Happy Friday

So happy it's Friday. I have a Deep Tissue massage in just an hour and I am sooo excited!

I did workout today. 30 minutes to my Latin DVD. There is a way to customized it so I did that...made it so much fun and I did catch on to the moves a bit better.

My weigh in went so well on Wednesday!! I am down to 155:) Just gotta keep this momentum going.

"Champions keep playing until they get it right."  -Billy Jean King

Day 2 and everything is okay....

I am busy. Currently I am working on a 31 Days Creative Challenge on my other blog and I am supposed to be guest posting on another blog and I am in charge of a benefit dinner and auction for a dear friend coming up in May and my house is messy and needs my attention and I am Co-Camp Director for the young women in our Church and I have lots to plan for that by June 6th and I teach early morning class at my church to the youth 5 days a week. 

And did I mention my house is a mess with laundry and clean clothes piles everywhere, papers and stuff littering every table top.

Whew.

I am busy.

We all are though, aren't we?

But I am very proud to say that even though I am feeling pressure to get more done in one day than one woman should have to do...I managed to workout.

I did.

It's true.

Today I spent 38 minutes in my space lifting weights, doing step moves on the step bench, crunches, leg lifts and stretching. It was awesome.

I give myself a B for the workout and an A for making an effort:)

"Be grateful for yourself....be thankful."  -William Saroyan

What have you done lately that you deserve an A for?

And So the Journey Begins

Happy Monday! It is a NEW day, friends and I am loving it! So what if in the past 2 weeks I have eaten more than one person should consume...I have taken a nibble here, a dollop there, a sneak after everyone's gone to bed...you get the picture...

But TODAY I challenge myself to workout to a whole new beat...today I popped in this.

And you know what? It was fun and before I knew it one whole hour, 60 minutes had passed and it was over. I was sweating, I was energized, I was smiling. It's been a while, folks since I've finished after any kind of exercise. This was good!

As it turns our I have quite a few workout DVD's...

It's kind a weird that I have 3 Pilates DVD's and I just bought another one last week. I don't really do Pilates...but I do know it's good for me so I guess my subconscious is trying to tell me something:)

Anyway, I had forgotten how much fun workout DVD's are. I think I may just become an exercise DVD junkie!!

So, if you read my post from Friday you know that I am on a mission. I have challenged myself , starting today and running through June 6th, 2011 to workout at least 3 days a week to one of my DVD's, walk 2 days a week and do some kind of strength training at least one day a week. Along with the workouts I intend on eating better...this is always the hard part for me.

I also promised I would post my Before photo and share my progress. I must admit...I am not looking forward to posting these...but a promise is a promise....;)

Day 1

I put in the Latin Cardio Dance DVD. Was a bit nervous...wasn't sure if I could get the hang of the moves. It was hard. They go a bit fast in the DVD and don't explain the moves in advance well. I just kept moving my body {especially my hips} and sweated my way through 60 minutes of cardio, toning and stretching. The stretching felt amazing!! I give today's workout a B+.

My Before/side view

See that roll of fat...ugh. Makes jeans fit terribly...

That fat on my back...ick.

I hate the fact that I have that fat roll in my lower abs. My jeans fit so snug.

Can you say muffin top anyone?

I currently wear a size 14 jeans. I am so thick in my middle. My closet is FULL of size 10 and 12 jeans, shorts and capri's. Just a few short years ago they all fit perfectly. Those were the days.

I am not showing you my legs...my thighs have zero definition. Lots of fat. So want to tone them. I don't wear shorts...

And just so you know...last May, after really watching what I ate and walking like a mad woman I was back in my tens. Felt AMAZING!

I will get there again.

I will!!:)

"Immense power is acquired by assuring yourself in your secret reveries that you were born to control affairs."  -Andrew Carnegie

I'm gonna Zumba my way to fit!

Alright...so yesterday was spent on the couch. I had one doozy of a migraine. Ouch!

Happy to say I am feeling better...although still a bit under the weather. Just tired. Migraines take a lot out of me. Anybody else suffer from them?

While I spent the majority of the day on the couch it gave me lots of time to think and plan. I am a planner...so this time was greatly appreciate. Part of my plan was inspired by an infomercial I came across while flipping through channels {there is absolutely nothing on during the day!}. It was this....Now I had heard of Zumba. I mean you have to live under a rock to NOT heard of it, right? There are even classes at my gym...however I don't do group classes so that is a no.

Anyway, I watched this infomercial and was really inspired!! The gym has gotten soooo boring for me. I dread going there. And while I usually enjoy walking outside...lately...it is just okay. I know I need to do something else. I need to work my core, my legs, my arm...my whole body. For years I popped in a step aerobics tape every morning and LOVED it. Maybe this Zumba would be fun, too...

So, yes...I have decided to try it. And to make it really fun and to hold myself accountable here's what I'm gonna do...track my progress here...on Skinny Me. Yep. That's the plan.

I am off to find a Zumba DVD today. Not even sure if our local Wal-Mart carries them...but gonna check it out. If not I'll order the informercial. Once I get the program I'm gonna take a BEFORE pic of me and post here. My plan is to do Zumba 3 times a week, walk outside 2 times a week and try my Wii Active once a week. I will post my progress here!

The plan begins this Monday, March 28th and will end on June 6th.

Ten weeks of Zumba goodness:) Hope you'll join me!!

“Everyone has a 'risk muscle.' You keep it in shape by trying new things. If you don't, it atrophies. Make a point of using it at least once a day.”

 Roger Von Oech quotes

Enough of the Gym Already!

After spending 40 minutes on the ellipitical and bike I know for a fact I despise the gym. There is nothing I like about it. Nothing.

That's okay...very soon Spring will be here and I'll be outside.

Enjoying the wind on my face...
The smell of fresh flowers and grass...
Listening to the birds sing...
Feeling the warmth of the sun...
I will be outside, walking fast, pumping my arms, sweating, smiling....feeling alive.



Goethe-

Take care of your body with steadfast fidelity. The soul must see through these eyes alone, and if they are dim, the whole world is clouded.

Do you prefer gym workouts or being outside for your workouts?

Getting Stronger

You know when you first start something and it's hard to get in the groove? You're waking up earlier, not eating as much, working out, trying not to snack...whatever the case may be....it's just all different. And sometimes different is not good. I am a creature of habit after all.

But yesterday I noticed something...a shift in the way I'm thinking, the way I'm eating, the way I'm exercising.

And it's all GOOD.

Very, very good.

My favorite snack at the moment!

I'm not so hungry. I'm not craving sweets as much. 

 I'm feeling lighter, happier and more confident. I am choosing foods like this...fresh blueberries and bananas mixed with plain greek yogurt, drizzled with honey and just a sprinkle of unsalted sunflower seeds. Yum-o!






Yesterday at the gym something amazing happened. I ran and I ran. And I ran some more! This is soooo good. It feels sooo good. I mean I used to be a runner. Like one of those obsessed runners. And I loved it. I craved it. It always lifted my spirits.

That's how my run was yesterday. It lifted me up. I was actually smiling on the treadmill...floating and smiling and sweating. It was the grandest thing I have felt in a long time.

I did it again today.

Life is good:)


What healthy passion did you used to have that would feel so good to start again?