"CHALLENGE"

Thanksgiving was brutal. A nice break and a great trip to Iowa but brutal. It's time to get back in gear and move forward. I decided a few things over break. First, I am going to run my first 10k on May 8, 2010. The Riverbank run in Grand Rapids. I know I can do it, and I am going to build my endurance and start training. I'm nervous and excited and a little scared but it's a great goal for 2010 and I do know, deep inside that I can do it!

I've also decided that for the next two weeks I am going to change it up and do the "Special K challenge". I think it's a great way for my body to detox from Thanksgiving and I know I can do it!

Here is what it looks like:

Breakfast:
Coffee
Protein shake
1 cup special K fruit and yogurt cereal
2/3 cup skim milk

Snack:
Special K crackers

Lunch:
1 cup special K fruit and yogurt cereal
2/3 cup skim milk
Apple

Snack:
Special K granola bar

Dinner:
Salmon
Green Beans
Salad
water

Exercise for today: 1.5 hours at gym- 1 hour treadmill, 1/2 hour strength training

Starting weight for challenge: 208.4 lbs (Yes I did gain quite a bit over break, but it's going to be gone before we know it!)

My breakfast, lunch and snacks will stay the same for the two weeks of the challenge but my dinner will always change.

Let's get this!

Sleep?

I am so tired today! I just want to sleep, even for ten minutes! It might be because I worked out so hard yesterday or maybe I just need some sleep. In any case, I'll be in Iowa tonight and enjoying a five day mini-vacation with family. Maybe I'll be able to sleep in until 9am tomorrow... I can only hope...

Yesterday I had to work until 5pm. *sigh* I arrived at the gym and went 35 minutes at 4.2 and burned 421 calories and went 2.52 miles. Then I did my strength training for about a half hour. Afterward I went back on the treadmill for another 35 minutes at 4.2 and burned 421 calories and went 2.52 miles again! So my total treadmill stats from yesterday were: 842 calories burned and 5.04 miles!

My food for today:
Breakfast:
2 egg white omelette with mushrooms: (1 pt)
Orange Juice (2 pts)
English Muffin with jam (2 pts)
Coffee (1 pt)

Lunch:
Salad (2 pts)
Granola bar (3 pts)

Snack:
Mini bagels with cream cheese (4 pts)

Dinner:
Subway? (7 pts)

Total points for today: 22 pts (Below target by 2 pts)

I am not working out today other than the walking I will have to do at the Detroit Airport to make it to my connecting flight.


I don't know how often I'll be able to blog while I'm in Iowa. Hopefully I'll have the chance...

So much to do...

I'm tired today. Just tired. I had a super weekend- Dinner/drinks and then New Moon on Friday, Lansing for drinks/sushi overnight on Saturday. Yesterday I worked on some laundry and I am 75% done with my Christmas shopping! I slept well, but I just wasn't able to sleep enough. I need to catch up this week and I am hoping that I can!

Saturday I had the toughest workout of my life. I pushed right through though. I did a 30 minute power workout at Curves and then I went to the gym to do 30 min of strength training and 30 minutes on the treadmill. Then Saturday night I was showing Sara a few awesome moves from power workout and Sunday when I woke up my legs were super sore! I had a rough eating weekend which actually ended a rough eating week.

This week is different, another new start. I can do this- even this week of Thanksgiving! I can do it!

Breakfast:
1 cup Special K fruit and yogurt cereal (3 pts)
1/2 cup skim milk (2 pts)
Blueberries (1 pt)
coffee (1 pt)
Protein (2 pts)

Lunch:
Tuna sandwich (4 pts)
yogurt (1 pt)
apple (1 pt)
Granola bar (3 pts)

Dinner:
Chicken burrito (6 pts)
Honey Maid 100 cal bar (3 pts)

Total points for today: 27 **Right on Target with workout**

Exercise for today:
30 min treadmill
30 min strength training
30 minutes treadmill
total calories burned today at workout- 800 or so

Tomorrow afternoon I leave for Iowa! I can't wait to see my brother and my sister-in-law! :)

New Moon

Tonight is NEW MOON night! I'm going to see New Moon at midnight with Allison!! Whoo hoo! Then tomorrow night I'm going to see it again with work people! :) Hooray!

