I'm scared....

Seriously - I am afraid to go to yoga. I'm SO very sore from all that curling and my personal trainer that I can hardly move. I'm going to yoga because in the long term, it will help me feel better, but man, oh man, is it going to hurt in the short term. There's a good chance I will cry. HA!

We had to sweep like pigs at curling last night. And we played right until the bitter end (and no, we didn't even win - tied). My arms were like jello by the end of the night. I earned enough activity points though for a nice glass (ok, 3) of red wine. I'm all about looking out for my heart!!

Today I plan to do 20 minutes on the bike in the afternoon. We actually have nothing planned for this weekend. I might try to make bread. My friend was going to show me, but she got too busy, so I looked for instructions on the Internet. Eh, I guess the worst case scenario is that it just doesn't work. I think I will pick up stuff for salsa also - husband is on his last jar of the last batch. I will do a double batch this time though. A single batch only makes just shy of 4 litres. Who can survive on only 4 litres of salsa? That's crazy!!

Well, I suppose I've bored you all enough. Get out there and move!!

Have a healthy day bloggers!!

F*ck - why did I take it to the next level??

Why, why, why did I have to push it yesterday? My ass is KILLING me!!!! I curled last night and again this morning. I can hardly walk and I still have to curl tonight.

Next week I resume running. I haven't run for around two weeks - it is time to put it back in the routine. I'm going to work on my speed - so I'm only going to run 20 minutes per session. Isn't this exciting news?? The reason I am putting it back in is because one of Big Bet competitors is looking like she is loosing weight. And while I've lost 6.2 - she looks like she may have lost more. Time to turn up the heat. I am winning that freakin swim suit!

Alright - I'm off to do the roller to stretch out my aching legs before I have to curl again in an hour.

Have a healthy rest of the day bloggers!!

Taking it to the next level

I met with my personal trainer today. For the first time EVER, I used 12.5lb weights for an exercise!! I'm so excited!!!! I'm sure I made a muscle today, I worked so hard. And do you know what made me do it? You would think it is my deep desire to find the real me but no, it wasn't. It was stinky Neill from BL last night. I didn't want to be him. The give up guy (gal). The person who could do one more but doesn't. The person who could lift more but doesn't. And so, I wasn't. Sneaky personal trainer added time on the treadmill to my workout. I always warm up, but she had me on there walking really fast up a good incline for 3 minutes twice during my workout. I was drenched by the time I was done my workout. IT FELT GREAT!!!!!

Other fun on the agenda today....I was supposed to do a beginner ball class tonight, but our friends need us to curl, so I will be doing that. It will workout to the same amount of activity points. I'm quite afraid that I won't be able to crouch down to push the rock though. Personal trainer worked my legs good and hard.

What else....eh, I guess nothing.

Have a healthy day bloggers! Drink lots of water.....

Panic

People participating in the SparkPeople Challenge already know this, but this week, after my splurge at Chili's I had a real moment of panic, weight loss head games, you name it.

I went to Chili's, ate what I had planned. Drank two drinks more than I had planned, but I had the points. Wrote it all down, counted it all up. Woke up the next day feeling seriously good about myself. I actually thought - this is why WW isn't a "diet". I CAN DO THIS FOREVER. Why did I ever have a problem staying on plan? Sounds great, right?

The NEXT day (the day after the day after the splurge) I hop on the scale. I decided a while ago that I am one of those people who needs to only weigh once per week. The ups and downs in the middle of the week play games with my mind and I can't stick to the program. Anyhow - of course, the scale shows me up. So immediately I'm mad, disappointed, and angry for my night out. Why did I think I could do that? I wallowed in it for a while and then shook my head. Went through my journal, which I have been filling out faithfully. I was on program. Had been very active, stuck to the points I was allowed. Crap. I am not falling into the trap again. So, I stayed with the program. Pushed those nasty thoughts away. And I'm down this week.

One thing that really helped me was that I sent out a message to the SparkPeople Challengers. JARLYNN made me feel much better about everything. It really helps sometimes to just even write stuff down. Once I saw it all right there in front of me, I was able to realize I was just playing the same old game with myself.

