12 more hours please!

Early today I talked about how I can’t wait for my watch to arrive.  Well now I’m actually to the point of anticipating my first run using it.  I will be so glad when the weather clears up(that could be May for all I know) and I can go for a run outdoors.  I’m considering going to our community center and use the indoor track there.  We have been stuck in the house all day and I think we need to stay out for a bit after I pick the kids up from Preschool tomorrow. I’m really dreading having to run errands in this weather. There is only so much entertaining I can do before snapping! Two of my kids have colds, so they are super cranking.  Today has just been LONG.    Its just unreal that we had so much snow and its STILL continuing  to come down right now.  I don’t think I’m ever going to get use to winters here.  I think we need to invest in a snow blower at some point because I can really feel it in my arms tonight.  Hubby brought home his W2 almost a week ago and I still haven’t done our taxes yet.  I’m also trying to read two books at the same time(Twilight Series: New Moon and Little Pink House) Its not working out so well:/There is never enough time to get everything done.  I feel like I’m going to scream.  If I take care of one thing, I’m neglecting something else.  Then on top of all that, three of my children want to exchange Valentine’s with their classes on Friday.  So I get the honor of putting together approximately 60 cards for their classmates.  BLAH!!!Well I’m going to shower and try to get some more reading done unless hubby wants to watch more Anime.

Sunday’s stat’s 2/7: 5% cline-4.5-5mph(run), 3.5(walk), 4501 steps, 2.08 miles, 33 min., 344 calories

30 sit ups, 30 arm extensions, 30 bicep curls-5lb. weights

1456 calories consume; 80 oz. H20

Today’s stats 2/8:

Elliptical 20 min, 2.11 miles, 325 calories

Cardio-kickboxing DVD, 30 min.

1 hour snow shoveling

1445 calories consumed;100 oz. H20

Dee~

Running watch, etc.

I've been doing some research for a few weeks and I have finally decided on a new running watch.  Its a Forerunner 305 GPS watch by Garmin.  I'm really excited about trying this out.  I can't believe I'm even running for that matter let alone purchasing a running watch to increase my performance before running a 5K.  It should be here by Wednesday(I love express shipping!)I would go for a run outside to test it out, but we are in the middle of a winter storm, so on the treadmill it is:/Its not fun looking at a wall when working out!Still no relief with my poop issues.  I've decided that there is no way I would be able to do the 5 day detox/fast and still be able to do everyday stuff.  I wouldn't be able to function.  I'm not sure if I didn't get any comments on the previous post because of what people didn't want to say to me, but I know that I can do something safer that won't have me wonder if I've done harm to my body.  I suppose I should start with some prune juice like I said I was going to get along with milk of magnesia.  

                                   

For today's workout, I'm doing The Biggest Winner: Cardio-kickboxing with Jillian Micheals.  I love that woman!! She is one bad-ass chick!!!Its really a jam packed workout in a short amount of time.  If I could, I think I would do this workout everyday but its hard on the legs.  There is a girl in the video who does the modified version but I don't think I would work up much of a sweat.  If I don't sweat a lot, I'm not satisfied with my workout.

I have a toddler eagerly wanting out of her high chair, so I'll be gone for now;)

Dee~

Detoxification

I've been thinking about doing something about my bowel movement issues which I have mentioned in a previous post last week.  Its really getting to the point where it is affecting my performance during workouts.  I have no reason to feel sluggish before AND after a workout.  That just doesn't add up to me.  I've also notice that my skin is breaking out even though I drink more than enough water and cleanse my face and skin daily with Oil of Olay.  If you go back to some of my post in the last couple of months, my hormones/mood has not been at its greatest, thus affecting my weight loss. 

So with all that being said, I've done tons of research on what I may need to do in order to regulate things.  I've decided to use Nature Secret's Ultimate Fasting Cleanse Kit.  I know I need to do this in order to be at my best in every aspect of my life.   Here's a brief synopsis of what the cleanse will provide:

"The digestive system feeds the brain, liver, heart, and every other organ, gland and tissue in the body-right down to the cellular level. When compromised, your digestive system can no longer keep nutrition intake and waste elimination running smoothly, thereby affecting your physical vitality and stamina as well as the ability to fight illness, delay aging, improve moods and enhance well-being."

