Day 331 (day 2 / week 47)

I haven't kept up with anything that I said I would (sorry Erin, I'll get back on track next week). I ate more mud pie today for breakfast and I am still not happy. Ridiculous. I had pumpkin pie for dinner, too. Whatever.

Today and tomorrow Pebbles will be down the street at the place that we adopted her. I pray she finds a home. A good home, if it's not too much to ask for. She didn't get adopted today (I called to find out), so she has to go back to the cold kennel, outside where it's raining. I hope she isn't too cold. The jerks also aren't going to give her stuff to her next owners (they "forgot" to bring it, which means that they will probably always "forget" to pack it). A crate, blanket, toys, food, treats--lots of stuff we paid for to waste. I am angry about that too, but whatever. I gave up my right to be angry when I gave up my right to give Pebbles a home. I am angry that I miss her so much and that I still cry about it (so stupid).

I did squats today and walked 2 miles. I have to go to work in the morning and I am angry about that too.

I can do this. I am a star. (the more I say this, the more it looks stupid)

Day 329 (day 7 / week 46)

Thursday Nov. 26, 2009

I didn't do much. I am still upset/angry about Pebbles. I walked about 2 miles. I also ate Mud Pie and mashed potatoes and turkey. I never usually eat when I am upset, but I guess there is a first time for everything. It was also a holiday.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone.

I can do this. I am a star.

Day 270 (day 4 / week 38)

Today I walked on the treadmill.

I think a week or two ago my hubby's grandmother, "Gram," told me that I could take her treadmill home and use it, because she knows that I will actually use it :). I love this thing. It hasn't ever been calibrated so the numbers are very wrong, but it works, and I have a HRM so that's all that I need for what I'm trying to accomplish :). It has an incline and these handles that a lot of the elliptical machines do, to do the cross country ski type movement (really long brain fart...I can't remember what they are called to save my life!). I put it on the highest incline and almost 3 mph (this number can't be right) and just go for the same amount of time that I do when I am walking the streets.

Today I did 33 minutes. When I walk 33 minutes on the streets, I walk a little over 2 miles. The treadmill said I walked 1.08 miles and burned 58 calories. My HRM said I burned 429 calories, which I believe, because my average HR per min was 135 (58 calories in 33 minutes? Pssht!). Anyway I am just so grateful to have the treadmill to use at home. Such a blessing. Now I just have to have my hubby mount the TV on the wall or something so that I don't have to stare at a corner in the room lol. I can probably go for a lot longer if I had something to look at or do. Maybe I will read the book that Gram let me borrow, Be Anxious For Nothing, by Joyce Meyer, the art of casting your cares and resting in God. I love Joyce Meyer. She's awesome. This book is right up my alley because it's basically all about my favorite scripture Phil 4:4-7(;13) and applying it better to my life.

Hope you all have a great Sunday. What kinds of things are you doing to make it count? We all can help give eachother ideas :).

I work tomorrow, so it will be another late post.

I can do this. I am a star.

Day 261 (day 2 / week 37)

I've been procrastinating all day. Not with exercise, but entering it on sparkpeople and here.

I finished exercising, got all showered up and ready for the day (to do nothing lol) all before 8am. I did my 2.08 mile route and jogged maybe 1/2 of that. I can feel that I am getting faster :). Including my cool down it took me 50 minutes total and I burned 621 calories.

Not bad.

Off to spend some more time w/ my family. Hope you all had a great day!

Have an awesome weekend. Make it count! The earlier the better... (for me anyway).

I can do this. I am a star.

PS Did I mention that I got my hair cut?

Day 260 (day 1 / week 37)

Today was a much better day :). I got a good night's sleep and got my sanity back. Whew!

Walking a puppy is a lot harder than it looks... I read some leash training tricks, and they worked, but it took too much brain power to walk Pebbles and push the stroller at the same time (lol). I read to put the leash on and let the dog run around w/ it for a while to get used to it. Once she didn't realize it was there anymore, I just picked it up. The site also said that if she pulls or wont walk, to just stop and not pull, that the dog will see they are not going forward and will fall through. She is young so this will take a little time w/ other dogs around, but it worked for the most part. I had a handful of training treats and dropped one by my side, while walking, every 4-5 steps or so, to show her that it's a reward to walk next to me..and that was it! She walked next to me for about a 1/2 mile before I put her in the bottom of the stroller. It was hot out and I didn't want to burn her little baby pads.



