My Health and Fitness Journey

Sore...

2010-09-01T12:37:00.002-04:00

Whine alert -- wrist is sore today, knee aches a little and unmentionable parts are complaining. Took a break from the ride today and trying to not think the words "I might need a new bike..."

Keeping it going

2010-08-30T10:43:00.002-04:00

So, I'm not a blogger -- I'll admit it but going back and seeing these old posts is good for the soul even if it does just prove that you struggle with some basic principles your entire life!

I've changed jobs and I'm trying to commute by bike a couple of days a week. It's 8 miles one way -- still on my favorite bike path. I'm back in WW again -- bouncing around the same weights I was almost 2 years ago -- but I'm not up... so that counts for a lot! I still struggle with emotions, being overwhelmed, not taking care of myself, etc., etc., etc., but I think I'm a little better at handling it now.

I think coming back to blogging occasionally will let me see some progress in myself. And seeing past successes or struggles makes me feel OK with today.

Back again (and again...)

2008-11-13T11:09:00.001-05:00

Well, here I am back again. No matter where you go, there you are, right? Rejoined WW's last night. Since stopping back in April, I've put on about 10 pounds but that's not as bad as it could be if I didn't rein in now. Now, I just have to get back into the habit of exercising, eating right, getting enough rest -- all those things we all KNOW we have to do but never seem to get around to doing.

I remember commenting how exercise was like medicine to me -- making me feel happier and healthier -- as much as any antidepressant. So, I'm going to start the big-girl pills again -- making those small but important choices we make every day. Like, what's for lunch???

Got off the butt... on the bike

2008-06-12T09:46:00.002-04:00

Since I moved at the beginning of April, I haven't had a scale at home. My last trip to WW (over a month ago) showed I was down to my lowest weight (since getting to the highest one) and I actually went out and bought 2 pairs of size 10 jeans that I really could fit into. Well, decided to step on the scale in the bathroom at work (donated by another WW lady) and I was up 10 pounds from that in a little over 6 weeks!!! And, of course, the size 10 jeans won't even zip. UGH! Why does it come on so much faster than it comes off???

With all the baseball (did I mention concession stand food) and graduation/end of year activities with my 3 kids, it's been IMPOSSIBLE to take care of myself (eating healthy and exercising regularly). So, last night I went to bed at a reasonable time and set the alarm for 5:15 this morning and went out on an early morning ride. I only rode 6 miles (which isn't a lot for me), but I did get out of bed, off the butt and onto the bike. It was a struggle -- how fast that fitness can decline, too, but I got out.

Don't be too impressed with the 5:15 part -- over the winter I faithfully got up and exercised at the gym at 5:30 or so in the morning 3-4 days a week. It's about the only time of day I'm guaranteed nobody will need my attention!

So, back on track (or the bike path) again ... getting back up one more time!

No rides for a while....

2008-06-03T10:46:00.003-04:00

It's been unusually windy lately and I haven't ridden this week. I can really tell, too! Moody, irritable, no sleep ... I have to remember to treat riding and exercise like medicine ... It's good for the body!

I did try to start back counting points on WW's ... I really want to get to goal and summer's a better time for me to work at it than winter since I have a lot more activitity. It's just hard to eat healthy when 1/2 of my meals are fast food or ballpark hot dogs or chicken fingers. We spend so much time at baseball, I end up eating from the concession stand too much.

Anybody have any ideas for low-cal concessions food? Maybe the lettuce for the hamburgers???

Happy Memorial Day!

2008-05-26T23:30:00.002-04:00

What a beautiful day here in New Jersey! The sun was shining and the wind was blowing just enough to keep the air moving. I went out for my first ride with the Princeton Freewheelers' Bike Club (even though I've been a member for almost a year). We did a "D+" ride that was 23 miles at an average pace of 10 mph. I rode from my house to the start point, so door-to-door mileage for me was 30.0 miles (on the dot). It was the longest I've ridden on one ride and it was great! The pace was perfect for me for a leisurely ride. We had another guy who was riding for his 2nd time in the club and he had tried another ride with the group and they left him. On his FIRST ride!

