Day 243 (day 5 / week 35)

It's funny how we can have intentions to do things, and then they kind of just go away throughout the day.

I procrastinated a lot today. I used my HRM as an excuse for the first 2 hours, but I think I fixed the problem (replaced the batteries). We'll see. It was too hot to do anything after 9am and I think I am getting bored with exercise so I have to change it up somehow, because I don't plan on stopping anytime soon. It's like it's been said: This is life, it's not a dress rehearsal. I was not looking forward to being kooked up in the house doing an exercise video so I needed to find another way to exercise. Exercise is awesome, because it's everywhere. I like the idea of cleaning for exercise, because you kill two birds with one stone, but everything is as clean as it's going to get...except for the carpet...

So I scrubbed the carpet today for exercise. I'll make it a (non) rest day because The Monkey Boy kindly tried to help, but I didn't like the thought of him sticking his hand in the bucket that had my concoction that I found on the internet, to clean carpets (some hot water and a little pine sol--which worked great!). I even have a grody picture for you.



Can you tell which side was cleaned (the left)?

lol. totally gross I know, and more than I want to expose of myself, but in my defense, the carpets were like this when we moved in. You can tell that I spot treated certain areas now. I think I bit off a bigger piece than I can chew, because it looks like I have to scrub the ENTIRE carpet now, so that it all matches. Maybe this weekend, when I am scrounging for minutes, trying to make up for the workdays, I will get some more scrubbing done.

Anyway, I scrubbed for 35 minutes and probably didn't burn many calories (I don't know how many, I didn't use my HRM this time).

Tomorrow is the 1st of the month, and so I should be doing my measurements and monthly picture, but alas, I am not going to. It's getting late in the evening now, and I have to work for the next 3 days (and my hubby doesn't want to help me right now)...so, I will be posting this info on Friday, instead. So check back then to see my progress for the month :). I have been having issues with my computer, so hopefully the douchiness goes away before then as well (so frustrating!).

Hope you all have a great evening!

Make it count!

I can do this. I am a star.

Day 242 (day 4 / week 35)

We are on our way to go eat Zaba's for dinner (yum!) with my hubby's best friend, so I am going to make this quick....er lol.

Today I did heavy cleaning. HEAVY. Heavy like when we first moved in here. I scrubbed both bathrooms head to toe...err, wall to wall (I don't think my bathroom has any toes) and the kitchen as well. I got in a pretty good workout. Because I knew I would count my cleaning as a workout, I was aware of it...so I did some lunges while I was drying the floor w/ the towel (not necessary, but I did it for exercise) and scrubbed a little harder, just to get a better workout. I stopped after about 1.5 hours and took a small break (turning off my HRM) and then finished the kitchen and mopped. I did 2.5 hours of heavy cleaning and burned 865 calories. Not bad for cleaning! Keep that in mind the next time you are scrubbing, mopping and/or cleaning. House cleaning is a great workout! (so is mowing the lawn!).

Hope you all have a blessed Sunday! I'm slow to catch up on my emails and comments so I apologize!

Make it count!

I can do this. I am a star.

Day 241 (day 3 / week 35)

I've been doing a lot of thinking since I posed the question, "did I blow it?" and you guys really helped me out with your responses. All in all I decided that I was going to count it, but I started thinking about the why, as to why I would count it. I came to these conclusions that gave me the mental closure that my brain needed, when I continue to think about things, long after I thought I had resolved them (lol).

1) You guys are right, I don't have a typical desk job. I work 12 hour shifts and more than 1/2 of that (6 hours) I am walking around, pushing pulling and using my large muscle groups (legs) for support so that I don't hurt my back. I know I am getting a workout because sometimes I feel winded after a transfer. The day before yesterday was, in my opinion, more of a physical day than I usually do have at work.

2) When I wasn't working, I was willing to substitute exercises and would count that as exercise done. I would do heavy cleaning, wear my HRM, turn it on, and count that. I would also mow the lawn and count that. I dance with The Monkey Boy and even count that. Why is that any different than substituting a physically demanding workday?

3) I keep saying that I need to listen to my body, and so why is a workday any different than a non workday? I was physically exhausted when I got home. That tells me that my body worked hard that day. I don't know if it was because I was on my 4th day and I didn't get 8 hours of sleep the night before (very well could have been) but I was also sore the next day, that to me, is my body telling me that I worked out, whether I consider it a workout or not.

Thank you for all of your insights on this. I really did want to see how someone else viewed it, because, well, I am biased. It's my life and my resolution, and I know I tend to be hard on myself as some of you have mentioned *cough Loree* *cough Erin*. (I'm just teasing you guys, ((Hugs))) :).

Today I got out kind of late today (8am), and walked for 4.15 miles in an hour an 15 minutes, and cooled down for about 10 minutes (85 minutes). I am very excited because yesterday was my very first payday so I am going to go buy a new HRM. Mine is just....done. I don't really know why it gives me wonky readings but today was my last straw with it. It was 92-96F when I walked and the last time I did this, I burned about 1500 calories in the same amount of time and my HR was well over 135 during the bulk of the time. This time my HRM said my HR was 82. And then 112. At teh very end of my walk, it jumped to 147 so I don't know what's up with it. I also don't like the fact that I can't adjust my new weight on my HRM--I burn calories differently at 190 than I did at 215, when I originally programed it. So this is my reward to myself, for my first paycheck. I want to get some more hand weights too, because The Monkey Boy peeled off the coating off of one of mine. lol (silly kid). The other thing I want to do for myself is get a new hair cut. I am also very excited about this :).

BTW I woke up this morning and the swelling went down completely. My toe hurts a little, but nothing like it did last night. *whew*

Sorry for the long post! Hope you all have a great weekend! Make it count! Anything goes!

I can do this. I am a star.

Day 240 (day 2 / week 35)

Right now I am sitting on my couch with an ice pack on my foot. I went to a car show with my hubby and FIL tonight and slipped and fell with my leg pinned in back of me. I was wearing my flip flops so only my foot got scraped up and is swollen, thank goodness. My ankle bothered me earlier, but now it's only my big toe.

Today for exercise I did sort of a potpourri of things, if you will. Not traditional exercise, but things that I know that I get a good workout from--mopping and heavy house work, jumping around and dancing with the Monkey Boy. We do this thing, like in the movie Flashdance, where we run in place really fast and go in circles, like ring-around-the-Rosie. We walked a lot today and then went to a small car show tonight, and all day The Monkey Boy wanted to be held the entire time so I got a pretty good workout with that (man! He's getting heavy!). The thing that bummed me out the most about my fall was that when I fell, my wrist or hand hit the button that cleared all of my info stored on my HRM from today. Oh well. I know all of this was over an hour's worth of stuff so I will just call it that, but I don't have the calorie burn info anymore. Oh well, I shouldn't be so dependant on it anyway lol.

