Go Mama!!

Ah, Yes. Checking In.

There's supposed to be a check in. I'm not real sure that I want to do that this week, as I'm feeling more than a little frustrated with the whole thing. But I suppose that I should to the weighing and measuring so that I can have yet another "starting point." I am resolved. Running. Yoga. Calorie counting for the next 2 weeks, faithfully, and intermittently after that.

So. After checking my numbers I find that I'm not as bad off on the weight as I thought I would be, but the measurements are definitely telling me that I need to sit up and pay attention. We'll see if I can't be doing better by next week. Though it's not as bad as I expected it would be. I don't think that I'll call it "starting over" after all.

Thursday Check-In

So, I've only done the Pilates tape twice now (Monday and yesterday).. but I have been doing much better with my eating and water-drinking. I forgot to take measurements this morning, but when I weighed myself I'm down two pounds from last week. (I'm sure it's more of my watching what I consume rather than the Pilates being magic or something)
But, how about that Pilates?

The DVD I got was put out by Gaiam. Back in college I had a VHS from Gaiam, Yoga for Weight Loss, that I really liked. The instructer was clear, and explained what she was doing and even gave pretty good directions on what sorts of things to watch out for (i.e. she'd warn about tension in various places and I'd notice, yep, I had LOTS of tension in that area). So, I decided to trust Gaiam again.

I was takling to a friend on Sunday night about my plans to start Pilates the following morning, and she pointed out that one of the drawback to doing workouts from video (or any do-it-yourself workouts without prior training).. there's always the danger of doing the moves wrong and at best, having a less effective workout, and at worst, hurting yourself. I considered her words.. they were a wise warning.. but I don't really have the option of getting myself a personal trainer, so, the next morning before starting, I said a little prayer and resolved to honor any feelings of resistence in my body, I popped in the DVD and got started.

It has two options: a 10min Pilates Energy Boost and a 30min Pilates routine. Since I generally slot out 45-50mins in the mornings for my workout, I decided that I'd give them both a try. Wow do they ask you to put yourself in some strange positions! It's different than yoga. Yoga's all about stretching and holding positions.. Pilates has that too, but it's more about smooth motions and repetition. Some of the exercises don't look so bad, but after you do them 15 times, you start to feel it.

Following my wise friend's advice, I took it easy; I didn't do all the excersies, and I didn't do all the reps, but I did do most of them and I ran through both segments of the DVD. At the end of the workout, my muscles felt rubbery and a few hours later the tell-tell symptoms of pending soreness began. I knew then that there would be pain on Tuesday.

And there was. But, Tuesday morning I did my elliptical routine, followed by handweights, anyway. I think that helped to soften my muslces, so the soreness wasn't so bad. Wednesday I did the Pilates again, and I felt like I could do more. And it seems, even with only two times doing it, that my posture is better, and today I'm not sore at all.

I think this routine is a keeper!

Back again :)

Hi Ladies,

I haven't been really good about posting. No excuses. I just haven't had much to say.

But, I am back. I am glad that your stuff automatically comes to my email. Keeps me in touch - or at least a spectator!!

I have been working on losing weight since July. I am doing okay. I have lost 17 lbs. That puts me almost back to where I was a little over a year ago!!! Oh well. Now I can start thinking about losing new weight!! That is a happy thing.

The nice thing is that I have been walking. I did a 5K the first of August and Laura and I are walking about 4.5 miles in 70-75 minutes. It has gotten harder to find a time to go together now that I am back in school. But I got on the treadmill tonight. That takes a whole different set of muscles. That seems funny since I am still mostly just walking. But the walking is really helping with the inches!!! That is a happy thing!!! :)

But, with having lost 17 lbs, that is a little more than 20% of the total weight that I would like to lose. That is a positive way to look at it for me. That sounds like a lot of progress. I just can't allow myself to think about how much further I still have to go - that is discouraging. So, 20% done!! And feeling a lot more healthy. That is a happy thing, too!! :) :)

Keep up the good work Ladies!!! It is worth it!!

Trying New Stuff

I feel like I'm loosing the battle with my bulge.. so, since I am the boss of me, I went out today and got a Pilates workout DVD. The plan is to keep getting up early in the morning and working out, but on alternating days to use the Pilates rather than just doing the elliptical every other day.
Monday will begin the new regime.

Measuring Tape: Lost

This is a problem. It's really cramping my keeping-track-with-more-than-the-scale style. Hopefully it's hiding with the stopwatch I bought myself a while back and they will both turn up soon.

This Is Funny.

You should read it.