Mar 17, 2010

Wednesday, March 17, 2010 Workout

I was exhausted when I woke up this morning. My body was done. Maybe working out two times yesterday wasn't the best idea when I had to get up so early and do it again this morning??? Either way, I got the motivation, scraped myself out of bed and went to bootcamp. Even though I'm still very tired, I'm glad I went!

We did circuit training at boot camp today. We went through the circuit two times and then ended with core exercise (mostly planks and then some crunches).

The circuit included:

  1. Partner pulls with tow straps
  2. running the distance of the gym with 35lb ammo cans in each hand
  3. Military Presses
  4. Water bars above the head
  5. water bars, twisting with lunges
  6. rows on the TRX straps
  7. water bars, climging the rope
  8. stair steps
  9. tricep dips
  10. weighted hula hoop
  11. these standing arm dip things (yes, my names are technical)
  12. wall sits while lifting a weighted bar overhead
  13. bouncing the medicine ball while squatting
  14. undulations (3 different kinds)
I think that it.......hahaha, that's so much and I said "that it". It was a good workout, not so hard on the cardio which is good because we're going outside tomorrow which means the focus will be on cardio.

Mar 16, 2010

Tuesday, March 16, 2010 Food

Here's what I ate today (probably not enough calories considering I worked out twice and have a pretty busy day all around):

Preworkout:
Banana- 70
1/2 Protein Shake- 65

Post workout:
Protein Shake- 130

Breakfast:
Eggs- 120
Hashbrowns-160

Snack:
String Cheese- 60

Lunch:
Chicken Breast- 150
Salad w/ nuts- 120

Snack:
Apple- 50
Babybel Cheese- 70
 Dinner:
Monica made a great beef stew- 250 ( I had to do some research and guess on these calories...I think it might be high for the serving I had?)
1/2 of a buiscuit-  60
I had about 1/5 of a banana as well

Post dinner:
Gregg forced some whiskey on ice in my hand (it didn't take much to make me drink it though :))- 70

TOTAL: 1375

Tuesday, March 16, 2010 Workout #2

So, the previous blog was about my main workout for the day...bootcamp. And, if you read it, you were able to see that we worked our legs- - - HARD!

Then, after work, my friend Monica, who runs all the time, offered to run with me. It was awesome because even though she's a practiced runner, she just kept my pace and didn't make me feel stupid for being slow or that I needed to kill myself getting faster. She was very encouraging and running with someone else really makes the time pass faster and helps to keep my mind off of things....so great!

We did two miles and Gregg thought we did it in about 20 minutes. IF that's true, that means I blew my goal out of the water because I was hoping to get in with in 26-28 minutes. I felt great running 2 miles without stopping once for walking or stretching or anything.

Such a great accomplishment and such a good feeling to have a new goal!

Tuesday, March 16, 2010 Workout #1

Today was my first day back at boot camp since Atlanta and it just about killed me! We did a plyo/TRX mix workout which mostly focused on legs.

For plyo we did:
  • star jumps
  • jumping jacks
  • split squats
  • stair steps
  • butt kicks
  • jump rope
and in between each of those there was another exercise to transition like:
  • hopping with both feet
  • plank walk
  • crab walk
  • lunges
  • sumo walk
Then, after we finished a circuit of plyo we went and did full body stuff on the TRX which, all throughout, included:
  • legs, chest, back, shoulders, arms, core
This was a very difficult workout. I never got my heart rate down the entire session and there were times when I thought I wouldn't make it but, I did.....which is nice. After the workout I was able to talk with my trainer and another woman Wendy. We talked about the struggles of what to eat and I shared a bit about my concern with running now that we're outside some. They're always so encouraging and supportive so it's good that they know where my heads at.

Tonight I'm going to go running with my friend Monica....ok, let's call it a jog. Monica is basically a marathon runner and runs all the time but I know that she'll be super supportive and motivating so I'm looking forward to that. I am a little bit worried about my legs holding up after this morning (and then knowing I have to go back tomorrow morning!) but I know I can do it and it'll be a good challenge. Plus, it'll mean more calories burned and stronger lungs which I'm ALL ABOUT!

I'll write about that workout and food later.

