Stick with it Saturday

This has been a good week.  I really LOVE following the Weight Watchers Simply Filling program.  I've been eating really healthy foods and enjoying them thoroughly.  I have my Sue Gregg cookbooks out and many of her recipes are Simply Filling.  I've even been making muffins.  A spelt muffin and a kefir smoothie for breakfast?  Yes, please!!

I maintained my weight this week at my meeting and don't expect much loss this week with it being Christmas.  If I go to a meeting I will have to go to an alternate meeting the next two weeks since I go on Wednesdays and Christmas and New Years both fall on Wed.

I didn't make my goal of 10,000 steps every day this week.  Honestly, I just didn't feel like it.  I'll try this week but this is just a busy time of year and less "routine" than normal.

Goals for the upcoming week are just to follow my WW plan and continue with my goal of getting a minimum of 10,000 steps each day. (I am having some pain in the bottom of my right foot so I may not be able to do that....we will see.)

Link up your own diet/exercise post at Stick with it Saturday. 

Stick with it Saturday-Week 4

Time for another installment of Stick with it Saturday.  It's hard for me to believe this is already the 4th week.  This week I decided to try something new that I had read about on the Weight Watchers website.  They suggest getting up to walk for 5 minutes every hour (I set a timer).  I started this on Monday.  I have been AMAZED at how many steps I can get just by doing this.  I got between 12,000 and 16,000 every day.

My eating has been going fine.  I haven't lost anything this week but I'm just sticking to it!

Goals for the upcoming week are just to follow my WW plan and exercise at least 3 times this week and continue with my goal of getting a minimum of 10,000 steps each day. 

Trying to lose weight this holiday season?  See my list of tips for losing weight this holiday season!

Link up your own diet/exercise post at Stick with it Saturday. (link to last week....will update if there is a new one this week)

Stick With It Saturday-Week 3

Another good week.  If it wasn't for back pain that seems to get worse each day I would just be so happy.  It's hard to be happy when you are in constant pain.  I lost over 1 lb this week AND I officially went back to Weight Watchers.  It was GREAT to go back and see people that I haven't seen since February.  I had lost 14 lbs since my last meeting.  I have decided on a goal weight that will put me at lifetime membership so I won't have to pay anymore.  I have about 5ish pounds to go.  At some point I might want to lose more, but this seems like a pretty reasonable goal that I can maintain.

Sunday
 Took a much needed nap this afternoon.

Monday

I had really hoped to exercise today but between cooking a turkey, writing a blog post, a dentist appointment and a trip to Walmart it just never got done. (not to mention my back pain...ugh)

Tuesday

Down a lb today.  Did The Big Burn today.

Wednesday

I went back to Weight Watchers today.  LOVED it. 

THANKSGIVING

Stayed completely on track today and didn't even use any of my weekly points.  When I got up today I was back at a normal weight (BMI) and didn't want to spoil it.  I have been hovering above it for so long.  It was very exciting.  First time in about 25 yeas that I was not overweight at Thanksgiving!  I can tell you that kept me out of the candy!  Success is motivating.

After dinner we went to the beach (it was COLD...about 31 degrees).  Rob took the kids to the playground and I walked.  My goal was to get 10,000 steps for the day.  When we left the beach I had about 6,000 so he dropped me off 2 miles from home and Jenna (8) and I walked the rest of the way.  I ended up with over 13,000 steps (and I didn't even put it on until lunchtime so I had a lot more because I was on my feet cooking and preparing pretty much all morning.)

Friday

My reward for being so good yesterday was being up on the scale a bit.  Oh well...that's the way it goes. Put 11,000 steps on the pedometer today despite tremendous lower back pain.

Saturday

Same weight today but I am down 1.4 for the week.  Very pleased with that. No formal exercise planned but I am wearing my pedometer so I am shooting for 10,000 steps.

  

Goals for the upcoming week are just to follow my WW plan and exercise at least 3 times this week or get 10,000 steps each day. 

Trying to lose weight this holiday season?  See my list of tips for losing weight this holiday season!

Link up your own diet/exercise post at Stick with it Saturday. 

