Back on the Wagon

Hey y'all. I actually finished 90 days of P90X at the end of March. Woo-hoo! I lost about 15 pounds and was starting to see some muscle definition! My clothes were fitting great!

But I needed a break from Tony Horton & crew. So I got a Jackie Warner video and for the month of April planned on alternating her video with her treadmill interval workout. The first week started out well.

Then I Fell Off The Wagon.

Having an open schedule was the death of me. I didn't have a calendar on the wall and the pressure to "do this workout today, or you'll get behind or be off track".

Darn. 5 lbs creeped back on.

So now I'm back with a schedule, as of this past Monday. I started a P90X/Insanity hybrid. 3 days a week, I do P90X, and 3 days a week I do Insanity (another Beachbody workout plan that is mostly cardio).

I printed out a schedule I found on the internet and made it into a calendar. My 90 days began this past Monday, May 9th and will continue until July 31. Perfect, since we have a couple trips planned in August.

I like the mix of the two programs so far. I was scared to try Insanity, but I've done better with it than I thought I would. Yes it's hard, but it's not impossible.

I want to get back to that whole weigh in thing. I'll use my starting weight from prior to my first round of P90X:

Starting weight: 177 pounds
Current weight: 165 pounds

Goal weight: 130 pounds

Lost this week: N/A
Lost total: 12 pounds
Left to lose: 35

And I want to get my hubby to take some photos of me so I can compare them to some more photos at the end. Maybe by then I'll be brave enough to share them.

And a little update on Mr:

He has LOST 40 POUNDS! He started a "Biggest Loser" type weight loss challenge at our gym, and really stuck with it. He had sessions with a trainer, got weighed in every week, and ate about a third of what he used to. Now that program's over (he came SO close to winning, which would have meant a bunch more training sessions for free, but he didn't win) he's on his own, and it's up to him to stick with it.

Summer will be here before we know it. Gotta stick with it!

P90X (Day 1) Ouch. Already!

So we got the P90X videos in the mail. With all the accompaniments: fitness guide, nutritional guide, calendars, etc.

We spent the better part of yesterday clearing out a room in the basement.

We dusted off old weights, exercise bands, yoga mats and bought a chin up bar at Dick's.

We took our TV/DVD out of the kitchen, much to our childrens' discontent, and put it in said basement room.

We put up a bulletin board in order to track our progress on the calendar, and to post before and after pictures.

As of last night: all set. We are trying to come up with a clever name for our home gym. And when the walls are painted and less dingy, I'll post a picture. Not til then.

The alarm went off at 4:45 this morning: Time for Day 1. I dutifully got up and dressed, and headed down for the Day 1 workout. (Mr. remained snoring, as I fully expected. He's a night person.)

Day 1: Chest/Back (60 minutes) and Ab Ripper X (16 minutes)

I did it. I survived. It was very hard, and I had to modify many exercises, but I finished. I was dripping sweat. Guzzling water. I felt great afterwards. Now, OUCH. I'm starting to feel it already . . . everywhere.

I then showered/dressed, fed & let out dog, woke up kids, got everyone breakfast, made lunches, got everyone's stuff together for camps, Mr. took 2 kids to camp & day care, while I took the third to yet another camp (our summer is even crazier than our school year). And then I went to work.

All before 9 a.m.

I'm still guzzling water - and the hardest part of it all isn't even getting up at 4:45, or the exercise (which totally kicked my butt!). For me, it's the eating.

While I haven't gotten through the nutritional guide for P90X yet, I've already started: No SODA. No PROCESSED stuff. No CRAP. That's the hard part for me.

So far today, just water. Some eggs for breakfast. Salad for lunch.

Hopefully I can keep this up.

So here goes with the posting of weight again. While I may post more throughout the week, I'm just going to post weight 1x week as I'm trying not to be too obsessive about it.

Here goes:

Mrs:
Starting weight 7/12/10: 167.8 pounds
Goal weight: 130 pounds
Lbs left to lose: 37.8 pounds

Mr. promises to do the Day 1 videos tonight. I think doing them at night will work better for him . . again he is not a morning person. I would much rather do them in the morning . . I am much more of a morning person, and as the day goes on, so do my excuses!

