All Done

I finished my workout and shower and was home by 6:30. I love that feelign. I gained 2 pounds this week, but I am just telling myself it's muscle. I'm trying to focus on the positives and not the negatives. If I feel better then I should be grateful, regardless of weight loss.

This week i'm adding a few more things to my routine -- no fast food, eating something small before I work out, and no drinks besides water, decaf tea and milk. that's on top of all the other stuff we did last week and the week before.

Last week I made it to the Y six straight days, five of them at five.

Can't beat that....

Still Hanging in there

For the fifth day in a row I was a the YMCA at 5 a.m. now that is cranking. I love the feeling I get when I am done.

Today was kind of an off day -- Kari went with me and she gets me all hyper and I forget stuff. Like today I forgot my water bottle and left it in the van, had no Y card, didn't bring a comb -- and then my favorite treadmill was busy for a while (as were most of them) so I only had 20 minutes there and 20 on the bike.

Plus, I had to stand next to a skinny person who was running and those really skinny people, you know the ones I'm talking about, the ones in perfect shape, they just grate on my nerves sometimes. Today I looked over at her cool down speed and it was higher than my maximum speed. And then she did this little thing where she rode the treadmill to the end and hopped off. Here I hold on for dear life as I move my feet off the thing worried I'll fall off. Sigh.

But I got in the workout and showered and feel great. And I did drink about 20 oz of water on my way home. So the day is off to a great start.

I have been participating in a challenge with Cindy in Tx who is challenging me. My rules for the week have been, starting Monday, as follows:

40 minutes of Cardio MWF
40 minutes of strength training (weight machines) TThS
Check blood sugar daily
64 oz of water a day
no pop of any kind
no fries or fry substitutes
10 squats per day
only one dessert per week

So far this week I've made it each day. Next week I get to choose the rules. Any suggestions of what to add?

Showing Off and I'm Sore

Kari came with me to the Y this morning and I think I was showing off a little bit -- going a little faster than normal with the weights -- and I'm feeling it... in the arms especially. But it is awesome to come home by 6:30 a.m. having worked out and showered. I love it!

It Paid Off

Well, I lost three pounds. Saturday I did weight lifting at the Y, adding five pounds to each weight machine, and today I was back there doing cardio -- interval workout -- and taking my shower. I love taking my shower there. It's such a nice, clean controlled environment. I can even use nice shampoo that nobody has messed with. Even after our shower is fixed in the basement I may continue the habit especially since I discovered that the family locker room, never used at that hour, has private showers.

So I'm starting the week off feeling great!

Yesterday and Today

Yesterday I did 40 minutes of Weight machines starting at 5:20 a.m. This morning my cardio/interval workout started at 5:30 and even stayed to shower at the Y. I haven't had a pop all week and have had at least 30 ounces of water every day. I'm getting my groove back....

It's About How You Feel

Yesterday I used the weight machines and today I did a 25 minute interval workout and 15 minutes of cardio on the bike. While I was doing that I listened to a fitness podcast and my online personal trainer Jonathan Roche was talking about how you feel is what makes people determine how fat you are. Now, mind you, I am not going to ever suggest that people are going to look at me and say, "OOOOH, she is SOOOOO skinny." That would be, well, stupid.

However, I noticed something. Back in July I hit a plateau for about two months. But I was still working out and eating right anyway. During those whole two months people were saying "Wow, you look so good! You've lost some more haven't you." And I had to admit that I was not.

About the time that I stopped working out, people stopped commenting. And nobody has said anything for a while. Last week I started going back to the gym and for the first time in about 3 months people at church said something on Sunday. So I think there may be something to what Jonathan is saying. If I feel like a fat, sedentary, lazy, unmotivated slob I may just look like one. If I feel like a motivated, in control of my life, energetic queen of fitness, I probably look like one.

This morning when I was on the treadmill I began to get that feeling I remember so well. That feeling that nothing is impossible, that I can do anything if I try. And I'm ready to get back on the wagon full force and make things happen again.

It's been a long several months, but I'm BAAAAACK!

Back at It at 5:20

This morning I actually made it to the Y by 5:20. Got my cardio done today -- 40 minutes of it, and I've had 30 oz of water already this morning. I did gain two pounds this week but I'm sure it was muscle since I lifted weights 3 times last week ;-)

I'm hoping this is the beginning of getting back on track!

Doing Better Today

Did 20 minutes of cardio this morning and then learned how to use the weights. TOmorrow I will start with 3 sets of each of 6 weights, with 15 reps for each. Plus do some cardio.

ANd I've already had 30 oz of water this morning and I"m giving up pop again.

Hopefully i'm going to get back on track...

Not Happy with Myself

So, i've gained back 15 of the pounds I lost and that just isn't making me happy. Six of them in the last three or four weeks. It's just not OK.

But, I'm going to try and get back on track. I went to the Y this morning and then worked out on the Wii fit. And now I"m going to attempt to eat fairly healthy today, though there is this bag of chocolates that I have in my desk that ... well... I couldn't just throw away or feed to unappreciative children....