We walked only 2 miles. It took me over an hour to do this with all the stopping and such, but it's probably a good thing. I don't want to exercise too much, because I don't want have to eat anymore than I am already supposed to.

			Calories	Carbs	Fat	protein
			2,090 - 2,440	263 - 380	52 - 91	60 - 205

I forced myself to pick up my hand weights and do some bicep curls. I haven't used those things in a long time. I need to do more strength training, like I mentioned last week.

Ooh! I think we have Pebbles potty trained for the most part. It's been much easier than potty training the Monkey Boy lol. We got her Saturday and the first night potty training was hard, but the day after was a breeze, and has been since. We just use the treat system again, and don't make a big deal about the accidents because I don't want to accidentally reinforce a bad habit with attention (I read this and it seems to work with bitting and with jumping also).

When my son calls the dog, it sounds like he calls her "bubbles" so that's what I have been accidentally calling her. I keep forgetting her name :).

Anyway gonna try the walking thing again tomorrow. I would have gone earlier by myself today, but my hubby had to be at work early so I couldn't get out. I will try to get out tomorrow before he leaves by myself, but we will see how that goes. I liked being able to sleep in till 6 today :).

Exercising with a job, toddler and puppy is possible! Anything is better than nothing. I hear these excuses a lot at work, with family and friends, and I guess my point is that if I can do it, anyone else can too. There isn't anything different about me. It is hard, but SO rewarding, and when it's done for the day, it's done! Don't have to worry about it or feel bad that nothing was done or attempted. I think it has a lot to do with comfort zones and it being so much easier to put off until tomorrow. The problem with that is that tomorrow turns into yesterday and the cycle passes by pretty quickly, especially with so much going on (kids, work, dog, family, school, etc). It's possible, you just gotta do it! Five minutes here and there counts! It really, really does!

Have a good day. See you tomorrow! Get it over with early and make it count :).

I can do this. I am a star. SO ARE YOU!

Day 253 (day 1 / week 37)

Yesterday (9/10) was very busy. I was trying to research doctors for our PCP and then I found some paperwork that I realized was due today (9/11) so I spent the end of my day reading and taking "tests."

Luckily, I was able to exercise before any of this happened. I did my very first route, 2.08 miles, and including the cool down, I was out for about 46 minutes. My HRM is really frustrating me now. I think that wearing it to work the other day killed the battery...again. That being said I hope my hubby will let me buy the Polar F11 that I decided to buy. Polar was my first HRM. It lasted for quite a few years without ever having to change the battery (like 4-5) in fact, I still haven't changed the battery in it...but I can't find the strap, so I can't tell if it's working or accurate. The watch part still works though lol.

Ok the Monkey Boy woke me up this morning, so I am dragging his little butt out with me whether he likes it or not. Hopefully he doesn't scream bloody murder when we are out. I could only imagine what the neighbors would think.

I have to go to work today to drop off this paperwork, so I will blog during the Monkey Boy's nap. Pray with me that he takes a nap lol.

Make today 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 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 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 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 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 211 (day 1 / week 31)

Today I went out for my usual 2 mile walk, but decided to have some fun. One thing that I have learned, some 200 days into this journey is that things are how you make them. Exercise is work, but you don't have to make it "work." Make it fun! I do little things throughout my workout to make it fun and to keep my interest peaked. I may look like a dork doing it, but in the end it doesn't matter what people think of me as I am exercising. It matters what I think of myself...and I already know that I am a dork :-p.

I noticed yesterday that I am starting to slow down. I don't know if it's because I lost momentum on the day that I gave my shins/calves a rest, but I've slowed down to a 17-18 minute mile (from 15-16). On my way home today, I remembered this episode of Malcolm in the Middle that I saw the other day, where the dad, Hal, took up race-walking (episode 70: Malcolm Holds His Tongue). This episode was funny and I decided to try it. It is so much fun! Wow! I thought I was flying yesterday, I was gliding today! So much fun I am going to have to do it again. It got my HR up well into the 140's too which is nice, since I have been trying pretty hard to keep it in the 130s (guess my body is adapting!). I wonder if those aerodynamic hats are easy to come by? (if you haven't seen the episode you probably won't understand).

I walked 2 miles and including my cool down it took me 40 minutes (445 calories).