Up tomorrow, Day 2: Plyometrics. I watched it yesterday, and boy, am I in for it. It looks even harder than what I did today. My goal . . is to finish in one piece!

Weigh in #3 Results - yay!

Mrs.

Starting weight: 171 pounds

Goal weight: 130 pounds

Current weight: 165.5

Pounds lost (gained) this week: 5.2!!

Total pounds lost (gained): 5.2!

Pounds left to lose: 35.5

Workouts: Classes: (3) Zumba classes, (1) Kickboxing. Runs: (2) 2.5-mile runs

Mr.

Starting weight: 240 pounds

Goal weight: 180 pounds

Current weight: 233

Pounds lost (gained) this week: 7!

Total pounds lost (gained): 7

Pounds left to lose: 53

Workouts: 2, at the gym (primarily 45 min on elliptical)

OK, so the Sugar Solution diet is working for us. And it's yummy - I've liked everything on it so far. It is enough food and is satisfying. And it is nice to bring everything to work, so I'm not milling around our cafeteria at lunchtime making bad choices.

The down side: it's expensive - all these fruits and vegetables don't come cheap this time of year, and for example, a block of light Jarlsburg cheese is not exactly buy 1 get 1 free at our supermarket. The prep is also a lot of work. I find myself coming home from work, cooking dinner, cleaning up dinner, and then cooking whatever I need for lunch (and sometimes dinner the next day) and then cleaning that up. Phew - that's a lot to do after a long day of work.

Also, the kids are fairly averse to much of this food - so I have to make other things for them. I'd love to have them adopt this way of eating too, but I'm starting to slowly incorporate them into it based on things I already know they like.

So, with results like these, we will soldier on, learning as we go. I am also going to order The Sugar Solution Cookbook, which has even more recipes.

Hopefully more results next week!

Weigh In #2 Rollercoaster week, literally

Mrs.
Starting weight: 168 pounds
Goal weight: 130 pounds
Current weight: 169 pounds
Pounds lost (gained) this week: (1)
Total pounds lost (gained): (1)
Pounds left to lose: 39
Workouts: Classes: Zumba (2), Body Blast

Well, I got the dreaded stomach virus last week. I was the third in my house to get it after my son and youngest daughter. Through my 2 days of intestinal hell, I had lost about five pounds, but after a weekend of normal eating -- it's back. Plus one. I did no exercise over the weekend, and ate a bunch.

What's good: Other than the two days I was sick, I did exercise during the other days of the work week (Monday, Thursday, Friday), even trying a new class - Body Blast. It's intervals of weights and cardio, and I liked it. (Even though I had to leave 15 minutes early due to a meeting - bummer)

Also, when out to dinner last night, I ate half my dinner and boxed up the rest, which I just ate now for a yummy lunch at work. That's something I always think about, but never do. Last night I did it.

What needs work: Eating better, of course. And drinking less soda. I'm definitely drinking less, but I'm still drinking it. I can't seem to stop altogether. I don't have it in my house, which helps. While I'm faithful to the fitness classes, I've slacked off on my daily running. I started back up today though, running 2 miles after my lunchtime Zumba class. It felt really good. Now if I can just get my butt out of bed at 5am tomorrow to do a run before work! I might have to put off watching Jack Bauer tonight to be able to do that!

Miscellaneous: At the gym, I read an interview in Women's Health magazine with Alicia Silverstone about her new book, The Kind Diet. She of course is a vegan. She said when she switched to this style of eating, she stopped dieting and the weight fell off and she didn't feel deprived, because the food she was eating was so good.

The magazine also included a recipe for vegan peanut butter chocolate cups that looked yummy. Now, I'm not interested in going vegan (meat I could live without, but other stuff - esp. seafood - no way) but her book looks interesting and probably has some great recipes in it. She even says the book is targeted toward people that don't necessarily want to be vegans, but want to move toward a more plant-based diet. I'm going to consider buying it if I see it on sale or a used copy or something.

Have a great week. I still have high hopes that at some point I will start losing weight.

Weigh In #1 (of 2010)

OK, here's my first weigh in of 2010.

