new outlook

Okay, since gaining some weight back.. i have recently lost 4lbs. Eating clean and cooking at home. This IS the way for me to loose the weight.

I have stopped eating out and am having more veggies. Soups and roasted veggies. Salads i'm getting to. It's a fight for me but i will get there. oh yeah and more fruit too.

The next thing to do is to severely limit or eliminate most dairy ( especially since I'm lactose intolerant) That will be a BIG challenge, but let's see what happens. This is an experiment. I have 3 months to loose 25-30lbs.

How am i doing this i've borrowed the Tosca Reno Clean-eating cookbook and i've also gotten some healthy cookbooks with really great recipes and with ingredients that are easy to obtain and not overly exotic.

with this semester being tough and the next semester going to be even more tough, i need to get a handle on the eating..not to mention hubby wil be back so i will be in the mood to cook more so i want to cook healthy again and keep the weight he's lost off and the weight i will loose away as well. Resulting in my daughter learning healthy food is yummy too.

this is good. i'm glad i'm writing it out.

Eating and struggle

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Looking hard at eating and stress eating in particular. I just need to start doing what is right and get moving on the weight loss. I've dropped a size and inches but i want the damn scale to move.

i know muscle weighs more but it would be nice to see me moving toward the healthy side of pounds.

prayers needed and i must change. will have to start posting food journal ..ugh the thing i hate the most.

small steps small steps!

Lost 2 pounds

Okay lost two pounds and dropped a pants size! am now 2 sizes away from goal size but still 31 pounds away from weight loss goal that put me in the healthy range for my height.

been gauging my food and just stepping back from eating all on my plate really listening to what my tummy says in terms of fullness. I want to get to my 35 lbs weight loss goal now that i can see it. That is 4 pounds away. How amazing is that!

If i loose 4-5 pounds a month between now and Christmas i can reach my goal. this is an interesting prospect. I think taking this slow and easy is just the way to go with this. would love to wear a pretty dress and not have to worry about my upper thighs and how my arms look would be very nice.

Lost a pound!

So with my three week makeover to my routine i have lost 1 pound a week! I've reduced a band size in my bust and i'm getting my curvy waist back. Exciting news all around.

this is too cool.

I just got in a new workout video for all you former or current Firmies it has jen Carmen..who I love!

The video is called Strength in Movement with Jen Carmen. It's 60 minutes and intense from what i saw in the preview. Looking forward to doing this since i will have time this week to do it since I will be sans child during my webseminar at school. what a thought 60 min to workout all without interuption (even my 15 min workouts are longer b/c of interruption...sippy cup usually)

wow!

Goiung into week 2 of the Flat Belly workout at women's health and still pretty much following the FYM format except with cardio 2 out of the 3 days. i've increased length of time to 30 min on two days. It's on the elliptical or a long cardio video that is fun (once a week). So i have fun varierty and challenges along the week.

If i can continue to do this , loose 1 pound a week i can reach a nice weight by christmas. To get down to my goal of 140 i would need to loose almost 1.5 lbs a week. hmmm gonna have to think more on that.

Doing a lot more reading on eating and gettting over my fear of journaling food. I just hate it b/c i'm going to be super hard on myself for not doing well and obess over it. but readign more about it helps me to quell that feeling of self judgement. I will get there..i think.

going to eat dinner.

Friday workout

Friday workout

Women's Health Belly Off Friday Week 1 workout

Today was tough even though it was all body weight with the exception of the step ups i used 2 10lbs dumbbells.

With all the movements i can feel that I am usign my core and that i'm getting stronger. I needed this big change.

Yesterday I did my intervals and did 6 cycles. i really pushed and was very tired by the end.
As a result of all my hard work this week I have lost another pound. 2 pounds away from being 171 again and 3 pounds away from my new mini goal of 170lbs.
I have to keep the fun in my cardio so i'm DLing new songs and keeping fun videos on hand to keep variety in my cardio.

I'm enjoying working out again. When it becomes a chore i have to change things up and i think i've found a good combination right now and i'm getting results. This is a constant battle for me to breakout of boredom to reach new heights. getting more activity into my day and dancing around the house alot more. All these little thigns help me stay motivated over the past 3 weeks that i've been changing up my routine. It also helps to not have class right now, but one class starts, i just hope that i won't falter.

