Day 139

I wanted to share with you a couple of things that I found that motivated me a little bit more this morning. Who are your heros??



(Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay)


Sir Edmund Hillary is famous being the first to climb Mt. Everest.

What many do not know is that Sir Hillary did not make it to the top of Everest the first time he tried. The first time was a complete failure. They encountered one problem after another and more than half his climbing party died.

Nonetheless, the British Parliament decided to honor him with some type of award. When he entered the chamber to receive his award, Sir Hillary saw a large picture of Everest had been set-up.

During the standing ovation that he was receiving, he walked over to the picture, shook his fist at it and said,


"You won, this time. But you are as big as you are ever going to get. And I'm still growing."



We frequently hear the stories of people who have succeeded. And we frequently assume that they succeeded the first time.

But it's the exact opposite.

The road to success is paved with the bricks of failure.

********************************************************************

Be Your Own Hero
By Robin Sharma

So many of us have heroes. Leaders, artists or entreprenuers that inspire us. People who have made an impact, people who have shown us a better way, people who have overcome outrageous odds.

Yet, the interesting insight about heroes is that they have the human imperfections and weaknesses that we do. They have their bad days, they feel despair, they get knocked down (in fact, heroes get knocked down more than the rest of us).

Yet, in spite of their human frailties, heroes find a way to change the world.

Here's my challenge to you -- be your own hero. Ask yourself, what would it take for me to show up in the world like my heroes?

You may never discover a life changing medicine, invent a best-in-class product or win the World Cup. But, you can show up every day with discipline, compassion and extraordinary commitment.

So, in your journal, go through the following steps and take the hero's journey.

1. List three to five of your heros.

2. For each hero write down the traits that you admire. Is it Steve Nash's selflessness on the court? Is it Martin Luther King's commitment to civil rights? Is it Richard Branson's vison?

3. Then translate these traits into your life. Can you be more selfless at work? Can you make an unshakeable commitment to doing the right thing? Can you create a powerful vision for your life and pursue it?

4. Write these traits down on a card or better yet on a picture of that hero. Remind yourself to act like that hero. This way your hero becomes your mentor -- even if you'll never meet them.

5. Then go into your days and live like the hero you are.
_______________
Robin S. Sharma, LL.M. is an internationally-known speaker on sales leadership, peak performance and creativity. The bestselling author of several motivational books including MegaLiving, he is the managing partner of Sharma Leadership International. He can be reached at RobinSharma.com

DAY 138

It is a gloomy day here. The clouds are black and hanging low which probably means more snow. This weather really affects my mood... especially my exorcising. Yesterday I was planning on working out at night while Hubby was at Karate class... but The Biggest Loser came on and I wanted to watch it and by the time it was over I was too tired to get up and workout. How Ironic is that?? LOL

So yesterday was a no-go.. this morning I woke up, did my weight lifting and then hopped on the treadmill with 1 hour as my goal...I made it 15 minutes. I just don't have any *umph* today. I am hoping that hubby will give me some motivation tonight and I can get a little more cardio in while he works out.

I really need to focus on my food. I need to cut back on carbs.. and peanut butter. I also need to drink more water. I need to rope in some of the DETERMINATION that I wrote about yesterday and start using it.

Tomorrow night is Karate class for me.. maybe that will light the fire again!

Day 137: 194

Determination : the act of coming to a decision or of fixing or settling a purpose

ALSO KNOWN AS: assurance, backbone*, boldness, bravery, certainty, certitude, constancy, conviction, courage, dauntlessness, decision, dedication, doggedness, dogmatism, drive, energy, fearlessness, firmness, fortitude, grit, guts*, hardihood, heart*, independence, indomitability, intrepidity, nerve*, obstinacy, persistence, pluck*, purpose, purposefulness, resoluteness, resolution, resolve, self-confidence, single-mindedness, spunk*, steadfastness, stubbornness, tenacity, valor, willpower


What is the secret to weight loss?? Determination. It is a day to day battle. You don't just wake up one day and have the perfect body. You wake up every morning and make the decision... am I going to do this? Some days you may not be physically or mentally ready to fight.. but you do it anyway. Because this is what you have to do to lose weight, to live longer, to be happy. All you need to lose weight is DETERMINATION.