Rebuild the foundation of your health with a 5-day Ultimate Fasting Cleanse that will:

Reduce the body's toxins

Support immune function

Promote cell health and elimination

Increase tissue oxygenation

Enhance mental alertness

I feel that this will be a true test to my will power.  I'm really hoping to be able to complete this program and get the results that I need.  This is NOT something that should be done weekly or even monthly.  This is something that I'm doing to regulate my digestive system.  If you don't have any problems in that area, then you shouldn't need to go this route.   I've read that we can hold anywhere from 5 to 15lbs. of waste in our colons.  I can only imagine what's sitting in my colon since we're suppose to have at least one bowel movement per day.  I've had this problem for quite sometime even with changing my diet and before having kids.  I'm so sick of having to resort to laxatives.  That's just not normal in my opinion. 

I started the 2nd week of the C25K program on Friday.  I must say that I had a difficult time with it.  I'm not certain if it was because I increased the incline to 6% or what but I felt like my lungs were going to collapse.  Today will be day two of for this week and I must admit that I'm not too excited about doing my workout. 

Friday's Stats:

C25K W2W1

6% incline, 5mph(run), 3.5(walk), 377 calories burned, 4536 steps, 2.16 miles, 33 min.

30 jumping jacks, 30 chest curls-5lb. weights, 20 pushups
1188 calories consumed-80 oz. H20

Saturday's Stats:

Wii Fit Plus: 1hr. 5 min.
1384 calories consumed-100 oz. H20

I hope everyone is enjoying the rest of their weekend:) GEAUX SAINTS!!!!!

Dee~

Short and sweet!!

Today's stats:
Elliptical
30 min. 3.23 miles, 502 calories burned
50 bicep curls and 20 bent over rows using 8lb. weights
100 ab crunches
80 oz. of H20
Not calculating dinner, 975 calories(I'll explain tomorrow)

I'm super sleepy so I'll be cutting this one short tonight. I hope everyone had a wonderful Thursday:)

I'm loving this feeling!

I've been inspired lately to make different meals and trying something out of the norm. I love opening my fridge and figuring out what "new" meal I can come up with. People often say that dieting is expensive. well its not breaking the bank here;) I remembered that I had a bunch of frozen blueberries, so I thawed them overnight and made a smoothie for breakfast this morning. Yummy!!
My husband asked if there was anything in it besides blueberries lol. There's yogurt, skim milk, banana, a few cubs of ice, and about 2 tsp of sugar. It was VERY filling!!

For dinner, I didn't feel like making anything super complicated so I had two tuna sandwiches on wheat. I haven't had tuna in a LONG time and it was heavenly. I think I'm going to make a tuna casserole for lunch tomorrow if I have the time. Here's a pic of the sandwiches:D

Today's stats:
C25K W1W3
31 min. 3.5mph(walk),5mph(run) 3.33 calories burned, 4288 steps, 2.01 miles
40 squats with arm raises; 3lb. weights
20 pushups
20 side leg raises(per leg)
100 oz. H20
1434 calories consumed

Time for me to lay down and watch some anime. I hope everyone has had a great day;)

Dee~

Pondering

Today I felt like there was no stopping me. Tuesday is most definitely MY most productive day;) Got my chores done, had leftovers for dinner, got the groceries delivered(a true blessing when you live in MN), did some reading, and spent quality time with the kids. Along with all of that I got my "me time" in an exercised and it felt awesome. This is day #4 of me working out. I've challenged myself to see if I could make it 30 days in row exercising. Some might say "that's not good for your joints" or "you're gonna wear yourself out". But what's the alternative?Being unhealthy? Feeling like crap all the time? No, I don't think that's the path I want to take anymore. I've invested too much time and effort into becoming a better person. I'm cross training for my 5K, so today was my "day off" from running.

