Affirmations

Affirmations?

The act of affirming or the state of being affirmed; assertion.
Something declared to be true; a positive statement or judgment.

Affirmations have helped me on my weight loss and fitness journey. They help me now, as I try to learn to eat normally, to maintain a reasonable weight.

What affirmations have helped you?

Some of mine -

W.I.W.M. ( what I want most)

Discipline is remembering what I want tomorrow not what I want today

Every day above ground is a blessed day

Where I am today is where my mind put me; where I'll be tomorrow is where my mind'll put me

If she can, I can!

I'll show him! ( lol!)

Never give up. Ever. Ever.

Just Do It!

I.N.O. ( it's not an option)

I don't do that anymore

...ON THE LOOSE....NEEDING TO LOOSEN UP!

What a relief to be on this side of the week!

Troubles abounded and workouts were zilch!

However....I did get to do some abdominal work, keeping that section on notice just before 'blacking out' most nights from mere emotional and mental exhaustion....

On the positive side: I've been really encouraged by the 'loose fitting' of some of my clothes!

YES!!!!!

It's happening...deep down there...something is going on! I do find it funny that although most of my workouts have been focused on my midsection, it's actually my legs and shoulder area that are showing the quickest results! No matter...I will continue until I get that middle bit right!



I must add that my nightmare week did end with many miracles! God is amazing...He really does turn our mourning to laughter and never misses a thing!

My husband ended up booking me into the Stamford at the Airport for a night...to take some time on my own...to take a breather...and OH BOY...it took my breath away!

My room had the most awesome view of Botany Bay and both the Domestic and International Airports...Now...the significance of this goes back a loooong way...my dad was in the Peruvian Air Force and since I lost him when I was only one, I have always had this love of being near planes! So here I was...graced with being spoiled and nestled in a place that gave me a sense of security and peace! I was like a kid at the candy store...sat there and just took it all in! It was such a great experience!

Now....4 weeks ago when I started the exercise commitment I had spent many years with a 'supposed' stress related anxiety and claustrophobia that I could not shake off...couldn't be in enclosed areas (like elevators..a no no) or even situations that put me in a place that I could not control...my throat would grow dry and I would get a desperation to swallow, which it seemed I just couldn't do! That brought on panic...feelings of faint...like I was dying!

Now....here I was...4 weeks on...having begun to confront an old enemy of mine that has played me for a FAILURE for soooo many years (that is, my inability to get myself in shape...to be a healthier me..to take control of my body!) Never thought or gave this area of my life so much significance but you know what, the damage WAS being done!...

Now, here I was on the 11th floor!

No panic!

No stress... DESPITE the nightmare week!

Just a sense of awe!

Thanking God for his healing and my awesome family and friends who have been helping me thru this!

And guess what! The hotel had a gym!!!!!

Although I really did not feel like exercising...I did get myself down there and did some walking on the treadmill and workouts on three other machines! Any other time this would have been an exercise dream! There was even a pool, a spa.. a sauna...could have done so much...but there were other things that God was dealing with in me that were just as important!

I found it really hard to relax completely...kept feeling guilty about not having the kids and hubby enjoying this experience with me! Go figure....that's a mother for you!

In the end, I walked away with many a revelation that I think was important for my continued success in Operation Fitness for my life....I even thank God for letting the things that did happen last week happen because they were trying to lead me to realizing that somewhere along the line with the guilt and personal failure regarding my self-esteem and perception, I had lost my joy! My zest for life! My joie de vie!

Where did it go?

I don't know!

When did I lose it?

I didn't THINK it was missing!

But it is now obvious....I have to loosen up!

I have to forgive myself for my failings and get back on the starting mark and run the race with renewed strength, outlook and vision!

It's the sense of failure and accompanying regrets, frustration and anger that have left me empty...thinking I could never be what I really wanted to be ....which at its most basic level...is happy and give my family a happy life!

I've been, in real fact, alienating myself on many levels because I was out of control and felt deep down that I could do nothing about it! I've been contradicting the very foundations of what I have wanted to achieve in my life! And I've been sending the wrong messages! Confusing those I love the most, without even realizing it....because of ...shame! Shame from my own failure in this...a failure which I could not hide or even cover up!

This failure and anger does not belong to me and it's time

to get rid of it too, just like the fat! I don't want it!

This weeks goals:

1. To continue the ab workouts and tae bo training

2. To initiate an ongoing workout for more laughter and joy in all areas of my life!

To loosen up just as my clothes are loosening up... as the fat gives way...now its time for the disappointments and failures to give way and let the new Julie emerge!

Have a great workout week....and don't forget to get rid of the 'failure' mentality wherever and if ever it rears it's ugly head!

God bless!

Working out and weight loss

This week, I changed up my workout routine. Inspired by a thread at Video Fitness, I pulled out my Cindy Crawford workouts.

High repetition, low weights, fast paced but not true aerobics.

I alternated between The Next Challenge and Shape your Body all week, I gave it my all. I sang to the music ( songs by Blondie, Seal,the Smithereens, - the song Crazy, Top Top of the Pops and so on).

I worked hard and enjoyed myself. And today , in spite of a big restaurant lunch yesterday, and in spite of the accompanying fair amount of alcohol, I found I'd lost a kilo.

Woo hoo!

And my arms and glutes just look a littletighter, too

Thik I'll try and stay with Cindy this week!

Video Fitness

Sharing one of my favourite fitness forums ~ Video Fitness.

VF also has a group at Facebook.

What is VF??

Video Fitness is a thriving online community whose members are dedicated to helping each other make the most of a home exercise program. Members accomplish this by writing reviews of the exercise videos that they use regularly, and by sharing advice and opinions in the Reader Forum.

We do not sell videos, so our community members can be totally honest about whether a fitness video lives up to its claims and to the reviewers' expectations. If you're looking for a place to buy the videos you read about here, see our Sources section, which includes consumers' comments about their experiences with particular vendors.

Video Fitness is a community unlike most you'll find on the Internet. Some of our community members have been coming here for years. Dozens have met in person on VF road trips or at local VF get-togethers, and many close friendships have formed around this common interest in fitness videos. As a result, the Reader Forum at Video Fitness will seem less impersonal than other fitness boards you'll find on the Internet. Most regular posters use their real names, and are often very candid about their lives and the challenges they face to working out regularly.

Video Fitness initially grew and developed with the help of advanced level home exercisers--women who had been using fitness videos regularly for years. As a result, the reviews (especially earlier ones) and the Forum postings can seem skewed toward the advanced perspective. However, the women who post about their rigorous workouts were once beginners, too. They didn't start out by lifting 50 lb. barbells or completing 2 hour marathon video workouts. They worked up to it gradually as their fitness level increased. If they can do it, so can you!

Another thing you'll notice is that we don't talk about diet much at Video Fitness. Yes, diet is a fundamental part of a healthy lifestyle, but every health and fitness site, as well as every women-oriented site on the Web, seems to focus on diet. Most Video Fitness readers enjoy having a haven from diet talk--a place they can go to focus exclusively on exercise and personal goal-setting.

Had to share this one!!!!!

Just had to share THIS...a little milestone in my battle with the bulge!

I lost 2 kilos!

Weighed myself reluctantly this morning....thinking...I'm not going to get caught up in the often too regular scale heckling, I'm accustomed to...but...I had to have a peak. Last week my 'get up and move' bubble was burst many a times, including an encounter with the scales that showed a gain of 1 kilo!

