Weigh in Wednesday--Kiss Me, Week 1

It's not lookin' too good, folks. Not good at all. I'm not exactly sure what happened...everything was looking promising until Saturday (I had lost another 1/2 pound or so between my weigh in on Wednesday and Friday)...until we went out to eat Chinese on Saturday, lunch out with friends on Sunday, and no workout on Monday (because I had failed to do laundry). I really didn't think that I ate all that badly on Saturday and Sunday, but I guess the scale thought differently, like I had eaten an extra 14,000 calories. OMGoodness! There is NO way....so the only other plausible explanation is that I'm retaining fluid (I am having a hard time putting my rings on) because I'm not drinking enough (maybe too many Diet Coke with Cherry Happy Hours at Sonic?). ???

Whatever the reason...all I know is that even after I worked my was-shrinking-at-one-time tail off this past week (logging 21 miles), I didn't see the results I was hoping for. UGH! So this week, I've decided to take a "pass" on weighing in...and hope for a better outcome for next week. Hope you don't mind.

However, on a brighter note, I completed Week 3 of the push up challenge last night, cranking out 18 consecutive push ups and 60 push ups all together (5 sets).

So my goal for this next week is to drink 60-80 oz. water/day, log 5 miles at least 5 days with a 7 mile run on either Saturday or Sunday, and consume 5 servings of fruits and veggies for at least 5 days.

So, how 'bout you? Are your jeans shrinking?

Weigh in Wednesday

I DID IT! I DID IT! I DID IT! I lost those last 2 pesky pounds that I've been trying to lose the last 2-3 weeks. I'm so excited to share that in the last 7 weeks, I've lost another 5 pounds. Woohoo! This makes me only 4 pounds away from reaching my pre-preggo weight, which has always been my goal....BUT since I wasn't done losing weight after I completed my half marathon in Sept. 2007 (when we unexpectedly found out that we were going to add another little one to our family), I'd like to lose another 5 pounds once I reach my pre-preggo weight goal. Then we'll see what happens after that.

I've repeatedly shared how much I LOVE these bloggy weight loss challenges: great source of accountability, encouragement, and even a great outlet to share frustrations and seek advice. Therefore, I will be joining the Sisterhood, once again, for their next challenge, "Kiss Me, I'm Shrinking". This challenge is going to be a quick 3 weeks, where I hope to lose those last 4 pounds of baby fat. Anyone interested in joining me?

I've been doing SO well about getting to the gym and befriending the treadmill. This past week I logged 21 miles in 5 days. I'm totally loving it now that I've worked my way back up to 5 miles. While I may only average an 11 m/m pace, I'm just excited that I've been able to increase my distance without feeling like my heart is about to fail. This week's goal is to log 5 miles most days of the week with a 6 mile workout on either Saturday or Sunday.

I also just started Week 3 of the 6 week push up challenge. It's getting hard, but I've gone from hardly being able to kick out 5 push ups at the beginning of the challenge to being able to kick out 14 in a row now. It's not as much of an improvement as I would have liked from last week when I was able to complete 12 push ups, but I'll take it...it's still an improvement, right?

So, if anyone's interested in joining in on all of the shrinking fun going on over at the Sisterhood, come on. I'd love to cheer you on!

Weigh-In Wednesday--Lookin' Fine, Week 5

I'm slowly but surely getting back on track. This week's workouts have been countable....I either made it to the gym or walked 3 miles around the neighborhood with the kids. Now, I'm not saying that I broke any world records or anything, but it was definitely something to overcome the lack of motivation that I'd been experiencing the last couple of weeks.

And it's a good thing that I made it to the gym a few times this week because my eating has been the one thing this week dragging me down. We went to a baby shower on Friday, ate Sunday lunch with friends, ate Sunday dinner out on because we went to the local rodeo, and ate Tuesday's dinner with our fellow Residents as part of the incoming Intern's interview season. And while I tried to really pay attention to portion control, it's hard when you're faced with foods you've been avoiding for months (and LOVE--ahem, carrot cake).

So the eating and gym time balanced each other out this week, and I didn't lose any weight. BUT I didn't gain, either....which is GREAT news, too. There is very little that is more frustrating than when you're losing and gaining the same 2 pounds. I only have 2 more pounds until I can say "Good Riddens" to the 160's (yep, I just admitted my weight--oh well, we're all friends here, right?)....and I want to lose those 2 pounds SO BAD! So in addition to making it back to the gym regularly (the other night I spent 1.5 hours there and LOVED it), I started the 100 pushups training program. I must admit that taking the inital test made me feel like such a weakling, but then that's the whole point of the program...build up enough upper body strength to complete 100 pushups (REAL pushups, not the "knee" pushups) in a row. I'm so excited to see how much I'm able to accomplish in 6 weeks.

