C25K = Couch to 5K
You may have heard of this program and if not, it's pretty self-explanatory. The C25K program gets your average couch potato up and running a 5K in 9 weeks time. So you can finally put the remote down, get off the couch, change out of your pj's, and GET RUNNING!
This promo comes from a non-runner... ME! I am not good at running and I do not pretend to be good at it, nor do I pretend to like it. I have had asthma since I was 2 years old and my lungs shut down at the very thought of running a 5K. Even in the good old days, I was captain of my Women's Varsity Tennis team, and at every practice we were required to run 10 laps around 8 (8!!!) tennis courts. I was usually out in front, cheering on the other girls, but even then, I loathed every second of it.
Why on earth am I promoting a program that will enable me to run a 5K then, you ask? Actually, I don't know. HA
No, in all seriousness, I WISH I was a better runner. No I don't want the missing toenails, the bad knees, and the shin splints, but I want to be able to accomplish 3 things in my life. 1. run a 5K 2. run a half marathon 3. run a full marathon. After those 3 accomplishments come to fruition I will say goodbye to my running days, I just want to be able to at least say hello first.
I downloaded the C25K podcast for free at:
http://www.ullreys.com/robert/Podcasts/page4/page4.html
Basically, you slowly move up week by week from mostly walking/a little running, mostly walking/a little more running, the same amount of walking/the same amount of running, to no walking/only running! It suggests that you run 3 days a week with a day of rest in between. Week 1 starts off with 90 seconds of walking and 60 seconds of running, you do this 8 times, you also have a warm up and cool down period. After you have completed this 3 times, then you can move on to week 2! The weeks gradually increase your running time until you are running a 5K without stopping. WOOHOO!
I started day 1 of week 1 yesterday and I felt great! I ran on the treadmill at my gym and the 30 minutes was up in no time. The podcast is nice too because the music is great and the tempo seems to be coordinated with whether or not you are walking or running.
I will hopefully keep you posted on my progress as the weeks pass by. Anyone up for a 5K in 10 weeks?
Monday, March 30, 2009
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Logging Calories...
I have found that there are two types of people in the world; those that log their calories and those that don't. If you're one of those unlucky few that actually DO log your calories then you also must know that you have an obsessive personality. This personality is not a bad thing and it's what you must possess in order to be successful at logging your calories. If you're one of the ones that DON'T log your calories then consider yourself lucky.
I, however lucky or unlucky, am one of the ones that enjoy logging every single item that I place in my mouth. Whether it be one M&M or a square of lasagna with 8 different ingredients. Over the years I have gone through phases of logging and not logging and to be honest I am sure it's because logging is extremely time consuming. Not to mention you become completely obsessed with running to your computer, or food journal to write down everything you eat (I've even been known to bring my laptop into the kitchen with me while I am cooking and log everything as I go = FUN).
I have had the pleasure of sampling many different tools for tracking calories, here is a nice sampling:
* don't waste your time
** decent, but you can find better
*** does what you need, but doesn't have all the features you need
**** fairly good, fool proof and fail proof
***** AMAZING and FREE
1. WeightWatchers.com *** the worst part about this tracker is it is - NOT FREE
2. SlimFast.com *** loved this for a long time used it religiously until I found something better - FREE
3. BiggestLoser.com * bought a 1 month membership once, hated it - NOT FREE
4. college ruled spiral notebook **** you only track what you want to track - practically FREE
5. Bariatric Dr.'s staple bound workbook **** easy to carry with you, but confusing - NOT FREE
6. Nutridiary.com ***** keep going back to this one for a number of years AWESOME - FREE
7. MyCalorieCounter.com *** the website is not user friendly
8. SparkPeople.com - haven't used it but have heard good things
9. DailyPlate.com - haven't used it but have heard good things
10. FitDay.com - ** the free account doesn't have much to offer - NOT FREE for better tools
Obviously, you can see that my favorite calorie tracking method is Nutridiary.com (www.nutridiary.com). I have used this program off and on for about 4 years and it has never failed me. You are not able to upgrade to a pay package at this time because the website is not hosted but trust me, you will never need to. When you initially sign up you enter your age, weight, and goal information and it tells you how many calories you will need to consume in order to obtain your goal. It also calculates when you will reach your goal with a healthy 2 pound per week weight loss.
