I'm not seeing any progress...

I measured again today, still 37 inches around. Its discouraging, but I had to look at the fact that I did struggle quite a bit through November. For the middle weeks I only worked out monday night. Its really only been this week that I've given a full effort.

I dedicated a full hour to my abs tonight. I shook a lot but I really think I need to work on isolating my abs. I kept feeling like I was using my chest muscles more than anything. So I need to work on that.

Also trying to eat 3 meals a day. So far I've gotten it to 2 meals. Which is by far better than 1.

I'm going to need to include more cardio in my workouts. And get some good sleep.
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Water is my friend

I've been going back and forth between Turbo scuplt and the norm... So I decided to try Turbo punch Kick jam. WOW. Kicked my bahooty. Big time. Like way big time. So that's my new goal. I need to stop being so lazy and really push myself. The excuse I've been telling myself is that I don't have a water bottle. I really don't like tap water. So I am going to the store tomorrow and I will be picking up more brita water filters. No more excuses. When I do the sculpt or the punch kick jam, I get really really thirsty. Like crazy thirsty. So I want to drink water I like.

I've been drinnking a ton of it lately too. That with the green tea pills I'm looking forward to seeing how fast I can get these inches off my middle.

Starting November

I measured my middle and I'm still 37 inches. Which tells me that I am not trying hard enough. I need to step up my game.

The past week and this week I've been doing a cleanse. So hopefully all the nasty germy sickness will be flushed out of my body. I have a feeling my lack of energy has just been dehydration....

One new thing I will be trying is workouts I see in the magazines. Of course I want to continue to set my goal and my ultimate goal of loosing inches and hitting that size 7 pant size. But now after all that still mix it up and add in an exercise that's different. Keep it loose and interesting.

I bought an issue of women's health. In it I found some big things that I think need to be taken into consideration in my overall goal planning.

The first and biggest thing is that I need to start seeing myself fit. If I start telling myself that I am a person that does this and make it a part of who I am then I will be able to stay more motivated.

The next thing it talks about is Genetics, and what I can and cannot control. Of all the factors 62 percent are ruled by genetics. So that leaves 38 percent that I can control. These include: My personal mptivation and goals, where I live (pretty locations tend to help people get out more), listening to music (boosts endurance and enjoyment), and if my friends/family are active (support).

This doesn't mean that I'm hopeless with that 62 percent. I just have to find out how to best utilize what I have.

How exercise feels for me: I have to find exerise moves and routines that feel good. Not everyone can exercise at the same pace, or the same way, and you don't want to have discomfort or pain while exercising.

Body Composition changes like fat loss: This also is a matter of figureing out what exercises trigger my body to burn fat. How hard must I work out in order to get my body to that level. This part will require more research on my part.

So that is where I'm at and thhe direction I need to go. This will be a good month. Keeping positive is an absolute must.

One More Week

One more week before I measure myself again. I really need to make this week count.

Last week started off good, I worked out Monday and Tuesday, but Wednesday our water got turned off because a neighbor down the street broke a pipe. So I really didn't want to work out and then have no way to shower. Especially since I had a very important interview that day, and I had to work. Then Thursday I woke up late and barely made it to get my oil changed before work. Well worth it though, the car sounds great. I also ended up working 16 hour shifts Thursday and Friday. So I really needed to sleep.

I need to start making goals for myself. Little ones. I made a tracking sheet that goes for a week. There is a space for goals. I need to start setting them on a day by day basis.

I was talking with Karin the other day, and I have noticed that my face has thinned just a little bit. My pants are also just a little looser in the thigh area. So I have to be doing something right. I want to see if I can get back down to a size 7. Its been a while since I've been that small. I just don't know if my hips will let me go that small again. If not that's ok. I'm happy at a size 9. I just want the muffin top to go away.

Going through the Motions

Working out or "Training" is a hard thing to do in general. If your going to take the time to actually do it though you might as well put effort into it. I go through my work out routine and its hard. I get tired. I did notice though that even though I did the work out I really didn't feel different. The last time I did it, it was with weighted gloves and put a strong effort into it and I felt it. Today... not so much.


It really comes down to making it worth it. I can do the exercises all I want, go through the motions, but unless I really make an effort the effect will be minimal. Other wise what is the point? That can be applied to everything though.

So from now on I need to be making a huge effort without straining myself. Push myself, but not to hard. I want to see results, and the only way I will do that is to put my whole heart into it and push as far as I can.