Thank you all so much for your support. After hearing what you feel about my question, "Did I blow it yesterday?" and feeling that yesterday was a more than usual phsyical day (it's usually a physical day at work, but I don't usually have to move beds around and do as much heavy transferring), I am going to let go of any negative feelings I have about it, and just keep moving on. Thank you for your opinions and for caring enough to respond! ((Hugs to you all!)).

My computer is about to die any minute, so I have to end now.

Have a good weekend, and see you tomorrow!

Make it count! There are so many ways in which to do so!

I can do this. I am a star.

Did I blow it? Day 239 (day 1 / week 35)

This post is intended for yesterday (8/27/09), which I *forgot* to post.

I'm totally wondering...did I just blow this entire thing?

Yesterday I worked my 4th day this week...overtime! *cha-ching!* The only problem with this was that I *REALLY* felt it, all day yesterday. I felt like a zombie as I didn't get enough sleep the night before, and then I overheard something in a patients room about something on the news that turned my world upside down and brought me back to when I was 13.

Jaycee was my sister's friend growing up when we lived in Meyers, (South Lake Tahoe), and to hear that she is still alive after all of these years and all that she had been through, blew my mind. I cried in that patients room because, although the family of this patient didn't know the name of this girl (Jaycee) I had a feeling in my gut that it was her. After I finished my duties in that room, I immediately ran into the employee lounge, grabbed my phone to call my mom, sister and husband to see that I already had messages, telling me that it was her.

I remember being there and putting up flyers, I remember the bus stop and the way the dirt looked on the side of the road where we would stand, and the questions of where she was and if we saw the car she had gotten into. Eighteen years later, some details are still fuzzy about the day she was abducted, but hearing the broken up and scattered news throughout my day, brought me back to when I was 13 years old, living in Tahoe.

Needless to say, it was an extremely emotional day.

When I got home I was beat, emotionally and physically. All I wanted to do was snuggle with my son and hubby and spend some time with them. I had exercise in the back of my mind, but fell asleep on the couch. My hubby woke me up and said "come on," meaning lets go to sleep, so I did. I woke up at 4 am to go to the bathroom and about kicked myself because I realized that I didn't do anything for exercise, and it was already passed midnight. Awe man! Did I blow it??? We had a lot of CABG patients and they all need to be walked (300-600 feet each, 3 times a day), and a lot of them were very high maintanance and demanding, so I was running around all day after their call lights. One of these patients didn't ever want to walk, but always wanted to get in bed after PT put them in their side chair, and didn't help very much. When I transfer patients, I get into a squat position, and lead with my legs to protect my back. I also had a very heavy patient that needed to be put back into bed after PT put her on a bedside comode, after having hip surgery the day before. I also had to move a few beds in and out of rooms, down the hall (like 500 feet), around corners and they aren't the lightest or the easiest things to move around--they do have a life of their own. I know I got a physical workout during work yesterday because my body feels sore today typing this. I want to use my physical work (it is physical) as my exercise for just yesterday, but I am torn. I am on the fence I guess, so I need your help. Am I cheating if I do this? What do you think?

Did I blow this new years resolution or not??

Worst case scenario is that I exercise 364/365 days in 2009, because this one day isn't going to make me stop. 35 weeks of continuous exercise is awesome and nothing will make me stop. It just makes me so mad that I was too tired and physically exhausted to even think to do something for exercise. I want to prove that you can exercise and work greuling and physical 12 hour shifts at the same time, but I have to be able to practice what I preach, ya know?

*sigh*

On the bright side, I do get to go pick up my first paycheck in almost 3 years :). Woo hoo!

Today it's expected to get up to 109F. I don't think I will be doing anything outside today. I am going to do some of my videos (probably Turbo Jam and The Firm) regardless if the Monkey Boy goes down for a nap or not. I have to redeem myself!

I'll post a blog for today, after I get my exercise done. Probably will be posted sometime this evening :).

Have a good one! Thank you for all of your support, although I probalby totally blew it.

I can do this. I am a star?

Day 238 (day 7 / week 34)

Today was another really long day. I did work my hammies though...at work. :)

The very last thing that I did before I left was transfer a patient to a different room on a different floor in the hospital (in his bed). I had the head of the bed, and was pulling, and the charge nurse transferring with me, the foot of the bed and was pushing. When I got off of the elevator and started pulling, I could feel my hamstrings burning, like I was doing backward lunges. It wasn't originally intended but I had an "ah ha" moment, and continued to do that, until we got the patient to his new room (about 600-650 feet) keeping that bit of exercise in mind (for a moment it was about working the hamstrings lol). It felt good. I like to think of this as a Quickfire Challenge, because it was a random thing, I never expected to do and probably won't get a chance to do for a long time.

Just because it was at work, and wasn't intended, I did some crunches after I got home. Two sets of 25. I'm sure I'll feel it in my abs tomorrow, just as I'm sure I'll feel my leg muscles.

Off to bed. I am exhausted. Tomorrow is my last day of work for the week, and it's a good one because it's overtime! Woo hoo! Gotta love the time & 1/2 (48 hours instead of 36).

one day left...

i can do this. I am a star.

Make it count!

Day 237 (day 6 / week 34)

Got home from work a little less than an hour ago, had something to eat and did jumping jacks. Five sets of 20. I forgot how much I liked and disliked doing these. I like them, because I can do them. I dislike them, because I can do them and have no excuse not to do them now. lol.

Gotta be up early again for work. We'll see what I do tomorrow PM for exercise. Maybe the same. Maybe not. lol.

Hope you had a good day. Have a great Wednesday.

Make it count!

I can do this. I am a star.

Day 236 (day 5 / week 34)

Today I got out somewhat early and walked my 2 mile route. At the point where I turn around (1 mile) there is a park called the Helen Meyer Park & Center, and last week when I was walking with the Monkey Boy, I saw something there called the, "World Trail." I thought it would be a great idea to come back and do something there, since it gives a variety of opportunities to do more exercise.
You may have seen a "world trail" before, but didn't know what it was or even what to do to do with it...well, like in the case of me (lol). I have seen these quite a few times over the years, but the signs that came with it had been vandalized or damaged to the point where it wasn't readable, so I was just clueless. At this park, you can read them. Clearly. :) (you can click on the pictures to get a larger one to read the signs).

