What is this HIGH you speak of?

I know I have not posted in a long time. But, I have a good reason. I have been Shredding and JOGGING! That is right folks, I started jogging too! I said one thing leads to another and it really does. I mentioned to my friend that I was going to try to teach myself how to run and she started going on and on about how she started. She said she had never ran in her life and started this Jan., she now runs 8 miles at a time! She gave me a little saying that I say to myself each time I go out to "try" to run. "We do a lot of walking when we learn how to run". That is the truth. I do about half walking and half running. I have talked to a few people who have picked up running and they all told me the same thing. Just run then walk and before you know it you will be able to run a mile without walking at all. I have not made it there yet but I am plugging away at it.

I have been shredding too. My "buddy" Lori and I have moved up to level 2 of the shred. People, let me tell you now that it is not just bumped up a notch it is more like 10 notches! I thought I was going to die the first time I did it. Lori kept saying remember how hard level one was and how you were able to do it after a few days. She was right, I have done it for 3 days and it does seem to be getting easier. It is still very intense.

I think that I may be in a crucial time in the "Weight loss Extravaganza", my body seems to be rebelling. I am sore and tired. I have to take a nap every now and then. When I start to work out I feel like my muscles do not want to cooperate. But I am not going to give in! I am in the middle of week five and that is too much effort to just throw away. I have had a little trouble with my right foot and calf again (the same one I hurt right off the bat with the Shred). While running day before yesterday my calf hurt so much that I bailed halfway through my 3 mile walk/run. I still felt good about going 1 1/2 miles. I didn't want to really injure it and make it impossible to Shred.

Now on to pushing through the burn... This "exercise high" that people talk about has completely alluded me. I have never experienced it. When I was young I was very active. I played soccer, tennis, squash, golf and ran regularly. I have never got the "High". I feel gypped! I also do not have the relaxation some people talk about. I only get that after yoga. Either you are all are lying to me or I just don't get it.

I do have the feeling that I should be skinny by now too, HA! I think 5 weeks into this and I should be trading in all my clothes for smaller ones. This sadly is not the case. I am losing just not as fast as I would like. I am getting much firmer. my legs and core is much stronger and ofcourse, of all places my bras are getting really loose.

Next on my list is dance lessons. Have any of you taken dance lately? What do you think I should check into? Ballroom, Salsa, Tango or even Belly? I also am thinking about buying golf lessons for Kraig and I for his Fathers Day gift. He has never played and it has been 20 years since I have played. It was a family event for me growing up. We all golfed and I use to really enjoy it.

I am also going to buy one of Jillian's books. Master Your Metabolism, http://www.amazon.com/Master-Your-Metabolism-Naturally-Balancing/dp/0307450732
another friend of mine is reading it and loves it. I will let you know what I think of it. What have you been doing to get yourself moving?

One Thing Leads To Another

One thing really does lead to another. Thursday my son Zach had a Jog-a-thon, he ran 1 mile. I thought that was pretty good for a 3rd grader. It got me thinking... "Hmm, I wonder if I can jog anymore?". When I was a teenager and in my early 20's I use to jog a few miles several times a week. I have since become very lazy. So, when I got home from doing the 30 Day Shred I took off down the road. I jogged three blocks down the road and three blocks back, a total of SIX blocks. I know it isn't much but it is a start. I think I will try to incorporate this into my work out a few times a week and build up some stamina.

Yesterday I rode my bike to and from Lori's to do our work out, that added another 5 miles of biking to the Weight Loss Extravaganza. I am hoping I will do that a couple times a week as well. Today is the end of week 3 and I can tell you that the work out is still very intense and I wonder how I will do in another week at level 2. Keep your fingers crossed that Jillian will not kill me.

30 Day Workout Into 90 Day...Really?

For the last few days we have been doing our workout diligently. We passed the 10Th day without realizing it. On the 10Th day you are suppose to go up to the next routine, it increases in intensity. Yesterday we decided that since we were in week 3, we would just do 30 days on each workout level. We are still immensely challenged each day and feel that will give us 3 months of workout for the price of one. This is the plan for now, who knows it may become too easy and we will need to up the ante. I will keep you posted.

