog on Monday, Wednesday, and Fridays, and yoga Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. I will be fit. I refuse to be fat.

Did I tell you, I'm no longer shopping at my fat lady store? All done. There's only one shirt remaining that I can actually wear from my fatter days...and it has a tie in the back so I can make it fitted. I'm excited to see what this new workout brings me. I can already feel myself getting stronger. The 6W6P is, obviously, a 6 week program. I'm into my second week. I can do this.

I'll try to write me. It helps keep me on track too.

Happy *snow* everyone!

Is It Enough?

Since last Monday I have done the Shred (alternating Levels 1 & 3) and The Biggest Loser Weight Loss Yoga. Every day. I've been watching what I eat like normal. Well, until this weekend...or more specifically today--I think I may have eaten too much at lunch. So I made some adjustments today/tonight.

First, I purchased 1/2% milk for myself instead of the normal 2%. That's saving me fat and calories every serving. For dinner I enjoyed some Honey Nut Cheerios and that milk instead of the pot roast my dad and hubby ate.

As with most weekends, I did the Last Chance Workout today. After I finished that I took it outside. Granted, I didn't do anything amazing but I did something new. I jogged (or, as I like to call my version of jogging--yogging) around our block once. Yes, only once...I'm not sure how big our block is--a city block. Does that make sense?

When I came back in I took off my shoes and socks and headed back to the front room for yoga. Literally at 8 minutes in I almost gave up. I was < > this close. But I finished and I'm so glad I did. There are some parts that are really a challenge for me, like all the plank things...holding plank (hello shake), lowering halfway down (shake shake), lowering all the way down (shaaaaake). But it's a good thing. I'm looking forward to getting more comfortable with level one and then progressing to level 2.

I have about 2 weeks before spring break. I really (REALLY) want to be under 200 by vacation but I'm not sure if it will happen. Tomorrow I get on the scale to see how this past week went. I know I worked harder but I don't know if I burned enough. We shall see.

Oh, I'm having a massive attack of baby itch. It's not good. We're conception-ally challenged (going on about 2 years) and we both recently decided we would not try for a little while. A combination of factors--a lot to do with me losing weight--but darn, why all the urge now?!

So, wish me luck tomorrow morning. I have 7.4 pounds to lose to get to that first goal. Anyone care to take a few pounds from me? (o:

The Shred Part Two-Day 14

Again, not the Shred yet the Last Chance Workout and, yes I said and, Leslie Sansone's Fast Walk. I literally felt guilty for how lazy I was this weekend (and how I had eaten) so I talked myself into doing more.

The LCW tonight was good. It was the actual last chance workout, unlike last night's that was upper body sculpt and lower body tone. I used five and three pound weights on some things tonight. I really need to invest in eight pound weights. And then, I got a bug in my bonnet (is that the phrase?) and decided to pick up the five pound weights for the ENTIRE Fast Walk program. Yes, for an entire half hour I carried, pumped, lifted, raised...ten extra pounds. Had I realized in the beginning it was going to be thirty minutes long (I seriously thought it was 20 mins total) I may have only picked up the three pounds-or no weights.

Tomorrow morning I'm hopping on the scale again. Although, hopping might break the darn thing, I'll step on it slowly. Wish me luck. I've been working hard I just hope I've been working hard enough.

Today's meals-
Green tea with ginger and peach (blech)
1 big pancake with Smart Balance and a little syrup. I tried dunking the pancake instead of pouring syrup on and I did not like the taste of that. Strange eh?

Raisin Bran

Cheddar Chex Mix

Strawberry Whipped Yogurt

3 hard shell tacos-ground beef, a little cheese, and avocado

I had all of our meals planned for this week, but in no particular order:
Barbecue chicken salad
Chicken and wild rice soup
Tacos
Bison burgers
Turkey and quinoa burgers
Chicken fajitas

So I went grocery shopping tonight and guess what? They had NO boneless skinless chicken breasts. NONE. Oh, and they only order the Bison every once in a while so last week when they had it but I couldn't afford it was the week.

How many meals can I make then? Oh, tacos and turkey and quinoa burgers. All that planning...

Anyway, have a great week! Our weather service is calling for lots of snowfall again. I am not holding my breath for a snow day as it's 10 pm and it hasn't started yet.

Last Chance Workout-Day 5

You know that level of frustration? The one where you feel so low you're ready to quit? I cannot figure out what's going on. I felt like an elephant tromping around the living room today. Everything was louder-my jumping and landing on the wood floors. Everything was more jiggly. When I was lifting weights I could see cellulite in my arms. It was not my day.

I struggled through the workout which, by the way, was the SAME as yesterday because I clicked the wrong one! So that added to my bad mood. I didn't have any more gum so my mouth dried out really fast. I ran out of water...Are you seeing the trend?!

Right after the workout I grabbed some more water and went upstairs to shower. It wasn't until I was disrobing that I noticed that maybe it's not that bad. And then when I was shaving my legs--I have to lift my leg up to the shelf, about hip height, the humongo pooch from my belly that squished against my thigh....well, it wasn't really there. Where had it gone? Oh yeah, AWAY!

I have to remember, it's only been just over a month, I'm making progress but it's baby steps. I can't change what I've done to myself over night. It's a process and I'm on the right track.

Tomorrow is weights and measures and I'm a little worried. Yes, my clothes fit better--actually they fit worse. They're too big! Oh, and that's one weird uncomfortable thing. My pants are too big now and are hanging lower, so now my upper thighs rub together and hurt! How's that for a visual?
But other than that I'm not sure I'm losing the weight. Lots of muscles are popping through though. I just have to keep moving.

Food today-
Water (no tea or coffee)
Breakfast burrito-egg, spicy turkey sausage, cheese, hot sauce

Avocado and tortilla chips

I might try to make chicken enchiladas for dinner tonight. I need more ideas. Anyone? Anyone? Beuller?

**Post edit**
Okay, so I think I may have figured out why I was having such a hard time today. The other day I noticed one of my glands was swollen (hubs is now battling a cold). A day after that I was more phlegmy than normal. This afternoon I laid down on the couch, my head perched on the hub's lap, and the puppy cuddled on top of me--and I thought I would just snuggle for a minute. An hour later I woke up. I'm definitely fighting something off. But if it weren't for my exercise and daily vitamin I might be feeling even worse.

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!