STC continued

glitter-graphics.com
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 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.

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.

glitter-graphics.com

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 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!

glitter-graphics.com

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.

Week 9 Day 1

Posted by Christina on January 26, 2009 at 11:47pm

Okay looks liek this week i can go back to 6 days a week.

My intervals today were very good i was able to use the family exercise room on base and use the elliptical. I felt really good.

My soup for this week is the slow cooker minestrone...I say this week because the recipe made a LOT of stew. It'll take me all week to get through it.

I was able to use my Parisienne carrots in this one. Replaced the cannelli beans ( still not paying almost $9 for canneli beans) with pink kidney beans and i put in green pigeon peas (Puerto Rican favorite!). I am really happy with the results.

I am finding that the three day a week program is leaving me restless on the days off. So i may just go back to 6 permanently. But I'm trying the 3 to accommodate school but i think that will help when the semester is in full swing.

while i was at the gym I did get a chance to take a long hard look at myself in the mirrors. The family room is separate from the rest of the gym and is enclosed so it's kinda private. The two other women who were working out had left so i took a chance to look at myself.

It wasn't bad. I had seen that my tummy had pulled in and that I don't look as big as i think i do. I'm happy where i am now and know that it's going to change in the next two months. I've been avoiding full length mirrors for a long time and i think it's time to start looking to reaffirm all my hard work.

I have come a long way lost 23lbs before FYM 2 with FYM.
25lbs is no small feat.
The inches lost so far with FYM are amazing. I just have to keep pushing and taking time for myself and eat supportively.

Kicking butt day 2 week 8

Posted by Christina on January 21, 2009 at 10:30am
Since class started this week i need to move from 6 days a week to 3. So i'll be doing my carido in the morning and resistance training in the evening.

This morning: 5 cycles of the 1 min rest and 30 sec burst. My bursts today were all jumping jacks. It was invigorating and now the effects of my workout i'm alert and ready to take on the day. I think I'm just getting comfy with them and may need to start moving on to burpees. Are they okay at this stage of the game?

I'm still in a lil bit of a funk with my eating habits even though they are great this week with me eating on time and eating portioned supportive meals. i think that's why i don't log in with the food because it becomes a numbers game to me and it depresses me. I know Selene you said exactness is not the goal but it becomes that.


well today i'm going to make the Caramel Onion soup. I haven't been out to get new plastic for storage so i need to limit the food i make this week. There is plenty of yummy quinoa -squash and it's so yummy.

My snacks have been dried cranberries and almonds at work for my evening snack and my afternoon snack has been fruit and some sort of accompaniment like yogurt or peanut butter.

Need to up my water intake. I've been doing a lot with class prep and trying to get time to clean the house i forget to drink water. worry drives me from other tasks. Yes this is the time when i do the MOST emotional eating during the semester when i'm stressing. So i think that's what i'm worried about now that i'm writing it out. That i'll just fail because of the added stress of this semester.

However:

Combining posts

food for the next couple of days
Posted by Christina on January 16, 2009 at 9:22pm
Okay: i've got oatmeal and fruit and an egg for breakfast for the next couple of days. I have my cold brew raspberry tea ready to go. Love that stuff.

For lunch and dinner i have rice with a simple stirfry it has tons of veggies and pork tenderloin.

that will due for the next 4 days. Cooking for a family but having only one adult int he house leads to more food over a few days.

Need to go shopping for the rest of my ingredients...still not sure of what i want to make.

I do have cans of beans at home so I'm thinking i can do some bean soups. Those are hearty and easy to make.

OOOO i just remembered i can make calabaza soup. That is warming and hearty and yummy! There were some awesome recipes in a couple magazines at the library I'm gonna have to take change and copy them. add a salad, and do i need to add a protein any suggestions? something that can be made one day and last 4 or 5 days.

Gonna go shopping sunday. Help ladies!