Today, however, I savour the sweet entree of success that my workouts have bought me!

I feel so bad that I didn't perservere more last week.

It's been three weeks since venturing into this new Workout Lifestyle and Week 2 was a real fizzler!

I haven't been able to change my diet at all....so, for the most part...it's been the EXERCISE! Funny how Leonie just brought up the subject in her post today! Thought...SHAZZAM...when I read it!

I know fad diets are a NO NO...but...a friend suggested I try the Japanese Morning Banana Diet, which is supposed to activate the metabolism....so I tried it yesterday and did ok...didn't feel hungry most of the day - then again I really got into 3 workouts during the day - putting the " old veg out" time to doing the dvds!

Apparently, in having just banana and water at room temperature (yeah yuck) for breakfast (you can eat as much banana as you like), it's supposed to kickstart your metabolism. You can basically eat all you want all day, within reason, right (trying to steer away from desserts) and as long as your last meal is eaten before 8pm and you go to sleep before 12, this start to your day is meant to make a difference with your ability to metabolize your food..........despite criticism....there are a lot of people losing a lot of weight.

Since I'm not a big breakfast eater......I'm giving it a try!

So here I go......resolved to continue this commitment to see change in my body...GOOD CHANGE! HOOOORAY!!!!!!

........All I want is a waist for Christmas...........sigh

I don't do that any more!

From The Do-able Diet ~ Barbara Wimhurst, a mother in her 20s, lost 45 kg on her own by eating less and exercising...

I remind myself constantly "I don't do that anymore". Every time my eye wanders down the confectionery aisle, or I go to eat the crusts from my sons' lunch or I think to ask for some extra cream on the side, I repeat this affirmation, "I don't do that anymore". These words remind me of how far I have come and how much I prefer the sweet taste of freedom and success,

OMG! Sore bu**

That's me today. I find it hard to walk up my stairs.

Why?

My Bu** is killing me after some great workouts.

Yesterday I did Taebo Advanced Live 10 - cool music ( Knock On Wood, Your Love is Lifting Me Higher, Boogie Fever, Simply Irresistible) and some killer floorwork. Ouch.

Then today I did Cindy Crawford's The Next Challenge - some effective cardio/leg/lower body work then abs and chest/upper body. Nice music too - especially the Blondie song.

No wonder it's hard to walk up those stairs without pain. But it's so worth it and the workouts are so much fun.

There's a fine line between pleasure and pain ~ The Divinyls.

....Sound off...one...two...Recommit..three..four!

Gee...I've only been at the GREAT GET IN SHAPE plan for only 3 wks and I'm already needing to recommit!

I Am hyped up after having found the Billy Blank's Bootcamp Boxed kit...which has...Ab Bootcamp...which is what I was WANTING!!!! Last weeks effort to do the workout through You Tube proved a failure as sharing the two computers between the five us, is a logistical nightmare, plus it kept freezing up and then taking forever to download....so now...God has pushed aside yet ANOTHER excuse ( uhhhumm!) after my morning winge on Leonie's post.

I also came across the Kickbox PARTY that my Honorary Workout Therapist, Leonie (this is the first time she hears THIS!) suggested ......and it is now in my hot little hands!

On this Monday afternoon, I stand here (or rather...sit and type) and recommit to my exercise goals before you...cyberspace bloggers...and do hereby set my goals as getting through the Ab Bootcamp and the Kickbox Party for this week!

Additional Goal: to get into a structured weight loss eating plan!

Haven't been very good about confronting this full on but just bought the Abs

Diet for Women (incl. DVD) and will try to follow that this week.

God bless us in our efforts!

BootCamp

Interesting article on bootcamps.

Participants in the study used a Bootcamp DVD workout.

I own a couple of Bootcamp DVDs but not the one mentioned in the article. What I like about Bootcamp is the mix of cardio and bodyweight resistance work; sometimes you use bands or dumbbells too; and it is fun to mess around with the push yourself military style.

Which ones do I own?

Kickbox Bootcamp

Crunch Bootcamp

Denise Austin Bootcamp

Taebo Bootcamp Elite

Taebo Bootcamp 1 & 2

Taebo Bootcamp Boxed Set

Workout Update

Well, guys, its just Julie and me posting right now? lol!

Friday I did another Turbo Jam workout. Cardio Party 3. About 50 minutes. I love, love, love the moves, the kickbox and dance and capoeira, in this one. And I love the music - "Party Party People".

I was woo hooing and having fun, doing my workout before mass and ice skating. Jonathon ( son number 4) told me to calm down! lol!

Saturday was a time for a short workout. Turbo Jam Cardio Pary Remix - two turbos or anaerobic drills. A high energy workout in only 30 minutes.

Worse for Wear!

Ummmmmmmmmmm......this week has been DISAPPOINTING on the workout level of my achievements.

Monday: On fire with Bootcamp 1 and JM's Full Frontal and even some gym work
Tuesday: Decided to take a day off because I was feeling off colour
Wednesday: Was so full of energy that I decided I would rearrange the furniture and strained my upper back....no workout possible!
Thursday: Awwwwwwwwwww! Back still sore, couldn't even turn!

My back is no longer hurting but I'm feeling so FLAT!
Mind you, everything inside is saying ' get that workout done'.....GET BACK ON THE HORSE!

Need to get thru a mountain of homeschooling work with my homeschooler, who has been suffering from food poisoning since Monday! But before the end of today.....I WILL WORKOUT!!!

Girls Just Wanna have Fun!

This week's log.

Hmmm..Not sure about goals this week...But I want to keep up the emphasis on kickboxing and cardio..And I need some weight or resistance work ( I've seen my arms!)....And I want to have fun in my workouts...Girls Just Wanna Have Fun!

Sunday A weight workout, late afternoon, after a busy but great day at our church's 25th celebration. The FIRM TransFIRMation ~ Hard Core Fusion. Aussie readers - this set, with weights, is available for sale right now at Big W!

Monday Kickbox, dance, capoeira, cardio. Turbo Jam Cardio Party 1

Tuesday Another Turbo Jam - Kickin ' Core - 30 minutes higher impact kickbox cardio, 15 minutes strength and ab work - I used a weighted medicine ball...

Wednesday The Firm Pump Jump n Jab Around the 40 minute mark, kickbox intervals alterated with dumbbell resistance work. Finishes with push ups, planks, ab work. Nice one!

Thursday Turbo Jam Punch Kick and Jam 50 minute workout, more athletic and less dancy kickboxing than other TJ workouts. I love how the music in TJ is real music, not canned techno stuff, and how it is geared to the routines. A capoeria section, then capoeria legwork and some work on form with or without a resistance band.

My eating has been up the creek. I am eating irregularly, at odd times, missing meals, not always making the best selections - like cake for a very late breakfast two days in a row and no proper dinner two nights in a row - just a mandarin or cheese and crackers. HMM. Really, Really Need To Get Back Into A Better Eating Routine.

Julie, how's your eating plan going?

YES!... I DID IT......NOW...I'M EXCITED !

Girls!

I achieved part of my goals for this week!

