Hard Times

I am having a really hard time getting out of the 217-221lbs zone, last week I exercised my butt off, I did 2 zumba sessions everyday except for friday and today.  It makes me a little frustrated that the numbers are not dropping like they did when I first started exercising which makes me think that I really need to get organized plan out my workouts and change them up, I may be down in lbs but I think I'm still flabbier than I was when I weighed this much the last time.  Gotta keep on going.

Blue Dress Revisted

                                                 AFTER                              BEFORE

First pic is the after pic Oct 21, 2nd pic is from Jun 2, you can see a small difference but of course the difference seems almost unnoticeable because they were not taken from the same distance.  I had to enlarge one of the pictures to match the other just to be a little more accurate.  Can you tell the difference?

I know this is kinda lame but I wore the same dress I wore to my sisters wedding in June to my friends wedding this month.  When I put it on it felt like it fit perfectly, making me remember that most likely it was a little on the small side for me back in June.  I really didn't start watching my diet and exercising till the end of August but since I have two pictures to compare I thought I'd post it.  So here it is.  In June I was sitting at 239-242lbs, and in the more recent pictures I am sitting at 217-221lbs.  Also, you can see that my son is a lot bigger.

Early weigh in

Tuesday October 18 2011

Today I am weighing in at 219 lbs it is about 4 lbs above where I should be right now but I'm satisfied that I am in the two hundred teens, I don't think there is any looking back.  Almost two full months have passed and even though I've messed up a couple of times(last week) I didn't fall far enough just to stop caring so Sunday night I made it my goal to do EMZ every early morning just so that in case I can't make it to a night class I have that 45 minutes of exercise in the morning over with and done.  Yesterday I started tracking a few things on a calendar that I have hanging by the fridge-there are just 4 days till my friends wedding and sadly I am still 10 lbs over my goal weight for the wedding.  I've made a new goal of November 11th the day of my Zumba training to pass 209lbs.  I should make a definite goal and that would be 205lbs but if I can get to 209lbs I will be happy.  Ultimately my goal is to get to 195 lbs by Dec 13th and that is 14lbs in two months, I'm pretty sure I can get there and wow, it will be so awesome when I arrive.  I'm excited just thinking about it.
I really want to be healthy I think this whole endeavor seems to be just me wanting to be the skinniest I can be but to tell you the truth I don't want to spend all this time losing weight only to gain in back in the next year, I want to maintain my health through exercise and healthy eating and activities that motivate me to be a healthier me.  There is no reason why this trend of unhealthiness should continue in my family and there are soo many reasons why being healthy is the way to go.

Anyhow, yesterday I went to Zumba in the morning and Zumba at night, oh I struggled in the night class but it was a lot of fun!  This morning I went to EMZ and had a blast but in the mornings its like I have to force my body to get moving and then its still in sleepy, creaky mode.  Tonight I will go to zumba if I can or I will stay home and do :20 second fitness, either way I'll be getting enough exercise for the day.

Four day splurge

It all started on Friday-what a hectic day, I was preparing, cooking etc. for a birthday party, my husband was trying to work, and get somethings done on the house, I was trying to multi-task and keep everyone fed and happy and I was aiming to get my one hour of exercise.  Did the exercise happen?  No it didn't.  In fact saturday was worst than Friday, 8 am I was cooking and preparing things, my husband was tearing down our downstairs bedroom with some helpers, outside some contractors were wheeling in barrels of concrete, I was again trying to keep everyone fed myself included, cook, and prepare our things to leave for the birthday party.  Not only did I not exercise I decided to eat...and eat... and eat,

kalua pig, salad, candy, cupcakes, and even drink soda; and food has a really negative affect on me because I start to feel like there is no redeeming myself from the self-destructive path of eating with out end, so I get depressed and eat more-which is what happened this weekend.  The destruction didn't finish with Saturday but continued through Sunday and Monday.  Monday I was at the lowest low, I didn't even care if I went to Zumba or not and I wanted to sleep all day after eating about 10 mini snickers, 8 mini kit kat bars and having two servings at each meal.  I woke up this morning feeling like I better get myself on track.  I also thought about how I just broke down mentally and did not care whether I was destroying everything i worked for for the past 2 mo.  Wow, I even felt like my exercise goals were stupid.  The only way I will be able to get back on track is if I have a good work out tonight, which I'm planning on doing, I will not let anyone/anything stop me from getting out to exercise tonight.  I'll let you know how I'm feeling after.

Short and Sour Food Log 10/6/2011

egg burrito
3 big bowls cereal cornflakes and some time of honey cereal, w/ 2% milk
couple small candies
2 cheese quesadillas
1/2 a banana
plenty water.
i'm pretty sure I ate more I just can't remember

Winter...

