Weigh In #2

Okay, so last night was weigh in. Down 3.4 pounds! That makes a total of 9.9 pounds in two weeks. Not too shabby. I didn't enjoy last nights workout as much. Last week we really worked up a sweat and I felt had burned some real calories. This week we did lots of lunges in our workout (which I didn't do to the fullest extent I could as I don't want to end up as sore as I did the fisrt week.....that was too much) and some floor exercises. One of them was something completely new to me. She called it "planking". I couldn't quite seem to find the right position to hold in and I feel it in my lower back. She told us we shouldn't feel it there. I know I found the right position for a few seconds, cause when you have it right, you can feel it working nearly all the muscles in the body. But I just couldn't seem to find it for very long. Anyway, hopefully next week will be more like last week. Today is Friday, and it's a payday Friday, which means a busy day for me. We may be going out tonight, so not sure if I'll get my walk in tonight or not. But tomorrow morning is our hike, and I'm sure it will be another 5 miles at least.

They Are Here!

I am so excited, I have to start with sharing that my son and his wife are in town for the next two weeks. He is in the military and they are stationed in Germany. I haven't seen them for a year and two months. They arrived last night and will be staying with her family while here, but I surprised them by being at the airport when they arrived. NO WAY could they be that close to me and me not go sneak in some hugs! (Okay, and some tears.....lol)

Okay, back to business at hand. Tuesday night I got home late from work, rushed in the door to drop of my stuff and then right back out for my walk. The sun was starting to set and I was trying to beat the dark. The walk I am doing right now is a dead end extension of the road I live on that runs next to the interstate. The area we are in, it is very common to have rattle snakes, havelina (wild pigs) and lots of other desert life. So I accomplished my walk, but figured out quickly that I don't want to do that again. During the walk back, dark was more there than not and I had the headlights of cars on the interstate shining in my eyes and making it difficult to see the ground around me. But.....at least I did get in my walk without using the dark as an excuse! I was good on my food plan, but lousy with my water.

Yesterday I did my walk after I got home. Found myself a bit restless during it this time. Had I been on a treadmill, I would have stopped early. But, since I walk a mile away and then a mile back, I had no choice to but keep going to get home. (Another good reason this is better than a treadmill.) I felt my energy sag and was just very bored......that was the first time. As to the energy, I had already had half my water and grabbed a quick bite of protein shortly before starting. I'm thinking perhaps it had to do with the fact the kids were arriving and I was anxious and just wanted get home so I could get to the store. (I met them with flowers for her and a Steelers balloon for him.....he's been a Steelers fan since he knew what football was.....cause that was what his cool uncle liked.) Anyway, I did get the walk done. I was doing well on my water and know I would have had it all in except that I forgot my bottle of water when we left for the airport. I was so thirsty by time I got home, so I got another bottle in then. I think I only fell about 8 ounces short yesterday.

Tonight is our biggest loser class and weigh in. I am hoping I don't have to pay anything. I need to get a nice scale that I can track better on. We have an old one that isn't very accurate. I don't worry so much about what it says, just as long as it is headed in the right direction. I think it showed a loss last time I got on it. I try not to do that much. Just now and then if I happen to think of it when I walk near it. (It's in his bathroom, so I don't mess with it too much.)

We have another hiked planned for this Saturday. I really do like these hikes. And I am going to work on getting some podcasts on my ipod for my walks.

Okay, now I have to say something now upfront. If during the next two weeks getting time to spend with the kids conflicts with any of my planned exercise activities, time with the kids will win. I don't plan on it intentionally, but I know their time has been practically scheduled for them, so when they get free time, I will grab any moments I can. Just wanted to admit to that now.

Well, here's to a good weigh in tonight!

