Sunday Update and a Cup of Tea

Rest day today.  All I did was a 30 minute walk on the treadmill.  Thank God!  My quads are screaming at me every time I go down the stairs.  Not up, just down and I look really pitiful doing it.  I also strained one of the muscles in my armpit so my ability to be pathetic knows no bounds apparently.

Yesterday was the start of a thirty day exercise challenge I'm doing with a fine group of ladies I know.  My goal is to participate in thirty minutes of aerobic activity each day, even if it's only walking.  So far, so good!  Of course, it's only day two.  So time will tell.  I'm really hoping I can stay on track this week.  It's the last week of classes before finals and although I'm sitting pretty well as far as grades go, I always stress out.

In other news; I'm taking up tea.

Just a test run to begin with since I do love these seasonal teas but really know very little about them.  I've heard loose leaf tends to be healthier, green tea is healthier than black, and have no idea where white tea ranks.  All I know is that I want something tasty, something that is a tad sweet so I don't feel the urge to add sweetener, and something that'll make me feel good.

Tag-Team Suicide

I've done it.

In the midst of school finals chaos (and it's totally chaos), I've managed to get back to an exercise routine.  I've been working out but let's face it; sometimes people get lazy and I'm definitely people.  I've rebounded in weight slightly but truth is I'm not worried about it.  I figure it's mostly bloat from the gluten-fest I enjoyed at the in-laws over Thanksgiving.  I paid for it afterwards, but I totally enjoyed.  Very few things beat a South Dakota farm wife's bread pudding for dessert.

But enough of that.  I'm lazy.  Fact.  I'm also fat and want to be thin.  Well, maybe not thin, but at least un-fat.  Therefore... back to the grind.

I'm visiting an old friend.

I kinda missed her.  The way she looks at me from the television screen with an expression that says "I dare ya to quit fatty," and then I tell her what I think about her.

So I'm killing myself doing the thirty days again.  Not nearly as badly as the first time I ever did it, but I'm still hurting.  BUT... I'm not alone this time!  My H, the "I only do manly workouts" guy, is doing it with me!  

We started tonight.  Right after work but before dinner so he could claim he was too full to participate.  It was hard!  It's amazing how much endurance you lose after taking time off.  I'm still in decent shape thankfully, but I did totally get winded a few times. 

We watched the video last night so my H could figure out the moves.  The man has never done anything remotely resembling aerobics in his life.  He thought it looked pretty easy.  The poor man changed his tune by eight minutes in.  Huffing and puffing, red in the face, and complaining of a hurt calf muscle. (He's fine.  I suspect it's less pain and more acceptable burn)  I'm so proud of him. Maybe doing 30 Day Shred will be like a gateway drug and he'll be open to more types of exercise.  Maybe ballroom dancing classes are in our future?  Probably not.  But a girl can dream can't she?

New Beginnings

I've officially finished the 30 Day Shred!  I think I'm going to print out one of these award certificates and fill in my own name.

As much as it sucked hardcore, I think I am better for it.  Here's what I achieved by the end:

• I don't lose my breath as easily so I was able to swear at Jillian Michaels more efficiently.
• I noticed I am usually following the harder example of the exercises not the modified.
• I've learned to drink from my water bottle while doing jump ropes, and high knees.
• I've regained some of the flexibility I had years ago.  My knee seems stronger for it.
• I've lost inches.  Most noticeable in my waist.
• I feel like I accomplished something

BUT.  The fat chick is still here and she's still fat.

Phase 2:  P90X

I'm scared, excited, terrified, and totally hoping for magic.  I'm willing to put the work in, I'm just hoping the program will get the numbers moving on the scale.

Any advice on P90X?

Testing Out the New Toy

I did my last day of level 2 of the 30 Day Shred.  Thank God!  I'm ready for level 3.

I hate:

• plank jack
• pendulum lunges w/ hammer curls (my knee hates)
• double crunches

Thanks to my handy-dandy new heart rate monitor, here are my results after doing my dvd workout:

Now.  What they mean?  I'm working on it.  ;)

The Plateau is Over

Thank God!

I finally lost a pound.  I've been panicking.  I know, I know!  It's not all about the weight.  I totally took a pic on Monday and compared it to the pic I took 2 weeks ago.  I am definitely seeing a difference.  Especially in my waist/belly area.  I'm halfway done with the 30 Day Shred and although I might hate Jillian Michaels, I gotta admit that the chick knows her workouts.