I HATE the way I'm feeling right now, it was a rainy and overcast day, all day and I think it put me in a bad mood, so bad that I felt like eating and eating and eating just to make me feel better.  It did make me feel better for a little bit then I had to eat more to keep up that feeling.  Anyhow, the only way to break out of that cycle was to get some good exercise.  I bundled up and went to Zumba!! It felt so good to be moving, dancing, jumping, bumping.  I can live with my overeating today and continue doing the things that my body needs like getting healthy.   

YESTERDAY I weighed in at 220.8, today after all the eating and my Zumba sesh I am just at 221.6, I know your weight depends a lot on fluid retention, and muscle weight but when I see that the numbers are not jumping it makes me remember the hard work it took to get here, and the very good possibility that I will be able to lose more.  So I re-commit AGAIN!  My friends wedding is coming up in 2 weeks and it is very possible that I can get to 215lbs, 209 is a stretch(that's how I personally feel, otherwise I would say I could make 209 and just disappoint myself).  I will aim for 215 and if I lose more than that more POWER to me!!  We'll see!

I'm thinking about all the energy and time I am putting into losing weight/getting healthy, I really want this, and I want it for many different reasons.  One of them being just looking/feeling good, and the other is accomplishing something for myself, something that I've tried and tried my whole life but have never been able to do.  Once I accomplish this(getting to my optimum health) I  know I will be able to do anything/everything, I will be able to accomplish anything I put my mind to.  I read a self-help blog today and the guy was talking about time and how for entrepreneurs time is money, for those who don't have their own businesses, time is equity.  When we use time to improve our skills ourselves we build equity in ourselves and become a better more well-rounded person.  This is important because people tend to make excuses for why they can't do certain things when they don't put the time into themselves to learn these things, instead we spend our time watching T.V(this was his main example) wishing that we were super stars or coveting what those people have.  I myself always feel like I'm not good at really anything but the truth is I have not invested time in improving myself, in increasing my equity, and I am the number one complainer about this and the number one couch potato.  Anyhow, the article made me evaluate what I really want and I really need to make a plan so that I can accomplish many things.  Getting fit goes right along with building equity in myself, once I accomplish this I will have provided myself with the confidence to do more.

Lastly, STEVE JOBS the creator of Apple computers died a couple of days ago, rest in peace, and he talked about death being a motivator in the things that he did.  I would try to summarize what he said but its better to just quote him. 

"Almost everything--all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure--these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important. Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart."

 I love this quote because  we just don't value our time(me especially), then our fears and silly things hold us back from reaching our true potential, if we thought about today being our last what would we do?  Anyhow, I'm pondering over this and I already know what I need to do.  Anyhow,  the world is at my hands, I have the ability to do many things, and I should do them.

My thoughts on the journey thus far...

It's been five weeks and a half since I decided that i was going to get healthy, lose weight, and accomplish goals that I had thought about before but never got to.  I am proud of myself for where I am right now.  I started at 239 lbs and now I am hovering at 223-224lbs, but its not just the weight that I'm happy about.  When I look in the mirror I'm actually happy with what I see, I see my persistence and hard work coming through in that I look smaller, I feel stronger, I have more energy, and I in general feel like doing more things and getting out.  I know that at any time I might break down and not exercise or stuff my face but when I think about the goals that I have set it brings everything into perspective and I get back on course.  This is the biggest difference between now and the previous quests to lose weight that I have done, I know now that even if I mess up I will continue to GO, and as long as I keep on going I'll get there, maybe not as fast but I'll still get there. 
Right now I have been sitting at this weight for about 2 weeks so I have obviously hit a plateau, this week I will really try get below 220lbs because its right around the corner and I know that I can do it.  I know that once I accomplish my fitness goals it will be a stepping stone to accomplishing other goals that I've had but didn't have the will to do.

Saturday October 1 2011 WorkOUT!!

I missed Zumba this morning but I think it was a good thing because I went to Hip Hop and Jazz dance instead.  I really love to dance but its hard for me to loosen up when I'm unsure of the steps and because I obviously don't dance Hip Hop or Jazz very well, but, I'm glad I went because I got a decent workout and I was learning the basics of dance which will in the end help me with some of my fitness goals. 
Today I didn't eat very well but I didn't indulge so I decided to go for a jog.  I put my ipod on and I was buzzing, I felt just great getting out of the house.  For me running/jogging is hard I don't have that endurance yet that I need to run the whole way or to feel comfortable running its quite a chore, but I think if I keep it up it will get better, also, I'm worried about getting shin splints so it makes me less inclined to run.  But I did go and I think I ran about 1.2 miles in 25 minutes, I walked twice but for the most part I ran the whole way, yes, I'm still very slow. 