Day 136: 193.5

Today's weigh in was a little disappointing.. but definitely not terrible. I did have a cheat meal on Saturday night of ham and pineapple pizza... and my water had been poor all weekend. No excuses...just things I need to improve. Today is the start of a whole new week... another chance to do it right and see a loss.

Karate on Saturday was fun. To get to do something with my husband is great... and the fact that it is something that is good for us is even better! Tonight I have belly dancing with my mom... My calender is really starting to fill up!

I was cruising the blog world the other day and came across a post that really made sense to me. Hanlie from Fertile Healthy wrote a post that compared being on a diet like being newly married.. I'll let her tell you:

A number of years ago I met a girl in a bar, who recognized me from 6th grade. She took my number and actually phoned me! Nobody does that! We became friends. We were both single and unlucky in love. Our prospects looked bleak.

Then she met the one! And went from seeing me 4-5 times a week to about 4-5 times a year. We spoke on the phone pretty regularly and I kept up to date with the goings on in her life. After about a year they got engaged. I became grateful for the infrequent visits, because this girl went into wedding overdrive! During the 10 months before the wedding, she became a professional bride! It was painful to see…

The wedding was a huge success and even I enjoyed it. A mere three months later I got a late night phone call, asking if she could come over. Trouble in paradise. They had spent so much time planning the wedding that they never thought about planning their marriage. They were on the brink of divorce. Fortunately they were mature enough to go for counselling and now, three years later, they’re fine and happy.

I was just thinking today that most obese people are professional dieters. Just like the professional bride with all her catalogues, bridal books, magazines and samples, we have shelves filled with every conceivable, book, plan, and recipe, all the “must-have” exercise equipment (from which we hang our clothes), diet “stuff” on the refrigerator door, expired diet milkshakes in dark corners of our kitchen, scales in the bathroom and on the kitchen counter. We know our stuff. We do graphs. We log our food. We read Shape magazine. We watch Oprah and The Biggest Loser. We blog and join challenges. We count calories and set goals.

There are people who do this year in and year out. Most of us have. I’ve been familiar with the plan I’m following for more than 7 years now. I’ve told people about it, I’ve written about it, but I haven’t actually permanently implemented it. I’ve spent a lot of time “getting ready to start”.

I’ve now started. Seven years down the line. But starting is just a very small part of this… Now comes the “marriage”. The ups and the downs. The adapting. The disappointments and the moments that take your breath away. The waning of passion and the growth in intimacy. The getting comfortable in your routine. The tears and the laughter.

And I say: “Bring it on!”

“It’s never too late to be what you might have been.” ~ George Elliot

I think she is brilliant! Her latest post is just as inspirational... go read it!


Today's workout was a 20 minute HIIT cardio and lower body weights. I was frustrated when I was half way thru my running and realized that I had forgotten to do my weights first and then run. Oh well, I will try again tomorrow! I am in a really good place right now... feeling positive and loving my workouts.. I need this to keep up!

Day 133: 194.5

Karate was A.W.E.S.O.M.E ! They kicked my butt all over that gym and I loved every second. My kicks, punches and blocks came back like second nature... but I am STILL really out of shape. Here I've been thinking that I am in such great shape already when really I am no where near where I should be. I am better then I was, no doubt about that. Had I tried this class at my heaviest I probably would have keeled over of a heart attack. I kept up with them though.. and am so excited to go back for the next class.

The people in that class were even more inspiring. First off, the instructors son is a fighter for the MMA and UFC.(we all know how I love UFC!) A couple of months a year 3 UFC fighters go there to train and fight. (We live at a very high altitude so it is great endurance training for athletes) One of the students is a retired professional boxer. His first 15 fights were knockouts in the first round. Another student is a Jui Jitsu trainer for a UFC fighter. So there is a lot of talent in this Karate class.. and I am very excited. Did I already say that? Oh yeah, I'm very excited!!

Every muscle in my body is aching this morning but I wogged 1 mile, did 100 sit ups and 20 push-ups. Tomorrow morning hubby and I have a babysitter for the girls, so we are BOTH going to Karate class!! Yeah!!

A couple people asked about why I use the name Tigerlilly... well, I will tell that story.. but not right now. Maybe this weekend.... and yes P.O.M., I think I see Tigerlilly too!!