Mrs.
Starting weight: 168 pounds
Goal weight: 130 pounds
Current weight: 168 pounds
Pounds lost (gained) this week: fresh start
Total pounds lost (gained): fresh start
Pounds left to lose: 38
Workouts: lots planned!

So it's 168. I actually thought it would be more, since I ate a massive amount of chocolate chip cookies, and did NOTHING as far as exercise over the holiday break.

Today I got up at 5:30 and ran for 30 minutes, and I'm planning on going to Zumba class at lunchtime.

I've packed my breakfast, lunch AND snacks for work, and brought a huge water bottle. Hopefully this will keep me away from the cafeteria, where they sell delicious fountain soda.

Have a great week!

Weigh In #20: Just One Thing

Mrs.
Starting weight: 152 pounds
Goal weight: 130 pounds
Current weight: 166.2 pounds
Pounds lost (gained) this week: .2 pounds gained
Total pounds lost (gained): (14.2)
Pounds left to lose: 36.2
Workouts: (1) Zumba class, 1 kickboxing class

Yes, I gained this week. But at some point this week my weight was higher, so I'm glad I only showed a .2 gain this morning. Surprisingly, I haven't had much Halloween candy.

So last time I blogged I was gung-ho about eating only fruits and vegetables. For a couple days, it was great and I felt great. But with all things, I fell off the wagon pretty quickly and went back to my normal crap eating and drinking soda.

Then I read a blog post on the Harvard Business Publishing site about changing just one thing. The author, Peter Bregman, lost 18 pounds by changing just one thing about his lifestyle. Of course it was a big one - he cut out all sugar. But that's all he did. He advocates changing just one thing. You are to figure out what "one thing" would give you the most bang for your buck, and do it - don't change anything else. Put ALL your focus on the one thing.

Now, cutting out sugar would be HUGE. But I tend to rebel with deprivation, so I think that's too much for me. I've decided my one thing would be my regular sodas. Each one has a couple hundred calories, and I have a couple a day, so I think that it should have an impact.

So, I'm cutting out soda. So far this morning I have been drinking orange-flavored seltzer, and it is an adequate substitute.

So that's my one thing. However, it's really two things.

At 5am this morning, I got up and went running on my treadmill.

Not far. I want to start small so I can actually turn this into a habit. I warmed up walking for 5 minutes, ran for 10, and walked to cool down for 5. So 20 minutes total, about 1.25 mi. Then some stretching afterwards. It felt good, I worked up a sweat. So now I want to make a habit of doing it every day. (And eventually run a little longer and faster).

Getting up early to run while the rest of the house sleeps ensures I get a workout in no matter how busy or crazy my day gets. That's been my issue - consistency - I have good intentions, then life happens - meetings, doctor appointments, onset of laziness, etc, which throw off my plans. Then a day goes by without a workout, and then 2 days, 3 days, etc. . . then yet another weigh in with disappointing results.

So, the plan is: Cut out soda, run 20 minutes every day. Can I do it daily until next weigh in? Tune in next week to find out!

Weigh In # 19: *&@#!!!!

Mrs.
Starting weight: 152 pounds
Goal weight: 130 pounds
Current weight: 166 pounds
Pounds lost (gained) this week: 1.8 pounds gained
Total pounds lost (gained): (14)
Pounds left to lose: 36
Workouts: (3) Zumba classes, (2) 30 minute run/walk intervals

Crap! The darn creep keeps creeping. I need a jump start. I need inspiration.

I need to STOP EATING CRAP AND DRINKING SODA! RIGHT NOW!

So I've got the exercise thing down. I'm not the most consistent, but I do what I can. I enjoy it, it does wonders for my stress level, and it helps me sleep better at night. I'm averaging 4-5 days a week. Not bad.

So DARN IT, now I need to focus on eating habits. I need a jump start, something drastic. I pored over my current self help books (Fight Fat After Forty, and The Psychology of Weight Loss) and I've decided to do a fast. No, not that crazy maple syrup/lemonade/cayenne pepper thing. I'll never do that again! No, not a liquid diet.

I'm going to eat only fruits and vegetables, and drink only water. As much as I want, whenever I want. And see how long I can keep it up. I figure I'll cheat occasionally, but even so I'll still be better off than if I kept the status quo of eating mostly crap and drinking fountain Cokes all day long.

