Lazy Like Their Mama

I have three kids, as you all know, and none of them play sports.  Ryan is more into cars than football.  Kasi would rather draw then play softball or tennis.  And Brandi is my drama child.  She would rather sing, dance, and act than do just about anything else.  I have a feeling that someday, somehow, this child is going to end up starring in her own sitcom.  Knowing her, it will probably be something she writes and directs herself.  She is not only dramatic.  She is opinionated and stubborn, and I can't see her taking direction well, which means she will be doing it all herself.  I say, more power to her.  She just needs to remember her mother when she gets famous.

All three of my kids love to play games on the computer, and on the wii and Playstation.  They have no problem picking up a tennis racket to play on the wii or sitting on my computer and playing ronaldo online.  I know that I should make them do more stuff outdoors, but I was always an inside kid myself, so it's easy for me to understand their unwillingness to be outside, especially with all the games and such available online.  I remember as a preteen spending the summer in my room, reading one book after another.  I did go outside to swim, and once I got into the pool it was very hard to get me out of it.  My kids love to swim, too.  Well, my girls do.  Ryan is sixteen now, and if it doesn't have a motor and four wheels, he has no interest in it whatsoever.

Brandi did join the community service club at her school, and once a month they will walk from the school to a local nursing home to help out.  That counts as exercise, right?

Curves

I know I haven't been blogging on a regular basis, and if you are friends with me on Facebook you know why. For those of you who are not my friends, let me explain where I have been.

About five weeks ago, I joined my local Curves.  A friend of mine called me one day and asked if I wanted to join with her, and I jumped at the opportunity.  They were having a special where they waived the $99 joining fee if you brought in canned food, so that is what I did.

Let me tell you, I love it! It's a big circuit that you do, and it takes about 30 minutes to go around twice, which is what they recommend three times a week. Other than the days I see my therapist, I have been going just about every day, working out for at least 45 minutes.  So far, I have lost 11 pounds and 22 1/2 inches.  Those inches are a total from my arms, thighs, waist, bust, abdomen, and hips.  I have the breakdown somewhere, but I can't find it right now, so I can't post it.  I'll try to find it and post it soon.

I am not only working out. I decided to start eating better, not necessarily diet. I haven't taken any pills, or eaten any special foods like shakes or shapewise chews, but I am eating more fruits and veggies, and I have almost completely cut out fast food.  I do treat myself once a week, which helps me not have bad cravings for something greasy.  

I am going into this whole thing without high expectations.  I mean, I have dieted before and lost weight, but I always get discouraged when I hit a plateau.  I went two weeks without losing weight (though I did lose inches) and instead of getting discouraged this time, I am looking at it as a work in progress.  I mean, even if I lose a pound or two a week, a year from now I will be where I want to be, weight wise.  Plus, I feel better, and my clothes fit better, and I know I can do this.

Cleaning My Boss Man's Pool

Up until a couple of years ago, I wouldn't have been caught dead in a bathing suit.  I was too fat and self conscience to wear one, and I was always missing out on all the fun because of that.  Then I lost some weight, and even though I still have several pounds to lose, I became more comfortable in my own skin.  Two years ago, my mom bought a house with a pool.  For the first time, I wanted to be able to swim when everyone else did, so I went out and bought a bathing suit.  I do not have the Beach Body I would like to have, but I am getting there.

Last Spring, I helped my boss open his pool.  I put my bathing suit on and jumped into the dirty water to help him clean the middle, which he couldn't reach from the sides of the pool.  I knew I wasn't the best to look at in my bathing suit, but I had a crush on him and wanted to help, so I sucked it up.  A few days ago he asked me if I would help him again this year, and there was no way I could say no.  This year, though, I am embarrassed to put on my bathing suit, because I haven't lost any more weight, and I'm not feeling confident enough right now.  I need to do something like the 90 Day Review, though I am not sure I'll have 90 days before he needs my help. Maybe the Extreme Body Workout would be a better choice.  I don't know.  All I do know is that I am not looking forward to jumping into his pool this year.

This is a guest post provided by Fitness Alliance.