Today's Stats:
Elliptical 50 min. 5.30 miles, 819 calories burned
30 bent over rows & 30 bicep curls-8lb. weights
50 ab crunches
1304 calories consumed
100 oz. H20

This is a totally random question but I would like to know what time of the day do you workout? Do you feel this is the only time you have to workout or is it that this is when you feel like you have the most energy to give it your all?I'm asking I guess because I get jealous of all the moms I know that are able to get up at 5am for a spin class, etc. and have the whole day to do whatever. I, on the other hand, workout during nap time. I put on my workout clothing while the kids eat, then get them cleaned up from lunch, read to them or something of that nature, get them upstairs for naps and then I dash downstairs like a mad woman. I'm not complaining about it but I just wish some days that I were a morning person lol. I'm always up at 7am but not by choice:D

Dee~

Maybe a little TMI

Well I'm moving right along with this dieting and exercising thing but there is one problem. I don't remember the last time I've, well, pooped!!That's NOT good at all. Its been at least a week:/I'm always watching how many grams of fiber I eat everyday. I've never been blessed with good bowel movements unfortunately. I'm really sick of having to resort to laxatives to get things moving. I drink at least 100 oz. of water daily. So I'm not quite sure what the problem is. But I think I'm going to look into purchasing a colon cleanser of some sort. If you have any products you woul recommend, I would love to check them out.

Today's stats:
Couch to 5k W1Wo2:
31 min. 330 calories, 3.4mph (walking), 5mph(running)
4285 steps, 1.99 miles
50 situps
10 minute stretch
1270 calories consumed

Its almost 9pm and I didn't hit my goal of 1400 calories. I guess that's not a bad thing I suppose. Well, I'm going to watch some Anime before heading off to snoozeville.

Dee~

Feeling good

I just want to quickly say that I love my elliptical machine!!Its almost an obsession. If I had my way, I think I would only use that piece of exercise equipment for every workout lol. Since starting to train fro my 5K, I've come to realize that I need to replace my Forerunner 50 watch. I guess I'll start out by looking on ebay in the morning.

Today's stats:
1350 calories consumed
100 oz. of H20

Workout:
Elliptical
45 min. 4.62 miles, 713 calories burned

30 bicep curls;5 lb weights
30 tricep ext. 10 lb. weights
30 chest curls 3lb. weights
Today was the way I hope it could be everyday. But there is no such thing as a flawless victory;)

Dee~

I'm gonna keep on smiling:)

Despite my ups and downs, I'm really loving myself and feeling good about life in general. I just have so many reasons to smile.

Well last night I decided that I didn't want to wait until Monday to get back on track. Instead I went downstairs to my "gym" and started my Couch to 5K program over and got on my wonderful elliptical machine!!I feel great:)I've started again with my food diary as well. Been back on track with that since Friday. Since I have some making up to do in regards to weight loss, I've decided not to weigh-in again until 3/3/10. I think its a reasonable amount of time to get it in gear and not to start obsessing about the scale again.

Here are my stats for Saturday's workout:

Couch to 5K: Wk1Wo1: 31 min., 1.98 miles, 5%incline; 5mph running, 3.4 mph walking
327 calories burned

Elliptical
30 min. 3.01 miles, 463 calories burned

8lb weights
20 tricep extensions, 20 bicep curls

3lb. weights
20 shoulder press

Exercise is truly wonderful for my overall well being and I sleep like a log after every single workout. I just wish I could get to bed at a decent hour. But I'm a night owl, so no chance of that happening anytime soon lol I hope to blog more regularly but I can't make any guarantees as being a mom of four is one full time job!

Enjoy the rest of your weekend:)

Dee~

Still alive;)

I just needed break from everything. I've been feeling very overwhelmed with all of my responsibilities and caring for four little ones. Just plain drained. Hopefully, I will be back on track next week. I hope you all are doing well!