You can then log your weight and/or inches as often as you like and then run reports to see your progress. Reports such as weight loss, BMI, calorie distribution, protein, water, fruit and veggies. Speaking of fruit and veggies I LOVE the fact that there are little fruit and veggie icons for you to track how many glasses of water you're drinking a day and how many servings of fruits and veggies. There is also a community room where you can read or join in on message boards for tips and tricks from fellow shapeup-ers.
Next, there is the "Log" tab. This is where you will see all the data you enter in as well as a calorie summary for the day and a nutrition summary for the day. The calorie summary is your basic calorie calculations showing you your BMR, how many calories you've consumed, how many calories you've burned, and how many calories you have left for the day:
CALORIE SUMMARY
+ Basal Metabolic Rate*: 1660 kcal
+ General Activity*: 664 kcal
+ Extra Activity and Exercise: 0 kcal
- Weight Loss Goal: 1000 kcal
Day Quota: 1324 kcal
- Consumed: 590 kcal
Calories Left: 734 kcal
*Estim/d; may vary for individuals up to ±20%.
You also have a nutrition summary on the "Log" tTab that shows how much fat, cholesterol, sodium, protein, sugar, etc. for the day that you are suppose to receive. It tells you if you're over or under your daily quota's so it helps you stay on track with your overall nutrition instead of just calories:
NUTRITION SUMMARY
Calories: 590 (distribution: 25/52/23%)
Total Fat*: 24%
Sugars: 26g
Satur. Fat*: 38%
Protein: 34g
Cholesterol*: 17%
Vitamin A**: 16%
Sodium*: 61%
Vitamin C**: 30%
Total Carb: 25%
Calcium**: 50%
Fiber**: 17%
Iron**: 16%
NB: All % (excluding distribution) are % daily values for a 2000 kcal diet.
* Try to limit these nutrients (<= 100% daily value). ** Try to get enough of these nutrients (>= 100% daily value).
Nutridiary has a very large database of foods that the hosts and/or other users have entered in. Though if there is something not in the database and you have the nutrition content (either in front of you, or by looking it up online) you can add that food to your personal database. You can also create a meal and add it to your database. For example, every weekday you have a. Special K cereal b. 1 cup of milk c. 1 cup of strawberries d. 6 oz. of orange juice. Instead of adding 4 things to your log for the day you can create a meal with all 4 things combined. So the next day when you have the same thing for breakfast again you just type in whatever you named the meal "Special K Breakfast", it finds the meal you created, and you log.
Last but not least you can also track your calories burned. Much like the food databases there is a large activity database. Losing weight is simply put - burning more calories than you consume. So, this program makes it easy to log the calories your burning (on top on) your BMR (calories you burn simply by breathing).
Well, these are just a few of my favorite features on nutridiary.com. Above all logging what you eat works! It holds you accountable for what you consume, it gives you a better understanding of the types of things you are eating, and if you don't lose weight one week and instead gain 2 pounds, you can see that it was probably because you only went to the gym twice and you had 4 pieces of chocolate cake!
Happy logging!
I, however lucky or unlucky, am one of the ones that enjoy logging every single item that I place in my mouth. Whether it be one M&M or a square of lasagna with 8 different ingredients. Over the years I have gone through phases of logging and not logging and to be honest I am sure it's because logging is extremely time consuming. Not to mention you become completely obsessed with running to your computer, or food journal to write down everything you eat (I've even been known to bring my laptop into the kitchen with me while I am cooking and log everything as I go = FUN).
