Up

Too much Diet Coke added to back to school stress topped off with some binge eating and I am up 1.6 pounds. Argh..that is frustrating. The good news is there is no more soda in the house. The kids will both be in school Monday and I can breathe just a little more easy. Life with children 24-7 as I have known it for years is about to change and I am finally going to get some me time. You can't appreciate time for yourself until you have gone so long without it. Smile.

Some of the things I am looking forward to with my new found freedom: long, quiet walks in the fall, grocery shopping and actually being able to relax while doing so and take my time perusing the aisles, exercising without munchkins running off with my weights or getting in my way while I am doing so, window shopping at the local antique stores, doing some deep house cleaning.....the skies the limit! Big smile!

So yeah, I gained, but this hell week is almost over and moving on and looking toward a better weigh in next week.

Oh and one more thing.. I will be going to the gym so I will be weighing in on the physicians scale. Hope its more accurate than mine!

A Loss is a Loss

My much anticipated weigh in was less than I expected, but a loss is still a loss. .2 pounds off and I'm okay with that. So long as the scale goes down and not up, I am doing something right.  However, I do think MFP has my caloric intake set high so I am adjusting it to lower my daily caloric intake by 200 calories. My goal this week is to walk 10 miles over the course of 7 days. Here we go!!!!!!

TGIF Folks! Enjoy your weekend!

Having to Modify...

This is week 2 into Jillian Michaels Last Chance Work Out. I'm doing good, except for one thing, my right knee. Its got a crunchy noise when I bend it and has for a while. I took a fall last year and  I am not sure if it is from that or just weight. At any rate, some of the exercises are causing me extreme pain, lasting pain to said knee. So for the time being, I am going to have to skip some of the exercises in the circuits. In particular lunges to said knee, mountain climbers and so forth. The problem I am having is how to count it? If I simply jog in place during those particular circuits would it be fair to claim all the calories?

In the meantime, while I am trying to make provisions to that, I have also incorporated the PowerWalk DVD with Bob. Oh...what a wonderful treat to see his face and positive tone. Such a huge contrast from Jillian. I am walking 2 miles at a time on that DVD. Walking is excellent exercise and I enjoy it!

Tomorrow is weigh in day! Anxious to see how much I have lost!

Ready for Fall

I woke last night/early morning to the sound of thunderous rain beating on my windows. I have to say it was one of the best things I have heard in a while. We've been pretty much in a drought. We had seen 40+ days of over 100 degree temperatures and very little rain. Today's high was around 90. What a pleasant treat. Our meteorologists are calling for random periods of rain over the next several days. How awesome is that?!

Along with the cooler temps comes the feeling of knowing that fall will soon be here. I am ready. SO ready! So much so that today I found myself making chili in the slow cooker and rearranging my living room. Yes, fall makes me happy. I've come to realize I am just not a summer person. To be quite honest, I could survive with Fall, Winter and Spring just fine. There really is no need in temperatures reaching over 80, not in my book anyway...

Sweet & Cold Treat for 48 Calories OMG!

First let me just say that SWIRL STIX are officially my favorite non-dairy Popsicle HANDS DOWN! I bought it for the kids not paying attention to the calories. When I got it home and was putting groceries away, the different flavors caught my eye. Then I flipped it over and its said 47 calories (some say 48, but mine says 47). I thought to myself, what the heck, I'll try it. Let me just say that the cotton candy as well as the applelicious are absolutely out of this world. You MUST try these!!!

The different flavors are:
Orange Dream – Orange & Marshmallow swirl
Verry Berry – Blackberry & Cherry swirl
Cotton Candy – A swirl that speaks for itself  OMG YUM!
Banana Split – Banana, marshmallow & strawberry shortcake swirl
Applelicious – red and green apple swirl MY FAVORITE!
Rainbow – White lemon, Cherry & Blueberry Swirl

A Day of Rest :)

Today I have vowed to chill. No Jillian, no Bob, no movement, just relaxation. 

Last week I did 5 days of the Last Chance Workout and I tell you it is a tough one, at least it was for me. It is supposed to be equivalent to the workouts they do on Biggest Loser in week 8. I believe it. My biceps and calves hurt every morning when I woke. But I also lost 6.4 pound,s so who is complaining?

Thanks to Becky, I was introduced to My Fitness Pal which is a wonderful tool for exercise & calorie management alongside a vast community of users who are seeking to get fit as well. Definitely saves time using this application as it does all the brain work for you!

I am very thankful for my friends, old and new, who help keep me going. Sometimes life is crazy and its easier to quit than keep going. But with friends like mine, everyday is a new day and a new opportunity to push forward. So thank you girls, you know who you are!

My Last Chance Workout Routine KICKS ASS!