Yesterday I was weak at lunch again- I ate some turkey and mashed potatoes with the kids! What is my problem this week??
I did work really hard at the gym though. I ran 16 minutes at 5.5 and then walked 14 minutes at 4.2 and did a cool down for 2 minutes before I went to do strength training. I ended my workout with 17 minutes on the treadmill- running for 5 minutes at 5.5 and walking for 12 minutes at 4.2. I burned over 600 calories on the treadmill alone!

Here is what my day looks like today:

Breakfast
1 cup Fiber One Shredded wheat cereal (3 pts)
1 cup skim milk (2 pts)
coffee (1 pt)
Protein (2 pts)

Snack:
English muffin (1 pt)
1 tablespoon Peanut Butter (2.5 pts)

Lunch:
Orange (1 pt)
Yogurt (2 pts)
Chicken sandwich (4 pts)
100 cal Honey Maid bar (2 pts)

Snack:
Apple
Wasa cracker

Dinner:
Qdoba chicken naked burrito (5 pts)
Chips (3 pts)

Total points for today: 30 *Ok with workout*

Exercise for today:
45 minutes on treadmill
30 minute power workout at Curves
**Should burn close to 1000 calories at workout!**

It looks to be a great day!

"It's a great day at Curves"

Yesterday I enjoyed a 30 minute power workout at Curves. I was sweating normal (not as much as I do at the gym, but pretty good) and my heart rate was up so that was good. The thing I love most about power workouts is that it gives me a chance to workout with people I genuinely like working out with. I can talk about stuff with them and I can enjoy my workout. At the gym I'm pretty much alone and talking to myself as I run/walk/strength train. I know I can correct this by going to the gym with a friend, and I think I need to start doing that. I have a couple friends that are members at the gym, I just need to coordinate schedules.

Yesterday I failed miserably at my food choices. I stuck to my menu but I ate Macaroni and cheese with the kids at lunch. I'm so disappointed in myself for that! Today is another day and I vow to not eat anything other than fresh fruit/veggies at school today! I can do it!!

Here is what my day of food/exercise looks like today:

Breakfast:
Coffee (1 pt)
Protein shake (2 pt)
1/2 cup skim milk (2 pts)
1 cup Fiber One shredded wheat cereal (3 pts)
Blueberries (1 pt)

Lunch:
Healthy choice pasta (7 pts)
Orange (1 pt)
100 cal cupcakes (1 pt)

Dinner:
Salmon (5 pts)
Green beans (0 pts)
Salad (2 pts)

Total points:25 plus dessert and a snack **On Target with workout**

Exercise for today:
30 minutes treadmill
30 minutes strength training
30 minutes treadmill

I am working today 7:30am-4:00pm and then I'll be at the gym until 5:30pm. After the gym I shower, eat dinner and then I'm packing for my Thanksgiving trip to visit my brother and sister in law in Iowa. I'm also making WW fudge which is one point per square!! (My sister in law LOVES it, even though she could eat regular fudge and doesn't need to worry about points).

It's going to be an amazing day!

Abs! Abs! Abs!

Yesterday was an amazing gym day! When I arrived at the gym I went right to the treadmill. I had the intention of doing 30 minutes but I ended up starting with 45 minutes. I walked at 4.1 for five minutes, ran at 5.5 for 5 minutes, walked at 4.1 for 5 minutes, ran at 5.5 for TEN minutes, and walked at a 4.1 for 20 minutes. I moved to strength training and did a ton of work on my abs. I finished my workout with 15 minutes on the treadmill. I walked at 4.1 for that entire 15 minutes. On the treadmill alone I burned 742 calories and I went 4.6 miles! I felt amazing, even though I was a sweaty, sweaty mess!
As for food yesterday, I didn't have as great of a day as I wanted to. The only thing I allow myself to eat at school other than fruit/veggies is when we have corn muffins. I found out yesterday that every corn muffin is 180. I had one with the kids at their lunchtime yesterday. I also ate so much at dinner last night that it hurt. That was not a good idea! Sunday I made a batch of "poopy chow" and I had that after dinner last night too- so tons of extra fiber! (I am going to stop eating the extra fiber after today so I am sure it gets out of my system for my weigh in this weekend).

