This is some hard work!

Hey Everyone!

So I meet with the trainer and I really have to turn up the heat. He basically said great job on the 10,000 steps but I need to be getting them in quicker or harder. In order for me to drop more weight I need to turn up my intensity. If you read YOU Gal Stacy's last blog...it sounds the same. Well yesterday I turned it up and today I can feel it! I did 30 minutes on the treadmill, 45 minutes in Zumba then 30 minutes with the trainer. I was beat! But it's good to know that I'm on the path of getting it in

4/13/11

Steps: 9739 (i did remove the pedometer for 90 min for a social gathering)
Activity: Walking

Breakfast: 2 boiled eggs
Snack: Clementine
Lunch: blackened mahi mahi, asparagus and toss salad
Snack: fresh melon
Dinner: Jerk Shrimp with green peppers and onions, brown rice & toss salad
Snack: None

4/14/11

Steps: 14151
Activity: Treadmill, Zumba and personal training

Breakfast: Cheerios and milk
Snack: 2 Clementines
Lunch: Jerk Shrimp with green peppers and onions, brown rice & toss salad
Snack: Apple
Dinner: Crab cake and plain baked sweet potato
Snack: Clementines

Can't Stop, Won't Stop!!

Alrighty, we all know what time it is! Weigh in time!! This week I cannot claim a Biggest Loser monumental weigh in however, I can say that it was not all that bad. In all honesty I was not excited at all about weighing in. Last week I was sick with the bubonic plague (a slight exaggeration)and this week water retention and bloating welcomed me. Sounds like a formula for disaster, right? The results are that I neither loss nor gained this week.

So some of you may be thinking what in the world happened, you seem to be exercising all the time! That was my first reaction then I had to realize I weight train 3 times a week, this past week just started going back to kickboxing 1 time a week and go walking daily for those 10,000 steps. So what's missing you ask? Cardio is the answer! A stroll in the park is barely considered cardio as your heart rate is not really elevated. I have been so consumed on walking with a view to just racking up steps that I overlooked the importance of the intensity in which I am stepping.

So what's my plan? I'm about to pick it up! Cardio is about to be introduced into my daily routine. This YOU Gal is about to hot step with pep and attack cardio like never before. Later today when I meet with my trainer I will talk to him about adding in some cardio to the weight lifting. I am also reviewing my schedule to see which days I can commit to doing Kickboxing and getting my mind right to wake up early and get back to these morning jogs! Like the little engine that could said, "I think I can, I think I can .. I know I can, I know I can!!! My new motto, "Can't stop, won't stop!!"

Just another day in the journey to be Sexy by Summer!

4/14

Steps: 10328
Activity: Walking, Personal training session

Food
Breakfast - 2 boiled eggs, Whole wheat toast, 4 strawberries and 1 cup OJ
Snack: Roasted Almonds sprinkled with sea salt
Lunch: Chicken breast with black beans/ brown rice/ tomatoes/ and cilantro
Snack: Grapes
Dinner: Chicken breast, green beans and corn
Snack: Hummus and ww crackers

Turning up the HEAT!

I’ve come to the close of week three of this challenge and I can’t say that I have a weight loss victory but the victory is that I don’t have any weight gain.

What this has moved me to do is to turn up the heat. I’ve just gone out and scheduled my FREE yes I said FREE personal training sessions. The fitness center here at the office where I’m a member for only $15.00 a month offers 2 free 30 minute personal training sessions a week. So I’ve only signed up for 1 a week after the Zumba class and I’m about to get it in!

Weight: 185.8
Waist: 32 1/4
Steps: 11553

4/12/11

Breakfast: Cheerios
Snack: Almonds
Lunch: Turkey Sandwich w/Provolone and mustard, Banana & Almonds
Snack: Cheerios
Dinner: Ground Turkey Spaghetti with whole wheat noodles
Snack: Clementine

YOU Gal Toni - UPDATE!

Hey all! Just like most of you, I’ve been busy especially with this nice weather that we have had off and on and those of you who know me know that I’m always taking on a new task or two. My latest obsessions are natural hair so if you haven’t already like my facebook page Is That My Hair and couponing. I’ve watched the show Extreme Couponing on TLC and I’m hooked. I don’t have it down to a science like those ladies but I saved $73.09 with manufacturers coupons and store coupons.

I guess my couponing venture can help us YOU Gals as well as I was able to get some stuff that is on plan. Here is the list:

Deer Park Water $1.00 off
Cheerios - $1.00 off 2 then a store coupon for $.55 off each box
Perdue chicken breast - $.75 off
Blue Diamond Almonds - $.60 off two
Diced Tomatoes - $1.00 off 3 cans (almost like buy 2 get one free)
Deli Turkey - $1.00 off
Cuties Clementine’s - $1.50 off
Steam Fresh Vegetables: - Buy 2 get 1 free
Crystal Light – Buy 2 get 1 free and a manufactures coupon for $1.00 off
Steam Fresh Meals – Pay full price get a steam fresh vegetable free

I got other stuff but this is what I cold think of off the top of my head outside of my $8 worth of coupons for zyrtec.