In the middle of my 2 mile walk, I stopped and did 2 of the exercises at the World Trail. As you can see, there are a lot of them (maybe 10-15?) but I only did two. The step up thingies: 2 sets of 15 on the medium peg, and 1 set of 15 on the tallest peg and the parallel bars (3 sets of 10 dips). The pegs I liked. I used balance and my quads, glutes and hammies. It had my HR up in the 140s doing these (great workout!) and they were fun, in an exercisey sort of way.


The other, the parallel bars, were really short and stumpy (even for me at 5'2 + 3/4!) and a bit awkward. I tried to do all of the exercises that it suggested, The Arm Walk, Body Dip and, Body Swing, but could really only do the later two. I did 2 sets of 10 body dips and 1 set of 10 body swings. I didn't even really know how to go about doing the arm walk because of how awkwardly short they were. I bet this world is for kids lolol.

All in all i accomplished 66 minutes, 2 miles and 2 Quickfire Challenges on the World Trail (that I made up for myself), and burned 648 calories.

I want to do more today...I NEED to do more today because I work 36 hours in the next 3 days... but the Monkey Boy just woke up. Maybe he will let me take him for a walk :). I'll update here if (WHEN) I do.

Make it count!

I can do this. I am a star.

Day 235 (day 4 / week 34)

Today I worked 7-730pm, my normal shift and when I got home I was tired. I fell asleep on the couch in fact. My hubby woke me up to go to bed, and I thought "oh man! What am I going to do for exercise...I don't want to do anything on my feet."

It turns out, you don't have to be on your feet to exercise :). I did scissor kicks laying on my back, on the couch. Three sets of 10. This works your stomach muscles. I remember doing it a lot during pilates :). I got to keep off of my feet, and got something "physical" accomplished.

Off to sleep. I'm exhausted.

Be back in the morning for my normal routine. I am hoping to get out 1.5 hours before my hubby leaves for work (@ 7:30am) so that I can do my 60 minutes first thing. It can be accomplished. I've done it before. Hopefully this time I won't make him late lol.

Have a good night! Make tomorrow count first thing, so that you don't have to worry about it for the rest of the day. Scissor kicks in bed counts! :)

I can do this. I am a star.

Day 234 (day 3 / week 34)

For the last 2 days I have been trying to find this new 5+ mile route that I graphed on sparkpeople a few days ago. It was my plan to do this walk for the last 2 days, but yesterday I got lost, and today, I realized there was a wall where there wasn't on the map, and that somehow took a 1/2 mile off of my route. *shrugs*

I passed 5 garage sales today. I thought that was pretty funny...it's one of those I don't know why I swallowed a fly type things--which is a TOTAL inside joke to myself lol. These people are selling junk WAAAY overpriced. Some guy was selling an old Radio Flyer wagon for $20 because he just bought spray paint for it and that cost him $10. Another lady was selling stuff that looked like she had picked it straight out of someone's garbage (lots of forclosure homes in this area--I see trucks driving up and down the street often picking stuff out of the garbage of these homes).

Anyway, I walked 4.7 miles in 86 minutes--including my cool down which is always about 10 minutes of deep stretching and such-- and burned 989 calories. It's very overcast out today and it isn't even 87 degrees out yet (that's really nice for 10:30 in the morning).

Off to take a shower. Tomorrow will probably be a (non)rest day because I work. I won't be blogging until after work probably.

Make today count! Walk from garage sale to garage sale, and I'm sure you'll burn off a lot of calories doing that, and from laughing at the junk poeple are trying to sell...PLUS your brain will be distracted by all of the stuff to look at that it won't even seem like exercise!

I can do this. I am a star.

Day 233 (day 2 / week 34)

Ooooooooohhh! I'm in trouble! My husband is so mad at me! Maybe not mad (well, maybe a little) but probably more disappointed and annoyed. I felt like I needed to go put myself in time out...lol

I went and did my thing this morning...got up early, set out around 6:30 and planned to walk for an hour. It turns out I really left at 6:40, got lost, and only walked for 4 miles. When I was about 1.5 miles away, I looked at my watch and saw that it was 7:30 and should be walking up to the house. I was easily 20 minutes away! I race walked faster than Hal ever could have dreamed to. I race walked so fast, that I ended up jogging...and stayed jogging. I jogged down the street, into the park, across the lawn, into a school (probably going to get in trouble for that too lol) said hi to some teacher, while jogging, through the bars separating the neighborhood from the school (that I had a very hard time fitting through when I moved here in April) and down my street toward the house. My HR got up to 170! I made it back on time to see him glaring at me from the driveway telling me he is going to be late. So busted! I did that 1.5 miles in 10 minutes though! Woo hoo, but *spank spank* for making my hubby late.

The best part of this, was that I found my grove...the grove where I was able to correlate my breathing with my running and my legs, ankles and feet didn't hurt. At all. The only pain I had was a cramping in my stomach from running too much--remember those cramps from childhood when you would run so much you would split your side? When you would stop running for a moment just to make the cramping stop, and start running again? That was me. Seven years old all over again, but in the body of an overweight 30-something year old lol. I love life.

It was really neat waking up, and remembering that I had already called today a great day for exercise. It stuck and I knew it from the moment I woke up. Over an hour of exercise done, before 8am. Sweet!

4 miles, 75 minutes, including cool down, burning 974 calories. It was a good day for exercise. I still have a ton of energy! Maybe tomorrow will be another :).

Make it count! You'll be surprised with what you can accomplish physically, when it isn't about that physical moment. Worrying about my hubby being late, threw all of my physical "can'ts" right out the window.

I can do this. I am a star.

Day 232 (day 1 / week 34)

Today I tried to make up for the lack of exercise I did during work. I was only able to do some random strength exercises, but not really any cardio.

I got up and did my 2 miles in about 45 minutes by myself (warm up and cool down included--368 kcal). I can tell that I haven't done this in about a week, because my shins and calves were sore. I haven't given up on the C25K so I did some of that today also--3 minutes walking, 1 minute jogging. My first mile took me 13 minutes! After that I slowed waaay down, although I still did some random jogging, just not as much, or for as long. I am wearing my new work-converted-exercise-shoes and they feel great! I feel like I have much more of a spring in my step.

After I got home I put in Turbo Jam's Turbo Sculpt, but got bored with being inside. I made it through 11 minutes (116 kcal) before deciding to go wake the Monkey Boy up, put him in his stroller and go for a walk outside. I was prepared for a fight (he hates his stroller lately), so I got everything together before hand so I could just dart out the door, but he didn't put up much of a fight at all. *yaay* In fact, the only thing he whined about was his shoes.He didn't want to wear his flip flops, but instead wanted to wear these:

He's such a funny Monkey :).