We had Salsa lessons again last night. I just about peed myself laughing we had so much fun. I was having trouble telling when husband was changing directions so he made up some eye movements that I should be following. Well, I was laughing so hard at that that I could hardly even see his eyes cause mine were tearing up. While he was stressed last week, this week he was right into it. Most fun activity points I've collected so far this week.

Have a healthy day bloggers!!

"I Lost it at the Club" Challenge details and much more!

I went to the meet & greet last night for the challenge at my club. It was basically just a quick meeting to let us know how it was going to work. Over the next few months we have to collect points. Prizes will be given out at the end. Once again, we are collecting stickers, like so:



1 sticker for 60 minute workout to a max of 3 stickers. A workout can be formal, up in the gym, or a day on the hill skiing, or an hour walk with the dog, or curling...you get the idea.

1 sticker for each week of a nutrition log you keep. If you journal already for WW, then you can just use that. Which I do, and will.

1 sticker for pounds lost. I think you just get a sticker if you loose weight whether it be 1 pound or 20, but I'm not sure.

2 stickers for attending a class. This is exciting to me, because I am signed up for 4 classes per week!

2 stickers for a workout with a trainer - oh, wait - I do that to!

3 stickers for inches off your waist - again, I think it is 3 stickers for whatever your # is - but again, not sure

3 stickers for attending a nutritional seminar



I don't expect to win a prize doing this, but I have to be honest, I love collecting stickers! I can't wait! They have all the names up (only 71 people signed up) but no stickers were available yet. It is run on an honour system. As FatMom would say - cool beans!!



I went to the gym right away today to workout because my scheduled ladies curling game was cancelled. I had to get it in because I am going for drinks tonight. I am so excited. You want to know why? Because I looked up on Dietfacts.com what I normally eat at this restaurant and I'm planning for the point splurge. Not only am I going to have my regular fare, but I won't have to have any guilt! The restaurant we are going to is Chili's and I normally start with the chips and salsa (12pts for the entire basket) and then friend & I split the monteray jack fajita (9pts for the 1/2). Then 2 - 3 glasses of wine. Ya baby!!

Have a healthy day!

Is that a Shimmy, or are you just happy to see me??

I had my first belly dance class of the session last night. Holy tough class Batman! Seriously, BD Teacher worked us like pigs. I had to leave to get water 3 times. Next week I HAVE to remember my water bottle. This session we are learning combinations of moves and I think we will be expected to make up our own dance. Insert panic here please. Typically we only have 4 girls in the class - but I guess a lot of last terms gals moved up, so we have 9 or 10 people. They all seem nice, although they are young. So, no new friends to find in that class, but it should be a hoot.

So, can I tell you all about the final tally of my last week? I finished with 8 flex points left and I earned 29 activity points, all of which I ate except for 10.5. What I'm particularly happy about is that I didn't feel deprived. Don't get me wrong, I had the munchies, but they were boredom munchies, not hungry munchies.

I met with my personal trainer today. I think she may have been on a mission to kill me!

I had my massage yesterday - my shoulders are so sore today it hurts to wear a sports bra!!

I have the meet & greet tonight for the "I Lost It At The Club" challenge I've signed up for - so I will be riviting you all with the details tomorrow - lucky bloggers!!

And this picture is posted for TigerLilly - me dressed for the belly dance show I did....(I'm the one with the black top on the left)

Salsa Anyone????

Husband & I had our first Salsa lesson last night. What a hoot. It was a pretty full class. Lots of people had taken lessons previously. This stressed husband out. I finally just told him that I'm really just there to spend time with him - I don't care if we aren't the best salsa dancers in the class. We were moving the whole class, so I didn't feel guilty taking my activity points for it. I am going to practice my moves. To be honest, I thought it would be easier. Husband said next week he is going to the bar first to have a drink. Silly boy!

I finally went for a massage this morning. Massage dude said "OMG" when he felt how tight my hips were. I told him he needed to get me loose as a friggen goose, cause I have lots of classes to do for my "I Lost It at the Gym" Challenge! Even though he almost killed me, I feel way better. I did a quick 30 minute hill program on the treadmill after my massage since I was at the club anyhow.