Achieved goals:
1. Alternated Bootcamp 1 and Bootcamp 2 every weekday this week (Mon-Fri)
2. Alternated JM's Full Frontal and Maximize Frontal during the weekdays
3. Did 2 days of Blank's Ab Bootcamp
4. Walked along Maroubra beach coastline (3/4) on Thursday
5. Did some gym work

Felt I really needed to get a kickstart this week! Felt at times like really not doing it but was "driven' towards doing the workouts....I'm 'feeling' different! It's helping me FEEL different!

Blank says to give it 40 days before you see the changes and that kind of hit a nerve with me...Ok....I want to see the 'changes'...so...I need consistency...commitment...Ok...

I'm not doing it to the point of exhaustion....I'm a big girl but I always had a high level of flexibility when I was younger and part of me was really 'anxious' ... actually...about having to face reality and accept that perhaps age (and years of inactivity) had taken that away!

...BUT...it's still there!
ALLELUYA!
Realizing "I still could" just rocketed me on!

I can already 'feel' the changes...though miniscule to the casual observer....
I'm breathing better! - Confession time: I have been suffering from this 'anxiety' type of throat constriction for years...where I felt I had something in my throat and could never swallow it...the sensation would make me claustrophobic and panicky...YET...NOW...I'm swallowing better! I don't feel the same...I actually went on an elevator to the 17th floor (entering an elevator is something I haven't done for years!)...These minor stepping stones are making me sooooo HAPPY!

Unachieved Goals:

Did not begin the Liver Cleansing Diet (had to re-buy the book after having lent my copy)-
Feel I still need to follow some structured eating and cleansing plan!


Goals for this Week:

1. Bootcamp workouts daily
2. Gym workouts
3. Specific ab workouts ( JM's Full Frontal and Maximize)
4. Start Liver Cleansing Diet

Thank you, Girls for your support in all this....knowing that you guys are out there and wanting me to achieve this is really helping!

God Bless and have a great workout week!!!!!!!!!

Leonie's Workout Log

Goals for this week ~

*Concentrate on cardio/kickboxing, especially Turbo Jam and Taebo. Why? I find that cardio/kickbox helps me keep that calories balance and works out my upper abs ( my problem area). And it helps burn off stress, all those powerful punches and kicks, all that cool music.

* Work on portion control and avoidng mindless eating, picking at food...

* Smile more!

Sunday Not a bad eating day, in spite of those yummy margaritas! lol! Did a 40 minutes workout - Turbo Jam Cardio Party 1. Busta move!

Monday Worked out with dh and son Jonathon - an hour long Taebo Advanced Live 9. Classic Taebo, leg and butt and ab work, pushups. My arms were feeling it. Yay! I was singing and jumping and happy, with all the endorphins cruising in my veins...Its okay, I can laugh at myself! :-)

Tuesday Fitting a workout into a busy day. Turbo Jam Punch, Kick and Jam. A more athletic version of TJ.

Wednesday. In a rush, couldn't decide what to do so did Turbo Jam Fatblaster. Gota love all those Turbo drills in this workout. had a terrible tummy ache this evening so ate a late but light dinner ~ a Weight Watchers meal, Chicken Carbonara.

Thursday Another TJ workout - this time a weights workout. I am a bit of a cardio freak but I know weights are important for bone density, building and toning muscle, increasing metabolism. So, I did Booty Sculpt plus Abs with 7 and 9 lb weights and a resistance band.

Friday. Today! Still on my TJ craze so did Cardio Party 2 - love the kick sequence in this, to the music and lyrics of Sir Mixalot - Baby Got Back.

Saturday. Tired - lack of sleep, and worked at church working bee, so had to workout in the afternoon. Decided to go for corny dancing fun. Richard Simmon's Disco Sweat - I can make it harder by increasing the impact. Sang Disco Inferno!

How's everyone's week?

Operation Cut The Fat....out!

I have made a new schedule for my week...this week is still School holidays so I think it's perfect to focus on getting into a solid workout plan:

Goals: To do the Billy Blank Bootcamp workouts daily

Play some afternoon tennis with the family

Walking (my husband is off work and the kids love it...we are off to the National Park today!)

To keep moving!


Food Attitude: Because of the amount of weight I have to loose...I need to start a structured eating plan......
Having listened intently to some friends sharing 'diets' on Friday, I prayed and remembered a diet plan that helped my sister lose 3 dress sizes and I had tried it for 5 days and lost nearly 5 kilos...but failed to perservere...

The Liver Cleansing Diet by Sandra Cabot

My mother had always said to us that it was important to keep our livers healthy- something which our perservative ridden lifestyles do not do!!!! I will tell you that my sister shrunk! Literally but looked so healthy! Its all about going back to healthy eating...no starvation....all aiming to restore the liver to its natural functions so that it can do its job and kick the metabolism back on track and deal with cleaning out our bodies...like it was meant to do...

Here I go....my commitment this week...workout and clean out my food!!!!! No more icy cokes from Maccas!!!

Whatever Process You are Following is Perfect for the Results You are Getting

I ran across the above profoundity somewhere on line as I was surfing health/diet/exercise.

This spoke to me and convicted me, too! I made a little sign and posted it on my fridge.

As I stand there looking at the words I realize just where I am now, with health and weight and fitness really is just the perfect reflection of the 'process' my body has been through as of late. My body does not play tricks with me, it just naturally reflects what I put into it and how much I move it.

That strips away the 'magic' of this diet or that one. There is no secret formula or mojo to make a diet work. It simply reflects how I live.

I think it also helped me to stop beating myself up because I didn't follow a strict diet or exercise plan. It made me see this is a process.

And, I realized too, that if I had not done all the good I HAD done, that I would be more out of shape and heavier. I am doing good things, too and my body notices those!

So, anyway, I liked this. It was honest and convicting but not negative.. and helps me continue to see this is a process and about long term habits. And slip ups are allowed. That is life!

Cindy's Exercise Plan for Week of Oct 4th

Every Sunday I look at my calendar for the week. The first thing I pencil in every day is my workout plan. That is the only way I know I will get to my workouts and treat them like appointments.

Then I fill in the rest of my life around them.... :) I love the way it makes me feel.. and i love getting the workouts done first thing so they are done.. and I can move on with my day.

This week will be challenging as I am going to be in Chicago Thursday through Saturday for a Lighthouse Catholic Media conference. I am excited, though to meet all these wonderful people and on Thursday I get to go to an Ignatian silent retreat at a monestary. Boy, do I need it! So, I will have to find some way to MOVE during my Chicago time.

Here is my workout plan: (all at the YMCA)

Sunday- Eliptical machines at the Y with new playlist my spinning teacher gave me! Oh, music motivates me so much!


Monday:
11 am weight workout &
Spinning class

Tuesday:
6am (yikes!) Step and Mat class


Wednesday:
6am- Athletic Conditining class (cardio and weights)


Thursday:
Friday:
Saturday:
Me and my tennis shoes at the monestary! I asked my friend going with me to bring her tennies, too... she has told me she HATES exercise and calls my workouts my 'torture sessions' but she does like to walk.. .so we will have fun.



What are you all planning this week? Big steps? Little steps?

Now...I'm angry...this is war against fat!

Somehow...someway....I have avoided looking at my PROBLEM realistically....
Sure...I knew I had gained weight...but...today the full impact of realizing that I am obese has just hit me.....I'm so mad...mad at myself....mad at the fat!