We walked for an hour and I think it was about 3.5 miles (724 kcal). It was hot, 90-92F, but could have been worse.

All in all, it was a good day for exercise :).











I don't have to work again until Sunday, so see you again tomorrow for another great day of exercise! I already decided it's going to be a great one! (things are how we make them :)).

Make it count!

I can do this. I am a star.

PS Have I mentioned that my scrubs are extremely large on me? The last time I wore them was 50 lbs ago! woo hoo!

Day 231 (day 7 / week 33)

I didn't spend much time on the computer today. I spent my day relaxing and spending time with the Monkey Boy, trying to catch up on the past few days without him. I fell asleep 2 or 3 times lol. I also slept in pretty late (7am) and it was too hot to do anything by the time I got ready--it was 91 degrees! Oh well. I did some quickfire challenges though instead. 100 side extensions. It took me about 5 minutes *shrugs.* I will make up for it in the next few days.

Tomorrow I am going to get up early and attempt to walk for 1.5-2 hours. I'd love to take the Monkey Boy, but he has been anti-stroller lately, so that will doubtfully happen. We'll see :).

Have a great night! Make it count! Every little bit counts!

I can do this. I am a star.

Day 230 (day 6 / week 33)

Day 35 of week 33? Wow, I can tell I was tired and out of it. I did that sequencing for 2 whole days and didn't notice a thing. lol (wow). I have a day off tomorrow and I am glad. I haven't been able to catch up on any of my emails or anything on a personal matter.

Today I slept in. I got my 8 hours of sleep in and felt great for work. I even felt like I could come back to work tomorrow for a 4th 12 hour shift in a row... but I'm off so I'm not coming back (i tried to volunteer but I can't work any overtime during the week that I oriented on the floor) :). I didn't do any exercise today until after work. Today is a non rest day again. We knew that. Tomorrow I am going to do 4-5 miles and am looking forward to it. Maybe I will do some Turbo Jam during the monkey boy's nap also.

Today I just did 3 sets of 15 squats.

Yesterday I experimented a little and wore my HRM to work, to see how many calories I burned. 13 hours, 1773 calories. It's not as much as I thought, but it's more than sitting around on my butt all day.

I'm bushed, but will be up somewhat early to get a walk in. I don't even know how hot it's supposed to be.

Thanks for all of your encouraging and supportive comments. You guys have some great ideas that I am definitely going to use! ((hugs))

As for now, I am going to sleep.

See you in the morning :).

I can do this. I am a star.

Day 229 (day 35 / week 33)

I feel like a train wreck. I woke up a little over 30 minutes ago, and I don't feel any better than I did when I went to sleep. Actually, I feel worse. I didn't get enough sleep (like 2.5 hours less than I am used to!), and I am pretty sure I didn't eat enough yesterday. I probably only broke 700 calories. I only have 30 minutes to eat for 12 hours, and when I got home, I'm too exhausted to eat anything more than a bowl of cereal.

I'm not complaining, I just don't know how to do this yet. Three 12 hour shifts in a row, the lack of food associated with those shifts and exercise is HARD. I even got off work late last night. The person training me deserves a 7 foot trophy! He worked 5 days this week! FIVE TWELVE HOUR SHIFTS! You wouldn't even have known, because he was in good spirits and perky. I'm on day 2 and want to roll over and die.

I had to make today a (non)rest day. If I didn't, I'm sure I would feel even worse tomorrow. There is no way I can do 2 miles this morning. I know I didn't eat enough yesterday, and I know I won't eat enough today. I only did 3 sets of 15 reps of concentration curls. This took me only a couple minutes unfortunately :(. I wanted to do jumping jack, but I'm too tired...waay too tired. It's not much I know, but I need to be smart about this, knowing that I am not going to eat much. Starving yourself to lose weight is not the way to go. I won't do that. At least I did something--although it's not much at all, but I'm ok with that, and I'm sure my body will thank me at the end of the day.

Tonight I am going to go to sleep when I get home from work. That will mean even less food. I wonder if it's even possible to do that with a cranky husband and a toddler. He NEVER puts the Monkey Boy down, and it's doubtful that the boy will want to go down at 8-8:30 pm! lol. We'll find out! I think I am going to have to go buy some high calorie meal bars or something and munch on those throughout the day (if I'm able to). This might be my best bet.

Sorry for the cranky, whiny post. Hopefully I'll feel better tomorrow. I PRAY that I will feel better tomorrow, and I praise God now for it. God gives us the strength to do what we gotta do! (Phil 4:13).

I can do this. I am a star.

Day 228 (day 34 / week 33)

Today I got up and headed outside before the sun rose. I really enjoy walking early. It's not even 80 degrees outside yet, and it's so peaceful because there are hardly any traffic sounds in the distance at that time.

I walked up and down the street again, 4x. I am estimating that it's about 2 miles. With the amount of time it takes me to walk it, it makes sense, and the fun part is that it has an obvious incline (not too much, but just enough)! More work=more calories burned! I warmed up a bit before heading out and had a short cool down period, putting me at 45 minutes (481 calories).

Ok, off to get ready for work! I get to leave 20 minutes later today b/c it's a weekend and my hubby can watch the Monkey Boy. Woo hoo!

Make it count!

Have a blessed Sunday.

I can do this. I am a star.

Day 227 (day 3 / week 33)

I worked yesterday and boy was I tired when I got home. I don't know if I am going to be wanting to do any exercise afterward, so I am going to have to do my best to get out of the house earlier in the morning, to get at least 30 minutes, on the days that I work. On the days that I have off, like today, I am just going to have to suck up the fact that my feet hurt, I'm tired, and just want to relax, and make it count. I've learned that the instant gratification that I so craved before, isn't so worth it in the grander scheme of things. Besides, what's an hour or two, of my entire day. The earlier I get it done, the more of the day I have to be lazy.

My schedule is a little wonky right now, so I'm not sure when I am supposed to be on again. The charge nurse on the pod I worked on yesterday and I thought we had created a schedule for me for this month, but it turns out that it was for September. I didn't notice this until last night when I was telling my hubby my schedule and he looked at his calendar and said it didn't make sense. No wonder it didn't make sense. It was September. Now I can't get a hold of anyone to help me fix my schedule. I just need to be patient and wait a little longer I guess (It's only been 2 hours since I left a message).

