Pumping Iron

I would really like to start incorporating some upper body weight training into my workouts. My arms are so flabby they look like wings (I can honestly flap them...it is disgusting) and my breasts look droopy and deflated. My cousin once told me that she thought her boobs looked like the cover of playboy, then she had a baby and now they look like the cover of national geographic. I can relate.

My grandma recently gave us a weight bench with a barbell and several different weights that can be added to it. We also have a pretty good variety of dumbbells. Now I am thinking about adding just a quick 15 minutes of some lifting to work out chest, shoulders and arms.

Sometimes I think it is weird how we can have so much knowledge and not apply it. I have read at least 20 books on losing weight and nutrition, my degree is in health science which required me to take nutrition classes, and my husband has worked in the supplement industry for over 10 years. My very first job I was a certified aerobics instructor. Actually for years, when we lived in Boise we worked out at Gold's Gym and I was inundated with information about bodybuilding and weight lifting. I totally know how to do it. I know what I should eat and how to make my body into a calorie burning machine. I actually think I could write a book on it and teach other people proper techniques for exercise. So why is it sometimes so hard to do it myself?

I'm already trying to figure out a game plan for when I return to work. Some of the challenges I will face when I go back: eating breakfast, packing a lunch and still finding time to exercise. I'll take any suggestions.

Begging to workout

This week Hudson has been sick and it has been a little harder to get in the workouts yet somehow I have gotten to do them everyday but it gets later and later in the evenings.

Travis has to watch both kids while I work out and I think the other day was the first time that we got into a funny argument about how much I could work out. For the first time since I can remember I was arguing that I should get to workout more. The conversation went something like this:

Cheryl: Well, I've got to go get my workout in; have fun with the kiddos (smirk)

Travis: Now don't go thinking that you are going to go do 90 minutes or something like that, like you did the other day.

Cheryl: It wasn't 90 minutes, it was 75

Travis: Whatever

Cheryl: How about a compromise, I'll only do 60

Travis: 30

Cheryl: No...at least 45, come on

Travis: Okay; 45 (smile)

Haha. I ended up doing 60 and he was great and watched the kids. I did have to chuckle to myself though that it felt like I was begging to exercise. I feel so determined this time and I am actually looking forward to my workouts. It helps that I am addicted to Biggest Loser and want to see who was kicked off. Thankfully I have a supportive husband that is willing to let me just spend an hour on myself. Thanks Trav! Love you.

Still Going Strong

Sorry I haven't posted in a while, it has been crazy busy. Don't worry; I have not fallen off the wagon. I am still doing well. Exercising frequently and maintaining my points on Weight Watchers. Now that I am in the teens I get one less point to eat each day so now I am only allowed 32 points per day. I know this is going to get tougher the more I lose because I will have to eat even less in order to keep losing.

I am so thankful that I started this blog. It is really holding me accountable and I want to thank my followers for being so supportive. I get an email or text almost everyday from someone that has read the blog and wants to give support and opinion. Keep it coming, it is keeping me motivated.

Good news. It is always hard to see the weight loss on yourself in the mirror because you look at yourself everyday. However, Sunday my grandparents came over to see the kiddos (they had been out of town and hadn't seen them in about 10 days). I had't told them about my blog or really what I am doing and on Monday my grandpa called me and asked if I had lost weight. He said that he could tell in my face and that it did not go unnoticed. Then he asked what I was doing to lose it. I confessed about weight watchers. He said that he had recently gained about 15 pounds and might want to try WW too and that after he saw me, he got inspired. Wow! Someone could tell. That helps to keep ya going.

Mac Attack

So yesterday was a crazy day. I woke up a little later than normal since Hudson had preschool and left with Travis, I got to sleep till almost 8. I have two friends that also recently had babies and I had invited them over for a healthy lunch and to go walking in the neighborhood. My house was kind of a wreck so after waking up I hurried around picking up, gave the baby a bath and got myself ready. They were to be here at 11. I only ate a nutrigrain bar for breakfast as I was on the run. My friends came over, we had a great lunch and took a short walk. Travis called around 2PM and said that Hudson's preschool had called and that he had a fever and was not feeling well. He picked him up and brought him home. I got busy taking care of him and lost track of time. I had a CPR class to teach at 6PM in Knoxville (almost an hour away) and thought I would pick up a subway sandwich on my way for dinner.

I left late for my class then realized I forgot my wallet when I was about a mile from home and had to turn around to get it. Then while on my way, I got on auto pilot and took a wrong turn which also set me back about another 5 minutes. Nevertheless, I was running very late to my class. I hurried to my location and had no time to spare which meant I didn't get a chance to eat. Dang it. I taught my three hour class and surprisingly I wasn't hungry. I think it was the adrenaline pumping from trying to keep my class interested and entertained. By the time the class was over though, I was very hungry and I saw the golden arches on the way home. I had a Mac attack.

I knew that I had several points available for me to eat since I had practically ate nothing during the day. (I know, I know, it is bad). So I quickly pulled through and got myself a happy meal. I brought the toy home to Hudson and still stayed 2 points under my daily WW value. I definitely don't want to make this a habit but I am starting to think that it is all about portion control. The small hamburger and fry at McDonald's is not going to ruin me. Now, if I had the big mac and fry supersized that would of been VERY BAD. Looking back I wish I would of picked the apple slices in place of the fries but I forgot you could do that.

McDonalds now puts all of their nutritional information on the wrapper/box of your food. Next time you pull through and get your sandwich check out the calories. It is unbelievable. Even my small hamburger had 295, a quarter pounder with cheese has 500. It is amazing how the portions sizes have changed throughout time. Now you get more for less. It is like the food industry wants us all to be fat and obese.

Chocoholic

Mmm.. I love chocolate, especially dark chocolate. I have found two very yummy treats that are very low in points for the weight watcher plan.

1) 1.5 Cups of raw strawberry dipped in 2TBSP chocolate sundae syrup (3 points); it is best if you heat the syrup for 15 seconds. This way it makes it thin and will last for all your strawberries.

2) 1 TBSP special dark chocolate chips (2 points), while a TBSP doesn't seem like many, it is actually quite a few when you measure it all out.

When you absolutely need to address your sweet tooth, you may want to try this out. So good and no guilt associated with it! I am loving it!

Weight Watcher results: Week 3

I am so happy to be reporting a loss. I thought for sure that it wouldn't happen. I really did step up my exercise this week in order to compensate. The other night while watching Biggest Loser on the treadmill, Jillian said "run 5 minutes"....so I did. It about killed me. I had to talk my way through it. I kept saying, "you can do it", "1 more minute", "keep going". Thankfully, no one could hear me. haha.

This week I am going to focus on drinking my water and eating all my points. I automatically go into dieters mentality and don't eat enough. I know that this will hurt me in the long run because your body goes into starvation mode and holds onto everything. I am also trying to eat a more substantial breakfast and to eat it a little earlier in the morning.

2.1 pounds this week! So happy to be in the teens. 200 here I come! Yippee!