Stick with it Saturday-week 2

Another week done....didn't get much exercise in but a good week overall.  I'm down about 2 lbs this week and just feeling good about it even though I haven't been able to exercise.  Hoping for a better week this coming week but my back is really bothering me and it's a BUSY week even though we don't have school...yay for Thanksgiving vacation!!!

I had a great eating week!  I feel so happy having left Trim Healthy Mama to go back to counting WW Points. 

Sunday
Starting this week down 3 lbs from my 8 lb gain going off an extreme low-carb diet.

Monday

Down .2 this morning. Even though I don't feel well I managed to do 2 miles (miles 2 and 3 with the warm up and stretching) of Leslie Sansone's 5 Really Big Miles. The first one was with a resistance band and the second mile was a "fast mile".  I am enjoying doing these workouts.  I don't feel like I am going to die at the end (like I did when I was doing Jillian Michaels in the spring).

Tuesday

Down .6 more lbs today. Really not feeling well.

Wednesday

So excited to be down another 1.2 this morning.  I didn't exercise today but I did put 10,000 steps on my pedometer. YAY

Thursday

Down another .2 this morning.

Friday

Back up a little today, but to be expected at this point in my cycle.

Saturday

Same weight today.  

Goals for the upcoming week are just to follow my WW plan and exercise at least 3 times this week. I think I might go back to WW meetings starting this week.  I haven't decided for sure but I am leaning toward that.

Thanks Sam for doing this again! Link up your own diet/exercise post at Stick with it Saturday.

Stick with it Saturday

It has been ages since I have done one of these and I am so happy that Sam is doing this again.  It is good for my accountability and helps me to keep track of what I have done.

Sunday
Starting this week a full 8 lbs up from my lowest weight...all gained within the last week or so coming off a low-carb diet. While it was discouraging to see the scale go up,  I didn't panic.  It is not possible to gain that much fat that quickly and so I think my body is just adjusting with fluid.  So excited to see what happens this week.  Last week I said I was going to start counting again on Monday but decided "why wait?" and am starting today. 

Monday

Still thrilled to be back on Weight Watchers and counting points.  Today was the first time in FOREVER that I have exercised.  I have been having trouble with a low body temperature. I've always had a low body temperature, but lately it has been extremely low.  I think I have a metabolism problem.  I am hoping that exercising is going to help with that.  My temperature went up over a degree just from the short workout I did today.  Share in the comments if you have any experience with this. 

Today I did a beginner level of Extreme Obstacles XRT.  I really love this app.  So much fun.

The scale moved down about .6 from yesterday.  I'm still way up...but headed in the right direction. 

Tuesday

Down 2 more lbs today.  I think I am shedding the water weight that I gained quickly after quitting the low-carb diet. It feels great to see the scale moving back down.

Wednesday

Down another .8 today.  Did Leslie Sansone's The Big Burn workout.  Enjoyed it!

Thursday

Back up yesterday's .8.  No workout.

Friday

Didn't weigh today.  Did Extreme Obstacles XRT again. This is a fun app workout....doesn't take too long either. 

Saturday

I am back down that .8 from Thursday.  I've lost about 3 lbs this week.  

This has been a fantastic week!  I feel so happy having left Trim Healthy Mama to go back to counting WW Points.

Goals for the upcoming week are just to follow my WW plan and exercise at least 3 times this week.

Thanks Sam for doing this again!  Link up your own diet/exercise post on Stick with it Saturday.

Stick With It Saturday

It has been a long time since Stick with it Saturday has been posted (or that I've linked up)  BUT I heard today that it is coming back next week and I can't wait to link back up.  It's just what I need as I move along in my journey.

My weight is up a few more pounds than I would like. Clearly, the low-carb lifestyle has NOT worked for me.  Monday morning I am going back to Weight Watchers (just counting points...not actually going back to meetings though the thought of that HAS crossed my mind).  I am still having back trouble so I can't run (boo-hoo), but I could go back to my goal of 10,000 steps a day.  Not sure yet...but I am ready...no.... more than ready to go back to counting points alone...not mixing with anything else.

So come back next week for an update on how I am doing!

Stick with It Saturday

I haven't posted a Stick with it Saturday post in a while.  I have been sick for a couple of weeks and unable to do anything for exercise.  I still have a little bit of a cough, but I'm feeling like I might be able to start running this week again.