I waited until 8am and then went and mowed the lawn so that I didn't annoy the neighbors. That took me 25 minutes (252 calories).

THEN I did my my own quickfire challenge for the day....concentration curls with 10lbs (my 5lb weights doubled up) in sets of 10 for a total of 50. This was tough!

Hope you all have a great day! Make it count!

I can do this. I am a star.

Day 208 (day 5 / week 30)

For the last 3-4 days, I have been working pretty hard, and I'm finally starting to feel it. Today (yesterday even, but I ignored it) my calves and shins were pretty tight when I went walking, despite stretching and such. Yesterday I just assumed that it was because I started out with too much intensity (burst of energy) so I slowed down and after about 20 minutes I sped up again. I was fine but I paid for it all yesterday (my lower legs were tight and somewhat sore).

Today I felt the same but the tightness was a little more intense and I had to stop twice. I only went for my 2 mile walk today, but it took me 40 minutes--cool down included. It was a painful walk. Because of this, I am deciding to just take it easy for the rest of the day and start things back up tomorrow, if I feel better. Mid week, last week, I thought I was going to be behind on my weekly goal, and it turned out that I made up for it and then some during those 4 mile walks (burning 2000+ calories OVER my weekly goal). SP increased my food intake because of this and I just don't feel comfortable eating around 2000 calories a day (I can't get anywhere near this, even with a buffet!), so I am going to slow down a little.

If I feel better this afternoon I may do some Turbo Jam (the 20 minute workout) but if I start to feel pain, I am going to stop (that's always a good idea, right? lol). I'll update here if I do anything more. I don't even think I am going to check out what the Quickfire Challenges are for today.

It's Monday! A new breath, for a new week...the month is almost over and before we know it, this week will be too!

Make it count!

I can do this. I am a star.

Day 205 (day 2 / week 30)

Today I did a lot. I wanted to make up for my busy past couple of days. Boy, did I make up for it.

I went for my usual 2 mile walk this morning (31 minutes, 456 calories) and then got in a little Done Girl dancing (still had my Walkman on) and put on The Firm Cardio Sculpt. It is hard to follow along listening to good music, did you know that? lol I got in only about 20 minutes before the Monkey Boy woke up and came in. He was in a good mood but I could see a glimmer of moodiness in his eyes, so I just stopped and went and snuggled with him (gotta pick and choose those battles now).

After a few hours of really nothing, I decided to go for a walk--my modified 1/2 city block, which is 4.16 miles in 80 minutes 1763 calories. Let me tell you this was a bad idea. Good in theory, but just a bad idea all around. I won't be walking this late in the day again, when it is hot like this.

For those of you that don't know, I live in Las Vegas, NV. It gets hot here. It's not so hot today as it has been (it's been close to 110 and some days ++ for the past week), but it was still hot, 92-93F when I was out there and that is pretty hot to exercise in (the high today is supposed to be 96F). I was about 1/2 way into this walk with the Monkey Boy and I felt like I was going to die. My HRM said my HR was over 150, and so that confirmed my theory that you exercise harder in the heat, and which is why I burned so many more calories today (almost 1800 in 80 minutes!! That's crazy!). I sweated more today, than I have in a long time. It was dripping down my arms, face and neck and even my feet are soggy (so gross, TMI, I know--sorry lol).


Even the Monkey Boy was all sweaty, so I guess it's fitting to have him in the picture (such a ham). This isn't a great picture, but this is us after the walk--it's really hard to tell just how red and sweaty I was (it's late, but here ya go Jen!). Side note: the shirt I'm wearing is a shirt that my hubby and I got at a Scion convention when we lived in Washington about 2.5 years ago. At the time, it was the largest shirt they had (an XL), and I couldn't fit into it. It was too small for me. Now it's REALLY big on me. Closet victory! Woo hoo!

Funny story--the Quickfire Challenges I did yesterday, were actually today's QFCs but posted early! lol. Yesterday's QFCs were actually butt kicks--like Jillian Michaels makes us do in the 30 Day Shred, and computer crunches. I don't think I am going to do anything more for the day.

I think I deserve a treat for all of the work I put in today. I think a No Sugar Added Fudgsicle with only 40 calories sounds perfect! Woo hoo! ....*drool*

Make it count!

I can do this. I am a star.