I've started today, except for breakfast (eggs, a biscuit with butter, and a large fountain Coke. See - crap!). I did an awesome Kickboxing class today (thanks Steph!). I loaded my plate with veggies (hot and cold) from the lunch buffets at work, and pulled out my 32 oz. Weight Watchers cup and drank a full one of water.

My books say you should drink 8 ounces of water for every 14-20 pounds of body weight. In my case that would be 64-94 ounces of water. Wow, that's a lot. I'll have to work up to it.

The books also say to buy a juicer and juice your own fruits and vegetables. I took a look at juicers online, and they are kind of pricey. My fridge is already loaded with some low-sodium cans of V8, so I think I'll use that up while I ponder getting a juicer.

I'm excited. I'm hoping this feels great and I'm not hungry all the time. I'm hoping to post some positive results come next Monday!

Weigh In #18: One Step Forward, Two Steps Back

Got off track on the 5k training (1 for 4). Getting back on track today.

This weekend was disastrous with eating. Just one example: we went out to eat last night to celebrate a big achiemevement Mr. had at work. He asked me my preference in restaurants, and I said wanted one with some healthy options.

The restaurant did have a variety of options, many of them healthy. I then proceeded to order BEEF NACHOS with a LARGE fountain Coke. And when the waitress asked me if I wanted my drink refilled, I said YES. Sigh.

This morning, while reading my new book, Fighting Fat After Forty, a passage really spoke to me. On page 217, it said:

"Your family and friends are the genuine treasures in life. You, in turn, are their greatest gift. Take care of your gift to them by acknowledging that your body needs care and attention.

Exercise is not about trudging to your workout, getting sore muscles, rushing around the gym. It's about moving your body every day, and leading a healthy, balanced, enjoyable life. And honoring the really important priorities in your life."

Good stuff, right? Now here's where it gets REALLY GOOD:

"If you neglect yourself, if you don't exercise, if you continue to eat self-destructively, you will not only shorten your life, but you will also bring sadness to your loved ones."

Wow. Now that's something to print out and post on the bathroom mirror, fridge, and computer monitor. Thank you, Dr. Pamela Peeke.

Well, here's the weigh-in, another disappointment.

Mrs.
Starting weight: 152 pounds
Goal weight: 130 pounds
Current weight: 164.2
Pounds lost (gained) this week: 1 pounds gained
Total pounds lost (gained): (12.2)
Pounds left to lose: 34.2
Workouts: 1 Zumba class, 1 walk/run, 2 "P.M. Yoga" video sessions

Weigh In #17: 5k, here we come

I'm back in workout mode. I successfully completed the first week of 5k training. It's not THAT much of an accomplishment, because it was just 4 days of 30 minute walks. Not very hard. But I was determined to stick to it.

THIS week we start the actual running. I'm trying to be very disciplined and finish out this plan. Discipline is not something that comes easily to me - maybe my parents should have sent me to military school.

Mr. decided to do the 5k training program with me. He did the first two days of walks, then he hurt his back and was out of commission for a few days. He is going to start the program over again this week.

Even though I'm back in workout mode, no weight loss. In fact, weight gain. Yeah, it sucks, big time.

I started reading a new book, Fight Fat After Forty: The Revolutionary Three-Pronged Approach That Will Break Your Stress-Fat Cycle and Make You Healthy, Fit, and Trim for Life by Pamela Peeke, M.D.

It's one of those books where as I'm reading it, I feel like the author is speaking SPECIFICALLY TO ME.

Mind you, I'm not yet 40, but close enough. And I've got stress fat galore. I'm working my way through the book and once I become clear on the plan, I'll implement it (and of course let you know more about it).

So far, what I've gleaned is that you've got to exercise regularly, do your best to deal with stress in your life, watch portions, up fruits and vegetables, and not eat complex carbs for dinner most nights.

Not rocket science, I've heard all those things before.

But in the book Dr. Peeke really breaks down physiologically what happens to a woman's body with age . . . and scientifically why we need more activity and less calories as we get older.