I have had the pleasure of sampling many different tools for tracking calories, here is a nice sampling:
* don't waste your time
** decent, but you can find better
*** does what you need, but doesn't have all the features you need
**** fairly good, fool proof and fail proof
***** AMAZING and FREE
1. WeightWatchers.com *** the worst part about this tracker is it is - NOT FREE
2. SlimFast.com *** loved this for a long time used it religiously until I found something better - FREE
3. BiggestLoser.com * bought a 1 month membership once, hated it - NOT FREE
4. college ruled spiral notebook **** you only track what you want to track - practically FREE
5. Bariatric Dr.'s staple bound workbook **** easy to carry with you, but confusing - NOT FREE
6. Nutridiary.com ***** keep going back to this one for a number of years AWESOME - FREE
7. MyCalorieCounter.com *** the website is not user friendly
8. SparkPeople.com - haven't used it but have heard good things
9. DailyPlate.com - haven't used it but have heard good things
10. FitDay.com - ** the free account doesn't have much to offer - NOT FREE for better tools
Obviously, you can see that my favorite calorie tracking method is Nutridiary.com (www.nutridiary.com). I have used this program off and on for about 4 years and it has never failed me. You are not able to upgrade to a pay package at this time because the website is not hosted but trust me, you will never need to. When you initially sign up you enter your age, weight, and goal information and it tells you how many calories you will need to consume in order to obtain your goal. It also calculates when you will reach your goal with a healthy 2 pound per week weight loss.
You can then log your weight and/or inches as often as you like and then run reports to see your progress. Reports such as weight loss, BMI, calorie distribution, protein, water, fruit and veggies. Speaking of fruit and veggies I LOVE the fact that there are little fruit and veggie icons for you to track how many glasses of water you're drinking a day and how many servings of fruits and veggies. There is also a community room where you can read or join in on message boards for tips and tricks from fellow shapeup-ers.
Next, there is the "Log" tab. This is where you will see all the data you enter in as well as a calorie summary for the day and a nutrition summary for the day. The calorie summary is your basic calorie calculations showing you your BMR, how many calories you've consumed, how many calories you've burned, and how many calories you have left for the day:
CALORIE SUMMARY
+ Basal Metabolic Rate*: 1660 kcal
+ General Activity*: 664 kcal
+ Extra Activity and Exercise: 0 kcal
- Weight Loss Goal: 1000 kcal
Day Quota: 1324 kcal
- Consumed: 590 kcal
Calories Left: 734 kcal
*Estim/d; may vary for individuals up to ±20%.
You also have a nutrition summary on the "Log" tTab that shows how much fat, cholesterol, sodium, protein, sugar, etc. for the day that you are suppose to receive. It tells you if you're over or under your daily quota's so it helps you stay on track with your overall nutrition instead of just calories:
NUTRITION SUMMARY
Calories: 590 (distribution: 25/52/23%)
Total Fat*: 24%
Sugars: 26g
Satur. Fat*: 38%
Protein: 34g
Cholesterol*: 17%
Vitamin A**: 16%
Sodium*: 61%
Vitamin C**: 30%
Total Carb: 25%
Calcium**: 50%
Fiber**: 17%
Iron**: 16%
NB: All % (excluding distribution) are % daily values for a 2000 kcal diet.
* Try to limit these nutrients (<= 100% daily value). ** Try to get enough of these nutrients (>= 100% daily value).
Nutridiary has a very large database of foods that the hosts and/or other users have entered in. Though if there is something not in the database and you have the nutrition content (either in front of you, or by looking it up online) you can add that food to your personal database. You can also create a meal and add it to your database. For example, every weekday you have a. Special K cereal b. 1 cup of milk c. 1 cup of strawberries d. 6 oz. of orange juice. Instead of adding 4 things to your log for the day you can create a meal with all 4 things combined. So the next day when you have the same thing for breakfast again you just type in whatever you named the meal "Special K Breakfast", it finds the meal you created, and you log.
Last but not least you can also track your calories burned. Much like the food databases there is a large activity database. Losing weight is simply put - burning more calories than you consume. So, this program makes it easy to log the calories your burning (on top on) your BMR (calories you burn simply by breathing).