Our ride leader, Pat, was fantastic at stopping and chatting with us, keeping us at pace and pointing out some of the more interesting sights -- like the house that was almost falling apart (from fire, age and/or wind damage) that had the sign on the door saying "Not for Rent!" Too funny!

So, this was a great kick-start to a summer full of riding fun!

Hope you all moved all you wanted today!
Ginger

Pictures from Bike to Work Day

2008-05-19T22:05:00.005-04:00

OK -- so do I look like the ultimate Trek Woman Who Rides? Notice the Trek FX 2.5 bike (named "Red Scare"), the Women Who Ride jersey and hat? This was around the 17 mile mark at the Little League fields. Thankfully some of the parents are the kinds who remember their cameras and are willing to snap pictures for those of us who don't.

I'm ready to do it again!

I DID IT!

2008-05-19T08:15:00.006-04:00

Thursday night, I did it! I rode the bike home from work. The safer route I picked out was 21.4 miles ... quite a little hike. Of course I forgot the camera but I did get a friend to take a picture, so it should be posted soon.

Highlights of the trip? The bike canal along the Pennsylvania side was very nice. I had practically no traffic to get there and of course, no traffic along the path, so it was a very leisurely ride. I was enjoying it so much I almost missed my turn off the path! Thank goodness it's a state park and there was signage talking about the Washington Crossing bridge that was my path across the Delaware River. The bridge itself it really cool -- the cars have to creep along about 5 miles per hour and sometimes fold in the side mirrors to keep them from hitting the supports. There's a separate bike/pedestrian walkway, so you can cross almost as fast walking as driving. (This isn't my picture, but it's my bridge!) On the New Jersey side, I had bike shoulders and bike lanes almost the entire way. The only 'scary' part was a traffic circle with a lot of traffic. I just had to run across the individual roads feeding into the circle.

Of course, being a mom of 3 kids, I didn't get to go straight home ... I had to go to the Little League park to watch my youngest play in a baseball game. He was very proud to tell his friends that his mom rode from Pennsylvania to see his game. And he was more than happy to go through my backpack and eat the bananas and plums I had packed for the ride. I finished the ride home after the game and got home about 9:00. That's not too unusual of a day for me with an after-work game but it was weird finishing up that late on a bike.

The biggest challenge was mental -- about 7 miles into the ride I started thinking "why am I doing this?" It's so much easier to ride with a friend or take a shorter route than to do it on your own. But the pride and sense of accomplishment is worth it all. It really is going to have to become a regular ride!

The big day...Bike to Work Week

2008-05-15T09:17:00.003-04:00

OK ... the bike's on the back of the van ready to be taken off and ridden (roden, rode?) home (19.9 miles by mapmyride.com)! The sun is shining, the path is all planned out -- I found that I can take one of the canal paths through the most treacherous part of the ride, so that's great! Thank goodness for the Trek FX that has the "in-between" tires -- perfect for canal riding. I'll even try to take pictures!

Have you heard about the free bikes Lipton is giving away? It's a WIN-A-BIKE competition -- you could win a Fuji bike? How cool is that? There are lots of places where you can enter, but here's one at FindingFlabuless' website.

If you read through the (sparse) blogs I've written, it's easy to see that 1) I love riding and 2) it's been very important in helping me lose weight. I'm down 30 pounds since last June with about 30 more to go. I've been stuck at the 170 mark for a while, but I feel healthier and happier and I'm not gaining any back, so that'll work. Riding has given me a great sense of empowerment -- feeling like I have gained power back in my life after giving it away for so long. Every hill I look at and climb (or walk) over, helps me know I can do hills in one way or another. Every time I make a choice to get out on that road and ride even though the traffic's a little scary and I could drive instead, I feel like I'm making another healthy choice.

Now, where to put another bike? My Trek lives in the kitchen and my mountain bike is on my ex's balcony down the street ... maybe the bedroom??? :) I'm actually thinking of mounting a multiple bike rack on the kitchen wall -- sounding a little hardcore???