Dee~

Weigh-In Wednesday

Well, I gained 1.8 lbs. I'm okay with that. I'm happy because I was expecting more WAY more:PI'm not going to throw myself a pity party because that never does me any good. Instead, I'm moving on and rectifying my mistakes. Mostly too much snacking in between meals. I'm going to the basement to start my 2nd day of the Couch to 5K program then do my EA Active workout. I'll be back later, need to workout now since its nap time and I can focus without being interrupted;)

Dee~

Couch to 5K-Week 1/Workout 1

It wasn't nearly as bad as I thought it was going to be!!My abs are burning like fire right now though. Is this normal after running? My workout days for this program is Mon/Wed/Fri. I really can't believe that I, passionate hater of running, made it through. Here are my stats for this workout:

301 calories burned
1.92 miles
31:08 minutes

I'm not sure if that's good or bad since it was a combination of a 5 min. warm up, 60 secs of running, 90 sec. of brisk walking, then a 5 minute cool down. But I do know that I did it!!!

Dee~

Couch to 5K

Well I'm not a runner. I mean I can't stand running. But here I am, after my mommy friends have stalked my Facebook page telling me that I'm doing a 5K in April. I think i have officially gone insane. I can't believe I'm doing this. I never in my wildest dreams would have even considered doing something like this. I avoid running if at all possible. This is the one form of exercise that I dodge like a bullet. Well the 5K is scheduled for Saturday, April 24. So that gives me a little over 3 months to train. This is going to be one interesting part of my journey. I'm interested to see if I can actually pull off the training AND the 5K. But I've been told repeatedly that I can do this and that I have it in me to make it through, so here goes nothing folks. I've found a hip hop podcast for the program to keep me motivated. I will be blogging after each training session. Wish me luck!!

Dee~

Biggest Loser Season 9 Premiere Tonight!!!!

I'm so excited about Season 9 that airs tonight on NBC. The contestants go through amazing transformations, inside and out. I wonder who the game player will be. I really don't like that part of the show but what's a show without drama? I wonder if I'm the only one who plans their Tuesday around this show. I could watch it on Hulu but who wants to wait an entire week. I did this last season and it sucked being an entire week behind everyone else:/There is a daughter/father couple from Minneapolis that we'll be cheering for since I live in the Twin Cities!!

In regards to me, I'm having a super productive Tuesday. I have so much energy and I ran out of my One a Day women vitamins almost a week ago. I just got back from grocery shopping WITH A LIST and still forgot to pick them up. Go figure!! Maybe I can persuade hubby to go back to the store for me later. But since the temps have been below zero for the last couple of weeks, I doubt that'll happen:D. I don't think I'll ever get use to the winters here. Its insane that you still are required to go to work/school and wherever else you may need to be in this harsh weather. I'm hoping that I'll be able to blog more now that the kids are back in school and life is finally back to "normal".

I started doing the EA Active More Workouts, 2 weeks ago and I must tell you this is not just some fun video game to past time away with. This is intense stuff. I'm doing high intensity and my husband does the low intensity since he just started working out. I sweat just as much as I would if I did an hour on the elliptical machine. What I like most the workout is that you work your abs EVERY time. That the one part of my body I don't work out nearly as often as I should. Its really doesn't take much to get the abs sore. Leg extensions suck!!!

Well I need to put the little ones down for a much needed nap and then its workout time for this momma!!

Have a great and productive Tuesday!!

Dee~

Happy New Year!!!!!

This year has most definitely flown by for me. Nothing really stood out for me besides the fact that I've lost over 34 lbs!!!! I weighed in this morning at 144.8 which is a new low for me:)I didn't do as well as I would have liked to but over the holidays there was much temptation. I definitely stayed on track with my workouts and water intake though. I have 8.8 lbs. before reaching a "normal" BMI and an additional 7lbs before reaching my ultimate goal of 129.2. I'm almost there, I can taste it. I can do this!I've been struggling the last few weeks but I believe that I'm finally out of the rut I was in. Thank you to all of you who have supported me since I started this blog. I can't tell you how much that has helped me to get over this rough patch. I hate to cut this short but I have four kids and a hubby to entertain:)

I wish you all much success in 2010.

Dee~

Being true to myself

I want to first off say thank you to those of you who have been supporting me these last few weeks during this rough patch. I couldn't have made it this far without people like you.

(I might be doing a bit of rambling on, so bare with me.)

