My fitlinxx stats for March!

I set some goals for working out for the month of March, and I surpassed them!
Last month, I lifted 974,524 pounds. Ranking me first in my age group, first for all women, and SECOND for the entire YMCA!!
I earned 19,160 fit points. Ranking me first in my age group, first for all women, and third for the whole Y.
I burned 14,471 calories. Ranking me first in my age group, third for all women, and seventh for the whole Y.

Deja Vu

I know I don't usually post so often, but I've decided to reset my ticker. Again. I've gained so much weight back over the last four months that it hasn't been acurate for quite awhile. In fact, I look at it now and laugh...probably a good sign that I've got some work to do.

I don't food journal like most of you, but in the name of accountability, I can tell everybody what I ate yesterday. Breakfast: yogurt, scone. Lunch: cucumber orange salad, apple and tuna salad (no mayo), yogurt. Afternoon: a handful of M&Ms off the receptionist's desk. Dinner 1 (pre-racquetball): dry cereal. Dinner 2 (3 hours later): cucumber salad, apple, 2 thin mints. 5 cups of tea, 8 glasses of water, and the proverbial partridge in the pear tree.

Today I will do well. And not be so tired when I get home that I wind up eating the same thing I had for lunch.

No Pressure Now...

I suppose it's no secret that I've hit a wall lately, which has left me pretty indifferent to everything. How I keep the house, what I do at work, how I've been eating, and whether I'm getting enough exercise. In short, a pretty big case of the blahs.

It's not that I'm bored or unhappy, I'm just seriously lacking in inspiration and trying to break out of it is a lot harder than I thought it would be. I've been trying to manufacture my own inspiration - the March challenge, or running next to someone at the Y since I'm so stubborn that I won't slack off if someone is watching - but it hasn't been working. But the weather is getting gorgeous, shaking off the last of winter, so I'll try something new.

This week I have good, healthy foods prepared and in the fridge. My kitchen is clean, the closets in the house are organized, and I finally went through various cupboards and got rid of the things I no longer use. I took the train to work this morning, walking to the station and I will (have to) walk home again this evening. I have racquetball scheduled for tonight, tennis for tomorrow and Thursday, and either Wednesday or Friday I will go to the Y. In short, I am set up for a week of success.

And Jennifer - with her incredible progress so far (yeah for the new jeans!) - and Kristina - running races that a year ago she thought were impossible - are my inspiration for the week.

We'll see how it goes.

My dad and I running our first race together!

, originally uploaded by willemkristina@verizon.net.

This Saturday, my dad, (his dog), and I ran our first race together, it was a 5k in Arlington. It was a really big deal for me to accomplish this. I've only been running for about 2 1/2 months, and only on the treadmill. It was a challenge for me to run outdoors. The course was mild enough, but it was very windy. But I completed it, and at a ten minute a mile pace, my fastest yet. I've come so far in fifteen months, and I'm very proud of myself.

Tryin' to hear the dude with the blow horn, right before the race...

, originally uploaded by willemkristina@verizon.net.

32:01 at the finish! Yeah me!!

, originally uploaded by willemkristina@verizon.net.

Weight Ticker Update

I've updated my weight ticker. I'm down 2.2 pounds this week. Also, I posted pictures of a typical good food day on my blog for anyone who is interested in what I'm eating.

I've earned my next star from the Y!

I got my yellow star today, yippee!! I know, I sound like a little kid. But hey, you gotta work for these puppies. The first two stars you have to accumulate 15,000 fit points for each. And the next level, I'm not certain. Lisa, you could probably tell me how many points you need for the red star. Anyhow, I'm encouraged. I've been running my hiney off preparing for my first race on Saturday.

Some Good News

So I pulled a pair of size 16 jeans out of my drawer. I didn't expect to be able to zip them up, but I wanted to see how far I had to go before they would fit, and,...


They zipped up easily!

I should tell you that they are the stretchy kind of jeans with a little give to them, and they fit snugly, but it's better than I expected, and I wanted to share that with you all.

Moving forward

Good morning ladies!