And on another happy note, I weighed in for my MOPS Biggest Loser challenge this morning, too. I lost 3 pounds since last the weigh-in. I'm down 5.2 with another 14.8 to go before May. I can do it, I just need to get my butt in gear, as my mom would say. ;-)

Weigh-in Wednesday--Lookin' Fine, Week 4

I had yet another week "off" week, "off" from the gym, that is. I really don't know why I'm still so unmotivated to get moving again. I feel a ton better about myself and sleep better when I do. If I really sat and thought about it, I could easily come up with 5 reasons as to why I've refrained from getting my butt back to the gym....

1. I'm up with the baby multiple times during the night, so I'm too tired to get up early in the morning, mid-day, and after the babies go to bed to work out.
2. I'm still seeing the scale move, in the downward direction, just by paying close attention to why I put in my mouth.
3. No one is physically relying on me to meet them at the gym (and sometimes I need that).
4. I can't find my workout clothes...I know they're clean, but I'm just not sure which laundry hamper they're still in from the laundry I did a couple of weeks ago.
5. I'm such a slow poke now, and I'm frustrated with how fast my endurance went "down hill".

And even though I'm not having nightly "dates" with a treadmill, I'm making sure that I have been eating well. I'm still not drinking the water I need, but I'll continue to work on that. Anywho....I'm excited to report that I lost the pound I gained last week plus one more making my loss this week 2 pounds (3 pounds total since the beginning of the challenge)! Woohoo! Just imagine what my losses would be like if I added in some cardio to burn off some extra calories....I'd be reaching my goal in no time!

On a slightly positive note, I mustered up enough courage to ask a friend if I could drop the kids off for an hour this morning so that I could go to the gym. It was refreshing! I jogged 3 miles straight through (yay, me!). It felt so good to get moving again....I missed it. Plus, I was able to watch some "normal" tv, something other than "Curious George" or "Little Einsteins", while I cranked out the mileage. So after this morning, I'm feeling a little more motivated to back to where I was before Christmas (and a little less hesitant to ask friends for help).

Here's to a much better week!

Weigh-in Wednesday--Lookin' Fine, Week 3

This week was pretty uneventful....taking care of a Flu-ridden husband and snotty-nosed and refuse-to-get-a-full-night's-sleep children, and dealing with a virus myself, which made me feel like I got hit square in the face by a MACK truck. Needless to say, with the exception of last night, I hadn't been to the beloved gym in a week. So it's no surprise that I gained back one pound. Grrr. I also didn't get in my "required" water either.

I've had a heck of a time dusting myself off and getting "back on the horse". I don't know why because I always feel better when I'm consistently working out. Why must it be so easy to get back in the "rut" after weeks of working hard and doing so well? That question has always frustrated me. I really want to lose 5 pounds during this challenge, so that means that I must find my lost motivation and get moving....and fast, since I only have 3 more weigh-ins. I just need a serious push to get started. As Newton (and my friend, Christie) discovered....an object in motion, stays in motion (unless acted upon by an unbalanced force). Definitely easier said than done, especially when it's so easy for the couch to absorb the energy (and act as that unbalance force). Ha!

Here's to a much better week, a much better attitude, resulting in a much better weigh-in next Wednesday!

Weigh-in Wednesday--Lookin' Fine, Week 2

This week was a bit of a struggle....about mid-week I hit the proverbial "wall", which translated into NO motivation to work out (or even eat well). After being away from running since Christmas (to give my knee injury time to heal), I really wanted to get back onto the treadmill. But I found it so discouraging when I could barely complete 3 miles at a snail's pace. What!? I went from running 5 miles at 10-11mm pace to that of a snail? Hellooooo, "wall"!

However, on a more positive note, I was able to reach my goal of drinking 80 oz. of water EACH day, which I really think helped me in losing 1 more pound this week! I was totally shocked when I saw that I'm now only 3 pounds away from reaching another decade of numbers. Woohoo! Additionally, I may not be losing pounds at lightening speed, but I'm definitely noticing a difference in my "shape". I no longer have the cul-de-sac of fluff where my arm meets my back, and the elbow fluff hangover is slowly, but surely, is disappearing. I'm also able to use the next notch in my belt, which I wear with my loosely fitting pre-preggo pants. YAY!

My goals for this next week, assuming that I can push through the "wall" and get over the sickness that my dear doctor husband brought home from the pediatric clinics, are to continue with drinking at least 80 oz. of water/day and to get back to my evening treadmill workouts at the gym, averaging 3 miles each night. There is a 5K run on February 15, here in town, that I hope to participate in, and I really hope to cross the finish line in less than 32:00.