PS. I am going to be testing out backgrounds in the next few days. My favorite is a little gloomy looking, but represents my journey (not the gloominess)... there is a path and it's peaceful looking and there is a reflection of the mountains in the water. My blog reflects my journey (the path) and is a reflection of who I am at this point in my life (the reflection). I should have it up shortly, if the coding isn't still cooky.

Day 203 (day 7 / week 29)

Today I had a big and VERY exciting day. I don't know if you remember, but I told you last Thursday that I may or may not have some good news today? I will get to this, but first let me torture you with my boring usuals.

I got up early bla bla bla walked 2 miles in yadda yadda minutes (42) burned 473 calories.

There. Done. lol (I am not able to draw out the suspense like Jen does...man she kills me with that!)

Can I just say that God answers prayers (not wishes, but prayers--whether or not in your favor)?

Can I just say that God's timing is ALWAYS perfect (I can't remember the scripture for this)?

God has proved these things to me over and over again, for the past 10 years. If you have unwavering faith in Him, the kind of faith that moves mountains, He helps you push (matthew 21:21).

Last week I was bummed out because of our situation. Nevada Checkup sent us a letter telling us that they wouldn't insure our son anymore because we didn't make enough money to qualify. Isn't that ridiculous???? A state run agency that we had to go to, because we couldn't afford insurance, isn't going to support us anymore BECAUSE WE DON'T MAKE ENOUGH $$$$. That hurt and that's crap. They referred me to welfare and I felt like a part of me died inside and I surrendered everything to Him. I would like to think that I always do surrender, but I am human, and sometimes I think I can control things and He proves to me time and time again, that I don't (Hebrews 11:16).

A few hours after I wrote that blog, I got a phone call from a local hospital here asking me if I could come into an interview. I applied for that job easily over a month before that phone call...I really just thought that they threw my application away, like the other 6 hospitals that I applied to did since January/February of this year (over 20 jobs I have applied for and been rejected for). I haven't worked in over 2 years, and I guess that is more of a problem than I thought. God makes the impossible, possible (Luke 18:27).

My interview was last Thursday. It went VERY well, and they called me in for a second interview which was today. I knew that if someone would just give me a chance, they would see that God put me on this earth to do this and they would hire me.

God promised to provide all that we need, and more (Philippians 4:19)!

Yesterday I found a letter that my husband and I both overlooked...I don't really know how this happened, but it was a letter from the State of Nevada. I always open these, because they are in regards to my son's insurance. This letter was from the welfare offices (I guess nevada check up referred us) telling me that failure to provide the info enclosed by July 20th would cause ineligibility. I opened the letter on July 21st :(. The first thought that went through my head was panic. If I didn't get this job, my last option was gone. If I didn't get the job I would have to apply for Welfare and no that's not even an option for us anymore.

Not even an hour after I opened that letter I got another phone call, from a company that I walked into almost 2 months ago, and they also wanted to interview me. God was showing me that He was going to provide for me and my family. He was reminding me to have strong faith and to not let the drama of this world shake that. To stress over money and things of this world, gives priority over God. Giving that kind of power to something is in a way a form of worship. I am not perfect, and I am often weak, so I forget this sometimes. He knows my weaknesses--He knew my name, thousands of years before I was a glimmer in my parent's eyes (Psalm 139:13-16).

I went in for that interview today as well and it went as equally as well.

Now the rest was up to God. I didn't know what God wanted for me. I think I know, but I don't want to put my will above His. I know that one of these jobs was in His will and I wanted to honor that. I knew that I needed to spend extra time with God to find the answers, so I fasted my computer for 12 hours today to be closer to Him and clear my head of everything else. He gave me the answers, very clearly and blessed me abundantly.

I knew how much the 2nd job offered (I was very happily surprised) but it wasn't in healthcare. I believe that God wants me in healthcare--He blessed me to be good at this, to have the compassion I need to do my job well. I didn't know how much the hospital job paid and didn't think it was going to be as much as the 2nd (I had heard numbers and figures thrown around at job fairs, and was not happy about them). I laid it at His feet and prayed some more and decided--because I feel that He was putting it in my heart--to take the lesser paying job and do what He wants. He blessed me...abundantly.

The hospital job pays more (very surprisingly) and I found this out after I had already made the decision in the back of my mind. While I was in the 2nd interview (with the job that pays more), the nurse director at the hospital called me to offer me the job :).