After reading this weeks posts, it seems as if everyone is doing well and moving forward with their personal goals. I just wanted to check in with everyone and let you know I'm still hanging around. I just don't get the opportunity to post everyday (more like once a week). For the past few weeks I had no new news. So frustrating! The scale just wasn't moving. So this past week I made a few tweaks to my diet and exercise routine and I lost 3 pounds! Yippee for me! I am only 3 pounds away from losing all the weight I gained back over the holidays at the end of 2006. I'm so thankful to be moving forward again. Well, I hope everyone has a wonderful week. Elica, I am so glad that you are riding again and that things are looking up in your life. God is so good and faithful ( I've kept you and your family in prayer). Kristina, congrats on your race you are running. What an achievement! I couldn't possibly think about running around the block let alone a 5k race! Look how far you have come in your health. You are such an inspiration! Jules, You are simply beautiful and so inspiring. I am so glad that you had a day just to pamper yourself, you deserve it. To everyone else, keep fighting the good fight. We are all becoming healthier women 2, 3, 4 pounds at a time. We will make our goals and become the women we see ourselves to be. Have a uplifting and successful week!
Smiles,
Kimiko

Sheeee's BAAAACCCCKKK!

Hello!

Yes, yes, yes....you've managed to live just fine and lose weight just fine without my encouraging words, but did you know that while I was MIA YOU all encouraged ME?

Some of you know the big changes in our lives and I'll admit that some of this weight has come off from sheer stress. But - I have also started riding again, I walk Tues/Thurs for at least an hour and I've been happily seeing a little more room in my jeans.

In fact - YESTERDAY - I WORE MY 'SKINNY JEANS'~!

Stepping on the scale this morning gave me a smile. 153.5

That's a full TEN LBS BABY!

I only have 16 to go.

Wish me luck, love and endurance!

Elicia

I've registered for my FIRST race!

, originally uploaded by willemkristina@verizon.net.

Next Saturday I'll be lacing up my tennies, and meeting my dad to run my first race ever. Well, minus all of the sprints that I did as a teenanger...
Anyhow, I've signed up to run a 5k. I'm not feeling brave enough to try a 10k like Lisa yet. But I'm excited. This is a big deal for me. Remember, I'm the girl a little over a year ago that got winded, just by walking up a set of stairs!

I'm Thuper, Thankth for Athking!

No, I have no idea about the title. It just came out. Some people write creatively, others write like Daffy Duck, and there's just no getting around that sometimes.

After more than several weeks of general funk, I am hereby declaring that I will BREAK OUT and simply GET OVER IT already! No more slacking! No more whining! No more pity of any sort! Just good old fashioned get-in-gear.

To that end, I'm running a 10K this weekend. I re-upped for my Monday evening racquetball group, I'm playing tennis in a regular Thursday night game and a Saturday morning class, and I'm going to think of more activities to get me out of the Y (where, to be honest, I'm a little bored at the moment) and into the sunshine.

Any additional suggestions will be most welcome.

Breaking Up Is Hard to Do

Binging on the weekend and then repenting during the week is apparently not the most effective way to lose weight, so I'll be rethinking that particular strategy. I updated my weight ticker today. I only lost a little over half a pound. It's my goal to lose two pounds a week. Considering I lost over three pounds a week two weeks in a row, I'm still ahead of my goal schedule, but I can do better.

I have to stop flirting with pizza. Pizza is a fickle lover anyway.

Pizza, I will always love you, but we have to stop seeing each other for a while. I can't change who you are, and I don't want to do that. Until I change myself we can't even be friends. You have so many other lovers, I know you won't even miss me, but I'll miss you. Goodbye.

Living and doing much better...Thanks.

I had a GREAT day. Took care of myself in these ways:

1. Haircut
2. Chiropractor
3. Ate well: Calories: 1593
4. Took vitamins
5. Had two servings of Udo's Oil (Omega 3-6-9)
6. Drank 8 glasses of water (plus plan to have 2 cups of herbal tea before bed)
7. Worked out at the Y, 35 min. on elliptical, 15 min. on treadmill, stretching
8. Faced the truth with a morning weigh in. (stop the denial and the over exaggerated emotional worry)
9. Visualized myself in summer attire, realizing that I have time to make a difference in what size suit I buy in June.
10. Reminded myself that I am at point B, not point A where it all began...I have walked a long road and have not been zapped back to the past by small indiscretions.
11. Put on a heart of gratitude for the body God has given me.
12. Had a "kick butt" attitude at the Y while working out, jamming to Hall and Oats on my Ipod, feeling pretty and fit and proud of myself.
13. I journalled. Everything.
14. I read Oliver Twist to my kids today and had a great home school time with all 5 of them. I felt like I connected with them all.
15. I read all of your post comments and took them to heart and felt the love and support of you dear ones.
16. I ate sushi. Yum.
17. I carried on and on and on, posting way too much on my blog.
18. And I plan on kissing my husband and all my children goodnight and soaking in their love. Really feeling it, not just going through the routine, for we don't know what tomorrow might bring us, do we? We must live today, unfettered by the past and unburdened by the future.

Love to you all.
Jules

I need some fresh inspiration.

Hey all, ring leader here admitting to all you faithfuls that I need a little rekindling of the fire. I feel like I am too consumed with what my next meal is or what my next "safe" treat might be or what I can "get away with" today and still fit into my size 10's. I have lost a bit of the edge. I don't want to wake up somewhere in time, in the land of the expanding waist size.

Thanks...Jules

Here I Am -- Stay Tuned For Shrinkage

I wanted to show the difference 9 days and four pounds could make in my appearance, but the angles are different in each shot and I actually look a little bigger in the 2nd photos, but I'm not. If you look reeeeally close you can see that my jeans are a bit looser and my belly roll is a bit smaller. I weigh 234.2 in the photos on the left and I weigh 230.4 in the photos on the right. (I don't know why the pictures keep disappearing. The html code shows them, but they go away. hmmm. I'll try uploading a different way.)

I tried something new!

spin, originally uploaded by willemkristina@verizon.net.

I did a spinning class yesterday, and lived to tell about it. : )
I don't normally ride a bike while working out, in fact, it's rather rare these days. So why in the heck I did it yesterday, my rear end would REALLY like to know. It is still sore, from over 24 hours ago.
I thought I'd give it one more try next week, before I completely write it off. It was pretty fun, HARD, but fun. If only my rear wasn't so sore.There's a core training class, very similar to pilates right after the spinning class, I'm going to try that too. My, aren't I feeling adventuresome?!

Still trying to get better

Hi there,
Sorry I have been out of commission, so to speak. I am still having quite a bit of trouble with my back and have not been to the Y for a total of 16 days now,WOW. I didn't even know that it has been that long until I just figured it out. On Monday my husband had to take me to the Dr. for another shot in my back. I still feel a little stiff and I am still on Ibu. and muscle relaxers. I am also looking for a spine specialist that takes DSHS insurance. My chances are slim to none. If anyone out there knows any doc for backs as far as Seattle (maybe a little further) I would really appreciate the info. Anyway I hope to get back SSLLOOWWLLYY to the Y by next week. Please pray for my speedy recovery. Also my journaling and eating habits are doing well. I have been doing crafts and reading a lot more than usual because of the can't really leave the house much, thing. Talk to you all soon.

THE Best Cure for a PIZZA Craving

I've incorporated a one day a week blow-the-diet-meal into my weight loss plan, which I usually spend on date night Fridays with my husband. I've had a craving for pizza this week, though, and yesterday I almost ordered some for dinner. I resisted, but thought about it again this morning,...until I weighed myself.

I'm down another 3.4 pounds in just a week, and that has motivated me to pass on the fattening take-out pizza. I think I will take care of the craving, and still stick to my plan by getting some take-n-bake pizza instead. I remembered what I did with my pizza cravings a few years ago when I lost weight. I scrape off a bunch of the cheese, remove the pepperoni, and replace it with grilled chicken breast and pineapple chunks. I don't miss the extra cheese, and I quiet that pizza craving without totally blowing my healthy eating streak.

I will also limit myself to only 2 pieces, and have a salad on the side. That's a biggie for me, but if I decide ahead of time that that's what I'll do it's easier. I will also sit down and enjoy every single bite instead of chowing down in front of the TV or computer. Usually pizza nights are an every-man-for-himself occasion in our house, but I think we'll make it a regular family dinner tonight. I tend to not overeat that way.