Today I put on my new "work" shoes, and went for a walk. I thought it was at least 4 miles, but it was only 3.5. I wore my sculpting gloves, and brought 2 full bottles of water out with me (weights) and just walked. My feet feel great in these new shoes. I think I am going to use these as my new walking/jogging shoes (haven't given up on the C25K thing yet, but that's another blog post) and my old(er) walking/jogging shoes for work, since no one said anything to me about them in the last few days.

Including my warm up and cool down, it took me 90 minutes to go that short distance (tisk tisk), and I burned 921 calories. It felt good to get out and do something in more than 20-30 minutes, although it was in 90F and the sun was beating down on me (praise God for sunblock!).

Today I am going to go get my work watch band fixed and hopefully get a hold of a charge nurse to fix my schedule.

I still need to fix my blog background so everyone can see my blog.

Make today count! It'll be over before you know it (the making it count part AND the day!)

I can do this. I am a star.

Day 226 (day 2 / week 33)

I have to make this quick because I'm running late.

Today I only did the 20 minute workout (Turbo Jam). I wore my sculpting gloves and burned only 194 calories. I adjusted my calorie burn on SP from 900 a day to 400 a day, so that it adjusted the amount of food that I am eating. I will leave it this way until I figure out a better system of exercising on the days that I have to work.

Make today count! It's Friday! Do a Friday dance and burn some calories!

See you tomorrow :).

I can do this. I am a star.

Day 225 (day 1 / week 33)

I can't believe I almost forgot to post for today. I was about to hop in bed and I remembered.

I had today off, but I do have to work in the morning. My first 12 hour shift at this hospital. I pray the time goes by quickly and that my feet don't hurt too much by the end. I'm not sure if I have to work this weekend, but I will find out tomorrow.

This morning I slept in a little and did my 2 mile walk with 5lb hand weights AND my sculpting gloves from Turbo Jam. I won't be bringing 5 lb hands weighs again. I had to carry them the whole time! I did 100 bicep curls, shoulder shrugs, triceps extensions and little alternating jabs while walking (all of them about 100 each, in groups of 25). I don't remember how long it took me to do it, but my HRM is stopped 56:47 and I burned 506 calories. I'll call it 45 minutes, just because I don't think it took me 56 minutes to do 2 miles (lol).

Off to bed!

See you in the morning, before the sun rises (at least on the west coast).

Make it count!~

I can do this. I am a star.

Day 224 (day 7 / week 32)

Gotta make today a quickie because I have to go get ready for work now.

I just got back from doing my 2 mile route that I do often. This time I wore my sculpting gloves and took my little hand weights with me and got a pretty good workout. It took me a little longer to finish today because of the awkward added weight (just have to get used to it), so it took me about 40 minutes, including the cool down and I burned 514 calories. Sweet!

Ok gotta go get ready for work.

Have a good day everyone! Make it count, even if it's by parking as far away as possible to your destination and walking the extra distance.

I can do this. I am a star.

Day 223 (day 6 / week 32)

I am so proud of myself today! I got up uber early to exercise and did it! I was out of the house around 4:45am and I walked up and down my street shadow boxing with my sculpting gloves on and with 2 lb weights (I think for a total of 3-4 lbs or so). I really liked walking up and down the street. I have no idea how far it was, but I will map it later tonight to find out (I'm pretty curious although it probably isn't very far).

I started out doing alternate overhead shoulder presses, then that turned into alternate bicep curls, and then I did the cross, hook, undercut variation from Turbo Jam that Chalene loves for us to do so much (I love them too).

It feels so great. I feel awake, I have energy and I am happy because I got in 25 minutes of exercise, burning 338 calories, before 5:15 am. Sweet! God blessed me with a good night sleep (thank you Lord!) and with the motivation to do it.

What better than to start your day off with a blessing :). I should bless you guys with my walk and take a picture of the view I have of some of the casinos from our street...really beautiful!

Have a good day everyone! If I do more when I get home (which I plan to) I will post it here! Off to get ready for work!

UPDATE: Not sure what it's worth, but I parked in the farthest place I could find today and walked about a 1/2 mile just to and from my car today (over 1000 steps and yes, I actually counted them! lol). Not much, but it's something and the best way I could find to incorporate exercise into my day. It took me about 15 minutes total (in a dress and heels). It's 8:30 pm and I am bushed, so I am calling it a night so I can get up early again to exercise. I don't have to be in as early (1/2 hr later than today), but I am going to wake up at 4:30am again, just so that I can exercise longer. I still don't know how far I walked this morning. Maybe I will figure it out tomorrow.

I can do this. I am a star.

Day 222 (day 5 / week 32)

Today was my first day of work in close to 3 years. Wow. I totally understand why people can't exercise at work, and don't want to after work. I understand this, but I am not going to let it be an obstacle for me. I'm 222 days into this and I am not going to let that stop me! Unfortunately I have a 30 minute break and a couple breaks scattered here, and it is nearly impossible to try to fit exercise in--especially during orientation.

I made the mistake of getting a salad for lunch. I forgot it takes me over 20 minutes to eat one (not a smart thing to bring for lunch if you are crunched for time). I didn't get up early enough to exercise for any amount of time. I read my Quickfire challenges, but the ones I decided to throw in randomly yesterday, was the ones she assigned for us to do today lol. I didn't get a chance to do anything different at work anyway.

However, an opportunity arose while the PT was talking to us about body mechanics and proper posture and stuff. I can't remember what it was about but he asked everyone to stand back against the wall, feet 12 inches apart (shoulder width) and bend our knees to a 90 degree angle (basically a wall sit) and see how long we could last for. Out of 17 of us, I was in the remaining 4 and lasted for about 1.5 mins. Let me tell you, those are tough. I haven't done those since HS when they were required during volleyball practice. The other 3 people were fighting it out for close to 2.5 minutes--the 2 guys backed out, and the final person was a girl. Girls rock :).

After I got home, I sat with my son while he was in a bath, and I did some squats. Four sets of 25 and it took me about 20 minutes I guess. I hate to say that I am going to punk out for the night, but I am exhausted (Monkey Boy woke up like 5 times last night) and I have to be up at 4:30 again tomorrow morning. I am getting up 15 mins earlier than planned, so that I can do something for exercise before work. I am thinking about walking up and down my street, since it will be dark, and I won't be too far home so it's safer. I will focus more on time than distance. I keep forgetting the 10 mins + 10 mins + 10 mins = 30 mins of exercise rule. Awesome. If I can do 15 mins in the morning and 15 in the evening, that might be nice.