Tonight I start Belly Dance again. I'm excited since I never went to any of my classes last term - I can't wait to get back.

Not much else on the go for today. Just working on staying on program. I have 6 activity points available to eat today (or I will have after belly dance). Today is my last day of my WW week, and I will finish with flex points! I find this exciting because I haven't felt deprived. Yay me!!

Have a healthy day bloggers, and remember, no buts!!

Reps and Run Post Mortem

Post Mortem are the operative words in the title. I feel like that is what I've been through. Had my new class. Starts with weight training. We used just about every apparatus known to the fitness world. Steps, mats, tubes, round tubes that attach to ankles, 2 sets of weights, slidy disky things, and the ball. Good Lord. It is quite similar to the weight training class I did last year, but the big difference is the pace at which we do it. Everything is sped up. She expects us to take no more than 5 seconds to change weights or tubes. Crazy. At one point I thought I would be sick. The nice thing is the class is only 45 minutes, warm up & down incl. So, we put our stuff away and we now have less than 10 minutes to get changed and out to the pool.

Well, this was WAY different than I thought it would be. For some reason I expected to be "running" lengths of the pool. I didn't realize that you never move. I actually had a lot of trouble in this class - I found it hard to move my limbs like the instructors was asking. Except for one 30 second burst, I wasn't able to get my heart rate up to more than 18. I was working too hard to make my legs AND arms work at the same time to put a lot of effort into it! Oh, well. It was still a fun workout, and the ladies in the class seem ok.

Tonight we start Salsa lessons. I need to do something else though. Either a walk with the dog or 20 minutes on the bike. We'll see. It is supposed to get nice out today. I could use a blast of sunshine. I know the dog will like the walk. He is such a barker though. Ugh.

I'm so pleased that everyone seems to be starting the year off with a bang. Could this be the year that we make these changes for the last time?

Had to take daughter to doctor last night. 2.5 hours wait. Even though the clinic closed at 9 they started turning people away at 6:30. One lady got really mad. I would have felt bad for the two receptionists, but they were the most unprofessional twits I have come across in a while. What is it with that next generation? Anyhow, all that and the doctor prescribed Advil Cold & Sinus! Oddly, I had a bottle in my purse. Since daughter gets many ear infections, especially when we have been on a plane, this is good to know. I will be sure to take some on our trip in the spring - may prevent her ears getting to the point of infection.

Ok, stop reading. Go move! And have a healthy day!!

No buts about it....

I've been noticing a trend that we are all doing. "I had a great loss, BUT....." Let's all decide right now. The only time we need a but is when we are telling blogland about what we did WELL in the week. For ex: "I gained 0.5 this week BUT I ate way more veggies and fruit than in the past" When we have a loss, we should just bask in the joy of a job well done. For ex: "I lost 0.5 this week!!!" We are never really taking credit for our hard work. There always seems to be a qualifier. Maybe we will have success for longer into the year if we pat ourselves on the back once in a while - you know, those pats will add up to an activity point sooner or later!

I have my new class today called Land meets Water. I'm excited. 45 minutes of weight training followed by 45 minutes of water jogging. I have never water jogged, so I'm quite excited to try it. This week all my classes start up - so be prepared for lots of class reviews! This class today is supposed to be a good cross training class for runners. Time will tell, I guess.

Good day yesterday. I didn't exercise. I have activities planned for every day of the week, so Sunday may turn into my rest day. My old bones need a break some days!!

I made daughter a nice lunch today. Turns out the reason she hasn't been taking lunch is just cause she doesn't like making it in the morning. I told her - well, no problem - I will do it. I really would like to see her eating more regularly. This will help. Sheesh. In any case, I made her a nice salad with chicken and zesty italian dressing. Non-fat, of course.

Have a healthy day bloggers!!