I HAVE A JOB! God answers prayers. He reigns and when He rains blessings on you, it pours! I have a job!

It's a full time job, working 7am-7:30pm and it's 3 days a week (I can work overtime if I want!).

I know, I know, you all are thinking (besides "woo hoo!" lol), "how are you going to continue to exercise everyday and work a 12 hour shift? That seems impossible!"

You'll see. God makes the impossible, possible. I have absolute faith that nothing will change with my resolution..afterall, my body is His temple, and I am trying to make this a cozy place for Him (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). I believe that we make time for the things we want to make time for, and I may need to modify my minutes a little (30 mins in the morning, 30 mins after work--worst case only 30 minutes a day on the days that I work, instead of 60), but I will get it done. God's timing is perfect and He will tell me when to exercise. I want to prove to all you working peepz, that work shouldn't be an excuse not to exercise. I have faith that God will help me with this. He gives us the strength to do what we gotta do (Philippians 4:13)!!!

I'm tired and am going to sit with my hubby now. I hope you all find His joy in your heart, the way that it lives in mine--even during hard times. If nothing else, God is faithful to provide a smile...we have the ability to smile, whether we want to or not, even if that is all we can do and have.

Make today count. He is faithful to help you, if you ask Him to (1 Corinthians 1:9)!

I can do this. I am a star. Praise God!

Day 198 (day 2 / week 29)

Someone out there thinks I'm crazy lol (maybe more than one of you!). Yesterday I called it a (non)rest day, but burned over 700 calories. Let me explain--there is a method to my madness and I'm not really surprised that I haven't mentioned it before!

Since being on my journey and recently utilizing my HRM, my goals have been changing. a lot. I think it could have a lot to do with boredom and just keeping my mind distracted from 365 days of a daily goal. I can do more exercise than I ever have been able to in the last 4-5 years, and I am playing with what my limits are. I can burn A LOT of calories in a day if I wanted to. Before my legs got sore (recently--they are feeling much better today btw), I had found that burning around 900 calories a day, according to my HRM--disclaimer: I don't take these numbers to heart, but I use them as a measuring tool...know what I mean by that?--is the perfect compromise to myself and is VERY doable for me. That being said, I recently made 900 calories a day my goal, despite the minutes (have you noticed that I have been burning right around 900 calories lately?). According to my HRM I can get up to 1500 a day, but I think that might be too much.

Yesterday I burned 700+ so I didn't reach my "goal," so I called it a rest day :). See? Also, my other daily goal is a minimum 60 minutes a day (which I'm pretty sure I did mention here). Yesterday I only did 50 so that was my other factor. I don't think any of this is that interesting, except for to me (it's the science of me!), and probably makes me look a little more neurotic than I would like, so I just don't mention it. Loree called me on it though... lol. ;)

A long explination for a short thought in my head. lol.

Anyway...

Today...today is going to be VERY hot. They have called an excessive heat warning until Saturday night, so I am trying to get up earlier (how successful I am at this is a different story) to walk earlier, so I can avoid the 90F+ temps at 8am. Today I walked 2 miles but fought with my HRM for such a long time, and was annoyed when I got home, that I forgot to stop tracking. All good though, because it took about that long for me to cool down. I got this: 2 miles, 50 minutes 475 calories. I know this isn't right, because my HR went from 145 to 75 and jumped to 117 and stayed there for a good 10 minutes. SO ANNOYING! I need to find my 3 manuals on this HRM and find out what the dealio is, because this is frustrating. It's clean and doesn't need a battery change (I don't even know how I would do that!) and I don't think we are near any radio interference (the other thing that could cause it to trip out) so it shouldn't be acting up. I'm sure a few cars driving by thought they were going to get a peep show, because I kept checking to see if my HRM was making good skin contact (it is/was). I don't know what the deal is but it's frustrating.

After I got home I did Ab Jam, and did the same thing! I totally zoned and forgot to stop it when I was done and I got 25 mins, 167 calories. I give up and I'm done for the day.

My goal for tomorrow is 713 calories burned, to meet my weekly goal of 5400--6days/wk @900, giving me a few days to futz around so I don't get burned out.

Today's QFCs are triceps chair dips which are easily done at work (hint, hint) 100 total in sets of 20-25 and shadow boxing for 5 mins, 3-5 times a day. I am not going to do either today. I will probably do concentration curls (100 w/ 5lb weight) and something else although I don't know what that is yet. Maybe I will do a little "done girl dancing" with the Monkey Boy as well :).

