Day 16 - long post, but please read!

Well, I thought I'd be in bed by now (being 11pm & all) but I guess that's what I get for drinking an energy drink before I went on the elliptical at 9 o'clock at night!

So I did 68 minutes... 7.8 miles & then some yoga to wind down.  Me newest thing is making a new playlist for each time I go on the elliptical... to keep things fresh.  I'm more into it if I don't know what song is coming next.  My top 2 songs for my "runs" are: "Telephone" by Lady Gaga ft Beyonce  (remix) & "If We Ever Meet Again" Timbaland with Katy Perry.  LOVE those tracks.  I get to do my fake spinning class thing on the chorus.  See this post to clarify what I mean by that.

I ate really well again today.  It's amazing that just a few short weeks ago I was getting fast food almost every day; sometimes twice a day.  Because a) it was easier than making a meal at home, b) I was out somewhere & didn't plan ahead to eat healthy, c) the crap in bad food makes it taste so good & addicting.  But since I've been eating cleaner, I've felt better & my skin is better too.  I'm doing lots of reading about things I should be incorporating into my diet; doing research on how I can be eating ever cleaner.  Because no matter how much you work out, a portion of your achievements comes from nutrition.  Here are some of my research sources.

Oxygen Magazine Great info & recipes





















I KNOW I've said this 1,000 times before, but I feel like THIS is going to be the time it really works.  I say that because I'm feeling good about how I'm eating & I haven't cheated because I haven't been depriving myself...so I haven't felt guilty & then fallen down a shame spiral... (that would've happened already by now... I would've gone out & gotten a blizzard or something)  And when I think about exercising, it's not like "Oh yuck, I have to workout" ... or I would've only done it if Alex was around, to impress him AND, I would've only done like 12-20 min on the elliptical... instead, I think, "I GET to workout & I'm going to do even more than I did the last time."  And with the fresh playlists & magazines to keep me occupied, I don't even notice that an hour goes by!

And this time I've actually been able to visualize my smaller, toned body.  I've never really been able to do that before, to envision what I would look like if I wasn't fat. (I HATE that word, btw)  But my sister, Shannon is getting married in about a year, probably in Mexico & I'd like to be able to feel great about being on the beach in a bathing suit. It's been almost 3 years since I've been in a bathing suit.  Isn't that depressing?  I haven't even taken Owen swimming because I'm too ashamed. ("These thighs aren't for anyone's eyes" is my mantra)  But I'd like to change that so I can have a good time in a place I've never been before. I've never been south of Utah.  It'll be exciting to be there & spend time with Shannon & Jason as they get married...

So that's my final timeline goal.  But I need your help... I want to set up a schedule for short range goals & rewards for those goals.  So in your comments, please suggest ideas for goals (# of pounds lost) & the reward that would go with that goal achieved.  For example... When I reach 30 pounds lost, I'd like to treat myself to a facial or a pedicure or something.  Other major rewards could include workout wear from lululemon, gel nails, highlights, new jeans, etc... Let me know what you think & then once I come up with a list of goals & their rewards, I'll post them.

Day 15

My husband came home for the night (as a surprise) but I didn't use his being here as an excuse to get out of working out.  I asked him to take care of Owen while I did my thing (the BUILD DVD & part of the Carmen Electra's Fit to Strip DVD)


It was only supposed to be the Build DVD, but I wanted to get a little extra cardio in as well, since I had the energy.  And I ate really well today too.  My breakfast was a protein shake (skim milk, ice, 1 scoop choc protein powder - lots of protein & like NO FAT! - & a few chunks of frozen banana & then a tsp of wheat germ & 1 tsp of some little seeds (that kinda look like poppy seeds) that I got at the Farmers Market... apparently they're amazing for you... I'll find out what they are for you guys)

So it's been a good day... & now I'm gonna go hang out with my husband!

Day 14

So I didn't end up getting to do the Sculpt DVD on Friday... Fridays always seem to get away from me. So I did both the Sculpt DVD & Yoga on Saturday.  I ate really well on Sat & then fasted today until supper time.  Then I had some vegetarian chili & spelt bread (which I am now totally in love with!) & skim milk.  And then later, one of these...

This has become my go to snack when I feel I need something chocolatey without binging on a whole whack of something.  It's rich enough that it's satisfying.. and in Canada it only has 3 pts!  So... I totally love it.

So tomorrow I start out with week 2 of the DVDs & Mon it's the Build DVD.  So we'll see how that goes.  Wed is weigh in day.  Can't wait!

These are a few of the tools I've ordered to help me with my goals:

Day 11

61 minutes

6.76 miles

Can I get a "HOLLA!"

I think Heavenly Father made Owen sleep long enough so I could go for that long.  I had the video monitor on  & was watching periodically to see if he had woken up ... & since he hadn't, I kept going :)  My trick... I bought some fitness magazines & browsed through the whole thing.  Another fitness "tender mercy"... my play list was exactly long enough...just over by 10 seconds. I remember when I made it thinking, I wonder if I'll ever be able to do this whole playlist on one "run" (I put run in quotation marks because I don't know what to call a session on an elliptical... I'm not really running like I would be on a treadmill... any suggestions?)

Anyway... still eating well & have to do my yoga DVD later... Can't wait to weigh in next week!