So now onto what you really want to know:

Weight and Waist: I’m working from home today so will send when I can get to the fitness center tomorrow.

Sunday - 4/10
Steps: Didn’t have on the pedometer….Wouldn’t stay on my dress
Activity: Church service (generally average about 1800 steps), Skating 1 hour, Grocery shopping 90 mins

Breakfast: Banana
Snack: None
Lunch: Small Chili and Cob Salad (Wendy’s)
Snack: Apple
Dinner: Marinated Grilled Chicken & Salad

Monday – 4/11
Steps: 13119

Breakfast: Turkey and Provolone on a whole wheat wrap & banana
Snack: Apple
Lunch: Cheerios
Snack: Turkey and Provolone Sandwich, Clementine and almonds
Dinner: Ground Turkey Spaghetti with whole wheat pasta
Snack: 3 Clementine’s (they are so small)

Spilling the Beans

Hey fellow YOU Galers! I’ve been hanging out with my hubbie on his days off so I’ve been a bit removed for a couple of days but I’m here to spill the beans! I sware that it’s hard to remember what you’ve done a few days back that’s why we encourage you to write in every day!

4/5 (Tuesday)
Steps: 11781
Activity: Walking….with my hubbie…YEAH!

Breakfast: 2 boiled eggs
Snack: Apple
Lunch: Salad w/balsamic vinaigrette
Snack: Almonds
Dinner: Grilled Chicken with stuffed portabella (Lone Star) with a salad

4/6 (Wednesday)
Steps: Couldn’t find the pedometer
Activity: Walking and playing video games (can’t get a lot of steps playing video games)

Breakfast: 2 boiled eggs
Snack: Apple
Lunch: O’Charley’s Mediterranean chicken wrap
Snack: Rice Chips & grapes
Dinner: Dave & Busters: soft shell grilled chicken taco platter with black beans (no cheese no shell)
Snack: none

4/7 (Thursday)
Steps: 2625 (Had bubble guts….I think it was too much eating out…stayed in the ladies room)
Activity: Minimal walking

Breakfast: Banana
Snack: Almonds
Lunch: Ruby Tuesday’s – Turkey mini’s & salad bar
Snack: None
Dinner: soup
Snack: None


After the slow moving yesterday today I got up pumped so at 10:03 I’m at 4367 and plan to go out at lunch time to walk some more! After reading this I've confirmed what I've always told my husband. He likes to eat out. I can't hang with him even when trying to make good decisions. I'd rather eat at home but eating out can be done you just have to be specific about what you want to eat.

Gearing up for the weekend! Enjoy everyone.

Toni

Listen, Listen, Listen

Despite the mist and drizzle I was still out there in the elements walking and obsessing over these 10,000 steps. Well due to lack of better judgment it turns out I ended up with an upper respiratory infection and have been down and out for the count. One would think feeling sick would cause them to slow down and take some time to heal but this hard headed YOU Gal refused to listen and continued to go do weight training sessions, jogging, walking and pushing herself.

Why wouldn't I stop to rest you ask? First, I have come to realize that I do not like the feeling of sitting around. I have come to love working out, exercising and staying active. Secondly, it dawned on me that laying around and feeling lazy scares me. It worries me that doing so will cause me to slip into my old couch potato ways and previous bad habits. Although I took on a new healthy lifestyle and that person I used to be is a thing of the past I am still very cautious about slipping back into bad habits. After seeing the Dr I realized rest was much needed if I wanted to get better and back to my routine.

The morale of this story is listen to your body. It often sends us signals when we need to take a break and when we choose to ignore it our bodies will force us to listen by shutting down. I am glad to report that I have been resting and am on the mend. I am looking forward to getting back to the swing of things very soon.

4/4 Food Journal:

Breakfast: Egg white omelet, cheese, salsa and a WW tortilla
Snack: Cantaloupe
Lunch: Hummus, veggies and WW pita
Snack: Cantaloupe
Dinner: Baked Tilapia and mixed veggies

WCS

For me this week is full of would have, should have, could have…..

I would have finished all 10,000 of those steps every day if

I hadn’t been tired
Sky pie hadn’t been under the weather
I had more time in the day

I should have
Pushed myself to finish
Skipped that cupcake (but I loved the time with my skypie)

I could have
Reached out for help when I needed that extra push


But last week is behind me and I’m moving full speed ahead. If you have mishaps or fall by the weigh side, reach out for help if needed and pick yourself up and keep moving. What I don't want you to do is to be stuck...it gets you no where!


Weight: 185.8 (Starting weigh 186.6 down 2.8lbs)
Waist: 32 ¼ (starting waist 33 ½ down 1 ¼ inch)

4/4

Breakfast: Banana
Snack: Apple
Lunch: Vegetable lentil soup & salad
Snack: Blue Diamond Bold Carolina Barbecue Almonds (helped with my potato chip crave)
Dinner: FRIED CHICKEN (boneless skinless chicken breaks with 100% whole wheat bread crumbs, pan seared in olive oil and finished in the oven)
Snack: Rice Chips & mixed fruit

Happy Stepping!!!