Mar 15, 2010

Monday, March 15, 2010 Food

Here's what I ate today:

Breakfast:
Multigrain Cheerios- 170
Skim Milk- 40

Snack:
String Cheese- 130

Lunch:
Peanut Curry w/ Chicken & Veggies- 500
Thai Soup- 100

Snack:
Baby Bell Cheese- 70
Apple- 50

Dinner:
1/2 Chicken Breast- 120
1/4 cup mexican rice- 160
1/4 cup black beans- 60
Sour Cream & Salsa- 30

TOTAL: 1430

7 Reasons Why You Can't Lose Weight

THIS IS AN EXCERPT FROM OUR BOOT CAMP NEWSLETTER THAT I THOUGHT WAS HELPFUL:



There are few things more frustrating than not being able to lose weight.

You want to be slimmer and to tone your body, but your weight won't budge.

Read the following 7 Weight Loss Blockers to discover what is standing in your way and how to quickly and easily begin your weight loss journey.


Blocker #1: Your Mind

Your mind is your number one ally when it comes to achieving your goals. However, until your mind has been programmed for success, it will do more to derail your efforts than to help you.

• Take a few moments each day to visualize yourself at your ideal weight. Imagine how it feels to look the way you've always wanted.

• Protect your mind from any negative self talk. If a negative thought comes to mind, immediately reject it.

• You want to be thin and fit, and yet you think of yourself as out-of-shape and fat. Re-program your mind to think of yourself as fit and attractive, and you will be well on your way toward achieving your goal.

• Give up the belief that you can't achieve the body you've always dreamed of. See it first in your mind, and then in the mirror.


Blocker #2: Your Fear
Change makes most of us nervous – even if it is a change in the right direction. You may not be consciously aware of the fear you have of getting into shape. Until you conquer this fear, your weight loss efforts will be blocked by self sabotage.

Professional speaker and author, Anthony Robbins, has outlined three specific beliefs that you must have in order to conquer your fear and instantly create a lasting change.

• Believe that something MUST change. You can't be wishy-washy about it. You can't be considering it. You can't even be pretty sure about it. You've got to be rock solid.

• Believe that YOU must change it. You can't pass the buck of responsibility and expect to lose weight. It's on your shoulders. Other people will prove to be great assets in your journey, but in the end you are the one who is going to make it happen. You have to want this weight loss enough to make it your personal mission.

• Believe you CAN change it. You may have failed in the past, but that doesn't matter. When you put your mind to it, you're able to do amazing things. Do you believe that you are capable of losing weight? Once you own the belief that you can, you'll be unstoppable.


Blocker #3: Your Excuses

Your excuses for being out-of-shape are getting old. An excuse takes less immediate effort than an action, but in the long run the action taker always has the advantage. Don't allow excuses to ruin your life any longer.

• Don't skip out on your responsibilities with excuses, instead expect more from yourself.

• Focus on the big reason why you are losing the weight. Make a list of the benefits you'll enjoy once you achieve your goal, and read them first thing each morning.

• Remember that you can only have two things in life: excuses or results. Which do you want?


Blocker #4: Your Commitment

How many times have you tried to lose weight, only to give up a week or two later? We live in a commitment-phobic world, so it's no wonder that you routinely abandon your goals. If you truly want to lose weight then your commitment to the process is a must.

• The margin between success and failure is bridged by your commitment. Don't give up until your goal has been achieved.

• Treat exercise with the same importance as a work meeting, and you'll never skip it at the last minute. Find three available 60-minute time slots in your schedule and mark them (in pen) on your calendar. Now stick to your schedule.

• If you don't give up, then you'll never fail.


Blocker #5: Your Diet

If you consistently eat the wrong food, then you're weight loss efforts will all be in vain. To put it bluntly, you need to stop eating junk. Processed foods, refined sugar and high fructose corn syrup do not belong in your diet if you want to be in great shape. Cut these items out of your diet and replace them with real whole foods like lean meats, vegetables, whole grains, nuts and fruits.

• Don't eat processed foods. Even though processed foods are accepted by our society, they contain tons of chemicals and empty calories that will make you sick and fat.