I am also still seeing a physical therapist for my pelvic floor issues and diastasis recti.  She gave me some new exercises to do this week, so I want to make sure I do those as well.

My goals this week are to continue with my healthy eating plan combining Trim Healthy Mama with Weight Watchers, start running again and do my PT.

Link up your own diet/exercise post over at Sam's Noggin. 

Stick with It Saturday

This was an exciting week.  On Sunday, I announced that I had lost 100 lbs.  I am now at 100.8 lbs lost.  I am feeling like I might finally get down to a normal weight.  I am getting so close!  It took me 2.5 years to get this far I'm not about to quit now!

Rather than write out what I did each day I'm just going to say that I am using exercises from my Aligned and Well App, the Totally Transverse video to heal my diastasis recti and exercises I got from my physical therapist for some pelvic floor issues.  AND I've been running.  I DO love to run...my back doesn't necessarily agree....This week I went on 3 runs...2 short ones and one longer.  I finished week 3 of my Jeff Galloway 5 K app.  I ran just over 2 miles today and I'm pretty sure I had a personal record (not that it was fast mind you...but faster than I was running it last year.)  I really hope I can continue to run.

My goals this week are to continue with my healthy eating plan combining Trim Healthy Mama with Weight Watchers and complete week 4 of my 5K training.  I will also continue with my PT stuff.

Link up your own diet/exercise post over at Sam's Noggin. 

Stick with it Saturday

This has been a pretty good week.  I am running again which I love.  I have also been working on healing my diastatis recti and some pelvic floor issues I have with an online video and the app mentioned below.  I also visited a URO-GYN physical therapist yesterday and I have some exercises to do every day for that.  I am concerned that I might not be able to continue running which makes me sad because I really enjoy it.  My shoulder is starting to hurt again just from the running I have done this week.  Not sure what I will end up doing if I can't run.


Sunday-
 Week 2 Day 1 of 5K app

Monday-none

Tuesday- Week 2 Day 1 of my 5K app (did this again accidentally).  I will probably skip day 2 and go on to Day 3. Also Totally Transverse and the exercise/stretches in Aligned and Well (app)

Wednesday-
Totally Transverse and the exercise/stretches in Aligned and Well (app)

Thursday-
Jeff Galloway 5K app-Week 2 Day 3 and the exercise/stretches in Aligned and Well (app)

Friday-
Totally Transverse and the exercise/stretches in Aligned and Well.

Saturday-
Nothing today....I was at a youth conference at church all day.  I'm exhausted.


My goals this week are to continue with my healthy eating plan combining Trim Healthy Mama with Weight Watchers and exercise as much as I am able.

Link up your own diet/exercise post over at Sam's Noggin. 

Stick with it Saturday

I don't think I've written one of these in a few weeks.  I haven't been doing a whole lot of exercise to be honest. This week I decided to start running again.  Loved it!  I am using my Jeff Galloway 5K app which I also love.  I only ran twice.  I accidentally skipped Day 1 so I ran twice, but finished week 1. (Each week has 3 days of running, 2 short and 1 long.) I am hoping to stay injury free.  I really love to run.

I have also finally started losing weight.   I dropped just over 5 lbs in the last week and a half.  I was up a bit today but I always fluctuate some and even being up today I am down over 4 from where I was 2 weeks ago.  After not losing since the first of the year...I'll take it!

You can read more about my new approach of combining Trim Healthy Mama and Weight Watchers here and here.


Goals for the upcoming week: Eat the Trim Healthy Mama Way using WW points, complete week 2 of my 5 K app and do this video daily.  I have an enormous diastasis recti that I would really like to see get smaller. I'm not sure there is any hope for completely closing it. (My Dr. said no, but doctors don't know everything.  However, I have had it for many years so he could be right.)  Don't know what diastasis recti is?  You can watch this video to see if you have one.

Link up your own diet/exercise post over at Sam's Noggin. 

(will update this link later if Sam posts one today)

Stick with it Saturday

This was not a good workout week.  It was a busy week, my back hurt, I had a heavy cycle...just really needed a bit of a break I think.  I did start wearing my pedometer again and I want to try getting 10,000 steps in every day like I used to.  I also sit on a stability ball all the time now.  Although it's not the same as running or doing Jillian Michaels I do think little things help.