Well, these are just a few of my favorite features on nutridiary.com. Above all logging what you eat works! It holds you accountable for what you consume, it gives you a better understanding of the types of things you are eating, and if you don't lose weight one week and instead gain 2 pounds, you can see that it was probably because you only went to the gym twice and you had 4 pieces of chocolate cake!
Happy logging!
Friday, March 27, 2009
Protein Tips & Tricks
Everyone that I've told "my doc says I need at least 80 - 100 grams of protein a day" has looked at me like I've finally lost my mind. Although the jury is still out on the mind losing, I will be the first to say that getting this much protein a day is very difficult, but I will also tell you it's very easy.
Here are some tips and tricks that have worked for me:
1. "Body Fortress" 100% Premium Whey Protein Powder - vanilla. I think I picked this up at Wal-Mart for less than $10.00. It has 23g of protein, 1g of sugar, and 110 calories, and 1g carbs. I can take a scoop of this and poor it in a shaker container already filled with 1% milk, shake, then pour the milk over cereal. I must admit though I am going to get an unflavored kind though because it makes the milk very sweet and I do not enjoy sweets in the morning. I also use this protein powder in fruit smoothies.
2. The best protein bar that I have found to date is "Pure Protein". I have found these bars on sale before for $1.00 a piece! Though they average about 2.00 when they're not on sale. They sell them at most grocery stores including Wal-Mart. It has 20g of protein, 2g of sugar, 190 calories, and 17g carbs. A good rule of thumb on protein bars is make sure the protein is at least 1/2 the carb content. This is actually very hard to find because most protein bars are LOADED with carbs.
3. I can only eat so many protein bars a week before I can't even smell one without getting sick. Because of this I have stumbled upon "Tri-O-Plex" chocolate chip cookies. They are sold at Sports Authority, $2.50 for 2 cookies. 2 cookies has 20g of protein, 22g of sugar, 290 calories, and 30g of carbs. I KNOW that's a lot of sugar and carbs but it also has 20g of protein and a girl has gotta do what she's gotta do. They are very soft and chewy, and taste as close to a chocolate chip cookie that I've ever seen.
4. I've also found a "Body Fortress" Super Whey Protein Shot. No not a needle shot, a drink shot... WOOHOO! It has 26g of protein, 0g of sugar, 1g of carbs, and 110 calories. I have tasted the fruit punch and it's super delicious. 1 of these bad boys a day and you'll actually start craving them. Yum...
5. The obvious source of protein is meat. Me and meat don't get along too well and I've never been a huge fan. My mom has been a vegetarian since she was 6 years old and although she served us meat when we were growing up, I have come to realize that it wasn't as much meat as most families consume. I am not a vegetarian and I don't claim to be, but I have mental blocks that make me a VERY picky meat-eater. Chicken, thin cut steak (well-done!), tuna fish (dolphin safe, packed in water), turkey... these are all examples of protein filled yet healthy meats.
6. I do enjoy meal replacements on occasion too. The best one I have found is "EAS - Myoplex Lite" in chocolate fudge. 20g of protein, 1g sugar, 170 calories, and 20g of carbs. These are handy too if you're running around town and did not pack a lunch. I got these at Wal-Mart and they come in a pack of 4 for about $6.00 - a little pricey but they last me a few weeks since I don't drink them that often.
Well, those are a few tips and tricks on how to get in your 80-100g of protein a day. If you start your day off with a scoop of protein in your cereal milk, 1 protein bar for a snack, turkey and cheese for lunch (no bread), and one piece of chicken for dinner... you're already at 95 for the day!
Happy protein-ing!