• Fat contains twice the caloric density of protein and carbohydrates, so make sure to limit the amount that you consume. Eat lots of lean proteins and wholesome carbohydrates from plants and whole grains.

• Vegetables, whole grains, fruits, nuts and seeds are filled with fiber and antioxidants which are vital for healthy weight loss. Snack on these instead of packaged treats.


Blocker #6: Your Patience

It takes time to transform your body from fat to fit, even though you want it to happen overnight. Remind yourself that it took time to put the weight on, so it will take time to take the weight off. When you find your patience wavering, or when you encounter a frustrating plateau, do the following:

• Review your goal. Is it specific and measurable? Is it small and attainable, rather than monumental? Focus on your goal when the going gets tough.

• Make each workout a new experience. Challenge your body with different resistance, new exercises and a varied pace.

• Remember that anyone can have one great workout, but that won't get you the body you want. The only way to achieve your goal is by consistently exercising and eating right, plain and simple.



Blocker #7: Your Support

People who exercise alone are less challenged, less accountable and are more likely to fail. It makes sense. Who would rush to the gym if no one is was waiting for them? Who would push themselves if no one was paying attention? Exercising alone is a recipe for disaster.

• Find a workout partner who is in better shape than you, or better yet, work with me, your local fitness expert, to guarantee your results.

• I am passionate about seeing you achieve results - don't waste your time, energy and effort on mistakes.

• When you start a program with me, you suddenly have the upper hand on weight loss. I'll be in your corner, coaching you each step of the way, keeping you accountable to workouts and giving you that dose of encouragement when you need it most.

Get serious about your results and begin the last weight loss program that you'll ever do.

Mar 14, 2010

STILL TASTY

I am trying to figure out ways to eat healthy and not spend an arm and a leg every time I go to the grocery store. What I'm finding is that seems really hard to do when you're single. Fruits and veggies often come in bunches that I can't eat before it goes badly.
I found this website that helps understand how to store fruits and veggies, when to know if food is bad, how to freeze foods, etc. http://www.stilltasty.com/

So, I'm going to try it, I'm going to be better about these things. One thing I'm a bit worried about is that I will need to be planned enough ahead to make sure to THAW things. That could be a challenge....

Tonight I made a big batch of sweet & tangy chicken breasts. I'm going to cut them up and freeze them to use throughout the next couple of weeks. This is a big deal....I HATE leftovers........but I can see what the benefit will be in time and money!

I'll try to remember to let you know how it goes....

Sunday, March 14, 2010 Workout & Food

What I did to workout:

Jettie and I decided to walk around Reeds Lake in East GR today...about 4 1/2 miels We decided this a couple of days ago before we knew that the weather would be cold, VERY windy, and drizzly rain but, we decided to tough it out and complete our goal anyhow!
The walk was great. It was freezing at first and I think we both wondered if we might get poured on but the walk around Reeds is really pretty, the houses are amazing and we had endless things to talk about so it went pretty fast. I was remembering just this past summer when Jettie and I did the same walk and I went at about 1/5 the pace and my legs and lungs were both sore.....today, I felt strong, like I could walk quite a bit longer (although I'm glad we didn't ; )). My only issue was a blister I got on the inside of my right heel...hopefully it heals up by Tuesday because I have boot camp in the morning and then my friend Monica and I are going for an evening jog to help me in my running training! Either way, I know myself pretty well and I sincerely doubt a blister is going to stop me : ).
Today was a good workout. It was different...it was with a good friend...and I feel tired so it must have been good for my body!

What I ate today:

Breakfast:
Breakfast sandwich w/ egg & ham- 300
Hashbrowns- 150

Snack:
Apple- 50
String Cheese- 60

Lunch:
Whole Wheat Bread- 145
Cheese- 75
Chips- 150

Pre-Workout Snack:
Protein Shake- 130

Dinner:
Fish Tacos:
2 Tortillas- 180
Mahi Mahi- 130
Veggies
Plaintains- 160
Sprite- 90

TOTAL: 1620 (while this is still well under my max of 1800, it is higher than my normal days have been but that's good since I was on my feet all morning at work and then I walked 4 1/2 miles later)

Mar 13, 2010

Saturday, March 13, 2010 Workout & Food

What I did to workout today:

Today I did some strength training, not much cardio other than the cardio benefits from the weights. I did arms, back, chest, legs, shoulders. Hopefully this gives a little bit of time for my shins to heal before Jettie and I go around Reeds Lake tomorrow!