Easier said than done.

Reward with Body and Mind

I set a goal for myself, or rather a reward when I reach my goal. I really really want to get Ivy leaves on my feet to symbolize me and my siblings. So unless Dave lets me get it earlier that will be my reward.


I really believe that part of working out isn't just making your body strong and lean and toned, but your mind as well. So I listed out a bunch of books that I've been trying to finish and one that I need to get.

Lately, as weird as this will sound I have been feeling empty. So Trish took me to church, lol. It was interesting but I actually liked it. So much that I pulled out my quad and started reading the Bible. I've never read it with an open mind like this and I'm learning a lot.... very interesting that is for sure. I really just need to find my peace. I have a bunch of books that are about helping myself, and I need to order a book called "Forgiveness, the healing gift that we give ourselves."

So my goal is to help strengthen my mind as well as my body. So as Week 1 comes to a close I have a goal to finish reading at least one book. If not two.

My Work Out Plan

Ok second day and I'm already sore, so I can tell I'm on the right path. I have heard of a bunch of different types of work out programs, I have Turbo Jam. I bought it a while ago, and when I actually focused on it for a full week I lost an inch. So I'm going to be doing that with a mix of  3 other videos.


First the workouts with Turbo Jam. There is the Learn and Burn, its 15 min long and goes through the 11 main moves that Turbo Jam uses. Its a nice little work out. Then you have the 20 min work out. It goes through punches and kicks and jumping rope and a full minute 30 sec of "turbo" which is like sprinting but in place lol. After that there is a cool down and stretch. Then there is the Ab Jam that's also 20 min long. Its 10 min standing 10 min floor completely focused on your abs. Turbo sculpt is 40 min with weights. I have 3 and 5 lbs weights and let me tell you doing this with 3 lbs kicks my butt. Cardio party is a 45 min cardio work out. Ive yet to make it through that. And the one that I haven't opened yet is the 50 min punch Kick Jam. that is more focused on your legs I think.

The other 3 videos I have are Pilates Complete for weight loss, it has several different levels beginner, imtermediate, and advanced and has 6 different routines in each that range from 10 to 30 min. I have Crunch, a pilates/yoga blend that is about a 40 min work out but not as high tense as turbo jam. And finally I have Denise Austin's belly Blasters. Its 7 different 10 min work outs that make you hurt. one of these is intense.

So since I'm still recovering from tendinitis in my knees, I am stretching and currently doing the 20 min work out with the ab jam, intermixed with Denise Austin. I need to include the pilates either as a stretch part, or a relax part. Get my leg muscles built up again so I can really hit on the turbo sculpt and other leg work outs.

I have a sheet that I record on a week basis of the exercises I do. Then at the beginning of every month I'll remeasure my middle and see how its going. Hopefully I'll see a change quickly.

Cravings

I think my biggest vice right now is that I really don't eat very well. I've been trying to get more vegies in my diet and salads. However, my biggest craving is cookies. Oh do I love them. The big ones that are soft and gooey. Yum yum yum. Ugh! Eating well with good food is hard. What do you do to not give in to the cravings?

Taking a different approach.

I've really struggled with keeping myself disciplined. Then just when I got the itch to start working out I got sick. Zero energy.
Well now that I'm feeling better, still coughing but better, I looked at myself in the mirror and I hated what I saw.
From the fevers I had broken out everywhere. My middle looked bigger, and after measuring confirmed I was 37 inches . Gross. I felt bloated and sore and exhausted. No energy lazy all I wanted to do is sleep.
I really hated all of it. All of my shirts don't fit, I look horrible in all of shirts and even the baggy ones don't hide my middle. This has to change.
So I asked a group of girls that I trust to help keep me going. Show support. They've all been wonderful with suggestions so far and helpful tid bits. I'll be blogging more as well as writing notes on my facebook page. I'm excited about it. Looking forward to having the additional support.
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Goals

Ok so today I start writing up my work out routine. I'm going to make a schedule and then create an excel sheet that I can track my progress and a weekly/ monthly chart to track my progress.

My goal isn't about what I weigh. Its all about how I look and feel. So vitamins are going to be a big deal. Eating better, making sure I have vegies and freshness rather than cooked and fat.

So this week will be dedicated to researching. I also need to get my pedometer working.
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Motivation

So I keep telling myself that I'm going to workout. I'm tired of seeing myself in the mirror and hating how my middle looks. I just can't seem to find the motivation to get up and do it. I need to figure out how I'm going to this. Focus and get cracking at it.