I'm currently debating between the Insanity workout and P90X.  I have both available and am unsure which to take on first.  They're both supposed to be great workouts.  Insanity has been nicknamed Intensity.  So maybe I should take that as a warning.  Plus, if I start P()X on the Monday after I finish the 30 Day Shred, I'll finish it 2 days before Thanksgiving.  Talk about earning your dinner.

Opinions?  Thoughts?  Comments?  Suggestions?

A Ray of Sunshine.

I hurt.

Not just a pleasant burn in my muscles.  I can barely move without wincing.  People weren't kidding when they said level 2 of the 30 Day Shred was the hardest.  I'm still debating whether I can do day 2 today.  I'm unsure whether I need the recovery day or if working out would stretch the muscles and make me feel better.  Anyone care to make the decision for me?


It's Friday!  Boo.  I know most people love Fridays.  They're not my favorite.  Don't get me wrong, I love the weekend.  there are just some things about it I'd rather not deal with. My husband's eating habits for one.  He could handle a one meal a day lifestyle and that doesn't really work with my mandatory 6 small meals a day plan.  I'm doing great food-wise today overall:

• 4 egg scramble on a slice of light toast
• 4 C of butter and dill popcorn
• a bowl of honey nut O's with raspberries on top
• oven fried fish & chips
• 1 C of Jello devils food chocolate pudding
• a peanut butter pop

I almost forgot about my ray of sunshine!  I had taken part in a discussion by Oboz Footwear about great hikes.  They liked my hike story that included tubing back down the creek so much that they sent me a gift!

I love surprise visits from the mailman.  Isn't it a nifty thermos bottle?  Thanks Oboz!

Sometimes I get so down on myself that it's nice to get a virtual gold sticker to let me know I'm doing a good job.  The thermos was kinda like that for me today.  I'm so thankful for the people online who have given me a virtual pat on the back, cheered me on, and helped me just by caring.  Sometimes just having someone who understands, is reward enough.

Started Level Two Today

30 Day Shred Level 2 =  kill me now

Here is what I learned or experienced today:

• It was just as hard as the first day of level 1.
• I still hate Jillian Michaels and happily told her so whenever I objected to her workout methods.
• I sweat so much I soaked through my shorts and left an icky damp spot on my mat.
• Despite deodorant, I smelled really bad.  I honestly offended myself.
• I literally laid on the floor for 25 minutes after because I could not move.
• This is a 2 bra workout.  I have horrific chafing under my left breast.  Horrific! (Anyone have a magical cure since this is gonna suck to wear a sports bra tomorrow)
• Plank-twists are a product of the devil.
• I followed the more challenging workout example most of the time (except when my knees couldn't take the impact)
• I want this.  Hopefully I can keep my motivation up. 

 See that picture above?  That's Jillian Michaels.  While I don't look the same as her "before", I see her posture, body language, and expression and am certain I feel the same as her.  She looks upset someone is taking a picture because she doesn't want a reminder of how she looks.  She's covering her stomach hoping to minimize it.  She looks like that picture is just another misery added to her day.  She doesn't feel pretty, just insecure.  i don't want to feel like that anymore.  I want to feel like her "after" picture.  Minus the stink-face of course.

The Fat Chick Got Me Down

I feel fat today.

I feel fat and the worst part is that I don't care.  My motivation is gone.  My desire to eat is gone.  I just want to sit here on my butt and watch tv or play around on the computer.  I tell myself, "Come on! Time to move!" and yet continue to sit here instead of getting a snack, working out, or just doing anything.  It's pathetic.

Thank goodness I know the cause and how to fix it.  I slept like crap last night.  My back was aching for no good reason and I just could not get comfy.  Time to stop dwelling and just make plans for tomorrow.  Time to stop worrying about the fat chick I am and concentrate instead about the smaller chick I will be.  This quote is attributed to Christopher Columbus, but I haven't been able to find a solid citation of any kind:

So that's what I need.  To let go of the shore. Who cares about today?  Tomorrow matters.

Tomorrow I'm going to do Day 11 of the 30 Day Shred.  I'm gonna get it done because I promised myself I would.  It's the first day of level 2 and it's supposedly going to kick my butt just as hardcore as the first few days of level 1 did.

Tomorrow I'm going to eat enough calories even if I'm not hungry.

Tomorrow I'm going to mow the lawn and remind myself that pushing the mower equals 350 calories burned.

Tomorrow I'm not letting the fat chick control my thoughts.  I hate that chick.