Spring is finally here

2008-05-13T22:32:00.003-04:00

With all the pollen and rain and wind that comes along with it!

Finally, the weather is warming up again after a cold spell and high winds. So, I did my "loop around the park" ride which is 9-10 miles based on what part of the park I cut through. It's a nice ride with only 1 spot of 'treacherous' road ... about 1/8 of a mile of road under construction and heavily travelled. Sometimes, I just give it up and walk on the grass to avoid worrying about the cars flying by.

My goal this week and maybe this summer? I'm going to try riding home from work one evening a week and then riding to work with a friend who lives nearby. This week, I'm going to try taking the bike to work on Thursday and then riding the 20 miles home that evening. Then, Friday morning, I'll ride with her to work and drive back home. She works a slightly different schedule, but I can work that same schedule that day, too.

If I can do that once a week, I'll save about $8-10 worth of gas a week and get in an easy 20 miles on the bike. Lowering carbon emissions, saving money and getting some exercise ... who could ask for more???

My Review of 7.5 FX WSD

2008-04-23T08:56:00.001-04:00

Originally submitted at Trek

Love it!

By Ginger from New Jersey on 4/23/2008

Pros: Lightweight, Handles Well Off-road

Best Uses: Pavement, Off-Road, Commuting

Describe Yourself: Weekend Warrior

Love it, love it, love it! I got this bike last fall and it is such a great bike! I ride a lot on a bike path along a canal and this bike can handle that surface along with pavement. Sometimes, I'm not sure the pavement is smoother!

This bike is very comfortable, just lightweight enough to enjoy it on the road and really strong on the bike path. Great buy!

(legalese)

Riding and riding and riding

2008-04-23T08:34:00.003-04:00

Who doesn't feel renewed when the daffodils start blooming and the air starts feeling a little fresher and you can get back outside on that bike!!!

This Sunday, I had the greatest time riding in the Carol for Heart fundraiser. I rode with Jen (a Trek Woman Who Rides) and pushed, grunted and sometimes walked through the 25 mile ride. Quite a start to the season after a winter of spin class and only a few outdoor rides. But, we had a ball and now I'm on Active.com trying to figure out all the events I might squeeze in this summer!

I also met Chris, the bike chick who brings the Trek bikes to events to let you test-ride demos and she set me up on a sweet little bike called a Madone ... wow is it lightweight! I think I may have to get a second job to be able to afford my third bike! And, we talked about mountain biking a little and I think I'll have to get that bike out, dust it off, lube the chain and go try out the trails in the park just one short stretch of dangerous road away from my neighborhood.

So, I'm out there, breathing the fresh air, looking at the daffodils and trying to figure out how I could fit a fourth bike into my little townhouse (3 for me and 1 for my daughter) plus any the boys might bring home in the near future.

New Year - Fresh Start

2008-01-07T08:38:00.000-05:00

Like many other people, I've been thinking about what I want to different this year -- what my "fresh start" might be. This morning in spin class, the instructor made a lot of comments about starting new, forgetting what's behind and moving forward, but it struck me that I don't want a fresh start. I made many positive changes last year -- losing 30 pounds, developing a consistent exercise routine, taking better control of my home environment (losing several hundred pounds of clutter!) and other things.

So, instead of a fresh start, I'm just continuing along the journey I've already started. If health and fitness are really a journey, there is no start or finish. Even if today is the first day you've exercised, there is some level of health and fitness there (or unhealthy fatness!), but, you're never starting from zero!

I do have 3 goals already for the first next couple of months related to health --

I signed up for a challenge at my gym where you get points for weight loss, fat loss and how many sessions you come in for. You go back and weigh-in and tally points between March 15 and March 31 and if you have the most points, you win $500! Now THAT'S motivation! The top 5 pound losers get a 5-session personal training session. To kick it up a notch!
I'm signed up to walk the More Magazine half-marathon in NYC in April. A group from spin is doing it as a team and I have a 12 week training plan to follow. It'll probably be all walking for me, but it gives me something to work towards.
And, I'm signed up for the Gears with Girls bike ride in April -- a fun, charity ride to raise money for an organization that teaches women about preventing heart disease.