A New Me For The New Year

I had not weighed myself in quite a while, and I was dreading getting on the scale.  I worked pretty hard to get this weight off, and I was a little worried that I had gained some back between Thanksgiving and New Years.  I finally decided yesterday to bite the bullet and get on the scale.  I was disappointed that I had gained weight, but only about five pounds.  Considering I have lost weight before and always gained it all back (plus some) I was happy to see it was only five pounds.

That said, I am also determined to lose the rest of this weight.  Last year, I almost hit the one hundred pound lost mark, but for the past five months or so, I haven't lost a single pound.  Since it's a new year, I finally want to get down to where I want to be.  I still have about 50 pounds to go, and I am not sure how to lose it all.  I know I have to stop eating fast food so much, but when I am on the road all day, fast food is easy to eat on the go. I also have to exercise more.  I want to try the 90 Day Review, but I'm not sure I could do it.  It looks pretty intense. I think I need to start smaller and work my way up to this.  The Extreme Body Workout looks awesome, too.  I want the body they say I could have.  I want defined muscles and to be rid of my fat rolls.  I want men to whistle when I walk by.

Okay, so I may never get to that point, but I do want to be healthier.  I want to set a better example for my kids.  Unfortunately, they are following in my footsteps with bad eating habits and not getting enough exercise.  I want my 14 year old daughter to be proud of her Beach Body.  Heck, I want to be proud of mine.  I only started wearing a bathing suit a couple of years ago.  I was always ashamed of my body, and I don't want my kids to grow up feeling that way. 

I want them to feel how I feel now.  Confident and proud of who I am, regardless of what I look like on the outside.  It took me almost 40 years to get here, though.  Hopefully it won't take them that long.

This is a guest post provided by Fitness Alliance.

My Weight

I haven't really written anything lately about my weight.  Mostly because I seem to be at a standstill.  I am still about a hundred pounds lighter than I was a couple of years ago, but I haven't lost anything recently.  I am pretty proud of the fact that I haven't gained any of the weight back (except for about 3 pounds thanks to Thanksgiving) because those of you dieters know, losing weight for obese people hardly ever "sticks".  I can not tell you how many times I have lost 30 or 40 pounds only to gain back 50 or 60.  So keeping this weight off for almost 6 months is something to be proud of.

I know what it will take to lose the rest of this weight.  No, it's not going to be something as sinple as investing in bariatric products or starving myself.  What I need to do is start exercising again.  My problem is; there just are not enough hours in the day.  By the time I get home from work at night I am exhausted.  All I want to do is sit down, put my feet up, and be lazy.  It's a good thing the kids help out around the house, too, because I have been pretty slack in that department as well.

What I need to do is make myself commit to at least 30 minutes on the wii every day.  You wouldn't think this would be too hard because I love my wii fit.  But, like I said, I am in lazy mode these days.  I blame the weather.  It gets dark so early now, and by 7pm I am ready for bed.  Getting up at 5 every morning doesn't help, either.

What tricks do you use to stay motivated to exercise?

CoolSculpting

I am sure I am not the only woman in the world who has some weight to lose.  Most of you know that over the past couple of years, I have lost a ton of weight.  Okay, maybe not a ton, but close to one hundred pounds.  And I did it all on my own with diet and exercise.  I still have weight to lose (about 50 pounds), but I am stuck.  Diet and exercise just aren't working anymore.  I don't want o do the gastric bypass, because let's face it, that is some scary stuff.  I don't want to do diet pills either, because I don;t want to put anything like that into my body.  I plan on getting married again someday (did I just say that???) and if I ever do, I wan to do the whole white dress thing. I didn't do that he last time around.  I did the courthouse thing. 

But before I even think about trying on dresses, I want to be where I want to be weight wise.  I was reading about CoolSculpting and it sounds like it might be a great way to get rid of these last few pounds. The CoolSculpting website says "developed by Harvard scientists, our unique, patented, clinically proven procedure involves freezing fat cells without damage to your skin. There’s no knife. No suction hoses. No needles. No lasers, even. After your treatment, you get on with your busy day."  How cool is that?  You just go in, and have some fat frozen, and over the next few months, the pounds just melt away.  Of course, to maintain the loss you have to continue with a healthy diet and exercise, but it would be worth it to fit into a beautiful white dress.