Thank you for all of your first day of work well wishes! Tomorrow we have a "test" which will be interesting. I wonder how much of the medical terminology I knew is still in my noggen. I'm betting quite a lot because I just went over a list, and I was surprised with how much I remembered. Woo Hoo!

See you guys tomorrow after work! I'll let you know how day 2 goes. Day 3 will be more like a "regular" workday, in that it's on my floor, and not in a classroom.

Make it count. Try to do what you can, even if it is just squats in the bathroom while your little ones take a bath :).

I can do this. I am a star.

Day 221 (day 4 / week 32)

Today was very much a (non)rest day. I did very little cardio (like 10 minutes worth) and did my Quickfire Challenges:

3 sets of 10 reverse lunges throughout the day,
2 sets of 20 chair assisted calf raises
and I added side lunges with windmill arms.

I did them throughout the day, so total it probably took like 20 minutes to do it all.

We just got back from spending the day with Oma and Opa and I am bushed. Have to get up early for work! So strange saying that lol. I work 8-4:30 tomorrow, so we will see what I will do as far as exercise goes. Should be interesting!

Make it count and have a good Monday!

I can do this. I am a star.

Day 220 (day 3 / week 32)

There many different ways to measure exercise. You can measure with distance, intensity, duration, RPE (ratings of perceived exertion) with caloric expenditure (and others). I have done all of these at some time in my life. Currently I am doing the later, because the others remind me that exercise is work (ironically--b/c the expenditure shows the work done! lol). My brain is strange, and I understand that, so it's all good. I know what works. I always have my RPEs in the back of my mind though, because I use those as a red flag for doing to much.

That being said, my weekly caloric expenditure goal is 5700 calories. As of yesterday I needed only 200 more calories for the week (starts over on Sunday) and I did more. Today was supposed to be kind of a non rest day because I only needed to burn 200 calories. I walked for 50 minutes (3 miles including my warm up and cool down) and burned 545. When you burn more calories than you are set up for (to eat) on sparkpeople, you get this "warning" at the bottom of your fitness page.

*You've gone over your weekly calories burned goal by a significant amount. Your calories eaten goal will not adjust automatically. If you have increased the amount of exercise you are doing, you should update your fitness settings here to make sure you are consuming enough calories to support the additional activity.

I find this "warning" very refreshing, because if someone didn't know they were doing to much for the amount of food that they are eating, how would they know if they didn't have any background on fitness/nutrition.

Another reason why I heart sparkpeople.

I am not going to adjust it just yet, because this is the last day in the week, and next week I don't know what's going to happen as I start working. If I do less than 5700, then I will adjust it, just as if I do more, I will do the same.

Boring blog post, I know. Just one of the many things that I think about with this 365 daily challenge!

Hope you all have a great day! I'm not really sure how I can fix my blog so that people can see the text. Some people can only see the banners, and not the meat of my blog at all. *shrug* not sure how to fix it and keep my pretty backgrounds. I am (on a side note) probably going to create another blog this weekend, so I can participate in all of the fun stuff you guys have on your blogs (friday flashback, 5 for 5 and such). I have been trying to make this an "exercise journal" only and not post other stuff, but some of it is just so much fun, and I want to do it too.

Make today count! :)

I can do this. I am a star.

Day 219 (day 2 / week 32)

Sorry this post is so late today. I got finished exercising early in the day, but I procrastinated blogging...lol. I changed my background again...if you were having problems, does this help? I have already gotten 1 no, so this isn't going to stay, I just want to see if it helps any of the other problems.

This morning I walked my 2 miles and including my warm up and cool down, it took me 45 minutes (511 calories). Today this scary looking roidhead in his truck coming my way, started honking at me when I was about 1.5 blocks away (had to have been me cause I was the only one on the road--no other cars or anything and that road is just walls from side to side, no houses you can see). He turned down the street in front of me (at this point I was a block away), he stopped and got out, leaving his truck still running! He walked to the corner and looked like he was ready to scrap. SO SCARY. I just prayed that he wouldn't mess with me at all or say anything to me. God was listening cause he must have mistaken me for someone else or something, cause when I got close enough, he didn't say anything--didn't even look me in the face. When I passed by him, he was in my personal space, that's how close he was. I kept looking at my shadow cause I was so afraid this guy was going to do something bad. I high tailed it out of there faster than Hal and Phoebe put together (if she was a speed walker). When I came back that way (I walk 1 mile and turn around and go back the same way) he was gone. *whew* That's why I burned like 100 more calories this morning instead of my usual 400 or so. That got my blood pumping!

Today was a really nice day. It only got up to like 95ish, so I knew I wanted to go for a long walk with the Monkey Boy. Around noonish we left the house (not even 90 yet!) and I planned on walking 5.5 miles, but when I got to the point where I can go an extra mile, I decided to just go home. I walked 4.5 miles in 90 minutes and burned 1090 calories. Today was a high day on my calorie cycle, so that's a good thing :).

All in all, it was a good day, despite the crazy douche... lol

See you guys tomorrow! Hope you made today count...if not, make tomorrow count!

I can do this. I am a star.

Day 218 (day 1 / week 32)

Thank you so much for all of your feedback with my blog! This weekend I will try to change a few things to see if I can fix any of the problems you guys are having. I'll let you know when I am done updating, and you can tell me if you are still having issues.

Today I feel MUCH better. Yesterday was a "high" day on my calorie cycle, and I just felt so much better when I woke up. I went out and walked early this morning, had a good walking day and came home and did some summer cleaning (just like spring cleaning). It was definitely the lack of calories, although it wasn't anything I was doing purposely. I really have to make an effort to eat as much food as I am supposed to to keep up with my exercise. It stinks to say that more often than not, I probably wouldn't eat much, if I didn't make that effort. I am happy right around the 100-1300 mark, and that's just not enough for the amount of exercise that I do daily, but I don't want to cut back on my exercising (huge mental benefits as well as the physical!) so I just have to suck it up and eat more.

I walked 2 miles in 35 minutes (430 calories). I have been meaning to share this with you, but I keep forgetting. My theme song for walking (the song that I listen to on repeat because it is the perfect song for me with timing and some of the lyrics and just attitude) is You Can Do It by No Doubt, on their Tragic Kingdom album (#11). I LOVE this song. I zone out sometimes and when I think "eh I don't want to do this anymore" and I come back out of the zone, I get to hear Gwen singing, "you can do it" and it's just awesome! Very motivating song for me. Find motivating songs and incorporate that into your exercise routines. I bet that will give you the extra boost you need to push a little farther if you need it. I want to compile a mixed CD (remember mixed tapes? lol) and make that a walking CD...but my CD ROM doesn't work anymore, so it's not going to happen anytime soon.

