Mixing It Up

I exercised Sunday night of all times.  Like 8 o’clock at night.  I did the Leslie Sansone where she lifts weights and walks.  Ds3 had just started feeling better after being sick all weekend and I had a little energy.  Had NO energy Monday so skipped the exercise that day, but today I managed to do a walking/weight lifting dvd before having to leave early to pick up ds2 from school for a dentist appt.  Weight holding at 154.

Few Days Off

Worked out Friday, skipped Saturday, had a late workout tonight as Andy has been sick all weekend.

Monday 7 Dec

Today I did the Kathy Smith Timesaver workout again, both segments.  Whew.

Sunday 6 December

Today I did a Denise Austin workout, the one with bands.  She does some aerobics and then weight lifting…well, she uses the bands, I use weights.  The aerobic part is getting so much easier for me and I can actually do all the jumping and not take a break or modify.

Friday Dec 4

I didn’t work out yesterday.  Today I did a Denise Austin weight/cardio combo.  I have had a very hard time of it with eating the last two days.  Very hungry, very hard to resist.  I am continuing to make good choices, but instead of them satisfying me I just resent them.  Hopefully it’s just pms or something and I’ll get over it without slipping.

Wednesday December 2

Well it turns out yesterday I did do a weight workout, the Matrix Method with Kathy Smith (hard!) so today I did a Leslie Sansone, a 3 mile workout tape.  I really like it, it breaks the miles up with someone else leading mile 2 (more aerobic type moves than walking moves) and a challenging 3rd mile.

Playing Catch Up

I really should write workouts down, I am horrible at remembering to post them!  Okay, I know I worked out Wednesday the 24th, I think it was a weight lifting streaming video.  Nothing on Thanksgiving or Friday or Saturday.  Sunday I did The Firm Cardio Sculpt and Monday I did Kathy Smith kickboxing.  Today I think I will do a Leslie Sansone and do a weight lifting one tomorrow.

Tuesday 24 November

Today I did both segments of the Kathy Smith timesaver workout video.  All cardio.

Still Going Strong

Okay on Friday November 20th I tried something a little different.  I took the kids to the exercise park near ds2’s school and let them play while I ran a few laps before picking up ds2.  It went well.  The boys were within a good distance to hear them and check on them often and I did better than I thought I would on the track.  I would walk, then run, then walk, then run.  I was breathing heavy, but regained my breath quickly.  My knees didn’t bother me and it didn’t feel too jarring.  I expect to try and do this once or twice a week for variety.

Today, Monday 23 November I did a streaming video from Netflix, 10 Minute Solution Kickboxing Bootcamp.  Hard!  It is split into 5 10 minute segments; legs, arms, hard-core aerobics, abs, something else I can’t remember, but it was tough.  I liked it though, it was easy as far as the moves go, but challenging.  When I weighed in the scale said 156…I am wary of that as we went out to eat this weekend AND dh brought home a delicious steak dinner from my fave restaurant.  Hopefully it is true!

Thursday 19 November

I did do the Firm workout yesterday that I got from Netflix…it was very fast paced, the cardio segments were intense but very brief, and I guess you could say it was good because my muscles are letting me know they are there today (especially triceps!)  I sent it back, though, I want to see more Dr. Mike.

Today I did my Kathy Smith timesaver video.  I had hoped to do both segments but it’s a tough one and I was cooking a big meal for the boys so I only did the one.  I think tomorrow I may try jogging at the park by ds2’s school.

Wednesday 18 November

Barring any unforeseen events, I’ll be doing a dvd I got in the mail, The Firm Get Chisel’d.  I try and work in my workouts everyday after I pick ds2 up from school and before I get dinner started (so between 4 and 5.)  We’ll see how we like this one.

I can tell I am so much more fit after these months of steadily working out.  I can squat and lunge like nobody’s business and even do more jumping than before.  I don’t tire out as easily (in workouts or in life) and have moved on from my 3 pound weights altogether.  My eating is still so so, about half and half I’d say.  I do well for the first half of the day…breakfast is cereal and milk (still measured out) snack is fruit and or yogurt and lunch is either leftovers or a healthy sandwich.  Some days I get pretty hungry, others not.  I still have cravings but am getting so much better at avoiding them or not caving in.  It’s worth it…yesterday at Target I did cave in and got an eggnog latte.  It was cold out and I had the little boys with me and I just decided to do it.  Well, I liked maybe the first two sips and then I just didn’t.  It didn’t taste as good and I started to feel icky.  I let the boys finish it.  See, my body is figuring out that eating healthy is better even though my brain hasn’t completely decided on that for now.  LOL.  Scale is still not budging, but honestly if I continue working out and can get through the holidays without gaining, I’ll be happy.