***On a Family Note = VICTORY .... we have been diaper free for 4 days and 3 nights with only one accident. I am FREE of diapers...free, free!!!!**********

Day 132



When I was 13 years old I weighed in at 175 lbs. I went to private school where I was the biggest kid there. Of course, the class was only made up of 20 students.. but I was still the biggest one there. The summer before my Freshman year of high school my Dad decided that it was time to lose weight. He signed me up for Tae Kwon Do at a studio across town. My instructors name was Jae Kim. He was a Korean man who had taught martial arts in the Korean Army. His English was poor, but that did not stop him from yelling at you. When he was really mad it came out in Korean and that was terrifying. For 3 months he did everything in his power to make me cry.. and trust me, I did. At the same time I learned enough Korean to understand him (which made for a lot less screaming on his end), I dropped 30 lbs and became a lot more confident in myself. I participated in tournaments and won my share of trophies. I was strong, inside and out.

There are two reasons I told you all this. The first one is because tonight is my first Karate class and I am getting that familiar boulder in my stomach that I used to get. I am 17 years older now, but am just as terrified.

The second reason... while I was in the city last weekend we pulled into a parking lot to use the phone when I realized that I was parked right in front of that Tae Kwon Do studio. The lights were on but it looked empty. I tried the door and it swung out.. I walked around all the mats and made my way to the back office. He was sitting at his desk trying to fix a drawer. He looked up and asked me if I needed something. At first I didn't think he remembered me, but then there was a glimmer of light in his eyes and with a great big smile he said 'Chris!!???!!' (a hint of what my real name is!)

His first question was of my Dad. He used to play golf with my dad all the time.. and of course they talked a lot while I would train. Dad never missed a single day of my training. Mr. Kim did not know that my Dad had passed away. A tear came to his eye. I never thought I would see the day I saw a tear in this mans eyes. That's when I noticed his hands. They shook uncontrollably. He said they did not know what was wrong, that it was like Parkinsons but not. Suddenly the monster that plagued my nightmares as a child was human. He was a friend.

Jae Kim had been my mentor.. my coach.. my nightmare... but in the end he made me who I am and I wanted to thank him. Last night I told my husband that I am going to do this Karate class to honor Jae Kim... I am going to lose this weight to honor my Dad. They new what was inside of me before I did... and I let all of that get lost. Its time to get it back. I may not be the next 'Karate Kid'.. but I will be that strong woman that they brought out 17 years ago.

Day 131: 194

Well, I tried those 'skinny' jeans on and they still don't zip up.. but they are getting close! I am hoping that by my birthday in April I will be able to wear them out on the town!!

Hubby went to a Karate class last night to see if he would be interested in taking it. He said he really liked it and wants me to go to tomorrow nights class to see if I would want to do it too. I haven't done Karate since I was 17 ... and am a little nervous to do it again.. but there is a little bit of excitement mixed in there as well. If I do start doing this with Hubby it would mean my schedule would include Belly dancing on Mondays and Karate on Thursdays and Saturdays. Good grief, if that doesn't get me to lose weight then I don't know what will!!

I did my HIIT cardio this morning and a full body weight workout. Tomorrow is a day off, which is good if I have to do Karate in the evening.

Day 130:195.5

While doing my 40 min Wogg this morning I was thinking about my 'skinny' jeans and wandering if I have gotten any closer to getting them zipped up. Then I thought 'If I could just get those on, I would be happy with my size'... in other words I was thinking once I got those jeans on I could quit doing all this working out and eating healthy crap. HA! First of all, I don't want to stop at my 'skinny jeans' size. I want to get down to 145 lbs where I should be. Second, what makes me think that when I get to a size I am happy with that I can just stop. Then I remembered Laura's blog yesterday:

I wrote the other day about there not being many books available for weight loss maintainers. Maybe that's because maintenance is a bitch. A bitch that isn't easily tamed and apparently is as ugly and frightening as the one Sigourney Weaver battles in Alien.

Only this one doesn't have a big Hollywood ending. This is going to be an endless battle. There is no finish line. There is never going to be a day when I can say "Okay, that's it, I'm all done and I don't have to do this anymore" (well, okay, the day I die I can say that, but you know, that's a long way off, God willing).