Here are some tips and tricks that have worked for me:
1. "Body Fortress" 100% Premium Whey Protein Powder - vanilla. I think I picked this up at Wal-Mart for less than $10.00. It has 23g of protein, 1g of sugar, and 110 calories, and 1g carbs. I can take a scoop of this and poor it in a shaker container already filled with 1% milk, shake, then pour the milk over cereal. I must admit though I am going to get an unflavored kind though because it makes the milk very sweet and I do not enjoy sweets in the morning. I also use this protein powder in fruit smoothies.
2. The best protein bar that I have found to date is "Pure Protein". I have found these bars on sale before for $1.00 a piece! Though they average about 2.00 when they're not on sale. They sell them at most grocery stores including Wal-Mart. It has 20g of protein, 2g of sugar, 190 calories, and 17g carbs. A good rule of thumb on protein bars is make sure the protein is at least 1/2 the carb content. This is actually very hard to find because most protein bars are LOADED with carbs.
3. I can only eat so many protein bars a week before I can't even smell one without getting sick. Because of this I have stumbled upon "Tri-O-Plex" chocolate chip cookies. They are sold at Sports Authority, $2.50 for 2 cookies. 2 cookies has 20g of protein, 22g of sugar, 290 calories, and 30g of carbs. I KNOW that's a lot of sugar and carbs but it also has 20g of protein and a girl has gotta do what she's gotta do. They are very soft and chewy, and taste as close to a chocolate chip cookie that I've ever seen.
4. I've also found a "Body Fortress" Super Whey Protein Shot. No not a needle shot, a drink shot... WOOHOO! It has 26g of protein, 0g of sugar, 1g of carbs, and 110 calories. I have tasted the fruit punch and it's super delicious. 1 of these bad boys a day and you'll actually start craving them. Yum...
5. The obvious source of protein is meat. Me and meat don't get along too well and I've never been a huge fan. My mom has been a vegetarian since she was 6 years old and although she served us meat when we were growing up, I have come to realize that it wasn't as much meat as most families consume. I am not a vegetarian and I don't claim to be, but I have mental blocks that make me a VERY picky meat-eater. Chicken, thin cut steak (well-done!), tuna fish (dolphin safe, packed in water), turkey... these are all examples of protein filled yet healthy meats.
6. I do enjoy meal replacements on occasion too. The best one I have found is "EAS - Myoplex Lite" in chocolate fudge. 20g of protein, 1g sugar, 170 calories, and 20g of carbs. These are handy too if you're running around town and did not pack a lunch. I got these at Wal-Mart and they come in a pack of 4 for about $6.00 - a little pricey but they last me a few weeks since I don't drink them that often.
Well, those are a few tips and tricks on how to get in your 80-100g of protein a day. If you start your day off with a scoop of protein in your cereal milk, 1 protein bar for a snack, turkey and cheese for lunch (no bread), and one piece of chicken for dinner... you're already at 95 for the day!
Happy protein-ing!
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Good or Bad?
Today is a good and bad day. If my calculations are correct then I am fairly certain I only consumed about 800 calories today. BAD, I know! I didn't purposefully consumer so few calories. My friend and her mother took me to lunch at Cafe Rio and I had a chicken soft taco. It was SO good I thought it had to be at least 1,000 calories. I compensated this by watching what I ate the rest of the day... actually, I don't think I ate anything else after that. After searching online, it seems like my lunch was closer to 350, than 1,000. But, by the time I realized that it was too late in the day to eat anything, I try not to eat after 6:00 and at the latest 7:00 since it just sticks with you.
Anyway, I try to stay around 1,200 calories but the problem is I don't get hungry anymore. I truly have to force myself to eat snacks and lunch and dinner. I set an alarm on my phone to ring everyday at 10:00 and 3:00 and that reminds me to go grab a small snack. Even then I usually end up pressing "dismiss", get busy with other work, then forget. I know my body will go into starvation mode if it thinks it needs to survive. I know it will start to save everything I consume, especially fat. I am really at a loss though because 1,200 calories a day is just too much.
