3 weeks

Well, we did it.  We did exactly what we said we would not do.  We got a little puffed up and thought we were able to sneak a bit and rationalize those girl scout cookies + + +---well whatever we told ourselves, the scale ratted us out.  Between all 4 of us, we did not loose one pound.  A few ounces here and few there, but none that even add up to a pound...how dreadful.

No excuses....just a touch irritated, all of us.  Here we are at the start of week 4...we need to get our butts in gear!  How about you? 

The hard part is that we know what works, why can't we stay committed for a bit longer?  A little cheat here, a little cheat there...all of a sudden we are eating pizza, beer & Shamrock shakes!  YIKES!

Here is to a much better week than last! 

Progress 2 weeks in

We have made it through week 2.  Workouts great, food pretty good.  Commitment, strong as ever.  How about you?
Our progress after 2 weeks= mama down 3 lbs, "E" down 2, Thing 2 down 2.5 and Thing 3 down 5.2! 




UFFDA!

Although we all know we have our weak points/lack of will at times and still like beer,  we are happy with our progress.  We must stay committed.  Starting Week 3 I know that if I stay clean and committed, I will see a brand new number on the scale.  This is about the time I like to give myself a little lenience and rationalize about why it is ok to eat this or maybe miss a workout.  Not this time.   Anticipation of seeing a new number will motivate me for this week.  What is your motivation this week? 

Black Bean Hummus...here is a newly discovered treat that really jazzes up any veggies with minimal calories plus fiber!

Put into your food processor or blender
1 can black beans
red wine vinegar
garlic
cumin
lemon juice
push the button and blend to preference and get ready for a taste treat!  This is also great instead of butter or mayo for a sandwich.  Give it a try, you will love it!

Let us know how you doing!  Remember for 60 days, a workout 6 of 7 days and clean eating is your priority.  You can do it! Put your plan together and go for it!

One Week in!

OK...we, 3 of the 4, have weighed in after 1 week.  I, no loss, exactly the same --there are some variables here, but I won't bore you with the details--baseline this week is no loss.  Really working hard for next week, I need 4 lbs!  Thing 2-- 2 lbs and Thing 3 --3 lbs.  E is a few days behind us on the scale...we will see her progress next week.  All in all, although the scale is moving slower for some of us, I guess just me,  we are doing well.  No missed workouts, great food...now the key--stick with it!

Weekends are always difficult for me.  I like beer and all the routine including veggies/water that my body is used to M-F, flies out the window.  What I really cannot figure out is that when I am in a great rhythm, I choose to let it go on the weekend.  I feel much better, more energy, positive attitude + + + when I discipline myself and I move to irritation mode when I do not...Knock Knock Puddin Head... 

How are you doing?  Who out there is doing this with us?  Tell us about your success!

Lesson learned last weekend...if you are serious about an early week weigh in, keep your fiber intake up!

Not much more to add!

Greetings,
     Mama pretty much summed things up in the last post. 
     Here's my confession: I gained weight during our 90 day challenge.  Sad but true. 
     I took a gamble and lost - or gained if you will.  My sense was that I was not getting enough regular cardio and didn't have it in me to change that.  Couple that with eating the same - if not a bit more - and, well.....the proof is in the math. 
     To best describe my need for cardio is to think of a huge German Shepard who needs to be vigorously walked everyday or they go stir crazy....that's me (without the bark:-) 
     20 lbs. is the goal.  I'm not happy about having to lose more than what I had hoped just to reach my goal - but I'm not going to back down.  We have mapped out our workouts and are both in agreement that cardio + resistance is needed in every workout.  That doesn't mean you need to join a gym or buy a bunch of equipment - your own body can serve as resistance given the correct exercises such as push ups, dips, squats, etc.
     Another key thing to remember when doing such exercises is to:

S-Q-U-E-E-Z-E!  

     I have to consciously remind myself that there is actual muscle below the chub.  My hope is that I will see more of it after 60 days.
     Here we go again!    

We're Back!!!

Almost 1 month with no update...what a couple of loads we are!  On top of not blogging, our workouts have been sketchy and our food, along the same lines.  In a nut shell, we fell apart.  On the flip side, we are back, motivated, smarter, understand our triggers better and are ready to put our plan into action! 

Our initial 90 day plan is officially done tomorrow, so E & I felt yesterday was a great day to dump it and revamp...why don't you join us?!! 