CoolSculpting has a facebook page, and when you go check it out make sure you enter their 12 Weeks to Change Challenge.  There are a ton of prizes to be won, including a treatment valued at $1500.  Now, if you are anything like me, you think $1500 is a lot of money, and being able to win a treatment would be awesome.  I am going to enter the contest, and you should too.  I mean, what do you have to lose besides stubborn fat?


This was a sponsored post, and all opinions stated above are my own.

Horseback Riding As Exercise?

I have been thinking lately about different ways I can exercise that would be fun.  A blogger friend of mine has been writing a lot lately about her experiences horse back riding, and it sounds like so much fun.  I don't know much about horse supplies or how much work goes into taking care of horses, but I bet it is more fun than going to the gym and walking on a treadmill.  I guess I need to do a little research, and see if there is somewhere around here I could try it out before I commit to anything.  Who knows, I may get thrown off and break some bones my first time out, or I may find out that I am really good at it.  I guess we'll just have to wait and see.

Insanity

I have no motivation these days.  I have seriously run out of good excuses about why I am not exercising.  I used to say that I didn't have the money to join a gym, and while that is true, there are so many "at home" ways to exercise, that that excuse is pretty pitiful.  I mean, how hard is it to pop in a CD I love and just get moving?  I have several hours every day when I am home alone, which is the perfect time to exercise.  But do I?  No.

Maybe I just haven't found the right DVD yet.  I used to do an old VCR tape my mom had, but that one is seriously outdated.  I have been hearing good things about the Insanity Workout, which I think might be a little advanced for me right now.  It's a 60 day workout plan, and you don't need any special equipment, which makes it easy to use.  Now, I didn't say it was easy to do, because it is all cardio and plyometrics, which can seriously kick my butt.  The workout was designed by Shaun T.

The Insanity Workout uses "Max Interval Training", which means working out for long intervals (20 minutes) at high intensity, with brief resting periods.  Yeah, I'm pretty sure that in my current shape, this would kill me.  I really want to be able to work out like that, but not right now.  It's a nice goal to work up to, though. 

This workout comes with 10 DVD's and a nutrition guide.  I think that is the thing I like best, too.  Having the workout videos to do is great, but learning about nutrition is important, too.  You will also get access to the online beachbody community forum, which gives you all the support and encouragement you need to keep going.  You can also check out the Insanity Workout Reviews.  I'll let you know when I am finally in good enough shape for these videos.  For now, I'll keep doing my 20 year old VCR tapes.

A New Workout For Me

I can not believe that tomorrow night is a "school night".  Where has this summer gone?  It seems like only yesterday they were finishing up school for the year, and now they are going back.  This means I will be able to get back into a routine, and this year I want to try and get into the habit of working out in the mornings.  Years ago, I used to go for a walk once the kids got on the bus.  I also had a bunch of VHS workout tapes that I can no longer do (my VCR finally kicked the bucket), so I want to find a good workout on DVD.  I was thinking about joining a gym, but I don't think I would ever go.  I don't think people want to see my huge behind on the treadmills.

 I recently read about this Insanity Workout, and I really want to be able to do this program.  It's a 60 day total body conditioning cardio workout that comes on 10 DVDs.  It looks like these videos focus a lot on your abs and your core (are they the same thing?), which is something I really need to work on, once I get rid of the ton of fat covering my six-pack.

Once I get my abs in shape, I am going to have to work on my butt.  I mean, I can not remember the last time I put on a pair of jeans and liked the way my butt looked.  The Brazil Butt Lift sounds like something I will enjoy doing.  The DVDs use a mix of samba, caopeira, ballet, and traditional cardio to tone up your behind.  This workout was designed by the trainer for the Victoria Secret models, and we all know how fantastic their butts are.

Turbo Fire is the latest workout from Chalene Johnson. It's 3 months of high intensity interval training, core work, stretching, resistance training (with the bands that are included) and traditional training.  I think a combination of these workouts would completely kick my behind right now, but I am hoping that by losing some more of this weight I'm carrying around I will be able to do some of them.  I mean, we all have to start somewhere, right?