Sunday October 2 2011 Food Log

Breakfast-burrito, one tortilla, 1 egg, 1/3 c. sliced potatoes, 1 tbs black beans, 1/3 c cheese, 2 tbs light sour cream, 2 tbs salsa, 1/4 c sliced breakfast sausage.

Lunch: Burrito same as above

Snack: 1/2 grapefruit,salad-lettuce, cucumbers, olives, cheese, 1tbs italian, bacon bits(imitation)

Dinner:1 big baked chicken thigh, 1 c of potatoes, celery, and carrots baked, slice of chocolate cake, shave ice w/ 1 c vanilla icecream


My weekends have been horrible I have been eating all day and eating anything I like but today I think I did a little bit better.  I ate more chocolate cake than I should have but I don't think I over did it.  As far as the burritos the tortillas and cheese I think are killing my diet.  I will work on that.

I'll pay I say, for this lazy lazy day!

A summary of my workout day in four sentences.

Slept through my alarm this morning, no EMZ.

Felt very drained probably because I didn't eat a good breaksfast but most likely because of something else, I didn't get outside.

Couldn't go to night Zumba, husband had to work.

10:30pm :20 second fitness gave me back my sanity-I am not a total failure for the day because I got my 8 minutes in today. 

Food log September 29th 2011

I had a really hard time eating this morning I didn't have an appetite, but by mid afternoon I was ravenous, and by the evening time I was eating things I shouldn't have eaten or maybe I shouldn't have eaten so much of.

Breakfast: Pear, a handful of dry cheerios

Lunch: Cheese Quesadilla(one 6"tortilla, and 1/3 c cheese)

Snack: 1/2 a fist size of chicken breast(rotisserie), and 1/2 c. mixed brown/white rice, 2 glasses of fruit smoothie(ice of course, 1.5 nectarines, 1 banana, 3 tbs plain greek yogurt, 1/2 c orange juice this recipe makes about 4 glasses)

Dinner: 2oz of chicken, 1/2 c. rice

Dessert: Birthday cake(homemade chocolate cake w/chocolate frosting) a bunch of picking equaling one good size piece 3" x 3"

Today's workout

6:00 am Cycle class at the gym 30min, followed by 10 min of abs

7:00pm :20 second fitness-Day 2, and Day 3 minus the cardio section about 14 min.

Today I am walking like an old lady my arms and my legs are just killing me today.  This mornings spin class was intense and I wasn't even reaching my max, the soreness in my legs is most likely due to that.  I had a great abs session, its not long enough but I'm planning on working to 30 min of abs on Mon, Wed, Fri so I have a lot to go. 

:20 SEC FITNESS

I thought that disk 1 day 2 was not intense as I wanted it to be, I don't think there was body part that they directed this day to so even though I felt like I worked my whole body I was really hoping for the same type of burn I felt yesterday when we did the triceps/shoulder area.  So to feel like my work out was worth it I did day 3 of disk one minus the 4 min cardio section, I had to catch up a day so that's another reason for doing it.  Day 3 works on the legs so we did a lot of squats and also worked the hamstrings-I hate doing squats so I didn't enjoy it as much but I think they are really good for the butt.  I did go intense as much as I could, I had a good sweat and right now I feel all pooped out but overall I feel stronger.

Food log September 28 2011

Breakfast: Boiled amaranth grain, with 1/4 c. milk, and 2 eggs mixed with 1/3 c sliced onions and canned light tuna all scrambled and delicious, one pear

Snack: Grapefruit

Lunch: 1 cheese quesadilla(2 6in. tortillas and 1/3 c cheese) bowl of green salad(iceburg lettuce, olives, celery, carrots, tomatoes, im. bacon bits, and 1 tbs italian dressing)

Dinner: Pear, cup of white/brown rice, and broccoli and turkey sausage about 1 c.

I think I ate pretty well today, I will put these food items into a calorie counter to see what it all adds to.