We will be working out 7 days, then one off.  Heavy cardio with sprinklings of weights & deep stretching.  10 weeks is the time commitment.  We will weigh in once a week--every Tuesday.  Our food will consist of 1500 cals per day.  Our parameters are set,  no obsessing, no excuses, just do it!  Food is the biggest key...our 1500 cals will consist of fruits/veggies/protein & carbs--minimal refined sugar.  There is very little room for processed food in this equation!  Key--if you are eating well balanced, natural foods,  your body will not crave the processed junk.  Example of yesterdays food from mama

1 egg & 1 pc wheat bread 200
water
3/4 cup blueberries & 1 egg white 75
1 cup grapes 100
raw broccoli/tomatoes/1/2 can tuna with ital dressing & hot sauce 225
1 orange 100
water
3/4 cup tortellini w/ spag sauce 500
large mixed green salad w/ tomatoes & Caesar/ital dressing 200
water
1400 cals total

Our goal is 20 lbs each and we have wagers (non monetary) set.  There are 2 others that are in this bet with us, you should join  us!  10 weeks...you can do it!

If you want to join us, let us know!  We can't loose it for you, but we can loose it with you!

Blogging expectations...guaranteed we will chart our weight loss each week...no promises, but expectations to do far more....weigh yourself, commit that you will never see that number again and join us! 

This Month

Has been a struggle.  I'm pretty sure the scale has gone in the wrong direction.   
In all honesty, I may not make my goal but that doesn't mean that I'm going to quit trying.  If it takes longer than the 90 day - so be it!
'E'

From the inside out

It is almost here...Christmas.  It is during this time that we try to put the 'busy' aside and enjoy the peace that exists inside all of us.  Enjoy the the smiles, the tears, and everything inbetween.  Let yourself be.  It is one of very few days in a year we are allowed to just be.  Enjoy it.

From our shakin', chubby bods--Merry Christmas!  We are ready to take a couple food days off --nibble on anything we wish and enjoy the day.  This couple days will give us a strong motivation for Monday morning workout!  Peace & Love to all of you!

btw...we more than likely will not post  until Monday.  We have already broken our daily post promise...you don't mind, do you?

Accepting flaws

Only a few days to go!  I can't wait for Christmas, I love it.  What I really love is watching others I love, love Christmas!  As I look back over our past couple weeks of posts, I wonder if this whole blogging thing may be one of our flaws.  We have been so poor at consistency in out posts lately.  I would rather have the inconsistency here, than in our workouts! 

I remind myself that the reason we started this blog was to keep ourselves accountable and to maybe inspire one other person to work out consistently and eat well.  This blog has kept us both accountable...has anyone out there been inspired?

I have never eaten so well, laughed and enjoyed myself so much, or worked out so hard, for such a consistent amount of time.  So although we have not kept the inspiration of others peaked by missing blog posts, we have kept ourselves accountable (hmmm, that sounds quite selfish...might possibly be another flaw??)

We are still in the midst of our 90 day commitment.  I believe we are on to something.  Bodies do change with eating clean and 6 days a week, one hour per day, intense physical activity.  We are coming into that most 'resolut' time of year.  Commit to yourself that this is your year.  All you need is one hour a day and a plan!  What are you going to do?   

Looking forward to tomorrow

Why? 
Because it has been almost one week since Mama and I have done a workout together.  I'm looking forward to it as I'm in need of the extra push that comes from working out with another person.  How is your search going for a workout partner? 
Keep looking - they are out there. 

Peace

Peace be with all of us this week as we diligently work to get it all done - making sure that 'all of it' includes our workouts and eating well. 

Not much to say!

It was one of those weekends that began early Friday morning and is just now ending.  Not much for sleep.  Needless to say, I have a couple of workouts to make up for.  Silver lining - I actually can do them this week as the last of the Christmas shopping will be done tomorrow.
Knowing myself like I do - - I'll probably end up eating my own words as I'm sure there is something that I have forgotten.  At this point - I just want sleep.  Any attempt to workout when the body is this fatigued would only end in injury.  That I cannot afford!  
 

dang it x2

No post yesterday plus thick and chewy triple chocolate cookies were baked yesterday.  I bet I forgot to do the post b/c I had so much sugar in my head!  Sorry!  The shiny side of this...had an hour of sweat pouring cardio before the chewy, gooey cookies!