On another note, at the gym tonight I first worked out in the weight room doing ab exercises. I did 4 machines (3 sets of 12 reps) and by the last machine my abs were burnin'. I have a couple exercise balls at home and as often as I can, I do 100 crunches before bed. I also lift some free weights (3-5 pounds) while sitting or laying back on the ball. It's double duty because I am working my arms, but I also must engage my abs to stay upright. SCORE!
Anyway, I try to stay around 1,200 calories but the problem is I don't get hungry anymore. I truly have to force myself to eat snacks and lunch and dinner. I set an alarm on my phone to ring everyday at 10:00 and 3:00 and that reminds me to go grab a small snack. Even then I usually end up pressing "dismiss", get busy with other work, then forget. I know my body will go into starvation mode if it thinks it needs to survive. I know it will start to save everything I consume, especially fat. I am really at a loss though because 1,200 calories a day is just too much.
On another note, at the gym tonight I first worked out in the weight room doing ab exercises. I did 4 machines (3 sets of 12 reps) and by the last machine my abs were burnin'. I have a couple exercise balls at home and as often as I can, I do 100 crunches before bed. I also lift some free weights (3-5 pounds) while sitting or laying back on the ball. It's double duty because I am working my arms, but I also must engage my abs to stay upright. SCORE!
After I did my strength training I went on over to see my great friend... THE TREADCLIMBER. I don't know if you've ever been on this beast, but it's a mix between a treadmill, stairmaster, and elliptical. 30 minutes on the treadclimber burns an average size woman 400+ calories... in other words it kicks your butt! I went on it tonight for 45 minutes and let's just say I was absolutely soaked with sweat. I like to use the "Interval Training" so every 1 minute and 30 seconds it changes the treadles to min or max and/or increases and decreases your speed. It's a proven fact that interval training optimizes your workout so interval training mixed with the treadclimber is maximum workout time! I have a love/hate relationship with this thing. Love it because it kicks my butt and because I have burned over 600 calories in 45 minutes before. Hate it because it kicks my butt and exhausts me to no end.
Shapeup, or Shipout!
As I start this blog today, I am already well on my way into my "Shapeup" journey. I have been on this journey for a little over a month now, February 18th was my exact starting date and so far I have seen amazing results!
I have been seeing a Nutrition doctor and she has given me the tools and confidence that I needed to make this journal successful. I get a Vitamin B-12 shot from her every 2 weeks and at every visit she measures my body composition (body weight, body fat, muscle mass, water, and BMI). I am very happy to report that in 1 month’s time I achieved the following amazing results:
1. I've lost 21.3 pounds
2. I've lost 2.1 % body fat
3. I've gained 2.1% muscle mass
4. I've lost 1.0% body water
5. I've lowered my BMI by 4 points
Let me tell you though, the B-12 shot and the advice she's given me have helped me immensely, but the shining star in this journey is still ME!
Some other things that have contributed to my recent success are:
1. I did not eat out for 30 days (no fast food, no sit down, no Starbucks, no TCBY, etc.)
2. I cooked every single breakfast, lunch, and dinner at home
3. Every meal I cooked at home was VERY healthy
4. I am limiting my calorie intake to around 1,200/day
5. I have not drank any soda
6. I have not eaten any candy or sweets or ice cream
7. I strive to go to the gym 7 days a week (I average about 5-6)
8. I try and consume 100g of protein a day
9. I try and drink 64+ ounces of water a day
10. I try to mix up my physical activity by hiking, tennis, walking, and trampolining
Regarding my "30 Day, Don't Eat Out Challenge" on day 31, I did go out to eat to celebrate my successes… and one would assume that I ran straight for the nearest Sonic and devoured my weakness "The Sonic Burger", right? Nope! As much as I LOVE the sonic burger I also LOVE salad! So my treat to myself was a delicious "Queensland Salad" at Outback, it was amazing to say the least.
I can tell that this first installment of my “Shapeup” journey will be filled with lists galore (What? I love lists!). I want to add one more list so I have it in writing and anytime I am feeling defeated or if I have a bad week I can refer to this list and remember the reasons for this lifestyle change.