Working Out

As most of you know, I have been struggling with my weight for as long as I can remember.  Even as a teen, I was always the heaviest of my friends, and the one who never dated.  Having kids only made my weight climb higher.  I have dieted, and done workout videos, but whatever weight I lost always seemed to come back.  But that was the past.

In the last ten months or so, I have lost almost 50 pounds.  I lost the first 35 pounds in the first two months, and have surprised myself by keeping it off.  That means that the last 15 pounds have taken me eight months to lose, which doesn't sound like much.  But to me, it is more important that I haven't regained the weight I lost.  It also might surprise you all that I have not been dieting.  I just decided to watch my portion sizes, and it's working.  Slowly, yes, but at least it is working.  I know there will come a time when exercise will become necessary, and I think that time is fast approaching.  I want to lose at least another 25 pounds by Christmas, which means losing about 4 pounds per month.

Exercise will definitely help me reach this goal.  There are so many programs out there these days, it is hard to know which one is right for me.  I know I need to start slow, and work my way up.  I read about High Intensity Interval Training, and while it sounds awesome, I know I am not ready for it just yet.  If you are ready for an advanced workout, you might want to check out Turbo Fire.  The basic package comes with 10 high intensity workout DVD's, covering cardio workouts and high intensity interval training, as well as sculpting and stretching classes.  The Turbo Fire Deluxe package includes four more DVD's, as well as support material like a resistance band and journal.  If you 20 weeks of cardio workouts, check out the Turbo Fire Upgrade DVD.  

Like I said before, this doesn't sound like something I am ready for.  Yet.  Give me a year or two, and hopefully I will be sweating along with Chalene Johnson, getting the best workout possible.

Does This Really Help You Lose Weight?

I am always on the lookout for ways to lose weight.  I know that diet and exercise are crucial, but everyone needs a little help now and then.  I have, in the past, resorted to using diet pills.  I was in my teens, and they were readily available at local drug stores.  (I haven't used them in over 20 years, so I do not know how easy they are to get these days)  I also tried the Slim Fast diet, the Atkins Diet, and any other diet you can think of.  The problem with dieting is that if you don't exercise too, once you stop dieting, the weight comes back.  All of it.  Plus some.  Trust me, I speak from experience here.

Now instead of looking for easy to follow diet plans, I am looking for easy to follow exercise routines.  I saw this contour ab and it honestly brought back memories of old cartoons, where the characters strap themselves into a machine, and all it does is jiggle their fat with a huge rubber band.  Do you remember those?  Thankfully, that is not what this is.  The contour ab belt looks similar to a back brace that my husband sometimes wears.  You are supposed to wear it for ten minutes a day, and it "delivers a series of electrical impulses that cause the muscles in the abdomen to contract. This contraction process, when done over time is supposed to tighten and tone the underlying muscles".  You can set the intensity of the belt anywhere from 1 to 100.  The thing I find funny, though, is that on the website it says that in order for the belt to work, you must strictly follow their diet and exercise plan.  If you are going to follow a diet and exercise plan (which you already know makes you lose weight) why do you need the belt?

I think I will just stick to my way of doing things, which seems to be working pretty well.  I know you are probably sick of hearing about my weight loss, but I will continue to talk about it, because I am very proud of the almost 50 pounds I have lost.

Losing Weight

I am not sure if I have mentioned it on this blog or not, but in the past eight months or so, I have lost 42 pounds. I credit stress, because I wasn't doing anything intentional to lose the weight. This is not a healthy way to lose weight, and I do not recommend it.

In the past few weeks, because of the move and unpacking, we have eaten out a lot. Because of this, I have gained back four pounds. Now, four pounds may not seem like a lot, but to me it's huge because I really want to keep this weight off, and find a way to lose some more. A lot more, actually. Only now I want to put a little effort into it, and do it the right way.

I really want to try this new program I just heard about called Shapely Secrets. Basically, you follow a seven minute program and use the seven secrets to being thin, and in no time at all you can have the body you dream of. Now, I am not looking to be a size two. Heck, I am not even looking to be a size eight. I will be happy to get back to a size ten, which is where I was before I had Ryan fourteen years ago.