So, while they're not resolutions and I'm not "starting fresh", I do feel a renewed sense of motivation and a fresh outlook on this journey.

Holidays and Health

2007-12-06T08:54:00.000-05:00

I guess we're full-swing into the holidays now ... Thanksgiving has past ... my birthday is Saturday (woo hoo) and my entire company celebrates it (well, it's called a holiday party) ... and Christmas activities are running at full-tilt! It's hard to find the time to eat, much less eat healthy. And, even getting out of bed in the morning is hard with the cold and the rain and the snow that we've been having.

However, at our meeting 2 weeks ago (I think the night before Thanksgiving) we talked about what gift we would give ourselves over the holiday and wrote it on a paper, folded it and stuck on a bow. I put mine on the dash of my van just to remind me of my goals through the end of the year.

I will make sure to get enough rest and take care of myself.
I will continue to track food and forgive myself if I'm not perfect.
I will continue to attend meetings because I need them and they need me.

So, last night in the snow and slush, I went to my meeting and was rewarded with a 2 pound loss on the scale! I was really surprised because I didn't feel I had followed the plan a lot and I didn't rack up as many activity points as I wanted, but I've also been too busy to snack a lot!

These goals are a long-term gift to myself -- a new, healthy body that looks better in smaller clothes -- a less stressed, frantic me -- the support I need to make these changes permanent.

Those are the things that little green bow on the dash remind me of.

Did you hear that breaking sound???

2007-11-28T20:48:00.000-05:00

I finally pushed through -- at weigh-in tonight, I was 169.8! I've been bouncing around that 170 number but this is the first time I've bounced below that mark. And, after Thanksgiving week, even!

I enjoyed Thanksgiving and ate what I wanted every day, but just tried to really control my portions so that I didn't go over my daily or weekly points.

My "winning outcome" over the holidays is to to continue exercising regularly, despite all the activity that could lure me away. I'm also going to watch my emotional barometer and ask for help or take a break when I need to. And, I'm going to eat mindfully -- whether at a party or church gathering or some other food-centric event.

What's your holiday plan? Do you have one?

We are .... PENN STATE!

2007-11-12T11:34:00.000-05:00

My oldest has decided she NEEDS to go to Penn State so we went and toured on Friday -- what a GREAT school! Makes me wish I was starting all over again -- which means the negative self-talk and depression really had a party in my head! While I'm listening to the "you can do anything with your life" stories, depression is screaming "you didn't even TRY to accomplish anything ... you missed your chance to really make a difference ... why didn't you (insert whatever) ...?"

Every time we go visit a school I get incredibly emotional and usually quite depressed. I look back at my college years and I don't even remember CONSIDERING that I could do something outside the limits of what I had grown up believing were real limits. The regrets of what "might have been" pile up into a sloppy, gelatinous glob of self-pity and self-destruction.

But, then I look over at my incredible daughter -- smart, independent, self-confident and self-motivated -- and I think, "hey, I didn't do so bad with her..." In her college application essays, I hear a spirit of generosity and service that I feel are a direct reflection of the things I hold important in life and tried to teach my kids. And, then, very quietly, some other part of myself reminds me of the good things in life I have done (other than raise 3 happy, healthy kids):

I went on a mission trip to India for 14 days and taught 1000's of kids about my loving God. I also taught some native pastors there how to make balloon animals so that they could draw crowds to listen to the gospel long after the "white people" were gone.

I finished my master's degree just after turning 41.

I've worked for 18 years in my industry and I STILL love the work I do.

I organized a group at my church who fed families who were forced to live in motels or be homeless.

I learned to play the harp and spin wool into yarn and took drawing classes and have tried a ton of obscure hobbies. I've knitted and crocheted hundreds of baby hats, blankets and sweaters to donate to various charities.

I'm learning to care for my body, feed it healthier and losing weight after hating my body for years.

I've struggled through depression and still lived to tell about it.