The scale isn't moving and I'm trying not to stress about it.  Sometimes it is easier than others.


Sunday-
No workout.  It's really hard for me to find time to workout on Sundays.


Monday-

I did some push-ups (girl style...some on my knees and some on my stability ball)
A friend let me borrow her rebounder and I did over 10 minutes (not all at once on that)


Tuesday-

Rebounding- 15 minutes


Wednesday-
Another day...no workout


Thursday-
No workout...didn't mean to not do one.  Oops

Friday-
I didn't do an official workout but I jumped on the trampoline some, did some push ups and some squats.




Goals for the upcoming week: Eat the Trim Healthy Mama Way and exercise at least 4 times this week.  I really hope to get back to it this week...hopefully my back will cooperate.

Link up your own diet/exercise post over at Sam's Noggin. 

Stick with it Saturday

I've now been eating the Trim Healthy Mama way for 5 weeks. The scale isn't budging and I'm not back down to my lowest weight (I'm about 4 lbs from my lowest...sigh.)  But, I am committed to keeping on trying.....

Workouts for the week:

Sunday: No official workout but I had nursery duty in church last night so I had the kids doing jumping jacks and hopping on one foot with me...and some other exercises.  Couldn't hurt. :)

Monday:

Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred Did Level 1 with 5 lb weights (when I first did it I used 3 lb weights....5 lbs seems so much heavier!)  But this workout was so much easier than when I started it. I could hardly finish the first set of jumping jacks...now the cardio part is all pretty easy on this level. (LOVE seeing progress)

I also did 50 Jumping Jacks while Katie was practicing the organ in the afternoon.  Every little bit helps!

Oh, and on a side note.  I have been seeing a chiropractor for about the last month of so and my lower back is SO much better.  I couldn't lie on the floor before without a folded blanket under me...now?  no problem!

Tuesday:

Totally Transverse workout (core strengthening) and some squats throughout the day.


Wednesday:

Totally Transverse workout, some jump rope (not much), using a small ball to squeeze between the knees and Stability Ball Squats

Thursday: No workout

Friday: Sprint Intervals (outside with my 18 year old daughter...I felt old and slow!)

Today: No workout....got up late and had a busy day.



Goals for the upcoming week: Eat the Trim Healthy Mama Way and exercise at least 4 times this week.

Link up your own diet/exercise post over at Sam's Noggin. 

(There isn't one posted so this links to last week.)

Stick with it Saturday

I've now been eating the Trim Healthy Mama way for 4 weeks. Unfortunately, I am not seeing results on the scale but I have seen some changes with the measuring tape (2.5" off my abdomen in the last 2 months). So, I'll take it.  If you read the post I wrote yesterday about Trim Healthy Mama you can read an article I linked there about BMI and fat vs. muscle.

Workouts for the week:

Sunday: None

Monday:   Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred Day 1 of Level 3

Tuesday: Sprint Intervals (I run and walk in about 70 yard intervals)

Wednesday: Sprint Intervals

Thursday: The Spew (from THM book) this involves squats, lunges, jumping lunges and jump squats

Friday: Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred Day 2 of Level 3

Today: Not sure...might take the day off...



Goals for the upcoming week: Eat the Trim Healthy Mama Way and exercise 4-5 times this week.

Link up your own diet/exercise post over at Sam's Noggin. 

Stick with it Saturday

I've now been eating the Trim Healthy Mama way for 3 weeks and I still love it. The food is so good.

Workouts for the week:

Sunday: None

Monday:   Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred Day 8 of Level 2

Tuesday: None.  I had too much to do and never squeezed it in.  I hate that.  Poor planning more than anything!

Wednesday: Did my workout first thing.   Day 9 of Level 2  My lower back is bothering me a lot.

Thursday: Finished Level 2 of Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred

Friday: Sprint intervals (70 yards running and walking 8 times) in the snow....as described in the Trim Healthy Mama book.

Today: I think I'm taking a rest day today.  I'm tired and not feeling too great at the moment.  I'll do something later if I feel up to it, but no guilt if I don't.



Goals for the upcoming week: Eat the Trim Healthy Mama Way and exercise 4-5 times this week.

Link up your own diet/exercise post over at Sam's Noggin. 