Monday, Tuesday Nov 16 &17

Monday I did the Crunch Total Resculpt and Tuesday I did the Dance Off The Inches Calorie Blasting both on Netflix streaming.

Sunday November 15

Skipped exercising on Friday and Saturday.  Today I did The Biggest Loser Cardio.  Was really hard, kind of tired today.  I’m sending it back to Netflix; I think I prefer the streaming exercise workouts anyway.

Thursday November 12

Today I did another streaming video workout from Netflix, The Crunch Cardio Sculpt that I did last weekend.

Wednesday 11 November

Well I weighed in for the first time in a long time, expecting a not so great number.  But it’s still at 157!  Which is good, that I haven’t gained, but also bad that I HAVEN’T BUDGED FROM THAT NUMBER IN WEEKS.  Come on, it’s only been a couple of months, I can’t have reached a plateau already!

Anywho, I am still encouraged.  I am still trying to eat right and make good choices.  And I am exercising my booty off since getting the Netflix.  Love, love, love the streaming videos. 

Today I picked this one.  It was great!  It was good and long and a great mix of cardio (starts off slow so you learn the moves, then goes to level 2 and 3.  Then you put it all together.)  I am glad I did this and not the Biggest Loser cardio, as Bob’s moves are so intense that I feel my muscles need a break in between the workout (even if I don’t use weights.)  I can feel an increase in my endurance and in my abilities (such as being able to tolerate jumping more.  Just wish my knees weren’t so squeaky lol.)  So go me!

Tuesday 10 November

Today I did another streaming video from Netflix, this time Crunch Boot Camp.  It was great, a good mix of intense cardio and weight lifting.  I’d say it leans more to cardio, it’s not as complete a weight workout as I like.  But I liked the instructor and the moves.

Monday 9 November

What a weird day!  We are expecting Tropical Storm Ida tonight and most of the schools closed in anticipation…except ds’s school.  Then this morning ds4 woke up with no fever but vomiting.  I got an appt at the doc for him and asked ds1 to take ds2 to school.  While at the doc (btw just a virus thank goodness, ds4 is well on the mend) I overhear the nurses saying that school will let out early.  GREAT.  I am a good half hour away stuck in the doc’s office when the dumb school decides to dismiss early.  By the time I got there ds2 was one of the last kids there.  So now he is off tomorrow for the storm and Wednesday for the holiday!  Ds3 had a dentist appt. tomorrow but they cancelled it for the storm as well.  I missed a homeschool open house, too. 

Even after all that, I did manage to exercise!  This dvd came in the mail from Netflix.  Love it!  First because it’s Biggest Loser.  Real people do this workout and it shows…they miss steps, get out of rhythm, take breaks.  And so do I.  Second, Bob is in charge, not Jillian.  He is tough, but kind.  He tells you it’s okay to modify a jumping jack, to drop the weights, to go to your knees when you need to.  But he is still encouraging and keeps you going.  The moves in this workout are simple, but very cardio intense.  I mean, with one you are just reaching up and down while moving side to side, but it really gets you sweating and breathing heavy!  I didn’t use weights since I did a firming video yesterday, but it was still super effective.  I also like that it is short and sweet.  Things I didn’t like…Bob (like Jillian) doesn’t do the workout with you.  I don’t like that because the instructor can keep the rhythm better if he is doing the moves with you.  I also don’t like how Bob sometimes just stops in the middle of an intense cardio series…goes from jumping jacks to standing still or jogging in place to standing still.  I find it helps if I keep moving all the time.  But in the end, I really like this one and will keep it a while (maybe even buy it sometime.)