We took some photos yesterday and while downloading them today....AHHHHHHH! I look sooo bad... I'm not kidding...this is not self-pity...It's just being real...as a matter of fact, before today, I would have deleted all the photos (I did one or two because I just couldn't handle it..) but I have purposely put them on my Facebook because I want to SEE change...I want to see what everyone else is obviously seeing and I've been 'editing' out of my life....

No more excuses....I need excercise
I need to change my eating habits
I need to change my sedentary lifestyle

I really do need this!

No more excuses....No more excuses...No more excuses.... My habits have to change!!! Now!!!

Kicked it at my workout this morning!

Well, to finish out my week I took off yesterday because a good friend called and was on my side of town, so we went to a resturant for breakfast, then did shopping, then lunch.. what fun!

But today... I made up for it.. See here... :)

Hi Yall

Hi everyone! I decided to get back to my workout journal. I will keep posting here, but if you want more boring details about my life, please drop in!

Cindy

September Summary

I got back into running in September by starting with a running partner who is a homeschooling mother of 5. We meet two mornings a week to run and share ideas although the huffing and puffing has cut down on the talking. Nancy found a program that eased us into running with 1 mi jogs followed by 2 min brisk walks alternating for 5 sets. Then it was 2 min runs...then 3 min. Weekend runs were on our own, but I've managed to make all of mine. :)

My first Oct run was yesterday and afterward I sat down to look over what I've accomplished. In September I ran 3 times a week for 4 weeks, and yesterday I easily ran 2 miles seperated by a 1/4 mi walk. I'm feeling pretty good, and this morning I treated myself to a plain, grande coffee from Starbucks after my run. On the chilly walk home with my hands warmed by the coffee and my nose full of the scent of paper cup, I pondered what habit I could gently add in this month. No decisions yet. Perhaps making sure I get my (breastfeeding mom's) 8 servings of fruit/veg a day?

Enough with the excuses!

Having decided to take the 'exercise' plunge...I'm a bit frustrated that I have failed to do the workouts over the last two days....

The school holidays has proven to send things into a spin...but not of the excersise kind!

Not having exercised for years.... I struggled at first with Jeanette Jenkins' Kickboxing Bootcamp...achieving a whole 10 mins of the warm up on the first try (uhggggg)...but I thought to myself...it's a start! Two days later I was able to do the whole dvd but in three segments (uhggggg...uhgggg...uhgggg).... I felt encouraged....I guess the endorphin kick set in and I no longer felt that negative ' I will never be able to do this' feeling. I find that her workout is good but she wears me out before I can get to the nitty gritty of the workout....so I tried

JM's Shape Up front....thinking again...I'll never make it...but I did..on the first try I finished it after two breaks and am keen on trying the maximise full frontal (my major problem area). I was able to keep up with her much better than the Jenkin's workout - didn't feel so puffed out...go figure! Loved her " I'm not going to let you quit' attitude...I needed it!

The curious 'take on a challenge' part of me took the Billy Blank's Bootcamp 1 out of its plastic wrap (can't even remember when I had bought it..but it was there...challenging me from the dingy darkness of the closet..).... It was fabulous...I was a human sprinkler system and in the privacy of my own exercise corner AND I felt like I was achieving something! I was able to finish it with two very short breaks...I found him very encouraging with his tidbits....just when I was questioning everything inside me...I heard this "you need at least 40 days of effort before you are going to see any results" voice coming from the tv and it just helped me put things into perspective....I know it sounds silly and unrealistic...but that defeatist part of me wanted to have seen results yesterday...just to justify giving up...but Blank's set me straight and I did it!

These last two days have seen other major obstacles stand in my way and I have not been able to get back to my workouts....but whereas...in the past...I would have let them get to me to the point of feeling 'crippled'...I've stopped to think that perhaps God is letting them come to surface because, like the exercise....I have to deal with them and they too have been a thorn in my side...the piece of wood in this lions paw.... with all her roars and bravado...these rotten little things tend to get the better of me...but...I don't want them to anymore...ENOUGH IS WITH THE EXCUSES!

Mind you! I chose yesterday to get out of the house and trying to 'air out'... went on a window shopping outing to a couple of suburbs.....I had the 'need to exercise' in the forefront of my mind so I pushed the pace at which I walked right around the shopping precincts....Does that count? I was good and refused to buy any junk...though the Pastisserie's taunted me to the left and the right and though I felt the hunger pangs by 2pm, I shunned the Chinese Take-away.....

On the drive home however...... the thought of an icy cold Coke from Mc Donalds seemed to be exactly what I needed.....so I talked myself into just making a quick stop and maybe grabbing a couple of chicken mcnuggets...I had done all that walking... I thought... and the heat yesterday here in Sydney was stifling...but...would you believe...that on the drive home (the shortcut way I use) had NO MC DONALDS ! The only Maccas and Hungry Jacks I passed were on the other side of the Princes Highway , which with the heat, I was not bothered to do the major turns and u turns needed to get there.........so I made it home....and sat down to the chicken leftovers from the night before and a refreshing salad........there were no cold cokes in the fridge...just some cold apple juice.... and....an ice cream (wooooops)!

Cindy's Log Week of Sun Sept 29th

Sunday:

REST :)

Monday:
Spinning class. I have not been to spinning in so long and I loved it. This instructor (Lynn) has THE best music. It all has a beat and keeps me so motiavated. After, I did 100 abs and 40 pushups

Tuweday:
Trying to get back to my 6am workouts.... I got really tired mid afternoon when I did them, but I MISS them! The format, instructor and fellow participants were just awseome AND I was done by 7:30! That was a cool feeling. But slept in, so did 40 min on the eliptical.

Wednesday: 6am Athletic conditioning class at the Y. Fun.
She had us do 30 min alternating step, BOSU and Slide. Ever done the slide? I found a picture and put it up top...it is the long thing that looks like a gray slip and slide about 6 feet long and 2 feet wide. You put little booties over your tennies and you slide right to left like a speed skater. GREAT workout.

AFter cardio, we did 30 min of weight work. Felt great as many of us had few workouts during the 3 weeks since Hurricane Ike.

Thursday Plan:
6am Mat Pilates class and eliptical

Friday Plan:
not sure yet...

Eating has been way off. Schedules have been werid since the hurricane.. ready to get back on healthy track.

Workout Log Week of Sun Sept 29

Am keeping an online log - do you want to join me?

Sunday Taebo Bootcamp 1 - with my dh! A 40 minute bootcamp military style workout - with traditional taebo moves, of course!
Terrible with eating - no, I didn't eat too much calorie wise, but I ate unwisely. No dinner for example! Something that has been happening regularly lately...

Monday Turbo Jam Punch Kick and Jam. About 50 minutes of kickbox and capoeira. Fun!

Tuesday Turbo Jam Cardio Party 3- a 55 minute cardio sweat fest. A nice section near the end where you work on form in punches and kicks. And I need to stop eating mindlessly, stop picking at food here and there...

Wednesday A quickie today. Turbo Jam Fatblaster. 30 minutes but advanced - 8 Turbos! Feeling fat, especially, when I look at pics. Am re-reading Overcoming Overeating, Confessions of a Former Fat Girl and The Do-able Diet.

Thursday. Am off to do another Turbo Jam workout. Probably Cardio Party 1 or 2.
ETA - Did Cardio Party 1. Did you hear me singing along with LL Cool J - Mamma said knock you out! lol! And my eating was still pretty uneven..