Tuesday September 27 2011

Breakfast: 1 cup oatmeal cooked, tsp sugar, 2 scrambled eggs w/onions and tomatoes fried in 1tbs olive oil
Lunch: 3/4 c brown rice, 3 oz country style pork, 1 cup green beens

Snack: cheese quesadilla

Dinner: iceburg lettuce, tomatoes, olives, carrots, cheese, imitation baco bits, italian dressing, 1 bowl full

:20 second fitness and Disk one Day one

The previous week I was having doubts about the efficiency of the :20 second fitness program, I was only on the 2nd week of the warm-up dvd and was feeling like in order to get a good workout I needed to do an hour or more of something else.  This made me think that if I'm just gonna go and do an hour of cardio everyday(because usually I can find the time) maybe I didn't need the :20 sec program.  To convince myself to keep at it I decided to look up blogs of people who have experience with :20 second fitness other than the owner and his family or those involved with the companies website, and see their results.  Unfortunately, I did not find one blog that had gone through the whole program and had listed their feelings, results, day to day achievements regarding the program.  All I could find were a bunch of  exercise bloggers who received the program for free and did really mediocre if that reviews on :20 second fitness.  HOW CAN YOU DO A REVIEW ON A FITNESS PROGRAM IF YOU HAVE NOT GONE THROUGH THE WHOLE THING???  And, by judging their reviews none of them went through the whole thing.  They gave an explanation of what it is and how it works but none of them said, "look here for my whole experience," or something specific like "last week after doing week 2 of the 1st dvd I had gone done 1 inch from the previous week," or "I really feel the burn after this workout," or "I am solely doing :20 second fitness and I have seen _______ results."  I just wanted to find someone who could really give everyone, myself included more than an before and after picture of what the program did for them, more than just a mention of doing the program, and some possible pics throughout.  But I didn't find it.  After the disappointment I resolved that that sucks, and that instead of being irritated I will have to just do the program myself and record my feelings, results, and day to day achievements.  That way others who are really deciding to do this will be able to see if they would like to put up the investment. 

On a cheerier note, yesterday I did disk 1 day one of the :20 second program, I went hard out as hard as I could I was sweating profusely, it was dripping down my nose and my arms, my triceps were burning, aching, shaking and after the jump rope set my heart was beating rapidly, and I felt sooo empowered.  I really felt like the design of the program IS aimed at burning calories all day even after the exercising stops.  Also, I feel like I have more energy through out the day after doing this work out.

I DID IT! :20 sec fitness

I got out of my self-pitying rut and decided to do something fast, :20 second fitness.  But these work outs only last 8-12 minutes and I feel like its not enough so I actually did 4 days in one, which I thought was a killer work out, total 32 minutes.

I feel better, I feel stronger and I feel like the goal is in my mind again.  I'm also hoping to get to yoga tonight and zumba.

In this picture I am fluctuating between 223lbs-226lbs

Even though I'm still flabby all over I like to work out in a sports bra because I imagine myself being able to walk/work out with flat abs and toned arms sometime in the future.  And also because when I see the flab it motivates me to get rid of it.

Getting re-motivated and staying the course.

This weekend was terrible!  Friday I had a great Zumba workout, but I went to sleep at 2am and I was so drained and tired that I didn't get up till around 10am Saturday, so I missed my work out.  In fact I didn't workout at all on Saturday or Sunday and to add to that our scale broke and I ate as much as I wanted on Sunday.  So, I don't know what I weigh I don't feel too good now, I feel very heavy, and slacking so much this weekend has made me start thinking why I am even doing this.  I've been thinking for the past hour about going for a jog and I haven't been able to get myself out of the house.  I

I need to sit for a bit a remember why i am doing this, and commit to going all out once again. 

Zumba for a cause and liquid diet FAIL

Tonight I did 1.5 hrs of Zumba to raise funds to get someone home, sweated a whole lot,  learned a valuable lesson, and practically proved to myself that the liquid diet is not going to fly.  I had 2 fruit smoothies today, 3 eggs, and 2 bowls of soup it obviously wasn't enough because at 11:50pm my stomach was turning and I HAD to eat.  So, I did, and I don't regret it, but I most likely will once I step on the scale tomorrow morning.

Everyday(not every minute though) I carry around 25lbs of pure joy and he's making my arms and shoulders buff!

15 lbs in 4 weeks

A whole month has passed and I can't believe what a big difference dropping some weight and exercising 6 times a week has had on my body.  I feel GREAT!  When I first started going to Zumba I could barely last the whole hour in fact I couldn't have fun because I was too tired, I was breathing hard and everything felt too jiggly.  But now, tonight I am able to go hard out and actually last the whole class and feel like I'm just dancing at not exercising.  I wonder what I'd be doing right now if I wasn't on this path to fitness?  I think I'd be stuffing my face at this very moment and its 11:20pm.  I've noticed minor changes in my appearance my face is getting skinnier, my eye bags look less pronounced due to less fat in my cheeks, my mid section although still pretty big is more shapely instead of looking like a blob, and my legs are getting smaller little by little, tight pants are still tight but not AS tight, haha. 