Inquiring Minds Want to know

Well, after curling I.....didn't go up to the bar. I hid. In a couple of weeks I may be ready to join the real world again, but for right now, I really think I need to hit the ground running. I worry that this makes me a coward, but then I think, heck, if I'm a slim coward, I can live with that! ;-)

Some of you asked what is in the basket? Mmmm, so many goodies. There is: Stone Pit Olives, Sea Salt, Bread Sticks, Olive Oil, Cookies (2 kinds), a decorative jar and some pasta. All the makings for a lovely evening meal.

Everyone be sure to visit Kate's blog (http://fromflabtofit.blogspot.com/). She had a STUNNING loss this week and deserves many high fives. Way to go Kate! (I just hope she hasn't used up all the loss mojo - HAHAHA)

In other news, yesterday husband & I took dog for a walk up the hill near our house. I'm sad to report that when we got to the top, there was a guy peeing. Didn't even bother to walk over to where there was some bushes. Yuk.

I'm still on program, and for the 2nd day the only extra points I ate were my activity points, and not all of them. I woke up feeling skinny today. Does that ever happen to you guys? You have a day where you just notice a bone or two that you didn't before? Today it is my ribs. They aren't showing, but I feel them. Sometimes it is my collarbones. Or, maybe this is just me, and I need help. In any case, I feel like I can take on the world!!

Off to make breakfast - have a healthy day bloggers!!

I'm a Winner!!!!!!!!!

OK. So, you know how I've been yammering on about my 12 days of Christmas challenge at my club? I found out this morning - I won a prize!!! Seriously!!!! I'm so excited. Even though it was a draw for the prizes, you still had to get your 12 stickers to get your name in the draw. Woohooooo!!!! I am including a picture, so you can all ooo and ahhhhh over it!

Yesterday was a rough day food wise, but everything is written down and counted. On to today. We start curling again tonight. Big test for me, since we always go for drinks and munchies after. I'm tempted to tell husband that I just don't want to up to the bar. When in doubt hide, right? HA!

I'm too excited about my big win to type too much, so....

Have a healthy day bloggers!!

The Big Bet Meeting

Yesterday we met to go over our bet. We had a WW approved lunch (so yummy), then we weighed in, took our measurements, figured out our BMI's, figured out healthy BMI's, set our goals and figured out the prizes. Are you curious???

1st leg: 10 weeks (Mar) - goal: 10% weight loss. The person with the greatest percentage weight loss will be the winner of the 1st leg. We have a date to ALL buy new bathing suits, with the losers paying for the winner's suit.

2nd leg: 15 weeks (Jun) - goal: be at or as close to goal as possible. The person with the greatest percentage weight loss will be the winner of the 2nd leg. We have a date to go shopping - the losers give the winner $200 and we all shop for some summer clothes.

3rd leg: 20 weeks (Oct) - goal: maintenance. The person who has maintained to within 2lbs (WW standard) is the winner of the 3rd leg. We have a date to go to the spa. If we've all maintained, then we will all just pay for our own day.

This bet will bring us to October. Each leg happens to coincide with each of our birthdays, which will be great because we are going to do lunch with our shopping. It should be a lot of fun.

I went to the gym yesterday to do the treadmill. Ugh. I got the treadmill that gives me shocks when I touch it. I think I had a supper dooper workout for my heart just from the stress of knowing a shock was coming every time I adjusted the speed. It was so full in there. I guess I will have to suck it up and run outside. Just go to the gym for classes. Which start Monday - I can't wait!!

I had an OP day yesterday. One day down, the rest of my life to go! HA!! Meeting husband for lunch today. Daughter has one exchange to make for Christmas present so we are going to a place where you put your food in a bowl and they stir fry it up. I love that place, because you are in complete control of every ingredient in your meal. Genius. And oh, so tasty.

My SparkPeople group is growing, ever so slightly.

Well, I guess that's it. I have to go have breakfast. Being OP the day before makes me wake up feeling peckish. I need to nosh.

Have a healthy day bloggers!!

New Year, New Plan.....

I met my friends for coffee on Monday. One is my belly dance partner, the other my running partner. They are two coffee gals. Which means we were there for a long time. We were talking about the changes we need to make, and we came up with the following bet.

