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.

Losing What I Gained

Ugh.  I gained 8 pounds over a couple of weeks.  I lost 7 of them last week.  That's a good thing.  Every once in a good while, I plateau, get frustrated and eat a handful of pounds on.  I need to remember to exercise it off.  It's ridiculous, really, to keep playing with the same pounds.  I know, it's hard with all the cookouts and summer parties, but there's always something to celebrate.

I went to a party the other night, and ate like I would at home.  I ate half a plate of delicious salad, some meat, and a spoonful of mashed potatoes.  I even passed up the oowie gooey dessert my friend made and her chocolate cake.  It looked so good, and some even had a slice of both, which I have been guilty of myself in the past.  But ...

I've had enough cake in my life.  It's back to my commitment and back on track.  Are you with me?

Let's start with yoga!  Let's all do this 35 min yoga video.  Just push play!  It's Jillian!

Fell off the Wagon...but still losing

After a week of Jillian, with three workouts a day, I decided that was dumb.  She has in her program, Body Revolution, that after the first week, it's only one workout a day.  I think I'll get back on the wagon with that.  Let's see what it does to do one DVD a day, and then an extra activity like walking and more.

Taking my nephew to Disney next week, so that will surely let the pounds go - with all the walking!  Looking forward to being out and at my favorite place.

I've been doing well on food, as I am not eating the calories I was at Christmas.  No one is!  Ha!  But, I'm just not buying the bad stuff to keep, and if I do, it's only because of a guest or something, and I buy what I am able to ignore.  That's a very important tip!  I do have some sweets, but mostly dark chocolate - lower in fat, calories, and sugar, high in anti-oxidants, and delicious!  I also have the Weight Watchers yogurt bars in the frozen section.  They are good when you are craving something sweet.

So, starting again, and I plan to get 100 off this year.  I really want it.  Here I go!  Stay tuned...

One Week On, One Week Off...

And I can really tell the difference.  I did not exercise as much last week, and I really am lethargic and sleepy.  I also ate off schedule.  I must go back to my first week with Jillian.  The pounds melted off.  I hope to continue that.

I am now two sizes smaller than I was.  I'm all over the 22/24s.  I'm so excited that I can buy things in the store now, and not just online.  I've got more confidence, and I'm moving with better flexibility.

Here's one of my favorite recipes from Jillian's first week, that I tweaked a bit:

Turkey Patties

1 pound ground turkey
1/4 cup black bean and corn salsa
1 egg
Touch of cayenne
Dash of cumin
Black Pepper

Mix all, Make four burgers, and either grill or broil till meat is done - about 6 minutes on each side.

I'm eating fish several times a week, and I need to find new sources of protein that are vegetarian.  I get tired of not only fish, but meat in general.  I am starting to feel heavy when I eat it.  Not fish, but other sources of animal meat.  It just sits in my stomach, making me feel heavy.  Don't get me wrong, I love some good steak or roast.  As a butcher's granddaughter, meat was how we survived, and he brought home good cuts for his family.  So, while I never see myself as a total vegetarian, I would like to go that way several days a week.

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.

The Jillian Journey

From now on, known as JJ for short.  I began her 90 day Body Revolution today.  Time to amp up the exercise and weight loss.  I have 145 more pounds to lose.  I'll take it 25 at a time.  It's overwhelming otherwise. 

Today's Exercise:  Body Revolution DVD One and Cardio One, with a bike ride.

Food:

Breakfast:  Greek non-fat, plain yogurt with cinnamon and sliced almonds.

Lunch:       (Was not hungry.)

Snack:        Hummus and baby carrots.

Dinner:      Filet Mignon and dark green salad with tomatoes and olives.

Now, I know I have to eat everything, as I am exercising so much, but it's hard to eat regularly after having bad eating/time habits.  I will start earlier in the morning.  I will also start exercising earlier, because I did the DVDs back to back, and I was very weak.  That's from no lunch and not working out in a while.  

Getting back to my life is difficult, but I have a great support group, and one of them is my stepmom.  She is amazing.  She is in her sixties, and she runs!  Such an inspiration.  She has more energy than I do, so I need to get moving.  

I also need to eat that dinner in the kitchen that's waiting for me!

The Truth - The Christmas Gain

It was the truffle.  I had one, just one, before Christmas, and that's all it took.  I didn't binge, but I ate too much.  I gained 9.5 pounds.  Almost the Holiday 10.  I've lost 5.5 of it so far, and I have a new helper...

Jillian!  I'm back with Jillian, and her "Body Revolution."  She's really good.  The workouts are fun and change frequently, so that you don't get bored.  I completed exercises I've never done before.  Now, the ugly truth is that I only did Jillian once this past week.  The first time.  I was a jellyfish the next day, but I will be back at it, as I know it's the only thing that will get the weight off.  You can't lose 200 pounds without exercising.

The Body Revolution is something I will report on daily in the "Jillian Journey."  It will keep me accountable.  And, I will take new measurements to be posted soon.  I have new sizes as well!

Back at it!   C'mon, I know you all are waning.  Don't give up and don't let the Superbowl ruin your plans and get you off track!