Here it is Tuesday

Here it is Tuesday, and I haven't taken the time to write. So here goes a quick update. This past weekend was pretty good. Didn't walk Friday night as I got to enjoy my granddaughter's company instead :-) Saturday morning went for another hike, just under 5 miles this time...I think it was 4.9. I love the hikes out in the desert. Wasn't sore afterwards this time. Still could probably use some better shoes for this, though. My food was good and ontrack all weekend with one tiny exception. After the hike we all went to breakfast. As soon as mine arrived I gave away the hash browns and the pancakes...whew! However, I had scrambled eggs and mixed them in some corn beef hash. I don't know how wicked the corn beef hash was on carbs, but I know it couldn't have been good. Just hoping it wasn't too bad. I had meant to check the label on a can when I was in the grocery store, but forgot to. Oh well, no matter, behind me now. But that was all I ate, and felt too full afterwards. I should have stopped before it was all gone. Still got to work on that. I also had a diet soda instead of water with the meal. My only diet soda in a week. Not too bad. Did my usual 2 mile walk on Sunday. Didn't do my walk last night. Many excuses, not worth noting. I will be back at it tonight. But more, I need to work on getting all my water in. I haven't done that the last couple days. So there's my tasks for today.....water and walk!

Will I Owe?

Just a quick update. I did manage to get 16 more ounces in Tuesday night, so 3/4 of the amount I'm suppose to be drinking. Yesterday I got all four bottles in, I walked 2 miles, and I stayed on my carb plan. Today I have my "Biggest Loser" class. So I'll find out how my weight has done since last week. If I have gained, I have to pay a dollar per pound. Should I show total confidence and take no money with me? I may have made a mistake. Meeting isn't until 7pm, so I came home from work and ate dinner. A hamburger with some hard cheese, no bun or condiments. I've also drank another bottle of water. Considering I'm going to have to weigh in, perhaps I should have waited until afterwards to eat and drink. Oh well. Time to go change and head that direction. I'll be back to let you know how it went.

Wooohoooo!!! Guess who was the biggest loser for our first week. Uh-huh, you know it.....ME! Down 6.5 pounds. Man, that felt good! I won a tshirt. Now I am motivated for this next week. After that, I can't turn around and gain anything back for next week's weigh in.....that would be embarssing.

Looks like another hike is planned for this weekend. Same place, but this time maybe the 7 mile trail. I first heard that and was debating. I had felt it in my upper thighs last time at 4, but that may have been because of being sore already. So last night at our workout I didn't lunge quite as deeply, hoping to not be as sore as I was last week. Last week was counterproductive. So hopefully, I can handle the hike.

Okay, here it is two days later. Yesterday I was still feeling it from the 4 mile hike the day before. I think I said in my previous blog that I could feel it in my hips. Actually, it was my upper thighs. So I could still feel it yesterday, but made myself get out and do some walking....shopping style. Today was back to work. I did soooo good today with my food. I had an Atkin shake for breakfast. Then my sweetie brought me lunch from McDonalds. So I took the bread off the burger. Well....actually two burgers. Two of those dollar menu burgers. No bread, just meat and cheese. Granted it was fast food....but I eliminated nearly all the carbs. Fortunately, he ate his fries on the way to my office, so there was not that temptation. Came home from work and it smelled SO good. He had some ham in the crock pot. My tummy rumbled and I was definitely ready to eat, but first I went for a two mile walk. I did a little running, very little, but some. Some is better than none, right? Gotta start somewhere. Anyway, got home, had some ham (cooked without yummy glaze, mind you) and some green beans. So my carbs for today came from the green beans. Also drank water with dinner. I'm not up to my 64 ounces, but I've hit half that so far......AND NO DIET SODA TODAY! So all in all, a positive day. And the nights not over yet, so going to try to get at least 16 more ounces in......maybe more. I'll let you know tomorrow.

My First Entry

Okay, here goes. I have never had an actual blog page before. My sister-in-law has inspired me to start one for accountability of weight loss. I read her blog every time she posts, which is usually several times a week, and I usually always find something to take from it for me. She is honest and open and I see from the comments how many other lives she touches. I'm not sure how this will all work, but thought I would at least create a place to come to for my own accountability. So here I go.......

Let me start by saying I've had issues with my weight all my life. Up and down. Typical yo-yo. Only problem is that in most cases, each return of weight brought back extra with it. I am one of those that have dieted myself fat. But I'm sure I will eventually share more of my past experiences. For now, let me get started with where I am now.