Friday Planning on another Turbo Jam - probably Cardio Party 3. Didn't happen, our DVD player broke. So I did an old Taebo on VHS. Advanced Live 2 - great music, singing along with Early In The Morning, Be What I Wanna Be. Powerful kicks and punches, great standing ab work. Trying not to eat more than I need. It's all about portion control..

Saturday Gonna try that TJ Cardio Party 2 from yesterday, hopefully the DVD player has recovered!

Hey, guys!

I changed the look of our blog - hope this is okay! And do you know anyone else who is interested in joining and sharing about fitness?

Can You Relate?

Turbo Jam Kickin' Core

A super workout for yesterday - I forgot how much I love the music in that workout, simply because I've been so focused on puke-in-the-bucket workouts that I FORGET to get into my fiun but effective workouts. The ones that work but with great music.

I think there's room for both sorts of workouts in my regime.

And, to be truthful, kickboxing like Taebo and Turbo Jam have played the biggest exercise role in my weight loss, helped to (kinda) reshape my body.

Kickin' Core has some nice hip hop, old school. It has some dance, shake what your mamma gave you moves. It has powerful kicks, punches and capoeira. And it is good for the core and those obliques - boy, do I need that.

About 45 minutes long, although I sometimes do just the cardio and then double up on a favourite section or on the turbo ( the anerobic drill).

Have you Turbo'd today? :-)

DIEt not

I liked this, from Sparkpeople

No Fads, No Pills, No Diets, Just Living Life

I'm looking for the honest balance that I can keep for the rest of my life. So far I think I've found it. A diet is not the answer. I've read the quote before, "DIET starts with DIE". I believe this to be true. It's has to be a complete way of life. It just has to be. Something that you can live with, day in and day out FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE AND BE 100% COMFORTABLE WITH IT. If you can't do that with how you eat right now... you've not found it yet. Anything less and you've started to DIEt.

The REAL goal is to MINDFULLY eat SENSIBLE, CLEAN, HEALTHY food EVERY day. If you approach eating this way you'll never be hungry.

MINDFUL - This is so important. You must be mindful of what you eat. By mindful I mean that when eating you should take the time to concentrate ON eating. Plate your food. Sit down. Eat it. Think about each bite. Revel in every sensation of eating. Why? Being mindful give you purpose. It slows you down. Makes you think about every bite... and gives your tummy time to send the message... HEY! I'm full! Be mindful.

SENSIBLE - I'm 42 years old. I will NOT deprive myself. If I want A cookie (notice I said "A"), or I want A bowl of ice cream (again, that "A") then doggone it... I'm going to. My "SENSIBLE" 1/2 cup of ice cream isn't going to make me fat again... but eating a pint every day will. I have to live. I will not deprive myself, but I will be SENSIBLE about what I put in my face.

CLEAN - I've also cut the vast majority of processed foods out of my general eating habits. I've found that most processed food have horrific amounts of salt in them. If you can't pick it off a bush or tree, pull it out of the ground or cut it off of an animal, it has no business being in your body. I'm not perfect with this... but again... I am only human... see SENSIBLE.

HEALTHY - Here is where SparkPeople is really helping me. By letting me look at what's going in its helping me make better and better choices each day as to what I eat. I eat 6 times a day. This REALLY helped me a lot. Before I would skip breakfast, not eat till 12... gorge on Chili's Asian Wings (about 1800 cal), eat a few packs of Gems outa the snack machine (800 more), eat some outrageous dinner and then finish it off with cereal or ice cream later... And wonder why I was fat... By eating how I do now, I never get TOO hungry (A trigger point for me).

Your thoughts?

I have hit a goal. YIPEE!!

My weight goals were twofold:
1) go from a tight size 14 to a loose size 8. I HAVE DONE THAT!(I got my first pair of size 8 jeans yesterday!)
2) go from 168 pounds to 135 pounds. I AM ALMOST THERE. Why not stop some might ask? Well, I want a 3 to 5 pound buffer or, as My Hunny likes to say, a weight box. The weight box is the zone I can safely stay within. So, if I want to pig out at a party and I am 135, I have the room to do so. However, if I am 138 I won't be pigging out at a party, I will be calorically lying low.

I am really proud of myself, and extremely grateful to God for the grace He has given me to do this. I would NEVER have been able to do it on my own. I am, notoriously, not one to follow through on much of anything...thus the reason I unschool (LOL). Up until my mom's death, I was between 135-140. I never thought about what I was eating and didn't exercise. But the depression that sank in upon mom's death, and all the craziness going on with Ben, and getting older, just did me in weight-wise. I think it happens to alot of women.

I have learned that I can't eat what I used to. I just don't have the same metabolism. I have learned to have mastery over my appetite (THANKS TO GOD!), and I have developed the discipline (ya like that Lisa B.?) of regular exercise. Thanks to Sparkpeople (see sidebar) for all the past and continued help. Also, I have to say that the way I have lost has been High Carb, High Fiber (mostly complex carbs grains, fruits and veggies) Low Sugar, Low Fat and Low Protein. When researching the way I eat it is reminiscent of the Pritikin Diet, the Rice Diet, & the McDougall Diet and Ornish Diet (though I am not a vegetarian).

My cholesterol is 180, down from 220. My bloodwork is great, my blood pressure is on the low end (though that has always been true) my blood sugar is perfect. What I have been doing has been working, it hasn't always been easy, yet I have not been deprived (saying things like "I can never have ____ again" sabotages many a weight loss program).

I am so psyched and happy....Yeah God!!

Peace,

Some posts

Rachel's post on grains and weight loss.

My post on how to start losing weight...

Any other links or posts that you care to share? :-)

Puke-in-a-bucket workouts

Yep, puke-in-a-bucket workouts. That's what my friends at the VF Video Fitness internet forum call hard workouts, workouts that may push you a little to the edge, that may make you want to puke. Barf. Vomit. Pass out.

Call me masochistic but I love those sort of workouts. Yes, they have a high dread factor for me but, I feel a great sense of accomplishment when the workout is over. I feel like an athlete, like it is so worth the pain.

Yesterday in the post I received Jillian Michaels' 30 Day Shred - three thirty minute workouts on one DVD. Level 1, 2 and 3 - with 3 being the toughest.

Internet fitness friends tell me these are puke-in-the-bucket workouts - if you do Level 2 or 3 or two or more levels combined.

I was sad last night - I knew I couldn't do these with my current cold/cough/flu. I bemoaned this fact to Greg, when he called from the UK. I knew he'd understand, fellow workout freak that he is.

But today I had a bright idea! A first, I am sure!

Why not do Level 1 but keep it low impact and use lighter weights ( 2 and 3kg - 4 and 6 lbs).

That's what I did! A perfect short but effective workout for when I am not up to par. Might do the same tomorrow with Level 2..and when I am fully recovered from this can't shake it flu, I'll try the workouts high impact. Truly almost throwing up style, I hope!

From the Collage Video website, where this DVD is rated as advanced -

Three well-structured aero/tone interval workouts led by “The Biggest Loser” trainer. These fast-paced exercises will keep you burning fat as you sculpt muscle. The programs build in intensity; you can start with the intermediate level and work up to the advanced program (it’s tough! — moves like plyo-lunges and traveling pushups). Each workout has three “cycles.” Each cycle starts with three minutes of multi-muscle and isolated strength training. Then it’s two minutes of non-dancy kickbox and athletic-style cardio. That’s followed by one minute of classic abwork (then — no rest — you’ll immediately start a new cycle). Like on the TV show, Jillian is both demanding and supportive .