This idea of "it's never going to end" isn't new news, I realize that. It's just a small little epiphany in a likely endless road of epiphanies that will add up to be my life.

And The New Me says, "Most of all I want to be a weight loss success, for now and for good."

That epiphany hit me right in the face this morning... and in order to keep myself from falling over in shear panic was this: How terrible is my life right now? I feel strong... I look strong. I enjoy my time on the treadmill, and I LOVE the feeling I get when I finish the goal I had set that day. Everyday I notice something great about my body.. whether I can run with my girls and not get winded, or that shirt in the back of my closet now fits perfectly. As for food, well, I no longer get that nauseated feeling when I eat too much crap. My bowls are working as they should... my grocery bill has gone down considerably since I am no longer loading the basket with tons of cookies, cakes, doughnuts and ice cream. My girls are eating healthier which means that hopefully they will never have to battle this disease.

So... why am I in such a rush to stop living like this? Because there is a lady inside my head that wants to lay in bed all day eating ice cream and watching TV. Because I am still fighting my body everyday to get up out of bed and put my running shoes on. Because I still crave a doughnut in the morning and cake at night.

So... How do I keep from becoming that lady again?? I get up, I run, I buy healthy food at the store and I look at myself in the mirror and say 'its worth it!'...

Day 129: 193.5

First things first, today is Weigh In Day and I am back down to 193.5 lbs!! That is a LOSS of 4 lbs since last week. I know that posting my before and now pictures really made the difference on how I ate this weekend on my trip to the city. I totally recommend taking pictures! Even if you don't have a 'before'.. take a 'now' pic. In 6 weeks it will be your 'before'!!

OK! So now on to my weekend. It was a blast! Baby and I left on Friday and enjoyed the 4 hour drive down. I will confess that I had half of a Burger King hamburger.. but paid for it after having to stop at two gas stations along the way. Bleh! After that it was nothing but salads and subway sandwiches! I was so excited to see my best friend. We have known each other for 14 years and only get to see each other once a year since I've had the babies. She is soooo much fun and I always end up laughing so much it hurts!!

(Just to show you the difference.. here is JJ and I last year. Since then I have lost 21 lbs and she has lost 30 lbs!!)
I bought some scarves for my mom and I to wear to our belly dancing classes. Baby got her ears pierced..(and didnt even cry!) And I got some more books!!


Big Sister stayed with Daddy.. who bought her a skateboard. Dont let her size fool you, she can ride it better then mom or dad!! when I came home she had this long skirt on with a t-shirt and she was riding the skateboard. Hubby called her the 'new' Avril Lavigne! LOL


I also got to meet my friends new boyfriend.. and he is a doll. Super sweet and really good to her. I was so happy that she found such a great guy!


I worked out this morning and did my 20 minute HIIT cardio.... and an upper body weight lifting regimen. After each set I sprinted on the treadmill for 2 minutes. It was a killer workout. So, I'm off to clean the house and do laundry...de-ja-vu!!

"Starbucks is dangerous, it gets in your mouth!" - JJ

Day 126:194

I have million things to do this morning before we head to the city but I just HAD to post my 18 wks before/after pictures!


BEFORE 215 lbs



NOW 194 lbs



See you Monday for WI day!

Day 125: 195

It is freezing here....no, its BELOW freezing here. I walked outside to get firewood and I could see steam rising from my skin. (I had just worked out!) I have no plans on stepping out that door again today. The HIGH today isn't even going to go above freezing... ugh, I hate winter.

The good news is that tomorrow baby girl and I will be taking a mom/daughter trip to the city which means 30 degrees warmer!! Big sister and daddy are going to spend some quality time out on Papa's ranch. I think I might take baby girl to the zoo while we are down there. We are going down tomorrow afternoon and coming back on Sunday night. Plenty of time to shop, play and visit friends! yahooooo!

I walked 3 miles this morning and did an upper body weight regimen. I have to get this house clean, do laundry and pack a bag. OH!! And tomorrow will be 18 wks since I started... another 6 weeks and it will make my 6 months!! I hope I can lose a lot more by then!

Day 124: 195

It amazes me how fast you can bounce back from a bad weekend. In one weekend I gained 4 lbs... had I stayed depressed and not bounced back then it could have been really ugly.. but its been three days and I am down 2.5 lbs... by next weigh in I should be back to 193! So for all of you who had a bad weekend, or two, don't give up. You CAN lose the weight again...and probably faster then you think because it will most likely be water weight from too much sodium and not enough water.