I'm learning not to look back at what I didn't do, but to feel good about what I have done and to look forward with eyes searching for things I can still do to make my life, my family and my world a better place. That's not so insignificant!

Moving in the right direction

2007-11-01T09:15:00.000-04:00

Well, I did the 90 minute spin class on Monday and then found myself in there again for a 45 minute class on Wednesday. I did some of the "out of seat" jumps and hills and felt OK. I also got the bike out this morning (in the balmy 50 degree weather) and did a 6 mile ride, so I can say I (almost) officially feel like a biker babe!

The weight's moving the right way, too ... down 1.4 pounds this week. I'm trying so hard to bust that 170 mark -- it's been like the wall I haven't managed to climb yet or that hill I always have to push the bike up. But, if I have to push the body all the way over it, I WILL break that 170 pound mark!

And, today, I'm registering for the Danskin triathlon next September. The friend that dragged me into spinning did it this year and I'm SO jealous! I've wanted to try it for 2 years now, but kept telling myself I can't. Well, next year I CAN and I've got enough time now to start training, so I'm going to spend the money to register today and make it happen!

Stay tuned!

Losing inches -- feeling proud!

2007-10-28T11:11:00.000-04:00

Went to the health club this morning for my nurse's assessment. We're members of RWJ http://www.rwjhamilton.org/wellness/ health and wellness center -- the BEST health club in the world! I can have a free personal training session once every 12 weeks and a nurse's assessment.

In the past 12 weeks (since the last one), I've lost almost 14.25 inches on the neck, chest, waist, abs, hips, arms and thighs. How cool is that!!! I needed this boost because the numbers on the scale haven't been moving so fast, but those inches have been!

Yesterday I took my first spin class -- a beginner class -- and the instructor was so good about helping to set up the bikes and explain what the goal is in spinning -- to keep that heart rate pumping and burn some calories. You could tell he was very knowledgeable about what he was teaching and he was passionate about it. There's a 90 minute class tomorrow at 5:15 am (my normal exercise time UGHHHH) that I may just have to go visit.

Just another weapon in my arsenal in the war against fat!

One of THOSE days!

2007-10-23T16:26:00.001-04:00

I know I'm not the only one that has "those" kinds of days but it seems like there are times when that's all that's strung together to make a week. Family pressures pile up and sit in the back of your mind ready to spring forward if you have a quiet, peaceful moment or when riding the bike or exercising. Like if I'm doing something good for me and my body, the bad stuff I'm wanting to avoid just pushes it's way to the front of the line.

I know what my therapist would say "Just feel the emotions and be okay with them", but I don't want to feel pissy about my kids not doing laundry (or even getting it in the hamper) and I don't want to feel like I'm on eggshells with the husband. I guess that's a lot of where depression comes from ... not wanting to feel.

So, this morning, while I was riding in the dark, when those thoughts came up, I felt a little sad and angry and frustrated and wondered why things have to be so hard sometimes, but I rode anyway. I took it a little slower than normal, so that I was feeling my emotions and trying to be okay with them instead of trying desperately to outrun them. They were all waiting there back at home for me anyway.

And, one of the emotions I'm feeling right now is pride that I got out there and rode.

Bucks County Covered Bridge Ride

2007-10-17T08:18:00.000-04:00

Completed the 20 mile ride on Sunday and it was great! I was surprised how much of a mental challenge it was because of negative self-talk leading up to and during the ride. But I can't tell you how much of an athlete I felt like just completing the ride. The weather was perfect (cool but not too cold) and the leaves were gorgeous. I love that (in case you didn't get that from my other posts).

We rode on the highway for a long way -- with great, wide bike lanes -- and I opted for the bike path on the way back because I do a lot of that around home, anyway.

Here's a pic of me riding -- next time I will smile :) I look very serious but I tried to lighten up and just enjoy the ride, too ... after all, that was the whole point of being there!

