Getting Up and Running

I'm happy to report another 0.4 pound loss this week.  I should refresh that I have been having trouble sticking to the whole "eat right" thing, so that loss also included about 3 pounds I've gained over the course of several weeks.

I worked out really hard at the gym this week; two Body Pumps, one Step Tabata and one Full Body Circuit which about killed me, but my muscles have never felt so rock hard!

If you tried to read the blog this week you may have noticed that it was closed.  We're currently editing and making a new header.  Mandi is going to be joining me soon and we're revamping some things.  So, please stay tuned.  I'm excited about what we're going to get running.  I'm even hoping to get a giveaway going soon, so please check back.

In the meantime, let me know how you've done this week.  Need some encouragement?  Want to share your story?  Feel free in the comments.

Weigh In!

I promise an updated picture is coming...

I got back on track this week (for the first time this month it seems) and found I lost another 1.4 pounds.  Whew!  It feels so much better to be on track than off.

So far these couple weeks I've been logging some running miles and hitting the gym.  I only made it twice last week (due to a class, luncheon and "forgot my gym clothes") but I think that was pretty good.  I'm aiming for four times this week.

Also, I started a Pinterest account for this blog.  Here is the LINK to the boards.  If you'd like to contribute (and I'd love if you did) let me know and I will add you.  I'd love to build a little community of people sharing recipes, workout clothes and inspirational sayings.  So, if you're reading (and I know you are because I get the stats) please let us know!

Reaching a Milestone

I have officially hit my 10 pounds lost mark by losing 2 pounds this week.  I really didn't even know I was that close until I got on the scale this morning and saw the numbers.  I started a bit before I began this blog, so if you look at the track here, I haven't quite lost as much.  I began on  January 1 with the goal to lose three pounds per month.  Friday was the last weigh in of February and I'm already ahead of schedule which is such a good thing.  I know I'm going to need that later.

I was only able to hit the gym twice this week (once for Body Pump and once for Zumba).  I was also pretty careful with my diet.  I skipped counting carbs and counted Weight Watcher Points instead.  I went into this week knowing I wanted to see a real loss on the scale and I knew Points would do it.  I like being able to switch between programs.

So, what does 10 pounds look like?  I looked for a bunch of images but this was the best I could find:



The fat in the picture represents one pound.  So I've lost 10 coffee cups worth.  Kind of neat!  Here's the Source of the Article which was a nice read.

Any other good losses out there?

By the way, I'm currently trying to get another Foodie to participate in the blog.  One of my sister is pregnant and, therefore, won't be posting.  I'd love to get another one of my compadres working with me.  Are you in?

Friday Progress

So, I think my scale is broken.  The one I have is similar to the one below.


Since my last post I've weighed in every morning and my weight is the EXACT SAME.  I'm talking pounds AND ounces.  The thing has got to be broken or else not very sensitive (both to my feelings and to differing weights).  Finally yesterday I got on and I had lost 1.6 pounds.

My weeks have been going well.  I'm still low carbing it although for Valentine's Day my husband got me this:



Fruit is carb central but at least it's "good" carbs and not bad ones.

So, I'm plodding along.  This week I only made it to the gym twice.  Tuesday I did Body Pump.  I got there a little later and the class was really full so I had to get a larger weight bar than I'm used to.  I'm glad I did because I totally was able to handle the extra weight.  There's a non-scale victory!  Today (Friday) I did Zumba.  Guess who was in my class... Maria Sansone.  I think I'm only familiar with her because I grew up near Erie, so her name is familiar, but she's a host for TV Guide and recently was featured on Chris March's Mad Fashion.  This girl is so tiny.

If that wasn't enough of a kick in the pants to get moving, I came home and got the mail to find the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Magazine.  I was very tempted to rip pictures out and tape them around my house (like on the fridge) but decided against it.  I don't need my husband staring at those... 

So, this week was good.  I saw a loss on the scale and am really feeling strong.

Anyone out there see any victory this week?

Progress Update

I don't have any pictures yet for this blog as I'm trying to figure out what I would even show, but thought I would hop on to give an update.

Shortly after posting last week, the Weight Watchers kind of went out the window.  I'm not sure what happens, but I tend to lose interest pretty quickly with them.  Maybe because I've gone back to that program so many times on my own and in meetings that I'm just bored?  Who knows.

About a year ago just before finding out I was pregnant I had a doctor's appointment where they thought I may be having trouble with insulin and that I should go low carb.  Because I got pregnant soon after the appointment, they could not do further testing and I have not pursued the issue further.  I tend to get a little hypoglycemic in the afternoons if I haven't been eating well and this has happened for years.

So, I resurrected my Low Carb materials this week and started following that program.  I did pretty well.  I did have a couple slip ups:  My husband brought home milkshakes from Dairy Queen one night.  Luckily it was chocolate (I love vanilla) so I was able to drink only 1/4 of it and be satisfied.  Another night we went to my parent's house.  I don't know what it is about being there that I think I need a cookie, so I went scrounging for one.  I found chocolate instead (also a winner) and ate some peppermint bark.