Fresh new outlook with results so far

Fo rthe last two weeks i've been getting back to basics and trying to getsome weightloss going. with the new elliptical in the house it has helped.

I have lost two pounds and 2.5 inches ( 1 off waist and 1 off hips 1/2 inch off biceps)

I'm hoping i can keep this 1pound a week weightloss going. that would be great.

eating better and looking for better recipes all the time so i can still eat healthy but accommodate my ever changing mood.

I needed to get fun back into the picture so to remedy that i placed an interlibrary loan and borrowed Zumba from an Arizona library. (interlibrary loan is so cool) It's very fun and i remember all the moves from when i used to go to dance salsa and all that in high school. Found this book and ordered it through interlibrary loan as well. Adventures of a Salsa Goddess..what great coverart. can't wait to get o reading it.


Been using the workouts of the flat belly program with Women's Health and they are tough and good enough for a good solid change but still have the same aspects of the FYM workouts. Vareity enough to challenge me.

Change is good.

STC continued

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Okay after whining and griping for over a week. I have finally had some results:

i have lost a half inch as earlier this week. Then i measured again and i'm now down another half inch. only 2 inches away from my goal. This is so exciting.

I lost an inch off my hips! that is some thing wonderful! My hips haven't lost inches in a long while.

Got a nordic track elliptical off craigslist for $50 and it works beautifully.


It was finals that was stressing me out and all the travel i've had to do for work and school and getting the car fixed and many things coming at me all at once. I miss my husband.

STC Day 4&5

STC Day 4 &5

Cardio and Advanced Bonus Workout #3B

Felt very tired today with paper writing. Can't wait to hand it in tomorrow.

Cardio yesterday was intervals: variety of movements for HI Burst: Y squats, lunges, skater, side lunges.

Today: Workout Advance wk #3a

I am so sweating.

For the sumo squats..the only one with weight i used both of my 10lbs dumbbells for resistance.

The Sb pass is still tough. as is the stability ball Push up..still have to modify it with the ball closer to my core.

Eating was better today with salad with very little dressing (1tbs) with dinner and lunch. So happy I'm getting better at this. even with a lunch out at a meeting. SO happy about that!

i just realized i was doing advanced workout #3 and not number 1...oooo no wonder i've been falling..i'm not supposed to be there...i guess my pages just flipped themselves..ahhhhh

going back to advanced workout #1 Friday.

Listened to coaching call and i feel so much better about missing a meal..with this hectic week I've been having i have skipped a meal on Monday and just forgot to eat.
So Lunch and snack were out.

i am still eating under my calorie intake but i'm increasing. Eating at the low range makes me tired. Beginning to look at why i get hungry especially after snack. I think it's because i'm not drinking enough water in the afternoon. Getting back to Green Tea with Goji Berry infusion..yummy! OR Water with fresh lemon slices.

STC Day 3

Day 3 of STC

Todays'' wrokout was difficult.
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1 Leg Bench Squat: 3s 8r
Stability Ball Back Extension: 3s 10r
Dumbell Snatch 1s 4r
Squat w/ clean and press 2s 10r each side
Spiderman Push up 3s 10,12,10r
V-up 3s 10r
T-up 1s 4r

Okay so i need to work on Dumbell Snatch, V-ups and T-ups. They are quite difficult.

STC day 1

Well today i have eaten poorly but i have planned for tomorrow.

Lost the weight gained from being in Houston at convention and while hubby was home for R&R.

so i'm back down to 171. I've just had a rough time with allergies and the migraines associated with them. Also my jeans are way loose again cause i'm on

today: cals up to 1300 which is 500short of where i need to be. but i forget to eat when i'm in pain with allergies and migrains.

Did some yoga to help out my back which has been sore due to improper sleeping.

Goal: to bust through my emotional eating and become bootylicious! I have a size 10 dress I'd like to nicely fit into.

I want to be able to have a picture taken of me without thinking OMG i hope i don't look like a whale. Which translates to confidence..i want to gain body confidence. I have so much to offer this life of mine and i want my physical self to reflect that as well.

I want to improve plank. To be able to do it for 25 seconds and get to 30 sec without falling over.