A couple weeks ago I heard an ad on the radio for a local fitness center starting a "biggest loser" contest. I got excited, rallied some friends, and eight of our social circle signed up. The program is for 12 weeks. It involves a once-a-week meeting that includes weigh in, nutrition info, and a workout. At the end of twelve weeks, there will be cash prizes for the biggest losses based on lost body percentage. (So right off the bat, those of us that are the largest have to lose more pounds than those smaller in order to get the same score, which kinda sucks.) But, I told myself I'm not looking for the cash prizes, just the motivation to get myself into gear. So, last Thursday was our first class. It was a lot of fun, great personalities there. We were weighed, measured, and had our "before" pictures taken. We then did a half hour workout. The workout involved some major stretching, mostly thigh and calves and butt. There were two levels, high and low. I did everything to the best of my ability and felt like I was falling somewhere in between. The next day I was sore. However, that evening I discovered I was more than sore! I had gone home from work and fallen asleep on the couch for a bit. When I woke up I stood up and could barely walk! No, I don't just mean I was sore, I mean I could barely walk. I would not have been able to lower myself to sit on the toilet if there had not been a counter to hold on to. When I woke up the next morning, it was just as bad. I spoke with a friend and fellow biggest loser on the phone about it. Asked if she was sore, etc. When I told her how badly I was hurting, she told me it was because she saw me doing the high impact workout, and she had only done the low impact. I was surprised that in watching me she felt I was doing the high impact. I had felt silly and that I probably looked like someone who had no control over moving their body. So it made me feel good that I had looked tougher than I had felt. And the fact that the day after the workout I was at work and therefore sitting at my desk all day with very little movement didn't help. While the others were walking it out during the day, I was very sedentary, which did not help. So I didn't do much of anything yesterday except feel the hurt each time I moved. Sat around watching movies most of the day. However, I will be leaving here shortly to meet up with some of my fellow biggest losers to go for a hike. So far I don't seem to hurt quite as badly today, but my lower back is hurting. I do not want to show up in front of everyone there this morning complaining about hurting. So I know I will push through and do whatever distance everyone else agrees on and cross my fingers that once I get walking I will be okay.

Well, I have to leave this for now to get ready. I will be back to share.

Okay, back. Whew! Was a great hike. We hiked just a little over four miles. It was definitely different than four miles on the treadmill. Wasn't nearly as boring for one thing. And the terrain kept changing. Lots of ups and downs. We started slow for the first mile. We had a few with us that couldn't go a fast pace. But at the one mile marker, they turned around to go back. That left seven of us to continue and we were able to pick up the pace. I enjoyed the fast pace better. Now and then we would have to slow down due to the terrain and I would find myself anxious to pick the pace back up again. It was good!! I started to feel it in my hips some, but more the balls of my feet felt like my shoes had worn too thin. So after we were done I stopped at the store and picked up some inserts for that part of my foot. Hopefully that will take care of it for next time.

After the walk the group was talking of going to breakfast. I was ready to join in, knowing I would be careful in my choice of food (proteins mostly). However, it became decided that one of the couples there wanted everyone to come to their house and they would make pancakes. RED FLAG! Pancakes?? If only! I thought about it for a minute as I would have loved to continue to socialize, but pancakes? No....I knew the temptation would be too strong to watch everyone else eating pancakes, so I declined. Instead, I went to the store and bought some Atkin shakes and the inserts for my shoes for next time. My breakfast? One of those shakes on the way home. I'm proud of me!

Now that food has come into the conversation, I guess I need to talk about my plans. I am basically going with an Atkins approach. I am planning to keep my carbs at or below 10 grams per day for the next two weeks. No breads, pastas, potatoes, etc. Now this was suppose to have started this past Friday. I did good in the morning....an egg, sausage, and cheese omlet. But everytime I tried to get out the door for lunch, someone was coming in and I just didn't make it. (It was payday and I am a payroll tech.....so that happens.) So I came home after work, and had spam slices with cheese (no bread). I was on track. But I was home alone....something that rarely happens, so I had some potato chips later. Bad Lauri! Yesterday wasn't any better. I started the morning out making an omlet, but it just didn't taste right, so I had a few bites and stopped. So later, while watching tv, I made some popcorn. And last night I had one of those individual microwave pizzas.....you know the ones....about 4 or 5 inches in diameter. So not so great with the carb control yesterday. But today is a new day. I hiked and feel good! I am on track as of today, and I know it. Yeah, me!