What I ate tonight:

Breakfast:
Fiber 1 Pancakes- 190
Light Syrup- 100

Lunch:
Kids Meal at Wendys- 500

Snack:
Salt & Vinegra Potatoes- 150

Dinner:
Kristen made a great dinner! Beef Roast- 240
Potato- 150
Veggies

TOTAL: 1330

Mar 12, 2010

Friday, March 12, 2010 Food & Workout

What I did to workout today:

Today I went downtown and put in 2 1/2 miles. I went on the run with my friend's 14 year old son, knowing that he'd push me and keep me motivated....and that he did! His stride and pace were much faster than mine. I was proud of him though, he put in a 5K with no problem and he had a "runner's high" that I think is motivating him to keep running every day.
And then there was me--- I am proud that I ran that much but I was struggling with shin splints and couldn't run the rest of the 3.1 miles with him. I was happy that I felt good cardiovascularly though, that means my training is paying off!
While I waited for him to finish his longer run I did some pushups, crunches and tricep dips in the park....not too many, but it still felt good!

What I ate today:

Breakfast:
Fiber 1 pancakes- 150
Light Syrup- 100

Lunch:
Whole Wheat Boboli Crust- 360
Ham- 70
Mushrooms, green peppers

Snack: Pretzels- 110

Dinner:
1/2 Subway Turkey Sub w/ no cheese & loads of veggies- 280
Alexia Organic baked fries- 200

TOTAL: 1270

How I survived my time away...

I'm back from Hotlanta so I wanted to do a post just to update on how that went. We had a great trip, but, I often felt like I was in the midst of the world's largest temptation! I mean, we ate at every fast food place you can think of as well as places like PF Changs and The Cheesecake Factory!!!
I went on the trip prepared with protein powder for shakes and healthy snacks like cheese, apples and nuts. In the 30ish hours that we were in the car, I managed to stick to those snacks aside from the two lollipops I had. I was pretty proud of that because the rest of the people in the car were eating things like caramel corn and chips...two of my favorite things!!!
When we ate our meals I made sure to choose healthier options on the menu (I did look at some of the menus online first and that was helpful). Then, when the waiter would bring our food I'd portion out the amount I was going to let myself eat. I had 1 alcoholic drink the entire time we were gone--- they had Yingling, my favorite beer from Pennsylvania that isn't sold in MI. What a treat!
The entire time I felt absolutely disgusting about the food I was eating. Sure, I was making pretty good decisions but they weren't near as good as when I cook my own food at home. I felt horrible!
What was so interesting is that when people saw me leave 1/2 of my food on my plate or pass on desserts and alcohol, they assumed I was being tortured and they'd egg me on to "just have fun" and "enjoy myself". The thing is, I was enjoying myself....I didn't feel deprived at all!! It's interesting how people percieve moderation as being something that will make you feel bad....that if you have excess you'll be "happier". What I've learned is that if I even come close to having excess I feel crappy. So, while I know that the people I was with love and support me, there were some times that I was battling a bit of peer pressure to make it through.

Now, for the workouts. When we left my friend Aaron told me that he was going to work out with me 3 out of the 5 days that we were gone....I knew having him there would hold me accountable and would make me workout hard. Unfortunately, he didn't workout with me once. Bummer. I don't blame him though, we were exhausted and on a sort of "vacation".....plus, he's in great shape so he doesn't need it. So, Friday was a driving day and I didn't workout at all. Saturday we spent all day on our feet at the Aquarium and Six Flags....seriously, all day. I tried to do some squats and pushups while in line for the roller coasters but that got old fast. Then, there was some free time on Sunday so I ran on the treadmill for 25 minutes that day (the hotel only had cardio machines, no weights or anything like that). That's it, that's all I did while I was away. My body felt horrible and I was even getting a little cranky. It just proved to me how much I NEED to workout and how good it makes me feel day to day.