Manage stress in a positive manner instead of eating through it.

will be adding more to this as i think about my goals and morph during this transformation.


Step to take:

1. Meal Planning - this is huge i need recipes done for me so I'm looking at cooking light and other healthy websites to get ideas for meal planning. I'm very moody with food so i may have to plan the night before.

2. Getting in cardio - i tend to put this off to the last possible minute even though i do get it in. Some days are better than others but i want to constantly improve over the next 12 weeks. Oh yeah and do a few rounds of burpees.

3. Being consistent...this is a huge problem for me that i want to solve..i seem to have a good week or 2 then followed by a disaster that throws me off with exercise or with eating. NO MORE! i want to have consistent months. Not be so hard on myself when i can't accomplish something but focus on what I [b]did [/b] get done.

Ostacles:

1. stress - emotional eating..i am going to be taking a summer course and it's going to be tough so i need to find ways to take my stress out in positive ways

2. Boredom and doubt - i platue easily so i need to increase weight and make it to the base gym to get to the family room so i won't have to purchase weights. It will also get me out of the house.

3. Preceived lack of support- because i'm doing the single parent thing ad family is 3 hours away i often have a notion of lack of support and that i'm all alone. I need to reach out and really ask for help when i need it. Asking for help is not asking for a handout...it is acknowledging that i need help and encouragement.

Rewards: better physical condition, makeup and new clothing...looking good in my pictures when I go to Puerto Rico in June.

did workout today: Advanced Bonus #1 workout A

using 10lbs weights for everything that called for a weight.

Added 2 more reps to Mountain climber finally found a way to do it and not have my step slide away. Sheesh..what a mess that used to be.

It was hard to get through the Reverse crunch but, that's always been a sore spot since high school even when i was in shape and trim.

Cardio will be tomorrow...i have the beginnings of a another sinus headache...i can't wait till this all clears up.

week 17 workout in

Well, despite my sinus headache i was able to get in my workout today. I found Sudafed sinus headache meds and it clears me up just fine.

I used 8lbs weights for the Step up Press combo. Not ready for 10lbs on my shoulders.

it's a very sore spot since they got messed up in high school.

Using the new 10lbs weights for the pullover goblet squat was a good change. The goblet squat i used one 10lbs and one 8lbs weight to total to 18lbs. Much better than last time i did workout B.

For the dead lift i still need to go heavier. for chest press as well so i made it harder by doing it on the stability ball.

As for the SB pass i did a ladder today 6,8, 10 passes for each time i came to the exercise. So i progressed from a small number to 2 passes over the recommended reps. I'm glad i could finish with a high number but would like to do 10 passes every set.

I feel strong and happy that i have gotten through this workout and found amendments that need to be made and ways to increase the challenge of a movements until i get heavier weights.

Week 17 Day 3

Workout A i blasted thru today! It was such an accomplishment. I have just added a rep to my pushups i can now do 3 sets of 13. I'm so excited!



Having pumping music is key to me accomplishing my push ups without thinking about it except for breathing.

Bought a set of 10 lbs weights and used them for lunges and row. It doesn't make a big difference in the row so i need to go heavier but in my lunges a big difference.


Going to Puerto Rico in June to visit my grandparents and have my kiddo put her feet on the same beach and ocean my family has stepped in for generations. So i'd like to drop a size by then.

Will work hard to do that. Eating better today and got in my sweet tooth without being a glutton. Plenty of water today and protien. Happiness!

went curly with my hair and this is what it looks like:


taking my journey in a revived direction because i've been in a funk since hubby left after being home for R&R. Cleaning out my house again and focusing on making this a comfy place to be and not just exist.

It's been rough, but today i got off my rear and did chores and stuff before i got slammed today with a sinus headache which i had to lay down in a dark room to get over.

Great workout though!

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Now playing: Kevin Rudolph & Lil Wayne - Let It Rock
via FoxyTunes

new addition to tea faves

I have found a new addition to my inventory of teas.

Yogi Tea has a new flavor called Green Tea Goji Berry.

It's very good plain and is mildly sweet. I had a drink with Goji berry in it..
i think it was a snapple..yes here it is:
So after having that and the Noni punch which is great i found this Yogi Tea.

