Everything from my stomache to my calves hurt! We worked legs yesterday in the Body by Mercedes class, plus my step class which includes 20 minutes of kettlebell training. Legs were the pain of the day.

I've decided to participate in a virtual 1/2 marathon tomorrow. But I really don't think I can do 13.2 miles in one day. So I am splitting it into two days. that's 6.6 miles today and tomorrow. Should be interesting since my legs really hurt. Maybe the movement will loosen up the muscles and they won't hurt so much! Here's to hoping. I figure I'll pop in a Harry Potter Blu-ray and walk the whole movie or two or three...

Only 1100 calories yesterday, but my weight was up this morning! Ughh. I hate when that happens. But with all this exercise it can only do one thing in the end---go down! I'm not asking for much. I just want to loose 2 pounds a week. At that rate I should be swimsuit ready by August, lol!

Just gotta keep on keeping on!

Sucess is mine!

Yipee! I was at my weight lifting class last night with my Al, my hubby. (He's started working out with me, came to step class yesterday, too.) And Anita, a gal who attends 2+ classes a day, said that I had lost a lot of weight. I am so excited that somebody has noticed. Well, to be honest, Al has said that but he's my husband so he has to be supportive. It felt so good for somebody in these classes I've been working my ass off in, literally, has said something. Made my day, week, maybe even my year!

Just had to share.

Christmas is over...

Not really, I have New Years Eve, and two more Christmas celebrations this weekend. Then I should be done!

Spent Thursday through Sunday babysitting my diabetic mother-in-law. She has no concept of self-control. "I didn't know eggnog has carbohydrates." I bought her a book to journal what she eats. I do this, too. I can't believe how often she would eat and not write it down, even after I reminded her. Enough about her eating problems. The way she's going she won't be around much longer. We did the Real Age test and at 60 years old she comes in at 78.9 years old! Check out the test at www.realage.com.

I did real well. I measured everything I ate on Christmas. I was sick Tuesday and Wednesday so I didn't journal then. I am down 5.2 pounds in two weeks. I have lost 5+ inches in my chest, waist, hips and thighs. I am no longer repulsed to look at myself in the mirror at my exercise classes, nor am I the largest person. Success is mine.

To yoga or not to yoga? I am tired today. I just want to curl up under the covers and sleep for 20 years or so...

But on a good note. I am down 5.5 pounds. Not bad for one week. I've been exercising regularily since September with no real change in the scale. Cut calories to <1,800 a day and they just fall off! Feels good.

I did my step/yoga class yesterday and then the body building class. I just love the weight lifting. Really makes me work and yet I don't leave the class feeling like a drowned puppy.

I am feeling overwhelmed with Christmas coming. I am totally unprepared. Taking time to take care of myself means less time to take care of other things. Hubby has been gone since last Friday. So no help there. I feel sometimes like I am battling myself and the world all by myself. Wish I occassionally had some support.

OK I was whining. I have great friends, who are very supportive. I am married to the best man in the whole world. Did I mention I was tired?

Its going to be a glorious day. Down in weight again this morning! 1800 calories works for me to loose weight. I have to admitt that when I limit myself to 1800 calories, I rarely eat 1800 calories. Though I am sure I did last night. Went to the Ground Round with my family and had a steak, shrimp, chicken fajitas. Only ate 2/3 of a tortilla then ate the meat and veggies. I wish Groud Round posted their nutritional values. I have not idea how many calories I consumed.

I didn't exercise yesterday. I was too tired, I had a headache, I still hurt from previous workouts. In the end, I felt it was better to let my body heal. And heal it did. I do not hurt this morning! I am going to the Y to do the piyo class, a mix of pilates and yoga. I used to do pilates everyday years ago. But since Erica and moving to Grand Rapids, I just didn't have time. but Erica is almost three. No more excuses. Back to a regular exercise program and eating healthy.

I will 40 next year and need to be more cognizant of my actions. What goes in does not necessarily come out. So I will put less in to begin with and make what I put in count!