Here are my goals:
1. I want to have a healthy pregnancy. Lord willing, I would like to carry a child for 9 months without backaches, aching feet, and no complications
2. I want to feel better about myself. I want to wear shorts again, I want to look cute in a bathing suit again, I want to shop at the mall again, I want to feel comfortable in my skin again.
3. I am attending my 10 year HS Reunion in June. Although I will not be the same size I was when I graduated (that will take a bit longer than 3 months) I will at least lose weight, get in better shape, and have more confidence.
4. I am going to be a bridesmaid in one of my best friend’s wedding in October. I would like to look good in the dress she picks out and she’s leaning towards a halter (eeks!)
5. My husband fell in love with me for the person I am and not how much I weigh. He insists that he loves me no matter what I weigh (and I believe him!) but I also think I owe it to him as a devoted wife and best friend, to look good and to gain more confidence.
Well, that’s all for now folks! I weigh myself every Thursday and I have my doctor’s appointments every other Thursday so I have a feeling that is when I will do my updating. Wish me luck!
I have been seeing a Nutrition doctor and she has given me the tools and confidence that I needed to make this journal successful. I get a Vitamin B-12 shot from her every 2 weeks and at every visit she measures my body composition (body weight, body fat, muscle mass, water, and BMI). I am very happy to report that in 1 month’s time I achieved the following amazing results:
1. I've lost 21.3 pounds
2. I've lost 2.1 % body fat
3. I've gained 2.1% muscle mass
4. I've lost 1.0% body water
5. I've lowered my BMI by 4 points
Let me tell you though, the B-12 shot and the advice she's given me have helped me immensely, but the shining star in this journey is still ME!
Some other things that have contributed to my recent success are:
1. I did not eat out for 30 days (no fast food, no sit down, no Starbucks, no TCBY, etc.)
2. I cooked every single breakfast, lunch, and dinner at home
3. Every meal I cooked at home was VERY healthy
4. I am limiting my calorie intake to around 1,200/day
5. I have not drank any soda
6. I have not eaten any candy or sweets or ice cream
7. I strive to go to the gym 7 days a week (I average about 5-6)
8. I try and consume 100g of protein a day
9. I try and drink 64+ ounces of water a day
10. I try to mix up my physical activity by hiking, tennis, walking, and trampolining
Regarding my "30 Day, Don't Eat Out Challenge" on day 31, I did go out to eat to celebrate my successes… and one would assume that I ran straight for the nearest Sonic and devoured my weakness "The Sonic Burger", right? Nope! As much as I LOVE the sonic burger I also LOVE salad! So my treat to myself was a delicious "Queensland Salad" at Outback, it was amazing to say the least.
I can tell that this first installment of my “Shapeup” journey will be filled with lists galore (What? I love lists!). I want to add one more list so I have it in writing and anytime I am feeling defeated or if I have a bad week I can refer to this list and remember the reasons for this lifestyle change.
Here are my goals:
1. I want to have a healthy pregnancy. Lord willing, I would like to carry a child for 9 months without backaches, aching feet, and no complications
2. I want to feel better about myself. I want to wear shorts again, I want to look cute in a bathing suit again, I want to shop at the mall again, I want to feel comfortable in my skin again.
3. I am attending my 10 year HS Reunion in June. Although I will not be the same size I was when I graduated (that will take a bit longer than 3 months) I will at least lose weight, get in better shape, and have more confidence.
4. I am going to be a bridesmaid in one of my best friend’s wedding in October. I would like to look good in the dress she picks out and she’s leaning towards a halter (eeks!)
5. My husband fell in love with me for the person I am and not how much I weigh. He insists that he loves me no matter what I weigh (and I believe him!) but I also think I owe it to him as a devoted wife and best friend, to look good and to gain more confidence.
Well, that’s all for now folks! I weigh myself every Thursday and I have my doctor’s appointments every other Thursday so I have a feeling that is when I will do my updating. Wish me luck!
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