Yesterday was a great food day, until last night.  Today is a new day!  Our wills in the food area as we turn the 'One Week before Christmas' corner are shaky, at best.  Our workouts will stay strong.  We have two days approaching, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day which were pre-established food days off.  Oh, I can't wait!  So many goodies and deliciousness!  The goal for the next week is to keep the diet as normal as can be, sweat really hard during workouts and if something entices us, go for it AND enjoy it!  Balance...that is the key.  Joy and Merriness will be with us and our experience tells us that  treats and drinks accompany that disposition!  There will be no regrets for what we enjoy.  BUT...not to eat just because something is in front of us...if it is not what we consider fantastic and really enjoy...hold off until it is fantastic!

Strange...the morning after my delicious indulgence of cookies-and they were fantastic-- was the first 'it may be back to normal' poop in 2 weeks...go figure!

Let us all enter this next week happy with our selves, our efforts to be healthy and a great attitude focused on joy.  If we always make sure our hearts are more full than our bellies, we will do our Lord proud!

The generation we are creating

Well, the pressure is on...again--No post yesterday!  We must be getting old or something, can't believe we have missed another day!  I will try to make this one a really good one!

I have had first hand experience over the last couple days of how my habits, especially in the food area have passed to some, possibly all four of my children.  Not pretty to say the least.  It is so hard to see your kids struggle in the same areas that you have struggled all your life.  When I see the same habits/throw some goodies in your mouth/emotional eating surface, it is difficult.  On the flip side, I also believe that the most difficult times are the ones we have the opportunity to learn the most from.

If you have struggled with your weight while you are raising your children, I encourage you to take a step back and critique your habits.  Children live what they learn--(someone famous said that I am pretty sure)  I pray each day for my children's physical, spiritual and emotional protection.  I must stop being the example that teaches them it is OK to overeat.  It is OK to skip this workout.  It is OK to jump to food as a vice.  No matter how many times I stress to them not to do it...one time of me doing it, takes all those others away.

We are in the midst of an obese society.  Kids with more ailments, physically and mentally than I ever knew existed.  Society is not going to teach them anything different than push a button or take a pill and it will be fine.  It is up to us to teach our kids how to be healthy for a lifetime and how to put life into their years.  We are given one shot as parents...we must give them our best.

Experiment complete

Well the 2 weeks of 1500 cals per day with one meal a week of whatever is done.  3.2 lbs.  That is what I lost.  I am not quite sure what to think and trying to figure out why I feel blah.  I lost 3 lbs within the first 2 days, 2 ounces the other 12 days.  I have not pooped normally for now one week.  Joyous, which is the  disposition I generally roll with, has been absent.  My tolerance is low and compassion for situations, minimal.

I think I need some red meat.

My experiment is over and I am not sure if it was a success or not.  I lost some weight, but the interruption in my digestive tract = dreadful.  When my digestion is off, it affects me physically and mentally.  But I learned a lot re food and it still boils down to... balance.  One must have balance to be successful at anything.  Although not consumed with food during this, obviously my balance has been off...my body is screaming at me.  

I am amazed at how when you are watching calories, you can really stretch them out AND when you are not...how easily you can rack them up.  If I were to do this again I would do a few things differently.

 Not weigh myself the whole time.  Did my initial weigh in give me the feeling that I could stray a bit???

Mental note to increase water.  With the decrease in food, was a decrease with water...not a good idea.

Make sure my one meal a week was planned out better and delicious.

We are in week 7 and 16 pounds left to loose, to reach my goal.  Tough weeks ahead with all the goodies and the need to restore my joy is top priority.  The numbers are stacked against me...but generally that is when I tend to put the gloves on and start fighting harder!  How about you?  If you want to succeed, it takes a lot of work, sweat and constant fine tuning to make it work.  I am worth it and so are you!



 

 

Getting better!

Thank you for allowing us to be so candid and for the helpful suggestions.  Time to look at the diet once again.  Our conversation during today's workout was evaluating - yet again - our daily intake of food and liquid.
Both mama and I have slipped a bit with water consumption.  It is apparent how important proper hydration is.  And thanks to Joy Beyond the Cross, a much needed reminder of the benefits of fish oil and flax seed.  
Again, digestive health is imperative to overall health and it's something to make note of if there is change in your 'normal'.
Here's to regularity!