Yesterday was a rest day... and a play date! The girls had a blast... My oldest actually went to lay down and take a nap before our friends were even ready to leave! HUGS!!!!!!!


I woke up this morning and ran 1.25 miles using the HIIT program. It was so hard! My feet felt like they were made of lead... but I was so happy to get it done. I feel %100 better. I need to focus on two things today... water intake and food portions.

See you tomorrow! ;)

Day 123 : 197

I am S.O.R.E. from my head to my toes. Belly dancing was a blast last night, but for two hours we went over and over all the different moves. I didn't break a sweat, so I didn't really think I was working all that hard... until this morning. Every muscle in my body is letting me know its there. Yeah! I cant wait until next week!

Thanks for all the support. I slipped up.. and its going to happen.. but like you all said, its how fast you get back up that counts! So I am back up... and learning that I cant rush it. Cuz when I do , I mess up. Lets just make smart decisions today and let someone else worry about tomorrow!

Today we have a play date and hopefully the girls will get rid of all their pent up winter energy.

Have a great day!

Coffee Anyone??



How would you like to win this coffee maker package from Share Senseo?? All you have to do is go to there website and fill out a short survey. If you are selected all you have to pay is the $15 shipping and handling fee. (you will recieve a confirmation e-mail within 2-6 weeks if you are selected.) The machine retails for over $70, so its worth a shot!!!

Day 122: 197.5

Its terrible. After all those things I said like 'I've had enough, Im going to DO this' and 'its time to get serious'... I totally blew it this weekend. So bad that I actually had a McDonalds hamburger..eeeewwwwwww. It was nasty too.. but we were on our way to a dance preview and the girls were starving and ,well, I was too. I orderd the girls a hamburger and small fry each.. and I ate what they didn't. Then I overloaded on carbs on Sunday...and hardly drank any water. The worst things is that I didnt do one minute of exorcise the entire weekend. Since when did I get the mentality that the weekends were 'free'?? I know better then that.

This morning I jumped right back into my routine. I did a HIIT cardio on the treadmill for 20 minutes... then a full body weight lifting regimin. I had a protein shake for breakfast.. a slice of fry bread for a snack ( I know, not the best idea).. veggies for lunch and then a light salad for dinner because tonight is my first belly dancing class!!

The focus today is on water.. lots and lots of water.

Here is a picture from the weekend. We went to my mothers house for lunch on Friday and my little girl got to play with her favorite cousins... Morris the cat and Belle the St. Bernard.


Also, Clairboe tagged me for a MeMe.. so here it is!

7 WEIRD THINGS ABOUT ME

The rules are as follows: Simply link to the person who tagged you. SHARE SEVEN WEIRD things about yourself. Tag SEVEN bloggers to do the same AND include a link to their blog. Let each person know that they have been tagged and finally post the rules on your blog.

1. I collect dvd movies. Especially weird Sci-Fi movies... the weirder the better! Or any Jim Henson movies!! LOL

2. I have gotten this weird addiction to Scooby Doo... I think its because my girls love him so much and it is soooo hard to find him anywhere that when I see a scooby boo I buy it!! Anyone have any old Scooby Doo dolls you want to send my way??

3. I buy books. I know, not weird... yet. I buy hardcover books and I own hundreds of them.. but have read only about a quarter of them.

4. I am addicted to horseraddish...

5. I have just started this and my hubby thinks its weird, but I sleep in the clothes I wear to work out in the next morning. Let me tell ya.. it sure makes it easy to slip out of bed and hop on the treadmill.

6. I love Alaska, but have never been there. I keep trying to get hubby to move us out there! LOL... there's just something about it.

7. I cant drive in snow.. even if there is only a quarter of an inch on the ground.. it terrifies me. So. during the winter we stay home or hubby drives.

Ok, so I'm weird. I am not going to tag anyone.. but if you want to do it leave me a note so I can come check out how weird YOU are!!

Day 119

I did really well yesterday...until 8:30pm when stress took over and the kitchen became a free-for-all. I ate so much I was actually sick in the middle of the night. I hate to be stressed..and right now I am really trying not to be..but I am stuck between a rock and a hard place and I'm trying not to make a dent in either one. I know that makes no sense but trust me, its not a pretty site.