Three cycles plus a warm up and a cool down, in each workout. And the workouts build in intensity. Who could ask for more??

Doing the cha-cha

I've been thinking about you all and even did a marathon read one day to catch up with everyone by reading your posts. :)

For my workouts lately, I have a new friend who will walk with me while our kids play in the middle of the track or I do my TaeBo DVD or I swim laps. There is a new park across the street so I will go over and instead of doing pull-ups, I do controlled drops as an arm workout. Let's just say I'm feeling it! I'm also trying to get back into biking as I have at least one friend who is interested in my triathlon.

I'm trying to get back into the swing with Weight Watchers too, but after a strong start, I had so much of my family come and stay for long enough to make it a burden. I have yet to learn to only eat when I'm hungry so I do the weighing and measuring. I've done it enough that it's easy when life is in it's usual routine.

Rght now with eating and exercise I feel like I'm going a few steps forward and a few steps back and always ending up in the same place.

On the bright side, my weight is not going up. :)

Check in

Hi Leonie and all-- Leonie do you feel you have been talking to yourself? i have been terrible about posting!

But I have been working out at the Y still. My schedule changed so I tried some 6am classes to get my mornings free. OUCH! It was hard at first, but now i love it. I do 6am classes M-Th. I get up at 5, drink coffee and get on the computer, let the dogs out. Then work out, then come home work and do daily life, then lay down at 2pm with an audio book and have a delcious nap. Not bad, actually!

But, I thought of you all today and wanted to share.
Today at my class, the instructor had us on big exercise balls at the wall which is covered with a mirror panel.

So, picture it. We lay on the big ball, facing the mirrored wall. Our feet are on the wall. We have a medicine ball in our hands, over our heads and are doing crunches, at 6:37am.

The view:

I get a great wide-screen panoramic of my inner thighs as I scruntch up in my crunches.

Lovely.

So, I shift my gaze higher (enough of this self-torture) and see my neck. I am lifting the medicine ball in the CRUNCH and with the mirror about 1.5 feet from my face, I see my neck. It has all those wrinkles that the stars get lifted out.. you know that loose-chicken skin?

Sheesh! I nudge the lady next to me who is about my age and a grandmother and show her my view. She laughs, as she has a similar one.

Oh well. Felt great after, but I gotta talk to the instructor. I think we only should be made to do exercises facing away from the mirror at close range.

But I am enjoying the variety. I was doing a lot of step classes, but my knee is hurting. So now I have added in spinning one day a week, and substituing eliptical for my aerobics a couple of times. But I am bonding with the 6am crowd which is fun. There are about 5 guys who come too, which I never had in the the 9am classes. They are a hoot and the instructor today was telling "man stories" about her husband.

Like how he went on a guy's weekend with his buddies and never asked their college friend about the triplets that were born the month before. Spent 4 days with the guy and never even asked. Men!

So, it is a good time.

How are you all doing? Enjoying any particular workouts these days?

What have you been up to??

Rachel has been losing weight and getting fit - check out her cool pics.

And me? Today was another time crunch day so I did the 30 minute Turbo Jam Cardio Party Remix. Love the music in this workout - its a happy workout for me...But then I DO love both cardio and high impact!

What have you been up to?

The Biggest Winner

I've been doing the Jillian Michaels 30 minute advanced Biggest Winner workout DVDs. Simply because this is a busy week so only have time for short workouts ~ but I want to make them count. Well, today, I woke up at 6.20 to take son Jonathon to the bus stop. And I had DOMs in my chest, shoulders and glutes. Not big DOMs but a nice little soreness. Woo hoo! I love to feel the results of working out...

Check in

Another check in! Anyone elsewant to join in - or am I talking to myself? lol! Even if you haven't had time to workout, just call in and say hi - we'll motivate you!

My eating on Friday was terrible - I was home alone for awhile, eveyone else was out and that was scary to say the least! I had a lot of work to do for WYD - I am a volunteer co-ordinator in my parish. So I dealt with stress and loneliness by eating a whole pack of peanut M& Ms - 1000 calories!

Woah, just when you think you have emotional eating under control...

I did a Transfirmation workout yesterday too - High Definition Sculpt with Annie. A first for me - I bought this just before I had my surgery. Not bad, definitely go heavier with the weights next time.

We are having World Youth Day in Sydney this week, with the Pope. So yesterday was flat out organising pilgrims - we are going to have 8-10 young Iraqi Christian males stay with us this week! Maybe a week of short workouts - was thinking Jillian Michael's set. But today will be a fun cardio - one of the Turbo Jams.

Women's Health and Fitness

Before my surgery, I picked up a couple of DVD workouts by Women's Health and Fitness.

Today I had an early medical appt and errands with son Alexander, so only had time for a shorter workout. Sigh. And sob!

Picked up Ultimate Fat Burn ; about 40 minutes of cardio and weights. The cardio can be high impact if you like ~ hey, right up my alley. And can also let off agression - you don't wanna know who I was kicking and punching in my imagination during the kickboxing segment! lol!

The weight moves were all compound moves - combining upper and lower body or core.

I really like the instructor, Amy Dixon. Good cueing, an athletic body, she's a mum like me, a nice demeanour.

Not a tough workout ( sadly) but a good workout for days like today. Busy days...

Tomorrow I might do some of another workout in this series ~
The Wedding Workout. Isn't the title a scream? Has cardio, upper body, lower body, core, flexibilty and yoga. You can mix and match segments.

More Taebo

Check out my blog for pics of two of my sons (Alexander and Greg) doing a Taebo workout with me. Gotta love that Billy Blanks!

Need Advice!

Hi guys. I am just plugging right along. I have lost 15.2 pounds and have 17.6 to go. My measurements, when I started in April, were 42/39/42 and are now 38/32/40, so I am on a roll. I blogged back at my blog about how I have been struck with Cholinergic Urticaria (aka: exercise induced hives) so I have had to scale back and also do a fair amount of exercise at home.  Though I really prefer to be outside. I got to go out yesterday, without hives, coz it was a rainy day here and cooler than usual for June in Atlanta. Anyway, the Billy Blanks Tae Bo DVDs have always looked interesting to me. I am trying to amass just a small collection of different styles of work out DVDs for when it's too hot to go outside.  (When it gets cold, you WON'T find me inside.)  So, of those of you here that are into Tae Bo (I know Leonie is) what is a good one to start with?

Thanks!

Rachel

Taebo

Yesterday I got to do one of my Taebo workouts ~ with my doctor's permission. I did Taebo Ulitmate Upper Body -

Kickboxing with an upper body focus, for 60 minutes. Upper body focus = less pull on my abs and post surgery area.

I loved it! I could have worked out for another 30 minutes, but I showed restraint. And who has the time??

Sadly, I couldn't do my usual full push ups - they hurt my abs. So I did the push ups on my knees. But I know I'll work back up to full, big boy push ups eventually.

At the end, Billy gave his little motivational talk. Get Fit-Have Fun-Be Strong - Remember the Spirit.

Billy Blanks is a Christian. And his motivational talks reflect this. I was jumping around, dancing and smiling at Billy at the end of the workout and during his little talk.

And, so, yes, my workouts remind me of not doing this, my life, on my own strength but of relying on God.