The Weekend Nov 6-8 2009

Worked out a little this weekend (despite ds2 and ds4 both being sick with fevers.)  Let’s see on Friday I did the Kathy Smith tape…

I had no idea there were two workouts on this tape!  I think I saw it on a website or something that there was a second workout.  I did it and really liked it!  A nice mix of easy and hard bursts and all pretty much low impact.  I think next time I’ll try making it through both parts.

Saturday I cleaned ds1’s room…I mean super duper really cleaned.  Enough of a workout there.

Sunday I did a streaming video off Netflix!  I think I am really going to like having Netflix.  I hope it doesn’t get to be too much of an expense. 

I did The Crunch Cardio Sculpt.  I think I have a Crunch video or maybe just did one in the past.  It was pretty simple and quick and used weights and cardio (although the cardio was pretty brief.)  How great that I basically got the workout for free!  It felt a little odd to exercise in the dining room where my desk and computer are, and the volume was a little low (especially in this house where it’s so darn noisy) but I still enjoyed this option.  Haven’t been doing well diet wise…nothing big time or anything, just not making wise choices and not recording everything so I’m probably having too many calories.

Catch Up Nov. 2-4

Monday:  The Zone Cardio Sculpt

Tuesday:  Denise Austin (the one with the red band)

Wednesday:  The Biggest Loser sculpting one

Still 157.  Still.  STILL.  Ugh.

Thursday 29 Oct

Today I did the Denise Austin Personal Training System, high intensity level.

Tuesday Oct 27

Well, today I did the new Kathy Smith dvd I ordered off Amazon.  It’s a workout, keeps you moving, but I’m not impressed.  It’s not a smooth moving one, she goes back and forth, stops and starts and does very strange moves.  I don’t like all the twisting and turning and odd lunges and lifting weights at odd angles and curves.  Not only is it uncomfortable but it goes against all the rules I’ve ever heard.  So that’s too bad, I was looking forward to a new weight lifting routine.

Monday Oct 26

Today I did a 2 mile Leslie Sansone walk.  Weird day, ds2 was off from public school (teacher planning day what a joke) and dh worked 15 hours straight Sunday and took today off.  He took us out to lunch at McDonald’s and then for a little window shopping to get out of the house.  It is such a dreary, grey, cloudy day.  Supposed to rain all day tomorrow.  Anyway, at McDonalds I resisted the burger/fry thing and had a grilled chicken wrap (supposed to be 270 calories) and a parfait (supposed to be 160.)  So if they truly are that lo cal I think I did okay.  I was still a little hungry when I was through but I never really had the urge to eat the fries everyone else had.  Pretty good!  My new Kathy Smith interval workout dvd came in the mail today so I’ll give it a try tomorrow.

Sunday October 25

Did the Biggest Loser Power Sculpt on Thursday and didn’t exercise on Friday or Saturday.  Today I did The Firm Cardio Sculpt.  Weighed in at 157 this morning…still not budging from there.

October 21 Wednesday

Did Denise Austin Power Zone.  I like this one, it’s quick and relatively easy.  She uses a band, I don’t.

October 20 Tuesday

Did the Biggest Loser Power Sculpt dvd.

Even though I really don’t like Jillian at all, I don’t mind this workout.

October 19

Monday.  Did a Leslie Sansone 3 mile walk, but only went 2 miles.

Bumps In The Road

Just haven’t felt like exercising lately as evidenced by the lack of posts here.  Some of it has been fatigue and busy schedule, some of it I will attribute to laziness.  How come only a few days off of exercise sap so much of my hard earned endurance and fitness?  I worked out today and was just wiped out.  I may have to keep a food journal again for a few days and see if I’m missing out on something nutritionally.

This is what I slogged through today, one of my faves.  It combines aerobics and weight lifting but in a very smooth format…you get through a long workout without it feeling broken up.  And you hit every muscle with this one, legs and arms, back and abs.  I really like the instructor too, she never misses a cue and the music is good.  It’s a toughie, though.  Been really hungry, hard to resist snacking or going back for seconds (especially on dh’s gumbo…yum!)

Just How Does She Do It?

Well, I’ve only lost 12 pounds so far, but I thought I’d share just how I am going about this weight loss journey.  Basically I am counting calories and controlling portions.  In the beginning (back in August) I signed up to a calorie tracking site and logged in every bite I took.  After a while I got good at knowing just what I should have at each meal and for snacks, so I haven’t actually tracked my calories lately (and I’m still losing!)  I do not eat anything special.  I eat what I serve my family.  I can’t afford to buy and prepare food for only me.  Here’s a typical day.

