Ballet

I am still on my plan.
Frankly, I'm not planning on great results as my goal this year is to get STRONG.  I'm doing workouts that really challenge me.  I have been VERY sore the past couple of weeks, because of this, and I am well aware that I don't lose when I'm sore.

I'm just going to keep calorie counting and sticking to the plan.  The plan makes good sense and it will work.

I also need to be very mindful of my weekend eating.  I really do.  Something else to work on.

My workout plan has been a firm video on Mondays and Fridays (the same video) and another video on Wednesdays as I need something to break-up the monotony of the firm (I love it when they say "Isn't this FUN!?"  You know things aren't fun when you have to say stuff like that).  Also, with how sore I've been I've stayed that way about 4 days after the workout so something else in the middle has been good.  I think doing the same video on Monday and then on Friday has been great because I'm noticing I'm better at it on Friday.  The firm videos are a lot like the aerobics class you hated in college as they have a lot of different moves and go quickly from one workout to the next.  Hence, a repeat makes you feel a little more sure of what you're doing.

Today, it being Wednesday, I did the NYC Ballet workout.  Oh, wow.  New muscles being used.  I do really like feeling like I'm a ballerina.  I love to watch ballet (so does Paige) and I love to feel graceful.  Hopefully some of the moves in this video will assist in that.  But I'm pretty sure I'll be sore tomorrow.

How are your new years resolutions coming?  What do you want to be?

My plan this year

I'm counting calories 4 days/week.  I'm not counting on the weekends, or on the day I work.  It's too hard to count when I work.  I will just try hard. :)

I will work out to a DVD 3 days/week and one extra "social" workout -- aka walking or Just Dance.

I feel like these things are doable and things I have done before.

And life goes on, just as dandy as before.

Are you making any changes in the new year?

Where I am At

Man oh man it's been a while since I have written.

1.  Carb fast was a complete waste of time.  You know why?  Because we werne't meant to live carb-free.  I think it was good in that I figured out I could control myself that well, but it didn't help me lose weight.

2.  I've started doing Fitness Blender workouts and I really like them.  Anyone else done them lately?

3.  We had a little bought of winter illness at our house and I just dropped the weight loss ball.  My plan is to do 3 Fitness Blender workouts a week and then also count calories a few days a week to just stay on top of things, and mostly just hope that I don't gain weight over the holidays.

In other news Blue Bell Christmas ice cream was devine.

So, back to Fitness Blender.  Anyone else done them?

Down a bit

So, coming into the end of month #2 I have lost a total of 10 pounds.  I guess that's no so bad, although I think this is official week #9.  I did come down last week, but I was at a low a couple of weeks earlier and I'm not as low as that.

I'm not sure the whole sugar thing is working for me.

I'm feeling deprived and I'm not eating in situations that I'm hungry because there's nothing to eat that fits my "standards"...

I am going to stick with it this week and the calorie counting though.

Fo sho.

STUPID SCALE

I am up this week, like 2 pounds!  I'm so stinkin' mad about it!  I followed the diet plan last week and every day I would see it tick up.  I'd do a harder workout and the scale would be up half a pound.

DROVE.

ME.

INSANE.

I am doing Jillian's 30 day shred right now and it's a but kicker (in more then one way).   BUT, since I feel like my eating is kinda under control right now I wanted to do more in the work-out way.

In other news, I've started using my hand blender to make smoothies and I am LOVING it.  Right now I'm doing:

• 1/2 cup of water (I hadn't used water before because I thought it would mute the taste but it's just fine, I don't miss the juice at all).
• 1/2 cup of frozen fruit
• 1/2 cup of fresh fruit
• 1/4 cup oatmeal (I saw this on someone's blog and I thought it would help add bulk and fiber, and it does both)
• 1/3 cup greek yogurt
• 1/2 cup spinach
• 1/2 of a bananna
• 1 t chia seeds
• 1 T ground flax seeds

Sometimes I add some ice cubes if I'm hot.  I have added avocado a couple of times, but I don't really notice it and it's so fatty and delicious on its own I'd rather just mash it up.  I was really feeling left out of the smoothie club because I don't have a blend-tec blender, but that is REALLY not in the budget right now and this actually makes clean-up a HUGE breeze!

I just zip it all together with my hand blender and throw a straw in the cup that came with it and whamo -- it's delicious.  I've made two today (P is sick so I'm really hoping the antioxidants are going to save me from her).

Then, to clean up I just put some hot water in the cup and I blend that with the thing, cleaning both the cup and the blender and I air dry.

Just don't stick your finger in the blade.  Only REALLY STUPID people would do that.

Anyway, I'm just going to stick with the plan and keep trying to eat right and workout hard.  That can only pay off, right?

TELL ME I AM RIGHT.

Down...

I hate this.  I hate that I get super frustrated because I'm NOT losing, and then I somehow ladder down a few pounds.

I'm down 2-3 pounds this week, and I feel pretty fantastic.  This makes it almost 13 pounds since the beginning of my no carb plan.  That's pretty great, in about 8 weeks (HORRAY!).  I, of course, wish it was faster.

BUT, I kind of feel like my eating is now under control.  I'm not taking a lot of effort to not eat carbs, and I'm trying to not go crazy with carbs on my cheat day (I did have this yesterday, it was nice to just make one portion, plop some ice cream and chocolate sauce on it and know it's gone and not tempting me in the fridge all week).  I think a lot of my weight loss hinges on that cheat day, so I still need to be conscious (but not so conscious that I feel cheated).

So, since eating seems to be under control I'm going to try and work on my physical activity more.  I'm doing harder videos and trying to be more intense while I do them.  It feel pretty good after it, so far... this isn't the video I've done, but it looks like a goodie! :)

Anyway, does anyone else "ladder" on their weight loss?

It's annoying, but I've been annoyed by other things. :)  Many, many annoying things.

2020

No, that's not my eyesight. That's the year I will reach my goal weight if I keep on this path.

Seriously.

I am pretty well the same this week. I know last week wasn't going to be great because my cheat day was last Monday (because I worked Saturday). I've still been getting headaches and I just don't feel all that great. I'm about 75% sure it's allergies but I haven't really a clue.

I'm uber frustrated because I'm also not losing weight even though I am following the 1200 calories/day thing.

So, I'm just going to soldier on. This week I'm cutting out flour and grains. So, it's just me, protein, fruits and veggies. I'm hoping this will kick this plateau's butt. I'm also going to try and do some sinus rinsing to help with the allergies.

If I'm not down on Saturday I will pull my hair out, although I don't think it will be much it might be some loss. :)

Keep on keepin' on. Thoughts on what I'm doing wrong?

Plan:
1200 calories/day plus about 1/2 of my workout calories.
No sugar except on one cheat day/week
Fruits, vegetables and protein (except on cheat day)
Work out 3 times/week plus gardening (which just kicked into high gear).