Fall is in the air

2007-10-01T14:15:00.000-04:00

What a beautiful weekend here in Jersey! The weather was WONDERFUL for the high school football game and a little fall baseball. Hubby and the boys went to a Phillies game after the football game Saturday and #1 daughter was busy preparing for the homecoming dance, so I had some guilt-free ride time coming! I rode for 17 miles along the D&R Canal and had a WONDERFUL time! The path is hard-packed dirt most of the way and even though there were a LOT of people out walking and/or riding, it was still a pretty fast-paced ride ... more than I thought I could ever do! It makes me feel better about the ride I've signed up for in two weeks ... the Buck's County Covered Bridge ride. There are 20 and 30 mile versions that are flat and the others are all over 30 miles and include hills -- so I'm sticking to the flatter version. The day of the race, I'll decide whether to do the 20 or 30 miles based on how I'm feeling (and how hard the wind is blowing, probably!)

The best thing about all the increased activity, riding and losing weight is how good I'm feeling! I am currently being treated for depression and my therapist and I talk a lot about how the exercise is even better than drugs to help me feel better. Since I've ramped up the exercise and controlled the eating, I've been able to reduce a couple of my meds and even drop two altogether. Now THAT's something to be happy about!

More later on how the ride shapes up!

Exciting week!

2007-09-21T11:41:00.000-04:00

Two exciting things to report: First, I got the new bike and went on a ride I've been wanting to do for a long time -- along the D&R Canal close to my home in New Jersey. It's a beautiful ride, about 12 miles of nice hard-packed trail and was really fun to do in the quiet of the morning. The new bike is a dream -- it flies down the road and on the bike path and I'm LOVING it!

Also, great weight loss this week -- down over 2 pounds which put me over the 25 pound mark total. It felt so good to see a budge as I have been gaining and losing the same 5 pounds for a few weeks now. But, when I figured out my average, I've averaged 1.6 pounds a week since starting Weight Watchers, so I'm going to stop complaining!

I'm really starting to feel thinner and healthier and I FINALLY had 2 people at work ask me if I'm losing weight. That's a nice feeling after 25 pounds!!! :)

My next incremental goal is to be at the 160 mark by the Senior Honor football game. My daughter's band captain at her high school and at this game, they introduce each senior in football, cheer or band and they walk out on the field with their parents. I want to have a bright red, wrap dress that I feel really beautiful in! I'm going to start shopping now and keep trying it on to get that motivation going. I have about 6 weeks until the game, so if I maintain the 1.6 a week, I could hit it. Can't wait to find out!

Fall is in the air!

2007-09-15T20:01:00.000-04:00

This is my favorite time of year -- being a Southern girl originally, I never really experienced fall before we moved here. We moved here in the fall and I remember looking at the house we have now on a fall afternoon, with the high school band practicing off in the distance and it just seeming like a picture-perfect postcard kind of day.

This morning, I got the new bike out and rode about 7 miles ... on a new road I hadn't gone down before. The wind was blowing so it was a tough ride but the road was clear and went through a woody area, so it really felt like I was far away from home. It was beautiful!

I'm going back tomorrow to enjoy it again and I feel a little renewed in staying on plan with the food and exercising just a LITTLE more!

Disappointing week -- fresh start (again!)

2007-09-12T21:57:00.000-04:00

Had a small weight loss this week -- .6 -- but I was really hoping for more. But, I know I didn't do a good job staying on the food plan either, so that's a major contributor!

I'm loving the additional weight lifting and I WON'T stop that by believing I'm going to hulk up or that I'd lose more weight if I didn't lift so much. I know those are all myths and that I need the strength training for long-term success. It's just frustrating right now that I can't drop the weight I want to right now! I want it all and I want it NOW!!! :)

So, rather than whine and complain, here's the plan: Go back to the basics of counting food, keep up the good exercise and build some health! The weight loss will follow along, I'm sure!

Pick up the new bike tomorrow and I can't wait!!! Here's a link http://www.trekbikes.com/us/en/bikes/2008/bike_path/fx/72fx/ -- but mine is red! I'm so excited about it, I'm going to burn a ton of calories just playing around with it this weekend! I also got a book about cycling and heart rate monitoring, so that I can incorporate the fitness part in with the fun and vice-versa.