The seven minute workout uses different muscles working against each other, so you are actually working several different muscles with each exercise. Since I am not a big fan of exercise, which is evident in the fact that I need to lose a bunch of weight, doing exercises that work quickly and effectively is perfect for me. I know I can find seven minutes each day, even if it means getting up seven minutes earlier in the morning.

Or maybe I'll just spend seven minutes less online every day. I really do like my sleep.

Walking

I used to love to walk. In fact, there was a time when I was walking about four miles a day. Then we moved, and I never have been able to find a route that is safe to walk where we now live. This is another thing good about moving; I can try and find a place that is "walker friendly".

When I was walking, I had a few things that made each outing a little more pleasurable. First and foremost is a great playlist on my MP3. I always listened to songs that were up beat and fun. I found that the slower the song, the slower I walked, and the faster the song, the more bounce there was in every step I took.

Second was a great pair of walking sneakers. I just read this article titled Walk It Off, where they talk about how having the right pair of shoes for walking can make all the difference. I can not agree with this more. I started walking with an old pair of sneakers I had had for years, and my feet would start hurting about halfway through my walk. I finally talked Junior into buying me a shoe specifically designed for walking, and my feet quit hurting. Coincidence? I don't think so. Right now you can get free shipping at The Walking Company, so it's the perfect time to invest in a good pair of walking shoes.

The third thing I did was dress in layers. Even when it was cold out, I would end up taking off my jacket and walking in just a tshirt. No matter how cold it was outside, I knew that I would warm up as soon as I started walking, so wearing a long sleeved shirt didn't make sense. I also preferred walking in the morning. I don't know why, it was just easier for me, and it set the tone for the rest of my day.

I am really looking forward to getting back into the habit of walking every day. I think it will help with losing some of this weight, too.

Attacked By An Elliptical Machine - Well, Kind Of

I want to share a funny story with you. A few years ago, I was at my friend Donna's house, and she had just gotten a new Elliptical machine. It was one that she found in the paper for free, and it was not very well made. Basically, the foot pedals were attached to the arm poles, and they went back and forth. There was no up or down, or stair climbing option. I wanted to try it, so I hopped on.

Big, big mistake.

This was before my breast reduction, when I was very top heavy. As soon as I had both feet on, they went back.

Both of them.

I found myself parallel to the floor, with my feet stuck out behind me. And when I say stuck, I mean stuck. I could not get myself out. My friend was no help, because she was laying on the floor, laughing hysterically. Eventually she got up and helped me off, and I swore I would never get on another elliptical machine.

Now that I find myself losing weight, I am wanting to look into getting some exercise equipment. Even though I promised myself I never would, I am thinking about getting my own elliptical. I found the one in the picture on Fitness Blowout, and it doesn't look like the same thing could happen on it. Fitness Blowout is great because they offer new and used equipment. They even have customer service representatives who will match you with the perfect piece of exercise equipment. I will probably need a little help in that area. I don't want the same thing happening again.

BeeWell Again

Remember about a month ago where I wrote all about BeeWell Miles? I shared how Bumble Bee Foods will donate $.15 per mile that you log on their sites to help Breast Cancer Network of Strength provide emotional support to those who can't wait for tomorrow's cure. I was so excited to be a part of this, and I still am. Luckily, you can still sign up. We all have until October 31, 2009 to log as many miles as we can.

I wish I could say that I have been faithfully wearing my pedometer everyday, and logging every step I take. Unfortunately, I have not been doing my best. I have logged 44 miles so far, making my donation from Bumble Bee Foods $6.60. I know I can do better, and I really am going to try. I have won a couple of downloads on the days I have logged my miles, and that is pretty cool.

Since April first, walkers have logged 46035 miles, for a total of $6,905.25. Now that is awesome! It is so easy to join, so what are you waiting for? If you are like me, this can be the jump start you need to better health. We all know how good walking is for your heart, and if you are overweight, it is a very simple way to get your exercise in each day. So what are you waiting for? Go join!

My user name is elephantlady777, and I'd love to be your buddy when you sign up!

