At this week's weigh-in, the numbers went down again -- but just a little bit -- a mere half pound. But progress is progress and I'll take whatever I can get!

My knee seems to be totally re-habbed, just in time for this weekend's trip to Havasupai. Good thing too, because my pack must weigh at least half a ton. Thankfully, we're flying in and out this time. That means just 2 miles of hiking each way, rather than 10!

Part of the reason my pack is so heavy is because it's crammed with food. The two main activities down there will be swimming and eating. I'm hoping enough swimming and a good amount some creekside scrambling will counteract a decent portion of the eating. In addition, no alcohol is allowed on the Reservation. So at least I can't supplement my fatty foods with beer.

I may, however, grab just one steaming hot frybread before we leave. See ya on Tuesday!

Posted by Korina at 3:52 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Yes, I've been sidelined by ... groceries! Well, I'm not entirely on the disabled list. But I have had to scale things back a great deal.

Earlier this week, I was trying to be more "efficient" by carrying all 50lbs of my groceries upstairs at once. Big mistake. One twisty little step on the stairs and ouch! I felt a funny twinge in my knee. Now, running hurts, inclines hurt, a lot of things hurt.

This week, I've just been walking on the treadmill, somewhat slowly at that. I have also been spending more time on my weight training. I think I'll also check out Chris' current article on strength training for joint stability to pick up some moves.

On the upside, at least those hefty grocery bags held the ingredients for some delicious eats — chicken saltimbocca and linguine with asparagus, prosciutto, and smoked fontina. Thanks, Giada for the recipes! Not exactly low cal/low fat. I did try to go heavy on the asparagus and light on the cheese and prosciutto. Maybe next time I'll even use whole wheat linguine... Maybe.

In other good news, I maintained my weight at this week's weigh-in. Sure, I would've liked to have lost more, but considering my bad behavior over the weekend, maintaining was an achievement!

Posted by Korina at 5:11 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Yesterday was the weigh-in, and – guess what? – I’ve lost the most pounds relative to my body weight. I think Brian actually lost the most poundage. (Go, Brian! Go, Brian!).

Anyway, I was totally stunned with my results. Last week, I was a mere half pound down from my starting weight. This week, my total loss was 4 pounds! What the heck? Maybe I’m finally “over the hump,” or maybe it was the changes I made in my food and exercise.

For lunch, I decided to only bring lean proteins – seafood or legumes, sometimes chicken. I’ve been having black bean wraps in a whole wheat tortilla, salmon and brown rice, or even shrimp cocktail for lunch, plus lots of fruit. The cantaloupes are so juicy and delicious right now, and I scored some outrageously juicy peaches from Costco.

At home, it’s been turkey burgers to the rescue! I got some spicy southwest ones from Trader Joe's. When the rest of my family has burgers or BBQ sandwiches, I tossed a turkey burger on the grill pan. Then I top it with salsa and lots of lettuce. I like it on a potato roll, but if I'm trying to be extra good, I put it one a whole wheat english muffin.

I’m also trying to double my veggies and skip the starches. The deal is, if I finish my main course and a BIG salad, then I can have some potatoes au gratin or what have you. But usually, I'm way too full.

My dessert treat has been no sugar added Fudgesicles. At 40 calories and 1 gram of fat, I can afford to have two or three a week. Now Starbucks is an every-other-day indulgence, instead of every day. There, I get an iced Americano with sugar-free syrup. Though I do add a splash of whole milk to add some body. (Total: approx. 58 cals and 2g of fat)

I don’t think the elliptical was challenging me enough. I started running / walking / jogging on the treadmill instead. It definitely delivers a lot of bang for the buck! That is, it gives me a heck of a workout in a short time. Typically, I only have 15-20 minutes to work with. Since I’m so out of shape, I usually start out at a brisk walk, sprinkled with some short 2-5 minute runs. Today, I was a bit sore, so instead, I increased the incline and walked quickly. It was kind of like a hike. This training will come in handy when I head to Havasupai Canyon in a couple of weeks. I can hardly wait!