Right now at 225lbs its quite easy for me to start thinking that I have accomplished a lot this past month that I can just slack off.  In fact today I ATE, and ATE, yikes, chocolates, pasta(whole wheat), and numerous bowls of cereal with whole milk, eep!  I made sure though to eat it in the morning, early afternoon, and by 4:30 I just stopped eating, I think it evened out.  At 225lbs I'm also feeling like I'm about to hit a plateau and that Zumba will not be enough for me anymore, I mean it will still be good but I'll need to find something else that will push me harder. 

To get over the forthcoming plateau I'm thinking about going on a liquid diet for the next 3 days.  The last time I did one was in 2009 and I started out with only 3 days and by the third day my body felt great so i did it for 2 more days.  I'll probably not go that far and I think 3 days should be sufficient.

I'm feeling really happy right now for my health and for myself in the future and all the things I will be able to do with a healthy heart.

Saturday September 17 2011 Stats

Workout: 1 hr Zumba @10am
Calories: so far about 700 I think


Yay! I'm done with working out for this week unless I decided to do the 1st day of week 2 warm up on :20 sec fitness.  I'll probably do it, it will only be 4 or 5 min, plus I need to get my husband involved in this workout.  Zumba today was perfect, just the right amount of dancing to get a workout while still feeling like its not aerobics.  I am feeling a little pooped from today's and yesterdays workouts but I don't need to work out anymore this weekend till Monday.

Friday September 16 2011 Statistics

Workout: 1 hr Zumba A.M, 1 hr Zumba P.M
Diet: Ate 1287 calories or thereabouts

It was nice to start of my day early, shaking my butt, dancing, having a blast, and getting a good workout.  It was even better to get the second session of Zumba in the evening.  I was hanging a little but it was still good to be moving and dancing.

I probably could have had a little more calories, because 1200 I feel is a little too low for the amount of exercise I'm doing, I don't know if that's scientific but that is what my body is saying.  I am still not drinking any soda, or juice, just water, and I am not eating anything sweet, like candy or cakes, actually I'll have a dove chocolate once a day.

My Goal...

WEIGHT GOAL:  209lbs by Oct 28 2011
MINI GOALS TO GET ME TO 209:
Exercise 6 days a week cardio/weight training, twice everyday, 1 hr in the morning and :20 secs, or a good walk, or bike ride in the evening.
Eat 1500 calories a day
Eat lots of fresh veggies, and fruits, and salads


Aug 24 2011
Starting weight: 239lbs

Current Weight:
09/16: 229lbs
09/21:225
9/28:222.6 lbs
10/5:220.8  Yay baby!! By next weigh in i should be in the teens
10/12: 222 this is the week I lost it-
10/19: 218
(will update every week)

Early Morning Zumba!(EMZ)

For the past 3 weeks I have been attending EMZ, EMZ is put on by a lovely Tongan woman who over the past 2 years has influenced many Polynesian men and women to get out and exercise by creating these free classes.  They are held at 5:30am at LDS chapels every week day.  I love that they are free classes, its the getting up that has taken some time to get used to.  The first week I attended every morning-did I tell ya that I love being up before everyone else, and every week after that I have been going less and less.

Me in my right corner at EMZ, I have all the space to dance and go crazy!

When I first started I knew that in order to reach my goal weight by the date I set I would need to do at least 2 workouts a day, one hard one-like a Zumba class in the morning, and in the evening, a 5-10 mile bike ride, a walk/jog, or yoga or something similar.  I went hard core for the first two weeks, and obviously got burnt out, that is why I have been slacking with the EMZ.  But, I have been able to go to evening Zumba classes and I have been enjoying them and finding that I have a lot more energy in the evenings.  My plan is to still get in a session of Zumba everyday whether in the morning or the evening.  Since I have started I have lost weight, and I have more endurance to last through a whole one hour Zumba, and my clothes are not skin tight.  I'm still not where I want to be but I'm that much closer to my goal.

The Before...

Hello, this is me, after 3 weeks of doing Zumba, cycling, going for walk/jogs, doing a week of :20 second fitness, and keeping my calories at 1500 or thereabouts.  I started at 239 lbs and after dipping down to 227 at the end of the 2nd week, I am currently back up at 232 lbs.  I was a little worried that all my efforts were fruitless and that I'd be back up to 239 like the last time and in no time, for no reason, but my husband assured me to keep it up, and worry about the monthly numbers and not the daily numbers.  I am no where near my goal weight or goal figure but this post and picture will serve as reminder of where I started and how hard I will have to work to get where I want to be.  I'm actually really really excited about this time around, I have some pretty meaningful goals that I'm working towards and its been a big motivation for me to keep going.  Stay tuned as the pounds melt away!