Now that I talked about the bike, I KNOW I'll be getting in the AP's this week and I can use that as motivation and incentive to stay on plan -- more AP's mean more food! Should make it doable!

Laboring over Labor Day

2007-09-06T08:38:00.000-04:00

The holiday weekend turned into a challenge for me and I gained 2.2 pounds this week. I really refuse to stress over that -- I had a wonderful, relaxing weekend with my daughter (hubby and boys were out of town) and we enjoyed some beautiful weather. I exercised like a mad woman and it's that TOM, so the weight gain is just one of those things and it should be better under control next week.

I read a really interesting article in Women's Health magazine http://www.womenshealthmag.com/article/0,6176,s1-1-111-1847-1,00.html?cm_re=HP-_-News.Slider-_-cardio.vs..strength that talks about the differences between strength training and cardio training. As a result, I'm planning to cut back my cardio just a little (I was up to almost an hour a day 6 days a week) and do more strength training. My new plan is cardio 6 days a week for 35 minuts each with weight training for 20-25 minutes on top of that 5-6 days. I'll alternate upper and lower body so that I'm not working the same body parts 2 days in a row. But, it'll be interesting to see if the muscles will actually burn more fat for weight loss and if I'll start seeing more muscle definition and less inches.

Also planning to buy a new bike. Mine is a mountain bike and it feels like I'm sludging through mud when I ride (which was great for the off-road riding in California -- not so great for the roads/bike paths in New Jersey). I'm going to sell the old one and use the money towards a new Trek hybrid -- maybe this one: http://www.trekbikes.com/us/en/bikes/2008/bike_path/fx/72fx/ . Can't wait to get back into the 15-20 mile rides my hubby and I were doing when we first met. I can just remember feeling very strong riding like that and I want it again!

Nice loss this week

2007-08-31T10:23:00.000-04:00

This week turned out better than it had started. I lost 1.2 pounds after a really rough start to the week. It was one of those "emotional" eating struggles. I never realized how often I have problems with emotional eating until I started this journey. Now, I realize it's one of my biggest battles. I did better than the last "rough spot" because this time, I really tried to be in control -- seeing the desire to eat as an emotional response and not really hunger.

Of course, exercise is really helping me stay on track. I'm averaging about 500 calories a day lost through treadmill, rowing, weight lifting, whatever I can do to move the body! And, it's paying off. Even though the weight loss seems slow, I'm doing it the "healthy" way -- averaging a little less than 2 pounds a week. But, I can tell I've had a huge increase in energy levels and a huge decrease in stomach size.

I think the next updated pictures will come when I cross into the 160's -- hopefully within the next 2 weeks.

Great Week -- Great Weigh-in

2007-08-23T22:04:00.000-04:00

After the challenging week last week, I decided to get back to basics. I read through some of my old food trackers (week 1 and 2) and realized I was eating a lot more carbs and a lot less fruit than I was before. I

stayed on plan the entire week and exercised my 6 times and it worked! I lost 5.8 pounds!!! That's still a healthy number (even though it raised a few eyebrows) because I had gained 2.6 the week before, so my "net loss" was really about 3.2 pounds this week.

It doesn't really matter -- I know I ate and exercised and felt great -- not just after the weigh-in, but the whole week! Weeks like this make me feel like I can actually reach my goal. I just have to stick with it!

What a Roller Coaster!

2007-08-22T22:22:00.000-04:00

Well, after all the whining last week, I decided to go back to my week 1 tracker and duplicate the efforts I did there to get back on track. I exercised 6 days and stayed on plan and I lost an amazing 5.8 pounds! That's incredible! I was very surprised but then, I did what I was supposed to do!

This is quite a strange little journey sometimes (life and weight loss) but I'm determined to stick it out until the end!

It's over!

2007-08-16T08:17:00.001-04:00

Well, the crappy week is officially over -- I weighed in, accepted my 2.6 pound weight gain (UGH) and hit the gym this morning more determined and ready for a new week. I have my food packed (based on a day I looked at from my first week on WW's when I lost a lot) and I got in 1 hour on the rowing machine this morning.