I have noticed I am getting firmer all over and I have lost most of the pudgy area next to your armpit. Woo Hoo for little favors. Lori and I are going to go on another bike ride on Saturday (even longer then last weeks!). So, today I am going to ride my bike to get prepared as I have Danish class tonight and am unable to do the 30 Day Shred.

13 Mile Ride

I have not put a new post up in a few days. I have been really busy including the Weight Loss Extravaganza. I had said that Lori and I were thinking about doing a charity bike ride on Saturday. It was only 8 miles but I still was nervous about it. We decided that we live in such a beautiful area that we would ride here instead. To prepare for the ride I have been riding my bike almost everyday. I have had my oldest son and my husband along on a few of my rides. It keeps me company and gets them to exercise a little too.

So, on Saturday Morning I was up nice and early. My husband dropped me off at Lori's house with my bike, water, helmet etc. We were off at around 7:00, we rode back to my house which is 3 miles and from there we went to the Marina which is another 2 miles. Once we were at the Marina (we had made plans with our better halves to meet there for breakfast) we had some time so we went out on the levee road and were going to try to ride to the bridge, another 3 miles. We got a call from the guys that they were on there way with 2 of our kids in tow and decided to head back. We were only halfway there.

We rode over to the restaurant and met the 4 of them. I was really hungry and had a big breakfast with coffee. It was really beautiful, eating outside in the sunshine right on the water. We watched a lot of boats heading out on the delta and Zach, my nine year old, tried to make friends with some baby geese. After breakfast we were off again and followed the same path back to Lori's. We did decide not to do the 30 Day Shred that day. We figured we had burned at least the same amount of calories. I was so happy I did it and I hope next weekend we will do it again only this time we can go all the way to the bridge.

Yesterday Lori and her family went out on their boat for the day. So, I did my workout by myself. I can definitely tell you that it is much easier to do with a partner. You have someone there with you that just gives you the motivation to keep moving through the pain. I did do it but the 28 mins (yes 28 with warm up and cool down) seemed much longer then usual. I also had skipped the day before. I don't know why but if I ever skip a day it does seem a lot harder. It is just one more reason to stick to the process.

Today starts week 3 of the process. I do feel like I have much more stamina during the work out. I also think it has been a great jump start to the Weight Loss Extravaganza. I am already doing double digit mile bike rides. Who knows what is next, maybe a marathon! As far as my body goes, I can really tell I am firming up all over. I just want instant results and would like to have to go down a dress size already. I know it has only been 2 weeks but I just don't see the pounds melting away---yet. I think that this is a crucial time in any weight loss regimen. I think people workout or diet for 2 weeks and then lose the focus because they don't see any big result. Like I said before I am determined so loose pants or not I am going to keep at it.

Bike Ride

I enlisted my son to go with my on a bike ride yesterday. Mostly because my calf was still hurting and I was afraid to go alone. He is really thin and only 18. He had to stop and wait for me to loop back around! That made me feel really good. It also let me know that he really needs to get out and exercise more. So, today we are going for bike ride number 2.

I am also going to do the DVD work out. Yesterday was only the second time in 10 days I was not able to do it. Things do come up that ruin plans. However I do not plan on making this a habit. I am still a little scared about the charity ride on Saturday. I am sure it will be fine, I will really be proud of myself afterwards.

Diet

Well, I seem to have really pulled a muscle in my calf. I thought it was more like a charlie horse but it has not gone away. Yet, I am determined. So I really stretched before the workout yesterday. On the DVD Jillian does have a couple of minutes of warm-up and cool down. However, to make the workout short it is very brief. One thing Lori and I saw from the beginning was that even with the warm-up,she will cut corners and only have you, say rotate your hips one way. We decided we would switch midway through each warm-up to make sure we stretched completely. Even though I was a little wounded, I soldiered on. I did have to cut back on the jumping jacks and one of the squat exercises. I did keep moving the whole time and did extra abs and arm work to make up for it.

Last night Kraig really massaged my calf and today it does feel somewhat better. Lets hope it was nothing too severe. We were going to walk yesterday after the workout but decided it would be best to let the leg have a rest and heal. Today, we will not be able to do the workout because I go to Danish class in San Francisco. So, I thought I would give the bike ride a go. That way I will not be completely unprepared for the charity ride on Saturday.