Stick with it Saturday

I've now been eating the Trim Healthy Mama way for 2 weeks. I am LOVING it!  The food is good, it's healthy and I have been losing weight too.  Just a little...but after so long at the same weight I am happy to see the scale moving back down.

Workouts for the week:

Sunday: None

Monday:   Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred (this workout kills me....)

Tuesday: Went for a run!

Wednesday: 20ish minute circuit workout that I made up

Thursday:nothing official but I did some exercises with my exercise ball

Friday: Another made up circuit workout because I couldn't find my 30 Day Shred video.

Today: 30 Day Shred Level 2-Day 6 at this level.  This is still tough, but maybe getting a little easier...maybe. I have to rest on the floor when I finish.  I'm not kidding. LOL



Goals for the upcoming week: Eat the Trim Healthy Mama Way and exercise 5-6 times this week.

Link up your own diet/exercise post over at Sam's Noggin. 

Stick With It Saturday

If you haven't already seen some of my other posts then you might not know that I have decided to leave Weight Watchers and eat the Trim Healthy Mama way.  This week I got back down to my lowest weight. (95 lbs lost)  I was just glad to see that number again.  I'm enjoying learning this new way of eating.  I carry my book with me everywhere...or almost everywhere. If you're interested in what I'm eating you can read this post.

Workouts for the week:

Sunday: Rest.  First day of no exercise in a couple of weeks.  I even took a nap!

Monday:  Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred moved up to level 2 today. I was dripping sweat but it was easier than I expected.  Love this workout. (Day 11 of the 30 days)

Tuesday: 30 Day Shred MUCH more difficult on Day 2 of level 2...wow

Wednesday: No workout.  Busy day.

Thursday: 30 Day Shred This was rough but not as bad as Day 2.

Friday: 30 Day Shred This workout is brutal.  :)  (4 days down 6 to go)

I visited a chiropractor for the first time ever.  I have had muscle pain in my back for months.  She was absolutely wonderful.   I have tightness in my sacroiliac joints (I had no idea that it wasn't normal for that part of my body to hurt when pressed)...my quads need strengthening (30 Day Shred has to be helping with that!) and my hamstrings are REALLY tight.  She gave me an amazing massage and a TENS treatment.  I go back on Tuesday for my first adjustment.  I was so apprehensive about going to my first visit and now I can't wait to go back.  I am convinced she is going to help me.  I should have gone sooner!

Today: Obstacles XRT (I haven't done this in a while.  I like it.)



Goals for the upcoming week: Eat the Trim Healthy Mama Way and exercise 5-6 times this week.

Link up your own diet/exercise post over at Sam's Noggin.

Stick With It Saturday

Workouts for the week:

Sunday: Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred and Leslie Sansone's 5 Really Big Miles

(I ate more junk that I should have and wanted a nice long workout to compensate for some of it.  When I first started losing weight some of the moves on the Leslie Sansone workouts were not even possible for me.  I can do this workout with ease now.  It is an encouragement to see how far I’ve come and a challenge to take it even further.)

Monday: 30 Day Shred (Day 6)

Tuesday:  25 minutes running/walking at 30 second intervals and Jillian Michael's Kickbox Fast Fix       (upper body workout )

Wednesday: 30 Day Shred (Day 7)

Thursday:  30 Day Shred (Day 8)

Friday:  30 Day Shred (Day 9)  (Started Trim Healthy Mama today.)

Today: 30 Day Shred (Day 10)...moving up to level 2 next week..I hope I can do it.



Goals for the upcoming week: Eat the Trim Healthy Mama Way and exercise 4-5 times next week. (I actually want to do 6 days but my husband will be home all week so my routine will be a bit different.) I hinted at some changes I thought I might be making and this week I decided for sure to leave Weight Watchers and start Trim Healthy Mama.  I hope it will jumpstart my weight loss.  It wasn't an easy decision but hopefully it's the right one.  I am working on a blog post about why I made this decision.

Link up your own diet/exercise post over at Sam's Noggin.

Stick with it Saturday

Posting this a few days late due to Blizzard Nemo.

This week my BFF brought over some of her workout videos so I was able to change it up a bit.  It's so good to be back exercising again.


Workouts for the week:

Sunday: worked out on the Wii for about 30 minutes ( I did some strength training, stepping, ski jump, ski slalom, boxing, running and hula hoop.)