This Looks Promising And Fun

It's no secret that I am a big girl. I have been trying, quite unsuccessfully, for years to lose some weight. My problem is finding a workout that I like, and that I will continue to do. While searching around today, I came across kettlebell training, and it looks like something I might be interested in trying. All you need is twenty minutes, three times a week, and you can tone and firm up, or in my case, lose some weight. They have a variety of DVD's that are specific to what you want to do. There's one for abs, and one for your core, among others. You use the kettleball, which is a ball on a ring. The kettleball exercises look like they are fun to do, which is a big selling point for me. I am not going to continue doing something I don't enjoy.

If you want to know more about kettleball's workouts, check out their FAQ's. I am definitely going to look into this a little more. It promises results in six weeks, which is in plenty of time for swimsuit weather. Heck, I could get 12 weeks in before then. I know, what am I waiting for?

I Want A Wii

This morning, Junior and I made our daily trip to the big store that sells everything. I wanted to look for a CD, so we went to the electronic department. As we walked past the video game section, I was longing, yet again, for the wii fit. We don't even have a wii yet, but I want them both so badly. My sister got the wii fit for her birthday, and loves it. I think it might be just the thing to get my butt motivated. I love video games, so this is perfect for me. If I could just save up the money...

Carry The Torch

I already wrote a post about the new way that Canada is motivating it's kids to get active. It's called SOGO Active, and it is a new program that gives teens, aged 13 to 19 the incentive to get moving. It connects kids with other kids, letting them track their progress online, sharing their stories and successes. It sounds like a very promising program, aimed at matching kids with activities they will enjoy doing, so that they will continue to stay active and healthy.

Coca-Cola is awarding a wonderful opportunity to some of the kids who sign up and participate in the program. One thousand kids who join the program and show a real commitment to living an active, healthier lifestyle will be granted a torchbearer spot in the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Torch Relay. Talk about a once in a lifetime opportunity! This is a sure way to inspire kids of Canada to make some real changes in their lives, and also provide some of them with an amazing memory they will have forever. It would be awesome to be able to tell the story of carrying the Olympic Flame to future generations. The only way to be eligible is to sign up for the SOGO Active program, and make a serious commitment to being healthy and active.

Get Active!

I have been thinking lately that my kids need more exercise. Okay, maybe I should say that my whole family needs more exercise, but for now I want to focus on the kids. Brandi does have PE in school once a week, but I don't think that's enough. Ryan and Kasi don't have PE at all, although at Kasi's school they do warm up exercises, like jumping jacks and stretching, every morning. I remember when I was in school, we had PE every other day, and if you didn't participate, you failed. If you failed, you had to make up that semester, or you couldn't graduate. My poor friend had to take five periods of PE her last semester in school in order to graduate. I wish my kids schools had the same requirements.

Unfortunately, it is left up to the parents to get their kids moving. I said unfortunately, but I didn't mean it like it was wholly the schools responsibility. I just meant that in this day and age, with more and more parents working, it is difficult to schedule time for exercise as a family. It is also expensive if the kids want to join sports teams or organizations that promote activity.

Canadians have come up with a great program to get kids moving. SOGO Active is a program for Canadian kids, aged 13-19, to use to make being active fun. The site allows kids to track their progress, and share their successes with other kids. You can also find hosts in your area who can help get the kids the resources, like equipment or even facilities, they need to do the things they love. Coca-Cola Canada and ParticipACTION have partnered to make the program available, and hope to inspire the youth of Canada to get active and get moving!

Get A Flat Belly

It's time, once again, to talk about my ongoing struggle to lose weight. Like many women, I carry my weight in my belly. Sure, having three kids didn't help, but I can't keep saying it's baby weight. I mean, it's been almost seven years since I had my last baby. In those seven years, I have lost a lot of weight, then put even more weight back on. I can't seem to find the answer to keeping weight off.

I found out that stress can destroy your ability to lose belly fat. The Flat Belly Diet suggests that in order to lose weight and keep it off, you need to deal with the stress in your life. I know when I get stressed, I get depressed, and then I eat. And eat. It's finding other things to do beside eating that will help me, or you, succeed in reaching a healthy weight. Taking time for yourself, finding "me time", will help reduce stress. Do something you love to do, but haven't taken the time to do in a while. Take a bath. Take a walk. Read a book. Maybe blog a little. Whatever it is, finding a way to manage stress is encouraged as part of the flat belly diet regimen.