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.

Back on track....

Mrs.
Starting weight: 152 pounds
Current weight: 155.4 pounds
Pounds lost (gained) this week: (.7)
Total pounds lost (gained): (3.4)
Pounds left to lose: 25.1
Workouts: 4!!!

Mr.
Starting weight: 245 pounds
Current weight: 235 pounds
Pounds lost (gained) this week: 5 pounds
Total pounds lost: 10
Pounds left to lose: 55
Workouts: 2

I know, it's showing I've gained. But I've really lost. My weight crept up to the 158-9 range, and I was too ashamed to weigh in. But I've been working out religiously over the past 3 weeks, and trying to do better with eating, and it shows - I've lost a few pounds.

So now I'm within spitting distance of my starting point. That's progress!

I am motivated to keep going. I've been doing ZUMBA classes (SO fun!), intervals on the treadmill, a weight circuit program (all at the gym at work), and at least one workout over the weekend. I keep thinking of our vacation in June and how I want to feel good in a bathing suit by then - it's totally do-able.

Trainer-to-the-Stars Jackie Warner's fitness tips

In Family Circle magazine, I read about a walk/run regiment touted by Jackie Warner, trainer to the rich-and-famous. She says this workout, which she recommends to all her clients, should be done at least 3 times a week for 20 minutes at a time, and she claims you will drop weight even if you don't change your eating habits.

The Family Circle blurb had more details, but I think it got prematurely put in the recycle bin. However, I went to Jackie's site and found this:

Jackie Warner's walk/run interval workout:

Raise ramp to maximum uphill and slow walk (almost a lunge) for 2 minutes.

Lower the ramp and run for 2 minutes.

Walk for 1 minute to catch your breath

Repeat 3 more times (equals a 20 minute session).

I tried this at the gym on Saturday, and it kicked my butt! I am not a runner, but the running was much easier than walking on the treadmill at the maximum uphill. And doing the intervals makes the time go so fast - 20 minutes was up before I knew it. I am going to keep doing this, along with my weight loss yoga DVD, and hopefully I'll see some results.

Check out Jackie's page - she listed a bunch more fitness tips here.

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!

Review: Biggest Loser Weight Loss Yoga DVD

Right around the holidays I purchased the Biggest Loser: Weight Loss Yoga DVD at Borders. It costs around $12. I love yoga, and I was intrigued by the claim that you can actually lose weight doing yoga. Mr. is a skeptic. I think he thinks yoga is for wimps - it's just a little stretching, so how can that help you lose weight?

The liner notes assure you pound-shedding results from use over just 6-8 weeks. They say you will gain balance and strength as you lengthen and lean your entire body. That would work for me!

The DVD has a user friendly menu; you can pick from the following options:

• Warm up (5 min)
• Level 1 (20 min)
• Level 2 (15 min)
• Level 3 (10 min)
• Cool down (5 minutes)

And there's even a music-only option (as apposed to music and instruction from trainer Bob from the TV show). I like being able to choose the options for the entire workout in the beginning, rather than reaching for the remote control to choose the next segment.

I did this DVD for the first time this weekend. I sat our 5-month old in her swing while I did it, she giggled throughout the workout as she watched me. I'm sure I did look pretty funny doing it. I chose the Warm up, Level 1, and Cool down, so it was a full 30 minutes.

It was HARD, but not so hard that I couldn't do it. My legs felt like jello afterwards, and I was sweating. Yes, sweating. And 2 days later, I'm still sore all over - legs, butt, abs, arms - everywhere I want to be sore. It definitely works out all your major muscle groups.

I liked the video - it was easy to follow, and the normal-to-larger sized people doing the workout with Bob (I think they are contestants from the show) inspired me - I thought if they can do it, so can I. Bob the trainer was OK - mildly annoying, but not so much that I wanted to turn it off. He did a great job of explaining the proper form for each pose. It was a little tough sometimes to look up at the TV during a pose to see what's next, but I figure I'd be doing the same thing during a real yoga class.

Once I get the hang of it, I may try the music only option. I did use some of the suggested easier modifications (like during the "plank") but hope to work up to the real thing. I also liked the time frame - I can usually find 20-30 minutes in a day for a workout. (If I can't, I'm sure there are lame excuses involved.)

Afterwards, I felt great - very relaxed. That's my favorite part of yoga - it melts the stress away. And, like always when I do yoga, I slept like a baby that night. So, this DVD gets two thumbs up from me. I plan to alternate it with cardio at my gym at work, and hope to report back shortly that yes, indeed, yoga helps you lose weight!

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.