Getting My World in Shape

Getting in shape isn't easy.  Hell.  I haven't even done it yet officially, just made strides towards it.  I realized recently that when one thing is in disorder (like my body) that it is exceedingly hard to get it to where you want it if all your tools and your influences are out of order as well.  So I rearranged my side of the basement.  The man-cave now has a attractive, healthy looking partner on the north side of the room.  She needs some decor yet, especially on the walls, but she's looking good.  I hope to look good soon myself.

If only it were as easy to transform my body as it was to transform the room.  It's not easy.  In fact, I am once again writing this blog post to procrastinate doing the 30 Day Shred.  I've made it to day 8.  once I'm doing it, I'm good.  It's only 27 minutes total from warm-up to cool-down.  But for the life of me, I can not get motivated to start each day.  I have to drag myself downstairs after ages of excuses.  If any of y'all figure out the key to motivation please let me know.  I need it some of these days.

The Fat Chick Cometh

I look like a fat-ass.

No, this isn't some insult to motivate ploy.  It is on purpose though.  I bought some Fila workout gear that is super soft, lightweight, comfy, and downright cute.  It is however, skin tight.  I can see every lump, bump, and handful of blubber that I want gone.  Thanks to the bright blue trim, all my body imperfections are perfectly highlighted.  Instead of buying my normal style of clothes, I decided to think outside the box.  I took a picture of myself wearing the outfit pre-workout (in fact I'm still pre-workout since I'm procrastinating by typing this because I'm kinda scared to start the 30 Day Shred program) so that I can compare pictures with future pictures and hopefully can really see the weight loss.

Will I share these pictures with you?  Yes.
Now?  Not a chance.  I can handle showing you a "before" pic.  Just not a "now" pic

It's kind of funny actually.  Refreshing too.  To be able to truly see what needs to be fixed.  I think taking a pic once a week is my plan.  Although, doing it every day and then making a video that shows me shrinking has a lot of appeal.  opinions?

As for this little piece of terror, It better work.  I'm watching my food like a hawk.  Starting pure today.  Completely clean eating.  Super simple foods.  Tonight will be grilled chicken breast with corn and a gripload of fresh pea pods.  Only water to drink.  I'm not even going to risk having tea.  Dang it Jillian Michaels. Your program claims I can "lose up to 20 pounds in 30 days!"  I'd be thrilled with half of that.  I'd be happy with 6 since that would put me at 20 pounds lost.  Heck, as long as I lose something I can deal.  I DO think I'm pretty darn determined though.  It there is a big loss waiting for me, I'm out to get it.  If the Shred fails, there is always Sweating to the Oldies right?  Right?


EDIT:  Oh my God.  I just finished my first day of the video and I've gotta tell you the following things:

1. I hate that chick.  Not like personally, more like "Stop telling me to keep going while you just stand there talking about those of us that are actually doing the exercises!" and "She lies!  She said we were done and THEN we had to do bicycle crunches which sucked at the end."
2. I had sweat pouring off my body at the end.
3. I consider myself a polite woman but I was swearing like a sailor during the workout.
4. Do not do the workout in the basement.  I almost didn't make it back up the stairs to the living room afterwards.
5. I'm starving.

New Challenges to Ponder

I've been hearing a lot of people complain about hitting a plateau or just not losing.  It scares me.

I'm going to try my damnedest to avoid it and I am hoping switching up my workouts every two to four weeks will keep my body on it's toes.  Literally as well as figuratively since I do love my NYC ballet workout.  As the happy owner of the 30 Day Shred by Jillian Michaels , I'm planning on kicking my own butt starting Monday.  Hard.  I just have to be careful to eat enough.  I'd also love to try the p90x system but don't have the money for weights, a pull up bar, or resistance bands. Especially since I'm not sure I can even stick with the program.  It looks really intense and I'm a bit of a chicken.  I know losing weight isn't easy, I just wish it was cheap.

My husband revealed on Wednesday that he has a dream and it's the hike of a lifetime.  I'm still in a bit of shock since he's always been very anti outdoor sports.  Not just traditional team sports, but including bouldering, climbing, canoeing, fishing, camping, and a number of other activities that might be described as "rugged activities."  He wants to thru-hike the Appalachian Trail.  All 2,181-ish miles of it, virtually non-stop, and it averages about 5 months to do it all. 
 
We would start in Maine in June of whatever year and then work our way south on foot to Georgia.  It's amazing.  I want to do it.  Who knows when?  I sure as heck don't.  But I want to be in shape when the time does come.  Nothing makes me as happy as the thought of a husband and wife adventure.  I figure I need my feet to be able to handle about 20 miles per day with moderate trail conditions.  I had better kick up the endurance!