The message that's really stuck with me is that eating healthy and exercising is not just to get and stay thin- in your forties and beyond, it's more important to do these things in order to AVOID DISEASE so that you may live for a very long time. I want to live to be at my grandchildrens' weddings and beyond!

I've already started trying to reduce stress by upping my yoga sessions this week. And I've been bringing grapes to work to snack on in the afternoon rather than hitting up the candy and cookies that are always floating around the office.

So here goes:

Mrs.

Starting weight: 152 pounds

Goal weight: 130 pounds

Current weight: 163.2

Pounds lost (gained) this week: 2 pounds gained

Total pounds lost (gained): (11.2)

Pounds left to lose: 33.2

Workouts: 1 Zumba class, 4 days of 30 minute walks, 4 "P.M. Yoga" video sessions

Mr.

Starting weight: 245 pounds

Goal weight: 185 pounds

Current weight: 238

Pounds lost (gained) this week: (unknown)

Total pounds lost: 7

Pounds left to lose: 45

Workouts: 2 - 30 minute walks

Weigh In #16: Vacation happens

We were on vacation last week. We didn't go too nuts with eating, and I only had a few sodas over the course of a week. I did have ice cream a couple times though.

2 pounds gained is not too bad, I think. Back on the wagon now. I went to Zumba class yesterday and also walked on the treadmill for 20 min last night.

I'm starting a "Couch to 5k" training program in anticipation of running another 5k with Diva in November. It's will be my 3rd 5k since May, so I'm not exactly starting from the couch, but I hadn't previously trained for them and have paid for it the next few days after the races.

Mr. said he wanted to do the program too. But when I reminded him to walk his 20 minutes last night, he pretended not to hear me and kept watching TV.

So I'm going to hopefully stick to this 5k training program in addition to my exercise classes, and hope that it jump starts my weight loss. I'll post more details about the program soon.

Mrs.

Starting weight: 152 pounds
Goal weight: 130 pounds

Current weight: 161.2
Pounds lost (gained) this week: 2 pounds gained

Total pounds lost (gained): (9.2)
Pounds left to lose: 31.2

Workouts: chasing 3 kids around the beach and pool, daily. Several bike rides & walks on the beach.

Mr.

Starting weight: 245 pounds
Goal weight: 185 pounds

Current weight: ?
Pounds lost (gained) this week:

Total pounds lost: 15
Pounds left to lose: 45

Workouts: chasing 3 kids around the beach and pool, daily. Several bike rides & walks.

Weigh In #15: Back in the Saddle!

Success this week, but not without its challenges! (My birthday was on Sunday, and darn it, I ate cake. Reese's Peanut Butter Ice Cream Cake, from Friendly's. It was worth it!) Mr. in particular had a great week. With virtually no workouts, I may add (grrr....). He can drop weight, seemingly, by just thinking about it. Wish it was that easy for me!

Mrs.

Starting weight: 152 pounds
Goal weight: 130 pounds

Current weight: 159.2 pounds
Pounds lost (gained) this week: 3 pounds lost, yay!

Total pounds lost (gained): (7.2)
Pounds left to lose: 29.2

Workouts: 5 (1 Zumba class, 1 Kickboxing class, 3 one-mile speed walks around my very hilly neighborhood)

Mr.

Starting weight: 245 pounds
Goal weight: 185 pounds

Current weight: 230 pounds
Pounds lost (gained) this week: 8

Total pounds lost: 15
Pounds left to lose: 45

Workouts: some yardwork on Sunday in 95 degree heat.

Weigh In #13: Progress, FINALLY!

Mrs.

Starting weight: 152 pounds
Current weight: 154.8 pounds
Pounds lost (gained) this week: 4.2 lost!!
Total pounds lost (gained): (2.8)
Pounds left to lose: 22
Workouts: 3 (Zumba, kickboxing, weights)

Seeing results from the Suzanne Somers diet...and I actually like eating this way. I feel satisfied and not deprived. I counted 4.2 pounds lost because last Wednesday, before I started Somersizing, I weighed (gulp) 159. Hoping I can stick with it and melt away at least 22 more pounds....hopefully at least 10-15 before my June vacation.....