Weigh-in Wednesday--Lookin' Fine, Week 1

In keeping with my resolution to lose 20 pounds by May 1st, I joined in on the fun at the Sisterhood of the Shrinking Jeans last week as they started a new weight loss challenge, "Looking Fine for Valentine's". I did so well with losing 13 pounds during the blogosphere challenge, Hot For the Holidays, that I thought I would participate in another. I found that it's an awesome way to stay accountable. Rules are the same: I'll post a Weigh-in Wednesday report, and then go to the Sisterhood blog and share my success/setbacks with the group. In this 6 week challenge my goal is to lose 5 pounds. I figure the slower I lose the weight, the more real the weight loss is. Make sense?

So now onto the nitty gritty....

My week's worth of workouts:
Wednesday--ran 3 miles
Thursday--P90X Chest & Back AND Slim In 6 DVDs
Friday--nothing (meant to try spinning but the baby woke up right before I headed out the door)
Saturday--nothing
Sunday--nothing
Monday--start of 2-week trial period with P90X (Chest & Back DVD)
Tuesday--P90X Plyometrics
Wedesday--Slim In 6 DVD (workout buddy had a sick kiddo--had to pass up the P90X this AM)

I lost 1 pound this week. It may be small, but I'm so excited to see the scale continuing to move on down!

In other weigh-in news, today was our first weigh-in for the Biggest Loser challenge I'm participating as a part of our MOPS group. I lost 2 1/2 inches and 2.2 pounds since starting the challenge on December 5. I have to say that my weight loss would have been more if it hadn't been cold outside this morning and required that I wear jeans and a sweater. BUT a loss is a loss in my book, and I couldn't be happier....even though I wasn't the biggest loser this month. Oh well, there's always next month, right?

Fat Ticker Friday--New Year's Edition

I may have accidentally purposefully not posted a Fat Ticker Friday in a couple of weeks, since I used the holiday break to let my knee heal from whatever was causing it to ache. Unfortunately, "letting my knee heal" (to me) meant that I could stop exercising AND allow myself to taste test the cookies I baked prior to the family get together as well as the pecan pie once I got there (I just wouldn't have felt right about anyone else tasting it to see if it was "just right").

I was just so darn, down-right frustrated at what my not-so-friendly scale said to me at my last weigh in. Add that to the stress/exhaustion of caring for sick babies during a time that is meant to be full of rest (that is what I was hoping the other 8 sets hands were going to help me achieve) and joy, but instead Randy and I spent our entire Christmas break caring first for just one baby (unbreakable fever, slight dehydration, vomiting, trip to the ER) then proceeding to care for two (fever, cough, congestion, vomiting). I just wasn't in the mood to go out for a walk and enjoy the beautiful weather we were blessed with nor eat well. Truthfully, I figured I couldn't do any more damage than what the scale said, so I decided to just temporarily "throw in the towel"...and enjoy the foods/candies/cookies that I oh-so-enjoy during this special time of year....and avoid that darn scale!

So just for kicks and giggles, I just thought that I would step on my good ol' friend this morning. And much to my amazement, I didn't end up doing too much damage after all. I lost 2 pounds (probably the water retention weight caused by the beloved hormones, but so....a loss is a loss in my book). So now I'm back to only needing to lose 2 more pounds before earning a new shiny badge--15 gone! But because 2009 is here, so is a new weight loss goal....22 more pounds. That will put me 10 less than my pre-preggo weight, just in time for wedding season. I'm standing up for both my sister and a most wonderful friend this summer, and I refuse to look frumpy in beautiful black gowns!

In my quest to lose these 22 pounds, I have pulled this and this out from our DVD collection in an effort to work in some additional strength and flexibility training. Not exactly sure when I'll work these in but I've got good intentions. I'm also going to try and work in a spinning class at 6AM on Fridays. I've only been to a couple of spinning classes in my life, but I'm excited to try them again. In my opinion, there is no better time to learn than at the beginning of year when others have the same idea (I hate being the only newby in a class--especially such a challenging one). I am also seeking out a few small races to complete between now and May/July, either here or in the cities I'll be visiting this summer. Again, good intentions. But just so that I stay accountable, you get to hear all about my efforts. I know, lucky you!

I'm also on the quest to find new, healthy recipes. So if you have any favorites OR you've seen a couple but have either too busy or too apprehensive to try them, PLEASE forward them on. One of my "unofficial" goals is to try a new recipe each week and then post a review.

