Gained

I've gained 19 pounds this summer.  I know that half that is a lot of water weight from eating processed foods.  But there's some there that I must get off.  My daughter's wedding is in November, and I really want to look my best.  I don't how to get some serious weight off, other than to really exercise.  It's the healthiest alternative.

The Biggest Loser starts tonight.  I always get jazzed about that, although I fell off the last season.  I find it encouraging, so I've got to record that - will be painting tonight.  Painting the inside of a house is a lot of work.  I'm counting it as exercise.  :)

I love exercising, once I'm doing it regularly for a bit.  It's invigorating, feels like you accomplished something, and it's good for you!  How to stay motivated?

I'm going to make a visual dream board of all the things, places, and such that I want to have, be, and go to.  I've heard what you look at everyday becomes your life.  I'll try that.

That and getting off my butt.

Sex as a Workout

That's right!  According to Jillian Michaels web page, 30 minutes of sex burns 70 calories.  That may not seem like much, but it depends on your routine.  Just think, losing weight having FUN?  That's an awesome way to get motivated.  

Not in the mood?  

There are other activities that are fun, where you don't have to go to the gym.  Here's some great calorie burners:

Basketball:  Even just shooting at the basket and playing horse, keep away or some such game, can burn up to 461 calories for 30 minutes.  Now, that's a workout!  This is my favorite, because it is fun, challenging, and it burns so many calories!

Yoga:  230 calories for 30 minutes, but even if you think that's not enough, yoga will strengthen you and build muscle.  It also helps immensely with balance, which is important in your older ages.  Why?  You don't want to fall and break a hip, do you?

Biking:  230 calories for 30 minutes.  That's on a 0-10 MPH pace.  Of course, it goes up from there.

Bowling:  219 calories for 30 minutes.  Not bad, considering that you usually stay at the bowling alley for well over 30 minutes.

Swimming:  334 calories for 30 minutes at a light pace.  Faster paces can burn up to 564 calories for 30 minutes.  All-time favorite exercise.  (Besides the title. :)

So, check it out ... What do you do on the weekends?  Are you a couch potato?  Are you active already?  What's stopping us from having fun, just because we have gotten older?  Get out there and swim, go for a bike ride, and play basketball.  Do some yoga for strengthening and building muscle.  

Going to do my Jillian yoga right now.

Weigh Day After My First Week With Jillian!

And ... drumroll ... 11 pounds gone!  I totally skipped the sixties.  I weigh 259 now, and I am starting to feel stronger and happier.  My mood definitely improves with the exercise.  I even missed two days of exercise, due to a procedure at the doc on Monday.  That pissed me off.  I didn't expect it.  Anyway, it's all good.  I will do one more week of this kickstart plan, since I didn't exercise those two days, because that's a lot to miss at an hour and a half a day.

I feel like I'm on the Biggest Loser in my house.  Ha!  It's so hard to say no to so many things, but I am eating more than I was, so I think I really did reset it this week.  The foods will expand next week, and there are some great recipes in Jillian's book.

Eating Yesterday:

Breakfast:    Greek Yogurt with cinnamon and almonds
Lunch:         Chef Salad
Dinner:        Flounder with veggie medley and small amount of pasta.

Yeah, I know - no carbs on the first week.  Another reason I will be restarting it.

Jillian is Kicking My Ass!

I'm not going to lie.  This is a rigourous, tough program.  It is exactly what I needed, but after being sedentary so long, the exercise is killing me.  Luckily, today is my one day off for the week.  Working out 3 times a day is quite a lot, but it is like Hell Week.  Jillian is pushing hard this week to get my metabolism back to a normal level.  I think it's really something.

I have weighed, but Wednesday is official weigh day.  I was pleasantly surprised.  Hope it stays or shows more of a loss.

Yesterday -
Yogurt, almonds, and cinnamon
Salmon
Celery with almond butter
Tilapia with spinach salad

Today:
Eggs, Lox, and Onions
Chef Salad
Yogurt with honey and pecans
Turkey patty with a salad

It's an easy-to-follow meal plan, and the exercise is easy.  Well, putting it in the dvd player is easy.  Doing it is a whole other story!  It was very hard on my third day yesterday.  I came up with a solution to the hardwood floors and my knees - knee pads!  Duh.

I have two things about eating: you must eat early in the day to jump start your energy, and you must eat all your alloted calories, or you'll be starving by nine.

Off to REST!

Have You Given Up Your Resolution Already?

Did the Superbowl do you in?  Was it those cute little girls selling cookies?  Are you just tired after a month of exercising and dieting?  Ready to give up?  Already have?

Don't Give Up!

Why?

1,  You promised yourself.  You are the most important.
2.  You'll only panic before swimsuit season, when you start this madness all over again.
3.  You've already made a financial investment:  food plan, exercise, or more - don't waste the money.  4.  You are a role model for everyone you know.
5.  You promised yourself.

Many of you have talked yourself right out of exercising and eating right.  I'm guilty myself.  There's always tomorrow.  What, you say?  Begin today?  Okay!  Only if you do...  Get back on track with me, and forget those January blues.

Four Pounds in One Week!

I am thrilled.  To maintain over this period of the year would be a miracle, but to lose, well- that's my Christmas present to myself this year!  I am that much closer to my year's goal.  I have to say, I didn't set that goal in the beginning.  It was only to feel better, breathe easier, and move with less pain.  It's working.

In September, I felt good enough to make a personal goal, the catalyst being my step mom, and I set it at 50 for the end of the year.  50 pounds.  Wow.  No wonder I felt so lethargic and did not want to move. I can't imagine it, but I wish for it.

What helped with the weight this week?  No holiday food, no take-out, no soda, and drinking a ton of water.  I drink a glass of water before every meal now, so that it fills me up a bit.  It's a Weight Watchers trick I learned years ago, and it works.  And, it does not hurt you.

I want to pull Biggest Loser numbers by January.  I think I can, if I'm working out.  My step mom fussed after me today for not exercising regularly, and she's right.  I have the flexibility in my day, more than enough opportunity, and no excuses.

P.S.  Check out this artist on Face book.  He's taking orders now.  Carlos Cabaleiro! 

There Was A Loss Last Week

I was looking at the tracker online, My Pal, and I have 277 in there, and I weighed 276 last week!  I did lose a pound over Thanksgiving.  Whew, all that whining for nothing.  However, I'm going to put it on this week, since I will weigh on Wednesday.  That was a nice surprise!

I can report that not much tastes better than losing weight.  Seriously.  After being heavy for so long, it's nice to see the scale cooperating.  If I worked out regularly, which I have let slide, I would lose weight far faster - like Biggest Loser numbers.  At least up to 6-8 pounds a week.  Basketball was taking it off of me really well.  We are having record warm temps, unlike the rest of the country.  Hmm, looks like the court is calling.

As I decide what I will and will not eat over the holidays, I have to keep in mind that it will take that much longer to lose any that I've gained, and also any that I didn't lose by staying the same.  I must keep moving to lose the weight, because it is the goal, and I shouldn't let all the temptation get me - AGAIN, as it has in the past...