Wow, that's a workout that you feel.

So I decided to shake stuff up a little. I have a bunch of workout dvds but get bored with them after awhile, so to switch it up a little, I bought a kettlebell workout set. Came with a 3-lb and 5-lb kettlebell and a dvd. The dvd is divided into a warm-up and 4 separate workouts, each approx 20 minutes; there is an all over fat burning segment, an abs segment, lower body and upper body. Tues I did the upper body and boy did I feel it yesterday!! Took yesterday off and this morning I did the lower body workout. Am hoping after dinner to get the fat burning workout in. I will do kettlebells 4 times a week and my stationary bike 3 days a week. Well thats the plan at least.

Foodwise I am doing pretty good, bought a bunch of chicken, veggies and fresh fruit. But my main focus as of now is on my workout. If I can get going consistently with exercise, I am sure food will naturally fall into place.

ttfn

Getting back on the horse.....for the millionth time

Once again I have come to the place where I am sick and tired of my (lack of) exercise routine. I do so well for such a while, lose weight, get a ton of positive feedback.....and sit back on my laurels. I am so far away from what I know that I can accomplish. And as I have stated before, I am the queen of excuses. Work, school, kids, husband, taking care of my home. Yeah, so what??!!! I know plenty of other people who tackle all that I do (and some of whom do not have the support of family or a spouse). So if they can do it, why not me??

I think part of the reason I sit back so often is because I never had to work hard at being "skinny" while growing up. Growing up I was nicknamed Olyve Oyle (yes, as in the Popeye heroine) due to my skinniness and long legs and arms. I could eat anything and not have to work out. And I got used to it.

But in my mid to late 20's, my metabolism started to turn on me. I slowly started putting on weight, maybe 5 lbs a year or so. That slow weight gain that you don't really notice until your favorite pair of pants no longer fits quite right. And then I had my "baby" (who will be 10 in December). After her, the weight that had slowly acumilated just wasn't going ANYWHERE.

So over the past several years I have yo-yo'd. I cant begin to tell you the number of times that I have gained and lost the same 5-10 lbs.

But I have a goal. I turn the big 4-0 in September. I want to be in the best shape of my life. Yes, while I may have been skinny growing up, I was nowhere near being fit and healthy. I want the nice shape of having toned muscles and I want my insides to be as healthy as my outside!!!

So once again I am going to embark on a healthy lifestyle. Now to make it last!!!!

I could make a 1000 excuses

Its been a good week and 1/2 since I last worked out and my diet went to pot as well. I could blame it on working a TON of hours, managing school, taking care of the house and family, and having really really crappy sinuses. And that would all be valid. But really, I need to make myself a priority and take that 30 minutes a day or so, especially on the days that I do not work to workout. Eating well needs to be a lifestyle, not something I do now and then to shed a few pounds. I will be coming up on the big 4-0 in a few short months and I want to be fit, fabulous and healthy at 40. Diet is gonna be a major part of the equation. I have been skinny before, some may even argue too skinny, but never have I really been toned and fit. I need to come into the next decade of my life healthier than I have ever been. I know that working out and eating correctly makes me feel leaps and bounds better, but it is so hard to get up and get moving. I need to make working out and eating in a healthy manner such a routine that I dont even think about it, its just part of my life!! 
Well this is a new week. I weighed in today at 151, and took my measurements. Next Monday I want to be at 149, and by the end of May I want to see significant improvements on the scale and on the tape measure. I got off my booty today and walked up to the school to get my daughter after school vs driving and did a 30 minute cardio bootcamp workout. I am drenched in sweat and out of breath and LOVING THE FEELING!!! Dinner was healthy as well, grilled chicken, stuffing, carrots and applesauce. Drinking my water to stay hydrated. 
I will accomplish my goal of being fit, fabulous and healthy at 40. But y'all feel free to light a fire under my booty and give me a kick in the pants if I slack off!!! 

ttfn

Take that, stress!!

I worked a long day today and was stressed to the max. Ate a little chocolate that I shouldn't have. Was making excuses the whole way home as to why I didnt need to work out. I was too tired. I worked 14 hours. I have to get up and go to work for another (at least) 12 hours tomorrow. 

I came home and ate the pasta and grilled chicken my hubby made me....YUMMMY. Tooled around on the net for a few minutes. Started to feel guilty for not working out. So I did my 10 minute boot camp workout. It may not have been much, but I SOME fitness in today. I am proud of myself for that one small step today. 

April...here I come

After pretty much abandoning working out and diet in the month of March, I have no one but my self to blame for the 2 lbs that I regained. Time to get serious in April. My goals are:

• work out on my days off, doing both cardio and my arms workout
• watch my portions
• buy and take healthy snacks to work
• buy more fruits and veggies

I really want to get down about 8 lbs this month, so no more excuses, only results.

No more excuses Wed

For whatever reason, the month of March was a bad month for me diet and exercise wise. I only really got in a few good workouts, and my eating slacked off as well. I was eating a lot of fast food and junk. Thats gonna STOP!!!! I went grocery shopping today and got a lot of fruit and healthy snacks....they are already hidden in my car so that I can have them at work....no more running to the vending machine for a quick fix pick me up.

Bought lots of good quality meat. Gonna try to limit my carb consumption. But that is HARD!!!! Ugh. My name is Gretchen and I am addicted to carbohydrates....lol. I need to start eating in moderation again.

I got in a good workout today, feel good about that. I only work 3 days a week, there is no reason I can not work out on my days that I am off.

Feel good after my workout, need to try to shave off at least the 2 lbs that I gained this month by months end. And even though I dont really have any inches or lbs to show a loss of, I will post a picture again this month. I need to post the good, the bad and the ugly.

TTFY

Non scale victory

So I have fallen off the bandwagon the last week or so, busy at work, stress, etc..., I am about to go workout in a few, but first wanted to share some non scale victories of mine.

I havent really felt comfortable in dresses in a long time. I have worn to weddings but never really felt good about my body in them. Well my sister's baby shower is coming up at the end of the month and after losing weight, decided I would try a few on. I ended up buying a really cute dress from Penny's and I dont look or feel like a stuffed sausage in it!!! Woot woot!!!

this is the dress:


The other victory is finally being able to buy and feel good in a pair of skinny jeans. Bought a pair last night and they fit and feel good!!