And because I haven't yet said it....."Happy 2009!" May you be so very blessed with His goodness!

Fat Ticker Friday

Please forgive me as I'm not going to sugar-coat my report today, unlike the gingerbread house that Josiah and I are constructing.

My unfriendly scale read this morning that I have gained 2 pounds since last week. On one hand, I'm surprised. In the last 7 days, I was able to get in 5 workouts:

Friday--1 mile, strength train
Saturday--5 miles
Sunday--off
Monday--3.5 miles
Tuesday--1 mile, strength train
Wednesday--off
Thursday--2 miles, strength train

But then on the other hand, the gain doesn't really surprise me, I can feel the water being retained by my body (thanks, hormones). And I'm sure the fact that I've helped myself to some of the candies I bought to decorate our gingerbread house didn't help either (note to self: will only buy candies I don't enjoy eating for next year's activity). AND since my knee is still giving me troubles, I've had to lay off the long runs. All leading to a darn gain this week. UGH!

I was really hoping to report that I had reached my Christmas goal of 15 pounds, and I really think that without the extra water and M&Ms/peanut brittle, I would have. Bummer. Now I really have to watch it during our vacation. An just how do you propose I resist Glorified Rice, Tripas, and Christmas cookies?

I won't be weighing in next Friday since I won't be bringing my unfriendly scale with me to West Texas, but you can bet that I'll be stepping on it first thing Monday AM. ;-)

Fat Ticker Friday--Strength in Numbers

Even though the "Hot for the Holidays" challenge ended last week, I'm still keeping up my Fat Ticker Friday posts....mainly, to keep me accountable for my weekly workouts. Nothing kept me going more than knowing that I was going to have to post on my progress for the week.

Quite a bit happened this past week.....

• I lost another pound, making my overall loss 13 pounds since starting in October. Only 2 more to reach my Christmas goal.
• I found a running/workout buddy
• Instead of waiting until Randy gets home at whatever hour, I get up at 4:15AM, nurse the baby, and head out to join my friend for an early morning run at 5AM.
• I managed to wake up on time and workout EVERY morning.
• I started incorporating strength training 2 days/week.
• And lastly, I made a tough decision not to run in the Austin Half Marathon in February (sorry, Sabrina and Christie). Money is a little tight, and the race fee + trip to Austin would have easily equalled a plane ticket, 1 of 5 we'll need to buy this summer for all of the wedding travel. However, I'm going to continue training just as I would be if I were running the race.

In addition to finding a running buddy and changing up my routine a little bit, I joined TWO groups (one online and one IRL) of ladies to help me continue my journey to lose the baby. Christie, our hostess for HFH, at Baby Tea Leaves started up a new challenge, Quest for Greatness; and my MOPS group started a Biggest Loser challenge. I'm super excited about each of these opportunities to gain overall health, shed weight/fat, and do it with other ladies who share similar goals.

The "rules" behind the Quest for Greatness are....

• Rule #1: There are no rules.
• Rule #2: Find an event somewhere around Feb/March
• Rule #3: PAY for it. It's harder to back out once you've put down $$.
• Rule #4: Weigh in, focusing on completing runs and workouts
• Rule #5: Add the event (rule #2) to Christie's calendar, so that it's there for ALL to see.

While I no longer have a mid-February "event", I'm still training for it. Plus, I'm planning to participat in a 10K scheduled for January 10. It should be pretty awesome, and I'm really excited about it...it's the Causeway Run. The cool part about the race is that the run is on the causeway bridge from Port Isabel to South Padre Island. FUN!!!!!

Of course, most everyone is familar with The Biggest Loser, so I don't need to go into all of the specifics. About 15 of my fellow MOPSters have joined in on the fun and challenge to change their bodies. We all put $5 into the "pot" and signed an agreement stating that should we gain, in either inches or pounds at any monthly weigh-in, we owe $1 per inch or lb. to the "pot". We will weigh in each month till our last MOPS meeting in May. And there are also incentives...not only will there be a big "stash" earned by the one of us that loses the highest percentage of weight loss, prizes will go to the one who is most consistent with their workouts each month. You can bet that I'm working my tail off to earn the most prizes. (It's no secret, I love gifts--it's my love language. That, and I can be very competitive person). My particular weight loss goal for The Biggest Loser MOPS Edition is 20 pounds, which would put me 10 pounds lighter than I was when I got pregnant with Laney, which was 10 pounds lighter than I was when I got pregnant with Josiah. I just love that trend. :-)

I am hopeful that I can achieve my goals with a little bit of support from my bloggy and IRL friends...and that there's some truth in the whole "strength in numbers" thing. :-)