So, we got back late Tuesday evening and then I didn't go to bootcamp on Thursday because I was so exhausted and battling a sore throat.

I knew I needed to get back into the swing of things after only working out 2 times this week (OUCH!) so I made a plan for my weekend.......which I'll talk about in my next post........

The bottom line is that I am confident that I can't look at things like trips and traveling as times to "let go and have fun" but that I need to look at them as "real life". I am proud of myself for how I handled my food on this trip because I know it could have been SOOOOO much worse. I am glad to be back home now, cooking for myself and making good choices that make me feel good!

Mar 4, 2010

Going to Atlanta!

I'm going to be in Atlanta, GA for the next 5 days and I've made the decision to not worry about keeping the blog up while I'm away. Even though I may not be writing everything down I am going to still make good decisions while I'm away. This is real life so I want to not just "stop doing what I'm doing" because what I'm doing is living a healthier lifestyle. Now, that said, I have been horribly strict, eating way fewer calories than my actual goal, so while I'm away and having to eat out a lot, I'm guessing that I'll hit closer to the 1800 calorie mark.
Eating out is just so difficult! I've packed some healthy snacks and some stuff for breakfast and my protein shakes so I'll make sure to fill up on the good stuff so I'm not starving when meals come around and I'm stuck eating out.

Anyway, I'll write again Wednesday, March 10th!

(prayers appreciated : ))

Thursday, March 4, 2010 Food

Here’s what I ate today:

Breakfast:
Eggs- 120
Hashbrowns- 150

Lunch:
Whole Wheat Boboli Crust- 260
Mushrooms, green peppers, onion
Ham- 70

Snack:
Almond Crisps- 140
Smoked salmon- 100
Hummus- 50
Cheese- 50

Dinner:
Steak- 600
Green Beans

Total for Today: 1540

Thursday, March 4, 2010 Workout

Yep, I'm still on vacation, but, like I said, I committed to wake up early to go to boot camp anyway. Glad I did, today was a good workout that kept us moving!
We started with a light cardio warm-up doing:
  • jogging
  • butt kicks
  • skipping
  • side taps
  • shuffling
Then we moved into working the muscles...
It was a TRX day but there were 22 people there and there weren't enough TRX straps (that's WAY more than normal....I remember times when there were 3 of us!). So, we split into two groups and while one group worked specific body parts on the straps, the other group did free weights on the other end of the room. We did a tiny bit of legs (just 30 lunges actually) and then we worked mostly our upper body doing lots of reps of the following:
  • shoulders (tons!)
  • biceps
  • triceps (I burned out on this one)
  • chest
  • back
The pace was steady and we kept moving throughout which is good because sometimes when we only do TRX and there are a lot of new people, the pace can get a little too slow. I liked days like today where I can keep my own pace!

Tomorrow morning I leave for Atlanta so I won't be back to boot camp until next Thursday. I would normally be nervous to be gone for that long but I'll be in Atlanta with my friend Aaron who has committed to working out with me a few times. Since he's in MUCH better shape than me, I'm sure I'll get pushed just as much, if not more, than at boot camp.

Mar 3, 2010

Wednesday, March 3, 2010 Food

Here’s what I ate today:



Breakfast:
Fiber 1 pancakes- 220
Lite Syrup- 100

Lunch:
The Veggie/beef Chili I made last week- 350
Whole Wheat Bread-80

Dinner:
Lean Pockets- 480

Later:
Then I went out with a friend and had ½ glass of wine- 50
Almond Crisps- 140

Total for Today: 1420

Wednesday, March 3, 2010 Workout

Because I'm on vacation I told myself I'd go to boot camp on Tuesday & Thursday this week and allow myself to sleep in on Wednesday....on one condition....that I still worked out later in the day.

I will admit, it didn't feel good to sleep in. I mean, sure, I was relaxed, but almost too relaxed and my head hurt and my body ached from not moving for so many hours........it's so strange how I assume I'll feel better if I sleep but I really feel better when I wake up and get moving.

Anyway, I covered about 3miles today but I was only able to run the 1st mile and then, for some reason, I got really nauseous. I'm wondering if it's because I took my multivitamin shortly before going out? Regardless, I kept my pace up and enjoyed the weather and air.