We are meeting today for lunch, during which time we are going to weigh ourselves and do measurements. We are then going to come up with our goals. At the end of the bet, all 3 of us (a 4th gal may join, I don't know) are buying a new swim suit, and the winner of the bet gets hers paid for by the other two girls! Should be fun times. We're also all weight watchers gals, so....should be good. My one friend exercises like a pig, but hasn't been watching what she eats. I think if she can get into this - she will see some results fast. And if she does, it will be worth it to buy her a suit. Having said that - I really want to kick their asses! HA!!

I'm going up to the gym today to do the treadmill. I'm not going to win this if I don't do some serious cardio. I wonder how crowded the gym will be. Oh, well. I guess waiting for a machine isn't the end of the world. If I have to, I can always just run outside....in the cold......what a whimp!

Have a healthy day bloggers!!

Making Every Moment Count

So, this 12 days of Christmas Challenge that I joined at my gym is totally working. Last night I so would have blown off the gym, but I didn't because I had to go do 45 minutes of exercise to earn my sticker for the challenge. So, when my husband left to go curl, off I toodled at 8:00 at night to do my thing. There were 3 other people in the gym. It was lovely. I did a hill program on the treadmill. I upped my speed and incline from the last time I did it. It is weird. Now that I "run", I don't really feel like I've worked out if I walk. I checked my pulse all throughout my workout, and it was up where it was supposed to be, so I know I was working out, but....if you're wondering why I didn't run - it is because I'm tired. I feel worn out from Christmas. I will start running again on Jan 7.

I'm really looking forward to the fitness classes I have coming up in January. My week will look like this:

Monday: Weight training/Water jogging class (45 min of each)
Tuesday: Salsa lessons with husband
Wednesday: Fun with Fido classes with dog or belly dance (haven't decided yet)
Thursday: Personal trainer session and maybe belly dance, if not Wednesday
Friday: jogging and curling
Saturday: Yoga with husband

Plus, daughter really wants to go to the gym before school, so I will go with her Tues, Wed & Fri and do some easy peddling on the bike - which really helps my knees.

Of course, all of this moving around isn't going to matter a bit if I don't stay on plan. I'm feeling frustrated because 20 pts just seems to go so fast. I know if I add more 0 pt veggies to my diet that would help. Mmmmm, so much to ponder. So little time. 85 days till bathing suit.

Still time to join up in the SparkPeople challenge. We have a lovely group of ladies in the challenge.

OK, have a healthy day bloggers!!

After Christmas Wrap-Up

Well, the holidays have come and went. And just in time, cause my stomach needs a break!
I'm back tracking today. I was back at the gym yesterday. I don't know if I mentioned this, but my club is having a 12 days of Christmas challenge that I signed up for. I still have 3 stickers to collect before the 30th. Yesterday I did a hill program on the treadmill for 20 minutes and 20 minutes on the bike. I will likely do the same thing today.
I'm still taking people for the Spring Challenge on SparkPeople if any of you are interested. My SparkPeople name is fatinahdc. You can just send me a sparkmail.
I have 83 days till I have to put on a swimsuit. Holy crap. I'm freaking out. I have much work to do between now and then. I cannot afford to be starting over anymore. I think I'm going to focus on making my food choices from the core menu. I'm a points gal through and through, but I feel like I need to eat clean for a bit. Mostly because of all the junk over the past while. It is always so surprising to me how out of control my choices get if I take a break. It is like I have never learned anything about healthy eating. Hmpf!

Have a healthy day bloggers!!

This and That

Hmm, it has been a while since my last post.
I have been busy finishing up Christmas shopping. Now I have to wrap all that stuff!
I have been having trouble getting my running back up since I was sick. I haven't been able to get past 20 minutes. But yesterday I thought of a plan. I am going to lower my speed a bit, which I think will get me back up to 45 minutes, and then I will increase my speed again.
I had stopped writing down what I'm eating. Today I start again. It is the only way I stay on track.
I likely won't post again until the New Year. Stay safe, enjoy your time with your family, and be healthy!!