Have a great weekend and see you tomorrow! Make it count!

PS. I haven't forgotten to tell you my exciting news, but I am going to make you wait another week (until next Thursday) since I ALSO have to wait another week for any news. Hopefully I will know for sure by then! God was definitely with me yesterday so I hope I will have good news and not bad. ;) Very exciting!!!!

I can do this. I am a star.

Day 196 (day 7 / week 28)

Today I wanted to take it easy because my legs are still a little sore, but I didn't. It's not my fault though, I swear! I went for a 2 mile walk this morning, and I set my HR zone (133-152) alarm, and it would beep at me if my HR dropped below 133. I really like this feature. It made the time go by fast (33 mins 461 calories burned).

When I got home, I mowed the lawn. I fought with that lawn mower for a good 10 minutes before it started! I had my HRM running at this time because I didn't think I would have problems starting it. Anyway it took me 32 minutes, including the time it took me to start it, and I burned 383 calories. Man, my HR was up in the upper 150's! I had no idea I was getting this kind of exercise mowing the lawn!

After I mowed the lawn I came in and did my Quickfire Challenges for the day. This is where I probably killed it--I think the day would have been pretty easy on my legs if I had just left it to walking and mowing the lawn. Today's QFCs were Reverse Lunges, 100 in groups 10-20, but I only did 50 in groups of 10. The other is a Calf Raise with Chair and I did 100 of those, in sets of 25. These took me 15 minutes and I burned 228 calories according to my HRM. I hope I don't regret this decision to do these tomorrow. If my legs hurt (bad pain) tomorrow, then I am going to pull out Slim in 6 and do the stretch and abs, and maybe the Ab portion of The Firm as well. We will see.

Hope you all have a great day! Go spaz out and dance! Dance and skip... and mow your lawn at the same time! That would be a great workout!

Make it count.

I can do this. I am a star.

Day 190 (day 1 / week 28)

Today I got out the door early again and did my 2 mile power walk (30 minutes, 482 calories), then did The Firm's Ab Sculpt again (26 minutes, 268 calories), 2 sets of 10 push ups, 2 sets of 25 pectoral flies with 5lb hand weights and finished off with my quickfire challenges for the day (for a grand total of 858 calories in 85 minutes).

The first quickfire challenge is an Isometric Bicep Press on each arm. I used a 10lb weight instead of pressing w/ the other hand, for 10 seconds each and I think 20 sets (I started to lose count). I am going to do this 4 more times throughout the day to total of 100. I also did the 2nd quickfire plus which is an Isometric Hand Press, 10 seconds each, 10 sets so far and will strive for 100 throughout the day as well. These remind me of grade school when the girls would say, "I must, I must, I must increase my bust," lol...you know what I'm talking about right? lol.

I have to tell you, my biceps, shoulders and chest muscles are already shaking from these Quickfires today...I'm starting to feel like a wet noodle. Funny "Melissa" fact: a friend of mine growing up, who was Filipino said that my name meant "noodle" in his first language, I think Tagalog--I think he was pullin' my wet noodle (leg) but I think of that every time I say or hear the word noodle lol. I can still remember where we were when he said it. I must have been 10 or 11 years old lol.

Anyway I hope you guys have a great day. Make it count! You have almost an entire day to do so!

I can do this. I am a star.

Day 188 (day 6 / week 27)

Today was a good day. I got a lot accomplished before 8am, including an hour of exercise :). I feel good today. I had some alone time and got out for a walk/jog/skip--yes, the skipping fool has returned--before my hubby left for work. I did 2 miles in 29:47 minutes, with an average HR of 146. I was fortunate enough to see my HR dancing around 170-172 while I was actually skipping. Yaay :).

When I came back I cooled down for I guess 7 minutes, he left, and then I went into my exercise room and did The Firm's Ab Sculpt (with fanny lifter) for 27 minutes.

I did a total of 63 minutes and I burned a total of 906 calories (my HRM won't break down the calories burned for each segment).

Not bad if I do say so myself :).

Off to take a shower before the Monkey Boy wakes up. I feel so accomplished getting all of this done already! *claps*

Have a great day and make it count! The earlier the better ;). Don't put off until later, what you can do right now!

I can do this. I am a star.