Weigh In #12: Maintaining the Status Quo

Mrs.
Starting weight: 152 pounds
Current weight: 157 pounds
Pounds lost (gained) this week: 0
Total pounds lost (gained): (5)
Pounds left to lose: 27
Workouts: 5!!!

Mr.
Starting weight: 245 pounds
Current weight: 234 pounds
Pounds lost (gained) this week: 0
Total pounds lost: 11
Pounds left to lose: 54
Workouts: 2

So we both stayed flat this week. A little disappointing, but I'm glad I didn't gain. I may not be losing pounds on the scale but I am noticing that my clothes fit differently (better)...so hopefully I am converting fat to muscle!

Here are the workouts I did this week:
Monday: treadmill intervals
Tuesday: treadmill/weights/abs
Wednesday: kickboxing boot-camp type class (kicked my butt!)
Thursday: took the day off, WAY sore from kickboxing
Friday: treadmill/weights/abs
Saturday: Zumba class for an HOUR - way hard but awesome
Sunday: No formal exercise, but housecleaning and outside work day long

Progress!

Mrs.
Starting weight: 152 pounds
Current weight: 157 pounds
Pounds lost (gained) this week: 2!
Total pounds lost (gained): (5)
Pounds left to lose: 27
Workouts: 5!!!


Mr.
Starting weight: 245 pounds
Current weight: 234 pounds
Pounds lost (gained) this week: 2
Total pounds lost: 11
Pounds left to lose: 54
Workouts: 2

The momentum continues. I am in the habit of working out daily now and feel guilty if I don't. We are slowly changing our eating habits as well....making better choices and EATING LESS!

Hard Work, No Results

Mrs.
Starting weight: 152 pounds
Current weight: 159 pounds
Pounds lost (gained) this week: (4)
Total pounds lost (gained): (7)
Pounds left to lose: 29
Workouts: 5!!!

Mr.
Starting weight: 245 pounds
Current weight: 236 pounds
Pounds lost (gained) this week: (1)
Total pounds lost: 9
Pounds left to lose: 56
Workouts: 2

I continue to gain. I worked so hard last week - Zumba twice, did my weight lifting workout 3 days, and did cardio for the other days. It felt great. Did not do so hot with eating, however. I will not give up, however. Hopefully next week will be good news.

Weigh In #8: Who are we kidding?

Mrs.
Starting weight: 152 pounds
Current weight: 154.7 pounds
Pounds lost (gained) this week: (2.7)
Total pounds lost: (2.7)
Pounds left to lose: 24.7
Workouts: 3

Mr.
Starting weight: 245 pounds
Current weight: 240 pounds
Pounds lost (gained) this week: (2) pounds
Total pounds lost: 5
Pounds left to lose: 60
Workouts: 0

(Mrs.) Well, I gained big time this week. I feel awful about it. My eating habits stink right now, and it seems so difficult to stop it. I did work out a few times - doing the weight loss yoga video and hitting both gyms I belong to - at work and at home. Working out felt great. I tried to stop drinking fountain coke at work by bringing big bottles of flavored seltzer. (That also worked out OK).

But, the kids got report cards on Friday, and they both did REALLY well, so we went out for ice cream, and Mr. and I partook as well. I had a huge chocolate shake, and french fries (to dip in the shake, of course!) Then, the Superbowl. I made spareribs in the Crock-Pot, and had lots of other munchies as well. Mr. took a look at my grocery list yesterday and said it was all crap. He was right.

Really, what are we thinking? Do we think that the pounds will just melt off as we sit on the couch watching football eating cheese popcorn and Oreos? Memorial Day is only 112 days away. We need to be bathing suit ready by then!

On a positive note, I did make small steps with the exercise and less fountain Coke drinking. I'm thinking I might try to make a couple of small changes each week instead of trying to drastically diet. I'm hoping that when all these small changes are added up, it will mean RESULTS.

Today I'm trying a Zumba class at work with a friend. I've never done Zumba before. I believe it is a kind of Latin dance type of exercise class. I'm sure it will look very humorous to see me try to salsa or something - a dancer I'm not. But it looks like fun and I've been wanting to try it for a while, so we'll see how that goes.

So this week, my small steps are: continuing my small steps from last week, trying the exercise classes at work (I've never done that before, I've always just used the treadmill) and just getting eggs in the morning, no breakfast meat.