Here is my food plan for today:
Breakfast:
2 egg white omelette (2 pts)
English muffin with jam (2 pts)
coffee (1 pt)
Protein (2 pts)

Lunch:
Tuna sandwich (4 pts)
yogurt (1 pt)
orange (1 pt)
string cheese (1 pt)
100 cal strawberry cupcakes (1 pt)

Dinner:
Hormel entre (5 pts)
salad (1 pt)
potato (3 pt)
Dessert (1-5 pts)

Total Points for today: 24-28 depending on dessert

Workout for today: 30 minutes Power Workout with Tanya at Curves 5:30pm

Oh and just so everyone has it:

"Poopy" Chow:
1/2 bag chocolate chips
1/2 bag peanut butter chips
1 bag (half box) Original Fiber One cereal
1 1/2 cup powdered sugar
**Almonds or granola if wanted**

Put chocolate and peanut butter chips in microwave safe bowl and cook on high 2 minutes. Stir. When melted and creamy, stir in Fiber One Cereal and almonds/granola. When that is all coated pour mixture into ziplock back with powdered sugar. Close bag and mix. Enjoy!


***If anyone knows the calories or WW points for this or could figure it out, that would be awesome! I count it as 4-6 pts per cup. One serving is one cup of poopy chow***

Today is going to be an amazing, busy day! I can't wait!

"Let's Get This"

Another week. After an absolutely amazing weekend it's time to get back to my day to day reality. It's time to concentrate on my food plan and my exercise. I had a really rough eating day yesterday. All morning I was off/on planes and in airports so it was hard to get a really good healthy meal and then for lunch my dad took us out to Steak and Shake. My stomach felt gross all afternoon until I had some ginger ale to settle it. I *heart* V8 soup by the way. Pure veggies in a yummy soup that has more flavor than any other soup I've tried-- other than the Hearthstone.

Yesterday I had my dress fitting for Betty's wedding. I ordered my dress and I'm pretty sure it will be too big by the time I have to go for my next fitting but regardless, that's ok. I'm happy to pay a little more for alterations if it means I've gone down in size. Also if I go down a lot, they can reorder my dress in another size. The dress will be in before Christmas day. :) It was a really quick experience- I tried on the dress in three sizes, had the lady size me and then I paid for my dress. All in all, it took about 15-20 minutes! I didn't even have time to take a picture of it!

I am not weighing myself every day this week. I am not weighing myself until Friday morning (or Saturday morning at the latest). I don't want to watch my weight go up and down. As much as I want to see the numbers change to under 200, I am going to weigh myself once a week and stick to it. I feel that this week is going to be amazing!

Here is my food for today:
1 cup Fiber One shredded wheat cereal (3 pts)
1/2 cup skim milk (2 pts)
Protein shake (2 pts)
blueberries (1 pt)
coffee (1 pt)

Lunch:
Turkey sandwich (4 pts)
Orange (1 pt)
String Cheese (1 pt)
Yogurt (1 pt)
100 cal strawberry cupcakes (1 pt)

Snack:
Yogurt (1 pt)

Dinner:
Pork (5 pts)
Baked potato (4 pt-- sour cream and salsa added)
salad (1 pt)

Total points for today: 28 (On target with workout)

Exercise for today:
30 minutes treadmill
30-45 minutes strength training
30 minutes treadmill

**30 minutes running, 30 minutes walking in 5 or 10 minute intervals**

It's going to be a great day!