Anyway, I woke up this morning with my usual gung-ho attitude and did my HIIT cardio on the treadmill. Did another 100 crunches and then drank down a protein shake and 3 glasses of water. I am taking the girls to my moms house today for lunch. She is baking up some salmon so definitely a meal I dont need to worry about.

I am super glad it is Friday. I just want to spend time with hubby and the girls. I will not be posting daily pics over the weekend.. but stay tuned for Mondays weigh in...Day 1 versus Day 6!! Will we see a difference?

(Day 1 - Day 3)

Day 118 (D2 of 84)

Today is a rest day... although I am itching to do something. I may take the girls for a walk this afternoon if it warms up a little more.

Food was ok yesterday. I did great up until the late afternoon and then I broke and ended up eating bread and peanut butter. I have to find a way where I am either busy during that time of day or at least not hungery. Maybe that would be a good time of day to take that walk!

You may notice that I am not posting my daily weight. I am taking a break from the scale for awhile. I will still do my weekly weigh in, I just dont want to think about it every morning right now. The important thing is that I focus on my nutrition and my health.

(Day 1 - Day 2)

Day 117 (D1 of 84)

Ok folks. I am done with messing around. I have a little over 14 weeks before my 30th birthday and I am not getting anywhere fast. I came across Adam Waters yesterday and I have been looking into what he is doing. He is a real inspiration and I think that if I can get into the same mind set that he is then I will start seeing some results. What he does is called Shredding. There motto?

We will focus on the single daily actions that produce results.

We will "burn our bridges" and not look back.

We will never surrender.

Now there are many things that 'Shredders' do. I have yet to do all the research, but the jist of it is this. You eat clean. Low fat, low carb. Eat 5 meals a day. And the best/worst of it... take daily pictures. One of the fav workouts is 'HIIT' High Intensity Interval Training..(I'll get into that in a minute)

Adam changed his entire physique in 84 days. He kept his mind strong and followed thru. I think this is totally possible to do... and so today will be my day 1 of 'shredding'. I hope I can live up to its name!



DAY 1













So, first thing this morning I did my workout. It consisted of a 20 min. HIIT on the treadmill and 60 ab crunches. Today is a rest day from weights so none of that.

OK, so what is HIIT and how do you do it?

Due to its intensity, HIIT recruits fast-twitch muscle fibers. These fibers are designed for short-lived, powerful bursts of energy. Steady-state cardio recruits slow-twitch muscle fibers, which are structured for endurance. Fast-twitch fibers need more fuel than do slow-twitch fibers to function and to recover from a workout. Thus, if your session primarily targets fast-twitch fibers, you’ll burn far more calories during training, as well as calories after the training. HIIT produces an after-burn that can last from one to many hours, depending on your fitness level and how grueling your session was.

Important factors involved in H.I.I.T Training

In order to utilize H.I.I.T properly, we use a tool called the "Intensity Guide" to help us create high points. This guide is used to measure the level energy we are applying to the exercise that we are performing. The Index, starts at level 1 and goes to level 10. On the low end-at level l-you've got the intensity of kicking back on your recliner watching TV. Level 2 would be standing; level 3 could be walking; level 4 might be carrying a couple bags of groceries in from the car; level 5 might be carrying those groceries up a flight of stairs; and so on, up to level 10 , which is an all-out, 100 percent effort. In order to use this guide correctly you must apply it to your level of conditioning. And that's why basically any healthy adult, no matter what their prior exercise experience, can use H.I.I.T training. As an example, if you're a beginner walking up stairs might be a level 10 intensity level. Now, someone who's been training for several years might reach a high-intensity effort by sprinting up those stairs. The point is, your high intensity point is yours. It is distinctively yours and not mine or the person next to you in the gym. It's very important that you realize exactly what your high points are. A true high point on this workout, a true level 10 effort, is one where you can honestly tell yourself you gave it every single last ounce of energy you had. That you looked inside yourself and said I’m going to give it all I got!

H.I.I.T : How to Perform the actual workout!