Breakfast  Kashi Honey Sunshine cereal (1 cup) and 1/2 cup milk

Snack  a banana sliced into a bowl and topped with Yoplait yogurt and sprinkled with cinnamon

Lunch  a sandwich made with Arnold Thin Bread (100 calories and delish), 1 tbs peanut butter and 1 tsp jelly, a piece of fruit (apple, pineapple, grapes, whatever is on hand.)

Snack  a low cal granola bar or Snickers nutrition bar (150 calories) this really holds me over till dinner and gets me through my afternoon workout

Dinner  Bbq chicken leg prepared in crockpot, 3/4 cup mac&cheese, and as many steamed veggies as I desire.  I love those new frozen veggies that come in their own bag to steam in the microwave…quick, easy and so good for you!  My family prefers them as well.

Snack  my faves are a Yoplait Delights Caramel Creme (100 calories) or some microwave popcorn

That’s a typical day.  If we order pizza I have 2 slices of cheese.  If we eat out or at someone else’s house I just watch my portions and don’t order anything fried.  Oh, and I mostly drink water but do have about 1 glass of sweet tea a day (sweet baby, with real sugar and all lol.)

As you can see from my previous posts, I do exercise.  I always have.  But I didn’t start losing weight until I lowered my calorie intake.  So I am not an exercise fiend or nut by any means, I just do it when I feel like it and don’t push myself.  I average about 5 days a week.  So far, so good!  I know the holidays will be hard, but I think I’ll make it through.

One More Down

Weighed in at 157 this morning!  I couldn’t believe it, but I am quite happy. 

I did this workout today.  I had it set to do both the aerobic and toning segments, but barely made it through the aerobic section and decided to do the toning tomorrow.

Strange Day

Did not exercise today, felt tired and had more “heart thingys” like last week.  Did weigh in this morning and it was down 1 more pound to 158!  Haven’t heard back from the dr. about the halter monitor test results, need to remember to call.  Was supposed to go “big” grocery shopping but didn’t want to push it with the heart so I just got what we needed.  Slightly proud of myself that I had the problems but kept control and didn’t have panic attack.  Hopefully will feel more like myself tomorrow and get back to exercising.

A Day At The Dentist…

is never a good day.  ;)  I haven’t had a cavity in YEARS and I admit I had forgotten just what an awful procedure it is to have one filled.  Although technically this wasn’t a new cavity, just replacing an old one.  Still, no fun.  The boys and I were in that office for almost 2 hours!  Anywho…

I did a Leslie Sansone yesterday, the one where she walks and lifts weights.  Still tired, but persisting with this stuff.  Today I did Denise Austin’s indoor walk, both the “easy” and “fat blasting” segments.  Dh came in and started yacking in the middle of it all so some of it I kinda coasted through.  But it still counts lol.  Tonight is Biggest Loser night!  Yea!  I like the show, I like seeing the people lose weight and the challenges they face.  I don’t much like the trainers or the diet they make these people follow.  Anything where you ban fruit is ridiculous to me.  Stay away from bananas and mangoes?  Gimme a break!  I’ve been eating both and losing just fine.   Still looking forward to watching the show.  :)

Here We Go!

Like I need another blog.  This one is just a personal log for my weight loss endeavor.  I need a place to track thoughts, feelings, pounds, exercise, etc.  And I can change it as much as I want!  Okay, today I weighed in at 159!  Woo and Hoo!  When I started all this back in August I weighed in at 169 (although I have gone as high as 170.)  So I’m officially 10 pounds lighter.  I can tell ever so slightly that I’m like a tad bit thinner but I wish it were more noticeable.  This is taking like FOREVER but it is happening, I am going down.  Yesterday I exercised for the first time since I had the little episode of “heart thingys” on Wednesday evening.  I took it easy and did my all time favorite Good Housekeeping tape.  I can tell I’m “pre” that time of the month…grouchy as all get out, tired and HUNGRY.  And bored, why do I get bored with things at this time?  Okay now I am just rambling.  End post.  Hit publish.