Have a great week!

Weigh In #7: Shame Spiral

Yup, we're really lame. We've skipped weigh ins because we knew it would be bad. I've asked Mr. for his weight several times this week, and he says he hasn't done it yet. I'm going to go ahead and post anyway, and will update if he decides to do it.

Pounds are starting to sneak up on us again. Stress eating has taken over, and we need to take control and stop it. No excuses! Here's my Hall of Shame:


Mrs.

Starting weight: 152 pounds
Current weight: 152.7 pounds
Pounds lost this week: (2.7)
Total pounds lost: (.7)
Pounds left to lose: 22.7
Workouts: 0


OK, now I'm over my starting weight. Bummer. Now we have to stop the downward spiral and get going again. Here are my areas of focus for the time being:

• Do some type of exercise every day (I can certainly find at least 20 or so minutes each day)
• Drink seltzer instead of soda at work (I hate diet soda so I've been drinking regular, SO bad!)
• Eat less at each meal (My portions have been getting bigger and bigger, not good.)

Hopefully these will result in no more gain, and I will be able to post a loss next week.

Weigh In #5: $%#@*!!

Mr.
Starting weight: 245 pounds
Current weight: 238 pounds
Pounds lost this week: 0 pounds
Total pounds lost: 9
Pounds left to lose: 61
Workouts: 0
Mrs.
Starting weight: 152 pounds
Current weight: 150 pounds
Pounds lost this week: (3)
Total pounds lost: 2
Pounds left to lose: 20
Workouts: 2

Well, this isn't good. And we can't even use the holidays as an excuse - they are over. We went out to dinner last night, and while we usually don't, somehow we felt compelled to order dessert. Mr. shared a sundae with our daughter, and I shared one with our son. They were HUGE and while they were good, I felt so awful after eating it - it wasn't worth it.
On a positive note, I've started doing yoga again before I go to bed. I have a video by Patricia Walden called "P.M. Yoga" that I love. It's only 20 minutes long, and I sleep like a baby after doing it. Much to my amusement, my 6 year old son has been joining me when he sees me getting ready to do it. Of course he talks the ENTIRE time, but I like that it's something we can do together. He says it helps him get to sleep too.
It's a beginner tape, so I think it will help me more with stress management than weight loss. I did purchase a Biggest Loser: Yoga for Weight Loss DVD, which I'll try this week and comment on. I've watched it through once, it looks like it will kick my butt. Good. I need some butt-kicking.

Weigh In #4: Holiday Excesses, continued

Our holiday excess has continued. No workouts (except for about 20 minutes of yoga last night in my case) and tons (and tons) of eating. I have no idea how I lost a pound, I certainly didn't deserve it. I have eaten entirely too much over the past several days. I am looking forward to the holidays being over so our eating and exercise can get back to normal and we can really start losing.

Mr.
Starting weight: 245 pounds
Current weight: 238 pounds
Pounds lost this week: (2) pounds
Total pounds lost: 9
Pounds left to lose: 61
Workouts: 0

Mrs.
Starting weight: 152 pounds
Current weight: 147 pounds
Pounds lost this week: 1
Total pounds lost: 5
Pounds left to lose: 17
Workouts: 1

Weigh In #3: Holiday Excesses

Mr.
Starting weight: 245 pounds
Current weight: 236 pounds
Pounds lost this week: 2 pounds
Total pounds lost: 11
Pounds left to lose: 59
Workouts: 0

Mrs.
Starting weight: 152 pounds
Current weight: 148 pounds
Pounds lost this week: (1)
Total pounds lost: 4
Pounds left to lose: 18
Workouts: 0

Bah Humbug. I gained this week. Well, I deserved it. No workouts, and a weekend of Christmas party excesses. Two straight nights (Sat and Sun) of pigging out on meatball sandwiches, baked ziti, tons of yummy appetizers, and desserts. Didn't need those calories, but everything was delicious and a good time was had by all (Thanks, J & C!)

The holidays are so busy, I'm not even going to say that I'm going to try to work out this week. If it happens, it happens. I've got a ton of stuff going on. My goal is to not gain any more, and be REALLY good starting next week. Have a great week!