I got a picture of my friend and what she looks like now that she's been working out everyday, I won't lie I'm jealous. She looks phenomenal. She calls it "training". Makes it sound more "have to" rather than "optional". So tomorrow I start my training. I have a dress to fit into!
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Done Procrastinating.

Ok I need to be done procrastinating. My new goal is to wake up at 10/11 ish and stretch, maybe pilaties then do the Turbo Jam. I'm going to follow the schedule that it suggests in the book and see what happens.

I am also keeping a food diary, and then I'm going to talk to a Nutritionist to see about eating better. If I eat better then Dave will eat better. Which meanss a healthier happier family for sure.

Keeping the motivation is hard so I'm going to be using my friends as inspiration. They are so beautiful and always look fantastic so that is where I want to be. I want to feel sexy and I want to be happy with my body.

So here is to motivation and feeling good!

Denise Austin... damn

So she is just amazing. She's 53 and looks like she's 20! I saw her on the cover of First magazine. She has a 3 week plan to help loose 27 lbs, now I don't want to loose 27 lbs just my middle lol.

I've been wearing weights on my feet when I go out, its interesting to feel the different muscles and what they do with just an additional 6 pounds on my feet. I'm going to be walking up and down the stairs to help shed the belly.

I went and got my health assesment done at work. I'm low with the good cholesterol, if I get any lower I'll be considered a risk for heart disease. Then with my glucose I'm right at 100, so any higher and I could be looking at diabeties, so that leaves only one chaoice. a change of diet.

So I guess that is where we're at this time around. Just not sure how we're going to do this.

Setting Goals with new Motivation

Ok I've decided I am tired of looking and feeling like I do and its time to change that. I am researching different nutrition methods and am going to be watching my portions and how much I do eat. A lot of my diet will be water. That will help flush my system and keep me hydrated.

So my knees are killing me. They hurt all the time, and if I don't do something to cure this tendonitis its only going to get worse. So for the next 3 weeks I'll be doing my stretches both at night before bed and in the morning before I work out. Its going to be a low key work out though. I have this "Belly Blasters" DVD by Denise Austin and a "Pilates for weight loss" that are both on the floor off my knees but get my heart rate up. I will be wearing a brace, I need to find mine. I have 3 but they all seem to get lost. I will also be taking anti-Inflamatory medicine and icing my knees. 

Then after 3 weeks I will have to analyze how I feel and if I can add weights to my ankles and wrists and start running on the elipical at night. Which if that is what I do end up doing that will continue for another 3 weeks and then I will be re-evaluating again.

I started my stretching tonight. I stretched with the towel 10 sec 10 reps each leg. Then I tried touching my toes 10 sec 10 reps legs together. Then I put a towel under my knee and lifted using my thigh 30 reps each leg. Then I laid down with one knee bent and the other lifting from the floor to bring the thighs together 30 reps each leg. Finally I laid on my side top leg crossed foot on floor and lifted the bottom leg 30 reps each leg. My knees alreaddy feel better after one session. I'm looking forward to what it feels like after 3 weeks.

I also measured my middle. I'm at 36" right now and I'm not positive what I weigh at this point.

March... 2.5 months and counting

I've just finished a cleanse by Jillian Micheals. Wow that lady scares me. I remeasured my middle. I'm at 36 inches. This little float tube around by waist needs to go away.

I now have a goal. This summer I want to do a photo shoot with Brandy. Trish and Misty will be doing it with me, but I want it to be sexy; heels, bikini's, skirts, etc. I want to show off my body.

So I now have a list of what I need. I've asked Dave to get me those Reebok tone phones for my birthday, but until then I'm going to be looking into how to make smoothies and eating right and I HAVE to work out EVERY DAY no excuses. None. If I'm going to be ok to wear heels then I need to have my knees feel better.

Also I'm going to have to budget really carefully. I want to get some new clothes and get a tanning pass but bills come first.

On top of the green tea pills, which I will continue to take, I am also going to be using Bio-oil to help finish off my stretch marks. Its been doing a god job so I need to keep it up. Cleaning my face twice a day, etc. 

I think to help me keep track of what I do I'm going to make a chart at work tonight and keep track on there what I do. 

I also need to start a food journal That 'll be hard but I know if I'm so super strict with it I'll achieve my goal for this summer and I can do this photo shoot with Trish and Misty. I'm really lookig forward to it.