When I got home I sat on my front porch steps to read my mail. The sun felt SOOOO good on my face that I just sat there for about 30minutes....we'll call that a cool down : )

That's the workout for today....

Body Bugg Update

I’m done with my first month using the Body Bugg thing and these are my results. I paid for one more month but we’ll see how longer I use it. I really do think it’s helping me understand the physical activity part!
These are Daily averages for the entire month:

Daily Calories Burned- 2660

Daily Calories Consumed- 1497

Daily Calorie Deficit- 1163

Daily Physical Activity- 42minutes (moderate & vigorous)

Mar 2, 2010

Tuesday, March 2, 2010 Food

Here’s what I ate today:



PreWorkout:
½ protein shake- 65
Small banana- 70

Post Workout:
Protein Shake- 130

Breakfast:
Eggs- 120
Hashbrowns- 150

Lunch:
Jimmy Johns Turkey sub no/ mayo or cheese- 330
I also had like 6 black jelly beans (yum!)- 50
Snack:
Popcorn- 50
Cheese- 60

Dinner:
Tonight was girls night and we went to the Electric Cheetah.
Pork BBQ Sandwich- 350
Sweet Potato Fries- 125
about 5 potato chips (they were on my plate and hard to resist)- 50


Total for Today: 1550

Tuesday, March 2, 2010 Workout

So, I started taking this supplement (all natural) last Thursday afternoon. It's full of good vitamins, important amino acids that you only get in certain foods, etc....stuff my fitness savy friend said would be great for my body. Plus, now that I'm off of caffeine (if they have a rule "i before e", they should stick with it!!! stupid spelling : )) Ok, sorry about the side tracking...but, now that I'm off of caffeine and most aspartame, I can put vitamins and supplements into my body becuase they'll actually work. Over the weekend I noticed that my body was running constantly which made me HUNGRY ALL DAY!! Seriously, I texted my friend Aaron to tell him I couldn't "stop the hunger" at which point he told me that was a good thing and that I should give my body the fuel it was asking for (with apples, cheese, nuts, "clean food" as he called it). So, I did.
So that was this weekend with my lighter workouts that generally take place in the middle of the day once I've had some substantial food in my body. BUT, today was the first day I did bootcamp after taking the supplements in the morning, on 1/2 protein shake and a small banana and BOY WAS IT DIFFERENT! It was like the energy was just shooting through my system. At one point, I even got a little shakey because I probably didn't have enough food it in me, but I did feel like the amino acids were working and like I could give a ton more to my workout. We'll see how this continues but I think it's a good thing and I'm interested to see how it continues to affect my performance (haha, who ever thought I'd be mroe concerned about my fitness performance than I would about my weight!?!?!?)

Anyway, I have vacation today through Thursday so waking up this morning at 4:45am when I knew I could sleep until midmorning was a bit of a challenge, but I'm glad I went. Yesterday was the start of a new session at bootcamp and we had three new women join us today. They're all in decent shape so I'm guessing once they catch on to the workouts that they'll be right up there and pushing me....which I'm excited about.
We did a full body TRX workout today with no additional cardio which is my favorite workout! My muscles all hit thier max but I came home and refueled with a protein shake.
The crazy thing is that I am now wide awake at 6:45am with nothing to do because I don't need to get ready for work. I think I'll get some more house work done before I shower (WHO AM I???? Seriously, sometimes this has changed my life so much that I can't believe it. The other Annie would have definitely slept in until 10am or, at least wanted to crawl right back under the covers when I got home.

Glad things are continually changing....

Mar 1, 2010

Monday, March 1, 2010 Food

Here’s what I ate today:



Breakfast:
Multigrain Cheerios- 170
Milk- 45
½ protein shake- 65

Snack:
String Cheese- 120

Lunch:
Peanut Curry w/Chicken & Veggies- 700 (I ate the entire plate today!)
Soup- 100

Snack:
Apple- 50

Dinner:
7oz Chicken- 260
Sweet Potato Fries (homemade)- 125
Salad w/dressing- 40

Total for Today: 1675