My mom and mother-in-law are both coming for the weekend today. My mom will love learning my new changes, but mom-in-law who needs to do these changes herself~well we will see. For Christmas, I purchase her a nutritional scale, a food chopper, and some healthy diabetic snacks. If she doesn't start making changes, I'm not sure I can handle being around her. I am fighting for my life to be healthier, I can't fight her fight too!

Time to head to the gym!

I can't believe that Hubby came home with a tin full of chocolate chip cookies last night! Wow, I never realized how hard he is to eat well with!



But, I purchases a Nutrion Scale yesterday at Target. It has 900 preprogrammed foods, including chocolate chip cookies, commerically produced. I weighed a cookie and got 201 cal per cookie!



I did eat one after dinner because I had enough calories left to enjoy the cookie. And enjoy it I did. I only ate one and savored every bite. I realize that I can eat the good stuff, I just can't eat 10 of them!



In addition to the cookie last night, I am down 2.6 pounds!

I'm hurting

My arms are still sore from Monday's Body class. My hamstrings hurt from walking yesterday. I wore my balance shoes from Reebok which ups the work out. My hamstrings say they feel it today. But I won't let it hinder my step workout this morning. Then another Body class tonight. I am only wondering if I will participate in the weight lift segment of todays step class. Probably not a good idea if I am doing Mercedes class tonight.

Last night, I was at 1446 calories after dinner. Then Hubby came home with a bottle of champagne to celebrate that our lives will remain the same. Personal joke, but one worth celebrating. I had a 4 oz glass with him. When he offered anothe I went to the fridge in search of string cheese and a clementine. my girls had eaten all of the string cheese which I'd only purchased yesterday. So instead I had another glass of wine. While making brownies, Hubby says: I need to quit tempting you. I laughed and said he was a bad influence. He realizes that this is something that we really need to do together.

Here's to another beautiful day!

Day Two

Yesterday was a great day. I managed to do both the step/yoga class and the Body by Mercedes class. My step class is getting easier, therefore it is getting harder! I now know the steps and am therefore putting more umph into the class. I am dripping sweat unto my step! But I feel great! I take fewer water breaks.

I didn't attend the 12:15 Body class because I was notified that I didn't have to work yesterday so I went to the 530 class which is an hour instead of 45 minutes. We worked our arms and back to death. Then I went to sit in the hot tub for half an hour. Good thing I did or I wouldn't be able to use my arms today.

Hubby found me in the hot tub. So we spent the rest of the evening together. He suggested going to Ground Round for some nachos and a beer. He hadn't eaten dinner yet. It was so tempting and I did hesitate. But caved and went for the nachos. I had an unsweetened iced tea and not a beer. And I had only had 892 calories prior to the nachos. I did make healthier choices the rest of the day! Today will be better. No nachos!

I plan to walk on the treadmill for 40 minutes today. Then I will do my 20 minute Pilates DVD. I usually only walk for 30 minutes on the treadmill. But because I did 2 hours of exercise yesterday, I feel like I can't do less than 60 today. Tomorrow will be another step and Body combination. I feel like with all this exercise, I should be able to run a marathon. But that's not ever going to happen. I hate running!

A New Day

My journey will really begin on April 25, 2010. That's the day I enter Biggest Loser at Fitness Ridge. How may days is that? I don't really know, wish it was sooner! Ugh, it's 131 days. But that gives me 131 days of pre-journey preparations.

I enrolled at the local YMCA at the beginning of November and have enjoyed many classes. I do step 2x week, yoga at least 1x week, and a Body by Mercedes class at least 1x week. Body class is strength training with a drill sargeant (former cop). All of the teachers are great, very welcoming and encouraging.

On the agenda to day is step from 9-10 and Body from 12:15-1:00. I may not be able to move tomorrow. I also bought another food journal. I do so well when I actually use a journal. Hence, today is a new day. I will begin journaling again. 6 weeks of exercise has not brought about any weight loss. But I feel great. So now begins the food portion of my adventure. In the past I always began with food and added exercise later. Maybe this way will bring about permanent results.

So here's to a new day, a new me and a new adventure! God bless.