I'm going to the gym with a friend from work.  We take classes over our lunch hours.  I managed to hit Body Pump, Pilates with a Punch and Zumba this week.  Three out of seven days at the gym probably sounds pretty weak, but I think it's pretty good.  Remember, I have a six month old at home and the last thing I want to do after not being with her all day is go to the gym for an hour, so right now lunch classes are going to have to do.

So the final progress.... I'm down 3 pounds!  Yippie!

This week I'm hoping to hit the gym three times again.  I'd go four but I'm taking a class on Mondays that is also during lunch, so I can't go that day and I HATED Pilates this week, so I will probably skip that day too.  I'm not strong enough yet for some of the poses.  I will stick with the low carb and see how things go.

I hope you had a great week too.  If you're reading, feel free to comment on your progress too.

A Smart Idea

My scale is still reading the same as it has all month.  I think this weekend will mean a trip to Wal-Mart to get a new scale.  I have been working out pretty consistently this week and eating healthy, so I'm expecting some change soon.

Here's an idea my mom came up with that I have been implementing at home.  For every 15 minutes of exercise I do, I put $0.50 in a bank.  So, if I get a good 30 minutes 4 days a week I will earn myself $4.00.  Not too much, but not a bad amount either.  By the end of the month I will have $20.00 and by the end of the summer I will have about $60.00.  Another month and I can get some new running shoes!  Or an outfit, new running watch or maybe go crazy with a pair of heels.  Who knows.  I pull the money from a big change jar my husband and I drop spare money into, so sometimes I have to scrounge for the quarters, but it's well worth it.

Good luck with your healthy living weeks!

No Such Luck

Well, I weighed in on Friday morning and Saturday morning and weighed the same as I did last week.  Even down to the tenth of a pound.  Maybe the scale is broken, maybe I just can't seem to lose the weight right now.  Sometimes I think I "feel" skinnier and other times I feel like I've gained.

I decided to start Weight Watchers again and count my points from home.  I'm doing okay minus the strawberry shortcake I had at my parent's house this weekend where my dad insisted I use a Twinkie as the "cake" part.  Then my husband and I turned in some gift certificates for free pizza subs at a restaurant for dinner as well as a coupon for a free pizza at Pizza Hut.  Oh well.  My bonus 35 points are now gone and it's only Monday.

But, I have been running consistently and staying on my schedule for my 5K.  It's been a little rough I have to admit.  My husband and I try to run in the morning, but today my legs felt like I strapped 100 pound weights on them.  I felt like I wanted to stop the entire time but we made it 27 minutes.  We had to stop four times, mostly for my husband, but for less than a minute each time.

So, we keep going.  I'm at least trying here.  We'll see where this goes this week.  If good results, I'll post something this weekend.

Okay... Let's Start Over

So, last week I hopped on the scale on Thursday morning and was really excited to see I was down 2 pounds!  I had started counting Weight Watchers Points on Monday and had two workouts in by Wednesday night, so I was really exited to be down so much by Thursday. 

Then I got on Friday morning and I was up 3!!!  How did that happen?  Did I have too much salt at dinner the night before and was now retaining water?  Was the scale on an uneven part of the floor in the bathroom?  Either way, I wasn't upset, I just kept going.  But when I got up on Saturday morning and found myself still up the three pounds I started to panic.  Maybe the scale is broken.  Either way, I haven't gotten on since.  I'm going to keep up the momentum I started and reweigh myself Friday and see where I am.  I'll let you know.

So, I hope your weight loss week was a little better (and more consistent) than mine.  I thought I'd leave a recipe posted this week since none of us have left one yet.  This is one of my favorite recipes because it is really good for you, full of veggies and kind of spicy.

Southwest Stew
I know this was posted in a magazine somewhere, but I cannot remember.  So, if you know the recipe, let me know and I will give it the proper citation it needs.

• 2 pounds stew meat (you can sub chicken if you want)
• 2 teaspoons cooking oil
• 1 cup chopped onion
• 3 medium carrots, chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 cups water or broth
• 1 cup salsa (I usually use a whole 16 ounce jar)
• 2 tablespoons parsley flakes
• 2 teaspoons beef bouilion
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 can diced tomatoes, undrained (14 1/2 ounce)
• 1 1/2 cup frozen cut green beans
• 1 1/2 cup frozen corn
• 1 can green chillies (4 ounces)
• Hot sauce, optional

In Dutch oven over medium heat brown meat in oil.  Remove meat once it is browned.  Add onion and carrot to leftover oil in pot; cook for 5 minutes until tender.  Add garlic and cook an additional minute.  Add the remaining ingredients and bring to boil.  Add meat back in, and simmer for 20 minutes.

So, leave us a comment and let us know how your week went.  Did you ever get surprised by the scale in a bad way?  What did you tell yourself?  What were your next steps?