I've been doing a lot of contemplating, torturing myself, and just being down right angry these last few weeks. I haven't been in a good place unfortunately. I have had a few unfortunate hardships that made me just take a step back from my journey and what I'm trying to accomplish here. It has left me with being exhausted and frustrated. In regards to this weight loss journey that I have embarked on, I decided to not weigh in again until the 1/1/10. I am focusing way too much on the numbers and not the overall health benefits that come from losing weight. I feel that I'm not in the right frame of mind to get on the scale right now. I'm honestly okay with that. My only goal is to be in a "normal" weight range by 2/2/10. I started to faithfully keep track of my weight loss efforts on that date last year. I think this is reasonable and achievable. I have to keep reminding myself that this process doesn't happen overnight. There is no time limit that I have to keep. I need to do this one day at a time, one pound at a time. I've been through so much in my 30 years on this earth, that this weight loss thing can't defeat me. I won't let it. I'm better than that.

Well, I'm off to go exercise( I usually workout at night)now since the undefeated New Orleans Saints have a game tonight!!!13-0, hoping to continue the winning streak by destroying the poor Dallas Cowboys who are know for a string of bad luck during the month of December:P

Look for me to keep updating my emotional progress on my journey and the big weigh-in on the 1st of the year.

Dee~

Disappointment:(

This week has been absolutely horrible. It started when the snow came, the van had a flat, and a few days later, we had to replace the car battery. Along with those little obstacles, I thought that I was going to be receiving some life changing news. Well the good news turned out to be not so good news, I ate and ate and ate and then cried cried cried. Why did I let my emotions take over? I haven't exercised since Monday. I'm so disappointed in myself. I totally lost control. I just blew it. I don't know why I'm getting so close to my goal and then taking a billion steps back. What the hell is wrong with me??Why can't I get a grip all of a sudden??How can I call myself a role model to my children??I'm just plain angry. Its also that time of the month. Just great. Just what I need. Bloating, mood swings, and fatigue. None of which are helpful at this point. I just feel so out of whack. I honestly don't know how to pick up the pieces. I can't believe one little thing has done so much damage:/

Dee~

Goals for the week

I need to start doing this so I won't fall off as much as I have in the last few weeks. So here goes:

1.Exercise 2x per day
2. Drink at least 120 oz. of water per day
3. Go to bed before 11pm
4. Eat within my calorie range of 1400 calories
5. Use food journal daily
6. Do ab exercises during every workout

I feel that most of these goals are doable. I can't wait to see if I accomplish them all by the end of the week. Wish me luck!!

Dee~

Not beating myself up....moving on

Well if you couldn't tell by the title, I gained weight. I weighed in at 146.4, which is 1.1lbs. up from last Saturday. I'm okay with it. I know what I did wrong, so now I should concentrate on rectifying that instead of digging a deep hole for myself. I just don't think it will serve me any purpose to be angry about a number all weekend. I'm to a point where I actually don't mind looking at myself in the mirror. I'm more confident then ever. I'm GOING to step it up a notch this week. My gift to myself this Christmas is to be at a "normal" weight. I want nothing else except that. I don't think I'm going to take the weekend off from exercise. I'm so close to my goal. I just can't give up now. I don't want to be feeling like crap at the beginning of 2010. I don't want to "start over" again. Its just not acceptable. I'm better than that.

I'm going to head out and do some shopping. I'm going to look into buying a sit up bench as well. I hope you all have a great weekend. Much success at your next weigh-in;)

Dee~

So stressed!!

I love my children dearly but I think they seriously were trying to have me declared insane. If it wasn't my 3 year old daughter Ayannia peeing on the floor, it was my baby girl Saiya clinging to me like velcro. I'm so freakin' tired. Now I have to clean up the lunch mess, workout, put another load in the wash, then get everyone ready to go to my 7 yr. old son Malique's school tonight to make a Gingerbread house. My four year old Kaine is overly chatty these days. When his sister doesn't want to play, he tries to force her to play. WTF??The weather isn't helping much either. My baby girl was diagnosed with pneumonia on Tuesday(she has not been herself one bit:/)so not much outside activity is going to happen since its in the low 20s today. I need a freakin' break. I really hope this stress doesn't affect my weigh-in tomorrrow. UGH!!!!I love my children!! I love my children!! I love my children!!

Dee~