It's wonderful and i can now drink a green tea with Goji berry in it. It's supposed to have lots of stuff in it to promote the immune system and circulation.. that is a good thing i think...besides it tastes great. I've gone thru 4 cups since last night. Gonna have some more today. This one will be apopular one for me.


Love those Yogi teas, for my PMS pains i use the woman's moon cycle one and i don't have to use pamprin or any meds to quell my cramps. It keeps my hydrated and relaxes me.

viva tea!

Week 17 Day 2

Okay after being sore for 3 days from using heavier weights, i can get to day 2

I can really say again that i truly like the tri sets Holly has introduced. They are invigorating.

My only challenge was the Stability Ball passes...i just read the book again and i was trying to go to high in reps so i was with in the limit of 5-8 passes. I hit 5 and quit on the 6th one b/c my abs were burning like crazy.

Still need to get heavier weights. Will have to do that today. The Goblet squat was just fine at 16lbs total. i just made it to 10 reps. I could go 2lbs heavier i think.

Cardio will have to be done tonight..toddler is up and wanting breakfast. Trying Tabatas again. I'm strong enough to do this and it was challenging last time i did it but i liked it.

It was a good workout. Happy Friday!

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Song List for my 15 min workout: songs chosen at random by WMP
1) Lady Gaga- Just Dance (club Remix)

2) Beyonce- Get Me Bodied (My favorite)
3)Summertime - NKOTB
4) Rihanna- Please Don't Stop The Music

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Now playing: Britney Spears - Womanizer
via FoxyTunes

New Mini goals for the next 4 weeks

New goals for the next 4 weeks:

1) eat healthfully


2) workout with heavier weights

3) stretch more


4) have fun

5) try new things

6) 5lbs weight loss or better

Week 16 closing thoughts

My week 16 closing and thoughts:

Lost a total of 18" all around. Went from a size 18 to a 14 and reached my goal of 30lbs total loss since January of 2008.

I can finally see my self as beautiful once more. I'm not at my ultimate goal yet but I'm working on it and i know that eating is my biggest area to work on and I'm diligently doing that this month.

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I'm more active and want to go out and do things now. This has been such an inward transformation as the inches have just melted away. That for me has been the more important than the scale.

Thank you ladies for all the wonderful support. I appreciate it so much. I haven't been on much but it's been hectic. Hopefully soon I'll post more. Got finals coming up so i will post when i can.

Cheers!

week 17..struggle and the blues

Did the April workout as posted on the website and i have to say it was the toughest workout to date..not because it is tough by nature to challenge me, but because i've been a wreck for the last week.

Hubby had to leave 4 days before Easter to return to duty in Iraq. My mom got sick so i couldn't go up there to spend Easter with them so even though i did get to go over to a friend's house, Easter to me felt empty.

I mis him and can smell him in bed and i randomly cry throughout the day. A love song came on during my workout and i was crying doing push-ups. I'm just empty. I had a complete household for 15 beautiful days and i'm back to an incomplete home.

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I thought this wouldn't be so hard for me to go back to the existence i was working with work school and baby. It's plenty hard and i'm not doing well with this. Trying to go out with friends and look forward to the new movies coming out and go see them so i can get relife from being mom for an hour or two but I want my daughter to be with daddy. I want to come home to a husband who smells b/c he's been working out or doing house repairs. I want to have Sunday breakfast with my hubby sitting across from me and get huranged for kissing in the restaurant.

Just have to keep pushing i guess. It will get better ...right??

Week 16 Workout B

How i hate the jack knife and the plank on ball. I'm still not even up to the minimums on those. It just makes me angry. I can get up to 9 Jack knifes and the plan on ball maybe 20 sec..but there is much rolling around.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AC64hZYvs1M


Jack Knife on Ball - Katie Butlers Back to Basics Video

Will have to keep trying on that one.

Everything else..i need heavy weights. Holly's video on bikini body reaffirmed the need but cost is a factor. will try to freecycle and craigslist for weights at good prices.

I also want an adjustable bench to do some of the back movements..i wind up bending forward too much.

Found this video which i would love to work up to one day:

Ridgeline Fitness Podcast 7 "The Roll Out" - More bloopers are a click away

Keep working..keep going..work through stress and finish strong

Week 15 end and on to Week 16

Well week 15 was challenging and I have to say it was harder because i was traveling and eating choices were not the best. Now that I am home i have bought cantaloupe and salmon and salad and am cleaning out my system.