Okay now that i want more out of FYM..looking inward
Posted by Christina on January 15, 2009 at 11:36pm
Okay listening to The latest coaching call. I so understand more. Yet another part of working out hat has not been covered but i questioned when I was working out by myself.

I'm going to be actually writing down and planning my meals with school beginning. This is key because it is during the semester that things get really hectic. my cal intake per meal will have to be 393 cal. totaling to 1939cal/day.

protein intake: 143.2g/day


i've had a hectic few days and i need to sleep more than workout. so i'll do today's and tomorrow's workout all tomorrow.

pray for me ladies this planning is going to have to be down to the letter.


found a good site that has cal for food: http://www.nutritiondata.com/

Week 7 Day 3 Workout B
Posted by Christina on January 14, 2009 at 11:50pm
I felt weak today gals.

I had to reduce the weight on my workout and use my 10lbs weighted bar instead of my two 8 pound dumbbells. I still had a good workout but i really wanted to accomplish it with 16lbs rather than 10 but 10 is better than nothing right.

Maybe i was tired i did wake late and have a crazy day. I have an early meeting tomorrow so i do need to get to sleep.


motivation, eye candy...you tell me..

Week 6 already how time flies

Posted by Christina on January 5, 2009 at 11:52pm
it's week 6 day 1

i did my intervals and i feel great. i really pushed myself again. 5 cycles. i needed to stop in the middle to get some water and go to the restroom but i picked up where i left off and got my cardio in.

kinda glad i don't have a machine yet because it would have taken longer to stop and start again with the needed nature call.

toddler is happy to be home..cats are running scared as toddler approaches. it is good to be home.

Week 5 Day 2 Hard work

Posted by Christina on December 31, 2008 at 12:18am

I really pushed myself today with the intervals. I went 5 cycles at the new pace.

I think i need new movements b/c my shins are starting to hurt.

my legs are sore from yesterday's exertions and I'm looking forward to getting stronger. will have to take my book with me as i'm traveling to my parent's for New Year's.


It's a little sad because New year's eve was my first date with the DH. That was Eleven years ago. We've been married only 5 years but together 11. Time flies. I really miss him. I was fine for Turkey day and Christmas but tomorrow is our night and I shall really be sad. I know it's a sad way to enter a new year but for the last 11 years i always had someone to kiss in the new year. It's tough. I've been curbing my emotional eating and i hope i can do so tomorrow as well.


Need some prayers and good vibes sent my way ladies please. I've been on the brink of tears for almost a week. I haven't told Jacob, and i don't know if i should.
I feel selfish for being sad. Like i should be stronger and be a big girl. It's so frustrating to feel great one day and totally down the next when events like this come up. I will try again tomorrow to be strong and be happy. I did smile alot at work today. That is good. Hopefully all this hard work today with the intervals will give me blissful sleep so i can rest.

Week 5 day 1 workout a

Posted by Christina on December 29, 2008 at 11:36pm

Tough is the word that comes to mind here.Today i got thru. I felt weak today. is this normal? am i just tired from my period? maybe i didn't drink enough water today?

I would do the max of the first superset movement for all three supersets and then the minimum for the second movement.

eg: 8 rear lunges each leg

10 kneeling push-ups


it was very odd but i got through and feel better for having done so.


just so tired. going to bed.

Prep for weeks 5-8 = stage II of becoming bootylicious.....HOPE

Posted by Christina on December 28, 2008 at 11:45am

I can honestly say that putting away my introductory workout pages into the FYM notebook today was an interesting feeling. I feel accomplished, proud and ready. Ready to take on the new challenges of weeks 5-8.

It's uplifting to close a chapter of my exercise journey with positive results and NOT dread the next couple of weeks. That was a biggie for me with the way i was working out before and would lead to disinterest and boredom at week 6-8. i don't foresee that happening with this system.

I can't explain how greatfull I am to have found you all and Holly so that I can achieve my goals and be a better person because of this place.



Hope Quotes:

Emily Dickinson: Hope Quotations
We'd never know how high we are till we are called to rise; and then, if we are true to plan, our statures touch the sky.