Day 10

So yesterday was a cardio/yoga day.  I did the elliptical... 25 minutes, 2.63 miles.  I didn't end up getting to do the 15 minute yoga DVD that came with the AHB program (funny how the day can slip away from you!)  But I did get to stretch a lot after "running"  One of my fave things to do on the elliptical is during the chorus of certain songs ... leaning forward & grabbing on to the middle handles (the ones that don't move) & bounce a little more & go a little faster... I pretend I'm in a spinning class... I'm a dork, but it's so fun... spices things up a bit.

And I was soooo sore yesterday.  That Build DVD is killer.  Normally I would've said "Oh, I'm too sore, I won't do the cardio today"  And then I'd get off track & it'd be all over... But I went ahead & it wasn't too bad!  I got a massage today & then I just finished the Burn DVD a little while ago.

So tomorrow is cardio/yoga & I don't have as much going on tomorrow...so hopefully I can go for longer on the elliptical & get the yoga dvd done.

And one other thing I've noticed since I've been exercising everyday... I don't have as much trouble falling asleep as I did before... YAY! (You were right Alex :)

Day 8

So yesterday was Sunday & was a rest day.  I did mess up a little with eating, but I'll be okay.  I find it's hardest in the evenings for me.

Today is a new day & it's the first day of my new program ... Action Hero Babe ... I found this program a while ago when I saw Jennifer Garner on Ellen using these cool little things that basically looked like furniture slides to help her do lunges... And I thought ... What a great idea!  So I looked up Valerie Waters (Jennifer's trainer) & found the "Valslides"  & then saw that she had the whole system... the Action Hero Babe system... so I ordered it right away... and I've had it for a while... but being back on the bandwagon now, I've committed to doing the 8 week program, starting today.

There's 6 different DVD's ... Build - Burn & Sculpt, each in Phase 1 (done for one month) & then Phase 2 (for the next month) ... Today I did the Build Phase 1 disc & man.... I'm sore... It's good... but it's done in circuits, so you get breaks... Anyway... I'm loving it so far... There's a whole binder that has your workouts & nutrition guide with recipes, your goals & motivations.... I'm hoping it'll help me stay on track.

So tomorrow is Cardio & Yoga... back to the elliptical I go!

Day 6

30 minutes + stretching

3.43 miles

Slipped up on eating today & yesterday...

Didn't run yesterday...

Realize it's not the end of the world & will do better tomorrow... I WILL NOT slip onto a shame spiral.

Day 4

Day 4...

41 minutes

4.73 miles

Ate healthy (well, had 3 pieces of chocolate, but I think a little treat is good, to prevent me from going out & getting a blizzard or something in a few days :)

Gotta keep going

Back on Track

Well... I totally fell off the bandwagon.  This happens a lot for me... I feel good about my progress over a short amount of time, slack off, & then feel guilty about the "mishaps" & then go down a shame spiral into my old habits.

A lot of people around me have been having success & are looking great, & instead of motivating me, it was making me feel more & more guilty & like it would never work for me.  But I do know that it can work for me, because it has in the past.  When I had 3 months to get ready to see Alex for the first time after we'd started a long distance relationship over the phone (which I personally, to this day, believe is the best way to really get to know someone in the beginning, rather hanging out/making out all the time in the beginning, we just spent hours on the phone, learning everything we could about the other person)

Anyway...when I knew I had 3 months to get my butt into shape, I totally went for it & went to the gym everyday.  I would do 40 minutes on the elliptical, do strength training for 20 minutes, then 40 minutes on the treadmill, & then 10 minutes of stretching & abs.  EVERY DAY.  And I lost a lot of weight. I got down to 168lbs (which was a big accomplishment for me, someone who had always been really heavy).  And I felt great... And I could wear clothes I hadn't been able to in a long time. And it was amazing.

But then time passed & we got married & I slacked off & didn't eat as healthy, & of course the lbs came back on.  And then we moved out here to Alberta (I weighed 195lbs by then) & for some reason, I gained even more.  To the point where when I got pregnant, much to my surprise, I weighed 227lbs!!!  Out of control.  And then MONTHS after Owen was born, I still weighed in the 250s.

So a few nights ago (after feeling really down & depressed about the state my body is in right now) I had an open & honest heart to heart conversation with Alex about all my deep-seeded fears & frustrations, and my envy of those around me who are having success & how it makes me feel like I won't succeed.  Now Alex has always been very supportive of me in my continued efforts to lose weight, & I love him for that.  I know a lot of guys that would've left me a long time ago had I'd gotten this big while being with them... And so he told me to just do it... to just go for it... that he knew I could do it, & to nevermind what others were doing... to just do what I know how to do & work towards my own success...

And so I am.  The next day I ate healthy & went on the elliptical for 38 minutes... I did 4.43 miles.  This coming from a girl that used to get excited when she could do 12 minutes.  And the next day I ate healthy again & did 30 minutes on the elliptical.  And today I did 25 minutes, but added strength training, abs & stretching.  And it feels good.  I'm hoping I can keep going. :)


**** UPDATE***** Just got off the Wii fit & the body test said I was at 233.5 lbs... down 7.5 lbs from the last time I was on... (79 days ago!) So that's exciting for me... Only 6.5 for me to lose until I'm back at my pre-pregnancy weight... and then only 87 more pounds to go! YAY!!!