Lara's Monday weigh-in

Amazingly, I lost 2.2 this week, even with the PMS I've been experiencing the last couple days.  Woo hoo!  It brings my 3 week total to 5.3.  I'm hoping that I can lose 10 pounds total in another 3 weeks.  That will feel good.

This week I resolve to up my exercise.  I decided to have my husband bring the exercise bike upstairs where the TV is.  It's currently in the computer room, and I usually watch Hulu or something online while working out, but my computer is on the fritz and that hasn't been working for a while.  A new one is on the way, but I think I'll be happier with the bike upstairs anyway.  I will also commit to doing Jillian 3 times this week, even if it kills me.  And it probably will.

In other news, my husband lost 3.7 lbs this week.

I hate him.

End of the week check-in

As Hilary mentioned in a previous post, some of her friends are doing a 30 Day Shred Challenge, and I believe she called those doing it "crazy". I'd have to agree with that assessment- and I'm one of the friends doing it.

The challenge consists of doing Jillian Michaels' DVD 30 Day Shred 6 days a week for 5 weeks. There are 3 levels on the DVD, so the idea is to do each level for 10 days. Each workout is 20 minutes, but it's a HARD 20 minutes. Working in intervals of 3 minutes of strength, 2 minutes of cardio, 1 minute of abs, it is non stop, and intense.

To tell the truth, it's not an enjoyable workout. I have to make myself do it, (working out at the same time every day helps- I just do it because it's time) and I have to push myself to keep going as my muscles scream at me.

So why am I doing it?

Because it works, dang it all. It's only been 5 days, and I'm seeing more definition in my shoulders and arms. My calves, thighs, and booty have stopped screaming at me every time I take a step, and I can make it almost all the way through the level 1 workout (using 5lb weights, no less) without wanting to die. (The anterior raises with a lunge at the end still have me wishing for oblivion and grabbing the 2 lb weights.)

I'm not seeing any change to inches or weight yet, but I'm feeling stronger, and that's a great thing.

Highs and Lows: Sick

Seattle, please take back your weather, thanks so much for sharing it with us...
but I have had a cold forEVER.  Actually, I did get better for about a week.  It was delightful.  No more.  We've all had a cold this week and it really makes working out, eating right and general living a total bummer.

The low has obviously been being sick.

The high has been doing yoga when I feel all tired and bitter.  It's amazing how great stretching can make you feel, even if you only do it for 10 minutes.  What is less amazing is when your husband complains when you're making him stretch.  Guess who was home sick yesterday.

I feel the couch is calling my name....

Blamo!

So after my post yesterday this is good news. Showing that my healthy eating and working out are finally starting to pay off a little.... I hope.... I suppose it could have just been water weight tho too.

Anyhoo, I'm down 1.2 lbs this morning. Shazam! That's a good feeling. It makes this healthy eating thing actually not seem fruitless....no pun intended :)

I know, it's been forever

Only because I don't have much to report in the weight loss category. I've pretty much flatlined....well....actually gained a little. Which is frustrating considering I'm jogging at least 3 times a week and eating pretty paleolithically. But I chalk it up to gaining muscle.

One bit of good news is that on Monday I jogged 2.3 miles straight. Wahooo! It was hard but I did it! Slow progress but my endurance is slowly getting better and better. Yay me.

Workout Du Jour: Pump me up peeps!

Ok, I need some hype around here.

SOMETHING.  I don't know if it's allergies or what but they're killing me, making me SO tired.  I find that being tired makes me want to eat, eat, eat (hence, the 10 pound gain AFTER having P).  It's hard to follow WW.  What's worse is we went to a potluck last night and that was even harder.

I want to jump in our bin of no bake cookies and never look back, but perhasp I'll steam an artichoke instead.

P didn't sleep last night and when my alarm went off at 5:45 this morning I had no will to workout.  I still came out and realy tried, but it just wansn't in me.  I'm excited about a new video I got... and it was fun for what I could muster today, but I hope to give a full review next week. :)

BUT, I did get some new yoga DVD's for my birthday and I did this one  yesterday.  This type of yoga is a lot about stretching, which is what I need.  I got 2 of the DVD's but I feel like there's a lot of overlap.  I think one would have been plenty.  BUT, this DVD has a TON of options!  It has over 3 hours of options on it.  I'm excited to try them.  They also have "quick fixes" for things that might be problematic.  Thinks like Sciatica, PMS, headaches.  I think there might even be one for your immune system (I should crack that open today!).  My main gripe is the clothing, or how little of clothing there is.  I don't like watching it in front of the kids (which is probably OK, while I don't love working out to any video in front of an audience, this one is particularly awkward, especially because of the breathing, and the lack of clothes).  However, it sure does show you what your body should be doing.  I hope mine looks like hers once I'm done! :)  The best part is that the options can be like 6 minutes, or you  can do more, or you could put the options together.  It can really fit into the amount of time you have.  I did the opening energy burst (or something like that) and the sciatica one yesterday, because a lot of the stretches would also be good for my tailbone.  It felt great!  It took about 30 minutes, which was perfect.

Just a little bit crazy

This is my new goal. Utterly bananas, I know. Will it take me forever? Very possibly. All I know is that my shorter term goals of toning up and losing inches aren't keeping me motivated, and for some reason this is. Every time I'm torturing myself with anterior shoulder raises I think of how my arms and shoulders are getting stronger, and I'm closer to being able to hold my body up over my head. (It's insane, I tell you.)

And someday? I'm going to be able to do this:



Possibly even at the beach. Probably not in a bikini.
Will you make an insane fitness goal? Something huge to work toward? It's fuuuuun!