Scottish Proverb: Hope Quotations
Were it not for hope the heart would break.

Helen Keller: Hope Quotations
When one door of happiness closes, another opens.

Albert Camus: Hope Quote
In the midst of winter, I found there was, within me, an invincible summer.

Dale Carnegie: Hope Quote
Most of the important things in the world have been accomplished by people who have kept on trying when there seemed to be no hope at all.

Napoleon Bonaparte: Hope Quotes
A leader is a dealer in hope.

Pope John XXIII: Hope Quotes
Consult not your fears but your hopes and dreams. Think not about your frustrations, but about your unfulfilled potential. Concern yourself not with what you tried and failed in, but with what is still possible for you to do.

'Hope' is the thing with feathers That perches in the soul - And sings the tune without words And never stops - at all.
- Emily Dickinson

Joseph Addison: Quote: Hope
Three grand essentials to happiness in this life are something to do, something to love, and something to hope for.

Christopher Reeve:
Once you choose hope, anything's possible.

Winston Churchill:
The pessimist sees difficulty in every opportunity. The optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.

Martin Luther King, jr.:

If you lose hope, somehow you lose the vitality that keeps life moving, you lose that courage to be, that quality that helps you go on in spite of it all. And so today I still have a dream.
The Trumpet of Conscience

Author unknown: Quotations: Hope
When the world says, "Give up," hope whispers, "Try it one more time.

Kahlil Gibran: Quotations: Hope
When you are sorrowful look again in your heart, / and you shall see that in truth you are weeping for that/ which has been your delight.

Thomas Jefferson: Quotations: Hope
When you reach the end of your rope, tie a knot in it and hang on.

Loosing = Happiness

Posted by Christina on December 28, 2008 at 10:45am

Okay so i'm staying away from the scale like Holly said. But today I measured myself because I KNOW my pants are fitting looser.

I LOST 3 INCHES off my hips!!!!!

1.5 off my waist

1 off my bust!

This is exciting! I have not been able to move but 2 inches off my hip since January 2008! and i moved 3 in just 4 weeks! WOW!
I am so Amazed! this is motivation to add to my motivation. What a nice gift to take into the new year!

This will carry me through week 6 and beyond. because it's usually at week 6 that i loose my drive and get bored.

ahhhhhh.

Intervals Monday week 4

Posted by Christina on December 22, 2008 at 11:39pm

I added the yoga block like Holly demonstrated for the High Intensity busrt of the Interval workout and I can say that was a much needed addition to my workout. I did 6 cycles and felt challenged!

I maybe a be a little slow at 1 step per sec for 30sec but it was invigorating.



i really enjoyed the workout.. that's a lot since i never enjoy cardio at all.



Fit yummy mummy is brought to you today by the word:



and the number 22

STarting over

Posted by Christina on December 22, 2008 at 10:30pm

it's week 4 and i already feel stronger. my tummy if pulling in and i can visualize my body getting to where it needs to be. This week i want to be able to do plank without feeling like i'm going to die.

keeping my motivating picture/amazon around. It's such an amazing work of art.

my focus on my goal is becoming more intense. I really want to reach by goal, but getting there i will be to reach my smaller goals like improving my push ups, plank and management of stress eating. I can get through 2.75 sets of my push ups and the plank still kills me every time. However, my abs feel strong and awesome after each workout. Does anybody else feel like this when they finish their workout?

Still working out during Justice League. I really enjoy it. More so than using songs from my MP3 list.
I also did some reading the last workout in between super sets. I was reading The Magician's Nephew by C.S. Lewis. I haven't read all the Narnia books in a while so it was a good refresher. It also gave me something to focus on during plank.

It explains everything in book2. I'm going to reread The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe as soon as it's available in ebook from the library. I did borrow The Horse and His Boy. it's ptety good and i like the was Lewis writes. It's captivating.


Well i have to get ready to do my intervals....oh and i think i found an eliptical!