Anyway, after I got home I did my cleaning and cleaned for 150 minutes and burned 837 calories. Sweet. I got a lot done, and now I just feel relaxed and happy. The Monkey Boy is down for a nap and everything is clean...gotta love that.

The Monkey Boy and I got to see my niece today and she is just growing up so fast. I think she is 6 now. She such a beautiful little princess and she adores my son, as much as he adores her (you should see them together...they are so cute). Hopefully we will see her tomorrow again before she goes back to Cali, so I can take a picture of them (I forgot today).

Tomorrow is Friday and it's supposed to be in the mid 90's here. SO happy about that. That means I can take longer walks! I am nervous because my first day of work is Monday. I hope everything goes smoothly!

See you guys tomorrow! Make today count! *sings* You can do it...you can do it...

I can do this. I am a star.

Day 217 (day 7 / week 31)

Today I am just so exhausted. My hubby set the alarm for 5:30 and I thought I was awake, but I guess not, because I fell back asleep. Yesterday after I got home I felt exhausted and it was hot, so I assumed it was from going from heat to AC to heat to AC for the majority of the day.

This morning I was too tired to walk. I procrastinated until my hubby left for work, and then gave myself a mini pep talk to go exercise. I put on The Firm, Cardio Sculpt and got about 1/2 way through it (31 minutes, 287 calories). I was just so tired that when the Monkey Boy came in from waking up, I welcomed the break and never finished the video.

I am so tired today and I think I just realized why. The last 2 days with eating have been out of whack. I think yesterday did it for me. It was supposed to be an up day, on the calorie cycling, but it ended up being a down day too... it was just one of those days. I didn't think it would matter but I guess it does, because I just feel really tired (it's amazing how our bodies respond properly to lack of food when you start to live healthier than before).

Anyway I am just going to make sure I eat more today, and make today an up day and get back on track with exercise tomorrow after a good night's sleep.

I can't believe the week is almost over. Make today count! I'll be excited to get outside tomorrow as it's only supposed to be 95 for the high. Today should get up to 107 like the past few days.

UPDATE: Since I changed my background, have any of you had any problems seeing my posts? Please let me know if any problems have popped up since I changed things. I'm trying to do some trouble shooting. Thank you!

I can do this. I am a star.

Day 216 (day 6 / week 31)

I got up *really* early this morning (5am!), to exercise. I can honestly say that this would have never happened before.

I did Turbo Jam's "Burn" workout (from Learn and Burn), that way if time runs out for me today, it's my fail safe and I will at least have this to fall back on. I will update it here when I do something more later today!

Gotta go get ready to leave!

Make today count!

I can do this. I am a star.

Day 215 (day 5 / week 31)

I am dedicating my walk today to Jen, her family and her mom. Jen was doing so much to reach her healthy lifestyle goals and exercising and I want her to know that we are still here supporting her on her journey and will be here when she returns.

As I was typing this I saw that Jen has posted a blog, so I am glad that I dedicated today's walk to them, because I won't be able to get out and walk with them tomorrow (I don't live in her area but I would walk anyway). She said tomorrow is her mom's memorial and they are going to go out and walk afterward, in honor of her mom, since she was never able to finish hers. If I can get out, I will. Read more here.

Today I went out in the late morning again. I didn't have any other choice because The Monkey Boy woke up really early (5:50am) and he just didn't want to go out until after 9am. When we left it was 93F and when we got back it was 97F. It was hot although today is overcast.

The difference between this time and the last time when I went out when it was hot was an article or some tips I read on the cool running website (for the C25K training) about going in the heat. It said to drink 8 oz of water every 15-20 minutes, so that's what I did, and I feel much better now, than I did the first time (I felt horrible and my HR was extremely elevated). Including my warm up and cool down I went for 85 minutes and only walked 3.9 miles. Half of it was uphill and the other half was down. I didn't do any jogging or skipping (too hot).

As of today I have walked 107.4 miles according to the Tools To Keep You Active, and am 1.02 mi to Scotchtown, VA Hanover County.

(pretty picture)

Tomorrow will be a late post as I have to go fill out the paperwork at the hospital so that I can start on the 10th. I have to be there at 8am so I have to leave here at 6-6:15am...I am assuming this will be enough time to drop off my son and get there on time. There wont be traffic on the way to Papa's house, but there will be a lot of traffic going to the hospital. I am so excited to have a job again! It's also exciting knowing that when I finish nursing school, I will no longer be considered "obese" also.

Off to set up my new weight bench. When I have it set up, I'll take a picture and show you my cool new gift from my in-law's neighbors. Thanks J, R and A!

Make today count! Go for a walk tomorrow! Read about when to on Jen's blog.

I can do this.

Day 214 (day 4 / week 31)

Today I got up pretty early and went for a walk. After I got home, we left and now I am at my in-laws house typing this.

During my walk, I thought I walked far. I walked and walked and went a different route than I normally do, so I thought I had walked much further. It took me 90 minutes (including a 10 min cool down) to complete and I assumed it was closer to 5 miles, if not 5 miles. I was wrong lol.

About 10 minutes ago I finally had the chance to map my new route, and it was 4.7 miles. That's .10 miles shorter than my walk yesterday, and I completed it faster then. *shrugs*. I didn't do the C25K training, because it is a break day, so tomorrow or Wed I will start up again, since on Tuesday I have to be at the hospital to sign paper work and get a chest xray for TB so I can start working right away (I will be doing the 2 parter TB test after I start since I will have had the xray).

I don't think I really have anything else to say. Yesterday was such an emotional day that I pulled out my guitar and played for about an hour or two and now my fingertips are sore, becuase my callouses have long disappeared.

OH! Wait! I do have something to share! I got on the scale this morning and it said 190.0. point zero! not point six or point 8, but point zero! Woo hoo! This is a big scale victory for me and i have been looking forward to 190 for 7 months. I knew that yesterday I would weigh a little more becuase it was my down day on the calorie cycling (another blog entry/goal). It makes sense.

I have a picture of the scale, but it's dark and you can barely see the 190. I'll take a new one next week when I weigh myself for the week (sparkpeople has me do it once a week).

Hope you have a good weekend.

Make it count. You never know what's around the corner.

I can do this. I am a star.

A call for prayer!

I never do this because it's an exercise blog, but she is a sister on this journey, and her loss tears me apart.