OH, I thought you might be interested in the diet portion of the slim down extravaganza. I have a good friend who has lost over 150lbs 2 years ago and has kept it off. She joined a 12 step type program called Over Eaters Anonymous. They have a very strict diet and it is really focused to those who REALLY overeat. I myself do at times overeat like everyone, however my biggest problem has been the lack of eating throughout the day and a big meal at night. I know, I know it kills your metabolism. So I have been using that diet as a guide with a few tweaks along the way.

The reason I like this diet is because you only eat 3 times a day. As I said before this is a big improvement from my one meal a day habit. I am going to try to add in a couple of snacks as time progresses to really amp up my metabolism. But the 3 meals a day is a good way for me to get started.

Here is the sample Diet:

Breakfast-

8 oz sugar & fat free yogurt (I love Yoplait)
1 oz low sugar cereal (like oatmeal or all bran)
1 large piece of fruit or 6 oz of berries, melon or such

Lunch-

4 oz protein (2 oz if you choose cheese and 6 oz if you choose beans)
6 oz cooked vegetable
1 large piece of fruit

Dinner-

4 oz protein
6 oz cooked vegetable
10 oz salad with 2 Tbsp full fat dressing

Now all of this is to be weighed. So the 6 oz of cooked veggie is about a whole can of green beans without the liquid. The salad is huge and most of the time I can not eat that much even when I use heavy veggies like tomatoes and cucumbers. As you probably has noticed the main focus is on getting rid of the flour and sugar.

I told you I have modified it a little. I do have milk and a little real sugar in my coffee in the morning. I also do not eat that huge salad most nights, I still eat a salad though. I have also allowed myself to eat a few carbs a week, such as a little bread or rice with dinner. Not every night just like 3 nights a week. I also allow myself to have a glass of wine on the weekends too. I know this will slow down the weight lose and it will not be as super fast. But, I also know it is the only way I will stay focused and not fall of the wagon.

My husband is wanting to lose a few pounds as well. He started following the diet as well. We added 2 more oz of protein for him and he has a few more carbs then I do. He has already gone up a few belt notches. (Men!!! they always lose weight easy!) I am proud of him though.

Now for the bike ride!

Blog blog blog....

OK, this is my first blog post. I love to read other peoples blogs. In fact I am an avid blog follower. However, I do not see myself as a blogger. For one my spelling is horrid and for two I do not think I have much to say that is interesting. I have had a few friends ask me to blog about my 30 day shred and I thought, "Well, if I can commit to working out for 30 days maybe I can write a blog". I do not promise that I will post every day but I will keep it updated regularly.

I have been doing the Jillian Michaels 30 Day shred for 7 out of the past 8 days. For those of you who do not know who she is (don't feel bad I did not either) she is a mean trainer on the Biggest Loser. I myself have not watched the Biggest Loser other then a minute here or there, but I was recommended this DVD by a friend of a friend. I was looking to jump start my weight lose and this seemed to fit the bill. Something I could do for 30 days and see a real result. The exercise plan has 3 workouts with increased intensity. You do each one for 10 days and move up to the next level. I promptly ordered it from Amazon.com and then just as promptly enlisted my good friend Lori to do it with me so I would have someone other then myself to be accountable to.

The first day was a week ago last Monday. The workout is only 20 mins. (well, that is a lie Jillian it is 27 mins with the warm up and cool down). I can honestly tell you I thought I was going to die after the first workout. Jillian promised me that if I was diligent that by workout 5,6 or 7 I would have much more endurance. She was right, I now can do the work out and not feel like my heart is going to pop out of my chest. It is still a very tough workout and I am extremely challenged each day. Yesterday while working out I got a charlie horse in my right calf and it is still hurting today. I will be sure to pay special attention while warming up today on that part of my body.

One thing seems to be leading to another. Today's plan is to go for a walk after the work out. Lori and I also are looking at maybe doing a charity bike ride this Saturday. It is only 8 miles, but I am intimidated. Which tells me that perhaps this is a place of growth for me and I should take up this challenge. I must get a helmet before Sat. as it is a requirement. More on that later.