Noticing the Little Things

For the past 9 weeks I have been doing a Sparkpeople challenge. I have been averaging a loss of a smiggen over 0.5 per week. Yay me. So, it is slow going, and while I want it all off today, I'm happy with my progress. Having said that - I noticed today that I have been wearing a sports bra that I haven't worn in a long time. It kinda just hit me today. I had stopped wearing it because while I could get it on, it had become so small that getting it off was a task and a half. Plus, while I had it on, I actually had trouble breathing - it was that constricting!! Anyhow, I've been wearing it for a week and a half now. Not only can I get it on and off easily, I can breathe!! I must have lost some inches around my chest. Yay me again!!



Yesterday was personal trainer day. She kicked my ass good. I am just getting over a cold, and she worked me so hard that I threw up (I had time to get to the bathroom). This is a breakthrough in and of itself. I have never pushed myself like that before. And I came back and finished the workout. We have a challenge going on at the gym and I had to finish the workout to get my sticker to put it on the board. Nothing was stopping me from getting that sticker. I have to get in 12 45 minute exercise sessions by the end of December. Because of the cold, I only have 4!! YIKES!!! I'm on my way now to do a run on the treadmill. I am going to do 5:1's, because my lungs are still congested (or something in that general area is) and I don't have much stamina. I still think that will be a kickass workout.



After that I'm off to the mall for some last minute Christmas shopping. Should be a total zoo. Blech.

Have a healthy, exercise filled, on program day bloggers!

New Year Workout Plans

It is that time of year for signing up for the winter programs at my Club. Husband & I are all signed up for yoga again. We are adding Salsa lessons to the mix. I'm pretty excited - we have so much fun taking dance lessons.

What I'm SUPER excited about though is a class I found yesterday. The write up in the registration book says it is a good cross training class for runners. It is a combination class - 45 minutes of water jogging followed by 45 minutes of weight training. You realize of course that this means that I will finally be working with weights two times a week! Woo hoo!!

I have a busy day ahead of me. Nothing fun. Lots of running around. Bleh. Oh, well. That's why I don't get paid the big bucks to stay home. ;-)

Have a healthy day bloggers.

Husband's Christmas Party

I had my husband's Christmas party this weekend. What a great time. My knees were SORE, SORE, SORE on Sunday from all the dancing I did Saturday night. I had my new black dress that I wore and I felt really good in it. The only thing that would have made it better would have been if I hadn't been so sick. I feel like crap! I didn't workout today. In fact, I haven't done anything today except sleep. Tomorrow I get back to the land of the living - regardless of how I'm feeling. Sometimes when you're sick it is easy to get into a sitting around funk.

That's about all I have for today. Hope you're all having a healthy day.

The Santa Shuffle Race Results

Saturday I ran my race. What a GREAT day I had. It was -18, but with the wind chill it felt like -26. It was unusually damp also. So, we ran the race in our fastest time yet, because I was f*cking cold! At one point my running partner "J" said "Fatinah, what's gotten into you - you're running so fast" I told her I had just lost the feeling in my ass!

Anyhow, we finished at 36:50, which is fan-freakin-tastic because we were running 10:1's. Then, when we got back inside, they were giving out FREE subway subs! I love subway subs, and they had veggie on brown. I can't even tell you how fast we both inhaled our sandwiches - neither of us had really eaten breakfast. We then called our girlfriend to tell her we were done and we all met at Starbucks for a latte. Well, they each had two cap's, but one latte is my max. It was such a fun morning.

So, now we need to find a run to do in the new year to keep us out there....so far all I've found is a 1/2 marathon - but that's not for me.

Yesterday I had a GREAT run on the treadmill (it was -26 again) - I did 50 minutes of walking and running and logged almost 7k. I felt really great after.

Oh, I stopped drinking alcohol. Not in a 12 step way, but I think that not spending points on booze will really help me stay on plan. Plus, it is cheaper to go to dinner if you don't have 3 glasses of wine to pay for, which ends up costing more than I would spend on a bottle. Of course, I have a bunch of lunches and a Christmas party, but.....eh, just means I will wake up feeling good enough to go for a run the next day!

Have a healthy day bloggers!