Body Combat

I am really enjoying the Body Combat class I do on Sat morning.. here is a video. Leonie you would love this! Click here to see video

My class is better than this video.. in that the instructor is not on the stage.. lol.. This is a good cardio example, it is intense-- We also do "ninja" moves.. and they are really elegant.

At first I didn't like the 'violent' aspect of it. We are supposed to be beating someone up! But when we really start punching someone I pretend it is The bad guy as all don't like and his demons. Or maybe a guy who assults me in the parking lot..I told my gym buddy today if I guy did ever try and get me, I would do some of these moves and it might just make him laugh so hard he would forget his plans. :0

It is a great cardio workout.
But.. I am finding I am SORE from this workout-- muscles are sore which is amazing as it is all cardio and we use no equipment.

Just wanted to share.. :)
Hope everyone is well and moving!

Off for a walk

Here I am, ready for my morning walk. Today I am walking with a friend. She is meeting me at my house at 7.;30 a.m and then we will walk for an hour, around a nearby lake and up a hill.

Ladies, keep up your walking and working out!

Check in time??

Walk, Walk, Walk

Yep, that is what I have been doing lately. Walking. An hour every day.

Walking is the only workout that gets my doctor's approval right now, post surgery. I see him again on June 24 ( the feast of The Birth of St John the Baptist and our liturgical year celebration with Xmas Pudding and Xmas Cake in June) . At this visit, I hope to get the okay for adding in other workouts.

But , mean time, walking is not so bad. It is rhythmic. It is fun. It encourages meditation. And it is helping me maintain my weight loss.

I lost a few kilograms after surgery but thought I'd put them back on with no workouts. I have a fear of getting fat again. I'm not fat any more, I'm normal BMI, pretty fit but not super thin! Dang! lol!

Anyway, weight gain hasn't happened. You know, an hour of walking cardio every day is helping me maintain my weight. Coupled with some loose calorie counting, of course!


Walking is man's best medicine - Hippocrates

Definitely. I have been dealing with some stress and anger and depression in a family member's life and walking away from things for an hour really helps. Sometimes, this person walks with me - the exercise and time together outside, even if we don't talk, has to be good for both of us, right? I usually pray my Rosary while walking. I ask St Anthony of Padua for his intercession. Or I stay home, I put on a walking workout DVD ( yes, they do exist! lol) and I walk and smile and blow off worry. Or concerns.

And those super addictive make-me-feel-happy edorphins kick in. I am a pretty happy person any way, like to smile and laugh. Walking, and working out, makes me even happier!

I feel good! - James Brown.

Walking workout DVDs? I've been doing some by Leslie Sansone - especially like her 5 mile fast walk and her 4 mile fast walk - these have options and markers for just doing one/two/three miles, too! These also have weight training options, if you want to add in some weights while walking -well, I can't, my doc says no weights for now but at least the option is there.

I also have some fun George Foreman, ex boxer, walking DVDs and one Prevention one with trainer Chris Freytag.

I can't wait to get back to my Billy (Taebo) and Chalene (Turbo Jam) and to the Stepford Wives of The Firms. But walking is working fine for me right now.

Maybe you can add some walking into your week? You don't have to do an hour, even a fifteen minute walk is cool!

She walks in beauty, like the night
Of cloudless climes and starry skies;
And all that's best of dark and right
Meet in her aspect and her eyes...Lord Byron

( She walks in beauty....I wish! I'm more like Big Girls Are Beautiful by Mika, well, not exactly beautiful! lol! ~ Check out Mika's YouTube clip for the Big Girls song... )

Post natal taebo rocks!

Leonie recommended this DVD, and I have been checking it out for the past few weeks.

The workout is Shellie Blanks (Billy Blanks' daughter) at 10 weeks post partum with 2 other moms, one also having delivered recently. They warm up and then do core, upper body, lower body, and cardio workouts for a little more than 10 min each and then stretch. The moves are simple and effective and easy to follow. Shellie frequently reminds you to breathe, drink your water, move at your own pace, be patient, and adapt moves if necessary. For example, a lower body lunge included a top tap with your back leg, so she suggested holding onto a chair for balance. And I did!

I'm pretty uncoordinated, but by the second time watching, I could follow along fairly easily. I did shorter weekday workouts by only doing 2 segments, and today I did the whole hour. It was a challenge to do the whole hour, but in a good way. :) And you can still feel it when you only do a section or two. I especially loved that, even though she looks great, Shellie does have a soft little post partum tummy if you look. That made me not feel quite so squishy myself. The kids enjoyed doing some of the parts with me, too. The only thing I miss is a long, slow, yoga style stretch at the end which I could do myself if I plan the time. I'm definitely going to buy this one.

Also, Leonie mentioned, and I thought the same thing, this is a really good workout for anyone getting back into exercise. :) THANKS, LEONIE!

Try, try again...

Hello Everyone,
I am still trying to get myself in shape. I am always taking care of everyone else.
And sugar! I use eating it as my only control in life. It needs to stop. But it is so hard during baseball season--running here and there and keeping little sister entertained. It makes me feel good :)
So, I am letting you all know my struggles. I saw a photo of me last night pushing dd on the swings. It showed me from the back. I was shocked. I am getting a big caboose. I keep thinking of it and hoping it will motivate me more.
I got a bike this weekend. It is an old lady bike with a cushy seat, high handle bars, etc. My neck issues are so much better on this bike. Dd loves to ride the trail a bike so we invested in this. It uses different muscles than my old triathlon/mountain biking bikes. I am struggling. But I also give myself a little credit pulling dd and a half a bike behind me. Of course, I am going to be exhausted riding 5 miles!! I hope to get out on it once a week all summer.
I hope to come back in a few weeks and report in that I am eating better, lost a pound or two, something in the right direction.
Keep on trucking ladies...now to go open my Best Life diet book, yet again :)
Anne

Pilates

nI am still on NO workouts but am consoling myself by planning rotations of workouts.

A friend gave me a box of Winsor Pilates videos so I was thinking of adding pilates into my rotation when I am back into working out...I love cardio so was thinking of doing cardio or kickboxing or AWT every day, followed by a bit of pilates.

Anyone else into pilates?

Checking Back In

Hi All,

Just wanted to say that I signed up with SparkPeople last month and I am down 10 POUNDS! I am so psyched! I just had to share.  I am eating mindfully, tracking my food on Spark (which is so easy and fun and FREE) and walking when I can.  I have eczema that flares in Spring and it's on the bottom of my feet, making it painful to do anything cardio.  I am also Calorie Cycling.  Where I have different calories from day to day, so I am still eating my chocolate!

If you haven't already...check out Spark People.

Peace,

Rachel

Thought you'd enjoy this...

Isn't it true? I know I am wearing a smaller size now than when I was this weight years ago - all that kickboxing has helped to re-shape my body.

Oh, not working out after this surgery is killing me. All I am doing is a little ( very little) bit of walking. No, I should say shuffling! lol! And even that makes me tired. Gosh!

How are you all?

Interesting article on Psychological Eating

It is a quick read...

click here

Hit Me With Your Best Shot!

Like a Virgin.

True Colours.

Mickey.

And many others songs, on the workout DVD I did yesterday and today.

An 80s aeobics and music mix, with Richard Simmons ( yeah, I know, sorry - and corny as h**l).

I jogged in place, I did high impact instead of the workout's low impact moves, to make the workout more advanced. And I had a whale of a time - sweatin' and singin' and dancin' to 80s hits.