Still looking for a new medicine ball or toning ball rather i like the Danskin one i have it's 4lbs but i need more weight. The 6lbs by Danskin is Pretty green with swirls.

I already have the danskin Stability ball in Pink with swirls and i love it. The 8lbs ball is blue and it's nice as well.

I'm prepping for week 16. This will be a hard week for me because hubby will be leaving for Iraq on Thursday. I may not see him until almost January the earliest October.

He's been home on R&R Since the 24th and time has just flown by. Today at Church was hard

because it was our last formal gathering to pray as a family. I will try to focus and keep my wits about me, but i find myself being very sad and selfish. It is s o nice having a two parent home and having him home to fix things and things done that i can't get to without him here.

Houston Zoo

At Church

At the Duck Pond

At the San Antonio Children's Museum

What I know is going to be the most difficult is the transition for Victoria. She is so happy with Da-Da being home. Those two are like Peas in a Pod. She will miss him more and I know this will just be hell for her for the next few days when she realizes that Da-da isn't coming back for a long time. There has to be a better way to deal.

So my goals for this week:

Be strong

workout

eat well

comfort family

cry if i need to

comfort Victoria

cherish rest of this week

pray

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Week 15 Day 1 And 2

Day 1:

March Workout.

Almost got thru the whole thing...it's always the Cs that i miss out on trying a new workout. I'm traveling and didn't have my book to access so i tried the March workout. I'm thinking maybe i would have gotten thru if i hadn't been traveling all day and tired.

it was challenging. I enjoyed what i did get thru.

Day 2

5 cycles of HIIT today! I am so happy that i made it to 5 cycles....i know i can make it to 6 next week! This is just so great! My stamina is going up. I've also been searching for new HII movements and i found some on exercise TV and a interval training video so that can be adapted to the HR HIIT prescription. It's good because i feel like it's a game and i'm really huffing and puffing.

Today is my second day in Huston. It's fun..it's nice to be in a big city again. I'm at the TLA 2009 conference (Texas Library Association). It's been fun so far. It's nice seeing young linbrarians like me. Got some insights to some books from the authors and learned about some web 2.0 stuff. Hope to learn more tomorrow. Have seen some of my big bosses and it was nice chattign witht htem outside of work. Learning about new technoliges and the new features of some of the databases..so can't wait to get the new stuff into our branch and get trained on all the uber cool features.

Databases are so sexy.

Workouts week 14 Days 1 and 2

Since hubby is now safely home and we are all happy I can't express to you my contentment. My life has suddenly sunk into bliss with a complete family under my roof. The joy of my daughter saying Da-Da and the smile across his face as he embraces her.

The passionate kiss he gives me when we wake. The breakfast he made for us and his joy making food on US soil and enjoying his first breakfast taco in months. I revel in domesticity.

My workouts have gone to the three day a week program to accommodate hubby, baby, work and class. I am really pushing myself and enjoying the hard work.

I only got thru 4 cycles of intervals again and would like to make 5 but i am really pushing hard already. maybe next time. My resistance workouts are difficult but i enjoy them and can really feel the power in my muscles as I work them.

My eating is portioned and i'm feeling good ..tired from lots of traveling but happy and content with my world.

Mini Goal Reached

Another mini Goal has Been reached!

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I've lost 2 pounds and have passed my half way point which was at 172lbs. I'm now at 171lbs as of this morning!

This is so great. How will i celebrate? Makeup? Shoes? new blouse?

Will have to keep focusing on having fun in my workouts and putting something fun into my routine like i did this week by adding belly dancing to relive some tension and work the abs

Met my parents in Austin to take all the grandkids to the Children's museum and they had so much fun! ( they meaning my kid, my niece and nephew) It was great to watch Victoria run around and know she couldn't break anything but she could touch and play with everything!

Plus, she napped all the way home. Ahhh how blissful.
I digress, my parents and my brother said i looked great.
Not to mention that when i did get a look at my self in a mirror i was actually quite pleased with how I looked. Also, my capris looked a little larger than they had when i first put them on that morning.

I truly is the little things that make life sweet. What a journey this has been for me thus far.