Thank God that every morning starts a new day!!! :)

Rough weekend

2007-08-12T15:41:00.000-04:00

It's been a rough weekend for me -- challenging to stay on plan and to exercise even once. Between the heat and cramps and bad attitude, I haven't gotten in one AP over the weekend -- very unusual for me.

How am I going to get out of this slump? I'm going to plan exercise times for the rest of the week and I think I'm going to plan for an easy week. I think I need the break! At least the first couple of days. And, I'm going to keep writing food down, even if I go over. And, I'm going to make it through this week!

Wish me luck! :)

Picture at the 20 pound / 10% mark

2007-08-09T05:42:00.000-04:00

Here's the "newer" me at 178 pounds! About 31 to go ... I'm 2/5 there!

A Goal Met!

2007-08-08T22:48:00.000-04:00

Tonight was weigh-in at Weight Watchers and I hit a significant goal --- 10% and 20 pounds on the same night! Had a 2 pound weight loss since lastweek. I'm SO ecstatic. I get a bad case of nerves every time I step on that scale. I tell myself I won't be disappointed if I don't lose, but knowing full-well that I will be crushed if the hard work that week hasn't paid off! Regardless, I KNOW I'm not going to quit this time. One of my BIG goals is to become a leader. I certainly have the fat before pictures to show off! I've always enjoyed teaching (Sunday school, professional classes, other fun classes like sewing and such), but I love my day job and the nice salary that comes with it. I KNOW when I become a leader, I will LOVE helping to teach others about weight loss and it will help me stay committed and accountable to my new body size.

I attribute a lot of my success to using a Polar F-11 heart rate monitor to exercise. I can stay in the optimal aerobic zone most of the time, challenge myself with a hard workout now and then, really enjoy the "long and light intensity" workout once a week. Right now, my plan is to do cardio at least 4 times a week (usually 6) and weights 2 times (not always 2). It's so much easier to do cardio than weights (for me). When I do weights, I feel like I'm wasting time because the heart rate monitor isn't pumping!

So far this month (August 1-today) I've logged 6 hours and 5 minutes of heart rate monitor activity (plus the 1-1/2 hour bellydance class Sunday where I forgot to wear the monitor) and burned 3586 calories! That's one pound of fat without even taking into account the healthy eating!

I'm loving this journey and can't wait to see what happens next week!

2007-08-03T18:59:00.000-04:00

Here's a before picture ... Notice how happy I look! :(

This was 18 pounds ago, so I'm thinking I'll take some new ones soon, wearing the same clothes, just to see the difference. I know I FEEL different!

It starts...

2007-08-03T18:48:00.000-04:00

Eight weeks ago, I decided I was through carrying around all this extra weight. I would catch myself looking in the mirror, staring at my stomach and thinking how much I hated it. From my before pictures, taken the day I joined Weight Watchers (June 6, 2007), you can see that I could be mistaken as being pregnant.

I had been exercising pretty regularly for a year ... doing yoga a lot and some cardiovascular work but not consistently and not with any food plan. Finally, I decided it was time to really take my health and weight seriously and get moving.

I wish I had started blogging the day I started Weight Watchers, but I can't go back and change that so I'm moving forward now. Just like I can't change the 15+ years of eating whatever I wanted without worrying about weight. All I can do is make better choices today!

My journey started then and I've already lost 18 pounds of unhealthy, excess body weight. I started in a size 16 or 18 jeans and now down to a loose 14. I'm feeling slimmer already and love that my belly doesn't stand out below my bust.

I'm exercising 6 times a week -- at least 4 cardio and 2 strengthening workouts. I've done a bellydance class (loved that) and have hiked all over my local state parks. I really feel like one of those "athletic" moms now. And, I'm loving it.

When I hear people at the WW meetings or read on the WW boards how someone has all these reasons that they can't exercise, I want to scream "HEY! We all have challenges and obstacles and barriers and busy lives ... just get over it or stay fat!" Of course, I would never talk that way! :)

Thanks for joining me and I'll try to keep you up to date.