Posted by Korina at 4:40 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Well, we're almost half way through the challenge, and so far, I'm in the lead. I am surprised that some of the others, who seemed way more gung ho to do this than I was at the beginning, have not passed me by now. I think it helps being less-fit at the start… it's easier to get a little downhill slide started when you're still way up on the side of the slope instead of on the flat right before the finish line.

I can't say I've really been working out more lately, but I have been on an unusual cleaning binge… the kind that leads to the back corners of closets you haven't seen for months (or years!) I don't know what brought this on, but it counts as exercise, so I'm not complaining. Plus, my closets are really starting to shape up.

I did go to Curves this morning and started chatting with some women I didn't know. If you've never been to Curves, it's a big circle. Every 30 seconds, a chirpy voice says "change stations now" and you move to the next exercise. Every other one is a rubber pad for jogging or dancing in place, and the others are the machines. At the Curves I go to, you go completely around the circle twice, which keeps you moving for 30 minutes. Usually, I plod around the circle, counting how many machines to go until I'm done. So boy was I surprised this morning when I stuck my arms in a machine and realized I'd already done that machine twice! I was done, and the end had snuck up on me! I hope that keeps happening.

Well, this week's weigh in will be the half way point. We're giving a prize to the leader, so we'll see what happens. If I win this week, maybe I'll take everyone to Starbucks for a treat (no syrup, nonfat only!)

Ciao!

Posted by Denise at 10:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Well, we have five weeks left of the competition and I have to step up my game. I've neither gained nor lost any weight. I've not gone to the gym lately but I am definitely going to start again on Monday. DEFINITELY. I continue to eat healthy with the occasional treat here and there. Who's idea was this competition again? ;)

I'm really disappointed in myself and wish I had more willpower. I really do WANT to lose weight it's just so hard to work all day, go to the gym and then go home and work on remodeling my house, along with the stress of knowing I also need to sell the house I'm remodeling and don't have much time left to do it all. It seems if I'm not working, I just want to sleep or try to have some fun, not work out! I really hope once I move into my new house and have a kitchen to cook and time to relax I will actually succeed in my weight goals. In the meantime I'll just push along and try my best.

Posted by at 2:44 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Ok, last week when we weighed in I gained 1 lb. I was in last place out of the group after two weeks. It was safe to say that my balance was definitely off. I chose to splurge on all my outings and thought that if I was running and lifting weights it would even out and I might still lose. Wrong.

I was a little discouraged when the results came in. Then, on top of that, I read Marty’s comments to us. She was tough; there is a reason that she looks so good. She works hard for it. My initial reaction to her statements, were, “I don’t think she’s ever had a Tammi Coe cake.” And, I didn’t think that I could do all my social outings without indulging. But, I did take it to heart and I tell you what, I tried her strategy a little over the past week and it worked. I had two big BBQ’s with friends and family and I still managed to lose weight this week. Yeah!

My Strategy:
I took a veggie platter to the BBQ’s, passed on the hamburgers, went for chicken and skipped the dessert. I did have a few alcoholic beverages (cheated), but other than those drinks, my diet was really strict with vegetables, fruits and proteins. I’m trying to cheat once a week and not once a day. It makes a big difference.

I’m still going to the gym. I’ve upped my running to three miles and I’m continuing to lift weights. It’s hard not to get discouraged. Especially when you start lifting after a long time has passed. For some reason, I always think that I’m going to be able to start at the weights I left off at. That’s never the case. I feel so weak, but I know if I keep at it I’ll regain my strength and even grow stronger. I keep telling myself, “Any exercise I partake in is better than nothing.”

Next week, I’ll up my running to four miles and try to stay strict on my diet. Exercising and eating healthy does work. I just have to remind myself to be patient, positive and plan ahead to keep it going. My biggest challenge in this upcoming week is that I’m taking a girls trip to Florida… yikes. I hope I can stay strong with my new eating habits and find a place to exercise. Send me will-power strength!