Remember this can apply to any activity you choose. Just pick something you are comfortable with. Begin your workout with a two-minute warm up phase where we perform the activity at about a level 5 intensity. If you haven't been exercising regularly, you could reach level 5 on the Intensity Index by just walking. However, if you've been doing a lot of exercise, level 5 might be a pretty brisk jog. Again it is essential that you remember that your level 5 is unique to you, and my level 5 is unique to me. Now, after two minutes at a level 5 effort, you will take it up a level. You will reach a level 6 effort, we keep it there for one minute; then we increase the intensity of our effort, up to level 7 for one minute before taking it up another level, to level 8, where we maintain for another minute; then we take it up to level 9. We maintain that high-intensity effort for one minute, and then take it all the way down to a level 6 again-a relatively comfortable pace. We repeat that pattern three times, but on the last cycle (between the eighteenth and the nineteenth minutes of this 20-minute workout), we don't stop at level 9-we try to reach a high point-we go for a 10! Then we bring it back to level5 for a minute, and we're done!

Have a great day and I will see you tomorrow!!


********************************************************

Just some after thoughts of this post...

1) I'm sure not everyone wants to see my fat everyday... but relax, I promise they will get better!!

2) NO STRETCH MARKS... holy crap... I have had stretch marks since day one of my first pregnancy!! Now you just see my scar from my hysterectomy surgery..

Day 116

The weather here is terrible. The fog has set in and you cant see past the front door. What little snow we got has turned to ice, but 10 miles down the road hubby says they got snow dumped on them. Ha!

I managed to get to the college yesterday morning. Hubby couldn't work so I hired him on as a babysitter and set out in the storm to sign up for the Belly Dancing class.. I am now officially enrolled! Class is every Monday night from 6-8pm. They DO put on a show at the end of the year.. but it is 'optional'! Thank God!

I only ran 1 mile this morning.. but broke another personal record. 14:20!! It felt good.. I did my weights and am now settling in for a long day of cleaning the kids room! Ick. The unknown is terrifying in their room... Is that jam? Oh God, why is that wet? When did we have spaghetti??

My toothache has gone away... as long as I don't eat anything sweet.. or cold. Ok, so it hasn't gone away.. but the pain is manageable until we have the money to see a dentist. Thanks for all the well wishes.. personally I would rather be giving birth then suffering from a toothache!

Day 115:194

I gained half a pound over the weekend. Not a surprise though. I have been suffering a terrible toothache all weekend. Comfort foods that are easy to eat (like bread) have been all I've been able to eat. We have no insurance right now and no money for me to go running off to the dentist.. so if anyone has any home remedies to get rid of the pain please share!! I cant handle hot or cold and it is driving me crazy. Just drinking my water is painful... so I'm sure I'm pretty dehydrated to. Ugh.

I did manage to walk 3 miles this morning. It felt good to sweat..hmmm, never thought I would say that! LOL . Today we are supposed to get two feet of snow...and it has gotten off to a great start.

On a funny note.. my mom called me and asked me if I wanted to get out of the house one night a week and take belly dancing classes with her at the local college. How fun is that going to be!! LOL. I just hope we don't have to do a show at the end of the year!! So today I am going to try and make it into town to sign us both up. Classes begin next Monday night. Maybe this will help me lose a little more belly!!!

The site EatBetterAmerica.com (General Mills-run) is giving out free samples of the original Fiber One cereal. As you probably know, Fiber One provides 57% of the average adults daily fiber requirement, has 0 grams of sugar and 60 calories per serving.

To receive a sample you must sign up for the Eat Better America
newsletter. The newsletter is an e-mail that is sent out once per
month.
It provides recipes and tips for people to start living healthier
lives.

To receive the sample and sign up for the newsletter, Click Here!!
Most Americans get about half of the recommended 25 grams of fiber each day. With Fiber One® cereal, it's easier than ever to increase your daily fiber intake. Try using these 10 simple tips to help reach your fiber goals.


1)Scan for Bran
Look for “bran,” “whole grain” and “whole wheat” on product packages and ingredient labels. These ingredients can help boost fiber intake.

½ cup Fiber One cereal = 13g fiber

1 cup Fiber One Honey Clusters® = 13g fiber

2) Grab the Whole Food
Munch on a whole piece of fruit, in place of drinking a glass of juice. You’ll get the nutrients and the fiber too.