Monday: AM: Obstacles XRT-intermediate level-this is a 28 minute HIIT workout 35 sec work/25 sec resting
           
               PM: Biggest Loser Cardio Max week one workout

Tuesday:  Jillian Michaels Kickbox Fast Fix upper body workout and 30 Day Shred

Wednesday: 30 Day Shred

Thursday: 30 Day Shred

Friday: 30 Day Shred and Jillian Michaels Kickbox Fast Fix lower body

Today: Shoveling....lots of shoveling :)

I already feel as though my body is changing in just this short time of doing these workouts (30 Day Shred especially).  I am in a wedding in June and I really want my arms toned up.  I am enjoying my workouts.  I'm looking forward to seeing how my body changes and hoping to get back to running soon too. I would also like to try adding some kettlebell workouts to my week.

I am very much considering moving on from Weight Watchers....I am paid up until early March but I have to decide this week since they charge you for the next month in the middle of the month.  If I do decide to leave I will blog about all the whys.  (One of the biggest reasons is money, but there are others.)

Goals for the upcoming week: Stick to my Weight Watchers plan and exercise 4-5 times next week.

Link up your own diet/exercise post over at Sam's Noggin.

Stick with it Saturday

This week I was down a lb at Weight Watchers.  This whole month has been such a struggle for me.  I only lost 1 lb the entire month.  This is not acceptable to me.  I need to step it up this month.


Workouts for the week:

Sunday: (no workout)

Monday: 20 minute Jillian Michaels Kickbox Fast Fix  workout #3 (focus on abs...some of this I am just not capable of doing.  I did my best. I probably won't do this one again for a while)

Tuesday:  Billy Blanks Tae Bo Bootcamp Shred video for 20 minutes. It kind of annoys me so I shut it off and put in Jillian again.  Did the 3rd workout on the DVD. (total of 40 minutes)

Wednesday: nothing

Thursday: Jillian Michaels Kickbox Fast Fix workout #1 (focus on upper body) LOVE this!

Friday:  Jillian Michaels Kickbox Fast Fix workout #2 (lower body focus) Love this one too!

This picture is for you Sam. LOL
 I was dripping sweat but you really can't tell.

Today: not sure yet...will update if and when I do something



Goals for the upcoming week: Stick to my Weight Watchers plan and exercise when I can. I am considering making some radical changes to my diet...stay tuned.

Link up your own diet/exercise post over at Sam's Noggin.

Stick with it Saturday

I've been on a long plateau with my weight loss.  For the past several weeks I've been up and down with the same 3 lbs.  Yesterday, I was almost back down to my lowest and I hope I'm about to lose something new. I do finally have something to say about what I've been doing for fitness.  YAY!  This means I am finally over my pneumonia. Double Yay!!

Workouts for the week:

Saturday: (after last week's Stick with it Saturday post) I ended up going for a run.  It felt good to be running, but I am back to square 1 since I had stopped running for so long.  It's been too cold to run and there's snow and ice around so I haven't been back out.  My back/shoulder blade area has been hurting ever since.  (so frustrating)

Sunday: (no workout)

Monday: 2 miles of a  Leslie Sansone DVD followed by a 20 minute Jillian Michaels workout then I played on the Wii for a short time.  I felt sore and figured I wouldn't be able to move the next day but I was fine.

Tuesday: Bought Billy Blanks Tae Bo Bootcamp Shred video.  Did the entire workout (to the best of my ability).  Let's just say I'm glad no one was taking any videos of me.  :)

Wednesday: Purchased Extreme XRT app for my ipod and did the first beginner workout.  Love this!

Thursday: Extreme XRT 2nd beginner workout (20 minutes).  Most of this is fun.  I enjoyed it and I like having a short workout that I can fit into my day.

Friday: nothing...too tired and my shoulders hurt too much.  My back is so "tight". I wish I knew what to do to make it better.  I want to exercise and it is holding me back. My knees are bothering me a bit too.  (It's tough getting old.)

Today:  Extreme XRT 3rd beginner workout.



Goals for the upcoming week: Stick to my Weight Watchers plan and exercise when I can.

Link up your own diet/exercise post over at Sam's Noggin.