Today was day #4. I hurt. No, I REALLY hurt. But I must say, I keep going back for more because of the pain.  Here is the breakdown of Biggest Loser Last Chance Workout. Also, if you are like me and aren’t completely familiar with exercise/weight training names yet, I’ll explain as best I can. You can always google the exercise names. Make sure you have two dumbbells (5-10lbs recommended, depending on your skill level), a mat (if you feel you need it). I use 3 pound weights and my no mat.

CIRCUIT 1:

• Jumping jacks (45 seconds)
• Rows (knees bent shoulder width apart, bend forward slightly, back straight (no curving!), weights in front palms facing each other with weights in hand, and pull back) (20 reps)
• Criss Cross Jumping Jacks (jumping jacks but cross legs in front of one another) (40 seconds)
• Wide Rows (same position as rows, but palms facing down and bring up to sides as if doing push up in the air with your weights) (25 reps)
• Scissor Jumping Jacks (jumping jacks but legs go front and back with each jack) (40 seconds)
• Rear Flies (same stance as rows, palms facing each other with weights and bring out wide) (20 reps)

CIRCUIT 2:

• Jog in Place (35 seconds)
• Basic push ups (if beginner go on knees, always keep back straight) (20 reps)
• High-knees (35 seconds)
• Staggered Push Ups (hand position is staggered and switch with each push up therefore in constant motion - as if you’re walking forward, then backward with ur hands as you lower) (20 reps)
• Butt Kicks (40 seconds)
• Up/Down Planks (plank position - go on knees if beginning - and get down to elbows one at a time, then back up one at a time, and repeat) (20 reps)

CIRCUIT 3:

• Tap & Side-Kick (tap foot to one side and kick side-ways to opposite side) (25 reps)
• Alternating Lunges (step back and lunge down with weights at sides) (25 reps)
• Tap & Side-Kick (opposite side) (25 reps)
• Step Out Squat (weight almost on shoulders, step to side and squat, do both sides alternating) (20 reps)
• Alternating Front Kicks (40 reps)
• Dead Lifts (stand with feet shoulder length apart, bend forward with weights in front palms facing down - keep back STRAIGHT, and back up, then repeat) (30 reps)

CIRCUIT 4:

• Cross Punches (kickboxing style, punch to each side by slightly turning your bod to each side as well and put effort into punches!) (40 reps)
• Basic Bicep Curl w/Right Leg Lifted (so you are on one foot) (20 reps)
• Hook Punches (kickboxing style, again turning body slightly and put effort into hooks!) (50 reps)
• Basic Hammer Curl w/Left Leg Lifted (20 reps)
• Upper Cuts (kickboxing style) (50 reps)
• Pumping curls (do them fast in a fluid motion) (60 seconds)

CIRCUIT 5:

• Jump rope (40 seconds)
• Tricep Curls (in kick-back position, bring arms at 90 degrees passed your back and curl) (30 reps)
• Jump Rope w/Criss Cross Arms (same as jump rope but cross your arms in and out) (40 seconds)
• Tricep Overhead (bring both - or one if you’re beginning) - of your weights on top of head, arms by ears, up and down) (30 reps)
• Right.Left Leg Jump Rope (jump on one leg for 25 seconds and on the other for the other 25 seconds)
• Pumping Triceps (back to kickback position, and do pumping tricep curls in fluid motion) (35 seconds)

CIRCUIT 6: (last circuit and it sucks!)

• Mountain Climbers (get on all fours and mountain climb in fluid motion!) (60 seconds)
• Lateral Raises (Raise weights to shoulder length to side and back down) (20 reps)
• Plank Jacks (plank position and do jacks in plank position - out/in of feet) (35 reps)
• Front Raises (weights in hand bring out arms straight, palms facing down, in front of you to chest level and back down) (20 reps)
• In/Out Plank Mountain Jacks (plank position and jump inward a bit, back, and jack - jump to spread feet, jump back to feet together, inward again, and repeat) (40 seconds)
• Arnold Presses (hard to explain, please google) (10 reps)

And you’re done!! This should last you 30 minutes at least! No rest in between (if you must take at the MOST 5 seconds rest) is the whole point of circuit training. I can tell you that if you are not in decent shape it will kick your ass, but you will feel the difference in a matter of days!

Oh My Muscles!

This will be day 3 (only day 3) of my Jillian workout and I am sore as hell. I am clearly out of shape, but even so, her program is an ass kicker. Its a 30 minute aerobic workout designed to be done each day. The DVD cover says you can lose up to 30 pounds in 6 weeks, and I believe that!  Each day is different and then after 1-2 weeks you move to the next one. Her workout includes warm-up and cool-down as well. You will need a pair of hand dumbbells for some of the exercises. I can tell you that each time I finish I am a sweaty mess and my heart is beating out of my chest.

I had put the weight back on, which I think was mostly water weight and now am back down 3 pounds so far! Can't wait to do it again tonight!

P.S. I have a new found respect for the Biggest Loser contestants. I'm hurting from a total of 1 hour..I can't imagine doing this all day, everyday!