You have heard me talk about Jen, the prior fat girl quite a few times here. Her strength invigorates me and reading her daily blog gives me motivation and encouragement. We are on the same journey striving for a healthier lifestyle. She has lost pretty much 100 lbs (today was supposed to be her final check in day) and has always been very supportive of me on my new journey and although we have never met, there is a place in my heart for her.

Everyday after I post my blog, I go check out her blog to see where she is on her journey and how she is doing. She has a lot of followers and it is fun to read people's comments. Even her mom gets in on it, which I loved to read, because she always had something wise/clever/funny or quirky to say. Her mom, even created a blogger account "priorfatgirl's mom" to comment on her daughter's blog. I was excited to check in today, because as of yesterday she had 1.6 lbs left to lose, to reach that 100 lbs lost mark.

Immediately after publishing my measurements blog this morning, I headed over to her blog and was extremely confused. I started reading the beginning of her blog and it didn't sound chipper like usual, so I assumed she didn't make her 1.6 lbs. I read some more and things just got really confusing for me. I had to read that paragraph 3 or 4 times to finally understand. Then I kept reading and immediately started crying.

Yesterday afternoon sometime, her mother (priorfatgirls' mom) was walking one of her grandchildren and was hit by a car. She died on the way to the hospital.

I have a great faith in God and I don't say "everything happens for a reason" because that is heartless in times like these. I think that in any situation, God is present and can calm us all with a blanket of his loving kindness and blessings. I pray this for for Jen and her family during this really hard time--she just lost her mother and best friend. I pray for her father--I can only imagine what he is going through. He just lost his soul mate.

I please ask you to join me to support and pray for Jen, the prior fat girl and her family through these tough times.

STAR TRIBUNE ARTICLE

KARE 11 NEWS ARTICLE

WCCO NEWS ARTICLE

(Jen and her mom)

Thank you very much!

Day 213 (day 3 / week 31)

Today I started my C25K (Couch to 5K) training. I modified it a little bit, because I am not coming straight from the couch, and I have been pre-training for some time for this (I guess I could say that lol) ;). Today I walked/race walked/jogged 4.8 miles in 80 minutes and burned roughly around 1500 calories (my HRM has been very bad and is in time out for a while). I would be in the middle of a jogging spurt, and my HRM would drop to 67 and crawl back up to 116 and stay there. I probably spent more time struggling with my HRM than "training." I started to think today if starting a C25K program is smart, with having to work and all and I feel that if it's meant for me to do, God will make it happen.

So I get home and I am venting to my hubby about my HRM and
are you ready for this....

God must have provision for me to exercise while I am working, because he has just provided me with a...

.
.



treadmill!!!!

*happy dance* *running man* *cabbage patch*

I am SO excited I cried when I sat down to think about the blessing I had just been given! God really DOES approve (not that I had any doubt--confirmation is always nice though :) :))!

Last night we went to a buffet again with my in-laws. I did the same thing as last week when we went, so I didn't break the bank again :) (see, it's not a fluke!). Anyway we were talking about the Monkey Boy and what time I would have to leave our house to get him to his Papa's in the morning, so I could be at work before 7am. We decided that we are just going to have to get a bed over to their house and have the Monkey Boy spend the night on the days that I have to work because when the winter comes, it's going to be too much to bring him out there at 5:45am. We haven't made any set plans yet as we are still feeling it out. We will know more when I start work.

So anyway this morning after I exercised, my MIL called and talked to my hubby for a while, then he said she wanted to talk to me. She said that since they are going to be putting a bed in the Monkey Boy's room at their house, they need to do something with their treadmill and asked me if I had room in my exercise room and if I wanted to use it! The first thing I thought of was that I can't take her treadmill because she uses it everyday (she doesn't need mental tricks to exercise like me, she just does it). She said that the weather is changing and she will be able to get outside to walk soon, so it's not a problem. Wow.

I really didn't know how I was going to get outside before or after work to exercise, becuase it will be dark during both times. I was kind of preparing myself mentally to walk in the dark, but I really didn't want to. I figured I would end up doing a video or something (which I'm getting bored with) so this is just a HUGE blessing. How awesome is that!! I will be able to do my C25K training, in my own home!!! Yaay! AND my MIL's neighbor is getting rid of a new weight bench (no weights) and asked her to ask me if I wanted it! Yaay! He reigns and it pours!

Ok onto the juicy stuff.

My measurements:

Measurements: (day 213 / 182 / day 10) (- "/# lost in current month)

Wt: 192.0 / 195.2 / 215 (-3.20) (total lost 23#)
Chest: 37.5" / 37.75" / 43.75"(-0.25") (total lost -6.25")
Waist: 32.5" / 33" / 41.5" (-0.50") (total lost -9")
Hips: 42" / 42.5" / 47.75" (-0.50") (total lost -5.75")
Neck: 12.75" / 13" / 14.25" (-0.25") (total lost -1.55")
Under bust: 32" / 33" / 36.75" (-1") (total lost -4.75")
1" below belly button: 38.5" / 40.5" / 47.5" (-2") (total lost -9")
Above my thigh: 37.75" / 39.5" / 44" (-1.75") (total lost -6.25")
R Thigh: 18.75" / 19" / 27" (-0.25") (total lost -8.25")
L Thigh: 19" / 19.5" / 27.5" (-0.50") (total lost -8.50")
R Calf: 14" / 14.25" / 14.5" (-0.25") (total lost -0.50")
L Calf: 14.25" / 14.5" / 14" (-0.25") (total lost -.25")
R upper Arm: 10.5" / 11" / 14" (-0.50") (total lost -3.5")
L upper Arm: 10.75" / 11.5" / 13.5" (-0.75") (total lost -2.75")
R wrist: 5.75" / 5.75" / 6.25" (-0") (total lost -0.5")
L wrist: 5.75" / 5.75" / 6.25" (-0") (total lost -0.5")

Jan 2009

Feb 2009

March 2009

April 1, 2009

May 1, 2009

June 1, 2009

July 1, 2009August 1, 2009

In July 2009 I lost 3.2 lbs and 8.75 inches! Yaay! *happy dance* It's not as much as I was losing to start off with, but it's more than last month!

I really feel great and I think that is the best measure of success. I can do so many things that I couldn't before, and I feel stronger and I AM stronger. I am still "obese" but that is temporary and not permanent! I can't believe I am almost into the 180s!!

I don't know if I mentioned this before, but my original start weight is 240 from 2007. Once I hit 190 it will mean that I have lost a total of 50 lbs. Yaay!

Ok well I am off to have fun! Have a great weekend and make it count! If I can do this, so can you! We just gotta take one day at a time :). I am living proof!

I can do this. I am a star.