And because of the high impact, my heart rate was up. Cool!

I felt like I was at party, being a dag, dancing around, doing aerobics moves and singing.

Now, that is not just a cardio workout - it is pure fun.

I think working out should be fun, at least some of the time, don't you?

Slacker attempts new approach after Prednisone

Okay, so I know I had some nice and meaningful posts back in the beginning of the year. And things were going ok until my eczema came back with a vengence. Normally it's just on my fingers,but it was on the heels and balls of my feet and it was horrible. After trying every home remedy I went to the dermatologist and was put on prednisone...2 courses. I gained 8 lbs in a month!!! What's weird too is that I noticed only in retrospect what a pig I had been about eating. Truly inhaling anything. I forgot the effects that steroids have on the appetite. The last time I was on steroid therapy for my eczema (which 15 years ago was so bad I looked like a leper...all over my hands, fingers, arms to my elbows...horrible) I was really, really skinny so what ever pounds it put on me then, I probably needed.

So, I thought to myself that I needed to get back to eating mindfully. No more stuffing whatever in my mouth. I have to take little bites and really savor stuff. Also, I knew, being an unschooler to the core who balks at being told "I have to do" anything, that starting some 'diet regime' would only blow up in my face. I don't like it when someone says I can't have this, or my bloodtype is wrong for that, or carbs are bad, fat is bad, protein is bad, sugar is bad, dairy is bad. Geesh, I've got one life to live and I would like a little enjoyment!

I am really being aware of what I am eating, how it tastes and smells, and making sure I am eating lots of fruits and veggies (because stress/emotional/bored eating tends toward the sugary, baked carby stuff). And when I do I have cookie or two, I eat them really, really slowly as if I am a toddler. Ever notice how it takes a toddler 15 minutes to eat one Chips' Ahoy?

Nothing is off limits, but I actually take the time to pause and think about what I am going to eat. Already I feel tremendously less bloated and in the last 10 days have lost 4 of the 8 pounds I put on. The thing is I really wanted to lose about 15 lbs prior to this steroid night mare, so I have jacked myself up to needing to lose 23 (or rather 19)lbs now.

Autumn and I walked to the park today to go to her pottery class. Unlike some of you on this list (Leonie, Cindy etc...) I really don't like working out. I still have really great muscle tone, just a jiggly tummy. I'm still a size 12/14 (US) and really would love to be an 8/10. I want to incorporate the exercise in to my life. I am not a gym-going-gal. I tried Curves and ended up losing hundreds of bucks coz it is just not me. I like swimming, but the pools aren't open yet. I like an occasional walk too. Now that the weather is nice, assuming I can keep my allergies under control, playing tennis with Autumn and Ben would probably be good. Plus, I really hate being hot and sweaty. I think it's a mental thing having lived in Florida, which I really didn't like at all, for almost 20 years. I am the kind of person who should live in the north and do winter sports.

I love the book Secrets of a Former Fat Girl. It's a great read. I also love the Fat Girls Guide to Life. Even though people might still not consider me a fat girl, I can relate to stuff they say. I was really quite thin up until the death of my mom. Nothing will put 20lbs on someone like depression/grief eating. I just know that if I don't 'pay attention' (because that really is what it is about for me) I will only get heavier and little bit at a time, year by year until I really am at a place that would be overwhelmingly upsetting to me.  Plus, I am going to be 42 in 5 days.  I am not getting any younger and time is not going to stand still either. So, I better get going!

So, just like I am into Mindful Learning, I am now practicing Mindful Eating. We will see how it goes.

Peace Out!

Rach

Lift up your hearts.

Today my heart was lifted by Mass at 7.00 a.m., by the prayers and by the Sacrament. Peaceful. Helpful.

Today was my heart was lifted by my Taebo workout. (Yeah, I know). Punching, kicking, pushing myself to the limit, singing to loud music, sweating, made me forget my failings and my faults, my imperfections, my self centredness.

Hey, is is a new day and a new start.

Rachel, hope your new baby is well.

Everyone - any new starts with your health and fitness regime?

A Sprint to the End

After my marathon pregnancy of 41 weeks and 1 day, I had a final sprint for my labor; it was under 3 hours with a very fast finish.

Joseph Damien was born April 7th weighing in at 9 lbs 9.5 oz (4.354 kg). I guess living on sugar after Easter might have added to his weight. ;)

Now I'm resting, trying to get back on track with healthful eating, and looking forward to being cleared to exercise in 6 weeks...and of course, enjoying my new baby.

Sometimes I am a dork!

Jammin' to my Turbo Jam workout this morning, 55 minutes of TJ Cardio Party 3 before Mass and homeschool ice skating and work meetings, well, I thought to myself - You are a dork sometimes.



dork
–noun Slang.
a ridiculous person; jerk; nerd.


I mean, there I am in the family room, dancing away, twirling around, punching and kicking, belting out the song lyrics, having a ball of a time. I realized how dorky this must look. Must be.





But, hey, it is all in the pursuit of fitness, fun and happiness!

I Finished a Half-Marathon!

Well, LBNM'ers, I was thinking of you all today. I completed (walking) a half-marathon here in Portland. :-) It was a beautiful day, and a friend and I did it in 4 hours. :-) I felt thankful--for living in such a beautiful part of the world and getting to watch the town wake up; for my body--that it could walk that far and feel so good; for good friends--one who walked with me, two who called for support during the walk; and for you, my online support group :-)--without whom I probably would have given up LONG ago! :-)

So thank you all!

Momspiration

"That which does not kill you makes you stronger." Nietzsche

At Runner's World there is a quick article about working women and mothers who are training for the Olympic Trials. I found it inspiring to see these women face and overcome the challenges to their personal goals.

Olympic Effort

Rules to Live By

...At least for this week...

After reviewing my responses to my children and the aftermath of too much chocolate in the Easter season, I have decided to make a few temporary rules for living.

A temporary Rule of Life.

Re-reading Secrets of a Former Fat Girl reminded me of the role of rules in one's life.

The author, Delaney, shares how a few rules and a few mantras can help one change. She suggests adopting the mantra "Whatever it Takes" and "Its Not an Option (INO) ~ whatever it takes to get the change that is needed and giving up is not a option.

If you have any doubt about the role of INO to change you life, think about this: Right now other"mere words" have just as much power over you. Words Like"I am weak" and "I am not worthy." Words like I can't". These words are defining you; they are shaping the way you live now. Secret 3 : Adopt INO can help you fix that...

The idea of living ( and eating) by some set of rules is hard even to think about I know. When you life is full of stress ( as most of ours are), you savour the freedom to eat what you want and do what you want with the little downtime you have..But you know on some level that this is hurting you more than helping you..

How not to use INO: to make youself feel bad for not living up to some impossible standard you set for yourself . Think about INO as the encouraging words of a coach, not the judgement command of a drill segeant. It is meant to lift you up, not tear you down.

Chapter 3 "Secrets of a Former Fat Girl" Lisa Delaney.

This week's rules? Or should I say ~ Current Rules?

* Morning prayer and/or Mass ( getting back into good habits)

* No sharp words ( 'nuff said)

* No chocolate ( self explanatory, in the post Easter chocolate haze)

* No large helpings, no seconds, no nibbling

* Workout with intensity

I'll let you know how I fare with these rules. Assuming you are interested, of course!