My tip for the week:
After the BBQ I had left over chopped-up vegetables, so I preserved them in tupperware in the refrigerator and every night I would sear them for dinner. It’s organized and so easy to access. My new plan is to buy vegetables and fruit on the weekends, cut them up and store them in the refrigerator for the week. Healthy snacks at my fingertips.

Posted by Lori at 12:36 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

I didn't see them coming. Really! I mean, who could have known that ordering a combo at Wendy's would mean the attack of an entire (small!) bunch of french fries. And once they were there on my tray, I couldn't let them go to waste... I mean, what would my mother have said! So, I confess. I ate every last one of them. And I enjoyed them!

Of course, that was just the beginning. Since my step-dad and his dog were pulling out in the RV on the 4th of July moving to Florida, we had to have a big farewell dinner. And of course, dad picked (with only a little coercion from my aunt) the Outback Steakhouse. Having never been there before, picking just one entree was asking too much. So my friend and I decided to split two... a prime rib dinner and an order of Fettuccine Alfredo with grilled chicken and shrimp. Yummm! But I think there was enough food in those two dinners for at least three people. So I'm not terribly optimistic about weigh-in this week. Did I mention the Frosty at Wendy's?

But, I have been faithful about going to Curves three times a week. And I only spent about 10 minutes in bed this morning grumbling about having to get up at 5:45am. By then, it was 5:55am and no way for me to get to Curves by 6am to meet my workout partner. But I'm proud to say I got up and went anyway. And she didn't even show up until 6:20am. The nerve!

It really is amazing to me how I can sneak in just a few more treats without actually gaining weight when I'm working out. Of course, that's not going to help me with the big challenge... but it sure helps keep my mouth happy!

Ciao for now... (or should that be chow!)

Posted by Denise at 1:47 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

As I mentioned in my last entry, I came up with a log that I'll be using to plan and track my exercise, instead of just jumping on machines willy-nilly. You can download it from the "Fit Tip" box on the left.

Just a couple of notes:

1) After each day of the week, I write in what I'm focusing on for that day. My schedule looks like this: Monday / Legs, Tuesday / Core, Wednesday / Arms, Thursday / Shoulders, Friday / Endurance.

2) "Method" would be something like elliptical, treadmill, running.

3) In the notes field, I like to write down which machines I used, what aches or pains I might have, or if I'm changing my schedule -- stuff like that.

I admit it. I'm an Excel junkie.

Posted by Korina at 12:38 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Well I reckon I need to clamp down on my weekend and holiday treats! This morning's weigh-in was a touch disappointing. My sneak weigh-in on Friday told me I was down another pound and a half. I must have un-done that and the previous loss with this past weekend's and holiday's shenanigans. I had friends down for the weekend, and we tubed and went out to eat, and had a jolly old time. A beer or two (or three, or four...) might have been involved. Same goes for the 4th.

Anyway, I ended up right back at my starting weight, which incidentally, is only 3lbs less than my heaviest weight. Back-story: About two years ago, I took off about 20lbs, and managed to maintain it for over a year. But over the course of the past year, it has been steadily creeping back on.

OK, back to now.

After the weigh-in, I caught myself trying to rationalize the gain -- maybe I've gained some muscle (probably true, but it wouldn't be nearly enough to weigh that much), maybe my muscles are still swollen from this morning's workout (again, maybe true, but the difference would be minimal), these jeans are heavy, I ate some salty stuff -- blah blah blah.

The fact is, I just need to reign in the splurges on the weekends. In addition, I need to amp up my cardio. I'm already working out 5 days a week, so I can only fool with the intensity. I'm also making a workout plan. Right now, I just do whatever I feel like, with no goals or way to keep track of how I'm doing. When I get my plan done, I'll post it here.

So far I have no fun plans for this weekend, and hopefully, it'll stay that way!

As always, you can see exactly how I slipped (hello, Carl's Jr.!) by peeking into my FitDay log.

Posted by Korina at 11:54 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)