1 medium apple = 3g fiber

3) Savor the Skins
Eat fruit and vegetables with the skin on. Eating the skin helps to bump up the fiber, plus it provides texture and a bonus of other nutrients.

1 medium baked potato with skin on = 4g fiber

4) Screen for Beans
Replace your typical side dishes with high-fiber dried peas and beans, such as kidney, pinto, lentils or black-eyed peas. These fiber-packed legumes make it easier to meet daily fiber goals.

½ cup canned red kidney beans = 8g fiber

5) Go Nuts
Jazz up salads, vegetables, snacks and desserts with almonds, sunflower seeds or soy nuts. Nuts and seeds add fiber and fun-to-chew crunch to foods.

1 ounce roasted almonds = 3g fiber

6) Be Berry Wild
Choose raspberries, blackberries and boysenberries to add variety to your cereals. These berries have twice the fiber of many other fruit selections.

½ cup fresh raspberries = 4g fiber

7) Bring on the Brown
Use brown rice instead of white. Switch to whole-wheat pasta, whole-wheat flour whole-wheat breads and whole-grain crackers instead of regular white versions.

1 cup brown rice = 3g fiber

8) Skip the Chips
Select snacks that are a good source of fiber. Instead of potato chips, go for low-fat popcorn, whole-grain pretzels or oven-crisped whole-wheat pita triangles.

3 cups popcorn = 4g fiber

9) Drink Up
Water is a healthy beverage choice—especially as you up the fiber. Your body needs more water to help process the added fiber you eat.

Aim for eight 8-oz glasses of water each day.

10) Sneak in Some Fiber One® cereal
Mix Fiber One cereal into your favorite side dishes or top yogurt, salads or oatmeal. Even a small amount of Fiber One cereal makes a difference.

¼ cup Fiber One cereal for sprinkling = 7g fiber

Day 111: 193

As promised, today is a rest day. I had to literally force myself to stay in bed and read my book. There were two things I was afraid I would do...1) get bored and hop on the treadmill (is there such a thing as exercise-a-holic? let me rephrase that...is there any such thing as a 50 lb overweight exercise-a-holic??LOL)

or 2) eat. I am one of those emotional eaters that will stuff her face if she is bored. I managed to lay in bed and read my book for a couple of hours while the girls played on the bed. At 8:30 I was feeling the hunger pains and the girls were ready to eat as well. I made some pancakes (no syrup) and a cup of tea. I am back on track now with my daily doings... I think I will be more then ready to hop on the treadmill tomorrow morning!!

Today is nothing but laundry and dusting... thrilling isn't it?

See you tomorrow!!

Day 110: 193

I am so close to the 180's I can taste it... This also makes the lightest I have been in 4 years. How fantastic does that make me feel!! The best thing is that being this close to the 80's gives me so much more motivation to keep going. I don't remember the last time I weighed anywhere in the 180's. It had to have been years ago. So I am determined to leave the 190's behind me and enter into a new me, but only for a little while.. until I get into the new new me of the 170's! LOL

I wogged 3 miles this morning and did a full body weight lifting regimen. Tomorrow is a rest day, and I am in desperate need of one. Not that I physically feel like I need a break, but I think sometimes I get into the mentality that I have to keep going and if I take a day off then I will sabotage myself and never get back on track. How sad is that, eh? I , mentally, wont let myself take a break because I am so terrified that one day off will ruin me. So I now have odd days of the week marked on the calender for 'REST' days... and I have to follow my calender. At least this way I guarantee that I wont burn myself out. Plus, I always find myself breaking my own records running the day after!

So, food is on track. Water is flowing well. My waist is shrinking (yippeeee!) and I am loving this new year!

"Running is the greatest metaphor for life, because you get out of it what you put into it." - Oprah Winfrey

Day 109: 194

A little bit of a gain, but that is to be expected after doing a full weight lifting regimen yesterday. I wogged 2 miles this morning and it felt fantastic. A perfect beginning to a new year.

Hubby is home today, so we are spending the day relaxing. He wants a 'special' dinner tonight so I am looking at making surf and turf. If I keep my portions small it should be fine. I am also going to make an angel food cake with some cinnamon peaches over the top for dessert! Mmmmmm

I am going to crawl under the blankets and finish reading my book now.... another perfect beginning to a new year.

:)